Summary prepared by The Review of Religions
After reciting Tashahhud, Ta‘awwuz and Surah al-Fatihah, His Holiness, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad (aba) said that he had been speaking about the Holy Prophet’s (sa) anguish, effort and bravery in establishing the unity of God in the world and how he stood as a firm pillar against every form of association of partners with God.
His Holiness (aba) quoted the Promised Messiah, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as), who writes:
‘Just think how, to his last breath, the Holy Prophet (sa) steadfastly and unwaveringly held on to his claim of prophethood in the face of countless perils and so many enemies, detractors and threateners. The persecution and hardship he endured for years seemed to preclude all possibility of success and were increasing day by day. His patient response to them clearly rules out any plans for material gain. On the contrary, the very moment he made his claim to prophethood, he lost even the little support he already had. With a single announcement, he made innumerable enemies and brought upon himself countless tribulations. He was forced into exile, pursued by bloodthirsty enemies, his home and property were destroyed, and repeated attempts were made to poison him. Those who were once his well-wishers turned against him, and friends became foes. The severe hardship he endured for so long and with such fortitude could not have been tolerated by a deceiving imposter. And when, at long last, Islam became victorious and a time of ease and prosperity ushered in, he accumulated no wealth, built himself no citadels or mansions, piled up no provisions for luxurious and royal living, and made no personal acquisitions. Rather, he gave away everything to orphans, the needy, widows, and those burdened by debt, while he himself never even enjoyed a full meal. Such was his truthfulness and candour that he did not hesitate to proclaim Tauhid [oneness of God] even at the cost of antagonising all the people and tribes – indeed the whole world of idolaters. His own kith and kin were the first to oppose him when he forbade them from worshipping idols. The Jewish community became his bitterest enemy and continuously plotted to assassinate him when he tried to wean them away from diverse forms of creature-worship, blind following of the saints, various forms of malpractices, and from blaspheming against the Messiah [Jesus].
The Christians were similarly antagonised when he declared that, contrary to their beliefs, Jesus was neither God nor the son of God, nor did he atone for their sins through Crucifixion. Fire-worshippers and star-worshippers were also enraged when he forbade them from worshipping their deities and exhorted them instead to turn to the One God for their salvation.
Now, honestly, are these the means by which one could hope to achieve success in this world? If he had worldly ambitions, was it prudent to attack the beliefs of all religions and provoke them in such a way that they were all heartbroken and turned against him? They were so disturbed as to become thirsty for his blood, while he did not have any significant following to defend him against their onslaught. Would it not have been more in keeping with the ways of the world to criticise some and praise others, so that where he had enemies, he might also have some friends? For instance, if he had conceded to the Arabs that Lat and ‘Uzza were true gods, they would have obeyed him and followed him without question, for they were a people who placed great importance on family and tribal affiliations and national honour. They were in agreement with everything [the Holy Prophet (sa) taught]. The only thing he needed was to permit idol-worship to win their heartfelt obedience.
What worldly expediency could have led the Holy Prophet to alienate one and all for the sake of holding firmly to Tauhid – a creed that was deeply unpopular at the time and the profession of which spelled many a trouble and even the risk of death? And what earthly motive could he have for continuing to insist on the doctrine that had taken away everything from him and the very expression of which could cause new converts to Islam to suffer confinement and torture? How could anyone hope to attain material success by telling people what was against their temperament, customs and beliefs, thereby making them his mortal enemies, and not keeping ties with anyone? Is this the way cheats and liars scheme? Do schemers turn their friends into enemies? Do those who plan on gaining material reward through their clever devices challenge the whole world at once and live in constant fear for their lives? Far from it, they are keen to humour everyone and eager to award the certificate of truth to every religion. It is not in their character to show fortitude for the sake of God and take pains to uphold their belief in His Oneness and Greatness. Indeed, why should they do so when their aim is to lay their nets where the prey is most easily caught and to employ tactics that require the least toil and bring the greatest material gain? Hypocrisy is their profession, and flattery is their habit. Sweet talk and cultivating the favour of both sides is their favourite principle. They say ‘Allah, Allah’ with the Muslims as readily as they chant ‘Ram, Ram’ with the Hindus. They readily agree with everyone, and if a man of power were to say it was night while it was day, they would even point out the moon and stars to please him.
They have nothing to do with God and no concern to show fidelity for Him. They would never court trials and tribulations to introduce pain and anguish into their happy life. Their mentor teaches them only one thing: to tell everyone that they agree with their beliefs, opinions, and understandings. They are not concerned with right or wrong, truth or falsehood, and good or evil. Whoever greases their palms is good and virtuous and a gentleman; whoever praises them to feed their ego is given the glad tidings of salvation, heaven and everlasting life.
On the other hand, it is very clear when we study the life of Hazrat Khatamul-Anbiya’ [the Seal of the Prophets], may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, that he possessed the highest level of uprightness and integrity. He was ever willing to sacrifice his life for God. He was entirely free from fear or hope from the people and placed his trust only in his Lord. So complete was his submission and devotion to the will of God that he preached His oneness without fear of the calamities that would befall him and the pain and suffering that he would have to endure at the hands of idolaters. In carrying out his Lord’s command, he embraced every tribulation, hardship and affliction. Undaunted by threats, he fulfilled all the requirements of spiritual exercise, preaching and exhortation. I tell you truly that throughout the history of all other prophets, there is not one who showed such trust in God, preached His oneness, forbade idolatry in the face of so much danger, and remained ever-steadfast and firm while facing so many enemies. Anyone who ponders over these events with any degree of honesty will find them bearing witness to the inner truth of the Holy Prophet (sa).
Upon deeper reflection, a reasonable person will also realise that the age in which the Holy Prophet (sa) appeared stood in dire need of a great heavenly reformer and spiritual guide, and that the teachings he brought were certainly true and met all the needs of the time and encompassed all the requirements of the age. So effective and forceful was his teaching that thousands were drawn towards the truth, and the words [There is none worthy of worship but Allah] were engraved upon their hearts. The ultimate purpose of Prophethood – which is to impart teachings that lead to salvation – was accomplished to perfection [by the Holy Prophet (sa)]. This is far more than what any other Prophet had ever achieved. Anyone pondering over this will spontaneously testify that the Holy Prophet [Muhammad] (sa) is the true guide sent by God. There is no cure for those who persist in denial out of prejudice and stubbornness – such people deny even the existence of God – but it is impossible to show, in the life of any other Prophet, even one of those signs of truth as are found to the brim in the Holy Prophet (sa). If someone thinks otherwise, let him come forward.’ (Barahine-e-Ahmadiyya Parts I & II, English Translation, pp. 127-136).
The Qur’an Alone Presents the True Oneness of God
His Holiness (aba) further quoted the Promised Messiah (as) who writes:
‘The Hindus sing the praises of the Vedas, considering them to be the sum total of all guidance, while denying the truthfulness of all other scriptures and Prophets. Also, the Christians consider the Gospels to be the last Word, forgetting that the merit of a scripture can only be measured by the extent to which it establishes God’s oneness. A Book that excels in establishing the oneness of God can alone be judged higher in status. This is why a denier of Tauhid, even if he is a paragon of virtue, cannot attain salvation. Hence, these people should first ask themselves: which of these Books has done the most to promote the concept of God’s oneness, upon which salvation depends. Can the Vedas boast of one country in which they have introduced the oneness of God?
…There is no land in which they became the means for spreading Tauhid. On the contrary, its followers consider monotheists unworthy of salvation.
Their priests give monotheists tidings of a dark inferno where there will be much wailing and gnashing of teeth. According to them, only those will be saved from it who believe that God suffers death, suffering, hunger, thirst, pain, and that he entered a mortal body and became flesh; otherwise, there is no hope of salvation. In other words, they believe that the paradise of their imagination will be divided among the two great nations of Europe – the British and the Russians – while all monotheists will be cast into hell for the crime of considering God to be free from every fault and imperfection.
What I am trying to demonstrate by writing all this is that Tauhid, in its purest form, is not to be found among any people on the face of the earth except the followers of the Holy Prophet, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. And there is no book upon the earth, other than the Holy Qur’an, that has firmly committed millions to this holy doctrine and that leads mankind so reverentially towards the One True God. People of every religion have created artificial gods for themselves, whereas the God of the Muslims is the One, Eternal, and Immutable God, whose attributes are the same today as they were before. All this goes to show the truth of the Prophethood of the Founder of Islam beyond any shadow of doubt, for it is only in his blessed person that the essence and purpose of Prophethood is demonstrably fulfilled. Just as a creator is recognised through his creation, so do the wise and knowledgeable recognise this Divine Reformer by the reformation he has brought about.
There are countless other signs to prove that the Holy Prophet (sa) enjoyed divine support. For instance, is it anything less than a miracle that a poor, helpless, unlettered orphan came with such an enlightened teaching – at a time when powerful nations prided themselves on their economic, military and intellectual strength – that he rendered them speechless with his flawless logic and arguments and even pointed out the blunders of their so-called scholars and philosophers? And did he not, despite his vulnerable state, bring down mighty rulers and replace them with common people? If this was not a sign of divine help, then what else was it? Is it possible for anyone to overcome the whole world in reason, knowledge, power and strength without divine support?’ (Barahin-e-Ahmadiyya Parts I & II, English Translation, pp. 136-138).
His Holiness (aba) continued quoting the Promised Messiah (as) who writes:
‘History clearly testifies, as do several verses of the Holy Qur’an…that the Holy Prophet, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, appeared in an age when idolatry, creature-worship and all kinds of misguided beliefs were rampant in the world. All People had forsaken the true principles and strayed from the right path, and the followers of every religious denomination were merely following the paths of their own invention. The Arabs were steeped in idol-worship, the Persians were prostrating before fire, and the Indians had succumbed to hundreds of forms of creature-worship in addition to idolatry. It was at that time that several ancient writings and books had been written containing myths whereby scores of men of God were deified, and the foundation was laid for the worship of avatars. Christianity was in the worst state of all, according to the admission of Reverend Davenport and several other Western scholars. It had become severely tainted due to the immorality and faithlessness of its clergy, and its doctrines, too, raised not one or two but several to the status of gods. The fact that the Holy Prophet (sa) appeared at a time of spiritual decadence, when the need for a great spiritual physician and reformer and extraordinary divine guidance was keenly felt, and with his advent, lit the world with the light of Tauhid and righteous conduct, doing away with idolatry and creature-worship – which is the mother of all evils—is clear evidence that not only was he a true Prophet of God, but was the greatest of all Prophets.
His truth is evident because in those times of darkness, the law of Providence demanded a light-bearer, and God’s own eternal practice required that He should send a true guide into the world. It is God’s eternal law that when suffering and hardship reach their extreme, His mercy is aroused and He creates the means for the alleviation of the world’s woes. For example, when drought causes a severe famine and people are about to perish, God the Noble causes rain to fall; when there is an epidemic and thousands begin to die, He causes some means for purifying the air or some remedy to be found; when a nation is in the grip of a tyrant, he is ultimately replaced by a just and benevolent ruler. In the same way, when people forsake the path of God and renounce Tauhid and worship of God, He raises someone whom He grants perfect vision and honours him with His word and revelation, in order to guide mankind and bring about a reformation of the evil that has occurred. The truth is that God is the Sustainer on whom depends the existence and continuity of the universe. He does not deprive His creatures of His benevolent attributes, nor does He suspend them. Rather, they instantly come into play when they are required.
Having arrived at the logical and unavoidable conclusion that whenever a calamity strikes the world, an opposite Divine attribute comes into operation to break its hold; and having learnt from history, from the very admission of the opponents [of Islam] and from the textual evidence of the Holy Qur’an that, at the time of the Holy Prophet, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, the world was in an upheaval because all people had turned their backs on the path of Tauhid, sincerity, and godliness; and having known that the man who delivered the world from the darkness of idolatry and polytheism and established Tauhid was none other than the Holy Prophet (sa), we cannot help but draw the conclusion that the Holy Prophet (sa) is a true guide from God.’ (Barahin-e-Ahmadiyya Parts I & II, English Translation, pp. 131-133, Footnote)
Fulfilling the Mission of Establishing the Oneness of God in this Era
His Holiness (aba) said that in previous sermons, he has related various incidents about how the Holy Prophet (sa) strove to establish the unity of God in the world. Then, in this era, God sent the Promised Messiah, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as), to perpetuate that same mission of the Holy Prophet (sa). The Promised Messiah (as) was the truest reflection of the Holy Prophet (sa) and the example which he established. Hence, the Promised Messiah’s (as) example is also one which we should emulate to the end of following the examples and teachings brought to us by the Holy Prophet (sa).
