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In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

.......... The HOPE Bulletin ………..

Health, Ongoing Projects, Education

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INTRODUCTION

Akbar Ibn Abdullah, Editor

On behalf of The HOPE Bulletin Team, I extend our sincere gratitude to Hazrat Ameer, Professor Dr

Abdul Karim Saeed Pasha Sahib, and to everyone who has submitted their Eid-ul-Fitr messages,

greetings and photographs that has enabled us to put together this special edition of The HOPE Bulletin,

for your reading and viewing pleasure.

For those who were not able to meet our deadline, we still encourage you to send in your material and we

will, inshaa Allah, publish it in our regular monthly issues.

Due to the large amount of material received from the UK Jama‘at, we are publishing that as a separate

issue.

As usual, we look forward to your continued support and we most sincerely welcome your feedback.

THE CENTRE

In the name of Allah the Beneficent, the Merciful.

Hazrat Ameer’s Eid ul Fitr Message

Shawwal 1433, August 2012

‘O you who believe, fasting is prescribed for you, as it was prescribed for those before you, so that

you may guard against evil.’ (Qur’an: 2:183)

Dear Sisters and Brothers,

Assalamo-o-Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahe Wa Barakato Hoo.

While we celebrate Eid ul Fitr we must also reflect upon its true spirit. It is very much a human quality to

be joyous when a goal is achieved, whether worldly or spiritual. Having been able to fulfil the command

of Allah certainly calls for a celebration. While we celebrate and express our happiness it is important to

remember that Allah has ordained fasting for a very specific purpose, and in the verse that I have cited

above that specific purpose is ‘that you may guard against evil’.

Taqwah or guarding against evil is likened to passing through thorny bushes unscathed. The guidance for

such a passage is contained in the Holy Qur’an which was revealed in the month of Ramadan. In this

simile of the path that I have quoted, what the Holy Qur’an forbids are the thorns that may harm us and it

should be our endeavour throughout our lives to avoid being injured by them. On the other hand the devil

incites us to walk right into these thorns and get bruised by them and have our protective clothes torn

away from us.

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Fasting in Ramadan is an exercise in refraining from what are otherwise permissible needs of human

beings. By going through this exercise of refraining from these legitimate demands of the body at the

command of Allah, we learn to submit completely to His Will at all times.

By fasting one is able to strengthen the soul and mind so that it becomes accustomed to saying ‘NO’ when

it ought to. Having accomplished this goal one has a good reason to be ‘happy’ and celebrate an Eid

which in the true sense is filled with joy and happiness.

Eid ul Fitr should become a day on which we should renew our pledge and determination to resist

temptations that come our way. We should be able to put into practice in our daily lives the ‘NO’ we have

learned to say during this Blessed Month. That will make our lives happy and we will find a change in

ourselves when we live according to the desire of Allah; fulfilling His commands which are aimed at

inculcating in us ‘haqooq Allah’ and ‘haqooq ul ibad’, that is, the ‘rights of Allah’ and the ‘rights of

human beings’. This will nurture a soul that is at peace with itself and with others.

I take this opportunity to wish you a very HAPPY EID UL FITR and pray that we are all able to continue

in the spirit of Ramadan. This will only be possible if we make a firm commitment that we will sustain

the spiritual goals that we have achieved during the month of Ramadan.

Aameen.

Professor Dr. Abdul Karim Saeed

Ameer and President

Worldwide Lahore Ahmadiyya Movement

Glimpses of Eid ul Fitr celebration at Darus Salaam, Lahore, Pakistan courtesy

Brigadier Mohammad Saeed

Hazrat Ameer Professor Dr. Abdul Karim Saeed delivering the khutbah

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Listening with rapt attention

Exchanging Eid greetings

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Girls in colourful clothes

AUSTRALIA

Report by Nur Jehan Alam, President, AAIIL, Sydney

Sunday 19th August dawned beautiful in Sydney - bright and sunny but with the chill still in the air - a

typical winter’s day.

Family members and friends came together for the Eid ul Fitr payers which were led by Brother

Muhammad Ameen Sahu-Khan. He gave a stirring khutba, and the President presented messages from

Hazrat Ameer Dr Abdul Karim Saeed, Brother Shaukat Ali, the Regional Director, as well as family and

friends.

