Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih delivered his Friday sermon from Hamburg, Germany. He based it on traditions of the companions of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) pertaining to dreams and visions they had which led them to accept the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace).

Hadhrat Sardar Karam sahib ^{(may Allah be pleased with him)}: He relates that he took Bai’at in 1902 and saw the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) in the same year. Prior to Bai’at he saw the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) in a dream. He saw that the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) and the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) are strolling towards him. The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) gestures with his finger towards the Promised Messiah and repeats three times, ‘he is from God’. Sardar sahib relates when he visited Qadian and saw the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) in person in Masjid Mubarak, he found his appearance as he had appeared in the dream.

Hadhrat Karim ud Din sahib ^{(may Allah be pleased with him)}: He relates that he took Bai’at in 1896. Sometime in the middle of the year he saw a dream in which he saw the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) mounted on a camel. He saw him on his own in a freshly ploughed and sown field where he shook hand with the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) who met him lovingly and warmly. In the same dream he had earlier seen a Naqshband Pir who had shirked away his hand and had said ‘go away, your irreligious person’. Karim ud Din sahib saw in another dream that an acquaintance police man Nabi Baksh sahib who had taken Bai’at was a recipient of Divine revelations. He related this to someone called Syed Muhammad Ali Shah who dismissed him. However, later in the morning he saw that Nabi Baksh sahib and Muhammad Ali Shah sahib putting in order some words jotted down on a piece of paper. He suspected that these could be words of last night’s revelation which were being placed in order. So, he approached them and asked. They replied that as people derided such matters they did not talk about them. At that instance Karim ud Din sahib thought that if a follower of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) was a recipient of Divine revelations, most certainly the Promised Messiah was truthful. He relates that he was only sixteen years old at the time and had not read any book of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace). Later, Karim ud Din sahib told Muhammad Ali Shah sahib, ‘you have been reading so many books of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) but do not know when you will be satisfied, I am going to go and take Bai’at.’ He relates that he set off to Qadian on foot. After arriving there he walked around the place for many days. Once day he spoke with someone about Bai’at and the person remarked that he had assumed the boy was wandering around Qadian aimlessly. His request for Bai’at was accepted and the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) met him on a one to one basis, held his hand in his hand and took his Bai’at. Karim ud Din sahib relates that he found the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) as he had appeared in the dream. He said this was a tremendous blessing of God on him.

Hadhrat Mian Allah Ditta sahib ^{(may Allah be pleased with him)}: He took Bai’at in 1900 but saw the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) in 1905. He relates that he is from Hoshiyarpur district and was ten or twelve years old when the solar and lunar eclipses took place. The news of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) reached his village in 1898 through a Sheikh Shuhab ud Din sahib. Around 1900 he saw a dream in which he saw the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) in Qadian while he had not seen Qadian in real life. The dream satisfied him and he wanted to take Bai’at as soon as possible. He approached someone and asked him to write a letter requesting Bai’at on his behalf and take his thumb imprint on the letter. A few days later his name was sent off with forty other names for Bai’at.

Hadhrat Din Muhammad sahib ^{(may Allah be pleased with him)}: He took Bai’at in 1902 and saw the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) in 1904. He relates that he was very ill with dysentery and his father had gone to Calcutta for employment purposes. This is when he saw Qadian in a dream. Prior to this he had not even thought of Qadian. In the dream he saw a small room with four niches in the walls. Each niche has an inkpot in it. The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) is walking about the room as he writes an essay. Whichever niches he goes towards, he fills his pen up. Din Muhammad sahib approaches the door and says his salaam. The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) responds and welcomes him in and says that he would feel better on the day after the next day and also says something about his father sending him money. The next morning he related the dream to his mentor and asked him to write a letter of Bai’at. The following day Din Muhammad sahib had another dream in which he again goes to see the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) who tells him that he will have a son who will be like no one in his family had ever been. The son will have a black mark on one thigh. Three days after the first dream Din Muhammad sahib got better and his father sent some money. After this Din Muhammad sahib felt desperate to go and see the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace). His parent s secretly opposed him but he went and took Bai’at in Lahore.

Hadhrat Hafiz Ibrahim sahib ^{(may Allah be pleased with him)}: He took his Bai’at via letter in 1899 and in person in 1900. He relates that his mentor Syed Bhawal Shah sahib took the Promised Messiah’s (on whom be peace) Bai’at and read out many of his books to him. Ibrahim sahib saw a dream in which the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) appears. Ibrahim sahib asks him that ‘Mirza sahib’ has made a claim, is he truthful? The Holy Promised (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) replies, ‘yes’. Ibrahim sahib asks him to swear by this but the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) says, ‘I have no need to swear by this, I am Amin (the trusted one) of the heaven and the earth.’ Next morning Ibrahim sahib wrote letter of Bai’at in which he sent salaam of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) to the Promised Messiah.

Hadhrat Munshi Barkat Ali sahib ^{(may Allah be pleased with him)}: He took Bai’at in 1901 and saw the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) in the same year. Census was about to take place early in 1901 when the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) had it announced through posters that those who accepted him in their hearts but had not taken Bai’at may write themselves as Ahmadi in the Census. Munshi sahib had himself registered as Ahmadi. He then saw the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) in dream where he goes to meet him and the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) asks him, ‘Barkat Ali, when will you come towards us?’ He replies, ‘I will’. Following this he took Bai’at via letter and later on went for Jalsa Salana where he took Bai’at in person. He found the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) not only looked like he had looked in the dream but also in the same kind of situation as he had appeared in his dream.

Hadhrat Khair Din sahib ^{(may Allah be pleased with him)}: He took Bai’at as well as saw the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) in 1906. He relates that once when he was asleep he heard a voice from heavens saying, ‘Nur-ud-Din’s name among the angels is Abdul Basit’. When he related this to Hadhrat Maulana Nu-ud-Din (may Allah be pleased with him) he laughed and said he knew that he had this name. Khair Din sahib relates a vision he had regarding Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih II (may Allah be pleased with him) at the time when he first became Khalifatul Masih. It was the time he made his initial address in Masjid Mubarak and the mosque was packed with people. Khair Din sahib sat in front of Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih II (may Allah be pleased with him) and was fully awake when he saw light other than sunlight which is pleasurable beyond compare. Gradually all the people around him fade away and only the person of Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih II (may Allah be pleased with him) remains in front of him and it shines brilliantly like a star. He is aware that he is in the gathering but is instead witnessing this spiritual sight. Gradually the reality of the gathering returns. He relates that for the next eleven days he saw the same brilliant light around Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih II (may Allah be pleased with him) no matter where he was or what he was doing . He says he had neither seen such a vision before nor had he heard about it but it was only through the blessing of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) that an ordinary person like him witnessed such a vision. He relates that this vision was in line with the Quranic verse: ‘…Their light will run before them and on their right hands…’ (66:9). He felt as if God informed him that his Khalifa was from among those chosen people who remain in spiritual light at all time.

Hadhrat Qazi Muhammad Yusuf sahib ^{(may Allah be pleased with him)}: He took Bai’at by post in January 1902 and in December 1902 he took Bai’at in person. He relates that he has been shown that God has appointed two angels for his safeguarding. One of them is called Muhammad Sadeeq and he looks like his father, the other angel is called Ghulam Samdani. At difficult times the angel materialises. His father told him that he should at least repeat Alhamolillahe Rabbil A’lameen twice. He relates he practices this in every Salat.

Hadhrat Muhammad Fazil sahib ^{(may Allah be pleased with him)}: He took Bai’at either in late 1899 or early 1900. He relates that as per custom around him he used to fold his hands below the navel during Salat but he remained anxious and dissatisfied about this. He would also be unsure whether Surah Al Fatihah should be repeated after the Imam during Salat or not. Once while experiencing this conundrum he went to sleep and saw a dream. In the dream he enters Masjid Aqsa, Qadian where a congregation is being led by the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) and the congregation has folded their hands on their chests. He joins the congregation folding his hands on his chest and also starts reading Surah Al Fatihah. When he finishes reciting Surah Al Fatihah he woke up. Thus, his conundrum was resolved.

Hadhrat Khair Din sahib ^{(may Allah be pleased with him)}:He relates that he saw a dream in which the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) has invited many people for a meal and Hadhrat Ummul Momineen (may Allah be pleased with her) is preparing the meal. When Khair Din sahib presents himself the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) says, ‘give him rice to eat’ and he is given rice to eat. He relates that he is not entirely sure if something else he remembers is from the same dream or was it a separate dream. He saw that the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) says, ‘give him a kurta (tunic) to wear.’ Khair Din sahib instantly sees that he is wearing a beautiful white kurta, he has no idea where and how he wore it but he relates that he feels it effect to the day of relating this incident. In another dream he saw a person who he understood to be from the Companions of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him). The person has a large cloth wrapped around him which has a red border. Khair Din sahib asks him where did he get the cloth from and the person replies that the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) gave it to him. Khair Din sahib says that the Prophet passed away 1400 years ago but the person says in any case he was given it by the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him)or perhaps he said that he had taken it from the Holy Prophet. Khair Din sahib then asks him who was guarding the houses of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) and he replies, ‘the boys from the mosque.’ He then asks after the blessed wives of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) and the person replies, ‘one of them has reached Delhi.’ Khair Din sahib relates that at the time he saw the dream he did not know that Hadhrat Ummul Momineen, (the wife of the Promised Messiah) was from Delhi. He felt as if God had given him physical as well as spiritual assurance that this was in line with as the Holy Qur’an states: ‘And among others from among them who have not yet joined them…’ (62:4). Khair Din sahib also once saw Masjid Aqsa, Qadian adjacent to the Ka’ba and their appearance is likened to each other in his dream. Khair Din sahib also interpreted this as a manifestation of the aforementioned Quranic verse (62:4).

Hadhrat Hakeem Atta Muhammad sahib ^{(may Allah be pleased with him)}: He took Bai’at in 1901 and also saw the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) in the same year. A short while after his Bai’at he heard someone lovingly say, ‘Muhammad sahib has come to Qadian once again.’ He said he was surprised to hear this and prayed to God that was it the creed of this community that the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) had returned! And how could Mirza sahib be Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be on him). He relates that he saw in a dream that the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) is standing when an angel descends from heaven and asks him, ‘who is this?’ He replies, ‘this is Mirza sahib.’ He then saw the spiritual light of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) descend from heaven and enter the brain of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) and then permeate his entire body and his face illuminates with that spiritual light. The angel then asks him, ‘who is this?’ He replies, ‘earlier, he was Mirza sahib but now he really has become Muhammad.’

Hadhrat Sheikh Afzal sahib ^{(may Allah be pleased with him)}: He took his Bai’at in 1905. He relates that when he was twelve years old some members of his extended family took Bai’at. He had neither seen the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) in person at the time nor had he seen his photograph. He saw in a dream that he has no life left in the rest of his body and only his brain has the capacity to comprehend and his eyes have the faculty of sight remaining. A holy person is sitting opposite him and looking at him and behind the holy person he could see a pair of blessed feet. It is then put in his heart that the holy person sitting there is the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) and the blessed feet at the back are those of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him). He related the dream to someone in the morning who said that he would attain obedience of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be him) by virtue of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace). He relates that when he took Bai’at in 1905 he found the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) exactly as he had seen him in dream.

He relates that when he was fifteen years old he saw Paradise and Hell in a dream. When he comes out of Paradise he sees a holy man whom he asks the value of the abode of Paradise. The holy person answers him that even if his Patiala (his hometown) was sold a hundred times over it would not even be of the value of one brick of this abode. He relates that by God when he went to take Bai’at he saw that the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) was the holy man who he had met outside Paradise in his dream.

Hadhrat Muhammad Fazil sahib ^{(may Allah be pleased with him)}: He relates that he saw in a dream that he is sitting on Prayer mat and the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) comes and sits on the top side of the mat and vigorously rubs Fazil sahib’s right palm with his thumb and asks him if some strength has been generated in his heart? Fazil sahib feels some strength and answers in the affirmative. Fazil sahib relates another dream in which he saw that the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) is sitting inside Masjid Mubarak, Qadian and there is a lot of light in the mosque. Fazil sahib goes and sits in front of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) who gives him some gleaming red-coloured halwa in a white china plate with his own blessed hand and says, ‘eat this.’ Fazil sahib eats the halwa and finds it extremely pleasant.

Hadhrat Hafiz Jamal Ahmad sahib ^{(may Allah be pleased with him)}: He saw the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) in 1908. He relates that his wife said to him that she felt doubt in her heart that since there were many other Pirs around why did they only consider the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) truthful and the others false? He saw a dream that night in which the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) holds the arm of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) and says, ‘whoever does not accept him, is Kafir.’

Hadhrat Mian Zahoor ud Din sahib ^{(may Allah be pleased with him)}: He took Bai’at in 1905. He relates that before the claim of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) his father-in-law, Qazi sahib had taken the Bai’at of Hadhrat Munshi Ahmad Jan sahib. After he passed away his father-in-law went to the tomb of Hadhrat Mujaddid Alf Sani/Thani many times and prayed there. One day he saw Mujaddid Alf Sani in a vision who asked him what he wanted. He told him that his spiritual mentor/guide had passed away. At this Mujaddid Alf Sani’s face disappeared. Qazi sahib went to the tomb again and repeated his earlier practice and the same experience was repeated. Qazi sahib asked him if he should go to see Mirza Ghulam Ahmad Qadiani. Mujaddid Alf Sani replied he would not find satisfaction there. Shortly after this Qazi sahib went to Qadian but his experience was not entirely satisfactory. He went many times after this staying over for a week at a time.

Seeing the early years of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) Munshi Ghulam Ahmad Jan sahib had stopped taking Bai’at and if anyone turned up at his door for this he would tell them to go to Qadian and see Mirza Ghulam Ahmad Qadiani. Munshi Ghulam Ahmad Jan sahib had passed away in 1885. He used to say about the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) that he was a person of great courage who had opened up the fountain completely and whoever wished to drink could satiate themselves. He had told his followers that Mirza sahib was about to come to Ludhiana and he would go to see him at the train station and whoever he would gesture towards, his followers should understand him to be Mirza sahib. His followers asked him how would he be able to tell as he had not seen Mirza sahib. Munshi Ghulam Ahmad Jan sahib replied that Ahadith had given the description. When the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) arrived at Ludhiana train station, Munshi Ghulam Ahmad Jan sahib pointed him out to his followers. Qazi sahib relates that he took the Promised Messiah’s Bai’at owing to his devotion to Munshi Ghulam Ahmad Jan sahib and once he adopted the ways of this company the ways of the past company were diminished.

Next Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih said that he regularly asks for prayers for Pakistan and Ahmadis do pray for Pakistan. Today he wished to draw attention to this matter once again. The situation is being made dire still for Pakistani Ahmadis. When the authorities are contacted they say their reports show everything to be normal. Certainly, for us only God is the centre of attention and these people have no idea of the Power of God. Our task is to turn to God with greater focus and never let this to be lacking. A few days ago fourteen to fifteen men forced their way into our graveyard in Model Town, Lahore and tied up our guard and his family at gunpoint and desecrated 120 gravestones. Now even the deceased Ahmadis are not safe from the evil of these mischief-makers. It appears that this episode had the backing of the police because registering FIR (First Information Report) [with the police] was extremely difficult.

News has been received of a martyrdom in Quetta today of a young Ahmadi, Maqsood Ahmad. Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih was informed of this a short while before Friday Prayers. Details about shaheed will be given when received and InshaAllah his funeral Prayer will be led by Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih next Friday. His older brother was martyred in Quetta a month ago.

May God soon give the enemy the reprisal of their evil deeds, our task is to turn to Him more than ever, may God enable us to do so.