FAQs

Chanda is spending in the way of Allah to attain his pleasure. The money that is paid towards chanda, is utilised for the functioning of Nizam-e-Jama’at (the framework of the organisation) and the worldwide dissemination of its message.

To sacrifice one’s wealth for the cause of one’s faith is the fundamental requirement of a believer. The Promised Messiah says with regards to financial sacrifice:

“What a blessed time this is! No one is asked to lay down his life. This is not the time for offering the ultimate sacrifice; rather it is the time to spend out of one’s possessions, according to one’s means.” [The Promised Messiah , Al-Hakam Qadian, July 10, 1903]

The Khuddam chanda is utilised to achieve the aims and objectives of the establishment of Khuddamul Ahmadiyya – an auxiliary organization of Jamaat Ahmadiyya.

The Atfal chanda is a small amount that every Tifl should pay to inculcate the spirit of financial sacrifice.

Yes, the instruction to pay Khuddam and Atfal chanda has been in place since the formation of Khuddamul Ahmadiyya in 1938 by the Khulafa.  Its rate is defined in the constitution of MKA and approved by Hazrat Khalifatul Masih (aba). A member who does not pay his khuddam and atfal chanda will be accountable first to Allah the Almighty as this is an instruction of Khalifatul Masih (aba). He will also be answerable to Sadr MKA. Those who are unable to pay at the prescribed rate can request remission from Sadr MKA to pay at a reduced rate, but everyone must pay their Khuddam or Atfal chanda. Indeed, the very oath of Khuddamul Ahmadiyya mentions, “I shall always be ready to sacrifice my life, wealth, time and honour for the sake of my faith, country and nation”.

Yes, there are several types of Chanda. Some are obligatory (Lazmi) and some are optional.

Please refer to this guide for a complete of obligatory and voluntary chanda and their associated rates (if applicable): https://chanda.org.uk/docs/Lazmi.pdf)

No, this chanda portal is only for Khuddam, Atfal, Ijtema and Tamaira’at chanda. Subscriptions to Khuddamul Ahmadiyya UK’s official magazine called Tariq magazine can also be made using this portal.

For paying other chanda  such as Chanda Aam, Wassiyat, Jalsa Salana, Tahrik-e-Jadid, Waqf-e-Jadid, Sadqa, etc. please visit https://www.chanda.org.uk/

Also, you will not be able to pay Khuddam/Atfal Chanda on the Jama’at portal listed above.

Khuddam

Chanda Khuddam:        1% of net income.

Chanda Ijtema:             0.5% of net income.

Atfal

Chanda Atfal:               £24 per annum (Fixed)

Chanda Ijtema:             £6 per annum (Fixed)

Yes, khuddam and atfal chanda is obligatory. The confusion comes from the use of the term “lazmi chanda” meaning obligatory chanda which generally refers to Chanda Aam and Jalsa Salana. However, you must understand that there are Jama’at chandajat (such as Chanda Aam, Jalsa Salana, Tahrik-e-Jadid, Waqf-e-Jadid, Bilal Fund, Mosque Fund, etc.) and then there are auxiliary chandajat (Chanda Khuddam, Atfal and Ijtema for khuddam and atfal).

As far as the Jama’at chanda is concerned, chanda Aam and Jalsa Salana are obligatory (لازمی lazmi) and others are optional (طوعی taui). One the other hand, auxiliary chanda is mandatory because a set rate is defined for it unlike optional chandajat and the consequences of not paying it are the same as those for not paying chanda Aam and Jalsa Salana. While there is no doubt that chanda Aam and Jalsa Salana have a higher priority than auxiliary chanda, but at the same time Khuddam and Atfal Chandajat are required as well.

The rate for khuddam and atfal chanda is defined in the constitution of MKA which approved by Hazrat Khalifatul Masih (aba). You must be a member of the auxiliary; it is not a choice that you have. Lastly, if you are behind on your chanda by six months then you are not considered in good standing and you cannot hold any MKA office and cannot participate in the elections. Not only that but even Jama’at officeholders are required to have paid their auxiliary chanda in order to hold Jama’at offices.

Yes, there is a student rate.

Khuddam Chanda £3/month – £36/year

Ijtema Chanda £0.50/month – £6/year

If a student earns an income, they must pay chanda at the regular prescribed rate. (Chanda Khuddam: 1% of net income & Chanda Ijtema: 0.25% of net income.)

Yes, you still have to pay chanda at the minimum prescribed rate. When you are unemployed, you still get some money for your other needs whether it is food, clothing, shelter, etc. From the same amount of money, you can take-out some portion to spend in the way of Allah which comes out to £6.25 per month.

Unemployed Chanda Rate:

Khuddam Chanda:        £5/month – £60/year

Ijtema Chanda:             £1.25/month – £15/year

It is critical to always remember the commandment of Allah the Almighty:

If you remember Allah, then He will also remember you in your hardship. In exceptional circumstances, you can ask for chanda remission (through the budget form) and Sadr MKA will reduce or waive your chanda.

