The House of Allah—A Center for Attaining Spiritual and Physical Purification and for Its Proliferation

Friday Sermon, May 26, 1967, Mubarak Mosque, Rabwah.

“The House of Allah is a central point and we have been directed to make its reflections. That is to say, in imitation of this House we will have to set up similar centres in one place after the other to achieve the similar objectives; to achieve the like purification and cleanliness. These centres will be a reflection of the House of Allah, and the objective of their establishment will be the same as that of this House.”

After Tashahhud, Ta‘awwuz and Surah Al-Fatihah, Huzoor said:

In the last sermons I talked about ten objectives of building the House of Allah [Ka‘bah] and expressed my views about them. The verses I have been reciting at the beginning of those sermons discuss the twenty-three objectives and I have elucidated ten of them.

The eleventh objective of building the House of Allah is related in the word (purify) that is, arrange for the cleanliness, purification and cleaning of this House of Allah. It indicates that God Almighty wanted to make this House a centre for extrinsic cleaning and intrinsic purification and cleanliness. This objective, too, was fulfilled with the advent of the Seal of the Prophets and the best of the Messengers, the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sas). An immaculate and perfect teaching has been given to us in the shariah of the Holy Prophet (sas) and it has been explained to us how we can attain extrinsic and corporeal cleanliness and spiritual purification. Allah the Almighty says in verses 151 and 152 of Surah Al-Baqarah, wherever you may be and whatever you do in accordance with the teachings of the Islamic shariah, remember that you have been created for certain purposes and objectives. And it is your prime duty to meet those objectives, and resurrect and establish the Islamic shariah all over the world and among all nations. Allah the Almighty says that the reason for which He draws our attention to keep the objectives of the House of Allah before our eyes is that

He wants to perfect His favour upon us (and that I may perfect My favour upon you). He has laid these objectives before us in order to perfect this favour. God says: If you endeavour to achieve these objectives in keeping with My directives and comply with My commandments sincerely, then the favours you receive will be such that the word of perfection could be applied to those favours. And after (and that I may perfect My favour upon you) Allah the Almighty says (in verse 152) that a Messenger has been sent to you who teaches you purification.

Naturally, the question arises in one’s mind that O Lord! As for the objectives, we have known them, but the course of our endeavours has not been specified yet. Had it been specified it would have become easier for us [to achieve these objectives]. Therefore, in the second verse (152) it is related that whichever course My beloved, the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sas), lays out is the way that leads to purification, and by treading on it you can attain the purpose for which the House of Allah was built. Allah says: (He recites Our Signs to you, and purifies you) that I have provided you the means of purification through this Prophet. Because he recites the Signs, teaches the Book and relates the philosophy thereof.

Thus, the objective discussed in (purify), which has been hinted at in these words, has been fulfilled by none other than the Holy Prophet (sas). The Holy Quran itself makes the claim that it is the Holy Prophet (sas) who is to fulfil this objective. The reason for this is that the Sacred Mosque, keeping of the objectives in view, perfection of favour and purification of souls and the means thereof are all the things which have been discussed in these two verses.

Though these verses from Surah Al-Baqarah make mention of general purification but stress has been laid particularly on spiritual purification and purification taught by the faith. In verse 7 of Surah Al-Ma’idah, Allah the Almighty says: “And if you be unclean1, purify yourselves by bathing.” The verse, therefore, teaches that it is essential in Islam to keep your body purified and clean. For this very reason the Holy Prophet (sas) has expounded in great detail on cleanliness of the body, clothes, houses, one’s surroundings, mosques, tongue, ear, eye and nose etcetera. I would not like to go into detail of this teaching at present, nor is it possible for me for the time being. In any case, a perusal of the Holy Quran leads us to the conclusion (there’s no denying it) that as external cleanliness and purification of soul has been emphasized in the Quranic shariah it has not been emphasized in any faith of old, not even a hundredth, or probably a thousandth part of it. Thus, the objective discussed in the word (purify) was fulfilled by the advent of the Holy Prophet (sas) and he has made the achievement of this objective possible for the Muslim umma. For, he guided us to every path which leads to cleanliness, and explicitly explained to us every teaching that was related to cleanliness and purification, and simplified the teachings for us to act upon them easily. No other Prophet, in this respect, had ever done the task of such magnitude. Thus, the objective is cleanliness and purification whose achievement is to be made through the Holy Prophet (sas). The Muslim umma, in general, is under the obligation to achieve this end, and in this age among the Muslims particularly of this Jama‘at that has been reinvigorated by the advent of the Promised Messiah (as) for the sake of God and His Prophet. In this verse also Allah the Almighty says that He does not want to put us to trials or tribulations; His objective is to purify us and perfect His favour upon us. Had the teaching of corporeal cleanliness and purification not been given along with the spiritual purification, the bounty and favour of God Almighty would have remained imperfect. But, that is, He desired to perfect His bounty and favour, therefore He gave us this teaching so that any filth may not be left in us and we become absolutely purified and clean.

Similarly, with regard to water the Holy Quran says that it has numerous advantages for mankind. One being, we clean ourselves with it outwardly; wash clothes, wash up kitchen utensils, clean streets, houses and wash our bodies. There are numerous kinds of purification that are achieved through water (water that thereby He might purify you).2 Thus, the Holy Quran abounds with the teaching of external and internal cleanliness and purification, and it is only the Holy Prophet (sas) by whom this objective of building the House of Allah was to be achieved.

The twelfth objective of building the House of Allah is discussed in the word, (for those who perform the circuit). This word indicates to the fact that people from all the nations in the world would gather here time and again to be educated on matters of cleanliness and purification, and that they would communicate and propagate, what they would learn, to their people when they went back to their regions. This objective, too, was achieved, in true sense, only by the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sas). In relation to this objective the Holy Quran commands:

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That is, it is not possible for the believers to gather all together in the centre of Islam, as all the nations in the world have been addressed by Islam. All of them together can never assemble in the centre of Islam at any one point in time. But it is also important for all the nations to keep in firm touch with the centre. For this objective Allah the Almighty says, it is not possible for all of you to gather here all together. Why, then, does not a party from every section of them go forth that they may warn their people when they return to them, so that they may guard against evil by way of warning and intimidation.

Thus, at this point, the Holy Quran commands the Muslim umma, which is formed with people from every nation and is spread all over the world, that a party from every country should regularly come to the centre so that they learn religion and keep abreast of the demands of time and the sacrifices required for Islam in this age. So that they should know the tasks and future plans and the philosophy thereof to which their Imam calls them. So that when they return to their respective places they should inform their brothers of various onslaughts being made against Islam and they should equip themselves to be able to reply them. They should also be aware of the ways of hate campaign employed against Islam and also the plan of the Jama‘at for the protection, sustenance, progress and consolidation of Islam. Thus, prepare yourselves mentally to make sacrifices and vie with each other to excel in practical terms. In compliance with the command of Allah the Almighty people from various clans [of Arabia] used to gather in Medina in the time of the Holy Prophet (sas). They would acquire the knowledge of religion and the Holy Quran, commit some portions of it to memory, acquire the understanding of the Holy Quran and go back to their people and thus cause the revival of Islam. Those who came to Medina would sacrifice their time to acquire the knowledge of faith as well as to teach it to others, and those who learnt it from them would also spend their time in the cause of Allah. Had they not done so they would have benefited only their own selves by coming to Medina, but others would have not got any benefit from them. The major objective of the scheme was none but that these people should come to Medina, learn faith, acquaint themselves with the needs of Islam and impart them to their brothers when they go back.

Thus, the objective of “Tawaf” cannot be achieved unless this party and these people sacrifice their time. It tells us that Islam teaches cleanliness and purification, and God Almighty has raised that umma, who, sacrificing their time, gather in the centre in the cause of God and His Prophet, and when they go back they teach their brothers the Quran and religion only with the aim to please God and the Prophet. They inform them about the measures being taken to safeguard and propagate Islam and try to generate cheerfulness in their hearts for the sacrifices to be made in the cause of Allah.

This command was understood very well by the peoples and clans of that time. In this regard Ibn Abbas (ra) is reported to have said:

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Ibn Abbas (ra) relates that a party from every clan of Arabia would present itself to the Holy Prophet (sas) and enquire about the [religious] matters they had no knowledge of; they would acquire enlightenment; learn the philosophy of [religious] matters; deepen the understanding of faith and be firmly established on that understanding. Then they would go back and teach these points to others. Details of these deputations are found in our history. The deputations would present themselves to the Holy Prophet (sas) in Medina in order to achieve this objective and carry out this command, and stay there to be educated on religion. One after the other a party would arrive; a succession of it continued in which the means of sustenance of faith were laid. For example, history reveals that once fourteen emissaries arrived from Bahrain, eighty people visited from Hadarmaut (Yemen), and similarly once a deputation consisting of seventy or eighty people of Banu Tameem paid a visit to Medina to acquire the knowledge of faith. These deputations i.e., acquired the knowledge of faith and taught their people when they went back to them.

I have cited only a few examples to make our Jama‘ats realize that now they probably do not send even a single person for the classes being held here (Rabwah). This will not do. Instead people will have to come here in scores, only then we can do justice to the service of Islam.

Anyway, I will go into detail of this aspect when I will have completed the discussion on these objectives which are like Divine promises. I will then discuss what our responsibilities are with regard to these promises, for all these responsibilities are laid on the Muslims and particularly on us, the Ahmadis, in this age.

The thirteenth objective was discussed in the word, (and those who remain therein for devotion) and was told that a people would be raised by it [Ka‘bah] who would devote their lives for the cause of Allah, and people from every nation and every country would join this group of devotees. This objective, too, was achieved by the Holy Prophet (sas). There was no question of the fulfilment of this promise before his time, as people from every nation could not have come there. Neither had they known Mecca, nor had they any love for it. I have told you that these objectives were achieved by the Holy Prophet (sas). Allah says in the Holy Quran (while you remain in the mosques for devotion).5 This verse also alludes to the point that God Almighty expects us to remain in the mosques for devotion. He wants us to sever all our ties with worldly relations and spend all the twenty-four hours in a day for a few days exclusively for the sake of God so as to revive the spirit of devotion. The Holy Prophet (sas) said, the whole earth has been made a mosque for me. Therefore, (while you remain in the mosques for devotion) would mean that you will have to spend some time like a devotee for the sake of God in every part of the earth. As I have already hinted that the Ka‘bah, or the House of Allah, is a central point and we have been required to make its reflections. That is to say, in imitation of this House we will have to set up similar centres in one place after the other to achieve the similar objectives and to establish the like purification and cleanliness. Such centres will be a reflection of the House of Allah, and the objectives of their establishment will be the same as that of this House. Allah the Almighty says here

(while you remain in the mosques for devotion) that at every place where the Muslim umma set up the reflection of the House of Allah on the basis of righteousness you would have to sit there like a devotee, or else this objective would not be achieved. I would not like to go into detail of it, but it occurred to me that if one objective of building the House of Allah is that devotees from every nation and every region should come and settle in the centre or in its reflection, then devotion and migration are quite analogous to each other. History reveals that not only from Mecca but also from other regions and clans people migrated to Medina and settled there. Their migration from their people or country was not like that of the migration from Mecca, but was like a devotee who, leaving his region, severing ties with his relatives, abandoning his household and estate comes in the centre for the sake of God and works in various regions of the world as is required by the centre. For example, there was a clan Ash’ariyyin in Yemen; Abu Musa Ash‘ari, an eminent and noble companion of the Holy Prophet (sas), belonged to this clan. He had migrated along with eighty people to Medina. Similarly, scores of other clans find mention in history who had migrated to Medina to benefit from the companionship of the Holy Prophet (sas). Abu Hurairah (ra) is also one of them.

The fourteenth objective was discussed in (and those who bow down and fall prostrate in prayer) and it was told that all the peoples in the world would, because of this House acquire true knowledge of the person and attributes of the Creator; as a result of this knowledge they would set such examples of obedience, submission, selflessness, devotion and sacrifice as no other religion in the world could present, and the world would be struck with amazement to see them.

This objective, too, was achieved by the Holy Prophet (sas). As a result of his holy influence not only in his era but in every century after him such people have continued to appear who were to accomplish this objective. I would not like to go into its detail at present; If Allah the Almighty enabled me I would expound on this topic inshallah when I come to the elucidation of our responsibilities.

The fifteenth objective was mentioned in (a town of peace) and a promise was given that Allah would protect this House from the oppressive onslaughts of the world and every struggle to obliterate it would be reduced to failure, rather the assaulters would be ruined and annihilated. This [promise of protection] hinted to the point that Allah protected Mecca with a particular end. It was mentioned that Mecca would be protected so as to make it clear to the world that the Prophet, whom God wishes to raise here, would be under His protection; and so that the world should know that only He is the Protector of the shariah that He decreed to send there.

Thus, the full Divine protection of the Holy Prophet (sas) and the shariah given to the innocent Prophet, both have been promised protection in the protection of the Ka‘bah. Accordingly, the Holy Quran claims that the given promise has been fulfilled in the person of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sas). It says, (And Allah will protect thee from men). The verse starts thus, (O Messenger! convey to the people what has been revealed to thee from thy Lord.)6 That is to say, convey [to the world] the guidance, the teaching and the shariah given to you courageously and without any fear or fright, and cause this life-giving water [message] to reach the corners of the world. But remember, the world will never be pleased and happy with this propagation of yours. On the contrary, they will contrive thousands of plans to kill you, murder you, annihilate you and wipe out your Jama‘at. But fear not the contrivances and conspiracies of the world, for We [Allah] have promised to you that you are under Our security and protection. Let the world do what it may; even if all the powers in the world ally with each other against you they cannot annihilate you; they cannot destroy you. Therefore, continue preaching without any fear or fright, for We have undertaken to protect you. Our angels will descend from the heavens to guard and protect you against destruction.

This verse begins with emphasis on promulgation; and then we have been solaced that though insurgencies are bound to arise in response to your promulgation but you will not be destroyed. As for the afflictions, the men of God are bound to be afflicted in the world for His sake at the hands of the men of the world; but you are under the protection of God Almighty, and He has promised that no power can destroy or obliterate you. The umma of Muhammad (sas) would never have been able to discharge the onus of (convey to the people what has been revealed to thee from thy Lord) had this promise [of protection] not been given to them. For, they would have been worried about the complete end of promulgation had the enemy destroyed them. God Almighty says that some of you may be killed; some of you may be destroyed; some of you may be imprisoned; some of you may be restricted not to preach your religion; some of you may be denied freedom of speech and some of you may be restrained freedom of pen, but on the whole the Muslim umma is under the protection of God Almighty against such trials and hardships. No such calamity will befall them which could wipe them out of existence.

If you reflect you will realize that there was a time when any lunatic of Mecca could have slain the Holy Prophet (sas) had he not been under the Divine protection. That is to say, only one person was enough to wipe out Islam. Then, there came a time that if three thousand men had made up their minds to lay their lives they would have obliterated Islam. But God said that He would not grant that many number and that much strength to the opponents of Islam to strike a fatal blow to it. Thus, with about threefold they came for the battle of Badr; some Companions got martyred though, but they were not allowed to be wiped out. And God did not allow Caesar and Chosroe to try their strength against Islam until Islam had gained strength in Mecca and Arabia. But once Islam had gained strength in Arabia, Caesar and Chosroe were also let loose to try their power against Islam as much as they liked; and they did so up to the hilt against Islam, but always faced defeat. The greatest miracle is that at no stage the opponents had been powerful enough to obliterate the Muslim umma absolutely. One section of it sacrificed; from one section God Almighty demanded sacrifice and happily they bore with a multitude of hardships, but the Muslim umma as a whole has always remained under the Divine protection. Now for example, in our times, the forces of Antichrist have become so powerful that if they had wished, or wish, they can slay all the Muslims in the world. But on the one hand where Allah the Almighty showed other types of miracles earlier, now He showed this miracle that He set up angels as guards over human intellect and said to them that this age is not fit to wipe out religion at the point of sword; instead the competition should be made with arguments. They have the power though, but Allah has diverted their attention from endeavouring to obliterate Muslims at the point of power. Thus, if the Antichrist, employing material strength, seek today to kill every Muslim, it has the power to do so; but God declares that notwithstanding the power it wields it will not be allowed to use it against Islam and the Muslims. As the Holy Prophet (sas) was given the promise of special protection, the Muslim umma has also been given the promise of special protection for the same reason. Never has God Almighty allowed the opponents to practically wipe out the Muslim umma from the face of the earth. Look at yourselves; there was a time when only one man could have easily slain the Promised Messiah (as). He had no Jama‘at with him. Once only twelve people were accompanying him when riots broke out in Delhi. The opponents made a forced entry into the courtyard pulling down the wall or the front door. They were smashing the inside door down, when suddenly, we have no idea why, they fled and went back. Why did they flee? The answer finds its place in this verse that no intrigue or secret plan or no power in the world can wipe out any person or nation who is under the Divine protection. This promise strengthens the hearts and motivates them for sacrifices.

There was another point hinted at in this verse that the shariah given to this Prophet would also be protected. Allah says: that is, “Verily, We Ourself have sent down this Exhortation, and most surely We will be its Guardian.”7 Hence, God has been guarding it as He decreed. When it was not possible to guard the Holy Quran by putting it on paper and publish in great numbers, Allah the Almighty prepared hundreds of thousands of minds for this task. He granted them strength to commit the Holy Quran to memory; and there were thousands among them who were so perfect in memorizing it that they would never make any error even on vowel points. But all of them, on the whole, possessed such profound memory that if any of them made any error, another was present to correct him immediately. That is to say, the Huffaz (plural of Hafiz) of the Holy Quran, all of them together, could not have made a mistake unanimously.

The large number of Huffaz was due to a special plan of Allah the Almighty, because when the Holy Quran was started to be printed on paper the number of Huffaz started to come down. From this we learn that this method was also a part of the Divine scheme, and that human planning had nothing to do with it. As for the preservation of its true meaning Allah the Almighty raised noble Auliya’ (holy people), in every century, in the beginning, in the middle, and also at the end of it; who, by the grace of Allah, were so close to Him that He Himself taught them the science of the Holy Quran. He Himself became their teacher. Such people fulfilled the requirements of their age, addressed the issues and resolved the problems of their time.

Now, again, Allah the Almighty has initiated a stupendous movement in the world by the Promised Messiah (as) so as to spread the light of Islam and make it prevail in every part of the world. Out of His sheer grace, He has enabled us to join the fold of the Promised Messiah (as) and provided us with the opportunity to offer sacrifices which He wants us to make in order to attain His pleasure. May everyone of us attain His pleasure.

Thus has Allah preserved the Holy Quran both textually and semantically. He has preserved the Holy Quran in such circumstances and in such ways that every sane person will deny the involvement of human planning in its preservation. This is sheerly due to the grace and special protection of Allah the Almighty of which He had given His word. He keeps His promises and is true to His word. He has kept His promise.

We should always keep praying to Him that may He make us among those who are given the responsibility of semantic preservation of the Holy Quran. That is to say, may we learn the true knowledge of the Holy Quran; do not go after our carnal desires; do not exploit the Holy Quran for the achievement of our mundane ends; on the contrary, may we learn true knowledge of the Holy Quran from our Lord; and we may be counted among those who are graced by Allah the Almighty, and by whom He removes the veils from the face of essential sciences in this grand latent Book. He may not join us with those who have the Holy Quran on their tongues but their hearts are devoid of the light of the Holy Quran.8