Thursday, March 7, 2019

‘Mahmud’s Aameen’: Prayers for Children


The power of sublime Prayers

‘It is He who accepts the prayers of those who believe and do good works, and gives them more than their due reward, out of His grace...He sends down in due measure whatever He will, for He is well aware of His servants and watchful over them: it is He who sends relief through rain after they have lost hope, and spreads His mercy far and wide. He is the Protector, Worthy of All Praise.’ [Surah Al Shura, 42:27-29]

In shaping the destiny of man and in guiding his spiritual life, invocations to the Lord Almighty have a significant role to play. The lives of prophets and saints, in all their varied circumstances and unusual settings through history, bear wonderful testimonial to the eternal truth about the fulfillment of sublime prayers. Perhaps the finest example of the enduring vitality of Divine invocations would be the sprouting of the magnificent garden of Islam in the barren land of Arabia. Long ago, in a corner of the world, away from his non-believing people, Hadhrat Ibrahim (as) had made fervent supplications for the righteousness and spiritual progress of the generations to come and for the flourishing of the message of Tawheed, the life-mission of all virtuous souls. And the Qur’an records his soulful prayers for the benefit of spiritual seekers of all times. For instance, the Book of God teaches that while re-building the Ka‘bah with his pious son Hadhrat Isma‘il, Hadhrat Ibrahim (as) offered the following prayer:

"Our Lord, make us submissive to You and make of our offspring a people submissive to You. And show us our ways of worship, and turn to us with mercy; for You are Oft-Returning with compassion and are Merciful.

And, our Lord, raise up among them a Messenger from among themselves, who may recite to them Thy Signs and teach them the Book and Wisdom and may purify them; surely, Thou art the Mighty, the Wise.’" (Surah Al Baqarah, 2:129-130)

Friday, March 1, 2019

Being Wise on Social Media

Who does not know Facebook, Youtube, WhatsApp, Messenger, WeChat, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, etc. ? They are described as social networks that connect people around the world. Today, these networks have more than 2 billion users worldwide and thousands connect each week. And the most used of these networks is Facebook.

In Mauritius and around the world as a whole, Facebook has been growing in popularity. Everyone goes on it, even 10-year-olds. It includes all social classes: movie stars, artists, politicians, social workers, students, men, and housewives, etc.

While this network has some advantages, such as finding work and finding long-lost family members or friends, there are many dangers, especially for us Muslims. 

'Addiction' to Facebook Leads to A-social Habits

Facebook is a social network, but by doing a thorough analysis, we see that it’s actually an antisocial network. Users are often permanently connected to it at home or in the office. Some young people, addicted to Facebook, evolve almost in a virtual world, disconnected from reality. Many people prefer to eat in front of the computer (or Laptop/ Tablet/ Smartphone etc.), chat with virtual friends or play games on Facebook. They no longer see the importance of spending time eating with family, among others.

According to Wahshi ibn Harb’s report, some of the Companions of the Prophet (pbuh) said: “O Allah’s Apostle! We eat but we are not satisfied.” He said: “Perhaps you eat separately.” They replied: “Yes.” He said: “If you gather together at your food and mention Allah’s name, you will be blessed in it.” (Reported by Abu Dawud).

Eating together strengthens family ties, encourages dialogue, and certainly brings more blessings. Islam is a religion that is against individualism, it encourages sociability and wants all believers to live as a family.

Wednesday, February 27, 2019

'Siraj Makin': Agenda for Women-II


During the tour of South India in November-December 2018, Imam-Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam Hadhrat Muhyi-ud-Din Al Khalifatullah Munir Ahmad Azim Saheb (atba) of Mauritius and the International Sadr of the Siraj Makin- the women’s collective of the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam- Hadhrat Ummul Mu’mineen Fazli Amena Varsally Saheba addressed the devout members of the Jamaat at the special sessions of the Siraj Makin in both Tamil Nadu and Kerala. 

To read the Text of the Special Address delivered by Hadrat Khalifatullah (atba) at the South Kerala Ijtema of the Siraj Makin, click here

To read the Text of the Special Address delivered by the respected International Sadr Saheba at the Ijtema of the Siraj Makin in Tamil Nadu, click here. 

Reproduced below is the Text of the Special Address delivered by Hadhrat Saheba at the South Kerala Ijtema at the historic Noor’ul Islam Masjid, Mathra on 05 December 2018 (27 Rabi’ul Awwal 1440 AH). 

My dear daughters, 
Assalamu ‘alaykum Wa rahmatullah Wa barakatuhu.

It is a really great pleasure for me today to address you some few words face to face today in your beautiful country, Kerala. I have chosen to address you today on a few precious guidelines which the Muhyi’uddin Khalifatullah had delivered to us women in the beginning of the Divine Manifestation in Mauritius. Like you know, the Khalifatullah (atba) has come also as a defender of the rights of the womenfolk, like our beloved master and prophet Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh).

Monday, February 25, 2019

'Siraj Makin': Agenda for Women

Coinciding with the recent India-visit of Imam- Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam International Hadhrat Muhyi-ud-Din Al Khalifatullah Munir Ahmad Azim Saheb (atba) of Mauritius and the respected and honoured members of the holy family, the Siraj Makin- the women’s wing of the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam- in Tamil Nadu, held its special Ijtima at Tenkasi on Saturday, 24 November 2018. Fatima Jasmine Sahiba, Sadr, Siraj Makin-Tamil Nadu presided over the programme, with the proceedings commencing with Tilawat-ul-Qur’an (along with its Tamil translation) by Sherin Banu Sahiba. Two Nazms, written by Hadhrat Khalifatullah (atba) and the Promised Messiah (as), were recited at the function by the Sadr Sahiba and Mujtaba Iynul Misbah respectively.

In her Ijtima Opening Speech, the International Sadr of the Siraj Makin Hadhrat Ummul Mu’mineen Fazli Amena Varsally Sahiba spoke on the role of, and tasks before, the believing women in the faith commune, in the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam. Encouraging women believers who integrated in recent times with the Divine Manifestation of this era to recognize and deploy their God-gifted talents and skills to perfect their multiple social roles, the respected International Sadr Sahiba wishes that each one of them/us becomes role models and torch-bearers of the Light of Islam in our every-day life settings. Drawing on sacred spiritual history, Hadhrat Saheba points out that we need to study and gain many insights from the exemplary lives of the great women saints of the past- people who bore all trials and tribulations that came their way with much patience and steadfastness in their exceptional quest for God’s approval and pleasure in all that they did.

By performing their varied social tasks with diligence and constancy, prudence and wisdom, women in their varied phases of life- as a daughter, spouse, mother, grand parent; whether working at home or outside the home- can be fine role models of piety and devotion in the Divine Way. The women believers of the Divine Manifestation have a vital role to play in the larger causes of Islam, and they could and should be in the forefront of the spiritual education of their children and also join in implementing the diverse projects and initiatives of the Jamaat at every level, exhorts Hadhrat Saheba in this comprehensive discourse on 'the role of Siraj Makin ladies in the Divine Manifestation of our times'.

Read the Text of the Special Address Below:

My dear daughters,
Assalamu ‘alaykum Wa rahmatullah Wa barakatuhu.

It gives me great joy to address you today during this visit to India, and meeting you all for the first time in Tamil Nadu.

You need to understand that each one of you has a special place in the Divine Manifestation of this age. Each one of you is special with special talents bestowed upon you by Allah to help advance the cause of Allah in this great land, India, and the world as a whole. You should understand that being ladies of Islam, of the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam in this present age, you need to work hard to enable Islam to reach far and wide and to derive the pleasure of Allah through it all.