Khalifatullah visits Seychelles

 About Seychelles

The Seychelles consist of 115 small islands scattered across a wide area of the western part of Indian Ocean between Madagascar and the equator.

The original French colonists on the previously uninhabited islands, along with their black slaves, were joined in the 19^th century by deportees from France. Asians from China, India, and Malaya (Peninsular Malaysia) arrived later in smaller numbers. Widespread intermarriage has resulted in a population of mixed descent.

Creole, also called Seselwa, is the mother tongue of most Seychellois. Under the constitution, Creole, English, and French are recognized as national languages.

Mahé, the largest island, is 29 km long and mostly about 3 to 6 km wide. It has a population of over 70,000. About half of the population lives in or around Victoria, which is the capital, and indeed the only town in the Seychelles (nothing else is bigger than a village). Praslin, the second-largest island, is 13 km long and has a population of about 5,000. More than four-fifths of the population are Roman Catholics. There are also Anglicans, Christians of other denominations, Hindus, and Muslims.

A Dawah Mission to Seychelles 

The start of June 2014 saw to the departure of the Khalifatullah, Hazrat Munir A. Azim (atba) along with his delegation to the Seychelles, according to the Divine Instructions. Allah is ever with His chosen servants. When Allah gave an instruction, therefore He is the One who opens the way for His Elect to go and accomplish the works He has been instructed to do. Therefore, in the process Allah makes that way so bright and miraculous that it leaves no doubt as to the truthfulness of His blessed Messenger.

With the registration and activation of the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam, Seychelles as the top priority (as instructed by Allah), Huzur (atba) embarked on a blessed journey. Upon his arrival there, the Khalifatullah (atba) went to meet the Vice-President of the Jamaat in Anse Royal, Les Cannelles who along with his family were very happy to find Huzur (atba) and welcomed him with open arms. They went to the airport very early and did not find Huzur’s flight as it was very late. Upon enquiry with the airport officers, they got to know that with the lateness and transit which the airplane will do, it can be that the flight is postponed to the next day, and thus they had to return back home. They presented their apologies to Huzur (atba) and explained to him the situation. They were very sad that they could not meet with Huzur (atba) at the airport and expressed their concern, but the Khalifatullah (atba) consoled them and told them not to worry and that now he was with them to accomplish the works for the cause of Allah.

The consolation offered by Huzur (atba) relieved a big weight from their hearts and they were joyous again and preparations were ongoing to make the stay of Huzur (atba) in Seychelles as comfortable as possible. They express their feelings about having the Khalifatullah (atba) in their home and led Huzur (atba) and his delegation to Anse aux Pins. May Allah bless them for their readiness to serve Allah and His Messenger and to facilitate the works of Huzur (atba) in his Divine Mission. Amin.

After the scheduled visit and meetings, later on in the early hours of the morning Huzur (atba) prayed Tahajjud and supplicated a lot for the success and victory of the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam in the Seychelles.

Historic Moments in Seychelles

The next day, a historical date for the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam, Seychelles. At Anse aux Pins, the Messenger of Allah and his disciples conducted a special meeting to elect the new office bearers. The minutes of meeting and the rules of regulations were prepared and afterwards Huzur (atba) and his disciples went to the Department of Registry to register officially the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam in the Seychelles.

As an officer knew Huzur (atba) from olden times – for in the past the Khalifatullah (atba) was the one to register both the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association and the Jamaat Ahmadiyya Al Mouslemeen in the Seychelles.

In the capacity of missionary, and under the instructions and approval of the fourth Khalifatul-Massih of the Jamaat Ahmadiyya, Huzur (atba) back then as Munir Saheb was vouchsafed the responsibility to establish the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association, Seychelles. Previously, that mission was entrusted to the Kenya Jamaat but they failed in doing so. It was the Jamaat of Mauritius who was successful in this noble work. Afterwards, unfortunately for him, in 2001 the fourth Khalifa Hadhrat Mirza Tahir Ahmad based himself on the report of his ex-Amir and ousted Hazrat Munir A. Azim (atba) from the Nizam-e-Jamaat on the sole basis of divine revelations, that is, only because Allah was in live contact with Hazrat Munir Azim (atba). (For an account about the expulsion episode, click here). 

Later on in 2003, after Hazrat Saheb got the divine instruction to form his own Jamaat, and entrusting to him the name also: Jamaat Ahmadiyya Al Mouslemeen, thereafter, in February 2006 Huzur (atba) and one of his disciples, Abu Elias Jahangeerkhan went to the Seychelles to officially register the Jamaat Ahmadiyya Al Mouslemeen in the Seychelles. By that time, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association had ceased to function in not only the Seychelles, but also in Reunion Island and Mayotte (all the places where Huzur (atba) did hard work to bring people the message of Islam Ahmadiyyat). After the Khalifatullah (atba) was expelled from the Nizam-e-Jamaat Ahmadiyya, the Jamaats he founded for the Ahmadiyya Jamaat ceased to reap divine favours and were closed down. And when he went and worked hard for the re-establishment of the Ahmadiyya Jamaat in the Seychelles in the form of Jamaat Ahmadiyya Al Mouslemeen, and after much Dawa and meeting with the officers there, good-natured people who helped Huzur (atba) a lot back then, thereafter the Jamaat Ahmadiyya Al Mouslemeen was successfully registered.

Unfortunately, the Jamaat Ahmadiyya Al Mouslemeen did not take care of that Jamaat also and lost this blessing, for indeed they had enough youths who could have gone to take care of the Jamaat in Seychelles along with Abu Elias Jahangeerkhan. But now, with the foundation of Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam, the Jamaat which Allah ordained His Khalifa (Khalifatullah) to form, the contact members have increased by the grace and blessings of Allah, and many people took the Bai’at, and it was very important there to have our Jamaat register so that it may function properly. 

When Huzur (atba) went to register the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam, he met with the same officer for the third time and the latter asked Huzur (atba) some questions pertaining to the Jamaat Ahmadiyya Al Mouslemeen, and to the astonishment of the Khalifatullah (atba), the officer went to bring a letter showing that the Jamaat Ahmadiyya Al Mouslemeen had been struck-off the register of Associations since 24 May 2006. Upon hearing this, Huzur (atba) deposited a complaint and asked for a profound investigation to be made because the Jamaat Ahmadiyya Al Mouslemeen was officially registered in February 2006 and all documents and certificate were obtained in February itself, and thus how could it be struck-off the register after just 3 months in operation! The Jamaat also did not receive any letter informing about this state of affairs. It is only days ago when Huzur (atba) went to the Seychelles that he got to know about this. 

Huzur (atba) hates injustice. And back then, Jamaat Ahmadiyya Al Mouslemeen was his Jamaat and despite that now he has been separated from the first revealed name of the Jamaat of Allah, yet he feels that it was outrageously unjust for a Jamaat to be cancelled after only 3 months! Every document held his name and signatures as responsible of the Seychelles Jamaat, and therefore he could not understand what could have happened. The officers in charge assured him that a profound enquiry shall shortly be made in this affair. As for the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam, it was a new dawn, a new beginning. And Alhamdulillah, all necessary documents were deposited and published in the official government newspaper. This time, the Khalifatullah (atba) took his precautions and asked the officers to inform him of any suspected or fraudulent attempts to stop the operation of the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam in the Seychelles, for if there is any such attempts, then these people will have to take their own responsibilities for this matter shall go to the highest authority (mundane & spiritual).

Next Hazrat Khalifatullah (atba) had a programmed meeting with a high personality and afterwards, he went to make Dawa to different people accompanied by his delegation.

After the Salat-ul-Maghrib & Esha, there was a special programme at the place of the Vice-President at Anse Royale. He axed his speech on the importance of Tarbiyyat, Tabligh and being regular in attending Jummah, especially in two places of the island, in the house of one of our members, and the other one in a small rented place as our temporary centre. They must strive also to spread the divine message with the advent of the Khalifatullah of this era. Indeed a great blessing which they are living in this era. Huzur (atba) chose a very humble brother who converted to Islam since 18 years and who now took bai’at in the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam after much study of Sahih al Islam, as the Amir and Missionary-in-Charge to lead the Jummah sermons and prayers, as well as Dawa and Tarbiyyat classes. The person in question is very fluent in English. The Khalifatullah (atba) also advised the other office-bearers about being hard-working and not neglecting all works for the cause of Allah. He also encouraged them to do financial sacrifice and to make the maximum to be able to buy a plot of land in the next 2 years and build a mosque for the Jamaat, with all its offices, Madrassa etc. and to go in the other islands near Mahe to do Dawa. 

