Friday Sermon 3 January 1997

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Today is the first Friday of the new year.  So after some preliminary remarks on the subject of the coming and going of years I would return to the same topic that was being addressed which was the general advice regarding the refining of moral standards of the Ahmadiyya Community.

The worldly people react to the changing year as if something in the change requires special celebration.  Often among religious nations as well as among irreligious nations who are living in a state of ignorance this reaction is spontaneously celebrated and it has no value other than that.  In the western world it is an occasion for much indecency and drunkenness and if anything dances to call in the new year it is terror that dances.  Moreover it has nothing to do with the years gone by.  As far as the believers are concerned they see the passing and coming years as channel of water flowing continually.  The speed and progressive charge of water points to a destination.  So the example of life could be that of a flowing body of water.  Although there are highs and lows in the path of this water.

The Holy Prophet ﷺ referred to the promise of Allah the Almighty that [1] وَلَلْآخِرَةُ خَيْرٌ لَّكَ مِنَ الْأُولَىٰ and told us that every life is passing, nothing living can ever be still and stationary.  But 'O Muhammad the Messenger of Allah! Your life is progressing so that every coming moment is better than the passing moment and continues to improve'.  This is the goblet which we call a goblet sparkling with Godly attributes. 

God has placed an ability to act in every person. [2] لَا يُكَلِّفُ اللَّهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا and it would be decreed in accord with one's individual capacity.  This law fulfills the highest demands of absolute justice.  The proportions of the Holy Prophet ﷺ were the greatest of all.  

The one scale which is the greatest is that of the Holy Prophet.  Measuring ourselves in accordance with that we are to see to it that if every moment of ours cannot improve in comparison with every moment of the passing year then if at least an hour can be improved then it should be improved, if a week can be improved then it should be improved.  One should make at least a little progress every year.  Each person is to decide this according to their abilities.

Analyse your worship and morals and define for yourselves the improvements you are to make in both of these areas.  In order to improve your Ritual Prayers it is important at a time of prayer for one to identify the Satans that interfere in the prayers.  If we sever the state of negligence in prayer then I hope that the coming year would be better than the year gone past.  Secondly it is important to be free from the social ills.  

There are parents that neglect the moral upbringing of their children and their family is going to ruin before their eyes and they pay no heed.  Observe the situation in your family and friends and then be resolute for the next year.

I hope that the coming year will prove to better every moment of the past year for every Ahmadi.  May Allah equip us for it.

[1] Every coming moment is better for thee than the one preceding. 

('The Holy Quran'. al-Dhuha [The Forenoon]: 5).

[2] Allah never burdens a soul beyond its capacity.  Each shall have what it earns and shall suffer what it incurs.  Our Lord! Interrogate us not if we forget or fall into error; and our Lord, lay not on us a responsibility as Thou didst lay upon those before us.  Our Lord, burden us not with what we have not the strength to bear; and efface us, and grant us forgiveness, and have mercy on us; Thou art our Master; so grant us succour against the disbelievers.

('The Holy Quran'. al-Baqarah [The Heifer]: 287).


The text http://www.alislam.org/urdu/sermon/FST19970103-UR.pdf


© The Tahir Archive / MTA International, 2015.
Friday Sermon 3 January 1997

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