‘Taqwah’ Attracts God's Mercy

Islam is an amazingly hope-inducing religion for the human soul. With its invitation to an All Powerful, Most-Forgiving and Ever- Merciful Lord who cares for His servants and believers in this very world (as well as in the Hereafter), Islam provides a fascinating framework of ideas to deal with life’s contingent circumstances, deep disappointments, hopeless situations and other abiding sorrows. The Book of God in particular allows us to let go of despair and be hopeful of Divine mercy through its wonderfully-life affirming teachings: 

‘Do not despair of God’s mercy- only disbelievers despair of God’s mercy’, (12:88). 

‘God does not deny anyone who is mindful of God and steadfast in adversity the rewards of those who do good’ (12: 91) 

‘Is God not enough for His servant ?’ (39: 37)

One of the Divine revelations vouchsafed to the Promised Messiah Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) of Qadian on the auspicious occasion of the 27th night of Ramadan 1324/ 15 November 1906 reads as follows:  

Qadir hai wo baargah,

tota kaam banaaé,

Bana, bana ya tor dé

Koyi uss ka bhed na jaané

('All Powerful and Almighty is the Lord Allah. An affair that had failed and broken to pieces, He can If He wills crown with success; And He also has the power to smash it up and reduce it to nothing that which stood accomplished and complete. There is none who can read the stupendous import of His profound Mysteries').

Given this extraordinary nature of dynamic Divine Will, the believer's faith allows her to invoke the favour of God, His special Mercy and Grace, through the instrumentality of Duahs. Indeed the Qur’an points to the power of sublime supplications to bring about a million miracles in our everyday secular and spiritual life. Those who are mindful of God and invoke fervent supplications to the Almighty hope to find open the doors of special Divine mercy and grace, transforming the landscape of their material and spiritual fortunes: fatal diseases can move away; family troubles and financial difficulties may be dissolved; mountains of other problems can disappear; even an infertile woman may be blessed with an offspring. Everything is possible, for Allah (swt) is wonderful; a Seeing and Hearing God Who notices what we ask of Him, and watches over our distressed beseeching. 

Ramadan: Moon-sighting Controversies

In his Friday Sermon of 10 May 2019~04 Ramadan 1440 AH, Imam- Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam Hadhrat Muhyi-ud-Din Al Khalifatullah Munir Ahmad Azim Saheb (atba) of Mauritius spoke on the recurring controversies in the Muslim world surrounding issues of Moon-sighting on the occasions of announcing big events such as starting of Ramadan and Eid Al Fitr, creating confusion among the believers. The existential reality of the Muslims being found everywhere in the world also means that in the absence of unity under a widely-recognized central leadership, Islamic practice is bound to mutate with local communities differing on correct interpretation of theological questions. The 'trouble' now is the deepening sectarianism- that even within small/ provincial Muslim communities, there is lack of consensus- among the believers on issues like Moon-sighting ahead of sacred religious events. The recent round of debates in Pakistan on the issue- the annual controversy over the decisional accuracy of the Clerical committee- even led a Federal Minister in the Imran Khan administration to advocate the establishment of science-based lunar calendar to calculate the start of the Holy Month.  

In this important discourse, Hadhrat Khalifatullah (atba) exhorts the Muslims to use their minds and find a collective solution to avoid this embarrassing parade of sectarian divisions and  the consequential predicament facing Muslim families in different national communities. Hadhrat Saheb (atba) further reminds everyone that 'according to Islamic precepts, in countries where the moon can be easily seen, then the visibility of the moon is a must to start and to end the sacred month of Ramadan, bearing also in mind that an Islamic month can only be 29 or 30 days and not more'. With a spirit of unity; collective well-being and welfare of all Muslims in mind, Hadhrat Khalifatullah (atba) offers practical advices for the Jamaat to deal with the situation and thereby indicates that it should be possible for the Ummah to device local/national solutions for coordinating the Moon-sighting phenomenon across States and communities and thereby avoid the predicament of family members being divided on sectarian lines as to when they commence fasting in Ramadan and or celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr. 

Read the Friday Sermon Below: 

The month of Ramadan (is the month) in which the Quran was revealed, a guidance for mankind and clear proofs for the guidance and the criterion (between right and wrong). So whoever of you sights (the crescent on the first night of) the month (of Ramadan), he must fast (observe the 'Saum' during) that month. (Al-Baqara, 2: 186).

Alhamdulillah, Summa Alhamdulillah, Ramadan has once again greeted us with its arrays of blessings and invites us to partake it all so that we may accede to the pleasure of Allah.

In the aftermath of a question which I received from one of my disciples in Tamil Nadu, I would like to shed some light – for the entire Muslim Ummah – on the issue of moon sighting and fasting in the month of Ramadan.

The Qur’an, the blessed words and commandments of Allah, as well as Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) have called our attention to moon sighting for the beginning of the fast of Ramadan, and the same applies when breaking the last fast before the Eid-ul-Fitr celebrations.

Narrated Ibn ‘Umar: I heard Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) saying, “When you see the crescent (of the month of Ramadan), start fasting, and when you see the crescent (of the month of Shawwal), stop fasting; and if the sky is overcast (and you can’t see it) then regard the month of Ramadan as of 30 days.” (Bukhari, Muslim).

'Ramadan': Some Advices

Insha-Allah, in a few days (either next Tuesday the 7^th of May or Wednesday the 8^th of May), we will observe the month of fasting of Ramadan.

