Huzoor^(aba) based his Friday Sermon on verse 119 of Surah Tauba (9:119). The translation reads:

'O ye who believe! Fear Allah and be with the truthful

Huzoor^(aba) said that when Allah sends down a prophet his followers establish high standards of taqwa (righteousness), they are included in the category of the truthful and guide others to the right way and thus the succession of Divine blessings continues, and in each age and each era there are truthful people whose company is beneficial for the rest.

Huzoor^(aba) said while one is enjoined to keep the company of the truthful one is also admonished to adopt truth oneself. Failing to do so could cause one to stumble and face ultimate regret, as the Holy Quran expounds in Surah Al Furqan (25:29-30).

Huzoor^(aba) said the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) has elucidated and unfolded faith in his august books; study of his book indeed constitutes ‘keeping the company of the truthful’. Huzoor^(aba) said it is a fact that one is impressed and affected by the environment in which one is. Befriending people of high morals improves one’s ethics just as keeping the company of morally wrong people can only plunge one in moral lowness. The affect of the company one keeps is so fundamental that the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to profusely say Astaghfar (seek Divine forgiveness) when in a gathering. Huzoor^(aba) drew the attention of parents and children alike to this issue and spoke at length on ways to keep open communication between parents and children about the company young people keep. Huzoor^(aba) counselled parents to inculcate in their children a sense of belonging, a connection with God and to do this, Huzoor^(aba) said, the parents first need to be in the category of the truthful. The youngsters should be encouraged to keep in touch with the Community and told that those who take them away from Allah could never be their true friends.

Reading excerpts from the writings of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) Huzoor^(aba) said that if one has perfume it reaches those who keep his/her company, similarly the company of the truthful blows out the essence of truth for others. One should promptly leave an assembly where the name of Allah and His prophet are being degraded. Whereas one who associates with the truthful is, as if, one of them and remains in the shelter of Allah’s blessings. One effect of keeping the company of a person who has achieved Nafse Mutmainnah (soul at rest) is that one too is the recipient of content and inner satisfaction.

Huzoor^(aba) said one way to reform one’s self is to keep the company of truthful, to adopt taqwa, inculcate faith, then as an act of Sunnah shun immorality and keep company of the truthful. Huzoor^(aba) said even if one begins to keep the company of the truthful with somewhat disquiet, it eventually brings about a positive change.

Huzoor^(aba) said it is in the context of the proximity of something having an effect on one that association with alcohol in all form is prohibited. Khalifatul Masih IV (rahma’ullah) asked the Community to give up all such employments that brought one in contact with alcohol. Huzoor^(aba) added that the same principle applies to the flesh of swine and that any employment that brings one in contact with this should be forgone for the sake of Allah, Who would then bless you.

Further expounding the significance of deriving benefit from the spiritual writings of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) Huzoor^(aba) instructed MTA to abundantly produce programmes that highlight and explain the writings of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace), presenting them, translated in various languages. Huzoor^(aba) said this was imperative for the spiritual training of the ever-expanding Community.

Huzoor^(aba) said the company of the truthful is most important for purifying oneself, that is to seek help from one who is on the right path, to continually correct oneself. He said we should stick with the truthful and try and thus make ourselves truthful and aim to accomplish this for our next generation as well.