A Warning to Nasir Ahmad Sultani

Nasir Ahmad Sultani, the founder of Jama’at Ahmadiyya (Haqiqi) claims that Allah Almighty has appointed him as Mujaddid for 15th century of Islamic calendar on March 31st 2011. His group and he himself had been claiming as their “speciality” that he “has live contact with Allah Almighty” and that no other religious leader of this age can compete with him in this. 

In recent comments published at the official Blog of the Lahore Ahmadiyya Movement on October 19, 2011, Sultani Sahib made sweeping statements: 

“Live contact with Allah Almighty is the main objective of a religion. Every religion and nowadays Islam must provide opportunity to connect people to their Creator. But there was none. I have searched and challenged all over the world. There is none of the followers of Islam who has his own presentable live connection with Allah Almighty.

There are some people who are claiming. But if you see minutely, you will know easily that they are not on the right path. Like Munir A. Azim sb., A. Ghaffar Janba sb. and Zafarullah D. sb. These claimants are not believers of Khatm-e-Nabuwat. They think that Khalifas of Mirza Mahmood sb. are true Khlifas although Janba sb. has some disagreement. Munir sb. thinks that Mirza Mahmood sb. was Musleh Maud. Munir sb. is claimant of Ummati Nabi as well…”

In his Friday Sermon of October 28, 2011 the Khalifatullah Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Sahib of Mauritius has taken serious note of these statements of a claimant to an august office who has no qualms about judging the faith of others. Hadhrat Sahib noted:

“You are labelling this humble self as false, that I am not a Muslim. Have you got the patent to judge the faith of others? Nabi Kareem (sa) himself did not possess the patent to judge the faith of others, so then who do you think you are?

You are trying to extinguish the Light of Allah with your mouth, but let me tell you that Allah Almighty shall persist to perfect His Light, even if this is not to your liking (despite your recriminations). It is Allah alone who has sent His Caliph (Khalifatullah) with guidance and the religion of truth, to make it shine over all other religions and even over your Jamaat, even if it this does not please you at all.

Bibi Momin Azim Sahiba

In view of the extraordinary interest of people, we continue the series on the family background of the Khalifatullah Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim (aba) of Mauritius. In the first part in the series, published here at the Sahih Al Islam Blog on October 24, 2011, we have featured an account about the life of the father of the Khalifatullah Marhoom Hadhrat Solim Azim Sahib. This second part contains an extract from a recent book providing an account about the life of the respected mother of the Khalifatullah- Bibi Momin Azim Sahiba.

Bibi Momin Azim (the eldest daughter of Hazrat Isoop Sahib and Madina Sahiba), the mother of the Khalifatullah Munir Ahmad Azim (aba) who is presently 83 years old, by the grace of Allah is a pious lady very much attached to Allah. She is frequently recipient of true dreams; such dreams which foretell of events to come. She also very often sees angels of Allah showing and telling her the glorious status to which Allah has elevated her beloved son, Munir Ahmad Azim. Her duas are very often accepted by Allah to such a point that whenever she prays for someone, Allah relieves that person, and whenever she is angry with someone (who is not conforming to the teachings of Islam), then Allah also does not delay in giving punishment in the aftermath of her warning.

Munir A. Azim Sahib: Family Background

Hundreds of thousands of men of God and His Messengers have passed away in history. Most of them lived among the common people, preached the message of Tauhid, in a language the people could understand and relate to. Invariably, the Messengers used to say: ‘I am only a man like yourselves; but I have received the revelation that your God is only One God. So let him who hopes to meet his Lord do good deeds, and let him join no one in the worship of his Lord’.  (HQ, 18:111)

The followers of the Promised Massih Hadhrat Ahmad (as) used to consider that Allah never leaves aside the requirements of Deen-i-Islam and would raise-up His Messengers to call the people back to the path of Allah whenever faith degenerates in society, just as had been His practice in the past. All praise belongs to the Almighty Alone. Today, at a time when the land and the sea are both corrupted materially and spiritually, we have a Messenger of Allah among ourselves, who fits the Qur’anic descriptions of Divine Messengers, word by word, phrase by phrase!

Now the same Jamaat-e- Ahmadiyya has changed doctrines and adopted an official policy that Allah cannot raise a common Ahmadi with a Divine Mission to rectify the creeping mistakes and blunders within! Surely, no people can be fooled by the official system for long. Those who make an independent study of the claims and doctrines of the Promised Massih (as) and his prophecies regarding the future of the Jamaat cannot condone what they see- Ahmadis now venerate their man-elected Khalifa by elevating him to the august status of an Elect of Allah. 

SALAT and Divine Communion

In his Friday Sermon of October 21, 2011 Khalifatullah Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Sahib continued the subject of Islamic prayer and reflected upon the psychological benefits of Salat. 

Beyond the psychological benefits to the human body and mind, Salat offers the real possibility of expressing the true yearning of the human heart and soul to reach the Divine presence, points out the Chosen Messenger of our times. 

Read the extracts from the Sermon:

Allah has said:

“Whoever shows enmity to a friend (servant) of Mine, I shall be at war with him. My servant does not draw near to Me with anything more loved by Me than the religions duties I have imposed upon him, and My servant continues to draw near me with Nawafil so that I shall love him. When I love him I am his hearing with which he hears: his seeing with which he sees, his hand with which he strikes, and his foot with which he walks. Were he to ask something of Me, I would surely give it to him. And were he to ask refuge, I would surely grant it to him.” (Bukhari)

What is implicit in this Hadith is that man can transcend the space time barrier and acquire the attributes of divinity, to control his entire environment. This means that he can, by following the Sunna, insures both physical and mental health not only for himself but will also effect changes in his environment. This is the meaning of the successes of all Muslims and the source of their dynamism.

Prayer said with utmost humility and tenderness of heart becomes special prayers, just like a suckling who cannot speak can attain utmost kindness of the mother by weeping, in the same manner the Duah with tears and utmost humility is the most effective way to communicate with God.

There has been sent down an extremely effective, healing and beneficial medicine, from the heaven of mercy. It is easily available in one sense, but rare in another. It appears to be common, but is the most special. It is beyond our description and praise, because it is universal remedy for thousands of diseases. Such a miraculous medicine is Salat, and duah. Prayer is the yearning of the heart to be one with the Creator and an invocation for His blessings.

SALAT : A Healing Balm for the Bruised Soul

In his Friday Sermon of October 21, 2011 Khalifatullah Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Sahib continued the subject of Islamic prayer and reflected upon the psychological benefits of Salat. Drawing upon the latest trends in psychiatry and the treatment of mental illnesses, Hadhrat Khalifatullah sketches down the ways in which recourse to Salat and its postures would be beneficial. 

Read the extracts from the Sermon:

“A good doctor will utilise the three aspects of therapy to effect a cure:

 (1) Drugs, to actually combat the illness or relieve pain.

 (2) Food to strengthen the defences of the body and,

 (3) Fear, hope, joy or grief are emotions which the doctor should evoke by counselling the patient to conquer his illness.

If a man is engaged in worship, he will feel apprehension, fear and hope, nervousness and love. And when he takes thought of the next life, he will strengthen the faculties, delight the heart and drive away disease by this very means.

The latest trends in psychiatry, both in causation and therapy, postulate a biochemical basis for mental illness. Salat and indeed Zakat can produce mental changes and even psychotic behaviour has been determined most positively. The converse would also apply. The latest trends in psychiatry regarding the causation of depressions and even Neuroses as well as psychoses reveal that anti-Sunna behaviour is implicated. 


This anti-Sunna activity ranges from error in diet to faulty nutrition (Example, lack of Nicotinic Acid Vitamins etc. causes dementia) and to anti-social activity like isolation, lack of social companionship and lack of orientation. All these factors which represent in the various aspects of Salat, (whereby Salat in congregation leads to a fostering of brotherly feelings and companionship) can prevent mental illness. 

Worship in Islam: Three Elements

In his Friday Sermon of October 14, 2011 Khalifatullah Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Sahib of Mauritius explains the spiritual purpose of Creation- the worship of the Almighty Allah-by looking at the deep meaning of the various elements and postures involved in the Islamic prayer- Azaan, Wudu and Salat. 

