Musings from a ‘Da’wah’ Journey

Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Saheb (atba) of Mauritius, the Divinely-raised renewer of spirituality in our times (Muhyi-ud-Din/Mujaddid),  and the Holy Founder of the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam, often goes on Da’wah journeys to distant places in various countries. The purpose of these spiritual voyages is to convey the essence of the Sublime message being vouchsafed to him from the Unseen through pious dreams, true visions and Divine revelations. Like all Divine servants who preceded him throughout Islamic history, Hadhrat Saheb’s mission- the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam- strives to urge people to embrace a life in awe of the Exalted Almighty, the unique and singular God through finding the beauty of equity and virtuosity in all spheres of everyday life; performing good deeds in service of fellow beings, regardless of their station and status in society. 

Inspired by this personal example of their beloved Imam (atba), Hadhrat Saheb’s disciples in India also go on Da’wah journeys, whenever opportunities present themselves. In a recent such episode, Mukarram Amir R. Jamaluddin Saheb of the South Kerala Jamaat, accompanied by brothers Sulfikar Ali Saheb and Sadiq Ali Saheb of Kaliyikkavila, visited the border areas of Kerala-Tamil Nadu and went all the way to Kanya Kumari, the southernmost tip of the Indian peninsula. The present writer had the pleasure and privilege of accompanying this band of Divine servants on trip, Alhamdulillah. From the sights and sounds we encountered and through the conversations and interactions we have had with a number of people during the journey, it is humbling to realize that we became far more self-aware, Soumma Alhamdulillah.  

Dealing with "Evil Eyes"

The evil eye is a reality against which we can protect ourselves. Thus, it is our duty to be aware of this fact in order to be able to fight it, Insha-Allah. So we will explain what the evil eye is before addressing the ways in which we can protect ourselves, Insha-Allah.

What is the evil eye? The evil eye is defined as the consequence when the soul arouses a persistent or malicious desire to meet or to see (stare at) a person. So the evil eye takes place when one looks with envy and insistence on a person. The evil eye can even reach a good, even a being or an entity belonging to the mineral, animal or agricultural world. Moreover, the look that one carries with insistence and wonder on a person or a thing has an effect on them. Allah says: “The disbelievers would almost cut you down with their eyes when they hear (you recite) the Reminder (i.e. the Quran).” (Al-Qalam, 68: 52). 

A Quranic verse can have many connotations and for our present subject, it also affirms that it can mean the evil eye. The disbelievers wished to touch the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) with the evil eye, and besides our beloved prophet (pbuh) has left us an enriching inheritance by warning us against the evil eye and the evil of the evil one (i.e., Satan the accursed one).

According to a Hadith narrated by Ibn Abbas (ra), the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said: “The evil eye is a truth, if there is one thing that precedes predestination, it would be the evil eye ...” (Muslim, Ahmad & Tirmidhi).

It is very important to emphasize the importance of protection against the evil eye. We know that this reality is dangerous for us because the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) used to seek divine protection from the evil eye. Indeed, Abu Said (ra) reported, “The Prophet (pbuh) used to ask for protection from the evil eye of the human being.” (Tirmidhi). This proves to us that the evil eye is a reality that represents an evil for us and from which we must preserve ourselves.

The 10 ways to protect yourselves from such harm are:

1.  The first way is to take refuge with Allah and ask for His protection against the evil of the envious. In Surah Al-Falaq (Chapter 113), we find the request for protection against the evil of the envious. Indeed, Allah says: “Say: I seek refuge with the Lord of the Dawn, from the evil of that which He created; from the mischief of Darkness as it overspreads; and from the evil of those who spit on the knots, (i.e., perform malignant witchcraft). And from the evil of the envious when he envies.” The last evil against which we can seek the protection of Allah is evil linked to the evil eye. It is up to us to implore divine protection against such evil!

Islamic Precepts on Controlling Anger

 Anger/ Wrath

Anger/ Wrath - not to be confused with the divine wrath or the wrath that Allah makes appear on the features of His Messenger as a sign of disapproval of the actions of believers and also that of the unbelievers - is a factor through which the Devil brings men to commit sins such as insult, breaking relationships, physical aggression, or even to commit the irreparable, i.e. murder. So we have to be able to control our anger so that we do not commit such serious sins.

 Forgive Those who Wrong You

Allah says about the “Muttaqi”, i.e. those who repress their anger, in Chapter 3 (Al-Imran), Verse 135: “[...] those who restrain (their) anger and forgive the people [...]”.

Therefore, the Muttaqi - those to whom Allah will offer paradise - are those who control their anger, who despite their strength and courage manage to forgive those who have wronged them.

To control our anger is to preserve Islam. The repressing of our anger allows us to practice Islam in the best way. As long as a person manages to control his anger, his faith will be preserved. However, if the person gets carried away by anger, it will bring him nothing but regrets. “Why did I say / do that?” he will ask himself.

The Holy Prophet's Precepts

It is reported by Abu Hurayrah (ra) that a man had said to the prophet (pbuh): “Counsel me”. The prophet (pbuh) replied, “Do not get angry.” He repeated (the question) several times, and the prophet (pbuh) answered him: “Do not get angry.” (Bukhari)

“Strong” people do not hit others. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said, “The strong man is not the one who triumphs over the opponent in a fight/ battle, but is the one who controls himself when he has a big anger.” (Bukhari)

The Messenger of Allah said, “Whosoever represses his anger when he can give free rein to it, Allah will call him on the Day of Resurrection before all creatures and invite him to choose one of the Houris who shall please him.” (Abu Dawud).

'No Compulsion in Religion', says Qur'an

Islam's normative injunctions are all designed to foster freedom and justice and to promote a just social order. Its moral universe is informed by the Living Presence of Allah (swt), to whom people are responsible individually and collectively as a group- sect, religion, tribe, clan, nation, community, etc. - and are bound to account for their acts and omissions on the Day of Judgement. Several verses in the Qur'an affirms the inherent freedom of choice in people: "Had your Lord willed, all the people on earth would have believed. So can you (Prophet) compel people to believe? It is not for a soul to believe , save by God's Leave" (10: 99-100). 'Say, Now the truth has come from you Lord: let those who wish to believe in it do so, and let those those who wish to reject it do so' (18: 30).

Life in Arabia during the Holy Prophet's time also produced within its varied contingencies complex questions of freedom of choice in faith matters. Some of the Muslim parents had a dilemma: whether to force their children to join the then nascent Muslim community; or to respect the children's choice of joining their foster- parents' clan (Jewish tribe- Banu Nadir that was leaving from Madinah and some also wishing to join Christian merchants going to Syria). It might seem astonishing to some; but the Qur'anic verse-"There is no compulsion in religion" (2: 257) was  originally revealed to ensure the freedom of choice of the people who wished to leave Islam against the wishes of their Muslim families!

Even as Islam commands freedom of conscience and respects the right of people to make choices, it also allows resistance to oppression and injustice and to wage wars in self-defence in compelling political circumstances. What is not required or unjustified in general conditions of life, may gain validity of law and practice in exceptional circumstances. Necessity, proportionality, fairness and even-handed dealings are central to Islamic ethics, and the 'text' of moral injunctions need to be seen in the 'context' of the evolving circumstances of the Muslim life. Muslim Ulema who celebrate the 'cult of sword' in the name of Jihad/preaching of Islam are grossly misguided in reading the text without knowing its context. Their ill-considered views are detrimental to the fair name and legacy of Islam as a religion that appeals to human conscience and secular reasoning in equal measure. In his first Friday Sermon of the New Year- on 5th January 2018, Hadhrat Khalifatullah (atba) expounds profoundly on freedom of choice from a Qur'anic perspective and corrects the doctrinal mistakes of the Muslim Ulema on this vital question.  

7th Jalsa Salana in Kerala: A Report

Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam- South Kerala organized its Seventh Jalsa Salana at Noor’ul Islam Masjid, Mathra, 22-23 December 2017. Brothers from Alappuzha, Kaliyikkavila and also from Delhi, reached ahead of the commencement of the two-day programme.

The first day of the Jalsa, 22^nd December 2017, all brothers and sisters collectively offered the Tahajjud prayers and it was followed later by the Namaz-e-Fajr. Mukarram Amir Jamaluddin Saheb conducted a Dars-e-Qur’an, immediately after the Fajr Namaz.

At 11.00 a.m, the members assembled for the Inaugural Session, with Hazrat Mukarram Fazil Jamal Saheb delivering a speech “on the importance of Jalsa Salana”. The discourse was based on  a sermon delivered originally at the opening session of the Mauritius Jalsa earlier this year, by our beloved Imam Hadhrat Khalifatullah (atba), containing useful advices to think through our spiritual duties and practical ways to create a new world of spirituality with the advent of the new Divine Manifestation.

The Human Soul: States of Being

The spiritual journey is a life-long journey. Various stages of progress and development during the course of this journey may be described as achievements but the fact is that ultimate distinction and goal of this journey is never to be achieved in its totality. There is always a stage beyond the highest point of achievement and there is always a peak higher than that we set our feet upon. This has to be like that for the simple reason that in this spiritual journey we travel and ascend towards God whose infinite Being is, strictly speaking, beyond human comprehension.

Allah clearly states: Eyes cannot reach Him but He reaches the eyes. And He is the Incomprehensible, the All-Aware. (Al-Anam 6: 104).

Man discovers God according to his own limited knowledge and ability and along with the increase in his faculties of understanding God, his realisation of God goes on attaining higher stages. This point is well-epitomised in the Holy Quran. It says:

Every day he reveals Himself in a different state. (Ar-Rahman 55: 30).

Jalsa Message: 'Cultivate Taqwah'

Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam, Kerala (South) observed the 7th Jalsa Salana (Annual Conference) at the historic Noor'ul Islam Masjid, Mathra on December 22-23, 2017. On the occasion, our beloved Imam, Muhyi-ud-Din Al Khalifatullah Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Saheb (atba) of Mauritius addressed a special message to the members of the Jamaat in this part of the world.

In his speech, Hadhrat Saheb (atba) underscores the significance of 'Taqwa' in our spiritual life. A believer always need to strive for perfect congruence between  public declarations of faith and the actual deeds on everyday life. And yet, as a fallible human being, s/he is prone to be tempted and distracted into sins by "Satan and his army". By being aware of God's laws and regulations and restrictions in the affairs of this world; and through seeking Divine forgiveness after misdeeds are committed and by adopting 'Taqwa' as the true commander of the Heart in all affairs, a believer can make a good beginning in the quest for the True Beloved, confirms Hadhrat Saheb (atba). 

Read the Special Message below: 

Race with one another towards Forgiveness from your Lord and towards a paradise the width of which spans the heavens and the earth. It has been prepared for the God-fearing; Those who spend (freely), whether in prosperity, or in adversity; who restrain anger, and pardon (all) men; for Allah loves those who do good - and those who, when they happen to commit a shameful act or wrong themselves, remember Allah, then, seek forgiveness for their sins - and who is there to forgive sins except Allah? And who do not willfully persist in the wrong they did. For such the reward is forgiveness from their Lord, and Gardens with rivers flowing underneath - an eternal dwelling: How excellent a recompense for those who work (and strive)! (Al-Imran, 3: 134-137).

My dear disciples of the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam,

Assalamoualaikum Warahmatullah Wabarakaatuhu.

It is indeed a pleasure for me to address you few words on the special occasion of the 7^th Jalsa Salana, Kerala - South Zone, being held at our Noor’ul Islam Masjid in Mathra.

Like I have always and consistently advised all my disciples and truth seekers worldwide, it is absolutely necessary for a true believer in Allah to conform his life with ISLAM, i.e. the true way of life, by being a true Muslim and complying to all precepts of Islam. That is why, the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam should always promote the true Islam, and mould our members, my humble disciples, and those who shall one day come after me, to be true examples of Islam for their own selves and their families, but also as role models for the rest of mankind.

Year-End Parties: Islamic View

Year-end Celebrations

As the year draws to a close, we see many people spending money, either exorbitantly or in useless things, and they waste their money on alcoholic beverages and amusement. One of these waste is the purchase and lighting of firecrackers.

Lighting firecrackers is not the work/deed of a Muslim, for a good Muslim is one who lives his life according to the commandments of Almighty Allah. Lighting firecrackers is one of the ways to disobey Almighty Allah. When a person disobeys Almighty Allah he does not remain a good Muslim anymore. Lighting firecrackers is a waste. Someone who indulges in waste, Almighty Allah calls him brother of Satan because Satan attracts the person and makes him move away from Almighty Allah. There is no worse situation than someone getting away (or distancing himself) from Almighty Allah. Through the explosion of firecrackers, a person disturbs his neighbour and indisposes those who are already in pain. These explosions prevent people from resting. Someone who tires his neighbour is a Zalim (someone who does wrong). A Zalim exposes himself to divine wrath. Is there life more miserable than living in divine wrath?

The Beauty of Patience: Yusuf (as) in the Qur'an

Patience of the Prophets

Since the dawn of time, Allah has sent prophets in all ages and to all the nations of the world. A line of prophets came, all ennobled by the Messenger of Messengers, the Beloved Muhammad (pbuh), all of whom had endured countless hardships, all of whom had experienced the greatest difficulties during their prophetic mission. All of them had to face the fiercest and most murderous enemies, who erected themselves as a metal barrier on the way of these prophets during their stay on this earth.

But all had the same feeling, the same reaction: patience, trust in Allah Ta’ala and faith. In addition to the prophets, some of their wives have had the misfortune to experience the worst difficulties too. They also showed an unshakeable patience.

Today I will relate to you a little about the sad story of Hazrat Yusuf - Joseph (as). Being a young and handsome boy, he was betrayed by his own brothers and then by the wife of the Prime Minister of the King of Egypt. Imprisoned, he lost neither hope nor patience. His father Yaqub - Jacob (as) had to suffer the worst difficulties because of the abuse caused to his beloved son. He also showed patience and guided by his faith (Iman) and the divine revelations, he relied on Allah Ta’ala. This patience led father and son to reason, victory and family reconciliation.

Divine Message and the Fate of Choices

Acceptance & Rejection of the Divine Message

The Holy Quran makes religious progress dependent upon revolution. It says: And in no way do We send the Messengers except as bearers of glad tidings and as Warners. So those who believe and reform themselves, upon them shall come no fear nor shall they grieve. But as for those who reject Our signs, punishment will touch them for their defiant disobedience. (Al-Anam 6: 49-50).

That is, whenever We send a Messenger, he always proclaims two things: (i) he condemns the existing order to death; (ii) and in regard to the system he originates himself he proclaims, without ambiguity that it would be established in the world in its purity, without change or adjustment under any pressure to make it acceptable to this or that people. Those who submit to the system, and mould themselves in conformity with its requirements, survive and prosper, but those who do not do so, they gradually fade out of existence.

When a revolution occurs in the religious sphere, in Islamic terminology it is called 'Qiyamah'. Another expression used for it is Khalq-us-Samawat-i-wal-Ardh, i.e. the creation of a new earth and a new heaven. Still another name for it in the language of the Holy Quran is Al-Sa'ah.

The word 'revolution' which is roughly translated from the Arabic term 'Inquilab' and described in the context which I just mentioned, refers primarily to the moral and spiritual reformation of oneself, not a political revolution to overthrow a government as may be popularly thought these days by the use of the word.

Hence, when a group of individuals or a society have reformed themselves, a revolution in the noble character of man and his dealings with other people and with God is observed. Thus, a condition in the world existed in which the reformation of oneself was demanded to set things right in the affairs of man.

Cyclone Ockhi: A Sign

Nature's Fury, Shattered Lives 

Innal-Lillaahi wa inna ilayhi raajiuun. 

To God we belong and to Him we shall return.

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

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

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

'Yaum-un-Nabi': The Prophet as a Father

The Holy Prophet of Islam as a Father

Today is Friday the 12 Rabi'ul Awwal 1439 AH. The majority of the Muslim World is celebrating Yaum-un-Nabi - the Day of the Prophet (pbuh), while others call it Milad-un-Nabi - the birthday of the Prophet (pbuh). While celebrating birthdays was not a Sunnah of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), each Muslim must bear in mind that celebrations which resemble the practices of the non-Muslims (e.g. cake cutting and blowing on candle and making wishes, partying with dancing, music and alcoholic drinks etc.) are strictly forbidden in Islam.

As for us, we prefer to commemorate the Seerat-un-Nabi, i.e. the life story of the Prophet (pbuh) so that we may remind ourselves of his perfect character as a human being and prophet.

Muhammad literally means much praised. Even before he made claim to prophethood, his own people knew him to be truthful and trustworthy. The Holy Prophet of Islam (pbuh) was the father of three sons and four daughters. Two sons, Qasim and Abdullah, named in the family Tayab and Tahir were born from Hazrat Khadija. Another son, Ibrahim, later on, was born from Hazrat Maria, his Coptic wife (who later became Muslim).

The first born was Qasim after whom, according to the Arab custom, the Holy Prophet himself was called Abul Qasim, i.e. father of Qasim. Qasim died at the age of two before the advent of Islam. Next to Qasim was his eldest daughter named Zainab. Next to her were daughters Ruqayya, Umme Kulsoom, and the youngest of all daughters was Fatima. The youngest offspring of the Holy Prophet and Hazrat Khadija was Abdullah, who passed away as an infant before the advent of Islam.

'LIQA': Man's Quest for the True Beloved

Personal Relationship between man and God

Someone, once, asked the Holy Prophet of Islam (pbuh): When would the Day of Judgement be? The Holy Prophet (pbuh) responded by asking the person what had he done in preparation for it?

That was indeed an affectionate reply with deep meaning. One should be more concerned in preparing oneself for it rather than wondering when it would be. Everyone will have to appear before God (Allah). At that time what preparation would you have made in this world to meet God? What is meant is that one should also establish communion with Allah in this world by developing a personal spiritual relationship with Him. It is not a momentary contact with God like a temporary meeting with a friend. It is a continuous and permanent relationship with Allah. The state of personal relationship with God involves continuous and progressive connection with Him. There is no turning back. 

Qur'an: A Divine Favour

This is the Book; there is no doubt in it, a guidance for those who fear Allah. Those who believe in the unseen and keep up prayer and spend out of what We have given them. And who believe in that which has been revealed to you and that which was revealed before you and they are sure of what is yet to come. (Al-Baqara, 2: 3-5).

Today by the grace of Allah, I continue the same the sermon that I had started 3 Fridays ago on the subject of the Quran, by reciting the verses 3-5 of the Surah Al-Baqara.

The believers need to know when reading the Quran that there is not the least error, or contradiction in it. On the contrary, each verse of the Quran strengthens the other verse and do not create any doubt. But, there are also some people who instead of having their doubts cleared concerning the Quran, their doubts increase. Thus, these types of people need to know that they are not the category of people mentioned in the beginning of the Chapter (Al-Baqara), i.e. they are not the pious, God-fearing people as stipulated in the verse (Verse 3).

Those people who do not have any doubt that the Quran contains no doubt, and that it is sure guidance for them, those people are certainly the Muttaquun, i.e. those who have the fear of Allah, and who are truly pious. So, when you invoke Allah through supplications (and prayer), you also need to understand the subjects of the Quran or ask Allah for help to enable you to understand it and Insha-Allah, Allah shall give you the knowledge to well understand the contents of the Holy Quran. It is then that the heart shall be cleansed of any kind of doubt. But love for the Quran also demands that you seek this certainty directly from it (i.e. the Quran itself).

And the subjects (knowledge) of Allah are unlimited. A lot of times, for the people who have such (positive) thoughts, Allah (swt) enable them to understand certain points (from the Quran). And if they are Muttaquun, then there shall be no problem for them to understand what Allah (swt) has made put in the Quran. It becomes easy(for them). But if they are not Muttaquun, then the same knowledge that they have received becomes a source of doubt, fitna, and disputes for them.

On True Faith in The 'Ghayb'

The Perfect Book - III

This is the Book; there is no doubt in it, a guidance for those who fear Allah. Those who believe in the unseen and keep up prayer and spend out of what We have given them. And who believe in that which has been revealed to you and that which was revealed before you and they are sure of what is yet to come. ---(Al-Baqara 2: 3-5).

By the grace of Allah, Allah (swt) has given me the Tawfeeq today to continue on the same subject of my sermons from the previous two Fridays. So, I stopped where, when you go to the mosque, then you have to take your beauty with you too, i.e. in this case, your Taqwa (fear of God, piety). The Quran has already described this beauty as Taqwa. It is necessary that each person becomes a Muttaqi (that is, someone who has the fear of Allah, who is pious), otherwise it will be difficult for him/ her to keep the mosque prosperous, and if the God-fearing people preserve the prosperity, freshness and peace of the mosques, then there will be so many blessings in these mosques, beyond your conception/ imagination.

Then Allah (swt) says that it is these people who will have faith (Iman) in “what is yet to come”. Here, “what is yet to come” is two-ways (i.e. has two interpretations) when we study (closely) this verse. As you follow this verse, you will find that Allah says, “And who believe in that which has been revealed to you and that which was revealed before you and they are sure of what is yet to come (i.e. in the future).” - Then, like I have already told you in my previous sermons, it refers to the continuation of divine revelations and messengers after Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh), those who will confirm this Quran, The Perfect Book of Allah.

‘Dhu’l Qarnayn’: History and Prophecy

In a recently released book entitled Dhul Qarnain: The One of Two Epochs (Originally written in Creole in 2009; Translated into English by Hazrat Ummul Mu’mineen Fazli A. Varsally Saheba), the Holy Founder of the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam and the Divinely-raised Muhyi-ud-Din Al Khalifatullah Hazrat Munir Ahmad Azim (atba) of Mauritius makes an important declaration: 

“Once I was reading the Chapter 18 of the Holy Quran, Surah Al Kahf, which means “The Cave”. This Surah mentions the Dhul Qarnain. When I studied this chapter deeply, I noticed that the story mentioned in it coincides with the conditions we are living in this era. This chapter mentions the first trip (travel/journey) of Dhul Qarnain (in the West), where he reached a place where he found the sun setting as if it were in a pool of murky water. 

After that, the Dhul Qarnain made another trip and this time he went to the East. During the course of that travel, upon reaching midway he met a person/people who were naked, totally exposed to sunlight; there were nothing to protect them from that deep heat, not even a shadow. Then the Dhul Qarnain made a third journey and at the end of it he met a people who informed him about the persecution and ill treatment of Gog and Magog upon them. These people even supplicated him to protect them against Gog and Magog. 

Allah, the Great has given us a parabolic description. However, the name of Dhul Qarnain can be given to the one who lives during two centuries and I have come in two centuries in such a way that no objection can be levelled upon me. Definitely, I belong to both Islamic centuries, and if you do the calculation in the proper way, this will prove my veracity.”

'Taqwa': Path to a Spiritual Life

 The Perfect Book- Part II

ذَلِكَ الْكِتَابُ لاَ رَيْبَ فِيهِ هُدًى لِّلْمُتَّقِينَ ۝

الَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِالْغَيْبِ وَيُقِيمُونَ الصَّلاةَ وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ يُنفِقُونَ ۝

والَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِمَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ وَمَا أُنزِلَ مِن قَبْلِكَ وَبِالآخِرَةِ هُمْ يُوقِنُونَ ۝

This is the Book; there is no doubt in it, a guidance for those who fear Allah. Those who believe in the unseen and keep up prayer and spend out of what We have given them. And who believe in that which has been revealed to you and that which was revealed before you and they are sure of what is yet to come. (Al-Baqara 2: 3-5).

By the grace of Allah, Allah (swt) has given me the Tawfeeq to continue the second part of the sermon which I started last week there (Last Friday) in which I mentioned the absolute necessity for the Mumineen (believers) to undertake journeys/ voyages of the Holy Quran every day. Quran says that for this voyage, there should be all kinds of provisions.

The provision which has been mentioned is Taqwa, i.e. the fear of Allah. And that's the same provision which is needed to acquire (the in-depth meanings of) the Quran also. Taqwa and Quran do not concern the daily (mundane) voyages (of someone). There are not gained through only one such voyage which you may do only once a year.

You need the Quran everyday and every day with the support of Taqwa as a provision you would be able to obtain something from the Quran. This is indeed very important, fundamental. And for that, it is not necessary to organize programs. Certainly, programs create the interest for it (i.e. the Quran) all year long, but it is the interest of parents which is necessary (which needs to be awakened). Firstly, parents - mother and father should take interest in it for their own beings. At whatever age they (be them the parents themselves, or their children) have reached, they must determine that we start the journey to Allah. And this journey/ voyage is not possible without the Quran. And to enable the journey of the Quran, we should have provisions, just like when people travel, they take stocks/ provisions with them. And here the provision which is fundamental for that voyage is the Taqwa.

Allah (swt) states that this is indeed a perfect book in which there is no doubt. But there is no doubt also that this Book is guidance for the truly pious (God-fearing) only. Those who have Taqwa shall certainly receive guidance from the Quran. So, Taqwa has been linked together with the Quran. 

New Bai'ats in India & A Testimonial

Several Ahmadi Muslim brothers and their families in India, previously working within the Nizam-e-Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya under the Khalifatul Massih V, recently came to hear about the Divine Manifestation in Mauritius in the person of Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Saheb (atba), and his claims about being Divinely-raised as the "Muhyi-ud-Din" and "Mujaddid"/"Khalifatullah" of this era, with a mandate for the reform of the human morals and the renewal of the Spiritual Path in our era. Based on their fervent prayers and supplications, Allah (swt) has unveiled the Divine mysteries of raising His Elects through beautiful dreams vouchsafed to these fervent seekers, Alhamdulillah. 

In his Friday Sermon of 20 October 2017(29 Muharram 1439 AH), speaking in the context of Divine revelations, especially prayers and supplications that could be fervently invoked by true seekers in the Divine Path in the varied contingencies of our everyday lives, the Muhyi-ud-Din Al Khalifatullah (atba) officially acknowledged the new Bai'ats in Tamil Nadu, India and also shared a beautiful testimonial made by one of the new brothers in the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam International, Alhamdulillah, Soumma Alhamdulillah.   

Read from the Extracts of the Friday Sermon: 

"O my dear disciples throughout the world, become such kinds of people who, through them Allah (swt) can manifest Himself, and be present with them wherever them are. Become such kind of people and Allah shall show extraordinary signs in your favour and He shall manifest His signs (for your sake) more quickly, Insha-Allah.  I give you an example. 

By the grace of Allah, there are our brothers and sisters in Tamil Nadu in India who have recently recognized the truthfulness of this humble servant and messenger of this era and they took the Bai’at (oath of allegiance). 

Qur'an: The Perfect Book of God

Role of the Qur'an in Spiritual Life

This is the Book; there is no doubt in it, a guidance for those who fear Allah. Those who believe in the unseen and keep up prayer and spend out of what We have given them. And who believe in that which has been revealed to you and that which was revealed before you and they are sure of what is yet to come. -(Al-Baqara, 2: 3-5).

For today's sermon, I have specially chosen to speak on the subject of Ibaadat (worship/ acts of worship - of Allah). This is why I have read these few verses of Surah Al-Baqara. By introducing the Quran, the first thing which Allah (swt) has said: “This is the Book; there is no doubt in it.” The point to be noted here is that Allah is referring to The Book, His Book, such a Book which is perfect, wherein there is no trace of error. It contains lots of meanings. It is such a Book which is far away from you but if you fulfill certain conditions, then this very Book can come near to you.

Afterwards the word “Zaalikal” - This is - indicates also the value of the Quran, and contains several prophecies. It also refers to the perfection of the Quran. In fact, all past prophets foretold the advent of Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) and they said that he shall bring a Great Book. Al-Kitab (literally ʻThe Book’) here means a promised Book awaited by all nations since ages. And today this Book is before us. Another explanation is that this Book, which is far away from you, can become closer to you. And there is no doubt in this. That is, there is no doubt in the fact that this Book can come closer to you. Now, when we read “La Rayb” together with “Zaalikal”, then it defines this Book as a perfect one, wherein no doubt resides in it (in its truthfulness - that it contains only the truth) and that it is a guide for all pious people (those who fear Allah).