27th May 2026
Neyaz Ahmad Naik
At present, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is the only community in which the heavenly institution of Khilafat ‘ala Minhaj an-Nubuwwah (Caliphate on the precepts of Prophethood) continues to remain firmly established in accordance with the prophecies of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sa). In this age, many groups and movements attempted to establish systems of khilafat through human efforts and political power, but all such attempts failed. The fundamental reason is that a Khalifa is appointed by God Himself; human power has no role in establishing this divine institution.
In this era, Allah the Almighty established Khilafat ‘ala Minhaj an-Nubuwwah after the demise of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) on 27 May 1908. The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is the only Jama’at today that is united under one universal Imam whose obedience is binding upon all members. Therefore, in accordance with the saying of the Holy Prophet (sa), “Yadullahi ma‘al Jama‘ah” (“The Hand of Allah is with the Jama’at”), divine support and help remain with the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.
By the grace of Allah, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community enjoys spiritual, intellectual, emotional, and mental unity, and the sole reason for this harmony is the presence of one divinely guided Khalifa among us. This divine support manifests itself in many ways. Through the blessings of Khilafat, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is bound together in a beautiful bond of brotherhood. This universal brotherhood is witnessed not only at the annual conventions held across the world, but especially at the Jalsa Salana UK, where people of every nation, race, colour, and language embrace one another with smiling faces and hearts filled with love and affection.
Khilafat: A Fortress of Peace and Security
One of the greatest blessings of Khilafat is that its members, as a community, live in peace and security. Whenever fear and uncertainty engulf the world, members of the Jama’at find safety and protection behind the shield of Khilafat. The history of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community bears witness to the fact that every era of fear and persecution transformed into peace and tranquillity under the shade of Khilafat.
The plans of governments failed, and the conspiracies of opponents and hypocrites came to nothing. The spread of the Jama’to the corners of the world, the establishment of mosques and missions, the global network of missionaries, the translation of the Holy Qur’an into numerous languages, the recognition of the Jama’at as a peaceful community worldwide, and the continual showering of divine blessings mentioned by Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V (aa) during the annual conventions in the United Kingdom — all these are manifestations of the blessings of Khilafat.
Through obedience to Khilafat, we have all partaken abundantly in these blessings. Those who separated themselves from this heavenly system were left deprived, as happened with the Lahori group.
A Compassionate and Loving Leader
Through Khilafat, Allah the Almighty has blessed us with a compassionate Imam. He is as essential to us as the soul is to the body. For our sake, he spends his nights awake, weeping before Allah in prayer. In the person of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih (aa), Allah has granted us a beloved leader who truly cares for us and continually strives for our progress and wellbeing.
The difference between us and others is that we possess a leader who genuinely feels our pain, whereas others have no such figure. Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V (aba) once stated:
“Which worldly leader prays for the sick? Which leader becomes anxious about the marriages of the girls in his community and prays for them? Which leader worries about the education of children? … There is no country in the world that I do not visualize before sleeping, and for whose people I do not pray while awake and even before falling asleep. I do not say these things as a favour upon anyone; this is my duty. May Allah enable me to fulfil this duty even more than before.” (Friday Sermon, 6 June 2014)
The Secret of Progress Lies in Obedience to Khilafat
The divine institution of true Islamic Khilafat demands from us that we value this magnificent blessing of Allah and continue to demonstrate its importance and benefits through both our words and actions. Obedience to Khilafat means that whenever the Khalifa directs us towards something, we respond with “Sami‘na wa ata‘na” — “We hear and we obey.”
Complete obedience and loyalty to Khalifatul Masih (aa) contain the secret of all our progress and success. In one Friday Sermon, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V (aba) stated:
“Every Ahmadi should strive to pray for Khilafat so that its blessings may always remain with you. Bring about special changes within yourselves. Progress further in faith and sincerity than before. Today, the true standard-bearer of Ahmadiyyat is the one who performs righteous deeds and remains firmly attached to Khilafat.” (Friday Sermon, 27 May 2005)
May Allah the Almighty enable the entire world to gather under the blessed shade of Ahmadiyya Khilafat. Khilafat is neither Eastern nor Western; rather, it is universal and raises its voice for the welfare and prosperity of all humanity.
The Author is currently serving in Jamia Ahmadiyya Qadian and as Sadar Majlis Khuddam-ul-Ahmadiyya Bharat.
