Note: The Alislam Team assumes full responsibility for any errors or inaccuracies in this translation of the Friday Sermon.
Friday Sermon delivered by Hazrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmad (ra) Khalifatul Masih II May 11, 1923
Topics: Acceptance of Prayer, Ramadan, Lailatul Qadr, Rise and Fall of Nations, Promised Messiah's Advent, Last Ten Days, Spiritual Warfare, Muslim Ummah, Divine Decree
After reciting Tashahhud, Ta'awwuz, and Surah Al-Fatihah, Huzoor (ra) said:
The month of Ramadan holds a distinction among all other months. The day of Friday holds a distinction among all other days. The time after Friday, the time of the sermon, and the time of prayer — all of these carry special distinctions within them. And then our Jama'at, too, holds a special distinction — which is that all other communities are deniers of God's message and His messenger. Our Jama'at has accepted the last envoy of God.
So today is a special day, and today's time is a special time, and this month is a special month. In short, these are days of special distinctions, and so many special qualities have converged in them that the shower of God's grace that is descending in these moments — we must take benefit from it.
The interpretation of Lailatul Qadr that the Promised Messiah (as) gave — because of which, people issued a decree of disbelief against him. He said that Lailatul Qadr refers to the era of a divinely appointed one. Lailatul Qadr is also the one that comes in Ramadan, but otherwise it refers to the era of a divinely commissioned one — the era in which the rise and fall of nations is assessed: which nation is to be raised and which is to be brought low.
The era of a divinely appointed one is an era of darkness. With his coming, the destinies of nations are decided.
Consider the Lailatul Qadr of the era of the Holy Prophet (saw). How many nations were judged in it! The Roman Empire, which controlled half the world, and the Persian Empire, which held sway over the other half — decisions were made regarding both. These lofty and exalted empires would be brought low, and the naked, hungry people of Arabia — who ate lizards, who were perpetually intoxicated with wine, who were ever ready for mischief and strife, and whose morals were the worst — would be elevated in the world. Such a transformation would be wrought in their evil morals that they would become teachers of the world. Those who wandered about unclothed would become rulers of the world. This was the Lailatul Qadr of the era of the Holy Prophet (saw).
These nights have come time and again. Throughout the era of the Muhammadi Ummah, they have come during the times of all the Mujaddids — in which the small were made great and the great were made small. However, in the eras of those Mujaddids, the manifestation of Lailatul Qadr was not as grand as it has been in the era of the Promised Messiah (as). In this Lailatul Qadr, a decision has been made regarding the entire world.
In the same way, it was decreed for the era of the Promised Messiah (as) that in this time, some nations would be obliterated and some would be elevated.
This era carries a special distinction within it. Allah the Almighty, without any merit on our part, made us part of the Jama'at of the Promised Messiah (as), and in this way granted us the finest portion of the decree being made in this Lailatul Qadr. As for the other rewards associated with it — when will they be received? Their attainment is connected to our deeds.
We must show the world the fruits of the advent of the Promised Messiah (as). We must bring about transformation in our own selves and spread those truths that have come to us through the Promised Messiah (as). We should pray to God that He make us inheritors of those truths that He has promised.
These are blessed moments. This is the blessed month of Ramadan. Friday has been distinguished and described as special. Therefore, our Jama'at should take benefit from these moments. This day comes only once a year. So these are moments for the acceptance of prayer. We should take as much benefit from them as possible.
This year is especially important for our Jama'at. This year, our dangerous battle has begun. Although we have faced battles before, none like this. If outward circumstances are observed, it would seem that these are our days of decline. But those communities whose lives are dedicated to God are never destroyed.
So these are days of a dangerous battle. On one side, the leaders of the Muslim nation have abandoned us at this time. Although the scholars have opposed us, the common people are with us, and their eyes are opening to see who it is that truly serves the faith. This is a matter of joy for us, because it is this class of people from whom there is hope of finding the right path — for these circumstances have opened the eyes of Muslims to the fact that those who serve the faith should be valued. This realization is a cause of joy for us.
Due to severe pain in my throat, I cannot speak at length. This is an important subject, but for our Jama'at, there is no need for lengthy discourse to understand the importance of prayer. Nevertheless, considering the significance of the occasion, I draw attention to it.
Today, too — and this is the last ten days of Ramadan — make special prayers in it. May Allah the Almighty remove our weaknesses. And pray that we may see with our own eyes these promises being fulfilled, and that the victories of Islam may come at our hands.
(Al-Fazl, May 17, 1923)
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