In the secular world, the sudden emergence of unknown facts and subtle realities through the occurrence of remarkable events such as new scientific discoveries and striking changes in existing ways brought about by technological advancement, or radical political upheavals shaking up existing social order, can potentially transform the entire outlook of peoples and nations. In the Divine scheme of things, the Hereafter and Day of Judgement is a hidden reality waiting to unfold in the fullness of time. On that Day, men and women who are judged good will have their rewards, just as people who are judged the promoters of evil and carriers of sin shall meet their requital. Hence, to receive Divine Mercy on the Day of Reckoning, we ought to stay away from all types of evil and we should not even neglect small sins as it might get accumulated. Moreover, we should promote every type of common kindness, and do good deeds of every kind- ‘even if by giving half a date in charity, and even if by saying a single word of good’ as a famous Ahadith exhorts all believers. Expressing solidarity with the victims of the devastating earthquake in Turkey and Syria, and also extending condolence to the people affected by the recent tragic accidents involving Hindu pilgrims in the streets of Mauritius; Hazrat Khalifatullah (aba) calls attention to the need to learn from our negative experiences; exhorting everyone to return to the true values of religion- refraining from all types of pomp and show, promoting amity and tolerance among all faiths, peace and wise conduct in social and national life.
Read the Friday Sermon Below:
This chapter refers to the tremendous convulsion and
uprooting which will take place when the present order of the world is
dissolved and the new spiritual world of justice and truth takes its place. The
symbol used is that of an earthquake which will shake our present material and
phenomenal world to its very foundations like we are witnessing in this era,
and also when all human institutions will be shaken to their foundations and
new discoveries and inventions in the domain of science and knowledge will change
the entire shape of things, and the ideals and ideas of men will acquire a new
orientation.
To the ordinary human observer, a violent earthquake
is a terrifying phenomenon, in its suddenness, in its mysterious origin, and in
its power to destroy and uproot the strongest buildings and to bring up strange
materials from the bowels of the earth. The overwhelming event which ushers in
the Judgement will be a bigger and more far-reaching convulsion than any
earthquake may give us.
An earthquake, if accompanied by a volcanic eruption,
throws up enormous boulders and lava from beneath the crust of the earth. They
are thrown up as if they were a burden to the earth personified.
They may be all kinds of minerals or treasures buried
for secrecy. The puzzled agony suffered by the victims of a violent earthquake
is as nothing compared to the experience of the new and wonderful world which
will then open out to the gaze of man.
THE EARTHQUAKE IN TURKEY AND SYRIA
It is also because of the insecurity that still reigns
in some cities that they have simply been abandoned by residents for fear of
experiencing another devastating earthquake. Antakya has become a dead city.
Only stadiums remained open, the government having installed shelters there for
the victims. But for the majority of survivors who do not have this possibility
are forced to stay on site, temporarily housed in tents. Many people have lost
everything. In addition to losing their homes and belongings, many families
were also completely decimated. There are many who have lost their family
members. Tears in the eyes, there are scenes that do not leave one indifferent.
Three people have been found alive in the rubble of a
collapsed building in Hatay (South) in Turkey, more than 12 days after the
earthquakes in Turkey and Syria. This had been announced in the local media.
One of these three survivors, however, died within minutes of being rescued.
The other two people, including a child, were taken to
hospital. They were pulled from the rubble 296 hours after the earthquake that
killed more than 40,000 people.
Another survivor, a 45-year-old man, was found on
Friday 17 February 2023 evening, 278 hours after the earthquake in the province
of Hatay, near the Syrian border which notably houses the city of Antakya -
completely devastated. The latest official death toll from the 7.8 magnitude
earthquake that hit Turkey has exceeded 41,000.
The chances of survival are considered low around the epicentre
of the earthquake further north, in mountainous regions such as Kahramanmaras,
and even snowy regions of Elbistan and Adiyaman, where the thermometer went
down to -15oC at night.
Syria, also impacted by the double earthquake, also
needs humanitarian aid. The concern is that the media are not as numerous as in
Turkey to relay information about humanitarian aid in Syria.
So, I implore all our members of the Jamaat Ul Sahih
Al Islam to show generosity by contributing through the NGO Al-Ihsaan, whose
headquarters are at Rue Magon in Port-Louis and whose No. of Bank account (MCB)
is 000446244767 and whose (mobile) telephone number is 54211761. Let us also
pray for the victims. May Allah have mercy on them, on all of us, and save His
believers and all mankind from all kinds of calamities. Ameen.
CYCLONE FREDDY IN THE VICINITY OF MAURITIUS
On Saturday 18 February 2023 while I was working in my
office and doing Zikr the divine message came down once again. In 48
hours this cyclone would be a potential danger for Mauritius and for the other
islands too. This message was quickly passed on to the authorities. I think
that the Mauritian authority will take stock of the damage. This intense
tropical cyclone, with gusts of 230 km/h in the centre, caused a lot of damage
here in Mauritius.
Never has the passage of a cyclone in the Indian Ocean
captured the attention of the world as was the case for the intense tropical
cyclone Freddy, bordering on a “Super Storm Category”.
The cyclone had been on the side of Indonesia since 6th
of February. This was a compact and dangerous cyclone with gusts of around 230
km/h in the centre and a barometric pressure of 940hpa.
AN UNFORTUNATE MAHASHIVARATREE FESTIVAL
IN MAURITIUS
These large kanwars unfortunately caused deaths. Rohan
Doorjean (22) and Parmessur Dookeeya (37), two residents of Albion [as well as
another pilgrim] died following high voltage electrocution. The people
traumatized by this episode are not only the bereaved families or the survivors
nor those who had been spectators of the disaster, themselves caught in the
panic and the impossibility of understanding. This drama is a black episode for
the whole country, regardless of the people’s faith or religion.
In addition to the two residents of Albion who were
electrocuted, 22 other pilgrims were injured, admitted to the intensive care
unit [and one more succumbed to his injuries and died].
If measures had been taken to regulate the dimensions
of the kanwars so that they did not interfere with road traffic, so that they
did not hit the electrical wires, the accident would not have occurred. Had the
police enforced the brand new noise pollution law, hundreds of local Mauritians
on the pilgrimage route would not have jumped up and down night and day to
endure concerts. It wasn’t until after the accident that officials began to say
that some kanwars are too bulky and their sound systems too loud.
Let’s hope that the tragic accident that killed those people
and injured people in Mare Longue will have served as a lesson and will put an
end to this competition between kanwars and give back to all the celebrations
their spiritual dimension and not show-offs. On my own behalf as the
Khalifatullah and on behalf of the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam, I offer my deepest
condolences to the close families and friends of the victims, and to all the
pilgrims and our brothers and sisters of the Hindu faith.
May Allah have mercy on the citizens of this country and the whole world. May God cause His creatures to turn to Him ultimately as their Creator, and may God cause the Jamaat Ul Sahih to be an example of tolerance, peace and wisdom for the creation of a new world in the pleasure of Allah, Insha-Allah, Ameen.