Saints and the Trajectory of Divine Light

After the death and departure of the Holy Prophet of Islam (sa), Islam could survive and flourish as a religious order and Muslims as a community through the centuries against all odds. On the temporal field, the Muslims achieved great progress and built magnificent empires and astounding forts and palaces and their victories and progress went on to attain an entire civilizational scale thanks to their massive impact wherever they went. As it happened, however, in the ebb and flow of time, their material fortunes declined and the single community disintegrated into splintered sects and partisan groups. On the contrary, regardless of the political fortunes of the Community, spiritual Islam continued to be vitalized and straddle on the lofty trajectory of Divine light almost every century or so with and by the appearance of noble saints, Revivers of faith and Vicegerents of Allah as the Guided Ones in the community. It is through the spiritual insights and practical example of these Divinely-blessed saints that Islam retains and continues to expand its appeal as a religious order among the masses in all the corners of the earth.

In his Friday Sermon of May 10, 2013 the Khalifatullah Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Sahib (atba) of Mauritius provides illuminating insights on this spiritual subject of profound depth and sublime complexity. In this speech, Hadhrat Khalifatullah (atba) offers a profound commentary on the Qur’anic promise of mighty success for the sincere believers by describing the qualities and faculties of the Divinely-raised saints who are allowed to establish live connection with, and receive communications from, the Creator. While the Khilafat of a Divine Messenger may continue among his physical progeny so long as they remain in the straight path of Allah, the trajectory of Divine light and blessings may alter and embrace the spiritual progeny when Allah deems it so necessary. In our times, the Khalifa of the Ahmadiyya community has been stripped off the benefit of Divine revelations in spite of claiming themselves to be the followers of the Promised Massih (as) and on the contrary, Allah has blessed a spiritual progeny of the Promised Massih (as) with the Divine Light and favour. Significantly, the Sermon also specifically contains an important Divine revelation received in the early days of the Divine Manifestation in Mauritius, clearly conveying the lofty spiritual status of the Khalifatullah (atba) in our times.

Read the Extracts from the Friday Sermon:

“... And whoso obeys Allah and His Messenger, shall surely attain a mighty success.” - (Quran 33: 72)

The Culture of Indecency and the Sexual Crimes

In the context of rising incidences of violence against women and other sex-related crimes, including rape and killings, the prevailing culture of indecency and the commodification of women’s body are at the center of the debate. Indeed, the connections are hard to miss except for those who are happy to fool themselves. In the name of western values and woman’s freedoms, technology and innovation, fashion and aesthetics, the weeds of immorality and indecency have been allowed to grow and thrive unchecked in media and the public sphere. So much so that the new culture of indecency is striking at the very roots of the societal health. The indecent representation of women in popular culture and social media, in television and over internet, the easy access to pornographic materials- all these are leading to the incitement to evil and more evil.

In his Friday Sermon of May 03, 2013 the Khalifatullah Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Sahib (atba) of Mauritius drew attention to the rising instances of rape and other violence against women in Mauritius and elsewhere. Instead of protecting the honour and dignity of women, the social culture of our times, exploit and dishonour them and degrade their status. The dehumanization of this culture of indecency is so complete that animal passions have blinded the perpetrators to the horrific and brutal nature of their crimes. Indecency has become so pervasive and percolated down to the very edifice of family that, as the Khalifatullah (atba) notes in the Friday Sermon, many of the old women victims have their perpetrators in their own families and close relations. While the recent instances of rape and other sexual crimes in Mauritius only confirm the predictions and warnings clearly made by the Khalifatullah (atba) in his end- of- the- year- 2012 speech, one can only hope and pray that better sense will prevail and that the people will move away from the brink of disaster.

Read the Extracts from the Friday Sermon:

Why Obey the Divine Messenger?

Our age, in many different ways, bear witness to the great religious and spiritual loss of man. It seems as though people are under an all-pervading, evil spell which cause them trample to dust the spiritual norms of ethical life.   Restoring the sublime values of man’s eternal life requires the coming of a Divinely-raised soul: to teach what the people have allowed to be forgotten- prudence and the straight path. For, it is the enduring practice of our Ever Merciful Lord that He raises His Messenger when things go awry.  In the evocative words of Hadhrat Khalifatullah (atba), “the need for a prophet of Allah, of a messenger of Allah is when man ceases to remain in the frame of spirituality and has lost all bearings on his own religious integrity and spirituality”. In his Friday Sermon of 03 May 2013, the Khalifatullah Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Sahib (atba) of Mauritius gave a discourse on the paramount importance of recognizing and accepting a Divine Messenger whenever he arrives in the world. 

