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When moving, is it better to move to a large Jama‘at center or a more rural area?

The spiritual advantages of living in places where the Jama‘at is well established are obvious. However, planting the seed of Ahmadiyyat in remote areas is also necessary. Hadrat Musleh Mau‘ud ra illustrates the importance of this point with the example of Hadrat Ibrahim as. He writes:

Hadrat Ibrahim as had two sons. He as told one son, Hadrat Ishaq as, to preach the unity of God in inhabited areas. He left his other son, Hadrat Isma‘il as, in Mecca, which was an uncultivable valley. His purpose in doing this was that the people who would inhabit this area two and a half thousand years later (at the time of the Holy Prophet) would need a guide. At that time, these descendants of his would glorify the name of God. Now, look how great of a long-term policy this was. Mecca was not built during the time of Hadrat Isma‘il as. Rather it’s inhabitation took two and a half thousand years. Thus, Hadrat Ibrahim as established Hadrat Isma‘il as in the uncultivable valley so that, when this wilderness would eventually be inhabited after two and a half thousand years, then these descendants would preach the unity of God to its inhabitants. In my opinion, such a long-term policy has never been adopted in the political, business, or scientific spheres by any nation, tribe, scholarly or philosophic organization, as was adopted by Hadrat Ibrahim as for preaching the unity of God. Leaving his descendants there was not a question of a few days, but a question of thousands of years. No one knew when Arabia would be inhabited and how long his offspring would have to face hardships.

(Tafsir-e-Kabir, vol. 7, p. 193)

With that being said, if we find that the influence of society is taking us away from the teachings of Islam, it is probably better to move to a place where the Jama‘at is well established. However, if we find an enthusiasm for Islam in our hearts which will influence the people around us rather than get influenced, then there are great blessings in establishing a Jama‘at in a place where there are no or a few Ahmadis.

Updated on January 4, 2019

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