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Arafa

Sura5 al-Maaida: Verse 3

This verse was revealed at Arafat, on the day of Arafa, during the farewell pilgrimage (Hajjat al-Wada) whilst the rest of the Sura was revealed at Madinah. . Although the word din is usually translated as religion, it has several applications, which have been enumerated in the Qur’aan. Amongst the various meanings[1] is

1. ‘Reckoning or calling to account’ (h}isa>b) as used with reference to accounting for the months of the year in Sura 9 at-Tauba: Verse 36:

2. ‘Legally binding judgment’ (h}ukm) Sura an-Nur 24: Verse 2:

Thus this is the day for the Community of Believers (Ummah) to take account of its affairs in entirety and bind themselves to a common purpose and course of action. This revelation came on Friday, the Day of Congregation (Yawm al-Jum‘a), coinciding with the Day of ‘Arafa. Hazrath Umar (may Allah be well pleased with him) said, “each of those two days is a holy day (‘id) for us. This day will never cease to be a holy day for the Muslims, as long as one of them survives.” Hence Arafa Day coinciding with a Friday is called a Great Hajj (Hajj e Akbar)

At this point in time, the Islamic Community needs to rediscover the value system of Islam on all levels, namely, spiritual, aesthetical (appreciation of beauty), intellectual, moral and physical. The degradation of Muslims has occurred due to our lapse in the pursuit of all knowledge and the eroding principle of unity. The Holy Prophet (Peace be upon him and his family) has said,

We have become our own worst enemies and the Anglo/American/ Israeli alliance are only capitalizing on a situation that we created. We are concealing our evil ways disguised in a garb of piety. The first step is to be honest to ourselves whether we are really pious and then the ardent desire has to be their to change, both individually and collectively, or else we will never be forgiven. Do not make the Hajj a quick fix forgiveness ritual that gives us a license to continue our evil ways.

A war is being waged against Islam and an appropriate response is needed. No one can respond until he understands the challenge. Allama Iqbal (may Allah be well pleased with him) said:

Lets turn our attention to The Qur’aanic reference of Sura 21 al-Anbiya: Verse96, made by Allama Iqbal (may Allah be well pleased with him) : Here Allah (Almighty and Glorious is He) says:

The town referred to here is Jerusalem, from where the Jews are banned. The fact that they have returned and illegally established Israel is proof that Y’aju>j and M’aju>j have been released on us and dominate us from their ‘heights’ of power. "From every height of advantage they shall sally forth" upon Islam, make mischief in its land, gain control over its countries, and reduce its noblest men to the lowest. This verse means that the Predatory Elite of the world, who some of them are but nominal Christians, Jews and Muslims, whom in actuality are the party called Gog and Magog (Y’aju>j and M’aju>j) shall rush towards the Islamic countries from every position of superiority, and they shall be triumphant, crushing the Muslim countries till the dominion of Islam remains in name only, as is the case today. Look at the similarity of events, how the age of the misfortunes of Islam and the religious and temporal destruction of the Muslims is like the history of the Jews in the time of Jesus. Then look again, how the Qur’aanic prophecy about the decline of the power of Islam and the dominance of its opponents conforms to the prophecy of the decline of the Israelite state given in the Torah.

Although there is a solitary Hadith in Sahih Muslim[2], which indicates that, the world would not experience the phenomenon of Gog and Magog (Y’aju>j and M’aju>j) until after the return of Jesus (may Allah bless him with peace).  Yet there are no less than eight Ahadith of Sahih Bukhari that contrary to this and indicate that Y’aju>j and M’aju>j were released[3] in the lifetime of the Holy Prophet (Peace be upon him and his family), long before the return of Jesus (may Allah bless him with peace).

 One account will suffice here:

 The modern nation-states of Islam, in the absence of the Caliphate, which was destroyed in 1924, is the biggest shirk of this age. The destruction of the Sunni Uthmania Empire (Ottoman Empire) put into effect in the First World War, resulted in the emergence of the secular State of Turkey. This had paved the way for the heartland of Islam, under Abd al-Aziz ibn Saud, to be transformed into the State of Saudi Arabia. The creation of the State of Israel in 1948 confirms that ‘Y’aju>j and M’aju>j are released and we are living in the age of mischief ‘fitna’. Those who should be waging a jihad against an interest-centered economy and a caliph-less Muslim world have waged an obnoxious jihad against the belief system of Islam. When belief erodes, iman is weakened and only lifeless rituals remain. It is these Muslims who have accepted the Saudi-Wahabbi alliance that no longer recognizes Allah as sovereign, but have vested this sovereignty in the hands of kings and presidents. This is the biggest collective shirk the modern Islamic Community is guilty of. Many scholars, like Imran Nazar Hosein and many others, have realized this and are at least, speaking and writing against this state of affairs.  These kings and presidents have flooded so-called Islamic movements with money and have effectively curtailed criticism except for a few murmurs here and there. Makkah the Ennobled and Madinah the Illumined and the surrounding sacred precincts are the province of Hejaz, part of Dar al-Islam, which according to the Shariah every Muslim has a right of entry and residence into, without a visa or residence permit. Muslims have a right to participate in the political process of this area. The huge oil wealth of Arabia belongs to the world of Islam. The handing over of the effective control of this oil wealth to the Americans is an act of treason.

It is imperative that on days like, the sacred day of Arafa, the Muslims are taught the history of the collapse of the Caliphate and its replacement in the heartland of Islam by the secular Saudi -Wahabbi nation state. The gathering of Hajj should address the Problems of the Muslim Community at large and solutions should be sought. The decisions taken should be transmitted  at Arafat. This is our United Nations of Islam therefore representatives of the Ummah from throughout the world should address this world conference and the speeches should be translated into the different languages. The Day of Arafa should be the climax of the various conferences, covering various issues affecting the Ummah, held during the months of Hajj, in an environment and atmosphere of Divine Mercy and Blessings.

Yes, I have said the months of Hajj. The Holy Qur’aan says in Sura 2 al-Baqara: Verse197

 The world of Islam is today without power. The caliphate has to be restored for power to be restored. Without power, there will be more Bosnia’s, Kashmir’s, Chechnya’s, Palestine’s, Afghanistan’s and Iraq. It is only the true Sufi's, who see with their hearts that can guide mankind back to Allah. The heart sees with light (Nur) that comes from Allah. Things are seen "as they are" and not as they "appear to be".

Sura 39 az-Zumar. Verse 22.

Sura 7al-Araf:  Verse 157

Shaykh Abd al-Qadir Jilani (may Allah be well pleased with him) saw with this light, therefore he rooted out corruption in the Ummah and brought the Muslims back to light and love. Gharib Nawaaz (may Allah be well pleased with him) saw with this light, therefore he planted Islam firmly, in the midst of a idol worshipping nation. Soofi Saheb (may Allah be well pleased with him) saw with this light, therefore he left the land of the Khwajas to spread Islam in Africa. The graduates of the Modern ’Protestant' Islamic institutes, like the Saudi Universities and Deoband Ulooms can never lead this Ummah. They have left the light and hence they cannot see.

 Irshad Soofi

8 Zil hajj 1422

21 February 2002

Revised

22 December 2003

28 Shawaal 1424