Vie with each other in good works

Huzoor^(aba) delivered today’s Friday Sermon with reference to verse 149 of Surah Al Baqarah (2:149). The verse exhorts believers to vie with each other in good works. Huzoor^(aba) expounded that there are many worldly organisations that claim to do good works for humanity, however, the truth is that in the current age it is only true Muslims who establish good works and the only true Muslims around are Ahmadis: who, having accepted the Messiah of the age in compliance with the commandments of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be on him) have the motto of excelling in good works. Huzoor^(aba) said fulfilling the rights of Allah and the rights of His servants, humanity, is what entails ‘good works’. One pay the dues of rights of Allah by sincere and earnest worship, by observing Salat, by fasting, payment of Zakat, spending in the way of Allah and indeed in engaging in the Jehad of the self; the striving to overcome one’s weaknesses and to spread the message of Islam through the force of the written word.

Huzoor^(aba) said the rights of mankind are met by kindness and courtesy to one’s relations, for both husband and wife to fulfil each other’s rights, to care for the needy and to abstain from all manner of conflict. Huzoor^(aba) stressed that doing of ‘good works’ does not mean a short sharp burst of intense worship and short-lived charitable undertaking; rather it connotes continual and resolute practice of doing good and being ever mindful to excel the next person in doing so.

As customary, Huzoor^(aba) elucidated the subject with several Ahadith as well as writings of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace). Huzoor^(aba) related that the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be on him) enjoined five rights that a Muslim has on another: to reciprocate Assalamoalaikum, to visit the ailing, to attend the funeral of another, to accept the invitation of another and to say; ‘Yer hamokalla’ when the other sneezes.

Huzoor^(aba) said that all the nations of the world are coming in the fold of Ahmadiyyat and that each Ahmadi is obligated to adopt the good traits of the other.