Faith, Salat and Steadfastness

The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) has always articulated the purpose of his advent in his books, writings and pronouncements. Those of us who claim to have taken Bai’at of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) need to always keep this purpose, in fact these purposes, in our view so that we can be among those who fulfil the dues of being members of his Jama’at.

Today Hazrat Khalifatul Masih presented a few of the aforementioned purposes. The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) said that God appointed him in this age to revive faith and had sent him so that people may enhance their strength of belief. So that they have belief in the existence of God and belief that He listens to prayers, rewards virtues and also punishes evil. The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) further said that unless faith is perfect man cannot fully do good deeds. The weaker the faith, more deficient will be one’s good works. Prophets of God come to generate perfect belief and this was indeed a big purpose of the advent of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) and the above is a summary of some of his pronouncements which Huzoor paraphrased. How can these weaknesses be removed and how belief can be perfected? Indeed, the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) openly said that this cannot be attained by simply taking his Bai’at and spiritual endeavour was needed for this and this is also what God has stated: ‘And as for those who strive in Our path — We will surely guide them in Our ways. And verily Allah is with those who do good.’ (29:70) Reformation cannot be attained merely by taking Bai’at and without making effort to change one’s condition, to change one’s heart and strive (Jihad) in this cause.

The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) said: ‘Everything progresses in the world on a gradual basis and spiritual progress also takes place in this manner. Nothing can be availed without making endeavour and this endeavour should be for God alone. One should not come up with useless spiritual exercises and endeavours, like hermits, of one’s own accord. This is the task for which I have been appointed so that I may show the world how to reach Allah the Exalted.’

What was it that the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) showed us and what were his expectations? He set those models of worship of God and nobility in practise which was established by his master, the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) and then he advised us to follow those models. These were the models for which the Companions of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) also endeavoured and attained God’s pleasure and were such great recipients of God’s grace that a world followed them!

Expounding as to what sort of people we should become the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) said: ‘I do not want that a few words are uttered in parrot-like fashion at the time of Bai’at. There is no point in this. Attain knowledge of purifying the self for this is what is needed. Our task and our objective is that you generate a pure change in yourself and become a completely new person. It is essential that for this each one of you understands this secret and brings about such a change that he can say I am a different person.’

If, while bringing about change in ourselves we do not make ourselves different from the rest of the world, then according to the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) we will not be availing of our Bai’at.

He said: ‘This humble one has merely been sent to take this message to mankind that from all the current-day religions, the true religion which is in accordance with the will of God Almighty is the one brought by the Holy Qur’an. And the doorway to the abode of salvation is ‘There is none worthy of worship except Allah and Muhammad is His Messenger’. Our real objective and purpose is to demonstrate the majesty of the Holy Prophet (