Who
is a Muslim ?
Allah
says in the Holy Quran: “I
have created jinns and men only so that they worship Me.”
(Az-Zariyat, 51: 57)
And
to be more explicit, Allah (swt) says: “O
believers! Fear Allah as He should be feared. And die only in
complete submission (to Him).”
(Al-Imran, 3:103)
Allah
(swt) wants to make it clear that he who dies without knowing his
creator dies spiritually blind, and the Holy Quran also tells us: “He
who is blind on earth will also be blind in the hereafter.”
(Bani Isra’il, 17: 73)
This
verse is a serious challenge for all who call themselves Muslims. But
what is the situation today? The majority of Muslims are like
passengers aboard a boat that took on water and has lost its oars and
is tossed about by big waves. Are we then in perdition? Without a
doubt [we, Muslims will be lost if the situation continues like
this], and moreover, the Holy Quran says: “By
time! Indeed, man is in lost, except those who believe and do good
works, and exhort one another to truth and exhort one another to
endurance.” (Surah Al-Asr,
Chapter 103: 1-4)
The
Holy Prophet (sa) once said to Abu Darda (ra), “O
Abu Darda, consider yourself to be dead at all times. No one knows
when he will die nor does he have any sign of his death. So act like
you’re going to die in a moment and be ready to meet it (death).”
[In other words, be ready to meet your Lord after death].
Let
us ask ourselves the question and answer frankly and sincerely: Are
we ready to die like a Muslim? The answer lies deep inside, but will
we really have the courage to face the truth? It may be convenient
for us to pretend to be indifferent or to lie, but Allah, our creator
knows better than us- what is in the heart of each one of us.
Forgetting
everything and neglecting everything, man is so committed to the
pursuit of material gain and pleasure, that he has forgotten that he
will soon have to face death. Modern civilization and everything
modern attracts Muslims especially the younger generation. These
Muslims have now become slaves of pleasure while the principles of
Islam and the Sunnah
of the Holy Prophet (pbuh) have disappeared from their souls and
their homes. And in their hearts are now non-Islamic mores and
principles.
There
is a very distinct line of demarcation between the Muslim and the
non-Muslim. Unfortunately this dividing line has been crossed by the
majority of Muslims and if they do not return to the Islamic
framework, they will be terribly disappointed and risk being among
the losers.
What
then to do to return to the right path? Repent and ask for
forgiveness and finally live your life as a good Muslim. Allah says:
“And as for
those who fight for Our cause, We will certainly guide them on Our
paths. Allah is indeed with the beneficent.”
(Al-Ankabut, 29:70)
This
verse means that one must always live as a good Muslim and act like
one, and Allah (swt) again says: “This
is the book, there is no doubt in it - a guidance for the
God-fearing.” (Al-Baqara, 2: 3)
So
there is no guidance which can benefit one who has no regard for his
duties to Allah.
The
Holy Prophet (pbuh) said, “He who
follows the example of others is one of them.”
And that’s exactly what happened to Muslim countries. In truth,
today’s Muslims have copied the way of life of non-Muslims, which
is naturally against Islamic principles. And yet Islam has given the
principles on which the Muslim must base himself to carry out his
mission on earth. If we follow the Holy Quran and the Sunnah
of the Holy Prophet (pbuh), we will no doubt find laws and principles
that are clear and sound to ensure success in this world and the
hereafter.
Why
has the new generation undergone this change? Is it because the
Islamic way of living and dressing is outdated or is there some other
reason? The reason is however very simple, and it is right before our
eyes: Muslims have abandoned Islamic teachings, and their hearts are
full of falsehoods. One example among many is the way and freedom
that Muslim women take in their clothes, that is, no matter how they
dress, the head is always uncovered. While the Holy Quran
clearly says: “And [tell them – the
Muslim ladies and girls] to draw their veils over their bosoms, and
not to reveal their adornment save to their own husbands…”
(An-Noor, 24: 32).
Allah
(swt) then mentions a list of people with whom the Muslim woman/ girl
may not hide her adornment. Allah knows everything and He knows what
is good for us and what is not good for us, and in His wisdom He
decreed these laws.
So
we should not question the why of this law. Why then should Muslim
women neglect His command? Why does a Muslim allow his wife to act
against these teachings? Why do Muslim parents allow their unmarried
daughters to adopt such an attitude? Is there any good reason for
Muslims to go into the society of others without dressing properly
and disobeying the law of Allah?
One
day Asma (ra) the sister of Aisha (ra) [the Mother of the believers]
appeared before the Holy Prophet (pbuh) with thin clothes which
revealed certain parts of her body. The Holy Prophet (pbuh) said to
her, “O Asma, when a girl reaches
puberty, it is proper that no part of her body is visible except that
- and he shows the face and the hands.”
But
today the clothing of Muslim women is identical to that of non-Muslim
women. And of course every possibility exists for the sins of society
to spread everywhere, and one can no longer distinguish who is Muslim
and who is not. If only we could return to the Islamic way of
dressing, which is now considered archaic and old-fashioned, then the
vices of society will disappear and those who preach evil will be
destroyed.
The
Holy Prophet (sa) always practiced what he preached and his
companions always followed his practice. Each step of the Holy
Prophet (sa) is an example of morality for the Muslim and each word
of his teachings is a means to obtain the blessing of Allah.
What
reasons can we give for this deplorable state of things if not that
we have neglected Islamic principles little by little and piece by
piece. Mosque Imams, scholars, Muslim theologians are to blame for
this moral and spiritual degradation. They did not do their duties as
Ulemas and they avoided taking responsibility. They did not
preach what they learned and they failed in their duties as a
torchbearer of the message of the Holy Prophet (sa). Finally, they
preferred to play to the gallery [i.e. the rich and powerful – to
popular taste] so as not to lose their popularity.
Some
minds might find it a great exaggeration in all that I am saying in
this sermon, but the proof is easy to find. Ask a young Muslim man
how to purify himself after being polluted [for e.g. after being
Junub] and some other basic principles of the Islamic faith;
and the magnitude of the ignorance may convince them of the gravity
of the situation.
Therefore,
let us all take the resolution and the determination to fulfill our
duty well towards our creator for the innumerable kindnesses that He
has poured out on us. We live on His earth, we eat His food and we
don’t thank Him. Has he deprived one of His creatures of his daily
bread even though that creature neglects his duties towards Him? No.
He gives him everything he needs, but this creature forgets that one
day he must account for this neglect.
Think
about it, Islam is a priceless treasure given to you by a merciful
creator. Today it finds itself trampled on by non-Muslim dictators
and human rights abusers. Although some sincere Muslims want to
preserve their rights to practice their Islam in peace; they want
their independence and live in peace but the ruthless non-Muslim
dictators take away their right to practice their faith and forces
them to adhere to their own non-Muslim culture and faith. Muslim
girls are forced to marry these non-Muslims so that they abandon
their faith and give birth to non-Muslims. This is what is happening
in the autonomous Chinese province of Xinjiang. The Uighurs are
Muslims, a minority in China but in majority in Xinjiang province,
located in the northwest of the country. Turkish-speaking people, the
Uighur people are also present in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan
and Turkey.
Like
the Royingyas of Myanmar (Burma), they are subjected to
extreme persecution because of their faith. The Chinese government
has imprisoned them in political re-education camps to brainwash
them, to convince them to leave Islam. They are barred from
practicing Islam just like Ahmadi Muslims are barred from practicing
Islam in Pakistan, and even worse than that. They go through multiple
atrocities just because of their faith.
Certainly,
as I told you through the divine revelations received on the plans of
these faithless and lawless infidels [and this, since the beginning
of the Divine Manifestation], the wrath of Allah will seize them one
by one, and the ravage of the coronavirus is an explicit example of
this divine revenge. [Besides, since the beginning of the Divine
Manifestation, various virulent viruses have appeared].
This
should serve as a lesson for all of us Muslims. Non-Muslims are
coming down on us to force us to abandon Islam. Some use force, and
some use sweet-talks to draw you to their cultures, prompting you to
abandon Islam for material gain and pleasure.
Think
of the suffering of your Muslim brothers and sisters who are a
minority in their countries, and who are deprived of their
fundamental human rights to practice their faith.
Non-Muslims
see Islam as a danger for them. They are afraid of seeing the world
relive the Islamic glory and victory. So wake up. It’s not time to
sleep. This world is temporary and it will be of no use to you with
Allah. What will be precious to you is your faith and the effort you
have made towards building Islam, your Islam, for your One God
(Allah). So let’s forget about our differences. Do not say that
such a person is not Muslim if he claims to be a Muslim and to love
God and His Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), if he has a firm belief in the
Shahada “Laa-Ilaaha Illallah
Muhammadur Rassullullah”.
You,
Muslims, look around, one by one your Islamic rights are being taken
away: ban on wearing the Hijab (veil) for women, prohibitions
on giving the Azaan (call to prayer), prohibition on fasting
during the month of Ramadan, forbidden to keep a beard and to dress
in an Islamic manner because you could be targeted as terrorists! Do
you not see then how Islam is being torn from you? Will you let these
people dictate your faith? Will we never be united? Unity is
strength. Without the union of Muslims, and without absolute trust in
Allah, Muslims will continue to suffer.
Allah
has sent you His Caliph - Elected by Allah (the Khalifatullah) to
guide you in your struggle for truth and for your Islamic freedom. It
is the Khalifatullah who will certainly guide you on the right path,
and through our invocations in one voice, the angels will descend to
annihilate the infidels by the will of Allah. Do not be inert or deaf
to this call. Preserve your Islam before it is too late. Let’s all
fight together. The infidels, the enemies of Islam, the persecutors
of Muslims must imperatively taste the anger of Allah, His curse and
punishment.
So
let’s change our lives, follow the right guidance, stick to the
rope of Allah, live as Muslims and die without fear as Muslims.
May
Allah have mercy on Muslims and overturn the plans of the infidels,
who have a fierce hatred against Islam. May Allah pave the way for
victory by opening the hearts of Muslims to flawless unity.
Insha-Allah, Ameen.
---Friday Sermon of 31 January 2020 ~05 Jamadi’ul Aakhir 1441 AH delivered by Imam- Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam Hadhrat Khalifatullah Munir A. Azim (atba) of Mauritius.