Forced Conversion and Islam

Posted on March 14, 2021 by Laiq Ahmed Atif

IL-KONVERŻJONI SFURZATA

 “M’għandux ikun hemm sfurzar fil-kwistjoni tar-reliġjon.” (Il-Koran, 2:257)

Il-libertà hija frott mill-aqwa. Il-libertà hija l-pedament ta’ kull soċjetà ħielsa u fuqha tissaħħaħ l-idea tal-protezzjoni tal-aktar dritt importanti għan-nies – id-dritt li jemmnu, jipprattikaw u jippritkaw dak li jridu, mingħajr biża’, sfurzar, persekuzzjoni, kastigi jew diskriminazzjoni.

Dan l-aħħar qrajt rapport dwar l-inċidenti ta’ persekuzzjoni tal-komunità Nisranija li tgħix fil-Pakistan u kien hemm inċidenti ta’ żwiġijiet sfurzati u konverżjoni sfurzata. Fosthom kien hemm rapport dwar it-tfajla Nisranija, Arzoo Raja, mill-Pakistan, li kienet inħatfet u ġiet imġiegħla tiżżewweġ u tikkonverti għall-Iżlam. Il-każ ta’ Arzoo Raja qajjem bosta mistoqsijiet kontra ż-żwiġijiet sfurzati u sfurzar fir-reliġjon.

Skont it-tagħlim Iżlamiku l-isfurzar fil-kwistjonijiet tar-reliġjon kif ukoll fiż-żwieġ mhuwiex aċċettabbli. Kull persuna għandha l-libertà li tagħżel il-partner fiż-żwieġ u anke biex temmen fi kwalunkwe reliġjon tal-għażla tal-persuna. Hawn taħt irrid nikteb x’jgħid l-Iżlam dwar il-libertà reliġjuża.

L-Iżlam jemmen f’libertà reliġjuża u ma jippermettix l-użu tal-forza bħala strument għat-tixrid tal-messaġġ tiegħu. L-Iżlam jiddikjara b’mod ċar: “M’għandu jkun hemm l-ebda sfurzar fil-kwistjoni tar-reliġjon.” (Il-Koran, 2:257)

Barra minn hekk, waqt li indirizza lill-Qaddis Profeta Muħammad, is-sliem għalih, Alla qallu li ma jsegwi l-ebda forza fir-riforma tas-soċjetà. Il-pożizzjoni tiegħu bħala riformatur hija mfissra b’mod ċar ħafna fil-versi li ġejjin:

“Għalhekk wissihom, għaliex inti m’intix ħlief il-wissej; inti m’għandek l-ebda awtorità biex tikkostrinġihom.” (88:22-23) “Mhijiex ir-responsabbiltà tiegħek li ġġagħalhom jimxu fit-triq it-tajba; iżda Alla jiddirieġi lil min jixtieq Hu.” (2:273) “Iżda jekk jitilqu ’l hemm, Aħna ma bgħatniekx bħala għassies fuqhom. Id-dmir tiegħek huwa li twassal il-messaġġ.” (42:49)

Aktar minn hekk, Alla jagħmilha kompletament ċara li jekk l-isfurzar ikollu jsir permessibbli fil-kwistjonijiet ta’ fidi, mela għaliex Alla jkun ħalla l-affarijiet f’idejn in-nies, meta Huwa stess seta’ jisforza lin-nies biex jemmnu fir-reliġjon? Alla jgħid fil-Koran Imqaddes: “U jekk il-Mulej tagħkom kellu jimponi r-rieda Tiegħu, ċertament li dawk kollha li jinsabu fuq din l-art kienu jemmnu lkoll flimkien. Allura inti se ġġiegħel lill-bnedmin biex jemmnu?” (10:100)

Dawn il-versi juru biċ-ċar li l-Iżlam jiddikjara b’mod kategoriku li r-reliġjon hi xi ħaġa individwali għal kull persuna biex tiddeċiedi għaliha nfisha u m’għandhiex tkun imġiegħla fuq l-individwu. Il-fidi hi ħaġa ta’ bejn il-bniedem u l-alla tiegħu u m’għandek tindaħallu bl-ebda mod. Kulħadd għandu d-dritt li jgħix skont il-fidi tiegħu u li jesegwixxi r-ritwali reliġjużi tiegħu.

Għalhekk, meta xi ħadd jindaħal f’din il-ħaġa li hija personali bejn il-bniedem u Alla, u fejn il-liġi tinterferixxi ma’ dan id-dritt, dan ikun att ta’ kefrija kbira u persekuzzjoni, u għandha tiġi kkundannata.

Fil-qosor, l-Iżlam jemmen bis-sħiħ fil-libertà tal-fidi.

Ħafna drabi n-nies jistaqsuni li, jekk l-Iżlam jemmen bis-sħiħ fil-libertà reliġjuża allura għaliex insibu l-persekuzzjoni reliġjuża f’ċerti pajjiżi fejn hemm il-Musulmani fil-maġġoranza? Għaliex huma jridu jimponu l-għażla tagħhom fuq l-oħrajn? Għaliex ma jħallux lill-oħrajn biex jemmnu, jipprattikaw u jippritkaw ir-reliġjon tal-għażla tagħhom? Għaliex in-nies ta’ twemminiet oħra jiġu ppersegwitati f’pajjiżi Musulmani?

Dawn huma mistoqsijiet validi ħafna. Ngħid li din hija sfortuna kbira li hemm Musulmani li ma jipprattikawx it-tagħlim Iżlamiku fil-veru sens tiegħu. Imma għandna nifhmu wkoll li, jekk persuna ma ssegwix xi tagħlim partikolari kif suppost waqt li tammetti li tħaddan dak it-tagħlim, mela hija l-persuna li qed tiżbalja, u mhux it-tagħlim li huwa żbaljat. Il-kelma ‘Iżlam’ fil-fatt tfisser paċi, imħabba, u sigurtà. Ma jistax ikun hemm sfurzar fejn tidħol il-fidi, hija direzzjoni ċara fil-Koran. Minn qoxra sa qoxra, il-Koran Imqaddes iwassal messaġġi ta’ mħabba, affezzjoni, paċi, rikonċiljazzjoni, u l-ispirtu tas-sagrifiċċju.

Il-Komunità Ahmadiyya Musulmana ssegwi biss it-tagħlim ġenwin tal-Iżlam u taħdem purament biex togħġob lill-Alla l-Omnipotenti. Jekk xi Knisja jew xi post ieħor ta’ adorazzjoni jkollhom bżonn ta’ xi forma ta’ protezzjoni, u jekk il-Kristjani jew nies ta’ twemminiet oħra għandhom bżonn, lilna se jsibuna spalla ma’ spalla magħhom biex ngħinuhom. Għax aħna nemmnu bis-sħiħ fit-tagħlim Iżlamiku li “M’hemm l-ebda sfurzar fir-reliġjon” u fil-motto rivoluzzjonarju u paċifiku tagħna li huwa “Imħabba għal kulħadd mibegħda għal ħadd.”

Source/Credit: It-Torċa, 14/03/2021, by Laiq Ahmed Atif, President Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat Malta, amjmalta@gmail.com

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Inter-religious Peace

Posted on March 11, 2021 by Laiq Ahmed Atif
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Ahmadiyya Celebrates International Women’s Day

Posted on March 8, 2021 by Laiq Ahmed Atif

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Malta congratulates to all women, the ‘International Women’s Day’. 

In many societies, a woman is still regarded as a second-class citizen and deprived of various basic rights enjoyed by the male population. On the contrary, Islam was the first religion formally to grant the women a status never known before. The Holy Quran, the sacred scripture of Islam, contains hundreds of teachings, which apply both to men and women alike. The moral, spiritual and economic equality of men and women as propagated by Islam is unquestionable. The specific verses of the Holy Quran, which address themselves to men or women, deal with either their physical differences or the role they each have to play in safeguarding the moral fibre of the society Islam envisages. Continue Reading: 

Some relevant articles: 

Muħammadsa Dak li llibera ‘l-Mara

Islam and women rights

Human dignity and honour of women

Not the way to treat ladies

Click to access maraflizlam.pdf

L-OMM – International Women’s Day

Posted in Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat Malta, Ahmadiyya: The True Islam, Women's Rights, www.Ahmadiyya.org.mt | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Muslim Woman in the West

Posted on March 8, 2021 by Laiq Ahmed Atif

Noor-Ul-Hudah Khan, Lawyer

In the 1990s more and more Muslim families migrated from the East to the West. This included my own family. Having being born in the UK, I’d like to share my experience from a Muslim child to a Muslim woman. Belonging to the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, it was a great privilege for my family and I to enjoy the freedom of being able to practice our religion freely and most importantly for the women in our family to be able to go to the mosque. Growing up with the freedom to go to the mosque on a regular basis is something you can never take for granted, especially when you look at the restrictions placed upon our fellow Muslims in the East.

I was 14 when I decided to wear the Hijab of my own free will.

I had many insecurities which made me question my decision to wear the Hijab. Questions surrounded my mind and I thought: Will people look at me differently? Will the Hijab obstruct opportunities for me? Will I be able to get a job? Will people throw abuse at me in the streets?

But then I reflected upon the reason why I was considering wearing the Hijab – it was to please God; to obey God’s command.

I will not sugar coat the truth, in the first few days of wearing the Hijab, people I knew did look at me differently. A few racial slurs were thrown at me, but the pleasure of knowing that I was obeying Allah’s command was so strong that such minute things failed to bother me. I also knew that if I sincerely worked hard then the Hijab will not obstruct opportunities for me.

It is by the Grace of God that I was brought up in such an environment where the attainment of education was of paramount consideration. I was never once restricted from completing my secondary education and nor did I ever face any obstacle in completing my higher education. It is a misconception of the non-Muslims living in the East and West that wearing the Hijab will make it difficult to achieve basic rights of education and employment. But that was never an issue for me.

I have come to the realisation that practicing your faith in the West may come with its difficulties, especially as a Muslim and with the influence of the media, but it has never been impossible or disheartening. Being connected to your faith brings a drive within you in which you persevere to move forward and advance in both religious and societal matters. Read this article in MALTESE – http://ahmadiyya.mt/iddawl_dir/Id-Dawl_Numru_039.pdf

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National unity and the way forward

Posted on March 2, 2021 by Laiq Ahmed Atif
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Conference on National Unity

Posted on February 28, 2021 by Laiq Ahmed Atif

On behalf of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat Malta, together with youth leader Rauf Babar Sahib, it was truly a great pleasure and honour to attend and contribute to the conference about the National Unity held under the auspices of His Excellency, Dr George Vella, the President of the Republic of Malta, on Saturday 27th February 2021. #għaqdanazzjonali #malta

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Unity is Strength

Posted on February 27, 2021 by Laiq Ahmed Atif

FL-GĦAQDA HEMM IS-SAĦĦA

Bla dubju fl-għaqda hemm is-saħħa. Dan ifakkarni fi storja ta’ persuna għaqlija li kellha seba’ wlied subien. Fix-xjuħija tiegħu, meta ħaseb li jista’ jitlaq minn din id-dinja fi kwalunkwe mument partikolari, ried jgħallem lil uliedu lezzjoni prezzjuża tal-ħajja.

Ġurnata waħda talab lil wieħed minnhom biex iġiblu qatta oħtra. Imbagħad ta ftit minnhom lil kull iben, u qalilhom biex jippruvaw ikissruhom. Għalkemm kollha ppruvaw minn kollox, ħadd ma kien kapaċi jkisser il-qatta tal-oħtra. Il-missier imbagħad ħall il-qatta u ta l-oħtra lil uliedu biex ikissruhom wieħed wieħed. Dan għamluh faċilment u malajr, mingħajr ebda diffikultà.

Ir-raġel għaref imbagħad qam bilwieqfa u indirizza lil uliedu u qal li jrid li jibqgħu magħquda; kieku jħallu d-diviżjoni tikber fosthom, kulħadd jista’ jkissirhom, bħall-oħtra. Jekk madankollu jibqgħu magħquda bħall-qatta oħtra, ħadd qatt ma jkollu l-poter li jagħmillhom il-ħsara. Jekk jaqblu ma’ xulxin u jgħinu lil xulxin, ikun impossibbli għall-għedewwa tagħhom li jweġġgħuhom. Imma jekk ikunu mifruda bejniethom, ma jkunux iktar b’saħħithom minn ħatar wieħed fil-qatta.

L-GĦAQDA NAZZJONALI

M’hemm xejn aħjar minn nazzjon magħqud, għax meta nazzjon jiġbed l-istess ħabel, il-pajjiż jimxi ’l quddiem u l-frott tal-progress jasal għand kulħadd. Imma jekk il-poplu huwa maqsum dan jaffettwa ħafna negattivament fuq il-paċi, is-sigurtà, il-progress ekonomiku u l-kompetizzjoni attiva u b’saħħitha tal-pajjiż. Għax ħafna mill-enerġiji se jinħlew fuq affarijiet mhux importanti minħabba d-diviżjoni. Poplu maqsum ma jistax jiffoka fuq l-affarijiet ta’ ġid komuni.

Għalhekk, huwa ferm importanti li flimkien niġbdu ħabel wieħed u nsiru poplu magħqud fid-diversità. Id-differenzi naturali tagħna m’għandhomx jagħmluna nazzjon maqsum u mfarrak, iżda dawn id-differenzi għandhom jitqiesu bħala mezz għal kompetizzjoni b’saħħitha. Il-Koran Imqaddes (2:149) jiggwidana f’din il-kwistjoni u jgħid li: “Għandkom tikkompetu ma’ xulxin f’għemejjel tajba u f’xogħlijiet utli.”

IL-KONFERENZA NAZZJONALI

Il-President ta’ Malta, l-Eċċellenza Tiegħu, Dr George Vella, ħass li hemm il-ħtieġa tal-għaqda fil-pajjiż u wera l-fehma li hemm ħafna oqsma li jeħtieġu għaqda fost il-poplu Malti biex il-pajjiż ikun jista’ jimxi ’l quddiem. Għalhekk, se tiġi organizzata konferenza nazzjonali fuq it-tema tal-għaqda nazzjonali.

Il-President George Vella saħaq fuq il-ħtieġa tal-għaqda fil-pajjiż u qal li din l-għaqda ma tiġix biss bix-xewqa, iżda l-poplu jrid jaħdem għaliha hu.

Meta u kif nistgħu niksbu l-għaqda nazzjonali vera? Fil-qosor nista’ ngħid li dan jiddependi minni, minnek, u tabilħaqq minn kull membru individwali tas-soċjetà. Kemm għandu raġun poeta li jiddeskrivi dan fil-poeżija tiegħu, fejn jistaqsi u jwieġeb. Hu jgħid: “Meta  se  jinbidel  l-istaġun tal-forza? Jekk ninbidlu aħna allura jinbidel hu.”

MAGĦQUDA NKUNU B’SAĦĦITNA

Nemmen li nistgħu niksbu l-għaqda nazzjonali biss meta kulħadd jagħti sehmu, meta niġbdu ħabel wieħed, meta nkunu lesti li nagħmlu ħilitna kollha sabiex insiru poplu magħqud. Kemm għandu raġun meta wieħed jgħid: “Magħquda nkunu b’saħħitna, mifruda ma niswew xejn.”

L-edukazzjoni, l-għarfien u r-rispett reċiproku huma pilastri bażiċi fir-rigward l-għaqda nazzjonali. Barra minn hekk l-ambjent tad-djar huwa wkoll għodda kruċjali.Għax pajjiż jew soċjetà huwa l-prodott ibbażat fuq l-ambjent tal-familji u d-djar tiegħu. Jekk m’għandniex il-paċi, it-trankwillità u l-għaqda fi ħdan il-familji tagħna allura ma nistgħux niksbu l-għaqda fuq livell nazzjonali.

Ejja nippromwovu u tabilħaqq nistabbilixxu ambjent ta’ mħabba, paċi, armonija, kompassjoni u għaqda fid-djar tagħna, fis-soċjetà tagħna u tabilħaqq f’pajjiżna. Għal aktar tagħrif, http://ahmadiyya.mt/iddawl_dir/Id-Dawl_Numru_039.pdf

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Id-Dawl 39

Posted on February 27, 2021 by Laiq Ahmed Atif

ID-DAWL (THE LIGHT) MARCH 2021 http://ahmadiyya.mt/iddawl_dir/Id-Dawl_Numru_039.pdf

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The National Unity

Posted on February 21, 2021 by Laiq Ahmed Atif

L-GĦAQDA NAZZJONALI – KIF NISTGĦU NIKSBU L-GĦAQDA NAZZJONALI VERA?

It-Torca, 21/02/2021 by LAIQ AHMED ATIF

M’hemm xejn aħjar minn nazzjon magħqud, għax meta nazzjon jiġbed l-istess ħabel, il-pajjiż jimxi ’l quddiem u l-frott tal-progress jasal għand kulħadd. Imma jekk il-poplu huwa maqsum dan jaffettwa ħafna negattivament fuq il-paċi, is-sigurtà, il-progress ekonomiku u l-kompetizzjoni attiva u b’saħħitha tal-pajjiż. Għax ħafna mill-enerġiji se jinħlew fuq affarijiet mhux importanti minħabba d-diviżjoni. Poplu maqsum ma jistax jiffoka fuq l-affarijiet ta’ ġid komuni.

Għalhekk, huwa ferm importanti li flimkien niġbdu ħabel wieħed u nsiru poplu magħqud fid-diversità. Id-differenzi naturali tagħna m’għandhomx jagħmluna nazzjon maqsum u mfarrak, iżda dawn id-differenzi għandhom jitqiesu bħala mezz għal kompetizzjoni b’saħħitha. Il-Koran Imqaddes jiggwidana f’din il-kwistjoni u jgħid li: “Għandkom tikkompetu ma’ xulxin f’għemejjel tajba u f’xogħlijiet utli.” (2:149)

Il-President ta’ Malta, l-Eċċellenza Tiegħu, Dr George Vella, ħass li hemm il-ħtieġa tal-għaqda fil-pajjiż u wera l-fehma li hemm ħafna oqsma li jeħtieġu għaqda fost il-poplu Malti biex il-pajjiż ikun jista’ jimxi ’l quddiem. Għalhekk, se tiġi organizzata konferenza nazzjonali fuq it-tema tal-għaqda nazzjonali.

Il-President George Vella saħaq fuq il-ħtieġa tal-għaqda fil-pajjiż u qal li din l-għaqda ma tiġix biss bix-xewqa, iżda l-poplu jrid jaħdem għaliha hu. Filwaqt li enfasizza l-importanza tal-għaqda, qal li huwa wkoll kruċjali li nifhmu x’qed jikkawża qasma fis-soċjetà u nsibu r-rimedju tagħha.

Irrid insemmi li hemm aspetti differenti marbuta mal-għaqda nazzjonali. Għax kull aspett individwali hu importanti fih innifsu, fl-istess ħin il-mod ta’ kif kull aspett jintrabat mal-ieħor hu importanti ferm.

L-edukazzjoni hija għodda kruċjali. L-edukazzjoni hija ċavetta biex tinbena soċjetà armonjuża u vibranti. Barra minn hekk, iż-żieda fl-għarfien hija wkoll fattur ewlieni.

Ir-rispett reċiproku huwa wkoll pilastru fundamentali fir-rigward il-promozzjoni għall-għaqda nazzjonali.

Fil-fatt, il-materja prima għall-għaqda nazzjonali hi t-trankwillità, l-armonija u l-għaqda fi ħdan il-familja. Is-sitwazzjoni tad-dar mhix limitata iżda għandha effett fuq il-paċi u l-għaqda tal-lokalità, li min-naħa tagħha tinfluwenza l-paċi u l-għaqda tar-raħal jew il-belt sħiħa.

F’każ ta’ problemi fil-familja dan iħalli effett negattiv fuq l-arja lokali li min-naħa tagħha tħalli effett fuq il-belt jew raħal. Bl-istess mod, l-istat li jkun jinsab fih il-belt jew raħal jinfluwenza l-paċi u l-għaqda fil-pajjiż sħiħ.

Għalhekk, evidenti li jekk aħna rridu l-għaqda nazzjonali, allura dan huwa ferm importanti anzi huwa kruċjali li nistabbilixxu t-tolleranza, l-armonija, l-imħabba, l-kompassjoni u l-għaqda fi ħdan il-familji u fid-djar tagħna. Għax pajjiż jew soċjetà huwa l-prodott ibbażat fuq l-ambjent tal-familji u d-djar tiegħu.

Allura kemm huwa importanti li ngħallmu l-valuri tal-imħabba, l-armonija u l-għaqda lit-tfal tagħna sabiex isiru l-assi bbażati fuq il-valuri umani kbar, minflok xkiel għas-soċjetà jew il-pajjiż.

