Finding God: Five Steps for the Seeker

Make God Almighty your Ultimate Goal:

People who are rather short-sighted and lack discernment define different reasons for their lives and are limited to worldly objectives and ambitions. But the purpose decided for man by God Almighty is according to His own holy words:

“And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me.” (51: 57)

The real aim of God is to make the man understand the main purpose of his existence on earth, that is to say, to be completely devoted to Him. It is obvious that man cannot set a goal to his own life because he neither comes into this world on his own nor does he leave this world on his own, according to his will. He is a creature and the One who has created him and invested in him better faculties which are superior to animals has also identified a goal for his life. We understand it or not, the fact remain that the purpose of the creation of man is undoubtedly worship and understanding of God and a complete devotion to Him. Elsewhere in the Holy Quran, God Almighty has said:

“Surely the true religion in the sight of Allah is Islam...” (3: 20)

“So direct your face toward the religion, inclining to truth (as one devoted to God). It is the nature made by Allah, the nature according to which He has created men. There can be no change in Allah’s creation. This is the true religion. But most people do not know.” (30: 31).

The religion that gives us a real appreciation of God and prescribes His true worship is Islam. Islam is inherent in human nature and man was created in accord with ISLAM - submission to the One God - and such is the eternal and true faith. This is to say that God wanted man to be fully devoted to His worship, that he loves and obeys Him with all his faculties. So He (Allah) has blessed man with all appropriate faculties to achieve ISLAM (to submit to Him, that being the real target for the creation of mankind).

Despite the fact that man is taken up by the various projects of his life, he can find true happiness only in God Almighty (Allah). After having accumulated enormous wealth, after having held high office, after having become a great trader, and ruled over a vast kingdom, and after having been recognized as a great philosopher, at the end he leaves all these commitments with great regret. His heart constantly reproaches himself for his total concern for worldly affairs and his conscience never accepts his illicit activities full of trickery and artifice.

An intelligent person can better understand that problem. We cannot assign a higher purpose to something beyond its/ his capacity, beyond which it/ he can no longer function. For example, the highest work of a bull is the ploughing of fields or irrigation or transportation. Its faculties are not adapted to anything else. Thus the aim of the life of a bull comes down to these three functions. It has no ability to do anything else. 

But by examining the faculties of man and trying to find their limits, we find him in search of God the Exalted. He wishes to become so devote to God that he devotes everything he owns/possesses to God. He shares with other animals his natural survival instinct. However, in the field of manufacturing certain animals surpass him. Indeed the bees extract the essence of different varieties of flowers to produce a honey so excellent that it surpasses the understanding of man up till now. It is therefore obvious that the summits of human faculties are to meet God the Exalted. So the real purpose of his life is that the window of his heart should open to God.

Islam on Slavery and Prisoners of War

Prophets and other messengers of God come to liberate humans from their chains. Divine teachings, in their pristine essence, are designed to emancipate them from their slavish bondages.

Compared to all other religions of the past, Islam provides far more evolved teachings that are mindful of the predicament of slaves. Its teachings are designed to abolish and root out this abominable practice through radical transformation of the social order, even as it provides teachings for fair treatment of all, including in times of war to the Prisoners of War. Islam permits defensive war against the enemies of the State when it is faced with aggression by other nations and peoples. In the course of such inter-State conflicts, Muslims can capture and retain prisoners of War till the end of hostilities and thereafter, release them as a grace or for ransom.

In the history of the world, rise and fall of nations is a reality. Likewise, profound teachings get blurred in the distance of time. People forget the true traditions and invent new customs of religions, and thereby alter and reshape original teachings. Hence, though Prophets in the past never took slaves, their followers have abused that legacy of freedom and fairness.  Hence, slavery had been perpetrated also by the so called men of religion. Despite Islam’s clearest exposition on the dignity and equality and equal rights of all human beings, like Jews and Christians and the Hindus among them in society, even Muslims cannot fully absolve themselves from the stigma of practicing slavery. 

In a religious and international context, where the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) practices slavery against its enemies in the name of Islam, and also many other world nations permitting working/labour/social/political conditions amounting to modern forms slavery that infringes upon elementary considerations of humanity, the Khalifatullah Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Saheb (atba) of Mauritius warns the world community on the need for returning to the just teachings of Islam that seek to abolish slavery and ensure fair treatment of all, including even to prisoners of war in times of hostilities.  

Reproduced below are extracts from the Friday Sermon of 05 February 2016 ~(25 Rabi’ul Aakhir 1437 Hijri):

Why A Divinely-Elected Imam Now?

The Advent of Divine Elects

The main reason for the arrival of new non-Law-bearing prophets in the Muhammadan Ummah (pbuh) is that Islam came for the whole world and must be propagated. And for this important work two arrangements are necessary: first the internal reform among Muslims (i.e., the strengthening of their faith in Islam), and second, the spread of Islam around the world. These two needs cannot be achieved without strict discipline, a leader, an Imam.

In the Quran, Allah (swt) talks about this discipline in these terms:

“Allah would not leave the believers in that (state) you are in (presently) until He separates the evil from the good. Nor would Allah reveal to you the unseen. But (instead), Allah chooses of His messengers whom He wills, so believe in Allah and His messengers. And if you believe and fear Him, then for you is a great reward.” (3:180).

Here it is said to the believers: Oh you who claim to have faith, as long as there shall be no difference between the good and the bad you will remain mixed up with the result that Islam will be weakened. Allah does not like such a situation. Surely He will send a prophet to separate the bad from the good. Since only God knows who is good and who is not, and He alone knows how to separate, He will choose a pious Muslim to operate that separation of/ distinction between (the good and evil/ bad ones). O you who believe! “So believe in Allah and His messengers.”

On the other hand, if there should not come a prophet, why did Allah (swt) say to those who believe in Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) that a time will come when there will be no difference between good and evil and that He shall then send a prophet? Why did He give the command to believe in the Prophet and to fear (i.e., to reform)? There is in all this food for thought.

Divine Favours on Abraham's Family

“The religion of your father Abraham; He (Allah) named you Muslims.”---(Al-Hajj 22: 79).

Favours: Temporal and Spiritual

O Muslims! Remember that we are the promised children of Abraham (as). There are great promises of God concerning us. God has made us the best of all (Khairi Uman). He gave us until the end of days the development of temporal favours in the form of royalty and also the development of spiritual favours in the form of prophethood, for we are the seed of Abraham (Ibrahim).

God had kept His promise to Abraham’s posterity from the branch of Israel (Jacob / Yaqub) as long as they did not become evil, and thus the system of royalty and that of prophethood were reserved for him. 

Divine Favours change Trajectory

But when they became wicked, God changed the trajectory of His Light and (while still holding firm to His promise to Abraham) gave that favour to the posterity of Ismail where we had the Rahmatul-lil-Aalameen (blessing for the entire universe) to bless all nations and whose coming was promised as a manifestation of God. This awaited perfect messenger was indeed the seal of the prophets, the founder of Islam, our beloved prophet Muhammad (pbuh) who came with a perfect divine book, i.e. the Holy Quran.

Divine Elects and the Light of Revelation

« Wa immin Ummati illaa khalaa fihaa Naziir. »

There is no nation but has had its Warner. 

(Fatir 35: 25)

As Allah (swt) is the Lord of all mankind, He has equipped all humans with the power to think for themselves. And thus, He could not deprive any nation of His guidance. Like the verse of the Holy Quran which I have recited before you, in which it is said: “There is no nation but has had its Warner”.

Allah (swt) has sent His messengers among all nations and in all ages, and like the sun lights up the whole world, the light of revelations has ever lit up the darkest corners of the earth. If today we cannot discover the light of revelation among a particular people, it does not mean that no prophets have appeared among them, but the truth is that these people have allowed their national traditions and faith to die out.

Over time, most people believed that (divine) revelation was limited to the founders of their respective religions, and even those who believed that divine revelation was given to those who profess other religions did that, more like a kind of personal tribute to the founders of these religions because of the services they had rendered to the cause of humanity than the result of the acceptance of the doctrine of the universal providence of God. For example, today we see that Christmas has become a national and international festival where even the adherents of other religions like the Hindus celebrate it with fanfare. Why? Is it because of their belief in Jesus just like the Christians have in him? Or is it simply because of the attraction of this festive celebration and as a tribute to the Christian beliefs about Jesus’ birth? They are fully engaged in this feast while in reality they do not believe in the authenticity of Jesus as a prophet, or even (may Allah forbid) as son of God, a belief that the majority of Christians espouse.

The services rendered to humanity by the righteous servants of God have certainly been preserved in history, but God’s attributes and words also reflect the fact that each nation, whether its traditions have been preserved or not, had its prophet and to receive guidance through prophets is the right of humanity that God never ignores. This doctrine has opened for all nations the doors of God’s love to the point that it has put the internal relations of humanity on a consistent and friendly basis and preserved the founders and righteous men of all religions from all kinds of insults.

The world has seen the greatest universal prophet for all humanity, for all nations, for all peoples of the world. This greatest prophet is indeed our beloved prophet Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh). He was raised among the Arabs as the universal prophet for the entire human race. Although he was the last prophet bearer of divine laws, with the last code of revealed laws, i.e., the Quran, the complete Holy Book, which contains the necessary lessons for the needs of all times, the doors of revelation and spiritual advancement are, however, still open and will continue to be forever.

God Speaks Today: 10 Reasons

A GOD WHO SPEAKS AND GUIDES

If God spoke to His servants in the past, why does He not talk to them now? If He used to send His guidance in times of trouble, doubt and bewilderment, why does He not open for men the door to His guidance today? Does this mean that all religions are corrupted and cannot find any truth, and thus we cannot get any results by following any one of them; or is it possible that the true religion exists on earth, but men do not follow its teachings and therefore cannot make any progress in the spiritual realm?

Whatever opinion we espouse, the following question shall always be asked: why did God not reveal a new religion if He thought that the world needed one; and if He had already given His guidance to be followed and that people have not heeded it, why did He not raise a reformer to guide them on the right path so that they can enjoy His proximity and thus achieve the purpose of their creation?

It’s unbelievable that a Merciful and Loving God remains unmoved at the sight of humanity struggling in error and worldliness and does nothing to indicate to it the direction and right path to take. God must be kinder and more merciful than a father or a mother, for a mother and a father are only the instruments of procreation of children, but God is not only the creator but also the ultimate goal of human existence.

The relationship between a child and his parents is temporary, but the one between man and God lasts forever. The faculties and resources of parents are finite and perishable, but God’s power is boundless and His treasures are inexhaustible. He who has such a relationship with His creatures and Who is the Master of such powers cannot forget His creatures and remain indifferent to their suffering. He Who asks His weak creatures to be lenient to others cannot be inclement so much so, that He leaves mankind without any means of direction and spiritual progress and He leaves them to wander haphazardly in darkness and lose sight while seeking light.

If there is a God, He cannot permit that! If He sympathizes with His servants in their trials and yet does not provide means of protection, we must conclude that either He has no power to guide humanity towards the truth, or that it is not the purpose of human existence to be in communion with God, and that man was created only to eat, drink, and live a purely material and animalistic existence. But these alternatives are without any support (they are baseless). 

It is absurd to imagine that the One Who created the universe has no power to provide the means for the spiritual guidance of humanity. We cannot also imagine that man was only created for a purely material existence, because in that case we would have to admit that an All-Wise and All-Knowing Creator manifested the existence of this great universe without purpose. There is no machine invented simply to let it run by itself; any machine has a precise/ designated purpose.

Report on the Fifth Jalsa in Kerala

      Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam Kerala organized its Fifth  Jalsa Salana at Noor'ul Islam Masjid, Mathra, 22-23 December 2015, Alhamdulillah.

    Brothers from Alappuzha and also from Delhi, reached ahead of the commencement of the two-day programme. Members listened to speeches and engaged in extended conversations, discussing the finer points of being a believer in these difficult times where the world around us is largely indifferent to Tawheed and all that it entails in our private lives and public conduct. As a community of people with shared interests and concerns, common goals under the banner of Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam and the Imamat of the Khalifatullah Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Sahib (atba) of Mauritius, the brothers and sisters viewed the get-together as an opportunity for soul-searching and critical self-reflection. 

On the first day, all brothers and sisters collectively offered the Tahajjud prayers and it was followed later by the Namaz-e-Fajr.  Mukarram Amir Jamaluddin Sahib conducted a Dars-e-Qur’an, immediately after the Fajr Namaz. In his speech, the Amir Sahib pointed to the subtle verities of spiritual wisdom contained in Surah Al Asr. Firm belief, enduring good deeds, patience and steadfastness against all odds--- mark the charcater of all true and sincere believers in every age, reminded the Amir Sahib in his sermon. 

At 9.00 a.m, all members assembled for a new session. Recitation of the Holy Qur’an and Translation was done by brother Y.K.Hariz Sahib of Alappuzha. 

Hazrat Mukarram Fazil Jamal Sahib offered a welcome note to the gathering- pointing to the five years of progress we have had as a Jamaat in India, as followers of the Divine Manifestation of our times, first witnessed in Mauritius in the august personage of Hazrat Khalifatullah (atba) Munir Ahmad Azim Sahib in the last decade. 

This was followed by the recitation of a Poem by our brother Salim Sahib of Alappuzha; the poem being a Malayalam Translation of an Urdu poem originally written by the Promised Massih Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) of Qadian.

The special Message of the Khalifatullah (atba) for the Jalsa Salana was translated into, and read out in, Malayalam by Dr. Haseena Masood Fazil Sahiba (Sadr, Siraj Makin) to the gathering. The importance of healthy lifestyle for physical and spiritual well being was underscored in the profound message with reference to both original Islamic dietary norms and contemporary evidence-based medical findings. The special message would soon be made  available here, Insha Allah