Today's Friday sermon was delivered by Khalifatul Masih V (May Allah be his Helper) from Baitul Futuh mosque, London. After Tashahhud and Surah Fātiḥah Huzoor preceded that those whose eyes have been veiled and who have decided that they will not believe and nor do they witness Allah's succor and signs. These are indeed the characteristics and deeds of the people who do not believe in the prophets. These people even after witnessing the miracles demand for other signs that would make the truth evident on them. Due to them exceeding the limits, Allah blocks their hearts. And then they fail to achieve the truthiness. At times, in order to expose the truthiness of the prophets on others, Allah makes these people the sign of admonition and warning. The opponents of the Promised Messiah (Peace be on Him) were also like this. Who even upon witnessing many signs of Promised Messiah's (Peace be on Him) truth, did not believe in them due to their obstinacy and stubbornness. Or they would just move away from the signs that Allah showed them, but indeed Allah made a few amongst them an emblem of warning. Promised Messiah (Peace be on Him) referred to many signs that would reflect upon his truthiness and even revealed upon the people the emblem of the Promised Messiah (Peace be on Him) as were expressed by the Holy Prophet (Peace be Upon Him). But these religious clerics did not believe in them and even deprived other people from believing the truth. And they are still continuing doing this. The Promised Messiah (Peace be on Him) many a times, stated various true miracles and signs of Allah that would mark the truth of Ahmadiyyat. While stating them, Promised Messiah (Peace be on Him) specified that these signs have been foretold and predicted by the Holy Prophet (Peace be Upon Him). Amongst these is the sign of lunar and solar eclipse. When this sign was not fulfilled the religious clerics would show agitation and restlessness. But then when it was shown to them, not only once but twice once in India and second time in America, these people just showed negligence. They could not turn away from this sign as they themselves awaited for it but once it came into being, they abandoned it due to their stubbornness and arrogance. Promised Messiah (Peace be on Him) says that one of my friends told me that once this sign was fulfilled, Ghulam Murtaza who was one of the religious clerics expressed utter disappointment and agony over it remarking that the world would now go astray. Promised Messiah (Peace be on Him) says that think over the fact that was he a better and more dedicated well-wisher of the people than Allah?

Likewise, plague was just one of the many punitive signs which had been prophesied. Also there are signs of creation of the streams of running water, of the communities being developed, of the mountains being shredded, of the abundant publishing of print media and of the development of new ways of transportation. However, there are many such signs that have been told by you which are not also foretold and predicted by the Holy Quran and the Holy Prophet (Peace be Upon Him). Hazrat Musleh Maud (May Allah be pleased with him) says that instead of regarding these true signs that had been prophesied, the people put wrong and very irrelevant allegations on the Promised Messiah (Peace be on Him). Some people came who said that his (Peace be on Him) turban is not straight how can he be the Promised Messiah? Hazrat Musleh Maud (May Allah be pleased with him) said that Promised Messiah (Peace be on Him) showed them signs after signs but people still came up with illogical excuses that he (Peace be on Him) cannot pronounce the Urdu alphabet 'Qaaf' correctly. He (Peace be on Him) showed them Quranic ayat over ayat but people came and said that how can he be the Promised Messiah because he got jewelry made for his wife and that he uses almond oil. Then Hazrat Musleh Maud (May Allah be pleased with him) says that do not close your eyes to the true signs of Allah. Many people would come to him (Peace be on Him) and would ask for some sign. He (Peace be on Him) would reply that did you gain any use of the signs that have been shown in the past that you need more now? When you have not gained anything from the thousands of signs already shown then how will you be benefitted if I show you a sign now? These people will indeed always remain deprived as it is written in their destiny.

Regarding one of the greatest signs that is evident every day, Promised Messiah (Peace be on Him) says that in the book 'Braheen-e-Ahmadiyya' Allah has revealed this dua upon me that says 'Do not leave me alone and form a community. The next revelation entails that Allah will fulfill all of your requirements and people will come to you from distant tracks and paths. This was revealed and mentioned 26 years ago and is being fulfilled till today with immense majesty. This is the sign of Jama'ats development which is still being achieved. Your Jama'ats every day development and advancement in financial sacrifice is one of the best embodiment of Promised Messiahs (Peace be on Him) truthiness. But this can only be seen by the people who have their eyes open and not by the blind.

Hazrat Musleh Maud (May Allah be pleased with him) says that Promised Messiah (Peace be on Him) was told many a times by Allah that his Jama'at will also have to give sacrifices in the same manner as of the previous followers of the prophets. Thus once you (Peace be on Him) saw in a dream that he was entering in the house of 'Nizaam-ud-din'. The meaning of 'Nizaam-ud-din' is the 'way of religion'. This dream means that Ahmadiyya Jama'at will one day become the way of religion and will canopy and invade over all other systems of the world. In shaa Allah. But how will this invasion take place? Regarding this in the dream it is foretold that some of us will enter according to the 'Hassani' way and some will enter according to the 'Hussani' way. Everybody knows that the success Hazrat Hassan (May Allah be pleased with him) achieved was through reconciliation and understanding and Hazrat Hussain (May Allah be pleased with him) achieved it through martyrdom. Thus Promised Messiah was told that Jama'at will reach the level of 'Nizaam-ud-din' but some through reconciliation, compromise and love and some through sacrifices and martyrdoms. If any of us thinks that this community will develop merely through compromise, love and understanding than he is not correct. And if someone thinks that the Jama'at will develop without martyrdoms and sacrifices than he is also incorrect. Our progress is destined with peace, love and on the other hand through martyrdom. This means that we will sacrifice our lives but do not give up our beliefs. We will have to tread on the middle path. One success will be through peace and other will be through martyrdom. After this the Jama'at will enter the house of 'Nizaam-ud-din' and will achieve success. Both of these situations are evident by the Jama'at. Love, peace and harmony is the message we spread and likewise the Jama'at at the same time is making sacrifices.

Hazrat Musleh Maud (May Allah be pleased with him) says that I myself asked the Promised Messiah (Peace be on Him) about the meaning of the aforementioned dream but he said that I do not know as of now but the meanings reveal through time. The Promised Messiah (Peace be on Him) at that time when not even a single person believed in him was told by Allah that his Jama'at will achieve so much success that other nations of the world will be left as the nomadic nations in this era. We are the ones who witness the signs and blessings from Allah every day and In shaa Allah a day will come when we will progress to such a degree that other communities will appear small but in order to do so we need to instill the spirit of reformation and religion in ourselves and in our generations. Since ever, the Jama'ats of the prophets have been facing these oppositions. But these oppositions do not make us fearful but instead make us stronger in our faiths.

A few days ago, the Tehreek-e-Jadeed offices and the Ziaul Islam press was raided by the counter terrorist squad of the police department in Rabwah. Two missionaries and a few other officials were arrested. Upon this a few people from Rabwah that includes women wrote to me that we are not afraid of these activities but instead we are very strong in our faiths and our beliefs increase many folds after such events and that we are ready to face any difficulty and pay any sacrifice. This is the spirit that should be present in our Jama'at members. These are the things that have been foretold by the Promised Messiah (Peace be on Him). Indeed the last victory will be of the Jama'at of the Promised Messiah (Peace be on Him). Oppositions and hostilities have always been there and will continue. These poor people who raided are indeed most terrorized by the Ahmadis because Ahmadis ask them to be fearful of Allah. And who can be more of a terror than the one who asks others of be fearful of Allah. Therefore they want to arrest and kill the Ahmadis. May Allah give them the wisdom to understand the truth and May Allah protect the country from these religious extremists and clerics who are in real meanings the terrorists. They are ones who have actually spread mischief in the country and no one is safe from them. May Allah give the strength to these counter terrorist squads to fight against the people who are actually dangerous to the nation, who are in real terms destroying the roots of the country by plundering instead of arresting peace loving Ahmadis who are the true well-wishers of the country and law abiding citizens. Ahmadis should pray that May Allah protect Pakistan and protect it from the mischiefs and troubles by such clerics (Ameen). As far as sacrifices are concerned, Ahmadis have been giving them in the past and will continue to give them and Allah will very soon give us fruitful reward in return. Likewise, the government of Algeria is maltreating the Ahmadis there. May Allah protect them and give them endurance to these atrocities and May Allah help their government understand the intentions of Ahmadis who are indeed very peaceful and law abiding citizens. They are alleged to be very destructive and planning against the government but in the entire world not even a single Ahmadi will be found fighting against the government laws. We are the people who spread love, peace and harmony and we will not hesitate to give sacrifices if required in order to achieve these goals, In shaa Allah.

Hazrat Musleh Maud (May Allah be pleased with him) said that the most dangerous and greatest opposition comes from the partners and locals. They cannot bear the fact that someone amongst them can gain so much of respect and importance in the world. Those who fight for every bit of property against him, how can they face the fact that so many people follow and regard him. Therefore they try their best to depress him. Those who become helpless and cannot do much, even such people try to take out the hatred in their hearts in some way or the other. Hazrat Khalifatul Masih 1 (May Allah be pleased with him) says that one of the wealthy men from Shahpur got the title of 'Khan Bahadur'. After that from amongst the same family a poor women named her son as 'Khan Bahadur'. When she was enquired for the reason she said that I am not aware what will my sons profession be when he grows up but at least he will be called by the same name as that of the wealthy man. So the people who cannot do much otherwise they like to be named as others. When Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (Peace be on him) claimed to be the Promised Messiah of the time, one of his relatives also claimed to be the Imam Mehdi. He did so after realizing that many people were following the Promised Messiah (Peace be on him) so he could also get the same attention and importance. Hazrat Musleh Maud (May Allah be pleased with him) gives an example of Persian that says (translation) 'Everyone's thinking and pondering ability is according to his/her own strength and outlook'. He says that Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (Peace be on Him) said that I am sent as a ruler for the entire world and it is not only required of the poor people but also by the kings that they should believe me. The relative who had claimed to be the Imam Mehdi said that he was sent as a leader for the scheduled castes while Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (Peace be on Him) even demanded from the Queen of England to follow him and even wrote a letter to her. When the relative who had put forward the false claim of the being Imam Mehdi was brought to the police station and was asked about it, he totally denied the allegation and said that someone would've falsely alleged me to come up with this statement. Therefore, the close relatives are the worse of opponents. After revealing this incidence Hazrat Musleh Maud (May Allah be pleased with him) says that we have plenty of relatives who left contact with us due to Ahmadiyyat. Not because we did not want to meet them but because they did not wish to be in contact with us. Our relatives used to verbally abuse us. Our aunt who later accepted Ahmadiyyat used to mistreat us. Hazrat Musleh Maud (May Allah be pleased with him) says that I remember that once I was around six or seven years of age and I was climbing up the stairs when she repeatedly said in Punjabi that 'just like the father is bad, so is the son'(translation). She said it so many times that I remembered it by heart and told about it upon reaching home and enquired about its meaning. In Qadian, the Promised Messiah (Peace be on Him) was boycotted. No one was allowed to go to his home for any sort of work or house chores. The very close brothers, sister in law and maternal cousin namely Ali Sher used to afflict him very badly.

Once from the area of Gujrat, Promised Messiahs (Peace be on Him) friends who were seven brothers in all came to Qadian. They walked towards the Promised Messiahs (Peace be on Him) garden. On their way, one of our relatives who was working in his garden enquired about their visit to Qadian. They answered that we have come from Gujrat just for Hazrat Mirza Sahib. The relative said to them that I am Hazrat Mirza Sahibs maternal cousin and I know for sure how bad he is! Upon hearing this one of the brothers held him tight and called upon his other brothers. The relative got worried about experiencing this but the Ahmadi who had held him said that I will not beat you because you are relative of Hazrat Mirza Sahib. I just want to show my brothers your face because till now we had heard that Satan exists but we had never seen him.

