Source: Al  Hakam., London 

Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, Head  of the Worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim community delivered Eid-ul-Adha sermon after led the congregational Eid Prayer at  Mubarak Mosque inTillford, U.K on yesterday 27 May, 2026.

His Holiness recited  Chapter 22, Verse  38 of the Holy Quran, the meaning of which:

Their flesh reaches not Allah, nor does their blood, but it is your righteousness that reaches Him. Thus has He subjected them to you, that you may glorify Allah for His guiding you. And give glad tidings to those who do good.” (Surah al-Hajj, Ch.22: V.38)

True righteousness through Divine recognition 

Ahmadiyya Khalifa quoted saying of Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad as:  The Promised Messiah, peace be on him,  stated that all these spiritual excellences are attained only after acquiring perfect recognition (ma‘rifat) of Allah the Almighty. In other words, the highest standard of righteousness (taqwa) is granted only after a person attains true and complete recognition of God. Whoever is granted the fear and love of Allah the Almighty is also delivered from every sin that arises from recklessness and irreverence. 

The need for inner sacrifice 

There are many seemingly minor mistakes and sins which, if a person becomes careless and persists in them, gradually increase and ultimately incur the punishment of Allah the Almighty. Therefore, for salvation we are neither dependent upon any blood sacrifice, nor in need of any cross, nor do we require any form of atonement. Rather, we are in need of only one sacrifice: the sacrifice of the inner self (nafs). Human nature itself recognises the necessity of such a sacrifice. In other words, the very name of this sacrifice is Islam. 

The true meaning of Islam 

Islam means to place one’s neck forward willingly to be sacrificed – that is, to lay down one’s soul completely at the threshold of Allah the Almighty with perfect submission and contentment. All of this requires perfect love and complete devotion. Such love is attained only when one acquires true recognition of Allah the Almighty.

The true meaning of righteousness

The Promised Messiah (as) stated that no one holds a monopoly over Allah the Almighty. Allah desires righteousness and whoever adopts taqwa will attain nearness to Him. Taqwa means acting in accordance with the commandments of Allah the Almighty. 

Some people assume that because their forefathers were righteous, they too will automatically receive the reward of their ancestors’ virtues. The Promised Messiah (as) explained that no one will be rewarded on account of the deeds of their forefathers. In fact, the one who claims greater closeness to Allah will also be held to greater account by Him. 

The need for self-reformation

Therefore, we must pledge that since we have accepted the Promised Messiah (as), acknowledged the truth of the prophecies of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sa) and firmly believe that he was indeed the Promised Messiah sent for the reformation of the world, we must also strive to reform ourselves. 

We must elevate the standards of our worship. To achieve this, we must put worldly concerns behind us and, with a spirit of sacrifice and by giving precedence to faith over worldly matters, endeavour to improve the quality of our worship. Similarly, we must also improve our moral standards, for worship and morality are inseparable. 

The importance of the Holy Quran 

The Promised Messiah (as) stated that if one desires lasting reformation, seeks the pleasure of Allah the Almighty, wishes for progress and desires true guidance, then one must read the Holy Quran, act upon it and follow its commandments. Merely sacrificing an animal on Eid days will not by itself bring the desired results of one’s deeds. 

 

Full story:

https://www.alhakam.org/eid-ul-adha-2026-sermon-spiritual-moral-taqwa