Jamaat Ahmadiyya al Mouslemeen

Khutbah Eid of Hazrat Amirul Momeneen Zafrullah Domun

Khutba Eid ul Adha

31st December 2006

After reading the Tashahhud, the Ta’uz and the first chapter of the Holy Quran, Hazrat Amirul Mo’menine Zafrullah Domun said:

Fisrt of all I would like to wish you all “Eid Mobarak”.

For the sermon of today I wish to give our members a brief summary of the “Revealed Sermon” which Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) delivered on the occasion of Id ul Azha in April 1900. I request you all to think over it and once it is published over the internet make a copy and ponder over its contents. Then you will come to know what Id ul azha is really about. It is my prayer and hope that Allah opens your heart to these noble truths incha Allah.

Hazrat Ahmad (as) said:
“O! Servants of Allah, ponder over this day of yours, the day of Azha(lambs sacrificed in the morning); for in it there are secrets for those who are endowed with intelligence…

And certainly, in our religion, this action is counted as one of those that draw one near to Allah, to whom are due all praise. And this is understood to be the riding beast which resembles lightning in its speed and brightness. And it is for this reason that the animals to be sacrificed are called Qurbani (from the word Qurb which means nearness); as it has been said that all those who perform it sincerely and devotedly and faithfully see more of Allah and become nearer to Him. And, surely, this is one of the greatest virtues (Nusuk) of the Sharia; and that is why it has been called sacrifice (Nasikat). And Nusuk in the Arabic language means obedience and worship and this word is also used in the sense of slaughtering these animals. So the community of meaning proves conclusively that the true worshipper is he who kills his self and its faculties and all his beloved ones simply to please his Lord, the Creator and Sustainer. And the strong winds of nothingness blow over him and all his atoms are carried away by the violent gusts of this storm. And he who ponders over these two common meanings of the word Nusuk and studies this point with a thoughtful mind and with his eyes open, will not have the least doubt and hesitation to admit that it points to the fact that the worship which saves one from eternal loss is the killing of the Nafs-i-Ammara(the uncontrollable spirit or the spirit prone to evil).It should be stabbed at the throat with the spears of Inqita(cutting away of all connections and turning towards Allah, the Benefactor, the Governor, and the Powerful). And the various kinds of bitterness involved therein should be borne patiently so that the soul may be saved from the death of inexperience, negligence and forgetfulness. And this is what Islam really means and herein lies the true realization of complete submission and obedience.

And a Muslim is he who bows down his neck before Allah, the Creator and Sustainer of all the worlds. And for Him he sacrifices the she-camel of his self and throws her down on her forehead, and he does not forget his own death at any moment.

In short, the sacrifices and immolations in Islam are meant only to remind us of this purpose.
Our Creator and Sustainer, the everlasting God, has also pointed to this hidden secret in His words. He says to His prophet (and He is the most Truthful):“say, certainly my prayers and my sacrifices and my life and my death are all for the sake of Allah, the Creator and Sustainer of all the worlds. See how He has explained the word Nusuk by the word “mahya” and “mamat”(life and death). He has in this way pointed towards the reality which underlies the sacrifices. So ponder over it, ye wise people. And he who offers his sacrifice with knowledge of this reality, with a true heart, and with a sincere intention has certainly sacrificed his self and soul, his children and his grandchildren. And for him is a great reward like the reward of Abraham granted to him by the Creator, the Sustainer, and the Glorious.

And towards it has pointed our Master the chosen, and our prophet, the elect, and the leader of the God fearing, and the seal of prophets. He says (and he is the most truthful after Allah): “verily, the sacrifices are those riding beasts which carry one to the Lord of the Universe. They efface sins and keep off calamities.” This is what has reached us from the best of creation, on him be peace and the choicest blessings of Allah. He has pointed here to the philosophy of these offerings in words which are like beautiful pearls.

