Life of the Promised Messiah (as)

Summary of Friday Sermon

delivered by the Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community

February 02^nd, 2007

Referring to his sermon of last Friday when he gave a discourse on the kindness, compassion and benevolence of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) that the prophet had derived from the quality of Rahmaniyyat of the Gracious God, Huzur said today he would speak on the life of the Prophet’s true and ardent devotee, the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) and how he tried to fully adopt his master’s blessed model.

Despite his extremely busy day to day life as he took on the entire world to defend Islam through his writings, the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) would always be eager to dispense kindness and compassion to humanity. His kindness stemmed from his desire to be grateful to his Gracious and Bountiful God Who had informed him through revelation that he was to exemplify kindness and compassion. This compassion was driven by angst for the spiritually ill as well as prayer and practical steps for the physically ailing.

Lala Shrampat Rai, who was witness to many signs of the truthfulness of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) once fell ill with a most virulent boil on his abdomen. The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) went to visit him at his modest home and found him most anxious. He consoled him and next day visited again accompanied with a doctor who was then appointed to treat him. The doctor’s expenses were met and the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) continued to make daily visits. When Lala was a bit better the visits became intermittent but he continued visiting until Lala Shrampat was cured.

Mehr Hamid was a meek humble person who lived at the outskirts of Qadian in an area where all the refuse was dumped. When he fell ill the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) would take people of the Qadian Jama’at and visit him. The stench in the area, caused by the refuse, would trouble the visiting people. The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) had a most refined nature and he too would be troubled by the stench. However he did not let this stop him from making the visits, when he would talk most affectionately to Mehr Hamid and cheered him. Mehr Hamid worked on the lands and was as if a retainer and a vassal, yet the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) did not ever discriminate. In fact people commented that he cared for him more than one would care for one’s own relations.

While Allah had given the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) a resolute and strong heart, he was also most tender-hearted in that he could not watch anyone in pain. For this reason, at times, he would not visit the ailing himself and would show his concern in other ways. Yet he would never decline to visit the sick although seeing them would make him unwell himself.

One of his devotees, Ayub Baig Sahib who lived at a distance fell very ill. On his deathbed he felt an overwhelming desire to see the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) and sent him a letter as well as a telegram requesting him to come by. The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) was also unwell at the time, so he wrote back a most poignant letter expressing his inability to travel and said that he was fervently engaged in prayers for Ayub Baig Sahib’s health. He wrote that he did not have words to convey his pain and that because of this he could barely hold the pen. He asked to be kept posted daily.

While the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) did not ever turn a needy person away, he would meet the needs of some before they had a chance to ask for help. For example sensing the need of others he would provide warm clothing in winter. This he would do often and without any distinction of friend or foe, Muslim or Hindu.

He would appreciate the need of others and offer help without the other asking. He would, without exception, offer to pay something towards the fare of those who visited him from afar.

Sheikh Muhammad Naseem Ahmad Sahib was an orphan who had been brought up in the care of the Jama’at and went on to work for a newspaper. At the birth of the first born of Hadhrat Khalifa tul Masih II (may Allah be pleased with him), Naseer Ahmad, who died in infancy, a wet nurse was needed for the baby. The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) asked for the services of Naseem Sahib’s wife. He inquired about the income of Naseem Sahib and felt that perhaps he found it difficult to make ends meet. One day he discreetly flicked a small bundle of money in his room.

Nihal Singh was a most zealous opponent of the mission of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) even resorting to a court case. At the exact time of the court case one of his female relatives fell ill and musk, which was not available anywhere, was need for her treatment. Having looked around, eventually he came to the door of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) and asked for musk. Without delay, the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) gave him the amount of musk that he needed.

Simple rustic women would come to his doorstep and call out for him and the Promised Messiah (on whom e peace) would attend to them promptly as if some authoritative figure had arrived. Women who came to get medication would start relating their domestic woes and the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) would stand and listen to them most patiently. Once quite a few women came to get medicines at a time when he had to write a very important paper. Yet the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) stood alert listening to the troubles of the women for three hours. He considered this as service of faith and would keep a stock of Greek and Western medicines to offer these needy people.

Many a time he would sit on a simple bedstead with children who in their playfulness would push him to the foot of the bedstead (which is not very comfortable to sit on) and would relate their child-like stories which the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) listened to. No matter what children did, the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) did not tell them off.

Then there were those who took undue advantage of the kindness and benevolence of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) and asked for more and more.

Once due to lack of rainfall the yield of the crop on the lands was very little and those who worked on the land felt there was only enough grain for their own consumption. They requested that the difference is made up the following year and that they keep all the grain to feed themselves. The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) agreed. The following year the harvest was copious and the previous year’s share was settled.

Huzur advised that Ahmadi farmers should follow this example, especially in Sind (Pakistan) with farm workers who come from the region of Thar.

The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) had compassion for all living things. He once caught a young Hadhrat Khalifa tul Masih II (may Allah be pleased with him) trying to catch birds by shutting the door of the veranda. He said ‘young man one does not catch the birds that are around the house. One who does not have compassion does not have faith.’

He once saw children wanted to hit a dog that had entered his house. He told the children off.

A youth fell critically ill. People brought him over from his village. His elderly mother accompanied him. Unfortunately the youth passed away. The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) led his funeral prayer which lasted so long that it made some people dizzy. Later the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) explained that he had prayed most intensely for the deceased and did not stop until he was allowed entry into Paradise.

Maulwi Abdul Kareem relates that he had an apartment above Bait ut dua where he could hear the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) making heart-rending supplications. The angst and pain of his entreaties would be most alarming to hear. He would pray most woefully for creation to be saved from the plague despite the fact the plague had materialised as a sign of his truthfulness. Yet he prayed for people to be saved from it and for them to see the light. Such perfection was there in his practise of the blessed model of his master, the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him).

Next Huzur read a couple of extracts from the noble writings of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) with reference to his passion to reform the spiritual condition of people.

Huzur concluded that it is in acceptance of the prayers of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) that Nur e Muhammadi (the spiritual light of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) is spreading. Today, we, his slaves, are obliged to make his prayers a part of our prayers and in adopting his teaching, take his message to the world. So that we too may join in diffusing Nur e Muhammadi, the reason for which the advent of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) took place; join by raising the slogan of “Nahno Ansarullah” (we are the helpers of Allah 3:53). May Allah enable us so.