'Eid-ul-Adha' Sermon 2019

The Prayer of Hazrat Ibrahim (as)

“Rabbi hablii minas-saalihiin. Fabash-sharnaahu bi-gulaamin haliim.”

The verses of the Holy Quran which I have just recited before you today are found in Chapter 37, Surah As-Saffat, Verses 101-102. It is a duah (invocation/ prayer) which Hazrat Ibrahim (as) addressed to Allah.

The duah is as follows: “Rabbi hablii minas-saalihiin.” (O my Lord, grant me a righteous (offspring)). After addressing this duah to Allah (swt), God Almighty accepted it and granted him his request: “Fabash-sharnaahu bi-gulaamin haliim.” (So We gave him good tidings of a forbearing son).

So, these verses show the acceptance of Ibrahim’s (as) duah and how the promise of Allah (swt) came to manifest when Allah announced to him the birth of a gentle, and forbearing son. When the child reached the age when he could travel with his father, the latter (i.e. Hazrat Ibrahim) told him: ‘My son, I have seen myself sacrificing [slaughtering] you in a dream. What do you think?’ He said, ‘Father, do as you are commanded and, God willing, you will find me steadfast (among those or like those who show [exemplary] patience).’

In this verse, Allah (swt) has mentioned patience; those who forebear, those who are steadfast. It is the same kind of patience [an exemplary patience] that the son of Hazrat Ibrahim (as) has shown when the time came for him to be sacrificed. That is why the boy, Hazrat Ismail (as) said that: Insha-Allah, you shall find me steadfast (among those or like those who show [exemplary] patience).

So, the subject matter of sacrifice in the path of Allah has a profound connection/ bond with patience, for without patience, then the sacrifice in itself is also vain. Had Hazrat Ismail (as) not said what he declared on that day with complete sincerity, i.e. Insha-Allah, you shall find me steadfast, then on that day itself the real meaning of sacrifice would have been lost, annihilated. And therefore the world would have been deprived from the reality [true meaning] of sacrifice.

The Children of Abraham

Divine Favours to Hazrat Ibrahim (as)

As we are in the month of Hajj (Dhul-Hijjah), after the Eid-ul-Adha which was celebrated last Monday, today’s Friday Sermon is on the divine favour granted to Hazrat Ibrahim (as) and how thereafter the favour of prophethood has eternally been given in the Muhammadan Ummah.

I must also say that following my article in French on the newspaper ‘Le Mauricien’, on 12 August 2019, day of the Eid of Sacrifice (Eid-ul-Adha), there are people from other communities who have written misplaced comments on Islam, and some even attacked the honour of Hazrat Ibrahim (as) and condemned the practice of slaughtering [sacrifices] of animals. There are also those who do not even believe in the purpose of religion, and belief in God. So, these types of people say that Islam has copied on the practice of people from before Islam.

So, I wanted to answer their questions [through this sermon] before going into the heart of the subject of my sermon today which is also a refutation also for them, which preserves the honour of Abraham (as) as well as the honour of all his children and that of his legitimate and honourable wives.

The Ka'aba as a Sign of God

The story of the Ka'aba

Mecca, the Holy City is the busiest city in Saudi Arabia. The Holy Mosque (Masjid al Haram) is located in Mecca. It is a city in the Arabian Peninsula 350 meters above the sea. The Ka’aba is in the middle of the Sacred Mosque. This mosque is located in a space called Bakka.

The date of its foundation goes back to the time of Hazrat Ibrahim (as), the Prophet (Nabi) and the Friend (Khalil) of Allah. It is in this city that the Holy Prophet of Islam was born. It is also the cradle of the revelation that welcomed the light of Islam and it is there that springs the Sacred Mosque, the first installed on earth for the men by virtue as it is evident from the words of the Most High (Allah): “The first House that was built for the people is that of Bakka (Mecca), blessed and a good direction for the universe.” (Al-Imran 3: 97)

It has been safely reported from Abu Dharr that he said, “I asked the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) about the first mosque on earth? He said, ‘The Holy Mosque’ and then I said to him, ‘Which one afterwards?’ He said, ‘The Al-Aqsa Mosque.’ I told him, ‘How much time has passed between the two?’ He said, ‘40 years old.’”

The Ka’aba towards which the Muslims of the East and West (all Muslims) turn for their prayers (to worship the Unique Lord of the Ka’aba), is approximately found at the centre of the Sacred Mosque. It has a height of 15 metres and takes the form of a large cube almost square. It was built by Hazrat Ibrahim (as) on the command of Allah the Most High. Allah the Almighty and Majestic says: “And when We appointed for Ibrahim the place of the House (the Ka’aba) saying to Him, ‘Do not associate Me with anything; and cleanse My House for those who circle around it, for those who stand up in prayer, and for those who bow and make prostration.’” (Al-Hajj 22: 27).

The term “bawwa’na” means: We directed it and made it available to it and gave it permission to build. In this regard, Allah the Almighty says: “And when Abraham and Ishmael raised the foundation of the House, [saying], ‘O our Lord, accept this from us! For You are the Hearing, the Knowing.’” (Al-Baqara 2: 128).

Eid-ul-Adha 2019 @ Mathra: A Report

Alhamdulillah, on the occasion of Eid-ul-Adha 2019, members of the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam- South Zone- Kerala (India) celebrated this major Islamic festival in a unique and memorable way: early morning, the members performed Divine invocations, Eid Namaz and listened to the Eid Khutba at the historic Noor’ul Islam Masjid, Mathra on 12 August 2019 ~ (10 Dhul Hijjah 1440 AH).

After the solemn Eid prayers at the Masjid in the morning, the Jamaat members took the initiative on the occasion to organize a social outreach/ community lunch Programme in the village’s Old Age Home, Summa Alhamdulillah.

Along with the lunch meeting with the mothers and sisters at the Meera Charitable Trust, Mukarram Amir Jamaat, Jenab R. Jamaluddin Raother Saheb also conducted an interactive session with students and other guests who were present on the occasion at the venue. 

Naib Sadr of the Siraj Makin, Fauzia Jamal-Zain Saheba also joined the Amir Saheb in the conversations with the young women and men, and they interacted on a range of significant issues that confront every human in this world: the purpose of life; true goals of education; our social responsibilities; the role of spirituality in shaping our ethical frameworks, etc. These conversations apparently opened up a world of thought  for the non-Muslim audience who were unfamiliar to many of those Islamic precepts. Indeed, the presentation of Prophetic traditions and Islamic perspectives for the betterment of all humans, including the duty to care for the indigent and socially marginalized, was deeply appreciated by those who listened to our members, Alhamdulillah. 

Banning ‘Triple Talaq’ in India

In recent years, Muslim women in India have publicly raised issues of unfair treatment at the hands of their unjust husbands, triggering wider debates on the reform of Muslim personal law in a secular country. As it happens, an unscrupulous husband  makes an oral pronouncement or a simple declaration of 'Triple Talaq’ by sending an e-mail/mobile phone text message/WhatsApp/Facebook/Twitter posts, etc.- to his wife and such a communication would apparently result in instant and irrevocable divorce, valid for the purpose of the Muslim law.  For, ‘Talaq-e-Bidd’at’- an irregular form of divorce under Muslim Law- does seem to allow men to simply evade their marital obligations with their wives and to end the spouse relations without any regard for the ethical framework of the Qur’an and the Ahadith on matrimonial justice. Indeed, a grave distortion of the Islamic institution of divorce has been created in recent times by rotten husbands, leading to an unfortunate public perception that a Muslim husband may put away his wife at his mere caprice. Seeking to prohibit and penalize this kind of deviant practice -‘Talaq-e-Bidd’at’- that is tilted against Islamic values, women’s rights and gender justice;  India recently announced a new national legislation entitled the ‘Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Act, 2019.   

'Dawa': Care People, Speak Wisely

Dawat-i-Allah– Invitation to Allah: Part IV 

Who is a Dai-i-Allah ?

A Dai-i-Allah is a person who has made the promise to invite people to Allah, and as long as he makes that promise, as long as he takes that determination, then he does it faithfully all the time, all lifelong. And until his last breath he remains a Dai-i-Allah. It is this type of Dai-i-Allah that the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam must have/ produce. And we must also do the work of Dawat-i-Allah with great intelligence.

The Types of Intelligence Needed

By the quality of intelligence, we understand that, firstly we must take a look at history and through historical narratives, we must come to the conclusion that the remedy against all adversity in this area lies in giving and increasing our friendship towards others. It is at this time that people will accept our words [our message in the Dawat-i-Allah]. If not, they will not accept it.

A second type of intelligence, its second quality, which most of the time we put aside, is that we have to talk about the time [the appropriate time] and the situation [we are] because every word is better in its current situation and context. If someone is worried about his work or his mind is busy with other things – he’s lost in thought - and you get to the task of giving him the [divine] messages, then that will not have any effect on him because it is not the moment to give him this message. This person’s situation does not allow him to receive this message. You also need to know that if a person develops disgust for this message, even though what you are presenting to him is a good thing, then he will not be happy. Everyone to whom you are presenting the message in this situation will not appreciate the message. So, think that if the way of presenting [the message] does not take over this disgust, then the Dawat-i-Allah will yield nothing. The work we have to do is a very fragile work. By adopting the model of the Prophet (sa), we must become a blessing for others; and to reach this end, we must speak with wisdom; we must use wise words.

A Dear Prayer for All Hajjis

O Allah, the call has been given,

And Your servants are coming to You,

To Your Glorious & Holy House,

To accomplish that very deed which represents

The Ultimate proof of their love and submission to You. 

Submission to You in all humility is what You seek,

And Forgiveness and Your Love and Mercy

Is what we seek;

Rush to Your servants, O Allah

And accept their Hajj;

Inspire their hearts to remain true to the promise of

Reform throughout the rest of their lives,

And O Allah open my way to You,

So that the treasures of Your Kingdom may be

Always at my reach,

To distribute to Your sincere and devoted servants.

May they also accede to Your nearness,

And taste Your Love and

Give them the ability,

To communicate with You,

Their hearts connected with You,

And Yours with them,

And enlighten them, O Allah

To be truly submissive to You,

In all aspects of the word;

A Muslim am I, O Allah,

By Your Grace and Mercy;

Bless my Muslim brothers, sisters and children,

Who have forsaken everything to come to

Your Holy Ka’aba,

To accomplish the fifth pillar of Islam,

To accomplish such a worship,

Which shall Insha-Allah see to their

Glorious elevation in Your Sight and Paradise,

Be it in this world and the hereafter,

Forever.

O Allah, accept this plea,

And bless us all in Your way,

Under Your righteous Guidance,

And cherished in Your everlasting love,

And protect us always from the accursed Satan,

And all forms of evils which exist within us,

And all around us. Ameen.

.....By Hazrat  Muhyi-ud-Din Munir A. Azim, Imam- Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam, 24 July 2019. First appeared in Le Mauricien and can be viewed here.