With the Grace of Allah, later that day, Huzoor inaugurated the Baitul Aafiyyat Mosque in Philadelphia with his Friday Sermon.
Alhamdolillah, after many years of prayer and struggle, the members of the Philadelphia Jamaat had been blessed with a beautiful and spacious Mosque.
In his sermon, Huzoor spoke of how Mosques were a means of ensuring that future generations of Ahmadiyyat remained firm in their faith.
Huzoor said:
“When we strive to fulfil the true purposes of building a Mosque, we will see the blessings and benefits of the Mosque in this very life. Our children and future generations will remain attached to their faith and we will be those who enlighten the locals of the true peaceful message of Islam. We will become those who will establish the Oneness of God and will spread the message of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sa) across the globe.”
Huzoor also mentioned that Baitul Aafiyyat was the first purpose-built Mosque in Philadelphia.
Huzoor said:
“It is said that this building has been constructed as the first purpose- built Mosque of Philadelphia. This Mosque should not merely show the locals what the physical attributes of a Mosque are, rather it should manifest the true beautiful and peaceful attributes of the teachings of Islam for the whole world to see and observe.”
Huzoor mentioned that when the first Ahmadi Muslim missionary in the United States, Mufti Muhammad Sadiq, came to America in 1920, he landed at the port of Philadelphia. He was denied entry into America for two months and was unjustly imprisoned. Yet, even during that period he did not waver from his duties to serve his faith and fifteen people accepted Islam during his period of detention.
Huzoor also mentioned that the message of the Promised Messiah (as) reached the United States in his own life through the Review of Religions magazine and that a person named Dr A. George Baker accepted the Promised Messiah (as) at that time and was buried at a cemetery near the new Mosque.