From the time of the claim of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) till today, detractors of Ahmadiyyat have denied his claim. This is not borne out of any reasoning but has been due to their obstinacy, egotism and vested interests. On the other hand, the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) has verified through thousands of arguments derived from the Holy Qur’an, derived from Hadith and derived from the words and commentaries of earlier scholars of Islam, that he indeed was the one about whom the Qur’an has prophesised. He also gave details of the Divine Signs that have appeared in his corroboration. He explained this in light of the Divine support he received at every juncture. However, there can be no direction for those whose hearts are sealed by God and those whom God does not want to guide.

Yet, there have been pious-natured people, who have accepted the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace), who have the privilege to take his Bai’at and for whom God had decreed guidance. There are others who also understand but out of fear of the so-called mullah and by following him, stayed deprived of the spiritual shower and continue to remain deprived. Meanwhile, those with piety were blessed with taking Bai’at and continue to do so because they realise that all the signs of the world being in disorder have come to pass, there is more inequity in the world and less fear of God.

So-called maulwis and their cohorts have reached the extreme pits of morality where in order to persecute Ahmadis, they do not even desist from affronting the Holy Qur’an and the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) and put the blame on Ahmadis. They throw pages of the Qur’an in the sewer or rubbish heap and incriminate Ahmadis. Meanwhile, the Ahmadis who are implicated are completely unaware of the matter until the police apprehend them or these people take out rallies against them. Their other tactic is to write the name of our master, the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) for whose honour Ahmadis will not only sacrifice their own lives but the lives of their children and their children’s children, in wrongful manner and in wrongful spots and implicate Ahmadi children. For this our children are expelled from the school, they are beaten up, so much so that efforts are made to file court cases against these innocent children for affronting the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him). Such cases have a no-bail clause and the penalty is extreme. An offence is attributed to our innocent children which is beyond their imagination.

The cries of the victims work when such immorality takes place. These days Ahmadis in Pakistan are going through such times and Hudhur has often drawn attention to this before that our prayers should only revolve around the progress of Ahmadiyyat, true Islam, so that God brings about the chastisement of those who have exceeded limits in cruelty in the name of God, who are trying to discredit God, Islam and the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him). Hudhur said we should also pray that the pious-natured among them are enabled to give the salaam of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) to the Imam of the age.

Hudhur said indeed there are those who watch our live programmes on MTA, get in touch and take Bai’at. It is not that the majority of Muslims are a part of the current disorder and cruelty. Fact is that a large majority does not wish to understand the message of Ahmadiyyat due to unawareness and out of fear. Or there are those who understand, but are in fear of the laws of the land. And out of fear of the mullah, law of the land does not allow Ahmadis full citizens’ rights. Today it is not the rule of law, rather it is rule of mullah. He has put it in the minds of the uninformed that God forbid, Ahmadis consider Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (peace be on him) the last Prophet. This is incorrect. We say that the true and ardent devotee of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) came to bring people of all religions to bow to the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him). He silenced the world with his arguments and reasoning and provided unassailable defence of Islam. Not only did he stop the onslaught of the enemy, he made them retreat. His arguments and reasoning left no choice for the attackers of Islam to take flight.

In his book Tiryaaul Qulub, the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) mentions a Divine revelation that he received: ‘Proclaim, truth has arrived and falsehood has vanished, indeed falsehood is bound to vanish. Every blessing is from Muhammad^sa, then blessed is he who taught and he who was taught’ and further wrote: ‘All these revelations constituted a prophecy that through me God Almighty will establish the truth of Islam and the falsehood of all other faiths. That prophecy now stands fulfilled because no opponent has had the capacity or fortitude to prove the truth of his faith as against me. Heavenly signs are being displayed at my hand and the verities and deeper meanings of the Holy Qur’an are being set forth through my pen. Arise and search everywhere in the world. Is there anyone from among the Christians or the Sikhs or the Jews or the followers of any other faith who can stand against me in exhibiting heavenly signs and in setting forth verities and learning? I am the one concerning whom this Hadith is found in the authentic books of Hadith that in his time all religious communities will be destroyed but Islam will shine brighter than it ever did in the intervening periods. [Tiryaq-ul-Qulub, Ruhani Khaza’in, vol. 15, pp. 265-268 – Essence of Islam, Vol. IV, p. 120]

Today it is through the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) that the teaching of Islam shines. It is his Community that is undertaking the task of Tabligh under the auspices of Khilafat in Africa, Europe and other parts of the world to present a true picture of Islam. Hudhur said that when Hudhur instructed the Community to hold exhibitions of the Holy Qur’an to expound its teachings in response to the attacks of the enemies of Islam, with the grace of God exhibitions were organised all over the world. Reports from all over cite that people who came to these exhibitions felt that Qur’an and Islam as presented in these exhibitions was so beautiful that it astonished them as to how could they have opposed it. They felt that the aspects of the Qur’an presented had not been illustrated before and they maintained an apologetic tone. They took away our literature, including copies of the Holy Qur’an. This included educated Muslims, Christians and people of other religions and without exception they highly appreciated the exhibitions. However, the mullah did not even desist from opposing our exhibitions. As Hudhur has mentioned earlier, when an exhibition was held in Delhi, in a huge hall hired from the government, the mullah joined a few extremists and created furore. As a result the three-day exhibition had to be wrapped up in two days. However, the two day event also left a tremendous effect. An influential person who had been to the exhibition visited Qadian for the first time because he wished to see the place where people who gave great service to the Qur’an and Islam lived.

Hudhur said he regretted to say that recently a Qur’an exhibition was being organised in a UK city but the mullah raised objections and the police requested our administration to cancel the exhibition. Hudhur said, ‘on principle, such requests should be refuted with reasoning, but the local Jama’at accepted their request and cancelled the exhibition. If we indulge the mullah in these countries, in Europe, where there are all kinds of freedom and which are affirmed by the governments, we will become those who promote extremism even in this country. We should also make the authorities understand this point very well and should reorganise the exhibition.’ Hudhur said, ‘some people are saying it should be held quietly. What is the point in holding it quietly? On one hand is the claim that we are to take forward the message of one appointed by God and on the other hand we also show appeasement, this cannot be. If there is rule of law and the government affirms that it is so, then say to the state that it is its task to enforce it and to give every citizen his or her rights and protect him or her…’

Such is the way of the mullah that he has even started his tactics in non-Muslim countries, like India and the UK, where if Qur’an exhibitions are held, it is not non-Muslims who oppose, rather it is these so-called Muslims who raise objections about Ahmadis spreading the teachings of the Qur’an. Such is the true picture of these caretakers of Islam. Yet, we have to continue with our task. We have to silence the opponents of Islam so that we can try and gather the world under the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him). Hudhur said as mentioned before it is a general good point of Western countries that everyone is the same in the eyes of law here, therefore, if anyone impedes our work here, we should seek the help of law. Hudhur said he would present an example of upholding of law here.

During Hudhur’s recent European tour, he led a Friday Prayer in Holland and Hudhur gave a message to a Dutch politician, a member of parliament Geert Wilders in his Friday sermon. Hudhur had said that those who are excessive in disrespecting Islam and the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) should desist from it, or else fear God’s chastisement. When it comes, God’s chastisement destroys the likes of the politician and God has the power to chastise. Hudhur had also said that we have no power but we will contend with the likes of the politician with prayers. When the person in-charge prepared a press release based on a summary of this Friday sermon to Hudhur, Hudhur told him to include the sentence which Hudhur had mentioned that we do not have any worldly weapons but we pray that the politician and people like him perish. Hudhur said this indeed is the reality that we contend with all our detractors with either reasoning or more importantly with prayers. Geert Wilders read the press release and wrote to the Dutch government asking the home minister a few questions. The Dutch Jama’at wrote to Hudhur about this and Hudhur advised them not to be anxious and fully explain our stance to the government. Hudhur said the matter was initiated by that person himself who has done wrongful things, has made wrongful films about the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) using extremely harsh language and has discredited Islam. We had responded to this and had said God has a sense of honour for His Prophet and His chastisement should be feared. The Dutch government answered the questions he had sent to them and these were reported in a newspaper there. His first question was if the interior ministry knew about the article ‘World Muslim Leader sends warning to Dutch Politician Geert Wilders’? This was responded to in the affirmative. His next question was about what Hudhur had said to him in his Friday sermon regarding him and those like him ultimately perishing. He wanted to know what steps did the Dutch government plan to take against the ‘mischievous’ message. The Dutch interior minister responded that the purport of Hudhur’s message was that such people would perish through prayer and not through any means of secular violence. As such, the minister said, he saw nothing in the message that provoked violence and also saw no reason to take any action against the Ahmadiyya Community. His final question to the interior ministry was about the connection between the Ahmadiyya Jama’at in Holland and the worldwide Ahmadiyya Community and Hudhur. The answer given was that the Dutch Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is part of the worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.

Hudhur said the answers of the Dutch interior ministry are based on justice and fairness. They have responded to a politician, a member of parliament, who is their coreligionist in a most fair manner. Hudhur said it is said that Mr. Wilder is trying to further look into our Community to find any negative aspects. No matter how much power they exercise, ours is a divine community and will only say what is the truth and that is all they will find. Hudhur said we have been given the obligation to take the message of Islam to the ends of the earth and to silence the enemy with reasoning. Every Ahmadi is undertaking this task in accordance to his or her capacity. It is Ahmadi alone who silences attackers of Islam and makes the world understand. All this is being done through the awareness and spiritual knowledge imparted to us by the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace). This is also the reason why Ahmadis can take this message to world leaders without feeling any inferiority complex. When others go to meet leaders they do so to seek help or worldly advantages and never dare to take the message of Islam.

Recently the Ameer sahib of Kababir happened to go to Italy with a delegation. He informed Hudhur about the inter-religious nature of the delegation and the opportunity he would have to meet the Pope and asked Hudhur if Hudhur wished to send a message to the Pope. Hudhur sent a message which was given to the Pope as well as other high-ranking priests at the Vatican. A copy of the Qur’an was presented to the Pope and this was covered by the newspapers. The Kababir Ameer, Sharif Odeh sahib writes that he met the Pope on 10 November 2011 along with an inter-religious group. Letter from Hudhur was presented to the Pope who was told that the letter contained a most significant message. The letter was received personally by the Pope who was also given a copy of the Holy Qur’an with Italian translation. The photographs taken at the occasion received coverage in the newspapers. Odeh sahib also mentioned the letter at a press conference and gave its summary and distributed copies of the letters among the journalists.

Giving a summary of the letter, Hudhur said it began with prayerful greetings followed by the Quranic verse: ‘Say, ‘O People of the Book! come to a word equal between us and you — that we worship none but Allah, and that we associate no partner with Him, and that some of us take not others for Lords beside Allah.’ (3:65) Hudhur said he wrote that Islam is in the spot light these days and its teaching is being targeted which is wrong, albeit this is because of the actions of some Muslims. Because of this even educated people do not miss attacking Islam and the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him). Islam’s teaching is just like the teaching of other religions, that is, to connect man with God. Therefore, Islam should not be attacked due to the wrong acts of a few. Islam teaches us to respect all Prophets of God, including the Biblical Prophets. We are the humble servants of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) and are extremely hurt when his honour is attacked. We respond to these attacks by presenting the beautiful teachings of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) to the world, by presenting the teaching of the Holy Qur’an, which is the teaching of love, affection and brotherhood. The fundamental teaching of Islam is to adopt righteousness and thus is the sound that resonates from our mosques five times a day when God’s greatness is acknowledged and it is declared that Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) is His Messenger. Hudhur further wrote to the Pope that these days peace is diminished because under the guise of freedom of expression and conscience some play with the sentiments of others and religious offence is also caused. Many small wars are going on in the world today and there is a need to stop them otherwise these could lead to a world war which could bring untold destruction. Rather than lean towards material progress of the world, we should be inclined to save it from destruction, otherwise, there will be certain destruction. Religious leaders should make efforts to save the world from mutual conflicts and usurping each other’s rights. Hudhur wrote to the Pope that he had a voice in the world and had a large following, therefore he should try that all world religions get together and work for peace and recognise the One Creator. Hudhur said this is the summary of the letter sent to the Pope, may God make him understand the message, hope he has read it. May they establish human values and may they respect religions and above all, may they recognise the One God.

Hudhur said as it is obvious from the report of Odeh sahib, other Muslims leaders and influential people were also present at the time but only a servant of the Imam of the age was enabled to send a message of Islam to the Pope. And then they say that Ahmadis are not Muslims. Thus far we have only witnessed renewed glory of Islam by connecting to the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace). In fact people outside the Community who do not hold any rancour, acknowledge that the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) certainly achieved his objective.

Hudhur said a very infamous law case was filed against the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) by a priest named Henry Martin Clark. This was done to avenge the defeat of Christians by the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) in a debate. The Promised Messiah’s (on whom be peace) book ‘Jang e Moqaddas’ gives a detailed account of this while his book ‘Kitab ul Bariyyah’ relates the false court case for murder that Martin Clark had filed. The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) was honourably acquitted by the judge of the time, Captain Douglas. Dr. Martin Clark was humiliated in the court case and the judge had told the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) that he could sue him. Recently Asif sahib of MTA told Hudhur that he was in touch with the great-grandson of Henry Martin Clark and that he wished to see Hudhur. Therefore, a meeting was arranged. Hudhur said people come to meet him all the time but in this meeting what the great-grandson said is a sign of the truthfulness of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace). Hudhur said during the chat, Hudhur mentioned with reference to ‘Jang e Moqaddas’ to which he replied that he had only recently researched this matter, but he realised that while Henry Martin Clark was lost in the past, his opponent is successful all over the world. He said he did not know who his great-grandfather was until recently when he was researching his ancestors and found out that it was Henry Martin Clark. Hudhur said the meeting lasted half an hour during which he spoke with an unhurried, deliberate tone which Hudhur assumed was his way of speaking but he later told Asif sahib that he had remained very emotional during the entire meeting. Later, Asif sahib explained to him regarding some harsh words that the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) used for Martin Clark that they were because of his inflexibility, due to the discussion that had ensued. If the account of the debate is read, it becomes very clear that Islam was victorious but he continued to raise slogans that Christianity had won. On which the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) had said that prayer should be made for God to show clear sign. Hudhur said the great-grandson spontaneously said, ‘God has certainly even shown a sign today.’ Hudhur said he has asked Asif sahib to write an article about the meeting. In any way, today God is demonstrating the truth of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) through the children of enemies of Islam.

The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) said whoever rejected him in fact rejected God and His Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) because whoever accused him of falsehood, prior to doing so, God forbid, considered God false although he could see that internal and external disorders had exceeded limits. And in spite of God’s promise of ‘Verily, We Ourselves have send down this Exhortation, and most surely We will be its Guardian’ (15:10) reformation of these people had not been arranged. God has promised in Ayat e Ishtakhlaf that just like the Mosaic dispensation, He would establish successors in the Muhammadan dispensation as well, but God forbid, He has not fulfilled His promise. The Quranic assertion that the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) was a Prophet in the Mosaic tradition will also have to be denied, God forbid, because it was essential for the congruity that a Messiah should appear in the fourteenth century from this Ummah, just as a Messiah had appeared in the fourteenth century of the Mosaic dispensation. Similarly the Quranic verse: ‘And among others from among them who have not yet joined them…’ (62:4) would have to be denied because it gives the tiding of the advent of the Messiah. Likewise many other verses of the Qur’an would have to denied, in fact, the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) said with conviction that the entire Qur’an would have to be abandoned. He remarked, ‘consider then, is accusing me of falsehood, an easy matter?’

The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) also wrote: ‘Do not thrust your hand into fire lest the fire should flare up and consume it. Remember well that had this been man’s doing, there would have been many who would have destroyed it and it would not have survived for twelve years, which is an age of maturity. Do you recall any impostor who, having falsely claimed converse with God, has survived for such a long time? It is a pity that you do not reflect nor recall the verses of the Holy Qur’an, wherein God says with reference to the Holy Prophet^sa, that had he falsely attributed the smallest thing to God, He would have severed his jugular vein. Who is dearer to God than the Holy Prophet^sa, that he should not only survive such a great imposture, but should be enriched by Divine bounties? Brothers! refrain from self-deception and be not obstinate in matters which are specially in the knowledge of God. Break your habits, become new men and tread along the paths of righteousness so that He may have mercy on you and may forgive your sins. Fear God and restrain yourselves. Is there not one among you who is rightly guided? If you do not desist, God will soon bring help to His servant and will break up his enemies and you will be able to do him no harm.’ [A’ina-e-Kamalat-e-Islam, Ruhani Khaza’in, vol. 5, pp. 52-55, Essence of Islam, Vo. IV, pp. 154 - 155]

May God make the opponents of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) have some sense and understand this message. May God protect all Ahmadis from all evil in every place and enable us to turn to Him with prayers. Next Hudhur said he would lead some funeral Prayers in absentia after Prayers.

Maryam Khatoon sahiba was martyred in Pakistan on 5 December. Her family was attacked and she passed away on the spot. The attack was due to a dispute which had its basis in enmity with Ahmadiyyat. She was 25 year old and hailed from a farming family. She leaves behind her husband and three small children.

Azeem un Nisa sahiba passed away on 3 December in Qadian. She was the wife of a dervish and daughter in law of a companion of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace).

Salman Ahmad sahib was a missionary in Indonesia. He passed away on 1 December. He had heart disease. He was born in 1953 and had passed his Jamia studies in 1985 after which he had returned to Indonesia to serve.

AlHaj D. M. Kallon sahib of Sierra Leone passed away on 26 November after brief illness. He grew up in poverty but love of knowledge brought him success. He was a cheerful, sincere person. His widow is the current sadr Lajna Sierra Leone and one of his sons Tommy Kallon lives in the UK and was a former sadr Khuddam ul Ahmadiyya UK.