Fourth Caliph and the Divine Signs

In his Friday Sermon of 01 February 2019~ 25 Jamadi’ul Awwal 1440 AH, Imam-Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam, Hazrat Muhyi-ud-Din Al Khalifatullah Munir Ahmad Azim Saheb (atba) of Mauritius profoundly reflects upon certain interesting Divine Signs of our times. Based on Qur'anic prophecies and the Holy Prophet's own teachings, the Later Days is the era of extraordinary developments, marking the advent of great transformations that will 'disrupt' the existing ways and 'flatten' the world, destroying the elite privileges and artificial barriers at every level of societal stratification. Thanks to breath-taking changes in transportation mechanisms and  communication technologies in our times, different classes, nations and peoples are brought together more than ever before. In this age of the Internet, all the world is virtually reduced to our finger-tips! Hence, unlike the past, ideas and images travel swiftly across the world and it is now possible to reach out and share the Divine message to people everywhere, Alhamdulillah.  

On 07 January 1938, speaking on the occasion of the installation of loudspeakers at the Mosques in Qadian, the far-sighted second caliph of the Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya, Hazrat Mirza Bashir-ud-Din Mahmud Ahmad (ra), underscored the importance of technical advancements as a means of bringing people together and he went on to virtually predict the advent of a time of technological progress when a single person sitting somewhere will be able to communicate and conduct his business globally and thereby it would become possible to spread the message of Islam across the world in an easier way through such developments. 

In this context, the establishment of the MTA International  commencing its operations from Mauritius  on 07 January 1994 was an important event in the annals of the Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya. The then (fourth) caliph Hazrat Mirza Tahir Ahmad Saheb profoundly understood the significance of the moment and the opportunity MTA represents for the community. He recalled the prescient words of the second caliph on the occasion as he believed that the time to spread the teachings of Islam-Ahmadiyya around the globe arrived, with the satellite broadcasting channel in place. Anticipating the promised "victory" of Islam-Ahmadiyya in the second century of the Jamaat (1889-1989; 1989-), the fourth caliph even unleashed a programme of global bai'at, setting targets for the rank and file to convert the whole world. As it happened, afraid as they were to speak truth of the situation to the caliph,  the Nizam-e-Jamaat 'cooked the books' to reach the figures their 'boss' wanted to see and thereby perpetuated a culture of caliph-worship in the Nizam-e-Jamaat, creating a permanent crisis of credibility in its functioning 'methods'. Consider the searing paradox here: on the one hand, the caliph projected the Nizam- 'establishment'- as the true 'heirs' of the Promised Messiah (as) for all times; yet, he ended up presiding over the destruction of the fair name and legacy of the institution.  Allah (swt) raising an Elect of His choice  would upset and 'disrupt' the 'order' (the system of elected, infallible leadership) in the Jamaat. Hence, exaggerating  the 'ego' of the elected chiefs of the Jamaat, the caliph propagated that only a man-elected caliph could be the Divine Elect in future. Despite his line of thinking and public pronouncements, the caliph also understood that the All-Powerful and Exalted Allah (swt) might raise someone, anyone He chooses at a place of His choice, especially at the beginning of a new century of the Jamaat. The ambitious caliph did seem to have wished, and he certainly asked the Jamaat in so many words on the occasion of the annual Jalsa in the year 2000 CE, that everyone pray for him to be elevated as the "Mubarak Wajood "('blessed person'), like mentioned in the prophecies of the Promised Massih (as).    

Allah does what He will. Despite the caliph's ambitious plans and his arrogant pronouncements on Divine Decisions concerning the raising of a reformer in the Jamaat in the new century, the trajectory of Divine blessings and favours shifted in this era, with the advent of a man who speaks with the help of Ruh-il-Quddus, like prophesied by the Promised Massih (as) himself in his testamentary declaration, Al Wassiyat. Indeed, Allah (swt) in His infinite wisdom, used the most disruptive of technologies of communication the humans have ever known- "Ruh-il-Quddus"- to destroy the man-invented and exaggerated notions of Khilafat-e-Ahmadiyya and rebuild the edifice of the Divine Order of His Elects guiding humanity till the Day of Judgement, by raising a humble servant of the faith in this era- a spiritual progeny of the Promised Massih (as) himself- Hazrat Munir Ahmad Azim Saheb (atba) of Mauritius, Alhamdulillah. Like the Promised Messiah (as) also points out, despite the persecution- with "millions stand(ing) up against them", the caravan of the Divine Elect (atba) will continue to straddle the world with His Message, Insha-Allah, Aameen. 

The Divine signs narrated here calls for deeper reflection by those who use their minds- including truth seekers among the Ahmadis. In this era when the world is 'flat', the old order of special claims- of inherited family legacy and infallible authority of tribal chieftains (think of the Ahmadiyya Khilafat today)- are out of sync with the times and are bound to vanish. In the new order of God on earth, everywhere- both materially and spiritually speaking- 'the underclass', i.e., those who were  previously looked down upon, truly humble people are to inherit the earth: Indeed, the Divine favour of prophethood and sovereignty is being bestowed upon a new class of people in the Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya as well- through the advent of the Divine Manifestation in Mauritius, Alhamdulillah, Allah-u-Akbar!

Read the Friday Sermon Below: 

Signs for the 'Ulul-Al-Baab'

“And it is not for a soul to believe except by permission of Allah, and He will place defilement upon those who will not use reason.” (Yunus 10 : 101).

Alhamdulillah, Summa Alhamdulillah, Allah shows His signs in extraordinary ways. Sometimes in simple and unimaginable things. He can show His signs in a grand way. Certainly Allah guides whom He wills to the right path, and when He guides His servants, He opens for them the door of spiritual knowledge and makes them understand even a thing that seems simple and unimportant and He makes them see its importance.

'Become Models of Islamic Piety'

During the recently concluded tour of South India, Imam-Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam Hadhrat Muhyi-ud-Din Al Khalifatullah Munir Ahmad Azim Saheb (atba) of Mauritius addressed the women believers at the Noor'ul Islam Masjid at Mathra on the occasion of their Ijtema on 05 December 2018 (27 Rabi’ul Awwal 1440 AH). In this spiritual discourse, Hadhrat Khalifatullah (atba) encourages women believers of the Divine Manifestation to recognize their important role in the transmission of the Divine messages of our times both within their family circles and beyond. While being models of piety in individual and collective lives, the believers need to appreciate the roles and responsibilities that go with their terrain and be ready to participate- based on their respective capabilities and specific skills- with sincerity and steadfastness in the larger causes of the Jamaat at all levels, exhorts Hadhrat Saheb (atba).    

The Believing Women of the Divine Manifestation

Dear Suruj Makin (i.e. the Strong and Firm Lamps of the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam), Assalamoualaikum Warahmatullah Wabarakaatuhu.

By the grace of Allah, Allah has enabled this humble self to come to Kerala again this year, after nearly two years now since January of the year 2017. And Alhamdulillah, I am here present today for your special Ijtema to address you few words of encouragement in the path of Allah.

You should know that working for the cause of Allah reaps the sweetest of fruits, be it in this world and the hereafter. As women of the Divine Manifestation of this age, it is your duty to see to it that other women also get the divine message. It is my prayer that Allah gives you the power of tongue, whilst being in Pardah and in a cultured manner to represent Islam in the best way vis-à-vis other ladies, be it of Islam and the various religions.

Today, you are the fortunate ones whom Allah has guided to accept His truth, to recognize His signs and Khalifatullah. Now, you should not neglect your duties to Allah and the Messenger of Allah. You should strive in the various fields of works, like Dawa/ Tabligh and the translations of the documents of the Jamaat, as available in our website. Alhamdulillah, you take good care of your homes – husbands, parents, children and other family members, but how beautiful it would be if all those with the necessary knowledge, contribute in translation works also, especially the Commentary of the Holy Quran inspired to this humble self in your local language, i.e. Malayalam, and Insha-Allah, other local languages of India.

As a spiritual father to you all, it is my duty to motivate you to work selflessly for the cause of Allah. Working for the Deen-e-Islam is indeed a great blessing which few receive or take the step forward to hold firm to. Those who receive the blessings of working for the cause of Allah are indeed fortunate because their sacrifices and dedication shall NEVER be in vain. Allah will illumine them and show them the right path and bring them close to Him.

