Ata-ul-Haye Nasir, Al Hakam
During his Friday Sermon on 27 March 1914, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud, Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmadra, said that mankind is always in need of divine guidance in order to achieve the purpose of their life.
He said it is an incorrect notion that trusting in one’s own intellect is enough for progress and there is no need for any heavenly personage to guide them.
Huzoorra continued by saying there is a mindset that “though we believe in the commandments of God, we will act upon them according to our own intellect and fundamentals, and there is no need for any heavenly guidance anymore”, however, they are completely wrong. (Khutbat-e-Mahmud, Vol. 4, pp. 55-56)
During his Friday Sermon on 1 May 1914, while advising the Jamaat members, Huzoorra said:
“It is your duty to obey and submit to Allah the Almighty, to fulfil the pledge made to Him of giving precedence to faith over the world, and to follow the Islamic commandments. […] You are required to fulfil your promises made to Allah so that He showers upon you His blessings.” (Ibid, p. 85)
During his Friday Sermon on 14 August 1914 – commenting on verses 68 to 72 of Surah al-Baqarah, where it is mentioned that the People of Mosesas asked too many questions in regards to Allah’s commandments – Huzoorra said:
“The Muslims have been taught here that they would also be given divine commandments, so they should not ask too many questions, for instance, ‘why should we follow this, what is the wisdom behind this, what are the conditions, and why is it like this and why not in such and such manner.’ […] One should always act on the commandments of the sharia and the Prophetsa.” (Ibid, p. 156)
During his Friday Sermon on 6 November 1914, Huzoorra spoke about the deteriorating situation of contemporary Muslims.
Huzoorra said that as long as the Muslims continued to act upon the true teachings of Islam, Allah had granted them great success. However, when they began to divert from these teachings, they were deprived of the help and succour of God Almighty.
Huzoorra continued by saying that in this era, the progress of Islam is only possible through Ahmadiyyat, and therefore, future success and progress has been decreed for the followers of the Promised Messiahas. Thus, members of the Jamaat need to create within themselves a spiritual revolution in order to become the recipients of Allah’s blessings and mercy. (Ibid, pp. 207-215)
During his Friday Sermon on 15 January 1915, Huzoorra emphasised the need to act upon the Islamic teachings in their true essence. Huzoorra said that it is completely wrong for one to obey the Islamic commandments according to their own interpretations, thoughts and wishes:
“One must realise that if they are obeying one aspect of a certain [Islamic] commandment and opposing the other, then it cannot be termed as complete obedience and submission, but rather, in reality, their nafs is deceiving them. […] The proof of one’s submission is that they show obedience even in those matters which are against their own habits, points of view, and likings. […] A believer always strives to attain the pleasure of God Almighty by acting on each of His commandments, whether they align with their own point of view or not.” (Ibid, pp. 266-268)
During his Friday Sermon on 20 October 1916, Huzoorra said that the Quranic teachings are the perfect code of conduct for mankind. Contemporary Muslims have forsaken the pathway taught by the Holy Quran, and this is the reason behind their regression. Islam is a religion that presents a perfect way of life and helps establish a civilised society. Thus, Islam and the establishment of a civilised society have a deep connection. (Khutbat-e-Mahmud, Vol. 5, pp. 300-302)
On 28 December 1937, during his address at the Jalsa Salana Qadian, Huzoorra said that a true belief in Islam means adopting the Islamic way of life “in one’s beliefs, actions, acts of worship, in one’s civilisation and culture, economics, politics, in the settlement of disputes that might arise between him and others, in short, in the whole field of life. Unless one does all these things, one cannot truly be called a Muslim.” (Real Revolution [Inqilab-e-Haqiqi], p. 163)
During his speech on 14 June 1948, Huzoorra said:
“If we are true Muslims, then we should glance back 1,300 years ago. If we try to follow the footsteps of other secular nations and ponder over their ways of progress, and neglect the commandments of Allah the Almighty or guidance granted by the Holy Prophetsa, then certainly we can never be successful in our objective; because God Almighty has made such promises with the Muslims which have not been made to the other nations. […]
“We must create such an environment that distinguishes us from the other nations, and the only way to achieve this is to act upon the teaching which was brought by our master and leader, Muhammadsa, the Holy Messenger of Allah. We should follow the path which he wanted us to follow, and avoid those matters which are against [the teaching of] Islam. If we do not [follow Islam], and try to become good followers of the West by only relying on worldly measures […] then we must remember that Allah the Almighty has not promised that He will help the good followers of the West; instead, the Holy Quran states:
قُلۡ اِنۡ كُنۡتُمۡ تُحِبُّوۡنَ اللّٰهَ فَاتَّبِعُوۡنِيۡ يُحۡبِبۡكُمُ اللّٰهُ
[“Say, ‘If you love Allah, follow me: [then] will Allah love you.’” (Surah Aal-e-Imran, Ch.3: V.32)]
“Meaning that if you want God to love you, then you should follow the footsteps of Muhammadsa, the Holy Messenger of Allah. Divine support and help can only come when the Muslims try to follow the footsteps of Muhammadsa, the Holy Messenger of Allah.” (Musalmanan-e-Balochistan se aik Eham Khitaab, Anwar-ul-Ulum, Vol. 19, pp. 579-581)
While addressing the Ahmadi youth, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra states in one of his couplets:
تم مدبّر ہو كہ جرنيل ہو يا عالِم ہو
ہم نہ خوش ہوں گے كبھی تم ميں گر اسلام نہ ہو
“Should you become a statesman, a general or a scholar; we will never be happy if Islam does not steep into your heart.”
May Allah enable us all to act upon the Islamic teachings with a spirit of obedience and submission. Amin