The month of Ramadan does not only mean fasting. The ultimate goal is to attain piety as mentioned in the Holy Qur’an. So, it is up to us to make sure to increase our Taqwa and get closer to the Creator during this blessed month. All Muslims must devote more time to acts of worship (Ibadat) such as: Zikr-i-Ilahi (remembrance of Allah through meditation), and Tilawat-i-Quran (reading the Holy Quran).

Do not waste time in the kitchen to prepare several cakes and other foods and therefore letting a precious time go to waste. You should instead use this time to connect to Allah in the mandatory and supererogatory prayers. There are good numbers of Muslims who prepare “Iftaar parties” and thus do not really know the philosophy of fasting Ramadan. A crazy time is lost in the preparation of dishes of all kinds, and this concerns not only women but also men. They invite a large number of people to Iftaar as if this sacred moment is a feast, a moment of enjoyment that is far from the spirit of Ramadan!

It is true that Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) had advised Muslims to share Iftaar with a faster, but one should not go beyond limits, losing time by preparing great kinds and large quantity of food, and foregoing the time of prayer etc.

What are Iftaar Parties? It is rather an innovation because the philosophy behind the fast of Ramadan is that we must devote ourselves more and more in the spiritual field by making sacrifices for the pleasure of Allah (twa). Muslims are called by divine order to fast for the pleasure of Allah, and to make certain sacrifices that will make them feel a closeness to Allah and also to all of humanity, especially the poor.

Take Care of Your Physical & Spiritual Health

Ramadan is a sacred month, and it has a great importance in the lives of all Muslims, without exception. Wake up a little earlier than usual, before the Sehri / Suhur, and enjoy supererogatory prayers such as Salat-ul-Tahajjud and remember Allah a lot. Even for the elderly who cannot fast or who are sick and who must take medication, they are advised not to take any risks. But they (those who cannot fast) should not forget to pay Fidya. And the elderly must benefit more in this blessed month in terms of doing Tawba which is also an act through which one gets closer to Allah. Even if you do not fast, then you should maximize this blessed month in the obligatory and supererogatory prayers, the Zikr, the Tilawat-i-Quran and if you cannot read Arabic, then you can also read them in your own language, and also recite the Darood Shariff.

The Self-Disclosure of God

The Revelations of 19 April 2019

‘A living faith is that through which we can find the Living God. The Living God is He Who can make us a direct recipient of revelation, or could at least bring us in contact with one who has been a direct recipient of revelation. I convey this good news to the whole world that the God of Islam is such a Living God.’

---Promised Messiah Hadhrat Ahmad(as) in Majmua Ishtaharaat, Vol 2, p. 311.

Imam- Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam Hadhrat Muhyi-ud-Din Al Khalifatullah Munir Ahmad Azim Saheb (atba) of Mauritius is a recipient of Divine revelations in our times. Over the last two decades (2000-2019), Hadhrat Saheb (atba) has received thousands of messages from the Unseen, informing him and the world at large about the Exalted Presence and All Powerful control of the Ever-Living God on our universe. The claims of Hadhrat Saheb (atba)- of being a recipient of Divine converse and communion; spiritual titles with a mission of Tawheed; and the beliefs of the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam rhyme perfectly well with the beliefs in the Islamic spiritual tradition that Allah the Almighty raises His Elects who enjoy Divine nearness, help and succour, in every era and that they speak with the help of Rooh-il-Qudus. According to Islamic tradition, the sublime purpose of such a spiritual favour on the believers-the raising of a Divine servant with revelations- is to guide and lead humanity in the correct and straight path of Shariah in everyday life.

To teach people wisdom and right judgement on all affairs that concern them, Allah (swt) reveals His messages to His chosen servants in every era. Like the Qur’an says, “And it is not given to a human being that Allah should speak to him except by direct revelation ('Wahi') or from behind a veil or by sending a messenger (an angel) who should reveal (to him) by His command what He pleases”.(42:52)

“It is He Who sends down clear signs to His servant that He may lead you from all kinds of darkness (of ignorance) into the light (of faith)”- (57: 9)

Hence, with the great blessing of illumined guidance descending on a living servant of God amongst us, these are unusual and extraordinary times in the annals of Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya. Almost a century after the death and departure of the Promised Messiah (as); in this era, Allah (swt) has raised Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Saheb (atba) of Mauritius- a spiritual son of the Massih Maoud (as)- to bear witness to the magnificent reality of a Living God- the same Divine reality that spoke to prophets and saints in the past, now guiding the humans in our times through sending revelations on His Chosen Servant! Alhamdulillah, Allah-u-Akbar!

Reproduced below are certain Divine revelations vouchsafed to Hadhrat Khalifatullah (atba) on 19 April 2019 after Jumu’ah prayers. The date of the Revelation is significant: ‘Saturday, 19 April 2003 is an historical day for the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam. 16 years ago the believers of the Divine Manifestation had taken the first Bai’ah (oath of allegiance) in the hand of the Khalifatullah. And also today (19 April 2019) is Saint Friday for the Christians’. 

The revelations in the Arabic language contain remarkable reassurance and Divine guarantee of continuing support for the humble servant of God and the spiritual mission, and glad tidings to those who submit to God with His Elect. Likewise, there are also clear warnings in these revelations for those who chose to ridicule the precious Divine heritage they were offered. It is also interesting to note that the present series of Divine revelations contain a succinct restatement of fundamental Islamic beliefs, the faith and beliefs of all Muslims all through the centuries, Alhamdulillah.