Bedtime Ethics in Islam

Qur'an on Night Prayer

 

 

‘Remember the name of your Lord at dawn and in the evening; bow down before Him, and glorify Him at length by night’. (76: 26-27)

‘Proclaim His praise in the night’ (50:41)

 

‘Glorify Him at night and at the fading of the stars.’ (52: 50) 

 

‘Keep up the prayer at both ends of the day, and during parts of the night, for good things drive bad away– this is a reminder for those who are aware.’ (11: 115)

 

‘Celebrate the praise of your Lord, before the rising and setting of the sun, celebrate His praise during the night, and at the beginning and end of the day, so that you may find contentment.’ (20:131)

 

‘Night prayer makes a deeper impression and sharpens words–– you are kept busy for long periods of the day–– so celebrate the name of your Lord and devote yourself wholeheartedly to Him.’ (73:7-9)

 

‘And during the night wake up and pray, as an extra offering of your own, so that your Lord may raise you to a [highly] praised status.’ (17:80)

Adam's Sons: Habil and Qabil

 

God's messengers and Man's free-will

 
'The Messenger believes in what has been revealed to him from his Lord, and so do the believers. They believe in Allah, His angels, His Books, and His messengers. (They proclaim) “We make no distinction between any of His messengers.” And they say, “We hear and obey. (We seek) Your forgiveness, our Lord! And to You (alone) is the final return.” (Al-Baqara 2: 286)

 

Alhamdulillah Summa Alhamdulillah, I continue my sermon on the Messengers of Allah and the struggle between good and evil.

 

From the Islamic perspective, all prophets and messengers of Allah deserve the respect and love of believers. When Allah established Adam (as) on earth, He granted him a wife from his own being, of his own quality and essence, to bring forth a new generation of humans. These humans have free will, with the choice to choose their path: either they choose the right path and gain divine love, or they become companions of the Satan and burn with him in Hell.

Prophets and Divine Love

 

The Messengers of Allah 

 

'The Messenger believes in what has been revealed to him from his Lord, and so do the believers. They believe in Allah, His angels, His Books, and His messengers. (They proclaim) “We make no distinction between any of His messengers.” And they say, “We hear and obey. (We seek) Your forgiveness, our Lord! And to You (alone) is the final return.” (Al-Baqara 2: 286)

 

Alhamdulillah Summa Alhamdulillah, I resume my sermon on the subject I discussed last week regarding the creation of Adam (as).

 

So, we see that just as the angels submitted to the will of Allah when He created Adam (as), and accepted His will as His law without finding within themselves the idea to revolt against Allah’s will, and where they [i.e. not just the messengers but the angels as well] said: ‘We have heard and obey,’ similarly, all souls, even before the creation of Adam (as), whom Allah had decreed to send to earth, all of them – including us – submitted to Allah’s will when Allah decreed our coming into this world, and where He placed us among the descendants of our ancestor Adam (as) who contained within him the divine essence. Therefore, the human race also bore witness that we would be obedient to Allah and submit to His will. We must be very aware that all prophets and messengers are also included, because we too (the Messengers) must believe in the Messengers who came before us. We have the duty to confirm the coming of the prophets and messengers before us, and we also announce the coming of the prophets after us, until the final limit of the end of the world where it is in Allah’s decision to destroy the earth and create other creations, because nothing is impossible in His power.

God's Prophets

 

'The Messenger believes in what has been revealed to him from his Lord, and so do the believers. They believe in Allah, His angels, His Books, and His messengers. (They proclaim) “We make no distinction between any of His messengers.” And they say, “We hear and obey. (We seek) Your forgiveness, our Lord! And to You (alone) is the final return.” (Al-Baqara 2: 286)

Alhamdulillah, Summa Alhamdulillah, Allah has done a great favour to mankind, and in the past to every nation of the world, whereby sometimes He sends one, two or sometimes even four prophets at the same time with the same message, i.e., to preach: “Laa Ilaaha Illallah” (There is no one to worship but Allah).

 

Even today, Allah continues to pour down His favours and has chosen you, in this century to witness the advent of one of His Elects and Messengers, this humble servant to show and guide you to Allah, and to manifest such positives changes in you to enable you to see the divine light.