His Holiness (aba) quoted the Promised Messiah (as) who writes:
‘He should also abstain from Shirk [associating partners with God] and should worship neither the sun, nor the moon, nor the stars, nor air, nor fire, nor water, nor anything else. He should also not put his faith in the physical means as though they were God’s partners. Nor should he depend upon his own prowess, for this also amounts to idolatry – Shirk. Having done everything in his power, he should consider it of no consequence and should not pride himself on his knowledge or his efforts, and should think himself ignorant and worthless. His soul should always lie prostrate at the threshold of the Almighty, seeking His grace through prayer and supplication… Man depends upon a teacher for his knowledge, yet his knowledge remains incomplete; God needs no teacher, for His knowledge knows no bounds. Man depends upon the air for his hearing, which is limited, but God’s hearing is inherent and unlimited. Man depends upon the light of the sun or other sources of light to see, and his sight is restricted, but God sees by His own light, and His sight encompasses everything. In order to create, man is dependent upon matter and requires time, and his power of creation is confined, but God’s power of creation is not dependent upon matter or time, nor is it in any way limited. This is because all His attributes are unique like Himself, and if even one of them were flawed, they would all be considered flawed. His unity – Tauhid – cannot be established unless He is seen to be peerless both in His Person and in His attributes.’ (Lecture Lahore, pp. 10-12)
His Holiness (aba) said that even today, many youngsters will ask the question, ‘Who created God?’ The Promised Messiah (as) has explained that God is, in fact, the primary and ultimate source of all things. He Himself is the Creator and is not created as His attributes are infinite.
Three Aspects of the Oneness of God
His Holiness (aba) further quoted the Promised Messiah (as) who writes:
‘Remember, the true Tauhid, which God wants us to profess and on which true salvation depends, is to believe that God has no associate – be it an idol, a man, the sun, the moon, our own selves, our devices or our cunning – and to consider Him alone as the Source of all power and sustenance, honour and humiliation, help and succour, and to make Him the object of all our love, worship, supplication, hope and fear. Hence, no concept of Tauhid is complete without the following three aspects:
(1) Tauhid in the context of God’s Person: To consider everything beside Him to be as good as non-existent, mortal, and of no consequence.
(2) Tauhid in the context of God’s Attributes: To believe that no one possesses the attributes of Lordship and Divinity except the Person of the Almighty, and that all those who appear to sustain and benefit creation are only a part of the Divine scheme of things.
(3) Tauhid in the context of love, sincerity and devotion: Not to associate anyone with God in terms of love and devotion, and to immerse oneself completely in Him. The Jews had lost the true concept of Tauhid, one that forms the basis of salvation and comprises these three aspects. Their misconduct clearly testified that their belief in God was merely verbal while, in their heart of hearts, they did not believe in Him.’ (Four Questions by Mr. Sirajuddin, a Christian, and their Answers, pp. 26-27)
His Holiness (aba) said that we must endeavour our utmost to spread the message of the unity of God. He prayed that we may act upon the mission which the Promised Messiah (as) was sent to complete – the message of the unity of God brought by the Holy Prophet (sa) – which he was sent to uphold, and that we too may be those who spread it to the world. This is the only means for the salvation of the world; there is no other way.
Funeral Prayers
His Holiness (aba) said that he would lead the funeral prayers in absentia of the following:
Khawaja Zafar Ahmad
Khawaja Zafar Ahmad former Amir of Sialkot. He had been living in the USA, where he passed away. He was always devoted to serving the Community and had a strong bond with Khilafat, which he instilled in his children as well. His Holiness (aba) attested that he was indeed very sincere and loyal to the Community. Throughout his life, he served the Community in various capacities. He had a passion for serving the guests of the Promised Messiah (as). He never spoke in an unbecoming manner about officeholders, nor did he allow others to. He was always prepared to answer the call to service. He maintained complete trust in Allah throughout his life and was devoted to prayer. He served his own mother for many years. He is survived by his wife and three daughters. When he served as Amir, he was personally connected to all the areas under him, including the villages. He was very loving, sincere and humble. His Holiness (aba) prayed that may Allah grant him forgiveness and mercy.
Izrago Halido
Izrago Halido of Burkina Faso. He was in the army and was stationed in a village which was attacked by terrorists, as a result of which he was martyred at the age of 40. He was a devoted servant. He accepted Ahmadiyyat in 2007 along with his wife; the only ones to do so in their family. He was regular in offering financial contributions and partaking in Community activities. He was very respectful and ready to help at all times. He was part of a group which cycled over a thousand kilometres from Burkina Faso to Ghana when His Holiness (aba) visited in 2008. He would always answer the call for service and worked diligently whenever required. He was extremely devoted. Even when he did not have a job, he was concerned with how he could continue serving the Community. He is survived by his mother, wife, a son and two daughters. His Holiness (aba) prayed that may Allah grant him forgiveness and mercy.
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