Hudhur delivered his Friday Sermon on the subject of the Divine attribute of Al Khaliq (The Creator) and opened by reciting verse 4 of Surah Fatir: ‘O ye men, remember the favour of Allah towards you. Is there any Creator other than Allah Who provides for you from the heaven and earth? There is none worthy of worship but He. Whither then are you turned away?’ (35:4)

Explaining the meanings of the word Khaliq Hudhur said according to lexicon Khaliq connotes one who makes something, and to create without any matter, as the Qur’an states: ‘Allah created the heavens and the earth…’ (29:45) It also states, ‘He is the Originator of the heavens and the earth…’ (2:118) and ‘…Who created you from a single soul and created…’ (4:2) and ‘Verily, We created man from an extract of clay;’ (23:13).

Hudhur said creation of something new is specific to God, as the Qur’an states: ‘Is He, then, Who creates like one who creates not...?’ (16:18) Hudhur added that when used in conjunction with the word Al, the word Khaliq only signifies God. The basic meaning of the word Khaliq is to ascertain things. In terms of creation God is also addressed with other names in the Qur’an, for example, Al Bari (the Maker) or Al Badi (the Originator). He creates without the restriction of time and place. The Divine attribute of Al Fattah (The Opener) signifies One Who commences creation. However, Hudhur said today he would focus on the attribute of Al Khaliq.

Expounding the Quranic verse recited at the beginning Hudhur said God has made mankind most eminent among creation and has placed all kinds of blessings for its nourishment. All these provisions have been created by Him, be they of the heavens or the earth. He facilitates the earthly provisions through those of the heavens, for example rain. The Qur’an states: ‘Say, ‘Tell me, if all your water were to disappear in the earth, who then will bring you clear flowing water?’ (67:31). All that is in the heavens is God’s creation. Just as God is the Creator of all that exists in the physical world, the spiritual world is also pressed into service by Him and all this demands that we worship the One God. Hudhur said it should always be remembered that the real provision is that of the Hereafter and that is only attained when we only worship Him. Hudhur said we need to truly comprehend this and also need to make the world understand it.

The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) was a perfect model of God’s creation. Therefore, to truly appreciate God’s blessings, be they material or spiritual, we have to follow his blessed model, keep it in view ourselves and also tell the world about it. Hudhur said this is most significant and may God enable us to do so.

God states in the Qur’an: ‘Or, Who created the heavens and the earth, and Who sent down water for you from the sky wherewith We cause to grow beautiful orchards? You could not cause their trees to grow. Is there a God besides Allah? Nay, they are a people who deviate from the right path.’ (27:61). Here, our attention is drawn to reflect on the running of the heavens and the earth and if one reflects with fairness and wisdom, one cannot reject that all this creation has a Creator; indeed a Creator Who did not abandon it all after creating, in fact a Creator Who ‘… sent down water for you…’ so that life may be sustained and thus gave a proof of His existence. Hudhur said water is most central to life on earth. Before life as we know it existed on the earth, temperatures were so high that living things could not have survived here. It is through water that God created arrangement for life, thus was God’s plan. He created beautiful orchards and food and did this through water which He sent down from the skies. Hudhur explained the constant ‘water cycle’ whereby water evaporates and then comes down as clean rain water from the skies. We should reflect on this cycle and it should make us turn to God.

If God provided arrangements for the sustenance of the material/physical world through His Rububiyyat (quality to sustain/nurture) why would He not have made arrangements to facilitate the very objective of creation, that is, worship of God? For reminding mankind of this objective God has placed the system of Prophets in place and these Prophets bring spiritual water with them. Hudhur explained that while crops and vegetation grows with physical water, it also makes weed to sprout. In places the intended vegetation is overtaken by the weeds. With scientific developments many ways and means are now used to control the weeds, however, in places they can destroy a crop. So while rain is of benefit to vegetation in that it helps it to flourish it can also be a cause of harm for it as it also makes weeds grow. The state of the spiritual life is also the same. Spiritual water benefits the pious and the hard working people, however, those who are antagonist remain deprived and harm their ending.

In the times of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) the poor and the needy fully availed of the spiritual downpour and attained the status of [deserving the salutation of] RazaiAllah (may Allah be pleased) but, through their rejection, the chiefs of Makkah met a bad ending. Similarly, in this age of the true and ardent devotee of the Holy Prophet, the Promised Messiah and the spiritual water he brought has benefitted many and they are witness to God’s treatment of love and kindness to them and have experienced the beautiful life of spiritual development. However, the opponents have been deprived of all this. The spiritual water of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) caused many orchards and crops of faith to flourish as well as caused many weeds to come out. Through the agency of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) the time of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) will now last till the Day of Judgement and God has drawn our attention that now that this spiritual water has saturated us, we should always derive correct benefit from it and should value it and continue to irrigate our taqwa (righteousness) and practices with it, endeavour and make the teachings of the Qur’an part of our lives and keep seeking help from God. Just as some times seeds of weeds make their way into a good, healthy crop and vigilant farmers get rid of them immediately, similarly we should keep our hearts weeded. God states that it is not in our control to make gardens of good works flourish and blossom, all this is possible only with the grace of God. Therefore, we must value Him and must truly consider Him as our True God. Drawing attention to His worship, God states: ‘Or, Who answers the distressed person when he calls upon Him, and removes the evil, and makes you successors in the earth? Is there a God besides Allah? Little is it that you reflect.’ (27:63). Here God has illustrated the condition of those who in great distress turn to Him with all sincerity and supplicate Him that due to their acceptance of one sent from God, which is a blessing, the world is persecuting them. They beseech Him to remove their troubles. Hudhur said indeed in Pakistan such has been the state of affairs for many years now. The only way we can remove the persecution is to continue to turn to God as the only source of refuge. Now, some other countries have also joined in persecuting Ahmadis, for example Egypt. There is indeed only one solution to this; to turn to God in our distressed hours. God did not abandon us after creating us. Through His Rahmaniyyat (quality of graciousness) and Raheemiyyat (quality of mercy) He continues to bestow on us. What we need to do is to turn to Him in sincerity. Not only will He remove our troubles but will also make us the successors in the earth. Today Ahmadis are persecuted because they accepted one who is God’s beloved. Most certainly God has Power over everything and He will make them successors in the earth and will demonstrate to the world that they may straiten the earth for those who He loves, but He is the Master and will help His servants in extraordinary ways.

Elucidating the aforementioned verse (27:63) the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) said that the reference to ‘distressed person’ signifies those who are true servants of God. Otherwise the distressful prayers of the wrongdoing people of Noah and Lot (peace be on them) and also of the Pharaoh would have gained acceptance. Hudhur said wherever in the world the Ahmadis are being persecuted, they should remember that they alone fit the description of ‘distressed person’ as cited above and it is the prayers of such people that gain acceptance by God. The troubles that befall the rest are in fact chastisement.

God states: ‘Or, Who guides you in every kind of darkness of the land and of the sea, and Who sends the winds as glad tidings before His mercy? Is there a God besides Allah? Exalted is Allah above what they associate with Him.’ (27:64). Hudhur explained that here apparent troubles as well as spiritual darkness is being cited. Before an appointed and commissioned person of God comes, people are in spiritual darkness and God sends His people for the betterment of His creation. The advent of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) took place at such a time. The Qur’an cites such a situation as: ‘Corruption has appeared on land and sea…’ (30:42). Hudhur explained this was a time when those who believed in God and those who did not, both had reached the lowest ebb of baseness. The pious people of the time felt and were moved by the message. In the current age, the age of the true and ardent devotee of the Prophet, the spiritual state of people of all religions had also reached a very low point; in fact it still is at a very low point. Before the advent of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) people were waiting for a reformer for the world had reached the lowest ebb. Yet, when he came, many did not accept him. The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) said that people should realise that just as even wells dry up in a drought, and rain water brings about relief, similarly spiritual water [that Prophets of God bring] refreshes souls. He said that it was not that he called on the world; rather it was the world that called on him.

Citing verse 65 of Surah Al Naml, ‘Or, Who originates creation, and then repeats it and Who provides for you from the heaven and the earth? Is there a God besides Allah? Say, ‘Bring forward your proof if you are truthful.’ (27:65) Hudhur said Hadhrat Musleh Maud (may Allah be pleased with him) explained that here ‘originates creation’ signifies established dignity of a body of people and ‘repeating it’ signifies to once again generate a spirit of alertness in them. Hudhur said the progress of a body of people is only with the grace of God and does not come to pass of its own accord. Here the attention of Muslims is drawn that their triumph will come about with God’s help, and there is no need for any extremist group for this. Triumph will be sought by absorbing God’s grace and for this purpose the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) was sent. The tool to accomplish triumph that he gave us with God’s help is the power of reasoning and God has told us that all this will come to pass through prayers. If Muslims wish to witness rejuvenation they need to accept the Messiah and turn to God and not to extremism. It is the obligation of Ahmadis to remember the principle that without God’s help they can neither attain material provisions nor spiritual provisions. Some times, some Ahmadis seem to forget this. Hudhur said that is why he always admonishes to be regular in Salat. Some times when people request Hudhur for prayers he can tell from their faces that they are only asking as a ritual. Upon asking they tell that they are not regular in Salat. Hudhur said it was most dreadful even if one person among us was such. Hudhur said a father and a son came to see him and the father said the son was negligent about his Salat and stayed involved in his business. Hudhur said the son had come to ask for prayers for his business. Hudhur told him that he appeared to be joking with God. Indeed, it is important to pray for success but the objective should not be just worldly. Fact is that God’s dues are foremost. Hudhur said he told the son that if his business was successful that would be only a grace of God.

Hudhur said in order to attain God’s grace we need to worship Him and this is indeed the biggest reason for the creation of mankind. We should remember that we can only pay the dues of our Creator and Master when and if we turn to Him.