Advent of the Promised Messiah

Summary of Friday Sermon

delivered by the Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community

October 5^th, 2007

“O ye who believe! Respond to Allah, and the Messenger when he calls you that he may give you life, and know that Allah comes in between a man and his heart, and that He it is unto Whom you shall be gathered.” Surah Al Anfal (8:25)

Citing verse 25 of Surah Al Anfal Huzur gave a discourse on the veritable advent of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) in his Friday Sermon.

Huzur said each Ahmadi realises that by accepting the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) he/she effectively declares to be one who accepts him as the Messiah and the Mahdi and who thus joins the group of people who the above mentioned verse refers to as those who ‘respond to Allah’. He/she declares to have belief in the commandments and prophecies of the Qur’an as well as all the prophecies of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) and through this declaration and a promise to put it in practice one hopes to find a new spiritual life. If anything other than this comes to mind of such a person then their claim to accept the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) is false.

The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) had clarified in the Conditions of his Bai’at (pledge of allegiance/declaration of initiation) that Ahmadiyyat is nothing more than simply adherence to Allah and His Prophet, as he states in the 3rd condition:

“That he/she shall regularly offer the five daily prayers in accordance with the commandments of God and the Holy Prophet Muhammad and shall try his/her best to be regular in offering the tahajjud and invoking durud on the Holy Prophet Muhammad…”

Again in the 5th condition it is stated:

“That he/she shall remain faithful to God in all circumstances of life, in sorrow and in happiness, in adversity and in prosperity, in felicity and in trail;…”

And in the 6th condition:

“…shall completely submit himself/herself to the authority of the Holy Qur’an; and that he/she shall make the Word of God and the sayings of the Holy Prophet Muhammad his/her guiding principle in every walk of his/her life.”

Huzur said in short acceptance of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) is to put the commandments of Allah and the Prophet in practice and to achieve a new spiritual life. Fortunate is one who joins in this cause and adheres to it, fortunate are we that in accepting the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) we have complied with the call of Allah and His Prophet and shall be able to spiritually revive ourselves. It is indeed an utterly false accusation that in accepting the Promised Messiah as the Messiah, the Mahdi and a prophet we have, God forbid, lowered the station of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him).

In elucidation of the true love and ardent devotion of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) for the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) Huzur read the following extract from his writings:

“The Holy Prophet came into the world so that he might bestow hearing on the deaf, who had continued in that condition for hundreds of years. Who is blind and who is deaf? The same one who does not accept the Unity of God and who does not accept this Prophet who revived the Unity of God on the earth; the same Prophet who converted the wild ones into men and then converted them into men possessing true moral qualities, then dyed them in the Divine colour of those who establish their relationship with God; the same Prophet, the sun of righteousness, at whose feet thousands of those who had died of paganism and atheism and evil living were revived and came to life and a sample of the Judgment Day was exhibited.”

Huzur read out another powerful extract which likened the earth as dead before the advent of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) which was brought to life/transformed by his revolutionary teaching and spirituality. Huzur remarked there was none who could match such eloquence and depth of expression about the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) and added that we believe that Allah has made the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) as the source to attain spirituality and the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) is his humble servant and true and ardent devotee, whose advent came to pass in complete subservience to the Prophet so that a community may come together on the hand of this Imam to ‘respond to’ Allah and His Prophet.

Huzur said it is erroneous of the Muslims to deem that they do not need to accept anyone once they have believed in the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him), adding Huzur said it is essential to accept the Imam about whom the Holy Qur’an prophesises and about whom the Prophet said to give his salaam on meeting. Therefore for spiritual development and for completion of faith it is essential to accept the Imam of the age. Referring to the Quranic verse Huzur said the repetition therein to turn to Allah and the Prophet, after ‘believing’ indicates that it is not enough to make a verbal declaration of one’s faith, rather faith should be ingrained in one’s heart.

Referring to the opposition against the Community Huzur said the Muslims should reflect over the words of one who is calling in this age, what he maintains about himself and what are his views about the lofty station of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him).

Huzur read another extract from the writings of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) which articulates his deep faith in God and his love and devotion for the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him). Regarding his profound belief in God and the Prophet he maintained that if all the combined faith of this world was put in one side of scales and his faith on the other side, with the grace if God, his side would be heavier.

Huzur said in terms of the prophecy of 1400 years ago regarding the advent of the true and ardent devotee, there has been no change in the state of affairs, as predicted, from a hundred years ago when the sincere Muslims of world were anxious. In fact the situation has deteriorated, despite having governance of countries the Muslims are spiritually declining. The reason for this is evidently their rejection of one to whom the Prophet sent his salaam. Huzur said previously it was the odd mullah who opposed us – but now Muslim governments are collaborating against us – however the illumination that has been lighted by Allah cannot be extinguished by this opposition.

Huzur said Allah is between man and his heart, pray therefore to Him about the Ummah about whom He has said that they are the best among people, however their apparent situation does not correspond. How would they reform others when their own condition is worsening? Huzur said if we prayed sincerely Allah would listen and He alone can rightly guide. Huzur said we should pray for them because they are associated with the name of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) we should pray to Allah to purify their hearts for He alone has control over their hearts, for none else can open their breasts. May Allah put it in their hearts that mere association (with the Prophet) will not fulfil their lives, rather one is required to abide by all the commandments of God and the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him), may Allah remove the corrosion from their heart, it is not enough to bemerely associated with the name of the Prophet and may He enable them to recognise the Imam of the age rather than oppose him. Huzur said prayers made in this vein were among the obligation of an Ahmadi.

Huzur added that the so-called religious scholars have created a most frightening scenario through their misinformation; many pure souls wish to join our Community but stay silent due to fear of society, those who are courageous and join are harassed by people around them.

Huzur related an instance from Switzerland where someone who had studied and understood the Promised Messiah’s message wished to do Bai’at. When he contacted his relatives in Pakistan they told him untrue and far-fetched tales about Ahmadiyyat. Huzur said all this is the result of the misinformation spread by the so-called religious scholars who are free to disseminate falsehood about us. However, we on the other hand are not allowed to say anything. In any case Huzur said the person’s relative from Pakistan told him that if he accepted Ahmadiyyat he would be foremost in wanting to kill him. Huzur remarked that have these people not heard the Hadith where the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) questioned his Companion about the vanquished enemy during battle whether he had cut his heart open to see if his belief was real or not.

Huzur said the weak-hearted are scared off but the courageous accept the truth despite the adversity.

Huzur cited part of verse 73 of Surah Ta Ha (73:20), ‘…So decree what thou wilt decree; thou canst only decree concerning this present life.’ Huzur said fortunate are those who respond to the Pharaohs of the time in this manner. Indeed this is the response of the Ahmadi martyrs from Pakistan and the response of each Ahmadi old and new, who stay firm on the truth in extreme opposition and should respond by saying, ‘...Allah is the Best and the Most Abiding.’ 20:74

Next Huzur related a report from the Arab world that gave most promising and encouraging news of pure souls contacting the Community. These people have had dreams in which they have seen the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) prior to witnessing his photograph. These people have deep conviction of faith and maintain they do not need any proofs or arguments to convince them. Huzur said it is reported that previously most people used to argue but recently most tend to agree and many have already ‘seen’ the Promised Messiah’ in dreams.

Huzur said it is our task to pray profusely for their guidance – although Allah, in accordance to His promise, is showing us manifestations of His help and support everyday, it is our obligation to spread this message as much as possible so that we too can partake of the blessings which are associated with and are in the destiny of the Community of the Promised Messiah.

Each person should take the message of the Messiah with renewed vigour and fervour to the world and while doing so stay mindful that a believer’s task is not accomplished without sincere prayers. Huzur said in the last ten blessed days of Ramadan the most significant prayer – which will gain acceptance for our all other prayers – is to make heart-felt entreaties for the creation, heart-felt entreaties for the Ummah and heart-felt entreaties for the propagation of faith. If we pray for this with angst and true feelings most certainly Allah will accept our all other needs.

Huzur said sincere and fervent prayers would certainly bring about revolutionary changes, just as Allah is exhibiting to people in the Arab world through dreams and visions. All this is the result of the prayers of one who was totally and utterly absorbed in Allah, prayers made by him 1400 years ago. These prayers revived hundreds of thousands of spiritually dead, today, the age of his true and ardent devotee is also partaking of the acceptance of his prayers; prayers that he made for this age, for his age commenced from his own advent and will last till the Day of Judgment.

Huzur said if we make the endeavours and see success we should never attribute it to our greatness or hard work or some such. Rather it would be due to the fulfilment of Divine promise to our master and his ardent devotee, which in turn grants us beneficence as well.

Huzur said Ahmadis should pray profusely for the triumph of Islam over hearts, for the spiritual revival of the Ummah, for our own spiritual development and for attainment of the lofty objective of life. May Allah enable us to do so.