Kindness to Parents

  

After the exclusive worship of Allah, Allah teaches us that we must treat our mother and father well. This remains one of the principal duties of a Muslim. And this subject cannot be treated only once, but several times, to make children aware of their responsibility towards their parents. The Qur’an has made this very clear:

 

“And your Lord has decreed: ‘Worship Him alone, and treat your father and mother well.’” (Bani Isra’il 17: 24)

 

Therefore, kindness towards parents remains among the greatest duties. This verse shows that Allah has placed respect and gentleness towards parents immediately after divine worship. A person can never ignore this truth that his father and mother, humanly speaking, are both the source of his life, and their sacrifices deserve unlimited recognition.

A Pious Progeny- 2

In Prayer & with Good Manners 

Alhamdulillah, in continuation of the subject I addressed last Friday, every Muslim must keep in mind that his household is a treasure which Allah has entrusted to him as a sacred deposit (Amaanah). It is a place of happiness, piety, tranquillity and protection. When a couple is united through Nikah (marriage contract approved by Allah), that moment is not merely a social ceremony; it is a sacred covenant before Allah. A home founded upon Nikah, mutual respect, sacrifice and understanding becomes a source of light and blessing. Allah says in the Qur’an: “And among His signs is that He created for you, from yourselves, spouses so that you may find tranquillity with them, and He placed between you affection and mercy.” (Ar‑Rum 30: 22)

A Pious Progeny

In Prayer & with Good Manners (Part 1) 

The importance of Salat (especially the Obligatory Prayers) and the richness of good conduct, and remaining in the state of good conduct, are among the greatest responsibilities that parents must instill and implement in the lives of their children. They must keep in mind that this is a non‑negotiable subject which encompasses the entire life of a Muslim. Prayer (Salat) is not merely a formal obligation; it is a spiritual discipline which shapes character, purifies the heart, and brings man closer to his Creator.

 

Allah says in the Qur’an:

 

“Wa aqimis‑salata li Zikri”

And establish the prayer for My remembrance. (Taha 20: 15)

 

This verse shows that Salat is a constant reminder of Allah, a protection against forgetfulness, and a light for life. In the Qur’an, Allah says:

 

“Innas‑Salata tanha ‘anil fahshaa’i wal munkar”

Surely prayer restrains from shameful and unjust deeds. (Al‑‘Ankabut 29: 46)

 

This proves that Salat (Prayer) is a means of disciplining behaviour and keeping man away from sin.

Prayer in Islam

 

The Importance of the Middle Prayer & Of the Obligatory Prayers in General

 

Haafizuu ‘alas-Salawaati was-Salaatil-wustaa; wa quu-muu lillaahi qaanitiin. “Guard your prayers, especially the middle prayer, and stand before Allah with devotion.” (Al-Baqara 2: 239)

 

This sacred verse is a fundamental reminder that a true believer must never neglect his Salat (prayer). He must observe his prayer with care, respect, constancy, and complete submission before Allah. When we look at the origin of the words and the deeper meaning of the term Haafizu, we find extraordinary depth. In Arabic, Haafizu comes from hifz or ha-fa-za, which means to guard, protect, preserve. But it is not limited to outward protection; it implies inner vigilance, a discipline that resists the forces that try to divert a believer from his duty.

 

In its profound sense, especially in this Qur’anic verse, Haafizu is a command from Allah, instructing believers to maintain constancy and faithfulness in observing prayer, and to struggle continuously against neglecting their Salat. Protecting prayer is like placing a spiritual umbrella over the whole life of a believer; it becomes a source of blessings and a defence against evil.

Faith and Wealth

 

The World, or Allah?

