A speech delivered on the occasion of Jalsa Sīrat al-Nabī^sa, North York Jamā`at.

When a person stands up and offers to teach people how to do something, two things can happen. People will either find interest in what is being presented, or they will disregard it as being un-important.

The Prophets of Allāh go through this as well. When Allāh chooses them and commands them to go to people, and tell people how to find salvation, how to find Najjāt, those who desire salvation accept the message, while those who do not see its importance reject the message.

Today, Allāh the most Merciful has seen the condition of mankind and has again raised a prophet to remind us about how to achieve Salvation. His Holiness Hadrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad^as came at a time when people had forgotten the essence of how to achieve a relationship with Allāh. We live in a world where people claim to be Muslims, but their hearts are empty of faith. They do not know why they are Muslim, they do not know what they are working towards. They have forgotten the purpose for which Allāh sent his Holiness Muhammad^sa the great messenger of Allāh.

We have to ask thatis it ok to just follow the physical actions of faith and be unaware of the intentions behind them? Is it ok to do everything, but not know why you are doing it or what you will gain from it? These questions are what separate us from other Muslims.

Ahmadīs are those people, who when they hear the words,

They know, that right after it, Allāh says,

The translation of this verse is,

“You have in the Prophet of Allāh a excellent example to follow….He is an example, a model, for any of you who is seeking Allāh and looks forward to meeting Allāh on the last day, he is an example for those of you who reflect and remember Allāh’s great favors upon you. (33:22)

One day we will be face to face with our Lord, the creator of the heavens and the earth. We will finally be in front of Him who has created us, provided for us, sheltered us, fed us, He who has shown us so much love. He who has enabled us to reach such heights, the like of which no other creation has been given the ability. We follow the Holy Prophet Muhammad^sa so that by observing him, learning from him, acting upon his teachings, we will be ready for that day when we meet our beloved Allāh.

Our Great Prophet^sa, the elect of Allāh announced to the world:

The above verse means that if you love Allāh, and have heartfelt appreciation for the favors and blessings Allāh has bestowed upon you, those favors which you asked for and those which He provided for you in advance, and if you find beauty in Him and all His works, if this is your condition and you want to know Him better, then follow my (Muhammad^sa) example.

By following my example you will be able to show Allāh that you are thankful to him in the best manner, by following me your spiritual perception will increase and you will be able to know Allāh better.

Allāh will love you, if you follow me. He will forgive you, He will over look your shortcomings and sins which prevent you from progressing, He will grant you the strength and qualities you desperately require to do all that is good. All this is because Allāh, our Lord is most Forgiving and most Merciful.

This message of hope is the legacy of Jamā’at Ahmadīyya. We are the only ones who truly see this grand Messenger^sa as he is meant to be seen. Therefore, we have to be living examples of him, so the world will see him also.

Today, unfortunately, there are people, who only follow his eating habits, those who only follow his business principles, and those who only follow his cleanliness directives. And they forget the basis for these aspects of His life. They forget the true lessons behind these things.

When we eat the way the Holy Prophet Muhammad^sa ate, we eat with dignity and civility, we declare that we are thankful to Allāh for all that he has given us and that we require His help alone and do not rely on worldly provisions because our real sustenance is Allāh.

This is what is reflected in the example of the Holy Prophet^sa, when he ate, he announced that the food he was to eat was made Halāl for him by Allāh alone, and that without Allāh’s permission no one would have the right to take it. He ate thankfully. He ate slowly which shows he was not a wild person craving to be indulged. He chewed the food well, in order to benefit from every ounce of goodness Allāh placed in the Halāl food. He drank along with the food and did so slowly. Then this great man, may Allāh send every blessing on him, praised Allāh for whatever was in front of Him, no matter how little it was, or how old it was. The Holy Prophet^sa showed us how to find beauty in everything Allāh bestowed upon us for our sustenance no matter the amount.

It is easy to mimic his eating pattern, but this cannot be called truly following the Prophet. The result of following the Prophet^sa is that as a result, you love Allāh more and Allāh shows you that you are worthy in His eyes. This can only happen when you follow him^sa with your heart, mind and soul. Then you will see what it means to really follow the Holy Prophet^sa example.

This is just one example, one aspect of our lives which can make us perfect believers, perfect worshippers. When we make the Holy Prophet Muhammad^sa our guide and master in every aspect of our lives, and we do things with the intentions he did them with, then we are his followers and his servants in the real sense.

The question arises that how do we know if we are truly following the Holy Prophet^sa? The answer to this question has been given by our master himself. He declared, in the latter days, the only Muslims who will be safe, who will have Allāh’s pleasure, are those Muslims who are like me, and my companions.

Today many people like to compare themselves to others. Looking at others, the thought arises that these people are like this, we should be like them too. Consequently we end up copying those nations perfectly, not knowing that they have just purchased fire and are swallowing it happily.

The Holy Prophet^sa provided the best solution for those who desired what he promoted, no matter what age they lived in. In essence he said, be like my companions.

Do not think that Muhammad^sa once lived, and that you are going to study his life like a story, no my dear brothers and sisters this is not Islam. Our Grand Master^sa is a living prophet, blessings upon blessing are showered by Allāh upon anybody who courageously treads his path with sincerity and loyalty.

The best examples of his followers are his companions. Our Allāh declares them to be perfect followers, perfect worshippers. He says:

“The early believers, the first of the Emigrants and the Helpers, and those who followed them in the best possible manner, Allāh is well pleased with them and they are well pleased with Him; and He has prepared for them Gardens beneath which flow rivers. They will abide therein forever. That is the supreme triumph.” (Al-Taubah Chapter 9: Verse 100)

Hear these loving words, and see how the pact the early believers made with the Holy Prophet Muhammad^sa was fulfilled. They were promised Allāh’s love, and here is fulfillment of their bargain.

The Holy Prophet^sa made a promise, one which only Allāh could fulfill, and Allāh fulfilled it. He gave them glad tidings, the good news, that they followed perfectly and thus, they would have in the hereafter of what they were working so hard to achieve.

We must all examine ourselves carefully and deeply and we must think that we call ourselves Muslims, or believers, but if today we were placed in the era of manifest grace, the time of our Master^sa how would we fit in? Would our attitudes fit in with theirs? Would we blend in with them, or stand out completely? If we saw how the companions treated their families, would we feel ashamed by our approache? If we saw how they came forward to sacrifice everything for Islām, and compared them to us, would we feel embarrassed? If we saw them read the Qur`ān and teach it, and if we saw them turning to the Prophet^sa for answers and prayers, would we feel left out among them?

We are meant to be like the Holy Prophet^sa and like his companions, this is our destiny, this is what we have willingly signed up for ourselves. Therefore, we must work towards it and follow the footsteps of the Perfect Man^sa who will lead us straight to it.