Huzur said last Friday he had explained with reference to the Divine attribute of Al Nafi (the Benefactor) that real and true benefit comes from God alone therefore He alone should be worshiped. This results in attaining His beneficence in this world as well as the Hereafter. God has also commanded that in conjunction with worshipping Him we put in practice all that He has enjoined. Not only because general benefit and advantage is associated with Him but because He is the Creator and the Sustainer of the entire universe, is the Lord of all the worlds and is therefore the sole source of all benefit and gain.

Huzur further explained by reading extracts of the noble writing of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) that it is through the Divine excellence of Rububiyyat (quality to create and nurture) that God has made His beneficence available to all creation. His creation extends to the ‘worlds’ in space, the ‘worlds’ that inhabit under the crust of the earth, the ‘worlds’ of vegetation, the kingdom of arthropods, the insects etc. All this creation has a purpose and among all the creation mankind benefits the most. As scientific research advances the benefits of all creation to mankind are becoming clearer. Huzur said how could man turn elsewhere when God has granted so much to him; has created him and pressed everything in action for his benefit. Indeed man should be utterly grateful to God and be completely free of associating any partners with Him.

The Holy Qur’an reminds us that when we benefit from all that has been put into this world for us we should be aware that it is God Who has created everything, Who sustains it all and has power over it all. He is the Lord, Ever Gracious, most Merciful and the Master of numerous other attributes. Citing verse 165 of Surah Al Baqarah; ‘Verily, in the creation of the heavens and the earth and in the alternation of night and day, and in the ships which sail in the sea with that which profits men, and in the water which Allah sends down from the sky and quickens therewith the earth after its death and scatters therein all kinds of beasts, and in the change of the winds, and the clouds pressed into service between the heaven and the earth — are indeed Signs for the people who understand.’ (2:165) Huzur said this verse only cites a few of God’s favours upon us, if one has any sense, one would never be lost here and there but would recognise the true God. The creation of the heavens and the earth is a blessing among the numerous blessings of God and as the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) elucidated that many worlds exist on this earth, each creation has a world of its own. Huzur said the ships sail through the seas and are a means of travel as well as a major source of freight transport in the world even today. The water of the seas transforms into clouds and brings down signs of life back to the earth. Indeed, without water agriculture would be non-existent and the world would be famine-struck. Huzur cited verse 31 of Surah Al Mulk; ‘Say, ‘Tell me, if all your water sinks into a deep recess, who then will bring you clear flowing water?’ (67:31) and explained that the water on this earth is only life-giving when it takes the shape of God’s water coming down from the sky.  Huzur said the farmers world over know that winds blowing in specific directions bring specific benefit to crops. All this is not mere co-incident; rather it is a proof of the existent of God. Reflection and pondering over the creation of the heavens and the earth, the alternation of day and night and the changing seasons strengthen belief in the existence of God.

Huzur cited a couple of incidents from the blessed life of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) when he was asked to pray for rain and God accepted his prayers and rain fell on parched earth. Huzur said indeed God created ‘beneficial’ people in the ummah of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) through whom He has given the proof of His power and in the current age it is the being of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) whose prayers were accepted for the benefit of people.

Huzur said the spiritual world is even more extensive than the physical world and in the example of the alternation of day and night is a message of the Divine arrangement of dispelling darkness through spiritual light. God has never been remote in manifesting this light in any age at all. In this age, in accordance with His promise, He sent the Promised Messiah. Just as God has provided the means of transport in the physical world in the form of ships and vessels similarly He sends His people to this world who arrange for spiritual vessels to take people to their spiritual destination. This favour of God has never ceased. The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) wrote a book in this context entitled ‘Kishti Nuh’ (literal translation: Noah’s Ark). In this book he expounded the spiritual remedy to protect oneself against the plague. Huzur read extracts from the book [the English version/translation is entitled ‘Our Teaching’] and explained that verbal assertion of the bai’at means nothing unless one accepts and practices from the heart. The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) said that this community is God’s last community and should therefore demonstrate supremely excellent practises. Huzur said the book sets out the standards by adopting which a believer, an Ahmadi, makes him or herself safe. May God enable us to continue to lead our lives in accordance with this teaching.

