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hen protestors in Syria took up demonstrations for the resignation of their ruler a couple of years ago, it seemed like yet another Middle Eastern protest as part of the wider ‘Arab Spring’ movement. To our disbelief, this conflict is now dangerously hurricaning into the brinks of a world war with unstoppable force. Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaba has been warning major world leaders of the fast approaching dangers of a world crisis. Huzur’saba personal message and guidance to these world leaders can be read in his new book ‘World Crisis and the Pathway to Peace.’ A brief introduction of this book can be found in this issue of Maryam Magazine. In his Friday Sermon of the 13th September 2013, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaba, expressing great pain and sorrow for the destruction of lives and properties that has been caused by this war, urged Ahmadis across the globe to warn the rulers of their own countries of the approaching ‘Calamity of Damascus’ that was prophecised by the Promised Messiahas and to use their power of prayers to save the world from the devastation of a third world war. It is this deep emotion of the Khalifa-e-Waqt and our connection with him that makes us feel the pain of those suffering in this crisis. The basic principles of humanity require us to help those suffering and pray for the restoration of world peace through the power of our prayers. Now is the time for us to bow down in prostration for our fellow Muslim brothers and sisters who are caught in the eye of this storm and pray for the acceptance of our prayers. There is a relationship between the acceptance of prayers and the attributes of Allah, as it is stated in the Holy Qur’an: “And to Allah alone belong all perfect attributes. So call on Him by these.” (Surah Al-A’raf, V.181). In this Issue, you will find just a few of the glorious attributes of Allah from the Waqf-e-Nau syllabus, which we hope will help adorn your prayers.
EDITOR Munazza Khan EDITORIAL BOARD Hibba-Tul Mussawir Hina Rehman Maleeha Mansur Meliha Hayat Ramsha Hassan Salma Manahil Tahir MANAGER Zanubia Ahmad ASSISTANT MANAGER Dure Jamal Mala COVER DESIGN ƟLJLJĂ tĂƐĞĞ PAGE DESIGN Soumbal Qureshi Nabila Sosan ARABIC TYPING ^ĂĮŶĂ EĂďĞĞů DĂŚĂŵ PRINTED BY Raqeem Press, Tilford UK
Munazza Khan Do you ou have ave aany comments, suggestions or want your article featured in our next edition?
Email us at: waqfenaumagazine@gmail.com or send us your Tweets:
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Contents OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2013 | ISSUE 8
Contributions from your fellow
Regulars
3
Waaqifaat-e-Nau Readers
Divine Commandments
10
5
Hadith
8
Writings of the Promised Messiahas
Physical Benefits of Salat Fezia Maqsood
19
Report: Waqfe Arzi in Sierra Leone Mufleha Saleem Ahmad
13
Life and Character of the Seal of the Prophetssaw
18
Ahadith and Attributes of Allah From the Waqf-e-Nau Syllabus
22
Muhammadsaw in the Bible
26
Class Waaqifaat-e-Nau, Norway With Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaba
31
Tarbiyyat Page
33
Focus: Welcome to Ahmadiyyat, The True Islam
37
Learning Arabic - Lesson 7
39
Kids Spread - Test your knowledge on Tehrik-e-Jadid
41
Islam and Evolution via Natural Selection Ayesha Satwat Ahmad
45
A Carriage of Emotions An Approach to Heaven - Part Four Ghazala Abbasi
50
Seven Eras of Light and Darkness Naveed-ul-Fatah Dogar
DIVINE COMMANDMENTS
Spending in the way of Allah To spend in the way of Allah in prosperity and adversity
Translation: Those who spend in prosperity and adversity, and those who suppress anger and pardon men; and Allah loves those who do good. (Surah Aal-e-’Imran: V.135) To spend secretly and openly
Translation: Say to my servants who have believed, that they should observe prayer and spend out of what We have given them, secretly and openly, before there comes a day wherein there will be neither bargaining nor friendship. (Surah Ibrahim: V.32)
To give what is best
Translation: And lend to Allah a goodly loan. And whatever good you send on before you for your souls, you ZLOO ÀQG LW ZLWK $OODK ,W ZLOO EH EHWWHU DQG JUHDWHU LQ UHZDUG (Surah Al-Muzzammil: V.21) Maryam
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OCT-DEC 2013
DIVINE COMMANDMENTS
Righteousness cannot be achieved unless you spend out of that which you love
Translation: Never shall you attain to righteousness unless you spend out of that which you love. (Surah Aal-e-’Imran: V.93)
Not to spend out of bad things which you would not take yourself
Translation: O ye who believe! spend of the good things you have earned and of what We produce for you from earth; and seek not what is bad to spend out of it when you would not take it yourselves except that you connive at it. (Surah Al-Baqarah: V.268)
Prohibition to waste alms by taunting or by injury
Translation: O ye who believe! Render not vain your alms by taunt and injury, like him who spends his wealth to be seen of men, and he believes not in Allah and the Last Day. (Surah Al-Baqarah: V.265)
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HADITH
A Saying of the Holy Prophet (May Peace and Blessings of Allah Ta’ala be Upon Him)
The upper hand is better than the lower hand
ĂŠ ĂŠ Ăˆ Ć…ÂŚ Č„Ä‹Ç´Ç? ȆÄ? ÊƌċǟdzŒ ÇşÇ&#x;Ăˆ ÉǞ ÇźĂŒ Ç&#x; ĂŠ ÇşÇ&#x;Ăˆ ĂŠ ¿ŒÇ DŽơ Ć˘ĂˆČˆĂŒÇ´Ă‰Ç ĂŒÇłÂŚ ƞÉ ĂˆČˆĂŒÇłÂŚ :žƢ Ăˆ ĂˆÇŤ ÇśĂˆ Ä‹Ç´Ç‡Ăˆ Ă‚ Ăˆ É ĂŒ Ăˆ ÉƅŒ Č†Ăˆ Ǔ° Ăˆ ĂŒ Ăˆ ÇžČˆĂŒĂˆÇ´Ç&#x; Ăˆ Ăˆ ǺÊ ĂŒĆĽ ÇśČˆĂŠ ǰơ ĂŠ Ç‚ĂŠ Č€ĂˆÇ› ÇşÇ&#x; ƨÊ ĂˆÇŤĆžĂˆ Ç? ÇşĂŒ ÇˇĂˆĂ‚Ăˆ Â?ȄÅǟǣ É Ă‰Ç ÂşĂˆĆŤ ÇşĂŒ Ç¸Ăˆ ĂŠĆĽ ĂŒÂ˘ĆžĂˆ ĂŒĆĽÂŚĂ‚Ăˆ Â?Č„ĂˆÇ´Ç¨ĂŒ Lj Ä‹ dzŒ ǂÉ ÂşČˆĂŒ ĆťĂˆ Ă‚Ăˆ Â?žȂ ÄŒ dzŒ ƞÊ ĂˆČˆĂŒÇłÂŚ ÇşĂŒ ǡ ĂŠ ǂÆ ÂşČˆĂŒ ĆťĂˆ ĂŒ ĂŒĂˆ ĂŠ ĂŒ ǨÊ Ç ĂŒ ÂşĂˆĆŹÇˆČ‡ .ÉƅŒ ǞÊ ĂŠÇźÇ¤ĂŒ ºÉȇ ǺÊ Ç¤ĂŒ ÂşĂˆĆŹÇˆĂŒ ĂˆČ‡ ÇşĂŒ ÇˇĂˆĂ‚ ĂŒĂˆ Ăˆ ÉƅŒ ÉǞǨċ Ç Ă‰Č‡ ÇŚ (¨ƢǯDŽdzŒ §ƢƏǯ Â?Ä°ƢƟƌdzŒ ĆśČˆĆ¸Ç?) TRANSLATION: Hazrat Hakim bin Hizamra relates that the Holy Prophetsaw said: The upper hand is better than the lower hand; and begin with your dependants; and the best charity is out of surplus; and he who desires to abstain from asking will be shielded by Allah; DQG KH ZKR VHHNV VHOI VXIĂ€FLHQF\ ZLOO EH PDGH VHOI VXIĂ€FLHQW E\ $OODK (Sahih Bukhari Vol. 3, Kitab ul Zakat, Hadith No. 1427, p.50. English translation taken from The Gardens of the Righteous, Hadith No. 298, p.70) EXPLANATORY NOTES: The upper hand (of the donor) is better than the lower hand (of the receiver): Of all the possible ills arising out of poverty and destitution, mendicancy and lowspiritedness, and the habit of depending for livelihood on others, are the worst which JHQHUDOO\ WDNH KROG RI WKH SRRU :KHQ D GHVWLWXWH SHUVRQ VHHV WKH ULFK OLYLQJ LQ DIĂ XHQFH
5
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HADITH
he falls prey, on the one hand, to lowspiritedness and to inferiority complex and, on the other, he falls into the habit of begging doles of the rich, to improve his own circumstances. Our /RUG SHDFH DQG EOHVVLQJV RI $OOœK EH on him), through his far-sightedness, apprehended this possible danger and his soul would not feel at rest until he had provided against this threat. His commands, accordingly, are replete with observations that show his abhorrence of begging, and bid the poor to work for their living and forbid WKHP WR EHJ ,Q DQRWKHU +DGūWK WKH +RO\ 3URSKHW SHDFH RI $OOœK EH RQ KLP and His blessings) says that while it is the duty of the rich to help their poor brethren, the poor should, however, refrain from begging and behave with dignity. In order to create among them a feeling of self-respect, he observes ‘the upper hand (i.e., the hand of the donor) is better than the lower hand (the hand of the receiver).’ In this brief sentence, he has in fact infused such a strong spirit of self-respect and dignity which should take quite a few volumes to explain in detail. The holy body of his companions accorded this observation of the Holy 3URSKHW SHDFH DQG EOHVVLQJV RI $OOœK be on him) the utmost respect. In this FRQQHFWLRQ +D]UDW +DNūP ELQ +L]œP $OOœK EH SOHDVHG ZLWK KLP VD\V WKDW since after this command of the Holy 3URSKHW SHDFH DQG EOHVVLQJV RI $OOœK be on him), he never accepted help IURP DQ\ERG\ +H ZDV DVVLJQHG D À[HG VWLSHQG E\ WKH .KDOūIDK EXW KH DOZD\V turned it down on the ground that he would not let down his hand that the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be
Maryam OCT-DEC 2013
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on him) had commanded to be kept up. +D]UDW ¶$Oū $OOœK EH SOHDVHG ZLWK KLP a cousin of the Holy Prophet (peace DQG EOHVVLQJV RI $OOœK EH RQ KLP DQG DOVR KLV VRQ LQ ODZ DQG IRXUWK .KDOūIDK RI ,VOœP DIWHU WKH +RO\ 3URSKHW SHDFH DQG EOHVVLQJV RI $OOœK EH RQ KLP came of a highly respectable family of the Quraish tribe. After migration to Medina, he would take an axe, go to WKH MXQJOH FXW ÀUHZRRG DQG VHOO LW LQ the market to make a living but would QRW DVN KHOS RI DQ\ERG\ +D]UDW $Eƈ +XUDLUDK $OOœK EH SOHDVHG ZLWK KLP a well-known companion of the Holy 3URSKHW SHDFH DQG EOHVVLQJV RI $OOœK be on him) had to go without food, many times, for days, but would never beg of anybody. Once when he was prostrate with hunger, he asked Hazrat $Eƈ %DNU $OOœK EH SOHDVHG ZLWK KLP DQG ODWHU DOVR +D]UDW ¶8PDU $OOœK be pleased with him) the meaning of D 4XU·œQLF YHUVH ZKLFK UHODWHG WR WKH command about feeding the hungry. %XW ERWK +D]UDW $Eƈ %DNU DQG +D]UDW ‘Umar $OOœK EH SOHDVHG ZLWK WKHP GLG QRW catch his hint and after explaining its XVXDO PHDQLQJ ZHQW DZD\ %\ FKDQFH WKH +RO\ 3URSKHW SHDFH RI $OOœK EH RQ him and His blessings) happened to KHDU WKLV FRQYHUVDWLRQ +H FDOOHG $Eƈ +XUDLUDK $OOœK EH SOHDVHG ZLWK KLP very affectionately, said that it seemed he was hungry and asked him to come over to him. Then he gave him some milk to drink. There is yet another incident of a still superior type; it relates to another prominent companion whose whip fell down while he was going on horseback. There went along with him some persons on foot. He did
HADITH
not request anyone for help but dismounting picked up the whip. When a companion asked him why he did not tell them to hand it back to him, adding that they could have readily obliged him, he replied back that the 3URSKHW RI $OOﾅ適 SHDFH RI $OOﾅ適 EH RQ him and His blessings) forbade them to seek charity and that if he had asked them to pick up his whip for him, it would have been very near to begging. In short, the companions of the Holy 3URSKHW SHDFH RI $OOﾅ適 EH RQ KLP DQG His blessings) set, by their conduct, such examples in self-reliance, contentedness and dignity, that history
has no parallel to offer. And it is the distinct greatness of the teachings of WKH +RO\ 3URSKHW SHDFH RI $OOﾅ適 EH on him and His blessings) that, on the one hand, he directed the wealthy not to turn down a request for help and, on the other, commanded the poor to seek an honorable living and abstain from begging. The two commands are, apparently, contradictions in terms but the truth is that in their reconciliation with one another lies the basis of a true brotherhood of the rich and the poor. (Forty Gems of Beauty, By Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmadra, pp. 155-157)
Masjid-e-Nabawi, Medina
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WRITINGS OF THE PROMISED MESSIAHAS
Arabic
The mother of tongues
EXTRACTS TAKEN FROM THE WRITINGS OF THE PROMISED MESSIAHAS EXTRACTS TAKEN FROM THE WRITINGS OF THE PROMISED MESSIAHAS, HAZRAT MIRZA GHULAM AHMAD OF QADIAN
aRABIC, THE MOTHER OF TONGUES It is not true to say that language is the invention of man. Research has established that the inventor and the creator of human languages is God Almighty, Who created man out of His perfect power and bestowed upon him a tongue that he may be able to speak. Had language been the invention of man, it would not have been necessary to teach a baby to talk. It would have invented its own speech, as it grew mature. But it is patent that if a child is not taught speech, it will not be able to speak. Whether it is nurtured in a Greek forest or in the British Isles or at the equator, he has to be instructed in the art of speaking, and in the absence of such instruction he would not be able to speak. (Brahin-e-Ahmadiyya, Ruhani Khaza’in, Vol. 1, pp. 358-368, Essence of Islam, Vol. II, p.1) Are languages the invention of man? The objection as to why God did not content Himself with the creation of just one language, UHVXOWV IURP ODFN RI UHÁHFWLRQ ,I D ZLVH SHUVRQ were to observe the diversity of modes and temperaments of people of different countries, he would be convinced that one language would not have suited all of them. The people Maryam OCT-DEC 2013
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of some countries can easily pronounce certain letters and words, but for the people of some other countries the pronouncing of those letters and words would be a great hardship. How was it then possible that the All-Wise One, loving only one language, should have ignored the principle of: ؟όοϮϣ ̶ϓ Ίθϟ ϊοϭ a n d should have abandoned that which would have been appropriate for the diversity of temperaments. Would it have been proper WKDW +H VKRXOG KDYH FRQÀQHG SHRSOH RI different temperaments in the narrow cage of one language? Moreover, the creation of a diversity of languages would have been proof of the multiple power of God Almighty. The praise of God offered by His humble creatures in a variety of languages is in itself a most attractive spectacle. (Brahin-e-Ahmadiyya, Ruhani Khaza’in, Vol. 1, pp.453-456, Essence of Islam, Vol. II, pp.3-4) Announcement for the Book Minan-ur-Rahman In this book it has been established as the result of research that the Holy Qur’an is the only revealed book which has come down in the language which is the mother of tongues, which has been revealed by God, and is the source and fountainhead of all other languages. It is
WRITINGS OF THE PROMISED MESSIAHAS patent that the whole beauty and superiority of a Divine book consists in its being in a language that has proceeded from the mouth of God Almighty and possesses higher qualities than other languages, and is perfect in its pattern. :KHQ ZH ÀQG VXFK TXDOLWLHV LQ D ODQJXDJH WKDW are superhuman and beyond human skill, and of which all other languages are bereft, and we discover in it such properties as cannot be invented by any human intellect and proceed only from God’s true and eternal knowledge, we are compelled to confess that such a language has proceeded from God Almighty. Our perfect and deep research has revealed that Arabic is that language. (Dia-ul-Haq, Ruhani Khaza’in, Vol. 9, p.250 and p.320, Essence of Islam, Vol. II, pp.4-5) Why Arabic is Superior to Other Languages?
Characteristics of the Holy Qur’an One of its grand characteristics is that it sets forth its claims with respect to its guidance and its excellent qualities and itself furnishes the proof of those claims. This grand characteristic is not possessed by any other book. Out of the reasons and proofs that it has set forth in support of its Divine origin and its high-grade superiority, one great proof is that for detailed exposition of which we have compiled this book. It is a product of the holy spring of the mother of tongues, whose water shines like the stars, slakes the thirst of those who are thirsty for comprehension, and washes out the dirt of doubt and suspicion. No previous book has set forth this proof in support of its truth. (Minan-ur-Rahman, Ruhani Khaza’in, Vol. 9, pp. 128-129, Essence of Islam Vol. II, p. 6) Special Characteristics of Arabic
In contrast with Arabic words, the words of other languages appear lame, maimed, blind, deaf and leprous, and entirely bereft of a natural pattern. The vocabulary of those languages is not rich in roots, which is a necessary characteristic of a perfect language.... If any Arya or other challenger of ours is not convinced by our research, we wish to inform him by means of this announcement that we have set out in this book, in detail, the reasons in support of the superiority, perfection and excellence of Arabic which fall under the following headings: (1) The perfect pattern of the roots of Arabic words. (2) Arabic possesses an extraordinarily high degree of intellectual connotations. (3) The system of elementary words in Arabic is most complete and perfect. (4) In Arabic idiom, a few words convey extensive meanings. (5) Arabic has the full capacity for the exposition of all human feelings and thoughts. Now everyone is at liberty after the publication of our book to try, if possible, to prove these qualities in Sanskrit or any other language. (Dia-ul-Haq, Ruhani Khaza’in, Vol. 9, pp.320-321, Essence of Islam Vol. II, pp. 5-6)
7KHUH DUH ÀYH VSHFLDO FKDUDFWHULVWLFV RI $UDELF which prove conclusively that Arabic is a revealed language, which we shall expound in detail in their proper places. These are: First Characteristic: Arabic has a perfect pattern of roots, which is suited to human needs. Other languages lack this pattern. Second Characteristic: The names of God, and of heavenly bodies, vegetables, animals, solids, and human limbs in Arabic comprise great wisdom. Other languages cannot compete with Arabic in this respect. Third Characteristic: The Arabic system of elementary words is perfect, and comprises all nouns and verbs of the same roots, and illustrates their mutual relationship by arranging them in a wise pattern. This characteristic is not found in other languages in the same perfect degree. Fourth Characteristic: In Arabic idiom a few words comprise extensive meanings. Arabic conveys extensive connotations through the XVH RI WKH GHÀQLWH DUWLFOH DQG YRZHO SRLQWV DQG sequence, for which purpose other languages have to employ several phrases and sentences. Fifth Characteristic: Arabic possesses such roots and idioms as furnish a perfect means for the expression of the most subtle of human thoughts DQG UHà HFWLRQV (Minan-ur-Rahman, Ruhani Khaza’in, Vol. 9, pp. 137-138. Essence of Islam, Vol. II, pp. 11-12)
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Physical
%HQHÀWV of
VDODW
“ Verily, there is a cure in Salat” (By Fezia Maqsood)
S
alat (Muslim Pr Prayer) - one of the five Pillars of Islam - has both spiritual and medical benefit benefits. As Muslims, we offer Salat to fulfil the purpose of our lives;
to seek the pleasure of Allah the Rewarding. Allah commands us to pray in the Holy Qur’an: ‘Verily, Prayer is enjoined on the believers (to be performed) at fixed hours’ (Surah Al-Nisa Al-Nisa: V.104). The Holy Prophet Muhammadsaw once asked: “If one of you had a stream flowing by your door and you take bath in it five times a day, would any dirt be left le on you?” They replied; ‘No dirt would be left on such person.’ The Holy Prophettsaww ssaid; “This is the case with Salat. Allah makes Salat wipe out your
sins,” (Bukhari). This is the importance of Salat and Allah, surely, has put benefits in it. Salat is a cure for spiritual and physical afflictions. However, it not only is a cure, but is also a prevention from evil and health related issues. The Holy Qur’an also explains the benefits of Salat beautifully in Surah Al`Ankabut, Verse 46: ‘Surely, Prayer restrains one from indecency.’ It has been reported that The Holy Prophetsaw said: Inna fis-salaati shifa’a - Verily, there is a cure in Salat. All this p proves that Salat,, surely, y, is a cure and p prevention from spiritual p
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affliction, as well as from physical sufferings.
