From the 31st of July to the 14th of August, 12 students of Jamia Ahmadiyya Canada traveled to the bustling city of Los Angeles to perform their annual Waqf-e-Arzi.
Murabbi Ehteshamul Haqq Kausar oversaw the group in all duties and responsibilities. Students performed many activities in service of the Jamaat. Some of the activities included daily tahajjud, going door to door performing tabligh, leading the five daily prayers in Baitul Hameed mosque and the 13 surrounding Salat centers, and delivering both short and long Duroos. Six students delivered Friday Sermons as well. Some of the highlights of the Waqfe Arzi included:
Visit to the grave of a companion of the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him)
One of the first things scheduled in this Waqfe Arzi was a visit to the grave of a companion of the Promised Messiah. Not many know of Hazrat Charles Seawright (may Allah be pleased with Him). He was an Australian born Christian who heard of the message of the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him) and visited Qadian which led to his acceptance of Ahmadiyyat. Later on he moved to Los Angeles where he passed away. His story was lost for nearly a century, but a Jamia student’s research for his thesis along with Huzoor-e-Anwar (may Allah be his helper) visit to Los Angeles in 2013 led to this discovery. His faith inspiring story was shared to all the students by Murrabi Kauser sahib. The students had the opportunity to pray for him.
Daily Tabligh
One of the main aims of this Waqfe Ardhi was to propagate the message as far and wide as possible. Thus, we would set out every day with flyers to knock on doors to invite members of local homes to a barbecue hosted by the Jama’at. This barbeque was arranged to introduce locals to the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community and to initiate discussions with them. This also enabled the local Jama’at to build a healthy relationship with the community and to assimilate the Jamaat’s presence in the area. The students spent three hours every day going door to door to the homes and stores around the mosque. By the end of the two weeks, students personally gave out 2900 flyers, reaching 1200 homes and 150 stores. Ten churches were invited to attend the event as well. Families at local parks were invited to attend. Over 130 phone numbers and 100 email addresses were collected from the locals.
Along with performing tabligh, students also had the responsibility of planning, preparing, and running the barbeque. Students prepared a menu for the food, set up the mosque for a tour, prepared scripts, and set up seating for food. Students helped in preparing the food as well, making 500 patties by hand. On the day of the barbeque, over 135 guests attended. When the neighbors of the mosque arrived, they were treated with exemplary hospitality by the students. A tour of the mosque was given to every guest introducing Islam and the mosque, providing an insight as to what our community’s values and beliefs are. We explained our motto of “Love For All Hatred For None” and how we abide by it and strive to fulfill it in the best manner. Then we ate with local members and answered any questions they might have.
Additionally, before the Waqf-e-arzi began, students made flyers and banners in both English and Spanish.
This was an enjoyable experience due to the conversations students were able to have with the public, learning more about the people themselves and what exactly their thoughts of the mosque and Islam are. This was a good opportunity to mitigate misconceptions about Islam and utilize the knowledge gained in Jamia. It was an opportunity to explain who we are and why we, young men spend our summer break, were out in the scorching heat and at their door. Through this experience, we learned how to plan and hold tabligh events on a large scale, how to present Islam Ahmadiyyat in such a manner which is appealing to the local community, and the importance of building contacts and bridging relations with the community.
Khidmat e Khalq in Downtown
Another aim of this Waqf-e-arzi was to perform acts of service for the community. Under this initiative, students had the opportunity to prepare and distribute meals for the less fortunate. Students prepared and packed 153 meals by hand. These meals were then taken and distributed in Skid Row, a community known to contain the largest population of the homeless in the United States dating back to the 1930s. Two cars were taken to this neighborhood and students carefully handed the food out to the locals. This was an eye-opening experience for all of us. To see people living in such unfortunate circumstances in comparison to the ultra rich billionaires who lived a few miles away in Bel Air and Beverly Hills. We left truly grateful for all that we had.
Tarbiyati Camp
Another aim of this Waqfe Arzi was to connect with local members, particularly the youth. For this, the students held a “Tarbiyati Camp”, during which youth from the ages of 8 to 25 were split up into groups based on their age. Each group was headed by a student. Presentations on atheism and other major religions were prepared and delivered by students. Many insightful discussions led by students were held with the youth. The aim of this camp was to address concerns of the youth and answer any questions that were relevant to them. The participants left with a new understanding of their religion.
Tabligh in San Diego
Located about two hours south of Los Angeles, San Diego is another Jama’at in the state of California. On the 6th of August, six students were assigned to go to the city and spend the day performing tabligh with the local president. They spent the afternoon engaging with the public via signs and flyers. They incorporated the “I’m a Muslim, ask me anything” sign and the “Guess this historical figure” signs. Through these efforts they were able to hold over 140 interactions and 15 detailed discussions. Countless allegations regarding Islam were dispelled. Students learned to converse with the public and overcome any lingering fears of public speaking. By the end of the day, all the students were confident in their ability to speak with strangers on Islam. Through these efforts some contacts were created as well.
Audiobook Recording for Alislam
In the midst of the Waqfe Arzi, local Murrabi Kauser Sahib received a request from the Alislam team for the students to record audiobooks. Murrabi Sahib gathered all the students and shared this opportunity with them. Then he assigned six teams of two students each to record audiobooks of Ruhani Khaza’in in English. Over the course of two days, six books were recorded and sent to Alislam.
Mosque tour with Assemblyman
The students had the opportunity to host local assemblyman Freddie Rodriguez. The students assisted Murrabi Mahmood Kauser Sahib with cleaning and preparing the mosque for a tour. They also set up banners and other arrangements for the assemblyman. They welcomed Assemblyman Rodriguez and observed Murrabi Sahib as he gave the official tour. They also helped arrange lunch and had a meal with the Assemblyman and his staff before departure.
This was an insightful experience on how to welcome and interact with dignitaries and other government officials, as it is key to build relations with the local government.
Conclusion
All in all this was a very insightful experience for all 12 students who attended. Through this, we were able to gain an insight into the daily life we can expect in the field. Although we cannot speak for others, we came into this hesitant and unsure of what to expect. We came knowing that we have countless things to work on to prepare us for the field. After spending these two weeks shadowing an active missionary and living a life filled with nothing but Jama’at work, we believe that we left Los Angeles a bit more prepared for the field.
