On the Inner 'Shaytan'

 

Tawheed & Shirk- 3

Alhamdulillah, Summa Alhamdulillah, I continue the series of sermons which I began elaborating on the subject of Tawheed and Shirk.

 

Today, I want to draw your attention to something: every day we say we will do something but we end up not doing it. And Allah is not pleased at all that you do not do what you have said you will do. 

Whenever we start praying (Salat) and anytime we read the Holy Quran, we start by saying: Aouzubillahi Minash Shaytaan-ir-Rajim. This simply means that we seek protection with Allah against Satan the Cursed, the one whom Allah rejected. But many times people don’t reflect upon those words: What am I saying? Where is that Shaytan (Satan)? And where does he stay? They think: In what way will Satan come to me so that I can repel him?

Illnesses of the 'Ummah'- 2

 

Alhamdulillah, Summa Alhamdulillah, Allah has given me the Tawfeeq to continue my Friday Sermon on the illnesses which are affecting Islam nowadays, on their causes and the solutions which can be brought forward to trigger a change in the present situation. Insha-Allah, I will come on this subject, step by step.

 

Like I cited before you last Friday; Allah says in the Quran: “Those of the Children of Israel who went astray were cursed by the tongue of David, and of Jesus, son of Mary. That was because they rebelled and used to transgress. They used not to forbid one another any malfeasance that they performed. Miserable indeed was whatever they were performing!” (Al-Maida 5: 79-80)

 

The Hadiths of our beloved prophet Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) give more details about these Quranic verses and shed more light [i.e. understanding] on them:

 

Hazrat ‘Abdullah bin Mas’ud (ra) reported: The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said, “The first defect (in religion) which affected the Children of Israel in the way that man would meet another and say to him: ‘Fear Allah and abstain from what you are doing, for this is not lawful for you.’ Then he would meet him the next day and find no change in him, but this would not prevent him from eating with him, drinking with him and sitting in his assemblies. When it came to this, Allah led their hearts into evil ways on account of their association with others.”

Sin & Its Consequences

 

When you hear people say, “I feel bad about myself [litt: not to feel well in one’s skin]; I feel uncomfortable”, we can say that this person is wrong and that the reality of his condition escapes him. 

In fact, if he feels bad, it is because he is no longer in his “skin”. If we remove a fish from the water to put it in a living room with oriental rugs, from which aromas of noble leather and precious woods rise, or to place it on a tablecloth where delicious dishes are arranged, and from where we can distinguish, through huge bay windows, magnificent landscapes, will this fish jump for joy? Will it start to sing? Or, on the contrary, won’t it eventually perish after a long agony? 

We can perfectly imagine its horrible end. But why? Quite simply because it is no longer in its natural environment and has been removed from the environment which Allah has specially intended for it, from its living space. He is out of his “skin” because out of the water. By analogy, we may wonder what we are talking about when we talk about the natural environment, the living environment or even the “skin” of human beings, and especially of Muslims. It is easy to understand that it is about living according to the divine prescriptions, that is, according to the Sharia, and therefore, to do what is commanded and to refrain from what is prohibited. 

Faith: 'Don't Judge Others'

 

There is no greater misfortune than choosing ‘spiritual death’ after attaining faith. Indeed, sacrificing one's firmly held convictions and principles while one is still physically alive amounts to the death of an honorable man. True believers would never agree to let go of the life-giving Divine commandments and prohibitions. Coming under the sway of the evil-prone self and bargaining with the Satan for a temporary ecstasy is nothing short of ruining one’s spiritual future. It needs to be noted, however, that Allah (swt) has linked each man’s deeds to his neck, and while all deeds fly away like birds once the 'moment' is over, the light and shadows of his deeds remain imprinted in his soul even beyond- to give its account in the court of Allah in the life to come: for the rewards of the good, and the punishment of the wrongdoers.  Hence, all judgement of human deeds is, ultimately, in the court of Allah, the Best of Judges. And striving untiringly for achieving purification of the heart is the life-long obligation, and prayer of all believers: ‘Our Lord, do not let our hearts deviate after You have guided us. Grant us Your mercy: You are the Ever Giving’. (3:9) 

