After reciting the Tashahhud, Ta’wwuz, and Surah Al-Fatihah, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V (aba) stated: In this age, disorder and turmoil has spread everywhere and at every level; home, community, nations and international, in the world. Despite all the progress in this age of science, rationality and enlightenment, mankind is lost in darkness. Mankind has forgotten their Creator and Lord and in pursuit of this world, are heading towards the pit of destruction. Under such circumstances, one may understand, to an extent, why the non-Muslim world is lost in the allure of the worldly attractions. This is because their religion does not present a comprehensive and complete solution in terms of guiding them towards Allah the Exalted. However, one is amazed about the Muslims, who have a comprehensive and complete scripture in its original form, are also in the same boat. This is because, instead of listening to and hearkening to this Appointed One and the Prophet of God Almighty, which would have brought an end to all the disputes, the majority of Muslims have chosen to follow their misguided clerics, who are creating disorder in the name of religion. This is the reason why the Muslim world is being inflicted from all kinds of disorder. Their religious as well as worldly leaders are pushing them into darkness. Taking advantage of this situation, the foreign world, in particular the non-Muslim powers are supplying military hardware and assistance in order to cause the groups of Muslims to fight against each other to promote their own self-interest.
Thus, this is a source of great agony and should motivate us to pray for ordinary Muslims, while reflecting on our own conditions, if we have achieved the moral and religious status expected by the Promised Messiah (as). If our practical condition does not reflect that we have reformed after accepting the Promised Messiah (as), then we may fall into the category of those who are engulfed in disorder and turmoil. The Promised Messiah (as) has continuously and repeatedly guided his Jama’at as to what their state should be following the Bai’at [oath of initiation] and has given us practice advice about how to achieve this purpose. Now, I will present various extracts of the Promised Messiah (as), which draw our attention towards these matters. Therefore, we should listen to them attentively. Do not consider it sufficient since you have previously heard or read them numerous times before, because we forget even after having read or heard them. At one place, the Promised Messiah (as) states,
“It is necessary for our Jama’at to adopt righteousness in this time of disorder, wherein a gust of misguidance, ignorance and depravity is blowing from every direction. … Observing the slightest loss in worldly terms, they abandon religious aspects and the rights of God Almighty. …. They are overtaken by their personal sentiments at the slightest incidents… ., the hearts are void of faith and the practical state is not at all visible. This is the very reason God Almighty has raised me so that I may once again develop these aspects. … God did not at all desire for this field to remain baron and for people to remain distant [from Him]. … and for this very reason we preach that you may acquire a life of Taqwa (God-fearing righteousness).”
So to be a true Ahmadi, transforming our personal condition is a must. Only then will be able to fulfil our pledge of Bai’at. What is the truth of Islam and how can we obtain it? In relation to this, the Promised Messiah (as) states,
“Islam means to completely devote oneself to God Almighty and its essence is true and absolute obedience towards God. A Muslim is one, who devotes his entire being to God Almighty and desires to attain the pleasure of God Almighty without the desire of any reward.… Furthermore, all of the virtues and good deeds performed by him, should be performed with a sense of pleasure and delight.”
The Promised Messiah (as) states, “A true Muslim loves God Almighty by saying and believing that He is my Beloved, my Master, my Creator and Benefactor. For this reason, he places his head on His threshold. Even if a true Muslim is told that he will not receive any reward for these deeds; that there is no hell, no heaven, no comforts and no delights, he will still not at all be able to refrain from performing good deeds and loving God.” This is selfless love towards God Almighty, which the Promised Messiah (as) desires to establish; not for any reward, not for the fear of hell and not in order to attain heaven, rather, one should have pure love for love for God Almighty. One should love God Almighty, even if nothing is received. Therefore, when one utilises his God-given abilities for these objectives and purposes, one witnesses the countenance of His True Beloved.
Describing his state of being engulfed in the love of God Almighty the Promised Messiah (as) states, “… Thus, in order to become a true believer, it is necessary to develop such a nature where the love and obedience to God is not based on hope and fear of some reward or punishment. Rather, it should be an innate part of his character. Then this love will itself form a paradise, and this in reality is the true paradise, otherwise none can enter heaven until he adopts this way. This is why I say to you i.e. those who associate yourselves with me to tread this path as it is the true path to paradise.”
Therefore, the Promised Messiah (as) himself raised the question as to whether obedience is an easy matter. He states: “One who does not obey fully brings the name of this Community to disrepute. There isn’t just one commandment, there are numerous such commandments. Just as there are several doors to heaven where one enters through one door and another enters through another, there are also several doors to hell. It should not be the case that you close off one door whilst leaving another open.”
The Promised Messiah (as) then states “Bear in mind that by merely enrolling one’s name does not enter someone into the Jama’at, Community. … Love one another, do not usurp the rights of one another, and become completely absorbed in the way of Allah so that He may shower blessings upon you. Outside of this there is nothing.”
. The Promised Messiah (as) states that the practical example of this is like when one merely utters ‘sweets’ and ‘sugar but it cannot fill one’s mouth a sweet taste until sweet food is not actually consumed. Similarly, to merely utter one’s love for God and declare His Oneness is of no benefit until and unless there is the practical aspect to it. The Promised Messiah (as) stated that our Community desires to please God Almighty, therefore give priority to the faith. If you too wish to please God, then give preference to your faith. Your first priority should be your faith. He warned us that if you possess no devotion and sincerity then you are false and, in such circumstances,, one will perish even before the enemy if he has no devotion. God Almighty cannot be misled or deceived, nor can anyone deceive Him. Therefore, it is necessary that you develop true devotion and sincerity in you…
The Promised Messiah (as) states that “the best trade is that of faith which will save you from the painful punishment. Hence, I too say in these words of God Almighty: ‘shall I point out to you a bargain that will save you from a painful punishment?’. …Those who desire to progress in their knowledge should read and ponder over the Holy Quran. Wherever he is unable to understand something he should ask. If he does not comprehend any meanings he should ask of others and benefit from doing so. The Holy Quran is a sea of knowledge and in the depths of this ocean are large precious pearls and priceless gems.”
On one occasion, while drawing the attention of the Jamaat towards Taqwa (God-fearing righteousness) , the Promised Messiah (as) states: “I have been commissioned in order to establish righteousness. The field of piety is deserted. Righteousness should be practiced instead of raising the sword. The whole world will support you if you practice Taqwa (God-fearing righteousness). Therefore, attain righteousness.”
On one occasion whilst directing our attention towards increasing one’s spirituality, and increasing one’s religious knowledge, the Promised Messiah (as) stated: “ A disciple cannot attain any benefit by merely saying: ‘I have a connection with my mentor’. Until he acts upon that which he is taught.” To say that ‘we have taken the oath of allegiance, we have become Ahmadis’ or that ‘we are born Ahmadis’ will not amount to any benefit until you obtain the knowledge yourself. There will be no benefit of being a born Ahmadi or otherwise if you do not increase your religious knowledge. The Promised Messiah (as) says: “Why will there be any strength in your conviction and divine insight if you do not increase your knowledge? You will counter feelings of doubtfulness and suspicion over petty matters which might result into shaking your foundation.”
Hence, as the Promised Messiah (as) has advised us to contemplate and ponder over the Holy Qur’an, similarly we should also focus our attention to reading his books and increase our religious knowledge. In the manner, we should also endeavor to establish a relation with Khilafat. In this regard, we should form a connection with the Khalifa of the time through the blessing of MTA and should attain benefit from all his programmes. This is a great resource and every Ahmadi should seek benefit from it.
Whilst directing our attention to express mutual love and affection towards one another and understanding each other’s suffering and fulfilling due rights, the Promised Messiah (as) states: “Hence, it should be a practise of ours that we assist our weaker brethren and become a support for them. What a great calamity it would be that if there are two brothers, one from among them knows how to swim, but the other brother does not, would it not be the responsibility of the former to save his brother from drowning, or would he let him drown? It is incumbent upon him to save him from death. That is why the following has been mentioned in the Holy Qur’an: And help one another in righteousness and piety”
The Promised Messiah (as) then says: “No community can be deemed one community until the stronger ones support the weaker ones. This can only take place when one covers the faults of others. Instead of disclosing the faults of others you should look to conceal their shortcomings. …, it is vital for elders to treat their youngers [brethren] with respect and show them kindness. Remember, a Jamaat cannot be deemed as one if they consume one another; [i.e.] if four friends sit down together, one of them complains about a brother who is poor.” It is not possible for one to consume another. Here the word ‘consumed’ is used in the context mentioned by God Almighty where he has stated that stealing and speaking ill of your fellow brethren is akin to eating the flesh of your dead brother. Thus, do not look at the weaknesses of others and instead focus on their positive traits.
The Promised Messiah (as) says: “A community cannot be deemed as one community which consume each other and when four people sit down together, they complain about their poorer brother, and they point towards his shortcomings and highlight them, then also look down upon poorer and weaker members of the community with disdain and dislike. Rather, strength lies in unity and becoming one, which increases mutual love and blessings.”
The Promised Messiah (as) says: “One should not severely scold the other over trivial matters, which become a source of causing the other grief or can be disheartening for them.” Further elaborating on brotherhood and compassion, the Promised Messiah (as) advises us by saying: “Our community cannot flourish until we truly have compassion for each other.” If we wish to progress and thrive then we must show each other true compassion. We should use all our capacities and love those who are weaker. Whosoever has the strength should harbour love for those who are weaker. The Promised Messiah (as) says: “I often hear that an individual saw another person stumble and rather than extending him courtesy, that person looks at him with abhorrence and disgust. However, he should have prayed for that individual, then through love and compassion he should explained to him the issue politely. However, instead of this they increase in their malice. If one does not demonstrate forgiveness and show compassion, the matter will only worsen, and the consequences will be grave.”
The Promised Messiah (as) says: “I have great expectations from God Almighty as He has promised: That is, I will place those who follow thee above those who disbelieve, until the Day of Resurrection. …. These are days of weakness and they grant the opportunity to each and every one to bring about a reformation in themselves and improve their condition. To lament one another, hurt one’s feelings, to injure one’s sentiments by use of harsh language and to consider the weak and humble as lowly people is a sin. …. Thus, it is the duty of the poor to respect their honourable brothers, and it is the duty of the rich to help the poor and not consider them lowly and despicable. That is because they are brothers with one another, even though their fathers are not the same but ultimately the spiritual father is the same for all and they are the branches of the same tree.”
For our reformation, the Promised Messiah (as) has exhorted us to read the book, Noah’s Ark, and has repeatedly urged us to read it. The Promised Messiah (as) states: “I have told my Community on numerous occasions to not to merely rely on their Bai’at [oath of initiation] with me. Until you do not reach the depth of its essence you cannot attain salvation. One who simply relies on the exterior aspects is bereft of the essence”. If we will not follow the teachings of the Promised Messiah (as), we certainly will not derive any benefit from these teachings. The Promised Messiah (as) states: “You should regularly study [the book], Noah’s Ark and act according to it. Verily, he truly prospers who purifies himself. (87:15). There are thousands who are guilty of committing theft, adultery, immorality, drinking alcohol and lead an evil life and yet they claim to be from among the followers of the Holy Prophet (sa), but can they truly be considered as followers? Certainly not. A true follower is one who adheres to the teachings of the Holy Prophet (sa).”
Reciting the book, Noah’s Ark to the members of the Jama’at and urging them to read this book, the Promised Messiah (as) states: “In Noah’s Ark I have presented my teachings and it is essential for everyone to be aware of them, even if it be that every city’s Jama'at organises a Jalsa and read this out to them. … in this way it will not only propagate the message but also establish unity amongst the Jama'at which we seek to instil in them.” Therefore, while arrangements should be made to read this out in the Jama'ats, there should also be arrangements for it to be read out on MTA. Everyone should make this a part of their lives. One should read this themselves as well and make an effort to adhere to it.
In regard to saving oneself from sins and outlining the qualities of a true Ahmadi, the Promised Messiah (as) states: “Your duty now is to occupy yourself in supplication, Istighfar [seeking forgiveness], worshipping the Almighty and the purification of one’s inner self … Save yourself from every kind of malice, grudge, backbiting, arrogance, vanity, the overt and hidden forms of impiety, indolence and negligence. Remember, ultimately it is the righteous who are granted success just as God Almighty states: and the end is for the God-fearing. Therefore, one should greatly reflect upon trying to become righteous, for ultimately the end is for those who are righteous.”
May God Almighty enable us to become true Ahmadis and follow the teachings of the Promised Messiah (as). May we fulfil the due rights of God Almighty and attain His pleasure. May we become those who bring about a reform in our practical condition and pay attention towards increasing our religious knowledge and also fulfil the rights of fellow mankind.
As I have alluded to before that during these days in particular pray for the condition in Pakistan and those residing in Pakistan should also pray a lot for themselves. May God Almighty protect them from every form of evil. You should also pray for the world in general as well as they are rapidly heading towards war. Both Russia and USA are busy in preparations and in reality, they both want to establish their superiority but the excuse given is that they wish to protect the rights of those being oppressed. In fact, in the guise of seeking to restore the rights of the oppressed which also consists of Muslim countries they want to destroy the Muslim countries. Therefore, may God Almighty guide the Muslims. May God Almighty also destroy those terrorist organisations who are committing atrocities in the name of Islam and may He guide both parties. Above all, may He enable them to recognise the Imam of the age because without this there is no other way for them to be saved. May God Almighty guide them and may the Muslims instead of being a part of this oppression they propagate love, affection and brotherhood according to the true teachings of Islam and fulfil the due rights of God Almighty.