Barra minn hekk, il-mexxejja reliġjużi u politiċi għandhom jagħmlu kull sforz possibbli biex jippriservaw din l-għaqda, billi jonoraw id-drittijiet ta’ xulxin. Il-biżgħat u l-preokkupazzjonijiet tal-pubbliku inġenerali jridu jitneħħew. Biex iħarsu d-drittijiet ta’ xulxin ma jridux jitolbu iktar minn dak li hu ġust u xieraq minn xulxin, u naturalment, għandu jkun hemm talbiet ġusti u xierqa mill-poplu wkoll.

Ftakru li s-saħħa tal-pajjiż tiddependi minn kemm jirnexxilu jibqa’ magħqud bħala poplu wieħed. Din l-unità m’għandhiex isservina biss hawn fil-pajjiż, iżda fuq livell globali għandha tkun mezz biex pajjiżna jibqa’ b’saħħtu u influwenti.

Barra minn hekk, għandha tiġi żviluppata politika prattika ta’ koeżjoni sabiex il-poplu jkun jista’ jingħaqad. Bażikament il-mexxejja għandhom ifittxu l-koperazzjoni flimkien biex id-diviżjoni tinbidel f’għaqda. Jekk jittieħdu dawn il-miżuri malajr wieħed jinduna li l-kunflitti eżistenti jintemmu u jinbidlu f’paċi u rispett reċiproku, kemm-il darba tkun ipprattikata l-ġustizzja vera u kulħadd jagħraf ir-responsabbiltajiet tiegħu.

Meta u kif nistgħu niksbu l-għaqda nazzjonali vera? Fil-qosor nista’ ngħid li dan jiddependi minni, minnek, u tabilħaqq minn kull membru individwali tas-soċjetà. Kemm għandu raġun poeta li jiddeskrivi dan fil-poeżija tiegħu, fejn jistaqsi u jwieġeb. Hu jgħid:

“Meta se jinbidel l-istaġun tal-forza?

Jekk ninbidlu aħna allura jinbidel hu.”

Source/Credit: It-Torċa | Il-Ħadd 21 ta’ Frar 2021, written by Laiq Ahmed Atif, President Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat Malta, amjmalta@gmail.com – Photo: Facebook/PresidentOfMalta
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Promoting National Unity

Posted on February 14, 2021 by Laiq Ahmed Atif

Malta Independent, 14/02/2021 by LAIQ AHMED ATIF

Unity is strength. The core objective of any religion and that of Islam is the belief in the Almighty God and the establishment of the unity of humanity bound together by ties of practical brotherhood. This is the hallmark of Islam which abhors strife, hatred, greed, selfishness, pride, intolerance and any divisive and inconsiderate dispositions.

The Holy Quran sets forth a golden principle in terms of our social bonding and states: “And help one another in righteousness and piety; but help not one another in sin and transgression.” (5:3)

Emphasising on the message of unity, the Holy Quran further states that: “And hold fast, all together, by the rope of God and be not divided.” (3:104)

Mutual love, accord and brotherhood should be the cornerstone of our society and we must avoid all manner of egotistical matters and love each other for the sake of attaining God’s pleasure. Fortunate are those who keep their words and deeds in this manner.

The Holy Prophet Muhammad has repeatedly emphasised on the unity of humanity and truly being considerate towards each other. He said that all true believers are like one body, if one part of the body is in pain, the entire body feels it. He has also likened the true spirit of the brotherhood of humanity to that of a building, every part of which reinforces other parts.

The initiative of His Excellency, Dr George Vella, the President of Malta, of holding a national conference for the promotion of national unity, is a breath of fresh air in a tense and divisive environment. This wise initiative is taken by an astute statesman who knows the strengths and weaknesses of this society. Furthermore, this step is taken at a time when the entire nation is struggling and making huge sacrifices to curb the devastating Covid-19 pandemic.

I would like to share my personal experience of how such division is affecting the society. Back in Pakistan, we had a tradition to wish each other happy Independence Day on 14th August, the day Pakistan gained its independence.

During my first year in Malta, keeping that tradition in mind, on 21st September – the Independence Day of Malta, I sent an email to a close friend wishing him the national Independence Day. However, it was unusual that I did not receive any reply and acknowledgement from my friend. It was a surprise for me how such a message could be ignored?

With the passage of time, I realised that the reason was the person to whom I sent such message was from the opposing political background and does not acknowledge that day as a true representation of Malta’s independence.

Although it cannot be assumed that every citizen has a similar approach, it does however highlight the division in the society. It does reflect how people feel uncomfortable with opinions different to theirs.

I am personally of the opinion that there should be some kind of consensus regarding national events, which unite the entire nation and enables them to celebrate together, holding the principle of unity at heart.

Undoubtedly in unity there is strength. It reminds me a story of a wise person who had seven sons. At his old age when he thought he may depart from this world at any given moment, he wanted to teach his sons a valuable lesson of life.

One day he asked one of them to bring him a bundle of sticks. Then handing the bundle to each of his sons, he told them to attempt to break it. Although each of his sons tried his best, none was able to break the pile of sticks. The father then untied the bundle and gave the sticks to his sons to break one by one. This they did very easily and quickly.

The wise man then stood up and addressed his sons and said that I want you to remain united; if you would let division grow amongst you; anyone can break you, just like these sticks. If however you remain united like this bundle of sticks, no one ever will have the power to harm you. If you agree with each other and help each other, it will be impossible for your enemies to hurt you. But if you are divided amongst yourselves, you will be no stronger than a single stick in that bundle.

How rightly the saying goes: ‘united we stand, divided we fall’.

Source/Credit: The Malta Independent on Sunday, written by Laiq Ahmed Atif, president Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamat Malta, amjmalta@gmail.com – Read the original article in The Malta Independent – Read this article in Turkish

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The Purpose of a Hijab

Posted on February 14, 2021 by Laiq Ahmed Atif

L-GĦAN TAL-ĦIĠAB

Noor-Ul-Hudah Khan, Avukat

Kliem bħal liberaliżmu u moderniżmu jiddefinixxu s-soċjetà tal-lum. Jidher li l-mod tal-għajxien tagħna tant għamel progress li l-għata bħall-Ħiġab jew l-ilbies modest m’għadhomx jitqiesu bħala neċessarji. Wara l-insegwiment tad-dibattiti dwar il-projbizzjoni tal-Burka u tal-Ħiġab f’postijiet pubbliċi, dejjem titqanqal il-mistoqsija dwar ir-rilevanza tal-Ħiġab. Is-soċjetà tqis il-Ħiġab bħala restrizzjoni mpoġġija fuq in-nisa Musulmani. Naturalment, tfeġġ il-mistoqsija: X’inhu l-għan vera tal-Ħiġab?

Alla jordna fil-Koran Imqaddes:

“U għidu lil dawk in-nisa li jemmnu biex jieħdu ħsieb id-dehriet tagħhom u jħarsu l-partijiet privati tagħhom u li ma jurux il-ġmiel tagħhom jew it-tiżjin tagħhom ħlief dak li hu ovvju, u li jagħmlu l-għata ta’ rashom fuq sidirhom…” (24:32)

Bl-istess mod, Alla jordna lill-irġiel biex ibaxxu ħarsithom. Alla l-Omnipotenti jistqarr:

“Għidu lil dawk l-irġiel li jemmnu biex jikkontrollaw għajnejhom u jħarsu l-partijiet privati tagħhom. Dan jagħmilhom aktar safja. Tassew, Alla jagħraf sew x’jagħmlu.” (24:31)

It-tbaxxija tal-għajnejn u s-satra tal-ġmiel jipprovdu saff protettiv fis-soċjetà. Jekk jiġu segwiti sewwa, dan jgħin lill-irġiel u lin-nisa biex jitħarrku liberament b’mod dinjituż fis-soċjetà u jipprovdilhom opportunitajiet rispettużi u ugwali biex iħabirku għall-progress tagħhom stess.  

Hija idea komuni żbaljata qalb in-nies li n-nisa huma limitati għax jilbsu l-Ħiġab. Fil-verità, il-Ħiġab tal-mara ma joħolqilha l-ebda ostaklu biex hi tkompli l-istudji u l-karriera tagħha. Il-Ħiġab tal-mara huwa l-protezzjoni tagħha, il-ħellies tagħha. Jippermettilha li teċċella f’konformità mal-kmandamenti ta’ Alla.

Hemm tant nisa Musulmani tobba, infermiera, avukati u għalliema li jilbsu l-Ħiġab. Allura kif wieħed jista’ jassumi b’mod stupidu li l-Ħiġab joħloq restrizzjoni għall-mara. Il-Ħiġab ma joħloq l-ebda ostaklu għan-nisa. Jipproteġihom mill-ħażen tas-soċjetà, fejn in-nisa jitqiesu li huma aċċessibbli faċilment għall-irġiel. L-għan tal-Ħiġab kemm għall-irġiel kif ukoll għan-nisa huwa li jħarishom mill-ħażen li naraw fis-soċjetà tal-lum, bħaż-żina, l-adulterju, tfal barra ż-żwieġ, abort, eċċ. 

Meta wieħed jaħseb fil-fond, kieku kellna nsegwu l-kmandi ta’ Alla, konna naraw dawn il-kwistjonijiet imqanqla pereżempju mill-moviment #MeToojew manifestazzjonijiet pubbliċi kostanti ta’ żwiġijiet imfarrka? Għaldaqstant, huwa importanti li nirriflettu jekk dawn l-ordnijiet humiex ostaklu għalina jew inkella mezz biex jipproteġuna. Jekk wieħed iħares lejn din il-kwistjoni b’mod razzjonali, wieħed jintebaħ li l-Ħiġab mhu xejn ħlief benefiċċju għas-soċjetà tagħna u jippromwovi d-dinjità, l-iżvilupp, il-prosperità u l-paċi ġewwiena tal-individwu. 

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Healing our broken world

Posted on February 12, 2021 by Laiq Ahmed Atif
Image result for joe biden inauguration

Healing our broken world

We must re-write our future ambitions, based on unity, peace, love, compassion – Laiq Ahmed Atif

“I will give my all in your service thinking not of power but of possibilities. Not of personal interest but of the public good. And, together, we shall write an American story of hope, not fear; of unity, not division; of light, not darkness; an American story of decency and dignity; of love and of healing; of greatness and of goodness.”

These were the promising, encouraging and wisely selected words of President Joe Biden in his inauguration speech after taking his oath as the 46th president of the United States of America.

I eagerly listened to his speech; it was a powerful message and I hope it will reach far and wide.

His speech was a message of hope and healing to the fractured world we live in.

I pray that this dream comes true, his words become a reality and his sentiments are translated into action. As president of the world’s most powerful country, he not only becomes a healer to the wounds of Americans but of the entire world too.

