Note: The Alislam Team assumes full responsibility for any errors or inaccuracies in this translation of the Friday Sermon.
January 26, 1923
Topics: Appointed Times for Divine Will, Propagation, Iron Is Hot — Strike Now, Post-Khilafat Movement Opportunity, Transformation Requires Time, Entering Islam in Multitudes, Hyderabad Deccan Mission
After recitation of Tashahhud, Ta'awwuz, and Surah Al-Fatihah, Huzoor-e-Anwar addressed the community:
I have repeatedly drawn the attention of my friends to one of the most important duties of our Jama'at: the propagation of the truth and righteousness that Allah the Almighty has willed to spread in this era. Nothing can obstruct Allah's will and plan, and whatever obstructs His intention will surely be crushed and ground to dust. However, there is no doubt that Allah the Almighty has established a law for fulfilling all His intentions. No being in the world can prevent Allah's intentions or impose conditions upon them. Yet the Divine Being Himself has established conditions for His own intentions.
There is a law for all of Allah's intentions, and that law is this: every intention has an appointed time and hour for its fulfillment. If Allah the Almighty wished, He could make wheat sprout from the field on the very day the seed is planted. If Allah wished, He could create a child at the moment of conception. If Allah wished, He could make a mango tree grow and bear fruit on the very day the pit is buried in the earth. If Allah wished, He could form mines in an instant. But Allah the Almighty has not chosen to do so. Rather, He has chosen that wheat ripens after months, that a child is born after nine months, that a mango tree develops after years, and that mines form after millions of years.
Although Allah the Almighty has the power to accomplish things instantly, He does not do so. In this, there are great wisdoms and subtleties, some of which relate to the Divine Attributes, but since these are not directly relevant to our discussion, I shall not elaborate on them. Rather, I shall simply state that according to Divine law, an appointed time is set for the fulfillment of each intention. If obstacles arise during this appointed time, delays occur, or interruptions happen, this does not prove that Allah's intention for that work does not exist. Rather, it indicates that the work proceeds according to the laws established by Allah.
People say: "If it were Allah's will that the world accept the Promised Messiah (as), then why have not all people accepted him by now? If it were Allah's will that Islam spread through the Promised Messiah (as), destroying Christianity, then why has this not happened yet? If it were Allah's will that Ahmadiyyat spread, then why has it not spread until now?"
If this reasoning were correct, then we would ask in return: If it is Allah's will that a child be born, why does the child not come into being on the very day husband and wife unite? If it is Allah's will that wheat be produced, why is it not produced on the very day the seed is sown? If it is Allah's will that mangoes be produced, why does a mango tree not grow and bear fruit on the very day the pit is buried? If it is Allah's will that mines be formed, why does not coal become a diamond in a single day?
You all accept that these things are created by Allah the Almighty. Yet you say that each of them requires a specific time and period. We ask: Does Allah not create wheat? Indeed, He does create it. But does it not take six months? Similarly, does Allah not create a child from the sperm that enters the womb? He certainly does. But does this not take nine months? Again, does Allah not create a mango tree from a mango pit? He certainly does. But does this not take years?
If it takes six months for a grain of wheat to become wheat, if it takes nine months for human sperm to become a human being, and if it takes nine to ten years for a mango pit to become a mango tree, then we ask: if it takes tens, forty, fifty, or even one hundred years for Satan to be transformed into an angel, what is the objection? You accept that these periods are necessary for wheat to become wheat, for human sperm to become a human, and for a mango to become a mango. But regarding Satan becoming an angel, you ask why it requires time.
The principle is this: transformation of great magnitude requires a corresponding period. Mines are formed after millions of years of transformation. In the spiritual realm, transformation occurs over fifty or one hundred years, or more or less, depending on the nature of the change. Allah the Almighty has established a separate sphere of transformation for each thing, and within that appointed period alone does transformation occur. Therefore, it cannot be said that because a transformation requires time and a period, Allah's intention for that transformation does not exist. Rather, it demonstrates that the transformation is proceeding according to the law established by Allah.
Allah the Almighty has the power to spread in the world that truth and righteousness that came through Muhammad (saw). It is Allah's will to draw people from all corners of the world toward this truth and to convert them to it. However, as I have mentioned, there is an appointed time for this, and there is a measure established by Divine wisdom for how long this should take. Thus, Allah's intention will certainly be fulfilled. The real question is not whether it will be fulfilled, but rather: through whose hand will it be fulfilled?
Consider this analogy: if a person is drowning and fifty swimmers rush to save him, it is undoubtedly commendable that someone attempts the rescue. However, the one whose hand actually saves the drowning person will receive the praise. The hand that reaches the drowning person may be called coincidence, or skill, or effort, or technique—but it is that person's hand that will be remembered and praised. The one who stands on the shore watching will receive no recognition.
Look at how the British send forces to the borders and attack the frontier people. Given their military strength and power, we know that a frontier chief is scarcely more significant than a dacoit. It is difficult to apprehend these robbers because of the mountainous terrain, yet eventually they are caught. Such is the situation with frontier dacoits—they are not apprehended immediately due to lack of knowledge, but eventually the conviction remains that they will be caught, whether today or tomorrow. And indeed, they are caught.
Now, the soldiers assigned to this task do not consider the important question to be whether the government will ultimately capture them, but rather: who will capture them? And whoever captures the dacoit receives a reward and promotion in rank. Similarly, regarding the fulfillment of Divine intention, the question should not be whether it will be fulfilled—it will be, and certainly so. Who could prevent it? If you say it takes time, I have already explained that time is required, and time must pass. So if there is a question to be asked, it is this: who will be the fortunate one through whose hand Allah's intention and will be fulfilled?
Our striving and effort is not so that Allah's intention is fulfilled—it will be fulfilled regardless—but rather so that it is fulfilled through our hands. This is the most important and essential question for us. Therefore, I have repeatedly drawn my friends' attention to this matter, and I do so now as well: consider carefully through whose hand this work is accomplished.
In matters of religion, we cannot say: "If we do not do this work, those who come after us will do it." This is not like worldly matters where a father might think his son will inherit his work. In religion, the concept of inheritance does not apply in this way. Every person wishes that the work be accomplished through their own hand. Call it selfishness or whatever you wish, but every person naturally desires: why should I be deprived? Allah's blessings are not limited. Even if the greatest reward is obtained, others can still receive rewards. Therefore, in matters of religious service, sacrifice is not possible, because to refrain from service would mean considering Allah's blessings to be limited.
Consider this example: if there is only one glass of water, and one person says, "I will not drink so that another may drink," this would be self-sacrifice. But if someone sits by a spring of water and says, "I will not drink so that another may drink," this is not self-sacrifice—it is pointless self-imposed thirst and death. Similarly, regarding Allah's blessings, one cannot say, "I will not accept this; let my son accept it."
In matters of religion, we cannot say, "If we do not do this work, those who come after us will do it." Rather, it is our duty to do it. There will be no shortage of work for those who come after us. They too will have plenty of work to do. Only when there is no work remaining will it mean that Allah the Almighty wishes to end this world, and the Day of Judgment will have arrived.
I have given this counsel repeatedly, but today I wish to draw particular attention to it for a specific reason: there are special times for doing work. Look at the blacksmith: he strikes iron daily, but transformation occurs in iron only when it becomes hot and malleable. One blow struck on hot iron equals a hundred blows struck on cold iron. When you strike cold iron, nothing happens. But when you strike hot iron, even with a weak hand, it becomes flattened and shaped.
Such is the condition of the times. Sometimes they are hot, sometimes cold. In this era, I observe (for letters come to me from all directions and I receive information through various sources) that a fervor has arisen throughout India such that if truth is found anywhere, people will accept it. For several years, people were in a state of stagnation. Then attention turned to politics, and great enthusiasm was generated for that cause. However, now that this fervor has subsided, it has turned people's attention toward Allah.
General letters are arriving stating: "Previously, people did not listen to us, but now they ask of their own accord. There is a yearning in them." Therefore, it is clear that the iron is now hot. Those of you who are employed in Allah's workshop—I say to you: now is the time to strike this iron!
Thus, I counsel my Jama'at to pay special attention to propagation during these days. People have been disappointed by politics, having seen Mr. Gandhi's grand promises as a mirage. Now their attention is turned in a new direction—they are seeking another path through which they can succeed. And people are generally inclined toward Ahmadiyyat.
Previously, people would say, and even the people of this place said: "Why do you express views on political matters?" But others have now realized that if there is any voice of wisdom and knowledge in this era, it has come from Qadian. First, they called us ignorant, hypocrites, flatterers, and other names. But they have now seen that what we said was religiously sound. In this way, respect has been created in their hearts. When everyone was calling us ignorant, we expressed an opinion that proved to be the correct and right one. This has created respect in people's hearts, and now they wish to listen to what we have to say.
Thus, there is an excellent opportunity that non-Ahmadis and others also wish to hear our words. This moment should not be allowed to slip away, and our efforts should be increased as much as is humanly possible. I counsel both the people here and those outside that this opportunity should not be lost.
Allah the Almighty has made the hearts of people restless through His angels and has shaken them. If at this time we remain sitting idly, it will be a great misfortune for us. Look at what has happened in India over the past three years. Was it an ordinary matter? Certainly not. In this upheaval, thousands abandoned their homes and migrated. Many houses were destroyed. Countless people went to jail. This iron was being heated. If we remain idle even now, Allah the Almighty will be greatly displeased with us.
Therefore, bring about change within yourselves, and wherever the people of our Jama'at are located, let them understand that this year, in particular, they must engage in propagation.
Remember! I am not saying to engage in special propagation for two, three, or four months. Rather, I say: engage in propagation throughout the entire year. I see signs, and the day is near when those who mocked us will witness the fulfillment of Quran 110:2-3: "When there comes the help of Allah and the conquest, and you see people entering the religion of Allah in multitudes."
Such a transformation in hearts is becoming apparent that my heart feels that the time when people will enter in multitudes is approaching. The past two or three years were such that some people became discouraged and wondered what would happen. But just as water, when dammed up in a river, waits until one day when it suddenly bursts the dam and causes a flood, similarly, the condition of propagation now appears to be moving toward that state.
Now strike blow after blow. The result will be that what you wish to build will be constructed. Therefore, do not waste these days. Such opportunities are rare, and when they come, work done during them produces tremendous transformations.
When Allah sends a prophet, it is not so that people reject and deny him, but so that people accept him. Thus, Allah the Almighty wills that people accept Ahmadiyyat. However, as I have mentioned, the time taken in people's acceptance is according to Divine wisdom. It is designed so that those who believed first may be the means of others' acceptance, and through this, Allah provides us with the means of reward.
Thus, Allah does this for our reward. Otherwise, Allah the Almighty could grant guidance through any means. Sometimes a person has a dream and accepts guidance. If Allah could make a hundred or a thousand people into Ahmadis through dreams, why could He not make the entire world into Ahmadis in the same way? There are many who became Ahmadi through dreams. It is possible that one night we go to sleep, knowing we are a small Jama'at, but when we wake in the morning, all people say they are Ahmadi and believe in Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, the Promised Messiah (as).
Allah the Almighty has guided hundreds, indeed thousands, through dreams, thereby informing us that He is capable of doing this. However, He does not do this for everyone so that we may have the opportunity for reward. If everyone became Ahmadi through dreams, then there would be no need for financial contributions nor for propagation.
Thus, Allah the Almighty has means and methods through which He accomplishes work even without His servants. He has guided thousands through dreams, some of whom may be sitting here among you. In the same way, guidance could come to everyone. And through this, Allah has demonstrated that: "If you do not undertake the work of propagation, I will accomplish this work without My servants, but you will have no share in it."
Therefore, the Jama'at should become vigilant and gird up their loins, and should not let this opportunity slip away.
I see coming a time when the nature of service will not be what it is now—when we undertake propagation despite various hardships and difficulties. Look at the Christians: they also propagate, but not as we do. Our condition is such that one person goes and brings a hundred. The Christians' condition is that a hundred go and bring one, and they are pleased with their success. But the pleasure and delight we obtain—where could they obtain it? We snatch prey from the mouth of the lion.
When great successes are achieved, there will still be opportunities for service to religion, but there will not be the joy and delight that exists now. The taste and pleasure will not be the same. Therefore, do not let this opportunity slip away, for such an opportunity is obtained once in thousands of years—when the help of Allah comes. And this is a grace from Allah the Almighty that He has given us this opportunity. Therefore, whatever appreciation we show it is little.
May Allah the Almighty grant us the opportunity to spread His religion, strengthen our resolve, make us a means of guidance for people, and guide us on the right path.
After the second sermon, Huzoor announced:
In a new region where propagation has not yet been undertaken in the manner it is about to be, and regarding which I had observed that it would face opposition—that is, the region of Hyderabad, Deccan. Maulvi Thana'ullah has gone there, and I have sent Sheikh Abdul Rahman Sahib and Maulvi Fazl ud-Din Sahib. From today, the work of propagation will begin there.
During the second Rak'ah of the Friday prayer, when I rise from bowing, I will make a special supplication for that region. At that time, others should also supplicate, or at least say Ameen, so that Allah the Almighty, by His grace, may open the paths of propagation in that region.
Published in Al-Fazl, February 1, 1923
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