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Fundamentals of Faith

Summary of Friday Sermon

delivered by the Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community

April 14th, 2006

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

Delivering his Friday Sermon from Sydney Australia at the commencement of the Australian Jalsa Salana, Huzuraba gave a discourse on the fundamentals of faith.

Huzuraba spoke with reference to the pioneer Ahmadi of Australia; Hadhrat Sufi Musa Khan sahib, who brought Ahmadiyyat to the continent of Australia in 1903, during the lifetime of the Promised Messiahas.

Expounding the contents of a letter sent to Hadhrat Sufi sahib on behalf of the Promised Messiahas that are a guiding light for each Ahmadi to this day, Huzuraba counselled on ways and means to attain love and nearness to God.

Huzuraba said these are not matters that one simply finds chronicled in the Holy Qur’an, rather God’s sincere people experience them in their lives and certainly Hadhrat Sufi sahib was one of them, to whom Allah revealed the glad-tiding of a good ending.

The foremost matter mentioned in the letter was that following the pledge of Bai’at, consideration must be given to ‘adorn’ one’s Salat. Huzuraba said Salat is fundamental to belief without which one cannot be a momin (true believer). The term ‘adorn your Salat’ connotes to observe it in a tranquil and composed state of mind; firstly to be specifically mindful of performing wudhu (ablution) before Salat. Huzuraba said the Holy Qur’an details the manner to perform wudhu (5:7) and while it is important in terms of cleanliness, it also helps in alertness towards Salat in that one gets the realization that one is about to present oneself in the Presence of God.

Another facet of adorning Salat is to say it on time, as the Holy Qur’an states (4:104). Huzuraba said the Promised Messiahas has elucidated the significance of observing Salat on time which briefly denotes that man’s life is in constant troubles as well as Satan is ever encroaching, then there are different conditions and situations. In Salat one presents oneself before God five times during the day to avoid these negative aspects and to attain nearness to God. Huzuraba said each Ahmadi should pay specific attention to this in this age of rampant materialism.

Explaining the Quranic term of watching over ‘middle prayer’ (2:239) Huzuraba said ‘middle prayer’ it is the Salat observed in incongruous situation in which one gives preference to it over all other things. Huzuraba said prayer is refined and enhanced when it is said in congregation, as saying it in congregation is twenty seven times more excellent then saying it alone.

Huzuraba cited a few Ahadith elucidating the excellence of congregational prayer. Explaining the distinction of congregational prayer with reference to the writings of the Promised Messiahas Huzuraba said it inculcates unity and harmony; maintaining of straight rows signify that the spirituality of one person may infuse in the next.

Huzuraba said there are not many mosques in Australia and people live at long distances, therefore arrangements should be made by families living in proximity of each other to form Salat centres in houses. This would promote the significance of Salat among children, if we wish to enhance and improve our generations to come, we need to establish Salat.

The second counsel in the letter to Hadhrat Sufi sahib was to recite Istaghfar (seek forgiveness from Allah) in abundance while reflecting on one’s sins and being mindful of the future. Citing the Quranic verse (11:53) that declares that sincere Istaghfar brings on ‘clouds pouring down with abundant rain’ Huzuraba said that currently there was water shortage in the province [of New South Wales] and that Ahmadis could be the source of removing the troubles of humanity with enhanced worship, in particular to benefit others with the water of spirituality.

Citing the Promised Messiahas Huzuraba said that Istaghfar means that Allah may cover a person’s natural weaknesses; it also denotes that one’s past sins are covered by God. However, the real essence of Istaghfar is that Allah’s Power protects one from one’s natural failings and frailties and grants light from His light.

Huzuraba said the theme of Istaghfar is extremely extensive and one that each Ahmadi needs to imbue in order to gain nearness to God.
The third counsel in the letter to Hadhrat Sufi Sahib was to abide by taqwa, purity and true obedience to Allah and His Prophetsaw. It described muttaqi (righteous) as one who spend their lives protecting themselves from the idleness of the world, who pay the dues of the rights of God and the rights of humanity. Huzuraba said blessed is one who adopts taqwa at the time of success and pleasure.

Huzuraba remarked that there were many among those present who had immigrated to Australia because life was made intolerable for them in their own country due to their religious beliefs. While here their financial situations have improved, they also need to improve the standard of their taqwa rather than be influenced by the dazzle of this world.

Huzuraba explained that the Promised Messiahas has left us the institution of Khilafat, through which we may take the message of God and His Prophet to the corners of the earth and through which we may discipline ourselves in terms of obedience and compliance. For service of troubled humanity he initiated and left us the institution of Wasiyyat ‘The Will’, which was in accordance to Divine commandment.

Huzuraba reminded that in December 2005 the institution of Wasiyyat completed its one hundred years and it was in the UK Jalsa Salana of 2004 when Huzuraba had initiated the Tehrik (movement, project, scheme) to have at least 50,000 subscribers to the institution. While this target has been reached with the grace of Allah, Huzuraba said he was recounting this especially here as Hadhrat Sufi sahib was the first ever Moosi (subscriber to the institution of Wasiyyat) outside of the Indian subcontinent. With his subscription of March 1906, a centenary of the fruit of Wasiyyat in Australia has been reached. Huzuraba said it was not just a co-incidence that he should be visiting Australia at the time of the completion of exactly one hundred years of the first Moosi of Australia. Huzuraba said he did not have any knowledge of this particular fact. Inspired by this Huzuraba urged the earning Ahmadis of Australia to try and subscribe to the institution, firstly all the office holders, whether on national or local level, should reflect over this and the Ameer sahib should look into this. Huzuraba said reading Hadhrat Sufi sahib’s account inspired him that each Ahmadi of Australia may become a Moosi.

Huzuraba said the letter to Hadhrat Sufi sahib also drew attention to taking the message of Ahmadiyyat to others; certainly the current world situation demands that people are shown the way; we need to benefit others from the water of spirituality that has been granted to us.

Next Huzuraba counselled those present to bring about a spiritual revolution in themselves during the Jalsa days. He prayed that may they all be enabled to pray, to observe congregational Salat and may this bring about regularity in their Salat. Huzuraba prayed that may the Jalsa be a source of spiritual development in every way.