Divine attribute of Al Aziz (The Mighty)

Summary of Friday Sermon

delivered by the Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community

October 19^th, 2007

Huzur cited verse eleven of Surah Fatir (35:11) – the translation reads:

“Whoever desires honour, and let him know that all honour belongs to Allah. To Him ascend good works and righteous work helps them rise. And those who plot evils, for them is a severe punishment; and the plotting of such will perish.”

Huzur said that among the attributes of Allah one is that of Al Aziz (The Mighty). It has been mentioned in the Holy Qur’an up to approximately a hundred times in various verses with reference to various subjects and with an exception or two it is always mentioned in conjunction with another Divine attribute.

Imam Raghib explained the word Aziz as a Being Who is dominant but cannot be dominated. Commenting on part of verse 63:9 Imam Raghib said that indeed the honour that Allah, His Messenger and the believers have, is the honour that is enduring, lasting. Whereas 35:11 indicates that whoever wants to attain honour has to seek it from Allah.

According to the lexicon Aziz is described as an attribute of Allah – explaining that it is a Being to Whom access is not possible, also a Being that is Powerful and Mighty.

Huzur said the in summary Aziz is a Divine name and by virtue of its perfection and its all-inclusiveness is only applicable on Allah. Therefore a connection with God alone can grant man power and strength.

Imam Razi explained that prophethood is a lofty station and can only be granted by a Powerful Being. Therefore Allah declares in verse 10 of Surah Sad (38:10) – in response to the unbelievers questioning - that it is He Who has all Power to bestow on His creation.

Huzur said today the same objection is laid against the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) in that how could revelation and prophethood be granted to Mirza Ghulam Ahmad. Indeed, Huzur explained that a Christian lady had questioned him in Germany that was a person from a small place in far off Punjab made the Messiah. Huzur told her that she had answered her own question in that she was questioning about him in Germany. His message has been carried across the world with Ahmadiyyat established in 189 countries. Huzur added that some question how could a non-Arab be granted this status, how could a Punjabi be the Messiah. They ask this with reference to the apparent meanings of Ahadith and without appreciating the message within.

Huzur said of course such a situation befell all the previous prophets of God and in the current age it is happening with the true and ardent devotee of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him). However, Allah states He is the Mighty, the Bestower and the Master of the treasures of mercy and none else.

Huzur prayed that may Allah gives sense to the Muslims that they may understand this message. Of course Allah has also stated that when His mercy descends on someone His help is also forthcoming as stated in 58:22.

Elucidating the mission of prophets of God, Huzur said in terms of dominance of their mission it is sufficient if their message is established during their lifetime. Reading from various extracts Huzur explained that the purpose of the Jihad as explained in the writings does not befit those who do Jihad with the use of force and that is the reason why the Muslims are not attaining ascendancy in the world today. There is mischief in their intent and that is why the consequences are not positive. However, the Community of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) is fighting this battle with proofs and reasoning and as a result people from all corners of the earth are inclined towards this message. Indeed, Allah had informed the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) through many revelations that he shall be triumphant no matter what.

Expounding 58:22 the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) said that Allah has decreed that He and His Messengers shall always prevail and that the Promised Messiah was a messenger who had come without any Shariah and in subservience of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) and as his manifestation. He said that just as this verse had been proven truthful for all the earlier prophets from Adam (on whom be peace) to the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) it would be the same for him. He said when the maulwis had started rejecting him he did not have a single person in his bai’at (pledge of allegiance) and at the time of writing he had 70,000 people in his bai’at. He said all this came to pass as if of its own accord. All sorts of plans and schemes were hatched to bring an end to his mission, including false murder court cases, numerous fatwas (edict) of disbelief etc. but all met with failure. If this mission had been man-made it would have been destroyed by these endeavours, which it did not. This alone is a magnificent sign of its truth. The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) said that his belief on the revelation - that informed him that Jesus (on whom be peace) had indeed died and that the one whose advent was predicted was himself – is as certain as his belief in the Holy Qur’an. He remarked should he turn away from the heavenly signs that are shown to him? He said he preferred death to turning away from the God Who had manifested Himself to him with all His splendour and beauty. He swore by the Mighty God that he did not care about any threats and added that just as one could not all day night after observing it, he could not deny the spiritual light that had been shown to him. He said thousands of signs had been manifested to him to satisfy him and that they were all from God. He said after he has been bestowed the knowledge of the Qur’an and the import and significance of the Ahadith how could he choose the way to destruction. He said the One God Who reveals knowledge of the unseen to him, the Mighty hand that helps him in each time of trouble is the very same God Who helped all the earlier prophets in their time of difficulty. It is Him Who has manifested the splendorous light to him in the latter-days.

Huzur explained that after declaring this the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) lived on for many years and no one could harm him in accordance with Divine promise.

Huzur said today God still furnishes His help and the advancement of the Ahmadiyya Community is but a proof of this. However our opponents continue to counter us as they did before. We hear of violence against Ahmadis in different places, there is also a few martyrdoms, however no one can harm one who sincerely follows the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) in that their faith remains unshakably resolute.

Huzur said we need to call onto the Mighty and Powerful God. Today He will again fulfil the promise of the triumph, indeed He is fulfilling it. All our successes are linked with our connection with the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) because he is the true and ardent devotee of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) and association with him is an association with the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him). A sincere and true connection with the Messiah and the Mahdi shall take our deeds to a higher plane, as for those who are persecuted, they need to remember that their sacrifices elevate their station.

Huzur said it is our task to try our level best to free the innocent from the clutches of the wicked, who are caught in the snares due to misunderstanding, and to help connect them to the Mighty and Powerful God. May Allah enable us to do this.

Huzur appealed to pray for Pakistan. He said the egotism of the politicians of the country has put the entire country under immense risk. Rather than play their political games may these politicians have compassion and stop the pointless deaths of thousands. Huzur referred to yesterdays’ suicide bomb in which the death toll was in excess of a hundred. May Allah give sense to these politicians and may He give the people sense so that they may try and escape their traps.