SUMMARY OF FRIDAY SERMON

by the Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community
March 28^th, 2003

---

Continuing with the subject of the Divine attribute of Al Qawiy (The Powerful) in his Friday sermon Hazur^aba recited verse 73 of Surah Al Ahzab (Chapter 33)
The translation reads:
‘ Verily, We offered the Trust to the heavens and the earth and the mountains, but they refused to bear it and were afraid of it. But man bore it. Indeed, he was too cruel to himself, unmindful of the consequences.’
Hazur^aba said that here the reference to mountains connotes big powers. Hazur^aba said when Moses (on whom be peace) wished to see Divine Manifestation, it was demonstrated on a mountain for him and the mountain was not able to bear it, however when a Divine Manifestation was revealed to Muhammad (peace and blessings be on him) in the form of the Holy Quran, he had the strength to withstand it. Hazur^aba went on to recount the awe-inspiring incidence of the first ever revelation received by the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be on him). Hazur^aba illustrated the Divine support that was bestowed upon the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be on him) by way of two episodes whereby a ferocious person like Abu Jahal, who was a sworn enemy of Islam, was reduced to utter dread when facing the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be on him) because Gabriel (on whom be peace) would manifest close by in the form of a fierce camel to induce fright. Hazur^aba also recounted the admonitory tale of the way Abu Jahal met his death. Elucidating the extraordinary physical strength of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be on him) Hazur^aba said that he could fast for days without taking the pre-dawn meal but always enjoined others not to do so, explaining that one must always do things within one’s strength. He also enjoined that real power and strength is in controlling one’s anger and in keeping one’s rage in check when oppressed.
Narrating an incidence of Hadhrat Ali’s (may Allah be pleased with him) Hazur^aba said that in a conflict he was fighting a very strong man, whom he had managed to subdue, just as he was about to kill him, the enemy spat on Hadhrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him), on this Hadhrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) let go of the enemy. Completely shocked at this, the enemy asked why had he done so, to which Hadhrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) replied ‘Earlier I was fighting you in the cause of Allah, now my own self (nafs) had come into the equation, therefore I let go of you’.
Relating from the life of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) Hazur^aba told of an enemy who had come to mesmerize the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) with the intention of ridiculing him and was reduced to hysterical fear himself through Divine support that came to the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace). Hazur^aba elucidated the phenomenal strength with which the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) would take on massively demanding work with regards to his Jehad of the pen. With reference to the above mentioned Quranic verse, the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) wrote that the terms zaloom (denoting cruelty to oneself) and jahool (denoting being unmindful of consequences) are intended to be positive traits, in that such are the qualities of ‘negation of the self’ that were required to carry the weight of Divine Manifestation.
Hazur^aba said the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) enjoined: "It is gentleness that is difficult; any one can adopt harshness"!