The Human Heart and Spirituality

The human heart is the seat of all human emotions. A heart that is full of evil emotions and thoughts is but a favourite place for Satan. Satan takes residence in such a heart and uses it as a control centre to deviate the servant of Allah from the right path. Those hearts that are disbelieving, doubtful and mischief-mongering are, according to the Holy Quran, hearts that have been sealed. Allah (swt) says in His book: 'Thus do We seal the hearts of transgressors.' (Yunus 10: 75) and: 'I will instil terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve.' (Al-Anfal 8: 13).

The Holy Quran makes many such references to the human heart. The Book of Allah proclaims numerous merits of a sound heart, a contended heart full of unbounded love and deep understanding of God and mankind, His creation. For instance the Holy Quran proclaims: 'Verily, it is in the remembrance of Allah that hearts can find comfort.' (Ar-Rad 13: 29).

And Allah admonishes all Muslims that: 'He joined your hearts in love (brotherhood/ friendship)' (Al-Imran 3: 104); and that He: 'put your hearts at rest.' (Al-Imran 3: 127).

Scientific research has conclusively proved that there is a vital link between the state of one’s thinking and one’s physical well-being. A healthy heart will undoubtedly keep a mind healthy and vice versa. A person’s character is built on his thoughts, in other words, we are what we think. Allah our merciful Lord through His benevolence has given us the choice and power to govern our thoughts and thereby build a character that is worthy of praise.

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. 

Remembering our beloved Imam

PROMISED MESSIAH DAY

As you very well know, the 23^rd day of March commemorates for all Ahmadi Muslims worldwide an exceptional day in the history of mankind when a devout and highly spiritual soul, i.e. the Promised Messiah Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) took from his companions the oath of allegiance. This major event happened in the year 1889 after the Promised Messiah (as) had received repeated revelations from Allah to do so.

Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian (as) thus founded Ahmadiyya Movement in Islam and went on throughout his life on earth to devote his time and energy to calling people to Allah and to share with them all the blessed revelations he used to received from Allah.

THE FAMILY BACKGROUND OF THE PROMISED MESSIAH (AS)

The Promised Messiah (as) Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) belonged to the well-known Persian clan by the name of Barlas. In the year 1530 A.D., one of his ancestors, Mirza Hadi Baig migrated from his hometown Samarkand (in the province of Khurasan in the present day Uzbekistan) to India, along with two hundred of his companions that included his relatives and staff. He was a noble man and a scholar and a saintly figure. India was then under the rule of the Mogul emperor Babar.

Mirza Hadi Baig was granted a large extent of land by the emperor and he thus selected an unpopulated area thereof, some seventy miles northeast of Lahore, to settled down with his clan. He founded the town which he named Islampur and became its overall Chief and Qazi (Islamic Magistrate). With the passage of time, the name Islampur went through a series of changes and came to be called Islampur Qadi, and then Qadi, and finally it became known as Qadian, it's  present day appellation.

'Al Ahzab', Verses 42-49: A Commentary

O you who believe, remember Allah with much remembrance, And exalt Him morning and afternoon. It is He who confers blessing upon you, and His angels (also) that He may bring you out from darknesses into the light. And ever is He, to the believers, Merciful. Their greeting the Day they meet Him will be, "Peace." And He has prepared for them a noble reward. O Prophet, indeed We have sent you as a Witness and a Bringer of good tidings and a Warner. And one who invites to Allah, by His permission, and an illuminating Lamp. And give good tidings to the believers that they will have from Allah great bounty. And do not obey the disbelievers and the hypocrites; Disregard their noxious talk and rely upon Allah. And sufficient is Allah as Disposer of affairs. (Al-Ahzab 33: 42-49).

The Prophet as “Shahidan”: Witness for the people

Just before these Quranic verses, there is the mention of Khatam-an-Nabiyyin and these verses are verily linked with the subject of Khatam-an-Nabiyyin. As the Holy Prophet (pbuh) came for the entire universe, thus, he is a Witness for one and all. And this has been proved in the other verses of the Quran also, that Muhammad (pbuh) is a Witness for all the other prophets. Therefore, “Shahidan” means that 'We have sent you as a witness for all people, be it from the past, the present and the future also. You are a witness over all the past prophets and also the prophets who shall come in the future also. You are also a Warner for all of them', which means that the Holy Prophet (pbuh) was to be a witness for the people who came before him and those who would come after him. Now, how can the Holy Prophet (pbuh) become a witness for the people whom he had not directly encountered/ met? This verily means that he (pbuh) shall become like a measure to test/ try the faith and deeds of the others.

It is the testimonial of the Holy Prophet (pbuh) which shall determine if the deed is good or not. He shall also act as a measure to test the works of the other prophets, be them past prophets and those of the future also. And now you can see how this verse is linked with the verse which mentions 'Khâtim'. Khâtim means someone who attests and he makes that particular attestation through a testimonial. If it is a good testimonial, then, through a seal, this becomes all the more a great proof that the attestation is grand and viable. Therefore, Khâtim means a measure which can deliver this testimonial for all past people, and those of the present and future also.

It is verily the example of the Holy Prophet (pbuh) which is used as a means to judge the stages and stations and actions of the past, present and future prophets. Through the words and instructions of the prophets, all these are used as measurements to determine if those prophets are deserving of forgiveness or punishment.

Poem: 'Divine Love'

Divine Love builds up faith,

Even when you are lost and frightened

 it gives you the necessary strength to pursue your goal,

It cures the hardened heart and brightens it with patience,

It brings the essence of unity to a state of devotion,

Divine Love gives true pursuers of truth the true essence of belonging,

It rejects the very stamina of hatred

and pierced the heart with the beauty of forgiveness,

The love devine the treasure of the heart,

When it puts forward its very life as sweet sacrifice

in the path of its Lord and Master,

Nothing is as compared to this true devotion,

Not when the heavens has brought forward this secret as the secret of destiny,

Those who want to achieve this precious station have sacrificed their all for this very cause,

The Lord knows no hatred; He knows only Love,

His Divine Love is in every one of you,

Cherish the gift of the heart which He has made sacred,

Love is devotion; devotion to your Lord;

devotion to your family and devotion to all the people living on the land of the Lord,

Spiritual Progress in the Spring of Renewal

'March' and the Spring of Renewal

Every March, we remember: the beautiful beginnings of the spring of renewal in the faith of Islam in our times. The Divine Manifestation in Mauritius in the humble person of our beloved Imam Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Saheb (atba) has had its modest and sublime beginnings in the month of March, in the year 2000. 

With the advent of a Divinely-raised soul as an exemplar of faith to guide and lead people in the path of true spirituality on the Highway to Lord Almighty, the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam was established after years of patience and trials in the year 2008, in Mauritius at a time when the country was celebrating its national liberation from the bondage of foreign occupation and colonial exploitation, Alhamdulillah, Soumma Alhamdulillah.

 Just as a people celebrate their national freedom, the advent of a Divine Elect is an occasion of celebration for the people of God. After all, a Divine Elect appears to liberate the people from the slavish bondage of moral decadence and mindless practices that keep them away from their Lord. In his Friday Sermon of March 10, 2017 Hadhrat Khalifatullah (atba) summarizes for us the distilled spiritual wisdom on how to liberate ourselves from the slavish bondage of a mundane existence and to gain spiritual freedom and progress in the personal fortunes of the human soul. Just as in secular life one attaches value to one's material engagements, so should one need to learn and appreciate the profound space of spirituality in our ultimate destiny both in this fleeting world and the lasting Hereafter.

Developing a liking and keen interest for Deen, and following that up with the practice of the Deen in our every day settings and surroundings, is an important condition precedent for making spiritual progress. Further, for cultivating the love and connection with Allah (swt), one needs to attach oneself with a spiritually-evolved and illumined soul, even as one should also aspire and strive to keep away from all wrongful influences and satanic impulses. 

Hadhrat Khalifatullah (atba) notes that the great spiritual goal of attaining nearness to God cannot be achieved except through striving to be a Muttaqi- someone who is mindful of God and the Divine commandments at all moments and contingencies of life. For a Muttaqi who strives to obtain freedom from the synthetic pleasures of this world by attaching the soul to the commandments of his/her Lord, Allah (swt) has kept hidden behind the veils of future many delights both in this life and the Hereafter. As Hadhrat Saheb (atba) notes: "All that a person seeks in this world through his efforts, he can acquire it in an effective way by being Muttaqi (being a person who has the fear of Allah). For, verily, Allah has promised a very pleasant life to him who practices His Deen. He has given him the assurance that He will solve his problems and give him everything he needs in unexpected ways".  

Read the Friday Sermon below: 

'Muhabbah': The Love that Inspires

Muhabbah

A believer must have love (Muhabbah) for Allah and a connection with Him. The Muhabbah (love) or an admiration for someone makes you do everything for the person you admire. The Muhabbah does everything that seems difficult, easy. And as a result, the unthinkable becomes feasible. As a person loves something, he makes efforts to acquire it. If he really likes this thing, then he does not care about time or money. He arrives at a point where he forgets everything. He finds nothing around him (Nothing really matters for him except for the loved one). Only one thing exists for him: it is the thing (or person) that he loves and admires.

See a young man of today who has just reached his 18^th birthday. (When he loves), he loves to such an extent that it becomes unbearable for him to live without the person loved. Without hesitation he leaves the family roof to live with the object of his love/ affection. He leaves his family, his mother, his dad, his brother, his sister, his comfort and even his Deen (religion - Islam) only for the cause of the loved one. He does all this with contentment and joy. If we (Muslims) had this same (kind of) Muhabbah for Allah, then we would never find the Deen (religion - Islam) difficult (to practice). We would have suffered all with joy and contentment only for the love we have for our Rab (Lord - Allah).

The practice of the Deen would then become not only easy but also delicious. The example of the pious personages is before us. They have not hesitated to give up whatever it is that becomes an obstacle for them in their quest of Allah the Almighty. Hazrat Ibrahim (as) has abandoned his kingdom in order to reach Allah the Almighty and to acquire His love (literally: to acquire Allah). If someone can sacrifice his honour, his dignity, his status for a corpse that will die and who is condemned to become dust one day, then why can man (the human race) not  give up everything for Allah Who is Al-Hayy, Al-Qayyoum - Who has existed for all time and whose existence will never stop (that is, His existence has neither beginning nor end). Allah is the One who watches us all the time. He is a Being who is there for us all the time, giving us everything we need. 

A Revealed Prayer, with Commentary

From the early years of the Divine Manifestation in Mauritius, Khalifatullah Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Saheb (atba) recieved from the Unseen so many spiritually-uplifting messages, including known and unknown prayers and supplications in the Islamic tradition. Like the Qur'an testifies, in the dawn of human memory and world history, Allah (swt) did teach His Khalifa (Khalifatullah of the era) Hadhrat Adam (as), about the names of things. Even in this age, Allah (swt) continues His enduring practice: through dreams, visions and Divine revelations vouchsafed to His Chosen Messenger, teaching him ways of offering prayers and supplications, Alhamdulillah, Allahu Akbar!

Presented below is a revealed poem in Urdu, recieved on 13 June 2002, along with a detailed Commentary and explanations on the same offered by Hadhrat Saheb (atba)  while addressing the gathering of the Siraj Makin in Mauritius, on 14 August 2016.  

The Revealed Poem in Urdu:

Ya Khuda Shak nahin iss mein ké gunehgaar houn mein
Par yé irshaad hé téra hi ké « ghaffaar houn mein »

Saath apné liyé taqseeron ké ambaar houn mein
Mujh pé rehmat ho khudaayaa ké khataakaar houn mein

Apnaa ghagheen banaa kar mujhé har gham sé bachaa
Ya ilaahi ghamé duniya mein giraftaar houn mein

Ya qadeer ab to ho aasan méri har mushkil
Sakht majboor houn haïraan houn naachaar houn mein

Sab ko ho méri naseehat ka assar ya mawla
Ho a’mal aïsa ké bass shaamilé abraar houn mein

Ya ghani hashr mein mehroom ha rakhnaa mujhko
Houn Faqeer aur téra taalibé deedaar houn mein

The Poem in Translation:

The Myths of The Hindus

"And they have taken (for worship) gods other than Allah, to give them power and glory! No! Those "gods" (i.e. false gods) will deny their worship of them and will be against them as opponents [on the Day of Judgement]." (Maryam, 19: 82-83)

Today is a Public Holiday in Mauritius (i.e. Maha Shivaratree). Perhaps in the other countries also, they are celebrating the Maha Shivaratree. My Hindu friends have requested me that today in my Friday Sermon I talk about their three gods: Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva.

Poem: 'In Praise of Allah'

I happen to glance into the piece of flesh which is my heart and

Found the marvellous exalted presence and existence of Allah;

The never-ending relationship which assures

Eternity in Allah for as long as Allah exists;

The sweetness of a camaraderie
which is priceless and untouched by any evil;

The price of this love is found in Allah Himself;

He is the Love which makes the heart pound,

He is the Fashioner of forms and existence;

He is the never-ending light towards fulfilment,

He is fulfilment and tranquillity,

He is my Light, my Love

The marvellous glow of His love has touched my heart,

Such a touch that even an angel cannot accede to,

Such a level of thought that no human has ever witnessed before,

Save those whom my Love has elevated with His precious comprehension.

His Glory surpasses the glories of the deities of man’s imagination and creation,

This understanding is only for those who wish to merge themselves in that light and

Be untouched by anything which may separate the Creator with His subject.

'Musleh Maoud': Then & Now

Divine revelations and prophecies unravel in subtle ways in the fullness of time: testifying to the Grandeur and Mercy of the Lord by confirming the essential truth of what a Divine Elect foretells the world. Yet, the ways of the Lord Almighty are unknowable for the most part, except to the extent and limits of what He chooses to reveal through His Elects. Sometimes, even the Divine Elects themselves may not comprehend in full measure the nuances and implications of a Prophecy they are made to proclaim, as the Lord in His Infinite Wisdom may choose to keep hidden certain aspects till a time or "substitute one revelation for another and God knows best what He reveals" (16:102,  2:107, 13:40). And the realization of such prophecies, thus, often may not confirm to the dominant notions and prevailing imaginations of people. 

Today, there are major differences of opinion among the various Ahmadi sects about the meaning and interpretative implications of the prophecy on "Musleh Maoud" made by the Khalifatullah of the previous era, Al Imam Al Mahdi,  Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) of Qadian. 'Mainstream' Ahmadis of the Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya (Qadian) feel that the prophecy was fulfilled in the person of the second caliph, Hadhrat Mirza Bashir-ud-Din Mahmud Ahmad (ra) (1889-1965) and they attach only some anecdotal value to the fulfillment of this prophecy today, as they do not find any contemporary relevance to it, in a new century of Islam. On the other hand, many other sects of Ahmadis who also believe in the spiritual claims of the Promised Massih (as), do not consider that the prophecy regarding the advent of a Musleh Maoud is fulfilled, especially since they retain, regrettably,  animus against the family and physical progeny of the Promised Massih (as). Many of these groups also feel that the fulfillment of the prophecy is only concerned with the advent of a Ma'mur in the new century of Islam- in the Fifteenth Century Hijri, and are waiting for a spiritual churning to take place within the world of Ahmadiyya Islam, especially with the advent of  a number of claimants who say they are recipients of Divine revelations in this era.   

Remembering 'Musleh Maoud'

Hazrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmad (as) was the second successor of the Promised Messiah Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as). He was a distinguished Khalifa because his birth was foretold by a number of previous prophets and saints. Moreover, the Promised Messiah (as) received a Divine Sign for the truth of Islam as a result of his forty day's prayers at Hoshiarpur (India). God Almighty told him that a pure son would be born to him within the period of nine years. He had already published this prophecy regarding his Muslih Ma'ud (Promised Reformer) on 20 February 1886. In accordance with this divine prophecy and within the specified period, the Promised Son, was born to the Promised Messiah (as) on 12 January 1889 at Qadian. He was named Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmad. 

The prophecy about Muslih Ma'ud had also specified some special qualities of the promised son and reformer. For instance, it was foretold that he would be extremely intelligent and highly learned. His fame will spread to the ends of the earth and nations would be blessed through him.

'Learn to Dance with Your Soul'

Our era is drowned in Synthetic Pleasures

My dear disciples, please be aware that Muslims who copy Europeans seek the source of the Kawthar (Paradisiacal fountain) in a mirage. They are all ignorant of the secrets of faith; They are filled with hatred and resentment. Goodness and good are a dead letter for the privileged (the rich in this world); I found only truth and purity among the small people (i.e. those of humble means). Learn to distinguish people of religion (faith) and people of hatred. Seek out a true friend and stay with him.

I am afraid of that time (era) which has seen you born O my dear disciple - you who are the reflection of my own soul; It (that is, this era) is drowned in (worldly) matter, and knows little about the soul. As the body loses its value when the soul is absent, the man of God hides within himself. The search does not succeed in finding him, although it sees him face to face. So do not give up the taste for research, even if a hundred difficulties arise in your life. 

Need for Righteous Company in the Quest for God 

If you do not find the company of a wise man, take from me what comes from my father and my ancestors. Choose my master (Nabi Kareem, the Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)) as a companion, so that God may grant you the desire and fervour (of faith), for my master (pbuh) knows how to distinguish things and knows the bark (of a tree; in other words, the extrinsic) and the core (i.e., the intrinsic). His foot stands firmly on the road that leads to the Friend (Allah). Many explanations have been given about him, but no one has really understood him. His true meaning escaped us, like the gazelle.

Men have learned to dance with their bodies, reciting their words, but their eyes have not opened to the dance of the soul! The dance of the body make dust swirl whereas the dance of the soul moves the heavens. Science and wisdom come from the dance of the soul. The earth and the sky also come from this dance. It gives the individual the rapture of Moses, and thanks to it, the community (of the pious) becomes the heir of the Kingdom! 

'Reclaim Your Spiritual Self'

My Friday sermon is addressed to members of the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam and also to everyone. 

Each one of you must exhort to mutual love, generosity, the practice of Islam and the knowledge of oneself.

The Paradoxes in the 'Muslim'Condition

The one for whom the word Allah was a viaticum (that is, the Muslim) is now under the control of attachment to material goods and the fear of death. Drunkenness (in favour of Spirituality/ to lose oneself in Spirituality), fervour and joy have deserted him: His religion is found in the book, and he is himself in the grave. The soul has left the body of fasting and prayer and other pillars of Islam; And as the soul has left prayer and fasting, the individual is without harmony and people without discipline, hearts being empty of the warmth of the Quran. How can we hope for an improvement from such men? 

O Allah! The Muslim has abandoned the self, hold out Your hand to him, for the water covers him higher than the head. The prostration (in Salaat) that makes the earth tremble has the power to make the sun and the moon turn according to its desire. If it were to seek the meaning of this prostration, the stone would vanish in the air like smoke! But now the Muslim no longer knows humility, there is nothing else in him but the weakness of old age. Who still realizes the majesty of the words spoken during the prostration: "My Lord (Allah) is Most High" (Allahu Akbar)? Is all this due to our fault, or is it believed that there is some weakness (may Allah preserve us from this thought) in these words? 

Everyone moves quickly on his own path. Only our mount is without bridle and roams endlessly without a goal. Possessing the Quran and having no ardour for research is a very strange thing. If the Lord has endowed you with vision, look at the coming times: rash reasons and hearts without ardour, eyes without shame and drowned in illusion, science and art, religion and politics, intelligence and sensibility, everything revolves around material things. Young people have thirsty lips, but their cup is empty; The faces are well washed, but the soul is black; The intelligence is luminous but has only a weak vision, it is devoid of certainty and hope. The young people's eyes have seen nothing in the world: They are poor beings, denying themselves, believing others.

Acquire Knowledge of the Self

O my disciples, be always sincere in all your actions; Free yourself from the fear of kings, so-called superpowers and potentates. Do not renounce justice in anger or contentment; Keep moderation, whether you are rich or poor. The precept is difficult, do not ingeniously try to interpret it.

Do not look for a torch except in your own hearts. The support of the souls is the Zikr and the Fikr, and as for the support of the bodies, it is in the respect of oneself during youth. In this world as in the other, power is acquired only by the maintenance of the soul and the body. The purpose of the journey is the joy of contemplation (i.e. contemplation of Allah as the Unique Creator). The secret of religion consists in saying truthful words and abstaining from forbidden food. Solitude and companionship is to contemplate the Divine Beauty. In the way of religion, be unbreakable like the diamond. Bind your hearts to Allah, and live without vain scruples.

Khalifatullah's Delhi Visit

The Legacy of Islam in India

Historically speaking, Islam spread in the Indian subcontinent through a gradual process lasting over centuries. While South India, Kerala in particular, witnessed the advent of Arab traders and early Muslim merchants from Yemen as part of the organic process of international trade in those early days of Islam in the seventh, eight, and ninth centuries; the North of India witnessed powerful military struggles for political dominion and the Muslim armies succeeding in establishing themselves as rulers in this vast land. Delhi, the capital city of India, has thus been a major centre of the Muslims over the millennia. Muslim dynasties, including the Grand Mughals, ruled over Delhi for over seven centuries before the British colonial era began in the subcontinent.

With the establishment of Muslim empires in India and the relative peace it brought into the region from the political turmoil in the extended neighbourhood of India, many Sufi saints and their disciples from different parts of the Islamic world began to travel to India and began settling down here, thereby triggering in its own way conditions for the spread of Islam through the nooks and corners of India. 

Among the major Muslim saints and sages of the medieval era, Godly men who settled in and around Delhi and other parts of North India, one can count several illustrious names: Hadhrat Qutbuddin Bakhtiar Kaki (ra), Hadhrat Mueenuddin Chishti Ajmeri (ra)(1132-1236); Hadhrat Faridudin Shakar Gunj(ra) (1212-1269); Hadhrat Nizamuddin Aulia Dehlvi (ra)(1233-1325);  Hadhrat Shiekh Ahmad Sarhindi (ra) Mujaddid Alf Sani (1563-1624), Hadhrat Shah Waliullah Muhaddis Dehlvi(ra)(1703-62), etc.

Khalifatullah Visits Agra

Acceding to the request and invitation of his disciples in Delhi, Khalifatullah Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim (atba) of Mauritius and the blessed members of the Household agreed to include a visit to Agra and Delhi as part of the Tour Programme during the India visit, Alhamdulillah, Soumma Alhamdulillah. Once the Kerala-segment of the India Visit was completed, the Team that included the family of our brother in Delhi and also our brother Sulfikar Ali Saheb travelled to Agra from Kannur Railway Station on the evening of January 22, 2017.  

Two days later, on the 24^th Tuesday morning, everyone reached Agra, checking into the Hotel and taking rest for some hours. In the afternoon, the Team visited the Agra Fort, one of the World Heritage Sites in India, designated by the UNESCO, marking its significant cultural and historical value.  

The Agra Fort was built up by the Mughal Emperor Akbar in the 1560s as his Imperial Capital in red sandstone, soon after consolidating his political sovereignty over North India. At one point of time in history, Agra Fort was the highest political seat of the Government of India or the capital of the Mughal Emperor so as to conduct the State proceedings, including the reception ceremonies of Foreign Ambassadors. The sensitive political decisions regarding foreign relations and the internal administration of different State provinces and regions used to be taken at the court so much so that senior officials would have to camp at the place for several days often to have an audience with the Emperor on such strategic and diplomatic and administrative matters. 

Khalifatullah's Journey across Kerala

Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam, India was established and officially registered with the government in the State of Kerala in the year 2010, with the Bai’at of our brother Mukarram R. Jamaluddin Raother Saheb of Mathra (presently Amir Saheb of the South Kerala Jamaat), Dr. E. Tahir Saheb of Kannur (presently Amir Saheb of the North Kerala Jamaat) and the other brothers in Alappuzha.

It has been a longstanding wish of the members of the Jamaat in Kerala to meet with the Divinely-inspired and appointed Muhyi-ud-Din of this era, the Khalifatullah Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Saheb (atba) of Mauritius, ever since the time Allah (swt) blessed them with the light of faith to recognize and accept His Messenger of the era. Alhamdulillah, it is this cherished spiritual wish of the sincere believers that has come to fruition with the visit of the Khalifatullah (atba) and the blessed family members to India in January 2017. Travelling from Mauritius through Dubai, Chennai and Thiruvananthapuram airports, with the delegates from the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam- South Kerala joining them at both Chennai and Thiruvananthapuram, the larger caravan of people reached Mathra on the night of January 16, 2017, Alhamdulillah. For the post on the arrival of Hazrat Khalifatullah (atba) in India, click here. 

Poem: 'We are the People of God'

We are the People of God,

In the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam,

Step by step we march towards Victory,

Under the merciful gaze of the Lord.

We need to be for Him,

Who made us witness the Glorious Days,

Of the Divine Manifestation,

Till our last breath.

In the Lord we trust,

In the Lord we feel secure,

In the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam,

We have found our Shelter.

Oh Lord Almighty we need you,

From the seven heavens we call You,

Our Goal is You forever,

We need You more than ever.

Oh Lord do please forgive us,

And couple our weaknesses with Your might,

And let us be like You carved us to be,

Ever submissive and obedient to You.

'Mulaqat' and Bai'at at Mathra

As reported here, the Muhyi-ud-Din Al Khalifatullah, Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim(atba) of Mauritius and the blessed members of the household made a two-week visit of India in the second half of January 2017. Travelling from Mauritius through Dubai, Chennai and Thiruvananthapuram airports, with the delegates from the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam- South Kerala joining them at both Chennai and Thiruvananthapuram, the larger caravan of people travelling along with Hadhrat Khalifatullah (atba) and family members, reached Mathra on the night of January 16, 2017, Alhamdulillah. For the Blog coverage on the arrival of Hadhrat Khalifatullah (atba) in India on the visit, click here. 

Members and well-wishers of the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam, Kerala travelled to Mathra from their respective places across the State as to stay close to Hadhrat Khalifatullah (atba) during the days of his stay at the Noor’ul Islam Masjid, Mathra which function also as the headquarters of the Jamaat in Kerala. On the dawn of January 17, 2017 all brothers and sisters in Mathra assembled at the Noor’ul Islam Masjid for Tahajjud prayers, and later, also for the Fajr Namaz under the Imaamat of Hadhrat Khalifatullah (atba). The long, devout invocations and fervent supplications of the Khalifatullah (atba) during the Tahajjud prayers for the Jamaat and his disciples to the Lord Almighty deeply moved many hearts that morning, Soumma Alhamdulillah.

'Seek God Through Prayer'

By the grace of Allah, I continue the subject-matter of my Friday Sermon which I started last week in Kerala.

Wa aqimis-Salaata tarafayin-nahaari wa zulafam minal-layl; innal hasanaati yuzhibnas saiyi-aat; zaalika zikraa liz-zaakiriin.

And establish prayer at the two ends of the day and at the approach of the night. Indeed, good deeds do away with misdeeds. That is a reminder for those who remember. (Hud, 11: 115).

In the Holy Quran, in verse 115 of chapter 11 (Surah Hud) which I have just recited before you, it is stated that ‘hasanat’, that is, good deeds, remove one’s shortcomings. Here by ‘hasanat’ is meant Salat and the presence of heart and mind during Salat. Such presence is achieved by imploring and beseeching God in one’s own language. The best prayer is Surah Al-Fatiha because it is a complete prayer. When the farmer has learnt the skill of farming, he would then be on the right path of farming and he will be successful. Likewise, you should seek the right path that leads to a union with God and you should pray to Him saying, “O Allah, I am a sinful servant of Yours and am miserable and worthless. Please guide me, for You alone can guide me. I need Your help for You alone can help me.”

You should present all your needs, be they great or small before Allah because He alone is the Provider. He who prays the most and with complete sincerity and humility, is the most good. If a person were to beg every day at the door of the most mean person, one day he too would give something. Why then would a person not find what he asks at the door of God Almighty Who is the Most Generous, without comparison. It is the case that he who asks, does eventually receive.