In this Friday Sermon, Huzoor(aba) picked up the remainder of the on going subject of the "Conditions of Bai'at" (Initiation) from Germany's 28th Jalsa address. Huzoor(aba) began by elucidating Condition 7. It reads:
'That he shall entirely give up pride and vanity and shall pass all his life in lowliness, humbleness, cheerfulness, forbearance and meekness.'
Huzoor(aba) said having first displayed his arrogance, it was from the beginning that Satan chose to mislead mankind from becoming servants of the Gracious God, entrapping them, above all, in the ensnare of arrogance. Therefore Huzoor(aba) said one must never underestimate the misdeed of arrogance. Unless arrogance is replaced with humility it is very likely that it will make an onslaught and resurface. Citing two Quranic verses (17:38) and (31:19) Huzoor(aba) further expounded the iniquity of pride and arrogance and said that at times as a consequence of arrogance men mete out brutal treatment to their families while maintaining an amiable exterior to the outside world, their retribution manifests itself when the children, in particular the sons, grow up and take retaliatory actions. Similarly powerful nations subjugate and humiliate under-developed countries. Today this is the main cause of disorder in the world. These nations seem oblivious to the fact that their obliteration can take place when it is Allah's will to shatter arrogance.
Relating many ahadith to illustrate the perils of arrogance Huzoor(aba) said that on the Day of Judgment the furthest from the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be on him) would be the arrogant and those who brag and that one whose heart has even a particle of arrogance would not enter Paradise, he explained that arrogance is rejection of truth and to have a contemptuous attitude towards people. The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be on him) taught us that grandeur and greatness is the exclusive mantle of Allah and that those who try to, as if, seize it from Him shall be severely punished.
Huzoor(aba) said that the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) enjoins that on the Day of Judgment next to shirk (associating partners with Allah) there will be no other evil like arrogance. Huzoor(aba) further read extracts from the august writings of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) explaining ways and means to avoid the pitfall of arrogance, he stressed the need to be humble and said that the most excellent way to purify oneself was to shun all manner of arrogance, be it of knowledge, one's lineage, wealth etc. With reference to further ahadith and writings of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) Huzoor(aba) emphasised the need to replace arrogance with humility and meekness and to inculcate a state of lasting humbleness. Huzoor(aba) said that the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be on him) would pray to Allah to be in a continual state of meekness and to pass away from this world in a similar state.
Next Huzoor(aba) elucidated Condition 8 of the Bai'at. It reads:
'That he shall hold faith, the honour of faith, and the cause of Islam dearer to him than his life, wealth, honour, children and all other dear ones.'
Huzoor(aba) said this is a promise that we repeatedly make during our various gatherings of the Community and its significance is in the fact that one requires to continually work at and strive towards the objectives that one, who has taken the pledge of allegiance, aspires to.
Huzoor(aba) cited some Quranic verses, including: 'And who is better in faith than he who submits himself to Allah, and he is a doer of good, and follows the religion of Abraham, the upright? And Allah took Abraham for a special friend.' (4:125)
Huzoor(aba) said that this verse contains a synopsis of Islam and explained that Allah immensely rewards those who work in His cause, their wealth and their children are never wasted and the Lord Himself always recompenses one who expends one's life in His way. Hazur(aba) said the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be on him) enjoined that Islam equates to handing over one's entire being to Allah. The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) said that salvation does not necessitate spilling of blood or penance, only sacrifice of the self. This is what Islam is; to submit one's soul with absolute and complete willingness at the Divine threshold. This is the perfection of divine love and divine knowledge.
Huzoor(aba) prayed that may Allah enable us to put all this into practice.