Alhamdulillah, Summa Alhamdulillah, we enter the final third of this blessed month of Ramadan. During these last 10 days, Allah and His beloved Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) have taught us that there lies a night within, so magnificent that its blessings surpass those of 1,000 months.
Allah says in the Holy Quran:
“O you who believe! Fasting has been
enjoined upon you as they were enjoined upon those before you, so that you may
be God-fearing (attain Taqwa)”
(Al-Baqara 2:184).
Divine commandments, including fasting during Ramadan, aim to instil piety (taqwa) in the hearts of believers. They help purify the soul, develop patience, seek forgiveness for sins, and obtain divine rewards. Fasting during Ramadan, in particular, is a way to draw closer to Allah, strengthen one’s faith, and engage in deep spiritual reflection. It also instils values such as discipline, empathy towards the less fortunate, and gratitude for the blessings received.
Today, 19 April 2024, marks the 21st anniversary of the first Bai’at [the covenant of repentance with God] initiated and accepted by Hazrat Amir-ul-Mu’mineen Muhyiuddin Al Khalifatullah Al Mahdi Munir Ahmad Azim (aba) of Mauritius on 19 April 2003. On that day in 2003, soon after the demise of the fourth caliph of the Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Mirza Tahir Ahmad Saheb [1928-2003] in London [UK], Hazrat Amir-ul-Mu’mineen (aba) received the Divine instruction to accede to the request of Muslim brothers and sisters in Mauritius to receive Bai’at in the Hand of Allah (represented by the hand of Hazrat Imam (aba)]; marking an important milestone in the sacred history and trajectory of Islamic renewal over the centuries. Accordingly, the first Bai’at was held that evening in the house of Hazrat Ummul Mu'mineen Fazli Amena Saheba on the second storey, at Louvet Avenue, Quatre-Bornes, Mauritius. From that momentous occasion, over the last two decades, the spiritual mission of Hazrat Khalifatullah Al Mahdi (aba) has been, and is, thriving by the grace and blessings of Allah (swt). And for true spiritual seekers- those who have eyes to observe, ears to listen and hearts to understand-, the support and help of God is clearly evident in the progressive trajectory of the Divine Manifestation of our era, Subhaan Allah, Alhamdulillah, Allah-u-Akbar!
It is absolutely certain that Hazrat Imam Munir Ahmad Azim (aba) of Mauritius has appeared as a servant of Faith in our midst with proof from Allah the Almighty. The divine revelations vouchsafed to Hazrat Saheb (aba) comprises matters of the unseen and prophecies with regard to the future, acceptance of prayer, revelation in various languages, and revelation of points of wisdom and divine truths- exactly like in the times of the promised messiah Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) of Qadian [1835-1908]. Since all this is divine testimony, it is the duty of everyone who possesses faith to accept his claim as the servant of God in this era, the Divinely-raised ‘Muhyiuddin’/ ‘Mujaddid’/ ‘Khalifatullah’/’ Dhul Qarnain’/ ‘Imam Mahdi’- all being spiritual titles bestowed by the Lord Himself upon His servant of this era.
Eid-ul-Fitr, its Traditions & The Steps forward to Allah
This is legitimate because after having fasted during the month of Ramadan for the Pleasure of Allah, our Creator, He offers us – to us, Muslims – this gift. It is a gift He gave us with the advent of His beloved prophet Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) and the command to fast the month of Ramadan.
Brothers and sisters and children of the Jamaat mainly congregated at the mosques of the community for Eid special prayers in Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
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'Truly,
We revealed this on a Night full of blessings...’
(44:4)
We revealed it on the ‘Laila-tul-Qadr’ [the Night of Destiny, the Blessed Night & filled with virtues] (97:2)
Ramadan, Layla-tul-Qadr & Eid-ul-Fitr:
The Blessings of A Lifetime
Twenty-nine or thirty days of blessings: yet, those days hold therein a concealed night, wrapped in the mystery of divine knowledge, to deliver to those who successfully attain and receive it, the blessings of a lifetime. The Night of Decree (Layla-tul-Qadr) as this night is called is like the most precious of pearls, more precious than any treasure in this world. It is the gateway to such divine blessings which can erase a sincere person’s sins and make him pure like a newborn babe.
