Note: The Alislam Team assumes full responsibility for any errors or inaccuracies in this translation of the Friday Sermon.
Friday Sermon delivered by Hazrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmad (ra) 2 November 1923 (Published in Al-Fadl, 9 November 1923)
Topics: Tabligh, Shudhi movement, sacrifice, community mobilization
After reciting the tashahud, ta'awwudh, and Surah Al-Fatihah, Huzoor(ra) addressed the congregation as follows:
In my previous sermons, I have emphasized that our work is the reformation of the world, and when one surveys the entire world in search of a community standing up for this purpose, only our Jamaat is found doing so. Among all the efforts that can bring about the reformation of humanity and through which peace can be established, one of the greatest means is the preaching of Islam — and it is our Jamaat alone that employs this means. Although the worldly aspect was the dimension I had prominently highlighted, that was because of the particular times and special circumstances that had arisen in recent days, making it the most pressing matter. In reality, our Jamaat always engages in tabligh, and as long as it understands its own station, it will continue to preach Islam. However, there are occasions when tabligh must be conducted in a particular manner and with a particular intensity.
In this age, Allah the Almighty has opened a new avenue of tabligh, one that possesses its own distinctive character — for it requires us to conduct preaching in a military fashion, wherein each preacher's efforts are connected to those of the next, and the success of one leads to the success of another. This mode of preaching has never existed among Muslims before; indeed, no parallel to it can be found in the preceding thirteen hundred years. In earlier times, preaching was done individually, and one region had no connection with another, nor did the progress of one affect the other. What happened in America bore no relation to Germany, and Germany's affairs left no impression on America. The victory in one land did not lead to victory elsewhere, nor did the loss in one place bring loss to another. Similarly, the preachers in different regions had no connection with one another; each worked separately, without assistance from the others, and without any opportunity for collective effort. This is why the success of one did not beget the success of another. That work pertained only to individuals and had no communal dimension.
But in this age, a new door of tabligh has been opened — one that requires preaching to be conducted in a military manner, wherein the preacher in one place is connected to the preacher in another, and the success of one becomes the cause of success for all. Just as an army advances together, with every soldier's step forward advancing the entire army, we too must proceed in the same way. And just as in a military formation, a unit that surges too far ahead or lags too far behind creates danger, so it is here as well — which is why coordinated and uniform effort is required from all at the same time.
Undoubtedly, this mode of tabligh carries greater risks, for even the negligence of a single individual affects all and endangers the entire Jamaat. Yet its benefits are also far greater. First, working together cultivates a spirit of obedience and unity. Furthermore, this method creates a resonance that produces magnificent results — a resonance that reverberates time and again, becomes a cause of ongoing success, and makes itself felt throughout the entire world. If others have met with failure in this arena, it is precisely because they lacked this organization. They did not work under any coordinated system. If one maulvi suffered a setback, no one enquired about it; and if another achieved success, it had no effect upon the rest. Had they adopted our method, they too would have attained success. This type of tabligh thus carries immense benefits, among them a momentum and swiftness that cannot be generated through any other means.
We have been working for eight months in the field of the apostasy crisis, but the true days of decisive effort have now arrived. After a long period, the people there have at last begun to listen to what we have to say. After several months of continuous work, they have come to understand that our Jamaat is not some wandering, irresponsible group. The people there have realized that the maulvis oppose us without cause — that we too are Muslims, in fact Muslims of the highest order. And we are not those who flee; rather, we are steadfast workers.
Therefore, as I have explained, this is now the time to work with full force. If we do not now exert ourselves in our own manner and with such vigour as to sweep the entire region into a tide of fervour, the result will be that all our previous efforts will be entirely wasted. Just as in a military formation the forward or backward displacement of bodies is dangerous, so in tabligh the forward or backward displacement of minds is equally dangerous. If a division arises in thought, such a failure ensues for which there remains no possibility of remedy. If at this moment we do not strive with all our might and work with complete vigour, the result will be that all our previous efforts will be ruined — the ties and the affection that have been cultivated over this period will no longer remain.
These are a people accustomed not to separating themselves from their kith and kin, unable to cut themselves off from their community. Now, if we too were to abandon them, a habit would take root among them of separating themselves from their own brotherhood — and if that custom became established, it would not produce good results. For this reason, it is necessary at this moment that our preachers go there in even greater numbers than before.
I therefore call upon the people of Qadian in particular, and upon friends in other places in general, to present themselves for this task. At least one hundred (100) men should be ready to proceed there.
This work has now reached a stage where its completion is beginning to come into sight. If we now apply our fullest effort and determination, we can, insha'Allah, achieve swift and complete victory. But if at this juncture we show any slackness, water will wash over all our previous endeavours. Consider: nearly a thousand (1,000) of our men have already gone there, and thousands of rupees have been spent. All of this work will be wasted by even a small degree of negligence on our part.
No living nation abandons its work; rather, whatever it undertakes, it sees it through to completion. I therefore appeal to every person in whose heart there is a love for Islam: come forward into the field at this hour.
Know that more fields of tabligh are about to open. Do not at this time concern yourself with your worldly affairs, and do not look to worldly obstacles. The need of this hour is service to the faith. Therefore, let whoever has sincerity in his heart make himself ready for service.
I wish to make clear to every person who has taken the pledge of allegiance (bay'at) at my hand that in truth one is truly steadfast in one's bay'at only if one is fully resolved to do every manner of work for the faith and to offer every manner of sacrifice. However, there are many who have no such resolve at all; and then there are many who do have the resolve, but when the time for action arrives, they step back.
I have made it clear that this is a time of particular and decisive work. In this field, insha'Allah, you will attain victory within a few months. After these sacrifices, further avenues of tabligh will open — avenues in which your steps will advance even further and your burdens will become lighter.
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