The President, Mrs Nur Jehan Alam, spoke also on the issues surrounding Muslims, especially Ahmadis,

and the need to take stock of ourselves. She said:

“Today and over the next few days, millions of Muslims in many lands will be celebrating Eid. As

we are standing in prayer, let us assume that we stand in prayer with all the millions of Muslims

around the world. Let us join our prayers with theirs for freedom from hunger, bondage, disease

and injustice. You may think, What can one individual do? Just remember that a single pebble

thrown in a pond can make ripples that expand and reach the shore.”

She went to say:

“I am asking all of us to think on what I have said. Let us be that single pebble and makes a

difference.”

After the prayers, members got together for morning tea. This has become a bit of tradition in Sydney as it

gives an opportunity for all to spend time together and reflect on the prayers, khutba, speeches, and to just

catch up with each other.

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The Members of the Australian Jamaat would like to wish each and every member of the worldwide

Lahore Ahmadi Movement, family and friends a very happy Eid, and pray that Allah may shower His

choicest blessings on all, ameen.

Allah Hafiz,

Nur

Photos from Nur Jehan Alam

Ameen Sahu Khan delivering the khutbah

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Eid Greetings from Muhammad Ameen Sahu Khan

“O you who believe, enter into complete peace,

and follow not the footsteps of the devil.

Surely he is your open enemy.” (Holy Qur’an 2:208)

Assalaamu Aleikum Wa Rahmatullahe Wa Barakatahu.

May this Eid celebration

Be your very nicest yet

So pleasant and enjoyable

It’s one you won’t forget…

And may the loving wishes

That are being sent today

Be with you now and all year long

And bring happiness your way.

EID MUBARAK

Ameen & Mumtaz

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CANADA

Eid greetings from Toronto Jama‘at

Assalaam O Alaikum Dr Abdul Karim Saeed & Brothers and Sisters of the World Jamaats of the

Ahmadiyya Anjuman.

May your prayers and your fast be accepted by Allah. May Allah shower His blessing on all of us for our

effort during the month of Ramadan.

Eid Mobarak.

Yours truly

Ahamed Hosein

President OAAIIL (Toronto Canada)

Eid greetings from Calgary Jama‘at

Assalaam-o-Alaikum Wa Rahmatullah. May Allah bless you all.

Remember us in your prayers.

W/Salaam.

Sadiq Noor

Ahmadiyyah Anjuman Isha‘at-i-Islam (Lahore)

Canada Jama‘at

From Ahmadiyah Anjuman Isha’at-e-Islam Canada and our team at “Noor-i-Islam”

A very happy and blessed

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Ahamed Hosein, President, OAAIIL, Toronto

Assalaam O Alaikum Br Akbar

The Toronto Anjuman celebrated Eid ul Fitr on Sunday 19th August 2012.

The Eid Namaaz & Khutbah were performed by Br Zahid Sattaur. We had a song by Br Ibadat Ali. The

President delivered the Eid Message. The Vice President addressed the audience. Br Donald Ali provided

another song, and Br Zahid Sattaur rendered the closing Duah.

The Eid Namaaz was well attended and it was a pleasure to have a good audience.

After the celebration was completed, the ladies provided refreshment.

Eid Mobarak to all our Brothers & Sisters of the Ahmadiyya Anjuman.

Yours faithfully

Ahamed Hosein

President, OAAIIL (Toronto, Canada)

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Ray Buksh, Vancouver

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FIJI ISLANDS

Jalal Ud Dean

Readers are asked to click on the following link to read an article prepared by Br Jalal Ud Dean on the

occasion of Eid ul Fitr.

Instead: http://aaiil.org/fiji/articles/jalaluddean/MentionsofEid-ul-FitrinQur'an&Hadith.pdf

Photos courtesy Rizwan ud Dean

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GERMANY

Ahmad Saadat, Caretaker, Berlin Mosque

Eid in Berlin Germany is on Sunday 19th of August at 10:30 am, Insha Allah.

This year in Berlin I will be leading the Eid prayers first time in my life and Nasir Uncle (UK) prepared

Eid ul Fitr khutba for me which will be very helpful for me and of course followed with Hazrat Ameer’s

Eid ul Fitr Message at the end.

