Friday Sermon
26 July 2024
Jalsa Salana UK 2024: Guidance for workers and guests
After reciting the tashahhud, ta‘awwuz, and Surah al-Fatihah, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa stated:
By the grace of Allah the Almighty, the Jalsa Salana UK is starting today [26 July 2024], and by Allah’s grace, thousands have gathered here to benefit from the religious and spiritual atmosphere. During these days, a temporary city has been created here in Hadeeqatul Mahdi so that by remaining in this atmosphere, we can distance ourselves from worldly entanglements and strive to improve our religious, spiritual, and moral conditions. Hence, those coming into this environment should be more concerned with deriving the utmost benefit from this atmosphere rather than being concerned about their convenience. However, humans naturally have needs and requirements, which is why the administration strives to fulfil these needs and to provide as much comfort and ease as possible for the guests. For this purpose, various departments are established within our administration during the days of Jalsa Salana and thousands of workers voluntarily present their services in order to serve the guests of the Promised Messiahas.
In this regard, first of all, I wish to draw the attention of all workers towards the fact that no matter the duty they have been assigned, they must strive to fulfil it in the best possible manner. They must serve the guests of the Jalsa while considering them to be the guests of the Promised Messiahas, as guests who have come here for the sake of Allah the Almighty in order to fulfil a virtuous purpose. You must display a high moral standard. Even if you think that a guest has acted unfairly or unjustly, then you should overlook it, as this is part of our tradition and this is what constitutes lofty morals; this is what God and His Messengersa have commanded and this is exactly what the Promised Messiahas desires of us. By the grace of Allah the Almighty, this hospitality and high standard of morals have become a hallmark of Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya in every country, and even greater attention is given to this, especially during the days of Jalsa. Hence, as always, all the workers here as well should exhibit the best qualities, which are the hallmark of Islamic teaching. I already know that all the workers do their work with this spirit and will continue to do so. Yesterday, I conveyed the same message in my brief address to the volunteers; however, I am saying these things to serve as a reminder and for the training of many newcomers. The Promised Messiahas used to say that the heart of a guest is like glass – they are emotional – and they must be cared for. The smallest matter or the slightest stumble can cause the glass to break. (Malfuzat [1984], Vol. 5, p. 406)
In other words, the heart of a guest is very fragile, and sometimes such things can cause a person to falter. Some people do not properly consider that the matter was a fault on the part of a volunteer and had nothing to do with the Jamaat’s teachings. Yet, some people still falter. Hence, great care must be taken. In any case, these are all points for those who are newcomers and those who have not been trained properly or for those who have not yet entered the Jamaat. However, by the grace of Allah the Almighty, most people who come here are Ahmadis, and they understand before they get here that they will have to bear some difficulties. But, as I said, there are also some external guests, and they must be specially cared for; those who have not yet joined the Jamaat or those who have not been properly trained. For this purpose, all workers from every department must strive to take care of their guests in the best manner; whether they are doing traffic duty, parking duty, food serving duty, discipline duty, gate checking duty, hygiene and cleanliness duty, water supply duty, or any other duty – they must try their level best to provide ease for the guests and ensure that they do not face any sort of difficulty.
