Tuesday, November 27, 2018

'I am the Messiah of this Era'



"I want neither pelf nor power. I have been commissioned by Allah as a Warner unto mankind, and deliver His message to you. Should you accept it, you shall have felicity in this life as well as in the life to come. Should you reject the word of Allah, surely Allah will decide between you and me." 

More than 1400  years ago, addressing the doubting Makkan chieftains of his times, Holy Prophet Muhammad (sa)  emphatically declared his Divinely-inspired spiritual Mission in the aforesaid words. Through out history, the Holy Prophet's ringing words have been the signature tune of Islamic Messiahs and other Divine Elects; people who spoke with the help of Holy Spirit (Roohul Quddus) and were known by different spiritual titles. Like the Promised Messiah Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) of Qadian (1835-1908 CE) in the previous era, Hazrat Munir Ahmad Azim (aba) of Mauritius in this era claims Divine revelations and messages as the authority behind his spiritual titles and religious claims as the Imam, Caliph, Mujaddid and Messiah of this era

06 December 2003. Almost 15 years ago, it was  on this day that Hazrat Saheb (aba) made his official proclamation as the Muhyi-ud-Din (Reviver of the Faith) and the Messiah of this era. The Speech is noteworthy on a number of grounds. As the Founding Head of the Jamaat Ahmadiyya Al Mouslemeen, Hazrat Munir (aba) explains the spiritual and material circumstances in which the Jamaat was founded as a distinct group of believers who follow all teachings of Islam.  

Friday, November 23, 2018

Social Boycott in the Ahmadiyya Community


The Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam International has just published a new book in Malayalam, entitled Boycott? Or, No Boycott?’. Originally written by Hadhrat Imam Muhyi-ud-Din Al Khalifatullah Munir Ahmad Azim Saheb (atba) of Mauritius, the present Malayalam translation is by Mukarram Amir Jamaluddin Raother Saheb of Mathra. Written almost five years ago, the Book remains as relevant and topical as ever, discussing the official policy of of the Nizam-e-Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya vis-a-vis the Divine Manifestation in Mauritius, especially the arrogant institutional decision by the Nizam-e-Jamaat leadership to socially boycott all those who believe or support Hadhrat Munir Saheb (atba) -a Muslim believer who claims he is a recipient of Divine messages in our times.

The Boycott Policy calls for profound spiritual reflections on the part of common Ahmadis as it touches upon, and has grave implications for, their foundational beliefs and personal convictions. Do they plan to behave unjustly and arrogantly in the times of a Divine Elect among them? As the Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya is premised on the continuity of Divine revelations within the Muslim Ummah in every era, it is astonishingly ironical to see how the Nizamis seek to dispute God’s messages in this era, with no authority to do so. How can they be so deluded when they can still read the Qur’an?

Indeed, the Holy Qur’an advices humility, openness, caution and wisdom- rather than expulsion and boycott induced by power and hubris- to people who encounter God’s servants in their midst, by referring to the sojourn of Moses (as) among the Pharoah’s people:

How can you expel a man just for saying, ‘My Lord is Allah,’? He has brought you clear signs from your Lord- if he is a liar, on his own head be it- and if he is truthful, then at least some of what he has threatened will happen to you. Allah does not guide any rebellious, outrageous liar. 

My people, as masters in the land you have the power today, but who will help us from the punishment of Allah if it comes upon us?” (40: 29-30)

Reproduced below is the text of the Introduction to the Malayalam Translation:

The present book entitled ‘Boycott? Or, No Boycott?’, written by Hadhrat Imam Muhyi-ud-Din Al Khalifatullah Munir Ahmad Azim Saheb (atba) of Mauritius in 2014, makes an important contribution to the debates around the anti-Islamic policy of “social boycott” being aggressively implemented by the Nizam-e-Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya in recent times. The profound forensic examination and clinical arguments of Hadhrat Khalifatullah (atba), unravelling the roots and branches of this anti-human policy of the Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya, is compulsory reading for all Ahmadi Muslims who care about their foundational beliefs and the ‘directions’ of their Jamaat in recent times.