Then Hazrat Musleh Maud (May Allah be pleased with him) says that Promised Messiah (Peace be on Him) was told by Allah that only his lineage would continue and others would end. This is exactly how it occurred. Now from his family only those who entered the Ahmadiyya Jama'at are living and the generations of all others have finished and ended. When Hazrat Mirza Sahib (Peace be on Him) claimed to be the Imam Mehdi of the age, there were approximately 70 men in the family. But now except for those who are associated to Promised Messiah (Peace be on Him) biologically or spiritually, none of them have any children. These were the people who had tried their levels best to eradicate Hazrat Sahibs name but as a result they themselves got destroyed and their generations did not grow. This is also one of the greatest signs of Promised Messiahs (Peace be on Him) truthfulness.

Hazrat Musleh Maud (May Allah be pleased with him) while narrating the event of 'Tayee Sahibas' bai'at say that there are some prophecies and evidences that may seem to be small but once they are pondered upon, the hidden meanings in them help a person uplift his/her faith many folds. Hazrat Musleh Maud (May Allah be pleased with him) says that I just came to know about this prophecy yesterday while others have known it before. Yesterday at the time of death of 'Tayee Sahiba', Sheikh Yaqoob Ali Sahib told that it is an old prophecy of the Promised Messiah (Peace be on Him) that 'Tayee Ayee'. The 'Tayee' was Hazrat Musleh Maud's (May Allah be pleased with him) aunt. She was the wife of Promised Messiahs (Peace be on Him) elder brother. Old Ahmadis tell that at the time when this was revealed to the Promised Messiah (Peace be on Him), it was difficult to understand its meaning. Someone would say one thing and others would translate it in some other manner. But one simple meaning to be extracted from it is that a lady who is your aunt (Tayee) in relationship comes. The meaning of coming can have two different elaborations. One is that she comes close or other is that she enters the Jama'at Ahmadiyyat. Simply coming cannot be any prophecy because relatives often come over. In our family, even many elders would call Hazrat Mirza Sahib's (Peace be on Him) elders brother wife as 'Tayee'. Thus her name was 'Tayee'. The people who have read the books regarding Ahmadiyyat are aware of the fact that 'Tayee' was a staunch opponent at the time of the prophecy of 'Mohammadi Begum'. As she was eldest in the family and the prophecy was regarding her niece (sisters daughter), therefore she considered it obligatory for her to stop this relationship as she thought of it as a disgrace to the family. For her it was must for her to work towards it. Hazrat Musleh Maud (May Allah be pleased with him) says that according to women nature, for the eldest women, family's respect and dignity is above all religious in fact all political matters. At that time, Hazrat Sahib's (Peace be on Him) claim to be the Promised Messiah was not as important for the 'tayee' as the family dignity. 'Tayee' sahiba considered herself as benevolent to Promised Messiah's because she was elder in age and secondly she would send him lunch and dinner as he had not demanded his share in the property. Women generally have this feeling therefore she would consider Promised Messiahs (Peace be on him) to be her dependent. Promised Messiah (Peace be on Him) says in one of his Arabic poetic verse that 'there was a time when I used to depend on others for food but now Allah has blessed me with such dignity that many people eat food from my kitchen'. In this verse, it is also evident that Promised Messiah (Peace be on Him) did not separately demand for his property's share but had given it to his brother. Promised Messiahs (Peace be on Him) father also used to say that he will not be able to take care of the property. Thus considering all the internal situations, it was impossible for "Tayee' to enter the circle of Ahmadiyyat. She later accepted Ahmadiyyat. Hazrat Musleh Maud (May Allah be pleased with him) says that it was not through logic or religious reasons but due to family circumstances, she considered herself as the owner and Promised Messiah (Peace be on Him) as the servant (Naozubillah). She considered him as a poor person who would not work and live on her food. In these conditions, it was never acceptable to her that he marries her niece. As she was the eldest she would oppose this matter the most. At that time, opposition was at its peak. Promised Messiahs (Peace be on him) relatives had abandoned him and he would not meet them either. Hazrat Amma Jaan (May Allah be pleased with her) reveals that opposition was so staunch that there was an aged women in Promised Messiahs (Peace be on Him) maternal family who would cry over the fact that no one lets us even see the son of Chiragh Bibi. Promised Messiah (Peace be on Him) was isolated just like the robbers are treated because he was considered a disgrace to the family. In that era, just to even expect that 'Tayee' would accept Ahmadiyyat was an impossible and unrealistic consideration. People's hearts can change but we need to look into the matters. Promised Messiah (Peace be on Him) received this prophecy of 'Tayee Ayee' at that particular time. The prophecy also reflected that she would enter the Jama'at at the time when her relationship to the person who would take the bai'at would be of 'Tayee' or aunt. If she had to accept Ahmadiyyat at the time of Promised Messiah (Peace be on Him) then the prophecy would have worded differently as 'Bhawaj Ayee' (Sister in law came). If she was to accept Ahmadiyyat at the hands of Khalifatul Masih 1(May Allah be pleased with him) then the prophecy would have been worded as 'A women from Promised Messiahs family came' but the specific word 'Tayee' notifies that she would accept Ahmadiyyat at the hands of Promised Messiahs (Peace be on him) son. If no son of the Promised Messiah (Peace be on Him) was to be the Khalifa then the word 'Tayee' would have been useless. This prophecy indeed has three aspects to it. 1) Promised Messiah's (Peace be on Him) son would become the Khalifa 2) She would enter the Jama'at when Promised Messiah's (Peace be on Him) son would be the Khalifa and her relationship to him would be as paternal aunt and 3) she would be alive for a long time. This is because when Promised Messiah (Peace be on Him) received the prophecy, he was 70 years old and the prophecy was about someone who was elder to him. It is a very big thing to have such a long age because a human brain cannot even predict this for a young person that he'd be alive for a long time. Tayee passed away in year 1927. Therefore, it was a very major sign to confirm the truthiness of the Promised Messiah (Peace be on Him) and this prophecy has a number of hidden signs in it. After accepting Ahmadiyyat, Tayee also did 'Wasiyyat'. Hazrat Musleh Maud (May Allah be pleased with him) says that considering the type of traditions and feelings that were found in the people of old fashioned families it is indeed a great change that she decided to do Wasiyyat. First of all she opposed that why is Promised Messiah (Peace be on Him) buried at the family graveyard and that he should be buried at a different place. But later she did Wasiyyat and was buried in 'Bahishti Maqbara'. For a person with wisdom it is a sign of great importance. It might seem to be a small thing but it has a lot of signs of Promised Messiahs (Peace be on Him) truthfulness.

Hazrat Musleh Maud (May Allah be pleased with him) while revealing the event of Promised Messiahs (Peace be on Him) journey to Delhi says that when a person lays his trust in Allah he can never ever imagine that the works done by Allah will have no fruitful results. If you trust Allah then you also have the trust that Allah will make fruitful results out of His works. Hazrat Musleh Maud (May Allah be pleased with him) says that I was then a young boy when Promised Messiah (Peace be on Him) travelled to Delhi. You (Peace be on Him) travelled to the shrines of different saints and offered dua for long time and said that I did so because I do not want their generations to be deprived of the truth of the Promised Messiah (Peace be on Him) who has been sent in this age for their reformation. Furthermore he (Peace be on Him) said that indeed a day will come when Allah will enlighten their hearts and they will accept the truth. Hazrat Musleh Maud (May Allah be pleased with him) says that I was a very young boy when this was said but it still has an impact on my heart. Thus if the Jama'at of Delhi wants to see a fruitful result of their efforts then they should lay their trust in Allah. A day will come when the thing that Allah wants to prevail will be prevailed. You (May Allah be pleased with him) said all this while addressing to the Delhi Jama'at. Therefore, even today it is the responsibility of Delhi Jama'at to spread the message Promised Messiah with utmost wisdom. Ma shaa Allah this process of spreading the message has speeded up through the exhibitions. But there is also opposition from other Muslims, so there is still need to spread this message to them. And the most important thing is 'Dua' and a lot of attention needs to be paid to it.

Then Hazrat Musleh Maud (May Allah be pleased with him) also revealed a dream of Promised Messiah (Peace be on Him) in which he saw that there is a very long ditch in which many sheep have been laid down and every sheep was attended by a butcher with knife in his hand and with their gazes on the sky as if they are waiting for a Divine command. Promised Messiah (Peace be on Him) says that at that time I am walking around at this place. I approached them and recited this verse of the Holy Quran that says 'Say to them, What does my God care for you, if you do not worship Him and obey His commandments'. The moment I said this, the butchers who were in fact angels understood that they had been granted permission and they served the necks of the sheep saying 'You are no more than rubbish eating sheep'. Promised Messiah (Peace be on Him) says that he interpreted this to mean that there would be a severe epidemic and indeed around 70,000 people died of the epidemic of Cholera. Thus if someone does not pay attention then Allah does not care for him and no one can stop the works of Allah.

He says that after 300 years of the Jesus Christ (Peace be on Him), Christianity was magnified. But if we ponder over our conditions it will take far less than that when Ahmadiyyat will be blessed with immense growth and expansion In shaa Allah. Be it any Pakistani cleric or a religious leader or be it any worldly power, for Allah they have no importance. They are just like those sheep. And these people can never hinder the growth and development of Ahmadiyyat. But for this we cannot just rely on our missionaries that it is their duty to spread Ahmadiyyat. If you want to be a part of this development and we should be a part then we also have to divert ourselves towards dua's. We will have to increase our spirituality. We will have to strengthen our relationship with Allah. These are the things that will put an end to the opposition of Ahmadiyyat and will help us put our shares in the development of our religion, In shaa Allah. May Allah bless us with that state, Ameen.

After namaz, Huzoor offered absentee funeral of Mukarram Sufni Zafar Ahmad Sahib who was a missionary in Indonesia. He died at the age of 71 from a cardiac arrest on November 8^th 'Ina Lilah e Waina Alla-e-Rajeehoon'. He was born on 18^th August 1945 in Sumatra. His father, Zaini Dalaan Sahib entered into Bai'at at the hand of Hazrat Musleh Maud (May Allah be pleased with him) in 1923. He, along with two other men established the mission houses in Java and Sumatra. Therefore, his father was amongst the pioneer missionaries of Indonesia. Zaini Dalaan Sahib had three children and after offering Sufni Zafar Ahmad Sahib for life dedication he sent him to Jamia Ahmadiyya Rabwah in order to gain religious education. Sufni Zafar Ahmad Sahib travelled to Rabwah on July 17^th, 1963 and spent approximately 11 years there. In 1974 he went back to Indonesia where he was first posted at Kalimantan. Later he was appointed as regional missionary and regional ameer in west Java. Later he also served in east Java and Papua. From 1985 to 1987 he served in Jambi and from 1987 to 1991 he served in north Sumatra as regional missionary. From 1991 to 1997, he taught the subject of 'Fiqah' at Jamia Ahmadiyya Indonesia. During this time he was also elected as the in charge of the department of teaching of the newly converts. From 1997 to 2001 he served as the regional missionary in Lampung, Indonesia. Through your efforts many new Jama'ats were created in Indonesia along with construction of some mosques and mission houses. You also got the honor to translate a few books into Indonesian language. The philosophy of Zakat, sacrifice in the way of Allah, funeral and the true meaning of Jihad in Islam are a few books that he wrote. He got retired in 2001 and was suffering from various illnesses. He had a special relationship of love and loyalty with Khilafat and had a very deep association of entailment. He was a very sincere server of the Jama'at. He has left behind a wife, one daughter and two sons. May Allah keep them associated to the Jama'at and just like their father help them progress in doing good deeds and may they also express their sincerity and loyalty to Jama'at likewise and may Allah help them become a very active Ahmadi, Ameen.