Friday, 14 May: Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa, in his Eid sermon today, emphasised worshiping Allah in the true sense and developing love and mercy with one another to attain the true Eid.
“Was this the only purpose” of Ramadan, that we merely pass through fasting and then eat, drink and enjoy ourselves on Eid? Huzooraa said we must understand, on Eid, the true purpose of Ramadan and to continue the good habits we developed. After 30 days of fasting, positive changes should be seen within us.
The Promised Messiahas said he had come for two purposes; firstly, to take mankind to God and secondly, to take mankind closer to each other – to understand their rights, to take care of one another, and to recognise each others’ feelings, etc. The rights of God and the rights of man are essential.
Hazrat Khalifatul Masihaa said that if we truly recognise these two aspects, we would be successful believers. Ramadan is a mode of attaining this purpose. When the happiness of Eid comes, we are also taught lessons on this day to develop these positive changes forever.
One can only become a true Muslim and believer when one pays attention to the rights of God and the rights of man. We, as Ahmadi Muslims, are blessed that we have accepted the Imam of the age who drew our attention toward how a true believer should be.
Relating the standard of our love with God, Hazrat Khalifatul Masihaa quoted the Promised Messiahas who said loving God meant to put the pleasure of Allah above all else; family and our own selves and wants. The Holy Quran says to remember Allah as we remember our forefathers; rather, the love for Allah should be much more than this.
Only when we develop this love of God can we say we attained the true Eid. The Promised Messiahas said, “My purpose is that along with professing [belief] with the tongue, supporting actions are necessary” too.
Huzooraa said that those who have done waqf should always remember they have done so for the sake of Allah alone.
The Promised Messiahas said, “The intention of Islam is to make many Abrahams. So each one of you should strive to become Abraham. Do not become a mere follower of a wali [saint]; instead become a wali yourself, and do not become a mere follower of a pir [holy person], instead become a pir’”. (Malfuzat, Vol. 2, p. 139 [2010])
“We should reflect and analyse ourselves as to the level of our love with God”, Huzooraa said.
To attain the love of Allah the Almighty, it is essential we pay attention to repentance, istighfar, invoking salutations on the Holy Prophetsa and prayers. The Promised Messiahas said to always keep death in mind for this temporal abode is not to be relied on.
The Promised Messiahas said that before every action, one should ponder and reflect whether Allah the Almighty would be pleased with a certain action or displeased.
The Promised Messiahas also said that prayer is the mirage of a believer. However, prayer is not to merely perform all the actions, there is no benefit in such a prayer. Salat is to praise Allah the Almighty and to seek forgiveness of our sins.
“Offer Namaz in a beautiful manner”, the Promised Messiahas exhorted. He said to pray for the success of our spiritual life and our worldly life in Salat.
With regard to worship, the Promised Messiahas said, “A Muslim is the one who sacrifices their whole existence for attaining the pleasure of Allah the Almighty […]”
The Promised Messiahas said a believer should worship Allah with love and happiness. A true Muslim loves Allah the Almighty as they recognise Allah is the Benefactor and loves greatly. Even if a Muslim is told there is nothing in Heaven, they still cannot leave their faith and good actions because their worship, obedience and connection with Allah is not for the sake of reward; rather, such a Muslim knows that their existence is to attain the closeness and understanding of Allah the Almighty.
The Promised Messiahas said a true believer does not love Allah due to reward or recompense. “Therefore I give the teaching to you, who have a connection with me, to adopt this path”, said the Promised Messiahas.
This is the true Eid.
The Promised Messiahas said the development and success of our Jamaat will be through steps, as a plant grows.
After bai‘at we must develop new colours in having a connection with Allah, in our remembrance of Allah and in dealing with our brothers. “Are we making efforts towards this?” Huzooraa asked.
A true Muslim has no personal enemies. Yes, they do see the enemies of God and His prophet as their enemies, but this does not mean to abuse that person; rather, it means to separate yourself from them and pray for their rectification.
Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa said that to progress in belief and certainty, it was essential to read the Holy Quran, along with Salat and prayers. The Promised Messiahas said “[…] read the translation of the Holy Quran too” so that we may understand it. “Don’t read the Holy Quran as a normal book, but read it while knowing it is the Word of God”.
In his sermon, Huzooraa said we should try to attain the true Eid by beautifying our prayers and studying the Holy Quran.
The Promised Messiahas said he found a great prophecy in the word “Quran”. It means that this is the only book worth reading; it will be the book that will distinguish bwtween what is true and what is false. He said, “Leave all other books” and read the Holy Quran day and night. He said that the Holy Quran should be the focus and not the ahadith. He said it is a great shame that more attention is given to teaching the ahadith and not the Holy Quran. The Holy Prophetsa said that the one who didn’t have portions of the Holy Quran in their memory was like an abandoned house. Huzooraa said we should revise what we already have committed to memory too. We should also reflect on the Holy Quran while reading it.
When we do this, we can say we have attained the true Eid.
We are not to celebrate Eid and then forget all the forms of worship we carried out in Ramadan, including reading the Holy Quran.
Huzooraa said one begins to worship Allah and read the Holy Quran only when they take care of the rights of God’s creation.
The Promised Messiahas said we should not have any resentment or hate for other believers. He said there are many who look down on others, talk against each other and hold resentments in their hearts. However, Allah the Almighty says to become like “one being.” The Promised Messiahas said that until people do not deal well with others, they cannot have a true connection with Allah the Almighty.
Huzooraa said we must ask ourselves if we were fulfilling the rights of our fellow beings and whether we had vowed to do so.
The attributes mentioned about Allah in Surah al-Fatihah should also be adopted by believers. These attributes are the fundamental morals of Allah, as it were. We should always deal well with others, treat them well and fulfil the rights owed to them.
The Promised Messiahas said it was the sunnah of the Holy Prophetsa to pray for enemies too. It was through his prayers that Hazrat Umarra converted to Islam.
The Promised Messiahas said that his followers should develop love and mercy for each other and fulfil each other’s rights. He said the most difficult aspect was fulfilling the rights of creation because this came at every step of life. He also said that having mercy on humanity was a great means of worship and a great means of attaining the love of Allah. Those who Allah has blessed should be merciful towards the poor and meek.
Huzooraa said that those who could should donate towards the various funds set up by the Jamaat for people in need.
The Promised Messiahas said, “Until you do not become like brothers with each other, you will not attain God […]” Believers should not fight with each other and should truly love one another.
Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa said that at home, there should be peace too. The Promised Messiahas said a man should forgive all faults of their wives, apart from indecency. He said it was embarrassing for a man to fight a woman. Therefore, taking care of our wives was essential to attain the love of Allah.
The Promised Messiahas said that the Jamaat Allah desires to create cannot be made without action. The preparation for this Jamaat started with Adamas. Therefore, our being part of this Jamaat was no normal matter; it was a great blessing, but we must attain what Allah desires from us.
God Almighty told Muslims to become at one with each other. Believers should not fight with each other and should pray for each other and show love and mercy for each other.
The Promised Messiahas said, “[…] adopt the unity of God and secondly, develop love and mercy with each other. Bring that example which becomes a miracle for others. This is what the companionsra of the Holy Prophetsa showed […]”
“A person who is part of my Jamaat and is not following what I teach is akin to a dry branch” that will be cut off, said the Promised Messiahas. In other words, there is no point in being part of this Jamaat if we are not good with everyone.
The Promised Messiahas said, “Without having a pure heart, salvation is not possible […]” He said the greatest filth was arrogance. If there was not arrogance, prophets of God would have been accepted.
Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa said that these were the teachings that would enable us to attain the true Eid. Our celebrations would not be limited to one or two days of Eid; rather we would have attained the true Eid all year round.
At the end of the Sermon, Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa said to pray especially for Palestinians who were suffering a great deal. They were not allowed into their own areas and were being forcefully taken out of their homes in Sheikh Jarrah. The media was now speaking out against the actions of Israel, even within Israel. Airstrikes were taking place which were unjustified.
Huzooraa said the US state department has not issued any statement for the Palestinian children killed, yet they claim to uphold human rights.
Reports by Amnesty International also showed that Israel was transgressing and a plethora of newspapers, even in Israel, were speaking against the actions of the governments.
Huzooraa said instead of the joys of this Eid, Palestinians were faced with mountains of pain and sorrow. Huzooraa said to pray that their sorrow converted into happiness and joy.
“The reaction of Muslim countries has not been as it should have […] If they had responded as one, it would have had a great effect.”
It is as if the Palestinians are fighting with sticks while the Israelis have a heavy army – there is no comparison, said Huzooraa.
Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa said also to pray for all those being persecuted in the world and to pray that Allah the Almighty relieves the world from the coronavirus and we go back to our normal lives. This is only possible when the world recognises its Creator and fulfils His rights and the rights of His creation.