“I Shall Give Precedence to Deen (to live under Allah’s directives & pleasure)OverWorld(ly matters)"

[DawudTalut]

[FONT=&quot]Give Precedence to Allah’s Directives and Pleasure Over Worldly Matters – Enjoy Life’s Permitted Bounties But First Fulfill Responsibilities of Deen – To Seek Allah’s Pleasure is the Base.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Peace be on you…In Jama'at Ahmadiyya, there is a sentence, which every man, woman, young or elder knows. It is:[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]“I shall give precedence to Deen over world.”[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]It is remembered because Hazrat Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) has drawn our attention to it too very much. This sentence is used in many speeches of our speakers, and in writings. It is often used in addresses by Khulafa. It is the gist of ‘Conditions of Bai'at’ too that Deen would be given priority over World(ly matters). Similarly, it is the gist of the Pledges of all auxiliaries of Jama'at that ‘I shall give precedence to Deen over world.’ Likewise, we repeat these words in the wordings of Bai'at... In short, this sentence is the Pledge of an Ahmadi. His Bai'at, continuous connection with Khilafat and System depends upon it; without it, all such claims and desires of seeking pleasure of Allah the Exalted go wrong.[/FONT]



[FONT=&quot]That is why Hazrat Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) has said If one makes pledge in Bai'at to give precedence to Deen over World, but does not show his sincerity and his loyalty with the pledge through action, what care God does have of him?[/FONT]



[FONT=&quot]Thus each of us need to keep this matter in view. As it is clear from the sentence In the matter of Deen, no worldly thing should become hindrance. And what is Deen?[/FONT]



[FONT=&quot]Deen is to live life under the commandments of Allah the Exalted, and to please Him with each word and deed.[/FONT]



[FONT=&quot]By the grace of Allah the Exalted, a large number of us try to remove a thing which becomes hurdle in the path of Deen. But it is true too, that everyone’s effort cannot be similar because [FONT=&quot]variation[/FONT] in faculty of knowledge and other faculties.…. Allah the Exalted knows our intentions.....He deals with each of us according to our faculties.....[FONT=&quot]T[/FONT]he fundamental thing to fulfill this Pledge is Pure-Intention, i.e. there should be no excuses.[/FONT]



[FONT=&quot]We see in worldly matters that The circle of everyone is different. Someone tries in limited circle because his knowledge and capacity is limited; sometimes his other priorities become hindrances in his path and h[FONT=&quot]is circle become[/FONT] limited……….On the other hand, there is other person, who does enormous effort in correct way. He keeps the intended purpose in sight, and achieves it fully.[/FONT]



[FONT=&quot]Hazrat Musleh Mo’ud (may Allah be pleased with him) has mentioned this subject too. Following is based on it :[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]A simple example of Attempt-in[FONT=&quot]-[/FONT]limited-circle, and Attempt-according[FONT=&quot]-[/FONT]to-aim[FONT=&quot]:[/FONT] Some people are very conscious about their dress. No matter how much important the task they are up to, they are careful about creases and wrinkles of paints and coats. They examine their dress off and on, even if they have to reach somewhere soon. That is why sometime they limit their effort to reach soon. Like in past, such examples exist today too, especially in Asian societies. Opposite to that, there are some people, who do fashion with fondness, but when there is a purpose before them, they sacrifice their procedure and fashion. Despite their care for dress, to gain their purpose if they have to run, they shall run, if they have to sit at a place they shall sit, even if needed they shall walk in soil and dust. They do so because the basic thing is to achieve a certain purpose, which is why expensive suit or white dress does not become an obstacle for them to reach their aim.[/FONT]



[FONT=&quot]Hazrat Musleh Mo’ud (r.a.) gave an example for British history to explain how people sacrifice an apparent thing for the sake of their purpose. The famous Queen Elizabeth I was crowed in 1558, she remained queen for about 45 years. The base of splendor and power of England was laid in her reign. It was well known about the queen that she liked to see members of her court well dressed and elegant. If one did not have excellent and expensive dress, one was not allowed to come in court. That is why it is said that there used be gathering of well dressed and elegant young people around her.[/FONT]



[FONT=&quot]Once she was walking to somewhere with her courtiers. There was some mud on the path. [once there were dusty streets in England] her high ranking officer was with her, he was devotee and loyal to her. This young man would wear good dress. When small muddy path came, he placed his special-occasion-court-coat on the it. Queen was surprised that such an expensive coat was put on the mud. She asked What is it Raleigh [Sir Walter Raleigh]. The officer quickly replied, It is better that Raleigh’s coat get muddy rather than Queen’s feet….The queen like his statement. He rose to full height. [/FONT]



[FONT=&quot]Though, later in the time of James I, he was accused of treason and sentenced to death [followed by reprievment and imprisonment for 13 years]…. He did great service for country in time of that king too, in South America. [His invasion of Spanish territory was against king’s undertaking; original sentence was invoked and he was executed].[/FONT]



[FONT=&quot]The lesson in this example is Despite Raleigh the officer was a well dressed and elegant person, when it came the matter of Queen, he sacrificed his fashion and elegance for her. [/FONT]



[FONT=&quot]Thus if earthly person can leave his fashion for the sake of a queen, he can sacrifice his expensive best coat and elegance, then one should reflect that What one should not be doing for the progress of Deen, for the propagation of Islam, for the strength and establishment of religion and to seek the pleasure of his Creator, God.[/FONT]



[FONT=&quot]Should this purpose not be dear to us as to seek the pleasure of queen was dear to Raleigh? As mentioned above, Even after pleasing a worldly monarch and despite his services, his end was tragic.[/FONT]



[FONT=&quot]By making Allah the Exalted pleased, by getting His pleasure, a person becomes heir of rewards in this world and he meets an excellent end too. We should always remember It is not enough that aims are high and good unless sacrifice and loyalty is not accordingly.[/FONT]



[FONT=&quot]We shall get pleasure of God the Exalted when worldly life will not be dominant over our Deen. Instead, Deen will be dominating the world….No doubt, Allah the Exalted has not stopped one to earn the worldly life. Many things are not prohibited; wearing good-quality dress, eating delicious meals, living in luxurious houses and decorating them etc. They are permitted. But becoming of these things obstacle for the progress of Islam is prohibited. [/FONT]



[FONT=&quot]People do marry, Shariah does not ask them to find a not-good-looking spouse, but it is true too that Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) guided that instead of only seeing worldly state of the woman, one should also see the spiritual state of the woman. [/FONT]



[FONT=&quot]Shariah says that spouse should not become obstacle in offering worships and Salaat. If our young men and young women and their parents pay attention to this, then by giving precedence to Deen, problems in houses will be solved too, and that purpose will be obtained too which is the purpose of a momin (believer) i.e. to seek the pleasure of God the Exalted.[/FONT]



[FONT=&quot]Same is true for dress, it is definitely not prohibited to wear good dress, but it is prohibited that one remain indulge in fashion all the times so that one forgets Deen. Or one remains afraid if he go at any place, his dress will be soiled. [/FONT]



[FONT=&quot]Similarly, during offering Salaat, one should not be paying attention to wrinkles at his ironed good dress. [/FONT]



[FONT=&quot]Islam says You should never be negligent of serving Deen, only then you will be paying the right of giving precedence to Deen over worldly life.[/FONT]

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[DawudTalut]

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[FONT=&quot]Likewise, Islam does not stop eating high quality food but it is prohibited that it should become obstacle in the path of Deen…..We should always keep these matters in view in our matters…….Things which are obstacle in the matters of Deen, should be removed.[/FONT]


[FONT=&quot]In this regard, Hazrat Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) said:[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Look! There are two kinds of people, one, those who after accepting Islam, become busy in worldly businesses. Satan rides at their heads [i.e. they fully remain indulge in earthly matters]…I do not mean that doing business is prohibited. Sahaba [Companions of Holy Prophet (s.a.w.)] would do business but they would give precedence to Deen over world. They accepted Islam and they gained the true knowledge about Islam, which would fulfill their hearts with Certainty. This was the reason that they did not trembled in any field, due to the Satanic attack. No matter could stop them from stating the truth……….Those who become slaves and servants of the world(ly life), as if they become worshiper of the world, Satan then gain dominance and control over such people. [/FONT]



[FONT=&quot]Second, those people, who are always ponder about progress of Deen. It is the group which is called ‘hizbullah’ [group of Allah] and which gets victory over Satan and his gang.[/FONT]



[FONT=&quot]As mentioned earlier with respect to Hazrat Promised Messiah (on whom be peace), that With giving precedence to Deen over world, the purpose of Bai'at is fulfilled. And to get its understanding, along with doing worldly works, it is compulsory to gain knowledge of Deen and then to apply it on the self too.[/FONT]



[FONT=&quot]Without getting knowledge of Deen, it cannot be understood W[FONT=&quot]hat [/FONT]the Deen is -- the Deen which[FONT=&quot] [FONT=&quot]one [/FONT]has[/FONT] to give preference over the world. For example, Salaat is a basic element of Islam but there are many Muslims, perhaps more than 80%, who do not offer Salaat. If they ever offer one or two (out of five obligatory daily) Salaat, they offer it as if they are being forced to do an unpleasant thing, with rush and speed.[/FONT]



[FONT=&quot]That is why Hazrat Musleh Mo’ud (r.a.) wrote that There are such distinguished people who are lazy to offer Salaat. In fact, some famous Nawabs and Ro’usaa [titles of previous sub-continent’s riches] consider about Salaat what a common Muslim thinks about pork eating i.e. they offer it with utmost dislike.[/FONT]



[FONT=&quot]It was not the state of previous era, same condition exists today…Many of rich people, even those people who get [FONT=&quot]s[/FONT]ome prosperity, they too become ignorant of Salaat; if they happen to offer, they remain ignorant of the should-be state of offering Salaat. [/FONT]



[FONT=&quot]Those who offer Salaat, they ought to safeguard human values. Allah the Exalted says Salaat-s develop pure changes in you. [/FONT]



[FONT=&quot]It is said these days Attendance in non-Ahmadiyya mosques in Pakistan is quite rising. If it is increasing What revolution these Salaat-s have produced in them? What lesson other than hatred is taught by Mullah-s and Khateeb-s [clergies and lecturers] to them? That is why, despite of increase in Salaat-offering people, flames of hatreds have risen more than before. Whatever they do against us they do, but they are not doing any less oppression to each other. Therefore, these worships are not to give precedence to Deen, these are for worldly gains. Apparently, they go to mosque for a higher purpose, there are inferior aims behind it, internally. Thus to get high purpose, high thought is needed as well. And sacrifice is not done for personal gain but it is to seek pleasure of God the Exalted. If this coming to mosques is not for sake of high purpose – i.e. to pay right of Allah the Exalted, to establish rights of humanity, to propagate Deen and to firm Islam -- all is useless. This painful state of common Muslims should draw our attention more than before towards the How we should understood or have understood the pledge or subject of Giving precedence to Deen over world. [/FONT]



[FONT=&quot]We have to pay rights of humanity along with right of Allah the Exalted, and to make an effort for propagation and establishment of Deen Islam. Then we may get benefits from worldly good things as much we may want, that will be permitted for us. [/FONT]



[FONT=&quot]We have been given the responsibility of conveying the beautiful message of Islam to the world. We have to fulfill it.[/FONT]



[FONT=&quot]To publish the translation of Quran Kareem in various languages has been made our responsibility. We have to pay its right.[/FONT]



[FONT=&quot]We have to raise mosques everywhere to raise the true worshipers. To pay its right, we have to make plans in each country of the world.[/FONT]



[FONT=&quot]We have to establish the highest human-values.[/FONT]



[FONT=&quot]If we are doing all this while earning the world, then earning the world is included in our Deen. If it is not so, then our permitted works are illicit in the eyes of Allah the Exalted.[/FONT]



[FONT=&quot]If a new IPhone has come, or money has been recieved and one want to buy a car, or one like to buy new suit, and to get these things we postpone our Chanda-s [obligatory and voluntary financial offerings for various needs of worldwide Jama'at] then despite these things are permitted, they become illicit for us. [/FONT]



[FONT=&quot]If at a place, attempt is being made to make mosque but there we are giving priority to our other things, then although these things are permitted for a common person in normal conditions, they become illicit in such time.[/FONT]



[FONT=&quot]When in the Battle of Ohad [2 nd battle imposed by disbelievers who again came to finish Muslims and Islam, near the Madina – the place to where they had migrated for refuge ] words [based on misunderstanding] spread that Rasul e Karim (Holy Prophet - peace and blessings of Allah be on him) was martyred, there was a Companion who had stepped aside after the war, as then, a state of success had developed. He had not eaten anything since days. With him there were some date-palms, he was eating them as his meal….As soon as he heard the news about Holy Prophet (s.a.w.), he instantly threw the dates away, and re-engaged in battle and was martyred…………… At that time, he did not think about his hunger, but considered eating those dates as sin because at that time Deen was demanding that eating dates was sin…………….. Thus a matter, which is hindrance in the path of Deen, no matter how great and good it is, it is illicit. And, the matter which is not obstacle in the way of Deen, no matter how comfortable it is, it is not bad it becomes lawful.[/FONT]



[FONT=&quot]Thus we need to produce the spirit which should make such a state of our heart that it become able to gain the pleasure of Allah the Exalted.[/FONT]



[FONT=&quot]There is a narrative about Allah knows the intentions of hearts. Once Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) was sitting in mosque, people were with him too. Meanwhile three people came forward. Two of them directly came towards Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) and one left. Those two came and stood near Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be on him). One of them saw there was vacant place in the circle of Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him), he quickly came forward and sat near him (s.a.w.). The second person found a place behind the people, he sat there. The third person thought there was no place, he turned his back and went away. [/FONT]

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[DawudTalut]

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[FONT=&quot]When Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) finished his address, he said: Should not I tell you about the state of these three people? One of them who sat near me, obtained refuge near Allah, and Allah gave him refuge. The second one was shy and Allah the Exalted shied from him too i.e. his sitting in the gathering caused removal of his sins, he shied, Allah the Exalted too forgave him and shied. The third one turned his face, and Allah the Exalted turned his face from him too.[/FONT]



[FONT=&quot]Apparently arrival of three persons, and going away of one is a usual matter, as the third person thought Holy Prophet (s.a.w.)’s voice is not reaching to him so there was no benefit in sitting there. But this matter showed the states of hearts, and Allah the Exalted sees hearts, and his rewards are according to the condition of heart. That is why condition of heart is very important with respect to reward and result. It should be remembered….Allah the Exalted knew who have gone to what limit in the matter of Deen from these three people; who has shown lethargy………..First two got rewards according to their status, third not only remained deprived of, but obtained displeasure.[/FONT]



[FONT=&quot]Thus a momin (believer) should see that How much he has sacrificed for the purpose which is in front of him. If he presents sacrifice up to the requirement, he is granted Nusrat (victory) and Jaza (reward) from Allah. Sacrifice is always either according to capacity or according to need. It is not essential that every time sacrifice must be presented according to full capacity, sometimes Shariah demands sacrifice only according to need. For example, if a traveler comes and there are some people present, and he requests for 100 Pounds, which is permitted, some present people fulfill his need according to their financial capacities yet there was lag of 10 Pounds. Meanwhile someone else comes, he is rich enough if he desires he alone can fulfill traveler’s need but at that time the need of 10 Pounds, which he donated. No doubt, his capacity is more but he was asked only what was needed and he gave it. This sacrifice is according to the need, which is fulfilled by the rich person with good intention. He will get his reward.[/FONT]



[FONT=&quot]Similarly if there is a motion for a Chanda, people are giving in hundreds and thousands but a poor person presents few Rupees or Pounds according to his capacity, Allah the Exalted Who watches hearts, blesses his action and such person obtains his purpose.[/FONT]



[FONT=&quot]That rich person obtained his purpose as he presented little money at the time of need by helping a needy – AND – the poor person too obtained his purpose that he spent to seek the pleasure of Allah the Exalted according to his capacity or more than it.[/FONT]



[FONT=&quot]A Hadith tells that Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) said 1- Dirham excelled over one 100,000- Dirham-s. Because a person presented 1 out of his 2 Dirham-s, other person possessed hundreds of thousands but he gave 100,000 which was much less than his capacity.[/FONT]



[FONT=&quot]Thus it has to be remembered always that the real purpose ought to be to seek the pleasure of Allah the Exalted……..And they both aimed for pleasured of Allah the Exalted in their financial offerings.[/FONT]



[FONT=&quot]The basic duty of the believer is that To get pleasure of Allah the Exalted he should mold the state of his heart. His aim should be to seek pleasure of Allah the Exalted, and in it, there lies his Falah (happiness, prosperity, safety) and success………The pleasure of Allah the Exalted is obtained, he molds state of his heart according to it, then in it there is his Falah and success………And it is To give precedence to Deen over world.[/FONT]



[FONT=&quot]We are given responsibility to do huge tasks as mentioned earlier. We make Pledge too to sacrifice life, wealth and honour. For this, we should always continuously try to ponder with seriousness: By fulfilling our Pledge to give precedence to Deen over world, How we can use our faculties and capacities?[/FONT]



[FONT=&quot]Ijtimah of AnsarUllah [annual gathering of men over 40 for spiritual and moral enhancement] and Shuraa [advisory body] is commencing from today (17 October 2014) They should ponder too, and one should make self checks in these days that Upto what limit we can raise our standards To give precedence to Deen over world; they should be raised, the age of AnsarUllah is such that They should become model.[/FONT]



