FRIDAY SERMON
22^nd JANUARY 2010

After reciting the Tauz, the Tashahhud and the first chapter of the Holy Quran, Hazrat Amir ul Mo’meneen Zafrullah Domun said:

Many times in the past in my Friday sermons I told you about some of my revelations like “ iqtaraba linnaase hisaabahoum, wa houm fi ghaflatin mo’rezoune maa yaatihim min zikrim mirrabbehim mouhdasim illastamama’ouho wa houm yal’aboune” which means

“There comes not to them any new admonition from their Lord, but they listen to it while they make sport Similarly the year before I spoke about how  many times in one night I received the revelation “ fa kaifa kaana azabi wa nozour – fa hal mim muddakir” meaning “ How terrible then was My punishment and how true was My warning- is there anyone to take heed?”

When we read the history of the world we see that many times whole or part of some countries have been destroyed by some natural disaster. The means of destruction can take many forms such as cyclones, earthquakes, tsunamis, heavy rain and you name it. In chapter 7 of the Holy Quran Allah mentions how He destroyed those people who did not heed the warnings that He sent through His Messengers. But punishment comes to the people when they least expect it.

The world knows that Ahmadis believe Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (1835-1908) to be a person sent by Allah to reform mankind. Unfortunately most people specially the Muslims rejected his message. Because of this rejection he warned about lots of calamities that would befall the world and the Muslims. In my sermon 18^th December 2009, I spoke about those warnings and how they were fulfilled. In another extract he said:

“On 9th April 1905, God Almighty has informed me again of a severe earthquake which will be an example of the Day of Judgment and will render people senseless. As the All-Knowing One has twice informed me of this future event, I believe that this mighty calamity, which will be a reminder of Doomsday, is not far. The Lord of Honour and Glory has also informed me that both these earthquakes are signs in support of my truth, like the signs which Moses^as exhibited to Pharaoh and Noah ^as exhibited to his people. Bear in mind that this will not be the sum total of such signs, rather sign will follow upon sign until people’s eyes will be opened and they will cry out in bewilderment: What is going to happen? Each day will be harder than the last. God says that He will exhibit wondrous works and will not desist until the people reform themselves. As there was such severe famine in the days of Joseph ^as that even the leaves of trees were not available for food, in the same way calamity will be encountered. As Joseph ^as saved the people by storing corn, in the same way God has appointed me the administrator of spiritual food to save the people. Whoever partakes of this food in full measure and with a sincere heart will, I am sure, be shown mercy.” [Majmu‘ah Ishtiharat, vol. 3, pp. 526-527]

Last week I said a few words about the earthquake that struckHaiti on 12^th January 2010.At that time we did not have an idea of the extent of the damage. But now almost ten days after the earthquake reporters and world leaders are using words such as “cataclysmic”, “shattering”, “disturbing” to describe the damage that this earthquake has done to Haiti . Most people living over there are very poor. Despite this what has happened over there has mobilized almost the whole world. Seeing the havoc and destruction that this earthquake has brought really touches one’s heart. Although the calamity has struck Haiti yet the great countries of the world have had to get involved in rescue efforts willy nilly. Almost the whole world has been mobilized to respond to a local calamity that has struck an unknown and most poor country in the world. In other words the whole world has had to be involved and to assess the damage that has been done in that country. The message for the whole “safe” world is that nowhere is there safety as Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad as said “

"Remember, God has informed me of many earth-quakes. Rest assured, therefore, that as earth-quakes have shaken America and Europe, so will they shake  Asia. Some of them will resemble the Day of Doom. So many people shall die that rivulets of blood shall flow. Even the birds and the beasts will not be immune against this death. Havoc shall sweep the surface of the earth which shall be the greatest since the birth of man. Habitations shall be demolished as if no one had ever lived in them. This will he accompanied by many other terrible calamities which the earth and the heavens will send forth, till their extraordinary nature will become evident to every reasonable man.”

 He further said that no where on earth will be safe. Each place will have its share of miseries and punishment. Speaking in 1905 he further said:

“Today—29th April 1905—God Almighty has apprised me of the second severe earthquake. Therefore, out of sympathy for God’s creatures I inform the world at large that it has been determined in heaven that a severely destructive calamity will overtake the world, which God Almighty has repeatedly referred to as an earthquake. I know not whether it is near or God Almighty will display it later. Its repeated intimation indicates that it is not very far. This is the tiding conveyed by God and is the revelation of God Almighty Who knows all that is hidden. On the other hand, those people who are announcing that no such severe earthquake is anticipated, whether they are astrologers or make conjectures on the basis of some other science, they are all false and are trying to deceive the people. It is an absolute truth that an earthquake will overtake this country which no eye has seen and no ear has heard nor has any mind conceived it. No remedy is effective against it except repentance and purification of the hearts. Is there anyone who would believe in what I say and would listen to me carefully? It is a misfortune for the country that God’s word is derided and made fun of, and the hearts show no fear. God says:

“I shall come secretly; I shall come with My hosts at a time when no one will imagine that such an event is pending.”

Its time might be the morning or sometime at night. Then, O’ dear ones who believe in the revelation of God Almighty, be warned and wash clean the garment of your repentance, for the wrath of God is aflame in heaven and He designs to show His face to the world. There is no refuge, save in repentance. Ruined are those who indulge in mockery and laughter and do not refrain from sin and disobedience. Their gatherings are full of impurity and heedlessness and their tongues are worse than corpses. They rouse the ire of God with repeated insolence. Their hearts are blind. God Almighty says that on that day He would have mercy on those whose hearts are full of fear of Him, who indulge in no evil and do not keep company with evildoers. God has also said: Manifest victory will appear for thee on that day for God will exhibit all that the world was foretold. Fortunate is the one who will understand now….”Announcement by: Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian[Majmu‘ah Ishtiharat, vol. 3, pp. 535-536]

Speaking about an earthquake that happened in 1906 he said

“Dear ones! you must have witnessed the earthquake that occurred after 1.00 a.m. on 28th February, 1906. This was the earthquake concerning which God Almighty had announced in His revelation: Spring has arrived again and God’s word has again been fulfilled….

This was the earthquake which was bound to come in the spring according to Divine revelation, and so it came. It is possible that the promised earthquake, which will be a sample of the Day of Judgement, may also occur in the spring. I, therefore, announce once more and warn that, in my estimation, the day is not very far. Repent and create pure and perfect faith in your hearts and do not sit with those who mock at these things so that you may be shown mercy. Do not imagine that [you will be saved merely because] you have joined this Movement. I tell you truly that whoever is saved will be saved on account of his perfect faith. Can you assuage your hunger with one grain of corn or can one drop of water slake your thirst? In the same way, defective faith cannot benefit your soul. Those alone are accounted believers in heaven who affirm their faith with fidelity, sincerity, perfect steadfastness, and giving preference to God above everything else. I am in great anxiety as to how I should make these things enter your hearts and how I can put my hand into your hearts to rid them of all evil. Our God is Most Compassionate, Merciful and Faithful, but if someone’s heart is afflicted with depravity and does not demonstrate his fidelity in practice, he cannot save himself from His wrath. If you entertain a hidden seed of mistrust in your hearts, your joy is vain. I tell you truly that in such a case you will be seized equally with those who do evil deeds in the sight of God Almighty. Nay, you will be seized with ruin before the other people. Let not the life of comfort deceive you, for comfortless days are near when all that the Prophets of God have been telling from the beginning will be fulfilled. Fortunate is the person who believes in what I say and brings about a change in himself.[Majmu‘ah Ishtiharat, vol. 3, pp. 548-549]

What I want to say is that this humble self is also a person that Allah has sent with His clear revelations to tell the world as a whole but Ahmadis in particular to heed the teachings that they have received. No one is safe except those who are pure of heart and who want to tread the path taught to us by Hazrat Masih Maood^as. Almost everywhere people are suffering and the path to safety is the one that was trodden by Hazrat Masih Maood as. In his speech on the last day of Jalsa Salana Qadian on 27^th December 2010 the caliph of the mainstream Ahmadiyya Jamaat said that real Ahmadis are those who have a relationship with Khilafat as understood by them. By the Grace of Allah we understand a greater khilafat than the one he is teaching the world and by the Grace of Allah we are real Ahmadis. And we have proof of acceptance from our Lord.

Since time is almost up I will end by saying that I fear there are more severe calamities awaiting mankind in the coming days because Allah has revealed the following to me during the past week:

• Wa maa yudrika la’allas saa’ata qarib.Ya rawnahou ba’eedan wa narahou qariban. It means “what will make you know that the Hour is near. They see it to be far. We see it to be near.”
• Inna zalzalatous saa’ata la shay’oune ajeeb- Surely the shaking of the Hour is something terrible.

But at the same time He said to me “Laa ilaha illa ana. Wa anat tawwaabour raheem” meaning “there is no one to worship except Me. I am oft-returning with compassion and I am Merciful.”

I finished writing this sermon on Wednesday last. However, Allah out of His Grace to show that what I have said above regarding “proof of acceptance from our Lord” is not an empty boast gave me the following revelation this morning "Law laa fazloullahe alaikoum wa rahmatohou la kountoum menal khasereen”. Its meaning is “Were it not for Allah’s Grace and Mercy upon you, you would have been amongst those who are at a loss”

Let us pray that Allah keeps us in His Mercy. May we all submit ourselves completely and wholeheartedly to Him. May we never see His calamities falling upon us. Ameen.