His Holiness, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad (aba) is a beaming beacon of Divine guidance and support. His Holiness (aba) represents the highest level of a connection with God in today’s world and thus he is the spiritual leader for tens of millions across the world, and champions the message of fulfilling the rights owed to God, and fulfilling the duties we each owe to our fellow human beings. Over the course of his Friday Sermons, addresses on various occasions, meetings with different organizations and children’s classes, His Holiness (aba) imparts invaluable knowledge and insight on a remarkably vast array of topics.

The Review of Religions is honoured to present some of these ‘Rays of Wisdom’ from His Holiness (aba) taken from various different sources, for the benefit of its readers.

Contents

Why Are Ahmadis Hindered from Entering Makkah?

Why Has the World Failed to Achieve Peace, Despite Being So Advanced?

Will the Caliph Ever Return to Pakistan?

What is the Best Method for Choosing a Life Partner?

True Faith Must be Accompanied by Righteous Deeds

Why Are Ahmadis Hindered from Entering Makkah?

Makkah is the epicentre of the Muslim world. It is the birthplace of Islam, and its founder, the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sa). It is also home to the principal mosque in Islam, the Holy Ka`bah, towards which Muslims all over the world face while offering their prayers. Makkah is also where millions of Muslims converge in order to perform Hajj, the Islamic pilgrimage, as well as Umrah the lesser pilgrimage. For Ahmadi Muslims however, undertaking the journey to the holy city of Makkah can prove difficult at times, as Ahmadis are regarded by the majority of the Muslim population as ‘non-Muslims’. Once, a person asked His Holiness (aba) why it is so difficult for some Ahmadis to travel to Makkah.

His Holiness (aba) replied:

‘If a person is known to be an Ahmadi, they are told that they are a disbeliever and they are not allowed [to enter Makkah]. This is despite the fact that we are Muslims; as the Holy Prophet (sa) has stated, anyone who declares ‘there is no god but Allah, Muhammad (sa) is His Messenger’ is a Muslim. In fact, the Holy Prophet (sa) also said that that a person who just declares ‘there is no god but Allah’ is also a Muslim. We declare ‘there is no god but Allah, Muhammad (sa) is His Messenger’ yet people still label us as disbelievers. The government there treats us unjustly and does not allow us to go if they find out that a person is an Ahmadi. Despite this, however, there are many Ahmadis who go [to Makkah] and perform Hajj as well as Umrah. Many people have started going now, including many people from the UK. I also had an Ahmadi perform Hajj on my behalf seeing as I cannot go. If one is permitted to go then they should go. Although there is not full freedom, Ahmadis still go to perform Hajj, so long as no one finds out they are Ahmadi otherwise they will be beaten there and thrown out. Hence they commit a grave injustice by not allowing Ahmadis to go and Ahmadis are not given their due rights.’ [1]

Why Has the World Failed to Achieve Peace, Despite Being So Advanced?

Today’s generation is experiencing a revolutionary time in the world, which has never before been seen. Advancements in fields such as technology have progressed to ground-breaking heights. As such, the world boasts being more advanced and possessing more means and knowledge than ever before. Yet at the same time, no matter the great technological advancements which the world makes, there seems to be one advancement which continues to be ever-elusive; the advancement of world peace. A person once asked His Holiness (aba), why it was that despite being so technologically advanced, today’s generation still fails to achieve peace.

His Holiness (aba) replied:

‘It is not a matter of this generation only, for past 50-60 decades, we have been seeing this disturbance in the world. Even, it is almost 107 years since the First World War erupted, and later on the Second World War, that is also more than 70 years. This is a pity, that although we are advancing, we claim ourselves to be civilised,  we claim ourselves more advanced than the previous generation, and still, we are trying to snatch each other’s rights. We are usurping the rights of each other and without feeling any shame. Everybody thinks that he is right. So now, in this materialistic world, although we have technologically advanced, but our greed has increased. The whole world is a global village now, and we can see that, that nation has got more facilities, they are better advanced and we are less advanced, they have better facilities, they are rich and we are poor and that is also making frustration among the people. This technological advance has created frustration, and because of this frustration, we are trying to snatch others’ assets and property, by hook or by crook. We don’t bother whether it is fair or not. The big powers, despite the fact that they have the power, they have the resources, they are trying to usurp and snatch the resources of the small powers. Millions of dollars are being collected from the African nations by the big powers in the name of establishing peace in their countries, or for the development of their countries. But in reality, it is not being spent on them. Had it been spent properly on the African countries or the poor countries of the world, whether it is Asia or Africa or elsewhere, there would not have been a poverty level as which can see today. So although we say that there is a technological advance, but that advance has brought us together, and at the same time it has created enmity with each other, and vindictiveness, anxiety; there are so many causes that is creating disturbance in the society, in the whole world. So, we have to consider all these things, that how can we live together. This is why, at the end, I would say again the same thing; this is why the reformer of the age came, to unite the whole of mankind on one hand. Until and unless the people, whether it is the people, whether it is the people of rich countries or the people of the poor countries, realise the rights of each other, and realise the right they owe to their Creator, there can never be peace in the society or in the world.’ [2]

Will the Caliph Ever Return to Pakistan?