We usually collect the pledges in the first month of the fiscal year which starts in November. We understand that sometimes circumstances change, but you are only obligated to pay chanda on your actual earned income. For example, if you have submitted a budget of £250 (Khuddam £200 and Ijtema £50) based on your expected net income of £20,000, however after six months you lose your job. In this case, your obligation is only to pay chanda on the income that you have earned.

Talk to your Qaid or local Nazim Maal and inform him about the change of your circumstances as soon as possible, so that they can update your budget and inform the national Finance team.

We understand that you may get a pay raise or some unexpected income during the year. You are required to pay chanda on all your income (net income), not just the amount you initially budgeted.

Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V (aba) has said “If you acquire more income after the Budget has been drawn, you must not continue paying according to the Budget. Rather you must pay in relation to the blessings which Allah has showered upon you. If our dealings with Allah are straightforward, He, being the All-Hearing and All-Knowing, will hear our prayer all the more. And if there is anything which we need for this age and for ourselves, it is the mercy and blessings of Allah and prayers which find acceptance at His threshold. So, I beseech you that, for your prayers to be accepted, it is important that you keep your dealings with Allah clear.” (Friday Sermon June 06, 2003)

Make your budget on the minimum expected income for the year, then as you earn more, you pay more according to your income.

While there are consequences for members who do not pay chanda in terms of not being able to hold offices or participate in elections, that should not be your primary concern.

What effects it has on your relationship with Allah and the consequences should be your real concern. Allah has defined the believers as those who spend in the way of Allah (2:4). Your wealth and your children a trial for you (64:16) and both of these (i.e. your wealth and children) will not help you in the next world (3:11). On the other hands many rewards are promised in this world and the next for those who spend out of their wealth in the cause of Allah. So, the choice is yours how you want to pass the test?

Know that the life of this world is only a sport and a pastime, and an adornment, and a source of boasting among yourselves, and of rivalry in multiplying riches and children. This life is like the rain the vegetation produced whereby rejoices the tillers. Then it dries up and thou seest it turn yellow; then it becomes broken pieces of straw. And in the Hereafter, there is severe punishment, and also forgiveness from Allah, and His pleasure. And the life of this world is nothing but temporary enjoyment of deceitful things.

Khuddam and Atfal fiscal year starts on November 1st and ends on October 31st every year. The current fiscal year 2020-21 will end on October 31, 2021. However, one should not wait until the end of the fiscal year to pay the chanda. It should be paid regularly on a monthly basis.

When you do wasiyyat, you are expected to offer higher level of sacrifice than someone that is not a moosi. This does not mean that you can skip all the other Chanda. The only chanda that Wasiyyat (Hissa Aamad) replaces is the Chanda Aam. All the other Chanda such as Jalsa Salana, Khuddam (Chanda Khuddam and Ijtema) and optional Chanda such as Tahrik-e-Jadid and Waqf-e-Jadid should still be paid.

Initially, there was no set system for collecting Chanda and people used to send money to Promised Messiah when they were able to at different times of the year. Promised Messiah (as) wrote in Al Wasiyyat (The Will) that if someone joins the Nizam-e-Wasiyyat, they can skip all those irregular payments and just pay the Wasiyyat (see minutes of the first meeting of Majlis Karpardaz). Furthermore, he said that the majlis karpardaz and of course the Khulafa have the right to amend these rules in the future.

Therefore, any chanda started and approved by Khulafa according to the need of the time is necessary for us to subscribe to. Having Wasiyyat does not relieve us from this obligation but we should be even more willing to follow the directives of Qudrat-e-Sania (the second manifestation) as explained in The Will.

Different chandajat and schemes are started according to the need of the time. Promised Messiah (as) said, “Doomed are the people who spend hundreds for show and display, but when it comes to spending in the way of Allah, they find all sorts of excuses. It is shameful indeed that a person should enter this Jamaat and not leave behind his miserliness and meanness. Allah has so ordained, that the party of His men always needs financial assistance in the beginning. Even our Holy Prophet(sa) received Chanda from his disciples, of whom Hazrat Abu Bakr was foremost. So, come forward to assist with manly courage and without hesitation… Those who help us today will witness Allah’s help.” (Majmua-e-Ishtiharat, Vol. 3, p. 156)

He further said, “Has there ever been a movement, whether worldly or spiritual, which has survived without financial contribution? This being a world of means, Allah has ordained a means for every end. How selfish and niggardly then is the person who can’t spend a trivial thing like money for such a lofty cause” (Malfuzat Vol 3 Pg 359)

We all obey the system of Khilafat and pledge to follow the Khulafa in every regard. Khuddam chanda was started by Hazrat Musleh Ma’ud (ra) and its rate is approved by the Khalifatul Masih. Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IV (rh) explained that even for Zakat, the Holy Quran, does not set a rate and the rate can be adjusted according to the need of the time. During Holy Prophet’s time sometimes, smaller sacrifices were demanded but sometimes in some campaigns when there was scarcity, everyone was requested to bring all their possessions. So, as the need of the time changes, new Chandajat can be added or rates can be changed.