In today’s Friday Sermon Huzur initially explained about the Divine attribute of Al Rafiq and said that it connotes one who is gentle and kind, a friend, companion. According to lexicon it also means one who does not incur a loss in fact one who brings a benefit, a sympathiser and one who does everything without any crookedness. The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) was first given an insight into this Divine attribute in 1903, when during the time of the endemic bubonic plague, through a revelation he was taught to recite ‘Ya Hafizo Ya Azizo Ya Rafiq’ as a safeguard against the plague. Al Aziz (the Mighty) and Hafiz (the Protector) are two other Divine attributes.
Huzur said in general terms people derive benefit from the Divine attribute of Rafiq and then there are servants of God who turn to Him with pure sincerity and consider Him Rafiq e Ala (the Most High Friend) among whom the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) was the most excellent model who called onto Allah in these words as his soul departed from this world thus setting us an example to focus on the Most High Friend rather than this world.
Huzur said the activity of the opponents of Islam is gathering pace these days and we have only one Rafiq to turn to with Whose help we can contend with them. Huzur said the enemy of Islam something lowly planned for today – Geert Wilder, the anti-Islam Dutch politician has made a film which he planned to release today but it was shown on a minor TV channel yesterday and was also released on the Internet. Huzur said the major TV channels have so far refused to broadcast it, may Allah continue to give them sense to desist. Huzur said Wilder has raised objections over verse 5 of Surah Muhammad (47:5), this, Huzur added is not a new objection; rather it is an age-old objection against Islam. Huzur said the teaching of Islam is based on such kindness and awareness of the feelings of others that it was necessary to explain and spell out the other side of the teaching as well. Islamic teaching is not too harsh neither too lenient. Huzur said those who follow the ‘lenient’ teaching in religion are the one who exhibit the most vengeful features, like Wilder.
Huzur said he wished to draw the attention of Ahmadis to something most significant and that was saying of durud (invoking salutations and blessings on the Prophet). Huzur said Ahmadis are very regular in saying durud and seek beneficence from it. Also Huzur had included it in the Khilafat Centenary Prayer programme, yet Huzur wished to draw attention towards it today. Further explaining the blessings of durud through the writings of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) Huzur said we should read it these days with profusion in context of the enemy, in their presumption, trying to discredit the Holy prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him). While the enemy will meet nothing but disgrace we, as a Community should focus on saying the durud. When we will collectively say the durud it will number in its millions. We should turn to Allah and seek His help to enable us to take the teachings of Islam to the world in a most splendid manner.
Huzur said we wish to make it clear that we do not believe in taking the law in our own hands, however, we believe in the Omnipotent God Who has power over everything, therefore fear God and change your attitude. While trying to imbibe in the Divine attributes we say to you to change. This is our last attempt, we now leave the matter with Allah.
Huzur went on to elucidate the beautiful teachings of Islam with reference to the false objections raised by Wilder and his ilk. Huzur explained the subject by citing verses 41 – 44 of Surah Al Shura (42:41).
Huzur also read many extracts from the writings of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) which expound the noble and blessed model of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) and also illustrate the teaching of the Holy Qur’an.
Huzur said those who are familiar with the Holy Qur’an are fully aware of the beauty of its teachings, however, the enemy finds objections. When the above Quranic verses are applied to the current time it is to inferred that in order to seek recompense one takes the help of the law.
Huzur elucidated the attributes of the kind and the compassionate blessed model of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) through Quranic verses (26:4) and (21:108) and explained them further by the expositions of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) with reference to the blessed model of the Prophet. Huzur also cited several Ahadith to relate the temperament of the Prophet that was simply an embodiment of compassion and kindness.
Huzur prayed that may Allah enable the world to see the truth with a fair mind and may He accept our invocation of durud so that we may see the light of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) illumine every corner of the earth and each enemy who tramples on the requisites of justice be disgraced.
Next Huzur gave the sad news of a martyr in the Peshawar, Pakistan area. A Dr. Muhammad Sarwer Khan sahib was martyred on 19th March by some unknown men when he answered a knock on his door. He was the only Ahmadi in the area and despite previous attacks did not move. He leaves behind six daughters and three sons, may Allah grant them steadfastness and may Allah elevate the status of the deceased in Paradise. Huzur announced that he would lead the funeral prayer in absentia after Jummah.