Veritable Mission of the Promised Messiah (as)

Summary of Friday Sermon

delivered by the Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community

March 23^rd, 2007

Huzur delivered today’s Friday Sermon on the veritable mission of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) with reference to the significance of today’s date, the 23rd March. It was today 118 years ago that the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) took his first bai’at (pledge of allegiance) and thus the Community was established.

This day is a milestone in the second phase of Islam. A glance at the perilous condition of Islam at the time informs us that with the fierce attacks on Islam by people of other religions sincere Muslims of the Indian sub-continent were desperately anxious. The Muslim religious scholars were alarmed and overwhelmed by this onslaught and the only gallant of God who could contend with them was Mirza Ghulam Ahmad Qadiani (on whom be peace). He wrote his momentous four-volume book ‘Braheen e Ahmadiyya’ through which he convincingly and credibly silenced all the opponents of Islam. In this book he presented arguments about the divinity and the matchlessness of the Holy Qur’an and the truthfulness of the claim to prophethood by the Holy Prophet (peace and blessing of Allah be on him). He announced that if anyone could respond to even one-fifth of the arguments he had presented in the book he would given them Rupee 10,000; an enormous sum of money at the time.

Muslims were greatly heartened by this book and some sincere associates urged him to take their bai’at. However Mirza Ghulam Ahmad Qadiani (on whom be peace) kept refusing until such time that he was divinely commanded to do so.

On 1st December 1888 he made an announcement that he was commanded to take bai’at from those who were seekers of the Truth and who wished to abandon the life of disgrace. He said he would sympathise and comfort them and God would bless his prayers in their favour. On 12th January 1889 he made another announcement and with reference to the first one, he laid out ten conditions of his bai’at. Huzur said all Ahmadis know these ten conditions well but Huzur would repeat them as a reminder. Furthermore as MTA reaches a very wide audience, others would also get some idea about these conditions.

The Ten Conditions of Bai’at:

I. The initiate shall solemnly promise that he shall abstain from shirk (association of any partner with God) right up to the day of his death.
II. That he shall keep away from falsehood, fornication, adultery, tresspasses of the eye, debauchery, dissipation, cruelty, dishonesty, mischief and rebellion; and will not permit himself to be carried away by passions, however strong they may be.
III. That he shall regularly offer the five daily prayers in accordance with the commandments of God and the Holy Prophet; and shall try his best to be regular in offering the Tahajjud (pre-dawn supererogatory prayers) and invoking Darood (blessings) on the Holy Prophet; that he shall make it his daily routine to ask forgiveness for his sins, to remember the bounties of God and to praise and glorify Him.
IV. That under the impulse of any passion, he shall cause no harm whatsoever to the creatures of Allah in general, and Muslims in particular, neither by his tongue nor by his hands nor by any other means.
V. That he shall remain faithful to God in all circumstances of life, in sorrow and happiness, adversity and prosperity, in felicity and trials; and shall in all conditions remain resigned to the decree of Allah and keep himself ready to face all kinds of indignities and sufferings in His way and shall never turn away from it at the onslaught of any misfortune; on the contrary, he shall march forward.
VI. That he shall refrain from following un-Islamic customs and lustful inclinations, and shall completely submit himself to the authority of the Holy Qur’an; and shall make the word of God and the saying of the Holy Prophet the guiding principles in every walk of his life.
VII. That he shall entirely give up pride and vanity and shall pass all his life in lowliness, humbleness, cheerfulness, forbearance and meekness.
VIII. That he shall hold faith, the honour of faith, and the cause of Islam dearer to him than his life, wealth, honour, children and all other dear ones.
IX. That he shall keep himself occupied in the service of God's creatures, for His sake only; and shall endeavour to benefit mankind to the best of his God-given abilities and powers.
X. That he shall enter into a bond of brotherhood with this humble servant of God, pledging obedience to me in everything good, for the sake of Allah, and remain Faithful to it till the day of his death; that he shall exert such a high devotion in the observance of this bond as is not to be found in any other worldly relationship and connections demanding devoted dutifulness.

Huzur explained that today the bond that the Community has with Khilafat is in reality by virtue of this pledge of allegiance that links it to the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace). Likewise having put one’s step on the rung of this ladder, it connects them to the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) and ultimately to God.

Huzur expressed regret that the rest of the Muslim do not appreciate and understand this, for this could be the source of their deliverance from the troubles they are in. Indeed, the mission of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) is to establish the rule of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) and the truth of the Holy Qur’an.

