A brief history of Karbala

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّ حِيْمِ

Allah in His Infinite Mercy and Wisdom choose to start the year with a particular way, similar to how He ended the year, that is with two great personalities and their legacy which Allah has preserved for all times. At the end of the year we see Father Abraham (as) called upon to sacrifice his worldly love, while in the beginning of the year we see Imam Hosein (ra) being martyred. Many of us might not understand the circumstances surrounding this incident, and even for us who know, let us examine history to see how this event occurred.

After the demise of Rasoolullah (saw) the governance of the Muslim world was done by a system of Khilafat, from which, came the four Great Khalifas. During the reign of the first Khalifa Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra), Yazid had been deputed to conquer Damascus. After its conquest Yazid was made its first governor. Mawiya was with his brother Yazid during the campaign. On the death of Yazid, Muawiya became the governor. He showed such unusual ability and foresight that Hazrat Omar made him the governor of the whole of Syria. During Othman’s caliphate, Muawiya’s power immensely increased. He controlled Northern Iraq and Armenia. While the other governors had to seek permission before implementation, Muawiya could do so on his own, i.e. he was given a free hand in administration. He took advantage of this opportunity and started building up power for himself and the Omayyad’s. He knew that he was going to be fired so he prepared himself for this event by;
(a) Gathering around him a strong band of relatives and close friends
(b) Marrying a lady from the powerful Syrian tribe of Banu Kalb

Thus his strength was increased and he was formidable against anyone who might try and oust him. At the murder of Hazrat Othman (ra), Hazrat Ali (ra) became Khalifa and his first act was to fire all provincial governors including Muawiya. Muawiya’s plan was to retaliate against Ali’s plan because he had a powerful support. It should be noted that Muawiya was no match for Ali in learning, piety, and the art of war.

Muawiya never acknowledged Ali as caliph and posed as legal heir of Othman. He demanded revenge for the death of Othman which gave him the guise of the champion of legal authority. At the death of Ali, his eldest son Imam Hassan was appointed Khalifa. He was an extremely peace loving man and instead of fighting against Muawiya, he succumbed to a compromise, i.e. vacate the Khalifa for Muawiya in return for handsome pensions and estates for himself and his relations.

With Muawiya’s rule, he used public purse to capture and stay in power. He was soon surrounded by power hungry men ready to support him in anything, in return for a share in power. The piety and simplicity of the caliphate was gone. They were replaced by the glory and diplomacy of royalty. Islamic belief is in equal justice for all and makes merit the sole yardstick of a man’s position in society. The first four caliphs faithfully lived up to this. Muawiya dealt a fatal blow to it. I believe that Islam has been unable to recover from that blow up till today.

Muawiya’s eldest son was also named Yazid. He was a dissolute young man given to the soft pleasures of the haram. He grew up in the laps of luxury. The over indulgence of his parents and the flattery of the attendants kept him out of touch with the realities of true life. He inherited none of the great qualities of his father. He developed a strong passion for wine and women and gave himself to a life of ease and merriment. His education did nothing to prepare him for the job his father had in mind for him. True Islam expects a caliph to be the top man in piety and political wisdom. He had neither of these two qualities. He was drunk most times and was surrounded by people of his kind.

With this type of ruler, the Muslims in Qufa could not see the real Islamic way surviving so they invited Imam Hosein (ra) to Qufa. Despite the many warnings not to go, Imam Hosein (ra) started the journey, never forcing anyone to go with him. On the 1st of Muharram he crossed into Iraq and camped at the foot of a hill. Yazid’s troop under the command of Hur and with orders to check Hosein’s advancement camped in front of Hosein. All PRAYED SALAAT BEHIND HOSEIN. After discussions with Hur, Hosein learnt that he could neither go forward nor back home, but it was suggested to him to take a neutral course. He started to go to Nineva where on arrival he set up camp. Ibn Ziad, the minister of defense in the government of Yazid, sent a letter to Hur stating that Imam Hosein (ra) should be allowed to camp where there was no grass or water. The journey continued towards the Euphrates River and Hosein was forced to camp in the plains of Karbala, some distance from the river.

From the onwards negotiations took place up till the 9th Muharram. On the 10th, battle started. Hosein’s army, a mere 72 men, fought an army of 5000. It should be noted that Hur, the general of Yazid’s army defected and joined Imam Hosein (ra). Thus Imam Hosein (ra) was martyred on the 10th day of Muharram. As his body lay on the ground his blood reddened the sands of Karbala (a picture shown to his grandfather Rasoolullah during his lifetime). Shimar the accursed cut off his head and took it to Ibn Ziad, and then to Yazid.

Imam Hosein (ra) lived a life of truth and so to did his family and followers. They lost their lives trying to revive the prestigious days of true Islam. Power is a strange thing that can blind a human to such an extent that he can reject truth and obey falsehood. Allah tells us in Surah Mu'minuun;

“Those who reject truth among the people of the book and among the polytheists will be in the fire to dwell therein forever, they are the worst creatures.”

Again, in Surah Buruuj Allah tells us ;

“Surely, those who persecute the believing men and women then do not repent, shall have the penalty of hell and the penalty of burning fire.”

A good eye opener for us is:
Everyday Karbala presents itself before us when we are faced with decisions of truth and falsehood.
What are the choices we make especially when Shaitan decorates the falsehood.

As a new year has embraced us let us take note of the warning Allah gives us in Surah A'raaf;

‘O you children of Adam! Let not Satan seduce you, in the same manner as he got your parents out of the garden, stripping them of their raiment, to expose their shame : for he and his tribe see you from a position where you cannot see them:we made the satan friends to those without faith.’

Perhaps three salient points coming out of this incident;
1. Illuminating personalities are not appreciated
2. The type of treatment rendered to ‘good leaders’
3. Imam Hosein (ra) preached truth, lived truth and died for truth

May Allah always guide us to truth.

Muharram

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّ حِيْمِ

The month of Muharram has begun and Allah says in relation to this blessed month in Surah Tawba;

‘Verily, the number of months with Allah is twelve months (in a year), so was it ordained by Allah on the Day when He created the heavens and the earth; of them four are Sacred, (i.e. the 1st, the 7th, the 11th and the 12th months of the Islamic calendar) that is the right religion, so wrong not yourselves therein, and fight against the Mushrikun (polytheists, pagans, idolaters, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah) collectively , as they fight against you collectively but know that Allah is with those who are Al-Muttaqûn.’ (9:36).

We are all aware of the great importance that placed in this scared month. Even at the time of ignorance the Arabs would refrain from fighting and they would also honour this month by fasting on the 10th day of Muharram; the blessed day of Ashura. As such, we as Muslims should also honour and respect this month by increasing in the performance of good and refining our personality to ward off evil thoughts and actions.

The previous nations paid great significance to the day of Ashura. As mentioned earlier the Arabs would observe fast during the period of Jahiliyyah, the Jews would also observe a day of fast and the Christians would make the occasion by observing peace and celebrations.

Allah , through His Grace and Mercy, granted special mercies / favours on the 10th of Muharram. Some include; Hazrat Adam (as) was granted forgiveness, Hazrat Idris (as) was lifted to a high abode, Prophet Noah (as) and his followers was saved from the flood, the fire that was created to kill young Prophet Abraham (as) was extinguish, Prophet Yunus (as) was freed from the belly of the whale, the Israelites’ was saved from Pharaoh due to the parting of the Red sea, Hazrat Isa (as) was taken up to the heavens’, and Allah created the first of creation. These are just a few of the great things Allah bestowed on various persons and nations.

If all these beneficial things happened on the 10th of Muharram then we should honour this day by observing the recommendations lay out by Prophet Muhammad . Mu’awiyah ibn Abu Sufyan (ra) relates: ‘I heard the Messenger of Allah say: "It is the day of ‘Ashura. Allah has not made fasting obligatory for you but I am fasting. He who likes to observe fast among you should do so, and he who likes not to observe it (does not have to) observe it.’

Another point to note is that another year has come and gone which means that our time in this world is diminishing gradually. What have you done to get closer to your Lord during the last year? Remember that one day we will return to Him and insha Allah we would all like the meeting with Him to be pleasant and beautiful. Analyse your own status, do you feel that you can leave this world in a pleasant manner or will there be difficulties.

Make a resolution that this year will be a bit different in that you would strive to get closer to Allah and you would not get districted. May Allah make this New Year a one filled with blessings and prosperity. May He save us from the temptations of Satan and may He forgive us, guide us and allow us to rise with the righteous on the Promised Day.

Preparation

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّ حِيْمِ

We cannot fathom the Holy Qur’an and Allah bears testament to this in Surah Al Israa;

‘Say: "If the mankind and the jinns were together to produce the like of This Qur'an, they could not produce the like thereof, even if they helped one another.’ (17:88)

One of the beauties of the Qur’an is that it came to take mankind out of darkness into light. One way of achieving this is that Allah has shown man the workings of nature. For example He says in Surah Yaseen;

‘And a sign for them is the night, We withdraw therefrom the day, and behold, they are in darkness. And the sun runs on its fixed course for a term (appointed). That is the decree of the All-Mighty, the All-Knowing. And the moon, we have measured for it mansions (to traverse) till it returns like the old dried curved date stalk. It is not for the sun to overtake the moon, nor does the night outstrip the day. They all float, each in an orbit.’ (36:37-40)

There are many messages that can be derived from these ayats. One of these messages is that everything that has been created is going about their respective missions. We have to benefit from the creations of Allah and use the blessings and favours He has bestowed upon us for our own welfare.

If you happen to die now what will happen? People may miss for some period of time but at the end of the day life goes on. All creatures are fulfilling their purpose; what about you. What are you doing to earn the garden?

Even Muslims will be thrown into the pits of hell and when they have been punished for their wrongs Allah will remove them and place them in paradise; and even then their title will be ‘the dwellers of hell’. Assess your own situation. Which direction are you heading in? Do you feel that you can cross the bridge of pul sirat with ease or will you have problems? Beg your Lord now not then. Beg for forgiveness and for guidance.

When Prophet Sulaiman (ra) was at the peak of his knowledge and understanding he made a beautiful dua to Allah , and we should all make an effort to learn this prayer and recite it regularly;

‘My Lord inspire and bestow upon me the power and ability that I may be grateful for Your Favours which You have bestowed on me and on my parents, and that I may do righteous good deeds that will please You, and admit me by Your Mercy among Your righteous slaves.’ (27:19)

Brothers and sisters the year is coming to an end. Take stock of your own selves. Make amends for the shortfalls that you would have made. No one knows when they will be leaving this world so let each and every day be a day of preparation so that if perchance Allah decides to take us back we will be prepared.

We have to leave this world one day, the only issue is that we are not sure when. Be serious and prepare properly so we’ll have hopes of a beautiful meeting with our Lord.

We are all slaves of Allah. A slave is someone who has no say of his own. Satan was not a true slave, Pharaoh was not a true slave and we see how their end was. Be like the companions of Prophet Muhammad (saw). Whenever they were asked a question, even if they knew the answer, their response was always ‘Allah and His Rasool knows best’.

May Allah forgive us all and bless us and enable us to rise with the righteous on that promised Day and may He allow us to get close to Him, insha Allah.

Greater Israel

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّ حِيْمِ

Prophet Abraham (as) is considered to be the ‘father’ of all revealed religions, i.e. Judaism, Christianity and Islam. From Isaac came Judaism and Christianity and from Ishmael came Islam. It is the belief of the Jews that God gave them a large portion of land as a ‘gift’ and it is their ‘divine right’ to inherit this land. The Bible confirms this belief of theirs in the following verse:

‘and the Lord appeared unto Abraham and said: unto thy seed will I give this land’ (Gen 12:7)

In the Bible you will find that Sarah had a son, i.e. Isaac, and did not want her ‘step son’, i.e. Ishmael, to be the inheritor along with her son Isaac, of the land promised to the Jews, so she ordered Abraham to take Ishmael and his mother Hajar somewhere else; out of her place and sight. She said:

‘Cast out this bondswoman and her son; for the son of the bondswoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac’. (Gen 21:10)

The extent of the land that the Jews believe is theirs is wherever Abraham traversed. And even today they are working silently to acquire this land that is ‘promised to them’ that they are calling Greater Israel.

Even at the time of Prophet Muhammad (saw) the Jews were the ones that gave him the most trying time, in both Makkah and Madinah. And they retaliated under the reign of Hazrat Uthman (ra) because he couldn’t properly manger the Islamic empire.

Greater Israel was actually predicted by Prophet (saw) and the fitnah they will carry with them will reach the Holy city of Makkah;

Hadhrat Anas (ra) says that Rasulullah said: ‘Dajjal will come and finally reach the outskirts of Madinah’

Ibn Abbas (ra) narrated that the Prophet (saw) said; it is as if I can see him now: he is black and his legs are widely spaced. He will destroy the Ka'ba stone by stone.’ (Ahmad)

Why talk about this? One method that the Jews will adopt to stay in control is to make life difficult for others. All the divisions and diversions that exist in the world today are caused by the hands of the Jews.

Be careful of how you retaliate because one little thing you do can open up the avenue for your destruction. The enemies of Islam will look to find ways of how they can create disharmony. Someone just has to irritate you a bit and it can lead to the end of years of effort and hard work. It will become so overbearing that a ‘good person will take his sheep and flee to the mountains’ in search of peace and tranquillity.

Spirituality demands that you show patience. The Jews demonstrated no patience, humility nor submission. Remember while we are sleeping they are working so we need to remain steadfast and seek protection with our Lord and try not to get caught up in their web of destruction and manipulation.

Prophet Muhammad (saw) taught us to pray as follows;

Duah for the protection from four trials:

“Allahumma inee a‘oodhu bika min ‘adhaabi-l-Qabr,wa min ‘adhaabi-jahannam,wa min fitnatil-mahyaa wal-mamaat,wa min sharri fitnatil-maseeh as-dajjaal”

O Allah! I seek refuge with you from the punishment in the grave and from the punishment in the Hell fire, and from the trials of life and death, and the evil of the trial of Al-Masih Ad-dajjal”

Unconditional submission

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّ حِيْمِ

We are coming to the end of another year, and Allah has selected to leave with us a very important lesson that centres around the family of Hazrat Abraham (as). Always remember that religious benefits of everything you do will always be dependent on your intention. Prophet Muhammad (saw) is reported to have said “actions are judged on intentions”.

Allah has indicated to us that there are those who misrepresent religion. For example some may pray their salaat for show. Allah says;

‘Just look at him, who belies the religion!’ (107:1)

Some people may appear to do good but their intention is not for the sake of Allah . And this is really an unfortunate thinking. Allah has selected the event of the ritual sacrifice all through the years to teach us about perfect submission. Can you imagine the occasion of the sacrifice that Abraham (as) had to perform? He first thought that the most loved thing he had to sacrifice was his wealth so he sacrificed 300 camels in 3 days. 100 camels per night, but he kept getting the same dream over and over. He then realised that the most loved thing was his son, and he did not hesitate. We can see here that his family was prepared to live and die for Allah . Nothing was too much to give to their Lord. And this should be the attitude we should all strive to attain.

They did it in the spirit of submission; and we should look at this event and judge ourselves. Are we prepared to live and die for our Lord, unconditionally? Remember Allah says;

‘It is not their meat nor their blood that reaches Allah. It is your piety that reaches Him: He has thus made them subject to you, that ye may glorify Allah for His guidance to you and proclaim the good news to all who do right’. (22:37)

Be careful when it comes to your qurbani, because sometimes we see that the intentions of some are not for the sake of Allah . They do it for ulterior reasons. This is not true qurbani. Abraham (as) sacrificed 300 camels and was unconcerned with the outcome of the meat, because at that time Makkah was not largely populated. Don’t jeopardise your qarbani. Don’t look at it as just a ritual. We are doing this to increase our taqwa. We are doing this to earn the pleasure and love of Allah .

In the most serious situation such as the occasion of the qurbani Satan will come to contaminate your mind and your intention just as he tried with Hazrat Ishmael (as). So seek protection against him with Allah , especially during this time.

As we make our sacrifice we should also resolve to love Allah more, to submit to Him more, and be ridgId and firm against Satan. Believers are supposed to be those who are prepared to give everything for the sake of Allah and reject Satan in a way that he will never want to get close to us. Remember that just as the animal is helpless in our hands, we are also helpless in the Hands of Allah . He can do whatever He wants. Allah is As Samad. One of the possible meanings of this is that He is above all physical laws and that no one can question His Authority. We cannot question the Wisdom of Allah . We must also understand that nothing escapes His knowledge or Attention. Every single thing is in His Knowledge and Divine Presence.

May Allah permit us to have a blessed, enjoyable sacrifice and may He accept all our efforts and may He cause us to rise with the righteous, insha Allah.

Managing your time

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّ حِيْمِ

Allah says in Surah Yaseen;

“If We grant long life to any, We cause him to be reversed in nature: will they not then understand?” (36:68)

From time to time we see young, powerful people diminish in strength as they get older. And Allah is asking in the ayat above if we pay no heed to this. This ayat teaches us that it is imperative that we manage our strength and youth properly because one day it is quite possible that we can revert back to earlier stage of our life, when we were weaker and needed assistance in completing the simplest of task.

Allah makes mention of this in many other places in the Qur’an. For example in Surah Hajj Allah says ‘then do we bring you out as babes, then (foster you) that ye may reach your age of full strength; and some of you are called to die, and some are sent back to the feeblest old age, so that they know nothing after having known (much), and (further)’

We need to understand the importance of managing our time properly. A lot of the inhabitants of hell will be those who didn’t manage their youth and strength. A day will come where there will be much regret. You can have all the time and wealth in your life and still you may not be able to use it to your benefit because of ill health, because of weakness in health etc.

Always remember that one day we will have to leave this world and return to our Lord. What we have to keep in mind and be conscious about if what exactly are we doing in order to earn the Garden. Don’t let the distractions of this world divert you and take you off-course. Allah gives us a beautiful parable of how we should live our lives in this world in Surah Ibrahim;

‘Seest thou not how Allah sets forth a parable? - a goodly word like a goodly tree, whose root is firmly fixed, and its branches (reach) to the heavens,- of its Lord. So Allah sets forth parables for men, in order that they may receive admonition’. (14:24)

Are you a “goodly tree” that is bringing benefit to yourself and others? Or are you going about your life like animal? Only thinking of yourself and causing distress to others. One action that can help us become a goodly tree and will bring about great benefit in both worlds is the servitude of humanity. Helping others sincerely and only for the pleasure of Allah .

