Next Hazrat Khalifatul Masih said he would also like to draw
attention to a matter which has caused anxiety for every true
believer, that is, the pitiful condition of Muslim countries such
as Syria, Pakistan, Egypt and Libya.
The Revelation
The concern of the Promised Messiah AS
His objective
Unity and Love
A True Believer
Taqwa and Purity
Peace in God
Prayer
7 February 2014
****However, these days we observe that the standard is not the
same. Therefore it is greatly significant when Hazrat Khalifatul
Masih says that missionaries and office-holders should implement
matters in their own lives and then tell the Jamaat about them.
There is great need to ponder over the word implementation and to
present good role-models, then alone will words of reformation have
true impact.Last Friday sermon dealt with instilling strength of
resolve and removing lack of knowledge. The third aspect, that is,
the way to remove weakness in implementing matters or how to
enhance capacity in implementing matters was not dealt with. This
was expounded today. As explained earlier, external remedy or help
and outside support is needed for this third aspect. The outside
support needed is of two kinds: supervision and compulsion.
Supervision is when someone is overseen at all times so that they
do not commit something foul. This goes on in worldly matters as
well. Parents supervise children at home; teachers also play the
role of supervising students alongside teaching them. Sometimes
governmental employees watch over people and also let people know
that they will be watching over. Signposted speed cameras are a way
of watching over. Families of children who are ill-treated by
parents are watched over and supervised and their parents are
warned by childrens welfare organisations that if their treatment
worsens the children would be taken away from the family. This is
very common in the developed world and in the opinion of Hazrat
Khalifatul Masih this supervision is carried out to an unfair
degree as a result of which parents are scared to even discipline
the children in a fair manner. Sometimes this results in children
getting spoiled. At times supervision can be harmful in worldly
matters. Situations where there are conflicts between husband and
wife are supervised, prisoners are watched over. The objective of
all this is to stop them from what they do which creates disorder
or to reform them. Supervision is a source of reformation in all
societal rules and regulations and religion also draws attention to
supervision for reformation of practice. Societal supervision
protects from all sorts of wrong things, parents supervise in their
own sphere, missionaries supervise in their own sphere and it is
important for the rest of the administrative system of the Jamaat
to supervise. When this supervision is done in light of the Islamic
teaching that each individual who supervises will be held
accountable for his supervision, the supervisor is also reformed in
the process!
**However, these days we observe that the standard is not the
same. Therefore it is greatly significant when Hazrat Khalifatul
Masih says that missionaries and office-holders should implement
matters in their own lives and then tell the Jamaat about them.
There is great need to ponder over the word implementation and to
present good role-models, then alone will words of reformation have
true impact.Last Friday sermon dealt with instilling strength of
resolve and removing lack of knowledge. The third aspect, that is,
the way to remove weakness in implementing matters or how to
enhance capacity in implementing matters was not dealt with. This
was expounded today. As explained earlier, external remedy or help
and outside support is needed for this third aspect. The outside
support needed is of two kinds: supervision and compulsion.
Supervision is when someone is overseen at all times so that they
do not commit something foul. This goes on in worldly matters as
well. Parents supervise children at home; teachers also play the
role of supervising students alongside teaching them. Sometimes
governmental employees watch over people and also let people know
that they will be watching over. Signposted speed cameras are a way
of watching over. Families of children who are ill-treated by
parents are watched over and supervised and their parents are
warned by childrens welfare organisations that if their treatment
worsens the children would be taken away from the family. This is
very common in the developed world and in the opinion of Hazrat
Khalifatul Masih this supervision is carried out to an unfair
degree as a result of which parents are scared to even discipline
the children in a fair manner. Sometimes this results in children
getting spoiled. At times supervision can be harmful in worldly
matters. Situations where there are conflicts between husband and
wife are supervised, prisoners are watched over. The objective of
all this is to stop them from what they do which creates disorder
or to reform them. Supervision is a source of reformation in all
societal rules and regulations and religion also draws attention to
supervision for reformation of practice. Societal supervision
protects from all sorts of wrong things, parents supervise in their
own sphere, missionaries supervise in their own sphere and it is
important for the rest of the administrative system of the Jamaat
to supervise. When this supervision is done in light of the Islamic
teaching that each individual who supervises will be held
accountable for his supervision, the supervisor is also reformed in
the process!
**Supervision is a source of reformation in all societal rules
and regulations and religion also draws attention to supervision
for reformation of practice. Societal supervision protects from all
sorts of wrong things, parents supervise in their own sphere,
missionaries supervise in their own sphere and it is important for
the rest of the administrative system of the Jamaat to supervise.
When this supervision is done in light of the Islamic teaching that
each individual who supervises will be held accountable for his
supervision, the supervisor is also reformed in the process!
****The second necessary matter for reformation is compulsion.
Some may think that while there is no compulsion in matters of
faith, here compulsion is being recommended for reformation. It
should be clear that there should be no compulsion in accepting or
giving up faith. In Islam one has the freddom to accept faith or
give it up. But there is compulsion once one associates with faith
and then breaks its rules and regulations. Discipline is a
necessary recourse if this happens and this is what compulsion
signifies here. If one wishes to live as part of a system then its
teachings have to be followed, otherwise one may be disciplined,
fined etc. for reformation purposes and to remove weakness in
capacity to implement matters. The Nizam (administrative
system/structure) of the Jamaat also disciplines and this is for
done for reformation and not to needlessly slight anyone.
Governments too take the same route by imprisoning people or fining
them. The purpose is to maintain societal peace. Sometimes those
who harm themselves are also punished and different means of
reformation are used during the punishment. Capital punishment is
given for murder. Societal peace can be destroyed if murderers are
not punished and many more murderers may be created. By taking the
life of those who kill, many are reformed. This is one form of
compulsion that is practised in the world as a means of
reformation. There is no connection between the compulsion of
worldly punishments with faith but those who associate themselves
with faith are punished according to the religious system or are
punished in some other manner, are fined, or restrictions are
placed on them. The Jamaat sometimes imposes the restriction of
paying chanda on individuals. Doubtlessly compulsion is used to
stop people from doing things. However, when these matters lead to
good works or an individual follows them to be saved from
punishment or to avoid displeasure of the Khalifa of the time or to
avoid displeasure of God, then gradually faith is instilled and
ultimately enhanced.
**It should be remembered that different means have to be used
for inculcating doing of good works and utilising these means is
extremely important. These means are, instilling faith, instilling
correct knowledge and to supervise and use compulsion. Reformation
is difficult without these four aspects. **If we look deeply we
find out that there is a section of people in the world which does
not have the level of strength of faith required for reformation.
If strength of faith is instilled in such people their practices
are corrected. Then there is a section of people which is embroiled
in sin due to lack of knowledge and it needs correct knowledge. Yet
another section of people is dependent on others for good works.
Help is given to them in two ways, with supervision, as just
explained earlier, or there is a section which is very low down the
scale and is not deterred even with supervision. Unless punished,
this section of people cannot be reformed. It is also important to
adopt these four ways for reformation within the Jamaat. It is
important to remember that at a time when religion has neither
governance nor power, these four remedies are necessary.
**If we look deeply we find out that there is a section of
people in the world which does not have the level of strength of
faith required for reformation. If strength of faith is instilled
in such people their practices are corrected. Then there is a
section of people which is embroiled in sin due to lack of
knowledge and it needs correct knowledge. Yet another section of
people is dependent on others for good works. Help is given to them
in two ways, with supervision, as just explained earlier, or there
is a section which is very low down the scale and is not deterred
even with supervision. Unless punished, this section of people
cannot be reformed. It is also important to adopt these four ways
for reformation within the Jamaat. It is important to remember that
at a time when religion has neither governance nor power, these
four remedies are necessary.
**It was explained in last Friday sermon that firstly it is
necessary to morally train to instil strength of faith. For this
purpose signs of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace), his
revelations, his connection with God and the spiritual revolution
of his followers should be related. In this age when Satan is
attacking most forcefully, it is important to repeatedly relate the
ways to attain love of God and also relate how when His love is
attained, Gods loving treatment is dispensed and how the Promised
Messiah (on whom be peace) has expounded this to us. New Ahmadis of
different ethnic backgrounds, especially Africans and Arabs, write
in their experiences of reading books of the Promised Messiah (on
whom be peace) which enhance their faith, how his books remove
their misconceptions of creed and enhance their knowledge in terms
of creed and open up new avenues of faith. This strength of faith
is instilled in them by observing the signs of the Promised Messiah
(on whom be peace) understanding the reality of his revelations and
understanding his connection with God.
**Hazrat Musleh Maud (may Allah be pleased with him) thus
explained the significance of the signs, revelations, and
connection with God of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace)
which would make the rays of faith in our heart brighter still:
Hazrat Isa (on whom be peace) can very well be alive in heaven. His
being alive in heaven is not as harmful as it is harmful for the
existence of God Almighty being dead in our hearts. What good is it
when you continue to lay emphasis on death of Hazrat Isa (on whom
be peace) while you are killing God Almighty in peoples hearts and
are not attempting to make Him Living! Indeed, God is Living,
Self-Subsisting and All-Sustaining and death does not overcome Him,
but as regards some people He does cease to be. Hazrat Musleh Maud
(may Allah be pleased with him) also wrote with reference to Hazrat
Khalifatul Masih I (may Allah be pleased with him) that one of his
teachers who hailed from Bhopal (a city in India) said that he once
had a dream in which saw a leper sitting on a bridge outside
Bhopal. The leper is also blind and his nose is cut off and his
fingers have withered off and his entire body is full of pus and he
is covered in flies. The teacher feels revulsion and asks the leper
who he is. The leper replies that he is god. Terrified, the teacher
asks him how he could be! He says that all the Prophets in the
world have always taught that God is the Most Beautiful Being and
could we ardently love God Who has this form? The leper replies
that indeed the Prophets were right in what they said. He says he
is not the real God, but is the god of the people of Bhopal, that
is, he is considered thus by them, there is no importance of God in
their eyes. Indeed, God does not cease to be but when a person
forgets God, for him God ceases to be. Huzoor said he wished to
make it clear to the youngsters that they should not think that if
some people become like this, God adopt such a form and that is the
end of the matter. In fact the form in the dream is of those who
abandon God, it is like seeing oneself in the mirror. The dream
refers to spiritual lepers. God forbid, God did not cease to be and
abandon them.
**Hazrat Musleh Maud (may Allah be pleased with him) said: It is
strange that our religious scholars make efforts regarding death of
Hazrat Isa but do not try to bring God Almighty to life. They do
not generate the spirit which instils insight and perception of
Allah the Exalted. Our main effort should be to bring God to life
and to inculcate greater connection with Him. If we have a living
connection with God, then no matter how much noise is made by those
who consider that Hazrat Isa is alive, our faith will not be
corrupted because God will guide us every step of the way. There is
no doubt that it is very important to have knowledge of subjects
like death of Hazrat Isa (on whom be peace) and finality of
Prophethood and it is also important to stay firm on them with
proofs and reasoning. Yet, in practical terms, we have to instil a
connection with God and for this we have to adopt those ways and
means which the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) taught us. We
will have to remove any discrepancy in our word and deed, and while
taking the message to others, we should also self-reflect. Today
with the grace of God many youngsters are joining the institution
of Jamia, which prepares missionaries throughout the world,
especially in Pakistan. Many of these youngsters are Waqfe Nau. At
times it so happens that quantity effects quality and some do not
make the effort to attain the required spiritual levels and either
due to bad practices or lack of correct knowledge about the
sanctity of a missionary, indulge in bad practice and are removed
from Jamia. The future is about advancement of Ahmadiyyat and for
this a large number of missionaries need to train themselves. They
need to forge a connection with God from now onwards and make
efforts more than ever in this regard.
**Hazrat Musleh Maud (may Allah be pleased with him) said: It is
strange that our religious scholars make efforts regarding death of
Hazrat Isa but do not try to bring God Almighty to life. They do
not generate the spirit which instils insight and perception of
Allah the Exalted. Our main effort should be to bring God to life
and to inculcate greater connection with Him. If we have a living
connection with God, then no matter how much noise is made by those
who consider that Hazrat Isa is alive, our faith will not be
corrupted because God will guide us every step of the way. There is
no doubt that it is very important to have knowledge of subjects
like death of Hazrat Isa (on whom be peace) and finality of
Prophethood and it is also important to stay firm on them with
proofs and reasoning. Yet, in practical terms, we have to instil a
connection with God and for this we have to adopt those ways and
means which the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) taught us. We
will have to remove any discrepancy in our word and deed, and while
taking the message to others, we should also self-reflect. Today
with the grace of God many youngsters are joining the institution
of Jamia, which prepares missionaries throughout the world,
especially in Pakistan. Many of these youngsters are Waqfe Nau. At
times it so happens that quantity effects quality and some do not
make the effort to attain the required spiritual levels and either
due to bad practices or lack of correct knowledge about the
sanctity of a missionary, indulge in bad practice and are removed
from Jamia. The future is about advancement of Ahmadiyyat and for
this a large number of missionaries need to train themselves. They
need to forge a connection with God from now onwards and make
efforts more than ever in this regard.
**Muallameen and missionaries should note what efforts they have
made to instil faith in hearts. We should not be pleased by merely
impressing people through reasoning alone and making the Maulwi run
away. In fact we should illustrate existence of God to the world
through the living signs of God that we have and convince people
through the practical testimony of God that is with the Promised
Messiah (on whom be pace). However, the matter of their own
condition remains; their conditions should be in accordance with
pleasure of God so that they may fortify the Jamaats capacity to
implement matters. They should present these matters before
children, men and women again and again and tell them how the glory
of God is evident and how can Gods nearness and love be attained.
This would incline those youngsters to God who are currently
inclined towards the world and it will not be just a few
missionaries and scholars who would vanquish the non-Ahmadi
Maulwis, rather the role models of our youngsters, women and
children will attract the world!
**It is greatly needed to attach oneself to the Promised Messiah
(on whom be peace) and then completely obey Khilafat. This is what
will become a source of strength and spiritual development of the
Jamaat. Recognition of Khilafat and its correct awareness and
perception should be so instilled in the Jamaat that it should
happily accept every decision of the Khalifa of the time and have
no doubt about it. Inculcating correct insight and perception of
Khilafat is also an important task among the tasks of missionaries
and it is also the responsibility of office-holders to pay
attention to this. Some instances are brought up where people say
that Khalifa of the time has done this and that incorrect, has
given a wrong decision, or such and such decision should have been
this way. Objections are raised about the decisions of Qadha Board.
Or it is said why has so and so being given such and such task; the
Khalifa of the time has a lot of awareness about so and so but in
spite of having awareness about so and so he has closed his eyes.
There are only the odd few people who make such remarks but they
spoil the milieu. If missionaries and office-holders on each level,
those of the Jamaat and also of the auxiliary organisations,
understand this responsibility of theirs, the doubts that arise in
a few hearts, would not. It is especially the task of the
missionaries to make them understand that all blessings are in the
Nizam and when God wishes to curse a body of people He removes
Nizam from among them. When these facts will be known to all, those
who stumble will be saved. There are always some people, even if
they are a few, who think they are know-it-all and they sit here
and there and say what they say. [They say] Khalifa is not God, he
too can make mistakes like ordinary humans do. That is fine,
however, Hazrat Musleh Maud (may Allah be pleased with him) has
given an excellent response to this matter and if Khilafat is true
then this response is applicable on all time and place, that is, if
one accepts Khilafat as a blessing of God.
**It is greatly needed to attach oneself to the Promised Messiah
(on whom be peace) and then completely obey Khilafat. This is what
will become a source of strength and spiritual development of the
Jamaat. Recognition of Khilafat and its correct awareness and
perception should be so instilled in the Jamaat that it should
happily accept every decision of the Khalifa of the time and have
no doubt about it. Inculcating correct insight and perception of
Khilafat is also an important task among the tasks of missionaries
and it is also the responsibility of office-holders to pay
attention to this. Some instances are brought up where people say
that Khalifa of the time has done this and that incorrect, has
given a wrong decision, or such and such decision should have been
this way. Objections are raised about the decisions of Qadha Board.
Or it is said why has so and so being given such and such task; the
Khalifa of the time has a lot of awareness about so and so but in
spite of having awareness about so and so he has closed his eyes.
There are only the odd few people who make such remarks but they
spoil the milieu. If missionaries and office-holders on each level,
those of the Jamaat and also of the auxiliary organisations,
understand this responsibility of theirs, the doubts that arise in
a few hearts, would not. It is especially the task of the
missionaries to make them understand that all blessings are in the
Nizam and when God wishes to curse a body of people He removes
Nizam from among them. When these facts will be known to all, those
who stumble will be saved. There are always some people, even if
they are a few, who think they are know-it-all and they sit here
and there and say what they say. [They say] Khalifa is not God, he
too can make mistakes like ordinary humans do. That is fine,
however, Hazrat Musleh Maud (may Allah be pleased with him) has
given an excellent response to this matter and if Khilafat is true
then this response is applicable on all time and place, that is, if
one accepts Khilafat as a blessing of God.
**It is greatly needed to attach oneself to the Promised Messiah
(on whom be peace) and then completely obey Khilafat. This is what
will become a source of strength and spiritual development of the
Jamaat. Recognition of Khilafat and its correct awareness and
perception should be so instilled in the Jamaat that it should
happily accept every decision of the Khalifa of the time and have
no doubt about it. Inculcating correct insight and perception of
Khilafat is also an important task among the tasks of missionaries
and it is also the responsibility of office-holders to pay
attention to this. Some instances are brought up where people say
that Khalifa of the time has done this and that incorrect, has
given a wrong decision, or such and such decision should have been
this way. Objections are raised about the decisions of Qadha Board.
Or it is said why has so and so being given such and such task; the
Khalifa of the time has a lot of awareness about so and so but in
spite of having awareness about so and so he has closed his eyes.
There are only the odd few people who make such remarks but they
spoil the milieu. If missionaries and office-holders on each level,
those of the Jamaat and also of the auxiliary organisations,
understand this responsibility of theirs, the doubts that arise in
a few hearts, would not. It is especially the task of the
missionaries to make them understand that all blessings are in the
Nizam and when God wishes to curse a body of people He removes
Nizam from among them. When these facts will be known to all, those
who stumble will be saved. There are always some people, even if
they are a few, who think they are know-it-all and they sit here
and there and say what they say. [They say] Khalifa is not God, he
too can make mistakes like ordinary humans do. That is fine,
however, Hazrat Musleh Maud (may Allah be pleased with him) has
given an excellent response to this matter and if Khilafat is true
then this response is applicable on all time and place, that is, if
one accepts Khilafat as a blessing of God.
**Next Hazrat Khalifatul Masih said he would also like to draw
attention to a matter which has caused anxiety for every true
believer, that is, the pitiful condition of Muslim countries. These
days the Muslim Ummah is in great need of the prayers of the
followers of the true and ardent devotee of the Holy Prophet (peace
and blessings of Allah be on him). It is our duty to pray
abundantly. The situation in Syria is getting from bad to worse.
The government is exceeding in cruelty and the opposition is also
exceeding in cruelty. Children, the elderly and women are been
persecuted whether they are guilty or not. They are seized and
taken away and are starved and tortured. Some recently published
photographs makes hair stand on ends that Muslim is perpetrating so
much cruelty on Muslim and giving chance to the non-Muslims to
raise objections against Islam. Interviews of 14, 15 year olds who
have been separated from the parents were shown. They have nothing
to eat and get by through rummaging here and there. When a 12, 13
year old was asked what did he wish to become when grown up, he
laughed and said obviously he will become a criminal; a thief, or a
scoundrel, an extremist so that he can take his revenge. The
government is trying to hold onto power and the opposition is
trying to grab power and in the process they are destroying their
next generation. May God bring retribution to the oppressors and
save the masses from the domination of the oppressors and give them
fair-minded rulers. Extreme cruelty is being perpetrated in
Pakistan, especially against the Ahmadis. They are being persecuted
physically as well as mentally and ordinary Pakistan is also being
crushed in oppression and it appears that this situation will
continue to intensify. The extremists are also created by
governments, so it is difficult to control them. Our prayer is that
may God make these oppressors a cautionary sign. There is great
need for prayers that may God eliminate the oppressors in Pakistan
as well. There are other Muslim countries, like Egypt, Libya and
others. Situation is bad in almost every country. May God give them
sense and make the oppressors a cautionary sign and keep every
Ahmadi in these countries safe from their evil!
**
