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Contents September 2002, Vol.97, No.

Editorial - By Bockarie Tommy Kallon ....................... 2


Notes and Comment: Moving On – Rashid Ahmad Cheedoo – UK ......... 4
The ‘Blind Watchmaker’ who is also Deaf and Dumb – IV
How could the wonders of the honeybee have evolved without a conscious designer?
Hadhrat Mirza Tahir Ahmad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .... 7
Decree and Destiny
The relationship between prayer and Divine determination
Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad(as) . . . . . . . . . . . . ............... 16
Concept of Jihad
Understanding the true interpretation of Jihad from the Holy Qur’an, traditions of the
Holy Prophet(sa) and writings of the Promised Messiah (as)
Bilal Atkinson – UK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... 23
The Blessings of Khilafat
A brief look at the some of the major achievements of the Successors to the Holy Prophet(sa)
and the Promised Messiah (as) – Bockarie Tommy Kallon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

Islam and Human Rights


Keynote address drawing a parallel between Islamic teachings and the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights – By Rafiq Ahmad Hayat, Amir UK . . . . . . . ...... 51
Ramadan – Part 1
An exposition on the philosophy and importance of fasting in the month of Ramahan
Hadhrat Mirza Tahir Ahmad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .... 62

Chief Editor and Manager Chairman of the Management Board


Mansoor Ahmed Shah Naseer Ahmad Qamar
Basit Ahmad
Bockarie Tommy Kallon. Special contributors: All correspondence should
Daud Mahmood Khan Amatul-Hadi Ahmad be forwarded directly to:
Farina Qureshi
Fareed Ahmad The Editor
Fazal Ahmad Proof-reader: Review of Religions
Fauzia Bajwa Shaukia Mir
The London Mosque
Mansoor Saqi Design and layout: 16 Gressenhall Road
Mahmood Hanif Tanveer Khokhar London, SW18 5QL
Mansoora Hyder-Muneeb
Publisher: United Kingdom
Navida Shahid
Al Shirkatul Islamiyyah © Islamic Publications, 2002
Sarah Waseem
ISSN No: 0034-6721
Saleem Ahmad Malik Distribution:
Tanveer Khokhar Muhammad Hanif

Views expressed in this publication are not necessarily the opinions of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. 1
discernible by the naked eye.

Editorial The manner in which it


collects material and builds
its honeycomb, the way it
Allah Alone is the Knower of maintains the temperature of
the hidden and the manifest. the honeycomb, the honey-
As He wills, He reveals His bee’s choice of diet, how
knowledge and wisdom to His each drop of honey is created
chosen servants. However from floral nectar and how
much he may meditate or honeybees and honeycombs
deliberate, man cannot are hygienically maintained
discover the deep secrets in sharp contrast to other
which are beyond the scope insects notorious for carrying
of his mind and his senses. germs and viruses, are but a
However wise he may be, he few examples of the fantastic
cannot uncover hidden behavioural wonders of the
secrets which are beyond the honeybee. Yet the naturalists
scope of his reason. Just as who specialise in this subject
the light of the sun comes fail to see that such an insect
from heaven and not inside could not have evolved with-
the eye of man, similarly the out a designer and with a
light of revelation comes specific purpose in mind.
down from Allah Alone.
It was the Holy Qur’an that
Much is known of the uncovered the mystery of the
wonderful organisation of the honeybee with this decla-
honeybee, about the nutri- ration:
tional goodness of honey and
its multiple healing pro- And the Lord has inspired
perties. The work ethics of the bee saying, ‘Make
the honeybee impress even a thou houses in the hills
casual observer and are and in the trees and in the

2 Review of Religions – September 2002


Editorial

trellises which they build. ordinary organisational skill


Then eat of every kind of and wonderful aptitude and
fruit and then pursue the fact that the honeybee
submissively the paths cannot improve on it
prescribed by your Lord.’ demonstrates that some
There comes forth from other Being is the fountain-
their bellies a drink of head of its natural instinct.
varying hues. Therein is That Being has imparted this
cure for men. Surely, in intelligence and intuitive
that is a Sign for a people knowledge to it and it simply
who reflect. functions as a slave to His
(Ch. 16: v.69-70) command.

Why the Holy Qur’an singled


In this edition, for the conve-
out the honeybee from nience of non-Muslim English
amongst the innumerable readers, (sa) or sa after the word
species of insects and animals the Holy Prophet or the name
in the world is the theme of Muhammad, are used. They stand
for salallahualaihiwasallam and
this month’s feature. It abbreviated as ‘sa’, meaning
provides a categorical rebut- peace and blessings of Allah be
tal to the naturalists who upon him. Likewise, the letters
deny a Conscious Designer in ‘(as)’ or as after the name of all
other Prophets is an abbreviation
the evolution of life. (meaning, peace be upon him
derived from alaih salato-
This enlightening article wasalam) for the respect a
challenges the naturalists to Muslim readers utters.
explain how the internal
mechanisms of the honeybee
could have slowly unfolded
into existence by themselves.
There has to be more to it
than meets the eye, the
article maintains. This extra-

Review of Religions – September 2002 3


Notes and Comment
September 11, Moving On Such historic moments are rare
indeed but it is only when one
There are few events that are can experience this for oneself
so monumental that they does one realise the power of
become ingrained in our such occasions – they are
memory and remain with us engraved so deeply into our
forever. These are events that memory that even decades
are so striking that people later the memories and
distinctly remember where thoughts of such events revive
they were when they heard the very same feelings that we
about them. In years gone by experienced as if it only
people have often talked of happened yesterday. The
the start or end of world wars, horrific events of September
of assassinations of world 11th 2001 were such a
leaders, of atomic bombs, of moment.
new modes of transport and of
man reaching out to the stars. The people who carried out
Such memories evoke a whole the attacks will be held
host of feelings. Where we accountable by God for their
have progressed and overcome actions. It was without any
hurdles we are filled with question an act of murder that
pride, hope, aspiration, resulted in just under three
excitement and a real sense of thousand deaths. The saddest
purpose. But where we are fact is that many have claimed
faced with threats to our that this was carried out in the
individual or collective secu- name of God, and in the same
rity, we are shocked, hurt, way that some people in, say,
saddened and mixed feelings Northern Ireland use God as
of grief, anger and possibly their excuse to justify their
helplessness overcome us. actions, many have hinted that

4 Review of Religions – September 2002


Notes and Comment

this too was a religious act. So my belief that God stands as


it appears that it was not only the final judge and that those
the planes that were hijacked who believe in God - be they
on September 11th, but Muslims or not - and do good
religion too was once again deeds will have their share of
hijacked for the sake of reward. It is my belief that no
propaganda. Islam, it was said religion teaches violence, that
was the motive behind such no religion teaches hatred,
actions. But nothing could be that no religion teaches
farther from the truth. injustice. It is my belief that
there is only One God and all
As a Muslim it is my duty to prophets that came brought
protect the dignity of religion the same message of love and
and to safeguard the teachings peace and of belief in God. It
of not just Prophet is my belief that all humans
Muhammad , but all prophets.
(sa) will be held accountable for
As a Muslim it is my duty to their deeds in the Hereafter
speak up and defend the truth and that the greatest struggle
of all prophets and their real that we all face – day in and
message of peace. It is an day out – is the struggle to
article of my faith to believe in overcome any inclinations that
all prophets and so as a Muslim take us away from the path to
those who follow Moses (as), God. This is the foundation of
Jesus(as), Krishna(as) and in fact peace and it is the greatest
any prophet of God I consider struggle of all – one that is
as my brothers and it is my practised by us all in our lives
duty to give them every and this is what is described in
support that will allow them to the Qur’an – the Holy Book of
practise their religion freely Islam – as Jihad.
and in peace. As a Muslim it is
my belief that life is sacred When I look back on
and that killing people is September 11th, I remember it
against the teachings of Islam, as a day when many people of
as is suicide. As a Muslim it is different religions died and a

Review of Religions – September 2002 5


time when many people of where and move forwards with
different religions were also justice and equality. There is
brought together to help each no quick solution to world
other and to rebuild their peace but if each one of us
community. But if anything is fights our inner demons and
to be really learned from such improves our life then peace
times it is this, that there are will be the natural outcome –
many places in the world that it is a great struggle, a great
face horrible situations: where jihad, but one that is worth
people are killed indiscrim- every inch of it for the sake of
inately, where starvation and peace. This is what Islam
poverty are commonplace and teaches us all and it is what we
where nobody seems to ever must all strive for unerringly
come to their aid. We must and without fail.
remember them also as we
remember those who lost their For the sake of peace, the
lives in New York. world should strive to make
September 11th, despite all its
We and the people of New York horror, a turning point for
should engage in Jihad (in peace, not war.
other words, the struggle for Rashid Ahmad Cheedoo, UK
self-improvement) and resist
being overcome by revenge or Our guest ediitor is a Regional
Amir in the UK. He is a retired
anger for that too takes man teacher and resides in Cornwall.
away from God. We must
engage in Jihad and
strengthen our belief in God
developing a greater under-
standing of His message. We
must engage in Jihad and
become better people so that
we are deemed fit to be called
human beings that share a
compassion for people every-

6 Review of Religions – September 2002


The ‘Blind Watchmaker’
Who is also Deaf and
Dumb - part IV
This is an extract taken from the book
Revelation, Rationality, Knowledge and Truth,
written by Hadhrat Mirza Tahir Ahmad.

Enough of computer games! Now we take up the case of the


honey-bee. How by the application of Darwinian principles could
the internal mechanism of the honey-bee have been conceived
without a designer with any specific purpose in mind? How genes
could have fashioned and created the honey-bee with all its
fantastic behavioural wonders is equally incomprehensible. Can
any scientist explain how this internal mechanism gradually
evolved with all its functional abilities? The way it sees, the way
its eyes and vision are modelled in perfect unison with its outer
world of flowers and fruits is, in itself, a grave challenge to the
naturalists who deny design. What forces, if any, shape them and
how could they have, slowly unfolded into existence by
themselves? That is not all there is to it. The manner it builds its
honeycomb and collects material for it also requires a lot of
explaining on the part of the naturalists. Just to find material is
common to all living animals but to create that material to suit
a precise purpose is rare. This is exactly what the honey-bee
does.

‘Flakes of wax are removed by the enlarged first tarsal joint


of the hind leg from four paired glands on the underside of
the abdomen and passed forward for construction
manipulations by the front legs and mandibles ... The wax

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The ‘Blind Watchmaker’ who is also Deaf and Dumb – Part IV

is mixed with saliva and kneaded to the proper consistency


and degree of plasticity at which it can best be molded.’1

Why should an insect with a mind which cannot conceive the


scientific intricacies of the material world suddenly begin to
employ them to its own advantage? Thus a slow, gradual building
of the honey-bee’s mind as well as its intuitive knowledge of how
it should build its dwelling and what material has to be
employed, must have been ciphered into it by someone who
knew. But there is far more to this than meets the eye. The cells
of which the honeycomb is constructed are all hexagonal with
walls which meet at exactly 120 degrees.

‘The comb itself is one of the marvels of animal


architecture. It consists of a regular back-to-back array of
hexagonal cells, arranged in parallel series, each comb a
precise distance from its neighbor.’2

Bees display fantastic engineering skills and their building gives


the impression that they have been equipped with most
sophisticated measuring instruments:

‘The precision and strength of the newly built comb is


remarkable. For example, cell wall thickness is 0.073±
0.002 min, the angle between adjacent cell walls is an
exact 120% and each comb is generally constructed 0.95 cm
from its neighbor.’3

Born out of similar eggs, the offspring are divided into three
different professional groups; the queens, the workers and the
drones. The queen is capable of laying thousands of eggs in a day.

‘The aptly named queen reigns over the nest, surrounded


by attendants and fed the rich food she requires to perform

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The ‘Blind Watchmaker’ who is also Deaf and Dumb – Part IV

her few but crucial tasks in the colony. Her slim lines hide
the huge ovaries which make her an extraordinary egg-
laying machine, capable of laying thousands of eggs a day,
and her calm behaviour masks her powerful pheromones,
chemical signals to recipient workers which control many of
their behaviours and provide part of the social glue which
holds honey bee life together.’4

The drones who are also specially fed by the worker bees have
strong masculine bodies. They only perform one function -
mating with the queen, after which they die.

The main body of the colony consists of worker bees who collect
pollen and make honey. They also array themselves around the
rim, always watchful, always ready to defend the colony. Their
functional ability to fly at an instant’s notice depends however
on their body temperature which must be maintained at 35ºC.
Temperature is no problem in the centre of the honeycomb which
is protected from all sides but at the rim their temperature
begins to fall because of the effects of the open air. They counter
this problem by fanning their wings from time to time to build
frictional energy.

The bees’ nest, when built in the hollows of trees or in narrow


caves, has a single entrance so air cannot ventilate it and the
level of carbon dioxide and other gases in the air cannot be
automatically maintained. Carbon dioxide tends to increase in
proportion threatening the survival of the bees. To offset this
danger, worker honey-bees keep moving, group by group, to the
exit and sit there in a position with tails directed outwards. In
that position they rapidly fan their wings so that fresh air wafts
the stale air out. They do this for 10 seconds and are replaced by
another batch of workers if needs be. They repeat the same feat
when the temperature rises higher than 35ºC. The well-

Review of Religions – September 2002 9


The ‘Blind Watchmaker’ who is also Deaf and Dumb – Part IV

maintained fanning at such times largely succeeds in controlling


the temperature. They begin fanning simultaneously and stop
simultaneously. In addition to fanning, they haul water instead of
nectar into the honeycomb and deposit it around the cells which
contain larvae sensitive to heat.

The honey-bees’ choice of diet, the way each drop of honey is


created from floral nectar, how the saliva must be mixed with it
to provide it the viscosity it requires to become honey, is a marvel
in itself. With every tiny spot of this mixture on their tongue, they
have to stick it out repeatedly to finally mature it. For each drop
of honey thus created, they have to make repeated sorties to the
field in search of nectar. This goes on day in and day out until they
fill the section of the honeycomb which is specifically reserved
for this purpose. Somehow they know how to differentiate
between ordinary honey and royal jelly which they manufacture
entirely for the queen to be fed upon. Royal jelly has that special
quality which provides the queen the reproductive energy for the
rapid laying of eggs. Each day the queen can lay eggs equal to her
body weight which is much more than the body weight of ordinary
honey-bees. Again, royal jelly has the uncanny quality of
increasing the age of the queen a hundred times longer than that
of ordinary bees. The entire colony of some eighty thousand
individuals are the queen’s subjects. No better discipline can ever
be displayed by human monarchies.

Apart from the tasks mentioned above there has to be a


surveillance system, with competent workers, to find suitable
new sites for the next colony to be built when the old colony is
to be abandoned. The surveyor honey-bees who perform this task
and the manner in which they do so are to be counted among the
greatest wonders of life’s behaviour. They span out in search of
suitable well-protected sites which should also be close to some
rich fields of nectar. Such sites may be situated at different

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The ‘Blind Watchmaker’ who is also Deaf and Dumb – Part IV

distances from the floral fields and may be comparatively less or


better suited for the new colony to be built. Comparing and
analyzing all the information brought in by different surveyor
bees has somehow to be done by the queen to judge the
comparative merits of the site of her next colony. This
information is conveyed to the queen by the surveyor bees in a
manner which completely defeats comprehension. In fact the
whole exercise is unique in the entire animal kingdom. It should
have baffled the minds of the most advanced natural scientists
as to how this strange communicative system could have come
into existence without a designer and an executor. But do they
ever ponder over these things, one wonders! Each surveyor when
it returns to the colony performs a fantastic dance. Aligning
itself in a precise direction it begins to dance and conveys all
these messages through that dance and its directional posture to
the queen. The information the dance communicates could not
be conveyed better or more precisely in human language. It tells
the queen what it has seen, where it has seen it, how far it is
situated and how far from that site is an adequate floral field. It
conveys the distance involved from the colony to the new site
and from the new site to the floral field. It also describes the site
itself in perfect detail, how well it is protected from natural
interference, whether it is a hollow of a tree, a crevice in a rock
or a spot on the stem of a tree well-surrounded by protective
branches. Each surveyor takes its turn and the queen waits till all
have finished. Only then does she decide what to do and takes
flight in the exact direction of the site she has chosen. How the
transfer is finalized and a new colony is finally built is another
fantastic story.

At the end we must mention how honey-bees and honeycombs


are hygienically maintained in a manner which puts to shame
modern hospitals and clinics. In sharp contrast to the mosquito,
the notorious carrier of viruses and germs, the honey-bee was

Review of Religions – September 2002 11


The ‘Blind Watchmaker’ who is also Deaf and Dumb – Part IV

OF ALL THE INSECTS WHICH PERVADE THE WORLD, GOD HAS PICKED
JUST THIS ONE TO DEMONSTRATE THAT WHEN HE COMMUNICATES
WITH AN ANIMAL BELONGING TO AN ORDINARY SPECIES, HOW ITS
STATUS IS LIFTED BEYOND COMPARISON TO THAT OF THE OTHER
MEMBERS OF THE SAME SPECIES. WHAT IS A HONEYBEE AFTER ALL,
BUT A FLY. YET WHAT A FLY!

discovered by researchers to carry no viruses or germs on its


body. Having been utterly surprised they launched a new
research programme to discover why this was so. This revealed
an amazing story of how the bees manufacture their own
disinfectant material by collecting it from certain resins of
plants, now known as propolis. This material has the amazing
quality of destroying all bacteria and viruses. The honey-bees
having built their combs, paste this material on the rim of the
entire comb. Each bee when it returns to the comb, steps first
on that rim so that all viruses and bacteria which may have
adhered to its tiny feet are destroyed by the propolis before it
enters the colony.

We have discussed the honey-bee in some detail here while in


the reference to the eight fantastic animals mentioned earlier
we did not enter into an elaborate discussion. We have done so
mainly because the Holy Qur’an specifically mentions the honey-
bee in a manner which should resolve the riddle of life for
naturalists. We have selected the case of the honey-bee for them
to ponder and search far and wide to identify the creative forces
which modelled them. Of course, the naturalists who specialise
in this subject know far more than we do about the honey-bee
and its complex world. To be quite honest, we doubt if they
could lightly dismiss the case of the honey-bee and the wonders
related to it merely to chance.

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The ‘Blind Watchmaker’ who is also Deaf and Dumb – Part IV

Let them lay down their arms and admit that there has to be a
Creator. In the Holy Qur’an it is that Creator Who speaks and
resolves the mysteries of life once and for all. With reference to
the honey-bee the following is the Qur’anic statement:

And thy Lord has inspired the bee, saying, ‘Make thou
houses in the hills and in the trees and in the trellises
which they build.
‘Then eat of every kind of fruit, and follow the ways of
thy Lord that have been made easy for thee.’ There comes
forth from their bellies a drink of varying hues. Therein is
cure for men. Surely, in that is a Sign for a people who
reflect.5
(Ch.16: v.69-70)

Of all the insects which pervade the world, God has picked just
this one to demonstrate that when He communicates with an
animal belonging to an ordinary species, how its status is lifted
beyond comparison to that of the other members of the same
species. What is a honeybee after all, but a fly. Yet what a fly! It
is only after the message is delivered to the honey-bee at the
earliest stage of its creation and is imprinted in an intuitive
language upon its genes that it begins to function as it does. It
does not have to perform its functions consciously with a
conscious control of its mind. The genes that teach it what to do
have no mind of their own. But He who has created them has a
mind and the genes simply function as slaves to His command. He
has spoken Himself to demonstrate to the world that when He

Review of Religions – September 2002 13


The ‘Blind Watchmaker’ who is also Deaf and Dumb – Part IV

specifically chooses even an insignificant insect, it becomes


supreme in the entire world of insects. It becomes a source of
healing and cure, unlike other insects which carry and spread
disease. They are poles apart in their function of life.

As far as the curative properties of honey are concerned, this is


an ongoing research and the researchers who have already
discovered some wonderful things about it are expecting far
more yet to be revealed. Whatever medical science has
identified so far is summed up in the following:

‘Currently, honey treatment is used for gastrointestinal,


some cardiovascular, pulmonary, renal, skin, and neural
diseases of the oral cavity, ear, throat, nose inflammatory
affection of female genitals, and of the cervix of the
uterus.’6

One healing quality of honey which British scientists have


discovered to their amazement is its ability to cure such eye
sores as were otherwise considered incurable. Many a patient has
been saved from total blindness by its application.

‘Patients with ulcerous blepharitis and


blepharoconjunctivitis, under the influence of honey
experienced that the itch and a sensation of sand in the eye
disappeared; reddening of conjunctivas reduced or
disappeared, ulcers of eye-lids edges, epithelisation of
erosions and ulcers reduced in the duration of the treatment.
With patients suffering from ray dystrophic processes, as a
result of honey treatment, comeal epithelisation improved,
photophobia disappeared and sight improved.’7

Is there not a message in this for the naturalists to reflect upon?


How we wonder, hoping against hope!

14 Review of Religions – September 2002


The ‘Blind Watchmaker’ who is also Deaf and Dumb – Part IV

To conclude our discussion, we reaffirm that the naturalists’


denial of purpose in the design of the living is only because it
would invariably lead to God. They would much rather prefer a
deaf, dumb and blind agent to have created everything. They are
purposefully deceitful because the blind principles of Darwinism
are not creators. These principles only begin to operate when
the creation is performed by other hands. They are powerful
principles like the laws of physics. Yet all the laws of physics,
chemistry and dynamics put together could not have created
even a single poor man’s shack complete with plumbing, a small
kitchen and a toilet. Of course these laws are employed for such
construction, but the employer has to be a conscious person with
a brain. The brain is the master which employs the laws of
nature.

REFERENCES

1. WINSTON, M.L., (1991) The Biology of the Honey Bee. Harvard University Press,
London, p.83.

2. WINSTON, M.L., (1991) The Biology of the Honey Bee. Harvard University Press,
London, p.81.

3. WINSTON, M.L., (1991) The Biology of the Honey Bee. Harvard University Press,
London, p.83.

4. WINSTON, M.L., (1991) The Biology of the Honey Bee. Harvard University Press,
London, p.1.

5. Translation of 16:69-70 by Maulawi Sher Ali.

6. MOMERENKOV, VY, SHUBINA, L.F. (1982) Use of Honey In Treating Eye Diseases
- Translation of Russian Article: Feldsher Akush.

Review of Religions – September 2002 15


Decree and Destiny
Presented below is a compilation, in translation, of excerpts taken from
Malfoozat relating to the topic of decree and destiny. Malfoozat is the title
of the ten volumes that contain the collection of discourses, speeches and
addresses of Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian, the Promised
Messiah and Mahdi (may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him).
(Translated by Amatul Hadi Ahmad)

[Translator’s Note: All references


to the verses of the Holy Qur’an
are given in Arabic as they occur
in the text. The English
translation, presented in italics,
is taken from the translation of
the Holy Qur’an by Hadhrat
Maulvi Sher Ali Sahib(ra). Where
the Promised Messiah (as) has
himself stated a certain inter-
pretation of the Arabic verse, this
is incorporated in the main body
of the text].

The founder of the Ahmadiyya Allah has not revealed the


Muslim Community was Hadhrat secrets of the system of His
Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) decree and determination of
In 1891, Hadhrat Mirza Ahmad destiny but there are to be
claimed, on the basis of Divine
revelation, that he was the
found within it [through its
Promised Messiah and Mahdi manifestation] numerous
whose advent had been foretold points of wisdom. It is my
by the Holy Prophet of Islam experience that no one can
(peace be upon him) and by the attain to a high spiritual
scriptures of other faiths.
station merely through one’s
His claim constitutes the basis of
own striving. It is the
the beliefs of the Ahmadiyya
Muslim Community. tribulation from Allah that one

16 Review of Religions – September 2002


Decree and Destiny

has to bear which brings one possess - even at such a time


closer to God. Who can strike their concern is with material
oneself harshly with a rod? things.
Allah is Most Gracious and Ever
Merciful [therefore the There are many even in our
tribulation that comes from Community who behave in this
Him is not without due manner and their worship of
rewards]. I have discovered Allah has conditions attached.
this myself that after making There are others who write to
one undergo a little pain, Allah me for prayers and state that
endows great rewards and if they acquire so much money
blessings. The next world is or that some other wish of
eternal - those who have theirs is granted to them, they
parted from us cannot return would become members of the
but we will be with them very Community. Such foolish
shortly. The wall of this world people do not consider what
[separating it from the next] is possible need would Allah have
not a solid one and even that is for their initiation into the
ever crumbling. The point to Community! Our Community
ponder over is this that there should have the faith of the
is nothing in this world that Companions of the Holy
can be taken with us to the Prophet of Islam who offered
next and, moreover, one does their own heads in the path of
not know when it is that one God. [Volume 9, pp. 381-383]
may have to go. Whenever a
person goes, the timing will be [During a general conversation
thought not to be right and he when some people raised the
will go empty-handed - it is point that an impending doom
only the good deeds that will may be averted by giving alms
go with a person. However, it and making charitable
is not uncommon to find that donations], the Promised
some people at their death- Messiah(as) stated: This is
bed still wish to be reminded correct. However, some
of exactly how much they people raise objections as to

Review of Religions – September 2002 17


Decree and Destiny

IT IS THE CASE THAT SOME DIVINE INTENTIONS ARE ONLY FOR


THE PURPOSE OF CREATING FEAR [OF GOD] AND TO REMIND
PEOPLE OF THE EFFICACY OF PRAYER. THROUGH PRAYER AND
THE GIVING OF ALMS AND CHARITABLE DEEDS, MANY FEARS
AND DANGERS ARE AVERTED.

why are there two parts of It is the case that some divine
what is termed divine decree. intentions are only for the
The answer to this is that our purpose of creating fear [of
experience is witness to the God] and to remind people of
fact that sometimes extremely the efficacy of prayer. Through
threatening situations arise prayer and the giving of alms
and a person loses all hope but and charitable deeds, many
when the means of prayer, fears and dangers are averted.
alms and charity are Efficacy of prayer is like the
employed, such a threatening relationship between male and
situation is at last averted. female where, only if at the
Hence, it has to be believed appropriate time the relevant
that the divine decree that is conditions are fulfilled and
known as Mo’allaq, that is, the there is no intervening
‘suspended decree’ does exist. deficiency, [the desired result
If it were the case that this be would achieved] and [the
type of decree does not exist undesirable outcome] of the
and only the ‘inexorable matter averted. However,
decree’, the decree Mubram, when the divine decree is of
existed and that prayer and the inexorable and inevitable
the giving of alms had no type, that is it is decree
effect, why is it that Mubram, then it so happens
extremely dangerous situa- that the relevant and
tions are averted [through appropriate means of prayer
prayer and the giving of alms]? are not achieved. One wishes

18 Review of Religions – September 2002


Decree and Destiny

to pray but full concentration Regarding this, a renowned


is lacking and the heart does religious scholar, Sheikh Abdul
not develop the necessary Haque Muhaddith Dehli, raised
emotions of pain and sorrow. the issue that the decree that
There is lack of concentration is Mubram cannot be averted
upon the appropriate prayer so what does it mean? He
also in prostration during the eventually answered the point
performance of Salat. All such himself that the decree
things point to the fact that Mubram is also of two types:
the ultimate result of the one is truly Mubram and the
situation being faced will not other appears to be like
be good and this is the decree Mubram but in fact is not.
that is known as Mubram, that
is, the inexorable divine The truly Mubram decree
decree. cannot be averted under any
circumstance as for instance is
[Here a person added his the fact that a human being
comment that when Nawab will eventually face death.
Muhammad Ali Khan Sahib’s This decree cannot be averted
son was very seriously ill, even if a person wishes to stay
Huzur (that is, the Promised alive to the end of time. The
Messiah) received a revelation other type of decree that is
that it was a Decree Mubram not in fact Mubram [but
and that death has been appears as if it may be] is
decreed. However, with when a dangerous situation
Huzur’s intercession that becomes very grave and it
decree was averted]. The appears that the danger will
Promised Messiah stated: not be averted. Such a
situation is referred to as
Sayyed Abdul Qadir Jeelani(ra) being ‘like Mubram’ – [but it
has written that some times it is, in fact, Mo’allaq and can be
so happens that the decree averted through prayer and
that is Mubram has been giving of alms]. The truly
averted through his prayers. Mubram decree is such that

Review of Religions – September 2002 19


Decree and Destiny

MOST PEOPLE DO NOT REALISE THE TRUE NATURE OF PRAYER NOR


DO THEY COMPREHEND THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PRAYER AND
DIVINE DETERMINATION. ALLAH ALMIGHTY OPENS THE WAY FOR
THOSE WHO HAVE RECOURSE TO PRAYER AND DOES NOT REJECT
THEIR SUPPLICATION. THERE IS PRAYER AND THERE IS DIVINE DECREE
AND DETERMINATION - ALLAH HAS APPOINTED APPROPRIATE TIMES
FOR BOTH.

even if all the Prophets man should pay heed to them.


together prayed for it to be Moreover, the Holy Qur’an
averted, it cannot be averted. specifies punishment of evil
[Volume 7, pp. 87-88] and lays down penalties. If
there were to be an unal-
The Holy Qur’an has set out terable system of Divine
certain matters for the decree and determination and
establishment of the grand man was to be under absolute
principle that Allah Almighty is compulsion, what justification
One and is the source and goal was there for these punish-
of everything from which some ments and penalties?
foolish critics have deduced
the doctrine of compulsion. It should be remembered that
Allah is the ultimate cause of the Holy Qur’an does not
everything and is the Provider confine everything within the
of all means. This is the reason system of physical causes but
why Allah Almighty has, in seeks to lead mankind to
some cases, described Himself belief in the pure Unity of
as the cause of all causes in God. Most people do not
the Holy Qur’an, without realise the true nature of
mention of intervening means. prayer nor do they com-
However, a study of the Holy prehend the relationship
Qur’an would reveal that other between prayer and Divine
intervening means have also determination. Allah Almighty
been clearly specified so that opens the way for those who

20 Review of Religions – September 2002


Decree and Destiny

have recourse to prayer and mysteries of Divinity. It is also


does not reject their disrespectful. [As stated in a
supplication. There is prayer saying of the Holy Prophet
and there is Divine decree and Muhammad(sa): ‘The way of the
determination - Allah has seeker is all respect’].
appointed appropriate times
for both. [Through prayer] an Divine decrees and
aspect of the attribute of determination have a very
Providence has been granted close relationship with prayer.
by Allah to those who worship Prayer averts the operation of
Him, as Allah states in the Holy a suspended decree, that is,
Qur’an: decree Mo’allaq. Prayer is
most certainly an effective
means of averting dangers and
difficulties. Those who deny
the efficacy of prayer are
Pray unto Me; I will answer under a misconception. The
your prayer… Holy Qur’an sets out two
(Ch.40: v.61) aspects of prayer. In one
aspect Allah Almighty enforces
That is why I have always His Own Will and in the other
stated that the God of the aspect He responds to the
Muslims responds to their prayer of a servant. In the
supplication but the god who verse:
has not created a single
particle or who died from ill
treatment at the hands of the
Jews, how can he respond?
And We will try you with
It is not wise to attempt something of fear and
reconciliation between choice hunger…
and compulsion on the basis of (Ch.2: v.156)
logic and reasoning. It is a vain
attempt to comprehend the Allah Almighty requires

Review of Religions – September 2002 21


Decree and Destiny

obedience to His will. The person. He goes so far as to say


meaning is that man’s that through prayer extreme
response to an absolute Divine dangers that appear as if they
decree must be: may be operating under the
absolute decree are averted.

In short, it should always be


remembered in connection
Surely, to Allah we belong with prayer that sometimes
and to Him shall we Allah Almighty requires
return… (Ch.2: v.157) obedience to His Will and at
other times He grants the
The time of the upsurge of the supplication of a servant of
waves of the grace and mercy His. In other words, he deals
of Allah Almighty is indicated with His servant like a friend.
in the Holy Qur’an: Pray unto The prayers of the Holy
Me; I will answer your prayer. Prophet(sa) were accepted on a
(Ch.40: v.61) grand scale and corresponding
to this he holds the highest
A believer should have position in bowing to the Will
knowledge of both these of Allah and in accepting it
aspects. The Sufis say that a cheerfully. [Malfoozat, Volume
person’s absolute dependence 3, pp.224-226]
upon Allah does not become
perfect without his being able
to distinguish the proper place
and occasion for supplication.
It has been said that a Sufi
does not pray till he recognises
the appropriate time for
supplication. Sayyed Abdul
Qadir Jeelani(ra) has stated that
prayer can turn a callous
person into a truly good

22 Review of Religions – September 2002


The Islamic Concept of Jihad
By Bilal Atkinson – UK

And as for those who strive Nothing could be further from


in Our path - We will surely the truth and reality. The word
guide them in Our ways. Islam means peace and all our
And verily Allah is with efforts and energies should be
those who do good. spent in creating peace and
(Ch.29: v.70) harmony amongst ourselves,
our communities and society
The Arabic word Jihad appears at large.
in this verse of the Holy Qur’an
and the word ‘strive’ has been According to the Oxford
used in its translation into English Reference Dictionary
English. The word Jihad is a (1995), the meaning of the
relatively short word but it has word Jihad is given as ‘Holy
huge implications within War’. It incorrectly states that
Islamic society as a whole and ‘a Jihad may be undertaken to
especially for the daily life of defend Islam against external
the individual Muslim. threats or to spread religion
among non believers.’
Jihad, as ordained by Islam,
does not consist of killing and Holy and war are words
being killed but in striving hard definitely not synonymous with
to win the pleasure of Allah. each other. In fact they are at
Individually and collectively, odds with each other, for there
Jihad is essential for the is nothing holy about the
advancement of our souls. effects and horrors of warfare.

It does not, for one moment, It is very unfortunate in this


mean that we are ever ready day and age that the word
to pick a fight or wage wars. ‘Jihad’ has been so misinter-

Review of Religions – September 2002 23


The Islamic Concept of Jihad

preted by the Western nations The latter meaning seems to


and in particular their media. In possess a higher spiritual
a way, this misinterpretation is significance than the first.
explainable because un-
fortunately throughout the last Jihad is of three kinds:
millen-nium, some extreme
Muslim groups and their 1. Striving against one’s baser
leaders have interpreted the self, that is, against one’s
word ‘Jihad’ as Holy War and own evil desires and
applied the word to all their propensities.
wars whether they have been
fought for political, economic 2. Striving by way of writing,
or expansionist motives. As a speaking and spending one’s
result of this misnomer, the wealth to propagate the
religion of Islam has been truth of Islam and exposing
wrongly accused of procuring its beauties to the non-
converts to the faith by believers.
forceful or belligerent means.
The word Jihad has been used 3. Striving against the enemies
in two senses in the Holy of truth which includes
Qur’an: fighting in self-defence.

Jihad-fi-Sabeelillah - Striving The Holy Prophet (sa) has


hard in the way of Allah termed the first two kinds of
Jihad-Fiallah - Striving hard in Jihad as the Jihad Akbar
Allah. (greater Jihad) and the third
as the Jihad Asghar (lesser
The first meaning refers to the Jihad). Once when he was
waging of a defensive war returning from fighting he is
against the enemies of truth reported to have said:
when they seek to annihilate
religion while the second You have returned from the
means to strive hard to win the smaller Jihad (fighting
pleasure and nearness of Allah. against the enemies of

24 Review of Religions – September 2002


The Islamic Concept of Jihad

Islam) to the greater Jihad proclaim to the whole world


(waging war against one’s the revelation and teaching of
baser self). (Khatib) Allah’s word through the
auspices of the Holy Qur’an.
We will initially explain the
lesser Jihad or Asghar Jihad Soon afterwards the Prophet(sa)
before the greater Jihad or was commanded to proclaim
Akbar Jihad. widely and openly that which
was being conveyed to him.
The Holy Prophet Muhammad(sa) His attempts to convey Allah’s
was forty years old when the message to those around him
Divine call came to him. His in Mecca only drew hostility
first revelation and instruction and ridicule. Initially only four
from the Holy Qur’an was: persons believed in him and
when this became known to
Recite in the name of your the Meccans they began to
Lord Who created; Created laugh and mock. As more
man from an adhesive clot. verses of the Holy Qur’an were
Recite! And your Lord is the revealed, more people
Noblest. Who taught by the became interested and drawn
pen. Taught man what he to this new message,
knew not. especially the young, the weak
(Ch.96: vs.2-6) and oppressed of Meccan
society. Women especially
This first instruction makes it were drawn to this new
quite clear that the Holy religion as it offered them
Prophet(sa) was commanded by both dignity and honour
Allah to spread the message of amongst their fathers,
Islam by both oral and written husbands and sons, something
means and not by force of any which they had never
kind, neither by the sword or experienced before as in most
other aggressive measures. respects they were treated
The very first word means to worse than animals.
convey the message, to

Review of Religions – September 2002 25


The Islamic Concept of Jihad

WHAT MADE THESE PEOPLE ACCEPT THEHOLY PROPHET( ), A SA

MAN WHO, AT THE TIME WAS WITHOUT POWER OR WEALTH? HE


CERTAINLY DID NOT WIELD A SWORD TO COMPEL THEM TO
ACCEPT HIM AND HIS MESSAGE.THE ONLY ‘SWORD’ THE HOLY
PROPHET( ) POSSESSED WAS THE HOLY QUR’AN, A SPIRITUAL
SA

SWORD, A SWORD OF TRUTH, WHICH NATURALLY TURNED THE


HEARTS OF UNBELIEVERS WITHOUT ANY AGGRESSION.

The continuing success of the to be even more cruel and


Holy Prophet(sa) brought about they subjected the Muslims to
a backlash against him and the more extreme modes of
early converts. The Meccans torture and floggings. Many
embarked on a course of parents had to endure the
persecution which grew more sight of their children being
cruel and more savage as time slaughtered before their very
passed. They were afraid that eyes and some parents were
the new religion would crucified in front of their
become firmly established and children.
that their own religion and
culture would be ruined. What made these people
accept the Holy Prophet(sa), a
Out of this fear, it was the man who, at the time was
Meccans, the disbelievers, who without power or wealth? He
drew their swords and took certainly did not wield a sword
delight in slaughtering the true to compel them to accept him
and faithful servants of Allah and his message. The only
over a long period. The streets ‘sword’ the Holy Prophet (sa)
of Mecca became red with the possessed was the Holy
blood of the Muslims but they Qur’an, a spiritual sword, a
did not retaliate. Their sword of truth, which naturally
humility and steadfastness turned the hearts of
encouraged their persecutors unbelievers without any

26 Review of Religions – September 2002


The Islamic Concept of Jihad

aggression. Such was the sides and was threatened with


beauty, the glory and mag- complete annihilation. It is in
netism of Islam and this regard that the first
Muhammad , who practised
(sa) commandment on the lesser
and preached Islam, who Jihad was revealed to the Holy
oozed goodness and love, that Prophet(sa):
they willingly gave their lives
to its cause. However, it was Permission to fight is given
the non-Muslims and especially to those against whom war
the Meccans who raised their is made, because they have
physical swords to attack the been wronged – and Allah
Muslims in order to compel indeed has power to help
them to return to their old them.
religion and customs. (Ch.22: v.40)

After the migration of the Holy According to scholarly opinion,


Prophet (sa) to Medina, the this is the first verse that gave
cruelties of the unbelievers Muslims permission to take up
from among the Quraish arms in self-defence. The
exceeded all bounds. They verse lays down principles
started to murder those according to which Muslims
helpless converts left behind can wage a defensive war. It
in Mecca including women and clearly sets forth the reasons
orphaned children. Although which led a handful of Muslims,
the Prophet(sa) and many of his without arms and other
companions had migrated to material means, to fight in self-
Medina, they too were not left defence after they had
in peace. They were contin- suffered with great restraint,
uously harassed in that place ceaseless persecution in Mecca
also. for years and had been pursued
with relentless hatred to
By this time the emerging Medina where they were
religion of Islam was continuously harassed and
surrounded by enemies on all harried.

Review of Religions – September 2002 27


The Islamic Concept of Jihad

The primary reason the The Holy Qur’an specifically


Muslims gave for now taking up makes it clear that this type of
arms was that they inferred Jihad is that of fighting only
that ‘they had been wronged’. against those who first attack
They had suffered untold Muslims and other verses of
persecution and war was the Qur’an lend support to
actually forced upon them. these conditions. Muslims can
only raise their swords to
The very next verse of the defend themselves against
Holy Qur’an also lends support those who first raise hostilities
to this inference in that it against them and then only if
states that permission to fight they are oppressed and have
was given after the Muslims been wronged. This is the
had been driven out of their spirit and essence of Islamic
hearths and homes. It states: Jihad that has been so
maliciously mis-portrayed. It is
Those who have been totally wrong to assume or
driven out from their assert that the Holy Prophet(sa)
homes unjustly only offered people the choice of
because they said, ‘Our conversion or death, Islam or
Lord is Allah’ – And if Allah the sword.
did not repel some people
by means of others, there The Jihad with the sword
would surely have been which the Holy Prophet(sa) and
pulled down cloisters and early Muslims had to wage
churches and synagogues under their own peculiar
and mosques, wherein the circumstances was a passing
name of Allah is oft phase in the establishment of
commemorated. And Allah the foundations of Islam.
will surely help one who Those who sought to destroy
helps Him. Allah is indeed Islam by the sword, perished
Powerful, Mighty. by the sword. Unless a people
(Ch.22: v.41) or nation wage war against

28 Review of Religions – September 2002


The Islamic Concept of Jihad

Muslims in order to political power of Muslim


exterminate Islam, no fight or Nations must never ever be
war in which Muslims are used for selfish and grandiose
engaged can be called Jihad. ambitions but for the
improvement of the poor and
The object of the Muslims the promotion of peace and
taking up arms was never to progress.
deprive anybody of their
homes or possessions or their There can be no greater
freedom. It was solely to fight, example of this than when the
in self-defence, to save Islam Holy Prophet(sa) and his
from extermination and to followers victoriously returned
establish freedom of to Mecca. He addressed the
conscience and thought as well Meccans and said:
as helping to defend other
places of worship belonging to You have seen how true the
different religions from being promises of Allah have
desecrated or destroyed. proved. Now tell me what
punishment you should
In short, the primary have for the cruelties and
objectives of the wars of Islam enormities you committed
were to establish freedom of against those whose only
belief and worship and to fight fault was that they invited
in defence of honour and you to the worship of the
freedom against unprovoked One and Only God.
attacks and this will always be
the case, if the time ever To this the Meccans replied:
arises again. ‘We expect you to treat us as
Joseph treated his erring
Early Muslims had no choice brothers.’ Hearing their plea,
but to go to war because they the Prophet(sa) immediately
were constrained to do so. declared: ‘By God, you will
Aggressive wars were and are have no punishment today and
still forbidden by Islam. The no reproof.’ (Hisham)

