At approximately 4:30pm on Friday 28 July 2023, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa hoisted the Liwa-e-Ahmadiyyat and then made his way to the main Jalsa marquee for the inaugural session of Jalsa Salana UK 2023.
After arriving on the stage, Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa invited Feroz Alam Sahib to recite a portion of the Holy Quran: Surah an-Nur, Ch.24:V.52-57, followed by its Urdu translation. Syed Ashiq Hussain Sahib then presented a Persian poem written by the Promised Messiahas followed by its Urdu translation, composed by Hazrat Mir Muhammad Ismaelra. Murtaza Mannan Sahib then presented an Urdu poem written by the Promised Messiahas.
Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa then delivered his address for the inaugural session. After reciting tashahhud, ta‘wwauz and Surah al-Fatihah, Huzooraa said the Promised Messiahas explained that a grand purpose of Jalsa Salana is that the attendees are able to attain taqwa and righteousness, after which they will attain closeness to Allah, traverse His path, and ultimately be diligent in His worship. The Promised Messiahas did not merely tell his Community members to attain taqwa; with great fervour and pain, he also showed them the paths of attaining taqwa in accordance with the Holy Quran and the Holy Prophetsa. The Promised Messiahas would always say that if the root of taqwa is present in someone, they have everything.
In one instance, the Promised Messiahas said that for the betterment of the Jamaat, it is essential that they are informed and explained about taqwa, as every intelligent person understands that without taqwa, Allah cannot be pleased. Allah states:
اِنَّ اللّٰہَ مَعَ الَّذِیۡنَ اتَّقَوۡا وَّالَّذِیۡنَ ہُمۡ مُّحۡسِنُوۡنَ
Verily, Allah is with those who are righteous and those who do good. (Surah an-Nahl, Ch. 16. V.129)
A muttaqi is one who fears Allah, always wants His pleasure, and hopes that Allah becomes his Shield and Protector. This is the definition of a muttaqi that we should keep in mind. The next stage is that of a mohsin, who brings others to Allah’s path as well. Therefore, a believer should be a muttaqi and a mohsin. By possessing both of these qualities, one is also able to help humanity at large.
A believer should therefore not be content with one stage; rather, they should ponder over how they can enter the ranks of the mohsinun and help Allah’s creation as well. True righteousness and belief are that one is a mohsin as well.
The Promised Messiahas also said that taqwa is to stay away from minute evils. One is not a muttaqi if they merely stay away from the very basics, such as stealing or looting. Staying away from these ills is not a great feat; rather, true goodness is that one helps Allah’s creation and is ready to give his life for the cause of Allah.
The Promised Messiahas said that merely staying away from evil deeds is not goodness in itself unless one also helps and serves Allah’s creation. There are many who stay away from sin, but they do not attain any significant spiritual status. An example of true taqwa is like cleaning a dish and putting high-quality food inside it. In this way, taqwa is like cleaning the dish of nafs–e-ammarah but cleaning is not enough; the dish then needs to be filled with spiritual nourishment.
The Promised Messiahas spoke of three stages of the soul: Nafs-e-ammarah (where the soul is under the control of Satan and is at the lowest stage of a spiritual condition), the second stage is nafs-e-lawwamah, and the third is nafs-e-mutmainnah. The Promised Messiahas said everyone should escape nafs-e-ammarah and then strive in the path of Allah, after which nafs-e-lawwamah starts. In this condition, the soul strives to escape the shackles of Satan and is in constant battle. At times, the soul slips and Satan influences it, and at other times, the soul overcomes Satan. The Promised Messiahas said such a person is in a state of battle and requires the help of Allah. They should always seek Allah’s forgiveness and continue to strive for betterment. In the end, Allah enables them to escape nafs–e–lawwamah and enter the ultimate stage of nafs-e-mutamaina. In this, they now truly believe in Allah and are sure that “Allah does indeed exist”. They have complete belief in Allah and are able to carry out deeds that are of the highest standard.
The Promised Messiahas said that the level to which one believes or does not believe in Allah is reflected in one’s actions too. The more they believe in Allah, the better their actions are. If one truly believes in Allah, it cannot be that they commit sin, as this belief cuts the connection between their soul from the self that incites. The Promised Messiahas said that our Jamaat must attain this spiritual condition.
The Promised Messiahas said that the first obligation upon his Community was to attain true belief in Allah. Huzooraa said that we must reflect deeply on this.
The Promised Messiahas said that Allah always helps the person who possesses taqwa and is also a mohsin; they also help others. The Promised Messiahas said that he received the following revelation countless times, maybe even 2000 times:
اِنَّ اللّٰہَ مَعَ الَّذِیۡنَ اتَّقَوۡا وَّالَّذِیۡنَ ہُمۡ مُّحۡسِنُوۡنَ
Verily, Allah is with those who are righteous and those who do good. (Surah an-Nahl, Ch. 16. V.129)
Therefore, a person should always reflect on their daily actions and see where they have done well. The Promised Messiahas also said that a believer should never remain in one spiritual condition, they should always be excelling. Huzooraa said we must all excel in good deeds, it is then that we are fulfilling our pledge.
The Promised Messiahas said that in the Jamaat, there are trivial arguments between each other that then grow out of control. The Promised Messiahas exhorted his Jamaat to make peace between their brethren and to forgive one another. One should never attack the honour of a fellow believer. The Promised Messiahas narrated the story of a king who would write the Holy Quran. A cleric said to the king that you have written a certain verse incorrectly, and so the king drew a circle around the portion that the cleric pointed out. After the cleric left, the king did not change anything and was asked why he had drawn the circle then. The king replied by saying that the cleric was actually wrong but did not want to offend him. Thus, we should not hasten to argue, quarrel, or pick out the faults of our brethren.
The Promised Messiahas said that Allah protects a muttaqi from the trials of the world. If Jamaat members had all the ills that others also possessed, then what is the purpose of doing bai‘at? We should strive to instil true taqwa within ourselves.
The Promised Messiahas said that it is not right to annoy and inflict pain upon fellow believers over trivial matters. Allah does not like such ways. The Holy Prophetsa came to create a revolution, and we should strive to attain such a spiritual level.
The Promised Messiahas said that one should have absolute love and kindness towards their brethren and live a life of goodness and love.
Huzooraa said that we are gathered at Jalsa Salana to attain these high moral and spiritual standards. If we achieve these standards, then Allah will protect us from the attacks of our enemies.
The Promised Messiahas states:
“True fear of Allah demands that a person examine the degree to which his words and actions accord with one another. A person whose words and actions are at odds with one another should know that they shall incur the wrath of Allah. If one’s heart is impure, it will never find favour in the sight of God no matter how pure one’s words may be; in fact, this arouses the wrath of God. My community ought to realise that they have come to me so that I may sow the seed which transforms them into a fruitful tree. So, everyone ought to examine themselves to become cognisant of their inner and outward state. If, God-forbid, the hearts of my followers are not in harmony with their words, they shall not be met with a blessed end. Allah the Exalted does not care for a community with hollow hearts who make empty claims, for He is Self-Sufficient. The victory at Badr had already been prophesied and there was every reason to believe that the Muslims would triumph. But the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, continued to weep and pray to his Lord. Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiqra inquired as to the need for such fervent supplication when victory had already been promised. The Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said, ‘God is Self-Sufficient.’ That is to say, perhaps hidden conditions lay beneath the surface of this divine promise.” (Malfuzat, Vol. 1, p. 10)
Huzooraa said that it is essential we develop the fear of Allah within ourselves and for this taqwa is essential. But how can one know they have Allah’s fear? The Promised Messiahas answered this by saying that one should see whether their deeds and actions tally with one another. If they do not, then one has not attained taqwa. The Promised Messiahas said that his Jamaat should know that they have come to him so that the seed of a fruitful tree could be sown within them. However, if Jamaat members were in a condition where their words and deeds contradict one another, then we should remember that Allah is al-Ghani; He does not care. Prior to the Battle of Badr, Allah gave promises of victory to the Prophetsa but he continued to pray because Allah is al-Ghani and it could be that there were hidden conditions in the promises He had made.
