In his Friday Sermon today Huzur gave a discourse on a range of exhortations of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) to the Community. The advices pertain to drawing attention towards the objective of forming the Community, the ensuing responsibilities of the members of the Community, the blessings resulting from attaining the said objectives and finally, the ultimate goal of the Community. Huzur said his purpose to present these today was to remind us of our responsibilities so that we may continue to ruminate and ponder over them to attain Divine nearness and Divine pleasure.
The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) said this age is of spiritual warfare. The battle with Satan is on -he wants to defeat Islam, however God has brought about the Ahmadiyya movement in order to vanquish Satan. Blessed are those who recognise this. Huzur said we are grateful that we are enabled, either through the insight of our elders or ourselves, to enter into this Community. He said the people are going to continue to enter into this Community to be part of that special group of people who are to fight the last battle with Satan. Huzur said in some countries of the world our Community faces persecution, however, in relation to the attainment of our objectives the sacrifices that are made are naught. Indeed, the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) told us that we will have to endure trials and tribulations. The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) said that his followers have to fight an incredible battle with ‘self’ as the world around them is hostile and openly curses them. However, the reward for their steadfastness lies with God.
Huzur said today such is the situation in some countries of the world and those who are making sacrifices amidst the persecution will have their reward with God. Opposition is mounting in Pakistan and in India there is a lot of persecution of the new converts. Since the new government came into power in Pakistan persecution [of Ahmadis] is considered a meritorious act, the government has given the mullah a free reign. There is no law and order in the country anyway and whatever passes for law and order is not available for the Ahmadis to seek help from. It is a blessing of God that each time our opponents hatch a large-scale scheme against us, their plans are rebounded on them by God. This is what we have been witnessing for quite a few years now. A large-scale scheme against us is in the making these days but God has created such a situation that they find they are in trouble themselves. Huzur reminded us that this is the last battle with Satan, we should strengthen our faiths, supplicate for steadfastness to God, demonstrate patience and fortitude and turn to Him.
Huzur said it worth remembering that in order to overcome the external Satan we have to conquer the internal satan as well. Our triumph will not be through worldly ways and means rather it will be through prayers and for this is it essential to tread the path of God’s pleasure which necessitates Jihad of the ‘self’.
The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) said egotistic tendencies are shirk (associating partners with God) and they shut hearts. One should ever engage in promoting the Unity of God and never disregard the intent with which one comes into bai’at [of the Promised Messiah]. He said God started this Community so that He would demonstrate taqwa (righteousness) and purity to the world.
Huzur added, today Muslim is killing Muslim in the name of God. The situation of the country that was acquired in the name of Islam so that religion may be established is such that people are killed there for professing their declaration of faith (Kalima) and today the world envisages Pakistan synonymous with persecution and barbarity. May God have mercy on our country. The Community made great sacrifices for the establishment of this country, each Pakistani Ahmadi should always be mindful of this. Today, if anyone can save the country from the storm of sin and depravation, it is the vessel which has been prepared by the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace). We are on board this vessel and have to make ourselves worthy of it. We should pray for the nation of Pakistan that may it come to its senses. These are the two significant responsibilities of Ahmadis, in particular Pakistani Ahmadis or the Ahmadis residing in places where the situation is bad.
Huzur said at times Ahmadis who are blessed with prosperity forget the objective of being an Ahmadi and are not mindful of the teachings of Islam, and are neglectful of many things, for example observance of Salat. Huzur said it is a sobering thought. May God not make even a single person among us a portrayal of the Quranic verse ‘…he is surely not of thy family; he is indeed a man of unrighteous conduct…’ (11:47). Huzur may Allah never ever make it so that anyone among those taking their bai’at fits this description. May we not presume and create our own measures of attaining the standards the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) expected from us, rather may we always strive to attain the standards set by our Imam.
The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) said none can attain salvation without adopting taqwa. All claims to piety are futile without adherence to high standards of obedience and practising sincere humility. He said if our Community really want to become a true Community they have to undergo a death-like state (annihilate the self), give precedence to God and always assess oneself and endeavour to reform oneself. Huzur said the endeavour to reform succeeds when there is an absence of inflexibility and a realisation that having joined the Community one’s objective is to present a pious model to the world and to purify oneself to seek the pleasure of God.
The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) said that each stranger who meets Ahmadis observes the way they carry themselves, their ethics and manners. If he does not find them to be fine, he stumbles because of the Ahmadi. Therefore it is essential to exemplify honesty and truth.
Huzur said this is summary of the objectives of our Community. The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) said God is preparing a community of the truthful. We should continually assess ourselves, this creates a realisation and insight to improve and then turns us to God because it is not possible to tread these paths without the grace of God. May Allah make it so that each one of us abides by taqwa. The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) said that it is the will of God to save man from the fire of sin and create a group of the righteous who would give precedence to faith over the world. Huzur prayed that may Allah make each one of us give precedence to faith over the world and truly belong to the group of the righteous and understand the basis of bai’at and never overlook the Divine commandments for egotistic reasons. Huzur prayed that may we be exemplary so that our generations also tread the right path and supplicate to God. May those who accept Ahmadiyyat through us pray for their benefactors. InshaAllah the Community is destined to grow and flourish, we have been witnessing for more than one hundred years that the hand of God’s mercy is upon us and each year hundreds of thousands of pious souls enter into the Community, may Allah grant steadfastness to the newcomers.
Huzur said he has said it a few times before that as we increase in numbers feelings of jealousy is also growing among our adversaries. Their mind-set and their wish is for the Community to be destroyed, however, God’s blessings on us are ever on the increase. May He continue to cover our short-comings with His grace and make every assault of the enemy unsuccessful. All our accomplishments are by virtue of the promise God gave the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) and this is why the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) always gave assurance to the Community. Ascendency will be given to us, InshaAllah, however, may we not be negligent in the hour of ascendency. May God enable each Ahmadi to fulfil their responsibilities, enable them to meet all the expectations of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace), save us from each of the evil about which the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) expressed concern and may we continue to be the recipients of his prayers.