Thursday, May 20, 2021

'Pray for Humanity'

This year, the Muslims of Mauritius celebrated Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Jummah on 14 May 2021~01 Shawwal 1442 AH. In his Khutba Jummah on the occasion, Imam- Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam Hazrat Khalifatullah Munir A. Azim (aba) marked the solemnity of the occasion by reminding the congregation of believers about their obligations towards the Almighty and to humanity at large. Calling attention to the structural imbalances,  and growing disparity between the rich and the poor in all our societies and the profound negative consequences these systemic inequities may have on the future of our children, Hazrat Khalifatullah (aba) underscores the need for urgent action to address issues of poverty, vagrancy, and social exclusion of deprived sections. In this context, Hazrat Khalifatullah (aba) recommends the renewal of original Islamic Zakaat norms in the devotional and social praxis of the Muslims so as to construct a more equitable social and economic order.     

Moreover, in a context of great upheavals and calamitous events shaking humanity to its core, Hazrat Khalifatullah (aba) counsels the Ummah to demonstrate brotherhood and solidarity and to rise above differences, in finding answers to difficult challenges in saving humanity from the brink of disaster. Recommending everyone to benefit from the deep resources of the living faith of Islam, including the exemplary model of the Holy Prophet (sa), Hazrat Khalifatullah (aba) exhorts the believers to become truly caring, generous and compassionate individuals who feel the pain and do everything they can to wipe the tears of fellow humans. "Today the world needs loyal adherents of this Rahmatul-lil-Aalameen who are ready to sacrifice themselves and their possessions for the well-being of mankind," notes Hazrat Saheb (aba). 


Read the Friday Sermon Below:


The Safeguard of Humanity

I am thankful to Allah (swt) that He has given us the opportunity to have two Eids today (one Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Jummah). As all our Muslims brothers, sisters and children know, the holy month of Ramadan, during which fasting is obligatory for those professing the Islamic faith, is a perpetual reminder of their other obligations to the Almighty and to humanity at large. One of them is Zakaat which represents an annual levy on their income and assets. Over the last couple of decades we have seen the emergence of a number of benevolent societies which in a very scientific and professional manner and in strict accordance with the precepts of the Shariah have endeavoured to collect and channel the proceeds of Zakaat donations to the most needy and deserving members of society. 

The fact remains, however that notwithstanding the above initiatives and in spite of the substantial progress our country has made, a number of Mauritian citizens [and the other peoples of the earth] has been left on the fringe of this development. Living as they do, in the precarious conditions engendered by poverty, these persons daily chores seems like a battle against hope, not only for obtaining the basic comforts of a home but incredible as it may appear, even for their daily meals. The plight of the children is made worse as they are deprived of the essential tools to enable them to benefit from proper schooling and education which might have helped to extricate themselves from the shackles they are imprisoned in. 

I hope that in the coming year we might be able to pool our efforts together so as to buy some solace to all those in our countries [and especially here in Mauritius] who are still struggling to survive. The help, devotion and contribution of each of us Muslims, be it in Mauritius and the world at large is needed to enable those necessities of life to reach their proper destination. This is the actual reason that the Zakaat has been instituted by Allah and His Messenger (pbuh), to enable the equal repartition of riches between the rich and the poor, to maintain the balance of wealth in the Islamic world and beyond.

My message to all of you on this day of Eid, my dearest brothers and sisters, forget your differences. Rely on the same basis of the faith that you share in common, namely the Shahada (that is to say, the testimony attesting to the divine unity and the quality of Servant and Envoy of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). Let us unite around the profession of faith: Laa Illaha Illallah (No one is worthy to be worshiped except Allah) and Muhammadur-Rassoollullah (Muhammad is only the Messenger of Allah).

I ask you to pray for the safeguard of the human race. We (Muslims) have taken an oath before God to take the Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) as a model and to live according to his life in all instances of our existence. One of the great qualities of the Prophet (pbuh) which places him above all is that he is the Rahmatul-lil-Aalameen“Mercy for all peoples”. No one on earth has shown so much affection and love for humans as the Holy Prophet (pbuh). He was kind not only to those who were his contemporaries, but also to those who had come before him and to those who were to come after him.

Today the world needs loyal adherents of this Rahmatul-lil-Aalameen who are ready to sacrifice themselves and their possessions for the well-being of mankind. We belong to the Ummah of Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) and we are its devotees whose existence is dedicated to the service of humanity. The world is in great need of our prayers these days. People have become very arrogant today. God has given them many blessings, but they all attribute this to their own intelligence and they no longer want to follow the directives from the Most High. If they had listened to God, they would have since long rallied under the banner of the Holy Prophet of Islam (pbuh).

The human race is in great danger these days. It does not want the Divine decision, but is working on its own annihilation. The disaster, the calamity such as the universal pandemic which threatens it currently, as well as the massive wars [like the recent Israeli-Palestinian war] destroys it in a catastrophic way, like a scene of the end of the world. The only favour that can save it from extermination is a return to its [the human race] pure origin, to a state approved by the Creator of the Universe, a pious state and detached from this world by exclusively worshiping God and not allocating to Him any partner in His worship. We must pray a lot, continually that this great cataclysm [i.e. the Great Destruction of the End of the World] does not strike mankind. Insha-Allah (so be it)! Once again, Eid Mubarak to all of you.