Hazrat Khalifatul Masih inaugurates the Mubarak Mosque in Islamabad
Islamabad, Surrey: 17 May
Fridays are blessed anyway, but what better if they occur in the holy month of Ramadan; and what better when there happens to be the opening of a mosque on such a blessed Friday. And what is even more blessed is when a mosque is opened on the day and Hazrat Khalifatul Masihaa names it Masjid Mubarak – a zill (reflection) of Masjid Mubarak built by Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, the Promised Messiahas in Qadian.
All this together made Friday, 17 May a day of immense importance in the history of the Jamaat. We all know that Huzooraa had moved to the new Markaz in Islamabad on 15 April and that not a moment went by when Huzoor’s engagements took a break. The mosque also had been functional since the very same day, but the Friday Sermon earlier today marked the official opening of the Mubarak Mosque in Islamabad.
Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa arrived at about 13:05, unveiled the commemorative plaque and went straight into the mosque. Everyone was expecting that Huzooraa would lead in silent prayer as he usually does at mosque openings, but Huzoor went into the mosque. He then reached the mihrab and, facing the congregation, informed the Jamaat that while it was a tradition for silent prayers to be offered at such occasions, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra had prostrated before Allah at the inauguration of Masjid Mubarak in Rabwah; hence the Jamaat would do the same today. Huzooraa offered sajda-e-shukr (a prostration of gratitude to Allah) in the mihrab and the congregation followed suit – a very emotional sajda as everyone present bowed before their Lord on this blessed occasion.
Therafter, the Jumuah Azan was called and Huzooraa delivered the Friday Sermon. Huzooraa explained that the expansion of the Jamaat’s global operations had called for the extension of Markazi offices for a very long time, but it was now that it was destined to happen. By the grace of Allah, it had now happened in the form of the Islamabad complex which consists of office blocks and a residential colony. Huzooraa said that when the mosque was to be named, various suggestions were considered, but then the revelation of the Promised Messiahas came to Huzoor’s attention:
مبارک و مبارک و کلّ امرٍ مبارک یجعل فیہ
It was then that Huzooraa decided to name this mosque Masjid Mubarak. Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa, during his sermon, prayed that this Masjid Mubarak became a reflection of Masjid Mubarak in Qadian. Huzooraa prayed that this new Markaz plays an instrumental role in the spread of Islam in the whole wide world.
Huzooraa mentioned that Masjid Mubarak has a capacity of over 500 worshippers-making it four times the size of the Fazl Mosque in London. Including the adjacent halls and the covered area around the hall, Huzooraa said that a total of 2,000 worshipers can be accommodated altogether.
The full text of Huzoor’saa sermon will be published in Al Hakam very soon. In the meantime, readers can listen to the sermon at www.mta.tv