“Patience is the Way of the Prophets” – Head of Ahamdiyya Muslim Community Says Ahmadi Muslims Will Continue to Challenge Persecution with Patience and Prayer
“As our opponents increase in attacking us, we must turn ever more towards Allah the Almighty. This is the only key to our success” – Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad
The World Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, the Fifth Khalifa (Caliph), His Holiness, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad advised Ahmadi Muslims to confront the severe persecution they face through patience and by turning ever more towards their Creator.
Speaking during his Friday Sermon at the Mubarak Mosque in Islamabad, Tilford, on 28 April 2023, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad highlighted the ongoing challenges Ahmadi Muslims face in numerous countries where they are being persecuted. His Holiness shined light on the true Islamic teachings which Ahmadi Muslims adhere to, whereby they never turn to exacting revenge and never respond to hatred with vengeance.
Speakng during his weekly Friday Sermon, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:
“The Promised Messiah (peace be upon him) always emphasised to his followers that they must show patience and turn to prayer. He said that if anyone is unable to bear the persecution of the oppressors with patience, then they are free to leave him. It is only our patience that has made the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community stand out as unique in the world.”
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad further stated:
“Politicians and the media ask me about why we are so patient and I often tell them that we Ahmadi Muslims are from amongst the same nations and peoples who are persecuting us…We too have the same dispositions and temperament as the people who persecute us. So, we too can show the same reaction as our opponents. However, we have accepted the Imam of the Age who has taught us that in order to seek the blessings of Allah and to establish peace, we must adopt patience and place our trust in Allah.”
His Holiness said that, whilst seeking their rights, Ahmadi Muslims must remain within the confounds of the laws.
His Holiness said the history of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community proves that God has always come to the help of Ahmadi Muslims.
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:
“Showing patience is the way of the prophets and so this is what the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him) has taught us, that we should show patience.”
His Holiness said that ‘patience’ does not mean that we should sit idle. Rather, patience demands that we increase in our worship and turn to Allah.
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:
“It is against the true spirit of patience to simply say that ‘we are patient’ and then sit on our hands. Instead, we must analyse our inner selves and consistently purify it. People who do this, it is they who receive the help of Allah in ways we can never foresee. Our opponents desire that we forsake the threshold of patience and begin to behave like our opponents so that they are successful in their purpose. However, Allah the Almighty instructs us that we must use our intellect and carry out self-analysis to see if we are acting upon the commandments of Allah the Almighty and that we should act according to His commandments.”
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad emphasised that patience ought to be shown for the right reasons and said:
“Always remember that patience should not be shown as a result of some worldly fear. Rather, it should be solely for the sake of seeking the pleasure of Allah the Almighyt. Only then can our actions truly be called ‘patience’ and only then will they invite the blessings of Allah. If someone remains silent in front of a ruler or in front of high officials for the sake of attaining Allah’s pleasure, then this is true patience. However, if the person remains silent in awe or fear of those people, then this is not the right way. Whenever we emphasise the practice of patience, it is only because it is the commandment of Allah.”
His Holiness said that if Ahmadi Muslims wish, they are able to react to the injustices they are facing in a way that will teach a lesson to the oppressors, however Ahmadi Muslims will never do so as it is against the teachings of Islam.
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:
“We as Ahmadi Muslims abhor reacting in a way that is against the teachings of Islam which command us to show patience. Doing so violates the pathways established by the communities of the past prophets and as part of our oath of allegiance to the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him), we have made a pledge to save humanity from any harm.”
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad further stated:
“The practice of the prophets and that of their communities is such that they always turned to patience and prayer because this is the commandment of Allah the Almighty and the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) and it is the teaching given to us by the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him). So we must always remember, that in order to safeguard the wider progress of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, we must bear smaller and temporary hardships with patience.”
His Holiness quoted the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him).
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:
“[The Promised Messiah (peace be upon him) has said,] ‘The people who oppose me, they are placing their hand in front of a fast-flowing river in hope that they may stop its flow.’ But it is obvious that its flow cannot be stopped. The Promised Messiah (peace be upon him) said, ‘They wish to stop its flow with their abuse, but they should remember that it can never be halted.’”
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:
“The Promised Messiah (peace be upon him) has explained that the weapons with which we will attain our victory are not the ones our opponents use to attack us. Rather, we will only become victorious by seeking forgiveness of Allah and seeking knowledge of faith, and by keeping in mind the might and grandeur of Allah and by worshipping Him five times a day.”
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad continued:
“As our opponents increase in attacking us, we must turn ever more towards Allah the Almighty. This is the only key to our success. Instead of showing any other reaction, this is the pathway that the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him) has repeatedly advised us to follow. God willing, our success and victory is most certainly destined, according to the prophecies of the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him). Whilst showing patience, we should always try to continue our works with wisdom. Many tasks can be achieved if we work with wisdom. Continuing our works with wisdom is of vital importance. If every Ahmadi Muslim understands their responsibility, then many of our challenges can be overcome with our peaceful methods and our prayers.”