LOVE FOR ALL HATRED FOR NONE

Taking a critical look at all kinds of war that the world has witnessed and of cause suffered for and for which she is still suffering; from inter-personal to intra and inter-family levels; from intra to inter-tribal spheres; from national to international arenas and at both intra to inter-religious corners; all of them stem from personal ego and or sentiment of someone or somebody! We mean a single person, somewhere and or somehow, solely and unilaterally initiates the war(s). He conceives it; nurses it; sells it; encourages it and establishes it along with his buyout innocent or otherwise individuals and or agents. Hence, the unrest in the entire world! We see it every day. We witness it. We feel it too. Human being continues to suffer for just what a single person initiates! And researching deeply into the cause of the ego in man; it is discovered that it is sheer selfishness in him that makes him to hate so much. He loves himself only and hates others!

How do we then combat this menace already endangering the world? How do we right the wrong that has rooted for so long in man and which is as old as human race itself? I hope it is by putting on course and in motion the words of this discussion: LOVE FOR ALL HATRED FOR NONE? Am I right?

Opinions on Love for All Hatred for None

The topic of this discussion is no doubt the unique slogan or motto of the Worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. It is the motto with which the community is known throughout the world. It is a slogan that has been published and publicized far and wide and has also enshrined the Community into the inner-most hearts, souls and minds of people of different background and orientation throughout the globe. To underscore the importance of this motto and how people of different status in the world have acknowledge Ahmadiyya Muslim Community with it; kindly listen to the following comments:

 Baroness Sayeeda Warsi, a former Minister of State for Faith and Communities in the United Kingdom remarks:

…And what better motto than one that you repeat all the time which is “Love for all hatred for none”. The humanitarian work of the Ahmadi Community in health and in education and in poverty relief is really the true form of social action. (http://www.loveforallhatredfornone.org)

Lord Eric Avebury, International Human Rights Advocate who once won the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community United Kingdom Peace Award commented of the motto:

‘Love for All Hatred for None’, if that’s the message that we can spread across the globe then we will cure all these conflicts. (http://www.loveforallhatredfornone.org)

At the inauguration of Baitul Atta Mosque in Woverhampton, West Midlands in UK, Pat McFadden, Member of Parliament for Wolverhampton South East, said:

‘Love for All, Hatred for None’ was a ‘lesson’ for people. (http://www.alislam.org/egazette/press-release/new-ahmadiyya-mosque-opened-in-wolverhampton-by-world-leader)

On 19^th November 2012, Boris Johnson, Mayor of London paid a courtesy visit to Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih V ^atba. During their discussion the Mayor says:

... Love for All, Hatred for None...ought to be the foundation for London’ (http://www.alislam.org/egazette/press-release/mayor-of-london-invites-khalifa-of-islam-to-city-hall

On 18^th October 2013, the World Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat and Fifth Khalifa, Hadrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad officially opened the Khilafat Centenary Hall in Australia. Kevin Conolly Member of Parliament (State Member for Riverstone) who received Hudhur at airport on 1^st October 2013 was at the inauguration ceremony. He says:

It is memorable for New South Wales to be able to receive a leader of the stature of His Holiness. Certainly, Ahmadi teachings emphasising ‘Love for All, Hatred for None’ are very welcome here in Australia. (https://www.alislam.org/egazette/press-release/head-of-ahmadiyya-muslim-community-inaugurates-khilafat-centenary-hall-in-sydney)

On 2^nd November 2013 the Fifth Khalifa delivered a keynote address at a Special Reception held to mark the inauguration of the Baitul Muqeet Mosque in Auckland, New Zealand. David Rutherford (Chief Human Rights Commissioner, New Zealand) was in attendance. He commented:

The translation of the Quran into Maori is a great gift to New Zealand. Its translation is a manifestation of your desire for all people to live together. There is no better statement for peace than what your community proclaims – that is ‘Love for All, Hatred for None’. (http://www.alislam.org/egazette/press-release/world-muslim-leader-inaugurates-auckland-mosque)

On 18^th January 2014, His Holiness Khalifatul Masih V^atba inaugurated the Noor Mosque in Crawley in West Sussex. Mayor of Crawley, Councillor Bob Burgess was there and he said:

Your saying is ‘Love for all, hatred for none’ and surely this is a philosophy we can all learn from and adopt in our lives. (https://www.alislam.org/egazette/press-release/new-mosque-opened-by-world-muslim-leader-in-crawley)

On 1^st March 2014, His Holiness again inaugurated the Nasir Mosque in Gillingham, Kent, UK. Viscount De Lisle MBE, Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Kent was there and she said:

The Muslim faith is alive and well and flourishing here in Kent and your motto of ‘Love for All Hatred for None’ is one that we should all aspire to. I am certain that this Mosque will stand the test of time and come to serve many generations. (http://www.alislam.org/egazette/press-release/new-mosque-opened-by-world-muslim-leader-in-gillingham)

Coming home, a senior lecturer at the Department of Linguistics, African and Asian Studies, University of Lagos, Mr. Oladimeji Ajikobi highlights the life of Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih IV^rh in his lecture delivered at the 1994 Majlis Atfalul Ahmadiyya Ijtema. He says:

Khalifatul Masih IV further explains how religious tolerance is well ground in his family…No wonder the life of Khalifaul Masih IV was beautiful since his childhood. It is therefore required that the pronouncement of love and tolerance that members of Ahmadiyya paste on their property like vehicles be further rooted… (Translation from ‘Bi Omo Se le Gbe Igbe-Aye Rere, 1994)

History of the Slogan: Love for All Hatred for None

It will not be out of place if we take us down memory lane of this popular slogan. It all started in 1970 when Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih III, Mirza Nasir Ahmad ^rh toured Europe. Spain was one the countries that were prominently visited. In a speech he gave to the Community he commented on how deeply anguished he was at the pitiable condition of the Muslims in General Franco’s Spain; he then supplicated for the resurgence of Islam in Spain.

Speaking of that visit latter, Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih III ^rh himself said:

Muslims ruled there for seven hundred years. As a result of the conspiracies and perverse activities of some of the priests of the time, Muslims lost their sway over that land. Not one Muslim was left there… I suffered great mental torture when I visited there. Muslims were utterly wiped out from Granada. Being the capital of the country; it had many libraries; it had a University where leading padres and bishops were enrolled as pupils of Muslim Professors. All the glory and pomp of Islam, secular, spiritual and moral, was obliterated. You have no idea of my agony...I could not sleep the whole of the night, wondering that we lack material resources and these nations are great powers and have made long strides in material advancement. We lacked wealth and means. How then are we going to convert them to Islam?  ...This was the shape of the thought around which my prayers revolved...

Then in 1980, Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih III’s (rh) total submission to the Will of God and total reliance on His help was rewarded. The community bought a plot of land in Pedrobad a few miles from the cultural city of Cordoba, an imposing site near the busy motorway from the north. After a lapse of more than 700 years, at 3.40 p.m. (local time) on 9^th October, 1980, he laid the Foundation Stone of the first mosque in Pedroabad in Spain.

Addressing the congregation Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih III(ru) said:

Erecting a mosque is a matter of great importance, and it is always built with the aim that Allah alone be worshipped there. The lesson that it imparts is that all human beings, in the eyes of Allah, are one whether they may be rich or poor; whether they may be learned or illiterate; whether they may be residents of Pedroabad or come from a distance of 1,000 miles or more and may be residing in Pakistan; as human beings they are all equal. Islam teaches us to live with mutual love and affection and with humility. It teaches us no distinction between a Muslim or a non-Muslim. My message to everyone is that you must have ‘Love for all, Hatred for none! (http://www.reviewofreligions.org/1966/%E2%80%9Clove-for-all-hatred-for-none%E2%80%9D-historical-trip-to-spain)

This drew huge applause from the people of Pedroabad. It was in this background that the spontaneous words uttered by Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih III ^rh became the unique slogan of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community. It was repeated again at a press conference and at the Cafe Royale in Piccadilly in London at another press conference. Thus this topic was chosen by a Khalifah of Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad^as, a Prince of Love and the greatest Khalifah of Prophet Muhammad ^saw whose character was the entire letters: L, O, V and E.

What is Love?

Love is a variety of different feelings, states, and attitudes that ranges from interpersonal affection to pleasure. It can refer to an emotion of a strong attraction and personal attachment. It can also be a virtue representing human kindness, compassion, and affection. It may also describe compassionate and affectionate actions towards other humans, one's self or animals. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love, Retrieved 10/07/2014]

Furthermore, in Fehr, B. (2013), Fromm (1956) conceptualizes love as a device to reduce the sense of loneliness and isolation that afflicts humankind; Harlow (1958) describes it as “a wondrous state, deep, tender, and rewarding”; Rubin (1970, 1974) says love is an attitude that predisposes one to think, feel, and act in particular ways toward the love object; Berscheid and Hatfield (1974); Hatfield & Walster, (1978) argue that love is not a single entity, but rather is best conceptualized in terms of two basic kinds: passionate love and companionate love. Passionate love is defined as “a wildly emotional state” characterized by emotional extremes, physiological arousal, and sexual attraction while Companionate love is defined as “friendly affection and deep attachment to someone”.

Types of Love

Social scientists have divided love into four types: romantic/passionate love, companionate love, compassionate love and attachment love. For the sake of time, compassionate love is, perhaps, most appropriate type to discuss in this exercise. In Berscheid (2006, 2010), Compassionate love is the umbrella term for types of love such as altruistic love, selfless love, agape and communal responsiveness (Fehr, B.: Ibid). This is the love that is recommended and required to be ‘for all’. It is the love that should always paint the picture of the words of Surah Al-Nur: 36) in the Holy Quran: لا شرقيَّةٍ وَلا غَربِيَّةٍ; and hence should transcend colour, race, sex, religion, caste, etc. It is the kind of love that makes mind tranquil and gives paradise to the one who offers it. It is the kind of love that sells one’s love to the mind of both God and human. It is the kind of love that made the Prophet Muhammad^saw to be loved by all and sundry; even when the enemies did not accept his religion, it was his love that permeated their minds and thus wanted him to be disloyal to his Creator. It is this compassionate love that is preached by the Prophets and their pious successors.

 The Promised Messiah^as teaches:

…Remember that God the Almighty likes good deeds very much, and He desires that sympathy be shown for His creation. If He desired harm, He would have directed us to be bad; but the Majesty of God is free from this. (Holy is Allah and Great is His station)…Therefore, all of you who have established a relationship with me should remember that you should show compassion for everyone regardless of their religion; and be good to all without any discrimination because this is the teaching of Holy Qur’an. (Malfuzat, new edition, vol. 4, pp. 218–219)

At another place, the Promised Messiah ^as says:

Remember that there are two commandments of Allah the Almighty. First, associate no partner with Him, neither in His being and attributes, nor in His worship. Second, be compassionate to the others. Benevolence does not imply that it should be only for your brothers and relations, but it should be for anyone, any human, and any of God’s creation. Do not consider whether someone is a Hindu [a traditional religionist] or a Christian. (Malfuzat, vol. 9, pp. 164–165)

It is this love that makes a person to practice Kindness, Sympathy, Honesty, Sincerity, Forgiveness, Gentleness, Patience, Steadfastness, Charity, Justice, Dignity, Politeness, Hospitality, Mercy, Self-control, Earnestness, Contentment, Cheerfulness, Helpfulness, Courage, Perseverance, Gratitude, Selflessness, etc.

 Hatred

Hatred (or hate) is a deep and extreme emotional dislike. It can be directed against individuals, entities, objects, or ideas. Hatred is often associated with feelings of anger and a disposition towards hostility. In psychoanalysis, Sigmund Freud defines hate as an ego state that wishes to destroy the source of its unhappiness. More recently, the Penguin Dictionary of Psychology defines hate as a "deep, enduring, intense emotion expressing animosity, anger, and hostility towards a person, group, or object." Because hatred is believed to be long-lasting, many psychologists consider it to be more of an attitude or disposition than a temporary emotional state. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hatred Last Retrieved 11/07/2014)

Having the trait of hatred in blood does not allow paradise of mind to exist because hatred burns both itself and the one who nurses it. It carries along with it many other moods. The bad moods who are siblings of hatred among others are: Worry, Revenge, Rebellion, Irritability, Pride, Vulgarity, Excitement, Jealousy, Dishonesty, Depression, Resentment, Ridicule, Despair, Mockery, Lust, Despondency, Envy, Maliciousness, Irreverence, Deceit, Intolerance, Obstinacy, Falsehood, Slander, Selfishness, Cruelty, Backbiting, Scorn, Suspicion, Impatience, etc. One who wishes to walk in paradise on this earth should strive to disperse from the mind every dark or improper thought because thought is the architect of character (Orchard, B.A. (2011). These bad traits negatively affect their receivers only temporarily and they are sources of Allah’s blessings for him/her, if endured patiently, while the sender, if unrepentant, will have a lasting hell and displeasure of Allah and then lose everything in the day of Qiyaamah.

Holy Prophet ^saw was reported to have counselled against these moral characters:

Allah’s messenger ^saw asked: Do you know who is a pauper? The listeners replied: ‘Messenger of Allah, the pauper among us is the one who does not have money or property.’ Then the Prophet ^saw said: ‘The pauper, in my nation is that person who will come on the day of Resurrection backed with prayers, fasting, Zakat and Hajj; but also with a number of injustices to others, such as abusing this one, taking the property of this that one, slandering one, hitting another, or shedding the blood of someone else. Thereafter his good deeds will be taken one after the other and given to this person or that person, who were wronged by him. If his good deeds are exhausted before his wrong deeds are all settled, some of the evil deeds of the wronged persons will be allocated to him, and he will be thrown into the fire.

Respected listeners, in many verses of the Holy Quran and other sources of Islamic knowledge, believers have been enjoined to stay glued with love (and through other moral characters) for humanity and to permanently shun hatred:

...and you should forgive and overlook: Do you not like Allah to forgive you? And Allah is Merciful Forgiving. (Q24 v 23)

Woe to those... who, when they have to receive by measure from men, they demand exact full measure, but when they have to give by measure or weight to men, give less than due (Q83: 2–4)

...orphans and the needy; give them something and speak kindly to them. And those who are concerned about the welfare of their own children after their death should have fear of God and guide them properly. (Q4:9-10)

O you who believe! Spend [benevolently] of the good things that you have earned... and do not even think of spending [in alms] worthless things that you yourselves would be reluctant to accept.” (Q2:268)

Again in a hadith, it is related:

A Bedouin came to the prophet^saw, grabbed the stirrup of his camel and said: O the Messenger of God! Teach me something to go to heaven with it. Prophet ^saw said: “As you would have people do to you, do to them; and what you dislike to be done to you; don't do to them. Now let the stirrup go! [This maxim is enough for you; go and act in accordance with it!]”

At another place the Prophet ^saw said:

"None of you is truly a Muslim until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself". (Sahih Muslim and Sahih Bukhari).

Ali ibn Abi Talib ^rd says:

My dear son, so far as your behaviour with other human beings is concerned, let your 'self' act be scales to judge its goodness or wickedness. Do unto others as you wish others to do unto you. Whatever you like for yourself, like for others, and whatever you dislike to happen to you, spare others from such happenings. Do not oppress and tyrannize anybody because you surely do not like to be oppressed and tyrannized. Be kind and sympathetic to others as you certainly desire others to treat you kindly and sympathetically. If you find objectionable and loathsome habits in others, abstain from developing those traits of character in yourself. If you are satisfied or feel happy in receiving a certain kind of behaviour from others, you may behave with others in exactly the same way. Do not speak about them in the same way that you do not like others to speak about you. Do not speak on a subject about which you know little or nothing, and if you at all want to speak on anything or about anyone of whom you are fully aware, then avoid scandal, libel and aspersion as you do not like yourself to be scandalized and scorned in the same manner. (Nahjul Balaghah, Letter to Imam Hasan or Muhammad Hanafiya)

Conclusion

The purpose of all the gatherings of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is to establish the practical demonstration of this golden slogan: LOVE FOR ALL HATRED FOR NONE. We should understand its import, its essence, its innate, its position and we should always display it in our day to day practical lives. We should feel at home with the slogan. It should be our household word. If given chance, love can spread- love that knows no boundaries of race, beliefs, language or gender, pure love, the pure natural inclination of humans instilled by Allah which can end the world’s misery and conflicts. Love, mercy, compassion and forgiveness are all important Islamic traits. They are not signs of weakness. On the contrary, they are true signs of strength because by loving and forgiving, you cease to be the victim of hatred and anger, and you triumph over your own evil. (Ayad, A.:2011)

At this juncture, with love, I call on he/she who is reading this humble submission to reflect on the meaning of love in his/her life. Re-evaluate different kinds of love in your life. Are you sincere in your love for your spouse, your children, your parents, your friends, your nation and your fellow human being? Do you love them for the sake of Allah?

Develop the characteristics of love within yourself by looking for the good in each person. Everyone has to have a good side; we are human after all. Try to indentify each person’s motivations, understand them, show compassion and find excuses for their mistakes. (Ayad, A.: Ibid)

 Let me close this humble talk with a poem of the Promised Messiah^as:

Fling aside your resentment and malice which spring from worldly and selfish desire.

Pride is the worst impurity of all.

Forget all mutual resentment and unpleasantness.

You should have no ill feeling for anyone whosever.

I say that you should forgive and overlook the faults of others.

Forsake all kinds of low and mean hostilities and jealousies.

Develop more and more power of forbearance.

A true Muslim never harbours malice for anyone.

Take utmost care lest your emotional reaction should overwhelm you.

Take every hardship and injury with a proper degree of forbearance!

Spit out all the turmoil of low emotions, anger and resentment.

Do not speak in terms of ridicule. There should be nothing low or vulgar in your speech.

Never return evil for evil

Thank you for giving your time. 

Satans Are Shackled In Ramadhan!

The Holy Month of Ramadhan is a month through which one who fasts therein and holds on to good deeds becomes righteous according to the Holy Quran Chapter 2 verse 184-185 (with Bismillah as verse one). There are different ways of expressing this same concept of fasting especially in Ramadhan. One of those beautiful ways of expressing it is the Hadith of Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) that says:

When Ramadhan arrives, the gates of Paradise are opened and the gates of hell are locked up and Shayaateen (satans) are put in chains. (Bukhari and Muslim)

However, this hadith is being misconstrued. It is such an expression that cannot be taken literally and also in isolation without getting to know the concept behind each key word that is used in it and without linking it with other prerequisites in Islam before one becomes a real Muslim. Such words in the Hadith like Paradise, hell and Shayaateen (Satans) therefore require little explanations. If these concepts are well understood, the misunderstanding of the hadith will surely fade away. 

Paradise is such a situation, as the name posits, where and when you enjoy parts or all sources of peace and tranquillity. It is not limited to the next world according to the Holy Quran. One can also enjoy it in the present world if he/she works and toils for it. Chapter 55 verses 47-48 of the Holy Quran say:

But for him who is awed by the lofty station of his Lord there are two gardens; both having many branches.

Hell, on the hand, is the complete absence of any or all branches of paradise. Hell is also called fire. Concerning marriage for example, Holy Quran says if a believer fails to marry a believer, it is fire that such believer is inviting into his or her life. This means absence of peace of mind as clearly expressed in Chapter 2 verse 222.

Then we come to the concept of Shaytaan (Plural: Shayaateen). According to standard Arabic Lexicons, Shaytaan has different connotations. It may mean, among others the following:

1. The wicked or evil spirit (Shaytaan)
2. A being that is far away from truth and also leads others away from truth.
3. One who burns or perishes with hate and anger
4. Anybody who greatly transgresses the proper limits and excessively proud and rebellious 
5. Serpent or anyone that has its characteristics 
6. Any blamable power or faculty or propensity like anger
7. It is also used about anything which is harmful and injurious and is likely to cause suffering.

Taking all the above meanings of Shaytaan into consideration, to understand this Hadith of the Prophet (pbuh) will not be any problem.

When Ramadhan arrives, the gates of Paradise are opened and the gates of hell are locked up and Shayaateen are put in chains. (Bukhari and Muslim)

Firstly, it must be understood that the Hadith is not a free lunch ticket. It is not that either you keep fast or not when Ramadhan enters, paradise is free for all. Nay, it is when believers take the prescription of Allah on fasting and adhere to it, then the benefits is enjoyed. It is like your physician prescribing medication for you, if you take it, you benefit from it, otherwise you will not. However, the above meanings of Shaytaan have to do with physical, moral and spiritual situations. 

Let us begin with physical condition. In the Holy Quran Chapter 38 verse 42 Allah says of Prophet Ayyub or Job (pbuh) that:

And remember Our servant Job, when he cried unto his Lord, saying, ‘Shaytaan has afflicted me with toil and torment.’

Some of the commentators of the Holy Quran have ascribed the above verse to refer to the prayer of Prophet Ayyub (pbuh) to Allah to cure him of the skin diseases he suffered from. 

In a Hadith it is recorded that the Prophet said, "Fever is from the heat of Hell, so abate fever with water”. (Bukhari) and it is not strange to us that Shaytaan is synonymous with Hell. Therefore, any suffering or imperfect health condition can be said to be a Shaytaan. 

It is widely known today that fasting has being proven to be a great source of good health. Therefore, when one keeps fasting, one enjoys preservation of good health, if the health condition is however, good before. This is not limited to Muslims; the benefits only accrue more during Ramadhan to Muslims who fast. Hence, the harmful and injurious things (Shayaateen) which often stem from what we consume and thereby cause suffering to our physical body are chained in the month of Ramadhan. And if the lessons on moderate eating and drinking of what is lawful and pure are taken to after Ramadhan, the good health will continue to be enjoyed. 

Morally, sticking to the practices of the Holy Prophet (pbuh) by Muslims is also encouraged more in the Month of Ramadhan. For instance, the Prophet said, if someone intends to fight a Muslim, he should declare himself fasting, that he is enjoined to be peaceful, of course at all time, but particularly in the Month of Ramadhan. The meaning of the word ‘Muslim’ itself should not be forgotten in this context. 

The Prophet (pbuh) was reported to have said:

A Muslim is he from whose tongue and hands others are saved. (Hadith Muslim)

Therefore it is not only in Ramadhan that peaceful living is enjoined but throughout a Muslim’s lifespan. Lexically, the word Muslim also means one who is at peace with himself, with others and with God. Therefore, anyone that is involved either occasionally or always in crime of any kind is not a Muslim in the real sense. S/he is a Shaytaan according to the meanings of Shaytaan above. Hence, it is not correct to say that crime (sins) rate reduces automatically during Ramadhan. Critical look into what is going on around the World, especially in the Middle East where Muslims are in the majority; does Ramadhan automatically stops them from heinous sin of genocide or homicide? The answer is known to every unbiased observer. However, one who has no propensity to commit crime before Ramadhan will not commit it during the month; and if Shaytaan (a transgressing person) wants to push him into it, he already knows how to caution him/herself. The entire society where such Muslims reside is therefore saved from the clutches of Shaytaan. He is chained for them and the society.

Again, the good neighbourliness enjoined in Islam increases immensely during the month of Ramadhan; even those who would hitherto not incline to giving out are propelled to extend widow’s mite to others when they observe good Muslims around them spending well on the needy and the deserving. 

It may now be asked: will the serene environment remains only for just a month and Shaytaan will be let loose again? No. The month of Ramadhan is a training period or camp for all Muslims throughout world. The short course takes a Muslim through physical, moral and spiritual exercise. The result or benefit of the training is not enjoyed only by a sincere Muslim who is steadfast during the period. He benefits from it; he extends it to all his acquaintances without an iota of discrimination- religious or otherwise. And in turn the society at large comes to take the larger share of it. When every individual is at peace, society reaps the benefit. 

After the training, a Muslim continues to use all the lessons he has been taught through the next eleven months. It should be remembered that fasting in the month of Ramadhan is not the only aspect of Islam. We have other four pillars that make one a disciplined Muslim. Pillars that make him a being that can represent Allah and his Prophet (pbuh) anywhere, any day! It is when a Muslim takes all the five pillars together and build his house and home upon them that he will be able to live up to expectation of the connotation of the word- Muslim. Therefore the significance of 'putting Shayaateen in chains' is NOT just for one month. It is throughout twelve months. It should not be forgotten that the entire worship of Allah is said to earn the sincere worshipper righteousness. Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 verse 22:

O ye Men, worship your Lord Who created you and those who were before you that you may become righteous. 

Lastly, the spiritual benefit enshrined in the Hadith is that one who adheres strictly to what Allah enjoins while fasting, the good spiritual standing he has acquired or gained more will make Shaytaan to always run away from him/her. The relationship between him/her and Allah will be like, even more than the relationship between an infant and its mother. Hence for such a believer, Shayaateen are put in chain. Allah says of the benefits of being righteous in different ways in the Holy Quran:

...Verily, the most honourable among you, in the sight of Allah, is he who is the most righteous among you... (49:14)

...And he who is fear Allah (righteous) - He (Allah) will make for him a way out, and will provide for him from where he expects not...And whose fears Allah (righteous), He will provide facilities for him in his affair...And whose fears Allah (righteous) - He will remove the evil consequences of his deeds and will enlarge his reward. (65:3-6)

It is this righteousness whose benefits are enshrined in the above verse of the Holy Quran that Ramadhan Fasting comes to promote. It for those who endeavour to endure the exercise that paradise’s gate are left opened; Hell’s gates are put under locks and keys for them; and Shayaateen are put in chains and shackles for them.