May he use his influence, power and wisdom to bring peace, harmony and unity among all the nations of the world. May we all see a world full of peace, harmony and brotherhood.

May the dream that Martin Luther King envisioned many years back become a reality and may peace prevail in the world.

His speech came at a time when COVID-19 has affected the health of the many people, has struck a massive blow to the economy and is breaking the backs of many wealthy and powerful nations.

As president of the world’s most powerful country, Joe Biden not only becomes a healer to the wounds of Americans but of the entire world– Laiq Ahmed Atif

Furthermore, it is also feared that the economic crisis created by this pandemic may result in a Cold War. In fact, it is being said that, in a way, it has already begun and it is quite possible that a global war will ultimately break out using methods and weapons which will lead to catastrophe.

Thus, it is highly essential that wisdom prevails. We need more words of healing from world leaders to ensure the healing of a broken world. We must all realise our responsibilities towards God and to one another. And we must love humanity and discharge the rights of our fellow human beings solely for the sake of Almighty God. We must reform ourselves and elevate the love we hold for others in our hearts.

In his New Year’s Day message, the worldwide head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community drew attention towards the hardships faced by humanity during the past year and prayed that humanity is blessed with health, peace and prosperity in this New Year. He concluded his message by saying:

“True celebration will be when all of mankind upholds the values of humanity; when the vengeance between people turns into love.”

Undoubtedly, both good and bad has always remained with humanity. God says in the Holy Quran: “And We have pointed out to him the two highways of good and evil” (90:11).

This verse shows that there have always been two highways for human beings to choose from: that of good and that of evil; that of truth and that of falsehood and, lastly, that of spiritual progress and that of material progress.

We are living in a time where we are passing through an unprecedented situation in the history of mankind and this requires that we give precedence to good over evil; to love over hatred; to compassion over enmity.

I truly believe that with God’s blessings and through love, compassion and serving humanity, together, we can heal our broken land.

As the proverb goes, “love begets love”. Let us demonstrate true love and, rather than bending people’s heads, we should win over their hearts and souls.

I truly believe that love is such a powerful instrument and weapon that it can defeat every kind of malice, violence and aggression.

Affection and kinship can change a bitter enemy into a warm and trustworthy friend. In fact, love between two human beings is more powerful than the hatred between two communities or nations.

Despite the prevailing worrying political and horrifying economic situation, we must rise to the challenge and heal our broken world, rewrite our future ambitions, based on unity, peace, love and compassion.

Source/Credit: The Times of Malta, published on Friday 12 February 2021, written by Laiq Ahmed Atif. amjmalta@gmail.com – Laiq Ahmed Atif is President, Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat Malta. Read Original Article in The Times of Malta – Read in Turkish

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The Rise in Materialism

Posted on February 12, 2021 by Laiq Ahmed Atif

IŻ-ŻIEDA FIL-MATERJALIŻMU

Il-Messija Mwiegħedas, il-Fundatur tal-Komunità Ahmadiyya Musulmana, jispjega kif wieħed jista’ jikseb il-perfezzjoni, u jgħid:

Feġġew Profeti u Messaġġiera bla għadd fid-dinja , u ħadmu u stinkaw bla waqfien biex jistabbilixxu l-Uniċita ta’ Alla, iżda llum velu iswed qiegħed jgħattiha. Aktar minn hekk, in-nies waqgħu vittma ta’ forom differenti ta’ politeiżmu (adorazzjoni ta’ aktar minn alla wieħed).

Il-Qaddis Profeta Muħammad, il-paċi u l-barkiet ta’ Alla kollha fuqu, amar biex dak li jkun ma jorbotx qalbu mad-dinja, iżda llum, l-imħabba għall-materjaliżmu tiddomina f’kull qalb u kulħadd donnu mitluf f’din it-tip ta’ mħabba. Meta mitlubin, xi wħud ikunu kontra li jwettqu mank farka xogħol favur ir-reliġjon, ma jkunux iridu jikkommettu ruħhom u jibdew jivvintaw eluf ta’ skużi. Kull forma ta’ mġiba ħażina u immorali titqies bħala permissibbli u kull trasgressjoni possibbli titwettaq sfaċċatament. Ir-reliġjon saret fatalment dgħajfa u qiegħda hemm bla tama ta’ għajnuna bħal tifel orfni.

F’dan l-istat, kieku l-Iżlam ma ġiex megħjun u ngħata s-sapport, meta kien se jaffaċċja dawn iċ-ċirkostanzi li taw raġuni għall-għajnuna li ngħata? L-Iżlam baqa’ biss tal-isem. Kieku bħalissa mhux qed jiġi protett, kieku bla dubju jispiċċa fix-xejn.

Jien nistqarr sinċerament li huwa minħabba n-nuqqas ta’ għarfien li titqanqal il-mistoqsija jekk hemmx differenza bejn il-komunità tagħna u Musulmani oħra. Kieku teżisti biss din il-kwistjoni, xi bżonn ikun hemm għal dan l-isforz u għaliex għandha tiġi stabbilita komunità sħiħa?

Jien konxju mill-fatt li Alla l-Omnipotenti ddikjara kemm-il darba li waqa’ d-dlam u xejn ma baqa’ jidher. L-Uniċità ta’ Alla li darba kienet il-kuruna tagħna u l-kobor tal-Iżlam issa saret biss kliem fieragħ. Fl-istess ħin għad hemm xi wħud li verament jipprofessaw l-Uniċità ta’ Alla f’termini ta’ prattika u twemmin.

Il-Qaddis Profeta Muħammadsa widdeb biex wieħed ma jħobbx daqstant lid-dinja, iżda llum kull qalb hija maħkuma minn din l-imħabba.

Ir-Reliġjon saret bla saħħa donnha kienet orfni. Il-Qaddis Profeta Muħammad, il-paċi u l-barkiet ta’ Alla jkunu fuqu, qal ċar u tond, “L-imħabba għad-dinja hija l-kawża prinċipali tal-ħażen kollu.”(i)

(i) Ħażrat Mirża Ghulam Aħmad, il-Messija Mwiegħed u l-Maħdias, il-Fundatur tal-Komunità Ahmadiyya Musulmana, Ruhani Khazain V. 20, pp. 475-476

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Striving in the way of God

Posted on February 10, 2021 by Laiq Ahmed Atif

IT-TĦABRIK FIL-ĦAJJA RELIĠJUŻA

Imam Laiq Ahmed Atif

Alla jistqarr fil-Koran Imqaddes: “U lil dawk li jħabirku fil-mogħdija Tagħna — Żgur li se niggwidawhom fl-użanzi tagħna. U tassew Alla jinsab ma’ dawk li jwettqu għemejjel tajba.” (29:70)

Dan il-vers jafferma ċar u tond li dawk in-nies li jagħmlu l-almu tagħhom biex isibu lil Alla u joqorbu Lejh, żgur li jkunu ggwidati minn Alla. Madanakollu, huwa importanti li dawn l-isforzi ma jkunux temporanji; anzi, irid ikun hemm tħabrik kostanti għall-mogħdija ta’ Alla.

Is-suċċess jinkiseb f’din il-ħaġa meta wieħed jibqa’ jipprova b’mod konsistenti u b’determinazzjoni, u fl-istess waqt iħares il-kmandamenti ta’ Alla. Kull persuna għandha ħiliet u inklinazzjonijiet differenti u l-ordni hi li wieħed ifittex lil Alla skont il-kapaċità li jħaddan. Meta jsir sforz f’dan ir-rigward, Alla juri t-triq li twassal għal għandu.  Madanakollu, jekk jinfilzaw ħsibijiet egoistiċi u skużi, u sforzi minimi jitqiesu bħala ‘tħabrik’, mela l-bniedem ma jilħaqx lil Alla.

Wieħed li hu traskurat u għażżien ma jistax jikseb l-istess grad ta’ grazzja Divina daqs wieħed li jagħmel ħiltu kollha u huwa sinċier fit-tfittxija għal Alla. Alla ma ħalliex lill-bniedem fid-dlam fejn tidħol din it-tfittxija. Alla juri wkoll is-sinjali bis-saħħa tal-Profeti Tiegħu biex jagħti prova tal-eżistenza Tiegħu.

Għaldaqstant, huwa importanti ħafna li nsegwu t-triqat u l-mezzi kollha biex niksbu l-qrubija Divina u li ningħaddu ma’ dawk li f’għajnejn Alla ‘jwettqu għemejjel tajba’, u ma’ dawk li verament iħobbu ’l Alla.

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Respect, Love and Peace

Posted on February 6, 2021 by Laiq Ahmed Atif

Ir-rispett, l-imħabba u l-paċi

Imam Laiq Ahmed Atif

F’dan iż-żmien meta d-dinja litteralment ċkienet biex saret raħal globali b’mod li qatt ħadd ma kien jimmaġina qabel, għandna nirrealizzaw ir-responsabbiltajiet tagħna bħala bnedmin u għandna nippruvaw nitfgħu l-attenzjoni tagħna biex inxerrdu l-paċi, l-imħabba, u l-ħbiberija fost in-nies. Barra minn hekk, huwa wkoll importanti li nuru r-rispett lejn is-sentimenti reliġjużi ta’ xulxin.

Għax meta xi ħadd iweġġa’ s-sentimenti ta’ xi ħadd billi juża kliem ħażin kontra r-reliġjon tiegħu jew kontra l-personaġġi qaddisa dan iżid it-tensjoni bejn in-nies. X’inhu l-benefiċċju li tweġġa’ s-sensittività tal-oħrajn minbarra li żżid il-mibegħda u l-antipatija?

Għalhekk għandna nifhmu li ma nistgħux niżirgħu ż-żerriegħa tal-paċi mingħajr ma niżirgħu ż-żerriegħa tar-rispett reċiproku bejnietna. Ejjew flimkien nibnu narrattiva reċiproka biex dejjem nuru r-rispett lejn xulxin, lejn ir-reliġjonijiet ta’ xulxin kif ukoll lejn il-personaġġi qaddisa, il-messaġġiera u l-fundaturi tar-reliġjonijiet kollha.

