Tuesday, April 8, 2014

Prophecy on Mass Killings in our times

[47:19]They wait not but for the Hour that it should come upon them suddenly. The signs thereof have already come…” 




Several verses in the Qur’an and the sacred traditions of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sa) indicate, in subtle language and in different ways, the signs of the Later Days. Among these Signs, is the unmistakeable sign of mass killings that are to take place in the world. This sign has been mentioned in almost all authentic Ahadith collections, including Sahih al Bukhari and Sahih al Muslim, and one can thus read: 

Abdullah said, “The Prophet said,

‘Just before the Hour, there will be days in which knowledge will disappear and ignorance will appear, and there will be much killing.’”

-                                   - [Ibn Majah; also narrated by al-Bukhari and Muslim, from the Hadith of al-A’mash]

According to the Qur’an, unity and peace in society are among the Divine blessings, whereas dissension, discord, internal strife and civil war are among the ways in which nations come under a trial. The Holy Prophet of Islam (a) described many of these signs of the Later Days in a context indicating the times of a Massih raised by Allah.

Warnings by Divine Messengers

In the previous era, the Promised Massih Hadhrat Ahmad (as) through his writings, including in Tajalliyat-e-Illahiya (Divine Manifestations), repeatedly warned the world about the horrendous events waiting to unfold on the human condition as a consequence of its lack of appreciation for the Divine guidance for ethical and sustainable living. In our own times, the Muhyi-ud-Din Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Sahib (atba) of Mauritius repeatedly warns us that humanity is on the brink of disaster.

Reflecting on the ongoing situation in Central African Republic and also in Myanmar and elsehwere, where the Muslim minorities are living under severe threats to their fundamental rights and freedoms of life and libaerty, in a recent series of Friday Sermons, Hadhrat Sahib (atba) had called the attention of the world to pure Islamic teachings that recognize the diversity of races, religions and languages and the need to respect and accord these rights to all groups in every humane society. In a world driven by the powerful vested interests of the developed world, principles of absolute justice and equal application of the laws in all circumstances that protect the integrity of the international system and human rights cannot be ensured. The Divine Messenger of our times has clearly identified the faultlines of diverging interests and the consequent absence of strong enforcement mechansims at the inter-State level as the apparent weaknesses of the existing world system, leading to the present crisis in world governance. 

It is not unknown to the Muslims that natural and man-made disasters strike the world when Divine sayings are ignored and reformers are insulted and humiliated, rather than respected and listened to. Instead of showing attention and concern for what the Divine message contain, the ungrateful and the rebellious seek to shoot the Messenger, leading invariably to various modes of Divine wrath and punishment. Believers who reflect would invariably be struck by the remarkable similarity of the Divinely-inspired sermons and sayings with the course of events in our times. Those who free themselves from the sins of hubris and prejudice can easily discern the proliferation of a series of events that point to the fulfilment of the grand Divine prophecies in the world affairs.

Saturday, April 5, 2014

Renewal of Islam: Ulema and Divine Guidance

According to Abu Dharr, the Prophet (may God give him blessings and peace) said, reporting the words of God, ever praised and exalted is He:

O My servants, I have forbidden injustice to Myself and I have made it forbidden amongst you. So be not unjust to one another.

O My servants, all of you go astray except the one whom I guide. Ask guidance of Me, and I shall guide you…

[Part I, Hadith No. 1; Muhyi-ud-din Ibn Arabi, Mishkåt al-Anwar: 101 Hadith Qudsi, written in 1202-03; Oxford: Anqa Publishing (2008); p.18.

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Renewal of Faith is through Divine Revelations

You must know that whenever a religious society became corrupted, then it was without fail, that a person came from Allah who revived the message and started a movement of great sacrifice for the sake of religion. Not taking other people’s lives but offering their own lives. Not destroying other people’s property but putting themselves in a precarious position where their property were destroyed and looted by others. So following through this hard path of sacrifice, religion was revived whereby you find these phenomena come one after the other (after religion has been trampled by stupid high priests/Mullahs who destroy the essence of religion). Our Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) is thus the most dependable source of light for us (Muslims).

In fact after every other prophet and his religion became a thing of the past, Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) is the only source of light available to us. How did he revive religious values? It is through walking in the streets of Mecca and being stoned and being abused and being maltreated in the worst possible manner, by the sacrifices of his followers when they being dragged in the hard stony streets of Mecca and them being beaten almost to death and sometimes to death just for the sake of the true faith upon which they held firm till they tasted death or till they witnessed the victory of Islam.

The atrocities committed against them are enormous and yet as they walked through the path of blood and fears and toil, they were purified at the same time, they were spreading instead of decreasing in number. They were not conquered in reality but they were turning into victors because they were winning other hearts, other souls, other people joined this procession of those who offered sacrifices, and in that process they were purified.

Islam is designed like this. There is no short-cut to glory and victory and that is done always through the Messengers of Allah. If they came in the past, is present in this era, likewise Messengers of Allah will always come till the Day of Judgement in the light of perfection of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). When the religious leadership becomes corrupt, Allah takes the leadership in His Own Hands, that is the phenomena of “Nabuwwah”.

Thursday, April 3, 2014

The Triumph of Divine Servants

Holy Prophet Muhammad (sa) states:

When you find the Mahdi, perform bai‘at at his hand. You must go to him, even if you have to reach him across icebound mountains on your knees. He is the Khalifatullah, [he is] the Mahdi.” 

        - (Sunan Ibn-e-Majah, Kitabul-Fitan, Babu Khurujil-Mahdi, Hadith no. 4074)

The Promised Massih Hadhrat Ahmad (as) says in Arabic:

Laa waliya ba'di illallazi howa minni wa ala ahdi-    There is no Wali after me except one who comes from me and has a relationship with me [“ Khutbah Ilhamiyyah”, Ruhani Khaza’in, vol. 16, pp.69-70; Internet Edition ]

The fulfilment of these Divine prophecies has taken place in our times, with the raising of Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Sahib (atba) of Mauritius as the Khalifatullah, in complete obedience to the Holy Prophet (sa) and the Promised Massih (as), as per the glad tidings they have vouchsafed to the humankind in general and the Muslim Ummah in particular.

Friday, March 28, 2014

Uniting the Muslim Ummah: the Big Question

An Encounter with the Mullahs in Triolet

On Thursday 20 February 2014, I was in the North of Mauritius in one of its biggest villages called Triolet. On the way I met two Mullahs coming from Bangladesh. They presented themselves to me after greeting Salaam, and with very good and sweet words they invited me in the mosque at about 10:00a.m. I met many other Muslims coming from Bangalore and India. They asked me my name and before I have finished giving my full name, when I reached: Munir Ahmad, one of the Mullahs told me that his Burzuq’s name is Munir Ahmed, but then when I gave completed my full name: Munir Ahmad Azim, all of them looked at me with big surprised eyes and they suddenly turned aggressive.

Gone were the good and sweet words! Their tone changed and they immediately asked me: You have proclaimed that you are the Mohyuddin, Khalifatullah etc.”

Without any hesitation and fear to creatures, although they were in great numbers in the mosques, I replied them in the affirmative.

They then asked me a series of questions pertaining to the titles I have received from Allah, wanting to know who told me that I was the Khalifatullah, Mohyuddin etc. I told them that it is my Creator, my Rab, in whose hands my life, health, food, dignity and honour are found.  They did not believe me and called me liar and thus started a debate on the finality of prophethood in which they believe.

Holy Qur’an and the Sunnah as Final Guidance

Among other questions concerning the Mahdi and Messiah to come, they put to me put a question to me regarding a Hadith, “I have left for you the Book of Allah and the Sunnah, if you hold fast to it you will never go astray.”

Thursday, March 27, 2014

Mubahila: Khalifa Sani and the Ahmadiyya Sects

Today, among the followers, or those who have accepted the claims, of the Promised Massih Hadhrat Ahmad (as) in the Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya, one can count six different, denominational sects: Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Qadian, Anjuman Ahmadiyya Lahore, Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Al Muslemun, Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Islah Pasand, Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam and the Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Haquiqui

The recent Mubahila between two of the Ahmadiyya sects- Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam and the Jamaat-e- Ahmadiyya Islah Pasand is entering into a different stage now, with the Mujaddid claimant Abdul Ghaffar Janbah Sahib and his Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Islah Pasand declaring for himself a “clear victory” through his recent speeches. The boastful claims from the Janbah Sahib came after the completion of two years of publishing/uploading the official Mubahila Document in the respective official websites.

In contrast to the approach of the Janbah Sahib, Hadhrat Imam Muhyi-ud-Din Munir Ahmad Azim Sahib (atba)  and the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam  has taken the position that the Janbah Sahib is gravely mistaken in his approach and perceptions and also in his appreciation for himself in the context of the Mubahila. Janbah Sahib is ignoring a profound fact about the situation: he had entered into the Mubahila, half-hearted and reluctant, as is so apparent from the way he conducted himself and his failure in fulfilling the simple procedural requirements in their full measure. He should not have abused the fact that Allah (twa) is compassionate and overlooks the mistakes and sometimes extends the days of people in His Wisdom. Insha Allah, the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam is certain to serve the purpose of renewal of faith in our times, and there are glad tidings for those who are steadfast and do good deeds in the path of Allah.

