2013 Eid ul Fitr Sermon

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّ حِيْمِ

 

اَللهُ أَكْبَرُ ، اَللهُ أَكْبَرُ ، اَللهُ أَكْبَرُ ، لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ ، اَللهُ أَكْبَرُ ، اَللهُ  أَكْبَرُ ،.وَ للهِ الْحَمْدُ

 

Allaahu Akbar, Allaahu Akbar, Allaahu Akbar, laa ilaaha ill-Allaah, Allaahu akbar, Allaahu Akbar, wa lillaahi’l-hamd

Congratulations to all those who were able to keep the fast and observed extra acts of worship during the days and nights of the blessed month of Ramadan. May Allah accept all what was done for His sake during the month.

Dear brothers and sisters, today as you have decorated your outward personalities with beautiful garments; know that your soul is now also decorated as you had your Satan chained for a whole month, because you aspired to observe righteousness during the days and night of Ramadan.  Allah tells us about this in the following verse of the Holy Qur’an. He says:

O ye Children of Adam! we have bestowed raiment upon you to cover your shame, As well As to be an adornment to you. but the raiment of righteousness,- that is the best. such are among the Signs of Allah, that They may receive admonition! (7:26)

 

Allaahu Akbar, Allaahu Akbar, Allaahu Akbar, laa ilaaha ill-Allaah, Allaahu akbar, Allaahu Akbar, wa lillaahi’l-hamd

 

As Ramadan is meant to decorate and purify the body and the soul, all those who kept the fast would have wiped out all the past stains that were on their hearts, they will rise with brightened faces on the Day of Judgment, if they take the care not to soil their hearts with wrong-doing in the future.  Allah gave the good news for striving to please Him, as follows:

One Day shalt Thou see the believing men and the believing women- How their light runs forward before them and by their right hands: (Their greeting will be): "Good news for you This day! Gardens beneath which flow rivers! to dwell therein for aye! This is indeed the highest Achievement!" (57:12)

Brothers and sisters, just as you made every effort to chain your devil during the month by restraining yourselves, and showing patience, keep up the struggle, as Satan took a vow to prevent the progeny of Adam from staying on the Straight Path. He said:

"Then will I assault them from before them and behind them, from their right and their left: nor wilt Thou find, In Most of them, gratitude (for Thy mercies)." (7:17)

Satan will appear on that day dirty and disgraced, and he wants us all to be like him, so Allah warns us to be careful. He says:

O ye 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 watch you from a position where ye cannot see them: we made the evil ones friends (only) to those without Faith (7:27)

 

Allaahu Akbar, Allaahu Akbar, Allaahu Akbar, laa ilaaha ill-Allaah, Allaahu akbar, Allaahu Akbar, wa lillaahi’l-hamd

 

Remember all the good that you will do will be kept by your Lord and will be given to you with much more rewards. Allah says:

and whatever good ye send forth for your souls ye shall find it In Allah’s Presence (73:20)

Brothers and sisters, as you grow older you will begin to realize that all material achievements and matters are just for a time, as they are separable, and have limitations. Allah tells us so in the following verse of the Holy Qur’an. He says:

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. (16:96)

Try your best to build a big account with your Lord by giving charity, helping the poor, the needy by giving back to Allah some of the things He gave to you. He calls such charitable acts as goodly loans which He will have to repay. He says:

If ye loan to Allah, a beautiful loan, He will double it to your (credit), and He will grant you forgiveness: for Allah is Most ready to appreciate (service), Most Forbearing. (64:17)

Some people learn the hard way, that after struggling night and day for years and amassing a lot of material assets, they suddenly find that all that they worked for disappeared either by destruction or through natural disasters, etc. Others realized that they wasted their lives, as, at the time of death, they will realize that they are leaving behind all that they have acquired in the world and because they sent nothing ahead of them, they will be destitute in the next life.

Allah warns us to be careful about our focus and purpose of life. He says:

O men! Certainly, the promise of Allah is true. Let not then this present life deceive you, nor let the chief Deceiver deceive you about Allah. (35:5)

Allah also says:

Is He, then, to whom the evil of His conduct is made alluring, so that He looks upon it As good, (equal to one who is rightly guided)? (35:8)

 

Allaahu Akbar, Allaahu Akbar, Allaahu Akbar, laa ilaaha ill-Allaah, Allaahu akbar, Allaahu Akbar, wa lillaahi’l-hamd

 

Dear brothers and sisters Allah has given every one of us the capacity to know good from evil, and the capability to be able to choose. Ramadan assisted us to make the correct choices. Do not go back and do the things that will not be of benefit to us on the onward journey. Remember good and evil cannot mix. Allah says: 

The blind and the seeing are not alike; nor are the depths of darkness and the light; nor are the (chilly) shade and the (genial) heat of the sun: nor are alike those that are Living and those that are dead. Allah can make any that He wills to hear; but Thou canst not make those to Hear who are (buried) In graves. (35:19-22)

Now is the time to listen and take action.  Take care that you do not now soil your beautiful personalities with wrong doing, in order that you will rise with the righteous on the Day of Judgment in the Companionship of the Prophet, the Martyrs and the Righteous.

May Allah forgive us all and guide and protect us so that we will be pleased to meet Him on that day and He will be well pleased to entertain us.

EID MUBARAK

Moon Sighting for Eid ul Fitr 2013

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّ حِيْمِ

"Based on the fact that the moon was not sighted in Trinidad, and the evidence that came from Guyana was disputed by some of the organizations in Guyana; and after extensive consultation with local Ulooma, we have taken the decision to complete the month of Ramadan with thirty days and celebrate Eid ul Fitr on Friday 9th August 2013.  We are sorry for the inconvenience caused to the community, and pray to Allah (swt) to forgive us for any shortcomings on our path".

Maulana Dr. Waffie Mohammed


 

The Blessed Month

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّ حِيْمِ

Allah has created the entire universe and each segment functions according to the laws that He has prescribed for them.  For example He says;

Each (just) swims along in (its own) orbit (according to Law).  (36:40)

Allah is above all laws.  He is the One Who created the laws for the functioning of His creatures and those laws are not subject to change.  He says;

None can change His words.  (18:27)

Regarding human beings, Allah has given us a special facility and some special concessions.  For example Prophet Muhammad (pboh) is reported to have said that Allah says; “if the servant draws near to Me a hand span, I draw near to him an arm’s length; and if he draws near to Me an arm’s length, I draw near to him a fathom’s length.  And if he comes to Me walking, I come to him running”. (Bukhari)

Allah has given us the prerogative to choose.  And because we are humans and we do make mistakes Allah, out of His love for us, has created such occasions where we can have our wrong deeds wiped out and have our good deeds increased.  For example He says;

Allah doth blot out or confirm what He pleaseth: with Him is the mother of the Book.  (13:39)

Sometimes we have the notion that whatever goes into our book of deeds remains permanent and everlasting.  However we can have the evil deeds removed if Allah so wills and we make the appropriate effort.  For example there are the traditions concerning the benefits associated with worshiping on the 15^th of Shabaan.  There are also many traditions in which Prophet Muhammad (pboh) makes mention of the benefits and rewards associated with the blessed month of Ramadhan.  One such is a Hadith Qudsi in which Prophet (pboh) reports that Allah says; “all the actions by the son of Adam are for him, except fasting for verily it is for Me and I shall reward him for it”.

We have on the horizon this special month allocated by Allah that contains so many blessings and benefits.  Prophet Muhammad (pboh) used to tell his companions ‘the month is coming’.  

Realistically, keeping the fast is not entirely easy; it has its challenges and in the past my experience was that in Ramadhan I had more responsibilities and work.  Allah wants to test us; because, if He has to wipe out our mistakes and faults there must be a good reason for doing so.  And that reason is keeping the fast sincerely for His sake; and being prepared to undertake the trials, difficulties and the hardships that come along with it.  

