Friday, January 13, 2012

Responsibilities of a Muslim


In his Friday Sermon of January 13, 2012 Khalifatullah Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Sahib (atba) spoke about the distinctive characteristics of a real believer and the manifold responsibilities the membership of his Jamaat entails today. The Khalifatullah defines the basic framework of faith and good deeds expected from the believers who accepted (or seek to recognize) his divine office and become members of the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam.

The distinctive characteristic of a member of Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam should be undivided and consummated attachment to Sahih al Islam; and this devotion should control his life to such an extent that the slightest deviation from God’s laws is abhorrent to him’, states the Khalifatullah.

Read the Summary of the Sermon:

“A member of the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam is a Muslim who believes in One God, Holy Prophet Muhammad (sa) and Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as), the Promised Messiah and Mahdi whose advent had been foretold by the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sa) and in the Khalifatullah and Muhyi-ud-Din raised by Allah in this era with Divine Revelation.

The Khalifatullah of this era (that is, this humble self) is a Messenger of God. I call upon all mankind to accept the truth of my divine office; but this is not all. Islam is a practical way of life which demands total resignation to the teachings of the Holy Quran and the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sa). The attainment of this deal must be the resolve and goal of every member of Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam in whose life the principles of Islam should be manifested in every manner of living. The real object of man’s life according to the Holy Quran is, therefore, a true knowledge and worship of God and a total resignation to His will that whatever is said or done is said or done for His sake only. What is the Sahih al Islam? It is the burning fire which consumes all low desires and, setting fire to false gods and it is the offering of our property and honour as a sacrifice before God. It is that sacred fire which burns all papers of trials to uncover the face of God Almighty in the true believer’s pure golden heart.


A member of the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam is expected to demonstrate his love for God and the Holy Prophet (sa) by moulding his life in strict accordance with the teaching of Islam. He does not allow the lure of material wealth and comforts to override his spiritual obligations and responsibilities. His first and foremost thought is to regulate his conduct in accordance with the will and pleasure of God.

So my mission as the Khalifatullah of this era is the reformation of all mankind (not only Ahmadi Muslims and other Muslims but also all religions) through the recognition and resignation to Islam.

The distinctive characteristic of a member of Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam should be undivided and consummated attachment to Sahih al Islam; and this devotion should control his life to such an extent that the slightest deviation from God’s laws is abhorrent to him. If there is as much as an atom’s weight of worldliness in the behaviour of a member of Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam then he cannot be counted as a true follower of Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam and that of the Khalifatullah of this era. That is to say no law or principle of Islam should be trampled upon or neglected in order to satisfy some worldly interests or inclinations. A member of Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam is expected to reflect not only the basic teachings of Islam but also the finer aspects of faith which others may overlook as unimportant.

A member of Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam is:

1. A Soldier of Islam
2. An Ambassador of Islam
3. A Preacher of Islam
4. A Servant of Islam.
5. A Defender of Islam,
6. An Embodiment of Islam.

A SOLDIER OF ISLAM

A soldier of Islam has many traits. Among them is his ability to serve and fight under the most hazardous conditions. He exerts his energies to the full for his flag and country. A Sahih al Islam is a soldier of God dedicated to the flag of Islam and the fight for the defence and propagation of his faith through peaceful means.

As a soldier he is not a sit-at-home Muslim. He goes forth in all directions wielding his spiritual sword. He is not deterred by the heat of the sun, snow and icy winds, downpours of rains or other discomforts when beckoned by the call of duty. The readiness to undergo severe hardships for the love of Islam is a sign and test of true faith. A member of Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam takes inspiration from the great lives of those who have gone down in history as pioneers and stalwarts of glory. He is anxious to imbibe and cultivate their inspiring qualities in order to enable him to fight more effectively for Islam.

AMBASSADOR OF ISLAM

A member of Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam has a grave and privileged responsibility for he is a representative of the Promised Messiah and the Khalifatullah of this era whose advent in the latter days had been foretold by the Holy Prophet of Islam. As the Khalifatullah of this era I have also come to entreat my followers to be practical Muslims in every detail. A member of Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam should be a worthy ambassador of Islam and enthusiastically endeavour to adhere to all its teachings. It has truly been said that faith without works is dead. Knowing this, a Sahih al Islam endeavours to be meticulous in living up to the teachings of True Islam. The eyes of the world are upon him; but of greater consequence is the fact that the eyes of God are also upon him. An ambassador faithfully symbolises the government which he represents; so must a member of Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam faithfully symbolises the teachings he represents.

PREACHER OF ISLAM

The Holy Prophet Muhammad (sa) was a Prophet of God commissioned with a Divine Message for all mankind. It is incumbent upon every Muslim to preach his faith to others; also, when the occasion arises, to guide and advise his own Muslim brothers. Thus in the Holy Quran Muslims are enjoined to exhort one another to truth. The Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam works to convey and expound the message of Islam to everybody and to hasten the coming of the day when Islam will be the dominant faith of the world. Every member of Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam is a Dai’Illallah and a missionary of Islam. He preaches to all and sundry; and in order to do this successfully he must practise what he preaches. This he well knows because it is the epitome of Quranic teaching and so becomes the most necessary of all requirements in the mission field. 

SERVANT OF ISLAM

A member of Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam is a servant of God. A good servant is imbued with two outstanding qualities: (1) He is respectful; (2) He is obedient.

Respect for God and His creatures is an essential aspect of the Islamic faith. God is the Master of masters worthy only of the highest respect and love. The creatures of God are the creation of God and must, therefore, be given due respect. Being a servant of God a member of Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam is obedient to God. He is extremely careful in observing the commandments of God and ever watchful in avoiding His displeasure. He is regular in Salat and observes those fasts required by law. He pays Zakat and other dues required by Islamic law. He also contributes in accordance with instruction and recommendations of the Khalifatullah of this era. He completely shuns gambling, dancing, wine, pork, lending money on interest and taking money with interest, lying, backbiting, cheating and other forbidden things, the greatest of all being association with God (Shirk). Obedience to God is always his watchword.

DEFENDER OF ISLAM

Islam is assailed on all sides by its adversaries who through ignorance or prejudice endeavour to smear the fair name of Islam. Islam is, perhaps, the most misrepresented faith. A member of Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam educates himself in Islam not only for his own guidance and upliftment but also that he may be able to defend Islam against its’ critics. It is asserted that Islam is a man made religion bereft of true spiritual values. On the contrary Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam illustrates in his own life that Islam is a living religion which can beautify and purify the soul and character of a person. A member of Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam strives to build an exemplary character for this more than anything is able to prove the spiritual efficacy of Islam. A member of Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam defends Islam best by living Islam.

EMBODIMENT OF ISLAM

A member of Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam is a Muslim whose mind has been opened to wonderful spiritual truths which remain hidden to others. These truths have impressed themselves so deeply upon him that he finds his only solace in the bosom of God. Being human he possesses natural attachments of love for his family, relatives and friends; but despite the ardour of these relationships he never forgets his loyalty to God. And God puts him to the test with his own family, if the latter are rejecters of God and His Messenger of this era whom he has recognised and testified to their truth (Allah and His Khalifatullah), then he knows the how to act and how to allow God and His Khalifatullah to have precedence over his heart than any other creature on earth, be him his father, mother, siblings or near relatives etc. When a member of Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam has become in the true sense a soldier, ambassador, preacher, servant and defender of Islam then, and then alone, does he blossom into an embodiment of Islam whereupon, according to Allah and His Caliph of this era:

“God becomes his eye with which he sees, his tongue with which he speaks, his hand with which he repels attack, his ear with which he hears, and his foot with which he walks.”

May Allah bless all of you to know the very importance of tabligh and become a true and sincere Dai’Illallah. Insha-Allah, Ameen.