EID-UL-FITR Sermon of
Hazrat Amirul Momeneen
Zafrullah Domun

01 OCTOBER 2008

At Bait-ul-Rahma Mosque
Les Guibies, Pailles
MAURITUS

 

“... Let everybody fear and know that if a reformer appears in any age, those who believe in him are the blessed people. He who finds reluctance in his heart and does not find himself inclined towards believing in him should be apprehensive, for, these are the signs of a bad end and of deprivation... ”

(Hazrat Ahmad of Qadian. Malfoozaat Vol 2 page 165)

After reading the Tashahhud, the Ta'uz and surah Al- Fatiha, Hazrat Amirul Mo'menine Zafrullah Domun said:

All praise is due to our Lord Allah, Who out of His sheer Grace has blessed us with another Eid-ul-Fitr today. He has given most of us the opportunity to fast and today He allows us to celebrate. Of course our celebration is not like the celebration of worldly people. We are all allowed to enjoy ourselves within the limits that are prescribed by Islam as it has been taught to us by our noble Prophet Mohammad (saw). It is customary on this day to greet one another with Eid Mobarak. Therefore I wish you all “Eid Mobarak”. May such days of rejoicings come into your life often and may you also be able to spread this joy to others.

Although you might be aware of it, I wish to repeat to you some of the sunna of our Holy Prophet Mohammad (saw) on the day of Eid-ul-Fitr and what he has advised the Muslims to do on this day. It is reported in the hadith that the Holy Prophet never left his house on Eid day without eating some dates and he usually ate an odd number of dates. Then he proceeded to the place known as eid gah, where Eid prayer is done. The Eid prayer was not done in the mosquep, weather permitting. You will notice that this practice is quite prevalent around the world. Even in Mauritius our Sunni brothers pray Eid in Eidgahs . Incha Allah if we have an open place some day, we will practice this Sunna. The Holy Prophet used to take two different routes going to and returning from the Eidgah. And on the road he used to recite the takbir that we usually recite on the days of Eid. In addition he has told us “zouyyenou eidakoum bit takbir ”which means “beautify your Eid with the glorification of Allah”. Then the Holy Prophet (saw) would read two rakaat prayers which are wajib. These two rakaats are obligatory but they are not as obligatory as that which is termed Farz. This prayer is performed in the manner that we have just performed. After the prayer, the Holy Prophet (saw) used to make a sermon and he usually advised the companions about God-consciousness (taqwa). After taking to the men he usually went to talk with the ladies and once accompanied by Hazrat Bilal (ra) he exhorted them to give alms which they did.

Hazrat Aisha reports: "Allah's Apostle (saw) came to my house while two girls were singing beside me the songs of Buath (a story about the war between the two tribes of the Ansar, the Khazraj and the Aus, before Islam). The Prophet (saw) lay down and turned his face to the other side. Then Abu Bakr came and spoke to me harshly saying, "Musical instruments of Satan near the Prophet (saw)?" Allah's Apostle (saw) turned his face towards him and said, "Leave them." When Abu Bakr became inattentive, I signaled to those girls to go out and they left. It was the day of 'Eid and the Black people were playing with shields and spears; so either I requested the Prophet (saw) or he asked me whether I would like to see the display. I replied in the affirmative. Then the Prophet (saw) made me stand behind him and my cheek was touching his cheek and he was saying, "Carry on! O Bani Arfida," till I got tired. The Prophet (saw) asked me, "Are you satisfied (Is that sufficient for you)?" I replied in the affirmative and he told me to leave. (Bokhari Vol 2 hadith 70).

In another version of this hadith it is said that the Holy Prophet said to Abu Bakr Siddique “O Abu Bakr! There is an ‘Eid for every nation and this is our Eid". This hadith shows that small, innocent amusements are allowed on Eid day. There are also some other hadith about the celebration of Eid in the time of the Holy Prophet (saw) but we will leave them for the time being.

During the month of Ramadan most of us did our best to obey Allah and keep the fasts that were obligatory on us. The fast in itself was a great exercise in self control. We felt hungry but we did not eat. We felt thirsty but we did not drink. We were angry in some situations but we swallowed our anger and did not allow it to manifest itself. At times someone wanted to pick a fight with us but we responded by the well known phrase: "I am fasting”. Satan did not cease to attack us while we are walking on the road driving our cars but we repelled its attacks because we were fasting to win the pleasure of our Lord. After Esha instead of watching television or indulging in other useless pursuits, we read tarawi prayers and recited the Holy Quran. Before sehri we did our best to do tahajjud prayers and ask forgiveness for our sins. We strived to be in the mosque for all our prayers. After fajr we strived to read some portion of the Holy Quran before sleeping again for some or going to work for others. We also spent some of our money to help the poor. At times we were tempted to speak ill of an absent person but we refrained because we were fasting. At times we wanted to watch some films but we desisted because we were in the month of Ramadan. In brief we tried to practice virtue to the best of our capacity during these blessed days of the months Ramadan with the hope that we may be forgiven all our sins and so that we may not commit sins in the future.

Now that Ramadan is gone all of you should do your best to practice the good habits of the month of Ramadan for the rest of your life. Members of Jamaat Ahmadiyya Al Mouslemeen, as a sincere believer in Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad's teachings should become paragon of virtue in all aspects of their life. Each one of you should see to it that since they have said “au revoir” to the month of Ramadan they should not say “au revoir” to the virtues that you forced yourself to practice during this month. Daily readings of the Holy Quran and understanding its meanings should be a part of your life. I wish that each one of you should have so much understanding of the Holy Book that you may easily refute any argument that may be leveled at us or at Hazrat Masih Maood (as) with the verses of the Holy Quran. This calls for a lot of effort on your part especially for our young ones. Therefore you should not lose even one second of your life in trivial pursuits like being engrossed in English football and forgetting what is truly essential to your life.

Similarly, as most of you have been praying five times daily, you should not let go of this habit. As from today you should be determined never to miss even one prayer in your life. Those of you who have been praying Fajr prayer during the month of Ramadan should keep up this habit by fighting sleep. Remember that without will power and the help of Allah, you will not achieve anything. So be determined and take care of your life and adopt all the virtues that you have started practicing in the month of Ramadan. Now that you have come out of this month of Ramadan clean and we hope devoid of sins, you should do your best not to relapse. For this you need to keep good companionship with the righteous and you should continue to ask Allah for help so that you may succeed. It is my hope and prayer that Allah helps each one amongst us to be able to practice the virtues of Ramadan outside the month of Ramadan as well incha Allah.

As you may all be aware, Eid is a time for rejoicing and for being thankful. We rejoice not because Ramadan is gone and we are free to do as we did before but because Allah granted us the month of Ramadan to wash away our sins. We submitted ourselves to its rigors and today we are full of hope that Allah, out of His Mercy, has forgiven us our sins. Believers should entertain such a hope and they should always rely on the mercy of Allah once they have done what they are ordained to do. We show thankfulness to Allah because He gave us a month of Ramadan full of blessings and we did our best to derive the maximum benefits from these blessings.

You, my brothers and sisters who have been steadfast and have stayed here with me in Jamaat Ahmadiyya Al Mouslemeen despite the social boycotts, pressures and all sorts of harassments exerted by the diehards of the mainstream Ahmadiyya Jamaat in Mauritius, you are a group on whom Allah showers His Mercy. You have seen a light where others see only darkness. Others wanted to extinguish that light but you surrounded it with your persons in order to prevent the foul breath of others from reaching it. Thus you fulfilled what Allah said to this humble one “Yoridouna le youtfe'ou nourallahé be afwaahehim Wallaho motimmo nourehi wa law karehal kaferoon” which means: "They desire to extinguish the Light of Allah with their breaths but Allah perfected His light however much those who deny it may dislike it”. I will read to you a quotation from the writings of Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) that will help you to understand how your situation is similar to that of Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddique (ra). He says:

“Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddique (ra) was the person whose nature had the oil and the wick of blessings and as soon he had the pure teachings of the Holy prophet (saw) he was lit up. He did not argue with the Holy Prophet (saw); he did not ask for any signs or miracle. As he heard of the claim of the Holy Prophet (saw) he asked him if he had really claimed to be a prophet. Having got the answer in the affirmative, he said “let you be my witness that I am the first of those who believe in you”.

Experience shows that those who indulge in questioning are usually deprived of guidance. Of course those who think good of others and are patient, they have the full share of guidance. The examples of both these kinds are to be met with in the persons of Hazrat Abu Bakr(ra) and Abu Jahl. Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) did not have controversies and did not ask for the signs to be shown; rather he himself became a splendid sign. Abu Jahl resisted, opposed and did not stop showing his foolishness. He witnessed the signs but could not see them (i.e. he could not benefit from them). Eventually he became a sign for others and passed away in the state of his being an opponent. That, very clearly, shows that those who have the light of faith in their nature do not need much of talking. With just one thing they arrive at the conclusion. They have a light in their heart. As soon as they hear the voice, they are lit up. The divine power that they have in them is aroused by hearing the voice (of the person who comes from God and calls the people). It begins to develop. And as for those who do not possess that power, they are deprived (of the light) and are ruined. This is what has been happening since time immemorial.

Let everybody fear and know that if a reformer appears in any age, those who believe in him are the blessed people. He who finds reluctance in his heart and does not find himself inclined towards believing in him should be apprehensive, for, these are the signs of a bad end and of deprivation. (Malfoozaat Vol 2 page 165.)

The good news that I gave you in my sermon of Friday last (26.09.2008) is because of this nature of yours. Allah said “Wa koullan Way'dallah houl husna”, i.e. “to all Allah has promised Al husna”. I will quote some more verses of the Holy Quran where this word is used so that you may have an idea how pregnant with meaning is this small Arabic phrase. Allah says:

Lillazina ahsanul husna wa ziya_dah(tun), wa la yarhaqu wuju_hahum qataruw wa la zillah(tun), ula_'ika as'ha_bul jannati hum fiha kha_lidouna (10:27)

Translation: “For those who do good deeds, there shall be the best reward and yet more blessings. And neither darkness nor ignominy shall cover their faces. It is these who are the inmates of heaven, therein shall they abide.”

Here “ Al husna ” has been translated as “best reward”. In addition Allah says that for such believers “neither darkness nor ignominy shall cover their faces.” Now others are praying that what their caliph said about us should come to pass very quickly. But Allah does not abandon His servants. Here he is guaranteeing that those to whom he has promised Al husna will not get any humiliation at all.

More or less the same idea is expressed in chapter 7:36 where Allah says:

“O children of Adam, If Messengers come to you from among yourselves, rehearsing My Signs unto you, then whoso shall fear God and do good deeds, on them shall come no fear nor shall they grieve.”

Similarly Allah says:

Wa yazidulla_hul ladzinah tadau hudaa wal ba_qiya_tush sha_liha_tu khairun 'inda rab bika tsawa_baw wa khairum marad daa

Translation

“And Allah increases in guidance those who follow guidance. And the good works that endure are best in the sight of thy Lord in respect of reward and in respect of the ultimate end.'(19:77)

In this verse also Allah is speaking about those who are already following guidance and how He adds to their guidance by raising a guide from amongst themselves. Therefore on this day of Eid, O my brothers and sisters, you have a special reason to be happy: you are among the few who have responded to the call of your Lord and for that He is happy with you and has promised for you all “al husna”.

However this spiritual food of which you are partaking did not come for you alone. This food came for all those who claim they follow Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) as their Messiah and Mahdi. In conformity to His Promise and his Sunna, Allah has raised this humble one to teach the Ahmadis especially and all the people at large about His Unicity. Unfortunately the bulk of the Ahmadis are responding in the same way as those before them did. They say “we reject that with which you have been sent”. In other words they are saying that all this is not true at all because like the Jews they have created for themselves a calf known as “khilafat” and they will die for it. Like the Jews they want cucumbers and lentils when Allah is offering guidance which is far better than that which they have with themselves. Allah has wished to give them guidance that will lead to their salvation. Ahmadis are contenting themselves with a blind following of their leaders who have perverted the pure teachings of Hazrat Masih (as). It is quite unfortunate that the majority of Ahmadis are ignorant of the real teachings of Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as).

This morning I went to rest around seven o'clock. I was doing some tasbih. In a few minutes I fell into a semi sleep. All of a sudden Allah revealed to me “Wa maa arsalnaaka illa rahmatal lil aalameen”. It means “and we have not sent you but as a mercy for all the worlds”. This is verse108 of Surah Al Anbiya (chapter 21) of the Holy Quran. The meaning is quite clear. Allah has put His humble servant here as a mercy for others. In this age the one who establishes a relationship with this humble one will establish a relationship with Allah. How many times I have told you that Allah has revealed to me “Innal lazina Yobaye'ounaka innamaa yobaye'ounallah ”which means “he who makes the pledge of allegiance with you pledges allegiance with Allah. Why? Because “Yadoullaha fawqa aydihim”, that is to say “Allah's Hand is above their hands”. But that is not all. After revealing to me “Wa maa arsalnaaka illa rahmatal lil aalameen” Allah said “Al yawma Akmalto lakoum deenakoum wa atmamto alaikoum nimati wa razito lakomoul islama deena” which means "This day I have perfected your religion for you and completed My Favour upon you and have chosen for you Islam as religion” This is verse 4 of chapter 5 of the Holy Quran. It was the last verse that was revealed to the Holy Prophet Mohammad (saw). To me by the Grace of Allah, as a token of endearment Allah has revealed these words several times.

Once a Jew came to Hazrat Omar (ra) and said: Commander of the faithful, there is a verse in your Book, which you recite. Had it been revealed in connection with the Jews “lattarazna zalikal yawme eidan”. The meanings of the Arabic words that have been used are “We would have taken it as a day of rejoicing”. Then Hazrat Omar (ra) asked him which verse he meant. He replied: "This day I have perfected your religion for you and completed My Favour upon you and have chosen for you Islam as religion”. Hazrat Omar said: “I know the day when it was revealed and the place where it was revealed. It was revealed to Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) at Arafat on Friday”.

Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, this is the Eid that you are partaking of. In fact Allah revealed to me in one of the days of shabaan “Eid Mobarak”. Look at Allah's favors upon you and be grateful. See how Allah wants to delight your heart. The Jew said that they would have made this day an Eid had it been revealed in connection with their religion. But Allah has revealed this verse to you, the chosen ones on an Eid Day. Great are His favors and we will never be able to give Him adequate thanks. Great is our Allah.

So I convey to you all again this “Eid Mobarak”. I convey this “Eid Mobarak” to all those who sympathize with us but who have not yet joined us. I invite all Ahmadis together with Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad to this Eid. Nay I invite all Muslims and the whole of humanity to come to partake of this Eid. It is a Mercy from your Lord who is also our Lord.