TV: Impact on Islamic Life

TV’S HARMFUL EFFECTS

Today, by the grace of Allah, Allah has given me the Tawfiq to continue the second part of my Khutba Jummah on ‘The Harmful Effects of Television’.

Through TV, the Islamic dress code is disappearing, to such a point that there are some who consider the Islamic clothing as uncivilised dress code and only good for ancient times!

Islam has put great restriction concerning sexuality so that the social life of our community remains clean and far away from prostitution, homosexuality and other social maladies. As for TV, it not only removes that restriction through the means of its dirty films but it also incites young people to satisfy their carnal desires (sexual needs/ passions) in an immoral and illicit (Haram) way.

Islam is a religion which teaches Muslims men as well as women to cultivate shame (Haya) in them because shame is a quality which helps cultivate mutual respect. The Holy Prophet (pbuh) has even made us know that Allah (swt) has joined shame (Haya) together with faith (Iman). As long as someone has shame in him, his faith shall be alive, but if he loses his shame, he loses also his faith, and he begins to act like an animal. Through the various obscene TV channels proposed to people, television has taken away shame from that community (the Ummah of Hadhrat Muhammad (pbuh)).

Shun Arrogance and Cheap Victories

OBEDIENCE TO ALLAH AND TO HIS MESSAGE 

Hazrat Muhyi-ud-Din Al- Khalifatullah Munir Ahmad Azim Saheb (atba) opened his Friday Sermon stressing on Obedience to Allah and His Khalifatullah, for therein is true salvation for a true believer. A true believer never seeks to hurt the feelings of the Messenger of Allah, Khalifatullah. The one who truly loves Allah and His Khalifatullah will always show obedience to Allah and His Khalifatullah.

During the course of his explanations which Huzur (atba) explained to be divinely inspired – for he relates that ever since the beginning of the Divine Manifestation, before doing any Jummah Khutba (or discourse) he seeks divine succour and guidance on which topic/ subject to bring before the Jamaat and the world at large – and Alhamdulillah, he also received on the spot (11 December 2015) the following revelation (in English): “These are the words coming from Allah. These are not the words of Munir Ahmad Azim.”

Shun Arrogance and Cheap victories

He reiterated the need for each member of the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam, National and International to ever remain firm in his or her belief and to always project the authentic facets of Islam, and forego all kinds of arrogance and attachment to minor/trivial things which can thus become major impediments in our faith. Arrogance can exterminate one’s faith, and an arrogant person can become like those who left the Divine Manifestation and sought to create problems for Allah and His Messenger and Jamaat. Huzur (atba) said that there is no difference between someone who left the Divine Manifestation and the one who does not pay obeisance to Allah and His Khalifatullah and manifest his or her nafs (ego, passion). Allah does not love the arrogant.

He made the congregation ponder over the situation of those who left the Divine Manifestation, who noted down the divine revelations, where are they today? Or even on those who at the very beginning of the Divine Manifestation itself rejected Allah’s revelations and signs! Now, with the celebrations of the centenary Jubilee of Ahmadiyyat establishment in Mauritius, how hurt they felt when their own Khalifa (elected by man) did not attend this function! Mauritians from all over the world came back to their country in the hope of having that grand celebration with their Khalifa, but all in vain! 

Allah has showed that there is no Khalifa except His very own Khalifatullah, His Chosen Khalifa who could have celebrated that particular centenary Jubilee. All the programmes done were through the helping hand of Allah. Are you still blind? Are you not still recognising that sign? Are you still manifesting your nafs (passion)? Are you still disputing over petty things? Are you trying to put the Messenger of Allah and the Jamaat of Allah in a fix? In the times of the Holy Prophet of Islam (pbuh), the latter stressed on unity, for it is united that we can progress – not divided and having petty arguments!

Watching Too Much TV

TV’S HARMFUL EFFECTS

Today the subject of my sermon shall be on the harmful effects of television. TV in itself is a favour for us from Allah (swt). You shall notice that in all good favours that Allah gives man, little by little Satan makes his way in them, leaving his mark, thus spoiling the favours which Allah have enabled us to have, especially in this past era and the actual era in which we are living with the introduction of television. There are programmes on TV which are essential for viewers, to learn from the given information, such as documentaries, news, educative programmes and others.

Now attraction to all the good effects of TV has disappeared, especially among the youths. Are you people now pondering over the arrays of TV Channels which are available today? I recall the past when there was only one television channel in Mauritius and there were interesting programmes, educative ones (such as documentaries etc.) which started around 3.00 pm and ended at 10.00 pm. Even the radio ended early just like for television. It was years later that a second channel was introduced and today there are a whole lot of TV channels besides the basic national TV channels. Now there are TV stations such as CANAL + proposing new programmes and channels and there is also the MY.T which proposes different new channels. Recently MY.T through publicity done have given viewers 3 months (till October 2015) free viewing of all its channels (more than 73 channels), with the hope that this attracts more and more people to subscribe to these usually paid channels. From what I have learnt, all kinds of Hindi and other serials are being broadcast, one after the other.

Now, what one sees is that all people are before the television, morning and evening. And there is even the option now to get to view the missed programmes and films of the past days.

So the believers need to ponder a lot over the harmful effects of television. Nowadays, a TV in a house has become for the people like a dangerous enemy. It has become such an enemy which is destroying your Iman (faith), time and money when you go to have paid subscriptions to get to view such channels which are dirty. At the same time, you are inviting your wives and children to partake of the harmful effects of these immoral movies and as a result, they also get to be negatively affected by these. 

Youth 'Fashion' & Muslim Parents

THE MUSLIM YOUTHS ARE GOING ASTRAY

Many of our elders these days have approached me to share their testimonials about our male and female Muslim youths. Despite the hard trials, boycott and persecution upon me and the members of the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam, but as the Caliph of Allah, I do not have the right to remain passive and fear them, and thereby letting our youths (boys and girls) go astray. 

By the grace of Allah, come what may, I do not have fear of creatures in me, and Allah (swt) has sent me to accomplish a mission and I shall do it despite the palavers and persecutions of the so-called great defenders of Islam. When they have relinquished, abandoned the works which they were supposed to do, Allah has raised His Caliph (Khalifatullah) with a Jamaat to do the noble work which our beloved prophet (pbuh) did. Try as you may, but you shall not be able to extinguish the light of Allah, and let me tell you that Allah (swt) shall continue to perfect His light. Allah (swt) does not need the permission of anybody. When He has to raise His Chosen Servant, He raises him without being accountable to anyone. As for you (our opponents) wait for the consequences (of your acts) before Allah (swt).

Coming back to the subject on the Muslim Youths: Thus, what we see these days, it is sad to say that our youths are going completely astray. And it is sad to see also see Muslim girls in all corners of the streets with non-Muslim boys, and flirting as if they are Bollywood and Hollywood actresses and actors. What is worst is that the image (and honour) of Islam is being trampled by them, for in addition to all these, they also display themselves with beer cans. Where are those so-called Mullahs, those great defenders? Are they blind? Do they not see which route these youths have taken?

As for you, parents – I am not judging you (but) – are you talking with your kids these days? Instead of losing time in vain things and talks, for example, watching vain TV serials or talking about vain things (palavers) with the neighbours, instead of all these, talk with your children like parents should so as to know what is going on in their everyday lives. 

Reclaiming Islam's Pristine Essence

By the grace of Allah, nowadays people in the four corners of the world are lending positive ears, that is, listening carefully and acknowledging the message of the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam.

Allah (swt) chose us to transmit the divine message, the same message which was given to Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh). As our noble master and prophet, Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) is no more today, but nevertheless Allah (swt) has provided ways and means for His message to be transmitted in our present time in a way to connect both eras.

Who are those people who are capable of spreading this message?

It is verily those who possess the characteristics of the founder of Islam and the Seal of all Prophets (pbuh) who are the one who shall be able to carry on this message with the express commandment of Allah and the blessings of the Ruh-il-Quddus. In other words, they have to possess the same behaviours and willingness as those of Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) to execute that great divine plan. These characteristics have been described from the Holy Quran itself as follows:

a)      Yatloo alayhim Ayaatihi:  that is, the one who reads the verses of the Holy Quran and explains them to others.

b)     Wa yuzakkiihim: that is, when he reads these verses, he purifies the hearts of people and converts them in the good sense.

c)      Wa yu’allimahum Kitaaba: that is, he teaches people the Holy Quran.

d)     Wa Hikma: that is, and he teaches people also the Wisdom.

There are numerous people who have accepted the message of Allah but they are not convinced. Some have accepted the message of Allah with good hearts and want to do good deeds, but they don’t know what to do exactly and how to do them.

Hence, it’s the Taleem-ul-Kitaab which explains what pleases Allah and what displeases Him. It’s very important for all of us to acquire knowledge and its BEST SOURCE is from the Holy Quran. And moreover, to have the best explanation of its verses, we all need the Best Lecturer, one who is Divinely-Guided and possesses Taqwa, fear of Allah in his heart.

Degradation among Ahmadis

In his Friday Sermon of 29 May 2015, Mirza Masroor Ahmad Sahib stated that every day the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is witnessing many signs and favours and he cited with arrogance that in Germany, the Lajna and Ansar had recently bought a five-storey building for € 1.7 million, and affirms that this was a divine support in favour of (man-elected) Khilafat.  

If money and material progress is really divine support in favour of Ahmadiyya man-elected Khilafat, then the Pope and the Christian World as well as the other ancient religions, including the other non-Ahmadi Muslims shall be doubly and even trebly jubilant in stating that it is them who have divine support because they are far more advanced in both number and wealth than the Ahmadiyya Community worldwide. According to them, despite the man-made idols which they (the other religions) cherish, and the closing of the door of prophethood (for the Muslims), they are well-off and are confident that they have divine support for them and their beliefs. 

If the Khalifat-ul-Massih is measuring progress in terms of material possessions instead of spiritual growth (and/or declination) then he is taking an absolutely wrong route. Verily, the worst fears of both Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) and Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) were that a time shall come when Islam will be so rich in material means that people will give that more importance and be blinded by them rather than staying true to the true divinely-sent faith. They knew that victory shall come for their followers and they did not worry for their current meagre financial situations for they knew also that those empty treasuries shall be filled one day. What they feared is the corruption and fraud that shall ensued after the large amount of money come to ornate the treasury of the community (Islam as a whole, and the Jamaat Ahmadiyya in particular).

Food for thought: The more there is material growth within a community, be it secular or spiritual, the more there is degradation. If the moral and spiritual values of the people are not secured, the spiritual community falls prey to the allures of the Satan, and the common people, as well as the high priests and heads fall prey to the lust for temporal power and authority.

Khalifatul Massih V as "Ummati Nabi" ?

The Promised Messiah (as) received the status of Ummati Nabi (subordinate prophet) and of Khatam-ul-Khulafa (Seal of the Caliphs). It’s true that it is only in the Jamaat of Hazrat Massih Ma’ud (as) that Allah (swt) will raise subordinate (Ummati) prophets. How will we know how Allah (swt) shall choose this kind of subordinate prophet, His prophet?

It is of course, through DIVINE REVELATION and not through the tongues of man (i.e. elected by man) that this humble servant of Allah shall have to proclaim himself officially, affirming that Allah alone has raised him as Ummati Nabi and after his death, well-guided Khulafa shall take over his mission. But as it is Sunnat Allah (the way of Allah), whenever the situation deteriorates and the divine teachings are trampled to dust, and dynasties take over, definitely Allah will raise His very own Khalifa (without the help and election of any creature) in the same Jamaat of Hazrat Massih Ma’ud (as) and in the Ummah of Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) as His prophet (an Ummati Nabi) and having the same titles and grades as the Promised Messiah (as) in that which he also shall be a Khatam-ul-khulafa, i.e. all other subordinate prophets after him shall be from his own Jamaat and identity.

Indeed years and years have gone by and I am curious to know if the Khalifat-ul-Massih Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad has proclaimed himself officially to the status of Ummati Nabi and Khatam-ul-Khulafa in this era?

Hence Allah (swt) has taught us in various verses of the Holy Quran, for example: in Surah Al-Anam:

“O you assembly of jinn and mankind! Did not there come to you messengers from amongst you, reciting unto you My verses and warning you of the meeting of this day of yours?” They will say: “We bear witness against ourselves”. It was the life of this world that deceived them. And they will bear witness against themselves that they were disbelievers. (6: 131)

The prophets (Nabiyyuun) come to bring back the glory and true value of the divine instructions to humankind so as to enable them to pave their way towards spirituality which they have completely forgotten or which they have trampled to dust. A prophet’s (God’s chosen one) duty is to bring people of all nations throughout the whole world back to the Tawheed (unity of God) and convince them that the day is coming soon that they shall have to present themselves in front of Allah (swt). The Holy Quran has clearly explained this to us that whenever the religious leaders started being corrupted and they wanted people to give them much more importance than Allah, the Sovereign of all worlds, behaving as if they are gods on earth, therefore Allah sees the need to send His very own Khalifa (representative). For example Allah (swt) says in the Holy Quran:

“And surely, many do lead mankind astray by their own desires through lack of knowledge. Certainly your Lord knows best the transgressors.” (6: 120)

 “They look their rabbis and their monks and Jesus, son of Mary to be their Lords besides Allah. (9: 31)

Many people are led astray by their honouring their chiefs to the rank of God, taking them as their idols. These people follow only the instructions coming from their idols, their leaders even if these instructions are clearly contrary to the divine commandments. Hence, this situation will never be corrected unless divine revelation comes to clear out the misunderstandings and wrong interpretations of the Book of Allah and the writings of His Messengers. Alas, these chiefs mislead the people just to satisfy their personal desires and thirst for power. These chiefs are not like those whom Allah have safeguarded and honoured to the status of Ummati Nabi and Khatam-ul-Khulafa.  Indeed, these chiefs are devoid of divine guidance and revelation coming from Allah. And whenever the subordinate non-law bearing prophets come to guide them to the right path, they turn a deaf ear to his call and label him a madman and liar.