Huzur delivered the Friday Sermon today from Bait ul Futuh, Morden, on his return from the recent North American trip. Huzur said he had travelled to USA and Canada to attend their respective Jalsas and the trip provided many opportunities to take the beautiful message of Islam to people and it had a very positive effect. People were introduced to our Community and any doubts or misgivings about Islam were removed. On the whole, the visit encompassed Allah’s blessings. Huzur prayed that may these blessings bear current and long term results for us as well as for the others. He said that the successful outcome of the message taken to others was neither due to the excellent planning of the Jama’at nor Huzur said, could he say that it was the way he had cited the subject that drew others’ attention and removed the doubts. It is the word of God, the ahadith and the writings of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) that have an effect on hearts. However, if Allah’s will is not there then this very message can also have the opposite effect. It is Allah Who opens hearts and minds and whenever He chooses He creates the environment for this. In this age Allah willed the message of Islam to be taken to the world through the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) and for the pure-hearted to accept it. Huzur said at the very least when this message is given to those who are pious they desist from animosity against Islam. This is why the advent of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) took place and it is destined that in this age the true and ardent devotee of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) shall demonstrate the message of Islam to the world. He was given the revelation that ‘heavenly help is with you’. When the message of Islam effects people positively today and they say that they have come to know something new, it is the ‘heavenly help’ that is opening their hearts and minds. When in this age the name of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) is mentioned respectfully and the Community is leaving very good impressions on others, all this is with ‘heavenly help’ otherwise people of the Western countries are very liberal, have a measure of self-importance and tend to present matters in a distorted manner and in this sense rarely do they do justice. However, without any specific effort on our part they listen to the message of the Promised Messiah with respect and his Khulafa are also held in esteem and the Community on the whole is regarded well. These indeed are the heavenly signs, which, Huzur said, he observed during his recent trip as well.

Huzur said all the Ahmadis who were involved in one way or the other in the organisational aspects said that the message had been received much better than they had expected. News and media also gave it very good coverage. Allah told the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) ‘I shall give you renown with honour’ and ‘I shall take your message to the ends of the earth’ – this we see fulfilled in every continent of the world.

Huzur said the general introduction of the Community and the message of the advent of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) has been publicised in the world on the occasion of the Khilafat Centenary on an extraordinary scale and this is only with the grace of God. Otherwise we could not have achieved this despite our efforts, especially in the countries where Islam is viewed most critically. Huzur said in USA, the Jalsa Salana took place at Harrisburg in Pennsylvania and received much attention with respect to the Khilafat Centenary. The state assembly of Pennsylvania wished to pass a resolution congratulating the Community on the Khilafat Centenary. However, one of their members, a staunch Christian, objected to this on the grounds that we do not consider Jesus (on whom be peace) Divine. Huzur said in USA, compared to here (Britain) Christianity is taken seriously. Had this resolution, for which we had made no effort, it was their idea, been passed without any fuss, it would have gone unnoticed and a piece of paper would have been delivered to us. Out of consideration we would have been grateful to them for this gesture, indeed it is our obligation in Islam to be courteous, however, this opposition was hyped by the newspapers and was also reported on the Internet. Numerous people entered the discussion that if the country is deemed secular then why this religious discrimination? The Jewish people also spoke up and said that they too do not consider Jesus (on whom be peace) Divine, would it mean that their rights would also be suppressed in USA. Huzur said the mullah would probably respond to this by saying that he had always maintained that Ahmadis and Jews were as one! Anyway, this opposition stirred a debate that created an atmosphere that was in our favour. Various web sites and newspapers covered this extensively. Eventually the resolution was passed after a few days. The effort by one to put us down became the source of widespread introduction of the Community. Today there is much opposition faced by the Community in Pakistan, Indonesia, Bangladesh and Hyderabad Deccan in India. This, in turn is giving the Community exposure in these countries. It is Divine decree. Whatever ploy our opponent or enemy may use against us, Allah will turn it into a further source of spreading the message of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) in the world. Indeed, people of the Community at times have had to sacrifice their property and their life but such sacrifices never go waste.

Huzur said in USA he was interviewed by a correspondent of the newspaper Lancaster Intelligencer Journal who published the interview without the usual editing. Huzur briefly mentioned what the interview cites and said that he has been repeatedly referred to as the ‘Khalifa of Islam’ in the interview, a fact that would have perturbed a few! Apart from this interview, many other newspapers carried the news of the Jalsa Salana, two radio stations, three TV stations and fifteen web sites covered it. We did not have the resources to publicise the event in this way, but Allah facilitated it for us. Each observant eye sees that His help is with us.

Huzur said a post-Jalsa reception was held in US in which Huzur spoke on the concept of Jihad in Islam in light of the Holy Qur’an, ahadith and the teaching of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace). Huzur said he also gave them the message that the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) had said that he was Jesus, son of Mary, the awaited Messiah. Huzur said in his address he remarked that as US was a big world power it should apply justice to create peace in the world. With the grace of God, Huzur said, this address was received very well and many came up to Huzur to express their appreciation and said that they had learned new aspects. In reality these are not new aspects, these are the true depictions of the Qur’an and ahadith which the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) showed us.

