Our Islamic Faith - 2

 

Ashhadu alla ilaha illallahu wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan ‘abduhu wa rasuluh.

 

I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad (pbuh) is His servant and Messenger.

 

Alhamdulillah, Summa Alhamdulillah, I continue on the same subject of faith, my faith, and what Allah has commanded us, Muslims and humanity, to believe.

 

As I mentioned last week, Allah created Jinns and humans to worship Him alone, without associating any other deities with Him in His worship.

 

While the Jinns are responsible for their own actions, we, humanity, are also responsible for our own actions. Therefore, Allah created humans and the universe with a purpose. The purpose of human creation is that within the limits of their capacities, they manifest the divine attributes within themselves. To achieve this objective, Allah has given humans the appropriate faculties and capacities and has placed the universe at their service. But that’s not all! It is essential for humans to follow the laws set by Allah so that they receive the necessary guidance to stay on the right path. How does Allah ensure that humans receive His guidance? It is through His prophets and Messengers.

Our Islamic Faith

 

Ashhadu alla ilaha illallahu wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan ‘abduhu wa rasuluh.

 

I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad (pbuh) is His servant and Messenger.

 

This testimony is an integral part of the Tashahhud (the testimony) that I recited at the beginning of my sermon and is a fundamental aspect of Islamic life, whether in Salat (prayer) or in every aspect of a Muslim believer's life. This testimony prevents anyone from considering the greatest and seal of prophets, Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh), or any person or thing on this earth as equal to Allah.

 

As the Khalifatullah and Messenger of Allah in this era, it is important for me to present to you what I, as a believing Muslim, hold to be true. First and foremost, I firmly believe in the existence of an All-Powerful God Who is perfect in all His attributes. Allah is a Being without any flaws, weaknesses, imperfections, insufficiencies, laziness, and He lacks nothing and never forgets. None of the human or animal weaknesses that afflict His creatures affect Him, the Creator. He possesses all excellent qualities at the highest level, beyond the full understanding and realization of humanity.

The Second Coming of Isa (as)

 

The Messengers of Allah are spiritual treasures sent by Allah to humanity to bring a divine freshness into the world. Alhamdulillah, Summa Alhamdulillah, Allah has chosen me, His humble servant who stands before you today, as one of His Messengers in this century, not to abolish the Islamic law, but to reinforce this greatest law and ensure that people of my time and those who come after hold firmly to it.

It has been 21 years since Allah raised me as the Revivifier (Reviver) of this century (Muhyiuddin). Allah has so imbued me with His light and made me understand that in respect of the enormous work in this century, on a global level, He has granted me a degree of superiority in the work that Hazrat Massih Ma’ud (as), the Promised Messiah of the past century (Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad), had to do. This became clear to me in September 2010, when He then also granted me the title, honour, and task of the “Massih Ma’ud [Promised Messiah] of this century.”

I must clarify that my coming does not diminish the value and honour of Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as). On the contrary, I emanate from him and am his spiritual son. But it is in the aspect of the work that Allah has given me, where Allah has placed immense responsibilities on my shoulders in this century, where by His grace, I am succeeding worldwide. As the Musleh Ma’ud, Hazrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmad (ra) said, if even one person follows him and becomes Deewana (Wholesomely Dedicated) in the path of Allah, it would be enough to bring about a revolution in the world, where the divine message spreads to all corners of the world.

The Satans don’t hold Power

 

The Signs of Qiyamah- 7

'Do you not see that We have sent the satans upon the disbelievers to incite them (further) with all their incitements? So do not be in haste against them, for indeed We are counting down their days. The day We will assemble the God-fearing before the Most Gracious as (an honoured) delegation, and drive the sinful like a thirsty herd into Hell.' (Surah Maryam, 19: 84-87)

 

Life after death will be a reckoning. This is a certainty. There is no doubt about it.

'Struggle against Self'

 

The Advent of the Seal of all Prophets, Muhammad (pbuh)

'O Prophet, We have sent you as a witness, a bearer of good tidings, and a warner, calling people to Allah by His grace, and as a light-giving lamp.' (Al-Ahzab 33: 46-47).

 

Alhamdulillah, Summa Alhamdulillah, today, I continue to speak on our beloved Master, Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh), and his status as the greatest prophet among all prophets. As I mentioned last week, while Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) is the greatest prophet and the last law-bearing prophet, it does not mean there will be no prophets after him. Prophets and Messengers of Allah will continue to come, but only from his own Ummah (community), and not from the communities that have rejected him (pbuh). This forms a chain of belief, where one Messenger confirms the other, and the new Messenger is born from the community and faith of the previous Messenger of Allah who has passed away.

Muhammad: 'Khatam-an-Nabiyyin'

 

The Advent of the Seal of all Prophets, Muhammad (pbuh)

 

'O our Lord, send among them a Messenger from among themselves, who will recite to them Your Verses [revelations], teach them Your Book and Wisdom, and purify them. Indeed, You are the Exalted in Might, the Wise.'  (Al-Baqara 2: 130)

  

Hazrat Ibrahim (as) and Hazrat Isma’il (as) made a profound supplication, which Allah has mentioned in the Holy Quran, to endure until the Day of Judgement, and which gives the good news of the advent of Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) as an answer to their prayer.

Life of Hazrat Musa (as)

 

The Messengers of Allah

'The Messenger believes in what has been revealed to him from his Lord, and so do the believers. They believe in Allah, His angels, His Books, and His messengers. (They proclaim) “We make no distinction between any of His messengers.” And they say, “We hear and obey. (We seek) Your forgiveness, our Lord! And to You (alone) is the final return.” (Al-Baqara 2: 286)

 

Today, by the grace of Allah, I continue my series of sermons on the Prophets and Messengers of Allah. Last week, I spoke about how the Bani Isra’il found themselves in Egypt and how, over time, they became slaves under the tyrannical rule of the Pharaohs.

 

It was during that period that Allah planned to send Hazrat Musa (as) to warn Pharaoh so that he might reform. Allah narrates the life of Hazrat Musa (as) and his teachings in 22 Surahs of the Quran, with the most detailed accounts of his life and mission as a prophet found in 5 Surahs, namely: Surah Al-Araf, Surah Taha, Surah Ash-Shu’ara, Surah Al-Qasas, and Surah Ghafir (Al-Muminun).

The Lineage of Ibrahim (as)

 

'The Messenger believes in what has been revealed to him from his Lord, and so do the believers. They believe in Allah, His angels, His Books, and His messengers. (They proclaim) “We make no distinction between any of His messengers.” And they say, “We hear and obey. (We seek) Your forgiveness, our Lord! And to You (alone) is the final return.” (Al-Baqara 2: 286)

 

Alhamdulillah, Summa Alhamdulillah, I continue my Friday sermon on the same subject as my previous sermons, namely, on the Messengers and Prophets of Allah.

 

Throughout the history of the prophets, we have seen that they all brought a single message: Worship Allah alone and do not associate any false deities with Him in His worship.

Al Ahzab, 42- 49: A Commentary- 2

 

The Duahs of the Holy Prophet ^(sa) & The Promise of Allah- Part 3

 

'O you who believe! Remember Allah with much remembrance. And glorify Him morning and evening. It is He Who blesses you, as do His angels, to get you out of darkness into light, and He has always been Merciful to the believers. Their greeting on the Day they meet Him will be, “Peace!” And He has prepared for them an honourable reward. O Prophet, We have sent you as a Witness and a Bearer of glad tidings and a Warner, as one who calls people to Allah by His leave, and as a light-giving lamp. Give good news to the believers that they will have a great bounty from Allah. Do not obey the disbelievers and the hypocrites. Overlook their annoyances, and put your trust in Allah. For Allah is sufficient to take care of all matters.'  (Surah Al-Ahzab 33: 42-49)

 

Alhamdulillah, Summa Alhamdulillah, I am continuing my Friday sermon today on the spiritual beauty of the Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh), and how his status, prayers, and the promises made by Allah to him have been fulfilled and will continue to be fulfilled. I had also highlighted how he was the greatest Caller to Allah (Dai-Illallah), and how we too, starting with myself as the Khalifatullah of this era, must strive to become excellent callers to Allah in the image of our beloved Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh).

