'Good Life': Prophetic Teachings

‘Bear in mind that the present life is just a game, a diversion, an attraction, a cause of boasting among you, of rivalry in wealth and children. It is like plants that spring up after the rain: their growth at first delights the sowers, but then you see them wither away, turn yellow, and  become stubble. There is terrible punishment in the next life as well as forgiveness and approval from God; the life of this world is only an illusory pleasure. So race for your Lord’s forgiveness and a Garden as wide as the heavens and earth, prepared for those who believe in God and His messengers: that is God’s bounty, which He bestows on whoever He pleases. God’s bounty is infinite.’ (57:22) 

Leading a good life is an all-embracing aspiration for every human person in this world. And yet, what it means to lead a good life? In life’s varied settings, values professed by a person would guide the decision on what is ‘good’ for him/her under the conditions of individual and social life. Perhaps in shaping one’s frame of reference in such critical junctures, an ethical and spiritual outlook intuitively appeals to the human mind. Certainly, the teachings of religion -rooted as it is in the wisdom of the ages- offer fascinating ideas to reflect on, especially for those who are at the crossroads of life journeys. 

Those who struggle with life’s contingent circumstances could find profound insights, generative of amazing hope of Divine mercy in the rich legacy of Islamic teachings. The Islamic Way, or the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (sa), offers us glimpses of a good life for anyone hoping to embark on a journey in the highway to God. Muslim saints of the past have preserved in their books some of these appealing pieces of advice on leading a good life left behind by that great prophet of human kind. For the benefit of our readers, we reproduce below the gist of certain vital advices in the words of the Holy Prophet of Islam (sa) describing what it takes to lead a good life:

I. Ibn Abbas (ra) reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Take advantage of five before five: your youth before your old age; your health before your illness; your riches before your poverty; your free time before your work; and your life before your death.” (Attributed to Shu’ab al-Imān).

II. Abu Dharr reported: I said, “O Messenger of Allah, instruct me.” The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “I advise you to be mindful of Allah Almighty, for it will beautify all of your affairs.” I said, “Tell me more.” The Prophet said, “You must recite the Quran and remember Allah Almighty, for you will be mentioned in heaven and you will have light upon earth.” 

I said, “Tell me more.” The Prophet said, “You must observe long periods of silence, for it will drive away Satan and help you in the matter of your religion.” I said, “Tell me more.” The Prophet said, “Beware of too much laughter, for it will deaden the heart and take away the light on your face.”

I said, “Tell me more.” The Prophet said, “Speak the truth, even if it is bitter.” I said, “Tell me more.” The Prophet said, “Do not fear the blame of any critic in the matter of Allah.” ----[Attributed to Shu’ab al-Imān]

'Khalifatullah': A Divine Promise- II

The Promise of Allah to the Prophet & the Believers- 2

By the grace of Allah I continue the second part of the sermon that I started last week. It is a very important subject for all of humanity in general and also for all Muslim brothers and sisters around the world as a whole and especially for all Ahmadis in general. If we study Surah An-Nur (Light) correctly, it is indeed a Surah which gives light to all people and especially to all Muslims and to all Ahmadis as well, because Allah (swt ) says:

« Wa’adalluhul lazina aamanuu minkum wa’amiilus-swalihati layastakhli fannahum fil arzi kamastakhlafallazina min qablihim. »

“Allah has promised to those of you who believe [in His oneness and His message], and do good works, that He will surely make them Caliphs [Successors or Heirs] on earth, just as He made Caliphs (from among) those who came before them.” (Surah Al-Nur 24 : 56).

So, without a doubt, this is a chapter that projects [gives] extraordinary light, and thus you cannot then say that you do not understand its verses or that you see nothing [of its clear meanings and explanations]. Allah (swt) shows us very clearly that in the Muslim Community also He will send His Caliphs (successors) just as He sent Caliphs in the community of Musa (Moses) (as), such as Harun (Aaron), Yushaa (Joshua), Dawud (David) and Sulaiman (Solomon) - May God’s peace be upon them all, and these Caliphs are even mentioned in the Holy Quran. They are not caliphs elected by man. So, this verse means that there will be caliphs with the same titles as the prophets before [their advent].

In a Hadith found in Mishkat, Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) explains this verse clearly where he says [this is a long Hadith - I only mention part of it]: “Takuunun-nabuwatu fikum mashaa allahu… Summa takuunu khilafatun alaminhajin nabuwat summa takuuno mulkan ‘azzan… Summa takuno alan minhajin nabuwate summa sakata.”

Translation: Prophethood will remain among you as long as it pleases Allah (swt); then the caliphs based on prophethood will be instituted and then there will be the reign of wicked and tyrannical kings ... and then there will come again caliphs based on the system of prophethood [after the prophet]. That’s all. [He stops with these words]. (Mazahir’ul Haq, Vol. IV; pg. 26)

'Khalifatullah': A Divine Promise

The Promise of Allah to the Prophet & the Believers

“O you who believe! Turn to Allah with sincere repentance! It may be that your Lord will remit from you your sins, and admit you into Gardens under which rivers flow (Paradise) the Day that Allah will not disgrace the Prophet and those who believe with him. Their Light will run forward before them and by their right hands, while they say, ‘Our Lord! Perfect our Light for us, and grant us Forgiveness: for You have power over all things’.” (Surah At-Tahrim, 66 : 9)

In light of this Quranic verse, I present to you a Hadith where Hazrat Abu Dharr and Hazrat Abu Darda (ra) reported that Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) said that: On the Day of Judgment I will recognize my people. The Sahaba (companions) asked him: O Prophet of Allah, how will you recognize your people? Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) said: 'I will recognize you by the light that will be before you'.

Therefore, in the world there are those who have the light of Imaan (faith) and on the day of judgement this light will be before them and on their right.

When you read Chapter ‘The Light’, i.e., Surah Al-Nur, Verse 56, where Allah (swt) says:

“Allah had promised to those among you who believe and do good works that He will surely make them Successors in the earth, as He made Successors from among those who were before them; and that He will surely establish for them their religion which He has chosen for them; and that He will surely give them in exchange security and peace after their fear: They will worship Me, and they will not associate anything with Me. Then whoso is ungrateful after that, they will be the rebellious.”

This has always been the way of Allah, a practice that He has demonstrated since the existence of man, that it is Allah (swt) Himself Who raises His Chosen Messenger, His Prophet, His Khalifatullah as this verse makes us understand. And Allah says in this verse that it is a promise that He makes to those who believe and do good works. 

Razia Hariz Saheba (1963-2020)

In an announcement at the Friday Sermon of 10 January 2020 ~14 Jamadi’ul Awwal 1441 AH, Imam-Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam Hadhrat Khalifatullah Munir A. Azim (atba) of Mauritius paid glowing tributes to the memory of a senior member of the Jamaat in Kerala, Razia Hariz Saheba of Alappuzha who passed away this week: Inna Lillaahi wa inna ilayhi raaji’uun. 

A woman of substance and faith, Razia Saheba was- along with her husband YK Hariz Saheb of Alappuzha- among the first group of believers in Kerala to recognize the Divine Manifestation of our times in 2010 when the Jamaat was formally established in India, Alhamdulillah. A former President of the Lajna Imaa-Illaah- the women's wing of the Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Qadian- in her hometown, and also the Sadr for the south Kerala region; Razia Saheba went on to serve as the first Sadr of the Siraj Makin- the women's wing of the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam in Kerala, and actively participated in the Jamaat programmes along with the sisters till illness took a toll on her health and well being over the last year or so. Dealing with the difficulties and challenges of life with patience and fortitude, Razia Saheba displayed much empathy and understanding for the pain and suffering of others and leaves behind a trail of good memories for her family, and the wider Jamaat in Kerala, Alhamdulillah. In honour of this senior sister of the Jamaat, Namaz-e-Janaza Gha'ib- (Funeral Prayer-in-Absentia) was performed by members of the Jamaat at Mathra; Tamil Nadu; Delhi and Mauritius after the Namaz-e-Jumu’ah on 10 January 2020. May the All-Forgiving and Merciful Lord Almighty elevate the status of the departed soul in Jannat-ul-Firdaus, Aameen.     

Read the Extracts from the Announcement below:

'I announce the sad news of the death of Mrs. Razia Hariz, who was the wife of our Naib Amir Hariz Sahib from Alappuzha (Allepey). Inna Lillaahi wa inna ilayhi raaji’uun.

'Surah Al-Kafirun': A Commentary

Chapter 109 of the Holy Quran

‘In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Say, “O disbelievers, I do not worship what you worship. Nor are you worshippers of what I worship. Nor will I be a worshipper of what you worship. Nor will you be worshippers of what I worship. For you is your religion, and for me is my religion.’

 

Despite the fact that before Islam the Arabs did not deny God, but they did not know Him by His true identity of One and Eternal. They did not devalue Him either, but associated Him with other partners, idols who were supposed to represent godly ancestors or angels who they believed were the daughters of God. In addition, they implied that there was a relationship between Him and the jinns. They forgot His attributes and worshiped other idols. But in any case, as the Quran says, they said:

 

“We only worship them that they may bring us nearer to Allah in position.” (Az-Zumar, 39: 4).

 

Moreover, the Quran says: “If you were to ask them: “Who has created the heavens and the earth and subjected the sun and the moon?” They will surely reply: ‘Allah.’” (Al-Ankabut, 29 : 62).

 

“If you were to ask them: ‘Who sends down water (rain) from the sky, and gives life therewith to the earth after its death?’ They will surely reply: ‘Allah.’” » (Al-Ankabut 29: 64).

 

Despite their belief in God, polytheism distorted their concept as well as their traditions and rites to such an extent that they allotted part of their property to these gods, and even their children.

Kerala Jalsa 2019: A Report

JAMAAT UL SAHIH AL ISLAM-Kerala (South) organized its Ninth Jalsa Salana at the historic Noorul Islam Masjid, Mathra, 22-23 December 2019. Alhamdulillah, in addition to the members in Mathra; brothers from Alappuzha and Karunagappally, also could reach the Mosque venue ahead of the commencement of the two-day programme. 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 Saheb (atba) of Mauritius, the members of the Jamaat listened to speeches and engaged with one another in extended conversations, discussing the finer points of being a believer in Tawheed in these times. 

The brothers and sisters who participated in it viewed the get-together as an opportunity for soul-searching and critical self-reflection on our collective faith in the Islamic Way and all that it entails in our private lives and public conduct. They recognize that these are challenging times, a time when the world around is dangerously indulgent in a destructive trajectory of life, whereas the ethical and spiritual outlook is beckoning to a radically-moderate transformation in our whole outlook on all spheres of life. All of us also agree that even when the society around is largely indifferent, and in certain cases, actively hostile to all that we stand for; it is our duty as the party of believers to stand up with spiritual courage and sublime patience, perseverance and steadfastness on our truths, against all odds and at all costs. 

'Be Helpers in the Cause of God'

Become the Helpers of Allah!

“O you who believe! Become helpers of Allah: As said Jesus, son of Mary, to the Disciples, ‘Who will be my helpers in the cause of Allah?’ The disciples answered, ‘We are Allah’s helpers!’ then a portion of the Children of Israel believed, and a portion disbelieved: But We gave power to those who believed, against their enemies, and they became the ones that prevailed.” (As-Saff, 61: 15)

In the history of nations, on occasion they are obliged to take certain basic decisions. This had equal application to worldly as well as divine communities. When confronted with such situation, using a well-known phrase, they have to decide: “to be or not to be?” This is the question. Today the question is whether you will advance or you will perish.

In the religious world, since the origin of faith is divine, this option is not applicable. It is already decreed that the divine communities will advance. There is never a question of retreat. For the achievement of the goal set for them, they are always prepared to sacrifice all. Such an occasion has now arisen in the history of the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam. The verse that I have just recited is most appropriate for our times also.

Even if Jesus (as), the Messiah and the Prophet of Allah is dead, but his image has come yet again in this era through the will of Allah to give you all a new lease of life. Had the Christians and Muslims understood the real scope of this truth, they would have stopped waiting for the physical descent of Jesus, son of Mary, Prophet of Allah to the Israelites.

Now, a new era has dawned. This era is that of Islam and perpetually so, till the end of times. Even though the origin of all religions or faiths is divine, but through the course of all these centuries, people have lost their original essence, i.e. the unity of God. Thus, with time, association with God became widespread in religions which were basically monotheists and true. Their teachings were falsified to quench the thirst for power of the modern divines [i.e. the high priests, pundits, etc.]

But now, with the rise of a Man of God who has come in the mantle of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) to revive the true teachings of all previous faiths, the time is crucial, and help is needed to break all false doctrines which have crept in the pure faith.

The Holy Quran instructs those who believe to enlist themselves as: Helpers in the cause of Allah, in the same manner as Jesus (as), the son of Mary who asked his disciples: ‘Who amongst you will help me for the sake of Allah?’ So Allah enabled a party of the Children of Israel to believe while another party disbelieved.

Furthermore, Allah says: “We gave power to those who believed, against their enemies, and they became the ones that prevailed.”