'And whatever you have been given is (only) the enjoyment of worldly life and its adornment. And what is with Allah is better and more lasting.' (Al-Qasas, 28: 61)

 

In a Hadith narrated by Hazrat Abu Huraira (ra), the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) had said: “Richness does not lie in the abundance of (worldly) goods but richness is the richness of the soul (heart, self).” (Muslim)

 

Only a contented heart or a peaceful and satisfied heart, soul or inner self of a person can attain to true abundance. And this abundance cannot be accounted for in this world. Where there is true love for Allah, the heart is grateful for whatever good Allah gives it. The love of Allah is imprinted so deep that no riches can ever deviate the true lover from his Creator. The lover of God and His Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) is bound to be tried in every form, as a measure, as a test of his love, as a gauge to gauge his mettle, faith, and the love he proclaims to have for Allah and His Prophet (pbuh).

Marriage in Islam

 

Marriage is the root of the family structure in society. It is the legal frame for the relief of desires as well as the vital link between generations through children in the family. An enabling environment for the proper upbringing of children in secular affairs and in spiritual ways, the bonds of marriage and family indeed facilitates the construction of a peaceful and harmonious society. In his Friday Sermons of 24 September 2010 [15 Shawwal 1431 Hijri] & 01 October 2010 [22 Shawwal 1431 Hijri], Imam-Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam International Hazrat Muhyiuddin Al Khalifatullah Munir Ahmad Azim (aba) of Mauritius gave a comprehensive exposition on the larger objectives and purposes of the institution of marriage in Islam; explaining the considerations that should guide a Muslim in choosing a life partner. 

In the second discourse, Hazrat Khalifatullah (aba) explains sacred teachings of the Holy Prophet (sa) on marriage-related questions that emerged in the life and times of the pious companions. The discourse clearly affirms that it is illegal to marry off a woman against her will. Parents or guardians cannot coerce a Muslim woman into a marriage she dislikes. And free consent is a condition precedent to the legal validity of a Muslim marriage. Hazrat Saheb (aba) also notes that Muslim men are not allowed to wear gold ornaments. The believers need to keep in mind the Shari’ah-compliance of cultural traditions associated with marriage rites in their local communities. The principle is illustrated with reference to the exchange of engagement rings as a symbol of the marital commitment.    

 

Read extracts from the two Friday Sermons Below:

 

Marriage: an act of worship. The conservation of life and its continuation until Judgement Day are part of the teachings of Islam and that is why it encouraged marriage and preferred that the couple after becoming parents and children, they have grandchildren.

 

"Allah has given you from yourselves wives, and from your wives gave you children and grandchildren. And He gave you good things." (16:73)

'O Allah': Whispers of the Heart

 

O Allah, forgive me my sins,

Overlook my many faults, mistakes and failings,

Absolve of me of my bad deeds

O my dear Lord, the All Hearing, the All Seeing

I take refuge with You

From the goading of the evil ones;

Save me from the pangs of Evil.

 

O Allah, strengthen my soul in its struggle

Against the evil within and outside;

Secure me from the temptations of the baser self;

Save me against my own impulses and excesses

Protect me from self-inflicted wounds

 

O Allah, do not abandon me

In the wilderness of an unguided existence;

Bless me with a share of Your grace and mercy,

Grant me a Light to walk in the footsteps

of Your noble prophets and saints

For, whoever is gifted Divine wisdom

Has truly been given much good

Balancing Rights and Duties

 

Man is a social being. Just living requires the recognition of the duties we owe to others, just as we seek to exercise our own individual and other social rights in the community. Islam provides a range of teachings that address the fine balance of rights and duties to be achieved in society as well as in family; in our relations with parents, spouse/s, children, other members of the clan. In this series of special discourses, Imam- Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam Hazrat Muhyiuddin Al Khalifatullah Munir Ahmad Azim (aba) of Mauritius comprehensively explains the vital considerations of justice, compassion and benevolence the Holy Prophet of Islam (sa) took into account while giving shape to the interpretation of rights and duties in social contexts. Read the Part 4 of this series, Friday Sermon of 02 September 2022 ~04 Safar 1444 AH below:  

Fulfilling the Rights of Fellow Muslims 

 

Alhamdulillah, Summa Alhamdulillah, I continue today the subject of my sermon on the rights of our fellow Muslims, especially the rights of the parents, and to what limit should they be obeyed, and the rights of one’s own child and spouse in respect of obedience to parents.

'Respect Rights; Fulfill Duties'- 3

Alhamdulillah, Summa Alhamdulillah, I am continuing today’s sermon on the same subject as the past two weeks, on the rights of our fellow Muslims, and also most specifically since last week, on the rights of the parents, and to what limit should they be obeyed, as well as the rights of the spouses and the children.

 

In the Hadith books of Imam Bukhari and Muslim as well as in Mishkaat, there is a lengthy Hadith of the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) narrated by Ibn Umar (ra). In this Hadith three people are mentioned. They were on a journey when they were caught up in heavy rain. They took refuge in a cave. A huge boulder rolled and blocked the cave-entrance, cutting off their escape from the cave. The three decided to supplicate to Allah (twt) on the basis of some deeds which they had done with the greatest of sincerity. The deed which one of the three offered to Allah (twt) as his basis of supplication was about his aged parents and little children. He implored Allah (twt) in the following way: “O Allah! My parents were old and I used to go out for grazing (my animals). On my return I would milk (the animals) and take the milk in a vessel to my parents to drink. After they had drunk from it, I would give it to my children, family and wife. One day I was delayed and on my return I found my parents sleeping, and I disliked waking them up. The children were crying at my feet. That state of affairs continued till it was dawn. O Allah! If You regard that I did it for Your sake, then please remove this rock so that we may see the sky.” So, the rock was moved a bit.

Rights and Justice in the Family

 

'Respect Rights; Fulfill Duties'- 2

By the grace of Allah, I pursue the same subject-matter of my sermon of last Friday in which I talked about the having great considerations for the rights of our Muslim brethren. The rights explained are applicable to all Muslims in general. However, it is obvious that the importance and significance of rights will increase if these are related to special people.

 

In regard to rights, parents enjoy priority and greater significance because of their close relationship with their offspring. The rights of parents are unanimously accepted. I will not therefore elaborate on the details of these rights, as they are foremost mentioned in the Holy Quran and Hadiths, unless the parents deviates the child and intimates him or her to adopt false gods other than the true God, i.e. Allah. But even then, despite the wall of difference between parents and children who do not share the same faith, whether the parents are true Muslims and their children non-Muslims or vice-versa, even then Islam while ordaining the believers not to obey the disbelievers, even if they be their parents when they force them [i.e. the children] to worship others than Allah, Islam also commands that the non-Muslim parents be respected and treated well. They are not to be obeyed in religious matters, but concerning the affairs of the world, the children should show consideration and respect towards them and pray for their salvation.

 

In all things [and situations] there should be a balance. Like I taught you about the equilibrium which there needs to be in one’s own reform and preaching the unity and message of Allah, likewise, Islam teaches equilibrium of the rights of parents. Almighty Allah says in the Holy Quran: “Surely, Allah commands you to deliver trusts to those entitled to them, and that, when you judge between people, judge with justice.” (An-Nisa, 4: 59)

Kerala: Gifts for Kids

 

“Do good to others. Allah loves those who do good.” (2:196) 

Islam instils a culture of caring and sharing, and a sense of responsibility within individuals for fostering a just society. Rather than being content to live with one’s wealth and family, the Qur’an expects you to be virtuous and do good to others as an obligation of faith and commitment. Being a trustee of God on earth, it is your duty to deploy all that Allah (swt) has gifted you in this life so as to work for the well being of all of God’s creations. 

This is especially so in times when glaring inequality and  deep fractures and fault-lines in our communities call for robust initiatives for a just and caring social order. Indeed, our broken times call for the creation of 'a new world' that foregrounds the protection and benefit of the poor and the indigent, the orphans and the widows, the homeless and the landless, the elderly and the sick; that facilitates education, skills training and other beneficial capabilities among the young for a better future.  

   

Inspired by the illuminating guidance and leadership of Imam- Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam Hazrat Khalifatullah Munir Ahmad Azim (aba) of Mauritius, the humble and devoted brothers of the Jamaat are increasingly engaging themselves in beneficial social engagement programmes at their own local communities, Alhamdulillah, Summa Alhamdulillah. 

'Grow Up with Family Bond'

  

The Family & The Youth 

What is the family? This is the set of people with blood ties or ties of kinship [through marriage as well] living almost under the same roof. The extended family generally includes grandparents, parents, uncles and aunts, cousins ​​and others, including, of course, children of different parents. 

A question that is generally asked at the level of all generations and even among the young people of today: What good can a family bring? Of course, there will be different ways of thinking, of reasoning, of answering this question which torments the minds of many parents within the Ummah itself. And we can cite so many other cases where the parent-child relationship does not seem to be cordial. Why? 

Yet according to a Hadith from Bukhari, the Holy Prophet (pbuh) explains that the family brings stability and ensures security. The family is the first place where we socialize, where we learn the rules of life in society. It allows you not to live alone, to become a parent, and to live with those whom you love, to strengthen community bonds through alliances [marriages]. 

But the most important thing about the family - for believers of the Ummah - is that it is the first place to learn about the existence of Allah (twt) as the Unique Creator, and the value of Islam.

Kerala: A Charitable Trust

 

‘O My Lord, help me to be truly grateful for Your favours to me, and to my parents; help me to do good work that pleases You; make my offspring good. I  turn to You; I am one of those who devote themselves to You.’ (HQ, 46:16) 

As one grows older and wiser, one becomes even more conscious of one’s responsibility towards both the older and the younger generations. ‘Whosoever is unkind to our young and disrespectful of our old is not one of us’, declared the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sa). Indeed, being virtuous and showing gratitude to one’s parents is a Qur’anic duty on all believers- second in importance only to the duty to worship God: “Worship God; join nothing with Him. Be good to your parents, to relatives, to orphans, to the needy, to neighbours near and far, to travelers in need, and to your assistants.” (4:37)

Inspired by Imam- Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam Hazrat Khalifatullah Al Mahdi Munir Ahmad Azim (aba)’s spiritual discourses and illuminating guidance, Mukarram R. Jamaluddin Raother Saheb of Mathra recently established a charitable initiative in Kerala, India. With the sublime objective of rendering service to humanity, Jamaluddin Saheb has founded and legally-registered a Trust in fond memory of, and in the name of his beloved parents, Janab Rasavumeeran Raother (d. 1951) and Fatima Beevi Saheba (d.1986).   

Coping with Grief and Loss

 

The Good Manners/ Deeds When Hearing About the Death of Someone 

Hearing the news of the death of a loved one is certainly not easy for anyone with its share of sadness and grief, in addition to the preparations for the funeral. Having the right reflexes is not always easy in such a situation. I put before you today eight good things to do in these difficult times when someone dies.

Speak Well of the Dead Person

When learning of someone’s death, it is recommended to speak well of that person about the actions he did for the pleasure of Allah. At the same time, one must avoid speaking “good” [so-called good things] about his actions which were not done for the pleasure of Allah [in other words, there are those types of people who speak badly of the actions of a deceased, and they pretend not to know that what they said was not correct. They will say that on the contrary they were saying “good” for the deceased]. 

For example, avoid saying, “What a good card player he was!” Or “This person sang well”. The actions of playing cards and singing [songs that have nothing to do with Islam] are both in themselves Haram (prohibited) actions. So, pretending to flatter the deceased that he was a good card player or a good singer, it is certainly not a good thing or an honour for the deceased. So we must avoid all of this. 

It is reported by Hazrat Anas (ra): “When passing near a funeral procession and hearing the men praising the deceased, the prophet (pbuh) said three times: ‘It is assured [for him]’ [That is to say, the praise on the good deeds of the deceased will have all their importance and honour before the eyes of Allah in his favour]. 

'Deeni Ta'lim': Learn & Teach

 

Iman, Islam & Spiritual Education 

Both the words, Islam and Iman, are used synonymously. Almighty Allah says in the Holy Quran: “Verily, (the true) Deen with Allah is Islam”. (Al-Imran, 3: 20) 

“Whoever searches for a Deen other than Islam, never will it be accepted from him (i.e. His adoption of any other religion will never be acceptable to Almighty Allah). And, in the Aakhirah he (the one who chooses another religion) will be ruined”. (Al-Imran, 3: 86) 

“Whoever among you turns away from his Deen (Islam) and then dies being a Kafir, his good deeds will be ruined in this world and the Aakhirah. Such people are the inmates of the Fire; therein will they remain forever”. (Al-Baqara, 2: 218)

 

The ruin of one’s Islam in this world is the nullification of one’s Nikah. By reneging from Islam, the renegade’s (Murtad’s) wife falls out of his Nikah. He is also deprived of inheritance. He will not inherit in the estate of any Muslim. After death there is no Janaza Salat for him. The ruin of one’s deeds in relation to the Aakhirah is the everlasting residence in hell.  

Du'ah: Invocations to Allah- III

Alhamdulillah Summa Alhamdulillah, Allah (swt) gives me the Tawfiq to continue my sermons on the subject of duahs.

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Ever Merciful

O Allah, You Who are the Remedy of my wounds, help my ailing heart.

O my Allah, without You my life means absolutely nothing. With such a life, it is better to die than to remain in this world without You.

O Allah, give me the will and the courage so that You will be pleased with me for the great work and responsibility that You have placed on my shoulders. If You are happy with me and the work that I am doing, even though people say that I am a madman, an impostor, and ridicule me, blame me and abase my honour and my dignity, all this does not affect me because it is You Who give honour, dignity to whomever You want. My life, my honour, my food, everything comes from You, and not from these fools.

O Allah! Set on fire, put the flame that comes from the heavens in my heart to allow me to bring back “thousands of lost souls in the fold of Sahih al Islam”, Insha-Allah.

O Allah, all my parts are sacrificed for You. I don’t know anything about Your religion; I am an Ummi (illiterate person). So as not to say that I am very weak in matters of Your Deen (Your religion), I am rather a zero. Give me knowledge, put the light of knowledge in my mind and my heart and give me the strength, courage, energy to distribute this knowledge to humanity in general and especially with the brothers and sisters of the Islamic faith.

O Allah! Work a miracle and send people to the Quran, Your book in which there is no doubt and which is a guide for those who want to take the right path. Remove this veil from their eyes and make them understand Your Sacred Book which You have revealed to Your beloved prophet (pbuh).

O Allah! The garden (of Islam) is dried up; all the fruits harvested in the past century by the Messiah whom You sent have fallen in this century. You raised me to clean this garden and to give life again to this dry garden by Your grace so that new fruits are harvested and where everything becomes green again and not dry, and where each eye will be attracted to the beauties that are found therein [i.e., in the garden of Islam].

O Allah! Give me medicine to distribute to all countries so that they can be delivered from evil.

Gadgets and Life Balance

In a special Message on 22 April 2020, Imam- Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam Hazrat Khalifatullah Munir A. Azim (atba) of Mauritius exhorts everyone of us- youths and children of the Jamaat, as well as their parents- to be aware of the harmful effects of 'addiction' to electronic gadgets: smartphones, earphones, digital entertainment, etc. As technology 'machines' help in simplifying daily tasks in several, different ways; one can easily appreciate their instrumental value. Yet, it is also critical to strike a correct and fine balance in our approach to these machines. In our gadget-driven world of hyper-connectivity, the omnipresence of smartphones as 'entertainment' machines raises special challenges for impressionable children. Being glued to these gadgets can cause the deeply-vulnerable youths to lose focus on the issues that matter; setting them on a path of 'alternate reality' where they become oblivious of their true surroundings. The widely-observed contemporary phenomenon of lack of respect, and rift in relations between young-adults and their parents; tension and turmoil in family and social life, etc. can be explained in terms of such harmful addictions and negative influences. To secure our ethical values and to reclaim balance in individual and social life, it is essential to adopt a correct approach to technology devices and what they bring on the table, points out Hadhrat Khalifatullah (atba) in this discourse. 

