Islam and the West: Beyond Identity

More than ever before, individual and social identities are in flux. Ways of life as understood in both tradition-bound societies, and also in the advanced industrialized nations, are shifting under the strong currents of economic globalization and associated transformations. The usual lense of 'spiritual' East and 'materialist' West does not really explain the creeping changes around the world. In his Friday Sermon of 04 January 2019~ 27 Rabi’ul Aakhir 1440 AH,  Imam- Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam Hadhrat Muhyi-ud-Din Al Khalifatullah Munir Ahmad Azim Saheb (atba) of Mauritius spoke about the growing churning happening in the Arab-Islamic world and in the West, pointing to a deep irony: whereas a 'god-less' Europe increasingly appreciates the values of diversity and humanitarianism at the root of a spiritual outlook; the rich-Arab States-despite their claims of faith in God- are increasingly turning to materialism and are virtually indifferent to the solidarity obligations of core Islamic values. Pointing to the inherent limitations of synthetic materialism to sustain human interest over the longer term and the profound appeal of the spiritual path in the inner quest of people for lasting happiness; Hadhrat Khalifatullah (atba) highlights the major opportunity it represents for Islam to fill the growing 'emptiness' in the West, even as the Speech underscores the profound need for the Muslim societies' in our times to appreciate and reclaim their pure faith/spiritual legacy from corrupting influences that grip their social orders: the 'worship' of riches;  denial of human rights; mindless extremism, internecine violence, etc. 

Read the Friday Sermon Below:   

SPIRITUALITY AND MATERIALISM

There is a common belief among us that the Arabs and Muslims in general are spiritual while the West, i.e. industrialist and capitalist American and European societies, is materialistic. But how true is this claim?

'Faith Entails Trials in Your Way'

Faith & the Strong Believer

Dear brothers, sisters and children, for today’s Friday Sermon (Khutba Jumu’ah), it is very important that I talk to you about faith (Iman) and Islam and the difference between a weak believer and a strong believer.

Allah says in the Holy Quran: “Say, ‘You have not (yet) believed; but say (instead), ‘We have submitted,’ (We are Muslims) for faith has not yet entered your hearts. And if you obey Allah and His Messenger, He will not deprive you from your deeds of anything’.” (Al-Hujurat 49: 15).

Indeed, Iman (faith) is the confession/ attestation (by the tongue) and acting (according to one’s responsibility) and Islam is confession (by the tongue) without acting.

It should be remembered that those who integrate the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam as Muslims and say that they believe in my advent as the Khalifatullah of the age need to make extra efforts to perfect their Islam and put this Islam into practice in their daily lives. Through the practice of Islam in your daily lives, true faith shall enter your hearts, and no doubt whatsoever, can come into those hearts to deviate you from the right path.

Very often, a Muslim – and I am specifically talking about my followers, the Sahih al Islam members – can feel that he is trying to do all the right things in his life so as to come close to Allah, and despite his various efforts, he is not able to succeed in his efforts and therefore he despairs of the mercy of Allah. He feels abandoned, and thus, he abandons his Salat (prayers) and all acts of worship due to his insecurity and doubts. Now, this is very wrong. This person should bear in mind that acquiring true faith is not an easy matter. He has to go through lots of trials, lots of fires, i.e. difficulties, so that his mettle, his capacities as a true Muslim and believer, and his faith in Allah may be victorious.

Remember, Allah always gives more trials and difficulties to those whom He loves the most. Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) has said: “How wonderful is the affair of the believer, for his affairs are all good, and this applies to no one but the believer. If something good happens to him, he is thankful for it and that is good for him. If something bad happens to him, he bears it with patience and that is good for him.” (Muslim).

Serving Islam: Bai'at & Our Tasks

Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam- Kerala (India) organized its Eighth Jalsa Salana at the historic Noor'ul Islam Masjid at Mathra on Sunday, 9th December 2018. As noted in an earlier post, the Jalsa this year was special for all its participants, including for the large delegation of brothers and sisters from Tamil Nadu, with the august presence of Hadhrat Muhyi-ud-Din Al Khalifatullah Munir Ahmad Azim Saheb (atba) of Mauritius among them. While Hadhrat Khalifatullah (atba) in his opening Speech elaborated on the significance of an annual spiritual congregation of brothers; in the concluding Speech, Hazrat Saheb (atba) called attention to important organizational tasks ahead for the brothers to keep in mind to act upon. 

Bai'at at the hands of an Elect of God is nothing less than a covenant with Allah and it entails grave responsibilities on those who choose to strive in the sublime path of seeking proximity to the Divine presence. The social dimension of the worship of the Divine is to reach out to people so that they may also come to be aware of the great blessings on offer in the life to come, and also the felicity that God promises to those who strive in His path in their worldly life as well. Progressing forward as a community requires brotherhood, solidarity, sustained engagement and generous support for collective objectives. Each person can and should make contributions, including  financial sacrifices so as to leverage our collective capacity to reach out with the Divine Message to as many people as possible through the diverse projects identified by the Divine Elect (atba) of our times. 

Marking the culmination of the Jalsa Salana Programme, a collective Bai’at Programme was also organized for the benefit of all members present on the occasion; with all brothers gaining an opportunity to take the Bai'at at the hands of Hadhrat Khalifatullah (atba), Alhamdulillah. Hence, the Noor'ul Islam Masjid, Mathra once again became the venue of this historic event: Hadhrat Saheb (atba) explained the conditions of Bai’at and procedural stipulations therein and following this, everyone placed their hands on the hand of Hadhrat Khalifatullah (atba) and pledged their help and assistance to the Divine Manifestation of this era in the person of Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Saheb (atba), Summa Alhamdulillah.

Read the Closing Speech of Hadhrat Khalifatullah (atba) below: 

My dear disciples,

Assalamoualaikum Warahmatullah Wabarakaatuhu.

By the grace of Allah, Allah has chosen you in this era for a great work in the Grand Divine Plan. This Divine Plan consists of the revival of Islam, our religion. Many people have asked, ‘Why, if he says that He comes from Allah, must he operate under the name of a Jamaat. Why another Jamaat?’

To all those who have the same lines of thought I would like to say that first of all as Muslims, this humble self as well as all my disciples’ religion is truly ISLAM. Now, ISLAM as a religion is not an entity which can be used for one to register himself officially, especially in a non-Islamic country so that he can operate and construct buildings and preach the religion of Allah without any fear. As such Allah saw the need to elevate His Khalifatullah with a Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam so that we, His chosen servants can work effectively in a modern-day system which does not consider ISLAM as the prime and foremost religion of the people and society in general.

'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.

A 'Waliullah' In Our Times

In the Friday Sermon of 23 November 2018 (14 Rabi’ul Awwal 1440 AH) delivered at Tenkasi during his recently concluded tour of Tamil Nadu and Kerala (South India); Imam- Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam Hadhrat Muhyi-ud-Din Al Khalifatullah Munir Ahmad Azim Saheb (atba) of Mauritius provides an illuminating discourse on the concept of Waliullah in the Islamic spiritual tradition. 

All through history, the world of Islam witnessed the appearance of several great savants; Divinely-imbued souls as the Pole Stars of the Religion and the Way; the Luminous Moons of the Faith- people whom devout Muslims over the millennium revere as no less than the spiritual heirs of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sa). These perfect followers of the Holy Prophet (sa) had been blessed with the direct descent of Divine Knowledge, Divine Revelations, and Divine Words on their persons, and their supplications were almost always accepted. Indeed, such followers of the Muhammadan Light in the Spiritual Path, imbued as they are with divine qualities; they aspire to cultivate a direct relationship with one’s Maker and live secluded behind the curtain of Divine intimacy. Like the Qur’an says: “Verily, My Protecting Friend is Allah, Who has revealed this perfect Book and He takes into (His) protection all the righteous.” (7:197) 

A Hadith-e-Qudusi recorded in Sahih Al Bukhari reads as follows: “My servant keeps drawing nearer to Me with voluntary works until I love him. And once I love him, I become his hearing, with which he hears, his sight, with which he sees, his hand, with which he seizes, and his foot, with which he walks. If he asks Me, I will surely give to him, and if he seeks refuge in Me, I will surely protect him.” 

