Al Hakam - 29 April 2022

How God inspires scientists and human discovery

Page 10

A

Perfume, women and salat

100 Years Ago...

The story of ‘The Martyr of Kabul’ by an eyewitness

Three worldly loves of Prophet Muhammad and their meaning Page 13

Page 12

The philosophy of invoking durood on the Holy Prophet – Part III

Page 6

THE WEEKLY

www.alhakam.org AL HAKAM | Friday 29 April 2022 | Issue CCXV Ahmadiyya Archive & Research Centre (ARC), 22 Deer Park Road, London, SW19 3TL, UK info@alhakam.org | ISSN 2754-7396

Making the end of Ramadan the beginning of our spiritual dawn

Hadith-e-Rasul – Sayings of the Holy Prophet Muhammadsa

Fast six days of Shawwal following Ramadan ُ َّ َ ُ َ ّ ٰ ْ َ َ ُّ َ َ ‫َع ْن‬ ‫أبِي أی‬ ‫وب ال�ن َصا ِر ِّي َر ِﺿ َی الل ُه ع ْنﻪ أنﻪ‬ َ َ ٰ ٰ َ ّ ّ َ َ ُ َ َّ َ َ ّ ّ َ ‫َحدثﻪ أ ّن َر ُﺳ ْول الل ِه َصلی الل ُه َعل ْی ِﻪ َو َﺳل َم قال‬ َ ‫ام َر َم َﻀ‬ َ َ ‫ان ث ُ َّم أَﺗْ َب َﻌ ُﻪ ﺳ ًّتا ِم ْن َش َّوال ک‬ َ ‫َم ْن َص‬ ‫ان‬ ِ ٍ َ ْ َّ ‫ام الده ِر‬ ِ ‫ك ِص َی‬ Hazrat Abu Ayyub al-Ansarira narrates that the Holy Prophetsa said: “He who observed the fast of Ramadan and then followed it with six fasts of Shawwal, it would be as if he fasted perpetually.”

(Sahih Muslim, Kitab al-Siyam, Hadith 1164a)

Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas, In His Own Words

Knowledge of the soul is acquired from the fountain of Prophethood

Ramadan arrives as a much-needed blessing, yet leaves in a heartbeat.

For Muslims, amid the traps of Dajjal and with atheism on the rise, Ramadan allows a block of time in the year where we can slow down, introspect and begin to pay more attention to the focus of our life: worshipping Allah and serving His creation.

This month creates an environment in which we can – with less friction – study the Holy Quran, offer prayers, remember Allah, show gratitude and offer financial sacrifices.

Good habits would have formed in Ramadan and a Muslim who truly desired to attain Allah’s pleasure surely encountered the sweetness of Allah’s love and closeness.

But the end of this holy month doesn’t mean our spirituality should decline – if we want, the spirit Ramadan brought can be the new dawn for our spiritual life.

As we heard in Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V’saa Friday Sermon on 22 April 2022, the paths of taqwa (righteousness) are narrow, Continued on page 3

In the same manner, the relationship that souls possess with graves is a truth no doubt; however, one cannot learn of it through the use of one’s eye. It is the task of one’s spiritual eye to perceive this phenomenon. If anyone expects to reach the depth of this matter by mere reason alone, then let any paragon of reason tell us even so much as to whether the soul exists or not. There are a thousand disagreements on this issue alone and countless philosophers who are bent towards atheism reject the existence of the soul altogether. If this was an issue that could be solved by reason alone, why would any difference of opinion exist at all? For when the task of an eye is to see, I cannot accept how Continued on page 2

Friday 29 April 2022 | AL HAKAM

2

Al Hakam Inspire Podcast is a new platform where we speak to researchers, academics, scientists, doctors, professors and professionals about interesting and inspiring topics. Our guests range from neuroscientists to innovators, from professors of history to doctors on the front line.

As many of our guests will be Ahmadi Muslims, we also discuss how the Holy Quran and Islam have inspired their work and speak about any links and connections they have drawn from Islamic teachings.

This podcast aims to give our listeners insights from experts and leave them feeling inspired for the future ahead.

Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Amazon Music: @alhakaminspire Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Al Hakam Inspire Podcast We are on Instagram and Twitter as well: @alhakaminspire

Continued from page 1

it is possible for the eye of one person to visually discern a white-coloured object for what it is, while the very same organ in another person should function to sense the taste of that same white object.

My purpose is to show that reason alone cannot even tell us with certainty whether the soul exists or not, let alone give us knowledge about its deeper essence or the nature of its relationships. Philosophers consider the soul to be like a lush, green branch and do not consider the soul to have any external, independent existence of its own. The details that we have come to know about in respect of the soul’s existence and its relations etc., are received from the fountain of prophethood. Those who depend on reason alone cannot even make an evidenced claim in this context.

If someone were to say that there are certain philosophers who have written specific details relating to the soul, then remember that they have done nothing more than to glean from the fountain of prophethood and then state certain details. Hence, when it is established that knowledge about the soul is received from the fountain of prophethood, the fact that the soul has a relationship with the grave

ought to be viewed from the perspective of Prophets. It is the spiritual eye which shows us that the soul has a relationship with the pile of dust in which a person is buried and that one receives a response when one says the following words: ُ َ ُ َ َّ َ ُ َْ َ ْ َ ‫ام َعل ْیك ْم یَا أهل الﻘ ُبو ِر‬ ‫السل‬ “Peace be upon you, O dwellers of these graves.”

Hence, an individual who employs the faculties that make it possible to meet the dwellers of graves can see the affinity that souls hold with graves.

Let me give you an example in this regard. If there was a block of salt and a block of sugar placed side by side, what conclusion could one draw by mere reason alone? Indeed, when a person tastes each of them, it can then be concluded by two distinct tastes that one is salt and the other is sugar. If, however, a person had no sense of taste, how could they distinguish between sweet and salty?

My task is only to explain through argumentation. Just as the rising sun would remain unaffected by a blind person who denies it, in the same manner, a senseless man unable to benefit from rational argumentation would not disprove a

matter. Likewise, how can a person deprived of the spiritual eye, observe the relationship that souls possess with graves?

Hence, just because someone is unable to observe this phenomenon, this does not justify their denial of it. Such knowledge cannot be ascertained by mere rationality and induction alone; this is why Allah the Exalted has given humans a range of faculties. If one faculty alone sufficed for everything, what need would there have been for God to bestow man with such a diverse array of faculties? Certain faculties relate to the eye, others to the ear, some to the tongue and others still to the nose.

Man possesses various senses. In order to observe the relationship that souls have with graves, a spiritual faculty and sense is required. Anyone who denies this is mistaken. A vast number of Prophets, on whom be peace, and millions of saints and pious individuals have come and gone in the world; countless people who engaged in spiritual exercises have gone by; and all of them are a living testament to this fact. Whether or not we are able to rationally fathom the reality and causes that lie in these connections between souls and graves, the relationship itself cannot be denied. In short, it is spiritual

arguments that settle all of these matters.

It is no deficiency on the part of one’s ears if they are unable to see, for this task is performed by another faculty. I am a witness to the fact, on the basis of my own experience, that the soul definitely has a relationship with the grave; a person can speak to the dead. The soul also holds a connection with heaven, where it is given a position. I proclaim once again that this is an established truth. There is testimony of this even in Hindu scriptures. This is a well-accepted concept, except in the view of those who deny the life of the soul. As for the matter of where this link exists and the nature of this relationship, this is something that the spiritual eye will unravel itself. Geologists are able to tell us where a certain metal is located or where a certain mine exists. These experts possess a sense that enables them to detect such things immediately. Similarly, it is a proven truth that souls certainly have a relationship with graves, and this is to such an extent that those who experience visions, through concentration, can even speak to the dead. Nonetheless, as far as doubts and allegations are concerned, this simply has no end.”

(Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas, Malfuzat, Vol. 2, pp. 9-11)

3

AL HAKAM | Friday 29 April 2022

How to attain the great spiritual Eid

“

Delivered by Hazrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih IIra on 29 March 1960 in Rabwah

Our Eid will be considered a true Eid, only if we succeed in establishing the greatness of Allah the Almighty in the world, spreading His name, proving His glory and dedicating all our efforts and endeavours so that the name of God Almighty may be glorified Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra delivering a speech

According to ahadith, the Holy Prophetsa used to recite the following takbirat in abundance on the occasion of Eid[s] while en route to and [on Eid-ul-Adha also] returning from the Eidgah, as well as sitting there: ّ ٰ َّ ٰ َ َ ْ ّ ٰ َ ْ ّ ٰ َ ُ ْ ّٰ َ ْ َ ّٰ َ ْ َ ّٰ ‫ َوالل ُه أكب ُر الل ُه أكب ُر َولِل ِه الحَ ْمد‬،‫ لا إل َه إلا الل ُه‬،‫ الل ُه أكب ُر‬،‫الل ُه أكب ُر‬ [“Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest, there is none worthy of worship except Allah and Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest and all praise belongs to Allah.”] (Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab al-Eidain, Bab al-Takbir Ayyam Mina wa idha Ghada ila Arafah; Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab al-Eidain, Bab Fadl al-Amal fi Ayyam al-Tashriq) This sunnah of the Holy Prophetsa indicates that the true Eid of the believers is to express the greatness and glory of Continued from page 1

diverse and require a great spiritual jihad.

It’s a life-long goal. All the good Ramadan carried with it should be the stepping stones to furthering our spirituality and traversing the paths of taqwa. We should be resolute and vow to develop the goodness Ramadan brought with it and attain the ultimate objective of Islam: to bring man and God closer.

Yes, we fall and falter, but to get back up is what Allah wants. His forgiveness is immense and immeasurable; He loves more than a mother and wants to see His servants progress and succeed – Allah is not a cruel and merciless king but the Ever-Forgiving and Merciful God. So, whenever we stumble, let us remember Allah’s mercy, pick ourselves up

Allah Almighty. Therefore, our Eid will be considered a true Eid, only if we succeed in establishing the greatness of Allah the Almighty in the world, spreading His name, proving His glory and dedicating all our efforts and endeavours so that the name of God Almighty may be glorified. However, if we fail to realise our duties and if our steps are slow in the field of the sacrifices Islam requires of us for the propagation of the Oneness of God and the establishment of His greatness, then our Eid cannot be called Eid in the true sense.

Hence, today I wish to draw the attention of all the members of my Community to the fact that they should try to celebrate Eid in the truest sense and make this apparent Eid a means of attaining the great spiritual Eid in which the whole world realises the glory and turn to Him again. The Holy Prophet Muhammadsa said: “By God! Allah the Almighty is more delighted with the repentance of His servant, than a person who finds their camel that was lost in the wilderness.” (Sahih alBukhari, Kitab-ul-Dawat) Allah says that if a servant of His draws to Him an arm’s length, He draws near to him a cubit and if he goes to Him walking, He runs towards him. (Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab-ul-Tawhid) Therefore, as we leave Ramadan and enter the world once again without the protection and blessings of this holy month, we should be confident that Allah is always present and there to help and guide us. The Holy Prophetsa said that Allah declares: َ​َ َ َ َ ‫أنا ِع ْند ظ ِ ّن ع ْب ِدي ب ِ ْي‬

of God Almighty.

If the glory of God Almighty is not established in the world then our Eid is not an Eid at all. However, if His glory is established and the world becomes the servant of His Messenger, Muhammad, peace be upon him, then that would be our true Eid because a true servant is only pleased once his master is happy.

Thus, Eid calls for the expansion of the propagation of Islam and the establishment of the glory of God Almighty throughout the world. The glory of God Almighty can only be established when all the members of the Community, young and old, men and women, put emphasis on preaching and strive to unite the world under the banner of the Holy Prophet Muhammadsa. The prophecies undoubtedly confirm that this revolution shall one day take place and that the world shall bow its head at the threshold of God Almighty, but it is also necessary to make use of prayers, sacrifices and struggle to fulfil the prophecies. (See Tazkirat-

ul-Shahadatain, pp. 64-65; Tajalliyat-eIlahiyyah, pp. 31-32 and Tabligh-e-Risalat, Vol. 6, p. 8 by Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas for further reading) Therefore, we should expand our preaching efforts as much as possible and continue to raise the name of God Almighty ever higher in the world, because therein lies our honour. Thus can the purpose of the coming of Holy Prophet Muhammadsa, and the Promised Messiahas, be fulfilled.

May Allah the Exalted be with you and may He always enable you to serve Islam with righteousness and piety and may He also instil true faith in your progenies so that the name of the One and Only God may be exalted till the Day of Resurrection and the flag of Islam may continue to soar above the flags of all religions of the world till the Day of Resurrection. O Allah, accept our prayers! Amin.

“I am as My servant thinks I am”. This hadith is hugely motivating and brings hope to a believer – Allah is how we perceive Him to be. Therefore, we should think good of Allah’s mercy, grace and power. And so post-Ramadan, we can continue to work on our perception and belief in Allah and come to the realisation that Allah is the MostForgiving and the doors to His bounties never close. The Promised Messiahas wrote: “The doors to God Almighty’s grace and bounties are never closed. If man turns to Him wholeheartedly and with sincerity, then God Almighty is Forgiving, Merciful and accepts the repentance of such a person.

“To estimate which sinner will be forgiven [and who will not] by God Almighty is a severe affront and insolence in the presence of God Almighty. The treasures

of His mercy are vast and limitless. There is no deficiency in His presence and His doors are not closed to anyone. This is not like the jobs of the British, whereby only a highly educated person would be granted a job. All those who reach in the presence of God Almighty will attain high ranks. This is a categorical promise. Unfortunate indeed is the one who despairs of God Almighty and is in a state of ignorance at the time of his demise; indeed, in such a case, the door is then closed for them.” (Malfuzat, Vol. 3, pp.

296-297) Therefore, let’s leave all despair with the end of Ramadan and grow the confidence that until the next Ramadan arrives, we can enjoy the new spiritual horizon that awaits and pick ourselves, turning to Allah, whenever we fall.

(Translated by Al Hakam from the original Urdu published in Khutbat-e-Mahmud, Vol. 1, pp. 502503)

Friday 29 April 2022 | AL HAKAM

4

This Week 29 April inspected the Jamaat’s clinic in Kondele and inaugurated the Ahmadiyya Mosque in Banja. (Al Fazl International 20 May 2005, p. 11) Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa addressing the IAAAE European Symposium

29 April 29 April 2005: During Jalsa Salana Kenya of 2005 while Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa was present, there was heavy rainfall in the evening of the last day of Jalsa. The guests of the Jalsa spent the night awake with great patience. The Jalsa was relocated in a very short time, and the Friday sermon was broadcast live from Kenya. (Al Fazl International, 13 May 2005, p. 5) 29 April 2006: During his visit to Fiji, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa visited the Ahmadiyya School in Narare Town. He also visited the Ahmadiyya College in the same city.

Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa inspecting the Ahmadiyya Muslim College in Narere, Fiji, 2006

In addition to returning to Sova to inspect the langar khana, Huzooraa addressed the concluding session of Jalsa Salana Fiji and also held a children’s class in the evening.

(Al Fazl International, 9 June 2006, pp. 11-13)

30 April 30 April 2005: On this day, while in Kenya, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa inaugurated mosques in Naivasha, Nakuru and Eldoret. He also visited a clinic in Nakuru. (Al Fazl International, 20 May 2005, pp. 10-11) 30 April 2006: During his visit to Fiji, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa presided over separate meetings of the national majalis-e-amila of Majlis Ansarullah, Khuddam-ul-Ahmadiyya and Lajna Imaillah of Fiji. Also on this day, 211 people had the privilege of meeting Huzooraa in individual

and family mulaqats. (Al Fazl International, 16 June 2006, pp. 1-9)

2 May 2006: On this day, whilst on his tour in Fiji, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa visited the International Date Line in Fiji, had individual and

30 April 2010: In his Friday Sermon, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa described the circumstances of his recent visit to Spain, France, Italy and Switzerland. He said that this was the first time that a Khalifa of the Promised Messiahas was shown the Turin Shroud on the occasion of the exhibition of the Shroud in Italy.

1 May 1 May 2004: On Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V’saa return from a successful tour of Africa, Lajna Imaillah UK held a reception for Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa and Hazrat Begum Sahiba. In this reception, Huzooraa said that one day, Islam Ahmadiyyat would be the dominant religion in the world.

He said that all this was possible only when Ahmadis remained attached to the system of Khilafat and gave precedence to responding to the call of the Khalifa over personal affairs.

(Al Fazl International, 30 July 2004, p. 3) 1 May 2006: During his visit to the Far East, Fiji, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa visited jamaats located on various islands of the country. Huzooraa visited Labasa, and inaugurated a new section of the Jamaat’s school in Voloca. Huzooraa also offered the Zuhr and Asr prayers in Masjid Mubarak, Voloca. This mosque was built in 1965.

Competitions”, www.pressahmadiyya. com, 4 May 2015) 2 May 2015: On this day, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa addressed the Annual Symposium of the European chapter of the International Association of Ahmadi Architects and Engineers (IAAAE). The symposium took place at the Baitul Futuh Mosque, Morden.