Muhammad : Man, Leader, Prophet

In the Saturday Guardian, 2nd July 2011, pp. 16, Ogunmupe, B. says in his piece entitled ‘How to Change Your Life’:

Exceptional men and women look up to … people of character and accomplishment. They strive to and live up to the ideals of people whose respect is of the great value to them. In a study of successful men, researchers found that these people had almost all been avid readers of biographies and autobiographies when they were young. Reading the stories of these famous men, they imagined themselves having the same qualities of the people they were studying.

He had said earlier on the same page:

There is a law in psychology that if you form a picture in your mind of what you would like to be, and you keep and hold that picture there long enough, you will soon become exactly as you have been thinking.
Attaining a lofty station in life by any man, and especially by a Muslim therefore, requires that a believer should always think of how to become the like of the Holy Prophet saw. In view of the above, Allah the Almighty says in the Holy Qur’an:

Verily you have in the Prophet of Allah an excellent model, for him who fears Allah and the Last Day and who remembers Allah much. [33:22]

Picture of his ideal character should be painted, kept and held for life in one’s minds so as to continue to be like him for the entire life. These, however, cannot be achieve if one does not read and study the books that present the golden history and story of the Prophet saw and his pious early and latter companions.  God willing, such a person who would endeavour to do so shall also be eulogized by God, His angels and man that:

And thou dost surely possess high moral excellencies. [63:5]

Respected Sadr, honourable guests, and dear brothers, it is against the above backdrop, I believe, that the topic- Muhammad : Man, Leader, Prophet- is chosen to be discussed this moment. We shall therefore try our best to lead us in a brief journey through the golden life of Muhammad Mustapha  to see how most excellently he lived his life as a man, a leader and a prophet. But to be successful in this stationary and literary journey we shall require endurance and patience of all.  
MUHAMMAD : A MAN

Ajikobi, D. (2007) says:
…the main chief purpose of man here is to create and preserve that which gives significance to human existence- Values of Human Life.”1

Muhammad  lived his pious life exactly fulfilling to the fullest the import of the above quoted words.
For forty years prior to the revelation, the Prophet Muhammad  was indisputably known to be of sound morals. Amongst his tribe he was known as “As-Sadeeq Al-Ameen,” meaning the honest and trustworthy one.
How he lived his life was so impeccable that Allah the Almighty asked him to cite it as a criterion for people to use in weighing his claim to prophethood. The Holy Quran says:

Say, ‘If Allah had so willed, I should not have recited it to you nor would He have made it known to you. I have indeed lived among you a whole lifetime before this. Will you not then understand?’ [10:17]

There are many instances in the records of biographers that illustrate the moral soundness of Prophet Muhammad . One of these stories exemplifies the strength of the trust people had in him.
It happened near the beginning of his prophethood. He summoned the people of Quraysh to the foot of a mountain and called out to them, saying: “Would you believe me if I told you an enemy host was waiting behind this hill to attack you?” Everyone, including those who would soon become his enemies, agreed that they would believe him.
It is said that the people had so much faith in Muhammad  that they would advise one another to seek his services when needed. They would say: “If you want to entrust your wealth for safeguarding, entrust it to this trustworthy, honest man, for he will never touch it. If you look for someone who never tells a lie and never breaks his word, go directly to Muhammad , because whatever he says is true.”
Even at a young age, Muhammad  showed amazing consideration to those around him. Despite the lack of a steady parent and the many trials he endured in his youth, the Prophet  continued to persevere and serve those who were around him.
After the death of his grandfather, he was sent to live with his Uncle, Abu Talib. Abu Talib had many children but he always treated the Prophet Muhammad  as his own and did not deprive him of what he needed. He was known to be a generous man and would always feed the pilgrims when they would come to make pilgrimage.
Because of his intense generosity, Abu Talib was poor and struggled to keep his family fed. At the young age of thirteen, Prophet Muhammad  decided that he never wanted to be a burden on the shoulders of his uncle and wanted to fend for himself. In a time where being a shepherd was seen to be lowly and unrewarding, the young Muhammad sacrificed his own image and became a shepherd, receiving the lowest pay possible.
He did whatever he could to make sure that his uncle did not have to struggle to keep him fed and carried his own weight around the house. He stayed patient and rose in ranks in the work force until he became a successful business man by the age of twenty-five. It is at this time that the highly referred Hadhrat Khadijahra hired him to work for her. Just as his ego did not prevent him from a lowly job when he needed it, again his ego did not prevent him from working for a successful woman, whom he would eventually marry.
When Prophet Muhammad  did finally marry Khadijahra, he did not forget the generosity of his uncle. It was not enough for him that he had carried his own weight when living with his uncle, he also wanted to give back. The Prophet  returned to Abu Talib and made a noble and dignified request. He asked for one of the children of Abu Talib so that he could raise him and care for him, just as his uncle had once done for him. Abu Talib agreed and gave him Ali, who would later be a great torch bearer of Islam.
At an age where many young men are only thinking about themselves, the Prophet  was already catching every opportunity to make the lives of others easier. Had he not returned to foster one of his cousins, Abu Talib would not have been hurt because he did not expect such a gesture. Rather, it came from the pure unselfish heart of the Prophet . He was truly a man of consideration, asking for nothing in return.
Chapter ninth of the Glorious Quran describes Muhammad  in the following terms:

Surely, a Messenger has come unto you from among yourselves; grievous to him is that you should fall into trouble; he is ardently desirous of your welfare; and to the believers he is compassionate, merciful. [9:128]

Muhammad  was a man who was enveloped in mercy, who cared for the weak, encouraged the women, and stood up for anyone in need. His garb of mercy was not only for his followers after becoming the Prophet; it was also generously used by him all the time all the moment to cover the unbelievers and his ardent enemies. Even in war. This is described in the above verse of the Holy Quran. The merciful mind and compassionate eyes of the Prophet  were not gender based, were not religious based; they were not tribal inclined. They were for all.

Muhammad ’s compassion was vast and inclusive. He spread it far and wide to the point that even animals could find refuge in his kindness. Of the many instances that are breathtakingly vibrant with the clemency of the Prophet  is that of a helpless bird. ‘Abdullah ibn Mas’udra was travelling with the Prophet  and a few other men. One of the men took an egg from the bird’s nest. Out of despair, the bird came and flapped its wings at the Prophet , and he took immediate notice to her sad state. He turned to his companions and asked them who had made this poor bird miserable. Upon finding out that her egg had been taken, he ordered the man to return the egg to her as a sign of mercy and compassion. At a time when many humans were not being shown kindness, the Prophet taught kindness to mankind and was already encouraging kindness and rights for animals.2
In the face of the apprehension of the Holy Prophet  at the receipt of the first revelation, Hadhrat Khadijah consoled him saying:

God is witness, He has not sent you this Word that you should fail and prove unworthy, that He should then give you up. How can God do such a thing, while you are kind and considerate to your relations, help the poor and the forlorn and bear their burdens? You are restoring the virtues which had disappeared from our country. You treat guests with honour and help those who are in distress. Can you be subjected by God to any trial?3

These words of encouragement from Ummul Mu’mineen(ra) summarizes the golden life the Prophet  lived as a man.

In short boldly express our mind that only Muhammad  represents the fullest essence of man; for he was the only one readily available to accept the agonizing and sensitive responsibility of world reformation when the World was in dire need of a saviour. Allah says:



Verily, We offered the Trust to the heavens and the earth and the mountains, but they refused to bear it and were afraid of it. But man bore it. Indeed, he is capable of being unjust to, and neglectful of, himself. [33:73]

No wonder Allah the Almighty addresses Muhammad  unequivocally as:

O perfect Man [20:2]

MUHAMMAD  AS A LEADER
The best of the teachings to any would-be leader was given to Muhammad  in the Holy Quran. Every kind of leadership style was taught to him by Allah the Almighty. And all he perfectly and excellently put to practice! To appreciate the kind of leader Muhammad  was, it is important to discuss along with different leadership styles that scholars advance. But it is pertinent to also note that Muhammad  was never a rigid leader; that was why he could use different style of leadership appropriately and rightly!

Leadership Styles4 and Muhammad
Many are the leadership styles that have been theorized by scholars. Among those styles are: Authoritarian, Paternalistic, Democratic and Laissez Faire styles.

Authoritarian Leadership Style

The authoritarian leadership style or autocratic leader keeps strict, close control over followers by keeping close regulation of policies and procedures given to followers. Looking at this style through mirror of Muhammad ’s life, Holy Prophet  would always stamp his foot on ground when the occasion arises to establish the oneness of Allah and all other fundamentals; and he would never allow an iota of compromise.
As an illustration; all of us would remember the episode that involved Usamah bn Zayd and a supposed Mushrik in an encounter. It was reported that when Usamah raised his sword, the ‘mushrik’ said ‘La ilaha illa Allah’ but Usamah still killed him. The incident was then reported to the Holy Prophet . As a leader, who was expecting victory of Islam and of the viceroys he sent out; but instead of celebrating the victory when they arrived; he reprimanded and asked him Usamah rhetorically:  ‘What will you do when La ilaha llla Allah comes on the day of Judgement and witnesses against you?’
So he displayed authoritarian leadership style here to let people know that whatever happens and in any circumstance, establishment of words and spirit of our foremost Kalima is not negotiable.

Paternalistic Leadership Style

The way a Paternalistic leader works is by acting as a father figure by taking care of their subordinates as a parent would. In this style of leadership the leader supplies complete concern for his followers. In return he receives the complete trust and loyalty of his people. Followers under this leader are expected to become totally committed to what the leader believes and will not strive off and work independently. The relationship between these followers and leader are extremely solid. They treat each other like one family and feel for each both on inter and intra personal issues.
Allah illustrates this style of leadership in the Holy Quran:

And remember the time when Abraham said, ‘My Lord, show me how Thou givest life to the dead.’ He said, ‘Hast thou not believed?’ He said, Yes, but I ask this that my heart may be at rest.’ He answered, ‘Take four birds and make them attached to thyself. Then put each of them on a hill; then call them; they will come to thee in haste. And know that Allah is Mighty, Wise.’ [2:261]

It is Paternalistic leadership style that is being emphasized here for the Prophet . If we all recollect, immediately the Prophet  arrived in Madinah, he quickly arranged means and sources of average livelihood and self-sufficiency for all the Muhajiroon. The Ansar were also readily available and dedicated to support the proposals of the Prophet  out of obedience and love for the Prophet, and compassion for their brothers in faith. This is recorded in the phrase:

Muhammad  is the Messenger of Allah. And those who are with him are hard against the disbelievers, tender among themselves. [48:30]

It was not difficult therefore for the earliest Muslims to spontaneously appreciate and reciprocate the kind leadership style of the Prophet  by not resting on the oars in their obedience and dedication to the cause of Islam. Even after his demise of the Prophet .

Democratic Leadership Style

The democratic leadership style consists of the leader sharing the decision-making abilities with group members by promoting the interests of the group members and by practicing social equality. This style of leadership encompasses discussion, debate and sharing of ideas and encouragement of people to feel good about their involvement. The democratic leadership style encompasses the notion that everyone, by virtue of their human status, should play a part in the group's decisions. However, the democratic style of leadership still requires guidance and control by a specific leader. The democratic style demands the leader to make decisions on who should be called upon within the group and who is given the right to participate in, make and vote on decisions.

Allah says in the Holy Quran:

And it is by the great mercy of Allah that thou art kind towards them, and if thou hadst been rough and hard-hearted, they would surely have dispersed from around thee. So pardon them and ask forgiveness for them, and consult them in matters of administration; and when thou art determined, then put thy trust in Allah. Surely, Allah loves those who put their trust in Him.[3.160]

Such Democratic leadership style that is introduced here was applied by the prophet  many a time in moving the cause of his community forward. Example of such was at the time of preparing for the war with the confederates that is today known as Battle of Ditch. Mirza Bashiruddeen Mahmud Ahmadra succinctly describes the situation:
The enemy was twenty to twenty-four thousand strong, and the Muslims hardly three thousand including...all the males of the town, the old and the young. When the prophet heard of the huge enemy preparations, he held a council and asked for advice. Among those who were consulted was Salman the Persian, being the first Muslim convert from Persia. The prophet asked Salman what they did in Persia if they had to defend a town against a huge army. ‘If a town is unfortified, and the home force very small,’ said Salman, ‘the custom in our country is to dig a ditch round the town and to defend from inside.’ The Prophet approved of the idea.5

The rest continues in the history. That was Muhammad , a democratic leader who took the advice of a non-Arab follower for the safety of all and sundry.

Laissez-faire Leadership Style

The laissez-faire leadership style is where almost all the rights and power to make decisions is fully given to the follower. This was first described by Lewin, Lippitt and White in 1938. The laissez-faire style is sometimes described as a "hands off" leadership style because the leader delegates the tasks to their followers while providing little or no direction to the followers. If the leader withdraws too much from their followers it can sometimes result in a lack of productivity, cohesiveness, and satisfaction. Laissez-faire leaders allow followers to have complete freedom to make decisions concerning the completion of their work. It allows followers a high degree of autonomy and self-rule, while at the same time offering guidance and support when requested. The laissez-faire leader using guided freedom provides the followers with all materials necessary to accomplish their goals, but does not directly participate in decision making unless the followers request their assistance.

Respected listeners, it is this leadership style that is enshrined in the following verse of Holy Quran:


O ye who believe, ask not about things which, if revealed to you, would cause you trouble; though if you ask about them while the Quran is being sent down, they will be revealed to you. Allah has left them out. And Allah is Most Forgiving, Forbearing. [5:102]

Muslims are left to take decisions on some matters discretionally, especially on private matters that are not hitherto and expressly indicated and cleared in any way. This is laissez-faire leadership style; a style taught to the Prophet  to lead his followers.
That was Muhammad . He was a model leader per excellence. No wonder Allah addresses him as:
 O perfect leader [36:2]

Muhammad : a Prophet
Muhammad  was not an innovation as a Prophet (Q46:10) and there are prophecies about his advent both in the Torah and the Gospels (Q7:58). The Holy Prophet  had a promise of divine protection (Q5:68) and was guarded and helped by the angels (Q13:12 & Q66:5). He received his call from God at the age of forty to proclaim the message of Islam to mankind that:
There is no god but Allah and Muhammad is His Messenger.
The Holy Prophet 's life was dedicated to the dual purpose of re-establishing on earth the Unity of God, our Creator, Who alone is worthy of our worship and through establishing that relationship with God people should become civilized and behave justly towards one another. His mission was to recite the Signs of God, teach people the book and wisdom and purify them (Q2:130 & Q62:2-3). It is a historical fact that when the Meccans offered to give him anything he wanted, his reply was totally uncompromising on the question of the Unity of God. He said:
…even if they were to place the sun on my right and the moon on my left, I would not desist from preaching the truth of the

One God. I must go on doing so until I die. 6

The Holy Prophet  and his followers suffered all kinds of injuries and persecution at Mecca for thirteen long years and when life for them became unbearable, they migrated to Medina. The Meccans having failed in their plot to kill the Prophet  now pursued the Muslims to Medina. God then permitted the believers to fight the aggressors in order to end persecution and to defend their rights.

The Holy Quran was revealed to the Holy Prophet  for about twenty-three years which was just completed before he died at the age of sixty-three. The religion of Islam was firmly established in Arabia.
God says:


O Prophet, We have sent thee as a witness, and a bearer of glad tidings and a warner, and as a summoner unto Allah by His command and a light-giving sun. [33:46-47]
Hadhrat Muhammad  was Allah's Messenger for all mankind (Q4:80, Q7:159, Q34:29). He was sent as a mercy for all mankind (Q21:108).

He received revelation from God as did previous Prophets (Q4:164, Q42:4) and he was enjoined to convey the revelation to the people (Q5:68). He was commanded to be alert and ever ready to spread the truth (Q74:2). He saw his success in the propagation of Islam during his life time (Q110:3). His message was universal (Q34:29) and he always yearned that mankind should believe (Q18:7, Q26:4, Q93:8). He was the Seal of the Prophets (Q33:41) and he achieved the highest status in nearness to Allah (Q53:9). The Holy Quran says:

Whoso obeys Allah and this Messenger shall be among those upon whom Allah has bestowed His favours - the Prophets, the Faithful ones, the Martyrs and the Righteous; and they are excellent companions. (4:70)7
The divine message of Muhammad  is summarized in the following words:
It was a many-sided Message and of great ultimate significance, not only for Arabs but for the whole world. It was a Message from God. It said: The Creator of the world is One. None else is worthy of worship. The Prophets have ever believed Him to be One, and taught their followers so. Meccans should give up all images and idols. Did they not see that the idols could not even remove the flies which dropped on the offerings laid at their feet? If they were attacked they could not repel. If they had a question put to them, they could not answer. If they were asked for help, they could do nothing. But the One God helped those who asked for His help, answered those who addressed Him in prayer, subjugated His enemies, and raised those who abased themselves before Him. When light came from Him, it illumined His devotees. Why then did the Meccans neglect Him and turn to lifeless images and idols and waste their lives? Did they not see that their want of faith in the One True God had made them utterly superstitious and incompetent? They had no idea of what was clean and what was unclean, of right and wrong. They did not honour their mothers. They treated savagely their sisters and daughters, and denied them their due. They did not treat their wives well. They tormented widows, exploited orphans, the poor and the weak, and sought to build their prosperity on the ruins of others. Of lying and cheating they were not ashamed, nor of burgling and loot. Gambling and drinking were their delight. For culture and national advance they did not care. How long were they going to ignore the One True God, and continue to lose and lose, and suffer and suffer? Had they not better reform? Had they not better give up all forms of exploitation of one another, restore rights to whom they were due, spend their wealth on national needs and on improving the lot of the poor and the weak, treat orphans as a trust and regard their protection as a duty, support widows and establish and encourage good works in the whole community, cultivate not merely justice and equity, but compassion and grace? Life in this world should be productive of good. "Leave good works behind", the Message further said, "that they may grow and bear fruit you are gone. There is virtue in giving to others, not in receiving from them. Learn to surrender that you may be nearer to your God. Practise self-denial for the sake of your fellow-men, that you may multiply your credit with God. True, the Muslims are weak, but do not go after their weakness, Truth will triumph. This is the decree of Heaven. Through the Prophet a new measure and a new criterion of good and evil, of right and wrong, will be set up in the world. Justice and mercy will reign. No constraint will be allowed in the matter of religion, and no interference. The cruelties to which women and slaves have been subjected will be obliterated. The Kingdom of God will be instituted in place of the kingdom of Satan.8

The message was well spread and successfully established by the Prophet himself so much that the people that were formally known to be notoriously backward in almost all facets of life became the leaders of pious people. They became bright stars whose lights one can walk through to see the pleasure of Allah.
The Promised Messiahas, the Holy Founder of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community catches the summary of end result of Holy Prophet ’s successful prophethood:
He says:
 
You found them dirty like a heap of dung;
And transformed them into a piece of pure gold.9
The promised Messiah(as) also eulogizes his master in the following terms:

The man who in his being and his attributes and his actions and through his spiritual and holy faculties set an example of perfection, in knowledge and action and in sincerity and steadfastness, and was called the perfect man was Muhammad .... The man who was most perfect as man and as Prophet, and came with full blessings, and who through a spiritual revival and resurrection manifested the first Judgment in the world and revived the dead world, that blessed Prophet, the Seal of the Prophets, the leader of the righteous ones, the pride of the Prophets, was Muhammad , the chosen one [peace and blessings of Allah be on him]. Our Lord, send down on that beloved Prophet that mercy and blessing that Thou hast not sent down on anyone since the beginning of the world. Had that grand Prophet not appeared in the world then we would have no proof of the truth of lesser Prophets like Jonah, Job, Jesus son of Mary, Malachi, John, Zechariah, etc. Though they were favourites and honoured and were beloved ones of Almighty God, they are under obligation to this Prophet that they were accepted in the world as true Prophets. O Allah, send down Thy blessings on him and on his people and on his companions, all of them. Our last word is that all praise belongs to Allah, Lord of the worlds.10 [Itmam-ul-Hujjah, Ruhani Khaza’in, Vol. 8, p. 308]

Respected listeners, Muhammad  was the most perfect man .  Muhammad  was the most perfect leader. Muhammad  was the greatest, most glorious and most successful Prophet.
























Endnotes
1. Ajikobi, D. (2007) Verbal Arts: A Promising Mountain of Gold, Ibadan, Krafts Books Limited, pp 330
2. (http://www.onislam.net/english/reading-islam/about-muhammad/his-character/453230-prophet-muhammad-a-man-of-character.html) LAST RETRIEVED 14.4.2014
3. Ahmad, M.B.M. (2005), Life of Muhammad, U.K. Islam International Publications Ltd, pp27
4. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leadership_styles LAST RETRIEVED 14.4.2014
5. Ahmad, M.B.M., op.cit pp133
6. Ibid, pp41
7. Dr. Rasheed S. Azam ‘The Holy Prophet  of Islam’ The Review of Religions February 1993/ http://www.alislam.org/library/links/hp.html LAST RETRIEVED 15.4.2014
8. Ahmad, M.B.M., op.cit pp38-40
9. http://www.alislam.org/library/qaseedah/q006.htm LAST RETRIEVED 15.4.2014
10. Essence of Islam, Vol 1 pg 199

Khutbat-Ilhamiyya (Revealed Sermon):

English Translation of Khutbah Ilhamiyya

Original Book in Urdu by Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad Sahib of Qadian

English Rendering by Imam Kalamazad Mohammed, London

(We humbly pray Allah to reward Imam Kalamazad Mohammed immensely for giving access to the Treasure)

O servants of Allah, on this your Eid-al-Adha day, think deeply and ponder, for in the ceremony of the Sacrifice there is a hidden secret for people of understanding. As you all know, many animals are sacrificed on this day -- large numbers of camels, bullocks and many flocks of sheep are slaughtered -- and all this in order to seek the pleasure of Allah. And this has been the practice since the beginning of Islam until the present day. In my opinion, these sacrifices offered by us in accordance with theShariah [Law] of Islam are beyond count, and they outnumber by far those sacrifices that used to be performed by the communities of the Prophets of yore.

In Islam, this obligation is considered among those acts that are calculated to take us close to Allah, the Most High. This act of sacrifice yields Allah’s blessings with such a speed as if we are riding an animal which is running at the speed of lightning and there is a grandeur in it like that of the deafening peal of thunder.

For this reason, the name "sacrifice" was reserved for these animals that are due to be slaughtered, for in the Hadith it is mentioned that if a person fulfils this sacrifice with sincerity, piety and deep faith, it becomes for him a means of attaining closeness to, and union with Allah, the Most High.

These sacrifices are among the noblest acts of worship in the Shariah. That is why the word for sacrifice in the Arabic language is nasika, (pl. nusuk) [Footnote 1: In the Hadith it is written that the Messiah will descend and the word nuzul (descent) has been especially chosen to indicate that that Age will be covered in darkness. Honesty, faith and righteousness will be taken up from earth, which will be filled with oppression and tyranny. However, Allah will again shed light on the earth and that light will come from above because light always comes from above. The era of the Promised Messiah has been described as a time when all the means of the propagation of Islam will be ineffective and the hands of Muslims will be without strength for the honour of Allah and he will be required to eliminate, defeat and banish far away the objection raised against Islam that it was spread at the point of the sword. Therefore, the command is that for the age of the Promised Messiah, that the sword should be sheathed and no one must raise it for the sake of religion. If they should take up the sword they will suffer defeat and ignominy from the unbelievers just as Prophet Moses’ people, whom he delivered from bondage in Egypt, always tasted defeat in battles in which they took the initiative contrary to the directives of Prophet Moses.]. In Arabic it means both obedience and servitude. Thus, this word nusuk is used in the said language when slaughtering those animals that are legally earmarked for sacrifice. The application of the word nusuk in both senses is decisive proof that the truly pious and genuine worshipper is that person who, only for the pleasure of his Lord, completely sacrifices his self and all his powers and all those desires to which his heart has been attracted.

Furthermore, he subdues all those egoistic desires so completely that all his ambitions have been cut to shreds and have become extinct, and he effaces himself to an extent that no trace of his being remain; it is totally obliterated and the powerful breeze of annihilation blows over him and every atom of his being is blown away and dissipated by the tempestuous buffeting of this wind.

If one should contemplate the meanings that are incorporated in the word nusuk, and should deliberate on it with deep reflection and an open mind, and study it from every vantage point with open eyes, then it will not be hidden from him nor will any doubt remain in his mind that the two meanings that the word nusuk shares, point to this secret that the service which delivers a person from loss in the next life is really the slaughtering of the nafs al-ammarah (the spirit that commands evil) which embodies an overwhelming passion for evil deeds. Such a wicked ruler is it that it never ceases to command sinful actions. So, deliverance depends on killing this evil commander through complete self-effacement of body and soul in obedience to the commandments of Allah, the Most High, and, after cutting one's self entirely from the world, making Allah one's intimate Friend and Beloved, and enduring all kinds of bitterness so that the soul may be saved from the death of heedlessness. That is the meaning of Islam and that is the essence of perfect obedience. A Muslim is he who places his neck for slaughter at the altar of Allah, the Most High, and sacrifices the camel of his soul and places his forehead on the ground to be given up as an offering to Allah, and is never forgetful of death even for a moment.

In short, the slaughtering of sacrificial animals, which is an institution in Islam, is for the sole purpose of reminding to offer sacrifice for the purpose of making the soul submissive and it serves as an incentive for us to achieve this lofty goal. If done as a sacrifice of one's lower self, it is also a precursor or beginning of the state which is ultimately attained after the completion of the mystic path. It heralds that state.