However, we need to remember, that we do not
From looking at this Hadith, we can see that science has
prostrate for discharging these harmful electromagnetic
already found Salat as a cure and prevention from diseases
charges, but we do this to please Allah! Everything He
and health issues, by non-Muslim and Muslim scientists,
has commanded us to do is for our benefit. The Promised
researchers and doctors. Some benefits of Salat are as
Messiahas said: ‘Salat is nothing but presenting oneself before
follows:
God Almighty, and it is a combination of praising God and an
1) Regular movement reduces Cholesterol. Cholesterol is a
attempt at the expiration of one’s sins. One who does not keep
substance produced by the liver, which is found in certain
these objectives in view, derives no benefit from Salat. When
foods which contain fat. It can cause heart failures, strokes,
you go down in prostration, your manner must be that of a
diabetes and some other health issues. Therefore, regular
man who is inspired by fear of God. And pray a lot, for your
exercise is said to help lower it.
spiritual as well as material uplift.’ (Al-Hakim 31st May 1903)
2) By doing the Takbeer at the beginning of the Salat, the
From this saying of the Promised Messiahas, we can see that
movement of the hand and shoulder muscles increases the
performing Salat in the correct possible manner will uplift
blood flow towards the torso (the trunk of the human body).
us spiritually and we need to pray for our spiritual and
3) The exercise in Salat is an excellent form of prevention
physical status. Furthermore, in another Hadith narrated
from indigestion. We offer Salat in the morning, when the
by Anas bin Malikra, the Holy Prophetsaw advised Muslims to
stomach is empty, and in the evening after we have eaten,
perform Ruku (bowing) and Sajdah properly.
which consists of a number of Rak’ats.
P
rostration in Christianity:
P
rostration (Sajdah):
The Roman Catholic and Anglican Churches have
‘Truly, those who are near to thy Lord, turn not away with
specific prostration facilities in them. The prostration is
pride from His worship, but they glorify Him and prostrate
always performed before God, and in the case of holy
themselves before Him.’ (Surah Al-A`raf : V.207)
orders, profession or consecration, the candidates prostrate
The most important function in Salat is Sajdah, where
themselves in front of the altar which is a symbol of Christ.
we touch the ground with our forehead. It is the part of
Oriental Orthodox Christians also prostrate during daily
Salat where one is the closest to our Creator. This posture
prayers. Syrian Orthodox Christians should prostrate
increases fresh supply of blood to our brain.
during all daily prayers. Orthodox Christian will also make
A non-Muslim scientist from Europe researched this topic
prostrations in front of people such as; the bishop, one’s
and he concluded that the best way to reduce the harmful
spiritual father or one another when asking forgiveness.
electromagnetic charges, which our bodies get from use of
Those who are physically unable to make full prostrations
technologies, is by putting your forehead on the ground
may instead substitute ‘metanias’ (bows at the waist). ‘And
more than once. The amazing point about this research is
all the angels were standing around the throne and around
that, as Mecca (The Holy City) is located right at the centre of
the elders and the four living creatures; and they fell on their
the earth, it is even more effective in reducing these harmful
faces before the throne and worshiped God.’ (Revelation, 7:11)
electromagnetic charges. Even more extraordinarily, the
Similar to Islam, prostration is a command in both our Holy
Ka’abah is scientifically proven to be the exact centre point
Books. However, in Islam, prostration is only performed in
of the earth! This all proves that the location is also right for
the direction towards Allah, whereas in Christianity, it is also
prostration as Hajj, another Pillar of Islam that is performed
performed in the direction of people and figures.
in the direction of the Ka’abah towards which we prostrate.
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rostration in Judaism:
P
and the unchanging word of God,
prostration prove that there is
The writings of Gaonim (spiritual
so by prostrating they present their
indeed divine guidance behind
leaders of the Jewish community)
head to their Guru. This is similar to
this action. Praying as prescribed
indicate
was
the ancient Roman practice of sortes
in Islam has the ultimate benefit
Jewish
sanctorum, a form of foretelling the
for mankind, due to the repeated
point
future. Even in Christianity, Judaism,
movement of lowering one’s head
during the Middle Ages. Members
Buddhism and some other faiths,
to the ground, which, as well having
of the Karaite denomination in
prostration is used to thank their
health benefits, also has a humbling
Judaism practice full prostrations
Creator, which shows that Allah has
effect to man’s soul. Therefore, as
during
Jews
originally made all religions and
Muslims, when we offer our prayers,
traditionally prostrated during a
faiths for its people’s best interests.
we should thank Allah Almighty for
holiday specific to their community
The Ka’abah being the Holy Mosque
bestowing the perfect guidance
known as ‘Sigd’. ‘Sigd’ comes from a
for Muslims situated at the centre
to mankind and for enabling us to
root word meaning prostration in
of the earth and it being beneficial,
offer these beneficial physical and
Arabic! According to the Talmud, a
really proves that Islam is the living
person of holiness is discouraged
true religion.
obligatory prayers. _____________________________
from kneeling in his prayers unless
Sikhism is reserved for Guru Granth
he is sure that his prayers will be
Sahib, as prostration is considered
answered.
to be the ultimate act of physical
Similar to Islam, the prostration part
humility and veneration.
of the prayer is considered to be the
Similarly,
part in which you should pray the
considered to be the most important
most and communicate with God.
part of physical prayer.
very
that
prostration
common
communities
among
until
prayers.
some
Ethiopian
in
Full prostration in
Islam
References: 1. Zakariyya Virk, The Ahmadiyya Gazette, August 1993 2. Dr. Muhammad Karim Beebani,
Sajdah
is
It is evident that the majority of rostration in Sikhism:
P
religions enjoin some form of
Sikhs prostrate in front of Guru
physical prayer, with prostration
Granth Sahib, the holy scripture
playing an important role in most
of the Sikhs. Sikhs consider Guru
acts of worship. The unlimited
Granth Sahib as their living Guru
physical and spiritual benefits of
The Muslim World weekly, July 7, 2000 3. Mary L. Gavin MD, Kidshealth.org, What is Cholesterol? July 2013 4. Husaini Youths, Slideshare.net, Prostration, November 17 2008 5. Sukhmandir Khalsa, About.com, The Practice of Five Required Daily Prayers in Sikhism 6. The Lockman Foundation, New American Standard Bible Copyright ©1960, 33 Bible verses about Prostration 7. Abdul Rashid Architect, Prayers of Holy Qur’aan Holy Prophet (SAW), Pg. 6-9, February 2006 8. Abdul Rashid Architect, Prayers of The Promised Messiah (as), Pg. 6
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7KH /LIH DQG &KDUDFWHU RI WKH 6HDO RI 3URSKHWV Extracts taken from the book ‘The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (saw)’ “Sīrat Khātamun-Nabiyyīn”
By Hadhrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad(ra) M.A Translated by Ayyaz Mahmood Khan
Pioneers After Hazrat Khadījahra, Hazrat Abū Bakrra, Hazrat ‘Alīra and Zaid bin Hārithahra, five more individuals accepted Islām, by the preaching of Hazrat Abū Bakrra. All of these individuals acquired such eminence and dignity, that they are considered the greatest of companions. These are their names:
He was a man of extraordinary understanding and experience. It was he who settled the issue of the Caliphate of Hazrat ‘Uthmānra. When he accepted Islām he was approximately 30 years of age. He died in the reign of ‘Uthmānra.
Third was Sa‘d bin Abī Waqqāsra who, at that time, was in the prime of his youth First was Hazrat ‘Uthmān bin – that is to say, 19 years of age. ‘Affānra who belonged to the dynasty of the Banū Umaiyyah. He was also from the Banū Zuhrah and was astonishingly When he accepted Islām, his age was approximately 30 years. brave and courageous. raIn the After Hazrat ‘Umarra he became reign of Hazrat ‘Umar , Iraq was conquered at his hands. the third Caliph of the Holy Prophetsa. Hazrat ‘Uthmānra was He died in the time of Amīr Mu‘āwiyah. remarkably modest, loyal, softhearted, beneficent and affluent. The fourth was Zubair bin AlTherefore, he served Islām ‘Awwāmra, who was a cousin of financially at many instances. the Holy Prophetsa. He was the The love of the Holy Prophetsa son of Safiyyah bint ‘Abdulfor Hazrat ‘Uthmānra can be Muttalib and later became measured by the fact that he the son-in-law of Hazrat gave him two of his daughters Abū Bakrra. He belonged to in marriage, one after another, the Banū Asad and when he due to which he is known as accepted Islām he was only Dhūn Nūrain. 15 years old. At the occasion of the Battle of the Ditch, the Second was Hazrat ‘AbdurHoly Prophetsa endowed him Rahmān bin ‘Aufra who the title of Hawārī i due to an belonged to the dynasty of the exceptional service performed Banū Zuhrah – the dynasty of by him. He was martyred in the the Holy Prophet’ssa mother.
reign of Hazrat ‘Alīra during the Battle of the Camel. The fifth was Talhah bin ‘Abdullāh who was from the tribe of Hazrat Abū Bakrra, the Banū Taim. During that time he was at the prime of his youth. Talhah was also amongst the distinctive devotees of Islām. He was martyred in the reign of Hazrat ‘Alīra during the Battle of the Camel. All of these five companions are amongst the ‘Asharah Mubashsharah, in other words, they are included amongst those ten companions who were especially given glad tidings of entrance into paradise from the blessed tongue of the Holy Prophetsa himself, and who were regarded his utmost intimate companions and advisors. ii After these people, others who believed in the Holy Prophetsa in the very beginning were from the Quraish as well as from other tribes. The names of some of these are as follows: Abū ‘Ubaidah bin ‘Abdullāh bin Al-Jarrāhra who conquered Syria in the time of Hazrat ‘Umarra. He was a man of
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exceedingly righteous and ascetic disposition, and was bestowed the title of AmīnulMillah iii by the Holy Prophetsa. Abū ‘Ubaidahra was from the tribe Banū Khalaj of the Quraish who were, at times, referred to as Fihrī, being attributed to Fihr bin Mālik. The status and value of Hazrat Abū ‘Ubaidahra in the eyes of Hazrat ‘Ā’ishahra was so great that she would say, “If Abū ‘Ubaidah had been alive at the death of Hazrat ‘Umarra, he would have been Caliph.” Hazrat Abū Bakrra also held Abū ‘Ubaidahra in high regard; thus, at the demise of the Holy Prophetsa, Hazrat Abū ‘Ubaidahra was also among those who Hazrat Abū Bakrra held worthy of Caliphate. Hazrat Abū ‘Ubaidahra is also among the ‘Asharah Mubashsharah. He was martyred in the reign of Hazrat ‘Umarra due to a plague epidemic.
‘Utbah bin Rabī‘ah was among the chieftains of the Quraish. Abū Hudhaifahra was martyred in the Battle of Yamāmah, which was fought against Musailimah Kadhdhāb during the caliphate of Hazrat Abū Bakrra. There was Sa‘īd bin Zaidra of the Banū ‘Adiyy who was the brother-inlaw of Hazrat ‘Umarra. He was the son of Zaid bin ‘Amr bin Nufailra, who had abandoned polytheism, even in the era of the Jāhiliyyah. Sa‘īdra is also among the ‘Asharah Mubashsharah. He died in the time of Amīr Mu‘āwiyah.
from the Banū Makhzūm. Then came ‘Abdullāh bin Jahshra and ‘Ubaidullāh bin Jahshra. Both of them were the paternal cousins of the Holy Prophetsa but did not belong to the Quraish. Zainab bint Jahshra, who later came into the matrimonial tie of the Holy Prophetsa was their sister. ‘Abdullāh bin Jahshra was among those who had abandoned idol worship even in the era of the Jāhiliyyah. At the advent of Islām he became Muslim, but when he migrated to Abyssinia, abandoned Islām for some reason and became a Christian. His widow, Ummi Habībah, who was the daughter of a renowned chieftain of the Quraish, Abū Sufyān, later came into matrimony with the Holy Prophetsa. iv
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Then was ‘Ubaidah bin AlHārithra who was from the Banū Muttalib and was among the near relatives of the Holy Prophetsa. Abū Salamah bin ‘Abdul-Asadra was the foster brother of the Holy Prophetsa and belonged to the Banū Makhzūm. After his death, the Holy Prophetsa was married to his widow, Ummi Salamahra. There was Abū Hudhaifah bin ‘Utbahra who was from the Banū Umaiyyah. His father,
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A er he accepted Is m he came into the ser ice o the Ho Prophetsa and his essed compan timate t ans or ed him into a ver ear ed scho ar
There was ‘Uthmān bin Maz‘ūnra who was from the Banū Jamh. He was a man of extremely ascetic disposition. He had abandoned drinking even in the era of the Jāhiliyyah and wished to become a recluse after accepting Islām, but the Holy Prophetsa did not permit this saying, “Religious reclusion is not permitted in Islām.” Then, Arqam bin Abī Arqamra, whose home was situated at the foot of Mount Safā and the Holy Prophetsa later made that house his religious headquarters. Arqamra was
In addition to these people was ‘Abdullāh bin Mas‘ūdra who was not from the Quraish, but belonged to the Hudhail tribe. ‘Abdullāhra was a very poor man and would pasture the goats of ‘Uqbah bin Abī Mu‘īt, a chieftain of the Quraish. After he accepted Islām he came into the service of the Holy Prophetsa, and his blessed company ultimately transformed him into a very learned scholar. The foundation of Hanafī Jurisprudence is primarily based on his narrations and religious interpretations. Then was Bilāl bin Rabāhra, the Abyssinian slave of Umaiyyah bin Khalaf.
After he migrated, the duty of calling Adhān v in Madīnah was entrusted to him. However, after the demise of the Holy Prophetsa he stopped calling the Adhān but in the Caliphate of Hazrat ‘Umarra, when Syria was conquered, upon the persistence of Hazrat ‘Umarra, he called the Adhān. This reminded everyone of the Holy Prophet’s time and Hazrat ‘Umarra and the companions who were present at the time, as well as himself wept bitterly. Hazrat ‘Umarra loved Bilāl to the extent that when he died, Hazrat ‘Umarra said, “This day a chieftain of the Muslims has passed away”. These were the words of the king of that time for a poor Abyssinian slave. Then was ‘Āmir bin Fuhairahra whom Hazrat Abū Bakrra freed from slavery and employed as an attendant. Then there was Khabbāb bin Al-Arat who was a freed slave and in those days worked in Madīnah as a blacksmith. Then there was Abū Dharrra who belonged to the Ghifār tribe. When he heard of the Holy Prophet’ssa claim he sent his brother to Makkah for the purpose of investigation. Thus, his brother came to Makkah and briefed Abū Dharr after his return, but he was not satisfied. For this reason, he later came to Makkah himself and became Muslim after meeting the Holy Prophetsa. An elaborate account of his acceptance of Islām is written in Bukhārī and is quite interesting. vi Abū Dharr was very devout and a man of
ascetic disposition. He believed that the collection of wealth is worthy of condemnation under all circumstances. At times, he would fall into a dispute with other companions over this belief. vii These are some of the people who accepted Islām in its first three to four years. Among them, the wives and children of those who were married generally accepted Islām as well. Thus, in addition to Hazrat Khadījahra, historians have particularly named Asmā’ bint Abī Bakrra and Fatimah bint Khattābra, the wife of Sa‘īd bin Zaid among the early Muslim women. In addition to these, Ummi Fadl, the wife of ‘Abbās bin ‘Abdul-Muttalib was also among the pioneer Muslims but it is strange that until this time, ‘Abbās himself had not accepted Islām. In any case, the outcome of the three to four year laborious endeavour of the Holy Prophetsa was merely these few souls. However, among these ancient pioneers, with the exception of Hazrat Abū Bakrra, there were none who possessed particular influence and honour among the Quraish. Some were slaves and most of the others were poor and weak. Some, however, were related to upper class families of the Quraish, but even among them, most were youngsters and thus, were not in a position to cast an influence in their tribes. Others who were aged had no influence due to their poverty or other
reasons. For this reason, it was a common thought among the Quraish that only young and weak people had accepted Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him). Therefore, after many years, when Heraclius, the King of Rome inquired of Abū Sufyān, the Chief of Makkah, “Does the nobility accept Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) or the weak lower class?” Abū Sufyān responded, “The weak and lower class accept him.” Upon which Heraclius answered – and beautifully indeed, “In the beginning, it is the lower class who accept the messengers of Allāh.” viii (The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets(saw), p. 174-178)
ethod o ta in ai’atix the Ho Prophetsa At this instance, it shall not be inappropriate to mention that when an individual would come to accept Islām, the method of the Holy Prophetsa was that he would take that person’s hand into his own and would seek a declaration in predetermined words and would take oath that he would obey every Ma‘rūf decision made by the Holy Prophetsa hereafter. In the declaration of Islām, after clear mention of principal elements, an oath would be taken. For example, that ‘I shall believe in God as One and without partner, I shall not indulge in polytheism, and shall
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abstain from evil deeds such as stealing, adultery, murder and lying, etc., etc.’ Whilst taking Bai‘at from women the Holy Prophetsa would seek the same declaration, but would not take the hands of women into his own, rather, a verbal oath of allegiance would suffice. Afterwards, when injunctions relevant to Jihād x by the sword were revealed, the Holy Prophetsa made an addition to the words of Bai‘at with relevance to Jihād. The Bai‘at of women however, remained unaltered, until the end. xi Aside from the Bai‘at, it was a custom of the Holy Prophetsa not to shake hands with women who were beyond the prohibited degrees. xii When the teachings of Pardah were revealed, the disclosure of the beauty of men and women to one another, whether by sight or touch, was declared forbidden by religious law anyway. xiii (The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets(saw), p. 178-)
preaching endeavours and other Muslims in his own home or in the outskirts of town. This secrecy was maintained to the extent that, at times, even Muslims themselves remained unaware of the Islām of one another. The reason being that in this era, Muslims generally concealed their religion and news would rarely reach the chieftains of the Quraish However, if news did in fact reach them, in those days, generally Muslims were not vehemently opposed and their opposition was in fact limited to mockery alone.
hen the teachin s o Pardah were revea ed the disc os re o the ea t o men and women to one another whether si ht or to ch was dec ared or idden re i io s aw an a
when the revelation of Islāmic law was in its preliminary stages, among the pillars of Islām, real emphasis was put on the existence and unity of Allāh. After this was belief in the messengers of God, life after death, and the doctrine of recompense after death. Although these principles are so basic that if one contemplates, everything is encompassed within them, yet the manner in which these and other principle elements were later collectively declared the pillars of Islām; this was not the case in the beginning. Same was the case with physical worship. Rather, among the pillars of physical worship, none had been formally established amongst the currently existent pillars of Salāt, fasting, Hajj, and Zakāt xiv, etc. Albeit, it is evident from Ahādīth in as much that in early stages Gabrielas taught the Holy Prophetsa the method in which to pray and perform Wudū xv. The formal observance, however, of the five daily prayers came into practice much later, and fasting, etc., were declared obligatory even later. In the beginning, there was only Salāt, and even that was of supererogatory nature. Muslims would gather in groups of two to four and offer their prayers either in their homes, or in the valleys near Makkah, as they found the opportunity to do so, in the form of a common worship. Hence, with reference to this early era, historians write that one time the Holy Prophetsa and Hazrat ‘Alīra were offering their Salāt in a valley of Makkah, when suddenly Abū Tālib
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Initia Concea ment and the Cond ct o the raish In the beginning, the Holy Prophetsa primarily kept his preaching secret for approximately three years. As such, in this era, there was no specific centre where the Muslims could gather. Rather, the Holy Prophetsa would meet seekers of truth who would come as a result of his own Maryam OCT-DEC 2013
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This is because, they thought of this entire endeavour as child’s play. If on the other hand, someone did oppose severely, this opposition was his own personal action and there was no unified resistance waged against the Muslims by the Quraish. (The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets(saw), p. 179)
Pi ars o Is am in the Ear Era The fundamentals of Islām have been mentioned above, in other words, during this early era,
passed by. Until then, AbĹŤ TÄ lib was completely unaware of IslÄ m, thus, he stood there and observed this spectacle with great amazement. When the Holy Prophetsa completed his SalÄ t, he asked, “What religion is this, which you have adopted?â€? The Holy Prophetsa responded, “Uncle! This is the religion of God and of Abraham.â€? Then, the Holy Prophetsa briefly presented an invitation to IslÄ m before AbĹŤ TÄ lib, but he brushed it off saying, “I cannot forsake the religion of my ancestors.â€? But with that he also addressed his son Hazrat ‘AlÄŤra and said, “My son, undoubtedly, do support Muhammadsa, for I trust that he shall call you towards nothing but goodness.â€? Another incident, perhaps close to this era is that, Sa‘d bin AbÄŤ WaqqÄ s and a handful of Muslims were offering their SalÄ t in a valley, when suddenly a few idolaters appeared and reproached them for their new form of worship. This led to a mutual altercation. xvii
(The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets(saw), p. 179-180)
References
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FROM THE SYLLABUS FOR WAQF-E-NAU AGED 1-21 (Published by the Central Waqf-e-Nau Department)
Ahadith
The promise of a believer is as certain as a thing in the hand.
Acquisition of knowledge is obligatory upon every Muslim man and woman.
None amongst you can be a true believer unless he like for his brother what he likes for himself.
Jealousy consumes virtue like fire consumes its fuel.
Worldy life is to sow and the hereafter is to reap.
Attributes of Allah He is Allah, the Creator, the Maker, the Fashioner. His are the most beautiful names. All that is in the heavens and the earth glorifies Him, and He is the Mighty, the Wise. (The Holy Qur’an, Surah Al-Hashr, V. 25)
Ash-Shafi The Healer
Al- Ghafoor The Most Forgiving
Al- Wakeel The Trustee
Al-Mujib The responder to Prayer
Al-Hayy The Ever Living One
Al-Qadir The Possessor of Power and Authority
Al- Muqtadir The Omnipotent
Al- Mussawir The Fashioner
Al- Batin The Hidden; Revealer of hidden Realities
Sierra Leone Waqfe Arzi report - July 2013 By Mufleha Saleem Ahmad
Background: In the 1970s, the third Khalifa, Hazrat Mirza Nasir Ahmadra visited Sierra Leone. During his visit to one Jama’at secondary school he pointed towards the cupboards in the science labs and said ‘the future of Sierra Leone lies in these cupboards’. The Jama’at in Sierra Leone then equipped the science labs with the new facilities of the time and the Ahmadi school science labs were the best in the country. However, during the 11 year civil war (1991 to 2002), schools were rampaged during which equipment was destroyed and stolen. My husband and I both wished to start our marriage in February 2013 with Waqf-e-Arzi. I am a Waqfe-Nau and I am trying to serve the Jama’at in many capacities, I wanted to offer my Science teaching abilities to the Jama’at. Our resulting application for Waqf-e-Arzi stated we would go anywhere in the Maryam OCT-DEC 2013
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world. Huzuraba forwarded our application to Amir Sahib Sierra Leone stating he should use our services. Amir Sahib then requested us to come to Sierra Leone to assist and update the science labs in Ahmadiyya schools. Our visit: We spent 12 days in Sierra Leone, from 29th June to 10th July 2013. We visited the capital city Freetown, the major towns of Kenema and Bo, as well as villages like Lungi. There are 250 Jama’at schools in Sierra Leone (6 nurseries, 53 secondary and 191 primary schools). We visited 7 schools, 2 of which were primary and 5 secondary. We inspected the equipment and chemicals in the science labs and had meetings with the science teachers and school principals By the grace of Allah, we were able to compile lists of equipment and chemicals required with prices, to enable the labs to have modern equipment. We also
made recommendations regarding the science labs to Amir Sahib Sierra Leone. These recommendations were regarding lab safety and general lab necessities such as gas and water supplied to gas and water taps. Being a qualiwed Chemistry teacher, I also taught in the primary school (photo below)
as well as in the senior secondary school of Bo (photo below).
At the secondary school in Kenema during the meeting with the principal,
he said ‘when you visit a sick person, he/she starts healing even if you don’t give him any medicine so for Mr and Mrs Abid to come to see our school has already started our healing process.’ This really touched our hearts and made us understand what it meant to them for us to come all the way from the UK to visit their school and show some interest.
only pay a nominal fee for usage. Additionally we assisted the Jama’at radio station, helping
Of the over 700 Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at mosques in Sierra Leone, we visited 10 mosques. These included the two largest Baitus Sabboh in Freetown Jama’at mosques in Sierra Leone; Baitus Sabboh in Freetown and Nasir mosque in Bo. We also saw and used a Humanity wrst water pump by a well (under the “Water for Life” campaign and visited an IT education centre. Humanity wrst water pump The IT education centre is doing very the team with software well with all the issues such as storage courses oversubscribed. problem, IT systems and There are twelve various programming computers in the issues. We also provided centre and students
support to the new Jama’at newsletter, “The African Crescent”. In Sierra Leone there is 70% unemployment and the majority of the people survive by growing their own food. We witnessed their poverty, saw many children with Kwashiorkor disease (malnourishment caused by lack of protein), people living in mud huts and women and children without adequate clothes. Sierra Leonean’s were very friendly, welcoming and always willing to help. We met a family with 12 children who were surviving simply by selling root vegetables at the roadside to passing cars. By the grace of Allah, our trip was very successful. Prayers are requested for all the missionaries and Ahmadis in Sierra Leone who are living in poor conditions and are still submissive and obedient to God.
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Assorted photos of our trip in Sierra Leone
Ahamdi children in an Ahmadi village near Bo.
Hadi mosque in a Ahmadi village near Bo.
Children in Tahir Ahmadiyya Junior School, Bo.
Ahmadiyya Road on which the 3 Ahmadiyya schools and the Sierra Leone Jamia is situated.
Ahmadiyya Mosque made of mud currently under construction.
Ahmadiyya Radio Station Sierra Leone.
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0XKDPPDG LQ WKH %LEOH May Allah’s Peace and Blessings be upon Him
Extracts taken from the book ‘Introduction to the Study of The Holy Quran’ By Hadhrat Mirza Bashir-ud-Din Mahmud Ahmadra (KHALIFATUL MASIH II)
ISAIAH’S PROPHECIES: The book of Isaiah also is full of prophecies about the Holy Prophet of Islam. They all point to the advent of another great Prophet, the harbinger of peace and contentment for the whole world. In accordance with the divine way, however, the prophecies contain a symbolic element which has to be interpreted before the meaning of the prophecies can be unravelled. The use in them of such names as Jerusalem, Zion, etc., is only symbolic. But Christian writers have been misled by these symbols into thinking that the prophecies relate to Jesus. Names qua names do not constitute any part of the prophecies. If the general content of the prophecies does not apply to Jesus, the names Jerusalem or Israel or Zion will not justify the application. True, the names also have a meaning, but a meaning which Àts into the main content of the prophecies. As such the names Jerusalem and Israel will only mean “My holy places” or “My select people”, not Jerusalem or Israel per se.
a The Àrst prophecy we wish to quote from Isaiah is contained in 4:1-3. It is as follows: And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name to take away our reproach. In that day shall the branch of the Lord be beautiful and glorious and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel. And it shall come to pass that he that is left in Zion, and he that remaineth in Jerusalem shall becalled holy, even every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem. Once it is agreed that Zion and Jerusalem in this prophecy are but symbols, the entire content of the prophecy is seen to apply to the Holy Prophet of Islam and to no one else. The prophecy says that the Promised Prophet will bring with him wealth and splendour, that he will have treasures of the earth laid at his feet, that his people will be called holy and that polygamous marriages will be the rule at the time. Do
these signs apply to Jesus and his disciples? Did they bring with them a period of wealth and splendour? Were the treasures of the earth laid at their feet? Was polygamy in demand by their society? No. The signs apply only to the Holy Prophet of Islam, his followers and his time. Jesus is supposed to have disapprovedof polygamous marriages. But the Holy Prophet of Islam sanctioned and even commanded these under certain conditions. It was in his time that wars had to be fought in defence of religion and the youth of the nation had to lay down their lives. The number of widows increased and young women had difÀculty in Ànding husbands. The Holy Prophet, accordingly, ordered polygamous marriages to prevent immorality and to make up for lost man-power.
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(b) In Isaiah (5: 26-30) we have: And he will lift up an ensign to the nations from far, and will hiss unto them from the end of the earth: and, behold, they shall come with speed swiftly: None shall be weary nor stumble among them nor shall slumber nor sleep neither shall the girdle of their loins be loosed, nor the latchet of their shoes be broken: whose arrows are sharp, and all their bows bent, their horses’ hoofs shall be counted like Áint, and their wheels like a whirlwind: Their roaring shall be like a lion, they shall roar like young lions: yea, they shall roar, and lay hold of the prey, and shall carry it away safe, and none shall deliver it. And in that day they shall roar against them like the roaring of the sea: and if one look unto the land, behold darkness and sorrow, and the light is darkened in the heavens thereof.
to him would shun sloth and indolence and make great sacriÀces for their cause. They would take part in wars and their horses’ hoofs would emit Àre like Áint. Their attacks on their enemy would resemble a whirlwind. They would completely overpower their enemy whom no one would be able to save. And why should they do all this?
‘It was his voice to which men and women om the ends o the ear h responded with eat a acrit ’
to which men and women from the ends of the earth responded with great alacrity. In Jesus’ life not one convert came from outside Israel. All his disciples came from within a radius of forty to Àfty miles. But believers in the Prophet of Islam came from Yemen and Najd and Iran, and among them were idol-worshippers and Jews and Christians. They made such great sacriÀces at the Prophet’s call and exerted themselves for it so ungrudgingly that the worst enemies of Islam feel constrained to pay a tribute to their spirit of devotion and sacriÀce, God Himself pays a tribute to them in the Quran thus: “Allah is well pleased with them and they are well pleased with Him” (9:100). “There are some of them who have fulÀlled their vow, and some who still wait” (33:24).
{ {
A time was to come, according to this prophecy, when somewhere outside Palestine, a man would raise a Áag. This man would call the nations of the world who would swiftly answer his call and gather around him. Those who responded Maryam OCT-DEC 2013
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Because they would see that the world was full of darkness and a big change called for. This prophecy applies in its entirety to the Holy Prophet of Islam. There is a reference to it in the Quran also. In accordance with it, the Holy Prophet appeared away from Palestine in Mecca, and raised his Áag in Medina it was he who announced to the world: “Say, ‘O mankind, truly I am a Messenger to you all’ “(7: 159). It was his voice
The Prophet’s followers had to take part in wars and to make use of bows and arrows. Their horses’ hoofs were like Áint and their wheels like the whirlwind. To this also there is a clear reference in the Quran: By the panting chargers of the warriors, striking sparks of Àre, making raids at dawn, and raising clouds
of dust therewith, and penetrating thereby into the centre of the enemy forces (100: 2-6). This is a description of the warriors of early Islam, and how truly does it correspond to the prophecy of Isaiah. We have in one part of the prophecy: And if one look unto the land, behold darkness and sorrow. and the light is darkened in the heavens thereof (Isaiah 5 : 30), The Quran refers to this in 30: 41 thus: “Corruption has appeared on land and sea.” That is, both human wisdom and divine teaching have become dark and both point to the need of a new Teacher, bearer of a new Message from God. Also in 65:11-12 we have: “Allah has indeed sent down to you an admonition – a Messenger who recites unto you the clear Signs of Allah, that he may bring those who believe and do good deeds out of darkness into light.” (c) In Isaiah (8: 13-17) we have: “Sanctify the Lord of hosts himself and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. And he shall be for a sanctuary but for
a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken. Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples. And I will wait upon the Lord, that hideth his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him.” The prophecy clearly foretells the appearance of a Holy One whose coming will prove a trial for both Houses of Israel, a snare and a gin for the inhabitants of Jerusalem, who will be defeated and disgraced if they choose to oppose him. His advent will mark the supersession of the Mosaic Law and God will turn away His face from the House of Jacob. Christian writers are silent on this point. Maybe they take the two Houses of Israel to mean the two factions, one of which supported and the other opposed the son of Solomon and set up a rival rule. But this will not do, because the prophecy speaks of a holy man and of events which will take place in his time. This holy man can either be Jesus or
someone coming after Jesus, because there has been no outstanding religious personality between Isaiah and Jesus who may have confronted Israel with a crucial Message. But did Jesus confront Israel with any such Message? And did Israel suffer defeat and disgrace on opposing this Message? And did Jesus seal the Law for his disciples and announce its supersession by another Law? As for this, Jesus’ declaration is quite clear. He said: Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulÀl. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulÀlled (Matthew 5:17-18). Jesus settled the point not for his own time only but also for the future. He said signiÀcantly: Can the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. But the days will come when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days (Mark 2 :19-20).
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From these declarations it is obvious that, according to Jesus, even after his death, the Mosaic Law was to remain binding upon his disciples. Were this not so, he could have said that the days of fasting were over. Instead of this he not only fasted himself, but he also prophesied that his disciples would begin to fast after him. Sealing the Law, therefore, does not mean abolition of the Law as such or repudiation of the very idea of determinate religious duties. It means that in the time of the Promised Holy Man, the Mosaic Law would become superseded and a new Law would become established in its place. If this interpretation of ours is not true, why were we told that God would turn away His face from the House of Jacob? Did not Jesus belong to the House of Jacob? If he did not so belong, he could not be a descendant of David. And if he was not a descendant of David, he could not be the Christ of the prophecy. For Christ was to be a descendant of David. (d) In Isaiah (9: 6-7) we have: “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order Maryam OCT-DEC 2013
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it, and to establish it with judgement and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.” The prophecy promises the advent of a king who will have Àve names or titles: “(I) Wonderful. (2) Counsellor. (3) The mighty God. (4) The everlasting Father. (5) The Prince of Peace. The prosperity and peace in his empire will know no bounds he will sit on the throne of David for ever and perpetuate its good name by judgement and justice.” Annotators of the Gospels say in their headnotes to this chapter that this prophecy relates to the birth of Jesus. But of the signs mentioned in this prophecy, not one applies to Jesus. Did he for instance, ever become king? Were the names enumerated in the prophecy-Wonderful, Counsellor, mighty God, everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, ever applied to him? Wonderful, he might have been called, because of his peculiar birth. But the description does not seem to have been proposed. His deniers regarded his birth as illegitimate, so they could not describe him as Wonderful. His supporters, on the other hand, were in doubt about his ancestry. According to some he was a son of David. We have: If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. The thieves also, which were cruciÀed with him, cast the same in his teeth
(Matthew 27: 42, 44). Jesus gave no exhibition of his “might”, nor was he ever described as “mighty” by anybody. Both friend and foe denied this of him. Were this not the case, his disciples would not have deserted him and Áed. Says Matthew (26: 56): “Then all the disciples forsook him, and Áed.” Does a mighty one meet with such a fate? The fourth name is everlasting Father, and this also does not apply to Jesus. For, as we have shown already, he foretold another who would come after him. The Àfth name is Prince of Peace and even this cannot apply to Jesus. He never became king, so he never could bring peace to the world. Instead, he remained oppressed by the Jews and was ultimately put on the Cross by them. (Introduction to the Study of The Holy Quran, pp. 101106) NOTE: The remaining part of Isaiah’s Prophecies will Inshallah be published in the next issue.
OSLO
CLASS
2011
Waaqifaat-e-Nau
NORWAY
SUMMARY OF THE REPORT OF A WAAQIFAAT-E-NAU CLASS WITH HAZRAT KHALIFATUL MASIH VABA HELD ON 28TH OF SEPTEMBER 2011 AT BAITUL NASR, OSLO, NORWAY
T
he programme started with the recitation of the Holy Qur’an followed by its Urdu and English translations. Next a Hadith-ul Nabisaw was presented
in which it is narrated by Hazrat Ayeshara that once Hazrat Asmaara, daughter of Hazrat Abu Bakar Siddiquera, came to see the Holy Prophetsaw and she was wearing thin clothes. The Holy Prophetsaw turned his attention away from her and said that O’ Asmaa, when a woman reaches the age of puberty, it is not appropriate that she displays any part of her body except her face and her hands. The following excerpt of the Promised Messiahas regarding purdah was presented next: ‘Many people urge the adoption of permissiveness like that prevalent in Europe, but this would be most unwise. Such unbridled freedom of sexes is the root of all immorality. Look at the moral situation in countries that have adopted this freedom. If freedom of sexes has helped increase their chastity and virtue, we will readily confess that we were mistaken. But it is crystal clear that when men and women are young, and have the licence to mix freely, their relationship will be most dangerous. It is but human to exchange glances and be overwhelmed by lustful desires. As there is intemperance and vice, despite the observance of the veil, it may be imagined what the situation will be like in case of unrestricted freedom.’ (Malfuzaat, Vol. 7, p.134)
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Afterwards, a Waaqifaa-e-Nau gave a presentation ra
that you feel the need to hide from him. Your husband may
on the topic of ‘Hazrat Amman Jaan , Hazrat Syeda Nusrat
not have been watching, but God always watches, and the
Jahan Begum sahiba’s way of moral training and valuable
matter eventually becomes evident and the woman loses
advice.’ In this presentation, the advice of Hazrat Amman
her regard and respect. If something happens against the
Jaanra regarding the moral upbringing of children recounted
wishes of the husband, do not ever hide it. You should admit
by her daughter Hazrat Nawwab Mubarka Begum sahiba
it clearly because respect is in doing this alone. Concealing
were included.
matters always leads to disrespect and disregard for a ra
Hazrat Syeda Nawab Mubarka Bebum sahiba says
woman and lowers her honour. Never speak when your
that after analysing all types of people she had found that
husband is angry. If he is angry at a child or a servant, and it
ra
no one excelled Hazrat waalida sahiba , her mother, in terms
is clear to you that he is wrong, do not say anything to him
of moral training. Although she had no formal education,
even then. Later, once the husband has cooled down, you
her principles, etiquettes and morals were superior to
certainly may gently point out his error to him. A woman
those of others; which she felt was a special blessing from
who argues with a man in his temper loses her respect, if
God Almighty, and a consequence of the training of God
the husband responds to your intrusion with anger, you will
Almighty’s Messiah,- her husband.
be greatly humiliated.
ra
said that we should
Hazrat Amman Jaanra further advised her daughter
always show trust in our children and have faith in them.
to consider the relatives and the children of the relatives of
Abhorrence of lying and being self sufficient and posessing
her husband as her own. She said: ‘Do not think ill of anyone
self-esteem used to be among her first lessons. Hazrat
even if they do something bad to you. Wish everyone well
Hazrat Amman Jaan
ra
Nawab Mubarka relates that Hazrat Amman Jaan always
from the heart and do not even retaliate with your actions.’
used to say that once the habit of obedience is instilled in
The Waaqifaa-e-Nau concluded the presentation by praying
children, then any mischief of childhood can be easily be
that may Allah enable us to follow the footsteps of Hazrat
reformed. Hazrat Nawab Mubarka Begumra says that this
Amman Jaanra, Amin.
is what she had infused into us and we could not imagine
After the presentation, a poem by the Promised
acting against the wishes of our parents, even in their
Messiahra was recited by a Waaqifaa-e-Nau. After the poem,
absence.
a presentation was given on the topic of ‘Modesty and
Hazrat Nawab Mubarka relates that Hazrat Amman
chastity, the defining characteristics of an Ahamdi girl.’ In
Jaan always used to say that my children never tell lies and
this presentation, excerpts of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IVrah
it was this trust that indeed made us refrain from lying. It
and Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaba were also included.
ra
also developed a sense of revulsion from lying.
Most women put in a lot of effort to enhance
Regarding the moral upbringing of the children, Hazrat ra
their beauty and tend to be quite sensitive about matters
Amman Jaan also used to emphasise concentrating on the
of personal appearance; they should never forget that the
good moral training of the first child, the rest of the siblings
secret of true beauty lies in being modest and chaste. It
will follow their example and will benefit.
is narrated that the Holy Prophetsaw said that immodesty
Hazrat Amman Jaanra gave some valuable advice ra
makes oneself repulsive, while modesty lends beauty to a
to her daughter Hazrat Nawab Mubarka Begum at the time
chaste person. Thus, modesty (Haya) is the jewel of every
of her wedding, which are important guidelines for every
woman, which greatly enhances her inner and outer beauty
ra
Ahmadi household. Hazrat Amman Jaan said: ‘Never do
and it guarantees a woman’s chastity and protects against
something secretly from your husband or something that
the attacks of the Satan.
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28
Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IVrah explaining to the women about Islamic purdah (veil) said that if women safeguard their modesty then, with the Grace of God Almighty, the angels of God the Exalted will protect them against all types of vices and sins. This is because there is no better purdah than the purdah of modesty. There is no bigger enemy of a woman than immodesty. The visible form of purdah (covering up) is undoubtedly important but if with that the purdah of modesty is not present, then the outer covering is of no value. Contrary to this, if the outer covering is not as strong as it should be, but the purdah of modesty is present, then such a woman is indeed better protected. Some women make the excuse that they observe the purdah of modesty and that is why they do not need to cover themselves. This excuse is also false and inapt. The fact is that the purdah of haya cannot be sustained long term without the observance of purdah in appearance. Purdah of haya without any physical purdah merely survives for one generation or so. Such purdah gradually disappears, paving the way for complete immortality. Modesty should be apparent not only through one’s eyes but also through one’s dress code, behaviour, conversation and through social interactions (friends etc.). Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaba says that the concept of modesty is found in all nations and religions. An Ahmadi woman should not be influenced by the immodesty that is wide-spread in the West. This immodesty supposedly exists as an expression of freedom and fashion. Modesty (haya) is ingrained in the nature of a woman by Allah the Exalted. An Ahmadi woman should cultivate and enhance the concept of haya now more than ever before. It is as if a storm of nudity and vulgarity has erupted through television and the Internet. It is the duty of every Ahmadi girl to not suffer an inferiority complex and not to get carried away into fashions that lead to indecency. Instead, she should rise to this challenge through her strong character and high morals. She should prove to the world that by following Islamic teachings, she can safeguard her chastity and dignity better than anyone else. Not observing Purdah in shopping malls or parks, attending mixed gatherings without observing purdah, unnecessary friendly interactions with male cousins, male classmates or with men who are not relatives, indulging, participating in or watching indecent and vulgar TV shows, wearing revealing short blouses with jeans, working at places where the dress code is contrary to the standards of modesty, reading obscene books or magazines, watching vulgar or morally
objectionable movies or dancing at weddings, all these are
head with a dupatta, chaddar or scarf? She only used to
satanic temptations that deprive a woman of her modesty
cover her head with a small scarf and nothing else but she
and mar her beauty. And it is then that the chastity of a
promised to observe purdah in the future. It has been heard
woman is threatened.
that she observes purdah properly after that. Huzuraba said
Therefore, an Ahmadi girl should remember that as
that if this sanctity of purdah is not developed in Waaqifaat-
by believing in the Promised Messiah , she has pledged
e-Nau, then these big claims and nazms that we read are of
to follow the true teachings of Islam. An Ahmadi girl has a
no benefit.
status and sanctity which distinguishes her from others. This
Huzuraba said that he had noticed some women
honour can only be maintained if she confidently follows
who were coming for mulaqaats here in Norway seemed as
the teachings of Islam without any inferiority complex and
though they had taken out their veils (niqaabs) after a very
stay away from every deed which can compromise her
long time. There were mulaqaats here in 2005 before this,
modesty and chastity. She should safeguard herself against
so this niqaab (veil) should not be taken out after a gap of 6
satanic temptations and for this, alongside prayers before
years, but should be used every day. These examples are to
God Almighty, she must cover herself with libaase taqwa
be set by Waaqifaat-e-Nau. Huzuraba told Waaqifaat-e-Nau not to consider
(raiment of righteousness). May Allah enable us to do so, Amin.
themselves too young to set examples. In the recent address to Majlis Khuddamul Ahmadiyya in Germany, Huzuraba said I
GUIDELINES BY HAZRAT KHALIFATUL MASIH VABA FOR
told them that if they think that the elders are not fulfilling
WAAQIFAAT-E-NAU
their obligations and are not following the teachings of
Following the presentations and nazms, Huzuraba
Islam or if they are not serving the Jama’at as they should be,
said you gave a very good presentation on the topic of
then the youth should come forward. Huzuraba said that the
purdah but purdah cannot be observed only by giving
auxhillary of Lajna Imaillah and Nasiraat were established
a presentation on it. Purdah is a worldwide issue, but this
for the same objective and this is the very role of Waaqifaat-
problem is more acute in Europe. There once used to be
e-Nau. Waaqifaat-e-Nau cannot play an active role similar
many complaints regarding purdah in Norway. That is why
to those of murrabbis who after proper training are sent as
Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IIIra gave a very powerful sermon on
murrabbis to different places where a woman cannot go
the topic in Norway, which Huzuraba said he also mentioned
alone.
aba
said that he had no personal
Huzuraba said that thus Waaqifaat-e-Nau are the
experience regarding this matter, but he had discovered
role models for the women of all ages. Then Huzur-e-
that there is carelessness regarding purdah in Norway.
Anwaraba said that with the exception of a couple of girls
Huzuraba said that once a Waqf-e-Nau girl came to see him
present there in the class, all others present were over 10
in London and her arms were only covered to her elbows;
years of age. Huzuraba said that 10 years is a mature age
such purdah is of no use.
according to the teachings of Islam, in which Salat becomes
in his Sermon. Huzur
Huzuraba said that when a Waaqifaa-e-Nau grows
obligatory. Now, Salat is a worship which is to be observed
up, her purdah and dress code must be of the same high
before God the Almighty five times a day and this has been
standard as mentioned in the presentations. They should
made obligatory by God Almighty and the Holy Prophetsaw
demonstrate modesty, which will make them mindful of
at the age of 10, thus it means that at the age of 10 there
aba
purdah in the future. Huzur
said that he had also enquired
from the girl who had come to see him if she covered her
Maryam OCT-DEC 2013
30
should be a change in each and every action. Huzur-e-Anwaraba said that some girls who are 11
or 12 years old consider themselves too young and say we shall wear a scarf or wear a coat when we are older, but if they will not be conscious of this at the age of 10 , then they will not develop this sense even when they are older. So, remember that Waaqifaat-e-Nau are to always remain role models for others; a role model not only for their own Jama’at, but also for the whole nation. Huzuraba said that determination has also been expressed by Waaqifaat-e-Nau that they take part in the propagation of Islam not only here in this part of Norway, but that they shall also go to the north of Norway, where a flag was hosted in 2008, to undertake the task. By hosting a flag in one place or having an exhibition or handing a copy of the Holy Qur’an to a single person does not bring about a revolution. There should also be a proper follow up of these activities. Huzuraba said that you shall have to be persistent in checking the progress of what you have done on a regular basis. Huzur-e-Anwaraba stated that, thus, purdah cannot be established by giving one lecture or a speech, unless each heart is not committed that it shall act upon what has been heard. Huzuraba advised Waaqifaat-e-Nau that instead of spending a long time on the internet, they should be in the habit of sleeping early so that they can wake up for Fajr prayer on time. Huzuraba said that they should not waste their time in watching TV; they may watch TV dramas, but only on one condition - that they are not obscene. Huzuraba also said that before going to sleep at night, Waaqifaat-e-Nau must also review their actions, what have they done today that is expected from a Waaqifaa-e-Nau? As Salat is obligatory, have we observed all five daily prayers? Or there is the commandment of the recitation of the Holy Qur’an, they should think have we done that or have we reflected and pondered over the meanings of any commandment or teaching mentioned in the Holy Qur’an? Huzur-e-Anwaraba said that you are the teachers of the future and also you are the ones who shall train others. It is not enough that a Waqf-e-Nau becomes a doctor or a teacher, or after basic education gets married, but you are to be a role model in every way and everywhere. Huzuraba said thus, you need to shape up these role models and for that it is necessary that you self reflect every night before going to sleep. Huzuraba said that if someone else was to appraise our actions, then it is possible that they might not tell the truth, but if you evaluate yourselves then you will not be able to lie. When you self-assess, whilst bearing in mind that God Almighty is watching you, then you shall review yourselves truthfully, because it is not possible to deceit either God Almighty or yourselves. (Printed in Al Fazal International, Issue 2 December - 08 December 2011)
Tarbiyyat Page Tarbiyyat points extracted from the Address delivered by Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaba at the National Waaqifaat-e-Nau Ijtema, UK on 5th May 2012
Only a life spent for the sake of seeking Allah’s pleasure can be deemed a successful life. Huzuraba said that as a Waqf-e-Nau girl you should always keep in mind that your existence is like that of Hazrat Maryamra. In other words, always keep her example and conduct in front of you as a guide for your life.
It is essential for every believing woman to safeguard her chastity and honour. Huzuraba said that every Waaqifaa-e-Nau is an example and role model for others to follow and should guide others towards protecting their modesty, chastity and honour. Therefore, the way in which you conduct yourself in your life and the friendships that you form, should all be in accordance with the commands of Allah. Whether you are studying in university or college or wherever you are, your behaviour should be of the very highest order.
Your every act and deed must embody absolute truth and the fear of Allah. Huzuraba said:Whatever you say or do should indicate to people that you are a Waaqifaae-Nau. Indeed, they should come to realise that the reason that you are a ‘Siddiqa’, that is an entirely truthful person, is because you are a Waaqifaa-e-Nau. You should be known as a person who speaks the truth no matter what.
The Hallmark of a Waaqifaa-e-Nau Huzuraba said that you should also remember that if you maintain a strong relationship with Allah, then He will provide for you in ways that you cannot even imagine. All of WKH SURYLVLRQV DQG UHTXLUHPHQWV WKDW \RX DUH LQ QHHG RI ZLOO EH IXOÀOOHG GLUHFWO\ E\ +LP When you reach this stage, your eyes will not be cast towards the attractions of the world, and you will never be envious of the wealth and fortunes of the worldly people.
Instead, due to your relationship with God, a satisfaction and contentment will come to ÀOO \RXU KHDUW 7KLV RXJKW WR EH WKH hallmark of a Waaqifaa-e-Nau.
To reach a high moral level. Huzuraba said that all of you should remember that it is not enough for your conduct to be such that others are unable to raise allegations against your character; but indeed beyond this, you should try to reach such a high moral level that your behaviour becomes a beautiful example for all others to follow and copy.
To stay away from useless, time-wasting activities. Huzuraba said that similarly, you should set an example whereby you stay away from XVHOHVV WLPH ZDVWLQJ DFWLYLWLHV DQG QRW EH LQĂ XHQFHG E\ WKHP DQG \RX VKRXOG KDYH QR interest in any inappropriate fashion trend. Always keep Allah in view at all times, and stay away from all things that are not desired or loved by Him.
To listen attentively to the Friday Sermons and other speeches of the Khalifa. Huzuraba said: Always maintain a relationship of loyalty with Khilafat and be willing to PDNH HYHU\ VDFULĂ&#x20AC;FH LQ RUGHU WR VWUHQJWKHQ DQG SURWHFW LW <RX VKRXOG OLVWHQ DWWHQWLYHO\ to the Friday Sermons and other speeches of the Khalifa and make every effort to act upon them. May Allah grant you the ability to do so.
Seek guidance of the Khalifa-e-Waqt. Huzuraba said: In your schools, you should pay full attention to your studies so that you FDQ EHFRPH IXOO\ HGXFDWHG LQGLYLGXDOV ZKR FDQ WUXO\ EHQHĂ&#x20AC;W WKH -DPD¡DW 5HJDUGLQJ \RXU IXWXUH SDWK RU Ă&#x20AC;HOGV RI VWXG\ \RX VKRXOG VHHN WKH JXLGDQFH RI WKH .KDOLID H :DTW through the Waqf-e-Nau Department and then follow whatever guidance you receive.
The mothers of Waqf-e-Nau children must become a role model for them. Huzuraba said: To the mothers who are present, I would like to say that for the moral training of your Waqf-e-Nau children you must become a role model for them. Thus, always use good language at all times. Never say anything that is against the Nizaam 6\VWHP $GPLQLVWUDWLRQ RI WKH -DPD¡DW $QG \RX VKRXOG DOVR WUHDW \RXU FKLOGUHQ ZKR are not Waqf-e-Nau, with great respect and pay full attention to their training. If you pay attention to this, then the training and moral well-being of your Waqf-e-Nau children will naturally improve. The true source of Tarbiyyat in a home is the mother and so to IXOĂ&#x20AC;O WKH SOHGJH WKDW \RX KDYH PDGH \RX PXVW JLYH \RXU FKLOGUHQ JUHDW PRUDO WUDLQLQJ When a person seeks to give his loved ones a gift, he desires for the gift to be excellent and beautifully decorated. In the same way, when you present your children to the -DPD¡DW \RX VKRXOG GR VR KDYLQJ JLYHQ WKHP WKH PRVW H[FHOOHQW PRUDO WUDLQLQJ DQG JXLGDQFH 7KH PRWKHUV RI :DTI H 1DX FKLOGUHQ ZLOO RQO\ IXOĂ&#x20AC;O WKH SOHGJH RI GHGLFDWLQJ WKHLU FKLOGUHQ WR WKH -DPD¡DW LI WKH\ DOZD\V UHPDLQ HQJDJHG LQ SUD\HUV DQG DUH DOZD\V focused on carrying out the moral training of their children.
