“One day the whole of mankind will pray and invoke salutations upon the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him).” 

The World Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, the Fifth Khalifa (Caliph), His Holiness, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, delivered the Eid-ul-Fitr sermon on 5th June 2019 from the Baitul Futuh Mosque in London. 

During the address, His Holiness spoke about the significance of Eid and stated that by bringing people together, it served as a source of joy and celebration. 

His Holiness stated that in the modern day, people have become fearful of the term of ‘Allahu Akbar’ or consider Islam as a violent and extremist religion. Thus, it was the foremost duty of Ahmadi Muslims to show the true and altogether positive connotations and meaning of ‘Allahu Akbar’ and to manifest the peaceful teachings of Islam to the wider world. 

His Holiness said it was the responsibility of Ahmadi Muslims to bring mankind towards God Almighty and a true celebration would occur on that day when the earth was filled with people who praised God Almighty and invoked blessings upon the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). 

Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad explained the correlation between human happiness and social gatherings and said the two were ‘intrinsically linked’ and that congregating at joyous occasions was a part of human nature. 

His Holiness said that Islam is a ‘religion of human nature’ and it therefore gathers people together in a large gathering on the jubilant occasion of Eid, in order to further increase the joy. 

His Holiness also said that the true Eid is one where all of mankind will be united – a purpose for which God Almighty had sent the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). 

Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said: 

“The greatest Eid can only be on that day in which the largest of gatherings takes place. The foundation of the greatest gathering of people was laid on the day when a beloved man of God, the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) proclaimed, ‘O mankind! truly I am a Messenger to you all from Allah’.” 

Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad explained that whilst all prophets of God called people together, they had come only for their own nations, whereas the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) on the other hand, was sent for the entirety of mankind. 

Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said: 

“If there was ever a ‘great Eid’ in the world, it was on the day when Allah the Almighty instructed a most beloved one of His to call and gather together the entirety of mankind… He was commanded to announce to the world that it should hearken to the call of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) so that it may benefit from the blessings he has been granted by God Almighty.” 

His Holiness said that God Almighty desires that mankind becomes unified and it is for this reason that God Almighty sent the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) into this world with the unifying message found in the Holy Quran. 

Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said: 

“The day when all mankind shall join in one faith will be the day of the true and great Eid and Allah the Almighty has given us the responsibility to bring about that Eid.” 

Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad further stated: 

“Thus Ahmadi Muslims must pay attention and focus on how they shall bring about such a gathering of people that ushers in the true Eid whereby all of mankind comes together upon the Word of God.” 

His Holiness explained that people make many preparations including the buying of clothes and preparing food for the annual Eid, but that greater attention must be paid towards the greater Eid when mankind will come together in Islam. 

His Holiness spoke about the unfounded fears the world has of Islam and urged Ahmadi Muslims to do all they can to counter these misunderstandings. 

Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad gave the example of the term ‘Allahu Akbar’ (Allah is the Greatest) and how it has become a term associated with terror and a phrase the world has to come to fear. 

Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said: 

“The actions of some Muslims are such that people fear the term ‘Allahu Akbar’ and fear the Islamic creed. However it is our task to open unto the world the beauties of this term in a manner that people from every nation desire to recite the Islamic creed ‘I bear witness that there is none worth of worship except Allah, and Muhammad is his Messenger’ and feel joy and comfort in it. Rather than insulting him, may the entire world become immersed in praying for the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). Rather than defaming the name of God, may mankind become such that it raises the slogans of ‘Allahu Akbar.’” 

Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad continued: 

“It will happen and most certainly come to pass one day, that the entirety of mankind will pray and invoke salutations upon the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). This is neither the dream of a madman nor the thoughts of a child, rather, this is the reality of the promises of God which will come to pass one day.” 

Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad concluded his faith inspiring address by praying for all those in need and advised Ahmadi Muslims to pray for the attainment of the true Eid. 

A day prior to the Eid Sermon, on the final day of this year’s Ramadan, His Holiness gave a commentary of the final three chapters of the Holy Quran (Darsul Quran). The Darsul Quran took place at the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community’s headquarters at the Mubarak Mosque in Tilford, Surrey. 

His Holiness spoke about the need for unity in the Muslim world and called on members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community to pray for peace in the world and for all people who are suffering.