This month that is approaching has so much of beauty and blessings that we should cherish the fact that we are alive to observe it, insha Allah.  Ramadhan is the only principle factor of the unification of the hearts of believers all over the world. 

In Trinidad and Tobago we are blessed because the hours of fasting in the day are not too long.  In other countries, the Muslims have to fast for sometimes 19 and 20 hours.  We should thank our Lord for His continued mercies and make the best use it.

One thing that we should try to avoid in this month is not to get upset.  This can spoil our fast and we would all like to achieve the maximum blessings attainable from our fast.  It is sacrifice and challenge but try your best to keep your composure.  We all know the Qur’anic ayat;

O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that ye may (learn) self-restraint.  (2:183)

What is restraint?  When situations arise where you can take verbal or physical action; and you do otherwise, because you are reminded that you are fasting.  Try your best to bear with patience the irritable situations you will experience.

Finally, remember that Ramadhan is an institution which can help us to become a beautiful tree that can give shade and delicious fruits.  A tree doesn’t need the shade nor the fruits.  It  instead benefits  others.  Ramadhan can help us to cultivate those beautiful qualities in our personality that will makes us admirable to others. 

My dear friends, this would be our last zikir session and publication until after Ramadhan, insha Allah and I want to sincerely wish each and everyone a peaceful, successful and happy Ramadhan and may Allah bless us to experience something special; that being the visit of those special beings that He will be sending on a special night that will bring peace and tranquillity to the hearts of the true believers. 

Remember, the most effective and beneficial experience you can get is the feeling of peace and tranquillity.  We will have our trials and difficulties; in the past we had them and they are now gone.  We will experience them again maybe in a different form but it is still a trial so be prepared to do your part by showing patience and restraint. 

May Allah bless us, guide us, take care of us and enable us to observe the blessed month of Ramadhan in a manner most pleasing to Him and most beneficial to us. 

Transcript of discourse delivered by

Maulana Dr. Waffie Mohammed

The video presentation of this discourse can be accessed at

http://www.youtube.com/markazalihsaan

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Believing without reason and logic

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّ حِيْمِ

There are some things in our faith which cannot be explained through reason and logic.  In other words we cannot rationalize some of the things we do.  For example we are supposed to make wudu before salaat.  However if there is no water available or we can’t use water we are supposed to make Tayammum.  Tayammum is in no way comparable to wudu because you are not cleansing all the parts that you normally do when you’re performing wudu.  Then why do it?  This is something that cannot be explained rationally.  We believe and accept because that is what Allah has ordained for us.

So too, there are so many things that we cannot explain through scientific reasoning and logic; and, unfortunately some people, because they cannot find a suitable explanation, reject it totally or condemn it. 

For example according to our school of theology we have an understanding concerning the night of the 15^th of Shabaan.  There are many traditions concerning the sacredness and benefits associated with this night.  One such belief is that a person’s sustenance is written on this night, another is that those who are to be born and those who will die for the following year is also written etc.  How can we explain these things rationally?  We cannot, and that is why we have faith in Allah. 

To become a Muslim the first thing a person says is I testify that there is no God but Allah.  Imagine those pagan Arabs who were idolaters; those who believed that Jesus (as) was God; others who believed that God somehow manifested Himself in an earthly form; and now you’re taught to say no God but Allah; that is something that comes only through faith because you cannot rationally prove the existence of God.

There is this philosophical problem termed ‘cause and effect’.  Every cause has an effect.  So we were created by God but then the problem arises, i.e. who created God?  Concerning this Prophet Muhammad (pboh) is reported to have said “Satan comes to one of you and says, ‘Who created so-and-so’; till he says, ‘Who has created your Lord?'  So, when he inspires such a question one should seek refuge with Allah and give up such thoughts”.  (Bukhari)

We need to understand that belief is something outside the realm of reason and logic.  Some people try to prove the unseen rationally.  For example have you ever seen an angel?  How can we prove the existence of angels rationally?  It’s difficult, that is why Allah begins the chapter of Baqarah with;

 Who believe in the Ghaib (unseen); (2:3)

 

Another example; how can you prove human beings possess a soul?  Has anyone seen it?  Many things we have to accept whether we can rationally prove it or not.

According to the teachings of Islamic spirituality these matters are outside the realm of reason and logic.  It is called religious experience and this can only be experienced.  It cannot be described.  You cannot tell me how sweet honey is; I have to taste it to really know.  When we say the term ‘I believe’ we are really implying that whether or not we can understand/prove we believe unconditionally.

Islamic spirituality is that realm of knowledge which is outside the references of reason and logic.  It is something that has to be experienced.  That is why a lot of Masha’ikhs do not disclose religious experiences; because of the potential backlash from those who cannot forgo rational thought. 

On the night of the Mir’aj Allah says that Prophet Muhammad (pboh) ascended higher and higher and then He revealed what He wanted to reveal.  What did Allah revealed?  No one knows.  How can the blessed Prophet (pboh) rationally describe such an experience?  The people doubted whether he travelled from Makkah to Jerusalem; what about his experiences in the heavens?

As we go along the path of Islamic spirituality always remember that it is not really permissible to discuss your religious experiences with any person.  You need to discuss it with your teacher or someone who he may refer you to.

For example there was once a great Masha’ikh called Mansur al-Hallaj.  During his time many of the Sufi masters felt that it was inappropriate to share religious experience with the masses, yet Al-Hallaj openly did so in his writings and through his teachings. He thus began to make enemies.  This was exacerbated by occasions when he would fall into trances which he attributed to being in the presence of God.  During one of these trances, he uttered Ana l-Ḥaqq - “I am The Truth”.  The masses could not understand what he truly meant and subsequently murdered him by severing limb from limb.  And when his blood flowed into a nearby river the words Ana l-Ḥaqq were formed.  How can we understand this rationally?

In the battle of Badr when the Muslim army were grossly outnumbered Allah through His Grace and Mercy send the angels to fight with the Muslims; and Companions reported that even before they could strike their blow the enemy was killed.  How can you explain this using scientific reason and logic.

As we go along this path you will hear people levelling the claim ‘bidah and shirk’.  In situations like these always remember the Qur’anic ayat; 

And the servants of (Allah) Most gracious are those who walk on the earth in humility, and when the ignorant address them, they say, “Peace”!  (25:63)

You will not be able to make an impression on these persons.  In the very beginning of the mission of man Satan confronted God with reason and logic.  He could not have seen that Adam (as) was endued with knowledge which he and the angels did not have.  That is an eye opener for all of us.

We need to go along with faith in Allah and in His Prophet (pboh) and whether we can understand it or not we do what we are expected to do.  Prophet Muhammad (pboh) demonstrated this in every way.  Do you think he knew that reasons for everything that was to happen?  For example when he was given the news that his grandson was to be martyred did he question?  He simply requested that he be brought the soil where his blessed grandson’s blood was to fall.

In Islamic spiritually you can get knowledge from Allah and He can take you closer to Him as He so desires. 

A lot of things people take for granted and they really do not know.  However, never condemn them.   They may be honest and sincere but were never exposed to these teaching and understandings and will thus have reservations.  When you experience this don’t get upset.  Instead be sympathetic and show love because all success lies through love.

If you show overflowing love for your Lord what do you think will happen?  Pursue this path with humility and sincerity and because we are touching on areas that are sensitive you will get comments and remarks; but just carry on with your own mission for success in this life and the next and let Allah take care of the rest.

May Allah bless us, enlighten us and protect us all insha Allah.

Transcript of discourse delivered by

Maulana Dr. Waffie Mohammed

The video presentation of this discourse can be accessed at

http://www.youtube.com/markazalihsaan

Vision of Allah

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّ حِيْمِ

 

Question: Is it possible to see Allah in this life?

 

Allah says about Himself in Surah Hadeed the following:

 

He is the First (He existed when nothing was created), He is the Last (He will continue to exist when everything will come to an end) He is the Seen, (Manifest) and He is the Hidden. (57:3)

 

If we should take the literal meaning, it means that He could be seen.  Allah also says:

 

Allah testifies to the fact that there is no god but He and the angels testify and those endued with knowledge, standing firm on justice. (3:18)

 

To testify to a fact here means to see Him. Only the selected few will be able to do so.  It is a fact, as the Lord rightly says:

 

No vision can grasp Him, but He is able to see everything. (6:103)

 

It means that except for Prophet Muhammad (pboh) on the night of the Miraj, no other creature will be able to view Him in the physical domain of space and time, with their physical eyes.

 

Out of His Mercies, He has made available a pathway of ascent for human beings. He says about it that He is Zil Ma’arij, (The Possessor of the Ascending Stairways). (70:3)

 

It means that creatures have the power to ascend higher and higher towards Him according to their capacities and because of His Mercies. The angels cannot get very close to Him, because they questioned His decision to appoint Adam as His Khalifah on the earth.  So too, all other Messengers, etc. expressed some form of limitations regarding their understanding of Him and the way He works.

 

It was only Prophet Muhammad (pboh) who was blessed with limitless capacity. This was because Allah says that: Nor does he say anything of his own desire. (53:3).

 

The Prophet (pboh) was totally submissive and never questioned any matter pertaining the working of the Lord; as a result he was able to ascend two bow’s length or even closer to Him. (53:9)

 

Because he had no stains on his qalb, ruh or nafs, he could have ascended very close to his Lord, and get a full view of Him. The same thing will happen to the righteous when they will be stationed in Paradise.

 

The condition of experiencing the Lord is to have: no stains on the qalb.  (83:14); and also to have no smoke around the ruh. (6:82).

 

Anyone who can develop themselves free from such will be able to have a vision of the Lord (Al Zahir) according to the extent of their spiritual development. Prophet Muhammad (pboh) is reported to have said that: Among my followers there will be those who will be higher in status than the Messengers of Bani Israel. This means that they will be blessed with greater ascent than those Messengers.

 

But is it possible to rationalize such an experience; definitely not; so that the selected few who will be blessed with such an experience, will never let anyone know about what they saw.

 

This issue existed even in the time of the Prophet (pboh) as it is reported that Hazrat Ayesha said that anyone who say that the Prophet (pboh) saw Allah, is not telling the truth. The Prophet (pboh) never commented on it.

 

Those who are blessed with experience of being close to Allah will never speak about it to any, as that is a personal matter; and is not something to advertise.

 

So that you will get differing views about this matter, but only the Lord knows best.

 

 

May Allah bless us.

 

Yours sincerely,

Dr. Waffie

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Unique Birth

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّ حِيْمِ

Prophet Jesus (as) was sent in this world in a very unique way.  He did not come through the usual process of conception as a normal human being.  Allah sent the soul of Jesus (as) in Maryam and gradually the body was formed.  That is why he was formed and fashioned without a male agent.

Prophet Muhammad (pboh) also came into this world in a special way, albeit not like Jesus (as).  He came into this world as a normal human being.  Perhaps this is one of the reasons why Allah says;

Say (O Muhammad): “I am a man like you”.  (18:110)

 

However every human being upon conception, the foetus grows and forms, and it is only after four months then Allah unites the soul with the body.  Only then will it be regarded as a perfect human being.  In the interim it is not a human being in the true sense of the word; it is a creature. 

This was not the case with Prophet Muhammad (pboh).  He was a perfect, complete human being from the time of conception because of the special light that was there on the forehead of Abdullah before he got married to Amina, and after marriage, the light went into Amina.

We find evidence of this of when his father, Abdullah was going to marry Aminah.    As the record shows that when the wedding was going to take place a woman by the name of Qutaylah saw him approaching and was struck by the radiance which lit his face and which seemed to her to shine from beyond this world. 

When he was passing by her she said “O Abdullah take me now as thy wife and thou shalt have as many camels as those that were sacrificed in thystead”.  To this Abdullah replied “I am with my father; I cannot act against his wishes, and I cannot leave him”!  The marriage eventually took place at the home of Aminah.  Sometime after, Abdullah went to fetch something from his own house, and again he met Qutaylah.  Her eyes searched his face with such earnestness that he stopped beside her expecting her to speak.  When she remained silent, he asked her why she did not say to him what she had said the day before.  She answered him, saying: “The light hath left thee that was with thee yesterday”.  (Muhammad: his life based on the earliest sources – Martin Lings)

I believe that the light spoken about was the soul of Prophet Muhammad (pboh).  And what we gather is that the soul of Prophet Muhammad (pboh) and his blessed body began growing together.  We can further substantiate this with the fact that while Aminah was carrying the child in her womb she saw a light issue from her which illuminated even the castles of Busra in Syria.  (Life of Muhammad: Translated by Michael Edwards)

And even after his birth and throughout his life the light never separated from him.  For example when he was young and in the care of Halima he went missing one day.  When they searched for him they saw a bright light on a tree, unlike any they ever saw.  Upon further investigation that light was where young Muhammad (pboh) was.

And we know of the popular narrations where his Companions swore that at times his personality was brighter and more beautiful than the full moon.  This can possibly by why the children of Madinah once sung Tala al badru alayna - Oh the full moon has risen over us.

We are very fortunate that this perfect person is our guide and model.  And not only that, part of his job is to share that light with us; Sirajum Munirah – a lamp that gives light.  Perhaps that is why Allah says;

Indeed, there has come to You from Allah a light (Prophet Muhammad) and a plain Book (this Qur'an).  (5:15)

The Prophet’s mission can be identified as two dimensions; one is to invite to Allah and the next is to share the light.  Allah is constantly sending the light on him.  The night of the Mi’aj, which we recently marked, was the occasion when he was invited by his Lord to make that connection.  And from then onwards he is distributing the light that Allah is sending on him.  And if we connect with him we can also share and benefit from it.  

Ask yourself this question; why do we send darood on Prophet (pboh)?  Allah has already blessed him.  He is already Khatamul Nabi; Rahmatul Alameen etc.  When we engage in darood we share in the blessings that Allah is constantly sending on him.  If you want your light to grow connect to him by reciting darood abundantly.

And remember if you are pure and clean you can see Allah.  That’s why one Masheikh once said ‘I saw my Lord in my dream’.  If you purify yourself you can see your Lord.  How you will see Him, Allah knows.

Why say this?  What is my proof?  It is recorded that Prophet Muhammad (pboh) said: “When the people of Paradise enter in Paradise it will be asked of them, ‘Do you need something more’?  They will say ‘have you not whitened our faces? Have you not entered us in Paradise and protected us from Hell’?  Then Allah will remove the veil.  Looking to their Lord will be more lovely to them than anything else given to them.  And then Prophet (pboh) recited this verse: For those who have done good is the best (reward, i.e. Paradise) and even more (i.e. having the honour of glancing at the Countenance of Allah.  (10:26)

The more you purify yourself, the nearer you will get to your Lord.  That is the recipe for ascent.  Remove all the blemishes from your personality and brighten your countenance.  Allah says of those servants some faces that Day will be bright (80:38).

We beg Allah to help us, guide us and give us something of His vision in this life so we will be blessed to get more in the next.  May He take care of us, guide us and take us closer to Him insha Allah.

Transcript of discourse delivered by
Maulana Dr. Waffie Mohammed 

The video presentation of this discourse can be accessed at
http://www.youtube.com/markazalihsaan

Maulana Dr. Waffie Mohammed's lecture 'The Ascension of Prophet Muhammad (pboh)'

The expression of ascent

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّ حِيْمِ

Brothers and sisters, as we welcome the auspicious occasion of the Mir’aj we acknowledge, from our point of view, that it is greatest thing that happened since Allah created the Universe and mankind.

In the beginning the Angels and the Jinns thought that it was such an impossibility for a lump of mud (man) to be a true representative of Allah on earth, and an undeserving host of the knowledge Allah was going to bestow upon them.

Only Allah has knowledge of all things and Allah demonstrated there and then, while the Angels and Jinns were having their reservations, why Adam (as) was special as he demonstrated knowledge that they did not have.

Knowledge is so important that Allah says in Surah Imran; There is no god but He: that is the witness of Allah, His angels, and those endued with knowledge, (3:18)

How can the knowledgeable ones bear witness to Allah’s oneness?  One way is to look at the creation.  If you understand anything of the working of nature you’ll see there are no flaws in it and it has to be someone of real great knowledge Who is able to bring into being these things out of nothing.  This is one way, but there is also another special way that is reserved for some human beings.  And that is mir’aj.  Every week when we recite the ayat;

Whoever expects to meet his Lord, let him work righteousness, and, in the worship of his Lord, he should ascribe no one as partner.  (18:110)

What does it mean to meet our Lord?  Allah says that He is close to us; that He moves in the chest of man.  What then is He alluding to?  Prophet Muhammad (pboh) met his Lord on the night of the mir’aj and he is a human being.  He had the physical self just like anyone of us, but he had a special dimension.  He was able to refine his personality in such a way that he did not have a problem to ascend and meet his Lord in the Lord’s presence.

For someone to ascend beyond all created things and go right up he is indeed really perfect.  We will be hearing a lot of lectures about the mir’aj over the course of this weekend, but one thing I want to leave with you because of the spiritual environment we encourage on a weekly basis.

It is possible for you, here in this world to ascend beyond the skies and heavens.  You have not yet reached that stage of spiritual realisation but when you have that spiritual experience you will see how beautiful a thing like mir’aj is and how possible it is in a different environment.

Keep striving because it is not easy.  When Prophet Muhammad (pboh) was taken up; if he had any blemishes against his personality Allah had forgiven him.  You cannot meet your Lord with clouds around your heart.  But it will be possible for the believers in the hereafter after they’ve been forgiven.

It is recorded in that Prophet Muhammad (pboh) said: “When the people of Paradise enter in Paradise it will be asked of them, ‘Do you need something more’?  They will say ‘have you not whitened our faces? Have you not entered us in Paradise and protected us from Hell’?  Then Allah will remove the veil.  Looking to their Lord will be more lovely to them than anything else given to them.  And then Prophet (pboh) recited this verse: For those who have done good is the best (reward, i.e. Paradise) and even more (i.e. having the honour of glancing at the Countenance of Allah.  (10:26)

For a few it is possible here in this world.  For those who strive hard and their efforts are accepted by their Lord, He will allow them to ascend nearer to Him.

Do you think Satan will want you to achieve this?  Of course not, he will want to pull you down.  So you have to guard yourself against him.  Mir’aj is the expression of ascent.  Those who try to get close to their Lord know truly what mir’aj is.  One masheikh once said “I saw my Lord in my dream”.

As we have assembled here on this special night on try your best to experience your mir’aj in this life and let Allah take care of the rest.

Insha Alla you will be hearing more about the mir’aj over the course of this weekend and I invite those who can make it to attend the following lectures:

·     Lecture:                  The Ascension of Prophet Muhammad (pboh)

·     Delivered by:         Maulana Dr. Waffie Mohammed
·     Dates & Venues:    Friday 7^th June at the Princes Town asja Masjid
                                    Saturday 8^th June at the Marabella asja Masjid
                                    Sunday 9^th June at the Tacarigua asja Masjid
                                    (All lectures will commense after Salat Magrib)

 

Transcript of discourse delivered by

Maulana Dr. Waffie Mohammed