Friday Sermon: Consolidation and building of the Jamaat
by Maulana Muhammad Ali (Translated by Dr. Zahid Aziz)
3 January 1936 (Ahmadiyya Anjuman Ishaat-e-Islam Lahore)
Editor’s Note: It is often overlooked that Maulana Muhammad Ali was not only anxious that the Lahore Ahmadiyya Jamaat [Movement] should propagate the Holy Quran and Islamic literature in the world, but he also laid great stress on the task of community building and organisation of the Jamaat. Over a long period of several years, he presented many proposals for this purpose. As an example, we translate below his Friday Khutba [sermon] of 3 January 1936.
The Holy Prophet Muhammad, may peace and the blessings of Allah be upon him, brought about such a revolution in a short period of twenty years that it has no parallel. A large country emerged from the lowest depths of vice, evil and immorality and reached great moral and spiritual heights. Then came, in addition, the blessings that were bestowed upon his companions. Those events assure us that those who worked in the way of Allah were undoubtedly sent His help. There is something called inner faith, and it was this through which the companions showed so many achievements. Man also gains strength by the events that have passed before. The companions had little of the past to strengthen them but we have examples of the past in great measure. To those who wish to serve the religion today there is much in the history of Islam to provide strength to their hearts.
Work for Next Year:
After the annual gathering (in December) a new year begins for us as well, and we take in hand the work before us with renewed vigour. The work which we aim to do for the next year contains prominently the task of consolidation, building up and strengthening of the Jamaat. For this work, the greatest need is that the entire Jamaat must participate in it. Whether it is the learned ones or other people, rich or poor, junior or senior, young or old, men or women, until they all take practical part in this work there can be no consolidation or building of the Jamaat. Although one year is no long period, nonetheless if for a specified period of time all members of the Jamaat join together to apply their strength for one object, this will clear the way for future progress. It is always difficult to start something moving, but once it is set in motion it moves forward by itself.
Need for Joint Effort:
As I just said, all members of the Jamaat must take part in the task before us, and they must give up their own inclinations. If we pay particular attention to this work this year, we may succeed in laying a firm foundation. Remember it well that no building can be constructed unless full attention is devoted to building it. No work is successful if it is done half-heartedly.
Wasting your Powers is a Sin:
There are many members who can strengthen the community but they are not doing so because of indolence and lethargy. It is a sin to waste the power to do good. A power is wasted if it is not used. It is the worst sin to waste the ability and strength that God has granted to man.
Make all Members Useful and Active:
The community is only a collection of individuals. There are many in the Jamaat who cannot find employment. We must make them capable of earning their living. This cannot be done in a day, and our efforts should be permanent. Everyone should strive hard for this, and take note of which members of the Jamaat he can provide employment for in his own circle. It would be best to keep the Centre informed of all this regularly. There should be a record here of, on the one hand, the names and addresses of people seeking work, and on the other hand, a list of vacancies.
Unemployed Young Men should Stay at the Centre:
It is my wish that all the unemployed young men should come and stay at the Centre. We will arrange for their food. They will learn something about religion. If they have no work skills, we will make arrangement to teach them. We can try to find them work by getting information on vacancies. I would say that even if such unemployed people have to wait six months or a year at the Centre, they should not worry. As their being here will be a burden on us, so we will try our best to find employment for them.
Duty of Friends Outside:
Our friends living outside the Centre should keep in view any places where our men can be appointed, and keep us informed. If this is done in an organised way, hundreds of people can be appointed in factories of our own members. But the problem is that those who need the workforce are unable to find skilled people. When we send them anyone, the complaint we receive is that he does not know anything. If the unemployed stay with us, we can make arrangements to teach them skills.
Everyone to Think of Ways and Act upon Them:
Apart from this, each person should think of ways of extending the Jamaat and acting on those ways, as to how the misconceptions of the public about our Movement can be dispelled, how more sympathisers and well-wishers of the Movement can be created, and how they can be encouraged to join the Movement. This is not the work only of the Centre but the duty of every branch of the Jamaat and every member. What is required is that the leading members of every branch of the Jamaat should consider proposals according to their local circumstances and act on those. But the Centre must be kept informed in all these matters.
Even Minor Suggestions bring about Progress:
Sometimes even a small suggestion can lead to a path of progress. Take the Eid Fund. It occurred to someone that as Eid is an occasion of joy, at which every man spends something on his family, if also on this day a monetary contribution is made towards the propagation of Islam it would not feel as a burden. He put forward this idea to the Promised Messiah [Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian]. Thus was laid the foundation of the Eid Fund, and till now thousands of Rupees have been collected for the propagation of Islam due to this idea.
‘Savings’ Fund:
Due to the ‘Savings’ fund,1 much work is being done without the feeling of any burden. As more efforts are made, the benefits of this fund will increase. This fund could be sufficient for our two missions in Europe, provided that all members take part in this easy scheme. They should not only act on it themselves but place the fund boxes in the houses of non-Ahmadi relations and friends. Even if those people cannot reduce the expenses of one day’s food budget, as we are doing, they could still put some charity money in it.
All Work to be done Jointly by the Community:
Remember that good works by individuals are not as permanent and well established as good works done jointly by the community. If people donate a couple of pennies each towards a common fund, great works of the welfare of the community can be done. If we work as part of an organisation, there would be great success in it. I wish to see all our strength and all our works put together as an organised effort. There should be no individuality or scattering of effort whatsoever. We have a very great and most difficult task before us. To carry it out, we should make a combined effort. Our concentration should be united. Gather all your strength as a community in one place. Let no work and no campaign of ours be on an individual basis.
This year, all members of our Jamaat, all workers of the Anjuman, all missionaries, all newspapers — in order words everyone — should apply their full attention to the consolidation and building of the Jamaat. To our missionaries in particular I say that they must present our beliefs bravely, without fearing anyone.
My other advice to all friends is that they should refrain from needless criticism of the work and the workers of the Jamaat, at least for this year. When the entire community comes together to reach a decision, it is then the duty of every member to act on that decision. There is a time for discussion. At that time, by all means put forward proposals, make criticism, but after that, when a decision is made and a task is decreed, then there must not be any criticism.
Our School and Muslim Hostel:
If anyone considers that the school is unnecessary, and he is raising objections in this matter, this is not right. As the school has been established by a decision of the community, instead of raising objections you should try to support it. Send your children to study in it. They will be imbued with our spirit. Now even the expenses are not very much. Then there is your hostel. All students of the Jamaat studying in colleges in Lahore should stay in this hostel.
In brief, all your work should be done as a part of the organized work of the Jamaat. It should appear that all members of the Jamaat are working in unison in one direction, not that some are facing east and some are facing west, or that some are marching to the north and others are marching to the south. This year, take in hand the work of the building and consolidation of the Jamaat and expend all your energy on it, for at the present time it is the most important work.
Source: The Light (UK), March 2008, pp. 6–7
Original Urdu text: Paigham Sulh, 11 January 1936, pp. ?–?
Footnotes:
- This was a drive in the Jamaat under which members cut down on their food expenditure for one day each week and donated the savings to the Jamaat. ↩︎