Huzur said the world is caught up in all sorts of troubles. Many diseases are spread all over the world, the new and current epidemic of swine flu is one of them. All this is a cause for concern and should make us pay attention to ourselves whether we are trying to put the teaching of God, His Prophet and the Imam of the age in practice or not. When we will make the endeavour to practice what God commands we will attain beneficence from the spiritual water about which God has said in the aforementioned verse ‘…quickens therewith the earth after its death…’. Huzur said the spiritual water which God sends through His Prophets and those He commissions brings new life, however, only those gain from this water who have the capacity, like good soil, to benefit from it. God’s grace in general sends down water but ‘fertility’ of hearts is required for it to be advantageous.

Huzur cited a Hadith in which the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) explained this extremely well. He said there are three types of people. Those like good soil, which is soft and has the capacity to absorb water and as a result produces good crop. When rain falls on such soil, it increases it moisture by absorbing the water and is beneficial by producing good crops. The second kind of soil is that which is hard and cannot absorb water well but collects water, like ponds and lakes. This soil  is not directly beneficial but by collecting water it provides water for the animals and people to drink and is also useful for irrigation. The third kind of soil is rocky, gritty or is sloped and does not absorb water or has the capacity to collect water. Such soil neither benefits itself nor does it provide any advantage to others. The first kind of soil is like that learned person who not only seeks religious knowledge himself but also imparts it to others. The person who is like the third kind of soil is one who does not get any beneficence from the spiritual water and one who does not benefit others. Huzur said the Hadith does not cite the second type of person but it is obvious from the earlier citation that it is that person who does not attain any benefit for himself but is beneficial to others. In other words does not put what he knows into practice himself but teaches others to do so.  Huzur said true believers should try and be among the first category then alone will they really derive benefit from Al Nafi.

Citing verse 6 of Surah Al Nahl; ‘And the cattle too He has created; you find in them warmth and many other benefits; and some of them you eat.’ (16:6)  Huzur said the aforementioned Surah Al Baqarah verse, which is under explanation by Huzur, cites the word ‘daa’ba’ (beasts) whereas this verse cites the word ‘an’am’ (cattle). Huzur said daa’ba connotes all types of animals. Huzur said in spiritual terms ‘daa’ba’ are those believers who derive benefit from the spiritual water and take it to others and thus provide vigour and liveliness. Spiritual winds are also pressed in action for those commissioned by God and they are saved and protected from the opposing winds. Indeed the history of the Ahmadiyya community is a testament to this. Huzur said he receives many letters in his daily post expressing that it is the ‘cool breeze’ of Ahmadiyyat that attracts people to it. Huzur said in particular letters written in the eloquent language of Arabic are most expressive in this instance. Thus our Al Nafi God grants us benefit every second of the day.

Huzur said our opponents call on us to reject Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad Qadiani, the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) and say they would embrace us if we did so. As if, we would leave the support of Al Nafi God and go to them, where there is nothing but disorder. Huzur said not only has God guided us but indeed He states in the Holy Qur’an; ‘Say: “Shall we call, beside Allah, upon that which can neither profit us nor harm us, and shall we be turned back on our heels after Allah has guided us, like one whom the evil ones entice away leaving him bewildered in the land, and who has companions who call him to guidance, saying, ‘Come to us?’ ” Say: “Surely, the guidance of Allah is the only guidance and we have been commanded to submit to the Lord of all the worlds.’ (6:72). Huzur explained that real guidance is that which comes from God; would we leave this guidance and go after them who are still embroiled in the abrogation of Quranic verses? And despite belief in One God and One Book are passing edits of disbelief (Kufr) on others? Huzur said God has granted us insight that He sent the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) as the last law-bearing Prophet and Who gave him the Holy Qur’an and we have been given this perception by the Imam of the age. Indeed, He continues to demonstrate signs of support for us, just as He promised. If our community was a man-made affair the endeavours of the enemy for the past 120 years would have brought about different results than the continual progress and advancement that God has granted us. We have but always seen the opponents bewildered and this has strengthened our faith. We invite them to come into the fold of the community of the Mahdi and the Messiah (on whom be peace) for in this lies their permanence and the permanence of this world. May God enable them. May He grant us the capacity to derive benefit from His attribute of Al Nafi and grant us the capacity to be beneficial to others. May we partake a measure of the spiritual revolution that is destined through the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace).