Aug 2025- The Journey of the Soul

In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

Peace and blessings be upon you all.

Ladies and gentlemen, and all those present – It is a matter of great joy for me that you have taken time out to be here. I warmly welcome each and every one of you.

This entire world is like a story. With over six billion* (By the year 2025, the global population has crossed 7.5 billion.) people living on this planet, there are more than six billion unique stories unfolding in every moment. Every individual is a story in themselves. They are born, they grow up, they age, and eventually, they leave this world. When a person in born, their story begins, and when they die, the curtain falls... the play comes to an end.

Before this world and the countless other worlds existed, God willed their creation. Once the universe was created, a system of order and administration was also established. To run this administration. Certain individuals were chosen, and government, here must also be staff or officials to run it. To fulfill this role in the universe, the Creator made the angels. With regards to the earth. God entrusted this responsibility to the jinn. However, when they were granted this authority. He commanded them not to spread chaos.

Whenever there is a government, there must also be staff or officials to run it. To fulfill this role in the universe, the Creator made the angels. With regards to the earth, God entrusted this responsibility to the jinn. However, when they were granted this authority, He commanded them not to spread chaos.

The jinn did not comply and caused great disorder. Blood was spilled everywhere, and immense suffering spread everywhere. They harmed one another until distress and turmoil became the norm. When the chaos reached a point where it was no longer bearable, God withdrew the authority from the jinn and entrusted it to Adam (PBUH).

God then informed the angels that Adam (PBUH) was now their ruler – a Prime Minister or vicegerent of the earth. The angels expressed concern and wondered if Adam (PBUH) would follow in the jinn’s footsteps and also spread chaos. God taught Adam (PBUH) the knowledge of administration and management, and instructed him to share this knowledge with the angels. When Adam (PBUH) explained what he had been taught to the angels, they understood his wisdom, accepted his authority, and recognized his leadership.

Now Adam (PBUH) needed a place to live. God created a place for him in Paradise and told both Adam and Eve (PBUH) to live there happily and enjoy the bounties therein. However, God instructed them to stay clear of one tree in Paradise. God wanted to see how obedient and faithful Adam (PBUH) was. Despite the warning. Adam and Eve (PBUH) approached the forbidden tree.

Whilst Adam (PBUH) had not approached the tree, he was filled with an inner certainty because he had not done anything wrong. But as he eventually approached the tree, a troubling thought entered his mind that he had disobeyed God. As soon as this doubt arose, Adam (PBUH) feared that God was no longer pleased with him. Doubt replaced certainty, and due to this, God commanded Adam and Eve (PBUH) to descend from Paradise to the earth.

When Adam (PBUH) was in paradise, he lived in a beautifully vast and magnificent garden; like a mansion. The garden was filled with waterfalls. Beautiful birds soared in the air, and the atmosphere was peaceful.

A remarkable phenomenon within Paradise is that desires materialize instantly. Whenever Adam (PBUH) wanted to eat an apple, one would simply appear and fall into his hands; he did not have to go to a tree to pick it.

Paradise was full of joy and happiness, without any pain or suffering. However, when Adam (PBUH) came down to earth, he experienced hunger for the first time, and contrary to Paradise, the food was no longer readily available. At that time, Archangel Gabriel (PBUH) came to him and explained that the rules on earth were different. Bread was now earned through hard work and labour. He explained to Adam (PBUH) that food would no longer come to him as easily as it had in Paradise. Through God’s mercy, Archangel Gabriel (PBUH) taught Adam (PBUH) how to cultivate the land and plant seeds that would eventually provide him sustenance.

Adam and Eve (PBUH) both lived-on earth and had children. Whenever Eve (PBUH) gave birth, she had twins; one boy and one girl. Marriages were arranged so that the girls born later would marry the boys born earlier. However, a dispute arose between two brothers. One brother said that he wanted to marry the sister that he was born alongside instead of one from another pair. When his wishes were not fulfilled, he killed his brother.

This led to the formation of two groups in mankind. One that caused conflict and bloodshed, and another that lived in peace. This ongoing struggle between peace and disorder has continued since the time of Adam (PBUH). The group that caused disorder descended from the brother who committed murder, while those who lived peacefully are the descendants of the brother that was killed.

As time passed, the descendants of Adam (PBUH) continued to multiply and spread across the world. Those born in colder climates developed fairer skin, while those born in hotter regions, had darker skin. Despite these physical differences, all descendants of Adam (PBUH) share the same fundamental human needs. Regardless of whether a person is dark-skinned or fair-skinned, they are all born from a mother. Whether someone is short or tall, they come from parents just the same. No fair-skinned person has the right to feel superior because of how they were born, and no dark-skinned person can claim superiority for the same reason.

After birth, every human is nourished by their mother’s milk. No matter where children are born in the world, they are raised by their parents, who nurture them, guide them, and help shape them into better individuals. Chaos on earth began when people started believing that they were better than others or that others were lesser than them. This sense of superiority broke the harmony that once united all of humanity.

According to all divine books, the good live with compassion, love, and peace, and the bad are filled with hatred, anger, and rebellion. To help humanity understand that God loves those who are good, He sent nearly 124,000 prophets. All of them delivered the same message: showing mercy and love is a noble act.

Whether it’s Prophet Abraham (PBUH). Prophet Noah (PBUH), Prophet David (PBUH), Prophet Solomon (PBUH), Prophet Isaac (PBUH), or the final Prophet-Muhammad (PBUH), when we study their teachings, we find they all conveyed the same message.

The first thing to note that God is our Creator. He provides us with food and drink throughout our lives. For example, when a baby is in a mother’s womb, it receives nourishment for nine months without ever asking for it. After birth, the baby is fed by the mother’s milk for about two and a quarter year. Until the age of sixteen, a child does not work or earn a living, yet their parents continue to provide care, food and support. By this age, they are sensible enough to realise that even when they did not work, God still provided them with sustenance. In fact, the basic necessities for survival are given to us completely free. We do not pay the air we breathe or the water we drink. While governments impose taxes on services, God never charges us for His blessings. Take oxygen for instance; no one can survive without it. If you had to buy oxygen in a cylinder for just one day, would it not cost a lot? Yet God provides it abundantly. It is outside in the open air, in gardens, inside our homes, and everywhere. Whether we are asleep or awake, aware or unaware, God continues to give without asking for anything in return.

God is the one who sends down rain. While science has advanced greatly through research and discovery, it still cannot cause rain to fall on its own. Science has made remarkable progress, yet it cannot create something as essential as air. It cannot produce a human heart. Yes, science can perform heart surgeries, but it cannot make a heart from nothing. In the same way, despite all its advancements, science cannot create a brain. These limitations remind us of the difference between human capability and Divine power.

When we reflect on the relationship between God and His creation, it becomes clear: God’s love for His creation is like the love of a mother for her child. Just as a mother protects, nourishes, and comforts her child, God lovingly cares for and protects His servants in every moment of their lives.

When we look at the teachings of Prophet Moses (PBUH), Prophet Jesus (PBUH), and the Seal of the Prophets – Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), we find that they all share the same fundamental message: God is One, and the creations are many. The Divine Books – the Bible, the Torah, the Psalms, and the Noble Quran – all affirm this truth: God is One, and all creations depend on Him. Creation does not come into existence by its own will. If it did, then every person would choose to be born into a royal family, and no one would be born into poverty. God desires goodness for His creation. Just as a father wishes for his children to live happily and avoid conflict, all Prophets (PBUT) advised people not to fight amongst themselves. Yet despite this guidance, mankind often fails to live love and harmony toward one another. Why is that?

Our understanding of humans is primarily that of a physical body, but we also observe that when one dies, though the physical body remains unchanged, the person is no longer alive. The eyes, hands and feet are still there, but there is no movement or life in them. This clearly shows that there is an unseen force or agency that operates the physical body, and that agency is the soul. If a person, or even all people, were to die, no one would be able to speak or act. Why? Because to soul has left the body. A dead person cannot get married. No dead person has ever given birth to a child. A dead person does not eat food. Have you ever seen a dead person eat bread? This illustrates that mankind falls into chaos and confusion when they believe the physical body is everything. The truth to understand is that the physical body is subject to the soul.

Humans experience life in two states: one during wakefulness, and the other in dreams. When dreams, it feels as though someone from within emerges. This inner self walks, moves around, and reacts. I something hurts, it feels pain; if it meets a friend, it feels happiness. This shows us that a human can experience emotions and happiness even beyond the physical body. This inner presence is what we call the soul.

When we leave this world, it is our soul that departs from the body. To become familiar with the soul, Sufi masters have taught the practice of Muraqaba (Meditation). Muraqaba involves closing the eyes and turning one’s focus inward to look deeply into the inner self. It is a disciplined practice aimed at connecting with the soul.