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].
When we reflect on how Islam was awakened and
reached its final and perfect form with the advent of the Holy Prophet Muhammad
(pbuh), we recall the struggles of our beloved Prophet (pbuh) to establish the
true religion that has existed since Allah created the heavens and the earth,
and which took its full meaning with the creation of man. We then see how Allah
made Islam – true submission to Him alone, submission that brings peace and
tranquillity – become the true religion, the true way of being and living for
all servants who are sincere with Him.
When Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) came, he did not
establish a new religion, but Allah perfected His religion – Islam – through
him, through the revelations He granted him, revelations that He promised to
preserve until the Day of Judgement. Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) had no concern
about the poverty in which the first Muslims lived during the early years of
Islam. He and all those who had faith in Allah and in him as Allah’s Prophet
and Messenger had to endure many tests, very harsh trials, so that through the
demonstration of their fidelity and sincerity to Allah – not just with words or
external actions – but also through their sincere supplications, and their
heartfelt devotion to Allah’s Cause, their concern to make the truth triumph
could materialise, and the victory of Allah to become a reality, to become
clear.
The supplications of our beloved Prophet Hazrat
Muhammad (pbuh) were especially for all his sincere followers, so that they
would remain firmly attached to Tawheed (the Unicity of Allah) and not
be tempted by the snares of the Satans spread throughout Arabia and the rest of
the world.
Thus, after so much struggle, so many trials,
after thirteen years that he spent in Makkah since he became a Prophet, when he
arrived in Madina, Allah rewarded him (pbuh) and his followers (his
companions), and consequently his entire Ummah, by granting them special
blessings to draw closer to Allah through the month of fasting in Ramadan.
When we speak of the first Ramadan, it is
synonymous also with the first Eid-ul-Fitr of Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) and of the
first believers of Islam. Eid-ul-Fitr in the history of Islam was a very
significant moment. After his Hijra (migration) to Madina, Muslims had for the
first time the opportunity to celebrate the first month of fasting in Ramadan
and then Eid-ul-Fitr in unity. In Sahih Bukhari, it is reported that Ibn Abbas
(ra) said: “The Prophet (pbuh) went out on the day of Eid, he performed the
prayer (Salah), and he delivered the Khutba (the Sermon).”
In Sahih Muslim, it is reported that Jabir ibn
Abdullah (ra) said: “The Prophet (pbuh) went out on the day of Eid, he began
with the prayer, then he addressed the people.” These Hadiths clearly show
that the first Eid was not just a celebration, but a moment of guidance, of
reminder, and of gathering for all Muslims.
The Holy Prophet (pbuh) taught Muslims to go
out together, to perform the prayer together, to show unity, and to share
(whatever they had in terms of food or other provisions such as clothing) with
the poor. In Sahih Muslim, it is reported that the Prophet (pbuh) ordered women
and young people also to attend the Eid prayer, and even if those women were
not in a state to perform the prayer (that is, those experiencing their monthly
cycle), Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) ordered that they be present so that they could
benefit from the blessings and acts of worship of that blessed day, and
demonstrate that unity. This was a reminder that women too are servants of
Allah and deserve consideration in their spiritual education and deserve reward
just like men. Thus, this shows that the first Eid was a general gathering, not
just for men, but for the whole community.
In the first Eid, the Holy Prophet (pbuh) also
taught Muslims to give Zakat-ul-Fitr before the Eid prayer (Salaat-ul-Eid).
In Sahih Bukhari, Ibn Umar (ra) said: “The Prophet (pbuh) ordered
Zakat-ul-Fitr before the Eid prayer.” This practice was established to
purify the fast, to help the poor, and to show solidarity. Thus, the first Eid
was not just a celebration of joy, but also a celebration of sharing,
purification, and fraternity.
Today, when I look at the Ummah, I still see
many divisions, many wars, much narrow-mindedness, rancour, and useless
disputes. This spirit that some leaders demonstrate is a poison that weakens
the Ummah. Instead of thinking big, instead of thinking for the welfare of all
humanity, too many Muslims remain stuck in wars and useless disputes. And it is
there that Satan finds the door to enter. Iblis promised Allah to divert people
from His path, from Him (Allah), but Allah said to him: “As for My sincere servants, you have no power over
them.” (Al-Hijr 15: 43). This is a divine guarantee: those who are
sincere towards Allah will always have His protection.
In the Qur’an, Allah says: Wa yu-hiqqul-laahul-Haq-qa bi-Kalimaa-tihii wa law ka-rihal-mujri-muun ! “Allah makes the truth triumph by His words, even if that displeases the sinners.” (Yunus 10: 83)
This verse shows that despite plots,
injustices, manipulations, Allah’s truth always emerges victorious – the truth
cannot be concealed. Sooner or later it becomes manifest. Today, world powers
have tried to manipulate and hide the truth; they commit all kinds of schemes to
dominate people, to dominate the world. The war that America and Israel have
unleashed in several countries has turned against them; innocent children in
Iran were killed in a school, a crime that remains engraved as a deep scar in
human conscience. Israel tried to crush Iran, but despite all plots, despite
arrogant leaders, Allah has shown that when the time He has chosen arrives, it
is He Who grants victory; many corrupt leaders have been exterminated, and the
truth has begun to appear. During Ramadan, Allah unveiled many cover-ups, and
people around the world began to see clearly. The truth cannot remain hidden
for long; it always emerges, it always becomes manifest.
Therefore, I make an appeal to the Ummah, and
this appeal is one I have made and continue to make for more than twenty-four
years. I told you: Humanity is in Danger,
which means that not only the Islamic world is in danger, but all humanity.
Today, with the persistence of those who harbour deep hatred for Islam and who
strive to continue exterminating Islam, it is urgent that all Muslims stop the
divisions and subdivisions that have been created among them, among us, and my
appeal to them is: Stop dividing, stop drowning yourselves in narrow-minded
reflections. The unity of the Ummah is an obligation. The Holy Prophet (pbuh)
said in a Hadith: “The believer with another believer is like a building;
each part supports the other.” (Bukhari, Muslim)
If Muslims remain immersed in jealousy,
disputes, sectarianism, then Satan finds the door to enter. But if Muslims
remain sincere towards Allah, with broad-mindedness, thinking of the welfare of
all humanity, then Satan cannot touch sincere servants.
Today, more than ever, humanity is in danger;
crises, injustices, massacres everywhere. But the solution is clear: return to
the Qur’an and the Sunnah. In the Qur’an, Allah has commanded justice,
compassion, and steadfastness in truth. In the Sunnah, the Holy Prophet (pbuh)
taught mercy, unity, and sacrifice. The final battle between good and evil is not
merely a military battle; it is a battle of truth against falsehood, of
sincerity against hypocrisy. And truth will always ultimately triumph. Only a
sincere believer attains that true Eid when he sees truth triumph, when he sees
oppressors fall, and when he sees the supplications of the sincere accepted by
Allah.
In the Qur’an, Allah teaches us this powerful formula of supplication:
‘Alal-laahi tawakkalna. Rabbanaa laa taj-‘alna fitnatal-lil-qawmiz-zaalimiin. Wa najjinaa bi-Rahmatika minal qawmil Kaafireen. “We have placed our trust in Allah. O our Lord, do not let us be oppressed in the hands of the wrongdoers. And save us, by Your mercy, from the disbelieving people.” (Yunus 10: 86-87)
These verses show the path towards that
promised victory: total trust in Allah, and constant supplication to Allah
alone, so as not to become victims of the unjust, and to continually ask Allah
for deliverance from all evils and oppression through His infinite divine
mercy. This is the true Eid that we must seek: a moment when the sincere place
their trust in Allah, and when Allah delivers them, delivers us all as one body
of believers, from the oppressors. True Eid is when truth triumphs, when the
sincere servants of Allah receive His support, and when unity crushes division.
Therefore, I call upon the entire Ummah and all
humanity: abandon your hatred for your brothers and sisters who are human
beings like yourselves. Do not forget that you – all of us – are temporary upon
this earth. Running after power brings nothing. It is only temporary. Yesterday
America believed itself to be the superpower above all nations, and now it
finds itself alone. Now it is other countries that wish to become superpowers.
Do not forget, those who do not have true faith in the One God (Allah), their
thirst for power will never end. They seek to accumulate worldly wealth and
power, they want nations and peoples to fall at their feet, but Allah grants
them a delay before He destroys them all and raises them according to their
deeds. Therefore, do not think in terms of enriching yourselves in power; do
not forget your humanity.
A Muslim, above all, must think and act with Taqwa.
He must think of the welfare of all humanity, not just his own welfare. True
Eid for a believer is not merely a celebration after Ramadan; it is a moment
when truth triumphs, when the sincere receive Allah’s support, and when unity
crushes division. The truth has already begun to appear; and it will shine more
brightly with time. And soon, by Allah’s permission, the truth will crush all
that is false, all that is in error, and the sincere will attain the final
victory. Insha-Allah, Ameen.
Thus, my call to all who love Allah and love
Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) and all the prophets of Allah without exception: build
your future upon unity in humanity and not upon hatred. Share with those who
have nothing, seek Allah’s forgiveness and His mercy; do not think yourselves
superior and others inferior. Allah has taught us through our beloved Prophet
(pbuh): you are all equal in the sight of Allah, and only piety – the level of
a person’s piety – defines whether one is superior to another. Superiority lies
only in Taqwa, in obeying Allah and His Messengers, spreading good and
forbidding evil.
Therefore, today, in a situation of war, the
hope and joy (Eid) that we desire is the unity of the Ummah, the unity of
humanity. The true Eid of a sincere believer is when he sees the truth of Islam
triumph in the world, when he sees Allah supporting the sincere, and when he
sees the oppressors fall despite all their plots.
Thus, just as Allah commands to say: Jaaa’al-Haqqu
wa zahaqal-Baatil: innal-Baatila kaana zahuuqaa. “The
truth has come and falsehood has vanished; for falsehood is bound to vanish.”
(Bani Isra’il 17: 82); this is not by chance. Everything is determined by
Allah. This is what we call Qadr – Allah’s Decree – and when Allah wills
to strengthen and demonstrate His Decree, no one can prevent Him from doing so,
and then truth emerges victorious, and all falsehoods and impurities of Satan
are pulverised and disappear, as Allah has decreed.
Therefore, all of us together, let us remain
firm upon the Qur’an, and upon the Sunnah, and remain firm upon unity, and let
us prepare ourselves for the final victory of truth by purifying our intentions
and our actions. Eid-ul-Fitr is a
reminder that every end of struggle brings a new stage; and Allah’s word can
never be erased. True Eid is when truth triumphs, and when that truth manifests
and becomes for Al-Haqq (The One Who is True, The One Who Himself is the
Truth), that is, Allah Himself.
We supplicate that as long as Allah grants us
life, we use every breath of our body, of our soul, of our conscience to build
peace and unity, and to purify ourselves to receive Allah’s infinite grace upon
us, within us, and all around us. Insha-Allah, Ameen. Eid Mubarak.
---Eid-ul-Fitr Sermon of 01 Shawwal 1447 AH~ 21 March 2026 delivered by Imam- Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam International Hazrat Muhyiuddin Al Khalifatullah Munir Ahmad Azim (aba) of Mauritius.