The Duahs of the Holy Prophet (sa) & The Promise of Allah- Part 6
Alhamdulillah, Summa Alhamdulillah, I am continuing with the sixth part of my Friday sermon, explaining the verse I have just read to you, which has a close connection with the promise Allah made to the Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and the Muslims. It serves as a guide on how we can achieve this promise.
Muslims must realize that the
world will not turn to Islam until Muslims themselves become the reflection of
Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) in this world. Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) is the mirror for
Muslims. When a Muslim looks into this blessed mirror, they must adopt the
extraordinary qualities that the Prophet (pbuh) possessed. This is not an easy
task to accomplish. A believer must have a sincere intention for the change he
wishes to see in himself and strive to reflect the qualities of witness, bearer
of good news, and warner. When this believer succeeds in his inner quest, he
will find the Light (Nur) of Allah
within him. Allah will make him a Sirajum
Munir – a lamp that illuminates the souls in darkness, bringing them out of
that darkness and into the light.
Similarly, just as Hazrat
Muhammad (pbuh) was someone who called people towards Allah, it is the duty and
role of every Muslim to take to heart this great task that Allah has also
placed upon the shoulders of every believing Muslim. Each one of us has the
capacity of performing this work successfully. Remember that, whether you are
poor or rich, it does not matter before Allah except for your Taqwa (piety). A poor person can be
better than a rich person, and a rich person can also be better than a poor
person. But it all starts with our intentions and actions.
Even though believers may be
poor, they find satisfaction in having discovered the path of Allah and desire
to remain steadfast on this path that leads to Him. Reflect on the fact that
many sacrifices will be required to demonstrate to Allah the strength of your
faith and intentions. True believers, when making sacrifices, do not see them
as hardships but rather as opportunities to draw closer to Allah. Despite their
poverty, they give from the little they have in the way of Allah.
On the other hand, there are
wealthy believers who surpass others by maintaining their Taqwa (piety) and spending their wealth in the way of Allah for His
pleasure, not for the eyes of people. They find joy in this. Conversely, there
are those who, despite their richly means, do not spend a cent for the Cause of
Allah, or there are the poor who use their poverty as an excuse, claiming they
have nothing to give, even though they have a little but fear that sharing it
will leave them with nothing. However, Allah says that whosoever spends for His
Cause, He will increase their gains; they will reap more than what they have
spent in the way of Allah, even if it is a small amount earned through Halal (lawful) means and given
generously in the way of Allah.
Therefore, understand that
within difficulties, there is tranquillity and the joy of Paradise. For those
who reject the signs of Allah, their difficulties and trials become burdens;
they perceive this world as a hell, whereas believers, knowing this world is
temporary and a place of trials, establish it as their paradise. How do they
(the believers) achieve this? By transforming their lives to reflect Allah in
everything they do.
You (believers) have received
the Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) as the best model for humanity. Hazrat
Muhammad (pbuh) came as a mirror reflecting the “face of Allah”—that is, as a
manifestation of His signs and attributes, but it is only a small number of
people who have been able to imbue the divine image within their own selves.
Therefore, you, O Muslims, and
my disciples, must become those responsible beings who remain steadfast in your
faith. Once you firmly establish yourselves in the (divine) law, you will be
able to help others understand that their pursuit of worldly pleasures
ultimately leads to problems and difficult situations. You must tell these
people that to succeed, they need to detach themselves from this world and find
peace and a good life by seeking the Pleasure and Love of Allah. Thus, you, the
believers, who have received and accepted the message, must act as bearers of
good news (Mubasshir) and warners (Nazir) after confirming yourselves as
witnesses (Shaheed).
Giving someone a warning does
not mean saying, “You will go to Hell!”
Not in this way, no! When giving a warning, it should be done in such a way
that the other person feels that you share his suffering. This is the perfect
way that the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) warned people, and not like some Mullahs
[who have strayed and lost Islam] say, “You
will go to Hell!”
Even when you warn these
people, if they ask questions, you should not say, “You are an unbeliever!” - That too is not correct. It is a warning
tinged with darkness and injustice, and it has no connection with the warning
of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) because when he warned people, he felt their
pain. Allah said to him, “O Muhammad
(pbuh), in what way do you warn people? You give them a warning and you suffer
from their pain?”
So, it is only in this way – a
way without selfishness but where the prophet feels the pain of the people when
he warns them, because he knows that if these people do not accept this warning
and reform their lives, if they do not accept Allah and His signs as well as
himself as a prophet, then their consequences will be very serious in the sight
of Allah. This filled his heart with pain and sorrow. So, you too, when you
give this warning in the name of Allah and His Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), you
must do it in such a way that the person who receives this warning finds a new
life, and not that he becomes further alienated. All of this depends on
yourself, your own behaviour, your own manners, and the words that you use to
convey this message.
If you open your arms wide to
your brothers so that they may accede to faith like you, and you make
supplications (duahs) for them
without forcing them to follow you, they will come to you, In-Sha-Allah. They will understand the message of Allah that you
are conveying to them, In-Sha-Allah.
Thus, as mentioned in the
verse, “bi-‘iznih” means that no
matter how much effort a person puts into this field, it bears fruit only when
they make duahs, as it is a matter of
bringing life to the dead. Here, divine law prevails over material laws. When
the entire world is completely drawn to worldly worship and enjoying the
advantages of this world, which leads them to destruction instead of a life of
freedom, your Dawa to them will give them a new life, In-Sha-Allah. Therefore, you need to invite them to come out of
their prison of ignorance and temporary joy and teach them how to attain
eternal joy. You need to show them the divine laws revealed to the Holy Prophet
(pbuh), and gradually, they will each reconstruct their being, day and night,
until they reach a stage where they too are firmly established in faith and
become also a Shaheed, a Mubasshir, and a Nazir.
Inviting people to this path
is not an easy task. No matter what method is used, it is impossible to win all
hearts, because this can only be achieved through prayers (duahs). Thus, “bi-‘iznih”
means that if the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was able to breathe spiritual life
into those who were spiritually dead through prayers and the help of Allah,
then those who are weak and are at a lower level than the Prophet Muhammad
(pbuh) should not think that they can accomplish this task of inviting to Allah
only through their own means and efforts. It is essential to keep in mind “bi-‘iznih”. It is the decree of Allah
that will be set into motion, and one must seek Allah’s help. Thus, when you invite
people to the path of Allah, it is through your efforts, prayers and the decree
of Allah that you will succeed.
Another point of this verse is
“wa Siraajam-Muniiraa” – that is,
becoming a lamp that can transmit your light like day and pass it on to another
person. You become such a “Khatim”
that can produce many other “Khatim”.
You become such a seal that from you, other seals can also be produced.
Although the “Khatimiyyat” of the
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) is incomparable and unexampled [i.e. unparalleled], but
from another point of view, it is not incomparable because of his qualities;
otherwise it would not be “Khatimiyyat”.
There are two ways in which he (pbuh) is incomparable. The first is that no one
will be born who will be exactly like him, and the second is the power of
clarity and the ability to transmit his qualities to others which he (pbuh)
alone possessed. This power, no one has yet obtained.
Thus, it is in this manner
that his “Khatimiyyat” is
unparalleled. However, in another sense, every believer must strive to reflect
his qualities within themselves. They must embark on this journey and go
through the path of the exceptional qualities of Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) as a
Seal, a Sirajum Munir, a Dai-Illallah, a Shaheed, a Mubasshir, and
a Nazir. One must follow his example.
Although one may not reach the same degree of greatness as he did, at least
three-quarters of the journey can be achieved in this endeavour. For a
Khalifatullah, a Messiah, a Mahdi who comes with the Ruh’il Quddus, he may be able to attain a degree just behind Hazrat
Muhammad (pbuh). Who among the Khalifatullah [Khulafatullah/ Caliphs of Allah], the Islamic Messengers, will
reach this level, only time will tell. When a person attains the extraordinary
clarity of Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh), Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) and him become like
twins, but just as the firstborn among all twins is honoured as the eldest,
Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) will eternally remain the eldest and greatest. He came
so that people would follow his example. He came to say: “O people, follow my examples [ways/ manners/ behaviours/ practices] and you too, Allah will elevate your status
before Him.”
Therefore, it becomes
imperative for every Muslim, every believer, whether man or woman, to raise
their children to become little Muhammads, and among all the enlightened
children of the Ummah, Allah will choose His Illuminated one to continue His
works. He will be like the twin brother of Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) without
surpassing Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) in greatness and status. He will be a flower
from paradise that will perfume this world. In-Sha-Allah.
It is thus crucial to
understand that Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) holds a unique and unparalleled position
of honour, one that no other can match. Those who come from Allah as His
followers and prophets cannot attain the exact same level of honour as him. This
esteemed position is reserved solely for Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh). However, there
will be others who will come and be referred to as “little Muhammads” (pbuh),
reflecting his essence like mirrors, without breaking the Seal of Prophethood.
Therefore, I call upon all my
disciples and Muslims around the world. As we witness calamity after calamity,
do not let future generations lose their faith (Deen). Show them how to become representations of light,
witnesses, and preachers like Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh). Teach them to draw closer
to Allah and not drift away from Him. Make them more attached to Allah than to
this world. The world needs a renewal that the new generation can bring, but it
also requires believing parents who can guide their children on the right path.
This is the prayer of Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) when he prayed for his Ummah: “Ya Rabbi Habli
Ummati!” – In other words, “O my Lord! Grant me an Ummah, believers
from my Ummah who will be attached to You, who will receive Your forgiveness.
Give me an Ummah of sincere followers who will reflect me in them. I am their
guide; make them like me, so they can dispel the darkness of this world and
become lamps that illuminate the universe.” In-Sha-Allah. Ameen.
When we observe the events
unfolding around the world, the immense suffering and calamities, our hearts
ache for our fellow human beings. Yet, Allah knows how to establish His justice
in the world. Every wrongful action committed by man on this earth will see its
repercussions here before he departs from this world.
Today, wars, tornadoes,
floods, famine, and earthquakes are ravaging this world. Continents are
drifting apart, and a new era is manifesting. Signs of the end of times have
appeared. Now is the time for Muslims and humanity to realize that this worldly
life is fleeting, while the life to come, a life in the pleasure of Allah, is
what we must seek. We are not merely our physical bodies. These bodies will
perish, but what makes us who we are is our existence as spirits, emanating
from the very essence of Allah. Wake up, O humanity, O Muslims, before it is
too late.
As for me, I turn to Allah and
place my life, my death, my honour, my provisions, everything in His hands. It
is in Him alone that we must place our trust. In-Sha-Allah, Ameen.
----Friday Sermon of 10 November 2023~ 25 Rabi'ul Aakhir 1445 AH delivered by Imam-Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam International Hazrat Muhyiuddin Al Khalifatullah Munir Ahmad Azim (aba) of Mauritius.