أَشْھَدُ أَنْ لَّا إِلٰہَ اِلَّا اللّٰہُ وَحْدَہٗ لَا شَرِیکَ لَہٗ وَأَشْھَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُہٗ وَ رَسُوْلُہٗ

أَمَّا بَعْدُ فَأَعُوْذُ بِاللّٰہِ مِنَ الشَّیْطٰنِ الرَّجِیْمِ- بِسْمِ اللّٰہِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِیْمِ

اَلْحَمْدُ لِلّٰہِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِیْنَ۔ اَلرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِیْمِ۔ مٰلِکِ یَوْمِ الدِّیْنِ۔ اِیَّا کَ نَعْبُدُ وَ اِیَّاکَ نَسْتَعِیْنُ۔

اِھْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِیْمَ۔ صِرَاطَ الَّذِیْنَ اَنْعَمْتَ عَلَیْھِمْ غَیْرِالْمَغْضُوْبِ عَلَیْھِمْ وَلَاالضَّآلِّیْنَ۔

یٰٓاَیَُّھَاالَّذِیْنَ اٰمَنُوْآ اِذَا نُوْدِیَ لِلصَّلٰوۃِ مِنْ یَّوْمِ الْجُمُعَۃِ فَاسْعَوْا اِلٰی ذِکْرِ اللّٰہِ وَ ذَرُوْا الْبَیْعَ۔ ذٰلِکُمْ خَیْرٌ لَّکُمْ اِنْ کُنْتُمْ تَعْلَمُوْنَ۔ فَاِذَا قُضِیَتِ الصَّلٰوۃُ فَانْتَشِرُوْا فِی الْاَرْضِ وَ ابْتَغُوْا مِنْ فَضْلِ اللّٰہِ وَاذْکُرُوْا اللّٰہَ کَثِیْرًا لَّعَلَّکُمْ تُفْلِحُوْنَ (الجمعۃ: 10۔ 11)

The month of Ramadan is reaching its conclusion. Today is perhaps the last fast in some places, and in some places tomorrow is the last fast. And thus, according to Allah the Almighty's command, these few numbered days have passed. Many of us will have benefited from the blessings of these days. Some will have had new experiences during these days. Now there should be this prayer and effort that these blessings, these bounties, these new spiritual experiences become part of our lives, and our steps progressing towards Allah the Almighty should not stop here now, but should be ever-advancing steps, and each step should be one that gathers countless blessings.

Today is also the last Friday of Ramadan. The majority of us, by the grace of Allah the Almighty, attend Friday prayers with great care, but there will also be many who give great importance to this last Friday of Ramadan and will be giving importance. In the world, by the grace of Allah the Almighty, Jama'ats have now spread widely. People from various backgrounds are joining Ahmadiyyat. They are also influenced by their previous training, and some will be those who generally do not give so much importance to Friday throughout the year, but give great importance to the last Friday of Ramadan, and due to the common concept prevalent among Muslims, they think that participating in this Friday, which is known among common Muslims as Jumu'atul-Wida (Farewell Friday), will deliver them from all the evils and weaknesses of the past year, and perhaps the right of all the year's worship will now be fulfilled by participating in this Friday. So even if such people are few, I want to remind them, and they should remember, that by participating in this Friday, the right of the purpose of our lives is not fulfilled. From Allah the Almighty's Word or from the instructions of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), it is not proven that merely offering the last Friday of Ramadan becomes a means of salvation. Therefore, if a person wants to attain salvation, it is not proven anywhere that if one only participates in this, then a person's world and hereafter become set right.

So our youth should also remember, and those among us who are lazy about offering Friday prayers should also remember, that if there is any concept of Jumu'atul-Wida among non-Ahmadis, let it be; in Jama'at Ahmadiyya, according to the teaching of Allah the Almighty and His Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), there is no concept of Jumu'atul-Wida, nor should there be. However, if in the heart of one who participates in today's Friday with care, this thought arises or this thought comes that from today I pledge to remove my weakness that occurred due to not participating in Fridays, and henceforth I will always participate in Fridays with special care, then certainly this Friday has importance; rather, this day has importance, and not only is Friday blessed for this, but because of this pure transformation, for such a person, this moment in which this pure transformation occurred within him and this thought came, and this thought created a firm resolve in the heart that I will now give importance to Allah the Almighty's commands and will remain steadfast on them—then for him, this day and this moment will become Laylatul Qadr. After a dark night, means of spiritual light will be created in him. And as I also said in the previous sermon, the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him) has said that for a person, one Laylatul Qadr is also his waqt-e-asfa (purest time). (Derived from Malfuzat, Volume 2, page 336)

That is, when he, while creating a pure transformation within himself, inclines towards Allah the Almighty, pledges to act upon His commands, and becomes established upon them.

What has Allah the Almighty instructed us regarding the importance of Fridays? In these verses that I have recited, in the first verse Allah the Almighty says: O you who believe! When the call is made for Prayer on Friday, hasten towards the remembrance of Allah, and leave off all business. That is better for you, if you only knew.

Then in the next verse, it is said: And when the Prayer is finished, disperse in the land and seek Allah's bounty and remember Allah so that you may prosper.

So it has become clear that Allah the Almighty has drawn attention to coming to Friday and participating in it while putting aside all worldly matters, creating the fear of Allah the Almighty in the heart. Allah the Almighty in these verses has not commanded participation in the Fridays of Ramadan or the last Friday of Ramadan; rather, without any specification, attention has been drawn to the importance of Friday prayer. It is said that every Friday is very important. Therefore, if you are believers, if you claim to have faith, then the special day of Friday, which is greater for you than ordinary days, has been designated for the remembrance of Allah the Almighty. Especially, participate in it by leaving your businesses, your trades, your engagements. By saying یٰٓاَیَُّھَاالَّذِیْنَ اٰمَنُوْآ (O you who believe), emphasis has been placed that offering Friday is a necessary condition for faith, and participating in every Friday is a necessary condition for this. So one who does not participate without excuse should also worry about the state of his faith. Those who come late to Friday should also think. If they have to wrap up their work, they should wrap it up before time. Everyone who comes to Friday here knows that one o'clock is the time for Friday, or whatever times are fixed at different places in different countries. Especially here in Europe, keep the margin for travel, and after keeping this margin, then prepare. In these countries, traffic and parking etc. should also be considered. This creates some problems, especially when there is a rush. So Allah the Almighty says that when you are called for Friday, all these things should be kept in mind, and you should leave keeping in mind the day and time of Friday.

The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) declared the one who comes early to Friday as deserving of great reward. He (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said that on the day of Friday, angels stand at every door of the mosque and write the first one to come to the mosque as first, and similarly keep preparing the list of those coming to the mosque until the Imam finishes his sermon, then those angels close their registers. (Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab al-Jumu'ah, Bab al-Istima' ila al-Khutbah 929)

So every person coming to the mosque has a special reward for coming and doing the remembrance of Allah on the day of Friday. While waiting for the Imam and during the sermon, they are also partaking of this reward. The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) gave a severe warning to those who do not give importance to Friday. He (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said that whoever deliberately misses three Fridays, Allah the Almighty seals his heart. (Sunan al-Tirmidhi, Abwab al-Jumu'ah, Bab ma ja'a fi Tark al-Jumu'ah min ghair 'Udhr 500)

So we should all keep this importance in mind. Neither in the Holy Quran, nor has the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) anywhere said that the last Friday of Ramadan is of great importance; rather, all Fridays have been declared important. In fact, there is a hadith that the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: O Muslims! Allah the Almighty has made the day of Friday an Eid for you. So on this day, prepare specially by bathing and getting ready. (Al-Mu'jam al-Saghir li al-Tabarani, Bab al-Ha' min Ismihi al-Hasan, page 129)

So it is the importance of every Friday that demands from us that we should prepare for every Friday and abandon all engagements. Take a break from all work and businesses and come to the mosque to offer Friday prayer, as it is proven from ahadith how the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) openly explained its importance. So this proves that to elevate the standard of faith of a believer, offering Friday is obligatory on every believer. And not only this, but the negative aspect and warning have also been stated that the heart of one who deliberately misses Friday becomes completely closed to performing good deeds. So this is a matter of great fear. Those who are lazy should take stock of themselves and should abandon unwarranted laziness without excuse. Islam does not only impose strictness. Islam is a balanced religion; it does not only have warnings and strictness. It is not merely said that if you do not come on Friday, you are warned; rather, as I said, if there is a legitimate excuse, it is fine. If someone does not come without a legitimate excuse, then he is caught.

Missing Friday without a legitimate excuse is forbidden. The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) also explained these legitimate excuses. Who are the people who can have excuses? He said that offering Friday with the congregation is obligatory on every Muslim except for four exceptions, and those four people who are exempted are: a slave, a woman, a child, and a sick person. (Sunan Abi Dawud, Kitab al-Salat, Bab al-Jumu'ah li al-Mamluk wa al-Mar'ah 1067)

So this is the beautiful teaching of Islam that exemption has been given to those who are helpless and have legitimate excuses. It is not that every woman, child, sick person, and slave who is helpless due to the strictness of his master, if they do not come to Friday, their heart will become black. These people are exempted from this. It has not been said about them that their hearts will be sealed. If women come, it is fine. Congregational prayers, besides Friday, the five daily prayers—coming to the mosque and offering them in congregation—is obligatory only on men. It is not necessary for women to come to the mosque, but if women come on Friday, it is praiseworthy. If they do not come, there is no harm. But some women who come also have small children, so when they come, sometimes they also cause disturbance. Then some women also have other household engagements, so they are allowed to stay at home. Rather, women with small children, as I said, cause disturbance. Even if they can come and it is easy for them, they should not come, because then sometimes due to the children, the prayer and sermon of other worshippers is disturbed. Only coming to Eid prayer is obligatory on every woman. Even if she does not pray, she should listen to the sermon.

Similarly, slaves are helpless at the hands of their masters, but nowadays there are no slaves. The old concept of slaves is not found in this era. Employed people are people, but they do not fall in the category of slaves. Therefore, they too should not include themselves in the category of slaves due to this exemption, unless there is extreme compulsion and the employer is very strict and does not give leave, and there is some source of income, and then there is danger of starvation and hunger and poverty, then in that case there can be an exception. This is a state of necessity, and in a state of necessity, sometimes eating what is forbidden is permitted. But this state of necessity also usually does not arise if awareness is created among employers. Even if they are Christians, they allow some time or give permission for alternate Fridays. Rather, there are also many Ahmadis who have told me that they left their jobs due to not getting leave for Friday, and Allah the Almighty made better arrangements than before.

So if we keep in mind that we have to give importance to Friday and also pray that if there are some difficult circumstances and Friday is being lost, may Allah the Almighty create ease, then Allah the Almighty, accepting heartfelt prayers, also makes arrangements and creates ease.

As I said, women have already been mentioned. Similarly, small children should also not be brought to Friday because this disturbs the prayer of other worshippers. Some men bring them; they should also be careful not to bring them, or if they have brought them, then they should seat them in the children's section or themselves sit in the children's section. Anyway, these are the four exceptions that the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) has stated. Other than these, it is obligatory on everyone to come to Friday prayer and to make special arrangements on the day of Friday.

The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), who came with the final perfect and complete Shariah, brought the teaching that connects the servant with Allah the Almighty. He wanted to see very high spiritual standards of his followers. He (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) drew our attention in various ways to how a person should strive to avoid sins, how to attain nearness to Allah the Almighty, how to strive to make one's virtues permanent, how to fulfill the right of the purpose of one's creation. He (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said that the five daily prayers, Friday until the next Friday, and Ramadan until the next Ramadan become expiation for the sins committed between them, as long as a person avoids major sins. (Sahih Muslim, Kitab al-Taharah, Bab al-Salawat al-Khams wa al-Jumu'ah ila al-Jumu'ah wa Ramadan ila Ramadan Mukaffirat 551)

So this is the guidance of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) for us, which not only saves us from sins but also becomes a means of their forgiveness, and also increases in spirituality. The person who truly worries about the next prayer after one prayer—no sinful oppressor, usurper of others' rights, will have the thought that I have to go to the next prayer and prepare for the next prayer, that he came after praying and then got involved in sins or started usurping people's rights or started oppressing others. And if there is someone who does this, his prayer is not a prayer, and then he is committing a major sin. If someone is a usurper, then his prayer is not for Allah the Almighty, not keeping his sins in mind. If there are such worshippers, they join those worshippers whose prayers become a cause of their destruction, and according to the Holy Quran, are thrown back in their faces. And then by saying five prayers, the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) also drew attention to the fact that these five prayers are obligatory on you, and performing them with all the requirements that Allah the Almighty has stated is obligatory on you. Similarly, attention was drawn to Friday that by participating in Friday, the blessings and the sense of virtue that has been created in you from the Imam's sermon should be maintained until the next Friday. The things that were discussed in it should be acted upon. And if this is done, then one Friday will deliver you from evils until the next Friday. It will create the means for the forgiveness of your sins. Here too, by saying from one Friday to the next Friday, he (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) clarified the obligation and importance of every Friday. Then similarly, the importance of Ramadan was explained. So remaining steadfast on virtue and remaining with continuity is what saves a person from sins.

So it is necessary to fulfill the rights of prayers. It is also necessary to offer Fridays regularly. And benefiting from Ramadan with those conditions that Allah the Almighty has placed for the fasts of Ramadan becomes expiation for sins and increases in virtues. If one is to walk on true taqwa, then these things will have to be adhered to. If nearness to Allah the Almighty is to be attained, then one will have to adhere to them. If means of forgiveness of sins are to be created, then one will have to act according to the path Allah the Almighty has shown us. For these things, Allah the Almighty has given us a daily plan of action, a weekly plan of action, and also indicated an annual plan of action that is necessary for a person's spiritual reformation. And whoever advances passing through these stages will be the recipient of Allah the Almighty's forgiveness and pardon. So from these things, it has become even more clear and evident what the importance of Friday is.

After a year, Allah the Almighty has placed the month of Ramadan in the program for spiritual betterment, not Jumu'atul-Wida, that after a year, offer one Friday of Ramadan; rather, the entire month of Ramadan has been placed.

To benefit from the blessings of Friday, the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) declared every Friday coming after seven days as important and a means of forgiveness. So every coming Friday should be a witness for us that we spent these days in the fear of Allah the Almighty and did not do any act that would displease Allah the Almighty, or did not deliberately do any act that would incur Allah the Almighty's displeasure—then Allah the Almighty forgives minor mistakes, shortcomings, and deficiencies. Every Friday bears witness before Allah the Almighty that this servant generally tried to spend these days with fear. Similarly, the daily prayers, if offered keeping Allah the Almighty's pleasure in mind, will bear witness in our favor, and the same is the case with the fasts of Ramadan. The meaning of expiation is that the testimonies of these worships will be in our favor and will become means of forgiveness for us.

Then regarding the importance and beauty of Friday, the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said at one place that the best day among all days is Friday; send salutations upon me abundantly on this day because on this day your salutations are presented before me. (Sunan Abi Dawud, Kitab al-Salat, Bab Tafri' Abwab al-Jumu'ah 1047)

Sending salutations upon him (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) is Allah the Almighty's perpetual command. This is also Allah the Almighty's command. So this salutation being presented before him is also for always. It is not that when he said this, it was for his lifetime.

So this is another ongoing blessing of Friday. It is nowhere mentioned that salutations will be presented on Jumu'atul-Wida; rather, they are presented every Friday. Fortunate among us are those who benefit from this blessing and, joining those who send salutations, become heirs of Allah the Almighty's favors.

اَللّٰهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلٰى مُحَمَّدٍ وَّعَلٰى اٰلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلٰى اِبْرَاهِيْمَ وَعَلٰى اٰلِ اِبْرَاهِيْمَ اِنَّكَ حَمِيْدٌ مَّجِيْدٌ۔ اَللّٰهُمَّ بَارِكْ عَلٰى مُحَمَّدٍ وَّعَلٰى اٰلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلٰى اِبْرَاهِيْمَ وَعَلٰى اٰلِ اِبْرَاهِيْمَ اِنَّكَ حَمِيْدٌ مَّجِيْدٌ۔

So these are the blessings of Fridays for the attainment of which each one of us should strive. Allah the Almighty is also very Generous. He says that when you fulfill the right of Friday keeping its importance in mind, when you put aside your businesses and engagements for Friday to attain Allah the Almighty's favors, then you will become achievers of spiritual progress, but you will not be deprived of material favors either. After Friday prayer, go towards your businesses and seek Allah the Almighty's favors. This is what is said in the second verse. Allah the Almighty will place blessing in your work.

So this is also a guarantee that by Allah the Almighty's grace, blessing is placed in work. If you sacrifice for a short time on Friday for His sake, there will be blessings in your businesses and you will become recipients of His favors. And when you incur some loss in your work for the sake of Allah the Almighty for a short while, Allah the Almighty is the Setter of all affairs and the Master of all powers. He is also the One to compensate for your worldly and material losses and is the One to bestow His favors by placing blessing in those businesses. As if it was also said that a believer's earning the world is also from Allah the Almighty's favors. Allah the Almighty does not forbid earning the world, but draws attention to doing and completing it at the appointed place and appointed time for any task.

So to obtain these favors, whatever effort and endeavor you have to make, do it after Friday prayer and take a share of Allah the Almighty's mercies and favors. But remember that despite these worldly affairs, do not forget Allah the Almighty. This too Allah the Almighty has stated. Rather, keep your tongues moist with the remembrance of Allah the Almighty. Worldly business should also be according to Allah the Almighty's will and commands. There should be no deception, fraud, lies, laziness, negligence. If these things are with you in your businesses and work, then you are still committing sins. You are forgetting the remembrance of Allah the Almighty. The remembrance of Allah the Almighty should save you from these things.

As was also mentioned in the previous sermon, while doing every work, keep the thought that Allah the Almighty is watching me, and when this thought remains, the right of remembrance of Allah the Almighty will also be fulfilled, and a person will also be able to properly fulfill his responsibilities. So if this day is to be made important, we should try to make it important in this regard: that today or tomorrow we are exiting the worship of Ramadan for a year, but we are not exiting the worship of Friday for a year; rather, the next Friday is also just as important for us as today's Friday. And the weaknesses and deficiencies that were within us in the past, we pledge to remove them for the future. If this thinking is there, then we will not be bidding farewell to Friday, but bidding farewell to our evils, our weaknesses, our shortcomings, and our laziness, we will be trying to seek Allah the Almighty's refuge to be saved from them forever. And benefiting from the blessings of Ramadan is also this: that the virtues we were enabled to do in Ramadan—if not increasing them, then at least remaining steadfast on them—we should welcome the next Ramadan. So neither should we be those who think that we have bid farewell to Friday, nor should we think that we have bid farewell to Ramadan, nor should the thought come that we have bid farewell to our worship that we enjoyed during Ramadan. If ever this thought arises in someone's heart, then he moves away from his purpose of creation, and whoever is away from the purpose of creation is away from taqwa, and whoever is away from taqwa cannot attain Allah the Almighty's favors. As if whatever we tried to attain in Ramadan, we ourselves have wasted it, and we have been deprived of that success and sincerity, that success and prosperity that Allah the Almighty had promised. In the verses regarding fasting, Allah the Almighty has stated taqwa as the result of the command of fasting and fulfilling other injunctions of fasting. So today we need to take stock of whether we have attained this result or not. Or at least whether we have taken some steps in this effort or not. And have we pledged that we will strive to remain steadfast on what we have attained in Ramadan and advance it further?

The Promised Messiah (peace be upon him) has explained to us in great detail about taqwa and its subtleties. At one place, he said: "Read the Holy Quran again and again, and you should keep writing down the details of bad deeds." The details of the deeds that the Holy Quran has called bad, keep writing them down. And then, with Allah the Almighty's grace and support, strive to keep avoiding those evils. This will be the first stage of taqwa." (Malfuzat, Volume 8, page 376, Edition 1985, printed in England) Avoiding evils will be the first stage of taqwa.

So in the days of Ramadan, we also heard lessons. And many of us also tried to read the Holy Quran ourselves and tried to understand it. We also learned about evils. We also learned about virtues. And the stage of doing virtues is a later matter; he is saying that the first stage of taqwa is to make a list of the evils of the Holy Quran and strive to avoid them. And this striving to avoid evils and avoiding them brings a person to the first stage of taqwa.

He said: Indeed, avoiding evils is a good thing, but this is the first part of virtue. This is the first stage of taqwa. Virtue does not end with this.

You say that Allah the Almighty says that this much is not enough to please Him. One should avoid evils and do good in return. Without this, there is no salvation. (If you do not do so, do not think that by avoiding evils, I have attained taqwa. Therefore, if nearness to Allah the Almighty is to be attained, there is no escape without performing virtues.) Anyway, they will have to be performed. He said: “Whoever is proud that he does no evil (some people are very proud that they do no evil) is foolish. Islam does not bring a person only to this extent and leave him; rather, it wants to have both parts fulfilled. That is, completely abandon your evils. (Completely abandon your evils and bad deeds.) And do virtues with complete sincerity. (Completely abandon evil and do virtues with complete sincerity).” He said: Until both these things happen, there can be no salvation. (Derived from Malfuzat, Volume 8, pages 377-378)

So this Ramadan and Friday and our worship should all draw our attention to the fact that where we have to completely abandon evils in the first stage of taqwa or have abandoned them, there, walking on the next stage of taqwa, we have to perform all virtues with complete sincerity.

At one place, you said: It is no virtue that, for example, I have developed a habit of prayers and after praying, sitting right there in the mosque, start backbiting each other or start talking about things that have no connection with virtues. So you have not even completed the first stage. (Derived from Malfuzat, Volume 8, page 376)

So on the day of Friday, in which according to the Holy Prophet's (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) instruction, there is an hour of acceptance of prayer—as the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said that on the day of Friday there also comes such an hour when prayer is accepted. (Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab al-Jumu'ah, Bab al-Sa'ah allati fi Yawm al-Jumu'ah 935) I have talked about this before. We should especially make this prayer that Ramadan should leave us completely, delivering us from our evils and enabling us to perform virtues with complete sincerity, and we should be those who walk on true taqwa. We should be those who fulfill the purpose of the Promised Messiah's (peace be upon him) advent, and making Islamic teachings part of our lives, tell the world this beautiful teaching: that this is the religion that connects the servant with the Living God, and this is the religion that guides and draws attention to fulfilling each other's rights in the best manner. May Allah the Almighty grant us this ability.

Also pray that Allah the Almighty may deliver all Ahmadis caught in difficulties from their difficulties, and may the troubles of those who are afflicted in any way end. Similarly, may Allah the Almighty also enable the Muslim Ummah to come out of their sorrows and troubles by accepting the Imam of the age. May Allah the Almighty stop the hands of those who are oppressing one another from these oppressions, and may Islam appear to the world from every Muslim country with its true glory.