Review of Religions – September 2002 29


The Islamic Concept of Jihad

The Holy Qur’an states: - enlightening and civilising


teachings of the Holy Qur’an.
And fight them until there
is no persecution and The Holy Qur’an states:
religion is wholly for Allah.
But if they desist, then There should be no
surely Allah is Watchful of compulsion in religion.
what they do. Surely, right has become
(Ch.8: v.40) distinct from wrong.
(Ch.2: v.257)
This verse shows that fighting
was to be continued only so This verse warns Muslims in
long as there was persecution the clearest and strongest of
and until men were free to words not to resort to force for
profess the religion they liked. converting non-Muslims to
If the opponents of Islam Islam. It also gives the reason
stopped fighting then the why it should not be used,
Muslims were to stop. intimating that the true path
has become distinct from the
If any people were ever wrong one and therefore there
deserving of any punishment, is no justification for using
it had to be the people of force. The Holy Prophet(sa) is
Mecca. If Islam was spread by clearly warned by Allah not to
the sword, then this occasion use force in an attempt to
of the Holy Prophet’s(sa) reform society. His status is
victorious return to Mecca made clear in the following
would have been the perfect verses of the Holy Qur’an:
time to wield the sword for
punishment and conversion. Admonish, therefore, for
But no, the people of Mecca thou art but an
were not converted by force - admonisher; You are not a
they were converted by love. warden over them.
Love of the Holy Prophet(sa) and (Ch.88: vs.22-23)
love of the emancipating,

30 Review of Religions – September 2002


The Islamic Concept of Jihad

Amazingly, this last verse was wrong as to violate the


revealed in Mecca in the early sacredness of this day, this
years of the Prophet’s(sa) call month, and this territory.
and he was warned in advance What I command you today
that he would gain great is not meant only for today.
power but should not use it for It is meant for all time. You
imposing his will on others. are expected to remember
it and act upon it until you
Essentially, the Holy Prophet(sa) leave this world and go to
did not convert by the sword, the next to meet your
but by his righteousness, Maker.
purity, love and devotion to
Allah, which completely In conclusion, he said:
overwhelmed his enemies, so
much so that those whose What I have said to you,
intentions were to murder you should communicate to
him, were later to lay at his the ends of the earth.
feet and give their lives to Maybe those who have not
save him from his oppressors. heard of me may benefit
more than those who have
During his last pilgrimage the heard. (Sihah Sitta, Tabari,
Holy Prophet (sa), in the closing Hisham and Khamis)
words of his Farewell Address,
said: The Holy Prophet’s(sa) great
concern for the welfare of the
Even as this month is whole of mankind and for
sacred, this land inviolate, establishing peace throughout
and this day holy, so has the world knew no bounds.
Allah made the lives,
property and honour of It is such a tragedy that for the
every man sacred. To take last thousand years or so,
any man’s life or his many Muslim leaders and
property, or attack his Muslim nations, have to a large
honour, is as unjust and extent, ignored the true

Review of Religions – September 2002 31


The Islamic Concept of Jihad

teachings of the Holy Qur’an countries have only ever


and the Holy Prophet(sa) to fought Jihad and in doing so,
satisfy their greed and lust for they have slaughtered one
power and material gains. another.
They have fought against each
other for these worldly gains In this regard, it is impossible
and through their injustice, for me not to mention the
have persecuted the innocent events which occurred in New
and acclaimed the guilty. They York last September or for that
have treacherously betrayed matter the ongoing events in
their own countrymen and Afghanistan and the Middle
their fellow Muslim nations East, where so-called ‘Islamic
and accepted monetary gain, Jihad’ is being waged
power or property from the indiscriminately by extreme
enemies of Islam. Most of the Muslim organisations against
spiritual and temporal leaders non-Muslim nations.
have misled their own people
and brought wholesale The Holy Prophet(sa) warned
corruption of body, mind and that the Muslims in the Latter
soul. In this day and age, some Days, and especially their
young Muslim men and women leaders, would be far removed
have been foolishly from the true Islam and that
‘brainwashed’ into believing some would be the worst of
their acts of barbarism, creation. These leaders are
terrorism, suicide and murder misleading young, intelligent,
will gain them martyrdom. In Muslim men and women. They
short, they have brought have trained and indoctrinated
dishonour to the door of the them into believing that if
religion they profess to love. they give their lives, in what
The name of Islam is now they erroneously believe is in
equated with terror instead of the cause of Islam, they will
peace. Most countries of the immediately gain Paradise as
world have fought political martyrs of the Faith.
battles but it seems Muslim

32 Review of Religions – September 2002


The Islamic Concept of Jihad

What lies and what deceit! All The words, ‘kill not your-
Muslims should ask them, ‘On selves’, prohibit and outlaw
whose authority do they make acts of suicide. On the other
this claim?’ O you young hand, is the murder of
Muslims who are being asked innocent people such a
to commit such terrible acts. meritorious act that will gain a
If, as they say, you will become Muslim entry to Paradise? Far
a martyr and enter Paradise, from it, it is an open door to
then surely they should lead the Fire of Hell.
the way if what they ask you to
do is such a meritorious act. Abu Zaid ibn Thabit ibn Dhahak
Again, ask of them: ‘Why do relates that the Holy
you say what you do not do?’ Prophet said:
(sa)

(Ch.61: v.3)
He who takes a false oath
Far from being a meritous act, that if he is not telling the
it is an act that is an outrage to truth he might become a
the name of Islam and a follower of a faith other
defiance of the commands of than Islam is already as he
Allah. describes himself. He who
kills himself with an
The Holy Qur’an clearly states: instrument will be
tormented with that
O ye who believe! Devour instrument on the Day of
not your property among Judgement. A person
yourselves by unlawful cannot offer as a vow that
means, except that you earn which does not belong to
by trade with mutual him. Cursing a believer is
consent. And kill not equal to slaying him.
yourselves. Surely, Allah is (Bukhari, Book of Good
Merciful to you. Manners, Chapter – Calling
(Ch.4: v.30) Bad Names and Cursing)

So those men and women who

Review of Religions – September 2002 33


The Islamic Concept of Jihad

call themselves Muslim and The great and real Jihad,


who are contemplating suicide according to this verse, is to
or encouraging others to practise and preach the
commit suicide, with a weapon Message of the Qur’an. Ahmadi
or a bomb, and in doing so, Muslims have accepted the
slaughter innocent people, claim of Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam
take heed of this verse of the Ahmad(as), to be the Mahdi and
Holy Qur’an and the Hadith of Messiah. He claimed to be a
your Master. It is not Messenger and a Prophet of
martyrdom you shall have but Allah, totally subordinate to
the Fire of Hell. Modern day the Seal of all the Prophets,
terrorism is contrary to the Muhammad(sa) the Holy Prophet
vision and interpretation of of Islam. He was born in
the real spirit of Islamic Jihad. Qadian, India, in 1835 and died
Political wars do not become in the year 1908. Innumerable
Jihad. The cry of Jihad is signs in his support were given
heard again and again and by Allah Almighty and a
from many different quarters. revelation that his message,
But what was the Jihad to that is, the true message of
which Allah and His Prophet Islam, would reach all corners
invited Muslims? And what is of the earth.
the Jihad to which we are
invited today? In one of his many addresses to
the people of the world, the
The Holy Qur’an mentions Promised Messiah (as) stated:
another Jihad called Jihad-e-
Akbar. It states: You should understand it
well that the need of the
So obey not the time is not the wielding of
disbelievers and strive the sword; it is the pen
against them with it (the that has to be used. The
Qur’an) a great striving. doubts that our opponents
(Ch.25: v.53) have expressed about Islam
and the assaults that

34 Review of Religions – September 2002


The Islamic Concept of Jihad

different sciences have we are able and well equipped


made, have drawn my to attract others to the faith.
attention to the fact that The Holy Qur’an states: -
equipped with the weapon
of the pen, I should enter And whoso strives, strives
the battlefield and show only for his own soul;
them the miraculous verily, Allah is Independent
bravery of Islam and its of the entire universe.
powers. (Ch.29: v.7)
(Malfoozat, Vol.1, p.57)
This verse gives a very apt
He clearly states that now is description of a Mujahid, that
not the time for the wielding is, a person who strives in the
of the sword but the wielding way of Allah. High and noble
of the pen. What does this ideals with consistent and
mean and how do we enter the constant effort to carry them
battlefield to extend an out in actual practice is what
invitation to people to see the in Islamic terminology is called
real beauties and teachings of Jihad and the person who
Islam? possesses these noble ideals
and lives up to them is a
One of the answers lies in the Mujahid in the true sense of
meaning of Jihad-Fiallah or the word.
the Akbar Jihad, the greater
Jihad, that is, the Jihad or We have to be a perfect model
struggle against our own of Islam and for that we need
individual evil designs and to know the teachings of the
propensities and especially our Holy Qur’an and the practices
struggle against Satan. This is of the Holy Prophet(sa).
the true Jihad, an individual
Jihad to reform ourselves into The Holy Prophet(sa) says that
pious and godly people and to the best expression of perfect
reform the Satans within us faith is that other people are
into righteous Muslims so that always protected by our power

Review of Religions – September 2002 35


The Islamic Concept of Jihad

IT IS IMPERATIVE FOR EVERY MUSLIM THAT THEIR BEHAVIOUR


SHOULD BE EXEMPLARY AND NOBODY SHOULD EVER COME TO
HARM BY THEM IN ANY WAY. THESE THINGS ARE PART OF OUR
FAITH AND ARE, IN FACT, FUNDAMENTAL TO OUR RELATIONSHIP
WITH ALLAH.

and live in peace. The best with Allah can be established,


Islam or religion is that people but it also says that we need to
are safe from us and that we strive for it. When we look at
never harm them with our our physical lives, we can see
hands or tongue. (Bukhari, what kind of striving we go
Book of Belief) through to achieve success.
Surely a similar degree of
This tradition is a perfect striving in Allah’s way will lead
summary and guide to our life us to a meeting with Him.
in society. It is imperative for
every Muslim that their We should look into our hearts
behaviour should be exem- and see how much time and
plary and nobody should ever effort we spend in spiritual
come to harm by them in any matters during the course of
way. These things are part of the day. Do we spend half or
our faith and are, in fact, even a quarter of the time
fundamental to our rela- spent for worldly efforts? Do
tionship with Allah. our hearts truly yearn for the
love of Allah like they yearn
As true believers, we know for the luxuries of the world?
that the most important goal Do we spend a significant
of our lives is to reach Allah. amount of time in prayers, in
Our lives are short and before reading the Holy Qur’an, in
we realise it, they are half spending in the way of Allah
gone. We learn from the Holy with our wealth and our time?
Qur’an that such a relationship Do our hearts weep for the

36 Review of Religions – September 2002


The Islamic Concept of Jihad

welfare of our brother and the multitude. There is a


sister human beings and do we complete change, both inter-
make the effort to go to them nal and external in their
in all humility and pass on personality, so that people
Allah’s Message? stand in respect and awe of
them, because a Divine glow
Do we observe the rules and and light shines from their
regulations in Allah’s Book? faces. They are a living proof
There is no doubt that there of the Qur’anic verse:
are no better or perfect rules
or guidelines for our own good And as for those who strive
and advancement. These rules in Our path - We will surely
and regulations are for our guide them in Our ways.
convenience. Who can know And verily Allah is with
the best path to Allah, except those who do good.
Allah Himself? We must follow (Ch.29: v.70)
Divine Law to make sure we
are protected from exterior The word Jihad encompasses
and interior evil influences and all the positive activities a
to enhance our spiritual Muslim should try to achieve
journey. This is where changes and we should all as Mujahids
are required in life-long habits continuously reform ourselves
and styles. Thoughts and ideas in all that is good. To strive in
may need to be altered and the cause of Allah requires
modified. This may be arduous great resolve and stead-
or painful but all strife and fastness and this cannot be
struggles are painful and achieved without true faith,
sometimes tiresome. true understanding and belief
in a Supreme, All-Powerful
All people who live by Allah’s Being and in the certainty of a
rules and strive constantly in Life after Death.
His way, themselves become
walking examples of godly If a Muslim believes that his
people. They stand out from faith is the true faith, if his

Review of Religions – September 2002 37


The Islamic Concept of Jihad

religion is the true religion, the true Jihad, not by force,


then, if he practices his faith but by gentle persuasion. He
in accordance with its true had many setbacks on the way,
teachings, he should never be but his patience, steadfastness
afraid of those who seek to and most of all his love for his
draw him away from his faith. Creator enabled him to be a
On the contrary, he should most successful Caller unto
welcome them into his home Allah.
and by his righteous words and
deeds, they will, Allah willing, It is so painful to witness the
be converted to his faith. injustice meted out by some
Western nations against
Before becoming an Ahmadi Muslims and Muslim nations. It
Muslim over 14 years ago, I is even more painful to witness
tried for almost two years to the actions of so-called
convert my Ahmadi friend to Muslims who declare Jihad
Christianity. Far from taking or against anyone who does not
adopting a hostile attitude, he agree with their interpretation
taught me so much about the of the teachings of Islam and
truth of his own religion in who commit atrocities and
words and practice, that I soon shameful acts in the name of
not only fell in love with Islam, Islam. How can they expect to
I loved the man as a true attract non-Muslims to Islam?
brother loves his own blood
brother. He always put his Finally, the Promised
religion and his religious Messiah has stated:
(as)

obligations before anything


else, including his family. By his Ignorant maulvis, may Allah
righteous words and deeds and guide them, have grievously
by adopting the practice of the misled the common people
Holy Prophet(sa), he was able to and have told them that
succesfully call not only me, such action which is sheer
but many other Englishmen to wrong and cruelty and is
the true Islam. He performed opposed to all moral values

38 Review of Religions – September 2002


The Islamic Concept of Jihad

is the key to paradise. Can it the Holy Qur’an authorises


be good action to shoot such an outrage? Can any
down an utter stranger who maulvi furnish an answer to
is walking through the this question? Ignorant
street on some errand and people who have only heard
who has done us no harm? If the word Jihad make it an
this kind of thing is excuse for the fulfilment of
virtuous, wild animals their selfish desires.
possess more virtue than
such men. Glory be to Allah, I have brought you a
how righteous were those commandment which is
and how truly inspired by that Jihad with the sword
the spirit of the Prophets has been ended, but the
who, when they were Jihad of the purification of
commanded in Mecca not to your spirits must continue
resist evil though they to be waged. I say this not
might be cut to pieces, on my own but in order to
behaved like hum-ble and proclaim the design of
weak suckling babies as if Allah. (Essence of Islam pp.
their hands and their arms 260-261).
possessed no power at all.

How grievous and shameful


Mr Bilal Atkinson, an Englishman
it is that an utter stranger
retired from the police service
who has done us no harm and is the Regional Amir of North
and who is occupied in East Region, United Kingdom.
some lawful errand should
be shot down without any
cause and his wife made a
widow and his children
made orphans and his
dwelling turned into a
house of mourning? Which
hadith and which verse of

Review of Religions – September 2002 39


The Blessings of Khilafat
The advent of a prophet has, since the creation of man, always been a
manifestation of Divine mercy and a source of many blessings. On the demise of
the prophet, there is a second manifestation of Divine mercy and bounty in the
form of the institution of Khilafat. The institution of Khilafat is a unique Divinely
established system. Khilafat is the office and realm of the Khalifa or successor to
the prophet elected as the supreme leader of the community of believers. He
commands the highest moral position of his time and in him is vested absolute
authority in all affairs religious. This article provides a brief overview of some of
the major achievements of the Successors to the Holy Prophet(sa) and Promised
Messiah(as) demonstrating how the institution of Khilafat has been instrumental in
the establishment of the spiritual and political hegemony of Islam.

By Tommy Bockarie Kallon

All prophets, without exception, among you who believe and do


are but mortal human beings. good works that He will,
However, although the Holy surely, make them Successors
Prophet of Islam(sa) passed away in the earth, as He made
like all prophets before him, his Successors from those who
message was to endure till the were before them; and that
end of days. Thus, Allah Almighty He will, surely, establish for
promised in the Holy Qur’an that them their religion which He
Islam would be nurtured and has chosen for them; and that
fortified through the dedicated He will surely give them in
efforts of his rightly guided exchange security and peace
spiritual successors or Khulafa, so after their fear.
that his opponents would not (Ch.24: v.56)
rejoice in the reflection that after
his demise, Islam would wither The promise of the establishment
and pass into the limbo of history. of Khilafat is clear and
We read in the Ayat-ul-Istikhlaf, unmistakable. As the Holy
that is, the verse of the Holy Prophet is now humanity’s sole
Qur’an which deals with the guide for all time, his Khilafat
subject of Khilafat: must continue to exist in one form
or another in the world till the
Allah has promised to those end of time. This is, among many

40 Review of Religions – September 2002


The Blessings of Khilafat

others, the Holy Prophet’s(sa) entirely to the blessings that


distinct superiority over all other emanated from Hadhrat Abu
prophets and messengers of Allah. Bakr’s leadership.

In accordance with that promise, After his demise, Hadhrat Umar(ra)


on the demise of the Holy assumed the mantle of Khilafat
Prophet(sa), when all the believers and, by the grace of Allah,
were struck with shattering Muslims enjoyed many blessings
bewilderment, Hadhrat Abu under his humble and tolerant
Bakr(ra), was elected as the First leadership. Indeed, his Khilafat
Khalifa in Islam. The Islamic represents a golden period in the
Empire was soon beset with many history of Islam. His tireless
internal disorders and external energy, his selflessness, sym-
threats. There arose many false pathy, scrupulous discharge of
prophets from within who seized duty, his strong sense of even-
the opportunity to instigate a handed justice and his zeal in the
rebellion and, from beyond, the service of Islam are universally
external enemies threatening the recognised and marvelled at even
security of the Islamic State. today as they were fourteen
Hadhrat Abu Bakr(ra) led both by hundred years ago. He initiated
precept and by example and was many schemes for the welfare of
able to crush all forces of revolt the Muslims. It was Hadhrat
and disorder thereby fully Umar(ra) who first introduced the
safeguarding Islam from discord system of old age pensions, now
and disintegration. By the end of prevailing in the West. Children
his Khilafat, the Muslims were without guardians were brought
united again under one standard. up at the expense of the state.
When we take due cognisance of Education was made compulsory
the enormous loss the Muslims for boys and girls. The weak and
suffered with the departure of disabled were granted allowances
the Holy Prophet(sa), the void that from the public treasury and in
was created by his demise and general, people grew in
the unenviable responsibility, as prosperity under his leadership.
it were, of stepping into his We read with just pride that
shoes, we can safely conclude Hadhrat Umar(ra) would traverse
that this was no mean his state at night in disguise to
achievement and was due ascertain and attend to the needs

Review of Religions – September 2002 41


The Blessings of Khilafat

of his citizens. No wonder he was After the demise of this great


blessed so much so that during his personality, Hadhrat Uthman (ra)
Khilafat the two mighty Roman was elected as the third Khalifa.
and Persian empires that once He, like his two predecessors
threatened Islam were utterly proved to be an admirable leader
defeated. and guide, successfully expanding
the Muslim Empire still further. A
However, victory would not spoil general wave of revolt and
him. He always encouraged his invasion swept though the Muslim
armies to adhere to the teachings Empire but by the sheer grace of
of Islam and show tolerance, Allah and a result of the blessings
justice and kindness to all peoples of Khilafat these rebellions and
who came under Muslim rule. For invasions were promptly quelled.
their part, his armies translated
into action all his admonition Hadhrat Uthman(ra) made many
which won over the hearts of the contributions in the cause of
conquered and made many public welfare. He supervised the
friends in the territories. erection of many new buildings,
roads and bridges. Mosques and
In addition to the many guest houses were also
conquests, the Khilafat of constructed in different towns
Hadhrat Umar(ra) yielded many under his direction. The Holy
other blessings. He established Qur’an, in its present standard
the Majlis-e-Shura, a consultative form, was compiled during his
body of advisors to the Khalifa. Khilafat and under his direct
He displayed a unique genius in supervision, this perhaps, is his
organising the civil adminis- most important contribution to
tration of the Muslim Empire. the cause of Islam. Hadhrat
Every country was divided into Uthman(ra) was a simple and kind
provinces, a police force was man who never wavered in his
established, canals were dug, integrity, honesty and piety. He
public treasuries were started showed great tolerance and
and the Muslim calendar of Hijra utmost patience even towards the
which has been a great help in end of his Khilafat when various
the preservation of history was groups wanted to depose him. He
introduced. refused to discard the robe of
Khilafat invested in him by Allah

42 Review of Religions – September 2002


The Blessings of Khilafat

Almighty but at the same time he to pacify the Muslims but it seems
refused to fight them in order to that the anti-Khilafat malaise
avoid shedding the blood of which had set in was incurable.
innocent Muslims. His Civil wars broke out and the
assassination ensued but there whole debacle culminated in the
can be no doubt Hadhrat martyrdom of Hadhrat Ali(ra).
Uthman(ra) laid down his life for
the integrity of Khilafat and in the ‘The value of a shade is not
best interests of Islam. known until the tree is cut down’,
an old African adage maintains.
The death of Hadhrat Uthman is With the assassination of Hadhrat
certainly one of the saddest Ali(ra), that brilliant beacon of
chapters in the history of Islam. guidance and unity, that glorious
Unity among all Muslims was fountain of blessings and mercies
shattered. Internal feuds became was lost. Muslims discarded the
the order of the day as Muslim robe of Khilafat and with it all its
turned against Muslim. Hadhrat countless blessings. The system of
Ali(ra) was elected as the fourth monarchy, devoid of all spiritual
Khalifa six days after the death of glory, was instituted in the place
Hadhrat Uthman (ra) . He of Khilafat with various dynasties
announced that his top priority arising over many centuries. Civil
was to restore law and order in wars and internecine feuds
the state and to this end showed greatly weakened the Muslims.
enormous restrain and tried his Nations that in the past trembled
best to avoid fighting and and bowed before them now
bloodshed in the face of popular confronted them with insolence
demands by some influential and invariably succeeded in
Companions of the Holy humiliating the Muslims. Islamic
Prophet(sa) for him to bring to influence and world dominion
justice the assassins of Hadhrat began to diminish until the time
Uthman. As Medina had degen- came when other religions,
erated into a lawless society, though based on false doctrines,
Hadhrat Ali(ra) moved the capital began to dominate the true
from Medina to Kufa in Iraq. religion of Islam.
Unfortunately, however, his
Khilafat was beset by disruption The re-establishment of Khilafat
and disarray. Hadhrat Ali(ra) tried amongst the Muslims has to date

Review of Religions – September 2002 43


The Blessings of Khilafat

been one of the greatest have said:


challenges facing the Muslims. ‘Prophethood shall remain among
Present day Islam is torn with you as long as Allah shall will. He
internal strife and external will bring about its end and follow
intrigues and is in dire need of a it with Khilafat on the precepts of
leader, a man of integrity who prophethood for as long as He
would take charge of the shall will and then bring about its
institution of Khilafat and under end. A tyrannical monarchy will
Divine guidance lead the Muslim then follow and will remain as
nation. Various movements to long as Allah shall will and then
establish Khilafat amongst come to an end. There will follow
orthodox(1) Muslims have arisen in thereafter monarchical despotism
the past and recently in our time to last as long as Allah shall will
as well. It is a sad but historical and come to an end upon His
truth that all have met with decree. There will then emerge
failure. This is because they are Khilafat on the precept of
devoid of any Divine guidance and Prophethood.’
are based solely on human (Masnad Ahmad)
endeavour with self-indulgence
and personal desire for power at From this prophecy of the Holy
the heart of their foundation. Prophet(sa) it is clear that the
Khilafat which would come into
Khilafat is a spiritual dominion of being after him would consist of
Allah Almighty and its estab- two eras - one would follow
lishment is never brought about immediately after his death and
by any political or pseudo- between that and the other
religious movement. Whenever would intervene a period of
Khilafat is established by Divine suppressive, oppressive and cruel
design, it has been through a regimes. On the demise of the
prophet of Allah. History furnishes Holy Prophet(sa), that blessed
not a single instance where institution of Khilafat was
Khilafat was established without established as prophesied. It was
the advent of a prophet to be re-established only with the
preceeding it. The Khilafat advent of the Promised Messiah(as)
promised in the Holy Qur’an is in and Holy Founder of the
the footsteps of a prophet. The Ahmadiyya Movement in Islam.
Holy Prophet(sa) is reported to

44 Review of Religions – September 2002


The Blessings of Khilafat

and seemingly limitless treasury


Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad(as) of knowledge, philosophy and
of Qadian, was a faithful servant wisdom from the Holy Qur’an.
of Allah and a devoted follower of The moral and spiritual values
the Holy Prophet(sa). He claimed inculcated by the Holy Qur’an and
that he had been appointed by illustrated in their perfection by
Allah Almighty as the voice the Holy Prophet(sa) were revived
articulate of this age; that he is by him, so that men could profit
the Messiah foretold in the not only from his precept but also
Traditions of the Holy Prophet(sa) from his example.
and the Mahdi promised in his
Sayings. He claimed that the On his demise, obituaries from
prophecies contained in all the open-minded Muslims and non-
different religious books about Muslims alike paid rich tribute to
the advent of a Divine Messenger his messianic qualities, purity and
in the latter days have also been righteousness. However, his
fulfilled in his person; that God unthinking opponents rejoiced in
has raised him for the advocacy his death hoping that what they
and promulgation of Islam in our considered a grave heresy would
time; that God has granted him now die a natural death and be
insight into the Holy Qur’an and relegated to history.
revealed to him its innermost
meaning and truth. At that critical hour, his most
devoted follower – an eminent
By his work, his message and his divine, a reputed physician, a
example, he glorified the Holy discerning mystic and a scholastic
Prophet(sa) and demonstrated the commentator on the Holy Qur’an -
superiority of Islam over other was unanimously elected to the
religions so that the Holy office of Khalifatul Masih. By the
Prophet(sa) could be accepted as grace of Allah, in that capacity he
the Seal of the Prophets by all the navigated the ship of Ahmadiyyat
peoples of the world. At a time to safe waters fully safeguarding
when fanaticism, obscurantism it from disintegration. His name,
and bigotry had become the Nooruddeen, that is, the
hallmark of Muslim thinking, he Brilliance of Faith, was synony-
displayed before the wondering mous to his brilliant services in
eyes of seekers after truth, a vast the name of faith.

Review of Religions – September 2002 45


The Blessings of Khilafat

Hadhrat Maulvi Nooruddeen(ra) had On his demise, that robe of


a living faith in Allah Almighty and Khilafat was bestowed upon
relied on Him totally for all his Hadhrat Mirza Bashiruddeen
needs. As Khalifatul Masih, his Mahmood Ahmad (ra). Hadhrat
role was variegated and multi- Khalifatul Masih II(ra) was the
faceted. In spite of his indifferent Promised Son of the Promised
health, he would carry out his Messiah. His birth was in
manifold functions with a benign fulfilment of a glorious prophecy
countenance displaying an of the Promised Messiah that he
enviable devotion to duty. He would be granted a son whose
would diagnose and prescribe for qualities and excellence would be
each of his patients, give truly outstanding. He was elected
directives, advise and counsel to to the exalted office of Khalifatul
office bearers, hold lectures on Masih at the tender age of 25 and,
the Holy Qur’an, Ahadeeth and by the grace of Allah, his tenure
Islamic Thought, dictate of office was blessed with
responses in refutation of the enormous success beyond the pale
critics of Islam and deliberate of expression. With extremely
projects for the propagation of limited funds, he guided the
Islam. But his most important community to previously unfath-
distinction was his unerring omable heights. Notable among
maintenance and fortification of the numerous schemes he
the institution of Khilafat in the launched are the Tahrik-e-Jadid
face of persistent opposition from and Waqf-e-Jadid which have
his dissenters who sought to been instrumental in establishing
undermine his authority and the Community in almost all
create disorder in the Community. countries of the world. It was his
Nothing and no one could affect unique genius that launched the
either his high resolve or the auxiliary associations so that
urbanity of his disposition. In a today all members of the
loud and unambiguous voice he Community, under the auspices of
proclaimed: ‘I declare with all their particular association, are
the emphasis at my command and bound together in affectionate
call Allah to witness that I shall ties of brotherhood and sisterhood
not discard the robe with which and carry out programs designed
He has invested me.’ to inculcate moral and spiritual
values.

46 Review of Religions – September 2002


The Blessings of Khilafat

Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih II(ra) verities. The greatest blessing of


established the Majlis-e-Shura his Khilafat, perhaps, is his
within the Community, a magnum opus, the Tasfeer-e-
consultative body that meets Kabeer, an exhaustive
annually to deliberate and advise commentary on the Holy Qur’an.
the Khalifa on important policy This ten thousand-page com-
matters. The Qadha Board, a mentary contains a deep esoteric
judicial system, providing the understanding and exposition of
Community with a very fair, thousands of spiritual truths and
economical and dignified way for hidden secrets, many of which
its members to settle their had never been presented before.
internal disputes, in accordance
with Islamic law and juris- His Khilafat, spanning two and
prudence, was set up by him. He fifty years, truly represents a
initiated Jalsa Seerat-un-Nabi and golden period in the history of
Religious Founders’ Days to Ahmadiyyat and of Islam. In spite
celebrate the life of the Holy of manifold duties and
Prophet(sa) and the lives of all multifarious engagements, he
founders of great religions. strove hard to maintain the
Community at the highest level of
Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih II(ra) also activity, both in respect of self-
showed a keen understanding of improvement and in respect of
complex political and social issues propagating the message of Islam.
successfully guiding the com- For this purpose, he called in aid
munity through two fearsome all his great talents; he had
world wars and a migration en recourse to continuous advice,
masse to Pakistan after the 1947 exhortation and admonition; he
partition of the Indian sub- set a high and shining personal
continent from where he started example and spent a good part of
the whole city of Rabwah from his nights in earnest supplication
absolute scratch in a most to the Divine.
inhospitable land.
When Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih
His books and pamphlets which II(ra) passed away, his eldest son,
number more than 200 expose Hadhrat Mirza Nasir Ahmad(ra) was
him as an eminent divine and an elected as Khalifatul Masih III.
expert diagnostician of eternal During his seventeen years of

Review of Religions – September 2002 47


The Blessings of Khilafat

Khilafat, with his unique admin- 2002, completed a glorious 20


istrative ability and his distinctive years, the Community has been
plans of far-reaching benefits, he extraordinarily blessed with its
was able to strengthen and membership growing from 10 to
expand the Community an amazing 150 million world-
remarkably. Some of the salient wide. Under his directives,
features of his Khilafat include thousands of mosques, mission
the Fazle Umar Foundation, to houses, clinics, hospitals, schools
promote activities in the field of and colleges dedicated to the
research work, education, service of Islam have been
missionary engagements and established. Homeopathic dispen-
economic welfare of the saries have been set up all over
Community and the Nusrat Jehan the world, under his auspices,
Scheme under which scores of providing millions with cures to
schools and hospitals have been various ailments free of charge.
established in West Africa, purely Among his numerous books is his
for the service of humanity and thesis, Revelation, Rationality,
without any profit motives. Knowledge and Truth which has
Through the success of this been acclaimed as perhaps the
scheme, millions of Africans have greatest literary achievement of
embraced Ahmadiyyat and still the last century. His devotion to
continue to do so. But perhaps he the Holy Qur’an is confirmed by
would be remembered most for his personal supervision of
that simple yet highly pragmatic numerous translations and accu-
modus vivendi he bequeathed the rate revisions of translations of
Community, namely, the motto: the Holy Qur’an in diverse
Love for All, Hatred for None. languages, he himself producing a
fluid translation and commentary
Today we are passing through the in the Urdu language.
golden era of Hadhrat Khalifatul
Masih IV. He, like his pre- Muslim Television Ahmadiyya, the
decessors, has, under Divine world’s first global satellite
direction, launched various Muslim broadcasting channel
schemes to mobilise the simultaneously providing live
Community efforts for the global translations in up to eight
spread of Islam. During his tenure languages, was the brainchild of
of office which, on 10th June Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih IV. It is

48 Review of Religions – September 2002


The Blessings of Khilafat

impossible to enumerate all the very important institution of Islam


blessings that MTA International and unquestionably calls for the
has brought in its wake. It highest degree of obedience. A
provides, to a global audience, an Khalifa is elected through the Will
invaluable source of knowledge, it of Allah but by the act of the
teaches various languages, believers. In other words, at that
discusses various topical issues critical hour when the election of
and their relation to the moral a Khalifa is due, the minds and
and spiritual well-being of man deliberations of the faithful are
and, in general, is essential guided by Allah Almighty to the
viewing for students of religion appointment of His choice.
and philosophy every-where. The Inasmuch as the Khalifa is elected
key to its success is without doubt in accordance with the Divine
the personal appearance of Will, disobedience to him is in
Khalifatul Masih in many of the fact tantamount to the dis-
programmes so that Muslims and obedience of Allah and, by the
non-Muslims alike from the world same token, obedience to Allah
over can benefit from his broad Almighty and obedience to the
knowledge, wisdom and office of Khilafat are simply the
percipience. It is through MTA obverse and reverse of the same
that we have been able to witness coin.
historic scenes like the
International Bai’at Ceremony at This, in itself, is a necessary and
the Annual International sufficient condition for the
Convention of the Ahmadiyya continuation of this great Divine
Muslim Community where, in one institution. In a community
year alone, up to 81 million new otherwise showered with so many
Ahmadi Muslims from over a Divine blessings, Khilafat is
hundred nations of the world undeniably the most important
simultaneously took the oath of bounty to the members of the
allegiance at the hands of Ahmadiyya Movement in Islam.
Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih through The Khalifa plays a pivotal role in
live satellite transmission. uniting all members of the
Community under one banner. To
It should be patently obvious by all members he is, at all times, a
now that Khilafat is not only a deeply loving father to whom they
very blessed institution but also a can look up to for guidance,

Review of Religions – September 2002 49


The Blessings of Khilafat

advice and encouragement, to all Qur’an: ‘He will surely establish


intelligent and reasonable people for them their religion which He
of goodwill he proves himself a has chosen for them’ is being
wise friend and counsellor and to fulfilled. The days are fast
the afflicted he is, without approaching when we shall
discrimination, a ready source of observe the unification of
comfort, consolation and relief. mankind under the banner of
Islam and we shall witness the
It is only through the blessings of final and universal manifestation
Khilafat and through Divine Grace of the Unity of Allah.
that Islam has made progress in
the past as it continues to do
today and, Allah willing, will References:
continue to do for years and
centuries to come. Prophethood is 1. Orthodoxy, used here to
a seed after which the instru- characterise Muslims of non-
mentality of Khilafat spreads its Ahmadi persuasion, is only in
munificence throughout the following the sociological usage to
indicate the majority group. It
world. After the Holy Prophet of
does not, in any normative,
Islam(sa), through the devoted suggest heterodoxy on the part the
works of the rightly guided Ahmadiyya Community.
Khulafa, Islam spread throughout
the then known world. Today,
under the guidance of the
Khalifatul Masih, the Ahmadiyya
Movement in Islam is spreading
and spreading exponentially all
around the world, despite all the
efforts of hostile fanatics, both
individual and governmental,
whose purported objective is of
exterminating Ahmadiyyat from
the surface of the earth.

Through the blessed institution


of Khilafat-e-Ahmadiyya, the
promise of Allah in the Holy

50 Review of Religions – September 2002


Islam and Human Rights
Rafiq Hayat – Amir UK

It is a sad fact that generations of this act of terrorism. Islam


European writers have presented expressly forbids suicide,
Islam to the Western audience in genocide, fratricide and any
the most negative manner. In the killing of innocent people.
works of an overwhelming major- Sanctity of life is guaranteed in
ity of European writers, Islam is Islam as laid down in Article 3 of
portrayed as a religion with deep the Universal Declaration on
moral faults, preaching violence Human Rights: ‘Everyone has the
and extremism. right to life, liberty and security
of person.’ Suicide bombing and
Admittedly from time to time a related acts of terrorism have no
fresh start has been attempted place in the Islamic teachings and
by some fair-minded Western whoever uses the name of Islam
Europeans ready to look at the to justify such acts, commits a
religion of Islam with objectivity calumny of grossest proportions.
and honesty. However, more
often than not, their views are September 11th took our politi-
negated by overwhelming cians by complete surprise and
negative publicity in the media. their initial reaction was of
uncertainty and confusion.
September 11th, 2001 is still fresh Various statements were made in
in our minds. This awesome the heat of the moment and later
tragedy perpetrated by a few withdrawn. Luckily, the general
fanatics for their political gains public is much more mature and
had nothing whatsoever to do not as gullible as the media thinks
with Islam. Many decent people and they refused to believe every
around the world who saw the word that was printed in the
event unfold in front of their eyes media or uttered by the
on TV screens felt the same way, politicians. They want to know
irrespective of their religious the truth and they want to know
background. about Islam. The new awareness
of the people imposes a great
No true Muslim can ever condone responsibility on us that we

Review of Religions – September 2002 51


Islam and Human Rights

furnish them with honest race. 1400 years ago, Allah


information about the true Islam. Almighty, through His Divine
Commandments revealed the
All the histories of civilisation most comprehensive Charter of
written in the Western media Human Rights in the Holy Qur’an
mention a thousand years as Dark through the Prophet of Islam (sa).
Ages, conveniently omitting that
during that period the Islamic It is impossible in such a short
civilisation had brought about a article to quote the Qur’anic
tremendous revolution in all injunctions to show that all 30
spheres of life. The arts, Articles of the Declaration have
philosophy, humanities, sciences been mentioned in detail. Let us
and medicine flourished in that take the very fundamental
age, from which the later Articles 1 and 2 that lay stress on
civilisations benefited. the freedom, equality and dignity
of man.
The same is true with the issue of
human rights. World history It is a unique feature of Islam
records that December 10th 1948 that it holds all faiths in respect
was a landmark in the march of and reverence. Islam bases itself
human civilisation when the on the truth that the Divine
United Nations proclaimed the guidance has been promised to
Universal Declaration of Human man throughout the ages.
Rights. No one can deny the Muslims believe that all great
credit that is due to the United faiths had the same divine origin
Nations because it was the first and must therefore be respected.
time ever when the consensus of Belief and respect of all the past
the contemporary nations of the prophets of God is part of faith
world, for once unanimously for every Muslim. Allah Almighty
agreed to give the dignity and says in the Holy Qur’an:
assurance to human race that
they possess inviolable funda- Say ye! We believe in Allah
mental rights. With 30 articles, and what has been revealed
this Charter is one of the most to us and what was revealed
comprehensive in assuring the to Abraham and Ishmael and
equality of man without any Isaac and Jacob and his
prejudice to colour, creed and children, and what was given

52 Review of Religions – September 2002


Islam and Human Rights

to Moses and Jesus and what This diversity reflects the


was given to all the Prophets richness in Allah’s creation and
from their Lord. We make no must not be seen as an indication
difference between any of of inferiority, which confers
them and to Him we submit special privileges to some at the
ourselves. (Ch.2: v.137) expense of others.

Again the Holy Qur’an stresses: O mankind, We have created


you from a male and a female
And We caused Jesus, son of and We have made you into
Mary, to follow in their tribes and sub-tribes that you
footsteps, fulfilling that may recognise one another.
which was revealed before Verily, the most honourable
him in the Torah; and We gave among you in the sight of
him the Gospel which Allah is he who is the most
contained guidance and light, righteous among you. Surely
fulfilling that which was Allah is All-Knowing, All-
revealed before it in the Aware. (Ch.49: v.14)
Torah… (Ch.5: v.47)
Part of diversity in the divine
Belief in all the Holy Books scheme is the diversity of man’s
stresses the common origin of intellect. This leads, among other
man having been created by the things to diversity of faith and
common Creator and the creed. This has often been
diversity that we observe all considered a source of conflict. If
around us is part of the Divine we follow the Qur’anic teachings,
Design and is, indeed, an this conflict should not arise. No
expression of Divine Wisdom. The compulsion is permissible in so
Holy Qur’an says: vital a matter as the funda-
mentals of faith. It is part of the
And among His Signs is the dignity with which man has been
creation of the heavens and endowed by his Maker that his
the earth and the diversity of conscience must be free. By its
your tongues and colours. In very nature, it cannot be
that surely are Signs for those compelled. It is proclaimed by
who possess knowledge. the Holy Qur’an unequivocally:
(Ch.30: v.23)

Review of Religions – September 2002 53


Islam and Human Rights

There should be no their policies. Otherwise they


compulsion in religion. lose the right to call themselves
Surely, right has become Muslim nations.
distinct from wrong.
(Ch.2: v.257) It is an enduring characteristic of
the Holy Qur’an and Islamic
And say, ‘It is the truth is teachings that all issues are
from your Lord; wherefore let addressed at the very funda-
him who will, believe, and let mental and basic levels: equality
him who will, disbelieve. of man, freedom of thought,
(Ch.18: v.30) freedom of faith etc. The Holy
Qur’an repeatedly draws atten-
Surely, if anyone rejects the tion towards the ties of kinship
truth, he suffers the binding humanity together in
disadvantage. But whatever having created mankind of one
disadvantage he may suffer, he species. The spirit of brotherhood
cannot be forced in the matter of is emphasised again and again
his choice. This is the most and shows from the repeated
fundamental freedom given 1400 injunctions of the Holy Prophet(sa)
years ago; and if there is to be himself. He is recorded as saying,
any hope of peace between ‘None of you can be a believer
mankind, this freedom must be unless he desires for his brother
scrupulously observed. The Holy what he desires for himself.’ He
Qur’an goes so far in establishing urged his followers, ‘Go to the
this freedom that it proclaims aid of your brother whether he
that even God Himself, Who be oppressor or oppressed.’ On
indeed possesses the power to do being asked how an oppressor
so, would not force anyone in the may be helped, he replied, ‘Stop
matter of conscience. Whatever a him from his course of
person does in this respect must oppression.’
come from his free choice.

Let me, therefore, send this Similarly Islam deals with other
message to all the Muslim issues. Islam gives everyone the
countries who deny this funda- right to life, liberty and security.
mental injunction of Allah As mentioned earlier, Islam
Almighty, that they should revise forbids suicide and infanticide.

54 Review of Religions – September 2002


Islam and Human Rights

The sanctity of life of other present to convey what he had


persons can be measured from said to those who were unable to
the verse of the Holy Qur’an: hear him. In his words, ‘Maybe,
one who is not present today may
On account of this, We even be more mindful than the
prescribed for the children of one who is.’ His address is
Israel that whosoever killed a considered as his testament and
person… it shall be as if he because of his instructions and
had killed all mankind; and the contents of this address, wide
whoso gave life to one, it publicity continues to be given.
shall be as if he had given life
to all mankind. (Ch.5: v.33) Article 4 of the Charter prohibits
slavery and slave trade. From the
The rights of orphan are very beginning, the Holy Prophet
preserved as well as of other of Islamsa looked at the slavery
relatives. The Holy Prophet(sa) of and slave trade with distaste and
Islam, in his last address at the abhorrence and he took the
occasion of the Farewell strongest measures to eliminate
Pilgrimage in the plains of Arafat, this loathsome practice. One
advised and admonished, needs to look at the historical,
political and social perspective
‘Your persons, your properties before realising the importance
and your honours are declared of abolition of this form of
sacred like the sanctity attached servitude from the society of the
to this day, this month and this 7th century. The Holy Qur’an is
place. Let them not be violated!’ replete with injunctions about
(Hanbal V, p411) This farewell the abhorrence of slavery and the
address of the Holy Prophet(sa) is a rights of prisoners of war. Even
complete Charter of Human making war on others is strictly
Rights stressing the equality of forbidden except when it is in
man irrespective of colour, creed defence to repel or halt the
or race. It lays down the duties aggression. Even during the
and obligation of one person fighting, Muslims are forbidden to
towards the other and even the use unduly aggressive means.
obligations of the State towards
its people. When he concluded Fight in the cause of Allah
his address, he charged all those against those who fight

Review of Religions – September 2002 55


Islam and Human Rights

against you but do not is always a defensive war against


transgress. Surely, Allah loves those who declare war on them.
not the transgressors.
(Ch.2: v.191) Similarly, Islam lays down the
laws about dispensation of
Muslims are often portrayed as justice. It lays down duties for
violent and war mongering. The the litigants and strict rules for
fact is that Muslims are only the Judges. Islam provides
permitted to take up arms in safeguards against the arbitrary
defence of freedom of conscience use of executive or adminis-
and when their rights are violated. trative power. There are checks
As the Holy Qur’an lays down: and balances in every dimension
of life that has been covered by
Permission to fight is given to the Articles of the Charter of
those against whom war is Human Rights.
made, because they have
been wronged - and Allah Article 16 of the Declaration
indeed has power to help elaborates on the rights of men
them – those who have been and women. I would like to dilate
driven out from their homes on the distorted European view of
unjustly, only because they the position of women in Islam. It
said, ‘Our Lord is Allah’. And is erroneously presumed that
if Allah did not repel some women have no rights in a Muslim
men by means of others, society or that they are somehow
there would surely have been considered inferior. The Holy
pulled down cloisters and Prophet(sa) consulted his wife
churches and synagogues and Hadhrat Khadija(ra) and his later
mosques wherein the name of wives and his daughters once
Allah is oft commemorated. they had grown up, on all aspects
And Allah will surely help one of Islamic community and they
who helps Him. Allah is acted as advisors to the new
indeed powerful, Mighty. converts. They engaged alongside
(Ch.22: v.40-41) men in the public observance of
religious rituals and worshipped
Muslims never indulge in war together with men in the
mongering. They are only allowed mosque. Women accompanied
to defend themselves. Their Jihad their husbands, fathers and

56 Review of Religions – September 2002


Islam and Human Rights

brothers in the battlefield against They were entitled to ownership


the enemies of Islam. There is no and were permitted to inherit
question that the first Muslim property and wealth in their own
community under the guidance of rights without any encumbrance.
the Holy Prophet(sa) was built by This facility was denied to women
men and women. The Holy Qur’an of Europe until recently. Muslim
unequivocally gives spiritual women were granted equal rights
equality: of consent in the matter of their
marriage and divorce. In fact
Surely, men who submit women are considered equal in all
themselves to God and respects. All this is fully realised
women who submit them- in the Canon Law. But God, in His
selves to Him, and believing wisdom has equipped them
men and believing women, differently for the fulfilment of
and obedient men and their role in the society. In
obedient women, and truth- structure and physique, man is
ful men and truthful women, stronger than woman, who is more
and men steadfast in their delicate and possesses greater
faith and steadfast women, sensitivity. Were it not so there
and men who are humble and would have been little cause of
women who are humble, and attraction between the two. As
men who give alms and Allah says in the Holy Qur’an:
women who give alms, and
men who fast and women who And one of His Signs is this,
fast, and men who guard that He has created wives for
their chastity and women who you from among yourselves
guard their chastity, and men that you may find peace of
who remember Allah much mind in them, and He has put
and women who remember love and tenderness between
Him – Allah has prepared for you. In that surely are Signs
all of them forgiveness and a for a people who reflect.
great reward. (Ch.33: v.36) (Ch.30: v.22)

Muslim women were given the The measure that has been taken
entitlements to those rights 1400 by the Europeans to be the
years ago that have been laid symbol of women’s inferior status
down in Article 16 of the Charter. is the veil. Special rules applied

Review of Religions – September 2002 57


Islam and Human Rights

to the wives of the Holy amount to little more than a


Prophet(sa) against the intrusion of requirement to dress modestly –
the curious, but for women in something, it must be added, is
general, the Holy Qur’an says expected of men as well:
simply that they should draw
their head-dress over their Say to the believing men that
bosoms or pull close to they restrain their eyes and
themselves part of their dresses guard their private parts.
when in presence of men from That is purer for them.
outside their family. Surely, Allah is well aware of
what they do.
And say to the believing (Ch. 24: v. 31)
women that they restrain
their eyes and guard their Another issue is Article 25 of the
private parts, and they not Declaration. It declares that
display their beauty and everyone has a right to a standard
embellishments except that of living adequate and worthy of
which is apparent thereof, human dignity including food,
and that they draw their head clothing, housing, sanitation and
covers over their bosoms, and medical care. Although the
that they display not their society has set up institutions to
beauty and embellishment overcome poverty and disparity
save to their husbands… among different nations, among
(Ch.24: v. 32) the affluent and the destitute,
the gap has widened and created
O Prophet! tell your wives an unpleasant divide between the
and your daughters, and the so-called North and South. In the
women of the believers, that 1960’s our hopes were raised
they should pull down upon when Premier Heath and
them of their outer cloaks Chancellor Kohl took this
from their heads over their initiative within the European
faces. That is more likely that Union to close this gap. However,
they may thus be recognised almost twenty-five years later the
and not molested. And Allah situation has only deteriorated
is Most Forgiving, Merciful. and the gap has increased. The
(Ch.33: v. 60) poor nations, instead of pros-
The wording and commandments pering, have been weighed down

58 Review of Religions – September 2002


Islam and Human Rights

with interest incurred on their aid, we would continue to see


debts. There are too many conflict in the world.
reasons for the defective or
rather ineffective result of these Islam put the first effective
aids and assistance. concept of the Welfare State.
Within a few years of the
Developed countries have double organisation of the first Islamic
standards and tend to exploit State, the provisions of basic
poor nations through their aid necessities were assured. The
programs. Some of the problems Holy Prophet’s(sa) exhortations and
in Africa, especially where they his own example had infused a
experience drought, can be sense of brotherhood that sharing
resolved simply and with minimal everything, even in the face of
expenditure. A British MP has adversity, became a unique
mentioned of his visit to Burkina Muslim characteristic. The Holy
Faso that he was surprised to see Qur’an bears witness to this
the projects being undertaken by practice. Of the Ansars of Medina
the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community and early refugee settlers, it says:
in remote areas where we are
installing tube wells to supply And those who had
water for irrigation projects. Each established their homes in
well costs approximately $3000 this city before them and had
and can support up to 300 accepted faith, love those
individuals. Therefore, if the who come to them for refuge
West truly wanted to assist poor and find not in their breasts
drought ridden African countries any desire for that which is
surely as an initial step, they given them……
should be investing in such (Ch.59: v.10)
projects rather than sending
sacks of maize stamped with USA It is the measure of this
just to get media attention. remarkable sharing and
brotherliness that by the time of
If politicians are sincere then they the Abbasid Khilafat, there was
should divert attention to these hardly anyone in the Islamic
basic requirements of the third Empire, Muslim or non-Muslim,
world and unless we can address who was in need of any charity.
this inequity and provide proper This revolution is indeed the proof

Review of Religions – September 2002 59


Islam and Human Rights

of the effectiveness of the Islamic ocean were ink, with seven


values, as laid down in the Holy oceans swelling it thereafter,
Qur’an and explained by the Holy the words of Allah would not
Prophet(sa). The basic objectives be exhausted….
of this Article can be achieved at (Ch.31: v.28)
macro level to a high degree
under Islamic teachings. Sharing, The message of the Holy Qur’an is
rather than lending on high for all times and for all people.
interest and aiding by educating That is why Allah has promised to
and relieving poverty by building safeguard and preserve the
infrastructure for essential message. The Holy Prophet of
supplies would be the answer. Islam(sa) realised that the
message, however compre-
There are 30 Articles in the hensive and pristine, may get
Charter of Human Rights but they distorted by human short-
cover only certain aspects of comings. That is why he gave the
human life and man’s relationship assurance that Allah would
with man. But all this requires continue to raise someone among
legislation, administrative and his people, at the beginning of
judicial powers to be imple- each century, to revive and
mented. resurrect the faith. The Holy
Qur’an also assures us:
Religion goes far beyond these
limited ideals. Religion tries to He it is Who has raised among
concern itself with totality of life the Unlettered people a
– life in this world and in the Messenger from among them-
Hereafter. The religion of Islam selves who recites unto them
addresses the problems of man His Signs and purifies them
more comprehensively than and teaches them the Book
ordinary declarations can. The and wisdom, although they
Holy Qur’an, in dealing with all had been, before, in manifest
issues of life is unique in that its misguidance. And among
treasures are inexhaustible. The others from among them who
Holy Qur’an rightly claims: have not yet joined them. He
is the Mighty, the Wise. That
And if all the trees that are in is Allah’s Grace; He bestows it
the earth were pens and the on whom He pleases; and

60 Review of Religions – September 2002


Islam and Human Rights

Allah is the Master of mission entrusted to the Promised


immense grace. (Ch.62: v.3-5) Messiah(as). The message of the
Holy Prophet of Islam(sa) was of
The verse forecasts the advent of friendship and unity. Similarly the
a prophet among the Muslims. message of the Promised
This prophecy was fulfilled in the Messiah(as) is one of love and amity
person of Hadhrat Ahmad(as) of and hatred does not feature in the
Qadian, who under Divine plans of Islamic revival. We
revelation claimed himself to be respect the freedom of
the Promised Messiah, the conscience of people belonging to
Awaited One, in all religions. any religion – Sikhism, Hinduism,
Thus his advent fulfilled the Christianity or Judaism.
promised rebirth of Islam as
described in the Holy Qur’an: But there is a message for others
as well. It is high time that
And among His Signs is this: confrontation gave way to mutual
that you see the earth dried respect and tolerance. Unless the
up, but when We send down West begins to form a more
water on it, it stirs and swells sympathetic and wholesome view
with verdure. Surely, He Who of true Islam, the medieval
quickened it, can quicken the rancour will continue, breeding
dead. Verily He has power hatred, violence and turmoil. If
over all things. (Ch.41: v.40) the West learns to respect the
Holy Prophet(sa) and the religion of
We notice the growth of verdure Islam, it can hope to be respected
in the Islamic world, indeed in the in return. It is hoped this
whole world and perceptible and contribution will go some way
imperceptible changes have been towards the building of this
taking place. Islamic society has a understanding. All praise belongs
long way to go before it can claim to Allah, the Lord of the Universe.
to observe all the articles of
human rights as laid down in the
The author is the National
Holy Qur’an. That change will
President of the Ahmadiyya Muslim
come about not with force, not Community in the UK and the
with coercion, not with violence former Editor of the Review of
but with love, with persuasion and Religions and the former Chairman
with a change of heart. This is the of MTA International.

Review of Religions – September 2002 61


Ramadan – Part 1

Hadhrat Mirza Tahir Ahmad – Translated by Khalilur Rahman Mullick and Hamida
Farooqui. Transcribed by Fauzia Bajwa

Shortly, Muslims will embark on a month of fasting, abstaining from food


and drink during daylight hours for a period of thirty days. The holy month
of Ramadhan has great signif-icance in the Muslim calendar. What follows
is a synopsis of a series of Friday sermons, originally delivered in Urdu by
Hadhrat Mirza Tahir Ahmad, discussing the philosophy and importance of
fasting. The Editorial Board takes full responsibility for any errors that may
have occurred in the process of translation and transcription.

O ye who believe! fasting is whosoever of you is present


prescribed for you, as it was at home in this month, let
prescribed for those before him fast therein. But whoso
you, so that you may is sick or is on a journey,
become righteous. The shall fast the same number
prescribed fasting is for a of other days. Allah desires
fixed number of days, but to give you facility and
whoso among you is sick or is desires not hardship for you,
on a journey shall fast the and that you may complete
same number of other days; the number, and that you
and for those who are able may exalt Allah for His
to fast only with great having guided you, and that
difficulty is an expiation - you may be grateful. And
the feeding of a poor man. when my servants ask thee
And whoso performs a good about Me, say: I am near. I
work with willing obedi- answer the prayer of the
ence, it is better for him. supplicant when he prays to
And fasting is good for you, Me. So they should hearken
if you only knew. The month to Me and believe in Me,
of Ramadan is that in which that they may follow the
the Qur’an was sent down as right way.
a guidance for mankind with (Ch.2: v.184-187)
clear proofs of guidance and
discrimination. Therefore,

62 Review of Religions – September 2002


Ramadan – Part 1

The above verses can be applied to the fast or to the


translated in various ways. expiation? Or could it apply to
When a river passes through a both? One possible interpre-
narrow place, its depth is not tation is that those people who
visible; but when it reaches an have the capability to pay fidya
estuary and spreads far and should do so, but it is not
wide, one becomes aware of the obligatory on everyone. It is a
large quantity of water in the deed which is recommended,
river. Similarly with the word of but is not compulsory, as is the
Allah, a verse may apparently fast. If a person is able, he
have a narrow and restricted should pay fidya as well as
meaning, but when interpreted observe the fast, and in this
correctly it is seen to encompass interpretation Yuteequnahu
a wide array of subjects. applies to both fasting and
expiation. Another interpre-
The Arabic word Yuteequ is tation would be linked to the
derived from the word taqat or fast - those who have the
power. When it is used in this strength to fast, but find
form of the verb, it carries both themselves in circumstances
a positive and negative that prevent them from doing so
connotation, and has to be - such people should pay fidya.
interpreted according to the Here, Yuteequnahu applies just
context. Yuteequnahu means to the fast. The Promised
those people who have the Messiah(as) has stated that fidya
power and ability, Yuteequna enables the person who cannot
means those people who do not fast during Ramadan to fast at a
have the power and ability. In later date; in other words, it is a
the context of these verses, the way of seeking Allah’s help in
question that now arises is: the fulfilling the obligations of the
power and ability to do what? In fast. Again, linking Yuteequnahu
other words, a determination only to the fast, the meaning
has to be made as to where the would be that those with the
preposition ‘hu’ applies. The ability should fast (during
fast and the expiation (fidya) Ramadan), but if they cannot
are mentioned alongside each afford to pay the fidya, they are
other - is Yuteequnahu to be under no obligation to do so.

