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۔

In recent days, a columnist in a newspaper here wrote, and similarly, an Australian politician said that it is the teaching of jihad and certain other commandments in Islam due to which Muslims become extremists. Regarding Islamic commandments, a UK government politician also said recently that there are some commandments of extremism in Islam, commandments of harshness, which is why Muslims have a tendency toward extremism. Nowadays, the extremist group that has occupied some territory in Iraq and Syria in the name of Islam and established its government has not only threatened Western countries but has also carried out cruel attacks in some places and killed innocents. I have already mentioned this in previous sermons. This has not only frightened the public but has also given those who are leaders of certain countries an opportunity to speak against Islam, either due to ignorance or anti-Islamic ideas. Those who write and speak also say that yes, there is harshness in the teachings of other religions, too. There are certain such commandments, but their followers either no longer practice them or have made changes according to circumstances and have adapted these teachings according to the needs of the times. And they insist that, therefore now the commandments of the Holy Quran also need to be adapted according to this age.

In any case, this demonstrates that, according to their interpretation, their teachings are no longer divinely inspired but have become human-crafted teachings. This was inevitable because God did not promise that these teachings would persist or that people would continue to practice them until the Day of Judgment. However, when Allah the Almighty declared in the Holy Quran: اِنَّا نَحۡنُ نَزَّلۡنَا الذِّکۡرَ وَاِنَّا لَہٗ لَحٰفِظُوۡنَ “Verily, We Ourselves have sent down this Exhortation, and most surely We will be its Guardian” (15:10), He also provided measures for its protection.

The Promised Messiah (peace be upon him) has elucidated this verse in various books on different occasions. For instance, he stated that Allah the Almighty’s practice since ancient times has been that when He prohibits a people from an act, it is certainly in His decree that some among them will inevitably commit that act, just as He forbade the Jews in the Torah not to alter the Torah and other books of God. Consequently, some among them made alterations (changed it). However, regarding the Holy Quran, it was not stated that one should not alter the Quran (do not change it), rather it was said: اِنَّا نَحۡنُ نَزَّلۡنَا الذِّکۡرَ وَاِنَّا لَہٗ لَحٰفِظُوۡنَ“Verily, We Ourselves have sent down this Exhortation, and most surely We will be its Guardian” (15:10). (Taken from Nuzul-ul-Masih, Ruhani Khaza’in, vol. 18, p. 419)

Then He (peace be upon him) states that (this verse) "is clearly indicating that when a people will arise who will want to erase this Exhortation from the world, at that time God will protect it from heaven through some emissary of His." (Tuhfah-e- Golarvea, Ruhani Khaza'in, vol. 17, p. 267)

So, from time to time, these people want to erase this teaching by objecting to the Quranic teaching, because either their own teaching has been erased or it remains only to the extent of a book. These are various methods nowadays of sending messages or tweeting. These include WhatsApp and others. Recently, there was a short film circulating on it in which two boys were reading certain verses or portions to people from a book that had "Quran" written on it, showing what kind of teaching it contains, and asking various people on the street about it, interviewing them, telling them. So, when everyone found out that this was the teaching of the Holy Quran because that was written on it, everyone was speaking ill of Islamic teachings, saying look, this proves that Islamic teaching is such that Muslims commit such acts because of it. After some time, these boys removed the cover of that book and showed that this is not Islam's teaching, this is the Bible's teaching, because this is the Bible we were reading. Then no one made any negative comment about it. When Islam's name comes up, there is immediately a negative comment, but here, everyone just laughed and remained silent. Among them were both women and men. So one woman said, well, this is very surprising. I was educated in a Christian school and read the Bible; such a thought never even occurred to me. So, this is their state. If a Muslim commits a wrong act, they attribute it to Islam; if someone of another religion does so, they say the poor person is mentally disabled, he is mad.

We acknowledge that the wrong actions of certain Muslim groups in the name of Islam have defamed Islam, but targeting the teachings of the Holy Quran over this and going to extremes is also an expression of hatred and malice in hearts against Islam. One extreme expression of this nowadays is an American presidential candidate speaking against Islam and Muslims.

In any case, let them say whatever they want about Islam, but neither can any religion's teaching compete with Islam's beautiful teaching, nor can their self-made laws. They say we have changed laws according to circumstances. Allah the Almighty has sent an emissary in this age as well, according to His promise to protect the Holy Quran, who has informed us of Islam's beautiful teachings. The Promised Messiah (peace and blessings be upon him) says at one place: The Holy Quran, whose other name is Dhikr, came in that early era to remind of truths and trusts hidden and forgotten within man. According to Allah the Almighty's firm promise that اِنَّا لَہٗ لَحٰفِظُوۡنَ "most surely We will be its Guardian." in this age too, a teacher came from heaven who is the fulfillment and promised one of وَّاٰخَرِیۡنَ مِنۡہُمۡ لَمَّا یَلۡحَقُوۡا بِہِمۡ "and among others from among them who have not yet joined them" (62:4). He is the one who is speaking among you. (Taken from Malfuzat, vol. 1, p. 97, 1985 edition, published in England)

Then Promised Messiah (peace be upon him) states: Allah the Almighty, by giving the promise of اِنَّا نَحۡنُ نَزَّلۡنَا الذِّکۡرَ وَاِنَّا لَہٗ لَحٰفِظُوۡنَ "Verily, We Ourselves have sent down this Exhortation, and most surely We will be its Guardian" (15:10) and taking upon Himself the responsibility of protecting the Quran and Islam, has saved Muslims from this calamity and has not let them fall into mischief. So blessed are those people who value this Silsilah and benefit from it. (Malfuzat, vol. 1, p. 95, 1985 edition, published in England). That is, they joined His (peace be upon him) Jama'at.

Then the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him) said: "Allah the Almighty, according to His promise... has sent me at the head of the fourteenth century to establish the greatness of the Holy Quran." (Malfuzat, vol. 2, p. 193, 1985 edition, published in England)

Then he said: "The supports and victories of the Holy Quran are with us. This is not granted to followers of any other religion today." (Quoted in Tafsir Hazrat Masih Mau'ud, vol. 2, p. 770, Al-Hakam, vol. 5, no. 25, dated July 10, 1901, p. 2)

So, these things, while being a conclusive answer to the objections of opponents of Islam, their very statement that other religions have adapted themselves according to the times is an admission that those religions have become dead. But along with this, in the Promised Messiah's (peace be upon him) glorious words, there is also an invitation to Muslims that in this age; to counter the attacks being made on Islam through media and writing and speech, they should join hands with that person and silence these opponents who accuse Islam of terrorism and extremism by showing the greatness of Islam's beautiful teaching. Those groups or people who claim to spread Islam by the sword are, in reality, tools of anti-Islamic forces. The Promised Messiah (peace be upon him) has clearly told us that this is not the era of jihad by the sword, and permission for jihad by the sword was only granted due to those conditional circumstances that arose in the early days of Islam, when the enemy wanted to eliminate Islam by the sword. Islam is filled with teachings of peace and love. That is, the Holy Quran is filled with this teaching. So today in this age, there is a need to spread this teaching, and every Ahmadi needs to understand this teaching. There is a need to act upon it. There is a need to establish a relationship with God Almighty. Only then can we fulfill the right of being Ahmadi. Today, we Ahmadis alone have to reveal the reality to both Muslims and non-Muslims. Those who object to Islam are ignorant, and we have to show them their state of ignorance. Islam's teaching is the teaching of peace and security. We have to show this teaching to the world in the light of the Holy Quran. We have to tell these people that what you say without knowledge, that there is extremism in Islam's teaching, that's why Muslims also become extremists, this is your ignorance and lack of knowledge. Muslims must also be told that with mutual killing and sectarianism, you are defaming Islam. Although we do not have many resources, to whatever extent we can do this work through press media and various means, we should do it in every country and every city. At this time, it is very necessary to show the world the true picture of Islam. By the grace of Allah, the Jama'at has attention toward this in almost every place, but the situation demands that the media continues to be used in this regard. Keep contact and connections with them. Through them, inform the general public. By the grace of Allah, in America, too, they have considerable contacts and connections in this matter. In other countries and here too, there are some connections. In Germany, too. So, there is a need to keep expanding them.

Recently, here in the British Parliament, an MP from Glasgow, regarding the reality of Islam, with reference to the Ahmadiyya Community, said that Ahmadi Muslims practice Islam's teaching of peace and security, and I attended their Peace Symposium in Glasgow, and she praised us greatly. Upon this, the Home Secretary sitting there also said that the Islam that Ahmadis present is indeed very different from what Islamic extremists show. And in reality, Ahmadis are peace-loving citizens. And the reality is that Ahmadis do not present any new teaching but present the teaching of the Holy Quran. But if this becomes one incident and then there is silence, after some time, people will forget, by saying yes, there was a question raised in the British Parliament, and the matter ended. This needs to be kept fresh at all times - what is Islam's teaching? The press gave news once, and we became silent. But when an incident of extremism occurs, or even if it doesn't occur, headlines are given in newspapers with reference to them. Then opponents of Islam get an opportunity to speak against Islam.

Recently when I was in Japan, there too the educated class expressed this. In fact, even a Christian pastor said that the teaching of Islam that you are expressing in the light of the Holy Quran, the Japanese desperately need to know this, rather the world needs it. He said but this will only benefit if you do not limit this matter to this function in which you are speaking, but continuously explain this teaching to people in Japan through consistent effort. So now fair-minded non-Muslims are also saying do not sit silent but continuously present this teaching before the world, only then will there be benefit. Now this is also the work of the Japan Jama'at to keep this matter fresh with comprehensive planning. Similarly, here in this country UK and in other countries of the world too, spread the understanding of Islam's beautiful teaching which has come to us through the Promised Messiah (peace and blessings be upon him). No one can stand before this beautiful teaching. And all these things have been told to us by the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him) in the light of the Holy Quran's teaching, and further they are also present in many places in the Jama'at's literature. Allah the Almighty sent him to convey the correct interpretation and commentary of the Holy Quran, to correctly interpret its meanings, and to protect the Holy Quran, as he stated. He (peace be upon him) has done full justice to this in his books, discourses and speeches.

So, in this age, Allah the Almighty has taken work from the Promised Messiah (peace and blessings be upon him) for the protection of the Holy Quran. Allah has taken work from the Promised Messiah (peace and blessings be upon him). And this is the work of every Ahmadi to convey this message to every class and every temperament, and everywhere performing this work, fulfill the right of coming into his (peace be upon him) pledge of allegiance. At this time, I present some examples that show the beauty of Islam's teaching of peace. Allah the Almighty says at one place in the Holy Quran: لَاۤ اِکۡرَاہَ فِی الدِّیۡنِ "There is no compulsion in religion" (2:257). Then He said: وَلَوۡ شَآءَ رَبُّکَ لَاٰمَنَ مَنۡ فِی الۡاَرۡضِ کُلُّہُمۡ جَمِیۡعًا ؕ اَفَاَنۡتَ تُکۡرِہُ النَّاسَ حَتّٰی یَکُوۡنُوۡا مُؤۡمِنِیۡنَ "And if thy Lord had enforced His will, surely, all who are on the earth would have believed together. Wilt thou, then, force people to become believers?" (10:100). If Allah the Almighty had sent down only His will, then all the people on earth would have believed. So, when even God does not compel, will you compel people to believe? The Promised Messiah (peace be upon him) says at one place that Islam has never taught the doctrine of compulsion. Now Allah the Almighty also says to the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): لَاٰمَنَ مَنۡ فِی الۡاَرۡضِ کُلُّہُمۡ جَمِیۡعًا "surely, all who are on the earth would have believed" - that if Allah the Almighty had willed, then everyone on earth would have believed, but Allah the Almighty did not will it, therefore despite the Holy Prophet's (peace and blessings be upon him) desire, Allah the Almighty said that even by your saying it will not happen.