Eight Years of the Jamaat in India

A Divine Elect in our Times

The Holy Founder and Imam of the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam International, Hadhrat Muhyi-ud-Din Al Khalifatullah Munir Ahmad Azim Saheb (atba) belongs to, and lives in, the Indian Ocean- island State of Mauritius. For close to two decades now, this devout servant of Islam has been proclaiming through all means available that he has a Divinely-inspired mission: of reclaiming and revitalizing the enduring message of Tawheed-thereby helping people appreciate the correct spiritual path; strengthening them morally and spiritually in these bewildering times. Like all men of God throughout history, Hadhrat Khalifatullah (atba) preaches Divine Love. Sharing pure Divine Messages coming from the Unseen, Hadhrat Saheb (atba) invites people to recognize the advent of his humble self in our midst as an Elect of God and consider the extraordinary possibility of acceding to the Divine countenance in this era as well by following his personal example. 

Those familiar with the profound history of Islamic spirituality over the last millennium and more- that witnessed the appearance of so many Divinely-imbued souls as the Pole Stars of the Religion and the Way- would not be surprised by the claims and arguments of Hadhrat Khalifatullah (atba) in our times. 

Like the Promised Massih Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) of Qadian noted in the previous era, perfect followers of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sa) have always been blessed with Divine converse and guidance, all through Islamic history. The Promised Massih (as) referred to this special Divine phenomenon in many of his writings, when he stated: 

“Of all the leaders of Tasawwuf that there have been till the present day, not even one has disagreed with the point that in this religion the path to become the likes of prophets is open, as the Holy Prophet Muhammad has given the glad tidings for spiritual and godly learned persons that ‘the Ulama of my nation are like the Israelite Prophets’. 

The Little Girl of Kathua

'And when the baby girl who is buried alive will be questioned about; 

For what offence was she killed?'

                                            ---Surah Al Takwir, Ch:81: 9-10)

Last month, the kidnapping, gang-rape and brutal killing of an eight-year old little girl in Kathua, in the Jammu region, caused a national outrage in India. And the country witnessed a series of popular protests against the rising tide of horrific incidents of violence against women and girl children in recent years. The government’s woeful record of abject failures in dealing with the question of safety and security of women and girl children was highlighted in these mass mobilizations. Across several cities and townships, public meetings called for ending the prevailing culture of impunity around sex and gender-related crimes. That the Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself was reminded on Indian women’s safety by well-meaning foreigners during his recent tour of Britain speak volumes about the national dishonour and humiliation these institutional failings represent for the people.

Mauritius: Freedom from Slavery

Every year, Mauritius observes a national holiday on February 1^st. For, this day marks a defining moment in the collective memory of the Mauritian people's struggle for dignity and human rights. Almost two centuries ago, it was on this day in 1835 that the abominable practice of Slavery was formally abolished in the Island State, liberating a mass of humanity from the clutches of an oppressive social order. 

The story of how Mauritius- once a virtually uninhabited Island off the southeast coast of Africa, became home to close to 1.5 million people today; professing various faiths- including Hinduism, Christianity, Islam- and speaking different languages, including Creole, French, English, Tamil, Urdu, Hindi and Bhojpuri and Chinese- is a fascinating chapter in the making of the modern world. There is little doubt that the modern identity of Mauritius as ‘a rainbow nation’ is a tribute to the cultural confluences it inherited from its complex past. 

Originally discovered by the Arabs in the 9^th century; successively colonized by the different European powers from the 17th century- the Deutch, the French and the British- in the last four centuries; modern Mauritius is, in many ways, shaped by this Island nation's encounter with the different phases of global capitalism and the trajectories of the European imperial forays into Africa and Asia, including the strategic control of the Indian Ocean region for safeguarding their vital, commercial interests. The detachment of a part of the Mauritian territory- the Chagos Archipelago and offering the same on a virtual, perpetual lease to the United States by the last colonial power- Britain- before the granting of national independence to Mauritius in 1968, continue to remind all of us in the global South about the long shadows of imperial hubris that permanently scar the psyche of nations and peoples. (For a review of the continuing Mauritius-UK dispute over the Chagos Archipelago, click here).

Even as the colonial masters sought to subjugate the nations they conquered through military means, they found it politically convenient to stake the moral high ground of good governance, rule of law and human rights in the shaping of national policies. Hence, the colonial, administrative practices in the Indian Ocean region, including in relation to questions of slavery and ‘rule of law’ in the conquered territories vis-a vis the subjugated peoples, can be seen as a partial concession to the tectonic shifts in the global thinking around questions of human dignity and basic rights. The abolition of slavery in the British colonies and the introduction of the system of ‘contract labour’ with a semblance of rights and privileges for the migrant working class can only be seen against this backdrop.

Cyclone Ockhi: A Sign

Nature's Fury, Shattered Lives 

Innal-Lillaahi wa inna ilayhi raajiuun. 

To God we belong and to Him we shall return.

That’s the defining thoughts for everyone who face the trial of misfortune and loss. 

Tragedy has come home to people in our land this week. Cyclone Ockhi, the most devastating cyclonic storm in the northern Indian Ocean region since 2015 has struck many lands in its tentacles: the coastal regions of Sri Lanka, the South Indian states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala, the Lakshadweep Islands, and also the Maldives.

Nature’s fury in the form of bad winds and cyclonic storms has taken away the lives of scores of people; hundreds of fishermen are missing after the storms, with no information about their whereabouts and search and rescue operations by the Indian agencies still ongoing till now. Beyond the shattered lives, possessions and property worth millions and millions has been destroyed. The damage to electricity transmission lines, agricultural crops, roads and passageways will continue to leave a chain of negative effects on the everyday life world of the affected regions and peoples for the months to come.

New Bai'ats in India & A Testimonial

Several Ahmadi Muslim brothers and their families in India, previously working within the Nizam-e-Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya under the Khalifatul Massih V, recently came to hear about the Divine Manifestation in Mauritius in the person of Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Saheb (atba), and his claims about being Divinely-raised as the "Muhyi-ud-Din" and "Mujaddid"/"Khalifatullah" of this era, with a mandate for the reform of the human morals and the renewal of the Spiritual Path in our era. Based on their fervent prayers and supplications, Allah (swt) has unveiled the Divine mysteries of raising His Elects through beautiful dreams vouchsafed to these fervent seekers, Alhamdulillah. 

In his Friday Sermon of 20 October 2017(29 Muharram 1439 AH), speaking in the context of Divine revelations, especially prayers and supplications that could be fervently invoked by true seekers in the Divine Path in the varied contingencies of our everyday lives, the Muhyi-ud-Din Al Khalifatullah (atba) officially acknowledged the new Bai'ats in Tamil Nadu, India and also shared a beautiful testimonial made by one of the new brothers in the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam International, Alhamdulillah, Soumma Alhamdulillah.   

Read from the Extracts of the Friday Sermon: 

"O my dear disciples throughout the world, become such kinds of people who, through them Allah (swt) can manifest Himself, and be present with them wherever them are. Become such kind of people and Allah shall show extraordinary signs in your favour and He shall manifest His signs (for your sake) more quickly, Insha-Allah.  I give you an example. 

By the grace of Allah, there are our brothers and sisters in Tamil Nadu in India who have recently recognized the truthfulness of this humble servant and messenger of this era and they took the Bai’at (oath of allegiance). 

The Rohingya Exodus and India's Policy

A Panel Discussion 

Peace and Justice Forum, a student-run Discussion Forum at the Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi, recently organized a Panel Discussion on the ongoing refugee crisis in India's neighbourhood. With hundreds of thousands of people belonging to a minority Muslim faith in the Buddhist-majority Myanmar being suddenly forced to abandon their homes, flee from the land and seek refuge abroad, especially in Bangladesh; the Discussion took place against the backdrop of the evolving national debate in India on the crisis in the region. 

Mr. Siraj, a refugee from the Rohingya community, was one of the Panelists, sharing a searing testimonial of what it means to be a refugee, being forced to abandon one's people and livelihood behind to escape injustice and oppression in the land. He spoke of a time when his grandfather and others of that generation and before could work and live as common citizens in Myanmar with all legal rights and civil protection available to all other citizens in the country, pointing to the enormous change in the fortunes of Rohingyas from being 'citizens' to 'stateless persons' in Myanmar. Two journalists on the Panel- Mr. Prashant Tandon and Mr. Akhlaque Usmani- shared their perspectives on the problem, reflecting on the Rohingya community's travails in recent decades as well as on the debate currently on the issue in the Indian media and government circles. 

As a student of international law and justice, this writer had the pleasure and privilege of chairing the programme that included a lively opinion-sharing,  question-answer session with the audience. In that public conversation, one could argue that international law considerations are potentially important on three distinct sets of issues and concerns in the context of the present problem from the standpoint of (i) ensuring accountability of the perpetrators of the crimes against humanity in Myanmar; (ii) providing immediate humanitarian relief and  assistance to the victims of the forced displacement; and (iii) the duty/responsibility/obligation of States like India to receive refugees even in the absence of a national refugee law.  

Khalifatullah's Journey across Kerala

Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam, India was established and officially registered with the government in the State of Kerala in the year 2010, with the Bai’at of our brother Mukarram R. Jamaluddin Raother Saheb of Mathra (presently Amir Saheb of the South Kerala Jamaat), Dr. E. Tahir Saheb of Kannur (presently Amir Saheb of the North Kerala Jamaat) and the other brothers in Alappuzha.

It has been a longstanding wish of the members of the Jamaat in Kerala to meet with the Divinely-inspired and appointed Muhyi-ud-Din of this era, the Khalifatullah Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Saheb (atba) of Mauritius, ever since the time Allah (swt) blessed them with the light of faith to recognize and accept His Messenger of the era. Alhamdulillah, it is this cherished spiritual wish of the sincere believers that has come to fruition with the visit of the Khalifatullah (atba) and the blessed family members to India in January 2017. Travelling from Mauritius through Dubai, Chennai and Thiruvananthapuram airports, with the delegates from the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam- South Kerala joining them at both Chennai and Thiruvananthapuram, the larger caravan of people reached Mathra on the night of January 16, 2017, Alhamdulillah. For the post on the arrival of Hazrat Khalifatullah (atba) in India, click here. 

Khalifatullah visits India: A Report

Hadhrat Khalifatullah (atba) visits India

Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam, India was established and officially registered with the government in the State of Kerala in the year 2010, with the Bai’at of our brother Mukarram R. Jamaluddin Raother Saheb of Mathra (presently Amir Saheb of the South Kerala Jamaat), Dr. E. Tahir Saheb of Kannur (presently Amir Saheb of the North Kerala Jamaat),  and other brothers in Alappuzha. It has been a longstanding wish of the members of the Jamaat in Kerala to meet with the Divinely-inspired and appointed Muhyi-ud-Din of this era, the Khalifatullah Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Saheb (atba) of Mauritius, ever since the time Allah (swt) blessed them with the light of faith to recognize and accept His Messenger of the era. 


Alhamdulillah, it is this cherished spiritual wish of the sincere believers that has come to fruition with the visit of the Khalifatullah (atba) and the blessed family members. The Muhyi-ud-Din Al Khalifatullah of Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam International, Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Saheb (atba) of Mauritius and the blessed members of the Household- Ummahaatul Mu’mineen Hazrat Nazira Begum Saheba, Hazrat Fazli Amena Varsally Saheba (International Sadr, Siraj Makin) Hazrat Tayyeba Shaheeda Nasrine Aliah Saheba and Sahebzada Abdul Muhaymin Alimuddin  Salim Azim- paid a historic visit to India, January 16-30, 2017. The visit took place under the Will and grace of Allah (swt) in the dawn of a new year, literally marking a new page in the Book of Time and the evolving spiritual lives of all members of the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam, India. The journey of these blessed messengers of His Deen through India took place despite several hurdles, with the shadow of Divine help and special assistance, making every moment of the two- weeks stay in India, a spiritually uplifting experience for all those who were in the circle of the Divine Manifestation during those days, Soumma Alhamdulillah. 

In the coming days, the Sahih Al Islam Blog intents to celebrate and record this important event in the annals of the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam, India with the publication of a series of brief reports capturing the journey experiences and conversations, including the photos taken on the occasion by people who travelled along and chronicled the events and encounters with people as it happened, Insha Allah, Ameen.  In the first of this series today, we record the arrival and welcome of the visiting Team at Chennai and their journey to the Noor’ul Islam Masjid at Mathra, Kerala on Monday, 16^th of January 2017. 

Arrival at Chennai, Tamil Nadu

On their arrival at the Chennai International Airport on Monday, January 16th, Hadhrat Khalifatullah (atba) and family members were warmly received by the delegates of the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam, Kerala: Hazrat Mukarram Fazil Jamal, wife Haseena M. Fazil Saheba and their little son Zaki Mubarak Aziz Raother. Haseena M. Fazil Saheba, who holds the charge of Sadr, Siraj Makin of the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam-South Kerala, was there also to receive the Ummahatul Mu'mineen. Though living in different continents all their lives and never met in person before, Allah (swt) brought them together under the leadership of His Elect of this era, with a blessed chance to "know one another as relatives from the same origin", like the Qur'an exhorts in Surah Al Hujurah. For our brother and his family, they have been regularly in touch with Hadhrat Khalifatullah (atba) and the Jamaat headquarters in Mauritius and official website over the course of the last six years almost on a daily basis; and yet, it was indeed their first, personal meeting with Hadhrat Khalifatullah (atba) and family and as such, it was a truly emotionally-overwhelming moment for them; where the hearts spoke louder than anything tongues could express through words, Alhamdulillah. 

Divine Revelation in Broad Day Light


Divine love and mercy for His Elect came in the broad day light of Chennai Airport and this humble self became a witness to the descent of Divine revelations on the Holy Master. At the Transit Lounge in the Chennai Airport, while waiting for the flight to Thiruvananthapuram, the whole team of eight people offered the collective prayers of Dhuhr and Aser. Soon, thereafter, Allah (swt) manifested His Grace and the Khalifatullah (atba) was vouchsafed with revelations in Arabic, containing good news for the sincere believers in the Divine Manifestation, including for a young member of the Team and also for Mathra, where the historic Noor’ul Islam Masjid, is located as the centre of all Jamaat activities of our brothers in the south of Kerala, Insha Allah, Aameen. 

Thiruvananthapuram 

Later, the team took the afternoon Air India Express flight to Thiruvananthapuram, capital city of Kerala. At Thiruvananthapuram, brothers including Azim Ahmed, Rakesh and Hamza, turned up at the international airport to register their enthusiasm to welcome the Khalifatullah (atba) and family to Kerala. Representatives of the South Jamaat, YK Harriz Saheb of Alappuzha, Shamsuddin Saheb of Palakkad, Sulfikar Ali Saheb of Kaliyikkavila soon reached the place with a Tempo Traveller to facilitate the transit journey of the Khalifatullah (atba) and Team to the Noor’ul Islam Masjid, Mathra, Alhamdulillah. 

Mathra

The Team reached at Mathra by 9.30 pm in the night. The Jamaat members, led by Amir Mukarram R. Jamaluddin Saheb and his family members- Shareefa Beebi Saheba, Sofiya Beebi Saheba, DA Zainul Abdeen Saheb, Fauzia Jamal Zain Saheba, Faezah Maryam Zain Saheba and Zachariah Ibn Zain- were there to receive and welcome Hadhrat Khalifatullah (atba) and family at the Fathima’s Thodiyil Veedu, the residence of the Amir Saheb where the Team were to stay till their departure to other places on the morning of Saturday, 21st January 2017. Our brothers K. Saleem Saheb and Abu Baker Saheb of Alappuzha travelled from their respective places well ahead of time so as to join the Amir Saheb and family at Mathra in welcoming our Imam, Hadhrat Khalifatullah (atba) and the respected members of the household into our land,Alhamdulillah.  

Like wise, our brother Sadiq Ali Saheb of Kaliyikkavila along with his wife Rajeena Sadiq Ali Saheba and little son Munir Ahmad Azim- also travelled long distances to witness the arrival of the Imam (atba) and family members. Shareefa Beebi Saheba, the respected mother of Fazil Jamal, had many months back made a beautiful dream in which she saw Hadhrat Khalifatullah (atba) and family arriving at her home in a big vehicle. Allah (swt) blessed the dream in full measure: despite her frail health, Shareefa Saheba was there to warmly receive Hadhrat Khalifatullah (atba) and the respected family members at her home,  Summa Alhamdulillah.  (To be continued).

Greetings for Narendra Modi

In the course of his Friday sermon of 23 May 2014 ~ (23 Rajab 1435 Hijri) the Khalifatullah Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Sahib (atba) of Mauritius took note of, and spoke briefly on, the recently concluded general elections in India and the consequent political changes unfolding in the country. The dismal fortunes of the long ruling Nehru-Gandhi political dynasty in the elections is in line with the larger global trend of popular anger against abuse of power and the cancer of corruption eating into the vitals of the polity and impacting on people's everyday lives. The extraordinary popular mandate for the leadership of Narendra Mody and his Bharatiya Janata Party, the right-wing, Hindu party in the country, presents him with an uncommon opportunity to serve the nation and the world. The Khalifatullah (atba) and the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam International, including the national branches of the Jamaat in India, wish all success for Narendra Modi in his great responsibility as the Prime Minister-elect of India.

Read the Extracts from the Friday Sermon:

Before ending, I would like to say some words on the recent parliamentary elections in India which have been those of all records. ( Inset: A polling officer (R) helps a woman to cast her vote at a polling station in Majuli, a large river island in the Brahmaputra river, Jorhat district, in the northeastern Indian state of Assam April 7, 2014. (REUTERS/Adnan Abidi). Spread over a period of Five weeks, the world's largest general elections  took place in India during April-May 2014, with over 600 million citizens eventually exercising their franchise). 

The vote count gave its verdict and the Hindu Nationalist Party of Narendra Modi celebrated a crushing victory while the Congress party was severely beaten. The Hindu Nationalist Party of Narendra Modi is promising a “new era” based on the boosting of the economy after ten years of having the Congress Party in power. This triumph of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) reshapes the Indian political landscape, transforming the Hindu Nationalist Party in national political power at the expense of the Congress Party of Gandhi-Nehru dynasty which has been reduced to the bare; this being a hard blow to such a Party which was used to leading the country. But the BJP leader is viewed with suspicion by the Muslim minority since the 2002 riots in Gujarat.

Opposed to the BJP, the Congress party comes out of these elections worn out after ten years of power, scandals, corruption and they have been punished (by the people) for their repeated incapability to revive growth and curb inflation. It has quickly recognized its defeat and this could be the most scathing one in its history. The Gandhi-Nehru dynasty in India faces a fight for survival after an electoral drubbing at the hands of the opposition leader Narendra Modi.

In this century many dynasties are disappearing, Insha-Allah, be it at political level as well as at religious (spiritual) level (especially those who take themselves as the heirs of the religious power, as if they are glued to their seats of power, and they think nobody can get them out from there. They forgot that there is a Creator of the universe who holds absolute power. He does what He wills and He replaces what (or whomever) He wants.

Remembering Asghar Ali Engineer (1939 – 2013)

One of India’s leading Muslim scholars, Asghar Ali Engineer, passed away on Tuesday, May 14, 2013. Innaa Lillahi Wa Innaa Ilaihi Raajiuun...As a reformist scholar, Engineer’s was an important voice in the debates on issues concerning Muslims in India in the last couple decades.

In the post-partition India, the Muslims became a vulnerable minority in a sea of Hindus. While the country’s secular Constitution and the Laws professed equality before law and the equal protection of the laws in terms of status, rights and opportunities for Muslims, these were not borne out by the facts of their representation and visibility in the public sphere, including in education and employment avenues in the country. Issues of identity and personal law have taken an emotional dimension at a time when communal riots raised the physical security and safety and protection of Muslims under a shadow of uncertainty. The members of the community have ingrained a ‘siege’ mentality where by Muslims looked at with suspicion on any reform proposals aimed at the community. The governments in India were unable to bring about internal reforms to the Muslim personal law system because of a credibility-deficit and resistance within the community.

In the 1970’s, as a member of the Dawoodi Bohra (Shia Muslim) Community, Asghar Ali Engineer stood for internal reforms and democratic deliberations and resisted the authority of the Syedna Burhanuddin, the ‘Khalifa’ of the Community. In later years, Engineer worked on several aspects of “social engineering, dedicating himself to three things that defined his life — helping interpret and explain Islam from a modern perspective, emphasising gender justice within Islam, and working for inter-community harmony”. While Engineer resisted the views of the Hindu right wing in India, which sought to treat the Muslims as “second- class citizens”, as it were, he also stood up for reforms within the Muslim community, including for the freedom of conscience of the Ahmadis in Pakistan and elsewhere in the Muslim world.

Reproduced below is an Op-Ed Article by Meena Menon, published on May 15, 2013, in The Hindu, one of India’s leading newspapers, paying tribute to the memory of the departed soul.