A warning for 2021 from the Spiritual Leader of the worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim Community
DEAR EDITOR,
As the fireworks started on New Year’s Eve in Georgetown, I found myself wondering what are we celebrating this evening? End of year or start of new year? And will this year be different from the previous one. As we all know last year was no ordinary year, rather a year filled with stress, sadness and often causing confusion in homes, communities and nations.
As the new year begins, what have we learned from the previous year? Should we try to forget 2020 or should we try to take a lesson from what has happened and how we can improve and do better in 2021.
The head of the New Year’s Day, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community’s World Head, Fifth Khalifa (Caliph), His Holiness Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad drew attention to the hardships faced by humanity in the past year and said that mankind must realize that it is from God Almighty that mankind may abstain from injustices. He said:
“During the past year, we have been facing a very dangerous and dangerous disease. No country in the world is free from the pandemic and it has affected some more than others. However, it seems that the majority of the world does not want to consider the possibility that this pandemic may be a signal from Allah the Almighty as to how we must fulfill our obligations and responsibilities. They do not want to consider that Allah the Almighty might be trying to wake us up, guide us and make us fulfill our duties. ”(Sermon on Friday 1 January 2021)
It is important that we realize that Covid-19 is not only affecting our health, but the virus has also caused many to become greedy and commit injustices. Instead of many recognizing God in this time of need and racing to fulfill their responsibilities, some leaders were feeding away from the weakest and vulnerable at a time when they most needed their leaders.
Commenting on political leadership today, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:
“Where Covid-19 affects people’s health, there is also a huge economic impact. In fact, it breaks the backs of many rich and powerful nations. Global people see only one answer to this. Once they reach a point where their economy is destroyed, they try to capture the wealth and economies of other smaller countries and try to tie them into their webs and then, under one pretext or another, take over their wealth. To achieve this, they will form blocks and such alliances are already being cultivated. Cold War will reappear. In fact, it is said to have already begun in a way and it is quite possible that a war will eventually break out using weapons and weapons that lead to disaster. ”(Sermon on Friday 1 January 2021)
So how should we move on from this? We must recognize God in this time of struggle and fulfill the rights we have for God. At the same time, it is equally important to fulfill the rights of God’s creation. We must ask ourselves whether we are fulfilling the rights of humanity for the sake of Allah alone. Or, is it true that we still need to reform ourselves and elevate the love we have towards others in our hearts? If we don’t then one can imagine that the situation will only get worse in 2021 and in the years to come
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad concluded: “A true celebration will be when all mankind upholds the values of humanity; when the revenge between people turns into love. ”(Sermon on Friday 1 January 2021)
I believe that everyone in Guyana can agree that this would be a true and worthy moment to celebrate. Therefore, each individual should self-evaluate and see how they can fulfill their responsibilities.
Fahd Peerzada
Missionary of
Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at Guyana