Those individuals with whom Allah converses more directly and frequently than with other believers belong to the class of Friends of Allah (Auliya). In the spiritual terminology, such persons are described under different ranks and stations- Wali, Muhaddith, Mujaddid, etc. - all of whom receive their light from the Divine Light and thereby revive the knowledge, wisdom and blessings of the Prophets and Messengers of the previous era. The Light of Allah emanating from theses spiritual lamps illuminate the path of the Divine seekers in Islam.

The present discourse by Hadhrat Khalifatullah (atba) is indeed an important reminder to all Ahmadis- people who revere the legacy of Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) of Qadian- about the forgotten teachings of the Promised Massih (as) regarding the spiritual phenomenon of Wilayat, and the continued vitality of these teachings in every era till the Day of Judgement. Drawing specifically from the Divine revelations and additional explanations given by the Promised Massih (as) in the previous era, especially in his Revealed Sermon- Khutba Ilhaamiya; and also the Divine revelations that were vouchsafed to his humble self in the last two decades, Hadhrat Khalifatullah (atba) points to the significance of the advent of a 'Waliullah'- a special Friend of God, who speaks with the help of Roohul Qudus to illuminate the reasoning and intelligence of people in the appreciation of subtle and profound matters of Divine knowledge and to guide them in the Spiritual Way in our bewildering times.

Reframing Ahmadiyya Doctrines

The Ahmadiyya Muslim community, founded by Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) of Qadian in the last century in India, is one of the most dynamic missionary movements in the world today. Despite persecutions in Pakistan and some other Muslim-majority states, the community continues to prosper around the world with its peaceful propagation of Islam. While upholding that Divine revelations descending on God’s chosen servants is a special blessing and an enduring spiritual reality in every era of Islam till the last century, the community leadership now preaches the pious facade of Ahmadiyya Khilafat as the Divinely- endowed institutional order of Islam and rejects the descent of Divine revelations on grounds of expediency and ‘institutional’ discipline. 

Against the backdrop of most common Ahmadis today being ignorant of the theological engineering and interpretative understandings that gave birth to, and continue to sustain the pious facade of ‘Ahmadiyya Khilafat’; last month, the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam International published a new book, ‘Khalifatullah’: Reframing Ahmadiyya Doctrines. 

The Book is a compilation of 15 Sermons made by Hadhrat Muhyi-ud-Din Al Khalifatullah Munir Ahmad Azim Saheb of Mauritius over the last 15 years. Since the turn of the present century 2000-01 when this devout Ahmadi Muslim announced that he has a Divinely-inspired mission to revive the original teachings of Islam as taught in the last century by the founder of the Ahmadiyya community Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) of Qadian, the Discourses provide a fascinating glimpse into the rich, inner world of Islamic spirituality and thereby reframes the current Ahmadi doctrines that perpetuate mythical beliefs around the infallibility of the elected community leader- the Khalifatul Massih. The book argues that the system of Nizam-e-Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya has incrementally corroded the very idea of Divinely-revealed guidance as irrelevant in this era, posing a “threat” (Fitna) to the institutional order of the community. In reframing the Ahmadiyya doctrines such as Qudrat-e-Saniah, ‘Islamic Khilafat’ etc, Hadhrat Saheb (atba) helps to richly contextualize the role of Ahmadiyyat within the wider and larger framework of Islamic spirituality.

Reproduced below are Extracts from the Introduction to the Book:

Hadhrat Muhyi-ud-Din Al Khalifatullah Munir Ahmad Azim Saheb (atba), the Founding Head of the Jamaat Ahmadiyya Al Mouslemeen, Mauritius and the Supreme Head of the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam International belongs to, and lives in, the Indian Ocean- island State of Mauritius. Hadhrat 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.

The Death of a Scheming Enemy

Every soul shall taste death. (Al-Imran 3 : 186).

Today is a public Holiday as it is All Saints Day; in other words such a day in the life of a Christian where he commemorates the Saints and also the dead in general. And it is not a coincidence that Allah has guided me to deliver this sermon today (a sermon which I prepared beforehand and which applies exactly for today).

The world we live in is only ephemeral. One day or another, death will overtake us. We must then leave behind all our wealth, families, and friends. The only luggage we will bring with us is our actions and the intentions behind these actions.

The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said that there are three things that accompany a deceased to his grave: his family, his riches, and his actions. Of these three things, two come back, his family and his wealth. Only his actions accompany him. (Bukhari, Muslim).

On 02 July 2000, I received from Allah this revelation in poetic form (in French) on the subject of death: “Death is your Last Journey/ Travel”.

“Death is a journey,

So get ready,

No need for luggage,

Or yes, take with you:

Your pious actions, the love of Allah

Destination: the afterlife

Death is your last journey.”

In this extract, Allah mainly mentions the spiritual baggage of the believer, where he shall arm himself with his good deeds, his pious actions and his love for Allah. The pious will be very lucky. His obedience to Allah and His Messenger, Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh), and to the Messenger of His epoch - if his epoch was the time when Allah sent a Messenger and Reformer to revive Islam, like in this present era - will be like a fiery light for him, which shall illuminate his way. His path to the afterlife will be easy compared with the unbeliever or the hypocrite who had during his stay on earth ignored Allah and His commandments.

Why Follow A Mujaddid-II

"He who dies without having a pledge of allegiance (to the Imam/Khalifah) on his neck, dies the death of Jahilliyah."-- Holy Prophet Muhammad (sa)

'Allah’s Messenger (sa) said three times: ‘May Allah’s mercy be upon my Caliphs.’  The Companions said: ‘And who are your Caliphs, O Messenger of Allah?’ He said: ‘Those who revive my Sunna and teach it to the people!’" (According to al-Hasan bin ‘Ali (ra): Ibn ‘Asakir in Tarikh Dimashq al-Kabir, 51/61)

"The obligation of appointing an Imam (Khalifah) is from the necessities of the Shari'ah that simply cannot be left." - Imam Al-Ghazzali

It is regrettable that most Muslims today are simply unaware of the deep verities of the Faith they otherwise claim to profess and even practice. People in their ignorance and stupidity usually remain satisfied with what they are habitually familiar with- inherited family traditions, ritual practices and the tales of dead and gone Divine savants in their communities. So much so that by their sheer negligence of profound teachings - especially those pertaining to the advent of Divinely-imbued souls to guide the Ummah in every era of Islam-, the folks do not recognize what they are missing out in experiential spirituality or the rich inner life that the Islamic Way promises to the Divine-seekers.  

Against this indifference of contemporary peoples stand the rich record of the past. Indeed through the millennium and more of Islamic history, the Divinely-raised Mujaddidin had left their imprints on Islamic spirituality in every era. As Shah Waliullah Dehlawi (ra) noted in one of his books: "A Mujadid appears at the end of every century, the Mujadid of the 1st century was Umar bin Abdul Aziz for establishing justice. The Mujadid of the 2nd century was Imam Shafi for explaining the Aqa’id and Fiqh. The Mujadid of the 3rd century was Abu Hasan al Ashari for formulating the sciences of Ahl us Sunnah and refuting the innovators. The Mujadid of the 4th century was Imam al Hakim and Al Baihaqi for laying the foundations in Hadith sciences and Abu Hamid Isfara’ini for spreading Ilm of Fiqh. In the 5th century was Imam Ghazzali for opening new paths in Fiqh, Kalaam and Tasawwuf. In the 6th century was Fakhr ud-Din Razi for spreading knowledge of Kalaam while Nawawi spread knowledge of Fiqh.” [Shah Walliullah in his Izalat al-Khafa]

Like many saints of Islam in the past, in the previous century, the Promised Massih and Mahdi Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) of Qadian also offered layers of spiritual and logical explanations to ‘normalize’ the phenomenon of Divine Manifestations among the Muslim believers. Through his comprehensive and all pervading engagement with the spiritual doctrine in all its settings, the Promised Massih (as) has left behind an extraordinary range of explanations emphasizing the need for recognizing an Elect of God whenever such a person announces his spiritual mission of renewal of the Faith. The Promised Massih (as) noted that Allah (swt) maintained the institution of Reformers (Mujaddidin) after the Seal of the Prophets, because along with their own practical example, these personages command a spiritual attraction and influence, and virtue of the highest degree could be observed in their persons-  a path of spirituality that any thoughtful person would inherently find appealing. 

Du'ah: Role in Spiritual Life- II

Du'ah: The Instrumental Role

Alhamdulillah, Allah has given me the opportunity to continue the second part of my sermon on Duahs which I started on Friday 07 September 2018.

The duah (i.e. in this context, Invocation to Allah) is a way to obtain from Allah the Exalted One the prerogative (exclusive right, i.e. in a most humble way) that He hears and satisfies our needs in the broadest sense of the word. It is therefore a factor that can affect even our fate and change our destiny. Surely, Allah the Exalted is always “closer to man than the vein of his neck (jugular vein)” as He explains in a Qur’anic verse (Qaf 50: 17).

Beliefs and Practices in Shi‘a Islam

The Shi'a belief on 'Imamat'

The Shiites believe that after the death of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and this till the end of the world, Allah has nominated twelve Imams. According to them, those twelve Imams had been nominated by Allah through Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). The first Imam according to them is Ali (ra), the second one, his son, Imam Hassan, the third one Imam Hussein and the rest of the nine Imams being found in their bloodline.

From the first Imam (i.e. Ali) till the eleventh Imam (Hassan Askari), all died a natural death like the rest of mankind. As for the twelfth Imam, the son of Hassan Askari, he mysteriously disappeared in this youth and went into hiding in a cave. Now till the end of the world, according to the Shiites, he alone has the exclusive right to reign upon the world. The belief in Imamat is obligatory (Farz) for a Shiite and the one who does not believe in it shall see himself being rewarded hell as resting place. In one of their books, Al-Kafila there is the mention that if the earth (i.e. the world) remain without an Imam, it shall sink. Still according to this book, the (Shiites) Imams are selected by Allah just like Allah chose the prophets.

The Origin of the Sect

Shia in itself is not a religion; it is a sect in Islam. After the martyrdom of Hazrat Umar (ra) and during the caliphate of Hazrat Uthman (ra), Islam propagated in several countries outside Arabia, such as Persia, etc. Many people accepted Islam at that time. Many entered the fold of Islam sincerely while many others entered therein hypocritically.

Peace and Unity among Ahmadis

The world of Islam today is splintered on denominational and sectarian lines. The lineages of the great divide among the Muslims go far back into history, originating in the disputes over obedience to authority and the sharing of power in the times after the Holy Prophet (sa) and his rightly-guided successors, the pious Caliphs. It’s a searing fact of history that after that first century of Islam, the Muslims had never been united as a single spiritual and political order. With the great schism among the believers leading to the formation of sectarian identity among them; the lofty identity of Islam receded to the backdrop and the Muslims were reduced to be either Sunnis or Shiites and in course of time, with the entrenchment of deep divisions over questions of Islamic law, new groups emerged among them on sectarian lines.

Indeed, there is no monolithic/single/unified ‘Islam’ in our times; there are many ‘Islams’ as the proliferation of religious groupings among the nearly two billion Muslims around the world so clearly demonstrate. This is unfortunately true as well, even in the relatively humble and small world of Ahmadiyya Islam- the community of Muslims assembled originally by the Promised Massih Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) of Qadian in the previous century. Today, despite all that the Promised Massih (as) had taught about the unity of all religions in Islam, the Ahmadis or the people who claim themselves to be the followers of that great saint of Islam, themselves are splintered into numerous sects and groupings. For instance, the different Ahmadi sects include the following: Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Qadian, Anjuman Ahmadiyya Lahore, Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Al Muslemun, Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Islah Pasand, Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam and the Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Haquiqui.

No one can deny that the Holy Qur’an had indeed warned the Muslims about the lessons of human history. Whereas unity and cohesion leads to progress and blessings, disagreement and splintering leads to decline and fall. The Divine Book says, “This community of yours is one single community, and I am your Lord. So fear Me. But they are divided into sects, each sect rejoicing in its belief.” (23: 53-54). “And if your Lord had willed, He could have made mankind one community. Yet they continue to disagree (among them) except those upon whom your Lord has bestowed His Mercy. This is why He created them ...” (11: 119-120). 

It is possible to look at the diversity of situations and the plurality of opinions among Ahmadis as the existential condition of the times we are living in. In dealing with questions where we differ among ourselves, however, it is important to keep the big picture in mind all the time- including the obligations of brotherhood left behind by the Holy Prophet (sa) when he stated: “A Muslim is the brother of another Muslim. Do not hate each other and do not be jealous of each other and do not desert each other, O worshipers of Allah! Be brothers! And whoever meets the needs of his brother, Allah will meet his needs”. Indeed, the Ahmadi believers have a duty to respect the integrity and religious choices of our fellow humans found in different sects of Islam. Rather than seeking to project narrow interests, group-based prejudices and sectarian mindsets; engage with the brethren in faith in a spirit of solidarity and kindness in furthering the shared ideals of Islam. 

An Appeal to All 

In October 2008, in the seventh year of the present Divine Manifestation, Hadhrat Muhyi-ud-Din Al Khalifatullah Munir Ahmad Azim Saheb (atba) of Mauritius made a fervent, Divinely-inspired Appeal to all mankind, especially to his Ahmadi brothers found in various sects of the Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya to improve the quality of their spiritual engagements and public debates and to rise above their sectarian perspectives so as to truly embrace the purpose of a spiritual life. 

Read the Document Below:

Hijri Era: Islamic Calendar

THE ISLAMIC CALENDAR

I shall now address you some explanations on the Islamic Calendar. The Islamic Calendar has a story and origin and we should know about it.

All nations used to keep count of years as from a specific epoch. Whenever there was a highly important event that is known to the whole world, then people took it as a starting point of an epoch, to start a calendar. The best way to start a calendar would have been to date it back to the advent of Hazrat Adam (as) on earth or even start the calendar as from the deluge in the times of Hazrat Nuh (as), for these are highly important events in history. But unfortunately, we do not have exact information on the times when these events occurred. Therefore, each nation took as starting point a main event/ situation which they witnessed in their own times.

It has been reported that the descendants of Hazrat Ibrahim (as) began to count the days/ years as from the day that he was thrown into the fire. As for the Arabs, they based their calendar on the Year of the Elephant, and here is its story:

A Poem on ‘Taubah’

On Repentance and Returning to Allah

The time has come for me to see after the darkness of ignorance

My old age is a morning that calls me to its dawning rays

The night of youth is short, so proceed deliberately

The morning is the end of the road for the night traveler.

How have I been deceived by the world and its adornment,

Building my home on the crumbling ground, at the edge of a precipice?

A home whose transgressions remain, but whose delights perish:

How wretched is such a home!

The happy one is not one who is delighted by his worldly trinkets;

Rather, the happy one is the one saved from the torment of Hell.

I have awakened from wickedness, fearful and trembling,

For Allah knows my deeds, open and secret.

If I hold my sins to be grave and they fill me with despair,

I can only hope that they will be eradicated,

By the One who alone can do so…

The All Forgiving.

---(Written by Hadhrat Abul Hasan Abdul Aziz al-Jurjani (ra). Translated from the Arabic by Zaid Shakir)

Death and the Purpose of Life

"Exalted is He who holds all control in His hands; who has power over all things; who created death and life to test you and reveal which of you does best- He is the Mighty, the Forgiving"-- (Surah Mulk, 67: 2-3).

"God has humbled the son of Adam with death, and has made the world an abode of life, then an abode of death, and made the Hereafter an abode of recompense, then an abode of eternal abiding" --- Prophet Muhammad (sa)  

As a religion, Islam is an appeal to the conscience of the humans to deploy their God-given Free Will to lead a clear and pure life in the path of God. It is an open invitation to everyone to recognize the true purpose of life- the Worship of the Divine to the exclusion of all other so called 'deities'- by purifying their souls, by getting rid of the spiritual and moral diseases that otherwise come in the way of such higher realization. And 'Muslims' are those who subordinate and surrender their personal needs and desires to conform to the Will and commandments of Allah and His Messenger and strive in His cause. The trade-off they have to make is between the chance gains of this life and the enduring rewards of the Hereafter. Hence, to live in obedience to the dictates of religion and to die in that state of submission to the Will of Allah, is a conscious choice that every true believer makes through her belief and practice in every day life. 

In his Friday Sermon of 20 July 2018 (06 Dhul Qaddah 1439 AH), Muhyi-ud-Din Al Khalifatullah Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Saheb (atba) of Mauritius speaks about the transient nature of our worldly life to remind us about the inevitability of our accountability in the world to come. 

In this eloquent discourse steeped in Qur'anic wisdom and illuminating insights, Hadhrat Khalifatullah (atba) provides a series of practical guidelines that followers of the Divine Path can keep in mind in their everyday life. For, everyone has to be prepared to face the record of their deeds on the Day of Resurrection. As Hadhrat Saheb (atba) notes, a believer can prepare herself for that ultimate reality of Facing God on the Day of Judgement in the following way: by recognizing the truthfulness of the Divine Messages and prophecies chronicled in the Qur'an and the Ahadith; by learning from the exemplary lives of the Divine servants of the past; by recognizing the value of invoking fervent prayers directed to the court of the Almighty for steadfastness and courage to remain in the spiritual path, and also by recalling the fleeting nature of life and the unavoidable journey to the grave after death. It is also instructive to note that embracing the True Path/Faith is a favour that one does to one's own self and nobody else, and it is certainly not a favour to God. Our extolling God cannot add to His glory, nor does our disobedience to His Elects can take away of His grandeur and dignity. On the other hand, when you earnestly strive in the path of glorification and sublime obedience, God bestows purification and radiance to your soul in this very world- indeed happy endings are for the truly devout. Whether to remain in obedience to God and receive the benefits of enduring blessings, or to disobey the Divine commands in search of fleeting pleasures that will only bring ultimate loss- that is the choice that every human has to make in life, reminds Hadhrat Khalifatullah (atba).  

Read the Friday Sermon Below: 

Recall Death

For all of us, our journey on earth is limited. Sooner or later we will have to return to our Creator and present ourselves before Him. Those who fear Allah the most have only one wish, which is, to stay in His obedience - the obedience of Allah - throughout their lives. This, in order to prevent them from dying while they were in disobedience of Allah because the Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said, “Every slave will be resurrected in the state upon which he died” (Muslim)

The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) here speaks of our state when we die either as a disbeliever or as a believer. Each individual must therefore seek by all means to hold firm to his faith, the true faith (i.e. Islam), throughout his life on earth so that when he dies, despite that his family may be crying over losing a loved one, but the person (now dead), will be happy to join his Creator. For this, he must:

(1) Believe in the word of Allah and Muhammad (pbuh).

It is so easy for us to believe in the words of people like us. If we are told that tomorrow there will be an increase in the price of fuel, how many of us will rush today itself to the gas stations to refuel?

In the fourth chapter of the Holy Quran, Allah says: “Allah! There is no god but He: He will surely gather you together on the Day of Judgment, about which there is no doubt. And whose word can be truer than Allah’s?” (An-Nisa, 4: 88)