Summary

The following points below are summary from this week's Friday Sermon:

• After reciting Tashahhud, Ta‘awwuz and Surah al-Fatihah, His Holiness, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad (aba) said that Allah the Almighty has told us that the Holy Prophet (sa) is the perfect example for us in every matter. His Holiness (aba) said that over the past few sermons, he has been relating incidents regarding the Holy Prophet’s (sa) love for Allah.
• His Holiness (aba) said that he had thought that after the topic of ‘Love for God’, he would deliver sermons about the Holy Prophet’s (sa) standard of worship. However, within the topic of ‘Love for God’, incidents pertaining to the Holy Prophet’s (sa) devotion to worship could not go without mention.
• His Holiness (aba) said that today he would continue mentioning incidents regarding the Holy Prophet’s (sa) standard of worship, which at the same time exhibit the great levels of love that the Holy Prophet (sa) had for God. The Holy Prophet’s (sa) standard of worship has been described in the Holy Qur’an as follows: ‘Say, “My Prayer and my sacrifice and my life and my death are all for Allah, the Lord of the worlds.”’ (The Holy Qur’an, 6:163)
• His Holiness (aba) said that God instructed the Holy Prophet (sa) to say, ‘If you love Allah, follow me, then will Allah love you’, thus instructing us to strive to emulate the example of the Holy Prophet (sa).
• His Holiness (aba) said that through the Holy Prophet (sa), God has imparted an abundance of guidance in the Holy Qur’an regarding worship. ‘And I have not created the Jinn and the men but that they may worship Me.’ (The Holy Qur’an, 51:57)
• His Holiness (aba) said that thus the Holy Prophet (sa) taught that just as he set the example of fulfilling the purpose of life through worshipping God, so too should one follow his example and strive to fulfil the rights of worship as their ultimate purpose. It is only then that one will attain the love of God.
• His Holiness (aba) said that at another instance in the Holy Qur’an, God says: ‘O ye men, worship your Lord Who created you and those who were before you, that you may become righteous.’ (The Holy Qur’an, 2:22)
• His Holiness (aba) said that God also states: ‘O ye who believe! bow down and prostrate yourselves in Prayer, and worship your Lord, and do good deeds that you may prosper.’ (The Holy Qur’an, 22:78)
• His Holiness (aba) said that not only did the Holy Prophet (sa) bring these teachings, but he practised them in their perfect form. His prayers for his people will only be fulfilled in our favour if we strive to practically emulate his examples of worship.
• His Holiness (aba) said that the Holy Prophet (sa) never let any opportunity for worshipping God go to waste. In fact, according to the Holy Prophet (sa) himself, he would even worship whilst he was sleeping, as he said that although his eyes may be asleep, his heart remained awake in the remembrance of Allah. 
• His Holiness (aba) said that the Holy Prophet (sa) was very meticulous about his prayers. Once, the Holy Prophet (sa) offered prayers while wearing a sheet that had some images on it.
• His Holiness (aba) said that this shows us that simplicity is the best course, especially in prayer, so that the clothes do not become a distraction. Sometimes, even in prayer, some people become preoccupied with their clothes, either becoming distracted by them or constantly worrying about fixing them as they pray.
• His Holiness (aba) said that once, Hazrat A’ishah (ra) described the Holy Prophet’s (sa) bed as being made of leather and filled with date leaves. Hazrat Hafsah (ra) described the Holy Prophet’s (sa) bed in her home as being soft and comfortable.
• His Holiness (aba) quoted the Promised Messiah, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as), who writes that upon receiving the commandment from God to offer prayers, the Holy Prophet (sa) practically established all facets and forms of prayer, thus establishing his own practice and showing all generations to come how to worship God. Thus, the practice of the Holy Prophet (sa) was not only to convey what he was commanded, but also to practise it to perfection and to teach his companions to follow his example. 
• His Holiness (aba) said that once, the Holy Prophet (sa) said that God bestows His mercy upon the married couple who, when the husband wakes up for the pre-dawn voluntary prayer, he awakens his wife, and if she does not wake up, then he should sprinkle water on her. Similarly, if the wife wakes up for the pre-dawn voluntary prayer, she awakens her husband, and if he does not wake up she sprinkles water on him.
• His Holiness (aba) said that thus, weeping in prayer is an integral facet.
• HIs Holiness (aba) said that some religious leaders are of the mindset that by virtue of being leaders they must have greater worship than their followers. However in doing so, their worship becomes only for the purpose of show and ostentation.
• His Holiness (aba) said that the Holy Prophet (sa) brought great glad tidings for us, and we can only partake of those glad tidings when we follow his example particularly when it comes to worshiping God. It should be remembered that doing so requires great effort and sacrifice.
• His Holiness (aba) quoted the Promised Messiah (as) who said that true prayer eliminates the fears that arise in this word. In the same manner, offering true prayer eliminates those fears which would otherwise dominate a person. 
• His Holiness (aba) prayed that may Allah enable us all to worship Him in the truest manner, and to adopt and emulate the example of the Holy Prophet (sa).