Patience and prayers on great sacrifices of the Lahore martyrs

Summary of Friday Sermon

Delivered by Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad ^at, the Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community

June 4 ^th, 2010

NOTE: Alislam Team takes full responsibility for any errors or miscommunication in this Synopsis of the Friday Sermon

Hudhur recited verses 31 – 33 of Surah Ha Mim Al Sajdah, the translation reads:

‘As for those who say, ‘Our Lord is Allah,’ and then remain steadfast, the angels descend on them, saying: ‘Fear ye not, nor grieve; and rejoice in the Garden that you were promised.

‘We are your friends in this life and in the Hereafter. Therein you will have all that your souls will desire, and therein you will have all that you will ask for —

‘An entertainment from the Most Forgiving, the Merciful.’ (41:31 – 33).

Explaining Hudhur said each week he receives thousands of letters asking for prayers regarding illnesses, prayers for dear ones, letters including Hudhur in the joy of marriages, letters asking prayers regarding anxiety over finding matrimonial matches, prayers for blessings in employment, businesses or problems relating to them, prayers for success in examinations, in short many other subjects. However, last week Hudhur received thousands more letters than is usual and the subject of all of them revolved around the great sacrifices of the Shaheeds (martyrs) of Lahore. There was expression of grief and pain and anger, but the anger transformed in the very next sentence in patience and prayers. Every one forgot their own problems. These letters came from Pakistan, India, Australia and the island, from Europe, America and Africa. These were not just the emotions of Ahmadis of Pakistani descent. Rather, person of every ethnicity who has been enabled to come into the bai’at of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) has been expressing anguish as if it were their close, blood relations who had been victims of the cruelty. As for those whose close relations were martyred, they have been consoling Hudhur in their letters on the martyrdom of their sons, fathers, brothers and husbands. It is a great account of patience and steadfastness. Hudhur personally telephoned the families of all the martyrs to pay his condolences. Hudhur said he should be informed if any family has been missed. In each family that Hudhur rang, he found children, wives, mother and fathers submitting to the will of God. Hudhur said letters can conceal emotions but he clearly heard their resolute voices on the telephone expressing in light of the Quranic injunction: …‘Surely, to Allah we belong and to Him shall we return.’ (2:157). Hudhur said they said what they said in full awareness and with complete perception of attaining God’s pleasure that they submitted to the will of God. One or two sacrifices were nothing for them, they were prepared to spill the last drops of their blood for the community of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) because today it is their blood alone which will demonstrate the status of the Holy Prophet as Khatumun Nabiyeen and the chief of all Prophets (peace and blessings of Allah be on him). They are those who will revive the model of the earlier-ones, they keep the great example of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them all) in view. Hudhur said having read all these letters he feels unable to express his own emotions. However, they have further strengthen his belief that most certainly God granted these beloved people to the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) in order to accomplish his high objectives. These are the great people who are patient and steadfast, whose departed ones also demonstrated models of steadfastness as they met their God and thus verified the Quranic statement of: ‘And say not of those who are killed in the cause of Allah that they are dead; nay, they are living; only you perceive not.’ (2:155). They demonstrated to the world that while they have attained the pleasure of God they have also become a source that shall flourish faith. Every single drop of their spilt blood will bear great fruits. Angels will have embraced them and they would not have felt anything as they gave their lives; how the bullet hit them or the shrapnel from the grenade struck them. These embodiments of steadfastness who offered their lives for faith lay injured in their blood for hours and recited Durud. If any one of them uttered a sound out of pain, the other injured said to him, ‘be patient, people give their lives without any cause, you are going to sacrifice yourself for a great cause.’ And then, the one who uttered the sound recited Durud till he breathed his last and thus assured that he was fulfilling his promise made to the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace).

Hudhur said he has seen a most heartbreaking video recorded by an injured person which is most moving. God indeed took sacrifices of these people but His angels showered tranquillity on them and they waited patiently for hours without groaning and instead prayed. A 19 year old was hit by several bullets but he waited patiently for hours in one position and prayed. If the police had arrived on time many precious lives would have been saved but where the entire system is full of disorder what else can be expected? One young man caught the terrorist’s grenade wanting to throw it back, but the grenade detonated. He thus gave his life and saved many. An elderly person also offered his life as he ran towards the assailant thus taking all the bullets on his body. Hudhur said the IG of the police is boasting that the police captured two terrorists. This is what happens when the entire system, from top to bottom, is reeks of untruth. Indeed, the two terrorists who were held were held by our own. One was held by a young man who is slim of build but was full of faith. He held the terrorist with one hand on his neck and the other preventing him to detonate his suicide belt.

