Syria, Golan Heights, & Israel

Modern international law has colonial origins; yet it has evolved much in the post-colonial times, especially after the end of the Second World War; with the establishment of the Charter-based mechanisms and processes of multilateral cooperation under the United Nations Organization. From being merely an imperial handmaiden in the past, international law has progressed to a great extend to articulate the common standard of civilization and human rights in our multicultural world today, and States, by and large, respect and abide by international law and treaty obligations most of the time. A vital standard of State conduct conferring global legitimacy, the 'soul' of international law stands for peace and strives for justice in our power-oriented, complex international system. 

Contemporary International law insists upon non-use of force as a foundational principle of the world public order. Hence, the military conquest of nations, or ‘aggression’, is a crime under international law. Likewise, acquisition of a territory belonging to another nation through coercive method/s is also prohibited. As a consequence of this clear normative position, territorial aggrandizement through conquest will not be recognized by the international community. The conquering State cannot hope to gain any valid title to the newly acquired territory under international law as no legitimacy is attached to the taking of territory through military occupation. Consider the case of Israel. Notwithstanding the fact that it has been effectively controlling several Arab territories occupied through war for over five decades, international community continues to reject Israel's sovereignty claims over such territories, including in the cases of East Jerusalem and the Golan Heights. 

In his Friday Sermon of 07 June 2024~29 Dhul-Qaddah 1445 AH, Imam-Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam International Hazrat Muhyiuddin Al Khalifatullah Munir A. Azim (aba) of Mauritius spoke about the persisting, ongoing illegal occupation and annexation of the Syrian territory of the Golan Heights by Israel since 1967/1981. As Hazrat Khalifatullah (aba) rightly notes, many blatant illegalities are being perpetuated with impunity by the State of Israel on the lands of its Arab neighbours. Strong economic, military and technological support of the United States provides the material basis for Israeli excesses in the Middle East. Perhaps equally important is the complicity of important Arab leaders who have their own secret relations with the Jewish State even in the midst of the latter's despicable crimes against the Palestinian people, as well as its continued, illegal occupation and annexation of Arab territories, including the Syrian territory of the Golan Heights. Hazrat Saheb (aba) alludes that the enemies of Islam have been able to get away for so long with their manifest illegalities and high crimes against the Muslim peoples in a religious, political and strategic context of manifest internal weaknesses, disunity, and internecine conflicts. Fair-minded people in Europe and elsewhere are increasingly becoming aware of the horrific extend of Israeli/US highhandedness in the Middle East. Be that as it may, it is by reclaiming the true spirit of Faith, including the duties of solidarity, that Muslim nations will be able to discriminate between 'good' and 'evil', and 'friends' and 'enemies' of the Faith and of the peoples in these times. And it is by invoking Allah (swt) through fervent prayers, and by embracing the lawful methods of resistance against injustice that our Faith teaches that we can eventually triumph over the forces of evil- both internal and external- that presently pervade our backyard inflicting much suffering on the Ummah in these turbulent times, notes Hazrat Saheb (aba) in this discourse. 

Read the Friday Sermon Below:   

'Nations, Abide by Accords'

In his Friday Sermon of 31 May 2024~22 Dhul-Qaddah 1445 AH, Imam- Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam International Hazrat Muhyiuddin Al Khalifatullah Al Mahdi Munir Ahmad Azim (aba) of Mauritius calls attention to the foundational element of a peaceful and progressive global order: respect for international agreements; the sanctity of mutual obligations. 

Speaking against the backdrop of the ‘Brexit’ debates in England, Ireland and the wider Europe, Hazrat Khalifatullah (aba) notes that nations are free to pursue their own political and economic futures: to go solo, or in alliance with other nations, in the pursuit of national interests. But wherever external elements are involved, States should engage with one another in a spirit of dialogue and exchange of views, and agree on mutually-beneficial arrangements in a spirit of give and take, respecting each other’s interests and concerns. Indeed the primary purpose and function of international law and organization today is to facilitate beneficial cooperation among States by defining the rules of engagement, and that is why sanctity of treaties is the first principle at the root of global order. However, when powerful nations overstep their limits, and commit aggression on another people, it leads to war crimes and crimes against humanity, and even genocidal mass murder and horrific suffering of entire civilian populations, as is happening now in Gaza and other Israeli-occupied Palestine territories. Hazrat Saheb (aba) urges in the strongest terms all nations, large and small, to return to common sense and respect for pacts lest the present chaos in international relations lead to worst disaster and horrific consequences for humanity [God forbid].    

Read the Friday Sermon Below: 

Algeria: Breathing Freedom

   

Much of the Arab world reels under the political consequences of the long colonial subjugation and foreign intervention-induced complications in national social conditions. Even after attaining formal political independence, these nations have been characterized by military dictatorships and 'captive democracies', nullifying expectations of just governance and true freedoms that people have reason to value. Almost invariably, many of these nations  are ruled by modern-day pharaohs of this world: playing God on earth, these pharaohs in their insatiable quest for perpetual power, seek total dominance in the land: the despotic regimes unleash mechanisms of administrative excesses and thought control, choking all critical spaces and voices within. The strategies and tactics invariably lead to political fraud, crony capitalism/economic corruption, and military repression, stifling people's right to good governance and freedom of choice. When injustice penetrates, overwhelms and exhausts state institutions with rampant corruption and pervasive oppression; resistance against evil, revolt against injustice, and rebellion against the oppressive order becomes the duty of the people.

In his Friday Sermon of 24 May 2024, Imam- Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam International Hazrat Muhyiuddin Al Khalifatullah Munir Ahmad Azim (aba) of Mauritius provides a deep insight into contemporary political developments, especially with reference to regime change in Algeria against the wider backdrop of the Arab peoples' open revolt against gross abuse of authority by wily politicians and military dictators in their lands in the last decade. In this spiritual discourse, Hazrat Khalifatullah (aba) underscores the need for Muslims to commit themselves to the Islamic Way and the lawful methods in the fight against political oppression and the social evils within. Moreover, Hazrat Saheb (aba) calls attention to the great need for change and political reforms in the Muslim nations; a transition from military oppression to a peaceful and democratic frame of governance where people are able to breathe freely, and exercise their choices with responsibility and God-consciousness, Insha Allah, Aameen.    

Read the Friday Sermon Below:

On Life Lessons- 5

On Marriage:

To every man, the Day you marry your wife, is the day Allah places a trust and responsibility on you to give her the rights as a wife, and she becomes your family, your comforter, the mother of your children, so fear Allah as in regards to your duties as husband.

To every woman, when you marry your husband you leave your birth home and you become a real woman. Your husband becomes your family, your maintainer and protector, the father of your children, your friend and lover so treat him well and follow him to the ends of the earth, fear Allah in regards to how you treat him.

Marriage in Islam completes half of your Deen. Do not be swayed by good looks, or money as these will come and go; marry a man who truly fears and loves Allah, who puts Islam first before anything. 

'Dhul-Hijjah': First 10 Days

The first ten days of the month of Hajj [Dhul Hijjah] is among the most sacred days in the Islamic calendar. For the days are within the annual Hajj season of Muslim pilgrimage to Makkah and associated rites and rituals at the Ka’aba, culminating in the observance of Qurbani in the time of Eid-ul-Adha. In his Friday Sermon of 20 November 2009, Imam- Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam International Hazrat Muhyiuddin Al Khalifatullah Munir Ahmad Azim (aba) of Mauritius comprehensively explains the significance of the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah in the spiritual life of the Muslims, including the rules and practices associated with the correct observance of Qurbani- the allocation of shares of the sacrificial meat. 

 

Read the Friday Sermon Below:

The first ten days of the Islamic month Zil Hajj [Dhul-Hijjah] is among those special moments for the worship of Allah. Ibn Abbas (ra) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (sa) has said:

 

'No good deeds done on other days are superior to those done on these (first ten days of Dhul Hijjah).' Then some companions of the Prophet said, 'Not even Jihad?' He replied, 'Not even Jihad, except that of a man who does it by putting himself and his property in danger (for Allah’s sake) and does not return with any of those things.'

The Sheikh on Life Lessons- 4

 

Imam-Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam International, Hazrat Muhyiuddin Al Khalifatullah Al Mahdi Munir Ahmad Azim (aba) of Mauritius recently shared a series of profound advices for the spiritual education and benefit of his disciples and followers found in the Jamaat around the world. The message is for the purification of the soul and body of every individual believing brother and sister who are eager to pay attention and work upon this pure guidance for their own individual and collective benefit, Insha Allah, Aameen.   

Allah Says in the Qur’an:

 

Do not be rude in speech (3:160).

Restrain anger (3:135)

Be good to others (4:37)

Do not be arrogant (7:14)

Forgive others for their mistakes (7:200).

Speak to people mildly (20:45).

Lower your voice (31:20).

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June 2024: Allah's Message

 

Islam teaches us to recognize our true Lord, and strongly urges us to worship only the Creator and Sustainer of the Universe: Exclusively, turn to God Almighty. To the exclusion of all other visible and ‘manufactured’ deities/ ‘idols’ that many take as lords besides the Lord, we should hold the Most Gracious in awe, though He is Invisible and Unseen. Allah (swt) created humans, and ‘He is closer to man than his jugular vein’: He knows what our souls whisper to us; He knows what our thoughts and intentions are, according to the evocative words of the Holy Qur’an.

Everyone who turns often to God and keep Him in mind, and who comes before Him with a heart turned to Him in devotion; such devoted servants shall find that the Ever-Living, All Knowing and All Hearing, Allah (swt) responds to their sublime invocations and fervent prayers, Insha-Allah, Aameen. Like Allah (swt) tells the Holy Prophet (sa) in the Holy Qur’an: ‘And when My servants ask you concerning Me (tell them), I am nearby indeed, I answer the prayer of the supplicant when he prays to Me, so they should respond to My call, and believe in Me (that I possess all these attributes) so that they may proceed in the right way’. [2:187]