Proclaim the Bounties of Allah; Ahmadiyya Growth, Success and Progress
Friday Sermon delivered at Masjid Mubarak, Islamabad, Tilford, UK
‘Progress of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in the Face of Opposition’
After reciting Tashahhud, Ta‘awwuz and Surah al-Fatihah, His Holiness, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad(aba) said that whilst mentioning the blessings of God upon this Community and its progress, the Promised Messiah(as) said that it is a great miracle that despite great opposition, this Community continues to thrive and progress.
His Holiness(aba) quoted the Promised Messiah(as) who said that the opponents spend day and night plotting and scheming to stop and halt the progress of this Community, yet, God continues to grant victory and success to our Community. What is the wisdom behind this? It is that when God commissions someone, then that person and their community see progress day by day and their opponents see failure day by day, and eventually meet a humiliating end. No matter the efforts made by the opponents, a movement started by God cannot be stopped by anyone.
His Holiness(aba) said that we see the fulfilment of the Promised Messiah’s(as) words on a daily basis. The opponents have even tried organised attempts to stifle this Community, yet the Community continues to spread throughout the world in accordance with God’s promise to the Promised Messiah(as) that, ‘I shall cause thy message to reach the corners of the earth’. The opponents do not realise that in reality, they are standing against God which can only result in their own destruction, as God helps His chosen ones. We see examples of God’s help even in far-off lands, which people generally cannot reach unless with great difficulty. The opponents strive to inflict harm to wealth and life yet they always end up being frustrated.
His Holiness(aba) said it is not possible to encompass all the examples of God’s help around the world, however, His Holiness(aba) said that he would mention some examples of the progress of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.
Incredible Examples of The Community Striving, Despite Opposition
His Holiness(aba) said that some people oppose this Community due to a lack of knowledge. When they do learn of the reality, they accept the truth. There is one such incident from Congo-Kinshasa where there was a person known for his opposition to the Community. However, when the Community’s stance on the death of Jesus(as) and the coming of the latter-day Messiah was explained, he not only understood it but he accepted the message of the Promised Messiah(as). In fact, he also brought six members of his family along with him to accept Ahmadiyyat.
His Holiness(aba) presented an example from The Gambia where some members went out to convey the message of the Promised Messiah(as) and the true teachings of Islam. When they conveyed the ten conditions of bai’at (oath of allegiance) to a small village, they were astonished and they realised that these conditions truly represented the true Islam, as a result of which they accepted Ahmadiyyat because they saw it to be the true Islam. They also accepted that it was Ahmadiyyat alone that could save the world from destruction. Hence, after a lengthy discussion and question and answer session, over 200 people accepted Ahmadiyyat.
His Holiness(aba) presented another example from Africa, where a team of members went to a town to propagate the message of Islam Ahmadiyyat. Whilst sitting in the mosque and still formulating a plan, some members of the town came to the mosque to invite them to their town because they had heard that the Community teaches young children how to recite the Holy Qur’an. Hence, the next day this team went to the town and met with the people, and after informing them of the true teachings of Islam Ahmadiyyat, the people of the town accepted Ahmadiyyat and thereafter brought the children of the town so that they may be taught the Holy Qur’an.
His Holiness(aba) said in Pakistan, Ahmadis are banned from reciting the Holy Qur’an. In fact, an Ahmadi was arrested for simply listening to the Holy Qur’an. Yet, in other parts of the world, there are those who bring their children to the Community so that they may learn the Holy Qur’an, because it is the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community that possesses the true knowledge of the Holy Qur’an.
Those Who Abandon Ahmadiyyat Cannot Harm it Whatsoever
His Holiness(aba) said that there are also some people who leave the Community out of some personal greed or fear, and then think that they will end the Community, however, their thoughts backfire on them and the Community continues to progress. The majority of a town in Ivory Coast had accepted Ahmadiyyat in 2008 and there was even a small mosque there. However, sometime later, the local Imam developed erroneous thoughts and left the Community, took over the mosque, and tried convincing others to leave the Community as well. However, the members of the Community remained steadfast. In the interim, while that local Imam had taken over the local mosque, members of the Community used some plastic sheets and pieces of wood as a makeshift mosque. Now, the Community has been blessed with a beautiful two-story mosque, which is far more beautiful than the mosque which had been taken over by the local Imam. Whereas in Pakistan, Ahmadi mosques are desecrated, God grants new mosques to the Community all around the world.
His Holiness(aba) said that there are times when God Himself causes the hearts to accept and incline towards Ahmadiyyat. In Belize, a woman from the Methodist Church saw the mosque being built, and the thought occurred to her that she should accept this faith. When the mosque was complete, she told her friends that her heart told her to go to that mosque and accept their faith. Her friends told her that there was a different mosque closer to her home and she could go there. She replied that God had placed it in her heart specifically about Ahmadiyyat and the fact that they are truthful. When she learned of the teachings of Ahmadiyyat, she became emotional for having been led to such a Community.
His Holiness(aba) said that God also guides those who oppose the Community on the basis of a lack of knowledge. While a mosque was being built in The Gambia, the person installing the windows became very happy to know that he would be helping to build a beautiful mosque. However, when he learned that this mosque belonged to the Ahmadiyya Community he broke all the windows and even injured himself in the process. Later however, he said that he saw a dream in which he was drowning at sea when a ship arrived to save him, carrying the Amir and Missionary of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. As a result, he went to the local mission house and accepted Ahmadiyyat.
His Holiness(aba) said that sometimes, the means of people’s guidance occurs in mysterious ways. A man was travelling from Morocco to Sao Tome and asked if there was a mosque in Sao Tome, and he was told about the Ahmadiyya mosque. He offered the Friday prayer there, which then started a process of questions and answers, reading the Community’s literature, and watching MTA while he was there. When he returned sometime later, he asked to see the bai’at form, which he took and then signed. He was told that he should take some time to ponder further before taking this step. He replied that he prayed all night, and he could not wait any longer to accept the Imam of the Age. He said that he did not care for opposition from other Muslims, because what could be better than losing one’s life whilst having accepted the truth if that’s what it was to come to?
His Holiness(aba) said that a person from Uzbekistan was looking for someone to teach him the Holy Qur’an. It so happened that the teacher he found was an Ahmadi. After some discussions and pondering, that man accepted Ahmadiyyat. His Holiness(aba) said that the fact that his teacher was an Ahmadi of all people was no coincidence, rather such examples are found throughout the world.
His Holiness(aba) said that an Imam in Africa saw a beautiful mosque and asked who it belonged to. When he learned that it was a mosque built by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, he started asking questions and learned more about the Community. Upon asking for the bai’at form, he was brought to tears, saying that he regretted his life before Ahmadiyyat, for he had heard such false things about the Community which he believed. But now, having seen it for himself, he realised that the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is true and upstanding. Thus, he accepted Ahmadiyyat.
His Holiness(aba) said that there are countless such examples of the promise made by God to the Promised Messiah(as) being fulfilled. The opponents do whatever they can, yet God renders His protection and continues to furnish the progress of this Community. Whereas we should be grateful, we must also analyse ourselves and improve our practical conditions. We should also instil within our future generations that though there may be trials, this is the true Community which will ultimately prevail.
Funeral Prayers
His Holiness(aba) said that he would lead the funeral prayers of the following deceased members:
Parveen Akhtar who was the wife of Ghulam Qadir. She passed away recently and is survived by three sons and four daughters. One of her sons is a Missionary serving in Benin. She was born in Qadian and spent much of her childhood in the presence of Hazrat Amman Jaan(ra). After she was married, she and her husband were made to face difficult circumstances on account of their faith but they remained resolute in their faith. She taught many of the girls and women in her area the recitation of the Holy Qur’an. She always encouraged the education of girls. She was exemplary in exhibiting patience, something which she attributed to learning from Hazrat Amman Jaan(ra). She would tell her son that even if he did not achieve the highest position in his studies then that was fine, but he should always attain the highest position in obedience to the Imam of the time. His Holiness(aba) prayed that may Allah grant her forgiveness and mercy and accept her prayers for her children.
Mumtaz Waseem who was the wife of Chaudhary Nasir Ahmad Waseem. She passed away recently. Her son is serving as a Missionary in Zambia. She was very kind, loving and loved by everyone. She honoured the Community and Khilafat. She was regular in writing letters to His Holiness. She was regular in offering prayers and reciting the Holy Qur’an. She also taught children the Holy Qur’an along with secular knowledge. She endured a long period of illness with great patience. Two of her sons have dedicated their lives to the service of the Community. She is survived by five sons and a daughter. His Holiness(aba) prayed that may Allah grant her forgiveness and mercy and elevate her station and accept her prayers for her children.
Brigadier Munawwar Ahmad Rana who was serving as the General Secretary of the Community in Rawalpindi. He loved the Community and was resolute in his faith. He served the Community in various capacities. He loved Khilafat a great deal and was always obedient. He would always be ready to help those in need. He is survived by his mother, two wives, four daughters and a son. His Holiness(aba) prayed that may Allah grant him forgiveness and mercy.
Group Captain (Retired) Abdul Shakoor Malik from Dallas, USA who recently passed away. He served as an engineer and then Group Captain in the Pakistani Air Force. Despite opposition in the army, he never hid his identity as an Ahmadi. After his retirement, he was always ready to serve the Community in whatever capacity was required of him. He always taught to remain patient and encouraged his children to always write letters to His Holiness. He taught almsgiving saying that it would bring blessings to one’s wealth. He is survived by three daughters and a son. His Holiness(aba) prayed that may Allah grant him forgiveness and mercy and accept his prayers for his progeny.
Summary prepared by The Review of Religions