Huzooraa said that Divine promises to the Jamaat would be fulfilled when Jamaat members have such a spiritual state that their words and deeds coincide.
Allah also says that whoever fears Allah, then Allah creates a way out of them from every difficulty and provides for them.
The Promised Messiahas said:
“We should always appraise the degree to which we have progressed in righteousness and piety. The criterion for this is the Quran. From among the hallmarks of the righteous, one sign manifested by Allah the Exalted in favour of a pious one is that He frees them from the unpleasant things of this world and Himself becomes the Guardian of their affairs. Allah the Exalted states:
وَمَنْ یَّتَّقِ اللہَ یَجْعَلْ لَّہُ مَخْرَجاً وَّیَرْزُقْہُ مِنْ حَیْثُ لَا یَحْتَسِبُ
“And he who fears Allah — He will make for him a way out, and will provide for him from where he expects not.” (Surah at-Talaq, Ch.65: V.3-4)
“Allah the Exalted delivers a person who fears Him from any affliction that may befall him, and grants him provision from where he expects not. In other words, one sign of a righteous person is that Allah the Exalted does not enslave him to the recourse of immoral ways and means. For example, a shopkeeper believes that his business cannot operate without the support of falsehood; for this reason he does not refrain from deception and expresses the need for speaking lies. However, this so-called need is completely unjustified. God Almighty becomes the Protector of a righteous person and saves him from such instances as would compel them to speak untruths. Remember, when a person abandons Allah the Exalted, God forsakes such a person as well. Moreover, when the Merciful God leaves a person, Satan definitely develops a relationship with such a one.
“Think not that Allah Almighty is weak. Indeed, He is the possessor of immense power. When you put your trust in Him for support in any matter, He shall come to your aid.
وَمَنْ یَّتَوَکَّلْ عَلَی اللہِ فَھُوَ حَسْبُہٗ
And he who puts his trust in Allah — He is sufficient for him. (Surah at-Talaq, Ch.65; V.4)
“However, those who were first addressed in these verses were people of faith. All of their thoughts revolved around religion and they left their worldly affairs to God. This is why Allah the Exalted reassured them and told them that He was their support. And so, one of the blessings of righteousness is that Allah the Exalted grants security to a pious person from the afflictions that impede upon his religious affairs.”
The Promised Messiahas said that a true muttaqi uses their God-given abilities in lawful ways and does not waste those abilities. Allah says that those who are true believers – they fear Allah, pray to him regularly, give charity, believe in His books, etc – are those who are on the right path.
He said:
“None of the faculties endowed by Allah Almighty have been granted to man so that they may be wasted; rather, their discipline and proper use is the true means by which they are nourished and developed. This is why Islam has not taught that the faculties of virility be slaughtered completely or that the eye be gouged out. Instead, it teaches their proper use and the purification of one’s inner self. In this respect, Allah the Exalted states:
قَدْ أَفْلَحَ الْمُؤْمِنُوْن
“Surely, success does come to the believers.” (Sutrah al-Mu’minun, Ch.23; V. 2)
“Then, after illustrating the life of a righteous person, God Almighty draws a conclusion in the following words:
وَأُولٰٓئِکَ ھُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ
“‘And it is they who shall prosper.
“That is to say, those who tread the path of righteousness; those who believe in the unseen; those who establish or set upright their Prayer when it begins to fall as it were; those who give from that which is bestowed to them by God; those who, irrespective of their own thoughts and fancies, believe in all the divine scriptures sent by God, ultimately attain to the level of certainty. It is these very people who are truly guided and who tread a path that goes on to lead a person to success. Therefore, it is such people who are triumphant and who shall reach their final destination, and who have been delivered from the perils of the journey before them. Hence, from the very outset, Allah the Exalted has given us a teaching of righteousness and bestowed upon us a book, which also provides counsel on how to develop piety. And so, let my community grieve, more than anything else, over whether they possess righteousness or not.” (Malfuzat, Vol. 1, pp. 34-35)
Huzooraa said we should all introspect and see how much we are striving to attain these levels of taqwa.
Another trait related to taqwa is that they live a simple life, remain humble and remain away from anger which then gives birth to arrogance. The Promised Messiahas exhorted that he did not wish for any of his Jamaat members to look down upon others. Allah truly knows who was high in rank.
No one could attain a respectable condition without taqwa and only Allah knew who was great in rank. No family relation, no one’s wealth, or knowledge could raise someone in rank, rather, in Allah’s eyes the one who was a muttaqi, who fulfilled His rights and the rights of His creations and remained humble is the one who is truly high in rank, according to Allah.
One could enter Allah’s fort by striving to attain taqwa, the Promised Messiahas said. Such a one would be blessed to serve religion as well. The Promised Messiahas said that Jamaat members should look at the condition of other Muslims and learn not to be like them. They stand protecting their religion and never allow a state to overcome them where they would disgrace Islam.
Those Muslims who do not have taqwa actually harm the image of Islam in the world and make Islam a religion which people doubt. Huzooraa said that we have accepted the Promised Messiahas and should look at our own condition. In today’s world, we should be extremely careful and protect ourselves from the immorality of society, and with great attention mould ourselves according to Islamic principles. The Promised Messiahas exhorted his Jamaat members not to defame him by acting immorally.
The Promised Messiahas said:
“An individual who exhibits a change in their morals, so that their neighbour may see how they were before and what they have become, manifests a miracle, as it were. This has a deep and lasting impression upon one’s neighbour. People raise objections against our community and allege that they can see no improvement in those who have joined us and allege that our followers indulge in falsehood and do not restrain their temper and rage. Are such people not embarrassed that others flock to the community considering it to be exemplary? An obedient son becomes a source of honour for his father. Likewise, a person who swears an oath of allegiance to a divinely appointed one is also like a son. This is why the blessed wives of the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, are known as the Mothers of the Believers. In other words, the Holy Prophetsa is a father to the Muslim community at large. A biological father brings a child into the world, becoming a cause for worldly life, but a spiritual father takes their child, as it were, into heaven and returns them to the original source from which they sprang (i.e. God). Would you view in a positive light the son who dishonours his father? What if a son were to visit prostitutes, indulge in gambling, consume alcohol, and commit other immoral actions which disgrace his father? I know that there can be no one who would approve of such actions. But nonetheless, when the undutiful son acts in this manner, the voice of the people cannot be silenced. The people will speak with reference to the father and say that the son of so-and-so indulges in such and such wrongdoing. Hence, the undutiful son himself becomes a means of disgrace for his father. Similarly, when an individual joins a religious community and does not remain mindful of its dignity and honour, and acts against its teachings, he is worthy of blame in the sight of God. For such a one does not only ruin themselves but deprives others of the path of blessing and guidance due to their own immoral example. Therefore, insofar as is within your power, seek the assistance of God and endeavour to eliminate your weaknesses with all your strength and resolve. Wherever you fall weak, raise your hands in prayer with sincerity and faith. For hands that are raised with a spirit of humility and meekness as a result of sincerity and faith are never returned empty. I can say from experience that thousands of my prayers have been accepted, and continue to be accepted even now.
“It is an invariable fact that if an individual does not possess within their hearts the fervour of sympathy for mankind, then they are miserly. If I see a path that leads to goodness and benefit, it is my responsibility to loudly proclaim it to the people, irrespective of whether anyone follows it or not.” (Malfuzat, Vol. 1, pp. 143-144)
The Promised Messiahas said that his exhortations to the Jamaat came out of a hidden inner passion and pain and that he could not stop. Therefore, Jamaat members should follow these exhortations closely and if they did not want to carry out good deeds, then what was the purpose of entering this Jamaat? He said that he desired apparent revolutions within people so that the enemies could be silenced. The Companions of the Holy Prophetsa changed themselves immensely and by seeing this change others also repented from their ill ways.
Huzooraa prayed that all Jamaat members become muttaqi and also attain the station of mohsineen.
Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa said that everyone should continue engaging themselves in prayers during Jalsa, recite a lot of durood and also spend a great deal of time in zikr-e-ilahi, the remembrance of Allah.
In the end, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa led everyone in silent prayer.