Waqf ‘Ardhi
Introduction
In the current age, time is considered invaluable. By sacrificing our time and serving in the way of Allah, we can achieve closeness to Allah
“You cannot attain righteousness unless you spend out of that which you love; and whatever you spend, Allah surely knows it well” – Holy Qur’an [3:93]
What is Waqf ‘Ardhi
- Waqf ‘Ardhi refers to a voluntary dedication of one's time, skills, and resources to serving Islam
- Members who participate in Waqf ‘Ardhi commit themselves to work for the Ahmadiyya Muslim community in various capacities without any financial compensation
- Participants in Waqf ‘Ardhi dedicate themselves to the betterment of the community and the propagation of Islam's message of peace and service to humanity
- This service can involve missionary work, teaching, social services, healthcare, and other forms of community service
- They may be deployed to various locations based on the needs of the community and the skills of the individuals involved
Objectives
Waqf ‘Ardhi promotes selfless service by encouraging Ahmadis to dedicate their time and skills for the community
The objectives of Waqf ‘Ardhi are to present oneself for the service of humanity, it prepares every Ahmadi member as a flagbearer and dedicated servant to facilitate the training of Ahmadis and the propagation of Islam Ahmadiyyat
Under this scheme, individuals or groups of Waaqifeen are sent to external Jama’ats for specified periods of time
The greatest purpose of this scheme is so that every Ahmadi can offer their skills and services to organize and oversee tailored classes for the main purpose of teaching and learning the Holy Qur’an. This is why Waqf ‘Ardhi is placed under the Ta’limul Qur’an Department
Roles & Responsibilities
Members can have many roles during these trips, including but not limited to:
Tabligh: which focuses on speaking in group settings to share the core beliefs about Islam Ahmadiyyat, and dispel myths that have been reinforced by media and negative stereotypes
Flyer Distribution: which is used to approach people through conversation and share key information about the Jama’at and the local work initiatives already being implemented
Jalsa Salana: is a massive undertaking each year and having a group of committed volunteers streamlines the process and increases efficiency
Office work: can involve any type of administrative task, including filing, faxing, organizing, correspondence, etc
Background
In 1966, Hadrat Khalifatul Masih III (rh) introduced the scheme of Waqf ‘Ardhi in Pakistan
- At that time, the Jama’at didn’t have enough missionaries and teachers to teach the Holy Qur’an and impart religious knowledge to Jama’at members in remote villages and towns across Pakistan
- To further the cause of learning the Qur’an, Huzoor began to encourage members to devote approximately 2-6 weeks of their lives to serving humanity and the Jama’at
- With passion, members began to sign up and were sent where the Jama’at assigned them. They stayed in sometimes remote locations, paid for the travel expenses themselves and the boarding themselves
- The Promised Messiah (as) repeatedly mentioned the importance and value of devoting one’s time towards the service of Islam. His companions were exemplary in their dedication and embodied the spirit of Waqf ‘Ardhi overall
- By the Grace of Allah the Almighty, and with the sacrifices of Jama’at members, the result has been astounding
Benefits of Waqf ‘Ardhi
The beauty of this initiative is how fruitful and enriching it truly can be for those who dedicate their time
On an individual level:
- Fosters a recentering towards Allah the Almighty
- It expands the knowledge base and resources of members
- It promotes professional networking with like minded individuals
- It strengthens brotherhood, service to humanity and to faith
- It reforms personal goals and creates valuable learning opportunities
On a Jama’at level:
- The diverse skill sets of members promotes interprofessional collaboration for the sake of Allah & humanity
- As we’ll explore later on, it has helped established and expanded many Jama’ats in the global south
- And lastly, Jama’at benefits from the expertise and professional experience of members
Guidance From Khilafat
In a 1977 publication of Daily Al-Fazl, the words of Khalifat-ul-Masih III (rh) highlight the value and importance of Waqf ‘Ardhi. He stated:
- “Waqf ‘Ardhi is a way of reforming the inner self. The second biggest benefit of the Waqf 'Ardhi scheme is that those who go on it get to self-examine themselves in certain aspects. They become aware of some of their own weaknesses before they leave, and get inclined towards prayers. In other words, a large part of the preparation for going on Waqf is that they get inclined towards praying, and increasing their religious knowledge or efforts at renewing it. They increase their study of books before leaving, and take some books with them. They contemplate, and keep an eye on their negligence, carelessness and weaknesses and try to correct them. They have the desire that when they go to another place, they should set a good example for them, and not be a cause for them losing their faith. Thus, Waqf 'Ardhi delegations have benefited immensely from their blessings of prayers.” (Daily Al Fazl 12th Feb 1977)
In 2005, Huzoor-e-Anwar (atba) established the combined department of Ta’limul Quran and Waqf ‘Ardhi in every country
- The initial focus of the Waqf ‘Ardhi scheme was to teach and learn the Holy Qur’an. Thus, the merging of these two departments allows Jama’ats to streamline the process and existing resources towards Waqf ‘Ardhi opportunities for members
Presentation
Read the presentation below to learn about the importance of the Waqf ‘Ardhi scheme, including its objectives, guidelines, and the valuable guidance of Huzoor-e-Anwar (aa)