In his address, Huzooraa said:

Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa praying at the Ahmadiyya Cemetery in Fiji, 2006

family mulaqats and attended a reception to which dignitaries were invited. Huzooraa inspected the mission house and mosque on the island and returned to Nadi, a city on Fiji’s main island, by air later that evening. (Al Fazl International, 16 June 2006, pp. 10-11) 2 May 2015: On this day, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa attended the concluding session of the 10th Jamia Ahmadiyya UK Annual Sports Competition.

In his address, Huzooraa said: “I have received good reports about the previous graduates of Jamia Ahmadiyya UK that they are reaching out to disaffected youths and bringing them back towards the true teachings

“The Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, repeatedly said that it was essential to fulfil the rights of mankind. And if we look at his own blessed example, we see that in every possible way he served humanity and forever sacrificed his own comfort in order to provide comfort and ease to others. Indeed, on one occasion, the Holy Prophet, peace be upon him, said that the very meaning of faith was to desire goodness and to be sincere towards others and to fulfil their rights.” (“Head of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community addresses Concluding Session of IAAAE Annual Symposium”, www.pressahmadiyya.com, 3 May 2015)

3 May 3 May 2005: Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa held separate meetings with Kenya’s majalis-e-amila of Khuddam, Ansar and Lajna. Delegations from neighbouring Ethiopia, Somalia, Eritrea (a northeast African country

During his visit to the island, Huzooraa visited the local Ahmadiyya cemetery after having individual and family mulaqats with local Ahmadis.

Huzoor’saa engagements on this island continued till nightfall. (Al Fazl International 16 June 2006, pp. 9-10)

2 May 2 May 2005: On this day, during his visit to Kenya, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa offered Fajr prayer at the Ahmadiyya Mosque in Kasum, which was then 50 years old. Huzooraa then

Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa addressing students of Jamia Ahmadiyya UK at annual sports event

of Islam and strengthening their bond with the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. One of the ways they are doing this is through sports and outdoor activities.” (“Head of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community attends Jamia UK’s Annual Sports

on the Red Sea coast) and Djibouti also had the opportunity to meet with Huzooraa. (Al Fazl International, 20 May 2005, p. 13)

5

AL HAKAM | Friday 29 April 2022

in History - 5 May

Hon Helle Adelborg, Mayor of Hvidovre and Councillors Annette Sjobeck, Maria Durhuus, Kenneth Christensen and Kashif Ahmad with Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa

During the meeting, Huzooraa spoke about the need to “unite in an effort to establish world peace”.

Huzooraa also said: “I have always said that freedom of expression is extremely important; however, there has to be a point where you draw the line because it is

not right to use such speech that will offend and devastate the sentiments of others. We need to find the middle ground so that we can establish peace in the world.” (“Head of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community welcomed to Denmark by Mayor of Hvidovre”, www. pressahmadiyya.com, 6 May 2016)

Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa inspecting the Nusrat Jahan Mosque complex in Copenhagen, Denmark

3 May 2006: Huzooraa attended and addressed the farewell dinner Fiji Jamaat held for him on the last day of his visit in 2006.

4 May 4 May 2006: During his visit to the Far East, Huzooraa left Fiji for Auckland, New Zealand. An earthquake shook the region near Tonga the previous night and a tsunami alert was issued, but Allah protected all the islands through the prayers of His beloved servant. (Al Fazl International, 23 June 2006, p. 1) 4 May 2016: On this day, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa arrived in Copenhagen, Denmark. Arriving at Copenhagen Airport, Huzooraa made his way to Nusrat Jahan Mosque where he was welcomed by hundreds of Ahmadi Muslim men, women and children.

5 May 5 May 2006: Whilst on tour in New Zealand, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa delivered a Friday Sermon in which he talked about the remembrance of Allah. This was also New Zealand Jamaat’s 17th Jalsa Salana and the first Jalsa in which a Khalifatul Masih was present.

On this day, for the first time in history, Huzoor’saa speech was broadcast live from New Zealand to the entire world.

Later in the day, in addition to individual and group mulaqats, Huzooraa graced a children’s class. (Al Fazl International, 23 June 2006, p.

2p-11) 5 May 2016: On this day, Hazrat Khalifatul Maish Vaa was welcomed to Denmark

by Hon Helle Adelborg, Mayor of Hvidovre, and Councilors Annette Sjobeck, Maria Durhuus, Kenneth Christensen and Kashif Ahmad.

Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa hoisting Liwa-e-Ahmadiyyat at Jalsa Salana New Zealand, 2006

Friday 29 April 2022 | AL HAKAM

6

Showing Islam’s true message at the ‘Tamborine Mountain Show’ in Australia

True Islam exhibition held in Tamborine Mountain, Australia

Foad Munir Qaid Majlis Brisbane, Australia

Tamborine Mountain is a locality on a plateau in the Scenic Rim region of Queensland, Australia, and the site of Queensland Jamaat’s latest True Islam exhibition held in March 2022. Home to more than 7500 people, it is a rural area located 36 km away from Bait-ul-Masroor Mosque in Logan.

Tamborine Mountain held its annual show on 19 March 2022 which allowed us a perfect opportunity to bring the True Islam exhibition to this part of Queensland to promote the peaceful teachings of Islam and educate Australians about the Holy Quran and its teachings.

Shows like these are held everywhere in Australia annually and attract most of the

town or city’s population, especially families which makes tabligh more effective as the message of Islam is communicated to more people with less effort.

Setting up the exhibition, applying to the organisers and then getting the instructions and details of the exhibition space was information we needed to acquire. Getting such information is usually effortless but proved to be the biggest challenge as the organising team was quite small and communication was slow with no official confirmation of the stall other than a few text messages, despite being in touch for more than two months. This worried us a fair bit as our target of setting up at least one exhibition a month was at stake until the last day when finally, a welcome email was received.

After loading the van, the night before,

two volunteers left for the show after Fajr prayer from the mosque and we arrived around 7 am. Our team got a space next to the entrance of the show, which meant that everyone walking into the show saw our stall and was greeted by the message “Messiah Has Come”.

The stall was set up and completed well before 10 am (the designated time to complete the setup) with the help of three other volunteers who arrived later. This was important as the public could enter the exhibition at this time. Since the show included different events ranging from eating competitions to art and craft and cooking, it is a big attraction for families and around 2000 people attend the event.

The space was smaller than our previous two exhibitions and we were allowed a 6x3m area. We tried to organise a bigger space and offered to pay but this was not accepted.

Two tables were set up with six copies of the Holy Quran on them, three translations were chosen in Asian languages such as Māori and three in Germanic languages such as English. These were selected based on the demographic of the town’s residents.

Due to this exhibition and being part of a show where local vendors were selling assorted items, we also made space for one table with books for sale. These included The Philosophy of the Teachings of Islam, World Crisis and the Pathway to Peace, Life of Muhammad and Islam’s Response to Contemporary Issues.

Four banners, which were chosen from the local Muslims Down Under and True Islam campaigns, were placed at the back. One Muslims Down Under banner highlighted what values Australian Muslims have and how they are the same as other Australians. The other encouraged visitors to ask any questions regarding Islam. The True Islam campaign banners highlighted how the Holy Prophet Muhammadsa was a mercy for mankind and how Islam guarantees fundamental freedoms for all people. The “Messiah Has Come” banner was placed facing towards the entrance and right next to the thoroughfare for visibility to any passers-by.

Due to the proximity of the exhibition to the entrance and other attractions offered at the show, this exhibition was more enjoyable than the previous two exhibitions this year.

One such attraction was the drills being run

by Queensland Fire and Emergency Services close to us, it pulled a lot of people and they all had to walk past us on the way and back.

The event was promoted on Facebook and Instagram through multiple accounts of the community. Between 25 to 30 people attended our exhibition, asked us different questions and took their time going through all the content on display.

This event was successful and had a relaxed atmosphere, and a few interactions of note included a stall vendor buying the book Life of Muhammad and then giving us free cake. A person asked us if we were getting any traction and if anyone had bothered us? We were happy to report that all interactions had been incredibly positive.

A lady knew a female member from our mosque, spent considerable time looking at all the banners and loved that we were there.

May Allah enable us to continue this effort and make it even better in the future.

The phi durood In his book, Hayat-e-Qudsi, Hazrat Maulana Ghulam Rasul Sahib Rajekira states:

The words Aal and al-Nabi The word al-Nabi has been mentioned in the verse:

َّ َ ُّ َّ ُ َ َ ُ ّٰ َ ‫ِا ّن الل َہ َو َم ٰٓل ِئک َت ٗہ یُ َصلوۡ َن َعلی الن ِب ِ ّی ؕ ٰۤیا ّی َہا ال ِذیۡ َن ٰا َمنوۡا‬ َ ُّ َ ّ ‫َصلوۡا َعل ۡی ِہ َو َس ِل ُموۡا ت ۡس ِل ۡی ًما‬

[“Allah and His angels send blessings on the Prophet. O ye who believe! you also should invoke blessings on him and salute him with the salutation of peace.”]

On the other hand, the word “Aal” [‫]آل‬ has been included in Durood Sharif. The Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, explained the word al-Nabi in the words of “Muhammad” and “Aal” [the progeny of Muhammadsa] because in terms of prophethood, even though he was a prophet till the Day of Resurrection, as a person, when he passed away at the age of 63, in the absence of personal existence, only the progeny of Muhammadsa could carry on his mission in his place.

Aal-e-Muhammad refers to the siddiq [truthful], shaheed [martyrs] and saleh [righteous] people of his ummah, and especially the mujaddideen [reformers] of his ummah, who are the manifestation of: ُ ‫ُعل َ َم‬ َ ‫اء اُ َّم ِتی کَانْب َیا ِء ب َ ِنی ا‬ ‫ِسرائِیل‬ ِ [“The scholars of my (the Holy Prophet’s) ummah are like the prophets of the Bani Israel”], and the Righteous Khulafa. Moreover, since a prophet cannot be without an ummah, when the ummah is part and parcel of the word Al-Nabi, then Aal-e-Muhammad, who are the true heirs of the prophet and the true bearer of his mission, are also its part. Consequently, when al-Nabi needs the prayers of the ansar [helpers] of his ummah and the help of Durood Sharif for the fulfilment of his aims and objectives, then there is also a need for the progeny of the Prophet, or Aal-eMuhammad, to be also included in the said Durood Sharif.

Thus, the inclusion of the words Muhammad and Aal-e-Muhammad in Durood Sharif by the Holy Prophetsa, while interpreting and explaining the word alNabi, was done under divine wisdom and to fulfil this need. In this way, the Holy Prophetsa has given the most accurate and best possible explanation of the word alNabi as far as its interpretation is concerned.

Why include Abraham in Durood Sharif?

Surely, there is a question as to why and from where the need arose to recite the words: ٰ َ َ َ َ ْ ٰ َ َ ْ َّ َ َ َ َ ‫اه‬ ‫يم۔۔۔الخ‬ ِ ‫آل ِإبْ َر‬ ِ ‫كما صليت على ِإبر‬ ِ ‫اهيم وعلى‬ [“As You (God) sent Your blessings on Abraham and on the family of Abraham.”]

7

AL HAKAM | Friday 29 April 2022

ilosophy of invoking on the Holy Prophet – Part III According to this prayer, as long as the progeny and descendants of Prophet Abrahamas remain in the world, the reward of imamat [spiritual leadership] and prophethood will continue in his righteous descendants. Moreover, since the progeny of Prophet Abrahamas will continue till the Day of Resurrection, the series of the blessings of imamat and prophethood will also continue till the Day of Judgment.

However, only the transgressors will be deprived of this reward, but this exception does not necessarily mean that an obedient progeny will also be deprived of this reward for an indefinite period of time.

It is clear from the above two verses that as a result of the said prayer of Prophet Abrahamas, his progeny flourished in two lineages and both of them were blessed with the rewards of imamat and blessings of prophethood. One of the lineages started from Prophet Isaacas and ended with Prophet Jesusas and the other started from Prophet Ishmaelas and reached the Holy Prophetsa.

Thus, the inclusion of the prayers of salawat [salutations] and blessings for Prophet Abrahamas and his progeny in the words of Durood Sharif by the Holy Prophetsa was in fact for the continuation of the said series of blessings for himself and his ummah.

The holy effects of Durood Sharif

Its answer is that Prophet Abrahamas beseeched the following prayer:

َ ۡ ۡ َ َ َّ َ َ َّ ً ُ ً َ ُ ۤ َ َ ُ َ ۡ ‫اج َعلنا ُم ۡس ِل َمی ِن لَک َو ِم ۡن ذ ّرِ ّی ِتنا ا ّمۃ ّم ۡس ِل َمۃ لک‬ ‫ربنا و‬

[“Our Lord, make us submissive to Thee and make of our offspring a people submissive to Thee.”]

And he also prayed:

ّ ُ َ َ ُ ۡ ۡ َ​َ ۡ ‫َر ّبنا َواب َعث فِ ۡی ِہ ۡم َر ُسوۡلًا ِّمن ُہ ۡم یَ ۡتلوۡا َعل ۡی ِہ ۡم ٰا ٰی ِتک َوی َع ِل ُم ُہ ُم‬ ّ َ ۡ ۡ ۡ ‫ال ِک ٰت َب َوال ِحک َمۃ َویُ َزک ِ ۡی ِہ ۡم‬

[“And, our Lord, raise up among them a Messenger from among themselves, who may recite to them Thy Signs and teach them the Book and Wisdom and may purify them.”]

This [prayer] means, “O God, both of us, i.e. Abrahamas and Ishmaelas, are Your servants and propagators of the hanif religion. In the same way, for the service and propagation of this religion, make a Muslim ummah from our progeny and descendants and send in it a Messenger who will recite to them Your verses and teach them the Book

and Wisdom, and purify them with respect to their beliefs, practices and [moral] condition.”

This is the prayer by the influence and result of which the advent of the Holy Prophetsa happened and consequently, the ummah of the Holy Prophetsa, which is the Muslim ummah, appeared. Hence, with this prayer of Prophet Abrahamas, the Holy Prophetsa was blessed in such a way that the series of the blessings of the Holy Prophetsa and the series of the blessings of his progeny and descendants has been extended forever till the Day of Resurrection, as [Allah the Almighty] has mentioned this blessing about Prophet Abrahamas at another place [in the Holy Quran]:

َّ َ ُ َ ّ َ َ ً ‫ِلناس ِا َم‬ َ ‫ال َو ِم ۡن ُذ ّرِ ّیَ ِت ۡی ؕ َق‬ َ ‫اما ؕ َق‬ ‫ال لَا‬ ‫قال ِانِ ۡی جا ِعلک ل‬ ِ ٰ ّ َ َ‫الظ ِلمیۡن‬ ۡ َ ُ ِ ‫یَنال عہ ِدی‬

[“He (God) said, ‘I will make thee a Leader of men.’ Abraham asked, ‘And from among my offspring?’ He said, ‘My covenant does not embrace the transgressors.’”]

This prayer of the ummah which has been presented in the words of Durood Sharif and which is sought under the command and guidance of God Almighty is an accepted supplication. The Holy Prophetsa was also given the glad tidings of its acceptance and due to this very good news, the Holy Prophetsa said: ُ ‫ُعل َ َم‬ َ ‫اء اُ َّم ِتی کَانْب َیا ِء ب َ ِنی ا‬ ‫ِسرائِیل‬ ِ [“The scholars of my (the Holy Prophet’s) ummah are like the prophets of the Bani Israel.”]

Moreover, the Holy Prophetsa said: َ َْ َ ُ ًّ ْ َ ً َ َّ ً َ َ ً َ َ َ َ ْ َ ‫ُ ُ بْ ُن‬ ‫ي ُ ْو ِشك أ ْن يّن ِزل ِفيكم ا مريم حكما عدلا و اِماما مھ ِدیا‬ [“The son of Mary shall surely appear among you as a just arbiter and Imam Mahdi.”]

That is to say, “The ulema-e-mujaddideen [scholarly reformers] of my [the Holy Prophet’s] ummah, who will be sent to their specific nation and at a specific time like the prophets of Israel, will be similar to the Israelite prophets.”

This blessing was to be bestowed upon the Holy Prophetsa through the lineage of Prophet Abrahamas as it was given to Prophet Abrahamas through the lineage of Prophet Isaacas. Moreover, the blessing of the Promised Messiah, who was to come as Imam Mahdi and whose advent was for all the nations of the world and till the Day of Resurrection, is that which was to be given

to the Holy Prophetsa through the lineage of Prophet Abrahamas as it was given to Prophet Abrahamas through the lineage of Prophet Ishmaelas in the form of the appearance of the Holy Prophetsa.

Hence, by the grace of God, the holy effects of the prayers and durood of the [Muslim] ummah have been manifested to this day. On the one hand, the appearance of reformers at the beginning of every century up to the thirteenth century has manifested the same blessings of Prophet Isaac’s dynasty ْ َ َ ُ ُ َ​َ ُ ‫علم‬ under the glad tidings of ‫اء ا ّم ِتی کان ِب َیا ِء‬ َ ‫“[ ب َ ِنی ا‬The scholars of my (the Holy ‫ِسرائِیل‬ Prophet’s) ummah are like the prophets of the Bani Israel”], and on the other, at the beginning of this fourteenth century, with the appearance of the Promised Messiah and Mahdi, peace be upon him, that second blessing manifested similar to the one that came about with the appearance of the Holy Prophetsa under the blessings of the Prophet Ishmael’s dynasty.

