‘Sabequn’: Excel in Virtues

  

 

True faith in Islam is a journey in progressive action.  ‘Imaan’ entails a believing person’s verbal commitment to abide by Divine commands to match with his or her actions in life. Otherwise, mere expression of faith amounts to nothing in the spiritual realm. For a Muslim, expression of faith with sincerity of purpose leads to corresponding actions driven by the obligations of faith. Put differently, verbal expression of belief in the values of Islam is socially completed only when good deeds emanate from the believer. That is why the Holy Qur’an repeatedly urges true believers to race with one another in doing good deeds and to progress in piety by practicing all virtues of life.  

 

Believers have the duty to constantly strive: to bring about reform and refinement in personal, family and social conduct; refrain from evils and sinful inclinations; respect the rights of God and the rights of His servants, etc. Reproduced below is a holy discourse given in March 1908 at Qadian by the Promised Messiah Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) of Qadian [1835-1908] urging his disciples and followers in the Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya to bring about a pious change in their personal, family and social life by being truly mindful of God and His commandments:

 

Read the Spiritual Discourse Below

Promised Messiah: Prophecies & Signs

 

On the occasion of the Massih Maoud Day, on 23 March 2022~ 20 Shabaan 1443 AH, Imam- Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam International Hazrat Muhyiuddin Al Khalifatullah Munir Ahmad Azim (aba) of Mauritius made an illuminating discourse on a very important spiritual issue. Expounding on the great Muslim spiritual expectation concerning the advent of a great Divine soul among the people in the Later Days, Hazrat Khalifatullah (aba) describes how these historic prophecies stand fulfilled through the advent of the Promised Messiah Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) in the previous era, and also the heavenly signs that have magnificently testified to the veracity of the spiritual claims.  Hazrat Khalifatullah (aba) further notes that the heavenly promises and signs have once again stand fulfilled in this era when Allah (swt) raised him, with Divine revelations, to reform and revive the pure teachings and practices of Sahih Al Islam. Hazrat Khalifatullah (aba) further notes that the heavenly promises and signs have once again stand fulfilled in this era when Allah (swt) raised him, with Divine revelations, to reform and revive the pure teachings and practices of Sahih Al Islam. Read the Special Discourse Below:  

The Divine Mission @ 20

All Praise Belongs to the Almighty Alone. That is the defining thought for us as  the Divine Manifestation in Mauritius in the person of our beloved Imam Hadhrat Muhyi-ud-Din Al Khalifatullah Munir Ahmad Azim (atba) marks the completion of the first two-decades of its spiritual mission this week. Even as the world marked the end of the second millennium after Jesus (as), and commenced a new century in the trajectory of time in the year 2000-01, spiritually-illumined dreams, sublime mystical visions and Divine revelations were bestowed upon this most humble man who already made it his life’s vocation to devote all his time and energy in sharing the Word of God to the people near and far.  As the Divine Manifestation enters its twenty-first year; this week also marks for the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam International, the 12th anniversary of its distinct identity as a spiritual commune, Alhamdulillah, Soumma Alhamdulillah.

The Divine Manifestation of Mauritius is in perfect accordance with the finest traditions of Islamic spirituality. Indeed, it is a living, thriving example of the vitality of Islam as a religion and way of life. The deeply-rooted belief in the Islamic world- and the experience of the distinct Muslim communities around the world- regarding the appearance of Divinely-imbued souls among the believers finds one of its clearest manifestations in the spiritual circle of the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam today. 

An Inspired, Divine Mission

Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Saheb (atba) is a born-soldier of Islam, having had with him from a relatively very young age of his blessed life, an abiding interest in religious matters and an intuitive understanding of effective preaching and an exceptional drive to spread further and further the true message of Islam for all of humanity. Years before the Divine call, as a devout Daai-e-Ilallah, Hadhrat Munir was the ambassador of the Promised Massih (as) to several communities and peoples of the Indian Ocean Island-states, including Reunion Island (1990), Mayotte (1997) and Seychelles (2000), helping to establish the Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya in these distant lands. During those years, through his fervent prayers and the Divine Grace over his ardent preaching efforts,  hundreds of people in these nations got the opportunity to recognize the sublime path of true Islam. Indeed, in the annals of Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya, the extraordinary services rendered by this humble servant of Islam to the mission of the Promised Massih (as) had been recorded by the then (Fourth) caliph Hadhrat Mirza Tahir Ahmad Sahib himself. Even more importantly, Allah (twa) showed His deep appreciation and profound satisfaction for the sincere and earnest efforts, when Allah (swt) took him under His wing of Mercy at the age of 40 when he became a frequent recipient of divine revelations and spiritually-infused messages from the Unseen. 

