NOVEMBER 2013
WWW.REVIEWOFRELIGIONS.ORG
VOL. 108 - ISSUE ELEVEN
SYRIA IN CRISIS
Khalifah of Promised Messiah Sends Letter to Russian President
30
Syria - A Religious Heritage
Medical Consequences of Nuclear War
34
46
The World in Need of a Reformer
74
and imam mahdi
The Holy Prophet Muhammadsa prophesied that the Promised Messiahas would be raised near a white minaret, east of Damascus. This prophecy was fulfilled with the advent of the Promised Messiahas from Qadian, India, a city directly east of Damascus.
© makhzan-e-tasaweer
The Promised Messiahas
founder of the review of religions
Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas, the Promised Messiah and Mahdi was born to a noble family in Qadian, India. From an early age he had a keen interest in religion and developed a love for the Holy Prophet Muhammadsa. He was also known for his honesty, friendliness and resolve. Over time his knowledge and understanding of religion and its application to society deepened. Being a Muslim it was his firm belief that all religions were true at their source but with the passage of time had drifted away from their original teachings; he upheld the dignity of religion and demonstrated its relevance to everyone.
Hazrat Ahmadas had established himself as a respected writer and had written over 80 books. His writings have been translated into more than 60 languages and continue to inspire readers to this day. One of his greatest scholarly works was The Philosophy of the Teachings of Islam, prepared as a paper and read out at the Conference of Great Religions in 1896.
His earnest defence of religion was ultimately blessed when he started to receive direct revelation from Allah – a blessing that he continued for the rest of his life.
He also wrote a fascinating treatise in 1899 entitled Jesus in India, a book that uncovered remarkable evidence of Jesus’sas journey to India. In 1902 the Promised Messiahas initiated The Review of Religions which has covered a vast array of topics on religion, philosophy and contemporary issues of the day. It is the longest running English magazine in defence of Islam and the values it teaches.
His mission was to revitalise the truth that all religions held within them and to revive the teachings of Islam. It was through this that he would bring mankind together and establish everlasting peace.
From 1889 until the time of his demise in 1908 tens of thousands of people accepted him. This blessing has continued and will continue through his Khulafa (successors).
In 1889, under Divine Guidance, Hazrat Ahmadas founded the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community – a community that has since grown in its stature and strength and has remained active in conveying the message of Islam to the ends of the earth.
Currently under the fifth successor, we are seeing that the tide of acceptance is worldwide and that the message of Prophet Ahmadas has really reached the ends of the earth.
WORLD FAITHS
Leadership by Example and Honest Government O ye who believe! Be steadfast in the cause of Allah, bearing witness in equity; and let not a people’s enmity incite you to act otherwise than with justice. Be always just, that is nearer to righteousness. And fear Allah. Surely, Allah is Aware of what you do. ISLAM, THE HOLY QUR’AN, CH.5:V.9.
Do not ask for the position of
authority, for if you are granted this position as a result of your asking for it, you will be left to discharge it yourself; but if you are given it without asking you will be helped [by God].
When Jesusas was produced before Pilate and it was demanded that he should be sentenced to death, Pilate declared that he had not found any sin in Jesusas which should make him deserving of death. In the same way, Captain Douglas, the District Magistrate, in answer to one of my questions told me that he did not charge me with any offence. It appears that Captain Douglas was more steadfast and had greater regard for justice than Pilate, inasmuch as in the end Pilate exhibited cowardice and became afraid of the vicious divines of the Jews, but Captain Douglas showed no such fear. ISLAM, THE PROMISED
ISLAM, THE HOLY PROPHET
MESSIAH AS, THE ESSENCE OF
MUHAMMAD , HADITH OF
ISLAM, VOL. IV, P.201-202.
SA
MUSLIM.
Concerned alone with the upholding of the world, You should act. Whatever the best man does, others do that also. The world follows the standard he sets for himself.
HINDUISM, BHAGAVAD GITA,
3:20-21.
When cattle are crossing, if the old bull swerves, they all go swerving, following his lead. So among men, if he who’s reckoned best Lives not aright, much more do other folk. If the ruler be unrighteous, the whole land dwells in woe. When the cattle are crossing, if the bull goes straight, they all go straight because his course his straight. So among men, if he who’s reckoned best Lives righteously, the others do too. The whole land dwells in happiness if the ruler lives aright.
BUDDHISM, ANGUTTARA NIKAYA, II:75.
God of Israel has spoken, the Rock of Israel has said to me: When one rules justly over men, ruling in the fear of God, He dawns on them like the morning light, like the sun shining forth upon a cloudless morning, like rain that makes grass to sprout from the earth.
JUDAISM & CHRISTIANITY, 2 SAMUEL, 23:3-4.
CONTENTS
10
58
34
NOVEMBER 2013
10 Syria in Crisis
Could the precarious situation in Syria lead to a global conflict?
HAZRAT MIRZA MASROOR AHMADABA, HEAD OF THE WORLDWIDE AHMADIYYA MUSLIM COMMUNITY, KHALIFATUL MASIH V
30 Head of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Sends Letter to President of Russia 32 Head of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Sends Letter to Ed Davey MP 34 Syria – A Religious Heritage
Syria’s fascinating history runs deep into historic civilisations and religions. FAZAL AHMAD, UK
VOL.108 ISSUE ELEVEN
58 Special Reception in Melbourne
Why the Arab Spring, the financial meltdown and the Syrian crisis are leading the world on a path of destruction.
HAZRAT MIRZA MASROOR AHMADABA, HEAD OF THE WORLDWIDE AHMADIYYA MUSLIM COMMUNITY, KHALIFATUL MASIH V
68 Guest Reflections on Historic Event in Melbourne 74 Status of the Promised Messiah’sas Advent
With the situation in the world crying out for a Reformer, what qualities would the Promised Messiahas possess? HAZRAT MIRZA GHULAM AHMADAS, THE PROMISED MESSIAH AND IMAM MAHDI
46 Medical Consequences of a Nuclear War – A Pointless Tragedy for Humanity What would potentially happen should a nuclear war break out?
PROFESSOR AMTUL RAZZAQ CARMICHAEL, UK
80 A Journey of Spiritual Guidance – Khalifah of the Promised Messiahas Visits Germany ADAPTED FROM AN URDU ARTICLE BY ABDUL MAJID TAHIR
The world is passing through turbulent times. The global economic crisis continues to manifest new and grave dangers at every juncture. The similarities of the current circumstances to the build-up of the Second World War are stark. Events appear to be moving us rapidly towards a Third World War. The consequences of a nuclear war are beyond our imagination. In this book, the historic addresses of Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmadaba, Fifth Khalifah of the Promised Messiah and Supreme Head of the worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, to prominent dignitaries at Capitol Hill, the House of Commons, the European Parliament and other notable locations around the world have been collated. The book also includes the momentous letters sent by His Holiness to the numerous world leaders. Over and over again, His Holiness has reminded all that the only means of averting a global catastrophe is for nations to establish justice as an absolute requirement of their dealings with others. Even if mutual enmity exists, impartiality must be observed at all times, because history has taught us that this alone is the way to eliminate all traces of hatreds and to build everlasting peace.
Read online at: www.alislam.org Purchase the book here: http://store.alislam.org/
MANAGEMEN T BOARD
NOTE ABOUT REFERENCES
Chairman: Munir-Ud-Din Shams Secretary: Syed Amer Safir Board Members: Mubarak Ahmad Zaffar, Ataul Mujeeb
Verse references to the Holy Qur’an count ‘Bismillah…’ (In the Name of Allah…) as the first verse of each Chapter. In some non-standard texts, this is not counted. Should the reader refer to such texts, the verse quoted in The Review of Religions will be found a verse earlier, i.e. at one verse less than the number quoted in this journal. For the ease of non-Muslim readers, ‘sa’ or ‘(saw)’ after the words, ‘Holy Prophet’, or the name ‘Muhammad’, are used normally in small letters. They stand for ‘Sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam’ meaning ‘peace and blessings of Allah be upon him’. Likewise, the letters ‘as’ or ‘(as)’ after the name of all other prophets is an abbreviation meaning ‘peace be upon him’ derived from ‘Alaihis salatu wassalam’ which are words that a Muslim utters out of respect whenever he or she comes across that name. The abbreviation ‘ra’ or ‘(ra)’ stands for ‘Raziallahu Ta’ala anhu and is used for Companions of a Prophet, meaning Allah be pleased with him or her (when followed by the relevant Arabic pronoun). Finally, ‘rh’ or ‘(rh)’ for Rahemahullahu Ta’ala means the Mercy of Allah the Exalted be upon him. In keeping with current universal practice, local transliterations of names of places are preferred to their anglicised versions, e.g. Makkah instead of Mecca, etc.
Rashed, Naseer Qamar, Abdul Baqi Arshad, Abid Waheed Ahmad Khan, Aziz Ahmad Bilal CH I EF EDI TOR & MANAGER Syed Amer Safir EDITORIAL BOARD Amtul Razzaq Carmichael, Bockarie Tommy Kallon, Fazal Ahmad, Hassan Wahab, Hibba Turrauf, Jonathan Butterworth, Mansoor Saqi, Munazza Khan, Murtaza Ahmad, Nakasha Ahmad, Navida Syed, Sarah Waseem, Tariq H. Malik WEB DEVELOPER & IT Hibba Turrauf A S S O C I AT E E D I T O R S Nakasha Ahmad, Tariq H. Malik (Sub-Editor: Mariam Rahman) SUB-EDITORS Head: Hibba Turrauf Sub-Editors: Ayesha Malik, Nusrat Haq, Maryam Malik, Amina Abbasi HOUSE ST YLE GUIDE Head: Maleeha Ahmad Sub-Editors: Sadia Shah, Humaira Omer PROOFREADERS Head: Munawara Ghauri. Deputy: Farhana Dar. Proofreaders: Abdul Ghany Jahangeer Khan, Hina Rahman, Amina Abbasi S TA F F W R I T E R S & R E S E A R C H E R S Arif Khan, Tazeen Ahmad DISTRIBUTION/SUBSCRIPTION Head: Mohammad Hanif Team: Sami Ullah ART EDITOR S. Taalay Ahmad PRINT EDITION DESIGNER Ahsan Khan I N D E X I N G / TA G G I N G T E A M Head: S. Taalay Ahmad. Deputy: Amtus Shakoor Tayyaba Ahmed. Team: Humaira Omer, Humda Sohail, Mirza Krishan Ahmad, Ruhana Hamood, Mubahil Shakir, Adila Bari, Hassan Raza Ahmad TWITTER Hibba Turrauf, Mala Khan, Nudrat Ahmad
LETTERS Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in the Far East
His Holiness is currently touring the Far Eastern countries. A few weeks ago, I was fortunate enough to behold the blessed countenance of His Holiness upon his second visit to Singapore. Ahmadis flocked from neighboring countries just to meet our spiritual leader. Since his visit, our spirits seem revitalised. Most importantly, it has given us an opportunity to reflect on ourselves. We look forward to reading about this momentous tour of His Holiness in the forthcoming editions— this is one of my favourite parts of The Review of Religions. As always, The Review of Religions maintains a high standard in the articles it publishes. -AYYAZ AHMAD, SINGAPORE
Bring Wars to an End
The politicians of the world need to wake up and take charge. If they sleep today, the world might die of war and hunger tomorrow. The coming generations would curse them for not stopping war when they could. How can they achieve this? They should not become a spoon that feeds the enemies of peace. We live in a world where personal gains are 8 THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS | NOVEMBER 2013
more important than peace. We can’t expect others to live in peace unless we ourselves take steps to avoid conflict. What good did war do to Vietnam, Bosnia, Kuwait, Iraq and Afghanistan? Their people still suffer the atrocities and have not been able to live peacefully. To this day, the generations have suffered immensely. If a war occurs today, God forbid, the suffering would not be country bound. It would be world over. That’s why the survival of future children lies in stopping wars—all wars—immediately. -MARYUM SAMAR, UK
Resurrection: Fact or Fiction?
In response to the very scholarly and thought provoking edition “Resurrection: Facts or Fiction?” I would like to congratulate your team on providing the world a well-collated resource for inviting people to the truth. Along with other resources one can find on the Internet, this edition certainly made waves with some of my Non-Muslim friends. I have always wondered why the world has not accepted the evidence in the last century despite all the advancements in the sciences as well progress in the dissemination of information to the masses. The truth
is that as His Holiness, Mirza Masroor Ahmadaba, Khalifatul Masih V, has stated in recent sermons pertaining to Dawah or preaching the message, that our job is only to convey the message - Allah the Almighty changes hearts. We have seen Hollywood attempt to distract the world with the highly fictitious The Da Vinci Code whereas Jesus In India - The Movie received very little attention. In my humble opinion, the world does not want to know the truth, and the powers that be do not want the world to know also. We can only humbly continue with our meagre efforts little by little with love and affection, and pray that Allah the Almighty opens hearts in our lifetime. A colleague of mine did read the edition under discussion and was full of praise with the attempt by your team to present an objective evidence-based theory, which although was contradictory to his fundamental thinking, was written with the love and respect needed to convince the world of the need and benefit of change in our world. Keep up the good work!
Contribute with your viewpoint in ‘Letters’ Email editor@ReviewOfReligions.org
-DR. IMRAN KHAN, STOCKPORT, UK
NOVEMBER 2013
|
THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS
9
Syria in Crisis Aleppo, the largest city in Syria and home to some of the most historic world sites. A small mosque near the citadel in Aleppo’s old city. The front lines around the citadel in Aleppo are viciously contested and everywhere are the scars of close quarter fighting
Š Richard Harvey | dreamstime.com
A
fter a two year conflict in which an estimated 100,000 had been killed and millions more made refugees, the chemical weapon sarin was deployed in districts around Damascus, the capital of Syria on August 21, 2013. Images of victims, including children, were distributed by a frenzied global media, who were quick to remind US President, Barack Obama, of his words from exactly one year and one day earlier: “We have been very clear to the Assad regime - but also to other players on the ground - that a red line for us is we start seeing a whole bunch of chemical weapons moving around or being utilised. That would change my calculus; that would change my equation.” A propaganda war commenced. Russian officials claimed the weapons had been used by the anti-Assad rebels, pointing to their links with terrorist organisations such as Al Qaeda. Meanwhile, Western powers blamed President Assad for the attack and began to prepare for military strikes against his regime. Despite the deafening clamour of the politician’s confrontational rhetoric and the media’s hysteria, one leader can always be relied upon to deliver a calming dose of truth.
NOVEMBER 2013
|
THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS
11
the syrian crisis
Each week on Friday, Muslims gather together for the Friday Prayer . The Friday Prayer is an occasion for the assembly of the Muslims of a whole city or a town. It gives them an opportunity to meet together to discuss and solve their individual as well as community problems. Getting together once a week develops unity, cooperation and cohesiveness among Muslims. Hazat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, the Khalifah of the Promised Messiah and worldwide Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, delivers the Friday Sermon each Friday. Muslim Television International (MTA) broadcasts the Friday Sermon all across the world Live with up to 5 simultaneous translations, and also provides an online stream. Through MTA therefore, the Khalifah is able to address not just the congregation, but also the entire world. The Friday Sermon, in this way, becomes a demonstration of Islamic equality. It gives the Khalifah a chance to advise all Muslims at the same time on urgent matters that face them. On 13 September 2013, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad delivered a historic Friday Sermon from the Baitul Futuh Mosuqe in London, the largest Mosque in Western Europe. His Holiness warned that the conflict in Syria could escalate into a catastrophic global conflict, and outlined to the world solutions to end the Syrian crisis, once and for all. 12 THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS | NOVEMBER 2013
Translated from the Urdu by Amer Safir
After reciting Tashahhud, Ta’awwuz and Surah al-Faatihah, His Holinessaba said: “The current world situation is rapidly spiralling towards destruction, particularly due to the circumstances in Syria. In fact, there is a potential of great devastation spreading not only in Syria, but in the entire Arab world, due to the state of affairs. If the foreign powers join, then there will also be colossal damage to a number of Asian countries and not only exclusively to Syria. The point that is not being understood by the Arab governments or by the other major powers is that the war will not remain limited to Syria alone, but it could, in fact, be the precursor to a world war. Ahmadis
have accepted the true devotee of the Holy Prophet Muhammadsa, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas, founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, who being a devotee of his master the Holy Prophet Muhammadsa, came to the world to establish a connection between man and God and to form peace and brotherhood. Therefore Ahmadis must give profuse attention towards prayers in order to save the world from destruction. Apart from prayers, we have no other means of making efforts to save the world from devastation. Through our very small apparent efforts, we warn the world and the major powers about these most perilous consequences. I also warn the politicians and the governments of the world to the greatest extent possible, and I continue to do so. Along with me, the members of the
Ahmadiyya Community have spread this message on a very large scale in various countries of the world. [Albeit] the leaders and politicians strongly express that our message is precisely the need of the hour, and comment that they most certainly do support us; however, when the time comes to practically demonstrating this, the priorities and preferences of the major powers change. These are only our apparent efforts; our real weapon is the weapon of prayers in order to carry out our every endeavour and to accumulate the blessings and Grace of Allah. In the prevalent circumstances, all Ahmadis should pay special heed towards prayers, for humanity in general and for the Ummat-e-Muslimah [Muslim people] in particular, to be saved from destruction. We must especially make prayers for this purpose. NOVEMBER 2013
|
THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS
13
the syrian crisis
Christian monastery Mar Musa in Syria. Syria has a rich religious heritage. © Zdenek Chaloupka | shutterstock.com
In 1925, approximately 88 years ago, Hazrat Musleh Ma‘ud [Mirza BashirUd-Din Mahmood Ahmad ra , the Second Khalifah of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community], delivered a Friday Sermon relating to the situation in Syria at the time. [In his Friday Sermon] he stated that the history of Damascus is extremely old. Even before the advent of Islam, Damascus was the centre of many religions and held considerable 14 THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS | NOVEMBER 2013
significance. In Islam for a long period of time, Damascus remained the centre of Khilafat. Many religious relics were to be found in the city. Hazrat Musleh Ma‘ud explained the reason for delivering this Friday Sermon regarding Damascus and Syria. In the circumstances of the time, a tribe named the Druze started clamouring for freedom and the other Muslims all joined with them. Even though the Druze lived in the mountainous regions, the Muslims living in the cities had also united with them. Hazrat Musleh Ma‘udra also analysed that although from an administrative point of view the French government was in power at that time, in terms of certain decisions the Maulawi [religious cleric] or the Mufti were also rulers. In this sense there were two or three different types of rulers. Even so, the government was run politically by the French. In terms of the Mufti or the rulers, if anyone required permission to publish literature or a religious book which the Mufti was opposed to, then the government was completely powerless. Hazrat Musleh Ma‘udra cited an example of how the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community had obtained permission from the governor to publish some literature. After its publication, the Mufti banned it. When a complaint was lodged with the governor, he replied
that he had no authority in this matter According to a conservative as the power forthis lay in the hands of estimate, over 100,000 people the Mufti.
have been killed. Others say Thus, the French government held the even more have perished. that administrative power. If anyone raised People in their millions have he would a voice against itpolitically, be firmly suppressed. When voices become displaced and houses were raised for freedom at the time and as well as marketplaces the local people rebelled, the French have turned into ruins.
government conducted a huge aerial bombardment on Damascus, which is said to have continued for 57 or 58 hours. away into ruins. That destruction was The history of the city and its histori- caused by a foreign power; as I stated, cal buildings were left in complete ruins it was carried out by France. 1 There are and thousands of people were killed. some revelations that are repeatedly ful Why was this city devastated? Why filled. That destruction was brought about were those people killed? It was because at the hands of a foreign power and devthey sought independence from a foreign astated the city through a bombardment government. There is a revelation of the which lasted for 57 or 58 hours, in which as Promised Messiah , some say that 2000 people were killed,
البےئدقشم
[Calamity of Damascus].
whilst others say that 20,000 people were killed. It is nevertheless said that according to conservative estimates, 7000-8000 were killed at the time.
Hazrat Musleh Ma‘ud ra stated that the situation in Damascus at the time We have to say with regret however, that was con whilst when the aerial bombardment the destruction and loss in that ducted, in fact fulfilled this prophecy of case was wrought by a foreign power, the Promised Messiahas, for such a large there is also devastation that has come devastation had never befallen Damascus about today, caused by our own people. before. All historical buildings and the For the last two to two and half years it religious history were completely wiped is spreading destruction and has engulfed َّ ال الشام ُ َك أبْ َد َ يَ ْدعُو َن لNOVEMBER 2013 | THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS 15 الع َرب ُ ََوعب َ اد اهلل م َن
© Nish Nalbandian / Redux / eyevine
Neighourhood in Syria destroyed by airstrikes.
all of Damascus and Syria. According to a conservative estimate, over 100,000 people have been killed. Others say that even more have perished. People in their millions have become displaced and houses as well as marketplaces have turned into ruins. There have been attacks on the presidential palace, airports and various other buildings. In short, no one is safe. The government’s armed forces are killing the citizens of the country and the citizens are killing government officials. Thus, the government forces as well as others are all involved. The Alawites are killing the Sunnis and the Sunnis are killing the Alawites. And all of them claim to profess the same Kalimah [Muslim creed]. The opposition to the government, who are acting in the name of freedom (a large 16 THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS | NOVEMBER 2013
proportion of whom are Sunnis), have now been joined by terrorist groups and factions, on the pretext of helping and supporting them. The extent of damage that is to be inflicted upon the country by these terrorists will be known afterwards. Nonetheless, the matter of regret is that the devastation which has struck this time is continuously spiralling into something extremely treacherous. These people are oblivious to the fact that the public, in the name of freedom, and the government, in the name of establishing peace, are committing atrocities upon one another. By entering into mutual conflict they are weakening to such a degree that now the major powers are going to make utmost efforts to acquire their personal interests on the pretext of bringing about freedom, eradicating cruelty and establishing peace. However, they are unaware that such endeavours can engulf the entire world in a war.
Some major governments and similarly those in the region side with and assist the Syrian government. Other governments side with the opposition to the Syrian government; in fact, a larger number have sided with the opposition. This situation has created a most precarious circumstance. The sadness, however, weighs upon the Muslim countries, who claim to follow the teaching which Allah the Almighty had stated had reached its perfection (Islam); who claim to be associated with the people whom Allah the Almighty has declared are the Khair-eUmmah (best people). What aspect of goodness emanates from these Muslim countries today? There is no compassion or sympathy, nor are they acting upon any aspect of the teachings of the religion. Their dignity too has been stripped away, as they take assistance and help from non-Muslims, doing so to kill their own people. What are the Holy Qur’an’s
teachings in such circumstances? What does Allah the Almighty say regarding two parties who are in conflict?
“And if two parties of believers fight peace against each other, make between them; then if after that one of them transgresses against the other, fight the party that transgresses, until it returns to the NOVEMBER 2013
|
17
THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS
One of the countless bombed residential buildings in Aleppo, Syria. Three children collect firewood amongst the rubble. © Richard Harvey | dreamstime.com
command of Allah. Then if it returns, make peace between them with equity and act justly. Verily, Allah loves the just.”2 Allah the Almighty states to bring about peace with justice and equity. And the standard of justice has been set so high by Allah the Almighty, that elsewhere He states: “…and let not a people’s enmity incite you to act otherwise than with justice. If rather than worldly desires, you desire the love of Allah, then it is the duty of a Muslim that they should establish justice 18 THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS | NOVEMBER 2013
amongst each other, and they should also be just with non-Muslims.’’ Secondly, Allah has said:
“That is nearer to righteousness.”3 A Muslim has been repeatedly commanded exactly this, to “Search for righteousness, search for righteousness.” What is shameful is that a suggestion has been given to the major powers by the President of Israel [that it is an Arab conflict and therefore the neighbouring Arab countries should resolve it], which the Muslims themselves should have presented instead. Even if we accept that البےئدقشم the Muslim countries and their leaders had not thought of this recommendation,
when the Israeli President presented this proposal to the Western powers, the council of the Muslim countries should have accepted it. They should have announced that they themselves would deal with whatever disorder and corruption is occurring in their own region, especially in those countries that belong to the same religion.
It is nevertheless a weakness on the part of the Muslim countries and also the fact that they have forgotten their teachings which has encouraged the foreign powers and non-Muslims.
We believe in the same One God. We believe in the same Messenger and we all follow the teachings of the same Book, which we accept as our Guide. If differences have arisen between us; if fighting has broken out between two sects in any country or if conflict has erupted between the people and the government, whether justifiably or unjustifiably, then we will resolve the problem in the spirit of our perfect teachings. If one group transgresses, then in order to eliminate the wrongdoing, we can acquire the assistance of people outside or from nonMuslims, technical assistance or weapons if required. However the strategy, diplomacy and personnel will be our own in order to eradicate the disorder and strife. If this manner of thinking is adopted, no foreign power or non-Muslim would ever have the courage to even cast a mischievous gaze towards Muslim countries. What interest does a country thousands
of miles away have with another? It is only that either they want to seize its wealth and resources; or it is so that they can overawe opposing major world powers by subjugating poor and weak nations in an effort to establish their supremacy. It is nevertheless a weakness on the part of the Muslim countries and also the fact that they have forgotten their teachings which has encouraged the foreign powers and non-Muslims to such a degree, where one country has announced that even if the United Nations does not permit them to attack Syria, they would still do so, because it is their right. The reason argued for this right is extremely childish, which is that the United Nations cannot dictate their foreign policy. Now where has the question of foreign policy arisen here? When enmity for one’s enemy increases to such an extent that one becomes as if blindfolded, then seemingly NOVEMBER 2013
|
THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS
19
the syrian crisis
well-educated people start making ignorant statements. People greatly look up to them as deeply intellectual, although their statements are actually ignorant. You are sitting thousands of miles away and have no connection with this matter. If you should have a connection then it is with the United Nations for you are part of its charter. You have no charter with any individual country nor is any one country of your concern. There is no direct threat from the country where there is disorder and corruption. How then has the question of foreign policy arisen? I have not understood this in any case. This is merely stubbornness and obstinacy and a huge effort to establish one’s superiority. World peace will not be established in this manner. In order to establish peace, the requirements of justice must be fulfilled. For fulfilling the requirements of justice, the teachings of Islam are so beautiful that they are unrivalled. Islam says that the enmity of any people or nation should not incite you to act otherwise than with justice. In light of this, I have drawn the attention of the world leaders again and again that peace can only be established by following this method. Peace is established through the teaching of the Holy Qur’an in the verse that I presented. If the United Nations 20 THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS | NOVEMBER 2013
If the UN establishes peace upon this principle, then true peace will be established. © Songquan Deng | shutterstock
establishes peace upon this principle, then true peace will be established. All countries should make a united effort wherever they see cruelty and persecution; it should not be the case that any country has a veto power, or that any other country has a right to do whatever it pleases. It is not the question here of any one country’s foreign policy. Another country has stated that in order to establish peace in Syria, they would not send ground troops, however they
yesterday, the President of Russia gave a statement or perhaps it was in an article,4 and said that it is injustice to make this decision independently; if this is the manner in which decisions ought to be made, then why was the United Nations formed? He clearly gave the same message which we repeatedly impart to the world; that if the current course of action continues, then the United Nations would also suffer the same sorry fate as the League of Nations. Most certainly what he said is correct.
would carry out an airstrike. In other words this city and this country would be entirely razed to the ground and into ruins, as has been mentioned before. They will kill innocent people; they will kill children and they will kill women, in the same manner as what came to pass in Iraq and Libya. What has been achieved there that is now expected to be achieved here? Cities were left in ruins and peace has still not been established there. Allah Almighty has also produced someone from amongst them to rebut them. Only
With respect to the rights of the people, the government in Egypt was toppled. It was said that the rights of the people were not being fulfilled and the government was mercilessly killing its own people to save itself. Most certainly, it is true that the government behaved wrongly; however, the government that came into power in Egypt after toppling the previous government consisted of extremists and religious fanatics. The major powers once again became concerned regarding what would happen after. A journalist of a major newspaper in the United States asked me what possibility there was of peace in Egypt now. I replied to the journalist that perhaps you toppled the government in order to preserve your influence; however, your calculation was NOVEMBER 2013
|
THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS
21
Egyptian demonstration against the new government. © Mohamed Osama | dreamstime.com
wrong. The people who have now come into power are neither of your persuasion nor that of the Egyptian people. That is to say, the majority of the people in Egypt oppose them. Flames are still burning there, and you will see within a few months, there will once again be bloodshed, as was previously the case. However, the bloodshed ensued well before my estimate. The recent events that have taken place in Egypt are before us all. Whatever the cause of the unrest and anxiety in the Muslim countries— for there may be justifiable reasons for the public apprehension—when the major powers interfere in the wrong manner, it will breed disorder and corruption. At the 22 THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS | NOVEMBER 2013
outset of 2011 I delivered two or three sermons on this issue. I made it clear that as a result of the circumstances of the Muslims, whatever visible or concealed strategies or policies the major powers implement would ultimately harm the Muslims. These major powers will never allow their interests to be affected, and now this precisely can be observed. When the bloodshed occurred during the era of Hosni Mubarak, support was given to the public. Great efforts were made to bring about regime change and there was extensive propaganda. However when the government that came into power did not take care of interests; that is to say, that when the military government took over and they shed even more blood than before, no one expressed their compassion or sympathy for the public and the
people nor did anyone support them. Ultimately, this is a double standard and there is a discrepancy. The governments of Muslim countries should even now show self-respect, should rise beyond their personal interests and look at the interests of the Muslim people. This, however, can only occur when righteousness is cultivated in the hearts of those running the affairs of the government as well as in the hearts of the public. This will only happen when in conjunction with claiming to love the Holy Prophetsa, efforts are also made to emulate his example. This will only come to pass when the leaders as well as the people feel the pain of the Holy Prophet Muhammadsa and strive to act upon his teachings. I shall present some statements and guidance from the teachings of the Holy Prophetsa, which draw the attention of both leaders and the people towards their responsibilities. First, I shall present some Ahadith [sayings of the Holy Prophetsa] relating to leaders and rulers. There is a tradition narrated by Hazrat Abu Hurairahra, who states that: “The Holy Prophetsa said, ‘On that day when there will be no shade apart from
the shade of God, He will cover in His shade of mercy seven persons. The first will be the Imam-e-Aadil [the just leader].5’” Thus, this is the importance of justice. Hazrat Abu Sa‘eedra narrates that the Holy Prophetsa said: “On the Day of Judgment, Allah the Almighty will find most beloved and near to Him he who is a just leader. And the most disliked and far-removed from God will be a cruel leader.”6 A tradition mentions that the Holy Prophetsa said: “If he who has been made the guardian or responsible over people does not carry out his responsibility properly, or if in their well-being there is any shortcoming, then upon his death, Allah the Almighty will make Paradise forbidden for him.”7 In another tradition, Hazrat ‘Aishahra said, in response to being asked by someone, that: “I shall inform you of something which I have heard the Holy Prophetsa say in NOVEMBER 2013
|
THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS
23
the syrian crisis
this very house of his. He said: ‘O Allah [‘O Allah’ in fact is a type of prayer] from amongst my people whoever is made the responsible person and acts harshly to them, You also treat him in a harsh manner. And he who is made responsible amongst my people and is gentle and kind amongst my Ummah, You also be kind to him.’” 8 Thus, these are the aspects which the leaders should consider and reflect on. If they claim to be Muslims and desire to be encompassed by the shade of God’s mercy, and they most certainly would have this desire, then they would have to act in a just manner. If they want to become the beloved of God, then they would have to end all cruelty and oppression. They would have to rise above personal interests when making decisions. If they desire to enter Heaven, then they have to be good and take care of the well-being of people without discrimination. Otherwise, as the Holy Prophetsa has said, your place would be Hell. In this Hadith there is the prayer that: “O Allah, that leader who is harsh, may Allah be harsh on him and that leader who is gentle and kind, may Allah be kind and gentle upon him.” 24 THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS | NOVEMBER 2013
This actually leaves one who has faith trembling. May Allah the Almighty enable our Muslim leaders and rulers to come to possess wisdom and to consider and to reflect upon this. Now, what instructions did the Holy Prophetsa give the people and public? What attitude should they adopt in dealing with their leaders and rulers? Hazrat Zaid bin Wahabra said that: “I heard from ‘Abdullah bin Mas‘udra who said that the Holy Prophet Muhammadsa said that, ‘You will see after me that your rights will be usurped and others will be given preference. Further, you will see such things which you will dislike.’ After hearing this, the companion said, ‘O messenger of Allah, in such circumstances what do you instruct?’ The Prophetsa said, ‘At that time, fulfil the dues of the rulers.’” Despite observing all of this, the Prophetsa said fulfil the dues of your ruler and ask for your rights from Allah.9 Thus these strikes, this bloodshed and this seizing of rights are not permitted. If one beseeches Allah for his rights, then Allah the Almighty makes such decisions which the world cannot even
envisage. It is mentioned in a tradition (many Ahmadis of the Arab world ask me from time to time about this) that a companion asked the Holy Prophetsa that: “O messenger of Allah, if such leaders rule over us who ask of us to fulfil their rights but do not give us our rights, what do you instruct us to do in such circumstances?” The Holy Prophet sa refrained from answering. The companion repeated his question, and the Prophetsa refrained from answering once again. So when a second or third time the companion repeated his question, Ash‘ath bin Qaisra dragged him back, (in other words he tried to silence him) saying that, ‘The Holy Prophetsa did not like the question so fall back, do not ask it.’ It is then that the Holy Prophetsa said, ‘In such circumstances listen to your rulers and obey them. Whatever responsibility has been placed upon them they will be held to account for and you will be held to account for the responsibilities upon you.’” 10 In a Hadith Junaadah bin abi ‘Umayyah relates that “When we went to ‘Ubadah bin Saamit, who was ill, we said that may Allah the Almighty give you good health.
Relate to us such a Hadith which you heard from the Holy Prophetsa. May Allah the Almighty give you benefit as a result of it. He said, ‘The Holy Prophetsa once called us and we did the Bai‘at [Pledge of Allegiance]. He took the pledge that in every circumstance, whether in happiness or otherwise, in difficult circumstances or in comfort or even when rights are usurped, we will listen and obey. He also took the pledge that we would not quarrel with the person who is the ruler unless we openly saw him committing Kufar [disbelief ] for which you have reasons and arguments from Allah.’” 11 This refers to Kufar that is clearly supported by evidence; not in the manner in which these Muslim ‘ulema [religious scholars] today issue fatwas upon people. Hazrat Abu Zarrra relates in Hadith-eQudsi,12 that the Holy Prophetsa related this from Allah the Almighty: “O my servants, I have made injustice forbidden for me and I have forbidden it from being committed from amongst you. So thus do not be cruel and unjust to each other.”13 Thus, if you want to be saved from the punishment of Allah then go on NOVEMBER 2013
|
THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS
25
© Sean Pavone | dreamstime.com
fulfilling your obligations; continue praying. The matters of the leaders will be left with Allah the Almighty. I will clarify the statement “Kufar [disbelief ] of the rulers.” There must be clear violations against the laws of the Shari‘ah and only then disobey the rulers. Do not form your own explanations. For example, take what happens with Ahmadis in Pakistan. They are told to not recite the Kalimah [Muslim creed], to not offer the Muslim prayer and to not say the greetings of Salaam [Islamic greeting]. We are Muslims, thus we do say this. Those who stop us are trying to make us violate the commands and the laws of the Holy Qur’an, which we will not do. Apart from this however, we must abide by the law of the land. Thus, the summary of all teachings (in this regard) is in this latter Hadith: “Do 26 THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS | NOVEMBER 2013
not be cruel and unjust to one other.” The leader should not be cruel to the citizens, nor should the citizens carry out any such act which proves to be unjust or cruel in order to obtain their rights.
Now, it is the duty of both the leaders and the citizens to consider; are they acting upon this teaching? Are the leaders reaching the highest levels of justice? Do they, upon every decision, make God a witness and act upon His teaching? Similarly, except anyclear for violations of Allah the Almighty’s laws of the Shari‘ah, are they the citizens acting upon the remaining commands of the leader as:
[“We hear and we obey”]?14
Do they fall in submission and cry only before the Lord against the cruel leaders? If anyone is acting on this today, it is per haps Ahmadis alone and nobody else. If the others do not follow this, we will regress to the era which has been mentioned in the Qur’an as:
[Corruption has appeared on land and sea].15
البےئدقشم
In accordance with the prophecy of the sa Holy Qur’an and the Holy Prophet , this era was destined to befall the Muslims at the time of the Promised Messiah and as Imam Mahdi , when such circumstances would develop. Thus Muslim leaders, and to reflect In the citizens, need onthis. accordance with the promises of Allah, they need to search for the one sent by in order Allah and hold on to his mantle, to eliminate disorder and corruption. If the people of Syria in particular and the Muslims in general, reflected just on the following revelation of Promised َّ [ Cال الشام ُaَدl ْa أبmَك M e s s i a h a s , البےئدقشم َ iلtَنyعُوoيَ ْدf Damascus], then theyب would that الع َر َنrealise اد اهلل م َوع ُ َبhas َ prophecy the person who made that been sent by Allah. They should listen to what he says. Otherwise, there is no one else who can provide guidance in this era
except for the one God has sent. As a result of the countries, attitude of the religious extremists and organisations who set up their own authority or governments will alone benefit. Thereafter, دقشم البےئbloodshed and killings that the immense will occur amongst them is beyond imagination. May Allah the Almighty grant wisdom to the Muslim rulers and leaders, and also to the people, so that they may understand the meaning of this verse:
[Help one another in righteousness and piety]16 and that they become those who that increase in piety and virtuousness; they become those who spread love and that they become those who win over the hearts of the people.
َّ ال الشام َك ُbeأبْ َدsuccessful َ يَ ْدعُو َن ل Governance can never without winning over َربpeople’s الع اد ُ ََوعب َ اهلل م َنhearts and fulfilling the rights of people. Every Muslim leader needs to understand this spirit. Cast a glance over your history. There was a time when Christians, witnessing the justice and equity of the Muslim government, would pray that they may quickly be freed from the grip of the Christian governance, and rapidly come under the shade of the Muslim government instead. And now today, we NOVEMBER 2013
|
THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS
27
البےئدقشم the syrian crisis
see in this era, that a Muslim is falling being perpetrated by prey to injustices another Muslim. Instead of acting upon:
[showing mutual compassion],17 Muslims are killing one another. Muslims are fleeing to Christian countries in order to َّ ال الشام ُ َدacquire gain refuge and in order to َ و َن لjusُيَ ْدع َْك أب tice, so that they can live inنfreedom. الع َرب َوعبَادIf َ and َ اهلل م only the Muslim countries its ُleaders understood their responsibilities. May Allah make it so that in some way our message, which I have just conveyed, may reach the Western countries and major powers. As I said, I have already conveyed through various means that it is not unlikely that the measures against Syria will go beyond the country and will engulf the entire world. Thus, for an Ahmadi living in each country it is the requirement of love for his country, and especially every such Ahmadi who is living in these western countries, that he alerts the politicians of the impending destruction. It is a prayer to Allah the Almighty that He enables the world to come to accept the truthfulness of the Promised Messiahas; that the leaders and the citizens are enabled to fulfil their rights; 28 THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS | NOVEMBER 2013
that they should eliminate warfare and be saved from destruction. May the eyes of the leaders of Europe and the Western countries also be opened so that they can their responsibilities conduct with justice and equity and desist from cruelty and oppression. May theystrive to fulfil the rights of even the smallest of countries. country May their help of any not be for personal interests, but rather to actually البےئدقشم fulfil their rights. May Allah the Almighty enable Ahmadis to be safe from every evil in these cir cumstances. In Syria especially many Ahmadis are being affected. Allah the Almighty provided a revelation by way of warning: [ البےئدقشمCalamity of Damascus] . May
be ful that revelation of good tidingalso filled soon and be a means of being the delight of our eyes in which Allah the Almighty stated:
َّ ال الشام ُ َك أبْ َد َ يَ ْدعُو َن ل
الع َرب ُ ََوعب َ اد اهلل م َن
that the Abdaal (or the devotees) of Syria ال الشَّام ُ َك أبْ َد َ ْدعُو َن لfrom َي and the servants of Allah among the اد اهلل م َن العَ َرب َوعب ُ َ Arabs are supplicating on your behalf.18 May Allah the Almighty enable the
entire Arab world to rapidly come under the flag of the Messiah of Muhammadsa. This is so that the unrest in the Arab world, which the world has called the Arab Spring, should not be worldly, but rather be the source of spiritual blessings. May these people be those who pray and supplicate for the Promised Messiahas and that they bond with him and spread the true teachings of Islam, which is of love, affection and peace. May Allah the Almighty also enable us to understand our responsibilities and fulfil them. May we be those who absorb the Mercy of Allah the Almighty and may we always guide the world towards the fulfilment of rights. May we be those who establish justice and peace and may we spread this teaching. May Allah the Almighty also save the world from the horrific effects of war. Ameen.”
putin-plea-for-caution-from-russia-on-syria. html?_r=0.]
5. Sahihul-Bukhari, Kitabul-Hudud, Babu Fadli mann Tarakal-Fawahish, Hadith No. 6806.
6. Sunan At-Tirmidhi, Abwabul-Ahkaam, Babu Maa Jaa’a fil-Imaamil-‘Aadil, Hadith No. 1329. 7. Sahihul-Bukhari, Kitabul-Ahkaam, Babu
mannistur‘iya Ra‘iyyatan falam Yansah, Hadith No. 7151.
8. Sahihu Muslim, Kitabul-Imaarah, Babu
Fadeelatil-Ameeril-‘Aadil wa Uqubatil-Jaa’ir..., Hadith No. 4722.
9. Sahihul-Bukhari, Kitabul-Fitan, Babu
Qaulin-Nabiyyisa Satarauna Ba‘di Umuran Tunkirunaha, Hadith No. 7052.
10. Sahihu Muslim, Kitabul-Imaarah, Babu fi Taa‘atil-Umaraa’i wa ann Mana‘ul-Huqooq, Hadith No. 4782.
11. Sahihu Muslim, Kitabul-Imarah, Babu
Wujoobi Taa‘atil-Umaraa’i fi ghairi Ma‘siyah..., Hadith No. 4771.
12. Hadith that includes a statement from Allah that is not in the Holy Qur’an itself.
13. Sahihu Muslim, Kitabul-Birri Was-Sillati
endnotes
Wal-Adabi, Babu Tahreemiz-Zulm, Hadith No.
1. Quoted from Khutbat-e-Mahmood, Vol. 9,
6572.
1925, Published by Fazl-e-‘Umar Foundation,
15. Holy Qur’an, Ar-Rum Ch.30:V.42.
2. Holy Qur’an, Al Hujurat Ch.49:V.10.
17. Holy Qur’an, Al-Fath Ch.48:30.
4. http://www.nytimes.
Rabwah, Pakistan.
pp. 324-334, Friday Sermon of 13 November
14. Holy Qur’an, Al-Baqarah Ch.2:V.286.
Rabwah.
16. Holy Qur’an, Al-Ma’idah Ch.5:V.3.
3. Holy Qur’an, Al Ma’idah Ch. 5:V.9.
18. Tadhkirah, p. 603, 4th Edition, Published in
th
com/2013/09/12/opinion/ NOVEMBER 2013
|
THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS
29
letter to the
president of russia
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmadaba
Vladimir Putin
16 Gressenhall Road Southfields, London SW18 5QL United Kingdom His Excellency Mr. Vladimir Putin President of the Russian Federation The Kremlin 23, Ilyinka Street, Moscow 103132 Russia
18 September 2013
Dear Mr President, I am writing this letter to you as the Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community - an entirely peace-loving and peace-promoting community spread across 204 countries of the world. Due to the prevailing circumstances in the world, I have been reminding the people of the world in my different discourses and addresses, their duty and responsibilities towards their Creator and their fellow beings. Regrettably, I did not have the chance to speak to you directly, however the present day escalating situation in Syria has prompted me to write to you and commend your effort in bringing the world together onto a table of dialogue rather than the battlefield. An attack would risk a war not only in the region but could have led to a world war. I was therefore very pleased to read your recent article in a major Western newspaper in which you highlighted that such a course of action was extremely
30 THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS | NOVEMBER 2013
dangerous and could lead to the war spreading. Due to your stand, the major powers have refrained and have adopted a more conciliatory stance, agreeing to resolve this issue through diplomatic channels. Certainly, I believe that this has saved the world from a colossal and huge destruction. I particularly agreed with your point that if countries decided to act independently and made unilateral decisions then the United Nations would suffer the same fate as the League of Nations and would fail. Certainly, the sparks of war recently ignited but thankfully they now seem to have subsided somewhat. May God the Almighty enable the risk of war to be eliminated altogether as a result of the positive step that has been taken. May the major powers come to care and respect the smaller nations and fulfil their due rights, rather than only being concerned for their own powers of veto. In any case, your efforts towards establishing peace have obliged me to write this letter of thanks to you. I pray that this is not a temporary effort, but rather I hope and pray that you always make efforts towards peace. May Allah enable you to achieve this. For the sake of world peace, wherever I have the opportunity, I draw the attention of people towards establishing peace through justice. Some of my addresses have been published in a book entitled World Crisis and Pathway to Peace. I am enclosing a copy of this book as a gift for you. With best wishes and with prayers, Yours Sincerely, MIRZA MASROOR AHMAD Khalifatul Masih V Head of the worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim Community
NOVEMBER 2013
|
THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS
31
letter to the secretary of state for energy and climate change
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmadaba
Ed Davey MP
16 Gressenhall Road Southfields, London SW18 5QL 17 September 2013 Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change Rt. Hon. Ed Davey MP House of Commons London, SW1A OAA Dear Mr Davey, I was extremely pleased to meet you at the Jalsa Salana this year where you acknowledged our long ties of friendship. The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community always extends a hand of friendship and forever upholds it. I was even further pleased hearing your remarks at our Jalsa in which you stated that you and your Government are very concerned by the situation in Syria. At that time you also requested for my advice. Whether the issue relates to Syria or to any other country, the message of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is always the same - that peace, security and brotherhood should be promoted at all times. You will have heard us repeating this message on numerous occasions at our Peace Symposiums and Conventions. In the prevailing situation in Syria, the major powers such as the United Kingdom, the United States and Russia have now agreed to desist
32 THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS | NOVEMBER 2013
from taking immediate military action and to resolve this issue through diplomacy instead. In light of this, my advice is that this is the correct and wise course of action, because it appears that the situation in Syria is different from other countries. Certainly, military intervention would not only affect the region, but could in fact engulf the entire world into a world war. It is my prayer that all governments should act with the utmost patience and tolerance. The Syrian crisis should be resolved through dialogue and diplomatic efforts in a manner through which the respect of the major powers and their positive influence to establish peace on the world should remain evident. I also hope and pray that the Syrian Government accepts and abides by these good recommendations and does not become negatively influenced by its ego. May God the Almighty enable for this crisis to be resolved through mutual co-operation in accordance with the current diplomatic efforts. With best wishes and with prayers, Yours Sincerely, MIRZA MASROOR AHMAD Khalifatul Masih V Head of the worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim Community
NOVEMBER 2013
|
THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS
33
Syria’s Religious Heritage fazal ahmad , london , uk
Š Dbajurin | dreamstime.com
Due to unfortunate political circumstances and a devastating civil war that has resulted in over 100,000 deaths, Syria has come to the world’s attention in recent years. However, Syria has also been a melting pot of culture and religion for many millennia. This article traces the story of the ebb and flow of religion in Syria. Syria has been a hub of cultural flow for over 10,000 years, sitting at the epicentre of Persia, Arabia, Egypt, Turkey, Greece and Rome. Over thousands of years, not only was Syria exposed to and occupied by the great cultures and empires of the region, but it also saw a flow of religious ideas and theologies. Waves of new influences brought new advances such as the Muslim development of Damascus. This article explores the history of the cultures and religions that influenced Syria. Ancient Syria Ancient Syria sat at the crossroads of many great civilisations and on numerous trade routes (Silk Route and Persian Royal Road) that led to Persia, Central Asia, India and China. It is therefore unsurprising that several great ancient cities sprang up in Syria. From around 2000 B.C.E., as the great empires emerged, Syria was inhabited by the Canaanites, the Phoenician traders of
Over thousands of years, not only was Syria exposed to and occupied by the great cultures and empires of the region, but it also saw a flow of religious ideas and theologies.
Lebanon, the Arameans of Syria, the Egyptians, Sumerians and Assyrians of Iraq and the Babylonians and Hittites of Turkey. The language of the region was Aramaic; the same language that Jesusas would speak to his early followers. Centuries later, Alexander the Great took Syria around 334 B.C.E. and made it part of his Seleucid (Greek-influenced) empire. The Jewish Hasmoneans tried to exert control, but the Romans took Antioch in 64 B.C.E. and made Syria a Roman Province. The Byzantine Christians held sway as Syria became a key province. Over this period, Syria held prominence in providing two of the Roman Emperors of the time. NOVEMBER 2013
|
THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS
35
ŠAnton_Ivanov | shutterstock
Maaloula is a historical Christian village in the Rifq Dimashq Governorate of Syria. It is one of only a handful of places in the world where Aramaic is still spoken. Since the outbreak of civil war, many of the Christians have been forced to flee as Syrian and rebels forces fight each other in the ancient town.
Š Guillaume Piolle
Some notable examples of Ancient Syrian cities include the following: Aleppo: people began living here from the 6th century B.C.E., and during the Ottoman empire, it was the third largest Muslim city after Istanbul and Cairo. Aleppo was at the start of the Silk Route
to China. Aleppo is still the largest city in Syria. Antioch: ancient city near modern Antakya on the Syria-Turkish border founded in the 4th century B.C.E. At its height, it had a population of half a million people and was known as the “Cradle of Christianity.” It is also the place where the first Jewish converts were called “Christians.” Damascus: the second largest city in Syria, and was known as Ash-Shaam. It has been a settlement for around 4,000 years. There were many Jews living there and many synagogues built after the diaspora. Damascus served as the capital of the Islamic Empire under the Umayyads from 661-750 C.E. while ruling an area that stretched from Spain to India.
Ebla (Idlib): city founded around 3,000 B.C.E. which flourished through trade with Egypt, Sumer and Akkad until around 240 B.C.E. Homs: this city emerged under Greek rule in the 1st century B.C.E. under the name Emesa. It was originally a centre for the worship of the sun god El-Gabal, but later took on significance for Christians and Muslims. Palmyra: known as the “Bride of the Desert,” this oasis city was a caravan trading stop for desert traders. Palmyra featured a huge temple to Ba’al. It is thought be have been linked to King Solomonas of Judea. It was captured by Hazrat Khalid ibn al-Walid ra in 634 C.E. The city thrived until the Ottoman period.
Palmyra has many historical ruins from the second century c.e., including the Roman Theatre, shown here.
syria ’ s religious heritage
© Prometheus72 | shutterstock
Jews in Syria The Jews had been in Syria for a long time, and the Jewish historian Josephus recorded that the most significant Jewish diaspora communities were in Syria, specifically mentioning Antioch.2 As subsequent empires came to Syria, some sought to control Jews as the theologian Hipploytus writes around 200 B.C.E.:
The Church of St. Peter in Antioch (Antakya), modern day Turkey, was part of the Syrian Tetrapolis. St. Paul, who shaped modern Christianity, was based at Antioch and undertook many of his missionary journeys from there. Paul, according to the Bible, became converted on the way to Damascus where he was planning to visit the synagogues and capture any Jews who had accepted Christianity (Acts 9:1-6). The Church was built in around 1100.
Palmyra Due to the various empires that had an influence in Syria, many early temples were dedicated to deities from all sides, such as Zeus and Artemis. Adonis, also known as Baal and Tammuz, was also exported to Arabia as the deity Hubal. Al-Lat was another deity worshipped in Arabia and Syria, and which had temples showing Al-Lat as a lion in Palmyra.1 38 THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS | NOVEMBER 2013
“In this manner too, Antiochus Epiphanes, the king of Syria, the descendant of Alexander of Macedonia, devised measures against the Jews… And if one desires to inquire into it more accurately, he will find it recorded in the books of the Maccabees.”3 Epiphanes (215–163 B.C.E.) was a Seleucid king who wanted to make Syria and Palestine into Hellenistic (Greek) gentile secular provinces by suppressing religious practices such as circumcision. He evoked the anger of the Jews by placing a pagan altar in the Jewish temple in Jerusalem, and this eventually led to a revolt by the Jewish Maccabees. The tension between secular empires and religious communities would continue in many other settings in Syria and throughout the Middle East.
Christian Era In the Christian Era, Syria played a very prominent role. Many of the early Christian philosophers and thinkers were from Syria, as Antioch became one of the hubs of Christian leadership alongside Jerusalem, Alexandria, Constantinople (Istanbul) and Rome. St. Paul, who shaped modern Christianity, was based at Antioch and undertook many of his missionary journeys from there. Paul, according to the Bible, became converted on the way to Damascus where he was planning to visit the synagogues and capture any Jews who had accepted Christianity.4 The Bible describes the Christians in Syria: “Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul (Paul), and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for an entire year they met with the church and taught a great many people, and it was in Antioch that the disciples were first called ‘Christians.’” Peter and Barnabas were actively preaching to the Jews in Syria. The Church of Antioch gained strength over the next few centuries, and was a centre of Christian learning and debate on topics
such as the nature of Jesusas and the Trinity. Greek Orthodox Church in Hama Christianity went through various trials and councils as various sects debated new issues such as the nature and divinity of Jesusas and his mother, the Trinity, the growth of Gnosticism and the relationships between the clergy and the ordinary people. The strong Church of Antioch played a vibrant role in this debate. Islamic Era Islam emerged in Arabia at the start of the 7th century C.E. As a boy before his ministry, Muhammadsa went on many trade caravans with his Uncle Abu Talib to Syria, visiting towns such as Bosra, Damascus, Homs and Antioch on the way. Islam came to Syria in 634 C.E. through Hazrat Khalid ibn al-Walidra. There had been rivalry between the Banu Hashim and the Banu Umayyah, the former of Hazrat Alira and the latter of Hazrat Uthmanra. After the death of Hazrat Alira in 661 C.E., Hazrat Mu’awiyah (the Governor of Syria) was proclaimed the new Khalifah. He soon moved the administrative centre from Madinah to Damascus. It was only in 750 C.E. when NOVEMBER 2013
|
THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS
39
© Petrlouzensky | dreamstime.com
The Great Ummayad Mosque in Damascus. The Minaret on the left is called the Isa (Jesus) Minaret. Some believe this is the minaret next to which Jesusas will descend in the latter days, as Islamic traditions mention Jesusas descending to the East of Damascus.
was built, in the Cathedral of St. John in Damascus, Muslims and Christians both used the Cathedral for worship in toleration of each other5 just as was witnessed in Spain. This was just one example of the cooperation between faiths in Syria, as the traveller Ibn Jubayr recounts from his visits to Damascus around 1184 C.E.:
the Abbasid dynasty came to power that the capital of the Islamic Empire moved to Baghdad. By now, Arabic had become the official language, replacing Greek and Aramaic.
“It is strange how the Christians round Mount Lebanon, when they see any Muslim hermits, bring them food and treat them kindly, saying that these men are dedicated to Great and Glorious God and that they should therefore share with them.”6
However Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas, who was born in Qadian, India – directly East of Damascus – fulfilled in his person all the signs of the second advent of the Messiah.
Great Umayyad Mosque of Damascus Damascus had been a Roman and Christian city, but now in 706 C.E., the Great Mosque was built under Caliph alWalid. Indeed before the Great Mosque 40 THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS | NOVEMBER 2013
He goes on to recount of free trade between areas of Syria controlled by the Frankish Christians and the Muslims:
“In the same way the Muslims continuously journeyed from Damascus to Acre (through Frankish territory), and likewise not one of the Christian merchants was stopped or hindered (in Muslim territory).”7 Many schools and libraries were opened which attracted scholars from across the Muslim world such as the library of Banu Jaradah in Aleppo. The “house of hadith” in Damascus attracted scholars such as Ibn Kathir, al-Nawawi, Taqiyuddin Subki and Ibn al-Salah.8 Hospitals were built including the famous Nuri Hospital built by Sultan Malik Nuruddin for the poor and helpless. In the 12th century, a school of illumination, Al-Ishraq, was established by Yahya Suhrawardi in Aleppo, based on Iranian mysticism. He believed that a combination of mysticism and reasoning was needed to define true philosophy, and set up his school to teach both aspects.9 During this period, Islam expanded into Cyprus (690), Turkistan (705), Spain (711) and modern Pakistan (712). All the while, Damascus was gaining prominence worldwide at the centre of the growing Islamic Empire, and scholars and artisans from across the empire were meeting in Syria to share ideas.
Centuries of Turmoil The 12th Century saw the start of centuries of turmoil starting with the Crusades from Europe. The French created the Principality of Antioch and for centuries, Crusader forces would pass through Syria on their way to Jerusalem. Aleppo and Damascus fell to the Mongol hordes in 1260, but as they were stretched, the Mongols were soon pushed back by the Mamluks of Egypt. There was an ongoing struggle in the years that followed between the Mamluks and the Mongols. In 1400, the Mongols led by Timur Lenk retook Aleppo and Damascus, and massacred most of the inhabitants; only those of value to them were taken to Samarkand in central Asia. The pressure was only released at the end of the 15th century when the emergence of the sea route to China via Africa lessened the need for a land trade route. Ottoman and Modern Syria The Turkish Ottoman Muslim Empire wrestled control of Syria in 1516, and suddenly Damascus came to prominence again as a key centre for pilgrims heading to Makkah from elsewhere in the Ottoman Empire. This remained the case until 1916 when the French and British took control and divided the region according to political needs. NOVEMBER 2013
|
THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS
41
Š Antonio Abrignani|shutterstock
Ottoman Empire historical development old map (between 1792 and 1878). By Paul Vidal de Lablache, Atlas Classique, Librerie Colin, Paris, 1894
At the same time, another new force emerged that would impact Syria in the centuries to come. At the time that the Ottoman Empire was growing, Shia Islam was a sect amongst Arabs, but wielded no political power. The Safavids led by Ismail led his troops from Azerbaijan into Iran, and first conquered Tabriz in 1501, then over a decade took control of the rest of Iran. He then imposed Twelver Shia Islam by force on the local majority Iranian Sunnis, and 42 THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS | NOVEMBER 2013
suddenly the Shia Iranian power was established.10 Iran would play a key role in Syria and the Middle East hundreds of years later. Between the great wars, France tried to maintain control despite growing nationalism, but eventually Syria gained independence in 1946. Since then, Syria has been constantly involved in struggles with Israel and Lebanon. Syrian Scholars Ignatius (35-98) was an early Church Father and third Bishop of Antioch who wrote many letters, but was eventually taken to Rome and was martyred at the orders of Emperor Trajan.
Theodoret of Cyrrhus (393-458) was a moderate Bishop in Cyrrhus near Antioch. He was involved in the monophysite debate with the Alexandrians about the nature and person of Jesusas. This was at a time when some Christians began to attribute divine characteristics to Jesusas, whilst Theodoret focused on his human consciousness.
The main point for this current age is to reflect on the brotherhood between people of all faiths when Syria was at its zenith as recorded by travellers such as Ibn Jubayr.
Ibn al-Nafis (1213-1288) studied medicine at the Nuri Hospital in Damascus and wrote a famous book of 300 volumes on the art of medicine. He was a leader in pulmonary circulation, building on the work of Ibn Sina.
planetary theory which would later be emulated by Copernicus in Europe.
Ismail ibn Kathir (1301–1373) was a historian born on the outskirts of Bosra. He took on many positions in Damascus including on a commission to resolve questions of heresy. He wrote a famous commentary on the Qur’an called the Tafsir al-Qur’an al-‘Adhim.
Religion in Modern Syria Modern Syria is a melting pot of many religious sects. 70% are Sunni Muslims. 12% are Shia Muslims including the Alawite sect of the Assad leading family. 5% of Syrians are Christians, and of the remaining 13%, 3% are Druze and there is a Jewish minority.11 The Christians themselves, who number 2.5 million, consist of many sects such as the Chalcedonian Antiochans, Melkites, Armenians, Syriac Catholics, Chaldean Catholics, Roman Catholics, Maronites, the Armenian Apostolic Church, the Syrian Orthodox Church and many others.
Ibn al-Shatir (1305–1375) was born and raised in Damascus. He was a profound astronomer and came up with a new
This reflects the historical flow of religions through Syria over many millennia. Some of the interesting sects are:
Abhdisho bar Berikha (unknown-1318) was a Syrian Christian theologian and poet from the Nestorian tradition in Antioch.
NOVEMBER 2013
|
THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS
43
Alawites revere Hazrat Alira and follow the Twelver Shia tradition, although some sources suggest that they assign divine attributes to Hazrat Alira, possibly even corresponding to the Christian Trinity.12 Many of their beliefs are kept secret from outsiders, perhaps due to centuries of isolation from mainstream society, and their beliefs are said to include reincarnation. They are considered to be heavily influenced by Ismailis, and may have been absorbed in Syria from the Qarmatians and the Ismaili Assassin sect after the Crusades. They have a holy book called the Kitab al-Majmu which is said to include writings from Aristotle. There are differing accounts about their beliefs including claims that they believe that women do not have souls13, that they permit the drinking of alcohol, and celebrate other festivals such as Christmas and the Zoroastrian new year. Due to the ongoing secrecy, it is hard to confirm their precise beliefs. The other notable sect is the Druze Community, which exists in Syria, Lebanon, Israel and Jordan and who class themselves as the people of Monotheism (al-Muwahhidun). Their name is said to derive from an early preacher Ad-Darazi from 1016 C.E. who had promoted the idea that Khalifah Al-Hakim in 44 THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS | NOVEMBER 2013
Cairo was divine.14 The Druze began as an Ismaili Shia tradition, influenced by Greek and various mystic tendencies including the Gnostics and Jewish mysticism. There have been theological disputes amongst the Druze over whether God was incarnated into humans, especially Hazrat Alira and his descendants. The Druze often conceal their beliefs just as the Alawites do in a custom known as Taqiyya, although they do have a text called Rasa’il Al-Hakim. The Druze believe that Al-Hakim will return as the Mahdi (Guided One). The Druze maintain their secrecy through the purity of their community. They do not allow conversion or intermarriage.15 Conclusion Syria has always held a strategic location for at least the last 4,000 years as a crossroad between Europe and Asia, Persia, Egypt and Arabia. Syria has witnessed the trade of cultures and also theologies. It is noticeable that many sects have grown up through a melding of ideas from different faiths, and in particular an interest in mystical strands such as Christian Gnosticism and Islamic Sufism with a focus on hidden beliefs. The main point for this current age is to reflect on the brotherhood between
people of all faiths when Syria was at its zenith as recorded by travellers such as Ibn Jubayr. This goodwill in society was possible because people were attuned to their spirituality, whatever their faith or sect. Syria needs to reflect on this now, when people of the same faith are at war with each other and innocent women and children are losing their lives.
(New Dehli, India: Goodword Books 2011) 301.
8. Dr. Mustafa Siba’i, The Islamic Civilization
(Swansea, UK: Awakening Publications, 2002) 147.
9. Karen Armstrong, Islam: A Short History (London, UK: Phoenix Press, 2001) 78.
10. Karen Armstrong, Islam: A Short History
(London, UK: Phoenix Press, 2001) 99-101.
11. Mushtaqur Rahman and Guljan Mushtaqur Rahman, Geography of the Muslim World
endnotes
(Chicago, USA: IQRA International Education
1. Nicolle David, Historical Atlas of the Islamic
12. “Alawite (Shi’ite Sect).” Encyclopedia
2. Erich Gruen, Diaspora: Jews Amidst Greeks
www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/12399/
2002) 106.
13. Cyrill Glassé, The Concise Encyclopedia of
Beliefs: A Reference Guide to More Than 700
San Francisco, 1991) 30-31.
(Massachusetts, USA: Hendrickson Publishers,
Islam, Second Edition (London, UK: Harper
4. Bible, The Holy Bible: Containing the Old and
15. “Druze (religion).” Encyclopedia Britannica.
(Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1989) Acts 9:1-6.
nica.com/EBchecked/topic/172195/Druze.
Foundation, 1997) 269.
World (London: Mercury Books, 2004) 27.
Britannica. Accessed October 20th, 2013. http://
and Romans (London: Harvard University Press,
Alawite.
3. David Bercot, A Dictionary of Early Christian
Islam, Second Edition (London, UK: Harper
Topics Discussed by the Early Church Fathers
14. Cyrill Glassé, The Concise Encyclopedia of
1998) 25.
San Francisco, 1991) 103.
New Testaments, New Revised Standard Version,
Accessed October 22, 2013. http://www.britan-
5. Dr. Mustafa Siba’i, The Islamic Civilization
(Swansea, UK: Awakening Publications, 2002) 82-83.
6. Ronald Broadhurst, The Travels of Ibn Jubayr (New Dehli, India: Goodword Books 2011) 300.
7. Ronald Broadhurst, The Travels of Ibn Jubayr NOVEMBER 2013
|
THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS
45
Medical Consequences of a Nuclear War A Pointless Tragedy for Humanity professor amtul razzaq carmichael , uk
Models in Hiroshima museum depicting the scene after the
nuclear bomb was dropped. The skin of those directly affected literally melted away due to the intense heat and radiation.
Š Makhzan-e-Tasaweer
devastation that the world possesses; the term “CBRNE” includes Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosive weapons.2 The destructive power of this technologically advanced arsenal, an increasing lack of empathy for fellow human beings and an overwhelming desire to pursue one’s chosen agenda at any cost, has made the devastation of the human race through a World War III (WWIII) an undesirable possibility.
“I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones.”
These powerful words were believed to have been said by one of the most renowned scientists of our time, Albert Einstein. The world has never seen so many means of mass destruction, with the potential of huge devastation, at the disposal of so many nations and countries. It is estimated that the countries of the world possess 11,000 operational nuclear weapons today. 1 The acronym “CBRNE” sums up the power of
The damage that a nuclear arsenal can cause to the human race is largely studied by scientists from the tragedies of Hiroshima, Nagasaki, Chernobyl and Fukushima nuclear crises. The devastation caused by the two atomic bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki is known to all. In the event of a nuclear attack, the power of the blast causes a destructive shock wave leading to collapsed buildings and death in the immediate vicinity; this is followed by the generation of intense heat. This leads to fire-storms spreading to a wider area and then a fall of the nuclear debris and dust occurs, which is carried thousands of miles bringing about the devastation for ensuing decades. The two nuclear bombs used in 1945 killed approximately 200,000 people, and were of modest nuclear capacity (15-20 NOVEMBER 2013
|
THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS
47
The devastating aftermath in Hiroshima after the nuclear bomb was dropped.
kiloton). The damage that can be done by 300-500 kiloton capability modern nuclear warfare is indeed unfathomable. The potential damage that can be caused by these deadly weapons has been estimated in recent scientific publications. An aerial strike with 500 kiloton multiple nuclear weapons to an average city will result in 1.5 million fatalities, 140,000 victims with third-degree burns and 24,000 with second-degree burns as an immediate aftermath3. In addition, the nuclear aftermath of such an event will last for decades. 48 THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS | NOVEMBER 2013
Nuclear radiation damages DNA, the building block of human lives, leading to short and long term harm to every tissue of the body.4 The exposure to one Gray (Gy)5 of radiation, leads to damage of the cells of the body which are particularly sensitive to the effects of radiation such as skin, bone marrow (which makes blood cells) and the digestive tract. The exposure to Beta radiation damages skin and Gamma radiation causes damage to the deeper tissue. An exposure to 2 Gy of radiation leads to depletion of bone marrow, thus reducing the body’s ability to fight infection. In the presence of burns and open wounds, lack of immunity can lead to overwhelming sepsis, adding to the death toll.
The devastating aftermath in Nagaskai after the nuclear bomb was dropped. The nuclear weapons possessed by even smaller countries today are far more powerful than the nuclear bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945.
After the tragedy of nuclear bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the Life Span Study followed up 93,741 atomic bomb survivors for 60 years. This study confirmed that “radiation significantly increases the risk of death (22% at 1 Gy), cancer incidence (47% at 1 Gy), death due to leukemia (310% at 1 Gy), as well as the incidence of several non-cancer diseases (e.g. thyroid nodules, chronic liver disease and cirrhosis, uterine myoma, and hypertension). Significant effects on maturity (e.g. growth reduction and early menopause) were also observed.”6 However, no evidence was found showing that exposure to atomic radiation can lead to multifactorial inheritable diseases.7
The radioactivity enters the food chain through radioactive seawater that contaminates fish. Furthermore, nuclear disasters can lead to massive ozone depletion, allowing more ultraviolet radiation to reach Earth, further increasing the risk of cancers.
The studies of nuclear disasters reveal that the radiation injuries were not limited to radiation exposure at the time of impact. However, radiation damage continues for a significant amount of time due to contamination. This contamination could be external, such as contaminant settled on the skin, or internal by ingestion, inhalation and absorption of radiation by open wounds. The radioactivity enters the food chain through radioactive seawater that contaminates fish. Furthermore, nuclear disasters can lead to massive ozone depletion, allowing more ultraviolet radiation to reach Earth, further increasing the risk of cancers.8 The debris and plumes from the nuclear NOVEMBER 2013
|
THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS
49
Artist’s rendition of a potential nuclear explosion over a city.
war, soot and smoke from the fire-storm can produce so much smoke that temperatures would fall below those of the Little Ice Age (fourteenth to nineteenth centuries), shortening the growing season around the world and threatening the global food supply.9 In a study of modelling the global impact of nuclear war, it was found that the use of nuclear arsenals in India and Pakistan, situated thousands of miles from the USA, would have 50 THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS | NOVEMBER 2013
significant climatic impacts upon agricultural crops (corn, soybeans, and winter wheat) in the United States.10 The world is aware that there would be no winners in a nuclear war. “[F]or the World War III memorial I designed a futile, almost terrifying passage that ends nowhere.” Maya Lin, an American architectural designer and artist, well-known for excellence and depth in her work, has summed up the impact of WWIII on the human race. To emphasise the destructive nature of the Third World War, she came
up with the tomb-like design, stating, “I came up with a political statement that was meant as a deterrent.”11 It is within the last few years that scientists have been able to forecast with a degree of confidence about a state of utter devastation that is planned, designed and can be inflicted by humans to their own race. The scientific evidence supports that nuclear war can potentially destroy life as we know it on earth within a short space of time. Its devastating effects will be seen on climate and those forms of life that survive the nuclear holocaust for decades afterwards. After such destruction it is inconceivable that the human race will ever be able to fight another war with anything other than crude weapons for many years thereafter. As Einstein stated, “with sticks and stones.” Science is discovering now what has been revealed to divine reformers decades ago. The devastation that threatens the world because of its ever-increasing capacity for self-destruction has been foretold by the Divine Reformer of our age more than a century ago. The Promised Messiahas, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian, warned of a major calamity in these words: “Think not that earthquakes visited America and
The scientific evidence supports that nuclear war can potentially destroy life as we know it on earth within a short space of time. Its devastating effects will be seen on climate and those forms of life that survive the nuclear holocaust for decades afterwards. other continents but that your own country shall remain secure. Indeed, you may experience a greater hardship. O Europe, you are not safe and O Asia, you too, are not immune…I see cities fall and settlements laid waste.”12 The warning for such self-destruction has been highlighted by the successors of Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, the Promised Messiahas. In his address at Wandsworth Town Hall, London, on July 28th 1967, the late Hazrat Mirza Nasir Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih IIIrh, warned the world of the danger and consequences of WWIII. Explaining that the prophecies of the Promised Messiahas about two World Wars have NOVEMBER 2013
|
THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS
51
medical consequences of nuclear war : a pointless tragedy for humanity
“We can only pray and present the facts and realities in front of everyone in an effort and hope that the world can be saved from all forms of destruction and danger. This is essential so that we are not looked upon with anger and as transgressors by our future generations.” been fulfilled, he said that the Promised Messiahas also prophesied that a Third World War of even bigger dimensions would follow the second. The two opposing camps will clash with such suddenness that everyone will be caught unaware. Death and destruction will rain from the sky and fierce flames shall engulf the earth. The colossus of modern civilisation will tumble to the ground. The survivors shall stand aghast and amazed at the tragedy.13 The world has been continually warned ever since about the danger of the impending Third World War by the successors of the Promised Messiahas. In an effort to raise the awareness of world leaders to the imminent danger of the nuclear war, 52 THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS | NOVEMBER 2013
His Holiness, Mirza Masroor Ahmadaba, Fifth Successor of the Promised Messiahas and worldwide Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, wrote letters to the heads of states of key countries urging them to play their role in prevention of the impending nuclear holocaust. In his addresses at the European Parliament, the House of Commons and Capitol Hill, His Holiness raised awareness about the need for absolute justice to prevent the Third World War. The scientific evidence supports that nuclear war can potentially destroy life on earth as we know it, with its devastating effects that will be seen on climate and forms of life for decades afterwards. It is fitting to conclude this brief overview with the words of Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmadaba: “We can only pray and present the facts and realities in front of everyone in an effort and hope that the world can be saved from all forms of destruction and danger. This is essential so that we are not looked upon with anger and as transgressors by our future generations.”14
endnotes
Ayumi Hida, Kyoji Furukawa, “Radiation
1. Lisbeth Gronlund, “How Powerful Are
Offspring of the Atomic-bomb Survivors: a
Would They Affect the World?”, Union of
Protection: Official Journal of the Society for
http://www.ucsusa.org/publications/ask/2010/
281–293.
publications/ask/2010/nuclear-weapons.html.
destruction: The Climate Impacts of Nuclear
tion: Overview of the CBRNEs (Chemical,
66–74.
Explosives),” Journal of the Neurological Sciences
destruction: The Climate Impacts of Nuclear
Aug 21.
66–74.
Antonio Caruso, Frederick Burkle Jr., “Nuclear
“Nuclear War Investigation Related to a
the Pale,” Conflict and Health 7, no. 1 (May 10,
Agricultural Impacts in the United States.”
4. John Christodouleas, Robert Forrest,
11. Tom Lashnits, Maya Lin: Asian Americans
Hahn, Eli Glatstein, “Short-Term and Long-
2007) 8.
Accidents.” New England Journal of Medicine
268-267.
5. Gray, a measure of radiation exposure.
library/books/messageofpeace/messageofpeace.
Ozasa. “Long-term Follow-up of Atomic Bomb
14. http://www.alislam.org/egazette/
99–103.
munity-delivers-historic-address-in-singapore/
Risk of Individual Multifactorial Diseases in
Today’s Nuclear Weapons and, If Used, How
Clinical Health Study.” Journal of Radiological
Concerned Scientists, Accessed October 21, 2013.
Radiological Protection 33, no. 2 ( June 2013):
nuclear-weapons.html.http://www.ucsusa.org/
8. Alan Robock, Owen Toon, “Self-assured
2. Leon Prockop, “Weapons of mass destruc-
War” Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists 68, no. 5:
Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and
9. Alan Robock, Owen Toon, “Self-assured
249, no. 1 (November 1, 2006):50-4. Epub 2006
War” Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists 68, no. 5:
3. Cham Dallas, William Bell, David Stewart,
10. David Pimentel, and Michael Burgess,
war between Israel and Iran: Lethality beyond
Limited Nuclear Battle with Emphasis on
2013): 10.
Ambio 41, no. 8 (December 2012): 894–899.
Christopher Ainsley, Zelig Tochner, Stephen
of Achievement (Chelsea House Publications,
Term Health Risks of Nuclear Power Plant
12. Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, Haqiqatul Wahee,
364, no. 24 ( June 16, 2011): 2334–2341.
13. More details on http://www.alislam.org/
6. Sakata, Ritsu, Eric J. Grant, and Kotaro
Survivors.” Maturitas 72, no. 2 ( June 2012):
press-release/head-of-ahmadiyya-muslim-com-
7. Yoshimi Tatsukawa, John Cologne, WanLing Hsu, Michiko Yamada, Waka Ohishi,
NOVEMBER 2013
|
THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS
53
CASE STUDY – CHERNOBYL AFTERMATH On 26th April 1986, one of the nuclear reactors at the Chernobyl power station exploded. The disaster released 100 times more radiation then the atom bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It was the worst nuclear accident in history.
©Helene Demipoulpe Veilleux
The abandoned town of Pripyat was once home to the plant’s workers and their families. The town’s 49,000 inhabitants were told to leave within 36 hours after the explosion due to the incredibly high levels of radiation released, leaving behind homes once occupied by families.
©Helene Demipoulpe Veilleux
The public swimming baths were once filled with cries of excitement from children. But now the swimming pool has remained desolate for decades, as a 19mile exclusion zone still remains around the Chernobyl plant.
ŠHelene Demipoulpe Veilleux
Some who were forced to flee the evacuation zone suffered long-term effects including cancer and deformities.
ŠHelene Demipoulpe Veilleux
Trees are seen sprouting from in between slabs. Everyone nature can be seen gradually reclaiming its terrain.
ŠHelene Demipoulpe Veilleux
The disaster began
at Chernobyl reactor number four, when a power surge occurred during a systems test, causing a series of steam explosions and a fire which sent a plume of radioactive material into the air.
ŠHelene Demipoulpe Veilleux
One of the most iconic images from the town is the Ferris wheel in central Pripyat. The amusement park was due to open five days after the disaster, and thus was never used. Time appears to have stood still in a fair ground which should have seen children playing.
ŠHelene Demipoulpe Veilleux
Scientists say that
radiation will affect the Chernobyl area for 48,000 years although it will be safe enough for humans to begin repopulating the area long before then - in about 600 years. (Guardian)
ŠHelene Demipoulpe Veilleux
special reception in melbourne a keynote address by hazrat mirza masroor ahmad aba khalifatul masih v head of the worldwide ahmadiyya muslim community
The Worldwide Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at and Fifth Khalifah of the Promised Messiahas, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmadaba delivered the keynote address at a special reception held at the Princess Court Reception Centre in Melbourne on the evening of 11th October 2013. The event was attended by more than 100 non-Ahmadi dignitaries and guests, including Major-General Paul McLachlan, Mayor of Frankston, Sandra Mayer, Anthony Byrne MP, Judith Graley MP and Ingra Peulich MP. His Holiness spoke on the global financial meltdown, the Arab Spring and Syrian Crisis, and why all of this is leading the world to a global catastrophe. 58 THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS | NOVEMBER 2013
“Auzubillahi Minashaitanir Rajeem (I seek refuge with Allah from Satan the accursed) Bismillahir-Rahmanir-Raheem (In the Name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful) All distinguished guests – A s s a l a m o A l a i k u m Wa R a h m a t u l l a h e Wa B a ra k a to h u - p eace and blessings of Allah be upon you all. Before moving on to speak about those critical matters that the world stands in urgent need of, I would like to first of all take this opportunity to thank all of you for accepting our invitation and joining us here today. The fact that you are attending, irrespective of differences of religion and belief, is a testament to your open-mindedness and tolerant nature. Certainly, keeping in mind today’s materialistic world, the fact you have come to listen to the words of a religious person is proof of your enlightened minds and broad vision. Whilst from a worldly
Certainly, keeping in mind today’s materialistic world, the fact you have come to listen to the words of a religious person is proof of your enlightened minds and broad vision. perspective it is a necessary moral courtesy for me to express my appreciation to you, even more importantly for me, it is essential to show my gratitude because it is my religious obligation. It is necessary to offer thanks in order to express gratitude to my Creator, because my master, the Holy Prophet Muhammadsa taught that a person who is not grateful to man cannot be grateful to God Almighty. Human beings are the greatest of all of God’s Creation and Allah the Almighty desires for mankind to respect and honour one another. This is why the Holy Qur’an, which is the sacred book for all Muslims and according to NOVEMBER 2013
|
THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS
59
Egpytian Revolution. © Edwardgerges | dreamstime.com
The crisis I am referring to particularly affected the Arab World and Muslim countries and came to be known as the ‘Arab Spring.’ our beliefs is the final law-bearing book, is filled from cover to cover with commandments requiring mankind to fulfil the rights of one another. Certainly, to express due appreciation to another person is also a means to fulfil the rights owed to man and so my gratitude is not offered as a mere formality but actually 60 THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS | NOVEMBER 2013
emanates directly from my heart. Thus, I hope it is clear that my heartfelt appreciation is expressed not only in order to uphold high moral courtesies but in order to gain the pleasure of God Almighty. With these brief words of introduction I would now like to discuss some issues of great concern, which are taking people far away from fulfilling the rights of each other in today’s world. Certainly, the critical state of today’s world is visible to all. The financial crisis that occurred a few years ago has completely shaken the world’s economy to its very core and the effects continue to be felt today. The cost of living and inflated prices have crippled the world and high unemployment is reaching record levels in certain countries. A number of European countries
have become consumed by debt and even bankrupted. And this is not just a European problem. In fact, if we look at the United States, which is considered the most powerful country on earth, we find that some City Councils have been forced to declare their cities bankrupt as they have succumbed under the weight of mammoth debts worth billions of dollars. Even now the Federal Government has reached to the point where some of their offices have reached to the point of shut down. This is the state of the developed countries, whilst the economies of under-developed nations have always been in trouble. Compared to much of the world, Australia is to some extent stable. However, it has also been affected by the world’s financial crisis. In today’s global age the world has come together like never before. Thus, the problems faced by one country have a knock-on effect on other nations, whilst successes in one country have a positive effect on others. Bearing this in mind, it cannot be said that any country is free from problems or immune to the global debt crisis. Furthermore, we find that the world’s financial crisis had not yet been resolved when another huge crisis took root in some countries. The crisis I am referring to particularly affected the
Arab World and Muslim countries and came to be known as the ‘Arab Spring.’ In various countries, members of the public began to stand up against their rulers and governments. Huge protests and marches took place. Massacres and killings occurred, leading to thousands of people being murdered and still today thousands are continuing to lose their lives. In some countries the rulers were able to suppress the protests and control the situation. However in others, the rulers faced very tough and even brutal consequences. Today, there are still some countries ravaged by war where the governments are continuing to face huge rebellions. The major powers have become involved in some of these conflicts by supplying weapons and money to the rebels in the name of assisting the people. However we have to question the result of such efforts because disorder and chaos continue to plague those nations. If we look at Libya as a case in point, we find that its governing officials, political analysts and media are all in agreement that tribal governments have now formed, and consequently, the central government is facing grave difficulties and is entirely weakened. NOVEMBER 2013
|
THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS
61
A building that was being used as a makeshift hospital in Aleppo. Picture taken from across the street from the upper floor of a now abandoned residential block. Š Richard Harvey | dreamstime.com
It may well be the case that the Syrian rulers have carried out barbaric cruelties and injustices against their own people, however in seeking to achieve liberation, the rebel groups have themselves resorted to atrocities and cruelties. During a recent visit to the United States, a journalist from a very famous newspaper asked me what I thought would be the long-term effects, or benefits, of the action that took place in such countries. 62 THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS | NOVEMBER 2013
I responded to her by stating that such action would not lead to peace either in Libya or in Egypt and nor would it lead to peace in the other affected nations. Indeed, when I met the journalist in May this year, I said that it was apparent that further bloodshed was impending in Egypt. However I did not expect it to occur so soon - yet just weeks later we all saw what transpired. Despite the violence and huge loss of life, it was quite apparent that on this occasion, the major powers ignored the severe force used by the new Government against certain segments of the public. Perhaps it was felt that it was necessary for a firm hand to be taken against such people, but the same end result could have been achieved
with less force. The point I am making is that upon the onset of the same circumstances, in the name of establishing peace, the major powers took two entirely different approaches. Let us look at the example of another country. We all see that the situation in Syria continues to inflame and deteriorate before our eyes. Tens of thousands of people have died and are continuing to, whilst millions of Syrian citizens have been forced to flee their country to escape from the horrific situation. In the past few weeks it seems that an alliance of a few foreign countries is preparing to launch a military attack on Syria, but fortunately that situation has now been changed. It may well be the case that the Syrian rulers have carried out barbaric cruelties and injustices against their own people, however in seeking to achieve liberation, the rebel groups have themselves resorted to atrocities and cruelties. Innocent people who practice the same religion as the Syrian rulers or hold similar beliefs are being brutally murdered by those opposed to the government. Furthermore, on the pretext of helping the Syrian people, extremist groups from outside of Syria have come and joined the war. However, they are not fighting the government due to any
human sympathies or compassion, but are seeking only to serve their own personal interests and gains. Syria’s Government has claimed that it has not used any chemical weapons and rather it counter-claims that the rebel groups have used them. Outside agencies and inspectors have said they have evidence that chemical weapons have been used in Syria, but there does not seem to be any evidence to prove who has used them. However, now there are agencies present in Syria in order to destroy those weapons. We just pray that Allah helps them to succeed in their actions. God knows better what the truth is. The state of affairs in Syria has not only destroyed the peace and harmony of the region, but it is also destroying the peace of the entire world. An important principle is that if any country commits cruelties or transgresses then first and foremost it is the duty of the neighbouring countries to step in and stop it. Some months ago a very wise suggestion was made by Israel’s President in relation to solving the Syrian crisis. He said that whilst the world’s major powers could provide Syria’s Arab neighbours with weapons or support, any action taken to try and establish peace should NOVEMBER 2013
|
THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS
63
special reception in melbournce
comprise only Arab forces. He said that if Western or non-Arab armies were to become directly involved then the peace of the world would further deteriorate. Indeed, it is entirely accurate to suggest that an attack on Syria will be a means of provoking a Third World War. Two major opposing blocs would form – in fact they already have. We find that Russia and China and some of their allies are assisting and strongly supporting the Syrian Government. As I said, there is a serious risk of a world war and if we want to avoid it, then policy makers will have to make decisions with wisdom and with great consideration. What does Islam teach about establishing peace in such circumstances? Chapter 49, Verse 10 of the Holy Quran states: “And if two parties of believers fight against each other, make peace between them; then if after that one of them transgresses against the other, fight the party that transgresses until it returns to the command of Allah. Then if it returns, make peace between them with equity, and act justly. Verily, Allah loves the just.” Thus, this is the method which should have been used by Syria’s neighbouring countries to bring about peace between 64 THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS | NOVEMBER 2013
the government and the opposition groups. Unfortunately, this approach was not adopted from the outset and so thousands of people have been killed and hundreds of thousands have been left homeless. In reality it was the task of the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) to unite together and work towards peace in the region. However, rather than assume their duties the Muslim countries invited Western countries from outside the region to try and bring peace or perhaps the Western countries chose to invite themselves. What will the end result be? We are actually seeing the effects already beginning to appear, whereby two opposing blocs, each with differing sympathies, have formed. This division is causing us to reach the devastating precipice of a Third World War. In the Qur’anic teaching that I presented it clearly stated that all attempts to establish peace amongst conflicting parties should be underpinned by true justice. Thus, it should not be that those tasked with establishing peace demand regimechange as a necessary pre-condition and that they then hand a particular group the keys to the government. If the party
that has transgressed agrees to fulfil the rights of its citizens, and to treat them with fairness and equality, then those who have come as peace-makers should not set unjust or unwarranted conditions. They should not use more force than is proportionate or required because that will only lead to the situation spiralling further out of control. Islam teaches that when a third-party seeks to bring about reconciliation between two warring factions it should act impartially and with true justice. Certainly, the teachings I have presented are the true and beautiful teachings of Islam. If Muslims were to follow this guidance we would not find a state of restlessness amongst the masses because, unrest is only triggered when a person’s due rights are seized or not fulfilled. Where decisions are made according to true principles of equity, and where the rights
of all people are fulfilled, only peace and harmony will be found. Regarding the fulfilment of the due rights of one another, there are many other profound teachings given by Islam. However, due to the shortage of time, it is not possible for me to cover them here today. Here I would like to point out that this golden principle given by the Quran is not only for Muslims, but in fact, it is a universal truth that in order to establish peace, justice must prevail. Unfortunately, when in the name of bringing peace major powers interfere in the matters of other countries, they do not uphold the requirements of justice to the necessary degree or in minute detail. During a visit to the United States, I also addressed their senior politicians and policy makers. I clearly said to them that any act or policy they undertake NOVEMBER 2013
|
THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS
65
The League of Nations: A Pictorial Summary, Geneva: League of Nations, c. 1920. Detail from poster.
to try and develop peace will never be successful until all personal interests are set aside and until the requirements of justice are upheld in an entirely selfless manner. It is for this very reason that at another place, the Holy Qur’an has stated that you must always remain just, even if it means that you have to testify against yourself or your loved ones. And so the point I make is that it is the duty of major powers and the United Nations to strive to bring about peace and reconciliation through equity and fairness. Where there is a dispute between two parties or nations, all efforts should focus on drawing their attention to fulfilling each other’s rights. Where a peace deal 66 THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS | NOVEMBER 2013
or agreement is reached, then neither the major powers nor the United Nations should seek to further their own political objectives from any nation or group. If we cast a glance over history, we find that the League of Nations fundamentally failed in its objectives because it was not acting upon the aforementioned principles. Its chronic failure to establish justice led to unparalleled devastation when the Second World War occurred. Similarly, if we fast forward to today, we find that the United Nations is not fulfilling its role as it ought to and often remains silent on many issues. Further, the leaders of the major powers openly challenge its authority and state that they do not need the permission of the United Nations and that it is “their right” to act
as they please. They say that if they wish to attack Syria, they are free to do so. They should realise that by completely discarding principles of justice on the pretext of fulfilling the rights of others and whilst sitting thousands of miles away, it will undoubtedly only lead to strife and disorder. Through such acts all people will be affected. The world has come together like a global village and so such disorder will not be contained, but will encompass and consume the entire world. This is the reason why I say, time and time again, that we should make every possible effort to save the world from a Third World War. If such a war was to occur, then there would not only be a threat of chemical weapons, but rather there is a very strong likelihood that nuclear weapons would also be used. The horrific effects of atomic warfare are indescribable and would be felt for generations to come.
His holiness leads a silent prayer at the conclusion of the functoin
And so I would request all of the influential figures in this country, be they politicians, dignitaries or intellectuals, to recognise that because Australia is also one of the major countries of the world, they too should play their respective roles in making every effort to transform this state of disorder and injustice into a state of peace and harmony. May it be that your future generations come to thank and pray for you, rather than curse and abuse you, for the legacy left behind. At the end I would like to once again thank all of you for taking the time and effort to attend this function and to listen to what I have said. May Allah bless you. Thank you very much.� NOVEMBER 2013
|
THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS
67
Guest Reflections and Messages of Support for the Address of Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmadaba at Special Reception in Melboure
This issue features the keynote address delivered by the 5th Khalifah of the Promised Messiah and Head of the worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmadaba on 11th October 2013, in Melbourne, Australia. Some comments and reflections of dignitaries in attendance are as follows:
68 THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS | NOVEMBER 2013
“I loved it! I can see why he is a leader of world peace because he says exactly what I wanted to hear. And he touched on the countries and the problems of the world. I can see why he is getting on with the heads of governments of other countries. I wish all Islamic leaders were like that –we would not have any trouble in the world.” Pam Mamouney Casey Multifaith Network “It was actually an honour for me to meet His Holiness. Truly the values that the Ahmadi culture actually preaches are very, very close to our own. Love for All, Hatred for None is a fantastic message and it’s something that the entire community should embrace. Major General Paul McLachlan, AM, CSC Defence Meteriel Organisation Head of Land Systems “I actually had an opportunity to go up to him and have a little chat with him. I asked a specific question about interfaith and peace building. And what he told me was very inspiring. Do you want know what he told me? He said “Peace begins with you; peace begins at home. If you have peace in you, it means that you are projecting peace, and if
everyone of us had, peace it means that we would be projecting peace to each other.” That was very fundamental and that was very key to me.” Stephen Sibanda Chairperson, Africa Day Australia Inc. “I found it compelling listening. The message was very strong and I think the message that he had to deliver us was a special one and it’s the one we should all take on board in everything we do, irrespective of your religion. It doesn’t matter what you believe. But I think that there is the universal message about peace, non-violence, justice, and service which were something we should all take with us tonight and try and live by.” The Hon. Judith Graley, MP Labour Member for Narre Warren South, Australia “I found His Holiness and his message and his speech to be one of obviously of peace. He is obviously a man who has given and is very committed to peace amongst the world and I found him extremely illuminating and informative.” The Hon. Maria Vamvakinou, MP Federal Member for Calwell – Labour Party NOVEMBER 2013
|
THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS
69
“I thought it was one of peace and harmony and that’s what we should be speaking to each and every one of us and to have that content and delivery really demonstrates the good will amongst everyone here tonight.” Amanda Stapleton Mayor of Casey “I thought it was inspirational actually. A lot of discussion about the UN and perhaps where they need to step up a little more – so that was really interesting hearing his perspective of that. All the speakers, I thought, had a lot to say and a lot to offer in the evening Kate Smith Victoria Police Inspector - Community Engagement
I was so impressed by His Holiness’ analysis of the Arab Spring.
70 THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS | NOVEMBER 2013
“I thought his speech was very challenging and I thought it was very important for us to be confronted with issues of the lack of justice in our world and the real importance of getting all people together, to work together. Not some people good; some people bad; [rather] we must always work together. I thought that was the message I took out of what he was saying. Prof. Constant Mews Director – Centre for Religion and Theology, Monash Uni. “It seems like, after seeing His Holiness, that there has been a special seed of peace sown in Melbourne. What His Holiness spoke about as far as Syria is concerned, is of world importance. Fortunately, there is someone like him to say it to world leaders and to politicians and to get their attention because someone has to get their attention. He lives it. Its inspirational.” Norman Terrick
“There is no point travelling all the way from London to Australia if you are not going to tell the real situation and the truth. His Holiness told the truth when he said the world is in serious danger. I hope people pay heed to his message. I would also like to say that Melbourne is very lucky to have such an esteemed figure visit us. It is very apparent how much the Ahmadis love their Khalifah.” Female Fire Officer representing Melbourne’s Fire Service “Huzur’s [His Holiness’] speech was perfect. I just wish he had spoken for longer. The essence of his speech was that there is no peace in the world because there is no justice. It was a truly wonderful analysis. I should also say that the dignity of this event was greater than I have witnessed at any other event.” Rashid Sultan Pakistani intellectual “The speech was extremely thought provoking. I listened to every single word intently.” Somalia’s Consul General
“I was so impressed by His Holiness’ analysis of the Arab Spring. He was bold but absolutely correct in everything he said. I did not expect such a thorough analysis.” Dr. Ghalib Jabi from Kuwait “It was a very appropriate speech. His message highlighted the importance of dialogue and I understood that he wished to convey that because we are all God’s Creation we should treat [each] other with mutual respect.” Murray Davies Bahai Faith – Chair of Interfaith Council “What a truly wonderful event! It is amazing to see that whilst the rest of the Muslim world is fragmented and divided, your community is so united and together. The message of peace His Holiness wishes to convey is amazing, however it will be difficult to convey in today’s world.” Roger Page Principal Nossal High School NOVEMBER 2013
|
THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS
71
“His Holiness is a man of peace. Our organisation would love for His Holiness to speak at our events. We would pay for his tickets and give him the protocol that a leader of his status deserves. He would be entirely our guest. We believe His Holiness should have a voice at the United Nations.” John Bellavance International Peace Federation “What His Holiness said is exactly what I believe and what I try to practice. There is no difference in my belief and his belief. I already try to live my life in a good and peaceful way and now will try even more so.” Tracey Florence guest “The words of His Holiness were truly universal. His message was for everyone.” Pamela Englander guest
(Source: MTA International/AMJ Central Press Desk)
72 THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS | NOVEMBER 2013
Write to us with comments, feedback and suggestions at info@reviewofreligions.org
Follow us on Twitter @ReviewReligions
SYRIA CRISIS APPEAL PLEASE DONATE NOW
THEY URGENTLY NEED FOOD, SHELTER AND MEDICAL SUPPLIES TEXT
TEXT “HFSY01 £AMOUNT” TO 70070
BY DONATING
£30
CALL
HELP A FAMILY OF 5 TO SURVIVE THE HARSH WINTER
020 8417 0082 WEB
WWW.JUSTGIVING.COM/ SYRIA-CRISIS-APPEAL WEB
WWW.UK.HUMANITYFIRST.ORG OVER
OVER
OVER
100k 4.25m 2m FATALITIES FORCED TO FLEE FLED MOSTLY TO LEBANON, THEIR HOMES
JORDAN, TURKEY, IRAQ & EGYPT
U.K Charity Registration No. 1149693 Canadian Registration 87254 1040 RR0001 Germany Vereinsregister Nr: VR11185 US Incorporated EIN: 20-0464012
Status of the Promised Messiah’s Advent
as
hazrat mirza ghulam ahmad as,
the promised messiah and imam mahdi
We present extracts from the writings of Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, the Promised Messiah and Imam Mahdias, on the status of the Promised Messiahas. These are republished from the fourth volume of Essence of Islam.
Question: The Messiah son of Maryas proved through many miracles that he had been sent by God, what [miracles] do you have? Have you put forward any such proof ? Have you brought any dead person to life or restored sight to one congenitally blind? Even if we were to suppose that you are the like of the Messiahas, what benefit do we derive from your advent?
It is apparent from a study of the Gospels that, throughout his life, the Messiahas himself remained the target of this same objection that he had shown no miracle.
Answer: It is apparent from a study of the Gospels that, throughout his life, the Messiahas himself remained the target of this same objection that he had shown no miracle. How could he be the Messiah when he did not bring back to life anyone who could have related the conditions of the life after death and could have warned his heirs that he had come back from hell and that they should forthwith believe. Had the Messiahas brought back the ancestors of the Jews to this life to bear witness to his truth, no one would have dared deny him. Prophets have certainly shown signs but the faithless ones could not perceive them. In the same way, this humble one has not come emptyhanded. God Almighty has bestowed a great quantity of life-giving water to me for the purpose of reviving the dead. He who drinks of it will come to life. I proclaim that if the dead are not revived,
and the blind do not begin to see, and the leprous are not cleansed through my words, then I have not come from God Almighty, Who in His Holy Word has said concerning me:
“If he is viewed in contrast to the Prophet of Nazareth, it will be realized that he is carrying out a great cleansing of the creatures of God, considerably more than they were ever healed of physical ailments.�1 Be sure that the seed of spiritual life has been sown like a mustard seed and it will soon, very soon, appear in the form of a great tree. A person who thinks along material lines cherishes material things NOVEMBER 2013
|
THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS
75
status of the
promised messiah ’ s as advent
and sees great value in them, but he who has been given a share of spirituality seeks the spiritual life. The righteous servants of God Almighty do not come into the world to make an exhibition for the amusement of people. Their true purpose is to draw people towards God and they are ultimately recognized through this very spiritual power. The light that endows them with the power to attract others may not be perceived by those who would try to test it and it may even lead them to stumble; still, that light by itself draws such people as are worthy of being drawn and thus reveals its miraculous effect. The special friends of God are known by the following signs: (1) They are bestowed a pure love of the Divine which cannot be perceived by people of this world. (2) Their hearts are governed by a sort of fear, due to which their obedience takes the subtlest form, and they are afraid lest the Eternal Friend is displeased. (3) They are bestowed extraordinary steadfastness, the manifestation of which surprises the beholders. 76 THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS | NOVEMBER 2013
(4) When someone persecutes them and persists in so doing, he is suddenly subjected to the wrath of that Most Powerful One, Who is their Guardian. (5) When someone becomes their true friend, and devotes himself to them in full loyalty and sincerity, God Almighty draws such a one to Himself and bestows His special [M]ercy on him. (6) In comparison with others, their prayers are accepted in such large numbers as can hardly be counted. (7) Hidden mysteries are often revealed to them and they are informed in advance of that which is yet to come. Even though other believers also may experience true dreams and visions, the chosen ones exceed them all in this respect. (8) God Almighty becomes their Custodian and treats them more mercifully then a parent would treat his children. (9) When they are afflicted with a great calamity, they are treated in one of two ways: either they are delivered from it in an extraordinary manner or are bestowed such steadfastness as is full of pleasure, delight and eagerness.
(10) They are bestowed a high moral status wherein they are freed from all arrogance, pride, meanness, conceit, hypocrisy, envy, miserliness and narrow-mindedness. They are characterized by wholehearted conviction and cheerfulness. (11) Their trust in God is of a very high order and the fruits thereof continue to be manifested constantly. (12) They are given the power and the capacity to perform righteous deeds which others are unable to perform. (13) They develop a high degree of sympathy for God’s creatures without the expectation of any reward or merit. They are inspired by a high degree of desire to serve mankind. They themselves cannot understand why they are so inspired, for this characteristic is a part of their nature. (14) They are wholly and perfectly devoted to God Almighty and possess a fervent desire to sacrifice their whole beings in His cause. The special relationship their souls have with the Spirit of God cannot be described in words. They enjoy a standing with the Holy One which is not recognized by the common people. That which they specially
possess in abundance and which is the fountainhead of all blessings; and by virtue of which—while they appear to be sinking—they win through to security; and having arrived at the brink of extinction, are revived; and even though they are humiliated, they still exhibit their crown of honour; and though appearing alone and abandoned, they are suddenly seen at the head of a large group; is none other than this relationship of perfect devotion which can neither be severed with the sword nor loosened by any riot or fear of the world.
“There is peace for them from Allah and His angels and all the righteous.”2 (15) The fifteenth sign is their knowledge of the Holy Qur’an. They are given deep understanding of the wisdom, verities and fine points of the Holy Qur’an to a degree which is never given to others. They are the pure ones concerning whom God, the Glorious, says: “Which none shall touch except those who are purified.”3 (16) God Almighty inspires their words NOVEMBER 2013
|
THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS
77
status of the
promised messiah ’ s as advent
and writings with an effectiveness which distinguishes them from the writings and speeches of the conventional clerics. Their words have an awe and grandeur and—provided there are no veils—it captures the hearts.
(19) God Almighty does not let them die until that for which they have been sent has been accomplished. Their journey to the hereafter is deferred until they have found acceptance in the hearts of the pure.
(17) They inspire a kind of awe which is a reflection of the awe inspired by God, for God Almighty grants them His company in a special manner. Their countenances reflect the light of God’s love. He who perceives it is delivered from the fire of hell. Although they may fall into error or minor sin, there is a fire in their hearts that consumes all error and all sin. Their error does not persist, but is like something which is carried away by a strong current of water. Thus their critic always stumbles.
(20) They leave behind a good remembrance, and God Almighty bestows special mercy on their progeny through many generations, as well as on the progeny of their faithful friends and keeps their names alive.
(18) God Almighty does not let them be destroyed and they are not subjected to humiliation and disgrace for they are dear to God as they are planted with His own hand. He does not cause them to fall from a height in order to destroy them, but He does so to exhibit their miraculous deliverance. He does not push them into fire in order to consume them, but to show the people that what was at one time a fire has now become a lovely garden.
Now, in obedience to the direction:
78 THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS | NOVEMBER 2013
These are the characteristics of the Friends of the Gracious One. Each of these, when manifested at its due time, appears like a great miracle but its manifestation is entirely in the hand of God Almighty.
“And proclaim the bounty of thy Lord.”4 I do not see any harm in declaring that the Merciful God has, through His Grace and [B]ounty, bestowed all these characteristics on me in abundance. He has not sent me empty-handed, nor has He appointed me without any accompanying
signs. He has bestowed all these signs upon me which are being manifested and will continue to be manifested. God Almighty will go on manifesting these signs until the truth is clearly established. In answer to the question, “What benefit can we derive from your advent?” I say that when a person who has been chosen appears from heaven, his advent benefits all and sundry according to their capacities. His advent is, in fact, the rising of a spiritual sun, the light of which spreads far and wide. As the sun casts its effects differently on animals, plants, minerals and other objects, though few people know enough about it, in the same way, the advent of an appointed one affects all dispositions and every part and region of the universe. From the moment his merciful appearance is determined upon in heaven, angels begin to descend therefrom, like the rays of the sun, unto the far corners of the world to strengthen those who have the capacity to advance towards the truth. Thereby, people of pious natures are by themselves inclined towards accepting the truth. All these are the signs of the truth of the Man of God at the time of whose advent heavenly abilities are sharpened. God has given this alone as a sign of true revelation that when it descends, angels too descend
along with it and, day by day, the world begins to turn towards the truth. In addition to the particular signs that I have described above, this is a general sign of an appointed one who comes from God Almighty. [Izala-e-Auham, Ruhani Khaza’in, vol. 3, pp. 334-339 (English Translation: Essence of Islam, Vol.4, pp.54-59)]. endnotes
1. Izala-e-Auham, Ruhani Khaza’in, Vol. 3, pp. 333. 2. Izala-e-Auham, Ruhani Khaza’in, Vol. 3, pp. 337. 3. The Holy Qur’an, Surah Al-Waqi‘ah, Verse 80. 4. The Holy Qur’an, Surah Al-Duha, Verse 12.
NOVEMBER 2013
|
THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS
79
A Journey of Spiritual Guidance – Khalifah of the Promised Messiah as Visits Germany PART I OF II
80 THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS | NOVEMBER 2013
Adapted from Official Urdu Reports by Abdul Majid Tahir
Translated by Professor Amtul Razzaq Carmichael
Introduction Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmadaba, Head of the worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim Community and Khalifatul Masih Vaba, undertook a twelve day tour of Germany in June 2013. His Holiness presided over the Jalsa Salana (Annual Convention) Germany, inaugurated two mosques and laid the foundation stone of another mosque. To enhance the religious and spiritual training of his followers, His Holiness led the five daily prayers in congregation, delivered Friday sermons and presided over classes with youth of the Community. His Holiness also found time in his busy schedule to grant private audience (Mulaqaat) to thousands of Ahmadis travelling from all over Europe and attend the celebrations of the first reading of the Holy Qur’an (Ameen Ceremony) and Nikah ceremony (announcement of a marriage). His Holiness held press conferences and delivered keynote addresses to the local German population to promote the peaceful message of Islam. The following is part one of a two-part coverage of the tour.
22nd June 2013 After a silent prayer, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmadaba left the Fazl Mosque in London and began his journey to Germany. The official duties of His Holiness continued even whilst travelling; during the journey, His Holiness inspected administrative documents and issued relevant directives. Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaba was warmly welcomed by dignitaries and officials of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at (Community) in Germany, in the town of Wettern. His Holiness led the afternoon prayers in a local restaurant, followed by lunch. The blessed convoy drove across Belgium to Germany, arriving at Baitus Subuh Mosque in Frankfurt at 8.45pm. The arrival of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaba at Baitus Subuh was a most joyous occasion for Ahmadis in Germany; nearly 1,000 dedicated followers, some of them having had travelled from as far as Berlin, gathered to welcome their beloved Khalifah. At 9.50pm His Holiness led in the evening prayers before retiring to his residence. 23rd June 2013 His Holiness led the congregational dawn prayers in Baitus Subuh Mosque and thereafter attended to his NOVEMBER 2013
|
THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS
81
khalifah of the promised messiah as visits germany
varied administrative responsibilities. At 11.25am, His Holiness presided over a class of Waqfeen-e-Nau girls (youth who want to dedicate their lives wholly to the service of the Community). After the recitation of the Holy Qur’an, a Hadith was presented, (saying of the Holy Prophetsa) highlighting the importance of preaching the message of guidance. One girl read out an extract from the writings of the Promised Messiahas, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, Founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, which emphasised that one should exercise tolerance and patience while delivering the message of guidance. Other presentations focussed on the relevance and techniques of preaching in today’s world, the qualities of a good preacher and the value of education for the success of preaching activities. A candid question-and-answer session with His Holiness followed covering wide-ranging issues. The key points from the answers given by His Holiness are summarised below: The length of the congregational prayers in Islam is varied; the Imam takes into account that children, older people and the sick may be offering the prayers in congregation and that they will be inconvenienced if it is too lengthy. His Holiness said that his practice is that if he hears 82 THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS | NOVEMBER 2013
someone coughing or a child crying, he shortens the prayer as was the practice of the Holy Prophet Muhammadsa. Islam encourages women to play an active and useful role in society. The division of labour is such that men are responsible for the duties outside the home and women have a key role in the management of household affairs. It is the job of women to bring up their children well; women are encouraged to invest their knowledge and skills in the training of their children, to enable them to become useful members of society. Allah the Exalted has not prohibited women from attaining professional training and competence. The Holy Prophetsa said that to acquire knowledge is a mandatory requirement for both men and women. The status of women is so high in Islam that the Holy Prophetsa said to his followers that they could learn half of the faith from ‘A’ishahra (noble and pious wife of the Holy Prophetsa). In the West, the recognition of women’s intellectual and academic abilities only took place within the last century; Muslim women were given these rights with the advent of Islam. In response to a question, His Holiness said superstition and taking of omens
is not acceptable. The practice of taking omens is like associating partners with Allah. His Holiness encouraged the practice of giving charitable donations every day of the week and recommended Save the Children and similar charities such as Humanity First, which help hospitals and orphanages in poorer countries. His Holiness explained that sometimes children are labelled “hyperactive” inappropriately. Parents should try and understand the nature of their child and have a tactful manner. Sometimes parents give in to a child’s tantrum and as such the child learns that by throwing tantrums they will get their own way. If parents ignore these tantrums then children will understand that this is not the way to behave. Some parents always say no to everything that their children ask for; this also makes children resentful. Parents must understand their children’s psychology and treat them accordingly. Thereafter, His Holiness presided over a class of Waqf-e-Nau boys. The class began with the recitation of the Holy Qur’an, presentation of a Hadith, followed by extracts of the writings of the Promised Messiahas.
The next presentation discussed the importance of training as a missionary and attending Jamiah (an Ahmadiyya theological institute for training missionaries). The syllabus was further elaborated upon as well as the other educational opportunities available at Jamiah. Along with the broad theological knowledge that students are expected to acquire, German, Urdu, English and Arabic languages are also taught. In the senior years, students study history, comparative theology, the Persian language and logic and must complete a thesis in their final year. Trainee missionaries participate in sports for at least one hour per day and inter-house competitions for knowledge and skills are a pivotal part of Jamiah life. The curriculum of the worldwide Jamiah, whether in Pakistan, Indonesia, Canada or Germany, is uniform and examinations are of the same standard. His Holiness directed that at least twenty of the Waqf-e-Nau from Germany should go to Jamiah. His Holiness said that to go to Jamiah should be the first priority of Waqf-e-Nau males. In an interesting question-and-answer session, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaba explained that it is acceptable to perform embryonic research in the laboratory for the purpose of treating future ailments. NOVEMBER 2013
|
THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS
83
khalifah of the promised messiah as visits germany
It is not acceptable to take a growing foetus out of a mother’s womb to carry out scientific research. Other questions were answered relating to the finer points about prayers, Salat (formal prayer in Islam) and charity. One dedicated youth was advised to pursue a Masters degree in construction engineering, researching durable materials for building mosques. These dedicated young men were advised to hone their teaching skills, become proactive in preaching, remain focussed on prayers and supplication and persevere with their studies. In response to a question, His Holiness said that the youth should undertake regular exercise to become fit and manage their weight well. His Holiness expressed the importance of truthfulness and Sadaqah (alms) while pursuing asylum cases. The history of the Partition of India for the protection of Muslims was discussed. Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaba explained that the Nur (spiritual radiance) on the face of the prophet is recognised by a person with a pure heart only. This is why some unfortunate people missed the opportunity to accept the truthfulness of the Holy Prophet Muhammadsa, despite living in his era and even within the same town as him. This class finished at 1.45pm, thereafter Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaba led an Ameen (ceremony after the first 84 THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS | NOVEMBER 2013
complete reading of the Holy Qur’an) ceremony of several children from all over Germany, followed by afternoon prayers in congregation. 24th June 2013 His Holiness set off for Flörsheim to inaugurate the Baitul Ata Mosque. Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaba was received by local dignitaries, council officials and key members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at. The local Ahmadis were full of devotion, commitment and excitement to see their holy master in Flörsheim. The history of Ahmadiyyat in the area stretches back to 1988, when the first Ahmadis arrived in this town. The local Ahmadiyya Community had been trying to build a mosque in the town since 2006. After overcoming many hurdles and challenges, a site was finally bought in 2012. The local Ahmadiyya Community made immense financial sacrifices in order to convert the site of the local market into a functioning mosque. In his address at the inauguration ceremony of the mosque, the Mayor of Flörsheim praised the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community for their spirit of integration in the local community. After addresses from local dignitaries, Hazrat
Khalifatul Masih Vaba thanked all the guests for their kind participation. His Holiness was particularly grateful to the native Germans for their support. Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaba said that in a mosque one receives eternal spiritual nourishment that enhances one’s interactions with God as well as with other human beings. His Holiness said that we believe that anything that one is given is bestowed by God. Hence the name of the mosque, “Baitul Ata,” which means “the house of One, Who has the capacity to bestow everything.” His Holiness reiterated the Islamic message of peace, security, loyalty and mutual love and understanding, in his address. Thereafter, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaba left for Frankfurt at 8.50pm. In Baitus Subuh Mosque in Frankfurt, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaba presided over an Ameen ceremony for 27 fortunate children. At the end of his official day, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaba led the evening prayers in congregation, before retiring to his residence. The inauguration Baitul Ata and the laying of the foundation stone of the mosque Baitus Subhan was extensively reported in both print and electronic media in Germany. The newspapers Frankfurter Rundschau, Frankfurter Neue
Presse, Main Taunus Kurier, Main Spitze, Echo Online and Hochster Kreisblatt, extensively reported on the inauguration ceremony. They also quoted His Holiness, that from a market place you can only gain things of material benefit that are short-lived, but from a mosque eternal spiritual benefits are attained. The Ahmadiyya characteristics of integration into local communities, volunteer work and financial sacrifices, were highlighted in these reports. 25th June 2013 The official day of His Holiness began at 4.15am by leading the dawn prayers in congregation. After attending to his wide and varied official commitments, His Holiness attended meetings with key officials of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. After these meetings, 155 members of 36 families had the blessed opportunity to benefit from the blessed company of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaba, during Mulaqaat (private audience). These few precious moments are perceived as deeply spiritual and emotional moments, wherein Ahmadis are able to seek advice on personal matters, and request support and prayers from their revered and beloved leader. After leading the silent prayers at 5.15pm, Hazrat NOVEMBER 2013
|
THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS
85
khalifah of the promised messiah as visits germany
Khalifatul Masih Vaba left Frankfurt for Neuwied, to attend a Mayoral reception. In his welcome address the Mayor emphasised their philosophy of religious freedom. The Mayor presented His Holiness a beautiful wooden box with traditional art, specific to the city of Neuwied. In his address, His Holiness thanked the Mayor for his kind remarks and reiterated the commitment to mutual support and integration. The Mayor escorted Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaba to his car at the end of the programme at 7pm. A full police escort was granted to the motorcade of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaba, to the site of the inauguration of the Baitur Raheem Mosque. His Holiness was received by the local council and dignitaries of the Ahmadiyya Community. The first Ahmadis arrived in the town of Neuwied in 1985. At the time, the local Ahmadiyya Community consisted of only 17 people. Now, Neuwied has a thriving and active Ahmadiyya Community consisting of 160 people. In his keynote address, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaba thanked the German government for allowing religious freedom to the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. A large number of Ahmadis had to emigrate from Pakistan in order to escape 86 THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS | NOVEMBER 2013
intense persecution. Ahmadis in Pakistan are deprived of their human rights, are treated unfairly and face many hardships. The German government not only granted these persecuted Ahmadis asylum, but also gave them religious freedom. Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaba reminded local Ahmadis that it is their religious responsibility to be faithful and loyal to the country they live in and that they should make every effort to integrate in the local community while adhering to their religious values. His Holiness highlighted the importance of interfaith meetings and conferences in this regard. Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaba led the silent prayers at the end of the ceremony at 8.20pm. After a long and emotional farewell, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaba set off for Frankfurt under police escort and was shown official protocol. In Baitus Subuh Mosque Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaba led the evening prayers in congregation at 10pm, before retiring to his residence. There was good media coverage, both in print and electronic, of the ceremony of the inauguration of the mosque. 26th June 2013 After leading the early morning prayers in congregation, Hazrat Khalifatul
Masih Vaba attended to his wide and varied officially commitments as the Head of the worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. At 11.30am His Holiness granted Mulaqaat (private audience) to 173 members of 37 families, followed by an Ameen ceremony for 24 fortunate children. After leading silent prayers, His Holiness set off to the town of Fulda, where many dedicated men, women and children, warmly welcomed their holy master. Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaba was received by the dignitaries of the local Ahmadiyya Community as well as dignitaries from local councils and religious leaders. The ceremony of laying the foundation stone of Baitul Hameed started with
the recitation of the Holy Qur’an. In his address, the Ameer (National President) of the Ahmadiyya Community Germany presented the history of Ahmadiyyat in Fulda. The first Ahmadis arrived in Fulda in 1980s. From its humble beginnings of 10 families, now there is a well-established and well-integrated Ahmadiyya Community in Fulda. The address of the City Councillor recognised the contribution of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in the city of Fulda and expressed the hope that the mosque in Fulda will become a symbol of peace, security and extended mutual collaboration. The leader of the Evangelical Church warmly welcomed the idea of NOVEMBER 2013
|
THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS
87
khalifah of the promised messiah as visits germany
building a mosque in Fulda. In his keynote address, His Holiness thanked all the guests for their kind support. His Holiness explained the philosophy behind the name of the mosque—Baitul Hameed, which literally means “house of the One praised abundantly.” A Muslim is expected to pray five times a day and in every prayer, a Muslim is commanded to say, “All praise belongs to Allah, Lord of all the worlds.” This is a reminder that Allah is the Lord of Muslims, Christians, Jews, Hindus and all other human beings. By praising God five times a day, we enhance our commitment to the values of humanity. This prayer focuses our mind towards the respect and dignity of all human beings. His Holiness expanded the concept of the Islamic teaching that “deeds are judged by intentions”; the true intention behind any action should be to please Allah; God is the Lord of all the Worlds and loves all His creations. His Holiness laid the foundation stone for the mosque and led the silent prayers. Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaba was then interviewed by the national German TV channel, ZDF, where he promoted the peaceful message of Islam. The reporter who interviewed His Holiness 88 THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS | NOVEMBER 2013
attended the ceremony and asked about the importance of building mosques. His Holiness replied that by building mosques we aim to promote unity in the worship of God. We would like visitors to clarify any misunderstandings about Islam for themselves, by visiting the mosque. His Holiness expounded that Ahmadis are instructed to integrate and serve the local community, while adhering to their religious values. He explained that there are some aspects of German culture that we will be happy to adopt. After leading silent prayers, His Holiness travelled back to Frankfurt where after the congregational evening prayers, he retired to his residence. 27th June 2013 His Holiness attended to his official commitments from the dawn prayers until the afternoon prayers, which he led in congregation. At 6.15pm, the motorcade Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaba set out to Karlsruhe, where the Jalsa Salana (annual convention) of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Germany, was to take place at Karlsruhe. On his arrival at 8.20pm, the Officer Jalsa Salana (responsible for overall arrangements of the convention), warmly welcomed Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaba along with
his team. Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaba inspected the preparation for the convention, starting from the card checking system at reception. Scenes from outside the main marquee were broadcast by MTA Germany, facilitated by a drone camera. MTA, Muslim Television Ahmadiyya International, is the official satellite channel of the Ahmadiyya Community. Speeches were translated simultaneously into 11 different languages. His Holiness inspected the accommodation for the foreign guests and the arrangements for catering for the large number of guests. Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaba also inspected the departments of: the main kitchen facilities, hospitality, public services, private bazaar and family accommodation in tents and caravans. In his address to the volunteers, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaba stressed the importance of serving the guests of the Promised Messiahas, explaining that it is an immense privilege and this blessed opportunity should be availed to please God. At 10.10pm Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaba led the evening prayers, before retiring to his temporary accommodation within the site where the convention would be hosted.
Write to us with comments, feedback and suggestions at info@reviewofreligions.org
Follow us on Twitter @ReviewReligions
Part II to follow in the next edition.
NOVEMBER 2013
|
THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS
89
SUBSCRIPTION
NOTE ABOUT REFERENCES
Verse references to the Holy Qur’an count ‘Bismillah…’ (In the Name of Allah…) as the first verse of each Chapter. In some non-standard texts, this is not counted. Should the reader refer to such texts, the verse quoted in Subscription Contacts: USA – Faiza Bajwa Email: usa@reviewofreligions.org
The Review of Religions will be found a verse earlier, i.e. at one verse less than the number quoted in this journal. For the ease of non-Muslim readers, ‘sa’ or ‘(saw)’ after the words, ‘Holy Prophet’,
Canada– Sheikh Abdul Wadood Email: canada@reviewofreligions.org Tel: +1 416 464 3010
Nigeria – Qasim Oyekola Email: nigeria@reviewofreligions.org Tel: + 23 481 2221 1949
Ghana – Ragheb Zia ul Haq Email: ghana@reviewofreligions.org Tel: +23 324 333 4337
UK Email: akhbar@ahmadiyyauk.org Tel: +44 (0) 20 8544 7614 +44 (0) 7888 730 533
or the name ‘Muhammad’, are used normally in small letters. They stand for ‘Sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam’ meaning ‘peace and blessings of Allah be upon him’. Likewise, the letters ‘as’ or ‘(as)’ after the name of all other prophets is an abbreviation meaning ‘peace be upon him’ derived from ‘Alaihis salatu wassalam’ which are words that a Muslim utters out of respect whenever he or she comes across that name. The abbreviation ‘ra’ or ‘(ra)’ stands for ‘Radhiallahu Ta’ala anhu and is used for Companions of a Prophet, meaning Allah be pleased with him or her (when followed by the relevant
For all other subscription issues or for general enquiries email info@reviewofreligions.org or contact Head Office
Arabic pronoun). Finally, ‘rh’ or ‘(rh)’ for Rahemahullahu Ta’ala means the Mercy of Allah the Exalted be upon him. In keeping with current universal practice, local transliterations of names of places are preferred to their anglicised versions, e.g. Makkah instead of Mecca, etc.
CALENDAR OF
RELIGIOUS
EVENTS & FESTIVALS
NOVEMBER 2013 Sunday 3rd November Faith: Hinduism Event: Diwali
Wednesday 13th November Faith: Islam Event: Ashura
Monday 4th November Faith: Islam Event: Al-Hijira
Thursday 28th November Faith: Judaism Event: Hanukkah
Diwali is also known as the “festival of lights.” It involves lighting small clay lamps to celebrate victory of good over evil, which are kept lit during the night in order to make the goddess Lakshmi feel welcome. Jains and Sikhs also celebrate this festival.
Al-Hijira is the Islamic New Year, and the first day of the month of Muharram. It marks the Holy Prophet’ssa migration from Makkah to Madinah, where he set up the first Islamic state.
Ashura is observed on the 10th of the Islamic month of Muharram. Muslims commemorate the martyrdom of Hazrat Husseinra, a grandson of the Holy Prophetsa.
Hanukkah is the festival of lights, commemorating the Jews’ struggle for religious freedom.
The Review of Religions, in print since 1902, is one of the longest-running comparative religious magazines. The objective of the magazine is to present the teachings of Islam, reflecting its rational, harmonious and inspiring nature. It also brings together articles and viewpoints on different religions and seeks to make discussions on religion and religious philosophy accessible to a wider readership. The magazine is devoted to promoting intellectual and lively debate that is based on respect for all prophets and religions. Islam repeatedly stresses the need to seek knowledge and The Review of Religions provides a unique platform for people to acquire, and share knowledge. Yearly subscription is only ÂŁ15 sterling or $30 for overseas customers. To subscribe, or for more info, visit
www.reviewofreligions.org/subscription Follow us on Twitter Š ISLAMIC PUBLICATIONS, 2013 ISSN NO. 0034-6721
@ReviewReligions