Wednesday, November 21, 2018

'Strive to Excel in the Path of God'


Prepare for the 'Journey'

“At this time, the purpose of my address is that since there can be no guarantee of one’s life, I feel that the number of people who are gathered around me now may perhaps not be with us in the following year. Moreover, during these days, I saw in a vision that in the coming year certain friends would no longer be with us, but I cannot say who of them was referred to in this vision. I am certain that this is because everyone individually ought to prepare himself for their journey to the afterlife. As I have just mentioned, no names were disclosed to me, but I know for certain by knowledge given to me from Allah the Exalted that divine destiny and decree has its time. All must leave this transient world at some point or other.

And so, it is absolutely imperative to state that every individual and friend who is present now must not hear my words as though they were a storyteller’s tale. Rather, I counsel you from Allah and have been commissioned by Him. I address you with immense sympathy, true goodwill and with a burning heart. Hence, I call on my friends to heed my counsel. I reiterate that you ought to listen attentively and take my words to heart.

Belief in God

Allah is the most Supreme Being and He is the Light, for He has established His existence and Oneness in the Holy Quran with powerful and simple arguments. Those people who express doubts and harbour suspicion regarding His existence, despite witnessing the powers and miraculous wonders of this Magnificent Being, are truly the most unfortunate. In proof of His Magnificent and Powerful Being, Allah the Exalted has stated:

Are you in doubt concerning Allah, Maker of the heavens and the earth?’ (Surah Ibrahim; Ch. 14, v. 11)

meaning, can there be doubt in the existence of Allah the Exalted, who is the Creator of the heaven and earth? Now reflect, is it not perfectly clear and obvious that a created thing leads one to accept the existence of a creator? When a person sees a well-crafted shoe or chest, they are left with no choice but to immediately accept the existence of its craftsman. In the same way it is inexplicably astonishing that there should be any room for denial in the existence of Allah Almighty. How can one reject the existence of a Maker who has created thousands of wonders with which the heaven and earth are replete?

Hence, know for certain that a foolish person who doubts the Being and existence of God, even after observing these works and wonders of nature, which are beyond the power, mind or intellect of man to create, is an unfortunate person caught in the grip of Satan. Such a one ought to seek forgiveness from God. To reject the existence of God has no basis in argument or observation. In fact, to reject the existence of Allah, the Glorious, despite witnessing His powers, and the wonders of His creatures and creation at large, which fill the heaven and earth, is the height of blindness.

There are two forms of blindness: the blindness of one’s eyes and the blindness of one’s heart. A person’s physical blindness does not affect his faith. But a blinded heart does affect a person’s faith. Hence, it is necessary and absolutely imperative that every single individual constantly beseeches Allah Almighty with humility and submission so that He may grant him true divine understanding, insight and vision, and so that He may protect him/her from the evil whisperings of Satan.

Sunday, November 11, 2018

The Wisdom of Obedience to God


We are Nothing Without Allah.

Dear brothers and sisters of Islamic faith, my dear disciples, neither you nor I owe our existence to our own will. The vast universe and the many creatures it contains are the work of the one and only Creator, with a set of rules / laws for each species and creation. This Unique Creator is Allah.

At first, apart from the Creator, there was no creature. Then Allah (swt) decided to create living beings, such as the angels, jinn and humans. Among these creatures, more specifically, the jinn and humans, there are those who use their life to do good, while others use it to do evil. Allah says:

And by the day as it appears in brightness; And by that which He has created, the male and the female; Certainly, your efforts and deeds are diverse (different in aims and purposes).” (Al-Layl 92: 3-5).

Thus, it is clear that the man and the woman must fill their days and nights with various efforts for their survival on earth and therefore they will have to face the consequences of their actions on the Day of Judgment.

But as for one whose scales are light, His refuge will be an abyss. And what can make you know what that is? It is a Fire, intensely hot.” (Al-Qariah, 92: 9-12).

Man and woman, in short the human race must fulfill their duty to its Creator, and the main duty is the exclusive worship of Allah (swt) and to make every effort to build their lives on the basis of Islam - complete submission to Allah - and to serve Him in all sincerity and piety.

Allah says: “I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me.” (Az-Zariyat, 51: 57).

And in serving Him, he must also serve humanity because the essence of God is in every human being on earth.

Sunday, November 4, 2018

The Death of a Scheming Enemy




Every soul shall taste death. (Al-Imran 3 : 186).
Today is a public Holiday as it is All Saints Day; in other words such a day in the life of a Christian where he commemorates the Saints and also the dead in general. And it is not a coincidence that Allah has guided me to deliver this sermon today (a sermon which I prepared beforehand and which applies exactly for today).

The world we live in is only ephemeral. One day or another, death will overtake us. We must then leave behind all our wealth, families, and friends. The only luggage we will bring with us is our actions and the intentions behind these actions.

The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said that there are three things that accompany a deceased to his grave: his family, his riches, and his actions. Of these three things, two come back, his family and his wealth. Only his actions accompany him. (Bukhari, Muslim).

On 02 July 2000, I received from Allah this revelation in poetic form (in French) on the subject of death: Death is your Last Journey/ Travel”.

Death is a journey,
So get ready,
No need for luggage,
Or yes, take with you:
Your pious actions, the love of Allah
Destination: the afterlife
Death is your last journey.”

In this extract, Allah mainly mentions the spiritual baggage of the believer, where he shall arm himself with his good deeds, his pious actions and his love for Allah. The pious will be very lucky. His obedience to Allah and His Messenger, Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh), and to the Messenger of His epoch - if his epoch was the time when Allah sent a Messenger and Reformer to revive Islam, like in this present era - will be like a fiery light for him, which shall illuminate his way. His path to the afterlife will be easy compared with the unbeliever or the hypocrite who had during his stay on earth ignored Allah and His commandments.

Thursday, November 1, 2018

'Haqiqatul-Wahi' in Malayalam


Last month, the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam International announced the publication of the first part of ‘Haqiqatul-‘Wahi’ (The Philosophy of Divine Revelations) in Malayalam. This classic of Ahmadiyya spiritual literature, written by the Promised Massih (as) in the last century was long available only in its original Urdu and Arabic editions, and the Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya has finally unveiled an English edition of the work last week, almost 110 years after the Book was originally published. The Malayalam translation of the Book from the Arabic was accomplished by Mukarram Amir Jamaluddin Raother Saheb of the South Kerala Jamaat, Alhamdulillah, Summa Alhamdulillah.

Reproduced below is the text of the Introduction to the Malayalam Translation:

Haqiqat-ul-Wahi is one of the most remarkable works of the Promised Massih and Mahdi Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) of Qadian (1835-1908 CE). Written in May 1907 in Urdu and Arabic; the Book in many ways consolidates the saintly author’s life time of engagement with, and profound study of, the spiritual phenomenon of Divine revelations. In the social and religious context (of India and elsewhere) where dreams and other psychic phenomenon that the humans experience often confuse common people about the true nature of spiritual illumination and mislead them into giving credence to psychic illusions and there is a crying need for clear guidance on how to distinguish between false claimants and the Divinely-imbued souls in the path of the Exalted Being; the Promised Massih (as) makes this important contribution to our collective understanding on mystical realities surrounding dreams, visions and revelations.

Saturday, October 27, 2018

Belief in the Judgement Day


'Qiyamah' is coming 

Islam teaches us that every soul shall taste death. After a person’s death, his soul will reside in a world different from ours, called “Barzakh” until the Day of Judgement (Qiyamah). On that day, everyone will be gathered by Allah for the final account. The good believer will go to heaven while the bad servant will go to hell. To believe in this is a pillar of our faith (Iman). Therefore, a believer must learn about this subject and have conviction in it.

But to be precise, you must understand that each person shall witness his own Day of Judgement, and he will be among the group of his time, at the moment of his death. For example, in everyday life, we often learn of a calamity or other that has arisen and has made hundreds or millions of deaths. So, for these people, it’s their last hour on earth and they will face their Last Judgement after going through the “Barzakh” and from there on they will know their final destination.

But those who disbelieve say, ‘The Hour will not come to us.’ Say, ‘Yes, by my Lord, it will surely come to you’.” (Saba, 34 : 4).

Non-believers in general, apart from religions which were originally monotheistic, such as Judaism and Christianity, do not believe in life after death, in the Last Judgement because most of them believe that their life on earth is their only life and death will mean a definite end to their life, while others believe in reincarnation, i.e., they will be resurrected in different bodies, be it in human or animal form, and that they will return to earth again and again, instantly, or centuries after their present death. These conceptions about life and death that they hold are really wrong.

The Six Pillars of Islam

As Muslims we need to know and understand that our faith (Iman) rests on six pillars; Our faith in: Allah, His angels, His Books, His Messengers / Prophets, the Last Day of Judgement and Fate/ Predestination/ Destiny – and the fact that good and evil come through the knowledge, law and the creation of Allah, and the firm belief in life after death (the Resurrection) which are each an indisputable truth.