Early Islam produced men of outstanding
ability, extraordinary drive and exemplary personal initiative. They were
willing to sacrifice their all for the progress of their deeply held
convictions, in the service of their Faith. This in turn brought the Muslims
victories over victories, successes over successes, grandeur and power which
lasted many centuries altogether. On the contrary, “the deeds of the Muslims
(of the present times) have become a big dark spot on the exemplary performance
and exceptional exploit of the first and true soldiers of Islam”. The
contrasting fortunes of Muslims of the past and of the present have invited
considerable scholarly attention in recent times. In his Friday Sermon
of 30 March 2012, Imam- Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam International Hazrat Muhyiuddin Al Khalifatullah Munir Ahmad Azim Saheb (aba) of Mauritius profoundly
reflects upon the lamentable spiritual conditions of the Muslims today, and as
the spiritual doctor of this era, Hazrat Saheb (aba) prescribes the spiritual
medicines essential for reviving the fortunes of the Ummah.
Read the Extracts from the Sermon:
We are nowadays in the Islamic year 1433
After Hijra. When we analyse that when the world was plunged into the
darkness of ignorance, sins and immorality, a light of true knowledge and
guidance (that is, the Holy Prophet Muhammad-sa) made its appearance in the
horizon amidst the rocky mountains, Batha (the name of the
small mountains surrounding Mecca). Its rays went beyond all
boundaries, be it in the east, west, north and south, and these rays (of that
divine light) illumine each corner of the earth. In the limited period
of twenty-three years, this light leads the way so that people accede to such
elevated honourable stations which had not been reached before. It has
brightened the Muslims and created in them the profound desire to follow the
true message that should guide them in the future towards success.
This is a historical truth which nobody can ever erase. But it is sad to see that these days this historical truth has become an old tradition, an “ancient story”, only good to be told (for a short time), and which appears farfetched for modern times, especially in our present times whereby the deeds of the Muslims have become a big dark spot on the exemplary performance and exceptional exploit of the first and true soldiers of Islam.
During the past centuries, history
presented the Muslims as the sole holders of honour, dignity, power and grandeur.
But when we cast our eyes away from the pages of history and look at the deeds
and positions of the Muslims nowadays, we see a community which is plunged in
difficulty and dishonour, a people who do not have real strength, honour,
brotherhood or understanding. They neither possess the required exemplary
qualities, nor morals nor behaviour of a true representative of Islam.
Today we do not see the zeal of the ready
extraordinary actions adopted once by the Muslims. These qualities were present
in each one of them, but sadly, it is not the case nowadays. We can
hardly today see a Muslim who has a pure and sincere conscience. On the
contrary, Muslims have stumbled in vices and sins. They have so much
strayed from the right path (good deeds) – the path which has all the time
guaranteed them success – that the enemies of Islam are now discussing how the
Muslims have become weak. They readily mock the Muslims and tell all sorts of
jokes on their account because of their hatred for the Muslims.
Unfortunately, the problem does not end
here.
The young Muslims, of the new
generations have been affected and influenced by the so-called modern trends,
and also the fashionable trends of the west. They take pleasure to
mock the principles of Islam and they openly criticise the Shariah (the
sacred laws of Islam). They label the Shariah as ancient, not
applicable for modern times, and impossible to put into practice. One is
shocked before such open behaviour and thoughts!
A people who once brought strength and stability,
prosperity, peace and honour in the world, now they have become a torn and
depressed people, completely overtaken by (spiritual) sleep. They are empty and
powerless. These people were once in the past the ones who
taught the whole world moral lessons and good conduct; nowadays they are the
ones who do not implement these vital moral lessons.
The trouble with the current Solutions
The so-called brilliant intellectuals and
so-called defenders of Islam, each one of them have drifted away from the
teachings of the Holy Quran and the Sunna of our noble prophet Hazrat Muhammad
(sa); when we analyse profoundly the way that they have presented the teachings
of Islam, each in their own way, this situation has become catastrophic.
The “remedies” they have applied have
worsened the malady. The situation has deteriorated today and the forthcoming
days appear all the more bleak. Remaining powerless (without taking
action) and being satisfied with the way the situation is have become a
grievous sin and an unforgivable sin. But before we take a decision on what we
have to do, it is necessary that we analyse the true reason behind the decline
of the Muslims (of the reality of this deplorable situation). People have
brought forward many reasons to explain this degradation, and they adopted
several solutions to prevent the situation from worsening. But unfortunately,
all efforts till date brought all the more frustration. Instead of progress, it
is despair and confusion which have settled, especially among the preachers and
the sincere and noble scholars of Islam.
The truth is that we have not succeeded in finding the true foundation (root) of this malady. And as long as we do not find the true cause of this (spiritual) illness, we cannot prescribe a remedy and appropriate treatment, and we can no further try it (in the absence of the right remedy). In such circumstances, how can we hope for recovery or amelioration (in the spiritual health of Muslims)? Any treatment that will be applied without us knowing the true cause of the illness shall aggravate the situation and shall bring in more confusion and discouragement.
Return to the Shariah and the Holy Qur'an
Islam identifies the Shariah as
the sacred laws from Allah. Allah the Almighty therein guaranteed a complete
way of life and gave us all means to advance (in life) and make progress on the
true path of success and goodness. Allah the Almighty has clearly
shown us which path to take and indicated to us the methods to verify and
correct our direction whenever we have gone too far away or stayed (from the
right path). In other words, the Muhammadan Shariah guarantees material
goodwill as well as spiritual goodwill of the Muslims and their progress
throughout all their lives, and in all situations till the Day of Judgement. It
would therefore be a loss of time if we seek the solution to the present
predicament of the Muslims outside the rules of the Shariah. Indeed, if we do
so (look for the solution elsewhere), our situation will become worse.