The World Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, the Fifth Khalifa (Caliph), His Holiness, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmadaba, delivered the Eid al-Adha sermon on 17 June 2024 from the Mubarak Mosque in Islamabad, Tilford.
Across the world, millions of Ahmadi Muslims were able to listen live to the Eid Sermon of their Caliph and join in with the silent prayer led by their spiritual leader through the global television channel MTA International.
During the sermon, His Holiness spoke of the extremely challenging circumstances facing Ahmadi Muslims of Pakistan who have been deprived of their basic human right of practicing their faith and have been prohibited by the authorities from making the animal sacrifice at Eid al-Adha.
His Holiness addressed the persecution being faced by Ahmadi Muslims and said that although they are being deprived of a most fundamental human right, it is in fact Ahmadi Muslims who are truly acting upon the spirit of sacrifice by foregoing their emotions for the sake of Allah the Almighty and reminded Ahmadi Muslims of verse 38 of chapter 22 of the Holy Quran in which God Almighty speaks of the sacrificial animals and states:
“Their flesh reaches not Allah, nor does their blood, but it is your righteousness that reaches Him.”
Beginning his address, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmadaba said:
“The act of making the sacrifice of an animal commemorates the perfect loyalty and obedience of Prophet Abraham (peace be upon him) who was willing to sacrifice his son and also of Prophet Ismail (peace be upon him), who was ready to sacrifice his own life at Allah’s command. When the father and son were truly prepared, based on the dream, to make the ultimate sacrifice Allah declared that they had fulfilled their pledge of loyalty and sacrifice. This was a test of their loyalty to Allah.”
In memory of that readiness to sacrifice everything for the sake of Allah, His Holiness said, they were commanded to sacrifice a ram, “so that the spirit of this sacrifice remains fresh in the history of the faith until the Day of Judgment.”
Speaking of how this practice has continued to this day, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmadaba said:
“On the occasion of Hajj, Muslims sacrifice millions of animals to keep the memory of this sacrifice alive, and these sacrifices are considered as true sacrifices in the sight of Allah only when the spirit of the loyalty of the father and son is behind them; when there is a pure intention to achieve goodness solely for the sake of Allah and when there is a spirit of giving up everything for the sake of Allah while walking on the path of righteousness. If this is not present, then the apparent sacrifice is of no value.”
His Holiness said that whilst they bar Ahmadi Muslims from making animal sacrifices on Eid, many of the other Muslims make sacrifices of animals without realising its true purpose and become engrossed in a pursuit to outshine others in buying the most expensive animal and thus the spirit of sacrifice becomes “overshadowed by their urge to show off” as they pursue mere materialistic goals.
Speaking of the anti-Ahamdi so-called religious scholars, His Holiness said they are willing to go to any length in order to persecute Ahmadi Muslims.
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmadaba said:
“Ahmadi Muslims should exhibit their emotions before Allah Almighty even more than before so that He may soon look upon us with mercy and grace. Allah the Almighty surely listens to the cries of the oppressed. He will grant acceptance to your intention of sacrifice and will consider it as an actual sacrifice whilst rejecting the sacrifices of those who are making animal sacrifices whilst stopping Ahmadi Muslims from doing so.”
Referring to chapter 22 verse 38 of the Holy Quran, His Holiness said that Ahmadi Muslims must adopt and excel in righteousness as that is the true purpose of making the sacrifices.
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmadaba said:
“What is essential is to adopt righteousness, and that is what reaches Allah the Almighty. The meat and blood of sacrifices do not reach Allah. It is the spirit that matters, and today Ahmadi Muslims understand this… Increasing oneself in righteousness should be the spirit within every Ahmadi Muslim. Although Ahmadi Muslims certainly feel deep sorrow at being prevented from making the animal sacrifices, however, if they have righteousness, Allah Almighty will accept their intentions and reward them for it.”
Reminding Ahmadi Muslims of turning their pain into prayers, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmadaba said:
“Ahmadi Muslims who stand firm in their faith and sincerely sacrifice their lives, wealth, and emotions, their actions are surely accepted by Allah Almighty. This period of sacrifices too will pass, God willing. Therefore, in these circumstances, we should bow further before Allah Almighty, increase our cries and supplications so much that Allah’s mercy swiftly comes to the aid of the oppressed and seizes the oppressors. Express to Allah that, in following the tradition of Prophet Abraham (peace be upon him) and in fully adhering to the teachings of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), we are ever ready to act according to His commandments and are prepared for every sacrifice, whether it be of our life, wealth, or our emotions.”
His Holiness said that people of other religions and nations also make sacrifices of animals, yet they do not attain the closeness to God as a result because they lack righteousness and this is also the case for the present day so-called Muslim scholars who misuse the religion of Islam for their vested interests and thus wrongly show Islam as a religion of extremism.
Reminding them of the wrath of God, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmadaba said:
“One day Allah the Almighty will Himself seize them. The longer Allah gives them respite, the harsher His punishment will be. These people are trying to play God, but as I have mentioned, in these circumstances, we should humble ourselves further before Allah Almighty and strive to elevate our standards of righteousness.”
Addressing the Ahmadi Muslims who are facing hardships, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmadaba said:
“These so-called religious clerics cannot ever hinder our work with their disgraceful actions. Always remember that our lives have a purpose, and every Ahmadi Muslim should strive to achieve it. These obstacles and opposing winds blow to lift us higher, to make us bow even more before Allah Almighty.”
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmadaba further stated:
“Always remember that in the 135-year history of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, these oppositions have propelled the community forward, and our steps will continue to move forward, God willing. The sacrifices of our lives, wealth, time, and honour have always borne fruit and will continue to do so, God willing. Instil this spirit in your future generations as well, that they should never be afraid of any opposition, but should purely bow down before Allah Almighty.”
His Holiness said that only when Ahmadi Muslims seek to attain the pleasure of Allah the Almighty, will they be the ones who raise the flag of the Holy Prophet Muhammadsa aloft.
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmadaba said:
“These clerics, and those who misuse the name of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) are actually becoming a reason to distance the world from Islam through their actions. In reality, we are the ones who are bringing the world under the banner of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). May Allah Almighty grant us the ability to achieve our purpose through understanding the reality of sacrifices and righteousness.”
Concluding the address, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmadaba prayed and said:
“May Allah the Almighty soon turn the pain of Ahmadi Muslims into happiness. Wherever Ahmadi Muslims are going through phases of hardship and sacrifice in the world, may ease come swiftly for them. Always remember one thing and that is, that in every situation, continue to bow before Allah Almighty and strive to elevate the standards of your worship.”
Following the conclusion of the sermon, His Holiness shared the greetings of ‘Eid Mubarak’ to all and concluded with a silent prayer.
From pressahmadiyya.com – the official website of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community’s international Press & Media Office.
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