“We respect humanity and this is why we don’t speak ill of anybody, of any person’s religion.” – Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad

On 5 March 2022, the World Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, the Fifth Khalifa (Caliph), His Holiness, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad held a virtual online meeting with members of Majlis Atfal-ul-Ahmadiyya from USA.

His Holiness presided the meeting from MTA Studios in Islamabad, Tilford, whilst 79 Atfal joined the meeting virtually from the Baitul Hameed Mosque in Virginia, California.

Following a formal session starting with recitation of the Holy Quran, members of Majlis Atfal-ul-Ahmadiyya had the opportunity to ask His Holiness a series of questions regarding their faith and contemporary issues.

One of the Atfal in attendance mentioned that much of their daily activities, including their school work, relies on using electronic devices. He asked His Holiness for advice on how to effectively balance screen time.

Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:

“You have to see to it that you should not overstress your eyes. If you are working on electronic devices and tablets and cell phones because of school work, then you should not spend much time watching TV programmes or other programmes on your tablets or electronic devices. Otherwise you will not be doing justice to your health and to your eyes. So, don’t overburden yourself, don’t stress your eyes…”

Another Tifl asked His Holiness how to become happier.

Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad replied:

“You should always be content. Always remember that Allah the Almighty has blessed you with so many things, [He] has given you good health; has given you good physique; has given you beautiful face, your eyesight is good. Allah the Almighty has given you ears with which you can hear everything and He has given you mouth and tongue with which you can speak good things and with which you can thank Allah the Almighty. He has provided you all the (necessary) facilities. He has given you the opportunity to go to school and educate yourself. He has given you good parents and good siblings… Anyway, always be happy, and thank Allah the Almighty that He has given you so many things.”

Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad further stated:

“You see there are quite a number of people in this world whose even basic rights are being deprived. They do not get enough food to survive, they do not have the opportunity to go to school, sometimes they drink dirty pond water, whereas you are drinking bottled water or clean water from your tap. So, if you think of how Allah the Almighty has blessed you with so many things, you will be happy and if you are thankful to Allah the Almighty then He will always keep you happy. Always see those people who are deprived of all these facilities, whereas you have got all these things. This is why there is a tradition of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said that when it is the matter of religion, of piety, of good things, then always see those people who are better than you. When it is a matter of worldly things, then always see those who are below you; those who have less facilities than you – then it will make you happy. It will make you thankful to Allah the Almighty and you will be happy.”

An attendee asked His Holiness how he should respond when someone speaks negatively about Islam.

Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad advised:

“If they are your close friends then tell them that we should not hurt each other’s sentiments by talking like this. You can tell them, ‘I love my religion and I am a Muslim, and if you want me to remain your friend then don’t talk ill about Islam.’ Then you can say, ‘We respect all the religions. We respect all the people. We respect humanity and this is why we don’t speak ill of anybody, of any person’s religion.’ If he stops, then well and good. Otherwise, Allah says, as I have already said, then leave that person’s company. Instead of fighting, just leave and go and find some good friends”

Another boy asked His Holiness how to become more like the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him).

Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad stated:

“Allah the Almighty says that he [the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him)] is a role model for you. We cannot attain the level of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) but at least if we try hard, we can do good things. The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) tried to discharge his duties towards Allah the Almighty and he tried his level best to discharge the duties he owed to human beings. So, we should try do the same. We should try to be good in our worship. We should try to offer five daily prayers. We should always show good morals. Never fight with your fellow students or your siblings. Speak good language all the time. Never use abusive dirty language. Try to learn good things. Read the Holy Qur’an. And when you complete the Holy Qur’an, then try to know the meaning of it, then you will know what are your duties. So, in this way you can at least follow the footsteps of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), who is our role model.”

Another question referenced chapter 11 verse 109 of the Holy Quran which mentions that heaven is a ‘gift that shall not be cut off.’

He asked that if only Allah the Almighty is eternal, then how can humans live in Heaven forever?

Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad explained and said:

“Allah the Almighty has said this in other places as well, that Heaven is eternal. This is why we say this worldly life is a temporary life so a person who comes in this world, he lives here temporarily. And there’s an eternal life after death…When it is said ‘eternal’, it is in relative terms. We cannot comprehend the time period [of heaven] because Allah the Almighty says in one place that His one day is equal to one thousand years and in another place, He says His one day is equal to 50,000 years. So, if you multiply these years – in relative terms for us – it is infinite. But Allah the Almighty says He is eternal – that is right. How? This Allah the Almighty knows. We only know that there will not be any life even in the paradise after some time. How long that time is, is beyond our comprehension. This is why we say it is ‘eternal’. A person living in this world cannot have full comprehension of it. Allah the Almighty talks in relative terms. So, if one day is 50,000 years, then multiply by 100 years – it is almost eternal for us!