In his Friday Sermon of 29 March 2019~ 21 Rajab 1440 AH, Imam-Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam International Hadhrat Muhyi-ud-Din Al Khalifatullah Munir Ahmad Azim Saheb (atba) of Mauritius pays profound tribute to this fine model of benevolent politics. Resisting hate violence and showing compassion and solidarity with victims is what is expected of leaders in times of national tragedies. And yet, our times are such that despotic and scheming politicians divide people on basis of their identities- religion, ethnicity, caste, race, language, foreigner/immigrant, Asian/white and other binaries of "us" versus "them" and seek to draw their pound of flesh from the cauldron of competing interests and would even refuse to reach out to the victims of hate violence- for the reason that the victims are not one of "us", but the perpetrator of violence is. In his discourse, Hadhrat Khalifatullah (atba) pointedly observes the need for social harmony, unity, peace and respect for all peoples everywhere. Without such unity and tolerance of different ways/ beliefs of people, nations cannot be at peace and social progress cannot be made. Drawing attention to the deadly politics over 'Jihad' as an abuse of religious symbolism for sectarian and material gains, Hadhrat Saheb (atba) warns Muslim groups who retain such notions for the profound harm they inflict upon the fair name and reputation of Islam as a religion of peace, as well for causing and leading other peoples to hate the presence of Muslims in their midst. Hadhrat Saheb (atba) further points out that saying 'NO' to hate violence- both terrorism and racism- is an obligation we owe to entire humanity and our common humanitarian responsibility includes the duty to care for all, regardless of their faith-identities and national origins.
Read the Friday Sermon Below:
“Benevolent” and “Impious” Politics
In the capacity of Khalifatullah of the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam, on my
own behalf and on behalf of the Jamaat, I thank the Prime Minister of
New Zealand Jacinda Ardern, for her support of the Muslim Community,
deeply upset by the attack of 15 March 2019. She gave a very good
example as a Head of State to all the heads of state, especially the
Muslim heads of state and most particularly the Prime Minister of
Pakistan.
I
must say that the attitude of the New Zealand Prime Minister, Jacinda
Ardern, after the attack in Christchurch has earned the respect and
admiration of the whole world, a well deserved respect and
admiration! Her empathy and determination displayed also gives her a
new aura. And it is this respect and determination to protect the
innocent and support the families of the victims and act as a true
head of state is what makes her great. She has been able to act as
she should and unite the citizens (of her country) in times of
misfortune.
This
lady has been in power for just 18 months. She faces the aftermath of
a bloody tragedy that will forever mark the history of New Zealand.
But the Prime Minister is already being praised for her mix of
determination and compassion in dealing with this harsh trial. A few
hours after the attack on the two mosques in Christchurch by a white
supremacist, which cost the lives of 50 Muslim faithful, Jacinda
Ardern went to the southern town, wearing a veil (Hijab),
showing her solidarity with the families of the victims.
The
next day, in Willington, the 38-year-old Labour Party leader once
again had her head covered with a veil, embracing members of the
Muslim community in shock.
This
testimony of solidarity and shared grief speaks to many New
Zealanders who feel vulnerable today and represents a rejection of
the ideas of hate disseminated by the Islamophobic terrorist.
But
Jacinda Ardern has gone beyond this role of chief consoler to face
the challenges posed by the Australian extremist who, unbeknownst to
intelligence agencies, was able to come to her country, legally buy
weapons of war and commit this massacre. Immediately after the
carnage, the head of government tackled these problems, announcing a
change in the arms legislation. In one of her many television
interviews, she said in a calm and reassuring tone: “I
know that there is, understandably, grief in New Zealand right now,
but there is anger too, there are questions that need to be
answered.”
When US President Donald Trump called to offer her help after the attack on the mosques, Jacinda Ardern made no secret of her hostility to some policies of the tenant of the White House and uses the lack of popularity of the US president in New Zealand to strengthen hers. She did not hesitate to make the conversation public. She advised him among other things to show “sympathy and love for all Muslim communities”.
When US President Donald Trump called to offer her help after the attack on the mosques, Jacinda Ardern made no secret of her hostility to some policies of the tenant of the White House and uses the lack of popularity of the US president in New Zealand to strengthen hers. She did not hesitate to make the conversation public. She advised him among other things to show “sympathy and love for all Muslim communities”.
One
week after the mosque attacks, the Prime Minister of New Zealand -
who also became the target of criticism and cynicism from
Islamophobes - and the citizens of this country gave a lesson of
great solidarity to the world during the Friday prayer on 22 March
2019 (Jumu’ah).
In Hagley Park, near the Al-Noor Mosque, where thousands of people
gathered, the Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern was also present, all
dressed in black, surrounded by policewomen who also wore the veil
like her.
The
Friday prayer was relayed by television, radio and many websites. The
country then observed two minutes of silence, including rallies in
Auckland, Wellington and several other cities.
Imam
Gamal Fouda, who escaped the shooting and led the prayer, denounced
the hatred while noting the tremendous surge of solidarity that has
emerged in New Zealand since the tragedy. Thousands of people have
laid their bouquets on the sidewalk as a sign of respect and
sympathy. People from all communities organized a solidarity march to
attend Friday prayers. As a sign of solidarity with Muslim women,
many women have worn the veil with great respect.
After
these atrocious and ruthless attacks, the World Muslim Community,
despite our deep sorrow, we must not let ourselves be defeated. These
trials must consolidate us and not destroy us. Unity is strength.
Muslims must come out of their torpor and become like one body and
one soul to show the beauty of Islam and the perfection of humanity
of our Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). Without the unity of the
Muslims, we will still witness carnage. Islam is in danger ...
So,
before ending (this sermon), I must say that Islam has condemned and
still condemns barbarism.
All communities must remain united in all
circumstances. Here in Mauritius, there are Mosques, Mandirs, Kovils,
Churches and Pagodas that coexist in harmony. It must continue like
this forever. There must be respect for all communities, cultures and
faith.
When we analyze the atrocities against Muslims, we see that
they are perpetrated not only in New Zealand but also in other
countries such as China, Burma, Syria, Kashmir etc.
Jihad or Holy War
The
different reasons that can explain Islamophobia are mainly political
so as to come to power. Despotic and impious politicians use people’s
fear to gain power and subsequently monopolize all natural resources.
Islamophobia gives them that power, and then they inject even more
hatred into people’s hearts toward Muslims.
And
this not only concerns non-Muslims towards Muslims, but also Muslims
towards their own Muslim brothers and sisters. An aberration of the
politician is that he knows full well that the Islamic system does
not allow that conflicts and wars are all labelled as holy wars.
Nevertheless, whenever a country, especially a Muslim country, faces
a danger and a war is imminent, politicians join the Mullahs in
urging the masses to support the so-called jihad.
As a result, the world feels even more disgust at such a country and
remains convinced that it can publicly claim that Islamic Jihad does
not encourage anyone to use force to spread ideology, but when the
need arises, he does not hesitate to use it. This is happening all
the time nowadays and it was the same in the past.
A
glance at the history of conflict allows us to see to our amazement
that the Muslims wrongly labelled as holy war every battle fought.
Not a single war fought against non-Muslims or against their own
co-religionists - Sunnis against Sunnis, Shiites against Shiites,
Shiites against Sunni or the entire Muslim Community against Ahmadis
- which were not labelled as holy war. It is truly strange that such
wars were referred to as “jihad”
by Muslim clergy and politicians.
Conflicts
- we see them all over the world but only Muslims give them the
character of a holy war. Most of these so-called holy wars were
delivered by Muslims against Muslims and they killed each other in
the name of jihad. This farce has taken the dimension of a tragedy. A
painful tragedy that must now be stopped. A real paradox and the
biggest joke of our time and this is wrongly attributed to Islam.
This is the most painful tragedy that we have not been able to get
rid of during the last fourteen centuries.
If you want to change your
destiny, change your ideas, your trends and your behaviour. As long
as Muslims do not revolutionize their way of thinking, they will
never be able to make any change in the world.
There
is nothing more wrong than to say that it is the time of the use of
the sword and rifle to spread true religion and piety. The sword is
far from revealing the beauties and excellences of the truth, on the
contrary it makes them doubtful and sends them to oblivion.
Those
who make such comments are not friends of Islam but its worst
enemies. They have mournful agendas. They are mediocre in nature,
have a small mind (narrow-minded), and are without intelligence. They
are the ones who open the way to an objection against Islam, whose
relevance cannot be challenged. They argue that Islam needs the sword
for its propagation and so they question its purity and discredit its
sacred name. This religion, which can easily establish its veracity
by sound intellectual arguments and celestial signs, does not need
the sword to frighten people and compel them to make an act of faith.
As
servants of God, we all have a responsibility towards humanity. If
there is no unity in a country, there will be no prosperity. Remember
that blood is one same colour (i.e. every human being share the same
blood). We cannot contain our tears when we see how this terrorist -
who militates for the superiority of the white race and incites
hatred against Muslims - massacred these people in a place of
worship. It’s inhumane ! Terrorism, as I told you last week, has no
religion. You cannot criticize a religion or a country because of a
handful of terrorists. We say NO
to terror and racism.
May
Allah protect innocents and pure hearts against the evil of the
vicious and criminals, and may Allah forgive those who reform their
conduct and bring them closer to humanity, having a heart filled with
mercy towards the entire human race. Ameen.