Illnesses of the 'Ummah'- 1

 

In his Friday Sermon of 03 June 2022~ 02 Dhul Qaddah 1443 AH, Imam- Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam Hazrat Muhyi-ud-Din Al Khalifatullah Munir A. Azim (aba) of Mauritius profoundly examines the spiritual health of the Muslim Ummah today. Whereas early Islam produced men and women of outstanding ability, extraordinary drive and exemplary personal initiative, willing to sacrifice their all for the progress of their deeply held convictions, in the service of their Faith and thereby brought victory, grandeur and power which lasted for many centuries altogether; the Ummah today faces pitiable fortunes and grim conditions. It appears as though  the original spirit and dynamism of the Faith is missing from the conscience and character of the Muslims that made them the world-beaters. Contrasting the Muslim grandeur of the past with its dismal fortunes in our times, Hazrat Khalifatullah (aba) notes in the discourse: ‘A people who had brought strength and stability, prosperity, peace and honour to the whole world, now you find them demoralized, completely asleep, empty and helpless. People who once taught moral lessons and good conduct to the whole world are themselves lacking these qualities today.’

Islam preserved and perfected in itself the true purpose of all religions which preceded it. By destroying the impurity of idolatry and restoring the sublime faith in the Lord of mankind, Islam helped to mould purified and refined humans who strived hard to reflect Divine attributes in their way of being, doing and living through the centuries. Indeed, like the communities who were bestowed Divine Law in the past, leading the world on spiritual purification was the heavy responsibility cast on the shoulders of the Muslim Ummah by the Creator of the Universe through His best Prophet, the Holy Prophet of Islam, Hazrat Muhammad Mustafa (sa). Muslims who walked in the path of God became beneficiaries of Divine bounties as they were helped and assisted by God and His angels in their strivings. Indeed, the preservation of the true Faith and real spirituality is a Divine Promise engraved upon the Holy Qur’an by Allah the Almighty Himself.

 

At a time when severe misfortunes have engulfed the Ummah, and sectarian disputes and violence destroy social peace in several lands, Muslims ought to recognize the extraordinary magnitude of the task in front of them in the service of their noble Faith: of preserving the good legacy and fair names of the pious ancestors- by repossessing and displaying the solid Imaan (faith of the early Muslims)- in their everyday lives; by being a force for good- enjoining good and forbidding evil in their own communities wherever they are, Insha Allah, Aameen.   

Read the Friday Sermon Below: 

A 'Khalifatullah' to Revive True Faith

  

In his Friday Sermon of 27 May 2022 ~25 Shawwal 1443 AH, Imam- Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam Hazrat Muhyi-ud-din Al Khalifatullah Munir A. Azim (aba) of Mauritius continues his  exposition upon a great spiritual malady afflicting almost all the world of religion today: the problem of worshipping false gods, or the practice of 'Shirk': people joining several deities- an angel, prophet or saints- along with the worship of the True Lord of Humankind. Unfortunately, idolatry has consumed much of the ancient religions. In several Muslim lands even today, the Dargah-related rituals mirror the practices of idolatrous communities of the past- away from the true legacy of Islamic monotheism. In this discourse, based on Qur'anic revelations and Prophetic traditions, Hazrat Khalifatullah (aba) eloquently elucidates the correct spiritual doctrine of Tawheed and urges folks to avoid 'Shirk' and associated  Satanic practices of deviance in everyday life, in religious practices. 

Moreover, in this era of moral and spiritual corruption where people have lost their inner compass of righteous living, and consequentially, the world is afflicted with many maladies and calamities of all kinds, Hazrat Saheb points out that it is all the more important for humanity to move away from the frenzy of hedonism and return to its sense of balance and moderation by rediscovering the value of Divine-restraints and other higher values of spiritual realization. To guide human kind through this darkness, the All Merciful Lord, our God, has raised a chosen spiritual guide in our midst. In this context, Hazrat Khalifatullah (aba) in this discourse, once again acknowledges his spiritual mission and Divine mandate, and brings forth to all our collective attention the Divine revelations that were vouchsafed to him almost 14 years ago concerning the appointment of a 'Khalifatullah', the model-exemplar of Faith; the high representative of Allah (swt) in the mantle of the prophets of the past- with all the spiritual titles attached with it, with a view to renew the true legacy of 'Tawhid' and to combat 'Shirk' in all its manifestations,  Alhamdulillah, Summa Alhamdulillah. 

'Tawheed' & 'Shirk'

 

 

If man is aware that Allah is the Lord Who has created and nourished him, and is the Only True God with no partners associated to Him, and thus, that He is the only True God, Who deserves to be worshipped, and if man knows also that Muhammad (pbuh) is the Messenger of Allah to mankind, he must also know that his faith in Allah and His prophet Muhammad (pbuh) will not be perfect unless he is acquainted with the religion of Islam, believes in it, and behaves according to its precepts. This is due to the fact that Islam is the true religion approved by Allah (twt) to mankind. Allah has commanded all His Messengers, before Muhammad (pbuh), to follow Islam, and He sent Muhammad (pbuh) as the seal of His prophets, to propagate Islam, and enjoin people to behave according to its precepts.

 

WHAT IS ISLAM?

Then, let us see what Islam is. Muhammad (pbuh) the seal Messenger of Allah to mankind, defined Islam as follows: “Islam is to testify that there is no god but Allah, that Muhammad (pbuh) is His messenger, to perform prayers, pay the poor tax (Zakat), fast the month of Ramadan and do pilgrimage to the Holy House in Mecca if you have the means for that”. 

Poem: 'The Pen of Eternity'

 

 

The pen of my Heart has written, 

has written the thousand wonders 

and the thousand Secrets 

residing in my heart

The red pen of eternity 

has tasted the black ink of its Lord,

The master and the pen forming an indestructible pair,

In the depths of the Heart revealing their interior,

So brilliant and so dazzling

In the sun of his heart, 

the master has found his Master,

Thanks to the pen of eternity of his Heart,

The Master of the pious is at the door, 

at the door of your Heart

Visible is the light that shines in your eyes,

At the door of your Lord 

you dwell day and night,

The favourite of the humble you are,

In this world you are not alone,

Because your Master will always be there,

Your life in His hands,

Your way in His footsteps

Mauritius and the World

 

The Situation at National Level & In the World

 

Alhamdulillah, Summa Alhamdulillah, I have chosen to speak to you today about the situation around the world, and especially in Mauritius. The situation is alarming with pandemics, as well as natural disasters, economic crises, loss of jobs [sudden unemployment]. The prices of all commodities have skyrocketed across the world; many people suffer greatly.

 

But what is happening in Mauritius really has exceeded all limits, especially concerning the increase in the price of medicines, vegetables, meat, chicken, food, fuel, as well as the increase in the price of transport.

 

All Mauritians will agree with me that the current crisis is more serious than the pandemic [of Covid-19 and its variants]. The economic and social crisis currently shaking the country is more serious than Covid-19. This crisis is not only about health but about the ability to see if we can live together as a society with dignity.

 

You know, many people these days live in anguish and suffering at the rising prices of essential consumer items. This rise in the cost of living was felt as a blow and a shock by the poorest in society. All the prophets (pbut) [Chosen Men and Servants of God] since the creation of this temporal world - and it will go on until the days of the Last Judgement - value [we value] work and sharing. Faced with problems of all kinds that seize the disciples who are subsequently taken by discouragement, the Messengers of God not only take an interest in their pain and their daily activities, but also trust them.

In Mauritius, there is public concern about the deterioration of the quality of life. Faced with these brutal price increases that can last, people are very worried and when people suffer they tend to shout or make a fuss and mess.

'Sacrifice for a better World'

  

By the immense grace of Allah, we have reached the month of Shawwal after 29 or 30 days of fasting and sacrifices in the month of Ramadan.

 

If Ramadan was a training for all believers to control and devote themselves more and more in the acts of worship to seek the forgiveness of our Lord and the opportunities to please Him, then Shawwal is that month during which the believers are to maintain that promise they made to Allah in that which they will remain steadfast in His path and walk the way of humility, simplicity and hold high the place of sacrifice in their lives for the sake of Allah.

 

We, Muslims have the foremost duty to be true to our Islam and Ramadan taught this to us and granted us the time and opportunity to do so. Allah says in the Holy Quran:

 

Allah has promised those who believe and do deeds of righteousness, that for them there is forgiveness and a great reward. [Al-Maida, 5: 10]

 

If the Eid was a reward for you, unfortunately not all Muslims around the world get the opportunity to receive the Eid that you receive. So you should be thankful to Allah and strive with your selves and all means that you have to help change the world into a better one.

The message of 'Eid-ul-Fitr'

 

On the occasion of the Eid-ul-Fitr 2022, the print and electronic media in Mauritius carried a special message of Imam- Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam Hazrat Muhyiuddin Al Khalifatullah Munir Ahmad Azim (aba). In the special article, Hazrat Khalifatullah (aba) takes note of the crises of Faiths and the dismal state of spirituality among the people of all religions today. In an age of crass materialism or the hedonic pursuit of power and pelf at all costs, the approach to religion being followed by the present-day worshippers is riddled with deep contradictory tendencies. While rites and rituals of religions are being observed by one and all, the true spirit of these faith practices are conspicuously missing in larger societal trends where the tentacles of Evil is apparent for all. 

The quest for inner peace and contentment, social harmony and compassionate engagements across different sections, justice and rights of the victims- all call for a new engagement and compact with God, renewing the true spirit of all faiths- points out Hazrat Khalifatullah (aba). Urging all humankind, especially the Muslims, to rediscover the essence of the Islamic spiritual life of devotional practices, Hazrat Saheb (aba) assures everyone that the inner, human quest for a sense of balance in life and peace in society is attainable. It is by following the blended path of pure worship of God and true service to fellow beings; a path of personal reform and ridding of arrogance and other ego-centric passions; of sacrifice and selflessness; an ethic of sharing and caring for all that we can achieve positive outcomes for 'a blessed tomorrow', notes Hazrat Saheb (aba) in this article published on Le Mauricien, on 02 May 2022.  

Read the Special Article Below: