In connection with the commencement of the new Waqf e Jadid year Hazoor delivered today's Friday Sermon on the Divine attribute of Al Razzaq, The Provider, elucidating it with reference to Quranic verses, ahadith and writings of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace).

Hazoor presented the basic economic principle explained by the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be on him) in that markets cannot be driven by force and that there is a Divine Order to economy and that the natural sequence of things should be adhered to. Hazoor explained that the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be on him) said that one who seeks Divine forgiveness is released from sorrow and is salvaged from scarcity and that if man spends out of his wealth that is good for him and to avoid spending the wealth has an opposite consequence. Adding Hazoor recounted that the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be on him) said that it is permissible to be envious of a person who has been granted wealth and spends it equitably, just as it is acceptable to envy a person who is granted the Holy Quran and recites it day and night, correspondingly the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be on him) said that a woman who equitably spends out of wealth earned by her husband has a share in the reward with him and he enjoined that goodness is rewarded with sustenance in this world and the hereafter.

Further elucidating the subject with writings of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) Hazoor said that the apparent inequality of wealth among people couldn't be attributed to Allah and affluence of high order aside, no righteous person is truly impoverished. One who really puts all trust in God is always provided for, whether the sustenance descends from the heavens or shoots up from underneath one's feet. The righteous are enjoined to spend in the name of Allah openly so that others are inspired to do the same and secretly so that one is not deceived by one's own self.

Hazoor said that the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) wrote that sustenance is of two kinds, it can be a trial and it can also be granted by selection. It can take some people away from God until they reach destruction and some people consider all that is granted to them as Allah's and they prove this by their actions.

Next, announcing the Waqf e Jadid New Year Hazoor said that as this particular Movement enters its 45th year, 110 countries now participate in it. The global contribution towards the Movement for the year 2001 stands at £1,382,000.00 with USA Jama'at in the 1st position, followed by Pakistan. The third position, held by Germany for sometime was taken by Britain in 2001 and Hazoor took great pleasure in announcing that.

Hazoor concluded with a prayer that may each Ahmadi derive beneficence from the Divine promises made to the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace).