'Jalsa Salana' Address to the Kerala Jamaat

My dear brothers, sisters and children of the Kerala Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam,

Assalamoualaikum Warahmatullah Wabarakaatuhu.

It is a great pleasure for me to address you for your Annual Jalsa Salana in Mathra, South Kerala. I may be far away from you, but you are very close to my heart, in my thoughts and prayers.

Today, I have chosen to talk to you about the need for believers to remain ever true and sincere to their faith. Remember my dear ones, there shall be a thousand, nay a million trial which shall inevitably cross your path, but when you choose to trust in Allah, and keep firm in your faith, and at the same time strive to give your best for the propagation of the message of Allah in the four corners of the world, then definitely Allah shall become your closest Friend and Support, and help you through all ordeals in life.

The time you are living is not an ordinary time. Allah has chosen you in this era and guided you and then placed you in His Jamaat, under the leadership of His Messenger, the Khalifatullah. You are not ordinary people. You may think you are ordinary out of your humility, but indeed you are exceptional, and in each and every one of you – provided you are truly sincere – is found the light of different talents which Allah has vouchsafed you to help His cause and message to propagate in the four corners of the world.

End of the Year: Celebration of Vanity

December - the month of revelry

The end of the Gregorian year is drawing to a close; everyone is so busy, so much that he forgets his own soul. December is a month of great temptations. Everyone is preparing for the end of year party, because the fun and entertainment are paramount whatever the circumstance, as an excuse just to relax after a long year of hard and stressful job.

Joy or excitation reigns in the atmosphere especially when people have a lot of money. It’s time to spend the hard-earned money. Like you know, the last month of the year allows officials, employees and workers to receive their bonuses or their rewards. So they feel a desire to buy, spend. But buy what? All they have under the eyes, little everything and nothingness. This is a first sign of temptation. They buy clothes and expensive footwear, alcoholic beverages that cost thousands of rupees, they organize parties, banquets, open buffets that cost a fortune. They buy firecrackers and fireworks at very high prices. Everyone thinks to do more than the other, if not to compete for more glory.

As for the merchant/seller, he is there to attract customers and to satisfy their needs as much as possible. Often, the (market) place (or place where the sales are being done) is invaded by loud music or songs that wreck the ears. We find the men and women mixed, especially in very narrow places. Many of these Muslim traders do not perform Salat (prayer) or do not close their stores for Salat-ul-Jummah (Friday prayers); for the simple reason of not losing a single client and not to leave any money to escape from their crates.

Divine Precepts on Political Order

Islam is a World Order; hence the conception of Islamic state is that of a World State, for God is the Sovereign of all:

“Command is for none but God.” (12: 41).

“His is the sovereignty of the Heavens and the Earth.” (57: 6).

“Blessed is He in Whose hands is the sovereignty and He over all things has power.” (67: 2).

The ideal of Islamic state (or an Islamic country), like I just mentioned, is righteous life as it further proved by the oft-repeated voice of the Quran, “Believe and act righteously” which forms its leading theme. And to achieve this ideal God says: “Let there arise out of you a band of people inviting to all that is good, enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong.” (3: 105).

Righteous life is the life lived in strict conformity with divine laws. The Quran is the code of right conduct which equips man to establish the will of God on earth and to lead humanity to its noblest destiny. Righteous life cannot be achieved unless society is purged of evils and virtue prevails. Virtue consists in moral excellence and in conformity of life and conduct with the laws of God who alone knows what is really good. There is no specific form of government prescribed by the Quran and the Sunnah. It seems that no detailed blue prints for the form of government are given so that flexibility be retained as to the adoption of some form suited to the occasion except despotism, for the head of the Islamic State himself is subject to the dictates of Islamic laws.

Mauritius 2014: General Election Results

Yesterday, Thursday 11 December 2014, people of Mauritius and Rodrigues followed live on TV and several private and national radio/s the results of the general elections in all 21 circumscriptions till late at night. The results came as a surprise. There have been 10 elections since the independence – 1976-2010, and since then there was never such a low level of participation from voters as witnessed yesterday for these general elections 2014. And this despite the dominance of the two main great political blocs in the electoral campaign, with private, regional and national meetings! We learnt that the two main alliances, the PTR/MMM Alliance and also the People’s Alliance (MSM/PMSD/ML) spent a little more than 73 million rupees in only 2 months of electoral campaign.

When one hears about the course of the electoral campaign, especially between the two political adversary blocs, there was the display of hatred and other vulgarities. In many places political agents have been spoiled rotten with free provision of food and alcoholic drinks, and they got several fuel bonds so that they may use their cars (for the electoral campaign). They abused of such monies and enjoyed a lot, spreading money like confetti (that is, spending money in vain things).

Therefore, I come back today on the dream that I made prior to the fixed date for the general elections. I dreamt of Sir Anerood Jugnauth in a beautiful coat, very chic and he was in the car with me and I was asking him several questions. When I enquired with him about Paul Raymond Berenger, he told me that he was not a traitor, and it was a strategy which he used when he decided to walk with the Labour Party (PTR); what I omitted to say (publicly) is that in the dream I told him: “Oh, it is to remove Navin Ramgoolam as the Prime Minister and the useless people around him who used their power ruthlessly against the people (of Mauritius)!”

Now, I relate to you a recent Vision (Kashaf) which overcame me on the 07 December 2014. On that day the two main political blocs held there grand meetings before the elections of 10 December 2014. It was after Namaz Zuhr and Asr, and I was in my office looking for my driving license when suddenly I felt very weak and I had to sit down a bit when suddenly this vision overcame me. The vision lasted 15-20 minutes. I was shown many heads of the Labour Party were falling down and when the vision ended, I understood that in response to the prayers that I made since a long time now against this ruthless Government which is making the people suffer, thus I came to know (there and then) what shall happen to them in the coming elections. And on the spot, a thought crossed my mind that the Mauritian Militant Movement shall not also be spared – when one walks with dirt, one is bound to get the bad odour of that dirt around him – and it is verily what happened!

South Kerala Jalsa Salana 2014: A Report

Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam- South Kerala (India) organized its Fourth  Jalsa Salana at Noorul Islam Masjid, Mathra, 22-23 December 2014. Alhamdulillah.

Brothers from Kannur, Alappuzha and Malappuram, and also from Delhi, reached ahead of the commencement of the two-day programme that largely revolved around speeches and extended conversations, discussing the finer points of being a believer in these difficult times where the world around us is largely indifferent to Tawheed and all that it entails in our private lives and public conduct as a community of people with shared interests and concerns, common goals under the banner of Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam and the Imamat of the Khalifatullah Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Sahib (atba) of Mauritius.  

On the first day, all brothers and sisters collectively offered the Tahajjud prayers and it was followed later by the Namaz-e-Fajr.  Mukarram Amir Jamaluddin Sahib of Mathra formally inaugurated the Jalsa Salana programme by conducting a Dars-e-Qur’an, immediately after the Fajr Namaz . In his speech, the Amir Sahib pointed to the subtle verities of spiritual wisdom contained in Surah Al Fatihah and the enduring promise of Divine guidance available to all true and sincere believers in every age till the Day of Judgement. 

At 12.00 noon, all members assembled for a new session. Based on the recent series of Friday Sermons delivered by the Khalifatullah Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Sahib (atba), the Amir Sahib explained at length the significance of purification of heart for spiritual life.  A Malayalm Translation of the booklet, “Heart: A Study”, being a Translation of the aforesaid series of Friday Sermons of Huzur (atba) was released on the occasion. Senior member Saleem Sahib recieved the first copy of the Book from the Mukarram Amir Sahib. After the Inaugural Session Namaz-e- Zuhar was followed by Lunch and rest. 

Elections and Political Faultlines in Mauritius

First of all I thank Allah (swt) who has given me the opportunity to continue the subject of the sermon which I addressed you last Friday. Like you all know, there remain only a few days for the General Elections in Mauritius, Rodrigues and Agalega – Wednesday 10 December 2014.

For all people of Mauritius, this General Election to be held on 10 December 2014 is a prospect to make Mauritius a second republic and whereby the ex-leader of the opposition shall become the Prime Minister of the island for 5 years, Insha-Allah, after having struggle really hard for the goodwill of all Mauritians. He is verily a man who deserves that position, with the intelligence, competence, and capacity as state leader. He is a honest man with great visions for the country. He spent 47 years in politics, struggling for all Mauritians, and he even escaped death (when there was an attempt to kill him when he was a young man) and ever since his young days, he plunged into politics and struggled for the rights of workers so that they may get their dignity and he protected them from being crushed by their employers. He gave a lot of himself for the people of Mauritius, but the Mauritians did not (or refuse to) recognise his value, competence and capacity. Very often the politicians and people from different religions who do not have any real competence, along with the socio-cultural groups have crushed this able man, honest, whereby nobody can say that he is power-thirst or that he stole something, or even was involved in fraud and corruption. He did not also protect male and female allies. That honest man is Paul Raymond Berenger, the historical leader. It is the fanatics who have all the time tried to create all sorts of communal problems to bar him from becoming Prime Minister. This shows to you that the sincere, honest and devoted people have all the time great enemies and adversaries who try to create all sorts of problems and spread communal talks for them. Such is the case also for Paul Raymond Berenger who had to face all these people who do not want him to become the Prime Minister of Mauritius.

General Elections in Mauritius: Prospects for Change

Like you all know here in Mauritius, as well as in Rodrigues and Agalega, we entered the phase of general elections which will be held on Wednesday 10 December 2014. Some 74 political parties have registered for the general elections 2014.

For a small country like Mauritius with a population of about 1,200,000, there are the two major political blocs who are engaging in polemics everyday with their congresses in the several circumscriptions, meetings, house-to-house visits etc. There is firstly the PTR/MMM Alliance, with the two leaders Navin Ramgoolam and Paul Berenger and there is also the other political bloc, MSM-PMSD-ML which call themselves “People’s Alliance” (Alliance Lepep). The motto of the PTR/MMM Alliance is a united people, a modern country and their aim is to make Mauritius a second republic, while the legislative elections stand along the presidential one (a proposal forwarded in the wake of a possible victory at the elections with at least three-quarters of seats). Therefore, Paul Berenger shall be then the Prime Minister for 5 years and Navin Ramgoolam shall be the president for 7 years. 

On the other hand, the People’s Alliance is completely against making Mauritius a second republic. According to their analysis, these two heads of the PTR-MMM Alliance (Navin and Paul) are power-thirst and are primarily seeking their personal interest instead of that of the people of Mauritius. They claim that this new plan (the second republic) shall pave the way for more dictatorship and they claim their own People’s Alliance is not at all like the adversary alliance, saying that they have formed an alliance for the people and (are) with the people. They further claim that they are not seeking power and that they are here to care for the people.

Therefore the Mauritians – an intelligent people – should bear in mind that Mauritius neither belongs to any political bloc nor to the majority, in terms of religious communities. On Wednesday 10 December 2014, each Mauritian shall have the opportunity to do a good clean up and remove all those who are power-thirst, fraudsters, incompetent and those who are sucking the blood of this nation in cups and thus reducing the Mauritians to a life of misery. Verily, everything is becoming quite expensive. The cost of living is high; price of all commodities have risen and there is no law and order as it should have, and consequently, there are lots of crimes, thefts, rapes, unemployment etc. There are a lot of graduates and professionals – doctors, lawyers, are other professionals – who are jobless. Their families sacrificed a lot to send them for further studies while others are amusing themselves with state money.

Islamic Law as 'Divine Law'

Islamic Law is divine in origin and is based on divine revelation. Being divine in origin, Islamic Law is distinct from human law which is the outcome of customary rules and which can never, with perfect success, produce uniformity of conduct within the field of action to which they apply as do the divine laws with their specified norms of good and bad, virtue and vice.

Divine Laws are the standards of right conduct and provide guidance, not only in establishing a well-ordered society, but also in distinguishing between “good” and “evil”. As a well knit system of obligation they safeguard the rights of all, and as the product of divine wisdom which alone knows what is absolute good, they ensure the welfare of the entire humanity. The peculiarity of Divine Law is that it is eternal and immutable and yet contains principles broad enough to meet the growing needs of society. 

In contradistinction to this, human laws are based on human reason which is liable to err. Further, they are made according to the needs of society and to sub-serve its interest, hence they change with the change in society. They depend for their existence on the vagaries of public opinion or upon the whims and fancies of a ruling monarch and, as such, cannot represent that unity of divine law which results in the uniformity of society.

Divine Law is a declaration on all matters and provides for every possible eventuality and this is the claim advanced by the Quran itself: “And We have revealed to you a Book as an exposition of all things.” (16: 90)

Remedies for the Diseases of the Heart

I don’t know how to thank My Creator, for He keeps increasing my knowledge on this subject and today, Alhamdulillah Summa Alhamdulillah I continue my Friday Sermon, on the remedies for the diseases of the heart, and I start first of all with how to guard one’s heart against the attack of the Satan (Shaytan). Shaytan creates doubts in the heart, therefore believing men should distant these doubts with the Zikr (remembrance) of Allah Ta’ala. They should not pay any attention to these doubts and distractions. Doubts and distractions are the talks of the Satan which he instills in the hearts of the believers.

It is reported in a Hadith that Shaytan will come to one of you and say to you: “Who created you?” 

The person will reply “Allah has created me”. Shaytan will then ask:“Who has created Allah?” 

Thus if this question arises in anyone’s heart, he should say:“I have brought faith in Allah and His Messenger (pbuh). This thought will then go away”. (Musnad Ahmad)

The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) is reported to have said: “Two causes take effect on the heart. One, the effect by the angels in the form of truth and virtue, this is from Allah Ta’ala. One should thank Allah Ta’ala for such effect. The other is from our enemy in the form of rejecting the truth and avoiding virtuous acts. One who experiences these effects should seek Allah’s protection from the accursed Satan.” The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) then recited the following verse in a way of supporting this Hadith: “Satan threatens you with poverty and orders you to immorality, while Allah promises you forgiveness from Him and bounty. And Allah is All-Embracing, All-Knowing.” (2: 269).” (Musnad Ahmad)

Faith and Fellowship in Rodrigues

All my Rodriguan brothers and sisters who are present here, Assalamoualaikum Warahmatullah Wabarakaatuhu. I wish to first of all thank you for your presence, and today verily is a historical date: 07 November 2014. We are performing our Friday Sermon in Oyster Bay here in Rodrigues.

And like you all know, my stay here in Rodrigues is for the purpose of seeking a place and also for the construction of our Mosque. And by the grace of Allah, a place has been found, and the construction of the mosque is in progress, but there is also the fact that our opponents of the different religions and from the different sects in Islam are putting obstacles in our works, creating problems so that the construction work of our Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam mosque here in Rodrigues is stopped. It is unfortunate that after doing the necessities for the construction the authorities then reacted differently. It is unfortunate that despite our arrival in Rodrigues, with all the procedures done with the authorities so that we may go forward with the construction project of the mosque and our Mission House here, and to make our Jamaat function and also to have our centre, whereby our brothers and sisters can have a good place for them to perform their Jummah, their programmes and prayers in congregation regularly (therefore there are problems cropping up because of the plans of our opponents).

Another thing I have noticed. When I came here the last time, that is, some months back, I saw the enthusiasm, with the new members etc. But this time around, with this humble self’s presence in Rodrigues, I understood what evil strategies our opponents are using to stop us from propagating the unicity of Allah, to stop our progress. They are making their best in this direction. Therefore those new members who were still weak in faith, whose faith had not had an opportunity to be reinforced in the correct way – and that is why also we need a centre so that someone does this work, to give spiritual education to our members – therefore, the scheming people have seized these opportunities (to brainwash the new members) and unfortunately there are among them people who have left the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam. We have to be frank (reveal the truth). By the reports that we received they have come to know what kind of bad works the opposition have made to influence those people who had left the Jamaat. I need to stress that I am not talking of only one group of people, but this is the work of many who have participated to remove these people from the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam, and we can say also from Islam altogether.

Decadence in Rodrigues society

Therefore, when I analyse all that has transpired in Rodrigues (everything has changed). I used to know Rodrigues well, how its inhabitants were nice, and used to love listening to religious speeches. It was in 1993 that I came to Rodrigues for the first time, and this continued till the year 2000. Rodrigues was a very quiet place (island). There used to be no fear to stay here. You could leave the house peacefully, leave the door open and nobody would enter to steal. We did not also hear about crimes and violence.

“I Believe”: Zafrullah Khan’s Faith

“I believe that subordinate prophets will continue to arise in Islam when mankind strays from the path of righteousness and needs divine revelation. It is necessary that, as the pattern of human life develops, mankind should have a living example set before them of a life utterly pure and devoted to the service of God and man”.

 -Sir Zafrullah Khan Sahib (ra) on American Radio Speech, in 1950

Sir Muhammad Zafrullah Khan Sahib (ra) (1893-1985), arguably one of the greatest public figures to have emerged among the followers and disciples of the Promised Massih Hadhrat Ahmad (as), stated these ringing words in a context where he was explaining his inner most spiritual convictions and beliefs as a devout Muslim. In the 1950’s, the US radio service CBS invited Sir Zafrullah Khan Sahib, who at that time was the Foreign Minister of Pakistan with a formidable reputation of being a preeminent leader-statesman of the Muslim world, to deliver this address in the series on “This, I believe”. This speech was rebroadcast almost sixty years later on The Bob Edwards Show on July 23, 2010 and is now publically available on You Tube and also in Ahmadi media networks. 

This special speech of Sir Muhammad Zafrullah Khan (ra) is a public testimonial of his deeply held spiritual convictions and as such, it beautifully captures the sum and substance of the faith that the Promised Massih (as) had taught all his life and left behind as his spiritual legacy for all his followers and disciples. All members of the Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya need to ruminate and profoundly ponder over the ringing words of this great ambassador of the Ahmadiyya community.  

For the benefit of our Ahmadi readers, many of whom have been misguided by their current leaders and scholars with the notion that “Ummati-Nubuwwat’ in Islam has been replaced by a system of man-elected man or ‘Khilafat-e-Ahmadiyya’, we reproduce below the transcript text and audio of the Speech.  

Spiritual Balm for the Diseases of the Heart

“Oh mankind! There has come unto you an exhortation from your Lord, a balm for that which is in the breasts, a guidance and a mercy for believers.” (10: 58).

Alhamdulillah, Summa Alhamdulillah, My Rab (Lord, Allah) has given me this opportunity in my Friday Sermon of today to explain the remedies for diseases of the heart (7^th Part: “The Heart”). 

Note that cure and remedies of the diseased hearts lie only in obedience to the Quran and in pure and perfect Iman (faith); you can analyse and try to understand that Allah the Exalted says in the verse of Chapter Yunus which I have recited in the beginning of my sermon after Surah Al-Fatiha.

The Quran is a cure for that ignorance of the heart. Ignorance is a much more fatal disease to the heart in comparison to sicknesses of the body. Diseases of the heart are bad character, evil beliefs, destructive and ignorant customs, etc. The Quran is a salutary healer of all these diseases, for it embraces, advices, admonishes, gives warnings, encouragement, etc. Thus, the cure and healer for the disease of the heart is the Quran. 

Yaum-e-Ashura: Remembering Imam Hussein

My sermon will be on the Islamic month; especially the 10^th of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic Calendar which is the Yaum-e-Ashura. It is an historical date and deeply memorable in Islam whereby lots of events, in addition to the one at Karbala, took place in the past, and also whereby other events will take place in the future. It is a day which is full of the blessings and on this day, Allah accepts and fulfils prayers made with sincerity. It is recommended to obtain a fast on this day and also one on either the eve or the next day of the Ashura.

On the day of Ashura, perform Ghusl (a complete bath); trim your nails, put on clean clothes and enable yourself to enter a state of Ibaadat (worship of Allah). On this day, besides the obligatory prayers, do some recitations of the Holy Quran, then read two cycles of voluntary prayers by reciting in each cycle after the Surah Al-Fatiha, ten times the Surah Al-Ikhlaas (Qul Huwallaaho Ahad…); After the prayer, read one time the Verse of the Throne (Ayatul Qursi) and nine times the Darood Ibrahim (which we read daily in our Salaat); afterwards ask of Allah whatever you want (which is permissible in the eyes of Allah). Invoke Him with sincerity!

Hazrat Muhammad (Peace & Blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “On the day of Ashura, the one who reads four voluntary cycles of prayer, and in each cycle, after the Surah Al-Fatiha reads eleven times Surah Al-Ikhlaas, Allah forgives him all his sins and will build for him an illuminated minbar.” This form of prayer purifies a believer from all his sins, and elevates him in his faith, and attracts on him the blessings of Allah. It is recommended to observe two fasts, that is, the 9^th and the 10^th day of Muharram. Hazrat Muhammad (Peace & Blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “After the obligatory fasting of Ramadhan, comes the greatness of the Ashura fast, and the latter wash away the sins of the preceding year.” It is also highly recommended on this day to perform other forms of worship to seek the pleasure of Allah, for example: to help the needy people in any way, to feed the poor, give away Sadqua (charity), etc.

The 10^th of Muharram will always remain engraved in the mind of each and every Muslim so that they may always remember the drastic days which befell upon Hazrat Imam Hussein. 

Spiritual Diseases of the Heart

Muharram 1436 Hijri

Alhamdulillah Summa Alhamdulillah, Allah (swt) has chosen and given preference to certain days and times that are special and sacred in our religion. As many of you may know by now, the sacred month of Muharram (which begins the new Islamic year and which has been named “the month of Allah” by the Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) – reported by Muslim), has started last Sunday 26 October 2014. We have thus entered the year 1436 Hijri, and today is the 06 Muharram 1436 Hijri.

Muharram is the first month of the Islamic Calendar and it is during this month itself (the tenth of Muharram) that Imam Hussein and his companions have been martyred at the hands of Yazid and his soldiers. Thus, the month of Muharram, year 61 after Hijra, hearts clashed; some were for the sanctity of Islam whereas the others were against the very spirit of Islam. They pierced the heart of the tree of Islam and cut to pieces its exquisite fruits. They tried to extinguish the Light of Allah through all means at their disposal, but Allah persisted to render manifest His Light.

On this note, by the grace and help of my Rab I continue my Friday Sermon (Part 6) for today on the same subject (The Heart), on how it is important to keep our heart clean, white, and pure; such purification with a lot of repentance so that no dot of hatred stay in the heart, so that another Yazid may not see daylight. It is only after that kind of purification that we can set up our motto: “Love For All, Hatred For None” like true believers, in such a way where there is no hypocrisy, no show in our heart. You can make thousands and thousands of signboards, stickers, t-shirts print of “Love For All, Hatred For None” but if this is only for show, if only the outside look matters to you, only to beautify the signboards, t-shirt, stickers while at the same time you have a lot of hatred in your heart, and are applying boycott against your Muslims brothers and sisters therefore this is purely hypocrisy and the manifestation of an ill heart.

Verily, hearts also become sick. Just as the body becomes sick, so does the heart. As crookedness enters the eyes, hearts also become crooked. Allah Ta’ala draws our attention to these sicknesses of the heart in the following verses of the Quran:

“Our Lord! Cause not our hearts to stray after You have guided us and bestow upon us mercy from Your Presence. Indeed, You are the Bestower.” (3: 9).

Heart and the Screen of Virtue

Alhamdulillah, Summa Alhamdulillah, I continue my Khutba Jummah on the same topic (The Heart). Today is the 5^th week on the same topic, so it is a very important subject in our life, both mundane and spiritual. So everybody must take care of their own hearts.

Since the heart is an axis and centre for the reception of advices and admonition, Muslims are advised that they should take great care and precaution regarding the heart. They should not overburden the heart. The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) has also said: “Give some rest to your hearts for they like your other organs also get tired”.

Hearts also become clean or dirty. Their cleanliness is maintained by the worship and obedience of Allah Ta’ala. By “Kufr” and disobedience they become impure and unhealthy.Allah Ta’ala says regarding the Munafiqeen and the non-believers: “Those are they for whom the Will of Allah is that He cleanse not their hearts.” (5: 42); “Who, when you read unto him our revelation, say: “(Mere) fables of the men of yore!” Nay, but that which they have earned is rust upon their hearts.” (83: 14-15).

Hazrat Abu Huraira (ra) reports that the Holy Prophet (pbuh) has said: “When a man commits a sin, there appears a black spot on his heart. If he thereafter repents and refrains from committing that sin, his heart is cleansed. If he commits the sin again there appears another spot on his heart until his heart is fully covered. This is what is meant in the following verse of the Quran: “Nay, but that which they have earned is rust upon their hearts.” (Tirmidhi). This verse means that disobedience and sin has covered their hearts from all angles. 

The attitude men should adopt when addressing women has been described in this verse: “And when you ask of them (the wives of the Messenger of Allah (pbuh)) anything, ask it from them from behind a curtain. That is purer for your hearts and their hearts.” (33: 54). 

Thus those women who have desire to display themselves and who freely mix with men in the markets, office etc. should fear Allah in this regard. Those men who allow and enjoy these actions of their women should also fear Allah. Men are responsible over their women and they will be questioned regarding the actions of their women on the day of Qiyamah.

Allah Ta’ala says in the Quran: “O you who believe! Ward off from yourselves and your families a Fire whereof the fuel is men and stones…” (66: 7). These people should realize that through Pardah the society is kept chaste and pure and the non-observance of Pardah, free mixing of sexes, nudity and the desire to display destroys every society and makes it bereft of blessings and virtue.

Heart, the Abode of 'Imaan'

Alhamdulillah Summa Alhamdulillah, Allah (swt) have given me the Tawfiq again and also the Ilm (knowledge) to continue the 4^th part of the Friday Sermon on the heart.

The heart is the abode of Iman. If someone believes in Allah and His Rasul (pbuh) and he has no atom of Kufr and Nifaaq in his heart, then such a person can never be a non-believer. No non-believer can be pious, virtuous or a follower of the Quran and the Sunnah of Rasullullah (pbuh). Allah Ta’ala says: “Allah has not assigned unto any man two hearts within the body.” (33: 5).

We learn from the above that no two opposing ideologies can be founded on one platform like how two hearts cannot be formed in a body. A true Muslim will befriend the friends of Allah and stay away from the enemies of Allah. Since the heart has an important position, only what is in it will be taken into consideration. It is reported in a Hadith that Rasullullah (pbuh) has said: “Allah neither looks at your appearance nor at your wealth but looks at your hearts and your deeds.”

The heart is the abode of Iman. Those who claim to be believers and do not haveIman in their hearts have been warned by Allah in the following words: “The Arabs of the deserts say: “We believe. Say: You do not believe (yet), but rather say “We submit”, for Iman has not yet entered into your hearts.” (49: 15).

Allah has also said: “Whoso disbelieves in Allah after his belief – save him who is forced thereto and whose heart is still content with Iman…” (16: 107).

Eid-ul-Adha Retreat at Mathra: A Report

The Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam, Kerala (India) organized a Three-Day spiritual retreat programme at the historic Noor'ul Islam Masjid at Mathra earlier this month- October 04-06 2014, on the sacred occasion of Eid-ul-Adha. Sincere members of the Community enthusiastically participated n the Programme with the sole objective of renewal of spiritual brotherhood as disciples and followers of the Imam Muhyi-ud-Din Khalifatullah Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Sahib (atba) of Mauritius. Reproduced below is the extracts from the main parts of an Official Report written about the Programme.



DAY ONE (04.10.2014)

All brothers and sisters assembled before dawn at the Noorul Islam Masjid at Mathra and observed the Tahajjud prayers. Later, Namaz-e-Fajr was conducted at 5.30 am . This was followed at 5. 45 am , by Darz-ul-Qur’an - led  by the Amir Jamaat,  Mukarram  R. Jamluddeen Sahib.   At 12. 50 pm, Namaz-e-Dhuhr was observed by the congregation. It was followed by a study session of a recent Friday Sermon delivered by the Khalifatullah Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Sahib (atba) of Mauritius. The Amir Sahib. in his explanatory note on the Friday Sermon, exhorted all participants to keep in mind the grave responsibilities of faith and spiritual life in all our every day deeds and dimensions, as underscored by the Imam  (atba) in the original sermon.   

At 4.30 pm , Salat-ul-Asr  was performed and it was followed by a study session on sacred Ahadith on Namaz-  Mukarram Fazil Jamal Sahib based his explanations on the subject on the basis of Hadhrat Imam  Nawawi’s  classic text, Riyadh-ul-Swaaliheen.

'Imaan' and Tranquillity of the Heart

Oh Allah, grant me to pay obeisance to You, open my breast to repentance through Your security and grant me knowledge to continue the third part of my sermon on “The Heart” so that the hearts of the pious (Muttaqi) and the seekers of truth – those who are not hypocrites – may obtain from You light coming down from the heavens, penetrating their hearts and giving them the much sought, Tranquillity of the Heart. Ameen. 

Tranquillity and contentment of the heart lies in the remembrance of Allah the Almighty and in the firmness and steadfastness of Iman (faith). Allah the Almighty describes the speech of Hazrat Ibrahim (as) as thus: “My Rab (Lord), show me how you give life to the dead.”

Allah said: “Do you not believe?” 

He (Ibrahim) replied: “Yes, but I ask so that my heart be at ease.” (2: 261) Meaning: O my Rab, my faith will become more firm by witnessing with my eyes the manifestation of Your power. 

Allah the Almighty describes the request of the companions of Hazrat Isa (upon him be peace) that Allah bestow upon them His blessing in the following verse: “We wish to eat thereof that we may satisfy our hearts” (5: 114), meaning that “Our hearts may rest in peace and we become more firm in our faith. If we see the blessing of Allah showered upon us, then with the proofs we will grow richer in belief and acquire peace of heart.”

'Eid-ul-Adha' and 'Maqam-e-Ibrahim'

Say: Allah speaks the truth. Follow then the religion of Ibrahim, (who was) ever turned (to Allah), and was not among the idolaters. (3: 96)

 

Through this Eid sermon today, I hope that each member of the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam today ponder over the submission and sacrifices which Hazrat Ibrahim (as) has shown. And realise also how Allah accepted this sacrifice and rewarded him for it. Likewise, each woman must reflect on the special type of submission which Hazrat Hajra (ra) demonstrated. All this was only for the cause of Allah and Allah did not let her down; she did not lose (the sweet fruits of her sacrifices). The children also must reflect on the complete submission which Hazrat Ismail (as) shown and how Allah has honoured him for all times. Therefore, the sacrifices which are done sincerely in the path of Allah shall never be in vain. Today, even when you are performing Qurbani, you must bear in mind that Allah is not looking at the meat or blood (of the animal) only but also at the quality of your sacrifices; that which Allah looks for is your heart, the intention and sincerity within. That’s all.

I pray to Allah that He grants me also and all of us together this true spirit of sacrifice and whenever we have to do a sacrifice, that Allah accepts it from us. Thus, like you heard after the Surah Al-Fatiha, I recited the Verse 96 of Chapter 3 (Al-Imran), where Allah says:

 

 Say: Allah speaks the truth. Follow then the religion of Ibrahim, (who was) ever turned (to Allah), and was not among the idolaters. (3: 96)

The fundamental attribute of Hazrat Ibrahim (as) was Ibrahim the Hanif, that is, the ever turned to Allah. He humiliated himself before the One to whom he was ever turned (that is, he curbed/prostrated himself before Allah only). Therefore, even if ever he did an error, but the fact remains that he turned himself completely to Allah, he worshipped Allah only. He did not incline himself to any other than Allah. Therefore the central attribute for him is Ibrahim the Hanif.