After the partition of India and Pakistan, the headquarters of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community moved from its birthplace in Qadian, India, to Pakistan. Under the guidance of the Second Caliph (ra), a parcel of land was obtained and in 1948, the foundation stone was laid of what would go on to become Rabwah, the new headquarters of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. Rabwah remained the central headquarters of the Ahmadiyya Muslims Community, and the primary home of the Caliph until 1984, when the Fourth Caliph (rh) had to migrate from Pakistan to the United Kingdom, due to unjust laws instituted in Pakistan against Ahmadis, declaring them non-Muslims. As a result, the headquarters of the Community shifted to the UK. In light of the grave persecution faced by Ahmadis, neither the Fourth Caliph (rh), nor the current and Fifth Caliph and Worldwide Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community could return to Pakistan. Once, someone asked His Holiness (aba) if he foresaw a return to Pakistan.

His Holiness (aba) replied:

‘If this was meant to be foreseen, then Allah Almighty would not have used the word “suddenly” (بغتتاً); Allah Almighty has decreed that whatever is to happen will happen suddenly. The Holy Prophet (sa) also thought he would return to Makkah but on the first occasion, he wasn’t able to perform the Hajj and had to return following the treaty of Hudaibiyah. Then suddenly the circumstances changed and he was able to return in an unforeseen way. This is how religious communities make their return. Tell me, how much have you prepared for this? How many people offer voluntary prayers and give charity and teach their children to pray for our headquarters to be returned to us? You will have to make an effort for this yourselves.’ [3]

What is the Best Method for Choosing a Life Partner?

The decision of marriage is not one to be taken lightly; it is a matter of choosing a life partner with whom to start a life and a new family. As such, this matter requires a great deal of attention and careful thought. Generally, Ahmadis practice a system of arranged marriage, whereby suggestions are made by the parents who also provide their guidance, after which the ultimate decision is then left to the prospective bride and groom. Once, a person asked His Holiness (aba) about the best course of action with regards to choosing a spouse.

His Holiness (aba) replied:

‘Pray for forty days and only send a proposal if you feel content – otherwise do not send a proposal. Furthermore, the girl should not reply in haste, rather, she should spend time in prayer before giving her answer. The Holy Prophet (sa) mentioned four conditions; worldly people look at beauty, family and wealth. However, the Holy Prophet (sa) said that a true believer should focus on whether the potential spouse is pious. When we focus on religious values and the traditions of our Community, then the girls will also focus on becoming pious and so will the boys. And so the emphasis once again becomes their religious upbringing.’ [4] 

True Faith Must be Accompanied by Righteous Deeds

The Ahmadiyya Muslims Community is blessed not only to have accepted the awaited Messiah and Mahdi of this age, but to have a system of successorship known as the Caliphate. It is under the guidance of the Caliph, that a true Islamic society is sought to be established, following the teachings of the Holy Qur’an and the Holy Prophet (sa), thereby bringing about peace and harmony within ourselves and throughout the world. However, this requires more than just having faith and believing in the truth. Rather, true faith must be accompanied by righteous deeds. On one occasion, His Holiness (aba) said:

‘We can only be truly obedient to Allah the Almighty and His Messenger (sa) and can attain peace of mind and contentment when our actions are solely for the purpose of attaining God Almighty’s pleasure; and such a society under the shade of Khilafat can only be established when each one of our actions is truly fulfilling the rights owed to Allah and the rights owed to humankind. Hence, it is not enough to merely utter words; rather, we must always be mindful of this instruction of Allah the Almighty, that only those believers will benefit from the institution of Khilafat, who do good works. 

The Promised Messiah (as) states:

“In the Holy Quran, God Almighty has prescribed performing righteous deeds along with faith. An action is considered pious or good when it is free from every kind of blemish. Remember, man’s actions always fall prey to thieves. Who are those thieves? It is pretentiousness”, i.e. when man carries out a deed to show other people. “Then there is ujab” which means to carry out a deed and to be greatly pleased with one’s own actions. “Similarly, all sorts of vices and evils”, which at times, one may not even realise they are committing, “ultimately ruin one’s good deeds. Righteous deeds are those deeds which are free from even the thought of all injustices, conceit, pretentiousness, arrogance and usurping the rights of others.”

This, in essence, is true righteous deeds. It is not merely refraining from committing an evil deed, in fact, the Promised Messiah (as) stated that even the thought of doing so should not enter one’s mind. Only then can one be called a true believer and one who performs good deeds. 

Then, the Promised Messiah (as) states, “Just as one can be safeguarded due to their righteous deeds in the Hereafter, they can be safeguarded through them in this world as well.” 

The Promised Messiah (as) then states, “Even if there is one individual in the home who carries out virtuous deeds, the entire house can be saved as a result. Be mindful of this fact that until one carries out virtuous deeds, simply professing belief is of no benefit.” [5]

Hence, righteous deeds are an absolutely necessary condition alongside faith.’ [6]

ENDNOTES

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MNnHi9tQ68

[2] Meeting with Journalists from The Gambia 22 May 2021

[3] Meeting with Lajna UK National Amila, 6 January 2019

[4] Ibid

[5] Malfuzat, Vol. 4, pp. 274-275

[6] Friday Sermon 28 May 2021