“Supplicate with such devotion and cries that it shakes the pillars supporting the Throne of Allah” – 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-Adha sermon on 6 June 2025 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.

During the sermon, His Holiness addressed the ongoing restrictions in Pakistan against Ahmadi Muslims and whilst outlining the true philosophy of sacrifices, said that even if Ahmadi Muslims are barred from carrying out their religious duty of sacrificing an animal on the occasion of Eid, they will not be deprived of its reward from God Almighty if they truly turn to Allah the Almighty.

His Holiness also urged Ahmadi Muslims to fervently turn to prayer so that the situation of Ahmadi Muslims improves and of the rest of the world, which is becoming increasingly mired in conflict and suffering.

Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:

“‘Sacrifice’ does not simply mean sacrificing an animal, as done during Eid-ul-Adha. Rather, animal sacrifice is a symbolic act meant to teach us that lesser things must be sacrificed for greater purposes. It is a reminder that we, too, must be ready to sacrifice for our Creator—the Master of all. True understanding of sacrifice comes when a person recognises that they have one God, one Lord who is deserving of our worship…just as animals willingly lay down their necks before you, you must also be prepared to bow before Allah and offer every kind of sacrifice to fulfil His commands.”

His Holiness said that for several years, Ahmadi Muslims have had restrictions placed on them in Pakistan whereby they are not permitted to sacrifice an animal on the occasion of Eid.

Addressing this, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:

“Allah the Almighty has said that the essence of sacrifice is one’s righteousness. Even if we are not permitted to offer a sacrifice of animals, Allah knows our intentions. If our intention was to make the animal sacrifice with a spirit of righteousness—while striving to follow Allah’s commandments and drawing lessons from the act—then even without being able to perform the sacrifice, Allah will accept it. On the other hand, those who make grand public displays of sacrifice—buying animals worth hundreds of thousands and boasting about the cost—are offering sacrifices devoid of righteousness.”

Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmadi further stated:

“Are these people truly acting upon the commandment of Allah? Has Allah ever instructed us to violate the rights of others? Does Allah command injustice, or that people be prevented from worshipping Him through oppression? Nowhere has Allah permitted such behaviour. Rather, Allah declares that whoever declares that ‘There is none worthy of worship except Allah, Muhammad is his messenger’ is a Muslim and should be treated with love, compassion, and mercy. Yet, what is being done today in Pakistan to Ahmadis is the complete opposite. These actions reflect neither righteousness nor the fear of God. They are acts of blatant injustice—and surely, those responsible will face the consequence of divine accountability.”

During the address, His Holiness outlined the rights owed to God and said that the five daily prayers are of utmost importance, which must be observed regularly and in congregation at the mosque, as commanded by Allah.

His Holiness said that Ahmadi Muslims should make a pledge on the day of Eid to “raise the standard of our worship and strive to reach the level that Allah the Almighty desires from us.”

His Holiness also encouraged Ahmadi Muslims and said they should never be disheartened due to the persecution.

Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:

“But we must not be disheartened. We must not allow despair to take root in our hearts because of the restrictions that have been imposed upon us. Even if we pray the Eid prayers in our homes due to the restrictions, let us pledge that we will fulfill the rights of Allah and elevate our standards of worship to a level that, when we stand before Him to pray, we supplicate with such devotion and cries that it shakes the pillars supporting the Throne of Allah. May Allah hear our prayers, our wailing and cries and bestow upon us an incomparable grace that vanquishes our enemies entirely. If we worship in this manner, you will surely see that the temporary obstacles placed in our way and the hostilities we face from our adversaries at every step will be swept away by Allah.”

In light of the writings of the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him), His Holiness went on to explain that we ought to have both the fear and love of Allah and that whilst Salat and its postures remind us of adopting the awe and fear of Allah, the various parts of Hajj evoke the emotions of love for Allah.

His Holiness said that prayer instils awe and obedience, which leads to loving Allah, and Hajj involves powerful symbols of love—like kissing the Black Stone and wearing the most basic clothing to represent how a person forgets their own material needs due to being immersed in the love of the Beloved.

Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad addressed Ahmadi Muslims across the globe who do not face the same restrictions as those in Pakistan, and said:

“In Pakistan, there are restrictions, but Ahmadi Muslims living in other parts of the world should express their love for Allah by spreading the message of His religion within their circles. They should sacrifice their time and actively engage in spreading the message. If one place is facing obstacles, then Ahmadi Muslims in countries where there is freedom must step forward in the field of Tabligh and demonstrate the love for Allah that He has commanded us to show.”

Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad further stated:

“Today, the world stands on the brink of destruction, and at any moment, the conditions for a devastating war could emerge. In such times, it is more important than ever for us to warn and guide the world—that the only path to survival lies in turning towards Allah. This, too, is our duty and a form of sacrifice that we must understand and fulfil.”

His Holiness also said that Ahmadi Muslims must fulfil the rights of the creation of God and quoted a Hadith of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him).

Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:

“Allah the Almighty is pleased when both His rights and the rights of His creation are fulfilled. If we strive in this direction, we will continue to inherit His blessings. The Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “None of you truly believes until he desires for his brother what he desires for himself.” Fulfilling this principle of preferring for others what we prefer for ourselves also requires the spirit of sacrifice… where every individual is willing to sacrifice for others, such mutual concern represents the true essence of sacrifice. Allah says: “It is not their flesh nor their blood that reaches Me, but your righteousness.”

Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad further stated:

“Some people believe that simply offering sacrifices of animals fulfils the spirit of Eid. In reality, the true purpose of Eid is fulfilled only when we are prepared to sacrifice our ego and pride, reform ourselves, uphold our responsibilities, and fulfil the rights of God and His creation. Only then can we truly fulfil the objective of Eid. Otherwise, merely wearing nice clothes and enjoying good food is meaningless.”

As His Holiness concluded the sermon, he prayed for the Ahmadi Muslims in Pakistan and said:

“May all obstacles be removed, and may we be granted the opportunity to offer the outward sacrifices as well—so that they may freely offer animal sacrifices there, along with other forms of sacrifice. And may Allah grant our hearts the understanding and insight needed to truly grasp the spirit of sacrifice and fulfil its true purpose.”