Keep Away from 'Shirk'

  

True Oaths in Islam 

And when My servants ask you concerning Me, then surely I am very near; I answer the prayer of the suppliant when he calls on Me, so they should answer My call and believe in Me that they may walk in the right way. [Al-Baqarah, 2: 187]

Islam teaches man to address his Creator directly. There is no need to use any intermediary. There is no need to go through creatures to join the Creator. It is on earth that man uses this means to reach another person like him. For example, to join a Minister, you have to make an appointment with his secretary and then later you join him [i.e. the Minister].

 

This is the way [of doing] of man. But talking with Allah is so easy that you just have to call on Him, and He will answer your call. If someone offers a sacrifice (e.g. an ox, a hen etc.) to others besides Allah, he is committing Shirk. He has no right to say: “I am doing this sacrifice on the name of such Pir or such Saint.” It’s Shirk.

The Criterion of True Faith

 

Is there a way to identify and understand a correct and straight path to God amidst all that different religions (and their denominational groups) claim to offer? How do we know and distinguish between true concept of God and false beliefs of people? Does Faith in God entail the duty to choose wisely and with equity, and to follow the Right Way at all times?  These  questions arise in many minds in our times. Especially so when we hear many people, professing different creeds, offering diverging views on the vital issue of spiritual guidance in the Divine Way. Recently, Imam- Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam Hazrat Khalifatullah Munir Ahmad Azim (aba) of Mauritius responded to a similar concern raised by a truth-seeker, Mr. Paul Robert Chaiya. His question was like this: 

'Mr. Munir Ahmad Azim, you have made your proclamation as the Prophet and Messiah of this era, so why there are so many religions which proclaim to be in the right way? I want your answer. Thank you very much.' 

Reproduced Below are the Extracts from the response of Hazrat Khalifatullah (aba) on the occasion: 

'There are so many sects, cults, religions, philosophies, and movements in the world, all of which claim to be the right way or the only true path to God! How can one determine which one is correct or whether, in fact, all are correct? 

One method by which the answer can be found is to clear away the superficial differences in the teachings of the various claimants to the ultimate truth, and identify the central object of worship upon which they call directly or indirectly. False religions all have in common one basic concept with regard to God: They either claim that all men are gods, or that specific men were gods, or that nature is god, or that God is a figment of man’s imagination.

God's Perfect Attributes

Islam describes God as a Perfect Being, possessing every excellence. The opening verse of the Holy Quran states: "All praise is due to Allah, the Creator and Sustainer of all the worlds."

As God has created all things, and all things depend on Him for their sustenance, He alone deserves all praise for the beauties and excellences to be found in different things, for all these beauties and excellences are derived from God. God has been called 'Rahman' in the Holy Quran, i.e. God has, out of His pure Grace and Bounty, created all those things the need of which was to be felt by man; for instance, parents to care for him, light and air, fire and water, different kinds of food and medicines, timber, iron, stone, etc. 

In fact, man cannot possibly feel any need which has not been met and provided for even before his birth! All this has been done under God's attribute of 'Rahmaniyyat'. God has also been called 'Rahim' in the Holy Quran, that is to say, He rewards all labour and effort according to its quality and merit. Man's effort is never wasted, and he is ever rewarded in true proportion to his merit.

He is called 'Malik-i-Yawm-id-Din', He is the Master of the Day of Judgement. In other words, apart from the operation of the laws of Nature, and the rewards or punishments which are meted out in this world, He has fixed the limits of every action, and as soon as those limits are reached, final judgement is passed on each action whereby the good are rewarded, and the evil ones are punished - subject always to this, that under His attribute of 'Malikiyyat' it is always open to Him to forgive and to remit the punishment.

The Myths of The Hindus

"And they have taken (for worship) gods other than Allah, to give them power and glory! No! Those "gods" (i.e. false gods) will deny their worship of them and will be against them as opponents [on the Day of Judgement]." (Maryam, 19: 82-83)

Today is a Public Holiday in Mauritius (i.e. Maha Shivaratree). Perhaps in the other countries also, they are celebrating the Maha Shivaratree. My Hindu friends have requested me that today in my Friday Sermon I talk about their three gods: Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva.

Why do Muslims offer Prayer?

“And seek help through patience and prayer, and indeed, it is difficult except for the humble in spirit, 

Who know for certain that they shall meet their Lord and that they shall return to Him.” (Al-Baqara, 2: 46-47).

