Early Islam
produced men of outstanding ability, extraordinary drive and exemplary personal
initiative. They were willing to sacrifice their all for the progress of their deeply
held convictions, in the service of their faith. This in turn brought the
Muslims victories over victories, successes over successes, grandeur and power
which lasted for many centuries altogether. On the contrary, “the deeds of the
Muslims (of the present times) have become a big dark spot on the exemplary
performance and exceptional exploit of the first and true soldiers of Islam”. The
contrasting fortunes of Muslims of the past and of the present have invited considerable
scholarly attention in recent times. In his Friday Sermon of March 30, 2012 Hadhrat Khalifatullah Munir Ahmad Azim
Sahib (atba) of Mauritius profoundly reflected upon the lamentable
spiritual conditions of the Muslims today and prescribed the spiritual medicines
essential for reviving the fortunes of the Community.
Read the Extracts from the Sermon:
We are nowadays
in the Islamic year 1433 After Hijra. When we analyse that when the world was
plunged into the darkness of ignorance, sins and immorality, a light of true
knowledge and guidance (that is, the Holy Prophet Muhammad-sa) made its
appearance in the horizon amidst the rocky mountains, Batha (the name of the
small mountains surrounding Mecca). Its rays went beyond all boundaries, be it
in the east, west, north and south, and these rays (of that divine light)
illumine each corner of the earth. In the limited period of twenty-three years,
this light leads the way so that people accede to such elevated honourable
stations which had not been reached before. It has brightened the Muslims and
created in them the profound desire to follow the true message that should
guide them in the future towards success.
When they
followed the true path, guided by this light, the Muslims won victories over
victories, successes over successes and they reached the highest position of
honour in history. For many centuries, they reigned over the world with
grandeur and power. No (non-Muslim) leader of their time could have got the
courage to face them, and if someone did attempt to do so, they risked leading
themselves to their own destruction. [Inset: Mughal Emperor Muhiy-ud-Din Aurangzeb Alamgir (1618-1707). His empire at its zenith spread over the whole of modern South Asia and Central Asia- India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, parts of Iran and Uzbekistan and Tajikistan and one-fourth of the then world population lived under his rule. Historians testify that Emperor Aurangzeb inflicted such fear in the minds of the foreign elements trading in the waters of India that it took the British more than a century and a half to consolidate their hold over India even after his death].
This is a
historical truth which nobody can ever erase. But it is sad to see that these
days this historical truth has become an old tradition, an “ancient story”,
only good to be told (for a short time), and which appears farfetched for
modern times, especially in our present times whereby the deeds of the Muslims
have become a big dark spot on the exemplary performance and exceptional
exploit of the first and true soldiers of Islam.