Read the Special Address Below: 

Pact of God and the Fate of Nations

God's Covenant with the children of Israel

In many places in the Qur’an and in the Torah made is mention of the wickedness and lack of faith of the Jews to emphasize how they have dishonoured their covenant.

It is mentioned in the Old Testament, in the chapter of Isaiah: “The earth is infected by the corruption of those who dwell in it, because they have violated the laws, they have changed the ordinances and they broke the covenant that was to last forever.” (Isaiah 24: 5).

It is said in the Holy Quran: “Those who were unfaithful among the children of Israel were cursed by the mouth of David and Jesus son of Mary, because they were rebellious, transgressors.” (Al-Maida 5: 79).

After Moses (as), there were many prophets among the Israelites. The Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said, “Every time a prophet died another prophet became his successor.” (Bukhari).

When the Israelites exceeded all limits in their transgressions, God wrested from them the temporal kingship after David, and the apostolate after Jesus. The time had come to remove and transfer prophethood from the Jewish people, for although of Abraham’s descent, they had become wicked.

Jesus told his disciples that another people would benefit from the prophethood: “Therefore I say to you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you, and given to a people that will bring forth the fruits. He who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed.” (Matthew 21: 43-44).

The Holy Qur’an also alludes to this in the following verse: “It will be the sign of the approaching hour. Do not doubt it; follow me because it is the right path.” (Az-Zukhruf, 43: 62)

The Children of Abraham

Divine Favours to Hazrat Ibrahim (as)

As we are in the month of Hajj (Dhul-Hijjah), after the Eid-ul-Adha which was celebrated last Monday, today’s Friday Sermon is on the divine favour granted to Hazrat Ibrahim (as) and how thereafter the favour of prophethood has eternally been given in the Muhammadan Ummah.

I must also say that following my article in French on the newspaper ‘Le Mauricien’, on 12 August 2019, day of the Eid of Sacrifice (Eid-ul-Adha), there are people from other communities who have written misplaced comments on Islam, and some even attacked the honour of Hazrat Ibrahim (as) and condemned the practice of slaughtering [sacrifices] of animals. There are also those who do not even believe in the purpose of religion, and belief in God. So, these types of people say that Islam has copied on the practice of people from before Islam.

So, I wanted to answer their questions [through this sermon] before going into the heart of the subject of my sermon today which is also a refutation also for them, which preserves the honour of Abraham (as) as well as the honour of all his children and that of his legitimate and honourable wives.

'Aqiqah': On Islamic Birth Rites

In September 2016, a Muslim brother from India sought spiritual guidance from Imam- Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam Hadhrat Muhyi-ud-Din Al Khalifatullah Munir Ahmad Azim Saheb (atba) of Mauritius on Islamic rites pertaining to the birth of a new born, and Hadhrat Khalifatullah (atba) provided a brief explanation of the main Sunnah/ Islamic practices following birth of a child, whether male or female. 

Reproduced below is the response provided by Hadhrat Saheb (atba) to the question on the occasion:

Birth & Purification (Bath)

After his/ her birth the baby should be given a proper bath, cleansed well.

Adhaan & Iqamah

Then he/she should be given the Adhaan in the right ear and the Iqamah in the left ear.

Tahneek

It is narrated about the Holy Prophet (pbuh) that when a child was born and brought to him soon afterward, he would moisten a small piece of a date with his mouth and then place it on the palate of the newborn.  (Bukhari, Muslim and others). – Therefore, in Islam it is recommended to follow that practice also. Sometimes if available, dates and also honey.

Naming the Child

The naming of the child can be done right away, or one can wait till the seventh day, before the Aqiqah is done.

It is reported that Hazrat Aisha (ra) said: the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) did ‘Aqiqah for al-Hasan and al-Husayn on the seventh day, and gave them their names.