Prayer (Salat) is a spiritual purification through which Muslims are required to undergo five times a day. Prayer is an integral part of Islam and is thus incumbent upon every sincere Muslim believer. Prayer enables Muslims to affirm five times per day the Unity and attributes of Allah, and their belief in Muhammad (pbuh), His Messenger. Prayer is therefore a part of the everyday affairs of the Muslim – he has been commanded by God Almighty to pray in the morning before sunrise, prayer is also ordained for him just after midday, a third in the afternoon, a fourth just after sunset, and a fifth in the evening before going to bed. Prayer is thus the first daily preoccupation of a Muslim and also his last. Prayer enables man, even when at his busiest, to disengage himself from worldly affairs in order to remember his Maker. Whilst Islam emphasises the accountability of each and every individual to Allah, it allows for the weaknesses and imperfection of man.

Although one is supposed to pray five times a day, allowances are made for those whose work schedules are such that they cannot break off at the required times of day. Thus, certain prayers can be combined and said together. Furthermore, if one is ill or on a journey, concessions are made so that the number of prayers are reduced, or in the case of illness, the actual form of prayer may be changed. For example, Instead of standing for prayer, the sick person may sit down to pray and if he is unable to do even that, he can lie down on the bed to pray.

The Festival of Easter : Religion, Myth and History

Across the world, the Christian communities today are celebrating the Festival of Easter. The religious practice of Easter seeks to commemorate the resurrection of Jesus Christ (as). The rituals and traditions that make up this festival have interesting origins in the ancient world. In other words, the lineage of the present festival and associated rituals can be traced back to the pagan worship norms of ancient communities. As it happened, the pagan practices were adapted and modified and transformed to a ‘Christian’ milieu. It is apparent that to accommodate the deviations from the original message of Jesus (as), much theological engineering was done to reshape and reconstruct the belief systems within Christianity as well.  In his Friday Sermon of 29 March 2013, the Khalifatullah Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Sahib (atba) of Mauritius throws searching light on the pagan origins of these Christian religious practices by drawing upon the studies and writings of Christian scholars.  

Read the Extracts from the Friday Sermon:

Easter is a day that is honoured by nearly all of contemporary Christianity and is used to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ (Hazrat Isa (as)). Christian believes that Jesus (as) rose again from the dead three days and three nights after he was crucified. The holiday often involves a church service at sunrise, a feast which includes an “Easter Ham”, decorated eggs and stories about rabbits. Free thinking Christian scholars in bewilderment have often questioned all these incongruous activities. Why rabbits? Why not a puppy or any other animals? Rabbits do not lay eggs, why not orange or onions etc., because they also roll. Why are these traditions so ingrained in Easter Sunday? And what do they have to do with the resurrection of Jesus?

Muhammad (sa) and the Seal of Prophethood

In his Friday Sermon of 14 September 2012, the Khalifatullah Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Sahib (atba) of Mauritius explained the concept of Prophethood in Islam. By focussing on the Qur’anic title of the Holy Prophet of Islam Muhammad (sa)- Khataman-Nabiyyeen- the Khalifatullah points to the colossal mistakes that have crept into the mainstream belief  through the ebb and flow of centuries and the serious consequences it entailed for the fortunes of the Muslim Ummah. By closing the door of revelation in the Ummah, Muslims have cut at the “root of all spiritual and temporal understanding” and deprived itself of the  great blessing of Divine Guidance, points out the Messenger of Allah of our times.

Read the Extracts from the Friday Sermon:   

Almighty God appointed the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sa) the holder of the seal. This degree of excellence was barred to all other prophets since the beginning of time. One, who meticulously follows his footsteps, can be awarded the attributes of prophethood. But the Holy Prophet (sa) is gifted with much more than this. A spiritual and intimate linkage with him can elevate an “Ummati” to the exalted status of a prophet.

It was thus that thousands of the followers of the Holy Prophet were converted by his grace into saints of a high order. But there was to be others among the Ummah who would be wrapped in the silver linings of a prophet. One was the Mahdi and the Promised Messiah of the last century and for this century it refers to this humble self, the Muhyi-ud-din Khalifatullah. We are that person whom the Holy Prophet (sa) had himself described as prophet on four occasions (Sahih Muslim).

