RR200606

CONTENTS June 2006, Vol.101, No.
Editorial: Could man achieve the objective of his creation without the
existence of Satan? . ...........................................2
Fareed Ahmad, Newquay - UK.
Promised Messiah(as) – First Interview with Professor Wragge . . . . . . . . . 4

A fascinating interview covering the question of sin as a relative concept.
Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad(as) – Promised Messiah and Mahdi
Poverty and Human Rights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

A review of the Islamic solution to global poverty.
Ataul Mujeeb Rashed – Imam of the London Mosque
The Messiah Has Come – Testimony of The Holy Bible . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

A study of the Biblical evidence regarding the period expected for the appearance
of the Promised Messiah of the latter days.
Ataul Wahid Lahaye – Canada
The Holy Prophet(saw) as ‘Abd Shakur’ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

How ingratitude leads man away from God and His blessings.
Naseem Mehdi – Canada
Punishment for Apostasy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

A scrutiny of the Qur’anic teachings on apostasy and how this conflicts with
Maududi’s analysis. Hadhrat Mirza Tahir Ahmad Khalifatul Masih IV (ru) –
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Views expressed in this publication are not necessarily the beliefs of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community 1
EDITORIAL
Fareed Ahmad – Newquay, UK
The presence of evil in the world nearness to Him and these are
has often given rise to the further supplemented by the life-
question that if God is so example of the Holy Prophet(saw).
Powerful and so Merciful then
why does He not rid the world of For example man must be
such misery? Why does He not honest, just and merciful and if
crush the work of Satan once and he is not then he is giving way to
for all? Surely that would result the Satanic forces that constantly
in peace and enable mankind to seek to pull him away from the
live in harmony. path to God. The misery we see
in this world is a reflection of
The difficulty with such a man’s failure to suppress the
solution is that it overlooks the satan within him. However, by
very purpose of creation itself. struggling to overcome negative
The object of the creation of man temptations and striving for
as set out in the Holy Qur’an is positive actions man progresses
the worship of God the Creator and gains Allah’s pleasure. Such
(Ch.51:V.57) and it is this a struggle can only take place
worship that enables man to draw when there is a force that needs
closer to God. to be resisted and overcome.
Take away the negative force and
This worship is not merely the the struggle and you take away
offering of the daily salat. the ability for man to progress
Although that is an obligatory and earn his reward.
element, any effort that seeks to
earn the pleasure of Allah merits In this issue of The Review of
reward. The Qu’ran sets out very Religions we reprint an interview
clearly the attributes of God and of The Promised Messiah(as) by
the actions of man that earn Professor Wragge of England,
2 The Review of Religions – June 2006

EDITORIAL
then living in the outbacks that the answers that were so

took place in 1908 that tackles eloquently given by the Promised
this very issue. It is fascinating to Messiah(as) remain as true today
see that the questions that as they did nearly a century ago –
troubled the intellectuals of that no doubt a living testament to the
time are not very different from timeless message of Islam and its
the questions that trouble the guidance as set out in the Holy
mind of modern man. Similarly Qur’an.
References to the Holy Qur’an item count ‘Bismillah...’ (In the

Name of Allah...) as the first verse of each Chapter. In some non-
standard texts, this is not counted and should the reader refer to such
texts, the verse quoted in The Review of Religions will be found one
verse less than the number quoted.
In this journal, for the ease of non-Muslim readers, ‘(saw)’ or ‘saw’

after the words, ‘Holy Prophet’, or the name ‘Muhammad’, are
used. They stand for ‘Sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam’ meaning ‘Peace
and blessings of Allah be upon him’. Likewise, the letters ‘(as)’ or
‘as’ after the name of all other prophets is an abbreviation meaning
‘Peace be upon him’ derived from ‘Alaihis salatu wassalam’ which
are words that a Muslim utters out of respect whenever he or she
comes across that name. The abbreviation ‘ra’ or (ra) stands for
‘Radhiallahu Ta’ala anhu and is used for Companions of a Prophet,
meaning Allah be pleased with him or her (when followed by the
relevant Arabic pronoun). Finally, ‘ru’ or (ru) for Rahemahullahu
Ta’ala means the Mercy of Allah the Exalted be upon him.
In keeping with current universal practice, local transliterations are

preferred to their anglicised versions, e.g. Makkah instead of
Mecca, etc.
The Review of Religions – June 2006 3

Professor Wragge
meets
The Promised Messiah(as) (Part 1)
Professor Wragge was a renowned meteorologist of his time. He lived in
Australia, but in 1908 was visiting India as part of his world tour during
which he gave lectures on meteorology to very large audiences. In May
1908, he stayed in Lahore for a short period. There he gave a lecture which
was well-attended, especially by many highly placed English people.
Hadhrat Mufti Mohammad Sadiq(ra) was also present and he met the
professor after the lecture. He briefly explained to Professor Wragge the
proofs and arguments put forward by Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad(as)
in support of his claim to be the Promised Messiah of his time. Upon
hearing these the Professor wished to meet Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam
Ahmad(as) straight away. Mufti Sahib(ra) sought first to arrange a time with
Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad(as) who gave his permission; the meeting
took place after Zuhr prayers on 12th May 1908 in Lahore, Pakistan.
Mufti Mohammad Sadiq(ra) acted as the interpreter and the conversation
was originally recorded in Urdu. The following is a translation of that
Urdu transcript which is to be found in Malfoozat, Vol. 10, p.353.
Professor Wragge Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam

Ahmad : (as)
I am a man of science and I see Actually this is not correct,
that the earth on which we live is neither is it our belief that God
very small. In comparison to reveals himself through a
thousands and millions of other particular nation or sect. God
kinds of God’s creation, the earth does not have a special
melts into insignificance. Why relationship or love for any one
then has God’s blessing been particular nation. What is correct
limited to this earth or to any one is that God is the God of the
religion or nation? entire universe and he has created

PROFESSOR WRAGGE MEETS THE PROMISED MESSIAH(AS)
the means of physical nourish- incline towards idol worship. God

ment and development for all is the nourisher of man’s physical
creation without any distinction. as well as spiritual being. His pride
According to our principle he is demands that at such times of
‘Rabbil Alameen’ i.e. the spiritual darkness he should
Nourisher and Sustainer of all the appoint a person for reform, and
worlds. He has created grains, the concept of such a reformer
air, water, light, etc. for all does not fall outside the bounds of
creation. Likewise, in every age laws of nature. Just as the actual
and in every nation He has, from wheat that grew in the times of
time to time, sent reformers for Adam and other prophets cannot
the reformation of people in be a source of nourishment for us,
those nations. As it is stated in and just as the water which existed
the Holy Qu’ran (Surah Fatir, in previous times cannot quench
verse 25) Allah the Almighty is our thirst, so we need fresh
God of all the worlds. He has no spiritual food as well as water.
special relationship with any
nation. In fact the different It is the tradition of Allah that just
heavenly books which have come as He nourishes and provides for
from time to time do not the development of the physical
contradict each other. process, where previous nourish-
ment is not sufficient for the
This is because a reformer is present, so is the case with the
needed when the world inclines system of spiritual development,
more towards evil deeds and bad and the two systems, the physical
practices, such as lies, theft, and the spiritual, go side by side.
quarrels and general immorality, For the person who denies the
so that people become distanced existence of God, this discussion
from purity and virtue, and are would take a different line. But a
overwhelmed by selfish desires person who believes in the
and emotions. So much so that existence of God should keep the
they, in their belief, also abandon two systems in mind and benefit
the worship of one God and from their comparison. He who

has created the physical system argument in favour of the

has also created the spiritual existence of God.
system. Just as He nourishes the
physical system with fresh Now, how can a person stating
sustenance, so He nourishes the that he is a scientist or a
spiritual system with fresh philosopher break this proven
sustenance. Just as the physical continuum of witnessed signs?
state is dependent upon fresh What is needed in such a case is
water, so the spiritual state is also that, just as the holy people
dependent upon fresh, heavenly provided a practical example with
revelation. Just as the physical their lives and validated their
body dies if it does not receive claims, so should the negation of
nourishment, so the soul too dies it be offered in the same way.
without spiritual nourishment. If Such people, however, would be
in spiritual matters only past and justified in asking, why they are
ancient references are available, presented with old stories and
then what would be the fables, why not give a living
conclusion other than that the proof or a living example, and for
spiritual system is in a state of this I am available.
death. What else could it be?
An astronomer cannot provide a
God Almighty, as is His nature, definite proof of the existence of
always wishes to be recognised. God merely by observing the
For proof of his existence and solar system which may, at the
identification He always provides very most, lead to a view that
true, clear and fresh signs and there should be a God. The fact
these are not too difficult to that there is a God and that He
understand. It is this system most certainly exists has always
which has always been in been proven with the principles
existence and which continues. put forward by the prophets. If
Thousands upon thousands of people like myself did not appear
prophets came and provided such in this world there could never be
proofs through their own actions in the world any real and com-
and deeds, thus completing the plete proof of God. At the very
most, if someone was of a just

disposition and also possessed a
virtuous character, then from the
well ordered heavenly bodies and
from the solar system, etc. he
could conclude that there ought to
be a God. Other than that, the fact
that God exists and He is the
Master, the Ruler and the moving
force behind all creation, all this
is not possible for people to know
without the guidance of those
who are from God. It is such The founder of the Ahmadiyya
people who enable others to Muslim community was Hadhrat
Mirza Ghulam Ahmad(as).
witness the existence of God and, The founder of the Ahmadiyya
by providing fresh evidence and Muslim community was Hadhrat
signs, it is as if they are able to Mirza Ghulam Ahmad(as). In 1891,
‘show’ God to others. he claimed, on the basis of Divine
revelation, that he was the Promised
Messiah and Mahdi whose advent
Professor Wragge had been foretold by Muhammad,
the Holy Prophet of Islam (peace
It is written that there was one and blessings of Allah be upon him)
Adam and one Eve. Eve was a and by the scriptures of other faiths.
weak woman. She ate one apple. His claim constitutes the basis of the
Now, the punishment of her beliefs of the Ahmadiyya Muslim
having eaten an apple will community.
continue forever. This I do not
understand. Also, that this earth Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam
with which we are related, is but Ahmad : (as)
one among many thousands and This is not our belief. We don’t
millions of other systems which propose that there is no system
God has created then why would other than our earth and the sky.
God’s (qudrat) and blessings be Rather, our God says that He is
limited to this earth? ‘Rabbil Alameen’ , that is, He is

the Sustainer of all the universes the reasons for these things are
and that wherever there has been given in the Qu’ran but are totally
an inhabitation there He has sent different.
His messengers. Lack of
knowledge does not make Professor Wragge
something non-existent. God
created such a vast system of There are two things I wish to find
provision for this small earth, out – one is, what is sin? A person
why would He not have created in one country may consider some
provision for all other act to be a sin while the same act
habitations? may not be considered sinful in
another country. Man progressed
As for saying that all human from a small insect to a human
sorrow and hardship were caused being and then he learned to
by Eve’s having eaten an apple, discern between truth and
this is not a belief held by Islam. falsehood, he distinguishes truth
We are taught that: from lies, good from bad, gained
knowledge of sin and goodness
And no burdened soul can and after all this there is the
bear the burden of another; difference - what is sin for one
and if a heavily laden soul call person is not sin for another who
another to bear its load, indulges in it?
naught of it shall be carried
by the other, even though he The other thing I wish to find out
be a kinsman..... is about Satan. What is Satan?
(Surah Fatir Verse 19) How is it that God being the
master and having power over
One person’s punishment cannot such knowledge, Satan got to
be meted out to another, nor can have so much sway that God had
there be imagined any benefit in to come to this world himself to
this. Eve’s having eaten of an reform the world. What is meant
apple is not the cause of any by this?
sorrow, difficulty or punishment,

Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam God Almighty is greater than all