So, this should always be remembered, and this is the one teaching that very clearly shows that there is no compulsion in Islam.

The Promised Messiah (peace be upon him) said: "Islam has never taught the doctrine of compulsion. If the Holy Quran and all books of Hadith and books of history are examined carefully and read or heard with deliberation as far as is possible for man, then with absolute certainty after such breadth of knowledge, it will be known that this objection that supposedly Islam raised the sword to spread religion by force is an absolutely baseless and shameful accusation. And this is the thought of those people who have not seen the Quran and Hadith and authentic histories of Islam aside from prejudice, but have fully employed falsehood and slander. But I know that now that time is approaching when those hungry and thirsty for truth will be informed of these slanders. Can we call that religion a religion of compulsion whose book, the Quran, clearly gives this instruction: لَاۤ اِکۡرَاہَ فِی الدِّیۡنِ 'There is no compulsion in religion' (2:257), meaning compulsion is not permissible for entering into religion. Can we accuse that noble Prophet of compulsion who in the thirteen years of Mecca gave his friends only this advice day and night that do not retaliate to evil and remain patient. Yes, when the enemy's wickedness exceeded limits and all nations tried to erase the religion of Islam, then divine honor demanded that those who raise the sword be killed by the sword. Otherwise, the Holy Quran never taught compulsion. If there had been teaching of compulsion, the Companions of our Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would not have been capable of showing true faith like true believers at times of trials due to the teaching of compulsion." (If it were under compulsion, truth cannot be shown from the heart, the relationship of loyalty cannot be displayed) He said: "But the loyalty of the Companions of our lord and master, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), is such a matter that we have no need to express it." (Masih Hindustan Mein, Ruhani Khaza'in, vol. 15, pp. 11-12)

Then He (peace be upon him) states: "Islam's wars are not beyond three types." That is, there are three types of conflicts when there is harshness in Islam or permission to be harsh. "Defensively, that is, by way of protection and independence. (If someone attacks you, then at that time weapons can be raised to protect and defend yourself). "By way of punishment, that is, blood for blood." (At that time when someone is to be punished and others have attacked and shed blood, in any case as punishment, whether it is war or normal circumstances, at that time weapons were used or punishment was given or someone was killed) and number three "by way of establishing freedom. That is, for the purpose of breaking the power of opponents who were killing for becoming Muslim." (Masih Hindustan Mein, Ruhani Khaza'in, vol. 15, p. 12)

Now those enemies who were killing on the grounds that why have you become Muslim? You have changed your religion; therefore, they kill Muslims because of becoming Muslim. Then Allah the Almighty said that they are killing Muslims, therefore the sword can also be raised against them. He (peace be upon him) states apart from these three reasons, there is no reason where the sword should be raised or harshness done. He said that:

"In the Quran there is a clear command not to raise the sword for spreading religion and to present religion's inherent virtues and attract through good examples. And do not think that the command of the sword was given in the beginning of Islam, because that sword was not drawn to spread religion but was drawn to protect oneself from enemy attacks and to establish peace. But compelling for religion was never the objective." (Sitara Kaisara, Ruhani Khaza'in, vol. 15, pp. 120-121)

He said: "Those people who call themselves Muslim and only know that Islam should be spread by the sword, they are not acknowledgers of Islam's inherent virtues" (they do not acknowledge it) "and their actions resemble the actions of beasts." (They are animals). (Tiryaq-ul-Qulub, Ruhani Khaza'in, vol. 15, p. 167, footnote)

So, the Holy Quran's declaration of not including people in religion by compulsion is sufficient to refute the objections of objectors, and those who are intelligent understand that Islam is being defamed by wrong means. As I said, many educated people, even a Christian pastor said that this peaceful teaching of Islam should be propagated very much. And when people say to propagate Islam's teaching, this fulfills the Promised Messiah's (peace be upon him) statement that those hungry and thirsty for truth will be informed of these slanders. When they find out what the real teaching is. But along with this, He (peace be upon him) has also drawn our attention to "present religion's inherent virtues." Present religion's virtues, and they can only be presented when one has knowledge oneself. Increase your knowledge. And secondly, he said "and attract through good examples." Establish your good examples so that people come to us seeing us. So this is a very great responsibility of every Ahmadi to acquire knowledge of the Holy Quran to present religion's inherent virtues, and then by establishing their good examples, attract the world toward themselves, and this is the knowledge and action through which in this age we can become participants in the work of protecting the Holy Quran and Islam by coming into the servitude of the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him), and we can tell the world that if real peace is to be established in the world, it can only be established through the Holy Quran.

The Holy Quran has at one place drawn the picture of those who do not accept Islam in these words: وَقَالُوۡۤا اِنۡ نَّتَّبِعِ الۡہُدٰی مَعَکَ نُتَخَطَّفۡ مِنۡ اَرۡضِنَا"And they say, 'If we were to follow this guidance with thee, we should be snatched away from our land'" (28:58). So, the objection to Islam's teaching is not because it is a teaching of oppression and compulsion, but those who are not accepting, the objection they are making to Islam's teaching is that if we act upon your teaching which is a teaching of peace, which is a teaching of security, then the surrounding nations will destroy us. So, Islam's teaching is the teaching of extending the hand of friendship. It is the teaching of establishing peace and security. It is the teaching of giving the message of peace and love. If some Muslim groups do not act upon it, it is their misfortune. The Quran is certainly present with them in original words but there is no action. The protection of the Holy Quran's teaching and the commandments of the Holy Quran that should have been done or should be done, these people are not doing. Its protection has to be done by the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him) and his Jama'at alone. We have to tell the world through our knowledge and action that the world's security and peace are not threatened by Islam but by those who are against Islam. And as the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him) also said in this excerpt that I read, that these people who defame Islam employ falsehood and slander. And their falsehood and slander is actually endangering world peace. These people are creating mischief for their interests, to gain their geographical and political superiority in the world. In the mischief of Muslim countries, some big countries also have a share. And now on various Western media, their own people themselves have started saying that these extremist organizations of Muslims are the creation of our governments, which we created after the Iraq war or after Syria's situation. I am not exonerating Muslims and those people who, calling themselves Muslims in the name of Islam, are demonstrating extremism and expressing the wrong teaching of Islam, but in fanning this fire, big powers certainly have a share. There is a very big reason for not acting with justice due to which all this is happening. That time is no more when a statement came from a big power and the world accepted it, rather every analyst's reaching everywhere through media or conveying their thoughts has now become easy. Even now on one side there is talk of eliminating extremist people, bombs are dropped on them, and on the other side, despite knowing how all this is happening, they have closed their eyes to those who supply them weapons and send money through wrong means or do financial transactions. So those who are destroying world peace and security are not only these Muslim groups who, acting against Islamic teaching, are committing oppression and mischief, but also big governments who give priority to their interests, and world peace is secondary and minor to them.

A true Muslim knows that God Almighty is Peace (Salam), He wants security for His creation, and certainly among true Muslims are only Ahmadis who have the realization of how many commandments Allah the Almighty has given to give security to humanity and to maintain peace and security in the world, how much guidance He has provided.

Allah the Almighty says at one place in the Holy Quran: .وَقِیۡلِہٖ یٰرَبِّ اِنَّ ہٰۤؤُلَآءِ قَوۡمٌ لَّا یُؤۡمِنُوۡنَ. فَاصۡفَحۡ عَنۡہُمۡ وَقُلۡ سَلٰمٌ ؕ فَسَوۡفَ یَعۡلَمُوۡنَ (43:89-90) "I swear by his repeated cry ‘O my Lord!’ that these are a people who will not believe.' Therefore, turn aside from them, and say, ‘Peace’ and soon shall they know".

So, this is the teaching of the Holy Quran that when the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) calls toward Allah the Almighty, the listeners refuse. The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) says, O Allah! I am calling them toward peace and security and they are refusing. They are not just refusing, this is such a nation that not only does not believe, does not understand the message of peace, but on the contrary does not give me peace. They are also destroying the security of us Muslims. Allah the Almighty says فَاصۡفَحۡ عَنۡہُمۡ "turn aside from them". They have no understanding; they have no sense. They are foolish people. They become angry. Hearing their words, just say that I have brought peace for you and my message is of peace, and I will continue to convey this message.

So, the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was commanded by Allah the Almighty in the Holy Quran that seeing and bearing all the excesses of opponents of Islam, give only this answer that I only give you the message of peace and will continue to give it so that peace may be established in the world. So, when this is the command for the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), then how necessary is this command for every Muslim. Even today when these are the circumstances, this is our duty to convey the message in the same way. Our work is to convey the message of peace and security. And as the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him) said that if ever the sword was raised from Islam's side, it was also raised for protection and to establish peace, it was never raised for oppression. So, this question does not even arise that the Holy Quran ever and anywhere gave this command to raise the sword against one who does not accept your word and kill him. If some Muslim group or Muslim leader is negating it by his action and they say we are establishing peace in the world, that is not real Islam. Those are their own personal interests that they are expressing, or the interests of big powers who have made Muslims their tools. And then the accusation on Islam that its teaching is such.

Allah the Almighty has told the identification of a true Muslim and servant of Rahman thus: وَّاِذَا خَاطَبَہُمُ الۡجٰہِلُوۡنَ قَالُوۡا سَلٰمًا "And when the ignorant address them, they say, 'Peace!'" (25:64). And when ignorant people quarrel with them, instead of quarreling they say we pray for peace for you. So, this is the Quranic teaching, and this is the teaching that commands establishing peace and security at every level and striving for it. None among us, and especially the youth, need to become victims of any kind of inferiority complex. It is Islam and only Islam that can guarantee peace and security in the world. And it is the Holy Quran and only the Holy Quran that teaches spreading peace and security and ending extremism. So, everyone needs to gain understanding of this teaching. There is a need to apply this teaching to oneself. Act upon this teaching, and as the Promised Messiah (peace and blessings be upon him) has said, tell the world through your practical examples that today Allah the Almighty has granted us the opportunity to work for the protection of the Holy Quran, and this is His grace. The correct interpretation and commentary of the Holy Quran is also its spiritual protection, for which Allah the Almighty sent the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him) in this age, and by giving us the opportunity to believe in him, He has also chosen us for this work, He has also given us the opportunity. So, performing the work of spreading this beautiful teaching in the world is the responsibility of every Ahmadi, and for the fulfillment of this responsibility, every Ahmadi boy, girl, man, woman should strive. The world is standing at such a precipice of a pit of fire at this time that at any moment such circumstances can occur that it may fall into it. At such a time, striving to save the world from falling into this fire and doing the work of giving peace and security is the responsibility of an Ahmadi, and only Ahmadis can do it. So, effort is needed for this, and the greatest thing to achieve this objective is to establish a special relationship with Allah the Almighty, to bow before Him, to adopt His righteousness. To create His righteousness in our hearts. Only then can we give peace and security to ourselves and our generations and the world. For such an occasion and for these circumstances, the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him) had said:

"It is fire but all will be saved from the fire            Who have love for the God of wonders" (Durr-e-Sameen, p. 154, published by Nazarat Isha'at Rabwah)

So, there is a need to make the relationship with this God of wonders and possessor of all powers stronger, and we should strive to increase in our love of Allah the Almighty. May Allah the Almighty grant us this opportunity and also give sense to worldly people that they listen to Allah the Almighty's voice and strive for their reformation and be saved from falling into the pit of destruction.

After prayers, I will offer one funeral prayer in attendance and two in absence. The funeral prayer in attendance is of respected Inayatullah Ahmadi Sahib. His death occurred on December 9. اِنَّا لِلّٰہِ وَاِنَّا اِلَیْہِ رَاجِعُوْنَ Surely to Allah we belong and to Him shall we return. He was a missionary of the Silsilah for a very long time. His father's name was Allah Bakhsh Sahib who was the owner of Allah Bakhsh Steam Press of Qadian. Inayatullah Ahmadi Sahib was born in January 1920. At age five he came to Qadian. He was admitted to Ta'lim-ul-Islam School Qadian. In 1936 he passed matriculation from Ta'lim-ul-Islam High School Qadian itself. Then in 1939 he was recruited as a clerk in the military in East Africa and was discharged in July 1946. On May 30, 1944, at age twenty-four, he dedicated his life, and from July 1946 he started work as a missionary in East Africa and retired in December 1979 at age sixty. From 1946 to December 1973, for twenty-three years and three months, he had the opportunity to serve as a missionary outside Pakistan. Four years and four months in Kenya, eighteen years and eleven months he worked as a missionary in Tanzania. After that until retirement, he had the opportunity to work as a Murabbi and district Murabbi in the districts of Sialkot and Jhang in Pakistan. Among his children are four daughters and three sons. One son is Habibullah Ahmadi Sahib who has had the opportunity to serve as Waqf-e-Zindagi. Similarly, one of his sons-in-law, Qari Nawab Sahib, is Waqf-e-Zindagi. When expansion occurred in missionary work in Tanzania, among the missionaries that Hazrat Khalifatul Masih II (may Allah be pleased with him) sent in 1947 to help respected Maulana Sheikh Mubarak Ahmad Sahib deceased, Chaudhry Inayatullah Sahib was also included. There he rendered services in various places. Similarly, when Sheikh Mubarak Ahmad Sahib was doing the Swahili translation of the Holy Quran, among the helpers that Hazrat Khalifatul Masih II provided him, Chaudhry Inayatullah Sahib and Maulana Jalaluddin Sahib Qamar were also included. Thus, he also had the good fortune to work in the Swahili translation of the Holy Quran. For three years he had the opportunity to serve as Missionary In-charge in Dar es Salaam.

Once when he was going by bicycle to his Jama'at Pangalay to lead prayers in the mosque, Ahmadi friends told him that the non-Ahmadi imam and other people have a plan and the imam has involved them with him to burn the mosque and create a riot there, so you should not go to Pangalay. Upon this he gave a very brave answer that I will certainly go, and in any case continued the journey. As I said, he was going by bicycle. On the way at one place, he met the chief of Pangalay, and when he saw him on the bicycle, he stopped his car and invited him to sit in the car, so he said no, I am going by bicycle, I am fine. In any case, upon the chief's insistence, he sat in his car and the chief brought him to the village, and on the way, he told the chief about the news of the village situation that had reached them. Upon this, the chief called all the people and said these are our guests and guests will not be treated badly in any case, and I will not let this happen, and I will give whatever help they need, and he also reprimanded the imam considerably. In fact, he also said I will pray behind them. So, when prayer time came, the chief stood behind them and prayed. He also had great influence on the people of the area and had very wide relationships. May Allah the Almighty elevate the ranks of the deceased and also grant his descendants the opportunity to maintain a relationship of loyalty with the Jama'at and Khilafat.

The second funeral prayer in absence is of Maulvi Bashir Ahmad Sahib Kala Afghana deceased, Darwesh Qadian. He passed away on December 7 at age 87. اِنَّا لِلّٰہِ وَاِنَّا اِلَیْہِ رَاجِعُوْنَ Surely to Allah we belong and to Him shall we return. Maulvi Bashir Ahmad Sahib Kala Afghana deceased writes in his autobiography published in the Darwesh number of the newspaper Badr: A friend from my village, respected Muhammad Ahmad Sahib Kala Afghana, had come to Qadian. I was looking for employment after taking an exam in Dera Baba Nanak, when respected Muhammad Ahmad Sahib sent a message that I want to leave the customs job and work in Daftar Al-Fazl office. You take my place in customs. At that time, they were not Ahmadi. This is from 1946. He says I came from my village to Qadian and started employment in customs. When I came to Qadian for employment, at that time I did not have much information regarding Ahmadiyyat. He says I told a non-Muslim friend to show me a mosque for prayer that is not of Qadianis. I cannot go to their mosque. That non-Muslim told me the way to Masjid Aqsa. He says I went there. I saw that it is a very large mosque, someone is praying, someone is reciting, there is a beautiful minaret. I was happy in my heart that our mosque is very good, now I will not go to the Qadianis' mosque. So, one day it was discovered that this is the Ahmadis' mosque. He says one day I also went to the Ahraris' mosque but seeing the condition there, I resolved that now I will always pray only in Masjid Aqsa. Then gradually he was introduced to an Ahmadi friend. He gave him Jama'at information and gave the book "Tablighe Hidayat" and other pamphlets, as a result of which, he says, Allah the Almighty granted me the opportunity to accept Ahmadiyyat. In 1947 the country was partitioned and on the instruction of Hazrat Musleh Mau'ud (may Allah be pleased with him), Khuddam started coming from far and wide for the protection of the center. On this occasion, he says, I also submitted my name for protection of the center, which was approved, and thus Allah the Almighty granted the opportunity to be included in Darweshi. He says after doing Bai'at, my relatives and especially my parents opposed greatly, and then at the time of partition of the country they also told me to come with us, and they kept expressing regret over my being Ahmadi. But upon my refusal, my father and mother cried greatly and tried, but in any case, I did not go. I gave priority to religion over the world. In fact, he says, my mother lost her eyesight in this grief over me. In 1952 his marriage took place to Akhtarul-Nisa Sahiba, daughter of Zuhur-ud-Din Sahib of Hyderabad. He has two sons from her, Mahmood Ahmad Sahib and Shoaib Ahmad Sahib. Shoaib Sahib is Waqf-e-Zindagi and at this time is Nazir Baitul Mal Kharch in Qadian. Similarly, one of his sons-in-law, Qari Nawab Sahib, is Waqf-e-Zindagi. He had the opportunity to serve as a rural missionary in Maharashtra and Karnataka. He had great passion for Tabligh. He would write on some board or slate that the Imam Mahdi (peace be upon him) has come so that all people may read, and then would start Tabligh, and similarly he had the opportunity to work in various offices. He was also manager of the newspaper Al-Badr and similarly worked in the Langar Khana and other places. He also had very wide relationships with officers of departments and they held him in great respect and honor. Despite old age, he always came to the mosque and offered congregational prayer; in fact, on the day of death he also offered Zuhr and Asr prayers in the mosque, and he would especially stand and pray in the old part of Masjid Mubarak. He was a recipient of visions and revelations. He was a person given to prayer, very sociable, and often new young Waqifeen-e-Zindagi would sit in his company and gain much benefit. May Allah the Almighty elevate the ranks of the deceased and also make his children heirs to his prayers and virtues.

The third funeral is of respected Sayyida Qanita Begum Sahiba. She was from Odisha. She was the mother of our Waqf-e-Zindagi Dr. Tariq Ahmad Sahib who is currently in charge of Noor Hospital Qadian. She passed away on October 16. اِنَّا لِلّٰہِ وَاِنَّا اِلَیْہِ رَاجِعُوْنَ Surely to Allah we belong and to Him shall we return. She was very content, simple-natured, patient and grateful, kind to the poor, self-respecting, pious and sincere lady. She took great care of her children's higher education and good upbringing. Her husband was a government employee and had limited salary, but despite this he served his poor and needy relatives greatly, and in this regard the deceased Qanita Sahiba also had great cooperation with him. She never objected but always encouraged. May Allah the Almighty elevate the ranks of the deceased and may her virtues continue in her descendants as well.