100 Years of Silsila Ahmadiyya in Mauritius

The Ahmadiyya Movement in Islam, founded by Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) of Qadian, originated in British India in the latter half of the 19^th century. At a time when the spiritual crises of the Muslim world was graphically reflecting in the dismal political fortunes of the Muslim Ummah everywhere, Hadhrat Ahmad (as) announced his Divinely-ordained mission as the promised Massih of the Later Days and as the Al Imam Al Mahdi of the Fourteenth century of the Islamic Era, to rejuvenate the Faith.

Muslims, who accepted his spiritual claims and enrolled themselves in the Anjuman, have come to be known as the Ahmadi Muslims. Although they constitute a miniscule minority within the larger Muslim population of 1.7 Billion, the different denominations of Ahmadis- including the Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Qadian and the Lahore Ahmadiyya Anjuman- are now found in almost all parts of the world.

The birth of the Ahmadiyya Movement in the Indian subcontinent and the story of its remarkable spread abroad over the course of the last century represent an important Chapter in the religious history of our times. This episode from the modern, living history of man is a standing testimonial to the continuing spiritual appeal and religious vitality of Islam as a way of life. 

Ahmadiyyat expanded and revitalized the spiritual horizon of Muslims and others through its very outlook on important spiritual questions that troubles modern minds. By bringing Divine Revelations back to the realm of individual spiritual experience and to the agenda of religious debates as an enduring, unstoppable path to the Divine, Hadhrat Ahmad (as) unveiled spiritual treasures long considered closed and forbidden.  Islam’s original call of “Laa Ilaah Illallah” -(There is no deity, but Allah)- get revitalized every time Allah (swt) raises His Messenger with the Message and to be a practical model to the people of his times.       

      

In an illuminating essay, published as a special Book by the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam International to commemorate the centennial of the Silsila Ahmadiyya in Mauritius, Hadhrat Khalifatullah Munir Ahmad Azim Saheb (atba), provides a fascinating glimpse into the early days of Ahmadiyyat in the Mauritius island located far away (from India), in the vast Indian Ocean. He portraits the devout souls of the Island who, despite all the hurdles of time and space, searched out for the vital signs of a living faith in the message of Ahmadiyyat and embraced it without hesitation, when they  recognized the veracity of the promised Massih (as). 

'Bai'ah' as 'Amaanah': Do Your Duty

The Holy Prophet (pbuh) said: 

“Render back trusts to the one who entrusted it to you, and do not betray the one who betrays you.” (Abu Dawud)

Amaanah is honesty. Honesty is the respect of rights and commitments. It is also to assume one’s responsibilities. Responsibilities are a charge that Allah (twa) has entrusted to us. By fulfilling our responsibilities we render back trusts to the one who is entitled to it.

Faith is an Amaanah. The practice of religious obligations such as Prayers (Salat), Fasting (Sawm), Mandatory Tax (Zakaat) Pilgrimage (Hajj) or even the Wudhu and Ghusl, is an Amaanah.

To carefully learn the tenets of the Muslim faith and the laws of Islam is an Amaanah. To teach the Religion (Islam) is an Amaanah. To give sincere and dedicated advice is an Amaanah. Enjoining good and preventing evil, the Haraam (anything that is illegal) and injustices is an Amaanah.

The opposite of Amaanah is Khiyaanah which is only betrayal, cheating, deception, falsehood and deceit. Thus, lying, fraud, deceit and deception are part of Khiyaanah. Amaanah is the characteristic of good, sincere and accomplished believer (Mumin). As for Khiyaanah, it is that of the hypocrite (Munafiq).

The Amaanah which is summarized in the rights and assurance of responsibilities is even more important than charity and forms of supererogatory spending (for cause of Allah) or charity (Sadaqaat). Allah (twa) ordered to first pay off the debts of the deceased, which is a return of the Amaanah to those concerned. Second, beneficiaries of the bequest are to receive their shares, and at last there is the division of the inheritance between the heirs.

Respect for the Amaanah is a character of the Prophets (as). 

When our beloved Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (saws) had sent his letter to the Byzantine Emperor (Heraclius) and to invite his people to Islam, the latter wished to have accurate information about our beloved Prophet. He was in the land of Palestine; so he called the Arab traders who were there. Among them was Abu Sufyan which was still a disbeliever (Kaafir). It was him that the emperor questioned because he was an important dignitary of the tribe of Quraysh, the people of the Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (saws).

Khalifatullah visits Madagascar: A Report

On 12 August 2015:  After Tahajjud and Fajr prayers, Hazrat Khalifatullah Munir A. Azim ^(atba) left for the airport. Flight for Madagascar (by Air Madagascar) was scheduled early in the morning. Upon reaching the big island, the Khalifatullah (atba) had to meet the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Home Affairs respectively who were very busy. The meeting was very important for the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam which by the grace of Allah was very successful.

Top Priority for Service to Humanity

After the meeting, the Messenger of Allah learnt that at the airport, there was a group of our Muslim brothers, sisters and children from a neighbouring island who were facing lots of difficulties and their situation were deplorable. They were not receiving any flight back home after their transit (since many days) and nobody were looking after their needs and helping them. Each time their flight was cancelled. Therefore, the Khalifatullah ^(atba) gave this “Service to Humanity” work priority and went to support these people.

Later on, when the Khalifatullah met with the members of the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam, he explained why he gave this work priority, saying: “Service to Humanity is the top of my priority, irrespective of people’s religion/faith. Service to Humanity is an act of worship (Ibadah). Our Jamaat is a Jamaat of Allah which needs to talk less and implement good deeds a lot for the pleasure of Allah.”

Eid-ul-Fitr: A Day of Harvest

A great blessed month has just left us; a month which each of us has no guarantee of seeing next year. All we can still hope is that Allah (twt) answers our prayers and supplications and accepts all our acts of worship (Ibaadat) and sacrifices made throughout the past month and grant us the promised rewards. Alhamdulillah (Praise be to Allah), the holy month of Ramadan has allowed Muslims to meet together, to converge en masse to the mosques, and besides they have committed themselves to fasting for the sake of Allah. Thus, the mosque found for the space of a month, its life and beauty.

How to explain this phenomenon? What could be the explanation for this behaviour if it is not faith (Iman in Allah) the driving force behind it all! Indeed, who is that Muslim who does not know the grandeur, splendour and importance of this month? The Muslim knows that any negligence would lead to his own loss as the chief of all angels, Hazrat Jibreel (as) has cursed the person who has foregone this opportunity to get divine forgiveness. The head of all prophets (as), the “Amin” (Worthy of Trust) Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) said “Ameen” to this curse.

If the faith of the Muslim enables him to have high regard for this month, so where does his Iman (faith) disappear when the new moon of Shawwal appears (for the Eid), and when he deserts the house of Allah? If he knows the blessings of Allah (twt) that are included in the holy month of Ramadan, he must also know the blessings that are included in Salat (Namaz). If he is aware of the serious consequences of his carelessness during Ramadan, he should probably be also aware of the negative consequences resulting from the abandonment of Salat. Why then this carelessness, indifference towards this great Ibaadat which the Namaz is?