'Ar-Riya' and 'Sumrah': Sins of Vanity

We should never make a display of our good deeds. Islam attaches great importance to sincerity. This is one of the reasons why we have been warned against what is called Ar-Riya and Sumrah.

Ar-Riya is commonly called “ostentation”, “vanity” or “doing deeds to show others.” Sumrah on the other hand refers to a deed we do for the sole purpose for others to talk about it.

One of the ways the Devil poisons the sincerity of a believer is by getting him to tell others about his good deeds, that is to say, to “make it public”. Here are some examples where a person consciously (or unconsciously) commits Ar-Riya or Sumrah by placing in his conversation to another person the following sentences:

1. “When I got up at 3 am for Tahajjud, it was cold.”

2. “Alhamdulillah, through the supererogatory fasts which I observed I managed to lose a few extra pounds.”

3. “I like to give alms when I get the chance ...”

4. “Verily Quran reading is a source of tranquillity. Every day after I finished reading the Quran after the Maghrib prayer, I feel like a weight off my shoulders...”

In several ahadith, the Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) taught us that one of the qualities of a good believer is that he does not make known his good deeds in public. He (pbuh) said: “Seven people will be shaded by Allah on the Day when there will be no shade but His... a person who spends in charity and conceals it such that his right hand does not know what his left hand has given...” (Bukhari, Muslim).

'Killing of Innocents is against Islam'

The face of the Muslim world is increasingly stained with the blood of the innocents. In the recent past, imperial interventions over a number of Muslim countries have unleashed political consequences and  thereby, exacerbated sectarian tensions among different ethnic and religious groups. Trapped in the quagmire of the sectarian tensions between the Shias and the Sunnis,  in many States- Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, Yemen, etc- a host of terror groups are operating  in the name of Islam- ranging from the Taliban in Afghanistan/Pakistan to the ISIL ( the so-called Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant) under its Caliph Abu Baker al Baghdadi. These entities have poisoned the fair name of Islam by inextricably linking their quest for political power-grabbing with Islamic ethics. They make world headlines for all the wrong reasons in our times- including the destruction of historic monuments and cultural artefacts of enduring significance for the human civilization. They commit wanton and indiscriminate murders in the name of Allah. The targets of their attacks are not just the religious/sectarian/political opponents. The most brutal and heinous killing of innocents- women, children and even innocent civilians who have not taken arms against them- have been rightly described in the media as a crime against humanity. The victims of ISIL, for instance, include fellow brethren-in-faith, the Shiah Muslims and also the other religious minority groups in the region such as the ancient Yazidi community and the Arab Christians who over centuries, lived amicably among their Muslim brethren in the Middle East. 

In this complex, political and religious matrix, it is important to assert and reclaim Islam and its original, peaceful teachings that holds human life as a sacred responsibility. Unlike what  the ISIL in Iraq/Syria and the Taliban in Afghanistan/Pakistan assert, Islamic teachings promote social peace and tolerance of diversities under the rule of law- the maintenance of amicable relations among different, religious communities by recognizing the sanctity of life. In his Friday Sermon of February 27, 2015 the Khalifatullah Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Sahib (atba) of Mauritius eloquently explains the Islamic norms for the balancing and stabilization of social life and peaceful co-existence, with the framework of Islamic law recognizing equitable retaliation only for the purpose of meeting the exigencies of justice and for preserving social order against extreme evils.

The Instrumental Role of Divine Revelations

Revelation may be a single word but its meaning is immense, just like a drop of water rippling a whole ocean. The nature of revelation is various, and among the types of revelations, we have satanic whisperings also which are not to be confused with the spiritual truthful context of revelations, that is, Divine Revelations. Any person can receive divine inspirations, yet divine revelations, as pure and frequent as that received by messengers of Allah are of an exquisite nature, which leaves no doubt as to the source of this special light. Therefore, revelation in Islam is tantamount to the extraordinary connection which links an exceptional servant of Allah to His Lord. ( Inset: a depiction of the archangel Gabriel instructing Divine revelations to the Holy Prophet (sa), from the manuscript Jami' al-tawarikh by Rashid-al-Din Hamadani, AD 1307). 

This servant of Allah comes to taste of a special bond through which Allah reveals Himself to His servant, and little by little – just like a gardener who waters a newly planted seed into the soil to see it grow big, strong and productive – this servant of Allah through dreams, visions, divine inspirations and revelations grows from one spiritual state to the other and in capacity of exceptional blessed instrument of Allah, he gets to receive within him such light as to illuminate the whole world. His being becomes an object of light, a beacon of light as to attract those who are within the nexus of the pleasure of Allah to perceive his light, just like a radar emitting a powerful signal, to manifest his presence among the people of the earth, especially, those endowed with true knowledge. (Inset: Prophet Moses (as) with the tablets of the Ten Commandments, a painting by Rembrandt (1659).  

Very often, these people who are qualified as “Ulul’al-Baab” (People of understanding, people endowed with true knowledge) are very humble in nature. They may be viewed as hopeless and poor people in the eyes of men, whereas in the eyes of the Almighty, their status is most high. This is because they do not sell their consciousness and pure heart and faith to the attractions of this world; they do not let themselves be attached to it. A person also can be rich and be among the true Ulul’al-Baab because despite the money and riches he earns, yet he is not greedy for it, and canalise this wealth in its proper channel, that is to say, he obeys the instructions and commandments of the Quran and he shares his wealth to the poor in the proportions made obligatory to him by Allah, and also those parts of his wealth that he gives in charity, with good faith as a voluntary action due to tenderness of his heart to help the less fortunate and also the community of believers in Dawah Mission (Inviting and Bringing people to Allah, to Islam).

Therefore, the Ulul’al-Baab, whether rich or poor, or in-between (neither too rich nor poor) captures the signal emitted by the special radar sent by Allah, so that within the circle of this exquisite connection one may be able to reach to Allah without any doubt. This Messenger of Allah, the Holder of Light, the guidance to the world comes to teach people how to get this connection with Allah. And this he is able to do with the help of the Ruh-il-Quddus (Holy Spirit).

Like I have always told my disciples in Mauritius ever since the beginning of the Divine Manifestation, connection with Allah comes with a purification of the heart, and it is in that state of purification – whereby there is no doubt as to the truthfulness of the Spiritual Guide (that is, this humble self) and the Divine Manifestation – and with belief, faith, and trust that the God who has sent His Messenger with the Holy Spirit has indeed the power of speech despite having no tongue to talk, that the person in question can reach to Allah. I am talking for the current Divine Manifestation of this age, because I have been sent in this era to you all to guide you to Allah, and thus, belief, faith and trust in the veracity of this humble self is essential if someone wants to get to the exquisite proximity of Allah taking this humble self as guide and mentor.

'Musleh Maoud': Trajectories of a Grand Prophecy

Before ending my sermon on this vast subject – Revelations – I wish to say a few words on the prophecy of 20^th February 1886. Today is the 20^th February, and this reminds us of the grand prophecy in the announcement of 20^th February 1886 concerning the Promised Messiah’s entreaties to Allah in Hoshiarpur to bless him with such a physical son as to become his physical and spiritual heir in majestic respect.

A prophet, envoy of Allah always wants pious children, from his own lineage and blood to carry on his mission, his works with the same intensity of devotion as he showed towards Allah throughout his life on earth. Prophets of Allah seek such gems from their own blood but only after supplicating Allah for them. When Hazrat Ibrahim (as) prayed for a blessed son and messenger of Allah, after being childless for years, he sought a miracle of Allah from the grace and majesty of Allah, and his Zaki Ghulam (Pure Son) was not only from his own blood, but also his spiritual heir, in that which he became a Prophet of Allah, chosen and purified by Allah. The same was for Hazrat Zakariyya and Hazrat Dawud (as) among others. 

A prophet of Allah is not mistaken in his entreaties to Allah as to which type of son he is seeking from Allah! He seeks a biological and spiritual heir, who shall have both these attributes in him (physical and spiritual for the sake of Allah and from Allah) from his own body to carry on the works he is blessed with from Allah. And when a prophecy, more specifically a glad tiding is granted to him from Allah that he shall father such a son, and for whom Allah has granted much more spiritual and divinely attributes in him to reflect that purity of being the son of a prophet of Allah, therefore, the prophet of Allah, in occurrence, the Promised Messiah of Islam, the first of his kind, was granted such a request.

Through several of his announcements, he made it clear that he was waiting for the fulfillment of a physical son who shall be that reformer of Islam, who shall be his mirror image, that is, possessing messianic qualities to carry on his mission to the end of the worlds.

As you all will agree with me, whenever a prophet of Allah comes on earth, as it has always happened ever since the creation of the earth, it is expected that this prophet of Allah shall have spiritual heirs, prophets of Allah who shall confirm his veracity and spread his mission and honour for as long as life exists on earth. Moreover, it is Sunnat-Allah (the way of Allah) to preserve the honour of all His prophets from the beginning to the end of times. Therefore, spiritual heirs of prophets are bound to come, especially after the advent of the final religion, Islam whose extent is a universal one, and the purpose of receiving messengers from Allah is for the revival of the state of Muslims and to bring back the glory of Islam.

'Divine Revelations are not the Inspirations of Mind'

A very serious misconception which is prevailing in my time, in this era with a divine manifestation, and which has undermined the foundations of all religions, so that the very essence of religion is being completely revolutionized as a result of which, in place of the divine light of revelation, it is the ideas and conceptions of the human mind which are being substituted and put forward as the truth and thus it is that entirely erroneous definition of revelation which has found general acceptance. Independence of thoughts and the length of time which had elapsed since the appearance of the seal of prophets Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) had led the greater portion of the world to believe that revelation was mere inspiration of the mind. This was due, to the belief and conception that God could not speak in words as He was not a materiel Being and was not dependent upon material means like men.

I explain from my personal experience that revelation is conveyed in words and the mode of conveying is as certain and free from doubt as the talking of one man to another. If revelation was not to be conveyed in words, it could not be entirely free from doubt and could not lead to perfect certainty. For, perceiving every inspiration as divine revelation, every man can fancy himself inspired and thus deceive himself and mislead mankind, as has actually happened in several instances since this erroneous conception of revelation has found currency. 

Revelation is intended to remove doubts and misconceptions, and if it is not conveyed in words, it opens, still wider the doors of doubt and uncertainty for there is then no means of distinguishing between revelation and the fancies of a man’s own mind. Revelation is conveyed in words possessing extraordinary glory and majesty, and also a dialogue is possible between God and man in the same manner as between two men, so that a recipient of revelation attains to that degree of certainty which dispenses with any further proof or argument.

Into the sunset: Navin Ramgoolam

Before closing my sermon, I would like to say a few words on the Charges and Arrest which the ex-Prime Minister of Mauritius, Navinchandra Ramgoolam had to undergo since last Friday 06 February 2015. It never pays to be arrogant and creating such an atmosphere as to make Mauritius be led by autocratic leadership disguised as a democratic one. 

You will recall my dear disciples that since 2010, I and some of our members have gone from circumscription to circumscription to pray that Allah overturns such a leader and political party whose agenda is to finish Mauritius, bringing Mauritians to a state of poverty and tight economic state. And you will recall that recently in the midst of the general elections 2014, I told you about a dream in which Sir Aneerood Jugnauth was not condemning Paul Berenger, but instead praising him for the strategies that he has (to clean Mauritius and the Labour Party also). 

And you are witnessing that since Friday, 06 February, 2015 the former Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam has been placed under arrest. He even spent a few hours in the Moka detention centre before being brought before the Bail and Remand Court. Last weekend has been hell for him; he was torn between searches and going back and forth to the Central CID to give statements over statements, and counting the millions of money (more than Rs. 185 millions which was seized at his house in two massive safes and suitcases) before the Central CID, the Police Force, Lawyers, representatives of the Bank of Mauritius and the Government officials. He is a suspect of money laundering and being involved in the Roche-Noire Murder case. He was arrested and humiliated amidst thousands of Mauritians who assembled at his house to see the end of his political career, and witnessing his arrest.

A Message of Peace for the Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya

Some Ahmadi Muslim brothers grope in the darkness of their sheer ignorance of a sublime reality among them. They, in their naivety, harp absolutely baseless and foolishly wrong notions on the advent of a Man of God among them, the Khalifatullah (a Reviver of Faith/ a Messenger of Allah) Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Sahib (atba) of Mauritius who speaks with the help of the Holy Spirit (Roohul Qudus). They delude themselves with suspicion and ill feelings, as they consider that the advent of the Khalifatullah (atba) will destroy the Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya as they know it, instead of seeing it as the very fulfillment of the sacred revelations vouchsafed to, and grand prophecies made by, the Promised Massih Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) of Qadian in the previous era. 

Some Ahmadis in India have recently asked us certain questions regarding the origins of the Divine Manifestation in Mauritius and its relationship, encounters with the Nizam-e-Jamaat , sharing their view that with the descent of Divine revelations on him, the Nizam-e-Jamaat should have been informed about the matter so that they could have a fair chance to comprehend the sublime reality and deeper roots of the Divine Manifestation and to accommodate themselves within it and partake of the enduring Divine blessings on offer. As we have always maintained, the Khalifatullah Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Sahib (atba) and the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam do not harbour any ill will, hatred or malice against any Ahmadi brothers, it is the nizam-e-Jamaat that has enforced with the manifestly un-Islamic and despicable policy of social boycott against us, with its dire consequences for the Islamic decency, elementary courtesies of spiritual brotherhood and destroyed the behavioural propriety of the common Ahmadis, who were unfortunately instigated to keep malice, ill will and hatred for us, instead of love and affection and fellow feeling for fellow brothers in the Jamaat of the Promised Massih (as). 

Even 14 years after the enforcement of the social boycott policy on us during the last days of the previous caliph, the Khalifatullah Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Saheb (atba) reiterates and renews his message of love and peace. During his recent visit to the United Kingdom, the Khalifatullah (atba) wrote a letter to the present Head of the nizam-e-Jamaat, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad Saheb, a message filled with the desire for the recognition of Truth and the reconciliation of spiritual brothers under the umbrella of the Divine Manifestation, Alhamdulillah, Soumma Alhamdulillah . 

Read the Message of Peace:   

Allah says in the Holy Quran: “The believers are but brothers, so make settlement between your brothers. And fear Allah that you may receive mercy.” (49: 11)