Jamaat Ahmadiyya al Mouslemeen

Friday Sermon of Hazrat Amirul Momeneen Zafrullah Domun

Friday Sermon 23rd March 2007

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

The date today is 23rd March. This date has a special significance for an Ahmadi. For someone who may not be familiar with our history, he will be intrigued by this statement. This is why therefore instead of continuing with another speech about what Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) has said about monotheism (Tawhid), I have decided to speak today about the historical significance of this day in the annals of Ahmadiyyat.

Ahmadis around the world celebrate this day as the “Masih Maood Day”. Usually they assemble in the mosques where they listen to speeches and poems which highlight the significance of this day. Very often, these programs end with a distribution of cakes and refreshments.

However, we members of the Jamaat Ahmadiyya Al Mouslemeen, we think that this day should have a far greater and deeper meaning for each one of us. Before I comment on this aspect on the significance of this day, allow me to tell you about the background to the historical significance of this day.

According to Hazrat Mirza Bashir Uddin Mahmud Ahmad (ra), the second caliph of the Jamaat Ahmadiyyah after the demise of the founder, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as), the history of Jamaat Ahmadiyyah starts in the year 1880. In that year Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as)published the first two parts of his book ‘Buraheen Ahmadiyya’. The third part was published in 1882 and the fourth part in 1884 and the fifth part in 1905. In this book Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) set forth to present three hundred logical arguments to prove the veracity of the Holy Quran and the prophethood of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w). He even went further and issued a challenge. He said that he was ready to give 10,000 rupees to anyone who could break only 20% of the arguments that he would put forward. Alhamdoulillah up till today no one has been able to take up this challenge.

Our members should know that in those years the influence of the Muslims in India was very low. After ruling India for about 1000 years their political power was gone. The English were bent upon Christianizing India. The attack on Islam was fierce by all its opponents, whether they were Hindus, Christians, Aryas or others. Muslims could not fight back this onslaught and many of them converted to Christianity. Many of them lost faith in their religion.

It was against this background that Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) published his book ‘Buraheen Ahmadiyya’. He did not have much means at his disposal. At times he had to walk about 24 miles to proofread the manuscript. But the publication of the book was a breeze of fresh air for all Muslims, specially the learned ones.

Many among them wrote in praise of the book. Maulvi Mohammad Hussain of Batala who later became the greatest opponent of Hazrat Ahmad (as) wrote an exhaustive and favorable review of the book in his newspaper Isha’at-us-Sunna (VOL.6 NO 6-II). Among other things, he said:

“In our opinion, from the point of view of the modern age, this book stands unique in the history of Islam. No book has ever been published like it in the past, and we cannot say anything about the future, which in known only to God. The perseverance of the author in the service of Islam, through his life, his energy, pen, tongue and every form of activity is almost unprecedented amongst Muslims. This should not be taken as Asiatic exaggeration. We challenge anyone to show us like in this book.”

Another of the many learned Muslims who made a review of the book was Sufi Ahmad Jaan of Ludhiana, a town which is situated about 190 miles from Delhi. Sufi Ahmad Jaan was a very pious person and he had thousands of followers who took the oath of allegiance with him and whom he tried to help to tread the path of Truth. On reading ‘Braheen Ahmadiyyah’, he wrote:

“This great leader, teacher, this learned one who profits others, this proof of Islam, elect among the elect and others, this chief of Qadian has written a book known as ‘Braheen Ahmadiyyah’.

After giving the characteristics of the book as previously mentioned, he said:
“The proofs he has put forward will leave all those who object to the teachings of Islam dumbfounded, be they Aryas, Christians, Brahma Samaj or others…..This period in our history calls forth for such a Mojaddid (Reviver of faith) who can establish the superiority of Islam on all other faiths……Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad(as)is about 40-45 years old. He is a man of high morals, very calm and full of modesty. His face reflects the love of Allah.O ye all people, with good intention and with full enthusiasm, I am telling you that Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad(as)is the Mujaddid (Reviver of faith) of the hour. He is like the sun for those who are searching for Allah, he is the Khizr for those who have lost their way……and for those who are jealous, and he is a solid proof. Believe me; you will not get another opportunity like this. The time of examination has arrived and divine proofs have been established. Allah has sent someone who is a perfect Guide and who is himself well-guided with solid proofs like a brilliant sun so that he may give light to those who tread the path of truth and remove them from the path of darkness and loss and that he establishes the truth against the liars.”

Addressing Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as), he wrote:
“Ham marizon ki hai tumhi pe nazar
Toum masiha banon Khoda ke liye.”

This means:
“We, sick ones have our eyes on you
For God’s sake be our Messiah.”

When people afterwards came to him for bait, he told them:
“The sun has appeared, now there is no need for the stars, go to Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) and take baït with him.”
He even asked Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) to take his baït but the latter told him that he has not yet received the permission to do so.

Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as)received the permission to take baït in early 1888. But he did not publish these instructions. He informed his friends about bait in a pamphlet which he published in December 1888. The next year on 12th January 1889, he informed the people to come to Ludhiana if they wanted to take bait with him. For the purpose of this great event, he chose the house of Sufi Ahmad Jaan. But unfortunately at that time, Sufi Ahmad Jaan had already passed away. This house was later known as “Darul Bait” (The house of Bait) and it was donated to the Jamaat by the descendants of Sufi Ahmad Jaan.

Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as)started taking Baït on 23rd March. The first person who took Baït was Hazrat Maulvi Nurruddin (ra) who later became his first caliph. The ceremony was very simple. Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as)sat on the covered floor and stretched out his right hand and caught hold of the right hand of the disciple who repeated the words Hazrat Ahmad said while his hand was clasped. After reciting the words, Hazrat Ahmad (as) withdrew his hand and lifted up both hands for prayer. The disciple also did the same. When the prayer was finished, the ceremony was completed.

On that first day of baït, 40 disciples got initiated at the hand of Hazrat Ahmad (as).

It is in the memory of the sanctity of that particular day when about 40 persons made the firm determination to do away with a life of sins that members of Jamaat Ahmadiyya around the world celebrate the 23rd March each year. It is not a time of merrymaking. It is a time when we should remind ourselves of the purpose of our life. We should reflect how far, we and members of our family are living up to the ideals of the 10 conditions of bait as laid down by Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as). It is a time for us, so to say, to renew our commitment and to be determined to fulfill our pledge because one day, we will be questioned about our pledge. Has not Allah told us in the Holy Quran “And the pledge of Allah will have to be answered.”

May Allah have mercy on all of us. May He give us the opportunity and capacity to fulfill our pledge. May He help all of us to be firm on the teachings that Hazrat Ahmad (as) came to give us.

(Ameen)