Il-Koran Imqaddes jgħid li Alla bagħat il-profeti biex juri t-triq tas-sewwa tiegħu lil kull ġens, u jistqarr il-verità u l-ġustizzja ta’ kull profeta. Il-Koran Imqaddes jgħid: “U għal kull poplu hemm messaġġier.” (10:48). “M’hemmx poplu (fid-dinja) li għalih ma bgħatniex widdieb jew messaġġier.” (35:25)

Fid-dawl ta’ dawn il-versi mill-Koran Imqaddes, jidher ċar li l-Iżlam kategorikament jiddikjara u jenfasizza li, matul l-istorja umana, f’kull żmien u parti tad-dinja, Alla kien qed jieħu ħsieb tal-ħtiġijiet reliġjużi u spiritwali tal-bniedem billi kien qed jibgħat messaġġiera biex iwasslu l-messaġġ divin lill-poplu li għalih intbagħtu.

Dan is-sens ta’ rispett u unur reċiproku għall-messaġġiera u l-fundaturi tar-reliġjonijiet kollha dinjija jqiegħed is-sisien għall-fraternanza universali, l-armonija, it-tolleranza u l-paċi, li qed tispiċċa malajr mid-dinja.

Aħna, il-Musulmani, nirrispettaw u nqimu lill-profeti u l-messaġġiera kollha (il-paċi ta’ Alla tkun magħhom) u nemmnu li kollha huma l-messaġġiera mibgħuta minn Alla, ma nistgħu ngħidu xejn b’disprezz kontrihom; iżda nsewdu qalbna ħafna meta nisimgħu allegazzjonijiet bla bażi u mhux veri kontra dawn il-personaġġi qaddisa.

Alla li jista’ kollox jibgħat il-messaġġiera Tiegħu lin-nies biex huma jkunu jistgħu juruhom il-mod kif iressqu lin-nies aktar qrib lejn Alla u lejn l-umanità. Meta naqraw it-tagħlim tar-reliġjonijiet kbar tad-dinja nsibu li l-għan ta’ kull reliġjon dejjem kien li jqarreb lill-bniedem lejn Alla u li jistabbilixxi l-valuri umani.

L-ebda fundatur ta’ kwalunkwe twemmin ma għallem lid-dixxipli tiegħu biex iċaħħdu d-drittijiet tal-oħrajn jew li jaġixxu bi krudeltà lejn bnedmin oħra. L-Iżlam jgħallimna biex nirrispettaw il-profeti tar-reliġjonijiet kollha u għalhekk huwa importanti ħafna għall-Musulmani li jemmnu fil-profeti kollha li huma msemmija fil-Bibbja Mqaddsa jew fil-Koran Imqaddes.

Biex tinżamm il-paċi fis-soċjetà huwa neċessarju li wieħed jelimina minn qalbu s-sentimenti kollha ta’ mibegħda u jżid il-gradi ta’ tolleranza. Hemm bżonn li kulħadd jara li l-ebda profeta, ikun min ikun, ma jonqoslu r-rispett u l-qima li jixirqulu. Id-dinja għaddejja minn żminijiet ta’ inċertezza u taqlib kbir, u dan jirrikjedi li aħna noħolqu atmosfera ta’ mħabba u għożża ħalli nkunu nistgħu nneħħu din l-ansjetà u l-biża’, li aħna nwasslu messaġġ ta’ mħabba u sliem lil dawk kollha ta’ madwarna, li aħna nitgħallmu ngħixu f’armonija ferm akbar minn qatt qabel u għalhekk noħolqu ħajja aħjar, u li nagħrfu l-vera valuri tal-umanità.

Hija t-talba tiegħi li aħna kollha nifhmu r-responsabbiltajiet tagħna u nagħtu sehemna biex inxerrdu l-paċi, l-imħabba, il-ħbiberija u r-rispett bejn in-nies kollha u li nsaħħu r-relazzjoni mal-Ħallieq tagħna. Ammen.

Credit/Source: Il-Leħen, Sunday 31 January 2021, written by Imam Laiq Ahmed Atif – amjmalta@gmail.com – photo: Springsky|Shutterstock

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Id-Dawl Numru 38

Posted on January 30, 2021 by Laiq Ahmed Atif

ID-DAWL (THE LIGHT) FEBRUARY 2021

http://ahmadiyya.mt/iddawl_dir/Id-Dawl_Numru_038.pdf

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The Leaders of Tomorrow

Posted on January 28, 2021 by Laiq Ahmed Atif

IL-MEXXEJJA TA’ GĦADA

It-trobbija tajba tat-tfal

It-tfal tal-lum huma l-mexxejja ta’ għada. It-tfal huma l-ġejjieni ta’ nazzjon. Għalhekk, jekk aħna rridu futur aħjar, pajjiż aktar b’saħħtu, u dinja prospera, allura huwa importanti ħafna li nagħtu lit-tfal tagħna trobbija mill-aqwa.

Kull soċjetà u kull reliġjon tagħti importanza kbira lit-trobbija tat-tfal. L-Iżlam bħala reliġjon jitkellem ħafna dwar dan is-suġġett u jgħid li t-tfal għandhom jingħataw trobbija xierqa. L-Iżlam jitkellem dwar dan is-suġġett b’mod uniku u iktar mid-diskors jiffoka fuq l-għemil u l-eżempji prattiċi. Huwa jiggwidana li ‘actions speak louder than words’.

Għalhekk meta nkunu qed nibnu ġenerazzjoni futura għandna biex nimxu mal-kelma u ngħixu ħajja prattika. Sabiex it-tfal tagħna jistgħu jaraw eżempji eċċellenti fi djarhom u sabiex jistgħu jibnu l-karattru tagħhom b’mod ġenwin ibbażat fuq il-valuri ewlenin u fundamentali.

Il-ġenituri huma l-ewwel għalliema tat-tfal, u t-tfal jitgħallmu ħafna mill-ġenituri tagħhom. Kulma jagħmlu l-ġenituri jaffettwa lit-tfal, dak li jieklu, dak li jilbsu, kif jittrattaw lil xulxin, kif jindirizzaw lil xulxin, kif isuqu, kif jimxu fit-triq, jekk ipejpu, jekk jużaw lingwaġġ ħażin, eċċ.

Ħafna drabi naraw li anke t-tfal jadottaw il-professjoni tal-ġenituri tagħhom fil-ħajja prattika tagħhom. ‘Is-siġra tingħaraf mill-frott tagħha’; u bl-Ingliż ngħidu, ‘The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree’. ‘It-tuffieħ ma jaqax ’il bogħod mis-siġra’ hija frażi li tingħad b’rabta mat-tfal li juru kwalitajiet jew talenti li huma simili għal dawk tal-ġenituri tagħhom. Dan il-fatt juri kemm huwa importanti li l-ġenituri għandhom juru valuri morali għoljin.

Għalhekk, l-Iżlam jgħallem li, biex tinkiseb l-aqwa relazzjoni bejnek u bejn uliedek, huwa fundamentali li r-relazzjoni bejnek u bejn il-mara tiegħek għandha tkun eċċellenti. L-imġiba tal-ġenituri għandha twassal biex jinħoloq l-ambjent ideali għal ħajja ta’ familja sana. Ir-relazzjoni bejn ir-raġel u l-mara tiegħu għandha tkun bħal dik ta’ ħbieb vera, sinċiera u leali lejn xulxin; u t-tnejn li huma għandhom iġibu ruħhom b’mod eżemplari fid-dar.

Dan joħroġ ċar minn diskors tal-Qaddis Profeta Muħammad fejn kien qal: “Kull tifel u tifla jitwieldu bin-natura tagħhom safja. Huma l-ġenituri li jagħmluhom atei, jew Lhud jew Insara jew Musulmani skont it-tagħlim speċifiku li jgħaddulhom, u billi jipprovdu mudell partikolari bis-saħħa tal-imġiba tagħhom stess.”

Huwa wkoll importanti li nifhmu kif għandna nrabbu t-tfal tagħna, kif għandna nittrattawhom. Il-Qaddis Profeta Muħammad kien dejjem jgħid li wieħed għandu jittratta bi mħabba, ġenerożità u rispett, mhux biss it-tfal tiegħu stess, iżda l-ġenerazzjoni żagħżugħa kollha. Huwa qal: “Dejjem kunu qalbkom tajba ma’ wliedkom.”

Il-Qaddis Profeta Muħammad kien jenfasizza dwar l-importanza tar-rispett fit-trattament tat-tfal, għax ir-rispett jagħtihom kunfidenza u jżidhom fid-dinjità. Huwa qal: “Irrispettaw liż-żgħar tagħkom u għallmuhom il-manjieri t-tajba.”

Mingħajr dubju ta’ xejn, dan huwa fatt li l-ġenituri għandhom irwol importanti fit-tisħiħ jew fit-tfarrik tal-karattru ta’ wliedhom.

Fl-aħħar, nixtieq nispiċċa dan l-artiklu bit-talba sabiħa ħafna li Alla għallimna fil-Koran Imqaddes (25:75) li hija: “O Mulej tagħna, agħmel li n-nisa tagħna u wliedna jkunu l-għaxqa ta’ għajnejna, u agħmilna mudell xieraq għall-ġusti.” Ammen.

Source/Credit: It-Torca, Sunday, 24 January 2021. By Imam Laiq Ahmed Atif, President Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat Malta, amjmalta@gmail.com

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Mary in the Holy Quran

Posted on January 26, 2021 by Laiq Ahmed Atif

MARIJA FIL-KORAN IMQADDES

Tul l-istorja umana nsibu personaġġi ta’ karattru eċċellenti li kellhom qalb tad-deheb u għexu l-ħajja mimlija purità, pjetà u ġustizzja. Marija, omm Ġesù, kienet waħda minn dawk il-personaġġi qaddisa li sal-lum huma ħajjin fil-qlub u l-memorji tan-nies.

Il-Musulmani għandhom rispett kbir lejn Marija u Ġesù, u jemmnu li kienu eżempju ta’ virtù u mudell eċċellenti għalihom infushom, kif inhu deskritt fil-Koran Imqaddes.

Il-Koran Imqaddes jagħti unur kbir u rispett lejn Marija. Alla ddedikalha kapitlu sħiħ fil-Koran Imqaddes bit-titlu Sura Maryam. ‘Maryam’ huwa l-verżjoni Għarbija tal-isem ‘Marija’. Nixtieq nikkwota żewġ versi mill-Koran Imqaddes li juru l-karattru sabiħ tagħha.

