بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

 

Friday Sermon

 

HAZRAT KHALIFATULLAH AL-MASSIH AL-MA’OUD

 

Munir Ahmad Azim

18 November 2011 ~

(22 Dhul-Hijjah 1432 Hijri)

 

(Summary of Friday Sermon)

 

After having greeted the members (and all Muslims round the world) with the Salutations of Peace, the Messiah (Massih’ullah) read the Tashahhud, Taouz and Surah Al Fatiha and he said:

 

 

أَفَحَسِبْتُمْ أَنَّمَا خَلَقْنَاكُمْ عَبَثًا وَأَنَّكُمْ إِلَيْنَا لَا تُرْجَعُونَ ۝

“Did you think that We had created you in vain and that you would not return to Us?” (23: 116)

 

وَمَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَالْإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ ۝

 

“I created jinn and man to worship none but Me.” (51: 57)

The creation of man is a subject that Islam, unlike other religions treated in its entirety and in a rational and accurate way. In contrast to some modern theories, Islam teaches that man is not simply an outcome of evolution of species, but his development has been directed towards a specific purpose: to worship Allah and that possibly to become a mirror to reflect the qualities of the Creator. The existence of man on earth is thus not a hazard and given the purpose for which he was created and his responsibility as the only species known to reflect the image of God, he is the axis and the centre of creation, and thus (that of) the universe.

As the verses of the Qur’an that I read at the beginning of this sermon say, man is called to rule over all creation, in accordance with the powers conferred to him by Allah. It is recognized, however, that some elements of creation, such as epidemics, lightning affect to some extent the life of man, but his existence is not bound to these phenomena. He survives disasters and exerts his influence on everything that surrounds him; rivers, oceans, mountains, plants, animals, and remains the focal point of the universe. The distinction conferred to him by God is supreme. The Holy Quran tells us:

“And when your Lord said to the angels: ‘I will appoint a Vicegerent on earth’” (2: 31) and “It is He Who has made you vicegerents (successors) on earth.” (35: 40)

Even the angels received the Divine command to submit to him (man). “I will create man out of clay from an altered black mud. And when I have proportioned him and breathed into him of My spirit, then fall down to him in prostration.” So the angels prostrated - all of them entirely…” (15:29-31)

After this preliminary, which sheds light on the purpose of the creation of man and the distinction which he received from Allah, then analyze, according to the Quran, the phenomenon of creation. Man being at the centre of creation, the whole universe has been shaped to accommodate (welcome) him, and ideal conditions for his development have been provided. We can therefore conclude that the phenomenon of creation actually began with the creation of the universe which was itself a gradual process. The Holy Quran tells us about the universe: “Those who disbelieve, did not they see that the heavens and the earth were one solid mass? Then We separated them and made from water every living thing. Do they not believe?” (21: 31)

When all the conditions necessary for the survival and development of man have been met, his presence was manifested on earth. The Holy Qur’an says: “For Allah, Jesus is like Adam; He created him from dust, then He said “Be” and he was (existed).” (3: 60), and moreover: “We created man from an extract of clay” (23: 13) and, “He created man from clay like (that of) pottery” (55: 15)

These three verses, though expressing apparently different conceptions of creation, do not suggest any contradiction. These three different ways to present the creation are subtly used by the Holy Quran to illustrate the various degrees of spiritual evolution of man.

The first verse shows the first stage of development of the human mind (or spirit). When the word “dust” is used, the concept of divine revelation is not involved. The clay material is more consistent than dust, thus the second verse implies a transformation of the first stage and expresses the second phase of the development of man. With the help of Allah, his intelligence has reached a level where he can distinguish between good and evil.

The term “clay like (that of) pottery” used in the last verse implies that the man was subjected, like clay, to the trial of the fire and has successfully overcome the various obstacles that lead to maturity of the mind.

At the end of the third stage of development, man is now able to be admitted into the presence of his Creator and to receive his first commandments. It was then that Allah has sent down His revelation upon His first elect, Adam (peace be upon him), who was the most able man at that time to receive it, and whose intelligence could bear the responsibility of revelation.

Adam (peace be upon him) was therefore, according to the Quran, not the first man who lived on earth, but the first prophet of Allah. The spiritual development of man had not so far addressed its final phase and the first revelations included only certain social rules including the establishment of a community and its means of livelihood. Islam accepts therefore the evolution of man, but does not join, however, the hypotheses that attribute him from plant or animal origin.

Since his creation, man has been closely linked with the earth, and by divine command, he must remain there until he is called back again by Allah. Allah commands in the Qur’an.

“Descend, said (Allah), being to one another enemies. And for you on the earth is a place of settlement and enjoyment for a time. He said, “Therein you will live, and therein you will die, and from it you will be brought forth.” (7: 25-26)

The Quranic statement to the effect that man was created with the earth or with materials therein is confirmed by the fact that so far, our food and our livelihoods are derived, either directly or indirectly from/of the earth. If the origin of man was foreign to earth, an adaptation as perfect as of one within the other would have been impossible.

Our earth would not have been able to provide for all mankind and perpetually regenerating its resources. In this regard, an assurance is made in the Holy Qur’an: “And He placed on the earth firmly set mountains over its surface, and He blessed it and determined therein its (creatures’) sustenance in four days without distinction. (This is the answer) to those who ask you.” (41: 11)

 

Through the ages, and gradually as human intelligence asserted itself, Allah has sent through His prophets, messages to different people. When man has perfected his spiritual development and was able to finally assimilate the scope of the final message, Allah Most High has sent down for the benefit of mankind, the Qur’an, which is His final legislation, intended to remain valid until the end of time. He has chosen for the transmission of this Law, the most perfect of men, the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). And by His infinite grace, in this era He raised this humble self as his Vicegerent in the light of His promises backed by the Holy Qur’an that He will verily send His chosen guides from time to time to revive His teachings. In this era He sent His Messenger and Vicegerent, following in the footsteps of his perfect elect, the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

O my brothers, sisters and children all round the world. Our world (earth) in this century is thirsty of the spiritual rain coming from God. There are places where rain does not fall, and here I speak of natural rain, and so drought and famine have become common occurrences. The chest of the body of Islam in this century is deprived of a heart; despite the fact that we, Muslims have the best teachings, the best holy book and prophet who came to guide humanity to a One God. Despite the many favours that the Muslim man has received from God, but unfortunately he has become ungrateful, blind and avaricious. Despite the wealth that God granted him, he does not spend it as it should be in the way of Allah. He is infatuated with this ephemeral world for the benefit of physical well-being instead of worrying about the celestial well-being (with respect to his soul and its connection with God). O creatures of God, submit to God’s commands, become sufficiently pious and forsake this world to focus on your Creator. He only wants your well-being. Indeed all good comes from Him, and all evil that affects you is from yourself. So wake up from your long sleep, and catch the real strong rope of Allah, that is, Allah, His Book (the Qur’an) and His Messenger who has come to you in this world to bring you all to salvation, to Peace represented by your Creator.

This world with its attractions is only temporary, while Allah is eternal for you. Enjoy this world not for itself, but contemplate the wonders of the world with spiritual eyes that make you perceive the face of the Creator. Allah is all around you, and His chosen Vicegerent, appointed by him in this world is here to encourage you to leave this world and immerse yourself in divine love, so much so that you feel a deep connection with your Creator and finally you reach the goal of your earthly existence. Insha-Allah, Ameen.

Announcement: By the grace of God, many souls are listening to the message of Allah, the Sahih al-Islam in this century, whether in the islands and also in India, specifically in South India, in Kerala. By the grace of Allah our brothers and young people, the “Sahib al-Faraj” of Kerala are doing an excellent job in the field of Dawa/Tabligh. By the grace of Allah, the book on the life of this humble servant of Allah has been published in India, in the Malayalam language and more than 600 copies and more than 2000 pamphlets for spreading the message of Allah and our divinely instituted Jamaat have already been done by our dynamic brothers in Kerala. On the 12 and 13 November 2011, along with our youths, our elders have done an excellent job in the field of Dawa and many people, including Ahmadi Muslims came forward to listen to our message and warmly welcomed it. Alhamdulillah, Summa Alhamdulillah. There was even a Sufi, recipient of divine revelations who is intrinsically convinced through divine revelations that this humble self come from Allah, and Insha-Allah, he is seeking further divine guidance on the matter. I beg Allah to continue to pour down many spiritual and material favours also on my disciples in India, and elsewhere in the world, without forgetting my sincere brother from Trinidad and Tobago who is doing excellent translations works. Be it here in Mauritius, and elsewhere in the world, may my disciples and followers keep working hard to make shine the light of truth, not only in their respective countries but also all round the world. Insha-Allah. Ameen.

 

I would like to share with you an anecdote about the preaching of one of our young people in Kerala. During their Tabligh sessions, the young Rizwan, one of the sons of our brother Abdul Kabeer Sahib succeeded by the grace of Allah to open the eyes of an Ahmadi (older than him) on the question: Why must a Mujaddid come today when we already have a Caliph (referring to the fifth Caliph of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association)? The young Rizwan replied him, “Why then was there the need for the coming of the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him) when there was already a Turkish Caliph (who was already in power)?”

Allahu Akbar. May God continue to pour His knowledge and spiritual favours of our young Sahih al Islam worldwide. They become by the grace of Allah, true soldiers of Islam, those who come forward to the triumph of Islam, Insha-Allah. Ameen.