Showing posts with label women. Show all posts
Showing posts with label women. Show all posts

Friday, April 13, 2018

Appreciation and Advices for Women Believers


Acclamation for the Women of the Jamaat

For the past four to five years my tours and missions in the different countries of the world have been successful by the grace of Allah. So much so that my heart is filled with gratitude and praises for Allah. Besides the men of the Divine Manifestation, the women also have played a great role, sacrificing their time and using their God-given knowledge to help the cause of Allah. Moreover, with the acceleration of dawa/ tabligh in the different countries, especially in India and Africa, lots of women have embraced the truth of the Divine Manifestation of time and the Khalifatullah, disregarding the narrow-minded opinions and wrath of husbands, parents and past communities for the sake of the truth coming from Allah. A spontaneous prayer pours out of my heart for those women who have joined the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam, who expressed complete submissiveness to Allah and His messenger and thus stood fast to their covenants (Bai'at) dutifully and faithfully.

Alhamdulillah I receive many emails everyday from the different countries and many women were so emotional and receptive to the divine message and heart-warming that I could not contain myself from offering thanks to Allah (swt) for all the favours and signs that He has manifested in my support, and unbounded prayers on behalf of the penitents, those who want to reform themselves, and change their lives for the best. These women are so immersed in the divine waters that they are recipients of God's favours and miracles (they witness the miracle and power of duah address to Allah) and they are ever ready to help the cause of Allah in whatever way they can. Some do translation works, dawa/ tabligh, impart the right teachings of Islam to their children and support their husbands and parents to support the cause of Allah. Those of them who do not have the support of their family trust Allah so much that Allah manifest Himself in extraordinary ways, giving them the courage and patience to help the cause of Allah, helping the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam to progress further. 

The truth of the matter is that the women of the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam are adding a new chapter, written in letters of gold, to the history of mankind and that of the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam. They are like a fresh/ cool breeze which overtakes a hot weather, bringing forth hope for the people and a message of appreciation from Allah and His messenger.

Tuesday, May 9, 2017

Inspirational Women from Early Islam

In his special address on the occasion of the Annual Conference of the Siraj Makin (sisters of the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam International) at Mauritius on 14th August 2016, the Khalifatullah Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Saheb (atba) spoke profoundly on the critical role of women in the Muslim family and social order. In the speech, Hadhrat Saheb (atba) draws our attention to the exceptional legacy of the inspirational, pious women ancestors of the Muslims at a time the world is virtually bereft of true spiritual role models to look up to and draw energy for engaging with the complex contingencies of our everyday life. 

Many of the women companions and disciples of the Holy Prophet (sa) were blessed with rare common sense and sense of perception, sound judgement and deep understanding, profound faith and courage of conviction. All these qualities helped them to take daring positions at the dawn of Islam's encounter with a decadent Meccan society. History chronicles that the wise opinions and bits of advice rendered by  Ummul Mu'mineen Hadhrat Khadija (ra) has had great impact on her husband, the Holy Prophet (sa) at the most critical of the times of his Divine Mission so much so that the Prophet (sa) used to remember and miss her inspirational presence in his life, long after she was dead. On the other hand, Hadhrat Sumayya (ra) became one of the first martyrs of Islam: bearing witness with her life to the deep conviction she has had in the enduring promise of Islam as the path to follow at all costs.  

On an everyday basis, it is a law of life that duties and rewards are attached to each one of us in our individual, family and social relations and the best outcomes depend upon the respective performance of the persons involved. Whether involved in the proper management of household affairs, or multi-tasking in a professional capacity, women today have manifold responsibilities. Success comes to those who are able to maintain and retain the fine balance over these diverging tasks and challenges, both in and out of the home. Hadhrat Saheb (atba) reminds all believers, including women, that it is through the proper discharge of one's duties and responsibilities at one's own level that each one of us can work for the larger goal of creating the conditions for the flourishing of true spirituality within us. 

Read the Full Text of the Speech Below: 

The mother of believers, Hadhrat Ummul Mumineen Khadija (ra) was a very perceptive woman. She knew perfectly the character of men. She knew how to recognise a precious metal and did not let herself be deceived by a ‘false painting’! Perhaps her work in commerce has formed in her that capacity, for, the traders are among the best connoisseurs of human psychology!

During her business dealings, she met Muhammad (pbuh) and asked him in marriage. Muhammad was not unknown to the Arabs. The nobility of his conduct was unanimously acknowledged and this won him much admiration. And it often happens that the nobility of the heart just like the brightness of the face is a basis for general assessment and is a thing which is approved by one and all.

But after her marriage, Khadija (ra) got a better knowledge (and understanding) of her husband and realised the level of perfection he had achieved! So when he told her what had happened to him in the cave of Hira, she foretold him what shall happen (in the future) based on his own past. 

She swore that a man like him cannot go astray and it was impossible that God forsakes a man to whom He has granted such nobility and honour. She said, “By Allah, Allah will never disgrace you, for, by Allah, you keep good relations with your Kith and kin, speak the truth, help the poor and the destitute, entertain your guests generously and assist those who are stricken with calamities. You restore deposits. Verily, Allah will not disgrace such a man neither in this world nor in the hereafter! Such a man is immune to the attacks of the devil.” 

Khadija (ra) formed part of the high society of Quraysh, that is to say, the summit/ elite of Arab society. She was also the first woman to believe in his mission. But Islam is a universal religion destined for all social categories. If the hearts of the rich find therein an attraction, then the disadvantaged masses embrace it and expect much happiness from it. Masters and slaves occupy the same place. Thus Abu Bakr, the wealthy man embraced this religion like Bilal the freed slave. 

Certainly, Islam as a beautiful demonstration of gender equality has given their honourable place to the entire human race, regardless of their social status. Islam gives to man his true position in society and in the eyes of God. Therefore, there is no caste in Islam but rather a general brotherhood prevails. The slave and master both become the master of their destiny and share the same table and the same interests.

If Khadija (ra) was the first believer and was part of the elites of Quraysh, certainly the first woman who received the honour of martyrdom (to die for the cause of God) was Sumayya, the mother of Ammar, who came from a poor and oppressed house, (one which is considered) without much value.

The trials that God makes His servants undergo are varied. He tries some with fame and anonymity, some others with fortune and poverty, health and disease, and what counts is, the end. 

It has been narrated that Uthman (ra), who was a man of influence among the Quraysh, said: “While I was walking in the desert with the Messenger of Allah (pbuh), we saw Ammar, his father and mother undergoing torture under the burning sun so that they may abandon Islam! Ammar’s father said to the Prophet (pbuh): “O Messenger of Allah, is this for eternity? (That is to say, will torture last for all eternity?) He replied, “Patience, O family of Yasir! May Allah forgive the (family of) Yasir, and You have indeed already been forgiven!”

Then the leaders of Jaahiliyah (of the time of Ignorance who refused Islam) came to enjoy the public spectacle of torture. Among them was Abu Jahl who was angry at the sight of the woman’s courage and endurance in the face of such trial. He thus thrust a deadly spear low, in the area of her womb. She thus became the first martyr who fell for the sake of Islam. Then divine punishment was delayed for a long time until the day of the battle of Badr. That detestable Pharaoh (i.e., Abu Jahl) then went out to fight the believers and that’s when fate sent to him two Muslim teenagers who fought him until they triumphed over him and killed him!

Certainly, Allah says in the Quran: “Indeed, We have sent to you a Messenger as a witness upon you just as We sent to Pharaoh a messenger. But Pharaoh disobeyed the messenger, so We seized him with a ruinous seizure.” (Al-Muzzammil 73: 16-17). 

May Allah welcome in His love these two precious Muslim women who, before the advent of Islam came from different social statuses but with the growing strength of Islam, they became both, two sisters of hearts who sacrificed their all for the triumph of truth in the whole of Arabia, and the world until our time and for all times to come until the Final Day. Ameen.

A Woman's World: Duties and Rewards

The woman in her home is like a jewel that is well preserved in its case. She is the inspiration of her home, its manager and the one who highlights the value of life as a couple by cooperating with her husband to ensure the happiness of the family and the safety of the property/ wealth in her possession. I welcome therefore all housewives and women who for an important reason must go out to work and contribute to solving the financial problems of their homes.  These women do not leave their homes as such, but they also perform their duties both in the home and in their professional fields.

I bring before you today, ladies, an example of women among our pious predecessors who undertook to serve their home by doing all the work they could do for their husbands and children. This is part of the good ethics of life as a couple. This strengthens family life and allows it to perdure.

Asma, daughter of Abu Bakr As-Siddiq (the Truthful) (ra) says:

“When Az-Zubayr married me, he had neither wealth, nor slave nor anything else like it, except a camel and a horse. I used to graze his horse, provide fodder for it and look after it, and ground dates for his camel. Besides this, I grazed the camel, made arrangements for providing it with water and patched up his leather bucket and kneaded the flour. 

But I was not proficient in baking the bread, so my female neighbours of the Ansars used to bake bread for me and they were sincere women. And I used to carry on my head seeds (of dates) from Az-Zubayr’s land which the Messenger of Allah had endowed him, and it was at a distance of two miles (from Madina). 

As I was one-day carrying seeds upon my head I happened to meet the Messenger of Allah along with a group of his Companions. He called me and said to the camel to sit down so that he should make me ride behind him. I felt shy to go with men and I remembered Az-Zubayr and his sense of shame and jealousy. 

(And afterwards when Asma related this incident to her husband) Az-Zubayr replied: ‘By Allah, the carrying of such a burden (of date stones) upon your head is more severe a burden on me than riding with him.’ And I led this life of hardship until Abu Bakr sent afterwards  a female servant who took upon herself the responsibility of looking after the horse and I felt as if she had emancipated me.’” (Bukhari & Muslim).

Do you see how Asma bint Abu Bakr As-Siddiq (ra) has behaved? She did goodness and was rewarded with goodness. So be good by working for your home as much as you can, and you will find with Allah a great reward for it.

Home Affairs: Shared Responsibilities for Couples

The housewife takes care of her home. She is the equal of her husband who leaves for work outside in order to meet the family’s needs. While her husband works outside the home to feed the household, the woman is the silent strength and example of patience in order to tackle the enormous task of caring for her household. 

Couples who both need to go out of the house to work, for their part have a double share of responsibilities regarding their working lives, their homes, their children and themselves. They have the dual task of managing their home and their professional occupations.

Household tasks are not reserved exclusively for ladies. The whole household must contribute to the development of their daily lives by participating in the many tasks that the home demands from a family. 

Our beloved prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was the example of the perfect husband and he was a perfect contributor to the happiness of his home because he had more than one wife. He helped his wives with the housework, advised them in good and lived in harmony with them. He always advised them, as well as his daughters and other believers to take good care of their homes, as this is certainly a Jihad (holy effort/ holy war) for them and their reward will certainly be huge with Allah if they conform to obedience to their husband and help in proper functioning of their homes.

May Allah help you and the Muslim women around the world to become benevolent guardians for your homes and may He inspire the desire in you to serve His cause by being faithful to your duties as a Muslim woman and to contribute to the flourishing of Islam, the focus/ home of the true servants of Allah. Insha-Allah, Ameen.

Tuesday, March 28, 2017

Hijab: Affirming Women's Dignity

In many Western nations with Muslim minorities these days, prejudice and suspicion against the religious beliefs and cultural traditions of the Muslims are openly out on display. The 'Hijab' (-a form of dress covering the head and the entire body worn by Muslim women, in its various manifestations in diverse cultural traditions- burqa, niqab, chador, abaya, etc.) – has been made into a volatile political issue, with many in host societies dubbing the veil to represent Muslim women in stereotypical terms.


Islamic teachings on social etiquette and dressing promote decency and propriety, recognizing the need for modesty, privacy and dignity of individuals, especially women. The Islamic rules on lowering of gaze by both men and women, concealing nakedness and not sexualizing one’s appearance, etc. seek to achieve modesty and public chastity. The Qur’anic guidance on ‘Hijab’ can thus be seen as a significant part of a profound framework on ‘garment of piety/raiment of righteousness’ for all believers, men and women (7:27).  

The teachings on ‘Hijab’ seek to liberate women from the male gaze while allowing them to remain socially engaged as active participants with integrity, agency and God consciousness. In our unfortunate era where male weakness and proclivity for sexual lasciviousness is actively promoted through commodification of culture and the consequent objectification of women’s bodies, ‘Hijab’ stands for the anti-thesis of the consumer capitalism and atheistic materialism on offer, pointing to the stark contrast between competing visions of ‘freedom’ in Islam and the 'post-truth' societies. 

Extracted below is a Speech delivered by Hazrat Ummul Mu’mineen Fazli Amena Varsally (International Sadr Saheba-Siraj Makin) on the value of Hijab, delivered at the Siraj Makin Conference in Mauritius in August 2016. Referring to the ongoing, manufactured controversy over the right of Muslim women to wear what they want, Hazrat Saheba points out that the Islamic dressing norms are rooted in modesty and chastity, and that the ethical framework is shared by all religions of the past. The irony of Christian nations ignoring and insulting the dressing choice of Virgin Mary is highlighted. Hazrat Ummul Mu'mineen calls our attention to a latent challenge that lies hidden behind the controversies surrounding the right to wear Hijab in our times: the very identity of Muslim women is under threat of being reconfigured in the western conceptions of freedom and women’s rights. She argues that it is ultimately for Muslim women themselves to assert their human right to fundamental freedoms of choice in dressing up in Hijab so as to profess and practice and propagate the beliefs and convictions they deeply care for.  

Read the Speech below:


'Hijab' in a milieu of anti-Muslim prejudices

Today, we see that the Hijab (veil) of the Muslim woman has become a menace for people who view Islam as a religion of terrorism. 

Sunday, January 1, 2017

Satanic Impulses in Our 'Celebrations'

Last Friday Sermon of the Year 2016

Today, for the last Friday Sermon of the year 2016, like usual, it is my duty to make people, especially the Muslims, become conscious of the excesses and innovations which breezes through their lives, and thus making them imitate the non-Muslims and participate in unislamic practices.

For New Year festivities, there is a fashion trending to organise all sorts of programmes in hotels and other places which have been transformed for the occasion. These End of Year programmes, including those broadcasted on TV, attract a lot of people. On TV, there are lots of channels which advertise to attract subscriptions, offering deals so that you may opt to subscribe with them during the last month of the year as well as the first month of the New Year. TV Channels also propose all kinds of activities like theatre, discotheques, singing and dancing competitions in several languages with attractive prizes. Many people come forward to participate. Moreover, there are all sorts of games of chance. It is a shame to see that so-called Islamic concerts are organised and for the End of Year and New Year posters are put everywhere for premieres of new films in cinema halls. People do not hesitate to lose time in long queues in order to buy those tickets for them as well as their spouses and children.

Twisted Thinking  among the Muslims

It is most unfortunate that many women are interested in all these distractions, especially Muslim women and girls, who have been barred from Friday Sermons and congregational prayers in the mosques, as well as Eid prayers after a month of fasting and as well as those of the Eid of Sacrifice (Eid-ul-Fitr & Eid-ul-Adha). They are denied the right to listen to sermons which are very important for a believer, male and female. Today's so-called Mullahs see all these as haraam (illicit) for the women and girls, and they have closed the door leading to Allah for them, and now those Muslim women and girls are holding fast to the door leading to Satan, whereby Satan makes everything seem beautiful for them so as to separate them from Allah and His Messenger (pbuh). So, according to these Mullahs, the door of the mosques are haraam (illicit) for the ladies, but now are all these satanic attractions which they have hold fast to halaal (licit) for them? Where will that door lead them? To Paradise or Hell?

Wednesday, October 5, 2016

Justice and Rights in Spouse Relations

India: Muslim Women’s Struggle for Justice

Textual Islam, as emerging from the Qur’an and the sacred Prophetic traditions, provides a fascinating framework to think about and shape an egalitarian family and social order. Islamic tradition envisions justice and fairness in all types of human relations- family engagements, business agreements, state administration and world order. Islam theorizes that the balancing of freedoms and responsibilities, rights and duties among the stakeholders is central to the long term cohesiveness of all types of social institutions. Hence, it commends equity, reciprocity, generosity and even magnanimity  as diverse approaches that could be appropriately deployed for fostering family relations and retaining social order on an even keel. It insists on moderation and restraint and just dealings even in adversarial/strained relations. The Book of God also warns Muslims by citing the lessons from history, of other communities and nations that had abused their freedoms and failed their souls, so that they may observe the Divine limits of conduct. 

It  is an irony of history that despite Islamic empires ruling over most parts of modern India for centuries altogether, the Muslims today stare at the bleak prospect of remaining at the margins of the Indian State for the foreseeable future. With the partition of the subcontinent in the 1940’s into India and Pakistan on the exit of British colonial administration, the Muslims were reduced to a neglected, minority group of 'second-class citizens' among the sea of Hindus in the 'secular', 'democratic' India. Majoritarian political mobilization, rising religion-based adverse discrimination, communal prejudices and other exclusionary biases, denial of fundamental rights and deprivation of basic entitlements are rampant in India today. So much so that astute political observers fear that 'Hindutva'- the political cry for ultra-'Hinduisation'- might bury India's composite culture and latent secular ethos in its majoritarian triumphalism. Muslim women in India, thus, suffer from multiple disadvantages. Their vulnerability is directly related to and arises from the unjust social order prevailing in the country: the political system and the governing elites have failed to bring about an egalitarian society for all of the people through appropriate interventions, including legal reforms and sustained commitment to the equal application of the laws. The traditional community leaders have also failed the Muslim women, they are unable or unwilling to ensure the basic rights and entitlements of the womenfolk in issue areas such as marriage and divorce, child care, family support and maintenance. Their failures are glaring and pronounced, given the impressive presence of a range of normative principles within the Qur'an and the Prophetic Traditions that address this vital area of family relations. 

The patriarchal dimensions of the Indian society, including among the Muslims, often perpetuate a 'family and community order' that inherently subjugates and oppresses women. Husbands are thus increasingly utilizing 'technological means' and new communication devices to get rid of their solemn marital responsibilities. It is revolting that such men/husbands who neglect their Qur'anic duties on respecting the rights and entitlements of their former spouses on divorce, apparently enjoy legitimacy and community support, even as the Mullahs and Maulvis who constitute the community leadership, fail their vocation to stand by the victims, by their abject failure to insist on justice and fairness through internal reforms.

India's imperfect democratic legal system, despite its structural biases and other inherent judicial inefficiencies, does offer the prospect of waging struggles for justice and reforms. This 'lawfare' possibility has in the past been invoked by spirited individuals, human rights activists and civil society movements to advance the cause of fairness and justice at multiple levels and scales in this diverse society. Of late, the Muslim women are organizing themselves to challenge the denial of rights in their every day lives. Former wives, abused and unfairly treated in marriage and out of it and are unjustly denied of their rights on divorce, are seeking to invoke the Qur'an and the national law in order to resist the male chauvinism and brinkmanship on display. 

Reproduced below is an Article in the Indian newspaper, The Hindu, dated October 02, 2016. The article by Vaishna Roy chronicles the remarkable story of a social worker, Zakia Soman, and the women's organization she co- founded, Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Aandolan (Indian Muslim Women's Association) that is leading the legal struggle for banning certain unjust practices such as "Triple Talaq" that are being grossly misused by privileged men to neglect their legal responsibilities on divorce-matters. 

A few rabid, patriarchal men were speaking on the community’s behalf. And they were talking rubbish. We felt the need to raise a voice.’


Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Aandolan turns 10. Feisty co-founder Zakia Soman describes the journey. 

Saturday, June 18, 2016

Devotion and Reconciliation in Ramadan

Reconcile with the Estranged 

I advice the Jamaat (Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam), wherever my voice reaches, and wherever the Jamaat is hearing this message, to keep watch over the progress of unity, harmony and strong brotherhood. And in this context, the first step to be taken is that from this present Friday to the next Friday, you need to reconcile with the people with whom you had a grudge against because of things relating to this world (mundane matters), egoistical reasons, or personal reasons. 

*** Huzur (atba) made an appeal to all spiritual chiefs and Jamaats in Islam, including the fifth Caliph of the Ahmadiyya Movement and encourage them to drop all form of arrogance and egoistic nature and to reunite together for the sake of Islam and unity as one body of Islam to march forward towards victory (Victory of Islam) ***  You need to make peace with these kinds of person. And neither of you should think on these lines: “Oh, I am the victim in this matter; therefore the other one should be the first to come forward to make peace!”

On the contrary, it becomes more incumbent/ necessary on the victim to make that reconciliation happen first because there is a promise of great rewards for the one who comes forward first for reconciliation. And it shall be a real mischance for the one who is in the right (the victim) to miss the opportunity of this great reward and to let his oppressor obtain the grand reward when the latter approaches the victim first for reconciliation. This is an advice and message which needs to reach the ears of each member of the Jamaat worldwide. It is not easy to make this advice reach everywhere and it is possible that this advice needs to be repeated several times. 

Sunday, May 29, 2016

Respect Women and Their Rights

By the grace of Allah, I thus continue my Friday Sermon on the status of the Womenfolk in Islam.

(3) A Mother's Dignity

As mothers, the status of women has been raised by Islam to such an extent that nothing higher is conceivable. As the last law-bearing religion, Islam has provided for the every right and need of the female human species, and perfected them so that these teachings represent the best of teachings for generations up till the Day of Judgement. 

The Holy Quran says:  "Your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him, and that you be kind to (your) parents. Whether one or both of them attain old age in your life, do not say to them a word of contempt, nor repel them, but address them in terms of honour. And, out of kindness, lower to them the wing of humility, and say: “My Lord! Bestow on them Your Mercy even as they cherished me in childhood.” (17: 24-25)

It is reported by Hazrat Abu Huraira (ra) that when the Holy Prophet (pbuh) was questioned by a disciple as to who after God and His Messenger (pbuh) deserve his fine treatment, the Prophet said: “Your mother.” 

He then asked, “Who next?” The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) replied: “Your mother.” 

He asked again: “Who next?” He (pbuh) said again, “Your mother.” The man put the question for the fourth time and it was only then that the Holy Prophet (pbuh) said: “Your father.” (Bukhari)

This Hadith shows the paramount importance which the mother enjoys in the eyes of Allah and in the life of his children and family. She is deserving of much more respect and care, three times more than the father.

Saturday, May 21, 2016

Women's Rights; Men's Duties

"Womenfolk in Islam”

History is silent as to whether there was any distinction in status between the male and the female sexes during the beginnings of human civilization. In later days no doubt the female sex was regarded as inferior to the male and the idea of inferiority developed to such an extent that the male sex not only claimed a complete superiority over the female sex, but further arrogated to himself the right to utilise and employ the female sex as he liked.

Surveying the history of the world on this point we find that in pre-Christian Europe and Greece, which was the centre of light and learning for a long time and which provided philosophical and scientific inspiration to the Europe of later days, regarded woman as something definitely inferior to man. She was a subservient creature who had come into existence solely for the purpose of breeding citizens for the state and soldiers for the army. Their opinion of women was that these creatures were deprived of any good and was instead the sources of many evils. Such degrading conceptions led to a moral degeneration which ultimately ruined the Greek society. The names of virtuous women scarcely appear in Greek history.

In pre-lslamic Arabia, the general conception of womanhood was of such a degraded type that her very existence was considered ignominious for the family. Female infanticide was consequently practiced on a wide scale. Those women who, however, escaped early death were allowed to live only on sufferance. For, an Arab woman had no rights; she could not inherit property; her person formed part of the inheritance which came to the heir of her husband, and he was entitled to marry her against her will. Hence, there sprung up the impious marriages of their sons with their stepmothers and others of an even worse character. Polygamy was universal and quite unrestricted; equally so was divorce at least as far as man was concerned.

Prophet Muhammad (sa) on Women's Rights

Such was the condition of the female sex in the world when the Holy Prophet of Islam, the Perfect Man, Muhammad (pbuh) the Saviour of womanhood, stood up in Arabia and, through the Divine Revelation of the Lord of the Universe Who created both the male and the female and Who loves them equally, preached to the world that females were just like males and that they have equal rights, equal honour and an equal status in life.

Sunday, December 27, 2015

TV: Impact on Islamic Life

TV’S HARMFUL EFFECTS

Today, by the grace of Allah, Allah has given me the Tawfiq to continue the second part of my Khutba Jummah on The Harmful Effects of Television’.

Through TV, the Islamic dress code is disappearing, to such a point that there are some who consider the Islamic clothing as uncivilised dress code and only good for ancient times!

Islam has put great restriction concerning sexuality so that the social life of our community remains clean and far away from prostitution, homosexuality and other social maladies. As for TV, it not only removes that restriction through the means of its dirty films but it also incites young people to satisfy their carnal desires (sexual needs/ passions) in an immoral and illicit (Haram) way.

Islam is a religion which teaches Muslims men as well as women to cultivate shame (Haya) in them because shame is a quality which helps cultivate mutual respect. The Holy Prophet (pbuh) has even made us know that Allah (swt) has joined shame (Haya) together with faith (Iman). As long as someone has shame in him, his faith shall be alive, but if he loses his shame, he loses also his faith, and he begins to act like an animal. Through the various obscene TV channels proposed to people, television has taken away shame from that community (the Ummah of Hadhrat Muhammad (pbuh)).

Monday, February 2, 2015

Shocks of Trial after the Loss of Faith

Mir Abbas Ali Ludhiyanwi was among the very first disciple(s) of the Promised Massih Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad(as) of Qadian- by joining him in 1882, when the Promised Massih (as) was beginning to appear on the religious horizon, on the very early days of the Divine Manifestation in the then British India. His sincerity and spiritual services over a period of a decade was of such quality that the Promised Massih (as) wrote about him, mentioning even Divine revelations he said he received: "Mir Sahib is a person with great spiritual condition and has a spiritual connection with this humble self. And to prove his level of sincerity, it is enough that once this humble self received an inspiration in his favour: 'aslohoo sabitun wa farohoo fis samaa' (his roots are firmly fixed and his branches are in the sky)." (Izala-e-Auham, Roohani Khazain vol.3 p.528). Yet, unfortunately for him, Mir Abbas Ali failed in the trials of patience and steadfastness in course of time, the Divine revelations regarding his lofty destiny notwithstanding.

This episode of trials of faith is a grim reminder for all believers in every age. With the appearance of the Divine Manifestation in Mauritius-with the advent of the Khalifatullah Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Sahib (atba) in the new century of Islam- such incidents have come alive, within the ebb and flow of the life and experiences of the people who once embraced the blessings of Allah (swt), only to let go of their Imaan, to be tried with the very words and sentiments they expressed once. In an Open Letter written in December 2014, Hadhrat Khalifatullah (atba) profoundly reminded the concerned persons and their chieftains about the evil consequences of their bad choices and evil deeds of rejecting the Signs of Allah amidst them. The document provides interesting insights on the early days of the Divine Manifestation in Mauritius when Allah raised His Elect and even blessed the people who attached themselves with him, with inspirations and Divine revelations so as to enable them to understand and comprehend the profound reality, like the Qur'an states:

"And when I inspired the disciples of Jesus to believe in Me and in My Messenger, they said, ‘We believe and bear Thou witness that we have submitted.’ [5:112]

Read the Extracts below:  

The very beginning of the Divine Manifestation in Mauritius was overflowed with Divine Grace and Mercy, so much so that with the manifestation of His Messenger, Reviver of Faith on earth, Allah sent down His blessings in multitudinous forms upon all those who have attached themselves, their own identity to that of the Messenger of Allah of their times.

Sunday, January 18, 2015

Parental Responsibilities

Nowadays parents are teaching their children a lot on only the material aspect of education. They make all necessary preparations in this field ever since the birth of their children. Here, in Mauritius, we see children being admitted to pre-primary schools at around 3 years old, and when they reach their 5 years old, they go to primary school, then secondary, and finally to university, be it locally or they are sent abroad (to pursue their studies). Parents are ready to make debts so that their offspring study to obtain a degree or diploma. They readily invest a lot of money to secure his (material) future. They are even ready to mortgage their houses, lands to make their children succeed in their advanced studies and become doctors, engineers or lawyers etc., and they do it all with much pride.

All these endeavours are very good, I am not condemning this, but you (parents) should not look at only the material aspect of your children’s education. When you do so, you let this world attract you more so that you may get acclamations in society as the parent/s of such doctor, lawyer etc; and, this despite being overloaded with debts which you contracted to make him/her reach this level of mundane success. And, this despite the fact that there is no guarantee that he/she is grateful to you for the sacrifices done to make him/her get his/her diploma; he may as well neglect you and cast you aside. Or, despite the efforts made, even if your child succeed in becoming a doctor, engineer, lawyer etc., but at the end of the day he is null in Deen (religious) matters. All in all, it is a serious matter for you as parents if all this does not affect you the least.

The neglect of Deen

If your child turned out to be ungrateful and/or disconnected with religion after having obtained his degree as a doctor, or lawyer, and he does not pray Salat/Namaz, neglect the reading of the Holy Qur'an and is not at all attached to the religion of Islam, does this not bring a regret in your heart? Does this not affect you if he is Muslim only in name? Then, who is responsible for this state of affairs? This makes you go back in time to see whether you have given him some teachings of the religion of Islam (and how much of it). If ever you actually gave him some training in Deen (religious) matters, then bear in mind that this is not restricted to only a little practice of Namaz (obligatory prayers) – even then, even if prayer is not done in time – or a little reading of the Holy Quran – whenever he gets the time to do so! Despite a little practice of Namaz (Salat) and Qur'an reading, bear in mind that your child has not obtained all Islamic teachings!

Saturday, August 24, 2013

The Islamic Veil: Ethics and Prudence

Continuing the series of sermons on women’s struggle for dignity, identity and equality in society and the larger Islamic teachings that provide a framework to address these complex questions, in his Friday Sermon of 23 August 2013, the Khalifatullah Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Sahib (atba) of Mauritius provides illuminating guidance on the ethics and prudence of the Islamic veil as a moral choice for women (and men). 

Read the Extracts from the Friday Sermon:

O children of Adam! We have indeed bestowed upon you clothing to conceal your private parts and as adornment.” (7: 27).

 “O Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to bring down over themselves (part) of their outer garments. This is the best way for them to be recognized and not be abused. And Allah is really Most-Forgiving and Most-Merciful.” (33: 60)

 “And tell the believing women to lower their gaze, and protect their private parts and not to show off their adornment...” (24: 32)


The ISLAMIC VEIL has always been the subject of debate in several countries which is said to be modern with liberal thoughts. The West and countries adopting European cultures around the world see the Muslim woman as a prisoner and without having any dignity, just by the way they dress, the way they cover themselves from head to toe.

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

‘A Pious Mother is Priceless’

Commodification of culture has become a rampant phenomenon in our times. It has pervaded almost all of our social institutions including family and religions.  Commercial interests are thus, increasingly driving and shaping the people’s latent cultural consciousness and traditional values and practices by promoting “combo-packages” and “special offers” on ‘festival’ occasions. Thus, it has become a ‘trend’ of our times- to commemorate/ celebrate a particular day in the year for various otherwise worthy causes and events. Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Children’s Day, Family Day, etc. are illustrative examples.  In his Friday Sermon of May 24, 2013 Khalifatullah Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Sahib (atba) of Mauritius took note of these contemporary trends in the context of the recent celebration of Mother’s Day in Mauritius and elsewhere. While rejecting such commercially-induced and market (and debt) - driven practices which trivialises our sense of who we are, the Khalifatullah (atba) underscores the importance of parents and especially the mother in the social engineering and nation-building process.  

In an age in which the rights of the elderly parents are being disrespected by their own children and the old people are increasingly staring at a bleak and un-cared future, nation after nation is forced to bring in legislations and other protective, welfare measures to ensure the human and fundamental rights of the elderly. Islam offers an august space and status to the mother and exhorts Muslim children to be grateful for their parents’ selfless sacrifices and redeem the debt they owe when they grow up and their parents need them the most. Islamic teachings and normative expectations are a signpost for Muslims in fulfilling their spiritual and moral responsibilities, points out the Khalifatullah.

Read the Extracts from the Friday Sermon:

“We have enjoined on man (to be good) to his parents: in travail upon travail did his mother bear him.” (31:15)

Saturday, May 11, 2013

The Culture of Indecency and the Sexual Crimes


In the context of rising incidences of violence against women and other sex-related crimes, including rape and killings, the prevailing culture of indecency and the commodification of women’s body are at the center of the debate. Indeed, the connections are hard to miss except for those who are happy to fool themselves. In the name of western values and woman’s freedoms, technology and innovation, fashion and aesthetics, the weeds of immorality and indecency have been allowed to grow and thrive unchecked in media and the public sphere. So much so that the new culture of indecency is striking at the very roots of the societal health. The indecent representation of women in popular culture and social media, in television and over internet, the easy access to pornographic materials- all these are leading to the incitement to evil and more evil.

In his Friday Sermon of May 03, 2013 the Khalifatullah Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Sahib (atba) of Mauritius drew attention to the rising instances of rape and other violence against women in Mauritius and elsewhere. Instead of protecting the honour and dignity of women, the social culture of our times, exploit and dishonour them and degrade their status. The dehumanization of this culture of indecency is so complete that animal passions have blinded the perpetrators to the horrific and brutal nature of their crimes. Indecency has become so pervasive and percolated down to the very edifice of family that, as the Khalifatullah (atba) notes in the Friday Sermon, many of the old women victims have their perpetrators in their own families and close relations. While the recent instances of rape and other sexual crimes in Mauritius only confirm the predictions and warnings clearly made by the Khalifatullah (atba) in his end- of- the- year- 2012 speech, one can only hope and pray that better sense will prevail and that the people will move away from the brink of disaster.

Read the Extracts from the Friday Sermon: