Published on Dec 24 2010 by Nadimur Rahman

Today Hudhur based his Friday Sermon on true believers, positive resolve and absence of despair even in most challenging of times and recited the following verse at the start of the sermon: ‘And when My servants ask thee about Me, say: I am near. I answer the prayer of the supplicant when he prays to Me. So they should hearken to Me and believe in Me, that they may follow the right way.’ (2:187).

Announcing the start of Qadian Jalsa on 26 December, Hudhur recalled the delightful ambience of the Jalsas that were held at Rabwah until 27 years ago. The three Jalsa days at Rabwah used to be faith-inspiring. School children would fill in duty-forms in advance and carry out duties most enthusiastically, whether of their own choice or those assigned to them. The generation born in the past 27 years obviously does not have the experience of doing duties. Some, whose families do not recall those times, may not even have an insight into the practice. Hudhur expressed his hope that established families of Rabwah have kept the memory of Jalsas alive. He said this is not to give the new generation any sense of yearning; rather, it is to create a resolve that temporary restrictions will not dampen our spirit. We ask our God for everything and such matters cannot falter our conviction whether those days will return or not. The new generation should be aware of those days when all young and old used to spiritually satiate themselves and Rabwah was adorned like a bride, shops were decorated, temporary bazaars were set up to meet the needs of the guests, special buses and trains were in service and every household eagerly prepared for the guests. Some families would give their entire house up for the guests and pitched tents in the courtyard for themselves. People of Rabwah displayed wondrous sense of sacrifice, serving the guests cheerfully. Hudhur said these are not imaginary matters, these delights will definitely be restored. Our task is not to despair of God’s mercy and continue to ask Him for we are firm in our belief that: ‘He said, ‘And who can despair of the mercy of his Lord save those who go astray?’ (15:57). Thus, we do not despair that those days will not return or how will they return. They will return because we believe in God’s power.

The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) wrote that when persecution reaches its height, God comes to the aid of His humble servants and while all other schemes come to an end, God’s scheme remains. God states: ‘And He it is Who sends down rain after they have despaired, and spreads out His mercy. And He is the Protector, the Praiseworthy’. (42:29). Hudhur said when God comes to the general help of people in despair with His mercy, how much greater would be His confer on believers about whom it is stated: ‘Allah is the Friend of those who believe…’ (2:258). He does not put them in despair and most certainly comes to the aid of those among them who excel in humility and thus declares: ‘And He accepts the prayers of those who believe and do good works, and gives them more out of His grace…’ (42:27) God’s bestowment is beyond human thinking.

Addressing those who have come to attend the Qadian Jalsa, in particular those from Pakistan, Hudhur said only the astray despair of God’s mercy while we are the followers of the Mahdi of latter-days who have been taught to walk on the straight path. Ahmadis are cognizant of this and it is the reason why they can endure hardships for God’s sake and do so in a dignified manner, keeping their tears only for God. Hudhur said the odd person is perturbed by the difficulties and writes to Hudhur that troubled times continue and asks about the ‘short while’ after which times were to be better. Hudhur said short periods of time have no significance in the life of nations. Progressive people keep general advancement in view. The speed of our progress has gone up manifold, even in Pakistan. Indeed, some restrictions have been placed on us there, we have also endured loss of life, people of the Community there and the Khalifa of the time are anxious to meet each other, yet, God has graced us with the blessing of MTA. Although there are restrictions on Ijtima and Jalsa in Pakistan, but Ahmadis there are able to see many Jalsas and Ijtimas around the world on MTA. Thus, God did not stop dispensing spiritual food and we should never entertain hopelessness and should mould our restlessness into prayers.

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