Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Speaks of Long-Term Destabalising Consequences of Covid-19 Pandemic
His Holiness urged Ahmadi Muslims to self-reform and inform the world of the urgent need to forego injustice and turn towards God Almighty
On New Year’s Day, the World Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, the Fifth Khalifa (Caliph), His Holiness, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad drew attention towards the hardships faced by humanity during the past year and said that mankind must realise that this is a warning from God Almighty so that mankind may desist from injustices.
Speaking at the Mubarak Mosque in Islamabad, Tilford during his Friday Sermon delivered on 1 January 2021, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:
“Today is the first day of the new year and it is also the first Friday Prayer and so we should specially pray that this year proves blessed for the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, for the world and for humanity. May we fulfil our obligations and turn ever more towards God Almighty and raise our standards of worship. May the people of the world, whilst realising the purpose of their creation, fulfil their obligations towards Allah the Almighty. Instead of usurping the rights of others, may they, according to the commandments of Allah the Almighty, fulfil the rights of one another. When materialistic people fail to do so, God Almighty draws their attention towards their responsibilities in His own way. May we, and people of the world understand this important point and make good our life in this world and the next.”
Reflecting on the unprecedented changes the world has seen in the last year, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:
“In the past year, we have been facing an extremely dangerous virulent disease. No country of the world is free from the pandemic and it has affected some more than others. However, it seems that the majority of the world does not wish to consider the possibility that this pandemic may be a sign from Allah the Almighty about how we must fulfil our obligations and responsibilities. They do not wish to consider that Allah the Almighty may be trying to awaken us, to guide us and make us realise our duties.”
His Holiness said that last summer he wrote to various world leaders to draw their attention towards the warning given by the Founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him) that natural disasters and pandemics are a result of transgression and increasing in injustices against humanity and foregoing the rights of God Almighty.
His Holiness said that although some of the leaders responded to the letters expressing their desire for peace, in reality they offered only vague and diplomatic responses without seriously taking heed of the underlying message contained in the letters to bring about a spiritual and moral reformation. His Holiness said they did not touch upon the religious aspect contained in the letters whereby His Holiness drew attention towards fulfilling the obligations owed towards God Almighty as a means towards establishing peace.
Commenting on the political leadership of today, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:
“Where Covid-19 is affecting people’s health, there is also a huge economic impact. In fact, it is breaking the backs of many wealthy and powerful nations. Worldly people only see one solution to this. Once they reach a point where their economy is destroyed, they will try to seize the wealth and economies of other smaller countries and will try to entangle them in their webs and then, under one excuse or other they will usurp their wealth. To achieve this, they will form blocs and such alliances are already being cultivated. A Cold War will re-emerge. In fact, it is being said that in a way, it has already begun and it is quite possible that ultimately war will break out using arms and weapons which lead to catastrophe.”
Reflecting on how a self-reformation is required before one can counsel others, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:
“This year will only be a year of congratulating one another only if we fulfil our responsibility by informing people and making them realise their responsibilities towards God and to one another. It is obvious that in order to do all this, we have to look first at our own state. Having accepted the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him), we must honestly ask ourselves if our own moral states are such that we are fulfilling the responsibilities owed to God Almighty? Are we fulfilling the rights of humanity solely for the sake of Allah? Or, is it the case that we still need to reform ourselves and elevate the love we hold for others in our hearts?”
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad continued:
“Thus, every Ahmadi Muslim should pay heed to the fact that they have been vouchsafed the responsibility of fulfilling a great task and in order to fulfil it, they must first create an atmosphere of love, affection and brotherhood within their Ahmadi Muslim environment and then bring the world under this flag which was raised by the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) which is the flag of the Oneness of Allah the Almighty.”
Advising Ahmadi Muslims to make a pledge to bring about a moral reformation, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:
“Every Ahmadi Muslim man, woman, youth, child and elderly person should make a pledge this year with the understanding that they must utilise all their faculties to bring about a spiritual and moral revolution in the world. May Allah enable every Ahmadi Muslim to do so.”
At the end of the Friday Sermon His Holiness spoke about the ongoing persecution of Ahmadi Muslims in Algeria and Pakistan. His Holiness called for Ahmadi Muslims to pray that may God soon bring the perpetrators of cruelties to justice.
Speaking of those who use state blasphemy laws to persecute Ahmadi Muslims falsely in the name of upholding the honour of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:
“In reality, these people, who persecute us, are defaming the name of that revered person who was given the title of ‘Mercy for all mankind’. In reality, Ahmadi Muslims are the ones who are sacrificing their lives for the sake of upholding the honour of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sa)… Thus, these materialistic people can inflict injustice against us by using worldly governments and wealth, however they should remember that we believe in that God Who is ‘An excellent Protector and an excellent Helper’.”
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad concluded by reminding of the true cause of celebrations at a time when many are celebrating the dawn of a new year.
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:
“True celebration will be when all of mankind upholds the values of humanity; when the vengeance between people turns into love.”