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Divine attribute of Al Quddus

Summary of Friday Sermon

delivered by the Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community

April 20th, 2007

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

Huzur delivered his Friday Sermon on the Divine attribute of Al Quddus (The Holy One) and explained the meaning of the word with reference to various lexicons and commentators.

Al Quddus means One Who is free from all flaws, a Blessed Being in Whom all the blessings are amassed. Sanctification of such a Being is to declare Him Pure and Flawless.

Al Quddus is the composite of all purity, not merely free from flaws but also comprising of all known and unknown - to human perception – excellences.

Citing verse 31 of Surah Al Baqarah (2:31) “And when your Lord said to the angels: ‘I am about to place a vicegerent in the earth,’ they said: ‘Wilt Thou place therein such as will cause disorder in it, and shed blood? – and we glorify Thee with Thy praise and extol Thy holiness.’ He answered: ‘I know what you know not.’ Huzur said here the angels indicate that they declare Allah free from all flaws that are not apposite for His Holy Being. Some people infer from the above verse that the angels levied objection on Allah at the time of creation of mankind. This inference is incorrect on two counts. Firstly the angels associated the ‘disorder’ with the creation and secondly immediately afterwards they declared that they glorify Allah and extol His holiness which is an affirmation that Allah is free from all flaws.

Huzur said the word Al Quddus is extremely eloquent in describing Allah’s Being and the purity of His attributes. If one wishes to study the attributes of Allah one should keep the attribute of Al Quddus in mind as it elucidates the other attributes.

Hadhrat Khalifa tul Masih I (may Allah be pleased with him) said when commentating on the Holy Qur’an one needs to be extremely mindful of the Divine attributes, in particular be aware that the attribute of Al Quddus is not discredited in any commentary of the Holy Qur’an.

Huzur gave further extensive explanation of the meaning of the word Al Quddus.

Addressing every single person in the Community, be they illiterate or educated, rich or poor, man or woman, Huzur counselled to be mindful of the admonish of

Hadhrat Khalifa tul Masih I (may Allah be pleased with him) to the Community in the words, ‘those who are illiterate should at the very least demonstrate with their practice the kind that adherents of the Quddus God are.’ Huzur said no great knowledge is required for this as the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) has left us his blessed model. Belief in the holiness of God will be only truly expressed when Ahmadis bring about a pure change in themselves. Huzur quoted Hadhrat Khalifa tul Masih I (may Allah be pleased with him) in that Allah is Quddus and His nearness cannot be availed unless one is pure.

With reference to Hadhrat Khalifa tul Masih II (may Allah be pleased with him) Huzur said the good that humans do is earned and is rewarded whereas the good that Allah benefices is personal to Him and that is why He is called Quddus whereas humans cannot be called so because humans have to endeavour to be free of flaws, whereas neither there was ever a time, nor there ever will be when Allah is flawed. His quality of being Quddus was neither any less previously nor is it any greater today; it was always constant and always shall be.

Commenting on the above Quranic verse Hadhrat Khalifa tul Masih II (may Allah be pleased with him) said therein the angels ask Allah why did He create Adam when the angels were there to glorify Him? God’s reply to them was ‘I know what you know not’ in that after the creation of man deeds will be in accordance with Shariah (religious law) and those who will partake of good will surpass the angels. It is worth remembering that what the angels said as well as what God said is correct, the difference is only in the viewpoint. That is to say, Allah was mindful of the good human points whereas the angels were cognisant of the potential wicked among the humans. Allah had the manifestation of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) in view whereas the angels were tremulous by the materialisation of the likes of Abu Jahl. However, the trepidation of the angels that this system would be a curse for the world was misplaced because each huge task has its inherent hazards and perils, however, the success of any system can be assessed by its results. For example students go through unimaginable hardships to seek knowledge; however, seeking of knowledge is never abandoned. Similarly, although by making man God’s vicegerent on earth, a portion of humanity was to turn to transgression, yet another section was to be successful. Therefore no one can say that the human system was unsuccessful.

A Hadith Qudsi relates that Allah said to the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) ‘O Muhammad We would not have made creation if it was not for you.’ Huzur said there are of course other pure people who extol Allah’s holiness much more than the angels do and they also spread it in the world. Among them of course the most excellent is the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) and we are still witnessing the beneficence of the true reflection of the Quddus God today and shall continue to do so for always.

Hadhrat Khalifa tul Masih II (may Allah be pleased with him) said that Allah wishes all that is associated with Him is pure and that is why He sent His Messenger with the message to ‘purify’ people. It is a proof of Allah’s holiness that those who come from Him purify people.

Next Huzur read extracts from the noble writings of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) about the power of holiness that the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) possessed and how it worked on the deepest darkest abyss of Arabia and transformed people in a very short period of time.

Indeed, it was the holiness of the Prophet which carried tremendous sway and influence that catapulted these people from one universe into another, elevating them to spiritual discernment of the highest order; in addition it was the wondrous effect and impression of the holy Word of God in the form of Holy Qur’an that altered their lives beyond recognition. The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) said that the sequence of the effects of the holiness of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) has not ceased. The Holy Qur’an too carries the same effect and blessings and God remains the same Quddus God.

Huzur said in the current age we have witnessed the manifestation of the holiness of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace). This should inspire us to be the recipients of the beneficence of the Quddus God. May Allah enable us to do so.