Friday sermon delivered on 14th April 2023 by the Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad (may Allah be his Helper), from Masjid Mubarak in Islamabad, Tilford, UK.
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Allah is the Greatest Allah is the Greatest Allah is the Greatest Allah is the Greatest I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship except Allah I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship except Allah I bear witness that Muhammad (sa) is the Messenger of Allah
I bear witness that Muhammad (sa) is the Messenger of Allah Come to Prayer Come to Prayer Come to success Come to success Allah is the Greatest Allah is the Greatest There is none worthy of worship except Allah Peace and blessings of Allah be upon you.
I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship except Allah. He is One and has no partner. and I bear witness that Muhammad (sa) 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 displeasure, and those who have not gone astray. “La ilaha illallah” (there is no god but Allah) is the creed which forms the foundation of the Oneness of God (Tauhid). The Holy Prophet (sa) stated, “Allah Almighty has forbidden the fire
“for the one who proclaims ‘there is no god but Allah’ in order to attain His pleasure.” Hence, when one proclaims “there is no god but Allah,” in order to attain Allah Almighty’s pleasure, with the desire to gain His attention, submitting to Him, and focussing all of their attention to Him,
Then they become the recipients of Allah Almighty’s blessings. And as the Holy Prophet (sa) stated, Allah will forbid the fire for them. In another instance he stated that Allah Almighty will forbid the hellfire for them. This is the very teaching that was taught and upheld by every single prophet.
On one occasion the Holy Prophet (sa) stated, “The most noble word which I and the prophets before me have spoken is, “(ARABIC) (‘there is no god but Allah, He is Alone and has no partner.’)” Thus, this was the teaching of all the prophets.
However, it is unfortunate that the very people to whom the prophets brought these teachings are the ones who, having forgotten it, and whether intentionally or otherwise, have made it a means of associating partners with God. They have forgotten the true essence of their teachings.
We are fortunate that Allah Almighty has made us a part of the Ummah of the Holy Prophet (sa) and granted us the perfect teaching which completely eradicated shirk (associating partners with God), and by teaching the true lesson of the unity of God, the Holy Prophet (sa) has provided us the means
To adorning our life in this world and in the hereafter. Therefore, one who now acts upon the true teachings of the Holy Prophet (sa) and proclaims the oneness of God Almighty in a sincere manner, are the ones who shall be the recipients of Allah Almighty’s grace
And partake of the intercession of the Holy Prophet (sa). Regarding this it is mentioned in a narration that the Holy Prophet (sa) stated, “The most fortunate among my people with regards to my intercession “is the one who testifies with a sincere heart or a sincere soul that
“(ARABIC) (‘there is no god but Allah’).” Thus, the one who truly partakes of the intercession of the Holy Prophet (sa) is one who makes the proclamation of (ARABIC) (‘there is no god but Allah’), in a manner whereby it is not corrupted with the material world.
The Holy Prophet (sa) is the Final and Perfect Prophet, to whom Allah Almighty gave the right to intercede. Faith in him must also be in accordance with the commandments of Allah Almighty, and the Holy Prophet (sa) has himself described this station in the following manner, “Whoever proclaims with a sincere heart
“(ARABIC) (‘there is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is His Messenger’), “Allah Almighty will forbid the fire for them.” In another narration (ARABIC) (‘Muhammad is His Messenger’) is also mentioned. Therefore, it is impossible to testify to and profess the oneness of Allah Almighty
Without also accepting the Holy Prophet (sa) as the Final and Perfect Prophet. It is he who announced the complete eradication of shirk among his people. Allah Almighty and His Messenger have announced their aversion from anyone who expresses even an iota of shirk.
Yet despite this, such people have appeared among the Muslims who commit such hidden shirk which Allah Almighty and the Holy Prophet (sa) have strongly forbidden. We Ahmadis are fortunate that Allah Almighty has enabled us to accept the Imam of this age and Ardent Devotee of the Holy Prophet (sa),
Who expounded upon the Islamic injunctions and made us aware of their deep wisdom. Where he informed us in great detail with regards to (ARABIC) (‘there is no god but Allah’) he also taught us about the noble rank of the Holy Prophet (sa).
In relation to this I shall now present some excerpts of the Promised Messiah (as) which beautifully shed light upon this subject and draw our attention towards how we must analyse ourselves whilst understanding this subject in great detail. The Promised Messiah (as) states:
“Allah Almighty has Himself explained (ARABIC) ‘this day have I perfected (your religion).’ “Three signs of this must be sufficiently fulfilled. “(He was describing the signs, the first of which is) (ARABIC) ‘Whose root is firm.’ “The second is, (ARABIC) ‘Whose branches reach into the heaven.’
“The third is, (ARABIC) ‘It brings forth its fruit at all times.’ “Hence, it is the religion of Islam alone which fulfils this standard.” In any case, whilst further explaining (ARABIC) ‘Whose root is firm,’ which is the first sign, the Promised Messiah (as) states:
“The principle of faith which has to do with the first sign- “by which is meant the Kalimah (ARABIC) “(i.e., if one wishes to prove (ARABIC), the first sign is (ARABIC).) “It has been mentioned at such length in the Holy Qur’an “that if I were to write all the arguments given in its support,
“it would not finish even after writing many chapters, “(many books can be written on it) but I shall write a little herein below, by way of example. “Allah Almighty says in the 2nd Part of the Holy Qur’an, in its 2nd Chapter, Surah al-Baqarah: “(ARABIC)
“That is to say, verily, in the creation of the heavens and the earth “and in the alternation of night and day, “and in the ships which sail in the sea with that which profits men, “and in the water which Allah sends down from the sky
“and quickens therewith the earth after its death and scatters in the earth all kinds of beasts, “and in the change of the winds, “and the clouds pressed into service between the heaven and the earth- “all of these are Signs for the existence of God Almighty and His Unity
“and the existence of His revelation, “and for His being the Regulator of all by virtue of His Will. “Now, look how Allah, the Lord of Glory, “has argued within this verse in favour of this principle of faith of His, “from His law of nature –
“(he has proven the truthfulness of (ARABIC) and given proof from the law of nature) “in other words, from His creations which can be found in the heaven and earth- “by looking at which, in clear accord with the intent of this noble verse, “it becomes very clearly evident that, without a doubt,
“there is an Eternal Creator of this world who is Perfect, “and One, without any partner, and the Regulator of all that exists by virtue of His will, “and the One who sends His Messengers into the world. “The reason for this is that all of these creations of God Almighty,
“and this system of the universe which we see before our eyes, “clearly tells us that this world did not come into being all by itself, “but that it has an Originator and a Maker Who should necessarily have these attributes – “that He should be Gracious, and Merciful, and All-Powerful,
“and One without any partner, and Eternal and Everlasting, “and the Regulator by virtue of His will, “and also the Possessor of all perfect attributes and the One Who also sends down His revelation.” Thus, the declaration (ARABIC) not only instils the thought of One God in one’s heart,
But also cements the thought that our Lord is One, Who has existed from all eternity; He is the creator of everything and that the entire order of the universe runs because of His will; we must turn to Him in prostration for all our needs.
When a person instils this level of faith within them, this is what is known as perfect faith, which is free from the taint of idolatry. This is the level of faith regarding which the Holy Prophet (sa) has said that if one believes in the declaration of (ARABIC) with full sincerity,
Then the fire of Hell will be forbidden for such an individual. The Promised Messiah (as) further says: “Moreover, as far as seeking assistance is concerned, “it ought to be remembered that in reality, “it is Allah the Exalted alone Who deserves to be implored for help.
“(If there is one from whom help is sought, or if there is one who provides help, “(only Allah the Almighty has this right. “(Allah the Almighty is the only Perfect Being from Whom help should be sought. “(Nobody else has this right nor has the power) “This is what the Holy Qur’an emphasises.
“As such, God Almighty states: “(ARABIC) (‘Thee alone do we worship and Thee alone do we implore for help.’) “Firstly, God Almighty states His attributes; “Rabb” (Lord), “Rahman” (Gracious), ““Rahim” (Merciful) and “Malik yaum al-din” (Master of the Day of Judgement). “Then He taught us the following: (ARABIC)
“In other words, we worship Thee alone and it is from You that we seek assistance. “(i.e., in order to worship Allah, we seek His help. “(Without Allah’s help we cannot perform worship) “From this we learn that “the right to be implored for help is the sole prerogative of Allah the Exalted.
“No human being; no animal, whether beast or bird; “no creation whatsoever, whether in the heaven or on earth, has this right. “However, in the partial sense, as reflections of God, “this right is given to saintly people and the holy men of God. “(we attain help through their prayers.)
“We must not invent things of our own accord, “rather we ought to remain within the boundaries of Allah’s commandments “and the Messenger of Allah (sa),- this is the right path (Sirat al-Mustaqim). “This point can also be understood from the following:
“(ARABIC) (‘There is none worthy of worship except Allah, and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.’) “The first part of this makes it clear that man ought to hold Allah the Exalted alone “to be his beloved, worthy of worship and his objective. “The second part of the Muslim creed expresses the deeper reality
“of the prophethood of Muhammad (sa).” The Promised Messiah (as) states: “Ever since the birth of man, and until he disappears from the world, “the divine law has been that God supports His Tauhid or Oneness. “The object of all the prophets sent by Him was to eradicate the worship of man
“and of other creatures and to establish the worship of God in the world. “Their duty was to make (ARABIC) shine in the earth as it shines in heaven. “The greatest of them, therefore, is he who highlighted this formula with such brilliance; “who first exposed the impotence of false gods
“and proved their insignificance on grounds of reason and strength, “and then, when he had proved everything, “he left as a symbol of his decisive victory the testament (ARABIC). “He did not pronounce (ARABIC) as an unproved assertion. “No, he first proved it, and exposed the errors of false belief
“and then inviting the attention of the people declared, ‘Look, there is no God besides Him ‘who has demolished all your might and shattered your pride.’ “Thus it was that as the reminder of an established truth, “he taught the blessed Kalimah: (ARABIC).” During the conquest of Makkah,
Thousands of idolaters understood the supremacy of the declaration (ARABIC). When the Holy Prophet (sa) asked Abu Sufyan: “Has the truthfulness of (ARABIC) not yet dawned on you?” He replied: “I have now fully understood that if there was any God beside Allah, “then he would have come to our aid.
“We have placed 360 idols around the Ka’bah that we worship, “at least some of them ought to have assisted us.” Replying to an opponent, the Promised Messiah (as) said: “Your saying is absolutely true that it is the teaching of the Holy Prophet (sa) “that sins are removed by the affirmation that: (ARABIC)
“(this is absolutely correct and the truth. We assert that sins are removed, this is correct) “It is a reality that he who believes in God as One without associate “and that Muhammad, the Chosen One (sa) was sent by the same All-Powerful Unique One, “will doubtlessly attain salvation, if he dies in the belief.
“There is no salvation under heaven through the suicide of anyone “(there is no salvation in the death of anyone, “(and there will be no salvation even if someone dies for your sake. “(Indeed they will attain salvation through the declaration of the Islamic Kalimah)
“and no one can be more insane than one who thinks so “(that they cannot attain salvation from the Kalimah). “But to believe in God as One without associate “(one ought to ponder over this, it is not the case of simply verbally professing it)
“But to believe in God as One without associate and so Compassionate “that by His great mercy, in order to rescue the world from misguidance, “He sent His Messenger whose name is Muhammad, the Chosen One (sa) “is the doctrine by adhering to which the darkness of the soul is removed
“and the ego is replaced by the belief in the unity of God. “In the end the mighty upsurge of unity spreads over the whole heart “and a heavenly life begins in this very world. “(We ought to understand what is the reality behind the words (ARABIC) subsequently,
“(one begins to attain paradise from this very life.) “As you observe that by the advent of light darkness disappears, “in the same way, when the bright reflection of (ARABIC) falls upon a heart, “the dark passions of the ego disappear.
“The essence of sin is that there is a tumult in the passions of the ego “by yielding to which a person is called a sinner, “and the meaning of (ARABIC) which are derived from its various meanings “in the Arabic lexicon is that: (ARABIC)
“That is, ‘there is no one to be desired, or to be loved, ‘or to be worshipped, or to be obeyed except Allah.’” When this condition is developed within a person, then indeed this life becomes a paradise and the means of their forgiveness begin to manifest in this lifetime.
Further elaborating on the Islamic creed of (ARABIC), the Promised Messiah (as) says: “In reality, Allah the Almighty has set forth many commandments. “Some of them are such that not everyone can partake in them, “for example; Hajj (pilgrimage), this is incumbent upon the one that has the means for it.
“(Hajj is not obligatory upon every single person (without condition)) “then there is safety along the way (for Hajj), this is also a prerequisite for Hajj. “Similarly, a person has to ensure “that their family have the necessary provisions during their absence. “(One has to ensure that their family members that remain behind
“(have provisions for food and drink, etc. “(It is not the case that one goes for Hajj and leaves them to starve.) “If one can meet all these requirements then they can perform Hajj. “The same is the case for Zakat (alms). “Only those people pay Zakat that meet the minimum threshold for Zakat.
“(Only those people pay who become eligible to pay) “Similarly, at times there are certain changes within the prayers, “for example if a person is travelling or is unwell then it is shortened or combined. “However there is one aspect (of Islam) in which there is no change
“and that is the Islamic declaration of faith (ARABIC). “This is the true essence and all other things complete it. “Tauhid (declaration of Oneness of God) cannot be complete without worship. “(If one does not perform worship then Tauhid remains incomplete “and one cannot fulfil the rights of the creed (ARABIC)).
“This means that the one who declares (ARABIC) will only be truthful in their proclamation “when they demonstrate through their actions “that there is no one to be desired, or to be loved, or to be worshipped except Allah.
“Thus, this is a condition for faith; it is not enough to simply make a verbal proclamation. “If one recites (ARABIC), then one has to demonstrate this through their deeds “by adhering to the commandments of Allah the Almighty; “by worshipping Him and by fulfilling the rights of Allah and His creation.
“These are the commandment of Allah the Almighty. “For the sake of our Beloved and the One Whom we seek to attain, “it is necessary to adhere to His commandments, “only then will one truly be acting upon and affirming their faith in: (ARABIC).”
The Promised Messiah (as) stated that when a person instils this condition in them and their faith and deeds demonstrate this declaration then they are not false in their declaration in the sight of God Almighty. All of the worldly material burns away, as it were, and they became completely immersed and devoted in their faith. By proclaiming: (ARABIC), all other material desires burn away and only Allah the Almighty remains as one’s desire, objective and beloved.
This is the state of belief. It is in such a state that when one utters: (ARABIC) (There is none worthy of worship except Allah), the proclamation of (ARABIC) (and Muhammad (sa) is His servant and Messenger), which is the second part of (the Muslim creed), it then serves as a practical model
Because through examples a matter can be easily understood. The prophets, may peace be upon them, appear in order to establish their examples and the Holy Prophet (sa) was an embodiment of all the excellences of their noble examples because the qualities of all the prophets were found in him.
The Holy Prophet (sa) understood the true meaning of (ARABIC) (There is none worthy of worship except Allah). The Holy Prophet (sa) presented the commandments of Allah the Almighty and practically fulfilled them and expounded upon them in detail. He is the perfect model who presented the (ARABIC)
In its most perfect form or practised it in its most perfect form. Then, whilst advising us, the Promised Messiah (as) states, “A superficial oath of allegiance to a spiritual guide brings no benefit “and it is difficult to derive any gain from such an oath of allegiance.
“A person shall truly reap benefit only when they abandon their ego “and attach themselves to this person with abiding love and sincerity. “(One has to attach themselves with complete love and sincerity “(to the person they have made an oath of allegiance to
“(and it is only then that their oath of allegiance shall be of benefit). “Since the hypocrites did not possess a true relationship with the Holy Prophet (sa), “and his progeny, ultimately, they remained bereft of faith “(they only did the Bai’at superficially); they were left devoid of pure love and sincerity.
“And so, the mere proclamation (ARABIC) (There is none worthy of worship except Allah) “was of no avail to them. “Thus, it is very important to forge these bonds. “If a follower does not strengthen these ties and fails to make an effort in this cause, “any expression of grief or regret would be unwarranted.
“One should nurture a relationship of love and sincerity with one’s spiritual guide “and insofar as possible, adjust the hue of one’s disposition to that of one’s master, “both in terms of action and belief. “The inner self of man promises him a long life,
“(one thinks they will live long and they are still young) but this is deception. “There is no telling how long a person will live. “One should hasten to adopt piety and worship, “and introspect on one’s condition from morning to evening “(as to what extent they are adhering to (ARABIC)).”
Then, whilst drawing our attention to understand the meaning of (ARABIC) and to do justice to it, the Promised Messiah (as) states, “My purpose is not to suggest that Muslims ought to become indolent “(i.e., to recite the Kalimah and then become lazy). “Islam does not make anyone slothful.
“You ought to engage in business and employment as well, “but I do not approve that you should have no time at all for God. “(Although they recite (ARABIC) they are immersed in worldly endeavours “(and are failing to do true justice to it.) “When it is time to engage in business, engage in business;
“but even then, keep the fear and awe of Allah Almighty in view “so that even your businesses become a form of worship. “When it is time for the Prayer, do not miss your Prayer. “In every situation, whatever it may be, give precedence to religion. “(It is imperative to give precedence to one’s faith.
“(Also, we proclaim this in our pledge as well “(that we shall give precedence to our faith over the world). “Let not the world itself become your objective; “instead, religion ought to be the actual objective that you seek. “When this becomes your way, even your worldly engagements will be deemed religious.
