Muslim Family Values

Importance of Islam for the Family Unit & the Ummah

 

Today we live in a society where everything seems upside down. The family unit – a family unit approved by Allah – is in danger. The Muslim family, a family based on Islamic principles as it was in the past, used to be a solid pillar in society. Today, it finds itself weakened by modern influences that are not always in harmony with divine guidance. When the influence of Shaytan’s evil spreads in society, and when parents who wish to guide their children on the straight path try to set rules to preserve them within the pure environment of Islam, yet the youth begin to rebel and refuse the guidance of Allah that their parents lovingly try to give them, then the atmosphere at home becomes heavy.

Many times, even Muslim adults themselves drift away from important precepts of Islam, while the external world with its attractions tries to divert people’s way of thinking. As a result, disagreements between husband and wife increase, and the direct victims remain the children who grow up in confusion and without clear direction. Consequently, conflicts between parents and children also increase. Whether it is domestic violence or divorce – which society has normalised as something common – leading to the disintegration of the family home, all of this shows that there is a deep crisis that society in general is facing. What is even more tragic is that Muslims too have allowed themselves to be trapped by these influences. So, we Muslims of today must ask: What should we do to restore the sacred value and stability of the family?

Protection of Divine Truth against Evil

  

Allah, our beloved Creator, has always protected truth and the truthful. He has always destroyed the adversaries of faith and supported His messengers in every era. What we must understand is that humanity today enjoys blessings that earlier races did not. Through the blessing Allah granted us in the creation of our ancestor Hazrat Adam (as), we possess intelligence and mental and spiritual faculties that those before us did not. We are a race honoured by Allah through Hazrat Adam (as), our ancestor and the first prophet of Allah, His representative on earth.

Many may say that human DNA has existed for thousands of years, but they overlook the fact that the genetic code Allah teaches us in the Qur’an, linking us to His prophet, is the true code we carry within us. Our race is more recent than we think. We may estimate long ages have passed, but in Allah’s estimation, our creation is recent. This is undeniable truth, for when Allah created Hazrat Adam (as) and breathed into him His spirit – a divine essence connecting Adam (as) and his righteous descendants to Allah – the angels said: “Will You place therein one who will cause mischief and shed blood, while we glorify You with praise and sanctify You?” Allah replied: “I know what you do not know.” (Al-Baqara 2: 31)

 

Allah had already planned, and He is the best of planners. In this trial called life, Allah established that evil would exist, so that those who perfect within themselves the divine essence He breathed into them could strengthen themselves to combat evil. This divine essence, this gift, is Divine Revelation. It is not only Prophethood or Messengership, but the factor of guidance that comes directly from Allah, guiding His servants upon the straight path. This gift is Divine Revelation.

The Sahaba: Role Models

 

The Knowledge of the Sahaba & Our Spiritual Heritage

When we reflect on the knowledge of the Sahaba of our beloved Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh), we discover a profound truth: their knowledge was not limited to books or speeches, but was a spiritual light that transformed hearts. Allah says in the Qur’an: “Innallaziiina utul ‘ilma min qablihi idhaa yutlaa ‘alayhim yakhirruna lil-adhqaani sujjadan” (Those who were given knowledge before, when the Qur’an is recited to them, fall upon their faces in prostration.) (Bani Isra’il 17: 108). This verse shows us that knowledge is such a powerful force that it drives a person towards humility and submission.

 

The Sahaba received direct training from the Holy Prophet (pbuh). They witnessed the revelation of the Qur’an, heard Hadiths directly, and observed the Prophet’s behaviour. This closeness gave them extraordinary sincerity. Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra), Hazrat Umar (ra), Hazrat Uthman (ra), Hazrat Ali (ra), and others were not merely scholars, but living models. They could convince entire nations by their conduct.

Divine Warning

 

In this modern world we live in, everyone can see with their own eyes how the earth is suffering, struck by all kinds of calamities: earthquakes, floods, extreme heat, cyclones and diseases, affecting people and nations without distinction. In many countries, death comes in masses; thousands lose their lives in earthquakes, entire families disappear in floodwaters, and unbearable heat kills the elderly and vulnerable. Allah has warned all of humanity in the Qur’an:

 

“And We already sent Messengers to peoples before you (the Prophet); then We seized them with poverty and hardships [calamities] so that they might humble themselves and return to Us.” (Al-An‘am 6: 43)

 

In other words, Allah tests His servants, humans who pledged to uphold divine commandments, to distinguish between those who fulfil their promise sincerely and those who turn away from their commitments. This test is not new; Allah tested peoples before us and will continue to test peoples after us. As long as humans live on earth, Allah will test them, to separate the believer from the non-believer, the sincere from the insincere, the good from the bad. We must remember that Allah has already sent calamities upon past peoples so that they might return to Him in humility.

The Martyrdom of Imam Hussein (ra)

Today is Friday of Ashura, the 10^th of Muharram 1448, exactly 1387 Islamic years (Hijri) since the martyrdom of Hazrat Imam Hussein (ra), son of Hazrat Ali Ibn Abu Talib (ra) and Hazrat Fatima (ra), and grandson of the Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh). Until today, the event of Karbala remains a truth that has marked human conscience across centuries through the courage of Hazrat Imam Hussein (ra) and all the members of the family of Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh), young and old, who were present at Karbala to fight against a merciless tyrant who sought power, wealth and status, and who was even ready to kill the beloved family of the greatest of prophets (pbuh) to establish his illegitimate rule upon the earth.

 

This event must be recounted so that the youth of today remember the extraordinary sacrifice that Imam Hussein (ra) and the rest of the family of Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) made to preserve the honour of Islam and the honour of truth intact in the face of impurities that sought to stain Islam (that is, to spoil the image of Islam). This story must remain within each of us, in our hearts – if indeed we claim to have love for Allah, for His Prophet, for His family, for His companions and for the rest of the Ummah – an Ummah of pure people, who struggle each day so that the truth of Islam triumphs over the reign of evil in the world. This sacrifice must remain engraved, alive within our hearts.

The Month of Muharram

  

Alhamdulillah, Summa Alhamdulillah. (All praise belongs to Allah, then again all praise belongs to Allah), Allah has granted us the Tawfiq (blessed opportunity) to witness the beginning of a new year in the Islamic calendar. Among all the months of the Islamic calendar, a lunar calendar, Allah has made four of them sacred:

 

“For Allah, the number of months in a year which He prescribed on the day He created the heavens and the earth is twelve months, among which four are sacred (Muharram, Rajab, Dhul-Qaddah and Dhul-Hijjah). That is the right religion. Do not wrong yourselves during these months. But fight the idolaters all together, just as they fight you all together. And know that Allah is with those who are mindful of Him.” (At-Tauba 9:36)

Death in Islam

 

Life and death are in the Hand of Allah. In the Qur’an, Allah says: “Kullu nafsin zaa-i-qatul mawt; thumma ilayna turja‘uun” Every soul shall taste death; then unto Us you shall be returned. (Al-Ankabut 29: 58)

This is a fundamental reminder showing that life on earth is only a passage; death is not an end in itself but a transition towards eternity. What is truly decisive is the state in which a person leaves this world, for as our beloved Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) said: “Every servant will be resurrected upon that which he died.” (Muslim)

 

This saying of the Prophet (pbuh) opens for us a profound reflection. Death is not a coincidence; it is a seal upon the spiritual condition of a person. If someone dies in obedience to Allah, he will be resurrected in an honourable state; if he dies in disobedience, he will be resurrected in humiliation. Therefore, a believer must be vigilant in preserving his faith and maintain this vigilance at every moment of his life so that he does not slip in his faith and fall into loss.

Love for the Holy Prophet

  

Islam preaches belief in all the Prophets of Allah and calls for love and respect among all of us (prophets). Yet for a true believer in Islam, it is necessary to love the Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) more than one’s own family. This love is essential, for it teaches the believer the value of obedience to Allah and obedience to His Prophet; and the Prophet who has been granted the highest rank before Allah is indeed Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh). Thus, naturally and contextually in Islam, respect and love for the Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) must be elevated. Allah commanded His Prophet to say: “If you love Allah, then follow me; Allah will love you and forgive you your sins. And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.” (Al-Imran 3: 32)

The Sacrifice behind Eid-ul-Adha

 

Eid-ul-Adha (Bakr Eid) remains a profoundly sacred moment – the greatest Eid – which recalls an extraordinary story: that of the Prophet Hazrat Ibrahim (as) and his son Hazrat Isma’il (as). Allah commanded Hazrat Ibrahim (as) through a vision to sacrifice his son, Hazrat Isma’il (as). Hazrat Isma’il (as) had not yet reached the age of puberty, yet at this tender age he accepted with complete submission that his father should sacrifice him by Allah’s command; Hazrat Isma’il (as) displayed unparalleled courage and faith. The Qur’an honours him in these words, where his sacrifice was immortalised: “When they both submitted (to Allah’s command) and Ibrahim laid him down upon his forehead, We called out to him: ‘O Ibrahim, you have indeed fulfilled the vision.’ Thus do We reward those who do good. Surely this was a clear test.” (As-Saffat 37: 104-107).

Eid-ul-Adha Sermon 2026

 Hajj & Qurbani

In its spiritual depth, Hajj and Qurbani are two rites that mark the soul of the Islamic Ummah and which, each year, remind some among us of the sacrifices of two great prophets of Allah – Hazrat Ibrahim (as) and Hazrat Isma’il (as), as well as the sacrifice of Hazrat Isma’il’s (as) mother, Hazrat Hajra (ra).

This year, while the world is prey to conflicts, political tensions and war, these rites remind us that true peace lies in submission to one Creator, one God, the Only True God: Allah (twa). They also make us realise that as long as we, Muslims, are not faithful to Islam as we should be, as long as we are not faithful to its teachings, whether in terms of Qur’anic teachings or prophetic teachings (the Sunnah), then Islam and Muslims will continue to feel weakened within, despite the fact that Allah has given us the capacity to prevail over adversaries and relentless enemies who wish to eradicate Islam and Muslims from the surface of the earth.

The gifts of Islam

 

Reproduced below is a section from the writings of Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) of Qadian [1835-1908], the Muslim saintly figure who claimed under Divine inspiration that he is the promised Messiah and Imam Mahdi of the Later Days. Hazrat Ahmad (as) explains here the transformative potential of Islamic beliefs and practices upon the spiritual fortunes of a human soul striving steadfastly and sincerely in the pure path of the Prophets, seeking the Face of God: attain true humility and Taqwah; gain Holy Communion- be blessed with Divine converse and dialogue, and thereby partake of lofty discourse and deep guidance; indeed, become a true heir to the cognition of God in their times.

Islam: An Incomparable Gift

 

Islam is a gift that Allah has given to humanity at its birth; and it is a more honourable gift for anyone who is born Muslim and who grows up in the Islamic environment. A child’s upbringing in this honourable environment means that the parents also have a very great responsibility to guide them and maintain them in this Islamic, pure environment until these children become sufficiently mature, especially after the age of puberty, to know the difference between good and evil and to choose with full awareness to follow the path of truth, the path of Islam; and to make effort themselves to remain attached to the straight path, and to do everything possible to gain the pleasure of Allah, and to become a true Muslim, not by birth or by the Islamic environment in which they grew up, but by choice; a choice that is personal, that is pure, where a child, an adolescent, or even an adult – whether a young adult or even one in middle age – all have a choice to make. After the parental education they have received, where their parents guided them towards Allah, towards His Deen, towards good practice that will lead them to Paradise, will they follow this path or follow a path led astray by the influence of bad companions, bad guides who exist in the world and whose primary work is to divert them from the straight path?

Preparation for the Afterlife

  

In Islam, we all know that this worldly life is temporary. Our bodies of clay and water, of flesh and bones, will decay; while it is our soul that will return to its Creator, the One Who gives life. The Creator is indeed the One Who gives life, and He is also the One Who takes life back. The life of a human being is an Amaanat (a trust) given to his parents, his family, his environment and native land – and wherever he resides upon the earth – only for a short time. Death is a truth that cannot be denied; it is an obligatory passage that every soul must taste. Allah says in the Qur’an: “Kullu nafsin zaa’ikatul mawt” [Every soul shall taste death.] (Al-‘Imran 3: 186)

Faith & Action

 

Faith and action is a subject that deserves deep reflection, because the relationship between the two cannot be broken. When a person believes in Allah, in the Day of Judgement, and in the message of the prophets, he receives a profound motivation to please his Creator, to walk on the straight path, and to prepare for his return to Him. Faith without action is like a lamp without light; and action without faith is like a body without a soul. Allah informs us in the Qur’an: “He who created life and death in order to test you, as to which of you is best in conduct; He is Mighty and Forgiving” (Al-Mulk 67: 3). This shows that existence itself is a test, an examination that humans must pass, and the principal criterion is the quality of their actions.

'Sunnah' on Labour Rights

 The Rights & Respect for all Good Workers

 

The human condition rests upon two fundamental states: either a person enjoys good health, or he is ill. Workers, like all people, deserve respect and justice in all circumstances. Islam teaches that every human being must be treated with dignity, compassion, and fairness. The right of a worker includes receiving a fair wage, work according to his capacity, and a balanced schedule that is healthy – not exceeding limits. When a worker falls ill, his employer must make arrangements for his physical and spiritual recovery; that is, to support him with sympathy and assistance. Our Creator – Allah – has shown that Islam is not merely a religion, but a complete code of life that protects the rights of every person, including workers.

 

In the Qur’an, Allah says: “Indeed, Allah commands you to fulfil your trusts to those to whom they are due, and when you judge between people, judge with justice.” (An-Nisa 4: 59)

Life & Health as an 'Amaanah'

  

Health is a sacred treasure that Allah has granted to each of us; it is a capital that cannot be purchased with money. In the Qur’an, Allah says: “And do not throw yourselves with your own hands into destruction” (Al-Baqara 2: 196). Among the many interpretations of this verse, one is that a believer must preserve his health, and this is also a religious obligation; a responsibility towards our Creator – Allah. In another verse, Allah says: “And do not kill the (human) life (Nafs) which Allah has made sacred, except by justice” (Bani Isra’il 17:34).

 

This divine reminder shows the value of the human body as a sanctuary that must be protected. The Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) also said: “Your body has rights over you” (Bukhari). This Hadith teaches us that caring for health is not a luxury, but a duty.

Stages in Proximity with Allah

  

In spiritual life, one truth remains eternal: whoever remembers Allah with sincerity receives a special light, a Nur, which illuminates his heart and purifies his soul. Allah has said in the Qur’an:

 

“Remember Me; I will remember you. Be grateful to Me, and never be ungrateful.” (Al-Baqara 2: 153).

 

This verse, this divine word, is truly powerful. It shows two fundamental principles: Zikrullah (Remembrance of our Creator) and Shukrullah (Gratitude towards our Creator). These two principles form the foundation of the spiritual life of a true believer, and they attract divine reward upon him. A servant of Allah who practises these two principles finds his path opened towards divine closeness and towards a life filled with Allah’s blessings.

A Prayer in the Mihrab

 

In the quiet mihrab, silver crowned with age,

Zakariya stood, though his frame was frail.

'My bones have weakened, my hair is ablaze,'

Yet his hope in his Lord did not pale.

Childless years weighed heavy on his chest,

He feared for his people when he was laid to rest.

Who would guard the way if heirs went astray? 

So he turned to his Lord, and began to pray.

Kindness to Parents

  

After the exclusive worship of Allah, Allah teaches us that we must treat our mother and father well. This remains one of the principal duties of a Muslim. And this subject cannot be treated only once, but several times, to make children aware of their responsibility towards their parents. The Qur’an has made this very clear: 

“And your Lord has decreed: ‘Worship Him alone, and treat your father and mother well.’” (Bani Isra’il 17: 24)

 

Therefore, kindness towards parents remains among the greatest duties. This verse shows that Allah has placed respect and gentleness towards parents immediately after divine worship. A person can never ignore this truth that his father and mother, humanly speaking, are both the source of his life, and their sacrifices deserve unlimited recognition.

Imam Mahdi's Prayer

 

O my Lord, 

by Your grace,

be my strength

and illumine my sight 

and what is in my heart

and be the purpose of 

my life and my death.

 

Fill me with Your love

and grant me such love

that it is surpassed 

by none after me.  

 

O my Lord,

accept my prayers,

grant me my wishes,

cleanse me, protect me,

draw me close to Yourself;

guide me,

help me and enable me to do good,

purify me,

illumine my soul,

make me entirely Yours

and become entirely mine.

 

Inner and Outer Struggle

 Importance of Fighting for the Cause of Allah

 

Alhamdulillah-ir-Rabbil Aalameen – Praise be to Allah, the Lord of all the worlds, the One Who has set order in creation and the One Who has given life to everything.

 

In an era filled with confusion and disorder, it is essential to remember that the noblest struggle for a sincere believing Muslim is against his own Nafs, against his own ego and passions – such a Nafs that seeks to divert him from the path of Allah. The Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) said after an expedition: “We have returned from the lesser Jihad to the greater Jihad” (Bayhaqi); that is, the struggle against oneself, against desires that lead to disorder/ chaos (fitna).

 

Allah tells us in the Qur’an: “And as for the one who fears to stand before his Lord and restrains his soul from passions, Paradise will be his refuge.” (An-Nazi’at 79: 41-42). This shows that the first duty is inner discipline, that is, to set a barrier against temptation and arrogance.

Trust in Islam

  

Trust – a real trust that is sincere, honest, and based upon Taqwa (the fear of Allah) – is a fundamental pillar in the life of a Muslim. In Islam, it is not a mere inner sentiment, but a spiritual path that connects the heart of the believer with Allah, and which gives him moral and social strength in his daily life. A believer is commanded to live with trust in himself, trust in his family and companions, and above all, absolute trust in his Creator – Allah, the One Who controls everything. Allah says in the Qur’an: “And whoever places his trust in Allah, He is sufficient for him.” (At-Talaq 65: 4). This verse clearly shows that trust in Allah is not an empty word, but a divine guarantee that opens the door to tranquillity and success.

 

Self-confidence, that is, when a believer believes in his own abilities, remains a necessary condition to progress in life. Without self-confidence, a person remains paralysed by fear and uncertainty. But Islam teaches that self-confidence must always be accompanied by the awareness that all strength and success come only by Allah’s permission. The Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said: “The strong one is not the one who overcomes others by his strength, but the strong one is the one who controls himself when he is angry.” (Bukhari, Muslim). This shows that true self-confidence is not found in physical strength, but in self-control, inner discipline, and in entrusting ourselves – all of us – entirely to Allah.

 

Trust in parents and in one’s surroundings also has great value. That environment must be worthy of trust. A society rests upon mutual trust; without trust, there is neither stability nor respect. In Islam, respect and trust towards parents remain a sacred obligation. Allah says in the Qur’an: “And We have enjoined upon man to treat his parents well.” (Al-Ankabut 29: 9).

 

But human trust, despite its importance, remains limited; absolute trust, the one that never disappoints, is trust in Allah.

