'No Compulsion in Religion', says Qur'an

Islam's normative injunctions are all designed to foster freedom and justice and to promote a just social order. Its moral universe is informed by the Living Presence of Allah (swt), to whom people are responsible individually and collectively as a group- sect, religion, tribe, clan, nation, community, etc. - and are bound to account for their acts and omissions on the Day of Judgement. Several verses in the Qur'an affirms the inherent freedom of choice in people: "Had your Lord willed, all the people on earth would have believed. So can you (Prophet) compel people to believe? It is not for a soul to believe , save by God's Leave" (10: 99-100). 'Say, Now the truth has come from you Lord: let those who wish to believe in it do so, and let those those who wish to reject it do so' (18: 30).

Life in Arabia during the Holy Prophet's time also produced within its varied contingencies complex questions of freedom of choice in faith matters. Some of the Muslim parents had a dilemma: whether to force their children to join the then nascent Muslim community; or to respect the children's choice of joining their foster- parents' clan (Jewish tribe- Banu Nadir that was leaving from Madinah and some also wishing to join Christian merchants going to Syria). It might seem astonishing to some; but the Qur'anic verse-"There is no compulsion in religion" (2: 257) was  originally revealed to ensure the freedom of choice of the people who wished to leave Islam against the wishes of their Muslim families!

Even as Islam commands freedom of conscience and respects the right of people to make choices, it also allows resistance to oppression and injustice and to wage wars in self-defence in compelling political circumstances. What is not required or unjustified in general conditions of life, may gain validity of law and practice in exceptional circumstances. Necessity, proportionality, fairness and even-handed dealings are central to Islamic ethics, and the 'text' of moral injunctions need to be seen in the 'context' of the evolving circumstances of the Muslim life. Muslim Ulema who celebrate the 'cult of sword' in the name of Jihad/preaching of Islam are grossly misguided in reading the text without knowing its context. Their ill-considered views are detrimental to the fair name and legacy of Islam as a religion that appeals to human conscience and secular reasoning in equal measure. In his first Friday Sermon of the New Year- on 5th January 2018, Hadhrat Khalifatullah (atba) expounds profoundly on freedom of choice from a Qur'anic perspective and corrects the doctrinal mistakes of the Muslim Ulema on this vital question.  

7th Jalsa Salana in Kerala: A Report

Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam- South Kerala organized its Seventh Jalsa Salana at Noor’ul Islam Masjid, Mathra, 22-23 December 2017. Brothers from Alappuzha, Kaliyikkavila and also from Delhi, reached ahead of the commencement of the two-day programme.

The first day of the Jalsa, 22^nd December 2017, all brothers and sisters collectively offered the Tahajjud prayers and it was followed later by the Namaz-e-Fajr. Mukarram Amir Jamaluddin Saheb conducted a Dars-e-Qur’an, immediately after the Fajr Namaz.

At 11.00 a.m, the members assembled for the Inaugural Session, with Hazrat Mukarram Fazil Jamal Saheb delivering a speech “on the importance of Jalsa Salana”. The discourse was based on  a sermon delivered originally at the opening session of the Mauritius Jalsa earlier this year, by our beloved Imam Hadhrat Khalifatullah (atba), containing useful advices to think through our spiritual duties and practical ways to create a new world of spirituality with the advent of the new Divine Manifestation.

The Human Soul: States of Being

The spiritual journey is a life-long journey. Various stages of progress and development during the course of this journey may be described as achievements but the fact is that ultimate distinction and goal of this journey is never to be achieved in its totality. There is always a stage beyond the highest point of achievement and there is always a peak higher than that we set our feet upon. This has to be like that for the simple reason that in this spiritual journey we travel and ascend towards God whose infinite Being is, strictly speaking, beyond human comprehension.

Allah clearly states: Eyes cannot reach Him but He reaches the eyes. And He is the Incomprehensible, the All-Aware. (Al-Anam 6: 104).

Man discovers God according to his own limited knowledge and ability and along with the increase in his faculties of understanding God, his realisation of God goes on attaining higher stages. This point is well-epitomised in the Holy Quran. It says:

Every day he reveals Himself in a different state. (Ar-Rahman 55: 30).

Jalsa Message: 'Cultivate Taqwah'

Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam, Kerala (South) observed the 7th Jalsa Salana (Annual Conference) at the historic Noor'ul Islam Masjid, Mathra on December 22-23, 2017. On the occasion, our beloved Imam, Muhyi-ud-Din Al Khalifatullah Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Saheb (atba) of Mauritius addressed a special message to the members of the Jamaat in this part of the world.

In his speech, Hadhrat Saheb (atba) underscores the significance of 'Taqwa' in our spiritual life. A believer always need to strive for perfect congruence between  public declarations of faith and the actual deeds on everyday life. And yet, as a fallible human being, s/he is prone to be tempted and distracted into sins by "Satan and his army". By being aware of God's laws and regulations and restrictions in the affairs of this world; and through seeking Divine forgiveness after misdeeds are committed and by adopting 'Taqwa' as the true commander of the Heart in all affairs, a believer can make a good beginning in the quest for the True Beloved, confirms Hadhrat Saheb (atba). 

Read the Special Message below: 

Race with one another towards Forgiveness from your Lord and towards a paradise the width of which spans the heavens and the earth. It has been prepared for the God-fearing; Those who spend (freely), whether in prosperity, or in adversity; who restrain anger, and pardon (all) men; for Allah loves those who do good - and those who, when they happen to commit a shameful act or wrong themselves, remember Allah, then, seek forgiveness for their sins - and who is there to forgive sins except Allah? And who do not willfully persist in the wrong they did. For such the reward is forgiveness from their Lord, and Gardens with rivers flowing underneath - an eternal dwelling: How excellent a recompense for those who work (and strive)! (Al-Imran, 3: 134-137).

My dear disciples of the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam,

Assalamoualaikum Warahmatullah Wabarakaatuhu.

It is indeed a pleasure for me to address you few words on the special occasion of the 7^th Jalsa Salana, Kerala - South Zone, being held at our Noor’ul Islam Masjid in Mathra.

Like I have always and consistently advised all my disciples and truth seekers worldwide, it is absolutely necessary for a true believer in Allah to conform his life with ISLAM, i.e. the true way of life, by being a true Muslim and complying to all precepts of Islam. That is why, the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam should always promote the true Islam, and mould our members, my humble disciples, and those who shall one day come after me, to be true examples of Islam for their own selves and their families, but also as role models for the rest of mankind.

Year-End Parties: Islamic View

Year-end Celebrations

As the year draws to a close, we see many people spending money, either exorbitantly or in useless things, and they waste their money on alcoholic beverages and amusement. One of these waste is the purchase and lighting of firecrackers.

Lighting firecrackers is not the work/deed of a Muslim, for a good Muslim is one who lives his life according to the commandments of Almighty Allah. Lighting firecrackers is one of the ways to disobey Almighty Allah. When a person disobeys Almighty Allah he does not remain a good Muslim anymore. Lighting firecrackers is a waste. Someone who indulges in waste, Almighty Allah calls him brother of Satan because Satan attracts the person and makes him move away from Almighty Allah. There is no worse situation than someone getting away (or distancing himself) from Almighty Allah. Through the explosion of firecrackers, a person disturbs his neighbour and indisposes those who are already in pain. These explosions prevent people from resting. Someone who tires his neighbour is a Zalim (someone who does wrong). A Zalim exposes himself to divine wrath. Is there life more miserable than living in divine wrath?

The Beauty of Patience: Yusuf (as) in the Qur'an

Patience of the Prophets

Since the dawn of time, Allah has sent prophets in all ages and to all the nations of the world. A line of prophets came, all ennobled by the Messenger of Messengers, the Beloved Muhammad (pbuh), all of whom had endured countless hardships, all of whom had experienced the greatest difficulties during their prophetic mission. All of them had to face the fiercest and most murderous enemies, who erected themselves as a metal barrier on the way of these prophets during their stay on this earth.

But all had the same feeling, the same reaction: patience, trust in Allah Ta’ala and faith. In addition to the prophets, some of their wives have had the misfortune to experience the worst difficulties too. They also showed an unshakeable patience.

Today I will relate to you a little about the sad story of Hazrat Yusuf - Joseph (as). Being a young and handsome boy, he was betrayed by his own brothers and then by the wife of the Prime Minister of the King of Egypt. Imprisoned, he lost neither hope nor patience. His father Yaqub - Jacob (as) had to suffer the worst difficulties because of the abuse caused to his beloved son. He also showed patience and guided by his faith (Iman) and the divine revelations, he relied on Allah Ta’ala. This patience led father and son to reason, victory and family reconciliation.

Divine Message and the Fate of Choices

Acceptance & Rejection of the Divine Message

The Holy Quran makes religious progress dependent upon revolution. It says: And in no way do We send the Messengers except as bearers of glad tidings and as Warners. So those who believe and reform themselves, upon them shall come no fear nor shall they grieve. But as for those who reject Our signs, punishment will touch them for their defiant disobedience. (Al-Anam 6: 49-50).

That is, whenever We send a Messenger, he always proclaims two things: (i) he condemns the existing order to death; (ii) and in regard to the system he originates himself he proclaims, without ambiguity that it would be established in the world in its purity, without change or adjustment under any pressure to make it acceptable to this or that people. Those who submit to the system, and mould themselves in conformity with its requirements, survive and prosper, but those who do not do so, they gradually fade out of existence.

When a revolution occurs in the religious sphere, in Islamic terminology it is called 'Qiyamah'. Another expression used for it is Khalq-us-Samawat-i-wal-Ardh, i.e. the creation of a new earth and a new heaven. Still another name for it in the language of the Holy Quran is Al-Sa'ah.

The word 'revolution' which is roughly translated from the Arabic term 'Inquilab' and described in the context which I just mentioned, refers primarily to the moral and spiritual reformation of oneself, not a political revolution to overthrow a government as may be popularly thought these days by the use of the word.

Hence, when a group of individuals or a society have reformed themselves, a revolution in the noble character of man and his dealings with other people and with God is observed. Thus, a condition in the world existed in which the reformation of oneself was demanded to set things right in the affairs of man.