“Look at the companions – even in the most trying times, they did not forsake God. “At a time of war, when the sword is drawn, “one is faced with such danger that even the mere thought of this makes one anxious. “This is a time of passion and anger, but even in this state,
“the companions never turned away from God; they did not miss their Prayers. “In fact, they remained engaged in supplication. “The unfortunate thing now is that Muslims exert efforts in every other way; “they deliver eloquent speeches, (they speak about the Kalimah) “they hold conventions in order to further the progress of the Muslims,
“but they are so negligent of God that they do not turn to Him even by mistake. “When this is the state of the Muslims, “how can they hope that their efforts will bear fruit, “when all of them are so materialistic? “(They use the name of Muslims,
“(yet their efforts are all for the sake of attaining worldly material “(and simply using the religion of Allah). “Remember! Until the words (ARABIC) saturate our heart and soul, “and until every particle of our being is not illuminated and ruled by Islam, “progress can never be attained.”
If we wish to succeed, then we must understand the essence of (ARABIC). Rather than the world, we will have to make Allah the Almighty our ultimate objective. Then, with regards to the reality of the Sacred Creed (Kalimah Tayyibah), its meanings and how we should understand and implement it,
The Promised Messiah (as) states, “I have expressed on various occasions “that you should not rejoice upon the mere fact that we are Muslims and declare the Islamic creed. “Those who recite the Qur’an are well aware of the fact that “Allah the Almighty is never pleased with mere words
“nor does any virtue come about within a person as a result of simple words, “until one’s practical state is reformed “(verbal claims carry no weight, actions are the true essence). “Nothing can be achieved until the state of a person’s practical actions is rectified.
“There was a time when nothing remained among the Jewish people “except verbal claims and these claims were all they had left to rely on. “They made great verbal claims, yet their hearts were polluted with evil thoughts and toxicity. “This was the very reason that Allah the Almighty sent various calamities
“upon this nation and caused them great difficulties, “abasing them to the extent that they became like swine and apes.” The Promised Messiah (as) continues, “This is a point to ponder upon. “Did they not believe in the Torah? “Of course they did, and they also believed in the prophets,
“however Allah the Almighty was not pleased by their mere words “or that they express their faith whereas their hearts were not aligned with their claims.” They made claims with their words but their hearts were not aligned with what they said. The Promised Messiah (as) further states, “Be sure to remember that
“if a person verbally claims to believe that God is One and has no partner “and believes in the prophethood of the Holy Prophet (sa) “and believes in other tenets of faith, “but these proclamations are limited to mere words and the heart is not aligned, “then they remain nothing more than words.
“Verbal utterances cannot suffice until the voice rises from the heart. “One will only attain salvation when their heart believes, “which entails practically expressing these matters. “Until then, nothing can be achieved.” What does it mean to practically embody these things? It is to act according to the commandments of Allah the Almighty
Which have been clearly stipulated in the Holy Qur’an. The Promised Messiah (as) states, “I say truthfully that “one’s real purpose can only be achieved when they abandon all else “and turn wholly towards God Almighty and truly give precedence to faith over the world.” A mere oath will not suffice,
Rather one will have to practically give precedence to the faith over worldly matters. The Promised Messiah (as) continues, “Remember, people can deceive other humans, “and people can be fooled by seeing that “an individual offers the five daily prayers or does virtuous deeds “(people will see someone offering prayers or coming to the mosque
“(and offering voluntary prayers “(and will say that they are regular in offering the five daily prayers “(and regularly attend the mosque. “(If they undertake other virtues, give their financial contributions, “(and thus deem that person to be virtuous. “(People can be deceived, but God Almighty cannot be deceived).
“That is why a person’s actions should be especially sincere “(even the practical actions one does undertake should be with the utmost sincerity. “(Sincerity connotes doing something solely for the sake of Allah the Almighty). “These are the types of actions that develop capability and excellence.”
The Promised Messiah (as) further states, “Now it should be remembered that “we must understand the meanings of the creed which we recite every day. “This creed means that a person verbally attests and authenticates with their heart “that the Object of their worship, their Beloved, and their Objective “is none other than God Almighty.”
This has also been mentioned before. The Promised Messiah (as) states, “The word (ARABIC – God) refers to the beloved, “the ultimate purpose and the object of worship. “He should be the most Beloved, “He should be the ultimate purpose the attainment of which should be a person’s goal “instead of attaining material things.
“Only He should be worshipped without any hidden forms of associating partners with Him.” The Promised Messiah (as) further states, “The word (ARABIC – God) refers to the beloved, “the ultimate purpose and the object of worship. “This creed is a summary of all the teachings in the Holy Qur’an as taught to the Muslims.
“Since it is not easy to remember such a great and vast book “(it is not easy to remember all that is in the Holy Qur’an), “this creed was taught so that one may always bear in mind the essence of the Islamic teachings.
“What is the essence? It is (ARABIC – there is no god except Allah). “There is no object of worship except Allah. “He is the ultimate goal, the ultimate purpose, the most beloved. “Until this reality is not instilled within a person, they cannot attain salvation. “That is why the Holy Prophet (sa) said, (ARABIC)
“Meaning, ‘whoever sincerely accepts that there is not god except Allah will enter Paradise.’” Whilst explaining the fact that other people can be deceived, the Promised Messiah (as) states, “If people think that merely repeating words like a parrot “can grant a person entry into Paradise,
“then if this is all that was required then all actions would be useless and futile “(if all one needs to do in order to enter paradise is proclaim “(that there is no god except Allah, “(then all practical actions would become extinct).
“What was the need for all the commandments found in the vast Qur’an? “In that case, God forbid, the Shariah is rendered useless. “But this is not the case. “Rather, the reality is that intrinsic meanings should enter a person’s heart. “When this happens, then that person truly enters Paradise.”
When one understands the reality of the meanings of (ARABIC) (there is no god but Allah) then they enter Paradise, not only after passing away, but they experience it in this very life as well. At another instance, during a gathering, the Promised Messiah (as) was mentioning something similar
Which is quoted by another newspaper in detail. The Promised Messiah (as) said, “God Almighty does not associate with mere words, “He associates with the hearts. “This means that that those who adopt the meaning of the creed in their hearts
“and the majesty of God Almighty entirely takes root in their hearts, then they enter Paradise. “When a person truly attests to the creed “then none other than God remains beloved to them “(If a person truly recites the creed, then they can love no one except Allah the Almighty).
“They worship none other than Allah “(there is no one else who they would worship even in a hidden manner). “Nothing else remains for them to covet other than God “(there remains nothing else for them to search for except the pleasure of Allah the Almighty). “The ranks of Abdal, Qutub and Ghauth
“are all to wholeheartedly believe in the creed (ARABIC) (there is no god but Allah) “and to act upon its meanings.” Then, the Promised Messiah (as) goes on to say, “It is true, and one quickly realises “that if a person has no other beloved or purpose aside from Allah the Almighty
“then no pain or discomfort can cause them grief “(if a person realises that their pain is also for the sake of Allah the Almighty, “(then they can cause him no grief). “They do not worry on account of these difficulties. “They know that Allah the Almighty is swift to help His friends,
“and at times, in fact most times, He bestows ease of heart.” He continues that this is the rank granted to the Abdal and the Qutub. If the purpose is attaining God rather than worldly things, then one has nothing to worry about. The Companions understood this.
It is not that this is bestowed only upon the Qutub or the Abdal or on specific ranks of people, rather the majority of the Companions achieved this rank. They understood this matter which is why Allah the Almighty made the Companions an example for us. Furthermore, the Promised Messiah (as) states:
“Do not consider it enough to renounce idol worship.” Even after stating that this is a grand station for a typical person, the Promised Messiah (as) explained that it is not enough to simply renounce idol worship and to claim to worship Allah the Almighty alone. The Promised Messiah (as) states:
“Keep in mind that refraining from idol worship is a trivial affair. “Hindus who have no knowledge of verities are now forgoing idol worship. “(They are ignorant of the reality of God and His Oneness, yet they are ceasing to worship idols). “Associating partners with God is not limited to just humans and idols.
“(This is not limited to refraining from the worship of material objects “(such as humans and idols, “(but also includes other incorporeal entities). “It is as Allah the Almighty has stated in the Holy Qur’an, “that selfish desires and inclinations are also the objects of worship.”
The desires and inclinations of the self also become the objects of our worship when they are set up beside Allah the Almighty, ultimately bearing us away from (ARABIC). The Promised Messiah (as) states: “Whoever submits to his selfish desires
“and obeys his impulses to the degree of dying for them is an idolater and polytheist. “The ‘La’ not only negates other entities, rather, it negates all and every object of worship.” When we proclaim (ARABIC) it not only negates material objects of worship but anything that can be set up beside Allah the Almighty.
