Poem: ‘The Light of Muhammad’

In the cultural memory of the Muslims, Rabi’ul Awwal 12 marks the birth anniversary of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sa). As the messenger of God and embodiment of Qur’anic ethics, the Prophet of Islam spiritually-liberated humankind for all times from the clutches of devilish ideologies and pagan practices in the name of deities and divinity. His exemplary personal qualities of head and heart inspired generations of people to value faith above the world, and yet, earthly dominance did not elude them either. Despite a millennium of hostile propaganda by anti-Muslim elements, independent historians today openly admit and recognize that the Prophet of Islam stands tall amidst the rise and fall of nations in the shifting sands of time. If Hazrat Ibrahim (as) was once given a Divine-promise of an Ummah as numerous as the stars on the night-sky, at one level, its literal fulfilment is found in the dominance and global spread of Islam through the centuries. It is also instructive to note that by all accounts, Islam is the religion of the future as well. Indeed, the light of Muhammad continues to illumine the spiritual horizons of the world- with more and more people finding solace in the shade of the Prophetic Teachings, as time goes by.

Reproduced below is the translation of a Persian poem by the Promised Messiah Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian (originally appeared in the Review of Religions of February 1991):

 

What a marvellous light

And radiance is to be found

In the life and person

Of Muhammad! Indeed this is a mine

Wonderfully rich in rubies

Of priceless worth.

 

Look wheresoever, I may,

In the two worlds

I can absolutely find no one

With the greatness and grandeur

Of this the greatest benefactor

Of the human race.

 

If you long to obtain

Deliverance from the lust

Of your mind, then come

To include yourself

Among his devotees.

'Duah': Invocations to Allah- XVI

Alhamdulillah Summa Alhamdulillah, all praise is to Allah, Lord of the worlds Who gave me the Tawfiq to continue on the subject of today’s sermon on the “revealed duah” upon this humble servant. 

Before I get to the heart of these uplifting invocations, I share with you a very interesting sign that a Muntaqa from Tamil Nadu, Ata’us Salaam saw during his prayer this week. He saw in a vision a young man standing next to him during his Esha prayer and this person said to him, “I am the prophet Nuh (as).” Allahu Akbar. Allah manifested Hazrat Nuh (as) as a young person. May Allah protect this Muntaqa and his family and the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam as a whole from all adversities, and grant us victory over enemies in an extraordinary way. May Allah continue to bless His Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam, His Khalifatullah and sincere disciples in His Jamaat and grant us the light of His grace, forgiveness and infinite honour, both in this world and the hereafter. Ameen.

Bismillah-ir-Rahman-ir-Rahim

In the name of Allah, The Most Gracious, The Most Merciful

Rabbana atina fid-dunya hassanataww-wa fil-aakhirati hasanataww-waqina ‘adhaaban-naar, wa adkhilnal jannataa ma’al abrar, Ya Azizu Ya Ghaffaru Ya Rabbal-Aalamin.

Our Lord! Grant us good (or success) in this world as well as good (or success) in the other world, and protect us from the fire (of hell). Admit us to Paradise among the virtuous; (O Allah) Almighty, Forgiving, Lord of the worlds!

Remembering Hamza Saheb

Hamza Ibrahim Saheb, one of the senior-most members of the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam-India, passed away in Kerala this week. He was 74 years old and has had certain age-related health concerns for some time now. Possibly, he was waiting for the ongoing Covid-related public health emergency in the State to subside so as to go for a thorough medical check-up, when the death came of heart failure on the evening of 18 October 2020, around 5.30 pm, Innallillahi wa inna ilayhi raajeeoune.

Hamza Ibrahim Saheb worked with the judicial department of the Kerala government, in the administrative/clerical side of the subordinate courts system, until retirement from service almost two decades ago. After retirement from job, he continued to be active in striving to be a good Muslim in life, as he understood it. It was this life-long commitment to the Prophetic Way that induced him to keep his mind and intellect open to spiritual perceptions until his last breath in this world. He did not hesitate to follow his heart in recognizing the Truth as he perceived it- even when such spiritual explorations and interests took him away from conventional wisdom and the prevailing orthodoxies of his social environment. Born and brought up in a traditional Muslim household in Alappuzha, Hamza Saheb displayed spiritual conviction and courage in embracing the Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya in 1979. Subsequently, he got married among the Ahmadis of Karunagappally, and came to live in the region. While remaining an Ahmadi Muslim, he came to hear, learn about and went on to recognize the spiritual station and Divine mission of Hazrat Khalifatullah Munir Ahmad Azim (aba) of Mauritius in 2010- indeed, he was one among the first group of believers in Kerala. In his death, he leaves behind his biological family (wife and two grown-up sons and relatives), and the spiritual commune (Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam-Kerala) of the last 10 years of his life. 

'Duah': Invocations to Allah- XV

By His grace, Allah (swt) has given me again the opportunity, and blessed grace, to continue on the subject of my sermon on the duahs revealed at the beginning of the Divine Manifestation. It will not be possible for me to present each of them, mentioning the day, date, time of the revelation in question, as well as the circumstances in which they were revealed to me because the sermon will become too long and it will take months and months since I’m giving a series of sermons on the subject. So I will only share with you a few of these invocations.

Allah has certainly revealed [all these invocations] to me and I will not be able to present them all [at once] for Allah, by His grace and mercy continues to reveal to me - His Khalifatullah - these duahs, as well as other revelations. He is not a God Who gives revelations for a limited time and then stops speaking (giving revelations). When He raises His chosen servant, each time He sends down messages to His Messenger and also to show that He is always there, present and that He will not forsake the Messenger He raised. He gives him messages, duahs, shows him His signs. He is more caring [and affectionate] than a parent who has just received a newborn into his home. Allah does everything for us. He is more devoted than a [human] parent to his child, especially when He sends His Messenger and [this affection and security that Allah gives him makes] enable this Messenger also not to have any fear of creatures, and he does not care of what they say and plot. These people laugh at him, call him a liar, a fool, a madman and say that he takes (Psychotropic) drugs, antidepressants - they blame the Messenger of Allah in different ways and in great quantity, but Allah is present everywhere with His angels who write what these fools say and do; each of their deeds is noted and therefore the time will come when Allah will take them in hand, whether on earth but also in the Hereafter and certainly the punishment of the Hereafter will be more painful.

A Messenger of Allah also has no need to fear what these evildoers are doing against him, for his provisions, honour, dignity, and even his mission are not in the hands of these fools. On the contrary, the more they slander the Messenger of Allah and persecute him, the more Allah will raise his rank, like a ball which, when struck, bounces and rises in the air. It is these kinds of trials, persecutions and boycotts that prove the veracity of a Messenger of Allah. So if the Creator of the Universe has sent His Messenger, why do we have to worry about what these evildoers are doing, when we know full well that their stay here on earth is temporary, and they will have to show up in the court of Allah? Each of them will be accountable for what they have done (on earth).

'Duah': Invocations to Allah- XIV

Alhamdulillah, by the grace of Allah, I continue today the 14th part of my series of sermons on the subject of “duahs” (invocations to Allah). Today I present before you the duahs which Allah revealed to me before and after He raised me as His chosen one, when I was still in the Jamaat Ahmadiyya and also when I was expelled from the Nizam-e-Jamaat on the 1st January 2001. That fateful unforgettable year, on the 7th of January I reached the age of forty, and all that occurred in the realm of spirituality, along with all the persecutions and mockeries were life-changing.

Important Dream at the Beginning of the new Islamic Era

This reminds me of a great dream I had at the beginning of the new 15th Century Hijri, one year later in November 1981. At that time, I was quite young and was clueless about the Hijri Calendar and that a new century was opening for me, as a blessing but also as a lifelong struggle for the sake of Allah. 

I dreamt that four great personalities in white, being very handsome with beautiful beards and illuminating faces came to my parental house, and sat on the sofas which were of different colours. They came with very important news about my life, what shall happen to me in the future, but what I clearly remember after all these years [for I did not keep any written records of my dreams back then] is that they foretold about the great hurdles that I would have to go through in my life but that I must not worry because Allah will remove all these hurdles and be with me. Since I had seen that dream, I was very shaken and panicked and I was hesitant to relate this to anybody. After finally relating it to a good and well-respected Muslim neighbour of mine who had deep affection for me, the latter was awestruck by what I told him and considered this as a great dream and that I was one of the favoured people of Allah. He told me that was why he liked me very much. He encouraged me to relate that dream to my parents. Being worried by what I told her, my mother told me to give away a Sadqua, and to pray [which I did]. As for my father, upon hearing about the dream, he smiled at me, and gave me such comfort that all my worries flew away instantly. He told me that it was indeed a great dream that I had seen, but why must I worry because had not these personalities [i.e. the angels] say that Allah will always be with me? 

So, this was one of the most important dream I had in my youth, prior to being raised as God’s Servant. And Allah kept giving me true dreams and visions, which at that time I could not understand, but little by little when His Divine Manifestation touched me in a way like never before, when I was nearing the age of forty, Allah showed great love and helped me in great ways just like He promised, despite the attacks on my honour and dignity as a Caller to Allah [Dai-Illallah], as a worker and missionary of Islam Ahmadiyyat. During these hard times with the evil plots of a so-called [now ex] Amir along with the people around him, Allah revealed to me many duahs as a comfort to my soul.

'Sirat Allah' and Women

Two distinct strands are visible in male attitudes towards women in different cultures before Islam. At one end of this spectrum, in idolatrous nations, in the rituals of religion, we see the celebration of women as daughters of God, making them deities and goddesses on a lofty pedestal. On the other end, in real life, women face discrimination and injustice and ‘glass ceilings’ everywhere. This glaring contradiction in religious outlook and social practice abounds, on a much larger scale, in the traditional patriarchal frameworks of our societies: the male elites claim to respect and 'worship' women deities, yet they relegate their women to an inferior position- ignoring their dignity and identity, and denying them their interests and rights on an equal footing. 

Islam emerged in an Arabian social order that was already grappling with these broad trends on the status of women. In the pre-Islamic Arabia, many people worshipped female deities and goddesses as well as angels with female names such as al-Lat, al-Uzza and Manat, etc. In spite of such religious practices, like many other patriarchal societies around the world at that time and later, in pre-Islamic Arabia, the dominant male gaze betrayed a contempt for women- reflective in their preference for male progeny and regarding daughters as no more than a necessary evil. While the gender of the child should make no difference in the flow of parental love, it is the decadent social order that hinders the true appreciation of, and gratitude towards God, for the miracle of life in their midst. Indeed, to expound on its progressive outlook on women’s role and function in the social order of the believers, the Qur’an condemns the manifest contradictions in the pre-Islamic Arab attitudes on the question of women: 

‘They ascribe daughters unto God, who is limitless in His glory- whereas for themselves (they would choose, if they could , only) what they desire (male issue): for, whenever any of them is given the glad tiding of (the birth of) a girl, his face darkens, and he is filled with suppressed anger, avoiding all people because of the (alleged) evil of the glad tiding which he has received (and debating within himself:) Shall he keep this (child) despite the contempt (which he feels for it)- or shall he bury it in the dust? Oh, evil indeed is whatever they decide!’ (16: 58-60). 

‘Why for yourselves (you would choose only) male offspring, whereas to Him (you assign) female: that, lo and behold, is an unfair division!’ (53: 22-23). 

Hence, the Qur’an utterly condemns the pre-Islamic male attitudes towards the suppression of women. Female infanticide and foeticide are among the evil practices that continue to exist even in our times. The pre-Islamic practice of burying girls alive may or may not be happening on a larger scale now. However, its modern equivalents such as denying girls’ access to opportunities for developing their qualities and potentials continue to be a bane of several societies. For instance, it was only recently that the Taliban regime wanted to close down women’s education in Afghanistan. It is ironic that Muslim communities privilege pre-Islamic practices that ignore or evade or seek to bend Islamic teachings to suit their social conservatism. In the name of religion and customary practices, women are being denied ‘an equal sky’. 

'Duah': Invocations to Allah- XIII

Alhamdulillah, Summa Alhamdulillah, Allah by His grace, mercy and kindness has once again given me the opportunity to continue on the subject of my sermon on the duahs, more specifically the duahs which are found in the Holy Quran.

By the grace of Allah - I do not know how to thank Him for the blessed opportunities He has granted me to speak on this important subject and at the same time to take the opportunity to recite these duahs to you, and for your good and mine also. 

Certainly, all of this is the result of the Spirit [i.e. the Holy Spirit], which has been caused to descend like a flame upon me and which will intoxicate you with the love of God which flows through my heart. Caught in this state, I spend my time remembering God, not to complete some formalities or to appear so, but because God is going to make my spiritual life, which I love, dependent on this food which is the remembrance of God, just as he made the bodily life of man dependent on physical food. Just as he would swallow an unpleasant-tasting medicine to cure himself, in the same way, it is important that man persevere in his practice of Salat (prayers), and continue to beg God even if he does not derive any pleasure from it.

Faced with such a situation, we, the human race, believers in the Unique God, will have to, through the following supplication, seek pleasure and joy in our Salat, in our supplications to God. This pleasure will come little by little and that too in an illuminating way. We must pray for the mercy of Allah [Bismillah-ir-Rahman-ir-Rahim]:

Rabbana zalamna anfusana wa il-lam taghfir lana wa tarhamna la-na-kunanna minal-khaasirin.

Our Lord, we have acted unjustly towards ourselves! If You don’t forgive us and if You don’t have mercy on us, we will certainly be among the losers!

When you desire victory, success, and divine judgment in difficult situations, call upon God as follows:

Rabbanaftah baynana wa bayna qawmina bil-haqqi wa anta khayrul-faatihin.

Our Lord, make a decision between us and our people. You are the best of judges/ arbitrators!

Rabbana afrigh ‘alayna sabran wa tawaffana muslimin.

Our Lord, pour endurance on us and grant us death in complete submission to You!

Rumi's Poem: 'When I Die'

'I know that the day will come 

when my sight of this earth shall be lost, 

and life will take its leave in silence, 

drawing the last curtain over my eyes.

Yet stars will watch at night,

and morning rise as before,

and hours heave like sea waves 

casting up pleasures and pains.' 

                                          -------Tagore, 'Last Curtain'.

“We have indeed decreed that death shall be ever-present among you: but there is nothing to prevent Us from changing the nature of your existence and bringing you into being anew in a manner as yet unknown to you.”--- (HQ, 56: 61)

Born on 30 September 1207 and died on 17 December 1273, Hazrat Maulana Jalaluddin Rumi (ra) is among the greatest saints of medieval Islam. One of the finest minds of the last millennium, Rumi’s works have truly travelled far: from the Persian-Islamic world, finding its admirers among human communes around the world,the writings are widely-read  today. Rumi means many things to many different people, and attempts are also being made to ‘secularize’ Rumi by declaring him a ‘new age poet’ in the West today; yet the fact remains that Rumi famously counselled everyone to ‘sacrifice your intellect at the feet of the Prophet.’  

His greatest work, the ‘Masnavi’ is, in many ways, a commentary to the Qur’an in the Persian language; explicitly  acknowledging at the very beginning that the Book is an exploration into the heart of Faith- in terms of unveiling the mysteries of attainment to the Truth and of certainty. Almost eight centuries after his lifetime, Rumi continues to speak to every generation through his spiritually-infused writings and poems, reminding us about the human condition through the parables and images of everyday life. Indeed Rumi’s words are quintessentially rooted in Zikrullah, in order for us to remember God and to reform our individual and social morals, and to benefit from the Divine promises for the truly devout in the life to come.

