Hudhur said currently a hotly debated topic in the press and the electronic media is that of the blasphemy law of Pakistan. [Referred to in Urdu as ‘Namoos e Risalat’, i.e. law upholding the honour of the Prophet]. A true Muslim, whose belief extends from Hadhrat Adam (on whom be peace) to the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) is anxious at offence directed at any of the Prophets and is certainly very concerned as regards the Seal of all the Prophets (peace and blessings of Allah be on him). A true Muslim can lay his/her life down, can see his/her children murdered and his/her property looted but cannot listen to disrespect towards his/her master, the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him). Today, due to certain situations, the blasphemy law of Pakistan is at a critical juncture and Western leaders as well as the Pope are making demands regarding it.
These days Islam and Muslims are represented in a most horrific manner in the media with plentiful examples of Pakistan and Afghanistan thrown in. Hudhur said today he would not speak on the matter of the significance of the blasphemy law for Muslims and how the non-Muslims are taking advantage of it. Rather, he wished to say that anyone who made the slightest of effort against the honour and respect of his master, the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) would come under the chastisement of the Quranic verse: ‘We will, surely, suffice thee against those who mock:’ (15:96). God Himself is protecting the honour of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) and is enhancing his status every minute and thus states in the Qur’an: ‘Allah and His angels send blessings on the Prophet…’ (33:57).
In the current age, the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) understood this status more than any other and explained it to us. He said that the Holy Prophet’s (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) truthfulness and sincerity was such that he experienced all manner of evil but did not care and God thus stated: ‘Allah and His angels send blessings on the Prophet. O ye who believe! you also should invoke blessings on him and salute him with the salutation of peace.’ No verse of this magnitude has been used for any other Prophet. God willed us to send salutations on him as a mark of thankfulness. In his blessed model, the Prophet’s (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) truthfulness and sincerity was for God. Therefore, if we wish to be included among those who are true believers of the Ummah, then we should obey all of God’s commandments with truthfulness and sincerity and invoke salutations and blessings (Durud) on the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) with profusion.
While invoking Durud we should have his favours on us in view; he informed us of a religion that takes one to God, he taught us morals which God likes, he established a model for us by being a perfect servant of God, he honoured the dues of God’s worship and demonstrated an excellent model of fear of God as well as a supreme example of praise and glorification of God. The Qur’an gives many commandments, among them are: to adhere to truth under all circumstances, to fulfil promises, to pay the dues of kinship, to have compassion for creation of God, to be steadfast, to forgive, to be humble and to have trust in God in every situation. The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) was a supremely excellent model of all these attributes. When a true believer invokes Durud, he/she should try and follow his model, then alone can he/she express his/her truthfulness and sincerity to him and then alone will it be a Durud emanating out of thankfulness. This is upholding the honour of the Prophet (Namoos e Risalat), that to silence the outsiders one tries to follow his blessed model rather than disgrace Islam for ulterior motives and give our detractors chance to be disrespectful towards our beloved master (peace and blessings of Allah be on him).
If our detractors get a chance to say negative things about the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) due to our weaknesses, then we are answerable to God for this. Love for the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) is not to be expressed through empty slogans. God wants practice. This is a serious cause for concern for Muslims.
If the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) had not elucidated the true status of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) to us, the extent of our reverence for him would also have been limited to holding apparent rallies. He understood the lofty station of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) and then explained it to us.
He wrote: ‘That light of high degree that was bestowed on perfect man was not in angels, was not in stars, was not in the moon, was not in the sun, was not in the oceans and the rivers, was not in rubies, emeralds, sapphires, or pearls; in short, it was not in any earthly or heavenly object. It was only in perfect man whose highest and loftiest and most perfect example was our lord and master, the Chief of the Prophets, the Chief of all living ones, Muhammad, the chosen one [peace and blessings of Allah be on him]. That light was bestowed on this man and, according to their ranks, upon all those who bore the same colour to some degree.... This dignity was found in its highest and most perfect form in our lord and master and our guide, the immaculate Prophet, the righteous one, testified to by the righteous, Muhammad, the chosen one [peace and blessings of Allah be on him].’ (Essence of Islam, Vol. I)
He also wrote: ‘I always wonder how high was the status of this Arabian Prophet, whose name was Muhammad, (thousands of blessings and peace be upon him). One cannot reach the limit of his high status and it is not given to man to estimate correctly his spiritual effectiveness. It is a pity that his rank has not been recognized, as it should have been. He was the champion who restored to the world the Unity of God which had disappeared from the world; he loved God in the extreme and his soul melted out of sympathy for mankind. Therefore, God, Who knew the secret of his heart, exalted him above all the Prophets and all the first ones and the last ones and bestowed upon him in his lifetime all that he desired. He is the fountainhead of every grace and a person who claims any superiority without acknowledging his grace is not a man but is the spawn of Satan, because the Holy Prophet has been bestowed the key to every exaltation and he has been given the treasury of every understanding. He who does not receive through him is deprived forever. I am nothing and possess nothing. I would be most ungrateful if I were not to confess that I have learnt of the true Unity of God through this Prophet. The recognition of the Living God we have achieved through this perfect Prophet and through his light. The honour of converse with God, through which we behold His countenance, has been bestowed upon me through this great Prophet. The ray of this sun of guidance falls like sunshine upon me and I continue illumined only so long as I am adjusted towards it.’ (Essence of Islam, Vol. I)
The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) also wrote: ‘When we estimate justly, then out of the whole series of Prophets, we find one of high courage and alive and greatly dear to God, the Chief of the Prophets, the pride and the crown of the Messengers, whose name is Muhammad Mustafa and Ahmad Mujtaba [peace and blessings of Allah be on him]. By walking under his shadow for ten days one obtains that light which before him could not be obtained in a thousand years’ (Essence of Islam, Vol. I)
Hudhur said impartial opinion would clearly perceive that no one recognised the station of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) as the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) did. He alone had the valour to raise effective voice in response to attacks against the person of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him). In his day a priest published a most offensive book about the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) and sent free copies to Muslim religious leaders. The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) also received a copy. He had a poster published addressing the government that although the law of the land allowed such publication but Muslims believed in all the Prophets. He suggested that a law should be introduced whereby people of each religion would only mention the good aspects of their faith and did not offend others. The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) was passionate about safeguarding the station of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) and indeed defended it at every opportunity. He said that our effort should be to present the flawless face of Islam to the world and in response to false allegations against it, to demonstrate to the world its pure and luminous picture.
Hudhur said true support of Islam is in eradicating very objection raised against it so that those who have spread the falsehood become weary. What is needed is practical effort borne out of compassion for Islam and this needs to be a constant endeavour to dismiss all allegations, bolstered by practice befitting true believers.
The Promised Messiah’s (on whom be peace) sentiments regarding upholding the honour of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) were such that he wrote that he would rather befriend poisonous snakes than those who make impure accusations against his master. He also wrote that nothing hurt him more than derision and mockery aimed at the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him). He said that even if all his progeny and its progeny, his friends and associates all were murdered and his hands were cut off and the pupils of his eyes were gouged out and he lost all his amenities, the grief of attacks against the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) would be weightier for him than these woes.
Hudhur said there are some anti-Islam Christian priests around today as well. Recently an American priest had wanted to burn copies of the Qur’an. He wished to come to the UK. However, the British government has banned him from entering the country. Hudhur said this was an extremely commendable step by the British government, may God enable them to fulfil dues of justice in the future as well.
Hudhur related a few incidents from the life of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) to further illustrate his sense of honour for the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him). Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih II (may Allah be pleased with him) also made all efforts of refutation when someone wrote an offensive book about the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) but advised that while sense of honour for the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) should be demonstrated, it should also be demonstrated that a Muslim restrains himself. 25 years ago when Salman Rushdie wrote his infamous book, Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih IV (may Allah have mercy on him) responded to it through his own publication. In 2005 when the Danish caricatures were published Hudhur and our mission in Denmark also responded and took appropriate actions. When attacks were made on the Holy Qur’an in Holland by a member of parliament, responses were issued. Hudhur said it is the dignity of a true Muslim to respond to such matters with a sense of honour but while remaining within the law.
Hudhur said if the blessed model of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) was followed by the Muslims, the enemy would have been automatically silenced and those with ulterior motives would have been brought to justice. If the Muslims wish to express their endorsement for the honour of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) they should search for taqwa as taught by the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him).
The history of the Ahmadiyya Community is replete with incidents upholding the honour of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him). Hudhur said it would be impossible to relate them all in one Friday Sermon, it would also be difficult to do so in a few Sermons. He said the objections against the person of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) can be removed by bringing the world under his banner. Disorder will stop when his true teaching will be implemented by us and the world is gathered under his banner. If only relevant laws are made to gain ulterior motives then that is blasphemous in itself.
Laws address apparent evil they do not address what is in hearts. True happiness for a Muslim will come about only when love of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) will be established in the world. It is the obligation of an Ahmadi in any case, for which we should make our best efforts, but if other Muslims also demonstrate models of forgiveness that the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) displayed rather than show harshness, this indeed would be service to Islam. Today, this blessed model is needed as it is needed to take his message to the world and not simply make outward laws. May God enable us and the other Muslims to do this.