Ahmad(as): else, He has the most knowledge,
I usually speak having in mind He is the true creator of man and
people who believe in the every particle which exists. It is
existence of God. God’s being is a He Who is also the creator of their
source of eternal happiness and nature and He is wise. If, with His
pleasure for man’s life. Whoever complete wisdom and complete
separates from Him or leaves Him knowledge, He suggests that
in one way or another, about such something is harmful for you, that
a state of a person it is said that he indulging in it would not benefit
has sinned. Furthermore, keeping you at all, rather it is totally
in view the nature of man, God has harmful, then it is not the action of
further defined as ‘sin’ those acts a wholesome person to go against
which through their finer this.
implications, prove to be harmful
for man himself, even though a We see that when a doctor advises
person sometimes may not be able a patient to abstain from
to appreciate such harmfulness. something, the patient acts on that
For example, theft and harming advice without any argument.
others by taking away their rights, Why does he act in this way? He
harms the purity of one's own life. does this because he considers the
An adulterer’s act of adultery and doctor as being in possession of
his taking what may belong to much greater knowledge than
someone else, destroys his own himself. Similarly, there are some
piety and engulfs him in various things which are harmful for
physical and spiritual difficulties. man’s body or spirit whether man
Similarly, those acts which are himself understands that or not.
against the nature of man’s purity There are some things which
and piety are also referred to as would be harmful even if God had
‘sin’, as are all the related acts – not given a ruling about them. In
whether related closely or medicine also there are some
distantly – these are also things which are considered ‘sins’
considered as types of sin. and lack of medical knowledge is

no excuse for the person who goes Every person senses sin. If
against the medical principles. If someone slaps an innocent person
someone does not believe this and knows that he had no right to
they can check with doctors and do so, he will, at some later time,
physicians. when he looks at his action with a
cool head, himself feel ashamed
The point to remember is simply and will sense that he has done a
this that the root of sin is those bad deed. Conversely, if someone
actions which lead man far away feeds a hungry person, gives a
from purity and righteousness. drink of water to a thirsty person,
The true love of God and union and clothes someone lacking
with Him is the true pleasure and clothes, such a person will have
real comfort. Thus moving away an inner sense of having been
from God and being distant from good, and having done a blessed
Him is also sin and is the source deed. A person’s heart and
of pain, sorrow and difficulty. conscience and the light of belief
Those things which God dislikes remind him whether his various
due to His own sanctity, that is actions were a good act or a sinful
sin. There are some matters on act.
which people may not agree but,
on the other hand, the greater part With regard to Satan, it should be
of the world is jointly agreed that remembered that in man’s nature
lying, stealing, adultery and and composition there have been
cruelty are such acts that all included two forces and they are
nations and religions jointly both opposed to each other and it
consider them to be sins. But is so in order for a person to be
remember that the root of sin is tried and tested and, with a
precisely those acts which successful outcome, to become
distance man from God, which are deserving of God ‘s nearness. Of
against His sanctity, against His the two forces, one pulls man
wishes and against man’s nature – towards goodness and the other
it is such acts which constitute sin. invites man towards evil. The
force that pulls towards goodness

is called ‘malak’ or ‘angel’ and indulging in sin, that is a good and

the force which invites towards blessed deed.
evil is called ‘Satan’. In other
words, you can understand it like Professor Wragge
this that there are two forces
which work on a person: one calls In the world there are two forces
towards good (da’i ilal khair), and at work – the positive and the
the other towards bad (da'i ilash- negative. If we always use the
sharr). Someone may not like the positive force and never use the
use of the terms ‘angel ‘ and negative, one day the negative
‘Satan’, but he would not be able will gather force and could erupt
to deny the existence of these two at any time and destroy the world.
types of forces within man. God The same is true of good and evil.
never intended any evil. God only If the whole world did only good
does what is good. and never did any bad deeds then
similarly evil would gather force
You see, if sin did not exist in the and destroy the world.
world there would be no
goodness. Goodness develops Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam
from sin. The concept of goodness Ahmad(as):
is formed by the concept of sin. If You see, if a person is not capable
someone has the opportunity to of shouting, his speaking softly
commit adultery and he possesses will not be considered a
the ability to do so but then he behaviour of high esteem. If a
abstains from this sin, this action person always remained in one
is called goodness. If someone has state and was not capable of any
the opportunity to steal, or to be change, then goodness could not
cruel, and he is capable of doing remain as goodness. It is the
these acts, but he does not do so existence of the two extremes
and positively abstains from them, which creates goodness. If the
then he is doing a good deed. To state was unchangeable and man
have the opportunity and was not given any other abilities
capability of sinning and then not to change his state so that he was

always forced to do good, and he Sorrow and joy, discomfort and

was never given the ability to do comfort, darkness and light, bitter
evil, then what would there be and sweet, poison and antidote,
that we could call ‘obedience’ or bad and good and sin and
‘goodness’? God has, to an goodness, all come into being by
extent, given human beings the existence of its opposite. If
control – they can change their such opposites were not created,
state. They have the power to do life itself would have been very
good and have the ability to do dull. If only one state was created,
evil. However a person will act, that was already in our nature,
he will find his reward why then would there be any
accordingly. reward and why any recompense?
How could this be a source of
You see, if there were no evil gaining God’s pleasure when all
behaviour then what kind of the deeds were acts of
behaviour would be called ‘good compulsion, a person having no
behaviour’. Only when there power to do otherwise.
exist bad characteristics can [one]
have good characteristics. A It must be remembered that man
person can think of something has been given control. He has
bad, and having a picture of it in the power to do good or bad, to be
his mind, he can censure it. kind or cruel, to be benevolent or
Similarly, he refers to some miserly. It is always by keeping in
special deeds as ‘goodness’ and mind the two aspects of possible
praises these. If there were no behaviour that we can form an
pictures in one's mind of anything opinion about a particular person
bad then there would be no such being good or bad. Indeed, the
thing as ‘noble characteristics’. It essential defining element of the
is always through evil that we can term ‘deeds’ is that a person has
distinguish goodness. If only one the capability of doing the
aspect was created then there reverse. A person, having the
certainly would not be any reward capacity to take revenge but does
nor any pleasure (of God). not do so, has performed an act of

goodness. But a person who does there who does not within himself
not possess a limb with which to find some sense and influence of
retaliate against some-one who both? Here, no philosophy or
hits him, would not be in a logic can rule otherwise since the
position to say that he has done a two forces are present and each is
good deed by not retaliating: working in its place.
He, indeed, prospers who To turn to your question that if

purifies it, and he is ruined people only do good deeds and no
who corrupts it bad acts are committed then
(Ch.91:Vs.10-11) eventually evil will gather force
and destroy the world. About this,
It is clear from this holy verse that all I can say is that I am not
the existence of goodness and concerned with statements of the
good qualities has its basis on the type 'if this happens then that will
two capabilities (of doing good or happen and if that happens this
bad). He who is endowed with will happen'. We see this much
only one capability and has never that human nature has been
been given the other, would be created and prepared for good
like an image which cannot be actions as well as for bad actions.
erased. I do not go beyond this.
He who denies the existence of

Angels and Satan is in effect
denying self-evident truths, and
going against that which can be
easily sensed or witnessed. We
see everyday that people do good
deeds and also that in the world
around us many evil acts are
committed and that the two forces
are equally at work. This cannot
be denied by any person. Who is

POVERTY and
HUMAN RIGHTS
The following paper was presented at the Assembly of the World’s
Religions held in New Jersey U.S.A. in November 1985
By Maulana Ataul Mujeeb Rashed – Imam of the London Mosque
Throughout recorded history, essential for the progress of

philosophers and thinkers have mankind.
sought to solve the problem of how
to establish a balance between the The famous English-American
rights and obligations of man. In writer of the eighteenth century,
the earlier period, loyalty to a Thomas Paine, spelt out the ideas
community was rewarded by of constitutional enlightenment
distributing portions from its which provide the framework of
possessions. Later, the feudal or human rights as a part of Western
tribal lords guaranteed security and political culture and social
safety of their followers in return morality. As a result, many states
for personal or tribal obedience. have incorporated provisions
The Greeks realised that a dealing with the social, economic
contented man was necessary for a and political rights for their citizens
happy society. The advent of the in their constitutions or legal
Renaissance paved the way for the systems. The adoption of the
Age of Man in which human needs Universal Declaration of Human
and urges for individuality and Rights by the General Assembly of
freedom have been accorded the U.N. in 1948, represents a
recognition. Since then, as the broad consensus of contemporary
limits of human knowledge have civilisation on the subject of human
widened, more and more attention rights.
has been paid to the requirements
of identifying and safeguarding However, this does not mean that
such rights as are considered everyone in this world is

POVERTY AND HUMAN RIGHTS
guaranteed full freedom or that all considered on political or

the governments are committed to ideological basis. For example, the
safeguarding human rights without Western thinking is concentrated
any exception. Far from it. Man on political rights of man while the
continues to be a victim of focus of attention in the Marxist
discrimination, intolerance, and society is on the economic rights of
cruelty at the hands of fellow men. man.
Despite the existence of the U.N.
Human Rights Commission and Again, Western countries are more
similar bodies at regional and interested in the human rights
national levels, there is no violations in the Communist
foolproof system under which an countries but ignore similar
individual or a community can seek violations in the countries allied to
immediate or effective redress of the West. The Americans and the
grievances pertaining to human Europeans shed so many tears at
rights. the fate of Jews in the Eastern bloc
but remain silent at the plight of
There are two main reasons for this Arabs in Israeli-occupied
unsatisfactory situation. First, the territories.
legislative or legal guarantees
designed by the Western Society Both East and West subscribe to the
cover but a segment of the total provisions of the Universal
field of human rights. Further, the Declaration of Human Rights
legal sanctions can be applied only concerning freedom of travel but
after the violations have taken all over the world barriers are
place and can be substantiated by raised to restrict travel and
relevant evidence. The U.N. movement on grounds of colour
Human Rights Commission and the and race.
many governments which are
represented on it, fail to recognise The Soviet Union is in the forefront
the seriousness of the violations demanding economic and social
unless there is mass bloodshed or rights of farmers and workers in
destruction of life and property. Central America and condemning
Lastly, the question of safeguarding apartheid in South Africa but it has
human rights is frequently effectively curbed religious and

cultural freedom of Muslims in variety bestows a unique beauty

Central Asia and is denying the and individuality upon each
people of Afghanistan the right to individual. The good aspects aside,
follow their own way of life. Thus, the other side of the overall
serious contradictions exist situation very often presents a
between the precepts and practices gloomy picture. These differences
of the contemporary world in in creation, such as colour and race,
respect of safeguarding human have led to the division of human
rights. society into various groups and
blocs. The difference in mental and
It is my submission that this physical capabilities has further
diabolical situation can be resulted in various divisions based
corrected if the world would on social and economical
understand and adopt the standards. This division is found at
provisions regarding. Human all levels. Individuals are torn apart
Rights embodied in the Holy by the barriers of poverty and
Qur’an and the Sunnah (Precepts) richness. Nations are being
of the Holy Prophet classified as developed and
Muhammad(saw), which are the most developing countries on the same
authentic and authoritative sources basis. And the phenomenon does
of the Islamic Code of human not end here. Nations and
behaviour. individuals are being subjected to
all sorts of discrimination due to
Poverty and Human Rights their poverty. Individuals are
But, before I proceed further to looked down upon by their fellow
explain the human rights and its beings merely because they were
principles as laid down in Islam, let not born with a silver spoon in their
me explain briefly the phenomenon mouth. Poor nations are hated and
of poverty and its impact on human deprived of their equal position in
rights. the community of nations. The
victims of poverty are persistently
Allah, the Almighty, our Creator denied their basic human rights
and Maker, has created us all in individually and collectively.
such a way that no two persons are
exactly identical. This change and The organisers of this World

Assembly have rightly pointed out to be preferred to a non-

in their statement that poverty, that Arab, nor is a non-Arab
condition where human beings lack to be preferred to an
the basic necessities to sustain life, Arab; nor is a white man
is a pervasive reality in our world. to be preferred to a
Islam, being a universal and coloured one, or a
comprehensive religion, has coloured one to a white,
thoroughly commented on various except on the basis of
aspects of this question and has righteousness.’
guided us to such methods as may (Hanbal V, p.41).
be helpful to safeguard the rights of
the poor. Some of these points are 2. Islam has stressed this point
mentioned below: time and again in the Holy
Qur’an that the whole universe,
1. Discrimination stems from the with all its potentials, has been
feelings of superiority. In order created for the benefit of the
to nip this evil in the bud, Islam whole of mankind without any
has stressed the idea of absolute dis-crimination. They are not
equality of all human beings in intended for, or confined to, any
the sight of Allah. Neither particular section of human
membership of a tribe nor society. This teaching rules out
citizenship of a state confers the ideas of exclusive ownership
any privilege, nor are they or monopoly in regard to natural
sources of honour. The true resources. All that God
source of honour in the sight of Almighty, the Creator, has
Allah is a righteous life (Ch.49: created in this universe is to be
V14). In his Farewell Address, used and shared by all.
the Holy Prophet of Islam(saw)
said: 3. After establishing the above-
mentioned principles, in order
‘You are all brothers and to assure the equal position of
are all equal. None of you the poor in a society, Islam has
can claim any privilege particularly stressed the status
or any superiority over of such members of society
any other. An Arab is not who are generally looked down

upon and maltreated by others wear and if you set them a hard
due to their poverty or other task, join them in it to help them
drawbacks. The orphans, the complete it’ (Abu Dard).
widows, the servants, the
labourers and the poor are 4. Islam has established a very
granted a respectable and comprehensive economic sys-
honoured position in Islamic tem in order to secure the widest
society. Muslims are enjoined and most beneficent distribution
to do maximum good to such of wealth through institutions
people and any act of kindness set up by it and through moral
and honour done towards these exhortations. Wealth must
people is extremely remain in constant circulation
praiseworthy and noble in the among all sections of the
sight of Allah. Just to mention community and should not
two examples, I wish to quote become the monopoly of the
three sayings of the Holy rich (Ch.59: V.8). Islam has
Prophet of Islam(saw),: ensured the achievement of this
sublime object by establishing a
In one place he is reported to system of inheritance and a
have said that he who strives for system of regular charity on the
the welfare of a widow will be one hand and prohibition of
joined with him in heaven as interest, gambling and all such
the two fingers of a hand are ways of accumulating wealth by
joined together. unlawful means on the other.
This economic system laid
Similarly, he has enjoined his down by Islam minimises the
faithful followers to pay the gap and difference between the
wages of a labourer before the poor and the rich and thus, goes
sweat dries upon his body. a long way in eradicating the
imbalance which is the root-
With regard to servants, the cause of economic discri-
Prophet(saw) said: ‘They are your mination and denial of human
brothers, and you should treat rights.
them as such. Provide them
with the kind of clothes that you

