Securing the Future of the World

The Future of our Planet

Earlier this week, on 22 April 2019 there was the International Mother Earth Day which commemorates the Earth and all the riches it has brought us through the sheer grace of God Almighty. It comes as a reminder that the Earth is in danger that we all humans have the absolute duty to protect it, each at our level!

Indeed, nature is a gift of God given to mankind to enable each and every individual lead a joyful, prosperous and peaceful life. However, the greed of people and/ or nations to accumulate wealth by all means, coupled by superfluous consumption has prevented them to make a judicious use of the free natural resources at their disposal and has put humanity in the situation it is in today.

Never before has the human race found him to be so uncomfortable, so insecure and so uncertain about the future. Calamities like flood, drought, tsunami, earthquake, tornado, fire, smoke....(Like on Monday 15 April 2019 in Paris where part of one of the largest cathedrals of France and the world, Notre Dame de Paris burned in a fire. France and the Christian world in general have witnessed the destruction of one of their biggest symbols - gone up in smoke!...)

And also intense heat and cold in every nook and corner of the world and occurring even in odd seasons and in unexpected places, are taking everyone by surprise. Disaster of such dimension never occurred before. Many experts say that such changes (i.e. climate change), brought by the hands of man itself have destroyed the ozone layer protecting our Earth, thus causing global warming and bringing in its wake many other calamities. Such natural calamities as they are termed by man have transformed into divine reminders for them to change their evil ways and to embrace a righteous way of life.

God Almighty says in the Holy Quran: “Calamities have appeared on land and sea because of what the hands of the people have earned, so that He (Allah) makes them taste some of what they did, in order that they may return (to the right way).” (Ar-Rum 30: 42).

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. 

A ‘Ta’lim Majlis’ at Mathra

Siraj Makin, the women’s collective of the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam, South Kerala (India) organized a Two-Day Ta’lim Majlis (Divinity Study Programme) for the benefit of its members at the historic Noor'ul Islam Masjid, Mathra on Friday & Saturday, 19- 20 April 2019 ~ 12-13 Shabaan 1440 AH. Members of the Jamaat from different places across the State- Palakkad, Karunagappally, Kaliyikkavila, etc.- planned and reached at the Masjid well ahead of the Programme so as to participate also in the Friday Jumu'ah Namaz at the Masjid, Alhamdulillah. The Ta’lim Majlis essentially sought to build upon the earlier initiative of the Siraj Makin- the programme of 09 February 2019- to keep the members aware of the Deeni Ta’lim, and to provide them an opportunity for collective learning.

Brothers who were present on the occasion include Muhammad Sabir Saheb of Palakkad; DA Zainul Abdeen Saheb of Karunagappally; Sulfikar Ali Saheb; Na'ib Amir/Jamaat Sadiq Ali Saheb; Zachariah Ibn Zain, Munir Ahmad Azim (Jr.), etc. Mukarram Amir/Jamaat Janab Jamaluddin Raother Saheb led the study programmes/ common sessions.

The Ta’lim/ Tarbiyyat meeting took place in three different sessions through the day: morning, afternoon and evening. Na'ib Sadr Fauzia Jamal- Zain saheba led the study sessions. Rajeena Sadiq Ali saheba, Sofiya Beevi saheba, Mubeena Sabir saheba, Fa-e-zah Maryam Zain and Arshana Sabir participated actively in the various programmes: Tilawat-ul-Qur'an, Nazm recitation, speeches on Qur'an themes as well as topics from Ahadith, etc. Each one of the participating members took charge of different responsibilities entailed by the collective living at the Masjid premises for two days: Registration, reception, food, purchase, programming and scheduling, documentation and reporting, etc.

'Shabaan': Marking 'Shab-e-Baraat'

The Month of Shabaan

Like you are aware, we are in the month of Shabaan and this is the second Friday Sermon that I am doing during this month, and so I chose Shabaan and its importance as subject of my sermon for today.

Shabaan is the eighth month of the Islamic calendar. And after the month of Shabaan, we have the blessed month of Ramadan. Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) gave Shabaan all its importance.

On the authority of Hazrat Aisha (ra), “The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) used to fast till one would say that he would never stop fasting, and he would abandon fasting till one would say that he would never fast. I never saw Allah’s Apostle fasting for a whole month except the month of Ramadan, and did not see him fasting in any month more than in the month of Shabaan.” (Bukhari and Muslim)

In another Hadith on the authority of Usama Ibn Zayd (ra), he reported asking the Messenger of Allah (pbuh): ‘O Messenger of Allah, I do not see you fasting during any month as much as you do in Shabaan.’ He said: “That is a month to which people do not pay much attention, which is found between Rajab and Ramadan. It is a month in which the deeds are taken up to the Lord of the worlds, and I like that my deeds be taken up when I am fasting.” (An-Nasa’i).

We learn from these Hadiths that the Holy Prophet (pbuh) used to maximize this month in acts of worship. Through him, through his Sunnah, we have learned that our actions are presented to Allah, and therefore we must do our utmost best to make sure that Allah accepts our good deeds and forgives us our sins and mistakes. And Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) had such a deep love for Allah that he used to sacrifice himself a lot for Him so that Allah would be pleased with him.