“We need to make our Ramadan like a fruitful tree that continuously bears fruit, only then can our Eid be truly celebrated.” – Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad

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 10 April 2024 from the Mubarak Mosque in Islamabad, Tilford.

Across the world, millions of Ahmadi Muslims were able to listen live to the Eid Sermon of their Caliph and join in with the silent prayer led by their spiritual leader through the global television channel MTA International.

Throughout the sermon, His Holiness outlined how true Eid should be celebrated by continuing the good deeds carried out during the month of Ramadan and taking care of the needs of those who are deprived of basic amenities and are facing cruelties at the hands of oppressors across the world.

As Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad began the address, he stated: 

“Allah Almighty has granted us the opportunity to partake in another Eid in our lives. Remember, the true joy of Eid can be achieved when we walk on the path of Allah Almighty, benefiting from His blessings.” 

His Holiness said many people wrote to him during Ramadan requesting prayers that they may truly benefit from Ramadan and be able to carry out pious deeds to achieve this purpose. His Holiness prayed that may Allah make their efforts fruitful and reminded that “a fruitful tree is one that bears fruit continuously, not one that bears fruit for a year or for a short period and then ceases.” 

Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said: 

“We need to make our Ramadan like a fruitful tree that continuously bears fruit, only then can our Eid be truly celebrated. Allah the Almighty is so merciful to us that He provides us with various opportunities to attain His pleasure, and Ramadan is one of those opportunities.”

His Holiness said that during Ramadan, Allah the Almighty opened up the doors to His mercy and now after Ramadan Ahmadi Muslims must reflect over how they can continue to attain the mercy of Allah. 

Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said: 

“We must always seek to strengthen our faith and assess our actions. The greatest task for a believer is to continuously progress in faith, making it stronger day by day, and to adorn their actions with good deeds so that they become heirs to the blessings of Allah Almighty. Given the current state of the world, it is essential for us to make every possible effort to draw closer to Allah Almighty by following His commandments. The world is surrounded by all sorts of fires and tribulations, so there is a great need to increase in our love for Allah to escape from their clutches.”

His Holiness drew attention to the hardships surrounding people around the world and said that rather than only being engrossed in the joys of Eid, Ahmadi Muslims should also pay attention to the remembrance of Allah and seek forgiveness. 

Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:

“While we are celebrating Eid here, there are those for whom cruel people have made the earth so difficult that they don’t even have a roof over their heads, let alone food to eat. So, while we seek forgiveness for ourselves and remain grateful to Allah Almighty, we should also remember these deprived people in our prayers. May the Allah Almighty ease their hardships and save them from the torment that is engulfing them.” 

His Holiness said that a great act of kindness on the day of Eid would be to donate to charity organisations that are striving to help and alleviate the suffering of those who are deprived and satiate their hunger.

Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said: 

“[We should pray and strive to help] not only those people who are suffering in wars in Palestine or Sudan, rather, wherever there is hunger in the world – the major powers only assist the people when they declare that these major powers are the ones who are their god and that they are the ones nurturing the people – we should make efforts to help the poor with compassion and mercy. Then, when we see happiness on their faces and the joy that it creates within our hearts, that is what the true joy of Eid is.”

Reminding that Eid is not just a time of celebration, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:

“We should always remember that Eid is not just about eating, drinking, and celebrating, but it is about observing piety and fulfilling the rights of Allah and the rights of His creation. Only those who attain this status and make every effort towards it can truly benefit from the blessings of Eid.”

His Holiness quoted chapter 18 verse 88 of the Holy Quran which states: 

“But as for him who believes and acts righteously, he will have a good reward with his Lord, and We too shall speak to him easy words of Our command.”

His Holiness said this verse defines what true joy is and those who attain the rewards outlined in the verse, are the ones who celebrate the true Eid. 

Speaking about how to attain righteousness, His Holiness outlined the golden principle of remembering that Allah the Almighty is always watching every action that we carry out.

Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said: 

“Every believer should constantly bear in mind that Allah Almighty hears, sees, and knows every word and action and nothing is hidden from Him. When this state is established, a person can completely escape the clutches of Satan and seek refuge in Allah Almighty. However, it should also be remembered that to take refuge in Him, constant seeking of forgiveness is necessary, and this is what will ensure the continuity of the blessings that allow us to celebrate the eternal Eid.”

Turning once again to the hardships in the world, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:

“We cannot even imagine the condition of hunger in the world. In Sudan, children are selling their clothes to buy a meal. Some are selling vests and trousers for this and having bought their meal, they say, ‘we will think about how we will access our next meal later. Right now, let me at least sell this vest or this t-shirt and eat some food.’ In Palestine, it is reported that the people cannot access even a tenth of the calories they need. This is the situation of those who are getting some food; those who are dying of hunger are separate to this. So, in such circumstances, always remember the poor when striving to earn good deeds and when celebrating Eid. This is the true essence of Eid.”

Concluding his address, His Holiness urged Ahmadi Muslims to pray for the world and the betterment of our spirituality.

Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said: 

“May Allah the Almighty grant us the ability to strengthen our faith and may those good deeds always prevail in us and continue to do so, which draw us closer to Allah Almighty’s grace and His proximity. May the merciful gaze of Allah Almighty always be upon us. May we always remain enveloped in His forgiveness and protected from Satan and the fire he has enflamed.”

Following the conclusion of the sermon, His Holiness shared the greetings of ‘Eid Mubarak’ to all and concluded with a silent prayer.