Vol-18 - Issue 3 - August 2013
TARIQ
VOICE OF MAJLIS KHUDDAMUL AHMADIYYA UK
www. khuddam.org.uk
TARIQ
Contents
Voice of Majlis Khuddamul Ahmadiyya UK
Why do we need Khilafat?
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London’s first Mosque
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Peckham & SE London debut in the IFL
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Importance & blessings of gaining work experience in the Jama’at
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South Region AMYA digs in to plant over 2,000 trees
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Historic MKA Ijtema Gallery 1951 - 2010
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A Doorway to Blessings
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Tehrik for special Prayers
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Chief Editor & Manager Yousaf Aftab
Persecution of Ahmadi Muslims in Pakistan
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Editorial Board Zafar Bhatti (Deputy) Tayyib Hayat
Prayer for Peace
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First Journey to London
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Devotion of life
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Sacrifice in the Latter Days
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Advice to a Missionary
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The Solar System
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Allah proves his existence by manifesting His power
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MKA UK Calendar 2012 - 2013
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Ijtema Image Gallery 2013
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Majlis Khuddamul Ahmadiyya (UK) Baitul Futuh, 181 London Road, Morden, Surrey SM4 5HF Tel: 020 8687 7843 Fax: 020 8687 7889 Email: tariqmagazine@khuddam.org.uk Registered Charity Number: 1135657 Management Board Mirza Waqas Ahmad (Chairman) Yousaf Aftab Muzaffar Bhatti
Proof Readers Hannan Bhatti Safeer Ahmad Ibraheem Khan Jamal Akbar Abdul Hayee Muddassar Ahmad Subscription/Procurement Manager Mohammad Noman Distribution North East and Yorkshire Regions Web Developer/Maintenance Asif Javed Design and Layout Muhammad Akram Anjum Daud Ahmad Hafiz Mohsin Tahir All correspondence should be forwarded directly to: tariqmagazine@Khuddam.org.uk The Editor, Tariq Magazine Majlis Khuddamul Ahmadiyya UK, Baitul Futuh, 181 London Road, Morden, Surrey SM4 5PT Tariq Magazine is published by Majlis Khuddamul Ahmadiyya (UK), the youth organisation of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association UK in Islam. Some of the views expressed by contributors may not be the representative views of Majlis Khuddamul Ahmadiyya (UK), or the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association UK.
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5 - Friday Sermon
Main Features
11 - Why do we need Khilafat? 14 - London’s First Mosque 23 - Historic MKA Ijtema Gallery 32 - Tehrik for Special Prayers 35 - Prayer For Peace 36 - First Journey to London 44 - The Solar System
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Words of Wisdom
The Words of Allah And when you have performed the acts of worship prescribed for you, celebrate the praises of Allah as you celebrated the praises of your fathers, or even more than that. And of men there are some who say, ‘Our Lord, grant us good things in this world;’ and such a one shall have no share in the Hereafter. And of them there are some who say: ‘Our Lord, grant us good in this world as well as good in the world to come, and protect us from the torment of the Fire’ (Al-Baqarah Chapter 2 : Verse 201-202)
Allah burdens not any soul beyond its capacity. It shall have the reward it earns, and it shall get the punishment it incurs. Our Lord, do not punish us, if we forget or fall into error; and our Lord, lay not on us a responsibility as Thou didst lay upon those before us. Our Lord, burden us not with what we have not the strength to bear; and efface our sins, and grant us forgiveness and have mercy on us; Thou art our Master; so help us Thou against the disbelieving people. (Al-Baqarah Chapter 2 : Verse 287)
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Sayings of the Holy Prophet [saw] Hazrat Abu Sa’id [ra] and Hazrat Abu Hurairah [ra] relate that the Holy Prophet [saw] said: ‘Whatever trouble, illness, anxiety, grief, hurt or sorrow afflicts a Muslim, even the pricking of a thorn, Allah removes instead some of his defaults.’ (Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim) Hazrat Anas [ra] relates that the Holy Prophet [saw] said: ‘No one of you should wish for death because of any misfortune that befalls him. Should anyone be sorely afflicted, he should say: Allah, keep me alive so long as life is the better for me and cause me to die when death is the better for me.’ (Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim) Hazrat Anas [ra] relates that the Holy Prophet [saw] said: ‘When Allah decrees good for a servant of His, He afflicts him quickly in this world and if He decrees evil for him, He does not hasten to call him to account for his sins in this world but takes him to task on the Day of Judgement. ‘ He also said: ‘High reward is for high endeavour; and when Allah the Exalted loves a people, He puts them to trial. Then for him who accepts the affliction cheerfully is His pleasure, and for him who evades or shirks it, is His wrath.’ (Tirmidhi) Hazrat Abu Hurairah [ra] relates that the Holy Prophet [saw] said: ‘A believer male or female continues to be tried in respect of self, children and property till he or she faces Allah the Exalted in a state in which all his or her sins have been wiped out.’ (Tirmidhi)
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Words of Wisdom
Writings of the Promised Messiah [as] ‘Illness means the condition when the body does not function normally and health is the condition when all natural matters function in the proper way. The moving away of a hand or foot or any other limb from its proper position causes pain and if this condition persists for a time not only the affected limb becomes useless, but it begins to affect other limbs also. The same is the case with the soul. When a person moves away from God, Who is the True Source of his life, and departs from the religion of nature, he is involved in suffering and if his heart is not dead and retains its feeling, he feels the torment keenly. If this condition is not reformed, there is an apprehension that all spiritual faculties might gradually become useless and a severe torment might ensue. Thus no suffering comes from outside; all suffering is generated within a person. We do not deny that torment is God’s action, but it is the consequence of man’s actions as when a person swallows poison, God kills him. …In the same way, the source of the comfort of heaven are a person’s own actions. If he does not depart from the religion of nature and does not move away from the centre and, as a servant, he lies at the threshold of God and partakes of the lights of Godhead, then he is like the healthy limb which has not moved from its position and is performing the function for which God has created it and he suffers no pain and all is comfort. …there is a philosophy about heaven and hell which is as I have just set out. It should, however, not be forgotten that the punishments of this world are meant as a warning and a lesson and are part of a system of discipline. There is a relationship between statesmanship and mercy and these punishments are the reflection of that relationship. Human actions are preserved and recorded as sound is recorded in a gramophone. It is only a person who possesses insight who can draw pleasure and benefit from the contemplation of this system.’ (Malfuzat, vol. III, pp. 25-30)
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Editorial Dear Brothers,
[salam] As we have passed through the blessed month of Ramadhan and approach the Jalsa Salana 2013 to be celebrated in the auspicious grounds of Hadeeqatul Mahdi, it marks a significant point of note for the UK Jama'at. The UK Jama'at are celebrating 100 years of their establishment from 1913 - 2013 and the progress the Jama'at has made over these 100 years. The blessings of the prayers of the Holy Prophet [saw] can be witnessed. These prayers also prove the existence of God to those who are willing to believe that which the Holy Prophet [saw] stated 1400 years ago; namely that the Promised Messiah [as] would appear in the 14th Century and re-establish the greatness of Islam and the message of the Holy Prophet [saw] purifying the world of the ills and vices they would have manifested over a period of decline bringing them into darkness. The light of Islam, existence of God and the exalted status of our beloved master Holy Prophet [saw] would be illumined once again via his ardent and subservient follower the Promised Messiah and Imam Mahdi [as] of the time. As we ponder over what we have done in these 100 years as Ahmadi UK citizens it is also notable that 75 years of MKA has also coincided with this celebration. We should therefore reflect over how much we, as servants of Ahmad [as], have progressed in fulfilling our pledge of allegiance and carrying the message of Islam to the corners of the Earth. We are fortunate that the immense blessings of Khilafat are so directly experienced in the UK. This is a great source of comfort and guidance and at all times we should beckon to the call of our beloved Imam who is the representative on this earth of Allah the Almighty. The Khalifa [atba] is our spiritual father and pivotal in helping us cultivate and promote the true and peaceful message of Islam that the Holy Prophet [saw] and Promised Messiah [as] have brought. At our recent MKA UK Ijtema 2013 Huzoor Aqdas [atba] admonished us to fulfill our pledges and rise to the challenge of what is required of us as Khuddam of Ahmadiyyat. Huzoor [atba] stated: “If you are able to improve and reform yourself it will not only benefit you, but it will also be a means of serving your nation and the society in which you live. O Khuddam of Ahmadiyyat! As you celebrate 75 years of Majlis Khuddamul Ahmadiyya, my message to you is that if you truly wish to attain God’s pleasure, then you should always give precedence to your faith over all worldly matters. It is your foremost duty to peacefully defend Islam and the blessed character of the Holy Prophet Muhammad [saw] against all attacks directed at them. Guide the world towards peace, tolerance and justice so that it can be saved from destruction.” May Allah enable us to follow the directions of our beloved Imam and may we become true recipients of Allah's Mercy and blessings by holding firm to the rope of Allah which is manifested in the blessings of Khilafat.
[ameen]
Wassalam Yousaf Aftab Tariq Magazine
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Islam and Ahmadiyyat
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azrat Khalifatul-Masih [atba] delivered his Friday sermon from Baitur Rahman Mosque in Valencia, Spain. He recited the following Qur’anic verses at the start of the sermon:
‘And hold fast, all together, by the rope of Allah and be not divided; and remember the favour of Allah which He bestowed upon you when you were enemies and He united your hearts in love, so that by His grace you became as brothers; and you were on the brink of a pit of fire and He saved you from it. Thus does Allah explain to you His commandments that you may be guided. And let there be among you a body of men who should invite to goodness, and enjoin equity and forbid evil. And it is they who shall prosper.’ (Surah Ale Imran, Verses 104 – 105) ‘Call unto the way of thy Lord with wisdom and goodly exhortation, and argue with them in a way that is best. Surely, thy Lord knows best who has strayed from His way; and He knows those who are rightly guided.’ (Surah Al Nahl, Verse 126) With the grace of God last Friday the second Mosque in Spain was inaugurated. The Jama’at was very happy about and remains so. Hazrat Khalifatul-Masih [atba] gave a sermon last Friday with reference to the new Mosque and wished to draw further attention to some matters today.
Friday Sermon Summary of Friday Sermon delivered by Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad [atba], the Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community on 5th April 2013. Note: Alislam team takes full responsibility for any errors or miscommunication in this synopsis of the Friday Sermon
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The Promised Messiah [as] said: ‘At the time our Community is in great need of Mosques. (A Mosque) is a house of God. In which-ever town or village our Mosque is built, consider that the foundation for the progress of the Community has been laid (there). If there is a town or a village with very few or no Muslims and progress of Islam is required there, a Mosque should be built there. God would Himself attract Muslims to it. However, the condition is that the Mosque is built with sincerity of intent and is raised merely for the sake of God. Providing there is no element of self-centred motives or any evil, God would bless it.’ (Malfuzat, Vol. 6, p. 119. 1984 edition) This extract has been presented many times before but it contains so many significant points that Ahmadis need to repeatedly reflect over it. The first aspect it mentions is that a Mosque is a house of God. With the grace of God every Ahmadi believes in God; this belief should further draw attention towards honour of house of God and ways to populate it. When such attention is paid for the sake of God then one is also drawn to pay the rights of God’s creation with whom it is indeed required to cultivate a bond of love and affection. In this regard the Promised Messiah [as] said with reference to Mosques: ‘People of Community should all get together and offer congregational Prayer in this Mosque. There is a lot of blessing in congregational Prayer and accord. Dispersion creates discord while this is a time to greatly enhance unity and accord. Trivial matters which are cause of discord should be disregarded/overlooked.’ Thus, this is a house of God and Ahmadis of this area (Valencia) have to fulfil the dues of congregational Prayer here while maintaining ties of love and accord. The Promised Messiah’s [as] made this pronouncement 108 years ago although his companions were being personally trained by him in spirituality. Their standard of Taqwa (righteousness) was extremely high compared to the standard today. They had greater fear of God and they were mindful of Salaat to a very great degree. In fact people who
accepted the Promised Messiah [as] were those who had a special connection with God. Yet, it is a Prophet of God’s work to elucidate the finer details of Taqwa and guide people. This is why he drew attention of his companions to these matters. He was concerned that if Taqwa was not heightened in the early phase, there would not be examples for the latter ones to follow. Hazrat Khalifatul-Masih [atba] said the series of relating incidents of companions of the Promised Messiah [as] that he had started (in his Friday sermons) remains wanting. Incidents of every companion were not related and those that were related were done so briefly. Yet they illustrated such high standards that one is drawn to pray for those people. Here (in Valencia) if there are families of companions of the Promised Messiah [as] they should pray for their elders. Indeed, a lot of work needs to be done in this country. Lost reputation of centuries past has to be restored and people have to be gathered under the banner of the Holy Prophet [saw]. To do this, foremost is worship of God followed by Tabligh activities done as a united community.
We have raised a huge claim in this country; therefore, first of all we have to inculcate high standards within ourselves. If the office-holders and the Jama’at do not stand united, then they would not be fulfilling the rights of house of God. Hazrat Khalifatul-Masih [atba] said that he had also said earlier that the beauty of a Mosque is apparent when the beauty of the spirit of those who come to the Mosque is apparent, when their mutual love and accord is apparent. The first verse recited today indeed enjoins mutual love and draws attentions that it is God’s favour that He made you as one. Every true believer should reflect on every command, every directive of God. Hazrat Khalifatul-Masih [atba] said no one is exempt from commandments of God; neither he nor anyone else; be they office-holders of the Jama’at, missionaries of the Jama’at, Ahmadi men and women. As long as we will firmly hold onto the ‘rope of Allah’ and will practice very commandment of the Holy Qur’an and will remember God’s favour that He has made us Ahmadi, we will be paying His dues and well as the dues of His house. As long as will hold fast the teachings of the Holy Prophet [saw] and his
true and ardent devotee, the Promised Messiah [as], we will be fulfilling the dues of God’s favours. Following our pledge of allegiance (Bai’at) with the Khalifa of the time, as long as each one of us will not only listen to his words but will also put them in practice, he will be showing gratitude for of God’s blessings. It should be remembered that the Holy Qur’an, the Holy Prophet [saw], the Promised Messiah [as] and Khilafat e Ahmadiyya are all ‘rope of Allah’. Anyone who overlooks any one of the links (of this rope) will be getting closer to the pit of fire once again. Holding firmly to the rope of God and remembering God’s favours will lead to words transforming into practices. Mutual love, accord and brotherhood will make Ahmadis truly guided and among those who save themselves from pit of fire. True Ahmadis avoid all manner of egotistical matters and love each other for the sake of attaining God’s pleasure. Fortunate are those who keep their words and deeds in this manner. Summoning others to God can only be done successfully once one has attained these standards. Today a large number of humanity is distant from religion and many in the West reject the existence of God. Tariq Magazine
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Islam and Ahmadiyyat However, people are inclined to religion in Spain. A reception was held in Valencia two days ago for Spanish people. The president of the Valencian parliament came to this reception and during conversation expressed his concern that people are turning away from religion and need to be brought to it. Hazrat Khalifatul-Masih [atba] said among all the people of his level that he has met in the West thus far, this was the only person who expressed concern for religion. God has clearly stated that Islam is now the true religion. Therefore no other religion can bring man close to God; no other religion has the strength to do so. And those whose responsibility it is to spread Islam and those who have been blessed with the ‘rope of Allah’ are indeed Ahmadis. If we damage our unity and create divisions, most certainly we will be accountable before God. It was mentioned in last Friday sermon that thousands of Spaniards whose ancestors were Muslims are entering into Islam once again. Yet, they are unaware of the true Islam. We have to make them aware of it. Many Europeans Ahmadis accepted Islam in their spiritual quest but the Ulema (religious scholars) did not guide them to the spirituality that they sought. These people looked further and eventually accepted Ahmadiyyat. Every Ahmadi should be aware that each new comer to Ahmadiyyat finds spiritual peace after accepting Ahmadiyyat and long term Ahmadis need to analyse themselves in this regard. If the long term Ahmadis, especially those of Pakistani origin do not fulfil their responsibilities they could be turning away these seekers of truth. In the aforementioned reception at Valencia, Hazrat Khalifatul-Masih [atba] gave a brief address with reference to Islamic teachings. A lady with a head scarf came to see him later on. She looked Spanish but introduced herself as a Muslim. She said that the beautiful teaching of Islam had been explained in a very good manner. When Hazrat Khalifatul-Masih remarked that she looked Spanish, son of Maulwi Karam Illahi sahib who was there explained that she was indeed Spanish and had converted to Islam. The lady responded that she had not ‘converted’ as such; rather she had reverted to the faith of her forefathers. There are many
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Spanish people who are looking for the faith of their forefathers and their roots. We need to work with great effort in such areas and among such people. However, Hazrat Khalifatul-Masih [atba] said that he would say it again and again that if we expect this work to be blessed, we need to adapt our conditions according to the commandments of God. The Promised Messiah [as] said that Mosque is the building block of progress but he also reminded that for this the intentions need to be sincere. Thus, it is sincerity that truly avails not cleverness or knowledge, although they do work hand in hand but sincerity is fundamental. When thoughts will be devoid of egotism, Basharat Mosque (Pedro Abad) and this Mosque will bring about good results. The reception held for the Mosque in Valencia was the first such major event organised by Spanish Jama’at. It was attended by neighbours, well-educated people, government officials and politicians. They all took a favourable view of the reception and many said that they had heard the beautiful teaching of Islam for the first time. Many said they felt emotional. In fact an atheist guest said that he had learned a lot about religion. Dr Mansoor sahib reported that his contacts/colleague doctors felt emotional at the reception. Today, only the followers of the Promised Messiah [as] can relate belief in the existence of God and beauty of religion; they are people for whom God has facilitated holding onto the ‘rope of Allah’. Details of the reception will be published in report form and will also be broadcast by MTA which recorded the event and also took interviews etc. The speaker of the Valencian parliament had gone to Madrid on the day of the reception. Madrid is two hour train journey away. He was delayed and his office informed that he would not attend the reception. However, the speaker came to the reception. He had asked his driver to drive straight to the reception from the train station. He appreciated the significance of the programme. He thought he would only attend for half an hour or so but stayed longer. He said that Hazrat Khalifatul-Masih [atba] had related very beautiful teachings of Islam. Similarly there were other guests, including politicians, lawyers, doctors and MPs. The total number of guests was 108, including neighbours who
had previously been opposed to us. The address had touched upon the rights of neighbours in Islam and after listening to the address their doubts were allayed. The world is now watching and we have to play our role. There is need to understand this responsibility. The second verse recited at the start states; ‘let there be among you a body of men who should invite to goodness…and forbid evil’. In this regard foremost are the missionaries of the Jama’at because the Khalifa of the time has made them his representative in matters of Tarbiyyat and Tabligh. They are preachers who counsel people. If missionaries do not establish high standards themselves how could they counsel others? Both Tarbiyyat of the Jama’at and Tabligh are their tasks and these require high resolve. It is also necessary to set high standards of patience, high standards of being obedient and receiving obedience, high standards of congruity between word and practice. They are representatives of the Khalifa of the time for the religious and spiritual advancement of the Jama’at and need to honour this responsibility. During the course of their mission they face hard times, owing to humanness there will be times when their patience is tested to the limit but they should promptly turn to prayer at such times and be mindful of the fact that they have dedicated their life for God and they are to bring the world under the banner of the Holy Prophet [saw]. Thus, nothing anyone says will waver them from attaining their objective. Their pledge will be before them and God’s greatness alone, not their own will be before them. Tolerance of incorrect attitude of office-holders will make them recipients of pleasure of God because they will be acting upon ‘invite to goodness’ in every situation. Not only they have to protect themselves from discord, they also have to save the world from it. The second group of people addressed in this verse are Jama’at officeholders. They too are entrusted a trust for which they will be held accountable. For this they have to have congruity in their word and practice, and present high models of sincerity and loyalty as well as make others follow these practices. If their own examples do not lead members of the Jama’at to piety and if there is conflict between their word and practice the others would say it to their face that they need to correct their moral
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God has clearly stated that Islam is now the true religion. Therefore no other religion can bring man close to God; no other religion has the strength to do so.
Hazrat Khalifatul-Masih I [rh] related an incident in explanation of this verse. Someone complained to a noble man that his friend, a rich person had verbally abused him. The nobleman called for the person and started verbally
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values, correct their spiritual condition, correct their worldly dealings, inculcate tenderness to spread the message of the Jama’at. They should respect the missionaries who are representatives of the Khalifa of the time. Indeed officeholders should be foremost in respect of the missionaries. Unless they make their apparent self and inner self congruous they cannot say they are among those who: ‘invite to goodness, and enjoin equity and forbid evil’. Office-holders of the Jama’at on every level need to self-reflect and watch themselves especially sadr Jama’at and Ameer Jama’at wherever they are, otherwise they are causing divisions. Respect of missionaries should first come from sadr Jama’at and Ameer Jama’at. Meanwhile missionaries should not consider it their right to be respected, in fact this should generate further humility in them and they should be further drawn to reformation of self. When these standards will be attained on every level our Tarbiyyat issues will be resolved, InshaAllah and our Tabligh efforts will garner extraordinary achievements. Unity, respect and harmony will bless our every task. Hazrat Khalifatul-Masih [atba] also explained that mutual dealings of office-holders should also be of high standard, this is important for our tasks to be blessed. Divisions, egotistical stances and lack of patience only produce negative results.
abusing him. He then asked the man why he had verbally abused the other man earlier. He replied because the other man had said unpleasant things to him which he could not tolerate. The nobleman said ‘I abused you and you listened quietly because you had the tolerance to listen quietly. However, when the other man was unpleasant to you, you verbally abused him because you consider him of lesser social standing than yourself. You could have had shown tolerance as you did before me. I had only tested your tolerance.’ Thus are the standards of tolerance and patience. Just as we tolerate those above us, so should we tolerate those who are subordinate to us or those who are equal to us and this stance alone will put an end of discord and conflicts. We counsel the world but when the time comes we let go of patience and tolerance. Members of the Jama’at should not assume from this that these are responsibilities of those who have dedicated their lives and the officeholders only. Mutual accord and harmony, practicing what God and His Messenger [saw] say, enhancing standard of Taqwa in accordance to the teaching of the Promised Messiah [as] and submitting to what the Khalifa of the time says is everyone’s responsibility. It is the obligation of every person to respect the office-holders. It is the responsibility of every Ahmadi to demonstrate high morals at home and outside home. When each and every Ahmadi will discharge of their responsibility then alone will they be saved from the pit of fire! God has not stated that Tabligh is for missionaries and office-holders only.
Summoning others to God is everyone’s task. In the third verse recited at the start God states it is everyone’s responsibility and the method has also been explained. It is stated to call others to God with wisdom. Now that introduction via the new Mosque in Valencia is widening, new Tabligh avenues are opening. The newspapers have started given coverage; now is time for Tabligh. The word Hikmah or wisdom that has been used in conjunction with Tabligh (in verse Ch:16,V:126) has many meanings/ connotations. Firstly, it is very important to have religious knowledge which can be obtained from the Holy Qur’an and its commentaries; arguments and reasoning should be strengthened through these. Then, there are Ahadith, arguments should also be strengthened through these. Strong arguments to counter objections against the person of the Holy Prophet [saw] should be researched. Hikmah also means justice. Our reasoning should not be based on objections, i.e. our arguments should not be a source of unfairness. When nonAhmadis lose arguments they descend to verbal abuse. The Promised Messiah [as] has thus fortified us with sound knowledge that there is no question of us ever articulating anything unfair or cruel. For this purpose it very important to read the writings of the Promised Messiah [as]. Not only will they help us in Tabligh matters but also in Tarbiyyat matters. Hikmah is also used for gentleness and forbearance. New Ahmadis often ask most painfully how they can do Tabligh to their near and dear ones? When their dear ones react Tariq Magazine
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Islam and Ahmadiyyat angrily, they should remain calm and gentle. Many people are won over by gentleness. Some write in to say their patience has paid and such and such relative of theirs has taken Bai’at. Hikmah, a word used by the Qur’an is explained in lexicon as something that deters from ignorance. Those who do Tabligh should use such ways and ensure that whatever they say does not lead the other into further ignorance. Although there are some people, some Maulwis whose hearts have hardened and they are destined to die in ignorance, but if wisdom is employed during Tabligh and people are approached according to their knowledge and disposition, hearts can be softened. At the very least, if people do not accept they stop objecting. Anti-religious hearts are softened and the ignorant desist from objections. Many atheists were present at the Valencian reception. One such pair listened to matters explained by Hazrat KhalifatulMasih [atba] with reference to the Qur’an and Ahadith and said they wished to keep on listening. They later met with Huzoor. So replete with wisdom is the teaching of Islam that when explained in accordance to the situation, it is most effective. Hazrat Khalifatul-Masih [atba] reiterated that now that the introduction of Jama’at has taken place here in Valencia, follow-up work will have to be carried out diligently. Hikmah (wisdom) also requires that always truth is told. Islam is religion of truth and has no room for anything oblique. We are not from among those Ulema who say employ falsehood for Hikmah. Indeed, where there is falsehood, justice and fairness is absent and this creates evil and disorder and that is not Islam. It is a huge responsibility on every Ahmadi when God states to fulfil the requisites of Hikmah. Enhance your level of knowledge and your standard of fairness and inculcate the capacity to recognise nature of people. It is an important skill to recognise nature of people and Tabligh cannot be done without it. All this will enable you to give a ‘goodly exhortation’. This means something that softens the heart. Thus, something that fulfils the requisites of Hikmah, softens hearts. People of different ethnicities live here and different ways of doing Tabligh to them will have to be thought through. We are guided to this aspect as well: ‘and argue with them in a way that is best’. Our task is to do Tabligh and it is for God to bring about results. This is why it is most important that we change our conditions. The Promised Messiah [as] said that it is the same thing when said in a certain context can make a person your friend and when said in another context can him your enemy. He said to always practice: ‘and argue with them in a way that is best’ and said that this indeed was what God called Hikmah. Utilising Hikmah is important for our mutual matters as well as for Tabligh. God’s grace has opened up Tabligh avenues, now it is up to people to benefit from them. The newspapers have given coverage to the news that the Khalifa has said that Muslims were expelled in the seventeen century and now we going to return. Our objective is not achieved by news coverage alone. Similar news were reported with references to Hazrat Khalifatul-Masih IV [rh] at the time of the inauguration of Basharat Mosque, Pedro Abad. But what have we attained
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in the past thirty years? People who attain objectives are not delighted by news coverage alone. We should continually selfreflect, plan new programmes and put them in practice with unity and not rest until we have achieved our aims. Trivial matter should be insignificant for Ahmadis. They are not to look out for what the Ameer Jama’at or sadr Jama’at said about them. They say to those who bring these matters to them that they consider them insignificant. They say they have pledged allegiance to the Imam of the Age and they wish to fulfil it by giving precedence to faith over worldly matters and such trivial matters would disperse their thoughts and will make them forget their objective and will cause them to speak of divisions and thus they will ruin their world as well as their ending. They say to those who raise trivial matters that if they have sympathy for them and for the Jama’at then they should not mention such matters to anyone for these matters are tantamount to tale-telling/back-biting. With such thoughts avenues leading to revolutionary changes will open up. Khuddam, Ansar and Lajna all should consider rooting out all manner of discord and division. May God make this Mosque blessed in every way! Hazrat Khalifatul-Masih [atba] asked for prayers for the recovery of an Ahmadi who was shot in Nawab Shah, Pakistan. He is critically ill in a Karachi hospital and doctors will be able to tell in the next few days if he is out of danger.
WHY DO WE NEED
KHILAFAT?
By Farooq Mahmood, Mohtamim Maal MKA UK
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n Surah Al-Nur , chapter 24 of the Holy Qur’an, the Almighty Allah says “And they swear by Allah their strongest oaths that, if thou command them, they will surely go forth. Say, ‘Swear not; what is required of you is obedience to what is right. Surely Allah is aware of what you do.’ ”(Ch. 24 : V. 54) In the same chapter, Surah Al-Nur, the Almighty Allah says “Allah has promised to those among you who believe and do good works that He will surely make them Successors in the earth, as He made Successors from among those who were before them.” (Ch. 24: V. 56) The Holy Prophet [saw] says, “He who dies in a condition that he has not recognised the Imam of the Age dies a death of ignorance.” Another Hadith is: “Verily the Imam is a shield.” The Promised Messiah [as] said: "Allah's Divine Power is manifested twice. I appeared from God as a manifestation; and after me there shall come other persons who will be the second manifestation of Divine Power... ...And the coming of that manifestation would be better for you because it would be everlasting, of which the link shall not break until the end of the world. And the second manifestation cannot come except after I am gone. But when I go away, Allah shall send the second manifestation for you and it shall stay with you for ever." (Al-Wasiyyat). What difference does Khilafat make in our lives? Today, Muslims are divided in numerous sects and they are absolutely divided. They are not only struggling to find harmony in religion field but they are equally hopeless in politics too. By dissonance and disharmony, the influence of the Muslim world has not only fragmented but almost every Muslim country is seeing rising unrest and violence by the day. There may be several groups that are powerful individually, however, their power is scattered and their strength is broken due to the lack of an Imam. This is happening in every Muslim country. Therefore, it is
inexorable that Muslims should unite on the hand of one Imam. The hour demands, rather begs for one Imam for the entire Muslim Ummah. What else can lead the entire Ummah other than a divinely guided Khalifat (based on the precepts of Prophethood) that stays firm in mending the broken hearts as well as darning the tattered fabric of every society. How can a man, on his own, stay firm in such apparently impossible circumstances. Certainly, it cannot be a job of a man who is not appointed and then constantly guided by Almighty Allah Himself. All Muslims understand the indispensable significance of Khilafat. This need was also evident after the passing away of our beloved Holy Prophet [saw]. Islam provides the fundamental framework for unity and harmony in a society. When we go to a Mosque for five daily prayers, there must be an Imam. Repeating all the actions behind an Imam is a demonstration of unity among people, and hence the reason why the Holy Qur’an and our Holy Prophet [saw] particularly emphasise the need of congregational prayers. The Imam is given so much importance and eminence that if the Imam falters, the entire congregation has to follow. The Imam must be reminded in a dignified manner, however, if he persists on his mistake or omission then all worshippers must follow. They cannot separate themselves from the congregation and offer their own prayer. What better example can be presented for the need of an Imam and unity in following him? If Imam is mandatory in a small Mosque, then how can the whole of the Muslim Ummah be left alone? Indeed, the spiritual and physical survival without an Imam can never be possible. The spiritual condition of Muslims at the death of the Holy Prophet [saw] was a million times better than most of today’s Muslims all over the world. If they needed to follow an Imam then, how can the present day Muslims survive even for a day without an Imam particularly when there is a dire need for an Imam. This, in my opinion, answers, “Why Khilafat is needed!” Khilafat starts after the passing away of a Prophet, and if unfortunately, once it is terminated as it happened after Hazrat Ali [ra], it is impossible that it can start again without a Tariq Magazine
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Islam and Ahmadiyyat Prophet. Other Muslims believe that no Prophet, of whatsoever category, can come now. In other words the single avenue to open the way of Khilafat has been blocked. This is the dilemma of the Muslim Ummah today. By rejecting the Promised Messiah [as] as a Prophet of Allah, other Muslims have also blocked the door for Khilafat. What a misfortune for them! It is not physically possible for the Khalifa of the time to visit every Qiadat but Nizam-e-Jama’at works in the obedience of Khilifat. We can only become true Sultan-e-Naseer (the helpers of Khilafat) if we follow every word of the Khalifa [atba] in spirit. Every Khadim living in Asia, Europe, Africa, Far East, America or Australia or in the United Kingdom repeats the following words in their Khuddam pledge before every Khuddam general meeting. “Likewise, I shall be ready to offer any sacrifice for guarding the institution of Khilafat-e- Ahmadiyya.” What do these words in our Khuddam pledge mean? Does it mean physically shielding Huzoor-e-Aqdas as the members of Hifazat-e-Khas (Huzoor-e-Anwar’s security) are blessed to do? Yes – that is also true and for those of us who cannot be a member of Hifazat-e-Khas, the real meaning of the pledge is to uphold our unequivocal love and honour for Khilafat that so that we do not tolerate even a single word of rebellion either overtly or covertly. Allah is the best shield and protector of His Khalifa. Our real honour in the present day and age is associated with the honour of Khilafat-e-Ahmadiyya. Our every success is now associated with Khilafat. These are not merely philosophical words. These are the sentiments of any Ahmadi who becomes mesmerised in the wonders associated with the Holy Khilafat. Ask any Ahmadi family; how the prayers of Khalifa have blessed them? Blessings of Khilafat are obvious collectively for the Jama’at as well as in every Ahmadi’s personal lives. Presence of the living Khalifa [atba] is the greatest blessing from the living Almighty Allah for the Jama’at. Divine guidance and assistance is always behind every scheme and plan of the Khalifa. He is every Ahmadi’s spiritual leader towards whom each one of us looks for guidance. Hazrat Khalifatul-Masih [atba] is always anxious for the wellbeing of every member of the community from every country, colour and race. After writing to His Holiness for prayers, the tranquillity and utmost peace that an Ahmadi gathers can only be felt and not explained. We know he prays for us and Allah listens to the prayers of His appointee. How many of us cry in the middle of the night for the Khalifa who weeps for us before the Almighty Allah. How many of us pray for this unmistakable blessing and its perpetuation? How many of us become restless when we think of Huzoor’s [atba] extraordinary responsibilities and worries for the entire humanity?
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In Surah Aal-Imran (Ch:3 : V.104) of Holy Qur’an, Allah the Almighty says: “Wa Tasimmu Bihablillah e Jameean Walatafaraqu”. And hold fast, all of you together, to the Rope of Allâh. What is `The Rope of Allah'? One of its interpretations in the present day and age that is Khilafat. We must hold fast to that `Rope of Allah'. In that Rope of Allah is our salvation. In that Rope of Allah is our success. In that Rope of Allah is our progress and protection. How do we firmly hold this rope of Allah? It is only possible through the spiritual relationship that we need to develop. Love of Khilafat should be dear to us more than any other relation and worldly object. In addition to the possibility of nurturing the spiritual bond, we are also lucky to be physically close to the appointee of Allah. This spiritual and physical bond can be strengthened through having the honour of mulaqat with him. Writing to Huzoor [atba] regularly for prayers keeps this bond of love flourishing. But this has to happen with the purity of heart. The purpose of Khilafat is to continue the work of a Prophet and therefore through the unequivocal love of and obedience to Khilafat, we can pave our path towards finding nearness to Allah. We should visit the Markaz (Centre) more often and offer prayers behind Huzoor [atba] and see for ourselves the spiritual fruits associated with this evergreen tree. Even one hundredth of this magnanimity of spirituality cannot be seen in anyone else’s company. To express this feeling, in English, they say “Seeing is believing” and in Persian they say in Persian “Aftab Aamad Daleelay Aftaab” (Sun is the best proof of its own beauty! i.e. beauty of the Sun cannot be explained). Huzoor’s [atba] Friday sermons are life giving for us. Our spiritual life today depends on the spiritual water of his blessed words. An Ahmadi who listens to these sermons knows what effect these sermons can have on one’s life. They can certainly bring a revolution. If we have been weak in listening to the words of the Imam then we must make this pledge today that we will make a point to never miss even a single sermon of Hazrat Ameerul Mumineen [atba]. I end my speech with a question that late Mustafa Sabit Sahib asked Hazrat Chaudhry Zafrullah Khan Sahib [ra]. He asked him “Throughout your life you have been very successful and Allah has blessed you so much. Would you tell me why? Hazrat Chaudhry sahib gave a very short reply “Because through all my life, I was obedient to Khilafat”. May we all become true servants of Khilafat. May Allah accept us all as Sultan-e-Naseer of His true Khilafat.
LONDON’S FIRST MOSQUE A STUDY IN HISTORY AND MYSTERY
By Asif Basit, MTA InterNational
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he morning of the 3rd of October 1926 dawned upon London as another regular Sunday morning, but for the residents of Putney, it had been long awaited. The construction of an unusual building on Melrose Road SW18 had been ongoing for two years now, and had been of great interest for the local residents of Putney and Southfields. It had also attracted immense press attention ever since its foundation was laid in 1924, by Hazrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmad [ra], the Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community at the time. The residents had witnessed famous architects such as T H Mawson visit the site1 during the planning phase and then members of the local community voluntarily taking part as labourers in the construction phase.2 Now, on this morning, it was ready for its inauguration—an event that was scheduled to occur later that afternoon. What made the event historically so important was the fact that it was set to be the opening of London’s first ever Mosque.3 There had long been a Muslim presence in Britain; organised communities, such as that of Abdullah Quilliam had emerged (and dispersed). Various houses had been what Muslim Londoners later called the East London Mosque, but the need for a purpose built Mosque in London was long felt by Muslims in Britain. This gap was to be filled by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community,4 adding a new dimension to the historical importance of the Mosque. During research, the author obtained original drawings of the Fazl Mosque, discovered at the Kendal Record Office. T H Mawson (1861-1933) lived by the Windermere Lake and his works were passed on to the Cumbria County Council following the closure of Thomas H Mawson & Son. These plans of the Fazl Mosque are part of the 14,000 plans and drawings that comprise the T H Mawson Archive. London being at the crossroads of the world—both geographically and sociologically—meant that this event was important, not only for the history of Islam, but also for the
history of Great Britain. Having ruled India for an extensive time period, the British Government was fully aware that a Mosque for Muslims was not only a place of worship, but also a place of much more significant social value. The community which built this Mosque was none other than the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. The community was known for its zealous missionary activities, and for its members who boldly professed their faith and strove to proselytise their beliefs. The question was, how would they be received? Would it be similar to how Muslims had received the Christian missionaries in India, or would they be welcomed? While local residents were excited merely by the thought of a Mosque being built in their neighbourhood, the authorities as well as citizens with a greater sense of history and sociology were considering more seriously the avenues that would open with the establishment of the Mosque. The Fazl Mosque under construction, 1925 at this juncture, it would be quite appropriate to provide a background to the community that was behind the building of this Mosque. The Ahmadiyya Community is a sect of Islam founded by Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad [as] in 1889 in Qadian, 5 a small town in the Gurdaspur District of Indian Punjab. It is known among religious circles, apart from many other aspects, for the heresy attributed to it by the mainstream orthodox Muslims, who believe that Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad’s [as] claim of being the Promised Messiah and the Imam Mahdi is not in accordance with the doctrine of the finality of the Prophethood of Muhammad [saw],6 the Prophet of Islam. This stance is self-contradictory as all Muslims await a person to fulfil this role, while still claiming to believe in the finality of Prophet Muhammad[saw].7 There is, however, a difference in the understanding of the nature of the Second Advent—other Muslims taking it to be literal and physical and Ahmadis take it to be metaphorical. Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad [as] claimed that the traditions of the Prophet [saw] carried metaphorical meaning and that he himself was the Tariq Magazine
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Islam and Ahmadiyyat seen a rise in the trajectory of Islamophobia, as never witnessed before.18 While Islam is seen to be synonymous with terrorism, the Ahmadiyya Community has been at the forefront among the few Muslim sections that promote Islam as a peaceful faith and demonstrate this in their practice.19 Prince Faisal of Saudi Arabia is received at Paddington Railway Station in London. On the extreme left is Maulana Abdur Raheem Dard [ra], the first Imam of the Fazl Mosque and a Companion of the Promised Messiah [as]. With this being the background, Muslims could not have been too happy with the fact that the Ahmadiyya Community was going to take credit for establishing a Mosque, especially one of such socio-geographical importance. The extensive and widespread attention this Mosque had gained even before it was built is evident from the press reports on the foundation stone laying ceremony in October 1924.20 What had sent a very strong message of goodwill across the religious sections of Britain was a result of the message of the Khalifa [ra], or the spiritual Head of the Ahmadiyya Community, that was inscribed on a slab that was erected as part of the foundation laying ceremony. The message was in Urdu language, rendered in English, and read:
personification of the awaited Messiah.8 A newspaper report one day before the Mosque opening. The caption under the photo of Prince Faisal reads: ‘The first Muslim Mosque in London, which is to be opened to-morrow by Prince Faisal.’ This allegation of heresy by the Muslim orthodoxy has led the community to being declared outside the pale of Islam 9 by other Muslims, and hence a non-Muslim minority for the Muslim world. This again contradicts the teachings of Prophet Muhammad [saw] who, in many traditions, is said to have defined a Muslim as one who believes in the Oneness of Allah, in Muhammad [saw] as His messenger.10 The Ahmadiyya Community claims to believe in exactly this and a study of their literature is ample proof of the claim.11 Having been declared heretics by the Ulema12 of the orthodoxy, it is thought by many orthodox Muslims as legal to drive Ahmadis out of Muslim majority neighbourhoods, boycott them socially, and in some circles, even kill them if the state fails to do so.13 Extremist Muslim groups, for this reason alone, have killed many Ahmadis in Pakistan 14 and other parts of the Muslim world.15 However, this is not supported by the practice of Prophet Muhammad [saw] or the Sunnah, which is claimed by the orthodox Muslims to be of a prime source of guidance, only second to the Qur’an. Despite all this opposition and persecution, Ahmadis are renowned for conveying the peace-loving message of Islam to all accessible inhabited parts of the globe.16 By 2011, they officially claimed to be established in 200 countries.17 The post 9/11 world has
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‘I, Mirza Bashir-Ud-Din Mahmud Ahmad, KhalifatulMasih II, Head of the Ahmadiyya Community which has its Headquarters at Qadian, Punjab, India lay the foundation stone of this Mosque to-day, the 20th Rabiul Awwal 1343 Hijra, to seek the pleasure of God so that His name be glorified in England and that the people of this country may also partake of the blessings which have been vouchsafed to us. I pray to God that He may accept this humble and sincere effort of all the members of the Ahmadiyya Community, both women and men, and that He may provide means for the growing prosperity of this Mosque; and may He make it for ever and ever a centre for promulgating the views of purity, piety, justice and love, and may this place prove a sun of spiritual light radiating forth in this country and in all the countries around the blessed beams of the heavenly light of the Holy Prophet Mohammad the Chosen one of God and the seal of the prophets and of Ahmad the Promised Messiah, the prophet of God, the Vicegerent, and the reflection of Mohammad (may peace and the blessings of God be upon them both). Amen.’ 19-10-1924 It was against this backdrop that the opening of the Mosque was to be staged. The Ahmadiyya Community, honouring him as the guardian of the Islamic Holy Places, had requested King Abdul Aziz Ibn Saud of Hedjaz to open the Mosque.21 The King had replied that he would not be able to attend, but would send his son, Emir Faisal, the Viceroy of Mecca (who later became King Faisal of Saudi Arabia) to inaugurate the Mosque on his behalf.22 The Mosque’s administration had very happily accepted this and the following months were spent in making arrangements for the Royal visit on this grand occasion. Only half an hour before the ceremony, a message was received from the Foreign Secretary of the King of Hedjaz, that the Prince would not be able to attend. The Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community at the time, Hazrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmad [ra], Khalifatul-Masih II, requested Honourable Khan Bahadur Shaikh Abdul Qadir, the
Indian Representative to the League of Nations, to officially open the Mosque instead. Photo: Hazrat Abdur Raheem Dard [ra] handing the silver key of the Mosque to Sheikh Qadir. All the aforementioned events were incidentally taking place at a time of great political importance for Hedjaz. The conquest of Hedjaz by King Abdul Aziz Ibn Saud had recently taken place and Great Britain, for diplomatic reasons,23 was among the nations that accepted his regime. The Political Agent of Great Britain to Hedjaz, S R Jordan, wrote to Whitehall in London to report that one of the reasons King Abdul Aziz Ibn Saud was sending his son Prince Faisal to Britain was to show gratitude to His Britannic Majesty, the King of England, for having accepted the King’s Government. The same letter also carried the indication that ‘it is also rumoured locally that whilst in England, Emir Feisal will inaugurate a Mohammedan Church’.24 With all arrangements in place, the Prince arrived at London Paddington station on 23rd September 1926. As the major purpose of his visit was to inaugurate the Mosque,25 he was received by A R Dard, the Imam of the London Mosque and other members of the Mosque administration26 and then led to Hyde Park Hotel. The event was of great excitement for the Ahmadiyya Community whose simple, and mostly poor members in India had raised the money to fund the building of the Mosque;27 the majority of the voluntary contributors being the women of the Ahmadiyya community. A vast majority of the women, being typical Indian homemakers, had sold whatever form of jewellery or valuable assets they possessed to attain this goal.28 The inspiration behind this huge step of voluntary resolve, to raise this large sum of money, is said to have had its roots in the sermons of the Khalifa [ra],29 who had expressed how important the opening of a Mosque in London could be.30 London newspapers confirmed that this event was taken to be a huge turning point in the story of ‘East meeting West’.31 However, the propaganda about the opening had sent a wave of excitement amongst the residents,32 as well as the government authorities in London.33 Around thirty members of the House of Commons and the House of Lords were due to attend and India Office records reveal that members of the Royal Family were also invited to the occasion.34 The press had been covering the progress ever
since the foundation was laid, but news stories highlighting the opening became more prominent in the National mainstream press as the big day approached. The Times covered the story closely on October 2nd 1926 and mentioned that Prince Faisal would arrive at the ceremony and how the series of events was due to unfold in course of the schedule,35 the following day. The arrival of the Prince was to mark the commencement of the opening ceremony, followed by the Prince formally opening the doors of the Mosque with a silver key, and then the company would assemble in a marquee erected in the grounds of the Mosque to present an address to the Prince, who would reply to it. The keynote address was to be the message of Hazrat Khalifatul-Masih [ra], the Head of the Ahmadiyya Community, which he was to send from Qadian, as he himself had not been able to make it for this occasion.36 Hazrat Malik Ghulam Farid [ra], a Companion of the Promised Messiah [as], calling the first Adhan (call to Prayer) at the Mosque. The day had started with the buzz and excitement that one would expect at such a historic occasion. Alongside Prince Faisal, who was designated as the chief guest, other dignitaries were also expected to attend. To watch this unique moment of historic importance, a crowd had gathered from early afternoon to catch a glimpse of the dignitaries who were to attend the opening 37 of the first ever Mosque in London.38 Dignitaries had arrived at the Mosque by three o’clock in the afternoon, among whom were members of the British Parliament, members of the House of Lords, members of the Anglican Clergy, delegates from foreign embassies in London and dignitaries from other walks of life. Also attending on invitation were: Sir Harry Brittain MP, Sir P J Hannon JP, the Mayor of Wandsworth and Khan Bahadur Shaikh Abdul Qadir,39 the Indian Representative to the League of Nations, to name but a few of the dignitaries. It deserves special mention that realising the importance of the occasion, Muslims from around London are also reported to have attended the opening.40 It came with a sense of shock and disappointment when only half an hour before the ceremony, the Imam of the London Mosque received a telegraphic message from the Foreign Secretary of the King of Hedjaz, which said that Prince Faisal would not be attending the ceremony, and hence would not be Tariq Magazine
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Islam and Ahmadiyyat able to inaugurate the Mosque. The telegraphic message read: ‘I very greatly regret having to inform you that his Highness the Emir Feisal Ibn Abdulla Aziz Al Saud will not be able to attend. This is a matter which occasions his Highness very great regret, and both his Highness and myself wish all success to yourself and all prosperity and blessings to the great Mosque. And we pray God to grant your work that success.’41 As one can imagine, this disruption at the eleventh hour, must have been difficult to take. Had it been an ordinary occasion, the Imam could have taken a spontaneous decision, but the grandeur of the occasion demanded thorough consideration and guidance from the Khalifa [ra].42 A telegraphic message was immediately sent out to Qadian seeking guidance as to what could be done in light of the new circumstances. The Khalifa [ra], Hazrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmad [ra] wrote back immediately to say that the opening should go ahead as planned, and directed that Khan Bahadur Shaikh Abdul Qadir be requested to open the Mosque. Thus, in the absence of the Prince, London’s first Mosque was opened by Khan Bahadur, the Honourable Shaikh Abdul Qadir, a former Minister in the Punjab Government, and then a member of the Indian delegation at the League of Nations.43 The rest of the evening went according to schedule. It was, indeed, a turning point in the history of both Islam and London. The Times, in its report the day before viewed this occasion in the following words: ‘The occasion is one of great importance in the history of religious movements outside Christianity in this country, for the Mosque, situated in the Metropolitan Borough of Wandsworth (whose Mayor will be present at the ceremony) is the first building erected in London for Islamic worship.’44 The Daily Chronicle report on the same evening read: ‘It was a formal ceremony in an atmosphere curious even for London.’45 The Westminster Gazette described it as ‘an occasion of great importance in Muslim circles.’46 The event, unique in its nature as it was, received a high presence of the National press and media with ‘a battery of cameras and kinematograph machines’47 in and around the compounds. The Honourable Shaikh, although making it clear that he did not belong to the Ahmadiyya sect of Islam himself, emphasised the importance of the opening of this Mosque. He said in the course of his address that: ‘…he was not in favour of ceremonies, but in these days they could not ignore the value of publicity, and that Mosque, which was the beginning of the missionary movement of Islam in London, would sink into obscurity were it not for the publicity which would be given to that ceremony.’48 Messages were read out from all over the world and from many well-known dignitaries who were not Muslims.49 After this, the keynote address by the Khalifa [ra] was read out; this
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was received by cable from Qadian, India. This message is an important document in understanding the intention behind the building of this Mosque in London. It shows how important a turning point this Mosque was in the history of London, the metropolis famous today for its religious and cultural diversity. The message of the Khalifa [ra] read: ‘We do not cherish feelings of enmity towards Christianity, but look upon Jesus Christ [as] as a true and great prophet of God…’. It went on to say that the objective of the Mosque: ‘…will be to spread the worship of the one living and powerful God in this centre of unity with love and sincerity, and to establish the love of the Creator in the hearts of men. We will try to remove the feelings of hatred and enmity from betwixt the followers of different religions and will do our best to create the true spirit of search. We will try to reform morals and efface wrongs and transgressions. We will try to create feelings of sincerity and true equality, which recognises the legitimate differences of grades, and engender feelings of brotherhood and mutual sympathy and cooperation.’ ‘And I avail myself of this opportunity by appealing to the Christian people that they also should not look upon Islam with feelings of enmity, and instead of trying to find faults with the Islamic teachings should search for its beauties, because the truth of a religion is not manifested by finding faults with others, but by proving the excellence of it’s own teachings.’ ‘Brethren, the world of today is a sorrowful scene of polytheism, irreligiousness, hatred between nations, tension between classes. Hence it is the duty of every honest man who loves his God to wake from his sleep and make houses consecrated in the name of God strongholds of His unity and centers of union, instead of making them places of irreligiousness and means of disunion.’50 With the messages read out, the Imam of the Mosque gave a silver key to the Hon Shaikh Abdul Qadir, who formally opened the Mosque.51 The fact that Prince Faisal, at the last minute, declined to attend despite the fact that he had travelled a long way with the intention to open the Mosque is interesting to consider. What led to the Prince pulling out from attending at the eleventh hour?
The Mystery of the Prince ( Part II) Why Prince Faisal declined to open the Mosque, and pulled out only a few hours before the official inauguration, is a mystery. Although the Prince later on disclosed the fact that he had been instructed by his father, the King of Hedjaz, not to go ahead with the opening,1 he never explained why he had been instructed to do so.2 Therefore, despite much speculation around the incident, the reason behind this sudden change of plan, which led to the Prince dishonouring his commitment, was never disclosed. The speculation was intense—the absence of the Prince from the inauguration, which had supposedly been the main purpose for his long journey, made headlines in local and National newspapers. “Emir and a Mosque”, “Mystery of the
Mosque”, “Emir Faisal Stays Away at Last Moment”, “Forbidden from Mecca”, “First London Mosque And Sect Dispute; Emir Forbidden to Open It” and “Prince Feisul Mystery” were some of the headlines given to the story by the mainstream press. As no explanation was given for the Prince’s absence in his memorandum, the press naturally turned to the authorities of the London Mosque to get their impressions on the incident. Hazrat G F Malik [ra] , Secretary of the Fazl Mosque’s administrative body, expressed his opinion that the King of Hedjaz had been pressurised by orthodox Muslims not to let his son proceed with the opening of a Mosque that was being established by the Ahmadiyya sect.3 The Imam of the Mosque, Hazrat Abdur Raheem Dard [ra], said that the King had accepted the request and agreed to send
be open to all religions for all types of worship, which meant it could not be classified as a Mosque.7 Another possible reason for the cancellation might have been the political significance of the Prince’s visit to England. Yet close scrutiny of India Office Records file of the Political and Secret Department reveal that political motives were negligible. Correspondence from then Foreign Secretary, Sir Austen Chamberlain, states in as many words that the Prince’s visit was taken to be untimely, and that it was tactfully communicated to the King, Ibn Saud, that the Prince could come to England but the visit would be classed as unofficial and incognito.8 That the King accepted this condition makes it less likely that the Prince’s visit to England was undertaken for other political reasons, leaving the inauguration of the Mosque as the prime reason of his visit. Indeed, the absence of the Prince was notable in that even nonMuslims had anticipated the importance of the inauguration. For example, the Maharaja of Burdwan, who was also amongst the dignitaries attending the ceremony, said that he had taken the event so seriously that even though he was not a Muslim, he thought it was his responsibility to attend.9 In short, while the opening of the London Mosque was laying the foundations of a culture of tolerance in Great Britain, it was also accompanied with a whiff of intolerance—not from predominantly Christian Londoners, but rather, ironically, from other Muslims themselves. Prince Faisal later made it a point to visit the Mosque on a state visit.
his son, Prince Faisal, to inaugurate the Mosque. Hazrat A R Dard [ra], the Imam of the Fazl Mosque, who was responsible for the arrangements of the opening by the Prince, stated that the King had accepted his request in August and had happily agreed to send his son, Prince Faisal, the Viceroy of Makkah, to inaugurate the Mosque. Plans had been made accordingly, but on the very morning of the day the Mosque was to be opened, he was suddenly informed by the Prince’s staff that King Ibn Saud had cabled the Prince, prohibiting his participation in the ceremony.4 The Imam went on to say that both he and the Emir himself—and indeed, everybody else as well—were completely in the dark as to the real cause of the problem. Several suggestions were floated for the abrupt cancellation. It had been suggested that King Ibn Saud had been informed that this was not a real Muslim Mosque. The Imam said that such a statement was nothing more than absurdity.5 The Honourable Khan Bahadur Shaikh Abdul Qadir, also believed that the fact that orthodox Muslims disapprove of Ahmadis as Muslims could have been a factor behind this unpleasant situation, and that perhaps their “machinations have been responsible for preventing the presence of Prince Feisal.”6 Another suggestion, which the Imam was also informed of, was that Al-Ehram, a Cairo-based newspaper, had reported, with reference to the Morning Post London, that the Mosque would
First Mosque in London? The London Mosque was named ‘Fazl Mosque’ by the Khalifa [ra] of the Ahmadiyya Community.10 It was on 3rd October 1926 that the Adhan11 was heard being called out for the first time in London from the minarets of a purpose built Mosque.12 One might reasonably assume that the London Mosque would receive the title of the first Mosque in London. Yet recently, the East London Mosque has often been referred to as the first Mosque in London,13 based on the fact that the London Mosque Fund (LMF) —originally set up in 1910—was later invested in the East London Mosque Project. Yet this claim is open to historical challenge, as K H Ansari correctly points Tariq Magazine
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Islam and Ahmadiyyat out.[14] While there is absolutely no doubt that the London Mosque Fund was set up on 13th December 1910, with the first formal meeting of the Executive Committee of the LMF held in London15—nearly 16 years before the inauguration of Fazl Mosque—the setting up of the fund is not the equivalent of actually building a Mosque. The fund could be taken as a means towards this particular end, but that too in the case that it had been initially dedicated to that specific project. Yet the project was open ended, set up with the intention of establishing a Mosque. The famous jurist, Syed Ameer Ali, who later became the lifelong chairman of the LMF Executive Committee, is reported to have called attention to the need of a Mosque in London in 1908; he put it as follows: ‘It does not require great imagination or political grasp to perceive the enormous advantages that would accrue to the empire itself were a Moslem place of worship founded in London.’16 Syed Ameer Ali’s position became more and more tenuous, and eventually the LMF’s attempts to secure donations from Muslims in Britain and around the world failed.
In other words, the motive for this project was to establish some Mosque in London—not any specific Mosque—and two years later, in 1910, this project became the LMF. This was the motive behind the project for which a fund was formed later in 1910, namely the LMF. However, in order to figure out which Mosque was really the first in London, it would be instructive to look at the history of the London Mosque Fund. After the initial excitement of a £5000 pledge made by the Aga Khan, contributions slowed and the LMF underwent a fairly static phase.17 This amount was reached not before 1917 when the total amount received in donations totaled £5000.18 Again, while initial enthusiasm was high, with the Begum of Bhopal contributing £7000 and the Ottoman Sultan and the Shah of Persia donating £1000 each, it receded fairly quickly due to various political and economic turbulences—the Balkan War and the First World War 19 among them. Moreover, it became more and more challenging to attract new subscriptions as Syed Ameer Ali’s position became more tenuous. The British viewed him as an activist with overwhelming Indian loyalties
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while the Muslims branded him a pro-British liberal.20 Thus, when the LMF’s attempts to secure donations from Muslims in Britain and around the world failed, the only place they could turn to was the British Government itself. A letter from Lord Headley21 to Sir Austen Chamberlain, the Secretary of State for India shows how clearly state sponsorship was demanded for the LMF.22 How the State officials opposed the idea is also clear from the note23 given by A Hirtze, a bureaucrat at the India Office and later Political Department, on the same letter. In other words, up until 1914, the LMF, practically speaking, was nothing more than a static amount of £5,206 sitting in the form of cash or securities in the Bank of England. The LMF Executive Committee raised the issue of why there had been no progress, in its meeting on 30th April 1913. Indeed, no funds were put to any use until January 1914. It is then that the LMF committee agreed on giving Khawaja Kamaluddin24 a sum of £120 a year to rent the Lindsay Hall in Notting Hill Gate (later moved to 39 Upper Bedford Place and then 111 Campden Hill Road) on Fridays for the weekly Muslim congregational prayer; Salaat-e-Jumu’ah. Apart from the petty cash and administrative costs of the LMF Committee, this £120 remained the only expense used towards its actual purpose. But renting space was never the aim of the LMF. Indeed, even the proposal of purchasing a house for the purpose of a Mosque was rejected outright by the Executive Committee on 12th May 1926, calling the proposal ‘an infraction of the Trust, the purpose of which is the building of a Mosque.’25 In other words, not even the LMF executive committee believed that renting a room or building a house was the same as actually completing construction on a purpose-built Mosque. It is important to note here that this was in 1926, the same year that the Fazl Mosque in Southfields was inaugurated and had started functioning as a fully functional Mosque. This should settle the matter; it is clear that Fazl Mosque was the first Mosque in London. But while the construction of Fazl Mosque followed an easy path, the construction of the East London Mosque would take much more time. This alone leaves no room to doubt the fact that the Fazl Mosque was the first Mosque built in London. The discussion of which Mosque was the first to be built in London can be ended here; however, as there are a couple of decades still to cover before the opening of the ELM, let us continue with its history. By 1926 then, the rent on Campden Hill Road, (where the fund had moved from their Notting Hill location) had increased to the amount contributed towards the rent of 111 Campden Hill Road, risen to £130 per annum26 and the executive committee decided that it was not worth the expense, given the decreasing number of worshippers there, so they terminated the tenancy. The expense was beginning to seem to the Executive Committee as too much and not worth the value in view of the falling number of worshippers at the Campden Hill rented room. The tenancy with Messrs G N Watts Ltd, who worked as the agent of the property, was, thus, terminated. In the wake of the fall of the Ottoman Empire, Syed Ameer Ali tried to take other Muslim rulers on board as patrons in hope of getting donations27 but this goal was not reached until 1928, when Lord Headley returned from India
with a £60,000 donation from Nizam of Hyderabad. This was a sharp rise in the trajectory of the LMF, albeit in the monetary aspect only. But even here what cannot be ignored is that this donation was not given to the LMF itself—rather, it went to a new fund called the ‘London Nizamiah Mosque Trust Fund.’28 This fund was partially used to purchase a piece of land in West Kensington and the foundation for a Mosque, to be styled the ‘Nizamiah Mosque’ was laid in 1937,29 but the ‘Mosque itself literally never got off the ground.’30 Further attempts to seek British state sponsorship in a more tactful way than Lord Headley had adopted resumed in 1937 and 1938, by Margaret Farquharson31 and Ibrahim Mougy32 respectively. These attempts tried to shift the focus of the government officials from the religious side of the proposed Mosque, to its potential socio-cultural and political aspects,33 albeit to no avail. Next, Jamiat-ul-Muslimin appeared to further efforts and were the first British Muslims to be active in politics. The Jamiat-ul-Muslimin and Syed Hashim, the emissary of the Nizam of Hyderabad, both turned the focus of the LMF towards the East End of London and away from the proposed Mosque in the centre of London.34 It took a further five years for the LMF to eventually purchase a property on Commercial Road35 and a further year to bring to it to a functional state. The new Mosque, named the East London Mosque, housed its first Jumu’ah (Friday) Prayer on 23rd May 1941, and was formally opened on 1st August 1941.36 As K H Ansari writes, ‘this, then, after thirty years, was the culmination of the LMF’s efforts.’37 With this historical evidence, it is easier to conclude that the Fazl Mosque in Southfields, built by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, was the first Mosque to be built in London, inaugurated and attended by noted Muslims more than a decade before the East London Mosque materialised.
Out of the Fold of Islam?
From a historical perspective, it is fairly clear that the Fazl Mosque was the first in London. The only other factor that would put Fazl Mosque’s status as the first in London into question is a theological issue. This question has to do with whether or not Ahmadis can be considered Muslims or not—a question that has also always been raised by other sects of Islam.38 We see, however, that this question has always been asked of other sects. Fatwas, or decrees, by Muslim jurists, have always been issued by one sect of Islam towards another, declaring another group kafir (infidel or heretic). If these fatwas were to be given any weight, no Muslim would remain Muslim and, hence, no Mosque could ever be classified as a Mosque. One could argue that the difference with the Ahmadiyya Community is that all other sects unanimously agree on the fatwa issued against them.39 While we do not have space here to examine this issue thoroughly, a detailed, theological debate can be had about this topic, however for the intents and purposes of this article, a brief understanding of how the Prophet of Islam defined a Muslim should suffice. When asked who was to be recorded as a Muslim in a census, the Prophet’s [saw] only criteria was that whoever claims to be Muslim should be recorded as a Muslim. On other occasions, the Prophet [saw] has defined a Muslim as one who bears witness that there is no God but Allah and that Muhammad [saw] is His Messenger, offers Salaat,40 pays Zakat,41
performs Hajj and observes fasting in the month of Ramadhan 42 . Ahmadis call themselves Muslims—thereby fulfilling the first criteria—but they also perform all the actions necessary to be a practicing Muslim, including implementing all the five pillars of Islam and acting upon all the commandments laid down in the Holy Qur’an. Indeed, hundreds of Ahmadis have been arrested in Pakistan for reciting the Kalima (The Muslim creed), displaying it on their Mosques, or wearing it on a badge.43 Ahmadis are constitutionally prohibited from performing any ritual or act in a Muslim way in Pakistan.44 In short, under the aforementioned criteria of what constitutes a Muslim then, Ahmadis fulfil the definition of Muslims. Prominent Muslim figures such as Sir Muhammad Iqbal, attended the Mosque, which throws into disrepute claims that the Fazl Mosque was and is not a ‘Muslim’ Mosque.
Also of particular interest is the fact that the Fazl Mosque in Southfields was inaugurated by the Honourable Shaikh Abdul Qadir, who himself was a prominent Muslim, but was not a member of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. He actually opened the Mosque saying that he was opening it “In the name of the Merciful God.” 45 His address on the occasion is evidence of that the fact that he held no sectarian sentiments for or against the Fazl Mosque, and that what was important to him was the fact that the Mosque would convey the message of Islam to the West. 46 Interestingly, this is the same Shaikh Abdul Qadir who was later requested to be on the board of trustees by the LMF in 1935 and formally attended the LMF meeting in 1936 47 for the first time. Hence, it is evident that the Fazl Mosque was considered to be a Mosque by at least some members of the LMF itself at the time of its opening. Indeed, both at the inauguration of the Mosque and decades afterwards, prominent Muslim figures such as M A Jinnah,48 Sir Feroz Khan Noon, Sir Muhammad Iqbal, Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar, Muhammad Shafi (renowned Muslim Journalist), the Aga Khan, Muhammad Zafrulla Khan and A.K. Fazlul Huq, who attended the Fazl Mosque and even offered Salaat, the Muslim ritual form of prayer. Even Prince Faisal of Saudi Arabia, who had cancelled his appearance at the Mosque inauguration, made it a point to visit the Fazl Mosque on a later state visit. Tariq Magazine
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Islam and Ahmadiyyat It was at the Fazl Mosque where Jinnah, the Founder of Pakistan (pictured below), announced his return to the Indian political scene, having been convinced to do so by the Imam, Hazrat A R Dard [ra].
It was at this very Mosque that Jinnah, after having withdrawn from Indian politics, informally announced his return to the Indian political scene by addressing the huge gathering of Indian Muslim students present at the Eid-ul-Adha49 assembly at the Fazl Mosque.50 He spoke at length on the British Government’s White Paper on Constitutional reform in India. This marked his return to Indian politics to take up the role that later proved vital in the formation of Pakistan. 51 Indeed, a vast majority of the Muslims living in Pakistan revere Jinnah as the leader of the Muslims of British India and later Pakistan.52 It would be ironic and self-contradictory to then argue that Jinnah was not aware of who is and who is not a Muslim.
The Fazl Mosque Today From the day of its inauguration, the Fazl Mosque has been a fully functional Mosque, in which five congregational prayers are offered every single day. Since the shift of the Ahmadiyya Headquarters to London in 1984,53 it has housed two Khalifas of the Ahmadiyya community: Hazrat Mirza Tahir Ahmad [rh] (1928-2003), Fourth Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community and Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad [atba], 54 Fifth and current Head of the worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. Set deep in the midst of a unique and interesting historical heritage, London’s first Mosque stands on Gressenhall Road SW18, reminding Londoners of the message of tolerance and harmony it brought along55 all the way from the Muslims of British India, at a time when it was far more challenging to build a Mosque than it is today.56 The Fazl Mosque, the first Mosque in London, today. The history of the East London Mosque provides an interesting aspect to the whole story. The most poignant facet of it could be that a project; to build the first Mosque in London; that did not materialise despite huge donations made by highly affluent and influential figures including the Begum of Bhopal,
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the Shah of Persia, the Aga Khan and their likes. Instead, the building of the first Mosque in London materialised in the shape of the Fazl Mosque in Southfields, by the funds collected by the poor women of Qadian, India.57
Endnotes:
1. Thomas H Mawson, “Details for Ahmadiyah Mosque, Southfields, London”, n.d., WDB 86/A, Mawson Archives. 2. “Mosque for a London Suburb,” The Daily Graphic, September 29, 1925, 8. 3. “The Muezzin of Putney,” London Evening Standard, October 1, 1926, 1. 4. “First Mosque in London,” The Times, October 2, 1926, 7. 5. Friedman, Y, “Ahmadiyah,” in Encyclopedia of Religion (Farmington Hills, MI: Thomson Gale, 2005), 200–201. 6. David Westerlund and Ingvar Svanberg, eds., Islam Outside the Arab World (Richmond, Surrey: Curzon, 1999), 8. 7. Friedman, Y, “Ahmadiyah,” 200–201; Ishtiaq Ahmad, “South Asia,” in Islam Outside the Arab World, ed. David Westerlund and Ingvar Svanberg (Richmond, Surrey: Curzon, 1999), 5–7. 8. Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, Nishan-e-Asmani, 5th ed. (Surrey: Islam InterNational Publications, 2009). 9. SE Brush, “Ahmadiyat in Pakistan,” The Muslim World 45 (1955): 145–171. 10. Narration of the Holy Prophet [saw] from the Hadith. 11. Hazrat Mirza Bashir-Ud-Din Mahmud Ahmad, Invitation to Ahmadiyyat, 5th ed. (Tilford, Surrey: Islam InterNational Publications, 2007), 6–11. 12. Literal meaning being ‘scholars’ but commonly used as a term that refers to religious especially Islamic scholars. History of Islam bears witness that they have always tried to indulge in Islamic politics. Qasim Zaman, (2002) in his book ‘The Ulama in Contemporary Islam, refers to their self styled role of custodians of change. 13. AS Pirzada, The Politics of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam Pakistan 1971-1977 (Karachi: Oxford University Press, 2000); Ishtiaq Ahmad, “South Asia,” 235. 14. Pakistan: Massacre of Minority Ahmadis (Human Rights Watch, June 1, 2010), www.hrw.org/news/2010/06/01/pakistan-massacre-minorityahmadis. 15. E Rauhala, “The Other Indonesia,” Time, 2012, www.time.com/time/ magazine/article/0,9171,2099185,00.html. 16. “The New Mosque for London,” London Evening Standard, September 23, 1926; Cragg, Kenneth, Call of the Minaret (Oxford: Oneworld Publications, 2000), 223.
India: Book Depot Taleef-o-Isha’at, n.d.), 11. 28. Ibid., 20–21. 29. Khalifa literally means ‘Caliph’ and is taken to mean successor of the Prophet Muhammad and leader of the Muslims. However, as the issue of Caliphate fell into grave disputes after Ali Ibn Abi Talib, the fourth Caliph of the Prophet Muhammad, Muslims have never again been able to agree upon various claimants of Caliphate. Ahmadiyya however take this word to mean ‘successor’ of Ahmad, the founder of the Ahmadiyya Community and the supreme leader of the worldwide movement, (online), available at: www.alislam.org/Khilafat (20 March 2012) 30. Mir Muhammad Ismail, Tareekh Masjid Fazl London, 20. 31. “London’s Voice from the Minaret,” The Daily Chronicle, October 4, 1926. 32. “Mystery of the Mosque.” 33. “Mosque in London,” Bristol Evening News, September 24, 1926. 34. India Office Records, British Library Political and Secret Department File IOR/L/P/11/270, a hand written note by a Foreign Department official next to the paragraph that carries information that the Prince was to inaugurate the Mosque reads: ‘Prince Henry is also invited to attend the ceremony’ 35. “First Mosque in London.” 36. Ibid. 37. “First Mosque in London,” The Northern Echo, October 4, 1926, 1. 38. “Mystery of the Mosque,” 7. 39. “First Mosque in London.” 40. “Mystery of the Mosque,” 7. 41. “London’s Voice from the Minaret,” 9. 42. Mir Muhammad Ismail, Tareekh Masjid Fazl London, 50. 43. “London’s Voice from the Minaret,” 9. 44. “First Mosque in London.” 45. “London’s Voice from the Minaret,” 9. 46. “Mystery of the Mosque,” 7. 47. “London’s Voice from the Minaret,” 9. 48. “First Mosque in London.”
17. Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, “Friday Sermon: Blessings of Financial Sacrifice by Ahmadiyya Muslim Community”, November 4, 2011, www. alislam.org/friday-sermon/2011-11-04.html.
49. “London Mosque Mystery,” The Morning Post, October 4, 1926.
18. Amardeep Singh, We Are Not the Enemy (Human Rights Watch, November 2002).
51. “London’s Voice from the Minaret,” 9.
50. “First Mosque in London”; “London’s First Mosque,” The Manchester Guardian, October 4, 1926.
19. Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, The Blessed Model of the Holy Prophet and the Caricatures (Tilford, Surrey: Islam InterNational Publications, 2006), 22–23; ibid., 33; Ahmadiyya Muslims, Religion and Ethics Newsweekly, n.d., http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/episodes/ january-20-2012/ahmadiyya-muslims/10124/. 20. Mainstream British newspapers like The Times, Evening Standard, Daily Chronicle, Daily GraphicDaily Express and The Daily Mirror covered the story of the foundation stone laying in great detail. 21. The Daily Telegraph, October 4, 1926. 22. “The New Mosque for London,” 4. 23. Correspondence regarding the Prince’s visit held at the India Office Records in British Library clearly establish the diplomatic reasons behind British accepting the regime of King Ibn Saud. Political and Secret Department IOR/L/P/11/270 24. India Office Records, British Library Political and Secret Department File IOR/L/P/11/270 25. “The New Mosque for London”; “Mystery of the Mosque,” Westminster Gazette, October 4, 1926; “First London Mosque and Sect Dispute,” The Yorkshire Post, October 4, 1926, 11. 26. Daily Express, September 24, 1926. 27. Mir Muhammad Ismail, Tareekh Masjid Fazl London, 1st ed. (Qadian,
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News & Events
PECKHAM & SE LONDON DEBUT IN THE IFL
By Okasha Sami, Mohtamim Sehat-e-Jismani
B
y the grace of Allah Peckham & SE London United competed for the first time in the IFL (Inter-Qiadat Football League). The IFL is currently being held at the Hub in Morden, home of Tooting & Mitcham United FC. The history behind this football club draws some parallel with the Peckham & SE London team. In 1932 when both Tooting and Mitcham FC realised they were unable to put forward a team by themselves they agreed to quite literally unite to form the new football club. The same is true with Peckham & SE London, two independent Qiadats in the South Region and relative new comers to Khuddamul Ahmadiyya football. Only last year did we see both Peckham compete with SE London for the first time in a Regional football tournament. But with the commitment that was required to compete in a National 7-a-side tournament it was felt we needed to combine our teams in order to enter. The need was made apparent none more so than when after uniting we only just managed a team of 7 with no substitutes to call upon. The similarities do not finish there, Tooting & Mitcham United currently compete towards the bottom of the football leagues in the Isthmian League Division One South (level 8 in the English league pyramid). But being a league team only a few months ago they competed in the FA Cup qualifying rounds. Likewise Peckham & SE London United, being bottom of the Khuddam leagues entered into the preliminary qualifying round of the IFL. But with a late Saturday kick off on a bitterly cold day with few supporters, and all the teams playing with such enthusiasm one couldn't help feel this was very much like an early FA Cup round. The first match started against Colliers Wood. After a bit of nervousness we quickly found our feet and focused on our strengths, which was keeping the ball high up on the pitch. With the youthful energy of Saghar Ahmad and Abdul Sami we found ourselves one up after a goal from Saghar. But just as our confidence started to grow, we started to fall apart at the back. Eventually after a series of comical mistakes we gave away a cheap goal and let Colliers Wood back into the game. After this goal we seemed to fall apart and forget how to play football and soon we conceded a second. But as defeat dawned upon us we pushed in the closing minutes to salvage the match and Abdus Sami managed to steal a late draw in the game. After the first game it was clear we needed to regroup and
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organise ourselves. So with the second game, against West Hill and only a 10 minute break, Captain Imran Addo hatched a new plan. Abdullah Sadique was put in centre defence and as last man, with Captain Imran Addo and Luqman Bajwa on either side of him. Abdul Sami was the energetic midfielder and Shakeer Idris right in front of him with the pace and silky feet of Saghar Ahmad upfront. The new setup gave Uzair Ahmad in goal more confidence. Abdullah Sadique gave a commanding performance as he organised the defence to be more efficient. And we played with a balance of very direct football, with the height of Shakeer Idris causing much trouble from goal kicks, and offensive football with the skilful runs of Saghar Ahmad and Abdul Sami along with the occasional cameo from Captain Imran Addo. So it was no surprise when we took the lead with Saghar Ahmad again finding the target. We dominated the game and had much of the ball as well as lots of chances and even had a penalty saved. But the second goal eluded us and slowly West Hill started to find their game. And as feared with a deadly counter attack and quick passing they fought back with a good goal. Knowing that two draws would not be enough for us to progress to the next round we tried to push for the winner but sadly time was not on our side and the game finished all level. As expected the two draws put us in a difficult situation and the last game ended with West Hill winning meaning that we would not progress to the next round. We left disappointed but upon reflection, given where we started from, I think it is fair to say our debut was still a success and more than we could have hoped for when we were struggling to put a team together. We also left leaving a special relationship and renewed friendship between Peckham and SE London, but with a warning that the next time we meet, probably at our Regional Ijtema, we will not enter the pitch as team mates but as rivals as will likely enter as separate teams! May Allah grant continued success to MKA Khuddamul Ahmadiyya Football and bring good fortune to the MKA South Region Football Teams in the remainder of the IFL, [ameen]. From left to right: Uzair Ahmad (SE London), Abdus Sami (SE London), Saghar Ahmad (SE London), Luqman Bajwa (SE London), Abdullah Sadique (SE London), Shakeer Idris (Peckham), Captain Imran Addo (Peckham)
IMPORTANCE & BLESSINGS OF GAINING WORK EXPERIENCE IN THE JAMA’AT By Qasid Ahmad (Graduate Electrical Engineer)
A
s we all know, it is difficult in the current economy to apply for and acquire a job. There can be many reasons for why searching for jobs is a strenuous business. I, for one, can be certain of this since I had been applying for jobs endlessly until I got my current job. It is a job in itself to search for a job! The main reasons for the difficulty in landing jobs are usually to do with the lack of experience in the individual. Maybe the applicant has the academic qualifications, but he does not attain the valuable experience in the field of work. A small example can be shown in my own experiences:After my graduation in June 2012, I had been applying to (without exaggeration) 100's of job vacancies a day, some which were not even related to my field. Day after day, I would apply to as many companies as I could find. Sometimes I got replies, mostly none. This job hunting lead up to the preparations for Jalsa Salana around August 2012, where I volunteered to assist with the Electrical distribution of the Jalsa site and Islamabad. While installing cables at the site for toilet cabins, I received a phone call from a company regarding an application I had made. As I had applied to hundreds of vacancies, I was not aware of which company at the time or when I had applied. This was an informal interview for the job, and I had not even prepared myself ! I explained to the interviewer that I was at an Annual Convention in Alton, installing cables for the event. He said that is no problem and in fact would like to hear more about it. So I explained to him exactly what I was doing, literally as I was wiring the cables! Nonetheless, the interviewer seemed quite interested in what I was doing at site and said the company will get in touch later.
relevant. Thus, I explained exactly what I did for Jalsa Salana, to which they were very impressed, as not many individuals get this kind of experience when applying for jobs. After the interview, it was time to wind up for Jalsa Salana, and while reading Salaat in the tent I had set up, my phone vibrated in my pocket. After Salaat, I checked my email on my phone. Alhamdullillah, I had recieved a job offer from the same company! I almost broke out in tears. Thanks to the Jama’at, the opportunity to work for the Jama’at, the invaluable experience gained, I had got a job offer which is one I really enjoy today and I use the experience gained at Jalsa at my workplace. So, I end this article on emphasising the importance of gaining work experience from the Jama’at, voluntarily and with passion. Insha'Allah you will be rewarded for all your efforts when searching for jobs.
[ameen]
After Jalsa had passed, I received an email from the same company inviting me for an interview. I prepared for the interview, and besides the standard questions they ask, they wanted to ask me about a specific work experience on my CV. "Can you explain to me what you did at this 'Jalsa Salana' please?" I was quite surprised that they would enquire about this over other experiences I had which I thought to be more Tariq Magazine
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News & Events
SOUTH REGION AMYA DIGS IN TO PLANT OVER 2,000 TREES
By Tariq Ahmad, Regional Nazim Khidmat-e-Khalq
W
ith the Grace of Allah, Majlis Khuddamul Ahmadiyya South Region successfully accomplished the Region's first Tree Planting activity on Friday 22nd and Sunday 24th February.
contact the regional branches of Majlis Ansarullah and Lajna Imaillah, and include them in this noble task. This would be a 'tree-mendous' help and we were positive the ladies would enjoy the experience.
Discussions first commenced back in November 2012 in regards to planning the event. From a National target of 12,000 trees to plant, South Region's share was 400. Starting with a blank sheet of paper, somewhat daunted never having planted a tree before, we soon began to appreciate the things we needed to research, such as when during the year we can or cannot plant trees, where could or should we plant trees, do we need to seek local authority approval, how many volunteers would we need, what are the risks involved, could we invite a Mayor or an MP to enhance its significance?
The dates were agreed to plant 500 trees at Sydenham Wells Park during the half term week on Friday the 22nd of February and the near 2,000 trees would be planted at Danson Park in two days time. Since MKA South were hosting this event we had to ensure that full preparations were in place to cater for the needs of our Lajna sisters and our Ansar uncles, as well as our Khuddam brothers, therefore a visit was made to both parks prior to the event.
In December, plans turned into action. We were told that the tree-planting season would be over by March so we had better get moving otherwise we would miss the opportunity! Links were established first with Croydon Council. Unfortunately, a speedy response was not forthcoming. Not giving up at the first hurdle, we chased again. This time there was a response. The response was that there was no response yet! We then decided to widen our search to neighbouring boroughs while we continued to pursue Croydon. Thankfully, responses from Bexley and Lewisham Councils came and they expressed an interest in us undertaking tree planting. Over the next few weeks we worked to agree the parks to plant the trees, the types of trees and the quantity. At the same time we were also in contact with our centre and other Regions to learn from their experiences in their recent tree planting activities. Mahmood Syed Sahib, part of the Khidmat-e-Khalq Team, was very helpful in advising how best we can execute our plans. Initially we were going to look at small scale bearing in mind our target was 400 trees, but we thought if we think big, we can get big results, Insha’Allah! We considered the size of the task, needing some 100 volunteers would not be an easy task from a Khuddam tajneed of 400. Before we knew it, with prayers and with the Grace of Allah we had agreements with councils to plant well over 2,000 trees ourselves! Nearly 2,000 trees were agreed to be planted at Danson Park in Bexley and over 500 trees were agreed for Sydenham Wells Park Lewisham. Sadr Majlis MKA UK requested Regional Qaid Sahib South to
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Near the time of the events we began to send out invitations to the local Mayors and MPs. Mayor of Lewisham Sir Steve Bullock agreed to visit while MP Everrett of Bexley made good efforts to reschedule his already busy day to attend but was unable to. Communications were sent out to all volunteers to wear boots or wellies, wear gloves and wear layers of clothing, as it would be very cold. The trees had been ordered and had arrived, and so too had Friday the 22nd. We were limited to a volunteer group of 20 as the conservation officers who would direct us limited us to 10 volunteers per officer for health and safety reasons. They duly taught us how to plant trees in all of 1 minute such was it's ease. With some excitement Lajna and Nasirat commenced planting trees at one side of the park and the Khudam and Ansar planted their trees nearer the middle of the park. Khalid Napaul Sahib kindly appeared 'at half time' to provide us some well earned cups of tea. This followed the appearance of the Mayor who was quite impressed with the fact that a community like us was doing such an activity in conjunction with the council. We were fortunate to have made a video interview with him. Time actually flew by and before we knew it, it was midday and the trees were planted. From here, we travelled the short distance to Tahir Mosque in Catford for Jumu’ah and prayers at 1 pm. Two days later came the big event. From 10 am, Lajna, Nasirat, Atfal, Ansar and Khuddam of South Region began turning up with wellies, gloves, spades and layers of clothing. By 11 am we had all been trained by Friends of Danson Park Chairman Ken Hobden. Lajna and Nasirat moved to commence tree planting
at one side of a field while the Ansar, Atfal and Khuddam began planting on the other side of the field. In total, over 105 volunteers came and that enabled so many trees to be planted so quickly. Tea was available as well as snacks and just in case, we were also prepared with a first aid kit. Thankfully, the only time it was needed was when we found that we needed a pair of scissors (from within it) to open the bundles of trees! The field in which we were planting trees looked like it had a group of bees busying away! While most were planting trees we ourselves put some effort towards video recording and interviewing volunteers so as to be able to make a viral. The communication of good works breeds more good works. By 2 pm, all the trees had been planted and once again Khalid Napaul Sahib came with his car, opened the boot and started handing out the ready prepared meals that had just been cooked at Tahir Mosque. A long line ensued for a well earned meal! At the closing of the event a silent prayer was led by the Sadr of South East London. Once the event came to its conclusion we then moved into devising and distributing the press release to the media. In planning for this we had already compiled the contact information of as many media contacts as possible and pre-prepared much of the press release. This was to help us to get the final press release out in a very timely manner. So far, as of 28th February, there are no less than 36 media publications on this. It is worth mentioning a few important aspects here. First and foremost, all Praise be to Allah for enabling this to be accomplished. Secondly, our prayers were instrumental in making the event a big success. It is also important to prepare well in advance, stay positive, do not let setbacks make you think that you cannot get something done, learn from others' experiences to make your own experience better, and believe in
yourself. If you think small you will get small results, but if you think big, you then have the potential to achieve big things. So, what is the significance of all this? On tree planting itself, it enhances the conservation of wildlife, improves the environment and can also beautify an area. Prophet Mohammad [saw] who was a mercy for mankind was particular about protecting the environment and planting trees. It is his noble example which is the inspiration behind this initiative. Below are some statements given on our tree planting: Mayor of Lewisham, Sir Steve Bullock, "I think that initiatives like this where communities are doing things for themselves, working with organisations like the council to take a park and enhance it is one of the real strengths of Lewisham. It's been great to see what you've been doing." He continued, " I am always happy to encourage this kind of volunteering." Judith Simmons, from Green service provider Glendale said, “We are pleased to be working with the Ahmadiyya Muslim community to help improve the environment by planting hedgerows in Sydenham Wells Park, Lewisham. Hedgerows provide habitats for a variety of wildlife and we always like to see groups like this volunteering their time and trying to make a difference to their local parks and communities." Ken Hobden, Chair of Friends of Danson Park commented, "The work you have very kindly carried out for us today will much improve the park and increase the wildlife habitat in the park by providing the nested habitat that's for birds and insects and help to serve our threatened wildlife. So I'd like to take this opportunity to thank you very much for the work you have done here for us."
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HISTORIC MKA IJTEMA GALLERY 1951 - 2010
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Historic MKA Ijtema Gallery
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A Doorway to Blessings
Waqfe Jadid It was a deep desire of Hadhrat Musleh Maoudra that Islam should spread in the entire world quickly, and in practice all members should become devotees in the service of faith, and thus become close to Allah. Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih II ra explaining the Importance of this blessed Scheme, stated: “This is the work of Allah, and it shall certainly be completed. As Allah has placed this zeal in my heart, I am going to perform this duty even if I have to sell my houses, my clothes. Even if not a single person assists me, Allah will remove all those who are not helping me and shall cause angels to descend from heavens to lend me support. So, to rest my case, once again I make this call so that people may consider taking part in financial offerings as well as devoting themselves.� (January 7, 1958)
Please contact your local secretary Waqfe Jadid for more detail. May Allah enable us all to respond in the measure needed. Ameen! Wasalaam Mubbushar Mirza Secretary Waqfe Jadid UK For more information please email: waqfejadid@ahmadiyyauk.org Tariq Magazine
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Did you know
PERSECUTION OF AHMADI MUSLIMS IN PAKISTAN
By Shahid Fayyaz Ahmad, Croydon
A
s an Ahmadi from Pakistan, I have experienced and borne witness to what humanity is capable of in persecution. What follows is a short description of some of my experiences while living in Pakistan as an Ahmadi Muslim. Despite the hostile environment, I made a concerted effort to adjust myself to the society I found myself in. I endeavoured to present myself in the best possible fashion to my fellow countrymen and, in particular, to those who claimed to share the same faith as I. My experience revealed that, in certain sections, a deep-seated hatred—borne of ignorance—is fostered endemically in society.
That said, no Ahmadi can bring himself to hate his nation and can only ever aspire to be honest in his thought and conduct and deed. Allow me to expound upon this with a personal example. The Government of Pakistan credited me with a loan some years ago, which was due to be repaid over a fixed term of 5 years. However, during this period, my circumstances changed and I sold the (now part-owned) item, as that collateralised against the loan. The balance of the loan was therefore transferred to the third-party, who was rightly obliged to fulfil its terms. Despite my honest intent in ensuring that my nation was not defrauded, I was still subject to daylight threats of death, which gave me only the option to leave the nation, or renounce my faith.
Mobs of people do not allow Ahmadis to live in peace and conspire vindictively in discrediting, defaming and denying them their basic human right of expression of faith. There have been incidents of Ahmadi victimisation through false cases. Threats have even been made, conditional upon Ahmadis renouncing their beliefs.
Once my life was threatened, there was only one option for me – to leave the nation of my birth. This decision was arrived at through the application of logic and the guidance of our Community’s leaders. Allah Subhana-wa-ta’Ala bestowed his Grace and Mercy upon me and granted me a passage to the peaceful nation of Great Britain.
I was persecuted myself, victimised and also subjected to the police, who in my opinion, abused the office they held. Not only were they offensively rude, but they appeared to treat me – and other Ahmadis – as if we were sub-human.
All pure and perfect praise belongs to Allah alone, the Mighty, the Wise, the Just. May Allah bestow His Grace, Mercy and Forgiveness on the people of Pakistan and humanity as a whole. May He alleviate from humanity the curse of ignorance and all that it begets. May He grant forbearance and steadfastness and, also, envelop in His Protection our brethren who face the threat of persecution wherever they may be. May He enlighten and reform the hearts of those who wish to persecute them – and if their hearts are not to be reformed, may He destine for them to be a cautionary tale for the benefit of mankind. And anything is possible by the Will of Allah. Ameen.
There have been numerous incidents of Ahmadis being targeted and even murdered in cold-blood, all borne out of a deep-seated ignorance, which grows like a cancerous tumour in the underbelly of this nation. If an Ahmadi acts on his pure intention of inviting his brother in humanity to the fold of Ahmadiyyat, he becomes subject to section 298C of Ordinance XX of 1984. How can a nation survive – let alone thrive – when it actively legislates persecution of any sort; particularly against a whole religious community, which in our case are the followers of the Promised Messiah [as]. There seems no place for Ahmadis to fit in this nation; the Civil Service is not even an option, as Ahmadis can scarcely be considered citizens in this oppressive state. Ahmadis cannot even call their brethren to prayer through the adhan.
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Shahid Fayyaz Ahmad Croydon
PRAYER FOR PEACE  
 
By S.A.Rehman Peace Activist Pakistan
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e all need to pray for one another, and to love one another. We should always pray for the safety, peace, love and brotherhood for people all over the world.
Too bad that we can not have an independence day for the entire world. A day of freedom from ignorance, hatred, war, illusions, power and control. A day where we can all love each other as human beings and toss away the weapons of war, and cast out our fears and hatreds from our hearts into the graves. We must mourn the graves of the innocents all over the world, and give the children of the world the hope of a peaceful, loving and beautiful world. A world full of love and without hatred or fear. A world where we can join hands together and accept one another, regardless of our skin colour, ethnic divisions, religion or Nationality. If we do not unite as a human race, then we are effectively leaving a dark and grim future for our future generations. Think of love, compassion and peace always.
My Prayer For Peace And Harmony Merciful God, You made all of the people of the world in Your own image and placed before us the pathway of salvation through different preachers who claimed to have been Your saints and prophets. But, the contradictions (made by us) in the interpretation of Your teachings have resulted in creating divisions, faith-based hatreds and bloodshed in the global community. Millions of innocent men, women and children have so far been brutally killed by militants of several religions who have committed horrifying crimes against humanity and millions more would not be butchered by them in the future, if You guide and help us find ways to reunite peacefully.
In The Name Of God, The Compassionate, The Merciful, Look with compassion on the whole human family; take away the controversial teachings of arrogance, divisions and hatreds which have badly infected our hearts; break down the walls that separate us; reunite us in bonds of love; guide us in our struggle and confusion to accomplish our purpose on Earth; that, in Your good time, all nations and races could jointly serve You in justice, peace and harmony [ameen] S.A.Rehman Peace Activist Pakistan
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Articles
FIRST JOURNEY TO LONDON
By Yousaf Aftab
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n 1891 the Promised Messiah [as] saw the following vision vouchsafed to him by Allah the Almighty.
‘I saw (in a vision) that I was standing on a pulpit in the city of London and was setting forth the truth of Islam in the English language, in a very well reasoned address. Thereafter, I caught several birds who were sitting upon small trees and were of white colour and their bodies resembled the bodies of partridges. I interpreted this vision as meaning that though I would not be able to travel to that country, my writings will be published among them and many righteous English people will be attracted by the truth.’ (Izala-e-Auham, pp. 515–516, Ruhani Khaza’in, vol. 3, p. 377) Alhamdulillah by the sheer grace and mercy of Allah, we can see the fulfilment so such a vision and again another proof of the truth of the existence of Allah and how he provides succour and success to his chosen servants through His divine means. All such blessings were achieved due to the unconditional love the Promised Messiah [as] for his Holy master, the Holy Prophet [saw] and through his reflection and subservience he championed the true revival of Islam. The Promised Messiah’s [as] message truly did reach the corners of the earth and, till this day and age, people are seeking blessings from his garments. Likewise, as revealed to him that “I shall give you a large party of Islam” can also be witnessed by all. The interNational organ of communication started in 1902 During his lifetime which is still in existence today, for the western society by under the name of Review of Religions. This is yet another fulfilment that the message of Islam brought by Holy Prophet [saw] would fulfil the world with light and that the sun shall surely rise from the west in accordance and fulfilment of the word of God foretold to the Holy Prophet [saw] via the Promised Messiah and Imam Mahdi [as] of the latter days.
write. The following verses of the very first Chapter revealed to the Holy Prophets [saw] emphatically pronounce: Read! And your Lord is the Most Honourable. Who taught by the pen. He taught man what he knew not. (Ch. 96 : V .4-6)
This again is a sign and fulfilment that Hazrat Masih Maud [as] was sultan-ul-qalam and his pen was titled Dhulifiqar Ali (Sword of Ali [ra]). Through his majestic and mastery skills of the pen as taught by Allah the Almighty he carried out Jihad bin Qalam.
These verses when read in conjunction with the verse under study clearly emphasize the character of the age to be highly advanced in knowledge.Therefore, during the time of the Promised Messiah [as], the true Jihad which would take place will would involve pen will be mightier than the sword. This would be a method with Divine assistance from Allah to excel in later days to educate the right minded and righteous people that want to benefit from this spiritual light and fountain of elixir of Islam as taught and practiced by our beloved master Holy Prophet [saw].
Also implied in this prophecy is the invention of the modern press, otherwise it was not possible for handwritten manuscripts to be extensively published and widely distributed. The Holy Qur’an emphasizes the role of the pen so powerfully that it directly attributes to God the act of teaching humans how to
One is marvelled to see how an unlettered person like the Holy Prophet [saw] was able to convey the message and able to receive the Holy Qur’an, which Allah commanded to transcribe and spread all over the world when he himself could not read and write. However, with Divine help from Allah, he was able
Allah clearly states in the Holy Qur’an ’And when the books will be extensively published and spread.’(Ch. 81:V. 11)
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to convey this grand message to the whole of the world. Today we still see signs of the Majesty and Divine signs of Allah is continuiusly assisting the community of the Promised Messiah [as] through the blessings of Khilafat. And, when we celebrate the 100 years of the establishment of UK Jama’at, we can see how this message and word of Islam has been conveyed to the UK. During the Khalifat of Hazrat Musleh Maud [ra] a huge exhibition known as ‘Wembley Exhibition’ was held in London in 1924. The organisers decided to hold a conference on this occasion inviting representatives of various religions to speak on the teachings of their respective faiths. Huzoor [ra] also received an invitation to participate in this conference. After consultation with the Jama’at he decided to travel to London. Huzoor [ra] travelled by sea from Bombay with a delegation of twelve eminent Ahmadis. On the way to London, the steamship stopped at in Egypt, Syria and Palestine. Sir Muhammad Zafrulla Khan read Huzoor’s [ra] paper in the conference which was later published under the title “Ahmadiyyat or the True Islam”. Everyone appreciated Huzoor’s [ra] enlightening address. While in London, on 19 October 1924, Huzoor [ra] laid the foundation stone of Fazl mosque, the first Ahmadiyya mosque in the UK. Eminent writers, newspaper, TV & radio reporters attended the ceremony. A British company made a motion picture of the event, the clips from this video were tele-casted by MTA in July 2000. The opening ceremony took place in 1926. The construction cost of the Mosque was entirely born by members of the Lajna Ima-Allah. This journey was of great significance from preaching point of view. From all the countries Huzoor [ra] travelled through, people expressed great interest in Ahmadiyyat. Although there was a bit of opposition, but overall it was a smashing success. Having successfully accomplished his objectives, Huzoor [ra] arrived back home after four months.
Conference in London One of the most eventful incidents of the Third Caliphate and indeed of the Movement was the ‘Deliverance from the Cross Conference’ that took place in London from June 2nd to June 4th 1978. Well-known scholars belonging to principal faiths read their scholarly papers on this landmark occasion. Their research indicated that Christian beliefs about Jesus Christ were baseless, while the explanation provided by the Promised Messiah [as] regarding the death of Hazrat Isa, peace be on him, has been validated. There were participants from Pakistan, India, Africa, Asia, Europe, and the USA. Eminent speakers like Sir Zafrulla Khan and Sahibzada M.M. Ahmad read their scholarly papers. In his address Huzoor [rh] refuted the Christian belief that Jesus Christ was a God and alive in the heavens. In this manner Huzoor [rh] delivered the message of Islam to millions
of Christians. He reaffirmed the oneness of Almighty Allah and beautifully expounded the high status of Holy Prophet Muhammad [saw]. Thousands of Europeans listened to Huzoor's address and were impressed by the depth and breadth of his knowledge. Newspapers from around the world, magazines, television, & radio carried news about this event in their respective countries. Some Christian leaders expressed their concern over the farreaching effects of this event. To counteract the effects of this conference, they invited Hazrat Khalifat al-Masih III [rh] for discussions. However, when Huzoor [rh] accepted the invitation, they decided to defer it by coming up with lame excuses. Thus they admitted their defeat. Alhamdolillah. I would like to leave my readers with writing of the Promised Messiah [as] and make mention of the writing written on the plaque of Masjid Fazl which again is a testimony to the spread of the light of Islam by stationing of Khalifatul-Masih in that very place who is constantly illuminating the hearts and minds of people. ‘In 1891 the Promised Messiah [as] We believe in the rising of the sun from the West but it has been disclosed to me in a vision that the meaning of the rising of the sun from the West is that the Western countries, which, from ancient times, have been enveloped in the darkness of disbelief and error, will be illumined by the sun of truth and will partake of Islam.’ [Izala-e-Auham, p. 515, Ruhani Khaza’in, vol. 3, pp. 376–377] Plaque on Fazl Mosque states ‘May this Mosque become like a sun radiating the rays of the message of the Holy Prophet [saw] and the Promised Messiah [as] to the corners of the earth. Again, this shows that how such efforts had been carried out by the Khulafa of the Promised Messiah [as] at a very early age to spread the true message of Islam.In essence for us to appreciate our present, we must understand our past. We must also develop a sense of love and gratitude for our elders for what they have given us, particularly in recognising and holding tight to the rope of Allah which is very much imbued in this day and age with the blessings and system of Khilafat. A Khalifa continues the good works vouchsafed to a prophet and acts as a vicegerent in this earth, as a representative of Allah, to guide mankind towards their true purpose which is to be obedient to Allah the Almighty and understand creation’s true purpose which is to worship the one God and understand the grand status of Holy Prophet [saw] and accept the bait at the hands of his ardent follower and Imam Mahdi and Messiah [as] of this age. Inshallah as khuddamul ahmadiyya may we live to the lofty and high expectations of delivering the message of the Holy Prophet [saw], Promised Messiah [as] under the divine guidance of Khalifatul Maih [atba]. In the end all Praise belongs to Allah, lord of all the worlds.
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Articles
DEVOTION OF LIFE
By Dr. Iftikhar Ahmad Ayaz, OBE
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he Promised Messiah [as] always prayed that may Allah the Almighty enable people from amongst the Europeans to devote their lives for the sake of Ahmadiyyat. Accordingly, expressing this wish on 23 October 1903, he said: “We always pray and it has always been our ardent desire that a person rises from amongst the Europeans who devotes a part of his life for this Movement. However, it is essential for such a person that he spends some time in our company and gradually learns the basic principles which can remove every stain from the followers of Islam, and he fully understands those powerful and grand arguments which can successfully resolve this crisis. He can then go to other countries to render this service. To bear the brunt of this service, a pure and powerful soul is needed. The one who will have that soul will be the most dignified beneficent person and will be designated a magnificent person in heaven before God.” (Al-Badr, 29 October 1903)
Bashir Ahmad Orchard Sahib, First European Ahmadi Missionary The first manifestation of the fruit of the prayers of the Promised Messiah [as] was John Bren Orchard who, in 1945, visited Qadian during the time of Hadrat Musleh Maud [ra]. After an audience with Hadrat Musleh Maud [ra], he took the pledge of allegiance at his hand, entering the fold of Ahmadiyyat. Huzoor [ra] gave him the Muslim name of Bashir Ahmad Orchard. A Lieutenant in the Army, Bashir Ahmad Orchard Sahib, who was posted on the India/Burma border first received the message of Ahmadiyyat in 1945 through Sergeant Abdul Rehman Sahib Dehlvi. With admiration and affection, Hadrat Musleh Maud [ra] mentioned the incident of Orchard Sahib’s visit to Qadian, his acceptance of Ahmadiyyat and a sudden amazing change in his spiritual life. Huzoor [ra] said that after becoming a Muslim and giving up drinking, he was ridiculed and tempted by his colleagues to revert to his previous way of life, however, by the blessings of Allah the Exalted, he remained steadfast and gradually became stronger in faith and practice. He became very regular in Salaat prayers and grew a beard. Eventually, he
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If a person resident of Europe – can create such a profound change in him that he becomes regular in Salaat prayers, offers Tahajud prayer, and adopts all the Islamic customs with pleasure, then why can someone from India or another country not follow these directions?
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At the end of the Second World War, Bashir Orchard Sahib arrived in England on 21 April 1946. He relinquished the material array of England and entered the heavenly array of Muhammad [saw], the Messenger of Allah. That is, he devoted his life for Islam and Ahmadiyyat. On 1 May 1947, at the instructions of Hadrat Musleh Maud [ra], he came to Qadian for education. On 4 May 1947, a reception was held in honour of Bashir Orchard Sahib, which was also blessed by Hadrat Musleh Maud [ra]. Huzoor [ra], on this occasion, delivered an enlightening address in English. Huzoor [ra] said: “Allah the Exalted sent the Promised Messiah [as] to bring together all the nations of the world and you are that first person from your nation who had the privilege of accepting him. You also have the good fortune of devoting your life for preaching the message he has brought. We pray for you that Allah the Exalted bless you with steadfastness and each day enhances your sincerity and enthusiasm. A time will come when the name of One God will be firmly established all over the world and Ahmadiyyat will be everywhere. At that time, the people of your country will search through the books of history to find out whether any Englishman had become Ahmadi in the early period. When they will see that, yes, there was a person, Bashir Ahmad Orchard, who accepted Ahmadiyyat in the beginning and offered extraordinary sacrifices, their hearts will be filled with joy and gratification and they will
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gave up his employment and devoted his life to Islam. Huzoor [ra] said, “Now he is preaching Islam in England. He is only provided with meagre subsistence. The condition of this person is that he regularly offers Tahajjud (predawn prayer). He offers his Salaat prayers in congregation; offers extended supplications, has a beard and no one can say he is English besides from the look of his face. Everyone reckons that he is a seasoned Muslim. If a person – resident of Europe – can create such a profound change in him that he becomes regular in Salaat prayers, offers Tahajud prayer, and adopts all the Islamic customs with pleasure, then why can someone from India or another country not follow these directions?” (Formation of Pakistan and Our Responsibilities; Published by Nashro-Ishaat – Lahore, 1948, P.18)
say with delight that the English nation fulfilled its obligation to serve. At this time, no doubt, you are unknown and unfamiliar but the time will come, and come soon, when nations will take pride in your name and praise your heroic deeds. So do not take your actions and your conduct as ordinary and do not take these actions to be just yours; those are in fact the actions of the entire English nation. Those who will come later will emulate your every act and follow your every word. If your actions and conduct will be in accordance with Islam, and will be elegant and magnificent, then take note that because of your deeds, your nation will become prosperous, however, if your behaviour will not comply with the true standard of Islam and will be faulty, then your nation will be deprived of advancement. So, always do your best to establish the best example and leave behind a legacy of splendid memories; otherwise Allah will raise someone else to carry out this task. During the time when Ahmadiyyat will become predominant in the world – and predominant definitely it will become – and no power can stop that, then your greatness will rise immensely in the hearts of people; much more than for the greatest of Prime Ministers. So I admonish you to serve with sincerity and zeal and leave behind the best example for the future generations. In conclusion, I pray to Allah the Exalted that His blessings and mercy remain with you always and the purpose for which you have made a beginning, its completion be a success. [ameen].” (Al Fazl, 6 May 1947) May Allah continue to elevate his soul in heaven. He was a magnificent person in every respect and a source of spiritual inspiration. I personally relished his company and benefited a great deal from his wisdom. May we soon see the day when by Allah’s Grace there will be uncountable Orchards of Ahmadiyyat in this country. May Allah enable all his children and his dear ones to devotedly follow in his footsteps to serve Ahmadiyyat.
[ameen]
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Articles
SACRIFICE IN THE “LATTER DAYS”
By Farooq Mahmood, Mohtamim Maal
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shall always be ready to sacrifice my life, wealth, time, and honour for the sake of my faith, country and nation. Likewise, I shall be ready to offer any sacrifice for guarding the institution of Khilafat-e-Ahmadiyya.
Our Khuddam pledge is filled with all kinds of sacrifice. Why is it so? Why do we need to offer any sacrifice? It is a pledge for every Khadim in the world whether his life is facing constant threat for accepting the Imam of the Age or his life is safe and secure in the West. The Holy Qur’an reminds the Mumineen (the faithful) of a great sacrifice: “And when he (Ishmael) was old enough to run along with him (Abraham), he said, `O my dear son, I have seen in a dream that I offer thee in sacrifice. So consider what thou thinkest of it!' He replied, `O my father, do as thou art commanded; thou wilt find me, if Allah please steadfast in my faith.' And when they both submitted to the Will of God, and Abraham had thrown him down on his forehead, We called to him `O Abraham thou hast indeed fulfilled the dream.' Thus indeed do We reward those who do good.'” (Ch.37:V.103-106) The Holy Qur’an briefly describes the significance of sacrifice of animals: “Their flesh reaches not Allah, nor does their blood, but it is your righteousness that reaches Him.” (Ch.22 : V.38) The act of sacrifice is symbolic reminding us to be ready to sacrifice all personal interests, desires and inclinations for the sake of Allah. The Holy Prophet [saw] very dearly loved his daughter Hazrat Fatima [ra_ha]. The Holy Prophet [saw] was that king for whom the whole universe was created. He declined his beloved daughter’s request for providing her with a maid for household chores. Her palms were worn out through grinding flour with her own blessed hands. This was one of the countless and ceaseless lessons left for the faithful to leave aside all worldly comforts and prepare oneself for all kinds of hardships. About the victory of Islam The Promised Messiah [as] says: ‘This should not happen until we have proved our worth by devoted hard work, by offering our life-blood, by sacrificing our rest and peace, by accepting all indignities for the dignity of Islam. The
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new Life of Islam demands a great sacrifice from us. What is this sacrifice? It is our lives: on this sacrifice depends now the Life of Islam.’ (Fathe Islam i.e. Victory of Islam, p. 8) Hazrat Musleh Maud [ra] said: “...Khuddamul Ahmadiyya means the 'servants of Ahmadiyyat'. This name will always keep them reminded that they are servants, and not to be served." Hazrat Ameerul Mumineen [atba] said in his Friday sermon of 26th October 2012: “Never before has our Jama’at given sacrifice of life on this scale. However, these sacrifices herald triumphs and God has informed us of the triumphs to come. In the last two years the Jama’at has given a lot of sacrifice of life. Someone has written to me about the recent martyrdoms in Karachi that at the martyrdom of a young Ahmadi, someone went to pay condolences to the family. A close female relative, either the mother or the sister of the martyr, told them that they should be given felicitations that their family was granted martyrdom. Be it the martyrdoms of Lahore, or Mandi Bahauddin or Karachi or Ghatyalian, the spirit of sacrifice is evident everywhere. O’ enemies of Ahmadiyyat, you could not move any Ahmadi from their faith after dozens of martyrdoms of Lahore, you will not be able to shake the faith of the Ahmadis of Karachi. Insha’Allah, Ahmadis understand this and will continue to understand and are ready to give any kind of sacrifice for the second phase of Islam requires sacrifices…” Dear Khuddam brothers, let us ask ourselves this question. What is our share in the progression of the second phase of Islam? Life of a faithful is grounded on sacrifice. No human has ever reached the heights of spirituality or nearness to Allah without sacrifice. Let us ask ourselves this pertinent question: What kind of sacrifice are we offering selflessly? We are not being asked to give our lives away! When we leave our homes, our mothers and wives do not fear that their sons or husbands may not return tonight because of being Ahmadi Muslims. We do not face anxiety whilst securing Jama’at’s property that we would be brutally martyred like our three young brothers of Indonesia. They gave their lives but not
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This should not happen until we have proved our worth by devoted hard work, by offering our life-blood, by sacrificing our rest and peace, by accepting all indignities for the dignity of Islam. The new Life of Islam demands a great sacrifice from us. What is this sacrifice? It is our lives: on this sacrifice depends now the Life of Islam.
So brothers, what can we sacrifice in the UK? We can quite easily sacrifice our time and wealth. Every moment that we spend in the service of Islam and every penny we spend in the propagation of Islam will be our real wealth in the hereafter. Life is short. Allah knows when our call comes. Our real saving is what we spend in the way of Allah. Sometimes we need to sacrifice our emotions for the sake of our faith. That is also a kind of sacrifice. Obedience to the Nizam should be unconditional. When a member of the Jama’at faces any kind of restriction, he undergoes a deep sense of sorrow. But it is the heart of the Khalifa that is hurt the most. He prays to Allah the Almighty for their forgiveness and reformation. But he takes this bitter pill for purifying the Jama’at of the Mumineen (the faithful). Sometimes we may feel that we want to include those Ahmadis in our social events but we need to sacrifice our emotions for the general good of every Ahmadi. Allah knows best what is in our hearts. He is ever Merciful. He accepts all those intentions and deeds that come from the purity of hearts. In the times of the Holy Prophet [saw] the boycott of three companions is mentioned in the Holy Qur’an in Surah AlTaubah. It was a complete social boycott. Muslims were not allowed to talk to them and even their wives were told to go to their parents’ and not live with those companions.
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their faith. They did not speak the language of the Promised Messiah [as] or his Khalifa. The only language that mattered was the language of unshakable love for the faith which demands sacrifice. They were being beaten to death with sticks and stones but they did not revert from their faith.
Prophet [saw]. Our brothers in Pakistan are not only sacrificing their lives but they are also sacrificing time, wealth and their honour for the sake of their faith, much more than what we can imagine in this safe country. These days we are holding our local Ijtema'at freely up and down the country. Khuddamul Ahmadiyya in Pakistan cannot even hold an Ijtema for their spiritual and academic training. They are sacrificing their emotions because of obedience to Khilafat. Not even a single Khadim ,despite his anger, has ever come out on the streets. We, the Khuddam of this country should ask ourselves whether we can ever control our emotions and anger in the same way. All this is possible with the true spirit of sacrifice. I finish my humble submissions with the words of the pledge that we repeated behind Hazrat Ameerul Mumineen [atba] on 27th May 2008: "Today, at the completion of 100 years of Khilafat–e–Ahmadiyya, we swear an oath to Allah to vouch to spread Islam and Ahmadiyyat and to make the name of the Holy Prophet Muhammad [saw] reach the corners of the earth, we shall keep exerting till the last moments of our lives, and for the accomplishments of this cause and duty, will always keep our lives dedicated to Allah and His Messenger [saw], and will offer every sacrifice, no matter how big it is, to raise the flag of Islam higher, in every country of the world, till the last day.”
Those companions of the Holy Prophet [saw] repented fervently. They loved the Holy Prophet [saw] more than any other worldly relation. How could they bear the pain of being boycotted by their beloved master? This punishment lasted about 40 days, then under Divine instruction through revelation they were pardoned by the Holy Tariq Magazine
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Articles
ADVICE TO A MISSIONARY
Taken from Review of Religion, By Hazrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmad [ra] Note :- Review of Religion team takes full responsibility for any errors or miscommunication in this synopsis.
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hese directions were given in writing by Hazrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmad [ra], to Maulana Q. Abdullah B.A., B.T., on the occasion of his departure for England as a missionary. The date is not mentioned but is likely in the mid 1930s or 1940s.
Haq that has hitherto fought him was not the real and living Din-i-Haq. It was only a lifeless skeleton. Who can dispute the fact that even a child can overthrow a skeleton? Attack him with the weapons of the real and living Din-i-Haq and he will of himself run away.
(Reproduced from the Review of Religions)
Europe is now steeped in materialism and is the mine of all sciences. It is proud of its knowledge and is puffed up with the thought that what it thinks to be, the real civilization, and that all else is barbarism. People, finding it so far advanced in science, are over awed by its extravagant claims while as a matter of fact, the sciences of Europe cannot be measured against the knowledge contained in the Qur’an. Europe's theories are subject to constant change while the Qur’anic truths are eternal and unchangeable. Hence, he who believes in the Holy Qur’an cannot, for a second, be cowed down before Europe. If he studies Europe's civilization in the light of the Holy Qur’an, it will appear to him anything but civilization and its bright pearls will appear no more than mere oyster shells. Therefore, never be dismayed by the theories of Europe. If they ever begin to vitiate your mind, take to the study of the Holy Qur’an and the works of the Holy Founder of the Ahmadiyya Jama’at, and you will find such knowledge therein as will counteract its unhealthy influence. Bear in mind that you are going to conquer Europe and not be conquered by it. Do not be afraid of its pretensions for they are utterly baseless. Do not yield to the irreligious influences of Europe. But try to bring Europe round to the civilization of Din-i-Haq; remembering at the same time the injunction of the Holy Prophet [saw] i.e., 'Convey glad tidings to the people and scare them not away. Speak gently.'
"I seek refuge with Allāh against Satan the Rejected. I begin with the name of God, the Beneficent, and the Merciful. We praise and glorify Him and invoke blessings on His revered Prophet [saw]. I commit you to God who is one and who has neither wife nor son. May He be your guardian, helper, guide, teacher, and leader. Ameen! The task with which you have been entrusted is an onerous one. I should say it is beyond the power of man. It cannot be accomplished without His help. The heart of man is in His hands. The regeneration and purification of heart are His work. You should, therefore, repose complete trust in Him. Never entertain, even for a moment, the idea that you are capable of doing anything. Your heart should be ever full of Divine love and you should steer clear of pride and boasting. Humiliate yourself before God whenever you meet an opponent. Banish the idea from your mind that you will answer him—nay, even assure yourself that you know nothing. Forget all that you know, yet at the same time, have firm faith that God is with you and He will instruct you in all things. Pray to God and do not entertain the idea, for even a moment, that your adversary will get the better of you. Rest assured that you will be victorious. But at the same time, keep in view the Divine independence (ghina) and bear in mind that He does not stand in need of human help. He, who is proud of his knowledge, is brought low even though he is working for the Divine cause. At the same time, Divine help is not extended to him who is over-awed by his enemy. So there should be neither pride, nor boasting, nor fear, nor again perturbation of mind. Bear yourself with all humility and faith and face the enemy resolutely. Nothing will overcome you. Even if your opponent asks of you what you do not know, the angels of God will come to your help and your tongue will flow with truth, and Divine inspiration will instruct you in all that you require. This is the truth, doubt it not. The opponent against whom you are being sent is not to be regarded as an ordinary one. For three hundred years, rather more than that, the Muslim missionaries have in vain tried to win him over. He has baffled their attempts at every step. Yet there is no cause for despair, because the Din-i-
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I do not mean to say that you should hide the truth because that will mean ruining your mission. Speak the truth boldly. What I mean to say is that Europe is suffering from certain maladies. Do not refuse a person from entering into the fold of Din-i-Haq who accepts all the fundamental principles of it, but is unable to give up all his weaknesses at once. If he is willing to slowly give up his errors and mend his ways, we should not be uncompromising in our demands. Do not narrow the bounds of the Divine Kingdom, however, never hesitate to speak the truth. Do not take away from the expression of true beliefs. Convey the truth to others and do not, for a moment, think of others' rejection of it. Let them disbelieve if they choose to do so, but why should you make yourself guilty in the sight of God by concealing the truth? He is a fool indeed who, in order to prevent his comrade from taking poison, himself takes a large
quantity of it. You, yourself, have a prior right to your care. So if people reject the truth, you should not be tempted to interpret the Word of God as to make it palatable to your audience. Dini-Haq does not stand in need of such preaching. This would be victory for Christianity and not for Din-i-Haq. Do not swerve even a hair's breadth from the point where Din-i-Haq has made you stand. Stand your ground firmly and you will find people flocking to you in large numbers. Even an enemy will hate the underhand policy of relinquishing the truth for the sake of making converts. Observe decent economy in food and dress. It is true that people do not like to see things against their etiquette. But if they once come to realize the fear of God and not a desire to offend their cherished tastes or feelings, they will come to love and revere you. It is not lawful to eat the flesh of an animal that has been killed from the back side of the neck or suffocated to death. The Qur’an forbids it and the Holy Founder, on inquiry from the intending passengers for England, also forbade it. But if the Jews or Christians slaughter a clean animal by the throat, whether they recite the name of God or not, it is lawful for you to eat of its flesh. Begin eating it with the name of God. The Jews, I hear, are very careful about the matter of slaughtering animals for eating. You may eat that flesh without any misgiving. As the Christians slaughter animals from the backside of the neck, or kill them by suffocation, you should be careful about the flesh procurable at their shops or hotels. It is lawful for you to eat food cooked by them. Flesh of fish as well as that of a clean animal shot with a gun is also allowed. There is no harm in eating of the same plate with a Christian; for it is not man that is unclean; it is the unclean thing that makes him unclean. You are not allowed to shake hands with woman; try to explain beforehand in the best possible way. A lady came to see the Holy Founder. He informed her that the Holy Prophet [saw] did not take the hands of ladies in his hand, as it was usual for him to do so in the case of men, while performing ba`it. This involves no derogation of women; for just as a man is not allowed to shake hands with a woman other than his near relative, similarly, a woman is not allowed to shake hands with a stranger. To remove sin, Din-i-Haq strikes at the very root. Such precautions are safeguards against evil. Always speak gently and thoughtfully. Never be in haste. Do not give your answer in a hurried manner; never try to evade the question. Try to make others understand with a sincerity rooted in love. Be gentle even when opposed by harshness. Try to do good to everyone, no matter what creed he professes, so that he may appreciate the beauty and holy character of Din-iHaq. Look after those that may, with God's grace, be enabled to accept Din-i-Haq through you. Take care of them just as a shepherd does of his flock. Help them in their religious and worldly difficulties to the best of your powers. Share all their troubles in a brotherly way. Pray to God for the strengthening of their faith. Pay special attention to the study of the English language. Maintain a respectful and obedient attitude to Chaudhri Fateh Mohammad. As long as he is there, try to act according to his instructions—consistent with the teachings of Din-i-Haq. Cooperate with him with love and affection and be not in any way a hindrance in his way. Be an active partner in his labours. Your relations should be governed by such mutual regard and
love as may elicit wonder and admiration from the people there. Study the Holy Qur’an and the traditions and have a perfect acquaintance with the writings of the Holy Founder. Study Christian literature and Christian theology thoroughly. It would be an advantage to make a constant study of some of the books on the exposition of the Law, for it is also very important, because you shall have to enlighten people there on the minute practical details of the Din-i-Haq Law. Let people see and feel the unity of the Ahmadiyya Movement and the need for it. There should be no mincing about the fact that Din-i-Haq and Ahmadiyya Movement are two different things. They are but two names for the same thing, try to efface from the minds of the people the idea that the Ahmadiyya Movement is only the name of a society. Teach them the tenets of Ahmadiyyat, which means Din-i-Haq, i.e., to give up one's desires and resign oneself to the will of God. The people of Europe do not hesitate even to question the existence of God. They wish to have religion according to their own ways of thinking. With all their legitimate liberty and freedom in worldly concerns, they must be made to recognize the necessity for submitting to Divine Law. Do not be over anxious about the number of converts but be particularly solicitous for true converts. Try and from words, lead them on to actions. You have seldom been across a horse, but you are now going to bestride a lion. Many are there who tried to do so but instead of getting on its back, they were gulped down into its stomach. Pray to God that this lion may tamely submit to you. Pray to God whenever you are in any difficulty. If your need is immediate and urgent, and the time is too short for a reply from me, then post a letter to me and pray to God fervently. It is possible that you may get a solution to your difficulty even before a reply from me. The ways of God are wonderful and beyond conceiving. He is omniscient and all Powerful. Try to imbibe Sufi ideas. Moderation in food, speech and sleep is a good remedy. Tahajjud (praying in the latter part of the night) is a good weapon against the materialistic influences of Europe because people there retire to bed late in the night to wake up when the sun is high up. Go to bed immediately after you have said the `Isha prayers. It would, of course, interfere a little with your missionary work but have trust in God. He will make good your loss in another way. People will be drawn towards you themselves. Visit the rural population and preach to the poor, the peasants and the labouring classes. These people will readily listen to the Word of God and develop spirituality more rapidly and effectively than the well-to-do classes, because the former are comparatively simpler and quicker to grasp the truth than the latter. Stay for a month or two somewhere near London at some little hamlet and there, begin your work with trust in God and then wait for the result. It is true that people are sometimes harsh and even rude, but when they will realize the truth, it will not be a half-hearted affair. Do not lose heart on account of their harshness. A patient never takes a medicine joyfully. Consult me before you undertake an important task. God be with you and preserve you against every evil influence and give you strength and power to do good deeds. May your words be inspiring. Bear in mind that England is a land of freedom and liberty. There may be some evil minded men intriguing against the British Government. See that you not only guard yourself against the evil influence of such men, but try to save others from falling victims to the same influence." Tariq Magazine
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Articles
THE SOLAR SYSTEM
By Minhal Mahmood, Muqami Region
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ur solar system consists of the sun, eight planets, moons, many dwarf planets (or plutoids), an asteroid belt, comets, meteors, and others. The sun is the centre of our solar system; the planets, their moons, a belt of asteroids, comets, and other rocks and gas orbit the sun. The eight planets that orbit the sun are (in order from the sun): Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune. Another large body is Pluto, now classified as a dwarf planet or plutoid. A belt of asteroids (minor planets made of rock and metal) lie between Mars and Jupiter. These objects all orbit the sun in roughly circular orbits that lie in the same plane, the ecliptic). Easy ways to remember the order of the planets (plus Pluto) are the mnemonics: "My Very Excellent Mother Just Sent Us Nine Pizzas" and "My Very Easy Method Just Simplifies Us Naming Planets" The first letter of each of these words represents a planet - in the correct order. The largest planet is Jupiter. It is followed by Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Earth, Venus, Mars, Mercury, and finally, tiny Pluto (the largest of the dwarf planets). Jupiter is so big that all the other planets could fit inside it. The Red Planet Mars is the fourth planet from the sun (Earth is the third). In a lot of ways, Mars looks a lot like the earth, though instead of blue oceans and green land, Mars is home to an ever present red tint. This is due to a mineral called iron oxide that is very common on the planet’s surface. However, when you look past the surface differences, these two planets are similar in a lot of ways. A lot of planets are bigger than Earth. For example, 318 Earths could fit inside of Jupiter. Mars is not quite so big. In fact, Mars is one of only two planets in the solar system to be significantly smaller than Earth. If you looked at the two planets side by side, Earth would be a basketball while Mars, a softball. Here are a few fun facts about Mars: Olympus Mons on Mars is the largest mountain in the solar system at more than 25 kilometres high (that’s three times higher than Mount Everest). It is so big that astronomers could see it through telescopes in the 19th century, almost 200 years ago! Valles Marineris is the largest canyon in the solar system, stretching 4,000 kilometres across the planet’s surface. If you look at a picture of Mars taken from a telescope, you will see the giant gash that is Valles Marineris.
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Recently, NASA landed its first rover on mars called ‘Curiosity’. Curiosity is about the size of a small SUV. It is 9 feet 10 inches long by 9 feet 1 inch wide (3 m by 2.8 m) and about 7 feet high (2.1 m). It weighs 2,000 pounds (900 kilograms). Curiosity's wheels have a 20-inch (50.8 cm) diameter. Curiosity's prime mission is to determine if Mars is, or was, suitable for life. While it is not designed to find life itself, the rover carries a number of instruments on board that can bring back information about the surrounding environment. It has been equipped with state of the art cameras, spectrometers, radiation detectors, environmental/atmospheric sensors and a drill. You can find out more about Curiosity’s advancements on NASA’s website.
Articles
ALLAH PROVES HIS EXISTENCE BY MANIFESTIONG HIS POWER
peech Delivered by Maulana Ghori Sahib – Nazir-e-A’la Qadian, Jalsa Salana UK (Translated by Abdul Quddus S Arif, Jamia Ahmadiyya UK)
In the Name of Allah the Most Gracious the Ever Merciful Maulana Ghori Sahib – Nazir-e-A’la Qadian, Jalsa Salana UK (Translated by Abdul Quddus Arif ) ‘All perfect and complete praise belongs to Allah Who has guided us towards this path Himself. And we could not have tread the guided path and find Allah, if it were not for Allah’s benevolent guidance.’ Chapter 7 Al-A’raf Verse 44 Further in this chapter in verse 149 Allah the Exalted states, The translation and commentary to the verse is as follows that whilst Prophet Moses [as] was on his forty-day journey, the tribe of the ‘Children of Israel’ made a calf as their deity with their ornaments. It was merely a lifeless body, which produced a lowing sound. They did not once think that this was a strange deity that neither makes any reasonable speech nor shows them the path of guidance. However, without reasoning they made it into their deity and became wrongdoers by falling into the trap of polytheism. Dear audience, Allah’s Being is extremely incomprehensible and sublime, He cannot be perceived with the naked-eye. After pondering over the system of the universe a philosopher is led to believe that there should be an All-Powerful being running this perfectly balanced
and stable system. However, the difference between the term ‘should’ and ‘is’ is worlds apart. The presumption that there should be a being is neither enough to declare someone a believer nor does it fulfil the requirements of faith, until and unless one does not have knowledge of the Omnipotent, he cannot say ‘I believe in Allah’ nor can he protect his faith and show steadfastness in it. The main purpose for the commissioning of prophets and messengers of Allah the Exalted is so they can change this philosophical view of God ‘should exist’ into the insightful view that God ‘does exist’ and also to show the countenance of God to the world. The condition during the thirteenth century Hijra, which coincides with the 19th century AD, was such that apart from atheism, the faithful of all major religions were also lacking in expressing the unity of Allah, the Exalted. Therefore Christians were lost in the belief of trinity, sects of Hinduism worshipped idols instead of the one true God, the Arya Samaj, even though they were against the worshiping of idols, presented a divine being who had no control over soul and matter, but they believed them to be in existence since time immemorial and their divine being would only assemble them to create new life.
As far as Muslims are concerned their children are taught the lesson of unity since birth, and as soon as they are born their ears are filled with this declaration that ‘there is no god besides Allah’, yet at this time, even they were involved in all sorts of innovations of the faith and polytheism, and even though they believed in the unity of Allah, however their belief was in a god who did not listen or respond to prayers, nor speak to His chosen people or show any miracles. The All-Powerful and Omnipotent Lord whose mighty signs are ever to be seen for example four thousand years ago in the barren land of Mecca, near the sacred house Baitullah, Prophet Ishmael [as] was digging his heels into the earth, so Allah made sweet water flow from that place, and the same Lord who cooled the fire in which the opponents of Prophet Abraham [as] threw him in by saying leaving Prophet Abraham un-burnt,
where is He and who can lead us to Him? The living God who safe-guarded Prophet Moses [as] and the Children of Israel from the wrath of Pharaoh and his army by splitting the sea, and made Pharaoh and his army to drown, the same God who bestowed from his Tariq Magazine
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Articles perfect might such a son who received the status of prophethood, to the elderly and infertile couple of Prophet Zachariah [as] and his wife. The same God who caused the miraculous birth of Prophet Jesus [as] from the body of the virgin Mary [as] and due to God’s absolute omnipotence caused Jesus’ enemies to be unsuccessful, saved him from the death of crucifixion, granted him a long life, success in his mission, then to die a natural death. Yes the same God who took our master the Holy Prophet Muhammad Mustafa [saw] from the grips of the enemies and gave refuge to him in a cave through the web of a spider and then caused him to reach Medina safely. Then at the time when the disbelievers of Mecca joined forces with the rest of the Arabs and attacked the Prophet [saw] and the weak and poor Muslims, Allah showed astounding great signs of His Omnipotence in these defensive battles. For example a handful of sand thrown by the Holy Prophet [saw] at the opposition became a sandstorm; scarce food became the meal of hundreds, filling their need. Once an incident occurred where the Holy Prophet [saw] blessed a bowl of milk, and this bowl was sufficient to satisfy the thirst of many companions, similarly on another occasion the Prophet [saw] blessed a leather water bag by dipping his fingers within it. This bag was enough to quench the thirst of an entire battalion. However, the greatest miracle the world witnessed was the changing of a barbaric, immoral and illiterate nation of the Arabs, who were undeserving of even being called humans, into not merely humans, but good morale humans, progressing further to divine individuals, and then embodying God Himself. This was only achieved through the divine aura and the blessing of the extensive prayers of the Holy Prophet [saw] during nights. These incidents are a hundred percent true and certain, but the question that arises is where and near who is the living God today? Who claims that through their guidance one can receive communion with the Almighty? Otherwise all believers, nations and tribes would cite narrations of the past. At this fragile time the founder of the Ahmadiyya Community, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas of Qadian,
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the Promised Messiah and Mahdi is commissioned, and states, especially addressing the Muslims: “It is tragic to see that the Muslims have become irrational as they were the ones who believed in the unity of Allah, now they consider a corpse to be their god. Those deities that have been adopted by corpse and shrine worshippers cannot even be numbered. In this condition and state the honour of Allah the Exalted demanded the eradication of these false deities, by differentiating between the living and the dead making the world supplicate to the true God. That is why He has commissioned me and sent me with His signs.” (Malfozaat Vol.6 P.272) He further states, “O Muslims! Beware that such thought is sheer ignorance and blindness, if Islam is such a lifeless religion then which nation can you invite towards it? Would you take this religion’s corpse to Japan or present it before Europe? Who is foolish enough to be a devotee of a lifeless religion, which in comparison to previous faiths is void from every blessing and spirituality? In previous faiths women also received revelation, the likes of the mother of Moses [as] and Mary [as], you being men are not as equal to these women, but, oh! Ignorant and blind people! Our Prophet [saw] and our lord and master (thousands of blessing be upon him) according to his countenance has taken precedence over all Prophets... the spiritual bounty of the Holy Prophet [saw] will last till judgement that is why irrespective of this bounty this Ummah does not require a messiah to come from outside, but having the upbringing in the shadows of the Prophet [saw] a simple man can achieve the title of messiah, as this humble one has achieved.” (Ruhani Khazain Vol.20 P.379) The companion of the Promised Messiah [as], Hazrat Pir Sirajul Haque Numani’s [ra] elder brother Khalilur Rehman Sajada Nashin Sarsawa, who was an opponent of the Promised Messiah [as] wrote that he could speak to and enable others to talk to corpses buried in graves, and that if the Promised Messiah [as] was truthful then he should also be able to do this. The Promised Messiah [as] wrote in reply to this, “This is a totally vain practice. Anyone who has direct dialogue with the living God and continuously receives His revelation and has
not thousands but hundreds of thousands of examples, why does he need to converse and look for the dead? What evidence is there that he actually conversed with a particular dead? Here there are hundreds of thousands of evidences... so why do we need to leave the living God and search for the dead?” (Malfoozaat Vol.7 P.323-324) Respected audience, in this age of science and technological advancement, when man has stepped upon the moon and reached other planets and have announced that they have not found any God in the heights of the skies or space. The founder of the Ahmadiyya Community, the Promised Messiah [as] gave the following glad tiding, “Our Living, Self-Subsisting and AllSustaining Lord speaks to us like a human. We ask and pray to Him regarding a certain thing, and He answers with words full of might. If this dialogue was to continue a thousand times, He would not even once fail to answer. He reveals from the unseen astonishing things and shows extraordinary sights, until He ensures that He is the divine that deservingly should be called God.” (Naseem-e-Da’wat P.82) In another place he states, “True revelation has the influence of the almighty power of Allah the Exalted, and it is necessary for prophecies and their fulfilment to be part of it.” (Zaruratul Imam P.18) According to this, the greatest work of the Promised Messiah [as] was that he directed the world towards the lost and forgotten Divine, who had disappeared. The Promised Messiah [as], through the perfect following of the Holy Prophet [saw] and the Holy Qur’an, did not just find the living God but through divine speech and dialogue, invited others to see the signs of the Omnipotent God and also sent 20,000 registered letters to all European countries and America proclaiming this glad tiding that he was commissioned to show the countenance of the living God, and whomsoever wishes to see these signs then they should visit him and spend a period of a year with him and if he is unsuccessful in showing them a sign then the person is eligible to receive a compensation of two hundred rupees every month, equalling a total of 24,000 rupees.
However, the detail to this is that no one accepted this invitation pure heartedly, and some accepted it mockingly and contemptuously. What was there outcome? It is not the time to go into this detail but due to this one sided invitation, the Promised Messiah [as] made a visit from Qadian to Hoshiarpur in 1886 and spent 40 days and nights in isolation and seclusion at a house praying fervently, supplicating to Allah the Exalted saying, ‘O Lord! Show a sign through me to assist Islam after which every person is compelled to accept that this cannot be shown through human effort and endeavour. The sign should illuminate the truthfulness of the Holy Prophet [saw] and the Holy Qur’an and manifests the glory of God.’ Therefore, as a result of his forty-day retreat Allah the Exalted revealed an extraordinary prophecy, which in fact is a collection of many prophecies that gives glad tidings of a great and remarkable son. I shall briefly mention this. Regarding this prophecy the Promised Messiah [as] states: “God Almighty, the Lord of Honour and Glory, Merciful, Benevolent, Exalted, Who has power to do all that He wills (glory to be Him and exalted be His name) has vouchsafed to me the following revelation, ‘I confer upon thee a sign of my mercy according to thy entreaties and have honoured thy prayers with acceptance through My mercy and have blessed this thy journey (the journey of Hoshiarpur and Ludhiana). A Sign of power, mercy and nearness to Me is bestowed on thee, a Sign of grace and beneficence is awarded to thee, and thou art granted the key of success and victory. Peace on thee, O victorious one. Thus does God speak so that those who desire life may be rescued from the grip of death, and those who are buried in the graves may emerge there from, so that the superiority of Islam and the dignity of God’s Word may become manifest unto the people, so that truth may arrive with all its blessings and falsehood may depart with all its ills; so that people may understand that I am the Lord of Power and do what I will... Rejoice, therefore that a handsome and pure boy will be bestowed upon thee. Thou wilt receive an intelligent youth who will be of thy seed and will be of thy progeny.” This is followed by detailed description
of the attributes of the promised son, some of which are, “He will be characterised by grandeur, greatness and wealth. He will come into the world and will heal many of their ills through his Messianic qualities and through the blessings of the Holy Spirit... Behold a light cometh, a light anointed by God with the perfume of His pleasure. He will pour His spirit upon him and he will be sheltered under the shadow of God. He will grow rapidly in stature and will be the means of procuring the release of those held in bondage. His fame will spread to the ends of the earth and nations will be blessed through him.” In this prophecy the Promised Messiah [as] also received this glad tiding. Allah, the Exalted, addressed him and said, “The time is approaching; indeed it is near, when God will put thy love in the hearts of Kings and nobles, so much so that they will seek blessings from thy garments.” Then the Promised Messiah [as] also announced the following after receiving this divine news that ‘this promised boy will certainly be born within nine years.’ (Announcement 20th February 1886 from Hoshiarpur) Respected audience, the time in which the Promised Messiah [as] announced this prophecy from the Omnipotent Lord to the world he was reaching fiftytwo. Name any person in the world who reaches the age of fifty-two and then claims that within nine years his wife and he himself will be alive and not only will he have children, but be blessed with a son. And the son will also be granted a long life and be the embodiment of all these attributes that have been mentioned and his fame will spread across the world. A wise and intelligent man will never make such claims, but the Promised Messiah [as] made these claims openly and publicised them around the world. The opponents mocked and said to forget nine years as the Promised Messiah [as] will die (God forbid) within three years. But the world witnessed that the promised son was born within three years in 1889 and according to the prophecy was the embodiment of all these extraordinary characteristics and at the age of 25, after becoming the personification of the
second manifestation, was elevated to the status of Khilafat and for 51 years became the captain of Islam Ahmadiyyat’s ship and through his significant works received fame in the four corners of the world. How true are the following words of the Promised Messiah [as], From nature the True Divine gives proof of His being, this is the face of the invisible, For anything He says that I shall do it, that thing never... The embodiment of this prophecy was the son of the Promised Messiah [as], Hazrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmood Ahmad [ra] the second Khalifa of the Ahmadiyya Community and has the title of Al-Musleh Al-Maud, the Promised Reformer. Allah, the Exalted, Himself gave the glad tiding that he was The Promised Son. A convention that was held at Lahore in 1944, Hadhur made the following announcement, “Today at this convention I swear and proclaim on the One and the Most Supreme God, on who to falsely swear is the works of the accursed and to lie on can never be safeguarded from destruction, that in this city of Lahore on 13 Temple Road in the house of Sheikh Bashir Ahmad Advocate, Allah informed me that I am the embodiment of the prophecy of Musleh Maud, and I am the Promised Reformer through which Islam will reach the corners of the world, and the unity of Allah be established.... the truthfulness of this prophecy can be testified by those hundreds of thousands who have accepted Islam through me, those who accepted monotheism through me, those who became lost in the love of Allah and His Prophet [saw]. Christians are witness to the fulfilment of this prophecy. The Aryas are witness to the fulfilment of this prophecy.” In this convention of 1944 he further stated, “Fifty-nine years ago the All-Knowing and All-Aware God informed the Promised Messiah [as] that he will have a son who will attain fame across the world. This prophecy was fulfilled. England is witness to the fulfilment of this prophecy; Spain is witness to the fulfilment of this prophecy; Italy is witness to the fulfilment of this prophecy; likewise by naming these Tariq Magazine
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The time is approaching; indeed it is near, when God will put thy love in the hearts of Kings and nobles, so much so that they will seek blessings from thy garments.
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nations Albania, Yugoslavia, Poland, Czechoslovakia, North America, South America, Sierra Leone, Gold Coast (known as Ghana), Nigeria, Egypt, Kenya colony..., Silone (Sri Lanka), Mauritius, Palestine, Syria, China, Japan, Sumatra, Java, Malaya, Iran, Kabul are witness to the fulfilment of this prophecy; also every corner of India is witness to the fulfilment of this prophecy as approximately 90 years ago in difficult circumstances the Promised Messiah [as] sent his representatives for the propagation of Islam in these countries.” And today by the blessing and bounty of Allah, the Exalted, not only a couple of dozen countries but 200 countries are witness to this extraordinary glad tiding of a promised son given by Allah, the Exalted, to the Promised Messiah [as] in result of his forty days and nights prayers. Through this son the promise of spreading Islam to the corners of the world was made, it has not just been fulfilled, but even today is being fulfilled. As through him not only the propagation and the spreading of the Qur’an were carried out, but his two sons, Hazrat Mirza Nasir Ahmad [rh] and Hazrat Mirza Tahir Ahmad [rh], one after the other became the third and fourth Khalifas and today the fifth manifestation of Khilafat that we are benefiting from, Ameerul Momineen Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad [atba] is also the grandson of Hazrat Musleh Maud [ra]. It is evident from the amount of work that is being carried out in spreading Islam and the propagating the Qur’an that for sure a living God spoke to the Promised Messiah [as] and bestowed revelation and magnificent prophecies upon him. The Promised Messiah [as] states, “A living religion is through which one finds the living God. The living God is
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He who can reveal upon man directly or at least man can see the Being who reveals directly. So I give glad tidings to the entire world that the living god is the God of Islam.” (Majmuah Ishtiharaat Vol.2 P.113) Therefore, the Prophets of Allah the Exalted who are commissioned in the world are the mirrors of God’s omnipotence. It is through these individuals Allah manifests his mighty signs, therefore the Promised Messiah [as] says, “For my support (Allah) has manifested such signs that today being the 16th of July 1906 if I were to count them individually then I swear on Allah the Exalted and proclaim that these signs are in excess of three hundred thousand, and if you have no confidence in my swearing then I can give proof to them. In accordance with the promise of Allah, the Exalted, some signs are of the sort that on every occasion He safeguarded me from the evil of opponents and other signs are also in accordance with His promise of fulfilling all my needs and requirements. Some signs are inaccordance with His promise
those opponents who attacked me, Allah humiliated and disgraced them and some signs were of the sort in which I was granted victory over those who falsely took me to court... some signs are the fulfilment of prayers for friends, and other signs are the result of my prayers that God’s wrath was incurred upon mischievous opponents. Some signs are of my prayers being accepted for those who were extremely ill and the news to their good health
was given in advance. Other signs are those earthly and heavenly calamities that Allah manifested testifying to my truth. Some signs are the dreams that were seen by prominent Sufis testifying to my truth and some such as the likes of Sajada Nashin Sahibul I’lm Sindh, who had a following of approximately a hundred thousand and Khwaja Ghulam Farid of Chachran saw the Holy Prophet [saw] and some signs are such that thousands of people pledge their allegiance with me as they were told in their dreams that this man is truthful and from God, and others pledged their allegiance as they saw the Holy Prophet [saw] in their dreams who informed them that the world is about to end and this man is the last Khalifa of Allah and is the Promised Messiah.” (Haqiqatul Wahi P.67-68) In this book the Promised Messiah [as] has mentioned 208 signs, at this moment I will present the hundredth sign. The Promised Messiah [as] states, “100th Sign: It is the prophecy of Braheen-e-Ahmadiyya that is mentioned on page 241 and the words of the Prophecy are as follows, See page 241 of Braheen-e-Ahmadiyya published in 1881 and 1882 in the Safeer-e-Hind Press Amritsar. Translation: Despair not of the mercy of Allah. Hearken, the mercy of Allah is near. Hearken, the help of Allah is near. It will come to you from every distant track and from every track men will come to you, they will come in such numbers that the tracks will become deepened. Allah will help you from Himself. Men will help you whom We shall direct from heaven. Do not turn away from the creatures of Allah and be not tired of
meeting people who come to visit. This revelation was prophesised twentyfive years ago when it was published in Braheen-e-Ahmadiyya, this prophecy is of the period when I was anonymous and unknown, and all those who are with me today, none of them knew me... for the fulfilment of this prophecy Allah the Exalted guided people towards me, people in their groves came and are coming to Qadian. People are giving all kinds of presents in money and other materials that I cannot account. Many Maulvis tried their upmost to prevent people coming, so much so they received edicts from Mecca and approximately 200 Maulvis gave edicts of disbelief against me, but also published that I am liable for murder. However, they were unsuccessful in all their efforts, and as a result my community spread across all the cities and villages of Punjab, and its seed was sowed across India, but some English-men of Europe and America accepted Islam and joined the community, and so many individuals came in their groves to Qadian that the sheer number of one-horse carriages damaged the roads of Qadian. This prophecy should be pondered over and greatly thought about that if this revelation was not from Allah, then the storm of opposition that had arisen, and my relation with all of the people of Punjab and India had deteriorated that they wanted me to be crushed under their feet, it would be certain that they should be successful in their die hard endeavours and destroy me completely. However, they were all unsuccessful... Who knew and who possessed the knowledge that I would survive the traumas, even though I was harvested as a small seed, and was trodden upon by thousands of feet, went through sandstorms and gales, and this small seed of mine was flooded by severe
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Our paradise lies in our God. Our highest delight is in our God for we have seen Him and have found every beauty in Him. uprising against me? That seed by the grace of Allah was not wasted, but it grew and matured, and today it is a large tree under its shadow three hundred thousand people are resting.” (Haqiqatul Wahi P.249-251)
glimmering countenance and everlasting, perfect power and attributes... He is our True Lord, possessor of countless bounties and power. Holder of immeasurable beauty and favour, there is no god but He.” (Naseem-e-Da’wat P.3)
This was in 1907, today by the bounty of Allah, the Exalted, millions of people from two hundred countries are under the shadow of this tree resting and today the world is witnessing that 120 years ago, from the unheard village of Qadian a soul voice that rouse, despite of thousands of opponents, Allah, the Exalted, has granted such strength and might in it that this truthful voice is being echoed in two hundred countries, and through the twenty-four hour television channel of the Ahmadiyya Community, Muslim Television Ahmadiyya InterNational, the message of the true Islam is being seen and heard in the corners of the world. Whose works are these all? These are the bounties of our Omnipotent Living God that could not be stopped by any worldly power. Is this not true what the Promised Messiah [as] has said, ‘From nature the True Divine gives proof of His being, this is the face of the invisible.’
The Promised Messiah [as] further states, “Our paradise lies in our God. Our highest delight is in our God for we have seen Him and have found every beauty in Him. This wealth is worth procuring though one might have to lay down one’s life to procure it. This ruby is worth purchasing though one may have to lose oneself to acquire it. O ye, who are bereft! Run to this fountain and it will satisfy you. It is the fountain of life that will save you. What shall I do, and how shall I impress the hearts with this good news, and by beating what drum shall I make the announcement that this is our God, so that people might hear? What remedy shall I apply to the ears of the people so that they should listen?” (Kashti Nuh Ruhani Khazain Vol. 19 P.21-22)
At the end I would present two excerpts from the writings of the Promised Messiah [as] and conclude my speech. He states, “Our soul and every particle of our being supplicate to this Omnipotent, Perfect and True God who manifests himself through every soul and every particle of His creation along with their characteristics... and thousands of salutations, blessings, graces and bounties descend upon the pure prophet Muhammad Mustafasa through whom we found the living God Who converses with us and gives proof of His Own Existence and through miraculous signs shows His Tariq Magazine
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