Sri Lanka: Easter Day Bombings

Sublime Islamic teachings prohibit wanton attacks against civilians; transgression on the rights of others and the destruction of their properties. If 'enemy' is to be engaged in a war by the Muslims, the Shariah rules of military necessity, proportionality, reduction of unjust suffering on those who do not participate in the hostilities- women; children; wounded soldiers; prisoners of war, humanitarian relief agencies, etc need to be respected and provided for. Hence, wanton killings of defenceless people going about their daily lives can never be allowed to be glorified as Islamic Jihad. Indeed, such terrorism cuts at the roots of all Islamic ethics and teachings on social solidarity with other communities and the need for respecting the sanctity of their essential rights under Islamic Law.   

It is instructive to note that in a recent series of Friday Sermons, Imam-Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam Hadhrat Muhyiuddin Al Khalifatullah Munir Ahmad Azim Saheb (atba) of Mauritius spoke profoundly on issues of terrorism in society, especially as it contrasts with the ideals of Islam and the murky realities of our times wherein terrorism is also being practiced by groups operating in the name of the Muslims. One of the themes that Hadhrat Saheb (atba) took up for clinical examination in this context was the role of the "zealous idiots"- people who claim to profess Islam; yet know nothing about its roots and branches and who bring disrepute to the religion (Islam) through self-serving interpretations and thereby inflict much harm on society through their deviant practices. Hadhrat Khalifatullah (atba) exemplified this point with reference to the practice of 'Jihad' as 'holy war' by sections of Muslim youths (fighting their secular 'battles'  in their societies), with no regard for either text or context, nor even the subtext of ethical Islamic teachings. 

In multicultural democracies where different faiths bloom in full freedom and liberty, the rupturing of the social fabric through horrific violence can have profoundly negative consequences for all- especially the (Muslim) minorities in the land. Indeed, brainwashed and radicalized Muslim youths displaying sectarian bigotry or communal prejudice and indulging in killing of innocents need to be opposed and resisted by devout Muslims themselves. After all, standing up for justice and enjoining good and forbidding evil is a duty we owe to God and our fellow beings- Muslims and non-Muslims alike.  

In his Friday Sermon of 26 April 2019~ 19 Shabaan 1440 AH Hadhrat Khalifatullah (atba) spoke about the dire state of the world. The excesses of the humans are putting a question mark over the very survival of our earth as a unique living space in our universe. On so many different levels, the signs around us are such that it is as though the world has turned upside down. The rising tide of mindless violence and terror across nations is such a sign as well. Speaking also against the backdrop of the recent, horrendous terrorist bombings in Sri Lanka that killed hundreds of people on Easter Sunday, Hadhrat Saheb (atba) wholeheartedly condemned the mindless killings. 

Cyclone Ockhi: A Sign

Nature's Fury, Shattered Lives 

Innal-Lillaahi wa inna ilayhi raajiuun. 

To God we belong and to Him we shall return.

That’s the defining thoughts for everyone who face the trial of misfortune and loss. 

Tragedy has come home to people in our land this week. Cyclone Ockhi, the most devastating cyclonic storm in the northern Indian Ocean region since 2015 has struck many lands in its tentacles: the coastal regions of Sri Lanka, the South Indian states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala, the Lakshadweep Islands, and also the Maldives.

Nature’s fury in the form of bad winds and cyclonic storms has taken away the lives of scores of people; hundreds of fishermen are missing after the storms, with no information about their whereabouts and search and rescue operations by the Indian agencies still ongoing till now. Beyond the shattered lives, possessions and property worth millions and millions has been destroyed. The damage to electricity transmission lines, agricultural crops, roads and passageways will continue to leave a chain of negative effects on the everyday life world of the affected regions and peoples for the months to come.

Khalifatullah visits Sri Lanka

Recently, in April-May 2014, the Khalifatullah Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Sahib (atba) of Mauritius undertook an International Dawah Mission to three different countries – Sri Lanka, Maldives and the United Arab Emirates (Dubai & Abu Dhabi). At one level, the visit and preaching was part of the organizational work of the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam International, to meet with the well-wishers and new disciples, to propagate the message of the Divine Mission and also to procedurally register and enlist the Jamaat functions on a legal and institutional basis in these respective countries. (Inset: the Sacred Fig tree in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. It is said to be a sapling from the original Bodhi tree under which the historical Buddha became enlightened. It was planted in 288 BC, and is the oldest living human-planted tree in the world with a known planting date.)

At another level, Hadhrat Sahib (atba), as the Divine servant of our times, was redeeming the pious wish and great hope of the Promised Massih Hadhrat Ahmad (as) to take the message of Islam to the corners of the world, especially to the peoples and nations that follow beliefs other than Islam, and also to renew the Muslims who, in their own individual and social journeys of life, have fallen away from the essence of the spirit and richness of the religion of Allah.   

In a Speech made at Colombo, Sri Lanka on Tuesday, 29 April 2014, the Khalifatullah (atba) spoke about the sublime and extraordinary legacy of the Holy Prophet of Islam (sa) whose Divine Mission was specially blessed by time and history. He spoke profoundly on the strategies of preservation Allah (twa) Himself brought about in the fullness of time whereby the essential Message of Islam remained among the people long after the great Arabian Prophet who lived over a millennium ago, left from the gladiator of history. While all other Messengers before him spoke in tongues that lost their vitality and died in the march of history, the language of Arabic- the tongue of the Qur’an- surged ahead and embraced new lands and peoples and became the vehicle for the flowering of culture and civilization in the medieval age, and also in our own times, it retains its vitality as one of the transnational languages, as recognized by the UN systems as well. While the ideational influences of the Islamic world appealed to the hearts and minds of other peoples who came under its magical spell of sublime spirituality, the old Messages in other belief systems got mythicized and reduced into fantastic legends.

Moreover, the Khalifatullah (atba) pointed attention to the Qur’anic arrangement of spiritual renewal of Islam in every age. It is a binding commitment of the Creator of the Qur’an, to preserve the spirit of Islam. And the raising of Divine Reformers in every century is, as the Promised Massih (as) pointed out in the last century, the profound method through which the spiritual preservation and renewal of Islam take place. Such renewal of faith is only through the practical, living example of a Divine soul, who is raised to lead his earthily life in the very midst of his own people. While acknowledging that he belongs to the larger chain of such Divinely-raised souls, the Khalifatullah (atba) calls the attention of one and all to struggle with their own souls to understand the larger purpose of life and to attach themselves to the narrow and straight path of true spirituality.  

Read the Extracts from the Speech:

A Historic Friday in Maldives

“Ya Massih-e-Maoud-Al-Rassool-e-Nabiullah, 

Munir Ahmad Azim,

tamannaé kawno makan..." 

(O Promised Messiah, Messenger and Prophet of Allah Munir Ahmad Azim, the universe as a whole desires to inherit your love)..... (Extract of Revelation (in Verse form) in Urdu - 2004 & 2010)

Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim (aba) of Mauritius, the Muhyi-ud-Din and Khalifatullah of this era and the founder of Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam International, just completed a highly successful, three-nation- Sri Lanka, Maldives and the United Arab Emirates (Dubai & Abu Dhabi) Dawa Mission, which was undertaken in accordance with Divine inspiration and direction. The presence and effective preaching of the Khalifatullah in these different countries has been specially blessed by Allah the Most High, leading to the acceptance of Bai’at of new members and the official Registration of the Jamaat’s chapters with the respective national authorities. The Tabligh journeys of the Khalifatullah also provided extraordinary opportunities for other peoples in these countries to listen to the sublime message of Islam and its practical ordinances, as being expounded through Divine Revelations vouchsafed to the Muhyi-ud-Din of our times. 

While still on this international Dawa Mission, Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Sahib (atba) made a historic Friday Sermon from the island-state of Maldives on May 02, 2014. Reflecting on the different religious systems and practices still existent in diverse parts of the world, the Khalifatullah expounds profoundly on the Qur'anic norms to assess the complex situation produced by human imaginations and extrapolations on pristine teachings of world's religions. As the Divinely-raised Muhyi-ud-Din of this era, Hadhrat Sahib (atba) explains his lofty spiritual mission and invites the people to join him in the collective project of global reform through adhering to the Islamic teachings on personal and social transformation. 

Read the Extracts from the Friday Sermon: 

A question that currently arises is: if all religions were in fact founded by messengers from God, then why is there any difference in their teaching? Can the same God send down different teachings?