Summarising the persecution of Ahmadis in Pakistan, Hudhur said the oppression started when the legislative body of the country, the National Assembly, passed a bill and declared us non-Muslims in 1974. Later, taking full advantage of his dictatorship, Gen. Zia made the law even harsher. Considered as insignificant, we had been declared non-Muslims, were not allowed to say the Kalima, were stopped from saying Assalamoalaikum and were not allowed to do anything that would even hint that we were Muslims. Yet, we did not desist and continued to practice as true Muslims, therefore, he legalised for us to be imprisoned for these practices or in disobedience of his Ordinance, if we associated with the Seal of all the Prophets (peace and blessings of Allah be on him), he decreed death penalty for us. How dared we, in spite of being so few in numbers, injure the religious sentiments of the majority by calling ourselves Muslims?

Hudhur said this is nothing new. Thus has been the treatment of Pharaoh-like individuals in each age to people of God. The episode of Pharaoh-like oppressors continues to this day. The Qur’an records Pharaoh saying: ‘These are a small party, And they have offended us.’ (26: 55 – 56)

When Ahmadis experience opposition, it only strengthens our faith given that history of Prophets of God is being repeated. Without doubt we are few in number and are insignificant in the eyes of the world. They are not offended by us because we are committing any sin or any crime or indeed any kind of extremism. Their offence is borne out of our love and loyalty to God and His Messenger, our peaceable approach out of love for our homeland because we do not trample upon the rights of God’s creatures and do not become part of the extremism that has made barbarism run rampant in the country [Pakistan]. Our response is that we are the followers of that Messiah who has taught us principles of peace and conciliation in continuation of the Sunnah of his master, the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him). By practicing these values after coming into the Bai’at of the Messiah (on whom be peace) we are in fact trying to fulfil the dues of following the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him). The courage and valour and the passion to look death in the eye is given to us by the champion of God who was sent by God in this age to establish the second phase of Islam. It is given to us by the true and ardent devotee of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) who brought faith back down to earth from the Pleiades. We are thus ready for every kind of sacrifice with the insight that we are the followers of that Imam who was told by God: ‘The Messenger of God in the mantle of the Prophets.’ [Tadhkirah, p. 110]

The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) writes in Brahin e Ahmadiyya:

‘This revelation means that I have been bestowed a portion of the particular circumstances or attributes of all the Prophets from Adam onwards—may peace

be on them—who have come into the world from God Almighty, whether they are from among the Israelites or otherwise. There has not been a single Prophet of whose characteristics or circumstances I have not partaken to a degree. My nature bears the

imprint of the nature of every Prophet. This is what God has told me…’ [Essence of Islam, Vol. IV, p. 81]

Hudhur explained that partaking some of the circumstances of the other Prophets also entails facing opposition. However, this opposition or legislation cannot harm our Community in any way at all because God has also informed of the triumphs and of the successes that were granted to the other Prophets. God thus revealed to the Promised Messiah: ‘Good tidings to you, O My Ahmad’ [Tadhkirah, p. 466] The hostile legislation, the oppression, persecution cannot stop the success of the Community of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace). He was informed by God that ultimately the doors of triumph will be flung open. In another place in his book ‘Asmani Faisala’, (The Heavenly Decree) he writes:

‘Allah has addressed me in these clear words: Meaning that, "I am the One Who grants victory—I shall give you victory. A wondrous aid will you behold. The disbelievers, i.e., those of them in whose fate lies guidance, will fall in prostration saying, 'Forgive us our sins, we were in error.' [The Heavenly Decree, p. 59]

A revelation of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) is: ‘Yours is the victory and you will triumph.’ [Tadhkirah, p. 606]. Hudhur explained that in the backdrop of all the adversities and hostile legislations that the Community is experiencing, especially in Pakistan and also in Indonesia, Malaysia and some other Muslim countries, God is giving us glad-tidings. Had ours been a worldly community, it would have been forced to bend its knees before these oppressors or at least adopt hypocrisy. However, with the grace of God, not only is the Ahmadiyya Community facing up to the persecution, rather in spite of all the dire situations, it is progressing. This alone would be sufficient proof for a fair-minded person of its truthfulness. God states in the Qur’an: ‘Have they not travelled in the earth and seen what was the end of those before them? They were far more powerful than these and stronger in the marks they left in the earth. But Allah seized them for their sins, and they had no protector against Allah.

That was because their Messengers came to them with manifest Signs, but they disbelieved; so Allah seized them. Surely He is Powerful, Severe in punishment.’ (40: 22 – 23)

Hudhur said all the revelations of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) that Hudhur has cited were not personal claims of his, rather, these were words revealed to him by God, Who was with him. It is a serious issue to associate/ascribe something to God and He certainly does not forgive one who ascribes something wrongly to Him. As we see the signs of Divine help and support with the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace), it further strengthens our belief that just as God was with him in his lifetime and helped him, God will do so in the future. Indeed, He is helping us today. As the aforementioned verse shows, God gives the opponents of Prophets and persecutors of Divine communities leeway for a while, but when His chastisement comes, no power on earth can be of any avail. Those who presume Ahmadis to be given a beggar’s bowl or those who, God forbid, call Ahmadiyyat a cancer have little power. The earlier tyrants of whom the Qur’an cites examples of were much more powerful. The oppressors of today do not even have their own wealth and are forever bowing to foreign powers to run their country. It is cause for concern for the leaders as well as the public who unconsciously condones oppression. Today there is no official pro forma or document in Pakistan for obtaining anything at all, to go through any officialdom that does not contain offensiveness about the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace). One has to sign these forms/documents and declare oneself to be a Muslim. Huge, offensive posters are placed in shopping areas, offices and parks and thus all those involved are guilty of a huge sin. Even those who are quietly condoning it all are also unconsciously perpetrating sin or perhaps decency has ceased to exist or perhaps there is no belief in God.

By filing wrongful lawsuits against Ahmadis, people are committing something which is certainly not liked by God. Indeed, God states be fair and do not oppress those who have oppressed you. God states falsehood is shirk (associating partners with God) and He will not forget this sin. Yet, what are these people doing that we observe every day? Recently an Ahmadi was dragged into a false law case of murder. When the perpetrators were told that this was wrong, they agreed that the Ahmadi was innocent. They added that they had filed the case against him because he was an Ahmadi. If he renounced Ahmadiyyat and was abusive about the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace), not only would they drop the case, they would help him get released and would fete him with garlands. Hudhur added, yet these are the people who are confirmed Muslims and Ahmadis are non-Muslims.

Addressing our detractors, Hudhur said ‘O opponents of Ahmadiyyat, fear God for Whom your wealth, your conceit and arrogance, your Imamat of mosques, your political parties, your governmental power, your majority in numbers has no significance. In response to all your oppressions, our answer is the same which the Holy Qur’an states in the verses: ‘…Surely He is Powerful, Severe in punishment.’ Hudhur said the persecution has now spread to innocent Ahmadi school children who are told that they cannot stay in their schools because they are disbelievers. The only option given to them is to be abusive about the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace). If a school headmaster or the owner of a private school shows some decency, he is told that if Ahmadi children attend a school, they would not send their children and would have the school closed. Decent people who do not listen to the mullah and the troublemakers are warned about ‘consequences’. Due to their incompetence the authorities are in the clutch of the mullah and the extremists. Be it the mullah, or an opportunist politician or any governmental worker; whosoever is involved in this persecution should remember that God is ‘Severe in punishment’. This is not a tale of ancient people; rather this is a Sign of a Living God.

Those who oppose the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) and exceed all limits in their opposition, should remember that by rejecting the truth which the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) foretold and which is in the Qur’an, they are joining those who have a bad ending. Besides, what sin are they not committing as well as persecuting Ahmadis? The country is embroiled in all sorts of iniquity; bribery, filth, moral ills, thieving, robbery, murder and mayhem. Is all this not incurring the wrath of God? Hudhur said, ‘think a little, O, negligent! It is our prayer that God saves the country.’ Adding, Hudhur said in spite of all the persecution, Ahmadis should make practical efforts to help, borne out of sympathy, but more than anything Ahmadis should pray. When no one wants to know us we should help with prayers, implore God for the reformation of the Ummah.

God is going to grant triumph to the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) as it is stated in the Qur’an: ‘Allah has decreed: ‘Most surely I will prevail, I and My Messengers.’ Verily, Allah is Powerful, Mighty.’ (58:22) Explaining, Hudhur said the decree of triumph is from God and the reasoning given for it is the Power and Might of God. In this is a lesson for a believer and a non-believer both, to reflect. Believer should try and strengthen his or her belief as well as try to take his or her connection with God to its pinnacle so that he or she becomes a part of the promised triumph. For the opposite side, therein is a challenge that they may try and use all their power, but God is Powerful and Mighty and He has decreed to grant triumph to His dear ones. Hence, all the scheming of the opponents, harassment of school children, harassment of Ahmadi employees or business fraternity, filing lawsuits against completely unconnected and innocent Ahmadis will not stop the triumph. If it was a man-made affair, no doubt their power would have worked, but when God has decreed: ‘…Verily, Allah is Powerful, Mighty’, then dearth of worldly means of the Ahmadis is of no significance. Did the lack of apparatus in any of the battles fought by the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) or any other battle [of Prophets] affect the outcome of the war? Indeed, in spite of God’s assurance, Prophets of God make ordinary arrangement according to their resources, but they stress is on prayers. The most perfect example of this was demonstrated by our master, the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him). The battle of Badr presents a great model of this when the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him), in spite of all Divine assurances, prayed in an anxious and tender manner, as if in the throes of death. When God decrees that He and His Messengers will prevail, His Messengers also absorb themselves completely in God and try to become a part of the Divine ruling. The power of the holiness of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) generated those Companions who during the time of battle, fought during the day and spent the nights in worship of God. By worldly standards the Muslims had no comparability with the enemy in any of the battles but the power of prayers granted them success. During battle, they did not overlook the obligatory Salat. At one juncture due to the onslaughts of the enemy the Muslims were not able to offer their Salat during battle and the five Prayers were combined (Correction in 18th November 2011 Friday Sermon). The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) was deeply saddened by this and said, ‘damn you, may the enemy be destroyed due to whom we had to combine our five Prayers.’ Hudhur explained that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) only cursed because he was not given the opportunity to offer Salat on time although he was constantly engaged in silent remembrance of God. Doubtless, God has promised triumph, yet in order to attract His grace it is most important to be attentive towards worship. Without this, a community cannot claim to be a Prophet’s community. Prophets of God come to this world to connect man with God, thus if a community does not practice this fundamental principle, how can it be part of the promised triumph?

In his book ‘Kitab ul-Bariyyah’ the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) wrote that God is Most Powerful and Mighty and one who turns to Him with sincerity is never wasted. The enemy assumes to destroy with his ploys and has evil intent but does he assume to contend with God? Those who hatch evil plans are extremely foolish for at the time of making their wicked schemes they do not remember that Being without Whose command even a leaf cannot fall. Evil cannot harm the righteous. Rather, God’s Signs are manifested and people increase in spiritual knowledge. Although the Powerful God cannot be seen from the naked eye, He manifests Himself through His great Signs.

Hudhur said if we continue to turn to All Powerful God with love and sincerity, none of the enemy’s ploys can harm our Community. This is why Hudhur had recently especially asked for prayer, worship and optional fasting. The enemy is trying with all his might to attack us and our most effective source is prayer. While the now international scale of enmity against us is an indication that God will manifest His glory more than ever, the world of Ahmadiyyat should be attentive that we will hold our worship most dear and will greatly enhance our connection with God. May God enable us of all to do so.

Hudhur said he wished to mention a revelation of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) that includes the words, ‘After eleven.’ Hudhur said Ahmadis make personal inferences [about revelations] and also write to Hudhur about them. About this specific revelation, the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) said: ‘I do not know whether by eleven is meant eleven days or eleven weeks or eleven months or eleven years. In any case a sign in proof of my innocence will appear within that period’. Hudhur said today is the eleventh day of the eleventh month in the year 2011, and Ahmadis have made inferences according to their thoughts. Hudhur said if anything is destined to happen today, it will definitely come to pass, InshaAllah, but it should be remembered that there are many revelations in which there is promise of the manifestation of God’s help and succour and quality of Rahmaniyyat and the promise is for it to happen unexpectedly. It is not implausible that from today’s date, this month and this year, the destiny starts taking shape. However, sometimes, having made personal inference, some weak-natured people lose hope or become disinclined to faith if the outcome is not according to their conjecture. Hudhur said this is not the way of a believer. Our triumph is destined to take place and will most certainly come to pass, in fact, it is happening. The senselessness of our opponents is a proof of this.

Hudhur said he also wanted to relate that as regards this revelation, Hadhrat Musleh Maud (may Allah be pleased with him) has written about the difficult decision of migration from Qadian. He wrote:

‘A study of the revelations vouchsafed to the Promised Messiah convinced me that our migration from Qadian had been indicated with certainty and I decided to leave Qadian, a message was sent to Lahore by telephone that some transport might be arranged for, but no reply was received for eight or ten days and finally the reply that came was that Government was not able to arrange for any transport. At that time also I was studying the revelations vouchsafed to the Promised Messiah and I found one revelation: After eleven. It passed through my mind that possibly it meant that transport would be arranged after the lunar date eleven. But days passed and the solar date 28 arrived and yet no transportation became available. I was pondering what was the meaning of the phrase: After eleven; in the revelation of the Promised Messiah, when I received a message from Mirza Bashir Ahmad that Major Bashir Ahmad, brother of Major-General Nazir Ahmad was coming to see me. This was a mistake. It was not Major Bashir Ahmad, but his brother Captain Ataullah. I described the situation to him and asked him whether he could make some arrangement for transportation and security. He told me that he would make some arrangement the same day on his return to Lahore. Accordingly, he procured the car of Nawab Muhammad Din and the jeep of Mirza Mansoor Ahmad and the cars of some other friends and started for Qadian. In the meantime, next day we tried to procure some transportation through an Ahmadi friend who had promised that he would arrive in Qadian between 8 and 9 a.m. with a military escort. He did not arrive till 10 a.m. and then it passed through my mind that the phrase "eleven" in the revelation might mean eleven o'clock and that transportation might become available after 11 a.m. Mirza Bashir Ahmad was in charge of all these arrangements and every few minutes I received his message that all arrangements had fallen through and that no effort had been successful. I telephoned to him that in view of the phrase "after eleven" in the revelation I was thinking that some arrangement would go through after 11 a.m. I had originally thought that the phrase had reference to a date but that I was now thinking that it had reference to the hour. At five minutes past eleven I was about to lift the receiver of the telephone to try to find out from Mirza Nasir Ahmad what the situation was, but before I dialled his number, his call came through that Captain Ataullah had arrived with transportation and we thus travelled from Qadian to Lahore.’ [Tadhkirah, p. 481]

Hudhur said the revelation of ‘After eleven’ was fulfilled in another way when the rule of a [Pakistani] dictator who wished to eliminate Ahmadiyyat was eliminated exactly after eleven years. Hudhur said prophecies and revelations are fulfilled repeatedly and in diverse ways and we should hope for distinct, bright signs.

The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) was given a revelation in Persian that reads: ‘Your supplications have reached heaven, then be not surprised if I should give you hopeful news. After eleven, if God so wills.’ [Tadhkirah, footnote, p. 480] Hudhur said here too the subject is that of prayers. We need to turn to prayers with great intensity and that is why Hudhur drew attention to this matter a few weeks ago. Hudhur urged to make intense prayers, supplications that reach heaven and stir the heavens and we experience triumph. Hudhur said, ‘may God enable me and you to make greater prayers than before.’

Next Hudhur announced that he would lead two funeral Prayers in absentia after Friday Prayers. Dervish Chaudhry Muhammad Sadiq sahib passed away on Nov 5 after he fell over some days ago. He was young at the time of the Tehrik of Dervishes by Hadhrat Musleh Maud (may Allah be pleased with him) but he offered himself and was loyal till his last breadth. He was a sympathetic, intelligent and sincere worker. He took great care of the Jalsa Salana guests, going out of his way to look after them. He was a Moosi and leaves behind four sons.

Ahmad Yusuf sahib shaheed of Syria. He passed away last month during the current riots taking place in the country. He was returning home from work when he came in the line of cross fire. He was hard of hearing and it appears did not hear any warning that may have been given to take cover. He was born in 1976 and was not married. He took his Bai’at last year. A few members of his family had also followed him in taking Bai’at. He used to take part in all Jama’at programmes and was a most helpful person.

May God elevate the station of the deceased.