Today's Friday sermon was based on accounts of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) and some traditions related by him which were later described by Hazrat Musleh Maud (may Allah be pleased with him). Each account or tradition carried advice and counsel.
Hazrat Musleh Maud (may Allah be pleased with him) said that he had heard the following tradition from the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace). A king's courtier became a follower of a person who was renowned as a holy man. He started raising the profile of the holy man saying how pious and devout he was and even asked the king to seek an audience with him. The king agreed and the courtier immediately informed the holy person about the details of the king's visit and asked him to speak to the king in a very convincing manner which would lead him to also become a follower. Whether he was a holy person or not but the story goes on to show that he was definitely foolish. He thought of some things to say to the king and when the meeting took place, he said, your majesty, you should do justice. Look what a fair and just king was Sikander/Alexander [The Great] from among Muslims that he is popular to this day. Indeed, the era of Alexander the Great was centuries before the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him), even centuries before Hazrat Isa (on whom be peace) but the holy person had called him a Muslim king. This implied that Alexander came centuries after the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) because he could not have been around the time of the first four Khilafats because during their times they were the rulers. He could not have been around the time of Hazrat Muawiya because he was the ruler of the entire world during his time. He could not been around the early Abbasiyyad Khilafat because they ruled the world during their time. Thus, if Alexander was a Muslim king he could only have been a king in 4th or 5th century of the Muslim Calendar. Indeed his time was centuries before the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) but the person said that he was from among the Ummah of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him). As a result the king was greatly put off and immediately left. Of course one does not have to be a historian to be a holy person, but why did the man have to meddle with history? It is important to have correct knowledge and one should only say something that one is sure about. Vested interest caused the man's ruin and this is what happens when one puts on the cloak of self-styled holiness!
Hazrat Musleh Maud (may Allah be pleased with him) said people are quick to pray against others whereas our principle should be to pray for people and not against them. Hazrat Maulawi Abdul Karim related that he lived upstairs at the residence of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace). One night he heard the sound as if a woman was in the throes of childbirth. When he listened closely he realised it was the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) engaged in impassioned prayer saying, O God, people are dying of the plague! O God, if they all die who would believe in You! The plague was foretold by the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) and was a sign of the truthfulness of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace). And here he was making impassioned entreaty before God about it. True believer should not pray against general public because he is raised to save them. If he prays against them, who would he save! Indeed, Ahmadiyyat was established for the very purpose of saving Islam and Muslims. Today Ahmadiyyat wishes to restore the glory of the Umayyad period. We have been raised to take Muslims to the high status, how could we pray against them.
Hazrat Musleh Maud (may Allah be pleased with him) quoted a poetic couplet of Rumi which says that whatever tribulation God may have put a body of people through, underneath it He has placed a huge treasure. Reading these verses the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) said if a body of people was to become Muslim in the real sense all trials and tribulations become a source of progress for them. There is ease behind each hardship.
At this time true Muslims from among the Ummah are those who are connected to the true and ardent devotee of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him). Difficulties we face today will herald ease in the future. Our history bears witness that is what has always been the case and tribulations we face always herald and facilitate progress.
A Sikh student had a very sincere and faithful connection with the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace). He sent a message to the Promised Messiah (on whim be peace) that although he used to believe in the existence of God, he was developing some doubts. The Promised Messiah sent him a message in response asking him to change where he sat in college. The student did this and sent a message that his doubts were gone. The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) explained that the student was under the influence of an atheist. Once he changed where he sat the influence was gone.
Whether or not a person says something, good and bad both have their influence on others around. Our youngsters should particularly be mindful who their friends are and who they mingle with, lest they are the cause of any bad influence. Adults may stop children from watching certain TV programmes which could have adverse moral effect or which are not certified for viewing of children of certain age but if the parents watch them, it is possible children would sometime or the other catch glimpse of it as well. In addition such things leave a subliminal effect on the environment and on the parents. It is not as if these programmes help enhance standards of righteousness. It is incumbent on parents to keep their home environment pure so that there is no subliminal effect on children.
Hazrat Musleh Maud (may Allah be pleased with him) said that the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) would say to some people that one needs to have a connection with whoever one asks to pray on one's behalf. And he would ask them to make an offering and then assure them that he would pray. He related a tradition many times. Someone went to a holy person and asked him to pray for him because he had lost the ownership documents of his house. The holy person asked him to first bring some halwa (sweet confection). The man was astonished but he was in need of prayer so off he went to purchase some halwa. Just as the shopkeeper was about to wrap halwa in paper the man cried out, do not tear up the paper please! These are my papers (house documents). He took the halwa to the holy person and told him he had found his papers. The holy person replied that his intent behind asking for halwa was only to forge a connection and for him to pray on his behalf but it had benefitted him in other ways as well.
There are many accounts with reference to the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) where he made special compassionate prayer for people's health and their businesses. These were people who gave generously to the mission and had developed a special connection with the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace).
