Friday Sermon of
Hazrat Amirul Momeneen
Zafrullah Domun

07 NOVEMBER 2008

At Bait-ul-Rahma Mosque
Les Guibies, Pailles
MAURITUS

After reciting, Tashahhud, Ta'uz and chapter Al Fatiha of the Holy Quran, Hazrat Amirul Mo'menine Zafrullah Domun said:

Today I will touch upon a subject which we do not really hear in our assemblies these days. When I speak about “our assemblies” I refer mostly to those that are common features in the mainstream Ahmadiyya International Jamaat. Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) came to teach poor mortals like us to strive for a spiritual life. Although in his writings he had to talk about some controversial issues like “ khataman nabiyyeen ”, the death of Jesus Christ etc, but most of his writings are geared towards helping his disciples to know the path that lead to Allah.

It is a well known historical fact that Hazrat Masih Maood (as) was not a person who was interested in worldly affairs. His greatest desire was to know Allah and to do everything to please Him and to serve Him. When he was commissioned he felt reluctant to leave his solitude and to go to look after the people. He expressed his thoughts in the following words:

As for me I was so absorbed in myself (in the remembrance of God) that I was living a life of seclusion; nothing was dear to my heart except He Himself. I did not like to come out of my room and not for a moment I wanted publicity for myself. I was all alone - and isolated - and that was all I liked most. Publicity and a Jamaat around were most averse to me. How much averse were these things to me is better known to God the Almighty. But God compelled me to come out. I did not like it, but He let it be done against my wish; for, He had assigned a duty to me. He chose me for His work and through His grace He honoured me with this great position. It is His own selection; I have no hand in this matter. What I could observe is that I wished to stay far away (as if it is miles and miles away) from publicity and from the people in the form of a Jamaat; I simply cannot understand how do the people hanker after publicity - I was drawn altogether to the other direction whereas God's will was quite different. I supplicated to God repeatedly that I should be left in seclusion - in my room of aloofness. But I was repeatedly instructed by God to come out and work, for, the religion was in a very precarious condition at that time; I was told to come in the open and straighten the affairs of religion. The prophets are always like that - they are very much averse to publicity - no prophet has ever wished for it. The Holy Prophet (sallallaho alaihi wa sallam) also like to remain in a secluded place that is why he used to go to the cave Hira far away from the people. This cave was full of perils so much so that nobody dared go inside it but that is the place which he chose for himself; he did not like the publicity in the least. However, God commanded him in the words 'Ya ayyohal Moddassiro qum fa anzir.'

There seems to be a sort of compulsion in this order from God Almighty and reason for this order from God is that the Holy Prophet (sallallaho alaihi wa sallam) did not like to come out of his seclusion. There are some people who out of their ignorance think that I like publicity. I have said it repeatedly that I do not like it, it is God who has brought me out in the open. " (Malfoozat vol. 7, pg. 43)

I suggest that you look again at my Friday Sermon of 25 January 2008, then you may appreciate what I said there in the light of this extract from the writings of Hazrat Masih (as).

The link is http://jaam-international.org/eng/fs/KJ_25Jan2008_eng.htm .

From the example of Hazrat Masih Maood as and that of our noble prophet Mohammad (saw) and also that of the innumerable saints that have beautified Islamic history since its beginning, we have come to learn that no one became saints overnight. All of them went through a period of apprenticeship where they learned and eventually they became what they are known for. This is a long process. Very often it takes years because it is a path that is strewn with plenty of thorns. The one who aspires to know Allah should be ready to walk on that path whatever the difficulties that he may encounter on the road. You will see that there are many who may start on this journey but unfortunately very few achieve their goal. Hazrat Masih Maood (as) came to teach us how by following his guidelines each one of us may achieve the goal provided we are eager to do so.

Now we may legitimately ask how many Ahmadis around the world today know that this is the reason why they are Ahmadis and how many amongst them are eager to achieve this noble goal in their life. My best guess is that there are very few such persons in the Jamaat who may be aware of this noble goal of their existence. It is also my humble opinion that there could be many more had they been taught that this should have been one of the most important objective of their life. But unfortunately they are taught more about obedience to the system without having any clue why this obedience is necessary or even useful. Unfortunately when we see the behavior of the Ahmadis of the new generation, it is quite evident that they are drifting from the values taught by the Promised Messiah (as) but yet they are quite loyal to the system of khilafat because to them it is the be-all of everything. It is quite unfortunate that despite all the resources at the disposal our younger generation is not being properly educated. Of course there is no denying the fact that the Jamaat is opening missionary universities around the world but do they teach these missionaries what they should know to become very good, model Ahmadis or are they just taught some book lore?

In the history of Islam there is a book written by a Sufi Saint of the thirteenth century whose name was Jalaluddin Rumi. He was born in Balkh in Afganistan on 30 th September 1207, about 801 years ago. He died in 1273 and is buried in Konya in Turkey . His epitaph reads:

“When we are dead, seek not our tomb in the earth, but find it in the hearts of men.”

He was a Persian poet, Islamic Jurist and theologian. He wrote many books but his masterpiece is the Masnavi. In this book he wrote about 55,000 verses in the Persian language. He dictated it to his close companion over a period of six years. Since then the book has been translated in several languages and all those who aspire to know Allah read it and meditate over it. Hazrat Masih Maood (as) read the book when he was young. Later on he quoted extensively from the book whenever he wanted to illustrate some subtle point of spirituality.

I personally came to know about this book in 1975 when for the first time I went to England. I bought an English translation and I read it and it made a profound impression on me. Since then there are other translations available specially the one done in French by Eve De Vitray Mayerovich. Those who are interested may read the book. You will learn a lot from it

So for today I am quoting for you from the book Ma'arif Masnavi (the Wisdom of the Masnavi) which has been written by someone known as Shah Hakeem Mohammad Akhtar sahib. He has chosen some of the anecdotes from the Masnavi and he commented upon them in order to help the readers to understand them better. It is my hope that you will reflect upon this story and the many other stories that I will speak about in my later sermons and you discuss them amongst yourselves so that you may extract all meanings possible. My aim in doing so is that you may get a taste of what is Allah and how should we make our journey towards him incha Allah. In addition I want to initiate the new generation of Ahmadis into some lore of which they are not aware but which can be very useful to them. So for today the first story is as follows:

A certain man planted a thorn-tree in the path where people walked. As it grew bigger and stronger, the thorns started injuring those walking past. The people started blaming the planter but it had no effect on him, except that he promised every time that the following day he was going to remove the tree from the path. However, nothing was done about the tree. At last the matter reached the governor of that place. The governor too ordered him to uproot the tree. The planter promised the governor that he would do so the following day, but again he failed to carry out his promise. The result was that the tree grew until it became very strong and sturdy, with its roots going very deep in the ground. Now he was unable to uproot the thorn-tree at all.

The bad tree grew into a strong young tree while the planter became old and weak. The thorny tree was everyday becoming healthier and the uprooter was becoming daily weaker. O Listener, very often you have become grief-stricken over your evil deeds. And very often your evil deeds brought you regret and the desire to repent. So often you have become helpless at the hands of your evil deeds and devastated, have you become senseless? You have become 'senseless to an overwhelming degree. O you senseless one, arise and rectify your old previous bad habits. Rise, take up an axe and attack like a man Like Hazrat Ali who uprooted the gate of Khaybar.

What does this story tells us? In this story Mawlana Rumi gives the advice that a seeker of truth and seeker after Allah should never put off for tomorrow the rectification of evil deeds and habits. Never should they say: "I will rectify and change my habits tomorrow" and when tomorrow comes along, then again say the same. In this way, Satan causes that promise, of tomorrow to continue, until the time of death arrives. Then the intender will enter the grave without rectification and disappointed. Satan will rejoice.

Just as the thorny tree which was planted could in the end not be uprooted by the planter, in the same way, the longer a person takes to discard or rectify bad habits; those bad habits will become stronger at the roots. As the days and nights pass by you will become older and weaker which will make the discarding and rectification of evil habits very difficult. For this reason, rise up without any delay and procrastination. Grab an axe of courage and uproot the door of evils, just like Hazrat Ali uprooted the gate of Khaybar and threw it away. And just as Hazrat Ali was granted great help being in the company of Rasulullah, you also should join forces with the saints of Allah, the friends of Rasulullah. Through their company, acquire the help and bounty of Allah.

Hazrat Mawlana Thanwy (R.A.) says:

"Even these days no position of Wilayat (sainthood) is open and unoccupied; whether it is the rank of Qutub, Ghowth or Abdaal. All these ranks even today are filled". These saints, who in your sight are looked upon as being of wretched condition and are considered worthless, after a hundred years of history they will be looked upon as the Junaid, Rumi (R.A.), Attaar and Shibly of this age. It is foolish to argue like this: "Where do you find saintly men today like those in the past?"

This is a satanic deception which wishes to keep us deprived of the blessings of these men. Do we find anyone complaining today that for physical ailments: "Where do we find a Jalinoos or a Socrates or a Plato? No, we go to the present day doctors for treatment." Similarly, in the event of spiritual or internal illnesses and for their rectification, we should contact the present day followers of the Sunna who have been granted permission by the elders to initiate others into an oath of allegiance (Bay' at). We should consult them and start our self-rectification. Neither should we delay rectification until the oath of 'Bay‘at' because Bay'at is Sunna that is not binding ( Ghayr Muakkada ,) while the idea of rectification of the self is an obligatory duty. However, after starting the process of rectification, if one finds himself agreeable to it, he should also enter into 'Bay' at' considering it a Sunna because through 'Bay'at' a special connection is formed which increases the benefit.”

Hence there is a need for each ahmadi today to think about how far he has taken the journey towards Allah. Allah has sent you someone to help you along the path. You are sick but you are not aware of your sickness. Allah sends someone to inform you about your sickness because He wants to save you. Now as far as you are concerned you seem to reply you do not need this doctor at all. You will use the medicines that doctors of yore prescribed and your self proclaimed doctor is sufficient. Remember that soon you will have to present yourself in front of Allah. What will be your reply to him?

As you are all aware last week I have posted a booklet to most Ahmadis in Mauritius . My aim in doing so was to inform them about what I have said to their caliph and also about what Allah has said to me recently during the last days of Ramadan and after. Some persons think that I write about these in order to boast about myself. But as Hazrat Masih has pointed out in the extract that I have read above, the one that Allah has chosen is bound to tell the people about what Allah tells him.

I have been told that some Ahmadis have been advised not to read the booklet. Two persons have even returned the booklet to me without opening it. I pity them. Knowing them well I know that they are not at all well versed in religion and that is why they exhibit such behavior. You know that the English say: “Where ignorance is bliss it is a folly to be wise” Since these days the majority of Ahmadis wallow in ignorance of their history and of their teachings, one should not be surprised to see such behaviors. They are reminiscent of a group which practiced the inquisition and burned women and their opponents alive in the dark ages. They did so because they were ignorant. It is quite unfortunate that those who should enlighten the world want their kind to stay in darkness and they do not want to see light at all.

Nonetheless I appeal to those who would read the booklet to reflect and to correspond with me about its contents. You have been imprisoned in some dogmas. Fortunately for you Allah has sent this humble one to free you all from all types of dogmas and to bring you towards light that had been promised to you. May Allah open your heart and help you all to understand His Purpose incha Allah. Ameen.