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Jama‘at Ahmadiyya Will Spread to the Corners of the Earth

Speech delivered on 25 March 1935 at Gurdaspur, India.

After the recitation of tashahhud, ta‘awudh and Surah Fatihah, Huzoor said:

In the Holy Qur’an, God foretells the coming of the Promised Messiah, or perhaps it would be better for me to say, He prophesies the advent of the [Promised Messiah’s] jama‘at. God Says:

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This jama‘at would be like a tender sapling which sprouts from the ground and bends according to the current of the wind. It would be so frail, the tempest of oppression would whip it in the direction of its choosing. According to this verse, the movement of the Promised Messiah would, in its nascent years, be under constant threat from the other communities of the world. When the seedlings of plants such as wheat grass, mango and banyan trees emerge from the ground to begin the journey of their magnificent growth; they are so delicate the merest breeze beats them down. As the wind blows from the right they bend to the left and as the wind blows from the left they bend to the right. They are strong enough to stand on their stems, but still so frail they bend in every direction. Their own want is to seek strength and growth but the harshness of the elements shakes their very roots. So, Allah the Exalted says that in accordance with His sunna, the world might bend the sapling of the Promised Messiah and the storm [of opposition] will rage against it from both left and right, yet it will not be uprooted. Instead, it will grow and prosper until, to some measure, it can withstand the force of the winds of worldly enmity. Then will a storm rage and seek to flatten the community. The more it grows the greater the hostility to it. But eventually it will take root and neither worldly hardships nor the storm of opposition will be able to shake it in the slightest. God Almighty says:

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The sight of a tree which stands firm against heavy winds brings joy to its sower; he sees it and marvels at its strength. Similarly, when the community of the Promised Messiah progresses and spreads its branches across the world, this spectacle will gladden God and He will call out and ask whether there is anyone who can shake it. The same winds which once bent it and brought it peril will pass by unnoticed. This brings to mind the [old] folk story of the mosquito and the bull. It is said that once a mosquito settled itself on the horn of a bull. After some time it offered to fly away lest the bull had grown tired of its weight. At this the bull scoffed and said it did not feel him arrive nor would it notice when he left.

The time approaches when God will so strengthen Ahmadiyyat calamities will have no bearing on it. This will surely be an age of success, worldly progress and material comfort. My loved ones! Let me say, however, there are more blessings in our present afflictions than [in the ease] of the times to come. If today the believers were shown heaven and the high rank and status that will be their reward for persevering in the face of trial; the incredible and everlasting gift of progress in the hereafter; the honour and exultation destined for them; if they could only see the future success of Ahmadiyyat; how governments will be Ahmadi as well as such kings who are met with reverence; if they could just witness how Ahmadiyyat will win over the hearts of people [they would be happy for their plight]. If a believer were shown the trappings of this world alongside the rewards of the hereafter which come from our current hardships, and was asked to choose between ascendency in this temporal realm, or violence and abuse for the sake of the Promised Messiah (as) they would spurn the former and say unto their God:

My Lord! I prefer to suffer and endure the agonies inflicted upon me in the name of Your honour and grandeur over the treasures of this world.

The riches of this world hold no weight in comparison to the rewards of the next life. My brothers! Though grave difficulties lie before you and your trials and hardships bring fear to your hearts, be certain that when Allah bestows on you the bounties of the hereafter it will bring you remorse; for so meagre were the trials you took for sacrifice. There are some who cannot bear to hear the abuse of the Promised Messiah (as) from our opponents and are overcome by emotion. This is not because they have fierce regard for their own honour, but rather from their love of the Promised Messiah (as). Yet in truth, Allah has conferred great favour on you and you are blessed to have been born in this age. You will laugh at how trivial your sacrifices were and will make light of them after your demise. You will call on your Lord to return you to the world to endure the same hardships for the sake of His religion. Once the Holy Prophet (sas) said to a child whose father had been martyred in a war: “Should I tell you what happened to your father after his death?” He replied: “Yes, Messenger of Allah.” The Holy Prophet (sas) said: “Allah brought the soul of your father to speak to Him and said: ‘I am pleased with you for the greatness of your deed. Do you wish that I give you anything?’ Your father replied: ‘Lord! Give me life that I may fight for the sake of Your faith a second time.’ But the Lord smiled and said: ‘It is my decree no one shall ever return, otherwise I would have restored you to the world.’”4 So when believers look on the divine rewards of the hereafter, they will regret that they once took their insignificant endeavours as a sacrifice and desire to be sent back into the world to serve the cause of religion again. At times, the weak of heart seek a quick end to their suffering, but believers wish to return to the world to endure more hardships [in the way of Allah] after seeing the bounties of the hereafter.

Be happy, for Allah the Exalted has bestowed on you the greatest blessings which are the preserve of His loved ones. Do not look upon the raggedness of your attire; care not for the abuse which you have to endure; be not dismayed by the tumult raised against you, because [in the end] it will be you who sits to the right of His resplendent throne.

Finally let me inform everyone I have given my testimony before the court.5 Now I will be cross-examined by the government attorney and must return the day after tomorrow. Whatever difficulties you have endured over the last several days are a blessing from God. And whatever lies ahead will be a means to attaining His grace. Though I too am inconvenienced by shuttling from one place to another, the truth is these are minor irritations. Those devotees of the community who spend their days in this vicinity will earn the blessings of God. He has allowed us to come together for one more day and we are content with His will.

(Alfazl, 28 March 1935)