The unique character of the Islamic call to prayer- Azaan, the external purifying impact of Wudu for active and awakened participation in worship and the spiritual and physical benefits that arise out of performing the Salat through its various prescribed postures are explained in the sermon. The Khalifatullah offers illuminating insights on the structural design of human personality and the benefits it may derive by engaging in Salat. 

Read the extracts from the Sermon:

Allah says in the Holy Quran: 

“I have only created Jinns and men, that they may worship Me.” (51: 57). The purpose of creation, according to the Quran in Surah Az-Zariyat (51:57), is but that of worship, and the Salat is the most important worship in Islam. There are three elements to worship in Islam:

(i)                 the preparation or call (Azaan).

(ii)               The purification or Wudu and

(iii)             Salat, the prayer itself.

Each of these elements coalesce and overlap and no exact demarcation is possible, as the Azaan proclaims: Come to prosperity, while the Salat itself is described in Surah Ash-Shams (91: 10) – Those who purity their souls will make progress.

Azaan is the unique call among all religions in that it does not consists of tolling bells or the sounds of the Shofar (Jewish horn) or trumpet. The Azaan proclaims in a language which everyone can comprehend, the cardinal principles of Islam, the witnessing of the existence of one sole God, and the apostleship of Muhammad (peace be upon him).

This beautiful call echoing in the early dawn, which requires repetition after the Muezzin according to the Sunna, evokes far greater reaction than the musical tones of the bell or trumpet which requires an aptitude for musical perception, something not granted to all. The tolling of mournful bells or fear-instilling blasts of the trumpet represent a wrathful divinity compared to the Beneficent and Merciful God of Islam; calling people to progress and prosperity both in this world and the next.

This is the reason for the repetition of the words: Come to prosperity and come to prayer, each call signifying the separate worlds of existence. The early morning call signifies the awakening of the inner soul of all. Creation as is proved by the wakening of all nature, the lifting of darkness, the chirping of the birds and the emergence of the radiating fingers of sunshine.

Dreams and New Bai’ats in Kerala

Whenever a Khalifa of Allah appears, angels descent with him and they will guide eager hearts to the recognition of the Divine Manifestation. This subtle and profound spiritual reality was articulated and confirmed by the Promised Massih Hadhrat Ahmad (as) himself. Today, we are witnessing the fulfillment of this eternal Divine Law through the lived experiences of common believers in Mauritius, in India and elsewhere who have recognized Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Sahib as the Chosen Messenger of Allah of this era.

The Promised Massih (as) writes:

“Let it be known that it is the established custom of Allah that whenever a Messenger, a Prophet or an appointed recipient of Divine Revelation is sent for the reformation of mankind, it becomes imperative that he is accompanied by such angels who instill guidance in all loving hearts. They induce the hearts towards goodness.  They continue to descend until the darkness of profanity and corruption gives way to the break of the dawn of faith and truthfulness. The Almighty God says:

“The angels and the Spirit descend upon them by the command of their Lord with their Lord’s decrees concerning every matter. It is all peace, till the break of the dawn”. (Surah Al Qadr, 97:5-6).

So the appearance of the angels and the Holy Spirit only takes place at the advent of a person of distinction, who is dressed in the garb of Khilafat and honored with a direct communion with God. This Khalifa is specially gifted with the Holy Spirit and the angels in attendance are deputed to descend on all pious hearts. The reflection of this heavenly glow falls on people of receptive talent, and consequently the whole world is engulfed in the dazzle of this intense light.      

As a result of the noble influence of the angels, the hearts of such people are voluntarily inclined towards virtuous thoughts and are thus charmed by the concept of the Unity of God. Upright hearts are charged with the inclination towards the search of truth. The spiritually frail are granted fortitude. Everywhere a breeze begins to blow which is supportive to the objectives of the Mujaddid. An invisible hand is beckoning humanity so that they of themselves are hastening towards that reform which will bring out the best of their talents. Mankind is in a state of agitation and stir in anticipation of what is to come.

