Waqf Ardi...



The importance of the Waqf ‘Ardi Scheme; objectives, guidelines & guidance of Huzoor-e-Anwar

Overview

  • The basics of what Waqf ‘Ardi is
  • The background and establishment of this scheme
  • The objectives and benefits
  • Assessing if a member is a good fit for the opportunity
  • Guidance from Khulafa

  • Examples of Paraguay and Jamaica
  • Looking ahead at the needs of Canada jamaat
  • The process and how to apply
  • And then we’ll close off with main points and an opportunity to send in any questions you may have

    • Introduction

    The Holy Quran

  • The Holy Quran states:
    “You cannot attain righteousness unless you spend out of that which you love; and whatever you spend, Allah surely knows it well.” [3:93]
  • Sacrificing our time and serving in the way of Allah is one of the main channels to achieving His nearness. When we begin to embrace the novel experience, endure unfamiliar situations and remain dedicated in the way of Allah, Allah generously rewards us in this life and in the Hereafter.

    • What is it?

  • "Waqf Ardi" refers to a voluntary dedication of one's time, skills, and resources to serving Islam.
  • Members who participate in waqf Ardi commit themselves to work for the Ahmadiyya Muslim community in various capacities without any financial compensation.
  • Participants in waqf Ardi 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.

    • Background

    In 1966, Hadrat Khalifatul Masih III (rh) introduced the scheme of Waqf ‘Ardi in Pakistan.

  • At that time, the Jama’at didn’t have enough missionaries and teachers to teach the Holy Quran 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 ‘Ardi overall.
  • By the Grace of Allah the Almighty, and with the sacrifices of Jama’at members, the result has been astounding.

    • Objectives

  • The objectives of Waqf ‘Ardi 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 ‘Ardi is placed under the Ta’limul Qur’an Department.

    • 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.

    • Benefits

    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.
  • Waqf ‘Ardi 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.
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    Target Audience (are you a good fit?)

    Any adult member of the jamaat can do waqf ardi, and a rising need of mature post-secondary students and other professionals is presenting itself
  • The members must be in good standing with the Jama’at, and be able to contribute a variety of skills toward the unique needs of Jama’ats around the world.
    •

    Professionals of various backgrounds can offer their skills for tasks such as:
  • Masjid construction.
  • Medical care.
  • Writing and editing.
  • And volunteering with humanity first for on the ground distribution of aid or other clinics.
    •

    Members will be placed in accordance to their professional capacity and experience
  • The key factor to remember is that the expenses of the travel, boarding, and sustenance in the destination Jama’at are the responsibility of the individual. The goal is not to gain financial compensation or reimbursement but to put forth one’s own resources to improve the quality and circumstances of newly emerging Jama’ats around the world.
    •

    The initiative is open to both men and women, and is encouraged in groups. Women may travel with their fathers, husbands or brothers to external Jama’ats. If that is not a viable option, local opportunities can be facilitated for one’s specific skill set.

    Guidance

    o In a 1977 publication of Daily Al-Fazl, the words of Khalifat-ul-Masih III (rh) highlight the value and importance of Waqf ‘Ardi. He stated:

  • “Waqf 'Ardi is a way of reforming the inner self. The second biggest benefit of the Waqf 'Ardi 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 'Ardi 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 Qur’an and Waqf ‘Ardi (TaQWA) in every country.

  • The initial focus of the Waqf ‘Ardi 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 ‘Ardi opportunities for members.

    • Success of Waqf ‘Ardi

    By the grace of Allah the Almighty, many missions have been established around the world with the help of volunteers under Waqf ‘Ardi. some of the shining examples of member contributions are Paraguay and Jamaica.
  • Paraguay’s Jama’at was established by missionaries and increased in efficiency because of the dedication and commitment of Waqf ‘Ardi volunteers.
  • Jamaica’s roots are similar in origin which has resulted in both Jam’ats now flourishing in the internal community work with members but also with the external community and outreach work to the locals at large.
    •

    Paraguay

    In paraguay, members have taken the time to contribute their skills towards humanitarian relief after natural disasters, tabligh and interfaith presentations to promote tolerance and understanding amongst jama’at members and locals, as well as clinics to restore vision due to cataracts.

    Jamaica

    Jamaica has provided sustainable outreach work through back to school events, focused on providing supplies to under-resourced children within the community. In paraguay, members have taken the time to contribute their skills towards humanitarian relief after natural disasters, local health fairs to increase direct access to medical care, flyer distribution aimed at dispelling misconceptions about Islam, and developing close bonds with the Jama’at members in paraguay.

    Additional examples

    Cayman Islands, Ecuador, Uruguay and Belize are all shining examples of the success and efficiency of Waqf ‘Ardi. All of these Jama’ats were established primarily by the efforts and contributions of Waaqifeen ‘Ardi.

    Looking ahead

  • With our lives becoming increasingly more busy and challenging, it’s important for us to take time to recalibrate and refocus on the most important part of our lives, which is Allah.
  • As the needs of the Jama’at are quickly evolving, new and innovative means of providing services to the community. A prime opportunity on the horizon is Jalsa Salana 2024.

  • In the next few months, Canada Jama’at is seeking the commitment of dedicated volunteers to contribute specifically to the set up and take down of the upcoming Jalsa Canada. For the first time ever, the venue will be Hadiqa Ahmad and will host over 20,000 people. It is a massive undertaking and the support of members is a vital asset for the success of this event.
  • Registration for this event is open now and members should apply as soon as possible to be approved.

    • Join

  • The implementation of the Waqf ‘Ardi initiative makes it easy for members to apply.
  • Please click here and contact the National Ta’limul Qur’an and Waqf ‘Ardi department with your application.

    • Conclusion

    Waqf ‘Ardi is a valuable and beneficial way to serve the Jama’at and humanity
  • It offers rich experience in new learning environments and develops a love of serving Allah and His creations.
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    This is seen through the various success stories that have improved because of the contributions of volunteers
  • Specifically Paraguay and Jamaica.
    •

    The innovative and creativity spirit of young professionals is a critical resource
  • By implementing these skill sets helps share the message of Islam Ahmadiyyat through newly emerging channels.
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    Most importantly, Waqf ‘Ardi fosters a sense of brotherhood
  • It helps us develop a love of others, aligns us to our spiritual goals and promotes a personal reformation to remain focused in our service to Allah.
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    Questions and answers

  • If any questions arise, please click here and ask your questions. Please enter the information correctly, thoroughly, and completely to ensure a quicker response time.

  • May Allah enable us to serve the Jama’at and reward our collective efforts! Amīn!