Building Mosques and Steadfastness in Worship of Allah

‘This light is now lit in houses with regard to which Allah has ordained that they be exalted and His name be remembered in them. Glorify Him therein in the mornings and the evenings;

Men whom neither trade nor commerce makes oblivious of the remembrance of Allah and the observance of Prayer and the giving of the Zakat.

So that Allah may give them the best reward of their deeds, and give them increase out of their bounty. And Allah does provide for whomsoever He pleases without measure.’ (Surah Al Nur, verses 37 – 39)

Today God has enabled the New Zealand Jama’at to build their mosque. May God bless this mosque for the Jama’at in every way! New Zealand Jama’at is small with just four hundred members, yet they have made a very good mosque with a capacity greater than their numbers. May God make them outgrow its capacity! Members of the Jama’at have worked day and night with great enthusiasm to get the mosque ready. As it is traditional in the Jama’at, they undertook many jobs [in the building] themselves through Waqar e Aml and saved costs. The total cost of building the mosque and some renovation was 3.5 million NZ dollars. Due to the Jama’at being small the amount could not be promptly raised, therefore a loan was taken. However, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih hopes that members of the Jama’at will soon pay off the loan. This year New Zealand Jama’at completes its 25 years, therefore, in spite of their small numbers, the members intensely wished to submit the gift a mosque to God in the form of His house. It should be remembered that the enthusiasm with which this gift has been offered, it should not remain a gift based on loan. Efforts should be made to pay off the loan as soon as possible so that the sacrifice is pure. The loan was taken by the Jama’at keeping a positive outlook towards the members, that they will make sacrifices for the construction to attain God’s pleasure.

The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) said that one who makes a house of God in this world God will make a house for him in Paradise. Can there be anyone who does not wish for a house in Paradise? No Ahmadi can even think of not attaining God’s pleasure and not wish for the blessing to have a house built in Paradise. It is the beauty of the Jama’at that everywhere in the world, it makes unreserved financial sacrifice. The substance of financial sacrifice that the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) initiated in his companions to take the message of Islam to the ends of the earth and about which he said that he was amazed to see the boundless sincerity and love of his companions, still exists today, a hundred years later in members of the Jama’at. Regardless of which country Ahmadis may belong, they surpass each other in loyalty and sincerity. The New Zealand Jama’at is comprised 60% of people from Fiji, 23% Pakistani immigrants and the rest from varied ethnicities. Thus this small Jama’at made up of diverse people excels in sincerity. It should be remembered that apparent sincerity, temporary sacrifice be it of time or wealth is not sufficient for a true believer. In fact dignity of a true believer is in abiding by Taqwa with resolve and constancy while keeping one’s objective of creation in view.

In this regard the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) explained: ‘Due to their lack of understanding and timidity people of different natures ascertain different goals for their lives and limit them to worldly objectives and desires. However, the objective that God Almighty states in His pure Book is: ‘And I have not created the Jinn and the men but that they may worship Me.’ (51:57). In light of this verse, the real objective of man’s life is worship of God and gaining His knowledge and to become God’s.’

It should be remembered that after coming in the Jama’at of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) it is not our aim to make