Friday Sermon June 24, 2016 - Fulfilling Commands of Allah
Friday Sermon during Ramadan - from Baitul Futuh Mosque
Huzoor said: I mentioned I quoted Promised Messiah (as) that for acceptance of prayer, you have to acknowledge that God is all powerful, and secondly we must act upon His commandments.
We need to see what are these commands? For this we need to look at the Holy Quran, as it mentions all actions we need to perform and all the evils that we need to away from
In the same verse which talks about acceptance of prayer, it says you must act upon my commands, it also mentions by doing this you would become a guided person
Should we follow these instructions only in the month of Ramadan? And we do only follow it in this month, can we become guided forever.
Ramadan only comes for reminding us of our duties. In this month we have to do our Tarbiyat (reformation) of ourselves, so that we gain nearness of Allah. This happens in a collective effort nowadays when we see each other performing the same righteous tasks. After Ramadan-ul-Mubarak we need to continue this struggle individually and collectively.
Huzoor said I have selected some commands to remind ourselves what we must do to attain God’s pleasure.
First important command Huzoor reminded of is worshipping Allah the Almighty.
God says in the Holy Quran: I have created Mankind so that they worship Me.
Huzoor says this is the purpose of our creation, and I have reminded many times in my sermons. We remember it for somedays, but later forget it.
Those who are waqfeen (life devotees) & they have the religious knowledge as well. Sometimes they don’t pay full attention to this matter either.
Similarly, Amila members also forget. They remind others in meetings and showoff knowledge. But they don’t act upon the commands.
Huzoor then quoted the Promised Messiah (as), who has said that you should truly worship Allah. The world should not be your ultimate goal (مقصود بالذات). The only reason I keep repeating this, is because this is the very purpose of you coming into this world.
Huzoor explained that: it doesn’t mean we don’t our jobs and businesses. But our goal should always be to fulfill the purpose for which we came into this world.
In month of Ramadan, because of Isha & Taravih prayer many of us sleep around 12 or 12:30. Then we have to wake up at 2:30. Some offer Nafl & then eat sehri. Then Go to Fajr also. If we can perform all these tasks in month of Ramadan, we can do them after too.
Huzoor said we should be counting the days of Ramadan and seeing how many are left. Rather we should be trying to train ourselves so that we continue our good habits later.
The Promised Messiah (as) has said that while we worship Allah and fulfill His rights, we should fulfill the rights of our nafs (or self) as well. But this should be in balance. We should take care of ourselves physically as well, so that we can continue to worship God Almighty for longer period of time.
We should use the abilities and powers given to us by Allah – if we don’t use these powers for the right purpose, we are being ungrateful.
Huzoor said we should fulfill the rights of everyone, but never forget the true purpose. Promised Messiah (as) says while fulfilling the rights of our body and family and performing other worldly matters, we should be careful to keep a balance. Too much of even halal becomes haram. Therefore, we should be ready to accept some difficulties in life for the pleasure of God. One who lives his life in complete luxury, cannot earn the same reward as the person who lives a life of difficulty.
Promised Messiah (as) says that it is extremely sad that there are people who come into this world, when they reach the age of maturity, they forget the purpose of life. They get so engrossed in life that true purpose entirely gets lost. Then they finally remember the purpose when angel of death comes to take their life. (Huzoor added that nowadays people have become so materialistic that even at that point they don’t remember God).
Promised Messiah (as) says we should have an ache in our heart to find God. If we do this, then we would become something worthy or valuable in the sight of God. This should be target of each individual.
Huzoor quoted a verse from Surah Nur: Allah says “such men, whom neither business nor regular buying & selling diverts from the remembrance of Allah and the observance of Prayer, and the giving of the Zakat. They fear a day in which hearts and eyes will be agitated”
Promised Messiah (as) has quoted this verse and mentioned an incident from Tadhkiratul Aulia. It says a saint once saw someone making large business transactions and deals. The saint was shown by God the spiritual condition of this businessman’s heart. He realized that event though he was engaged in worldly matters and large business deals, even then his heart was engaged in remembrance of Allah the Almighty. Nothing had made him unaware of his true purpose.
Promised Messiah (as) says that same is the expectation from each one of us. He gives an example saying that if there is a horse which runs well, but when you put load or weight on it, it falls to the ground. What benefit is such a horse? Therefore we need to become such people who are not only engaged in worldly matters. But with these worldly matters, we are also fulfilling the rights of Allah the Almighty.
Second commandment Huzoor highlighted was regarding Salat-e-Wusta. It says in the Holy Quran: Watch over Prayers, and especially the middle Prayer.
We are reminded to guard all our prayers, but especially our Salat-e-Wusta. This refers to the prayer that is most difficult to offer. It could be different for each individual. For some it could be morning prayer, and for others it could Zuhr or Asr – because it may be coming between our jobs. But we should be extremely watchful and not neglect our prayers.
Next command that Huzoor highlighted was pertaining covenants. We should all make sure that we fulfill our oaths and contracts
Huzoor said that we all have two kinds of pledges. One pledge is with Allah the Almighty of fulfilling the condition of Bai’t, pledge of being a Muslim. Other type of pledge is that we make among ourselves with each other. The promises that we make and the contracts we sign. Huzoor said: fulfill your promises and contracts with one another, and keep the fear of God in minds. If we take care of our pledges, then there wouldn’t be fights and arguments between us, there wouldn’t be family issues and other such problems. Lately, because of worldly greed people are breaking their contracts. It leads to more confrontations and fights. This way we are displeasing God Almighty, and also bringing disgrace to the Jama’at.
Then Huzoor reminded of the command pertaining speaking the truth.
God has said that: shun or avoid the evil of idols, and also avoid speaking lies.
It means that when we are asked to speak, we should speak the truth. We should not make idols of falsehood and lies.
Promised Messiah (as) has said that when people are reminded to stay away from lying, they say we cannot live without it. Promised Messiah (as) gives his own example that I have not had to lie in even one place and God has always protected. God always protects those who speak the truth. Those who get punished, they don’t get punished for speaking truth – but because of their other faults.
Huzoor reminded us of Allah’s command regarding Suppressing anger and forgiving people
Our nature should be such that if someone has done Zulm against us, we should forgive them. And completely forget about their mistake. Promised Messiah (as) has said that Anger causes our brain or عقل to stop working. Those who remain patient and show صبر, they are given a noor (a spiritual light) that enlightens the brain. Those who get angry, are in darkness, and they this darkness clouds their minds.
Anger & wisdom cannot be combined. Such people find no help. We never see such people being successful in lives either.
Promised Messiah (as) says there are two things that make a person mad or crazy in this life: first بدظنی or ill thinking; and secondly غضب or anger.Therefore we should suppress our angers and become forgiving people.
Then Huzoor reminded us to stay away from ill-thinking or بد ظنی
Promised Messiah (as) has said that بد ظنی or ill thinking is such an evil thing that it makes a person blind, and throws him in a pit of darkness ((ایسا شخص ایک تاریکی کے گڑہے میں پھینکا جاتا ہے. For this reason God has warned us against ill-thinking very strictly. If this arises in our hearts, then we should seriously do Istighfar, and seek forgiveness.
Huzoor added that we shouldn’t think of it lightly. It is a serious beemari or an illness.
Next command of Allah the Almighty which Huzoor mentioned was spying on prying on other people. We should avoid تجسس
We should not be inquisitive. Just out of curiosity we should not try to find out what someone is doing, or where they go every day. Or what a certain person said to this other person. Such تجسس or prying in people’s business is against the command of Allah.
Lastly Huzoor reminded us another evil: Backbiting or غیبت
It means that we should not speak ill about someone behind their back. Even if we are speaking the truth, we are committing this sin. If we are lying about someone behind their back, then that is another sin. So even if its truth but something negative, it becomes a sin. God has compared backbiting to eating the flesh or meat of your dead brother.
In conclusion Huzoor prayed that may Allah enable us to act upon all His commands. May we be able to continue the good works we have started in Ramadan. May we become true servants of Allah. Aameen.
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