Successful Far East Tour and Blessings of God

Hazrat Khalifatul Masih delivered today’s sermon from Baitul Futuh, London. He said as everyone knowa he had been on a tour of Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and Japan for the past several weeks. And as it is his custom to mention the shower of Divine blessings experienced during his tours upon return, today Huzoor briefly spoke about on the subject.

It is impossible to calculate Divine grace or to know its highpoint. When we consider that we are about to touch the height of Divine grace, God immediately removes our misunderstanding. What we had thought to be the height of Divine grace was only the beginning and thus God takes us onwards. This is so in particular when at every step Divine promises made to the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) which were foretold by the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) give yet another glad-tiding.

Let alone mentioning the height of Divine grace, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih did not know which grace to start from! He presented a summary of God’s grace and blessings experienced during the recent tour. Some detail of this trip prepared in a report form by Vakeelul Tabsheer has been published in Al Fazl and some may have read it. However, it is impossible to illustrate certain things. The facial expressions of our guests from outside when they give their views/impressions of the Jama’at cannot be precisely conveyed in words by Hazrat Khalifatul Masih or any report. Perhaps it can be viewed to some extent on MTA, perhaps some of it has already been shown. The Press Desk made good arrangement of providing news of the main events of the tour for the English-speaking members of the Jama’at. Indeed, each day gives us a new awareness of Divine grace and corroborates the truthfulness of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace).

The first stop of the tour was Singapore. In addition to the Singapore Jama’at members, office-holder men and women from the Jama’ats of Indonesia and Malaysia also came to the airport to greet Huzoor. Theirs was an amazing emotional welcome which has perhaps been gauged from some highlights shown on MTA. The Singapore tour lasted ten days where Huzoor met Ahmadis from Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, Philippines, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Papua New Guinea and Myanmar. About two and a half thousand Ahmadis had come from Indonesia. Most of these Ahmadis were not well-off, but were full of loyalty. Some had borrowed to make the trip while others had sold property. Their only concern was to seek prayers for their faith. Among them were people who are homeless for the past year because they are driven out of their homes and are living in temporary shelters, yet they have not abandoned their faith. In fact their faith is further strengthened. Apart from Jama’at engagements of meetings, classes and mulaqats, a reception was held here for outside guests. Non-Ahmadi guests from Indonesia also attended this reception, among them were university professors, scholars, politicians and journalists. Two journalists interviewed Huzoor in which introduction of the Jama’at was presented and matters relating to the situation with the Jama’at there were discussed. 48 guests including academics, former member of parliament and eight members of a Muslim religious organisation came. After listening to Huzoor’s address a professor asked Huzoor to visit Indonesia and give a lecture at his university. Huzoor told him that it would be very well if he could arrange it, but perhaps he did not realise how much commotion would be raised at this prospect.

One Singaporean guest who had served for 29 years in the diplomatic service, as an MP and a minister of the state and was one of the founders of Singapore said that when he was a diplomat in Egypt in 1960s conditions were good there but now there is no peace in the Middle East and a wrong impression of Islam is being given. However, he said he was pleased that t