Spiritual Bounties of the Jalsa Salana

Summary of Friday Sermon

delivered by the Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community

December 2^nd, 2005

Huzur^aba delivered his Friday Sermon from Mauritius at the commencement of the 44th Jalsa Salana of the country; a historic Jalsa in the sense that it is the first ever Jalsa of Mauritius that is graced by a Khalifa of the day.

Huzur^aba recited verse 119 of Surah Al Tauba (9:119) and gave a discourse on the spiritual bounties of the Jalsa Salana.

Huzur^aba expounded the spiritual significance of the institution of Jalsa and said that its greatest objective is to attain taqwa and to inculcate the love of God and that for these purposes maximum time should be spent in remembrance and worship of God. If at the end of the three-day Jalsa a significant change was felt in one then the objective of the Jalsa would be achieved, otherwise participation in the Jalsa is fruitless. It is not a gathering given to transitory fervour and zeal. If each participant attended the Jalsa mindful of the expectations that the Promised Messiah^as had from us, they would gain spiritual development. The pledge that we undertake at the time of our Bai’at leads us to taqwa alone and the conditions of Bai’at facilitate adopting one’s life in accordance to the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet^saw. If we are devoid of this awareness then it is of no avail to be an Ahmadi. Huzur^aba said like other places there is a degree of opposition to the Community in Mauritius as well. In this instance, if the Community is not adhering to the requisites of spiritual development after coming into the fold of Ahmadiyyat then they are facing the opposition of others and its consequences for no real reason at all.

Huzur^aba said we need to move onwards with a spirit of brotherhood and vie with each other in good works as the Holy Qur’an instructs us (2:149) this in turn will set excellent standards of virtue among is.

Huzur^aba reminded that we are most fortunate to be among those who have believed in the Imam of the age and are thus among those who have fulfilled the prophecy of the Holy Prophet^saw having complied with his commandment that when the Mahdi comes, believe in him, even if you have to crawl on ice to get to him, do so and say my salaam to him. However, Huzur^aba said this belief will be pure in its essence only when we will be adhering to the teachings of the sincere devotee of the Holy Prophet^saw that the Promised Messiah was; teachings that he imparted to us through the Holy Qur’an and the Holy Prophet^saw.

Huzur^aba said the verse he recited at the beginning enjoins to be with the truthful and in subordination to the Holy Prophet^saw it is his sincere slave, the Promised Messiah^as who is the greatest among the truthful. Therefore we need to connect to ‘this truthful one’ and strengthen the ties further. However, as we do so we also need to self-reflect and analyse our own measure of taqwa.

Huzur^aba read a few extracts from the writings of the Promised Messiah^as guiding us to the path of righteousness.

Addressing the Community of Mauritius Huzur^aba cautioned them against the rising agnosticism in the country and said that the teachings of the Promised Messiah^as had a refutation for all new-age philosophies and such like so one should never entertain inferiority complex. The Holy Qur’an should be studied and Salat should be performed regularly. Huzur^aba said he was particularly pleased to see the number of beautiful mosques scattered over Mauritius, however, he said the real objective is to populate these mosques with sincere worshippers, he said our objective is not to construct edifices, rather it is to make ebad ur Rahman (servants of the Gracious God). Huzur^aba said in addition to worship of God we also need to be true to our word and shun all manner of falsehood and deception.

Huzur^aba said we are most fortunate in that technology (MTA) has enabled us to transmit the teachings of Islam in the words of the Promised Messiah^as to the corners of the world. All should benefit from the resource of MTA in particular the Friday Sermon should be listened to. Huzur^aba urged the local Jama’at and the auxiliaries to ensure that steps were taken to facilitate this.

Huzur^aba enjoined the Jalsa attendees to come together in a spirit of love and harmony and to demonstrate excellent manners and courtesy; to make the positive changes brought on by Jalsa a part of their lives so that the world may be able to distinctly distinguish between an Ahmadi and a non-Ahmadi and they may thus be able to do ‘silent’ Tabligh.

Huzur^aba prayed may Allah make the attendees bearers of all this and may they fully benefit from the blessings of the Jalsa.