The World on 'Fire': A Spiritual Gaze

On December 4, 2018 the Peace Park Library- the cultural wing of the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam in South Kerala- at Mathra organized a social outreach programme in solidarity with the victims of the recent, devastating floods in Kerala- the worst ever in its modern history, and also to recognize and honour the humanitarian and charitable works being undertaken by Mrs. Jameela Rajagopalan, an ageing social worker in the village. On the occasion, pecuniary contributions made by members of the South Jamaat to the Kerala Chief Minister's Disaster Relief Fund was handed over to a senior official of the government. Village officials, public servants, civil society activists, writers and journalists were present on the occasion, and they applauded the works being done by Mukarram Amir Jamaluddin Saheb of Mathra in channeling his spiritual convictions towards humanitarian relief works and service to the people. The event was widely covered in the local press, electronic media/television as well as YouTube channels in Kerala, and the comprehensive Blog report on the same shall be published later, Insha Allah. 

In a Special Address delivered on the occasion, Imam-Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam Hadhrat Muhyi-ud-Din Al Khalifatullah Munir Ahmad Azim Saheb (atba) of Mauritius pointed to the profound dangers facing our common humanity. Reflecting on recent catastrophic events and vast disruptions, Hadhrat Khalifatullah (atba) raised fundamental questions that require credible engagement by all those who are concerned about what is happening to our 'lonely' planet, the living Earth with all the profound challenges of atmospheric pollution, natural calamities; global warming and climate change. The obvious, and almost irreversible, imbalances that have been caused to the earth's stability and carrying capacity by the greed and corruption of the humans and their industrial and economic development models require a radical course correction, and that requires turning back to the ethical and spiritual way of life at the core of the teachings of Divine Elects in every era of humanity. It is when mankind begins to worship the True Divine- and not their false gods of riches and selfishness-that it will be in a position to do true service to humanity in a spirit of solidarity, recognizing the values of common humanity amidst all the diversity, alludes to Hadhrat Khalifatullah (atba) in his subtle but profound message, Alhamdulillah, Soumma Alhamdulillah. 

Read the Speech Below:        

Humanity in Danger

Honourable guests and my dear disciples,

May the Peace & Blessings of God Almighty be upon you all.

The world in which we are living is in a deplorable state. Calamities of every kind are striking the earth from the sky, the sea and from within the land itself. The question is why all this is happening? Why so many calamities? Are these merely natural calamities or signs of the displeasure of God Almighty?

From an Islamic point of view, as established in the Holy Quran, God Almighty says: “Corruption has appeared on land and sea because of what the hands of men have earned, that He (Allah) may give them a taste of some of their deeds: in order that they may return (to righteousness).” (Chapter 30, Verse 42).

If we look all around us, especially here itself in Kerala which has recently, in August 2018, faced major floods and landslides, we see desolations and destructions of houses and roads and many people’s homes have been destroyed. More than 500,000 people have been displaced to refugee camps and over 500 people have lost their lives. Floods and landslides of such magnitude have not been witnessed since the great flood of 1924.

The Enduring Legacy of Prophet Muhammad

The Seal of Prophethood

In a Hadith recorded by Imam Bukhari and narrated by Hazrat Abu Huraira (ra), our Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) said, “My similitude in comparison with the other prophets before me, is that of a man who has built a house nicely and beautifully, except for a place of one brick in a corner. The people go about it and wonder at its beauty, but say: ‘Would that this brick be put in its place!’ So I am that brick, and I am the Seal of the Prophets.”

There is no doubt that the Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) is the last brick, perfecting the house of Deen (religion). He was indeed the one who perfected the construction by his advent (coming), for it is through Him that Allah has given us our religion, the final religion and perfected it for us by naming it ISLAM.

The Mission of Prophets and Divine Elects


This brings us to the meaning of a prophet. By way of meaning, a prophet is someone who receives news from the Unseen, i.e. from Allah through the Ruh’il Quddus. He does not see the future, but is informed about important things which shall happen in the future by the will of Allah. He cannot predict any future event without getting revelations from Allah informing him about it beforehand. Therefore, a prophet is one to make prophecies by Allah’s permission and he receives revelations from Allah. ‘Naba’ means news, true news of great importance. In the Arabic terminology, it is not used for any other normal news, like newspapers and media etc. It is used exclusively for such news which is of great importance, especially in the realm (field) of spirituality. And thus, ‘Nabi’ (i.e. prophet) means such a person who is truth-speaking who receives truthful news of great value from Allah (swt) and who conveys it to the people. Therefore, a prophet can bring with the command of Allah, law-bearing news and non-law-bearing ones. It is an appellation to qualify such person who receives from Allah revelations amidst the common people of his era, and who can attain to the proximity of Allah for the salvation of the Deen (religion).

'Tawheed' and 'Taqwa': The Road to Renewal

The Revival of Islam

And when guidance comes to you from Me, whoever follows My guidance - there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve. (Al-Baqara 2: 39).

By the grace of Allah, it gives me great pleasure to address you all my disciples in Kottar (Tamil Nadu, India) today on “The Revival of Islam”.

Allah says in the Holy Quran, in the verses that I have just recited before you (in Surah Al-Baqara, Chapter 2, Verse 39): 

“And when guidance comes to you from Me, whoever follows My guidance - there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve.”

Since the creation of the heaven and earth and man, Allah has sent again and again over so many centuries His chosen servants who came with the Holy Spirit (Ruh’il Quddus) to bring back the people on the right path. Why did these chosen servants of Allah had to come? It is because, after the passage of time, Satan and his army deviate from time to time – to be precise, he keeps on trying to deviate – people from the path of Allah, and thus, Allah, to save the people from spiritual deaths, send to them His special people, messengers coming from Him, blessed with divine revelations and guidance and the power of prophecy to warn the people of the traps of Satan and to show them the right path.

This right path is primarily the Tawheed, i.e. the Unicity of Allah and Taqwa, i.e. the fear of Allah. If the people establish themselves on Tawheed and have Taqwa, then the fear of the Satan and all his attractions will have no effect on them.

A 'Waliullah' In Our Times

In the Friday Sermon of 23 November 2018 (14 Rabi’ul Awwal 1440 AH) delivered at Tenkasi during his recently concluded tour of Tamil Nadu and Kerala (South India); Imam- Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam Hadhrat Muhyi-ud-Din Al Khalifatullah Munir Ahmad Azim Saheb (atba) of Mauritius provides an illuminating discourse on the concept of Waliullah in the Islamic spiritual tradition. 

All through history, the world of Islam witnessed the appearance of several great savants; Divinely-imbued souls as the Pole Stars of the Religion and the Way; the Luminous Moons of the Faith- people whom devout Muslims over the millennium revere as no less than the spiritual heirs of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sa). These perfect followers of the Holy Prophet (sa) had been blessed with the direct descent of Divine Knowledge, Divine Revelations, and Divine Words on their persons, and their supplications were almost always accepted. Indeed, such followers of the Muhammadan Light in the Spiritual Path, imbued as they are with divine qualities; they aspire to cultivate a direct relationship with one’s Maker and live secluded behind the curtain of Divine intimacy. Like the Qur’an says: “Verily, My Protecting Friend is Allah, Who has revealed this perfect Book and He takes into (His) protection all the righteous.” (7:197) 

A Hadith-e-Qudusi recorded in Sahih Al Bukhari reads as follows: “My servant keeps drawing nearer to Me with voluntary works until I love him. And once I love him, I become his hearing, with which he hears, his sight, with which he sees, his hand, with which he seizes, and his foot, with which he walks. If he asks Me, I will surely give to him, and if he seeks refuge in Me, I will surely protect him.” 

Those individuals with whom Allah converses more directly and frequently than with other believers belong to the class of Friends of Allah (Auliya). In the spiritual terminology, such persons are described under different ranks and stations- Wali, Muhaddith, Mujaddid, etc. - all of whom receive their light from the Divine Light and thereby revive the knowledge, wisdom and blessings of the Prophets and Messengers of the previous era. The Light of Allah emanating from theses spiritual lamps illuminate the path of the Divine seekers in Islam.

The present discourse by Hadhrat Khalifatullah (atba) is indeed an important reminder to all Ahmadis- people who revere the legacy of Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) of Qadian- about the forgotten teachings of the Promised Massih (as) regarding the spiritual phenomenon of Wilayat, and the continued vitality of these teachings in every era till the Day of Judgement. Drawing specifically from the Divine revelations and additional explanations given by the Promised Massih (as) in the previous era, especially in his Revealed Sermon- Khutba Ilhaamiya; and also the Divine revelations that were vouchsafed to his humble self in the last two decades, Hadhrat Khalifatullah (atba) points to the significance of the advent of a 'Waliullah'- a special Friend of God, who speaks with the help of Roohul Qudus to illuminate the reasoning and intelligence of people in the appreciation of subtle and profound matters of Divine knowledge and to guide them in the Spiritual Way in our bewildering times.

Reframing Ahmadiyya Doctrines

The Ahmadiyya Muslim community, founded by Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) of Qadian in the last century in India, is one of the most dynamic missionary movements in the world today. Despite persecutions in Pakistan and some other Muslim-majority states, the community continues to prosper around the world with its peaceful propagation of Islam. While upholding that Divine revelations descending on God’s chosen servants is a special blessing and an enduring spiritual reality in every era of Islam till the last century, the community leadership now preaches the pious facade of Ahmadiyya Khilafat as the Divinely- endowed institutional order of Islam and rejects the descent of Divine revelations on grounds of expediency and ‘institutional’ discipline. 

Against the backdrop of most common Ahmadis today being ignorant of the theological engineering and interpretative understandings that gave birth to, and continue to sustain the pious facade of ‘Ahmadiyya Khilafat’; last month, the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam International published a new book, ‘Khalifatullah’: Reframing Ahmadiyya Doctrines. 

The Book is a compilation of 15 Sermons made by Hadhrat Muhyi-ud-Din Al Khalifatullah Munir Ahmad Azim Saheb of Mauritius over the last 15 years. Since the turn of the present century 2000-01 when this devout Ahmadi Muslim announced that he has a Divinely-inspired mission to revive the original teachings of Islam as taught in the last century by the founder of the Ahmadiyya community Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) of Qadian, the Discourses provide a fascinating glimpse into the rich, inner world of Islamic spirituality and thereby reframes the current Ahmadi doctrines that perpetuate mythical beliefs around the infallibility of the elected community leader- the Khalifatul Massih. The book argues that the system of Nizam-e-Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya has incrementally corroded the very idea of Divinely-revealed guidance as irrelevant in this era, posing a “threat” (Fitna) to the institutional order of the community. In reframing the Ahmadiyya doctrines such as Qudrat-e-Saniah, ‘Islamic Khilafat’ etc, Hadhrat Saheb (atba) helps to richly contextualize the role of Ahmadiyyat within the wider and larger framework of Islamic spirituality.

Reproduced below are Extracts from the Introduction to the Book:

Hadhrat Muhyi-ud-Din Al Khalifatullah Munir Ahmad Azim Saheb (atba), the Founding Head of the Jamaat Ahmadiyya Al Mouslemeen, Mauritius and the Supreme Head of the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam International belongs to, and lives in, the Indian Ocean- island State of Mauritius. Hadhrat Saheb (atba) is a born-soldier of Islam, having had with him from a relatively very young age of his blessed life, an abiding interest in religious matters and an intuitive understanding of effective preaching and an exceptional drive to spread further and further the true message of Islam for all of humanity.

'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.  

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.