Serious Advice for the Ummah
All of
us today in our Eid Gah or in our Masjids are performing Salat-ul-Eid
(Eid-ul-Adha) and listening to the Eid Khutba, while waiting for those among us
who have the means to perform Qurbani today, just as Allah has commanded the
believers who have the means and are not in debt to perform sacrifice in order
to acquire His pleasure. Yes, of course, today is the greatest Eid for the
Muslim Community; but in this moment of joy, in the Eid celebration, there is
also sadness because of the division of the Muslim Ummah [Ummat-e-Muhammadiyya
(pbuh)], a division which did not exist when our beloved Prophet Muhammad
(pbuh) was alive. Of course, he too went through troubling trials with his own
disciples, especially with the hypocrites, but also with the adversaries of
Islam who were constantly trying to overthrow Islam for their own benefit. Yet
the Prophet (pbuh) taught an undeniable truth for the victory of Islam: the
unity of his followers upon the path of Allah and strict obedience to his
instructions.
In commemorating the sacrifice of our ancestors Hazrat Ibrahim (as), Isma’il (as) and Muhammad (pbuh), today more than ever, we must not forget those instructions.
The Muslim Ummah throughout the world is going
through great trials, whether political, economic, social or spiritual. These
sufferings are often the result of internal divisions, conflicts, injustices
and oppressions. Yet Islam gives the solution to these difficulties, through
concrete actions in this world and through a profound spiritual approach.
Since the death of the Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad
(pbuh), the Muslim Ummah has faced major challenges. Hypocrites and infidels
have tried many times to break the unity of the Muslims, but with the
governance of the rightly-guided caliphs, Islam was able to leave its imprint
upon the world. But through the centuries, more precisely since the fall of the
Ottoman Empire and the rise of the Western colonisation, Islam has been
trampled in many ways. Among the causes of suffering of the Muslims, there are:
1. Internal divisions:
The fragmentation of Muslim nations has
weakened our unity and our strength. This is exactly the strategy that the
adversaries of Islam use to fight Islam. Yes, we are speaking of a silent war,
a well-planned battle so that Islam and the Muslims become a global nation
under the control of a governance that is in great majority Christian and
Jewish.
2. Conflicts and oppressions:
There are many Muslim countries forced to endure wars and injustices. A clearer
example of this is the attempt to exterminate Muslims in Palestine, Syria,
Lebanon, Burma, and India, among others. This strategy aims either to force
Muslims to abandon their true faith and embrace another faith instead of Islam,
or to let them die in another place than their own country, as if expelling
them – the Muslims – from their native lands, like a forced exile.
3. The loss of Islamic values:
The distancing from the teachings of the Holy Qur’an and the Sunnah of our
beloved Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) has contributed to the deterioration of
Muslim society. This is a powerful strategy that the Westerners (Western
countries) use to attract Muslims everywhere in the world, where they invite
Muslims to fully accept their ways of life which are against Islam. Whether it
is through the loss of the value of modest clothing (that is, the loss of value
in wearing clothes that are modest and do not expose the body), as well as the
desire, a passion to follow modern fashion trends and unhealthy content on
social networks, all this has contributed to the degradation of the youth in
Islam (Muslim youth) throughout the world. Muslim countries have fallen into
this trap, including countries like Turkey and even Saudi Arabia.
With their strategy to attract more tourists to
their countries, these so-called Muslim countries have begun to slide towards
Western indecency. Result: These people (the Muslims there) have become like
Westerners with a language and dress code similar to non-Muslims. Therefore,
now we cannot distinguish who is truly Muslim and who is not Muslim! Saudi
Arabia, despite the facilities it gives to pilgrims (Hajjis) from all over the
world, has built casinos and indecent clubs for the amusement of non-believers.
This unfortunately also influences Muslim youth, where they let themselves be
influenced by Western trends. And this is exactly what our beloved Prophet
Muhammad (pbuh) predicted: “You (Muslims) will without any doubt follow
those who were before you, span by span, cubit by cubit, even if they enter
into the hole of a lizard, you will follow them.” The companions (Sahaba)
asked: “[Is it] the Jews and Christians?” And the Prophet (pbuh)
replied: “Who else?” (Bukhari, Abu Dawud)
This Hadith warns against blind imitation of
the practices of other ignorant communities. And we are witnessing the
fulfilment of this Hadith every day in our lives, where we see how the Muslim
Ummah has lost its unity and how Muslims are running after the West and its
indecencies, like a thirsty person seeking pure water in a mirage!
But Allah has promised, just as this is His
practice (Sunnatullah), that He will support Islam with several
revivals, each in its appointed time. For this, He sends revivers, and even
prophets – who are not bearers of law – to revive the pure teaching of Islam.
Thus, when Allah sends His chosen one with the
Holy Spirit (Ruh’il Quddus), his mission is to give the message of His
Oneness (Tawheed) and bring pure souls back to His exclusive worship. He
carries the responsibility of the Ummah upon his shoulders, even if members of
the Ummah reject him, just as prophets before him had to face rejection from
their own peoples. But unlike past prophets, a prophet who is a follower (a
prophet-follower) of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) will not be concerned
only with Muslims! He is sent by Allah for the whole of humanity. And his
mission is to bring as many souls as possible towards salvation, towards Islam
– towards complete submission to Allah.
And this is exactly what Hazrat Ibrahim (as)
taught us in depth: Do not break the bond with Allah. And that bond is Islam,
because fundamentally speaking, Islam has existed since the very first creature
that Allah created for His worship. Even if the history of the world and the
universe is billions of years old, our existence – human beings, descendants of
that intelligent Adam whom Allah created and who carries the breath of Allah –
[thus the creation of man] is very recent.
So, Allah sends His chosen ones – even after
the advent of the Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) – to awaken human
conscience, especially that of the Muslims, the very people who proclaim
themselves Muslims but who do not follow the footsteps of their forefathers
Ibrahim (as) and Muhammad (pbuh).
Therefore, in this century, in our time, Allah
has sent me as His Representative (Caliph/ Khalifa) – a Khalifatullah –
to heal these sufferings. And the greatest solutions to this spiritual
desolation are:
1. A return to Allah: Whether through prayer (Salat),
invocations (Duahs) and meditation (Zikrullah), the heart must
not be divided. The heart must remain fixed upon Allah alone. A believer must
worship only one God, Allah, the Creator of the Universe – the Being who is
permanent even if everything will disappear one day.
2. Strengthening the unity of the
Ummah: Islam places emphasis upon unity and
brotherhood. The Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) said: “The believers
are like a single body; if one part (one member of that body) suffers, the
whole body feels that pain.” (Muslim)
This is what makes the Muslim body become a
united body where one person feels the pain of other believers, those who have
Allah in their hearts, those who place their trust in Him alone.
3. Education and knowledge:
The transmission of Islamic and scientific knowledge is essential for the
progress of the community. Therefore, we must spread the knowledge of the Qur’an
and the Sunnah to humanity so that they all know that the true faith is indeed
Islam, because Islam is the Way of Life of all prophets since the beginning of
the world, and it will always remain valid until the Day of Judgement. This
means that other chosen ones of Allah will come, even after me, but they will
be from me (they will form part of me).
4. Justice and equity:
The Holy Qur’an commands Muslims to establish justice: “O you who have believed! Stand firm in your commitment
to Allah, witnesses with equity (justice).”
(An-Nisa 4: 135).
If every Muslim knew the value of justice and
equity, each would take a firm position to spread truth and justice in the
world. An oppressor would think ten or a hundred times before committing a
crime. Although severe measures have been established in certain Muslim
countries which have prevented serious crimes such as thefts or rapes,
nevertheless there are other dangers threatening Muslim countries, where these
countries let themselves be influenced by pressures from Western countries to torture
(or oppress) their Muslim brothers. But all this must stop. Muslims, the true
ones, must help each other, not for personal gain, but for the well-being of
the Ummah as a whole.
5. Mutual aid and solidarity:
Zakat and charitable works allow inequalities to be reduced and help the most
destitute. Therefore, Muslims of good faith (who have good hearts, good Niyyat
– intention) must redistribute Zakat and other donations with honesty and with
fear of Allah. Do not waste. Spend for the progress of Islam and help those who
are in difficulty.
The story of the sacrifice of Hazrat Ibrahim
(as) and Isma’il (as) is an example of submission and total devotion to Allah.
Ibrahim (as) received the divine command to sacrifice his son Isma’il (as), and
despite the pain (of separation from his child), he accepted to do it with
faith. Isma’il (as), as a true servant of Allah also, replied: “O my father,
do what you have been commanded. You will find me, if Allah wills, among the
patient.” (As-Swaffat 37: 103). When Allah saw their sincerity, He
prevented Hazrat Ibrahim (as) from sacrificing his son and commanded him to
take instead of Isma’il (as) a ram as sacrifice.
Thus, Islam teaches that suffering can be
overcome by a deep connection with Allah:
6. Patience and prayer:
“Seek help through patience and prayer.
Certainly, prayer is a heavy obligation, except for the humble.”
(Al-Baqara 2:46).
7. Repentance and purification of the heart:
Approach Allah through Zikr and reading of the Book of Allah, that is, the Holy
Qur’an, where this strengthens faith and soothes hearts.
8. Hope and trust in Allah:
Allah has said: “Do not despair of the mercy of
Allah. Certainly, Allah forgives all sins.” (Az-Zumar 39: 54).
The Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) endured
many trials to spread the message of Islam. He was persecuted in Mecca,
suffered hunger and poverty, but he always showed patience and compassion. And
it is thanks to him that Hajj has been permanently restored, following the
perfect example of his biological and spiritual ancestors Hazrat Ibrahim (as)
and Hazrat Isma’il (as). His personal sacrifice which he made during his life
on earth is itself an exemplary model for the entire Ummah which will remain
valid until the Day of Judgement. He forgave his enemies. During the conquest
of Mecca, he (pbuh) declared: “Go! You are free.” (Hadith reported by
Ibn Hisham)
He lived in simplicity. He slept upon a mat and
shared the few resources he had with the poor. And he prayed intensely for the
Ummah. He spent long hours in supplication for the well-being of the Muslims.
Therefore, follow the perfect example of our
beloved Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh), who himself followed the example of the
Intimate Friend of Allah (Khalillullah) Hazrat Ibrahim (as) and of his son, the
Sacrifice of Allah (Zabi’ullah) Hazrat Isma’il (as). The suffering of
the Muslim Ummah can be overcome through unity, justice and faith. By following
the example of the prophets and applying the teachings of the Holy Qur’an and
Sunnah, Muslims can regain their strength and dignity. Insha-Allah, Ameen.
So, to conclude I wish you all once again: Eid Mubarak!
--- Eid-ul-Adha Sermon of 10 Dhul Hijjah 1446 AH~ 08 June 2025 delivered by Imam- Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam International Hazrat Muhyiuddin Al Khalifatullah Munir Ahmad Azim (aba) of Mauritius.