by A. Abdul Aziz Sri Lanka Correspondent, Al Hakam, London.

(Given below is an excerpt of the Eid-ul-Fitr Sermon delivered at Mubarak Mosque, Islamabad, Tilford, UK, by Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, Supreme Head of the world-wide Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Islam, on 31 March, 2025, gave a discourse on True Eid lies in continuing good deeds and sustaining Ramadan’s virtues:

A large gathering of Ahmadis – men, women, and children – assembled in Islamabad to offer Eid-ul-Fitr 2025 prayer behind their beloved Imam, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad (Khalifatul Masih V) and to listen to his sermon.  

Following the Eid prayer, Ahmadiyya Khalifa recited first Arabic part of the Sermon and First Chapter of Holy Quran and said:

After Ramadan concluded we are celebrating Eid-ul-Fitr – a day of joy. This joy stems from the good deeds we performed during Ramadan and the commitments we made and renewed to continue on the path of righteousness.    

However, Eid is not merely a day of celebration; it is also a day of reaffirming our pledge to uphold and sustain the virtuous practices we observed throughout Ramadan. Only then will this truly be an Eid in its fullest and most meaningful sense.”

Ahmadiyya Khalifa (may Allah be his Helper) explained that a true believer is the one whom the Promised Messiah Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, peace be upon him, described as someone who remains steadfast in righteousness, resolving to continue performing good deeds and abstaining from evil. Merely refraining from wrongdoing is not true piety; rather, the essence of righteousness lies in the consistent practice of virtue. Hence, on this blessed day of Eid, we reaffirm our commitment to uphold the lessons we learned during Ramadan. We pledge to continue fulfilling the obligations of serving humanity (huquq-ul-ibad) just as we did throughout the month of fasting. And it is in the joy of making this solemn commitment that we celebrate this day of Eid.

Ahmadiyya Khalifa said, This Eid thus serves as an opportunity to remind us of our commitments.” He said therefore, we should not spend this day merely in play, amusement, and wearing new clothes. Rather, we must reflect on the lesson that Eid brings for us – that we must continue practicing righteousness. We must fulfil both our duties to Allah the Almighty and our obligations towards His creation.

Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:

Today, we must make this pledge, for it is this very commitment that has brought us together here on the day of Eid. We have gathered to reaffirm our dedication, just as we do every Eid. The steps we took towards righteousness during Ramadan must now continue to advance even further. It is in this spirit that we are assembled here today – both to pray and to rejoice.

Wearing new clothes or enjoying good food is not the true essence of joy. Rather, real happiness lies in renewing our resolve to uphold the good deeds that Allah the Almighty enabled us to perform. Our joy will only be genuine if we remain steadfast in this commitment. Our true Eid will be when we sustain these virtues, continuously progressing forward in righteousness, in accordance with our abilities.”

His Holiness continued to say, if we fail to uphold this commitment, then the joy we experience today on Eid will be merely fleeting, leaving no lasting impact on our spiritual lives. Eating, drinking, and simply going through life hold no real significance – for even worldly people live in the same manner, and even animals fulfill these basic needs. Such things are not worthy of mention; true significance lies in sustaining the righteousness we cultivated during Ramadan.

A believer – and a true Ahmadi – benefits only when they undergo a pure transformation within themselves and firmly resolve to make these righteous changes a permanent part of their lives. Otherwise, there will be no difference between an Ahmadi and a non-Ahmadi, Ahmadiyya Khalifa added.

Ahmadiyya Founder Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad The Promised Messiahstated: 

If no transformation is taking place within you, then what distinguishes you from others? In such a case, you are committing a double sin: first, the sin of breaking your pledge, and second, the sin of failing to reform yourself.”

Therefore, on this day, we must reflect on whether we truly find ourselves prepared to fulfill this commitment. Are we sincerely striving to uphold the promises we have made to Allah the Almighty?    

Ahmadiyya Khalifa explained in detail on this topic and continued to say, that, If we have truly gained something from this experience [of Ramadan], then it should lead us to develop a deep connection with God. The real expression of celebrating Eid with true joy lies in the recognition that we have indeed attained this nearness to Him.” 

The Holy Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said that Allah the Almighty experiences immense joy when His servants walk on the path of righteousness. He gave the example of a man who loses his laden camel in the desert. After tirelessly searching for it, he finally gives up, exhausted, and lies down to rest. In this state of despair, he falls asleep. Upon waking, he finds his camel standing right before him. The happiness he feels in that moment is immense. Yet, Allah the Almighty experiences even greater joy when His servant turns back to Him in repentance and strives to attain His nearness.    

Similarly, the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, also stated that just as a mother rejoices upon finding her lost child, Allah the Almighty is overjoyed when a person returns to Him.    

Ahmadiyya Supreme Head highlighted that during Ramadan, those among us who sincerely strove to please Allah and sought to attain Him will continue to receive His grace and blessings, as He has promised.    

Thus, our celebration of Eid should be accompanied by the reflection that during Ramadan, we abstained from many evils and adopted virtues, humbling ourselves in complete devotion to Allah. The true Eid for us was the day we sought refuge in Him. 

His Holiness said that today, in accordance with His command, we are celebrating this joy collectively. However, if a spark of divine love is ignited in a person’s heart through sincere repentance, it will expand into a radiant light, illuminating the heart and protecting one from sin. Gradually, all of their actions and deeds will be carried out solely for the pleasure of Allah. When a person reaches this state, their surroundings are also positively affected – their spouse, children, and those around them benefit. This, in turn, fosters a peaceful and spiritually uplifting environment. And this is precisely the purpose of human creation as defined by Allah the Almighty.    

May Allah enable us to fulfil this purpose. May we become those who establish prayer with sincerity.

Let us continue to pray for all Ahmadis, that Allah may envelop them in His grace. There are many Ahmadis across the world who are suffering unjust persecution, such as in Pakistan, where they are deprived even of their right to offer Eid prayers freely. May Allah grant them the opportunity to experience true Eid, allowing them both to develop a closer relationship with Him and to celebrate outwardly in peace. May He enable them to worship freely and fulfil the rights of others. May they continue to attract His blessings. Many Ahmadis, out of fear, were forced to change their prayer locations and schedules for Eid today. In some places, such as Karachi, Ahmadis were even prevented from offering prayers. Rather than stopping the aggressors, authorities instead locked our mosques. May Allah swiftly hold such opponents accountable.    

Let us pray for the children of martyrs, that Allah may strengthen their faith and continue granting them the blessings earned by their forebears’ sacrifices.    

Ahmadiyya Supreme Head also drew Ahmadis attention to remember the wider Muslim Ummah (community) in our prayers. They are currently facing great hardships, as the forces of falsehood are exerting all their power to harm them. However, many Muslims themselves are weak in faith. May Allah strengthen their faith so they may escape these forces of Dajjal. The only true solution for them is to turn towards Allah. May He grant them the wisdom to recognise and accept the Promised Messiah, peace be on him, whom He has sent in this era, so that they may attain true happiness.

Towards the end, Ahmadiyya Khalifa led the congregation in silent prayer, then conveyed ‘Eid Mubarak’ to Ahmadis across the world.