Back in Britain after his triumphant tour of West Africa Huzoor(aba) delivered his Friday Sermon today from Bait ul Futuh, London.
Huzoor(aba) began by reciting verse 22 of Surah Al Mujadilah (58:22), the translation reads:
“Allah has decreed: ‘Most surely I will prevail, I and My Messengers.’ Verily, Allah is Powerful, Mighty.”
Huzoor(aba) said from time immemorial Allah’s prophets have faced opposition but with Allah’s grace behind them they have always prevailed. This is the way of Allah that shall continue to be so for always. Twenty years ago when worldly prohibitions were put on Ahmadiyyat and the opponents hindered our way in one country, the seat of Khilafat moved to London and ways and means opened up for us in 175 countries worldwide! This was all in fulfilment of the Divine promise given to the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace). Huzoor(aba) said during the fourth Khilafat there was extraordinary expansion in terms of numbers within the Community and Allah had given Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IV rahma’ullah particular glad tiding of success in the continent of Africa. In view of all this, Huzoor(aba) said, he planned a tour of Africa. He visited Ghana, Burkina Faso, Benin and Nigeria. Huzoor(aba) said although MTA provided regular coverage of the tour, requests are being made for Huzoor(aba) to personally recount the tour.
Huzoor(aba) said certain feelings and emotions felt during the tour are impossible to be put in words and that it was the sheer grace of Allah that we witnessed them in our lifetime.
From the onset of arrival at Accra, Ghana, Huzoor(aba) said the reception was tremendous. There were numerous tours and mulaqats etc arranged by the Ghana Jama’at. Huzoor(aba) said he inaugurated two schools and a hospital the very next day of his arrival and visited Jamai Ahmadiyya, which has been re-built and is undergoing further expansion. Huzoor(aba) inaugurated two mosques. He said Ameer Sahib Ghana must have realised during this visit that all the spacious mosques are getting too small to accommodate the worshippers. Huzoor(aba) said he also met the President of Ghana and had a lengthy conversation with him. Huzoor(aba) said that the Ghana Jalsa proceedings were seen by all on MTA, however a spectacle that was not transmitted was when Huzoor(aba), after Jumma prayers, went to the Lajna section. That experience, Huzoor(aba) said, was most overwhelming in its fervour and sincerity and is impossible to express it in words.
Huzoor(aba) said he inaugurated 13 mosques in Ghana and laid the foundation stones for two. He inaugurated/laid the foundation stone for seven various buildings.
Huzoor(aba) said contrary to earlier plan they proceeded to Burkina Faso by road. Huzoor(aba) mentioned that once Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IV rahma’ullah had a dream that he travelled from Ghana to Burkina Faso by road. The official reception on entering Burkina Faso was great. After the Jalsa Huzoor(aba) toured the country. He laid the foundation stone for a school. He also met with the Prime Minister and the President of the country. Huzoor(aba) inaugurated three mosques and laid the foundation stones for schools and a Mission House and inaugurated a hospital at Ouagadougou. Huzoor(aba) particularly praised the achievements of an Ahmadiyya Radio Station in Burkina Faso.
Next stop was Benin where the reception was again on a governmental level. Huzoor(aba) said the last Friday prayers were said in a beautiful mosque in Cotonou. He laid the foundation stone for another large mosque. Huzoor(aba) related a few spiritually uplifting incidences that took place in Benin. He laid the foundation stone for a large hospital. At one point around 400 people arrived from far-flung areas and insisted that they wished to take the pledge of allegiance (bai’at) and after giving complete assurance that they were not rushing into bai’at they took their pledge on Huzur(aba)’s hand. Huzoor(aba) said their sincerity was palpable and it is only Allah’s grace that can bring about such transformation of hearts. Elsewhere, at a later stage, despite the ploys of mullahs to prevent them, people in excess of 3000/4000 came to a gathering and along with the local mayor a thousand joined the Community with absolute conviction of heart. Huzoor(aba) said the people of Benin are quietly spoken are not given to raising slogans but the sincerity of their faith is tangible.
Next stop was Nigeria where with the Jalsa having already taken place, 30.000 Ahmadis still gathered to see Huzoor(aba) for an event that was to last for only two hours! The Ameer Sahib Nigeria had arranged a busy schedule. Three mosques were inaugurated and foundation stones were laid for various buildings. Huzoor(aba) said the sincerity and devotion of the Nigerian Ahmadis was tremendous and that only God can place such earnestness in hearts.
Huzoor(aba) said the transmissions on MTA covering the tour had shown the obvious and manifest sincerity and dedication of the African Ahmadis and that it was a suitable rejoinder to the mis-information spread by the mullah about the Community in Africa.
Next Huzoor(aba) announced a milestone achievement in the transmissions of MTA from next week in that two separate channels shall be catering to the audience in Asia and Europe during certain hours of the day.
Huzoor(aba) read out an excerpt of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) declaring that he was a messenger of God who had come without a new law and that the connotation of the Quranic verse (recited by Huzoor(aba) in the beginning) would fulfil for him just as it had fulfilled for messengers of Allah before him.