Al Hakam - 24 April 2020

Ramadan in lockdown

Those for whom the angels fast

Five ways you can follow the Prophetsa

Fasting during a global pandemic

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100 Years Ago...

Mufti Sahib’s ship to America, Chinese converts and a fervent prayer

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From Manhattan to Medina Prophet Muhammad’s prohibition movement

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THE WEEKLY

www.alhakam.org AL HAKAM | Friday 24 April 2020 | Issue CX Ahmadiyya Archive & Research Centre (ARC), 22 Deer Park Road, London, SW19 3TL. UK info@alhakam.org | F: +44(0)208 544 7673

Ramadan 2020 When homes become mosques

Abstaining and refraining from things for our own benefit is something that sounds all too familiar in the current climate.

With Ramadan now starting, Muslims will be continuing just that; refraining from that which was otherwise

permissible, in an effort to keep ourselves secure.

It seems as if the outbreak of Covid-19 and the lockdown that ensued served as a good preparation and training ground for Muslims around the world; to begin their

efforts of abstaining from vain pursuits and staying at home, with family, and focus on prayers in this precarious time.

Ahmadi Muslims, through the magnificent tool of MTA, had already been instructed by their Imam, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa, to focus on prayers at home during this period of uncertainty, especially bearing in mind that it is not possible to partake in congregational prayers at mosques.

Al Hakam has recently published stories of how Ahmadi Muslims around the world, by the grace of Allah, are benefitting spiritually during the coronavirus lockdown, by studying the Holy Quran, offering prayers as a family and bonding with one another in a manner that was not possible before due to other obligations.

Thus, the main difference that Muslims will experience this Ramadan, as compared to the past few weeks, is that of hunger and thirst. For Muslims, food and drink has now been added to the list from which they must distance themselves.

Undoubtedly, this month comes as a mercy as it is a time when the door to God Continued on page 3

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

Observe fasts Hazrat Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, narrates that the Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: “Observe fast on sighting it [the new moon] and break [the fast] on sighting it [the new moon], but if the sky is cloudy for you, then complete the number [of thirty fasts].”

(Sahih Muslim)

Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas, In His Own Words

For every illness there is a cure – The broader connotation It is not true to say that a person has the power to adopt certain morals, but not others. Not at all! There is a cure for every ailment, or in other words ُ ‫ل ِ� ِ ّل َدا ٍء َد َو ٌاء‬ It is a pity that people do not give due regard to this blessed saying of the Holy Prophetsa and consider its scope limited to physical illnesses alone.

How ignorant and erroneous is such a view! Just as there are means available for the improvement and well-being of the physical body, how is it possible that Allah Almighty would have provided no remedy for the spiritual ailments of man? Indeed, there are, without a doubt!

It is a sure and certain fact that Allah the Exalted helps those who help themselves. However, the indolent and idle are ultimately ruined.

(Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas, Malfuzat, Vol. 1, p. 133)

Friday 24 April 2020 | AL HAKAM

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This Week in History 24 - 30 April In this third year of Al Hakam, we will present a selection of incidents from the blessed life of the Promised Messiah, peace be upon him, this time, with some more details

24 April 1889: The Promised Messiahas replied to a letter of Maulvi Muhammad Bashir of Bhopal on this date. After explaining the reasons for not being able to promptly reply, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas shared some jewels from the divine realm regarding the acceptance of men of God. 24 April 1893: It was indeed a historic day in the religious history of the Indian subcontinent, when Rev Dr Henry Martyn Clark MD, CM (Edinburgh), MRAS, CMS, medical missionary in-charge of Amritsar district agreed on the principles of the debate with the Promised Messiahas. A day earlier, Hazrat Ahmadas had sent a letter to Dr Clark through his trusted friends and assigned those ambassadors to parley with the Christian group to finalise topics for discussion and general terms and regulations to smoothly run the much needed debate. Hazrat Ahmadas was happy that the decisive debate was going to take place because Christian missionaries were carrying on their work in the country without much opposition. The orthodox Muslims and their mullahs bothered little about the progress of Christianity. The next day – 25 April – Huzooras dispatched another registered letter to the Christian camp with the aim to further cement the particulars of the agreed debate.

24 April 1900: This day came with another development in the case with the sufi of the Chishti school of thought, Pir Meher Ali Shah of Golra, district Rawalpindi – a bitter foe of the Jamaat – who produced a book entitled Shamsul-hidayah fi athbati hayatil-Masih after several years. It was printed at the Mustafa‘i Press, Lahore in Ramadan 1317 AH. Hazrat Maulvi Abdul Karimra wrote a crushing rejoinder in Al Hakam and pressed Meher Ali Shah to answer the eleven questions that were posed in his article, but this went in vain. These eleven questions were earlier raised by Hazrat Hakim Maulvi Nuruddinra after reading the book of Pir Sahib.

24 April 1902: The Promised Messiahas wrote a letter to his companion, Hazrat Maulvi Ghulam Hassan Khanra Peshawari and asked for the hand of Maulana Ghulam Hassan’s daughter, Sarwar Sultan, for her marriage with his son Hazrat Sahibzada Mirza Bashir Ahmadra.

24 April 1908: It was a Friday and the last Friday of the Promised Messiahas in Qadian as he would soon depart for his journey to Lahore, where he would leave this mortal world. Hazrat Hakim Maulvi Nuruddinra led the Jumuah prayer.

25 April 1887: The Promised Messiahas wrote a letter to Hazrat Hakim Maulvi Nuruddinra. Hazrat Ahmadas expressed that the receipt of each of his letters was a source of delight because having a sincere friend was far dearer to him than a philosopher’s stone. Huzooras prayed that

Allah may increase him in rendering services to Islam.

25 April 1893: The Promised Messiahas issued a notification accepting the call of Maulvi Abdul Haq Ghaznavi for mubahala [prayer duel].

Initially, Huzooras did not wish to quarrel with one of his own coreligionists. He wanted to defend Islam from its enemies and was too occupied for anything else. But the scribes and Pharisees of the age would not leave him in peace and were, as is customary, eager to abuse and persecute him. Huzooras had to subdue their ill-conspiracies and vernacular methods which they used to deceive weak Muslims.

25 April 1898: The Promised Messiahas wrote a letter to Hazrat Haji Allah Rakha Abdur Rahmanra updating him about the pandemic of the plague in the area and also personal health issues.

26 April 1883: The Promised Messiahas wrote a letter to Mir Abbas Ali of Ludhiana, educating him about the elevated stages of the spiritual world. Huzooras advised him to be regular in prayers after guiding him towards a spiritual formula.

26 April 1886: The Promised Messiahas wrote a letter to Hazrat Munshi Rustam Alira ensuring him that he prayed for him regularly. In his letter, Huzooras advised him about a medical tip for a certain health issue.

27 April 1897: After the murder of Lekhram, the Arya Samaj put the blame on the Promised Messiahas for conspiracy to murder. Huzooras invited them to settle the issue through oath of certain wordings regarding the issue. On this date, Huzooras issued another detailed notification setting the details of this proposed oath to finalise the matter of the murderer. In it, Huzooras addressed Lala Ganga Bashan to come up with absolute terms.

27 April 1899: The Promised Messiahas wrote a letter to Hafiz Muhammad Yusuf, ensuring him that he would not file any litigation process in any of the British courts as Munshi Ilahi Bakhsh, an accountant in Lahore, was permitted to publish his so-called revelations regarding the claims of the Promised Messiahas. Actually, Huzooras was informed that the said erstwhile follower of Huzooras was fearing that Huzooras would sue him if he revealed his inspirations.

28 April 1895: The Promised Messiahas wrote a letter to Hazrat Nawab Muhammad Ali Khanra and shared his ongoing project with him, which was about proving that Arabic is the mother of all languages. Huzooras encouraged him to take part in this vast venture through relieving his personal secretary to spend two months in Qadian assisting him in that novel project. In this letter, Huzooras also mentioned the ailment of Hazrat Hakim Maulvi Nuruddinra and praised

how he had given precedence to religion over all worldly careers as he had migrated to Qadian from Jammu Kashmir.

28 April 1895: The Promised Messiahas sent a brief letter to his affectionate follower Hazrat Mian Abdullah Sanaurira asking him to give an update about his existing health and wellbeing.

Hazrat Ahmadas also prayed for him in the letter.

28 April 1900: A much-loved companion of the Promised Messiahas, Hazrat Mirza Ayub Baigra succumbed to a prolonged ailment and passed away on this date. On 25 April, Huzooras dispatched a distressed and very concerning letter after being informed that his illness had taken a turn for the worse. Hazrat Mirza Yaqub Baigra later recorded that as the letter of the Promised Messiahas reached and was read out to his brother, he breathed his last after kissing the paper and placing it on his eyes, as if he was waiting for that letter.

29 April 1905: The Promised Messiahas issued a notification about a coming earthquake, stating, “Today, I have again been vouchsafed a revelation about that devastation, which had been decided in heavens to befall the earth very soon.” Huzooras said, “My sympathies for the creation of God made me openly warn everyone about this tremor.”

29 April 1906: The Promised Messiahas issued a notification briefing Jamaat members about heavenly signs manifested in his favour in the recent past. The array of these fresh signs comprise of earthquakes, triumph in many court cases, death of enemies and dissidents and plague etc. Al Hakam published a piece on this in its next issue on pages 10 and 11.

30 April 1902: The Promised Messiahas replied to Hazrat Maulvi Abdullah Sanaurira that Chanda of 30 rupees and 7 annas from him had been received. Huzooras plainly articulated that during the ongoing pandemic of the plague, deaths of some members of the Jamaat may occur, but these men would be considered shaheed [martyrs] and these deaths would not surge as total devastation and would not shroud the Jamaat in sheer despair.

30 April 1907: In this date’s issue, Al Hakam published a notification written by the Promised Messiahas which was an open query to rival camps. God had given Hazrat Ahmadas the gladtiding: َّ ُ ُ َّ ُ ّ ‫اِﻧِﻰ ا َﺣﺎ ِﻓﻆ �ﻞ َﻣ ْﻦ ِﻓﻰ اﻟﺪا ِر‬ “I shall safeguard all those who are in this house,” during this widespread plague. Thus, the Promised Messiahas raised the question whether this prophecy of God’s protection was not fulfilled in the most clear manner and without any kind of doubt?

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Friday 24 April 2020 | AL HAKAM Continued from page 1

Almighty’s nearness becomes even more accessible. Aside from praying for the global national health services, Muslims will indeed be praying for this pandemic to swiftly come to an end. And what better opportunity than Ramadan to carry out this service for humanity!

However, this time has brought its challenges also. There have been rising cases of anxiety and depression due to the incessant coverage of deaths and new cases of the virus by the media, while at the same time, many have lost dear ones due to this virus and are currently in mourning.

As a result of the lockdown and staying at home, some people are without jobs

and consequently, without any financial stability, which has raised questions about the future of such individuals. Domestic abuse cases have also, unfortunately, been on the rise throughout the world as a byproduct of the lockdown measures.

Although the world seems to be drifting away from God, but when push comes to shove, the words “prayer”, “miracle” and “God” still slip from the tongues of many. These words have been used repeatedly by world leaders and influential figures while addressing the uncertain conditions of Covid-19.

During the blessed month of Ramadan, Muslims certainly have an obligation; to pray for the world and beseech God’s mercy and forgiveness. As a religion that

defines itself on the premise of a Living and All-Hearing God, we have a duty, an obligation that must be carried out more than ever before.

The circumstances that this Ramadan finds us in can enable us to broaden the circle of prayers. The shift of focus from our individual selves to greater family known as mankind is probably the greatest requirement of these uncertain times. Rare have been such times in human history when every single person in every single part of the world is caught up in the same predicament; rare have been times when the pride of science has been shaken so badly; rarer even have there been times when world powers had to admit, before live cameras, that they felt

powerless before something invisible.

From superpowers to top ranking scientists, all have repeatedly said that they are having to fight off an “invisible enemy”.

Let us pray that humanity as a whole and world leaders can finally remember the long lost “invisible” Friend that they have forsaken for the mere reason that He was invisible to their eyes.

Let us pray that the world now finally listens to the call of the Khalifatul Masih and turns to the Omnipotent, Loving and Caring God, Who might be invisible to the worldly eye, but is, at the same time, the most invincible reality of the Universe.

May Allah bless this Ramadan for all of mankind! Amin

Ramadan

An introduction Azhar Goraya Missionary, Mexico

In a few days, something strange is going to happen to hundreds of millions of people on earth. Every one of these people, from housewives to office workers, is going to leave aside food and water from dawn till dusk.

No, it’s not a protest or another trendy diet. These hundreds of millions of people are Muslims and in a few days, with the start of the holy month of Ramadan, they will begin a long journey of fasting and spiritual rejuvenation.

That’s not to say that the fast is for a whole 30 days. Not many Muslims would survive that. A fast is kept each day, from dawn to dusk. Muslims observing the fasting season are permitted to eat and drink outside of daylight hours.

The month of Ramadan is the ninth month in the Islamic calendar. From the time of the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, over 1,400 years ago, Muslims have religiously observed fasting during this sacred time every year.

The month of Ramadan was the month when divine revelation first began to descend upon the Prophet Muhammadsa.

The angel Gabriel would communicate to him verses of the Holy Quran, the holy scripture of Islam, which is considered the word of God. Thereafter, for the duration of his 23-year prophethood, the angel would revise the revelation of the Quran with him every Ramadan. Therefore, Muslims try to devote more time to the study of their holy scripture in this month.

Like all other aspects of Islam, the method of fasting was implemented and demonstrated by the Holy Prophet

Muhammadsa. During the fast, a Muslim must abstain from all food, drink and conjugal relations. But the fast doesn’t only demand controlling one’s appetite.

The Prophetsa stated that Allah is in no need of one who fasts and does not leave false speech and hurtful comments. In the same fashion, he stated that if someone wishes to argue with a person who is observing the fast, he should merely reply, “I am fasting”.

The Prophet Muhammadsa, already extremely generous, would become even more giving during this month. Ramadan thus encompasses both physical and internal discipline.

The Promised Messiah, Hazrat Mirza

Ghulam Ahmadas stated about the fasts: “Fasting is not simply about being remaining hungry and thirsty, but its reality and impact can only be obtained through experience.

“It is human nature that the less one eats, the more one purifies the spirit and thus increases the capacity for [spiritual] visions. God’s will is to decrease one kind of sustenance and increase the other. A person who is fasting should always keep in mind that he is not only required to be hungry, rather he should be occupied with the remembrance of God so that he can cut the ties of worldly desires and diversions and be totally dedicated to God. Therefore, the meaning of fasting is that

man renounces one kind of sustenance that feeds only the body and attains the other kind of sustenance that is a source of comfort and gratification for the soul.

And those who observe fasting only for the sake of Allah and not only by custom, should remain engaged in the praise, glorification, and exaltation of Allah the Almighty, through which they can receive the other food.” (Malfuzat, Vol. 5, p. 102) According to one hadith, the month of Ramadan is one where the the gates of hell are locked and the gates of heaven are thrown open. The days of the month are divided into three blocks – the first ten days are a time for mercy, the second set of ten for receiving forgiveness and the last ten days are for liberation from the hellfire.

The final ten days are days of special effort – the Prophet Muhammadsa would “gird his loin” and dedicate a major portion of the night to worship. Many Muslims choose to retire to the mosques for these days to and try to follow his example.

After the month is over, there is a day of celebration, known as Eid-ul-Fitr. On this day, Muslims do not fast, rather they eat in thankfulness to Allah. They dress up in their best clothes and proceed to the mosques, where there is a prayer in congregation and a sermon. Communal greetings, alms-giving and spending time with family and friends characterise the Eid-ul-Fitr celebrations for many Muslims around the world.

Islam is a complete code of life.

Fasting is an essential part of that code and carries with it numerous benefits. It is a time that Muslims anxiously wait for all year round and from experience, their happiness is best enjoyed when shared.

So from me to you, I wish you a blessed Ramadan. Ramadan Mubarak!

Friday 24 April 2020 | AL HAKAM

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Ramadan in lockdown Five ways you can follow the Prophetsa Ataul Fatir Tahir Al Hakam

This Ramadan will be peculiar for most; the absence of attending mosques for prayers, not offering Tarawih alongside scores of fellow Muslims or listening to religious talks and then collectively breaking fasts.

Despite the disorientation, the fact we can continue, during lockdown, the practices Ramadan promotes glorifies the universality and plasticity of Islam. In every challenging situation, there is “ease” for Muslims to continue their progression towards God. As the Holy Quran wonderfully explains, it is not the “flesh” or “blood” of sacrificed animals that “reaches Allah”, “but it is your righteousness that reaches Him.” (Surah alHajj, Ch.22: V.38) Entering populated mosques during Ramadan and listening to insightful lectures on the Holy Quran will most definitely be missed, however the fundamentals of Ramadan – as practised by the Prophetsa of Islam – will remain applicable and easy to adhere to even during this lockdown.

Here are five areas of focus that the Prophet of Islam, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, payed special importance to during the month of Ramadan. From the comfort of our homes, all Muslims can follow them.

Fasting Approximately two years after the migration of the Prophetsa from Mecca to Medina, Allah made fasting obligatory during the month of Ramadan, when He revealed verse 184 of Surah al-Baqarah. The Prophetsa of Islam therefore fasted for 8 (or 9, according to some narrations) months of Ramadan during the rest of his lifetime.

The very act of fasting is a potent and effective form of worship the Holy Prophetsa would carry out even outside the days of Ramadan. He would fast up to 10 days a month, which equates to a total of four months annually. (Haqaiqul Furqan, Vol. 1, p. 302) The benefits of fasting, as explained by the Prophet of Islamsa, seem endless.

In the two most authentic books of ahadith, the Holy Prophetsa is reported to have said, “… whoever fasts in the month of Ramadan out of sincere faith, and hoping for a reward from Allah, all their previous sins will be forgiven.” (Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim)

He explained how fasting is actually very dear to Allah, Who has kept a special “gate” in heaven exclusively for those who fasted, called “al-Rayan” (Sahih al-Bukhari).

In fact, the Prophetsa said that Allah says a person “left his food, drink and desires for My sake” and therefore “the fast is for Me. So, I will reward (the fasting person) for it and the reward of good deeds is multiplied ten times.” (Sahih al-Bukhari). The same narration can also mean that “I [God] will be the reward for it”, meaning those who fast will achieve closeness to God Himself.

In yet another hadith, he said, “No servant fasts on a day in the path of Allah except that Allah removes the hellfire 70 years further away from his face.” (Sunan Abu Dawud) Ramadan at home is a prime opportunity to ensure we fast every day and reap its benefits, unless, of course, illness or necessary travel stop us.

“A shield”: The habit-forming month Stress levels, irritation and even anger have shown to be by-products of lockdown during this pandemic. In fact, domestic abuse cases have risen across the world (A New Covid-19 Crisis: Domestic Abuse Rises Worldwide, nytimes.com, 4 April 2020). For Muslims, Ramadan should eradicate all expressions of anger and disputes; this is what the Prophetsa taught.

Islam is a rational religion and holds deep spiritual and physical philosophies within its teachings. The purpose of Ramadan, the Prophetsa explained, isn’t just to refrain from food and drink, rather the kernel of Ramadan preaches to consume spiritual nourishment and excel in morals. “… fasting is prescribed for you … so that you may become righteous”, as the Holy Quran puts it. (Surah al-Baqarah, Ch.2: V.184) The Holy Prophetsa explained that some “fast and get nothing from their fast except hunger…” (Ibn-e-Majah). He then elaborated and said, “Whoever does not give up evil and ignorant speech …

Allah has no need of his giving up his food and drink” (Ibn-e-Majah). To reform ourselves internally, to introspect, to adopt high morals and stay clear of arrogance, quarrelling or contempt are the practices the Holy Prophetsa greatly emphasised during Ramadan. He always instructed Muslims to control their anger and stressed developing this habit across the days of Ramadan.

The Holy Prophetsa famously said, “Fasting is a shield; when one of you is fasting, he should neither behave in an obscene manner, nor foolishly. If a man fights or abuses him, he should say ‘I am fasting, I am fasting’” (Sunan Abi Dawud).

Though abstaining from fights and disputes is a hallmark of believers in even normal circumstances as mentioned in the Holy Quran (Ch.25: V.64), Ramadan provides the habit-forming month to instil these morals.

In another often-heard narration, the Prophetsa explained that when Ramadan starts, “the gates of the heaven are opened, and the gates of Hell are closed and the devils are chained” (Sahih al-Bukhari). Of course, this statement begs action on behalf of the person reading it; Ramadan provides every opportunity for someone to be saved from hell and enter heaven.

The core purpose Ramadan aims to instil is an internal revolution of high morals, a “shield” against immorality.

The Holy Quran The reason why Ramadan and the Quran are so interlinked is because Allah declares: “The month of Ramadan is that in which the Quran was sent down as a guidance for mankind with clear proofs of guidance and discrimination [between right and wrong]

…” (Surah al-Baqarah, Ch.2: V.186) Further, the Holy Prophetsa would revise the Quran with the angel Gabriel every Ramadan and in the year of his demise, he went through the Holy Quran twice with Gabriel. Therefore, one recitation, at least, will enable us to follow the practice of the Holy Prophetsa.

In a narration, the Holy Prophetsa said, “The fast and the Quran are two intercessors for the servant of Allah on the Day of Resurrection. The fast will say, ‘O Lord, I prevented him from his food and desires during the day. Let me intercede for him.’

The Quran will say, ‘I prevented him from sleeping at night. Let me intercede for him.’

And their intercession will be accepted.”

(Musnad Ahmad) While reciting each word of the Holy Quran brings reward according to the Holy Prophetsa, we should delve into its inner meanings and begin to read the commentaries by the Promised Messiahas and those of his Khulafa.

The Promised Messiahas, in the commentary of “The month of Ramadan is that in which the Quran was sent down…”, explains how this was a grand prophecy for the future. The prophecy was that a

time would come when all sorts of books and literature would be widespread (our current time!) and it would be incumbent on Muslims to adhere to and focus on reflecting upon reading the Holy Quran during that climate. (Tafsir Hazrat Masih-eMaudas, p. 313) As the fast wind Hazrat Aishara noted how the Holy Prophetsa “was the most generous of all people, and he used to become more generous in Ramadan…” and would “… be more generous than the fast wind” during Ramadan. (Sahih al-Bukhari) Generosity by the wider public has already been witnessed during Covid-19, including Muslims. With the arrival of Ramadan and the spread of the pandemic, our level of charity and giving should become like “the fast wind”, of course, Continued on next page >>

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Friday 24 April 2020 | AL HAKAM

National crisis and leadership skills of the youth

Prof Amtul Razzaq Carmichael Incharge Research Cell Lajna Imaillah UK and Consultant Oncoplastic Cancer Surgeon

This article is inspired by a faith-inspiring discourse given by Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud, may Allah be pleased with him, about how to enhance the leadership skills of the youth.

<< Continued from previous page

according to one’s capacity.

However, monetary aid is not the only form of charity taught by the Prophetsa of Islam, rather to “help the needy” is charity and to “…perform all that is good and keep away from all that is evil” was also regarded as “charitable deeds” by him. (Sahih alBukhari) In other narrations, the Prophetsa classified charity as “to smile”, “to promote good deeds and to prevent others from doing evil”, “to guide a person with defective vision”, “to remove troublesome things like thorns and bones from the road”, “to pour water from your vessel into the vessel of your brother”. (Sahih al-Bukhari) This month, even if we are tight on budgets, there are countless opportunities for all Muslims to follow the Holy Prophetsa and excel in diverse forms of charity.

Prayers and the Night of Destiny As a spiritual booster-month, it was the practice of the Holy Prophetsa to perform extra voluntary prayers during the month of Ramadan. He also offered congregational Tarawih prayers three times in him lifetime and then began offering them at home, in fear that if he continued in congregational prayers at the mosque, the Tarawih would

(Anwar-ul-Uloom, Vol. 23) He explained the concept that if every soldier in the army aspires to become the Commander in Chief, the competence level of the whole army increases. Unless, every member of the public develops this mindset, a nation will not develop the capability needed for its defence, survival and progress.

be made compulsory upon all Muslims (Sahih Bukhari). Nevertheless, he offered Tarawih prayers, but gave preference toward offering Tahajud prayers, for which Tarawih was a kind of insurance policy, in case one could not wake up for Tahajud.

The Holy Prophetsa advised to “seek help by eating sahoor (breakfast) for fasting that day and by taking brief rest (at midday) for praying that night.” (Ibn-e-Majah) The importance of Tahajud prayers during the month of Ramadan was further highlighted by the Holy Prophetsa, who said, “Whoever prayed at night in it [the month of Ramadan] out of sincere faith and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his previous sins will be forgiven.” (Sahih al-Bukhari) As Ramadan would approach its final leg, during the last ten days, the Holy Prophetsa would “tighten his belt” as Hazrat Aishara would say, and begin worshipping more profusely in order to find the Lailatul-Qadr “The Night of Destiny”. In chapter 97 of the Holy Quran, Allah refers to a night in which the Holy Quran was released, a night that would be better than “a thousand months” in which “… descend angels and the Spirit by the command of their Lord…”

The Holy Prophetsa would go into E‘tikaf (solitary confinement) and worship Allah day and night. He would also advise

To succeed in the endeavour of leadership, two things are required: perfect knowledge and precise actions. Attaining perfect knowledge demands that one is familiar with the national characteristics, religion and politics of the nation. Similarly, for precise actions, one needs to be rigorously disciplined to ensure that the community works as a cohesive unit. One should always have the aspiration and ambition to make progress. There is no nation in the world that can claim that they have progressed to the point at which no further progress is possible.

The Holy Quran states about the majesty of Allah the Exalted: َ ُ َُ ‫أن‬ ٍ ‫ك ّل يَوْ ٍم هوَ في ْش‬ “… Everyday, He reveals Himself in a different state.” (Surah al-Rahman, Ch. 55: V.30) The Arabic word sha‘n means a state which is unexpected and extraordinary.

So, this verse means that the attributes of God Almighty are such that they bring about a continual change in the world.

These changes are beyond the ordinary and surpass any previous changes. Therefore, human beings, who are created to undertake the affairs of this material world, are also designed to strive continually. Human beings are never exempt from hard work, aspiration and endeavour. They need to hold

Muslims to search for Laila-tul-Qadr, especially “in the odd nights of the last ten days of Ramadan.” (Sahih al-Bukhari) Even though, most likely, lockdown will continue for most throughout Ramadan, the very spirit of Ramadan cannot be taken away. Islam’s universality also enables us to carry out the most important forms

high aspirations, strive for the resources and make practical efforts to accomplish their goal.

Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra explained that God ultimately decides the outcome of human efforts; and this is based on the degree and quality of human effort. Our God is a democratic God; His every act is full of wisdom. God does not reward people based on some random whim. Indeed, God determines the final outcome of our hard work, but to give us the control over His decision, God has devised some rules.

God Almighty says that if you strive hard with consistency, “We will reward you”. If you work with due diligence, then there is no reason why you would not be rewarded.

Humans do not have the power to determine the outcome of their efforts, but it is within their grasp to facilitate God’s hand to attain the desired outcome.

Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra explained the importance of developing the habit of deliberating and reflecting from a very young age. He stressed the value of remaining mentally vigilant to avoid danger and carving the path of success.

Each one of us can prepare ourselves for leadership responsibilities by deliberating and reflecting. When leadership becomes an intrinsic quality of a nation, natural leaders emerge instinctively at the time of need, who save the nation from bewilderment and distress. Any nations can face crises, and if nations are used to thoughtful deliberating, they can find a way to survive these.

of worship from the comfort of our very homes. Lockdown gives us a chance to slow down in Ramadan; no more travelling around; no more picking the kids up or visiting family and friends; it’s a time to focus on the essence of Ramadan along with our family.

Friday 24 April 2020 | AL HAKAM

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100 Years Ago...

Discussions and Dutch, American and Nigerian Ahmadi converts Al Fazl, 26 April 1920

The following letter of respected Maulvi Abdur

Salat purifies the spirit and fasts illuminate the heart َ َ ُ �ْ �ُ ْ ‫ان الَّذ ْي أُنْﺰ َل ﻓ ْﻴﻪ ال‬ ‫آن‬ ِ ِ ِ ِ َ ‫ش ْهرُ َر َمﻀ‬

This verse indicates the greatness of the month of Ramadan. The Sufis have recorded that this is a good month for the illumination of the heart. One who observes the fast has frequent experience of visions in this month. The Salat purifies the spirit and the fast illumines the heart. The purification of the spirit means that one may be delivered from the passions of the self that incites to evil; and the illumination of the heart means that the gates of vision may be opened so that one may be able to behold God. [Malfuzat, Vol. 4, pp. 256-257]

Rahim Nayyar Sahib, which comprises of many good news, reached us late for some reasons. So, it is being published now. We hope friends will read it with great interest. (Editor Al Fazl [1920]) Islam of young Walandesi A young Walandesi i.e. a resident of Holland (also known as Dutch) was under the tabligh of Ahmadi missionaries for quite some time. He was first brought to us by our new zealous brother, Mr Olaf Ibrahim Faith.

He regularly attended the Sunday Jalsas and continued to compare Christianity and Islam. He studied the book of the Promised Messiahas, Teachings of Islam, carefully read the conditions of Bai‘at, and after thorough deliberation and research, abandoned Roman Catholicism and converted to ّ ٰ ُ َ ٌ َ ُ ّ ٰ َّ ٰ َ Ahmadiyyat by saying ���‫��اِ� َ� اِ�� ا�� ُ� ��َ ّﻤﺪ ّر ُﺳ ْﻮل ا‬ [There is none worthy of worship except Allah and Muhammad is His Messenger] with full sincerity of heart. His Dutch Christian name was Johannse Hendrikos Petros von Ostefan. Since he was the first Ahmadi in the country of Holland, he was named Mahmud after the blessed name of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih II to bring good fortune. All praise belongs to Allah!

New Nigerian and American converts Allah Almighty is directing noble souls towards Ahmadiyyat by His own grace and opening the doors of tabligh in countless countries. Moreover, the Messiah of the AllPowerful God is engaged in catching white and black birds in abundance. The following four new brothers are proof of this: 1. S Brown AOE, secretary of United African Brotherhood, who is an educated person of a respectable family, belongs to the chieftains of the Igbo nation. As he became a Christian as a child, he started to love Christianity. Inspired by the support of Allah Almighty and the sermons of the Ahmadi missionaries, he was convinced

about the truth of Ahmadas by heart and being honoured with the Islamic name of Aziz, became an ardent Muslim.

Alhamdolillah!

2. Mr T Howard is a Nigerian. He has left Christianity and has been given the Islamic name, Sarwar.

3. IA Sensi became an Ahmadi Muslim after correspondence and studying literature.

4. Welford N Diaz of Jamaica (America), an intelligent and wise young man, abandoned Christianity and converted to Islam. By the grace of Allah, he has become Muhammad from Diaz.

All of them met the missionaries through Mr Aziz Brown and Dr Ahmad Haley. They accepted the truthful religion and gave the proof of their pious nature.

Table talk It is customary in the UK that people talk to each other on various matters while eating or drinking tea. These scenes from the centre of the Ahmadiyya Jamaat located in London, often being very interesting, bring joy and happiness to the hearts of the admirers of ‫[ ا��ﻪ اﺣﻤﺪ‬Hazrat Ahmadas].

Thus, one such scene is depicted on this piece of paper for the readers of Al Fazl [where it was initially published] and the following lines are presented as a gift from Nayyar, the bearer of the message of sunrise from the West: Tea is on the table and new convert Ahmadis are sitting in chairs. Discussions on religious issues are taking place. Each person, in his or her own style, is expressing the feelings and emotions that are flowing after drinking of the goblets of Ahmadiyyat,

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THE WEEKLY

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which were distributed among the fresh, passionate hearts. Listen to these discussions very attentively because I will ask you a question after the following table talk: Muhammad Suleiman Faith: (To Hassan Thomason, who got up after drinking tea). Brother, what is that in your pocket?

Hassan Thomason: (Takes out the translation of the Holy Quran’s first chapter). This is my sword, which is always by my side.

Muhammad Suleiman Faith: (Conversing to the friends) He is an extraordinary Ahmadi and in my opinion (standing up enthusiastically), if a person is not very well-educated and is a simple soldier like Hassan who believes in Tawhid [Oneness of Allah], prophethood of Muhammadsa Rasulullah [Prophet of Allah] and the messengership of the Promised Messiahas, then he is an Ahmadi Muslim for certain.

Daud Faith: (He is a well-built gigantic person). Let’s build a British Ahmadiyya football team.

Ibrahim Faith: And plan a match with a church team. (Laughter) Maulvi Fateh Muhammad Sayal: (Speaking to Miss Harvey [this lady is still a Christian]) Miss Harvey! You write it down that in 50 years, Islam will spread throughout the UK, Insha-Allah.

Muhammad Suleiman Faith: Write down that in three years’ time, there will be at least 250 ardent educated Ahmadis here and in 12 months, Miss Harvey will accept Ahmadiyyat.

Brothers! After reading these cordial emotions and noble humour, I request you

to question those who love Lahore and visitors of Peshawar (Peshor), whether these are the results of a deadly poison or an elixir?

An interesting discussion Dr Ahmad Haley’s discussion with a priest: Priest: Are you not a Christian?

Dr Sahib: I’m a Muslim Priest: Oh! You are a Muhammadan.

Muhammad was a black man.

Dr Sahib: Yes sir, and Jesus Christ was also a black man.

A surprised lady Some days ago, when I went to Liverpool to see off Hazrat Mufti Sahib, I had the opportunity to carry out tabligh to a Canadian lady at the Lord Nelson Hotel. Beholding Ahmadi missionaries and hearing the true message, where this lady acknowledged the truth, she said the following words in surprise: “Is it not strange that we used to send missionaries to the East, but now you have come to make us Muslims from the East.”

Jalsa in Hyde Park Last Sunday at 4:30pm, an open air meeting i.e. a Jalsa in the open was held at the gate of Hyde Park. Brother Muhammad Suleiman Faith made the following announcement in a loud voice, which God has given to this zealous youth: “Ladies and gentlemen! We are here today to proclaim that God is One, Muhammad is His messenger and that salvation is not dependent on anybody’s sacrifice, but rather on faith and good deeds.

Continued on next page >>

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Friday 24 April 2020 | AL HAKAM

Open for business The Swedish approach to Covid-19 Kashif Virk Missionary, Stockholm

You might have read it in the news – the Swedish strategy to tackle the spread of Covid-19 is quite different from the rest of the world. It has at times been described as a very dangerous strategy, where thousands of lives are at stake. Although the impact of the pandemic is having its clear effect on the society even in Sweden, but no doubt one can feel that life here, currently, is not so restricted as in many other places of the world.

Criticism against the strategy – both internal and external – is mounting.

Recently, US President Donald Trump had his say on the situation in Sweden, a country he claimed suffered “very gravely” due to the virus. Within Sweden, experts are voicing their concerns that Sweden is not doing enough to tackle the pandemic and that it is resulting in an ever-increasing loss of human life. The Swedish Folkhalsomyndigheten (FHM) is in charge of the Swedish strategy, and the government is currently relying heavily << Continued from previous page

We announce that God has commissioned Ahmadas of Qadian as a prophet of this age, and that Ahmadas foretold the fall of the Russian Tsar, prophesied the failure of Piggott and the downfall of Dowie.

We peacefully promulgate the message of Ahmadiyyat here and our centre is located at 4 Star Street.”

After the announcement of Brother Faith, this humble one explained the meaning of kalima tayyabah and summarised the message of Ahmadiyyat. An opportunity of questions and answers were given. Most of the questions were about Turkish and Armenian relations. The answers consisted of reasonable denial of the false statements and injunctions of Islam about international relations were narrated.

After the speeches, there was a circle around the Faith Brothers and the new brothers, continued to give proper answers to English men and women.

Miscellaneous 1. The birthday of Brother Koreo’s son was on 15 February. On this occasion, Brother Chaudhry Sahib gave a book, Ahmad, compiled by the respected Brother Abdullah Aladdin Sahib, as a gift to this young man.

2. Last Sunday, this humble one delivered a speech on the Reality of Islam at Ahmadiyya Lecture Hall. After the speech, a session of many interesting questions and answers was held. An educated lady named Mrs Gobbel, expressed her willingness to convert to Islam. We hope that this good news will soon reach the readers, Insha-Allah.

In North and South America at the same

in their expertise. (https://edition.cnn. com/videos/world/2020/04/13/swedencoronavirus-lockdown-black-lead-vpx.cnn/ video/playlists/coronavirus-intl/) Sweden is in many ways a country different from others. According to the time Soon after the journey of Hazrat Mufti Sahib to America, another Ahmadi friend of ours, by the name of Haji Hassan, happened to travel to South America. He went to the Republic of Argentina with plenty of Ahmadiyya literature. In this way, by the grace of Almighty Allah, conveyance of the message of true Islam was arranged in both the corners of the earth, simultaneously.

Theology classes Dars [sermon] has been arranged once a week to educate the new Muslims and teach them the necessary [faith] matters.

Three lessons have been held. Namaz is taught and the attributes of Ahmadiyyat are explained. The three Faith Brothers and Fatima Kathleen take significant and special interest. Although only three regular lessons have been conducted, keen new Muslims have learned a lot. These men and this lady know how to say Kalima Tayyabah and use different words, like bismillah, alhamdolillah, insha-Allah, assalamo alaikum, subhanAllah and Allahu Akbar etc. on their proper occasions.

My heart fills with delight and my tongue sings the songs of God Almighty’s praise. I am sure that every Ahmadi feels the same when they shall hear the following words from the mouths of Western white birds: “Alhamdolillah! I am very fine. I shall write a letter to Qadian [Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IIra], Insha-Allah.”

Yesterday, Fatima Kathleen said, “Now, Bismillah automatically comes out of the mouth and nobody has to make any effort.”

Wassalam [Abdul Rahim Nayyar]

renowned World Value Survey, Sweden positions itself at one of the extremes of the table (see below) as a country which cherishes secular-rationalistic and individualistic values, as against traditional and survival values. Many say this has had an impact on the methods adopted to tackle Covid-19.

Restaurants are still open, local transport is running and, for the most part, the authorities have relied on recommendations rather than enforced prohibitions. Although universities and colleges are teaching online, O-level children are still expected to turn up to school. The reasons given for this range from “both parents have to go to work”, and “to save children living in troubled homes from abuse” (!). No doubt, the economy of Sweden has suffered immensely, just as that of any country. Many have lost their employment, and small businesses are hit hard.

But what exactly is the Swedish strategy, in brief?

The Swedish state epidemiologist Anders Tegnell of the FHM says it’s all about “flattening the curve of severe cases”, not to burden the medical services beyond its capacity and safeguarding the elderly and most vulnerable. This, he says, will enable Sweden to cope with the virus for what is most probably going to be a prolonged period. The virus cannot be stopped as long as there is no vaccine, or the population develops what is called a “herd-immunity”. This means that the virus can no longer spread further from person to person. But “herd-immunity” is not an aim in itself of the Swedish strategy, rather the natural result of it.

Sadly, statistics show that this strategy is having its toll. Sweden currently has a mortality rate of 15.52 per 100,000 during Covid-19 (John Hopkins University). The death-toll, currently at 1200, is far higher than that of other Scandinavian countries.

Alarms have been raised that, perhaps due to the negligent strategy, the virus has found its way into many care homes and that the country thus has failed to save the most vulnerable in society.

As a citizen of this wonderful country, I am not alone in hoping for a more solid approach to contain the virus. Although we learn more about the virus every day, the fact is that we know very little about how dangerous it actually can be. A strategy must be based on the worst-case scenario.

As Ahmadi Muslims, we are blessed with the guidance and prayers of our beloved Imam, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V, may Allah be his Helper. To hear his voice every week is both soothing and inspiring.

It is with beloved Huzoor’saa prayers and guidance that the Jamaat in Sweden, in addition to taking necessary precautional measures against the spread, is also doing its outmost to serve humanity through the charity Humanity First (https://twitter. com/humanityfirstse).

Moreover, a holistic approach for an Ahmadi Muslim must include prayers and supplications to Allah Almighty, that may humanity be saved from this pandemic and may it be rejuvenated to build a more just and sustainable world in its aftermath. Amin

Friday 24 April 2020 | AL HAKAM

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The virgin birth Scientific plausibility Dr Jalil Ahmad Bhatti UK

I have always found the virgin birth of Jesus, peace be on him, to be a fascinating topic.

Basic human biology dictates that every healthy human’s genome is made up of 46 chromosomes in every cell: 22 identical pairs (44 chromosomes) and two genderspecific XX or XY chromosomes. A female body develops from the 46, XX and the male from the 46, XY genome. Complicating the matter of the virgin birth further; how did Mary, peace be upon her, a woman with a XX genotype, give birth to Jesusas with a XY genotype?

The claim that Maryas gave birth to Jesusas without a father is made principally by the religious texts of the Quran and the Bible. When searching for clues as to how this happened, our first assessment should be of the holy books. Interestingly, when we look at the events in the Quran in particular, our attention is drawn to the fact that not only was the birth of Jesusas described, but also Mary’s too: “Remember when the woman of Imran said, ‘My Lord, I have vowed to Thee what is in my womb to be dedicated to Thy service.

So do accept it of me; verily, Thou alone art All-Hearing, All-Knowing.’ But when she was delivered of it, she said, ‘My Lord, I am delivered of a female’ — and Allah knew best what she had brought forth and the male she was thinking of was not like the female she had brought forth — ‘and I have named her Mary, and I commit her and her offspring to Thy protection from Satan, the rejected.’”

(Surah Aal-e-Imran, Ch3: V.36-37)1 “And remember her who preserved her chastity; so We breathed into her of Our word and We made her and her son a Sign for peoples.” (Surah al-Anbiya, Ch.21: V.92) “And the example of Mary, the daughter of Imran, who guarded her private parts — so We breathed into him of Our Spirit — and she fulfilled in her person the words of her Lord and His Books and was one of the obedient.” (Surah al-Tahrim. Ch.66: V.13) If we look at verses from Surah al-Anbiya and al-Tahrim, Maryas has been described with the gender pronouns of “her” and “him”, respectively. What significance does this hold? How could this possibly be related to the immaculate conception? Does it refer to Mary’s physiological or genetic uniqueness, by her possessing aspects of male and female elements? Historically, the pronoun “him” in this verse refers to Jesus; could it possibly allude to the nature of Mary’s biological gender instead? Interestingly, Jesusas is also called Isa ibn Maryam, meaning “Jesus, son of Mary” – an epithet usually related to the father, further indicating that she was both father and mother to Jesusas.

We should also remember that Maryas later gave birth to many of Jesus’ siblings. She was, therefore, a healthy woman, able to bear children following the immaculate conception of Jesusas.

As such, when looking at the mechanisms behind the virgin birth, we should bear in mind the following, when seeking its explanation: 1. She must have been a virgin during the conception of Jesusas 2. She was still capable of bearing children following the immaculate conception through the universal process of human reproduction 3. Maryas must have had the ability to produce both male and female genetic material (i.e. 46, XY and 46, XX Chromosomes), despite being female in appearance In the book Christianity – a Journey from Fact to Fiction, Hazrat Mirza Tahir Ahmadrh the Fourth Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community detailed how the virgin birth could have occurred through parthenogenesis, hermaphroditism or as a combination of both. He explained as follows: Hermaphroditism “This term applies when organs of both sexes are present within a single female and the chromosomes show both male and female characters aligned side by side.

Laboratory tests have revealed cases such as that of a hermaphrodite rabbit, which at one stage served several females and sired more than 250 young of both sexes, while at another stage became pregnant in isolation and gave birth to seven healthy young of both sexes.2 When autopsied, it showed two functional ovaries and two infertile testes, while in a pregnant condition. Recent studies suggest that such a phenomenon is possible, rarely, among humans also.”3 Parthenogenesis “This is the asexual development of an ovum [egg] into an individual, without the aid of a male agent. It is observed among many lower forms of life such as aphids and also [some] fish. There is also evidence that parthenogenesis can be a successful strategy among lizards living under low and unpredictable rainfall conditions. In laboratory conditions, mice and rabbit embryos have been developed parthenogenetically to a stage equivalent to halfway through pregnancy, but have then been aborted. In recent study, human embryos could be activated occasionally by parthenogenesis using calcium ionophore as a catalyst. Such research raises the prospect that some early human pregnancy losses may have involved the parthenogenetic activation of the embryo.”3

Types of polyploidy8

But these terms – parthenogenesis and hermaphroditism – are general terms that encompass within them various potential mechanisms. This article aims to review plausible mechanisms in an unbiased, methodical manner.

Miracles and science As explained by the founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, peace be on him, miracles such as the virgin birth do not denote a contravention to the law of nature, but the operation of an act of law of nature that we are unaware of: “The truth of the matter is that God Almighty does not do anything against the laws of nature. What He does is that He creates the causes, whether we know of them or not, and these are always present.

Hence, miracles, such as splitting of the moon and the fire [not burning Abraham, on whom be peace] are also no exceptions.

Rather, they too resulted from some very subtle and hidden means and were based on true and factual science. Short-sighted people and those who are enamoured of dark philosophy cannot comprehend these things.”4 With scientific advances, potential answers as to what the “hidden means” were and what “factual science” underpins miracles, are illuminated. With the aid of modern developments in genetics and embryology, the virgin birth can be investigated and probed.

Before we do so, however, we need to understand a few definitions, particularly relating to the different mechanisms by which such an immaculate conception could have occurred.

Definitions Genotype and phenotype Genotype stands for the genetic makeup of the organism, enabling the development of

a feature or trait. Phenotype is the expressed and observable trait or appearance caused by the genetic makeup of the organism.5 Germ cell A germ cell can be an oocyte (ovum/egg) or a spermatozoa (sperm). The sperm comes from the male parent and the egg by the female parent. Each germ cell has typically half the amount of genetic material, meaning half the amount of chromosomes, and once joined, form a fully-functioning set of chromosomes.

Any human germ cell with 23 chromosomes is considered monoploid or haploid, i.e. it has a single set of unpaired chromosomes. Sperm can either have the genetic makeup of 23, X or 23, Y. The X and Y chromosome letters lead to sexual differentiation. An ovum has the default chromosomal make-up of 23, X. Once sperm and ovum fuse, the full set becomes 46, XX or 46, XY in a healthy female or male embryo respectively. This complete set of chromosomes is called diploid. A mismatch of chromosomes within the embryo, e.g. 45 or 47 instead 46 chromosomes are considered aneuploid. If a human embryo forms from multiple sets of 23 chromosomes, e.g. 69 (triploid) or 92 (tetraploid) chromosomes, it would be a specific case of aneuploidy called polyploidy.5–7 Meiosis Meiosis is a part of the cell division cycle.

Meiosis aims to create germ cells that are haploid, i.e. have half the amount of genetic material of the parent’s cells, so that when the sperm fertilises the ovum resulting in a full set of chromosomes. 7,9,10 Meiosis ensures variation in the genetic material in the germ cell compared to the parent cell. Causes for the differences in genetic makeup are independent reassortment (much like shuffling a deck of cards) of the chromosomes, as well as homologous recombination (exchange

9

Friday 24 April 2020 | AL HAKAM of genetic material) between similar chromosomes.10 The result of normal meiosis leads to the creation of four germ cells in males and one ovum (with three polar/Barr bodies) in females.

A form of abnormal meiosis known as “non-disjunction”, is the failure of the parent cell to halve its genetic material and separate into daughter germ cells. The result may include a germ-cell with an extra or missing chromosome (aneuploidy); or multiple sets of all chromosomes in a single germ cell (euploid).9 Uniparental disomy is the condition when the child receives some or all of the genetic information from a single parent only. 11 Mosaicism Mosaicism is the presence of two or more populations of cell lines with different genotypes in a organism, originating from a single fertilised ovum. It can be a result of non-disjunction when during the process of cell division and proliferation from the original egg, non-disjunction of chromosomes leads to genetically similar but distinct cell lines in the eventual organism.

Another form of mosaicism can occur due to variation in genetic expression or

cell line. The outcomes may include distinct chromosomal numbers of mosaic aneuploidy or mosaic euploidy. 5,7,9,11 Chimerism A chimera is a single organism composed of cells from two or more fertilised eggs (known as zygotes). Occurring when sperms fertilise their congruent number of eggs (two or more) and join following fertilisation to form a single organism,14 thus two or more distinct cell lines of different genetic makeup create a single organism.

In this case, fraternal twins would become “endogenous twins”, meaning that one twin would become incorporated into the second twin’s body, forming a sub-population of his or her cells. 7,9,10 X-linked gender (sex)-reversal Patients that have X-linked Gender-reversal are genetically 46, XY (male) but present with a female phenotype appearance. Multiple genes orchestrate sexual differentiation, and under certain conditions, human females with 46, XY chromosomes were fertile and gave birth to children.16-19 Klinefelter’s syndrome

Meiosis & Germ Cell (gamete) formation12

even abnormality in chromosome numbers, e.g. cancerous cells, are derived from healthy cells, however their function changes due to distinct genetic changes. Therefore, the cancer cells in an individual have a different genotype compared to healthy cells due to somatic mosaicism, meaning that the individual has two genetically distinct but related cell lines from one original (progenitor) cell.

The relevance of mosaicism in this article is about the possibility of one progenitor cell changing to give rise to two different cell lines with genetic code for both male and female, enabling the development of gender-specific reproductive organs leading to the possibility of auto fertilisation.

The alternative role of mosaicism in the virgin mother is the formation of an egg with a distinct genetic code that has the parthenogenetic ability. The genetic code for the female phenotype in this egg has either been switched off or removed, and the remaining genetic code will give rise to a male child. 13 Germline mosaicism is the presence of different genetic make-up in germ cells compared to the genetic code of the rest of the organism, caused by abnormal development in the progenitor germ-

Klinefelter’s syndrome occurs in males typically when there are one or more additional X chromosomes, causing genotypes such as 47, XXY or 48, XXXY. Externally the person is male, however genetically the person has multiple numbers of the female X chromosome.5,7,20-23 On occasion, non-Klinefelter 47, XXY or 48,XXXY can occur, where a patient with multiple X chromosomes and a single Y chromosome will be female due to either abnormal X (single or multiple) or Y chromosome. 24-26 Epigenetics & epigenetic reprogramming Epigenetics is the study of the mechanisms of external modification to the genetic code.

So while the sequential nature of genetic code determines the intrinsic structure of genes, epigenetics looks at the expression of the code. Genetic code can be activated or deactivated by various mechanisms, resulting in distinct phenotypes from an unchanged original genetic code. Epigenetic reprogramming is a natural process but can also be induced artificially through scientific intervention. It has been utilised in stem cell research and animal cloning to change phenotype expression from an original master-copy genetic code, meaning

the organism varies in appearances but is identical in genetic make-up.6 Applied epigenetic reprogramming In an article published in Nature in 2002, embryonic cells derived from an adult female cat, and then transferred to a cat surrogate mother’s uterus. The surrogate mother underwent a healthy pregnancy and gave birth to the cloned kitten CC (short for either carbon-copy or copycat).

This cloned kitten was distinctly different in appearance from her nuclear donor mother. Implying that even with identical genetic material, epigenetic reprogramming allows differentiation in phenotype and appearance.27 Having understood the different definitions, let’s look at the current theories on how the virgin birth could have taken place.

Current theories Human chimera hypothesis The current hypothesis of the virgin birth according to Dr Kemal Irmak, a professor in Histology and Embryology, relies on human chimerism 46,XY/46,XX as the main mechanism to produce a true hermaphrodite, who would then be capable of virgin birth.28,29 As we know, chimerism dictates the fertilisation of two eggs by two different sperm, thus creating a male and female foetus. The fusion of both fertilised eggs during the early phase of embryonic development, known as blastulation, would enable the female foetus to engulf the male foetus within itself, resulting in the creation of a single foetus with male and female cell lines. The developing embryo would have genotypes from both genders.14 The dominating genetic cell line expresses as the phenotype, in this case, female.

The individual cells 46, XX and 46, XY cells would correspond to their male and female reproductive organs on opposite sides of the abdomen.20,30 This mother would be a true hermaphrodite with internal ovaries, testes and possibly ovotestes.31 In all other aspects, she would be physiologically and anatomically female, allowing her to bear children through the normal process.

The virgin birth by a chimeric mother would occur by auto-fertilisation of the egg by a sperm, each provided by the separate reproductive organs within the same individual, producing a foetus in a virgin mother. Due to the presence of the Y chromosome from the internal testes, the resultant child could be a normal, healthy male.2 Foetus in Fetu Hypothesis In the January 1927 Review of Religions article “The parthenogenesis” by Dr MS Nawaz, the hypothesis of “Foetus in fetu” was mentioned amongst other theories.32 Foetus in fetu can be considered a nonchimeric form of endogenous twins33,34, meaning that during the fetal development phase known as blastulation, the cells of one twin are absorbed by the other without fusing. If they fused, they would become chimeras. Instead, one foetus is subsumed into the other and arrests in the blastulation phase without serving any purpose to the host twin. The non-dominant subsumed twin is considered parasitic in nature and classified as a tumour usually.35 Parthenogenesis could happen if the host twin reaches puberty. The subsumed twin escapes the

arrested (blastulation) phase, leading to the development of a foetus and eventual virgin birth.

New theories XXY (non-Klinefelter) females and XY gender-reversal females A Croatian woman with the male genotype 46, XY gave birth to a daughter with the same 46, XY genotype.17 Both mother and daughter received their Y chromosome from their respective fathers. The Y chromosome in the mother had a pathological variation, but in the case of the daughter, the Y chromosome was without any genetic defect. Regardless, both mother and daughter developed as females rather than males, as both had the condition of X-linked gender reversal. 24-26,36,37 Some of the family members of the mother had multiple disorders of sexual development. However, the mother had normal puberty, menarche, two spontaneous pregnancies and menopause.

Conversely, the daughter was born infertile without a known cause despite the same 46, XY genotype as her mother.

The mother’s initial cell line during the blastulation stage diverged into four distinct cell lines. In the case of the daughter, the cell lines separated into three different cell types, indicating occurrence of non-disjunction genetic mosaicism in both the mother and the daughter.

The conception of the mother occurred by one sperm fertilising one egg. The genetic mosaicism enabled her to be fertile while expressing a majority of 46, XY chromosomes. Early non-disjunction during her conception caused her to be mosaic (but not chimeric), meaning that all her four cell lines originated from a single progenitor cell. The cell lines of her reproductive organs were 92.9% 46,XY and 0.6% 46,XX; the remainder made up of 45,X and 47,XXY. The X-linked gender reversal condition in a female gives rise to three new potential scenarios of the Immaculate Conception of a male child: Auto-fertilisation by Sertoli-Leydig cell tumours (arrhenoblastoma) In specific individuals, a variation in the DICER1 gene can cause the formation of Sertoli-Leydig tumours from the ovarian cells, also known as arrhenoblastoma of the ovary.38 Sertoli and Leydig cells both are present in the male testis and are necessary for the formation of the sperm cell.7,39,40 Close analysis of these tumours has shown the potential of these tumours to create sperm cells in a 46, XX female.41–44 In this instance, a 46, XY female with Sertoli-Leydig tumour could undergo auto-fertilisation event via the arrhenoblastoma, releasing sperm to fertilise an egg from her ovaries, causing a virgin birth with a healthy male child.

Somatic Mosaicism with male and female reproductive systems (non-Klinefelter 47,XXY) If, during the conception of the parthenogenetic mother, she had received an extra X chromosome from one parent, her genotype would be 47, XXY. Using the Croatian mother as an example, she had four distinct types of cell lines, namely 46,XX / 46,XY / 45,X and 47,XXY. 17,18,24-26 If the majority of her genotype was

Friday 24 April 2020 | AL HAKAM

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Mosaicism and Chimerism15

47, XXY while being non-klinefelter, and during her development in the womb, a failure of the genetic material to separate by non-disjunction, the mother could have a minimum of two (or more) cell lines.

The Croatian mother was able to produce two following healthy diploid cell lines of 46, XX and 46, XY despite having a genetic make-up of 47, XXY. If chimerism can cause the production of different reproductive organs on opposite sides of the abdomen, naturally mosaicism should be able to produce male and female reproductive organs on opposite sides of the abdomen as well.2 The 46, XX cell line will produce the female reproductive organs, including the ovary and oviducts, whereas the 46, XY cells will cause the development of testes. In this situation, the mother would be a true hermaphrodite with both male and female reproductive organs.

The fertilisation pathway would be the same as in the chimera, by auto-fertilisation.

However, the main difference being that the conception of the mosaic mother involves one egg and one sperm, whereas in the chimeric mother, two sperms fertilising two eggs.2 Deactivation of X-linked gender reversal via germline mosaicism (uniparental disomy) Another possibility, using the scenario of the Croatian woman to illustrate parthenogenesis, could be due to somatic mosaicism leading to germline mosaicism.

To reiterate the mother had four distinct cell lines, she was fully fertile and expressed a female phenotype despite the presence of the Y chromosome. She had the condition called XY Gender (Sex)-Reversal.16,17,36,37,45 For the virgin birth to occur, one of her germ cells would require having a complete set of her genetic code with inactivation of the abnormal gene by various means. The Virgin Brith, in this instance, would be due to parthenogenesis and not autofertilisation.

This process would start in the 46, XY mother before the formation of the egg responsible for the virgin birth.

During meiosis, recombination(a process of exchange and rearrangement of genetic material between closely related

chromosomes) would lead to deletion or inactivation of the abnormal gene, the nondisjunction would result in an ovum with the full gamut (46,XY) of chromosomes and another ovum without any chromosomal information, this is called uniparental disomy.

The arrangement of the genetic material of the 46,XY ovum of the foetus compared to the mothers could give rise to four possible scenarios.

1. Deactivation of the XY gender reversal gene by deletion • The remaining genetic code rearranged wholly or partially.

• The remaining genetic code does not undergo rearrangement and stays identical and congruent to the mother’s genetic code.

2. Deactivation of the XY gender reversal gene by epigenetic reprogramming • The complete genetic code rearranged wholly or partially.

• The complete genetic code does not undergo rearrangement and stays identical and congruent to the mother’s genetic code.

Inactivation of the cause for the XYGender reversal takes place. Spontaneous parthenogenesis leads to the formation of an embryo and birth of a male child.

Explanation of theories Earlier, we mentioned that the criteria for virgin birth would require the mother to give birth without the aid of a father.28,29 The Quranic verses may imply that Maryas, was not a typical biological female.

She was different in some way, possibly relating to her biological phenotype, by her possessing genetic material for both genders as well as reproductive organs. Though all the hypotheses discussed so far fulfil the criteria of the phenomenon of parthenogenesis. We still need to consider the implications of the different parthenogenetic possibilities, to illustrate the genetic relationship of the mother to herself and to the child while taking anatomical makeup of the mother into account.

1. The first hypothesis we have presented states that virgin birth may have occurred due to chimerism. The product of two fertilised eggs (one fertilised egg being male and the other being female) fusing

to produce a single individual with two different cell lines in the body.7 Such an individual would be a true hermaphrodite with internal testes (via the male cell line) and ovaries (via the female cell line) while retaining female appearance and anatomy in all other regards.

The genetic relationship of the mother to herself would be that of endogenous twinsiblings, and the foetus would have partial genetic similarity to the male and female cell lines. The egg would be produced from the ovaries via chimeric female cell line, whereas the sperm provided by the testis of the male cell line. As the mother would be a hermaphrodite, she will fulfil the criteria required for the virgin birth.

2. The second hypothesis of foetus in fetu does not fulfil the criteria of the mother having internal organs from both genders.

In contemporary scientific literature, in most cases of foetus in fetu, the enshrouded twin acts in a parasitic and cancerous way towards the host.33,34 The genetic relationship of the fetus to the mother would be that of siblings, rather than a mother-child relationship.

However, it would still be an immaculate conception and considered a virgin birth.

3. The third hypothesis mentioned was of arrhenoblastoma that leads to the autofertilisation of an egg. In this case, the mother has the same genetic material in both reproductive organs, the ovarian, as well as testicular cells. They are identical in nature, but their function is differentiated.41-44 The mother’s relationship with the child would be a recombinant clone, meaning their genetic code would be partially congruent in sequence. Both the mother and the child would have the 46, XY genes, similar in genotype, but different in phenotype, fulfilling the described criteria for the virgin birth.

4. For non-Klinefelter mosaicism hypothesis, the mother would have been born due to the union of a single egg and sperm.24-26 Her mosaic genotype could give rise to multiple cell lines potentially including but not exclusively to 46,XX and 46XY. She would be a female hermaphrodite. The genetic code would express their respective reproductive organs, ovaries by 46,XY and testes by 46,XX. • When reaching the age of maturation, the virgin birth would be due to autofertilisation of an egg by a sperm, with both being genetically from the mother’s intrinsic genetic code.

• The genetic relationship of the mother to herself would be that of semi-identical twins, and the foetus relationship to the mother would be of a recombinant clone, as the genetic material would have reshuffled during germ cell development, fulfilling the criteria for hermaphroditism through mosaicism.

5. The final hypothesis of the XY female having an egg with a complete set of chromosomes causing virgin birth. Initially, by pulling the entire chromosomes set (46,XY, instead of 23,X) into a single egg. Subsequently, the cause for X-linked sex-reversal is deactivated.

In such an instance, parthenogenesis could occur without requiring fertilisation by a sperm. Different chemicals have been researched to induce artificial oocyte (egg)

activation, including calcium ionophore, ionomycin, strontium and ethanol.27,46,47 It is possible that instead of an artificial, a spontaneous parthenogenetic inducer lead to the activation of an egg. Four different types of eggs with the complete set of genetic information from the mother are possible. a. The first possibility is an egg, which has undergone independent assortment and homologous recombination, creating an egg with the same genetic material as the mother, excluding the abnormal gene causing the XY-gender reversal by deletion, creating an incomplete recombinant clone. b. The second possibility is the creation of an egg that has not undergone independent assortment and where the genetic material is an exact copy of the genetic material of the mother, the XY-Gender reversal gene was inactivated by deletion, creating an incomplete identical clone. c. The third possibility is that the egg has inherited the complete code of the mother. Independent assortment and recombination lead to shuffling of the genetic code; epigenetic reprogramming leads to the deactivation of the abnormal XY-gender reversal gene and activation of the genes responsible for male reproductive organs. In this instance, the relationship of the mother to the child would be a complete recombinant clone at the genetic level. d. The fourth possibility is that the egg has inherited the complete code of the mother in identical and congruent sequence.

Meaning both codes are an exact copy of each other. However, epigenetic reprogramming leads to activation of the male reproductive organs and deactivation of the gene for female reproductive organs. In this instance, the relationship of the mother to the child would be that of a complete identical clone.

In all four egg scenarios, this would be a parthenogenetic event and would fulfil the criteria for the virgin birth.17,36,37,45,48,49 Conclusion Discussed were the following virgin birth hypotheses, in this article: 1. Human chimaera 2. Foetus in fetu 3. Arrhenoblastoma auto-fertilisation 4. Autofertilisation in XXY non-Klinefelter female 5. Deactivation of XY-linked gender reversal by epigenetic reprogramming or deletion of the responsible genes.

We can say that there are a variety of possible mechanisms that could have enabled the virgin birth. The writings of the Promised Messiahas and our Holy book, the Quran are the guiding light and principle in allowing a better understanding of the topic of the virgin birth. The aim has been to present the scientific options without bias and as plainly as possible. The truth of the matter is known only to God. “Allah knows what every female bears, and what wombs diminish and what they cause to grow. And with Him everything has a proper measure. He is the Knower of the unseen and the seen, the Incomparably Great, the Most High.” (Surah ar-Rad, Ch:13: V.9-10) Continued on next page >>

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Friday 24 April 2020 | AL HAKAM

“Clean your clothes and your houses”: Campaign in Kosovo Besmir Yvejsi Secretary Ishaat, Jamaat Kosovo

Kosovo is among the last countries in the Balkan Region which has been affected by Covid-19 and on 12 April 2020, a month has passed since the first case of infection.

Immediately, the Government of Kosovo had increased protection measures for its citizens. But, at the beginning of this week, with the addition of new 79 cases in just one day, the government has taken strict measures and many cities in the country have been quarantined to prevent the spread of this pandemic.

When it comes to cleanliness, the Islamic religion, in addition to spiritual purity, also gives great priority to physical cleanliness, where, in addition to performing ablution before every prayer, it teaches us that “cleanliness is part of faith”.

In his Friday Sermon on 10 April 2020, Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa said: “General hygiene and keeping the atmosphere within society clean was spoken about by the Promised Messiahas during the time of the plague. After taking all << Continued from previous page

References 1. All Quranic references from the English translation by Hazrat Maulvi Sher Alira 2. Frankenhuis M, Smith-Buijs C, De Boer L, Kloosterboer J. A case of combined hermaphroditism and autofertilisation in a domestic rabbit. Vet Rec. 1990;126(24):598-599.

3. Ahmad T. Christianity: A Journey from Facts to Fiction. Tilford, Surrey: Islam International Publications; 2006.

4. Ahmad G. The Essence of Islam Vol 5: Tilford, Surrey: Islam International Publications; 2007.

5. Pritchard DJ, Korf BR. Medical Genetics at a Glance. 3rd ed. Chichester, West Sussex: John Wiley & Sons; 2013.

6. Cibelli JB, ed. Principles of Cloning. Second edition. Amsterdam: Elsevier/AP; 2014.

7. Sadler TW. Langman’s Medical Embryology.

13th edition. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer; 2015.

8. Ehamberg. Haploid vs Diploid. https:// commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Haploid,_ diploid_,triploid_and_tetraploid.svg. Accessed April 3, 2020.

9. Carlson BM. Human Embryology and Developmental Biology. 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier/Saunders; 2014.

10. Brown TA. Introduction to Genetics: A Molecular Approach. New York: Garland Science; 2012.

11. Conlin LK, Thiel BD, Bonnemann CG, et al. Mechanisms of mosaicism, chimerism and uniparental disomy identified by single nucleotide polymorphism array analysis. Hum Mol Genet. 2010;19(7):1263-1275.

12. Hardin J, Bertoni G. Becker’s World of the Cell. Nineth Edition. Boston: Pearson; 2016.

13. Daughtry B, Mitalipov S. Concise Review: Parthenote Stem Cells for Regenerative Medicine: Genetic, Epigenetic, and Developmental Features. STEM CELLS Transl Med. 2014;3(3):290298.

14. Boklage CE. Embryogenesis of chimeras, twins and anterior midline asymmetries. Hum Reprod.

2005;21(3):579-591. doi:10.1093/ humrep/dei370 15. Read A, Strachan, Tom. Human Molecular Genetics. 5th ed. Garland Science; 2018.

precautions, the Promised Messiahas made it clear that the ultimate reaction is seeking forgiveness from God and bowing in front of him through prayers.”

Based on these teachings, Humanity First Germany, together with Jamaat-eAhmadiyya Kosovo and in cooperation with the Municipality of Istog, organised a project of distributing hygienic packages to more than 500 people who are registered for social assistance in the Municipality of Istog.

The purpose of this aid is to maintain cleanliness during the time of quarantine.

Distribution was done door-to-door and hygiene packages included 25 cleaning essentials for keeping the house, clothes and body clean, including antibacterial soaps, toilet fresheners, hand sanitisers, hair shampoos, cleaning sponges, floor detergents, detergents for clothes and utensils etc.

Within the hygiene packages, an awareness letter was distributed regarding ten aspects of cleanliness that we must take care of to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

During the monitoring and preparation of hygiene packages, the Director of the

16. MacLaughlin DT, Donahoe PK. Sex determination and differentiation. N Engl J Med. 2004;350(4):367–378.

60. doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2017.07.008

17. Dumic M, Lin-Su K, Leibel NI, et al. Report of Fertility in a Woman with a Predominantly 46,XY Karyotype in a Family with Multiple Disorders of Sexual Development. J Clin Endocrinol Metab.

2008;93(1):182-189. doi:10.1210/jc.2007-2155 18. Kucheria K, Mohapatra I, Ammini A, Bhargava V, McElreavey K. Clinical and DNA studies on 46, XY females with gonadal dysgenesis. A report of six cases. – PubMed – NCBI. J Reprod Med. 1996;41(4):263-266.

19. Hines RS, Tho SPT, Zhang YY, et al. Paternal somatic and germ-line mosaicism for a sexdetermining region on Y (SRY) missense mutation leading to recurrent 46,XY sex reversal. Fertil Steril. 1997;67(4):675-679.

20. Zhang M, Fan H-T, Zheng H-S, Zhang Q-S, Feng S-Q, Li R-W. Clinical characteristics of men with non-mosaic Klinefelter syndrome in northeastern China: implications for genetic counseling. Genet Mol Res. 2015;14(3):1089710904. doi:10.4238/2015.September.9.27 21. Groth KA, Skakkebæk A, Høst C, Gravholt CH, Bojesen A. Klinefelter Syndrome—A Clinical Update. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2013;98(1):2030. doi:10.1210/jc.2012-2382 22. Visootsak J, Aylstock M, Graham JM. Klinefelter Syndrome and Its Variants: An Update and Review for the Primary Pediatrician. Clin Pediatr (Phila).

2001;40(12):639-651. doi:10.1177/000992280104001201 23. Schoenhaus SA, Lentz SE, Saber P, Munro MG, Kivnick S. Pregnancy in a hermaphrodite with a male-predominant mosaic karyotype. Fertil Steril.

2008;90(5):2016.e7-2016.e10. doi:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2008.01.104 24. Acar H, Taskapu H, Muslumanoglu MH, Çapar M. A New Female Case with 47,XXY Karyotype and SRY. Andrology. 2016;05(01).

25. Röttger S, Schiebel K, Senger G, Ebner S, Schempp W, Scherer G. An SRY-negative 47, XXY mother and daughter. Cytogenet Genome Res. 2001;91(1-4):204–207.

26. Schmid M, Guttenbach M, Enders H, Terruhn V. A 47,XXY female with unusual genitalia | SpringerLink. Hum Genet. 1992;90:346-349.

27. Jose de Carli G, Campos Pereira T. On human parthenogenesis. Med Hypotheses. 2017;106:57-

28. Irmak MK. Self-fertilization in human: Having a male embryo without a father. Med Hypotheses. 2010;75(5):448-451. doi:10.1016/j. mehy.2010.04.021 29. Irmak M. Embryological basis of the virgin birth of Jesus. J Exp Integr Med. 2014;4(2):147. doi:10.5455/jeim.060113.hp.011 30. Talerman, A, Verp, MS, Senekjian, E, Gilewski, T, Vogelzang, N. True hermaphrodite with bilateral ovotestes, bilateral gonadoblastomas and dysgerminomas, 46,XX/46,XY karyotype, and a successful pregnancy. Cancer. Dec 15;66(12):2668-2672.

31. Yordam N, Alikasifoglu A, Kandemir N, Caglar M, Balci S. True hermaphroditism: clinical features, genetic variants and gonadal histology. J Pediatr Endocrinol Metab.

2001;14(4):421-427.

32. Khan SN. The Parthenogenesis. Rev Relig.

January 1927:17-23.

33. Coolen J, Bradshaw B, Bhargava R, Lees G, Demianczuk N. Fetus-in-fetu: confirmation of prenatal diagnosis with MRI. Prenat Diagn.

2007;27(1):73-76. doi:10.1002/pd.1628 34. Hoeffel CC, Nguyen KQ, Phan HT, et al.

Fetus in fetu: a case report and literature review. Pediatrics.

2000;105(6):1335–1344. doi:10.1542/peds.105.6.1335 35. Gupta S, Singhal P, Arya N. Fetus-in-fetu: A rare congenital anomaly. J Surg Tech Case Rep. 2010;2(2):77. doi:10.4103/2006-8808.73621 36. Sarafoglou K, Ostrer H. Familial sex reversal: a review. J Clin Endocrinol Metab.

2000;85(2):483–493.

37. Mazen IM, KamelAK, MohamedAM, et al. Unique Karyotype: mos 46,X,dic(X;Y)(p22.33;p11.32)/ 45,X/45,dic(X;Y)(p22.33;p11.32) in an Egyptian Patient with Ovotesticular Disorder of Sexual Development. Sex Dev. 2013;7(5):235-243. doi:10.1159/000351039 38. Slade I, Bacchelli C, Davies H, et al. DICER1 syndrome: clarifying the diagnosis, clinical features and management implications of a pleiotropic tumour predisposition syndrome. J Med Genet. 2011;48(4):273-278. doi:10.1136/ jmg.2010.083790 39. Kyurkchiev S, Gandolfi F, Hayrabedyan S, et al. Stem Cells in the Reproductive System. Am J Reprod Immunol. 2012;67(6):445-462.

Directorate for Public Services, Protection and Rescue Mr Enver Rugova, the Director of Education Mr Hajrush Shoshi and the Director of the Directorate for Urban Planning and Environment Mr Besart Dreshaj came and all were thankful for the donation.

Mr Enver Rugova, said: “In a meeting of the municipality, we discussed how the hygienic packages will be distributed. The packages will go to the right place. We have chosen the poorest families and the distribution has started. The family members (who have benefited from this help) are satisfied and we are very grateful for this sufficient donation for the family from Humanity First Germany”.

Meanwhile, Mr Besart Dreshaj said: “This is a sufficient package and we are grateful for the work that Humanity First is doing”.

Humanity First Germany, by the grace of Allah the Almighty, is doing an excellent job of helping the countries of the region in general and the state of Kosovo through institutional routes.

40. Pereira SL, Rodrigues AS, Sousa MI, Correia M, Perestrelo T, Ramalho-Santos J. From gametogenesis and stem cells to cancer: common metabolic themes. Hum Reprod Update.

2014;20(6):924-943. doi:10.1093/ humupd/dmu034 41. Chou H-H, Lai Y-M, Lai C-H, Hsueh S, Soong Y-K. Sertoli-Leydig cell tumour in an infertile patient after stimulated ovulation. Hum Reprod.

1997;12(5):1021–1023.

42. Fagouri H, Moussaoui DR, Kouach J, et al.

Complete Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome with a Sertoli-Leydig Cell Tumor. J Pediatr Adolesc Gynecol. 2014;27(5):e113-e115. doi:10.1016/j. jpag.2013.08.007 43. Gowri V, Koliyadan SV, Al Hamdani A, Al Kindy N. Successful term pregnancies after laparoscopic excision of poorly differentiated Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor of the ovary. J Gynecol Oncol. 2012;23(3):201. doi:10.3802/ jgo.2012.23.3.201 44. Sachdeva P, Arora R, Dubey C, Sukhija A, Daga M, Kumar Singh D. Sertoli–Leydig cell tumor: A rare ovarian neoplasm. Case report and review of literature. Gynecol Endocrinol. 2008;24(4):230234. doi:10.1080/09513590801953465 45. Mekkawy M, Kamel A, El-Ruby M, et al.

Isodicentric Y chromosomes in Egyptian patients with disorders of sex development (DSD). Am J Med Genet A. 2012;158A(7):1594-1603. doi:10.1002/ajmg.a.35487 46. Bos-Mikich A, Bressan FF, Ruggeri RR, Watanabe Y, Meirelles FV. Parthenogenesis and Human Assisted Reproduction. Stem Cells Int. 2016;2016:1-8. doi:10.1155/2016/1970843 47. Kharche SD, Birade HS. Parthenogenesis and activation of mammalian oocytes for in vitro embryo production: A review. Adv Biosci Biotechnol. 2013;04(02):170-182. doi:10.4236/ abb.2013.42025 48. Inoue H, Nomura M, Yanase T, et al. A Rare Case of 46, XX True Hermaphroditism with Hidden Mosaicism with Sex-determining Region Y Chromosome-bearing Cells in the Gonads. Intern Med. 1998;37(5):467-471.

49. Val P, Swain A. Mechanisms of Disease: normal and abnormal gonadal development and sex determination in mammals. Nat Clin Pract Urol. 2005;2(12):616-627. doi:10.1038/ ncpuro0354

Friday 24 April 2020 | AL HAKAM

12

From Manhattan to Medina Prophet Muhammad’s Prohibition Movement

Aizaz Khan Missionary, Canada The names “Manhattan” and “Wall Street” tell a fascinating story. According to some Indigenous-American accounts, when Henry Hudson was exploring the region in 1609, he met some Natives to whom he offered alcohol – later admitting that he did so “in order to make a trial of their hearts”. The Natives refused, saying they abhorred the smell of the liquid. A warrior among them, not wanting to appear ill-mannered in front of strangers, took the drink and gulped it down in one. He immediately collapsed, but then rose to his feet and exclaimed that the beverage was magnificent. His tribesmen followed suit, drank and became intoxicated. The place of this occurrence was called Manhachtanienk, “the island of intoxication”, later known as “Manhattan”.

As the story goes, the Dutch eventually took possession of Manhachtanienk and established a fort there, the southern limit of which was marked by a wall that would serve to protect them from the Natives. The location of this wall is what we know today as “Wall Street”.

Stories like this are plenty, but there is no doubt that alcohol and its consumption are woven into the very fabric of the society we live in. Humanity’s unquenchable thirst for

drinking and intoxication is timeless and has shaped human civilisation itself – from art and culture to policy and even religion.

A sobering dilemma It should be of no surprise, then, that when governments issued lockdown orders in the midst of Covid-19, shops that sold alcoholic beverages were counted in the category of “essential services” and were protected under the same regulations that

allow businesses such as supermarkets and pharmacies to operate.

As a result, in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, US alcohol sales spiked 55% in the week ending 21 March.

Online alcohol sales were up 243%, with alcohol delivery services seeing growths of over 1,500% in new customers. According to a recent survey carried out by alcohol. org, one in three respondents said they are likely to increase alcohol consumption in isolation, with 36% of men and 26% of women saying they currently drink during working hours.

Already considered recession-proof, the past several weeks have validated the alcohol industry’s title as “pandemic-proof ” as well. Sustaining more than 4.4 million

jobs and generating almost $70 billion dollars in annual tax revenue in the US alone, it is no wonder why such an industry would be considered so essential during a pandemic – surely this has nothing to do with that fort, the southern limit of which was marked by a wall.

A more regrettable reason presented for the dire need of alcohol as an essential service is people’s dependence on it (i.e. alcoholism). Medical officers insist that the suspension of sales of alcohol would lead to significant health consequences for those who suffer from alcohol dependence. To put this into perspective, a study published in 2017 reported that a staggering one in eight Americans (that’s at least 41 million people) meet diagnostic criteria for alcohol use disorder. (JAMA Psychiatry, August 2017) Alcohol dependence is not a new phenomenon. Prohibition in the US (19201933) is a classic, textbook example that demonstrates the measure of society’s dependence on alcohol. Known as one of the most catastrophic failures in the history of Colonial America, it is said that with prohibition, Americans were all set for “a wild drinking spree that would last thirteen years, five months, and nine days.” In fact, over the thirteen years of prohibition, Americans produced 700 million gallons of beer each year in the confines of their own homes.

During Covid-19, we are seeing examples reflective of this dependence in the few cities of the world that have banned all sales of alcohol – people are turning to the black market and bootleggers to obtain alcohol while others are turning to hard drugs as an alternative.

A proposed solution Considering our current circumstances, it is imperative that society explores a solution to the greater pandemic that manifests itself to us in the form of alcoholism. There is a proposition, one that will require us to travel from Manhattan all the way to a place called Medina, the city of the Prophetsa.

A thorough study of history and prohibition movements tells us that in all of human history, just one single instance is found in which alcohol prohibition was successfully implemented. This revolution took place in 7th century Arabia and the movement in question was led by the Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allah be on him.

Through his practice, presence, teaching and spiritual power, the Prophet Muhammadsa first changed the prevailing mentality and perceptions surrounding the act of alcohol consumption. Once this was achieved and the time came to forbid it completely, prohibition was instated in a slow and gradual manner. Three verses of the Holy Quran detail this revolutionary process:

1. First, the believing Muslims were simply discouraged from drinking wine, drawing to attention the fact that there was greater evil than benefit in intoxicants. (Surah al-Baqarah, Ch.2: V.220) 2. Then, Muslims were forbidden to pray whilst intoxicated (Surah al-Nisa, Ch.4: V.44). The fact that there were five prayers spread throughout the day, from before sunrise to after sunset, encouraged sincere Muslims to shun the habit.

3. Finally, alcohol consumption was deemed an abomination of Satan’s handiwork and was definitively and strictly forbidden (Surah al-Maidah, Ch.5: V.91-92).

Such a radical change in attitudes prior to the implementation of scriptural injunctions is not found in any other religion except Islam. From the time Prophet Muhammadsa received his first revelation, it took between 16 to 18 years of education, patience, prayers, and gradual restrictions for Islamic prohibition to be fully instated. And it worked!

When Prophet sa Muhammad announced that alcohol had been definitively forbidden, Muslims immediately poured out whatever they had left in stock, to the point that alcoholic drinks were seen flowing through the streets of Medina. (Sahih al-Bukhari) It must be mentioned here that Islam recognises that its strategy of prohibition, if implemented suddenly instead of gradually, would be just as effective as that of prohibition in America. Hazrat Aishara, wife of the Holy Prophetsa, narrates: “When people embraced Islam, the verses regarding legal and illegal things were revealed. If the first thing to be revealed was, ‘Do not drink alcoholic drinks,’ people would have said, ‘We will never leave alcoholic drinks.’” (Sahih alBukhari) In essence, the Holy Prophet Muhammadsa presented the world with a working model demonstrating how a prohibition movement could be effective and what to avoid when trying to replicate it. In any given scenario, the world will eventually come to realise the beauty and efficacy of Islam’s strategy to combat alcoholism. As the Promised Messiah, peace be upon him, once said: “Many times, it happens that if a certain thing is not widespread enough, its effects cannot be known. Take for instance the prevalence of alcohol nowadays in places like Europe – if this prevalence did not occur, then how could its negative effects become manifest, from which the world today seeks refuge? And by its prevalence, the beauty of Islam and the Messenger of Islamsa is revealed, who stopped this vice once and for all and deemed it unlawful.”

(Malfuzat, Vol. 3, pp. 405 [2010])

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Friday 24 April 2020 | AL HAKAM

100 Years Ago...

Mufti Sahib’s ship to America, Chinese converts and a fervent prayer Al Fazl, 26 April 1920 Thank God Thanks be to Allah the Almighty that through the agency of the Rahmatun-lil-Alamin [absolute mercy for all mankind, Prophet Muhammadsa], the Promised Messiahas and with the blessings of the resolute [Khalifatul Masih II], may Allah be his helper, a weak and powerless person like me, as it is said, “naïve little soul” was granted the strength from the Divine to cross oceans and reach the continent of Europe from the continent of Asia and then to set foot in the continent of America from the continent of Europe.

The American newspapers write, “Our missionaries travel to other countries with friends and associates, and carry great provisions with them, but take a look at the strength of Ahmadiyya missionary’s faith that he came to our shores all alone to convert America to Islam.”

Certainly, this act is strange in the eyes of the worldly people, but according to the earlier sunnah, the Companionsra of the Holy Prophetsa, Syed-ul-Anbiya [Chief of all Prophets] and Khatam-un-Nabiyyin [Seal of all Prophets], at times, all alone, splitting the oceans and the forests, reached other countries in those days when travel was more difficult and troublesome than today.

Nowadays, in comparison to those brave and holy people, getting reward from such acts is like entering the martyrs by applying blood on oneself [i.e. seeking reward by little effort]. However, Muslims have lost that courage, determination, honesty, sincerity or in other words, that Islam owing to which such rewards were taken away from them.

Reformer of the age [These rewards] were granted to the Jamaat of the Mujaddid of the time, the Promised Messiah and Mahdi, peace be upon him.

This is also a testimony to the truthfulness of this Jamaat that after such a long relationship with the United Kingdom, if anyone was given the strength to carry out the tabligh of Islam to the English people from Hindustan, they were Ahmadis and not the non-Ahmadis. Ponderers should opine and deliberators should contemplate that this distinction and furqan [differentiation of truth from falsehood] is a proof for the truthfulness of whose personage? All of us carry the Muslim name and every person is free to call themselves whatever they wish, but we have to observe, where exists the life and where is the spirituality?

It is the result of this relationship with the reviver of faith, leader of Islam, the Masih-e-Maud, yes, the Promised Messiahas who was named nabi [messenger] by Syedul

America, rather it went from Liverpool to Le Havre and then to Halifax [Canada] and from there to Philadelphia. In this way, I reached America passing through France and Canada and instead of five or six, it took 21 days. The winds remained strong.

The movement was light due to the large size of the ship. However, I experienced illness for several days and could not go to the dining room more than half the time [of the journey]. I used to eat something while lying down.

Rusul [leader of all the Prophets, Hazrat Muhammadsa] that a humble person like me was able to endure the hardships of the ocean voyage.

Ocean voyage On 28 March 1920, our ship, by the name of [SS] Haverford, set sail from Liverpool in the afternoon. Brother Maulvi Abdul Rahim Sahib Nayyar, who, out of affection, came all the way to Liverpool from London to bid this humble farewell, stood on the shore for a long time and kept praying. Standing on the deck of the ship, I continued to see him from above and pray. As the ship was huge and very high, his distance from me was as much as if someone looks down from the third floor. We could not even hear each other. However, the state of these two-way prayers was having a special effect on the passengers and during the journey, many people mentioned, “When your brother was standing beneath and you were up above, it seemed that you two were under an extraordinary effect.”

This humble one feels scared to travel in a ship because the headache, vomiting and nausea it causes is very discomforting.

Moreover, a little movement makes me sick.

Therefore, I tried so hard to get a ship that would reach America in the least possible days and there are some ships which reach from America from England in just five days. However, I got my passport issued in the very last moments and considering myself fortunate, I quickly booked the first available ship. The speed of the ship, which was selected under divine providence, in comparison to its huge size was very slow.

Additionally, it did not come directly to

Two thousand Chinese The reason for the ship’s departure to France was that about 2,000 Chinese people, who had come there during the war to help the British government and had been stranded in France due to the shortage of ships, were brought to Canada through it. From there, first by train and then by boarding another ship from Western Canada, they will be transported to China. They were accompanied by a few British military officers for management. Unfortunately, there were very few among them who knew English and I do not speak Chinese.

Also, their section of accommodation was separate in the ship and they were not allowed to come in our compartments.

However, when I used to feel good, I would carry out tabligh to them. Some of them were already Muslims.

Five Chinese embraced the true Islam Below are the names of those five Chinese people who entered the true Jamaat, by the grace of God Almighty: 1. Wang Han Chen 2. Trebi Thian Jan 3. Wan Hiang 4. Chang Wen Chih 5. Mu Wen Shu Through the blessings of God Almighty, I had great opportunity to carry out a lot of prayers on the ship. I prayed separately for most of the friends and also collectively for all of them. One day, an immense inner passion for prayer was generated. After praying for everyone that day, I offered a comprehensive prayer, which I kept noting down as well and that is why it is preserved in its original form.

Sadiq’s prayer I write that sincere prayer over here, so that perhaps, a reader may get to pray in those words and benefit from it by the grace of God and this humble may be rewarded.

“O my Most Generous Lord, my Lord the Merciful, my Lord the Forbearing, my Lord the Coverer of flaws and Forgiver. O my Master, Benefactor of the poor, O my Creator,

O my Sustainer, my Lord, my Gracious, O my Eternal Forgiver and Merciful. You are Master of all and Dominant over everybody.

Everything is in Your Power, nothing was, but You were, nothing will be but You shall exist. You are the Creator and Master of the spirits, the Creator and Master of the bodies, the Creator and Master of matter, the Creator and Master of life and the Creator and Master of time. You the Creator and Master of everything. Not a single particle can move without Your Command. You are Omnipotent, All-Powerful, All-Knowing, All-Aware, Dominant and All-Hearing.

The oceans and lands are Yours. I am a beggar before You; I am poor, You are SelfSufficient; I am needy, You are free of every want; I ask, You grant; I am a scrounger, You are a Bestower. I am nothing, but You are everything. Lord, I am an expectant at your doorstep; You are the fulfiller of expectations. O Master, I am a sinner, You are the Pure Lord; forgive my sins, cover up my faults, remove all my flaws, eliminate my weaknesses, be kind, Compassionate, cover the shortcomings, overlook, show forbearance, make things easy. Save from every evil, protect from every sorrow, rescue from every distress and shelter from every worry, me and my beloveds, my near ones, those who love me, my helpers, my sincere friends, my faithful associates, those who pray for me, all those for whom I have prayed and also those whom I have mistakenly forgotten. Show mercy and kindness to those who love me, but I do not know that they do. You are the All-Knowing, the AllAware. Nothing is hidden from You, neither in the heavens, nor in the earth. Yes, have mercy on my children and on my wife and offspring, on my relatives, on my friends, on those who are kind and have good intentions, on the well-wishers, on those who pray for my family and all those who love them and on their wives and children, on their relatives, on those admirers who are presently in mind and those who are not and on those admirers who shall be born in the generations to come. Have mercy on all of them, show compassion, be generous, cure their illnesses, relieve their debts, grant them victories in cases and debates, bless them with health, comfort, honour, excellence; give them prosperity and expansion in halal [lawful] wealth, bestow them monarchy and state, grant them beneficial knowledge, acceptable deeds, noble children, good friends and the strength to preach religion.

“O my Lord, O my Forgiver, You are mine, I am Yours; I am Yours, You are mine; my Continued on next page >>

Friday 24 April 2020 | AL HAKAM

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Wonders experienced through fasting Among the wonders of this kind of fasting that I experienced are the fine visions which were bestowed upon me during that time. I met some past Prophetsas and some of the exalted Muslim auliya [saints].

Once – in a state of complete wakefulness – I met the Holy Prophetsa along with Hassanra, Hussainra, Alira and Fatimahra. This was not a dream, but something that I experienced in a state of wakefulness. I met many holy people in this manner, but it would take long to describe all those meetings. Moreover, I was granted views of spiritual lights that were represented in columns of red and green, the beauty of which cannot possibly be described in words. These columns of light, some of them shining white and others green and red, rose straight towards heaven and their sight filled my heart with delight. Nothing can be compared to the joy that my heart and soul experienced in beholding these columns. I believe that these columns were a representation of the love between God and man. It was a light that proceeded from the heart upwards and there was another light that descended from above and the two together took on the shape of a column. These are spiritual matters which are beyond the ken of the world. The world cannot recognise them as they are far removed from its eyes, but there are some in the world who are made aware of them. In short, due to this prolonged fasting, wonders were revealed to me in the form of visions of various kinds and forms.

Macedonia Jamaat during the Covid-19 pandemic Wasim Ahmad Missionary, Jamaat Macedonia

For the past few months, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the whole world is in lockdown.

People are bound to stay in their homes.

This has increased unemployment as well and North Macedonia is also suffering from this situation. It is a distinctive feature of Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya and Humanity First that it always stands on the forefront to serve humanity.

There are two Jamaats in North Macedonia; one in Pehcevo and the other in Berovo, where the authorities contacted the Jamaat to request for help during this difficult situation. In response, a programme was planned to distribute food to those in need with the cooperation of Humanity First Germany.

On 15 and 16 April 2020, food packets were distributed in two cities and six villages.

20 Ahmadis took part in this distribution and provided these food packages to poor families. In Berovo city, the food was given at the Council building and the Jamaat centre.

The Mayor of Berovo was also present there.

The Mayor appreciated the Jamaat’s service and said: “I am very thankful to the Jamaat and this service of the Jamaat to help the people of Berovo city will be remembered.”

Moreover, the citizens of Berovo also showed their gratitude to the Jamaat for this help.

In total, this help was provided to nearly 700 people, alhamdolillah, and the local media also published the news of Jamaat’s activities.

(Kitab-ul-Bariyyah, Ruhani Khazain, Vol. 13)

<< Continued from previous page

Master, my Master, my Master, my Beloved Lord, my Beloved Lord, my Beloved Lord; hear my call, reach for my cry, forgive my sins, shower Your blessings, Your bounties.

Abundant, infinite and countless blessings, peace and grace be upon the leader, syed [master] and prince of all the prophets, Hazrat Muhammadsa of Arabia, Ahmad of Mecca and Medina. Blessings, peace and grace be upon Abul-Anbiya [father of all the prophets], Khalil-e-Khuda [friend of God], Abrahamas and on Noahas, Ishmaelas, Isaacas, Jacobas, Josephas, Davidas, Solomonas, Jesusas, Adamas, Krishnaas, Maharajas and on all the prophets we know and those whom we do not. Especially, on our master, Muhammadsa and his family and on his Khulafa, Abu Bakrra, Umarra, Usmanra and Alira and on all the companionsra, auliya [beloved ones of God], aqtabs [prominent saints], mujaddids

[reformers] of the ummah and the imams.

And on the Imam of imams, the khatam of auliya [best of all the saints] and the chief reflector of all the prophets, burooz [spiritual reflection] of Muhammadsa, Hazrat Ahmadas, the Prophet of Allah, the Promised Messiah and Mahdi. And on his Khulafa, Nuruddinra and Mahmudra. And shower blessings, mercy and compassion on all the Companionsra, their family and children and on the followers and the admirers.

“O my Generous Master, Your Being is the Greatest, Your power is the highest, Your strength is the Utmost. There is no knowledge except for what You grant.

There is no action except the one for which You grant the strength. There is no power except for what you Bless. Help your servant Mahmud, our Imam and chief, our mentor and guide, our reformer and commander, our master and leader, Fazl-e-Umar; assist

him, give him victory in every field, fulfill his every objective, accept his every prayer.

Grant progress to his friends and wipe out his evil-wishers. Give him a long life with health, strength and fitness. Elevate him even higher and bless him with the maqame-mahmud [the highly commended status].

Take him close to Your special nearness and grant him the highest ranks and stations.

Yes, my Generous, my Benefactor, my Lord, my Master, Omnipotent, All-Hearing, AllKnowing, the friends who requested and wrote to me for prayers, fulfil their prayers and wishes. And Bless those who did not request or write, but they hope or desire for me to pray for them. Yes, even for them, I beg before You to answer their supplications and fill their arms with your blessings. There is no concept of shortage before You and no scarcities in Your treasures. Help those who assist the religion of Muhammadsa and make us one of them. Humiliate those who want

to humiliate the religion of Muhammadsa and do not make us one of them. Help those who help and support [the mission] of the Promised Messiahas and bless us to be one of them. Humiliate those who seek the humiliation of the Promised Messiahas and pardon us that we are not among them. َ َ ّ ��� ‫ﻣﺒﺎر�ﺎ وأﻧﺖ ﺧ�� اﻟﻤ��ﻟ��۔ وا��ﻤﺪ‬ ����� ‫ﻧﺰﻟﻨﻰ‬ ‫رب أ‬ ِ ٰ ٰ ‫رب اﻟﻌﺎﻟﻤ��۔ اﻣ�� ﺛﻢ اﻣ��۔ ﺑﺮﺣﻤﺘﻚ ﻳﺎ ارﺣﻢ ا��اﺣﻤ��۔‬ [My Lord, cause me to land a blessed landing, for Thou art the Best of those who bring people to land. And all praise belongs to Allah, the Lord of all the worlds. Amin thumma Amin. With Your mercy, O Most Merciful.]”

Muhammad Sadiq, may Allah forgive his sins From Gloucester City, America, 1 March 1920 Address for mail: C/O Thomas Cook and Sons, 245 Broadway, New York, U.S. America

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Friday 24 April 2020 | AL HAKAM

Atheism on Trial

New Atheism and the art of civilised dialogue Part II

Sabahat Ali Rajput Missionary, Mexico

New Atheists are supremely skillful at releasing the poison gas of hatred against Islam into the minds of the masses. They ride the wave of Islamophobia like no other and this lays the perfect groundwork for a divided society.

According to the Pew Research Centre, what was once simply hate speech against Muslims has escalated in recent years to threats, vandalism and even physical assault, totalling over 300 cases of physical assault on Muslims a year in the United States.

This venomous anti-Islamic rhetoric plants time-bombs in the hearts of people which detonate whenever any extremist decides to commit acts of terror.

In the UK as well, anti-Muslim hate crimes also reportedly saw a five-fold increase following the London Bridge attacks (“Anti-Muslim hate crimes increase fivefold since London Bridge attacks”, The Guardian, 7 June 2017. Accessed 16 December 2019. www.theguardian.com/ uk-news/2017/jun/07/anti-muslim-hatecrimes-increase-fivefold-since-londonbridge-attacks). A few years later, 2017 saw a 26% spike from the previous year, while just last year following the Christchurch shootings, Britain recorded an astonishing 593% increase in anti-Muslim hate crimes.

New Atheists have been planting this emotional land-mine into the hearts of their audiences since 9/11. In their condemnation of this attack, which had nothing to do with the religion of Islam, they do their level best to convince the world that Islam is at the root of all evil.

When it comes to granting Islam the crown of the most dangerous religion of them all, perhaps no one else deserves more applause than Sam Harris, author of End of Faith. A critical analysis of Sam Harris in The Guardian (a UK based paper with a circulation of over 150,000), for instance, reveals the very calculated and deliberate plan of New Atheists to dub Islam as the most lethal ideology in the world. Glenn Greenwald, a former columnist at The Guardian, writes: “The key point is that Harris does far, far more than voice criticisms of Islam as part of a general critique of religion. He has repeatedly made clear that he thinks Islam is uniquely threatening: ‘While the other major world religions have been fertile sources of intolerance, it is clear that the doctrine of Islam poses unique problems for the emergence of a global civilization. “He has insisted that there are unique dangers from Muslims possessing nuclear weapons, as opposed to nice Western Christians (the only ones to

ever use them) or those kind Israeli Jews: ‘It should be of particular concern to us that the beliefs of devout Muslims pose a special problem for nuclear deterrence.’

In his 2005 End of Faith, he claimed that ‘Islam, more than any other religion human beings have devised, has all the makings of a thoroughgoing cult of death.’ This is not a critique of religion generally; it is a relentless effort to depict Islam as the supreme threat. Based on that view, Harris, while depicting the Iraq war as a humanitarian endeavor, has proclaimed that ‘we are not at war with terrorism. We are at war with Islam.’ He has also decreed that ‘this is not to say that we are at war with all Muslims, but we are absolutely at war with millions more than have any direct affiliation with Al Qaeda.’ ‘We’ – the civilized peoples of the West – are at war with ‘millions’ of Muslims, he says. Indeed, he repeatedly posits a dichotomy between ‘civilized’ people and Muslims: ‘All civilized nations must unite in condemnation of a theology that now threatens to destabilize much of the earth.” (“Sam Harris, the New Atheists and anti-Muslim animus”, The Guardian, 3 April 2013. Accessed 16 December 2017. www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/ apr/03/sam-harris-muslim-animus) Sensitivity to religious sentiments vs. freedom of speech While freedom of speech is unquestionably a fundamental human right which must be safeguarded with great care, there are times when it must be interpreted according to the situation. What happens when one fundamental human right infringes upon another basic human right? Dawkins himself admits to the serious dilemma that is faced when two different freedoms contradict.

When asked, “A (religious) community sets up a school … but doesn’t subscribe to your views (on evolution, etc.) Now, is that a freedom of speech thing for them, to be able to teach what they want, or not?”

Dawkins replied, “That is very difficult, because there, we’re trespassing on the tussle between the freedom of speech of parents to impose their views on children and the freedom of children to be educated without having erroneous views … imposed upon them.” (BBC Newsnight. “Richard Dawkins on Islam, Jews, science and the burka”) There are times when the freedom to express aloud one’s thoughts and opinions diametrically opposes the basic requirements of respect – this is often referred to as being “politically incorrect”.

With the upsurge of New Atheism, this Continued on page 16

No man is an island entire of itself

Fazal Masood Malik Prince Edward Island, Canada

Islands have always held the fantasy of humanity. Perhaps it is the seclusion, the illusion of complete autonomy that draws the hearts of men. Be it Arabian Nights or Gulliver’s Travels, the cultural aspects of these islands are unique, depicting a life not tied down by the rules of the cities.

Perhaps we too, at some point, imagined our life to be that of an island; our rules, our ways. But time and technology have changed those rules, wavering the beliefs once held. No matter how far or how remote a place existed, it is part of our lives today.

We can taste the foods from the forbidden streets of Afghanistan and wear clothes from far off places like Mongolia. Life has become integrated and an imbalance in this coalition affects the lives of those far and near.

In the past, we could ignore the problems of lands that were beyond the seas, small and irrelevant. Yes, we became wealthy from the rare metals, the oil and the fish, but at what cost? People imagined themselves immune to the problems and diseases of other nations, believing that ebola in Africa is not for us to worry, but alas, no more.

Now when a distant-nation becomes destabilised, the waves of instability shift the sands of the Western world. Terrorism, violence, human rights, hunger and poverty are all impacting the life in our universe that we imagined being an island.

Today we see issues and diseases at our door that we thought could be addressed by promoting economic development in countries whose resources we depleted.

We are clearing out the forests at an unprecedented rate and in the process, polluting the waters and killing the inhabitants.

There is a cost for this. There is a cost to eyeing the riches of others that do not belong to us. Take Covid-19 for example; a virus so small yet an enemy so formidable it has brought the world to its knees. Nations around the world are spending an unspeakable amount of money to counter its negative effect.

We have only begun to see the human cost, the social cost, and the economic cost at the surface. People are dying unnatural deaths, they are becoming mentally ill because of the self-isolation, the financial cost is staggering while personal income is dwindling. Canada, like other first world countries, is designed for economic growth; the minute it stagnates, the whole infrastructure falls.

If we glance at the past two decades, we see a pattern emerging with exceptional renewal – each illness more global in its reach, each calamity deadlier than before.

The good news is that there is a way out.

The Islamic principle is that we should look at God. You may rightfully ask, what does that mean? It means that we should follow His teachings and to seek the wealth of guidance in His message. The teachings are simple at heart, but heavy in fulfilment. Teachings such as, “Do not create disorder in the World” (Ch.7: V.57; Ch.2: V.206) and to act with absolute “justice”, even with enemies (Ch.5: V.8). If the world abides by this wisdom, then the future of the world can be safeguarded; otherwise, the cycle of destruction will continue to spin faster, bringing with it untold disasters.

There is always a cost of following a path.

The path of goodness and giving is life; the path of greed and gluttony is death.

(No man is an island entire of itself is taken from John Donne’s [d. 1631] poem.)

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Those for whom the angels fast Frasat Ahmad Missionary, USA

For those heartbroken Muslims who cannot fast this year because they are stricken with Covid-19 (or any other ailment), know one thing: The Messiah has come and he has a message for you: The angels will fast for you. And you shall have your reward in full.

(Malfuzat, Vol. 4, p. 258) You must, however, do one thing. You must supplicate God with such intensity and fervour that the Heavens reverberate and resound with the echoes of your sobs. And you must beg God with this prayer: “O my Allah! This is your blessed month and I am being deprived of its blessings. I know not whether I will live to see next year or whether I will ever be able to fulfill the fasts I have missed. Do bestow upon me, through Your Grace, the strength to fast.”

(Ibid) You must reinforce this prayer with the utmost determination and resolve to fast, says the Messiah. Ultimately, even if your ailment prevents you from fasting, though your heart yearns to do so, you shall not be deprived of its blessings. Your illness will Continued from page 15

overlap, or contradiction, between two fundamental human rights has rekindled an age-old debate; this time about the “hypersensitivity” of religious sentiments versus the right to criticise religious belief openly.

Thus, Prof Dawkins writes: “A widespread assumption, which nearly everybody in our society accepts – the nonreligious included – is that religious faith is especially vulnerable to offence and should be protected by an abnormally thick wall of respect, in a different class from the respect that any human being should pay to any other.” (Ibid) He wastes no time in quoting a famous excerpt from an extempore speech delivered by Douglas Adams at the University of Cambridge: “Religion … has certain ideas at the heart of it which we call sacred or holy or whatever. What it means is, ‘Here is an idea or a notion that you’re not allowed to say anything bad about; you’re just not. Why not? – because you’re not!’

“Why should it be that it’s perfectly legitimate to support the Labour party or the Conservative party, Republicans or Democrats, this model of economics versus that, Macintosh instead of Windows – but to have an opinion about how the Universe began, about who created the Universe, no, that’s holy?

“Yet when you look at it rationally there is no reason why those ideas shouldn’t be as open to debate as any other, except that we have agreed somehow between us that they shouldn’t be” (Ibid). So far as Islam is concerned, all three of these points are either baseless or misdirected. As usual, New Atheists try to stultify religious beliefs by wrongly equating the venerable with the commercial. There are always reasons for

be a source of mercy for you and the angels shall fast for you. You will see your reward in full.

For those (healthy) Muslims who fear that fasting will weaken their immune system and leave them more susceptible to contracting Covid-19, know one thing. The Messiah has come and he has a message for you: “God is All-Powerful. If He so Wills, He can bestow the strength to fast upon one who is afflicted with tuberculosis.” (Ibid) Worry not. The World Health Organization affirms, “Healthy people should be able to fast during this Ramadan as in previous years.” (https://apps.who.int/ iris/bitstream/handle/10665/331767/WHO2019-nCoV-Ramadan-2020.1-eng.pdf) For those (healthy) Muslims who shrewdly look to excuse themselves from fasting, the Messiah desires you to strive through and shun such excuses; the importance of this divine blessing must not be ignored. No person can deceive God Almighty; faulty excuses hold no value in His Eyes. (Malfuzat, Vol. 4, p. 259) For the Muslim world holding its breath in anticipation for Ramadan, Allah has a why certain things are considered offensive to religious people, just as there are reasons why certain things are considered offensive to non-religious people – it is whatever they consider politically correct.

Extremists are an infinitesimal minority The first statement that Douglas Adams, in his speech quoted by Dawkins, attributes to believers, is “Here is an idea or a notion that you’re not allowed to say anything bad about; you’re just not. Why not? – because you’re not!” The average Muslim is very unlikely to forbid a critic of his faith to rationally analyse Islamic teachings or ask critical questions about Islam, and instead of providing a clarifying answer, just declare that he’s not allowed to discuss the subject. Even if he does, he would be acting independently of the teachings of Islam.

By the same token, there are admittedly extremist factions who hold this view, but we must not forget that these are the extremist factions; they do not represent Islam or the average Muslim’s beliefs. Insinuating that the average religious person forbids others from critically analysing his beliefs, just “because” it is against the fact and is a selfserving exaggeration.

Secondly, the misleading phrase, “Extremist Islam” is an ideological venom which does not at all represent Islam’s actual teachings. If the purpose is just to malign any religion, or to point to its extremist coterie of fanatics – who must be far astray from the genuine teachings of that religion – then the qualifier “extremist” could potentially apply to any religion with a fanatical fringe which misuses the name of that religion as a cover for its own nefarious agenda.

Just because there is a miniscule minority of Muslims (less than 0.001%, according to Gallup’s biggest poll conducted across 35

message for you. The Messiah has come and his name is Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas of Qadian. ‫اتر� ےک زامہن اک ونر ی‬ ‫”اس ی‬ “‫م یہ وہں‬

countries, of over 50,000 Muslims) (http:// twocircles.net/2008feb26/politics_not_piety_ dictate_radicals_muslim_world_poll.html) who commit atrocities in the name of Islam, attributing their evils to the faith does not at all mean that Islam does, in fact, teach those things.

If a group of people decided to get up and (God forbid) detonate a bomb in the name of the Richard Dawkins Foundation, it would be a grave injustice to ascribe the bombing to the Richard Dawkins Foundation, just because the bombers claim that they did it in the name of this foundation. Likewise, when barbaric savages claim that the unthinkable evils they commit are Islamic, one cannot blame Islam, unless Islam actually teaches that.

In response to the second sweeping claim made by Adams – it is a ridiculous notion on several grounds. Firstly, the statement itself is totally false. “To have an opinion about how the Universe began, about who created the Universe…” is not holy. Atheists have an opinion regarding how the universe began and whether it was created as well, or at all, for that matter. Their having a belief regarding the beginning of the universe does not make it holy at any level. It is when one attributes the creation of the heavens and the earth to a supreme being, that it can be called “holy”.

Difference of opinion is a mercy In Islam, discussing differently held opinions regarding the origin, creation or non-creation of the universe is not forbidden at all. In fact, according to Dr Abdus Salam, Nobel Laureate in Physics (1979), an eighth of the entire corpus of the Quran invites its followers to ponder over and reflect on the creation of the heavens and the earth (“The Future of Science in

“I am the light in this age of darkness.” ‫ت‬ ‫ہ ی� دردنے رہ رطف ی‬ ‫م اعف� ی� اک وہں اصحر‬ “All around roam wild beasts, [while] I am the fortress of security and peace.”

Islamic Countries”, alislam.org, 15 February 2017. Accessed 16 December 2017. www. alislam.org/library/science/future-of-sciencein-islamic-countries). In fact, in verses 4 and 5 of chapter 67, the Holy Quran openly invites its readers to look for any flaw or incongruence in the creation of the universe by the Gracious God, then invites them again, and again, and yet again – a total of four times in just two verses.

Debate and dialogue have always been central to the Islamic thought-process.

Since the time of the Holy Prophet Muhammadsa himself, his Companionsra and those who came after them would discuss amongst themselves and express difference of opinion on a variety of topics.

At times, they were even corrected or bested in discourse and dialectics by eminent women like Hazrat Aishara and later by Hazrat Rabiah Basrirh. (The New World Encyclopaedia. Johannesburg: 20th Century Distributors, 1956. Under Rabia Basri) (Widad As-Sakkakini, First Among Sufis: The Life and Thought of Rabia al-Adawiyya, the Woman Saint of Basra, London: Octagon Press, 1982) What many may not know is that immediately following the famous statement made by the Holy Prophetsa of Islam, that “[my] companions are like the stars…” he deemed the intellectual dialogue and difference of opinion of his companions a mercy for the entire Muslim world. (Al-Mazhkal Ila As-Sunanil-Kubra Ila Baihaqiyy) The institution of consultation, where the different viewpoints of the companions were taken into consideration before almost every major decision was made, dates to the early days of Islam. Hence, respectful dialogue has always underpinned the intellectual, moral, and secular success of

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Friday 24 April 2020 | AL HAKAM

“Digital Technology Learning Programme” – A free opportunity for all Ahmad Salam Sanat-o-Tijarat UK

In view of the current situation and the potential economic impact, the Sanat-oTijarat Department in the UK present a new course on digital technology for the benefit of Jamaat members.

About the course The course is designed to significantly boost your employment prospects by taking you through a Digital Technology Learning Programme.

The course is delivered online and can be studied at your own pace from home.

At the end of the course, you will get an opportunity to attain industry recognised certification from ServiceNow (www. servicenow.com).

Companies such as ServiceNow, KPMG, Capgemini, Fujitsu and Accenture are looking to recruit people with the skills you will attain in this course. Notably, the Digital space is still growing even in the current environment and is highly anticipated to continue to grow as employers struggle to << Continued from previous page

true Islam.

Thirdly, Mr Adams’ statement that “there is no reason why those ideas shouldn’t be as open to debate as any other” is a notion to which – in principle – Islam fully agrees.

Every person has the right to have an opinion under the freedom of thought and under the freedom of expression, also reserves the right to express himself; his fellow man also reserves the right to have an opinion contrary to that.

Adams further posits that it is simply unfair that someone can depict political leaders in a negative manner, being critical of them without any consequence, but when religious figures are portrayed in a similar manner, it results in an uproar.

Dawkins also writes in The God Delusion about this: “I am not in favour of offending or hurting anyone just for the sake of it.

But I am intrigued and mystified by the disproportionate privileging of religion in our otherwise secular societies. All politicians must get used to disrespectful cartoons of their faces, and nobody riots in their defence. What is so special about religion that we grant it such uniquely privileged respect?” (Richard Dawkins, The God Delusion, p. 27 [2006]) John Stuart Mill – the famous social scientist, known as the most influential English-speaking philosopher of the nineteenth century (https://plato.stanford. edu/entries/mill), who laid down the fundamental groundwork of modern constitutions, has drawn a crucial line regarding freedom of speech, arguing that freedom of speech ends where it is causing harm to others: “… the only purpose for which power can be rightfully exercised over any

fill vacancies in this sector due to a shortage of relevant skills.

Who is this opportunity for?

Anyone can take part; no previous experience is required – male and female members, young and old, who may be seeking to change their career or individuals who wish to start a career in the fast growing digital and or cloud-based industry. All that is required is a PC with internet access, basic proficiency in using a computer (i.e. simple applications such as Word, Internet browsing) and a base level command of English.

What do you get?

- A structured training programme - The programme starts with a very basic entry level course (total study time 24 hours of learning, which you complete at your own pace and convenience) - Upon successful completion of an online test, you will gain a recognised certification (ServiceNow Certified System Administrator)

member of a civilised community, against his will, is to prevent harm to others. (www. econlib.org/library/Mill/mlLbty1.html) The teachings of Islam have always championed freedom of speech and the Holy Prophet Muhammadsa, who was described by his dear wife Aishara as an embodiment of the Holy Quran, always practiced tolerance in the face of adversarial or personally undesirable speech by an opponent. Even as the democratically elected head of state in Medina, he never resorted to violence when facing verbal abuse from his adversaries.

His regular response was tolerance and forgiveness; but whenever he responded to reasoned criticisms, he did so with verbal and intellectually reasoned rebuttals.

When, for instance, Kaab ibn Ashraf publicly hurled verbal abuse at the Holy Prophetsa (while the Prophetsa was the leader of the state), the only action he took was to ask Hassan bin Thabitra to compose a poem in response to Kaab bin Ashraf ’s indecent speech. (Al-Bidayah wa’an-Nihayah, Tarikh ibn Kathir. Accessed 16 December 2017. http://qurango.com/history.html, Vol. 5, pp.

326-336) When freedoms become shackles In addition to championing freedom of speech, Islam also draws a much-needed dividing-line where freedom of speech may become a source of harm for others.

International human rights frameworks also agree with this necessary clause.

For example, Article II, Section 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights states about free speech: “… since it carries with it duties and responsibilities, [it] may be subject to such formalities, conditions, restrictions or penalties as are prescribed by law and are necessary in a democratic society, in the interests of national security,

- Although the programme starts with a fundamentals course, for successful members there are more advanced courses and training, allowing individuals to apply for jobs, such as IT consultant, business analyst, programme manager, process specialist, security analyst, service desk analyst or systems administrator What will it cost?

This first course alone, if taken commercially, normally costs around £2,400, but through a special European Union Funding programme initiative, you can currently apply to enrol and complete this at no cost at all and totally free of charge.

Candidates successfully completing this first module will be invited to participate in additional intermediate and advanced courses if they desire, enhancing their accreditations, skills and employment prospects, also at no cost and self-paced.

Summary By the sheer grace and mercy of Allah, we have been blessed with this programme

territorial integrity or public safety, for the prevention of disorder or crime, for the protection of health or morals, for the protection of the reputation or rights of others…” (European Convention on Human Rights. Accessed 14 December 2017. www. hrcr.org/docs/Eur_Convention/euroconv3. html) The UK also strictly prohibits unbridled freedom of speech on the basis that it creates destructive social divides and threatens the peace of the nation. The basic dictates of civility demand that each person in any society ensure that he or she does not utter such speech as might be injurious to his fellow human-beings – let alone spewing irreverent sentiments and opinions which cause entire nations or religious faithgroups to become offended and deeply hurt. If individuals cannot abide by these basic principles of communal respect, then it is the responsibility of the government to not only guarantee an environment of emotional and social peace, but to do so “for the protection of the reputation and rights of others.”

Islam calls for members of society to observe tolerance and patience when dealing with those who refuse to observe the dictates of good manners and civility.

This was precisely the unfaltering practice of the Holy Foundersa of Islam, who faced such severe persecution, torture and grief at the hands of his fellow countrymen, yet upheld an immaculate model of fortitude and patient perseverance in spite of it.

The Islamic solution This path of tolerance is exhorted by the Holy Quran, which urges people to respond to hostile or disrespectful speech with peaceful conduct and even humility, where it is conducive to promoting peace and

being made available for the benefit of all Jamaat members, young and old, including those without experience and also without any restrictive entry requirements or cost.

Members have the potential to significantly boost their employment prospects, education and earning ability in a fast-growing sector, which is highly likely to become a vital and necessary enabler of the future economy and the way in which life and work is conducted. We would urge all members to take advantage of this most valuable opportunity.

What to do next?

Interested members should immediately register their interest by choosing one of the actions below to be invited to a webinar that is due to be held within the next two weeks.

Detailed information and the selection process for candidates will be provided and members will be enrolled.

Send an email to training@sanatotijarat. org stating your name, the subject you are interested in and contact number in the message.

Go to www.sanatotijarat.org/digital for more information.

Contact the following individuals: Ahmad Salam: +44 7770 537345 Nayab Sayed: +44 7831 745317 Tahir Ahmad: +44 7801 038082 Faez Ahmad: +44 7777 697797

avoiding conflict in society. It observes: ُ ْ َ َ َ ً ْ َ ْ َ َ َ ُ ْ َ َ ْ َّ ٰ ْ َّ ُ َ َ ‫ض َهوْنا َوإِذا خاط َب ُه ُم ال َجا ِهلوْ َن‬ ِ ‫و ِعباد الرحم ِن ال ِذين يمشون َع ُلى ال َأر‬ ً ‫قالوا َسل‬ ‫اما‬ “…the servants of the Gracious [God] are those who walk on the earth in a dignified manner, and when the ignorant address them, they say, ‘Peace!’” (Surah alFurqan, Ch.25: V.64) The Holy Quran presents a truly balanced solution to the entire issue. It exhorts its followers to walk in the earth with such a demeanor as should avoid causing harm to people in society. The word haun, according to Aqrab-ul-Mawarid, means “to uphold mutual dignity, and act in a manner conducive to tranquility and peace.”

The Promised Messiahas has also translated the phrase to mean that “When ignorant people use harsh and upsetting language against them, they respond with a peaceful approach characterised by mercy and forbearance, meaning that instead of replying with harshness, they reply in a gentle and soft-spoken manner and instead of responding to foul language with the like, they respond with prayers.” (Barahin-eAhmadiyya, Vol. IV, Ruhani Khazain Vol. 1, pp. 448-449 [footnote]) And so, this is the sublime superstructure of peaceful and pure communication that Islam seeks to foster in society. The genius with which Islam has taught both sides of a conflict to conduct themselves is a shining testament to its desire for seeing true and long-lasting peace in society. At its root, Islam seeks to wash away misunderstandings and hate through transparent and respectful dialogue.

After all, hatred is the opium of the ignorant – and love is the oxygen of true peace.

Friday 24 April 2020 | AL HAKAM

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Health benefits of fasting in Ramadan

Mirza Usama Ahmad Bashir, Student Jamia Ahmadiyya UK

Within a matter of days, Muslims across the globe will be embarking on the month-long journey of fasting known as Ramadan. They will be abstaining from food and drink for a month, dawn till dusk, as ordained by Allah the Almighty: “O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you, as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may guard against evil.”

(Surah al-Baqarah, Ch.2: V.184) The central purpose of Ramadan is to excel in spirituality and gain nearness with God. However, there are untold physical benefits of this religious tradition as well which scientists have recently discovered.

Whilst we know that fasting in Ramadan helps us increase our taqwa (Godconsciousness), this month presents a healthy dose of physical benefits too.

There has been recent debate over the possible health dangers of fasting in Ramadan amid the Covid-19 crisis, however the World Health Organisation (WHO) and many other medical experts have confirmed that fasting will not put one at higher risk of Covid-19. Yes, anyone will symptoms, or for that matter, any illness, should not fastin; an injunction of the Holy Quran itself.

Over the years, modern science and medicine has continuously reported on the benefits of intermittent fasting; its been a popular subject for health professions, celebrities and even discussed on the most well-known podcasts.

In 2018, scientists made a remarkable discovery where they learnt that fasting for as little as three days can regenerate an entire immune system, even in the elderly.

Scientists at the University of Southern Californialearnt during a 6-month study that essentially starving the body for even a brief period can kick start stem cells into producing new white blood cells, which are critical in fighting off infections. They argue that this is vital in those who suffer from damaged immune systems such as cancer patients and in the elderly, whose immune systems become weaker with age.

The scientists say that in essence, fasting flips a regenerative switch which prompts stem cells into producing new white blood cells, which in turn essentially regenerates the entire immune system.

“It gives the ‘OK’ for stem cells to go ahead and begin proliferating and rebuild the entire system,” said Professor Valter Longo, Professor of Gerontology and the Biological Sciences at the University of California.

Further Professor Longo said, “And the good news is that the body got rid of the parts of the system that might be damaged or old, the inefficient parts, during the fasting.”

The science behind this is that prolonged fasting breaks down stores of glucose and fats. Along with this, it also breaks down a substantial portion of white blood cells.

During each cycle of 3 days, this rapid depletion of white blood cells prompts the regeneration of new immune system cells.

During the study, researchers also found that prolonged fasting resulted in the reduction of the enzyme PKA, which is linked to ageing and a hormone which increases the risk of cancer and tumour growth. (Study by Valter Longo of the University of Southern California, Leonard Davis School).

Another study, this time in 2012, found

that fasting might improve the outcome for those cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Chemotherapy, a brutal treatment for those suffering cancer, targets and kills cancerous tissue. Unfortunately, in this process healthy tissues are also eliminated. As a result of this researchers in recent years have been on the hunt for a finer, more targeted treatment. In search of this, researchers in an animal study found that short term starvation – or fasting – can aid in the treatment of cancer.

The study found that in mice with cancer, fasting prior to chemotherapy, led to more tumour shrinkage than chemo would on its own. In some cases, they found that such a combination apparently even eliminated some forms of cancer. Researchers suggested that fasting combined with chemotherapy could extend the survival of those cancer patients in an advanced stage by limiting growth of the tumour and supressing the side effects of the treatment. In the study, the fasting mice were allowed to drink water but were not given food for a minimum of two days. When mice with various forms of cancer were subjected to two rounds of 48hour fasts prior to their chemotherapy, their tumours shrunk more than in those mice who were not subjected to a round of fasting.

Those mice that were put on a fastingchemo plan showed a 40% greater reduction in their metastases. Fasting also protected the healthy cells from the toxicity of the chemotherapy and by doing so it could, in the future, enable doctors to enhance the power of chemotherapies without having to resort to increasing the toxicity of drugs which have a brutal effect on patients. Some professors, such as Mary Helen BarcellosHoff of the New York University Langone Medical Centre, are even of the opinion that fasting is a potential tool in preventing cancers as it makes the human body less hospitable to the disease. (Fasting cycles retard growth of tumours and sensitize a range of cancer cell types to chemotherapy, Science Transitional Medicine, Vol. 4, Issue 124, March 2012) Many studies over the years have also indicated that fasting improves blood lipid levels. One such study from 1997 showed that fasting lowered bad “LDL” cholesterol levels by 8% and increased good “HDL” cholesterol levels by 14.3%, thereby increasing cardiovascular health and protecting your heart by reducing the risk of heart disease or a heart attack. One reason that could explain such a change is our eating habits during Ramadan, which differ quite substantially to normal days.

During this holy month, people tend

to prefer healthier foods such as dates, nuts and home cooked meals. As a result, our saturated fat intake usually declines.

In addition to this, it has been suggested that the Tarawih prayers actually may even provide an adequate amount of physical activity which for some people may be more than they usually exercise. Another reason behind this is that researchers from the Intermountain Heart Institute noticed that after roughly 10-12 hours of fasting the body’s usual energy sources begin to deplete, thus it begins to forage for other energy sources and in doing so pulls the bad LDL cholesterol from the fat cells and uses it as a new source of energy. The researchers concluded that fasting has the potential to become a vital aid in helping those suffering with diabetes. (Intermountain Medical Centre, ‘Fasting reduces cholesterol levels in prediabetic people over an extended period of time’, Science Daily, 14 June 2014) Besides the health benefits that have been mentioned in the various studies above, there are many more general physical benefits that science has proven: 1. Within days of beginning your fasts, there are increased levels of endorphins in your blood resulting in a higher level of alertness and better mental wellbeing.

2. During this month of fasting, toxins stored in your body’s fat are dissolved and removed, resulting in a natural process of detoxification.

3. The use of fat as a source of energy during fasting results in weight loss.

4. Fasting has shown to improve brain function so make good use of this time. You could memorise some of the Quran, read the books of the Promised Messiahas and even learn the Qaseedah.

5. Fasting can even help clear the skin and prevent acne. As a result of reduced digestion, the body can focus its regenerative energies on other systems.

For these benefits to manifest, its vital Muslims eat a well balanced and healthy diet throughout Ramadan. If we plough through fried and high sugar foods, we defeat the purpose.

Let it be clear that Muslims do not fast solely for these medical benefits which are of a secondary nature. They are just something we gain while trying to attain the true goal of Ramadan – fasting for the sake of Allah, establishing a greater relationship with Him, and increasing in our taqwa. These are just some of the abundant blessings we attain along the way whilst striving for Allah’s cause.

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Friday 24 April 2020 | AL HAKAM

Special message by Hazrat Amirul Momineen, Khalifatul Masih V On 27 March 2020, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih Vaa, the Worldwide Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, delivered a special message from his office in Tilford, Surrey in place of the weekly Friday Sermon due to government restrictions amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The special message was broadcast live worldwide through the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community’s satellite television channel, MTA International. The message was also live-streamed. We present below the official full English translation of this address.

After reciting the Tashahud, Ta‘awuz and Bismillah, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa stated: Due to current pandemic, many governments around the world, including the British government have imposed certain restrictions. Among them is that the congregational prayer cannot be offered in the mosque, or even if the prayers are allowed to be offered, no more than a few people can congregate for it, who must be close family.

The exact law however is not yet clear.

People are offering various interpretations.

As I said, some say that it can only take place with close relatives, while others say that friends and those living together can all participate.

In any case, in light of the current situation, until there is no further clarity on the matter, the Friday Prayers cannot take place. Furthermore, certain matters with regards to offering the Friday Prayer require further elaboration. Hence, after seeking consultation, I have decided that instead of the Friday Sermon, I will address the community from my office in the form of a message and the formal Friday prayers will not be offered.

Listening to the Sermon of the Khalifa of the time on Fridays through MTA is something that people have become accustomed to. If, today, I did not address the Community, it is possible that some people could have become disheartened, or at times, people begin to speculate and make assumptions. Thus, I deemed it appropriate that I ought to address the Community in one way or another and thus, I decided to address you in the form of a message from my office.

Nevertheless, as I have mentioned, we will not be offering the Friday prayers today, however, the members will be informed of the provisions that will be made in future, God willing. Moreover, we cannot miss the Friday Prayers for a prolonged period of time. As I have mentioned

that for me to remain in contact with the Jamaat (Ahmadiyya Muslim Community) is important and even more so in light of the current circumstances. Therefore, after consulting with those well versed in law and other relevant individuals, God willing, we will find an alternative solution for this.

I would also like to say to the members of the Jamaat that the government has imposed restrictions on attending the mosque in light of the current outbreak.

The UK government has not completely prohibited the people from attending the mosque, however they have stated that people can come individually or a few members of a family can come to pray. Even then they ought to maintain a reasonable distance between them as prescribed by the government that there should not be any close contact.

In any case, the formal congregational prayers cannot be offered in the mosque.

Hence, in these circumstances, members of the Jamaat should offer prayers in

congregation and also the Friday prayers in their homes with their families. They can read an extract from Malfuzat [sayings and discourses of the Promised Messiahas], the books of the Jamaat, other writings of the Promised Messiahas, Al Fazl, Al Hakam or from any other periodicals of the Jamaat and deliver the Friday sermon.

Any adolescent or adult male of the house can lead the Friday prayers as well as the congregational prayers. Nonetheless, the Friday prayers cannot be missed for a prolonged period of time.

When people start preparing to lead the Friday Sermon at home, they will have to research, which will lead to their knowledge increasing. Thus, remaining at home through the government restrictions will become a means of spiritual and educational benefit.

In fact, Al Hakam have started to get feedback from people as to how they spend their time under these restrictions and most responded that they are gaining further

knowledge through reading the Holy Quran, hadith, books of the Promised Messiahas, as well as literature of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.

Even on secular sites, other people in the world are saying that the current situation has been an opportunity to improve and revive their domestic lives and has led to self-improvement. We should similarly strive to adorn our homely lives, to better ourselves and to give good training and upbringing to our children.

There are excellent programmes on MTA, which you should make an effort to set aside time to watch together.

As I have previously mentioned, you must also fully abide by the policies and guidelines issued by the government given in the best interests of the public and for everyone’s health and safety.

Most of all, as I said in my previous sermons, pay heed greatly towards prayers.

Through prayers, we can absorb the blessings and grace of Allah the Almighty and we can maintain a healthy spiritual and physical state.

The Promised Messiahas has repeatedly admonished us towards this. Further, he has counselled us with reference to similar circumstances, that most importantly we should seek forgiveness from Allah for our sins, purify our hearts and engage in pious deeds. Allah the Almighty has granted us prayer as an immense tool and thus we should give heed towards this in order to derive benefit from our prayers in a manner that through them, we can enter into the refuge of Allah the Almighty.

As far as not offering the Friday Prayer is concerned, according to some Ahadith there are certain situations in which offering the congregational prayer and the Friday prayer becomes exempt. For example, there is a narration recorded in Sahih Bukhari by Hazrat Ibn Abbasra in which he said to his

Friday 24 April 2020 | AL HAKAM

20 muazzin [the one calls the Azan – call to prayer] on a day it was raining, “When you have recited, ٰ َ ّ ّ ٰ َّ َ ُ ْ �ُ ��‫أﺷ َﻬﺪ ا ْن �� اِ� َ� اِ�� ا‬ ‘Ashhadu alla ilaaha illallahu’ [I bear witness that there is no god but Allah] and ّٰ ُ َ ً َ ُ َ َ ُ ْ �ِ ��‫أﺷ َﻬﺪ ا ّن ��َ ّﻤﺪا ّر ُﺳ ْﻮل ا‬ ‘Ashhadu anna MuhammadarRasulullah’ [I bear witness that Muhammadsa is His Messenger] do not recite, ٰ َّ َ َ َّ َ ‫�� �ﻠﻰ‬ ‫اﻟﺼ�� ِة‬ ‘Hayya alassalah’ [Come to prayer].

Instead, recite: ُ ْ ُّ َ ‫�� ﺑُﻴﻮﺗِﻜ ْﻢ‬ ِ ‫ﺻ��ا‬ ‘Sallu fi buyutikum’ [offer the prayer in your homes].”

This seemed somewhat new to the people and they expressed their astonishment.

Upon this, Hazrat Ibn Abbasra stated, “This practice was also carried out by the Holy Prophetsa, who was far better than me.”

Hazrat Ibn Abbasra further stated that indeed the Friday prayer was obligatory, however, he did not wish for people to be troubled by walking through mud and slippery ground.

(Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab al-Jumuah, Hadith 901) This narration has also been recorded in Sahih Muslim with a slight variation of words: On a day when it was raining, Hazrat Ibn Abbasra said to his muazzin [the one calls the Azan]: “When you have recited: ّ ٰ َّ ٰ َّ َ ُ ْ �ُ ��‫أﺷ َﻬﺪ ا ْن �� اِ� َ� اِ�� ا‬ ‘Ashhadu alla ilaaha illallahu’ [I bear witness that there is no god but Allah] and

ّٰ ُ َ ً َ ُ َ َ ُ ْ �ِ ��‫أﺷ َﻬﺪ ا ّن ��َ ّﻤﺪا ّر ُﺳ ْﻮل ا‬ ‘Ashhadu anna MuhammadarRasulullah’ [I bear witness that Muhammadsa is His Messenger], do not recite: ٰ َّ َ َ َّ َ ‫�� �ﻠﻰ‬ ‫اﻟﺼ�� ِة‬ ‘Hayya alassalah’ [Come to prayer].

Instead, recite: ُ ْ ُّ َ ‫�� ﺑُﻴﻮﺗِﻜ ْﻢ‬ ِ ‫ﺻ��ا‬ ‘Sallu fi buyutikum’ [offer the prayer in your homes].”

The narrator then stated that this instruction seemed somewhat new to the people. Upon this, Hazrat Ibn Abbasra stated, “Do you express your astonishment at this practice, whereas this was carried out by the one who is far better than me [i.e. referring to the Holy Prophetsa].” Hazrat Ibn Abbasra further stated that indeed, the Friday prayer was obligatory, however he did not wish for people to be troubled by walking through mud and slippery ground. (Sahih Muslim, Kitab as-Salat, Hadith 699) Allama Imam Nawawi writes in the commentary of this hadith that in certain extenuating circumstances, such as rain and so on, the permission to make the Friday prayer exempt has been established according to the aforementioned hadith. He further writes that this was his view as well as the belief of other jurists, however Imam Malikrh held an opinion contrary to this – God Almighty knows best the truth of the matter. (Al-Minhaj, Sharah Sahih Muslim, Vol. 5, Kitab al-Salat, Hadith 699) Similarly, jurists have also included those illnesses in which it is difficult to congregate

in the mosque as part of the reasons which exempt congregational and Friday prayers.

They have based this argument on the commandment of Allah the Almighty in which he states that God Almighty does not desire hardship upon believers in matters concerning faith.

It was in light of this very teaching that during the days of his illness, the Holy Prophetsa would not go to the mosque and instructed Hazrat Abu Bakrra to lead the prayers. This hadith can be found in Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim. (Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab al-Azan, Hadith No. 680681; Sahih Muslim, Kitab al-Salat, Hadith 419) Likewise, this exemption also applies to an individual who is fearful for their life due to an outbreak of disease. This is based upon a tradition narrated by Hazrat Ibn Abbasra in which the Holy Prophetsa expounded on the exemptions owing to fear and illness.

This hadith has been recorded in Sunan Abi Daud. (Sunan Abi Daud, Kitab al-Salat, Hadith 551) Thus, the recent outbreak is highly contagious and the government has also issued guidelines and imposed certain restrictions, which are important to follow in accordance to the law. Therefore, owing to these guidelines, it is not possible to congregate in one place and offer prayers or the Friday prayers. However, as I mentioned earlier, everyone should make a habit to offer their prayers in congregation in their homes. This will instil the importance of prayer within children and they will realise

that, despite not being able to go to the mosque owing to the present situation, they must fulfil the obligation of congregational prayers in their homes.

Thus, the members ought to pay particular attention towards this. Even in the time of the Promised Messiahas, during certain journeys, there were instances that owing to the conditions, he did not offer the Friday prayer. (Al Fazl, 24 January 1942, p.

1, Vol. 20) Nevertheless, there are many such narrations in which it states that it is not safe for people to congregate or meet one another during the outbreak of a disease or a pandemic. Therefore, one should keep a distance from one another. As mentioned earlier, we are not abandoning the Friday prayer for a prolonged period, but instead, we are looking for alternative possible arrangements for the Friday prayer to be offered in the homes and I will also look for an arrangement for myself.

It is also imperative to pray for Allah the Almighty to grant His blessings and as I mentioned before, may Allah the Almighty swiftly rid the world of this pandemic. May Allah enable mankind to fulfil the rights of one another and to recognise God Almighty.

May Allah enable all of us to fulfil this.

Assalamo Alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu.

[May peace and blessings of Allah the Almighty be upon you all.]

(Original Urdu published in Al Fazl International London, 17 April 2020, pp. 5-6.

Translated by The Review of Religions)

Editor: Qaasid Muin Ahmad | Design & Layout: Jalees Ahmad | Sub-Editorial: Ataul Fatir Tahir | News: Ata-ul-Haye Nasir | © Al Hakam 2020