The Ethics of Democratic Renewal

 Towards a Political Revivification-I

The Muslim world discovered over the 15^th century of the Hegira, especially during the last fifteen years, a political revival. This is evident, at least in form, both internationally and locally. From Baghdad (in Iraq) to Beirut (in Lebanon) via Riyadh (in Saudi Arabia) and Ramallah (in Palestine), the time seems to have come, or will come, for the people to verily choose, the democratic process that is still in its infancy [as we say in Creole, it is still in ‘kindergarten’, in a trial and error course], as if the heads of state, the leaders do not want the people to come up front to practice true democracy. The free practice of democracy is not yet fully liberated. 

For example, Palestine till today does not have a democratic system where people can freely elect their President. From the start of Yasser Arafat’s reign in 1989 until his death in 2004, and now even after his death after Mahmoud Abbas became the ruler of the country, it is a small group of people who elect the President and in all these offices / political positions, it is Mahmoud Abbas himself who is the President, and thus he can do whatever he wants to do, without having to account for his actions to the people, and then this tradition that they have, to keep the power to govern for them [i.e. the heads of state], is perpetuated.

 

Democracy, the democratic process is certainly present at least on the lips, but in truth it is an autocracy [or authoritarianism], a terrible dictatorship, especially in the Muslim countries that reign there. But despite this, in the global aspect, in the world despite the trial and error stage of this democracy and the time it takes to be fully practiced, but it cannot be denied that there is an evolution where, previously, the Authoritarianism, if not dictatorship, was the only mode of operation. But the question arises: Does this really mean that democracy will solve all problems?

Tamil Nadu Jalsa: Special Message

[On the occasion of the Tamil Nadu State Jalsa in India, Imam- Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam Hazrat Khalifatullah Munir Ahmad Azim Saheb (aba) of Mauritius addressed the gathering of believers on the morning of 27 December 2020. Reproduced below is the extracts from the Text of the Special Message]: 

May the peace and blessings of Allah be with you all! 

We must first of all thank Allah (twa) infinitely because, by His great Kindness, He granted to the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam of Tamil Nadu as well as the Jamaat of Kerala the honour and the privilege of organising the Jalsa Salana 2020 despite the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. I must say, Alhamdulillah, Summa Alhamdulillah. 

The whole world appears to be in turmoil and even the islands are not spared with the coronavirus/ COVID-19 which is wreaking havoc across the globe. Millions and millions are contaminated with COVID-19 and there more than a million have died from it around the world. In addition, there is the global economic crisis, loss of jobs, corruption, also drought (even here in Mauritius), social problems, drugs, and floods and many other forms of calamity. It is therefore incumbent upon us to pray for the safeguard and advancement of Islam - Sahih al Islam, as well as humanity throughout the world. The length of life on earth is unknown to us. We cannot know how many will have already died. Our duty is to warn people of the fragility of this time. Allah (twa) has informed me several times that this time will be even more dangerous and will herald the approach of Qiyamah (The Last Day). 

Dues of God and Our Attitudes

'Be Truly Muslim'

Who can be guilty of a greater wrong than one who forbids Allah’s name being glorified in His mosques and seeks to bring about their ruin? It behoves not such to enter therein except in fear of Allah. For them is disgrace in this world and a great chastisement in the next. (Al-Baqara 2: 115)

This has reference to the misconduct and disorderliness of the Christians who failed in the matter of due veneration of the Holy City and brought about its ruin in arrogant pride. For those who were guilty of such arrogance, disgrace in this life and a severe chastisement in the hereafter is pronounced. 

Allah says in the Holy Quran: “To Allah belong the East, and the West; whether so ever you turn, there is the countenance of Allah. Surely, Allah is All-Pervading, All-Knowing.” (Al-Baqara 2: 116). 

“Never will the Jews be pleased with you, (O Prophet), nor the Christians until you follow their way. Say: ‘Surely Allah’s guidance, is the [true] guidance.’ Should you follow their desires disregarding the knowledge which has come to you, you shall have no protector or helper against Allah.” (Al-Baqara 2: 121). 

The only true guidance is the guidance sent by Allah. 

'Obey and Follow the Messenger'

Obedience to Allah & the Khalifatullah

 

“And whoso obeys Allah and His Messenger, and fears Allah, and is mindful of Him, it is they who will be successful.” (An-Nur 24: 53) 

The responsibility of the Messenger of Allah, the Khalifatullah is so great and vast and frightening that it reminds one of the commandments of Allah and His Messenger Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) to obey Allah and the divinely-appointed Messenger and to fear Allah and to obey Him in everything He has said and to regulate and live our lives as per His Instructions, in the Holy Quran and in the practices (Sunnah) and sayings or teachings (Hadiths) of His noble prophet Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh). 

Allah (swt) appoints His own representative (Khalifa). I have always believed in this, because the first Khalifatullah whom Allah (swt) sent was Hazrat Adam (as) with the Ruh’il Quddus (Holy Spirit) and by the grace of Allah this has been continued throughout the eras and Allah appointed Hazrat Dawud (as) as the Khalifatullah of his era, and this kind of divine appointment to caliphate is a continuous process for as long as humans exist on earth. So, I always believed that such divine-appointed and divinely-guided caliphs will come to guide men in the right path.

The Importance of Prayer -III

When we are praying, i.e., when we are performing our Salat, duahs, the Darood Sharif and other prayers, they are mainly in Arabic, but it is not forbidden to submit your prayers (invocations) in your own language as well. Without this, you cannot progress! The Arabic as well as a good understanding of the Arabic is vital for the believer needs to know what he is saying and asking of God Almighty.

