Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V (may Allah be his Helper) gave most important counsel to office-holders with reference to fulfilling the requisites of fairness and justice in one of his Friday sermons. He said:
“Office-holders wrongly try and side with men. I say to the office-holders to change their attitudes. If Allah has given them the opportunity to serve, they should derive benefit from it, lest I also have to take disciplinary action against office-holders who are devoid of righteousness!”
(Friday sermon delivered on 24 June 2005 at International Centre, Toronto, Canada Published Al Fazl International 8 July 2005)
Huzoore Anwer continued with the subject in his next Friday sermon and said:
“Just as I earlier spoke to the office-holders that they should make decisions fulfilling the requisites of fairness, I will also say to the parties concerned that you too should give the benefit of doubt and if decisions are given against you, leave the matter with Allah. And just as the Hadith relates let the other party fill their belly with a ball of fire. Rather than prolong disagreements and speak against the Nizam e Jama’at everywhere, practice this teaching of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace): ‘Adopt such humility that despite being truthful consider yourself as the liar.’ May Allah the Exalted inculcate such tolerance in everyone and may everyone fulfil each other’s rights!
“Here I wish to make one thing clear for the office-holders, especially the Ameers (administrative heads). Just as I mentioned in my Jalsa speech, marital conflicts are on the increase in Western countries. These conflicts take such shape that in spite of having knowledge and sympathy, the Nizam e Jama’at cannot do anything due to certain restrictions. In certain situations the law of the land gives certain legal rights to one party in spite of the party being in the wrong. Men who are cruel to their wives and throw them out of the home do not even consider the intensity of the weather outside. There are such cruel fathers who do not realise that the mother has a few months old baby in her arms in the intense weather. Nizam e Jama’at should help these women against such people. If this means registering a case with the police, it should be done. The idea should not be that it will be sorted within the Jama’at without seeking outside help. If decision can be reached at a later stage within the Jama’at, it should be done, a case can be withdrawn. But an initial report [to the authorities] should definitely be made. Women whose families are not in these countries, they have no support here and become homeless and end up living in strangers’ homes. The Jama’at should look after them, arrange for their accommodation and legal help. (It becomes evident, it’s a different matter if it is done discreetly). I should be sent a recommendation for disciplinary action against such cruel husbands. Ameers of USA and Canada and some other Western countries should get information from Lajna and promptly make the lists and ensure the women are given their rights. Women whose rights are not being met and Nizam e Jama’at is also not taking any action regarding them should directly write to me.
“May Allah the Exalted enable us to fulfil our obligations in a good manner and enable us to become an active part of the Jama’at while staying firm on righteousness!”
(Friday sermon delivered on 1 July 2005 at International Centre, Toronto, Canada. Published in Al Fazl International 15 July 2005)
Huzoore Anwer (may Allah be his Helper) explained the same subject in another Friday sermon as follows:
“Complaints about some office-holders are received that their treatment towards their wives and children is not good. I have mentioned this before; sometimes news of such cruelties can be so copious that it becomes distressing because the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) came to bring about a unique revolutionary change. And some individuals who are not only associated with him but also serve the Jama’at, and some among them are at the forefront of serving, perpetrate such cruelty with their family! Allah have mercy and make them understand. When such people exceed limits and the Khalifa of the time is informed they are relieved of their services. They then raise clamour that they are deprived of serving [the Jama’at]. They should think this through before as to how much they have to practice Quranic commandments in their capacity as office-holders and how much effort they have to make to spread peace and security!”
(Friday sermon delivered on 1 June 2007. Published in Al Fazl International 22 June 2007)
During his 2011 tour of Canada, Huzoore Anwer (may Allah be his Helper) had a meeting with Rishta Nata (department facilitating matrimonial matches) Team on 11 July and gave them extremely detailed instructions and said:
“Some young men here in Canada, USA and western countries get involved in inappropriate practices which lead to some failings in them. At times, tarbiyyat and counselling corrects them at other times it does not. Similarly, sometimes girls have some failings. Anyhow when matches are being arranged these matters should come to the fore and both parties should employ righteousness in disclosing them so that future disputes can be avoided.”
Huzoore Anwer added: “Some families taunt girls after marriage that they did not bring any dowry, or taunt if there are no children, or they taunt if someone has only daughters. Thus, the husband’s family taunts the wife and this leads to separation. Some grandmothers come from rural environments in Pakistan and are predisposed to rustic mindset. Many relationships suffer because of their ignorant mindset.”
(Published in Al Fazl International 28 September 2012)