Preaching of Islam: Ethical Guideposts

‘Islam does not enjoin upon every Muslim to devout himself wholly to the preaching of Islam; for if it were so, Muslims could not earn their livelihood nor take part in other healthy pursuits of life. Whereas all should try to preach and propagate the truth of Islam, only a section of the community is required to devote itself exclusively to work of propagation. Though all must contribute their quota, there should be a party of men among Muslims who should be entirely devoted to this work'. 

The Holy Qur’an provides guidelines for preaching the message of Islam and the Khalifatullah Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Sahib (atba) of Mauritius gave a profound discourse on the subject in his Friday Sermon of January 20, 2012.  

Read the Extracts from the Sermon:

“Call to the way of your Lord with wisdom and goodly exhortations and argue with them in a way that is best, surely your Lord knows best who has strayed from His way, and He knows those who are rightly guided.” (16: 126)

The word “Hikma” (wisdom) in the verse means: (1) knowledge or science; (2) Equity or justice; (3) Forbearance or clemency; (4) Any saying or disclosure dealing with the exigencies of the occasion; (5) Gift of prophesy; and (6) What prevents or restrains from ignorant behaviour.

Questions about Ahmadi Doctrines

[Janab R. Jamaluddin Raother, the respected Amir Sahib of the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam, Kerala (India) received a bunch of questions through e-mail from an Ahmadi brother who described himself as a “truth seeker”. 

These questions cover a number of issues that are pertinent to the central ideas underpinning the current Divine Manifestation in the person of Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Sahib (atba) of Mauritius. They include issues such as the continuity of divine revelations and the coming of Mujaddidin and other divinely raised souls in Islam, the historic trajectory of the current Divine Manifestation, especially the episode involving the establishment of Jamaat Ahmadiyya Al Muslimeen and the issues pertaining to our previous relations with (and present views on) Zafrullah Dumun Sahib, etc.

Reproduced below is the first installment of an edited transcript of the views shared by this humble writer in response to the questions raised by the brother who sought “clear cut one by one answer for (his) questions”. Some of the responses include added material as well.].       

1. I heard that Mr. Munir Azim (is) claming to be Mujaddid, Like that Mr. Nasir Ahmed Sultani, Abdul Gaffar Janba also claiming. All are denying each other. If so, what is the measurement to understand true one and fake one?

To understand and recognize the Imam of the Age, a truth seeker should ideally learn the nature and scope of the views being clearly articulated by the respective persons who says they have a Divinely ordained mission to fulfill. He should examine the claims in the light of the noble teachings of the Holy Qur’an, the path of the Holy Prophet (sa) and the explanations to these teachings given by the Promised Massih Hadhrat Ahmad (as). Based on a careful study of the views being articulated by the claimants and by applying the spiritual logic to the issues involved, a truth seeker could reach his conclusion. To dispel doubts still remaining, if any, in his mind, he should invoke the ultimate solution of prayer to Allah as famously suggested by the Promised Massih (as).

2. Both this Respected Mr. Munir Ahmed Azim sahib and Mr. Zafarulla Domun were together before, why did they separate? Or (Do you) Still accept Zafarullah Domun as your Imam.

Zafrullah Domun Sahib was the first person to recognize and accept the Divine Manifestation in the person of Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Sahib (atba). He was the first person to take Bai’at at the hands of Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Sahib as well.

In the recently published Biographical Essay on the life of Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Sahib, one can read about an extraordinary event which throws searching light on the special spiritual relationship they shared in the past:    

“On 08 March 2003, the third night of the Safar Zikrullah, Hazrat Munir Ahmad Azim (atba) supplicated Allah to honour his brother Zafrullah Domun Sahib along with him, and therefore he (Hazrat Munir) without receiving any revelation from Allah, humbly dedicated the title of Amir’ul Mumineen to Mokarram Zafrullah Domun Sahib in a special program with the Jamaat. On the spot, he received divine reprimand whereby Allah told him, who has given him permission to dedicate that title which Allah has given him to Mokarram Sahib?

Responsibilities of a Muslim

In his Friday Sermon of January 13, 2012 Khalifatullah Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Sahib (atba) spoke about the distinctive characteristics of a real believer and the manifold responsibilities the membership of his Jamaat entails today. The Khalifatullah defines the basic framework of faith and good deeds expected from the believers who accepted (or seek to recognize) his divine office and become members of the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam.

‘The distinctive characteristic of a member of Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam should be undivided and consummated attachment to Sahih al Islam; and this devotion should control his life to such an extent that the slightest deviation from God’s laws is abhorrent to him’, states the Khalifatullah.

Read the Summary of the Sermon:

“A member of the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam is a Muslim who believes in One God, Holy Prophet Muhammad (sa) and Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as), the Promised Messiah and Mahdi whose advent had been foretold by the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sa) and in the Khalifatullah and Muhyi-ud-Din raised by Allah in this era with Divine Revelation.

The Khalifatullah of this era (that is, this humble self) is a Messenger of God. I call upon all mankind to accept the truth of my divine office; but this is not all. Islam is a practical way of life which demands total resignation to the teachings of the Holy Quran and the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sa). The attainment of this deal must be the resolve and goal of every member of Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam in whose life the principles of Islam should be manifested in every manner of living. The real object of man’s life according to the Holy Quran is, therefore, a true knowledge and worship of God and a total resignation to His will that whatever is said or done is said or done for His sake only. What is the Sahih al Islam? It is the burning fire which consumes all low desires and, setting fire to false gods and it is the offering of our property and honour as a sacrifice before God. It is that sacred fire which burns all papers of trials to uncover the face of God Almighty in the true believer’s pure golden heart.

Munir A. Azim Sahib: Family Background

Hundreds of thousands of men of God and His Messengers have passed away in history. Most of them lived among the common people, preached the message of Tauhid, in a language the people could understand and relate to. Invariably, the Messengers used to say: ‘I am only a man like yourselves; but I have received the revelation that your God is only One God. So let him who hopes to meet his Lord do good deeds, and let him join no one in the worship of his Lord’.  (HQ, 18:111)

The followers of the Promised Massih Hadhrat Ahmad (as) used to consider that Allah never leaves aside the requirements of Deen-i-Islam and would raise-up His Messengers to call the people back to the path of Allah whenever faith degenerates in society, just as had been His practice in the past. All praise belongs to the Almighty Alone. Today, at a time when the land and the sea are both corrupted materially and spiritually, we have a Messenger of Allah among ourselves, who fits the Qur’anic descriptions of Divine Messengers, word by word, phrase by phrase!

Now the same Jamaat-e- Ahmadiyya has changed doctrines and adopted an official policy that Allah cannot raise a common Ahmadi with a Divine Mission to rectify the creeping mistakes and blunders within! Surely, no people can be fooled by the official system for long. Those who make an independent study of the claims and doctrines of the Promised Massih (as) and his prophecies regarding the future of the Jamaat cannot condone what they see- Ahmadis now venerate their man-elected Khalifa by elevating him to the august status of an Elect of Allah. 

'Feel Welcome, O Ramadan!'

[Alhamdulillah, on 02 August 2011, LE MAURICIEN Newspaper, published from Mauritius, carried an article by Imam- Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam International Hazrat Muhyiuddin Al Khalifatullah Munir Ahmad Azim (aba) on Fasting in Islam against the backdrop of the fast-approaching holy month of Ramadan under the Islamic Calendar. We are reproducing the article here for the special attention and benefit of all seekers of spiritual treasures].

The most desired guest for the believers is the Holy Month of Ramadan. Believers are commanded to welcome this special guest with fear of God in their heart and purity of mind and soul. The Almighty (Allah) says in the Holy Quran: “O you who believe, fasting is decreed for you, as it was decreed for those before you, that you may attain salvation.” (Chapter 2; Verse 184).

First of all, what is Fasting? In Quran and Hadiths the word defining Fasting is “Sawm” which means “to abstain”. In our current language, this means that we must not drink or eat, and abstain from sexual relations from the beginning of dawn till sunset. Fasting existed even before the advent of Islam, for all people before Islam received divine commandments to fast, even if the quantity and quality of the different fasts were not the same.

Fasting is one of the fundamental pillars of Islam. The first pillar being the Shahada (Attestation of Faith), the second being Salaat (Prayer), the third being Sawm (Fasting – especially in the month of Ramadan where it is obligatory for a believer except if one is ill, on a long journey, and for the ladies who are in their menses, or pregnant or are breastfeeding their babies), then afterwards come Zakaat and Hajj.

Ahmadis: Love for All, Hatred for None

In a recent e-mail to the Amir Sahib of Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam, Kerala, the Ahmadiyya Youth Movement of South Kerala wrote:

We, at the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, firmly believe that its time for we all to think about what we have been doing. For the past 122 years we have been working on this goal of restoring love, peace and brotherhood across the globe. Our mission is to instill our motto inside every human being on earth which is "Love for All, Hatred For None" which as you can perhaps understand, is today, the need of the hour".

People should be forgiven if they thought the Ahmadiyya Community means what it says. For, they swear by peace, love and empathy for all mankind. And yet, ironically, the same people cut off blood relations even as they speak of fostering universal brotherhood.

A prophecy on the Renewal of Islam

“He it is Who has raised among the Unlettered people a Messenger from themselves who recites unto them His Signs, and purifies them, and teaches them the Book and wisdom, although they had been, before, in manifest misguidance;



 

And among others from among them who have not yet joined them. He is the Mighty, the Wise. 

That is Allah’s grace; He bestows it on whom He pleases; and Allah is the Master of immense grace”.     [Holy Qur’an, 62: 3-5]

These verses from the Surah Al Jum’ah point to the appearance of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sa) among the unlettered Arabs and to the same spiritual phenomenon repeating through a great Deputy of the Holy Prophet in the latter Days. A well known Hadith of the Holy Prophet (sa) throws light on the issue. Says Abu Hurairah:

“One Day we were sitting with the Holy Prophet when Surah Jum’ah was revealed. I asked the Holy Prophet,

Who are the people to whom the words “And among others from among them who have not yet joined them”, refer.

Salman, the Persian was sitting among us.Upon my repeatedly asking the same question,  the Prophet put his hand on Salman and said, If Faith were to go up to the Pleiades, a man from these would surely find it” (Bukhari).   

Reflecting on the Hadith,  Khalifatullah Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Sahib (atba) stated:  

All of us do agree with this Hadith, that it refers to Hazrat Massih Maoud (a.s). No doubt in it. This question was being asked twice or thrice from this Hadith because Allah made His Rassool understand that when Imaan would go high up the furthest star, Surrayya, someone of Persian descendants of Salman Farsi (r.a) would bring faith back on earth. In other Hadiths, it is mentioned more than one person from his descendants. So, we understand fully that Hazrat Massih Maoud (a.s) was that chosen one to bring back faith on earth. Then when faith would go back to Surrayya again, people of his Jamaat will bring back faith to others. This Khalifa cannot appear from outside the Jamaat Ahmadiyya, the Jamaat of Hazrat Massih Maoud (a.s)

Now, how can Imaan which has gone till the furthest star Surrayya be brought back on earth? How Hazrat Massih Maoud (a.s) brought back that Imaan? Through revelations – Divine Revelations. Allah spoke to him and guided him how to bring faith into the heart of people. He had to exile himself completely from this materialist world to seek help from Allah. Surely, Allah has guided him through revelations how to achieve this task. Imaan did not reach the earth like this. Hazrat Massih Maoud (a.s) had to suffer a lot, in this field of his bad health and persecutions.