Huzoor^(aba) expounded the concept of prayer made with absolute belief, sincerity and submission to God with reference to verse 187 of Surah Al Baqarah (2:187) and its particular relevance to the month of Ramadan. The verse depicts those who truly love God as ‘My servants’. Huzoor^(aba) explained these are people who are totally compliant to all Divine commandments and who pay the rights of Allah and the rights of mankind. Acceptance of prayers necessitates some conditions: to worship Allah with utmost sincerity, to rely on Him alone, to be regular in establishing Salat, to obey the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be on him), to act on all that the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) has taught us and to have a firm belief that Allah listens to prayers. Huzoor^(aba) said when a prayer is not accepted it is either because our entreaty was not effective or a personal weakness of ours got in the way or in Allah’s eyes whatever we were praying for was not good for us. However, prayer made with sincerity is never wasted and manifests its expediency at some other time. Indeed the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be on him) enjoined that Allah listens to those who never tire of praying.

Explicating the virtues of ‘livening’ one’s prayers and to inculcate a personal relationship with God through worship, Huzoor^(aba) drew attention to the fact that some people have styled certain bazurg (holy people) and ask them to pray on their behalf, somewhat exempting themselves from the requisites of prayer and piety. Some of these bazurg give out amulets (ta’wiz). Huzoor^(aba) expressed his great displeasure at this corrupt practice and said no matter how limited and scant it’s prevalence, this is most unacceptable within our Community. Huzoor^(aba) prayed that may each Ahmadi endeavour to savour the pleasure of personal nearness to God.

Citing some Ahadith Huzoor^(aba) said that prayer is beneficial for affliction that has come to pass as well as affliction that is yet to come and that one who wishes for his/her prayers to be accepted in troubled times ought to pray when times are good and prosperous. The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be on him) declared that Allah’s treatment with His people is according to their imagination. One who remembers Allah in his heart is thus remembered by Allah, one who mentions Allah’s name in an assembly, his name is mentioned by Allah in a better assembly, one who goes towards Allah by one span Allah comes to him two spans, one who walks towards Allah has Allah run to him!

The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be on him) said that in time of suffering if a Muslim makes the prayer that Hazrat Yunus, on whom be peace, (21:88) made when in the belly of the fish, Allah would accept it.

Huzoor^(aba) read some momentous passages from the writings of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) on prayer. He said that if pray is made with the consciousness that God is the font of all beneficence then even if the prayer is not directly accepted, a tranquillity descend on the heart of the person and that prayer that is filled with distress and humility draws God closer. If one finds it hard to concentrate in prayer, one ought to persevere; seeking God’s help to make the heart inclined to prayer. As for the prayer that is made after one has been granted spiritual discernment, it magnetically attracts God’s blessings and makes good all that has gone wrong. The world is unaware of the splendour of the manifestation that this kind of prayer draws.

In the end Huzoor^(aba) gave an update of the mosque fund appeal he made last Friday for two mosques in the north of England. He highly commended UK Ansars for their efficient response, mentioned the UK Khuddam’s target promise for the fund and urged UK Lajna to come forward with their promises. Huzoor^(aba) expressed his wish that we have a mosque in every town and city.