The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) used to relate a tradition about two Companions. A Companion brought a horse to sell in the marketplace and another Companion asked him the price of the horse. He told him the price but the other said no, this is not the price of the horse. And he gave another price which was more than the asking price. The seller said he would only take the price that he had given while the potential buyer said he would pay the price he thought was right. This is a relatively small account of the honesty and veracity of the Companions. They used to vie with each other in all good things. Indeed, God states vie with each other in everything good. If someone serves faith we should try and do better than them and in the process sacrifice our selfishness. If each one of us, rather than vie in worldly matters, vies in serving faith and tries and excel others in honesty, not only will it benefit us on a personal level, it will also be good for our children and the Jama'at will also progress.
An important matter that every Ahmadi should focus on is that God alone is the Master of all attributes and from Him alone comes guidance. Our task is only to take the message to others which we should perform to the best of our abilities. However, the result is only in God's hand and comes from Him. We should not imagine that if such and such becomes an Ahmadi the Jama'at would progress.
Hazrat Musleh Maud (may Allah be pleased with him) said that some people would come to see the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) and say if such and such in our village becomes Ahmadi, we other villagers would also follow suit. This is not the correct attitude. Even if such a person did accept Ahmadiyyat there would be many others who would not and would not desist from denying the Promised Messiah.
There were three maulawis in a village and the village people said if any one of these accepted Mirza Sahib we would also accept him. One of the three maulawis accepted Ahmadiyyat and took bai'at but the villagers said so what if just one of them has accepted? He has lost his senses. Later, the second maulawi accepted Ahmadiyyat and took bai'at but the villagers said they were both foolish and maintained that one maulawi had still not accepted and neither did they. This attitude still takes place and those with limited experience imagine that if such and such accepts everyone will follow suit. Our trust and reliance should only be on God.
However, people rely on people. At times people write in saying such and such person has made these provisos, pray that he accepts Ahmadiyyat. If he does our area will have a revolutionary transformation. Of course we should be praying that people who excel in sincerity and loyalty come in the Jama'at.
Hazrat Musleh Maud (may Allah be pleased with him) said that a woman of low social status came to the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) pleading that her son had become a Christian. She asked for prayers for him to revert to Islam. The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) asked her to send the boy to see him so that he would listen to discourses about God. The boy was unwell with tuberculosis and was being treated by Hazrat Maulana Nur ud Din (may Allah be pleased with him). The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) continued to counsel him but Christianity had been embedded in him. Listening to the Promised Messiah's discourses he felt he may revert to Islam, so one night when his mother's attention was diverted he ran off to Batala Christian mission. The mother followed him on foot and brought him back. She would desperately plead the Promised Messiah that her son was not as dear to her as Islam was. He was her only son and she told the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) that her desire was for him to revert to Islam even if he were to then die. Her son became a Muslim and died after a few days. The woman knew that if there was any ultimate human means to bring him back to Islam it was through the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) for he alone had true compassion and pain for Islam.
Once a man of limited means came to visit the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace). He told the Promised Messiah how he had been able to travel by train, perhaps by obtaining his ticket by means which were not right. The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) gave him one rupee, a lot of money in those days and said I hope you will not need to resort to those means on your return journey.
Hazrat Musleh Maud (may Allah be pleased with him) said he remembers a boy named Fajja used to be an attendant of the Promised Messiah whom he put into apprenticeship of a builder and he ended up learning the trade. Fajja had learning difficulties but he was sincere and religious. Once some guests came to see the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace). These were early days when there was no Langar established and guests were served by the household of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace). On arrival of the guests, who were five in number, the Promised Messiah had some tea made and instructed Fajja not to miss serving any of the five guests. Another attendant by the name of Chiragh accompanied Fajja to serve tea. Meanwhile the guests went to see Hazrat Mualana Nur ud Din (may Allah be pleased with him). The two attendants took tea to where the guests were. Chiragh was an old attendant and owing to the status of Hazrat Maulana Nur ud Din he served him first. But Fajja held his hand saying the Promised Messiah had not named him as one of the guests. Chiragh signalled with his eyes and nudged him and tried to make him understand that even if his name was given he was the most honourable among them and had to be served first all but Fajja kept saying the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) had only name five people who were to be served tea. Thus were his learning difficulties that he could not even understand the situation. However, he soon picked up building skills when placed in apprenticeship of a builder. Thus Hazrat Musleh Maud (may Allah be pleased with him) draws attention of people who do not do anything and waste time that anyone can learn a skill and make a living.
The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) was displeased with a person for some twenty years who later on became a most sincere Ahmadi. This was because when the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) went with his brother to pay condolence at the death of his son the person embraced everyone who came for condolences sobbing and screaming and he did just that with the brother of Promised Messiah saying that God had (God forbid) been very cruel to him. This greatly put off the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) and he did not even wish to see his face. Later God guided the person and he abandoned ignorant ways.
Hazrat Musleh Maud (may Allah be pleased with him) said that the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) used to relate that during his student years Hazrat Mir Muhammad Ismael Sahib had an atheist in his class. One day an earthquake struck and the atheist involuntarily uttered 'Ram Ram'. He must be of Hindu background. Mir Sahib asked him why he uttered Ram Ram as he did not believe in God. The boy said he had made a mistake. Hazrat Musleh Maud (may Allah be pleased with him) explained that people become atheists based on ignorance whereas people believe in God based on knowledge. This is what at time of death and when afraid atheists think it is likely that they are in the wrong. Otherwise they would say at time of death, give up the superstition of God, whereas what is experienced is to the contrary. This is a tremendous argument for the existence of God.
Once the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) made a private note in a private notebook. It was very personal, as if a whisper to God, written not for anyone to read or see. It was published by Hazrat Musleh Maud (may Allah be pleased with him) because God put it in his heart to do so. The gist of what the note said is: O God, how could I ever leave You for You assure me and help me at times when no friend and confidant can help me in any way.
The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) advised on numerous occasions that every Ahmadi should have very high morals. His own model in this regard was such that once the wife of one of his bitterest Hindu enemies fell gravely ill. Musk was one of the ingredients of the remedy the physician prescribed which the Hindu could not find anywhere. He came to the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) very sheepishly and asked if he had any musk to spare. He only needed a tiny amount of musk but he himself related that the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) gave him an entire bottle-full and said his wife was very ill he should take it all.
Hazrat Musleh Maud (may Allah be pleased with him) said that the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) used to say that the root word of 'taoon' [Persian/Urdu word for plague) is 'taan' which means to pierce with a spear. Thus, the same God Who had shown a forceful demonstration to the enemies of Jesus lives today, and will certainly demonstrate His power again and will never stay silent. However, we will remain silent and will advise the Jama'at to control their emotions and show the world that there is a Jama'at in the world which stays peaceable in the face of all manner of provocation.
The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) advised that if anyone cannot experience true humility and meekness when praying they should pretend to feel humility and this will lead them to feel sincere humility and tenderness.
The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) said: Our failure in certain matters and to be surrounded by enemies is only because a section of us is indolent about prayer and there are many who do not know how to pray and who do not even know what payer is. Prayer is the name of accepting death. Asking someone for something is a death and man cannot ask without assuming death. Prayer means man assumes a kind of death upon himself because a person who knows he can do something on his own does not call on anyone for help! Man requests help when he knows he cannot do something on his own. Similarly only he can ask God who considers himself dead and without any support before God. God states that unless man assumes a kind of death in God's way his prayer will not be true prayer.
May God enable us to adopt sincerity and high morals and high standards of worship of God and may He also enable us to make prayers which are accepted and may we also pay the dues of prayer.
أَشْھَدُ أَنْ لَّا إِلٰہَ اِلَّا اللّٰہُ وَحْدَہٗ لَا شَرِیکَ لَہٗ وَأَشْھَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُہٗ وَ رَسُوْلُہٗ
أَمَّا بَعْدُ فَأَعُوْذُ بِاللّٰہِ مِنَ الشَّیْطٰنِ الرَّجِیْمِ- بِسْمِ اللّٰہِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِیْمِ
اَلْحَمْدُ لِلّٰہِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِیْنَ۔ اَلرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِیْمِ۔ مٰلِکِ یَوْمِ الدِّیْنِ۔ اِیَّا کَ نَعْبُدُ وَ اِیَّاکَ نَسْتَعِیْنُ۔
اِھْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِیْمَ۔ صِرَاطَ الَّذِیْنَ اَنْعَمْتَ عَلَیْھِمْ غَیْرِالْمَغْضُوْبِ عَلَیْھِمْ وَلَاالضَّآلِّیْنَ۔
The incidents of the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him) and some anecdotes that he narrated in reference to himself, which Hazrat Musleh Maud (may Allah be pleased with him) has narrated in his various speeches - I will present them today, taking them from various places. Every incident or anecdote separately holds within it an aspect of admonition, while drawing attention to the fact that members of the community should increase their knowledge. Those who possess religious knowledge should also be aware of current affairs and should also be familiar with history. Especially those who are entrusted with the work of tabligh (propagation). Murabbiyan (missionaries) and teachers should pay special attention. In today's world, this information is readily available very easily. Anyway, I will present an anecdote with reference to the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him) which Hazrat Musleh Maud (may Allah be pleased with him) has narrated. This also draws attention to increasing intellectual capacity and to remaining within one's intellectual capabilities according to time and place, and also draws attention to the standards of true piety.
He (May Allah be please with him) says that we have heard this incident from the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him). You used to say that there was a person who was called a great saint. A minister of some king happened to become his devotee and he started propaganda everywhere about the piety and sainthood of this person and started saying that he is a great saint and a God-reached person. So much so that he also motivated the king and said that you must visit him. So the king said fine, I will go to this saint on such and such day. The made-up saint or the one he called a saint. Anyway, the minister immediately conveyed this to the saint and said that the king will come to you on such and such day. You should talk to him in such a way that he gets impressed and he too becomes your devotee. If the king becomes a devotee, then the rest of the subjects will also pay full attention. Anyway, he wrote that it is not known whether he was a saint or not but what is clear from the incidents that follow is that he was certainly a fool. When he received the news that the king is coming and he should talk to him in such a way that has a good effect on his temperament, he thought of some things in his mind and when the king came to meet him, he said: O king! You should do justice. Look at Alexander the Great among Muslims, what a just and fair ruler he was and how famous he still is today. Whereas Alexander lived hundreds of years before the time of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) rather even before Jesus (peace be upon him) but he declared Alexander as a king after the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and declared him a Muslim king. Hazrat Musleh Maud says that this means that he was also hundreds of years after the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) because Alexander could not have been during the time of Khilafat-e-Rashida because at that time there was the rule of the caliphs. He could not have been during the time of Hazrat Muawiyah either because at that time Hazrat Muawiyah was the king of the entire world. He could not have been in the early days of the caliphate of Banu Abbas either because at that time too they were the rulers of the earth. So if Alexander was a Muslim, then he could be a king of the fourth or fifth century Hijri whereas he passed away hundreds of years before the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. So that king who was hundreds of years earlier, this person declared him to be from the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and from the Ummah of Islam. The result was that he was to make an impression on the king, but the king became very suspicious of him and immediately got up and left. So Hazrat Musleh Maud says that being a historian is not a condition for piety but this trouble was invited by this self-made saint upon himself. Who asked him to start interfering in history?" (Taken from Khutbat Mahmood Volume 19, pages 631-633)
So therefore knowledge should be correct and whatever matter a person speaks about, he should be satisfied that if it is historical then he should have correct knowledge of history and if it is a matter of knowledge then he should have correct knowledge of it. His own ego's desire destroyed this person. When a person deviates from truth and wears or tries to wear the cloak of so-called piety and knowledge, then he is humiliated in this way, this is the outcome.
Then at one place, with reference to Maulvi Abdul Karim Sahib, while narrating an incident of the softness of heart of the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him) and his pain for the Ummah, rather also pain for humanity, Hazrat Musleh Maud said that people are very quick to give bad prayers to someone. This should be our principle that we should not pray badly for anyone but we should pray for our opponents. After all, they are the ones who have to bring faith. Maulvi Abdul Karim Sahib used to say that I used to live on the upper floor. The Promised Messiah (peace be upon him) had built another room for him above his own room and he used to live upstairs. The Promised Messiah, peace and blessings be upon him, was in the lower part of the house when one night I heard such a crying sound from the lower part as if a woman was screaming due to labor pains. I was surprised and I listened carefully to the voice and found out that the Promised Messiah, peace and blessings be upon him, was praying and you were saying: O God! Plague has struck and people are dying because of it. O God! If all these people die, who will believe in You.
Now look, plague was that sign about which the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) had given news. The sign of plague is also known from the prophecies of the Promised Messiah, peace be upon him. But when plague comes, the same person for whose truth plague comes, begs before God Almighty and says: O Allah! If these people die, who will believe in You? So a believer should not pray badly for common people because he stands to save them. A believer stands to save the world. If he prays badly for them, then whom will he save? Ahmadiyyat was established for this very purpose that it should save Islam. Ahmadiyyat was established for this very purpose that it should save Muslims and restore their greatness to them. The glory and greatness that Muslims had during the time of Banu Umayyah, Hazrat Musleh Maud says, today the same glory and greatness Ahmadiyyat wants to give to Muslims with this condition that the evils of Banu Abbas and Banu Umayyah should not come into them. So how can we pray badly for those people, for whom we have been raised to take them to a high position? The Promised Messiah, peace and blessings be upon him, says at one place:
اے دل تو نیز خاطر اینان نگاہ دار
کاخر کنند دعوئے حبّ پیمبرمؐ
“O my heart, take care of their thoughts, emotions and feelings so that their hearts do not become dirty. It should not be that becoming fed up you start praying badly. That is, saying to yourself. After all, they love your Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and because of this love they have for the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) they abuse you.” (Taken from Khutbat Mahmood Volume 33, pages 221-222)
So the common people are ignorant. What the clerics teach them, they express that. Even today many Ahmadis send their incidents that when somehow the reality of Ahmadiyyat was explained to the opponents or was explained to a person who was an opponent, then he underwent a complete transformation. Similarly, some non-Jamaat people also write letters to me about how they came to know the reality of Ahmadiyyat and now we have come to know how the clerics were misleading us. In Africa there are many such incidents where communities were established later and they expressed that the clerics had told them about Ahmadiyyat in the wrong light. So our prayer should be that Allah the Almighty saves the Ummah from evil scholars and wrong leaders and grants the common people the ability to recognize the truth.
Then while explaining that it is destined for the true Muslim that when calamities and difficulties and dangers arise, Allah the Almighty creates means of improvement for him. He says: Hazrat Maulana Rumi has a couplet:
ہَرْ بَلاکِیْں قوم رَا اُو دَادَہ است
زِیرِآں یَکْ گَنجْ ہَا بَنِہادَہ است
Whatever difficulty this God has placed upon a nation, He has kept a very great treasure beneath it. He says that reading this, the Promised Messiah, peace and blessings be upon him, always used to say that if any nation or community truly becomes Muslim, then all its calamities and all the dangers in which it is trapped become the cause of its salvation and progress, and no calamity comes upon it whose result is not happiness for it. That is, every calamity that comes, every difficulty that comes, behind it are happiness and ease. (Taken from Khutbat Mahmood Volume 9, pages 166-167)
So at this time among the entire Muslim Ummah, the true Muslim is only one who is connected with the Imam of the age and the true devotee of the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. If difficulties arise for us, they are to give us glad tidings of the future and this is a very big standard for measuring the truth that after difficulties comes happiness. The history of Jama'at Ahmadiyya testifies to this that every trial brings with it means of progress for us by the grace of Allah the Almighty.
Then while explaining that the effect of bad thoughts occurs even without apparent reasons, just by companionship. Whether someone encourages someone to fall into some evil or not, if a person is spending time in the company of some bad person, then that evil is subconsciously created in him. The effect of a bad person is subconsciously affecting him. Explaining this, he narrates that once a Sikh student who was studying in Government College and had a relationship of sincerity with the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him) sent word to the Promised Messiah or in another narration it is said that he sent word through Hazrat Khalifatul Masih I, may Allah be pleased with him (Taken from Create Unity Within Yourselves... Anwarul Uloom Volume 24, page 422) that previously I had faith in God but now doubts about Him have started falling in my heart. The Promised Messiah (peace be upon him) sent word to him to change the seat where you sit in college. So he changed the place and then told that now no doubt arises about God Almighty. When this was told to the Promised Messiah, he said that he was being affected by a person who sat next to him and he was an atheist. When the place was changed, the effect stopped and the doubts also did not remain. So even by sitting near a bad person without him saying any word, an effect occurs and by sitting near a good person without him saying anything, a good effect occurs." (Taken from Malaekatul-Allah, Anwarul Uloom Volume 5, page 537)
So in the world, thoughts are affecting each other but one does not realize it. So especially young people should also pay attention that their friendships, their socializing should be with such people who do not have a bad effect on them. Similarly there are TV programs. In this regard, elders should also remember that when they stop children from watching programs, even if they don't let children watch such programs that have a bad effect on children's morals or it is written in programs that these are not for children of this age, but if the parents themselves are watching at home, then first of all, some time or the other, the children's eyes fall on that program when the parents are watching. Secondly, the effect of the environment is also occurring subconsciously and children's training is also being spoiled. Parents who watch such programs, it cannot be that after watching these programs themselves they are completely established on high standards of taqwa. Some watch for a long time and then in the morning do not wake up for Fajr prayers either. So it is also the duty of parents to keep their home environment clean because subconsciously these things also affect children and their training.
Hazrat Musleh Maud (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates at one place that for prayer, a relationship is needed. The Promised Messiah, peace and blessings be upon him, used to tell some people to fix a vow and I will pray. This method was adopted so that the relationship increases. For this, the Promised Sahib has narrated an anecdote many times that a person went to a saint to have him pray. The deed of his house had been lost. The papers of the house were lost. He said I will pray, first bring halwa (sweet dish) for me. That person was surprised that I had gone for prayer and he was telling me about halwa. But anyway, he needed prayer so he went to get halwa and got halwa from the confectioner's shop. And when he took it and the confectioner was about to put it in a paper which was lying with the confectioner, he raised a cry not to tear this paper. These are my house papers. For this very thing I wanted to have prayer. In short, he went with the halwa and told him that I have found the deed or those papers, so that saint said that my purpose with the halwa was only that a relationship be created with you and that relationship was to be created for prayer anyway, you also got apparent benefit. (Taken from Mansab-e-Khilafat, Anwarul Uloom Volume 2, pages 49-50)
So many such incidents are found with reference to the Promised Messiah, peace and blessings be upon him, when for the improvement of some sincere person's business or for his health, the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him) prayed with special pain because they used to give a lot of financial help or extraordinary help for your mission, his work of spreading Islam. So because of these sacrifices, a special relationship had been created with them.
While exhorting to excel one another in good deeds, once he narrated with reference to the Promised Messiah, peace be upon him: The Promised Messiah (peace be upon him) used to narrate about two companions. One companion brought a horse to sell in the market. The other inquired about its price from him. He told some price but the buyer said no, its price is this and what he stated was more than what the seller had stated. But the seller was saying that I will take the same price that I have stated and the buyer was saying that I will give the same price that I have fixed. So you say that this is just an ordinary incident of the companions. This standard of their honesty, their truthfulness is just an ordinary incident. Those people wanted to excel each other in every field of righteousness. Allah the Almighty says that you should excel one another in righteousness. If one does some work of religion, then you should try to do even more than that and sacrifice your ego in comparison to another." (Taken from Khutbat Mahmood Volume 5, page 445)
If each one of us has this thinking that instead of achieving their worldly interests, they should try to excel one another in righteousness. They should try to excel one another in remaining established on truth, then where this will be beneficial for our own training, for conveying our reward, it will also train our generations and along with this will also be a cause of the progress of the community. So these are the standards of honesty that we should try to maintain.
Then another important thing to which every Ahmadi should pay attention to is to always remember that only the Being of Allah the Almighty possesses all excellences. Similarly, giving guidance to someone is also Allah the Almighty's work. Allah the Almighty has entrusted us with one work: spread guidance. Convey the message. But giving guidance is God Almighty's work. We should do this work to the extent possible with all our abilities and then Allah the Almighty Himself grants results. One should never think that if such a person receives guidance and becomes Ahmadi then the community will progress. Sometimes people say that if such and such person becomes Ahmadi then this will be the progress of Ahmadiyyat and we will also become Ahmadi.
Hazrat Musleh Maud (may Allah be pleased with him) says about this at one place that some people used to come to the Promised Messiah, peace and blessings be upon him, and say that in our village there is such and such person, if he becomes Ahmadi then we village people will become Ahmadi whereas their thought is not correct because even if that person accepts, still there are many such who do not accept and do not stop from denial. So he narrates an incident that in one village there were three clerics, the people there used to say that if any one of them accepts Mirza Sahib, then we all will accept. One of them did bai'at. (Allah the Almighty bestowed grace upon him and he did bai'at) So all the people said what if one has accepted. His reason has been struck. Two have not yet accepted. The other two are still those who have not accepted. These three are our such saints and educated people, if they accept then they will be accepted. One has accepted so who knows his reason may have been struck. Then another did bai'at. Then the opponents said the same thing: what about these two clerics, they are foolish people. One has still not done bai'at so we do not accept. So such incidents always keep happening but those people whose experience is not vast remain engaged in this notion that if such and such person accepts then all people will accept but mostly it is not so." (Taken from Khutbat Mahmood Volume 5, pages 450-451)
So our attention should be towards obtaining the graces of Allah the Almighty. Our reliance should be on Allah the Almighty and we should do the work that we have to do, not that we should keep our eyes on people. There are many people on whom some people sometimes rely but those on whom reliance is being placed, they themselves sometimes come into difficulty and trial. Sometimes people write to me that such and such person has stated these conditions for him. Pray for him that his conditions be fulfilled then he will become Ahmadi and when he becomes Ahmadi then there will be a revolution in our area. Whereas it has no connection. Therefore, one should pray that Allah the Almighty grants such people to the community who are advanced in sincerity and faithfulness and who advance forward in religious progress.
While giving an example of what pain the Promised Messiah, peace and blessings be upon him, had to save humanity from misguidance, Hazrat Musleh Maud (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates an incident that in the time of the Promised Messiah, peace and blessings be upon him, an illiterate and lowly woman came. There in India, castes are greatly observed. So she was a woman of very low caste and said: Sir, my son has become Christian. You pray that he becomes Muslim. He said send him to me so that he may hear about God Almighty. He was ill and had come for treatment to Hazrat Khalifatul Masih I, may Allah be pleased with him. Because he was in Qadian, so he said fine, he is getting treatment. Send him to me too. He says this boy had tuberculosis (that is, TB disease). So when he used to come to the Promised Messiah, peace and blessings be upon him, he kept advising him and kept explaining to him about Islam but Christianity had become so deeply rooted in him that when the effect of his words started occurring on his heart, he thought that I might become Muslim. So one night, finding his mother unaware, he ran away towards Batala. At night from home, he ran from Qadian. And went to Batala where the Christian mission was. When his mother found out, she went to Batala on foot at night and caught him and brought him back to Qadian. Hazrat Musleh Maud says that I remember very well that this woman used to fall at the feet of the Promised Messiah, peace and blessings be upon him, and used to say my son is not dear to me, Islam is dear to me. This is my only son but my wish is that he becomes Muslim, even if he dies then. If he does not survive the disease he has, then I will have no regret. So Allah the Almighty accepted that woman's plea and that boy became Muslim and a few days after accepting Islam (the poor one) also passed away. (Taken from Al-Fazl 10 February 1959, page 3, Volume 48/13, Number 35)
This woman also knew that if there could be any last resort, human means to bring back to religion, then it was the Promised Messiah, peace and blessings be upon him, because only he has the real pain of Islam and only he can convey the message to another with real pain, can also do tabligh, can also convince.
While mentioning the method of reformation of the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him) at one place Hazrat Musleh Maud says: Now in reformation also, some people sometimes say something in the wrong way that people get pushed away instead of being reformed. Hazrat Musleh Maud says "The style of the Promised Sahib's reformation was very subtle and wonderful. A person came to him. He had a lack of resources. While talking he started stating that because of this lack, he came with this concession in the railway ticket and that method was perhaps some wrong method. The Promised Messiah gave him one rupee (in that era the rupee had great value) and smilingly said: “Hopefully when you go, you will not need to do this." He also made him understand that what is lawful should always be done. (Taken from Advice to Jama'at Qadian, Anwarul Uloom Volume 4, page 23)
Hazrat Musleh Maud has drawn a lot of attention from members of the community to learn skills and work hard. While drawing attention to this, he narrates an incident from the time of the Promised Messiah, peace and blessings be upon him, that there was a young man with ordinary understanding. And he used to live with the Promised Messiah, peace and blessings be upon him. Hazrat Musleh Maud says: "I remember that with the Promised Messiah, peace and blessings be upon him, there was a boy whose name was Fujja. You got him engaged with some architect and in a very short time he became an architect. He said he had very little understanding but was sincere and religious. He had come in the state of being non-Ahmadi and later became Ahmadi. The state of his intellect (that is, the incident of ordinary intellect which you narrate is that) was such that once some guests came. At that time the work of the langar khana was not separate. It was the very beginning, so food for guests used to go from the house of the Promised Messiah, peace and blessings be upon him, itself. Sheikh Rahmatullah Sahib, Dr. Mirza Yaqub Beg Sahib, Khwaja Kamaluddin Sahib, Qureshi Muhammad Hussain Sahib inventor of Mufarreh Ambari came to Qadian and there was also one other friend. The Promised Messiah (peace be upon him) had tea prepared for them and told Fujja to serve tea to these guests. And with this thought that he might forget to give tea to someone, the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him) emphasized a lot saying look, tea is to be given to all five. It should not be that you forget someone. The Promised Messiah (peace be upon him) had another old servant Chiragh, he also sent him along and when both of them went with tea, it was found that they were not sitting there in the outer room but they had all gone to Hazrat Khalifatul Masih I for meeting him. So, taking the tea, these people reached there. Hazrat Musleh Maud says that Chiragh was an old servant so he first placed the tea cup before Hazrat Khalifatul Masih I because there was consideration of the piety and respect of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih I. Therefore he placed it before him. But Fujja Sahib held his hand and said that the Promised Messiah, peace and blessings be upon him, had not taken his name. Chiragh indicated with his eye and nudged with elbow and tried to explain that although you had not taken the name of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih I but you are most honorable of all, therefore tea should be placed before you first. But he kept saying that the Promised Sahib had only taken the names of five, he had not taken his name. Hazrat Musleh Maud says his standard of intellect was such that even this much he could not understand. But when he was engaged with an architect, he became an architect." (Taken from Khutbat Mahmood Volume 35, pages 289-290)
So Hazrat Musleh Maud draws attention that people who sit idly in some other countries, in poor countries too and some people even after coming here sit idle, if they pay a little attention they can learn some skill and work and can earn money, rather can also participate in public welfare works, in works of serving humanity.
While mentioning an incident of the Promised Messiah, peace be upon him's zeal for Allah the Almighty, he says that there was a person here, later he became a very sincere Ahmadi and he had a great relationship with the Promised Sahib but before becoming Ahmadi, the Promised Sahib remained displeased with him for twenty years. The reason was that the Promised Sahib became very displeased with one of his statements and that was such that one of his sons died (passed away). The Promised Sahib went with his brother for condolence to his house. Back then, there was a custom that when someone came and they had very friendly relations with him, they would hug him and cry and scream. According to this, while hugging the Promised Sahib's elder brother and crying, he said that God has been very unjust to me. God forbid. Hearing this, the Promised Sahib developed such disgust that he did not even want to see his face. Later Allah the Almighty gave this person the ability and he came out of those ignorances and accepted Ahmadiyyat." (Taken from Taqdeer-e-Ilahi, Anwarul Uloom Volume 4, pages 544-545)
Hazrat Musleh Maud used to narrate an incident of the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him) regarding the existence of Allah the Almighty. The Promised Messiah says: "There was an atheist who used to study with Hazrat Mir Muhammad Ismail Sahib. That is, regarding what the proof is of the existence of Allah the Almighty, he is narrating that once when an earthquake came, 'Ram Ram' came out of his mouth involuntarily. Previously he was Hindu. He became an atheist. So when Mir Sahib asked him that you are a denier of God then why did you say Ram Ram. He said it was a mistake. It just came out of my mouth. Hazrat Musleh Maud says but the real thing is atheists are based on ignorance and those who believe in Allah the Almighty are based on knowledge. Therefore, at the time of death or at the time of fear, an atheist says that it is possible that I am the one who is wrong. Otherwise, if he were based on knowledge, then instead of this, it would be that at the time of death, the atheist would tell others to leave the illusion of God, there is no God. But opposite scenes are seen. So this is a very strong proof of the existence of Allah the Almighty that this thought is found in every nation." (Taken from Hasti Bari Ta'ala, Anwarul Uloom Volume 6, page 286)
While mentioning the heartfelt state of the Promised Messiah, peace and blessings be upon him, regarding Allah the Almighty's support and help with him, Hazrat Musleh Maud says at one place that the state and condition of the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him) can be assessed from that note which you wrote in your private notebook and which I took from the notebook and published. That writing was not written by you to show to the world that anyone could think of any kind of affectation and artificiality in it. That was a whisper with his Lord and that was a humble call in the presence of his Allah which came out from the pen of the writer and reached in the presence of Allah the Almighty. He did not write that writing so that it would reach the world and it could not have reached if Allah the Almighty had not, according to His wisdom, put it in my hands and I had not published it. In this writing, the Promised Messiah, peace and blessings be upon him, addressing Allah the Almighty says: O God! How can I leave You when all friends and sympathizers cannot give me any help, at that time You console me and help me. (Taken from Inaugural Speech of Annual Gathering 1927, Anwarul Uloom Volume 10, page 60)
The standard of morals of every Ahmadi should be extremely high. The Promised Messiah, peace and blessings be upon him, has repeatedly exhorted this. Regarding what his own example was in this and how he used to treat opponents with kindness, while mentioning this, Hazrat Musleh Maud says that a friend narrated that once among Hindus, the wife of a severe opponent became seriously ill. Among the medicines that the physician prescribed for her, musk was also included. When he could not get musk from anywhere else, he came to the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him) ashamed and regretful, and submitted that if you have musk then please grant it. Probably he needed one or two pieces of musk but his own statement is that the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him) came with a bottle full of musk and said your wife is in great pain, take all this. (Taken from Khutbat Mahmood Volume 15, page 124)
What is the teaching of the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him), to avoid provocation? Hazrat Musleh Maud says that the Promised Messiah, peace and blessings be upon him, used to say that plague emerged from ta'n (taunting) and ta'n means to strike with a spear. So the same God who showed His wrathful manifestation regarding the enemies of the Promised Messiah, peace and blessings be upon him, in His time, He still exists now and even now will certainly show the manifestation of His powers and will never remain silent. Yes! We will remain silent and will advise the community to keep their egos under control and show the world that there can also be such a community in the world which remains peace-loving after seeing and hearing all kinds of provocations. (Taken from Important Instructions to Jama'at Ahmadiyya Regarding Current Conditions, Anwarul Uloom Volume 13, pages 511-512)
This story of prayer has been told before too, how the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him) used to pray with pain, so firstly we should not give bad prayers. Secondly, in every situation of discord, we have to remain peace-loving. For creating a special state in prayer, the Promised Messiah, peace and blessings be upon him, has given guidance. Hazrat Musleh Maud says: "The Promised Messiah, peace and blessings be upon him, used to say that if a person thinks that at the time of prayer, true humility is not created in him, then he should try to cry artificially and if he does so, then as a result true tenderness will be created." (Khutbat Mahmood Volume 15, page 166)
Then while further explaining what kind of state needs to be created in prayer, he says: "Our failures in some matters and remaining surrounded by enemies in this way is only because a part of us is lazy in prayer. (And today too this is the reality) And there are many such who do not even know how to pray. And they also do not know what prayer is? (We talk about revolution but there is great weakness in this.) Regarding this, the Promised Messiah, peace and blessings be upon him, has said that prayer is the name of accepting death. And you used to say 'jo mangay so mar rahay jo maray so mangan jayay' (Who asks, he is dying; who dies, he goes to ask). That is, asking or begging from someone is a death and without inflicting death, a person cannot ask. Until he inflicts a kind of death upon himself, he cannot ask. So the meaning of prayer is that man inflicts death upon himself because the person who knows that I can do this work, when does he call anyone for help? Does it happen that a person keeps calling neighborhood people to wear clothes saying come, make me wear clothes, or for washing a plate keeps telling others to come and wash my plate, or becomes dependent on another for picking up a pen? A person requests help from others when he knows that I cannot do this work. Otherwise, one who has the thought that I can do it myself does not ask for help from others. The same person asks for help from others who thinks that he cannot do this work. Similarly, only that person can ask from Allah the Almighty who considers himself dead before Him and presents himself as completely helpless before Him. Allah the Almighty says that until man does not die in My path, until then prayer will not be prayer because then it is just like a person who has the power to pick up a pen giving calls to others for help. Would not his doing so be laughable? When a person knows he has so much power that he can pick up the pen, he will not help him. Similarly, the person who thinks that I myself can do such and such work, if he prays for it then his prayer will not actually be prayer. That person's prayer will be worthy of being called prayer who inflicts a death upon himself and considers himself absolutely nothing. The person who creates this state, only he is successful in the presence of God and only his prayers can be acceptable." (Taken from Khutbat Mahmood Volume 9, page 104)
May Allah the Almighty grant us the ability that we may establish high standards of morals within ourselves and may we also be those who establish high standards of worship and may Allah the Almighty also grant us the ability of acceptable prayers and make us those who fulfill His right.
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