“Ommu (omm Ġesù) kienet mara ġusta u sewwa.” (5:76) “U ftakar meta l-anġli qalu: ‘Marija, Alla tabilħaqq għażlek u saffiek; Huwa għażlek fuq in-nisa kollha taż-żmien.’” (3:43)

Barra minn hekk, il-Koran Imqaddes jeħlisha mill-allegazzjonijiet kollha li saru kontriha. U jgħid li l-allegazzjonijiet kollha kontriha kienu bla bażi (Il-Koran Imqaddes, 4:157). U jgħid li meta l-anġlu ġab il-bxara (l-aħbar tajba) li Alla se jagħtiha iben li jismu Ġesù, hi qalet, “Kif jista’ jkolli iben meta l-ebda raġel ma missni, u bqajt safja?” Huwa wieġeb, “Hekk għandu jkun. Iżda jgħid il-Mulej tiegħek, ‘Dan huwa faċli Għalija; u se nwettqu dan ħalli jkun ta’ Sinjal għall-bnedmin, u ħniena mingħandna, u din hija ħaġa kkmandata’.” (Il-Koran Imqaddes, 19:21-22)

Dawn il-versi juri bis-sħiħ li l-ebda bniedem ma kellu sehem fit-twelid ta’ Ġesù, u dan kien bħala sinjal mingħand Alla.

‘Maryam’ jew Marija huwa isem komuni ħafna qalb il-Musulmani u minħabba l-mogħdrija u sens ta’ ġustizzja tagħha ħafna ġenituri jħobbu jsemmu lill-bniet tagħhom b’dan l-isem; saħansitra l-iskejjel u l-moskej jissemmew ukoll b’dan l-isem ta’ ‘Maryam’. Il-Moskea tal-Komunità Ahmadiyya Musulmana li nbniet f’Galway, l-Irlanda, ġiet imsejħa ‘Masjid Maryam’ (il-Moskea ta’ Marija). Maryam, jew Marija kif inhi magħrufa, hija meqjuma ħafna mill-Musulmani bħalma hi mill-Insara. 

Fil-fatt, fil-Koran Imqaddes, Alla semma lil Marija f’ħafna okkażjonijiet u enfasizza l-pożizzjoni rispettata tagħha. Il-qdusija tagħha hija msemmija 34 darba, f’kapitli differenti tal-Koran Imqaddes. Marija kien l-isem ta’ dik il-mara safja u twajba li hi tant onorata fl-Iżlam li l-Koran qal li kull min jemmen tassew hu bħal Marija. U kull min jemmen għandu jiżviluppa fil-karattru tiegħu l-kwalitajiet ta’ Marija.  Il-Musulmani huma mitluba li jgħixu ħajjithom kif għexet hi, għax hija mudell għal dawk kollha li jemmnu.

Il-Koran Imqaddes jgħid: “Lil dawk li jemmnu Alla jġib l-eżempju ta’ mart il-Faragħun, meta qalet: ‘Sidi (Alla)! Ibnili għandek dar fil-Ġenna; u eħlisni mill-Faragħun u minn għemilu, u eħlisni min-nies il-ħżiena.’ U l-eżempju ta’ Marija, bint Għimran, li ħarset is-safa ta’ ġisimha, u Aħna nfaħna minn Ruħna fiha, u hija emmnet fi Kliem Sidha u fil-Kotba Tiegħu, u kienet mill-obbidjenti.” (66:12-13)

Dawn il-versi juru biċ-ċar li Alla jrid li l-Musulmani, tabilħaqq kull bniedem, għandhom jimxu fuq il-passi tagħha. Dan minħabba l-fatt li Marija kellha relazzjoni speċjali ħafna ma’ Alla u żammet il-virtù u l-kastità tagħha l-ħin kollu. Hija żviluppat rabta speċjali ta’ mħabba ma’ Alla.

Credit/Source: Il-Leħen, Sunday 24 January 2021, written by Imam Laiq Ahmed Atif – amjmalta@gmail.com

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Achieving Perfection

Posted on January 24, 2021 by Laiq Ahmed Atif

Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, the Promised Messiah & Mahdias, says:

“The fact is that man has been created for a much greater purpose. Mere abstinence from sin is no great achievement. So many animals do not commit any sin; can they claim to be perfect? Can we expect to be rewarded by a person just because we have done him no harm?

No, indeed, it is the sincerely rendered services which make one deserving of reward. The service man has to render towards God is to belong to Him alone, to forsake the love of everything else for His love, and to surrender his own will to the Will of God.

The Holy Quran illustrates this with a wonderful example: No believer can achieve perfection until he has partaken of two elixirs. The first is the elixir that cools down the love of sin, named by the Holy Quran as the ‘Elixir of Camphor’, and the second elixir, which fills the heart with the love of God, is described by the Holy Quran as the ‘Elixir of Ginger’.” (Ruhani Khazain V. 20, p. 234-235) – Read this article in Maltese

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Gender Equality in Islam

Posted on January 22, 2021 by Laiq Ahmed Atif

Noor-Ul-Hudah Khan, Lawyer

It is often stated that women are considered lesser than men in Islam; that the teachings of the Holy Quran put women at a lower pedestal than men.

It is important to note that men and women are not created identically. Their roles and functions are prescribed in their own respects. Why then do we insist that men and women should be able to carry out identical roles? It is assumed that just because women cannot be Imams or because they are traditionally known to be homemakers they are inferior to men.

Often Islamic critics state that the Holy Quran puts men superior to women as they are stated to be guardians over women. But this does not mean that men have privileges over women. In fact, this gives men additional responsibility. It is not the physical acts and responsibilities of men and women that are of paramount importance in Islam, but rather their spirituality that is of prime importance.

Allah says in the Holy Quran that:

“But whoso does good works, whether male or female, and is a believer, such shall enter Heaven, and shall not be wronged even as muchas the little hollow in the back of a date-stone (4:125).”

In Islam, it is one’s deeds that are assessed and a believer’s entry into Heaven is evaluated on this basis. Allah makes it clear in the Holy Quran that a male believer is equal to a female believer. A woman will not be punished because she did not lead the prayers and nor will a man be punished because he was unable to bear children. Therefore, it should be noted that as far as spirituality is concerned, men and women are identical.

Islam teaches that men and women should be provided with equal opportunities. Children should be taught and trained in the same way. Sons should not be provided with an advantage over daughters. Whatever is provided for sons should also be provided for daughters. Therefore, it is the responsibility of parents to ensure that they do not deviate from the true teachings of Islam or fall under cultural influences and put their daughters at a disadvantage.

If we as a society fall into the misunderstanding that because men and women are prescribed different roles they cannot be considered equal, then we are our own greatest enemies and will stop the advancement of society. If we follow the true teachings of Islam, we will find that the difference in roles is what allows for a healthy balance in society and harmonious movement, at the same time maintaining equality between the two genders. (Read this article in Maltese)

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Covid-19, Loneliness & Remembrance of Allah

Posted on January 10, 2021 by Laiq Ahmed Atif
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Serving Humanity on New Year

Posted on January 9, 2021 by Laiq Ahmed Atif
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Peace and Serenity

Posted on January 8, 2021 by Laiq Ahmed Atif
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A unique way to start the New Year

Posted on January 7, 2021 by Laiq Ahmed Atif

Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat Malta starts New Year 2021 by serving humanity

On 1 January 2021 Dar tal-Providenza organised an online 12 hour charity event, il-Festa ta’ Ġnerożità 2021, for the collection of donations.

During this 12 hour telethon, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat Malta, provided food and soft drinks to visitors and also to the staff members and all the volunteers who were working on this charity event. The members of Jamaat with great dedication and passion served delicious food to all the people who were engaged in this event.

Moreover, the members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat Malta also helped in conducting interviews and in responding telephone calls, and remained present there till the end of this telethon that ended at midnight.

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Id-Dawl Numru 37

Posted on January 1, 2021 by Laiq Ahmed Atif

ID-DAWL (THE LIGHT) JANUARY 2021

http://ahmadiyya.mt/iddawl_dir/Id-Dawl_Numru_037.pdf

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The Hope

Posted on December 31, 2020 by Laiq Ahmed Atif

IT-TAMA

Is-sena 2020 kienet sena mimlija ġrajjiet b’tant affarijiet ġodda li d-dinja qatt ma immaġinathom qabel. Il-pandemija tal-Covid-19 biddlet l-istruttura sħiħa tad-dinja. Ġabet magħha metodi u ideat ġodda ta’ kif ngħixu, naħdmu u naġixxu ma’ xulxin. Rajna rivoluzzjoni fit-teknoloġija, l-ekonomija dinjija sofriet immens u l-faqar żdied bil-kbir.  Bla dubju ta’ xejn, is-sena 2020 tibqa’ mfakkra għal ġenerazzjonijiet sħaħ. 

Bil-barka ta’ Alla u bit-tħabrik iebes tal-esperti mediċi, fl-aħħar qed nilmħu r-raġġi ta’ tama u dawl fit-tarf tal-mina tal-pandemija tal-Covid-19.

Ejja nibdew l-2021, din is-sena l-ġdida, b’talb sinċier u tama kbira.

Jalla Alla Omnipotenti jagħmel din is-sena u tassew kull sena ta’ warajha, waħda paċifika, mimlija risq u saħħa għall-umanità kollha. Ammen.

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Mary in the Holy Quran

Posted on December 26, 2020 by Laiq Ahmed Atif

Maryas in the Holy Quran

Hazrat Maryamas in the Holy Quran – Maryas in Islam (by Laiq Ahmed Atif)

The Holy Quran has extended great honour and respect to Maryas – the mother of Jesusas – to such a high extent that God has named an entire chapter of the Holy Quran by her name, ‘Sura Maryam’. Maryam is an Arabic name for Mary. The Holy Mary is mentioned for 34 times, in different chapters of the Holy Quran. The Holy Quran says:

“And remember when the angels said, ‘O Mary, Allah has chosen thee and purified thee and chosen thee above the women of all peoples.” (The Holy Quran, 3:43)

“And his (Jesus) mother was a truthful woman.” (5:76)

Mother Mary – a Role Model

Furthermore, the Holy Quran pays such great tribute to Mary, that it gives two examples for the Muslim believers, both men and women, as role model, example of the wife of Pharaoh and Maryas – the mother of Jesusas. The Holy Quran states:

“And Allah sets forth for those who believe the example of the wife of Pharaoh when she said, ‘My Lord! build for me a house with Thee in the Garden; and deliver me from Pharaoh and his work, and deliver me from the wrongdoing people;’ And the example of Mary, the daughter of ‘Imran, who guarded her private parts — so We breathed into him of Our Spirit — and she fulfilled in her person the words of her Lord and His Books and was one of the obedient.” (The Holy Quran, 66:12-13)

Mary represents those righteous servants and believers of God, who having given up all sin and having made peace with God, are blessed with Divine inspiration.

‘Maryam’ or Mary is a very common name in Muslims and because of her piety and righteousness many parents like to name their daughters with this name; even schools or mosques are also named Maryam.

His Holiness, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmadaba, the Worldwide Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, highlighted the high status of Mother Mary in his keynote address on 26th September 2014 at a special reception held to mark the inauguration of the Maryam Mosque (Mosque of Mary) in Galway, Ireland.

“This mosque here in Ireland has also been built for the same purpose [to foster peace and true justice at all levels of society]. It has been named ‘Masjid Maryam.’ Maryam, or Mary as known to you, is as greatly revered by Muslims as she is by Christians.

In fact, in the Holy Quran, Allah has mentioned Mary at many instances and highlighted her esteemed status. Mary was the name of that pure and pious woman who is honoured by Islam so much that the Quran has said that all true believers are like Mary. 

This is because Mary established a very special relationship with God and she upheld her virtue and chastity at all times. She developed a special bond of love with God, whereby Allah conversed directly with Mary and He Himself attested to her truth. Mary believed in the Books of God, she was righteous and attained a special rank in terms of her obedience to God. She was most certainly an example for all true believers.

Her elevated status is reflected by the fact that the Quran says that true Muslims should develop the qualities of Mary and if they do so then they will be those who never cause harm or suffering to anyone. Every Ahmadi Muslim therefore seeks to instil within themselves the purity, nobility and piety of Mary herself.” (ROR, December 2014)

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Marija fil-Koran Imqaddes

Posted on December 24, 2020 by Laiq Ahmed Atif

MARIJA (AS) FIL-KORAN IMQADDES

Kitba: Imam Laiq Ahmed Atif

Il-Koran Imqaddes irriserva unur kbir u rispett lejn Marija, sat-tali punt kruċjali li Alla ddedikalha kapitlu sħiħ fil-Koran Imqaddes bit-titlu Sura Maryam. ‘Maryam’ huwa l-verżjoni Għarbija tal-isem ‘Marija’. L-Omm Imqaddsa hija msemmija 34 darba, f’kapitli differenti tal-Koran Imqaddes. Il-Koran Imqaddes jgħid:

U ftakar meta l-anġli qalu: “Marija, Alla tabilħaqq għażlek u saffiek; Huwa għażlek fuq in-nisa kollha taż-żmien.” (Il-Koran – 3:43)

Ommu (omm Ġesù) kienet mara ġusta u sewwa. (Il-Koran – 5:76)

MUDELL EŻEMPLARI

Barra minn hekk, il-Koran Imqaddes tant jagħti rikonoxximent kbir lil Marijaas li jippreżenta żewġ eżempji ta’ mudelli eżemplari lill-kredenti Musulmani, kemm irġiel kif ukoll nisa. Dawn huma l-mara tal-Faragħuni u l-omm Marijaas – omm Ġesùas. Il-Koran Imqaddes jistqarr:

“Lil dawk li jemmnu Alla jġib l-eżempju ta’ mart il-Faragħun, meta qalet: ‘Sidi (Alla)! Ibnili għandek dar fil-Ġenna; u eħlisni mill-Faragħun u minn għemilu, u eħlisni min-nies il-ħżiena.’

U l-eżempju ta’ Marija, bint Għimran, li ħarset is-safa ta’ ġisimha, u Aħna nfaħna minn Ruħna fiha, u hija emmnet fi Kliem Sidha u fil-Kotba Tiegħu, u kienet mill-obbidjenti.” (Il-Koran – 66:12-13)

Marijaas, omm Ġesùas, tirrappreżenta l-qaddejja u l-fidili onesti kollha ta’ Alla, li tbiegħdu kompletament mid-dnub, u billi għamlu paċi ma’ Alla, huma mbierka bl-ispirazzjoni Divina.

‘Maryam’ jew Marija huwa isem komuni ħafna qalb il-Musulmani u minħabba l-mogħdrija u sens ta’ ġustizzja tagħha ħafna ġenituri jħobbu jsemmu lill-bniet tagħhom b’dan l-isem; saħansitra l-iskejjel u l-moskej jissemmew ukoll b’dan l-isem ta’ ‘Maryam’.

Il-Qdusija Tiegħu, Ħażrat Mirża Masroor Aħmadaba, il-Mexxej Dinji tal-Komunità Ahmadiyya Musulmana, enfasizza l-pożizzjoni glorifikata ta’ Ommna Marijaas fl-indirizz ewlieni tiegħu fis-26 ta’ Settembru 2014 f’festin speċjali biex jinawgura l-Moskea Maryam (il-Moskea ta’ Marija) f’Galway, l-Irlanda.

“Din il-moskea hawn fl-Irlanda nbniet ukoll għall-istess raġuni [biex tkattar il-paċi u l-ġustizzja vera f’kull livell tas-soċjetà]. Ġiet imsejħa ‘Masjid Maryam’. Maryam, jew Marija kif inhi magħrufa magħkom, hija meqjuma ħafna mill-Musulmani bħalma hi mill-Insara. 

Fil-fatt, fil-Koran Imqaddes, Alla semma lil Marijaas f’ħafna okkażjonijiet u enfasizza l-pożizzjoni rispettata tagħha. Marijaas kien l-isem ta’ dik il-mara safja u twajba li hi tant onorata fl-Iżlam li l-Koran qal li kull min jemmen tassew hu bħal Marijaas. 

Dan minħabba l-fatt li Marijaas kellha relazzjoni speċjali ħafna ma’ Alla u żammet il-virtù u l-kastità tagħha l-ħin kollu. Hija żviluppat rabta speċjali ta’ mħabba ma’ Alla, fejn Alla tħaddet direttament magħha u Hu Stess afferma s-sinċerità tagħha. Marijaas kienet temmen fil-Kotba ta’ Alla, kienet ġusta u kisbet post speċjali fejn għandha x’taqsam l-ubbidjenza tagħha m’Alla. Hija kienet ċertament mudell għal dawk kollha li jemmnu.

Il-pożizzjoni għolja tagħha hi riflessa mill-fatt li l-Koran jgħid li l-Musulmani ġenwini jridu jiżviluppaw il-kwalitajiet ta’ Marijaas, u jekk jagħmlu dan mela huma jkunu dawk li qatt ma jikkawżaw dannu jew sofferenzi lil ħaddieħor. Kull Musulman Ahmadi  għalhekk ifittex li jkollu ġo fih is-safa, in-nobbiltà u l-qdusija ta’ Marijaas nnifisha.” (ROR, Diċembru 2014)

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Ahmadiyya donates to Peace Lab

Posted on December 22, 2020 by Laiq Ahmed Atif

Ahmadiyya Malta presents gift packs for the residents of Peace Lab

Priest Dijonisju Mintoff, the Founder of the Peace Lab, receives gift packs from the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat Malta, which will be distributed among the residents of the Peace Lab, Hal-Far. Peace Lab is a voluntary institute that provides accommodation, training and help in finding employment to migrants living in Malta.

The gift packs were presented by Imam Laiq Ahmed Atif, President of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Malta, together with the community members. Imam Atif said that he always feels a great peace and serenity whenever he visists the Peace Lab. Here the environment is very peaceful. During this festive season, we are very pleased to extend our support and solidarity with the residents of Peace Lab.

While speaking with the residents of Peace Lab, Imam Atif said that it is very important that all the residents should play their role in keeping the surroundings clean and well organized. Everyone should be willing to help and always be ready to show solidarity to each other.

He also said that, all the residents should make it incumbent upon them that they have a duty to take care of Fr. Dijonisju Mintoff, the Founder of the Peace Lab, as he is now a senior citizen thus he deserves good care from all the residents. His services for the migrant communities span over decades. Thus, all the migrants living at the Peace Lab must express their sincere gratitude to him. It should be our religious duty to be grateful for his work. Islam says that anyone who is not grateful to his fellow human beings cannot be grateful to his Creator.

Priest Dijonisju Mintoff, the Founder of the Peace Lab, Hal-Far, welcomed the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat and expressed his gratitude for this noble gesture. TVM.COM.MT – The-Sunday Times of Malta

L-Imam bi żjara tal-Laboratorju tal-Paċi

Il-Komunità Ahmadiyya Musulmana b’solidarjetà ma’ dawk fil-bżonn

Patri Dijonisju Mintoff, il-Fundatur tal-Laboratorju tal-Paċi, jirċievi pakketti tar-rigali mill-Komunità Ahmadiyya Musulmana f’Malta, li se jitqassmu fost ir-residenti tal-Laboratorju tal-Paċi, Ħal-Far. Il-Laboratorju tal-Paċi huwa istitut volontarju li jipprovdi akkomodazzjoni, taħriġ u għajnuna biex isibu impjieg lill-migranti li jgħixu f’Malta.

Il-pakketti tar-rigali ġew ippreżentati mill-Imam Laiq Ahmed Atif, President tal-Komunità Ahmadiyya Musulmana f’Malta, flimkien mal-membri tal-komunità. L-Imam Atif qal li hu dejjem iħoss paċi u serenità kull meta jżur il-Laboratorju tal-Paċi. Hawnhekk l-ambjent huwa paċifiku ħafna. Matul dan l-istaġun tal-festi, aħna kuntenti ħafna li għal darb’oħra ġejna hawnhekk biex nuru s-solidarjetà tagħna mar-residenti kollha.

Waqt li kien qed jitkellem mar-residenti tal-Laboratorju tal-Paċi, l-Imam Atif qal li huwa importanti ħafna li r-residenti kollha għandhom jagħtu sehemhom biex iżommu l-ambjent nadif u organizzat. Kulħadd għandu jkun lest li jgħin u dejjem ikun lest li juri solidarjetà lil xulxin.

Huwa qal ukoll li, ir-residenti kollha għandhom jagħmluhom dmirhom li jieħdu ħsieb lill-patri Dijonisju Mintoff, billi issa huwa ċittadin anzjan u għalhekk jistħoqqlu li r-residenti jieħdu ħsiebu. Is-servizzi tiegħu għall-komunitajiet tal-immigranti huma mifruxa fuq bosta snin. Għalhekk, l-mmigranti kollha li jgħixu hawnhekk għandhom jesprimu l-gratitudni sinċiera tagħhom lejh. Għandu jkun id-dmir reliġjuż tagħna li nkunu grati għax-xogħol tiegħu. L-Iżlam jgħid li “Min ma jiżżix ħajr lin-nies, ma jiżżix ħajr lil Alla.”

Patri Dijonisju Mintoff laqa’ lill-Komunità Ahmadiyya Musulmana u esprima l-gratitudni tiegħu għal dan il-ġest nobbli u s-solidarjetà. TVM.COM.MT – NEWSBOOK — READ this article in TURKISH Language

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Why turn to drugs?

Posted on December 20, 2020 by Laiq Ahmed Atif

Why turn to drugs? – Laiq Ahmed Atif

Drug addiction ruins individuals, families, and society at large

Every experience in life, good or bad, teaches us some very valuable and precious lessons.

Good health is a great blessing of God. It cannot compete with anything else in the world. The popular saying ‘health is wealth’ clearly reflects the fact that, as individuals, we tend to value health as one of the most important and precious assets. It is true that health is a real wealth. The value of health is only truly appreciated when one becomes sick.

Undoubtedly, every sane person knows the importance of good health. During this particular year, however, due to the coronavirus pandemic, we have especially learned it significance.

What does it mean to be healthy and safe? How precious is health?

The Holy Prophet Muhammad has mentioned that there are two blessings from God with which humans are very careless. The first is health and the second is free time. He said: “Most people incur the loss in respect of two divine bounties: good health and leisure.”

Knowing the importance of health, we still find that, sometimes, people turn a blind eye towards their health or, because of certain circumstances, they are forced to neglect their health. One such element is the usage of illicit drugs.

Governments around the world are doing their utmost to tackle the illegal trade of drugs to protect the health of their citizens but it is truly unfortunate that drugs are still travelling from one place to another so often, even covering long distances.

One such example is that of a huge shipment of hundreds of kilos of cocaine, originating from Colombia and Ecuador and valued at about €70 million, that was seized by customs officials in Malta.

I was extremely astonished and deeply saddened to learn about it. Why are illicit traders of drugs playing with the lives of people? Why are such unwarranted things still happening even though the world is spending billions on the war against drugs?

Moreover, while knowing the importance of health, why do people turn to drugs?

Drug addiction not only ruins an individual’s life but also that of their children and families as well as of society at large. Moreover, it becomes a social and international crime which disrupts the entire society. Additionally, it becomes a financial burden on a society or a country.

I was extremely moved by listening to the heart-breaking stories of people who had personally suffered or had seen their loved ones suffer from drug addiction during a visit at San Blas, the Caritas Malta’s rehabilitation facility.

I would like to mention one particular incident of a woman who lost her partner at a very young age due to drugs. She was overwhelmed with emotion while she narrated the story of how her loved one conceded to drugs.

Good health is a great blessing of God. It cannot compete with anything else in the world– Laiq Ahmed Atif

Thus, why drugs?

I fail to understand why, although it is an open secret that drugs misuse ruins one’s dreams, family, future, spirituality, well-being and life, people still turn to them.

I would like to focus on one reason that leads to such abuse and that is society or people around us.

I met one person at the San Blas facility who told us that he successfully came out of drug addiction but “fallejt mill-ġdid” (I failed again).

I told him that it was not him alone who failed but the people around him also forced him or let him fail because it is rightly said that “man is known by the company he keeps”. It is a fact that a person tends to be very similar in attitude, character, ability, or personality to the people with whom suh person associates or spends time. To this, he nodded in affirmation.

The Holy Prophet Muhammad is reported to have said: “The example of a good companion and a bad companion is like that of the seller of musk (a perfume) and the one who blows the blacksmith’s bellows. So, as for the seller of musk, then, either he will grant you some or you buy some from him or, at least, you enjoy a pleasant smell from him. As for the one who blows the blacksmith’s bellows, then, he will either burn your clothes or you will get an offensive smell from him.”

The Holy Quran has also touched upon this subject and has drawn our attention to the fact that we must be very mindful in the selection of friends. It states: “O ye who believe! Fear Allah and be with the truthful, righteous and pious” (9:119).

This verse lays down one of the most important rules of conduct that contribute to the building up of a person’s physical well-being, moral character and to his spiritual growth and development.

This consists of one’s own effort to perfect one’s physical and spiritual well-being by developing the fear of God and, secondly, in seeking the company of the truthful, pious, loyal and sincere and then sticking to it.

In fact, to keep company with the righteous and the truthful is highly essential.It serves to remove moral and spiritual rust from one’s heart and exercises a very wholesome influence on a person.It leads a believer to the fountain of purity and righteousness.It provides a moral and spiritual environment for a person.

Source/Credit: TimesofMalta, Saturday, 19 December 2020. amjmalta@gmail.com – Laiq Ahmed Atif is president, Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat Malta. Photo: Photographee.eu|Shutterstock.com – Read this article in TURKISH language

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Ahmadiyya donates to Millennium Chapel

Posted on December 18, 2020 by Laiq Ahmed Atif

Ahmadiyya Presents Gift packs to the Millennium Chapel 

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat Malta presented gift packs to the administration of the Millennium Chapel. These gift packs will be distributed among the needy people visiting the Millennium Chapel.

The gift packs were presented by Imam Laiq Ahmed Atif, President of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Malta, together with the community members.

Imam Atif said that the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is very pleased to once again visit the Millennium Chapel and show its solidarity during this difficult time.

www.tvm.com.mt __ www.europe.easybranches.com __ www.NewsBook.com.mt __ www.millenniumchapel.org __ www.tvm.com.mt — TurkishNews

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Ahmadiyya visits Dar tal-Providenza

Posted on December 16, 2020 by Laiq Ahmed Atif

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Malta visited Dar tal-Providenza – a home for the disabled people, and presented gift hampers for the residents and for the staff members; on the occasion of International Day of Persons with Disabilities and ahead of the festive season.

Imam Laiq Ahmed Atif, President of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Malta, together with Haroon Ahmad Khan, the youth leader, presented the gift hampers to Ms. Nadine Camilleri Cassano, Administrator of Dar tal-Providenza.

Laiq Ahmed Atif said that: We believe that serving humanity is a very noble cause. Serving humanity is itself a form of worship of the Merciful God. While mentioning the qualities of the virtuous believers, Allah the Almighty says in the Holy Quran that, ‘the virtuous believers feed, for love of God, the poor, the orphan, and the prisoner. Assuring them that: ‘We feed you to win Allah’s pleasure only. We desire no reward or thanks from you’. (76:9-10)

Ms. Nadine Camilleri Cassano, Administrator of Dar tal-Providenza, thanked the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community on behalf of the residents for this nice gesture of solidarity. She also briefed them about the services being provided at the residence. She said that, “this year was really a difficult one due to the Covid-19 pandemic and during this hard time this gesture of solidarity from the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Malta is very welcomed.” www.TimesOfMalta.com – NewsBook.com.mt — NewsBook-English — Dar tal-Providenza — in Maltese — READ THIS IN TURKISH

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Imam Laiq Ahmed Atif fi żjara f’San Blas Caritas Malta

Posted on December 15, 2020 by Laiq Ahmed Atif

Il-President tal-Komunità Ahmadiyya Musulmana Malta, l-Imam Laiq Ahmed Atif, flimkien mal-membri tal-Komunità, għal darb’oħra, f’dawn il-ġranet sbieħ tal-festi, żar lir-residenti li jinsabu fil-Komunitajiet Terapewtiċi ta’ riabilitazzjoni mid-droga f’San Blas u ferraħhom b’diversi rigali.

Waqt iż-żjara tiegħu kien milqugħ mid-Direttur ta’ Caritas Malta, is-Sur Anthony Gatt, u uffiċjali oħra ta’ diversi djar f’San Blas inkluż tan-nisa.

L-Imam Atif qal li f’dawn il-ġranet għaddejjin minn żmien ferm diffiċli minħabba l-pandemija tal-coronavirus, u n-nies qed ibatu minħabba l-faqar u t-telf ekonomiku. Hemm nies li ma jistgħux jixtru xi affarijiet għall-festi, huma wkoll iridu jiċċelebraw, u jsiru parti minn dawn il-festi, iżda minħabba l-problemi finanzjarji tagħhom ma jistgħux jixtru, u għalhekk huwa imperattiv li s-soċjetà għandha tieħu ħsiebhom u tgħinhom b’kull mod possibbli.

Kull reliġjon tenfasizza l-karità. Filwaqt li jsemmi l-kwalitajiet ta’ dawk li huma ġusti u li verament jemmnu, Alla jgħid li huma dawk li ‘għandhom qalb tad-deheb’, li huma dejjem lesti biex jagħtu u juru s-solidarjetà. Għax jafu li l-ġest tas-solidarjetà jġib ferħ u sodisfazzjon tal-qalb. Għalhekk mhux biss li nirċievu r-rigali imma nagħmlu l-karità u nuru s-solidarjetà tagħna mal-oħrajn. Għax: Meta tieħu timla jdejk, meta tagħti timla qalbek.

L-Imam għadda messaġġ pożittiv u qal li kull bniedem huwa importanti, kulħadd għandu d-dinjità tiegħu. Hu kompla qal li aħna nemmnu li hemm żewġ għanijiet ewlenin ta’ reliġjon u fidi. Wieħed huwa li taqdi l-obbligazzjonijiet ta’ Alla Omnipotenti u l-ieħor huwa li taqdi l-obbligazzjonijiet tal-bnedmin ta’ madwarek. Il-Komunità Ahmadiyya Musulmana verament temmen f’dawn il-prinċipji u tipprattikahom kemm jista’ jkun.

Ir-residenti irġiel u nisa kienu grati ferm b’din iż-żjara u waqt mumenti fejn qasmu xi ħsibijiet esprimew l-apprezzament għall-kliem ta’ kuraġġ tal-Imam u tar-rigal li ta lil kull wiħed u waħda mir-residenti u talli ħaseb fihom f’dawn iż-żminijiet li għalihom jinħassu iktar diffiċli ’l bogħod minn dawk għeżież għalihom.

Id-Direttur ta’ Caritas Malta, is-Sur Anthony Gatt, spjega li din il-laqgħa tfisser ferm għall-Caritas għax tagħti xhieda tal-għaqda bejn ir-reliġjonijiet fl-umanitá u s-solidarjetá lejn ħutna fil-bżonn. Is-Sur Gatt esprima apprezzament lejn l-Imam Laiq Aħmed Atif, li f’dawn il-ġranet ta’ ferħ, jiftakar f’persuni li għaddejja minn tbatijiet u żjarat bħal dawn ifissru ħafna għax il-persuna tħoss li barra l-bibien tal-komunitajiet, hemm min qed jaħseb fiha.

Irringrazzjah ukoll tal-ġest ferm sabiħ li ferraħ il-Komunitajiet terapewtiċi kollha  b’affarijiet ta’ ħlewwa għal dawn il-ġranet ta’ festi. Find more:

Times of Malta – NewsBook – NetNews – Al-Hakam – Alfazlonline – AlFazl Int. – TurkishNews www.maltahaber.com

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