One who sets up anything equal to Allah the Almighty testifies that he does not believe in Allah. The Promised Messiah (as) continues: “Thus, we must understand that “all objects of worship are negated by the proclamation of (ARABIC), “whether those objects are internal or external; material or immaterial;
“the idols we have concealed in our hearts or physical ones. “For instance, one who relies solely on their means and abilities “has created an idol for himself. “Such idol worship infects its host like pulmonary tuberculosis and destroys them from the inside.
“Material and overt idols are easy to identify and equally easy to renounce. “I have observed that hundreds of thousands of people have renounced them and continue to do so. “Have many Muslims not immerged from this country that was once brimming with Hindus? “(Those who had become Muslims were once idol worshippers).
“Have they not abandoned idol worship? “Many factions continue to immerge from the Hindu people “(as mentioned prior) who do not worship idols. “However, the concept of idolatry does not end there. “Indeed, one may have abandoned idol worship that is overt, “but there are thousands of idols that people cling to.
“Even those who are considered philosophers and logicians cannot expel these idols.” Such philosophers and intellectuals passionately parade their philosophies and arguments, yet idols also reside in their hearts; their pride of knowledge has become their idol; their opinions have become their idols, and they cannot eliminate them.
The Promised Messiah (as) further states: “The truth is, “such an infestation cannot be eliminated from within without the grace of Allah the Almighty, “for this infestation runs deep and causes immense harm and damage to the host. “Those who, under the influence of their inner passions,
“relinquish themselves from the rights of Allah the Almighty and His limits – “and in doing so neglect the rights of His creation – cannot be considered knowledgeable. “You will find thousands who are considered scholars and intellectuals, “and theologians and saints, yet despite this, they too suffer from the same infestation.”
If one does not fulfil the rights of humankind, then they have also forgotten the meaning of (ARABIC). True courage demands one to abandon such idols. Those impressive personalities whom you consider to be pious also have idols concealed within them. True courage requires one to abandon such idols,
And to duly fulfil the rights of Allah and humankind. Only then can one come to understand the real meaning of (ARABIC). This is true courage, and one who can identify these is truly intelligent and wise. The Promised Messiah (as) continues: “These idols are the root cause of mutual enmity,
“which subsequently results in conflict and bloodshed. “A single man usurps the right of his brother, giving way to thousands upon thousands of evils. “Such occurrences take place every day and at every moment. “Material means are relied upon so excessively that in comparison, “God Almighty is regarded as an ineffectual limb.”
The Promised Messiah (as) continues: “There are very few who have understood the true meaning of the Oneness of God. “If the people are questioned in this regard, “they contest immediately and cite the fact that they are Muslims and proclaim the Kalimah.
“However, it is unfortunate that they believe it to be enough to simply utter the Kalimah. “I say with certainty that if one uncovers the truth behind the Kalimah Tayyibah “and practically adheres to it, “he can achieve great progress and witness the extraordinary “and astonishing powers of God Almighty.
“Consider this matter carefully, that I am not in this position as an ordinary admonisher, “nor am I a storyteller. “Rather, I have taken a stand to bear testimony “and convey the message given to me by Allah the Almighty. “I am not concerned with whether this message is heard or accepted;
“you will be held accountable regarding it. “I must fulfil my obligation. “I am aware that although many people have entered my community “and have attested to the Oneness of God, “I must say with regret that they do not truly believe in it.
“I cannot be certain that he who usurps the right of his brother, “is unfaithful or engages in other evils actually believes in the Oneness of God, “because this is such a blessing that upon attaining it, “one undergoes an extraordinary transformation. “(He who believes in the Oneness of God must undergo a transformation).
“God Almighty loves such people, “and the idols of malice, rancour, envy and affectation cannot persist within them. “This transformation can only take place – “at which time one becomes a true adherent of the Oneness of God – “when one removes the inner idols of arrogance, conceit, affectation, malice,
“enmity, envy, niggardliness, hypocrisy, unfaithfulness and so on. “Until such idols persist within oneself, “how can they be considered truthful in their proclamation of (ARABIC).” Thus, during this Ramadan, every one of us should strive to purify ourselves of these idols
So that we are able to understand the true meaning of (ARABIC) and believe in it. The Promised Messiah (as) further states: “Because this requires one to relinquish their dependence (of other things), “it is an established fact that there is no benefit to simply utter that ‘God is One and has no partner.’
“In one respect, a person recites the Kalimah, “yet when faced with a matter that is a conflict of interest, they submit to their anger and rage. “I say repeatedly that one should always be mindful “that as long as these hidden objects of worship exist,
“one cannot hope to attain the rank of a true believer of the Oneness of God, “in the same way that one cannot safeguard against the plague as long as rats infest the earth; “as long as this infestation of rats “(i.e., the infestation of sins) persists, one’s faith is not safe.
“Pay close heed to my words and act upon them. “Thus, in summary, the Kalimah means to recognise Allah the Almighty “as the only One worthy of worship, the Beloved and the Ultimate Purpose. “This rank can only be attained when one purifies themselves of all inner vices
“and removes the idols that reside within their hearts.” May Allah the Almighty enable us to, through special efforts and prayers, remove all our inner vices in the remaining days of Ramadan. May we safeguard against all forms of hidden shirk (associating partners with God) and remove all the idols from within us.
May Allah the Almighty become our sole object of worship, our Ultimate Purpose and Beloved. May we come to understand the truth of (ARABIC), and upon proclaiming (ARABIC) may we find before us the beautiful and practical example established for us by the Holy Prophet (sa).
All this cannot be achieved without the grace of Allah the Almighty. To gain the grace of Allah the Almighty, we must struggle and strive, both through our actions and spirituality. In the last ten days of Ramadan, people often speak about Lailatul Qadr (The Night of Decree),
However one is only able to truly experience Lailatul Qadr when they are ready to transform their every word and deed in accordance to the commandments of Allah the Almighty; always act upon this and then make this a permanent change in their lives. This indeed is the true sign of having attained Lailatul Qadr.
To claim that one saw a light, witnessed or experienced a particular thing or rain appeared or experienced a certain fragrance, and so forth, are all temporary signs. The true sign of having experienced Lailatul Qadr (The Night of Decree) is when a transformation takes place within one’s heart.
Some Jama’ats have made special programmes for prayers in light of what I said that if we sincerely pray for three days, we can draw the special blessings of Allah the Almighty. If these three days have been dedicated for prayers only then to return back to one’s old ways
And to forget the true objective of the Kalimah, then one ought to remember that Allah the Almighty is aware of the conditions of our hearts and our intentions. Nothing remains hidden from Him and this will be of no benefit. If you wish to spend these days devoted to prayer
With the intention to attain the pleasure of Allah the Almighty then you must do so by pledging to make these days a permanent habit of your lives. As a result, God Almighty will manifest His special support and succour to remove the hardships being afflicted upon us by the opponents, God-willing.
And, in accordance with His divine promise, Allah the Almighty shall become our Guardian and we shall become wholly devoted to Him. In any case, I also mentioned that if every member of the Jama’at, without any exception, brings about this change in them then it can bring about a revolutionary change.
Therefore, one should also remember that if such a change is not instilled within themselves then those who have formed these programmes should not think after three days that, God-forbid, their prayers were not heard or no revolutionary change occurred. In fact, Allah the Almighty has vouchsafed His promise to the Promised Messiah (as) that
He shall grant him and his Jama’at victories either very soon or after some time. Indeed, if we bring about a revolutionary change within ourselves; worship Allah the Almighty alone and make Him our sole objective and our beloved whilst understanding the true spirit of (ARABIC);
If we give precedence to our love for God Almighty and to attain Him over our love for the world then we can bring about this revolutionary change sooner. Allah the Almighty is not dependant on anything and has certain conditions in His promises (which need to be fulfilled).
Thus, we will need to pledge to instil a permanent change within ourselves. The Holy Prophet (sa) has stated that the last ten days of Ramadan are for seeking the protection from the Hellfire. Also, just as it has been mentioned that the Holy Prophet (sa) stated
That the one who recites the Kalimah truly from the heart, that is: Such a person shall be protected from the Hellfire. Therefore, all of these aspects draw our attention to the fact that a person needs to make a practical effort on a permanent basis. The Promised Messiah (as) has also mentioned this and I have explained in detail that along with reciting the Kalimah, that is: One also needs to practically adhere to this as well. Therefore, in order to derive maximum benefit from these last ten days of Ramadan and in order to truly attain the Lailatul Qadr (the Night of Decree), we will need to ensure that the Kalimah: Should echo forth from within the depths of our hearts and minds. We will need to adhere to this in our every action, just as the Promised Messiah (as) has mentioned. May Allah the Almighty enable us to lead our lives in accordance with this. Pray for the world in general these days that
May Allah the Almighty grant it peace and steadfastness. May Allah the Almighty bestow His mercy and blessings upon mankind. 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 (sa) 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.