Академический Документы
Профессиональный Документы
Культура Документы
10
Editorial - What can we learn from earlier prophets and their followers? – Fareed Ahmad . 2
Notes and Comment: An Aids Memoire – The destructive effect of this plague in
the modern world – Fareed Ahmad – UK ........................ 4
Unity v. Trinity – part I
A critical review of Trinity from a philosophical and historical perspective.
Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad(as) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ......... 6
Ramadan – Part II
How fasting during Ramadan can purify man spiritually as well as physically
Hadhrat Mirza Tahir Ahmad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ........ 24
Reformation
True spirituality lies in the sincerity in human action and not just in the actions themselves.
Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad(as) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
The Fazl Mosque – A Mosque for All Time
An insight into the significance of this mosque over the last 50 years.
Hananah Zaheer – Washington, USA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Views expressed in this publication are not necessarily the opinions of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. 1
religions have become a
Editorial
brand, with people proudly
showing off their labels
without any care of whom the
labels are attached to.
Religion has everything to
offer our world today, as it did The objective of religious
to those societies to which people today should not be
earlier prophets were sent. that of becoming proud of
Those who accepted them one’s religion, but to make his
benefited manifold, but why is religion proud of him – it is a
it that those who proclaim to struggle of spirituality and
follow the same prophets humanity. The religious
today appear to be in such a standard has been set by the
state of disharmony? prophets who founded them,
now it is the duty of everyone
Whilst there is no denying the who chooses to follow to
nobility of prophets or their attain that standard so that he
teachings or even of the early can be considered worthy of
followers of such prophets, being referred to as a Jew,
what is often overlooked is Muslim etc. Hadhrat Mirza
that the achievements of Ghulam Ahmad(as), did just that
those religions was nothing but and became an exemplary
the achievements of the early follower of the Holy Prophet (sa)
followers – for they were the to such a degree that he
shining examples of what their himself was blessed with
religions taught. What we see prophethood. The blessings,
in the main today are hollow however, did not end there –
personas, soulless shadows of for through him the flame of
those followers that are so far spiritual guidance was re-
removed that the exemplary ignited so that those who
characteristics the early cared to follow him would also
followers possessed can hardly share in the blessings of his
be made out. It is as if nearness to God. Very few ever
always been the lot of the Prince with regret that we have to say
of Darkness and the unclean that both these dogmas are
spirits. We are told that those dead against the laws of nature,
who believe in the curse upon repugnant to the nature of man,
Jesus(as), shall be saved the evil unsupported by the holy books
consequences of the dangerous of God, uncorroborated by any
curse which sows the seed of living and conclusive proofs,
unbelief, iniquity and all other and rejected by the opinion of
evils in the heart of man, turns the majority of those who have
him to the path of faithlessness, inherited the revealed books.
blinds the heart, and is the
cause of an ever-widening Take Trinity first and we see
separation and an ever- that Divine law goes quite
increasing enmity between the against this strange doctrine.
heart of man and the Divine Everything in its simplest form
Master. As to those on whom this has been created by God in a
curse falls and who partake of spherical or round shape – a fact
it, it is necessary that, as heirs which attests to and is
of the author of evil, their consistent with the Unity of
hearts should turn away from God. Look at the earth and the
God, and that they should hate great heavenly bodies, the sun,
Him, and thus fall into an the moon and stars; are they
eternal hell; for curse is the not all spherical? The elements
dark taint which brands the face also show a rotundity in shape.
of Satan. But Jesus(as), so it is Take a drop of water and it is
said, so loved the world that he also spherical. Had the doctrine
himself requested his Father to of Trinity been true, all these
subject his heart to this perilous things should have been created
curse so fraught with danger and in a triangular shape. The
attended with consequences handiwork of a three-cornered
equally dangerous. God ought to have been three-
sided like its maker. The stars of
This is the summary of the the heavens and the elements
principles on which rests the of the earth should all have
salvation offered by the been triangular so as to serve as
Christian Missionaries, and it is an indication to trinity in the
have been used of him, it being Now all the books of Moses(as)
a matter of dispute whether without a single exception lay
they actually apply to him or to stress upon and assert the
some body else, he is oneness of the Lord God in
metamorphosed and becomes a clear, definite and emphatic
God. If we can make gods of words, and the Israelites were
men in this arbitrary manner, commanded to learn these
then although the turning of teachings by heart, bind them
copper into gold may be for a sign upon their hands and
impossible, yet the turning of write upon the posts of their
men into gods or the business houses and upon their gates.
of making god would be an They were also warned that if
extremely easy task. But I ask if they strayed from the path (of
we can depend upon and find Unity) set for them and forgot
consolation in a God that is the the teachings relating to it,
creation of mortal whims and they shall be destroyed from off
fashioned by mortal hands. the face of the earth, severely
punished from heaven and as
Having shown that the Bible well as earth, smitten with
lends no support to the doctrine incurable diseases, scourged
of Trinity, we now come to the with scale and itch, and brought
fourth point. Under this heading to destruction in blindness and
we shall discuss if the majority madness. The same teachings
of the people of the Book have were further emphasised by
regarded Trinity as true. It is giving, along with this warning
admitted on all hands that the of curse, a promise of blessings
Jews are the first heirs to the and bounties if they stuck fast
Bible, and among them Moses(as) to them.
was the greatest prophet who
gave a standing and perfect law To all these precautions for the
to his people. He not only safe preservation of this all-
delivered the law to them but important doctrine, is to be
himself acting as the commen- added the fact of successive
tator explained it fully and prophets continuing to rise from
cleared off all doubts as to the among the Israelites for
meaning of any passage in it. fourteen hundred years which
the first to the last teem with From the earliest times to
the teachings of Unity, and the today, the Jewish sects have
whole attention of the people borne an unbroken testimony in
was directed to this one great their speeches and writings, and
purpose, and the result was a they still proclaim with a loud
deep impression upon the whole voice, that they were never
nation of the Unity of God. Had taught Trinity and Atonement,
all the prophets from Moses(as) nor is there the remotest trace
downwards inculcated the of these strange doctrines in
doctrine of Trinity and declared their holy books, and that a
this to be the chief object of god-man had never been
their mission from the Most promised to them. Even if we
High, the Israelites could not admit the stubbornness, the
have been so utterly ignorant of thirst of blood, the iniquities
it. If, as is alleged, Trinity and and the transgressions of the
the blood of Jesus (as) formed the Jews, justice compels us not to
ground work on which rested be so hard upon them as to
the salvation of men, why did suppose that they at Expiation
Moses(as) and the prophets keep which were foundation-stones
back this matter of life and of their faith, and inserted in it
death and not promulgate it? If in numerous places the simple
they ever propagated such a doctrine of the Oneness of God
doctrine it still remains to be which resembled the teaching
solved why their books do not of the Quran on the point, and
contain the slightest trace of it? that they had all arranged and
How are we to explain the agreed to take this step. The
obvious fact that all the Jewish absurdity of any such suppo-
sects are as unconscious of this sition appears further from the
puzzle of Trinity as the son of a fact that the various Jewish
Muslim of the gods of Hindus of sects, notwithstanding numer-
their modes of worship and the ous points of difference, all
formulae of idols-worship? The testify in one voice that the
solution of this problem remains doctrines of Trinity and
as great a mystery as the Atonement had never been
doctrine of Trinity itself. preached to them.
the face of God they saw clearly when the soldiers of the
reflected in the face of their emperor brought to the Holy
Prophet(sa). But the conduct of Prophet(sa) the news of his
the Apostles in relation to their contemplated arrest under the
Master is quite inexplicable, and orders of the monarch, he
we are unable to say what replied that it was no business
opinion they entertained of of his but that the whole matter
him. Peter, who had charge of lay in the hands of God Who
the keys of heaven, cursed alone would give the response.
Jesus(as) and was not satisfied Next morning he revealed to the
until he thrice repeated his soldiers the news of the
imprecations. assassination of their monarch
under the supreme and
Take another circumstance. Not unavoidable command of the
a few designs of the Holy Lord of the heavens and earth.
Prophet’s(sa) were, over and over Here indeed we see a
again, formed by his internal manifestation of the Deity for
and external foes, but they no sooner did Khosru Parviz
were all helplessly frustrated, conceive the idea of the
notwithstanding his utter Prophet’s arrest than the angel
helplessness against his pow- of Death, in obedience to the
erful enemies. On the other absolute decree of heaven, was
hand, whoever rose with the upon him in Persia and cut short
evil design brought ruin upon his his life. What a contrast again
own head. For instance, Khosru when we cast a glance at the
Parviz, the ill-fated monarch of circumstances of Jesus’(as) arrest
Persia, became thirsty of the as narrated in the Gospels! We
Prophet’s(sa) blood and accord- are obliged, with the utmost
ingly sent his own men to arrest regret, to confess that a whole
him. But hardly a night had night’s prayers of Christ proved
passed before he himself quite barren. He passed the
became a morsel of death, night in a state of restlessness
notwithstanding that there is no with eyes heavy and full of
evidence that our Holy tears, but as soon as the morn
Prophet (sa) even prayed for his appeared, one police constable
destruction. It is reported that of the Roman Government with
whom was a multitude of the without his praying for it. Hence
people (the Jews) came and it was that when the com-
having arrested him put him panions of the Prophet(sa)
into custody before 10am. Is witnessed Divine assistance and
this the all-powerful God whose favour distinctly showered upon
end was so sad and pitiable? him, they forsook everything for
How can we put faith in a man his sake, shed their blood in his
having a deep connection with cause and allowed themselves
God so long as we do not see to be butchered like sheep and
him distinctly accompanied with goats and died in faith and
the Grace of God in this very fidelity to him. Had the worship
world? of man been allowed in the
Divine faith, they would have
From the evidence recorded of gladly rejected the gods that
him what is Jesus(as) but a man were the creation of man’s
who fell upon his face before imagination, and worshipped
God and prayed to Him their master, the Lord’s elect as
earnestly that the fatal cup may the great God. The reverence in
pass away, but his prayers were which they held him and the
not answered, or so the obedience which they showed
Christians admit. But our Lord to his commandments, were
and Master the Prophet neither shown towards Moses(as)
Muhammad (sa) was the chosen nor had Jesus (as) the good
one of God, upon whom Divine fortune to witness them in his
assistance was showered even devoted disciples. If anyone
charity of soul,
of course, but
RAMADAN BRINGS A MESSAGE FOR EVERYONE. here he has
ON A PHYSICAL LEVEL, RAMADAN PROVIDES s p e c i a l l y
THE OPPORTUNITY TO REDUCE FAT FROM THE mentioned the
B O D Y, A N D T H O S E P E O P L E W H O A R E charity of the
ACCUSTOMED TO EATING RICH FOOD SHOULD physical body. In
another saying
USE THIS TIME TO SHED THEIR EXCESS FAT. ON
the Holy
A SPIRITUAL LEVEL, R AMADAN ENABLES US TO
Prophet(sa) said:
REMOVE OUR SPIRITUAL ERRORS. if you want to
be healthy you
should fast.
oneself of greed, then one Fasting melts the unnecessary
cannot practise humility or fats and leaves the body in a
lighten one’s burdens. lighter state. Then it goes on
to say: the fast of Ramadan
So in this respect Ramadan removes the impiety of the
brings a message for everyone. heart. How does it remove
On a physical level, Ramadan impieties? From the medical
provides the opportunity to point of view, cholesterol is
reduce fat from the body, and reduced. When arteries are
those people who are blocked the flow of blood is
accustomed to eating rich food restricted and as a result one
should use this time to shed feels a burning pain. Some call
their excess fat. On a spiritual it heart burn, some call it
level, Ramadan enables us to angina. Many of the diseases
remove our spiritual errors. It suffered by man are caused by
is reported by Abu Huraira(ra) his laziness. The Holy Prophet
that the Holy Prophet Muhammad(sa) says if you pass
Muhammad (sa) said: to purify through the furnace of
everything there is a charity Ramadan your unnecessary fat
and the charity of the body is will be burnt and you will find
fasting. Fasting is also the some health and spiritual
familiar with the reasons and the Book of religious Law until
should know what it is that is the end of time. In other words,
expected of our Community. It after the Holy Qur’an there is
is also a mistake to consider no need for another book or
that a customary declaration of religious law. Remember this
Bai’at, [i.e. initiation into the well that the Holy Prophet
Community] is by itself a Muhammad(sa) is Khaatam-ul-
sufficient means of salvation. [It Anbiya, [i.e. the Seal of
is to remove such miscon- Prophets], meaning that after
ceptions] that I have felt the our Holy Prophet Muhammad(sa)
need to put before you the true there will be no new religious
purpose [of the establishment law nor a new Book nor any
of a new Community] and what different commandments.
it is that God really wants [from There will be only this Book [the
those who join this Community]. Holy Qur’an] and its
commandments.
Everyone should remember that
a formal declaration of The term ‘Prophet’ or
initiation or merely believing ‘Messenger’ that is found in my
me to be the Imam is certainly books in relation to myself [as
not sufficient for achieving the appointee of God] are not
salvation because God Almighty intended to imply that any new
looks at the heart – He does not religious law, Sharia, or new
look at verbal utterances. commandments are being
taught. The intention is only to
Salvation requires all that God convey the principle that when
has repeatedly stated [in the at the time of need God
Holy Qur’an] and that is, firstly, appoints a person [for a specific
that one should truly believe purpose], such a person is
God to be One without any granted the elevated station
partners and then to believe the where he hears God’s words and
Holy Prophet Muhammad(sa) to is given knowledge of unseen
be a true Prophet of God. One and future events. It is due to
should also believe the Holy this that the term Nabi or
Qur’an to be a divine book and ‘Prophet’ is applied to such a
one that will not be replaced as person and such an appointed
I have seen letters that have those who follow only the
been written by people who customs and traditions. Their
apparently belong to our sight is set only upon the
Community but say that they apparent – it is not upon the
are asked by others as to what reality. What they have is only
need there is for a new the outer skin not the inner
Community when they too offer kernel.
Salat, declare the same Kalima,
and keep fasts? Such people Remember and understand this
further write in their letters point that at the time of the
that those who question them Holy Prophet Muhammad(sa) had
appear to be good people, doing the Jews abandoned the Torah?
good works. Despite the fact Had they abandoned practising
that the writers of such letters the Torah? Certainly not! The
belong to our Community, upon Jews even now believe in the
hearing objections and doubts, Torah and their practice is
they write that they do not according to this Book. Their
know the answer [to such sacrifices and other customs are
objections]. I feel regret and still carried on today as they
pity for such people that they were at that time. They
have failed to understand our continue to face towards Bait-
true purpose and intention. ul-Muqadis while performing
They only see that other people their prayers. At the time of the
customarily adhere to the Holy Prophet(sa) there were also
practice of Islam and in this vein present great Jewish scholars
they deem to fulfil their duty to and Jewish priests, so what
God but their practises lack the need was there for the Holy
spirit of truth. Hence, such Prophet(sa) and for the new Book
objections work like the of God [namely, the Holy
suspicions created by acts of Qur’an]? There also existed at
magic and [those influenced] do that time the Christian people.
not care to think that our Among them, too, was a sect
intention is to create a true that believed in the Unity of
faith that saves a person from God. What then was the reason
the death of a sinful life. Such for the appointment by God of
motives are not to be found in the Holy Prophet Muhammad(sa)
and for the Book of God? This is with [acts that are only] an
a question that should be outer shell, an outer covering –
carefully considered by our God is not pleased until there is
opponents and by those who loyalty and true sincerity.
raise such objections [against
the formation of our A person who is without loyalty
Community]. This is a very [to God] is like a dog - [just like
subtle issue but those who a dog falls upon dead flesh], a
ponder and consider matters disloyal person falls upon the
carefully will be able to see that rotten world. Such people may
it is not such a difficult matter. sometimes appear to be good
but they will be found to hide
Remember that God looks only their ill-deeds and disgraceful
upon the soul and upon practices. What use is the Salat
spirituality. God does not look that is full of ostentation – what
at the apparent actions – He possible benefit can there be in
looks only at the reality and the such Salat?
inner state as to whether the
actions are tainted by an
element of selfishness and
personal desires or whether (To be continued)
there is sincerity and true
obedience to God. The apparent
form of deeds, however, may
deceive a person. He may be led
to think highly of a person who
is seen with a rosary in hand or
if he observes a person to be
offering voluntary prayers at
night or mid-morning. Similarly,
when he sees someone to be
performing noble acts of virtue,
he may believe him to be a
saintly person but God does not
like the show of ‘outer layer’ [of
deeds]. God is never pleased
ship shifted and became pre- and stay for hours to answer
dominantly African American. people’s questions on politics,
Today, the majority of members physics, and anything else that
are Pakistanis, although the came up.
African American and Caucasian
members still continue to attend. Over the years, the mosque has
Haleem names missionaries that served as not only a place to offer
attended to the mosque over prayers, but also as temporary
time. He is just stating facts, but residence for several young
I am stuck by the realisation that members of the community, for
he, like this building, has been others, it presented itself as a
here through all the changes. I safe haven.
ask him what impressed him most
about this mosque. I am ‘Sister Rashida moved here after
expecting him to talk of the she got divorced…she lived on the
space it affords for prayers and third floor for twenty years.’
big functions, the sense of
peacefulness it brings, but I am Even though the Ahmadiyya
surprised by his answer. ‘I was Muslim Community has now
most impressed with the fact that outgrown Fazl mosque, moving to
personalities that came to the a bigger, more modern structure
mosque were such that you talk in Silver Spring, a number of
with them like you talk to anyone members still continue to visit
else.’ Fazl mosque. The building, being
nearly ninety years old, same age
The Community is based on as Ahmed Haleem, has borne its
principles of equality and share of rough weather. But in
brotherhood, and Haleem was the face of all that has gone on
surprised by how accessible the around it, it stands still as a mark
leaders of the movement were. of faith. As I take my leave of
Even personalities like Dr. Abdus- Ahmed Haleem and walk out the
Salam, Nobel Prize winner for door and into the darkened road,
physics, and Sir Chaudhry I take with me the image of the
Zafarullah Khan, president of the symbol of peace and tranquillity,
UN General Assembly and the and the man who holds that
International Court of Justice, image within his heart.
would come to offer their prayers
you. May God make you the whether Islam lived or died.
Messiah.” This blessed person They neither wanted to spend
‘Sufi Ahmad Jan’ had passed any money nor risk their
away by the time of the honour and other worldly
initiation or Bai’at took place. possessions for this cause.
Yet to remember him the first
initiation was carried out in his The Final Volume:
house. Muhammad Hussain The final volume of the book
Batalvi an Ahle Hadith scholar ‘Braheen-e-Ahmadiyya’ was
wrote a long review praising complete for publication in
the book in his journal. The 1905 and was printed in 1908.
review is worth reading. This contained the final
Another scholar Nawab Siddiq evidence for our present
Hassan Khan who had done a modern times about the truth
lot of research about the of Islam, the Qur’an and the
coming and timing of the Prophet Muhammad(sa). In this
Promised Messiah(as), was very final 5th volume the Promised
pleased and promised to help in Messiah(as) quotes extensively
publishing the book. But when from his previous volumes,
he read the searing and fatal published more than twenty
attack launched in the book on years earlier, and tells about
Trinity and other modern the fulfilment of all the
Christian doctrines he became prophecies contained in them.
very frightened and withdrew This is in fact a conclusive and
his support. Keep in mind that irrefutable proof of the truth
the British were the rulers of of Islam, the Qur’an, the Holy
the land and Christianity was Prophet Muhammad(sa) and
their faith, which they wanted finally the truth of the
to be propagated amongst the Promised Messiah (as).
Indian masses.
The Promised Messiah (as) wrote
The majority of the Muslims more than 80 books in between
however did not bother at all. these volumes of Braheen-e-
They were not concerned Ahmadiyya but as we read
Bibliography
• George Sartan, Introduction
• Hadhrat Mirza Tahir Ahmad, to the History of Science,
Revelation, Rationality, Krieger Publishing Company,
Knowledge and Truth, Islam 1975.
International Publications
Ltd, 1998. • Robert Briffault, Europa:
The Days of Ignorance ,
• H. Dalafi and M.H.A. Hassan Charles Scribner & Sons,
(Ed.), Renaissance of New York, 1935.
Sciences in Islamic
Countries, World Scientific,
1994.
About the author
• P.C.W. Davies, The
Rafi Ahmed is a computer
Accidental Universe,
scientist. He has a
Cambridge University Press,
graduate degree in
1982.
mathematics and a Ph.D. in
computer science. He has
• Stephen Hawking, A Brief
published over thirty
History of Time, Bantam
research papers, book
Books, 1988.
chapters, and encyclopedia
article in the areas of
• Stephen Hawking, The
applied mathematics and
Universe in a Nutshell,
computer science. He has
Bantam Books, 2001.
also written and spoken on
theological and religious
• Pervez Hoodbhoy, Islam and
subjects. He serves as the
Science, Zed Books Ltd.
education secretary for the
1991.
San Jose (California,
U.S.A.) Chapter of the
• Michael Behe, Darwin’s
Ahmadiyya Muslim
Black Box, The Free Press,
Community.)
1995.
Please put me on the mailing list for the Review of Religions for 1 year. I enclose
subscription payment of £15.00 or US $30.00.
Name: ___________________________________________
Address: __________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________