In the name of Allah

The All Compassionate, the All Merciful

10th Shabaan 1444 (3rd March 2023)

Islamic Universal Association

20 Penzance Place, Holland Park

London, W11 4 PG

www.arafeh.co.uk

 

Jihad An-Nafs – Part 121

 

Further to last week’s discussion on Surah Al-Waqiah, I would like to add that the Surah teaches us in a simple, strong and comprehensive way the demonstration and proof of the fifth pillar of faith; belief in the Day of Judgment. In this verse ‘the event’ refers to Résurrection and is synonym with the word ‘inevitable’, signifying thereby that this event will surely come to pass. The Day of Judgment is one of the unseen events that a Muslim should believe in. According to Abdullah Ibne Abbas, a great commentator, this great event will start with the last blowing in the trumpet and everyone will rise from their graves.

 

Moreover, there are many Ayahs in the Holy Quran about the inevitability of the Day of Resurrection, some of which are:

 

Ayah 85 of Surah Al-Hijr: “And We did not create the heavens and the earth and what is between them but in truth, and verily the Hour (of reckoning) is certain to come;”

Ayah 77 of Surah An-Nahl: “To God belongs the unseen of the heavens and the earth, and the matter of the Hour (of judgment) is but like the twinkling of the eye, or even nigh. Verily God has power over all things.”

Ayah 21 of Surah Al-Kahf: “And thus We made their case known to the people, so that they may know that God’s promise is true, and that there is no doubt about the Hour…….”

Ayah 15 of Surah Taha: “Verily, the Hour (of Doom) is sure to come but My Will is to keep it hidden, so that every soul may be rewarded for what it endeavors.”

Ayah 7 of Surah Al-Hajj: “And that the Hour is coming, there is no doubt about it, and God will raise those who are in the graves.”

Ayah 59 of Surah Al-Ghafir: “Verily, the Hour (Day of Judgement) is surely approaching, yet most people do not believe.”

 

Valuable points

 

• The inevitability of the Day of Resurrection is a certainty; it cannot be denied or belied and no one can avert or stop it from happening.
• Those who disbelieve in it will soon come to know.
• The knowledge of the Hour is only with Allah (w.t) and no one knows when it will happen.
• This event willsuddenly come to pass and there is no doubt about it.
• It is one of the unseen events that a Muslim should believe in.

 

Second Sermon

 

Birth anniversary of Imam Mahdi (a.t.f.)

We are approaching the birth anniversary of Imam Mahdi (a.t.f.) and I wish to congratulate all the oppressed in the world and in particular to the righteous who are awaiting his re-emergence with eagerness and great anticipation and I beseech Allah (s.w.t.) to hasten his reappearance.

 

The night of the 15th of Shabaan is as important as the Night of Qadr as Allah (s.w.t.) directs His special grace on the world on that night and His doors of mercy are open wide. It is the special night for seeking His forgiveness and turning to Him in repentance. That is why it is called Laylatul Bara’ah meaning the Night of Salvation.

Another significance of the night is the birth of the last successor of the Holy Prophet (s.a.), the savior of mankind, Imam Mahdi (a.t.f.), who was born before dawn on Friday in 255 Hijri in Samara. He was five years old when his father, Imam Hassan Askari (a.s.), was martyred and after he led the funeral prayers, he disappeared and went into occultation by divine command.

The significance of the Universality of his divine revolution has been mentioned in the Holy Quran and in several traditions. Ayah 105 of Surah Al-Anbiya provides: “And indeed We did write in the Psalms (Zabur) after the Reminder (Torah) that My righteous servants shall inherit the earth.” The true promise that the righteous servants will inherit the earth has been reported in David (Dawood)’s Book, Psalms/Zabur, and other divine scriptures. The word ‘righteousness’ can only be held to mean the purity of the soul and the body and who else could be more righteous than those whom Allah (s.w.t) has purified; the progeny and seed of the Holy Prophet (s.a.) who shall inherit the earth and dwell therein until eternity.

Moreover, Ayah 5 of Surah Al-Qasas provides: “And We intend to bestow Our favor upon those who were considered weak in the land, and to make them the Imams and the inheritors.” Further more Imam Baqer (a.s) has narrated from the Holy Prophet (s.a.): “Even if a day remains until Qiyamah, Allah will prolong that day until He will send a man from my progeny who will fill the earth with justice and equity as it was filled with injustice and oppression.” (Majma Al-Bayan, Volume 7, page 67)