Saturday, August 4, 2012

The Significance of Ramadan


In his Friday Sermon of August 03, 2012 Khalifatullah Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Sahib of Mauritius (atba) explained the significance of the Fasting month of Ramadan in the Islamic Calendar. Fasting is being prescribed for the believers so that we may act righteously and guard ourselves against evil. At an individual level, fasting enables a person to bear hardships and thereby strengthens his/her ability to withstand complex problems and life situations. At another level, it enlarges the empathy and fellow-feeling in us vis-a-vis the suffering humanity. Fasting also enables a person to detach his/her material self from the preoccupations of a mundane life and to discover the spiritual side by spending time in the remembrance of Allah, the Most High.

Read the Extracts from the Friday Sermon:
  
What makes the ninth Islamic month so significant? The answer is to be found in the Holy Quran, in the verse which I just recited before you, in Surah Al-Baqara . It tells us:

“The month of Ramadan (is that) in which the Quran was revealed, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion. So whoever sights (the new moon of) the month, let him fast it; and whoever is ill or on a journey - then an equal number of other days. Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship and (wants) for you to complete the period and to glorify Allah for that (to) which He has guided you; and perhaps you will be grateful.” (2: 186)

Commenting on the above verse, firstly, I wish to point out that this revelation says that the Quran was revealed for mankind. Whereas all other previously revealed books were meant for specific people and specific times, the Quran is a source of guidance for all peoples and all times. The month of Ramadan is therefore a sacred month because of a great event that took place during it, that is, the start of revelation of the Holy Quran.

Secondly, the Quran was revealed for the benefit of mankind with clear proofs of guidance and discrimination (from right and wrong). Therefore this book comprises all truths; such truths as mankind may stand in need of at any time and in any circumstances.

Thirdly, there is the instruction that whosoever is on home ground and in their normal circumstances, should fast during this month of Ramadan. Now for what reason do we have to observe the fast? Again, referring to the Holy Quran, we read: O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you, as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may become righteous. (2: 184)

Friday, August 3, 2012

‘Forgo Shirk and Bid’ah in Ramadan’


[This is the second and final installment of the special video message delivered by the Khalifatullah Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Sahib of Mauritius (atba) on the 10th day of Ramadan, on July 30, 2012. The first part of the essay was published here at the Sahih Al Islam Blog on August 02, 2012 and is available at:  http://sahih-al-islam.blogspot.in/2012/08/a-ramadan-in-times-of-elect-of-allah.html ].

Unfortunately many Muslims today have a bad conception of fasting and the activities of the faster. They stay as in a state of hibernation and spend most of their time in bed. If they come to fear Allah, they stand only for the hours of prayers (Salat) and then they go to sleep again. This sleep makes them become lazy. And their (spiritual) activities decrease. Ramadan is a time of intense activity for the true believers, who will gladly deny food and drink, and make enormous efforts in the path of Allah.

Moreover, a thing of concern for us today is the innovation in the Iftaar of the believer, that is, the breaking of the Fast. Nowadays Muslims brothers and sisters are making the Iftaar become a feast, a moment of excessive rejoice and eating and drinking. The Iftaar of the faster should have been simple for the breaking of the fast is an act of Ibaadat (worship).

This practice to make a feast out of the Iftaar in the month of Ramadan are known to occur nowadays in the Muslim Arab countries, and it is most unfortunate that in a little island like Mauritius this practice has become widespread among the other Jamaats.

Recently on my Dawa mission, I have met Muslim brothers and it is sad to see that now they are losing their valuable time in preparation of great “Iftaari” or Iftaar party. It is a shame for the Muslims to have reached such a point that the blessed norms of the month of Ramadan are not respected at all. Muslims automatically fast and rejoice excessively at the breaking of the fast.

It is known that our Nabi Kareem (saw) has encouraged the believers to break the fast really quickly and to go to perform their Maghrib prayer as soon as possible after the Iftaar, for it is a joy for the faster to break his fast and meet with his Lord. But to make a feast out of it? This is indeed out of the question!

Thursday, August 2, 2012

A RAMADAN in the times of an Elect of Allah


THE HOLY QUR'AN promises enduring divine blessings for the believers. The Holy Prophet Muhammad (sa) confirmed that at the head of every century, the Elect of Allah shall make an appearance- to guide the Ummah in the path of the Shari’ah and to teach them the hidden treasures of the Holy Book and the Divine verities. Allah, the Most High raises whomsoever He wants. And He knows where to place His message. The appearance of the Khalifatullah and Muhyi-ud- Din Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Sahib of Mauritius (atba) in the new Century of Islam confirms the veracity of the enduring teachings of the Holy Qur’an. In a special video message delivered on July 30, 2012 (on the 10th day of Ramadan), the Messenger of Allah of our times calls the attention of believers to the extraordinary spiritual opportunity being made available to mankind by the Creator and reflects on the profound meaning of Ramadan.

Read the Extracts from the Special Sermon:

 O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you, as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may become righteous. (2: 184)

We are living the days of Ramadan, a glorious and blessed month bestowed to us by Allah so that we can come closer to Him all the more. And if we were negligent to Him and His commandments before, therefore Ramadan comes as a training and a reminder for us to grip firmly to Deen (religion) and not to lose sight of our duty to Allah, to His Messenger Hazrat Muhammad (saw) by following his Sunnah and also to follow the Messenger of Allah, the Khalifatullah of your time.

In this present era, we are witnessing extraordinary days of Ramadan, whereby it is Ramadan everyday of our lives (that is, the believers in the Divine Manifestation) for we have got the unique opportunity to live ISLAM as in the times of the past elects of Allah, whereby Allah sends down His Holy Spirit and revelations and inspirations are spread through not only the Messenger of Allah of his time but also his pious disciples and believers who toil night and day to spread the message of Allah in all four corners of the world. Alhamdulillah.