Principles of Human Rights as the focal point of the universe. A

The principles of Human Rights unique position is thus allotted to
enunciated by Islam differ from the man in the Divine scheme of the
Western concept in two important universe. Equipped with all the
aspects. First, the Islamic values inherent qualities and capacities,
are comprehensive and universal. and with Divine guidance available
Second, they are guaranteed by at all stages, and with the whole of
divine sanction derived from the the Universe subjected to his
Word of God. No other judicial or service, Man has been placed in the
constitutional system can make this most favourable position for the
claim. Let us briefly examine the complete fulfilment of his life.
fundamentals of Islamic code on
human rights. The second fundamental charac-
teristic of the Islamic code is the
In the opening verses of Surah Al- place of honour accorded to the
Rahman, and at several other freedom of man and the rejection of
sections of the Holy Qur’an, we are compulsion or coercion. However,
told that the aim of Islam is to it does not sanction unrestricted or
establish a balance and to bring unbridled freedom, as it would be
about an accord in the relationship against the very law of nature.
of man and his Maker, his Freedom has to be balanced with
relationship with the Universe and certain limitations. To ensure
with his fellow men through freedom for everyone, the freedom
beneficent judgement. Islam insists of each must be, to a degree,
upon the acceptance and curbed, curtailed or controlled. The
comprehension of the unity and freedom that man enjoys is the
coordination of the creation and the right to discipline his freedom.
unity and equality of man. The
Holy Qur’an informs us time and Like most subjects affecting human
again that the universe is created in personality, the subject of human
an orderly design and that there is a rights has many facets. As an all-
specific purpose behind the pervading and complete religion,
creation of man. The most striking Islam provides a comprehensive
character of Islam is its universality framework for human conduct in
and the place that it assigns to man terms of individual, moral, social,

economic and political rights and There should be no compulsion

obligations. The Holy Qur’an has in religion. Surely, right has
spelt out the rights of man during become distinct from wrong;
all phases of life – starting from whosoever refuses to be led by
pre-birth to childhood and through those who transgress, and
adult life to old age. The Holy believes in Allah, has surely
Qur’an also lays down broad grasped a strong handle which
principles governing man’s knows no breaking. And Allah
relations with all those who will is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.
possibly come into contact with (Ch.2: V.257)
him throughout his life. These
include the rights of children, the Again, in Verse 30 of Surah Al-
rights of parents, the rights of a Kahf, the Holy Qur’an mentions:
wife and a husband, the rights of
neighbours, the rights of travellers, And say,‘It is the truth from
the rights of the needy, the rights of your Lord; wherefore let him
orphans, the rights of workers and who will, believe, and let him
wage earners. The list of the items will, disbelieve.’
is so comprehensive that the
subject could provide a challenge It follows that Islam gives a person
for any legal or constitutional the right to profess what he truly
expert of modern times. believes, and not to profess belief
in that which he does not sincerely
To begin with, Islam stands firmly believe. In the same context, the
and uncompromisingly on freedom change of belief, howsoever
of conscience. It does not seek to offensive from the moral or
secure even belief in God through spiritual point of view, does not
compulsion or coercion. Much less attract any physical penalty.
does it object to restricting freedom
on the ground of one’s belief and There is another fundamental right
conviction. Belief is a matter of which the Holy Qur’an recognises
conscience and conscience cannot and accords to man. This is the
be compelled. This truth is exercise of reason, understanding
proclaimed by the Holy Qur’an in and judgement at every step. At the
Verse 257 of Surah Al-Baqarah: same time, man is allowed the

freedom to seek, receive and impart Earlier, I had mentioned that the
information and ideas through any excellent example of the Holy
media and regardless of frontiers. Prophet of Islam(saw), along with the
This is essential so that knowledge Holy Qur’an, constitutes the most
may be fostered and ignorance authentic source of instruction for a
repelled. The Holy Prophet(saw) is code of righteous conduct and for
quoted as saying: ‘The seeking of the preservation of the rights of
knowledge is a duty laid upon every man. The Holy Qur’an describes
Muslim, man and woman’. his functions as the creation and
strengthening of faith through
One should not get the impression drawing attention to Divine Signs,
that Islam speaks about human the moral and physical uplift of the
rights in abstract terms only. The people, teaching them the Law and
limited time at my disposal has furnishing them with guidance and
prevented me from discussing the expounding the philosophy
social and economic rights underlying the guidance given by
enjoined by the Holy Qur’an. The the Holy Qur’an. What do we learn
principles concerning the from his life about the preservation
protection of personal property and of human rights? From innu-
possessions, equality before law, merable instances, let me mention
equality of opportunity to work, only two events to illustrate his
reduction of poverty, balanced regard for the rights of the enemies
distribution of wealth, and sanctity of Islam and his own proclamation
of contracts and agreements are on human rights in the most precise
sanctioned by Islam and these also terms.
form the true basis of the concept of
the Welfare State. Within a few The Holy Prophet(saw) had
years of the establishment of the appointed Hadhrat Ali(ra), the
first Islamic state, the provision of Fourth Caliph of Islam, to conduct
the basic necessities for everyone peace negotiations at Hudaibiyya
was assured. This is the reason why with the Makkans who were sworn
Islam is considered not only a enemies of Islam and had waged
religion but also a system and a war against the Holy Prophet(saw)
civilisation which fulfils man’s and his followers. After protracted
spiritual as well as material needs. negotiations, when the final terms

were being drawn, the Makkans This is the most eloquent and most
strongly objected to the designation perceptive universal declaration on
of the Holy Prophet(saw) as the the rights of free and equal man. So
‘Messenger of Allah’ and insisted the entire mankind owes gratitude
that he should be described only as to the Holy Messenger of Islam(saw),
‘Muhammad, Son of Abdullah’. for drawing attention to the Divine
When this was brought to the Guidance concerning the status and
attention of the Holy Prophet(saw), rights of man as enjoined by the
he said: ‘I am the Messenger of teachings of Islam.
Allah and I am the son of Abdullah.
If the Makkans so prefer, I may be
described as ‘Muhammad, Son of
Abdullah’. Hadhrat Ali(ra) could not
bring himself to bear the
responsibility of removing the
words ‘the Messenger of Allah’
from the draft and the Holy
Prophet(saw) amended the draft with
his own hands.
On the occasion of his last

pilgrimage, the Holy Prophet(saw)
addressed his people in Mina on the
11th of Dhul-Hajj, which is the
epitome of the entire teachings of
Islam. In this historical
proclamation, he said: ‘All men,
whatever nation or tribe they may
belong to, and whatever the status
in life they may hold, are equal’. He
further declared: ‘Your lives and
your possessions have been made
immune by God to attacks by one
another until the Day of Judgment’.

THE MESSIAH HAS COME
Testimony of the Holy Bible
An extract of a speech delivered by Ataul Wahid Lahaye on 7h July, 2001, at
the 25th Jalsa Salana of Jama'at Ahmadiyya Canada held at Baitul Islam
Complex, Maple (Ontario).
Today, I will be discussing how matrimony, as they also believed

Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad(as) Christ's return was at hand.
has fulfilled the prophecies Cunningham predicted 1839, Elliot
contained in the Holy Bible 1866, Brewer and Decker both
regarding the Second Advent of predicted 1867 and Seis favoured
Jesus Christ(as). The majority of 1870.
verses from the Bible that I am
about to analyse are found in the William Miller, who predicted
literature of the millennium scholars 1844, had up to 500,000 followers,
who lived in the 19th century. many of whom were so convinced
Hundreds of these Christian of Christ’s(as) return on October 22,
scholars expected the immediate 1844 that they refused to plant
appearance of Christ, and many crops, gave away their money,
went so far as to precisely predict discharged their employees, settled
when he was to return. For example, their accounts and made pre-
Christopher Hoffman undertook to parations for the climactic midnight
rebuild the temple in Jerusalem for cry, ‘Behold, the Bridegroom
Christ’s occupancy in 1826. cometh, go ye out to meet him.’
Bengle fixed the date of Christ’s(as) They dressed in shrouds, and stood
return at 1836, and from this on mountaintops in New York State
prediction, others followed in rapid awaiting Christ's descent. That day
succession. The Irvingites in has gone down in history as the
England and Scotland announced Great Disappointment.
1835, 1838, 1864 and 1866. Mother
Lee and her Shakers abolished A famous Jewish convert to

THE MESSIAH HAS COME – TESTIMONY OF THE HOLY BIBLE
Christianity, Joseph Wolfe predicted including very specific events,

1847. Claus Epp, a leader of the heavenly signs.
Mennonite Brethren in Russia
predicted March 8, 1889. The • How the Messiah and his
Dukhabors set forth from a followers were to be treated.
Canadian village in 1902, some
naked, to meet the Lord. Reverend • The general location of the
Coming in his book, The End, Second Coming.
written in 1879, concluded that all
the signs of those days were The Jews are still expecting their
preparing for the fulfilment of the Messiah to come. That Messiah is
prophecy for the Second Coming of to be escorted by Elijah the
Christ. He wrote, Christ is at our Prophet(as) whom they believe rose
door. Harriet Livingston, a famous physically to heaven in a chariot of
Washingtonian, preached The fire thousands of years ago. The
Second Coming before the House of Jews of 2,000 years ago had the
Representatives in this time period. same expectations with evidence of
this found in the New Testament. In
The majority of the predictions that John 1 verse 21, the Pharisees
convinced these scholars that asked John the Baptist(as) if he was
Christ’s return was imminent are Elijah and in Matthew 16:14 some
found in Matthew’s 24th and Luke’s people mistook Jesus(as) for
21st chapters. In these chapters, our Elijah(as). Their attitude was, we
attention is directed to other books will certainly entertain your claim
of the Holy Bible that contain as the Messiah, but first produce
relevant prophecies. These Elijah(as).
prophecies can be divided into four
main categories: ‘Behold, I will send you Elijah,
the Prophet, before the coming
• The time of his return, of the great and dreadful day of
specifically in years, the Lord.’
(Malachi 4:5)
• The social environment that
mankind would find itself Many Jews accepted Jesus(as) as the
experiencing at that time Messiah, yet no Elijah descended

from heaven. Fortunately for us, henceforth till ye say “Blessed

Jesus(as) clears up the entire is he that cometh in the name of
misconception by explaining in the Lord.”’
Matthew 17:12-13 when he says:
This may mean that someone was
‘But I say unto you that Elijah to come in the name of Jesus(as), and
is come already, and they knew not Jesus(as)himself.
him not, but have done unto
him whatsoever they listed. Let us now review the verses
Likewise shall also the son of pertaining to Christ’s(as) return. In
man suffer of them. Then the Luke 21:24-27, we read:
disciples understood that he
spoke unto them of John the ‘And they shall fall by the edge
Baptist’ of the sword, and shall be led
away captive into all nations:
Elijah's return had been fulfilled by and Jerusalem shall be trodden
John the Baptist(as). down of the Gentiles until the
times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.
Therefore, if we as Ahmadi And there shall be signs in the
Muslims claim that Hadhrat Mirza sun and in the moon, and in the
Ghulam Ahmad(as) has fulfilled the stars, and upon the earth distress
descent of Jesus Christ(as) as John of nations, with perplexity, the
the Baptist(as) fulfilled the descent of sea and waves roaring. Men's
Elijah(as), we would not be hearts failing them for fear, and
extraneous to the explanation of for looking after those things,
such an event, as presented by which are coming on the earth:
Jesus(as) himself. Obviously descent for the powers of heaven shall be
is a metaphorical term used to shaken. And then shall they see
attach greater importance to the the Son of Man coming in a
expected occurrence. cloud with power and great
glory.’
This is also supported in Matthew
23:39 where Jesus(as) states: In these verses, Jesus(as) is
predicting the destruction of
‘…Ye shall not see me Jerusalem by the Gentiles, and the

banishment of the Jews from Messianic hopes. This process

Jerusalem. When that banishment was crowned in the last quarter
was to end, when the time of the of the 19th century with
gentiles is fulfilled, he would heightened immigration and the
return. beginnings of agricultural
settlements.’
Jerusalem was destroyed by the
Romans under Emperor Titus in 70 The millennium scholars found a
A.D. after a long siege. In 132 A.D. verse in the Book of Revelation
the Jews, under the leadership of that supported this date. In Chapter
Bar Cochba, rebelled against the 11:2-3, we read:
Romans. Jerusalem was destroyed
and a new city, Aellia Capatilina ‘…And the holy city
was constructed on the ruins. Many (Jerusalem) shall they tread
Jews were scattered and exiled. under foot forty and two
Under Roman law, Jews were not months….And they shall
allowed to enter the city. In 637, the prophesy a thousand two
Arabs took control of Jerusalem hundred and three score days.’
and similar restriction still applied.
Christian scholars all agree, that in
This restriction upon the Jews was Bible prophecy, one day stands for
lifted when Turkey signed the one year. This is supported in
‘Edict of Tolerance’ allowing Jews several verses. For example in
to freely enter Jerusalem. This Ezekiel 4:6 we read: ‘I have
document was signed on March 21, appointed thee, each day for a year.’
1844. Shortly thereafter, Jews
started to migrate back to The Christian scholars came to the
Jerusalem for the first time since 70 conclusion, that since at that time,
A.D. The time of the Gentiles had the Gentiles who controlled
come to an end. David ben Gurion Jerusalem were Muslims, that
comments on this era in the book, predicted time period of forty-and
The Jews In Their Land: two months, or 1,260 days when
applied as the year 1,260 to the
‘And every such wave of return Muslim calendar was 1844 of the
was inspired by renewed Christian calendar.

The Book of Matthew directs us to vision and prophecy, and to

the Prophet Daniel(as) in Chapter anoint the most Holy.’
24:15. Again the millennium
scholars found reference to several The millennium Christian scholars
more dates. Daniel 12: 11-12 unanimously interpreted this verse
referring to the holy temple in to be the time period from the
Jerusalem states: rebuilding of the Temple in
Jerusalem to the coming years.
‘And from the time that the They also took this prophecy to
daily sacrifice shall be taken start when Artaxerxes decreed the
away, and the abomination that Temple to be rebuilt in 47 B.C. as
maketh desolate set up, there mentioned in Ezra Chapter 7. 457
shall be a thousand two hundred BC plus 490 years brings us to 33
and ninety days. Blessed is he A.D., the general time of Christ’s(as)
that waiteth, and cometh to the crucifixion.
thousand three hundred and five
and thirty days.’ They also found another prophecy
in Daniel that they believed applied
Using the same method of to the Second Coming of Christ(as).
calculation as was used for the We find in Daniel 8:13-14:
verse in Revelation; the dates of
1,290, 1305, and 1330 of the ‘Then I heard one saint
Muslim calendar correspond to speaking, and another saint said
1873, 1888 and 1912 of the unto that certain saint which
Christian Calendar. More dates are spake; How long shall be the
predicted in Daniel 9:1-24: vision concerning the daily
sacrifice, and the transgression
‘Seventy weeks are determined of desolation, to give both the
upon thy people, and upon the sanctuary and the host to be
holy city, to finish the trodden under foot? And he said
transgression, and to make an unto me, unto two thousand and
end of sins, and to make three hundred days then shall
reconciliation for iniquity, and the sanctuary be cleansed.’
to bring in everlasting right-
eousness, and to seal up the Adding 2300 years to 457 B.C.

brings us to 1843. We can readily were opened to commerce and

understand why the millennium missionaries. In that same year, Dr.
scholars of the 19th century Livingston opened the door to
expected the return of Jesus Bible preaching in the African
Chris(as) during their time. The interior. In 1844, Turkey
second category of predictions recognised the right of Muslims to
which describe the condition become Christian. In the book, A
mankind would be in at that time Hundred Years Of Missions, Dr.
fully support the same time period. Leanard writes:
We read in Matthew 24:14 :
‘For the first time since the
‘And this gospel of the apostolic period occurred, an
kingdom shall be preached in outburst of general missionary
all the world for a witness unto zeal and activity occurred.’
all nations and then shall the
end come.’ He was referring to the 19th
century.
The study of the spread of
Christianity conducted by the Dr A.T. Pearson wrote in Modern
millennium scholars of the 19th Mission Century:
century establishes that this was the
time when the message of the ‘India, Siam, Burma, China,
kingdom had been conveyed to the Japan, Turkey, Africa, Mexico,
entire world. According to the South America were
British and American Bible successively and successfully
Societies, 421 million copies of the entered within 5 years, from
Bible had been distributed in 50 1853 to 1858, new facilities
languages in practically every were given to entrance and
country of the world. In 1842, Mr. occupation of seven different
Spicer stated in Our Day In The countries, together embracing
Light Of Prophecy, that the gospel half the world population.’
had been spread to 95% of the
inhabitants of earth. Mr Faber writes in Eight
Dissertations:
In 1842, five treaty ports in China

The stupendous endeavours of France in 1815. The war of 1818

one gigantic community to between America and Britain. The
convey the Scriptures in every Crimean War 1853, The Civil War
language to every part of the in America 1861, Britain against
globe may well deserve to be China in 1860, the Sepoy Mutiny in
considered as an eminent sign India, 1857, Russia against Turkey,
even of these eventful times. 1870, China against Korea, 1894,
Unless I be much mistaken. the Boxer Rebellion in China,
Such endeavours are pre- 1900, Great Britain against the
paratory to the final grand Boer Republic 1899 and America
diffusion of Christianity, which against Spain in 1898.
is the theme of so many
inspired prophets and which Two more prophecies of this
cannot be so far distant in the category, the category of special
present day.’ events and social conditions is
found in the Book of Daniel, 12:4.
Another prophecy of this category It states:
is found in Matthew 24:6,
‘But thou, O Daniel, shut up the
‘And ye shall hear of wars and words, and seal the book, even
rumours of wars; see that ye be to the time of the end: many
not troubled, for all these things shall run to and fro and
must come to pass, but the end knowledge shall be increased.’
is not yet.’
Regarding the increase of
Just before the end, the end defined knowledge, economist Robert
as the time for the return of Jesus Gorden suggests that the great
Christ(as), wars and rumours of wars inventions of 1860 to 1900 had a
would prevail. We can readily more pronounced effect on
determine that this prophecy was productivity and living standards
fulfilled in the 19th century by and for many more years than our
reviewing the wars fought during much-acclaimed New Economy of
that time period. To be brief, I will today. In fact, our modern
mention just 10. They were Britain, inventions pale when compared to
Prussia, Austria and Russia against the great inventions leading to the

first new economy. Those threshing machines. More rural

inventions, electricity, the internal riots broke out in 1843. During the
combustion engine, the chemical and plug riots of 1842, strikers stopped,
pharmaceutical industries, advances instead of wrecking the mills by
in entertainment and commu- removing the lead plugs in the
nication, and urban sanitation really steam engines. In Latin America,
did change the world. The post 1913 revolutions against the Spanish and
surge in productivity growth that Portuguese occurred in Venezuela,
lasted until the beginning of the Argentina, Paraguay, and Mexico
1970's was directly connected to in the early 1800s under the
these new inventions. Computers leadership of Simon Bolivar. From
and the Internet do not measure up to July 27th to July 29th 1830,
the Great Inventions of the late 19th students and workers raised
and early 20th centuries. Again, we barricades and made themselves
conclude that there was a great masters of France, leading to the
increase of knowledge in the 19th flight of Charles X.
century.
The Slavs were too scattered to
The second prophecy found in this form a single nation. A rising in
verse in Daniel speaks of people Prague in June of 1848 was
running to and fro, as a description ruthlessly crushed by Austria. On
of restlessness. Again looking for March 13, 1881, the Nihilist
evidence of restlessness during the organisation known as the People’s
19th century we see a long list of Will, assassinated Tsar Alexander.
riots and revolutions. Again, for The bomb blast shook every
brevity, I will mention just 10. European throne and reprisal in
Enough to prove that this prophecy Russia was severe. The general
also came to light in the 19th mood of Europe and the US was
century. more aggressive in the last years of
the 19th century, than it had been
Riots raged in 1842 from for several decades before. In
September to December in November 1887, the lifeguards
southern and eastern England as were called in to London to clear
rioting agricultural workers Trafalgar Square of demonstrators.
directed their main efforts against On May 1, 1890, militant workers

demonstrated in both America and the sun be darkened and the

Europe, demanding an 8-hour day. moon shall not give her light,
In 1894, the army was called in to and the stars shall fall from the
quell rioting strikers in Illinois. In heavens and the power of the
China, rebellions, murders, heavens shall be shaken.’
massacres and succession crises
accompanied the rise of power of The Christian Millennium scholars
Empress Tzu Hsi in 1898. of the 19th century interpreted this
verse to mean eclipses of the sun
R.A. Wallace in his book, The and the moon, meteor showers,
Wonderful Century, 1898, comets, etc.
summarised the mood of the time.
Henry James Foreman states in his
‘There was, therefore, no 19th book, The Story of Prophecy,
century resting place. The
French Revolution, combined ‘It was the 19th century, yet the
with the Industrial Revolution shooting stars of 1833, and the
(both unfinished), affected both perihelia, or rings around the
ways of thinking and feeling. sun 1843 were objects of the
The repercussions are still most awesome speculation and
echoed today.’ discussion. And the tail of the
great comet of 1843 measured
The next category deals with 108 million miles in length...
heavenly signs, or special whole families were engaged in
astronomical activities. Research making shrouds against that
into this topic show that the amount fateful day.’
of unique astronomical activities
increased several times during the In 1811, a comet appeared with a
19th century. head 1,125,000 miles in diameter,
larger than the sun. The tail was
Again we turn to Matthew’s 24th 100 million miles in length.
chapter, verse 29.
Bielids Comet was first discovered
‘Immediately after the in 1772, but was not found to be
tribulation of those days, shall periodical until 1826. In 1832 the

comet passed very close to the brighter than any star in the sky,
earth. In 1845, the comet was except Venus, and a peculiar glow
observed to break in two, and in suffused the entire sky. It could
1852, at the time of its expected easily be seen in broad daylight.
return, it was found that the two
parts of the comet were both very Another great comet, one of the
faint and separated by over one brightest of modern times, passed
million miles. It did not return in within a third of a million miles of
1866. the sun in 1882.
On November 27 of 1885, a The head of Holmes comet had a

spectacular meteor shower diameter in excess of a million
originating from Von Nostrands miles. It is one of the largest on
Comet was observed. 39,546 record and appeared in 1892, 1899
meteors were observed in four and 1906. Since then it has not been
hours and eight minutes. Since seen.
1899, very few showers from this
comet have been observed. On June 30, 1908, the greatest
meteor fall in modern history took
Records of Leonids Comet are place in Siberia. Scientists still
found as far back as 585 A.D. In study this phenomenon because of
1799, 1833 and 1866-67 this comet its great destructive power. Lunar
caused the most spectacular shower and Solar eclipses also occurred in
of modern times. 1894 and 1895.
The great comet of 1843, which has To the people witnessing these
not been named, was a periodical events, it would surely have looked
comet with an orbit of 400 years. It as if the stars were falling from
had the longest tail of any comet, heaven, and we can readily
200 million miles long, making it a conclude that this prophecy was
sight of grandeur. Donati's comet lit fulfilled during the 19th century.
the sky in 1858.
Let us now turn to the fourth
Yet another comet appeared in category of millennium prophecies,
1861. At one time the comet was those that describe how the

Messiah and his followers were to Christ(as) in his Second Coming,

be treated. were to be treated. Hatred,
persecution and even death awaited
‘Then shall they deliver you up them. They would be betrayed by
to be afflicted and shall kill you, their own family members and
and ye shall be hated by all entire nations would conspire to
nations for my name’s sake. oppose them.
And then shall appear the sign The Messiah, from the verses in
of the son of man in heaven, Luke, would possess profound
and then shall all the tribes of wisdom, such that no one on earth
the earth mourn, and they shall could argue against him, and even
see the son of man coming in though afflicted with severe
the clouds of heaven with persecution, he would be protected
power and great glory.’ by God Almighty as indicated by
(Matthew 24:9,30) ‘there shall not an hair on your head
shall perish’.
‘For I will give you a mouth
and wisdom, which all your His appearance should be of a
adversaries shall not be able to cloudy nature, and his message
gainsay or resist. And ye shall would run counter to all contem-
be betrayed both by parents and porary thought and expectations,
brethren, and kinsfolk and causing the nations of the earth to
friends, and some of you shall mourn. This type of appearance is
be put to death. And ye shall be supported in Paul’s letter to the
hated of all men for my name's Thessalonians 5:2.
sake. But there shall not an hair
on your head perish.’ ‘For yourselves know perfectly
(Luke 21: 15-18) that the day of the Lord so
cometh as a thief in the night.’
These verses paint a rather grim
picture of how those who were to The fifth category of prophecies
accept the Messiah, those who indicating the general location of the
would pledge their loyalty to the Second Coming is found in Matthew
one who would represent Jesus 24:27:

‘For as lightning cometh out of This verse also indicates that the
the east, and shineth even unto Second Coming would not be of an
the west, so shall also the coming earth shattering event because if
of the Son of man be.’ false Messiahs were to be accepted,
they would somehow have to
The millennium scholars inter- announce their arrival by
preted this verse literally, expecting descending from the sky
Christ's return to be accompanied surrounded by lighting bolts and
by a huge flash of lightning that angels. During the 19th century
would travel across the globe. there were several men claiming to
However, the verse could very well be either the Messiah or a Prophet.
indicate that since Jesus(as) was in They were the Mahdi of Sudan;
Jerusalem when he made this Alexander Dowie of Zion, Ohio,
prophecy, the Second Coming who claimed to be Elijah the third;
would appear east of Jerusalem, Joseph Smith of the Mormons who
and the light or teachings of the claimed to be a prophet; Ali
Promised One would first be Muhammad Bab who claimed to be
accepted in the east and would the Mahdi when he performed Hajj
eventually extend to the west. in 1844; Bahaullah of Iran who
claimed to be the manifestation of
This interpretation finds support in God; Piggot of England who
Ezekiel 43:2 where he describes in claimed to be the Messiah; and
a vision the glory of God came Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of
from the way of the east, and in Qadian(as) who claimed he
Revelation 7:2 that mentions represented the second coming of
another angel ascending from the Christ for the Christians and Imam
east having the seal of the living Mahdi for the Muslims.
God.
To find the true Messiah, we need
We also read in Matthew 24th to apply the prophecies from
chapter, verse 5: categories 4 and 5, those that
describe the Messiah’s charac-
‘For many shall come in my teristics and how he and his
name saying, I am Christ: and followers would be received, to the
shall deceive many.’ claimants who came from areas

east of Jerusalem during the 19th less number of arguments as had

century. They were Mirza Ali been presented by him in support of
Muhammad (Ali Muhammad Bab the Holy Qur’an in his monumental
of Shiraz), Bahaullah (Mirza work.’ (Qadianism, A Critical
Hussain Ali Nur) of Tehran and Study, p.27)
Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of
Qadian(as), India. Towards the end of 1890, Hadhrat
Mirza Ghulam Ahmad(as)
Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad(as) announced that God had informed
was born in Qadian, India in the him that Jesus(as) was dead and was
year 1835 and departed from this not going to return and that he was
world in 1908. Heavenly signs in fact representing the Second
mark both the years of his birth and Advent of Jesus(as). This announce-
death. Haley’s Comet made its ment brought a storm of protest and
most dramatic appearance of threats from Christians and
modern times in 1835, and a great Muslims alike, who both were and
meteor impact occurred in Siberia are still expecting Jesus(as) to
in 1908. descend from the sky. He told the
entire world that their beliefs were
Qadian, India is directly east of wrong, their knowledge hollow and
Jerusalem. He authored over 80 their actions unworthy because
books on religious and com- their spiritual faculties had become
parative religious studies and debilitated by drifting away from
claimed to be the Mahdi and God.
Messiah whose advent had been
predicted in the Holy Bible and Today, the followers of Hadhrat
other holy books. Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of
Qadian , India are counted in tens
(as)
When commenting on just one of of millions and have established

his books titled Baraheen-e- centres for the spread of the true
Ahmadiyya, one of his most bitter Islam in over 150 countries. We
ooponents admitted, and he says: propagate our faith by means of
‘He challenged the repre-sentatives clear and logical arguments, based
of other religions to prove the truth on wisdom and proof. However, the
of their religions with the same or Messiah and his followers were,

and still are persecuted in many Jerusalem was alive to witness and
countries. announce that these eclipses were a
unique sign by God specifically for
In 1984, General Ziaul Haq of him and that was Hadhrat Mirza
Pakistan brought Ordinance XX Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian(as).
into law, making it a criminal
offence for the followers of
Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad(as)
to practise or propagate their
religion. On the Pakistani passport
applications, the applicant must
sign a statement denouncing
as an impostor before a passport is
issued.
The Saudi Arabian Government

does not allow the followers of
from Pakistan to perform Hajj.
A report by the Lawyers

Committee for human rights states
that the Ahmadiyya Sect, as a
group,s is subject to systematic and
extensive discrimination.
Over the course of the last 111

years, Ahmadis have been
murdered in cold blood, only
because they believe that the
Messiah has come.
In closing, only one of the

claimants who came from east of

HADHRAT MUHAMMAD(saw)
as ‘Abd Shakur’ (graceful servant of Allah)
Speech delivered by Maulana Naseem Mahdi, (Ameer Jama’at Ahmadiyya
Canada) on the occasion of Jalsa Salana Canada 2004
Allah and His angels send Qur’an draws our attention to this
blessings on the Prophet. O ye phenomenon.
who believe! you also should
invoke blessings on him and And We have established you
salute him with the salutation in the earth and provided for
of peace. you therein the means of
(Ch.33: V.57) subsistence. How little thanks
you give!
The Holy Prophet Muhammad(saw) – (Ch.7: V.11)
the ‘Abd Shakur’ – embodied the
quality of gratitude to the highest Ingratitude is so ingrained in the
degree and practiced it for his entire lives of people that they cannot
life. The following is a description perceive their ungratefulness and
of the state of contemporary society hence do not admit it. Amazingly,
with regards to gratitude; the this situation occurs at times when
Islamic teachings on the concept of we have more to be thankful for,
gratitude, some examples from the than any other previous
life of Holy Prophet(saw) on how he civilisation. Human life has been
infused every element of this extended by decades. The quality
teaching into his life and the of life has been improved to a
benefits of following his beautiful degree that was incomprehensible
model in gratitude. merely a hundred years ago.
Similarly, the wealth of indi-
Ingratitude in Contemporary viduals and nations has reached
Society enormous proportions, which
Sadly, ingratitude has become an reminds a person of stories of
integral part of society. The Holy uncountable treasures.

HADHRAT MUHAMMAD(SAW) AS ‘ABD SHAKUR’
Individualism and Excessive Quebec’s successful skiing season;

Individual Freedom: Cause of we do not hear about plentiful
Ingratitude harvest of the prairies; we do not
Regretfully many people have got hear people thanking for the
into the cult of ingratitude under benefits of the forestry of British
the guise of individualism and Columbia; but on the onset of each
individual freedom. Not so long calamity, be it a snowstorm in
ago I attended the graduation cere- Quebec, a drought in the prairies or
mony of one of my children in wild fires in British Columbia, it is
grade one. My experience was termed as an Act of God, as if God
similar to the other ceremonies I is only out there to smite people.
had attended for Grade 5, Grade 8
and countless other achieve- Gratitude in Islam
ments. One common thing I In this wilderness of ingratitude,
noticed at each of these events was Islamic teachings are like a source
how much individual success was of light or fresh morning breeze.
being noted and appreciated at
each of these events. It was as if In Islam, gratitude is a spiritual and
the whole world revolved around moral state of mind. It is spiritual
these young people and that their in the sense of acknowledging the
current status was achieved believers’ obligation to the Creator
without regard of a divine being. and moral in the sense of
This so called individualism is not mandating rightful conduct in
limited to school going children; relation to God and to those
Adults face the same mindset in appointed by God.
their work place.
Ingratitude is simply the opposite
Negative Perception of God of gratitude. It is characterised by
Generally, people assume that each the denial of what is rightfully
success is achieved because of owed to God. The Holy Qur’an
their own efforts and anything bad states that ingratitude is a form of
must be attributed to some freak rebellious unbelief or kufr. It ruins,
accident of nature. For example, and distorts the very basis of all
we do not hear much about moral relationships, whether those

with God or those within the provisions given to us and their

human community. knowledge in one’s heart and
mind.
A dominant feature of the concept
of gratitude – ‘shukr’ in the Holy 2. Shukr bi al-Lisan: Its literal
Qur’an – is its use to describe the meaning is gratitude with the
spiritual bond between the tongue. It refers to verbal praise
believer and God. The term for the one who has done us some
‘shukr’ is derived from the root favour.
shin-kaf-ra. Words derived from
this root occur at more than 3. Shukr bi al-Jawarih: This term
seventy places in the Holy Qur’an. is applied for appropriate and
In Arabic lexicons, the term suitable use of the provisions
‘shakara’ has the root meaning of provided to a person.
‘being filled over’, of that of an
‘expression’. ‘Al-Mishkar’ is a Basis for Gratitude
milk-producing animal that is The root of gratitude lies in the act
productive despite lack of fodder. of creation to which every human
‘Shakra’ is also the grass that being owes his existence. The
grows despite very little water. sustenance of life through Allah’s
Inherent in this meaning is the bounties and blessings is further
ability to become content with grounds for gratitude.
small provisions. This also refers
to the ability to be productive The Holy Qur’an states:
despite meagre resources.
And Allah brought you forth
Types of Shukr from the wombs of your
According to the very well known mothers while you knew
dictionary Tajul’Urus, shukr is of nothing, and gave you ears and
three types: eyes and hearts, that you might
be grateful.
1. Shukr bi al-Qalb: Its literal (Ch.16: V.79)
meaning is gratitude in the heart. It
relates to the understanding at the

The Holy Prophet(saw) as Abd his day with hamd or praise of

Shakur Allah. During the day, before
The person who exemplified this starting any activity, he would
gratitude in his life was the Holy remember and thank Allah, and
Prophet Muhammad(saw). Therefore He would end that activity by
if we are ever to truly learn about again showing gratitude to Allah.
shukr, then we must turn our eyes Despite the fact that his entire day
towards the life of the Holy was spent being grateful to Allah,
Prophet(saw) as Abd Shakur. he continued to pray:
Qualities of Abd Shakur ‘Oh my Lord, Make me one of

Abd Shakur is in reality a those who remember You and
composite of two qualities. In it, of those who show ingratitude
the Holy Prophet(saw) can be seen as towards Allah.’ (Abu Daud,
the true ‘abd’ or servant of God Kitab-us-Salat, The book of
and he can be witnessed as the true prayer)
human embodiment of ‘shakur’
the one who shows gratitude. Even after his obligatory prayers,
These two qualities are completely he would not forget the
intertwined. Their relationship is remembrance of Allah and
such that one cannot be truly continued in the following words.
called an abd or a servant of God
without showing gratitude and that ‘Oh, My Allah grant me the
a shakir or a shakur – a person ability to pray that is full of
who does shukr – cannot attain his your remembrance, gratitude
status, unless he is a true servant of and beauty.’
God, i.e., and abd of Allah. (Abu Daud, Kitab-us-Salat, the
book of prayer)
Examples of the Holy
Prophet’s(saw)Appreciation The Holy Prophet(saw) did not pass
We witness that the Holy Prophet a single occasion on which a
Muhammad’s(saw) entire life person could show gratitude
revolved around the remembrance without setting an example for us.
and gratitude of Allah. He started For example whenever it rained

after a long dry season, the Holy grateful to Allah. He has

Prophet(saw) was full of gratitude to admonished us to be mindful of
Allah. He would uncover his head other people’s favours.
and take the early shower upon his
blessed head and would say: One example on true appreciation
is related to the Holy Prophet’s(saw)
‘This is a fresh blessing from visit to Ta’if. Upon the Holy
my Lord.’ Prophet’s(saw) return, the non-
(Masnad-e-Ahmad, Volume 3, Muslim Mut’im bin’ Adi extended
page 267 published in Beirut) his protection to the Holy
Prophet(saw), so that he could enter
The Holy Qur’an mentions a Makkah again. Although Mut’im
prophecy of Jesus(as) that indicates died soon thereafter, the Holy
that a prophet by the name of Prophet(saw) did not forget the good
‘Ahmad’ would come after him. deed. When the prisoners of battle
One meaning of Ahmad is a of Badr were presented to the Holy
person who has shown Prophet(saw), he said,
incomparable gratitude towards
Allah. This prophecy was fulfilled ‘If Mut’im had been alive, and
in the person of the Holy he had asked to free these
Prophet(saw) who taught us Surah prisoners, I would have done
Al-Fatiha, which is the most so without asking for any
beautiful hamd or praise possible. ransom’1
One attribute of Allah is that He is Similarly, during the battle of Badr,

Shakur, The Appreciator. Thus an uncle of the Holy Prophet(saw),
shukr is the ability to appreciate. Hadhrat Abbas(ra) was one of the
The Holy Prophet(saw) is the perfect prisoners. The Holy Prophet(saw)
manifestation of human equivalent had ordered that all the prisoners
of this attribute. He appreciated should be given clothes. However,
every kindness or good deed of Hadhrat Abbas(ra) was quite tall,
other fellow beings. He reminded and no person’s garment would fit
us that a person who is not him. Abdullah bin ‘Ubayy, a
appreciative of others cannot be hypocrite, brought his shirt from

home and gave it to Hadhrat Even then, she would save some
Abbas(saw). Even this deed was not food for me separately.’
forgotten by the Holy Prophet(saw) ,
so much so that upon the death of Examples of Holy Prophet’s(saw)
this leader of the hypocrites, the Contentment
Holy Prophet(saw) gave his blessed Shukr has another meaning of
garment for his burial. contentment. The early life of
Hadhrat Muhammad Mustafa(saw)
Another incident shows how the was full of struggles. However,
Holy Prophet(saw) was appreciative when he migrated to Madinah and
of others. Hadhrat Fatima bint Islam spread to all corners of
Asad(ra) was the mother of Hadhrat Arabia, life became affluent for
Ali(ra) and a cousin of the Holy many. Despite that change in
Prophet(saw). When she passed fortunes, the Holy Prophet(saw) led
away in Madinah the Holy a simple and content life, always
Prophet(saw) gave his blessed looking to provide for people
garment for her shroud and worse off than him .
personally lowered her corpse into
her grave to ensure that the burial Hadhrat Abu Huraira(ra) narrated
was performed correctly. His eyes that the Holy Prophet(saw) said,
were full of tears at that time.
Hadhrat Umar(ra) asked the reason ‘If any of you would like to see
for that special attention. The Holy the great blessings of Allah on
Prophet(saw) indicated that after the him, then let him look at those
death of his mother, Hadhrat who are less fortunate than
Fatima(ra) was like a mother to him. him, not those who appear
She had showed such loving better off than him.’2
treatment that he could not truly
show his gratitude. Hadhrat Aisha(ra) relates that it
never happened that food was
He continued: ‘Whenever I sat cooked in the household of the
with my cousins to eat, she would Holy Prophet(saw) for three
provide for me even more than consecutive days. Surely if the
what was given to her own sons. Holy Prophet(saw) had wanted, he

could have filled his house with gratitude to Allah and humility, he
the best of provisions; but his way entered the city in a prostrating
of showing gratitude was to position looking down – while
remain content and not show any sitting on the back of a camel. It
greed. was a magnificent bloodless
victory, which had been pro-
Once Hadhrat Umar(ra) visited the phesied in the earlier scriptures. A
Holy Prophet(saw) and noticed that worldly leader would have started
he was resting upon a mat. When a grand feast to celebrate this
the Holy Prophet(saw) got up, the monumental victory. That ruler
marks of this rough mat were would have butchered hundreds of
evident on his skin. Hadhrat animals for this feast. However,
Umar(ra) was much disturbed by the attitude of the Holy Prophet(saw)
this sight and enquired if a better provides true guidance to us. After
arrangement could be made for the completing some urgent tasks, the
Holy Prophet(saw). The Holy Holy Prophet(saw) visited Umm
Prophet(saw) responded by saying Hani’s(ra) abode and asked her if
that there was no need for such there was anything to eat. She
luxuries as he was leading his life responded that there was nothing in
in this world just like a traveller the house except some dried
who had stopped under a tree for breadcrumbs. The Holy Prophet(saw)
rest before continuing his journey. asked her to dip those breadcrumbs
Some may think that there is no in water to make them soft and
connection of contentment with edible. He then enquired from her if
thankfulness, but, in reality, true there was anything to eat with
gratitude cannot be shown without those breadcrumbs. She responded
being content. Greed is the enemy that there was nothing in the house
of contentment and thankfulness. except a few drops of vinegar. The
Holy Prophet(saw) asked her to
The conquest of Makkah is the bring that vinegar and started to
epitome of true gratitude. The eat. With each bite, he thanked
Holy Prophet(saw) entered Makkah Allah; he praised Allah and said
victoriously with ten thousand how good those breadcrumbs were
followers. However, due to his with those few drops of vinegar.

Such was the feast of the Holy that Allah had given him camels,
Prophet(saw) on the great victory of horses, slaves and sheep. The Holy
Makkah.3 Prophet(saw) said, ‘If Allah has
given you all of that, then let Him
It is reported that the Holy see His blessings on you.’
Prophet(saw) often stayed up all
night standing until his feet Al-Nu’man bin Bashir(ra) narrated
became swollen. When he was that the Holy Prophet(saw) said,
asked why he was subjecting ‘Speaking of Allah’s blessing is
himself to such hardship, when gratitude and ignoring it is
Allah had already forgiven all his ingratitude. The one who does not
past and future human lapses. He give thanks for a small blessing
would reply, ‘Should I not be a will not give thanks for a great
grateful servant?’4 blessing, and the one who does not
give thanks to people will not give
Hisham bin Urwa said that the thanks to Allah.’7
Holy Prophet(saw) used to pray, ‘Oh
Allah! Help me to remember You, Examples of the Holy
to give thanks to You and to Prophet’s (saw) Remembrance of
worship You well.’5 Allah
The Holy Prophet(saw) was very
The Holy Prophet(saw) once said: particular about prayers in con-
‘Allah is pleased with his slave, gregation. Even during illness, he
who, when he eats something, would go to the mosque to lead the
thanks Allah for it and when he prayers himself. Once, due to
drinks something, thanks Allah for severity of illness, he was not able
it.’6 to proceed to the mosque and
instructed Hadhrat Abu Bakr(ra) to
Shu’bah(ra) narrated that once he lead the prayers. As he felt a bit
came to the Messenger of better, he asked to be supported to
Allah(saw) looking untidy and the mosque. He was still so feeble
scruffy. The Holy Prophet(saw) that he had to rest his weight on
asked him whether he had any the shoulders of two men.
possessions. Shu’bah(ra) replied According to Hadhrat Aishah(ra),

his feet trailed around the ground. Fruits of Following the Beautiful
Is this not the example of a true Example of the Holy Prophet(saw)
servant of Allah whose every as Abd Shakur
breath was filled with the In the Holy Qur’an, Allah the
remembrance of Allah?8 Almighty says:
It is fascinating to note that every And remember also the time

moment of the life of the Holy when your Lord declared: If
Prophet(saw) was filled with the you are grateful, I will, surely,
remembrance of Allah. Even bestow more favours on you;
while going to sleep, he would but if you are ungrateful, then
offer the prayer: know that My punishment is
severe indeed.’ (Ch.14: V.8)
‘O Allah! Let me die with Thy
name on my lips, and with Thy The Holy Prophet(saw) offered his
name on my lips let me rise.’ gratefulness toward Allah the
Upon waking up he would say, Almighty throughout his life. The
‘All praise is due to Allah Who bounties that Allah bestowed upon
has brought me to life after the Holy Prophet(saw) as a result of
death and one day we shall all his gratitude to Allah are
be gathered unto Him.’9 mentioned in the Holy Qur’an in
the following words:
Darud Sharif – Our Gratitude to
the Holy Prophet(saw) Surely, we have given thee an
The Holy Prophet(saw) was the best abundance of good.
amongst the grateful servants of (Ch.108: V.2)
Allah. Allah the Almighty has
bestowed us with all kinds of These favours that belong to this
bounties because of the Holy world as well as the hereafter will
Prophet’s gratitude toward Him. If also be extended to his true
we show our gratitude to the Holy followers.
Prophet(saw) by offering Darud
Sharif, Allah the Almighty will Allah the Almighty says in the
multiply these favours on us. Holy Qur’an:

O ye who believe! fear Allah realised that the roads leading

and seek the way of approach to Allah are very tiny and some
unto Him and strive in His way times you have to find them
that you may prosper. with struggle. Then I realised
(Ch.5: V.36) that this is possible only
through the medium of the
The Holy Prophet(saw) has shown Holy Prophet(saw), because
us the beautiful face of Allah; he Allah says, ‘seek the way of
has given us the beautiful teaching approach Unto Him.’ The way
in the shape of the Holy Qur’an; of approach to Allah is true
he has given us the beautiful obedience of Hadhrat
Sharia of Islam, the most beautiful Muhammad Mustafa . Then
(saw)
religion on earth. So, following in I saw a vision that two angels

his footsteps and showing our come to my house with
gratitude to him, we should also containers of light. One comes
become grateful servants of Allah from the outside and one
the Almighty. comes from the inside. They
are sprinkling light in my
In this time and age, the Promised house while saying, ‘This light
Messiah(as) – the founder of the is given to you because you
Ahmadiyya Muslim Community have been sending darud on
has been given the torch of Islam. the Holy Prophet.’10
The light will shine through him.
He is the second coming of the If we show our gratitude to the
Holy Prophet Muhammad(saw). He Holy Prophet(saw), then since he
claims that whatever he has got is possesses the attribute of Shakur
due to his love for the Holy to its full human capacity, his
Prophet(saw). He says: appreciation for us will work in
our favour in wonderful ways as is
‘Once I realised that I should evident from the following
spend more time in invoking Ahadith:
blessings and saying darud on
the name of Hadhrat Hadhrat Abu Hurairah(ra)
Muhammad Mustafa(saw), I relates that the Holy

Prophet(saw) said, ‘He who calls ‘The closest to me on the Day

blessings on me, Allah sends of Judgement will be those
down blessings on him ten who called down blessings on
times.’ (Sahih Muslim) The me the most.’
Holy Prophet(saw) was not in (Jamia Tirmidi)
need of blessings, from us; but
he has shown us the way to Similarly, in another hadith, the
receive the blessing of Allah. Holy Prophet(saw) said:
Hadhrat Abu Talha Ansari(ra) ‘The best of your days is

relates that one morning the Friday. Therefore, invoke
Holy Prophet(saw) was blessings on me frequently on
extraordinarily cheerful. His that day, for your invocation is
face was shining with joy. The conveyed to me.’12
companions enquired from the
Holy Prophet(saw) the reason of Thus a spiritual arrangement has
such extreme happiness. The been made by Allah the Almighty
Holy Prophet(saw) replied that such that our darud is reported to
Hadhrat Gabriel(as) came to him the soul of the Holy Prophet(saw).
and told him that he who sends
or invokes darud or salam on Hadhrat Abu Bakr Siddiq(ra) relates
him from his ummah, Allah that the Holy Prophet(saw) said:
will write down ten good deeds
in his record. Moreover, ten ‘He who sends darud on me, I
bad deeds will be taken away will intercede on his behalf on
from his record and the the Day of Judgement .’13
spiritual station of that person
will be raised ten times.11 Hadhrat Fadhaalah bin’ Ubaid
relates that the Holy Prophet(saw)
On the Day of Judgement heard someone supplicate in his
everybody will be in a state of loss prayer without glorification of
and fear. However, the Holy Allah and without invoking
Prophet(saw) said: blessings upon the Holy
Prophet . The Holy Prophet(saw)
(saw)

observed that he was in a hurry. in darud. Again the Holy

Then he called him and said to him Prophet(saw) said that if he were to
or to someone beside him that offer even more darud, it would be
when one is to supplicate, the better for him. Now he said that he
prayer should begin with the would only offer darud sharif
praise of his Lord and His during his entire supplication.
glorification followed by the Upon this, the Holy Prophet(saw)
invoking of blessings on the Holy said Allah would fulfil all of his
Prophet(saw). Then one can suppli- desires.15
cate as he may wish. Hence the
Holy Prophet(saw) has taught us the Hadhrat Anas(ra) relates that the
art of prayer. Our prayers are Holy Prophet(saw) said:
enriched when they start with the
praise and glorification of Allah ‘The one who says darud one
and with darud and salam on the thousand times a day, he will
Holy Prophet(saw).14 not die until he is shown his
abode in paradise.’16
Hadhrat Ubayy bin Ka’b once told
the Holy Prophet(saw) that when he Conclusion
supplicated, he would spend one How often do we come across
fourth of his time in darud. He people who complain about small
enquired whether he should and insignificant things? How
increase the amount of time spent often do we see people not content
in darud. The Holy Prophet(saw) with provisions given to them by
replied that if he were to offer Allah? How often do we realise
more darud, it would be better for that what Allah has provided for
him. Upon hearing this advice, he us is truly a blessing? The attitude
suggested that he reserved half of of appreciation, contentment and
his time of supplication for darud. gratitude must develop within our
The Holy Prophet(saw) again said daily lives. Without this change in
that if he were to offer even more our behaviour, we cannot truly
darud, it would be better for him. follow in the footsteps of our
Then he suggested that he spent beloved master Hadhrat
two thirds of his supplication time Muhammad Mustafa . (saw)

was-silah, 1877.
What a perfect example of shukr 8. Sahih Bukhari, Kitab-ul-Adhan,
has been set by the Holy 624 and 4088.
Prophet(saw) for us. He was an Abd 9. Sahih Bukhari, Kitab-ud-Dawat,
Shakur. He is Shakur because he 5837.
appreciated. When we send darud, 10. Haqiqa-tul-Wahi, p.128
it is appreciated by Allah on his footnote.
behalf and a spiritual relationship 11. Jila-ul-afham by Hafiz Ibn-e-
is developed with him which will Qayyem with the reference of
grow so strong by the Day of Masnad Imam Hanbal, p.31.
Judgement that he will intercede 12. Sunan Abu Daud, Abwabul
on our behalf. Therefore, we must Jumu'ah.
strive to develop a spiritual 13. Jila-ul-afham, p.70 with
relationship with the Holy reference to Ibn Shaheen.
Prophet(saw) 14. Sunan Abu Daud, Kitab al Salat,
Bab al Dua’a
15. Jami' Tirmidhi
16. Jila-ul-afham with reference of
REFERENCES
Ibn-al-Ghazi.
1. Bukhari Kitab-ul-Maghazi,
Chapter the Battle of Badr
2. Masnad-e-Ahmad, Volume 2,
page 254 Beirut.
3. As-Seeratun Nabawiyya. Ibn
Hisham. Vol.4 page 91, Beirut
and Majma-uz-zawahid. Vol.8,
p.172.
4. Sahih Bukhari, Kitab-ul-Tafseer
4460.
5. Abu Daud, Kitab-us-Salat,
Chapter Istighfar 1301.
6. Jamia Tirmidhi, Kitab-ul-
Dawaat 3379.
7. Jamia Tirmidhi, Kitabul Birru-

PUNISHMENT FOR
APOSTASY– Part 7
This is the seventh extract from the ‘Murder in the Name of Allah’ by Hadhrat
Mirza Tahir Ahmad, dealing with Jama’at Islami’s founder, Maulana
Maududi’s misinterpretation of the Islamic concept of Jihad.
In earlier chapters we have given orientalists for having initiated it.

numerous references from the They picked it up from the
Holy Qur’an and the history of Muslims: before the orientalists
Islam to expose the fallacy that were even born, the idea seems to
Islam prescribes any corporal have been present in medieval
punishment for those who Islamic thought. It originated in
renounce Islam as their faith. We the late Umayyad dynasty.
examined at length the most Throughout the Abbaside period,
common arguments presented by the idea continued to flourish and
the advocates of death for was further strengthened because
apostasy, namely the report of the Abbaside sovereigns wanted to
Ikramah and the incident of zakat use force not only against the
in Hadhrat Abu Bakr’s time. Some enemies of Islam but also against
other arguments are examined in their own people. A licence for
this chapter. this was not infrequently sought
from Muslim scholars under their
It is difficult to assess whether the influence. The concept has there-
concept of coercion in Islam had fore arisen from the conduct and
its birth on Islamic soil or was the policies of the post-Khilafat-i-
child of the orientalists' Rashida1 Muslim governments of
imagination and was later on Baghdad.
transferred to the lap of Islam.
Having examined this in the light Looking on from the outside,
of Islamic history, I honestly Western scholars believed that this
believe that the idea first took root was an Islamic teaching, but the
in the Islamic world itself and that fact was that it was not Islamic at
it is wrong of us to blame the all. It was the basis of the

PUNISHMENT FOR APOSTASY
behaviour of some Muslim certain era behaved, but in the

governments. We should light of the fundamental teachings
remember that the idea had its of the Holy Qur’an and the
birth in an age when all over the exposition of those teachings by
world the use of force for the the words of the Holy Prophet(saw)
spread of influence and ideology and by his conduct.
was a common feature and no
exception was taken to this. The tendency to judge teachings
by the conduct of their followers
It is clear that the allegation that has often misled people about the
Islam advocates the use of force original teachings. It is universally
for the spread of its ideology does observed that after a while all
not originate from a study of the religions lose their influence on
sources of Islamic teachings but the conduct of their adherents. For
from a study of the conduct of illustrations of this, study the
some Muslim states. Now that a behaviour of the Buddhists of
new era has dawned in which all today or of earlier eras, study the
the Islamic literature and traditions behaviour of the Hindu
are available to us and the Holy governments, and so on and so
Qur’an has been translated into so forth; it often has no relationship
many languages – when Western whatsoever with the original
scholars have direct access to the teachings. In particular, politics
sources of Islamic teachings – must not be confused with
their persistence in making the religion; political behaviour of a
allegation is unjustified. They nation should not be treated as a
should go to the sources and study mirror reflecting the teachings of
the teachings of the Holy Qur’an, the religion which its people are
the traditions and the conduct of supposed to follow.
the Holy Prophet, Muhammad(saw),
himself. It is against this background that
we examine the arguments
This work is an attempt to presented by the advocates of
examine the whole issue, not in death as a punishment for
the light of how Muslims of a apostasy.

Definition of an apostate The Holy Qur’an also states:

The Holy Qur’an states:
Surely, those who have turned
They will not stop fighting you away after guidance has been
until they turn you back from made manifest to them have
your faith, if they can. The been deceived by Satan who
works of those from among you has beguiled them with false
who turn back from their faith hopes.
and die in a state of disbelief (Ch.47: V.26)
shall be vain in this world and
the next. These are the inmates The Holy Qur’an says:
of the fire, therein shall they
abide. O ye who believe, whoso from
(Ch2: V.218) among you turns back from his
religion let him remember that
This means that whoever, out of in place of such a person,
fear of the sword (or pain of Allah will soon bring a people
punishment), decides to abjure whom He will love and who
Islam has a fundamental right to will love Him, who will be kind
do so but no one else has the right and considerate towards the
to declare him to be an apostate. believers and firm and
The right to declare himself to be unyielding towards the
an apostate lies only with him. disbelievers. They will strive
Nowhere in the Holy Qur’an has hard in the cause of Allah and
this right been granted to others. will not at all take to heart the
That is to say, one is free to reproaches of fault finders.
renounce one's own religion but That is Allah’s grace; He
has no right to impose bestows it upon whosoever He
renunciation of religion on others. pleases. Allah is the Lord of
According to Islamic teachings, an vast bounty, All-Knowing.
apostate, therefore, cannot be (Ch.5: V.55)
manufactured by religious
scholars or the clergy or any non- Whoso disbelieves in Allah
tolerant individual or government. after he has believed,

excepting the case of one who passages from the Holy Qur’an.
is forced to make a declaration
of disbelief while his heart Surah Al-Taubah
rests securely in faith, but one In a desperate search for at least
who opens his mind wide to one verse in the Holy Qur’an
disbelief; on him is Allah’s which might lend support for
wrath and he shall have a death as a punishment for
grievous punishment. apostasy, recourse has been made
(Ch.16: V.107) to verses 12 and 13 of Chapter 9
(Surah Al-Taubah). We quote
Those who believe, then below verses 3-14 of that chapter.
disbelieve, then again believe, These speak for themselves and
then disbelieve and thereafter defy all attempts on the part of
go on increasing in disbelief, anyone who would have them
Allah will never forgive them, understood differently:
nor guide them to any way of
deliverance. 3. This is a public proclamation on
(Ch.4: V.138) the part of Allah and His
Messenger on the day of the Great
Muhammad is but a Pilgrimage, that Allah is free of all
Messenger; of a surety, all obligation to the idolaters, and so
Messengers before him have is His Messenger. So now, having
passed away. If then, he dies or witnessed this Sign, if you will
be slain, will you turn back on repent and make peace, it will be
your heels? He who turns back better for you; but if you turn
on his heels shall not harm away, then know that you cannot
Allah a whit. Allah will frustrate Allah’s design. Warn the
certainly reward the grateful. disbelievers of a painful
(Ch.3: V.145) chastisement.
No corporal punishment can be 4. Excepting those of them with

understood to have been whom you have a pact and who
mentioned by any stretch of have not defaulted in any respect,
imagination in the foregoing nor supported anyone against you.

Carry out the obligations you have thereunder, you must carry out
assumed towards them till the end your obligations. Surely, Allah
of their terms. Surely, Allah loves loves those who are mindful of
those who are mindful of their their obligations.
obligations.
8. How can there be a guarantee
5. When the period of four months for the others who, if they were to
during which hostilities are prevail against you, would have no
suspended expires, without the regard for any tie of kinship or
idolaters having settled the terms pact in respect of you? They seek
of peace with you, resume fighting to please you with words, while
with them and kill them wherever their hearts repudiate them; most
you find them and make them of them are perfidious.
prisoners and beleaguer them, and
lie in wait for them at every place 9. They have bartered the Signs of
of ambush. Then if they repent and Allah for small gains and hindered
observe prayers and pay the zakat, people from His way. Evil indeed
leave them alone. Surely, Allah is is that which they have done.
Most Forgiving, Ever Merciful.
10. They show no regard for any
6. If anyone of the idolaters seeks tie of kinship or any pact in respect
asylum with thee, grant him of a believer. It is they who are the
asylum so that he may hear the transgressors.
Word of Allah; then convey him to
a place of security for him, for they 11. If they repent and observe
are a people who lack knowledge. prayer and pay the zakat, then
they are your brethren in faith. We
7. How could there be a guarantee expound our commandments for a
for the idolaters on the part of people who know.
Allah and His Messenger, except
in favour of those with whom you 12. But if they break faith after
entered into an express treaty at pledging it and ridicule your
the Sacred Mosque? So long as religion, then fight these leaders of
they carry out their obligations disbelief that they may desist, for

they have no regard for their remember that these verses refer to
pledged word. idolaters who have broken their
pledges and ridicule religion; there
13. Will you not fight a people who is no mention of people
have violated their oaths, who renouncing their faith. They have
plotted to turn out the Messenger broken their pledge after their firm
from his home, and who were the commitment to it. Those who have
first to start hostilities against become hostile to your religion are
you? Do you fear them? It is Allah the first to initiate hostilities
Who is Most Worthy that you against you. The permission for
should fear Him, if you are you to fight them is restricted to
believers. their leaders whose covenants are
worthless and false. The
14. Fight them: Allah will punish permission is given in order to
them at your hands, and will stop them from entering into
humiliate them, and will help you hostile acts against you.
to overcome them, and will relieve
the minds of the believers of fear This is the true meaning of these
and distress. verses which have been
misconstrued by the advocates of
Those who deduce from verses 12 capital punishment. There is not
and 13 that the punishment for even the remotest reference to
apostasy is death offer no people who renounce their faith
explanation of the contradiction being forced to become Muslims.
this creates with numerous other The same people are discussed in
verses. These verses relate to the another part of the Holy Qur’an:
period after the migration from
Makkah to Madinah (see verse 3) It may be that Allah will bring
when the Quraish of Makkah had about amity between you and
embarked upon hostilities to wipe those with whom you are at
out Islam by force. enmity. Allah has the power;
Allah is Most Forgiving, Ever
The advocates of capital punish- Merciful. Allah does not forbid
ment for apostasy should you to be kind and act

equitably towards those who Madinah. Theirs was a Jewish

have not fought you because of tactic to create doubt among the
your religion, and who have Muslims in the hope that some of
not driven you forth from your them might thereby by beguiled
homes. Surely Allah loves into repudiating Islam. How could
those who are equitable. Allah it be possible for the Jews to have
only forbids you that you make enacted this plan if death was a
friends with those who have penalty for apostasy? Had anyone
fought against you because of been executed for commiting this
your religion and have driven crime, that would have been a
you out of your homes and deterrent for others who would not
have aided others in driving follow in their footsteps.
you out. Whoso makes friends
with them, those are the The advocates of the death penalty
transgressors. urge that this verse merely refers
(Ch.60: Vs.8-10) to a Jewish philosophy which was
never put into practice by them.
Temporary disbelief Even if it was merely a
Another verse of the Holy Qur’an philosophy, this verse is
states: conclusive proof of there being no
punishment in this world for
A section of the people of the apostasy because the Jews could
Book urge some from among never have conceived the idea had
themselves: why not affirm, in there been such a punishment
the early part of the day, belief Moreover, it is wrong to say that
in that which has been the idea was a hypothetical case;
revealed unto the believers and the books of tradition mention that
repudiate it in the latter part of it was put into practice by twelve
the day, perchance they may Jewish divines of Khaibar and
turn away from their faith. Urainah.2
(Ch.3: V.73)
All commentaries agree that this
The people of the Book mentioned chapter of the Holy Qur’an was
in this verse are the Jews of revealed between the victory of

Makkah and the demise of the authority of Anas that the Holy
Holy Prophet(saw). This conclu- Prophet(saw) told the people of Akal
sively proves that the Jews put it or Uraynah to go and stay among
into practice after Islam became his she-camels outside Madinah.
firmly established in Arabia. How These people killed the keeper of
could the Jews ever think of such the camels and ran away with the
a suicidal and insane strategy if herd. Although it is true that these
death was prescribed as a people had become apostates, their
punishment for apostasy? How punishment was not a result of
could they encourage Muslims to their apostasy but of their murder
follow their faith by affirming it of the keeper of the she-camels.
during the day and repudiating it
at the end of the day if they knew b) Whereas Ibn Khatal, who was
that the Muslims would be without doubt one of the four
executed for changing their faith? executed on the fall of Makkah,
was an apostate, he had also
Traditions committed the crime of murdering
The advocates of capital his travelling companion. His
punishment for apostasy mis- execution was, therefore,
construe out of all proportion the obviously ordered as a result of his
traditions narrated about the Holy having been convicted as a
Prophet(saw). Traditions lend no murderer.
support to their thesis. On the
contrary, there are many traditions c) Another incident is that of
which clearly show that there is no Maqees b. Sababah who killed an
punishment for apostasy in this life. Ansar in revenge for Hisham, his
brother, who was accidentally
However, for the sake of killed during the campaign of
completeness, we set out those Zeeqard. Thereafter, Maqees
traditions which are most often became an apostate. He was
cited by advocates of capital executed on account of the murder
punishment for apostasy. of the Ansar.
a) Abu Qalabah reports on the In each one of the above incidents,

the executed person had can be departed from only

committed murder. The three when the object in view is to
people had also happened to restrain the person concerned
renounce their faith, but how can from continuing hostilities
anyone shut his eyes to the (during times of war). As
murders and attribute their women, by their very nature,
executions to their acts of are not capable of fighting, a
apostasy? woman apostate cannot be
punished in any case.’
d) The advocates of capital
punishment for apostasy rely Strangely enough, scholars like
heavily on a tradition which Maududi, who might be supposed
mentions the execution of a to be fully aware of serious flaws
woman for apostasy. This tradition in the reliability of these
is most unreliable, to say the least. traditions, still adhere to weak
The truth of the matter is that the traditions which have been
Holy Prophet(saw) never ordered the rejected by most eminent Muslim
execution of a woman on account scholars.
of her apostasy. The well-known
treatise of jurisprudence, e)The incident of Abdullah Bin
Hedayah, sets out the following: Sad has already been quoted in
part 6. Had there been any
‘The Holy Prophet(saw) Qur’anic penalty for apostasy, the
forbade the killing of women Holy Prophet’s(saw) words to the
for apostasy, because the effect that no one is above the law
principle of punitive would be a clear reminder of his
regulations is that in such strict observance of God’s laws. If
cases the penalty should be death was the punishment for
left for the hereafter, as a apostasy, how could the Holy
penalty imposed in this life Prophet(saw) disobey the
would contravene the purpose commandments of God?
of apostasy, being a trial
calling to account what Companions
pertains to God alone. This We have observed that neither the

Holy Qur’an nor any reliable to pay zakat, but also took up the
traditions of the Holy Prophet(saw) sword against the Muslims. Thus
lend any support to those who they rebelled against the Islamic
advocate capital punishment for state, slaughtered the Muslims
apostasy. But those advocates amongst them by burning some
have some other tricks up their alive and mutilated those they had
sleeves. It is necessary to examine killed3. Those who advocate
their remaining arguments at execution for apostasy on the
greater length. Those arguments authority of this incident are either
are based on the opinions of the ignorant of the facts or
Companions of the Holy deliberately seek to mislead
Prophet(saw), and not directly on his people by playing down the killing
own personal judgement. Let it be of innocent Muslims by the rebels.
known at the outset that
observations or opinions of b) The advocates then pose the
Companions(ra) can only be a question that if there was no
commentary; they have no right to punishment for apostasy, why was
be treated with as much respect as Musailmah the imposter not left
an injunction of the Holy Qur’an. alone? The truth is that Musailmah
At best they can only be regarded aspired to political power. He had
as an opinion. accompanied Abu Hanifa and
offered to the Holy Prophet(saw) his
a) The incident of the widespread submission subject to his being
apostasy in relation to the payment nominated as his successor. The
of zakat has been discussed [in Holy Prophet(saw) told Musailmah
part 6, see The Review of that he would not yield him even a
Religions, May 2006]. The Abs twig of a date palm tree.
and the Zubyan were the tribes Musailmah returned and claimed
which initiated hostilities by that half of Arabia belonged to
attacking Madinah. Hadhrat Abu him. He sent a letter to the Holy
Bakr(ra) fought them before the Prophet(saw) in which he claimed: ‘I
return of Osama from his have been appointed your partner
expedition. The apostates were the in authority.’ The Holy Prophet(saw)
aggressors. They not only refused responded by quoting to him verse

129 of chapter 7 of the Holy Prophet’s(saw) first successor,

Qur’an.4 After Musailmah’s claim Hadhrat Abu Bakr(ra), would have
of prophethood, he captured ignored it and not sent an
Habeeb b. Zaid, a Companion of expedition in compliance with the
the Holy Prophet(saw), dismem- wish of the Holy Prophet(saw). Why
bered him limb from limb, and did Hadhrat Abu Bakr(ra) wait until
then burned his remains. The the time when Musailmah himself
advocates of capital punishment took the offensive and openly
ignore this gruesome murder and rebelled against the Muslims? We
claim that apostasy was the only find that Musailmah mustered a
crime attributable to Musailmah. force of 40,000 warriors of Banu
Had he not commited murder, Hanifa alone when he fought
would he have been killed for the Khalid b. Walid. Musailmah
crime of apostasy alone? Was he initiated hostilities and moved
not brought to justice for the against Madinah. It was only then
murder and for the mayhem and that Hadhrat Abu Bakr(ra) gave
disorder which he created in the orders to march against him on
land? There is not the slightest account of his rebellion and his
shred of evidence that having heard gruesome murder of Habeeb bin
of Musailmah's rejection of his Zaid.5
prophethood, the Holy Prophet(saw)
condemned Musailmah to death or c) Another incident cited is that of
exhorted any of his Companions to Tulaiha, another pretender to
kill him. Having failed to find prophethood. Again, he was not
evidence of any specific just a pretender but had murdered
condemnation by the Holy Ukasha b. Mohsin and Thabit b.
Prophet(saw), Maulana Maududi had Aqram Ansari. Before Khalid b.
to seek recourse in a wish which Walid commenced battle with him,
the Holy Prophet(saw) is said to have he sent an emissary to Tulaiha to
expressed during his dying agree peace terms and avoid
moments, that Musailmah should bloodshed. The advocates of
be done away with. Had there been capital punishment overlook the
such a wish, it is impossible for us fact that if there had been capital
to believe that the Holy punishment for apostasy, there

was no point in sending an that all these people had not

emissary offering forgiveness to recanted their faith but had merely
Tulaiha.6 rebelled against the Muslim state.
The state would have had to take
d) A similar case is that of Aswad the step of quelling the rebellion;
Anasi who raised the standard of for the crime of creating disorder
rebellion with his apostasy. He in the land, the Holy Qur’an
killed the Muslim governor of prescribes capital punishment.
Yemen, Shahr b. Bazan, forcibly That punishment is not for
married his widow and made apostasy.
himself ruler of Yemen. When the
Holy Prophet(saw) learned of his f) The advocates of capital
rebellion, he sent a letter to Muadh punishment for apostacy cite also
b. Jabal and the Muslims to the case of Umm Qarfah, a woman
oppose Aswad Anasi, who was who became an apostate during
subsequently killed in a skirmish the time of Hadhrat Abu Bakr(ra).
with the Muslims. (News of his She had thirty sons whom she
death arrived one day after the constantly exhorted to fight the
demise of the Holy Prophet(saw))7 Muslims. She paid the price for
her treason and for her complicity
e) Similarly, Laqbeet b. Malik in murder, not on account of her
Azdi became an apostate and apostasy.9
claimed to be a prophet. He
expelled Jafar and Abad who had g) The case of Hadhrat Ali(ra)
been appointed as functionaries in fighting the Khawarij is often
Oman.8 He, like all these claimants cited. The Khawarij created
to prophethood, had no concern disorder in the land, killed Muslim
with religion. He had his own men and women, the governor
political axe to grind. His search appointed by Hadhrat Ali(ra), his
for political domination was female slave, and also Ali’s
through open rebellion against the emissary.10 (This incident has been
Islamic state he lived in, so the discussed on p.70.)
question of apostasy is irrelevant
here. Let us suppose for a moment h) Reference needs to be made to

the appointments of Muadh b. (This principle is elaborated

Jabal and Abu Musa Ashari, each subsequently in this chapter.)
as governor of a part of Yemen. As
they were about to leave, the Holy
Prophet(saw) instructed them: References
‘Make things easy for people and 1. The term used for the first four
do not put them into difficulty. caliphs (successors) after the
Talk to them cheerfully and not in death of the Holy Prophet(saw),
a manner that might repel them’. namely Hadhrat Abu Bakr(ra),
One day Muadh came to meet Abu Umar(ra), Uthman(ra), and Ali(ra).
Musa Ashari and noticed a person (Their rule lasted from AD632
sitting there who had been secured to 661).
with a rope. When Muadh
enquired about this he was told 2. Commentary: Bahral Muheet,
that that person was a Jew who vol. II, 493.
had become a Muslim and then
became an apostate. The narrator 3. Tabari, vol.IV, 1873; Ibn
adds that for the past two to three Khaldun, vol. II, 65; Khamees,
months the Muslims had reasoned vol.II, 237 etc
with him in order to persuade him
to become a Muslim but to no 4. Tabari, vol. IV, 1849.
avail. Muadh declared that he
would not dismount until the 5. Khamees, vol. II, 641.
person had been executed and
observed that this was the 6. Ibn Hijr Al-Asqalani, Al-Isaba
judgement of God and His fi Tamyiz-is-Suhaba (Beirut:
Messenger. This last remark Darul Kitab Al-Arabi), vol.2,
indicates no more than his 448; Al Imam-Allama Ibn ul-
personal opinion of what he Athir, Usudul Ghaba fi
understood to be the Will of God Ma'rifat-is-Sahaba (Beirut:
and His prophet. Such opinions Dar Ahyaultarath Al-Arabi),
carry no weight in law unless they vol.4,3.
are completely substantiated by
references which verify the claim. 7. Ibn Al-Athir Al-Jazri, Alkamil

fil Tarikh (Beirut: Darul Kutb vol.III, 614; Sheikh Ibn

Al-Almiya), vol.2, 201-5. Taimiyyah, Minhajus
Sunnah, vol.II, 61-2; Tarikh-
8. Tabari, vol.IV, 1977. al Kamil, vol.III, 148.
9. Masboot, vol.x, 110.
10. Fath Al-Bari, vol.XII, 267;

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CONTENTS June 2006, Vol.101, No.

Promised Messiah(as) – First Interview with Professor Wragge . . . . . . . . . 4

Poverty and Human Rights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

The Messiah Has Come – Testimony of The Holy Bible . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

The Holy Prophet(saw) as ‘Abd Shakur’ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

Punishment for Apostasy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

Basit Ahmad Chief Editor and Manager: Mansoor Ahmed Shah

Fauzia Bajwa Mr Naseer Ahmad Qamar Proofreaders: Al Shirkatul Islamiyyah

2 The Review of Religions – June 2006

then living in the outbacks that the answers that were so

References to the Holy Qur’an item count ‘Bismillah...’ (In the

In this journal, for the ease of non-Muslim readers, ‘(saw)’ or ‘saw’

In keeping with current universal practice, local transliterations are

The Review of Religions – June 2006 3

Professor Wragge Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam

4 The Review of Religions – June 2006

the means of physical nourish- incline towards idol worship. God

The Review of Religions – June 2006 5

has created the physical system argument in favour of the

most, if someone was of a just

The Review of Religions – June 2006 7

8 The Review of Religions – June 2006

Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam God Almighty is greater than all

The Review of Religions – June 2006 9

10 The Review of Religions – June 2006

is called ‘malak’ or ‘angel’ and indulging in sin, that is a good and

The Review of Religions – June 2006 11

always forced to do good, and he Sorrow and joy, discomfort and

12 The Review of Religions – June 2006

He, indeed, prospers who To turn to your question that if

He who denies the existence of

The Review of Religions – June 2006 13

By Maulana Ataul Mujeeb Rashed – Imam of the London Mosque

Throughout recorded history, essential for the progress of

14 The Review of Religions – June 2006

guaranteed full freedom or that all considered on political or

The Review of Religions – June 2006 15

cultural freedom of Muslims in variety bestows a unique beauty

16 The Review of Religions – June 2006

Assembly have rightly pointed out to be preferred to a non-

The Review of Religions – June 2006 17

18 The Review of Religions – June 2006

Principles of Human Rights as the focal point of the universe. A

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economic and political rights and There should be no compulsion

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On the occasion of his last

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Today, I will be discussing how matrimony, as they also believed

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Christianity, Joseph Wolfe predicted including very specific events,

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from heaven. Fortunately for us, henceforth till ye say “Blessed

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banishment of the Jews from Messianic hopes. This process

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The Book of Matthew directs us to vision and prophecy, and to

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brings us to 1843. We can readily were opened to commerce and

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The stupendous endeavours of France in 1815. The war of 1818

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