Reproduced Below is a poem from The Dîwân-é Kabîr (also known as "Kulliyat-é Shams" and "Dîwân-é Shams-é Tabrîz"; Ghazal 911):

When I Die

when my coffin

is being taken out

you must never think

I am missing this world

don't shed any tears

don't lament or feel sorry

I'm not falling

into a monster's abyss

when you see

my corpse is being carried

don't cry for my leaving

I'm not leaving

I'm arriving at eternal love

'Duah': Invocations to Allah- XII

Alhamdulillah, Summa Alhamdulillah - By the Grace of Allah, it is the twelfth week today since I have been speaking to you about “duahs” (invocations or supplications to Allah, The Unique God) in my Friday sermons. Today I present to you some “duahs” that are found in the Holy Quran. All the movements in prayers [be it in Salat & duahs] express the deepest humility before God. The tongue and heart, body and soul come together to sing the praises of God and to praise His Glory and Greatness, and to express verbally and concretely the most complete state of weakness and humility of man. In the Holy Quran Allah (swt) has shown us many duahs through His Messengers. Now I present to you these few Quranic duahs. 

To seek the good of this world and the hereafter:

Rabbana aatina fid-dunya hasanataww wa fil ‘akhirati hasanataww waqina ‘azaaban-naar. Our Lord, grant us good in this world and good in the hereafter, and save us from the chastisement of the fire!  

Rabbana hablana min azwaajina wa zurriy-yatina, qurrata ayuniww-wa-jalna lil-muttaqeena Imaama. Our Lord! Grant unto us wives and offspring who will be the comfort of our eyes, and give us (the grace) to lead the righteous. 

Rabbi innii limaa anzalta ilayya min khayrin faqiir. My Lord, I am in great need of whatever good You bestow on me.  

'Duah': Invocations to Allah- XI

Alhamdulillah, Summa Alhamdulillah I continue on the series of sermons on “duahs” (invocations). Today, we shall hear the invocations which the Promised Messiah Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) used to pray. He gave importance to Salat (prayer) and how to beautify our Salat with duahs (invocations) and praises of Allah and His Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh).

The Promised Messiah (as) says: Salat is very important and it is the apex of the spiritual exaltation of the true believer. Salat is the best medium of interacting with God in prayer.  

Salat is nothing but presenting oneself before God Almighty, and it is a combination of praising God and an attempt at the expiration of one’s sins. One who does not keep these purposes in view, derives no benefit from Salat. Therefore, you must perform Salat in the best possible manner. When you are in the standing posture, your whole appearance must reflect the fact that you are standing before God in all humility. When you bow before Him in Salat, it must be a reflection of the bowing of your heart. When you fall prostrate, your manner must be that of a man who is inspired by fear of God. And pray a lot for your spiritual as well as material uplift. (Al-Hakam, 31 May 1903).

‘Darsul Qur’an’ in Malayalam

Qur’an for Soul Illumination

As the religion established by the Creator Himself, Islam’s teachings display an inherent awareness about human nature. It shows an intuitive understanding about the sublime heights to which a humble soul can soar high- or rather, be lifted up by the Heavenly Grace. It also indicates the darker depths to which the arrogant self would be brought down by the raging fires of Hell within when it moves away from its truer moorings. 'Did We not give him two eyes, a tongue, two lips, and point out to him the two clear ways (of good and evil)?' (HQ, 90: 9-11). 'Truly We guided him upon the way, be he grateful or ungrateful' (76: 4).   

According to the Book of God, what lays ahead for the human soul as well as for the wider fortunes of a nation is entirely based on the choices they prefer; the informed decisions they make concerning their own material and spiritual futures. Indeed, the God-gifted free will allows the humans to choose their life journeys: both the highways of righteousness and moderation, and of evil and injustice are open for selection by individuals and their communities and nations. The Holy Prophet (sa) clearly advised, 'O people! There are only two highways: the highway of good and the highway of evil. Make not the highway of evil more beloved to you than the highway of good'. Whether to become a people of moral responsibility and ethical restraint, who prefer racial and religious amity, tolerance of other ways of life, compassion for the less privileged, and show residual goodwill for all fellow beings- including animals and nature; or to become a society of maniacs who thrive on conquest, disorder and triumphalism- each could pursue what one prefers in this world for as long as Allah (swt) wills it so. After all, the final outcome or the eventual judgement of all matters are in the Hands of Allah (swt).   

In the perplexing surroundings of life on earth, the human soul craves for pure guidance: it is to aid and help in this latent human quest for illumination that Allah (swt) sends His messages through His chosen representatives in every era- a sublime act of mercy for His earthly creatures. Indeed, the advent of the Holy Prophet (sa) and the exemplary model of patience and steadfastness and Divine consciousness he left behind as his life in this world is a perennial source of inspiration for all those who are at crossroads of life, but remain in awe of God at all times: 'The Messenger of God is an excellent model for those of you who put your hope in God and the Last Day and remember Him often' (HQ, 33:22). 

Indeed, the Book of God left behind by the Prophet (sa) provides all encompassing guidance to the human soul, illuminating the correct and straight path to tread in the contingent circumstances of our earthly life. According to the Promised Messiah Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as), there are over 700 verses of clear rulings in the Holy Qur’an and it is only by being aware of, and following them in full measure, that we become believers. Hazrat Mirza (as) wrote:

 ‘...beware and do not take a single step contrary to the teaching of God and the guidance of the Quran. I tell you truly that anyone who disregards even a small injunction of the seven hundred commandments of the Quran, shuts upon himself the door of salvation’.(Noah’s Ark, p. 42, UK edition, 2018). 

Faith and Life in the Covid-Times

Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam-Tamil Nadu, India has just published a new edition of their spiritual journal, the 'Voice of Imam', first issue of the new Hijri era 1442 AH, Alhamdulillah. 

The journal is a veritable treasure trove of distilled spiritual wisdom, providing in a succinct way the enduring teachings of Islam as reflected in the writings and sermons of our spiritual masters, the Promised Messiah Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) of Qadian; the Musleh Maoud Hazrat Mirza Bashir-ud-Din Mahmud Ahmad (ra); and the Imam of the present era, Hazrat Khalifatullah Munir A. Azim (aba) of Mauritius. Likewise, members of the Jamaat in Tamil Nadu, including Naib Amir KM Saleem Saheb, contributed their spiritual writings through its pages. The present issue of the Journal can be accessed here. 

Reproduced below for the benefit of all our readers is the Editorial to the present issue of the Journal from the blessed pen of Hazrat Khalifatullah (aba):

'Dear Readers, 
May the peace, grace and blessings of God Almighty be upon you. 

The times that we are presently living are really difficult times, but it is also a time to reflect on one’s deeds and to reform oneself in the best way. The world is heading towards destruction and unfortunately, this destruction has been brought by the hands of man himself. Humanity is in danger, and it is humans who are bringing about this destruction upon themselves.

Human life is very sacred, and all people, especially the true believers of God Almighty should strive to preserve humankind and the essence of humanity in themselves. That humanity should not be marred by evil whisperings, thoughts and deeds. 

We are in such an era, a blessed era wherein Allah has sent His Messenger as a guide and leader for you all, yet it is also a critical time whereby if mankind does not heed the divine message and call, this can bring about destruction after destruction for the human race.

My humble advice as a Messenger of God Almighty, the Sole God, our Benefactor to Whom belong all dominion of the heavens and earth is that you should turn to Him alone in worship and abandon all evils, in deeds and thoughts.

'Duah' : Invocations to Allah- X

'Massih Maoud' @ 10

Alhamdulillah, Summa Alhamdulillah, [yesterday] September 10 marked 10 years of my official proclamation as the Promised Messiah of this era and the Mujaddid of the 15th century of the Hegira (September 10, 2010- 2020). Certainly, when an honour comes from Allah, He proclaims it in the heavens and on the earth in an exhilarating way, and the faithful and the seekers of truth are those who come forward because Allah opens their hearts to recognize and accept this truth.

All glory belongs to Allah Who has raised me as His Chosen Servant and Messenger in this century and bestowed upon me the honour/ title/ mantle of Messiah and Reformer for the benefit of mankind.

It is my humble prayer that Allah may guide the people who have the fear of Allah in their hearts and direct them to His Divine Manifestation of this century and to the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam so that Islam and humanity as a whole be welded once again under the banner of Tawheed (the oneness of God). Ameen.

Today the world is in the grip of multiple degradations, both on the material and spiritual front. We can say that the world is very sick, the people are in extreme pain. Our little Mauritius is also not spared from the dangers that lie in wait [and which have already gripped it], especially with the doubtful and worrying events which have occurred in recent months with the entry of the Japanese bulk carrier “Wakashio” into our territory at Pointe d’Esny and the drama that followed with the leak of tons of diesel and fuel oil making the coast of Mauritius unrecognizable and killing sea creatures. 

After this event, many events took place, but Insha-Allah, if Allah give me the Tawfiq, I will speak to you a little more about this in another speech. 

What I want you to understand is that humanity is in danger [like I have since the beginning told you and keep repeating to you], the conscience of man is in danger because this conscience is threatened by malicious troubles which make him choose the world over the spiritual [Allah]. He prefers to race for money and vain pleasures instead of seeking true spiritual pleasure, the pleasure of Allah which is eternal.

Therefore, prayer is essential in our daily life. Without prayer to the One God [Allah] and without His remembrance (Zikr), we will achieve nothing. Remembering Allah is to guarantee a strong bond with Him, to guarantee His pleasure for us and His help in all circumstances of our life.

Pandemic and the Prophet

[Reproduced below is an article by Dr. Craig Considine of the USA. Originally appeared in Newsweek International on 17 March 2020; against the backdrop of the Covid-19 global pandemic, the article provides a glimpse into the Divinely-inspired advices and healthy practices left behind by the Holy Prophet of Islam (sa). In the search for safety and security from the deadly contagion stalking the world today, the finest minds amongst us testify to the stunning validity and effectiveness of the Prophetic practices even in these uncertain times. Along with his devoted prayers to God Almighty, the Holy Prophet (sa) valued reason and common sense in every day life, including in the fight against epidemics: a lesson for all who truly seek to practice the most ideal way of life]. 

The COVID-19 pandemic is forcing governments and news sources to provide the most accurate and helpful advice to the world's population, as the disease is indeed global in reach. Health care professionals are in high demand, and so too are scientists who study the transmission and effect of pandemics.

