Qur'an, Prayer and Healing

 

‘He who cures me when I am ill’ (26:81)

‘He will heal the believers’ feelings’. (9:14)

Several verses testify to the fact that the Quran is a mercy to those who are receptive to its message. It's teachings act as a cure for various ailments of the heart, including ignorance, doubt, hypocrisy, rancour, hatred, and enmity. For a true believer, the Book of God enables one to acquire virtue and perfection of character, adorning him/her with the gifts of knowledge and wisdom. Indeed, those who seek cure from the Qur’an, it is God Who will cure them: 

‘People, a teaching from your Lord has come to you, a healing for what is in [your] hearts, and guidance and mercy for the believers.’ (10:58)

 

‘We send down the Quran as a healing and mercy for the believers’. (17:82)

 

‘Say, ‘It is guidance and healing for those who have faith’. (41:45) 

'Zikr Allah' - V

 

“O ye who believe! Remember Allah with much remembrance; And glorify Him morning and evening. He it is Who sends blessings on you, as do His angels, that He may bring you forth from all kinds of darkness into light. And He is Merciful to the believers.” (Al-Ahzaab, 33: 42 – 44).

 

In the light of these Qur'anic verses, I continue my sermon on the Remembrance of Allah. These three verses which I have read before you show that Allah send down His blessings and the angels pray for those types of people who engage themselves in the Remembrance of Allah. The more we remember Allah and glorify Him, the more Allah will remember us and will be with us.

 

I recommend all members of the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam in Mauritius, on the other islands, and this message of mine addresses all people from all countries, and also all my Muslim brothers, sisters and children around the world, that you all should make it a must to engage yourselves in the Remembrance of Allah as frequently as possible, even if possible at each moment of your lives. The more you will remember Allah, the more this Remembrance of Allah will become like a fortress-like protection for you, against all sorts of evils, sorrows, difficulties, illnesses, evil plots, satanic works etc. Remembrance of Allah will save you from all these and other problems which you may face; you will thus always be safeguarded under the Shadow of Allah.

Virtues of the Houses of Allah

 

The Houses of Allah: Part 2

 

Alhamdulillah Summa Alhamdulillah, after talking about the Holy Ka’aba, the House of Humanity on the occasion of Eid-ul-Adha, today I will talk with you about the Houses of Allah - the Masaajid of Allah (the places of prayer for the worship of the One True God) in general.

 

In a Hadith, it is reported that Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) said: “Verily, the Houses of Allah on earth are the Mosques (Masaajid/ Masjids).”

 

The honour of a property (i.e. an extent of land), a building or a place depends on the honour of the person to whom the property, building or place belongs. What a Muslim needs to understand or that he needs to try to understand is the degree of honour he owes to Allah. No building or place on earth will be able to equal the Masjid that Allah has proclaimed as “His House” in honour and sanctity.

 

Therefore, when you visit a Masjid, you are visiting Allah. When you honour a Masjid, you are honouring Allah. And how will you honour the House of Allah? The Islamic Law (Shariah) teaches us how we can honour the Masjids of Allah.

'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

'Duah': Prayer of Light

 

Oh Allah!

Place light in my heart

And light in my tongue

And light in my hearing

And light in my seeing

And light from above me

And light from below me

And light on my right

And light on my left

And light ahead of me

And light behind me

 Place light in my soul

Magnify for me light

And amplify for me light

Make for me light

And make me light

'Duah' and 'Zikr' in the Night

 

True faith in the heart leads to sincerity in devotional worship, marking out true believers from the rest. That is why, along with regular prayers in the day, Islam prescribes supplementary prayers in the stillness of the night for the truly devout who seek nearness to God. Indeed, according to the Holy Qur'an, a clear sign of the true believers is their fervent seeking of Divine forgiveness and mercy, leaving aside the comforts of rest in the night: ‘Those who spend the night in devotion to their Lord, in prostration and standing.’ (25:65) 'Their sides shun their beds in order to pray to their Lord in fear and hope' (32: 17). 

Divine commands exhort the believers: ‘Celebrate the praise of your Lord before the rising and setting of the sun; proclaim His praise in the night, and at the end of every prayer.’ (50:40-41) In other words, true believers are ‘[T]hose who spend the night in devotion to their Lord, in prostration and standing.’ (25:65)  

‘Stand up in Prayer at night except a small part of it–half, or a little less, or a little more– and recite the Quran slowly and distinctly. Verily, We shall charge you with a weighty Word. Verily, getting up at night for prayer is the most potent means of subduing the self and most effective in speech.’ (73:3-7)

‘And wake up for it (the Qur'an) in the latter part of the night as a supererogatory service for you. It may be that Your Lord will raise you to an exalted station.’  (17:80)

Revelations of 17 October 2022

 

‘O you who believe! When you hold secret counsels do not confer to promote sin, transgression and disobedience to the Messenger. Rather confer (to promote) piety, and righteousness and restraint from evil. And take Allâh as a shield, (Allâh) before Whom you shall be gathered together. Holding secret counsels (with evil intentions) is (the work) of satan (who does it) to cause unrest and distress to those who believe. Yet he can do them no harm at all except by the leave of Allâh. Therefore let the believers repose their trust in Allâh.’ (58:10-11)

On Monday, 17 October 2022 at 11.45 am, Imam- Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam Hazrat Muhyiuddin Al Khalifatullah Munir Ahmad Azim (aba) of Mauritius received Divine revelations during Duah and Zikr. These revelations, along with a brief commentary provided by Hazrat Saheb (aba) while announcing the same, contain pure guidance that can benefit all true devotees of God in this era- an era of stealth and subterfuge, of secret plots and dark deeds. 

Indeed, true believers need to be aware of the secret, black deeds of the Hypocrites who seek to deviate people who joins the Divine Elect of their times, by sowing the seeds of doubt and suspicion in their minds by spreading false accusations. The Holy Qur'an emphatically states that the good and the bad are not alike, and that the believers have to be vigilant against Satanic impulses that lead to secret plots, sin and transgression at all times, and in all contexts, they should be ready to fight along with the Elects of God for establishing equity and justice on earth by promoting good and righteous causes. 

The Significance of 'Duah'

Supplicating (to Allah) * Making 'Duah'

 

Duah or supplicating is to petition Allah (twt) for one’s needs and requirements, be such needs mundane or spiritual - be they in regard to one’s worldly affairs or Deeni affairs - whether such affairs and needs are within one’s ability of acquisition or not. In all cases, the Muslim has to supplicate to Allah (twt) for the fulfillment of his needs.

 

Duah for unlawful desires and needs is not permissible. While making duahs, all the lawful means and agencies for the requirement should be harnessed, e.g. the farmer while making duah for his farm to yield should at the same time engage in the means and ways of farming; the one making duah for protection against an enemy should at the same time engage in the ways and means of warding off the enemy; the sick while making duah for recovery should resort to medicine and treatment as well; one involved in litigation should while making duah for success in his court-case, engage the proper means of achieving the success as well; one engaged in the acquisition of Qur’ani and Deeni knowledge should make duah for Barakat [blessings] and success while at the same time study properly and acquire whatever ways are essential for the correct acquisition of knowledge; one involved in Ibaadat [worship of Allah] should strive against the lowly desires and the diversions of Satan and the Nafs [ego/ passion] while at the same time make duah [supplications] for aid from Allah (twt) for sincerity and steadfastness in his acts of worship.

 

In affairs in which physical and material means and agencies have no role to play; one should in entirety resort to only duah, e.g. rainfall [protection against rainfall in case of too much rainfall causing floods etc. & prayers for rainfall in case of drought], protection against plagues, the Satan and the deception of the Nafs, protection from the oppression of cruel persons, etc.

Duah does not mean the mere recitation of some words and the ritual reiteration of words after Salat. The nature of duah consists of petitioning in the court of Allah (twt). The earnestness and concern which people have when making appeals in the courts of the world should at least be adopted when making duah in the court of Allah (twt). When making duah, one’s mind and body have to be concentrated and directed into the purpose of duah. One should never lose hope in the event of fulfilment of the duah being delayed or if fulfilment is not discerned. One has to submit to the Will of Allah (twt). Duah is an appeal of His servants. We have no right to become disillusioned and despondent if we cannot discern acceptance of our duah.