But it is a matter of extreme sorrow and grief that most of the people are not aware of these hidden points, and they do not follow this exhortation. And to them Id means no more than taking a bath and putting on new clothes. This day they eat voraciously with their mouths full, and delicately by nibbling with their teeth, along with their family and servants and slaves. Then they get out in a decorous manner for the Id prayers like great princes. And you will find that their greatest pleasure on this day lies in the best eatables, and that their greatest need is a very costly dress for the purpose of ostentation. And they do not know what sacrifice is and for what purpose sheep and cows are slaughtered.

From the dawn of the day till late in the night their Id lies in eating and drinking, in easy enjoyment and fine clothes, in a swift horse and fresh meat. And you will see that in this day of theirs they do nothing but put on fine and soft clothes, comb their hair, apply antimony to their eyes and perfumes to their clothes, and dress their front and forelocks like women who display themselves in adornment. Then they peck off their prayers like a hen without attending to them at all, and their minds are overrun by disquietude and distraction. Then they break loose towards the various kinds of victuals and eatables in order to stuff their bellies with different dainties like cattle and animals. And they fall to wantonness, sport and brutality. And they pasture themselves freely in the meadows of passions. And they ride on horses, carriages, strong she-camels, and mules … And they send presents of roasted meat to one another, and they exult with pride at the flesh of cows and goats. And there are enjoyments and merriments, gratification, passions and foolhardiness. And there are smiles and loud immoderate laughter with the show of the molar and the front teeth. And they have an ardent longing for the dancing of the dancing girls and their kisses and embraces and then for their waists.

So “Inna Lillah”(shortened form of the formula “we are God’s and to him we must return” repeated on the occasion of a calamity) on the misfortunes of Islam and on the vicissitudes of time! The hearts of men have died. Sorrows have deepened!

Hence at the time of this black night and dark storm the Mercy of Allah has ordained to send the light of heaven. So know ye people! That I am that light, the commissioned reformer, and the servant supported by Allah. I am the ordained Mehdi and the Promised Messiah. I have been given by my Lord a rank which is known to no one. Not to speak of the common people, my secret is hidden and far away even from persons having a close connection with Allah.

And verily, signs have been shown and clear proofs have been given. See ye not that the disputes have disappeared? Know you not the solar and the lunar eclipses of the month of Ramadhan? Some men have died according to my prophecy but you do not reflect at all. And there have appeared for me a great many signs, but you do not care. The earth and the sky, the water and the dust have all borne witness in my favor, but you do not fear. And reason and revelation, signs and proofs have supported each other to establish the truth of my claims, and other evidences, dreams and moukashifat (waking dreams or visions) have been favorable to me, but even now you refuse to believe. And surely, these are very great signs in the eyes of those who think. And the star zussinnain did appear. And a little less than one fifth of this century has passed but where is the mujaddid(spiritual reformer promised at the head of every century)? Do you know of any? Plague did come from the sky. The pilgrimage was forbidden and deaths have multiplied. Nations disputed and fought over the mines of gold. The cross was up and Islam moved and disappeared as if it were a stranger. The vices and the vicious have increased. Men began to love wine, gambling and music. Adultery and hostility were made public and piety was reduced. And the time was ripe for the manifestation of our Lord and the sayings of the prophets were fulfilled. So what else would you believe in?

O people! Stand up for Allah all at once and one by one; and fear Allah and think like one who is neither an enemy nor a miser. Is it not time for Allah to be merciful to His creatures? Should He not remove the evils and satisfy the intense thirst of the people with a spring shower? Is the flood of evil not at its highest? Are not the skirts of ignorance far stretched out? Is not the whole of the earth corrupted? Has not Satan been pleased with his followers so as to thank them? Be ye grateful to Allah who has remembered you and your faith. And He has not allowed it to be corrupted, He has watched over your harvests and your fields and their young grass. He has sent down rain and completed its measure. And He has raised His Messiah for the removal of evil; and His Mehdi for the good of the people. He has brought you to a time the Imam whereof is one from among you, while it was not so before.”
May Allah bless you all.

Ameen