The appearance of the Holy Prophetsa happened after the Israelite prophets and the glory of his prophethood surpassed the blessings of the prophets of Bani Israel.

Likewise, the glory of the appearance of the Promised Messiahas, who came as a complete manifestation and reflection of the Holy Prophetsa, surpassed all those reformers who came up to the thirteenth century along the lines of the Israelite prophets. Just as the Holy Prophetsa has the distinction of being Khatam-ul-Anbiya [Seal of the Prophets], so did he [the Promised Messiahas] have the distinction of being Khatam-ul-Auliya [Seal of the Saints].

Thus, in this day and age, it is an occasion of great joy and happiness for the Muslim ummah that their invoking of Durood Sharif has manifested holy fruits and blessed results.

Blessings of the prophethood of the Holy Prophetsa Although the people who reached the status of siddiq [truthful], shaheed [martyrs] and saleh [righteous] were also born in this ummah, but in the word al-Nabi, which has َ ُّ been in the statement of ‫یُ َصلوۡن‬ َّ mentioned َ ‫ َعلی الن ِب ِ ّی‬, there is an indication – where many truthful, martyrs and righteous people were born owing to the siddiqiyat, shaheediyat and salehiyat of the Holy Prophetsa and as a manifestation of his glorious faith [in God], prophets are also to be born in his ummah from his followers. It is for this reason that by the addition of the word Aale-Muhammad with the word al-Nabi, [the spiritual progeny of the Holy Prophetsa] has also been included in the blessings of prophethood as a reflection.

(Translated by Al Hakam from the original Urdu published in Hayat-e-Qudsi, pp. 606-609)

Friday 29 April 2022 | AL HAKAM

8

Open house iftar at Mahmood Mosque, Detroit, USA Syed Shamshad Nasir Missionary, USA

Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Rochester Hills, Michigan welcomed its neighbours, interfaith leaders, public officials and the community members at the Mahmood Mosque to an iftar dinner on 9 April 2022.

The 2022 interfaith iftar was held in person after a gap of two years. During the last two years, this programme was conducted virtually due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

A team of volunteers checked the guests in and provided them with a quick guide to the facility. After this, they keenly looked at the exhibition about the Holy Quran, Prophet Muhammadsa and Jamaat-eAhmadiyya.

The local president, Maqbool Tahir Sahib along with amila members welcomed the guests.

Jamaat members offered the congregational Asr prayer while the guests observed them while seated in the prayer hall.

Secretary Umur-e-Ama, Nasir Bukhari Sahib moderated the evening programme.

He welcomed the guests and provided a quick overview of the agenda for the evening. My humble self delivered the dars of the Holy Quran as part of the regular and daily activity.

After the dars, the guests were offered the opportunity to ask questions. Following the question and answer session, guests and

members proceeded to the hall for the iftar.

After the Maghrib prayer, dinner was served to the guests.

More than 78 external guests attended the event and showed a great deal of interest and many new contacts were made.

Many members from around the Metro Detroit area attended the Ramadan Open House. Channel 7 News covered the event and interviewed the local president, Maqbool Tahir Sahib.

The feedback from the guests is as follows: Izzy, Kulsum, Linda and Dena said: “Thank you so much for such a heartwarming evening. We all appreciated your hospitality and your sentiments. Especially when the world is full of strife. Thank you for all the work you do and the teachings you spread.”

April Bucknell, Esq said: “Thank you for all the information you provided tonight. It was awesome. I will send more questions your way as I have them, and I hope we can meet again someday as I so enjoyed your knowledge of world religions.”

Dena from Jewish Synagogue Shir Tikvah said: “Thank you for inviting us to iftar on Saturday. I had an interesting discussion with Ahmad about assimilation and we hope to continue the dialogue in May after the holiday season (Passover, Easter, Ramadan).”

Scenes from the open house iftar at the Mahmood Mosque

Red Cross Blood Drive in Austin, Texas Qasim Choudhary Missionary, USA

Qamar Zafar Sahib reports Jamaat-eAhmadiyya Austin, Texas hosts Red Cross blood drives in Baitul Muqeet mosque every quarter. These drives started approximately two years ago and have now become a regular event. The latest drive was held on 17 March 2022. Khuddam, with Ansar’s help, carried out waqar-e-amal the night before to prepare the main prayer hall for the drive.

There were four stations set up for taking donors’ vitals, confirming their health and asking some blood donation related questions. Thereafter, donors proceeded to donate blood. A blood donation typically lasted 30 minutes. Once the donation was done, the donors proceeded to the refreshments station where they drank water or Gatorade and had some snacks.

In this drive, 34 units were collected.

These units will be used to save many lives.

The amazing fact is that donors will likely not know whose life their donation saved.

As such, this act is truly altruistic and done for Allah’s pleasure alone.

Ahmadi Muslims invited on French CBC, RadioCanada Syed Mukarram Nazeer Canada Correspondent

Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Austin, Texas hosts Red Cross blood drives in Baitul Muqeet mosque

Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Canada is always seeking ways to spread the message of Islam Ahmadiyyat to the people of Canada.

One such opportunity arose when Jamaat Canada was invited for a live discussion on radio, by a province-wide French-language radio station, Radio-Canada.

Canada Broadcasting Corporation or CBC is the Canadian public broadcaster that broadcast across Canada on radio and television in both official languages of Canada, English and French. The French service is referred to as Radio-Canada.

Amir Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Canada, Lal Khan Malik Sahib appointed AbdoolHamid Abdool-Rahman Sahib to attend.

He has served as the French language spokesperson for Jamaat Canada for many years.

The discussion was aired live on RadioCanada on 8 April 2022 and lasted close to 10 minutes. This was during the drive-home programme in French that was being heard across the Greater Toronto Area and the province of Ontario.

The programme was hosted by Ms Ménard, who asked various questions. Some salient topics were: 1. Which branch of Islam do you identify with?

2. Ramadan and how Ahmadis are living in the post-Covid19 era 3. Contribution of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community towards the well-being of others

9

AL HAKAM | Friday 29 April 2022

Coming from every distant track

Qadian is ‘a centre of peace’: Friedrich Wagner, a German Christian, visits Qadian A series looking at the high standard of morals of the Promised Messiahas and his Khulafa when receiving visitors in Qadian

Tahmeed Ahmad Ahmadiyya Archive and Research Centre Friedrich Wagner, a German Christian, visited Qadian on 29 November 1930 and remained there till 15 January 1931. During his stay in Qadian, he was fortunate enough to attend the Jalsa Salana and had the opportunity to meet with Hazrat Musleh-eMaudra on various occasions.

Al Fazl has recorded Friedrich Wagner’s arrival on its first page of its 2 December 1930 issue: “A German tourist who has travelled on foot from China and Tibet came here [in Qadian].” (Al Fazl, 2 December 1930, p.1) Below are Friedrich Wagner’s impressions about Qadian which were published in The Review of Religions, issue May 1932: “My visit to Qadian: “By Friedrich Wagner, Chemnitz (Germany) “First of all I want to relate how it came about that I visited Qadian. From 1924 to 1929 I lived in the Eastern part of China.

My best Chinese friend there was a Muslim.

I dwelt also for a period of three months in a mosque at Peking. In 1929-30 I returned to Europe by the somewhat unusual way through Central-Asia. I was able, due to my knowledge of the Chinese language, to travel all the long way entirely alone. During this journey, I had many opportunities to come into direct contact with Muslims.

(Was it ordained to prepare me for my later visit to Qadian?) I crossed the Himalaya mountains by way of the Karakorum Pass, to return via India to Germany. Up to this time, though I had had many conversations about Islam, I had never heard a word about Qadian. It was only at Leh (Ladakh), that one of the officials there (Khan Bahadar Ghulam Muhammad with whom I had several friendly talks), drew my attention to Qadian. I learned that Qadian was not very far from Lahore and that it could be reached easily by railway. This enabled me to include a short visit to Qadian in my itinerary.

“It was on November 29, 1930, about noon, that I arrived at Qadian. My original intention was to stay only for some hours, at the most for one day, and then to proceed further to Bombay [now Mumbai]. But it happened otherwise. In spite of my not very imposing outward appearance, which too, had suffered much on the long, strenuous journey I had behind me, I was received at once in the most cordial way and given the best lodging available at the time. It was not long that I was friendly invited to stay at least for a week. It was hard to withstand the

kind invitation. So I accepted it and stayed on, beyond my plans. And I stayed not only for one week but being asked repeatedly to prolong my sojourn, for about seven weeks in all. In this way I was able to see also the big Annual Gathering of the members of the Ahmadiyya Movement, who had come to Qadian from many parts of the country.

This Gathering marks the highest point in the otherwise very busy life of Qadian. My impressions of this Gathering were the very best. It was on January 15, 1931, that I could depart.

“Mr Abdullah R. Scott has given his impressions of Qadian in No. 8 (August 1931) of The Review of Religions [please also see Al Hakam, 15 April 2022, issue CCXIII, p. 15]. I can only say that I agree in every respect with him with this difference that he has written his impressions as a Muslim, and I am giving them as a Christian.

“Certainly there are many Christians who would like to obtain a deeper knowledge about Islam. To achieve this there are two ways; either by reading books about Islam or by studying Islam at first hand by living for sometime in Islamic countries. Amongst books on Islam there are many which contain misstatements and are not good on the whole. One of the activities of the Ahmadies is to clear up such misconceptions about Islam by publishing well and carefully written books.

He who cannot afford to travel to Islamic countries should at least try to read some of their more recent publications. The second way up-to-now was only open to those who could master one of the main Islamic languages. But for many it was not possible to learn one of these languages. This

difficulty has now been removed. When such seekers after truth will go to Qadian, they will find a large number of Muslims who speak excellent English. They will also find a number of missionaries returned from Europe or America, who know the conditions in Christian countries from their own experience. Every visitor to Qadian will find at least one person, but most probably several with whom he will be best able to exchange his views.

“It is a spiritual atmosphere which one feels at Qadian, an atmosphere quite different from the material world outside. Here, the religious thoughts dominate. It is a centre which gives one the spiritual strength to fight the struggle of daily life in the material world. It is a centre of peace, a centre for the recreation, not of the body, but of the mind.

This is partly due to the physical conditions of the place. There is hardly a motor-car there. The railway is distant. There are to be found modern things but they do not predominate. Qadian is a centre of people of many different countries; this means also of many different views and different branches of knowledge. He who only endeavours to seek and dig out, will find very much to his satisfaction. It is not too much to say that he will never come to the end and will continue to find new treasures.

“At Qadian, I had conversations of all kinds and I read many different books (amongst these ‘The Teachings of Islam’, the well-known book by the Holy Founder of the Ahmadiyya Movement, which came into my hands for the first time, and has made the deepest impression upon me). I was thus able to increase my knowledge of Islam.

And l could correct many erroneous views

about the Holy Quran and the Holy Prophet Muhammad (may peace and blessings of God be upon him!), which had originated in my mind from misrepresentations in European books. I discerned the simplicity and clarity of Islam more and more. How many good and beautiful things Islam contains! I only wish that all this may become widely known in Europe and America, so that much of it may be accepted by and by in Christian countries. Islamic teaching is so clear that even the most simple man can easily understand it. Christianity with its many different teachings and dogmas could very well take a lesson from Islam. Both Islam and Christianity could give much to each other and thus grow and develop and appreciate each other in a better way. And why should one always look to the dark side of a religion other than his own? No, we should look to the bright points and accept them as well. By doing so, we would help in perfecting the belief that there is only one God, Who is Almighty and All-Merciful.

And I believe that the Holy Founder of the Ahmadiyya Movement received his revelations from the Almighty God. And I believe that the Almighty God in sending these revelations wanted besides other aims in view, to give a new impulse to the untiring efforts towards an understanding and rapprochement between different religions.

“It was very pleasant for me to note the very sympathetic attitude that is observed at Qadian towards the followers of other religions. His Holiness Khalifatul-Masih, the present Head of the Ahmadiyya Community, who, in spite of his busy time, received me several times, declared at one occasion to me, that it was under his influence that the apathetic attitude which the Ahmadis had taken in former years had become softened and even changed.

And l believe that it is this attitude which will contribute very much towards the killing of old religious controversies and enmities and will thus open the way to mutual understanding which hope gives me so much joy. It is not out of place here to remark that I went to Qadian and lived there as a Christian and never denied this.

And in spite of that, I always received the best treatment. At one occasion I overheard involuntarily that my companion said about me to an inquirer: ‘He (that is me) is a pakka (real, genuine) Christian.’

“I would advise any one who may afford to pay a visit to Qadian, that he should make it a point to stay there for several days because it is after a stay of some days, that the real spirit of Qadian will begin to reveal Continued on page 11

Friday 29 April 2022 | AL HAKAM

10

God inspires scientists and human discovery Hamaad Muin Ahmad Medical Student, Czech Republic

Rewind back to the dot-com bubble burst back in 2000 and you’ll see that since then, technological and scientific advancements have soared. The last two decades have witnessed an exponential ascent.

For example, tube televisions weighing 45kg just about managing 480p resolution have transformed into 8k flatscreen televisions jampacked with specs stuffed into a 20kg model. Mainstream cars are rapidly moving towards full electrical models. Three or four years ago, if I saw a Tesla parked on the street, it would be the highlight of my day. However now, not a day passes where I do not see one.

We said goodbye to Nokia brick phones long ago and now eagerly await the next new iPhone, which Apple constantly claims (and successfully so) is better than its previous

model. Smartphones now have cameras more powerful and higher in resolution than some of the most expensive handheld video cameras 15-20 years ago.

Humanity’s advancements are now more than ever before, tremendously mirroring exponential growth.

For one who holds little to no faith in God, this might show evidence of the “greatness” and “glory” of the human race and nothing more.

On the other hand, one who has a resolute conviction in God and has studied history will consider this to be concrete evidence of His compelling existence. Not only this, it demonstrates God’s active role in humanity’s scientific discoveries. Below are a few anecdotes from the history of scientists who claimed to have been inspired by dreams or visions, thus leading to their Nobel-Prize-worthy breakthroughs.

In the books of history, we find stories of

Mendeleev’s 1869 handwritten draft of the periodic table Source: www.themarginalian.org/2016/02/08/mendeleev-periodic-table-dream/

remarkable scientists such as Isaac Newton who observed the apple fall from the tree, inspiring his formulation of the theory of gravity. Some scientists claimed to have had dreams revealing to them information later contributing to the development of groundbreaking discoveries, such as the case of August Kekulé – the founder of the benzene ring structure.

Were these simply dreams or epiphanies, or was there a greater power behind it all?

Now, I gave in to the temptation of watching one of the latest Marvel additions: Eternals. In this movie, Phastos is an Eternal and uses his cosmic energy to progress Earth’s societal development. Evident from the name “Eternal”, he cannot die until he fulfils his mission on earth which was sent in 5000 BC. Phastos’ role is to guide and progress technological innovations throughout the course of human history by using his powers to “inspire” human scientific intellectual discovery. From the humble invention of the wheel to the destructive atomic bomb, Phastos and his powers played a role (in this movie).

Now, of course, this was a movie and completely fictional. But I pondered and thought that “I know of a Being who inspires His creation daily in real life and in realtime” – God. Furthermore, as a Muslim, I hold the resolute belief in the existence of God and not only His existence, but His active role in humanity’s development.

Anyhow, after watching the film, it took me back to my high school days when we were being taught organic chemistry.

We were learning about the structure of the benzene ring – an organic chemical compound with 6 carbons and 6 hydrogens (C6H6) organised in a ring structure.

For decades since its discovery in 1825

by Michael Faraday, scientists were puzzled about the structure of benzene despite being heavily aware of its empirical formula of C6H6.

Due to the odd spatial organisation of its atoms, European scientists continued to scratch their heads desperately trying to understand the structure. They knew there was something odd about the benzene structure. They just didn’t know what.

Among these was one German chemist.

Late at night in early 1862, deep in his textbook study, enveloped in grains of creosote residue from a 19th-century chimney fire, August Kekulé dozed off and had a dream. Kekulé recounted: “I was sitting writing at my textbook; but the work did not progress; my thoughts were elsewhere. I turned my chair towards the fire and dozed off. Again the [carbon] atoms were gambolling before my eyes. My mental eye could now distinguish larger structures of manifold conformation: long rows, sometimes more closely fitted together; all twining and twisting in snakelike motion.

“But look! What was that? One of the

August Kekulé

snakes had seized hold of its own tail, and the form whirled mockingly before my eyes. As if by a flash of lightning I awoke; and this time I also spent the rest of the night in working out the consequences of the hypothesis.” (www.chemistryworld.com/ features/snakes-sausages-and-structuralformulae/9038.article) Kekulé claimed to have dreamt about a snake biting its own tail. He then linked this dream to the structure of the benzene ring and hypothesised that its structure is composed of alternating double and single carbon-carbon bonds. The next year he produced an extensive research paper in German on the subject. He turned out to be completely correct. The structure of benzene was confirmed decades later in 1929 by the crystallographer Kathleen Lonsdale using X-ray diffraction methods.

This scientific breakthrough was crucial for the future of chemistry and medicine.

In 1988, it was reported by the American Chemical Society that two-thirds of all current chemicals contain a benzene ring.

Furthermore, we have found out that benzene is also carcinogenic. Medicine, drugs and hormones such as epinephrine, norepinephrine and dopamine all contain a benzene ring in them.

In my humble opinion, I believe there is no other possible explanation for the above anecdote other than the active involvement of the Hand of God and God revealing hidden insight to Kekulé through a type of divine revelation.

Creating the periodic table – Mendeleev’s dream Billions of students around the world have heard of the periodic table of elements.

It is the tabular display of the chemical elements organised and based on various chemical properties. The organisation of the table aids scientists in analysing the reactivity of elements, predicting chemical reactions and through understanding these trends, speculating on properties yet to be discovered.

AL HAKAM | Friday 29 April 2022 But the table was not always like this.

There is a deep history engrained in it.

Originally, in the 18th and 19th centuries, some scientists suggested organising the table according to metals and non-metals.

Others suggested arranging it based on atomic weight and grouping them into triads.

It wasn’t until 1869 that the famous Russian chemist, Dmitri Mendeleev created the framework that is the periodic table that we know today.

In 1869, humanity was only aware of 63 out of the 118 current known elements.

Mendeleev became obsessed with these 63 elements. Inspired by the North American card game known as solitaire, he made a set of cards with each element written on one card and took them everywhere he went.

On 17 February 1869, immediately after breakfast, and with a train to catch later that same morning, Mendeleev set to work organising the cards. He carried on for three days. Exhausted from his three-day effort, he fell into slumber and had a dream: “I saw in a dream a table where all the elements fell into place as required.

Awakening, I immediately wrote it down on a piece of paper.” (Mendeleyev’s Dream: The Quest For the Elements, Paul Strathern) After his dream, Mendeleev drew the table he had dreamt. Whilst arranging these cards of atomic numbers, he discovered what is called the Periodic Law and the Periodic table. His discoveries were so substantial and ground-breaking that he even knew to leave spaces in the table for elements which were not known at the time, for example gallium, germanium and scandium.

From this, it is evident that when God reveals knowledge to His creation, the discoveries elucidate and perfectly mirror His perfect intelligence and knowledge which knows no bounds.

11 Google – ‘When a really great dream shows, grab it!’

More recently is the story of Larry Page – one of the co-founders of Google. When Larry Page was a 22-year-old graduate, in the 1990s and a student at Stanford, he had a dream. He narrated this dream during the 2009 University of Michigan commencement speech. He was struck in the middle of the night with a dream. In this dream, he had somehow managed to download the entire web and just keep the links of his downloads. Whilst narrating this dream, the Google co-founder said: “When a really great dream shows up, grab it!”

At another place, he said: “When I suddenly woke up, I was thinking: what if we could download the whole web, and just keep the links and […] I grabbed a pen and started writing!

Sometimes it is important to wake up and stop dreaming. I spent the middle of that night scribbling out the details and convincing myself it would work,” Perhaps the next time you habitually perform a Google search, a surge of thanks may resonate to God for showing this dream to Larry Page.

Addressing the Jamaat on Friday, 7 August 1931 in Shimla, India, Hazrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih IIra, whilst speaking about revelation, narrated the following: “There are also secular prophets of scientific progress who do not, of course, receive revelation in the form of actual words, but do, in fact, receive hidden insights from God and then spread their new knowledge throughout the world.

Edison used to say that he would sometimes just be sitting around and then suddenly the right idea for a new invention would strike him like lightning. Since such prophets are prophets of science, the revelations

that flash into their minds are purely of a scientific or technological nature. An idea is put into their head and they make new discoveries every day and bring to light new forms of knowledge and astound the world with their amazing inventions.” (www. reviewofreligions.org/33663/four-spiritualand-secular-ranks/) Additionally, in an online meeting with Norway Khuddam on 27 March 2022, after being asked about divine revelation and how one could explain it to atheists or scientists, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih Vaa explained the following: “There is also a non-prophet who reaches a standard in the worldly terms. Some things which scientists have invented are actually a result of them going through a state of revelation. They receive these [ideas] in the form of inspiration. They ponder, and Allah the Almighty guides them [...] when one ponders and deliberates upon something, they may enter a state of revelation [...]

“For example, Archimedes was once bathing, and couldn’t work out a problem, so as he continued to bathe in the bathroom, he at once received the thought that this problem can be solved in this manner. He started saying ‘Eureka, Eureka’ and jumped out of the bath whilst exclaiming that he had finally found the solution to the problem.

The same applies to other scientists as well.

We claim that when they ponder over a matter and concentrate on it, and it is of benefit then Allah the Almighty aids them and gives them the answer. This answer which Allah the Almighty grants is in fact revelation; a revelation for secular people [...]

“Thus, these are all operating in parallel – the spiritual realm and the physical realm.

On the one hand, Allah the Almighty grants understanding by way of revelation in the spiritual realm, but on the other, He grants understanding through revelation in the physical realm to those who invent new

Continued from page 9

itself to him. He who goes there only for the sake of sight-seeing will hardly find it interesting. Qadian is not Delhi or Agra in respect of splendid buildings. But it is a place whose spiritual treasures never exhaust.

Each day more at Qadian gives more to the new-comer. There will be only very few, who will leave Qadian taking nothing with them. And that what a visitor takes back with him cannot be measured in coins. No, it is something much more precious and really invaluable.

“And to revert to my own story. On my long journey across Asia I had visited many a place. Amongst those there are such which I would like to see again, and there are others which would not attract me again.

And Qadian is one of the places which l would like to see again, and amongst these it stands in the first rank. This also shows how much Qadian has given me and is capable of giving everybody who visits it. I take this opportunity, before I close to express my heartiest thanks to all those who contributed to make my visit to Qadian such a pleasant remembrance!” (The Review of Religions, 31 May 1932, pp. 158-162)

things.”

There are other examples throughout the course of the history of scientists who have received dreams or visions inspiring them to perform groundbreaking discoveries. Each example bears testimony to the greatness and grandeur of God’s compelling power and His ever-lasting knowledge. He intends for humanity to progress further and whilst doing so, for humans to praise Him for He is Omnipotent and Omniscient.

The true purpose of Eid Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra said: “As I have mentioned, the true purpose of our Eid is to attain [the nearness of] our God, and the way to attain His [closeness] is to make sacrifices for Him. If we remember this purpose, then our Eid is true Eid, otherwise pretending to be happy increases the pain and sorrow.”

(Khutbat-e-Mahmud, Vol. 1, p. 45)

Friday 29 April 2022 | AL HAKAM

12

100 Years Ago...

The story of ‘The Martyr of Kabul’ by an eyewitness – Part I The Review of Religions [English], March, April & May, 1922

[Ahmad Nur, the eyewitness] Sahibzada Abdul Latif, “The Martyr of Kabul” was the resident of Saidgah, a small village on the bank of the river Shaml, in Khost, [Afghanistan]. He was a Sayad by caste. From his forefathers, he was [one of] the greatest Rais [chief] in his country (Khost), [Afghanistan]. At the time he met with his death in Kabul, his age was between 60 and 70.

Sahibzada Abdul Latif was famous for his hospitality. He was very fond of the Quran and had the greatest love for the Holy Prophet Mohamed, may peace and blessings of God be upon him. Some 30 to 40 persons including myself (the eye witness) used to live in his guest room and were always busy talking over religious subjects. The guests were supplied with food by the Sahibzada Sahib. Sahibzada Sahib Mulla Abdul Latif had also a Baitakh (male-apartment) by the side of his mosque. In that Baitakh, some 200 people could take their seats. The people who used to gather for prayers first came into the Baitakh and there they used to talk about religion and when the time for prayer came, they used to go into the mosque and after saying their prayers used to go home.

Before and after the prayers, there used to be absolutely no talk in the mosque. In the compound of the mosque, there were many Hujras (cloisters) in which Mulla Abdul Latif ’s disciples used to live. To the north of the mosque there ran a canal of water from west to east which passed through the compound of his residence which went by the name of Saidgah.

Whenever famine broke out in the country Mulla Abdul Latif used to help the poor with his own grain. He was the owner of a few villages in Khost and also had much land in Bannu under the British Government.

He had received his education in India and was well versed in the current sciences of theology. He always used to teach Hadis and Quran and he knew many thousand Ahadis by heart – so much so that Amir Abdur Rahman of Kabul admitted of his piety and used to say that there was only one person in his kingdom who in addition to his being learned and pious remembered so many Ahadis.

Whoever was appointed Governor of Khost from Kabul was always obedient to Mulla Abdul Latif and used to live under him as his own child. Sahibzada Sahib was very fond of and an expert in using gun. He used to receive eleven hundred rupees as an annuity from the Kabul Darbar – Amir Abdur Rahman had appointed him along with the Governor of Khost to demarcate the boundary line between Khost and Para Chanar with the English. At most times he used to take part in the work of demarcation single handed with the English officers.

Amir Abdur Rahman during the last days of his reign had sent for Mulla Abdul Latif and his family to reside at Kabul, where he had taught Quran and Hadis for some years. I was also along with him at Kabul. At one time, his disciples asked him why he addressed Ahmad Nur (the writer of the account) in particular whenever he wished to say anything. Mulla Sahib replied that Ahmad Nur was his true companion.

This system of teaching Hadis and Quran was carried on in the mosque of Mirza Muhammad Husain Khan who was the greatest Governor of the time of Amir Abdur Rahman Khan. Mulla Abdul Latif had also told his disciples that when he used to begin teaching the lessons of Bukhari Sharif, Ahmad Nur appeared to him assuming the shape of a valley and that the lesson of Hadis ran into it like water and therefore he used to address Ahmad Nur. When Amir Abdur Rahman died in 1901, his son Amir Habib Ullah Khan succeeded him. When all the grandees had come to swear an oath of allegiance, the Amir sent for Sahibzada Sahib Abdul Latif, that he should also do his Baiat. But before the Amir administered an oath to him, he (the Amir) of his own accord announced his intention of never departing from the laws of Islam. The Sahibzada Sahib was moreover, called to Kabul to do the Dastar Bandi to the ruler in token of blessing him.

When the Dastar was tied on the head of the Amir and only 2 or 3 coils remained, then Qazi-ul-Quzat requested that these 2 or 3 coils be left for him to tie to seek the blessings and accordingly be was allowed to tie the remaining coils on the head of the Amir.

Sometime after the Sahibzada Sahib sent his family to Khost and sent me along with them. Two or three months after this, the Sahibzada Sahib asked the permission of the Amir to go on a pilgrimage to Mecca.

The Amir gladly permitted him to go and gave him many camels and horses and some money. Reaching Khost, Mulla Abdul Latif started on pilgrimage via Bannu to India.

When he reached Lakki Marwat, he had a talk with a person about the Promised Messiah, peace be with him. The man was a learned person and it appeared as if that man had believed in the Messiah and expressed a kind of pleasure. On learning this and feeling the pleasure which the man had expressed, the martyr of Kabul (Mulla Abdul Latif) bestowed upon that man the horse of his own riding.

When the blessed martyr was engaged in the work of demarcation on the frontier with the English, a man came to � � him and ِ � (Aenai gave him a book ‫��ت ا�م‬ �‫آ‬ Kamalati Islam) of the Promised Messiah[as].

He was pleased to get the book and gave the person some reward in token of his being pleased with the offer of the book. He

Hazrat Sahibzada Abdul Latif Shaheedra

read that book, he liked it very much, and read it to certain selected persons in his guest room. He told them that the writer of the book was the expected person or the promised one for whom the world had been looking and that the promised one had come in the person of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad[as] of Qadian. He said that though this was the time of the Reformer and that he had looked on every side but he had found no trace of the Reformer, and then he looked to himself and saw that the Quran revealed all its secret and hidden meanings to him and sometimes in an embodied form revealed its meaning to him, and then he thought that perhaps God was going to raise him up as a Reformer, but the study of that book, Aenai Kamalati Islam, showed that the Reformer was sent by God and that he who was pre-ordained to come had come, and therefore, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad[as] of Qadian was the same person about whom the [Holy] Prophet, may peace and the blessings of God be upon him, had solemnly enjoined that whenever he should come, the people should run to him and convey to him the Prophet’s greetings. The Martyr of Kabul also said, whether he himself lived or died, everyone who listened to him, should run to the Promised Messiah[as]. Many times did he exhort his pupils to find out the Messiah and his abode and see how the matter stood. Sayad Abdul Sattar Sahib who nowadays lives at Qadian as a Mahajir had visited Qadian many times. His other pupils who had been to Qadian expressed certain doubts about the Promised Messiah[as]. But he would remove their doubts and tell them that that person was the true one and that they were only mistaken.

After this, “The Martyr of Kabul” sent his pupil, Maulvi Abdur Rahman of the Mangal tribe who received 240 rupees as an annuity from the Amir of Kabul, with some other pupils to the Promised Messiah, peace

be with him. He gave his letter of Baiat and I too my own letter of Baiat to them to be delivered to the Promised Messiah[as]. “The Martyr of Kabul” also sent certain Khilaats through Maulvi Abdur Rahman of the Mangal tribe to the Promised Messiah[as] and enjoined him to deliver them to the Promised One. The said Maulvi Abdur Rahman Sahib after delivering those letters of Baiat and Khilaats to the Promised Messiah[as] stopped at Qadian for a few days. He returned to Khost after some time with certain books of the Promised Messiah[as] and making them over to “The Martyr of Kabul”, he returned to his own house in the Mangal country.

Meanwhile, someone had reported to Amir Abdur Rahman of Kabul, that Maulvi Abdur Rahman of Mangal tribe who had received 240 rupees per annum had been to some foreign country. Upon this, the Amir sent orders to the Governor of Khost for the arrest of Maulvi Abdur Rahman. The Governor of Khost informed “The Martyr of Kabul” of blessed memory that orders from the Amir of Kabul were received for the arrest of Maulvi Abdur Rahman. When Maulvi Abdur Rahman heard of it, he hid himself somewhere. After this, another order was received that the property of the said Maulvi be confiscated and that his wife and children be sent away to Kabul. When the property was confiscated and the family was sent to Kabul, Maulvi Abdur Rahman of his own accord went to Kabul and presented himself to the Amir who asked him why he had gone to the foreign territory. The Maulvi replied that he had gone for His Majesty’s sake to Qadian and had brought with him for His Majesty the books of a person who had claimed to be the Promised Messiah[as].

The Amir took the books from him and sent the Maulvi to the dungeon. Since then, nothing has been heard of Maulvi Abdur Rahman of the Mangal tribe and no one knows what became of him and when and how he disappeared. Only God knows. The rumour goes that a pillow was pressed hard against his mouth and he was suffocated to death.

Amir Abdur Rahman had come to know of the visit of Maulvi Abdur Rahman of the Mangal tribe to Qadian, for as soon as “The Martyr of Kabul” received the books of the Promised Messiah[as], he informed all the officers and governors, great and small, that the Promised Reformer had made his appearance in Qadian. For this reason, great many Fatwas of Kufr were pronounced against “The Martyr of Kabul”, Sayad Abdul Latif, may his soul rest in peace.

(To be continued...)

(Transcribed by Al Hakam from the original in The Review of Religions, March, April & May, 1922)

13

AL HAKAM | Friday 29 April 2022

The Holy Prophet’s love for perfume, women and salat, and its meaning

Awwab Saad Hayat Al Hakam

The Holy Prophet Muhammadsa said: َ ُ ُ ُ ّ َ ُ ْ ّ َ ٌ َ َ ْ ُ َ ْ ُ ‫ُ ّ َ َ َّ م ْن‬ ‫الن َسائ َوق َّرۃ ع ْی ِن ْی‬ ِ ‫لطیب و‬ ِ ‫ح ِبب اِلی ِ دنیاکم ثلاث۔ ا‬ ٰ َّ ‫ِفی‬ ‫الصلو ِۃ‬ Meaning, “In your world, women and perfume have been made dear to me, but the delight of my eyes lies in salat [prayer].”

(Sunan al-Nasa’i, The Book of the Kind Treatment of Women) This statement of the Holy Prophetsa does not refer to the fundamentals of faith or Islam – they contain in them deep wisdom and reveal the compassionate and beautiful nature of Prophet Muhammadsa.

An incorrect understanding by Sir Muhammad Iqbal On 30 December 1915, the famous Sir Muhammad Iqbal wrote a letter to Maharaja Sir Kishen Pershad – an Indian noble who was the Prime Minister of Hyderabad. He wrote: “In London, an Englishman asked me if I was a Muslim. I said, ‘Yes – I am one-third Muslim’. Surprised, he asked how so. I said the Messengersa of Allah had said: ‘In your world, three things are dear to me; salat [prayer], perfume and women.’

