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۔

A few days ago, I was in Holland. There, a journalist, who writes for a regional newspaper and national newspapers also take articles from him, asked me: Is Jama'at Ahmadiyya the fastest-growing community in the world? I told him that if you look at it as an international community, then certainly Jama'at Ahmadiyya is the fastest-growing community in the world. And now even our non-Ahmadis who observe the Jama'at acknowledge this. And this is a great proof of the truthfulness of the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him) that the voice that arose from a small village in India is echoing today in every city and every village of the world. And then this distinctive glory becomes even more prominent, even more brightly manifest, when we see that at a time when it could not even be in the dreams and imagination of an ordinary person that Jama'at Ahmadiyya would become known in the world, the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him), receiving news from Allah the Almighty, used to say with great confidence in his writings and pronouncements that a time will come when Jama'at Ahmadiyya will be known in the world and its spread will be a sign of Allah the Almighty's support. Thus, on one occasion he said: Allah the Almighty is spreading this Movement and Allah the Almighty has willed to spread this Movement in the world. (Malfuzat Volume 4, Page 176, Edition 1985, Published England)

Rather, there is also a narration that he said: Gradually, Allah the Almighty will spread this Movement in such a way that they will prevail over all. And he said that the present trials of today will all be removed. This is the way of Allah the Almighty that every work happens gradually. (Malfuzat Volume 4, Page 176 footnote, Edition 1985, Published England)

He said: "No tree bears fruit as quickly as our Jama'at is progressing. This is the work of Allah the Almighty and it is extraordinary. This is a sign of God and a miracle." (Malfuzat Volume 4, Page 176, Edition 1985, Published England)

So we are established on this faith, and certainly every Ahmadi who has true faith in the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him) is established on this belief that just as Allah the Almighty, only 125 years ago, not only spread the voice that arose from a small, remote area to every corner of the world but also continues to establish communities of sincere ones who are increasing in sincerity, loyalty, and faith towards him, that God, by His grace, will also fulfill this statement of his, Insha'Allah, that the trials will be removed and this Movement will prevail over all. These days we are passing through that era when this Movement is spreading in the world, and this gradual progress is now becoming visible to the world as well. That is why this journalist asked me whether this Jama'at is now the fastest-spreading community in the world. And in many other places too, non-Ahmadis ask this question and also acknowledge that Jama'at Ahmadiyya is a rapidly progressing community. Although trials are also continuing alongside, if one looks at the intention and effort of the enemy, these trials are nothing. And then every trial, whether it be personal upon an Ahmadi due to Ahmadiyyat or whether the entire Jama'at in some places is passing through this distress or trial, every such trial, more than before, manifests Allah the Almighty's support and glory. Every Ahmadi who has come to these Western countries from Pakistan, if he has a sense of gratitude within him, cannot deny how much Allah the Almighty blessed them after migrating from their country due to circumstances. And then not only this, but the reports that come from various countries of the world, which contain mention of Bai'ats and incidents of those who have taken Bai'at, reading them one is amazed at where the opposition to the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him) has reached, and at the same time, what kinds of spectacles of support Allah the Almighty is showing in his favor. If this were the work of any human, if it were a man-made community, then given the extent of opposition that has taken place against the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him) from the establishment of the Jama'at and from the beginning, and which continues to this day, and the same treatment continues daily with his followers in different places of the world, due to this opposition, this Movement should have finished by now and its falsehood should have been exposed. But there is no question of it finishing; here Allah the Almighty is showing progress. The Promised Messiah (peace be upon him) said in one of his gatherings:

"The opponents opposed in every way, but God granted progress. This is a proof of truthfulness that the world puts all its effort and yet the truth spreads." He said: "Now what means of opposition has been left unused against us, but in the end they have met with failure. This is a sign of God." (Malfuzat Volume 4, Page 186, Edition 1985, Published England)

So, as I said, the opponents kept exerting their efforts and continue to do so. But even today, despite the opponents exerting their utmost efforts, despite the great scholars employing all kinds of strategies against us, rather even despite the governments taking vigorous action against Ahmadiyyat, the words of the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him) are being fulfilled that the opponents have failed, and this is a sign of God.

Then when we see how Allah the Almighty shows signs, how He catches hold of people and brings them into the Bai'at of the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him), one is amazed. Once in the gathering of the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him), it was mentioned that a letter came from Lahore from a person who was told in a dream regarding the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him) that he is true. He was a disciple of a mendicant who used to live near the shrine of Data Ganj Bakhsh. When this person mentioned this to the mendicant, that mendicant said that the fact that Mirza Sahib has been progressing for so long is proof of his truthfulness. Then there was another ecstatic mendicant there who used to sit at shrines; he also came there. He said: Baba, let me also ask. Meaning, let me also ask Allah the Almighty what the truth is. The next day, he said that God said that Mirza is a master. The first mendicant said in response: He must have said Maulana (our master). He is your master and mine and the master of all like us. The Promised Messiah (peace be upon him) said that these days dreams and visions are occurring a lot. It seems that Allah the Almighty wants to inform people through dreams. Allah the Almighty's angels roam about like locusts in the sky. They go about putting into hearts: Accept, accept.

Then he narrated the account of another person who intended to write a book in refutation of him (peace be upon him), and the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) told him in a dream: You are writing a refutation, whereas in reality Mirza Sahib is true. (Malfuzat Volume 4, Page 188, Edition 1985, Published England)

So this is Allah the Almighty's guidance which He provides to people of good nature.

Today, when the means of preaching are much greater than what they were in the time of the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him), still the guidance that Allah the Almighty provides through visions and dreams has a great share in opening hearts. Indeed, preaching also affects the one upon whom Allah the Almighty wills, but Allah the Almighty also directly creates means of guidance. And even today, there are countless people who have been guided in this way and are being guided, and they accept the claim of the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him) and join his Bai'at. At this time, I present examples of some such incidents that occurred in the past year. From among very many incidents, I have taken a few whose guidance was provided by Allah the Almighty through dreams. One is amazed hearing the accounts of these people who are sitting thousands of miles away from Qadian. Rather, some are in such areas where there is no system of communication or transport at all, and Allah the Almighty is guiding them.

There is a small island near Mauritius called Mayotte. When the missionary went there on a tour, he says that a non-Ahmadi friend saw the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him) in a dream. After some time, he got the opportunity to watch MTA. Upon seeing the picture of the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him) on MTA, he immediately said: This is the same elder whom I saw in my dream. In this way, he became certain that Ahmadiyyat is the true Islam. So when he was told about it and about Ahmadiyyat, he joined the Jama'at by doing Bai'at.

Similarly, Guinea Conakry is another far-off country on the completely opposite side of Africa. There in the city, there was a university student, Sulaiman Sahib. He had been under our preaching for a long time but was not taking Bai'at. One day he came and said that now I am satisfied and I want to do Bai'at. When he was asked how he became satisfied, he narrated his dream: I am aboard a boat, and near our boat, another boat is sinking, and its passengers are calling out to us for help. We help them and they board our boat. Imam Mahdi (peace be upon him) is also present at the table around which we are sitting. In the dream, he sees that they are sitting around a table where the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him) is present and gives a cup of milk to drink. He says: I took that cup and drank the milk to my heart's content; its taste was extremely fine. After this, when I woke up, I understood that this life-giving cup can only be obtained by boarding the boat of the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him) and taking his Bai'at. So he took the Bai'at.

Similarly, there is a country called Ivory Coast. There, a resident, Alassane Sahib narrated a dream: I saw that there was a very large gathering. A companion of mine tells me that Imam Mahdi is also in this gathering. Due to curiosity, I intend to meet Imam Mahdi. My companion tells me to accept Ahmadiyyat before meeting Imam Mahdi. So I take Bai'at in the dream itself. After this, when I approach the gathering, I actually see Imam Mahdi (peace be upon him) preaching. After this dream, Alassane Traore Sahib entered the Ahmadiyya Movement by doing Bai'at.

Then in India, in the Kerala area of South India, a new convert friend was enabled to accept Ahmadiyyat through MTA and a dream. The writer is the President of the Jama'at there. Five months ago, when he sent the report, he wrote that the said person used to watch TV at home through cable. Suddenly he got the opportunity to watch MTA. His interest kept increasing. This friend was Abdul Hamid Sahib who became Ahmadi. He belonged to the Tariqat sect and had taken the Bai'at of a Pir Sahib. He says that he had only been watching MTA for one or two months when he saw in a dream that he was visiting the mausoleum of the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him). There he also saw his Pir Sahib, who had passed away, visiting. After this dream, he says that while searching for the Jama'at, he came to the President of the Jama'at. He insisted on Bai'at. He was told to do more study. Then he went to the District Amir. He also told him to do more study. Then he reached Qadian and took Bai'at there.

Similarly, Tunisia is a country in North Africa. A friend from there, Qadir Sahib, says: I was impressed by the Jama'at but my heart was not inclined towards Bai'at. There was no satisfaction in taking Bai'at. Why? Because I was not ready to accept Imam Mahdi as a prophet, and this is the fundamental thing. If Muslims, especially, can understand that the claim of the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him) is that of a subordinate prophet. Whatever he has received, he has received through the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), and through him, out of love and affection for him, a prophet can come, and through him Allah the Almighty can bestow His grace, and the Messiah who was to come was to come with the status of a prophet. So anyway, he was not ready to accept this. Then he says: I decided that I will only take Bai'at if Allah the Almighty tells me that Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (peace be upon him) is indeed the Imam Mahdi. During this time, he says, I had a conversation with an Ahmadi friend who gave me the reference of a Hadith that whoever does not take Bai'at despite recognizing Imam Mahdi will die the death of ignorance. He says that this had a very deep effect on me. So at night I prayed Istikharah and saw in a dream that I am reading the Holy Quran and I stopped at a place where it was written: اِنِّیْ اَنْصُرُکَ یَا اَحْمَد — "I will help you, O Ahmad." He says that upon seeing this dream, I immediately took Bai'at.

Then there is another country, Mali. The missionary there says that here in a small town, there was an elderly person, Koli Bali Sahib. He was a person of advanced age. In December 2014, he was able to take Bai'at. He says that in 1964, when he was in Ivory Coast, one day he saw in a dream that two white-complexioned men came to him and said that Imam Mahdi has come; take his Bai'at. After this dream, time passed; he joined the army. The dream was also forgotten. But in 2014, one day he was tuning the radio and came across Ahmadiyya Radio. By the grace of Allah, our radios are running quite well there. When he started listening to it and heard about the advent of Imam Mahdi, he said my heart's condition changed and the dream was also recalled. He expresses thousands and thousands of thanks to Allah the Almighty that before death, he was enabled to enter the Bai'at of Imam Mahdi about which he was informed from Allah the Almighty fifty years before. So Allah the Almighty does not waste the people of good nature, and even after a long period had passed, Allah the Almighty guided him.

Then there is another country, Swaziland. There is an Ahmadi young man, Tahir Sahib. He took Bai'at some time ago. On the night of the 27th in Ramadan this year, he saw in a dream that the moon is shining with its full brightness as if it is daytime. In the dream itself, a voice came saying: This is the light that you have found. Hold on to it firmly. It will gradually spread throughout all of Swaziland. In the dream, I was made to understand that this light means Ahmadiyyat, which will gradually spread throughout the country. Insha'Allah. After this dream, this new Ahmadi has been granted extraordinary steadfastness.

Then there is another incident from Mali. In a Jama'at, Nandre Bougou, there is an elder, Sa'id Sahib. He had heard about Ahmadiyyat but wanted to satisfy himself about Ahmadiyyat. For this, he observed a forty-night vigil. He says that on the twenty-first night, he saw in a dream the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him) and also saw me with him, that both come to his house and take him with them to the sky. He narrates that after seeing this dream, he was satisfied and he accepted Ahmadiyyat.

People think that African people accept Ahmadiyyat just like that, but since they have the quest to accept the truth, they listen and evaluate. They do not show stubbornness, and because their nature is good, Allah the Almighty also guides them. There was a pain in their hearts for religion. That is why they thought of observing a vigil for forty days.

Another person from Mali is Mama Sajoba. He heard about Jama'at Ahmadiyya but he could not understand whether the Jama'at was true or not. Upon this, he prayed Istikharah. On the third day of the Istikharah, he saw that he was traveling in a boat. This boat capsizes right in the middle of the water and all the people start drowning. At this moment, a child emerges from the water and says: If you want to be saved, accept Ahmadiyyat. Upon this, he accepts Ahmadiyyat in the dream itself, whereby he is saved while all other people drown. So after the dream, he took Bai'at.

Then Abdul Sahib from Sierra Leone narrates: My father was an Ahmadi. (Allah the Almighty also guides those who have strayed from religion, who have gone astray, due to the prayers of parents or due to other good deeds of their own.) He says: My father was an Ahmadi but due to certain reasons, I gradually distanced myself from the Jama'at and joined the Tablighi Jamaat and started going for preaching. Tablighi Jamaat people go to Africa as well, from Pakistan as well, from India as well. He says: Anyway, the missionary and my father explained a lot to me but I was not affected. He himself writes that after some time, one day I saw in a dream that a very large and beautiful picture is in the sky, which is of the Messiah of the Age, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad Qadiani (peace be upon him). The very next day, I left the Tablighi Jamaat and rejoined Ahmadiyyat and true Islam, and Alhamdulillah, I participate in all programs. Then, to show that not only is the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him) a true messenger sent by Allah the Almighty, the Messiah and Mahdi, but also that the system of Khilafat continuing after him is supported by Allah the Almighty and is carrying on the mission of the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him), He guides by showing the Khulafa in dreams as well.

Thus, a Muallim from Nigeria writes that a person named Muhammad narrated his dream that he was aboard a ship. When the ship reached the middle of the sea, suddenly a storm came and the ship began to sink and signs of life were ending. At that moment, suddenly a human extended his hands and brought me to the shore. I did not know who this servant of God was. After some time, this person named Muhammad came in contact with one of our Da'i Ilallah and Muallim. The Da'i Ilallah showed MTA to this person. When he saw my face on MTA, he immediately said: This is the same servant of God who saved me. So he joined Jama'at Ahmadiyya along with his entire family.

Similarly, from Sudan (the people of Sudan are very staunch in matters of religion), Ahmad Sahib from there writes that Dr. Amir Sahib there called and told him that he wants to take Bai'at. And then the next day was Friday; he came for Friday and offered Friday prayers with us. While telling the details of the Bai'at, he said that his wife saw her husband with Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IV (may Allah have mercy on him) in a dream, and Huzoor asked him: Why have you not yet taken Bai'at? Upon this, he raised his hands and said: I am ready for Bai'at. Similarly, his daughter said that she saw me with Hazrat Umar bin Abdul Aziz. He says that from this, Amir Sahib became certain that the Jama'at is true because the wife saw one Khalifa and the daughter saw another Khalifa; so it became certain that the Jama'at is true and the system of Khilafat is true. The said person belongs to a Sufi family. He said that there is an ecstatic elder Ibrahim Sahib there whose visions and revelations are fulfilled. The Doctor Sahib says that he called this ecstatic person and asked about the Jama'at, whether Imam Mahdi has appeared. He replied: Yes, he appeared and has also passed away. You have not been informed. Upon this, the Doctor Sahib asked that at this time there is the fifth Khalifa of Imam Mahdi. Should I take his Bai'at? The ecstatic person said: Take the Bai'at. After this, just as the incident that occurred in the time of the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him), when mendicants were sitting near Data Ganj Bakhsh—they are ecstatic—and they gave guidance to a person, similarly, he too is receiving guidance 120 years later from another ecstatic. He says that after this, he gave the phone to his wife and she asked the ecstatic whether Bai'at is better or remaining attached to the way of Tariqat (mysticism). The ecstatic said: When a person takes Bai'at, he fears no one except God.

Similarly, there is an incident from Benin. The missionary from there writes that in the city of Cotonou, about a year ago, a Nigerian friend named Bello came for business. When he left his house to pray, he saw two mosques in the neighborhood and started thinking about which mosque to go to. So here, Allah the Almighty is providing another guidance by showing the mosque through a dream. He says that he went to the non-Ahmadi mosque, and on the next Friday, he came to the Ahmadi mosque. He says: Then I started gathering information about both mosques. People spoke ill of Ahmadis. Due to people's talk, I started thinking that in terms of cleanliness and organization, the Ahmadi mosque is organized. But they say that Ahmadis are against Islam. They have another prophet. But I found peace only in their mosque. So I started praying: O God! Only You can help and guide me. I am new to this area. When I go to the Ahmadi mosque, I find peace, but people say that Ahmadis are bad, disbelievers. My heart does not feel at ease in the other mosque. In this situation, I kept praying at home. I did not start going to either side. I stopped going to both sides. He says: Three or four days later, I was shown two soaps in my dream. Two soaps were lying there; one was a blue-colored soap which was a German soap, while the other was a local soap. He says: In a state of semi-wakefulness, I was made to understand the interpretation that by blue color is meant blue rows. Upon waking up, I thought that on Friday, the Ahmadi mosque had a red carpet and green rows. But after seeing the dream, I again examined both mosques. In the Ahmadiyya mosque, I found blue rows. Then I started praying in the Ahmadiyya mosque and continued in more prayers. He says: One day I saw in a dream that the Imam had given me a book and in it there was a very beautiful picture. So the next Friday, after prayers, I met the Imam of the Ahmadiyya mosque and said that I want to read about Islam Ahmadiyyat. Hearing just this much from me, he says: I will send you a book in a day or two. So the book that was sent to me, instead of being a book of issues, instead of being a book about the advent of the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him), instead of giving references from Hadith, the book he sent was "World Crisis and the Pathway to Peace." He says: When I opened it, on the first page was the same picture that I had seen in the dream. He says this increased my faith even more. Then once I was shown the Holy Quran. It was not the Quran that I had at home; rather, it was another Quran. A few days later, I saw that French translation of the Quran in the mosque which had been shown in the dream. (The French translation published by the Jama'at, he saw in the mosque.) In this way, Allah the Almighty kept guiding me as if He Himself was holding my hand and walking me. Then the said person says that one day Allah the Almighty told me in a state of semi-sleep that there are ten commandments; read them. And then in the dream itself, those ten commandments were read out to me. I did not remember their words but each subject was becoming firmly embedded in my heart. He says: Exactly three or four days later, I started talking to the Murabbi Sahib of the mosque. I had not yet come to the point of how to take Bai'at when the Murabbi Sahib gave me a paper saying that to practice Islam, here are ten conditions; read and understand them. (Meaning, if you want to know the reality of Jama'at Ahmadiyya.) When I read the ten conditions of Bai'at, I wept a lot at how my God had guided me. So I took Bai'at and thanked Allah the Almighty. He says: Now after Bai'at, every day I am experiencing a new delight and enjoyment.

Then there is a person from Egypt. He says: In 2004, I saw in a dream that Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IV was resting at a place. I am sitting with him, and looking at me, he says: You should research this matter. I did not understand at that time. He says: I had never seen Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IV before this. Four years after the dream, I watched MTA and started researching. And in this way, Allah the Almighty guided me. He says: In November 2014, before taking Bai'at, I saw in a dream that I had entered a mosque which was full of worshippers. The Promised Messiah (peace be upon him) is seated in glory and is looking at me. I approach Huzoor and then in his place is Hazrat Khalifa I. A voice says: This is Abu Bakr Siddiq. I come closer, and in place of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih I is Khalifatul Masih V. Seeing me, you immediately raise your hands for prayer, and I also join in the prayer. He says that I interpreted this dream to mean that the acceptance of prayers is due to the blessing of following the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him) and the Khulafa.

So these are fortunate people who understand the truth. Seeing the condition of their hearts, Allah the Almighty continued to guide them or guided them. And as is evident from the dreams of some people, there are also such people whom He guides so clearly that one is left amazed. And those who consider themselves scholars of religion are deprived of this guidance from Allah the Almighty. Once the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him) was sitting in a gathering of new converts, and expressing love to these new converts, he said: You are very fortunate that Allah the Almighty closed the doors for the great scholars and opened them for you. (Malfuzat Volume 4, Page 191, Edition 1985, Published England)

Allah the Almighty's favor is also great upon you people who are sitting here and upon the members of Jama'at Ahmadiyya spread throughout the world that Allah the Almighty also granted you the ability to accept Ahmadiyyat. So, as I have said many times, we should also remember this favor of Allah the Almighty and be grateful for it. It is possible that some among you have ancestors, elders, grandfathers, great-grandfathers who were included in this gathering or were among those who attended the gathering in which the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him) uttered these words. And then you people should also pray for those elders who remembered this favor of Allah the Almighty and continued Ahmadiyyat in their generations. The Promised Messiah (peace be upon him) used to say about those joining the Jama'at: "Look at our Jama'at. All of it has emerged from our opponents and those who take Bai'at every day come from among them. If there were no capacity and good fortune in them, how would they have come out?" He said: "Many letters come from such people who take Bai'at saying that I used to give abuses before but now I repent; I should be forgiven." (Malfuzat Volume 4, Pages 125-126, Edition 1985, Published England)

Even today, there are many such people who had these attitudes of opposition, but now they are progressing in sincerity. They took Bai'at and after Bai'at increased in sincerity and loyalty. Thus, a missionary from Mali wrote that we have a member of the Jama'at, Sulaiman Sahib. After Bai'at, his wife went to his brother, Diam Tapily, and said: Your brother is no longer a Muslim. This was a Muslim family. The wife went to her husband's brother and told the husband's brother: Your brother has become Ahmadi. He is no longer Muslim. He has become Ahmadi; go and make him understand. Upon this, his brother became very angry. He came to Sulaiman Sahib and told him to leave Ahmadiyyat and said that if he does not leave Ahmadiyyat, then his brother will have no relationship with him whatsoever, even to the extent that I will not lead your funeral prayer; Ahmadis will lead it. But Sulaiman Sahib paid no attention to his brother and remained steadfast. His opposing brother also, after some time, started listening to Radio Ahmadiyya with the intention of saving his brother from Ahmadiyyat. He would listen and object to it and save him. But after some time, the heart of his opposing brother himself changed and he joined Ahmadiyyat by taking Bai'at.

Similarly, our Murabbi Ajmal Sahib from India writes that this year on June 17th (when he wrote this), a preaching meeting was held in a village in the Murshidabad district of Bengal province. In this meeting, the supervisor of the committee of the non-Ahmadi mosque of the village, the Mu'adhdhin of the mosque, and some other educated non-Ahmadi friends also participated. After the meeting, the supervisor of the mosque committee began saying: My nephew is Ahmadi, and I always used to hate Ahmadis and thought that Ahmadis are irreligious people. But now I swear by God that Ahmadis alone are true Muslims and all others are miles away from Islam. Later, twelve Bai'ats also took place in that village. So these are the works of Allah the Almighty which He is doing, and the Jama'at is seeing these signs, and certainly these incidents strengthen our faith further. The Promised Messiah (peace be upon him) says at one place: "It is only the blessing of God in this Movement that it is being nurtured and growing among enemies." He said: "They made great plans. They even had murder cases filed, but the things that come from Allah the Almighty cannot be wasted. I tell you truly that this Movement is from God. If it had been the result of human hands or human plans, then human strategies and human opposition would have destroyed it by now. Its growing and progressing in the face of human plans is proof of its being from God. So the more you increase your strength of faith, the more your hearts will be illuminated." (Malfuzat Volume 3, Page 257, Edition 1985, Published England) The more you, meaning Ahmadis, increase your strength of faith, the more your hearts will be illuminated.

The words of the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him) are certainly divine words and carry Allah the Almighty's support. And we see that this Movement is being nurtured among enemies. But as the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him) told us, to illuminate hearts, there is a need to increase the strength of faith, to strengthen our beliefs.

So each one of us needs to take stock: Is our strength of faith increasing? Are our hearts being illuminated? Do we have an inclination towards religion? Are we acting upon Islamic commandments? Are we striving to enhance our spiritual and practical conditions?

Many incidents are written by people who are becoming new Ahmadis, that after accepting Ahmadiyyat, where our spiritual condition has reached from where it was. What kind of state has come into our prayers. What change has occurred in our practical conditions. Some women write about their husbands that after accepting Ahmadiyyat, their attitudes have completely changed. Where there used to be disorder, conflict, quarrels, and fights in homes, peace and tranquility have developed. See with what concern the newly joined think about their religion and religious condition; they are worried, they are bringing about changes. This same condition should be produced in all of us, in everyone.

The Promised Messiah (peace be upon him), drawing our attention to our religious condition at one place, says:

"Read the Holy Quran and never despair of God. A believer never despairs of God. It is the habit of disbelievers to despair of Allah the Almighty. Our God is a God who is عَلیٰ کُلِّ شَیْیئٍ قَدِیْر (Powerful over all things). Read the translation of the Holy Quran as well and offer prayers beautifully and understand their meaning. Pray in your own language as well. Do not read the Holy Quran considering it an ordinary book; rather, read it considering it the Word of Allah the Almighty. Offer prayers the way the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to offer them. However, after the prescribed supplications, by all means express your needs and desires in your own language and ask from Allah the Almighty." (Pray for your own needs and requirements in your own language. Ask in prostrations.) "There is no harm in this. Prayer is never wasted by this." He said: "Nowadays people have spoiled the prayer. What prayers do they offer? They strike their heads. They offer prayers very hurriedly, pecking like a rooster, and then sit behind for supplication." This is the state among non-Ahmadis, but among us also there is no supplication afterwards, and I have seen some people offering prayers very fast. He said: "The real essence and spirit of prayer is supplication itself. How can the real purpose be achieved by supplicating after leaving the prayer? A person goes to the court of a king and he also has the opportunity to present his petition, but at that time he says nothing" (when he went to the king's court, he said nothing there) "but when he goes out of the court, then he presents his request—what benefit is that? Such is the state of those people who do not supplicate with humility and submission in prayer. Whatever supplications you have to make, make them in prayer and keep all the etiquettes of supplication in view."

He said: "At the very beginning of the Holy Quran, Allah the Almighty has taught a prayer and along with it has also explained the etiquettes of prayer. The recitation of Surah Fatiha in prayer is obligatory, and this is a prayer itself, from which it is clearly evident that the real supplication takes place in the prayer itself. Thus, Allah the Almighty has taught this prayer as follows: (أَعُوْذُ 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." He said: "That is, before supplication, it is essential to praise and glorify Allah the Almighty" (explaining this, he says) "by which a passion and love for Allah the Almighty is generated in the soul. Therefore, it is said: اَلْحَمْدُ لِلّٰہ—All praise belongs to Allah alone. رَبّ الْعَالَمِیْنَ—the Creator and Nurturer of all. اَلرَّحْمٰن—Who gives without action and without asking. الرَّحِیْم—Then also rewards action. He gives in this world and also in the Hereafter." He said: "مٰلِکِ یَوْمِ الدِّیْنِ—Every recompense is in His hand. Good and evil, everything is in the hand of Allah the Almighty." He said: "A person becomes a complete and perfect monotheist only" (a person becomes a worshipper of the One God only). When he accepts Allah the Almighty as مٰلِکِ یَوْمِ الدِّیْنِ (Master of the Day of Judgment). See! Going before officials and acknowledging them as everything—this is a sin (when you go before worldly rulers, before officers, to consider them as everything is a sin). "and it entails polytheism. In this respect, Allah the Almighty has made them rulers" (but in this respect, Allah the Almighty has made them rulers, how should we behave with them?) "their obedience is necessary" (as far as the ruler is concerned, their obedience is necessary because Allah the Almighty has made them rulers) "but never make them God." (Do not think that only they will get your work done. Some are demonstrating and flattering before their officers in such a way as if, God forbid, they were God.) He said: "Give the right of man to man and the right of Allah the Almighty to Allah the Almighty. Then say: اِیَّا کَ نَعْبُدُ وَ اِیَّاکَ نَسْتَعِیْنُ—You alone do we worship and You alone do we ask for help. اِھْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِیْمَ—Guide us on the right path. That is, the path of those upon whom You have bestowed favor, and they are the group of prophets, the truthful, the martyrs, and the righteous. In this prayer, the grace and favor of all these groups has been asked for." Then he said: "Save us from the path of those upon whom Your wrath came and who went astray. In short, this is a brief translation of Surah Fatiha. In the same manner, read the translation of the entire prayer with understanding and then offer the prayer understanding its meaning." (These are the etiquettes of offering prayer that should be understood, but some people who offer quickly, what will they understand?) He said: "There is no benefit in merely memorizing various words. Know for certain that true monotheism can never come into a person as long as he reads the prayer like a parrot. The soul does not receive that effect and that stumble which takes him to the stage of perfection." He said: "Also hold this belief that Allah the Almighty has no equal and no rival, and also prove this by your action." (Malfuzat Volume 3, Pages 257 to 259, Edition 1985, Published England) (Belief should also be this. Action should also be this. Word and deed should be the same; only then can a person become a true believer.)

So we should take stock of ourselves: Are our actions and thoughts in accordance with this teaching? If not, then there is a need to be concerned that the nations coming later may not progress and get far ahead of us. By attaining nearness to Allah the Almighty, they may not go so far that when we realize that we have been left behind, our generations are being left behind, then decades may be spent in covering these distances. It may take time for generations to reform the next generations. See to it that by drowning in this world, our generations do not fall far behind. Coming to these countries, they should not just run after worldliness. The rights of Allah the Almighty are in any case obligatory to fulfill. Prayers are in any case necessary to offer and necessary to offer with understanding. So it should not be that our generations fall far behind and the newcomers, becoming heirs to those blessings which Allah the Almighty has promised to the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him), raise their station far above ours. There is a great need to reflect on these words of the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him); make great effort on this and understand it. And to understand this and make effort on it is the duty of every Ahmadi. And also reflect on these words: Increase your strength of faith, and by illuminating hearts and attaining the nearness of Allah the Almighty, then become those who attain those blessings. Let it not be that by lagging behind, you are deprived of those blessings. Strive that the bond that has been established with the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him) never breaks. May Allah the Almighty grant us all the ability to strengthen our relationship with Allah the Almighty. May we be those who understand the purpose of the advent of the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him) and become an active and strong part of the Jama'at. May we be those who spread the teachings of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) in the world and may we continue to become heirs to the blessings of Allah the Almighty forever.