Honour of the Holy Prophet (sa)

Summary of Friday Sermon

delivered by the Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community

February 10^th, 2006

In his Friday Sermon Huzur^aba gave a discourse on correct channelling of the sense of honour for the Holy Prophet^saw that his followers feel and express.
Huzur^aba cited verse 108 of Surah Al Anbiya (21:108) and verses 57 & 58 of Surah Al Ahzab (33:57-58) and spoke with reference to the publication of extremely depraved and provocative depiction of the Holy Prophet^saw in Denmark and a few European countries and the reactionary anger that engulfs the Muslim world.
Huzur^aba said reaction to these publications was most natural, more so for Ahmadis who, by means of the Promised Messiah^as have a deeper understanding of the lofty station of the Prophet. However, strike and sabotage is not the way to do this.
Huzur^aba said the West has an apathetic stance towards religion and they have lost all sense of sanctity for it. Some among them are pronouncing the Muslim reaction to the offensive publications a clash between the secular Western democratic ways and Islam. However, there are also decent people among them who know how to communicate the facts; people like journalist Robert Fisk who has written that this is indeed not a matter of freedom of speech; rather for Muslims the Prophet received divine words directly from God and that Muslims live their religion whereas ‘we’ do not and while the Muslims have kept their faith alive ‘we’ have lost ours. In comparison he quoted the angry reaction to a film ‘Last Temptation of Christ’ some years ago and said that how could we expect the Muslims to remain silent at these crude cartoons.
Huzur^aba said it is unfortunate that the wrong reaction of certain Muslim leaders gives the West the chance to take political advantages; in everyday life too the attitude of some Muslims in benefiting from social security and avoiding taxes etc riles the government. The West is shrewd; it makes the most of such situations. Often they are the oppressor but the wrong reaction of the Muslim ends up making them the intimidators.
Huzur^aba said the Danish people feel threatened by the worldwide condemnation of their national flag etc and wish that their apology is accepted. Huzur^aba told of governmental plan to have a large mosque built in Copenhagen to compensate for the hurt caused to Muslims.
Huzur^aba said the majority of Muslim world is in favour of accepting the Danish apology however a handful of Muslim ‘leaders’ are taking awkward approach.
Huzur^aba said our hearts are hurt the most however our way of response is different; he said it is not far-fetched to say that mischief like this will continually be created with the objective to torment the Muslims, get them to reaction and subsequently try and put restrictions on the immigrant Muslim population. In any case, he said, our response to these matters should be in line with of the values of Islam.
Next Huzur^aba presented illustrations from the life of the Promised Messiah^as and from times of his Khalifas of shielding attacks on the Holy Prophet^saw.
From the times of the Promised Messiah^as Huzur^aba related the incidence of Abdullah Athim who had used extremely offensive language against the Holy Prophet^saw calling him ‘Dajjal’ (a deceiver, an Anti-Christ). During a debate with Abdullah Athim that lasted fifteen days, the Promised Messiah^as continually prayed privately, and after the debate was over, he told Abdullah Athim that the matter was not finished yet, that the Living God would determine who was the false party among them and if that party did not repent within 15 months, they would be punished by being thrown in ‘Hawiya’ (the nether-most hell). Abdullah Athim, was frightened on hearing this prophecy and immediately expressed his remorse and did not say any word against Islam and its Prophet^saw.
Another person in the time of the Promised Messiah^as was Lekhram who had insulted the Holy Prophet repeatedly and had used foul language against him. The Promised Messiah^as prayed and announced that the enemy of God and His prophet would die a pathetic death within six years of the prophecy; that is exactly the way it came to pass.

In the era of Hadhrat Khalifa tul Masih II^ra, some offensive books defaming the Holy Prophet^saw were written and the Muslims took to violence in reaction. He advised them that according to the teachings of the Holy Prophet^saw the brave is not one who starts fighting, in fact the true courageous person is one who has a strong determination, and once he makes a decision he does not draw back from it. The Muslims should adopt the fear of Allah in their hearts, should propagate Islam among others, and their leaders should try to uplift them socially and financially attaining financial and cultural freedom.
In the time of Hadhrat Khalifa tul Masih IV^ra the incident of Salman Rushdi’s offensive book took place, and proper reaction/response was advised by him. Similarly, last year an article appeared in the press attacking the private family life of the Holy Prophet^saw and Huzur^aba had responded to that. Huzur^aba said that this the way for all the Ahmadis to express their protest. We do not believe in strikes, burning down building and flags. Ahmadis should write articles and letters to the media. Enlarge the circle of their contacts. Most importantly, they should imbue among themselves the beautiful character-traits of the Holy Prophet^saw. our objective cannot be achieved by destructive methods. All Ahmadis, living in all places, should ask other Muslims to join in with them. Allah sent the Holy Prophet^saw as ‘Rahmatul Lil-A’lameen’ (mercy for all mankind) We should demonstrate his benevolence and love and mercy for others and for this, Muslims have to bring a change in their attitudes. Huzur^aba gave the details of the immediate constructive and civilized response of our missionaries and Ahmadis in Denmark, where the cartoon had first appeared in a newspaper and told of their effective efforts.
Huzur^aba advised that our youth should go into journalism as much as possible to facilitate in bringing a change in the attitude of the media. However, if the Western Media does not desist from mischief, then the matter should be left in the hand of our Living God. He has the power to punish them.
Huzur^aba said that while imparting knowledge of the noble character of the Holy Prophet^saw to the rest of the world, we must ever reform our own ways and put an all out effort to demonstrate true Islamic values in our actions. There should be uniformity in what we say and what we do. Instead of burning down buildings and flags, we should ignite a fire in our hearts, ‘the fire of love for our Prophet’^saw taking the ardour of this passion to its limit, by invoking blessings and salutations on the Prophet^saw.
Huzur^aba said Allah and His angels invoke blessings in the Prophet^saw and he is certainly not in need of our blessings, however it is we ourselves who receive blessings by invoking blessings on him.
In conclusion Huzur^aba said the enemy of Islam shall never succeed and in the long run, Islam shall be triumphant and that this is destined!
Huzur^aba prayed that may Allah make us the recipient of all the blessings of Allah and may we remain engaged in fervent prayers invoking blessings on the Prophet^saw.