“I, however, only like one of these three things. Nevertheless, this thought [of Prophet Muhammadsa] deserves praise in that the Holy Prophetsa spoke of women [Sunan al-Nasa’i] in reference to two subtleties. The reality is that women are the fragrance of the law of nature and the prayer of the heart. […]” (Iqbal banam Shad, by Muhammad Abdullah Qureshi, p. 150, published by Bazm-e-Iqbal, Lahore) The correct meaning of this hadith was related by Hazrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih IIra, who explained: “Humans are commanded to love God Almighty, but God does not only say this,

rather He says to love His creation as well.

Thus, the Holy Prophetsa was proud that he liked three things and held them as the dearest. He said he loved perfume, women and salat [prayer]. If one reflects, the Holy Prophetsa possessed complete love for these three things and his love was so deep that no parallel can be found in any religion other than Islam.

“Teeb means fragrance and cleanliness and before the Holy Prophetsa, no religion emphasised cleanliness with the intensity that Islam did. Previous religions thought it was a great [spiritual] achievement if a person was physically unclean and dirty.

To this day, many priests do not clip their nails and the more dirt that is present under their nails, the closer to God they are seen to be. They do not bathe for years on end.

However, the Holy Prophetsa said teeb – cleanliness – is essential and he would practically exemplify this himself and loved cleanliness.

“Then he said he liked women. Here, the Arabic word nisa [women] is used, not azwaj [wives]. In other words, it is not referring to wives, but rather women in general. And he is stating that ‘no other religion took care of the rights and spoke of the benefits of women in the way I did. Previous religions have suppressed the rights of women and no one is empathetic about them – however, I will establish their rights and take care of their success in the same way as men.’ ٰ َّ َ ُ ُ ‫ – ‘ق َّرۃ ع ْی ِن ْی ِفی‬the “Then he said, ’‫الصلو ِۃ‬ delight of my eyes has been put in salat [prayer]. This is another special distinction between Islam as compared to other religions. There is no other nation in the world that possesses consistency of worship like that of salat [prayer]. All previous religions laid focus on apparent physical acts of worship or the time gap between each worship was so long that spirituality fell weak. However, it is only the religion of Islam in which its followers are called to worship five times a day – there is no other

religion like this. Christians and Hindus go to worship once a week – some of them may worship day and night; however, here I am talking about collective worship. The commandment to worship collectively, many times a day, was only given by the Holy Prophetsa. Salat also means ‘to pray [in general]’ and in this manner, the Holy Prophetsa emphasised the importance of prayer.

“The worship of other religions has stressed the apparent and physical elements and through those actions, they try to

attain pleasure in worship. For example, in the Aryan faith and Christianity, they play music. However, the Holy Prophetsa said that ‘I have been given such worship which possesses pleasure within it and no other religion can match the pleasure it provides.’

“Thus, this is the love that the Holy Prophetsa was bestowed. Now, was the Holy Prophetsa a disbeliever [God forbid] because he loved perfume, women and salat?

Certainly not! […]” (Anwar-ul-Ulum, Vol. 8, pp. 606-608)

Jalsa Yaum-e-Masih-eMaud in Greece Zeeshan Nadeem Greece Correspondent

On 20 March 2022, Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Greece had the opportunity to hold an event to commemorate the Promised Messiah Day after Zuhr and Asr prayers at the Athens mission house.

Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa graciously approved Raja Burhan Ahmad Sahib, a missionary, as the keynote speaker for this event.

The event commenced with the recitation from the Holy Quran with its Urdu translation, followed by ahadith and an excerpt from the writings of the Promised Messiahas.

The first speech of the event was delivered by Mubarak Ahmad Bashir Sahib, Naib Sadr Majlis Khuddam-ul-Ahmadiyya Greece in Greek on the topic of “Proofs of the Truthfulness of the Promised Messiahas from the Bible”.

The second speech was delivered by Mushtaq Ahmad Sahib, Qaid Maal Majlis Ansarullah Greece on the topic of “Proofs of the Truthfulness of Promised Messiahas from the Holy Quran”.

After this, a poem was presented, followed by the third speech by AttaUl Naseer Sahib, National President of Jamaat Greece on the topic of “Proofs of the Truthfulness of the Promised Messiahas from the Holy Quran & Bible”.

Then, another poem was presented, which was followed by the concluding address by Raja Burhan Ahmad Sahib, on the topic of “Truthfulness of the Promised Messiahas”.

The event concluded with silent prayer.

The event was attended by 20 people in person and 24 people joined online via Zoom and WhatsApp from Athens, Aspropirgos, Thiva, Katerini, Ioannina, Thessaloniki, Skyro and Amaliada, making the total attendance of the event to be 44.

Friday 29 April 2022 | AL HAKAM

14

100 Years Ago...

New converts in America, missions in London and Ceylon, and European scholars’ praise for the Holy Prophet The Moslem Sunrise, April 1922

Hazrat Mufti Muhammad Sadiqra (1872-1957)

New converts

Since the last report in [The Moslem Sunrise] No. 3, the following gentlemen and ladies have accepted Islam in Ahmadia Movement.

Their American names as well as their Moslem names are given below: Mr Brossfield (Nasar-ud-Din), Chicago; Mrs Dirin (Naseera), Ili. State; Mr W Hill (Najm-ud-Din); Mr JH Thomas (Mohibullah); Mrs Eliza Dunn (Amina); Mr HC Crosley (Basharat), New York; Mr I McDonald (Habeeb); Mr George Farmer (Rafeeq); Mrs Lillie Burkett (Barkat); Mr Zack Merrimelker (Sawbit); Mr George Malowe (Amjad), Chicago; Mr John Wilson (Majid); Mr Edward Rupert Myert (Majeed); Mr Elipah Standard (Ishaq); Mr IS Wilberger (Ismaeel) St. Louis; Mr Isaac Robertson (Aaqil); Mr Samuel Riley (Basheer); Mr Samuel Marks (Rasheed); Mr Joseph Williams (Mamoon); Mr William D Harris (Mobashir); Mr Asa Hicks (Saeed); Mrs Virginia Powell (Habeeba); Mrs Joice Edwards (Ameena); Mrs Eliza Dinn (Amina); Mrs Jessie Bowman (Jannat), Detroit; Mr Arthur Jolius (Noor-udDin); Mrs Effie Smith (Afeefa); Mr Joseph Johnson (Habeeb-ur-Rahman); Miss Sadie Thompson (Saadee), Detroit; Mr John Anderson (Mobarik); Mr JH Thomas (Mohib-Bullah); Mr W Hill (Nejmud-Din); Mr Leondies McDonald (Yoosuf).

Ahmadia news from other countries The annual gathering of the members of our [Ahmadiyya] Movement at Qadian in [1921] December last was a great success this year.

Nearly 8000 delegates came from different parts of India and heard the lectures of great orators. His Hazrat, the Khaleefat-ul-Masih [IIra] spoke for 17 hours in three days on the very important subject of “The Existence of God”. In one of his recent epistles to me, His Holiness writes: “Before the days of the annual meeting, I was severely suffering from coughing with no relief even for 15 minutes. Ordinary talking used to make me choke. I had intended not to deliver any lecture this time or to speak very little occasionally. My speech took more time this year than the past ones. I spoke for 17 hours in three continuous days. What a wonder that the cough which could not be cured by European and Indian medicines and vaccinations miraculously abated very much and within a week after the meeting

was over, [it] quite stopped. This is the grace of God and one of His wondrous signs.”

List of the books to be lent and for sale 1. Holy Quran, Part I (Arabic text and English translation of the sacred book of Islam with original and exhaustive notes, commentary, etc., edited by a committee of Muslim scholars in India) 2. Mighty Signs of the Living God 3. Ahmad[as], the World Reformer 4. Confutation of Atheism (by a Muslim Saint) 5. Islam versus Civilization 6. Call to Truth 7. [The] Review of Religions (a monthly magazine) 8. Bismillah, Islam in Ahmadia Movement 9. Islamic Mode of Worship

Mr Omar Ali Bacon An English convert to Islam, once called by the editor of Stain Parish magazine as “A man of exceptional ability,” has been in a monastery for 3 months and after investigating several other churches could find satisfaction nowhere but in Islam.

This young brother is now helping our missionary in London and is zealous to give the message of truth to others.

[London] Maulvi Mubarak Ali writes from London that three more English men Islam have accepted Islam. He has published an interesting syllabus of lectures delivered at the mosque, 63 Melrose Rd. SW 18, during the months of January to April 1922.

[Ceylon] As reported by our dear brother, Mr Taha, the brotherhood in Ceylon is making good progress. Master Abdul Rahman BA of Qadian visited the Island and delivered a series of successful lectures which have been admirably reported in the local papers.

“The Message” published in Slave Island Colombo, Ceylon, is the weekly paper of the Ahmadia Movement in English and Tamil languages and is doing very good work.

A word of tributes from Christian writers “Incalculably great is the debt of the world to the early representatives of Mohammedanism. For it was they who transmitted the treasures of Greek literature from the Middle Age to the Renaissance, they who originated the graceful art – forms

of which the Taj Mahal and the Alhambra are the most famous examples. It was they who contributed to the sciences of Algebra and Chemistry, Astronomy and Medicine; they who dotted the Saracen Empire with universities, and built at Baghdad and Cairo the most renowned libraries in the world. When London was a city of hovels and the stench in its streets such that no one could breathe its air with impunity, Cordova was noted for the cleanliness and beauty of its streets and squares. Arabic is the most widely spoken language, and though Chinese characters are used by more people, Arabic will carry out further around the world. And with the Arabic vocabulary has gone the Mohammedan religion. Today, we decorate our walls and floors with fabrics that Mohammedans taught us to weave, we regale our senses with perfumes that they taught us to make, [and] we teach our children the higher mathematics from textbooks of which they were the original creators.” (From “The World’s Great Religions,” by Alfred W Martin)

The treasures of Allah Thought lines by Miss EB Kealing i. Allah teaches the creation all good. ii. Be pure and gentle as the new born. iii. Consciousness of man is submerged in gentleness. iv. Enter the gates of Paradise by obedience to love. v. Faith in all forgiveness is well with thee. vi. Go, deliver words of faith to the thirsty souls. vii. Happy continuously in invisible goodness. viii. Joy radiates from a virtuous life.

How European scholars praise our prophet HM Khan, our missionary in Australia, is doing good work in publishing a little monthly leaflet inserting articles on Islam to various papers in the country. In his Moslem Sunshine No. 4, he has given a plan of the Tomb of Jesus Christ in Srinagar.

In order to show that the virulent attacks on Islam are made by bigoted, selfish and ignorant Christian missionaries and not by learned critics of the west, he has given a few quotations from some eminent Europeans who have studied the Quran as Oriental Scholars. We reproduce some here from his Moslem Sunshine No. 7: 1. “The Koran is but little read by Europeans; it is ignorantly supposed to contain many things that it does not.” (HG

Wells) 2. “However often we turn to it (Koran) …, it soon attracts, astounds and, in the end, enforces our reverence. ... Thus, this book will go on exercising through all eyes a most potent influence.” (Goethe) 3. “The Koran, the miracle to which Muhammad[sa] himself so often appealed as proof of his Divine Mission, and a miracle indeed it seems. For the prophet, though cultured was illiterate, and there is no reasonable room for doubt that a large part at any rate of the strange flood of eloquence so purely seen came to him in states of trance. The book is like no other book on earth. It remains a wonder of the world.”

(Pickthall) 4. “By a fortune absolutely unique in history, Muhammed[sa] is the threefold founder of a nation, of an Empire and of a religion. Illiterate himself, scarcely able to read and write, he was yet the author of a book which is a poem, a code of laws, a book of common prayer, and the bible in one, and is reverenced to this day by a sixth of the whole human race as a miracle of purity, of style, of wisdom and of truth. It is the one miracle claimed by Muhammed[sa] – ‘his standing miracle,’ he called it – and a miracle indeed it is.” (Bosworth Smith) (Muhammad[sa] was not the author of Quran. It is the word of God given to the world through him. – Ed. [The Moslem Sunrise]) 5. “At a later period of his (the Prophet[sa]) career, no one would venture to doubt the Divine origin of his whole Book.” (Rodwell) 6. “The morals of the Quran have not been less unjustly attacked than its dogmas. … Among the many excellences of the Quran are two eminently conspicuous – one being the tone of awe and reverence which it always observes when speaking or referring to the Deity, to whom it never attributes either human frailties or passions; the other, the total absence, throughout it, of all impure, immoral and indecent ideas, expressions, narratives, etc., blemishes which, it is much to be regretted, are of frequent occurrence in what Christian style the ‘Old Testament.’ So exempt indeed is the Koran from these undeniable defects that it needs not the slightest castration, and may be read; from the beginning to [the] end, without causing a blush suffuse the cheek of modesty itself.” (J Devanport) (Transcribed by Al Hakam from the original published in The Moslem Sunrise, April 1922)

AL HAKAM | Friday 29 April 2022

True repentance

“

The Promised Messiahas said: The day of Jumuah is very blessed. […]

Similarly, there are two Eids in Islam.

These two days are also regarded as the days of great joy and there are significant blessings in them. However, always remember that the said days are no doubt blessed and joyful, but there is one day which is more blessed and full of happiness than all these days. […] Which day is better and blessed than the days of Jumuah and Eids?

I tell you that it is the day of [true] repentance of man which is the best of them all and above all feasts.”

(Malfuzat, Vol. 8, pp. 147-148)

15

#STOPWW3 campaign in Huddersfield and Halifax, UK Aamir Shahzad President Jamaat Huddersfield South, UK

Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Huddersfield South and North organised the #STOPWW3 campaign event in Huddersfield and Halifax.

On 26 March 2022, a tabligh stall in Huddersfield and Halifax was set up where many members of the public visited and appreciated the peace campaign by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.

Around 1000 leaflets were distributed and the regional missionary Sabahat Karim Sahib and Secretary Tabligh Usman Choudhry Sahib answered the questions which were asked by the public during their visit to the stall.

Members of Huddersfield and Halifax jamaats at the tabligh stall

Students from the Rochester University visit the Mahmood Mosque, Detroit

Students from the Rochester University visit the Mahmood Mosque

Syed Shamshad Nasir Missionary, USA

On 13 April 2022, Dr Keith Huey of the Rochester University and 20 students visited the Mahmood Mosque to join the daily Ramadan dars (religious lecture).

The purpose of this visit was to introduce the students to Islam Ahmadiyyat, the Holy month of Ramadan and Islamic teachings.

The local president, Maqbool Tahir Sahib welcomed the guests. Muhammad Ahmad Sahib, secretary tabligh, Jamaate-Ahmadiyya Detroit provided a basic introduction of Islam Ahmadiyyat and the mosque facility to the guests just before the Asr prayer.

The formal programme started with Asr prayer in congregation where students observed the members pray. After the prayer, I welcomed Professor Keith and the students and said: “Since this is your first time here, we hope that your visit to the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community’s mosque is beneficial and you may learn something new about Islam and the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.”

I then started the regular daily dars, on the basic Islamic teachings.

In the end, students were allowed to ask questions. Students asked interesting questions on a varied set of topics that included Islam, Ahmadiyyat, Ramadan and the Holy Ka‘bah.

Friday 29 April 2022 | AL HAKAM

16

The Islamic Economic System: Development of Islamic Economics from late 7th to early 19th century – Part IV Fazal Masood Malik and Farhan Khokhar Canada

The people of Arabia loved their freedom.

Before Islam, they had never submitted to any authoritative system. With Islam, they became united, one nation under One God. When the Holy Prophetsa migrated to Medina, he set up two fundamental institutions: The mosque and the market.

The ethical basis of a market establishment and a mosque demonstrated the cohesion between the two institutions. They also indicate the importance of economic reforms in his mission. Each period that followed over the next millennia is associated with a major innovation that developed Islamic economic thought while promoting regulated capitalism in an interest-free, sustainably ethical manner.

The Rashidun Khilafat (632–661) under Hazrat Abu Bakrra, Hazrat Umarra, Hazrat Uthmanra and Hazrat Alira, oversaw a rapid expansion of the Islamic dominion. They developed important military, legal and economic structures and established an administrative governance structure that helped ensure the success of the Islamic Dominion. The Rashidun Khilafat is often considered a golden age where religion and politics thrived side-by-side.

The Umayyad Khilafat (661–750) was established by Hazrat Muawiyah ibn Abi Sufyanra and marked the beginning of the Islamic dynasty. With their capital in Damascus, they ruled an empire stretching from Spain to the frontiers of China and India.

The Umayyad period is associated with the introduction of a single currency throughout the Muslim dominion. This allowed the government to manage the monetary system independent of external resources and influences, which, in turn, gave birth to a rudimentary form of banking (Goitein, 1967). The basis for banking during this period led to the formation of more complex lending systems during the Abbasid Khilafat. Instruments such as cheques (which come from the Arabic term sakk) and letters of credit (known as hawala) began to emerge in the late 9th century.

During the Abbasid Caliphate (7501258), the expansion of the Muslim empire came to a halt, and focus was increased on developing the disciplines of Islamic philosophy, theology, law and mysticism.

The fiscal administration inherited by the Abbasid followed the same structure as that from the time of Hazrat Muawiyahra. Perhaps the most significant Economic achievement

during this period was the birth of a banking system based on commissions instead of interest. With Germany and China as the main partners, banking and global trade gave the Abbasid Khilafat an unparalleled economic position in world trade.

Muslim scholars of the Abbasid period, such as Abu Yusuf, Ibn Taimiya and Ibn Khaldun, wrote extensively on economics.

However, they were not concerned with the access of different groups to economic sources, but rather the use of wealth to serve the community as a whole. AbuYusuf ’s (731-798) main areas of interest were economic development, taxation and the state’s responsibility. He authored Kitab-al-Kharaj (Book of Land Taxation) to clarify Islamic taxation laws in response to questions posed by the Abbasid Khalifa, Harun al-Rashid. He writes that all economic activities and facilities that benefit the community become a responsibility of the government. The government cannot favour a specific segment of the community, ignoring the rest. Therefore, to achieve society’s well-being, the government has the right to impose taxes that will benefit society as a whole. lbn Taimiya (1262-1328) emphasised the role of the government while rejecting the state of laissez-faire. He advocated that it was the duty of the state to intervene in the market to control prices to guard against monopoly, monopsony, hoarding and speculation. He argued in favour of the government legislating to organise trade and professional occupations.

Ibn Khaldun (1332-1406) lived at the time when the Middle East was being devastated by the Black Plague. His profound observance of human behaviour and study of world history is a thoughtful reflection of human nature. Al-Muqaddimah, which is the prolegomena to the encyclopedic thirteen-volume world history, briefly touches on crucial subjects about humans.

Perhaps the wisdom reflected in his words is why he is generally accepted as the father of modern social sciences. His definition of economics stresses the maintenance and development of humans as a society. In his own words, “[…] economics means the desire for food and other requirements and efforts to obtain them” (al-Muqaddimah, Vol. 1). It is essential to note the word used in Arabic for “other requirements” is rizq, which holds a very vast meaning.

The requirements of humans vary with time and depend on the progress of society and the social conditions of an individual, among other factors. A study of al-Ghazali’s

definition of requirements is suggested for anyone wishing to pursue this definition further.

No discussion on Islamic economics can be complete without mentioning alGhazali (1058–1111), who was named “The proof of Islam” for his reformative services to Islam. His views on economic activities emphasise the ethical aspects. He considers wealth as a mere means to achieve ends, emphasising the need to earn a legitimate income. The core reminder of his writing is that a person’s behaviour should remain consistent in a mosque, home or the market.

In other words, to lead a pious life, a person must be a living example of their belief.

Another ethical teaching of al-Ghazali is to trade with honest merchants (Muslims and non-Muslims). He forbids doing business with anyone who is a cruel oppressor or possesses stolen property.

Thoughtful consideration of al-Ghazali’s writing on the economy is necessary today to highlight the role of ethics in economics, as the ethical component of commerce is either ignored or downplayed in the world today. A case and point are that vaccinating the emerging world against COVID-19 is a crucial topic that lacks action. In contrast, the developed world sits on abundant vaccines that will expire before ever being used.

The decline of the Abbasid Khilafat coincides with the awakening in other parts of the world. The Indian Empire, Chinese Empire and European Empires grew with their economic might and structures.

Knowledge from the Islamic world was carried to these empires through translations of Greek thought and Islamic research in all aspects of life, including commerce.

With the might of other empires growing and the decimation of Muslims by the Mongols, the era of the economic dominance of Muslims came to an end. This decline in intellectual thought was a mark of internal disputes amongst Muslims. When the time of the advent of the Promised Messiahas came, the entire Muslim community was divided, many at war with each other. The level of religious and commercial discourse was at an all-time low. The mosque and the market established by the Holy Prophetsa appeared on the brink of destruction.

Economic thought and commercial innovation moved from the former Muslim empires to Europe. Writers such as Adam Smith, Benjamin Franklin and others posted economic theories that were followed by emerging nations, such as the United Kingdom. Trade was moved to another level by the formation of Limited

Corporations. The international trade and application of laws of the seas helped commerce grow immensely. Regretfully, much of this exponential growth was based on slave labour and exploitation of colonies, against the core Islamic principles espoused by the Holy Prophet Muhammadsa and the Islamic scriptures.

Circling back to the origins of the Islamic economy, we find many financial innovations in the market originating from pre-Islamic practices and customs of trade in Arabia. The Holy Prophetsa established market ethics and his successors always circled back to the original teachings of Islam. He founded a free-market system and strongly supported free trade, proclaiming that “Prices are in the hand of God.” His stand was directly in contradiction to the market economy, be they Greek, Romans or Bedouin. It clearly emphasised his non-interventionist policy favouring an “invisible hand” (as termed by Adam Smith in planting the seeds for secular economics).

Bibliography: •

The Will (Al-Wasiyyat) by Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, the Promised Messiahas

•

Inqilab-e-Haqiqi by Hazrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmadra

•

Politics of Humanitarianism: The Ahmadiyya and the Provision of Social Welfare. In Muslim Faith-Based Organizations and Social Welfare in Africa, pp. 247-272

•

Economic Thought of al-Ghazali

by Islahi, Abdul Azim and Shaikh Mohammad Ghazanfar

•

Early Islam and the birth of capitalism

by Benedikt Koehler

•

Notes on taxation in Early Islam.

Journal of the Economic and Social History of the Orient 17, no. 1 (1974), pp. 136-144

•

The First Crisis in the Life of Alghazali. Islamic Studies, 11, no. 2 (1972), pp. 113-123

17

AL HAKAM | Friday 29 April 2022

Friday Sermon 1 April 2022 Men of Excellence: Hazrat Abu Bakrra; Apostasy in Islam After reciting the tashahhud, ta‘awuz and Surah al-Fatihah, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa said: The disorder that arose during the era of Hazrat Abu Bakrra was previously being mentioned. In relation to this, the Promised Messiahas writes the following in his book Sirr-ul-Khilafah: “Ibn Khaldun has stated that among the Arabs, common folk as well as the nobles had abandoned Islam. The Banu Tayy and Banu Asad had gathered at the hand of Tulaihah, the Banu Ghatfan had become apostates whereas the Banu Hawazin remained in doubt and they had stopped paying the Zakat [alms]. Furthermore, Banu Sulaym had also became apostates and the same was the case for all the remaining tribes.

“Ibn Athir has written in his historical works that the Arabs had abandoned Islam.

The hypocrisy of the ordinary citizens as well as that of the more esteemed individuals from every tribe had become manifest and the Jews and Christians began to raise their heads and look in their direction. Due to the demise of their Prophetsa and due to their limited numbers and being outnumbered by the enemies, the state of the Muslims started to resemble the condition of a herd of sheep and goats on a rainy night” – that is, they gather together in one place out of fear and in order to seek shelter.

“Upon this, people said to Abu Bakrra, ‘People only consider the army of Usamahra to be the entire Muslim army and as you can see, the Arabs have rebelled against you. Hence, it does not seem appropriate for you to separate this group of Muslims from yourself.’ In reply to this, Hazrat Abu Bakrra said, ‘By Him in Whose hands is my life! Even if I become certain of the fact that beasts would devour me, I would most certainly dispatch the army of Usamahra as instructed by the Holy Prophetsa. I cannot annul a decision made by the Holy Prophetsa.’”

The Promised Messiahas refers to Abdullahra bin Mas‘ud and says: “Abdullah bin Mas‘ud says, ‘Following the demise of the Holy Prophetsa, we reached a state where, if Allah had not showered His Benevolence upon us through the means of Abu Bakrra, we would have been on the brink of destruction. He united us to fight for the collection of Zakat, which was applicable on “Bint Makhad” (i.e. a one-year old she camel) and “Bint Labun” (i.e, twoyear old she camel) and to destroy the Arab cities [for their rebellion] and to continue worshipping Allah until death overtakes us.’” (Sirrul Khilafah, [Urdu translation], pp. 188-189, footnote, Nizarat Ishaat)

you turns back from his faith and dies while he is a disbeliever, it is they whose works shall be vain in this world and the next.

These are the inmates of the Fire and therein shall they abide.” (Surah al-Baqarah, Ch.2: V.218) This verse mentions those who leave their religion and eventually die in that very state of disbelief. So it is very clear from this that the punishment for apostasy is not death, because if the punishment was indeed death, it would not be stated that the apostates would die in a state of disbelief.

Then, in another place, Allah the Almighty states:

َّ ُ َ ۡ ُۡ َ​َ َ َ ُ ‫ٰۤیا ّی َہا ال ِذیۡ َن ٰا َمنوۡا َم ۡن ّی ۡرت ّد ِمنک ۡم َع ۡن ِدیۡ ِن ٖہ ف َسوۡ َف یَا ِتی‬ َ َ َ ۡ ُ َ ّٰ ۡ َ َّ َ ۤ َ ‫الل ُہ ِبقوۡ ٍم ّی ِح ُّب ُہ ۡم َویُ ِح ُّبوۡن ٗہ ۙ ا ِذل ٍۃ َعلی ال ُم ۡؤ ِم ِنی َن ا� ِّز ٍۃ َعلی‬ ٰۡ ُ َ َ ّٰ ؕ ‫الک ِف ِریۡ َن � یُ َﺠا ِہ ُد ۡو َن فِ ۡی َس ِب ۡی ِل الل ِہ َولَا یَخافوۡ َن لَوۡ َمۃ لَ�ﰱِ ٍم‬ ٌ َ ُ ّٰ َ ُ َ َّ ۡ َ ۡ ۡ ُ ّٰ ُ ۡ َ َ ٰ ‫اسع َع ِل ۡی ٌم‬ ِ ‫ذل ِک فضل الل ِہ یؤ ِتی ِہ من یشٓاء ؕ واللہ و‬

Various misconceptions may arise during this debate and the following question can be raised as to whether Islam prescribes the death penalty for apostasy. I will briefly touch upon this.

After the demise of the Holy Prophetsa, almost all of Arabia abandoned Islam. Some people completely distanced themselves from Islam and some refused to pay the Zakat. Owing to this, Hazrat Abu Bakrra fought against all of them. In the books of history and biographies, the word murtad [apostate] had been used to describe all of the categories of people mentioned above. As such, historians and scholars that came later erred in their understanding, or they became the means of spreading the false teaching that the punishment for an apostate is death and for this reason [the scholars thought that] Hazrat Abu Bakrra declared war against all such apostates and had them all killed, unless they entered Islam again. Due to this, historians have portrayed Hazrat Abu Bakrra as a defender and hero of their ideology of “Khatm-e-Nabuwwat”. However, the fact of the matter is that no such concept of defending “Khatm-e-Nabuwwat” during the era of the Khilafat-e-Rashida [rightly guided

caliphate] existed, nor was the sword taken up against these people for the reason that the concept of “Khatm-e-Nabuwwat” was in some form of danger, nor were they killed because apostasy is punishable by death.

These details will be mentioned further ahead; that is, details of why war was declared against them. Prior to this, it is necessary to see whether the Holy Quran, or the Holy Prophetsa prescribed the death penalty for apostasy or whether another punishment has been prescribed.

In Islamic terminology, an apostate is an individual who abandons the religion of Islam; i.e. after accepting Islam, they then forsake it. When we look at the Holy Quran, we come to know that Allah the Almighty has mentioned apostates on numerous occasions. However, Allah has not prescribed death or any other worldly punishment for them. Hence, some verses will be presented as an example. The first verse is as follows:

ُۡ َ َ َ َُ َ َ َ ‫َو َم ۡن ّی ۡرت ِد ۡد ِمنک ۡم َع ۡن ِدیۡ ِن ٖہ ف َی ُم ۡﺖ َو ُہوَ کا� ٌِر فاولٰٓ ِئک َح ِبط ۡﺖ‬ َ ّ ٰ ۡ ُّ َ َ ُ ُ َ ‫الدن َیا َوالۡا� َِر ِۃ ۚ َواولٰٓ ِئک ا ۡص ٰح ُب النارِ ۚ ُہ ۡم فِ ۡی َہا‬ ‫ا ۡع َمال ُہ ۡم فِی‬ ٰ ‫خ ِل ُد ۡو َن‬

This means, “And whoso from among

“O ye who believe! whoso among you turns back from his religion, then let it be known that in his stead Allah will soon bring a people whom He will love and who will love Him, and who will be kind and humble towards believers, hard and firm against disbelievers. They will strive in the cause of Allah and will not fear the reproach of a faultfinder. That is Allah’s grace; He bestows it upon whomsoever He pleases; and Allah is Bountiful, All-Knowing.” (Surah al-Maidah, Ch.5: V.55)

Here, as well, whilst mentioning those who turn away from religion, the believers have been given the glad tidings that Allah the Almighty will bring other people and nations in their place, yet there is no mention that you must kill the ones who turn away from religion, nor to give them any punishment.

Then there is another verse – mentioned in Surah al-Nisa – which removes all types of doubt, uncertainty, and any questions that may arise:

َّ ۡ ُ َّ َ ۡ َُ َ​َ​َُ ُ َُ َ​َ​َُ ُ ‫ِا ّن ال ِذیۡ َن ٰا َمنوۡا ث ّم کف ُر ۡوا ث ّم ٰا َمنوۡا ث ّم کف ُر ۡوا ث ّم از َد ُاد ۡوا کف ًرا ل ۡم‬ ۡ ّٰ ُ ‫یَک ِن الل ُہ ل َِیغ ِف َر ل َ ُہ ۡم َولَا ل َِی ۡہ ِدیَ ُہ ۡم َس ِب ۡیلًا‬

“Those who believe, then disbelieve, then again believe, then disbelieve, and then increase in disbelief, Allah will never forgive them nor will He guide them to the way.”

(Surah al-Nisa, Ch.4: V.138)

This is a clear rebuttal to the idea that the punishment for apostasy is death, and this is what is explained in our literature and some commentators have expounded upon it also.

Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IVrh has given a brief explanation of this in his translation of the Holy Quran, stating:

Friday 29 April 2022 | AL HAKAM

18 “This verse refutes the notion that the punishment for an apostate is death. It is stated that if one abandons their religion, then believes again, then again becomes an apostate, and then believes once more, then it is for Allah the Almighty to decide regarding them. Then, if they die in a state of disbelief, they will indeed be the inmates of Hell. If the punishment for apostasy was death, there would be no possibility for them to believe and disbelieve again and again.” (The Holy Quran, [Urdu translation by Hazrat Mirza Tahir Ahmadrh, p. 158, footnote)

Aside from this, there are other verses of the Holy Quran which in principal refute the punishment of death for apostates, as Allah the Almighty states:

ُ ۡ ۡ َ َ َ ۡ َ َّ ۡ ۡ ُ ۡ َ َ َ ۡ َ َ ۡ ُ ّ َّ ۡ ُّ َ ۡ ُ َ ۙ ‫ٓاء فل َیکف ۡر‬ ‫وق ِل الحق ِمن ر ِبکم ۟ فمن شٓاء فلیؤ ِمن ومن ش‬ َ ‫ِانَّا ۤاَ ۡع َت ۡدنَا ل ِّٰلظ ِلمی ۡ َن ن َ ًارا ۙ اَ َح‬ ۡ‫اط بہ ۡم ُس َرا ِد ُق َہا ؕ َو ِا ۡن ّیَ ۡس َت ِغ ۡی ُثوا‬ ِ ِ​ِ ۡ َ َ َ ُ َ َّ َ ۡ َ ۡ ُ ُ ۡ ۡ َ ۡ ُ ۡ َ َ ۡ ُ َ ُ ‫یغاثوا ِبمٓا ٍء کالمہ ِل یش ِوی الوجوہ ؕ ِبئس الشراب ؕ وسٓاءت‬ ًَ​َ ‫ُم ۡرتفقا‬

“And say, ‘It is the truth from your Lord; wherefore let him who will, believe, and let him who will, disbelieve.’ Verily, We have prepared for the wrongdoers a fire whose flaming canopy shall enclose them.

And if they cry for help, they will be helped with water like molten lead which will burn the faces. How dreadful the drink, and how evil is the Fire as a resting place!” (Surah alKahf, Ch.18: V.30) Whilst disproving that there is any kind of compulsion in religion, Allah the Almighty states:

ۡ ّ َ َّ َ َّ ۡ َ ۡ ّ ُ َۡ َ َۡ َ ۡ َۤ ‫الرُش ُد ِم َن الغ ِ ّی ۚ ف َم ۡن ّیکف ۡر‬ ‫الدی ِن ۙ۟ قد تبین‬ ِ ‫لا ِاک َراہ فِی‬ ٰۡ ۡ ّٰ ۡۢ ۡ ُ َ ۡ ُ َّ ۡ َ ۡ ‫الل ِہ َفقَ ِد‬ ‫ِبالطاغو ِت ویؤ ِمن ِب‬ ‫اس َت ۡم َسک ِبال ُع ۡر َو ِۃ الوُثقی ٭ لَا‬ ّٰ َ َ َ َ َ ۡ ٌ‫الل ُہ َسم ۡی ٌع َع ِل ۡیم‬ ‫ان ِفصام لہا ؕ و‬ ِ

“There should be no compulsion in religion. Surely, right has become distinct from wrong; so whosoever refuses to be led by those who transgress, and believes in Allah, has surely grasped a strong handle which knows no breaking. And Allah is AllHearing, All-Knowing.” (Surah al-Baqarah, Ch.2: V.257)

Some verses of the Holy Quran have been presented as an example, which negate the idea that one can force someone or compel or punish them with regards to matters of faith. Not mentioning any punishment for apostates, the Quran guides us that according to the Islamic shariah, there is no physical punishment stipulated for apostates. This Quranic teaching is further supported by the fact that the Holy Quran mentions hypocrites on a number of occasions. The evils of the hypocrites are mentioned with such vigour, that even the evils of the disbelievers have not been mentioned in the same manner. They have been declared sinful transgressors, labelled as disbelievers and there is mention about them turning back to disbelief after accepting Islam. However, at no instance is there any punishment stipulated for such hypocrites. The history of Islam is witness to the fact that no hypocrite was ever punished due to their hypocrisy. Hence, referring to hypocrites, the Holy Quran states:

َ ۡ ُ ُ َّ ُ ۡ َ ُ َّ َ َ َ ُ ۡ َ ُ ‫ق ۡل ان ِفقوۡا طوۡ ًعا ا ۡو ک ۡر ًہا ل ۡن ّی َتق َّب َل ِمنک ۡم ؕ ِانک ۡم کن ُت ۡم قوۡ ًما‬ ۡ ٰ ‫ف ِس ِقی َن‬ َٰ​َ ۡ ُۡ َ َ ّٰ َ َ َّ َ ۤ َّ ‫َو َما َمن َع ُہ ۡم ا ۡن تق َب َل ِمن ُہ ۡم نفق ُت ُہ ۡم ِالا ان ُہ ۡم کف ُر ۡوا ِبالل ِہ‬ َّ ُ ۡ َّ َ َّ َ ۡ ُ ۡ َ َ َ ۡ ُ َ َ ُ ‫الص ٰلوۃ ِالا َو ُہ ۡم ک َسالٰی َولَا یُن ِفقوۡ َن ِالا َو ُہ ۡم‬ ‫و ِبرسول ِٖہ ولا یاتون‬ َ‫ٰکر ُہوۡن‬ ِ

“Say, ‘Spend willingly or unwillingly, it shall not be accepted from you. You are indeed a disobedient people.’ And nothing has deprived them of the acceptance of their contributions save that they disbelieve in Allah and His Messenger. And they come not to Prayer except lazily and they make no contribution save reluctantly.” (Surah alTaubah, Ch.9: V.53-54)

In this verse, the hypocrites have been labelled as “disobedient” and those who reject Allah and His Messengersa. The severity of their disbelief is mentioned in the following verse:

ُ َ​َ ۡ ُۡ َ َ ُ َ َ ُ َ ّٰ ‫یَ ۡح ِلفوۡ َن ِبالل ِہ َما قالوۡا ؕ َولَق ۡد قالوۡا ک ِل َمۃ الکف ِر َوکف ُر ۡوا بَ ۡع َد‬ ُ ّٰ ٰ ۡ َ َ ۤ َّ ۤ َ َ ُ َ ‫ِا ۡسلَا ِم ِہ ۡم َو َہ ّموۡا ِب َما ل َ ۡم یَنالوۡا ۚ َو َما نق ُموۡا ِالا ا ۡن اغن ُہ ُم الل ُہ‬ َّ َ َّ ۡ َ ُ َ َ َۡ ُ ‫َو َر ُسوۡل ٗہ ِم ۡن فض ِل ٖہ ۚ ف ِا ۡن ّی ُتوۡبُوۡا یَک خی ًرا ل ُہ ۡم ۚ َو ِا ۡن ّی َتوَلوۡا‬ ٰ ّ ُ َ َ ّ ‫ی َع ِذ ۡب ُہ ُم الل ُہ َعذ ًابا ال ِۡی ًما‬

“They swear by Allah that they said nothing, but they did certainly use blasphemous language, and disbelieved after they had embraced Islam. And they meditated that which they could not attain.

And they cherished hatred only because Allah and His Messenger had enriched them out of His bounty. So if they repent, it will be better for them; but if they turn away, Allah will punish them with a grievous punishment in this world and the Hereafter, and they shall have neither friend nor helper in the earth.” (Surah al-Taubah, Ch.9: V.74) Similarly, in verse 66 of Surah al-Taubah, Allah the Almighty states that they turned to disbelief after professing belief:

ُ َ ُ َ​َ َ ‫لَا ت ۡع َت ِذ ُر ۡوا ق ۡد کف ۡرت ۡم بَ ۡع َد ِایۡ َمانِک ۡم‬

“Offer no excuse. You have certainly disbelieved after your believing.”

Furthermore, there was an entire chapter revealed about the hypocrites called – Surah al-Munafiqun [the hypocrites]. In this chapter, it is mentioned:

ّ ٰ ۡ َ ۡ َ ۡ ُ ّ َ َ ً َ ّ ُ ۡ ُ َ َ ۡ َ ۤۡ ُ َ َ ّ َ ‫الل ِہ ؕ ِانَّ ُہ ۡم َس‬ ‫ِاتخذوا ایمانہم جنۃ فصدوا عن س ِبی ِل‬ ‫ٓاء َما‬ ُ َ ُ َ ‫کانوۡا ی ۡع َملوۡ َن‬ َّ َ َ ٰ ُ​ُ َ ََۡ َ َُ َ​َ​َُ ُ ‫ذل ِک ِبان ُہ ۡم ٰا َمنوۡا ث ّم کف ُر ۡوا فط ِبع َع ٰلی قلوۡ ِب ِہ ۡم ف ُہ ۡم لَا یفق ُہوۡ َن‬

“They have made their oaths a shield; thus they turn men away from the way of Allah.

Surely, evil is that which they have been doing. That is because they first believed (and), then disbelieved. So a seal was set upon their hearts and consequently they understand not.” (Surah al-Munafiqun, Ch.63: V.34)

Even in this verse there is mention of them turning back to disbelief after professing belief; however, no punishment has been stipulated for them, nor was there any administered. Thus, there are many verses like these which speak of such people who professed belief and then later, either by way of open declaration or by means of their actions became disbelievers. They have been called transgressors, disbelievers, and apostates, however, no punishment of death etc. has been stipulated for them.

What has the Holy Prophetsa said regarding apostates? After verses of the Holy Quran, let us take a look at what the blessed model to whom the Quran was revealed – regarding whom it was said, “his character was the Quran”, and who implemented the teachings of the Quran, has said regarding hypocrites.

The following incident mentioned in a hadith of Sahih al-Bukhari definitively resolves the matter that according to the

shariah there is no punishment for an apostate for simply abandoning their faith.

The words of the hadith are: Hazrat Jabirra bin Abdillah states that a Bedouin came to the Holy Prophetsa and accepted Islam by pledging allegiance. The next day in Medina, the Bedouin developed a fever. He came to the Holy Prophetsa and said to take back his pledge [on three different occasions]. Each time, the Holy Prophetsa refused and did not answer him.

Then the Bedouin left Medina. The Holy Prophetsa said: “Medina is like a furnace – it expels impurities and leaves behind the pure.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab Fazail al-Medina, Baab Al-Medina Tanfi Al-Khabatha, Hadith 1883)

Hazrat Maulana Sher Ali Sahibra wrote a book titled Qatl-e-Murtad aur Islam which was prepared under the supervision of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IIra. In this book, he cited this hadith and then wrote: “The fact that the Bedouin repeatedly came to the Holy Prophetsa proves that there is no stipulated punishment for apostasy, otherwise he would never have gone to the Holy Prophetsa; in fact, he would have tried his utmost to leave without informing anyone and not let anyone know that he had become an apostate.”

He further writes, “We are told that the punishment of death for apostates has been outlined by the Islamic shariah and the reason given is that in this way people will be compelled to remain followers of Islam. If this is true, then why did the Holy Prophetsa not warn the person that kept on coming to see him and why did the Holy Prophetsa not tell him, ‘Remember that the punishment for apostasy in Islam is death. If you become an apostate, you will be killed.’ Especially when he was constantly expressing his intention of becoming an apostate and there was a danger that he would become an apostate and leave. In his case, why was a guard not appointed for him so that if he became an apostate and decided to leave, they would be able to seize him and impose the punishment stipulated by the shariah.

Why did the companions not tell him; ‘Look here, if you wish to save your life, do not even think of becoming an apostate, because in this city there is a rule that whoever becomes an apostate after becoming a Muslim, they are killed instantly.’ Hence, the fact that the Bedouin repeatedly expressed his apostasy, and went to see the Holy Prophetsa, and the Holy Prophetsa did not warn him of the consequences of apostasy, neither did the companions order for him to be put to death, eventually him leaving Medina without any hindrance, all points to the clear reality that there is no punishment for apostasy in the Islamic shariah.

“Similarly, when he left, to some extent, the Holy Prophetsa expressed contentment and said that Medina was like a furnace which cleansed the dirt from a pit; all this demonstrates that the Holy Prophetsa opposed the concept of compelling someone to remain a Muslim and for people to be stopped from apostasy using methods of compulsion. In fact, it did not displease the Holy Prophetsa, if an impure person separated themselves from the community of Muslims. He never compelled anyone to remain within Islam against their will; rather, according to him, if such a person left then it was as the saying goes: ‘good riddance.’

“If it was the Holy Prophet’ssa belief that

once a person entered Islam, they ought to be compelled to remain a Muslim, and that if the person did not agree then he ought to be killed, so that an example can be made out of him which would serve as a warning for others; then the Holy Prophetsa ought to have been angry that the Bedouin left and express displeasure at the companions as to why they let him leave; and that why did they not threaten to kill him? The Holy Prophetsa ought to have commanded the companions to chase after him and catch the wretched man wherever he was, so that he could be given the death penalty. However, the Holy Prophetsa did not do such a thing. On the contrary, his words were to the effect that ‘it is better that he has left as he was not worthy enough to remain among the Muslims; God Almighty has removed him from us by His own Hand.’

“Thus, the example of this Bedouin is complete and categorical proof that there is no punishment in Islam for an apostate, and there was no such practice among the Muslims that they would kill apostates simply on the basis of them abandoning their faith.” (Qatl-e-Murtad aur Islam, Maulvi Sher Ali Sahibra, pp. 109-111, 1925)

The second proof of the fact that in Islam there is no punishment prescribed for an apostate are those conditions which the Holy Prophetsa agreed to with the idolaters during the Treaty of Hudaibiyyah. In the hadith about the Treaty of Hudaibiyyah, Bara bin Azib has narrated that on that day, the Holy Prophetsa settled the treaty with the idolaters on three conditions; the first condition was that if anyone from among the idolaters became a Muslim and went to the Holy Prophetsa, the Holy Prophetsa would hand him back to the idolaters. The second condition was that if anyone from among the Muslims became an apostate and went to live with the idolaters, they would not hand him back to the Muslims. (Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab al-Suluh, Baab Al-Suluh ma‘a alMushrikeen, Hadith 2700)

The second condition of this treaty clearly shows that Islam has not prescribed any punishment for an apostate, because if the Islamic shariah stipulated the death penalty, then the Holy Prophetsa would never have settled with the idolaters regarding a matter to do with a prescribed punishment in the shariah. Aside from this, there are many other incidents which make it evidently clear that during the lifetime of the Holy Prophetsa, a few people became apostates, but they were never punished owing to their apostasy, and it was only in the case that they rebelled and were guilty of waging war.”

Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra has elaborated on this issue in light of another verse of the Holy Quran:

ۡ ۡ ُ ۡ َّ ّ ‫َو َما َع َلی‬ ‫الرَ ُسوۡ ِل ِالا ال َب ٰلغ ال ُم ِبی ُن‬

“And the Messenger is not responsible but for the plain delivery of the Message” (Surah al-Nur, Ch.24: V.55)

Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra states: “This alludes to the fundamental principle that instead of the sword, one ought to carry out tabligh [propagate the message of Islam]. Prophet Abrahamas also adopted this very principle and the people of his era were also given the same commandment by God Almighty that His prophets’ duty was simply to convey the message and not to compel them through

19

AL HAKAM | Friday 29 April 2022 the use of the sword. This is the summary of the entire Quran in that religious people use the power of their argument to convince others and not through compulsion. It is a pity that up till now the world has failed to understand this point, and even amongst the Muslims, death as the punishment for apostasy is considered lawful.”

Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra continues: “Whether one’s doctrines are false or true, they [i.e. its followers] will nonetheless consider it to be the truth; just like a Muslim considers his religion to be the true faith.

Although Christianity is false, the question is, what is the view of the majority of the world’s Christians regarding Christianity?

Indeed, they consider it to be true. Similarly, the Hindu faith is false, but again, the question is, what is the view of the majority of the world’s Hindus regarding their religion? Indeed, they consider it to be true.

Judaism, at this point, is no longer true, but the question is that what is the view of the majority of the Jews regarding Judaism?

Indeed, they consider it to be true. Thus, if it is deemed lawful for one to take someone’s life simply on the basis of considering their faith to be true and the other’s false, then why can a Christian not kill another Muslim or why does a Hindu not have the right to compel others to adopt the Hindu faith or else they will kill them? Why do the adherents of Confucianism in China not have the right to force people to enter their faith?

“There are around 15,000 to 20,000 Muslims in the Philippines” – this was the figure at the time Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra was mentioning this, there are many more Muslims now – “why do the Christians there not have the right to force the Muslims to accept Christianity? Why does the USA not have the right to force the Muslims living in their country to accept Christianity? Why does Russia not have the right to force people to become Christians or communists? If Muslims have the right to force people to adopt the same faith as theirs, then logically, others also have the right to do the same.

However, could there be any peace in the world if such a right was established? By establishing this right, can anyone tell their sons or wives that this is a correct practice in that the Christians have the right to force Muslims to become Christians? Likewise, the Muslims have the right to force the Christians to become Muslims; the people of Iran have the right to force the followers of the Hanafi school of thought to become Shia; and the Hanafis have the right to force everyone to become a Sunni.

“Thus, this is such an illogical notion that no one can even accept it for a minute.

Whenever the nations of the earlier prophets refused to accept divine guidance, God Almighty addressed them stating:

ُ َُۡ ٰ َۡ ‫انل ِز ُمک ُموۡ َہا َوان ُت ۡم ل َ َہا ک ِر ُہوۡ َن‬

“Meaning ‘[if you do not wish to accept guidance] shall we force it upon you, while you are averse thereto?’ (Surah Hud, Ch.11: V.29) “Regrettably, there are people amongst the Muslims in this present era, who reject this fundamental principle” and we observe that majority of the Muslims are of this view.

“If the world was to understand this point, then most surely cruelty and injustices in both religious and political spheres will come to an end. People will neither forcefully impose their faith on others,

nor will they try to impose their political agendas on other countries.” (Tafsir-e-Kabir, Vol. 7, pp. 606-607)

The Promised Messiahas states: “I do not know from where, and who, our opponents have heard that Islam was spread by the sword, because God states in the Holy Quran:

ّ َ ۡ َۤ ‫الدیۡ ِن‬ ِ ‫لا ِاک َراہ فِی‬

“‘There is no compulsion in religion.’

(Ch.2: V.257)

“Thus, who says that there is compulsion in religion? And what means were there even to exercise this compulsion? And those who are compelled to become Muslims, do they display such sincerity and faith in that without being given any kind of remuneration and despite being just 200 to 300 in number, they fought against thousands of people? And when they reached thousands in number they defeated the enemy which consisted of hundreds of thousands. And they offered their necks to be sacrificed like sheep and goats in order to defend their faith from the enemy. And they presented their blood to serve as a testimony to the truthfulness of Islam. And they were so ardently devoted to spread the unity of God that they endured hardships like dervishes and reached the desserts of Africa and propagated the message of Islam in the land. And they endured every kind of difficulty and travelled as far as China, but not to wage war, but rather as mere dervishes. And upon reaching that land, they conveyed the message of Islam and through their blessed discourse, millions of people were prepared to accept Islam in those lands. They then travelled to India like simple dervishes and introduced the message of Islam to a vast number of followers of the Arya faith and caused the declaration of ‘There is no god but Allah’ to echo at the borders of Europe.

“Can you truthfully say whether this could be the work of those who were compelled to become Muslims, whose hearts disbelieved and they merely expressed faith verbally? Nay. In fact, this is the work of those whose hearts are filled with the spiritual light of faith and their hearts are filled with the belief of God.” (Paigham-e-Sulh,

Ruhani Khazain, Vol. 23, pp. 468-469)

In light of these Quranic verses and sayings, it is proven that there is no death penalty for apostasy. However, if the punishment for apostasy is not death, then why did Hazrat Abu Bakrra kill those who became apostates or ordered their killing?

The fact is that by studying the history [of Islam] one can easily learn that those who apostatised during the time of Hazrat Abu Bakrra did not just become apostates, but in fact they were guilty of rebellion, and that too with bloodthirsty intentions. They did not only hatch evil ploys to launch an attack on Medina and kill the Muslims, but they also took hold of Muslims in various areas and mercilessly killed them. Their limbs were severed and they were beaten and burnt alive. These apostates were guilty of committing grave crimes such as cruelty, injustices, murder, rebellion and looting.

Consequently, for the purpose of defence and in retaliation, a war was waged against these people who had taken up arms, and according to the verse:

ُۡ ٌَ َ ُ ‫َج ٰٓزؤا َس ِّیئ ٍۃ َس ِّیئۃ ِّمثل َہا‬

[“The recompense of an injury is an injury the like thereof ” (Surha al-Shura, Ch.42: V.41)] Thus, they were given a punishment the like of what they had committed and were killed owing to the crimes that they had committed. Some details from the books of history will be presented. It is mentioned in Tarikh al-Khamis: “Kharijah bin Hisn, who was from among the apostates, took some cavaliers from among his people and headed towards Medina. His intention was to either stop the people of Medina even before they could come out to fight, or launch a sudden attack without them having any knowledge of it.

Subsequently, he attacked Hazrat Abu Bakrra and the Muslims with him at a time when they were completely unaware.” (Tarikh alKhamis, Vol. 3, p. 173, Dar-ul-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, 2009)

The apostates did not just attack Medina, but when Hazrat Abu Bakrra inflicted defeat upon them, they killed the faithful Muslims that were living amongst their different tribes. I mentioned this in the previous sermon as well. Despite living amongst these tribes who had become apostates, they remained steadfast on Islam.

Allamah Al-Tabari writes, “When Hazrat Abu Bakrra defeated the tribes which launched an attack, the Banu Zubyan and Abs began to attack the Muslims who were living amongst them and they were killed in all kinds of manner.

Thereafter, various other tribes did the same”, i.e. they killed those who remained steadfast upon Islam. (Tarikh Tabari, Vol. 2, p.

256, Dar-ul-Kutub Al-Ilmiyyah, Lebanon, 2012)

Allama Ibn Athir writes, “The tribes of Abs and Zubyan began to mercilessly kill the Muslims that were living amongst them and following this, other tribes began to do the same. Upon this, Hazrat Abu Bakrra took an oath to kill all those people that belonged to these tribes and were involved in the killing of the Muslims.” (Al-Bidaya wa’l-Nihaya, Ibn Kathir, Vol. 3, pt. 6, p. 310, Dar-ul-Kutub Al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut)

As mentioned, upon the demise of the Holy Prophetsa, those who became apostates did not just merely do this on account of their faith; in fact, they rebelled against the Islamic government. They took up the sword, attacked Medina and also killed the Muslims living amongst their tribes by throwing them into the fire and mutilating them. Just as it has been recorded in Tarikh al-Tabari with reference to Hazrat Khalidra bin Walid that when Asad, Ghatfan, Hawazin, Sulaym and Tay were defeated, Khalidra did not accept their apology unless they brought before him those who had become apostates and had thrown the Muslims into the fire, mutilated them and committed other cruelties upon them as well.” (Tarikh Tabari, Vol. 2, p. 265, Dar-ul-Kutub AlIlmiyyah, Beirut, 2012)

Allamah Ibn Khaldun writes: “These apostate tribes from among the Arab land headed towards Medina in order to fight against Hazrat Abu Bakrra and the Muslims.” (Tarikh Ibn Khaldun, Vol. 2, p. 436, Darul-Kutub Al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 2016)

Tarikh al-Tabari has recorded that it was the tribes of Abs and Zubyan who were the first to launch an attack. Subsequently, Hazrat Abu Bakrra had to fight against them before Hazrat Usamahra could return.”

(Tarikh al-Tabari, Ibn Jarir Al-Tabari, Vol. 2, p. 254, Dar-ul-Fikr, 2002)

Allama Ibn Khaldun writes: “The tribe of Rabia became apostates and appointed Munzir bin Numan, who was known as Maghroor; they appointed him as their king.” (Tarikh Ibn Khaldun, Vol. 2, pp. 439-440, Dar-ul-Kutub Al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 2016)

Allama Aini, the commentator of Sahih al-Bukahri, writes: “The reason why Hazrat Abu Bakrra fought against those who refused to pay the Zakat was that they refused to pay with the threat of their swords and waged a war against the Muslim ummah.” (Umdat al-Qari,

Vol. 24, p. 122, Dar-ul-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, 2001)

Allama Al-Shawkani writes: “After mentioning various details about the apostasy that took place after the Holy Prophet’ssa demise and those who refused to pay the Zakat, Imam Khattabi has written that these people were, in fact, rebels and the reason why they have been referred to as ‘apostates’ is because they infiltrated amongst those who had left Islam.” (Nayl al-

Autar, Allama Muhammad Al-Shawkani, Kitab-ulZakat, p. 724, Dar-ul-Kitab Al-Arabi, Beirut, 2004)

One author [of history] has repeatedly, in his book, referred to the apostates as rebels. He writes: “When news of the Holy Prophet’ssa demise spread across the Arab land and flames of apostasy began to be kindled in all directions, these flames of apostasy were most intense in Yemen. Despite the fact that Ansi, who was the one who instigated this had been killed, Musailma from the Banu Hanifah and Tulaiha from the Banu Asad had claimed prophethood and gathered the support of thousands of people. People began to say that the prophet belonging to the confederate tribes of the Banu Asad and Ghatfan was more beloved than the prophet of the Quraish, because Muhammad[sa] had passed away and Tulaiha was still alive.

“When news of these rebels reached Hazrat Abu Bakrra, he stated, ‘We shall continue to wait until we do not receive a full report of these incidents from the governors and leaders that have been appointed in those areas.’ Not many days had passed that reports began to be received from these various governors. It was clearly evident from these reports that not only did the rebels pose a threat to the [Islamic] government but also posed a serious threat to those Muslims who remained steadfast upon their faith and did not support the rebels, despite the storm of apostasy. In light of such circumstances, Hazrat Abu Bakrra had no other choice but to challenge the rebels with all his strength and inflict defeat upon them and take control of the situation.” (Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiqra, Muhammad

Hussein Heikal, p. 131, Ilm-o-Irfan Publishers, Lahore)

Another author has written as follows: “Hazrat Abu Bakrra sought to crush the apostates, who in various parts of the Arab land were instigating a rebellion and as a result of which posed a grave threat to Islam and its followers.” (Syeduna Abu Bakrra, Abu alNasr, p. 603)

Another author writes: “Following the demise of the Holy Prophetsa, many of the tribal leaders became apostates and they all became independent rulers of their respective areas. According to researchers, this apostasy was mainly owing to political factors and had very little to do with religious reasons. In the final days of the Holy Prophet’ssa life, some of the leaders of these Arab tribes tried to use religion in

Friday 29 April 2022 | AL HAKAM

20 forgiveness and mercy and enable his children to always remain firmly attached to the Jamaat and Khilafat.

The next mention is of Rana Muhammad Siddiq Sahib who was the son of Rana Ilam Din Sahib of Malianwala, district Sialkot.

He also recently passed away.

ۤ َّ ّٰ َّ ‫ِانا لِل ِہ َو ِانا ِال َ ۡی ِہ ٰر ِج ُعوۡ َن‬

order to disguise their political rebellion by claiming prophethood.” (Khulafa-e-Rashideen, Hakeem Mahmood Zafar, p. 58, Takhleeqat Akram Arcade, Lahore)

In any case, these accounts will continue to be narrated in the future, insha-Allah.

However, the summary of these various historical references is that these tribes who had become apostates stopped the Zakat, in other words, they forcefully stopped the tax legislated by the government. And in some areas, they even looted it. They also prepared their armies and attacked Medina, the capital city. They killed those Muslims who refused to become apostates; some of whom were burnt alive. Thus, the death penalty had become incumbent upon these apostates, who were guilty of rebelling against the government, stealing its wealth, killing the Muslims and burning them alive.

As the Holy Quran states:

ُۡ ٌَ َ ُ ‫َج ٰٓزؤا َس ِّیئ ٍۃ َس ِّیئۃ ِّمثل َہا‬

meaning that a person who commits a crime should be punished according to the crime they committed. (Surah al-Shura, Ch.42: V.41)

At another instance, it is stated:

ۡ َ ۡ َ ۡ َ ۡ َ َ ٗ َ ۡ ُ َ َ َ ّٰ َ ۡ ُ َ ُ َ ۡ َّ ُ ٰٓ َ َ َّ ‫ض‬ ِ ‫ِانما جزؤا ال ُ ِذین یحارِبو َن اللہ ُور َسولہ ویسعون فِی الار‬ ُ َ َ َ َ ّ َ َ ۤ ّ َ ۤ ُ َّ َ ّ َ ‫ف َس ًادا ا ۡن یقتلوۡا ا ۡو یُ َصل ُبوۡا ا ۡو تقطع ایۡ ِدیۡ ِہ ۡم َوا ۡر ُجل ُہ ۡم ِّم ۡن‬ ۡ َ ۡ َ ۡ َ ۡ ُ ۡ َ ٍ َ ‫ِخل‬ ‫ض‬ ِ ‫اف او ینفوا ِمن الار‬

Meaning that those who wage war against Allah and His Messengersa – this refers to those who wage war against the Messengersa and his successors or the Islamic government, because war cannot be waged against Allah. No one can strike Allah with their hand, nor with stones, arrows or swords. Hence this refers to waging war against them [i.e. the Messengersa and his successors]. The clause:

َ َۡۡ َ ۡ َ ۡ َ َ ‫ض ف َس ًادا‬ ِ ‫ویسعون فِی الار‬

[and strive to create disorder in the land (Surah al-Maidah, Ch.5: V.34)] elucidates what is meant by waging war against Allah and His Messengersa. The explanation is that those who wage war against Allah and His Messengersa, or in other words they create disorder, murder, loot and take up armed rebellion in the land, their punishment is:

ۤۡ ُ َ ّ َ ُ ۡ َ ۤۡ ُ َ ّ َ ُ ّ ‫یقتلوا او یصلبو‬

“that they be slain or crucified”. (Ch.5: V.34) In any case, as I stated – I have expanded a little further – the remainder will be mentioned in the future, insha-Allah.

At this time, I wish to mention some

deceased members whose funeral prayers I will lead after the [Friday] prayer.

The first mention is of respected Muhammad Bashir Shad Sahib, who was a retired missionary and had been residing in America. He passed away at the age of 91.

ۤ َّ ّٰ َّ ‫ِانا لِل ِہ َو ِانا ِال َ ۡی ِہ ٰر ِج ُعوۡ َن‬

[“Surely, to Allah we belong and to Him shall we return.”]

His father accepted Ahmadiyyat in 1926.

After passing middle school in 1945, he enrolled in Madrassa Ahmadiyya. In 1952, he passed and obtained a good position in the Fazil Arabic exam. He obtained his Shahid degree from Jamiatul Mubashireen in 1954 and then also studied medicine for one year. He served in Wakalat-e-Tabshir Rabwah from 1956-1957. He was then sent as a missionary to Sierra Leone in 1958 where he served in various areas. During this time, he also established a printing press in Sierra Leone. He was then assigned to Nigeria where he rendered good work.

He was called back from Nigeria after three years and then in 1964, he was sent to Nigeria once again.

In 1967, the deceased went on a preaching tour to Benin where Allah the Almighty enabled him to preach to the local people as a result of which they accepted Ahmadiyyat. During Hazrat Khalifatul Masih III’srh trip to Africa in 1970, when he went to Kano, he presented a gift to Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IIIrh of a hundred new converts, upon which Huzoorrh expressed his delight. Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IIIrh led a silent prayer and then gifted his blessed turban to Bashir Shad Sahib.

In 1970, while he was returning, he also had the blessed opportunity of performing Umrah. In 1983, the deceased was appointed as the secretary Majlis Karpurdaz Bahishti Maqbarah Rabwah.

When Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IVrh had to migrate in 1984 after the ordinance that was passed against the Jamaat, there was a sermon delivered a day before the migration in the presence of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IVrh and Bashir Sahib had the honour of delivering that sermon. In this way, he is also a part of history. In 1988, due to personal reasons, the deceased sent a request to Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IVrh seeking retirement, which he accepted, after which Bashir Sahib moved to the USA. He is survived by his wife, respected Nasreen Akhtar Shad Sahiba, one son and four daughters.

May Allah the Almighty bestow His

[“Surely, to Allah we belong and to Him shall we return.”]

The deceased’s father went to Qadian in 1938 and accepted Ahmadiyyat. The deceased was regular in offering prayers and fasting, he offered Tahajjud [predawn voluntary prayers], he was devoted, courageous and a fearless individual. He had profound love for Khilafat and acted upon the instructions of the Khalifa. He would exhort all of his children to remain attached to the Jamaat and to love and obey Khilafat. Due to opposition of the Jamaat, he was made to face difficult circumstances in 1974 and 1984 but he endured this with steadfastness. He is survived by six sons and a daughter.

One of his sons, Rana Muhammad Akram Mahmood Sahib is serving as a missionary in Nigeria and could not attend his father’s funeral or burial due to being in the field of service. His mother passed away in 2018 and he could not be present at that time either. May Allah the Almighty grant him patience and forbearance and grant forgiveness and mercy to the deceased.

The next mention is of respected Dr Mahmood Ahmad Khawaja Sahib of Islamabad, who recently passed away,

ۤ َّ ّٰ َّ ‫ِانا لِل ِہ َو ِانا ِال َ ۡی ِہ ٰر ِج ُعوۡ َن‬

[“Surely, to Allah we belong and to Him shall we return.”]

He was 78 years old. By the grace of Allah the Almighty, he was a musi. Ahmadiyyat was established in his family through his father Khawaja Muhammad Sharif Sahib, who accepted Ahmadiyyat upon the basis of a dream during the time of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IIra. He was a very pious individual which is why Allah the Almighty instructed him three times in different dreams to accept the Promised Messiahas, despite the fact that the rest of his family opposed the Jamaat.

Thus, he eventually accepted Ahmadiyyat.

Dr Mahmood Khawaja Sahib obtained his initial education in Peshawar after which he obtained his MSc degree in Chemistry from the University of Peshawar in 1966.

Then in 1973, he obtained his PhD from La Trobe University in Melbourne Australia.

He taught at various universities in Pakistan and abroad as well. I first met him when he was teaching at the University of Cape Coast in Ghana, and I knew him to be a very simple natured, humble and selfless individual. He was an excellent research scholar. He was well-respected as a research scholar both within Pakistan and abroad.

He was married to Amatul Qayyum Sahiba, daughter of Chaudhary Ikramullah Sahib.

They have one son and one daughter.

Along with his wife, Dr Mahmood Khawaja Sahib was able to devote himself under the Nusrat Jahan scheme from 1979 to 1984 and served in Sierra Leone.

His son, Dr Tariq Khawaja says: “He would recite the Holy Quran, particularly in Ramadan as well as reading

its translation with great attention and focus. He would stress upon the fact that the commandments of God, His Messengersa and the Khalifa should be relayed in the exact same words as the slightest deviation in wording could give a different meaning altogether.”

Abdul Bari Sahib, Amir of Islamabad district writes: “Both Khawaja Sahib and I had the opportunity of serving in Sierra Leone under the Nusrat Jahan scheme. Upon returning to Pakistan, he initially worked in a government institution after which he moved to Islamabad where he joined the SDPI [Sustainable Development Policy Institute]. He was renowned and despite becoming very popular he worked with great sincerity. He worked to eliminate harmful chemicals in food products, drainage systems, as well as makeup and beauty products and he garnered international recognition for this work. He also authored various books on this subject.”

Bari Sahib says that whenever he wrote a book, he would send a copy to him as well.

He says, “I now have quite a number of his books. He was a very sincere Ahmadi. He loved Khilafat and he would help Khuddam recognise their shortcomings for the sake of their moral training.”

Scientists, representatives of government ministries, university chancellors and professors, heads of NGOs and civil societies from Pakistan, Germany, Sweden, Burkina Faso, America, Azerbaijan, Switzerland, Nigeria, Egypt, Bahrain and various other countries have sent messages of condolences about Khawaja Mahmood Sahib. There were many messages which their children also sent to me. I will read out one or two messages as examples.

Mr Charles G Brown, President of the World Alliance for Mercury-Free Dentistry from Washington DC, USA writes: “Dr Mahmood Khawaja was unique, intelligent and an invaluable civil servant.

His magnificent scientific works about new findings regarding toxic chemicals have increased the level of scholarship and are vital in providing a base to government and private institutions. Through international organisations, his efforts spanning decades have brought agreements between nations into fruition, have helped to foster mutual harmony among civil societies and have helped to reduce toxins in Pakistan. In 2019, he received the PBC – the Pacific Basin Consortium for Environment and Health Chairman’s award. Among the many achievements of Dr Mahmood, one is being the president of an International Medical Association. Of the doctors elected to this position up until now, he is the only doctor who was not a physician but a PhD doctor.”

Similarly, many other scientists have commended him which include doctors from Germany and Switzerland.

May Allah the Almighty grant the deceased forgiveness and mercy, bestow patience upon the family and enable them to carry on his virtues.

(Official Urdu transcript published in Al Fazl International, 22 April 2022, pp. 5-10.

Translated by The Review of Religions.)

Editor: Qaasid Muin Ahmad | Design & Layout: Jalees Ahmad | Sub-Editorial: Ataul Fatir Tahir, Aqeel Ahmed Kang | News: Ata-ul-Haye Nasir | © Al Hakam 2022