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بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم Eid-ul-Adha Sermon
HAZRAT AMIR’UL MOMENEEN MUHYI-UD-DIN AL KHALIFATULLAH
Munir Ahmad Azim
06 November 2011 (10 Dhul Hijjah 1432 Hijri)
EID MUBARAK
(Summary of Eid Sermon)
Eid Mubarak to all brothers and sisters and children of the Islamic world and members of the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam.
After having greeted everybody with the Salutations of Peace and Eid Mubarak, the Khalifatullah read the Tashahhud, Taouz and Surah Al Fatiha and then he read the following Quranic verses and then said:
AL-HAJJ 22: 35-37 وَلِكُلِّ أُمَّةٍ جَعَلْنَا مَنسَكًا لِيَذْكُرُوا اسْمَ اللَّهِ عَلَى مَا رَزَقَهُم مِّن بَهِيمَةِ الْأَنْعَامِ فَإِلَهُكُمْ إِلَهٌ وَاحِدٌ فَلَهُ أَسْلِمُوا وَبَشِّرِ الْمُخْبِتِينَ الَّذِينَ إِذَا ذُكِرَ اللَّهُ وَجِلَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَالصَّابِرِينَ عَلَى مَا أَصَابَهُمْ وَالْمُقِيمِي الصَّلَاةِ وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ يُنفِقُونَ وَالْبُدْنَ جَعَلْنَاهَا لَكُم مِّن شَعَائِرِ اللَّهِ لَكُمْ فِيهَا خَيْرٌ فَاذْكُرُوا اسْمَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهَا صَوَافَّ فَإِذَا وَجَبَتْ جُنُوبُهَا فَكُلُوا مِنْهَا وَأَطْعِمُوا الْقَانِعَ وَالْمُعْتَرَّ كَذَلِكَ سَخَّرْنَاهَا لَكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ Wali-kulli ‘ummatin ja-’alnaa man sakal-liyazkurus-mallaahi ‘alaa maa razaqahum-mim-bahiimatil-’an ‘aam. Fa ‘Ilaahukum ‘Ilaahunw-Waahidun falahuuu ‘aslimuu: wa bash-shiril-Mukhbitiin. ‘Allaziina ‘izaa zukirallaahu wajilat quluubuhum wal-muqiimis-Salaati wa mimmaa razaqnaahum yunfiquun. Wal-budna ja-’alnaaha a lakum-min Sha-’aaa ‘irillaahi lakum fiihaa khayr: fazkurus-mallaahi ‘alayhaa sawaaff: fa ‘izaa wajabat junuubuhaa fakuluu minhaa wa ‘at-’imluqaani-’a wal-mu’-tarr: kazaalika sakh-kharnaahaa lakum la-’allakum tashkuruun.
And for all religion We have appointed a rite (of sacrifice) that they may mention the name of Allah over what He has provided for them of (sacrificial) animals. For your god is one God, so to Him submit. And, (O Muhammad), give good tidings to the humble (before their Lord) Who, when Allah is mentioned, their hearts are fearful, and (to) the patient over what has afflicted them, and the establishers of prayer and those who spend from what We have provided them. And the camels and cattle We have appointed for you as among the symbols of Allah; for you therein is good. So mention the name of Allah upon them when lined up (for sacrifice); and when they are (lifeless) on their sides, then eat from them and feed the needy and the beggar. Thus have We subjected them to you that you may be grateful.
Therefore each of us can see what Allah wants to make us understand from these verses of the Holy Quran. Allah is saying that ‘for each community, each nation, We (Allah, His angels and His prophets) have taught a rite, a means of sacrifice so that all that Allah gave you, such as cattle etc., you invoke the name of Allah at the time of the sacrifice and also when eating their meat. Your Allah is verily Unique. Therefore, submit yourselves to Him alone and announce to the submitters, those who adopt humility, those whose hearts tremble when they hear the name of Allah being mentioned and they endure with patience whenever a misfortune befalls them, and they establish Salat (prayer), and you spend from that which We gave you.’ This is the state and condition of the people of Allah. And on the human level, all these conditions reunite them under one hand (one banner) and make them establish their connexion with Allah, the Unique One, that is, when these people hear the name of Allah, they shiver. This does not mean that they shiver each time, but there are times in their lives, whereby their love and attachment to Allah make them shiver whenever they hear His name. These people are said to be the Sabireen (those who are steadfast), and it is through patience that one can recognise them.
Moreover, they are people who establish Salat (prayer). But here, reference is not made to only the Salat (prayer) of Islam, for here there is the mention of all people round the world. Afterwards Allah tells them: ‘Spend from what We have provided you with.’ These are the three fundamental qualities which connect them to Allah, the Unique One. And when you peep into the history of all people of the world, in any epoch, one shall see that this applies to all people without distinction. By mentioning the Hajj, mention is being made with all things which are connected with humanity as a whole. Besides, the first verse itself indicates that for each people (nation) Allah has taught sacrificial rites. This is not a subject which is connected solely with the Muslims, but it concerns humanity as a whole. And the subject of Hajj is also connected with all people. That is why that when the Quran makes mention of the first House of Worship to have been built in Mecca, therein itself is mentioned that it is a House which has been built for all mankind.
Therefore, Hajj is not uniquely a sign of unity of the Muslims and it is not only a sign of the grouping of Muslims in one Community (Ummah), but it is a sign of the grouping of all mankind into one Ummah (Community). And in this context, in each religious nation there is the subject of Hajj (pilgrimage), as if as from the beginning itself, there was the preparation to make all mankind become One.
When you look at Christianity, you shall see therein the concept of pilgrimage. On the contrary, they have so many places of pilgrimage that maybe no other religious denomination has so many places of pilgrimage like them, especially the Roman Catholics. The latter have many places of pilgrimage where they readily go, even if they have to travel long distances. There are other places where they walk to reach their destination by accomplishing all types of rites. Like this there are thousands of such places where the Catholics go at least once in a year for pilgrimage.
As for the Jews, their pilgrimage is connected with Jerusalem. And all people may know that they go there for their Ziarat (pilgrimage), and after that they lament and hit their heads against the Wailing Wall (in Jerusalem), praying fervently for the advent of the Messiah. This is a type of pilgrimage for them. Likewise, there are other places where they go to accomplish rites of pilgrimage, and therefore we see that the Jews also have their sort of Hajj. As far as the Hindus are concerned, they form the largest nation in India, and from a religious point of view they also have many different places of worship where they go for pilgrimage, the Yattra pilgrimage. There are like this 68 sacred places whereby they go on pilgrimage. And among these places, the greatest holy place is in Banaras where each year there are about one million Hindus who converged to this place for pilgrimage. Like this there are other places. But the most important of the sacred places for the ‘Tilat Yattra’ is in Banaras and Jagnath Puri. And it is quite strange that for each pilgrimage there are somewhat the same rites, that with each pilgrimage there is the concept of sacrifice, and in many of those pilgrimages there is the concept of shaving the head.
When analysing the Yattra of the Hindus, there is indeed the shaving of the head and they also circumumbulate some of their holy places and chant all kind of Bhajans (traditional devotional songs). They also diminish their clothing. For the Tilat Yattra they put on simple clothes, and shave the head. And there is also the question of sacred water, whereby they consider the water from Banaras as sacred. They take back this water to their homes like the Muslims do for the zam zam water (that is, take it back home).
Therefore it may seem strange but it is the Quran which has made mention of this since long. There is no mention of this (similarity in rites of pilgrimage) in other books. One can analyse all religions and one shall see that there is the mention of Hajj. Whether the name of Hajj has been mentioned or not, but there is the mention of such act of worship whereby there is a holy place and people who shave their head before heading for this sacred place. And this also is a sign of sincerity whereby one surrenders oneself completely. There is also simplicity in clothing, remaining in only one piece of cloth, taking bath and taking a sacred object (or water) from the holy place and return it (back home) and also there is the question of sacrifice, giving away in charity, serving humanity for the cause of God; all these being subjects which connect to Hajj.
Therefore this is an international system established by Allah, so that at the end of the day all humanity reunites under one hand (one banner). But it is unfortunate and sad for Muslims that the other religions’ pilgrimages which were reserved specifically for a people and nation or group, such pilgrimages which were not universal, in these pilgrimages there is an open invitation for all people of all creed and religious beliefs to come and perform the pilgrimages; whereas for the Hajj, which is the summit of all Hajjs, a Hajj which has the task to prepare all mankind (for the worship of One God), it is unfortunate to see that locks and guardians have been put to hinder other people (from other religious groups) to come and perform the universal Hajj. There are such guardians who make sure that no other people except Muslims come to perform the Hajj. For them, those who have believed in the Promised Messiah are not considered as Muslims, and therefore the door of Hajj is closed for us. They think that the authority of Mecca and Hajj are found in their hands. They hinder humanity as a whole to come towards the House of Humanity. Who knows? Maybe when these people (from other religions) would have come to this Holy Place (Mecca and Ka’aba), they would have got faith in one God!
It is strange and one would be sad to ponder over this fact, one would be restless to note that the only Hajj which the Quran has described as the first House of the Worship of Allah for Humanity as a whole, in that same place permission is not granted to one and all to go and perform the Hajj, whereas in other houses and places of worship which are reserved exclusively for certain nations, but the latter with a generous heart are ever ready to invite the world as a whole to come and perform the pilgrimage like them. And this is of course a natural and automatic condition. If for example one goes in the Tilat Yattra of the Hindus, then it is natural that they would not like that you come (in their places of worship) and begin to recite the Nara-e-Takbir and make the Islamic Ibaadah.
If you want to participate in the pilgrimage of the Christians, then here also it is natural that they would not appreciate that you perform your Islamic rites. But if you adopt their acts of worship, then they would not have any objection, despite the religious group you may belong to. This does not matter as long as you do like them. If you follow them, then all people are welcomed and do the pilgrimage like them. But here the Hajj which I am mentioning there is no debate whether someone is doing Hajj like the Muslims or not. There (that is in Mecca), they enquire as to which religion you are from. If someone belong to another religion, then there is a police enquiry to know the exact religious faith of the person, whether he be a Christian (or other), and if it is certified that they are from other religious faiths, then they undergo severe retribution.
Therefore see how this subject has become upside down. The sole place which is reserved for Humanity as a whole, that same place is no more open to all people, whereas the places of pilgrimages which were just for some nations, there everybody is welcomed to perform the pilgrimage like them. They actually feel honoured and pleasured when other people (from other faiths) come and perform the pilgrimage like them (this honour and pleasure should have been that of Muslims who let the door of Mecca open for one and all to come and perform the Universal Hajj like them).
Therefore we must bear in mind the central point of Hajj. And the members of the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam must always bear this in mind, for we have to bring back the lost values of Islam and we must call the whole of Humanity towards the teachings of the Quran which people have disregarded. Like a utensil which has accumulated rust, it is therefore our duty to clean it. We have to give the Holy Ka’aba this spiritual bath, so that after this bath, it becomes the Holy Ka’aba which was once manifested upon the heart of Hazrat Muhammad (peace be upon him), the same Holy Ka’aba which was erected by Hazrat Ibrahim (upon him be peace) and Ismail (upon him be peace) and which the Quran has mentioned, their names being connected to the construction of the Holy Ka’aba. The Quran said that there were some people. Who were these people, and in which epoch they came from; this we do not know! But this first House of Worship should have dated back to the epoch when Humanity was one family. That was the beginning of Humanity (and human values), when there was the evolution of man from a state of animal to that of human. I think that reference is made by the Quran from the time when man became in such a state that he is able to hear and talk. That is why the House is also known as ‘Baitul Aqiq’, that is, the most ancient House. It is also a strange thing that the holy places of the various religions have a connection with such past, with teachings which are very ancient. As for the Hindus, they consider their sacred book to be of ancient origin, to such an extent that they claim that it dates as far back to the origin of time, even before. They also consider their civilisation and various sacred spots as ancient. About Banaras, according to history, we know that Banaras dates before the advent of Jesus, some 600 years before him. This means that the story of its holiness begins 600 years before the Messiah and 100 years before Hazrat Buddha (upon him be peace), but in whichever way they proclaim this ancient connection.
I think that the people have inherited this ancient connection from the ancient nations and ancient means that same house named ‘Baitul Aqiq’. The messages which are attached with this house are very ancient messages. And in fact it represents the religion of Ibrahim (upon him be peace), such a religion which existed even before the advent of Hazrat Ibrahim (upon him be peace). When we hear that the Veda is dated even before creation, it is a very strange thing. People in their innocence (in their ignorance) take it to be a wrong thought but the truth is that all divine words, whatever name you may call them, they exist from all times, even before the creation of the universe.
That is why there have been lots of debates, whether the Quran is a creation or not. These debates have become so heated that those who said that the Quran is a creation, when they came to power; they severely persecuted the people who were against this opinion of theirs. There were beating, persecution, flogging and hanging to death only because these people had a different opinion and perception. As for the people who believed that the words of Allah existed in all times, they think that it is an offence to say that the Quran is a creation. When they came to power, they also used to persecute those who held the opinion that the Quran is a creation. In the history of Islam, there are so many painful anecdotes on this subject that you would be completely astonished. Hazrat Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal who was among the four Fukaha, was a great Imam. Nowadays we do not think that anyone can give a fatwa of Kufr against him. He had the belief that the words of Allah are very ancient, and they dated back to the beginning. For this offence, they (the people against this opinion) seized him and chained him and presented him before a judge, and the latter qualified him as a first degree apostate and that he was leading people astray (with his idea). The punishment which was prescribed for him was that they put him under the sun and chained him and flogged him incessantly. Whenever an executor was tired, another one took turns, but despite this incessant flogging, he never stopped to say that the words of Allah was not a creation but verily such words which existed for all times (ever since the beginning with Allah Himself).
Thus, in the comprehension of the meanings of the words of Allah (about the ancient quality of His words) also, people have made great errors. And they took the law in their hands and meted out severe punishments to the servants of Allah, as if they themselves were Allah.
Therefore, all true teachings must necessarily be consistent with the nature of man. Its meaning must not be taken as a result of the intellectual reasoning. In fact it is connected with a profound human nature. In this sense, when we consider the Holy Ka’aba as an ancient House of Worship and afterwards we study the proclamation of the other religions whereby they say that their places of worship are very ancient, then it is not a matter which incite to violence. There is nothing therein that must vex you or that you become angry at (these people upon) that statement. There is nothing grievous if the Hindus say that their places of worship are very ancient. The Quran has offered the solution to this problem when it has mentioned the ancient existent of things without mentioning the names, such things which have a connection with Allah and humanity.
The Quran states that the first House of Worship for Humanity – and the word Humanity encompasses all, be them Muslims, Christians, Hindus etc., all people are included. Therefore, Allah is saying that it is here (that is, in Mecca) that the first House has been built, and Allah Himself knows who were the first people created for the first form of worship at that time. Their names have not been mentioned and it is not necessary for us to ponder over this fact (missed information), because the Quran has mentioned them as people who learnt to do sacrifices from Allah Himself. These are people who have always shown themselves to be steadfast whenever they faced difficulties on earth, but despite all these trials, they never reproach Allah. They afterwards established prayer, and they spend on people only for the cause of Allah. These are the same patient people who, for the cause of Allah, for the love which they hold for Allah, they take every difficulty which they face as an easy occurrence. Patience also has a profound connection with Hajj. This is a result of the patience which one gets from Hajj, after one has gotten the opportunity to accomplish the rites of Hajj.
When the Holy Ka’aba was reconstructed, therefore it was that patience which was again visible. The example of Hazrat Hajra and his son Hazrat Ismail (upon him be peace) is an example of forbearance (which one has to show). Such forbearance like the steadfastness of the child who upon wanting to have something to drink, pounded his feet on the soil, and there is also the example of the mother who made the to and fro between Safa and Marwa to look for something to drink for this child. At that moment she was restless, panicked (not knowing what to do to seek food or drink for her child). But here also for the cause of Allah, she showed steadfastness and as a result of this patience we have gotten the well of zam zam; therefore patience is linked with the love of Allah.
In this world, no problem can be resolved without love. When reference is made to these people, Allah makes mention that they tremble when the name of Allah is mentioned; but in fact it is their love for Allah which makes their heart tremble, and thereafter for the cause of Allah, these people perceive every problem as an easy thing.
Therefore when Allah give you something and thereafter take it back from you, or when Allah’s decree is such that permission that some powerful people harm you, but in the capacity of believer, the latter must always bear all these difficulties (persecutions) with steadfastness, only for the pleasure of Allah.
Afterwards, to get the pleasure of Allah, they spend on things which they have full control. Therefore this is the excellent qualities which the pilgrims going on Hajj must adopt. There is a Hajj which is visible, which is traditional, and it is in result of this Hajj that the people make circumambulation of the House of Allah and the other places of worship. But that which is invisible is the spirit with which these people do this Hajj. It is only for the pleasure of Allah that he has to do it. Therefore, in whichever religion, sect, community, if they go to do pilgrimage to a holy place for the cause of Allah, then it becomes necessary that they adopt these excellent qualities so that they may accomplish in the right way (in the way Allah wants them to do) their pilgrimage. Thereafter one’s voyage or journey becomes easy. If you do not have these excellent qualities in you, then even if you (humanity) go in such holy places, be them Mecca, the Ka’aba, or even Banaras or Matra, in any case this pilgrimage will not be accepted by Allah.
Therefore Allah has given the Hajj as an exercise, an effort, a striving for the reunification of all people (of the world) and all the people who want that their Hajj be accepted by Allah must before all make their actions be agreeable to ALLAH (acceptable by Him), such actions which will reunite Humanity as a whole.
Therefore plunge yourselves in the love of Allah in such a way that such places where the beloved servants of Allah are, you also love (to be in) these places. Look at these mountains, plains, the places where people have shown their love (and devotion) for Allah (solely), when you look at these places, then the love of Allah (in your hearts) make the tears roll down your cheeks. Therefore, inhale in that air, in that atmosphere (in Mecca and all round the world in the celebration of the great Eid) and listen to that Takbir ‘Allah O Akbar Allah O Akbar …’ which thereafter must create in your heart a (spiritual) revolution. And all this comes as a result of Love itself. If you do not have this love, then you will never have hatred for the people performing Hajj and you will not develop arrogance. You will not consider them as abased people, No. Because they also, according to their thoughts, according to their comprehension, be them on the right path (or having the right arguments) or not (due to innovations in the religion and religious rites prescribed by Allah), but the fact remains that they are preparing themselves for this universal Hajj. They have been taught this kind of Hajj; the whole humankind has been taught this Hajj, for at the end of the day there shall be one Ummah, when the whole wide world shall get together as one on the hands of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) – allegiance to him – and on that day there shall be the Hajj-e-Akbar (the Great Hajj).
And that is why the responsibility of this fine work has been given to the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam, that is why you have become such a servant for the realisation of this objective, and I have no doubt about this. Indeed I have complete faith and I have Allah as my witness, I tell you all that in the future, this Hajj shall come through the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam. It shall be a universal Hajj which all people shall perform for the cause of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) – that is, through their allegiance to Islam – and they shall reunite there (in Mecca) and shall follow to the letter the loving way (and teachings and rites) taught by the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), for he was the one to have most love for Allah.
Therefore, this is the Hajj which we must establish in the coming years (in the future). The same Hajj which all people of the world shall reunite together and after Hazrat Muhammad (peace be upon him), it is this Hajj which shall be called Hajj-e-Akbar. Thus, you must learn how to reunite the world as a whole. It is you (the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam) who must do this Tarbiyyat, and it is through these excellent qualities which have been mentioned in the verses of the Holy Quran that you shall be able to do that. You must adopt (the qualities) and become such servants of this excellent type and you must propagate these excellent qualities everywhere. It is at that moment that all people can reunite on one hand, in one place. This Holy Ka’aba which is the most ancient of Houses of Worship, as it was the first, it shall be the last also and in this way, this subject shall attain its highest stage. May Allah give us the Tawfiq to do this work. This is a very difficult work, and we are indeed very weak, but with the blessings of prayers and by preserving our values, we shall be able to continue in this journey and keep continuing with the love of Allah. May Allah enable us to accomplish our objectives. Insha-Allah. Ameen. |