'Eid-ul-Fitr' Sermon 2026

 Truth v/s Falsehood 

Wa Qul Jaaa’al-Haqqu wa zahaqal-Baatil: innal-Baatila kaana zahuuqaa. “And say: ‘The truth has come and falsehood has vanished; for falsehood is bound to vanish.’” (Bani Isra’il 17: 82)

 

Today is a day of rejoicing for all Muslims who believe in Allah and obey Him; for after a month of fasting (Roza/ Siyaam), with its privations, Allah has granted us a day of Eid – a day of rejoicing, a day of thanksgiving for the favours and blessings that Allah has bestowed upon all Muslims across the world, whether materially rich or poor. But Allah does not look at the material possessions of a believer; He looks at his sincerity, and the one who is truly rich is the one who has succeeded in gaining Allah’s forgiveness and His abundant blessings. Allah has shown through the month of Ramadan, especially this year – a year of intense trials – that when Muslims across the world unite in favour of the truth, His help comes in a glorious manner.

 

Thus, the Qur’anic verse I recited at the beginning of my Khutba (Sermon) is a clear declaration that when the truth comes – when it manifests, when it shows its power – then falsehood must capitulate, must disappear; for one day, come what may, and without any doubt, all falsehood will meet its end. That falsehood will be crushed. Allah does not descend physically, but He manifests Himself in extraordinary ways, in the constancy of the prayers and supplications of sincere Muslims, and especially in the supplications of His Chosen One of that particular time [and for our times, the Chosen One of this era].

A 'Bai'at' with the Khalifatullah

Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem 

Assalamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu, 

To all my dear Spiritual children and the Muslim ummah around the world, 

All praise belongs to Allah (swt), the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate, who has never left mankind without guidance. From the beginning of time, He has raised among people His chosen servants—prophets, messengers, and reformers—to illuminate the path of truth and righteousness.

As Muslims who hold firmly to the timeless teachings of the Holy Qur’an and the noble Sunnah of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), we recognize that the raising of an Elect of God in every era is part of Sunnatullah—an enduring Divine practice. Especially in times of spiritual darkness, confusion, and moral decline, Allah, in His infinite mercy, sends guidance to revive faith and restore the connection between man and his Creator.

Laylatul Qadr & Duahs

  

Like Allah and His beloved Messenger Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) have taught us, Laylatul Qadr is that night so filled with blessings that it is worth a thousand months of blessings, which is approximately equal to 83 years of a person’s life if Allah grants him a long life. Therefore, if a Muslim attains the reward of this blessed night, he receives a reward equivalent to a thousand months of devotion. But to deserve this favour, one must have discipline, sincerity, and good morality. Allah says in the Qur’an:

 

“When My servants ask you (the Prophet) about Me; I am near. I answer the call of the one who calls upon Me when he calls upon Me.” (Al-Baqara 2: 187)

 

This verse shows Allah’s closeness to the one who seeks Him and His help in all circumstances of life. Allah loves when His servants invoke Him and ask Him for all that they need. Here, in this verse, He answers His believing servants directly. Thus, Allah loves when His believing servants invoke Him alone, seek His help, and especially when they thank Him. Allah loves those who are grateful. Therefore, the Duahs (invocations) of a person must be sincere, and these Duahs must be invoked with certainty (Yaqeen) and trust (Tawwakul) in Allah that He will answer their invocations.

Advices for the Muslims

   

Strive hard—O valiant ones!—

so that the Faith may gain strength,

And freshness and elegance may flourish

in the garden of Islam.

 

Friends!

Should you have compassion for the plight of Islam,

You will be—in the eyes of God—akin to

the Companions of the Prophet.

 

Hypocrisy and discord will be removed from the ignorant;

Perfect harmony, brotherhood, and friendship will be cultivated.

So rise up to strive, for surely from God’s court,

Assistance will appear for the helpers of Islam.

 

Should any sympathy for the honour of the Faith

burn in you this day—

I swear by Allah—

ye shall likewise attain dignity and honour.

 

Should ye extend forth the hand of generosity

for the victory of Islam,

Likewise shall ye behold

the sudden manifestation of the Hand of Power.