'Struggle against Self'

 

The Advent of the Seal of all Prophets, Muhammad (pbuh)

'O Prophet, We have sent you as a witness, a bearer of good tidings, and a warner, calling people to Allah by His grace, and as a light-giving lamp.' (Al-Ahzab 33: 46-47).

 

Alhamdulillah, Summa Alhamdulillah, today, I continue to speak on our beloved Master, Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh), and his status as the greatest prophet among all prophets. As I mentioned last week, while Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) is the greatest prophet and the last law-bearing prophet, it does not mean there will be no prophets after him. Prophets and Messengers of Allah will continue to come, but only from his own Ummah (community), and not from the communities that have rejected him (pbuh). This forms a chain of belief, where one Messenger confirms the other, and the new Messenger is born from the community and faith of the previous Messenger of Allah who has passed away.

‘Allah Teaches Me Wisdom’

 

‘Those who believed and kept to righteousness, for them are the glad tidings in the present life and also in the Hereafter.’ (10: 63-64) 

 

‘As for those who say, ‘Our Lord is Allah’, and then remain steadfast, the angels descend on them saying: ‘Fear you not, nor grieve; and rejoice in the Garden that you were promised. We are your friends in this life and in the Hereafter. Therein you will have all what your souls will desire, and therein you will have all that you will ask for. An entertainment from the Most Forgiving, the Ever Merciful’ (41: 31- 33).

 

Imam- Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam International Hazrat Muhyiuddin Al Khalifatullah Munir Ahmad Azim (aba) of Mauritius is a servant of the Faith of Islam in this era. Specially chosen and elected by the God Almighty with His nearness and communion; just like the Israelite prophets and divine messengers mentioned in the Holy Qur’an and also as the Book of God promises true believers in every era, Hazrat Azim (aba) is bestowed with sublime communications from the Unseen known in Islamic terminology as Divine revelations. Although not trained in any secular, modern University or other religious/ theological institutions, Hazrat Azim (aba) is blessed with a deep understanding of the language of heavenly birds. A treasure trove of spiritual perception and practical knowledge emanates from the communications he shares with the world. Indeed, the angels descend on him with an abundant of Divine messages containing purified wisdom for the betterment of human beings in this era, Subhaan Allah, Alhamdulillah, Allah-u-Akbar!  

 

The highest purpose of religion is to lead the devotee to the state of Divine communion and the pure pleasure of Divine converse. Prophets and elects of God attain this stage of spiritual development. In a recent message, Imam Azim (aba) gave a profound insight into his intimate spiritual world where Allah (swt) speaks with His chosen servant- teaching him religious understanding and practical wisdom, and through him guiding souls choosing to follow this sublime path of pure Divine communion and converse. Citing the example of Hazrat Bilal (ra), the great companion of the Holy Prophet (sa); Hazrat Saheb (aba) points to the path of sincere Faith and pure commitment and devotion against all  challenges in this mundane world, and the resulting opening up of the path of Jannat of Divine nearness in this very world for the true believer, Insha Allah.   

‘Ummah’: The Signs of Decline

  

Religious communities emerged in history against the backdrop of the advent of Divinely-raised messengers and prophets. These elects of God invariably stood for true values of life; with ethically-sound teachings and wisdom of pure conduct, they guided their peoples to the light of Divine guidance. Indeed, the good example of the holy men remains among the people for a period of time. Then, in the ebb and flow of time and history, we see that as the memory of the Prophet recedes and become distant from the generations born later, the teachings of the Faith will be obscured, misunderstood, or distorted by lesser men either out of personal desires, or otherwise corrupted through encounter with other nations and their idolatrous ways.  

 

Based on the spiritual history of the rise and fall of nations, Holy Prophet Muhammad (sa) indicated to his companions and followers the Clear Signs that characterized the nations that were in terminal illness before their Final Fall: the spread of immorality, unjust enrichment, the breaking of Covenants and agreements, tyranny and persecution, sectarianism and strife, etc. According to several traditions emanating from the Holy Prophet of Islam (sa), Muslim Ummah will also undergo profound changes in the course of time and encounter different challenges and trials as the world approaches the End Times. Reproduced below are a number of Prophetic Traditions [Ahadith] that foretells about the decline in Faith and loss of morality and ethics in the End Times:

Family Duties of the Muslim

  

‘All of you are guardians and all of you are responsible for your subjects. A man is the guardian in his home and responsible for his wards and a woman in her home is a guardian and responsible for her wards.’ ---Prophet Muhammad (sa) [Reported by Al-Bukhari in his Sahih, Chapter: Friday prayer in villages and towns, 1/248-249: Hadith 893].

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‘Indeed Allah will question everyone who is responsible about his charge, whether kept or lost.’ [Reported by Al-Tirmidhi in his Sunan, Book of Jihad, Chapter: Regarding the imam, 4/208, on the authority of Anas ibn Malik]. 

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'Never Stop; Keep Moving'

 

‘Work for this life 

as if you will live forever, 

and work for the Hereafter 

as if you will die tomorrow.’

- Prophet Muhammad (sa)

[Narrated by al-Haithami in Bughiat al-harith ‘an zawa’id musnad al-harith bin Abi Usama, 2/983h 1093t, Centre to Serve the Sunnah and Biography, first printing, 1415AH/1992].

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'Be Just and Righteous'

 

 Timeless wisdom of the Holy Qur'an

‘You who believe, fulfil your obligations…’ (5:2)

‘Allah commands you to return things entrusted to you to their rightful owners, and if you judge between people, to do so with justice: Excellent is that which Allah instructs you, for He hears and sees everything.’ (4:59)

‘You who believe, be steadfast in your devotion to Allah and bear witnesses impartially: do not let hatred of others lead you away from justice, but adhere to justice, for that is closer to awareness of Allah. Be mindful of Allah: Allah is well aware of all that you do.’ (5:9)

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Duahs for Divine Shade

 

Duah:

 

Ya Allah,

Have mercy on our weak souls

We claim to love you so much,

But we disobey You so often.

 

Ya Rahman,

Do not punish us for our actions;

We are weak and forgetful.

Ameen Summah Ameen

Ya Rabbul Aalameen

 

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Duah for the Purification of the Soul

 

Allahumma Ati Nafsi Taqwaha Wa-Zakkiha

Anta Khayru Man Zakkana Anta Waliyuha Wa-Mawlaha.

 

'O Allah,

Give my soul (Nafs)

It's God - fearing righteousness (Taqwah)

And purify it.

For You are the Best to purify it.

You are its Protector And its Guardian.'

(Sahih Muslim 2722).