Today's Friday sermon was delivered by Khalifatul Masih V (May Allah be his Helper) from Baitul Futuh Mosque, London. After Tashahud and Surah Fatiha Huzoor (May Allah be his Helper) said that at this time I am going to mention certain points with reference to Hazrat Musleh Maud ( May Allah be please with him) and each reference individually has its importance. All the references contain point of guidance and advice in it. In these references certain things are mentioned with reference to the Promised Messiah (peace be on him) also.
The first reference in relation to this is preaching. Huzoor (May Allah be his Helper) said after partition Hazrat Musleh Maud (may Allah be pleased with him) sent a message on the occasion of Jalsa Salana Qadian in which he draw attention of the community towards preaching. He said that it is your duty to do preaching and propagate Islam Ahmadiyyat. Hazrat Musleh Maud (may Allah be pleased with him) said though Allah Almighty has informed the Promised Messiah (peace be on him) in revelation that until the day this world ends I shall keep your name exalted and keep it there with honor and establish with honor your preaching, and your message will be conveyed to the ends of the world. Allah Almighty conveyed the message of the Promised Messiah (peace be on him) and exalted his name and his honor. Huzoor (May Allah be his Helper) said yes it is a promise and He has fulfilling His promise and will keep doing so. But along with that Promised Messiah (peace be on him) put the responsibility of preaching on the shoulders of the members of his community as companions of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) were preaching. Promised Messiah (peace be on him) asked his followers to increase their knowledge by studying his writings and then convey his message to the corner of the world as the companions of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) did. Anyway in order to get maximum benefits and blessings from the promises of Allah Almighty one has to put one's efforts. Although the promises are there but Allah Almighty in order to fulfill those promises put the responsibility on the shoulders of those who made covenant with the prophet of Allah. So that they can take part excessively in the advancement and get the blessings of Allah Almighty abundantly. When it so happens then the Allah Almighty according to His promises adds His blessings to all their deeds and also provides them with new inventions for the preaching and propagation and we see that Allah Almighty has opened many new avenues of preaching for us.
Huzoor (May Allah be his Helper) said, anyhow here I am going to mention that portion of the message which was regarding preaching and was sent to Qadian. Hazrat Musleh Muad (may Allah be pleased with him) in his message drew the attention of the people left behind in Qadian and reminded the Darveshes that though they are few and resources of the Juma'at there are feeble, he said yet it is your prime responsibility to spread the message of the Promised Messiah (peace be on him). He mentioned this to Darveshes that though you are only 313 but remember when Promised Messiah (peace be on him) started this Jama'at there were only two or three people in Qadian. 300 people are definitely more than 3. At the time of proclamation of Promised Messiah the total population of Qadian was 1100. The ratio of 1100 versus 3 was 1 to 366. Hazat Musleh Maud (may Allah be pleased with him) said that if at this time (in 1947) the total population of Qadian is considered 12000 then the ratio with total population is 1 to 36. While before it was 1 to 366. Since the inception of the Juma'at your strength has increased 10 times. And when Promised Messiah (peace be on him) started the Jama'at there was no other Jama'at outside Qadian. Now there are many other Jama'at all over India. Now it is your responsibility to wake them, organize them, set them upright with a new zeal, and muster their strengths with the intention so that they will spread the message of Islam Ahmadiyyat all around the India. Huzoor (May Allah be his Helper) says that if Ahmadis are in thousand in Qadian then most probably the ratio would be same as before because if Ahmadi population has increased then the others population would have increased at the same ratio in Qadian. But our resources have now gotten better than before and we have better contacts now. By the grace of Allah Almighty now the name of the Jama'at is spreading through many means and channels. But the workforce, the life devotes, missionaries and others who are part of spreading the message should individually increase their efforts to spread the message. In spreading the message one may get beaten, may see an opposition and hardship, despite of that we have to spread the message with wisdom and patience, insha'Allah.
Jama'at in other countries of the world should keep these things before them also that Allah Almighty has instructed us to spread the message. Same is the commandment of the Holy Quran and Promised Messiah (peace be on him) has also said that same commandment was given to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). But for this we must plan well in all the countries and everywhere. And then the biggest task is to take care of the new converts who enter in the fold of Islam Ahmadiyyat. In certain areas message is spread nicely and the people enter in the Jama'at also but then they are not taken care of and so we lose them. In India mostly villagers and poor people accept Ahmadiyyat but when the opponents attack them then the people with weak faith turn back. Huzoor (May Allah be his Helper) says that at such places if our organizers, planners and workers adapt the same wisdom of their planning for taking care of new converts as they do in preaching then results would be different. By the grace of Allah they are doing a good job. Other than that department of Islah-o-Irshad and department of Noorul Islam who are preaching through different ways, through telephones, news papers, and through other means they are preaching. Similarly through Waqf-e-Jadid the message is being spread. All these departments and other auxiliaries of the Jama'at should reach out to all those areas where new converts are being harassed by the opponents even if it a very small village they should reach there. Similarly in Africa members and missionaries should improve their connection with new converts. And to know the local people do better planning. Because, as I mentioned in my Dars or sermon that the opponents reach the new converts immediately to see how to create hatred for the Jama'at. Anyhow this is what is needed to be done in those areas where more people are converted to Ahmadiyyat and in the poor areas also.
Hazrat Musleh Maud (may Allah be pleased with him) mentions another incident which is about Khawaja Kamaluddin sahib who accepted the Promised Messiah (peace be on him) but at the time of election of 2nd Khalifa he became under trial and became the leader of those who refused Khilafat. Anyhow, he was looking for leadership which he got by dissociation from Khilafat. Hazrat Musleh Maud (may Allah be pleased with him) described how Khawaja Kamaluddin sahib increased his knowledge and what was the secret of his learned lectures. Hazrat Musleh Maud (may Allah be pleased with him) said that the main reason for the success of Khawaja Kamaludding sahib's was that he was preparing lectures from the books of Promised Messiah (peace be on him) and then he would come to Qadian and consult with Hazrat Khalifatul Masih I ( May Allah be pleased with him) and other learned companions of Promised Messiah (peace be on him) and then finalizing his lecture. Then he would go to different cities of India and deliver lecture successfully. Hazrat Musleh Maud (may Allah be pleased with him) said that Khawaja Kamalduddin sahib used to say that if one have prepared 12 lectures then he could have unparallel fame. Hazrat Musleh Maud (may Allah be pleased with him) said that he had prepared 7 lectures only when he left for England. And with those 7 lectures he already had gotten enough fame.
Hazrat Musleh Maud (may Allah be pleased with him) said that I believe that if only one lecture is prepared nicely, since it is well memorized so it will have good effect on the people. But the first thing is to study books of Promised Messiah (peace be on him) then understand them and then prepare lecture from them. Hazrat Musleh Maud (may Allah be pleased with him) further explains that in olden days there were different teacher for different parts of the language. There were different teacher for "Sarf", "Nahaw", "Kachi Rooti", and "Paki Rooti".
Huzoor (May Allah be his Helper) says that the world has advanced and the old time has come back because again in sciences specialization are done. Hazrat Musleh Maud (may Allah be pleased with him) said that it should be like that, those who are lecturers their lectures should be prepared nicely and to the point. And they deliver those lectures when they go out. He said the benefit of that will be that the lecture will be according to the teachings of the Jama'at and while sitting here we will know what is being conveyed to the people. Those should be the actual lectures but if needed then locally some lectures may be prepared according to local needs. Hence this guiding principle is for missionaries and the preachers also. And for those also who attend knowledge based meetings. It can impress the learned professors, so called religious scholars, and those who raise objection on religion if lectures are prepared in this way.
Huzoor (May Allah be his Helper) said few days back there was a program here under the department of Tabligh in which a Jew scholar also attended. He studied in Israel and had written many books also. One of our young missionary delivered a well prepared lecture. The Jew professor was very impressed from his lecture. The Jew professor very cunningly talked in favor of Islam but argued against Islam also. Our missionary very nicely rebut his arguments. Huzoor (May Allah be his Helper) said that later on this Jew professor came to see him also and praised the young missionary and said that your young missionary was very intelligent. Huzoor (May Allah be his Helper) says that actually these people impress the non-Ahmadi scholars with their scholarly speeches and shut their mouth. Or the non-Ahmadis don't have any argument to rebut their arguments. But Jama'at Ahmadiyya by the grace of Almighty Allah has enough knowledge from the writings of the Promised Messiah (peace be on him) so an Ahmadi can shut anybody's mouth – nobody can stand in front of their arguments. Hence we must study the books of Promised Messiah (peace be on him) so that we increase our knowledge and improve in our spirituality also.
Huzoor (May Allah be his Helper) said that in olden days people were very zealous about preaching. Hazrat Musleh Maud (may Allah be pleased with him) said when I was young I started a magazine with the help of few of my friends. One among them was Chaudry Fateh Muhammad Sial sahib. His daughter was married to Chaudry Abdullah Khan sahib (Chaudry Abdullah Khan sahib was younger brother of Chaudry Zafarullah Khan sahib). His wife once told me that her father (Chaudry Fateh Muhmmad Sial) told her that when you made him Nazir Aala he used to show his dissatisfaction that he had dedicated his life for preaching and propagation but Hazoor had made him to sit in the office. From this one can get the message that those people were giving preference to preaching over the duties in the office. Hazrat Musleh Maud (may Allah be pleased with him) said that on the other hand some missionary write to him that the missionaries should have better value. Huzoor (May Allah be his Helper) says that some people write to me also to place them here in the central offices. He further says that some people complaint to me that members of the Jama'at do not respect them as they should. Huzoor (May Allah be his Helper) reminded members of all chapters of Jama'at that they should look after their missionaries and life devotes with much more respect. With that Huzoor (May Allah be his Helper) says that I would say that it is the responsibility of the missionaries and life devotes that they should strive for higher spiritual status by gaining knowledge so that nobody should be able to say anything against them. Sometimes administrative people talk against the missionaries; when a missionary want to correct the people they start complaining against him.
Huzoor (May Allah be his Helper) said that what is the secret of acceptance of prayers? For that Hazrat Musleh Maud (may Allah be pleased with him) said that Promised Messiah (peace be on him) came to show such miracles and to create such people through whose prayers establish big revolutions. Promised Messiah (peace be on him) said a prayer can do that what a whole world can't do (Persian couplet). But that does not mean that Allah Almighty accepts all prayers. The son of Promised Messiah (peace be on him) Sahibzada Mubarak Ahmad died, Maulvi Abdul Karim sahib died. He prayed for them but they died. It is also a sign that he was informed beforehand about Mirza Mubarak Ahmad and when something is announced before hand then it becomes a sign. Hence neither all the prayers are accepted nor all are rejected. Yes! When Allah Almighty decides to accept then nobody can stop it from acceptance.
Then talking about the acceptance of prayers and replying the objections of Paighamees Hazrat Musleh Maud (may Allah be pleased with him) said that the blessings of Allah Almighty which started with the Promised Messiah (peace be on him) their continuity is important. It is the right of Paighamees to say that it cannot continue through you [Hazrat Musleh Maud (may Allah be pleased with him)] but then it is necessary for them to produce a leader against me. And then say that through him these blessings manifest. And if Allah Almighty reveals the future to him and accept his prayers profusely then we will accept that we were wrong but the truth of Promised Messiah (peace be on him) was established. He said the Paighamees do not produce such allegations which blemish the Promised Messiah (peace be on him). On one hand you accept Promised Messiah (peace be on him) even if you accept him as Mujadid, he was truthful, he prophesized. Hazrat Musleh Maud (may Allah be pleased with him) said that if you don't want to accept me then produce a leader against me and prove that his prayers are accepted and if it is proved then we will accept that we were wrong. But if you say that the signs are not fulfilled then you are raising objection on the truthfulness of Promised Messiah (peace be on him). Hazrat Musleh Maud (may Allah be pleased with him) said, but these people don't want to listen to anything right, they just close the door.
