Hudhur delivered his Friday sermon from Germany and said that following last week’s Ijtimas of Khuddam and Lajna, Hudhur has been receiving letters from people who were roused and stirred by Hudhur’s discourses at the two events. It is, and indeed should be, the distinction of an Ahmadi that he or she should pay heed to any reminding or any advice. Thus, a large majority has responded to Hudhur’s discourses in light of a verse of the Holy Qur’an: ‘And those who, when they are reminded of the Signs of their Lord, fall not deaf and blind thereat;’ (25:74) The Ijitmas were attended by half of the membership of the two organisations and if the majority of those who attended bring about pious changes in themselves, they can be helpers of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) in the revolutionary change that he wished to bring in the world.
Those who were influenced by Hudhur’s discourses need to continually ponder over them on individual basis as well as the respective auxiliary organisations need to plan for their regular study. Otherwise the enthusiasm dies down. The auxiliary organisations should make use of the current mood and strike while the iron is hot and try and mould its members according to temperament for the which the Promised Messiah’s (on whom be peace) advent took place.
Many people were also influenced by Hudhur’s discourses via MTA. A mother wrote to Hudhur that her young child hid his face in a cushion when he heard Hudhur speak on a matter that he felt Hudhur was addressing him on. Such is the spirit of the children of the Community that they are embarrassed and try and correct themselves. Some children gave up mobile phones in wake of Hudhur’s discourses and the eagerness to play games and other idle pursuits on their handsets lost its appeal. Hudhur said what is required is for the adults to constantly self-reflect and for the parents to constantly remind their children to make good practices a permanent part of their lives. Temporary joy is immaterial, unless we inculcate pious changes on a permanent basis we cannot rest and cannot be part of the great revolution that the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) came for.
Hudhur said he was much impressed by the attention with which the Lajna and Nasirat listened to his address which was longer than the traditional time he allocates to addresses to ladies. However, Lajna should not feel complacent that they had a good Ijtima and have been commended. Both the office-holders and other Lajna should make the current way their constant modus operandi, and be a fulfilment of the blessed Ummah that the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) spoke of and leave no distinction between the time of the earlier-ones and the latter-ones.
A Hadith relates that the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) said that the people of his time were good but will be followed by people who would be distrustful, irreligious and given to self-indulgence. Another Hadith illustrates that the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) said that there will come a time when darkness will dispel from the Muslim Ummah and the Messiah will erect columns of light everywhere. The time of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) was an era of accomplishment of guidance and the current age, the age of the Messiah is a time when accomplishment of propagation of the guidance of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) has to take place. Both these times are blessed because they are both connected to the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him).
Hudhur said a huge responsibility of accomplishing the propagation lays on us. The Companions and other early Muslims demonstrated great models of connection with the Divine and high morals and won the admiration of the world. Later, traders and preachers from among their followers took the message of Islam as far off as China and influenced people by their good models. Currently there are hundreds of thousands of Muslims in China. Today, it is difficult to take the message of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) directly to China. However, as it is the age of the accomplishment of propagation, God opens up avenues. The German Jama’at has had the privilege to introduce Ahmadiyyat by way of an exhibition in China. They have also provided Chinese language literature, without which the task could not have been possible. The Chinese Desk is working very well in London with Usman Chini sahib as in-charge and the German Jama’at was enabled to take the message to China.
Similarly, the Holy Qur’an and other literature is sent to far-off countries in their local language. All this is because this age is a blessed age and blessed are those who are partaking in this and are trying to renew the era of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him). Temporary enthusiasm is not enough, what is required is utmost effort. The German Jama’at is enabled to serve in China as well as in other neighbouring countries. Earlier, this task was done by a few hundred. In light of the effusion of letters to Hudhur, thousands should join in this revolution about which the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him ) gave the glad-tidings; he said that the latter-days will also be blessed.
Among other glad-tidings to his Ummah, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) foretold about Khilafat. This glad-tiding is dependent on Khilafat being the central aspect and the progress of the Ummah is reliant on Khilafat. Today, various Muslim scholars time and again say that Khilafat is needed in the Ummah, because they realise the permanence of the Ummah is not possible without Khilafat. Yet, they are blinded in not recognising one commissioned by God and through whom Khilafat on the precepts of Prophethood was established in the current age. Today, the internal situation of each Muslim country cries out for people to stop and think about what is coming to pass. It is beckoning to the path of God and His Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him), for that alone is the solution to all the restlessness and disquiet. Hudhur said this is the message we have to take all over the world, especially to the Muslim countries. In spite of being persecuted for it, Ahmadis continue to take the message of the Messiah (on whom be peace) to the Ummah out of compassion. In fact, it is the message of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) for them to join the latter-ones and be part of the blessed people of the Ummah.
As ever, Hudhur reminded to self-reflect. He asked how many of us reflected over our responsibility in being associated with the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) once a day, once a week or once a month? What our worship of God and other morals are like? What role are we playing in helping Khilafat? Through God’s mercy the Promised Messiah’s (on whom be peace) advent took place and He enabled us to accept him. Is it sufficed to come into the Bai’at of the great person? Indeed, when the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) said that the latter-days will be blessed like the early days of Islam, it signified that the followers of the Messiah will be part of the revolution for which he was sent. Today, it is the task of each Ahmadi to play his or her role in this.
Pondering over Quranic commandments, followed by putting them in practice, is required to bring about revolutions. The world is thus transformed into paradise and then the rest of the world too follows. Today, we are weak and are persecuted everywhere. When we will rise having understood the reality of our Bai’at, if not the people of today, their generations to come will definitely join us.
Hudhur enjoined not to be lost in the pleasure-seeking life of the Western world. Any spiritual effect of Ijtima or Jalsa should not be temporary. Indeed, there are people; youngsters, men and women who understand the reality of this. Hudhur said earlier on he was concerned about Waaqfeen e Nau. Some thought it was sufficient that some Waqfe Nau youngsters went to study at Jamia. The centre was not aware of the details of the Waaqfeen. Now, those Waaqfeen e Nau who study at universities do so after consulting Hudhur or the Jama’at and say that after their studies, they will present themselves to the Jama’at.
In terms of financial giving, Hudhur said only yesterday a lady came and gave Hudhur a pile of gold. In spite of Hudhur asking her to keep some for herself, she said she had committed herself to give this to the Jama’at and now it was haram on her. The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) had thus brought about a revolution among his followers. They also abide by other commandments of the Shariah. In the materialistic world that we live in, to initiate piety and then to pray for steadfastness, makes one a recipient of God’s pleasure. There are people in the Jama’at who follow this, but there should be a majority of such people. The Qur’an states: ‘And when the Garden is brought nigh,’ (81:14) and Hudhur explained that this is about the time of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) and fortunate are those who are availing of this blessing.
The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) said that God does not say that one piety will make you the recipient of His pleasure, rather one has to adopt all pieties. We need to oversee all our practices. We have accepted the Imam of the age who drew attention to paying the dues of God and dues of mankind. He enjoined his followers to become Wali (saint) and Pir (holy person) rather than commit Pir-parasti (hierolatry). Hudhur said this was a tremendous thing to say that everyone should be a Wali or Pir in their own right. Indeed, this does not suggest being like Pirs of today.
Hudhur narrated a story relating to a sister of Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih I (may Allah be pleased with him) who followed a Pir. He cautioned her about it and asked her to become and Ahmadi, but she said she had no need to do so as she had taken the Bai’at of such and such Pir. The Pir told her that she was a true devotee of his and he had taken on all her sins. Hudhur remarked it appears that the concept of atonement is not confined to Christianity. Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih I (may Allah be pleased with him) asked his sister to ask her Pir that on the Day of Judgement when each and every soul will be held accountable, does he realise he will be rebuked for the sins of others? The sister came back with the answer that the matter which had been made a big issue was solved by her Pir in one minute by saying that when on the Day of Judgement, the angels ask her about her sins, she should reply, ‘ask my Pir’. The angels would leave her and she should run and enter Paradise. The Pir added that when the angels will ask him, he will show his blood-shot eyes to them and say that was the sacrifice given by his ‘grandfather’, Hadhrat Hussein (may Allah be pleased with him) not enough that they were now questioning him. On this the angels would be embarrassed and the Pir said he would strut his way into Paradise.
Hudhur said in reality the Paradise that has been made close to people in this age is the one which the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) has guided us to, in light of the teachings of the Holy Qur’an. To this day, a large section of people in Muslim countries, the ignorant as well as the educated, counting some political leaders of whom Hudhur has knowledge, follow Pirs. They neither offer Salat nor read the Holy Qur’an but are devotees of Pirs and consider their prayers sufficient. Hudhur said if Paradise was to be attained this way then God forbid, there is no need for the Qur’an.
Hudhur said many people ask him for prayers and when Hudhur asks them if they are regular in offering Salat, they say no. Hudhur tells them to pray for themselves and with their prayer be helpers of Hudhur. Once a Companion asked the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) to pray for him and the Prophet answered that he would pray but the Companion should also help him with his prayers. Hudhur said whoever one asks for prayer one should help with one’s own prayers. Only those prayers gain acceptance which are made in accordance with the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) and in those prayers one should give preference to pre-eminence of faith.
Next Hudhur read a few extracts from the noble writings of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) expounding ways to reform ourselves. Hudhur prayed that may God enable us to mould our lives in accordance with the wishes of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) so that we too can be part of the revolution destined to come through the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace).