Published on Aug 17 2009 

Today, Huzur delivered his Friday Sermon in Germany, opening the Jalsa Salana there with his discourse. Huzur said the objectives of holding the Jalsa Salana are to avail religious benefit, to increase one’s Divine cognisance merely with the grace of God, to enhance mutual love and brotherhood and to draw attention to Tabligh.

 

Huzur said during the spiritual atmosphere of Jalsa Salana special consideration is given to worship of God, in particular to congregational Tahajjud. It is hoped that with the grace and mercy of God, those who are perhaps not regular in offering Tahajjud would develop the habit. Worship of God facilitates Divine cognisance and this in turn draws one to pay the dues of mankind, to mutual love and to take the message of God to the world with intense fervour. All this comes to pass with God’s grace but in order to attain it one has to make the initial effort. Just as Hadith relates that God runs to those who walk towards Him, that is, the initial effort is made by man to seek God. In His infinite grace, God then augments our meagre efforts manifold. God states in the Holy Qur’an in Surah Al Ankabut; ‘And as for those who strive in Our path – We will surely guide them in Our ways…’ (29:70). Huzur said such is God’s love. He bestows general favours by virtue of His attribute of Rahman (Most Gracious) as well as confers distinctively to His special people. In coming to the Jalsa Salana one leaves behind worldly dealings, it is therefore that much pertinent to focus on attaining the objectives of Jalsa with sincerity. Otherwise, coming to the Jalsa would be a mere worldly exercise and the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) expressed disgust for this.

 

The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) said that God’s beneficence is granted to those who endeavour and strive in His way, who give alms and join among those who ‘strive in Our path’. He said just as an ailing person tries all kinds of remedies to get better, similar effort should be made for spiritual illness. Such an effort may not be merely verbal, rather it should be real striving.

 

Huzur said we should be grateful that having been enabled to accept the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) we are guided on the right path to attain Divine cognisance. It is now up to us to derive full benefit from the effort, whether our own or that of our forefathers, that has resulted in us being granted this capacity. This would be real thankfulness. The aforementioned Quranic verse expresses God’s love for His servants just as the Hadith that relates God runs to those who walk to Him does. However, the words ‘those who strive’ in the Quranic verse make it clear that the initial effort has to be man’s. The Arabic term ‘Jahadu’ in the verse signifies endeavour made with all one’s capacity to attain piety and then to continue in this assiduousness. Huzur said it is not a trivial matter that one may say that he or she tried but was not guided. To attain the path of guidance it is conditional to be weary of wrongdoing just as perseverance is conditional. God has given man free will and has left Satan free. God also states that evil has apparent comfort and ease. However, when His servant makes an effort in His way, then God does not allow him to fall in the pit of fire. God reaches out like a loving mother and embraces His servant. If there is ever any deficiency in this relationship it is always due to the negligence of man. It is for man not to be like a misbehaving child, to be aware of his limitations and never consider himself to be independent of God.

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