Published on Jul 01 2011 by Nadimur Rahman

Hudhur recited the following Quranic verse at the start of his sermon:

‘Therefore remember Me, and I will remember you; and be thankful to Me and do not be ungrateful to Me.’ (2:153)

Reflecting on the Jalsa Salana of German Jama’at which concluded last weekend, Hudhur said due to the Jalsa taking place at a new venue this year the German Ameer sahib and the management were excited and certainly the Jama’at members must have also felt it. The previous venue had only one hall, the capacity of which was getting small and the marquee that had to be erected for the ladies used to get very hot during warm weather, especially for young mothers. The new venue has large halls which are all air-conditioned and other facilities are also available; hence the happiness and the excitement. However, in spite of all the arrangements under one roof everyone also had concerns. This was natural. It is a believer’s distinction to have concerns lest one’s personal preferences or human failings do not become a source of any mishap. With God’s special grace, in spite of their keenness the management kept turning to God. The Jalsa Officer sahib repeatedly asked Hudhur for prayers. This indeed is the glory of a believer, that rather than associate everything to oneself, one associates it to God and seeks His help. In addition Jalsa is something that was initiated by Divine command and God does bless it. Hudhur said some wonder if any shortcoming or deficiency remained due to the venue being new. The intention of the management is good and God covers faults and indeed, He did. For this the management should be extremely grateful to God.

Today Jalsa takes place in the entire Ahmadiyya world. Almost all year round Jalsa takes place somewhere or the other. Last weekend it was the German Jalsa and this weekend the Jalsa of USA and Canada are taking place. The concerns of here will now be the concerns and prayers of USA and Canadian management, indeed, they should be. If the Jalsa attendees understand these concerns and rather than act like guests, become part of the system, the concerns can lessen. It is God’s grace that the attendees are helpful with their attitude and their prayers and here in Germany, they extended full cooperation. May God make it so that each attendee in USA and Canada also participates fully benefitting from the spiritual sustenance and tries to understand the objective of our creation so that we may take the mission of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) forward. Jalsa should not be just about meeting up with friends and chatting. With God’s grace, now the standard of Jalsa speeches everywhere has improved a lot; may the attendees fully benefit from them. As the USA and Canadian Jalsa are starting today, and these are two large Jama’ats, Hudhur mentioned them as well. However, Hudhur wished to speak with reference to gratitude as he traditionally does after he has graced a Jalsa. Hudhur said it was impossible to encompass God’s blessings and grace on our Community. While in Germany it was afternoon, the day was starting in America; the sun is shining on our Community around the clock. Each day passes exhibiting new subjects of gratitude.

Hudhur remarked how can we be grateful to God? The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) said, ‘thankfulness for you is in effect, Taqwa (righteousness) and purity…I give you the glad-tiding that you are on the frontier and none can overcome you.’ Hudhur said each Ahmadi who attended Jalsa should always try and enhance the standard of Taqwa. According to His promise to the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) God is going to grant triumph to him. The significance here is that if we adhere to Taqwa we can be part of the promised triumph. Ahmadis in USA, Canada or the rich countries of Europe should remember that the tool of our triumph is not coming to the West, neither is it the comforts nor the wealth of these places. It is also not worldly efforts. Rather, enhancing in Taqwa is our tool. This few days’ training each year that God asked the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) to carry out is to wash away any corrosion. It is so that people may gather and recharge their faith, so that they can satisfy themselves academically and advance in spirituality. A week after the successful German Jalsa, merely its mention should not remain; that such and such speech was good and such and such nazm was good. Rather what was heard should be practised in daily lives. Ahmadis in USA and Canada should also listen to speeches with this eagerness.

We should be grateful to God each moment by remembering His favours on us and by engaging in His remembrance each moment and by practising His commandment each moment we should make each fibre of our being grateful to Him. God will then envelop us in greater blessings; as He states: ‘Therefore remember Me, and I will remember you; and be thankful to Me and do not be ungrateful to Me.’ God does not let any good act remain unrequited. Hudhur remarked what is remembrance of God and how does God remember us? He remembers us by granting us His blessings due to our constant remembrance of Him and thus a new succession of piety and Taqwa ensues. He shows us new avenues to take us closer to Him and remembers His servants all the time by protecting them from difficulties and calamities. Man remembers God to come in His refuge and when God states that He will ‘remember you’, it signifies that He will bestow His blessings and will take one in His refuge and will open doors to all kinds of provisions in most unexpected ways. People who are thus blessed can never be stopped no matter how hard the world tries against them. It is such remembrances of God that will accomplish this world and the Hereafter for every member of the Community. This is why along with the subject of ‘remembrance’ God has expounded the subject of gratefulness.

It is God’s grace that He blesses and when man shows gratitude another series of Divine blessings begins. In the end of the aforementioned verse, God again draws attention not to ever be ungrateful. Indeed, having seen the grace and blessings, no sensible person can be dismissive. However, when in spite of remembering God, one does not put things in practice, unconsciously one can become ungrateful. When one is greatly drawn to another person and is always thinking of them, one looks at that person, waiting to act upon anything the person says. Thus, if we claim to remember God, it is also important to look at Him. Then alone can the condition arise which is the condition of real gratefulness. Thus in one single verse God has ascertained ways for a believer that take him from gratefulness to His nearness which indeed is the desire of a believer. Each Ahmadi should ponder over this subject.

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