Text Box: بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم Friday Sermon HAZRAT KHALIFATULLAH AL-MASSIH AL-MA’UD Munir Ahmad Azim 24 September 2010 (15 Shawwal 1431 Hijri) (Summary of Friday Sermon) After having greeted everybody with the Salutations of Peace, the Khalifatullah read the Tashahhud, Taouz and Surah Al Fatiha and then he said: During my Friday Sermon of 6 August 2010 on marriage, I promised that Insha-Allah after the month of Ramadan, the sermon on marriage in Islam will be continued. Marriage: an act of worship. The conservation of life and its continuation until Judgement Day are part of the teachings of Islam and that is why it encouraged marriage and preferred that the couple after becoming parents and children, they have grandchildren. “Allah has given you from yourselves wives, and from your wives gave you children and grandchildren. And He gave you good things.” (16:73) Based on this principle, Islam denies the monastic life. Indeed, the thread of life comes to a halt for the monk or nun and the spectre of annihilation makes its appearance. If this form of worship was widespread and that people engaged in the monastic life that they themselves have invented, it would mean “the suicide of humanity and the destruction of the world!” It is therefore not surprising that Islam considers marriage an act of worship whereby the relief of desires under its legal frame is an act of worship for which the individual is rewarded. Also in the Hadith the Holy prophet (peace be upon him) says: “Whoever wishes to meet Allah pure and cleansed is to marry virtuous women.” And also, “Four things, that if someone gets them, gets the good of this world and beyond: a grateful heart, a tongue full of invocations (to God), a body facing tough trials, and a wife who earns him no sin vis-à-vis herself, or vis-à-vis his property. As the body facing tough trials, according to me it is the strong body that honours its burdens and obligations, without fatigue or defeatism. Virility takes it to anything other than endurance? The question that deserves a measured response is: What woman would a Muslim marry? We must know that marriage is not a union in order to increase massive animalistic reproduction. The family in Islam is a continuation of life and virtue simultaneously! It is an equal extension of faith and prosperity. The purpose is not to give birth to generations knowing how to eat, drink and have fun. It is rather to give birth to generations who realise the mission of life, parents helping each other to educate children of sound mind and heart, noble in their behaviour and goals. Meditate on the position of the father of prophets, Ibrahim (on him be peace) after that God has given him children. He said: “Praise be to Allah, who despite my old age, gave me Ismail and Isaac. Certainly, my Lord hears well prayers. O my Lord! Make me one who establishes regular Prayer and a section of my offspring; hear my prayer, O our Lord!” (14:40-41). He wanted children who bow down and worship God! How ugly it is for one to generate depraved children and atheists. Today there are many people on earth who do not care at all about the children they give birth to! That their children live in disbelief or in faith does not matter. What is important for them is raising them for material life, so that finally they shall be used as fuel for the fire! We, Muslims, reject this mindset and consider the one who does this as an animal regardless of his apparent characteristics. Moreover, among the invocations of the servants of the Merciful when they choose their spouses and are setting up their home, there is the following prayer: “Lord give us from our wives and our offspring joy and tranquillity of the eyes and make us a guide for the righteous.” (25:75) The eye which wanders from one face to the other is a traitorous eye who leads its owner to loss! Both spouses must be the joy and tranquillity for one another and must get used to it and resign themselves to this tranquillity. Afterwards the spouses support each other to then educate their children and ensure their present and future. If the door of the rivalry in the execution of good deeds is wide open, therefore the Muslim must be ever ready and determined to have high expectations (to do good and excel in it). He must become a guide whom one follows and he must not be lazy and be relegated to subordinate positions. Having a strong commitment is part of faith and God loves those who seek the Firdaws, the greater Paradise. Starting a Muslim home requires great efforts and much prayer. Insha-Allah, I shall continue this sermon next Friday.