Huzur (atba) cited the example of the Kerala Jamaat in India who are doing great works and efforts in the field of Dawa and financial sacrifice in the path of Allah. He mentioned also the works on the blog which is being done and had good words in favour of Hazrat Mukarram Fazil Jamal Saheb of Kerala. The Messenger of Allah (atba) encouraged them to be active in Jamaat works and to send their reports of activities regularly and advised them that it is in obedience to Allah and His Messenger that they shall have felicity in both the worlds. The programme ended at 11.00 pm.

The next day, the Khalifatullah (atba) and delegation took the ferry to Praslin, an island of the Seychelles. Alhamdulillah, on the ferry, Huzur (atba) met with a lot of people from different countries of the world and seized this occasion to address them for about some 15-20 minutes while on the one-hour trip to Praslin. Many people welcomed his message and wanted to know more about the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam, and thus the needed information was provided to them. After his visit in Praslin, Huzur (atba) went to La Digue, another island, and while on the ferry itself again passed on the divine message. Many of them afterwards came to meet him. Among them were Chinese, American, South African and Italian people. At La Digue, Huzur (atba) met with Sri Lankans, Nepalese and fanatic Pakistani people and the latter did not approach when Huzur (atba) was giving to them the message. On the other hand, the others listened. Among them were the French people and the people of Seychelles. Huzur (atba) preferred renting a bicycle and going to do his Dawa instead of any other means of transport.

One of the man to whom the Messenger of Allah (atba) preached the divine message offered to accompany him to other places to do his preaching. Dawa was done for some 1hr45m before Huzur (atba) returned take the ferry back to Mahe. On the way back, this time Huzur (atba) met with the people on the boat individually and passed on his message.

Later in the night, in Mahe, after freshening up, the Khalifatullah (atba) held a question & answer programme at Anse-aux-Pins.

On the third day, the Khalifatullah Hazrat Munir Ahmad Azim (atba) visited several villages and places to give them the message. En route, he went to visit a Muslim lady who stays there. He was warmly received, and there he also met with some family members of the lady, and together they broached the subject of the registration of the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam and how the Jamaat Ahmadiyya had failed in its mission and did not present any of their activities and was cancelled. He related also how the high officers of the Registrar reproached her about the lack of seriousness from the Ahmadiyya Association towards its duties to its branch in Seychelles and the registrar told her that henceforth the Ahmadiyya Association should not come again to get itself registered in the Seychelles. The lady also refused to take part in any activities of the Ahmadiyya Association for its lack of involvement and seriousness. She was an Office Bearer of the Association back then.

When Huzur (atba) explained to her about the works of the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam worldwide, she expressed her desire to work for the Jamaat despite the heavy responsibilities that she has in her mundane works. She is ready to cooperate with the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam, working for the Jamaat of Allah and following the instructions of the prophet of Allah of this era.

Afterwards, there was a meeting with the members of the Jamaat in Anse Royal, with session of works, and instructions given for the advancement of the divine message with the advent of a Khalifatullah. After Salat-ul-Maghrib & Esha in congregation and diner, Huzur (atba) met with some other people who came to visit him and to enquire about his mission. After a series of questions, they were very satisfied with the answers which Huzur (atba) provided them and they returned back home at around 22.45pm, feeling rejoiced and took their decision to take the Bai’at after Jummah prayers.

And Alhamdulillah, on Friday, the Khalifatullah (atba) pronounced his sermon at Mahe and before preparing himself for his way back to Mauritius, met with several members of the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam and reiterated his advices to have the Jamaat as one and working with dedication for the cause of Allah.

All Praise be to Allah, the Master of the Universe, the Protector Par Excellence of His Elect and Jamaat.