Faith Inspiring Events in Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.
Posted on October 2nd, 2014
By A. Abdul Aziz.
(Given below is an excerpt of the Friday Sermon delivered by Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, Supreme Head of the world-wide Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Islam, on 12th September, 2014, at ‘BaithulFuthuh’, London, U.K. gave a discourse on Faith Inspiring Events that occurs in the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. )
Ahmadiyya Khalifa said: I recently received a letter from USA in which an Ahmadī wrote how he was inspired by listening to my address at the recently concluded Convention (Jalsa Sālāna) UK about people coming into the fold of Ahmadiyyat (Ahmadiyya Muslim community in Islam).
His Holiness had explained in the address how people were entering Ahmadiyyat through preaching efforts and also by being drawn towards Ahmadiyyat directly by God Himself who showed people dreams etc., and how Faith was being strengthened and the truthfulness of Ahmadiyyat was being instilled in hearts.
His Holiness said: Some people entertain the notion that perhaps some incident is being exaggerated, but it should be kept in mind that the incidents narrated here are not mere fables, they are real and factual; in fact they are instances of a Divine wave. I am mentioning this so that our faiths are strengthened while we continue to self-reflect and think how strong the roots of Ahmadiyyat are growing within us and how we can improve ourselves in worshipping the Almighty God.
Ahmadiyya Khalifa said: Accounts of new Ahmadīs should not be listened to as interesting stories; these are factual accounts which are, and ought to be, faith-enhancing. These accounts should inspire us to be mindful of our responsibilities. It is now our obligation to take the message of Islām and Truth to others and guide them. While we need to make efforts to discharge this duty we also need to look at our own practices and adapt them according to the ways of God Almighty. Our good example will further strengthen the faith of the new Ahmadīs.
Ahmadiyya Khalifa in this sermon also related faith enhancing incidents of people around the world who had come into the fold of Ahmadiyyat through Divine guidance. He also mentioned the incidents where true dreams had shown the truthfulness of Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad – the Promised Messiah, on whom be peace, leading people to taking Bai‘at (oath of alligience)and entering the fold of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Islam.
His Holiness said:
A lady from Tunisia says that she likes reading and started a study of the Holy Qur’an and read other Islamic books. She reflected over verse 158 of Surah An Nisa: ‘… wherein they slew him not, nor crucified him but he was made to appear to them like one crucified;’ and was also drawn to other Quranic verses about death of Jesus (on whom be peace). She read in a compilation of Ahadith about the attributes of Dajjal and wondered how God could send such a person in the Muslim Ummah! She prayed to God for guidance and one day while channel surfing she found MTA (Muslim Television Ahmadiyya) . She found MTA completely opposite to other channels and felt that its discussions were carried out with dignity. Through MTA she realised that the Promised Messiah’s advent had taken place. She prayed to God not to let death overtake her until she became an Ahmadi Muslim. With the grace of God the lady has now taken Bai’at (initiation) and entered into fold of Ahmadiyya Community.
An Ahmadi from Yemen says he lived in Chinese society and found Chinese people very good. Some Arabs took undue advantages of the good natured Chinese and he wondered how could it be these courteous people would go to Hell in spite of their gentle nature and Arabs, all but Muslim in name would go to Paradise. He started researching Islam and one day unexpectedly happened to see MTA. He found the arguments put forward on MTA very powerful and awe-inspiring and was overwhelmed by them. He started to watch MTA regularly and would always weep when watching it but did not know why he wept. He prayed abundantly that the truthfulness of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) would be made evident to him. During prayer his body would quiver and then he would feel tranquillity. He felt this to be answer to his search. He read books of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) and found most of the answers to his questions in them. He took Bai’at (initiation) and entered into fold of Ahmadiyya Community.
A 22 year old young man from Holland says that he was always interested in spirituality but was not drawn to religion. He realised that evil was spreading rapidly in the world and this led him to study the objective of life. During his research his heart became inclined to Islam. He also had the chance to hold discussions with two Ahmadi friends of his. He visited the Jama’at, liked its atmosphere and it became evident to him that Ahmadiyyat indeed was true Islam and it also became evident to him that the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) had come to the world. He felt there was true faith and unity among the Ahmadis. He wrote a letter to His Holiness requesting him to pray for him and this led him to take Bai’at. He says he is now learning Salat and is trying to lead a pure life.
A lady from Libya says after Qaddafi’s regime was toppled she prayed most earnestly and passionately to God to send Imam Mahdi. One day she found MTA channel on television by chance and saw a photograph of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) and her heart was drawn to it. She watched other MTA programmes and was informed of facts. This carried on for a year and then she felt that she should take Bai’at without further delay. She has written to His Holiness for strength of faith.
A driver of one of our mission houses writes that he had been married for two years but did not have any children. He had heard about Ahmadiyyat and also about the advent of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace). He prayed to God that if Imam Mahdi had truly come then he be blessed with a child and may he also become a follower of the Promised Messiah. His prayer was accepted. His wife fell pregnant the same month. He now has a daughter and has taken Bai’at (initiation) and entered into fold of Ahmadiyya Community.
Ahmadiyya Khalifa said if for some reason some people do not get satisfaction but are eager to recognise the truth they should supplicate to God with an open mind. Indeed, God guides those whose intention is good, sometimes through dreams and at other times through different means.
Ahmadiyya Khalifa said:
Our missionary from Australia writes that a Sikh who was under Tabligh accepted Ahmadiyyat Islam through a dream. Missionary Sahib received a telephone call from him sounding very emotional and hardly able to speak. He then related his dream of three days ago. He saw that he is a very dark place and is feeling suffocated and very anxious. Suddenly there is light and a holy person standing in front of him says if you wish to get out of the darkness hold my hand. He held the holy person’s hand and at this point he woke up! Missionary Sahib invited him over and when he showed him photographs of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) and the Khulafa, the person put his finger on the photo of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) recognising him as the holy person who had appeared in his dream.
A person writes from Egypt that he is a young Egyptian who was introduced to the Jama’at a year ago through MTA and was convinced that this indeed was the truthful sect of Islam and requested that his Bai’at was accepted. One night he prayed in a heart-rending manner for steadfastness and for a sign. He saw a dream in which he is in an assembly where he sees Huzoor Anwer and Huzoor puts a silver ring which has a Quranic inscription on it on his finger. He writes that he was elated when he woke up from this dream.
Holy Founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) said: ‘There was a time when we had no more than just the odd person with us and now we see they come in their droves. ‘People will come to you by every distant track.’ Not only this; something supplementary has taken place. The opponents have tried their utmost that people stop coming here. However, ultimately this phrase has come true and now each new person who comes to us is a sign of this revelation.’
The Promised Messiah said: ‘Allah the Exalted does not want our Jama’at’s faith to remain weak. With His grace, Allah the Exalted is manifesting signs to enhance the faith of our Jama’at.’
Ahmadiyya Khalifa said this process continues to this day but some unfortunate people not only do not recognise the truth, they oppose it.
Holy Founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) said: ‘God has appointed me, God has sent me. They watch whether the person, who says he has come with the command of God, has God’s support and succour with him or not. However, they saw sign upon sign but said they were false signs. They saw Divine help and succour upon Divine help and succour and said it was sorcery. What hope can I have for these people who dishonour Word of God Almighty! Respect of the Word of God demanded that as soon as they heard His name they should have surrendered, but their mischief is heightened. They will see for themselves in Whose hand is the ending!’
May God soon show these opponents their ending and may Ahmadiyyat move onwards and upwards and may we always be a part of it.
The English Translation of the sermon – the video link of which is:
October 3rd, 2014 at 12:48 pm
Facing fears over extremism, Austria unveils new law on Islam
By Shadia Nasralla
October 2, 2014
VIENNA (Reuters) – Austria called on Thursday for standardized German-language translations of the Koran and moved to prohibit foreign funding of Muslim organizations on its soil in a draft law aimed in part at tackling Islamic extremism.
The bill will overhaul a 1912 law governing the status of Austrian Muslims, prompting concern from a major local Islamic body, which saw it mirroring widespread mistrust of Muslims.
The initiative comes at a time of robust support for the far-right in Austria and also alarm over reports of Muslims from the small, neutral country joining Islamist militant forces fighting in the Middle East.
“The clear message should be that there is no contradiction between being a faithful Muslim and a proud Austrian,” said Foreign Affairs and Integration Minister Sebastian Kurz, a member of the conservative People’s Party.
“If you don’t have orderly legal regulation … this can always bring dangers (of extremism). In this sense, if you like this is maybe a part of prevention,” he told reporters.
He added that Sharia, or Islamic law, had “no place here”.
Roughly half a million Muslims live in Austria, representing about 6 percent of the total population, which is overwhelmingly Roman Catholic.
The Christian and Muslim communities have co-existed for years and relations have been relatively unproblematic by comparison with friction seen in other European nations.
For example, unlike France, Austria has not moved to ban Muslim women from wearing full-face veils in public.
However, tensions have grown with the rise of the anti-immigration and Islam-critical Freedom Party, which is backed by roughly a quarter of Austrians according to opinion polls.
“NOT A GIFT”
Under the terms of the draft bill, state-recognized religious organizations will have to offer a unified German-language version of their doctrine and sources of faith, including for the Muslim holy book, the Koran.
At present, there are only two officially recognized Islamic organizations in Austria.
The legislation would also forbid Islamic teachers employed by any foreign states from working in Austria and stop outside funding for any Islamic organizations.
“Among the Muslim base, the law is not seen as a gift for the Eid holiday,” said Carla Amina Baghajati, spokeswoman of the Islamic Community of Faith in Austria (IGGIO), referring to Eid-al-Adha which Muslims will celebrate in the coming days.
“(The bill) mirrors in its overtone the spirit of the times we currently perceive, which is marked by blanket suspicion and mistrust against Muslims,” she said, adding that she was optimistic the legislation might still be amended.
Specifically, the IGGIO was worried about the law appearing to bundle together various Sunni, Shi’ite and Alawite sects and also about the ramifications of trying to agree on a unified German-language version of the Koran.
The Arabic version of the Koran is generally thought of as the word of Allah in Islam, with any translation including an element of interpretation.
“If a version of the Koran (in German) comes along as the codified, ultimate (version), then this would contradict the self-conception of Islam,” Baghajati said.
Foreign minister Kurz told Austrian radio last month that numerous translations of the Koran had generated countless interpretations and said it was in the interests of local Muslims to eliminate possible misunderstandings.
The Austrian government warned in August that Islamist militancy was on the rise and officials have said around 140 people have left Austria to fight with the likes of the Islamic State, which has grabbed control of swathes of Iraq and Syria.
Last month, Austria said it would ban militant Islamist groups’ symbols and strip citizenship from people who travel abroad to fight with jihadists.
On Thursday Kurz dismissed suggestions that a unified translation would pose a problem.
“Am I skeptical when I hear this is difficult or not easily done? Fundamentally no,” said Kurz, adding that it had previously been possible to create unified teaching material for Islamic religious studies at schools across Austria.
(Editing by Crispian Balmer)
October 3rd, 2014 at 12:57 pm
Peaceful sermons are great, but is the Abu Sayaff group listening?
Or, should we philosophically intone “What’s a head after all …. here today, gone tomorrow!”
……………………
Philippine Islamist militants threaten to behead German on October 17
October 2, 2014
MANILA (Reuters) – Al-Qaeda linked Islamist militants in the Philippines said on Thursday they will kill one of two German captives on Oct. 17 unless their demands are met.
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Rebels from the Abu Sayyaf group captured the two Germans sailing on a yacht from the western island of Palawan island to the eastern Malaysian state of Sabah in April.
The militants are demanding a 250 million pesos ($5.6 million) ransom and for Germany to stop supporting U.S.-led air strikes against Islamic State militants in Syria.
“Today, we are going to tell you about the ultimatum,” a Muslim rebel who identified himself as Abu Rami, and said he was a spokesman for Abu Sayyaf, said in a telephone call to reporters based in Zamboanga City in the south.
“After October 17, 2014, Friday, at 3 p.m., you will not see one of them alive. It will be seen by the public so that we can show that we are not playing games.”
Philippine security officials say the Germans are being held in the jungles of Jolo, a remote southern island and hotbed of Islamist militants in the mainly Catholic country.
The Abu Sayyaf group has a record of kidnappings, killings and bombings. The militants are know to be holding several other foreigners.
It is not clear if the militants have contacts with Islamic State fighters in the Middle East.
Germany has ruled out taking part in air strikes against Islamic State targets in the Middle East but it did break a post-World War Two taboo on sending weapons to active conflict zones by agreeing to arm Kurdish fighters battling the militants in Iraq.
(Reporting by Manuel Mogato; Editing by Robert Birsel)
October 3rd, 2014 at 11:14 pm
Never mind what sect a Muslim belong or whatever language he reads the Koran, it comes from one source – Muhammad’s mouth as Allah said. In one place the Koran may have verse to say that non-Muslims are free to follow their religion but in hundreds of other instances it degrades non-Muslims and even equate them to animals, advice Muslims not to associate them, even kill them. So how could there be a moderate Muslim. It’s nothing but taqiyya and kitman (Allah permitted lying to non-believers).