After reciting the Tashahhud, Ta’uz, Tasmia and Sura Fatiah Hazrat Ameer-ul-Mu’mineen recited verse 56 of Sura Al-Nur and then (aba) said:

The translation of this verse is as follows:

“Allah has promised to those among you who believe and do good works that He will surely make them Successors in the earth, as He made Successors from among those who were before them; and that He will surely establish for them their religion which He has chosen for them; and that He will surely give them in exchange security and peace after their fear: They will worship Me, and they will not associate anything with Me. Then whoso is ungrateful after that, they will be the rebellious.”

This verse, as it is evident from the subject matter, declares the promise of Allah the Almighty to Muslims that Khilafat [i.e. Calipahte]will continue to remain in Islam. However, according to a saying of the Holy Prophet (sa), due to the conduct of the Muslims and the state of their faith, this blessing was to be temporarily seized from them. Nevertheless, the Holy Prophet (sa) also added that, in accordance with the promise of Allah the Almighty, this system was to be re-established. Khilafat on the precepts of prophethood was to be re-established and reinstated in the world for those who are firm in their faith, do good deeds and follow this final and complete religion.

Whilst mentioning the lack of knowledge of the Muslims, or rather the lack of understanding and ignorance of the Muslim scholars, the Promised Messiah (as) stated: “Some people deny the general connotation of the verse: [Arabic] (i.e. the broader meaning of this verse) by saying that Minkum] from among you] can only refer to the companions [of the Holy Prophet (sa)] and the rightly guided caliphate terminated with them.” The Promised Messiah (as) further states: “I ask the question, can any virtuous individual entertain the belief that the dispensation and caliphate of Prophet Moses (as) lasted for fourteen hundred years, yet that individual who was the best of all the Messengers and the best among all the Prophets – the blessings of whose dispensation was to last until the Day of Judgement – his blessings were to last only until his era, as if to say that God Almighty did not wish for the blessings of his model to be exhibited through his spiritual Caliphs”

Thus, there are people who are of this opinion as well about whom the Holy Prophet (sa) mentioned with detail. However, there are some individuals who wish to establish the Caliphate using the support of worldly powers. These people have failed to understand the clear message of God Almighty that this promise is stipulated with faith and virtuous deeds. Becoming a true servant of God Almighty is a condition attached to this promise. Three years ago, a journalist in Ireland asked me ‘what is the truth behind the system of Caliphate that has appeared in the Islamic world? What dangers are posed to your Caliphate by this?’ I explained to him that they are a group of extremists and their end will be the same as rest of the extremist organisations. Recently here in the United Kingdom an incident took place in Manchester where twenty-two or twenty-three people were needlessly killed including innocent children. This was an outrageous act of cruelty and can never be associated with the teachings of Islam at any cost. We are perturbed by these atrocious acts of terror. May Allah have mercy on the deceased and grant steadfastness to their relatives. May Allah stop the hands of these tyrants who are carrying out vicious acts in the name of Islam and Khilafat [Caliphate].

In this day and age Ahmadis are the ones who have understood the teachings of the Quran and can comprehend the directives issued by the Holy Prophet (sa) as Ahmadis because we have recognised the teachings of peace and harmony in Islam through accepting the Khatam-al-Khulafah [the Seal of the Caliphs, i.e. the Promised Messiah (as)]. In Surah Jumuah of the Holy Quran, God Almighty states: ‘And among others from among them who have not yet joined them’. When this verse was revealed, a companion enquired: ‘O Messenger of Allah (sa)! Who are those people who have not yet joined them, but still hold the status of being called companions? The Holy Prophet (sa) did not answer until the companion asked for a third time, after which the Holy Prophet (sa) placed his hand on the shoulder of Hazrat Salman, the Persian, and said: “When the faith reaches the Pleiades, some individuals from among these people would attain it.” Regarding the status of those ‘Others’ [who have not yet joined them] the Holy Prophet (sa) once said: “My people are a blessed nation, it will be difficult to decipher if the first century will be the most blessed or the last century.” Thus, the Holy Prophet (sa) himself gave the glad tidings of the blessings of the latter days. The Promised Messiah (as) came to rejuvenate Islam, while at the same time these companions, who attached themselves with the Promised Messiah (as), gained that radiance which is the light of faith. They witnessed an array of signs. To this day there are many who are emerging from the darkness to see the light, and having seen the signs they enter into the fold of the Ahmadiyya Community.

The followers of the Promised Messiah (as) continue to difficulties, hardships and adversity. However, they bear all the suffering and misfortune with extraordinary patience and steadfastness. The example of Algeria in this regard is right before us. The Jamaat there is not all that old, however after they accepted the Promised Messiah and thus joined the ‘latter day ones’ and have followed Khilafat, and so their faith is elevated to the highest levels. We can gauge the faith and firm belief of these [Ahmadis] who have been jailed through the following, where the writer says: ‘I also met you in my dreams. Your prayers strengthened our faith and belief and gave us comfort in jail. Certainly our release is a result of the prayers made by you and the Jama’at.’ His wife is the only Ahmadi in her entire family as all her other relatives are non-Ahmadi and have abandoned her. However pious Ahmadi women filled this gap with their love and family was formed through them.’ Apart from a handful, these Ahmadis from Algeria have never even met the Khalifa. However, because they have complete faith Allah the Almighty brings about the means for their tranquillity in the same way that at the time of the Promised Messiah (as), the means for tranquillity was created for those near to him.

Thus, in the pamphlet The Will (Al Wasiyyat), the Promised Messiah (as) writes regarding his departing this world, and the continued progress of the Jamaat through Khilafat by saying: ‘So dear friends! … But when I depart, God will send that second Manifestation for you which shall always stay with you just as promised by God in Brahin-e-Ahmadiyya. … Thus, it is inevitable that you see the day of my departure, so that after that day the day comes which is the day of ever-lasting promise. Our God is He Who keeps His promise and is Faithful and is the Truthful God. He shall show you all that He has promised.’ The institution of Khilafat which has been established through the advent of the Promised Messiah^as is now the only true institution through which success and also the peace and harmony of the world can be achieved.

It is a great favour of Allah the Almighty that although the Jama’at experienced a great shock at the time of the demise of the Promised Messiah^as, however Allah the Almighty immediately took care of the Jama’at through Hazrat Khalifatul Masih I^ra. And so even if anyone had any intention to create mischief, it was quickly quelled. Thereafter, the Jama’at experienced another shock when Hazrat Khalifatul Masih I^ra passed away and certain prominent and leading members of the Jama’at abstained from taking the Bai’at [oath of allegiance] and rejected the Khalifa and the Jama’at endured very a difficult period during this time. Then, the Jama’at faced very hostile periods during the era of the third Khalifa and despite the government’s very horrific plans, Allah the Almighty bestowed His grace and they could not hinder the progress of the Jama’at. The Leader of Pakistan at the time boasted that he will ensure that Ahmadis are forced to resort to a begging bowl, however Allah the Almighty brought about the means to ease. During the time of the fourth Khalifa, the Pakistan government intensified its persecution and again Allah the Almighty granted the means to provide comfort. Moreover, the Jama’at continued to scale new heights and newer means emerged for Tabligh [propagation of the message of Islam] and then through the satellite system we were able to do Tabligh. Then, during the era of the fifth Khalifa, the modes of Tabligh further expanded and not just thousands or hundreds of thousands but the message of the Jama’at has begun to reach millions. All of this shows that despite the temporary hurdles, the victory of Islam is destined to happen through the Promised Messiah^as and the institution of Khilafat which was established after him. May the standards of every Ahmadi’s worship continue to increase so that we continue to partake of this success.

After the Friday Prayer, I shall lead a funeral prayer. The funeral is of Chaudhry Hameed Ahmad Sahib, son of Chaudhry Muhammad Suleman Akhtar Sahib. He had been living here [in the UK] for the last seven to eight years. He passed away on 20 May 2017 at the age of 42 - Surely to Allah we belong and to Him we shall return. May Allah the Almighty elevate his status and grant him mercy and forgiveness and may He also enable his children to be pious and virtuous and enable them to remain attached with Khilafat.