Significance of Surah Al Fatiha

'... I have chosen to talk/explain today on a never-ending subject. I can say that if the ocean was ink and all trees in this world and the universe were pens and the sky and earth were papers, therefore all these would have come to an end but not the commentary of the Surah Al-Fatiha. This is because of the high importance of this chapter in the life of a believer, and this chapter is the first chapter of the Holy Quran. It is so important that one has to start with the Surah Al-Fatiha when he begins his prayer (Namaz/Salat). And to start supplications (duahs) to Allah, the Surah Al-Fatiha needs to be recited first. This is because of the nature of its greatness as a chapter and duah. In whatever situation a person may be, be it a difficulty, an illness or a state of suffering or any other problems he finds himself in, therefore he needs to recite the Surah Al-Fatiha.

By the grace of Allah, today 22^nd August 2014, I have thought about explaining a bit again on this very important chapter – the Surah Al-Fatiha. I know that there is no end to the commentary of this Surah. Centuries after centuries after my advent, there shall come many more divinely-sent reformers (Mujaddid), caliphs of Allah (Khalifatullah) and other Men of God who shall keep on explaining on this chapter, Surah, which is the Surah Al-Fatiha.

The word “Fatiha” comes from the verb “Fataha”, which means in this context “to open”. “Al” is a defined article and Fatiha (feminine here because it refers to the word Surah which is feminine in Arabic) means the opening Surah, which starts the Quran because it is that Surah which comes first in the Quran, that is, when you open the Quran, it is that very important key which is required to open the Quran. It is also important as a key to open your heart to your Creator, to show the great extent of love which you have for Him and which enables you to recognise your Lord (Allah) as the Master of the Day of Judgement. And it is Him whom we worship and to Him alone we beseech forgiveness… In addition it is with the Surah Al-Fatiha itself that we are able to open our Salat/Namaz (prayer). It is the first Surah that we recite in the Salat.

Unity and Brotherhood among Muslims

“O mankind! We created you from a male and a female, and made ​​you into nations and tribes so that you may know each other. The noblest of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous. Allah is Knower, Aware.” (49: 14)

The concept of Jama’ah (Group/Congregation/One single fraternity) in Islam is exclusive. Religion is the law and the law is religion. Known as Shariah, the law of Allah the Exalted is the motivating force in the community. As such, we can say that social success for Muslims is drawn in a very simple formula: Shariah – Community – Mutual Strength. However, nothing can be achieved in the division of personal, ideological and partisan values. The unit is the cornerstone of success for Allah the Exalted explicitly commands and strongly warns in His Book:

“And be not like those who are divided and began to argue, after the clear proofs had come to them, and these will have a grievous chastisement.” (3: 106)

It is not enough to simply pronounce the Shahada to become a Muslim completely. It also requires conviction and resolution by applying the decrees that God has provided for His servants. It is then that the Muslim community shall realize the importance of brotherhood and unity in Islam. This unique form of union that Islam prescribes is the backbone of any society. The very basis of citizenship is universal brotherhood in piety. Brotherhood in Islam translates to “community”, “nation” or “people”, and includes people of different temperaments, different qualities, different races, languages ​​and histories, but who are nevertheless united at the heart of servitude to Allah the Exalted. We received a single instruction, and we were ordered to live within a single religion, and so our goal should be distinct and unique, propagating or serving the oneness of Allah the Exalted, the Almighty. The ideal Muslim community is one that is happy, far from doubts, anger, jealousy, and not affected by hypocrisy, pride and hatred.

Abdullah ibn Umar reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:“A Muslim is the brother of another Muslim. So he should neither oppress him nor hand him over to an oppressor. And whoever meets the needs of his brother, Allah will meet his needs.” (Bukhari). 

In another Hadith narrated by Anas ibn Malik, the Prophet of Allah (peace be upon him) said: “Do not hate each other and do not be jealous of each other and do not desert each other, O worshipers of Allah! Be brothers! It is not permissible for a Muslim to abandon his brother for more than three days.” (Bukhari)

The Quran and Sunnah emphasized the eminence of brotherhood. It is the key to the door of social success. Therefore, as Muslims, we have the responsibility to build our society according to the principles of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) who defined for his community an ideal way of life and a perfect model of community maintenance. We must live in accordance with the Sunnah which orders us to be kind to our brothers and sisters, to be tolerant, humble and supportive to achieve peace and success. It is the key to the door of achievement.

