Ramadan in Islamic History

Alhamdulillahil Rabbil Aalameen, all praises belong to Allah Almighty, Master of the Heavens and Earth. We shall welcome once again by the grace of Allah the blessed month of Ramadan and Insha-Allah Ramadan will begin around 16 or 17 May 2018.

O Believers, Ramadan is a sacred month in which Allah (swt) constantly tries His creation and gives humanity the opportunity to attain infinite joy. Fasting is a complete purification and a means to develop awareness and recognition of the presence of Allah, and find His manifestation everywhere. And fasting allows the fasting person (i.e. the faster) to acquire more Taqwa and in truth Taqwa is a protection against all the plans of Satan, and against the suffering in this world.

Allah (swt) informs us: And whoever fears Allah - He will make for him a way out, and will provide for him from where he does not expect. And whoever relies upon Allah - then He is sufficient for him. Indeed, Allah will accomplish His purpose. Allah has already set for everything a [decreed] extent. (At-Talaq 65: 3-4).

Many Muslims today have a bad conception of fasting and fasting activities. Fasters nowadays prefer to enter a state of semi-hibernation, and spend most of their time sleeping. If Muslims really fast for Allah and have a fear for their Creator, then they will certainly remain awakened to read the Holy Quran and when the time comes for prayer, they pray and remember Allah (through Zikrullah). But there are some who get up for prayer, but after that go to sleep again. This second sleep makes them become lazy, and then they lose the golden opportunity to purify themselves through spiritual activities and fully enjoy this blessed month. They lose this divine blessing.

Ramadan is a time of intense activity for the believer where he finds himself being rid of the constraints related to food. He is therefore free to do even more effort in the way Allah (swt), and give more time in meditation (Zikr), supererogatory prayers, and the reading in abundance of the Holy Quran. He can now control his ego, his passion (Nafs), become a wiser person, more humble and get away from all kinds of sins like spying on people and gossiping about them etc. On the contrary, they must seize this opportunity to get away from all disputes (useless discussions, quarrels, hatred, jealousy, and doubts). You must focus more on doing good deeds and asking Allah's forgiveness (Istigfaar) for all your sins so that the Creator forgives you of your sins and accept your fasts and acts of worship (Ibadat).

Ramadan in history

If you know the history of Islam and Ramadan in history, then you should know that our beloved Prophet Hadhrat Muhammad (pbuh) lived close to nine Ramadan after the Hegira where every Ramadan was filled with very important decisions and showed us an example of sacrifice and submission to Allah (swt). 

Shareefa Beevi Saheba (1951-2018)

Shareefa Beevi Esmail Saheba, the respected wife of Mukarram Amir Jamaluddin Saheb of the Kerala South Jamaat, passed away on the early morning of Thursday, the 10^th of May, 2018---23 Shabaan 1439 AH. Innal-Lilaahi wa inna ilayhi raajiuun.

Born in October 1951, Shareefa Saheba was 67 years of age at the time of her death. She was not keeping well for some months now, and the end came while she was sleeping peacefully at home. Indeed the angels came home to call her back to Allah (swt), like the Qur’an attests about the Divine decree regarding the course of all human souls: “Allah takes the souls at the time of their death; and those that do not die [He takes] during their sleep. Then He keeps those for which He has decreed death and releases the others for a specified term. Indeed in that are signs for a people who give thought” (39:43).

At home, daughter Fauzia Jamal Saheba led the other women of the family in giving a proper bath to the dead body as per Islamic rites. The funeral prayer (Salaat al-Janazah) was performed under the leadership of her husband Mukarram Amir Jamaluddin Saheb of the Kerala South Jamaat after their son Fazil Jamal and family reached home from Delhi in the late afternoon. Remaining members of the family, members of the South Jamaat, close relatives and even other Muslims outside of the Jamaat also joined the Janaza prayers at the historic Noor'ul Islam Masjid, Mathra and soon thereafter, the dead body was buried at the burial space enclave adjacent to the Masjid complex before sunset. May Allah (swt) illumine her tomb, Aameen.  

Islam: Dark Clouds, Silver Lining

The situation in the world is extremely worrying for all Muslims (and all my disciples in Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam) and I am again reminding you all to pray earnestly that Allah (swt) may remove the dangers which face Islam which is being encircled by dark clouds which only God can remove whenever He pleases.

There is nowhere in the world where Muslims are not in danger directly or indirectly and we do not see any intelligent Islamic response. There is only one despicable response which they know: persecuting their own Muslim brethrens and finishing Islam by their own hands. In addition to the civil wars and the religious strife which they wage between themselves but when it concerns the Divine Manifestation and the belief in the Promised Messiah Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) and in this era this humble self the Khalifatullah, all the Muslim sects don't hesitate to group together to counter-attack what they term as heretics. It is on this basis that they seem to agree and help each other to crush the divine truth. Since the advents of non law-bearing prophets/ messengers after Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh), they seem to have lost their bearings when they denied and calumniated the men of God.

The Little Girl of Kathua

'And when the baby girl who is buried alive will be questioned about; 

For what offence was she killed?'

                                            ---Surah Al Takwir, Ch:81: 9-10)

Last month, the kidnapping, gang-rape and brutal killing of an eight-year old little girl in Kathua, in the Jammu region, caused a national outrage in India. And the country witnessed a series of popular protests against the rising tide of horrific incidents of violence against women and girl children in recent years. The government’s woeful record of abject failures in dealing with the question of safety and security of women and girl children was highlighted in these mass mobilizations. Across several cities and townships, public meetings called for ending the prevailing culture of impunity around sex and gender-related crimes. That the Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself was reminded on Indian women’s safety by well-meaning foreigners during his recent tour of Britain speak volumes about the national dishonour and humiliation these institutional failings represent for the people.

Women's Rights: Men's Duties in Islam

Advices to the Wo/men of the Divine Manifestation- Part 3

IN his Friday Sermon of 27 April 2018 (10 Shabaan 1439 AH), Muhyi-ud-Din Al Khalifatullah Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Saheb (atba) of Mauritius, continues the stream of advices to the members of the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam on nurturing a spiritual core to their every day lives. In the previous sermons in the series, Hadhrat Saheb (atba) speaks of the need for being responsible citizens in society by practicing Islamic values  within the over all framework of Taqwah or being mindful of God in all that we do- observing modesty and decency in dress and habits; equity and balance in life choices; fairness in relations and respect for the rights of others, including family members, etc. Hadhrat Saheb (atba) also underscored the need for injecting vitality into the organizational frameworks so that the members- young and not so young- can be trained and moulded into the dynamics of Jamaat affairs so that they may take over social responsibilities in the fullness of time, without leaving a vaccum in leadership for sustaining the momentum of collective good works. 

Speaking of the identity, dignity and rights of women in society and the many ills that plague our social systems, Hadhrat Khalifatullah (atba) notes the seminal role of men in distorting the delicate balance in the social order, including in family and spouse relations through their overbearing attitudes and victimisation of women. With their patriarchal mindsets and abuse of traditional privileges; many men frequently take a dime view of women's agency, rights and space. It is against this backdrop that one should view the modern feminist thought. The women empowerment movements in our times essentially seek to reclaim and restore a level playing field for the deprived/repressed/oppressed women in varying contexts of social rights that were/ are unjustly curtailed by men. Influenced by social custom and inherited family traditions, many Muslim men have no clear understanding of Islamic behavioural ethics. As a consequence, they end up justifying their anti-women attitudes and gender-stereotyping on Islam, leading to the furtherance of ant-Islam feelings in society. 

The Holy Prophet Muhammad (sa), in his final days, was very much concerned about the future of women's rights within the Ummah, and exhorted men, in very strong and stirring words, to respect the rights and entitlements of women. In one of the Divine Revelations vouchsafed to Hadhrat Massih Maoud (as), the Divine Message is crystal clear: 'your wives are not your servants; they are your comrades in life'. 

Following in the footsteps of this great Islamic tradition, Hadhrat Khalifatullah (atba) exhorts the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam, especially the men, to mind their obligations in this vital arena of human relations. In the present sermon, Hadhrat Saheb (atba) reiterates the need for men to respect the space of women in the matrimonial home and family life, considering also the disproportionate impact of domestic and social obligations on most of the hapless women in impoverished families. Noting that abusive and unjust men who trump the basic rights of women/others cannot have any space in spiritual communities, Hadhrat Saheb (atba) exhorts all members of the Jamaat that if they are serious and sincere about the quest for God's approval, they need to ensure that their actions remain within the ethical framework and teachings of the Holy Qur'an or become like a 'Walking Qur'an' in their everyday lives.

Read the Extracts from the Friday Sermon: 

Alhamdulillah, Summa Alhamdulillah, Allah (swt) has given me the Ilm (Knowledge) and opportunity to continue the third part of my sermon on the Women & Men of the Divine Manifestation. This is indeed a great blessing of Allah Who guides me through His sheer love and blessings to impart to all members of our Jamaat and whole mankind the key essence of good living and how to mould it in your spiritual lives also, so that both the temporal and the spiritual marries in harmony and do not clash. Indeed all thanks and gratitude is to Allah Who teaches me and guide me to give you the best advices for your own good on earth and which shall open the avenues of felicity for you in the afterlife also. Indeed my love for Allah is beyond measure.

Islamic Ethics on Training Children

Advices to the wo/men of the Jamaat- Part II

Frankly speaking, to set someone on the right path, is never an easy task. But it is truly an act of highest virtue. It is therefore binding on all of our Jamaat worldwide to not only associate our members with all types of welfare activities but also to enable them to shoulder such social burdens as would tend to make them responsible citizens. It is because the charge of responsibility invariably alters the perception of an individual. It deepens their knowledge and expertise and their thinking power. It enables them to become independent individuals who can bring in ideas for the good maintenance and reform of our Jamaat in the years to come. It helps them develop their personality and maintain a close relationship with their Deen (religion - i.e. Islam).

The office bearers in our different organizations, whatever names or duties we may assign to them, should be trained earlier on to take over their responsibilities later on. The Jamaat should have trustworthy and pious members at the top, such people who shall be able to maintain the equilibrium of the whole Islamic system with the help of Allah, and for that Taqwa is absolutely important. Without Taqwa, man is like a lifeless plant. He shall go wayward without piety, righteousness and absolute fear and respect for Allah, The All-Seeing, All-Hearing.

Thus, by giving our youths responsibilities earlier on in life shall help them to perfect their level of belongingness to the cause of Allah; they shall better understand our cause and shall strive to please Allah in whatever they do. Remember, Satan is the bitterest enemy of man. He and his army shall try to deviate you at different points in life but you need to bypass his whisperings and invitations and focus your attention and love on Allah and His Truth. Always follow the right path, even though it is a million times difficult, but I assure you that at the end of that thorny path is found the most delectable of rewards. Remember your sacrifices is a short-term while the rewards promised by Allah is eternal. Now, it is for you to choose which path you would tread: the path of ruin or the path of salvation.

Appreciation and Advices for Women Believers

Acclamation for the Women of the Jamaat

For the past four to five years my tours and missions in the different countries of the world have been successful by the grace of Allah. So much so that my heart is filled with gratitude and praises for Allah. Besides the men of the Divine Manifestation, the women also have played a great role, sacrificing their time and using their God-given knowledge to help the cause of Allah. Moreover, with the acceleration of dawa/ tabligh in the different countries, especially in India and Africa, lots of women have embraced the truth of the Divine Manifestation of time and the Khalifatullah, disregarding the narrow-minded opinions and wrath of husbands, parents and past communities for the sake of the truth coming from Allah. A spontaneous prayer pours out of my heart for those women who have joined the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam, who expressed complete submissiveness to Allah and His messenger and thus stood fast to their covenants (Bai'at) dutifully and faithfully.

Alhamdulillah I receive many emails everyday from the different countries and many women were so emotional and receptive to the divine message and heart-warming that I could not contain myself from offering thanks to Allah (swt) for all the favours and signs that He has manifested in my support, and unbounded prayers on behalf of the penitents, those who want to reform themselves, and change their lives for the best. These women are so immersed in the divine waters that they are recipients of God's favours and miracles (they witness the miracle and power of duah address to Allah) and they are ever ready to help the cause of Allah in whatever way they can. Some do translation works, dawa/ tabligh, impart the right teachings of Islam to their children and support their husbands and parents to support the cause of Allah. Those of them who do not have the support of their family trust Allah so much that Allah manifest Himself in extraordinary ways, giving them the courage and patience to help the cause of Allah, helping the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam to progress further. 

The truth of the matter is that the women of the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam are adding a new chapter, written in letters of gold, to the history of mankind and that of the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam. They are like a fresh/ cool breeze which overtakes a hot weather, bringing forth hope for the people and a message of appreciation from Allah and His messenger.