The Leaders We Follow

In shaping the destiny of nations and communities, whether in secular matters or in religious affairs, the nature and quality of leadership plays a vital role. Good leadership leads to the progress and wellbeing, whereas arrogant and unscrupulous leaders preside over the gradual destruction of nations. Leaders and scholars, the chiefs and the priests, the caliphs and the Ulema- they are the influential groups in every society as they are the literal embodiment of prudence, wisdom and sagacity, as it were: when they go in the right direction, nations flourish and when they go wrong, communities stare at wholesale decadence and ruin. Indeed, the Holy Qur'an contains profound observations on the fate and fortune of people linking it directly with the choices they/we make in life, in deciding to follow the 'leaders' we encounter and accept. In his Friday Sermon of 11 June 2021 ~29 Shawwal 1442 AH, Imam-Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam Hazrat Khalifatullah Munir A. Azim (aba) of Mauritius underscores the need for caution and prudence in following 'leaders'. Drawing on Qur'anic warnings against keeping blind faith in misguiding leaders who will lead their followers to Hell-fire, and also the exemplary sociological insights of the Holy Prophet (sa) and his wise second Caliph Hazrat Umar (ra) on the future of leadership within the community, Hazrat Khalifatullah (aba) recommends Taqwah for everyone in choosing/following leaders and scholars as good leadership is central for social and national progress. Read the Friday Sermon Below:

A Message on Recent Divine Signs

In the course of his Friday Sermon of 04 June 2021~ 22 Shawwal 1442 AH, Imam- Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam Hazrat Khalifatullah Munir A. Azim (aba) of Mauritius made certain observations on recent mystical incidents, spiritual experiences and Divine Signs received by Hadhrat Saheb (aba) himself, and also by some of his humble disciples in India. Read the Special Announcement Below: 

Dreams, Signs & Revelations

Yesterday Thursday 03 June 2021, before Tahajjud prayer, in my sleep I recited Surah Yasin; then I woke up for Tahajjud prayer (as if someone put an alarm near my ears to make me know “it’s time for you to wake up for Tahajjud” and my eyes were still close and I woke up and sat for a few minutes on my bed and continued to recite the Surah Yasin. Afterwards, I got up and after cleaning myself, made my Wa’zu (ablutions) and came to the Musallah to pray Tahajjud [Tahajjud prayer]. After the Surah Al-Fatiha I continued to recite the Surah Yasin and after the Tahajjud prayer, I don’t feel well and got anxiety. I read many times: “Hasbiyal-laahu wa ni’mal wakeelu” [Allah is sufficient for me and what an excellent patron He is]. 

'Khalifatullah' and Spiritual Revolution

 

In his Friday Sermon of 04 June 2021~ 22 Shawwal 1442 AH, Imam- Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam Hazrat Khalifatullah Munir A. Azim (aba) of Mauritius continued the theme of the previous week: the purpose of spiritual missions in the times of a Khalifatullah. 

Elects of God come with a mandate to preach pure religion, the clear path to a purposeful and rewarding life in obedience to Divine commandments. Such men of God challenge evil and unfair dealings as well as the unjust ways of the prevailing powers and rulers of the day- leading to an inevitable clash between the bad and the good. The struggle for the establishment of a new order calls for patience, perseverance, steadfastness and  courage on the part of the humble believers, and when they develop supreme reliance and trust on their Lord, and work wholeheartedly to transform the existing centres of power in alliance with other like-minded peoples, it can bring about the impossible transformations.  It is Allah and His messenger and the believers indeed who shall eventually prevail in those searing battles between Islam and all other ideologies in every era, Insha Allah, Aameen. 

Noting the current afflictions and convulsions of a degrading earth with its devastating consequences visible all around the world, Hazrat Khalifatullah (aba) exhorts everyone to return to the true worship of God. It is by rejecting the Satanic impulses and influences, and by embracing the noble path of the prophets that believers can seek forgiveness,  mercy and blessings of God in transforming every obstacle into an opportunity for the onward march of the Faith. 

Read the Extracts from the Sermon Below: 

'Khalifatullah' and Revolution

Man's duty on earth is to recognize the station of our Unique Lord and worship Him through righteous living. We are Divinely-ordained to serve fellow beings like family, and also the other creatures on the face of earth, and not to indulge in excesses, nor seek to domineer over other peoples- as all are the children of the same Creator, with similar freedoms and rights like us. This is the message of the Prophets and other Elects of God who appear among the people from time to time and they speak with the help of Roohil Quddus (Holy Spirit),  sharing Divine revelations containing glad tidings for good deeds in service of fellow beings, and also warnings against evil, or the Satanic impulses. Put differently, the men of God appear with the purpose of teaching the Law of true life and the Way of Divine favours. 

Yet, the treacherous terrain of Satanic impulses divert man to the aggressive pursuit of material glory and honour, of  pride and riches, of power and pelf. When a people or a nation is drunk on the evil and injustice of dominance and of total control, enslavement and oppression of another people inevitably follows. Such a vicious and decadent socio-political-religious order is bound to bite the dust through its internal contradictions when a new, superior order emerges to replace it. This is the law of the rise and fall of nations in the world.  

The coming of a Khalifatullah in this context represents a transformative moment when an old order crumples to dust and a new spiritual order takes its place in the world. In the spiritual history of human kind, High representatives of Allah have always been raised amongst almost all nations and peoples. Indeed,  It is the pierce light of Divine commandments that help the messengers to guide their people with wisdom and prudence against all odds. It is by obeying Allah and following in the footsteps of the messenger of God that small bands of Divinely-inspired groups outsmart their much larger opponent groups, relying completely upon the Exalted Might of the Lord, and in their own readiness to sacrifice everything in His way. The revolutionary transformation in the spiritual outlook of such wo/men comes about due to the sublime teachings and noble example of the Divine savant in their midst. The larger purpose of the establishment of the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam in this era, with the advent of the Khalifatullah Hazrat Munir Ahmad Azim Saheb (aba) of Mauritius, is indicative of the continued vitality and application of the time-tested Divine Law of spiritual revolution, Alhamdulillah, Summa Alhamdulillah. 

Reproduced Below are extracts from the Friday Sermon of 28 May 2021 ~15 Shawwal 1442 AH delivered by Imam- Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam Hazrat Khalifatullah Munir A. Azim (aba) of Mauritius.

The Objectives of the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam- 1

The goal of Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam in this world is revolution in governance (This is - one of the meanings of: ‘Arise and Create a New World’). 

Ka’bah: The Qiblah of Islam

 

Divine Commandments- 7

Surely, the first House founded for mankind is that at Becca, abounding in blessings and a guidance for all peoples. (3:97)

‘Allah has made the Ka‘bah, the inviolable House, as a means of support and uplift for mankind’ (5:98). They should worship the Lord of this House, Who has fed them against hunger, and has given them security against fear (106: 4-5).

Say, ‘I am commanded only to serve the Lord of this city which He has made sacred, and to Him belong all things; and I am commanded to be of those who submit to God (27:92).  

 

Every religion has its place of origin; rites of sacrifice, modes of worship and direction of ritual prayer. Consider for instance: whereas the Jews organize their rituals of worship in the direction of Jerusalem, the ancient city of the Prophets of Israel; the Christian denominational groups orient their churches to usually face the East. At the dawn of Islam, the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sa) used to stand up for prayer at the Ka’bah in Makkah, yet in a way that also acknowledged the direction of Jerusalem as the city of God. 

The recognition of the sanctity of Ka’bah as the sole Qiblah (Al- Qiblah) of Islam came through divine revelations vouchsafed to the Holy Prophet (sa) and the verses are found in the Holy Qur’an itself. The recognition of the Ka’bah, and the rejection of Jerusalem as the Qiblah of ritual prayer, in a way marks a break-out from the cultural milieu-of the advent of Islam as a distinct spiritual community among other monotheistic faiths. Through the teaching on turning towards Makkah when offering prayers, Islam sought to distinguish and differentiate the new community of believers from the adherents and followers of other faiths in an important way.

On 'Zakat' & 'Sadaqah'

 

Qur'anic Commandments- 6

‘And in their wealth and belongings was a rightful share for those who asked for help and for those who could not.’ (51:20)

‘Take alms out of their wealth, so that you may thereby purify them (of their evils) and enhance them in their virtuous deeds.’ (9:103)

‘…and observe Prayer, and pay the Zakāt, and set apart a goodly portion of your possessions to give for the sake of Allah. And whatever good you send on before you for your souls, you will find it with Allah. It will be better and greater in reward …’ (73:21)

‘And whoso is rid of the covetousness of his own soul–it is these who will be successful.’ (59:10)

 

‘Zakat’ is a Qur’anic injunction: an obligation on rich believers to part with a share of their resources and wealth with the needy members of society, in pursuit of individual well-being and collective development. Among numerous teachings that Islam recommends to ‘flatten’ the glaring inequities of the social order- where different classes of people live together with diverse fortunes; altruism and philanthropy are promoted through faith practices such as ‘Zakat’ and ‘Sadaqah’. Whereas Zakat denotes compulsory giving binding on all the rich, Sadaqah is voluntary giving strongly recommended on all believers who seek spiritual merit in Divine pleasure. 

The Holy Qur’an speaks about Zakat, in over 80 places; almost always join the payment of Zakat along with the observance of Prayer (Al- Salat) - both together constituting among the primary obligations of Aqeedah Islamiah.    “And they were not commanded but to serve Allah, bearing true faith in Him, (and) being upright, and to observe Prayer, and to keep on presenting the Zakat. That is the true and firm conduct of faith”. (98:6)

The payment of Zakat and Sadaqah by the believer in service of fellow humans and the society at large has many beneficial consequences. As the Holy Book notes concerning Sadaqah, “the alms are only for the poor and the needy, and for those employed in connection therewith, and for those whose hearts are to be reconciled, and for the freeing of slaves, and for those in debt, and for the cause of Allah, and for the wayfarer—an ordinance from Allah. And Allah is All-Knowing, Wise.” (9:60) 

The believer stands to benefit from these good deeds in both visible and subtle, spiritual ways: “And whatever of wealth you spend, it is for yourselves, while you spend not but to seek the favour of Allah. And whatever of wealth you spend, it shall be paid back to you in full and you shall not be wronged” (2:274)

Altruistic individuals not just stand to derive inner happiness from their generous outreach, but they also contribute to betterment of the social conditions that attract Divine forgiveness, mercy, pleasure and blessings on them and their progeny in this world and the world to come; the Qur’an alludes in so many verses: “And those who persevere in seeking the favour of their Lord, and observe Prayer, and spend out of that with which We have provided them, secretly and openly, and repel evil with good. It is these who shall have the best reward of the final abode” (13:23). Likewise, the Book of God condemns in no uncertain terms those who remain indifferent to the social obligations on payment of Zakat.

Read the Qur'anic commandments Below:

'Zikr, Salaat & Tahajjud'

Qur’anic Commandments- 5 

Do you not see that all those who are in the heavens and the earth praise God, as do the birds with wings outstretched? Each knows his own mode of prayer and glorification: Allah has full knowledge of all that they do. To Allah belongs the kingdom of the heavens and the earth, and to Allah shall all things return. (24:42)

Say, ‘My Prayer and my sacrifice and my life and my death are all for Allah, the Lord of the worlds. (6:163)

 

Worship of the Divine through observance of Prayer is among the primary markers of faith in Islam. Like all religions that prescribed certain rites of sacrifice and soulful worship in their tenets, Islam validates the significance of formal prayer in the quest for Divine countenance and communion through the teachings and practice of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sa). The Holy Qur’an contains clear commandments on formal Prayer (al-Salat) to be performed at specified times every day, as exemplified in the Prophetic traditions. Beyond the prescribed formal Prayer at five times a day, the Qur’an also contains illuminating guidance on supererogatory prayers (Tahajjud); Divine remembrance (Zikrullah), supplications and other invocations (Duah) in the solitude of the worshipper.

Designed to protect people from the impurity of evil impulses, and to elevate the human souls  to a station of Divine consciousness in their everyday affairs, the cycle of Prayer offers a sense of perspective on the higher truths and priorities of life, and the vital duty to seize our moment in worshipful service of God in this fleeting world. Indeed, true Muslims are people who are devoted to the Prayers; those who remain constant and steadfast in their Prayers. Reproduced below are certain Qur’anic prescriptions on Salat- including on the supererogatory Tahajjud prayers offered by true devotees in the stillness of the night in the quest for Divine grace and pleasure:   

‘O my dear son! observe Prayer, and enjoin good, and forbid evil, and endure patiently whatever may befall you. Surely, this is a matter of high resolve. (31:18)