In his Friday Sermon today Huzoor(aba) expressed his profound sense of gratitude at Allah's immense grace and favour at the safe and sound conclusion of the Jalsa Salana 2003.
Huzoor(aba) said the receipt of this Divine blessing was a consequence of adherence to the true teachings of Islam that we have acquired through the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) in this age. Referring to the Jama'at turning to Allah with sincere and fervent prayers and glorification of Allah (Hamd) and the election of his office of the fifth Khilafat, Huzoor(aba) said indeed Allah's blessings on us are innumerable and continual.
As regards thanksgiving Huzoor(aba) enjoined to follow the blessed model of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be on him) whose sense of gratitude to Allah was truly supreme and who would, despite the assurance of winning the pleasure of Allah, spend all his waking hours in glorification of Allah. Huzoor(aba) said to engage in Hamd, be it on a communal level or individual, brings about immense Divine grace. With reference to the writings of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) Huzoor(aba) said it is not humanly possible to encompass Divine grace and it is merely through Allah's favour that we have been taught ways and means to glorify Him. Citing other writings Huzoor(aba) said that the word Hamd denotes praise however when used for Allah it only connotes a sense of intense appreciation and that Surah Al Fatihah which is also known as Al Hamd is the most perfectly comprehensive prayer that no other prayer in the world can vie with and that Allah the Exalted begins the Holy Quran with glorification that is Hamd rather than thankfulness or praise.
With reference to the Holy Prophet's (peace and blessings be on him) adage that one who is not grateful to people is in essence not grateful to Allah, Huzoor(aba) expressed his thankfulness to all those who worked for the Jalsa. He particularly mentioned that the majority of Jalsa workers were youth who are born and bred in the West, yet their sense of sacrifice for the guests of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) was supreme. Huzoor(aba) mentioned each potentially variable aspect of the Jalsa, the weather, the logistics etc. the wrapping up and said that he felt a great sense of gratitude towards Allah that all the arrangements went smoothly and there was no sense of panic.
Huzoor(aba) said despite Allah's evident grace on the Jama'at he had a natural concern about the efficiency of the organisational matters and that he was indeed immensely grateful to Allah that all had gone well and that many had commented that most of the Jalsa arrangements this year were improved from the previous years. Huzoor(aba) once again expressed his gratitude to the workers who he said worked towards removing his concerns and said that he did not have words to express his gratefulness. Huzoor(aba) said the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be on him) has taught us that when one is shown a good turn and one responds by saying that may Allah reward you one has paid the dues for gratitude. Huzoor(aba) said the way both the hosts and the guests of the Jalsa brought peace of mind to him and had established high standards of sincerity and love for him, he prayed that may Allah bless their generations to come. Huzoor(aba) also expressed his thanks to MTA for their excellent services during the Jalsa.
Huzoor(aba) concluded on the prayer that may Allah always keep us among the sincere and may not a single person of the dear community of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) ever bring disregard to it.