By the Grace of Allah (swt), for the last two decades now, Hadhrat Munir (atba) has been blessed with an abundance of Divine communications and spiritual messages, to a level and scale unheard of in the records of the Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya since the times of the Promised Massih (as) in the previous century.  Like the Promised Messiah Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) of Qadian (1835-1908 CE) in the previous era, Hazrat Munir (atba)  claims Divine revelations and messages as the authority behind his spiritual titles and religious claims in this era. Allah (swt)  bestowed upon him several spiritual titles in this era- Hazrat, Amir-ul-Mu’mineen, Muhyi-ud-Din Khalifatullah; Mujaddid, Messiah, etc. He is charged with a Divinely-inspired mission of reclaiming and revitalizing the enduring message of Tawheed in this new century of the Islamic Era. 

Bai'at: The Path to Cleanse the Heart

The founder of the Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya, the Promised Massih and Imam Mahdi of the Later Days, Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) of Qadian (1835-1908 CE) has had profound spiritual expectations regarding the people who chose to come forward and take the Bai'at- the Covenant of Obedience to God and His Messenger (sa) and the Divine Elect of their times. In his book Kishti Noohu (The Noah's Ark), the Promised Messiah (as) spoke movingly about the vital importance of sincere soul searching and inner purity; righteous conduct and just relations in the  abiding quest for the illumination of the heart- to be accepted in the presence of God Almighty. Reproduced below is an extract from the Book where Hazrat Ahmad (as) speaks about the persons who take Bai'at with him, clearly distinguishing between those who truly belong and those who really do not: 

“[Y]ou must not rest satisfied merely because in outward form you have taken Bai’at at my hand. The outward form means nothing: God sees what lies inside your hearts, and He would deal with you on the basis of what He sees there. 

Lo and behold! I herein discharge my duty unto you, by making it plain that sin is a poison. Do not take it. Disobedience to God is a dirty death which you should avoid. Turn to prayer that you should get the strength. At the time of prayer, if a man does not firmly believe that Allah has power over everything, except what may be contained in a previous promise, such a one is not of my community.

He who is caught in a tangle of worldly greed, and never even raises his eyes to things which pertain to the next life, is not of my community. Whosoever does not wholly and completely keep away from every sin and every evil action, like wine, gambling, looking lustfully at women, dishonesty, bribes, and from every kind of illegal gratification, he is not of my community.

Whosoever is not constantly turning to prayer, and does not remember Him in absolute humility of spirit, he is not of my community. Whosoever does not give up association with a bad companion, who exercises an unhealthy influence over him, he is not of my community. Whosoever does not respect his parents, whosoever does not render obedience to them in things which do not run counter to the Holy Quran, and whosoever is neglectful in rendering to them the service to which they are undoubtedly entitled, he is not of my community.

'I am the Messiah of this Era'

"I want neither pelf nor power. I have been commissioned by Allah as a Warner unto mankind, and deliver His message to you. Should you accept it, you shall have felicity in this life as well as in the life to come. Should you reject the word of Allah, surely Allah will decide between you and me." 

More than 1400  years ago, addressing the doubting Makkan chieftains of his times, Holy Prophet Muhammad (sa)  emphatically declared his Divinely-inspired spiritual Mission in the aforesaid words. Through out history, the Holy Prophet's ringing words have been the signature tune of Islamic Messiahs and other Divine Elects; people who spoke with the help of Holy Spirit (Roohul Quddus) and were known by different spiritual titles. Like the Promised Messiah Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) of Qadian (1835-1908 CE) in the previous era, Hazrat Munir Ahmad Azim (aba) of Mauritius in this era claims Divine revelations and messages as the authority behind his spiritual titles and religious claims as the Imam, Caliph, Mujaddid and Messiah of this era. 

06 December 2003. Almost 15 years ago, it was  on this day that Hazrat Saheb (aba) made his official proclamation as the Muhyi-ud-Din (Reviver of the Faith) and the Messiah of this era. The Speech is noteworthy on a number of grounds. As the Founding Head of the Jamaat Ahmadiyya Al Mouslemeen, Hazrat Munir (aba) explains the spiritual and material circumstances in which the Jamaat was founded as a distinct group of believers who follow all teachings of Islam.  

'Strive to Excel in the Path of God'

Prepare for the 'Journey'

“At this time, the purpose of my address is that since there can be no guarantee of one’s life, I feel that the number of people who are gathered around me now may perhaps not be with us in the following year. Moreover, during these days, I saw in a vision that in the coming year certain friends would no longer be with us, but I cannot say who of them was referred to in this vision. I am certain that this is because everyone individually ought to prepare himself for their journey to the afterlife. As I have just mentioned, no names were disclosed to me, but I know for certain by knowledge given to me from Allah the Exalted that divine destiny and decree has its time. All must leave this transient world at some point or other.

And so, it is absolutely imperative to state that every individual and friend who is present now must not hear my words as though they were a storyteller’s tale. Rather, I counsel you from Allah and have been commissioned by Him. I address you with immense sympathy, true goodwill and with a burning heart. Hence, I call on my friends to heed my counsel. I reiterate that you ought to listen attentively and take my words to heart.

Belief in God

Allah is the most Supreme Being and He is the Light, for He has established His existence and Oneness in the Holy Quran with powerful and simple arguments. Those people who express doubts and harbour suspicion regarding His existence, despite witnessing the powers and miraculous wonders of this Magnificent Being, are truly the most unfortunate. In proof of His Magnificent and Powerful Being, Allah the Exalted has stated:

‘Are you in doubt concerning Allah, Maker of the heavens and the earth?’ (Surah Ibrahim; Ch. 14, v. 11)

meaning, can there be doubt in the existence of Allah the Exalted, who is the Creator of the heaven and earth? Now reflect, is it not perfectly clear and obvious that a created thing leads one to accept the existence of a creator? When a person sees a well-crafted shoe or chest, they are left with no choice but to immediately accept the existence of its craftsman. In the same way it is inexplicably astonishing that there should be any room for denial in the existence of Allah Almighty. How can one reject the existence of a Maker who has created thousands of wonders with which the heaven and earth are replete?

Hence, know for certain that a foolish person who doubts the Being and existence of God, even after observing these works and wonders of nature, which are beyond the power, mind or intellect of man to create, is an unfortunate person caught in the grip of Satan. Such a one ought to seek forgiveness from God. To reject the existence of God has no basis in argument or observation. In fact, to reject the existence of Allah, the Glorious, despite witnessing His powers, and the wonders of His creatures and creation at large, which fill the heaven and earth, is the height of blindness.

There are two forms of blindness: the blindness of one’s eyes and the blindness of one’s heart. A person’s physical blindness does not affect his faith. But a blinded heart does affect a person’s faith. Hence, it is necessary and absolutely imperative that every single individual constantly beseeches Allah Almighty with humility and submission so that He may grant him true divine understanding, insight and vision, and so that He may protect him/her from the evil whisperings of Satan.

Hazrat Ahmad: A Life Divine

Remembering the Promised Messiah

Today is 23 March 2018, and it's been 129 years since the Promised Messiah, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) of Qadian, founded the Ahmadiyya Movement in Islam and accepted the oaths of allegiance (Bai'at) from his 40 disciples in the house of Sufi Ahmad Jan in Ludhiana. The first person who took the oath from the hand of the Promised Messiah (as) was Hazrat Maulvi Nuruddin (ra) of Bhera who later became the first caliph of the Promised Messiah (as) - Khalifatul-Massih Awwal.

In Mauritius and other countries of the world, this historic day is known as: “Promised Messiah Day” and we, the Ahmadi Muslim, take this opportunity to speak about the life and aspects of the mission of the Promised Messiah (as).

Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) belonged to a Persian clan named Burlass. Among his ancestors was Mirza Hadi Baig, who emigrated from his hometown Samarkand (Khurasan) to settle in India accompanied by two hundred people from among his clan who included his family and his employees. He was a very noble person, a scholar and a pious person. India was at that time under the reign of the Mughal emperor Babar (1483-1530), and the emperor had given vast expanses of land to Mirza Hadi Baig as a gift for his loyal services. (Inset: Illustration of Babur, founder of the Mughal Empire in India, 1526-1857)

Thereafter Mirza Hadi Baig chose a portion of this vast land, and decided to settle there with his clan. He then founded a city and named it Islampur and with the passage of time, the name Islampur passed through several forms of change and was known as Islampur Qadi Maajhi, and then simply Qadi Maajhi, and then Qadi, and where finally this city was known like Qadian.

'Super Blood Moon' : A Grand Celestial Sign

There is no doubt that our Earth is dying. Day after day, hour after hour, the Earth nears its end, just like all humans and every living being shall inevitably meet their end. 

But no one can with exactitude say when the final Hour shall occur. Only the Almighty, Allah (twa) owns information about it and has not disclosed it to anyone, even His closest and most beloved of all prophets and creatures, the Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).

WHAT IS THE “FINAL HOUR/
THE DAY OF JUDGEMENT”?

In the Holy Quran, Allah (swt) clearly states:

They ask you about the Hour: when is its arrival? 

Say, “Its knowledge is only with my Lord. None will reveal its time except Him. It lays heavily upon the heavens and the earth. It will not come upon you except unexpectedly.” 

They ask you as if you are familiar with it.

Say, “Its knowledge is only with Allah, but most of the people do not know.” 
----(Qur'an , 7: 188)

“People ask you concerning the Hour. Say, “Knowledge of it is only with Allah. And what may make you perceive? Perhaps the Hour is near.” (Quran 33: 64)

The Bible also makes clear that only God Almighty knows the timing of such, and anyone who makes such a prediction (claiming that he knows the time of the Hour) acts contrary to the Word of God.

100 Years of Silsila Ahmadiyya in Mauritius

The Ahmadiyya Movement in Islam, founded by Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) of Qadian, originated in British India in the latter half of the 19^th century. At a time when the spiritual crises of the Muslim world was graphically reflecting in the dismal political fortunes of the Muslim Ummah everywhere, Hadhrat Ahmad (as) announced his Divinely-ordained mission as the promised Massih of the Later Days and as the Al Imam Al Mahdi of the Fourteenth century of the Islamic Era, to rejuvenate the Faith.

Muslims, who accepted his spiritual claims and enrolled themselves in the Anjuman, have come to be known as the Ahmadi Muslims. Although they constitute a miniscule minority within the larger Muslim population of 1.7 Billion, the different denominations of Ahmadis- including the Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Qadian and the Lahore Ahmadiyya Anjuman- are now found in almost all parts of the world.

The birth of the Ahmadiyya Movement in the Indian subcontinent and the story of its remarkable spread abroad over the course of the last century represent an important Chapter in the religious history of our times. This episode from the modern, living history of man is a standing testimonial to the continuing spiritual appeal and religious vitality of Islam as a way of life. 

Ahmadiyyat expanded and revitalized the spiritual horizon of Muslims and others through its very outlook on important spiritual questions that troubles modern minds. By bringing Divine Revelations back to the realm of individual spiritual experience and to the agenda of religious debates as an enduring, unstoppable path to the Divine, Hadhrat Ahmad (as) unveiled spiritual treasures long considered closed and forbidden.  Islam’s original call of “Laa Ilaah Illallah” -(There is no deity, but Allah)- get revitalized every time Allah (swt) raises His Messenger with the Message and to be a practical model to the people of his times.       

      

In an illuminating essay, published as a special Book by the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam International to commemorate the centennial of the Silsila Ahmadiyya in Mauritius, Hadhrat Khalifatullah Munir Ahmad Azim Saheb (atba), provides a fascinating glimpse into the early days of Ahmadiyyat in the Mauritius island located far away (from India), in the vast Indian Ocean. He portraits the devout souls of the Island who, despite all the hurdles of time and space, searched out for the vital signs of a living faith in the message of Ahmadiyyat and embraced it without hesitation, when they  recognized the veracity of the promised Massih (as). 

A Divine Reformer after Hadhrat Ahmad

Allah’s Covenant with the Prophets is very clearly stated in the Holy Qur'an: 

“And remember the time when Allah took the covenant from the people through the  Prophets, saying ‘Whatever I give you of the Book and Wisdom and then there comes to you a Messenger fulfilling that which is with you, you shall believe in him and help him’. And He said, ‘Do you agree, and do you accept the responsibility which I lay upon you in this matter?’ They said, “We agree” He said “Then bear witness, and I am with you among the witnesses”. (3:82).

‘Surely, there will come to you guidance from Me, then whoever follows My guidance, no fear shall come upon them, nor shall they grieve’. (2: 39)

Every Ahmadi Muslim believe that Hadhrat Ahmad (as) is a Messenger of Allah/ Divine Reformer appointed by Allah (swa). So, it is only reasonable to assume that such a divine covenant has been taken from Hadhrat Ahmad (as) as well. In fact, the Promised Massih (as) who wrote over 80 books, made several statements regarding the coming of divinely guided people in his Jamaat in future. For, Hadhrat Ahmad (as) did not come to discard, but to renew the message of the Holy Prophet (sa). In fact, that is what he did through all his teachings and that is why he said that Massihs will come after him. He even specifically declared that there is nothing abnormal or unusual about the spiritual situation if a Mujaddid follows him in the next century.