And Allah has given a great consolation for the believers. For example Allah says in Surah Nahl;

‘What is with you must vanish: what is with Allah will and We will certainly bestow, on those who patiently persevere, their reward to the best of their actions. Whoever works righteousness, man or woman, and has faith, to him will We give a new life, a life that is good and pure and we will bestow on their reward according to the best of their actions’. (16:96-97)

He will elevate all the good deeds of a believer to the level of the highest / best deed performed. Meaning that if you receive immense reward for one particular deed, all your other good deeds will be upgraded to that level. And as mentioned in the ayat this blessing is applicable to both the believing men and women. How generous is our Lord.

Benefit from this beautiful life because one day you will have to go. Prophet Muhammad (saw) is reported to have said ‘health is wealth’ so we should all manage it and use it wisely. In another narration it is said that on the Day of Judgement a man will be willing to sell an entire field just to get a ride on a camel to the point of assembly. Get distracted you will regret it. Stick to your focus, which is the straight path, because it will eventually bring you to the blessed ones.

Make your vein, your mind and your blood say Allahu. Forget the doubters and you’ll have no regrets. The time to get serious is now; don’t wait when your health diminishes. Live your life only for the pleasure of Allah and you’ll have no regrets. Sometimes you will be frustrated, sometimes you may feel down and out but always remember that Allah loves you and if you have faith and trust in Him, He will take care of you and on that day the meeting with Him will be a most blessed one. We are not getting any younger so manage your time wisely because there will come a time when you may want to act but it may be too late. May Allah give us the understanding of managing our time, our health and our wealth properly and in a manner pleasing to Him, insha Allah.

Is it bid’ah to read the Holy Qur’an and sing Qaseedas in an assembly?

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّ حِيْمِ

To gather together and read the Holy Qur'an is not a Bid'ah as the Prophet (pboh) is reported to have told his companions that when the Muslims gather together and read the Holy Qur'an, the angels spread their wings over the heads of those who are reading.

To sing Qaseedas is not a bid'ah as it was done in the time of the Prophet (pboh) and was appreciated by him; e.g. Ka'ab composed verses about him and he (the Prophet[saw]) was pleased to hear them. Also when he went to Madinah the young girls gathered and sang a beautiful qaseeda which is sung even today; Tala al badruun alainaa.

Perhaps what some people are objecting to is how the Muslims of Trinidad & Tobago gather in functions to read the Holy Qur'an and sing Qaseedas. However this does not authorise anyone to say that the reading of the Holy Qur'an and singing of qaseedas together in assemblies is bid'ah.

and Allah (swt) knows best

Imported Chicken

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّ حِيْمِ

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

السلام عليكم

I have received requests from Prestige Holdings Ltd. (KFC) and many Muslims regarding my opinion as to whether the chicken imported by Prestige Holdings Ltd. is Halaal or not.

Before I decided to give an opinion I contacted the Certifying Organisation (IIIT); and also the producer of the Halaal Chicken. I got the following information from both the Organisations contacted:

• Only Muslims are employed to take the name of Allah on each bird at the time of slaughtering.
• The IIIT monitors the process of slaughtering on a regular basis.
• There is a separate department at the processing plant to supervise the slaughtering; and a Muslim is the Supervisor.
• All the birds slaughtered at the plant are processed in the same way.

Because of the fact that all the Theological requirements are fulfilled in the process of slaughtering the chicken at this processing plant, they are all Halaal.


Allah knows best,

Yours sincerely,

Maulana Dr. Waffie Mohammed

Humbling oneself

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّ حِيْمِ

Last week spoke of the one of favours Allah has granted to the believers, and that is the sending of the Messenger . Another beautiful favour He has bestowed upon us is the ability to individually meet with Him.

Even amongst human beings it is sometimes difficult to meet with them. And there is sometimes so much protocol that follows. But look at how favourable Allah has been to us. He has allocated time for each believer everyday for us to meet with Him. He has given us ‘appointments’ where we can worship Him and let Him know of our complaints. This is the great blessing of salaat. Every believer has an appointed time where we speak face to face to the Creator. And there is no big set of protocol to adhere to, just purify yourself before salaat and that’s it.

Salaat has tremendous benefits, both in this life and the next. Unfortunately there are situation where some pray their salaat but they haven’t gotten the true message of it. Salaat is looked at as a sort of ritual. What Allah wants from His servants is for us to lose our identity in front of Him. To demonstrate total submission to Him. If someone is worshipping sincerely and still possesses some traces of arrogance then something is wrong. He hasn’t gotten the true message of prayer. Salaat teaches you humility. For example in sajdah we take the highest part of our body and rest it on the ground, and we acknowledge that Allah is The Highest; ‘Subhana rabbiyal aala’ - Glorified is my Lord, The Most High.

Allah has given us the example of Satan to teach us about arrogance. Satan refused to prostrate when he was ordered to and he was kicked out of the Garden and was forever cursed. Salaat is meant for us to ‘hammer out’ the unwanted qualities we possess in our personalities, and only then one would have benefitted from salaat. Salaat is a discipline and that is why only Muslims are blessed with this institution. The past nations were given this favour but they demonstrated arrogance. For example Allah speaks of the refusal of the Jews to prostrate in Surah Baqara;

‘and remember We said: "Enter this town, and eat of the plenty therein as ye wish; but enter the gate with humility, in posture and in words, and We shall forgive you your faults and increase (the portion of) those who do good.’ (2:58)

Prophet (saw) use to humble himself for an entire night in front of his Lord. And even when he dealt with the disbelievers he demonstrated humility. For example when he encountered to old woman who was leaving Makkah due to the ‘rumoured’ confusion that Muhammad was causing. Not only did he tolerate the words the woman had to say concerning him but he also helped her carry her bags to and from her destination, demonstrating total humility. This is humility we are lacking in our personalities. At the end of the day each of us is going in the same hole. And we can’t ‘carry over’ our wealth and status in the next world. Learn to humble yourself. Forget the ‘I am this’ attitude.

If you are on the spiritual path you have to lose your identity in front of your Lord. The great Masheikh Hazrat Sheikh Juniad once asked Allah how can a person attain closeness to Him. The answer he got was simple; ‘leave your nafs and come’. Control your desires and eradicate your ego. The Companions was the best in demonstrating this and as a result they prospered. They learnt to say ‘Allah and His rasool ’. Even though they knew the answer to a question posed to them, they always replied ‘Allah and His rasool ’. And one time a few of them demonstrated they materialistic cravings during the battle of Uhud and the Prophet (saw) was placed in great danger so much so that he could have lost his life.

When you think only of yourself you will suffer. Allah shows us this with the selfishness and arrogance of Satan. Discipline yourself. Put your affairs in Allah’s care and you will receive so much blessing. This is why the 5th stage in spirituality is called ‘realization’. When you realize that you are nothing and that Allah is everything, you will understand that your importance is solely because of His Mercies on you, and that your success is because He has been gracious to you. He once told Prophet Musa (as), “O Musa! Ask Me for everything, even the mending of your shoelace”.

Every time you think of yourself say or feel some sort of arrogance building say ‘A'udu billahi min-ashaytan-irrajiim’ - I seek refuge in Allah from Satan, the accursed’. Put your faith and trust in Him and insha Allah He will take care of your affairs in this world and the next.

The great favour from Allah

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّ حِيْمِ

Muslims are a very special group of people; and one reason that alludes to this is that Allah has given the believers a very special Messenger. Allah makes mention of this in Surah Imran;

“Allah did confer a great favour on the believers when He sent among them an apostle from among themselves, rehearsing unto them the Signs of Allah, sanctifying them, and instructing them in Scripture and Wisdom, while, before that, they had been in manifest error.” (3: 164)

He sent a Messenger who taught us how to purify ourselves; how to recite the His Glorious Words, how to understand the Messages contained in the Book, and the wisdom contained in the Verses of the Book. And he further taught us how to use the Book to our benefit in both worlds.

It is part of our Beliefs that Allah sent revealed Books to some of the past Messengers. But where are those books today? Where are the Books of Jesus, David, Moses and Abraham (may Allah be pleased with them)? Not a single authentic copy of any one of the Books previously revealed is available. So that, the followers of those faiths that were given revealed Books are deprived of the opportunity to read what was actually revealed.

But in the case of Islam, today, so many centuries after, the Qur’an was revealed, it is still preserved. Not a single dot has been added or subtracted. And when Allah sent the Book for mankind He sent the best of all creations to teach it, explain it and to live according to its teachings in order that we may be able to apply its teachings in our daily lives.

The Qur'an was sent to take mankind out of darkness and put them into light, but how can a person utilize it without having an expert to teach and explain it.

Take for example Hazrat Umar (ra). He was someone that had considerable knowledge and wisdom. His foresight was recognised by the Prophet (pboh). As an expression of recognition of Umar's capability the Prophet is reported to have said “if ever there was to be Prophet after me surely it would have been Umar”. And even Hazrat Umar (ra) used to go to Hazrat Zaid (ra) and others for the knowledge of the meaning on certain surahs’ and ayats’.

To further emphasize this great favour; Allah has made it that the Sunnah of Prophet (saw) is recorded in the books of ahadith. His daily life, both day and night, is recorded for all of humanity to learn and take pattern from it. And he is the best model and exemplar for us. And following his Sunnah has great benefit. For Example Joseph (as) and his brother Benjamin followed the sunnah of their father Prophet Jacob (as) and his other brothers deviated from that teaching. In the end when all were reunited Joseph (as) said

‘Allah has indeed been gracious to us (all): Behold, He that is righteous and patient, - never will Allah suffer the reward to be lost, of those who do right’. (12:90)

If you don’t see the benefit here you will in the hereafter. He has taught us the wisdom contained it the Qur’an. For example he has told us the benefits for reciting certain Surahs at certain times; he has taught us the consequences of certain actions. And history records the end of those who sincerely follow and obey the Messenger.

Before Islam the Arabs were a barbaric group. So much so that they used to actually bury their baby girls alive. And look at how refined they became. Some of them even knew their faith in the next world. The Asharatul Mubash-sharah; the 10 companions who received the glad tidings of Jannah while still in this world; how did they achieve this? By following and obeying the Messenger .

Today, sadly we see people argue ‘if you don’t love Prophet(saw)you’ll go to hell’. Others argue that ‘following the Prophet(saw)is simply to follow his sunnah’. And unfortunately they will continue fighting. We cannot ‘talk love’. Cherish this great gift Allah has blessed us with. Establish a close relationship with Prophet(saw)and the rewards will be great in this world and the next.

Remember he has said that on the Day of judgement “amongst my followers some will have the status of the Messengers of the Bani Israel.” Prophet Moses (as) struck the rock and water began flowing. Hazrat Abdul Qadir Jilani (ra) ate a chicken and when he was finished collected the bones and blew over it and the chicken came back to life. So even here we see the manifestation of this hadith.

When Allah says that He has conferred a great favour on the believers, He means, in addition to all that is contained in Religion of Islam, the way a believer has to live; for example, the care taken to stay pure and clean, the knowledge available in the verses of the Holy Book; and the focus and goal of life.

It should therefore be the mission of every true believer to get close to the Lord; and one sure way of achieving this is to attach yourself to the things He loves. Allah loves Prophet(saw); there is no doubt in this. One of his names is ‘Habibullah’ – the beloved of Allah . The more you attach yourself to him the higher you will ascend insha Allah.

Remember the higher you ascend spiritually and morally the clearer will be your understanding of Islam as the one who is on the top of the mountain will be able to see further away from the one who is stuck at the foot of it. And the more enlightened you become the more of the Qur’an you will be able to understand and the more guided you will be, as Allah says of the enlightened; they are ‘men endued with understanding’.

Don’t waste life by getting mixed up with those who argue and fight, and those who constantly deny and criticize. Follow the teachings of our beloved Prophet(saw). His life is recorded for us to take pattern. He was able to ascend right up to meet his Lord in this world and he opened the way for those who wish to do the same. To ‘climb up’ to Allah is never easy but falling into the pits is; as it is easier to fall than to climb. Remember, he is a favour of Allah to us.

Beg Allah to make the journey back to Him easy and bearable and may He enable us to pattern the life of the ‘gift’ He has blessed us with, the best of all creations; Hazrat Muhammad Mustapha (saw) .

The Manifest Victory from Allah

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّ حِيْمِ

Allah says in Surah Nasr;

‘When comes the help of Allah, and victory, and Thou dost see the people enter Allah’s Religion in crowds, celebrate the praises of Thy Lord, and pray for His forgiveness: for He is Oft-Returning (in Grace and mercy)’ (110)

We normally relate this chapter to the time of Prophet (saw) when his mission was drawing to a close. And mention is made of Hazrat Umar (ra) because when the Muslims started rejoicing of the fact that Islam has been perfected he began weeping and said ‘don’t you know that the Prophet’s (saw) mission has been completed and he will now return to his Lord?’

What does this Surah mean for us though? We know it has some sort of relevance because Allah says the Qur’an is ‘guidance for mankind’. How then does Surah Nasr relate to our mission, our life and our goal? The Qur’an explains itself; we are not authorised to assign any sort of meaning to it. Even when the revelation was sent to the Prophet (saw) , Allah sent the meaning and the wisdom behind each and every letter. And we know that Prophet (saw) never said anything out of his own desire/ego. Everything was on the basis of Divine revelations.

Some may say that Surah Nasr is not applicable to us since Allah is referring to the mission of Prophet (saw) alone. Does it then have any relevance to us today? Yes, because the Qur’an is the message for all times.

Prophet was a messenger before creation. It is recorded in the books of ahadith that Prophet Muhammad (saw) is reported to have said ‘I was a Prophet while Adam was still between water and clay’. Imam Ghazali (ra) writes that Allah created the Light of Muhammad , his soul, first. He created all and everything from the Light of Muhammad (saw) thus all the other souls came from Muhammad’s (saw).

Fath means victory. In the time of Prophet (saw) it related to his mission and when it matured and a lot of people were entering into the fold of Islam. His personality was the most refine and he was created so pure and perfect and was created free from all imperfections. So if Prophet was sinless who then is Allah referring to in the beginning of Surah Fath;

‘Verily we have granted Thee a Manifest Victory: that Allah may forgive Thee Thy faults of the past and those to follow; fulfil His favour to thee; and guide Thee on the straight way; and that Allah may help Thee with powerful help. It is He who sent down tranquillity into the hearts of the believers, that they may add Faith to their faith; - for to Allah belong the forces of the heavens and the earth; and Allah is full of knowledge and Wisdom; - that He may admit the men and women who believe, to Gardens beneath which rivers flow, to dwell therein for Aye, and remove their ills from them; - and that is, in the sight of Allah, the highest achievement (for man)’ (48:1-5)

Who is He referring to? What kind of victory is Allah speaking about? We have already established that Prophet (saw) was sinless, which meant that Allah is speaking to the believers.

Understand that when the heart attains ‘peace and tranquillity’, when this world has no effect on you, when you only seek Allah’s pleasure and forgiveness, He will forgive all the past sins and the ones that are to come. This is one of the goals of a Muslim’s life; to reach a level where your only concern is Allah .

A beautiful example of this can be seen in the conduct of the Great Sheikh, Sheikh Hazrat Abdul Qadi Jilani (ra). Once his ship sank and when he realised what had happened he immediately said ‘Subhanallah’, illustrating that the worries of this material world affected him not.

And Allah makes mention of such an understanding in Surah Hadid;

‘In order that ye may not despair over matters that pass you by, nor exult over favours bestowed upon you. for Allah loveth not any vainglorious boaster’

Keep in mind that when the heart attains peace and tranquillity Allah will bestow his forgiveness on you. Work to achieve this. It is a real jihad because no one can do it for you. It is just you and your Lord. Remember whatever is for you’ you will get it and whatever tests you undergo has already been written for you. Beg Allah to make this life easy for you and attach yourself to Him and insha Allah He will bestow that tranquillity in your hearts.

The Death Penalty - From an Islamic Point of View

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّ حِيْمِ

Text of lecture delivered by Maulana Dr. Waffie Mohammed


The Death Penalty:
An Islamic Point of View

Praises are for Allah the Creator and Sustainer of the Universe; the Most Compassionate and Most Merciful; the One Who appointed man as His Vicegerent here on earth.

And peace and salutations on our Beloved Messenger, the Last of the divinely appointed Messengers; the physical manifestation of Compassion; and the Chief Intercessor on the Day of Judgment.

Allah perfected the way of life for man with Islam. He says:

This day I have perfected for you your Religion and completed My Favours on you and chosen for you Islam as your Religion (5:3)

There are many reasons why Islam is the best way of life for mankind. Some of these are:

The removal of all forms of the projection of superiority of one person, race or people above the others; all are equal in the sight of Allah. He says:
O mankind; verily, We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female; and made you into tribes and nations; that you may know each other; not that you despise each other. Verily, the most honoured of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous. (49:13)

All human beings are joined to one another through love. Allah says:
Remember with gratitude Allah's favour on you; for you were enemies and He joined your hearts in love; so that by His Grace you became brethren. (3:103)

The creation of a single common focus in the minds of every believer. In this connection Allah tells believers:
To your Lord is your final destination (79:44)

Justice and equity in dealing with every one. Allah says:
O you who believe; be maintainers of your pact with Allah as witnesses to fair dealings; and let not hatred of others to you make you swerve to wrong and depart from justice. Be just, that is nearest to righteousness. (5:8)

Redress when one is unfairly treated. Allah says:
The recompense for an injury is an injury equal thereto (in degrees); but if a person forgives and makes reconciliation; his reward is due from Allah; for (Allah) loves not those who do wrong. But indeed if any do help and defend themselves after a wrong (done) to them; against such there is no blame. (42:40-41)

Islam upholds that in the community, every individual is expected to be supportive to others. The Qur'an directs, on one hand, help and support; and on the other, justice and fair dealings.

At times there can be mishaps in society; some can be accidental and others can be pre-meditated and deliberate. We find mention of both categories in the Qur'an. For example, the injustice done to Joseph by his brothers was pre-meditated; while the death of the Egyptian at the hands of Moses was accidental. Whatever the cause may be Islam gives guidance to every situation; and upon close examination, one finds wisdom in the Islamic laws.

One area in which the Islamic law is definitely more beneficial to all concerned is the Laws pertaining to the prescription of the death penalty.

In the sight of Allah all human beings are equal, and deserve to be treated honourably. It is not right for one person to be outrageous against another, hence the reason why Allah says, that if a person should take the life of another, without a just cause, it is as though he has taken the lives of the whole of humanity. Such a person will have to be punished in the same way as he acted.

Islam differs from other religions regarding its directives on the death penalty. This is because its laws are revealed by Allah and are not subjected to change.

In Buddhism there are differences as to whether not the death penalty should be carried out. Those who oppose it cite the verse of the Dhammapada in Chapter 10. It says:

Everyone fears punishment; everyone fears death, just as you do. Therefore do not kill or cause to kill. Everyone fears punishment; everyone loves life, as you do. Therefore do not kill or cause to kill.

However, in spite of this we find that in most of the countries where Budhhism is the official religion, the authorities have imposed the death penalty.

Judaism approves the death penalty; however the standard of proof required for its application is extremely stringent. It is however not carried out as the judicial body effectively abolished it under the understanding that it is only God alone who can prescribe death to an individual. This is as a result of the teachings of scholars like Maimonides, who wrote in the 12th century the following:

It is better and more satisfactory to acquit a thousand guilty than to put a single innocent one to death.

In Christianity there are the sects that do not oppose such a form of punishment, while in others, e.g. the Anglican Lutheran Churches consider it to be: revenge… and that true healing can only take place through repentance and forgiveness.

According to Shariah ruling in Islam, the death penalty can be prescribed in the following cases:
• Intentional Murder
• Treason; (when one leaves the faith and joins the enemy in fighting against the Muslims
• Terrorism
• Land, sea and air piracy
• Rape
• Adultery
• Homosexual behaviour.
• Drug: in some countries

In every case, before the punishment is actually carried out, one must be properly convicted in an Islamic court of law. And if there is the slightest bit of doubt the person will not be punished.

Islam views life as sacred; and as such, application of the law is the taking of the life of criminals after all the evidences are taken and the matter is established beyond a reason of doubt. Perhaps this is one reason why Allah says:

Take not life, which Allah has made sacred, except by way of justice and law. Thus does He command you, so that you may learn wisdom. (6:151)

Here we see that Islam upholds the laws of Allah, and this is based on being just to everyone.

Allah further says:

If anyone kills a person; unless it be for murder of for spreading mischief in the land; it would be as if he killed all people. And if anyone saves a life; it would be as if he saved the life of all people. (5:32)

When the prescribed punishment is executed in accordance with Islamic Theology, it will definitely serve as a deterrent on one hand and serve as being just to the aggrieved on the other.

The purpose of the law is not to seek revenge, but to promote justice, and to prevent others from committing the same act in the future. Sometimes, justice demands that the Capital punishment be ordered.

One of the areas for which the Capital Punishment is prescribed is murder. According to Islamic Theology murder belongs to 5 categories. These are:
• intentional murder
• what appears to be similar to intentional
• mistake
• similar to mistake
• as a result of a cause

The intentional murder is that which takes place with a weapon or whatever stands for a weapon. It leads to sin and similar punishment, except if the close relatives of the victim should pardon the murderer.

If a group of people together kills a man intentionally, they will all be given the capital punishment. If one single man kills many, and the relatives of the victim claim their right to punish the offender, he alone will be killed for all of his victims.

When the capital punishment has to be inflicted on a convicted person it is usually done in a public place for every one to see. So that it will prevent others from thinking of committing such a heinous crime in the future.

As for adultery, when it is established that the person is guilty of such a crime, both the guilty will be stoned in the public. This will be carried out after every effort is made to ensure that the person committed this act wilfully.

The other acts for which the death penalty is prescribed is crimes committed against the humanity or against the state. Allah says:

The punishment of those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger; and strive with might and main for mischief through the land is: execution, or crucifixion; or the cutting off of hands and feet from opposite sides or exile from the land (5:33)

Crime is often regarded as an individual aggression against the community. Perhaps this is one reason why Allah says in the Holy Qur'an: Do not take the life which Allah made sacred, except by way of justice and the law. (6:151)

Islam never prescribes punishments haphazardly nor does it administer the law without due consideration. The main question is this: before deciding whether or not a criminal should be punished, we must determine the extent of his responsibility for the offence committed.

On studying a crime Islam takes into account two considerations at the same time; the viewpoint of the criminal and that of the community against which aggression took place. In the light of such considerations Islam prescribes the fair punishment which is in accordance with the dictates of sound logic and wise reasoning.

Sometimes, the activities of the leaders of some tribes in certain parts of the east may appear to be Islamic. Take for example, the case where the tribal chiefs ordered that the guilty woman should be raped by so many men in the village. This is not Islamic Law.

Islam imposes preventive punishments, which may appear cruel or coarse if viewed superficially or without proper consideration. But it does not execute such punishments unless it ascertains that the crime was not justifiable or that the criminal was not acting under any obligation; for example, in the time of famine Hazrat Umar did not cut off the hand of anyone who stole foodstuff out of necessity.

Before prescribing punishment, Islam tries in the first place, to wipe out all circumstances and motives that may lead to crime. And even after a crime is committed it tries to waive the execution of punishment if there is any doubt about it.

Islam also upholds the speedy process of carrying out justice, as it is unimaginable that the criminals are kept for years and years before they are being tried, and then many more years before justice is served.

Islam also makes provision in the law where the aggrieved person can have a say in deciding the fate of the convict, if the death penalty has to be ordered; and it allows for compensation to the victims family; something which can be beneficial, especially if the murdered person was the breadwinner of the family.

One thing remains certain, and that is, anyone who wilfully violate the revealed laws of Allah will be responsible for the consequences, and if it necessitates the taking of the life of such a person the law must be upheld and punishment will have to be prescribed.

There are those who may advocate the abolishing of the death penalty; but this is not possible in Islam as the laws were divinely ordained; and according to the principle of the application of Islamic Law—to forbid what is not forbidden is forbidden. As a result it is impossible to make a case for the abolition of the death penalty, which is explicitly endorsed.

Why is it that the Muslims of today seem to be different from the Muslims in the time of the Prophet (pboh)?

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّ حِيْمِ

Why is it that the Muslims of today seem to be different from the Muslims in the time of the Prophet (pboh)?

This question was asked to His Eminence Sheikh Maulana Dr. Fazlur Rahman Ansari; and this was his reply.

The Muslims of nowadays are not comparable to the Companions of the Prophet (pboh) and other historically pious men because they are not endeavouring to follow in the true footsteps of the Prophet (pboh).

The five obligatory principles of Islam are not the only things which make a person to become a perfect Muslim; although they are the fundamentals of Islam. There are other things which go together with these for the perfection of Faith and one's personality. This we understand by looking at the whole life of the Prophet (pboh).

Some Muslims make the mistake of looking for guidance from the life of the Prophet (pboh) when he began getting revelations. They do not understand that he was the Final Prophet before he even came to this world. As he is reported to have said: I was a Messenger and Adam was still between mud and water.

As an example for us we find that in his infancy the Prophet (pboh) became known to be the Truthful one. Later on in life he established the principle of Trustworthiness and finally; he was the embodiment and symbol of Love for humanity.

All these are lessons for mankind; and especially for the Muslims. If one wants to walk along the path of righteousness, and has hopes of getting close to his Lord; in addition to standing firmly on the five fundamental principles, he will have to perfect his life along the path set by the Messenger (pboh); only then will he be able to feel that he is contributing to the welfare of humanity and is ascending the pathway that is leading to the Lord of the universe.

Engaging in silent zikir

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّ حِيْمِ

Surah Araaf, translated as The Heights, tells us a lot of how to get closer to Allah . In the 205th ayat Allah says;

‘and remember your Lord within yourself (your nafs), humbly and with fear, without loudness in words in the mornings, and in the afternoons and be not of those who are neglectful’. (7 : 205)

Zikir is usually translated as remembrance of Allah , and in this context Allah is commanding us to remember Him with the nafs. The nafs is basically the energy that is derived from the workings of the physical body. It also denotes the lower self of man.

Hazrath Anas Bin Malik narrated that Hazrath Rasoolallah (SAS) says that he who sits after Fajr prayer remembering Allah till sun rise and says two rakats of prayer will be rewarded like a person who has performed Hajj and Umrah.

Allah is commanding us to make zikir in the mornings and evenings and to do so silently. One technique that is usually taught in the discipline of tassawuf is to cultivate your nafs, i.e. your physical organs to makes zikir. And one discipline teaches the students to cultivate their personalities to resound ‘Allahu’. i.e. you actually hear your heat-beat saying Allahu

If done properly you will actually hear your organs saying Allahu, when they are cultured to do so after perfecting this zikr with your heart. (qalb).

Hazrat Abu Bark reported that the Sahabas used to sit so silently in front of Prophet that the desert crows used to pick their heads. What do you think they used to be listening to? The Ashabus Suffa were those blessed companions who used to learn directly from Prophet and they used to actually live in the masjid and only leave out of necessity. What do you think they used to be doing night and day? They were learning the technique of making zikr.

Those who are true believers will truly understand how close Allah is, and how merciful and Compassionate He is. They will begin to develop a special kind of love for Him and it will continue to grow and grow. Remember Allah says He is our Wali; ‘Allah is the wali of those who have faith’. A wali is a person’s closest, most senior, protecting friend. Part of our mission in this world is to realise how close our Lord is to us. Develop the right concept. Don’t think of Him as a vengeful God who will issue punishment at the first chance; instead know that He is every-ready to help with compassion and love.

By engaging in zikir in this manner we can actually culture the heart to make zikir, even when we are pre-occupied with other things. For example it has been reported by Jabir bin Abdullah (ra) that some angels came to the Prophet while he was asleep. Some of them said, “He is sleeping.” Others said, “His eyes are sleeping but his heart is awake.”

Make your organs resound Allahu. This isn’t impossible for us to achieve. It is based on our effort. No material things can help you achieve this. It is a real Jihad and proof can be found in the narration where Prophet told his Companions “I have returned from the small Jihad (Jihad Asghar) to the big Jihad (Jihad Akbar)”. The Sahabas enquired “what is the big Jihad?” Prophet said “the Jihad al nafs (inner desires).”

Satan will try to divert you but try to take control of yourself. Make proper usage of your time and try to benefit from what is being offered. Forget about the baseless argument of those who will argue that zikir is haram. Take control of the nafs and cultivate it to make the zikir of Allah and insha Allah you would have achieved something of great benefit in this world and the next.

Allah’s Barakat

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّ حِيْمِ

Always remember that evil cannot go back to Allah . It cannot go beyond the skies. Allah says;

‘We have indeed decked the lower heaven with beauty (in) the stars,- (for beauty) and for guard against all obstinate rebellious evil spirits, (so) they should not strain their ears in the direction of the Exalted assembly but be cast away from every side’ (37:6-8)

Satan had a taste of Paradise and he also had the good experience of attaining closeness to Allah so he knows how beautiful it is. He would therefore have some sort of inclination to go back there. Besides he likes to know what is going on or taking place in the heavens. As such Allah has protected the lower heavens from Satan and his minions.

‘but those who reject Our Signs and treat them with arrogance,- they are companions of the fire, to dwell therein (for ever)’ (7:36)

Allah has given so many indications that He is ‘in charge’. For example in the Qur’an a lot of chapters are named after things of nature, and this is one of the means by which we can understand the Greatness of Allah . He showed so many signs to Pharaoh and his followers but still they took no heed. Pharaoh never thought that Allah was giving them signs. And even today we see that some groups of people feel as though that they don’t need God.

About them Allah says that they will be confined to the earth. When Pharaoh and his followers did not take heed to the message of Moses Allah sent His wrath upon them. Meanwhile the Bani Israel was prospering.

One of the consequences of not submitting humbly to Allah is that such people will be denied of Allah's blessings. He says:

'Verily, those who reject Our Signs and treat them with arrogance, (for them) there will be no opening of the gates of the skies, nor will they (be able) to enter Paradise, until the camel can pass through the eye of a needle'. (7:40)

It will be impossible for the materialistically inclined to penetrate the skies in order to go back to Allah . It is reported in one commentary that when the souls of the inhabitants of hell are being taken up to the heaven the angels will block them from proceeding any further.

In our meditation there are some who can sit and actually experience paradise. This is difficult to explain since it is outside the realm of scientific reason and logic. Ordinary human beings can experience something of paradise.

Worry not of those who argue by saying such a thing is ‘haram, bidah or shirk. These things are difficult to explain because they are outside the realm of reason and logic. It’s something that you have to experience.

If we aspire to do good Allah will open up the skies and bestow His barakat upon us. Allah tells us about this in the following verse:

'If the people of the town had but believed and feared Allah; We should indeed have opened out to them all kinds of blessings from the skies and the earth. But they rejected the truth, and We took them to task for their misdeeds'. (7:96)

It is up to us to make an effort. Remember every day we must ‘hasten to ask for forgiveness from our Lord’. Our life-span in this world is fixed and our mission is to manage it properly in order to attain maximum benefit in both the worlds.

Cover not truth with falsehood

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّ حِيْمِ

The blessed month of Ramadan has come to an end and, Insha Allah, we would have all had a successful and beneficial one. It means therefore that we would have put into our ‘account’ something of good and it also means that we would have polished our hearts and removed some of the stains and spots that would have been on it.; we should not try to add new stains on it. Instead of doing so we should endeavour to keep on polishing it and keeping it shining.

In order to do so we need to keep reminding ourselves of what Allah says in His Holy Words;

‘and cover not truth with falsehood, nor conceal the truth when ye know’ (2:42)

If we extend this ideology to our own deeds it indicates that we should not nullify the good that was done by reverting to the old, sinful ways. Every time we do, say or think something, be it good or bad, it creates an impression on the ruh. Besides the fact that all our thoughts and actions are being recorded in our book of deeds; they either contribute to the polishing or staining of the ruh. If you commit wrong it is as the ayat says above; you are clothing or covering the good with what is not beneficial here in this life nor in the next.

In contrast to this Allah says in Surah Huud

‘Verily; good remove those that are evil: that is the word of remembrance to those who remember (Their Lord)’ (11:114)

The stains and spots on the ruh can be removed by doing good, and in the same process we are also polishing it. So the choice is ours. We can either clothe it or have it bright and shining. This is our daily challenge; purifying our thoughts, words, and deeds because it impacts on our qalb.

Those things that clothe and conceal may appear beautiful and desirous but always remember that Satan decorates the evil. Take for example the festival of divali. Look at how beautiful the Hindus will make it and in reality what they are doing is committing shirk. So we need to understand that Satan will try to divert our focus by tempting us on a daily basis.

So, as the month of Ramadan is over let us make a strong resolution to keep engaging in all the good and refraining from the evil, so when the next Ramadan comes around our status will keep rising higher and higher.

This has to be an individual effort; no one else can do it for you. Keep in mind the importance of the intention because all actions are judged on intentions. May Allah make it easy for us and may He purify our thoughts and our actions so that we can continue drawing closer and closer

Eid ul Fitr (2010)

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّ حِيْمِ

EID UL FITR

2010

Allahu Akbar

Allah says in His Holy Words:

Verily, this brotherhood of yours is a single brotherhood; and I am your Lord and Cherisher; therefore submit yourselves (to Me). (21:92)

Islam came to re-establish the principle that mankind is one nation, as all human beings came from one parent, Adam and Eve. One of the ways of demonstrating this fact is that all believers; regardless of race, colour or locality, practice all the fundamentals of the Faith. They all pray, fast, give charity and go for Haj. A good example is the fact that today you are all here as one big family, gathered for the purpose of celebrating Eid.

Allah informs us that when the human family was established on the earth, they were all one people; it is their own selfish desires that caused them to become disunited. He says:

Mankind was one single nation; and Allah sent Messengers with glad tidings and warnings; and with them He sent the Book in truth, to judge between people in matters wherein they differed. But the People of the Book, after clear Signs came to them, did not differ among themselves except through selfish contumacy. Allah, by His Grace, guide the believers to the Truth, concerning that wherein they differed. (2:213)

So Islam came to remove the barriers that keep the people apart, and to again make them live like one big human family. Prophet Muhammad (pboh) is reported to have said:

We Prophets are brothers from different mothers and our Religion is one. (Fath al Bari, 6:550)

All the Believers are brothers and sisters in Faith. But every human being is an individual, with his or own temperament, etc. and may not necessarily agree with one another in every matter. When ever a disagreement comes up, there is no need to fight or quarrel, but one should try to sort it out in a refined way. Allah says:

The Believers are but a single Brotherhood; so make peace and reconciliation between two contending brothers; and fear Allah; that you may receive Mercy. (49:10)

Allah also says:

Be not like those who are divided amongst themselves and fall into disputations; after receiving clear Signs; for them is a dreadful penalty. (3:105)

Every Muslim is like a strand in a rope. All put together make the rope strong. But if the strands begin to get loose the rope will get weak and may burst. Allah says:

Hold fast, all of you tighter, by the Rope, which Allah (stretches out for you) and be not divided amongst yourselves. (3:103)

There is no doubt of the fact that Ramadan brought most of the believers together. Only those who stayed away did not feel the blessing of being like one big happy family.

If, for one reason or another; a person could not have attended the Taraweeh prayers, or even keep the fast, that person should still have hope, as Allah connects Himself to us with the Attribute of Compassion. He says:

My Mercy I extend to all things. (7:156)

Brothers and sisters, as human beings, we are separate units, but we can feel like one people if we develop love in our hearts for each other. About this Allah says, as a reminder to the Arabs who were tribal before Islam, and as an eye-opener to all of us the following:

Keep in mind, with gratitude, Allah's favour on you; for you were enemies and He joined your hearts in love; so that, by His Grace, you became brethren. (3:103)

The heart in the human being is like the pearl in the oyster. No mater what colour, size or shape the oyster may be, the pearl of every one looks alike, and is beautiful if kept bright and polished.

But how can we develop love for one another, when someone may want to destroy his believing brother for some material benefit; or may show envy and hate for things that may not have any value in the next life. Allah gave us the golden principles for establishing loving brotherhood and a good society. He says:

Do not be proud of your wealth, for Allah does not love those who are proud of their riches. But seek, with that which Allah has bestowed on you, the Home of the Hereafter, nor forget your portion of this world. Do good to others, as Allah has been good to you, and do not make mischief in the land; for Allah does not love those who make mischief. (28:77)

Instead of trying to ridicule or belittle others, a Believer is enjoined upon to show compassion. Prophet Muhammad (pboh) is reported to have said:

Be merciful to those on earth, and receive Mercy from Him Who is in the Heaven.

Today, as we have gathered to celebrate, let us resolve that we are going to make the earth a better place in which to live, for our selves and posterity.

O our Lord; forgive us for our faults and mistakes; forgive our brethren who have gone before in faith; forgive those who are to come, and cause us all to rise with the righteous on the Day of Judgment.

Performance of Jummah & Eid salaat on the same day

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّ حِيْمِ

Question:

Should a person perform the Jumuah Salaat if Eid and Jumuah should fall on the same day, i.e. on a Friday?


According to the Hanafi, Shaafi and Maliki Mazhaib, if Eid and Jumuah should fall on the same day, the two cannot be combined; so the Eid Salaat will have to be performed separately from the Jumuah Salaat.

One of the reasons given is because the Jumuah Salaat is an Obligatory one, and is mentioned in the Holy Qur'an. The Eid Salaat is not mentioned in the Holy Qur'an, and is Waajib. So that preference must be given the Obligatory over the Waajib.

Imam Hanbal is of the view that if both Salaat should coincide; then only the Eid Salaat has to be performed and the Jumuah Salaat may not necessarily be performed, although the Imam must be present at the time of Jumuah in the Masjid.

Imam Hanbal's reason for giving such an opinion is based on a Hadith reported by Abu Huraira in which he reports that the Prophet (pboh) said to the Bedouins on the day of Eid after the Salaat: Whoever wishes he may perform the Jumuah Salaat; and whoever wishes he may return; we shall soon meet again.

According to the Scholars, the Prophet (pboh) was giving permission to all those who came from far off to perform the Eid Salaat, and can be classified as travellers. For them Jumuah was not compulsory, so that they had the option, if they wanted, to remain for the few hours to get Jumuah, or to return back to their homes. When he said that they were to meet again soon, he was referring to the meeting for Jumuah.

The same thing happened in the time of Hazrat Uthman, and he gave the same concession to those who came from far off. However, the people of the city performed Jumuah afterwards.

The conclusion is that if the two Salaat should fall on the same day, the two must be performed separately.

Allah knows best.

A Poem on Ramadhan

Welcome O Ramadhan
By Maulana Dr. Waffie Mohammed


Anxiously I looked out for the moon,
Hoping that it was not too soon;
May it be visible I pray
On the western horizon today.

Welcome, O Ramadan, I cried,
As I saw the crescent in the sky,
The month destined to make me be
In the Hereafter, a VIP.

Restraint, submission and devotion,
Extra worship and Recitation.
I tried to please the Lord each day
Through fasting and the way I pray.

A little thirst, a bit of hunger,
Sometimes I wonder how much longer,
For the time when I shall break the fast,
Patiently I waited to the last.

I enjoyed the numerous preparations
At the many aftari invitations,
Curry being the main menu
Interchanged at times with tasty stew.

I waited anxiously for the Night of Power
Hoping to be awake at the Special Hour.
When the climax of worship was to be
The feeling of peace and tranquility.

The Sermon of Eid I'll never forget,
As it makes me feel a bit of regret
It says: As you gather today to celebrate Eid
One day you shall gather to know your deeds

O Ramadan, when you are gone,
A lot of people shall mourn
They did not fast, pray or give charity
Making them not fit to be a VIP.

Allahu Akbar

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّ حِيْمِ

الله أكبر

When we say Allahu Akbar what is it that we really mean? Can we fully understand this expression?

We know, as creatures’, we have limitations. We cannot engage in many activities at one at the same time. Allah has Divine Attributes. We know them as the Asma ul Husna – the 99 Beautiful Names of Allah . One example of His Greatness is that He functions through all these Divine Attributes at one at the same time. For example He can issue mercy and punishment at time same, and to all creatures, not only human beings. He says in Surah An'am;

‘and He knows whatever there is in (or on) the earth and in the sea; not a leaf falls, but He knows it. there is not a grain in the darkness of the earth nor anything fresh or dry, but is written in a clear Record’ (6:59)

This ayat just draws reference to one of Allah’s Divine Attribute; Al Aleem – The All Knowing. And He functions through all His Divine Attributes at one at the same time.

The other point that exemplifies Allah’s Greatness is that He responds to all His creatures also at one at the same time. For example He sustains some of His creatures and provides protection for others at the very same time. All creatures depend on Him and this is a connotation of As-Samad. Even those misguided creatures who claim to be a god, they too are dependent on Allah. Allah is in no need of sustenance. He is Al-Malik – The Absolute Possessor.

So when we say the simple expression Allahu Akbar we are incorporating everything about the Divine Personality of our Lord. We cannot fathom how truly Great Allah is. He says in Surah Luqman;

‘and if all the trees on earth were pens and the ocean (were ink), with seven oceans behind it to add to its (supply), yet would not the words of Allah be exhausted (in the writing): for Allah is Exalted In power, full of wisdom’ (31:27)

By saying this simple expression of Allahu Akbar we immediately recognised that we have limitations and Allah is limitless; we occupy a tiny space and time and Allah is confined to nothing. Even His thrown is difficult for us to conceptualize;

‘His Throne doth extend over the heavens and the earth,’ (2:255)

He cannot be compared and if you have your faith and trust in Him, He will take care of you and will never let you down. Yes we will experience hardships but if you look back at life you’ll see that you experienced many trials.

Our Lord is truly Great, so much that it is impossible for us to fully comprehend. Realise this and worship and serve Him as He ought to.

The Blessed Month of Ramadan

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّ حِيْمِ

The blessed month of Ramadan is upon us, and Allah says that Ramadan is His month. One reason why Ramadan is special is because Prophet Muhammad (saw)is reported to have said that Shaitan is chained in this month;

In this month (for them) evil-minded Shaytaan is chained so as not to reach unto those evils to which they normally reach during other months besides Ramadan.

This is a very special blessing for those who keep the fast. Why can’t Satan ‘attack’ us? Firstly, in Ramadan we tend to be more God conscious. We don’t pay importance to a few things that engage our time and energy. We therefore have more time to think about Allah and because of this we get closer to Allah and Satan can’t get between.

Satan uses a few things to distract us. He engages our lust, desires for food/drink, and a person’s arrogance. All of these are the handiwork of Satan and we are commanded to stay away from them. We are advised to engage in more Ibadaat and to show more compassion to others. Fasting is meant to bring you closer to Allah and to keep you away from those things that are not beneficial for us, in this life and the next. There are no avenues for Satan to attack you.

Ramadan helps you become a ‘VIP’ in the hereafter. There is a gate in Paradise called Riyan and those who fast shall enter into Paradise through this gate. Look at the status and benefits you could achieve in this blessed month.

Remember if Allah loves you He will try you. If you are aspiring to get closer to Allah He will love you more, and He would also try you more. Even in Ramadan you may get some trials. However you should try to bear them with patience and keep on persevering. Even if someone abuses you in Ramadan we are taught to say “I am fasting”.

Try your best to make full usage of Ramadan. Engage in recitation of Qur’an, plenty of Astagfirullah and send lots of Darood on our Beloved (saw). Make dua to Allah for whatever you desire because He has shown us that He is capable of doing things outside our realm of understanding.

May Allah make this Ramadan peaceful and tranquil for all the believers’. May He make the trials easy and bearable for us and may He remove most of it in this most special month. Let us benefit from it, and whatever you do, do it solely for the sake of Allah.

The blessing of the Qur’an

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّ حِيْمِ

We continuously emphasize that human beings are truly blessed and are created special. One reason that highlights this fact is that man has the ability of reciting the Glorious Words of Allah . Which other creature has this blessing? True some Jinns has the capability of reciting, but the Qur’an was revealed to man, and the Jinns, after hearing it being recited, were enticed by it.

‘Say: it has been revealed to me that a company of Jinns listened (to the Qur'an). They said, 'We have really heard a wonderful recital! 'It gives guidance to the right, and we have believed therein: we shall not join (in worship) any (gods) with Our Lord.’ (72 : 1-2)

Never feel that recitation of the Holy Qur’an is a burden. It’s a great blessing. We have the opportunity of repeating the words that Allah recites. We should try our best to recite the Qur’an as much as possible, and to recite it sweetly as it is reported that Allah and His angels listens to its recitation.

Imagine this ‘piece of mud’ has the capability of repeating these Glorious Words. This is why when Prophet Muhammad (saw) was delivering his last sermon he repeated 3 times that he was leaving behind ‘The Book’ and thereafter he mentioned his Sunnah.

Thank your Lord for this great blessing and make it a part of your daily routine to recite at least a few ayats. Yes we’re busy with work, family, et cetra but after all that has been said and done recite as often as you can. May Allah bless us and may He keep out hearts tied to His Glorious Book.

The Mir’aj

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّ حِيْمِ

‘and raised high the esteem (in which) Thou (art held)’

Mir’aj is a very special time and some people may think that it is a sort of ritual celebration, so whenever it comes around it is mandatory that we ‘celebrate’ it. Mir’aj is much more important than just a celebration. In addition of acquiring blessings for associating with Allah’s beloved and trying to understand something of his great mission we are all, insha Allah, gaining some form of enlightenment.

We must understand firstly that Mir’aj is the occasion when Allah placed the seal of prophet hood. After Prophet Muhammad (saw)there was no need for any other Messenger. Mir’aj is also that occasion when the true meaning of the term ‘Imam ul Ambia’ was realised. All the previous Messengers (pbot) predicted Prophet Muhammad (saw)coming. Why was this necessary? The mission was not yet completed.

Allah has placed at mans’ disposal whatever is in the skies and earth. He says in Surah Ibrahim;

‘It is Allah who hath created the heavens and the earth and sendeth down rain from the skies, and with it bringeth out fruits wherewith to feed you; it is He who hath made the ships subject to you, that they may sail through the sea by His command; and the rivers (also) hath He made subject to you’.

So our mission, physically, is to benefit from the things Allah has created in the universe. And the Mir’aj was the occasion when man learned how to access whatever Allah has created from him.

Allah is the embodiment of purity. He is ‘As Sahir’; The One that is Pure. Since Allah has created man as His vicegerent on earth, man is supposed to also be pure and clean. He says in Surah Baqarah;

‘for Allah loves those who turn to Him constantly and He loves those who keep themselves pure and clean’.

Whenever you ‘dirty’ yourself remove the impurity immediately but begging your Lord for forgiveness. It necessary to seek purity because our Lord is our destination and only the pure will be able to meet him. He says;

‘and to Him will ye be all brought back’.

Every so often we hear “Verily to Allah we belong and unto Him is our return”. Each one of us is returning to our Creator; however some may not reach Him. Understand that we are on a journey and that journey is to successfully return to and meet our Lord. The best and surety way of achieving this is to follow the path of Siratul Mustaqeem – the straight path that has no deviations.

Mir’aj is real and it is possible for followers of Prophet Muhammad (saw)to also experience some sort of ‘mir’aj’, if they keep their personality clean and pure. We are all aware of the hadith ‘salaat is the mir’aj of the believer’. And in order to pray our salaat as a prerequisite we must physically purify ourselves. Remember Allah loves purity. This is why the non-believers are banned from entering the holy city of Makkah Mukarramah. So we can see the importance of constantly seeking purity, physically, spirituality and morally. The foundation for making yourself eligible to meet your Lord is purity.

On the Day of Judgement mankind will be categorise into three groups. There will be one group of people who will be blessed with the ability to overtake everyone and reach the destination that is Allah . The second group will be those who will be a bit slower because of the ‘heavy baggage’ they will be carrying and Prophet (saw) will intercede to Allah on behalf of them. The third group will be those who will not be able to move at all regardless of the effort they will put in. They are the unsuccessful ones who will not have a chance to meet Allah and as a result they will be pushed into the abyss of hell. Which group would you like to be in?

Prophet was so pure and clean that it was no problem for him to physically leave this universe and go right up and meet his Lord. This journey consisted of two phases; the journey from Makkah to Jerusalem and from Jerusalem up to the heavens. Using the physics of today we see that it is impossible to travel faster than the speed of light.

Allah says about Prophet ;

‘The Messenger of God is an excellent model’

A lot of people tend to think that this only refers to religious issues. However, it refers to all aspects of life, so whatever scientists’ discover today or in the future, Prophet (saw) was already ahead and advanced in all matters. This is so different from the other religions. For the example the Christians propagated that the world was flat, the Hindus argue that the earth is actually resting upon a horn of a cow. Prophet Muhammad (saw) was able to travel from one city to another in a way in which man is yet to discover. And while travelling he stopped at two places where they were caravans. At the first stop the lead camel of the caravan became agitated and ran off. Prophet (saw) was able to accurately advise the tribesmen where to recover the camel. At the other caravan Prophet (saw) went into the tent where the people were resting, he drank some of their water and continued on his journey. The companions and others, who accused him of being ‘crazy’, because of the difficulty they had in believing him, were able to verify what he told them through these meetings. He was also able to accurately describe Masjid al Aqsa for the doubters. The means of travel was so sophisticated that man is yet to discover how.

After his visit to Al Aqsa where he led all the past Messengers in salaat, he was privileged to go up. We must note that the atmosphere consists of barriers called the electro magnetic barriers. Earth’s atmosphere has 7 electro magnetic barriers and in the Qur’an we find the term ‘samawat’ mentioned. This translates to the 7 layers (skies) in the earth’s atmosphere. Because of the presence of these barriers waves cannot penetrate it. However during the mir’aj Prophet (saw) was able to ‘break through’ these hurdles and go higher and higher even to the point where angel Jibreel couldn’t go. We can’t explain this wonder through scientific reason and logic. It was on this night that the avenues were opened up for man to gain access.

Why could Jibreel go on with Prophet while in the heavens? Possibly because when Allah announced that He was going to create man He gave the angels a little leeway and they questioned His decision. They demonstrated a limit in their capacity and therefore couldn’t go further as Prophet (saw) was able to. Why was he able to go higher and higher? Because it is said about him in the Qur’an;

‘nor does He say (aught) of (his own) desire.’

Every thing he said was on the basis of Divine inspiration and guidance. Because he was most pure and clean he was able to go higher and higher, to the point where he was in the Divine Presence of Allah .

Allah says He is close to us. He mentions in Surah Qaaf;

‘for We are nearer to him than (his) jugular vein’.

If Allah is ‘with us’ why was it then necessary for Him to physically take Prophet (saw) up into the heavens to meet and converse with him? In order to understand this reference must be made to the following;

‘Ashadu an la ilaha illa'llah - I testify that there is no God but Allah ’

Once there was a muezzin who was sounding the adhan and when he said ‘ashadu an la ilaha illa'llah.’ his Sheikh held him by the arm and accused him of lying. Puzzled the muezzin asked how he could make such a statement. The sheikh replied how is it possible to prove there is only One God. The muezzin, an intelligent fellow, replied, “I can’t but my leader and teacher said there is only One God, and he never told a lie so I know there is only One God.’

Even before Prophet hood, Muhammad (saw) was known for his trustworthiness and honesty.

How can you believe in something you have never seen? Because Prophet was sent as a witness to the entire universe and he testified to what he saw and preached. He says;

‘And I am commanded to be the first of those who bow to Allah in Islam’.

When he was in the Divine Presence according to some scholars Allah greeted him and he replied and in this beautiful situation he thought of his ummah and included us all in this beautiful moment. At that point when he was at the highest, greatest point he remembered others. This conversation is repeated daily by Muslims all over the word we they engage in salaat;

Attahiyyaatu Lillahi Was Salawato Wattayyibatu Assalamu Alaika Ayyuhannabi 'o 'Warahmatullahi Wabarka'tuhu Assalamu Alaina Wa'ala'Ibadillahis Sa'liheen, Ash'had'u'un La ilahaillallahu Wa Ash'hadu Anna MuhammadunAbd'uhu Wa Rasooluh'

Greetings, prayers and our good deeds are for Allah. Peace, mercy and blessings of Allah be on you O Prophet. May peace be upon us and on the devout slaves of Allah. I testify that there is no god but Allah and I testify that Muhammad is His slave and messenger.

How can we keep ourselves pure and clean? It starts with your intentions. Remember ‘actions are judged by intentions’. Allah showed His beloved the unseen verities. Some of the companions had a debate as to whether or not Prophet (saw) saw Allah . Hazrat Aisha (ra) was of the view that he didn’t and she further went on to say ‘anyone who says that he saw Allah is a liar’. Perhaps she was referring to physical sight, but think for a moment did Prophet (saw) tell of everything he saw and witnessed?

Lao Tzu, the founder of Taoism, wrote in his final writings ‘those who know don't speak, those who speak don't know’. Why didn’t Prophet disclose everything he experienced? For example when he was asked to describe the Lot tree he said that ‘the leaves were like the ears of elephants’. How can one describe this and generally speaking how can one explain religious experiences?

We all know of the 5 senses that humans poses. But what about the sixth sense, the one that is used to read the book of Moses (as). As scholars put it there are certain degrees of freedom that man has and some may be able to use their higher senses while other may not. So how for example people, using their 10th sense or higher degree of freedom, explain a matter or experience to someone who only operates on their 5th sense? Religious experiences are difficult to explain using scientific reason and logic. Prophet (saw) was privileged to witness the unseen, be it actual or concept. Allah wanted to show His beloved who He is.

‘There is no God but He: that is the witness of Allah, His angels, and those endued with knowledge, standing firm on justice, there is no God but He, the Exalted In power, the wise’.

It is possible for man to travel spirituality and for him to even go upwards into the heavens. This is being done on a regular basis. There are righteous people who have access to the heavens and to the Messengers. How can this be proved? The answer is found in the Qur’an?

‘and say not of those who are slain in the way of Allah. "they are dead". Nay, they are living, though ye perceive (it) not’.

How can you explain this? How can we explain that there are certain righteous believers who have left this world and yet still they are still alive and are functioning? Reason and logic is useless when it comes to understanding this. Unfortunately there are some who argue haram, bidah, shirk. Remember what Allah says in His Glorious Words;

‘They have hearts wherewith they understand not, eyes wherewith they see not, and ears wherewith they Hear not’.

After all of this explanations and descriptions the question sill remains why Mir’aj? Why was it necessary to physically take up Prophet (saw)? In order to answer this, firstly think of how is it possible to get the sun light into a dark room. Logically one could reflect the light using a mirror. There may be some hindrance such as the clouds, dust in the atmosphere, spots on the mirror etc. The Mir’aj is the occasion when Prophet (saw) went up into the heavens and removed all the barriers that existed and got the true and beautiful Light of Allah to reflect on mankind. He was destined to reflect the Light of Allah on earth. Proof of this can be found in the Qur`an in Surah Ma'ida and Surah Nur. In Surah Nur there contains a verse known as Ayat an-Nur. This ayat is renowned for its remarkable beauty;

‘Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The Parable of His Light is as if there were a Niche and within it a Lamp: the Lamp enclosed in Glass: the glass as it were a brilliant star: Lit from a blessed Tree, an Olive, neither of the east nor of the west, whose oil is well-nigh luminous, though fire scarce touched it: Light upon Light! Allah doth guide whom He will to His Light: Allah doth set forth Parables for men: and Allah doth know all things’.

Prophet (saw) is that one who was delegated that mission of reflecting the Light of Allah on the universe. Allah says in Surah Zumar;

‘and the earth will shine with the glory of its Lord’.

No other creature has this capacity. His blessed personality is capable of absorbing the Light of Allah; and further reflect it throughout the universe.

Make this an occasion where we make the firm decision that we are going back to meet our Lord and the meeting will be cordial and beautiful. May Allah help us and bless us and make it possible for the believers to experience their ‘mir’aj’ here in this world. May Allah always bless the believers.