[FONT=&quot]Allah the Exalted does not need anything from us, it is His Ahsan (benevolence) and Ataa (grant) that He has blessed us by telling us that You will get My pleasure by giving precedence to Deen over world, Otherwise He does not need our wealth (as examples were given) Allah the Exalted is not dependent on us or anyone. He has made all these resources, assets, gold, silver and lands. If He wanted, he would have distributed all these among servants of Deen. But He teaches us about our purpose and then draws our attention to offer sacrifice to get purpose so that we are enabled to get His pleasure.[/FONT]

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[DawudTalut]

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[FONT=&quot]Not only wealth, He has granted us children too. Allah the Exalted could have made other method to train children but he told parents to train them, spend on them according to your capacity to get high purpose, so that they can serve Deen. Thus it is very great responsibility of Ahmadi parents that they should train their children in such a manner that they can serve Deen. Only then the Pledge of ‘giving precedence to Deen over world’ is fulfilled. Train these children in such way they should get deep understanding of ‘giving precedence to Deen over world’ since childhood. Thus, by giving these things to us, Allah the Exalted puts us at test and blesses us too. [/FONT]



[FONT=&quot]Hazrat Khalifa tul Messiah (may Allah be his Helper) also said: Here I want to say to office-holders at each level, they should understand that they are more responsible about ‘giving precedence to Deen over world’ than others. They are given responsibility to get an objective. For it, they need to raise their level of sacrifice. Similarly each office-holders of any level, from initial / neighborhood level to center, can make effort to fulfill his Pledge by making right estimation of his capacity, and he should do so. It should be remembered that Allah the Exalted watches hearts, He blesses the sincerity of those who serve with dedication and grants them station in His nearness. An office-holder should make his full effort to get this station. May Allah the Exalted enable office-holders of all levels and each Ahmadi also, me and you too that May we get true deep understanding of the Pledge of ‘giving precedence to Deen over the world’ and act [FONT=&quot]upon[/FONT] it too. [Aameen][/FONT]



[FONT=&quot]Sad news of martyrdom........ Mr. Latif in Kamra, District Attock, Pakistan was martyred by two unknown motorcycle-rides. They called his name near his house, as he turned, 4/5 bullets were fired into his chest by one man…. [/FONT][FONT=&quot]‘inna lillahe wa inna elehe rajeun’ (Surely we belong to Allah and to Him we shall return)……[/FONT][FONT=&quot]His father did Bai'at in 1934 and then the family joined the Jama'at……He retired as Corporal Technician from air force in 1991. After retirement, he started business of supplying legal books to various lawyers. He was very famous. Non-Ahmadi lawyers appreciated his work too. He served Jama'at as office-holder in various capacities. His house was serving as Salaat center and place for various Jama'at programs for spiritual and moral enhancement of the members. He would do his best to do the assigned work of Jama'at. He was a great host. He loved and obeyed Khilafat extraordinarily. He would pray Salaat-s regularly. He would reach mosque two hours before Friday Salaat. He was very brave and fearless person. In 2007-8, he was attacked by unknown person. Assailant’s bullet was stuck in gun, Latif sahib grabbed him and resisted him but assailant fled. He was man of high morals and dignity. He was fond of training and education of children. He was 62 years of age. He had filled the Wassiyyat-form, it was under process….. Hazrat Khalifa tul Messiah (a.t.) graciously said that he accepts the Wassiyyat and ordered the relevant department during this sermon to proceed accordingly. Latif sahib would obey the office-holders of Jama'at and attend programs and gathering of Jama'at. He left wife, daughter and four sons. After the retirement, he chose to permanently reside in that area because there was no permanent Jama'at as people-on-job would continue to come and go due to transfers. He made his house there with intention to serve as Salaat center and to establish Jama'at. May Allah the Exalted bring fruit to his intention and grant hundred and thousands Ahmadis there for this Martyrdom and establish Jama'at. May Allah the Exalted elevate his stations and give patience and strength to his relatives, save members of Jama'at in Pakistan save them from every angle. Foe is increasing in enmity. May Allah the Exalted produce conditions of peace and tranquility for us soon. [Aameen][/FONT]


[FONT=&quot]Reference: Friday sermon (October 17, 2014) by Hazrat Khalifa tul Messiah V (may Allah help him with His Mighty Help), U.K., alislam.org and mta.tv[/FONT]