I would also like to say a few things to the guests, and there are also some administrative matters that I will mention. The first and foremost thing that I would like to say to the guests is that you have come here for a virtuous purpose and you have come here as guests of the Promised Messiahas. Instead of looking for worldly rank and worldly service, your focus should be on raising the standard of your morals, which are the distinguishing characteristic of a true Muslim and this is the reason you have come here. As I said, even though under the Jamaat’s administration there is a system in place to serve the travellers and guests who have undertaken this pious, blessed, and meaningful journey, and the administration strives to provide whatever necessities may be required. However, those who undertake a journey for the sake of God pay very little attention to these worldly needs and comforts. Their primary purpose is to be here and to obtain as much spiritual nourishment as possible. Therefore, do not venture to regard yourselves in the same category as worldly travellers or guests. If you are able to comprehend this, then you will overlook the weaknesses and shortcomings of your hosts. Otherwise, it has been observed that complaints arise that the arrangements for people from a certain place were better or certain people were given more amenities, or certain people were treated better as compared to others – such complaints would not arise. Sometimes, there are errors in estimations which result in some shortcomings, but these should be overlooked. If every person, every Ahmadi Muslim who comes here were to be of the mindset that their only purpose is to obtain spiritual nourishment as opposed to obtaining some worldly comforts, then both hosts and guests would treat one another with love and affection during these days. I should also mention that the organisers try their utmost to treat the guests equally. However, as I said, sometimes there could end up being some slight differences, which the guests should overlook. This is our teaching; where we are commanded to honour and respect guests and to take care of them, guests are also instructed to care for the ease of their hosts. The Promised Messiahas used to greatly honour and respect his guests; he would even say that they should not be shy in expressing their needs openly. (Malfuzat [1984], Vol. 3, p. 112)
However, this was under ordinary circumstances; he said that the guests of Jalsa should all be treated the same and under the same organisation, which is as uniform as possible. During the days of Jalsa, hospitality takes on a different form as compared to ordinary times, and the aim is for the thousands who have come here to be equally provided with as much facility and ease as possible. The exceptions are external guests or guests from abroad for whom certain compelling factors require there to be separate arrangements for them. In any case, despite this honour and respect that the Promised Messiahas had for guests, he would entrench in the minds of guests even during ordinary times that the primary purpose for their visit was to learn the faith and to purify their hearts and minds while treading the path of growing nearer to Allah the Almighty. It is for attaining this very purpose that people converge here as guests and the guests should come to the Jalsa with this very mindset.
During these days, attend the sessions of Jalsa and listen attentively to the programs and speeches, taking full benefit from them. I will present some more general guidance for the guests. It is imperative for a believer to utilise his time properly. In such gatherings where large numbers are present, you will naturally have the desire to sit amongst and spend time with your relatives and friends from far-off places. Here, we not only have an opportunity to meet our friends and loved ones from one country; rather, Allah the Almighty has created the means to meet our close ones from many other countries. Allah the Almighty, out of His grace, has granted the Promised Messiahas with such a Community that has broken down the borders and differences between countries and nations and has established a great sense of strong brotherhood. Among the many objectives of this convention mentioned by the Promised Messiahas for its attendees, he has stated that through this, the Jamaat’s mutual relations and brotherhood should be reinforced. (Shahadat-ul-Quran, Ruhani Khazain, Vol. 6, p. 394)
[This brotherhood] should go from strength to strength and we should become one with each other. Naturally, it is also important to meet and greet one another, especially to become more acquainted and familiar with one another; however, you must also spend your time listening to the full-day proceedings of the convention. After this, if you have the opportunity, you may meet and interact with one another and socialise to improve mutual relations.
For those who have not met one another for an extended period, it has been observed that their meetings and conversations take up so much time that the whole night is wasted in leisurely discourse. [As a result], people face great difficulty in waking for the Fajr prayer, let alone for Tahajjud [pre-dawn voluntary prayer].
It has also been observed that the administration faces difficulties owing to people having extended conversations whilst eating in the food marquee. Such people spend so much time there that volunteers have to remind them about the time for prayers or that they have been talking for a long time. Similar difficulties may also arise for those who are staying in someone’s home. Thus, you must exercise moderation. Guests should also be especially mindful that their hosts have to wind up and prepare for the program that is to come.
Regarding the guests who visited the Holy Prophetsa, Allah the Almighty commanded that they should not waste their time in vain conversations. After they had eaten, they should depart. This should be considered, especially with respect to the food marquee. Sometimes, when there are large crowds, food is distributed in shifts. For this reason, you should vacate and make space immediately after finishing your meal so that others can come and eat with ease. If such practices are adopted, then there will be no complaints and work will carry on in a blissful environment.
Similarly, when a large number of people gather, sometimes unpleasant situations may arise. Occasionally, due to complaints about the administration, a guest may speak harshly to a volunteer, who may respond in a similar manner, escalating the matter and starting a chain of resentments. Even if these incidents are isolated, they create a tense environment, affecting others. If those making complaints or speaking wrongly are residents here, that is, living in the UK, the issue prolongs, manifesting at other times as well. This matter is observed in other countries too.
Allah the Almighty says about a true believer that they are those who suppress anger. To those who are treating others unjustly, or who have been treated unfairly themselves, I say to both, keep in mind the sanctity of the Jalsa environment. Guests should exhibit forgiveness and forbearance, and overlook faults. Even if they perceive an injustice, they should still remain patient and show tolerance. Show patience and restraint. Similarly, if volunteers feel they are being wronged by guests, they should also suppress their anger and maintain composure.
The checking of cards and security is crucial in today’s prevailing circumstances, and we must take precautions. Due to the various stages of this process, some people may experience inconvenience or delays, especially women who have children and carry more belongings. They often bring numerous bags, which takes time to check. If some women have brought many belongings today, that is fine. However, those coming from outside the Jalsa premises – most of the attendees come from outside the jalsa gah – should try to bring fewer items over the next two days to minimise checking time. Mothers should only bring essential items for their children and avoid bringing unnecessary items which can cause delays. This wastes time needlessly for both the administration and the people. People have to wait in line, leading to complaints against the administration, though sometimes the fault lies with the participants due to their excessive belongings, causing delays during checks, as I have mentioned earlier.
Furthermore, one instruction given by the Holy Prophetsa to believers is to maintain ties even with those who serve them and to give to those who withhold. Do not refuse help to someone who did not assist you in your time of need out of revenge. The Holy Prophetsa instructed us to forgive even those who speak ill of you. (Musnad Ahmad bin Hanbal, Vol. 5, p. 373, Hadith No. 15703, Alim-ul-Kutub, Beirut 1998)
Here, there is no question of insult; it is a duty assigned to volunteers. If a volunteer makes a mistake, or something occurs during checking, or if there are delays or objections about a card, patience should be shown instead of causing unpleasantries. These teachings of the Holy Prophetsa guide us towards forbearance. If we develop forbearance, all unpleasantness and conflicts will end.
Thus, I say to both guests and volunteers that it is their obligation to show forbearance and tolerance. Those conducting checks should facilitate guests as much as possible, and if necessary, the administration should deploy more volunteers, especially during rush hours.
Following the desire of the Promised Messiahas, we should aim to exemplify mutual love and brotherhood, as Allah the Almighty has mentioned about believers. Instead of getting upset over minor issues, we should strive to achieve our life’s purpose, which is attained through bowing, prostrating, worship, and remembrance of Allah. Every guest should aim to make their journey purely for Allah. Both volunteers and guests should remember that non-members and non-Muslims may also be present. If everyone, both hosts and guests, exhibits high moral standards, it will serve as silent preaching, positively impacting others and drawing their attention towards Islam and its lofty teachings.
Another important matter is that those who come here should also establish the practice of saying salaam [greetings of peace] to each other. Make maximum efforts in this regard. It is a blessed and pure prayer that has been taught to us. When the hosts and guests say salaam to each other, not only do they become free from every kind of fear and worry, but they also give each other a prayer that benefits both of them.
Thus, in these days, give much emphasis to this pure and blessed prayer that Allah the Almighty has taught us, so that we may become those who spread peace, love, and affection everywhere, and this environment becomes an atmosphere of pure love and brotherhood, solely for the sake of Allah the Almighty. We should strive to purify ourselves from all kinds of selfish motives and try to bring about a revolution in our lives during these days. For us, in every matter, the example of the companions of the Holy Prophetsa is present. The high moral standards of the guests were such that during the time of the Holy Prophetsa, the companions, due to the Holy Prophet’ssa spiritual influence, would try to act upon every command of the Holy Quran. As the Holy Quran commands, if a guest goes to a house and the house owner says to return because he is busy, the guest should return happily and show patience. One Companion says that he tried to fulfill this command of Allah, and wished that when he went to someone’s house, the house owner would tell him to go back because he was busy, and he would return happily to please Allah the Almighty and earn His pleasure. But despite trying, he says that he never got the opportunity where someone turned him away from their home. So, these were the high morals that both the hosts in their homes and the guests had. Thus, this is the kind of great patience that should be possessed. When a person possesses such great patience, he is able to overlook small matters.
I spoke about conveying salaam to each other. Another thing to remember in this regard is that the Holy Prophetsa said to convey salaam to others, and to establish the practice of conveying salaam, whether you know them or not. (Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab al-iman, Hadith No. 28)
Go to such lengths to establish this practice of conveying salaam, that whether you know them or not, you convey your salaam. When this practice is established, it will have a good effect on the hearts of the non-Ahmadi/non-Muslim guests, as well as the new Ahmadis, and they will benefit much more from this pure environment and appreciate the beautiful teachings of Islam. New converts will put this into practice and integrate more harmoniously into the system. Some complain that they are not integrated [into the system] in certain places.
I will present an incident of the Promised Messiahas. Once, during the occasion of the Jang-e-Muqaddas proceedings, when there was a debate between Muslims and Christians, an incident occurred with the Promised Messiahas at the place he was staying. The organisers say that due to the abundance of guests, they forgot to place or present food to the Promised Messiahas and part of the night had passed without him being given food.
After waiting a long time, when the Promised Messiahas enquired about any food, the organisers became very worried and anxious. Everyone’s hands and feet went cold [from anxiety] regarding what had transpired. There was no food left, and the markets were closed because it was very late, so they couldn’t bring anything from there. Nonetheless, when the Promised Messiahas became aware of the situation (i.e., when he found out), he said that there was no need for such anxiety and discomfort. He said to look at the table where the food was eaten; some people’s leftovers would likely be there. He said this would suffice and he asked for it to be brought over. When the table was checked, there were only a few pieces of flatbread left, nothing else. There wasn’t even any salan (curry) to eat it with. The Promised Messiahas said, “This is enough for us,” and he ate it. (Sirat Hazrat Masih-e-Maudas, Hazrat Sheikh Yaqub Ali Irfanira, Vol. 3, p. 322)
So, this was the example of the Promised Messiahas, who was the greatest devotee of the Holy Prophetsa and who acted upon his Sunnah. Thus, those who claim to be part of his community also need to always display patience and gratitude.
If there is any shortcoming in anyone’s hospitality during these three days, overlook it and do not overly blame the organisers. The organisers always strive to improve as much as possible, but there should be no disappointment or complaint on the part of the guests. If you wish to provide feedback for the sake of improvement with good intentions, then those who wish to send their suggestions can do so, in order for progress to occur in the following years, and so that there are more arrangements for newcomers. Additionally, I want to draw attention to the various exhibitions held during these days. This year marks the centenary of Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud’sra tour of Europe and the UK. The UK Jamaat, along with the Markazi Archive Department, has organised an exhibition comprised of various pictures. You should definitely visit it. It presents one hundred years of history of the UK and is also about Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra. Similarly, there are exhibitions by The Review of Religions, Archives, Tabligh Department, and the Makhzan-e-Tasaweer exhibition. These are all worth seeing, and I hope they are well organised. Try to visit these exhibitions in your free time instead of wasting it here and there.
Moreover, instructions have been given to the administration that the number of people with Covid is rising in some places worldwide, and there is an increase in some areas here as well. People have come from various places, and it is possible that someone is infected with Covid. Therefore, at the entrances, homoeopathic preventive medicine is arranged. Everyone should take the medicine with ease when the administration provides it; actually, they should themselves ask for it. May Allah the Almighty protect everyone from all kinds of diseases and evil. Similarly, there are security arrangements, as I have mentioned before. Regarding security, I say every year that the best security is to keep an eye on your surroundings and make sure everyone is vigilant to what is around them.
This is the greatest security measure. If everyone does this, no opponent or enemy will get a chance to cause any harm. In the same way, if you see any unnecessary items or bags lying around, inform the administration, and if you notice anyone’s suspicious behaviour, report it as well to the organisers. Nonetheless, pay special attention to security during these days, but our greatest weapon is the protection of Allah the Almighty, and we should strive in prayers and the remembrance of Allah to seek His protection. Pay special attention to this during these three days. May Allah the Almighty grant you the ability to act upon it and make this Jalsa blessed in every way for everyone.
(Official Urdu transcript published in the Daily Al Fazl International, 16 August 2024, pp. 2-5. Translated by The Review of Religions.)