In the Name of Allah, The Most Gracious, Ever Merciful.

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Divine attribute of Al Rahman (The Gracious)

Summary of Friday Sermon

delivered by the Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community

January 26th, 2007

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

Huzur continued with the topic of the Divine quality of Rahmaniyyat in his Friday Sermon today and elucidated the matter with reference to Ahadith.

Huzur remarked that may this citation of Ahadith enable us to imbibe the resplendence of the quality of Rahmaniyyat, and also facilitate for us to further turn to God with every fibre of our existence being grateful to Him. May they also enable us to invoke blessings on the ‘Mercy for all mankind’, who, through his admonishment and blessed model, gave us humble people the insight and perception to connect a bond with the Gracious God.

The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) explains the ‘reflection of the quality of Rahmaniyyat’ and says that the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) was the perfect manifestation of Rahmaniyyat. Muhammad means one who is highly praised and Rahman means One Who gives without being asked and it is clear that one who gives without being asked will be praised. Thus, the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) had this materialization in his person. Such is the incomparable discernment the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) had of his master.

The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) said that Allah’s mercy is only taken away from the very unfortunate and wretched. Huzur remarked that therein is glad tiding of Allah’s boundless mercy. Another Hadith cites that if a believer was to comprehend Allah’s chastisement, he would have no hope of Paradise and if a disbeliever was to know of the amplitude of Allah’s mercy, he would have hope of Paradise. Explaining this Huzur said if a believer really was to have no hope then no one would ever have faith. Due to his/her taqwa, (righteousness) a believer has comprehension of Allah’s other attributes as well, and has the fear of chastisement for any wrongdoing, therefore a believer always prays to be guided on the right path as in verse 24 of Surah A’raf (7:24). A true believer is one who has fear of God despite knowing that God’s attribute of mercy prevails over all else. Indeed, with reference to this Quranic verse the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) said that people should continually seek Istaghfar from all manner of sin, both overt and covert. The above prayer has been accepted therefore while one should be thoughtful one should also have hope that God has taught us prayers to attract His mercy.

The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) said Allah has a hundred mercies of which He has divided one among all creation and it is through this that they love each other and have affection and compassion. Animals too show love for their young through this mercy. Allah has kept ninety of the remaining mercies Himself and it is through these that He shall have mercy on the Day of Judgment.

The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) said that in earlier times a well-off man who had children was on his deathbed and he asked his sons what kind of a father he had been to them. The sons replied, the best. However, the man said that he had done no good that he could present to Allah and that he feared he would be punished. Therefore he said that after death he should be cremated and his ashes spread in fierce wind. His sons did as he had asked. However, when the man was presented before Allah Who enquired what had instigated him to ask to be burnt after death, the man replied ‘Your fear’. Allah made a compensation for him, had mercy on him and forgave him.

The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) also told of an Israelite who having killed 99 people, asked around how to repent. He asked a hermit/monk, who told him that repentance was not possible for him as he had killed 99 people. The man killed the monk, making him his 100th killing. However, he continued to ask about ways of repentance. Someone told him to go to a certain village and ask a holy man. While on his way to the village, the man met his death. Just as he realised he was about to die he turned his chest towards the village he was heading for. Once he was dead the angels of mercy and punishment came and had an argument over his seeking of forgiveness and his earlier cruelties. Allah ordered the village where the man was heading to get closer and ordered the place from where he had left to get further. He then ordered the angels to measure the difference. The distance to the village he was heading to was a mere span less than the other distance. Allah thus forgave him.

Huzur explained that despite Allah’s all-encompassing mercy one who is adamant on wrongdoing has also been warned of punishment. The idea is that one starts the steps towards reformation and after feeling remorse for one’s sins, one seeks forgiveness, only then one should have hope as stated in verse 54 of Surah Al Zumar (39:54).

The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) admonished to be kind to others to receive Allah mercy and admonished to forgive others to seek Allah’s forgiveness. He said there is destruction for one does not pay heed to admonishment. He also enjoined that Allah will not have mercy on one who does not have compassion on others. Huzur said this was very salient advice in terms of close relatives, friends and neighbours.

Huzur said he would make one clarification in that those who are reprimanded (under the administrative system of the Community) sometimes complain that while discourses are given on mercy and compassion, no compassion is shown to them. Huzur said the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) counselled mercy and compassion in general terms and generally speaking the administration system of the Community as well as the Khalifa of the day do excuse. However, once one is reprimanded, one should accept it. By way of example Huzur related how once the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) would reprimand someone he stood by his decision.

Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) said that people of Paradise will be of three types: a ruler who is just, wise and gives alms; a person who is kind to relatives and to Muslims and a man who is in need but does not ask and gives alms.

In another Hadith the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) said one who is not kind to the young and not deferential to the elders is not among us. Huzur added, each Ahmadi should exhibit the quality of kindness to the young and the elders.

The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) said one who is not thankful for a little is not thankful for a lot and one who is not grateful to people is not grateful to God and that a Jama’at or a community is Allah’s mercy. Huzur said this opens yet another door of Allah’s kindness on us in that we have the blessing of our Community. We can express our gratefulness for this by taking our message to others and by praying for them. The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) said that all believers are like one body in terms of mutual love, affection and compassion and when one part of the body is ailing the whole body suffers. Huzur said such is the teaching of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) for an Islamic society.

Next Huzur cited a few Ahadith expounding the Holy Prophet’s (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) sense of compassion for animals, even those which were meant to be slaughtered, and how he once, upon seeing a distressed bird that fluttered above him ordered that its eggs be returned to her nest.

When asked to curse certain tribe or person, the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) would abstain and would instead pray for them. Even when asked to curse the idolaters, the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) would say his advent had not been to curse, rather his advent was as a mercy for all mankind. Huzur added if only the Muslim ummah would follow his blessed footsteps and treat everyone with kindness so that they may be the recipient of Allah’s blessings.

Huzur explained how he would always pray for his Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) before leaving a gathering and say the following: ‘O Allah grant us such awe and fear of You that would intercept between us and disobedience to You. Enable us to have obedience that would take us to Your Paradise. Bestow on us such certainty that would make worldly troubles easy on us. As long as You keep us alive, grant us benefit from our ears, eyes and faculties and grant us successors from these faculties. Retaliate on our behalf with such person who oppresses us. Help us against one who has enmity with us. Do not put us in trouble about our faith and do not make this world our biggest concern. Do not make one who gives us knowledge a malady for us and do not impose a person over us who is not kind to us’

Huzur said all Ahmadis living under unjust and oppressive rulers should say this prayer abundantly.

Huzur related a few other Ahadith expounding the Holy prophet’s (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) compassion to children and others.

Huzur said that the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) certainly honoured the capacity of being mercy for all mankind that the Gracious God sent him as. Indeed, he attained perfection in other qualities as well but enjoined that no one’s, including himself, deeds would bring salvation for them, adding it would happen ‘only if Allah’s mercy envelops me’. Although through the Holy Qur’an Allah had him announce ‘My Prayer and my sacrifice and my life and my death are all for Allah, the Lord of the worlds’ (6:163) he still maintained that only Allah’s mercy could cover him.

Huzur said in order to absorb Allah’s mercy it is most important that the Divine quality of Rahmaniyyat should make believers turn to Him ever more and to seek His mercy. He prayed that may Allah enable us to do so.