By A. Abdul Aziz, Chairman, Press & Media Desk – AMJSL.

(Given below is an excerpt of the Eid-ul-Adha Sermon delivered by Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, Supreme Head of the world-wide Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Islam, on 10^th July, 2022, at ‘Masjid Mubarak’, Islamabad, Tilford, U.K.)

After Tashahud, Ta‘awuz and the recitation of Surah al-Fatihah, Ahmadiyya Khlaifa (may Allah strengthen his hands) highlighted the importance of trusting in God’s promises, Who does not let sincere sacrifices go to waste and eventually grants victory to the believers. However, it was important to act according to God’s will.

His Holiness (may Allah strengthen his hands) said we were celebrating Eid al-Adha today to commemorate the sacrifices of Prophet Abraham, peace be on him, his wife and their son, Prophet Ishmael, peace be on him. This was not an isolated act of devotion. Rather, their sacrifices spanned a long period throughout their lives. Allah, Who is Most True to His Word, rewarded them for these sincerely offered sacrifices most magnificently: The land which was once deserted is brimming with millions upon millions of people in fulfilment of the promise that Allah the Almighty made.

Above all, the fulfilment of God’s promise found its culmination in the appearance of the Holy Prophet Muhammad, the Seal of the Prophets, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, who was given the final Testament of God for the spiritual nourishment of all mankind. 

It was for the propagation of this Holy Book, the Holy Quran to the corners of the earth through peaceful means and to establish the superiority of Islam that Allah also sent Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian, the Promised Messiah and Mahdi, peace be on him, who came in exact accordance with the prophecy of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) at his appointed time.

As a result of this sacrifice of Prophet Abraham, peace be on him, Allah established a whole city and gathered all kinds of worldly delights and sustenance in Mecca and Medina. Ahmadiyya Khalifa said that when pilgrims come to Hajj and worship they also take benefit of the surroundings and sustenance in the area. Now millions take benefit from this holy area. This showed the fulfilment of Allah’s promise – he made a barren land full of blessings and sent the greatest Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) to that blessed land. 

Ahmadiyya Khalifa (may Allah strengthen his hands) said that the promise Allah gave to Prophet  Abaraham and Prophet Ishmael4,000 years ago shows how Allah loves those who show true sacrifice to Allah. There is no religion today, his Holiness said, whose adherents follow the actual and original teachings of that religion. It is only the teachings of Islam that have been protected in the Holy Quran which remains today in its original form, despite the efforts of those who harbour hatred against Islam. Allah continued to send those who would protect the Quran both by word and meaning by sending people who truly followed it. 

The Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) foretold that a man would come 1400 years after him who would revive the lost teachings of Islam and would – through arguments and proofs – prove the truth of Islam and also tackle those who rejected God. 

In following this prophecy, Allah sent the Promised Messiah – Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, peace be on him, the Holy Founder of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Islam. It was this wrestler of Allah who showed the true light of Islam and claimed with powerful arguments, that there was no religion greater than Islam. He challenged all religions to show their proofs if they thought they were greater than Islam.

The Promised Messiah, peace be on him, announced to the Muslims that Islam would spread with love, not through war. He said, If I had not come, some other would have come.” He emphasised that it was the time for the Promised Messiah to come and exhorted Muslims not to go against him and instead join his hand to spread the true teachings of Islam. 

Ahmadiyya Founder told Muslims that they would see success if they joined hands with him and that they should be grateful for his advent. But instead, regrettably, the Muslims turned against this messenger of Allah and continued to do so, Ahmadiyya Khalifa added. 

Ahmadiyya Supreme Head (may Allah strengthen his hands) said that Muslims are not only at each other’s necks but have issued edicts to murder, loot and harass the followers of Allah’s messenger. They try to stop Ahmadiyyat but Allah creates new means of escape.

Prophet Abraham and Prophet Ishmael, peace be on them, prayed for a peaceful” town so that those who abide there and visit protect the establishment of peace. Therefore, if Muslims attribute themselves to the blessed town of the Kabah they should instil within themselves peace and create peace in society.

Ahmadiyya Khalifa invited Muslims – worldwide to celebrate the true Eid by accepting the Promised Messiah, peace be on him.

Ahmadiyya Khalifa (may Allah strengthen his hands) exhorted those Ahmadis who were suffering to be patient. He gave the example of the patience of Prophet Abraham and his family. Therefore, will that God Who is true to His promises leave us today? Surely not, Ahmadiyya Head told Ahmadis.

Those who oppose Ahmadiyya Community,  have not an ounce of power before Allah the Almighty, therefore Ahmadis, more than before, should bow before Allah, better their levels of taqwa (righteousness) , develop the true spirit of Eid and sacrifice in the most accurate manner. It is then that we can partake of Allah’s blessings and the promises Allah gave to the Promised Messiah, peace be on him.

His Holiness (may Allah strengthen his hands) said that some hastily wrote to him that their prayers and sacrifices were not being fulfilled. The promises to the Promised Messiah, peace be on him, would certainly come true, His Holiness said, but every one of us should ask ourselves if we are at the level of sacrifice which the Promised Messiah, peace be on him, spoke about. 

One must show true sincerity for Allah and this requires spiritual death. The Promised Messiah, peace be on him, said that idol worship was not just worshipping before stones, rather everything which puts a hurdle before Allah is an idol. Anything which stops one from worshipping Allah or reaching Him is an idol. 

Allah desires action and is pleased only by action and action results from pain and grief, the Promised Messiah, peace be on him, said. This is what happened with the great sacrifice of Prophet Abraham, peace be on him, when he was ready to sacrifice his son, Ishmael, peace be on him, and then was also put into the fire. If one does this, then in turn Allah saves them from pain and grief. 

On this Eid, we should also introspect on our sacrifices, sincerity, truth and taqwa (righteousness), Ahmadiyya Khalifa said. As a Jama’at, the more we introspect on our conditions and seek to improve them, the quicker success will come. We should pray for this as well, Ahmadiyya Head emphasised. 

We should all pray that all Ahmadi men, women and children reach the level of sacrifice, practically, that Prophet Abraham and his family achieved.  The sermon concluded with silent prayer and Ahmadiyya Khalifa convened his salaam and Eid Mubarak”.

The whole Sermon on LIVE with simultaneous translation in major languages including Tamil went on air through MTA (Muslim TV Ahmadiyya) and other social media platforms.

Source: Al Hakam, London.