Eid Mubarak to all of you and all our members worldwide. …

Thank you so much.

Kind regards

Ahmed Saadat

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GUYANA

Mansoor Baksh, Missionary, Essequibo Ahmadiyya Organisation Lahore

Assalaamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuh.

Ramadhan greetings.

May Allah Bless you and yours in this special month of Ramadhan. May He Grant you forgiveness from

Himself – He is the Forgiving and He Loves to Forgive.

May He Bless you with great spiritual progress in this month and throughout the year. Ameen.

Mansoor

HOLLAND

Dr. Harry Sahied Boedhoe, Rotterdam

A Very Happy Eid.

May the joy of this day and the Rahmat and Barakat of the holy month Ramadaan support you till next

Eid.

Dr Harry Sahied Boedhoe

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Mudassar Aziz

Dear all

Assalamo alikum.

Eid mubarak to you and of family. May Allah shower all His blessing on you. Ameen.

Kindly remember me in your prayer.

Mudassar Aziz

Rotterdam (courtesy AS Santoe)

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Amsterdam (courtesy Henk Nassier)

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The Hague (courtesy Rashaad & Haroen Badloe) (Service held in the gymnastics hall of a school)

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Eid milan held on 25 August 2012 at Tropical Hall, The Hague.

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INDIA

Shagufta Tareen

JAK,

Wish you n your family a very happy and blessed Eid.

Shagufta

New Delhi (courtesy Shaukat Ali)

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INDONESIA

Report courtesy Shaukat Ali Dear brother Akbar Abdullah

Assalamu alaikum wa Rahmatullahe wa Barakatuhu.

The report on behalf of Indonesia is as follows:

I have spoken with Brother Iwan Yusuf, Secretary General of the Lahore Ahmadiyya Jamaat in

Indonesia, and he informed me that Eid al-Fitri Prayers were held at all our branches throughout

Indonesia. Members and others from neighbouring areas participated in the Prayers in very large

numbers and after the prayer gathering they all visited their family members and each other’s

residences.

Eid celebrations, as usual, continued for a several days and everyone appears to have enjoyed the

event.

Indonesia has public holidays on such occasions and members are able to visit family members,

relatives and friends in other parts of the country as well. Several days of celebrations were held

peacefully throughout Indonesia.

Please continue to pray for our brothers and sisters in Indonesia that they continue to live in peace

and harmony and that there is a greater degree of tolerance among the communities there.

Allah hafiz

Shaukat

NEW ZEALAND

Greetings from the President and Board of Directors

Bis-mil laa hir Rah-ma-nir Ra-Heem.

(In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful)

“And when My servants ask thee concerning Me, surely I am nigh. I answer the prayer of the

Suppliant when he calls on Me, so they should hear My call and believe in Me that they may walk

in the right way” (Quran 2: 186).

As the month of Ramadan is here, Muslims all over the world should observe its sanctity and make an all-

out effort to keep the fast and maintain the prayers in order to attain nearness to Allah.

The verse of the Holy Quran quoted above speaks of the nearness of Allah to man. Man is assured that

Allah accepts his prayer, and He exhorts him to ask and believe. The word believe refers to the faith of

man in a Living Soul Who hears and Who speaks and comes to the help of anyone who asks Him for

help. This verse is part of the section that deals with fasting being prescribed for the believers.

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The prescription to rid man of his ills The aim of fasting is to elevate man to a spiritual status where he is in direct link with his Creator. This

link is formed by following the guidelines provided to him by the injunctions of the Quran and as

practiced and demonstrated by the exemplary life of the Prophet Muhammad, the last Prophet of Allah.

May peace and blessings of Allah be upon him.

Allah, the Beneficent, has provided humankind a path that leads to His mercy and love. He has prescribed

various means for successfully attaining this path, the right path for which we beseech Allah in our daily

prayers through the Al-Faithah. One of the means the Beneficent has given us to find this right path of

‘Taqwah’ is fasting. He blesses us every year with the holy month of Ramadan to keep fast and draw

ourselves nearer to Him.

The Mujaddid of this era, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, was instructed by Allah to form a Jama‘at, to get

together a group of people the sole purpose of whose life would be attaining nearness to Allah. “And from

among you there should be a party who invite to good and enjoin the right and forbid the wrong and these

are they who are successful” (3:103).

Please pray in this blessed month for the promotion of unity amongst our brothers and our Jama‘at

globally. Pray for the success of our mission of spreading the message of Islam and pray for the protection

of the Muslim Ummah. Pray for the strengthening of the bonds of fraternity among Muslims and for their

ability to recognize their truth of the message of Ahmadiyyat. Take full advantage of this opportunity to

gain closeness to Allah through fasting and regular prayers and pay special attention to Tahajjud prayer.

Incorporate Quranic teachings in your lives by reading it, understanding it, and most importantly

practicing its injunctions.

My prayers will be with you all and I request you all to remember me in your prayers. Please pray that

Allah helps our Hazrat Ameer, Dr. Abdul Karim Saeed, to take the Jama‘at forward in its mission to

spread Islam to the corners of the world. Ameen.

Eid Shabir Buksh, Secretary, AAIIL, NZ

EID MUBARAK TO ALL MY BEAUTIFUL FAMILY AND FRIENDS

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Photographs courtesy Shabir Buksh

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PAKISTAN

Sabiha Saeed & Moderator Lahore Ahmadees, Brigadier Mohammad Saeed

Dear Members, Assalaam-o-Alaikum Wa Rakhmatullahi Wa Barakaato Hoo.

Wishing you all a very happy Eid ul Fitr.

(Oil painting by Abdul Ghafoor Saqib)

May the blessings of the Almighty Allah Ta'ala be upon you and all your loved ones. Aameen.

Seeker of your prayers

Lahore Ahmadees Moderator Mohammad Saeed

“Wasta‘eenoo bis sabr i wassalaat ۔۔ And

seek assistance through patience and

prayer”. (From verse 45 of Surah Al

Baqarah)

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Rawalpindi Jama‘at (courtesy Muhammad Ali)

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SOUTH AFRICA

Greetings from Ebrahim and Scheega Muhamed

As Salamu Alaikum.

We wish you blessed and peaceful Eid.

With fondest prayers and salaams,

Ebrahim and Scheega Muhamed

SURINAME

Robbert Bipat, President, SIV

Dear Uncle,

Aswk.

Please visit our facebook page through our homepage www.sivsr.org in order to have all pictures of the

whole month. …. In the meantime we would like to wish you Eid Mubarak.

Wassalaam.

Robbert

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Sample of photographs from SIV Facebook page

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Mary and Khaliel Ghafoerkhan

Eid Greetings.

Khaliel and Mary wish that Allah’s blessings light up the path and lead to happiness, peace, success and

prosperity. Ameen.

Photographs (courtesy Mary & Khaliel Ghafoerkhan)

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THAILAND

Shaukat A. Ali, Regional Coordinator, Asia and Pacific Region

Bismillah-ir-Rahman-i-Rahim.

(In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.)

Eid al-Fitr Message – August 2012

“And when My servants ask you concerning Me, surely I am near. I answer the prayer of the

supplicant when he calls on Me, so they should hear My call and believe in Me that they may

walk in the right way” (2:186).

Dear sisters and brothers, Assalamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullahe wa Barakatuhu.

We pray that all of you are in best of spiritual and physical health by the grace of Compassionate and

Merciful Allah.

Alhamdulillah, the holy month of Ramadan has come to an end and we thank our Creator and Sustainer

for guiding us to this day when we celebrate Eid al-Fitr. It is an opportune time to reflect on what we

have achieved and where we will be heading from here.

We have read and heard elaborate explanations of verses 2:183-185 as well as 2:187 during the blessed

month of Ramadan. In between these verses Almighty Allah tells us in the verse quoted above that He is

near. Elsewhere in the Holy Book we are told that He is very near to us and answers our prayers: “And

know that Allah comes in between a man and his heart” (8:24); “And certainly We created man,

and We know what his mind suggests to him – and We are nearer to him than his life-vein” (50:16);

“and excellent Answerer of prayers are We!” (37:75).

Since He is answering our supplications, we have to redouble our efforts to answer His calls, which are

contained in the glorious Quran. We are also told to believe in Allah and to do good deeds so that our

prayers are answered.

We sought spiritual enlightenment and nourishment with intensified vigour by looking at the inner and

deeper meanings of the verses. Sacrifices were made to seek the pleasure of Allah and to derive extra

spiritual nourishment. We must continue to add supplementary spiritual nutrition with regular prayers and

spread the message of peace and tolerance contained in the Holy Quran to others. This will help

strengthen what we have gained to last for another eleven months till the next Ramadan Kareem. If we

continue to refrain from what is prohibited and hear His calls and act on them, our lives will be in

accordance with the teachings of the Reminder.

Our obligation is to attain and maintain taqwah. Allah ta’ala tells us that He is closer than our life vein

and therefore He is watching us all the time. We must continue to strive in His way throughout our lives

and ensure that we hold religion above the world so that we are rewarded for what we do in this world and

in the Hereafter as per following verses: “Those who believe and do good, for them is surely a reward

never to be cut off” (41:8); “O you who believe, keep your duty to Allah, and seek means of nearness

to Him, and strive hard in His way that you may be successful” (5:35); “Except those who believe

and do good ─ for them is a reward that shall never be cut off” (84:25).

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While celebrating Eid al-Fitr, we must not forget our less privileged members of the society, who are

deprived of some of the gifts granted to us by our Lord. There is a proposal to build a school and Mosque

for the poor and needy in India. You may wish to participate in this noble project by contributing

generously. We are confident that Almighty Allah will reward you abundantly (sadaqah jaariah) in this

life and in the Hereafter. “Those who believe and do good, We shall certainly do away with their

afflictions and reward them for the best of what they did” (29:7).

We pray for the blessings of Allah upon all of you. Please convey our Salaams and Eid Mubarak to your

loved ones and others who see this Message.

Wassalam,

Shaukat

Phuket, Thailand

15 August 2012

TRINIDAD & TOBAGO

Ashraf & Nafiesa Ali

May Allah, Most Merciful, accept our Ramadan effort and may He continue to watch over us.

Love and Best Wishes from Ashraf & Nafiesa

Dr Hamza Rafeeq

Bro. JAK

Assalamu Alaikum.

The Eid Salaah and Khutbah were led by Maulana Kemal Hydal, Missionary of the Ahmadiyya Anjuman

Ishaati Islam Inc of Trinidad and Tobago and Imam of the Fireburn Ahmadiyya Mosque. About 350

persons attended. The Khutbah was based on ‘Jihad by Love’. It was well presented and received by the

Jamaat.

Following the Khutbah, an Islamic song was rendered by Bro. Haroun Ali after which Imam Iqubal Hydal

presented a cheque donated by the Government to the Jamaat. The President of the Jamaat, Imam Kefiath

Baksh, then delivered his Eid message. A presentation was also made to the oldest member of the Jamaat,

Mrs Sakhina Rafeeq. The closing Dua was then rendered by Dr Hamza Rafeeq.

All the children of the Jamaat were then treated to gifts, toys and refreshments.

Wassalaam.

Hamza Rafeeq

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Photographs courtesy Dr Hamza Rafeeq

Maulana Kemal Hydal delivering the Khutbah

Cross-section of the congregation

Mrs Nareeman Hydal and grandchildren

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Imam Iqubal Hydal, Bro Emdard Baksh (Treasurer) Imam Iqubal Hydal presenting cheque to the

& Imam Kefiath Baksh (President) Treasurer Bro Emdard Baksh

Oldest member of the Jamaat, Mrs Sakhina Rafeeq, receiving a gift from Mrs Ayouna Hydal

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Capt. Abdul Salam Khan, California

Dear Akbar Sahib

ASA.

Wishing you all a very happy Eid

Capt. Abdus Salam Khan & family

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Courtesy Jannifar Khanoum, Oakland, California

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CONTACT INFORMATION

Akbar Abdullah

Editor, The HOPE Bulletin

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 232811

Sacramento, California 95823-0430, U.S.A.

E-mail Address: akbar_786us@yahoo.com

Telephone Number: (773) 539-6892

“ISLAM” stands for “I SHALL LOVE ALL MANKIND”