Hudhur said the terrorists were men in their late teens early twenties of deprived backgrounds. Due to poverty these people are taken in childhood by criminals who brainwash them, give him false hopes of Paradise and make them carry out suicide attacks whereas such death incurs God’s displeasure. We never see the ring-leaders of terrorist, we never seen them sacrificing their own children. It is the children of the deprived who lose their lives.

Hudhur said while the descent of angels is apparent on the injured God has also placed it on those who lost their loved ones. It is due to their faith in the Imam of the age. God commanded the angels to console them as they are engaged in prayers. Hudhur said he saw the same outlook in every home and was amazed at the calibre of people God has given to the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace), each one appears a personification of ‘…I only complain of my sorrow and my grief to Allah…’(12:87) and this indeed is the glory of a believer. God has reminded believers to be patient: ‘And seek help with patience and Prayer…’ (2:46). A servant of the Gracious God will only submit to God rather than raise a clamour, take out rallies and take the law in his own hands. He shifts his emotions to patience and prayers and that is when he is worthy of glad-tiding. God has foretold us that: ‘And We will try you with something of fear and hunger, and loss of wealth and lives, and fruits; but give glad tidings to the patient’ (2:156).

Hudhur said the verses recited at the beginning cite people such as the martyrs and those who live their lives to seek the pleasure of God. Angels console people such as these. Life and property of believers as well as honour is attacked and at times it appears as if the doors of God’s help have closed from all directions. When believers exercise patience and steadfastness in such trials they garner God’s grace and come in His refuge. Door to success are opened for them and God demonstrates wonders for them. Thus, steadfastness is the condition. Blessed are the Ahmadis of Lahore who have displayed steadfastness, those who have departed as well as those who are left behind. God is True to His promises, He will fulfil all His promises. Currently the tranquillity of hearts is a sign of the fulfilment of His promises.

The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) said angels descend on those who say our Lord is Allah and who are steadfast. God is their Friend in this world and in the Hereafter. Most excellent steadfastness is when one is engulfed in misfortunes from all directions and there is no assurance. When, as a trial, Allah even does not show consolation through dreams etc. If one does not display cowardice and there is no lessening in steadfastness and dedication and one does not rely on anyone for support, rather is firm and resolute by oneself and does not flinch at God’s decree and does not show any impatience or restlessness until the trial is over. This is the steadfastness through which one finds God and the fragrance of which can still be smelt from the dust of the Prophets, the truthful and the martyrs.

Hudhur said today the dust of our martyrs too gives off this fragrance and it is making us fragrant and is telling us not to let go of the patience that we have held on to. God is True to His promises, our resolve should not waver due to the length of the trial and no word of ingratitude should be uttered. Hudhur said many have seen good dreams of the Lahore martyrs in Paradise being awarded medals.

Our sorrow and our grief is only expressed to God and there should be no lessening in that. Addressing the Ahmadis of Lahore Hudhur said they are those about whom the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) had a revelation:

‘There are our pure members in Lahore’ (Tadhkirah p. 482). Hudhur said this is their honour and they should try and uphold it as there is immense glad-tiding in this connection. Fortunate are you, Hudhur said, that the Promised Messiah has given a glad tiding about your city. Hudhur said in his view the enemy did not carry out these attacks only to incur loss of life. They wished to create fear. In their assumption they wanted to alienate the weak Ahmadis and create restlessness among the youth. They did not know that these are the sons of mothers in whose milk runs the pledge to sacrifice one’s life, property, time and children. Who themselves possessed the fervour to honour loyalty. The enemy had assumed Ahmadis will not be able to bear this huge loss and will take out violent rallies which would give the government the chance to impose its will on them. And by exaggerating any such reaction to the rest of the world Ahmadis could be disgraced. What they did not know was that Ahmadis are those who seek God’s help with patience and Prayer and who come in His refuge, who gather under the banner of Khilafat and will therefore never react in such a manner.

Hudhur said when such a reaction was not forthcoming and the outside world raised concerns and the media too exposed these people, then late in the night, they too thought of issuing statements of sympathy. Hudhur said it is astonishing that they still do not realise what sort of people Ahmadis are. Even a history of 120 years has not opened their eyes that these people rise and sit on the voice of one Imam. They are the followers of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) who came to establish the teaching of his master the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him); teaching that had brutes transform into righteous men. Now that we have left the state of brute-like existence and aspire to be godly people, how could we take out rallies and react in a violent way? We said ‘Surely, to Allah we belong and to Him shall we return’ and left our matter with God and we await His decree. You keep your brutality and your violence that you perpetrated in the name of God on God’s beloved people and with which you appear to take the masses back to the brutality of 1500 years ago. Some say there is no need for a reformer, the Shariah of the Holy Qur’an is sufficient. Are these acts in line with the Shariah then?

Hudhur said, ‘You are unsuccessfully trying to bring the name of my master, benefactor of mankind, the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) in disrepute.’ Hudhur said on the Day of Judgement the Kalima (declaration of Islamic faith) will seize every single one of them and hurl them to their bad ending. Our task is to be patient; not only are the others amazed at our steadfastness rather they are inclined towards Ahmadiyyat and have expressed the wish to take bai’at. Thus their brutality has resulted in blessings for us.

Hudhur said he had thought that he would relate some incidents but some of them are so heartbreaking that Hudhur feared he would overcome with emotion. However, Hudhur related a few:

One worshipper at the funeral Prayer said, ‘ I have received one more blessing, I am now a father of a martyr. My resolve and courage is high.’ One Ahmadi was informed that his brother had been martyred he should go to such and such hospital. His reply was, ‘the one who has departed has gone. I will stay here, Ahmadi brothers may need my blood donation.’ One mother said, ‘I have placed my youth son from my lap onto God’s lap, he was God’s trust’. Shad sahib, our martyred missionary of Model Town who was delivering Friday sermon at the time of attack, continued to recite Durud and prayers and also said Allaho Akbar aloud. He had mentioned earlier Ahmadi martyrdoms at Fajr on the day. About 200 Ahmadis took shelter under the staircase outside. One terrorist came to the edge of the courtyard. Had he come outside, the 200 Ahmadis would not have remained. A 65 year old Ahmadi ran towards him and took his bullets on his chest. The terrorist was delayed in coming out and as a result many Ahmadis ran to safety. When it was all over and they came out, they saw many martyrs lay on the staircase.

One Ahmadi who was visiting from Japan went to funeral Prayers. He says that these funeral Prayers evoked memory of the time of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him). Such were the models of steadfastness that it is difficult to put them in words. He met an elderly person and asked him how did he know the martyr? His reply was, ‘he was my son’. The narrator says his heart sank but the father of the martyr said, ‘Alhamdolillah, it was God’s will’. There were resolute faces all around. A lady has related that her young children had gone for Friday Prayers, God saved them. When the incident was shown on the TV the lady’s neighbouring women flocked to her house assuming she would be wailing. However, she told them our matter is with God. She told them she was not concerned about her children; everyone [in the mosque] was her relative. If her children were martyred they would gain nearness to God, if they survived they would be Ghazi (one who has been in a conflict for Islam). One mother lost her only son, her other children are daughters, she is exhibiting extreme patience and steadfastness. An Ahmadi from Syria was visiting and was in the mosque and got injured. He relates that he has never quite seen anything like this ever before. There was no panic, no chaos, no fear. Everyone was doing their duties, obeying instructions even when firing was going on.

Hudhur said these are those people, those mothers who the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) has created in his community and who have established great models of sacrifices. They are not only concerned about their own children, their hearts pain for the entire Jama’at. Hudhur said, ‘O Ahmadi mothers, never allow these virtuous, pure emotions to die. As long as they remain, no enemy can harm even an iota of the Jama’at.’

Moving the coffins of the martyrs in ambulances one young man remarked that the last coffin was his father’s. Rather than leave with the coffin in the ambulance, he went back to his duty in the mosque. Hudhur said these are the great people of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) who only show their emotions to God. Hudhur said there were scores of other incidents which will be all collated and written down at a later time. Every one says while the terrorists were in the mosque there was no sense of panic. As long as they were alive, the murrabi sahib, the office holders gave out instructions and they were followed. Even afterwards everyone remained organised. One elderly person stayed in prostration posture. Hudhur said these are illustrations of true faith.

Hudhur said he has been receiving many letters with reference to verse 24 of Surah Al Ahzab: ‘Among the believers are men who have been true to the covenant they made with Allah. There are some of them who have fulfilled their vow, and some who still wait, and they have not changed their condition in the least; (33:24) and these people are giving Hudhur assurance of their own pledge and allegiance. The enemy thought he would weaken us, will break our strength. He assumed urban Ahmadis probably did not have faith. He did not know the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) has infused the energy of faith in his community. Doubtless they are involved in worldly matters but they are not their objectives, when they are called for faith, they are always forthcoming. Rather than brutality, they are the champions of humanity. Hudhur said after all Ahmadis also belong to the same nation/ethnicity, however, after accepting the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) these people sacrifice their lives for religion in the manner instructed by God.

Hudhur said may God reward the Pakistani press for their just coverage of the incidents and may He always enable them to say the truth and not go back to the old ways. Hudhur said many countries have sent messages of condolences; here some MPs have also expressed sympathy. May God reward them all. What is more, even the Khatm e Nabuwat appear to have said this was a bad deed. Hudhur remarked, if this is so, what about those hate-filled posters and banners? Those which are displayed under the name plates of High Court judges? Who has plastered them? It is they alone who incite the foolish. Now that they see the course of the world has changed so they have joined in. The real reason for this atrocity is the rancour and spite that the so-called mullah exhibits against us. The Chief Justice of Pakistan takes notice of every small matter by going to press. Did he not ever think of taking notice of this huge atrocity, the banners, the posters? Should he not take action against these mullahs who incite to hatred? Is his standard of justice limited to his choice? Our sorrow and grief is to God alone, we do not expect anything from him. Hudhur said he was only pointing out his standards. Indeed after every trial our perception of sacrifice for God and attainment of His pleasure increases. People can neither harm us nor can they give us anything.

Hudhur said indeed there is a lot of terrorism in Pakistan but when perpetrated against the Ahmadis, it has the protection of law. The perpetrators of Mong [an atrocity committed in an Ahmadi mosque a few years ago] are roaming the street free. Ahmadis do not expect anything from these people. Allah is our Lord and He alone is our Helper. He will continue to help us. We do not expect any good from them in future, therefore Ahmadis need to stay alert. We should recite the prayers: ‘O Allah, we make You a shield against the enemy and we seek Your protection against their evil designs.’ And ‘ O’ Lord, everything is subservient to You. O’ Lord protect us, help us and have mercy on us.’ Hudhur said say many other prayers, pray for them to get their just deserts. Hudhur said we now have one more martyr as a Dr. Imran sahib, who was injured in the incident has passed away.

Hudhur said Ahmadi played a pivotal role in the creation of Pakistan more than those who are today posing as the care-takers of the country. Pray a lot for the country, that it is saved from their evil and the evil of those create disorder, may He keep each Ahmadi safe from all evil. Someone wrote to Hudhur that the enemy has rolled our diamonds in dust. Hudhur said this is incorrect. The enemy has tried but God gathered these diamonds and embraced them. Every single one of these diamonds has further strengthened the diamonds left behind and they are decorated on the horizon of Islam, Ahmadiyyat and they have created a new constellation and each of these stars is a guiding light for us. None of our enemies can ever be successful. May God elevate the station of these martyrs and continue to grant us steadfastness.

Hudhur said he would mention the martyrs another time. He announced leading their funeral Prayer after Jummah. Following these atrocities an Ahmadi was martyred in Narowal district Pakistan while he slept in his house. His son was injured in the attack, may God grant him healing and elevate the station of the deceased, who leaves behind a widow, three daughters and three sons. The murderer belonged to the Tahafuz e Khatm e Nabuwat group and confessed that he had carried out the act in light of the statement of a mullah following the Lahore incidents.

Hudhur prayed that may God keep each Ahmadi safe from every evil. Hudhur said pray profusely; also pray for the injured that may God grant them perfect healing.