The Pillar of Our Faith

 

Alhamdulillah – All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the worlds, Who commanded us to establish the prayer and preserve it. We bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad (pbuh) is His servant and messenger. O Muslims, fear Allah as He ought to be feared, for Taqwa (Reverent Fear of Allah/ Piety) is the best provision for the Hereafter.

 

Allah Almighty says in the Holy Qur’an: “Indeed, prayer has been decreed upon the believers a decree of specified times.” (An-Nisa 4: 104)

 

Salah (Prayer) is not merely a daily ritual or a physical routine; it is the central pillar of a Muslim’s faith and the direct link between a servant and their Creator. The Holy Prophet (pbuh) said: “The head of the matter is Islam, its pillar is the prayer, and the top of its hump is Jihad.” (Tirmidhi)

The Importance of Jumu’ah

  

Today, let us reflect on the profound significance of Jumu’ah (Friday), a day described by the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) as the best day of the week, a weekly Eid for the believers, and a sacred opportunity to pause our worldly pursuits to reconnect with our Creator.

 

Allah Almighty emphasises the importance of this blessed day directly in the Holy Qur’an: “O you who have believed, when [the Call – Azaan] is called for the prayer on the day of Jumu’ah, proceed to the remembrance of Allah and leave off trade. That is better for you, if you only knew.” (Al-Jumu’ah 62: 10)

Memorising the Qur’an

  

The Holy Qur’an is a living treasure which Allah sent down as a guide, a light, and a mercy for all humanity. The person who devotes his life to memorising it, that is, who becomes a Hafiz-ul-Qur’an, attains an exceptional rank with Allah and amongst the angels. In numerous authentic Hadiths, the Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) taught that memorising the Qur’an is not merely an act of devotion, but a path towards honour, blessing, and nearness to Allah.

 

In the Qur’an, Allah says: “... These are clear verses preserved in the hearts of those who have been given knowledge (that is, those who have studied it and those who have memorised it) ...” (Al-Ankabut 29: 49).

The Value & Rank of the Prophet

  

In Islam, Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) is recognised as the noblest amongst all the Messengers, the one whom Allah chose to convey the final code of law, the last revealed Book of Law, the Holy Qur’an, and to teach wisdom and purification. In the Qur’an, Allah says: “Wa ma arsalnaaka illa rahmatan lil ‘aalameen” (Al-Anbiya 21: 108), meaning: “We have not sent you except as a mercy for all the worlds.” This verse clearly shows that the mission of the Holy Prophet (pbuh) was not limited to a particular people or a specific era; it is universal, eternal, and encompasses all humanity and indeed the whole of creation.

 

The Holy Prophet (pbuh) possessed unique qualities that were not granted to anyone else. His very name, “Muhammad”, is a name that Allah elevated with exceptional greatness. The name “Muhammad” is derived from the Arabic root letters Ha (ح), Mim (م), and Dal (د), which convey the meanings of praise, appreciation, and acknowledgement. Therefore, “Muhammad” means: “The one who is greatly praised; the one who deserves praise and recognition; the one worthy of commendation and respect.”

Muhammad: A Guide for All

 

The exemplary conduct of the Holy Prophet (pbuh) 

Alhamdulillah, the new moon of Rabi-ul-Awwal appeared last night. This means that today is the first Friday and the first day of that month. In Islamic tradition, Rabi-ul-Awwal has a special significance because it is in this month that our beloved Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was born. Therefore, today I have chosen to discuss his exemplary conduct, which he (pbuh) demonstrated throughout his life, and I will also briefly discuss the objective of his mission on Earth.

 

From Adam (as) to Jesus (as), many prophets have been sent by the Creator; But two fundamental realities that we must remember are that the Message of Allah, His laws for mankind, is fully completed in the Qur’an, and that the Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) is the last prophet to bear the law, in his category of prophets bearing the law (i.e. the last law-bearing prophet). The purpose of his coming is a universal grace, a mercy for all humanity, as the Qur’an tells us:

 

“Wa ma arsalnaka illa rahmatan lil ‘aalamin” – We have not sent you except as a mercy to all the worlds. (Al-Anbiya 21: 108).

The Heart and Your Deeds

 

In Islam, the heart is considered the seat of faith, the centre of all intentions and actions. In a Hadith compiled in Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim, and narrated by Nu’man bin Bashir (ra), our beloved Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said: “Hearken! In a person's body, there is a piece of flesh which, if it is sound (reformed), the whole body becomes sound (reformed); and if it is corrupt (corrupted), the whole body becomes corrupt (corrupted); [and listen carefully]: that is the heart.” This Hadith clearly shows that the heart is the centre of spirituality, the root of sincerity, and the source of purity. It is not just a biological organ found in each of us, but it is the centre of all our intentions, our faith (Iman), and all our actions stem from this centre of spirituality.

 

Allah emphasises the purification of the heart in the Holy Qur’an. In Surah Ash-Shu’ara (Verses 89-90), Allah says: “The Day (Day of Judgement) when neither wealth nor children will be of any benefit. Only those who come before Allah with a pure heart (will be saved).”

The Gravity of Murder in Islam

In his Friday Sermon of 31 July 2026~16 Safar 1448 AH, Imam- Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam International Hazrat Muhyiuddin Al Khalifatullah Munir Ahmad Azim (aba) of Mauritius profoundly reflects upon a foundational principle of both Divine Law and Secular Law: respect for the sanctity of human life and of rule of law and justice for social peace. The ongoing genocidal violence against the people of Palestine; being perpetrated by the barbarian state of Israel under Benjamin Netanyahu with virtual impunity over the last several years; the indifference and complicity of powerful actors doing nothing to end this horrendous bloodletting of children, women, and a people under military occupation, says something about the dismal state of international rule of law and justice in our hypocritical world. Instead of displaying respect for the sanctity of agreements and shared undertakings of international humanitarian law; the Israelis- in their vengeful excesses against another people- by acting without limits of proportionality, nor the equity of military necessity, or the required restraint for the protection of a hapless civilian population,- have become lawbreakers and oppressors. Playing 'God' in pursuit of total dominance over the entire region- scheming disorder and creating havoc on God’s earth; they will only inherit the wrath of God in their tracks in the not-so-distant future, Insha Allah, Aameen.

Read the Friday Sermon below:       

Human life is a sacred treasure, a gift from Allah, and no one has the right to destroy it without just cause. In the Qur’an, Allah says: “Whoever kills an innocent person, unless he has committed a crime or spread corruption in the land, it is as if he has killed all of humanity; and whoever saves a life, it is as if he has saved all of humanity.” (Al-Maida 5: 33).