Qur’an and Spiritual Life

  

‘Indeed the Qur’an guides to that which is most suitable and gives good tidings to the believers who do righteous deeds that they will have a great reward.’  [17:9]

‘We send the Qur’an as healing and mercy for those who believe’ (17:82)

‘One who recites the Qur’an is like a citron, whose flavour is good and whose scent is good. One who does not recite the Qur’an is like a date, whose flavour is good but which has no scent. An immoral person who recites the Qur’an is like basil, whose scent is good but whose taste is bitter. And an immoral person who does not recite the Qur’an is like the colocynth, whose taste is bitter and which has no scent.’ 

                                - Holy Prophet Muhammad (sa)

 

 

On Monday 12 August 2024, in a special ‘Question and Answer’ session with Imam- Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam International Hazrat Muhyiuddin Al Khalifatullah Al Mahdi Munir Ahmad Azim (aba), a bunch of Muslim students from the University of Mauritius had the chance of a lifetime to seek spiritual guidance from the Shiekh-ul-Islam of this era, Alhamdulillah, Summa Alhamdulillah.

 

Reproduced below is a summary of the responses given by Hazrat Saheb (aba) to the questions that were raised on the occasion:

Lessons from Nuh (as)

The Messengers of Allah

 

'The Messenger believes in what has been revealed to him from his Lord, and so do the believers. They believe in Allah, His angels, His Books, and His messengers. (They proclaim) 'We make no distinction between any of His messengers.' And they say, 'We hear and obey. (We seek) Your forgiveness, our Lord! And to You (alone) is the final return.' (Al-Baqara 2: 286)

 

All the prophets who preceded Muhammad (pbuh) were sent with a message of warning and guidance to a particular people. None of their messages was intended to be universal, including that of Jesus [Isa (as)], who was commissioned by Allah specifically as a prophet to the Children of Israel, Israel being another name given to Jacob [Yaqub (as)], until there came the last law-bearing prophet and messenger, i.e. Muhammad (pbuh) who was entrusted with the final and complete set of Allah’s laws as guidance for the whole of humanity for all times to come. So, who were some of those prophets of Allah?

‘Trust Allah in Trials of Life’

 

Tarbiyyat Lessons- 23

 

‘The testing of a believer, male or female,

In respect to one’s person, children, and property

Will not cease until one meets Allah the Exalted

 Unburdened by any sin’ 

*****

 

‘When Allah wants good for a mortal

Allah hastens affliction in this world;

And when Allah wants ill for a mortal,

Allah leaves him be with his sin

Until his soul is taken

on the Day of Resurrection’

 

*****

 

‘Be mindful of Allah,

And you will find Allah in front of you.

Acknowledge Allah in ease,

And Allah will acknowledge you in distress.

And know that what misleads you 

will never enable you to do right,

And what enables you do right 

will never mislead you.

And know that help comes with patience,

And that relief comes with distress;

And that with difficulty comes ease.’

 

*********

Signs of True Muslims

 

Tarbiyyat Lessons- 21

Islamic teachings empower individuals in their everyday lives. Divine commands in the Holy Qur’an guide our souls and minds to distinguish between what is right and wrong so as to truly prosper through a God-centric life of pure devotion, clean habits, justice-orientation, and spirit of kinship and service to all humanity. If we hold true Faith and sincere allegiance to the Way of Life practiced by the Holy Prophet of Islam (sa), it will enable us to form personal habits and preferences that will reflect the true wisdom of the same values he preached. When we embrace Islam in our inner temperament and behaviour, we will be intuitively guided to good deeds and productive habits; we will also move away from frivolity and wastage and bad habits, and truly prioritize that which will benefit the individual person, her family and friends and the society at large, both in this world and in the world to come, Insha Allah.

*****************

 

‘The servants of the Lord of Mercy are those who walk humbly on the earth, and who, when the foolish address them, reply, ‘Peace’; those who spend the night bowed down or standing, worshipping their Lord, who plead, ‘Our Lord, turn away from us the suffering of Hell, for it is a dreadful torment to suffer! It is an evil home, a foul resting place!’

 

They are those who are neither wasteful nor niggardly when they spend, but keep to a just balance; those who never invoke any other deity beside God, nor take a life, which God has made sacred, except in the pursuit of justice, nor commit adultery.

Allah & His Chosen One

In his Friday Sermon of 05 July 2024~28 Dhul-Hijjah 1445 AH, Imam- Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam Hazrat Khalifatullah Al Mahdi Munir A. Azim (aba) of Mauritius speaks on true faith and devotion to God, explaining what it entails from sincere believers in every day life.  In this era, as in the times of Divine Elects in history, believers stand to gain rewards when they demonstrate  gratitude and loyalty to God and His commands; a commitment to struggle against the selfish [evil] impulses through patience and prayer; a sound heart embracing God’s will and pleasure at all times regardless of mundane setbacks and personal losses, notes Hazrat Saheb (aba). 

Tarbiyyat Lessons-19

 

Life is yours...

So you have to choose

whom you want to in your life.

 

Surround yourself with

People who know your worth

 

You don't need

too many in your life:

Just the real ones

who appreciate you

for exactly who you are

***********

 

If you want good results,

Then meet with good people

Good people always give you

Positive vibration and real happiness.

*****************

'Nabi' and 'Rasul' in Islam

 

'Rasulan Nabiyan'  (Messenger & Prophet) 

The Messenger believes in what has been revealed to him from his Lord, and so do the believers. They believe in Allah, His angels, His Books, and His messengers. (They proclaim) “We make no distinction between any of His messengers.” And they say, “We hear and obey. (We seek) Your forgiveness, our Lord! And to You (alone) is the final return.” (Al-Baqara 2: 286)

Alhamdulillah, Summa Alhamdulillah, today I have chosen to talk about the messengers of Allah. First of all, when we talk about the Messengers of Allah, it is very important that we are aware that the Islamic conception regarding the role and function of the prophets is different from the conception of the Jews and Christians. In Islam, the word “Nabi” (prophet) or even “Rasul” (Messenger) is not reserved for only the Elects of Allah who have received divine revelations as divine laws to share with their peoples. When we talk about prophets before the coming of Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh), we are talking about prophets whose message was limited to their own people, while Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) and all those who come and will come as his followers-prophets, will be prophets who cannot bring any new law, where they must base themselves only on the Holy Quran and the information of the Ghayb (Invisible) that Allah shows them.

 

And so, this brings us to the question, can a prophet come after Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh)? 

'Has God Stopped Talking?'

Proof of the Existence of God Almighty 

In response to the question which I have received from a Muslim man who was about to renounce his faith in Islam and in Allah altogether, I am hereby through this sermon answering him so that this explanation may benefit one and all. 

Is there conclusive evidence that God exists? Is the existence of God a fact that can be proven like any other scientific fact that can be proven in a laboratory? 

It is surprising that atheists and believers today share the same belief regarding one of the attributes of God that provides conclusive proof of His existence. In today’s world, it is a fact that everyone agrees upon, both atheists and followers of the various religions of the world, that God has stopped talking.

The Essence of ‘Taqwah’

  

In response to a question on the real meaning of ‘Taqwah’, received from a young Muslim  from abroad, Hazrat Khalifatullah Al Mahdi Munir Ahmad Azim (aba) of Mauritius offered spiritual guidance, the text of which is reproduced below for the benefit of all seekers of higher wisdom.

 

Ms. Nusrat Alibagh [Germany]: ‘Assalamu Alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarkaatuhu. Hazrat Munir Sahib, l want to have an answer from you: what is the real meaning of ‘Taqwah’?

 

Answer: ‘You know in the Holy Quran Allah (swt) say: ‘Verily, the Believers are those whose hearts feel fear when Allah is mentioned, and when His signs (or revelations) are recited to them they increase their faith, and who put their trust in their Lord.’ (8:3).

Tarbiyyat Lessons- 14

 

The Bravest Heart:

One that stays close to Allah

even when it's in pain".

*************

‘Ya Allah,

I put everything in Your Hands today:

My family, my health, my home, my security, and my fears;

You’re the only One

I trust with all l have and all I am,

Ameen’.

************** 

'Eid-ul-Adha' Sermon 2024

 

The Pilgrimage & the Eid Festival

In Islam, Muslims around the world celebrate two Eids: Eid-ul-Fitr which marks the end of the blessed month of Ramadan, and Eid-ul-Adha which marks the end of the Hajj through a sacrifice of sheep or cattle or even camel, also known as sacrifice of Prophet Ibrahim (as), his son Isma’il (as) and his wife Hajra (ra). It is more commonly known as the festival of Udhiya (Arabic) or Qurbani (Urdu).

Hajj, the fifth pillar of Islam, comes in the last month of the lunar calendar, Dhul-Hijjah (which literally means, Month of Hajj). The Hajj is an exceptional occasion where Muslim unity appears in its finest form. The Ummah of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) sees itself united in the same spirit of sacrifice and in the same garment: two simple unsewn white cloths. Therefore, we bear witness to the unified state of Muslims, the same state that must be manifest in every Muslim throughout the world.

Tarbiyyat Lessons-10

Five qualities of a Muslim Wife

1.     Faith (‘Imaan’)

A wife who is strong in her faith and devotion to Allah is considered attractive in Islam as she is supportive, and encourages her husband in his religious journey.

2.     Obedience (‘Taha’)

A wife who is obedient to her husband and respects him is considered attractive, as she will be a supportive partner, and helps to maintain a harmonious household.

3.     Modesty (‘Haya’).

A wife who is modest and chaste in her behaviour, in her dress, is considered attractive as she will preserve her dignity and the honour of her family.

'Tarbiyyat' Lessons- 7

 

No matter what happens in life, keep a good heart; a heart of trust and patience. Don't let the darkness of some people harden your heart. 

With time, you will come to know the wisdom of Allah in everything that has happened to you. You will come to realise that He has been more Merciful to you than your own self.

*************

Nobody will be able to understand your pain

But Allah,

So talk to Allah; 

Connect with Him

It will help you

It will give you a reason 

To look forward to tomorrow.

*************

‘Tarbiyyat’ Lessons- 6

  

A God-centric approach can enable and empower us to deal with shifting fortunes in personal and social life. As humans, our hearts experience a range of emotions in the varied settings of life. Hence, we encounter both moments of ecstasy and agony; of fortune and misfortune; of happiness and sadness; of hope and despair. Islam prescribes temperamental moderation and a well-balanced approach to issues that affect the individual at the deepest level; teachings that are essential for personal mental health and emotional stability, and for collective well-being of the community at large. It envisages that in times of ease and comfort, we should remain grateful to God for all the blessings of life, and remain within the bounds of Shari’ah, and not commit excesses while taking our fill of pleasure. Likewise, we should turn to our Creator and invoke His sublime attributes in our low moments: times when we experience misfortune and sorrow; feel a huge void at the loss of a dear one, or feel sad and depressed after a sincere relationship falls apart. Indeed, at such emotionally-vulnerable points, to find the inner strength to cope with the vagaries in our fortunes; we could and should rely entirely on God’s mercy and hope for His grace through spiritual invocations and Duahs.  

In a recent series of messages with his spiritual disciples and followers, Imam- Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam International Hazrat Muhyiuddin Al Khalifatullah Munir Ahmad Azim (aba) of Mauritius provides fascinating insights on human emotions and related Islamic teachings on Divine remembrance to empower people struggling with emotional burdens in vulnerable situations.

 

Read the Messages Below:

'Dhul-Hijjah': First 10 Days

The first ten days of the month of Hajj [Dhul Hijjah] is among the most sacred days in the Islamic calendar. For the days are within the annual Hajj season of Muslim pilgrimage to Makkah and associated rites and rituals at the Ka’aba, culminating in the observance of Qurbani in the time of Eid-ul-Adha. In his Friday Sermon of 20 November 2009, Imam- Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam International Hazrat Muhyiuddin Al Khalifatullah Munir Ahmad Azim (aba) of Mauritius comprehensively explains the significance of the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah in the spiritual life of the Muslims, including the rules and practices associated with the correct observance of Qurbani- the allocation of shares of the sacrificial meat. 

 

Read the Friday Sermon Below:

The first ten days of the Islamic month Zil Hajj [Dhul-Hijjah] is among those special moments for the worship of Allah. Ibn Abbas (ra) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (sa) has said:

 

'No good deeds done on other days are superior to those done on these (first ten days of Dhul Hijjah).' Then some companions of the Prophet said, 'Not even Jihad?' He replied, 'Not even Jihad, except that of a man who does it by putting himself and his property in danger (for Allah’s sake) and does not return with any of those things.'