The Concept of Khalifatullah

In his Friday Sermon of 25 May 2012, Hadhrat Khalifatullah Munir Ahmad Azim (atba) of Mauritius gave a discourse on the concept of Khalifatullah or the Vicegerent to Allah on earth. The speech is especially important for Ahmadi Muslims to ponder over, for the extraordinary light it throws on the concept of Khilafat in Islam and the insights it provides on the circumstances in which the favour of Allah deserted the man-elected Khilafat system and resulted in the emergence of the current Divine Manifestation in Mauritius.  

Islam offers the spiritual history of countless prophets in the Holy Qur’an as a living testimonial to an enduring Divine practice: Allah the Most High raises His Messengers, who (did and) would call people to the sublime path of spirituality. These Messengers would teach people the Divine Word and invite them to partake of the Divine blessings that pour down like a heavenly rain on a parched earth. Depending on the depth of their immersion in the Divine waters, these holy men of God are decorated by Allah the Most High Himself with spiritual titles of magnificent proportions- Rasulullah, Nabiullah, Khalifatullah, Muhyi-ud-Din, Mujaddid etc.  

Read the Extracts from the Sermon:  

“The word Khalifatullah can be explained with reference directly to Allah (swt) or with reference to an earlier prophet. The Khalifatullah is created on earth by the word of God and he is vicegerent to Allah, or a deputy to Allah. Hazrat Adam (as) is referred to as Khalifatullah and it (that is, the title and seat of Khalifatullah) came to its perfection in the person of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sa) and that also is the meaning of Khataman-Nabiyyeen. This is one understanding of the word Khalifatullah.

SAFAR Zikrullah: March 2003

Islam swears by a Living Allah. He is Merciful and Compassionate and hears and answers the prayers of His servants. Divine Mercy encompasses the whole world. So much so that there has never been any nation that has not received its share of divine guidance. The Holy Qur’an testifies that all communities have witnessed the appearance of Divine Messengers among them. It is an enduring Divine practice that Allah raises His Messengers and servants whenever He finds the community of people in disarray due to lack of unity and real spirituality in society.

There is little doubt among thoughtful people that the Islamic world is witnessing such an era. The signs are unmistakably apparent- obvious to every one except the ones who have veils over their eyes. The fortunes of the Muslim Ummah have touched the lowest ebb. The ravaging of Arab lands- American occupation of Iraq, Afghanistan and the prolonged suffering of Palestine under Israeli colonial domination and the ongoing encircling of Iran, all points to this state of decline and crises. 

Allah raised Musa (as) to take on the Pharaohs of his times. Prayer was his ultimate armament. In an age when everything is upside down, a Man of Allah appears to show the way, to teach the people the real path of sublime spirituality. Such a Servant of Allah seeks the protection against the worst enemies of people through reciting fervent prayers. 

In March 2003, Allah, the Most High guided His Chosen Messenger of the era Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Sahib of Mauritius (atba) to organize a special spiritual retreat- an event that has since come to be known as “Safar Zikrullah”. For a few days, the close disciples of Hadhrat Sahib and some other truth seekers joined him to spend time in Divine remembrance and to offer fervent prayers for the destruction of modern Pharaohs like Ariel Sharon who has since then been reduced by Allah the Almighty to a miserable state in this very life!  Safar Zikrullah is thus one of the most important spiritual events of the last decade.

Beyond the external impact of the prayers of a Man of God manifesting in the world at large, it is remarkable to note that this extraordinary event has had an internal dimension as well. The disciples of Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Sahib (atba), each one of them who attended the Safar Zikrullah Programme, witnessed at their own levels one Divine sign or the other that testified to the veracity of the chosen Messenger of Allah. All Praise belongs to the Almighty Alone!    

The biographical essay on the life and message of Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Sahib (atba) contains a narrative on Safar Zikrullah.

Read the relevant extracts:

Islam and Slavery

Slavery as a social institution existed in different parts of the world for a very long period of time.  It is a stark reminder of the dark episodes in world history when men- including in Muslim lands- had had no qualms about treating his fellow beings as mere chattel. [Illustration: "Slave-dealers and slaves—a Street Scene in Zanzibar" ]. In this post-modern age, ideas of basic human dignity and fundamental rights have gained widespread acceptance all over the world. And, the very notion of slavery militates against the concepts of decency, propriety and equality in human relations.

The teachings of Islam are designed to gradually eliminate evil practices such as slavery. While all Muslims cannot absolve themselves of not indulging in slave trade in the past,  Islam as practiced by the Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) certainly envisions a social order designed to reflect the sublime spiritual values it espouses: live in this world with a wider consciousness about your duties towards the Creator and the fellow beings. Learn to recognize the essential unity and common brotherhood of all mankind. Discharge your responsibilities towards fellow human beings. Empathy and understanding, compassion and consideration for people who are in need of assistance is a Qur’anic obligation on believers, reminds the Khalifatullah Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Sahib (atba) in a recent article on the subject in “Le Socialiste” Newspaper of Mauritius on February 15, 2012.

Read the Article: 

The advent of Islam was to be known as the absolute way of life of a human being. Islam verily means complete submission to the Creator of the Universe, the Supreme God, our Master and Guide.

As a Creator, Almighty God does not differentiate between His servants and thus, so as to guide us all to His path, He sends from time to time His elects to make people understand His Divine Message. Muhammad (saw) was such an Elect, who through his perseverance and absolute obedience to Almighty God received the distinction of Seal of Prophethood, the Best of Mankind and the best example and role model to follow. He indeed was the personification of the divine laws as established in the Holy Quran.

To know Islam, one must analyse deeply the life of Muhammad (saw). In fact, his life reflect many aspects of life as lived by both the poor and the rich, and among the poor there was of course the slaves who were devoid of rights in the pre-Islamic times. Muhammad’s (saw) compassion to the poor and the slaves knew no bound.

SALAT and Divine Communion

In his Friday Sermon of October 21, 2011 Khalifatullah Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Sahib continued the subject of Islamic prayer and reflected upon the psychological benefits of Salat. 

Beyond the psychological benefits to the human body and mind, Salat offers the real possibility of expressing the true yearning of the human heart and soul to reach the Divine presence, points out the Chosen Messenger of our times. 

Read the extracts from the Sermon:

Allah has said:

“Whoever shows enmity to a friend (servant) of Mine, I shall be at war with him. My servant does not draw near to Me with anything more loved by Me than the religions duties I have imposed upon him, and My servant continues to draw near me with Nawafil so that I shall love him. When I love him I am his hearing with which he hears: his seeing with which he sees, his hand with which he strikes, and his foot with which he walks. Were he to ask something of Me, I would surely give it to him. And were he to ask refuge, I would surely grant it to him.” (Bukhari)

What is implicit in this Hadith is that man can transcend the space time barrier and acquire the attributes of divinity, to control his entire environment. This means that he can, by following the Sunna, insures both physical and mental health not only for himself but will also effect changes in his environment. This is the meaning of the successes of all Muslims and the source of their dynamism.

Prayer said with utmost humility and tenderness of heart becomes special prayers, just like a suckling who cannot speak can attain utmost kindness of the mother by weeping, in the same manner the Duah with tears and utmost humility is the most effective way to communicate with God.

There has been sent down an extremely effective, healing and beneficial medicine, from the heaven of mercy. It is easily available in one sense, but rare in another. It appears to be common, but is the most special. It is beyond our description and praise, because it is universal remedy for thousands of diseases. Such a miraculous medicine is Salat, and duah. Prayer is the yearning of the heart to be one with the Creator and an invocation for His blessings.

Never Despair: the story of Prophet Ayub (as)

All those who are in the cusp of change in material conditions and stare transition in life situations would benefit from Allah’s help and succor in turbulent times. That is why in the Holy Qur’an, Allah has taught us a beautiful prayer to recite in times of transition from one place or stage or phase of life to another: “My Lord, admit me an entrance of truth and let me exit an exit of truth, and grant me from Yourself lasting authority, to help me.” (17:81)

In his Friday Sermon of July 01, 2011, Hadhrat Khalifatullah Munir Ahmad Azim Sahib of Mauritius profoundly expounded on the several dimensions of this prayer. He illustrated various situations and conditions that can arise in the life of a common believer by referring to the anecdotes from the history of the Messengers of Allah. Extraordinary trials and adverse circumstances do not hinder a firm believer. With humility, patience and prayer, he goes forward with his mission, regardless of the situation, relying wholeheartedly upon his Lord, always ready to submit to His Will. In this context, Hadhrat Sahib drew the attention of one and all to the life of Prophet Ayub (as):     

“Prophet Ayub (as) was born some 1550 years before Prophet Isa (as) and 200 years before Prophet Musa (as). Some scholars disagree on this point; some say that he was a prophet for the Children of Israel while some say that he came for another people. The Bible did not quote his birth place, while some Muslim scholars mention his birth somewhere in Syria. In brief, that which the Bible mentions in Prophet Ayub (as), it mentions that he was a good person who possessed riches be it in form of jewels, money or animals. He had a wife and children, and he used to do a lot of work for religion.

Divine Signs for the New Massih

In the time of a Messenger of Allah, innumerable signs appear in favour of the Divine Manifestation. Even people who are not prophets might be blessed with divine revelations in favour of the truthfulness of the Messenger. The Holy Qur’an provides an instance: “And remember My favour when I inspired the disciples saying, ‘Believe in Me and My Messenger’, they said, ‘We believe and bear Thou witness that we have submitted’” (5:112). Likewise, the Promised Massih Hadhrat Ahmad (as) was vouchsafed the following revelation: “People, whom We shall direct through revelation, will assist you” (Brahin-e-Ahmadiyya).

In a speech on June 22, 2011, Hadhrat Khalifatullah Munir Ahmad Azim Sahib (atba) of Mauritius shared with the world the revelations received by one of his disciples. Read the extracts from the Speech:

The revelation is for the Prophet of Allah and Allah has instructed the person to tell this message to the Prophet of Allah. When receiving this message, the disciple of the Khalifatullah felt her chest squeezed (and heart beating fast) and she felt anguish physically restricting her from speech. The feeling persist till after Witr prayers, and it was after that her tears were shed silently that she was able to speak. The revelation (originally in Creole) is as thus:

Translation: “O Prophet of Allah (x3)! When you need information, search it with people possessing Taqwa, who have the fear of Allah in their heart, who are pious, who tread on the right path. Be careful!”

Thereafter, Allah makes her understand that there is a verse in Surah Al-Hujarat which therein is the same message. “Be careful! Be very careful! Do not take information here and there. Search it with people possessing Taqwa, who have the fear of Allah in their heart, who are righteous. Look for your information, O Prophet of Allah (x3)…”

Divine Light for a Darkened World

When Allah sends a messenger, instead of recognizing him and helping him in his task, leaders of the community vehemently opposes him. They take themselves on a lofty pedestal in defiance of the wish and Will of the Lord, only to eventually crash down and bite the dustbin of history, even as the cause of God through His Chosen Messenger soars in the fullness of time. In a speech on 22 June 2011, Hadhrat Khalifatullah Munir Ahmad Azim (aba) of Mauritius drew upon this glorious principle of the spiritual realm. Moreover, many prayers that the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sa) invoked during his lifetime pertain to the spiritual renewal among his people/the whole of mankind for all times. In this speech, Hadhrat Sahib (aba) explains the wisdom behind the arrangement of Divine Reformers appearing in every age to guide the people to Allah, the Most High by referring to examples form every day lives that all people can easily relate to and understand. 

Read the Extracts from the Speech:

Hazrat Muhammad (sa) used to make many duahs (invocations to Allah). One of these duah was that he asked Allah to put light before him, behind him, on his right, on his left, and in him. Verily, he (sa) was indeed a light himself, but yet he made this prayer. Why? So that his Ummah may come to recite this duah often, so that they also they partake of that divine light. Hazrat Muhammad (sa) is that Qamaran-Munira, that light-giving moon who has come to brighten a darkened world. Likewise all prophets come in his shadow as bearers of light from Allah to dispel darkness of ignorance, idol-worship and to re-establish the worship of one God, Allah (Glory be to Him).

'Dawah' and New Media

In every age, the dissemination of information about the message of Allah take place through different mediums of communication which are available at that point of time in history. In our times, the message of Allah is spreading all round the world through the medium of internet. It is indeed a sign of the veracity of the Messenger of Allah Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim (aba) of Mauritius. In a recent speech, Hadhrat Khalifatullah (aba) observed:   

“By the grace of Allah, in our present times, Allah has made it that His message goes through a website which is viewed round the world. There was a divine wisdom in the past with the institution of the MTA (Muslim Television Ahmadiyya), but now Allah has wanted to make the message of His Messenger to go round the world through a website. Therefore with very limited means (and cost), the message of Allah is going round the world. And this is one of the signs of the veracity of the Messenger of Allah (his humble self) in this era.

The website as a means to pass on the message of Allah is even more sophisticated than the MTA (and quicker to pass on the Divine Message), compared to the times of the Promised Messiah (as). Through this website, all sorts of Deen works are being done- all kinds of Jihad are being fought through Open Letters, Refutations, Mubahala, Speeches (Written and Audio) and Books.

The Legacy of Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya

Every Ahmadi believes that the Promised Massih (as) came with a Divine Mission to restore the teachings of Sahih Al Islam. And the Ahmadiyya Khilafat was instituted with the objective of taking the message of the Promised Massih (as) to the whole world. After the first Khilafat, what began as a tussle over the doctrinal interpretations culminated into differences over the form of leadership- Anjuman versus Khilafat. Inevitably, there was a split in the Community, leading to the separation of ways of the disciples of the Promised Massih (as) and the formation of two groups.

The Lahore Ahmadiyya Movement (LAM) under the Imaarat of Maulvi Muhammad Ali Sahib (ra) identified itself more closely with the mainstream Islamic world, hoping to dilute and bridge the doctrinal claims of the Promised Massih (as) so to find accommodation and acceptance within the prevailing Muslim orthodoxy and its standards of legitimacy. Thus, they emphasised the Mujaddid claims of the Promised Massih (as) and explained away the concept of his being an “Ummati Nabi” and declared that no prophet whatsoever can ever come after the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sa).

The Voice of the Soul: A Revelation

On the morning of June 20, 2011 Hadhrat Khalifatullah Munir Ahmad Azim Sahib of Mauritius received a message (in English) from Allah, the Most High. The message on the need to be mild, gentle and sympathetic in inter-personal and social relations is entitled: “The Voice of the Soul”.

“It is well to cultivate a mild, gentle and sympathetic voice, and the only way to secure it is to be mild, gentle and sympathetic. The voice is the index of the soul. Children do not pay much attention to your words – they judge of your intent by your voice. We judge each other more by voice than by language, for the voice colours speech, and if your voice does not corroborate your words, doubt will follow. We are won or repelled by the voice.

The best way to cultivate the voice is not to think about it. Actions become regal only when they are unconscious; and the voice that convinces is used by its owner unconsciously. Fix your mind on the thought, and the voice will follow. If the voice is allowed to come naturally, easily and gently, it will take on every tint and emotion of the mind. The voice is the sounding-board of the soul. God made it right. If your soul is filled with truth, your voice will vibrate with love, echo with sympathy, and fill your hearers with a desire to do, to be, and to become.”

An Encounter with Sai Baba

Allah, the Most High has always been raising His Messengers with a single message: to preach the Unity of God. They come to confront the people’s practices of worshipping false gods- be it images, human beings or nature. Like all messengers before and after them, Hazrat Ibrahim (as), Moses (as),  Jesus (as) and the Holy Prophet of Islam (sa) have  preached their non-negotiable stand on the Unity of God against all odds and that too in the den of polytheistic practices of their times! 

It is spiritually appealing to think that in these times when the Unity of God/Tawheed doctrine is being challenged and undermined through polytheistic practices among the human beings of all religions and fractional groupings in the world, God has raised someone as a renewer of Faiths, the true spirituality of Oneness of God in all traditions of people's beliefs. "Sathya Sai Baba", the Indian godman who died recently, had hundreds of thousands of people who looked upon him as the personification of God Himself. While speaking on the larger theme of the eventual fall of criminals irrespective of their religious identity or sectarian orientation, Khalifatullah Hazrat Munir Ahmad Azim (aba) of Mauritius briefly touched upon the story of his encounter with the Sai Baba in 2005 at his place - Puttaparthy, India.

Read the extracts from the Friday Sermon of May 06, 2011:

Like you are all aware, the Sai Baba died on Sunday 24 April 2011 at the age of 84. Lots of people used to take him as god on earth and there are many of his adherents in Mauritius, whom I know personally, who pray him. There is a quote which says: When you do not believe in one God, then you shall believe in a million gods. By the grace of Allah, here in Mauritius, the devotees of the Sai Baba invite me in their several conferences to address them, and thus, it is on these occasions that I seize the opportunity to talk on the unity of Allah.

A Conference visit to Puttaparthy

In 2005, I was invited in Puttaparthy in India to participate in an inter-faith conference whereby different religious leaders of all communities were present and invited to address the audience. My family and I went there in the month of July (the 11^th) 2005. Many of Sai Baba’s devotees all round the world were present at the place of conference.