Huzur said the US Jalsa was also successful. They had hired a huge site and the entire Jalsa was held under one roof. Huzur liked an exhibition held there in particular as it displayed an historical perspective from the time of Hadhrat Adam (on whom be peace) to the time of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace). Huzur said this was his first trip of USA and it was after a period of nearly ten years that a Khalifa of the time had visited the country. In this period a whole generation has come of age and despite the Western environment, with the grace of Allah, the majority of young girls and boys are affiliated to the Community and have a connection with Khilafat. All this stirs a sense of gratitude to God in one. God has given such dear people to the Community of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace). There are a good number of African Americans in our US Jama’at and some white Americans as well. With the grace of Allah they are most active in the Jama’at. Love and respect of Khilafat exudes on their faces, may Allah increase their sincerity.

Next Huzur went to Canada and attended the Jalsa Salana of Canada. Huzur said he has been to Canada twice before, it is a vast country with huge distances between cities and a two hour time difference within the country. The Jalsa was attended by 15,000 people. Huzur said he has mentioned it before that the Canadian Jalsa is highly organised, most of the people there are experienced from Pakistan. As with the US Jalsa their Jalsa was also held under one roof (with the exception of the food cooked elsewhere) and due to the whole organisation being indoors, it was very good. Addressing the UK Jama’at Huzur assured them that they need not be concerned, the effort and hard work they put in organising the UK Jalsa has a delight of its own. Huzur said InshaAllah here too the time will come when the arrangements will be on a solid surface.

The Canadian Jalsa also received wide media coverage. Five major newspapers of the country covered it as well as the radio, TV and Internet. Huzur said the presence of the Khalifa of the time increases the exposure. This year Allah facilitated extraordinary ways in this regard and the Ahmadis were quite amazed at how the media coverage exceeded their expectations. A reception was held by the Jama’at to which ministers, premier of Ontario and other dignitaries came. Huzur gave an address on the peaceful teachings of Islam based on the Holy Qur’an, ahadith and the teachings of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) and also urged people to recognise the One True God. This reception was attended by more then five hundred guests and with the grace of Allah it left a very good mark. Huzur said many Christian priests and university professors came up to Huzur and expressed their appreciation and said they had learnt many new things about Islam.

In Calgary, the day after the inauguration of the mosque a reception was held in which Huzur again related the message of Islam. Huzur said three years ago at the time he laid the foundation of this beautiful mosque it was raining and Huzur had thought that perhaps the site was not apt for a mosque. However, Allah made all the arrangements – a highway was built nearby and further development ensued. Last year a railway station also became operational which is ten minutes walk away from the mosque. Huzur said the inauguration of this mosque drew attention not just in the region or in the country, rather in the whole world. The reception here was attended by the Prime Minster of the country who gave a supportive speech, may Allah reward him. Huzur said this reception also became a source of introducing the Community to the world. Many priest were amazed and one Ahmadi reported that one Christian priest was moved to tears upon listening to the true message of Islam. An Afghani person who is known to the Jama’at for some time met with Huzur after his address and was deeply emotional. He later took his bai’at. Huzur said with the grace of Allah at each trip that he makes to various countries Allah exhibits the fulfilment of ‘I shall give you renown with honour.’ The unfortunate mullah may make as much noise as he wishes, he says nothing but nonsense. These people are rejoicing in tormenting Ahmadis, their bad end is looming.

The opening of the new mosque in Calgary was covered by nine TV channels and nine radio stations broadcast it. Many Canadian newspapers covered the news and worldwide 130 web sites reported it. Huzur said the Mayor of Calgary is a very decent person and it was him who facilitated the Prime Minister to attend the event and he cited the inauguration of the mosque as a brilliant occurrence on the horizon of Calgary. Huzur said the photograph of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) as well as part of Huzur’s Friday Sermon from the new Calgary mosque was shown on TV. Indeed the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) had his photograph taken for the reason that the pious-natured may see his face and are enabled to recognise the truth. Many people who come into the fold of Ahmadiyyat relate that they had dreamt about a holy person which launched their quest for truth. When these people are introduced to the Community and see a photograph of the Promised Messiah they recognise him as the very same holy person who had come in their dream. There are also those who see his photograph and are interested to find out more. Huzur prayed that may Allah open the hearts and minds of pious-natured people both in Muslim and Christian countries. Huzur said we should pray specifically for the Muslims who are mindlessly following the so-called religious scholars and in doing so are ruining their life in this world and in the Hereafter. Huzur read an extract from the writings of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) in which he stated that people from the Western world would recognise the truth of Islam.

Huzur said he forgot to mention that the Canadian Jama’at was most exemplary in their sincerity. Their devotion and sincerity is ever on the increase. When Huzur departed from Toronto the emotional state of the huge crowd of people gathered there was quite moving. May Allah continue to increase their sincerity and may they take the message of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) to the world.

Next Huzur announced the sad passing away of an old waqfe zindagi (life devotee) and missionary, Maulana Nur ud din Munir. He had been a missionary in East Africa and had served the Community in many capacities. He was a scholarly person and among his other works he has translated four volumes of the History of Lajna in English. He leaves behind three sons, his burial took place in Rabwah and today after Jummah Huzur led his funeral prayer in absentia. Huzur prayed may Allah forgive him and may He elevate his status.