Recently, attributing certain contemporary deeds of a man who once associated himself with the ranks of the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam (and later disassociated himself with it for reasons best known to him); some bigoted and ignorant Ahmadi Mullahs have sought to insinuate and sully the image of the Jamaat of Allah. Due to their inbuilt biases and prejudices against the Elect of Allah of this era and His mission in their midst, these Mullahs from other Muslim denominations speak as if they are willfully “dumb, deaf, and blind”- unable or unwilling to distinguish between right and wrong. In a recent Jamaat communication, Imam- Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam Hazrat Khalifatullah Munir Ahmad Azim Saheb (aba) of Mauritius explains the true perspective on belief and disbelief in Islamic precepts.  

The Plans of Satan & His Army

 

'....I have recited the Verse 209 of Surah Al-Baqara, in which Allah (twt) says: “O believers! Enter into Islam wholeheartedly and do not follow Satan’s footsteps. Surely, he is your sworn enemy.” 

In the light of this verse of the Holy Quran, so far as Allah makes me understand His verses and ordains me to present this to all of you - all humanity and all my dear disciples around the world, therefore try to listen to the message of this Friday Sermon carefully and pray to Allah (twt) that He may give you the ilm (knowledge) to understand it deeply and remove you from the darkness of this world, and bring each of you to His light [i.e. the light of Allah (twt)], Insha-Allah. 

Please bear in mind that this sermon will be like a mirror in which you will be able to see yourselves, whether you are my disciples in Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam, or even the other Muslims from other Jamaat around the world, and even if you are from any other religion, so this sermon concerns all of us, every human being - not only my Muslims brothers, sisters and children or not even my disciples around the world but ALL HUMANITY from the four corners of the world.

Become 'Khayrah Ummah'

 

The duty to enjoin virtue, and to forbid evil is among the Qur'anic characteristics and qualities of a true believer in society. Indeed, true devotees of God remain a dynamic force for promoting good among the public. In his Friday Sermon of 18 June 2021~06 Dhul-Qaddah 1442 AH, Imam-Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam Hazrat Khalifatullah Munir A. Azim (aba) of Mauritius spoke about this vital duty on all: both the common man as well as on the social elites: the intellectual class, and the community leaders. Drawing on Qur'anic teachings, Hazrat Khalifatullah (aba) underlines that lasting Divine Blessings and Favours on a community are conditional upon their righteous living through sincere obedience to His commandments, and that when a people spoil their chances in leadership and eminence by wrongdoing and negligence, they lose out on Divine mercy, and the quagmire of schisms and strife engulf them as a reflection of their misdeeds, a manifestation of Divine Anger and Wrath. It is by transforming oneself by obedience and submission to Divine commandments and by recognizing the guidance on offer through His chosen messenger- the Khalifatullah (aba) of this era- that individual believers can collectively aspire to become the 'Khayrah Ummah' of the Qur'an.  

Read the Friday Sermon Below:

'Taqwa': 'Shun the Roots of Evil'

'Ghibbat'- VIII

Alhamdulillah, Summa Alhamdulillah, today also I continue my series of sermons on Surah Al-Hujurat, and [more specifically] the Hadiths on the subjects of “Ghibbat” (backbiting, gossips - spreading misinformation), thinking badly of others and spying on people, etc.

I now quote a second Hadith that is very long and found in [the book of] Muslim and also in [that of] Bukhari, Kitab-ul-Adab.

Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) as saying: “Avoid suspicion, for suspicion is the gravest lie in talk and do not be inquisitive about one another and do not spy upon one another and do not feel envy with the other, and nurse no malice, and nurse no aversion and hostility against one another. And be fellow-brothers and servants of Allah.” (Muslim)

In another version of this Hadith, reported in Muslim, Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) tells us to stay away from badzani, to think badly of a person, because badzani is a bad kind of lie. Do not stay engaged in looking for the faults of others. Do not spy on your brothers, do not be greedy for good things, do not be jealous, have no enmity for your brothers, do not be insolent. Do not break relations with your brothers. Become servants of Allah and live like real brothers. A Muslim is a brother to another Muslim. And do not commit injustice among you. A Muslim does not diminish his brother and does not humiliate him either.

And Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) also pointed to [in the direction of] his heart and said that: Taqwa is here.

'Ghibbat': On Speaking Ill of Others- II

Surah Al-Hujurat: Ghibbat, Part-II

By His grace, Allah (swt) has given me the Tawfiq to continue on the same subject of my Friday Sermon which I started last week on “Ghibbat” (backbiting). It is indeed a very important subject for all members of the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam and the rest of the Muslim Ummah in general.

When we analyse the different Hadiths on “Ghibbat”, we reach one same conclusion that “Ghibbat” occurs when you are aware of the flaw of someone or you spy to know more about him and his flaws and thereafter you spread the news everywhere with the intention of humiliating him in the eyes of other people. 

There are such kinds of people who seize the opportunity of big gatherings/ crowds to backbite someone, with the sole intention of humiliating him and to abase him further in the eyes of the people. Such people want to make everyone know about the flaws of that person and to make them have disgust for him and to go far away from him or even to be wary of him. When such things happen according to the plan of the backbiter, he derives a great pleasure in it. Such [evil-minded] people do not look at their own selves, their own flaws and they do not ponder over the time when they will have to account for all these misdeeds in front of their Creator. It is the jealousy and hatred which he conceals in his heart which makes him react and act stupidly like a malefactor/ bad guy. 

Now, there is another category of people who talks about the flaws of a person in his absence and he takes great pleasure in it. Whenever the person is absent, he heaps a lot of bad talks on him. When he finds himself surrounded by people who are ready to listen to him, he seizes the occasion to talk foolishly about the person he wants to humiliate just because that person is not present to refute him or to defend his honour.

So this is a great sin and Allah (swt) says in the Quran, giving this example: “Would any of you like to eat the flesh of their dead brother?” When one hears such a thing – about eating the flesh of someone, one gets a disgust against that. A believer (Mumin) develops a distaste for that, but on the other hand, an imbecile who harbours hatred in heart – like an ex-so-called Amir and his Mullahs in the Jamaat Ahmadiyya did at the beginning of the Divine Manifestation, from the year 2001 onwards on the pulpit (minbar) of the Noble Prophet (pbuh) – will not get any revulsion in doing such acts. On the contrary, such people ate our flesh with appetite, like cannibals.

On How to Stop 'Smoking'

The Dangers of Tobacco

A person should take care of his health not only during the month of Ramadan but also all life-long. Ramadan is a golden opportunity to stop smoking. 

Most smokers are aware that they may have lung cancer, but few suspect that they are even more vulnerable to heart attacks. Most people who suffer from heart attack in the age group of 30-45 years are smokers. But what is more serious is that a smoker who has a heart attack is more likely to lose his life. I hereby mention a list of the damage caused by smoking.

Cigarette Smoking: Health Effects

1. Accelerates the blockage of the arteries.
2. Deprives your blood of at least 15% of its oxygen.
3. Pulses the heart while narrowing the blood vessels, causing overstrain in the circulation.
4. Increases the risk of malformation of babies whose mothers smoke.
5. Children of parents who smoke are more exposed to flu and bronchitis.
6. Pollutes the atmosphere and cause harm to your family.
7. Decreases sperm count and is responsible for sperm malformations.
8. Causes lung cancer.
9. Increases the risk of coronary thrombosis, paralysis, and gangrene in the legs.
10. Delays the healing of gastric and duodenal ulcers.
11. Causes acute and chronic bronchitis in the lungs.

Even ‘mild’, low tar cigarettes increase the risk of heart and lung damage, so do not be fooled by advertising.

In Mauritius 58% of men are heavy smokers while among women the percentage is in the 7% range - which is very high and it is not surprising that Mauritius breaks all records in cardiovascular diseases, especially among men.

One must stop smoking, but how?

First,  decide to stop. Make a firm decision. If you are not mentally prepared, you will not succeed.  

Second, Make a plan of action.

Third, Fight against this evil. Join a group of non-smokers. Do a lot of sport.

Forth, Take the month of Ramadan as a starting point. It is truly a golden opportunity to stop.

What 'Jihad' Really Means

Which Jihad ?

'Jihad' is a religious duty, an act of faith, prescribed by the Holy Quran for every Muslim. 

Alas, Islamic teachings are, on the one hand, so little known by Muslims, and on the other, so vilified by non-Muslims, that many false conceptions have settled in people’s minds. 

For many people, it seems convenient and legitimate to cover under the term jihad (holy war) any struggle to settle a dispute where their interests are at stake (and thus, all means, even the most reprehensible, seem to be good). For the non-Muslim jihad has long been equated with the holy war against non-believers, for the spread of Islam. It seems to me necessary - through this series of sermons on jihad, terrorism and Islamophobia - to return to the sources of Islam, through the Holy Quran and the traditions of the Holy Prophet (pbuh) to explain what jihad really is, for the objective minds.

The term jihad is derived from jahada which means making intense efforts to the ultimate limit (Al-Ankabut, 29:7). Jihad is such an important injunction for Muslims that it is mentioned in no less than 36 occasions in the Holy Quran.

Three types of Jihad

In fact, it is of such importance that all the acts of faith prescribed for the believer (prayer, fasting, zakah, and pilgrimage to Mecca) are spiritual exercises designed to overcome the weaknesses of the individual and prepare him for the accomplishment of jihad. Jihad, as it appears from the reading of the the Holy Qur’an, denotes three types of fighting:

1. The fight against oneself (nafs).
2. The fight against evil in all its forms.
3. Armed combat against the visible enemy.

We can differentiate between the three types of jihad by calling them respectively Jihad-i-Akbar (greatest jihad), Jihad-i-Kabir (the great jihad) and Jihad-i-Saghir (the little/ lesser jihad). The Holy Prophet of Islam (pbuh) considered that Jihad-i-Akbar is the supreme, noblest combat and he said, when his troops returned from the Tabuk expedition: “You have accomplished the minor jihad now; there remains the supreme jihad.”

Djihad-i-Akbar:- it is the tireless fight against oneself, against one’s bad tendencies and inclinations. It is not therefore a fight of the State (the Country/ State/ Government, especially the Islamic One), but a struggle peculiar to the individual against his weak instincts/ carnal desires, such as infidelity, adultery, lies, dishonesty and materialism. However, the State has the obligation to help the citizen in this fight, creating the conditions conducive to his internal purification. It is the duty of the State to rid the social environment of any obstacle that may hinder the path of the individual to inner purity (e.g. the sale of alcoholic beverages, drugs, the practice of debauchery and games of chance).

The Holy Prophet (pbuh) said, “Purity (or Cleanliness) is half of faith.” This purity denotes the purity of the spirit. According to my analysis, a soul encumbered with unhealthy desires remains hermetically closed to divine grace. By purifying one’s soul of every bad inclination, the individual accomplishes this supreme jihad and reaches half of the faith by becoming fit to receive the grace of his Creator and to follow the path of spiritual progress.

'Seek Refuge in God from All Evils'

 Holy Qur'an, Ch. 113- Surah Al-Falaq : A Commentary

1. In the Name of Allah, The Most Gracious, The Most Merciful

2. Say: I seek refuge with the Lord of the Dawn, 3. From the evil of that which He created; 4. From the mischief of Darkness as it overspreads; 5. And from the evil of those who spit on the knots, (i.e., perform malignant witchcraft).

6. And from the evil of the envious when he envies.

This chapter (surah) was revealed at Mecca at the beginning of Islam and it gives us an antidote, a solution to fight against the works of the satans (i.e. evil works), superstition, and fear; for it teaches us to seek refuge in Allah against all kinds of evils which may exist on earth, visible or invisible. One example is the plots which people can make to harm others. Thus this surah is also a remedy against the envy and jealousy of other people.

It is Allah Who drives away all obscurity/ darkness when He sends His light, and it is Him Who gives life to people and make them feel that they are truly alive, be it physically and spiritually also, after having gone through a spiritual death. Life and death forms part of a cycle which is in the control of Allah, in the Hands of Allah. It is Allah Who has the capacity to annul all satanic works, and all fears which people use to make you fearful, and this materialises when He sends His spiritual light. Man needs to repel his fear and put his complete trust in Allah. No harm shall befall him when he is found in the protection of Allah, and when he has Allah with him, as his Mighty Help, then no Satan can ever deviate him with its falsehoods to make him and other people become fearful and to lose their trust in Allah.

This surah is a duah (prayer/ supplication) addressed to Allah to ask Him for His help and protection against the evil/ wickedness of ignorant people and those who plot to harm others with their tongues, hands, scheming and backbiting. Man need to seek divine help and protection against jealous hearts because a jealous heart is indeed very dangerous. Why? Because jealousy is found therein and this jealousy eats away that heart little by little and makes it become dark. It works silently as a harmful device to strike physically or morally at that jealous person.

'The Idiot Box is Truly Harmful'

 TV’S HARMFUL EFFECTS

By the grace of Allah, Allah (swt) in His infinite wisdom and grace has given me again the Tawfiq to continue my sermon today on the subject of: “The Harmful Effects of Television”.

Indeed the time that you lose watching TV is a time which you cannot gain back again, and verily you are in no position to know the exact remaining days which you have before you, before you leave this world. Therefore, maximize what time remains for you in the worship of Allah (Ibaadat), and the seeking of His forgiveness and mercy (Istigfaar). Spend all your time in the path of Allah by doing the works of religion and spend your money also for the propagation of the unity of Allah. Do not spend your money in useless preoccupations wherein there is no divine reward or pleasure.

Islam teaches us that despite all that which we possess (on earth), we verily have no right to use it in the way we want for all these things verily belong to Allah alone: our body, our strength, our time, our money and knowledge, etc. As for TV, it makes us waste our time and money in the disobedience of Allah and it makes us become lazy. With each second that you spend before TV you waste your existence, and verily you shall one day have to account for all that before your Creator. Your TV set plays day and night to such an extent that your electricity bill becomes enormous. It is verily wastage of your money, for apart from (national) television, you get to subscribe to other private channels and you have to pay for all that every month. 

Bear in mind that you have to account for all wealth/ money which Allah has given you before Him one day. Therefore, instead of wasting money, put the money to good use in the treasury of the Jamaat, to spend for the cause of Allah. This shall verily be a blessing for you for Allah shall put His blessings in your money and home and Insha-Allah, you shall have a great reward for it in the hereafter. What you sow in this world, you shall reap it in the hereafter. When you sow good deeds solely for the cause of Allah, therefore you shall reap an infinite reward both in this world and the hereafter. Verily the reward in the hereafter shall be much better and grand. 

Food: Choices and Consequences

Food and Human temperament

By the grace of Allah I continue to answer the questions on ‘pork’ that I received last week and I answered a lot of those questions, and today Insha-Allah, I will continue on the same subject to see a little on the immoral side which is sprouted by the consumption of this type of animal.

First, let us get the truth straight out that man is composed of body, mind and soul. The brain, the seat of the mind (with all its functions of thought, feelings and other psychological aspects) is a part of the body and takes its food as one of those parties. At any time, thousands of cells in our body get depleted and are used to operate the complex machinery of the body; food is used to replace these dead cells. Food particles become part of the body, part of which goes to the brain.

It is commonly known that food has an effect on the health of the body. But few people realize that it has an effect on the brain (hence the mind) as well. Healthy food obtained through legitimate means and consumed with a peaceful conscience, has good effects on both health of body and mind. But unhealthy food, or food taken at the time of emotional distress, harm to the body and spirit. 

The 'cultures' of Pork 

The pig is an animal such that even in countries where its flesh is a highly regarded consumer good, its name means a dirty person, a thug, a sensual, and a glutton. The word ‘pig’ is synonymous with evil and degenerate. This is because the pig is sensual and impudent. People who eat pork are gradually influenced by its inherent sensuality; and when this trend influences minds, impudence becomes common rule; modesty and honesty become outmoded ideas that are deviated from the cult of sensuality and perversion.

'Fasting is a Shield against Evil'

Yaaa-’ayyu-hallaziina ‘aamanuu kutiba ‘alay-kumus-Siyaamu kamaa kutiba ‘alal lazina min qablikum la-’alla-kum tatta-quun.

“O you who believe! Fasting has been prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become righteous.” (2: 184).

The word ‘Siyaam’ (fasting) as mentioned in the Holy Quran can also be called ‘Sawm’, which means ‘to abstain from something’. Abstaining from something does not mean only abstaining from food and drink, no! It also refers to abstaining from vain talks/too much talking; for on the contrary you should concentrate more on Quran reading as well as its translation, concentrate on the remembrance of Allah (Zikrullah) and supplications (duas). Abstention should also be made of sleep, whereby you devote yourself to the voluntary additional prayers when you are fasting during the day. During this period, therefore abstention should also be made of sexual relation with your spouses, and you must learn to control your carnal desires (nafs) and your tongue. This also allows you to multiply more good deeds, help the poor and spend a lot in charity.

When you learn to understand this verse of the Quran (the above-mentioned verse) and you reflect on it, you shall see (deduce) that all the good deeds done in this blessed month (Ramadan) are all acts of worship which a believer does and he does it sincerely for Allah alone. He (the believer) accepts to abstain from all things which were usually licit for him during the previous eleven months and which are made (temporary) illicit for him from before sunrise till after sunset.

‘Humanity at the Brink of Disaster!’

Through recurring revelations of unmistakable intensity and clarity, Allah the Almighty has charged Hadhrat Khalifatullah Munir Ahmad Azim Sahib (atba) of Mauritius with a heavy responsibility as a Warner sent unto mankind: to alert and warn the world about the impending Disasters. Thus, in his Friday Sermon of  01 March 2013 (17 Rabi’ul Aakhir ; 1434 Hijri ) Hadhrat Sahib has had to convey to the world the spine-chilling news about the Disasters waiting to unfold in a striking way all over the world. The world appears to be condemned to witness the consequences of its evil ways : for the chronicle of earth-shattering events foretold include wars, calamities, ethnic conflicts, communal violence/racial riots, the destruction of despots and the desecration of cities.

Read the Extracts from the Friday Sermon:  

Allah (swt) chose me as His Khalifatullah in this era and my Creator has informed me through revelation several times since Friday, 08 February 2013 and continually so, till now that a third world calamity is to come. Despite the fact that these days all these calamities are hitting the world, yet people do not learn from these happenings, and these do them nothing that these calamities come from the Creator of the universe. They continue to persist in their sin and continue in the practice of Shirk on several levels. They have all forgotten the divine teaching; they trampled the teachings of God and give man’s words the greatest value. The majority of people in the world have turned their backs to the divine messages and rejected the Messenger of God in this present age.

‘Restrain from Evil Inclinations’

In his Friday Sermon of 28 December 2012, the Khalifatullah Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Sahib (atba) of Mauritius gave a profound discourse on the hidden pearls of wisdom underlying the Qur’anic teachings on keeping away from evil inclinations and Satanic tendencies. Belivers are those who do good deeds and prefer the welfare of others even over their own personal comforts. They keep away from selfish desires and other evil inclinations and constantly seek to deny giving any corners for Satan to cast his evil whisperings.

“When you, the believers, leave behind the temporary attractions of this world and refuse to follow Satan in his path, and you give Allah preference over all things, it is then that the divine blessings are bestowed upon you; Allah sends down extraordinary blessings, and along with these you reap the good of your good deeds and you get a complete Iman (faith)”, exhorts the Messenger of Allah of our times.

Read the Extracts from the Speech:    

This is enlightenment for mankind and guidance and mercy for a people who are certain (in faith). (45: 21)

In this Quranic verse, Allah says that this Quran and the words therein contain such clear proofs for humanity, that is, when someone studies it with Taqwa (fear of Allah) and in whichever he wants, then he shall certainly see clear proofs (of the truth) in it.

Afterwards Allah says that it is guidance and mercy for the holders of faith, those who have complete faith in it. In the next verse, Allah says: “Or do those who commit evils think We will make them like those who have believed and done righteous deeds– (make them) equal in their life and their death? Evil is that which they judge.” (45: 22)