Humanity First Conference 2025

I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship except Allah He is alone and has no partner and I bear witness that Muhammad is His Servant and Messenger After this I seek refuge with Allah from Satan the accursed. In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful.

Today, with the Grace of Allah, you have gathered not only to mark and celebrate the 30th anniversary of Humanity First, but more importantly, to express your deep gratitude to Allah the Almighty and to renew your pledge to serve humanity. Certainly, I sincerely hope that everyone present has attended this conference with this spirit and intention.

Humanity First was founded by Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IV, with the far-sighted view that a distinct humanitarian organisation should be set up to further the Jama'at's efforts to serve humanity, particularly in situations where it could not directly intervene. Thus, you must never lose sight of the noble objective with which Humanity First was established.

Unquestionably, inspiring true service to humanity amongst his followers was a core objective of the advent of the Promised Messiah. He repeatedly emphasised the necessity of helping those in need. For example, on one occasion, the Promised Messiah said, All those who associate yourselves with me must show true compassion to all people regardless of their religion. You must show kindness to everyone without any discrimination as this is the teaching of the Holy Qur'an. As Allah the Almighty says, And they feed for the love of Him the poor, the orphan, and the prisoner. Chapter 76, verse 9.

Elaborating on this Qur'anic verse, the Promised Messiah explained that a true believer does not help only his own people, but serves all people in need. Thus, though captives and prisoners were often disbelievers, Allah the Almighty instructed Muslims to discharge their rights and fulfil their needs to the highest possible degree. In light of this, the Promised Messiah further said, So observe the unparalleled extent of Islam's compassion for all people. Thus, in my view, the perfect moral teaching has been granted exclusively to Islam.

Service to humanity, therefore, is a fundamental teaching of the Holy Qur'an. Moreover, throughout his life, the Holy Prophet ﷺ exemplified this teaching. His heart was forever consumed by a desire to aid and assist all impoverished and vulnerable people, regardless of whether they were Muslims, Christians, Jews, disbelievers, or followers of any other faith.

In this era, to revive and uphold the principle of serving mankind selflessly, Allah the Almighty sent the Promised Messiah, and it was to further this objective that Humanity First was established. Consequently, having associated themselves with the Promised Messiah, every Ahmadi must consider it a sacred duty to personify these benevolent teachings and tirelessly strive to alleviate human suffering.

Speaking of this duty, the Promised Messiah states, The most perilous and arduous challenge is to fulfil the rights of mankind, because this is a test and trial that one is faced with at all times and remains constantly before a person. Therefore, one ought to tread very carefully and be mindful when taking any step in this regard.

The Promised Messiah continues, To love mankind and to show compassion to others is an immense form of worship of God Almighty and an outstanding means of attaining His pleasure and rewards. On another occasion, the Promised Messiah elaborated further. He said, Allah the Almighty repeatedly commands that, irrespective of religion or ethnicity, you should show love and compassion to all people. Allah commands us to feed the hungry, free those shackled in bondage, pay off the arrears of those mired in debt, shoulder the burden of others, and truly fulfil the duties owed to mankind.

These teachings are all rooted in the Holy Qur'an and faced and found their perfect manifestation and expression through the life and character of the Holy Prophet, peace be upon him. Thus, do not consider Humanity First as just another charity or agency, rather directly underpinning its mission are the commands of Allah, the blessed practice of the Holy Prophet, peace be upon him, and the teachings of the Promised Messiah, peace be upon him.

Unlike worldly organisations, Humanity First does not serve humanity to garner fame or recognition. Rather, its every act of service rises purely from a devotion to Allah, the Almighty, and is inspired by His command to tend to the wounds of His creation. Furthermore, always remember that unless Humanity First stays firmly attached and aligned with the Jama'at, nothing shall distinguish it from other charities or aid agencies.

A few years ago, executives in Humanity First formed the opinion that Humanity First was completely independent of the Jama'at. The reality is, and always shall be, that Humanity First's direct association with the Jama'at is a source of divine blessings and a means of pride and honour for it. Accordingly, never discard or sever your link with the Jama'at of the Promised Messiah, peace be upon him, as our objective is one and the same, to serve humanity without distinction of caste, creed or culture.

As I mentioned, this is why Humanity First was established by Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IV. So, be in no doubt that as long as you maintain this link and prize your association with the Jama'at and continue to seek the guidance and instruction of Khilafat, your work and efforts will continue to be blessed, InshAllah.

In terms of the milestone itself, undoubtedly with the grace of Allah, Humanity First has progressed by leaps and bounds over the past 30 years from very modest and humble beginnings. Initially, Humanity First's total budget was barely a few thousand pounds or dollars, or at the most, after some time, a few hundred thousand pounds. Hence, its initial projects were very small scale and extremely limited in scope.

Yet today, three decades on, Humanity First has risen to a level where its annual budget is now in the millions. In fact, some individual Humanity First country budgets have reached millions of pounds or dollars. This is purely due to the grace and mercy of Allah. At the same time, Humanity First's budget and resources remain far less than those of many other humanitarian organisations.

Yet, you are all witness to how Allah the Almighty has blessed the work and efforts of Humanity First manifold. This is because the sole objective of those who serve in it is to gain the nearness and rewards of Allah and to be the inheritors of the prayers of the Holy Prophet and the Promised Messiah. Indeed, far bigger and more prominent charities often approach Humanity First and ask how we are achieving such large objectives, or they ask how we gain access to certain places which they could not, despite their multi-million pound budgets and enormous resources.

Always remember that your every success flows directly from the boundless grace of Allah the Almighty and because you are supported by the prayers of the Khalifa of the time and millions of Ahmadis around the world. Thus, as long as Humanity First continues to seek and follow the guidance of Khilafat and work with an earnest desire to serve others purely for the sake of Allah, it shall continue to flourish and progress.

According to the reports sent to me by the Chairman of Humanity First International, it is clear that Humanity First is now engaged in many different areas of service, including healthcare, education and other humanitarian fields. For example, its disaster relief teams have served with immense courage and commitment in some of the most challenging environments around the world. Additionally, permanent projects such as the establishment of hospitals, schools and orphanages and the provision of clean water and sanitation in remote areas have yielded excellent and life-changing results.

All Humanity First countries have contributed to these efforts. Though the United Kingdom, Germany, Canada and the United States have made particularly significant contributions over the years. In 2018, Humanity First established a state-of-the-art hospital in Guatemala, which has since been extended. Furthermore, another large-scale hospital project is nearing completion in the Ivory Coast.

Yet, far more importantly than the physical structures of the bricks and steel, are the compassionate hearts that serve within them, the doctors, nurses, staff and volunteers. Thus, where I am sure you will furnish the new hospital with excellent equipment, the doctors and staff must not only be professionally competent, but must also hold a heartfelt commitment to serving humanity and easing human suffering. Certainly, I believe that the care, compassion and dedication patients receive at our hospitals and clinics is unrivalled. If I am wrong, and this is not always the case, the Humanity First management should address it immediately.

The two large-scale hospital projects each cost millions of dollars, I think, but Humanity First does not have the resources to build such facilities everywhere. Thus, moving forward, you should strategically allocate your resources to maximise impact. Focus on building smaller hospitals or even clinics with 8 to 10 beds. Such facilities can be built at a fraction of the cost compared to large-scale hospitals. This strategy will ensure a broader reach into local communities.

Patients will be able to access vital primary care locally and may be referred to larger facilities for advanced treatments where needed. For example, in the Ivory Coast, local clinics can be established within the range of the new hospital, offering basic services and primary care. If required, patients can be referred to the main hospitals. Therefore, do not think that because you have built two very large hospitals, it would be a backward step if you now build smaller hospitals or clinics.

At a Jama'at level, we have built indoor medical facilities comprising 5 to 10 beds that are providing quality care to local communities and we have received very positive feedback. In the developing world, often lives are lost because patients lack access to such basic services or primary care. So, I reiterate that Humanity First should look to develop such clinics or smaller hospitals in different countries.

With the grace of Allah, Humanity First is running many other excellent programmes. For example, Humanity First Germany has established orphanages in Africa which provide compassionate care and support to many vulnerable children. Furthermore, for several years, Humanity First has run eye clinics and camps through the Gift of Sight programmes in which thousands of people have had their sight restored or improved.

Beyond these crucial ongoing programmes, Humanity First's mission also requires it to mobilise immediately to meet the urgent and often unexpected needs of the time. Thus, with the grace and mercy of Allah, over the past two years, in response to the devastating and horrific situation to Gaza, Humanity First UK has provided excellent and devoted service and resolutely faced some of the most horrendous and dangerous possible conditions.

In reality, it is the local Humanity First team on the ground in Gaza who are especially deserving of our thanks and prayers. With remarkable courage and dignity and without any consideration for their own comfort or safety, they have selflessly served the local people. They have been motivated and driven only by a profound desire to demonstrate the mercy and compassion at the heart of Islamic teachings. May Allah the Almighty reward them and keep them all in His protection.

During the course of the conflict, I have myself seen how some members of the Humanity First team in Gaza have physically weakened. They are sacrificing their own well-being and health for the sake of others, yet they have never once wavered or shirked their responsibilities. As a result, they have provided food, water, supplies and other shelters to thousands of people in desperate need.

Every penny spent by Humanity First in Gaza has reached the people on the ground, bringing them desperately needed comfort and relief. Indeed, other well-known aid agencies and charities have commended Humanity First's efforts and I am sure the relevant UN agencies will also testify to this, if they are fair and honest.

Regarding Humanity First UK, the ladies team is working with great dedication and passion. Mashallah, they have done excellent work in recent years. I am sure the women serving in Humanity First in other countries are also serving with great dedication. May Allah bless them all and enable them to increase their services in future.

Thus, there is no doubt that with the grace of Allah, the scope of Humanity First's work around the world is undoubtedly continuing to grow. As I said, the budget that was once in the thousands has now reached millions and one day, Inshallah, will reach millions. However, irrespective of finances, it is essential that all members of Humanity First always manifest an unwavering passion and commitment for serving others.

Serving humanity is not a fleeting objective that comes and goes like the wind. Rather, it is a lifelong challenge, one that requires consistency and unshakable steadfastness. So, it should not be that you work for a few days and then get fired or move on to something else. Furthermore, at every turn, you must seek the help of Allah. All your work should be conducted with humility and prayers.

You should not desire worldly plaudits or praise. Rather, your only motivation should be gaining the love, nearness, and rewards of Allah the Almighty and a desire to fulfil the commands of the Holy Prophet, and the teachings of the Promised Messiah.

Thus, now you have reached 30 years of service. Do not rest on your laurels or lie back in satisfaction. Instead, always look forward. Now is the time to plan for the next three decades. Now is the time to develop a clear vision for the future and to set ambitious goals. Now is the time to take Humanity First to the next level. Your aim should be that the humanitarian services of Humanity First do not just increase gradually, but increase exponentially in the years ahead. Only then will this milestone and commemoration hold real value.

Before concluding, I also wish to mention the volatility and instability of the world today. It is no exaggeration to say that the global economic and political situation is increasingly uncertain. Conflicts are erupting around the world. I have said many times, I fear we are drawing ever closer to a catastrophic world war. And if and when such a war occurs, resources will be scarce. Many money or valuables will be of little value.

Thus, Humanity First should prepare a comprehensive plan for how it will function and provide aid to those in war zones and affected areas. Whilst your disaster relief teams have some experience in responding to the earthquakes, tsunamis, floods and other natural disasters, the fallout from a world war would be on a completely different scale. It would present an unprecedented, precarious and complex challenge unlike anything you will have encountered in the past.

Indeed, it is even possible that Humanity First workers could lose their lives or severely injured in the course of their duties. Thus, you must plan meticulously and train your teams rigorously so they are prepared as much as possible. You should identify specific areas where you can help as it will not be possible for Humanity First to cover everything. Your priority should remain saving lives and alleviating suffering.

I know some contingency planning has already been done, but it should be reviewed and developed further. Remember, at a time of profound crisis, selfish people look to protect themselves and their own interests, but as members of Humanity First, you must always set aside your own interests and needs for the sake of others.

With these words, I pray that may Allah the Almighty accept and reward every sincere contribution, sacrifice and act of service offered by Humanity First over the past 30 years. May all members of Humanity First, wherever they may be, serve with ever greater distinction and devotion. And may Humanity First always live up to the noble aspiration with which it was founded. And may Allah the Almighty enable Humanity First to shine as a beacon of hope and mercy for generations to come.

Now, join me in silent prayer.