Stages in Proximity with Allah

  

In spiritual life, one truth remains eternal: whoever remembers Allah with sincerity receives a special light, a Nur, which illuminates his heart and purifies his soul. Allah has said in the Qur’an:

 

“Remember Me; I will remember you. Be grateful to Me, and never be ungrateful.” (Al-Baqara 2: 153).

 

This verse, this divine word, is truly powerful. It shows two fundamental principles: Zikrullah (Remembrance of our Creator) and Shukrullah (Gratitude towards our Creator). These two principles form the foundation of the spiritual life of a true believer, and they attract divine reward upon him. A servant of Allah who practises these two principles finds his path opened towards divine closeness and towards a life filled with Allah’s blessings.

A Prayer in the Mihrab

 

In the quiet mihrab, silver crowned with age,

Zakariya stood, though his frame was frail.

'My bones have weakened, my hair is ablaze,'

Yet his hope in his Lord did not pale.

Childless years weighed heavy on his chest,

He feared for his people when he was laid to rest.

Who would guard the way if heirs went astray? 

So he turned to his Lord, and began to pray.

Kindness to Parents

  

After the exclusive worship of Allah, Allah teaches us that we must treat our mother and father well. This remains one of the principal duties of a Muslim. And this subject cannot be treated only once, but several times, to make children aware of their responsibility towards their parents. The Qur’an has made this very clear: 

“And your Lord has decreed: ‘Worship Him alone, and treat your father and mother well.’” (Bani Isra’il 17: 24)

 

Therefore, kindness towards parents remains among the greatest duties. This verse shows that Allah has placed respect and gentleness towards parents immediately after divine worship. A person can never ignore this truth that his father and mother, humanly speaking, are both the source of his life, and their sacrifices deserve unlimited recognition.

Imam Mahdi's Prayer

 

O my Lord, 

by Your grace,

be my strength

and illumine my sight 

and what is in my heart

and be the purpose of 

my life and my death.

 

Fill me with Your love

and grant me such love

that it is surpassed 

by none after me.  

 

O my Lord,

accept my prayers,

grant me my wishes,

cleanse me, protect me,

draw me close to Yourself;

guide me,

help me and enable me to do good,

purify me,

illumine my soul,

make me entirely Yours

and become entirely mine.

 

Inner and Outer Struggle

 Importance of Fighting for the Cause of Allah

 

Alhamdulillah-ir-Rabbil Aalameen – Praise be to Allah, the Lord of all the worlds, the One Who has set order in creation and the One Who has given life to everything.

 

In an era filled with confusion and disorder, it is essential to remember that the noblest struggle for a sincere believing Muslim is against his own Nafs, against his own ego and passions – such a Nafs that seeks to divert him from the path of Allah. The Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) said after an expedition: “We have returned from the lesser Jihad to the greater Jihad” (Bayhaqi); that is, the struggle against oneself, against desires that lead to disorder/ chaos (fitna).

 

Allah tells us in the Qur’an: “And as for the one who fears to stand before his Lord and restrains his soul from passions, Paradise will be his refuge.” (An-Nazi’at 79: 41-42). This shows that the first duty is inner discipline, that is, to set a barrier against temptation and arrogance.

Trust in Islam

  

Trust – a real trust that is sincere, honest, and based upon Taqwa (the fear of Allah) – is a fundamental pillar in the life of a Muslim. In Islam, it is not a mere inner sentiment, but a spiritual path that connects the heart of the believer with Allah, and which gives him moral and social strength in his daily life. A believer is commanded to live with trust in himself, trust in his family and companions, and above all, absolute trust in his Creator – Allah, the One Who controls everything. Allah says in the Qur’an: “And whoever places his trust in Allah, He is sufficient for him.” (At-Talaq 65: 4). This verse clearly shows that trust in Allah is not an empty word, but a divine guarantee that opens the door to tranquillity and success.

 

Self-confidence, that is, when a believer believes in his own abilities, remains a necessary condition to progress in life. Without self-confidence, a person remains paralysed by fear and uncertainty. But Islam teaches that self-confidence must always be accompanied by the awareness that all strength and success come only by Allah’s permission. The Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said: “The strong one is not the one who overcomes others by his strength, but the strong one is the one who controls himself when he is angry.” (Bukhari, Muslim). This shows that true self-confidence is not found in physical strength, but in self-control, inner discipline, and in entrusting ourselves – all of us – entirely to Allah.

 

Trust in parents and in one’s surroundings also has great value. That environment must be worthy of trust. A society rests upon mutual trust; without trust, there is neither stability nor respect. In Islam, respect and trust towards parents remain a sacred obligation. Allah says in the Qur’an: “And We have enjoined upon man to treat his parents well.” (Al-Ankabut 29: 9).

 

But human trust, despite its importance, remains limited; absolute trust, the one that never disappoints, is trust in Allah.

'Eid-ul-Fitr' Sermon 2026

 Truth v/s Falsehood 

Wa Qul Jaaa’al-Haqqu wa zahaqal-Baatil: innal-Baatila kaana zahuuqaa. “And say: ‘The truth has come and falsehood has vanished; for falsehood is bound to vanish.’” (Bani Isra’il 17: 82)

 

Today is a day of rejoicing for all Muslims who believe in Allah and obey Him; for after a month of fasting (Roza/ Siyaam), with its privations, Allah has granted us a day of Eid – a day of rejoicing, a day of thanksgiving for the favours and blessings that Allah has bestowed upon all Muslims across the world, whether materially rich or poor. But Allah does not look at the material possessions of a believer; He looks at his sincerity, and the one who is truly rich is the one who has succeeded in gaining Allah’s forgiveness and His abundant blessings. Allah has shown through the month of Ramadan, especially this year – a year of intense trials – that when Muslims across the world unite in favour of the truth, His help comes in a glorious manner.

 

Thus, the Qur’anic verse I recited at the beginning of my Khutba (Sermon) is a clear declaration that when the truth comes – when it manifests, when it shows its power – then falsehood must capitulate, must disappear; for one day, come what may, and without any doubt, all falsehood will meet its end. That falsehood will be crushed. Allah does not descend physically, but He manifests Himself in extraordinary ways, in the constancy of the prayers and supplications of sincere Muslims, and especially in the supplications of His Chosen One of that particular time [and for our times, the Chosen One of this era].