 

Like I was saying, Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) is not the biological father who produced any surviving male child who came directly from him – he is not the father of any of you in this aspect, but he is certainly a prophet of Allah and a father who produces prophets, such [special] people and prophets who deserve Allah’s blessings.

Al Ahzab, 42- 49: A Commentary- 1

The Duahs of the Holy Prophet ^(sa) & The Promise of Allah- Part 2

 

'O you who believe! Remember Allah with much remembrance. And glorify Him morning and evening. It is He Who blesses you, as do His angels, to get you out of darkness into light, and He has always been Merciful to the believers. Their greeting on the Day they meet Him will be, “Peace!” And He has prepared for them an honourable reward. O Prophet, We have sent you as a Witness and a Bearer of glad tidings and a Warner, as one who calls people to Allah by His leave, and as a light-giving lamp. Give good news to the believers that they will have a great bounty from Allah. Do not obey the disbelievers and the hypocrites. Overlook their annoyances, and put your trust in Allah. For Allah is sufficient to take care of all matters.' (Surah Al-Ahzab 33: 42- 49)

These verses from Surah Al-Ahzab that I have just recited come right after the mention of Khataman Nabiyyin and it is well connected with the subject of Khataman Nabiyyin. 

Adam's Sons: Habil and Qabil

 

God's messengers and Man's free-will

 
'The Messenger believes in what has been revealed to him from his Lord, and so do the believers. They believe in Allah, His angels, His Books, and His messengers. (They proclaim) “We make no distinction between any of His messengers.” And they say, “We hear and obey. (We seek) Your forgiveness, our Lord! And to You (alone) is the final return.” (Al-Baqara 2: 286)

 

Alhamdulillah Summa Alhamdulillah, I continue my sermon on the Messengers of Allah and the struggle between good and evil.

 

From the Islamic perspective, all prophets and messengers of Allah deserve the respect and love of believers. When Allah established Adam (as) on earth, He granted him a wife from his own being, of his own quality and essence, to bring forth a new generation of humans. These humans have free will, with the choice to choose their path: either they choose the right path and gain divine love, or they become companions of the Satan and burn with him in Hell.

Prophets and Divine Love

 

The Messengers of Allah 

 

'The Messenger believes in what has been revealed to him from his Lord, and so do the believers. They believe in Allah, His angels, His Books, and His messengers. (They proclaim) “We make no distinction between any of His messengers.” And they say, “We hear and obey. (We seek) Your forgiveness, our Lord! And to You (alone) is the final return.” (Al-Baqara 2: 286)

 

Alhamdulillah Summa Alhamdulillah, I resume my sermon on the subject I discussed last week regarding the creation of Adam (as).

 

So, we see that just as the angels submitted to the will of Allah when He created Adam (as), and accepted His will as His law without finding within themselves the idea to revolt against Allah’s will, and where they [i.e. not just the messengers but the angels as well] said: ‘We have heard and obey,’ similarly, all souls, even before the creation of Adam (as), whom Allah had decreed to send to earth, all of them – including us – submitted to Allah’s will when Allah decreed our coming into this world, and where He placed us among the descendants of our ancestor Adam (as) who contained within him the divine essence. Therefore, the human race also bore witness that we would be obedient to Allah and submit to His will. We must be very aware that all prophets and messengers are also included, because we too (the Messengers) must believe in the Messengers who came before us. We have the duty to confirm the coming of the prophets and messengers before us, and we also announce the coming of the prophets after us, until the final limit of the end of the world where it is in Allah’s decision to destroy the earth and create other creations, because nothing is impossible in His power.

God's Prophets

 

'The Messenger believes in what has been revealed to him from his Lord, and so do the believers. They believe in Allah, His angels, His Books, and His messengers. (They proclaim) “We make no distinction between any of His messengers.” And they say, “We hear and obey. (We seek) Your forgiveness, our Lord! And to You (alone) is the final return.” (Al-Baqara 2: 286)

Alhamdulillah, Summa Alhamdulillah, Allah has done a great favour to mankind, and in the past to every nation of the world, whereby sometimes He sends one, two or sometimes even four prophets at the same time with the same message, i.e., to preach: “Laa Ilaaha Illallah” (There is no one to worship but Allah).

 

Even today, Allah continues to pour down His favours and has chosen you, in this century to witness the advent of one of His Elects and Messengers, this humble servant to show and guide you to Allah, and to manifest such positives changes in you to enable you to see the divine light.

Lessons from Nuh (as)

The Messengers of Allah

 

'The Messenger believes in what has been revealed to him from his Lord, and so do the believers. They believe in Allah, His angels, His Books, and His messengers. (They proclaim) 'We make no distinction between any of His messengers.' And they say, 'We hear and obey. (We seek) Your forgiveness, our Lord! And to You (alone) is the final return.' (Al-Baqara 2: 286)

 

All the prophets who preceded Muhammad (pbuh) were sent with a message of warning and guidance to a particular people. None of their messages was intended to be universal, including that of Jesus [Isa (as)], who was commissioned by Allah specifically as a prophet to the Children of Israel, Israel being another name given to Jacob [Yaqub (as)], until there came the last law-bearing prophet and messenger, i.e. Muhammad (pbuh) who was entrusted with the final and complete set of Allah’s laws as guidance for the whole of humanity for all times to come. So, who were some of those prophets of Allah?

'Khilafat' After A Prophet

 

Khilafat is a Sunnat Allah. According to Islamic teachings, and historic evidences of enduring Divine practice ['Sunnat Allah'], a Prophet of God is usually succeeded by a system of 'Khilafat' among the believers who followed in the footsteps of that elect of God. Since the traditions of the Holy Prophet (sa) also acknowledges prophets of the past without any large body of disciples and followers in their times, how the mission of God as represented by the Messenger is continued in a new era after the Prophet's times is indeed a matter of Divine Plan and related decisions. In the aftermath of a question received by a member of our Jamaat on prophethood and Khilafat, Hazrat Imam Muhyiuddin Al Khalifatullah Al Mahdi Munir Ahmad Azim (aba) of Mauritius has advised his disciples to bear in mind that Allah’s works and plans are always perfect. People may not understand a matter but that Allah has the perfect reply for it.

 

Reproduced below is the Question raised to, and the Response offered by Hazrat Saheb (aba): 

The Question is as thus: Huzur, there is a Hadith which states that: 'There had not been any prophethood which was not succeeded by Khilafat' (Kanz al-Ummal, Hadith 32246)

 

But in another long Hadith it is mentioned that the Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) had said: 'Nations were displayed before me, one or two prophets would pass by along with a few followers. A prophet would pass by accompanied by nobody…' (Bukhari)

 

The question here is that if a prophet had no follower, how could he be succeeded by Khilafat?

Allah & His Chosen One

In his Friday Sermon of 05 July 2024~28 Dhul-Hijjah 1445 AH, Imam- Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam Hazrat Khalifatullah Al Mahdi Munir A. Azim (aba) of Mauritius speaks on true faith and devotion to God, explaining what it entails from sincere believers in every day life.  In this era, as in the times of Divine Elects in history, believers stand to gain rewards when they demonstrate  gratitude and loyalty to God and His commands; a commitment to struggle against the selfish [evil] impulses through patience and prayer; a sound heart embracing God’s will and pleasure at all times regardless of mundane setbacks and personal losses, notes Hazrat Saheb (aba). 

'Nabi' and 'Rasul' in Islam

 

'Rasulan Nabiyan'  (Messenger & Prophet) 

The Messenger believes in what has been revealed to him from his Lord, and so do the believers. They believe in Allah, His angels, His Books, and His messengers. (They proclaim) “We make no distinction between any of His messengers.” And they say, “We hear and obey. (We seek) Your forgiveness, our Lord! And to You (alone) is the final return.” (Al-Baqara 2: 286)

Alhamdulillah, Summa Alhamdulillah, today I have chosen to talk about the messengers of Allah. First of all, when we talk about the Messengers of Allah, it is very important that we are aware that the Islamic conception regarding the role and function of the prophets is different from the conception of the Jews and Christians. In Islam, the word “Nabi” (prophet) or even “Rasul” (Messenger) is not reserved for only the Elects of Allah who have received divine revelations as divine laws to share with their peoples. When we talk about prophets before the coming of Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh), we are talking about prophets whose message was limited to their own people, while Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) and all those who come and will come as his followers-prophets, will be prophets who cannot bring any new law, where they must base themselves only on the Holy Quran and the information of the Ghayb (Invisible) that Allah shows them.