Brotherhood is the emblem indicating our superiority over other communities. If we are all facing in the same direction in life, our mutual support will be added to our winning probability. Unity is strength, builds confidence and prosperity. Therefore, Muslims around the world should not be driven by carelessness and indifference to his brother, far from it! Mutual support and cooperation should be the moral principle by which Muslims relate to each other. It is then that the binding of hearts shall come out stronger and protected.

'Muttaqi' and the Good Life

Taqwa is a quality or character (or way of being) which enables a person to live according to the Shariah (Islamic Laws). It regulates his entire life according to the divine commandments, by enabling the person to follow or imitate the blessed behaviour and practices of our beloved prophet, the noble prophet Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh). The one who inculcates this quality in him in a permanent way is called a Muttaqi (God-fearing/pious, righteous person). That is why we also call him Deendar (devout, religious) or someone who is very serious in matters of Deen (meaning to say, religion, particularly, Islam).

A religious person has always the good fortune of living well in this temporal life also. Allah the Almighty says in the Noble Quran:

“Whoever does righteousness, whether male or female, while he is a believer - We will surely cause him to live a good life…” (16: 98).

As for the difficulties he experiences, these are only easily surmounted difficulties, easily resolved because he knows that life on earth is only temporary/limited. Therefore, he knows that the problems also are temporary. (In his perspective) knowing that the problems are temporary is in itself a great relief. Being a Muslim, he knows that come what may, all situations that he undergoes are what Allah has decreed for him.

Palestine: Israel's War crimes

Rabbih-kum bil-haqq! Wa rabbunar-rahmanul musta-'aanu 'aala maa tasifoon. 

“My Rabb (Lord)! You decide with truth. And our Rabb (Lord) is the Rahman (Most Gracious) whose help is invoked against what you attribute.”

The month of Ramadan, as well as the Eid festival and these difficult days witnessed to a deep sorrow for I could not from my mind those pictures of small innocent Palestinian children killed by the Israelite army. During the month of Ramadan I was terribly overthrown with the shocking pictures of innocent children torn down by bombs.

How can we think that is no problem in Muslim countries when each day, in front of your eyes, parents are carrying the coffins of their children? How can we celebrate festivals, eating and drinking and enjoy ourselves when all these people, all these families have nothing to eat and drink, have nothing with which to clothe themselves properly, have no place to accomplish their Salat (prayers) and not even water to drink and make ablution (Wu’zu)? These are mourning days for me. I ask myself how the Nobel Prize could have been given to Barrack Obama who is a passive accomplice of this tragedy! We should have a special thought for all these Palestinians who are being killed daily, dying as martyrs under the bombs of the Israelites. 

There are lessons to be learned from the tragedy of Palestine. While Palestinians are dying without food, their rich Arab cousins ​​in Dubai and Kuwait are competing to build the tallest skyscrapers in the world. Where is the unity of the Ummah ? Arab countries keep a low profile, watching like spectators. Previously it was said that the Ethiopians were searching in garbage cans for food. Today the Libyans, Syrians, despite living in rich countries search garbage cans for food. There is the absolute need to recover the lost unity. Divided like this, the Arab countries are getting trampled upon. I personally cannot help being deeply upset, shocked and confused, throughout the month of Ramadan by the events in the Middle East.

Afflictions of 'Qiyamah'

And guard yourselves against a chastisement which cannot fall exclusively on those of you who are wrong-doers, and know that Allah is severe in punishment. (8: 25)

Man needs to understand this well that whenever there is birth, there shall be definitely death like mentioned in the Holy Quran whereby Allah the Exalted has said that:  “Each soul (life) shall taste death. And We test you with evil and with good as trial; and to Us you will be returned.” (21: 36). 

The Hadiths, narrated by Hazrat Anas (ra) also inform us that Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) has said: “A time shall come when those practicing religion shall be similar to those holding embers in (the palm of) their hands.” (Tirmidhi).

What is being explained (in the Hadiths) is that there shall be many people who shall consider it a burden to practice religion like it is difficult for one to hold embers in one’s hand. And our beloved prophet (pbuh) has informed his Ummah also that before the Day of Judgement (Qiyamah) there shall many afflictions (fitna) which shall be like darkness wherein believers shall not see any way out; such afflictions which shall be frightening and dangerous. Many of these believers shall lose faith and shall not practice religion at all. In the morning there are some who shall have faith (Iman), but due to personal gain, or under the domination of the tyrants (Zalims), or under the influence of an infidel, such kind of believer shall lose his faith in the afternoon. As for those who are weak in faith, they shall see it difficult to remain firm on the path (the religion) of Islam.

'Eid-ul-Fitr' Sermon 2014

Ramadan has come to an end for this year. But the good deeds that we have been doing during the month of Ramadan must not end; it must continue till the next Ramadan. Fasting is the essence of all worship and it enables man to accomplish all his obligations towards others and also to Allah in a perfect manner.

During the Ramadan, the members of the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam have elevated their level of prayers (Salat/Namaz) as well as getting up early to partake of the Sehri to start their fast. Likewise, this practice must continue, whereby we get up early for the Tahajjud, perform the Salat-ul-Fajr on time and delve in the recitation of the Holy Quran in the morning which is specially rewarding in terms of blessings.

Unfortunately, for those still alive and have got the opportunity to live this blessed month, but who have not reaped any profit/benefit and have not received any divine blessing, then let them bear in mind that their lives have gone to waste when they do not observe that blessed month as it should be done. Furthermore, how can they be happy today, Eid Day when they have let these exceptional days slip out of their hands? When the fast is neglected for no valid reason, this is verily a serious matter (a failure on the part of Muslims). How can these people be happy today when they have not established all the acts of worship in Ramadan like it should have been?

Therefore, each person who says that he believes (in Allah and all tenets of Islam), that he is a believer, therefore he must put into practice all good intentions that he holds, and he must absolutely not miss to seek the divine blessings during the month of Ramadan. To this end he must supplicate Allah in such a way that all in heavens can hear also, and whereby the angels diffuse these supplications throughout the entire world.

Eid Day is for those who have spent a month in the obedience of Allah; they have shunned all that was not permissible for them; they left all, showing their love, and obedience only to Allah. For those who have submitted totally to Him, and have spent the month in sacrifice for the sake of Allah, then Almighty Allah gives them an Eid Day; a day of joy for those who spent the blessed month in the obedience of Allah the Almighty.

True spirit of 'Eid-ul-Fitr'

Eid-ul-Fitr is the gift of Allah to Muslims to reward them for their endurance as well as their obedience and devotion to Him during Ramadan. Since fasting is obligatory on all Muslims during Ramadan, celebrating Eid is incumbent upon them as a community (one Ummah). It is the occasion offered to them to enjoy divine favours, to rejoice, to wear their best, to be at their best and to eat and drink what best has been prepared for it is expressly forbidden to fast on this festive day. But as always in Islam, all in spirit of moderation!

Eid-ul-Fitr is a day of peace and blessing; it is a day of sharing; it is also a day celebrated in the warmth of the family. The festivities of Eid-ul-Fitr commence with thanksgiving, assemble in the mosques in the early morning, prayer is offered and a special sermon is delivered, often on the theme of the gains obtained in the outgoing blessed month of Ramadan and the efforts which one and all must make to keep up with the good habits and the mode of behaviours that Ramadan has helped to achieve. Thereafter greetings are exchanged, visits are paid to friends and relatives, the young visiting the elders, gifts are offered to children, dainties are shared especially with neighbours; in certain families, there exists the tradition of visiting the dear departed ones (in cemeteries) to invoke the Almighty’s blessings on their souls. 

‘Heart’ as a Spiritual Metaphor

The heart, a vital organ and essential in its role of pumping blood in the human body is considered, since ages, as the seat of feelings. This is certainly due to the fact that the heart rate increases with emotions. Indeed, love is symbolized by a heart! The heart is small but can contain vast emotions like the ocean. Over the centuries, an infinite amount of expressions in different languages ​​have been linked to heart; expressions associated with emotions (e.g. with a good heart, with all my heart, with rage in the heart), courage (e.g. having one’s heart in the stomach – French Expression “avoir du coeur au ventre”), others in which a loved one is designated (e.g. my little heart, my heart), the inner life (e.g. speaking from the heart), or even the memory (e.g. learning by heart). In our local Creole language there can also be found: Lekér sale (dirty heart), Lekér roche (having a stone in place of the heart),Lekér fermal (a wounded heart), Lekér l’or (a golden heart/ a heart of gold)...

The heart is also a great symbol related to many interpretations, including: The dwelling of faith and of knowledge, understanding, thinking, feelings etc. The heart is described by scientists as the king of organs; it is the seat of the sincerity of a person, without which none of his actions are accepted.

Several hadiths explicitly cite the supremacy of the heart. The Holy Prophet (pbuh) said: “Surely there is in the body a small piece of flesh; if it is in good condition the whole body is in good condition, and if it is corrupt the whole body is corrupt and that is the heart.” (Bukhari). He (pbuh) also said: “Surely Allah does not look at your bodies nor your faces but He looks at your hearts.” (Muslim).

Wabisah Ibn Ma’bad (ra) said: “I once went to the Messenger of God (pbuh) and he said:" 

“Have you come to inquire about virtue (good)?” 

“Yes,” I replied, and he said: “Ask your heart. Virtue is that which contents the soul and comforts the heart, and sin is that which causes doubts and perturbs the heart, even if people pronounce it lawful and give you verdicts on such matters again and again.” (Musnad Ahmad)

'Tabligh' among Ahmadis: A Kerala Incident

Freedom of religion in any civilized society includes the fundamental human rights to profess, practice and preach one's spiritual convictions, regardless of whether the State or other persons in society approve of those beliefs and practices. There can be no compulsion in matters of religion. Just as no one can be forced against their will to listen to a discourse, no one has the liberty to obstruct the peaceful preaching of a message to others, either. And the preaching of Islam is an appeal to the spiritual conscience of men and women. As the Holy Qur'an says, 'the truth has come from your Lord: let those who wish to believe in it do so, and let those who wish to reject it do so' (18: 30). Divine Messengers in the past had repeatedly been asked to convey the situation as it is: "People, the Truth has come to you from your Lord. Whoever follows the right path follows it for his own good, and whoever strays does so to his own loss: I am not your Guardian" (10:109).

For a century or so, the mainstream Ahmadis had relied on these sublime Islamic principles of freedom of human conscience and the liberty of individual choices in their extraordinary efforts in spreading the message of Islam-Ahmadiyyat among hostile opponents and other adversarial elements everywhere. Yet, today they are increasingly intolerant. This is starkly visible in Kerala these days, even as the message of Allah, being conveyed through the Divine Reformer of our times, the Khalifatullah Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Sahib (atba) of Mauritius, has recently reached the corners of India. 

When the disciples of the Khalifatullah (atba) recently sought to convey the Divine message in the town of Karunagappally, the Ahmadi youths in Kerala (India) got enraged and wanted to extinguish the possibility of the message reaching the common Ahmadis. In his Friday Sermon of July 18, 2014, in the course of his expositions on the Holy Month of Ramadan, the Khalifatullah (atba) took note of the Tabligh Incident.

'Laila-tul- Qadr' in Ramadan

“In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Indeed, We sent the Qur’an down during the Night of Decree. And what can make you know what the Night of Decree is? The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months. The angels and the Spirit descend therein by permission of their Lord for every matter. Peace it is until the emergence of dawn.” (97: 1-6)  

In the light of these verses of the Chapter Al-Qadr (the Destiny/Decree), it shall be good for us to recall once again how these verses were revealed.

One day, the Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) was relating the life of a pious man (Wali) by the name of Shamsun (ra) who used to live among the Children of Israel. From what we understand, he was someone who used to pray a lot and struggle hard for the cause of Allah for the duration of a thousand months. When the companions of the Holy Prophet (pbuh) heard that, they became sad upon thinking that they would never be able to surpass Hazrat Shamsun (ra). As an encouragement, Allah said that if the Community of the Prophet of Allah (pbuh) indulge in acts of worship during the Night of Decree (Laila-tul-Qadr), therefore their prayers would earn rewards better than a thousand months of worship. (Ruh’ul Bayan, Vol. 10 pg. 483)

In Hadith, Hazrat Anas bin Malik (ra) narrated that the Messenger of Allah stated about the month of Ramadan: “This month (of Ramadan) has begun and there is a night in it better than one thousand month. So, any one deprived of its blessings is actually deprived of all goodness. Indeed, He is truly deprived who is kept away from its good.” (Ibn Majah, Mishkat)

Therefore, the Night of Decree is a night filled with blessings and is very valuable. It is a great divine favour upon the Ummah of the Prophet of Allah (pbuh) when transforming acts of worship made during the Night of Decree into acts of worship (prayers) which is worth more than a thousand months of blessings. For the communities of the past prophets, there were no such designed night reserved for the descent on earth of Hazrat Jibreel (as) and the angels except for the Muslims whereby they send the divine peace on the Muslims absorbed in any act of worship and thus these angels prays for them and ask forgiveness for them. In His wisdom, Allah has hidden that special night in the last 10 holy nights of Ramadan so that the Muslims make efforts to seek it. In this way, their courage increase and they spend their time in worship for Allah so as to reap the blessings concealed in the Night of Decree.

Being Good or Bad : Islamic Human Values

Islam has established a number of fundamental rights, valid for all humanity and must be observed and respected under all circumstances. To this end, Islam provides not only legal guarantees but also a very effective moral system. Thus in Islam anything that leads to the well-being of the individual or society is morally good, and everything that is injurious to him/it is morally bad. Islam attaches so much importance to the love of God and love of man that it warns against too much formalism. We read in the Holy Qur’an:  “Virtue does not consist in turning your faces towards the east or the west; virtuous are those who believe in God and the Last Day, the angels and the Book and the prophets, who give for the love of God help to their relatives and to orphans and the needy and travellers, and those who ask, who free captives, who observe prayer, who practice alms-giving, who fulfill the commitment they assume, who show patience in adversity, in hard times and in times of violence. Those are just and fear the Lord.” (2: 178)

We have here a beautiful description of the righteous and God-fearing believer, who obeys to (and implements) the salutary precepts, but without ceasing to gaze upon the love of God and love of as fellow human beings. We have received four precepts:

a) Our faith should be true and sincere.

b) We must be prepared to show it by acts of charity towards our fellow human beings.

c) We must be good citizens.

d) Our soul must be firm and steadfast in all circumstances.

This is the criterion upon which all individual behaviour is judged as good or bad. This criterion is somehow the nucleus around which revolve all the elements that constitute the moral conduct of each person. Before establishing moral precepts, Islam seeks to firmly implant in man’s heart the conviction that he is in constant contact with God who sees him at all times and in all places, that he can hide from the world, but not of Him; he can fool anyone, but not God, he can escape the clutches of anyone except God.

Khalifatullah visits Reunion Island

June 2014: Dawa Highlights

Day One

Alhamdulillah, upon reaching Reunion Island, the Khalifatullah^(atba) was warmly welcomed by the Vice-President of the Jamaat. There was a good interaction between the two and our respected brother took Huzur^(atba) to refresh himself before the start of the mini-Jalsa Salana (half-day) to be held after Zuhr prayer.

Jalsa Salana Programme:

v  Quran Recitation (with translation) by our brother Mohamed Ahmad.

v  An Opening/Welcoming Speech by the Vice-President of the Jamaat.

v  A speech by the Sadr Siraj Makin of the Reunion Jamaat axed on the role of women of the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam in the modern society.

v  A break of 20 minutes spent in our members & guests from various religious denominations meeting with the Messenger of Allah^(atba).

o   Diner & Salat-ul-Maghrib/Esha in congregation.

v  Quran Recitation (with translation) by our brother Ismaël.

v  Closing Speech by Hazrat Khalifatullah Munir A. Azim^(atba).

v  Collective Prayer (duas) & refreshments.

The Mini-Jalsa Salana ended at around 20.45pm, and everybody returned home satisfied and thankful to Allah that they have got the opportunity to meet with Huzur^(atba) twice in a year. Alhamdulillah.

Day Two

Huzur^(atba) and some of our members spent the day in Dawa at Sainte Clotilde. In the course of the Dawa expedition, he encountered a Mourid Imam with whom he got a clash on the matter of religion. Later on, he met with a Muslim (a Shiite Mullah) at Moufia and there itself was held a question and answers session on the death of Jesus Christ^(as), to which many people assisted. The Khalifatullah^(atba) exposed to him several verses of the Holy Quran and other proofs from the Hadiths but despite all this, the Mullah refused to acknowledge the truth exposed by the Holy Quran on the subject. He even sought to deviate the people who were witnessing the debate from the true viewpoint of the Holy Quran which the Khalifatullah^(atba) sought to make apparent.

'Fasting is a Shield against Evil'

Yaaa-’ayyu-hallaziina ‘aamanuu kutiba ‘alay-kumus-Siyaamu kamaa kutiba ‘alal lazina min qablikum la-’alla-kum tatta-quun.

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

The word ‘Siyaam’ (fasting) as mentioned in the Holy Quran can also be called ‘Sawm’, which means ‘to abstain from something’. Abstaining from something does not mean only abstaining from food and drink, no! It also refers to abstaining from vain talks/too much talking; for on the contrary you should concentrate more on Quran reading as well as its translation, concentrate on the remembrance of Allah (Zikrullah) and supplications (duas). Abstention should also be made of sleep, whereby you devote yourself to the voluntary additional prayers when you are fasting during the day. During this period, therefore abstention should also be made of sexual relation with your spouses, and you must learn to control your carnal desires (nafs) and your tongue. This also allows you to multiply more good deeds, help the poor and spend a lot in charity.

When you learn to understand this verse of the Quran (the above-mentioned verse) and you reflect on it, you shall see (deduce) that all the good deeds done in this blessed month (Ramadan) are all acts of worship which a believer does and he does it sincerely for Allah alone. He (the believer) accepts to abstain from all things which were usually licit for him during the previous eleven months and which are made (temporary) illicit for him from before sunrise till after sunset.

Ramadan: Ibadah and Taqwa

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

Wa maa khalaqtul-Jinna wal-’insa ‘illaa liya’-buduun.

“I have not created jinn and mankind except to worship Me.” (51: 57).

The month of Ramadan is once again before our door by the grace of Allah. It is a month which is awaited by believers because it contains many benefits and virtues. During the month of Shabaan, Friday sermons (Khutba) often focus on the value of this great month. It is said that Ramadan is a month of worship (Ibadah). Verily, we must rather say that it is a month to increase our acts of worship (Ibadah) because we have been created with the purpose of worshiping Allah (swt).

“I have not created jinn and mankind except to worship Me.” (51: 57).

In addition to the virtues of this blessed month it is important that we know what is the purpose of these acts of worship during this month. In the Quran, Allah (swt) clearly defines the purpose of the fasting month of Ramadhan: “O you who believe! Fasting has been prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become righteous.” (2: 184).

Generally the word taqwa is translated by ‘fear of Allah’ or ‘piety’. The word taqwa is derived from the word ‘waqaa’ which means protection/protecting oneself.

Gaza: Letter to the Israel PM

The Prime Minister of Israel

Benjamin Netanyahu

Prime Minister’s Office
3 Kaplan St. Hakirya

Jerusalem – 91950

14 July 2014

Mr. the Prime Minister,

As the worldwide spiritual leader of Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam, I am deeply sad to learn that in this holy month of Ramadan where all Muslims around the world are fasting and also our brothers, sisters and children in Palestine are observing fasting and concentrating on all the instructions given by the Creator of the Universe during this holy month, how merciless on your part – the Israelites – that you do not respect this Islamic holy month and the Muslim faith.

It is with a heavy heart that I learnt how Israel attacked among many others the Northern Gaza strip, hitting the centre for the disabled, killing two disabled women and wounding four. They fired a rocket and it hit these people without any warning. Later on, an Israeli strike hit the Tuffah district in eastern Gaza city, targeting a home and a mosque and killing nearly 20 people. In another strike which happened in the evening, three people were killed in Rafah in south of Gaza. And around dawn on Sunday a 14 year old Palestinian boy died when an Israeli air strike hit his home in Jabaliya. The bodies of five Palestinians killed in an Israeli air strike on a house are seen in the Shifa hospital in Gaza city.

Israel Defense Forces stroke 60 targets in Gaza; 14 Palestinians killed overnight. Is Israel preparing for additional long days of fighting, spreading the blood of the Muslims? 124 Palestinians were killed by an Israeli air bombardment since Tuesday 8^th July and this has been confirmed by medical sources in Gaza. An estimated 900 Palestinians have also been wounded, with some losing limbs and others disabled for life. The majority of the wounded are children. All of the casualties are victims of Israeli bombs dropped on Gaza since Tuesday 8^th July.

Videos have been circulated on the barbaric bombardment of Israel on Gaza, with also the Israeli Air Force dropping mortars on the roofs of homes before destroying them with bigger bombs. Terror in the voices of the Palestinian could be heard. And buildings are destroyed seconds later! What is the difference between state terror and any other king, except the magnitude? Do you take yourself as God on earth to take lives of innocent people in this way? I have seen many false gods on earth, how they were destroyed by the overpowering Lord when they dared to play God on earth!

Divine Favours: 'Count your Blessings'

Fabi-‘ayyi ‘aalaaa-‘i Rabbikumaa tukazzibaan?

“So which of the favours of your Lord will you deny?”

(Ar-Rahman: Chapter 55)

This verse of Surah Ar-Rahman is mentioned 31 times in order to properly inform the believers that they should never forget that all these blessings come from our Creator and from no one else and that He has reserved such blessings also in the hereafter (Aakhirat). Indeed, all the needs of a living being are made ​​available to him (by Allah). Allah (swt) says:

 

“We (Allah) have made ​​the day for livelihood.” (78: 12)

See a living example starting with ourselves.

Once we wake up, we have to face many routines. First we need to breathe in clean air. Do we immediately think that it is one of favours we have been given?  We are healthy – another favour of Allah, the Most Glorious – we have no difficulty to do so because our respiratory system works perfectly.

As soon as we open our eyes, we see near and far images. Is this not a great favour of Allah? When we think, even for a minute, that there are at this moment, thousands of people who are blind! Did you know that the centre of the sight is found in the rear brain occupying few cubic centimetres?

on the 'Alaamaat' of Qiyamah

Wattaquu Yawman-turja ‘uuna fiihi ‘ilaallaah. Summa tuwaffaa kullu nafsim-maa kasabat wa hum laa yuz-lamuun.

“And fear a Day (that is, Qiyamah) when you will be returned to Allah. Then every soul will be compensated for what it earned, and they will not be treated unjustly.”(2: 282).

The word Qiyamah appears 70 times in the Holy Quran. Allah the Almighty has also called it (Qiyamah) by many other names in the Holy Quran and each name shows an aspect of Qiyamah. For example, among others:

 1. As-Sa’a (The Appointed Hour)

 2. Al-Yaum-ul-Haqq (The Day of Truth, that is, the advent of such a day about which there is no doubt)

 3. Al-Yaum-ul-Mal’oom (The Known Hour)

4. Yaum-ul-Aazifa (The Terrifying Day which is approaching), 

5. Yaum-un-Assir (The Hard Day),

6.  Yaum-un-Azim (The Great Day), 

7. Yaum-ul-B’ath (The Day of Resurrection), 

8. Yaum-un-Talaaq (The Day of Meeting, that is, meeting with Allah the Almighty), 

9. Yaum-ul-Jama (The Day of Assembly), 

10. Yaum-ul-Khuruj (The Day of Coming Out, that is, from the tomb) 

11. An-Naba-ul-Azim (The Great News). 

12. Al-Haqqa (The Inevitable).

‘Ilm-e-Ghayb’ and the Divine Signs

Signs of our Times

‘Innas-Saa-’ata la-’aatiyatul laa rayba fiihaa wa laakinna ‘aksaran-naasi laa yu’-minuun. – “Indeed, the Hour is coming - no doubt about it - but most of the people do not believe.” (Al-Mu'min, 40: 60).

Nowadays, we are seeing that time is passing so quickly and that all sort of problems are cropping up. We are suffering a change in nature and also a change in the human attitude and behaviour.

Consequently, we (as humans) are worried about our future. When we analyse the situation, we see how the world is being degraded and going to its lost: there are hypocrisy, power thirst, wars, strife, persecution against the weak, infidelity, bestiality, as well as atrocities, complicity and concealed tolerance for the crimes against humanity etc.

On the other hand, in alarming and uncontrolled proportions, there are all sorts of calamities of nature: heat wave, drought, fire, flood, famine, strange maladies (viruses etc.), earthquakes, cyclones and other catastrophes. This tendency brings us to think if there are not other cataclysms in the near future? When nature is inflicting upon us such sanctions, this also means that it is giving us a message, but unfortunately we are not understanding the message it is giving and thus as the situation is now and being presented to the world, spirituality has no place in such a world of decadence.

Divine Servants and the Ilm-e-Ghayb

In the Holy Quran, Allah the Exalted has said that the universe shall not exist forever and that from time to time, there shall be such occurrences and signs which shall announce the approach of the end of the universe. It is therefore necessary for us to be alert of those signs so that we can meditate on them and consequently consolidate our faith. Through the series of sermons (Friday Sermons) which I shall do on this subject, you shall come to realise that all messengers of Allah, and also this humble servant of Allah who is present before you all today have a profound knowledge of the unseen (Ilm-e-Ghayb) through Allah, and you can see that already many of the predictions/prophecies made have been realised, Alhamdulillah, Summa Alhamdulillah, and a believer must have faith that the other announced signs also shall come what may be realised by the infinite grace of Allah.