Poem: 'The Successor'

 

The Rise of the Sun & the Moon of Islam

 

The World may be cut Asunder,

But not my Love for You,

Your Essence fills me,

And grants me the elixir of Unity,

In Your pure Divinity;

 

You say to let go of the filth of this world,

And come in Your embrace,

Devoid of the temporalities of temporalities;

 

You crafted a Being,

And breathed in Your Soul,

The Divine Soul will see through,

The Trials of this world;

 

In the Glow of a Setting World,

The Sun will rise again,

To give a Last Ray of Hope to the Universe,

The cry, out of this world

Will fill Your Universe,

With submission to Your Will;

‘Wahi’: ‘Come into the Ark of Azim’

 

‘Turbulence has appeared on land and sea in consequence of people’s misdeeds, that Allah may afflict them with the consequences of their misconduct, so that they may turn back from evil.’ (30:42) 

 

Human kind is facing extremely dangerous times: ecologically, politically, and socially. Western developmental model of hedonistic consumption has put global environment and the atmosphere under siege; global warming and climate change are a painful reality of our times. Extreme weather events that are happening all around call our attention to the humongous threats looming over humanity’s very survival on earth. Coupled with the destruction of the environment, violence and bloodletting are increasing on an exponential scale all across the world. Societies are splintered on ethnic, religious, regional and sectarian lines, with brutal majoritarianism trumping over the dignity and rights of the human person. Likewise, powerful nations are seeking to subjugate other nations in their midst. 

Consider the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine. Instead of resolving disputes through diplomacy and negotiations, through settlements and agreements that acknowledge the interests and concerns of each other; nations that share a common history and legacy are at war with one another. And more worryingly, the present war threatens to unleash forces than can escalate the situation further, and thereby, even engulf the whole of Europe and beyond into a quagmire of utter destruction. With nuclear-armed States on both sides of the divide, people who have eyes to perceive warn about Dooms Day scenario as only the logical consequence of the sheer madness on display.  

 

In this context, it is important to reflect on the Divine revelations received by Imam- Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam Hazrat Khalifatullah Al Mahdi Munir Ahmad Azim Saheb (aba) of Mauritius on Saturday 05 March 2022. The Divine message warns humanity about the gathering storm of war. Destructive chaos will disrupt everyday lives on an unprecedented scale, affecting and impacting people everywhere. The extraordinary Divine communication reveals several signs of the events to unfold in the near future- ‘rivers of blood’, as it were; the terrible destruction that will transform men and women and their nations. May Allah (swt) destroy the fangs of evil, and safeguard all believers everywhere; enable them to flock under the flag of true spirituality and humanity, i.e., the ‘Ark of Azim’ in this era, Insha Allah, Aameen.    

 

Read the Divine Message Below: 

 

World War III is very near. Birds have come to announce me these messages. Many men will die. There will be rivers of blood. 

Prayer: Your Path to Allah

 

“O you who believe! When you rise up for prayer, wash your faces, and your hands up to the elbows, and lightly rub your heads and (wash) your feet up to the ankles.” [Surah Al-Maida, HQ, 5: 7] 

As Allah (twt) has commanded us in this Quranic verse, we must first do the prescribed ablutions and that too, in a complete way. Likewise, in a Hadith, our beloved prophet Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) told us: “The prayer of one who does not have his ablution is not accepted.” This Hadith has been reported by Ibn Majah. – How it is important, before making the prayer, that is, to make the ablutions! 

Prayer is vital [very important] in a believer’s life. It is one of the pillars of his faith. Prayer is that meeting with Allah (twt) which connects you – that is, the believer with his Creator. So open your heart and invite Allah (twt) into your life. When Allah (twt) enters the scene, miracles happen. Keep praying, Allah (twt) indeed listens to your prayer. It’s just a matter of right timing. Never lose hope. Just when you think it’s over, Allah (twt) sends a miracle. When you are feeling down, Allah (twt) doesn’t forget your prayers. He [i.e. Allah] will answer when the time is right and never think another thing when you are praying to Allah (twt). Concentrate in your prayer. Make as if [Recall] that Allah is present before you. Don’t let Satan [Ibliss] come in your mind, don’t let him come between you and Allah. Allah is Great [Allahu Akbar]. His love also is great. 

Ramadan and the Light of Faith

In his Friday Sermon of 30 April 2021~17 Ramadan 1442 AH, Imam-Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam Hazrat Khalifatullah Munir A. Azim (aba) of Mauritius speaks about the holy month of Ramadan. Following in the footsteps of the Holy Prophet's practical ordinances concerning fasting in Ramadan, Hazrat Khalifatullah (aba) underscores the importance of the devotional practice with its inherent physical and spiritual benefits for those who observe it. Under the sacred Islamic teachings, Ramadan is meant to be observed as a month of patience; of caring and sharing; of charity and giving; of virtuous deeds and steadfastness in ultimate remembrance of God through the recurring undertaking of different faith rites and sublime invocations. 

Describing the ways in which ignorant and negligent people waste away the precious occasion of Ramadan for the pursuit of entertainment and social pleasures, Hazrat Khalifatullah (aba) points to the very many benefits of fasting as an Islamic practice, and exhorts all believers to be conscious of the Divine commandments and Prophetic teachings to fulfill duties in this regard. Indeed, an occasion for the believer to focus on the big picture of spiritual life and therefore, to abandon his vain pursuits of earthly pleasures, in favour of the enduring favours of forgiveness of sins and the open-gates of Paradise. Noting that the many disasters striking the world around us is indeed a grave sign of the Hour (Qiyamah) promised in our sacred books, Hazrat Saheb (aba) exhorts everyone to benefit from the opportunity of Ramadan fasting to bring about internal cleansing and to put things right in social relations among peoples so that we may truly gain the Light of God in our remaining moments in this world, Aameen. 

Read the Friday Sermon Below:

  

Leave the Reprehensible & Return to God

All praise is to Allah for His favours and goodness. He has favoured us by enabling us to reach the month of Ramadan and has strengthened us with the good works that bring us closer to Him. And peace and blessings be on our prophet Muhammad (pbuh), the first [in rank] in the accomplishment of good deeds, and on his family and his companions, those who believed in him, supported him and followed the light that was revealed to him. They are the ones who truly succeeded. 

Then I commend you and myself the fear of Allah [Taqwa] both in this month of Ramadan and in other months. But Allah (swt) attributes special merit to this month, since it is a unique occasion for doing good deeds. The prophet (pbuh) called on Allah to be able to reach Ramadan. 

If I am not mistaken, when the month of Rajab began, our beloved prophet (pbuh) said: Allahumma barik lana fi Rajab wa Shabaan wa ballighna Ramadan. [O Allah! Bless for us the months of Rajab and Shabaan and make us reach [live] the month of Ramadan!] 

And the Holy Prophet (pbuh) also used to encourage his companions to make an effort in good deeds, obligatory or supererogatory, such as prayers and alms, to be good and beneficent, to be patient in the face of obedience to Allah, spend one’s day in fasting, one’s night in prayers and hours reciting the Quran and doing the Zikr of Allah. 

'Barkah': Revealed Prayers

With the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Ever Merciful. Reproduced below are certain prayers taught by Imam- Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam Hazrat Muhyi-ud-Din Al Khalifatullah  Munir A. Azim (aba) of Mauritius recently for the benefit of all believers in this period of special devotions ahead of the holy month of Ramadan. At a time when the Island nation is still under complete lockdown in view of the Covid-19 pandemic; these fervent invocations were Divinely- revealed to Hazrat Saheb (aba) on Sunday, 21 March 2021 at 4:25 pm soon after he delivered a speech on the true legacy of Hazrat Massih Maoud (as)].  

1.     O Allah, always preserve the Kalima Tayyibah on our tongue.  

2.     O Allah! Grant us complete Faith and always guide us.

3.     O Allah! Grant us Your blessings, light and favours in abundance during the month of Ramadan.

4.     O Allah! Send Your pity upon us, shower Your blessings upon us and grant us licit food.

5.     O Allah! Guide us in such a way as to lead us our lives completely in the religion of Islam

6.     O Allah! Let us depend totally upon You only, and not upon others.

7.     O Allah! Grant us the Lailat-ul-Qadr.

8.     O Allah! Grant us a Hajj Makboul and Makroor.

Covid-19 & Hygiene

The outbreak of the Coronavirus over the last year or so, and its devastating impact on people around the world, is a powerful reminder on the dire state of our world. In his Friday Sermon of 12 March 2021~28 Rajab 1442 AH, Imam- Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam Hazrat Khalifatullah Munir A. Azim (aba) of Mauritius speaks about the Covid- 19 situation in  the country and beyond. At many different levels, the Coronavirus outbreak is a remarkable metaphor for the hidden realities and silent forces that exist and which can make or break the fate and future of man in this world with the Will and decision of God. As the world is seeking to cope with the new situation by turning to available medicines and emerging vaccines, Hazrat Khalifatullah (aba) underscores the need for everyone to turn to the true Master and Lord of the Universe who alone is the Healer and the Cure. It is in abiding by the true and enduring values of life taught by God through His Prophets that humans can find real protection and security from the afflictions of our times. In this context, Hazrat Saheb (aba) explains the sacred traditions of the Holy Prophet of Islam (sa) concerning the significance of health and hygiene- the need for keeping away from harmful substances and the circle of evil and also the benefits of remaining in a state of inner and outer purity for secular and spiritual well being.   

Read the Friday Sermon Below:

Everyone knows very well how the coronavirus has wreaked havoc in every country in the world where there have been more than two million deaths and millions and millions who are contaminated with the virus. The economies of many countries are on their knees; even the countries that claim to be super-powered cannot do anything. With Covid-19, countries are deserted, confined. During containment, everyone except essential services like the police, pharmacies, hospitals remain open to help the people of their respective countries, to maintain order and to treat the sick. These confinement times are essential in order not to spread the virus and to better detect those who are suffering from it. During confinement, the borders are closed. All shops, supermarkets, markets etc. are closed except under special conditions. Everyone stays at home and takes precautions, wears masks and unfortunately many people are also losing their jobs. The situation is certainly critical.   

Last week, when starting the first part of my sermon on the signs of Allah, the hypocrites and infidels, as well as interest (Riba), Covid-19 and a call for unity, I did not know what which would follow. [Huzur said that every time before he prepares his sermon, he always seek divine help on which subject to address and Allah even inspired him to talk on this subject by directing him to the verse 27 of the Chapter 2 – Al-Baqara, which he began expounding since last week.] That same day [05 March 2021], our small Mauritius contracted a new local case of Covid-19, and from Wednesday 10^th of March, a national containment was implemented to thwart the virus. And today is the 12^th of March, and it’s Independence Day of our little island [53 years of Independence and 29 years of Republic], and today, officially speaking, we have 99 local cases of Covid-19. So, all of us as one people, one nation, we must be united and do all we can within our very limited means to keep ourselves and our neighbours and the citizens of our country safe from this virus and its spread. If this situation continues in this way, it is quite possible that there will be a State of Emergency in Mauritius where no one will have the right to circulate and this would be for the well-being of the population in order to protect those who are not infected by this virus from those who are infected with it. The regions of the Central Plateau such as Vacoas, Phoenix, Curepipe, etc. have become Red Zones because there are more cases of Covid-19 there.  

[More than once during the course of his sermon, Huzur (atba) warned the believers, the people of Mauritius and whole humanity to return to the worship of the sole Creator of the Heavens and Earth and to maintain distance with the satans of this world and all satanic attractions just like one is maintaining social distancing with others in order not to contract the virus. He said, beware lest another virus, more virulent and deadly than the Covid-19 appears, and will be so dangerous that one would not even have time to go in Quarantine.]

Covid-19: An Appeal & A Warning

In recent days, I invoked Allah (in Doas) and thinking about the pandemic Covid-19, a subject that made the news in Mauritius and also across the world. In all countries of the world, whether in big countries and even the islands, the Covid-19 has wreaked havoc. When I thought of this virus [Covid-19] and how many millions of people have lost their lives and how many millions and millions of people have been infected with the Covid-19 pandemic; immediately Allah (swt) revealed a Quranic verse to me. Listen to its contents carefully and you will understand why I have chosen as the subject of my Friday sermon today to elaborate around this verse from the Quran. 

Allah revealed to me this verse which is found in Surah Al-Baqara, where He says: “Surely Allah does not shy away from using the parable of a small beast [insect/ mosquito/ gnat] or what is even smaller. As for the believers, they know that it is the truth from their Lord. And as for the disbelievers, they argue, “What does Allah mean by such a parable?” Through this ˹test˺, He leaves many to stray, and guides many. And He leaves none to stray except the rebellious.” (Al-Baqara 2: 27) 

To fully understand the meaning of these verses, we must know under what circumstances they were revealed… After the emigration (Hijrat) of the Holy Prophet (pbuh) to Medina, a new group was formed among the population, alongside the Muslims and Jews: The Munafiqun (hypocrites). The latter were basically troublemakers, true disbelievers, dangerous and wicked; nevertheless, outwardly they showed their belongingness to Islam and this mainly with the aim of satisfying some of their material interests.

The Importance of Prayer -III

When we are praying, i.e., when we are performing our Salat, duahs, the Darood Sharif and other prayers, they are mainly in Arabic, but it is not forbidden to submit your prayers (invocations) in your own language as well. Without this, you cannot progress! The Arabic as well as a good understanding of the Arabic is vital for the believer needs to know what he is saying and asking of God Almighty.

 

Prayers, which are submitted in humility and with full dedication, are accepted by Almighty Allah and the sins of such people are forgiven. God Almighty says: “Innal hasanaati yudhhib nas-say-yi aati.” (Surah Hud 11: 115) - i.e., Good deeds wipe out bad deeds. The real impact of the state of humility can only be achieved in one’s own language. So, now and then, do pray in your own language. The best prayer is Surah Al-Fatiha because it is a very comprehensive prayer. When a farmer is aware of farming tricks, then he always achieves a good crop. So, you should look for the Straight Path to Almighty God and pray: “O my Lord! I am a sinner, in deep trouble. Show me the right path.”

 

Minor and big matters, all, should be submitted without any hesitation to God. He is the only One Who can forgive. Pious are those who pray, and pray a lot. If you knock at a miser’s door constantly, even he is bound to listen to you one day. So, how is it possible that the Gracious and Merciful God will not reward you? A good beggar always manages to get the reward in the end. The second name of Salat is prayer. As God Almighty says:

 

“Wa idha sa alaka ibadi anni, fa inni qareeb. Ujeebu da’watad daa’ee idha da aaani, fal yasta jeebuulee, wal yuminuu-bee, la allahum yarshuduun.”

“When My servants ask you concerning Me, (tell them) I am very close and always listen to those who call upon Me; so they should answer My call too, and believe in Me, so that they may be guided aright.” (Al-Baqara 2: 187).

The Importance of Prayer- I

Prayer is such a medicine that it can turn a dry wood into a green branch and can fuse life into (spiritually) dead people. It has unlimited credentials. If someone is in an unresolved situation, the prayer only can save him. 

A materialist considers this life to be a machine, the parts of which are being run by the blind forces of cause and effect, and he does not admit that there is an ultimate Being who is directing it. But one who knows the reality, while agreeing that the law of cause and effect is working, further knows that this is being done under the orders and directions of a Supreme Being. He, therefore, while keeping an eye on the causes and their effects, appeals to the Creator of the universe, the Supreme Cause for help, and surrenders gladly to His will and pleasure. God [Allah], the Creator of the Universe, may do whatever is good for him, for it is only the Lord (God) who knows what is good for him.