Friday Sermon – Khalifatul Masih V – Mirza Masroor Ahmad – Year 2014
In last week’s Friday Sermon, it was mentioned what ingredients are required to remove impediments in the path of practical reformation. Those causes which constantly drag us back in this objective. It was elucidated in this respect that if in men the power of resolve is correct,
If one has adequate knowledge and then musters up the required power of actions, then the vices of practical reformation can be combatted and overcome. For weaknesses in actions only come about when one does not have sufficient power of resolve
Or one does not have the knowledge of what good actions actually are and what bad actions entail or the knowledge of how good actions can be performed. What efforts are required to eliminate vices? If the strength of one’s actions are extremely weak then he would not be able to combat vices.
So strengthen the power of resolve, overcome shortcomings in one’s knowledge, and strengthen and muster up the power of actions – these are essential ingredients. Practical strength is developed through one’s efforts and endeavours and also if a person is extremely weak, then in such a case, external support and help would be required.
Nonetheless, all these aspects were covered in last week’s sermon. I will give some further explanations in this regard through the means of citing different examples. As I said in the last week’s Friday Sermon this will be explained further and this is required.
Now we have already looked at the three things required for practical reformation. The first is the power of resolve or willpower. Now what is this power of resolve? To some it may seem very strange that it has to be explained what power of resolve is.
Many will believe that the words power of resolve are self-explanatory and they mean to have strong determination and resolve to actually do something and the motivation and willpower to see that action through. Many will be thinking what the need is to raise the question here of what willpower is.
Here, it should be clarified and Hadhrat Musleh Maud, may Allah be pleased with him, has explained this in an excellent manner that the meaning of the power of resolve, in the context of actions, is different in different circumstances. So we must remember this fundamental point and when you keep this principle in view,
Only then are you able to think along the lines of what power of resolve is in the context of faith. So it should be clear that in terms of religion, power of resolve is another name for Imaan, faith. In religion, power of resolve is another name for faith.
When we look at it from this perspective, then we come to learn that strength of resolve increases through an increase in faith. If one possesses strong faith and has a strong relationship with Allah, then man’s tasks are completed automatically. Every difficulty continuously transforms into ease as a result of Allah’s help and succour.
As a result of this strong faith, practical difficulties disappear and a person is enable to achieve things easily. These are not imaginary beliefs, rather we have practical examples that testify to this. When we look at the era of the Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him
We find amazing examples of the state of faith of people before they came to belief and how they transformed after they accepted Islam. Who are the people who believed in the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him? What was their practical condition? What does history tell us about this?
Amongst those who came to believe in him were thieves, vagabonds, sinners and wicked persons. There were those who even married their mothers. They distributed their mothers as inheritance. They would kill their daughters. Amongst them were gamblers. They were addicted to gambling.
There were those who were addicted to alcohol, and they were so addicted to alcohol that no one else could compete with them in this respect. They considered drinking alcohol a mark of honour and respect. They would boast and compete with one another as to who would drink more than others.
A poet from the time expresses his superiority and betterment over others by saying that ‘I am he who even wakes at night to drink alcohol’. He would never even drink water. Gamblers would be proud of the fact that they gamble so much and would boast
That ‘I spend all my money indulging in gambling.’ ‘And when I get more money once again I put it all into gambling.’ Today, even the biggest gamblers would not openly declare such a thing but this was the condition of the people at the time.
When these very people came to believe in the Holy Prophet, peace be upon him, how did their state transform? What type of revolution cultivated within them? How did they muster up the power of resolve as a result of this faith? History informs us of accounts in this context which truly amaze us
As to how rapidly an extraordinary revolution was brought about within them. As soon as they accepted Islam they decided that to follow Islam, we must strengthen our heart and have willpower. They came to the decision that they would never act in any such way which is against the commands of Allah.
They decided that the Holy Prophet Muhammad’s, peace be upon him, every injunction they would consider as their last and final word. This decision which they made was so firm, so powerful and so strong that their weaknesses and their power of actions could not remain for even a moment.
Their conditions transformed to such a degree that they were ever ready to accept and face all types of perils and dangers. Not only were they prepared to do so but this power of resolve which had developed in them eliminated their weaknesses of actions to such a degree
Like a strong surge of gushing water washes away a piece of straw. I just gave the example of how those people would drink alcohol and boast about how much they drank. When a person becomes intoxicated on alcohol, what state comes about a person?
People living in these countries often see examples of such drunkards. Even on the streets around the Fazl Mosque there is a drunkard who roams about. He carries nothing but a can of alcohol. He wears filthy clothes, yet he is able to purchase alcoholic beverages.
I have learned that he is a well-educated person and perhaps once he was an engineer. He no longer works and he has reached an age where he obtains benefits from the council. Whatever money he obtains from the council, he spends it all on alcohol. He spends his life roaming the streets.
Alcohol has also distorted his mental state and he has now become disabled. When one sees him in this drunken state, it makes a person fearful. Often he stops women who are walking on the street; and despite living in this society, when he stops these women, fear can be seen on their faces.
Nonetheless, intoxication on alcohol has caused him to be in such a state. We often find such people who become so intoxicated on alcohol that they curse their parents and commit all sorts of strange actions. I remember that when I was in Ghana, there was a city, Tamale,
Where an agricultural project of the Jama’at was taking place. In the house I was residing, there was no wall or fence surrounding the house. Most houses here are similarly made. Some people made boundary fences or walls in their own yards, as in the backyards here.
So our house was such that there was neither an external or internal yard. It was open in all directions. It was a small place where a car could be parked. There was no wall or gate, as I mentioned. The economic circumstances at the time were dire.
If anything was kept in the open, then there would be thefts. Now thefts have begun regularly even here. Here, people even knock down doors and carry out thefts. Anyway, at the time, there was a lack of peace and economic plight. We had kept a watchman. He would come at night.
I told him specifically that we had a pick up car that would be kept overnight in the open. The tyre would be kept outside because it had been modified in a way that it could not be kept in the normal allotted place for the tyre in the car.
So thus, I gave him specific directives that tyres are constantly stolen here so keep an eye on it. He would come to duty in a state of being intoxicated. When having to remove the tyre from the car, he would have fallen on to the ground, even before the tire had been removed.
Nonetheless, one day I observed that he was deeply intoxicated and he was flat on his face on the ground. Now, how could he perform his duty as a watchman in that state? In such circumstances it is required that nothing be said to him because he would have responded with verbal abuse.
So, when on the next day he became somewhat sober, I said ‘I am dismissing you.’ So he tried his level best to plead with me. He could not get rid of his habit of drinking but he was wise enough to become sober and drink less before he arrived for his duty
Or he would drink proportionately so it was not visible to a great degree that he was drunk. But drunkards cannot normally control their habits and after a short while he returned to its old ways. So in short, in the state of intoxication, a person does not know what he is saying or doing.
The next day, when he is asked what he had done, he would casually deny it outright. These are normally sensible people. When they become sober, they do not accept what they had done. Hazrat Musleh Maud, may Allah be pleased with him, cited the example of a person
Who he came across during a train journey. He belonged to a respectable family. He may have been previously acquainted with him. He was from Poonch in India and the son of a Minister. So during this train journey he was so intoxicated that he was saying such things
Which he would never have uttered if he was in his senses or sober. So Hazrat Musleh Maud, may Allah be pleased with him, has said this intoxication of alcohol removes one from his senses completely and makes a person insane. On the other hand, we witness such a revolution of willpower
That some non-Muslims find difficult to believe. This willpower is the willpower of faith which the Holy Prophet, peace be upon im, developed within his followers. We observe this from the following account. Some companions were seated in a house. The doors of the house were closed and all were drinking alcohol.