Therefore, it is incumbent on all believing males and females who are in search of the pleasure of the love of God to understand this truth, and to make it their cherished goal, and to impress it so deeply in their hearts that every atom of their being may be permeated with it, and they should have no peace and tranquillity until they have fulfilled this sacrifice to their beloved Lord and Master. They should not, like ignorant and naive people, feel complacent over the superficial act that is like a shell without a kernel. Instead, they should accomplish the true spirit of their sacrifice and they should fulfil the reality of it with all their rational faculties and with the spirit of true austerity. This is the station where the journey of the mystics comes to an end and the goal of the gnostics reaches its ultimate limit, and it is here that all ranks of purified souls find completion, and all the stages of the righteous and elect are fulfilled and the journey of the saints is completed. When you reach this station, then all your struggles finally end and you reach the point of self-annihilation. At this point, the tree of your journey will attain full maturity and the neck of your soul feeds on the luxurious verdure of the holy and celestial pastures just as the long-necked camel whose neck stretches to the top of the green tree. After that come the feelings of rapture and the fragrances and the refulgent splendour from the throne of the Divine Unity of God, so that some of the remaining bonds of humanity may be cut off and after that is the infusing of everlasting life and nearness to Allah in that soul which has already found contentment in Allah and which is pleased with Him and with whom He is pleased and which is completely lost in Him. After that, the perfect man is garbed by the Divine majesty in the robe of vicegerency and is coloured with the colours of Divinity and it comes by way of reflection so as to authenticate this rank of khilafat or vicegerency. Then, he, (the perfect man), descends among the people in order to draw them to the path of spirituality and to lead them to celestial lights after removing them from the darkness of the land. This man is the inheritor of all those who have gone before him from among the prophets, and the truthful and those possessing knowledge and wisdom and the (spiritual) light that comes from nearness to Allah and he is gifted with saintliness in addition. To him also is vouchsafed the knowledge and spiritual insights of those former men who possessed deep spiritual enlightenment and wisdom from among the various nations so that his inheriting of spiritual eminence may be verified. Then this servant tarries on earth for a period ordained by his Lord of Glory so that he may irradiate the people with the light of Divine guidance. When he has illumined mankind with the light of his Lord or he has propagated the message to the point of consummation, then his mission is fulfilled and his Lord calls him back and his soul is transported to its assigned station, and that is the meaning of rafa‘ (elevation) in the opinion of those possessing knowledge and spiritual insight. And marfu‘ (raised) is the one who is given to drink, by the hand of his Beloved, of this cup of union, which is the river of beauty and glory. He is placed under the veil of God’s Providence and he lives in perpetual devotion to Allah and that is the ultimate height to which a seeker of truth, from among human beings, can rise.

So, do not be heedless of this rank, O mankind, and do not remain ignorant of the secret that is reposed in the sacrifices. Perform the sacrifice so that you may see the essence of it as if in a mirror. Do not forget these exhortations and do not become like those people who forget their God and are unmindful of their own passing away.

An indication of this veiled secret is given in the Word of Allah, where Allah, Who is the Most Truthful of those who can speak the truth, commands His Prophet to inform the people that his prayer and his worship and his life and his death are all for Allah, the Lord of the worlds (6:163). Therefore, observe how the word nusuk (sacrifice), is explained by the words ‘life’ and ‘death’. And this explanation unravels the secret behind the reality of sacrifice.

Thus, O heedless ones, meditate deeply on this. Whoever grasps the true meaning of the sacrifice and performs it with purity of heart and sincerity of intention, he indeed has sacrificed his own life and that of his sons and grandsons, and for him is an honourable reward like that which Prophet Abraham received from his bounteous Lord and concerning which a hint was given by our chosen Lord and Master who is the leader of the God-fearing and the Seal of the Prophets. He said, and after Allah, the Most High, he is the most truthful of the truthful ones, that the sacrifices prove like mounts that transport a person towards Allah and they efface all kinds of sins and remove calumnies far from him. These are the words that have come to us from the Prophet of God, the best of creation, may peace and the blessings of Allah be on him. His Excellency, the Holy Prophet did point out in those words to the wisdom of the sacrifices in language that was like pearls in their eloquence. How sad, nay, how distressingly painful it is that most people do not comprehend these subtle points and therefore do not obey this injunction. So, for them, ‘Eid is nothing but taking a bath, putting on new clothes and devouring food ravenously -- they and their family and relatives and their servants and slaves -- and going out to the ‘Eid prayer gorgeously and luxuriously dressed as if they were exalted chieftains and great princes. You will notice that on this day they rejoice exceedingly over fine food and likewise, they desire the best and most exquisite of apparel with no other purpose than that of ostentation. They do not entertain even the slightest idea of what the sacrifice means and for what purpose goats and cows are slaughtered. And with them, from dawn to nightfall, the observance of ‘Eid is nothing but heavy eating and drinking and enjoying delicious things and wearing fine raiment and riding fast horses and eating fresh meat. On this day, you will see them doing nothing but wearing soft and delicate clothes, grooming their hair, applying collyrium to their eyes and perfume to their clothes and washing and making up their tresses and ringlets as a hair-dresser does to women. Then, like a hen that eats its food with a few hurried pecks, they, too, perform their prayer with brisk movements in which there exists not the slightest bit of concentration and their hearts are filled with evil whisperings and stray thoughts. After this, it is a resorting to all kinds of dainty dishes and various kinds of food and gorging themselves like animals on different kinds of delicacies and giving themselves up to frivolous pursuits, and letting their souls graze in the meadows of lust, and riding on horses and carriages and on male and female camels, and even on the necks of people and bedecked in all kinds of costumes; and wasting the day in all kinds of senseless prattle and exchanging gifts of meat, and having fun and colourful merriment and indulging in sensual allurements and caprices, and laughter and uproarious guffaws, and seeking pleasure in dancing.

Thus, on contemplating the calamities that have befallen Islam, we recite Inna lil-lahi wa inna ilaihi raji‘un, that is, to Allah we belong and to Him is our eventual return. And our hearts become grief stricken on witnessing these days of misfortune. Sinfulness is rampant and restlessness predominates. So, in the time of this black night and in the hour of this fierce tempest of darkness, Allah’s Mercy demands (that He sends) a light from heaven.

Thus will it happen now, too, because the descent of the Messiah from Heaven has been ordained as a sign that his hands will not even touch earthly means. Only with water from Heaven will he irrigate the orchard of Islam, for now Allah, the Most High, wishes to display the miracle that for its propagation, Islam does not stand in need of the sword nor of human means.

Thus, in the face of this clear prohibition and the presence of the hadith that the Promised Messiah will put an end to wars, if anyone still takes up the sword and desires to wage war, it is as if he wishes to obscure the miracle that Allah, the Most High, wants to manifest to the world, that is, to make Islam triumphant on earth and beloved by mankind even without human means.

I am that light and that Mujaddid who has come by the command of Allah, and the servant who is aided by the Almighty, and I am the Promised Mahdi and the Promised Messiah and I have descended from my Lord with such an elevated status that none from among mankind is aware of its sublimity. My secret is hidden and is distant from many men of God despite the fact that common people can gain knowledge of it. My rank is far removed from the reach of the divers or people with mundane knowledge. My spiritual elevation is loftier than one can imagine and my travelling on the path of Allah is swifter than that of the most fleet-footed camels.

Do not compare me with anyone else, nor liken anyone to me. Do not destroy yourself through doubt and opposition (to me) for I am that kernel that has no shell and that soul that has no body, and I am that sun whose light cannot be obscured by the smoke of enmity and malice. If you should search for someone like me, you will never be able to find him even if you should seek him with the aid of a lamp.

This is not an idle boast but a grateful acknowledgement of the favours of Allah, Who has planted this beautiful young tree. I have been bathed in the water of light, and I have been cleansed in the fountain of Divine purity and I have been washed clean of all dirt and impurity. My Lord has honoured me with the name Ahmad [the greatest praising one]. So, honour me and be not hostile to me and sink not into the pit of despair in your affairs.

Whoever has praised me unstintingly and has not withheld any kind of reverence has indeed spoken the truth and is not guilty of the crime of lying; but whoever belies me, indeed speaks untruth and only incites the anger of his Lord. So, woe on that man who has fallen into the abyss of doubt and has broken his covenant and has polluted his heart with the evil insinuations of Satan. I have come from a very honoured and elevated Court so that my Lord may display through me some of His attributes of power and beauty; that is, in order to dispel evil and to usher in the face of goodness, for the time was ripe for the removal of this evil which had surpassed its limit and it was ripe, too, for the exaltation of righteousness which was gradually disappearing from the earth. Therefore, the grace of Allah willed that this Age be given what the prevailing state of affairs cried out for, in order that He may shower His mercy on men and women.

He has made me a manifestation of the Messiah, son of Mary, in order that He may extirpate the roots of evil and apostasy and He has made me the manifestation of the Mahdi, Ahmad, the most Honourable, in order that He may shower blessings on people and send upon them the rain of knowledge and guidance once more, and cleanse mankind of the dirt of sloth and sinfulness. Thus, I have come in the colour of two yellow garments which are dyed with the attributes of power and beauty. I have been given the power of taking and giving (of spiritual) life and it has been granted to me by Allah, but that glory is really a sign of my coming as the manifestation of the Prophet Jesus and it is from Allah, the Lord of Glory [Footnote 2: I have mentioned on many occasions that I have not come to wield the sword and spear but I have come with signs and holy power and beautiful explanations. Thus my power is heavenly and not martial.].

It is in order that I may obliterate the evil of heresy which is flourishing among the tenets of those who have gone astray and is still strongly prevalent and is still ablaze in its full force and which, in the sight of Allah, the Knower of all things, is the most despicable of all evils. And this glory is granted to me also so that in this way I may bring back the beauty of the Oneness of God which is gradually disappearing from the tongues, the hearts and the actions of people. But that beauty which I have received is really the influence of the one whose manifestation I am and which has been named by Allah, the Most Gracious, as the manifestation of Ahmad, and by means of this I may establish the foundations of spirituality (religiosity). I have also been commanded to kill the swine of corruption, unbelief and deviation which are trampling the pearls of truth under their feet and are ravaging the fields of people and are ruining the gardens of their faith, self-discipline and good deeds. This killing is by means of heavenly weapons and not by earthly sword and arrow as is the opinion of those people who are bereft of truthfulness; for they are themselves astray and are therefore misleading many of the ignorant ones. For, indeed, I have been prohibited from fighting against the disbelievers, for, concerning me, it was already decreed that I would put an end to wars and I would not resort to bloodshed. Thus, no jihad remains except the jihad for the cause of Islam) with words, signs and arguments. I have been ordered, too, to fill the houses of Muslims with wealth and other means of spiritual sustenance. This wealth is not of silver nor of gold but it is the treasure of knowledge, piety, guidance and certainty of faith. Furthermore, this treasure makes ones faith stronger than the mountains, and those who are bent under a heavy load are given good news. So receive the glad tidings that your Messiah has come to you and the Most Powerful God has anointed him and blessed him with the gift of eloquent speech and he is protecting you from that group which is travelling through the land spreading misguidance. He is inviting you to Allah and is dispelling every doubt. So congratulations to you, for the Promised Mahdi has come to you with an abundance of wealth and provisions piled up high, and he is making strenuous efforts to return that wealth which is slipping away from you, and to recover (the spiritually) dead from the graves and to bring back prosperity which was lost even in your very lifetime. This is not a fabricated saying but it is Allah’s light which contains mighty signs.

Dear people! I am that Messiah from the Muhammadi dispensation and I am Ahmad, the Mahdi, and indeed my Lord is truly with me from the time that He sent me to the time of my departure. I have received that fire which will destroy evil, and I am that deliciously sweet water and the Star of Yemen and the spiritual shower. For those who give me grief, there is a sharp lance and my supplications are an efficacious and proven medicine. I try to exhibit my spiritual power and its beautiful blessings to one and all to guide them to the path of Allah. In one hand I hold a weapon with which to destroy the ingrained habits of injustice and sin and in the other, a beverage with which to revivify the hearts of mankind; that is, an axe to annihilate and a breath for giving life.

This power is bestowed on me because, as was the case with the Prophet Jesus, people wish to destroy me, too, and the attribute of beauty is granted because my mercy and compassion, like that of my master, Ahmad [Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)], show the path towards Divine guidance to a people who are heedless of their Lord, the Most High.

Do you wonder, then, at this, and do not consider the present age and its requirements? Do you not see that this age needs to have recourse to Allah, the Most High, so that one nation may be shown His attribute of glory and that another may be aware of His attribute of beauty? Clear signs have been manifested and mysteries have been disclosed and all controversies are disappearing. So why do you not see? The eclipses of the sun and the moon have already taken place in the month of Ramadan but you have not perceived their significance. Many men have died as prophesied and many have been killed, too, in fulfilment of a prophecy, but still you do not take stock. Many signs have appeared in my support yet you pay no heed. On my behalf the heaven and earth and water and clay have borne witness but you show no fear whatsoever. Reason and Traditions of the Holy Prophet, and mystic signs have provided unquestionable testimony and there have been manifestations of other mutually corroborative signs and dreams and visions, yet you persist in denial. In the view of those who think deeply, these signs are certainly imbued with grandeur. And the Star of Ages has risen and almost a fifth of this century has passed, so if you know, tell us where the Mujaddid is?

The plague has broken out, the Hajj [Pilgrimage] forbidden, deaths have increased and nations are fighting and quarrelling among themselves over gold mines. The Cross has gained the ascendancy and Islam has relinquished its position and has disappeared as if it were a traveller, and sin and transgression are overly prevalent, and people are turning to alcohol, gambling, dancing and singing. Instances of adultery and mutual violence are increasing, but the number of righteous people is dwindling. The time of the manifestation of our God is due and the words of the prophets have been fulfilled, so in what other announcement will you believe? O people! stand up for Allah collectively or individually, then fear Him and ponder deeply like one who is free from niggardliness or hostility. Is this not the time for Allah to show compassion to His servants? And is this not the time for the repelling of evil and for the compensating of hearts that are languishing for showers of rain? Has not the flood of evil risen to its limits and has not the skirt of ignorance raised its hem to the fullest? The country has become corrupt and Satan has shown gratitude to the ignorant. So, give thanks to the God Who has remembered you, and your religion, too, and saved it from destruction and has protected your tilth and your crops from disaster. And He has sent down the rain to bestow His perfect mercy on your inner wealth of soul and spirituality, and He has sent down His Messiah to remove anguish from your hearts, and He has sent the Mahdi with the gifts of goodness for you to derive spiritual benefits from them. And He has inaugurated the era of your Imam after the period of dominance by the opponents.

Dear brothers, this age of ours bears a perfect resemblance to this month of ours for this is the Last Age and this month is the last month of the Muslim calendar and both are nearing their end; and in this month the sacrifices are observed and in this age such sacrifices are very much needed for the cause of truth. The only difference between this sacrifice and the sacrifice which is needed for the cause of truth is that between the substance and the reflection that falls on a mirror. Our age is a replica of the Holy Prophet’s time which has already passed away. The true sacrifice is that of the soul, O men of insight. So, understand the secret of this truth.

After the Companions of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), you are worthier and more deserving of it. By the grace and mercy of Allah, you are the last group to be included among them. The succession of ages ordained by the Mighty God is coming to an end with our age, just as the months of Islam have come to a close with the month of sacrifices. For people of intelligence, there is a hidden sign in this.

I am the one to terminate the chain of sainthood just as our Holy Prophet was the one to bring the chain of prophethood to an end and he was the last of the prophets and I am the last of the saints. After me there will be no saint except one who will be from me and under my covenant.

My foot is on that exalted minaret which is the zenith of all loftiness. So, fear God, O you young men, and acknowledge me and obey me and do not die in disobedience. The age has drawn close and the time is approaching fast when every soul will be questioned concerning its deeds and will be requited accordingly. Calamities abound and only your faith will save you and sin is rampant. It will not soften their hearts at all. But make your selves humble before Allah

O my friends! fear the punishment of Allah. And whoever fears Allah, Paradise is prepared for him. So, do not keep the company of the heedless and those who are unmindful of their death. Ride on speedy chargers and eschew such horses that are lame, so that you may reach your Lord. Take to the path of self-extinction in Allah, so that you may be favoured with closeness to Allah and union with Him. Abandon reliance on worldly means so that Allah in His own mercy may create means for you. Cause death to your physical urges so that you may receive a new life.

Today all possible evidence and arguments have been put to the opponents and all the excuses of the excuse-makers have been completely refuted. That entire band of misleaders and whisperers of evil has despaired of harming you. They wasted their lives in seeking the world and found no pleasure in religious truths. Indeed, they are like the blind. Today Allah has broken their backs and they have turned back in despair.

Today, truth has been manifested for those who have eyes to see and the way of the guilty has become clear. The only one to turn away from the truth is he whom eternal deprivation has impeded, and the denier is he whose natural propensity for oppression has prevented him from accepting the truth.

Therefore, we turn away from those people in peace and on them complete proof has been fulfilled and their deserving of punishment has been established. So, if they do not turn back, then patience is beautiful and soon the One Who is Aware of their condition will give them warning.

Ameen.