 

Prayers, which are submitted in humility and with full dedication, are accepted by Almighty Allah and the sins of such people are forgiven. God Almighty says: “Innal hasanaati yudhhib nas-say-yi aati.” (Surah Hud 11: 115) - i.e., Good deeds wipe out bad deeds. The real impact of the state of humility can only be achieved in one’s own language. So, now and then, do pray in your own language. The best prayer is Surah Al-Fatiha because it is a very comprehensive prayer. When a farmer is aware of farming tricks, then he always achieves a good crop. So, you should look for the Straight Path to Almighty God and pray: “O my Lord! I am a sinner, in deep trouble. Show me the right path.”

 

Minor and big matters, all, should be submitted without any hesitation to God. He is the only One Who can forgive. Pious are those who pray, and pray a lot. If you knock at a miser’s door constantly, even he is bound to listen to you one day. So, how is it possible that the Gracious and Merciful God will not reward you? A good beggar always manages to get the reward in the end. The second name of Salat is prayer. As God Almighty says:

 

“Wa idha sa alaka ibadi anni, fa inni qareeb. Ujeebu da’watad daa’ee idha da aaani, fal yasta jeebuulee, wal yuminuu-bee, la allahum yarshuduun.”

“When My servants ask you concerning Me, (tell them) I am very close and always listen to those who call upon Me; so they should answer My call too, and believe in Me, so that they may be guided aright.” (Al-Baqara 2: 187).

Jalsa 2020: Special Address

 

Bismillah-ir-Rahman-ir-Rahim

My dear disciples,

Assalamoualaikum Warahmatullah Wabarakaatuhu.

 

Alhamdulillah, Summa Alhamdulillah, it gives me great pleasure to join the Jalsa Salana International along with that of the Kerala Jamaat on this blessed day, 19^th December 2020. Despite the overall COVID-19 situation prevailing, we are able to hold our Jalsa Salana in respect of the Islamic guidance as well as the government protocols in our respective countries. Bear in mind that the pandemic will become all the more serious in the coming year. Even though Mauritius is more or less free from the pandemic, in respect of local contaminations, I pray for all my disciples who are found in India and elsewhere in the world where the COVID-19 situation has become very serious. May Allah bless you all, protect you from every harm, and grant you such grace which will suffice for you in this world and the life to come. May Allah bless all my companions who are working day and night to further the cause of Islam around the world and enable them to march towards the victory of Islam through the guidance of Allah and His Khalifatullah of this era. Ameen.

Qur'anic Commandments- 3

In times like ours, the world of ‘religion’ resembles every other arena of human affairs: a fertile field full of thieves, scamsters, fraudsters, scoundrels and speculators! Wishful thinking, metaphysical speculation and theological conjecture seem to ‘thrive’ on the bazaar of religions today. For instance, in our country (India) today, countless ‘godmen’ (and ‘godwomen’) literally capitalize on the ignorance and stupidity of gullible masses. Out to exploit the emotions and devotional sentiments of the people who flock to them, the religious fraudsters confuse and deviate the ignorant folks who come to seek respite from their everyday problems. Through deceitfully claiming nearness to God or presenting themselves as no less than 'Avtaar', promising welfare and spiritual salvation; the religious thugs rob the poor of their precious financial savings, and what not! It is as though a Qur’anic warning has come alive: “many rabbis and monks wrongfully consume people’s possessions and turn people away from God’s path.” (9:35). In South Asia and elsewhere, the moral decadence and corruption among the chiefs and the priests is found widely among all communities of the land- Hindus, Buddhists, Christians, and the Muslims- today. 

Fortunately, Islam has a way  for reclaiming its original spiritual moorings even when its true legacy is twisted and corrupted at the hands of lesser men who "consume people’s possessions and turn people away from God’s path” (9:35). Muslims could go back and rediscover the spiritual treasures of their religion by seeking to know and understand the framework of Qur'anic ethics. To put at rest the metaphysical speculations and theological conjectures widely seen among other peoples- practices that have deviated the peoples from the correct appreciation of their own true spiritual doctrines-, the Qur'an emphatically declares that in ‘religion’, true guidance is the guidance of God. Whenever men interpret religion to suit their own whims and vanities (Bid'ah), as they will in every generation, there is a need for a stream of Divine Elects, to teach the Scripture and wisdom, and to purify the people morally and spiritually, through their own exemplary lives. The roots of the Islamic concepts of spiritual renewal, moral awakening of the Ummah, true succession to the Prophetic heritage, etc.- represented in the august spiritual office of 'Mujaddid', 'Muhyi-ud-Din', 'Khalifatullah', etc. claimed by Divine savants throughout the history of Islam-  can be traced back to the very philosophy of religion that Islam espouses. Whenever corruption and evil stalk the land, believers can be reassured by the fact that Allah (swt) will raise High representatives (24:56) to reclaim the True Legacy of Divine worship among the humans.

Indeed, the Book of Revelations, sent by God Almighty through His chosen messenger(s), set the criterion for distinguishing between good and evil. Inspired by the Holy Spirit (Roohul Quddus), the Heavenly-imbued souls who teach the Holy Book to their own people after their Prophet(s), strive to illumine the correct and straight path of life for the benefit of all around them. Most certainly, Divine guidance is built on solid foundations, and the Arc of the Prophets is firmly anchored on Divine waters. It is the obligation of the believers, individually and collectively, to implement the spirit of the Divinely-ordained code of conduct in their everyday life- be it in private and family spaces; in professional and social life; in community and national practices; in the rules and regulations a people abide by in the global comity of nations. Hence, it is important for the believers to be aware of Divine commandments and expectations so as to guard against evil, and to remain on the path of God- consciousness and prudence in life.