Read the Extracts from the Friday Sermon:

He who obeys the Messenger has obeyed Allah; but those who turn away, We have not sent you over them as a guardian. (4: 81)

Labour Rights and Islamic Economics

May 1^st is celebrated the world over as International Labour Day. In his Friday Sermon of May 1, 2009 the Khalifatullah Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Sahib (atba) of Mauritius   reflected on the significance of recognizing and upholding the rights of employees and workers. The sermon makes a searing critique of the ways in which fundamental labour rights and freedoms have been virtually undermined in most countries of the world. Illustrating the case of Mauritius, the Khalifatullah (atba) points out how the political class pay lip service to the working class and indulge in tokenism to avoid addressing the real, substantive issues of their welfare and dignity.

Reflecting on the situation in the Muslim world, the Khalifatullah (atba) takes note of the strong undercurrents of dissatisfaction and discontentment among the Muslim masses against the elites of their societies. Almost presciently, the Khalifatullah (atba) anticipated the "Arab Spring" events of 2010-11 when he noted the revolutionary upsurge among the Muslim youth leading to the overthrow of governments. He noted that the deep divisions among the Muslims would increase the distance between Islamic precepts and the practice of Muslims. In recent decades, the planting of the western economic ideas and philosophies- ranging from socialism to capitalism, individualism to authoritarianism- on the Islamic soil have only created more puzzles and riddles. In these tumultuous times, the Islamic teachings are being trampled to dust by the leaders and the priests. Consequentially, the contemporary Muslim youth is vulnerable to misguidance and susceptible to violence while confusing oneself with the belief that one is doing service to the religion. The guiding presence of a Divinely- raised soul- a Khalifatullah to lead the Muslim Ummah is, thus, a historic spiritual necessity.

In the Friday Sermon, the Khalifatullah (atba) goes on to indicate and describe the outlines of Islamic norms applicable to economic and social systems. Moderation, restraint, responsibility, trust and fellow feeling are among the principles of conduct pertaining to social relations and economic activities in Islam, points out the Khalifatullah (atba). The task is to translate these ethical and spiritual norms of Islam into enforceable measures and legal rules. There could, however, be debates about specific policies and particular measures needed to maintain social equilibrium between individual freedoms and collective responsibilities. Be that as it may, Islamic norms and values can cater to and adapt in, the dynamic environment of changing societies, points out the Khalifatullah (atba).

Read the Extracts from the Friday Sermon:

“And We desired to show favour unto those who were oppressed in the Earth, and to make them examples and make them the Inheritors, and to establish them on Earth…” (28: 6-7)

Divine Messengers: Trials and Rewards

Islam presents a Most Compassionate and Ever Merciful Lord Almighty. The enduring practice of the raising of Divine Messengers among human communities testifies to the all-encompassing Mercy of Allah. Yet, when a Messenger presents himself before the community, they reject him. In the times of a Messenger, most people would revel in inequities under a veil of ignorance. The pride of riches, vanity of material favours, hubris of mundane power and social influence, arrogance of family inheritance- all seem to keep them away from God and His Messenger. Unfortunately for man, ingratitude and ungratefulness seem to be deeply embedded and ingrained as part of his DNA!

In his Friday Sermon of 26 April 2013, the Khalifatullah Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Sahib (atba) of Mauritius gave a profound discourse on the Divine Law of raising of Messengers. Drawing upon the sacred traditions of the Holy Prophet of Islam (sa), the Khalifatullah (atba) points out that for Allah and His Messengers, it does not really matter how many will follow them, for the Messenger’s duty is to convey the Divine revelations and Message. History bears testimony that some prophets, rejected by their own people, found acceptance after their death and departure from this world. Some others may have had few disciples only. Yet, the situation did not and will not cast any shadow on their truthfulness or the veracity of their claims.  

The denial and rejection of Divine Messengers in the past notwithstanding, Allah the Almighty will continue with His enduring practice: of raising Messenger(s) who will call to Unity of God and the eternal well-being of Man through God-consciousness. Islam offers the glad tiding of heavenly bliss for the early believers in Divine Messengers, whose faith and practice will testify to their gratitude to Allah who raised the Divine Messenger, sincerity of heart and good deeds. Alhamdulillah, these blessings are available for believers in this age as well. Likewise, divine punishments await a generation that rejects the Divine revelations and Message. The contemporary situation of horrifying disasters and havocs visiting almost all the world should be fodder for serous reflection for all. For, these events are taking place at a time when the Messenger of Allah has been and is warning us against the evils of our times.  

  

Read the Extracts from the Friday Sermon:

And there came to them a Messenger from among themselves but they falsely rejected him; so the wrath seized them even in the midst of their iniquities. (16: 114)

Why God Allow Suffering?

The human condition seems to be riddled with the mystery of unconscionable suffering. For, disasters are striking the world and the people are being caught up in the maelstrom everywhere - in the land, on the air or even at the sea! Almost on a daily basis, innumerable events are taking place- earthquakes, devastating floods, hurricanes, horrifying forest fires, building collapses, accidents of colossal magnitude, terror bombings, deliberate (racial, ethnic or genocidal) killings on a horrendous scale, fresh outbreak of long-forgotten/contained epidemics, etc. How does one look at and begin to explain the occurrence of these incidents that inflict much pain and loss on the humanity of our times? Are they mere natural disasters or do they belong to the grave category of divine punishments when occurred after clear warnings and exhortations from the Divine Messenger of the times? In his Friday Sermon of 19 April 2013 the Khalifatullah Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim (aba) of Mauritius discussed profoundly and provided illuminating insights on the subtle subject of ‘natural’ disasters in the times of a Divine Messenger.   

Read the Extracts from the Friday Sermon:

وَ لَوۡ اَنَّ  اَہۡلَ الۡقُرٰۤی اٰمَنُوۡا  وَ اتَّقَوۡا لَفَتَحۡنَا عَلَیۡہِمۡ بَرَکٰتٍ مِّنَ السَّمَآءِ وَ الۡاَرۡضِ وَ لٰکِنۡ  کَذَّبُوۡا فَاَخَذۡنٰہُمۡ بِمَا  
کَانُوۡا  یَکۡسِبُوۡنَ ۝

“And if people of the towns had believed and feared Allah, then certainly, We would have opened for them the blessings of the heaven and the earth, but they disbelieved. So We seized them for what they used to earn.” (Al-Araf 7: 97)

Divine Prophecies for Our Times

Allah raises His Messenger to guide people to their Lord and to warn them against evil. The Divine Messenger is, then, given special knowledge about matters of the Unseen and he makes his prophecies accordingly. Some of the prophecies so made, shall find their fulfilment in the very lifetime of the Messenger. Some prophecies may, however, remain unfulfilled in his lifetime. From the grand scheme of Divine Plan, the fulfilment of prophecies or their deferment to another time and space, make little difference. After all, everything depends upon Divine Will and Decree of Allah. And the Messengers have only the duty to convey the message. This is the enduring Divine practice emerging from spiritual history.

Several verses of the Holy Qur’an indicate these different possibilities in the aftermath of Divine prophecies. With full confidence in the ways of the Lord and with absolute detachment, the Holy Qur’an declares the principles: 

“…And if he be a liar, on him will be the sin of his life; but if he is truthful, then some of that which he threatens you with will surely befall you…” (40:29).

“…And if We show you in your lifetime the fulfilment of some of the things with which We have threatened them, you will know it; or if We cause you to die before that, then to Us is their return, and you will see the fulfilment in the next world; and Allah is Witness to all that they do”.  (10:47). 

“Allah effaces what He wills, and establishes what He wills, and with Him is the source of all decrees. And whether We make you see the fulfilment of some of the things with which We threaten them or whether We make you die, it makes little difference, for on you lies the delivery of the Message, and on Us the reckoning”. (13: 40-41)

When a Divine Messenger arrives and delivers his spiritual message, it is for the people to consider and ponder over its import. It is for them to take positive and proactive-action to benefit from it. It is also for them to move away from proceeding in a direction being forewarned against in the message. Yet, history and the Holy Qur’an testify that most people are/will be heedless in the times of a Messenger, chained as they are/will be, in their family beliefs and religious traditions. They are familiar with and ‘comfortable’ at the old ritual practices in which they found their fathers indulging in. Indeed, they are glued to these rituals so completely that their beliefs are like ‘chains around their necks’ ‘reaching unto the chins’. It is the baggage of inherited notions, ideas and beliefs that comes us a barrier to the appreciation of pure belief/spiritual philosophy being articulated by the Divine Messenger. In short, their truth-perception ability itself comes under a veil.   

 

Consider our own times. Most Ahmadis are under wonder-struck that a Divine Messenger has been raised among them in the person of Hadhrat Khalifatullah Munir Ahmad Azim (aba) Mauritius. They are glued to their inherited notions and traditional practices so much so that they deify their elected Khalifa. They exalt him in defiance of Allah’s decree which has caused the coming of a Messenger in our times.  Regardless their wishes, Allah in His Infinite Wisdom, has set in motion a chain of events, including the fulfilment of Divine Prophecies vouchsafed to the new Messenger of our times. Alhamdulillah, like in the times of previous Messengers, there are many instances of fulfilment of Divine Prophecies in our times, as we have noted in recent weeks in the Sahih Al Islam Blog.