Text Box: بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم Friday Sermon HAZRAT AMIR’UL MOMENEEN MUHYI-UD-DIN AL KHALIFATULLAH Munir Ahmad Azim 30 April 2010 (15 Jamadal Awwal 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: Islam has established universal brotherhood. It promotes the idea that true brotherhood can become existent between two or more people having the same interest and objectives. As Islam preaches the oneness of God and in itself means submission and peace, then all brothers and sisters having as common interest and object the pleasure of Allah by submitting themselves completely to Him is called true brothers and sisters. These people when having understood completely what submission to Allah entails then keep firm in His path and pay obeisance to all His commandments. Those righteous among them who keep up to their faith and ideology promoted by the materialisation of Islam as a religion, and more as a way of life as considered as true Muslims who are ever incline to Allah both in submission and obedience to Him. We have as the most evident example of a true Muslim, Prophet Ibrahim (on him be peace) who was, I quote a verse from the Holy Quran: “he was of pure faith, a submitter (Muslim)” (Chapter 3 Verse 68). Though Islam as a religion perfect in its right did not yet see the light, but Islam as a way of life, as the natural nature and religion of man is clearly evident, for Islam is for all submitters to One God, the Creator of the Heavens and Earth, and thus those who have clearly understood this and have submitted themselves completely to Allah are Muslims in their own right; a right given to them by Allah. Moreover, we have the example of Prophet Yacoob who at his deathbed called for his sons and left them as inheritance faith in one God. He asked them: “What will you worship after me? They said: We will worship your God and the God of your fathers, Ibrahim and Ismail and Ishaq, one God only, and to Him do we submit.” (Chapter 2 Verse 134) It is evident from this verse of the Holy Quran that Islam and being a Muslim is the true status of all righteous servants of Allah. Prophet Yacoob did his work by reuniting his people, the Israelites under the banner of the unity of Allah and did his best to guide all his children in the path of Islam. He was even blessed with a righteous son who became prophet of Allah to serve Allah and bring back the people to the worship of Allah. After his death, Prophet Yacoob was not responsible of what became of his children but as long as he was alive he advised them correctly and put them on the right path. When talking about Prophet Isa (on him be peace) also, Allah says in the Quran that when he (Isa) was amongst his disciples, they became witnesses that they believe in Allah and His Prophet and that to Allah alone do they submit. From this, we come to know that Islam was the state of all the prophets and their true disciples. Being Muslims was their status. Thus when the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) came with the Holy Quran, this sacred book advocates that it is the final and complete law-bearing revelation, which therein is found the perfection of all divine laws, being a true treasure wherein is found all the pure teachings of past prophets and books. By perfecting this religion and naming it “Islam”, Allah has not forgotten the past prophets and religions, but rather He has reunited and completed all past divine laws and perfected them in Islam. In a nutshell the Holy Quran affirms the truth of all previous revelations and the righteousness of all previous prophets. Therefore, being a Muslim and having the Holy Quran as the ultimate book of guidance is the right of all mankind, irrespective of his cast, colour, language, and race. If we refer to the Holy Quran, beyond only recitation and worship, but probing into its profound knowledge and deep sciences, we will find that more than fourteen centuries ago, we have been inspired by the Holy Quran to speak to the universe. Not only to Arabs, Persians, Chinese, Indians, Mauritians or others, but to the whole universe. In his last address to the Ummah, the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “You are all brothers and are all equal. None of you can claim any privilege or superiority over the other. An Arab is not to be preferred to a non-Arab, nor is a non-Arab to be preferred to an Arab; nor is a white man to be preferred to a coloured one, or, a coloured one to a white, except on the basis of righteousness.” The Quran stresses the equality of mankind as deriving from one same God, Almighty Allah to whom all humans must pay obeisance. To enable men to be true in his worship of God, Allah sends from time to time prophets, messengers or reformers to guide them on the right path. All mankind is called to the worship of Allah and they are asked to help one another in righteousness, piety and virtues, and not in sin and transgression. The reference of it is found in the Holy Quran in Chapter 5 at Verse 3. Mauritius is fortunate to be the island of all races and nations. Though it is a tiny country in the large extent of the Indian Ocean, it gives hope for a multi-racial and multi-cultural society where peace and harmony are to be enjoined. Therein are found the peoples and followers of all prophets, be them Hindus, Christians, Jews, Buddhists, Muslims etc. Like the Holy Quran specifies, all men are equal and all hold the same right. Only the intelligent ones are bound to see the clear truth of the Quran for it addresses one and all. The Muslims in Mauritius are called to seek guidance from this universal Holy Book so that peace and respect may be maintained and justice to be made to the people among themselves, all as creatures of God, foregoing the religious differences which has crept in the faith of people. Nowadays, we are living a moment where there is intense political rift because of the forthcoming general election and Muslims are not at all reflecting what Allah has commanded them to be, that is, righteous, pious and kind to others, not oppressing anyone much less in the name of greed and power! The Holy Quran is a book revealed for the universe. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was sent as a mercy and blessings to the universe. We, Muslims, are sent as role models for the universe. These are the teachings of Islam. But are we Muslims really conscious of all this? Are we promoting the teachings of Islam as it is or are we creating further division and hatred among the people instead of making them see the beauty and universal aspect of Islam? What have held us back from becoming role models for others? Why are we still consumers and recipients, and not contributors? Why are we not helping one another human brothers and sisters and vying in good deeds for the pleasure of Allah? The Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) has once said: “Go to the help of your brother whether oppressor or oppressed” When he said this, a question was put before him as thus: “We understand what is meant by going to the help of a brother who is oppressed, but how shall we help a brother who is an oppressor?” Therefore the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “By preventing him from oppressing others.” Thus, why we Muslims are not following these traditions and putting them into practice? Muslims must compete in the execution of good deeds, not in following the trends, fashion and cultures of others which is in complete contradiction with the basic teachings of Islam. The example should be set in Mauritius itself where all communities are living together as brothers but if communalism and also racism take precedence instead of the spirit of brotherhood that one and all must share – where all are humans and share the same rights – then the situation will deteriorate. To quote the Holy Muhammad (peace be upon him), he also said that men are all equal…save in righteousness. From this phrase we come to understand that though Islam is perfect as a religion and way of life, but those who even though of different creed and colour if they be righteous, kind and promoters of peace, then no one has the right to scoff them and pretend to be superior to them, for only Allah knows the hearts of all His creatures. If he be an idol-worshipper, the Quran recommends that Muslims are to live in peace with them if they are not at all a danger to the propagation of truth and they respect your religion. Thus, when this state of affairs is clear, Muslims are commanded to respect their religion also, and leave them in the hands of Allah. But if they are promoters of hatred instead of living in peace with the universal religion which came for them also, then it is to their own lost. Mauritius, known as the Paradise Island contains on its soil people of different races and cultures, and if they maintain peace among themselves it would be to their own good, for Allah loves the peaceful and its promoters. But if communalism, hatred and divisions are called for from a section of the population, then the Muslims, the true intelligent ones are to fight against all the injustices and to re-establish justice as ordained by Allah, the Almighty. Each of us is called for to live in peace with our brothers, be them of different religions. I recall the Promised Messiah as saying that if an Ahmadi Muslim sees the house of his Hindu or Christian neighbour in fire and does not go to help them, therefore this person is not one of him (the Promised Messiah). Let us think about this seriously. Why, as Muslims, do we have such an attitude? Is it because of our fragile faith and belief in Allah, His Prophet, His Book and His promises? Or is it because of our inadequate knowledge, or we fail to think and act universally and in the spirit of brotherhood as God commanded us? Hazrat Muhammad (peace be upon him) defined a Muslim as being “one from those hands and tongue his brother fear no harm.” He furnished a strong motive for mutual co-operation and help when he said “if a person busies himself in helping his brother, Allah busies Himself in helping him.” Thus, we Muslims have the foremost duty to respect society and all brothers and sisters forming part of it and not to exceed the limits established by Allah and give one and all their rights as citizens of the country and their rights as being creatures of Allah. Even though Muslims have got a “superiority” in terms of the belief in one God and the belief in the last law-bearing prophet and book, but despite it all, if he declares himself Muslim outwardly without truly being a true Muslim inwardly, by reflecting all the qualities of a righteous servant of God in him, then his state is like all creatures of God, sharing the same rights for a limited period of time. Only the true believers in the unity of Allah and who are promoters of peace are conscious of their duty to Allah and will come what may promote goodwill and peace among all people, be them of different religions, creeds, colours, races and cultures. They are true servants of Allah, ready to serve humanity as preached by Allah so that the beauty of Islam may shine forth and attract the hearts of many to the comprehension of true faith and submission to God. May Allah enable you all to understand the spirit of brotherhood and the need to respect all religions and