Surah Ar-Rahman: A Commentary

Recently, a Muslim brother from India put forward a request to Hadhrat Khalifatullah Munir A. Azim (aba) for exposition concerning the gardens as mentioned in Chapter 55 of the Holy Quran. In connection with the issue, the Khalifatullah (atba) turned in prayer to Allah, and the following explanations in English ensued. The explanations include a short commentary of Surah Ar-Rahman, the Jinns and the gardens which form the subject matter of the Surah.

For the spiritual enlightenment of one and all, we reproduced below the inspired commentary provided by the Muhyi-ud-Din (atba) on certain aspects of the subtle and profound verities of Divine wisdom encompassed in Surah Ar Rahman:

The Jinns and the Humans

Surah Ar-Rahman deals with the absolute power of Allah in spreading His mercy and benevolence to not only mankind but to the realm of the Jinns also who cohabit in the world of humans, invisible to the naked eyes – yet there is an invisible veil which separates the two and thus the two creations co-exist and both types of creatures of Allah are mortal.

The mortality of human is revealed when his soul leaves the body of clay and water whereas the Jinns get access to a body of felicity after inhabiting a body made of fire. Therefore, the Almighty has granted knowledge to both species so that they may accede to God.

Mubahila against Janbah Sahib: Truth Triumphs

Where a man is pure of heart,
He does not need  multiple miracles:
One single sign is enough to lead such a one, 
To the right path, if  there be
The Fear of God in the heart!
                              
                                           - Brahin-e-Ahmadiyya, Part V

“If the world witnesses at any time.... if sees at any time that those who deny me has overcome those who believe in me, then, you may conclude that I was an impostor....”

                                                -Hadhrat Khalifa Sani (ra) on his claim of being Musleh Maoud     

In recent weeks, many people ask a question: what is the outcome of the Mubahila Challenge launched by Imam Muhyi-ud-Din Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Sahib (atba) of Mauritius against Abdul Ghaffar Janbah Sahib, Mansur Ahmed Sahib and their Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Islah-Pasand?

In a speech on February 20, 2014 Hadhrat Sahib (atba) of Mauritius eloquently explained the prophecy on Musleh Maoud in its classical setting, traditional explanations over it in the Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya and also its interpretative possibilities in the contemporary context of the Divine Manifestation in Mauritius.  The circumstances behind, and conditionalities of, the Mubahila Challenge was also dealt with, while reminding the world that the opponent parties cannot escape from the fact that “the truthful and the truth must triumph”: “And you cannot prevent it from happening”.  

Some people, however, have already reached their own “conclusions” about the apparent, perceived/alleged “failure” of the Mubahila to lead to the “destruction” of either of the parties to the challenge! 

Musleh Maoud: Declaration of 20 February 1944

Ahmadis are mostly familiar with a famous speech made by Hadhrat Mirza Bashir-ud-Din Mahmud Ahmad (ra) in 1944. The speech pertains to the grand fulfilment of the prophecy on Musleh Maoud made by the Promised Massih (as) in his own person. What the Ahmadis generally do not know is that the same speech by Khalifatul Massih Sani contains a very important prophecy regarding the arrival of other Divinely-raised pure sons / Zaki Ghulam/ spiritually-blessed souls in future, in the Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya to advance the cause of Islam. 

The speech is very significant for Ahmadis to ponder over, especially at a time when Allah (swa) has redeemed His pledge and raised such a soul in the Jamaat, in the person of Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Sahib of Mauritius. For the benefit of our readers, we reproduce below the extracts from the Speech/Declaration made by Hadhrat Khalifa Sani (ra) on February 20,1944:   

“I call to witness the One and Supreme God Who has full control over my life that the dream that I have just described was seen by me exactly as I have put it, except possibly for some slight verbal involuntary inaccuracy. I call God Almighty to witness that in a state of vision I announced: 'I am the Promised Messiah, his reflection and his Khalifa.' 

In the same state, under divine command, I said: 'I am the one for whose appearance the virgins had been waiting for nineteen centuries.' I therefore announce, under divine command, on oath, that God has appointed me the Promised Son of the Promised Messiah, peace be on him, according to his prophecy, who has to convey the name of the Promised Messiah to the ends of the earth. I do not say that I am the only Promised One and that no other promised one will appear till the Day of Judgment. It appears from the prophecies of the Promised Messiah that some other promised ones will also come and some of them will appear after centuries. Indeed, God has told me that at one time He will send me a second time to the world and I will come for the reform of the world at a time when association with God will have become widespread. 

Islam for Social Harmony

Lately, we have testified through the media how African Muslims, especially those from Central Africa easily fall prey to rebels and extremists of other religions. The latter are desperate to finish Islam and the Muslims. They move heaven and earth to reach their goals because they take the religion of Islam and its teachings as a curse (God forbid).

Therefore, my sermon today is devoted only on a message of peace and goodwill. This is an appeal to the conscience of man. Islam did not come to declare war on the ancient and contemporary religions. It recognizes the truth of the everlasting source of the spiritual river from the past, expanding from century to century, until the time when God, in His wisdom, solemnly declared: “Today I have perfected for you your religion and I have completed My favour upon you, and I have chosen for you Islam as your religion.” (5: 4)

Islam recognizes the universality of Spirituality

The Holy Qur’an has never rejected the essential truths established by the religions that preceded it. Instead, it openly states that it confirms these truths and includes them in its text. In fact this serves to keep them in their original purity, freed from changes (innovations) that have been added over the centuries. This free, frank and generous recognition of the revealed (that is, divinely sourced) religions of yesteryears, with clear statements such as: “for every nation there is a guide.” (13: 8) and “there was no nation but that there had passed within it a warner.” (35: 25) puts Islam on a pedestal of incomparable beauty in the eyes of world religions.

Revealed Poem: The Crime of Faith

My crime is crime of faith in God

Do, chain my hands and feet

A damp and dark and dungeon cell

Do, give me as a treat.

If you can pull the heavens down

Do pull them on my head

What ever is there you take it all

My purse and butter and bread

Let chasing hounds be loosed at large

And let them smell my track

Let all the damning forces come

To stab me at the back

Do all that you can do to fill

My days and nights with fright

If winds and whirling winds are there

Let all of them unite.

Revealed Poem: Love and Hate

Love demands more

Than You can comprehend

Hatred is nothing

But wrong love without end

Love needs the boarder

To meet the beloved

Hate fights the order

Of one you once loved

Love sees the eyes

Of hatred in disguise

And turns it into crises

To follow the wise

Hatred hears the sound

Of love but unbound

Is the wish of its account

To see it all around

Love bends the heart

Cause it asks not to start

Ebb or tide like moonlight

Which forgets being bride

Behind the ‘Expulsion’: A web of Lies

Why and how did the Ahmadiyya Community expel Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Sahib (atba) of Mauritius from its ranks? It is a question that still baffles most common Ahmadis and remains hazy and unclear to many others even today, some 12 years after the dark episode.

Anyone who examines the record of the incident will point a finger at the arrogance and hubris at work in the Nizam-i-Jamaat. The nizami mandarins never had the humility, nor basic courage to face the truth, nor the simple decency to place the record in public: in black and white, before the Jamaat and the common Ahmadis, so that everyone may know what really happened behind the scenes. After all, justice demands fairness, credibility and transparency: a decision taken in the name of the Jamaat and in the name of the collective interest of the common Ahmadis, the record should have been available for scrutiny.

Before the official expulsion in 2001, Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Sahib (atba) was falsely charged with the grave offence of pretending to be a recipient of Divine Revelations. He was accused of being a “drug addict” and “mentally-sick person” (“Bimaari”). Within the Nizam-e- Jamaat, those in the corridors of powers plotted a web of intrigues in support of these wild and irresponsible allegations. False testimonials of self-serving sycophants were lifted from the trash-cans to ‘grease’ the case. The ‘slippery’ basis of the evidence did not deter the Fourth Khalifa from his chosen course of hubris and ‘curse’: only to fall-flat on the dustbin of history.  The failure to see through transparent lies, intrigues and false testimonials- all planted and facilitated in the official channels- will remain a blot on the record of the Fourth Khalifa.

The humiliation of those who facilitated the crime of expulsion was a chronicle of events foretold at the very court of Allah (twa). Thus, in a Divine Revelation received on 09 April 2002 & many other times also, Hadhrat Sahib (atba) was informed: “I Shall Humiliate Him Who Designs To Humiliate Thee”. 

We record below the Divine vengeance for one of the culprits for his despicable crime of complicity- one who sought to humiliate the Divine Messenger for our times meets with his day of public humiliation among his people.

Progeny: Biological and Spiritual

...[t]he belief in all the prophets of God is fundamental to a true believer in the Oneness of God, especially for the one who calls himself Muslim. The prophets form a chain and the medallion, which enhances the beauty of the chain, is certainly the greatest prophet Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh).

If the Israelite prophets received from God sons who were both biological and spiritual, so why not the Muhammadan Ummah?  From the prayer of the Promised Messiah Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as), it is clear that the Messiah (as) wanted a son like Prophets Zakariyya and Ibrahim (as) each received; extraordinary, learned, and intelligent sons, one who would raise the honour of the physical family of these prophets, as well as their spiritual ones, that is to say, their communities of believers.It is in this context that the Promised Messiah (as) went into retirement/retreat at Hoshiarpur so that Allah may listen to his supplications and answer his prayers. 

In addition to this, the people around him wanted to witness a divine sign which clearly assert his veracity. Thus, it was about such a sign which had to be manifested in the lifetime of the Promised Messiah (as) so that they may witness to this sign. And Allah, by accepting his prayer during his retreat has confirmed that He shall fulfill his prayer and grant him such a son who would be from his own seed, and who would be a Great Divine Sign.

On the Mubahila Against Janbah Sahib

It’s been two years since the launch of the duel of prayer against Abdul Ghaffar Sahib and his Jamaat – The Jamaat Ahmadiyya Islah Pasand. This is because he implied that the Musleh Ma’ud, Hazrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmad (ra) was not the true pure son, promised to the Promised Messiah Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as), and who would also be a reformer. 

Like Zakariyya (as) who wanted a biological heir who would inherit from him and the family of Yacoob (as) – that is, prophethood – likewise, God heard the prayer of the Messiah and guided him to go into retreat at Hoshiarpur to pray in this direction: supplicating God Almighty for an extraordinary son who would be a Great Divine Sign, such a sign which would be more miraculous than to revive the dead. What was certain was that the Promised Messiah was absolutely certain that this son would be his own seed, which would mean that this son would consolidate material/ physical/ biological and spiritual heritage of the Promised Messiah (as). After he received revelation from Allah about the birth of a son, he was delighted with the divine promise and therefore called his promised son “Musleh Ma’ud” (Promised Reformer).

This was certainly his desire because this shall also prove that such a divine gift may happen in the Ummah of Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh), whereby a messenger of Allah among the Muhammadan elite receives from God a son who would be the dazzling representation of the realization of a prayer to God Almighty.

All the prophets of Allah receives from Him spiritual sons too, and this is an undeniable truth because these spiritual sons represent the promises of tomorrow, because whenever faith and the true teachings of God are violated, then these spiritual sons are to appear from among the followers of the deceased prophet to guide people once again to the true faith, the oneness of God. All the prophets since the dawn of time have received such spiritual sons because without these spiritual sons and sincere followers, then how the belief in Allah, in all the prophets of God and in all the tenets of faith shall be maintained?

.....To return to the subject of Mubahila and the accusations and renunciation of belief that the Jamaat Ahmadiyya Islah Pasand and its leader Abdul Ghaffar Janbah Sahib have towards the person of Hazrat Mirza Bashir-ud-Din Mahmud Ahmad (ra) and this humble servant of Allah, the Khalifatullah of this era, then the world is still waiting.

Remembering 'Musleh Maoud'

As you now all know, Hazrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmad (ra) was the second successor of the Promised Messiah (as) from his own seed. His appointment as both Khalifatul-Massih and Musleh Ma’ud proved to be fruitful to Islam throughout his life.

He was a distinguished Caliph because his birth was foretold by a number of previous prophets and saints. Moreover, the Promised Messiah (as), like I said again yesterday received a divine sign for the truth of Islam as a result of his forty days prayers at Hoshiapur, in India. Allah the Almighty told him that a pure son (Zaki Ghulam) whom he named “Musleh Ma’ud” would be born to him within a period of nine years. He had already published this prophecy regarding the Musleh Ma’ud (ra) on 20 February 1886.

In accordance with this divine prophecy and within the specified period, the promised son, was born to the Promised Messiah (as) on 12 January 1889 at Qadian, despite that unbeknownst to his father, it was his first-born living son who represented that special hope for the future of Islam Ahmadiyyat. He was named Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmad (ra). The prophecy about Musleh Ma’ud had also specified some special qualities of the promised son. For instance, it was foretold that he would be extremely intelligent and highly learned. His fame will spread to the ends of the earth and nations would be blessed through him.

He got his primary education in a school of Qadian and then in the Taleemul Islam school when it started in 1898. He could not do well in his studies due to his persistent ill-health. His academic career came to an end in March 1905, when he failed in the Matriculation examination. About two years before this, in October 1903, he had married Sayyidah Mahmooda Begum Saheba (also known as, Hazrat Umm-e-Nasir).

He started learning the translation of the Holy Quran and the Hadith from Hazrat Moulvi Nooruddin (ra). Moreover, he began his independent study of religion, history, literature and various other subjects. He developed into a great scholar and had mastery over many subjects. Thus, the following prophecy of the Promised Messiah (as) regarding Musleh Maud was clearly fulfilled in his person:

“… He will be extremely intelligent and understanding and will be meek of heart and will be filled with secular and spiritual knowledge.”

He received his first divine revelation in 1905, when he was only sixteen years old:“I will place those who follow you above those who disbelieve until the day of Resurrection.”

Religious Liberty: Islamic Teachings

“And do not insult those they invoke other than Allah, lest they insult Allah in enmity without knowledge. Thus We have made pleasing to every community their deeds. Then to their Lord is their return and He will inform them about what they used to do.” (6: 109)

Respect for other faiths is an essential part of Islam as it should be for all faiths also. Respect for each other’s religion plays a vital role in maintaining peace at familial, social, environmental, national and international levels.

To each Muslim, liberty of religious belief and practice must be dear since tolerance is a vital part of Islamic faith. Religious liberty practiced in any society guarantees also liberty of scientific discussion within it and a tolerance of the views of others, so essential to the growth of science.

'Ethnic Cleansing' of Muslims in Central Africa

LIBREVILLE: "Ethnic cleansing" is being carried out against Muslim civilians in the Central African Republic, with international peacekeepers unable to prevent it, Amnesty International said on Wednesday. France's defence minister earlier called on international forces deployed in the Christian-majority country to put an end to attacks by the militias "by force if needed". Amnesty said it had documented at least 200 killings of Muslim civilians by Christian militia groups known as the anti-balaka, set up in the wake of the March 2013 coup by the mainly-Muslim Seleka rebellion. (Inset: Burning/looting of Muslim property and a mosque in PK 26 area, north of the capital Bangui in late January.© Amnesty International)

"Ethnic cleansing' of Muslims has been carried out in the western part of the Central African Republic, the most populous part of the country, since early January 2014," Amnesty International said in a report. "Entire Muslim communities have been forced to flee, and hundreds of Muslim civilians who have not managed to escape have been killed by the loosely organised militias known as anti-balaka." 

When the Qur'an spoke English

The earliest direct English translation of the holy book is a testament to its translator's resourcefulness

The first Muslim member of Congress assumed office in January 2007. For his swearing-in ceremony, Rep. Keith Ellison, D-Minn., chose to pledge on the Quran. The copy he used, specially loaned by the Library of Congress for the occasion, had once belonged to Thomas Jefferson. [Inset: The Qur'an once owned by Thomas Jefferson. Photo by  Haraz N. Ghanbari /AP] 

Why did Jefferson own a copy of the Quran? The third president was interested in Islam for many reasons, as Denise A. Spellberg explains in her book “Thomas Jefferson’s Qur’an.” He was able to read the holy book of Islam in the first place, however, only thanks to a recent translation, the first direct one from Arabic into English, a copy of which he purchased as a law student in 1765. That translation, by a young English lawyer named George Sale, would prove to have an outsize role in the Western study and understanding of the Quran. 

European interest in Islam

Long before Europeans governed Muslim colonies, interest in Islam and its cultures ran high in Europe. Part of the reason was political. Three Muslim empires dominated large parts of Asia: the Ottomans in Anatolia, the Mediterranean and Arabia; the Safavids in Persia; and the Mughals in India.

These Muslim dynasties were not just powerful but were also admired for their refined arts and culture — music, poetry, gardens, ceramics and textiles. Moreover, books in Arabic offered knowledge of many fields to those who learned the language. Not just the sciences and philosophy but even Arabic literature enticed European translators. Thus, in 1704 a Frenchman first translated the “1001 Nights,” whose tales soon became an enduring classic of European as well as of Arabic letters.

Above all else, the religion of Islam itself seemed an especially compelling field of inquiry to a variety of European scholars and thinkers. How had a handful of Muslims emerged from the Arabian Peninsula in the seventh century to conquer so much of the known world? This was one of the great questions of world history, as both the French Enlightenment philosopher Voltaire and the English historian Edward Gibbon agreed. In addition, philosophers and freethinking Christians deemed the central tenet of Islam, the unity of God, more rational than the mystery of the Christian Trinity. Thus, many different Europeans attributed singular importance to Islam and the language of its revelation, Arabic.

True Belief: Trials and Rewards

Abdullah ibn Mughaffal relates: 

A man said to the Holy Prophet (pbuh): “Messenger of Allah, I love you”. 

He said: “Watch what you are saying!” 

The man said: “Indeed, I love you”; and repeated it three times. 

The Holy Prophet (pbuh) said: “If you do love me prepare for poverty, for poverty advances more rapidly towards one who loves me than does flood water towards its objective.” (Tirmidhi)

If there was such a love which existed in the times of the Holy Prophet (pbuh), it was love which was bonded a believer to another believer, only for the pleasure of Allah. And a greater love which existed is the love which a believer has for the prophet of Allah (pbuh) and a yet greater love is the love which the prophet had for the believers. Yet a greater love existed more than this love, and that is the love which the Holy Prophet (pbuh) had for Allah; but love, the true one is the one which Allah has for His prophet; after that love, then comes the love which Allah has for His creatures; especially His sincere servants. Therefore, it is such a great and beautiful love that the prophet loses himself in Allah, and Allah bestows upon him His favours and makes the hearts of the sincere people, and the seekers of truth to attach themselves to it (Allah, Allah’s love).

Divine Elects in the Garden of Islam

اِنَّ الدِّیۡنَ عِنۡدَ اللّٰہِ الۡاِسۡلَامُ ۟

‘Innad-Diina ‘indallaahil-Islaam.

Surely the (true) religion in the sight of Allah is Islam. (3: 20)

If Islam is the vehicle of life, the Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) is the representation of true life, in that which he is the perfect example of how a human, and especially a true servant of Allah must be for Allah in this temporal world despite living among the mixed existence of man, sometimes good, sometimes evil. 

Islam guides man towards perfecting himself for Allah, not the world and all that it contains. The world is temporary whereas the Creator of mankind exists for ever. Indeed, He has neither beginning nor end. He is there for all times, and His presence and appearance are beyond the conception of man. The Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) during his life on earth showed the correct way of life, by his own example. This is one of the fundamental duties of the seal of the prophets, that he provides such guidance which shall not only mark the people of his era, but humankind as a whole, and that till the Day of Judgement.

Allah says the Holy Qur'an:

“You are the best community that has been raised for mankind, enjoining what is right, forbidding what is wrong, and believing in Allah.” (3: 111)

Further in the Quran, in (14: 25-28), Allah says: 

“Have you not considered how Allah presents an example, (making) a good word like a good tree, whose root is firmly fixed and its branches (high) in the sky? It produces its fruit all the time, by permission of its Lord. And Allah presents examples for the people that perhaps they will be reminded. And the example of a bad word is like a bad tree, uprooted from the surface of the earth, not having any stability. Allah keeps firm those who believe, with the firm word, in worldly life and in the Hereafter. And Allah sends astray the wrongdoers. And Allah does what He wills.”

Obama on Freedom of Religion

President of the United States Barack Hussein Obama spoke at the National Prayer Breakfast, a decades-old Washington tradition, on February 06, 2014. "To harm anyone in the name of faith is to diminish our own relationship with God", says the President.

As instances of persecution and other violation of basic freedoms scar the lives of millions of people in different parts of the world, the President reminds that to respect human rights, particularly religious freedom, leaders everywhere must do more. Among the cases of egregious violation of religious freedoms, the President remembers the plight of, among others, the Ahmadi Muslims of Pakistan.

Read the Extracts from the Speech:

So each time we gather, it’s a chance to set aside the rush of our daily lives; to pause with humility before an Almighty God; to seek His grace; and, mindful of our own imperfections, to remember the admonition from the Book of Romans, which is especially fitting for those of us in Washington: “Do not claim to be wiser than you are.”

So here we put aside labels of party and ideology, and recall what we are first: all children of a loving God; brothers and sisters called to make His work our own. But in this work, as Lincoln said, our concern should not be whether God is on our side, but whether we are on God’s side…

Meaning of “Khatamun-Nabiyyin"

The term “Khatamun-Nabiyyin” which when literally translated means ‘Seal of the prophets’ is grammatically a compound phrase. It is a matter of common knowledge that when two words join together to make a phrase, they do not necessarily give their literal meaning. For example, ‘Ibn’ means ‘son’ and ‘Sabil’ means way; but when these words is joint together to make ‘Ibn-Sabil’ it does not reflect an absolutely literal meaning. We thus don’t consider it to mean: ‘Son of the path’, it only means a traveller. 

Such titles was also a practice of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) whereby he used to name his companions according to sometimes memorable events or simply because of the situation in which he found them. For example, he named his cousin, son-in-law and his fourth successor Ali (ra), Abu Turab, which literally means: Father of the soil/sand, which of course Hazrat Ali (ra) was not literally one, but the Prophet of Allah (pbuh) gave him the name as an adjective or attribute and not as a literal meaning. So the real sense of a phrase is determined by grammar, its usage in language and the context in which it is used.

It is an established and unchangeable rule of Arabic grammar and language that when the word ‘Khatam’ is used in the praise of a person and its combining word is a ‘group of talented people’, it never means that the person called ‘Khatam’ is the last or final to appear in respect of time. It always means that in the opinion of the user, the person concerned is the perfect and supreme in that ‘group of talented people’ and that he has achieved the last and final grade in that particular excellence. The Islamic literature is full of such instances and not a single example can be cited against this rule.  

Remembering the "Seal of Prophets"

A seal sets a distinction from all other things. Now a Seal among humans and prophets bring about the exquisite perfection of such a being without whom, the example of leader and follower would be in vain. A true leader is the one who not only guides his people in the right path, but also set examples for them to follow; such examples which are priceless if only these peoples put those actions into motion. The followership emotion derived from such leadership is simply amazing and beyond definition.

If the Quran is a Book sent to mankind; not only Muslims, then Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) is also not only a prophet for the Muslims alone. As a Bringer of good news and a Warner he came like his brethrens from among the prophets of the past, including his ancestor and patriarch Abraham (uhbp) to preach the words of God Almighty so that humankind may reform and connect with their Maker. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) came as a light to shed to pieces the darkness of unfaith and immorality.

Prophet Muhammad: The Perfect Role Model

Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) is the only human and divine prophet to have reached the degree of perfect excellence, such excellence which is agreeable to human nature and the Creator Himself. With the revelation of the Holy Quran upon his humble self, Allah told him to say to the people: 

“If you love Allah, then follow me; Allah will love you, forgive you your sins.” (3: 32).

The declaration of the Holy Quran is clear. It is set with such a condition which is agreeable to the ways of Allah, which is: Obey Allah and Obey the Prophet. Guidelines to obeying Allah are found in obeying the prophet and manifest the exquisite nature of being a good listener of the divine revelations and putting those instructions into practice.

There is abundant historical evidence to prove that those who have reformed their lives, by deciding to mould their lives according to the Holy Prophet’s model emerged from the abyss of ignorance and barbarism and poverty to be the teachers of arts and sciences and morals and social good, and it is them who became the masters of the world. They did not only attain the utmost temporal progress, but also set such an example of religious and spiritual life of piety and righteousness and purity and chastity that Allah (twa) Himself proclaimed in the Holy Quran:

 “Allah is well pleased with them and they are well pleased with Allah.” (98: 9)

The fact is that the more the example of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) is taken into consideration and acted upon, the more the door of divine salvation opens to let manifest the love of Allah for such a devoted servant of Allah and true follower of the Seal of all prophets.

An Introduction to Islam

In his Friday Sermon of January 10, 2014 the Khalifatullah Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Sahib (atba) of Mauritius gives a profound and eloquent introduction to the religion of Islam. The true path to the Divine, preached and propagated by the Messengers and Reformers all through history, continues to remain accessible for those who earnestly strive and transform their own selves to meet the rigours and trials of faith, assures the Messenger of Allah of our times.

Read the Extracts from the Sermon:

Without faith in God Almighty, man is blind. The essence of all religions is to bring forward mankind as one family under the banner of the unity of the Creator of the Heavens and Earth.

Religion has been and will always be what man makes of it, and that is why man must take absolute precaution as to how he defines religion and how he goes about implementing religion, the true one in his everyday life. Religion may become a mere thought if not defined properly and acted upon. That is why God Almighty Himself brought forward Islam as the living religion of man. It is not only a religion, but the actual way of life of mankind, and especially the dedicated servants of God. From Prophet Adam to the last of all the law-bearing prophets, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), religion received its true meaning and purpose: to access to God Almighty (Allah – the Supreme and Absolute name of Almighty God; name which no human can and will hold).

Islam: The true purpose of life, absolute submission to the living and unique God, the religion of peace and harmony bringing mankind as one entity in the worship of the Almighty.

Safar Zikrullah and the Fate of Ariel Sharon

The Muslim world faces enormous challenges in our present era. Powerful adversaries have conquered and destroyed the Muslim lands and peoples in Palestine, Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, etc. Millions of Muslims have become refugees and internally displaced peoples, in search of right to life and dignity. The bombings and killings and the hardships of war and crimes have afflicted the Muslim psyche with feelings of helplessness and agony. The events of the last decade- Ariel Sharon laying siege on the Al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, Bush-Blair combine unleashing the wars on Iraq and Afghanistan-powerfully underscored the tragic situation of the Muslim Ummah.

It was under these circumstances that Allah the Most High directed His Chosen Messenger- Muhyi-ud Din Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Sahib (atba)- to observe Safar Zikrullah, a spiritual retreat to devout time for fervent prayers for the destruction of the arch-enemies of Islam. In his Friday Sermon of January 17, 2014 the Khalifatullah Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Sahib (atba) of Mauritius briefly mentioned about the event in the context of the end of Ariel Sharon, the war-criminal politician of Israel, who died last week after 8 years in coma.

Ariel Sharon: ‘Troubled legacy of a bulldozer’

The passing of Ariel Sharon, the war criminal-politician of Israel, is a grim reminder of the continuing injustice and impoverishment of the brave Palestinian people under conditions of racial apartheid and colonial enslavement in their own homeland, now known as the Occupied Territories. Sharon literally got away with murder and mayhem he unleashed against countless innocent civilians of Lebanon and Palestine, thanks to the support of the worldly powers that sustained his politics. Yet, he spent his last years of life in this very world in a condition of “neither living nor dead” in which no worldly might could be of any help or succour to him.  In an article published in the Hindu Newspaper (India) on January16, 2014, distinguished scholar Vijay Prashad points out that the eulogising pabulum that greeted Ariel Sharon’s death ignored his history as a harsh military leader with a record of many atrocities.

We reproduce the Essay for the benefit of our readers:

The settlements, for Ariel Sharon, were an instrument to make life so miserable for Palestinians that they would eventually quit the remainder of their lands

Raising Children in Islam

Right upbringing of children is critically important in our times. In this context, on the occasion of the First Jalsa Salana (Annual Conference) of the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam, Madagascar on 21 November 2013, the Khalifatullah Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Sahib (atba) of Mauritius gave a discourse of practical methods for parents to understand, absorb, discuss and implement in their everyday lives in the families.  

Read the Extracts from the Jalsa Sermon:

You know, in this selfish world we live in, moral values ​​are violated. Man is blinded by material wealth and luxury. Spiritual riches are trampled. The tidal wave of materialism surges from a country to another. Dehumanizing theories invade our hearts. Peace has become a rare commodity. Only the sweetness of Islam can save mankind. To achieve this peace which is so desperately needed today, every Muslim should at least try to raise their children in accordance with the traditions that Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) bequeath us. Parental responsibility is great. They must preach the good word to their children. They should provide and maintain the Islamic spirit in the family and ensure that Islam progress therein.