At that juncture, the ignorant contemplates that the world has taken a turn for the better, all by itself. Indeed, this reformation is the result of the efforts of those angels    who appear along with the Khalifa of Allah (Khalifa-tullah) and confer extraordinary powers upon people to understand and accept the Truth. They awaken the masses from their slumber, alert the careless, grant hearing to the deaf, quicken the dead and raise the entombed out of their graves. Then, people suddenly begin to open their eyes and those issues that were, until this time, concealed from their hearts begin to unravel. In reality, these angels are not different from this Khalifa of Allah (Khalifa-tullah). They are indeed a reflection of the Divine illumination on his face and manifestations of his endurance towards his mission. Such a person may be physically distant or nigh, he may be an acquaintance or totally alien, yet all are attracted with a magnetic force provided the capacity of reformation is present in them….”

For more information , see: 

 http://sahih-al-islam.blogspot.com/2011/03/descent-of-holy-spirit-in-time-of.html

As eloquently confirmed by the Promised Massih (as), angels guide the truth seekers in the time of a Khalifatullah. Today, in this new century of Islam and Ahmadiyyat, we are witnessing extraordinary testimonials in favour of the Divine Manifestation in Mauritius; People in distant lands are virtually being guided by signs and dreams. It is astonishing to hear about the dreams and signs of the believers in the era of the new Divine Manifestation. 

Justice: Games Ahmadis Play

Respect for principles of natural justice and rule of law is a basic feature of even mundane legal systems that administer justice among people. [Inset: Statue of Lady Justice, by F. W. Pomeroy on top of the Old Bailey Central Criminal Court in London, England- She carries a sword and scales but is not blindfolded].

In all such systems, the following fundamental principles are central elements:

     1)      No one shall be a judge in his own cause.

     2)      No one shall be condemned unheard.

   3)  To ensure substantive justice, procedural fairness shall be adhered to.

Now, all of us know that justice is among the foremost Islamic values. And, Ahmadis claim to be the inheritors of the finest Islamic traditions. In any case, they swear by Islamic values of the highest order, including JUSTICE. But, then, the question is this: How do they do when it comes to the Administration of Justice?

What kind of justice does the Administration provide when they have to deal with issues that arise within the Community? How far does the system accommodate notions of fairness, transparency, objectivity and accountability within its power structures so as to ensure justice for its common members? Do common Ahmadis gain justice when they approach the Khulafa with the troubles they have with their leaders?

The plain fact is that injustice breeds and thrives under the Ahmadiyya system today. The system originally built on the foundations of implicit faith and trust of those who work under it has, time and again, been abused by vested interests operating under the mask of obedience to leadership and much injustice is flowing through the contaminated waters of the present Khilafat system and common Ahmadis are suffering due to the excesses of the administrators. There is a clearly perceived need to radically rethink the current premises of administration of justice within the Ahmadiyya Community in the light of the following Qur’anic verse:

“O David, We have made you a vicegerent on earth; so judge between men with justice, and follow not vain desire, lest it should lead you astray from the way of Allah. Surely, those who go astray from the way of Allah, will have a severe punishment, because they forgot the Day of Reckoning.” (38 : 27)

In an Open Letter written on February 20, 2011 and addressed to the current head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Mirza Masroor Ahmad Sahib, the Khalifatullah Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Sahib of Mauritius profoundly analyzed this question. The Messenger of Allah of our times- the Khalifatullah- describes justice as from the very “blood” of Allah. He points out that Allah detests unfairness among his creatures-be it in the Heavens or in the Earth. Pointing to the how and why of the decline in justice-oriented administrative values in the Ahmadiyya Community today, the Khalifatullah provides a profound explanation for the magnificent Will of Allah working behind the current Divine Manifestation.  

Read from the Extracts of the Letter:

‘Knowledge cannot guarantee Guidance’

It is a great spiritual irony that knowledge and divine guidance may not always intersect. In fact, they may diverge on most occasions if we go by the distilled wisdom of spiritual history. 

Whenever a Messenger of Allah appears, it is the priestly class of apparently-learned- men who opposes and rejects him. On the one hand, the Islamic tradition venerates and privileges knowledge and wisdom. Yet, on the other hand, it warns believers to be wary of scholars and the priestly class when they deviate from the Divine Path despite the knowledge they otherwise seem to possess. 

In his Friday Sermon of September 30, 2011 the Khalifatullah Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Sahib of Mauritius reflected on this profound theme. Read from the Extracts of the Sermon:      

“The example of those who were entrusted with the Torah and then did not take it on is like that of a donkey that carries volumes (of books). Wretched is the example of the people who deny the revelations of Allah. And Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people.” (62: 6)

Knowledge cannot guarantee guidance. It implies that guidance does not depend on knowledge but it is in the power of Allah Almighty. The Quranic verse above condemns those Mullahs who have gone astray.

“And had We willed We could have raised him with Our signs; but he clung to the earth and followed his own vain desires. His similitude is that of a dog: if you attack him, he sticks out his tongue, or if you leave him alone, he (still) sticks out his tongue. That is the similitude of those who reject Our signs; So relate the story; perhaps they may reflect.” (7: 177)

There are many other verses and sayings of the Holy Prophet (sa) on this theme. The subject is so crucial that according to one Hadith, the angels of hell will get hold of these insolent Mullahs even before the idolaters. These so-called Mullahs will protest, wondering why they are being dealt with before the worshippers of the idols. The divine answer shall be:

“Is one who is devoutly obedient during periods of the night, prostrating and standing [in prayer], fearing the Hereafter and hoping for the mercy of his Lord, [like one who does not]? Say, “Are those who know equal to those who do not know?” Only they will remember [who are] people of understanding.” (39: 10)

ABORTION: Crime against Humanity

On September 27, 2011 LE MAURICIEN Newspaper of Mauritius, carried an article by the Khalifatullah Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Sahib on the issue of Abortion. In the article, Hadhrat Sahib reflects upon the sanctity of human life- recognized and affirmed by the scriptures of all religions. He describes the practice of abortion (unless under exceptional contingencies) as the very taking away of a   precious human life and as such, a crime against humanity. We are reproducing the article below for the benefit of all].

The Holy Quran says: “Take not life which God has made sacred.” (6:151)

Abortion is essentially the extermination of an unborn innocent life. Almighty God condemns such a heinous practice and His abhorrence for such an act is found not only in the Holy Quran but also in the various other sacred books, like the Gospel, Puranas, and Vedas, etc. In the Quran, God says:

“We ordained… that if anyone killed a person not in retaliation for murder or for spreading mischief on earth, it would be as if he killed all mankind. And who so saved a life, it would be as if he saved all mankind.” (5:33)

Nowadays there are lots of cases of abortion being practised in secret. Abortion in itself is a crime against humanity. Indeed it is a crime which governments of the world are trying to legalise. Some countries have already legalised this crime, while others, like Mauritius are trying to legalise it – which means: making a crime become legal and open! Does making a crime become legal going to resolve the major issues which the human society has to tackle or is it going to definitely aggravate the situation, by encouraging liberal sex and thereafter an increase in unwanted pregnancies which result in abortion?

In the Bible, we can read:  “Be fruitful and multiply.” (Genesis 1:28).

“If men strive, and hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit depart from her, and yet no mischief follows: he shall be surely punished, according as the woman's husband will lay upon him; and he shall pay as the judges determine. And if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.” (Exodus 21: 22-25)

“Sons are a heritage from the Lord, children a reward from Him.” (Psalms 127:3)

A “Severe Warning” to an Ahmadi Maulana

How to prevent common Ahmadis from recognizing the Messenger of Allah of our times? That is the ‘concern’ troubling the minds of the Ahmadiyya leadership in Kerala today!

That Allah the Most High has sent a Messenger of His in order to revive Islam and to revitalise the faith of the Muslims (including Ahmadis) in this Era has come as a shocker to the mundane plans of the contemporary establishment in the Ahmadiyya Jamaat. The leadership in Kerala is thus deploying all plausible methods and means available at their disposal for the execution of this nefarious objective- to keep people away from the sublime message of Allah’s Messenger.

In the true Orwellian fashion, with the objective of discrediting the Divine Plan in the eyes of its common members, the Ahmadi leadership arrogantly and contemptuously describes the Divine Manifestation in Mauritius as the “Fitna” (Allah forbid) of our times! Had it not been for the tragic irony and grave doctrinal mistakes of the so-said inheritors of the teachings of Hadhrat Ahmad (as), these ludicrous pronouncements of the leadership could have been dismissed as the venality and survival tactics of a decadent elite trembling at the bleak prospect of its spiritual irrelevance.

Spiritual history tells us that God’s Messengers have generally been constrained to confront such forces whenever they appear and seek to point attention to Divine message and correct doctrinal mistakes of people. It is no accident, then, that the Khalifatullah Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Sahib of Mauritius has repeatedly counselled Ahmadi leaders to desist from their campaign of slander and vilification that they seem to relish against the Divine Manifestation. At a time when the Ahmadi leaders in Kerala deluded themselves of being capable of putting out the light of Allah shining forth in Mauritius, there came the stunning challenge of Mubahala from the Massih of Allah against no less a leader in stature than Maulvi Muhammad Ismail Sahib [ Inset: the Maulana with the Fifth Khalifa (c): Al Islam website]. 

For the Mubahala Challenge, see:   
         
http://sahih-al-islam.blogspot.com/2011/04/mubahala-challenge-to-ahmadi-maulana.html

In the aftermath of the Mubahala challenge declared by the Elect of Allah, the Ahmadi leadership strategically withdrew the impugned Maulana from the battle-front. As the Maulana was cooling his heels at home with those who sit at home, they advanced another pawn, Maulvi Mahmud Ahmad Sahib. The Maulana, in a desperate attempt to influence and deviate Ahmadis who are carefully studying the Divine Manifestation in Mauritius, is travelling around the State.

In his Friday Sermon of September 16, 2011 Hadhrat Khalifatullah Munir Ahmad Azim Sahib has taken serious note of the activities of Maulvi Mahmud Ahmad Sahib of Kerala and has issued a “clear warning” to desist from playing with fire- waging war against the Light of Allah- or be ready to face a “great humiliation” coming his way. Read the Extracts from the sermon:

‘He who knows his self knows his Lord’

In his Friday Sermon of September 16, 2011 the Khalifatullah Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Sahib profoundly reflected on the spiritual significance of attaining true self knowledge. The human self is capable of transcending its earthly moorings by contemplating the Spirit of God. Through a deeper awareness about the human condition in an ultimately transient world, true believers find the “face” of Allah in every situation they encounter in life.  

Read from the extracts:

The “people of the truth” fall into two categories. Those of the first get married, have children, houses, crops, but their hearts are not attached to these duties, which are not veils for them (which can hinder them from the contemplation of God) ... They no longer see themselves, but only God, Sublime and Exalted, because for the “people of the truth”, the being of the world is the Being of God; in reality, everything comes from Him.

The second category of “people of the truth” always love God, and are consumed by the love of God and the knowledge of God in His essential unity, and they know their self and they destroy it (their ego) and affirm the unity of their self and God, they retain their self, and they are destroyed in their self, and they remain in their self and they hate what occurs outside their self, and love the hidden interiority of their self, and they despise their self because the Messenger of Allah (sa) said:   “He who knows his self knows his Lord” ["Ma’n ara’ a nafsahu faqad ara’fa rab’bahu"].

This is also one of the revelations which I received at the beginning of the Divine Manifestation, whereby God taught me His wonders, that I may become even closer to Him, and that I trust Him, by knowing myself profoundly…

Moreover, when they attach their vision “outside” of their ego, whatever the thing they see, it is their self which they see, and what they contemplate is their self, because for the “people of the truth” the world and their self are one and the same thing; what they see, it's verily their self which they see. Like the Messenger of Allah (sa) said:  “I saw my Lord through the (merciful) eye of my Lord.”

This is also one of the revelations which I received from Allah at the beginning of the Divine manifestation along with the revelation: He who knows his self knows his Lord.

Are We Really Muslims?

'We have heard of part-time job, part-time teachers, etc. Now, there is a new trend called part-time Muslim. 

As the name itself suggests, the part-time Muslim is one who practices Islam only at specific times or at certain places and this is increasing extensively. Some examples are the Mussalli who prays five times a day but in his daily business dealings, he cheats his customers by giving them defect articles. Or there is the sister who wears Hijab (veil) only when going to a Mayyat (funeral) but dresses exactly like the Bollywood actresses during a wedding. 

Where are we going, O Muslims? Is this the true notion of Islam – complete submission to Allah’s commands whatever the circumstance as Allah (swt) says in the following verses:

 

'O you who believe! Enter perfectly in Islam and do not follow the footsteps of Satan. Verily! He is to you a plain enemy.' (2:209)

ZAKAT: A Pillar of Islam

In his Friday sermon of August 26, 2011 Khalifatullah Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Sahib of Mauritius reflected on the spiritual significance of Zakat.

Read from the Extracts:

“Zakat is an obligatory act of charity enjoined on every eligible Muslim individual. It is an act of worship and an effective form of achieving social justice. It is one of the five pillars of Islam and is prescribed in the Quran and Hadith.

The root of the word Zakat in Arabic means blessing, growth, cleanliness or betterment. In Shariah, the word Zakat refers to the determined share of wealth prescribed by Allah to be distributed among the categories of those entitled to receive it. It is also used to mean the action of paying this share. Growth and cleanliness are not restricted to the assets from which Zakat has been taken, but affect the person who pays Zakat, in accordance with verse 104 of Surah 9 (At-Tauba).

“Take Sadaqa (Zakat) from their wealth to purify and cleanse them.”

Zakat, as known in the Shariah, is sometimes called Sadaqa. In fact, Sadaqa covers both Zakat and voluntary charity for any righteous purpose. In the later history of Islam, Sadaqa was used to mean voluntary charitable donations given to the destitute.

Zakat is an act of worship that purifies a Muslim’s wealth and soul. Wealth purification denotes the Mobilisation of assets for the purpose of financial growth and justified distribution. Purification of the soul implies the freedom from hatred, jealousy, selfishness and greed.

Technically, Zakat is a yearly fixed proportion taken from the surplus wealth and earnings of a Muslim. It is then distributed to prescribed beneficiaries for the welfare of the Muslim society. It is paid on the net balance after a Muslim has deducted his expenses on personal, family and other necessities. At the end of the year, if he or she is in possession of the equivalent of 85 grams of gold or more in cash or articles of trade, he or she must pay Zakat at the rate of 2.5%. It also applies to agricultural products and to livestock.

In the Holy Quran, the term Zakat is mentioned in several verses. It occurs thirty times in the Quran; in twenty-seven of them it is associated with Salat, prayer, in the same sequence, namely, those who are steadfast in their prayer … and those who actively pay Zakat.

Blessings of 'Lailat-ul-Qadr'

On August 25, 2011 LE MAURICIEN Newspaper, which is published from the Mauritius, carried an article by the Khalifatullah Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Sahib on the extraordinary spiritual phenomenon known as Lailat-ul-Qadr (the Night of Decree). In the article, Hadhrat Sahib reflects upon the Divine Grace and Mercy in the last 10 days of the Holy Month of Ramadan available to the believers who engage in fasting and other acts of worship only for the sake of Allah, the Most High. We are reproducing below the article here for the benefit of all].

The Holy Quran describes one of the greatest and most beautiful night as thus:“Indeed, We sent the Qur’an down during the Night of Decree. And what can make you know what is the Night of Decree? The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months. The angels and the Spirit descend therein by permission of their Lord for every matter. Peace it is until the emergence of dawn.” (Al-Qadr 97: 2-6)

After having completed twenty days of fasting during this blessed month, the believer feels the deep connection between him and his Lord. He is altogether satisfied that he succeeded in fulfilling the commands of his Lord, of sacrificing many aspects of his life, all for the pleasure of his Creator. This sense of achievement is a boost for him to strive further to make the best of these remaining days when Ramadan will go away, leaving a big vacuum in his life. Like I have so many times said, Ramadan is a month of training; such a month in which he prefers to indulge in seeking the pleasure of God through numerous forms of acts of worship, to seek God’s forgiveness and His protection against Hell-fire.

The Mother of the Believers, Lady Aisha (May Allah be pleased with her), the noble wife of the Holy Prophet of Islam (peace be upon him) narrated: “Allah’s Apostle used to practice  Itikaf (spiritual retreat) in the last ten nights of Ramadan and used to say, “Look for the Night of Qadr (Decree) in the last ten nights of the month of Ramadan.” The last ten days of Ramadan, the month of fasting in Islam is also time for repentance of an exquisite aura.