On July 1, 2011, Hadrat Khalīfatul Masīh V^aa delivered the Friday Sermon in Germany.

After reciting verse 153 of Sūrah Al-Baqarah, which is translated as follows:

“Therefore remember Me, and I will remember you; and be thankful to Me and do not be ungrateful to Me.” (2:153)

Hudūr^aa said that by the grace of Allāh, Jalsa Sālāna Germany came to a successful conclusion on Sunday. This year the Jalsa was held at a new venue in Karlsruhe which had the advantage of spacious halls and air-conditioning, but there were also some concerns about managing the Jalsa in a new location. But, by the grace of Allāh, there were no major mishaps. Jalsas of Jamā`at Ahmadīyya Canada and USA are also starting today. May Allāh bless them in every way.

Hudūr^aa further said that if the participants of these Jalsas assist the management and do not just consider themselves to be mere visitors, the workload of the management can be much reduced. This year the participants of this Jalsa have been of great help. May Allāh enable those attending the Jalsas in USA and Canada to do the same and to fully partake of the spiritual banquet that the Jalsa has to offer us. Thus will we be able to further the mission of the Promised Messiah^as.

Hudūr^aa said that it is impossible for us to adequately thank God for all His favours. The Promised Messiah^as says, “The only gratitude you can offer is through righteousness and piety. If you acquire true virtue and goodness, I give you the good news that you will then stand right upon the frontier where no one will be able to overcome you.”

Hudūr^aa said that this is the manner of gratitude that we have to adopt. Taqwā alone will lead us to victory. All those who participate in our Jalsas should try to progress in piety and always keep praising and remembering God. Allāh says, “Remember Me, and I will remember you; and be thankful to Me and do not be ungrateful to Me.” Hudūr^aa said that when man continuously remembers God, He rewards him, shows him the path of His nearness, saves him from difficulties and calamities; and the world cannot stop him from his mission even if it tries its utmost. Allāh has linked the progress of our Jamā`at with the people who remember God as desired by Him. Even as individuals, these people are blessed with Allāh’s favours in this world and the Hereafter and they become His grateful servants. This is why Allāh has linked His remembrance with gratitude.

Hudūr added that if one does not show gratitude to the favours of God and does not employ them for fruitful purposes, it amounts to rejecting them and being ungrateful to God.

Hudūr^aa further said that any shortcomings in this Jalsa should be recorded in the Red Book and the Jalsa committee should find ways of overcoming them next year and making further improvements. Hudūr^aa praised the Lajna of Germany for sitting quietly and patiently during his address [even though a section of them could not hear him due to some problems in the sound system].

Hudūr^aa mentioned that non-Ahmadīs who attended the Jalsa were full of praise for the excellent arrangements.

The Jalsa is thus a very effective means of Da‘wat Ilallāh. Hudūr^aa praised the windup team for completing their work in a very short time. Hudūr^aa also commended the efforts of Jamā`at Germany in making contacts with scholars, government officials and politicians, and spreading the message of the Jamā`at through leaflets. Hudūr^aa said that the Green Party arranged an event at the Council Hall in Hamburg in which Hudūr^aa was invited to speak about the teachings of Islām. It is now up to the German Jamā`at to continue this momentum.

This article was published in Jan 2012 issue of Ahmadiyya Gazette Canada