Read the Friday Sermon Below:
Religion (Deen, Deen
of Allah, Islam) came to bring balance and perfection to man in his life.
Without religion, man loses his bearings and therefore will not be able to live
a healthy life. It is religion that encourages marriage, family life and
prayer.
The fact that we are being watched (by Allah, and His angels) and that we must one day be held accountable for our actions forces us to behave well and think twice before committing despicable acts. The religion of Islam advocates moderation and does not tolerate any extremes. On the one hand, there is the obligation of everyone to seek a lawful livelihood, and on the other hand one must engage in religious obligations every day. But during the year one should have a balance between worldly activities and spirituality. And this is where we note that the prophet (pbuh) dedicated the last ten days of each Ramadan to Itikaaf. It is narrated by Hazrat Aisha (ra) that after the death of the Prophet (pbuh), his wives also sat down for the ten days of Itikaaf (Bukhari).
1. What is the
difference between Tahajjud and Tarawee?
2. Do we pray Tahajjud
(After Isha, before Fajr) at different times during Ramadan and non-Ramadan
(nights)?
3. The Prophet (pbuh) did not perform the Tahajjud prayer or the Tarawee prayer together. Why do we do it?
Hazrat Khalifatullah's considered response to these set of questions shine a clear light of guidance on a vital aspect of Islamic spiritual practice in the fasting month of Ramadan: the devotional practice of offering voluntary prayers known as the Tarawee Prayers after the Esha prayers- both in its original, historical context, but also in relation to the Tahajjud Prayers, explaining the practices against the wider backdrop of the Holy Prophet's own approach and those of the pious second caliph Hazrat Umar (ra), and what these additional prayers mean in the spiritual journey of the believers in their quest for Divine nearness, pleasure and approval.
The month of Ramadan, metaphorically speaking, is a flower whose petals evoke the Divine Beauty, His (Allah’s) wisdom as well as His mercy towards the believers.
'Ramadan is the month in which the Quran was
revealed as guidance to men and clear proofs of the guidance and the
distinction. So whoever is present this month, let him fast.'
(Quran 2: 186)
Allah has chosen to make His greatest law-bearing prophet, Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) remain an Ummi (illiterate) - whereby he did not know how to read or write - so that the world may know the true worth of the Quran that He has revealed through him. Allah has sent Hazrat Jibreel (as), the chief of the angels of revelations to teach him His pure words which would later serve as guidance for all humanity.
Ramadan & Its Light
'Ramadan is the month in which the Quran was
revealed as guidance to men and clear proofs of the guidance and the
distinction. So whoever is present this month, let him fast.'
(Quran 2: 186)
With Shabaan drawing to a close, and the most blessed of Ramadan coming, it is the duty of every believer who is healthy to fast as per the commandment of Allah.
While Islamic
teachings promise the special descent of ‘Laila-tul-Qadr’ in the last 10 days
of the fasting month, the rank and file of the Jamaat had the great favour of
witnessing to a number of interesting Divine Signs during this period- for
instance, just like in the times of the Promised Messiah (as), red drops became
visible in the copybook of the Muhyiuddin Al Khalifatullah (aba) of this era:
out of nowhere, it suddenly appeared like a Divine attestation on the
incredible efforts and profound service of Hazrat Saheb (aba) in making Qur’an
accessible to a larger audience around the world in these complex and
challenging times, Allahumma Allah-u-Akbar!
Against the backdrop of these mystical visions and experiences and related Divine Signs in the holy month of Ramadan, the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam International celebrated Eid-ul-Fitr this year with members of the Jamaat-men, women, boys and girls- converging together at Mosques and other prayer centers in various parts of the world, including Mauritius, Comoros, Madagascar, Dubai, Delhi, Sirajum Munir Masjid at VK Puram (Tamil Nadu), and the Noor’ul Islam Masjid at Mathra (Kerala), Summa Alhamdulillah.
Ramadan
is a special month in the devotional calendar of the Muslim. This month of fasting is characterized by an atmosphere of
spiritual contemplations, special invocations and other supererogatory acts of
worship and remembrance of God whereby the Muslim seeks nearness to his/her
Lord. Members of the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam in India have reported several pure
dreams and pious visions of a mystical nature that clearly points to Divine
Light and Pleasure on the Jamaat of Allah (twt) in this blessed month of Ramadan,
Alhamdulillah, Summa Alhamdulillah.
For today’s Friday Sermon,
the penultimate Friday of the holy month of Ramadan, the theme I have chosen is
on the Laila-tul-Qadr, as well as the Duah that our beloved Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) has taught us
on this occasion.
He taught this Duah to his wife Aisha (ra) so that she
and the entire Ummah could take advantage of this illustrious night in divine
forgiveness, and thus imitate him in the accomplishment of this great Duah. The Duah is as follows: “Allahumma Innaka Afuwwun tuhibbul afwa fa’
fu anni.” The translation of this Duah is as follows: O Allah, You are Forgiving, You love to forgive,
so forgive me.
So, let us see the words that our beloved Prophet (pbuh) used to beg forgiveness from Allah, and that according to him is the greatest Duah that one can recite during the duration of this blessed night.
With the ubiquitous reach of digital gadgets facilitating free flow of all content- good and bad; social morals and ethical values are increasingly under threat in our times. When immorality is allowed free reign in a society, it directly affects the vulnerable young population, corrupting their sense of judgement, and propriety, decency and related behavioural standards. Comprehensive action against the spread of immorality is required by all right-thinking people belonging to all communities and religions coming together for the common good, exhorts Hazrat Khalifatullah (aba) in this discourse. Moreover, Hazrat Saheb (aba) also speaks about the vital role of water, illustrating the ways in which this precious resource can help us in leading a healthy life.
Read the Friday Sermon Below:
A Gift in Bliss and Misfortune
Allah says twice in Chapter Ash-Sharh of the Holy Quran: “So truly where there is hardship there is also ease; truly where there is hardship there is also ease.”
By the immense grace of Allah, we have reached the month of Shawwal after 29 or 30 days of fasting and sacrifices in the month of Ramadan.
If Ramadan was a training for all believers to
control and devote themselves more and more in the acts of worship to seek the
forgiveness of our Lord and the opportunities to please Him, then Shawwal is
that month during which the believers are to maintain that promise they made to
Allah in that which they will remain steadfast in His path and walk the way of
humility, simplicity and hold high the place of sacrifice in their lives for
the sake of Allah.
We, Muslims have the foremost duty to be true
to our Islam and Ramadan taught this to us and granted us the time and
opportunity to do so. Allah says in the Holy Quran:
Allah has promised those who
believe and do deeds of righteousness, that for them there is forgiveness and a
great reward. [Al-Maida,
5: 10]
If the Eid was a reward for you, unfortunately not all Muslims around the world get the opportunity to receive the Eid that you receive. So you should be thankful to Allah and strive with your selves and all means that you have to help change the world into a better one.
As the world of Islam observes the spirit of fasting in this holy month of Ramadan, the brothers, sisters and children of the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam in India and elsewhere are maximizing spiritual blessings through engaging in various forms of worshipful remembrance of God such as Zikr, Tilawat-ul-Qur’an, Dars-ul-Qur’an/Dars-ul-Hadith in this fasting period, Alhamdulillah.
Along with fasting and diligent observance of Divine supplications at individual and collective levels, the Jamaat members in Tamil Nadu, in Kerala, in Delhi have also been socially engaged, with visiting and spending time with people facing various misfortunes, hardships and ill health, offering them possible help and sustenance amidst the great trials of life that engulf them in their economic, social and personal conditions.
'In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful. Surely We revealed it [i.e. the Quran] on the Laylatul Qadr [the Night of Destiny, The Blessed Night & filled with virtues]; And what will make you understand what the Laylatul Qadr is? The Laylatul Qadr is better than a thousand months. The angels and the Spirit descend therein by the permission of their Lord for every matter. Peace it is [They spread peace] until the emergence of dawn.' (Al-Qadr 97: 1-6).
When the companions [Sahaba] heard this, they were saddened, thinking that they cannot match that person in terms of worship (of Allah). To encourage them, Almighty Allah revealed the Surah Al-Qadr, specifying that if the Ummah of Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) worship Allah during this blessed night, their Ibadat will be better than a thousand months of Ibadat.