Note: The Alislam Team assumes full responsibility for any errors or inaccuracies in this translation of the Friday Sermon.
(Sermon delivered on 14 September 1923)
Topics: Malkanah apostasy movement, Tabligh, sacrifice, Duties of Ahmadis
After recitation of tashahhud, ta'awwudh, and Surah Al-Fatihah, Huzoor-e-Anwar addressed the congregation as follows.
Today, some friends who had gone to Malkanah for the purpose of tabligh have returned, and others are about to depart. When I first initiated this work, I consulted with certain friends to seek their counsel as to whether we should involve ourselves in it or not. At that time, one or two friends were of the opinion that we should not interfere in this matter, but the rest held the view that we must take this work upon ourselves and prepare fully to defend Islam. In my estimation this latter view was correct, but I repeated the matter again and again, making clear that if a decision were made to begin this work, we could not abandon it under any circumstances. Once we entered this arena, there would be no returning. Others would enter and, after some time, give up and come back — but for us, once we had entered this field, there would be no way to turn back: neither in terms of religious law, nor morality, nor our own honour. I said repeatedly: think this through fully before forming your opinion. Despite my insistence, the friends continued to press that we must certainly involve ourselves in this work.
After that consultation, I convened a gathering in which I drew the attention of the entire community to this task, and at that time I indicated that the strength and effort we would need to expend for this work would far exceed anything we had done before. When I delivered my first address, the full scale and importance of the apostasy crisis was not yet apparent, and people were under the impression that it was a matter of a few days — even those working in the field believed that this mischief would be suppressed within a short time. But I had already declared at that point that this was not a matter of days but of years, and that it would require not hundreds or thousands of men but hundreds of thousands — because at that time I could see what others are only now beginning to see. My vision reached much further. The work was visible to both parties, but the difference lay in the range of sight: mine was trained on a much more distant horizon with clarity, while others could not see so far and their view was hazy.
That is why in my early addresses I spelled it out plainly — though perhaps people thought at the time that I was speaking with exaggeration to stir up enthusiasm. But what became apparent to me then from observing the currents of the world proved correct, and events have confirmed that what I said was true and not merely an exercise in rousing feeling. At the time, when it was not yet in anyone's mind, I said: do not think this chain of apostasy will remain confined to the Malkanah people — it will extend to other communities as well. And indeed, within only a few days this movement had begun in Kashmir, Chasba in Sindh, and other areas. There are yet more regions where subversive work has begun. Just days ago I received a letter from a friend informing me that the Aryas are making efforts regarding yet another community. A hidden circular has been distributed by an Arya Samaj, a copy of which that friend sent to me. At present there are six or seven communities regarding which this movement is actively underway. These events have thus proven that what I had told you was an inspiration from God — not exaggeration meant to stir emotion.
Yet I am grieved that, despite my having forewarned well in advance that this task would demand far greater strength and resolve than anything before, and that many sacrifices would be necessary to stem this mischief, the community has not exerted itself to the degree required. I say again: all Muslims of India are in danger at this moment, as I had said before — and events are now bearing that out. Recently, at a Hindu sabha convened in Benaras under the presidency of Madan Mohan Malviya, a resolution was passed to convert all Muslims to Hinduism. Similarly, a letter has arrived stating that Christians have established a committee to investigate how long this apostasy movement will last. That committee has found that the Hindus currently intend to reconvert to Hinduism those communities in India that had previously converted to Islam from Hinduism, and they are prepared to spend up to one thousand rupees per Muslim. The Muslim population of this description in India is close to eighty million — spending one thousand rupees per person means that eighty billion rupees would be spent to make Muslims into Hindus. This is the sum the British nation spent against its enemies in the six-year war. Yet the Hindus have resolved to spend this amount to convert Muslims to Hinduism.
Now, these intentions remain intentions — for we know that they stand in opposition to God's own intention. God's intention is that this very Hindu nation, which seeks to make Muslims into Hindus, shall itself enter Islam and — by their own mouths — proclaim the victory of Ghulam Ahmad. But these are the intentions of a living, active nation, and so on seeing their plans, we too must work with full diligence and strength. For my part, hearing such intentions produces joy in me, because this nation will ultimately embrace Islam, join us, and work alongside us — and the stronger and more vigorous their resolve, the more useful they will be. Thus God's purpose will certainly be fulfilled and the Hindus will enter the fold of Islam. But as I have said many times, there is no guarantee as to whose hands it will be fulfilled. Our heart desires that God's intention and promise be fulfilled through our own hands. If we do nothing and some other nation comes and overcomes the enemy, what joy would that be for us? Our joy lies in confronting our opponents ourselves and having God's promises fulfilled through our own hands.
But I am grieved that many friends who said, "Whatever happens, we will work and support Islam," have shown great negligence in this task and have not rendered the service that was their right to render. A consultation is no consultation at all when the one who gave the counsel does not himself act upon it. Many of those who participated in that consultation have not demonstrated through their actions that they made any distinguished contribution toward inspiring others or keeping this work going.
Beyond my complaint against them, I also have a grievance against the rest of the community: people registered their names to go to the Malkanah region, but when asked to depart for the region of apostasy, they offered the most trivial of excuses. Some even wrote to me afterward saying that had they known the kind of address I would deliver, they would never have registered their names at all — as if they had enrolled only to mock us.
Look — the time for sacrificing lives has not yet arrived. But what we sacrifice today gives a measure of what we will sacrifice in the future. So I say again: to truly stem the tide of apostasy, thousands of men are needed — men whose sole concern is the faith. Without doubt, no more splendid example of sacrifice, no more beautiful example, has previously been seen in this community. The great majority of those who went for tabligh were prepared to make every sacrifice for the faith, and they fulfilled what was expected of them. Among those soon to depart, many friends likewise appear ready to make sacrifices with sincere devotion and ardour. Just now, a doctor who had been in government service for ten years submitted his resignation in order to go to the region of apostasy, because he could not obtain leave. He did not accept the idea of remaining behind; rather he preferred to sacrifice his employment — whereas people ordinarily never abandon long-held positions, because those positions carry many accumulated rights. To completely give up ten to fifteen years of service for three months of work is surely testimony that faith has taken deep and firm root within him.
Such people exist in our community — yet despite that, if even one person is visible who is weak in faith and sincerity, I cannot find peace. Consider: if a mother has a hundred sons, one of whom is ill, can she sleep peacefully because ninety-nine are healthy? Never — she will be restless for the sick son at every moment and will not rest until he recovers. Similarly, a leader and imam who desires the advancement of his community and possesses far-sighted vision can never be satisfied that any member of his community is devoid of faith and sincerity. Until every single member of the community stands firm on that faith and is ready to make the sacrifices that a community of believers requires, he cannot truly be called a leader. If there is any deficiency in any member of the community, he will pray night and day with a grieving heart, that God may bring about the condition whereby they become ready to make every kind of sacrifice for the faith.
I see that many simply do not care what is asked of them — so they decline with the most trivial excuses. And many are pulled in two directions: on one side worldly circumstances draw them, on the other the religious needs of the community call to them. These people present their circumstances to me, hoping I will tell them they need not go yet. And there are some who go but do so with a heavy heart. There is, however, another large group that is glad for the opportunity to serve the faith.
I again draw my friends' attention to this: this work is no ordinary work, so understand its importance and make the sacrifice it requires. Do not put forward trivial excuses. Those friends who have not yet submitted their names, I draw to their attention that such opportunities do not come again and again. Certainly there will be other times for sacrifice, but there will not be opportunities for sacrifice of the kind that come in the era of the Caliphs who saw the Promised Messiah(as), received his training, and were counted among his Companions. After them will come the era of the Tabi'in, and at that time the reward for sacrifices will not be what can be earned through sacrifices made today — because they will have conveniences that we do not have. When we give of our wealth for the faith, we do so with nothing remaining behind; they will give when they still have much wealth remaining. We go forth in service of the faith when there is no one to take our place; when one of them steps forward, a thousand others will be there to fill his position. They will make sacrifices when their treasuries are full of wealth and they have men to spare — but we go forth now when we have neither treasuries, nor armies, nor sufficient men. Therefore the sacrifices of this time are of the highest necessity, and the difference between our sacrifices and theirs is immense.
So I draw my friends' attention: cast off indolence and be ready for sacrifice, because this is a unique moment — to fail to take advantage of it is a grave mistake and a great folly. I do not say that everyone who goes there will necessarily be a person of faith, because it is possible that a person may go out of hamiyyat-e-jahiliyyah — the zeal of ignorance. Just like in the time of the Holy Prophet(sa): there was a man who was fighting in a battle with great bravery, and many people admired him, yet the Holy Prophet(sa) said: if anyone wishes to see a man walking about who will enter Hell, let him look at this man. Some Companions were astonished — how could a man who was exhausting himself fighting the disbelievers be destined for Hell? One Companion found this thought troubling and resolved not to leave this man's side until he had confirmed the truth of the Holy Prophet's (saw) words. Eventually the man was wounded and, unable to bear the pain of his wounds, he planted his spear in the ground, fell upon it, and killed himself — and thus he entered Hell.¹ For he had not fought for the faith, nor had he been wounded while fighting for religion — and so he could not bear the pain of his wounds, and perished in this way. Such people can exist — those who participate out of the zeal of ignorance — but they are few. The majority are those whose faith is being tested in such moments, and for them it is a time of the strengthening and renewal of faith.
Great regret will befall those who watched their brothers depart but remained seated and did not put themselves forward. At that time the reward for such sacrifices will not be available — opportunities which exist today, but when Ahmadiyyat is spreading in all directions and power and strength stand behind it, this reward will not be there. So regard this time as precious, and earn what you can earn. Much time has already passed in our heedlessness and lethargy. Think how much those who receive the message of the Promised Messiah(as) will grieve, and how angry they will be with us for not telling them sooner. Just a few days ago, some people came from the district of Aligarh who expressed deep sorrow that they had not lived in the era of the Promised Messiah(as), and lamented that no one had told them during his lifetime that the Promised Messiah had come. So great was their love for the Promised Messiah(as) that when they heard mention of him, they kept lamenting repeatedly that they had not learned of him during his life and had not been able to believe in him then. If such people had been alive in the time of the Promised Messiah(as), how great would their joy have been? So how grievous a matter it is that so much time has passed in heedlessness and we could not even inform the people of India of the coming of the Promised Messiah(as). Just imagine for your own selves: if you had love for the Promised Messiah(as) and he had been born — say — in China, and no one told you of him during his time but only after him — how great would your sorrow be toward those people?
In short, much harm has been caused to this country because of our negligence and heedlessness. We have taken on the responsibility that a few missionaries go out, do some tabligh, and that is that — as though this discharges the duty of all. This is why I have now decided that every member of the community must go out for tabligh for one month in a year. Until the entire community fulfils this duty in this manner, it can never progress.
How deeply ashamed I was when a certain person wrote to me: your community has missionaries but very few mujahidin. This was such a taunt that it would have been better had he slain me with a sword.
Just today, a fairly detailed report has come from Mian Muhammad Amin Khan regarding Bukhara — he has reached Quetta. He writes: when I escaped and fled from Bukhara and thought they would surely kill me, I decided that before dying I should at least convey something to someone quickly, and in that state of alarm I reached a learned Haji and began delivering tabligh to him with great fervour, with the intention that perhaps I would be killed — let me do some tabligh before that happens. The tabligh had such an effect that when I said the Promised Messiah(as) has come, he stood up and said: I accept. I would make him sit again and resume the tabligh, but each time I mentioned the name of the Promised Messiah(as) he would stand up again and say: I accept. And this Haji is a great scholar of that locality.
He then writes: I reached another notable, who is also a major merchant whose house is worth several hundred thousand — he has dedicated that house to the missionaries. When tabligh was made to him, it had such an immediate effect that when the Haji would raise some further question in the presence of the merchant, or seek answers to others' queries, the merchant would become indignant and say: why are you asking questions? We have already accepted what they say — and this person is the representative of the representative of the Mahdi — so whatever he says is correct. Why do you ask how such-and-such is the case? Such is the condition of those who carry love for the Divinely Commissioned. The merchant then said: we will bear all expenses of the missionaries.
So outside, God is preparing communities full of passion and zeal, ready for every kind of sacrifice. We observe the Ahmadis of Africa — they are saturated with sincerity, by virtue of which they have reached thousands in number within a short period and are devoted heart and soul to Ahmadiyyat. When the condition of these people is such, the heedlessness of those who live at the centre — meaning the people of this country who are connected to Qadian — is most lamentable.
So I counsel my community: abandon your self-indulgence and understand your responsibilities. May Allah grant us the ability to understand our duties, may He bless our works, and may we behold with our own eyes those scenes of triumph of which Allah informed the Promised Messiah(as).
References
¹ Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab al-Qadar, Bab al-Amal bil-Khawatim (The Chapter on Deeds Judged by Their Endings), Hadith 6606. https://readhadith.app/hadith/bukhari-6606
Source: Al-Fazl, 21 September 1923
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