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.
When a servant pronounces “Laa Ilaaha
Illallahu”, it is not merely a phrase, but a journey towards divine light.
It is a journey of Nur (Light), and whoever receives Nur’ul Hidaya
(the Light of Guidance) does not remain an ordinary person; he draws near to
his Creator, like the Auliya (Friends of Allah) and the Ahlullah
(People of Allah).
The Ahlullah are a category of Auliya
who have attained the highest degree of closeness to Allah, and it is among His
chosen ones that Allah appoints His Prophet (Nabi), His Wali
(Friend), and grants also the title Khalillullah (Intimate Friend of
Allah), which is more exalted in rank than a Waliullah (ordinary Friend
of Allah). While sincere servants of Allah must strive to reach these degrees
of closeness, a prophet and messenger of Allah is appointed by Allah Himself to
this position of honour and great responsibility, even before his birth. Before
his birth, the Chosen One of Allah, the Elect, the Representative and Prophet
of Allah, is prepared by Allah for the important task awaiting him on earth.
That is why this Khalifatullah, Nabiullah, Rasulullah is
above all the beloved (Habib) of Allah, the one whom Allah covers with
His Mercy and His protection, and whom He sends to earth for the reform of
humanity.
We see the greatness of Nabuwwat
(prophethood) in the Nabuwwat of Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh), whom Allah
appointed as the greatest and most perfect among all people since creation.
Therefore, after the advent of Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh), who is Rahmatul-lil-Aalameen
(a Mercy for all the worlds), Allah designated all prophets who would be born
in his Ummah also as Rahmatul-lil-Aalameen, because the light of
perfection (Nur’ul Kamaal) of Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) is reflected in
their representation of him on earth.
When we speak of Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh), we
must keep in mind that he came as Salvation for all humanity, for all the
worlds. His perfect light, the essence of his perfection, reflects the essence
of the Nabuwwat of all prophets and messengers of Allah who came before
him (pbuh). Thus, it is a great honour for a man when Allah appoints him as a
prophet after Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh), not to diminish his perfection or his
rank as the Seal of all prophets, but rather to show the inestimable value of
this Seal of Prophethood which Allah granted him. It is an honour Allah bestowed
upon His Beloved Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh), that although He did not grant him a
biological son directly connected to him personally (in a father-son
relationship), Allah granted him the greatest honour of being the father of the
prophets of his Ummah, a community destined to spread across the world and
conquer hearts to Islam (i.e. the Submission to Allah, in peace).
Therefore, the Nur of Allah is in all
His prophets, and also in all those who follow His prophets with absolute
sincerity. These people become reflections of the light of the Messenger of
Allah in whom they have believed, and this enables them to draw near to Allah,
for they have received from the Messenger (Rasul) the essence of
connection needed to come close to Allah. The purpose of a Messenger, a
Prophet, a Representative of Allah is to guide people towards Allah, to show
them how to connect with Allah so that they may receive a share of the divine
light which he came to spread for the well-being of humanity. And not only
humans benefit from this, but also the Jinns and other creatures of Allah.
Whoever follows the Messenger, and applies his advice and teachings, the Nur
of Allah is placed upon that follower, and he too becomes among the Waliullah
(Friends of Allah) and Ahlullah (Chosen Ones of Allah). It is from among
these that Allah later reselects to send His Messenger, as a strong chain of Nabuwwat
which reinforces the Nabuwwat of Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) and of the
prophet who inherits it.
One example is the spiritual heritage that Hazrat
Massih Ma’ud Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) inherited from Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh); and
in this century, the spiritual heritage that I have inherited from Hazrat
Muhammad (pbuh) and also from Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as). This chain cannot be
broken, for all true messengers and prophets of Allah confirm one another and
never declare the other to be a liar.
It is the sacred duty of a prophet of Allah
that until he receives from Allah a clear revelation declaring whether someone
else is also a prophet or not, he must remain silent, for the future will
reveal the truth. Allah tests faith in ways that sometimes seem impossible to
overcome, but it is through His help and divine plan that Allah grants His true
Prophet or Prophets (whether singular or plural) victory. We find this
explanation clearly in Surah Yasin, where Allah mentions that He sent two
messengers, and when people did not believe or follow them, He strengthened
them with a third messenger who confirmed the two.
Thus, the test comes when doubts arise; people
must turn to Allah and seek guidance. But whoever truly fears Allah must never
ridicule a prophet of Allah, lest he falls into sin and loses the Nur
(Light) of Allah, the Light of Guidance (Huda). The Nur of Allah
protects against major sins and keeps one away from evil deeds.
Another form of light, Nur’ul Inaayat
(the Light of Protection – Divine Protection, or a Light showing the closeness
of that person to Allah), keeps the believer away from superstitions and
weakness. A heart filled with Nur becomes a purified heart, a heart that
attains closeness to Allah. The Qur’an tells us: “Allah
is the Light of the heavens and the earth.” (An-Nur 24: 36). This
verse shows that all light comes from the Creator, and whoever is connected
with Him receives illumination from His light.
The Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said in a
Hadith Qudsi reported in Sahih Bukhari: “Allah says: ‘I am with My
servant when he thinks of Me; if he thinks of Me in an assembly, I think of him
in a better assembly.’”
This shows that Zikrullah (Remembrance
of Allah) draws divine closeness, and a believer receives honour directly from
Allah. A heart that remembers Allah, that recalls Him in all circumstances of
life, receives illumination, and this illumination is reflected in his actions
and in his entire life. Whoever remains in Zikr attains inner peace, a
stability that cannot be bought with material wealth. Zikrullah becomes
nourishment for the soul, a strength that gives courage in difficult moments.
Shukrullah, that
is gratitude towards Allah, is also a key to Nur. Allah says in the
Qur’an: “If you are grateful, I will increase My
favours upon you.” (Ibrahim 14: 8). Gratitude opens the door to
blessings and attracts divine light. Whoever thanks Allah for every breath,
every blessing, every moment of his life, receives an abundance of Nur
(Light) that purifies his body and his heart. Purification is the sign that the
believer is on the path of divine closeness. A servant who remains in Shukr
(gratitude) has a heart filled with contentment, free from jealousy and envy,
and remains satisfied with what Allah has given him. This satisfaction itself
is a light that brightens his path.
Love for the Holy Prophet (pbuh) is a grace
that illuminates the heart. Whoever respects and loves the Messenger of Allah,
the Seal of all prophets Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh), receives divine protection and
Allah elevates his rank. Hazrat Bilal (ra) is a living example of this love.
His attachment to the Holy Prophet (pbuh) was so strong that his name became a
symbol of loyalty and light. When he suffered all kinds of torture, he remained
firm in his faith, repeating “Ahad, Ahad” (Allah is One). This shows
that love for Allah and the Holy Prophet (pbuh) gave him extraordinary
strength. Whoever does not show respect for the Holy Prophet (pbuh) and the
Prophet of his time loses this light and is destroyed by his own ingratitude. A
heart without love for the Holy Prophet (pbuh) remains in darkness and cannot
receive the Nur of Allah.
Divine light manifests in several forms: Nur’ul
Hidaaya (the Light of Guidance), which leads to truth; Nur’ul Kifaayat
(the Light of Sufficiency), which protects against major sins; and Nur’ul
Inaayat (the Light of Protection and Divine Closeness), which keeps away
evil deeds. Each light is a special grace, and together they transform a true
believer into a purified person close to Allah. When a servant receives Nur’ul
Hidaaya, he gains inner strength that protects him against temptations.
When he receives Nur’ul Kifaayat, he feels a divine barrier preventing
him from falling into major sins. When he receives Nur’ul Inaayat, he
experiences inner peace that keeps him away from harmful influences. These
three lights together form a spiritual shield that keeps a believer in purity
and sincerity.
Another important aspect is that Nur is
not only an inner illumination, but also an outer guidance. Whoever is filled
with Nur gains the capacity to inspire others, to show the path of
truth, and to spread peace. A believer who receives Nur becomes a source
of light for his family, his community, and even for those who have not yet
attained true faith. This shows that the Nur of Allah is not limited,
but radiates in all directions. A servant filled with the Nur of Allah
becomes like a lamp that brightens those around him, and his very presence
brings comfort to others.
In daily life, Zikr and Shukr
must become a habit. Each morning, a servant should begin his day with Zikr,
and each evening he should end it with Shukr. This routine strengthens
his connection with Allah and keeps his heart illuminated. The Holy Prophet
(pbuh) taught Duahs (supplications) for every moment of life, and these Duahs
are means by which a believer can remain in Zikr and Shukr
continuously for Allah. A servant who remains in Zikr and Shukr
acquires spiritual discipline, and this discipline itself is a light that
protects him against the distractions of the world.
The Holy Prophet (pbuh) said in a Hadith Qudsi
that Allah declared: “Whoever draws near to Me by a handspan, I draw near
to him by a cubit; whoever comes to Me walking, I come to him running.”
(Muslim)
This shows Allah’s infinite mercy and His
closeness to those who remember Him and thank Him. A servant who remains in Zikr
and Shukr lives a life filled with peace, satisfaction, and divine
light. This divine light is not only for this world, but also a preparation for
the Hereafter, where such a believer attains eternal closeness to Allah.
Therefore, my advice to my sincere disciples
and to the entire Ummah of our beloved Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) is to maintain your
connection with Allah through Zikr and Shukr. Salat
(prayer), especially the obligatory prayers, must never be neglected; and
whoever is truly sincere must, in addition to his Salat, maintain his
contact with Allah through constant Zikrullah, and within this Zikrullah,
thank Allah as well. This is the key to divine light. Whoever remembers Allah
(in Salat, in Zikr, in Duahs) and thanks Him becomes
purified, protected, and honoured. The divine light transforms his entire life,
and such a believer becomes among those closest to Allah. Therefore, undertake
this journey of Nur, take the path towards divine closeness, and in
reward you will receive Allah’s eternal grace. Insha-Allah,
Ameen.
---Friday Sermon of 17 April 2026~ 28 Shawwal 1447 AH Delivered by Imam- Jamaat ul Sahih Al Islam International Hazrat Muhyiuddin Al Khalifatullah Munir Ahmad Azim (aba) of Mauritius.