“We can attain the pleasure of Allah when we give precedence to faith over the world with complete sincerity and loyalty” – Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is pleased to announce that the World Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, the Fifth Khalifa (Caliph), His Holiness, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad inaugurated the Baitul Ikram Mosque (House of Honour) in Dallas, Texas, with his weekly Friday Sermon earlier today.
During his Friday Sermon, His Holiness spoke about the obligations associated with Mosques.
Beginning his sermon, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:
“Today Allah the Almighty is enabling you to inaugurate your Mosque. Although the Mosque has been constructed for some time, its formal inauguration is taking place today. In this location, initially a hall was constructed to serve the purpose of a Mosque, however now you have made a purpose-built Mosque here. You now have a beautiful Mosque and in terms of its capacity, there is much space available.”
Praying for those who helped in the building of the Mosque, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:
“May Allah enable those who have taken part in the building of this Mosque to fulfil its obligations. May it be the case that you constructed this Mosque solely for the purpose of attaining the pleasure of Allah. May you be those who are the beneficiaries of the statement of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) in which he said, ‘The one who builds a Mosque for the sake of attaining the pleasure of Allah, Allah will build a house for him in paradise like the Mosque he constructs.’”
Reminding the attendees of the obligations that fall upon those who build a Mosque, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:
“The objectives associated with making the Mosque that is built for attaining the pleasure of Allah does not end with the completion of the Mosque’s structure. Rather, one can only attain Allah’s pleasure when we follow His commandments and fulfil the rights of His worship and those of His creation. We can attain the pleasure of Allah when we give precedence to faith over the world with complete sincerity and loyalty and when we fulfil our pledge of Bai’at [oath of initiation into the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community].”
Arrival in Dallas, Texas
His Holiness arrived at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport late afternoon local time on Sunday 2 October 2022. His Holiness proceeded directly to the Baitul Ikram Mosque in Zion.
Upon arrival at the new Mosque, His Holiness was greeted by hundreds of Ahmadi Muslim men, women and children who were overjoyed at seeing their beloved Imam.
Unveiling of plaque and tree planting
On Monday, 3rd October, His Holiness unveiled a commemorative plaque to mark the opening of the Mosque.
His Holiness also graced a barbeque arranged by the local Ahmadi Muslims as a means of love and encouragement.
On Tuesday, 4th October, His Holiness toured the Mosque complex and planted a tree outside the mosque.
Waqfat-e-Nau Class (Girls)
On Wednesday, 5th October 2022, His Holiness held a meeting with female members of Waqf-e-Nau aged 12 and above during which the attendees had the opportunity to ask questions on a range of contemporary issues.
One of the attendees asked His Holiness if Sufism and its practices have any benefits.
In response, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:
“There was no Sufism during the time of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). There was no Sufi during the time of the four rightly guided Caliphs. After centuries, it [Sufism] started. And when it started, it was because at that time, Khilafat was not the spiritual Khilafat; that was worldly Khilafat. And the Caliphs of those times were after worldly gains and the Khalifa was not the chosen Khalifa by the community, they inherited Khilafat. So, this is why, at that time, a group of people stood up who said, ‘we are the spiritual people and we tell the people what is the actual spirit of your religion and what is the spirit of prayers and how you should pray, how you should bow before Allah, how you should practice the commandments given in the Holy Quran.’ They started explaining teachings of the Holy Quran. So, this is how it all developed.”
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad continued and said:
“But, now, after the coming of the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him), who came to revive the religion of Islam according to the prophecy of the Holy Prophet of Islam (peace and blessings be upon him), there is no need to follow any Sufi. I remember, once I explained in my sermon, the verse of the Holy Quran which states, ‘Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth.’ An Arab person who had newly converted to the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community said, ‘I was the follower of Sufism. And now, after having listened to your Sermon, I can say there is no bigger Sufi than the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him). How he has explained the teachings of the Holy Quran, there is no need of any of the Sufi now. And now Khilafat is also rightly guided so as long as it will remain as it is, then there is no need of any Sufism.’ So, it was the requirement of the past, not the present.”
Waqf-e-Nau Class (Boys)
Following the meeting, Waqf-e-Nau boys aged 12 and above also had the honour to have a sitting with His Holiness.
One of the Waqf-e-Nau asked His Holiness how young people should maintain their identity when people mock them for their beliefs.
In response, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad encouraged the youth and said:
“Develop self-confidence and self-belief. When you know that you are on the right path, then care not for other people’s mockery…you should tell people who mock you that you are on the right and they too should strive to save themselves. So, when we are on the right and our claim is that we are going to spiritually conquer the entire world with peace and love, then why should we be worried? Why should you bother about what other people say?”
Another attendee asked His Holiness about how he should pray for the Khalifa of the time.
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:
“You should pray that Allah the Almighty helps the Khalifa of the time to discharge his duties so that the burden of the duties that Allah has put on his shoulders is properly discharged. Pray that Allah the Almighty gives him strength and health so that he works properly for the cause of Islam and the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community and whatever plans are in the mind of the Khalifa of the time are completed with Allah’s help in the shortest possible time and in the best way and that Allah the Almighty may also give him the helpers, that is, ‘Sultan-e-Naseer’, so that a team of helpers can also help the Khalifa of the time. Also [pray to Allah that He] makes us the helper of the Khalifa of the time so as Waqf-e-Nau, we also discharge our duties to help the Khalifa of the time in completing his assignments and his tasks, his wishes and his plans.”
Meetings with Ahmadi Muslims
During the course of his week in Zion and Dallas, His Holiness has met with hundreds of Ahmadi Muslims in private meetings (family Mulaqats), many of whom had the opportunity to meet His Holiness for the first time.
