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Giving Full Measure, Keeping of Trust and Fulfilling Promises

Summary of Friday Sermon

delivered by the Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community

November 18th, 2005

NOTE: Alislam Team takes full responsibility for any errors or miscommunication in this Synopsis of the Friday Sermon

Citing verses 182 to 184 of Surah Al Shu’ara (26:182-184) Huzuraba gave his Friday Sermon on giving full measure, keeping of trust and fulfilling promises.

Huzuraba said the Holy Qur’an states these particular commandments each time people of Hadhrat Shuaibas are mentioned therein. Huzuraba said deceit in failing to keep the above commandments is tantamount to stealing. He said in business and trade, people assume that a little sham here and a little fraud there is all part and parcel of dealing; however, it is a great sin and it creates much disorder and disharmony in the social fabric. One who usurps others and gives ‘less measure’ in his business dealings develops an inherent inclination towards mischief. This in turn, when followed on a large scale, becomes a source of destruction of nations. Huzuraba said the Holy Qur’an does not merely mention tales of yore; there are moral lessons to be learnt from these historical descriptions for people to follow in order to avoid the wrath of God.

Huzuraba mentioned the deceitful and scheming policies and agendas of the powerful nations of the world that are used to deprive poor nations of their natural resources/wealth and also to keep them entangled in an elaborate web of subjugation. Huzuraba said it all stems from not giving full measure.

Quoting part of verse 86 of Surah Al A’raf (7:86) Huzuraba said this message should be taken to each nation, each leader of the world who are involved in deceit as a warning in that they should take heed and learn a lesson from all the disasters that are occurring in the world; Huzuraba said one evil that is the cause of all the ills in the world is not giving of full measure.

Each Ahmadi should get this message across in their sphere of life. The message should be taken to Muslims countries who in particular are deceitful in this regard. Huzuraba said Christian nations are very fair in their dealings at least on the level of smaller businesses; however Muslim countries severely lack this.

It is a pity that today the warnings of the Holy Qur’an about these matters are most applicable to those who believe in it and that is the reason why Muslims are not progressing. We need to unfold the incidents of nations of past as mentioned in the Holy Qur’an and realise that unless we act on Quranic commandments we will not progress; others might be given leeway but Muslims will not be.

Huzuraba went on to elucidate the subject with several examples of Ahadith and explained the most excellent and thorough model of the Holy Prophetsaw in his dealings with everyone. The Holy Prophetsaw said that the best among people is one who pays back a loan in an excellent manner and said that if one keeps a trust with you, return his trust to him and do not even be perfidious to one who has been perfidious to you. He also said that one who does not have a regard for trusts his belief is no belief and one who does not keep a promise has no faith.

Huzuraba said a ‘trust’ does not just entail an object or cash kept with someone for safe-keeping, rather it constitutes of every task one undertakes; whether one is not performing a given task out of sloth or a business person is deceitful - like in the sub-continent merchants add adulterations to augment their produce – all this comprises perfidy; absence of trust.

Huzuraba said the standard of the fair dealings of the Companions of the Holy Prophetsaw were such that at times they would insist on asking for less than what the buyer was prepared to give.

Another inequity Huzuraba mentioned was when people take a loan and make excuses at the time of re-payment; worse still when some borrow money with no intention of paying back. The Holy Prophetsaw said that Allah makes arrangements for one who borrows money with the intention of paying back whereas Allah shall ruin one who does the opposite.

Huzuraba said when an Ahmadi borrows money it should be with the best intention and that it is an Ahmadi who has to expunge the world of disorder and disharmony, therefore an Ahmadi should carry out business dealing with utmost equity.

Reading extracts from the writings of the Promised Messiahas Huzuraba further explained that these are the teachings for us who claim to spread the true message of Islam to the world; if our actions are contrary to this then we need to reflect that by breaking our promise we too come in the category of those who create disorder. Huzuraba said it is a pity that some people do not care about these matters at all.

In conclusion Huzuraba emphasised the point that before the blessing of MTA the Divine commandments, the teachings of the Holy Prophetsaw the message of the Promised Messiahas through and in the words of the Khalifa tul Masih of the day would not reach all the Community. Only a few would get its summary and that too after a few days. However now this message is relayed ‘live’ to hundreds of thousands which also include people outside of the Community and this raises our responsibility a great deal. Huzuraba stressed that each one of us represents the Community and therefore needs to be most careful and honest in one’s dealings with all so as not to cause any notoriety to the Community.

Each Ahmadi should keep ‘giving of full measure’ , dealings and repayment of loans fair and even-handed following in the blessed model of the Holy prophetsaw and the expectations of the Promised Messiahas – this, Huzuraba said, is a silent Tabligh.

Huzuraba prayed that may Allah enable everyone to act on this and to keep all our dealings fair.