There are few more things Promised Messiah (peace be on him) which Hazrat Musleh Maud (may Allah be pleased with him) talked about. One among them is a story about hunchback women. It is said that someone asked her that do you want your back to become straight or other people become hunchback. She replied that a long time has passed and I remain hunchback and people kept laughing and mocking at me. Now I am old what I will do with my straight back? It would be happy moment for me if all those who have been laughing and mocking at me should become hunchback and I also laugh and mock on them and enjoy. Hazrat Musleh Maud (may Allah be pleased with him) said that there are such envious people who has no interest in this that their pain should be relived rather they are more interested in seeing others in pain. Hence we should pray to be safe from such envy and such envious people also.
Huzoor (May Allah be his Helper) said then there is a story of blind man. Hazrat Musleh Maud (may Allah be pleased with him) said that Promised Messiah (peace be on him) told us story that there was a blind man who was talking to someone at night time and due to his talk another person was disturbed. He said to blind man, please go to sleep. The blind man replied that for me sleep is just to become quiet. Because my eyes are already close. Hazrat Musleh Maud (may Allah be pleased with him) said that believer's difficulties are not painful because he says that I am already used to such conditions. As the world wants to kill a believer he says that why do you kill me? I am already dead in the way of Allah. The world wants to kill the believer but he is not afraid of death because he says that I died on the day I accepted the Islam. The difference is only that before I was a walking dead and now if you burry me it would not make any difference to me. This is the state of real believer.
Huzoor (May Allah be his Helper) said then Hazrat Musleh Maud (may Allah be pleased with him) said that Promised Messiah (peace be on him) told another story where a woman attended a marriage party along with her sister in law. She was miserly person but her sister in law was good at spending money for gifts. Miserly woman gave only one Rupee as gift while her sister in law gave twenty Rupees. Later on when someone asked the miserly woman what gift she gave. She replied that me and my sister in law spent Rs.21 as gift. Hazrat Musleh Maud (may Allah be pleased with him) relate this story to explain the condition of members of some chapters regarding paying their chanda. He said that in some chapters there are some people whose chanda payments are large and to relate those large payments to the chapter is same as the story of miserly women. Further he said that in each chapters there are some rich people also who spend miserly and do not pay large sum of chanda but on the basis of others large payment they claim like this miserly women to show as if they also make large sacrifices.
Huzoor (May Allah be his Helper) said that once it so happened during playing the decorum of the Jama'at was not taken care of. On this Hazrat Musleh Maud (may Allah be pleased with him) admonished them and said that it is your right to enjoy, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) used do so, Promised Messiah (peace be on him) used to do so also. Hazrat Musleh Maud (may Allah be pleased with him) said that we also make jokes; we don't say that we don't make jokes; we joke hundreds of times. We make joke with our children, we make joke with our wives, we make joke with our close friends. But not to degrade or insult someone. If someone is hurt or feel degraded then it is not right kind of joke. He further said that if a degrading word is uttered by chance then we repent and do Istighfar. The same thing should be done by others also. If by mistake a degrading word is uttered or someone did not like the joke and was offended then we should repent and do Istighfar. He said that I like games, I like to see that you take part in games, laugh, and enjoy. But if you play with your father's beard, means you don't care for your fathers honor and respect then it is not right. He said keep status of God in His place, keep football game in its place, keep poetry in its place, and give right status to prophecies. Some people used prophecies in their lose talk which degrade the status of the prophecies which totally inappropriate. He said that if you like playing games and ridicule then go to Lahore go out of the center like Qadian and Rabwah to take part in that. Because if you go to Lahore and take part in these things then people will say that people of Lahore did this. But if you do one tenth of that in Qadian or Rabwah then people will say that Ahmadis did that. He said that I don't stop you from enjoyments and games but I warn you not to exceed in such a way that it brings bad name to the Juma'at.
Huzoor (May Allah be his Helper) said that now it is not only Qadian or Rabwah we arrange games everywhere, now if any such thing will happen in any chapter it will bring bad name the Juma'at. Hence we should be careful in all our events, that may be a games or other programs arranged by the Jama'at it should be evident from our demeanor that we will keep the honor of the Jama'at we will not let it down. Huzoor (May Allah be his Helper) said that all that I said has lessons in it and everybody must remember and adhere to it.