The binding of hearts – Love between Ahmadis and the Khalifa

“The binding of hearts” (ta‘lif-ul-quloob) is an extraordinary and powerful expression of love

depicted in the Holy Quran. Like the compilation of individual pages into one book, the word
ta‘lif means collecting many things into such a state that one name becomes applicable to them
all, whether the individual components bear relation to each other or not. (Dictionary of the
Holy Quran, p. 27; Lane’s Lexicon, Book 1, p. 80)

Such is the condition of the hearts of Ahmadis and our beloved Khulafa.

Hazrat Khalifatul Masih III(rh) once explained how the binding of hearts was a reality manifested
in the shape of Ahmadiyyat.

In 1967, while in Denmark, a Christian priest asked Huzoor (rh) what his status was in Jamaat-e-
Ahmadiyya. Huzoor(rh) replied by saying that his question was incorrect.

“The Imam of the Jamaat and the Jamaat itself are two names of one and the same thing. The
Khalifa of the time and the Jamaat itself both unify to become one entity. This is why it is the
task of Khilafat to strive to alleviate the pain and suffering of the Jamaat.” (Al Fazl, 21 May
1978)

Indeed, there is absolutely nothing as pure and sincere as the love that exists between Ahmadis
and the Khalifa. It is a type of love that transcends tribal, ethnic, national, and political
boundaries. It is a love that is, in many respects, no less than a miracle of God.

Our beloved Imam, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V(aa) has immense love for each and every one of us.
In the Friday Sermon of 6 June 2014, Huzoor(aa) stated:

“Before sleeping at night, there is no country of the world that I do not visit in my imagination
and no Ahmadi for whom I do not pray whilst sleeping and whilst awake.”

There are countless examples of mutual love to be discovered in these diaries that refreshes
and revitalizes one’s love for Khilafat. The families of Shuhada (martyrs) who received personal
phone calls from Huzoor(aa) giving them comfort in a way only a Khalifa could; children of
martyrs telling how they receive Eidi personally from Huzoor(aa) every year; when Huzoor(aa) told
Amir Sahib France that the Ahmadis who were eating lunch after Friday prayers should be well
fed and Huzoor(aa) would personally cover the costs if he could not; Huzoor(aa) embracing and
consoling the family of a Lajna member of Ireland Jamaat who passed away from cancer; the
elderly man from Ohia, USA who said that the rest of the world was struggling and facing
increasing difficulties but Ahmadis constantly feel at ease due to the blessings of Khilafat; how
carefully and lovingly Huzoor(aa) takes care of each member of his entourage while on tour;
Huzoor(aa) visiting the homes of Jamia Germany professors and commenting that when he was
unable to visit them during his previous tour he felt a burden in his heart for 18 months;
Huzoor’s(aa) many expressions of humility that bring tears to the eyes; journalists who were
amazed and touched by the devotion of Ahmadis to Khilafat; Huzoor (aa) continuing to carry out
his duties despite being in pain and discomfort, opting to rest in the car during a journey; and
the list goes on and on and on.

One need only glance at the diaries of Abid Khan Sahib to get a glimpse of the mutual love and
affection shared between Ahmadis and Huzoor(aa). The importance of reading these diaries is
apparent from the fact that during Huzoor’s(aa) visit to Germany in 2015, a 16 year-old-boy
approached Abid Sahib and said that until he had learned about Huzoor (aa) from the diaries, he
did not love Khilafat in the way that an Ahmadi should; but having read them he had seen just
how much Huzoor(aa) loved the Jamaat and why we needed Khilafat. (Diary of Germany Jalsa
2015, Part 1)

I will present only two excerpts from the diaries but they are an extraordinary read and I would
recommend all Lajna to please read them for themselves.

A French-speaking journalist from Benin once said to Huzoor(aa), “Whilst I have been here [at
Jalsa UK] I have seen that your people love you very much. They do not worship you, but their
hearts are overflowing with love for the Khalifa and in the same way it seems that you sincerely
love each and every Ahmadi and you have a personal relationship with them.”

In reply, Huzoor(aa) said:

“This is a sign of the truth of Ahmadiyyat, whereby there is an everlasting spiritual bond of love
between the Khalifa and the Ahmadis … this connection and attachment is natural and has
been implanted in the hearts of Ahmadi Muslims by Allah the Almighty. It is a continuation of
the two-way love that existed between the Holy Prophet(sa) of Islam and his Companions.”
(Diary Jalsa UK 2016, Part 4)

Without a doubt, it is the love for Khilafat that unites Ahmadis across the world. Commenting
on this very point, Huzoor(aa) once said to Abid Sahib:

“You were with me on my tour of Africa in 2008 and so you have seen the African Ahmadis and
now you have seen the Far Eastern Ahmadis. You will have realised that the love for Khilafat is
universal and not exclusive to Pakistani Ahmadis.” (Diary Singapore 2013)

Indeed, the love expressed by Ahmadis for Khulafa is but an evaporating drop from the ocean
of love given to us by them. Through His grace and mercy, Allah has bound our hearts and
united us in love as a favor from Himself.

It is our responsibility as Ahmadi Muslims to recognise this blessing and Mercy of Allah, be
grateful for it, pray fervently for our Beloved Imam(aa) and strive to build a strong relationship
with him through all means available to us.