A materialist considers this life to be a machine, the parts of which are being run by the blind forces of cause and effect, and he does not admit that there is an ultimate Being who is directing it. But one who knows the reality, while agreeing that the law of cause and effect is working, further knows that this is being done under the orders and directions of a Supreme Being. He, therefore, while keeping an eye on the causes and their effects, appeals to the Creator of the universe, the Supreme Cause for help, and surrenders gladly to His will and pleasure. God [Allah], the Creator of the Universe, may do whatever is good for him, for it is only the Lord (God) who knows what is good for him.
If the result of his prayer is in accordance with his wishes, he is thankful. If it is not, he submits to it cheerfully, because he knows that whatever is happening is in accordance with the order and will of the Lord (Allah). He asks for God’s help at every step, because he knows that there is always something that is beyond the reach of his own efforts. Crying for help in this way is called prayer. If you realise a strange phenomenal event took place in the deserts of Arabia, when hundreds of thousands of the dead became alive within a few days, and those who had been corrupted through generations took a Divine colour. The blind began to see, and the tongues of the dumb began to flow with Divine wisdom. Such a revolution took place in the world as no eye has seen and no ear had heard of before.
You have realised what this was? For a moment, have you thought about the great revolution? What is this great phenomenal event which took place in Arabia? All this question have an answer. Only those endowed with true intelligence (Ulul ‘al Baab) can see that and can reply to this question. All this was brought about by prayers during the darkness of nights of one who had been wholly lost in God, which created an uproar in the world and manifested such wonders as seemed impossible at the hands of that un-lettered helpless person.
“O Allah, send down blessings and peace on him and his followers in proportion to his concern and suffering for the Muslim Ummah (the people of Islam), and shower upon him the light of Your mercy forever.”
Prayer is a universal feeling which a person feels when discomforts, trouble, disease, danger, virus epidemic and pandemic, and calamities of all sorts, etc. visit him and he wishes to satisfy some bodily need or obtain spiritual gain; or when he wants strength to face some difficulties because he does not find sufficient power in himself or when he wants the help of a powerful being.
We see every day that we are often obliged to ask some stronger or more capable person to help us. When a student cannot solve a problem, he seeks the aid of his teacher. Similarly, in the case of illness, we ask a doctor to treat us. A subordinate asks his officer to help him. These are examples of a kind of prayer. When we face any difficulty or an enemy pursues us and we find no refuge, we ask for help from the powerful Lord of the universe; this is called prayer. It is natural to ask the most powerful Lord, the unique ruler of the universe to help us and it is all the more natural to turn for help to that supreme power who is the Creator of all regions and universes and is their Creator or to one who is one with Him.
The fact is that we cannot help praying to Him. All the religions say that supplication to God is the way to obtain grace of every kind. It is only through prayer that spiritual advancement can be achieved.
Prayer is the most natural, direct and easy means of connecting individuals with the Creator, and connecting the slave with the Lord. Every seeker needs prayer from the beginning to the end, until he realizes God and merges in Him. Through prayer, all bodily religious, national and social needs are fulfilled. The ailments of the mind and body are eliminated, and prayer ultimately becomes the means of bringing about the union of the soul with God.
Prayer is very important and it is the apex of the spiritual exaltation of the true believer. Prayer is the best medium of interacting with God.
Whatsoever you desire, when you pray, believe that you will receive them, and you shall have them. Ask and God shall be giving you, seek and you shall find, knock His door and He will open unto you. For everyone who asks, receives, and for he who seeks will find whatever He desires by God’s will. Therefore, God Almighty opens His door to whosoever knocks at His door, and when He opens that door, the seeker will not go empty-handed.
You know, prayer is nothing but presenting oneself before God Almighty, and it is a combination of praising God and an attempt at the expiration of one’s sins. One who does not keep these objectives in view, derives no benefit from prayer.
It is seen, however, that people ask for thousands of things and all of their prayers are not granted. Then what is the meaning of the words which I told you? Let us see which kind of prayer is granted, and why every prayer cannot be granted. The problem is that we do not know the mercy of the Lord, and ask for things that are not for our real good. That power (God) wants our evolution and progress. When God finds that what is asked for, would involve the devotee further in the world. He does not grant it. If God does not grant us the things we ask for, in order to save us from sinning, this is for our good. He prevents us from excessive granting of prayer of such demands or requests which would involve the person from satisfying his lusts; such desires which would deviate him completely from God and His righteous path. We are entangled in bodily and sensual pleasures. Our vision does not rise above them. If we were to receive all we ask for, we would certainly be involved in more sensual pleasures and our sins would increase. Also in this connection it should be understood that man is merely one part of the machine of the universe, and is related to all other parts. Our vision being limited, we cannot see beyond ourselves and our surroundings. But God can see the whole of the universe. He knows everything from the beginning to the end. God knows our past, present and future. He knows when a thing asked for is not in our best interest, and therefore does not grant it. It often happens that a seeker asks for something which is not to his real advantage. He presses for it, and a promise may be made but the thing is not given to him.
Therefore, you must perform your prayer in the best possible manner. When you are in the standing posture, your whole appearance must reflect the fact that you are standing before God in all humility. When you bow before Him in prayer, it must be a reflection of the bowing of the heart. When you go down for prostration (Sajda), your manner must be that of a person who is inspired by the fear of God. And pray, a lot, for your spiritual as well as material uplift. We should always pray to God Almighty (Allah):
“O God! I know nothing. I have been sold into the hands of the mind. O my Well-Wisher! Lead me to that which is for my good. Show me the path that leads to Your pleasure and to my salvation.”
So it is not so easy to justify your real attachment in prayers. This is virtually, like killing yourselves. Real prayer is when the person feels that he is, somewhat, in another world.
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Before I end my sermon, I would like to share with you a revelation that a truth seeker [Faisal Sahib] from Bangladesh received about me last month (November 2020). He received the following revelation [in Bengali]:
‘মুনির (আহমদ আজিম) আমাদের মধ্যে যোগ্যতম কর্মি, তাই তাঁকে কর্মকর্তা নিযুক্ত করা হয়েছে’।
---এলহাম, নভেম্বর ২০২০
The fact that we don’t have any knowledge of the Bengali language, but when we place it in the Google translation, it gives us the following translation:
“Munir (Ahmad Azim) is the most qualified servant among us, so he has been appointed as an officer.” - Ilhaam November 2020
I want to emphasize that we are not here to endorse or reject any revelation unless Allah tells us that such and such is false. We in the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam believe that Allah has the ability to give revelation to whomever He wants to guide him on the right path.
I pray that Allah, after this revelation that Faisal Sahib received, will open the way for him so that he can join (the ranks of) the Khalifatullah of this century in all humility and we work together in the Jamaat of Allah - Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam - for the welfare of mankind. Insha-Allah.
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I pray that God Almighty give me the Tawfiq to continue on the same subject - The Importance of Prayer - next Friday. Insha-Allah. May Allah grant you the ability to understand these sermons, and you turn to Allah even more because it is in prayer that our salvation is found, we will reach Allah, Insha-Allah. Ameen, Summa Ameen, Ya Rabbal Aalameen.
---Friday Sermon of 04 December 2020 ~18 Rabi’ul Aakhir 1442 AH delivered by Imam-Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam Hazrat Khalifatullah Munir A. Azim (aba) of Mauritius.