At the time, the commandment forbidding alcohol had not yet been given. There was no hesitation in drinking alcohol. They drank however much they desired and became drunk. These people had finished one pitcher of alcohol; and this pitcher consisted of some gallons of alcohol, and they were about to begin drinking the second pitcher.
They heard a voice from the alleyway saying that the Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, has said that God the Almighty has commanded me that, from today, alcohol is forbidden for Muslims. When they heard this voice, one amongst them who was enjoying being drunk
Said to one of the other seated there that go and find out the reality of this announcement. So one amongst those who was drinking alcohol stood up and was intending to go and find out the reality of this announcement when another person who was also drunk
Picked up a stick and he struck the pitcher of alcohol and broke it. The others said to him ‘what have you done? ‘First you should have enquired what was meant by that commandment and who it was addressed to.’ So the person in question replied that first break the pitchers,
Then ask what the reality of this commandment is. He said that when I heard a voice declaring a commandment of the Holy Prophet , peace be upon him, then first the commandment will be followed and then I will see what the details and limitations of this injunction are
And in which circumstances it is forbidden. So this is that extraordinary distinction that we find amongst the companions of the Holy Prophet, peace be upon him. It has been mentioned before what the state of one who is drunk is.
If you remove a glass of alcohol from in front of a person who is deeply intoxicated, he becomes ready to fight the other person. Such incidents often happen in clubs and bars. Just a few days ago, a news report emerged that in a club or in a bar
One person who was drunk killed another. In fact, such people often become ready to kill others just by hearing someone saying something which they disliked. People who become drunk on alcohol they do not have control over their senses or what they are doing.
They do not have control over what they say, nor do they even care for their parents. Their hands and limbs inadvertently perform actions in this state. In this state of intoxication they neither care for the law, nor do they fear punishment and retribution.
However the willpower of the companions overcame the state of intoxication despite the fact that they were out of their senses. They had already drunk one pitcher of alcohol and were about to begin the second pitcher. In such a circumstance, they hear a voice saying that the Holy Prophet, peace be upon him,
Has said that Allah the Almighty has commanded me that alcohol has been made forbidden for Muslims. They immediately come out of the state of intoxication. They immediately break the pitcher of alcohol and then ask for the explanation from the one who made the announcement as to what it actually meant.
This was not only limited to a household or just some people. The narrator of this account mentions that there were many houses in Medina at the time in which they were gathered, drinking alcohol. As soon as this announcement was made, pitchers of alcohol were broken at such a fast pace
That in the alleyways of Medina, alcohol was seen flowing like water. What wondrous power of resolve this is. Hazrat Musleh Maud, may Allah be pleased with him, has said that this willpower is such that after it is produced there is no obstacle that can remain in a person.
In fact the power of resolve constantly overcomes all hurdles. So as such those who have abundant willpower are the warriors of the spiritual world. Whichever direction they head towards and whichever path they take, Satan continuously surrenders to him. And even if mountains of impediments and difficulties come in their way,
They are cut into pieces the way that cheese is sliced through. So thus, if one produces such willpower and he develops such strength of faith, then there remains no need to find any other method or reforming one’s actions and deeds. 1400 years ago, the revolutionary changes that were brought about of practical reformation,
As a result of the strength of faith is unparalleled. We do not find examples on such a large scale anywhere else in the world, in the manner in which they wondrously brought about this revolution. However, we find numerous similar examples found amongst the followers
Of the true servant of the Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, the Promised Messiah, on whom be peace. Now the use of tobacco is not forbidden, although the Promised Messiah, on whom be peace, has said it is something bad.
He said that if this was at the time of the Holy Prophet, peace be upon him, he may have forbidden it. Nonetheless it is something bad and it has an intoxicating effect. During a journey, the Promised Messiah, on whom be peace, mentioned his dislike of huqqah.
One of his companions who habitually used a huqqah, broke his instrument of huqqah. He never once again even drew near to this habit of using tobacco. He said ‘we never ever thought about doing it again.’ We find similar examples in the companions of the Promised Messiah, on whom be peace,
Who after accepting Ahmadiyyat, stopped performing all vices to the extent that we also find examples of those who were previously embroiled in the habit of drinking alcohol. However, after accepting Ahmadiyyat they stopped this habit. So these are the examples that we need to strive to emulate and establish.
This should not be done out of the fear of any law or society and you should not shun vices because you are fearful of your parents or those around you. This should not be the manner of thinking that you possess. In fact, the way you should think is that you must shun vices
Because Allah and His messenger have forbidden us from them or in this era, the Promised Messiah, on whom be peace, has forbidden them and so we must desist from these vices. In Muslim countries, alcohol may not be openly available; I am aware, for example in Pakistan, the law does not allow for this
But secretly alcohol is brewed or made which is a desi type of alcohol which they drink and is highly intoxicating. The wealthy people in the country make excuses and arrangements for consuming alcohol. Then I have observed that some students in universities, in some syrups or medications in which alcohol in particular is found,
Cough syrups in particular are used as intoxicants. As a result, this causes harm because there are other ingredients included. So in such a society, Ahmadis must take particular care of desisting from such things. Through their willpower, they must strive to shun bad practices. Nowadays in European countries as well,
In addition to such intoxicants which are more dangerous, we find in restaurants, especially Muslim restaurants, an intoxicant which goes by the name of Shisha. In the United States, an intoxicant called Huqqah is used, which is a special type of Huqqah used there.
Here I have come to know that some of our young boys and girls use this Shisha. They say there is no intoxicating element in it or no harm in using it from time to time. Remember that occasional use of this will, at one time, embroil you in more serious intoxicants.
Then it will become extremely difficult to desist from these things. So from this moment onwards, you must proceed with great power of resolve and you must free yourself from this vice. For this, loot at your faith. It is the passion of the faith alone that can produce this necessary willpower
Which enables you immediately to take big decisions as we observe in the example of the companions. Otherwise, laws cannot impede these things. As I said, Pakistan has laws. Alcohol is not available, yet people still make arrangements and have adopted different methods to do so.
There was a time when in the USA there was an attempt to ban open use of drinking alcohol. As a result, people found different means. They started drinking spirits which had very harmful effects. As a result of this, people started dying.
Hazrat Musleh Maud, may Allah be pleased with him, wrote that because they did not have faith, the effort of the worldly laws failed. In fact, people felt so compelled to use intoxicants, that they started using spirits and harmed themselves further. Then the government made a law that if a doctor gave permission,
Then alcohol will be available to a person and doctors could only give permission if they provide certain reasons which has to be justified. So what was the result of this? Thousands of doctors started giving bogus certificates to increase their income, Doctors whose practices were not successful started gaining income
Through giving false alcohol certificates. Ultimately, a time came when the law was forced to submit. Slowly, now alcohol is available everywhere with restriction on certain ages. In some places, the age restriction is 21, in others it is 18, whilst in some places it is said
That if a companied by an adult, even children at the age of 15 or 16 can drink specific alcoholic beverages. So in short, these are excuses to cover the weaknesses of the laws. As they are advancing, the government is continuously passing laws to allow bad practices.
As they cannot prevent bad practices, they introduce them into the law. However, in the laws of Allah the Almighty, a vice is always deemed a vice. Allah the Almighty is not bound by our desires and will.
In fact, in order to reform our actions, we need to abide by the commands of Allah the Almighty and we can only abide by them when the state of our faith is of the highest order. In the developed world of today, the people who they thought as illiterate and ignorant,
Were the same people who as a result of the passion of their faith, overcame the state of being intoxicated. They hoisted the flag of the reformation of actions and then in the world, they hoisted the flag of the reformation of their deeds
Which they entrenched and then led the world behind them to emulate them. So it should be absolutely clear that in matters of the faith, willpower is actually the strength of faith which enables one to remain steadfast upon actions and which enables one to shun vices.
Alongside this, as already mentioned, is the power of knowledge. If one possesses adequate power of knowledge, then the shortcomings in one’s performance of actions due to lack of knowledge are dispelled. An everyday example of this is that there are some habits which are found children. Some have the habit of eating dust.
When one comes to know of its harmful effects, he makes an effort to stop doing it. There are many other habits. For example, I know of a girl who had the habit of pulling her hair tight to such a degree that she would harm herself but now she is slowly growing up.
So she is starting to realise and she is making an effort to stop this habit. So, in any case, such habits are brought to an end by possessing the required knowledge. So in this same way, anyone who has even a small amount of fear of Allah the Almighty in his heart,
If he is made aware of Allah the Almighty’s anger as a result of his bad deeds and he is made to cultivate firm resolve of how Allah the Almighty’s wrath descends as a result of him sinning, thus he would be able to desist and avoid sin.
So the third thing through which practical weaknesses form is a shortcoming and lack in the power of action. Some people may think that these points are being repeated. In one sense, it may be the case that some points are being repeated,
But they are being explained from different angles so that you can understand. In any case it should be clear that a lacking in the power of practical strength or it not existing at all – there are certain reasons or causes for this. For example, one cause is habits.
Now a person may have the willpower, he may have the required knowledge; however as a result of his habits, he becomes compelled and he displays shortcomings in his power of actions. Or, a person is aware that he can obtain nearness to God;
However, his love for materialistic possessions or his fear of a loss of materialistic things are sentiments which overwhelm and dominate him. And thus, such a person is deprived from acquiring nearness to God. Now for such people, external remedies are necessary rather than internal. For it is only through external remedies
That he can see to gain improvements in his power of actions. This requires the appropriate supports. If one gains the appropriate support, improvements can be achieved. So for reformation, one needs to seek the appropriate support and help.
And if a person already has knowledge of a matter, he is aware that the anger of Allah the Almighty comes upon him when he has not performed that action. For his reformation, it is not of any use to remind him of the anger or love of God
When he has knowledge of this already. He is already aware of these facts. He has willpower; however, it is deficient. As mentioned, he has prior knowledge and we have reminded him of it. However, the love of God and the anger of God,
As a result of the corruption of the heart, cannot inspire it. Something else would be required for such a person because in his view, Allah the Almighty is obscure because this is exactly how such a person thinks, whereas other things are visible before him.
A person who does not have complete faith, fails to see God the Almighty and this is why he does not fear God. Such people become afraid of other people. So if you develop a fear of some persons in the hearts of such people,
Or use some worldly power, then this reformation can be achieved. The condition is that worldly power, like worldly laws, does not become afraid and move back because of political reasons, like the worldly laws today. Nonetheless, we find these three types of people in the world and we find these three types of ailments.
Some people have weaknesses in their actions as a result of having incomplete faith. There are some who have weaknesses in their actions as a result of having inadequate knowledge. There are other people who have faith and who possess the required knowledge. However, other influences cause their hearts to become rusted.
As a result, both remedies are insufficient for them and external remedies are required. Some kind of support is necessary. In the same way as if a bone in a body is broken, plaster is used to support and join the bone again. At other times operations are performed and plates are inserted
So that the bone can be strengthened and slowly the bone is fixed and supports are removed. In the same way, for some people support is required for a period of time. Gradually, these supports produce enough strength in the person that he becomes active and practical weaknesses are dispelled.
So thus, as I said in the previous Friday Sermon, that our Nizam-e-Jamaat, our office bearers, auxiliary organisations should become the means of removing these practical weaknesses. However, if they themselves have a deficiency in their willpower, in office bearers and other people; if they have inadequate knowledge,
If they have weaknesses in their actions, then how can they become support for others? So for the advancement of the Jama’at, every part of the Jamaat, in fact, every single Ahmadi should look at himself and carry out self-reformation.
They need to become the support for their friends and close ones who have to overcome weaknesses, so that every member of the Jama’at can reach the highest standards of practical reformation. Thus, they will be able to obtain nearness to Allah. May Allah the Almighty enable us to achieve this.
After the Friday prayers I will also lead a funeral prayer in absentia. There is tragic news, that Mr Arsalan Sarwar, son of Mr Mohammad Sarwar of Rawalpindi, was martyred on 14th January. Surely we belong to Allah and to Him is our return. The incident occurred as follows.
First I should introduce his family in brief. The grandfather of the martyred Mr Umar Yusuf was from Tehsil Jaranwala in Faisalabad. The martyred’s father and grandfather took the Bai’at in the era of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih III (ra) in 1973, whereas his mother was a born Ahmadi. In 1984 the family moved to Rawalpindi.
The martyred’s father worked in a flour mill there as a supervisor. So Mr Arsalan Sarwar was born in Rawalpindi. He was a student in FSc. Pre-engineering in Islamabad. At the time of his martyrdom, he was 17 years old. The incidentof his martyrdom is as follows.
On the night between 13th and 14th January Mr Arsalan was with two non-Ahmadi friends in his street, preparing for illuminations with regards to 12th Rabiul Awal. At the end of the street, a car stopped and a short time later a motor bike also accompanied it.
Two men emerged from the car and picked up a white carrier bag from the rubbish heap in the street which had placed there beforehand. These two non-Ahmadi boys and Mr Arsalan Sarwar noticed them and found them to be suspicious. They discussed whether to wake up the elders.
Mr Arsalan started shouting; upon this someone came out of the car and fired two or three shots in the air. The boys started shouting out and ran in the other direction upon which the man ran behind them and fired three or four times.
Mr Arsalan Sarwar was in the middle of both boys while running. The marks of the bullets in the alleyway show that the non-Ahmadi boys were also fired at. Mr Arsalan, while running, looked back and immediately sustained a bullet to his head and fell to the ground.
The other boys also dropped to the ground behind cars. For a short while, the attackers came and then fled. Mr Arsalan was taken to the hospital which is close by. The doctors tried to save him they said it is difficult for him to survive because the bullet had entered his brain.
He was also given a blood transfusion. After three hours Mr Arsalaan was martyred. Surely we belong to Allah and to Him is our return. He was loved by all. Even many non-Ahmadis came to their home to pay condolences. He was a Moosi, by the grace of the Almighty Allah.
He did his Wasiyyat at the age of 14. He was currently serving as a Saiq of Khaddamul Ahmadiyya of Satellite Town, Rawalpindi. He was previously serving in various capacities in Atfal. His brothers are also serving various capacities in the Jama’at. Qaid Sahib, district Rawalpindi writes that Mr Arsalaan and his brothers
Are extremely active members of Khuddamul Ahmadiyya. They give security and various other duties in Khuddamul Ahmadiyya regularly. Murabbi Sahib, Rawalpindi said that Mr Arsalaan would come into his office to study the books of the Promised Messiah, on whom be peace, as normal routine.
He was very regular in the observance of prayer and showed great passion. He regularly offered his Friday prayers in Ewan-e-Tauhid, even though ther were also some restrictions. He was regular in giving Chanda, by the grace of Allah. May Allah the Almighty continuously elevate the rank of the martyred
And grant him forgiveness and mercy, and may Allah Almighty grant patience, endurance and courage to his family he leaves behind. He survives his father Mohammad Sarwar Sahib, secretary Dawat-ul-lillah Halqa, his mother, Ishat Parveen Sahiba and three brothers, Yasir Ahmad who is in Germany, Nasir Ahmad who is in the United States
And Muhammad Ahmad who is in Rawalpindi. They have all been left behind. May Allah the Almighty grant patience to all of them.