Exemplary Compassion of the Holy Prophet

Summary of Friday Sermon

delivered by the Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community

February 23^rd, 2007

Citing verse 128 of Surah Al Taubah (9:128) Huzur gave a discourse on the supreme compassion of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) in his Friday Sermon.

The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) is the superlative and the matchless example of imbibing Divine attribute on a human level and it is from his spiritual light that the world attained beneficence, is indeed attaining beneficence and shall continue to do so.

The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) wrote: The man who in his being and his attributes and his actions and through his spiritual and holy faculties set an example of perfection, in knowledge and action and in sincerity and steadfastness, and was called the perfect man was Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allah be on him.... The man who was most perfect as man and as Prophet, and came with full blessings, and who through a spiritual revival and resurrection manifested the first judgment in the world and revived the dead world, that blessed Prophet, the Seal of the Prophets, the leader of the righteous ones, the pride of the Prophets, was Muhammad, the chosen one, peace and blessings of Allah be on him. Our Lord, send down on that beloved Prophet that mercy and blessing that Thou hast not sent down on anyone since the beginning of the world. Had that grand Prophet not appeared in the world then we would have no proof of the truth of lesser Prophets like Jonah, Job, Jesus son of Mary, Malachi, John, Zakaria, etc. Though they were favourites and honoured and were beloved ones of Almighty God, they are under obligation to this Prophet that they were accepted in the world as true Prophets. O Allah, send down Thy blessings on him and on his people and on his companions, all of them. Our last word is that all praise belongs to Allah, Lord of the worlds (Essence of Islam Vol. 1 p. 199)

He wrote that the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) had a love of God of the highest degree as well as he endured deep poignancy in his great love for creation. His compassion for humanity, borne out of Rahimiyyat, was so intense that the Qur’an has safeguarded it in the verse above. His sentiments of sympathy as cited in the verse are both for the believers as well as the disbelievers. The disbelievers put him through the severest of persecution alongside his followers, yet the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) deeply desired their well-being and wished them to take the right path. In the instances when he defended himself it was strictly a case of defence and never exceeded to anything more. There was certainly no question of retaliation, ever.

When God admonished the disbelievers to desist and warned them of a torment in-waiting, the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) would be deeply distressed on their behalf and would pray for them as the Quranic verse of Surah Al Kahf depicts (18:7).

Huzur said today even a father does not have so much concern for the worldly and spiritual well-being of his children, while the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) only had a bond of humanity with these people.

Next Huzur cited some Ahadith to elucidate the subject, how the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) taught prayers seeking Divine mercy and enjoined ways to seek utmost blessings. His compassion for the believers was so intense that he would pray to God to make any harsh words that he may have said to a believer a source of Divine nearness for him on the Day of Judgment. Such are the traits of this compassionate and merciful Prophet who was anxious to raise the spiritual development of his followers and was just as anxious for the salvation of those who did not follow him.

Huzur said these days one hears regular misinformation about Islam and the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) in the West with the intent to discredit.

Recently a politician from Holland, Geert Wilders made extremely crass and malicious comments about Islamic teachings. Whenever such a spate of malice surfaces the Community responds and Huzur said he has instructed the Community in Holland to write to the newspapers expounding the beautiful teaching of Islam. In this day and age it is only the religion of Islam that presents the accurate depiction of God, if one says something against Islam due to lack of knowledge or inaccurate information then it is our task to expound to them the blessed model of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) encompassing all spheres of life. However, if they make the remarks out of malice and wickedness, then we rest our case.

The Dutch politician Wilders, Huzur said, seems to be steeped in malice and ill will. He was born a Catholic but now does not follow any religion. When they do not find any peace from their own religion, they begin attacking Islam. This person is a seasoned objector of Islam and was at the forefront of the Dutch controversy over the veil and has now said that had the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) lived in his country today he would have chased him out (God forbid) calling him an extremist. Huzur said let alone chase him out, little does he realise that this region will be filled with the Prophet’s followers. Explaining Huzur said, how hard the enemies of Islam have tried but they have always have met with failure. Today it is only the name of this “mercy for mankind” that is called out aloud five times a day in all the parts of the world where Muslims live. The Dutch politician has also remarked that half of the Holy Qur’an (God forbid) needs to torn out and thrown away. Huzur said although this person himself does not follow any religion but he should make comparative study of the scriptures of the religions that he deems better than Islam (Christianity and Judaism) and the Holy Qur’an and if something is still not clear he should ask us. Cautioning against Divine chastisement for those who exceed limits, Huzur explained that the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) would be anxious and restless for the salvation of the likes of K. Wilders.

It is a grave responsibility of the Ahmadis to inform the world of the beautiful aspects of the Prophet’s blessed life. Those who allege that his teachings were excessive and militant should be told of the minute humanitarian details in which he trained his followers in the etiquette of battle, that how civilized and enlightened was his protocol for the prisoners of war

Conversely attention should be drawn to the annihilation of two Japanese cities in World War II, the dreadful effects of which are still being experienced by people and indeed what is being currently perpetrated in Iraq. How would they care to term it?

They should be reminded that despite all these atrocities, the teaching of the God of Islam is so beautiful that it states: “Except those who repent, and believe and do good deeds; for as to these, Allah will change their evil deeds into good deeds; and Allah is Most Forgiving, Merciful;” (26:71)

Huzur said the current predicaments of the Western world stem from lack of self-reflection, the disintegration of the family life is due to lack of faith in God. Ahmadis, having fully adopted the teachings of the Qur’an should counsel them that they need to desist from their ways; that their survival is in ceasing these attacks on one who was the benefactor for all humanity. Huzur said apart from wars, the world also faces damage from climatic change. The people of Holland say that God created the rest of the world but they created Holland themselves. Huzur cautioned that half of Holland lies below sea level and when storms rage they even reduce mountains to nothing.

Huzur enjoined to take the message of the Unity of God to the world out of compassion and concern and to make this message well-known, otherwise, he said the world is incurring the wrath of God by making these wicked attacks on the beloved of God.
Reading an extract from the writings of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) Huzur said the message of the Unity of God needs to taken to all those who are sensible because Allah’s designs and plans have come in motion as we experience everyday. Ours is just a humble effort.

In conclusion Huzur read another extract of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) addressing the boasters and said that the Muslim people are ever ready to give their lives for the honour of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) and it should be remembered about those who make these offensive remarks that they are not even the well-wishers of their own people.
May Allah protect the world from all evil.