Al Hakam - 10 March 2023

Answers to Everyday Issues: Part 50 World War III, Jinn, hur al-‘ayn, adopting husband’s surname

Page 6

Receptions in Karachi, broadcast on All-India Radio and a poem: Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud’s visit to Sindh, 1940

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Prophet Joseph: A story of betrayal and triumph

A refutation of the book ‘Islam and the Ahmadies’ –Part III

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THE WEEKLY

www.alhakam.org

AL HAKAM | Friday 10 March 2023 | Issue CCLX

AAhmadiyya Archive & Research Centre (ARC), 22 Deer Park Road, London, SW19 3TL, UK info@alhakam.org | ISSN 2754-7388

The key to global peace and security

Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V inaugurates

Baitul Futuh Mosque Complex and addresses Peace Symposium

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London, 4 March 2023 : Throughout history, Allah the Almighty has always rushed to the aid of His chosen ones. Opponents may mock or question why

believers face hardship, but it is the righteous who triumph in the end.

On 26 September 2015, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community also

faced such hardship when a large fire broke out at the Baitul Futuh Mosque Complex. As the administrative building

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

Solar and lunar eclipse

Hazrat Abu Bakrara narrated, Allah’s Messengersa said: “The sun and the moon are two signs amongst the signs of Allah and they do not eclipse because of the death of someone, but Allah awes His servants with them.”

(Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab al-kusuf, Bab qawli n-nabiyyisa yukhawwifullahu ‘ibadahu bi l-kusuf)

Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas, In His Own Words

“The best supplication is to implore for God’s pleasure and deliverance from sins, as sins harden the heart and turn a person into a slave of this world. Hence, our supplication ought to be that God Almighty may remove from us the sins that harden our hearts and show us the path of His pleasure.”

(Al Badr, 24 August 1904; Malfuzat [1984], Vol. 7, p. 39)

went down in flames, regular attendees of the mosque, as well as the general public, looked on in awe. Regrettably, some individuals resorted to ridicule.

However, the Jamaat did not allow this setback to impede their progress in any way. Instead, they forged ahead with plans to build an even bigger and better complex, and on 4 March 2018, the foundation stone was laid by Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih Vaa for this project. Work began in full force, and today marks the culmination of this grand endeavour, a testament to Allah’s immense mercy and the Community’s unwavering faith and determination.

Throughout this temporary setback, Huzoor aa provided comfort and guidance to the Community. He also encouraged the Jamaat to partake in financial sacrifice for the rebuilding, and as usual, Ahmadis came forth wholeheartedly and donated passionately. In the Friday Sermon on 17 November 2017, Huzoor aa said:

“As I have mentioned earlier, those

people who were unable to offer sacrifices for this cause previously must make an effort to take part this time. They should endeavour to pay their pledged sums within three years and should try to pay one-third of the promises within the first year.”

Speaking about the ridicule of some Muslims on seeing the fire, Hazrat Amirul Momineen aa, in his Friday Sermon of 2 October 2015, said:

“A few Muslims were expressing joy and were invoking  SubhanAllah . Fine, today they may invoke  SubhanAllah  in derision. […] However, God willing, we will soon build an even better and more beautiful building, and we will be the ones who sincerely say  SubhanAllah  as well as  Masha-Allah .”

Today, we witness just how magnificently these words of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih aa have come to fruition, as Huzoor aa has just inaugurated the new complex, a brief report of which is given below.

At approximately 5:30pm, Huzoor aa arrived at the Baitul Futuh Mosque in Morden, Surrey, to inaugurate

the new multiple-purpose complex. On arrival, Huzoor aa planted a tree and proceeded to unveil the inauguration plaque. He also took a brief tour of the complex, inspecting its various features and facilities.

After leading Maghrib and Isha prayers, Huzoor aa met with various dignitaries, after which he proceeded to address the National UK Peace Symposium.

Mohammad Nasser Khan Sahib, Naib Amir Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya UK, told us how the vision of Huzoor aa for this complex has finally come to fruition. He said:

“Huzoor aa was very pleased when he went around the building and saw everything in working order. So, that is an excellent result for us. When the fire happened, Huzoor aa gave everyone reassurance that one day we would be saying  SubhanAllah  and  Masha-Allah , and today everyone is saying this when they see the building and what has taken place inside. He also said that we must now keep it clean and well maintained, and he also gave other guidance.”

National Peace Symposium UK, 2023

At 7:10 pm, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih Vaa arrived at the Tahir Hall at the Baitul Futuh Mosque Complex and greeted the guests who had come from forty countries around the world to attend this year’s National UK Peace Symposium, as well as to witness the inauguration of the newly-built complex.

The formal session started with the recitation of the Holy Quran, Surah alA’raf, verses 56-59, delivered by Ehsan Ahmad Sahib, followed by its English translation, presented by Aleem Zia Sahib. Next, Rafiq Hayat Sahib, Amir Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya UK, welcomed the guests and gave a brief introduction to the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community as well as the history of the construction of the Baitul Futuh Mosque Complex. He said that the National Peace Symposium was returning after a gap of some years due to the Covid pandemic, and that the theme for this year’s event was

“Foundations for True Peace”.

Afterwards, Fareed Ahmad Sahib, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community UK’s National Secretary for External Affairs, read out a special message from the UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, which was followed by three brief speeches from guest speakers. They were Sir Ed Davey MP, Leader of the Liberal Democrats, Paul Scully MP, Minister for Technology and the Digital Economy and Fleur Anderson MP, the Shadow Paymaster General.

Following the speeches, the recipients of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Prize for the Advancement of Peace were introduced briefly. They are Barbara Hofmann (Mozambique/ Switzerland) and Dr Tadatoshi Akiba (Japan). They were in attendance at the event and were honoured to receive the prize from Hazrat Amirul Momineen aa Additionally, both of them addressed the symposium briefly.

Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa then came to the podium to deliver the keynote address.

Huzoor aa started by expressing his gratitude to the guests, who were attending the event. He said that this event, which also incorporates the peace symposium, is being held to inaugurate the reconstruction of the Baitul Futuh Mosque Complex. Hence, Huzoor aa would highlight the objectives of the construction of mosques as well as comment on the current state of the world, giving his view of how to achieve global peace and security.

Huzoor aa said, it is impossible to fulfil God’s rights without fulfilling the rights of our fellow human beings and all of God’s creations. Ahmadi Muslims believe that the Founder as of the Ahmadiyya Community was sent to draw attention to these core principles of Islam. He had made it clear that there is a direct correlation between God’s worship and fulfilling the rights of fellow humans.

Mosques are built for the worship of Allah the Almighty, and it is stated in the Holy Quran that a person who fails to pay heed to other people’s rights, their worship, will become the means

Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa unveiling the commemorative plaque at the inauguration of Baitul Futuh Mosque Complex

Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa planting a tree to commemorate the Baitul Futuh Mosque Complex

of their downfall and humiliation instead of their salvation. Muslims are commanded to worship facing the Ka’bah, but it is equally essential to always consider fulfilling the objectives of the construction of the Holy Ka’bah, which are outlined in one of the verses of the Holy Quran as follows:

“Whoso enters it [the sacred House of Allah], enters peace.” (Surah Aal-eImran, Ch. 3: V. 98)

This verse draws the worshippers’ attention to seeking peace for themselves as well as becoming beacons of peace for others because mosques spiritually mirror the Holy Ka’bah. Moreover, in each of the daily prayers, Muslims recite Surah al-Fatiha h , which proclaims that God is the Lord of All the Worlds and of all peoples, not only of Muslims. He

provides for and sustains Christians, Jews, Hindus, Sikhs and, indeed, people of all religions. He grants them life and fulfils their basic needs through His grace and compassion. Hence, from the very start of the Holy Quran, Muslims are taught they must never harm the people of other faiths, harbour any hatred against them, or speak ill of them, as we are all the creation of that Lord of all the Worlds. He sustains even those, who do not appreciate His grace and reject His very existence. He sustains them and provides them the fruits of their labour. Thus, it is purely to attain the love of that Lord of the Worlds, that the Ahmadiyya Community tries to foster peace and harmony around the world.

“Those who have faith in such

a Gracious God can never seek to undermine the peace and well-being of others”, Huzoor aa said. Thus, the Ahmadiyya Muslim community strives to foster peace and harmony around the world purely for the sake of attaining God’s nearness and love. This has been the consistent way of the community since its inception. Through organising peace symposia and similar events, we aim to bring people together under the banner of humanity. “Our motivation is for true and lasting peace to emerge so that mankind can save itself from self-destruction”, Huzoor aa said. Our objective is to raise awareness about the fact that the world stands at the precipice of disaster and to urge humanity to recognise its responsibility — not only to those today, but also to those of our

future generation.

Stressing the importance of establishing peace, Huzoor aa said, “Only in peace lies the salvation of the world. Peace is the golden key to unlocking the door to societal progress and development.”

Huzoor aa said that he believes this message is falling on deaf ears because people have turned away from God Almighty and consider material pursuits their ultimate goal. However, it was due to such vain and covetous pursuits that the world was dragged into two  world wars . Yet, instead of learning from the horrors of the past, the world is once again engulfed in warfare and conflict.

Huzoor aa clarified, “I do not believe that the blame lies exclusively with Muslims or with non-Muslims for this,

Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa addressing the inaugural reception of the Baitul Futuh Mosque Complex and the National Peace Symposium 2023

This Week in History

A selection from the first 15 blessed years of Khilafat-e-Khamisa

11 March

11 March 2011: During his Friday Sermon on this day, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa mentioned Syed Dawood Muzaffar Shah Sahib, who had recently passed away. He was the paternal grandson of Hazrat Syed Dr Abdus Sattar Shah Sahib ra and the maternal grandson of Hazrat Syed Sarwar Shah Sahibra. He was married to Syeda Amatul Hakim Begum Sahiba, daughter of Hazrat Musleh-eMaudra. He was the father-in-law of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa. In 1944, after receiving his BA degree, he dedicated his life to the service of Islam Ahmadiyyat.

12 March

12 March 2004: During his Friday Sermon on this day, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa informed the Jamaat that he was going on a tour of some African countries, and some of those countries were such that they would be graced for the first time with the presence of Khalifatul Masih. Huzooraa instructed the members to pray for the success of the tour.

13 March

13 March 2004: On this day, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa reached Accra, Ghana from London. Thousands of

Ahmadis welcomed their beloved Imam at the Kotoka International Airport, Ghana. Huzooraa also addressed a press conference at the airport.

14 March

14 March 2004: On this day, during his tour of Ghana, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa visited the Talim-ulIslam Ahmadiyya Secondary School in Gomoa Potsin. Following this, Huzooraa visited a town named Mangoase, where he was welcomed by the local Ahmadis, who were

overjoyed to see their beloved Imam among them. Huzooraa unveiled the plaque of a recently built mission house and then visited an Ahmadiyya mosque. After this, Huzooraa visited the Ahmadiyya Secondary School in Ekumfi Essarkyir and the Jamia Ahmadiyya Ghana complex as well.

14 March 2013: Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa conveyed a congratulatory message on the election of Pope Francis I and said:

“First of all, I would like to offer congratulations to Pope Francis I and to Catholics across the world. May the appointment of the new

Pope prove to be blessed not just for Christians but for all people across the globe. May the new Pope lead the Church towards the true teachings of Christianity.

“I hope and pray that in the forthcoming era, the Pope uses his influence to develop peace and harmony in the world. There is a great need to join together upon our common teachings and particularly upon the Unity of God.

“Rather than increase division, the world desperately needs unity and compassion. This is something that I wrote to Pope Benedict XVI in a letter I sent to him in 2011.

“In my letter to the Pope, I also requested him to use his great influence to bring the people of the world together towards peace, reconciliation and mutual understanding and to strive to prevent the world from destruction. I send the same message to the new Pope as well.

“In terms of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat, we have always been at the forefront of promoting interfaith harmony and striving for peace. We always cooperate with all people and organisations who desire peace and tolerance and will forever continue to do so.” (“World Muslim Leader congratulates Pope Francis and Catholic Church”, www.pressahmadiyya.com)

Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa granting an audience to the then-president of Ghana, John Kofi Agyekum Kufuor

Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa delivering the keynote address at the National Peace Symposium 2015

10 - 16 March

14 March 2015: Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa delivered the keynote address at the 12th National Peace Symposium, hosted by Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya UK.

During his address, Huzooraa spoke of the increased threat of radicalisation and warned of the potential danger it posed to the world. Huzooraa spoke of the mounting conflict in both the Muslim and non-Muslim world and said that rather than religion, the root cause of today’s conflicts was a seemingly “unquenchable thirst for power, influence and resources.”

15 March

15 March 2004: During his tour of Ghana, on this day, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa granted an audience to the then-president of Ghana, John Kofi Agyekum Kufuor.

16 March

16 March 2004: During his tour of Ghana, on this day, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa visited the Daboase Hospital in the Western Region and various places such as Kasoa, Abora town of Cape Coast, and Saltpond which had previously served as the Jamaat’s headquarters in Ghana.

16 March 2012: During his Friday Sermon on this day, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa mentioned the Sultan of Agadez, Niger, who had passed away on 21 February. His name was Alhaj Umar Ibrahim, and he accepted Ahmadiyyat in 2002. He was the biggest Sultan of Niger, the president of the traditional rulers of Niger, and one of the four members of the special cabinet of the president of Niger. The Agadez Sultanate was established in Niger in the 15 th century, and he was elected as the 51st Sultan of Agade in 1960. He attended the Jalsa Salana Benin in 2002, along with his 12-member delegation, travelling around 2,500 kilometres. When Huzooraa visited Benin in 2004, he came there along with a 62-member delegation and had the opportunity to meet Huzooraa as well.

nor do I say that cruelties and injustices are the sole reserves of any one nation or group.” Islam permits defensive warfare only under extreme circumstances, where there is a concerted effort to destroy religious freedom or religion itself. Islam has never allowed and will never allow warfare to fulfil geopolitical ambitions. The Holy Quran instructs us to pursue every last avenue to achieve peace, no matter how remote the chances of success may seem.

In the Holy Quran, Allah Almighty states:

“And if two parties of believers fight [against each other], make peace between them; then if [after that] one of them transgresses against the other, fight the party that transgresses until it returns to the command of Allah. Then, if it returns, make peace between them with equity, and act justly. Verily, Allah loves the just.” (Surah al-Hujurat, Ch. 49: V. 10)

In other words, Huzoor aa said, when two nations are at war, third parties should seek to bring them to a peaceful settlement. If the aggressor continues to wage war, it is up to other nations to join forces to use proportionate and legitimate means to stop the oppressor. However, once they stop, unjust retribution must not be exacted.

In the Holy Quran, Allah states:

“O ye who believe! Be steadfast in the cause of Allah, bearing witness in equity; and let not a people’s enmity incite you to act otherwise than with justice. Be [always] just, that is nearer to righteousness. And fear Allah. Surely, Allah is aware of what you do.” (Surah al-Mai’dah, Ch.5: V.9)

In other words, Huzoor aa said, that you must not let the enmity of any nation prevent you from upholding the true standards of justice. Accordingly, post-war punitive sanctions that limit a nation’s freedom and ability to progress, must be avoided at all costs.

Commenting on the  Russia-Ukraine war, Huzoor aa said sadly there is no sign of how or when this war will end. However, it has not stopped certain political leaders from saying that when it does end, Russia should be subjected to extreme sanctions and made to pay

for its actions.

Huzoor aa commented on an article by Matthew Parris published in  The Times , wherein the columnist said that such comments would serve only to further inflame a volatile situation and reduce the chances of peace and that “words spoken now… can cast long shadows across a future terrain of which we’re still ignorant.” Huzoor aa said the columnist is right to serve this warning.

“What incentive will Russia and its leaders have to cease the hostilities if they know that if they withdraw, it will lead to their certain ruin?” Huzoor aa asked and added, Islamic teachings require every effort to be made to achieve a peaceful solution to a conflict. For this reason, it is essential to keep the channels of communication open and to strive to find mutually acceptable terms of agreement. If, however, an aggressor remains bent upon causing misery and destruction and refuses to withdraw, Islam says that other nations should join together and use proportionate and necessary means to stop cruelty, with the prime objective at all times being to establish peace instead of seeking revenge.

Hazrat Khalifatul Masih aa warned, an extremely dangerous consequence of the war has been the solidification of the opposing  political blocs and alliances , and the rhetoric being used in international relations is becoming increasingly hostile on all sides. Much has been written about how Russia and China are forging closer ties. The truth is that war often begets war. There are genuine concerns that the Ukraine conflict could spread further or that other nations would be emboldened to abandon diplomatic efforts to resolve their disputes and resort to force.

Huzoor aa also referred to an article by the journalist Peter Hitchens, in which he said that if the tanks being provided to Ukraine cross into what Russia regards as its own territory, then do not be surprised by anything which happens. Hitchens continues, “So there is the real possibility that a large chunk of Europe might be turned into a radioactive graveyard and that American conventional retaliation for this (which

will be furious and powerful) will take us a stage further into the world of horror, loss, flight, pestilence and poverty, which always follows war.”

Huzoor aa also gave the example of Jeffrey Sachs, a leading economist, who had expressed his concern in a similar vein and said, “We are organising alliances and building up weaponry”, and that the current approach was “a recipe for yet another war”.

Hazrat Amirul Momineen aa said: “Increasingly, academics, political experts and respected analysts are warning that we are approaching a grave period in the history of humanity. […] The symbolic  doomsday clock  controlled by an international panel of scientists, which forecasts the likelihood of human-made global catastrophe was recently turned to just 90 seconds until midnight, the closest to a global disaster it has ever predicted.”

Highlighting the Islamic teaching in this regard, Huzoor aa said, “Islam teaches Muslims to help not only the victims, who are persecuted, but also the perpetrator and aggressor. This does not mean to enable them to perpetrate further cruelties, but to stop them from doing so.

Huzoor aa added, “Whatever crimes are being committed by the Russian state, we must keep in mind the broader picture, which is that if the war is not brought to an end, it will lead to a deepening global crisis.” Hence, world powers ought to end this war through peace talks, lest it spiral out of control, leading to a full-scale nuclear world war, about the unimaginable destructive effects of which, Huzoor aa said, he has been warning for many years.

In the end, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa prayed:

“May Allah the Almighty grant people wisdom, and may all of mankind manifest those principle objectives that the Creator and Master of this world desires from us; to fulfil His rights, and those of His creation.”

The event concluded with a silent prayer led by Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa

(Report prepared by Al Hakam )

Answers to Everyday Issues Part 50

World War III, Jinn, Hur al‘Ayn, adopting husband’s surname

Guidance regarding basic Islamic issues – which Hazrat Amirul Momineen, Khalifatul Masih Vaa has given on various occasions in his written correspondence and during MTA programmes – is being officially published below for everyone’s benefit.

Five terrible catastrophes and World War III

A lady from London wrote to Hazrat Amirul Momineen, Khalifatul Masih Vaa asking about Hazrat Khalifatul Masih III’srh warning about the potential outbreak of World War III in one of his Friday sermons in light of the Promised Messiah’sas prophecies. She requested more evidence regarding this.

She also said non-Ahmadi Muslims believe in the existence of ghosts and spirits and asked how the reality of these entities should be explained to them.

Huzoor-e-Anwaraa, in his letter dated 17 December 2021, provided the following answer to her questions:

“Allah the Exalted informed the Promised Messiahas through various dreams, visions and revelations about the major calamities and earthquakes that were to occur in the world. Five terrifying catastrophes have been especially mentioned among them. Hence, the Promised Messiahas stated:

“‘The prophecy of the Almighty God regarding the coming of five earthquakes, the words of which are, ‘Five times shall I show you the dazzling manifestation of this Sign.’ The meaning of this Divine revelation is that God Almighty says that, in order to bear witness to the truth of my claim, and so that people may realise that I am from Him, God Almighty will cause five terrifying earthquakes to appear, one following the other, at short intervals. They will bear witness to the truth of my claim, and each of them will display such radiance that the beholder will at once be reminded of God. Such a terrifying effect will they have on people’s hearts, and so extraordinary will be their power, intensity and devastation, that people beholding them will lose their very senses.’ (Tajalliyat-e-Ilahiyyah, Ruhani Khazain, Vol. 20, p. 395)

“Describing the horror and intensity of these calamities, the Promised Messiahas stated:

“‘So know it with certainty that just as, in keeping with the prophecy, there have been earthquakes in America and also in Europe, so will they occur in different parts of Asia, and some of them will be like the Doomsday. There will be death on such a large scale that streams of blood will flow. Even birds and grazing animals will not escape this death. Such destruction will overtake the earth as has not happened since man was created. Most places will be turned upside down

as if they had never been inhabited. There will also be other terrible afflictions, both in heaven and earth […] Do you reckon that you will be safe from these earthquakes, or that you can save yourselves by your own machinations? Absolutely not. All human works will come to an end that day. Do not imagine that America etc. were hit hard by severe earthquakes while your country remains safe from them. Rather, I see that perhaps you will encounter greater adversity than them.

fulfilled it literally as well, so as to humiliate the enemy. And it is possible that aspects of this prophecy might manifest themselves in the future in some other way. But it will still be something out of the ordinary, as stated by the prophecy. […] Thus, this prophecy foretells an extraordinary event of the first order. Moreover, it is quite possible that it may be followed by calamities resulting from various natural causes and lead to destruction that is extraordinary. Thus,

then, just as the first four signs have been fulfilled, the fifth sign will also be fulfilled, and then, as Allah the Exalted has promised through these prophecies, Islam will prevail with an extraordinary triumph. Insha-Allah.

“During his visit to Europe in 1967, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IIIrh discussed the same topic in light of the aforementioned prophecies of the Promised Messiahas and that is what you have also referred to in your letter. Hence, Huzoorrh stated:

“‘The Holy Founderas of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, presented hundreds, if not thousands, of signs to the world as evidence of the truthfulness of Islam. One of these signs was his prophecy, received through divine revelation, regarding five great calamities. The first and second world wars have already occurred, fulfilling two aspects of the prophecy in grand fashion. The effects of the third devastating calamity, whose ominous signs are already appearing on the horizon, will be extremely terrifying and destructive. Along with this, Allah also informed the Promised Messiahas that the time of the victory of Islam would also be associated with this third calamity.

“‘O Europe! You are not safe! And O Asia! Neither are you secure! And O the dwellers of Islands! No artificial ‘God’ will come to your aid. I see cities falling and habitations in ruin.’ (Haqiqat-ul-Wahi, Ruhani Khazain, Vol. 22, pp. 268-269)

“It should not be assumed from the mention of earthquakes in these warning prophecies that these calamities will only manifest in the form of earthquakes. Rather, it can also mean other disasters that may spread destruction in a similar way to earthquakes. Clarifying this, the Promised Messiahas stated:

“‘And yet it is true that God’s words are often in the form of metaphors, as, for example, He says:

“‘[‘Whoso is blind in this world will be blind in the Hereafter.’ (Surah Bani Isra’il, Ch.17: V.73)]

“‘Therefore, it was quite possible that the earthquake might mean some other great calamity that has all the characteristics of an earthquake. Still, the actual words have priority over the interpretation. Even though this prophecy had a wide scope, God

even if there were no specific mention of the earthquake in any part of this prophecy, it would still constitute a very great Sign; for, the crux of the prophecy is the extraordinary and unparalleled destruction of houses and places, regardless of whether it comes about through an earthquake or through other means.’ (Appendix to Barahin-e-Ahmadiyya V, Ruhani Khazain, Vol. 21, p. 161)

“In exact accordance with the news of the unseen that was revealed to the Promised Messiahas by Allah the Exalted, the world has witnessed the fulfilment of the four signs in the form of two world wars, a plague epidemic, and extraordinary earthquakes that have occurred in most parts of the world, causing unprecedented damage to human and animal lives, birds, and infrastructure. Allah the Exalted had informed the Promised Messiahas about the manifestation of five signs in particular. Allah knows best how the fifth sign will manifest itself and cause destruction in the world; whether it will be in the form of an extraordinary earthquake, a global pandemic, or a third world war. However, it is clear as day that if the world does not use its wisdom and does not turn to its Creator,

“‘The only way for humanity to escape this calamity is to choose the true path and that path is Islam. Allah’s wrath is about to descend upon this world. The flames of destruction are already raging. Come and cool down the blazing flames of this fire with tears of repentance [istighfar]. Come and seek refuge under the cool shade of the mercy and kindness of Muhammadsa, the Messenger of Allah. Rise up and establish a living relationship with Allah. Come, if you want to save yourself from the raging flames of this fire!’ (Friday Sermon, 11 August 1967, Khutbat-e-Nasir, Vol. 1, p. 808)”

Jinn

“When it comes to the beliefs surrounding the jinn and ghosts, among non-Ahmadi Muslims, there is a perception regarding them that is not supported by any evidence from the Holy Quran or the prophetic traditions [ahadith]. However, the term ‘jinn’ is numerously mentioned in the Quran and the Hadith in various contexts and with different meanings. Therefore, the meaning of this term should be understood in its proper context.

“The word jinn basically means something that remains hidden, whether it is hidden owing to its form or its behaviour. The word takes on numerous connotations as it changes cases or is inflected in other

ways. Nevertheless, the concept of being hidden and obscure is common across all of these connotations.

“The following words, for example, that are derived from the root j-n-n, carry the above-mentioned connotation:

janna [نج], for example, means ‘to cast a shadow’ or ‘to cast a mantle of darkness’.

janin [نينج] is the foetus hidden in the mother’s womb.

junun [نونج] refers to the illness which covers the intellect.

jinan [نانج] denotes the heart, hidden in one’s chest.

jannah [ةنج] is the garden, whose thick shade from the trees covers the soil.

majannah [ةنجم] refers to the shield behind which the warrior hides.

jaann [ناج] is applied to the snakes that live in hiding in the ground.

janan [ننج] refers to the tomb that hides the dead in itself.

junnah [ةنج] applies to the veil that covers the head and the body.

response regarding the jinn, which was published in Urdu in Al Fazl International on 25 June 2021, and in English in Al Hakam on 2 July 2021. You may also refer to these sources for more information on the topic.”

Hur un ‘Inun

A lady from Germany wrote to Hazrat Amirul Momineen, Khalifatul Masih Vaa regarding the mention of the hur in the Holy Quran. She said that non-Ahmadi Muslims interpret the hur incorrectly. She asked for the actual meaning of the hur mentioned in the Holy Quran.

She also asked whether it is necessary for a woman to adopt her husband’s name after marriage. Huzoor-e-Anwaraa, in his letter dated 20 December 2021, provided the following reply to her questions:

“The descriptions of the blessings of Paradise are all conveyed in the Holy Quran and the Prophetic traditions [ahadith] through figurative language, which draws

Paradise in the guise of things that were cherished by the Arabs so that their hearts would be drawn towards it. In reality, those things are of a different nature and not things of this world. But it was necessary to describe them in this way so that the hearts may be drawn towards them.” (Appendix to Barahin-e-Ahmadiyya V, Ruhani Khazain, Vol. 21, p. 424)

“Explaining the above-mentioned verse of Surah As-Sajdah [32:18], the Promised Messiahas stated:

“That is, no virtuous one knows what bliss is kept hidden from him, as a reward for that which he used to do. Thus, God has described all those bounties as hidden, the like of which is not to be found in this world. It is obvious that the bounties of this world are not hidden from us and we are familiar with milk, pomegranates and grapes etc. which we eat here. This shows that the bounties of the next life are something else and have nothing in common with the bounties of this life, except the name. He who conceives of the conditions of paradise in the terms of the conditions of this life has not the least understanding of the Holy Quran.” (Islami Usul Ki Falasfi, Ruhani Khazain, Vol. 10, pp. 397-398)

“Explaining the wisdom behind keeping these blessings hidden, the Promised Messiahas stated:

“‘Concealment, as an act of Allah, carries an inherent greatness. God’s act of concealing is like what is articulated in the following about Paradise:

“‘(‘And no soul knows what joy of the eyes is kept hidden for them.’)

“‘In fact, there is an honour in the act of concealing itself, akin to the presentation of food under a covering cloth. That too is a sign of respect.’ (Al-Badr, Issue 11, Vol. 1, 9 January 1903, p. 86)

then the husband should also look after the piety of his wife along with his own righteousness, and the wife should also look after the piety of her husband along with her own righteousness. Both should strive to make each other virtuous so that neither spouse ends up in Hell while the other is in Paradise. (Abridged from Tafsire-Kabir, Vol. 1, p. 252)

“Hazrat Khalifa-tul-Masih IIIrh has also interpreted the following verse from Surah Ad-Dukhan:

نيع روحب مہنجوز و

“He explained the verse to mean, that the spouses of the believers will be transformed into hur and bound together in the bond of matrimony. In the subsequent verse, he states, it is mentioned that their children will also be gathered with them in Paradise. The reason why wives are not mentioned in the second verse is that they have already been referred to in the first verse, i.e. ‘ و نيع روحب مہنجوز’.

“Moreover, the word jinn is also used for veiled women. It is also used for such chieftains and the elite who do not mix with the public. It is also used for people of nations that live in geographically remote areas and are cut off from the rest of the world.

“Similarly, the word [jinn] is also used for nocturnal animals that stay in the dark and for very small insects or microorganisms such as germs etc. That is why the Holy Prophetsa instructed that eating utensils be kept covered at night. [Sahih Muslim, Kitab al-ashribah, Bab al-’amri bi taghtiyati l-ina’i wa ika’i s-siqa’i wa ighlaqi l-abwab] He also forbade the usage of bones for cleaning after attending to the call of nature and said that they were the food of the jinn, i.e., ants, termites and other bacteria. [Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab al-manaqib, Bab dhikri l-jinn]

“Furthermore, the word jinn is also used for hidden evil spirits, i.e., Satan and for the hidden good spirits, i.e., angels as has been stated that:

comparisons to worldly objects only in order to facilitate our comprehension. Allah the Exalted states:

“‘The similitude of the Heaven promised to the God-fearing is […].’ (Surah ar-Ra‘d, Ch. 13: V. 36)

“Allah the Exalted further states:

“‘And no soul knows what joy of the eyes is kept hidden for them, as a reward for their good works.’ (Surah as-Sajdah, Ch. 32: V. 18)

“Likewise, the Holy Prophetsa stated:

“The concept of the hur in Paradise is a figurative one and is mentioned in the Holy Quran on four occasions. The first two references (in Surah ad-Dukhan and Surah at-Tur) promise that the dwellers of Paradise will be consorted with fair maidens with wide, black eyes. The remaining two references (in Surah arRahman and Surah al-Waqi‘ah) describe the exquisite attributes of the hur – they will be in well-guarded pavilions like pearls and corals, i.e., they will be adorned with qualities of modesty and shyness, as well as goodness, purity, beauty, and excellence of character.

“Thus, the Holy Quran proved that the term ‘hur’ actually refers to pure and virtuous spouses who will be wedded to the believing men and women in Paradise as a reward. As for the specific qualities and characteristics of these spouses, only Allah knows best. It is only after entering Paradise that one will know for certain.

“The Holy Prophetsa told an elderly woman that no elderly woman would enter Paradise. She began to cry and asked, ‘O Messenger of Allah, where will I go then?’ He replied, ‘I did not say that you will not enter Paradise. Rather, no elderly woman will enter Paradise as an elderly person. You will enter Paradise as a young person.’ Thus, when an old woman will enter Paradise, she will be transformed into a young woman, and an ‘unattractive’ woman into an ‘attractive’ woman. Similarly, a woman who was disabled or disfigured in this world will have a healthy body and perfect features in Paradise. Hence, when it is said that ‘ نيع روحب مہنجوز و’, i.e., the companions of Paradise will be wed to ‘hur’, it does not mean elderly women, as they left them behind in the world. Rather, those women who enter Paradise will be hurin ‘inin i.e. young, beautiful, and righteous, regardless of whether they were elderly or young in this world. In any case, the word ‘hur’in this context refers to a spouse-like companion. (Abridged from Friday sermon, 19 February 1982; Khutbate-Nasir, Vol. 9, pp. 386-387)”

Adopting the husband’s surname

كِلذ نود انمو

انم “[‘Some of us are righteous and some of us are otherwise.’] (Surah al-Jinn, Ch. 72: V. 12)

“Thus, as mentioned above, the word will have different meanings depending on the context.

“I have already provided a detailed

“‘Allah the Exalted states, ‘I have prepared for My righteous servants such things as no eye has ever seen, no ear has ever heard of, and nobody has ever thought of. All that is reserved, besides which, all that you have seen, is nothing.’’ (Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab at-tafsir)

The Promised Messiahas stated the following in this regard:

“God has described the good things of

“As far as the commentary of the Quran on this issue is concerned, Hazrat Muslehe-Maudra explained the verse from Surah al-Baqarah that states, ۃرہطم جاوزا اہیف مہل و, as referring to the pure companions, i.e., wives or husbands, that believing men or women will be blessed with in Paradise. They will assist each other in their spiritual progress. Therefore, if a husband and wife wish to stay together in the hereafter,

“It is not a religious issue to adopt the husband’s name after marriage, which one would be obliged to adhere to, but it is a matter of personal choice or preference. If one wishes to adopt it, they may do so, and if not, they need not. If it is necessary to use the husband’s name in official documents, then it should be done, and there is nothing wrong with it.”

(Compiled by Zaheer Ahmad Khan, Head of Records Department, Private Secretariat, London. Translated by Al Hakam.)

Receptions in Karachi, broadcast on All-India Radio and a poem

Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud’s visit to Sindh, 1940

Ata-ul-Haye Nasir Al Hakam

On 24 January 1940, Hazrat Muslehe-Maud, Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmad ra began his journey from Qadian to visit Sindh and Delhi. ( Al Fazl , 26 January 1940, p. 2)

During his stay there, Huzoor ra went to Delhi on 5 February, and stayed at the house of Hazrat Sir Chaudhry Muhammad Zafrulla Khan ra. After a stay of two days, Huzoor ra returned to Karachi. ( Al Fazl , 8 February 1940, p. 2)

A reception in Karachi

On 16 February 1940, Captain Sultan Ahmad Sahib Khatana organised a tea party in honour of Hazrat Musleh-eMaud ra. The event was also attended by various dignitaries, including the Consul of Iraq Al-Sheikh Kadhim alDujaili, Secretary Iraq Consul, president of Khoja Community Muhammad Abdullah, ICS Retired Commissioner Mr Halifax, Agent Bahrain Petroleum Company Mr Knighten, Mrs Knighten, and various officers from the civil Censor Department.

After having the tea, the host, Captain Sultan Ahmad Sahib Khatana, presented an address to Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud ra After this, Huzoor ra delivered a short speech, in which he shed light on the need and importance for the people of India to cooperate with the government during the ongoing war, i.e., World War II. ( Al Fazl , 23 February 1940, p. 2)

Huzoor’s article broadcast on All-India Radio Station

The officials of the All-India Radio Station Bombay (now Mumbai) requested Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud ra to write an article to be broadcast on the radio. Therefore, Huzoor ra wrote an article, “ Mein Islam ko kiun maanta hun ” ( Why I believe in Islam ), which was broadcast from the broadcasting station in Bombay on 19 February 1940, at 8:30pm local time. Prior to and after the broadcast, the radio administration apologised to the listeners that, for some reason, they were unable to listen to Huzoor’s ra speech in his own words, and someone else had

to read it out.

In Qadian, a radio set was arranged, with the permission of Nazarat-e-Talimo-Tarbiyat , and men and women – with arrangements for purdah – listened to this broadcast. ( Al Fazl , 21 February 1940, p. 2)

This article was published in The Review of Religions [Urdu] in March 1940.

In this article, Huzoor ra said:

“I have been asked by the Bombay Radio Station to state why I believe in Islam. When I put this very question to myself, the reply I received was, ‘For the same reason for which I believe in anything else’, that is to say, because it is the truth.

“A more detailed reply would be that, in my view, the central doctrine of all religions is the existence of God. A religion that can succeed in establishing a true relationship between God Almighty and mankind must be true, and the truth of a certain thing is surely a sufficient reason for believing in it.

“Islam claims that the Creator of this universe is a living God and that He reveals Himself to His servants in this age in the same manner in which He used to reveal Himself in previous eras. This claim can be tested in two ways. God Almighty may either manifest His signs directly for a seeker after Him, or the seeker may come to believe in God by studying the life of a person to whom God Almighty has revealed Himself. As by the grace of God Almighty, I happen to be among those to whom Allah the Almighty has on many occasions and in an extraordinary way revealed Himself,

I stand in need of no further reason for believing in the truth of Islam than that I have myself experienced the truth.

“For the benefit of those who have had no similar experience, I now proceed to present the arguments that, in addition to my personal experience, have been the cause of my belief in Islam.

“ Firstly , I believe in Islam for the reason that it does not compel me to accept all those matters, the sum total of which is called religion, but rather furnishes convincing arguments in support of its doctrines. The existence of God, His attributes, angels, prayer [ du‘a ] and its impact, Divine decree and their sphere, worship and its need, sharia [Divine Law] and its benefits, revelation and its importance, life after death, heaven, and hell — with regard to every one of these, Islam has given detailed explanations and has established their truth with strong arguments to the satisfaction of the human intellect. Hence, it furnishes me not only with Faith, but also with the certainty of knowledge, which satisfies my intellect and compels it to admit the need for religion.

“ Secondly , I believe in Islam as it does not base its claims merely upon theories, but invites everyone to a personal experience of that which it teaches and guarantees. It claims that every truth, in some manner or another, can be assessed in this world, and thus, it satisfies my heart.

“ Thirdly , I believe in Islam, as it teaches that there can be no conflict between the Word and Act of God Almighty, and thus resolves the supposed conflict between science and religion. It does not ask me to ignore the laws of nature and to believe in things that are contrary to them. On the contrary, it exhorts me to ponder over the laws of nature and derive benefits from them. It teaches me that, as revelation comes from God, who is also the Creator of the universe, there can be no conflict between His Word and Act. It, therefore, invites me, in order to understand His revelation, to study His Act, and in order to realise the significance of His Act, to study His word, and thus satisfies my intellectual yearning.

“ Fourthly , I believe in Islam, as it does not seek to crush my desires but guides them along the right path. It does not, by altogether crushing my desires and sentiments, reduce me to a stone; nor does it, by leaving them uncontrolled and unrestrained, reduce me to an animal, but, like an expert irrigation engineer

Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra during his visit to Hyderabad, Sindh

who harnesses uncontrolled waters and makes them run into irrigation channels, thereby bringing prosperity to barren areas, Islam converts my desires and sentiments, through guidance, into high moral qualities. It does not say to me: ‘God has given you a loving heart but forbids you to choose a life companion, or that He has endowed you with the sense of taste and the capacity to appreciate good food, but has forbidden you to eat such food.’ On the contrary, it teaches us to have love, but in a pure and lawful way, which would ensure that one’s pious objectives live on forever through their progeny. It permits me to eat good food, but within proper limits, lest I eat my fill and my neighbour goes hungry. [...]

“ Fifthly , I believe in Islam for the reason that it has dealt justly and lovingly not only with me but with the whole world. It teaches me not only to discharge my duties towards myself but also insists upon my dealing fairly with every other person and thing in the world, and has furnished me with the required guidance for this purpose. For instance, it draws attention to the rights of parents and the duties that children owe to their parents. It admonishes the children to behave obediently and tenderly toward their parents, and has made the latter heirs to that which the former may leave. On the other hand, it enjoins love and affection upon the parents for their children and

“Islam has also not ignored the rights of the women, and laid special stress upon their education and [the Holy Prophet sa] has said that the one who educates his daughter and carries out her tarbiyat in a good manner, thereby earning paradise.

[ Sunan Abi Dawud , Kitab al-Adab, Hadith 5147] Islam has made daughters the heirs of their parents.

“Again, it has laid down fair rules for the guidance of the rulers and the ruled ones. It says to the rulers that the authority vested in them is not their ownership, but rather a trust and that they should discharge the obligations of that trust to the utmost, like upright and honest people, and should carry on government in consultation with the people. It says to the ruled ones that the power to choose your rulers has been bestowed upon you as a gift from God Almighty and you should, therefore, be careful to invest only such persons with governing authority as fully deserve it, and after vesting this authority in them, you should give them your fullest cooperation and should not rebel against them, for if you do so, you are merely seeking to demolish that which your own hands have built.

“It says to the wealthy: ‘You have been charged with the duty of looking after the poor and you must set aside one fortieth [2.5%] of your substance for the government every year so that it may be employed in the relief of the poor ones.’ It teaches them not to enhance the disabilities of the poor by lending money to them on interest but to help them with your wealth, since [God] has not granted you the wealth to spend a luxurious life, but rather, to utilise it for the advancement of the world, which will make you deserving of the best reward here and in the Hereafter.

“On the other hand, it also teaches the poor not to look with envy and longing upon that which has been given to other people, as these feelings gradually pollute one’s heart and disable them from developing good qualities, but rather, they should create within them those talents that will help them attain progress of all kinds. It directs governments to afford facilities for the poorer sections of the community for such advancement and not to permit all wealth and power to be concentrated in a few hands.

same way, as God has made all mankind equal. It reminds them that God, who has bestowed these honours upon them, can bestow greater honours upon others, and thus, if they misuse their position and transgress against those who have not been similarly endowed, they will be laying the foundations for future transgressions against themselves by those who are now transgressed against. They should, therefore, take no pride in proclaiming their own greatness, but should take pride in helping others to become great, for true greatness belongs only to those who try to raise the fallen ones to greatness.

“Islam teaches that a country or nation should not hold animosity towards the other, nor should they transgress against each other, but rather, all of them should strive in unison for the world’s progress. It should not be the case that certain nations, countries, and individuals conspire against other nations, but rather, they should covenant with each other to restrain each other from aggression and to cooperate with each other in advancing those that are backward.

1895 Times of India Map of Bombay | Picryl commands them about their duty of bringing up their children well, training them in good moral qualities and looking after their health, and has also made them, to a certain extent, heirs to their parents. Similarly, it enjoins the best relationship between husband and wife and requires each to have due consideration for the sentiments of the other. This was put beautifully by the Holy Founder sa of Islam when he said: [...]

“‘The best of you are those who are best to their wives.’ [ Sunan Ibn Majah , Kitab a-Nikah, Hadith 1978]

“He stated on another occasion that women’s nature is as delicate as the glass, thus, one should treat women with as much care as they do when carrying

“It has also regulated the rights and duties of the employer and employee. It says to the employer: ‘You must render to the employees their full due even before their perspiration is dry on their body and should not look down upon those who work for you, for they are your brothers whose care has been entrusted to you by God Almighty and they are the true supporters of your prosperity. You should, therefore, not be so foolish as to seek to destroy that which constitutes your own support and the basis of your power.’ It says to the employees: ‘When you are engaged to execute a piece of work for someone, you should discharge your obligation honestly and with due care and diligence.’

“It says to those who have been endowed with an abundance of physical health and strength that they should not behave oppressively towards the weak, nor treat contemptuously those who suffer from some physical defect of blemish; for these ought to excite one’s mercy rather than one’s contempt.

“It reminds those whose ancestors had attained dignity and honour as the result of noble efforts that it is their duty to maintain that dignity and that honour with their own noble efforts, and it warns them against looking down upon others who have not been blessed in the

“In short, I find that Islam provides means of peace and comfort for me and for all those who may wish to tread the path prescribed by it, whoever they may be, whatever they may be and wherever they may be. In whatever position I place myself, I find that Islam is equally useful and beneficial for myself, for my relatives, for my neighbours, for people whom I do not know and have not even heard of, for men and for women, for the aged and for the young, for the rich and for the poor, for great nations and for small, for those who desire the unity of nations and for those who are nationalists, and that it establishes a sure and certain relationship and connection between me and my God. Therefore, I believe in it and how indeed could I give it up and accept something else in its place.” ( The Review of Religions [Urdu], March 1940, pp. 26-31; Anwarul-Ulum , Vol. 15, pp. 605-612)

Another reception in Karachi

On 29 February 1940, the Premier of Sindh, Khan Bahadur Sir Allah Baksh

glass. [ Sahih al-Bukhari , Kitab al-Adab, Hadith 6149]

A view of the Karachi city, 1889 | Wiki Commons

Continued

Apollo Bunder, West View, Bombay

Prophets of Allah

Prophet Josephas, known as ﻒسوی [Yusuf] in the Holy Quran, was a pious man and an honourable prophet of God. He was the beloved son of Prophet Jacobas [Yaqub]. Our Holy Prophetsa, the noblest of messengers and the best of creation, is recorded as having said:

“Honourable is the son of the honourable, the son of the honourable, the son of the honourable, i.e., Joseph, the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, peace be upon all of them.”

(Sahih al Bukhari, Kitab ahadithi l-anbiya’, Hadith 3382)

The names of the other sons of Jacobas, as found in the Bible, are Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar and Zebulun, Benjamin, Dan and Naphtali, Gad, and Asher. (Genesis, 35:23-26)

In the Holy Quran, Joseph’sas life is described as “the most beautiful narration.” (Surah Yusuf, Ch.12: V.4).

The Holy Quran recounts the true lives of God’s Prophets rather than invented notions and stories. Over time, a multitude of fables has emerged about prophets and their personalities. The Holy Quran unequivocally affirms the righteousness of all prophets and absolves them of any wrongdoing, thereby debunking the unfounded and deceptive myths propagated about them.

When a Muslim studies the life of Josephas, one of the first things that strike them is how similar it is to the life of the Holy Prophetsa

The dream and his brothers’ malicious design

As the life of Prophet Josephas is heavily linked to the dream he saw as a child, the Holy Quran starts the narration from there. Josephas says to his father:

“O my father, I saw [in a dream] eleven stars and the sun and the moon, I saw them making obeisance to me.” (Surah Yusuf, Ch.12: V.5) Seeing this dream displays his devotion to Allah. From a young age, Allah had shown him a dream that was to come to pass and be fulfilled.

In response, his father, Prophet Jacobas, told him not to relate this dream to his brothers, “lest they contrive a plot against thee; for Satan is to man an open enemy.”

(Surah Yusuf, Ch.12: V.6)

The brothers of Josephas harboured great jealousy against him and desired that their father’s love and attention be solely devoted to them. Blinded by hatred and a

Prophet Joseph: A story of betrayal and triumph

“And We did raise among every people a Messenger”

sense of jealousy, the brothers held a secret meeting in which they eventually planned to kill Josephas or cast him out to some distant land. The Quran states that one of them told the others not to kill Josephas, and instead “cast him into the bottom of a deep well; some of the travellers will pick him up.” (Surah Ch.12: V.11) The Bible states that the brother who had this idea

was Reuben. (Gen. 37:22)

The brothers planned to take Josephas out, where they would then execute their plan. Jacobas, aware of the brothers’ nature towards Josephas, was at first hesitant; however, he allowed Josephas to go with his brothers. Jacob’sas reluctance shows that Josephas was, at the time, a young boy who needed to be looked after. The next day, as they carried out their malicious design and left him at the bottom of a deep well, Allah comforted Josephas and revealed to him, “Thou shalt surely one day tell them of this affair of theirs and they shall not know.’”

(Surah Yusuf, Ch.12: V.16)

The brothers ran back to their father weeping, “with false blood on his shirt”

(Surah Yusuf, Ch.12: V.19), saying that Josephas was devoured by a wolf. Jacobas turned to Allah and exhibited patience.

A caravan finds Josephas

The story of Josephas reminds us that Allah’s help is always nigh. Immediately after being cast into a deep well, a caravan arrived at the scene to fetch water from the well. Seeing Josephas there, a member of the caravan exclaimed, “Oh, good news!’ said he, ‘Here is a youth!” (Surah Yusuf, Ch.12: V.20) and took him out of the well. Witnessing this, the brothers said that Josephas was their slave and “sold him for a paltry price.” (Surah, Ch.12: V.21)

Josephas in Egypt and Potiphar, the Egyptian who bought him

Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra explained, “It

is said that when Josephas was sold into slavery in Egypt an elderly woman tried to purchase him for the price of two balls of cotton. [Ismail Hakkı Bursevi, Ruh alBayan, 1839, Vol. 1, p. 120] Worldly people listen to this and laugh, while spiritual people are moved to tears. The emotional core of the story resonates in their hearts; when an individual truly values something, they no longer care for what the world might think. In my view, Josephas was at that time [considered an ordinary] man whose sublime qualities were hidden from view. That is why his brothers traded him for such a paltry sum. Under these circumstances, it is not fanciful for the old woman to have believed she could buy him in exchange for two balls of cotton, particularly when one considers that cotton was not a commodity local to the region from which the trading caravan [which sought to sell Josephas] came. Instead, it was imported from Egypt. So, it is entirely possible cotton commanded a sufficiently high price for the woman in the story to think she could purchase Josephas by it.” (Ahmadiyyat Destiny and Progress, Inaugural Address of the Jalsa Salana, 26 December 1936, p. 36-37)

The Holy Quran goes on to say that a man from Egypt bought him and said to his wife, “Make his stay among us honourable. Maybe he will be of benefit to us; or we shall adopt him as a son.” (Surah Yusuf, Ch.12: V.22)

Through the study of Jewish literature, it is said that the Egyptian who bought Josephas was known as Potiphar, who held a high rank as a captain of the royal guard. The Bible also makes mention of this. (Genesis 39:1)

Potiphar’s wife’s attempt to seduce Josephas

As Josephas attained age and strength, God granted him judgement and knowledge.

Narrating the incident of Potiphar’s wife’s failed attempt to seduce Josephas against his will, the Holy Quran states:

“And she, in whose house he was, sought to seduce him against his will. And she bolted the doors, and said, ‘Now come.’ He said, ‘I seek refuge with Allah. He is my Lord. He has made my stay [with you] honourable. Verily, the wrongdoers never prosper.” (Surah Yusuf, Ch.12: V.24)

This verse clearly shows that the woman completely failed in her attempt. Josephas, recognising the favours bestowed upon him by Allah, resisted her and said, “Verily, the wrongdoers never prosper.” (Surah Yusuf, Ch.12: V.24)

Seeing there was no hope in turning her away from the evil she desired, Josephas wanted to leave the room immediately and ran towards the door. As he ran, the woman, attempting to pull him back, grabbed hold of his shirt and, as a result, tore it from the back. Stumbling upon Potiphar at the door, the woman brazenly said, “What shall be the punishment of one who intended evil to thy wife, save imprisonment or a grievous chastisement?” (Surah Yusuf, Ch.12: V.26)

In this way, she tried to lay the blame at the feet of Josephas in an attempt to portray him as the culprit, God forbid. Hearing this, Josephas was compelled to state the facts. He replied, “She it was who sought to seduce me against my will.” (Surah Yusuf, Ch.12: V.27)

A witness of the household present, noticing that Joseph’sas shirt was torn from the back, simply said, “If his shirt is torn from the front, then she has spoken the truth and he is of the liars. But if his shirt is torn from behind, then she has lied and he is of the truthful.” (Surah Yusuf, Ch.12: V.27-28)

The women of the city

With the above-mentioned incident having spread throughout the city, women began gossiping that Potiphar’s wife had been infatuated with Josephas. With this, to put the matter to rest, as well as her reputation, Potiphar’s wife invited the women to a feast and arranged for a seating area and knives.

According to the Talmud, oranges were served to the guests [...]. (Jew. Enc. & Talmud) Potiphar’s wife arranged for knives and a place to sit and invited the guests. Thereafter, she asked Josephas to serve the guest. As they looked upon his countenance, they said, “Allah be glorified! This is not a human being; this is but a noble angel.” (Surah Yusuf, Ch.12: V.32)

Struck by his beauty, the Quran says, some even “cut their hands” (Surah Yusuf, Ch.12: V.32) upon entering a state of absentmindedness.

The Holy Quran states that Potiphar’s wife said to the guest who, before, used to say she was infatuated by Joseph’sas beauty:

“And this is he about whom you blamed me. I did seek to seduce him against his will, but he preserved himself [from sin]. And now if he do not what I bid him, he shall certainly be imprisoned and become [one] of the humbled.” (Surah Yusuf, Ch.12: V.33)

As Joseph’sas pious nature and nobility were revealed to all, the bad reputation

Jalees Ahmad

Al Hakam

of Potiphar’s wife spread even more. In order to save her reputation, it was deemed necessary to imprison Josephas so as to sway public opinion and so that he may be considered the offender.

Josephas in prison and the two young men

While in prison, two young men, upon seeing a dream, request Josephas to tell them the meaning of it.

Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra has said that the fact that these two men asked Josephas to interpret their dreams alludes to the fact that people regarded him as a noble and pious man, as it is usually highly spiritual people who are asked to explain the dreams. (Tafsir-e-Kabir, Surah Yusuf, Ch.12: V.37, Vol.3, pp. 311-312)

Further, their saying, “We see thee to be of the righteous” (Surah Yusuf, Ch.12: V.37), clearly shows they saw Yusuf to be a great man.

Before explaining the meaning of their dreams, Josephas takes this opportunity to preach to them about the One true God (Surah Yusuf, Ch.12: V.40). Then he explained the meaning of their dreams, “O my two companions of the prison, as for one of you, he will pour out wine, for his lord to drink; and as for the other, he will be crucified so that the birds will eat from off his head. The matter about which you inquired has been decreed.” (Surah Yusuf, Ch.12: V.42)

Addressing the one whom he thought would escape, Josephas told him to mention him to his master. However, Satan caused him to forget and Yusuf remained in prison for some years. (Surah Yusuf, Ch.12: V.43)

The King’s dream and Joseph’sas deliverance from prison

The King of the time, in Egypt, had seen a dream that seems to have had a huge impact on him. Demanding an interpretation, he presented his dream to the men of his court:

“I see [in a dream] seven fat kine which seven lean ones eat up, and seven green ears of corn and [seven] others withered. O

ye chiefs, explain to me the meaning of my dream if you can interpret a dream.” (Surah Yusuf, Ch.12: V.44)

The men replied that it was a “confused dream”. Then, the man who had met Josephas in prison, remembered how he had interpreted his dream and said to the King that he would let him know of the interpretation. He went to Josephas and narrated to him the King’s dream and desired to return with an answer. The servant wished to return with Joseph’sas interpretation, hoping that they would recognise him as a pious man who was not guilty of any charge levelled against him.

Josephas not only explained the dream, but he also offered a solution.

“You shall sow for seven years, working hard and continuously, and leave what you reap in its ear, except a little which you shall eat. Then there shall come after that seven hard years which shall consume all that you shall have laid by in advance for them except a little which you may preserve.”

(Surah Yusuf, Ch.12: V.48-49)

For the seven years of famine, Josephas advised them to leave the corn in the ear as it was the best way of preserving them.

Seeing that none of the men in his court was able to explain his dream and also hearing that Josephas not only provided its interpretation but also gave solutions as to what to do, the King was impressed and asked for Josephas to be presented before him. When Josephas heard of this, prior to leaving, he asked the courtier, “Go back to thy lord and ask him how fare the women who cut their hands: for, my Lord well knows their crafty design.” (Surah Yusuf, Ch.12: V.51)

The King, being convinced of Joseph’sas righteousness, questioned the matter. The wife of Potiphar confessed, “Now has the truth come to light. It was I who sought to seduce him against his will, and surely, he is of the truthful.”

(Surah Yusuf, Ch.12: V.52)

The King said, “Bring him to me that I may take him specially for myself.” (Surah Yusuf, Ch.12: V.55) Recognising his trust, the King desired to bestow a high rank upon him. Josephas replied, “Appoint me over the treasures of the land.” (Surah Yusuf, Ch.12: V.56)

“Most probably, the King offered Josephas the post of Prime Minister, but Josephas preferred charge of the finance department. His choice seems to have been dictated by the desire to enjoy comparative freedom from the material cares and court intrigues that are incidental to premiership and also to give his single-minded attention to the successful running of the department with which the fulfilment of the King’s dream was so deeply concerned.”

(Five Volume Commentary, Vol.3, p. 1450)

Josephas meets his brethren

Josephas was now a well-established man. The country was overtaken by famine and his brothers had entered the city for provision. Josephas recognised them, yet they did not recognise him. He, handed over the provision they had come for, told them to “Bring me your brother on your father’s side. Do you not see that I give you full measure of corn and that I am the best of hosts?” (Surah Yusuf, Ch.12: V.60)

The brothers replied, “We will try to induce his father to part with him and we will certainly do it.”

(Surah Yusuf, Ch.12: V.62)

Josephas then said to his servants to put their money back into their saddlebags which they used to buy the grain. This should not be taken to imply that Josephas took out the money from the treasury as it is against the character of a noble prophet. In fact, such a sum would have been easy to pay back. Josephas did this so that they may recognise the money upon their return home and this might thereby be tempting them to return.

Joseph’sas brethren return to their father, Prophet Jacob as

Due to the severe famine at that time, Joseph’sas brothers were sent to Egypt to purchase grain. Due to the King’s dream mentioned above, Prophet Joseph was able to predict that a severe famine would hit and thus had made preparations for it.

As they, the brothers, arrived, and received their fair share, Joseph’sas had been denied further measure of corn until they brought their younger brother, Benjamin. When Joseph’sas brethren returned to their

father, Prophet Jacobas, they said, “Send with us our brother that we may obtain our measure, and we will surely [be able to] take care of him.” (Surah Yusuf, Ch.12: V.64) Prophet Jacobas, hearing this, rebuked his sons, reminding them that it was in fact Allah who was the best Protector. When the brothers opened their saddlebag, they found their money, which was returned to them. They said to their father that they would go back and now bring more provisions for the family.

Prophet Jacobas responded that he would not send their brother with them until they gave a solemn promise, in the name of Allah, “you will surely bring him to me, unless you are encompassed.”

(Surah Yusuf, Ch.12: V.67)

Prophet Jacob’sas advice to his sons Jacobas said to his sons, “O my sons, enter not by one gate, but enter by different gates; and I can avail you nothing against Allah.”

(Surah Yusuf, Ch.12: V.68)

Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra, explaining this verse, said that as the brethren told their father that they had been suspected of being spies, Jacobas advised them to enter separately. Huzoorra said that it could also imply that God revealed to Jacobas that Josephas was alive in Egypt and the brethren entering separately may give Josephas a chance to talk to his younger brother, Benjamin, in private, as this is what Jacobas wanted. (Tafsir-e-Kabir, Surah Yusuf, Ch.12: V.68)

Josephas meets Benjamin and an incident with the King’s measuring cup

As the brothers entered, Josephas, upon seeing Benjamin, said to him, discreetly, that he was his brother and assured him that he was now safe with him.

“And when he had provided them with their provision, he put the drinking cup in his brother’s saddlebag.” (Surah Yusuf, Ch.12: V.71)

Under this verse, Hazrat Musleh-e-

Maudra has explained that the verse may infer that Josephas, knowingly, placed a drinking cup in his brother’s saddle as a gesture of love so that he may make use of it on his way home.

As Joseph’sas brothers turned to leave, someone cried out that they had taken the King’s measuring cup. This incident has given rise to unfortunate commentaries. It is wrong to suggest that Josephas placed the measuring cup on purpose and accused him of stealing it. Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra has rejected this concept, as it does not behove the character of a noble Prophet to commit such an act. Huzoorra said that this matter was the result of what is found in the Bible and commentators copied the story from there.

Huzoorra states that the Holy Quran clarifies the entire situation. What Josephas placed inside his brother’s saddle was a drinking cup: the word used in the Holy Quran is ةیاقس (siqayah). The cup that was said to be missing was a measuring cup, for which the word used in the Holy Quran is عاوص (suwa‘).

The brothers said that whoever’s bag the measuring cup was found in should be detained. As Joseph’sas brothers were searched, they found the measuring cup in Benjamin’s luggage along with the drinking cup. Huzoorra added that it was possible that the King’s measuring cup ( كلملا عاوص), which was in Joseph’sas hand when he was meeting his brothers, was accidentally placed in Benjamin’s bag by Josephas (Tafsir-e-Kabir, Surah Yusuf, Ch.12: V.71) In this way, Benjamin was made to stay back with him.

In light of this, God says, “Thus did We plan for Josephas. He could not have taken his brother under the King’s law unless Allah had so willed.” (Surah Yusuf, Ch.12: V.77)

Joseph’sas brethren return to their father

Judah, the fourth of the brothers, also known as the leader among them (Genesis, 49:8-12), told his brothers to return to their father and relate this matter to him. After hearing what had come to pass, Prophet Jacobas said:

“So now comely patience is good for

me. May be Allah will bring them all to me; for He is the All-Knowing, the Wise.” (Surah Yusuf, Ch.12: V.84)

Through the study of the Holy Quran and Arabic grammar, we learn that this sentence of the Holy Quran highlights that God had told Prophet Jacobas beforehand that Josephas would still be alive and that all three brothers would come back safely.

The words recorded in the Holy Quran are:

اعيمج

In this verse, Prophet Jacobas used the pronoun مھ (them). This pronoun, in the Arabic language, is used to denote more than two; and so the three referred to in this verse are none other than Prophet Josephas, Benjamin, and Judah. (Surah Yusuf, Ch.12: V.84)

“And his eyes became white because of grief”

After hearing of what had happened, the Quran states that Jacobas grieved. The Quran explains this in the following manner:

ميظك وہف نزحلا نم هنيع تضيباو

“And his eyes became white because of grief, and he was suppressing [his sorrow].”

(Surah Yusuf, Ch.12: V.85)

This verse does not mean that Prophet Jacobas, on account of his loss, grief, and weeping, lost his eyesight. This belief or view is simply not correct for two main reasons. Firstly, the Arabic idiom does not denote that the eye becoming white means loss of sight. Secondly, Prophet Jacobas has already, in various places, been described as a man of patience. Hence, it does not fit with his noble character that he should have forgotten his prophetic duty and wept all day on account of his loss and grief. Further, in this verse, the Holy Quran uses the word ميظك (kazim), meaning he suppressed his grief.

Hazrat Jacobas further states:

“I only complain of my sorrow and my grief to Allah, and I know from Allah that which you know not.”

(Surah Yusuf, Ch.12: V.87)

Josephas forgives his brethren

Prophet Jacobas then sends his sons to “go ye and search for Josephas and his brother and despair not of the mercy of Allah.”

(Surah Yusuf, Ch.12: V.88)

<< Continued from previous page if it please Allah.” (Surah Yusuf, Ch.12: V.100) Joseph’sas real mother had passed away, however, when he saw his family, he showed the same love and affection for his stepmother as one does for their real mother. Josephas had also, as a sign of love, respect and anticipation, gone out of town to receive his parents. (Ibid.)

This saying emphatically shows that Prophet Jacobas, no doubt, was convinced that his beloved son, Josephas, was still alive in Egypt, as he would not have commanded his sons to go out in search of him. Prophet Jacobas did not despair of the mercy of Allah.

The brothers, upon seeing Josephas, began begging for corn. Hazrat Musleh-eMaudra has explained that Prophet Josephas, it seems, did not like to see his brothers like this (Tafsir-e-Kabir, Surah Yusuf, Ch.12: V.89) and decided to tell them who he was:

“Do you know what you did to Josephas and his brother, when you were ignorant?”

(Surah Yusuf, Ch.12: V.89)

The brothers, hearing this and having in mind what their father told them before leaving, immediately asked if he was Josephas, to which he replied in the affirmative and said that Allah had been gracious upon him. He went on to forgive his brothers for the terrible crime they committed when he was younger and said:

مويلا مکيلع بیرثت ال

“No blame [shall lie] on you this day.”

(Surah Yusuf, Ch.12: V.93)

The Holy Prophet, peace be upon him, uttered the same words as he triumphantly entered Mecca. Just as Josephas was granted victory over his brothers, the Holy Prophetsa had been granted victory over the Meccans. Hearing the Meccans’ pleas for forgiveness, the Holy Prophetsa declared at once: “No blame [shall lie] on you this day.” (Life of Muhammad, p. 165)

Jacob as goes to Egypt with his family

Josephas gave his shirt to his brothers to lay before their father so that he may see it and feel delight and he said, “He will come to know.” (Surah, Yusuf, Ch.12: V.94) He went on to tell them to bring the entire family to him. Realising the error of their ways, the brothers asked their father to seek forgiveness for them.

As they arrived, Josephas welcomed them and said, “Enter Egypt in peace,

A dream fulfilled

As a sign of respect, Josephas “raised his parents upon the throne” (Surah Yusuf, Ch.12: V.101). Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra said that this could have two implications. The first is that he introduced his parents and family to the King of that time. Second, it can mean that he seated them on his own throne with the King’s permission, as a sign of love. In Yusuf’s time, even deputies of Kings had thrones. (Tafsir-e-Kabir, Vol.3, p. 362)

Thereafter, the Holy Quran states that they all fell down in prostration, thanking Allah for his immense blessings. Witnessing this scene, Prophet Josephas said:

“O my father, this is the fulfilment of my dream of old. My Lord has made it true. And He bestowed a favour upon me when He took me out of the prison and brought you from the desert after Satan had stirred up discord between me and my brethren.”

(Surah Yusuf, Ch.12: V.101)

The lives of the prophets are presented in the Holy Quran for mankind to read and learn from. Their lives are filled with events that can enhance one’s spirituality, faith and trust in Allah. From being discarded by his brothers, thrown into a well, and sold as a slave, the life of Prophet Josephas reminds us that however difficult life may be, Allah’s help is always nigh for those who remain patient and steadfast in their faith.

His followers after his demise Prophet Joseph’sas followers believed, after his death, that no prophet would appear after him. The Holy Quran states:

“And Josephas did come to you before with clear proofs, but you ceased not to be in doubt concerning that with which he came to you till, when he died, you said: ‘Allah will never raise up a Messenger after him.’ Thus does Allah adjudge as lost those who transgress, [and] are doubters.”

(Surah al-Mu’min, Ch.40: V.35)

100 Years Ago...

A refutation of the book ‘Islam and the Ahmadies’ – Part III

The Review of Religions [English], January, February & March 1923

Mauvli Rahim Bakhsh Sahib MA [also known as Hazrat Maulana Abdur Rahim Dardra] (1894-1955)

Likeness of Jesus

Let us now throw some light upon the casting of Jesus’as likeness upon another person mentioned so emphatically, [by Mr Wadud], in all the four so-called traditions. Without criticising this myth on any rational or historical grounds, we shall, however, for the sake of brevity, confine ourselves to the remarks made about it by some of the most learned authorities. Tafsir Al-Bahr Al-Muhit, one of the best commentaries of the Holy Quran, says:

“It has been said that the likeness of Jesus as was not cast on any person […]. This story has not been corroborated by the Holy Prophet, may peace and the blessings of God be upon him, and so it cannot be relied upon.” [Abu Hayyan alGharnati, Tafsir al-Bahr al-Muhit, Dar ElFikr, Vol. 4, p. 94]

Imam Fakhr al-Din al-Razi says:

“Many writers have said that when the Jews resolved to kill Jesus as, Allah raised him to heavens. The leaders of the Jews feared lest the common people should go astray. So, they took a man and killed him and deceitfully told the people that he was Jesus as. The people did not know Jesus as but by name; for he mixed with men very rarely.” [Tafsir al-Razi, Surah an-Nisa’, V. 158 (159)]

Ebussuud Efendi writes: “Nobody was killed, but it was given out that he was killed and the news spread among men.” [Tafsir Abi al-Su‘ud, Dar Ihya EL Ouloum, Vol.2, p. 251]

The great commentator, the author of the al-Tafsir Al-Kabir, remarks on the point: “To say that the likeness of Jesusas was

<< Continued from page 9

Muhammad Umar Soomro, organised a reception in honour of Hazrat Muslehe-Maud ra. The event was also attended by various dignitaries, including the Minister for Law and Order Sir Ghulam

Hussain Hidayatullah, the Minister of Education Pir Ilahi Buksh, the former mayor of Karachi Mr Hatim Alvi, and MLA Mr Jamshed Nusserwanjee Mehta.

( Al Fazl , 6 March 1940, p. 2)

Following this reception, Huzoor ra visited various other places in Sindh, including Nasirabad, where he inaugurated a mosque as well. After staying there for some days, Huzoor ra returned to Qadian on 11 March 1940.

( Al Fazl , 13 March 1940, p. 2)

A poem about the Moon

In the first week of May 1940, Hazrat

cast upon some person is a clear sophistry. If it were true, we could not believe in our senses. It renders useless all the scriptures and prophets. It makes incredible the most authentic of facts.” [Tafsir al-Razi, Surah an-Nisa’, V. 158 (159)]

To show the extreme absurdity of all such traditions, we give below the contradictions involved in them on this point:

1. The likeness of Jesusas was cast upon only one of his disciples. The likeness was cast upon all of his disciples.

2. Jesus as invited his disciples to have his likeness cast upon them. God cast his likeness upon an enemy.

3. There were at that time 12, 17, 18, or 19 disciples with him. There was with him only one person on whom the likeness was cast.

4. The man on whom his likeness was cast said, “I am Jesus.”

The man on whom his likeness was cast said, “I am not Jesus.”

5. Jesus as was very restless that night. He had no restlessness.

6. The man on whom his likeness was cast was a Jew.

The man on whom his likeness was cast was a disciple.

7. The likeness was cast. It was not cast.

8. Another person was killed. No one was killed.

9. A few persons arrested Jesus as 4,000 Jews came to arrest him. These contradictions have led a number of learned Muslims to conclude that the casting of likeness is an absurd myth. Abu

Musleh-e-Maud ra began another journey to Sindh, and reached Karachi on 5 May.

( Al Fazl , 7 May 1940, p. 2)

One day during this visit, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud ra took an evening walk along the coast of Karachi. The Moon was shining brightly that night and as a result, Huzoor ra spontaneously began to utter couplets in relation to the moon, Allah the Almighty, and World War II. The couplets were later published as a poem titled “ Chaand, Mera Chaand ” ( Moon, My Moon ). The poem opens with:

“Oh, moon! In the darkness of night, do not shine so bright!” ( Al Fazl , 6 July 1940, pp. 1-2)

Huzoor ra, when publishing the poem, also wrote a prologue to the couplets and how they developed as he walked along the Clifton Coast. Its details have already

Hayyan writes a very true and significant sentence upon this point. He says: “The narrators differ from one another as to the manner of killing and crucifixion; and nothing is proved on this point on the authority of the Holy Prophetsa, except what the Quran denotes.” [Abu Hayyan alGharnati, Tafsir al-Bahr al-Muhit, Dar ElFikr, Vol. 4, p. 94]

Again, Mr Wadud remarks that, though some of the traditions differ with regard to the name and nature of the man crucified in place of Jesus as, yet all without exception tally with one another on the main point of his ascension to heaven. But we draw the attention of the readers to the fact that there exist traditions and sayings, on the contrary, equally authentic to the effect that Jesus as died a natural death and that he is not now living in heaven as supposed by the writer.

Hazrat Ayeshara narrates that the Holy Prophet, may peace and the blessings of God be upon him, said to Fatima during his last illness that “Gabriel used to read the Holy Quran with him once during every Ramadan, but that during the last Ramadan, he did so twice and that every prophet lived twice as many years as the one coming after him and that Jesusas lived 120 years and I think I am going after completing 60 years of my life.” [Hujjaj alKiramah, p. 428]

Again, there is a saying of the Holy Prophetsa which says: “If Jesus and Moses had been alive, they could not have helped following me.” [Al-Yawaqit wal Jawahir, Vol. II, p. 342]

Ibn Omar (son of Caliph Omar ra) says that Jesus as lived 120 years.

been published in an earlier Al Hakam article titled “‘ O Moon of the dark night ’: A walk along the coast and lessons on life by Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud ra” ( Al Hakam ,

“This is the tomb of Jesus as, son of Mary, a prophet of God sent to this country.” (Ibn Jarir and Tabri, Vol. II, p. 269)

The author of the well-known work, the Sharh al-‘Aqa’id al-Nasafiyya says: “It has been reported that Jesus as was alive when he was suspended on the cross and that he lived for a long time after the event of the cross and before his death.”

Meaning of the word “tawaffi”

The next verse, which the Bengali writer quotes in support of his contention is:

یل ا كعفا ر و كيف وتم ین ا یسيعی هللا لاق ذ ا [“When Allah said, ‘O Jesus, I will cause thee to die a natural death and will exalt thee to Myself.” (Surah Al-e-Imran, Ch.3: V.56)]

Continued on next page >>

21 February 2020, Issue 101, p. 16).

Huzoor ra returned to Qadian on 25 May 1940. ( Al Fazl , 28 May 1940, p. 2)

An old view of the Katrak Bandstand Pavilion, Clifton, Karachi

By the way, there is here a striking point that should not be allowed to escape our notice. Throughout his book, Mr Wadud quotes Mr Sale as a great authority, seemingly with a view to forcing his interpretation upon us, while as a matter of fact, he has done so to conceal his own ignorance. However, we have to draw the attention of the reader to another point. Mr Wadud translates this verse in the words: “When God said, O Jesus, I shall lay hold of thee completely (i.e., with flesh and soul).”

But Mr Sale, a man of vast erudition, translates it as follows:

“When God said, O Jesus, verily I will cause thee to die.” [Surah Al-e-Imran, Ch.3: V.56]

May we now ask why Mr Wadud has not followed Mr Sale here? Is he not a learned man? Or is it because his translation does not serve Mr Wadud’s purpose?

We regret to add (and but for the presumptuous and contemptuous remarks made by him about us we would have refrained from referring to this fact) that Mr Wadud, while posing as a great authority in Arabic literature and while advising all Ahmadis to learn the language first and then study the Quran, has only betrayed his own ignorance, and proved himself a perfect ignoramus. His book is full of glaring blunders. Each and every reason produced by him is argumentum ad ignorantiam. The author of “An Arabic Course for Schools and Colleges” is surely himself untaught in Arabic. He is absolutely unacquainted even with the rudiments of Arabic grammar. He does not understand the meaning of even plain and simple words. Let us give an example. Ab uno disce omnes

Under the verse quoted above, he writes:

“The word tawaffi according to general use, means taking the dues completely. I have quoted below some examples of this meaning of tawaffi from the Quran,

in which God is its subject (understood) and animate being its object, which have escaped the notice of Mirza Sahib and his followers in their vain challenge.”

[“Then shall every soul be paid in full what it has earned; and they shall not be wronged.” (Surah al-Baqarah, Ch.2: V.282)]

ن

[“And every soul will be fully recompensed for what it did, and they will not be wronged.” (Surah al-Nahl, Ch.16: V.112)]

ةميقلا

[“And you shall be paid in full your rewards only on the Day of Resurrection.”

(Surah Al-e-Imran, Ch.3: V.186)]

Surely the ignorance with which the above remark has been made by the author requires a little elucidation.

The word used in the above examples is from ب اب ت ف ع ي ل while the word tawaffi is quite a different word from ب اب ت ف ع ل Tuwaffa is passive aorist, the past tense being waffa while the word tawaffa challenged for is not an aorist. It is in the past tense, its aorist being yatawaffa in the active voice and yutawaffa in the passive voice. Our Bengali graduate, on account of his utter ignorance of the Arabic language and its grammar, has mistaken the word tuwaffa for tutawaffa and he could not distinguish one from the other.

If anyone can show that the word tawaffi with Allah as its subject and a human being as its object, is anywhere used in the Arabic literature in any other sense except “the taking of the soul”, we shall at once give him 6,000 rupees as a prize, according to the condition of the original challenge of the Promised Messiah, may the mercy of God be upon him. We do not, however, say that this word has no other meaning, it may have a thousand meanings; but under

the condition laid down in the challenge, it does not mean anything else.

Everywhere in the Holy Quran, it means the same thing. Mr Sale, “a man of vast learning and erudition”, has translated this word in the sense of death more than a dozen times (see pages 25, 26, 38, 52, 65, 94, 108, 117, 154, 180, 185, 197, 200, etc.).

In the verse quoted above, the word tawaffi has been interpreted to mean “death” by a great number of commentators, as admitted by Mr Wadud himself. To convince him further, we give below some quotations from the standard Arabic lexicons:

هحور ضبق یا یلاعت هللا یفوت لاقی :نديناريم :یفوت (Muntaha al-Arab, Vol. 4, p. 435)

هحور ضبق :ادیز هللا یفوت (Aqrab al-Mawarid, Vol. 2, p. 1472)

هحور ضبق هللا ہافوت (Al Qamoos, Vol. 4, p. 401)

تام اذا :نالف یفوت (Taj al-‘Arus Vol. 40, p. 220)

هسفن ضبق اذا هللا ہافوت و نالف یفوت (Lisan al-‘Arab, Vol. 15, p. 400)

هحور ضبق یا هللا ہافوت (Al-Surah min al-Sihah, p. 382)

Then the author remarks, “On the whole, none of the doctors of Islam, from the time of the Prophetsa up till now […].”

What is meant by the words “doctors of Islam”? Is not the Holy Quran itself sufficient? When it is laid out in clear and unequivocal words that there is no reason for the physical uplift of anyone to heaven and that it is against the established law of God, what weight can we rightfully attach to the empty boast mentioned above? Is not the Holy Prophetsa himself the greatest doctor of Islam? Are not his words sufficient?

Was not Abu Bakrra, the first successor of the Holy Founder of Islam, a doctor of Islam? Were not the companions of the Holy Prophetsa doctors of Islam? When no trace of such a belief is found in the Holy Quran and authentic traditions, what should we do with the opinion and conjectures of the so-called doctors of Islam belonging to the

period of Faij-e-A‘waj [Age of Darkness]. They came centuries after the Holy Prophetsa; they never saw him or heard from him. Have we not an equal right with them in interpreting the Holy Quran? The Holy Quran contains many verses which clearly refer to the death of Jesusas. The Master Prophetsa himself is reported to have said:

“If Jesus and Moses had been living, they could not have helped following me.” [Al-Yawaqit wal Jawahir, Vol. II, p. 342]

Is it then an empty boast of so great a personage? If Jesusas were living, how could he use such words? How can we then believe in the so-called doctors of Islam? Does he mean to throw dust in the eyes of the people? Is not Abu Bakrra a doctor of Islam? Did he not immediately after the death of the Holy Prophetsa stand amidst the Holy Companionsra and declare that all prophets before the Holy Prophetsa had died and that the Holy Prophetsa being also a Prophet, there was no reason that he should not have died? Was not Hazrat Omarra again convinced of the fact? Did not the whole body of the Holy Companionsra unanimously agree at the time that the previous prophets had all died?

Jesus as living high up in the heavens and sitting in glory by the side of God, and the best and the chosen of prophets, the dearest and the most beloved one of God, lying buried under a mound of dust in a dark and gloomy grave dug by human hands! Surely, the lovers of the Blessed Prophet, may my father and mother be sacrificed for him, could not even conceive of such a spectacle and tolerate it even for a moment. Indeed, how could they imagine such an odious spectacle with their hearts burning with the love of the Holy Prophet sa for whose sake they had renounced everything once and for all, with whom they had fought so many glorious battles and for whom they had the deepest admiration in the very core of their hearts?

How could they tolerate such an absurd idea? Surely, they were the best of doctors. They knew their Prophet, their life-long master, the chosen one of God whom they had so faithfully served the whole of their lives, may the choicest blessings of God be upon him and his blessed followers. They knew Jesus as also, the son of Mary, whose honour their master had so truly defended against the Jews.

Was not Imam Malik rh a doctor of Islam? Is Ibn Arabi rh less than a doctor of Islam? Does Ibn Hazm believe in the corporeal ascension of Jesus as? How can a true doctor of Islam go against facts?

The fact is only this that the Prophet Jesus as was a human being, and man being mortal, he died a natural death in Kashmir where he lies buried in the Khanyar Street in Srinagar. The story of his ascension to heaven is purely of Christian origin. These facts have been proved and established by the Promised Messiah, peace be on him, who came in the name and power of Christ to reform and guide the whole world.

(Transcribed and edited by Al Hakam from the original, published in The Review of Religions [English], January, February and March 1923)

17th World Religions Conference on question of suffering held in Victoria, Canada

Syed Mukarram Nazeer Canada Correspondent

British Columbia is the westernmost province of Canada, bordering the Pacific Ocean on its west. The Baitur Rahman Mosque, Vancouver, is located in the city of Delta, part of the Greater Vancouver Area. The capital of British Columbia is Victoria, which is about 103 kilometres southwest of the Baitur Rahman Mosque on Vancouver Island. One has to take a ferry to get there, with a travel time of 2 hours and 43 minutes. Victoria is a medium-sized city with a population of less than 100,000. It is famous for its relatively mild weather (for Canada), and outdoor activities due to the abundance of parkland.

Every year, Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Canada hosts a number of World Religions Conferences across the country. The aim is to provide a platform for people of various faiths to come together and share their teachings and practices on a single topic.

Lajna Imaillah Belize brings holiday cheer to underprivileged children

Stephen Ata’ul Haq Gabb Missionary, Belize

Lajna Imaillah Belize devised a plan to help the underprivileged people in the areas of the city of Belize in which families cannot afford to purchase gifts for their children. These families are some of the poorest in the country, and the location in the city is called the “Southside”. The people of this part of the country are truly neglected, and some are not guaranteed to see the next day due to rampant gang violence occurring daily.

This initiative is not unique; however, what is unique about it is that it does not require those given charity to join the community. The thought of being served without the intention of recruitment is quite foreign to the people.

Small gift bags were made and distributed to struggling families, so that children could enjoy small toys while also benefiting from school supplies. The packages included a variety of different toys, games, and puzzles, along with writing utensils and notebooks. Along with the mentioned items, small treats and a card were also added to the packages.

Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya British Columbia region hosted the first World Religions Conference in Victoria in 2006, reported regional Amir British Columbia Rizwan Peerzada Sahib. The event has been held regularly since then. This year was no exception.

The event was promoted across all media. The social media campaign garnered 11,000 views and 12 comments. The radio campaign promoted the event on local radio stations. Print media were also engaged. Conference posters were posted across Vancouver Island. In Victoria alone, close to 150 posters were put up. 500 invitation cards were mailed, while 4,000 invitational emails were sent. Various local groups also joined hands in promoting the events, including the Victoria Multifaith Society and the Victoria Community Foundation.

This year, Victoria Jamaat held the 17th World Religions Conference on 5 February 2023. The venue was the David Lam

Auditorium, University of Victoria. The theme of the conference this year was, “The Timeless Question of Suffering”. Councillor Karen Harper of the District of Saanich served as the moderator of the event.

The event started at 6pm with the recitation from the Holy Quran with its English translation, followed by introductory remarks by the regional Amir of British Columbia.

An indigenous ceremony was carried out by Joan Morris of the Songhees First Nation.

Many guests and dignitaries were in attendance. Some were invited to say a few words. These included the president of The Church of Jesus Christ Latter-Day Saints Mr Gary Anderson, board member of the Victoria Multifaith Society, Ms May Shihadeh, and the mayor of the District of Saanich, His Worship Dean Murdock.

The speakers from nine faiths presented their respective views on the theme. They included Ms Gita Badiyan from

Baha’ism, Reverend Leslie Flynn from Christianity (Anglican), Umran ul Haq Bhatti Sahib from Islam, Mr Gian Singh Kotli from Sikhism, Mr Dale Ruttan from Christianity (LDS), Mrs Shoshana Litman from Judaism, Mr Shrikant Shenwai from Hinduism, Ms Lesia Kohut from New Thought, and Mr Wayne Codling from Buddhism.

The participants were positively impacted. Some shared their thoughts as well.

Sheila Flood, executive director of the Victoria Multifaith Society, said:

“Over half the board members were there, and everyone was very happy with the conference.”

Lesia Kohut, AcsB, RScP, and INHC, said:

“It was such a great event, and I’m so honoured to have been able to participate.”

In total, the event’s attendance was 345. Complimentary refreshments and dinner were offered to attendees.

Humanity First Germany distributes food packages to flood-affected families in Skenderaj, Kosovo

Besmir Yvejsi Kosovo Correspondent

Kosovo, in the last ten days of January 2023, was hit by torrential rain and as a result, there were large floods in several cities, such as Podujeva, Peja, Gjakova, Istog, Deçan, Mitrovica and Skenderaj. Fortunately, no casualties were recorded, but there was extensive damage to agricultural land, households, and material goods and the starvation of domestic animals. Humanity

First Germany responded to the request of the two municipalities most affected by the floods: South Mitrovica and Skenderaj.

On 11 and 12 February 2023, food and hygiene packages were distributed to 100 families in two neighbourhoods of South Mitrovica that were affected by the floods.

On 22 February 2023, after the Memorandum of Understanding was signed with the Mayor of the Municipality of Skenderaj, Mr Fadil Nura, where the Director of the Directorate for Social Welfare, Mrs Rrezarta Hasani – Ibrahimi was also present, Humanity First Germany officially started the distribution of another 100 packages with 18 basic food products such as flour, sugar, oil, salt, pasta, rice, milk and beans. The distribution continued for two full days.

On the first day, with the support of

the Directorate for Social Welfare and the officials of the Centre for Social Work of this municipality, who had compiled a list of 100 needy families, we started distributing 50 food packages door-to-door in the villages of Tushila, Kuqica, Vajnika, Buroja, Rezalla, Lubavec, Kozhica, Kopiliq I Poshtem (Upper Kopiliq) and Açareva.

The distribution of another 50 packages continued the next day, on 23 February 2023, where 50 families from the villages such as Prekaz I Eperm (Upper Prekaz), Kllodenica,

Mikushnica, Qubrel, Klina e Eperme (Upper Klina), Llausha and from the city of Skenderaj benefited from a food package that will cover the food requirements of an average family for over a month.

Alhamdulillah, the humanitarian activity was successfully completed thanks to the institutional cooperation of the Municipality of Skenderaj, the Directorate for Social Welfare, the officials and volunteers of the Centre for Social Work and the volunteers of Humanity First.

Years Ago...

‘This book almost made me a Muslim’: Hazrat Maulvi Muhammad Din’s passion for preaching

Al Fazl, 8 March 1923

by Hazrat Maulvi Muhammad Dinra (1881-1983)

Hazrat Maulvi Muhammad Din Sahibra, son of Ghasita Sahib, was a resident of Lahore. He was born on 4 December 1881. At the age of 20 in 1901, he was blessed with the audience and bai‘at of the Promised Messiahas. In 1903, he migrated to Qadian.

In September 1907, when the Promised Messiahas encouraged members of the Jamaat to devote their lives, Hazrat Maulvi Muhammad Din Sahibra was among the first 13 Companionsra who responded to his call. At that time, he was a student of BA [Bachelor of Arts] at Aligarh College, Lahore.

From 1914 to 1921, Hazrat Maulvi Sahibra was the headmaster of Talim-ulIslam High School, Qadian. From 1923 to 1925, he served as a missionary in America. He was also the headmaster of Girls’ High School, Qadian, from 1942 to 1947. After the creation of Pakistan, he served as the Nazir-e-Talim [Head of the Education Department] and editor of The Review of Religions. In 1965, he was appointed president of Sadr Anjuman Ahmadiyya and held that position until he passed on 7 March 1983, at the age of 102. Hence,

he was able to serve Islam Ahmadiyyat for around 76 years.

Two Afghans were going to Angora [now Ankara] from Bombay [now Mumbai]. One of them was my age, and the other was slightly younger than me; both boarded the ship with me. As they did not know English, I helped them in every way. Moreover, as they could only speak Persian, I spoke to them in Persian. I drew their attention to the weak state of the followers of Islam and the spiritual decline of Muslims. At the same time, I conveyed the message of Ahmadiyya Jamaat to them. I think they left the ship with a good impression of the Jamaat. They told me that there were many members of the Jamaat in Afghanistan. It is my intention that, inshaAllah, I shall continue preaching to both of them.

From Port Said, a very wealthy Jew boarded the ship. He is a resident of New Orleans, America, and a big supporter of the Zionist Movement. He has a wellestablished trading business in Palestine and the United States. He intends to settle permanently in Jerusalem. I had a lot of

Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Malta holds

Jalsa Yaum-e-Musleh-e-Maud

Laiq Ahmed Atif

President Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Malta

Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Malta organised Jalsa Yaum-e-Musleh-e-Maud on 20 February 2023. The event commenced with the recitation from the Holy Quran, followed by an Urdu poem and the words of the prophecy of Musleh-e-Maud.

After this, Rauf Babar Sahib delivered a speech on the importance and greatness of

this prophecy, followed by a poem. I then had the privilege to deliver a speech on “The Prophecy of Musleh-e-Maud: A Great Divine Sign”, which was followed by a Q&A session.

A Maltese friend also participated in the event and was very impressed to hear about the fulfilment of this grand divine prophecy. He also asked several questions on this occasion.

The event concluded with a silent prayer.

discussions with him, and finally, I gave him the book, [The Philosophy of the] Teachings of Islam, to read. By the time we reached Marseilles, he had read the entire book. He gave it back to me, saying that the study of that book had impacted him so much that he no longer had the same views about religion [as he had in the past]. This person did not believe in revelation, Judgement Day, etc., and used to say that Prophet Moses was a very cunning person. On the last day [of his journey], he came on the deck of the ship, and in the presence of a Hindu friend, he said:

“This book, [The Philosophy of the] Teachings of Islam, has almost made me a Muhammadan [i.e., a Muslim].”

A Hindu student from Bombay [now Mumbai] also boarded the ship with me. I gave him an overview of the Ahmadiyya Jamaat. He became so interested that he began to inquire about the details of the Jamaat with special attention and curiosity. I gave him the book, A Present to the Prince of Wales. He not only studied it himself but also read it aloud to others in his cabin. He then requested other books [of the Jamaat].

Although his brother and other friends were also in London, he stayed with me at the mosque in London for two days. He still asks me for more books. For now, he thinks that, as it is time for him to focus on his studies, he should not delve deeply into religion. He belongs to a rich family and is very surprised to learn about the progress and state of the Jamaat. I believe that one day Allah the Almighty will lead him to the truth [of Islam Ahmadiyyat].

An Indian merchant who got married in Ireland and has a large factory in South Africa has also expressed his interest in the Ahmadiyya Jamaat. He has not only promised to study the book, [The Philosophy of the Teachings of Islam], himself but has also said that he would make ten other individuals read it as well. Moreover, he says that he will keep this book in his home library and also make his Muslim friends read it.

Muhammad Din, London.

(Translated by Al Hakam from the original Urdu, published in the 8 March 1923 issue of Al Fazl)

Jalsa Yaum-e-Musleh-e-Maud held in Bradford East, Canada

Touseef Ahmad Rehan

Secretary Ishaat, Jamaat Bradford East

Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Bradford East, Canada, organised Jalsa Yaum-e-Musleh-eMaud on 20 February 2023.

The event started with a recitation from the Holy Quran with its Urdu and English translations, followed by a poem with its English translation.

Then, the words of the prophecy of Musleh-e-Maud with their English translation were read out.

Following this, a speech was delivered by Hadi Ali Chaudhary Sahib, Naib Amir Jamaat Canada, who described various achievements of Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra and how the prophecy was fulfilled.

The event concluded with a silent prayer, followed by dinner. A total of 170 members attended the event.

Friday Sermon

Mubarak Mosque, Islamabad, UK, 10 February 2023

The Promised Messiahas: Preeminent Guidance, Endless Benefits and Virtues of The Holy Quran

After reciting the tashahhud

, ta‘awwuz and Surah al-Fatihah, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa stated:

In the previous sermon, I mentioned extracts of the Promised Messiahas regarding the importance and distinction of the Holy Quran. Continuing with this subject today, I shall mention some further extracts.

Whilst explaining the excellences and importance of the Holy Quran in his book, “A Gift for the Queen” which the Promised Messiahas wrote on the occasion of the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria wherein the Promised Messiahas conveyed to her the message of Islam, he wrote:

“The Quran is filled with similar deep wisdom and surpasses the Gospels in teaching true piety. In particular, the lamp that enables the vision of the true and unchanging God is borne only by the Quran. If it had not come in the world, then only God knows how much the number of people who worship other created beings would have sky-rocketed. Therefore, it is a matter of gratefulness that the Oneness of God, which had disappeared from the earth, has been established again.” (A Gift for the Queen, p. 30)

Who else was there in that era, who conveyed the message in such a manner to the Empress of India and spoke about the teachings of Islam with such courage? Today, those same people who did not even possess the courage to speak about the greatness of Islam and the Holy Quran, claim that Godforbid the Promised Messiahas and his Jamaat dishonour the Holy Quran. On the other hand, the non-Muslims, upon witnessing their conduct, have become so blinded in their opposition that, since they cannot deny the greatness of the Holy Quran, therefore, in order to attain some kind of satisfaction and to vent their anger, they burn copies of the Holy Quran. For example, these incidents have been taking place in Sweden and have taken place in the past in other Scandinavian countries as well. If the Muslims accept the Imam of the age and understand the teachings of the Holy Quran and act upon them, then the non-Muslims would never have the courage to dishonour the Holy Quran in this way. May Allah the Almighty guide such people!

Whilst elaborating on the fact that it is

Photo courtesy of Suhaib Ahmad

only the Holy Quran that can grant guidance, the Promised Messiahas says:

“Islam is such a blessed and Godrevealing religion that if any person chooses to follow it truly and acts upon the teachings, guidance, and admonitions contained in the Holy Word of God Almighty—the Holy Quran—he would behold God in this very life. (People often ask how one would see God in the next life, the Promised Messiahas says that if one acts on the teachings of the Holy Quran they would be able to see God in this very life). For the recognition of that God, Who is hidden from the sight of the world behind thousands of veils, there is no other means except the teaching of the Quran. The Holy Quran guides towards God Almighty through reason and heavenly Signs in a very easy and simple manner.”

If one acts on these teachings then such signs would be manifested whereby one would learn of the existence of God. The Promised Messiahas further says:

“It possesses a blessing and magnetic power which perpetually attracts a seeker of God towards God, bestowing light, peacefulness, and satisfaction. And a true believer in the Holy Quran does not—like the philosophers— merely hold on to the conjecture that there ‘ought to be’ a Creator for this most ingenious universe; rather, acquiring a personal insight and being honoured with a holy vision, he sees with the eye of certainty that that Creator ‘actually exists.’ He who is bestowed the light of this Holy Word does not merely guess like those who rely upon dry reason alone that God is One without partner, but through hundreds of brilliant Signs which grasp him by the hand and pull him out of the darkness, such a person actually witnesses for himself that— in reality—God has no associate in His Being nor in His attributes. And not only this; such a one is able to practically demonstrate to the world that he believes God to actually be such, and the majesty of the Oneness of God so fills his heart that in his estimation—when placed in contrast to the will of Allah—the whole world amounts to no more than a dead insect and indeed to nothing at all.” (Barahine-Ahmadiyya, Part 5, pp. 43-44, [English Translation])

With regards to the Holy Quran being perfect in terms of its knowledge and

practical guidance, the Promised Messiahas writes:

“It ought to be remembered also that the Holy Quran gives guidance for the perfection of knowledge and practice. (It contains knowledge and also imparts guidance on one’s practical conduct). Accordingly, in the words, طار�لا اندھا [Guide us to the path], the perfection of one’s knowledge is alluded to, (i.e. the Holy Quran is a perfect book, the teachings of which guide a person to the right path) while the perfection of one’s action is indicated in the words:

مہيلعتمعنانیﺬلاطا�� [The path of those on whom Thou hast bestowed Thy blessings].”

“In order to progress in one’s actions, the prayer of those who have been bestowed with God’s blessings has been taught, and this blessed group of people was mentioned in last week’s Friday Sermon, i.e. the Prophets, the Truthful, the Martyrs and the Righteous. Examples of such people are present even in this time who have attained guidance and on whom Allah the Almighty bestows His grace.

The Promised Messiahas further says:

“When a plant is put into the ground, it cannot flourish and bear fruits until it grows completely. Similarly, if a guidance is devoid of the finest and most superlative results, then such guidance is dead, and it possesses no strength or power to nourish and develop. For example, if after completely following the Vedas a person can never expect to attain everlasting deliverance and salvation, and if they cannot be freed from the process of becoming bugs and insects, to receive eternal pleasure, what use is such guidance?

The Holy Quran, on the other hand, is such guidance which, if followed, enables a person to attain the highest levels of excellence. Such a one begins to develop a true relationship with God Almighty to the extent that their good deeds—performed in accordance with the guidance of the Quran—begin to flourish and bear fruits in the similitude of a pure tree, as described by the Holy Quran; and they develop a unique kind of sweetness and taste.” (Malfuzat [English], Vol. 1, pp. 196197)

The Promised Messiahas says, “The Holy Quran is a pure book, which appeared in the world at a time when disorder was rife and

many erroneous doctrines with regards to one’s beliefs and practices had become firmly rooted. Almost the entire world was engulfed in evil morals and practices. It is to this that Allah the Almighty refers in the verse:

“It means that everyone; whether people who followed a scripture or otherwise, had become immersed in their misdeeds and a complete corruption had swept across the earth. Thus, in such an era, God Almighty refuted all erroneous beliefs by sending down the Holy Quran, a complete and perfect book for our guidance, which contains rebuttals of all false religions…From the entire Quran, He singled out Surah al-Fatihah, which is read in every rak’ah [unit] of every prayer five times a day and by means of this, indicated towards all of their beliefs. He states:

“All praise is due to that God, Who has created all the worlds;

نمحرلا

“It means that He is the one Who creates without antecedent deeds and Who bestows upon man without requiring any deeds. (This occurs through God’s attribute of Rahmaniyyah [The Gracious])

“It means that God grants reward for one’s actions (God rewards for what one does, if one prays to Him, He will answer those prayers) نیدلا

“God is the ‘Master of the Day of Judgement’ (there is reward and punishment in this very life as well as in the Hereafter.) in these four attributes, all factions of the world have been referred to.” (Malfuzat [1984], Vol. 10, pp. 3132)

Deliberate over the fact that if one offers the five daily prayers, they will develop a deep understanding.

Elaborating on the idea that the Quran is also a miracle, the Promised Messiahas says:

“The true nature of a miracle is this: A miracle refers to an extraordinary phenomenon the like of which an opposing

party is unable to produce, although superficially it may appear to be well within human capabilities, just like the miracle of the Holy Quran which was presented before all the inhabitants of the land of Arabia. Thus, although superficially it seemed entirely within human capacity, the entire population of Arabia was frustrated in their efforts to produce its like. Therefore, to understand the essence of a miracle, the text of the Holy Quran is a shining example. It may appear, at a cursory glance, to be a literary composition, just as human literature is. However, with respect to its eloquent expression; with respect to its exceptionally delectable, pure, and florid diction, everywhere meticulously adhering to truth and wisdom; moreover, with respect to its brilliant arguments, which triumph over the entire world’s opposing arguments; and, even further, with respect to its compelling prophecies—it is such a matchless miracle that despite the passage of thirteen hundred years, no adversary has been able to challenge it to this day, nor does anyone have the ability to do so. Of all the books in the world, the Holy Quran holds the distinction of expressing miraculous prophecies in passages that are themselves miraculous—being full of truth and wisdom—with the highest degree of fluency and eloquence.

“In short, the primary and principal purpose of a miracle is to demonstrate the difference between right and wrong or true and false. Such a distinguishing phenomenon is called a miracle or, in other words, a Sign. A Sign is such a vital matter that without it, it is not possible to fully believe even in the existence of God Almighty, nor is it possible to reap the fruit that can be attained with full certainty. It is therefore evident that the fundamental truth of a religion is linked to the knowledge of the existence of God Almighty. One of the necessary and important essentials of a true religion is that it should possess the Signs that conclusively and definitively prove the existence of God Almighty, and that it should possess such an overwhelming force that unites the hand of its follower with the hand of God Almighty … It is not sufficient for the perfect cognition of God to merely look upon creation and feel the need for a Creator without becoming informed of His actual existence. (It is not enough to merely think that there ought to be a creator). Those who are confined to this degree cannot develop a true bond with God Almighty, nor can they purify their selves from carnal passions. (If one simply learns that there is a God, that is not enough to purify their souls, nor can one form a connection with Him.)

If anything can be understood from this, it is only to the extent that this impregnable structure and perfection ought to have some Creator; not that the Creator actually exists.”

I.e. there ought to be a creator of the universe and all that we see around us. One ought to have certainty of this. And once a person gains knowledge about the God Whom we worship, then one can form a true connection with Him. Subsequently, one will be drawn towards acting on His commands, after which one will turn toward purifying their soul.

The Promised Messiahas further states:

“It is evident that simply feeling the need is a conjecture which cannot merit the same rank as actually seeing, nor can it produce the holy effect of witnessing first-hand. (There is a big difference between estimation and actually seeing something.) Therefore,

any religion which stops man’s cognition of God short at the incomplete destination of just ‘ought to be’ cannot be the remedy to his practical condition. In reality, such a religion is a dead religion; entertaining hope of any pure transformation from it is wishful thinking. It is evident that rational arguments alone cannot embody the complete evidence for the truth of a religion, and this is not the kind of seal that any counterfeiter is incapable of forging; rather, this can be understood as nothing more than the alms bestowed by the ordinary fountain of reason.” One can present rational arguments or one can make great statements based on their intellect, but this is not enough unless a person recognises the attributes of Allah and derives benefit from them.

The Promised Messiahas continues:

“Who then will decide whether the rational arguments written in a book have their origin in revelation or have been plagiarised from some other book? And even if, suppose, they have not been plagiarised, how can they serve as an indisputable proof of the existence of the Exalted Maker? And how can a seeker of truth be fully satisfied that the rational discourse alone will definitely lead towards God, and how can he be satisfied that it is absolutely free from error? (I.e. they are such signs that lead one to God, or are completely free from error.) Thus, if a religion simply presents some rational or philosophical arguments as a proof of its truth and is unable to show heavenly Signs and miraculous phenomena, the follower of such a religion is either self-deceived or a deceiver. He will die in darkness.

“In short, even the existence of God Almighty cannot be proven with certainty solely through rational arguments, let alone the truth of any religion. Further, until a religion takes upon itself the responsibility to address this issue—proving and demonstrating God’s existence with complete certainty—that religion amounts to nothing of value whatsoever, and unfortunate is the one who is seduced by such a faith. The mark of curse is branded upon the forehead by every religion which cannot advance human cognition to the level at which one can— so to speak—see God.” (Barahin-e-Ahmadiyya, Part 5, pp. 79-81, [English Translation])

Thus, this is the stage that we should try to reach. Recognise God through His signs and by forging a personal relationship with Him as opposed to simply relying on reasoning alone. As a result of this, the truth that becomes manifest for a person will be the real truth. By the grace of Allah the Almighty, there are examples within the Ahmadiyya Jamaat whereby even those people who previously did not follow any religion, in fact, were atheists, became convinced of the existence of God. They were presented with logical arguments, but when they were told about the signs and personal experiences, they accepted [the truthfulness of] religion and Islam. There are even people like this here in the West. For example, there was one such individual who was an atheist living in Belgium. He was originally from Indonesia but had settled in Belgium. He pledged allegiance and told me himself that he not only accepted the existence of God through logical arguments, but also because of personal experiences and through witnessing signs. He said that he was left with no option but to accept Ahmadiyyat, the true Islam. He said that since Ahmadiyyat had shown him the right way, he became an

Ahmadi Muslim.

The Holy Quran makes the declaration that it is a guidance for the righteous. Regarding this, the Promised Messiahas states:

“The point of wisdom concealed in these verses is that God Almighty has said:

“It means that this is the Book that has come into existence out of the knowledge of God Almighty. Since His knowledge is free from ignorance and forgetfulness, this Book is free from every doubt and confusion. And since the knowledge of God possesses the perfect power to make human beings perfect, therefore, this Book is perfect guidance for the righteous. It elevates them to the station that is the highest pinnacle for the progress of human potential.”

Then, whilst explaining who a righteous person is upon whom Allah the Almighty bestows guidance, the Promised Messiahas states:

“God says in these verses that the righteous are those who believe in the Unseen God, establish prayer, spend a portion of their possessions in the way of God, and believe in the Holy Qur’an and the earlier Scriptures. It is they who are guided and will attain salvation.” (Haqiqatul Wahi, pp. 160-161 [English Translation])

This is the definition of a righteous person. With regards to the Quran containing the teachings of the perfect religion, the Promised Messiahas states:

“It is an established fact that the Holy Quran has done justice to establishing a most perfect religion, as Allah the Almighty states:

“‘Today, I have perfected your religion for you and completed My favour upon you and have chosen for you Islam as your religion and am pleased with it.’ Hence, after the Quran, no other book has the right to take precedence over the Quran, because everything that man needs, can be found in the Quran. And now, only the door of divine communion is open, but one does not receive this of one’s own accord. Rather, one can only partake of this pure and Holy discourse, which contains divine succour as well as many hidden verities, when one purifies their soul and follows the Holy Quran and the Holy Prophetsa.”

(Chashma-e-Ma’rifat, Ruhani Khazain, Vol. 23, p. 80)

It is regretful that our opponents do not wish to listen to these words of wisdom and they raise allegations against us that we alter the Holy Quran, God forbid.

In his book, Chashma-e-Ma’rifat, the Promised Messiahas writes regarding the fact that the Holy Quran is a spiritual remedy and states:

“The Holy Quran is a Book so full of wisdom that it has brought out the accord between the principles of spiritual medicine, that is to say, the principles of religion, which are truly spiritual medicine, and physical medicine, and this accord is so fine that it opens the doors of hundreds of insights and verities. It is only that person who can interpret the Holy Quran truly and perfectly, who ponders the principles laid down by the Holy Quran in the light of the system of physical medicine.

“On one occasion I was shown in a vision some books of expert physicians (Allah the Almighty guided the Promised Messiahas

Himself. He was shown the books of some physicians which contained discourses on the principles of medicine, philosophy and the six core principles of health etc. Among these books, one was of the expert physician, Qarshi) and it was indicated to me that these Books contained a commentary on the Holy Quran. This shows that there is a deep relationship between the science of [physical] bodies and the science of religion and that they confirm each other. When I looked at the Holy Quran, keeping in mind the books that dealt with physical medicine, I discovered that the Holy Quran sets out principles of physical medicine in a most excellent and eloquent manner.” (Chashma-e-Ma’rifat, Ruhani Khazain, Vol. 23, pp. 102-103)

In other words, one can derive help from the Quran for both physical and spiritual ailments. In order to be able to deliberate over the Quran and to attain cognisance of God, one must listen to the directives of the Imam of the age and to read his literature.

Then, stating the fact that one can only form a true connection with Allah the Almighty by means of the Quran, the Promised Messiahas says:

“It should be borne in mind that human beings can never recognise God, who is Absolutely Hidden, merely through their own faculties, until He Himself reveals His Being through His Signs. A true relationship with God the Exalted can never develop unless that relationship is created exclusively through the instrumentation of God. Carnal temptations cannot be removed from the soul until a light from the Omnipotent God enters the heart. Behold! I present first-hand testimony that such a relationship can only be possible through following the Holy Quran. The other scriptures are now devoid of the spirit of life. There is now only one book under the canopy of the heavens that reveals the countenance of that True Beloved; that is, the Holy Quran.” (Haqiqatul Wahi, p. 2, [English Translation])

Thus, by acting on the directives of the Holy Quran, one can see the countenance of God Almighty, as it were. This is something that we, as Ahmadis, ought to ponder over. How many of us can say that we follow the commands of the Holy Quran and ponder over its meanings? For this, we ought to strive to our utmost. May Allah the Almighty enable us to do so.

Then, the Promised Messiahas states:

“It has been my personal observation and first-hand experience, as well as the testimony of the truthful ones who have passed before us, that every step taken with sincerity and truthfulness in accordance with the Holy Quran and the Holy Prophetsa possesses such excellence that, through means of it, the love for the One True God gradually becomes embedded in one’s heart. The spiritual power of divine converse illuminates the human soul, due to which one’s eyes are opened, and one eventually witnesses the wonders of the world to come.

“Thus, from that day forward that individual knows with knowledge by certainty of reason that God exists. Then, their certainty evolves until they progress from knowledge by certainty of reason to knowledge by certainty of sight, and then from knowledge by certainty of sight to knowledge by certainty of experience.

“The one who believes in the Holy Quran and the Holy Prophetsa, at first does not attain purification of the soul, and falls into different types of sin. Then, the mercy of God comes to

their aid, and their faith is granted strength through miraculous means; just as the Holy Quran states:

“It means that ‘the faithful are given glad tidings by Allah’; in the same way, they also attain different forms of glad tidings regarding their own person. And just as one’s faith gradually becomes stronger through these glad tidings, at the same time they gradually abstain from sin and advance towards good deeds.” (Chashma-e-Ma’rifat, Ruhani Khazain, Vol. 23, pp. 423-424)

The Promised Messiahas wrote a treatise on the superiority of Islam, which was read out at a convention of the Arya Samaj. Mentioning the distinctive qualities of the Holy Quran, he stated:

“The distinct hallmark which human reason has declared in order to distinguish a Divine scripture can only be found in the Holy Quran. In this era, all of the excellences which ought to be found in a Divine scripture as part of its unique characteristics, are not to be found in any other book. It is possible that these excellences may have existed in them at some point in time, however, now they are not to be found. Though we consider them to be revealed books, as explained earlier, despite their being revealed, they are now of no benefit owing to their current condition. They can be likened to a royal palace, which is empty and desolate and all its riches and military might have gone.”

Further expounding upon its unique excellences, the Promised Messiahas states:

“Now I shall mention the unique excellences of the Holy Quran which are beyond any human effort:

“Firstly, it contains extraordinary power, which takes its followers from a stage of mere conjecture to absolute conviction. (It is not just mere conjecture, rather one develops insight which leads to absolute conviction). When one completely adheres to it, then the power of God manifests in the form of miracles and God converses with such a person. And through the means of Divine revelation reveals to him matters of the unseen. I do not speak of these Quranic blessings as mere tales rather, I present those miracles which were shown to me. These miracles number almost 100,000. In fact, there are more than 100,000. God has stated in the Holy Quran that one who adheres to His Book, will not only have faith in the miracles mentioned in it but they will also be granted these miracles. Thus, I have personally experienced those miracles through the blessings of the Holy Quran which are beyond any human effort and purely an act of God. The earthquakes and the plague which have ravaged the world are among those very miracles which were granted to me.” (Chashma-e-Ma’rifat, Ruhani Khazain, Vol. 23, pp. 402-403)

The Promised Messiahas states that these are not his miracles, rather they are the miracles of the Holy Quran because everything he achieved was through the power and spirit granted to him through the Holy Quran.”

The Promised Messiahas states:

“Among the extraordinary powers of the Holy Quran is that those who adhere to it are granted miracles and great signs. These signs are granted in such abundance that the world cannot compete with them. Thus, I openly declare that if all the opponents, whether they be in the East or the West, were

to all gather in one place and challenge me in demonstrating such signs and miracles, I shall be granted victory over them by the grace and help of God Almighty. This victory will not be because I have any superior power in my soul, rather it will be because God has desired that I give proof of the extraordinary power of the Holy Quran and the spiritual strength and lofty status of His Messenger, Hazrat Muhammadsa Mustafa. And it is not owing to any personal quality, rather it is purely due His grace that I follow this great Prophetsa and His powerful book and have love for it and believe in this revealed book, which is known as the Holy Quran and is a manifestation of God’s powers. The Holy Quran has promised that:

“And also:

“And also:

“In accordance to these promises, God has granted me all of this.

“The translation of these verses is as follows:

“Those who believe in the Holy Quran, will be granted dreams and revelations containing glad-tidings and they will be granted these abundantly. Otherwise, on the rare occasion, any [ordinary] person could also see a true dream. Nonetheless, a single drop is nothing in the face of an ocean; a single coin is nothing in comparison to a treasury. Then, God further states that a perfect follower will be aided by the Holy Spirit. In other words, their knowledge and insight will be illumined by a light from the unseen, their spiritual visions will become immaculately clear, their words and actions will be imbued with potency and their faith will be strengthened. It is further stated that God will clearly distinguish between them and others. That is to say, in comparison to the profound knowledge they will be granted and in the face of the miracles and extraordinary wonders they will be bestowed, other nations will be inferior.”

The Promised Messiahas further states, “Therefore, we can observe that this promise of God Almighty has always been fulfilled since time immemorial, and in this day and age, we are a witness to it.”

Muslims ought to understand this, and we also ought to truly realise that Allah the Almighty has sent the Promised Messiahas in this age with many signs. The manifestation of these signs continues even today. Those who truly follow the word of Allah the Almighty will experience the results in one way or another from Allah the Almighty Himself.

The Promised Messiahas continues, “Thus, I have elucidated the extraordinary power of the Holy Quran whose potency impacts those who follow it. However, the Quran is full of other miracles as well; it foretold the progress, grandeur and victory of Islam at a time when the Holy Prophetsa was wandering in the wilderness of Mecca alone. He was accompanied only by a handful of poor, weak Muslims. Furthermore, when the Roman Emperor was defeated by the Persians and Chosroes took hold of a large portion of his

kingdom, even then, the Holy Quran put forward a prophecy that, within a period of nine years, the Roman Emperor would be victorious in defeating the Persians. This is precisely what transpired. A similar exalted miracle is that of the splitting of the moon [shaqq al-qamar], which clearly manifested Divine power. It has been mentioned in the Holy Quran that the moon split into two with the gesture of the Holy Prophet’ssa finger, and the disbelievers were witness to this miracle.”

(Chashma-e-Ma’rifat, Ruhani Khazain, Vol. 23, pp. 409-411)

All these details are found in the book of the Promised Messiahas “Chashma-e-Ma’rifat” from which I have presented a few extracts. In the same book, “Chashma-e-Ma’rifat”, the Promised Messiahas explains that the stories mentioned within the Holy Quran are, in fact, prophecies.

He states:

“All the stories mentioned within the Holy Quran are not mere tales, but prophecies that have been written in the form of stories. Indeed, the Torah only contains stories, however, the Holy Quran has deemed every single story to be a prophecy in support of the Holy Prophetsa and Islam. Even these prophecies – written in the form of stories – have been unequivocally fulfilled. Thus, the Holy Quran is an ocean of knowledge and secrets and a sea of prophecies. It is impossible for anyone to come to certainty about God Almighty without the Holy Quran. This feature is unique only to the Holy Quran, which allows its true follower to remove the veil that exists between God and humankind. Followers of other faiths beckon to a fictional god, whereas the Holy Quran reveals the face of the True Beloved and fills the hearts of Man with the light of certainty. By virtue of the Holy Quran, God – Who is hidden from the entire universe – becomes manifest.” (Chashma-e-Ma’rifat, Ruhani Khazain, Vol. 23, pp. 271-272)

However, the condition is that one must truly adhere to the teachings of the Holy Quran.

Then, the Promised Messiahas states that the Holy Quran comprises of two aspects, the first being stories and the other being commandments. He states, “The Holy Quran comprises of two aspects; some things are presented in the form of stories, while others are presented in the form of commandments and guidance. … Those who are unable to distinguish between stories and guidance face great difficulty and become proponents of finding contradictions in the Holy Quran and thereby lose it in its practical form, because as God Almighty states regarding the Holy Quran:

“‘Had it been from anyone other than Allah, they would surely have found therein much disagreement.’” The Promised Messiahas continues, “The fact that there are no discrepancies has been deemed a proof of [the Holy Quran] being from Allah (the fact that there are no inconsistencies means that it is from Allah). However, due to not distinguishing between the provident stories and guidance, they create incongruities and then deem it as being from someone other than Allah. Their understanding is pitiful.”

(Malfuzat [1984], Vol. 2 p. 83)

As it was mentioned earlier, stories have been presented as prophecies and the commandments are separate from them. If people try to understand them by combining them, then they fall prey to misunderstandings. They do not possess the knowledge to understand, yet they allege that any commentary [of the Holy Quran] is a distortion.

Whilst mentioning the lofty excellences of the Holy Quran’s teachings, the Promised Messiahas states:

“Among the lofty excellences of the Holy Quran are its teachings, because they completely concord with the human nature and interests. For example, the Torah teaches a tooth for a tooth and an eye for an eye. The Gospels say that there should be no retaliation to harm, in fact, if someone strikes your right cheek then turn the other cheek. However, the Holy Quran says:

“‘The recompense of an injury is an injury the like thereof; but whoso forgives and thereby brings about an improvement, his reward is with Allah.’

It means the retaliation to an injury should be an equal injury, however, whoever forgives a person who wronged them, and this forgiveness results in the wrongdoer’s reformation and teaches them to abstain from committing the same crime again, then forgiveness is better than recompense, otherwise to punish would be more prudent. This is because people possess different natures; there are some who, upon being forgiven, never commit the same crime again and abstain from it. Then, there are others who commit the same crime even after being freed from imprisonment. Hence, because people have different natures, the best teaching is that which has been presented by the Holy Quran. The teachings of the Torah and the Gospels are not at all complete, in fact, those teachings only pertain to a peripheral branch of the human tree and both teachings can be likened to a law that is specific to a certain group of people or specific to a certain place. However, the Holy Quran considers all the different natures of people.”

I mentioned this example as well in the last Friday Sermon, however, that was in a different context. Here, this example is being presented in light of the qualities of the Holy Quran. Then, the Promised Messiahas states, “This is a commandment of the Gospel.” He presents a second example. This is not the only example, rather, he presents other examples as well.

The Promised Messiahas states:

“A commandment of the Gospel is that one should not cast a lustful glance towards women. However, the Holy Quran says categorically not to look at women; whether with a lustful eye, or not, as this might become the means for one to stumble.”

They say that we were looking at them with pure intentions. However, the Holy Quran says not to look at women even, with pure intentions, as this can become a means for one to stumble.

“As a matter of fact, if the need arises whereby one must interact with women, one can raise his eyes slightly, as opposed to

leering at them with open eyes.” That is, if a need arises, one should only look at women with their eyes slightly opened so that one does not see them completely.

Following this, the Promised Messiahas said:

“The Gospel says not to divorce one’s wife, unless she has committed adultery. However, in the Holy Quran, divorce is not confined to adultery. Rather, if mutual enmity develops between husband and wife and there is no reconciliation, or if, for example, there is a danger to one’s life, or if one’s wife has not committed adultery, but takes steps towards it, such as meeting other men; in all such cases, the judgement of the husband will suffice if he wishes to leave her. Yet despite this, the Quran has strictly stated not to rush in the matters of divorce.”

The Promised Messiahas states that the Quran has emphatically stated that one should not be hasty in matters of divorce. We also find an answer here in relation to the misconception that men have an unrestrained right to divorce. Some men believe this to be true, misuse it and are unjust as well. The Promised Messiahas said that one is not permitted to divorce without justification and even then, one should try to avoid it. Following this, the Promised Messiahas said:

“It is now evident that the teaching of the Holy Quran is in accordance with human needs and moving away from this will certainly cause problems at some point or another. For this very reason, some European governments had to pass laws on justifications for divorce.” (Chashma-e-Ma’rifat, Ruhani Khazain, Vol. 23, pp. 413-414)

Even in secular laws, the justification and reason for divorce are given. They ask this in various cases as to what the reason for divorce is and why they are separating; all the evidence needs to be provided. Nevertheless, the Promised Messiahas said that this is not an easy process and as such, they have had to create their own laws as well. Worldly laws are created and abandoned and people make continuous efforts to improve them further. Despite this, various flaws remain. However, the law of God Almighty is in absolute harmony with human nature. Here, I would once again like to clarify that not only men have the right to divorce, rather, even women can get a divorce owing to their like and dislike or for any other reason. Furthermore, [in the case of a woman seeking divorce] if it is proven that the man has acted unjustly and is at fault, then they will also have to pay the dowry and it is a misconception to think otherwise. In such cases, they will have to pay the dowry and also fulfil all their due rights. As such, men and women should not think that only men have been given the right [to divorce]. When the subject related to the rights of women will be mentioned, this will be discussed in further detail.

Nevertheless, this topic will continue. There are other statements of the Promised Messiahas in this regard, which I will mention from time to time. May Allah the Almighty enable us to act in accordance with the true teachings of the Holy Quran.

(Official Urdu transcript published in Al Fazl International, 3 March 2023, pp. 5-10.

Translated by The Review of Religions.)

Editor-in-chief: Qaasid Muin Ahmad | Executive editors: Ataul Fatir Tahir, Aqeel Ahmed Kang | Research coordinator: Awwab Saad Hayat | Associate editors: Jalees Ahmad, Ata-ul-Haye Nasir

Translations: M Adam Ahmad | Design: Tahmeed Ahmad | © Al Hakam 2023