SUMMARY OF FRIDAY SERMON

by the Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community
March 7^th, 2003

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Hazur^aba recited verse 8 of Surah Al Ibrahim (Chapter 14) and continued to elucidate the subject of gratefulness.

Hazur^aba related that the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be on him) told us that in the eyes of Allah when mankind remembers Him it is being grateful and when it forgets Him it is in a state of ingratitude. At the fall of Mecca a triumphant Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be on him) entered Mecca mounted on a camel, head bowed in humility to Allah reciting verses of Surah Al Fath (Chapter 48). Hazur^aba recounted that the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be on him) enjoined that a gift is like a provision from Allah and that one should try and give a better gift in exchange and if that is not possible then one should verbally praise the gift. Relating another hadith Hazur^aba explained that Allah the Exalted considers kindness extended towards the sick and the hungry as if it is goodwill towards His Own Self.

Commenting on the present day unstable financial state of affairs Hazur^aba said that due to the ever decreasing value of currency often people end up paying more than they had initially borrowed. Whereas the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be on him) had imparted a solution to this hundreds of years ago in that his practice was to always pay back a little more than he had borrowed. Hazur^aba said that the Holy Prophet (peace and blessing be on him) would greet others with Assalamoalaikum warahamatullahe and would leave it for the respondent of the greeting to add on wa barakatahu in response. Hazur^aba said if someone presented a gift to the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be on him) out of what had been given to them as sadqa (alms) he would accept it.

With reference to the writings of Imam Razi (may Allah have mercy on him) Hazur^aba said that remembrance of Allah is an acknowledgment of Divine beneficence and that it’s practice enhances one’s spiritual and physical blessings and further fortifies the love of Allah. Quoting Khalifatul Masih 1st (may Allah be pleased with him) Hazur^aba stressed the importance of glorification of Allah (Hamd) and remarked upon the correlation between the practice of Hamd and Allah’s beneficence.

Explaining the subject further Hazur^aba read excerpts from the writings of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) and said that it is Allah’s promise to increase and augment His favours on those who are grateful and those who in turn are kind and do favours to fellow human beings. Hazur^aba recounted many incidents relating to the immense graciousness the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) showed in his dealings with his companions.

Next Hazur^aba gave an update on the ‘Maryum Shadi Fund’ and said that extraordinarily generous donations continue to pour in. Hazur^aba expressed his gratitude to Allah the Exalted for facilitating the materialization of this scheme.