Elucidating the matter Huzur said the Promised Messiah’s (on whom be peace) ardent love for the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) was monumental and if anyone truly appreciated his status it was him. Huzur read an extract from the writings of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) expressive of the profound reverence and deep perception he had for the lofty status of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him).

Huzur said the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) expected that a true devotion for the Holy Qur’an and the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) is aroused in his followers and that is the reason he drew specific attention to this in his conditions of bai’at.

Huzur said it was among the tasks of the Messiah to give the Muslims a real perception of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him), to protect Islam from the onslaughts of other religions and to propagate its beautiful teachings to the world. It was his mission to enlighten the world with the set of guidance that the last law-bearing Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) brought and which, in accordance with Traditions the Mahdi & Messiah was to propagate in the latter-days.

Huzur expounded the earthly and heavenly signs that were manifested to support the truth of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) and said that a person’s claim in conjunction with all these signs appearing that he was the Mahdi and that those who sought spiritual refuge should come to him was not a mere co-incidence.

Ahmadis are most fortunate in that they have been enabled to join the Community of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace). It is now our task to take the message of truth to the world so that Unity of God is established and the banner of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) is raised. It is Allah’s work and it is destined to happen, all we can do is participate in it and earn some reward.

Reading another extract of the Promised Messiah’s (on whom be peace) writing stating that the purpose of his advent was to attract pure-natured people towards Unity of God Huzur said in today’s climate it seems a most difficult task. However, if we reflect over how the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) started off in a tiny hamlet in Punjab in India all alone and within his lifetime he had followers in their thousands and people in Europe and America believed in him. Now each day brings progress and advancement for the Community and its establishment in 185 countries of the world is a living proof of the truthfulness of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace). Today if anyone defends Islam it is this Community. The Arab Muslims are witness to the fact that they were most troubled by the world – it was this Community that coordinated and supported them because they alone have the arguments and the proofs to establish Unity of God and to dismiss false beliefs.

Huzur said we are a small and poor Community, we do not have the revenues of oil or any other assets, our resources are limited and we could not have imagined that we would be able to harness contemporary cutting edge technology to spread our message. However, today we witness the fulfilment of the revelation of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) “I shall take your message to the corners of the earth” with a new glory in that from today MTA has launched a new service through a new satellite specifically aimed at the Arab world. This service will be called “MTA 3 Al Arabiyya” and will broadcast 24 hours in Arabic to satiate the parched Arab souls with the message of truth.

Huzur said the satellite company that we are doing business with is facing some opposition, may Allah keep them safe from all evil and may they honour the contract and as a result pure-souls are able to take advantage of this service. Huzur also said that as the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) said, God has now willed that this task is accomplished.

Huzur said he has no doubt the majority of Muslims will accept this message in accordance with Divine promise. Huzur prayed that may it come to pass soon and we are able to witness it in our life times.

With reference to the new service of MTA 3 Al Arabiyya Huzur read a message that the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) wrote to the people of Arabia. In it he commended the status of the people from the land of Arabia for this is the land from where God commenced the succession of His revelations from Hadhrat Adam (on whom be peace) through to the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him). He speaks of his own anguish to visit this land so that he could ‘use its dust as kohl in his eyes’ so that he could meet its holy men and be gratified. He speaks of his deep love for the land where the final resting place of the blessed Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) is. He said that Allah had given him glad-tiding about the Arabs and had indeed told him to reform their ways. He asks them if they are prepared to side with him for the sake of the God Who is the Lord of all the worlds?

Huzur added, ‘O people of Arab, in my capacity as the representative of the Messiah I ask you to submit to the voice of this spiritual son of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him)’. Huzur said he has only presented a few glimpses of his but if one was to ponder over the writings of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) one would find nothing but a profound sense of honour for the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him).

Huzur said each new day manifests signs of Divine support for the Community and that Huzur’s address to the people of the Arab world via satellite today was indeed one such sign. Huzur said ours is a small and poor Community that has saved hard to acquire this satellite and is now sending this message through it. Huzur urged the people of Arab world to respond positively to this message of the Messiah. He invited them to join and be the Community’s right-hand and said that today salvation may only be attained by supporting and helping the Community of the true and ardent devotee of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him).

Huzur reminded them of Allah’s promise that He will grant this Community triumph and said if it is not the people watching him then their next generations will accept this message and they will certainly yearn that their ancestors had accepted the truth.

In conclusion Huzur prayed that may Allah make it so that they understand this reality today and that may Allah accept our humble supplications.