The result/consequences of the Mubahila is itself a trial for the believers, especially for all Ahmadis found in the various sects of Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya today. Given that all parties to the Mubahila are alive and positive factors that give personal and subjective satisfaction can be, and had been, shared from both ends, whose claims of decisive victory needs to be accepted may yet remain shrouded for many believers, especially those who have veils over their eyes which haze their spiritual vision. In his Friday Sermon of March 21, 2014 the Khalifatullah Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Sahib (atba) of Mauritius spoke about the questions that are most relevant for those who analyse the Mubahila situation.

Monday, March 24, 2014

Nikah-related Sanctions in the Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya

Ahmadis are among the finest and ardent advocates of freedom of conscience. Yet, the Jamaat today is   practicing thought control through intimidatory strategies of expulsion and boycott. If an Ahmadi today wholeheartedly believes in the continuity of Divine guidance as explained in the tenets of the Promised Massih (as) and acts upon that belief by recognizing and accepting the new Divine Manifestation, he or she could and would be expelled by the Jamaat system. Such a person is further liable to be socially boycotted by the community of his own people. Individual Ahmadis, including close relatives, are obliged by the system to break the ties of kinship with those who accept the new Mujaddid. 

A central offence is deemed to be committed by, or attributed to, a member when he or she invites such a relative to the family functions, including Nikah. The punishment for such independence of thought may range from loss of office functions to even the expulsion from Nizam and the common workers are deprived of their  basic rights and even their very livelihoods. The scales of justice are blatantly uneven and tilted invariably in favour of the elites and their cronies who can and will manipulate the unscrupulous in the system to get out of difficult situations. The situation in Maurititus is illustrative of the wider malaise of thought control, lack of empathy and dreadful intolerance, systemic injustice and mindless nepotism plaguing  the Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya today. 

Sunday, March 23, 2014

Ahmadi Elites and the Politics of Boycott

Will a Mujaddid come after You?’

A man asked this pertinent question to the Promised Massih Hadhrat Ahmad (as) on 29 September 1905, before noon. And he [the Promised Messiah] replied: 

What is wrong with a Mujaddid coming after me? The prophethood of Moses (as) had come to an end, and that is why his chain of successors ended with Jesus (as). However, the dispensation of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sa) will last till the Day of Judgment through the Mujaddidin who will arise in it till the Day of Judgment. As long as the Day of Judgment withholds its destruction, there is no doubt that someone else could come. We most certainly do not deny that good and righteous people will continue to come, and then all of a sudden the Day of Judgment will come.” ( Ruhani Khaza’in, p. 16180 , Malfoozat. volume 4, page 452; (2008 edn.)       
  
Despite the existence and vital presence of this important instruction from the Promised Massih (as) in his writings, endorsed by the Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya through its own series of publications, the Ahmadi scholars today challenge common sense. They assault the intellects of Ahmadis and their spiritual expectations. The Ulema and the chiefs declare with their own mouths that no Mujaddid will ever come, even in a new century of Islam. They, thus, foreclose the possibility of any discussion on spiritual blessings possible in this age. The hedonistic elites of the Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya in Mauritius enforce the policy of intimidation and social stigma on those who wish to know about the new Divine Manifestation.  

I ask these arrogant people who are taking themselves as great scholars in the Jamaat Ahmadiyya Where have they seen that they must establish boycott? Is there a Quranic verse which stipulates to boycott someone who receives divine revelations and those who have believed in the revelations which he is receiving from Allah, and to expel them from the Jamaat Ahmadiyya and boycott them?

Prove this to me, or even show me a Hadith on this subject. Prove if you can, and prove also if even their family members had to break ties (of kinship) with them and not to greet them Salam and not to invite them. What law have they applied? The Quranic law? The rulings of Hazrat Muhammad (saw) and Hazrat Massih Ma’ud (as)? The law of the country?

Rule by Family Elites in the Mauritius Jamaat

Or have they invented their own laws to make people fear them, because the Jamaat Ahmadiyya of Mauritius is governed by only a handful of families:  Taujoo, Jowahir, Sookia etc.? As if there exist no other people in this Jamaat who can take care of the Jamaat Ahmadiyya in Mauritius.

Years go by, new years come, the same people are found at the head of the Jamaat! In the several programmes also, they are the ones to come forward to get honour, as if there are no other wise people, even better than them, who can come and address them on the question of religion! This is a Jamaat which is managed only by a handful of families, family feelings!