'Feel Welcome, O Ramadan!'

[Alhamdulillah, on 02 August 2011, LE MAURICIEN Newspaper, published from Mauritius, carried an article by Imam- Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam International Hazrat Muhyiuddin Al Khalifatullah Munir Ahmad Azim (aba) on Fasting in Islam against the backdrop of the fast-approaching holy month of Ramadan under the Islamic Calendar. We are reproducing the article here for the special attention and benefit of all seekers of spiritual treasures].

The most desired guest for the believers is the Holy Month of Ramadan. Believers are commanded to welcome this special guest with fear of God in their heart and purity of mind and soul. The Almighty (Allah) says in the Holy Quran: “O you who believe, fasting is decreed for you, as it was decreed for those before you, that you may attain salvation.” (Chapter 2; Verse 184).

First of all, what is Fasting? In Quran and Hadiths the word defining Fasting is “Sawm” which means “to abstain”. In our current language, this means that we must not drink or eat, and abstain from sexual relations from the beginning of dawn till sunset. Fasting existed even before the advent of Islam, for all people before Islam received divine commandments to fast, even if the quantity and quality of the different fasts were not the same.

Fasting is one of the fundamental pillars of Islam. The first pillar being the Shahada (Attestation of Faith), the second being Salaat (Prayer), the third being Sawm (Fasting – especially in the month of Ramadan where it is obligatory for a believer except if one is ill, on a long journey, and for the ladies who are in their menses, or pregnant or are breastfeeding their babies), then afterwards come Zakaat and Hajj.

JUSAI, Kerala: Three Day Camp at Mathra-II

Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam, Kerala conducted a Three-Day Camp on the occasion of the historic inauguration of the Noor’ul Islam Mosque at Mathra, July 22-24, 2011. Members of the small Sahih Al Islam Community in Kerala participated with much enthusiasm and spiritual fervour and spent time together discussing many issues and learning about spiritual verities. It was almost like a family get together of the Sahih Al Islam members in Kerala, with women members of the Jamaat (Siraj Makin) also being present.[This is the second and final part of the Report, the first of which was published here on August 02, 2011.]

On July 23, Tahajjud prayers were offered, followed later by the Fajr Namaz. The Amir Sahib later led a study session on Hadith. 

At 11 a.m., Fazil Jamal Sahib read out the message (in Malayalam translation) of the Khalifatullah Hadhrat Munir A. Azim Sahib (atba). The original message was issued to coincide with the inauguration of the Noor’ul Islam Mosque and the three-Day Camp. Photos were taken on the occasion as a record for posterity.

                                                                                                                               

In the afternoon, Majlis Amila was held to review the Jamaat developments and to take stock of our programmes. The Meeting expressed satisfaction that our members are increasing and that the message is being spread in the state. The respected Amir Sahib encouraged members to generously contribute to our Muqaddam Fund instituted by Hadhrat Khalifatullah for the renovation of the Mosque.                                                                   

A special meeting of the Siraj Makin sisters took place in parallel to the Majlis Amila.

In the evening, Dr. Thahir Sahib led a study session on the concept of “Roohu and Nafse” as found in the Holy Qur’an. Dr. Thahir Sahib pointed out that the term “Roohu” is found at 19 places in the Holy Qur’an and invariably, the reference was with the meaning of revelation. On the other hand, the term “Nafse” can be found in over 230 verses and the reference was with the meaning of soul. In his famous book “The Philosophy of the Teachings of Islam”, the Promised Messiah (as) has used the Qur’anic verse 15:30 to illuminate his point about the origin of the human soul, even though the verse in question has used the term “Roohu” with the meaning of revelation.

JUSAI, Kerala: Three Day Camp at Mathra-I

Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam, Kerala conducted a Three-Day Camp on the occasion of the historic inauguration of the Noor’ul Islam Mosque at Mathra, July 22-24, 2011. Members of the small Sahih Al Islam Community in Kerala participated with much enthusiasm and spiritual fervour and spent time together discussing many issues and learning about spiritual verities. It was almost like a family get together of the Sahih Al Islam members in Kerala, with women members of the Jamaat (Siraj Makin) also being present.  [The first part of a Report is being uploaded here.]

With the arrival of delegates from different parts of the State on the morning of Friday, July 22, 2011, at the home of Jamaluddin Sahib, the Amir/Jamaat at Mathra, the Member Registration Process began at 11 a.m.  The Amir Sahib and his family informally welcomed everyone and interacted with all those who were present. By the time of Jum’ah prayers at 1.00 p.m., 17 persons were registered at the Counter, including a few non-Members.

For the Jum’ah sermon, the Amir Sahib selected an important sermon of the Khalifatullah Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Sahib (atba) that explained the coming of a Khalifatullah in the light of Qur’anic verses and the traditions of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sa) and the explanations thereof by the previous Mujaddid, Hadhrat Ahmad (as). In brief remarks at the end of the sermon, the Amir Sahib formally declared the Three-Day Camp open.

Noor'ul Islam Masjid- Mathra, Kerala

Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam, Kerala announced the historic inauguration of the Noor’ul Islam Mosque at Mathra in the south-Indian state of Kerala on Friday, July 22, 2011. The inauguration of the Mosque represents a giant step forward for the nascent Sahih Al Islam Community in Kerala, which came into existence only after October 2010. The Mosque is a 400 sq. feet building, situated on a modest 20 cents of land (1/5 of an acre of land in Kerala) gifted to the Kerala Jamaat by the Amir Jamaluddin Sahib and his respected wife Shareefa Beevi Sahiba. 

Interestingly, the Mosque building itself has a rich history that is inextricably intertwined with all that is good and bad in the Ahmadiyya Jamaat. If we observe, all the present members of the Kerala Jamaat originally belonged to the Ahmadiyya Jamaat before recognizing and accepting the Divine Manifestation in the person of Hadhrat Khalifatullah Munir Ahmad Azim Sahib (atba) of Mauritius. Likewise, the present Mosque at Mathra was originally constructed by the Ahmadis of Kerala in 1990 and it used to be the local Ahmadiyya Centre for years. 

Fifth Khalifa on Khilafat and Mujaddidiyat

[This is the second and final part of the official response issued by Dr. E. Thahir Sahib of the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam, Kerala (India) in the aftermath of the Friday sermon of the present Ahmadiyya Khalifa Mirza Masroor Ahmad Sahib on the subject of Khilafat and Mujaddidiyat. The first part appeared on July 11, 2011 and can be accessed here].   

After stating that “each Khalifa is a Mujaddid during his era”, Mirza Masroor Ahmad Sahib says:  “If God so wills, He can give the status of Mujaddid to a Khalifa of the time at the turn of a century, and enable him to declare this”.

So, now he says that at the turn of a century “If Allah so wills” a Mujaddid is raised. Even then, the assembly of the faithful will elect a Khalifa first and then, Allah will have no choice other than to ask the so-elected Khalifa to declare himself as Mujaddid! Why is it that there is no proclamation of Mujaddidiyat from Mirza Masroor Ahmad Sahib in spite of his being ‘qualified’ in terms of the time?  He further states: “Being a Mujaddid does not alter the station of Khilafat; the status of Khilafat comes before that of a Mujaddid”. 

Hadhrat Ahmad (as) says in every century Mujaddidin will come to revive the faith. Now, Mirza Masroor Ahmad Sahib states that the assembly- elected Khulafa has more importance than the divinely sent Mujaddidin. He also stated that every Ahmadiyya Khalifa is also a Mujaddid only to clarify later that “if Allah so wills” at the turn of a century. In short, the divine office of Mujaddidiyat is exclusively reserved for Ahmadiyya Khulafa and nobody outside this circle including common Ahmadis can be Mujaddidin in future.  

Ahmadis usually employ two arguments to oppose the coming of Mujaddidin: Khilafat is on the precept of Nubuwwat and there is no need for “Tayammum” when water is at hand. But then, can the water be utilized even when it is muddy and impure? Has Mirza Masroor Ahmad Sahib any claim to Nubuwwat? Is he a recipient of divine revelations? If there is nothing, is the “water” pure or impure? 

'The Khalifa is Wrong on Mujaddidiyat'

Dr. E. Thahir Sahib, secretary of the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam, Kerala issued a response to a recent Friday Sermon delivered by Mirza Masroor Ahmad Sahib, the Fifth Khalifa of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community wherein he spoke on the question of Mujaddidiyat. Reproduced below is an English translation of the first part of the Public Notice originally published in the Malayalam language of Kerala (India): 

The head of the Ahmadiyya Jamaat Mirza Masroor Ahmad Sahib on June 10, 2011 delivered a Friday sermon on the subject of Khilafat and Mujaddidiyat. This notice is in response to certain observations which form the core part of that address. The Khutba itself was occasioned by, and in response to, a question raised by a child in a study session: “Can a Mujaddid come now”?  He describes:“this kind of question arises when it is discussed in families because a child could not come up with a question like this or some, who wish to create uneasiness among children and the youth pose such questions”.

Whether asked by a child or the child was set up by elders to raise it, can the question of Mujaddid create uneasiness? Why the Ahmadiyya Khalifa is so anxious about a question based on the glad tiding of the coming of Mujaddidin in every century given by the Holy Prophet of Islam (sa) and is endorsed by the Promised Massih Hadhrat Ahmad (as)?

The Khalifa characterizes everyone who asks about it as hypocrites. He states:  “Questions relating to this have arisen in the Jama’at at different times, not by sincere members but by those who wish to create discord”. About 1400 years ago, a promise was given by the Holy Prophet of Islam (sa) to the Muslims of every age. When the issue is being raised, the Khalifa feels it creates discord in the Ahmadiyya Jamaat. Why is it so? Does it not indicate that inside the Ahmadiyya Khilafat elected by the assembly of the faithful, the prophecy touches a raw nerve? He states further: “In the era of Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih III (may Allah have mercy on him) this issue was raised quite forcefully.” If the issue is alive from the time of the Third Caliph, is it not natural to suspect that there is something rotten inside?  If someone asks about the Mujaddidin who are divinely raised reformers, every attempt is made to keep their mouths shut and they are being condemned as hypocrites. Does it not indicate a tendency for despotic thought control and intolerance?

Never Despair: the story of Prophet Ayub (as)

All those who are in the cusp of change in material conditions and stare transition in life situations would benefit from Allah’s help and succor in turbulent times. That is why in the Holy Qur’an, Allah has taught us a beautiful prayer to recite in times of transition from one place or stage or phase of life to another: “My Lord, admit me an entrance of truth and let me exit an exit of truth, and grant me from Yourself lasting authority, to help me.” (17:81)

In his Friday Sermon of July 01, 2011, Hadhrat Khalifatullah Munir Ahmad Azim Sahib of Mauritius profoundly expounded on the several dimensions of this prayer. He illustrated various situations and conditions that can arise in the life of a common believer by referring to the anecdotes from the history of the Messengers of Allah. Extraordinary trials and adverse circumstances do not hinder a firm believer. With humility, patience and prayer, he goes forward with his mission, regardless of the situation, relying wholeheartedly upon his Lord, always ready to submit to His Will. In this context, Hadhrat Sahib drew the attention of one and all to the life of Prophet Ayub (as):     

“Prophet Ayub (as) was born some 1550 years before Prophet Isa (as) and 200 years before Prophet Musa (as). Some scholars disagree on this point; some say that he was a prophet for the Children of Israel while some say that he came for another people. The Bible did not quote his birth place, while some Muslim scholars mention his birth somewhere in Syria. In brief, that which the Bible mentions in Prophet Ayub (as), it mentions that he was a good person who possessed riches be it in form of jewels, money or animals. He had a wife and children, and he used to do a lot of work for religion.