Friday Sermon – Khalifatul Masih V – Mirza Masroor Ahmad – Year 2016
I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship except God He is alone and has no partner and I bear witness that Muhammad (saw) 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.
All praise belongs to Allah, Lord of all the worlds. The Gracious, the Merciful. Master of the Day of Judgment. Thee alone do we worship and Thee alone do we implore for help. Guide us in the right path; The path of those on whom Thou hast bestowed Thy blessings,
Those who have not incurred Thy displeasure, and those who have not gone astray. At this present time, I shall present a few accounts with reference to Hazrat Musleh Maud (ra). Each one is unique and carries an advice and moral with it. Hazrat Musleh Maud (ra) has also related some of these incidents
With reference to the Promised Messiah (as). The first instance is in regards to Tabligh [propagation] wherein after the partition [of the sub-continent], Hazrat Musleh Maud (ra) sent a message addressing the Ahmadiyya Community in Qadian at the occasion of their Jalsa Salana Drawing their attention towards this, he said that their task
Is to do Tabligh and a lot of effort is required in regards to this. There is no doubt that God Almighty revealed to the Promised Messiah (as) that “I shall cause thy message to reach the corners of the earth” and also stated that “God will maintain your name with honour
Till the day when the world comes to an end and will convey your message to the ends of the earth.” Allah Almighty promised the Promised Messiah (as) to spread his message, his invitation and his name to the corners of the earth. No doubt, He has made this promise and God Almighty is continues
To fulfil this task according to His promise and will, God Willing. However, alongside this the Promised Messiah (as) has also drawn the attention of the members of the Jama’at towards Tabligh . He has told them to acquire knowledge from his books and carry out
The works of Tabligh, just as the companions of the Holy Prophet (saw) did Tabligh. Nonetheless, one has to make every effort in order to partake from God Almighty’s promise. Indeed, God Almighty Himself has told us of these promises, however in order for them to be fulfilled, God Almighty has placed
The responsibility upon those who have made a pledge of allegiance to the Prophet to play an active role and become the recipients of God Almighty’s blessings. When this happens, then God Almighty, in accordance with His promises, grants countless blessings to their efforts and creates new means.
We have witnessed for ourselves how God Almighty has created new ways for Tabligh . Nonetheless, I shall read out that part of Hazrat Musleh Maud (ra)’s message which was about Tabligh. Despite the fact that so few Ahmadis were left behind in Qadian
And there were very limited means available, Hazrat Musleh Maud (ra) drew their attention towards this important task. He also gave them courage and support and gave the example from the Promised Messiah’s early period in order to encourage them. Addressing them, he said: “There is no doubt that here in Qadian,
“you are only three hundred and thirteen in number. “However, you must still recall the time when the Promised Messiah (as) “started his divine mission that there were only two or three Ahmadis in Qadian. “Surely, three hundred individuals are greater than three. “And, at the time of the Promised Messiah (as)’s claim,
“Qadian had a total population of eleven hundred. “Therefore, as a ratio it works out to be 1:366,” “In other words, for every one Ahmadi there were three and sixty six others. “If at this moment in time Qadian’s population” this is when Hazrat Musleh Maud (ra) was delivering this message
“is said to be twelve thousand, then according to the current population “of Ahmadis it work out to be 1:36” that is one Ahmadi for every thirty six and before it used to be one Ahmadi for every three hundred and sixty six. While addressing the people of Qadian he said
In other words, your strength is ten times greater than the time when the Promised Messiah (as) started his mission. Moreover, at that time when the Promised Messiah (as) started his mission, there was no Ahmadiyya Jama’at outside of Qadian. But at present, the Ahmadiyya Jama’at is established in numerous places in India.
“Now, it is your duty to activate and organise these Jama’ats “and to build them with a new spirit and to bring together their strengths, “so that they are able to spread the message of Islam and Ahmadiyyat to all parts of India.” Perhaps this is also the same ratio of Qadian’s population today.
If Ahmadis have grown in numbers, then so have the non-Ahmadis. In fact, now there are a lot more improved facilities, and by the grace of Allah Almighty, we have a lot more means. And, by the grace of Allah Almighty, the Jama’at in India is being introduced through various means however the missionaries
And the life devotees need to increase their efforts individually also. We are physically persecuted and face opposition, but despite this, we must still seek to progress in our efforts for Tabligh with wisdom, God Willing. The other countries of the world should also keep in view
That God Almighty has enjoined us to carry out and to widen the scope of the work of Tabligh . This is also an injunction of the Holy Quran and the Promised Messiah (as) has also counselled the same as did the Holy Prophet (saw).
But we also need to have strong planning for this in every country so that this task [of Tabligh ] can be further expanded. Alongside Tabligh, another important task is to look after those who take the Bai’at [pledge of allegiance] and join Ahmadiyyat.
In some places, although Tabligh happens and people also join, they are not properly taken care of and in this way many who join eventually drift away. In India, the majority of those who accept Ahmadiyyat are poor and belong to villages, therefore in the face of onslaughts
From the opponents, out of fear, some of those who are frail in faith show weakness. By the grace of God Almighty, our administration there and those who help organise and plan the Tabligh work are doing very well in this regard. Apart from Nazarat Islah-o-Irshad there is also the department
Of Noor-ul-Islam which is doing Tabligh through various means, such as by telephone and through various newspapers. Similarly, there is a Tabligh department under Waqfe Jadid and the work of Tabligh is also being done through that. However, these departments should also go there to those areas where opponents try and cause trouble
To those who have recently done the Bai’at , and comfort those new Ahmadis and give them courage and reassurance. Whenever they receive the news of any kind of trouble, the regional and central representatives should go there immediately, even if it is a small village. Similarly, those in Africa and its missionaries
Should also make an effort in improving their contacts and make better plans in order to be aware of the circumstances of the local people. As I mentioned in my Dars or perhaps in my sermon, that there too, the opponents of Ahmadiyyat are very quick in trying to turn them away from Ahmadiyyat.
Thus, this is a task to be done especially in those areas where a lot of Bai’ats are taking place and in the developing countries. Hazrat Musleh Maud (ra) relates an incident which is regarding Khawaja Kamal-ul-Din Sahib, who had performed the Bai’at at the hands of the Promised Messiah (as) but later became embroiled
In the unrest that occurred during the election of the second Khalifa and was among the leading figures of those who refused to take Bai’at . In any case, he desired for leadership which he was able to get from there. However, regarding how he improved his knowledge
And the secret behind the success of his lectures and speeches, Hazrat Musleh Maud (ra) states: “The biggest reason behind Khawaja Kamal-ul-Din Sahib’s success was that he would prepare a lecture after reading a book of the Promised Messiah (as) and would come to Qadian and would ask questions
To Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Ira and others and complete his lecture in this manner. He would then visit various areas of India [delivering his lecture] and was highly successful.’ Hazrat Musleh Maud (ra) further states: “If one was to prepare twelve lectures, one could gain extraordinary recognition. Hazrat Musleh Mau’udra states “Khawaja Sahib had only
“prepared seven lectures and he had to go England “but just from those seven lectures, he had gained a lot of recognition.” Hazrat Musleh Mau’udra says, “I believe that even if only one lecture “is prepared in this way, since one is able to remember it very well,
“it will have a profound effect on people.” Therefore, the first thing is that it is necessary to read and understand the books of the Promised Messiah (as) through which one can prepare lectures. While elaborating on this, Hazrat Musleh Maud (ra) says that
“In the olden days, there used to be a separate teacher for syntax (grammar), “conjugation (grammar), fully baked or half baked bread.” Now the time has come again in which science has made much progress. The era for specialisation has commenced. Hazrat Musleh Maud (ra) says that “That essays should be prepared and handed over
“to the lecturers who should go out and deliver them. “As a result of this, speeches will be prepared in accordance to the objective “of the Jama’at and we will know what they will say from here. “These lectures will be the main lectures. “Other than this, the lecturers can speak on some other
“topic as supplemental lectures on the local level.” Hence, this is a guiding principle for missionaries, those people who propagate the message of Allah, and those who attend academic conferences and seminars. If a lecture is prepared in this manner, then senior professors and some of the so-called religious scholars and some
People who criticise religion are also inspired. There was a programme held here a few days ago perhaps under the department of Tabligh. A prominent Jewish professor from Israel who has penned numerous books also attended this event. A young missionary of our community delivered a lecture in this programme after good preparation.
The Professor was very impressed by this. During the programme the professor very cleverly said some positive things about Islam and Khilafat but he also said some things against Islam. Our young missionary replied to this in a very good manner. The Professor later came to meet me here and said that
“That missionary and speaker of yours was very clever.” In reality, such people who attack Islam refute the arguments of non-Ahmadi scholars after using certain arguments or the non-Ahmadi scholars do not have those arguments. However, by the Grace of Allah the Almighty the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community
Has the knowledge and argumentation given by the Promised Messiah (as) that anyone can be silenced if the preparation is good. No one can stand in front of that. Hence, it is integral for us to study the books of the Promised Messiah (as) so that our religious knowledge can increase and at the same
Time our spirituality progresses through of these books. While mentioning the immense passion to do Tabligh in people from the past, at one place Hazrat Musleh Maud (ra) says that “When I was young, I got together with some of my childhood friends
“and created an Anjuman (society) and we started a magazine called Tasheez Al-Azhaan.” Then he says that “Chaudhry Fateh Muhammad Siyaal was also “one of my friends in that time.” He was later appointed as a missionary in the UK and lived here. Hazrat Musleh-e-Mau’udra says that “His daughter was married
“to Chaudhry Abdullah Khan Sahib.” Chaudhry Abdullah Khan Sahib was the younger brother of Chaudhry Zafarulla Khan Sahib. Hazrat Musleh-e-Mau’udra says that “Once the wife of Chaudhry Abdullah Khan “Sahib said to me that ‘When you appointed my father as Nazr-e-Alaa’ ” at one time he was appointed as Nazr-e-Alaa of Sadr Anjuman Ahmadiyya
“he used to regret a lot at home that I had devoted my life !to do propagation and he has appointed me to sit on chairs.” “On the other hand I see that there are also such people “who write to me that there should be some regard for life devotees.”
Therefore, we learn from this that the people of the old times had such passion to do Tabligh and they gave preference to do propagation over getting appointed in offices. These days it so happens that sometimes some people say that we should be appointed to work in the headquarters or centre ( markaz ).
Other than that, it should be remembered that missionaries and those who do propagation are not viewed as they should be viewed. That is, members of the Jama’at do not care for their missionaries and value them as they should. And even now complaints are often received from some places regarding this matter.
However, I will also say this that there is a responsibility upon the missionaries that they should strive to obtain a higher status in knowledge and spirituality in order to maintain their dignity within their Jama’ats. Then no member of the Jama’at can ever have the courage to say anything negative about them.
In some places, certain people in the administration say negative things about missionaries. They start talking against a missionary wherever he tries to bring about reform. Then, what is the secret of acceptance of prayer and what is the wisdom behind it? Regarding this, Hazrat Musleh Maud (ra) says that
“The Promised Messiah (as) came to show such signs and his objective “was to produce such people that through their prayers Allah the Almighty “would cause great revolutions in the world.” The Promised Messiah (as) said that: [Persian] Its meaning is that “What the world cannot achieve, “it can be done through a prayer.”
However, this does not mean that Allah the Almighty unquestionably accepts every prayer. The son of the Promised Messiah (as) Sahibzadah Mubarak Sahib Ahmad as well as Maulavi Abdul Kareem Sahib passed away. The Promised Messiah (as) prayed for them but they still passed away.
And this is also one of his signs because he had stated beforehand about Mirza Mubarak Ahmad Sahib and if something is stated beforehand, it becomes a sign. “Therefore, it does not happen that every prayer is neither accepted nor rejected.
“Indeed, if Allah the Almighty decides to accept a prayer, no one can reject it.” Then, while mentioning acceptance of prayers and responding to allegations from the Payghaamis (Lahoris) that whether the signs regarding Hazrat Musleh Maud (ra) were fulfilled. Hazrat Musleh-e-Mau’udra says that “The continuation of the blessings
“of Allah the Almighty which were bestowed through the Promised Messiah (as) is integral. “It is the right of the Payghaami group to say to me “that ‘those blessings cannot continue through you’. “However, it is essential that they present their Imam or leader “and say that those blessings are manifested through this person.
“And if it really happens that God the Almighty discloses news about future events ” through this person and He listens to his prayers exceptionally, “then we will accept that although we were wrong, “the truthfulness of the Promised Messiah (as) is evident.” Do not raise objections that raise doubts about the
Truthfulness of the Promised Messiah (as). On the one hand you believe that Allah the Almighty sent the Promised Messiah (as). Regardless of the fact that you believe in him as a reformer. You believe that he was truthful and his prayers were accepted and he made prophecies as well.
So the first things is that Hazrat Musleh e Maud said that if you do not want to accept what I am saying, then don’t. However, first of all, present an Imam or a leader in front of me and then prove that his prayers are accepted.
If his prayers are accepted then we will have no objections in accepting that alright, we were wrong. However, if you say that the signs are not being fulfilled, then you are raising this objection on the truthfulness of the Promised Messiah (as). Hazrat Musleh Maud (ra) has stated, but the state of the people
Is such that they close themselves off from listening to anything and do not wish to hear a thing, nor do they want to do anything wisely. Hazrat Musleh Maud has also mentioned some other smaller incidents and instances with the Promised Messiah (as). One such incident was the example of a hunchback.
Hazrat Musleh Maud (ra) states that the Promised Messiah (as) often narrated the example of a hunchback. She had a hump on her back. Someone asked her whether she wished her back to be straightened or if she wished everyone else to become hunchbacked?
It is the nature of some that they are very stubborn and jealous. In a similar manner she replied: ‘I have had a hump on my back for years and people have mocked and laughed at me. It is not possible for my hump to be straighten now that I have reached old age.
I would only enjoy it if everyone had a hump on their back so I may laugh at them till my heart’s content. Similarly (Hazrat Musleh Maud (ra) continues) “there are many “who have this type of jealous and bitter nature.
“They do not care for their pain to be taken away instead they desire for others to suffer.” Therefore, every single one us should pray to be saved from such resentful people. At the same time we must pray that we do not become like those jealous individuals who are engrossed in such actions.
Then there was an old tale of a blind man. Hazrat Musleh Maud (ra) states that the Promised Messiah (as) narrated “that there was once a blind man. “At night he was speaking with someone, which disturbed the sleep “of another person. He exclaimed ‘Hafiz sahib, please go to sleep’.
“Hafiz sahib exclaimed, ‘what is sleep to us, the equivalent of remaining silent’ what he meant by this was that one sleeps by closing his eyes and staying silent. My eyes are already shut, now the only thing left is to stay quiet and nothing more, therefore I might as well do that then.
Hazrat Musleh Maudra states that pain a believer undergoes is not a source of discomfort, because he claims that he is already used to such situations. Just as the world wishes to destroy a believer, he replies by saying ‘what will you achieve by destroying me?
I have already finished myself for God Almighty and am prepared for anything that God desires from me. I would sacrifice my life for Him.’ Hazrat Musleh Maud (ra) adds that “The world is petrified of death. “However when the world wishes to destroy a believer he is not afraid at all,
“but instead remarks that ‘I died the day I accepted Islam. “The only difference was that before I was a walking corpse. “Now if you bury me beneath the earth it would hardly matter to me.’ “This is the stance of a true believer.” Hazrat Musleh Maud (ra) then mentioned another example
That the Promised Messiah (as) would often narrate. A miserly woman once attended a wedding. She was very stingy but her brother’s wife [sister-in-law] was very open hearted. Both the sister and sister-in-law attended the wedding. The sister was stingy whilst the sister-in-law was open hearted in the sense that she would give presents.
The sister gave one rupee as a gift while the sister-in law gave twenty. When they returned from the wedding someone enquired from the miserly woman how much she had spent for the wedding. She replied that ‘me and my sister-in-law spent gave 21 rupees.’ Some people apply this example on their Chanda
[obligatory financial sacrifice] as explained by Hazrat Musleh Maud (ra) that there are some individuals in certain Jama’at’s who make great financial contributions. For the Jama’at to attribute their Chanda towards itself is the same as the miserly woman saying that she and the sister in law gave 21 rupees.
On the other hand there are also some affluent people who are stingy and attribute Jama’at’s Chanda towards themselves (these sort of examples are also witnessed). If they do not attribute it towards themselves, they express it in a manner whereby they say ‘our Jama’at gave such an
‘amount and I gave the most amount of Chanda,’ however the majority of the amount is given by those who are poor; those who give more than those well off. On one occasion during a sporting event certain wrong incidents took place in which matters of faith were not upheld and traditions of the Jama’at
Were not taken into account. Whilst warning those involved Hazrat Musleh Maud stated: “Take note that laughing and joking is permissible and not forbidden. “The Holy Prophet (saw) would laugh and joke as would the Promised Messiah (as). “We also joke, I do not deny that we laugh and joke.
“We joke around one hundred times, but we do so with our children, our wives and our close ones. But we do not do so in a way which degrades and humiliates someone to the extent which destroys the others self-respect. In this case such a joke is not appropriate.
If we utter something which has a connotation of humiliation, then we seek forgiveness, and this should be the practice of everyone. If someone jokes in a way which is disliked by another or he deems the self-respect of the other suffers and they have committed a mistake then forgiveness should be sought.
In reference to the sporting event Hazrat Musleh Maud (ra) states: Whilst the games were being conducted an incident took place. He further stated: “I am not against sports. “Laughing and playing around is permitted. I have never forbidden it. “Indeed you should have fun and enjoy but [Persian proverb];
“Which means sports are good if it is played appropriately, “but if one plays with their fathers beard then that is not permissible which means that it is forbidden to play with the honour of one’s father. Give God His due status. Give football [or soccer] the status it deserves.
Give Musha’ira [session of poetry] the status it deserves and give prophecies the reverence prophecies deserve. Some individuals said some phrases in a manner which prophecies were uttered in a humorous way. Hazrat Musleh Maud (ra) said that “If you wish to indulge in mockery
“then you should go to Lahore and take part in Musha’irah [session of poetry]. “Over there poets mock each other. “Go and fulfil your desire and take part in a Musha’ira . “If you wish to indulge in unnecessary acts or wish to take
“part in sports then go to another city and take part.” “If you do this there” Hazrat Musleh Maud was advising especially those who reside in Qadian and Rabwah or wherever there is any Jama’at sporting event organised by the centre this advice is for them also
If you conduct yourselves in this manner people will say that the people of Lahore did such a thing. They will not say that Ahmadi’s have done this. However, if you do even a tenth of that here, people will say Ahmadi’s have done such a thing.
Thus, I do not prevent you from enjoying yourselves. All I say is that whist playing sports do not exceed all bounds to the extent that the name of the Jama’at is brought into disrepute. All over the world sporting functions are organised by the Jama’at;
It is not just to do with Qadian or Rabwah. If such incidents occur at these events then the name of the Jama’at will be dishonoured. For this reason these aspects should be taken into consideration universally. Thus, in every action we do, whether it is fun and leisure,
Enjoyments or Musha’ira, we should ensure the dignity of the Jama’at does not suffer. We should always be conscious of its honour and dignity. Thus, these were lessons to be drawn from the few things and advices I mentioned. We should always be aware of these things. All praise is due to Allah.
We laud Him, we beseech help from Him and ask His protection; we confide in Him, we trust Him alone and we seek protection against the evils and mischief of our souls and from the bad results of our deeds. Whomsoever He guides on the right path, none can misguide him;
And whosoever He declares misled, none can guide him onto the right path. And we bear witness that none deserves to be worshipped except Allah. We bear witness that Muhammad (saw) is His servant and Messenger. O servants of Allah! May Allah be merciful to you.
Verily, Allah commands you to act with justice, to confer benefits upon each other and to do good to others as one does to one’s kindred and forbids evil which pertain to your own selves and evils which affect others and prohibits revolts against a lawful authority. He warns you against being unmindful.
You remember Allah; He too will remember you; call Him and He will make a response to your call. And verily divine remembrance is the highest virtue.