Experts like immunologist Dr. Anthony Fauci and medical reporter Dr. Sanjay Gupta are saying that good hygiene and quarantining, or the practice of isolating from others in the hope of preventing the spread of contagious diseases, are the most effective tools to contain COVID-19.

Do you know who else suggested good hygiene and quarantining during a pandemic?

Muhammad, the prophet of Islam, over 1,300 years ago.

While he is by no means a "traditional" expert on matters of deadly diseases, Muhammad nonetheless had sound advice to prevent and combat a development like COVID-19.

Muhammad said: "If you hear of an outbreak of plague in a land, do not enter it; but if the plague outbreaks out in a place while you are in it, do not leave that place."

He also said: "Those with contagious diseases should be kept away from those who are healthy."

Muhammad also strongly encouraged human beings to adhere to hygienic practices that would keep people safe from infection. Consider the following hadiths, or sayings of Prophet Muhammad:

"Cleanliness is part of faith."

'Duah': Invocations to Allah- IX

Alhamdulillah, Summa Alhamdulillah, I implore God by His most beautiful names and His most sublime attributes, and I thank Him for giving me the blessed opportunity to continue the Friday Sermon series on the duahs of Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh). I am making this effort only by the grace and help of Allah. I also implore Him to enable me to benefit from them both during my lifetime on earth and after my death, and to share it with the people - anyone who reads the sermons on the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam’s website. All praise is to Almighty God [Allah] and we praise and implore His help as well as His forgiveness. Ameen.

As for the Holy Prophet (pbuh), he tells us: “He who remembers his Lord and he who does not remember his Lord are like the living and the dead.” (Muslim)

Anyone who recites a letter from the Book of God will have done a good deed knowing that every good deed is rewarded many times. And I don't mean by letter: Alif-Lam-Mim, because Alif is a letter, Lam is a letter and Mim is a letter. (Tirmidhi)

Now let’s see the duahs which Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) used to recite:

Allahumma anta Rabbi, Laa Ilaaha Illa anta khalaqtani wa ana abduka, wa ana ala ahdika wa wa’dika maa stata’tu. Audhu bika min sharri maa sana’tu. Abu’u laka bini’matika alayya wa abu’u bi-dhanbi. Faghfir li fa-innahu laa yaghfiru dh-dhunuuba ilaa anta.

O Allah, You are my Lord, none has the right to be worshipped except You; You created me and I am Your servant and I abide to Your covenant and promise as best I can, I take refuge in You from the evil of which I have committed. I acknowledge Your favour upon me and I acknowledge my sin, so forgive me, for verily none can forgive sin except You. (Bukhari)

Allahumma afini fi badani. Allahumma aafini fi sam’i. Allahumma aafini fi basari Laa Ilaaha Illa anta. Allahumma inni audhu bika minal kufi, wal-faqri. Wa audhu bika min adhabil-qabri. Laa Ilaaha Illa anta. [to recite three times]

O Allah, make me healthy in my body. O Allah, preserve for me my hearing. O Allah, preserve for me my sight. There is none worthy of worship but You.

O Allah, I seek refuge in you from disbelief and poverty and I seek refuge in you from the punishment of the grave. There is none worthy of worship but you. (Bukhari, Abu Dawud, Ahmad)

Hasbiy-Allahu Laa Ilaaha Illa huwa alayhi tawakkaltu wa huwa Rabbul arshil azeem. [to recite seven times]

Allah is sufficient for me, there is no Deity except Him. I place my trust in Him and He is the Lord of the great throne. (Abu Dawud)

Whoever recite these words seven times in the morning and in the evening will see God spare him from all the worries that will preoccupy him, both on this earth and in the hereafter.

'Duah': Invocations to Allah-VIII

Waz-zaakiriinallaaha kasiiraww-wa zaaakiraati ‘a-‘addallaahu lahum-maghfirataww-wa ‘ajran ‘aziimaa.

… men and women who remember Allah often—for (all of) them Allah has prepared forgiveness and a great reward. (Al-Ahzab 33 : 36)

Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) as saying that Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, thus stated: “I am near to the thought of My servant as he thinks about Me, and I am with him as he remembers Me. And if he remembers Me in his heart, I also remember him in My Heart, and if he remembers Me in assembly I remember him in assembly, better than his (remembrance), and if he draws near Me by the span of a palm, I draw near him by the cubit, and if he draws near Me by the cubit I draw near him by the space (covered by) two hands. And if he walks towards Me, I rush towards him.”

Alhamdulillah, Summa Alhamdulillah, Allah (swt) gave me the Tawfiq to continue my sermons on the subject of “Duahs” and today is the 8th part. All this is by the grace of Allah (swt) and His blessing and where He is pouring these duahs on me so that I can present them in front of all the brothers, sisters and children in Islam as well as all my dear disciples around the world. Ya Allah, Ya Azim, Ya Ghaffar, Ya Rabbul Aalameen (O Allah The Almighty, The Indulgent, The Master of all worlds), thank you for all Ilm (knowledge) that You pour out on me so that I lead Your servants on the right path. Ameen.

We pray that Allah (swt) will grant mercy, salvation and blessing to our prophet Muhammad (pbuh), as well as to his family and all of his companions. Ameen.

It is thanks to this great prophet Rahmatul-lil-Aalameen (who is a mercy to the whole universe) that we know these duahs. Allah taught us the duahs that His Nabi Kareem (pbuh) used to address to Him, and especially under what circumstances they should be recited. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) himself is this perfect guide and model, and we have no guide except the Messenger of Allah (pbuh). [That is to say] It is from him that all people take example in order to perfect their own Islam and Iman (faith).

'Duah': Invocations to Allah- VII

Yaaa-’ayyuhallaziina ‘aamanuz kuru-laaha zikran-kasiiraa; Wa sabbihuuhu bukrataww-wa ‘asiilaa.

O you who believe, remember Allah abundantly, and glorify Him morning and evening. (Al-Ahzab 33: 42-43)

In a Hadith found in Sahih Muslim, the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said: “When a group of people assemble for the remembrance of Allah, the angels surround them (with their wings), (Allah’s) mercy envelops them, Sakina, or tranquillity descends upon them and Allah makes a mention of them before those who are near Him.”

Alhamdulillah, Summa Alhamdulillah, we have entered a new Islamic year, the year 1442 Hijri and today is the 1st Muharram. Alhamdulillah, Summa Alhamdulillah.

As you all know, Muharram is one of the four holy months, along with Rajab, Dhul-Qaddah, and Dhul-Hijjah. For the Muslim, it is the start of our new Islamic year. So, I wish all Muslims all over the world, as well as my followers in different countries of the world, a “Naya Saal Mubarak”.

'Duah': Invocations to Allah- VI

Alhamdulillah Summa Alhamdulillah, it is purely by the grace of Allah that I continue my sermon on the subject of duahs. 

In Bukhari's book of Hadiths, Kitab’ul Manaqib, there is mention of a duah for Hadhrat Jabir Bin Abdullah (ra). The introduction is as follows: the narrator relates that Hadhrat Jabir (ra) said: My father Abdullah died in a state where he was in debt... and certainly it is very important that when someone dies leaving a debt/ some debts, then the first thing to do is that his children have to repay his debts.

Hadhrat Jabir (ra) said: I was very worried because there were only a few dates with me [in my property], and that was not enough to pay off all of his debts. So I went to Hadhrat Muhammad (pbuh) and said to him: These few dates that I have are not enough to pay off my father's debts, and I [then] have to keep paying that debt for many more years... and he said to the Holy Prophet (pbuh): “Come with me, so that his creditors don't abuse me.”

Since his creditors were all Muslims, he thought that when they would see Hadhrat Muhammad (pbuh) with him, they would not abuse him. Hadhrat Muhammad (pbuh) told him to go and collect all the dates and put them in a pile. Hadhrat Muhammad (pbuh) then went around the dates making duahs. Then he sat down and advised the creditors to forgive Hadhrat Jabir bin Abdullah (ra).

Jabir (ra) said: 'I paid all my creditors in the form of dates until all of my father's debts were completely paid off. And as much as the amount of dates which Hadhrat Muhammad (pbuh) had given as payment, a similar number remained thanks to the prayer that Hadhrat Muhammad (pbuh) made'.

'Duah': Invocations to Allah- V

Allah says in the Quran: “Invoke your Lord in humility and secretly; Indeed, He does not like transgressors. And do not do mischief on the earth, after it has been set in order, and invoke Him with fear and hope; Surely, Allah’s Mercy is (ever) near unto those who do good.” (Al-Arraf 7: 56 & 57)

[In light of these Quranic verses, Huzur (atba) spoke about the importance of making peace, and keeping peace, and to invoke Allah in secret, and the best way to invoke Allah in secret is when you wake up at night for the Tahajjud prayer, where you meet Allah in secret, whereby no one knows about it and you invoke Him. A person may not invoke Allah only at night, but also during the day in his Zikr. Allah may not accept a duah right away, or the next day or in a week, etc. After many years also He can grant that duah and fulfill it. 

Do not do like the woman who despite being in prayer but each time someone came at her neighbour’s place, she used to count the number of people by placing pebbles and then she used to count the number of people who came through the number of pebbles which there were. In the end, it is these very pebbles which formed a barrier between her and Heaven and finally she fell into hell. On the other hand, there is the example of the prostitute upon whom Allah has mercy because of a good deed she did. On day, she saw one of the creatures of Allah, a thirsty dog. She put herself to great trouble only to quench the thirst of the dog. She went to seek water for it and removed her shoe and used it as a recipient to hold water so that she could give it to the dog and quench its thirst. In the end, Allah admitted her to Paradise for her good deed.

You should never create disorder on earth after you have secretly invoked Allah. You should not nullify your invocations and prayers by doing evil upon the earth. And you should not dare to say that despite multiple prayers that you have done, but Allah is not fulfilling those invocations. You should never doubt the ability of Allah to fulfill those duahs. On the contrary, a believer should always trust in Allah and be confident that Allah will listen and grant him his prayers. 

The Murder of Tahir Naseem

Charged with the offence of 'blasphemy' and facing legal proceedings for the last two years in Pakistan, Tahir Ahmad Naseem was murdered by a fanatic youth on Wednesday, 29 July 2020. Apparently, the assassin was able to sneak inside a Peshawar courtroom where a judge was presiding over the case, and  shoot the victim down at point blank range, to silence him forever. Media reports testify that while the gunman Faisal Khan was immediately apprehended by the police; the murder is being openly celebrated as a 'victory of Islam', with many Mullahs competing among themselves to declare the murderer a 'Ghazi' - soldier of Islam-, turning a horrific murdered into national hero! 