 

And so, this brings us to the question, can a prophet come after Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh)? 

Divine Message and Our Choices- 2

Guidance & Misguidance: Rewards & Punishments: Part 2

 

“Those who reject Allah and hinder from the Path of Allah, for them will We add penalty to penalty, for that they used to spread mischief.” (An-Nahl 16: 89)

 

Allah has established the system of reward and punishment as the result of the deeds and intentions of mankind on earth. The rewards are doubled and multiplied much more - to a larger extent, more than one can imagine - for the true believers who recognise, accept and follow His Messenger whenever He sends one to this world.

 

As for those who harbour hatred and hinder people from the way of Allah, by restricting them from listening to the prophet of Allah and to believe in the Divine Message he has come equipped with, therefore such people invite upon themselves penalty upon penalty because not only have they disbelieved but they have also contributed to a larger extent to the ruin of the faith of others, lying as barriers in their path to forbid them from the way of Allah.

 

Hell is a place made by Allah to punish the evildoers in the hereafter. Paradise and Hell each has seven levels. The concept of stages or levels in Hell is based on the extent and weight of the sins committed by the sinner and those levels are associated with different kinds of punishments that are both physical and spiritual in nature.

Divine Message and Our Choices

 

Guidance & Misguidance: Rewards & Punishments

 

'And Allah’s is the direction of the way, and some (paths) go not straight. And had He willed He would have led you all aright.' (An-Nahl, 16: 10) 

The existence of man revolves around his Creator and he does not even perceive it except for the truly intelligent. When Allah sends His Messages or Revelations upon His Elect, He guides him to guide the people through them. These Divine Messages come in the form of good news as well as warnings. The good news is imparted to all the people without distinction, giving them the blessed opportunity for reform. Those who submit to the will of Allah and reach out their hands to receive the divine boons are those who will go to become lights in their own rights through the light of Allah and His Messenger. They are those who will light up new lights through their efforts to invite others to Allah, and to accept the gift of Divine Revelations and the advent of a Messenger in their era.

As for those who turn their back to the Divine Messages and Messenger, they are those who fall prey to the mirages which the Satan make them see – of a world filled with success and power which are but flimsy and fake.

Had Allah wanted, He could have guided all people on the Straight Path. He has the power to do so. Apart from His Chosen Path, the Path of Righteousness, there are other paths which are crooked and misleading and which do not lead to Allah. This is the trial which He has set upon man, to seek the true path, tread on it and keep walking and striving, despite the great hurdles on the way so that they may accede to none but Allah.

The Realm of Divine Revelations- II

 

The Mysterious & Wonderful Realm of Divine Revelations and the Advent of a Messenger of Allah

'It is not granted to any mortal that Allah should speak to him except through revelation or from behind a veil, or by sending a messenger to reveal by His command what He wills: He is Exalted and Wise.'  (Ash-Shuraa 42: 52)

 

Alhamdulillah Summa Alhamdulillah, I will continue today’s Friday Sermon on the subject of Divine Revelations and the Advent of a Messenger of Allah.

 

As I told you last week, the Messenger of Allah is such a recipient which is empty of himself and filled instead with Allah’s Will. He submits himself to the Will of Allah and makes the divine essence control him, in his actions so that he is able to properly transmit the divine messages that he has been commissioned to distribute to his people and to all humanity (especially for the Islamic Prophets and Messengers of Allah - who come after the Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (saws) and who follow in his footsteps in order to revive the teachings and commandments of the Quran and his own Sunnan (practices) – i.e., the Sunnan of our Beloved Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh).