Divine Attribute of Maalik (The Master)

Summary of Friday Sermon

delivered by the Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community

March 16^th, 2007

Continuing with the subject of Divine attributes, as with last Friday Huzur based today’s Friday Sermon on Malikiyyat.
Huzur said to Allah belongs the kingdom of the heaven and the earth and the entire cosmos runs on His command, He is the Master of this world and of the Hereafter and we abide by His commandments to seek His pleasure in this world as well as in the Hereafter. As for those who deny the existence of God and as a result reject the idea of an after life run amok following their whims in this world. Although if they were to reflect they would realise that there are many who go through torment in their daily life as a result of Divine recompense and that they may also face torment of the Hereafter.

The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) said that the Master of the Day of Judgment in one way dispenses His recompose in this world, as when a thief, having committed theft over and over again, eventually gets caught and is imprisoned. Similarly the misdemeanours of other type of sinners who are embroiled in various wicked ways are initially covered by Allah, but eventually their lives turn miserable and in their bitterness they experience a sample of the punishment of the Hereafter. Likewise the good works of those who are obedient do not go to waste, rather they bear fruit and they attain paradisiacal reward in this world. In case of the sinners, let alone the chastisement of the Hereafter, they lose their health and faculties in this life and contract diseases which devastate them well before death overcomes them. There are some who take heed and fathom the deterrent, repent and reform themselves. They are thus saved from the punishment of the Hereafter.

Huzur said these days AIDS is creating devastation in the world. When man succumbs totally to animal-like base desires then through the Divine attribute of Malikiyyat punishment is given in this very world and only God knows what would be the chastisement for this after death.

Man who has been created as the most eminent among all creation should reflect on the destructive ways he is heading and should be mindful that while he is suffering for it on this earth; he could also be chastised after death. Huzur said some people are so overcome by their base animal-like instincts that they are completely devoid of any feeling of remorse or reproving. Each sensible person should take heed from examples in their own sphere and take a lesson and translate it into endeavour to seek closeness to God.

Huzur said some prevalent ills in these countries are such that the youth need to particularly avoid them. These may start as trivial wrongdoing that lead on to bigger and worse things. The consequences of these actions bring ignominy in the society. In order to avoid this one needs to inculcate awe of Allah and have the realisation that He saves one from sin, that He forgives and grants the most excellent reward for good works, therefore one ought to turn to Him.

Citing two Quranic references, part verse 7 of Surah Al Zumar (39:7) and verse 108 of Surah Al Baqarah (2:108) Huzur explained that indeed the kingdom of the heavens and the earth belongs to the One God, Who has no partners and He alone is worthy of worship and when one has the Being Who has the absolute sovereignty of the heaven and the earth as a Friend and Helper then one is in no other need.

Today all the chaos and disorder in this world stems from not comprehending this single point. If the world was to grasp that the absolute Malikiyyat (Mastership) belongs to God alone, all the turmoil in the world would stop.

The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) said that the word Maalik (Master) denotes that one surrenders all rights one has and Allah alone remains the absolute Master. He tests us through trials in this world and bestows His favours on those who come through these trials.

To illustrate the subject further Huzur related a Hadith: "Allah willed to test three Israelites who were a leper, a blind man and a bald-headed man. So, he sent them an angel in human form who came to the leper and said, 'What thing do you like most?' He replied, "Good colour and good skin, for the people have a strong aversion to me.' The angel touched him and his illness was cured, and he was given a good colour and beautiful skin. The angel asked him, 'What kind of property do you like best?' He replied, 'Camels (or cows).'So the leper was given a pregnant she-camel, and the angel said to him, 'May Allah bless you in it.'
The angel then went to the bald-headed man and said, 'What thing do you like most?' He said, 'I like good hair and wish to be cured of this disease, for the people feel repulsion for me.' The angel touched him and his illness was cured, and he was given good hair. The angel asked him, 'What kind of property do you like best?' He replied, 'Cows,' The angel gave him a pregnant cow and said, 'May Allah bless you in it.' The angel went to the blind man and asked, 'What thing do you like best?' He said, 'I like that Allah may restore my eye-sight to me so that I may see the people.' The angel touched his eyes and Allah gave him back his eye-sight. The angel asked him, 'What kind of property do you like best?' He replied, 'Sheep.' The angel gave him a pregnant sheep. Afterwards, all the three pregnant animals gave birth to young ones, and multiplied and brought forth so much that one of the three men had a herd of camels filling a valley, and one had a herd of cows filling a valley, and one had a flock of sheep filling a valley.
Then the angel, disguised in the shape and appearance of a poor person went to the leper and said, I am a poor man, who has lost all means of livelihood while on a journey. So, none will satisfy my need except Allah and then you. In the Name of Him Who has given you such nice colour and beautiful skin, and so much property, I ask you to give me a camel so that I may reach my destination. The man replied, 'I have many obligations so I cannot give you.' The angel said, 'I think I know you; were you not a leper to whom the people had a strong aversion? Weren't you a poor man, and then Allah gave you all this property.' He replied, 'This is all wrong, I got this property through inheritance from my fore-fathers' The angel said, 'If you are telling a lie, then let Allah make you as you were before.' Then the angel, disguised in the shape and appearance of a bald man, went to the bald man and said to him the same as he told the first one, and he too answered the same as the first one did. The angel said, 'If you are telling a lie, then let Allah make you as you were before.' The angel, disguised in the shape of a blind man, went to the blind man and said, 'I am a poor man and a traveller, whose means of livelihood have been exhausted while on a journey. I have nobody to help me except Allah, and after Him, you yourself. I ask you in the Name of Him Who has given you back your eye-sight to give me a sheep, so that with its help, I may complete my journey.' The man said, 'No doubt, I was blind and Allah gave me back my eye-sight; I was poor and Allah made me rich; so take anything you wish from my property. By Allah, I will not stop you for asking anything you need of my property which you may take for Allah's sake.' The angel replied, 'Keep your property with you. You (i.e. 3 men) have been tested and Allah is pleased with you and is angry with your two companions."

Huzur said one must always be mindful of Allah’s Malikiyyat. When a believer is bestowed favours he is aware that everything is from Allah and spends it in accordance to His commandments, however, at times the love of money becomes an impediment in spending it for the right causes.

Citing verse 72 of Surah Ya Sin (36:72) Huzur said that by the ownership of cattle and other property should make us grateful and be ever mindful that the real Master is Allah alone who has given us temporary ownership of things. Our thankfulness should be like that of the blind man. Huzur said Allah has taught us a beautiful prayer in verse 27 of Surah Al Imran (3:27) to seek a measure of His Malikiyyat. Huzur said it should always be borne in mind that if Allah’s commandments are not followed then He - Who is the King of all the kings and in Whose Presence great world powers are naught - gives succour and help to the disadvantaged and weak and brings disgrace and humiliation to those who are apparently powerful.

Huzur said Allah’s help can only be attained by abiding by His commandments. May Allah enable the Muslim ummah to comprehend and understand His commandments so that they may avoid being maltreated by the people who God has referred to as ‘those who have incurred His displeasure’ and ‘those who have gone astray’. Huzur cautioned that if they do not recognise the Imam of the age and do not assemble on one hand, they will be chastised. Huzur said we need to pay attention to this matter and need to advise and counsel them. We pray that He grants us the insight and perception of His Malikiyyat and enables us to do good works so that we may attain His blessings in this world and the Hereafter and are saved from torment. We should make fervent prayers for the Muslim ummah that may they understand the real will of the Master and recognise the Imam that He sent in accordance with the need of the time and are then helpful in bringing about the triumph of Islam.

Huzur advised to pray for the world in general as well that may they be enabled to recognise God, Who is Master of the Day of Judgment, so that they are saved from chastisement.

Next Huzur gave the sad news of the passing away of Mrs. Amatul Hafeez Salam, the widow of Dr. Abdus Salam. Huzur paid tribute to the sincerity with which Mrs. Salam had served Lajna UK in her capacity as the national Sadr for nearly 28 years. Huzur said she was most gentle of nature and very generous in financial giving. Her obedience and devotion to Khilafat was great and she would greet with the greatest of humility. Huzur said in his few years experience he found her, with the grace of God, to be among those people who inspire a sense of contentment once request of prayers is made to them. Mrs Salam leaves behind three daughters and a son. Huzur said MashaAllah she brought up her children very well and prayed that may they be enabled to follow in the footsteps of their parents.