Review of Religions – September 2002 63


Ramadan – Part 1

Now, to go onto the negative was revealed. When


connotation i.e. Yuteequna, in commentators reflect on this,
this context the application they are perplexed by the fact
would only be to fasting, not to that the Holy Qur’an was
fidya. In other words, those who revealed over a number of years,
are unable to fast due to long- not in the short period of thirty
term illnesses should gain days. This Qur’anic statement
consolation by paying fidya; can be interpreted in a variety of
they will then benefit from ways. For example, it could refer
some of the blessings of to the fact that the revelation of
Ramadan. So in summary, the Qur’an commenced in the
depending on his circumstances, month of Ramadan while the
a person may fast and pay fidya, Holy Prophet Muhammad(sa) was
or fast and not pay fidya, or meditating in the Cave Hira.
defer the fast and pay fidya Another possible meaning is that
during Ramadan, or, being a every Ramadan, the angel
long-term patient, just pay Gabriel would repeat the Holy
fidya. Qur’an with the Prophet
Muhammad(sa). In those days the
The above verses say: ‘fasting is Qur’an was not recorded in book
better for you, if only you form, and even to this day,
knew.’ So the conclusion is that memorisation relies on repeti-
of all the options offered, tion. So, during Ramadan the
fasting is the best option. All angel Gabriel would ask the
other virtues will be blessed Prophet Muhammad(sa) to repeat
with ample rewards, none will the Qur’an to the extent that it
go unnoticed by Allah. But one had been revealed. Another
should not take the fast lightly, school of thought is that
and should not look for excuses Ramadan captures the essence
to avoid fasting. Fidya is not an of the Qur’anic teachings, and
alternate to the fast, unless one hence is the month which
is suffering from a long-term provides a synopsis of the
illness. Qur’an.

Allah states that Ramadan is the The Qur’an is described in these


month in which the Holy Qur’an verses as a guidance for

64 Review of Religions – September 2002


Ramadan – Part 1

THE QUR’AN IS DESCRIBED IN THESE VERSES AS A GUIDANCE FOR


MANKIND, AND AS ITS REVELATION TOOK PLACE IN RAMADAN, THERE
IS A DEEP LINK BETWEEN THIS HOLY MONTH AND GUIDANCE. NOW THIS
RAISES AN INTERESTING POINT. THE VERSES HERE ARE ADDRESSING
ONLY THE BELIEVERS, SO HOW CAN RAMADAN BE DESCRIBED AS A
GUIDANCE FOR THE WHOLE OF MANKIND? THE ANSWER CAN BE FOUND
IN THESE VERY VERSES, WHERE IT IS STATED THAT PREVIOUS
GENERATIONS HAD ALSO BEEN COMMANDED TO FAST.

mankind, and as its revelation Ka’aba was their place of


took place in Ramadan, there is gathering. Later, differences
a deep link between this holy arose, but ultimately the whole
month and guidance. Now this of mankind is destined to be re-
raises an interesting point. The united under the banner of
verses here are addressing only Islam, and hence Ramadan
the believers, so how can becomes a guidance for the
Ramadan be described as a whole of mankind. The Qur’an is
guidance for the whole of the perfect and complete guide,
mankind? The answer can be and a unique feature of
found in these very verses, Ramadan is that the Holy
where it is stated that previous Prophet Muhammad(sa) has laid
generations had also been down very comprehensive
commanded to fast. It is the law instructions regarding the
of Allah that all nations who conduct of man during this holy
received revelation from Allah month. Prior to this, no other
were commanded to fast in one religions were given such a
form or another with the initial detailed code of conduct for
instructions being issued in fasting. The Holy Qur’an is a
Ramadan. The Ka’aba is also book which presents the most
described by the Qur’an as a illustrious signs and the
guidance for mankind. Ramadan described therein
Originally, the whole of mankind takes man to his highest stage
belonged to the faith of the and grants him distinction by
Prophet Abraham (ra), and the providing him with over-

Review of Religions – September 2002 65


Ramadan – Part 1

whelming arguments. So the virtue then that virtue is of a


teachings of the Holy Qur’an and higher order.
the Ramadan presented in the Next, these verses command
Qur’an provides general guid- mankind to exalt Allah for the
ance as well as guidance of a guidance that He has given as
much higher status, and this has this will enable them to become
been called the ‘clear proofs of grateful to Him. Ultimately, the
guidance’ which grant distinc- goal of fasting and every other
tion to the believers. All these form of worship is to attain
blessings have been brought nearness to Allah. In these
together in the month of verses, Allah informs those of His
Ramadan. Having put forward all worshippers who ask after Him,
the arguments in favour of that ‘I am near.’ Although Allah
Ramadan, Allah again issues an is present everywhere, to feel
invitation to partake of fasting. His presence man needs to
It is as if Allah is saying ‘Now you develop certain spiritual pow-
understand how magnificent this ers. First and foremost, man
month is, We once again advise must decide that he sincerely
you to fast.’ wants to reach his Lord; then he
must supplicate to Allah with
Some people are commanded to love and humility and he will
abstain from fasting and they are find that Allah responds. Thus a
those who are journeying and dialogue between man and his
those who are sick. They are told Creator is established which
to defer the fast until they are results in him feeling close to
able to undertake the rigours of Allah. But man must pay heed to
fasting. The philosophy of piety Allah only then will Allah
is not that Allah places people in respond to his calls. This is how
hardship for the sake of the goal of Ramadan is reached.
suffering. During the fast, one
does suffer but suffering in itself Having discussed the impor-
is not virtue and is not what is tance of fasting and the blessings
aimed for. Rather, it is seeking of Ramadan, Allah then says
the pleasure of Allah that is ‘believe in Me’. Now the whole
virtue. If one has to bear discussion began with an address
difficulties in the pursuit of to the believers, so why is it

66 Review of Religions – September 2002


Ramadan – Part 1

concluded with this appeal? The


answer is that having undergone There is much to be achieved
the rigours of fasting, faith takes during Ramadan and only thirty
on a new colour. First one days in which to do so. On the
undertakes a journey towards one hand, the holy month only
one’s Lord, one suffers hardship lasts for a short period and on
for His sake and supplicates to the other hand, it comes just
Him, then a dialogue is once a year, and should not be
established between Allah and wasted. It is a wonderful
man - man feels close to Allah opportunity to please Allah and
and this is true faith. So the the hardship is minute in
journey started with faith and comparison to the blessings.
resulted in a higher level of Those who have true knowledge
faith. Those who believe in Allah of virtue take stock of their
are guided by Allah. This weaknesses and seek forgive-
guidance results in an increase in ness for them.
one’s wisdom. In fact, only holy
people are truly wise. Many Hadhrat Abdur Rahman bin
worldly people are proud of their Auf(ra) reports that the Holy
own intellect but none of their Prophet Muhammad (sa) said
decisions are made with ‘Ramadan has excellence over
reference to God. The decisions all other months and whosoever
that they make sometimes establishes this month with full
happen to coincide with the Will faith and self analysis, his sins
of Allah and these prove to be will be removed without trace.’
successful. But wherever their This is a great glad tiding which
interest is opposed to that of is linked to these limited
Allah, they follow their own self- number of days, and by
interest and the resultant following this formula of the
benefits are short lived. There Holy Prophet(sa), one is bound to
are many nations who commit avail of the blessings of
grave errors in their political Ramadan. All articles of faith
decision-making simply because should be fulfilled, for example,
they are deprived of the light of performing good deeds for the
Allah. sake of Allah and performing
salat are articles of faith. Self-

Review of Religions – September 2002 67


Ramadan – Part 1

analysis must be done alongside the worship of Hajj or


virtue for this safeguards virtue. pilgrimage to Mecca. This is
Keeping a strict account of obligatory and is sufficient to
one’s intentions will ensure that cleanse a person of a lifetime of
the spirit of Ramadan is impieties. Ramadan is repeat-
fulfilled. Ramadan means to ed every year and the wisdom
find God, to take all piety to its and philosophy of Ramadan
highest point; anything that should be remembered
contradicts the spirit of alongside it. Abu Huraira (ra)
Ramadan takes one away from relates in Bukhari and Muslim,
righteousness. During Ramadan that the Holy Prophet(sa) said
it is especially important to that during the month of
concentrate on worship, piety Ramadan the gates of paradise
and remembrance of Allah. are thrown wide open and the
gates of hell are closed and
The Holy Prophet(sa) is reported Satan is put into shackles. There
to have said that Medina is like is another Hadith which states
a furnace. Iron emerges purified that the doors of mercy are
from a furnace but after a while opened during Ramadan. Visibly
rust develops. So the Holy there are no signs of improve-
Prophet (sa) advised his com- ment in the moral condition of
panions and other Muslims to the world; rather than looking
visit Medina regularly to remove externally for signs of progress
the rust that had developed as a one should look inside oneself.
result of being distanced from Every man has his own universe,
his pious company. The his own heaven and his own
Promised Messiah (as) also earth. The above mentioned
repeatedly invited Ahmadis to Hadith is linked to this internal
visit Qadian and the wisdom universe. A person who brings
behind this is the same as that about changes in his inner-self
included in the words of the and who adopts the virtues
Prophet Muhammad(sa). Muslims associated with this month,
are required to pray five times a which incidentally are made
day and through this repetitive easy during Ramadan, the doors
worship one is able to remove of his heaven are opened and
one’s impieties. Then there is the doors of his hell are closed.

68 Review of Religions – September 2002


Ramadan – Part 1

If this does not happen, if fasts during the month of


Ramadan has no positive Ramadan, recognising and
impact, then the Hadith does fulfilling all its requirements and
not apply to that person’s protecting himself from all that
universe. Now, why do the gates he should shun (i.e. does not
of paradise and mercy open commit sins), such a person’s
more during Ramadan in fast becomes a recompense for
comparison to the rest of the his previous lapses.
year? The reason is that an
atmosphere of virtue and piety A Hadith can be found which
comes into being during this state that helping a poor person
month. People pay more atten- break his fast will bring
tion to worship and are more salvation. These Ahadith must
inclined to offer sacrifices and have been falsified by Sufis and
to do good. Ramadan is a season mystics - it seems a great
in which hearts are inclined contradiction that on the one
towards righteousness. It is hand, people are required to
important to avail of this suffer the strict discipline of
atmosphere of piety. Gradually Ramadan for salvation and on
the doors of paradise will open the other hand all that is
and the doors of hell will close. required of them is to help a
The gates of heaven and hell poor person break his fast. Any
mentioned in the Hadith are the Hadith which contradicts the
gates of one’s own inner world. Qur’an and the nature of the
The shackled satans are the Holy Prophet(sa) should be
satans of man’s own self. As a rejected. Being kind to poor
result, even a pious person pro- people is virtue and to help a
gresses in virtue. To achieve poor person break his fast is a
such progress, man is dependent symbol of piety which does not
on God’s Mercy. For his part man remain restricted to that one
has to struggle hard to remove deed. Allah rewards the vir-
impieties from himself but his tuous person by enabling him to
efforts and supplications attract do more good, removing his sins
the mercy of God. Abu Sayed by a gradual process. It is
Khudri reports that the Holy reported that the Holy
Prophet(sa) said that anyone who Prophet(sa) used to spend gener-

Review of Religions – September 2002 69


Ramadan – Part 1

ously in charity but during People become drug addicts just


Ramadan his charity gathered for a few kicks. To become
the strength of forceful winds. habitual in worship one has to
The practice of the Holy enjoy it. This can be achieved
Prophet(sa) was to help the poor by seeking Allah’s help. First
and needy in many ways, which one has to become steadfast in
included breaking the fast. To prayer and then ask for Allah’s
ignore the needs of the poor help in finding pleasure in
until the time of Iftari [ending worship. Without discovering
of the fast] and then to just give the true meaning of prayer, a
them a few morsels to eat and person’s life remains barren. As
claim that this will earn one a result of true worship one’s
salvation is a mere fallacy. heart and whole life becomes
adorned. As Allah says in the
The Holy Prophet(sa) said that Qur’an: their light walks in front
everything has a path and a of them and becomes a guide
door, and the door of worship is for others. No matter how
Ramadan. One interpretation of virtuous a person is, without a
this Hadith is that a person spiritual life he cannot be at
unable to worship during peace. Islam says that whoso-
Ramadan will be unable to ever bows to Allah and
worship during the rest of the prostrates before Him is in
year. So the door of worship is peace. Although there are many
open. Only after passing noble people among the
through it will the gates of disbelievers, they are nonethe-
heaven open. Having passed less deprived of the benefits of
through the door of worship, the higher meanings of Islam
there is no turning back. One which are linked to the
has to remain steadfast. submission of man to Allah.
Without worship one has no
spiritual life. It is the daily food The Holy Prophet(sa) has said that
and drink for the soul and if a person finds peace in
without it there can be no Ramadan, then the rest of the
notion of a spiritual world. The year will be peaceful for him. It
way to be steadfast in worship is is like the case of a bullet fired
to derive pleasure from it. from a rifle - its course is set in

70 Review of Religions – September 2002


Ramadan – Part 1

the direction that the rifle points truthful in his day-to-day life,
to. So every effort should be but when in a testing situation,
made to maintain the pious he may lie to save his skin. This
habits developed during seed of falsehood must be
Ramadan and one should destroyed. Dishonesty is found
continue on the course set in many walks of life - there is
during that holy month. The rest welfare fraud, the misuse of
of the year would then be government benefits, income
peaceful. tax fraud etc. The thieves of
falsehood hide in every man’s
Hadhrat Abu Huraira(ra) reports heart and in reality he worships
that the Holy Prophet(sa) said them more than he worships
that Allah has no need for the Allah. At a time of difficulty
fast of one who does not abstain even idolators call on Allah -
from ill habits or falsehoods. A when in a difficult position, a
person nullifies his fast by believer should turn to Allah
indulging in evil. On the one and not rely on falsehoods to
hand, people are willing to save himself. One needs to
forego those things that are reflect upon oneself deeply,
lawful and on the other, they uproot dishonesty and only then
are not willing to abstain from can faith in the Unity of Allah
unlawful acts. What a contra- find a place in one’s heart.
diction! To some extent all Ultimately, peace is faith in the
people suffer from this malady, Unity of Allah.
if not in major sins then in
minor sins. The most destruc-
tive of diseases is the telling of
falsehoods. It is an acid which
dissolves all piety. Great
problems arise as a result of
dishonesty - divorces, business
losses etc. One should
undertake a Jihad against
falsehood and uproot all seeds
of dishonesty from within
oneself. A person may be

Review of Religions – September 2002 71


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