Eid-ul-Adha Sermon 2020

The Eid-ul-Adha is not a celebration like any other. It is not a celebration of joy and rejoicing like Eid-ul-Fitr. On the contrary, it marks the spirit of sacrifice of Hadhrat Ibrahim (as), the great prophet, ancestor of our beloved Prophet Hadhrat Muhammad (pbuh).

This great sacrifice was perpetuated to serve as a lesson to humanity. Everyone knows this story. I myself have delivered several sermons on the story of Hadhrat Ibrahim (as) and his son, Hadhrat Ishmael (as). Read the sermons I have delivered in previous years on the occasion of Eid-ul-Adha; I don’t have to come back to the same topic again.

What we don’t know and what we need to know is the lesson to be learned, especially from this sacrifice. Without this particular sacrifice, Hadhrat Ibrahim (as) could not have established himself as the Comrade of Allah (Khalilullah). Imagine yourselves; after having become a father at an advanced age when you had no children, after having made many supplications (duahs) to Allah (swt) to give you a child, an heir of your own seed, and behold! When Allah (swt) grants you this child, and where He accepts your invocations, He now tests you to know how much love you have for Him… Is the love that you have for this child stronger than your love for Allah? So He tests you in this way.

'Duah': Invocations to Allah- IV

It is purely by the grace of Allah that I continue my sermon on the subject of duahs today. Alhamdulillah, Summa Alhamdulillah. And it is purely by His grace that He confirms my truthfulness and consolidates the faith (Iman) of my disciples whereby He gives them inspirations, dreams, visions and revelations.

Alhamdulillah, within the framework of these series of Friday Sermons that I have been presenting on the subject of duahs, Allah has manifested in many ways to my disciples to show them the value of duahs and also to strengthen their faith in the Divine Manifestation of this century. 

Last Friday July 24, 2020, a very important spiritual event took place when my dear disciple Naib Amir Saleem Sahib from Tamil Nadu was reciting the Friday Sermon and he was reading the Friday Sermon that I had given on July 17, 2020 on the subject of duahs.

During the Friday Sermon, his wife Fatima Jasmine Sahiba saw in a state of vision (Kashaf) an imposing figure who was standing exactly behind Saleem Sahib. He was very tall with a lot of hair on his head. Jasmine Sahiba was very surprised to see him, but this being was very pleasant. Then she felt her soul (Ruh) asking this being: “Who are you?” He replied to her: “Allah sent me. I am a Malaq (angel) whom Allah sent to protect you all.”

So she was very amazed by this and her son shook her and then she no longer saw the angel. She believed that was her imagination. But after that, she heard that voice once more saying the same thing to her. So, she was reassured that all that she experienced was not her imagination. Afterwards, her children also reported that they too saw the angel. Alhamdulillah. It was a very great spiritual experience that they had. Masha-Allah. Allahu Akbar…

In truth, Allah’s promise is always true. I have always pleaded with Allah to grant His protection to all my sincere followers, who have strong faith (Iman) in Allah and His Khalifatullah of this century. May Allah continue to manifest Himself to give courage and strengthen the faith of my dear disciples and ensure that they do not lose heart in difficult times, and that they always thank Him, whether in times of difficulty, and moments of joy too.

Du'ah: Invocations to Allah- III

Alhamdulillah Summa Alhamdulillah, Allah (swt) gives me the Tawfiq to continue my sermons on the subject of duahs.

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Ever Merciful

O Allah, You Who are the Remedy of my wounds, help my ailing heart.

O my Allah, without You my life means absolutely nothing. With such a life, it is better to die than to remain in this world without You.

O Allah, give me the will and the courage so that You will be pleased with me for the great work and responsibility that You have placed on my shoulders. If You are happy with me and the work that I am doing, even though people say that I am a madman, an impostor, and ridicule me, blame me and abase my honour and my dignity, all this does not affect me because it is You Who give honour, dignity to whomever You want. My life, my honour, my food, everything comes from You, and not from these fools.

O Allah! Set on fire, put the flame that comes from the heavens in my heart to allow me to bring back “thousands of lost souls in the fold of Sahih al Islam”, Insha-Allah.

O Allah, all my parts are sacrificed for You. I don’t know anything about Your religion; I am an Ummi (illiterate person). So as not to say that I am very weak in matters of Your Deen (Your religion), I am rather a zero. Give me knowledge, put the light of knowledge in my mind and my heart and give me the strength, courage, energy to distribute this knowledge to humanity in general and especially with the brothers and sisters of the Islamic faith.

O Allah! Work a miracle and send people to the Quran, Your book in which there is no doubt and which is a guide for those who want to take the right path. Remove this veil from their eyes and make them understand Your Sacred Book which You have revealed to Your beloved prophet (pbuh).

O Allah! The garden (of Islam) is dried up; all the fruits harvested in the past century by the Messiah whom You sent have fallen in this century. You raised me to clean this garden and to give life again to this dry garden by Your grace so that new fruits are harvested and where everything becomes green again and not dry, and where each eye will be attracted to the beauties that are found therein [i.e., in the garden of Islam].

O Allah! Give me medicine to distribute to all countries so that they can be delivered from evil.