Islam and the West: Beyond Identity

More than ever before, individual and social identities are in flux. Ways of life as understood in both tradition-bound societies, and also in the advanced industrialized nations, are shifting under the strong currents of economic globalization and associated transformations. The usual lense of 'spiritual' East and 'materialist' West does not really explain the creeping changes around the world. In his Friday Sermon of 04 January 2019~ 27 Rabi’ul Aakhir 1440 AH,  Imam- Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam Hadhrat Muhyi-ud-Din Al Khalifatullah Munir Ahmad Azim Saheb (atba) of Mauritius spoke about the growing churning happening in the Arab-Islamic world and in the West, pointing to a deep irony: whereas a 'god-less' Europe increasingly appreciates the values of diversity and humanitarianism at the root of a spiritual outlook; the rich-Arab States-despite their claims of faith in God- are increasingly turning to materialism and are virtually indifferent to the solidarity obligations of core Islamic values. Pointing to the inherent limitations of synthetic materialism to sustain human interest over the longer term and the profound appeal of the spiritual path in the inner quest of people for lasting happiness; Hadhrat Khalifatullah (atba) highlights the major opportunity it represents for Islam to fill the growing 'emptiness' in the West, even as the Speech underscores the profound need for the Muslim societies' in our times to appreciate and reclaim their pure faith/spiritual legacy from corrupting influences that grip their social orders: the 'worship' of riches;  denial of human rights; mindless extremism, internecine violence, etc. 

Read the Friday Sermon Below:   

SPIRITUALITY AND MATERIALISM

There is a common belief among us that the Arabs and Muslims in general are spiritual while the West, i.e. industrialist and capitalist American and European societies, is materialistic. But how true is this claim?

Bai'at: The Path to Cleanse the Heart

The founder of the Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya, the Promised Massih and Imam Mahdi of the Later Days, Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) of Qadian (1835-1908 CE) has had profound spiritual expectations regarding the people who chose to come forward and take the Bai'at- the Covenant of Obedience to God and His Messenger (sa) and the Divine Elect of their times. In his book Kishti Noohu (The Noah's Ark), the Promised Messiah (as) spoke movingly about the vital importance of sincere soul searching and inner purity; righteous conduct and just relations in the  abiding quest for the illumination of the heart- to be accepted in the presence of God Almighty. Reproduced below is an extract from the Book where Hazrat Ahmad (as) speaks about the persons who take Bai'at with him, clearly distinguishing between those who truly belong and those who really do not: 

“[Y]ou must not rest satisfied merely because in outward form you have taken Bai’at at my hand. The outward form means nothing: God sees what lies inside your hearts, and He would deal with you on the basis of what He sees there. 

Lo and behold! I herein discharge my duty unto you, by making it plain that sin is a poison. Do not take it. Disobedience to God is a dirty death which you should avoid. Turn to prayer that you should get the strength. At the time of prayer, if a man does not firmly believe that Allah has power over everything, except what may be contained in a previous promise, such a one is not of my community.

He who is caught in a tangle of worldly greed, and never even raises his eyes to things which pertain to the next life, is not of my community. Whosoever does not wholly and completely keep away from every sin and every evil action, like wine, gambling, looking lustfully at women, dishonesty, bribes, and from every kind of illegal gratification, he is not of my community.

Whosoever is not constantly turning to prayer, and does not remember Him in absolute humility of spirit, he is not of my community. Whosoever does not give up association with a bad companion, who exercises an unhealthy influence over him, he is not of my community. Whosoever does not respect his parents, whosoever does not render obedience to them in things which do not run counter to the Holy Quran, and whosoever is neglectful in rendering to them the service to which they are undoubtedly entitled, he is not of my community.

Finding ‘Balance’ in the Trials of Life

The Holy Prophet Muhammad (sa) is reported to have said:

'This life is the dwelling of crookedness; not straightness, and the residence of sadness; rather than happiness. Those who acquire knowledge in its true reality will not feel joy in times of ease, nor grieve in times of hardship. 

Verily, Allah the Exalted has created this life as a test and the Hereafter as the dwelling of recompense. He made the test of this life a reason behind earning the reward of the Hereafter and the reward in the Hereafter as compensation for the test in this life. He takes so that He gives and tests so that He recompenses.

The life of this world vanishes rapidly and changes suddenly. Therefore, beware of its sweetness so as to avoid the bitterness of its depriving, and beware of its delights so as to avoid the pains they lead too. 

Do not excessively build a life that Allah has decided is bound to destruction, and do not recline to (or like) it. Verily, Allah has ordained on you that you should avoid its danger. Otherwise, you will expose yourselves to His Anger and justifiably earn His Punishment."

This prophetic wisdom is, in many ways, also a summation of the Qur’anic message on the fleeting nature of our fortunes in this world, and that everything is subject to a law of nature or the Divine Law. The Holy Qur’an says, “No misfortune can happen, either in the earth or in yourselves, that was not set down in writing before We brought it into being- that is easy for God- so you need not grieve for what you miss or gloat over what you gain.” (57: 23) Long ago, Luqman the Wise counselled his son to endure with fortitude what befalls and the Qur’an notes: “Bear anything that happens to you steadfastly” (31:17).

Our Wishes and Divine Expectations

The Qur’an alludes to the wisdom behind this balanced approach to our earthly life’s contingent circumstances- fortunes and misfortunes; situations that can and will evolve in the fullness of time in the life of a believer. With a deeply flawed sense of the human self- "foolish and unjust", according to the Qur'an- man is inherently incapable of making the wise decision as regards what is harmful or beneficial for him without Divine guidance. Our wishes, desires and inclinations are to be tempered in accordance with Divine commandments and expectations wherever applicable, depending on the varied circumstances of one’s life. 

Allah (swt) encourages the believers to trust in His better knowledge of how things will turn out to be in the end, and of what benefits a person in his present life and the Hereafter. Submission to God and adherence to Divine expectations would better serve and suffice the believer's larger interests, says the Qur’an in its own inimitable style: 

“You may dislike something although it is good for you, or like something although it is bad for you: God knows and you do not.” (2: 216)

“Live with them (your wives) in a goodly manner: if you dislike them, it may well be that you dislike something which God might yet make a source of abundant good." (4:20) 

One of the Divine revelations recieved by the Promised Messiah (as) in the previous era on the same theme is as follows: 

"God will bestow your reward in full and will be pleased with you and will perfect your name. And it is possible that you hold something dear, yet in reality it is harmful for you; and it is possible that you dislike something , yet in reality it is beneficial for you. God Almighty knows the end results of things and you do not know." [Barahin-e-Ahmadiyya, Part IV, p. 391, UK: Islam Int'l Publications, (2016). 

Imam Ibn al Qayyim al-Jawziyya (691-751 AH; 1292-1350 CE), the medieval polymath and classical commentator of the Holy Qur’an, has left behind a deeply insightful exposition on this theme of the Qur’an, advising the believing servants on how to profit from these profound words of the Book of God.

Special Advice for Devout Muslims

On Divine Favours during the India Tour

Alhamdulillah, Summa Alhamdulillah, I am now back in Mauritius by the grace of Allah after a month spent in India – in Tamil Nadu and Kerala – filled with the divine blessings, favours, signs and revelations. I would like to thank all my dear disciples who have taken great care of my family and I during our visit in India. May Allah keep showering His blessings upon you and make manifest His great signs and revelations upon you, again and again. Ameen.

We should always remember the favours of Allah upon us. Allah says in the Holy Quran: “If you try to count Allah’s favours, you would never be able to enumerate them.” (An-Nahl 16: 19).

We can never count the favours of Allah upon us. The Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam and indeed this present Divine Manifestation since its beginning in the form of the Jamaat Ahmadiyya Al Mouslemeen all received countless favours of Allah. Some seized that blessed favour and made it the essence of their lives while others rejected it.

And now, Alhamdulillah, Summa Alhamdulillah, during my visit in India my disciples of Kerala and Tamil Nadu have, witnessed great divine signs in the form of revelations upon this humble self and also on their own selves. They have in the aftermath of my fervent duahs on their behalf received and witnessed the descent of divine revelations, even in foreign language. Allahu Akbar.

This indeed is the true favour of Allah: REVELATIONS FROM ALLAH, whereby Allah talks and/ or conveys His messages and words of comfort to His servants. By the grace of Allah, those who remain ever firm in the Divine Manifestation of this era shall get this special blessing as a sign of my truthfulness, and Alhamdulillah, Allah listened to my prayer, and blessed some of my disciples with His revelations and blessed dreams in my presence among them and even after I left them and returned back to Mauritius. May Allah continue to guide and inspire all my disciples, be it in India and elsewhere in the world and make them true servants of Allah in every aspect of the word. Ameen.

Moral Values, Changing Times

Today we live in a time when the values ​​of yesteryears have almost disappeared. No more respect for the elders! For example, in the past, teachers were invaluable to their students (the latter had great respect for them), but nowadays this value is lost. Parents are unable to control their children despite religious preaching, the work of NGOs, and the advice of psychologists. Despite all efforts, the situation is not improving. We live in a changing society. With globalization, we are carried away by the current of modernization that takes us away from our values ​​of yesteryears.

The new generation is just following the evolution of society. In the past, schools, Madrasas, as well as parents played their role perfectly to maintain a balance between moral values ​​and the detrimental effects of modernization. But nowadays, parents have lost their authority over their children. Most children do not obey their parents anymore.

Why are our young people devoid of moral values? Could this be due to a loophole in our education system? Are we robotizing our young people through high technology? Politeness and courtesy are almost non-existent among young people. Where are the greetings of yesteryears that flowed from the bottom of our hearts, full of love and friendship?

So who is to blame? We should not play the blame game because all parties are to blame. The parents, the central core of the family have lost their connection with their children. Today, everything is allowed for children. There are no restrictions. Both father and mother are working and the children are left to their own devices without guidance and a good discipline. Now, in a highly technological world, the old-fashioned logic of family unity has given way to a global connection of people of all kinds. Although technology brings some benefits, but unfortunately we are dealing nowadays with its multiple disadvantages as well, those that ruin the physical, moral and spiritual health of children.

'Faith Entails Trials in Your Way'

Faith & the Strong Believer

Dear brothers, sisters and children, for today’s Friday Sermon (Khutba Jumu’ah), it is very important that I talk to you about faith (Iman) and Islam and the difference between a weak believer and a strong believer.

Allah says in the Holy Quran: “Say, ‘You have not (yet) believed; but say (instead), ‘We have submitted,’ (We are Muslims) for faith has not yet entered your hearts. And if you obey Allah and His Messenger, He will not deprive you from your deeds of anything’.” (Al-Hujurat 49: 15).

Indeed, Iman (faith) is the confession/ attestation (by the tongue) and acting (according to one’s responsibility) and Islam is confession (by the tongue) without acting.

It should be remembered that those who integrate the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam as Muslims and say that they believe in my advent as the Khalifatullah of the age need to make extra efforts to perfect their Islam and put this Islam into practice in their daily lives. Through the practice of Islam in your daily lives, true faith shall enter your hearts, and no doubt whatsoever, can come into those hearts to deviate you from the right path.

Very often, a Muslim – and I am specifically talking about my followers, the Sahih al Islam members – can feel that he is trying to do all the right things in his life so as to come close to Allah, and despite his various efforts, he is not able to succeed in his efforts and therefore he despairs of the mercy of Allah. He feels abandoned, and thus, he abandons his Salat (prayers) and all acts of worship due to his insecurity and doubts. Now, this is very wrong. This person should bear in mind that acquiring true faith is not an easy matter. He has to go through lots of trials, lots of fires, i.e. difficulties, so that his mettle, his capacities as a true Muslim and believer, and his faith in Allah may be victorious.

Remember, Allah always gives more trials and difficulties to those whom He loves the most. Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) has said: “How wonderful is the affair of the believer, for his affairs are all good, and this applies to no one but the believer. If something good happens to him, he is thankful for it and that is good for him. If something bad happens to him, he bears it with patience and that is good for him.” (Muslim).

Serving Islam: Bai'at & Our Tasks

Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam- Kerala (India) organized its Eighth Jalsa Salana at the historic Noor'ul Islam Masjid at Mathra on Sunday, 9th December 2018. As noted in an earlier post, the Jalsa this year was special for all its participants, including for the large delegation of brothers and sisters from Tamil Nadu, with the august presence of Hadhrat Muhyi-ud-Din Al Khalifatullah Munir Ahmad Azim Saheb (atba) of Mauritius among them. While Hadhrat Khalifatullah (atba) in his opening Speech elaborated on the significance of an annual spiritual congregation of brothers; in the concluding Speech, Hazrat Saheb (atba) called attention to important organizational tasks ahead for the brothers to keep in mind to act upon. 

Bai'at at the hands of an Elect of God is nothing less than a covenant with Allah and it entails grave responsibilities on those who choose to strive in the sublime path of seeking proximity to the Divine presence. The social dimension of the worship of the Divine is to reach out to people so that they may also come to be aware of the great blessings on offer in the life to come, and also the felicity that God promises to those who strive in His path in their worldly life as well. Progressing forward as a community requires brotherhood, solidarity, sustained engagement and generous support for collective objectives. Each person can and should make contributions, including  financial sacrifices so as to leverage our collective capacity to reach out with the Divine Message to as many people as possible through the diverse projects identified by the Divine Elect (atba) of our times. 

Marking the culmination of the Jalsa Salana Programme, a collective Bai’at Programme was also organized for the benefit of all members present on the occasion; with all brothers gaining an opportunity to take the Bai'at at the hands of Hadhrat Khalifatullah (atba), Alhamdulillah. Hence, the Noor'ul Islam Masjid, Mathra once again became the venue of this historic event: Hadhrat Saheb (atba) explained the conditions of Bai’at and procedural stipulations therein and following this, everyone placed their hands on the hand of Hadhrat Khalifatullah (atba) and pledged their help and assistance to the Divine Manifestation of this era in the person of Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Saheb (atba), Summa Alhamdulillah.

Read the Closing Speech of Hadhrat Khalifatullah (atba) below: 

My dear disciples,

Assalamoualaikum Warahmatullah Wabarakaatuhu.

By the grace of Allah, Allah has chosen you in this era for a great work in the Grand Divine Plan. This Divine Plan consists of the revival of Islam, our religion. Many people have asked, ‘Why, if he says that He comes from Allah, must he operate under the name of a Jamaat. Why another Jamaat?’

To all those who have the same lines of thought I would like to say that first of all as Muslims, this humble self as well as all my disciples’ religion is truly ISLAM. Now, ISLAM as a religion is not an entity which can be used for one to register himself officially, especially in a non-Islamic country so that he can operate and construct buildings and preach the religion of Allah without any fear. As such Allah saw the need to elevate His Khalifatullah with a Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam so that we, His chosen servants can work effectively in a modern-day system which does not consider ISLAM as the prime and foremost religion of the people and society in general.