Focus
Hazrat Khalifatul Masih vaba has especially instructed Waaqfeen to read this book (As part of the syllabus for waaqfeen-e-nau)
In this issue of the magazine we are introducing a book written by Dr. Karimullah Zirvi sahib. We aim to give a brief introduction of the book and insight into the very important and informative topics discussed in this book by the author.
Welcome to Ahmadiyyat The True Islam Title Author Language Number of pages
Welcome to Ahmadiyyat the True Islam Dr. Karimullah Zirvi English 524
Introduction There is a growing need for suitable reading material, which could provide basic information about Islam and Ahmadiyyat and about the organizational structure of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;at. The book, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Welcome to $KPDGL\\DW WKH 7UXH ,VODP Âľ DWWHPSWV WR IXOĂ&#x20AC;OO this need. It is an excellent introduction to Islam and Ahmadiyyat. Starting from the fundamentals of the faith and practice of the Islamic religion, the book projects the key aspects of the life of the Holy Prophetsa and his Khulafah, and that of the Promised Messiah and Mahdias and his Khulafah. The book also gives basic information about the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;at and its organizational structure. Furthermore, important information about Islamic worship,
morals, and festivals are also given in the book. The book will be useful not only for the newcomers to the fold of Ahmadiyyat, the true Islam, but also to the younger generation of Ahmadis who are growing up in Western societies. The preservation of religious and moral heritage of the new generation of Ahmadis is very important, so that they grow up as true Ahmadi Muslims. By reading this book they can become familiar not only with the early history of Ahmadiyyat but also with the present status and the future of the Jamaâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;at . (Foreword by Late Sahibzada Mirza Muzaffar Ahmad USA in the book â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Welcome to Ahmadiyyat the true Islam,â&#x20AC;&#x2122; p.12)
Brief Insight into the book by the author By the Grace of God, Ahmadiyyat, the True Islam is spreading throughout the world. People of all creeds and color are joining Ahmadiyyat in unprecedented numbers. Just last year more than 81 million men, women and children all over the world have joined Ahmadiyyat. Acceptance of Islam and joining the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama‘at (Community), undoubtedly, is the most important decision one makes in one’s life. It was felt that there should be a book containing basic information about Islam and Ahmadiyyat which could be given to people joining the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. The book should also provide basic information about
the Jama‘at’s Organizational system, Chanda system, and various Jama‘at activities, etc. This book has been prepared to this end and is a compilation of the material already published in the literature of the Jama‘at. For a more detailed information about Islam and Ahmadiyyat, the reader is urged to read the books listed in the Bibliography. Although, this book has been prepared for newcomers in Ahmadiyyat, the true Islam, it may also serve as an introduction to those seeking more information about Islam and Ahmadiyyat, but are not yet ready to make a commitment.
Sample Chapters and Topics from the Book
1 THE PURPOSE OF MAN’S LIFE
6
- Significance of Religion - The Apex of Religious Deveopment - Unity of Religions
4 ISLAMIC WORSHIP
- Charter of Freedom - The Farewell Address of The Holy Prophetsa - (Hijjatul Wida’)
7
- The Holy Qur’an - Practice of The Holy Prophetsa - Categories of the Books of Hadith
KHILAFAT - Hadrat Abu Bakr Siddiqra - Hadrat ‘Umar Faruqra - Hadrat ‘Uthman Ghanira - Hadrat ‘Ali Bin Abu Talibra - Accession of Hadrat Hasanra
- The Five Pillars of Islam - Types of Prayers - Kinds of Fasts - The Requirements of Hajj - Zakat
5 ISLAMIC LAW
THE HOLY PROPHET OF ISLAMSA
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AHMADIYYAT, THE AHMADIYYA MUSLIM JAMA’AT - The Name, Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at - Hadrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad Qadiani, the Promised Messiah and Imam Mahdias - Children of the Promised Messiah and Mahdias - Claims of the Promised Messiah and Mahdias - The Mission of the Promised Messiah and Mahdias - Status of the Promised Messiah and Mahdias - Beliefs of Ahmadiyya Jama’at - Conditions of Bai’at (Initiation) Maryam OCT-DEC 2013
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DIFFERENCES BETWEEN 10 THE 14 AHMADI AND NON-AHMADI MUSLIMS
- Jesus Christ’s Demiseas - The Second Advent of the Promised Messiah and Mahdias - Messiah and Mahdi are the Same Person - The Interpretation of the Finality of Hadrat Muhammad’s Prophethoodsa - The Concept of Jihad
11 THE KHILAFAT-I-AHMADIYYA 16 - Need for a Khilafat - Signs of Khilafat - Functions and Powers of Khilafat - Election of Khalifatul Masih - Status of Khalifatul Masih
INSTITUTIONS AND VARIOUS SCHEMES OF THE AHMADIYYA JAMA’AT - Fadl-i-Umar Foundation - Darul Diafat (Langar Khana) - Nusrat Jahan Scheme - Waqf-i-Arzi Scheme - Waqf-i-Nau Scheme
CHANDA (SUBSCRIPTION) SYSTEM OF THE AHMADIYYA JAMA’AT - The Main Obligatory Chandas - Chanda Wasiyyat - Chanda Jalsa Salana - Chanda Tehrik-i-Jadid - Chanda Waqf-i-Jadid - ‘Id Fund - The Voluntary Chandas
STRUCTURE 18 12 ORGANIZATIONAL OF THE AHMADIYYA JAMA’AT - Khalifatul Masih - Majlis-i-Shura or Majlis-i-Mushawarat - International Headquarters (Markaz) - Darweshan-i-Qadian - Bahishti Maqbarah - Sadr Anjuman Ahmadiyya - Jami‘a Ahmadiyya - Secondary Schools and Colleges
STATUS OF WOMEN IN ISLAM - Woman as Mother - Woman as Wife - Woman as Daughter - Segregation of the Sexes
Sample Glossary
Afsar: In-charge Amir: Commander, Head Baitud Dua: Prayer room; A small room attached to Masjid Mubarak, Qadian used by The Promised Messiah and Mahdias for praying to God Almighty. Darweshan-i-Qadian: Ahmadis in Qadian to safeguard the Holy sites and institutions of the Jama‘at. At the time of partition of Indian subcontinent into India and Pakistan, 313 Ahmadis were left in Qadian.
Diafat: Hospitality Hijjatul Wida: The last pilgrimage of the Holy Prophetsaw Halal: Lawful Haram: Unlawful Ijtima: Gathering; Gathering of members of an organization. Imaillah: Maids of Allah Istikhara: Seeking God’s support and guidance through a formal prayer and worship. Khusuf: Eclipse of the moon, during which a special prayer is to be offered Kusuf: Eclipse of the sun, during which a special prayer is to be offered. Majlis Mushawarat: The Consultative Body (General Council) of Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama‘at that gives suggestions to the Khalifah. Minaratul Massih: A minaret whose foundation was laid down by Promised Messiah and Mahdias in the yard of Aqsa Mosque, Qadian to literally fulfil the prophecy that the Promised Messiah will be raised near a white minaret East of Damascus. Qadi: Islamic Judge Talim: Education Tarbiyyat: Moral Training Zabur: (Psalms): given to Prophet Davidas
“Welcome to Ahmadiyyat, the True Islam” is available to read online at: www.alislam.org
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Basic Arabic Language Lessons for Waaqifaat-e-Nau Lesson 7 Singular attached pronouns Certain letters can be added to the end of the nouns to show to whom the noun belongs. These letters are known as attached pronouns. The singular attached pronouns are shown below. We will look at the other forms (dual and plural) later in the series.
My
Ȇʺ
Your (m)
½È ½ Ê
Your (f) His, its Her, its This is my cat This is your(m) cat This is your(f) cat This is his cat This is her cat
ÉǾº
ΎϬ˴ ˰
ȆºÊƬċǘÊǫ ÊǽǀÊ ǿÈ È ÉƬºċǘÊǫ ÊǽǀÊ ǿÈ Ǯ Ê ÉƬºċǘÊǫ ÊǽǀÊ ǿ Ǯ È Ê ÊÊ ÉǾ ÉƬºċºǘǫ ǽǀǿÈ ƢȀÈ ºÉƬºċǘÊǫ ÊǽǀÊ ǿÈ This is my book This is your (m) book This is your (f) book This is his book This is her book
ȆºÊƥƢÈƬºÊǯ ¦ ǀÈ ǿÈ
Ǯ ǀÈ ǿÈ È ÉƥƢÈƬºÊǯ ¦ Ê ÉƥƢÈƬºÊǯ ¦ Ǯ ǀÈ ǿÈ Ê ǀÈ ǿ È É ǾºÉƥƢÈƬºǯ ¦ ƢºȀºÈ ÉƥƢÈƬºÊǯ ¦ ǀÈ ǿÈ
Exercise 15
Make sentences saying, “This is my...” using each of the people in the vocabulary box. Pay attention to the masculine feminine forms of “This is.”
Kids Spread
Test your Knowledge...
Tehrike Jadid 1 Un Under Divine guidance, who introduced the scheme called â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Tehrike Jadidâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; AND WHEN WAS IT ESTABLISHED? Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IIra, Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmood Ahmad in 1934
2 Who was the first participant of this blessed scheme? W Hazrat Syeda Nusrat Jehan Begum Sahibara (Daughter of the Promised Messiahas)
3 What was the primary purpose of this scheme? W To open new missions and construct Mosques around the world.
4 W What was the name given to the very first group of members who took part in this blessed scheme? Daftar Awal
5 Fill in the blanks: Und der these demands of the scheme , the Ahmadiyya community was urged to lead a ______ life , to make __________ in the cause of Islam , and to volunteer their lives for Missionary work. Under these demands of the scheme, the Ahmadiyya community was urged to lead a simple life , to make sacrifices in the cause of Islam, and to volunteer their lives for missionary work. Maryam OCT-DEC 2013
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Kids Spread 6 Name some of the blessings the Jama’at has seen set up under this scheme. Translations of the Holy Qur’an in numerous languages, establishment of Mosques, schools, hospitals, homeopathic clinics and Jamia Ahmadiyya schools across the world.
7 The failure of which group of opponents’ mission to destroy the Jama’at inspired Hazrat Musleh Maudas to establish the scheme of tehrike jadid? Majlis-e-Ahrar
wordsearch K E C Y A X M L H M W W V C H
C C T R X U M A N S S R F Q N
I I S A H Y P I O M N A C S P
R F N N R L V Z I O R R J E D
D I N O I K Y K T S L H E A I
JAMIA TEHRIKEJADID MAJLISEAHRAR
A R J I Z U D X A Q S A C N D
F C P S V Z T I G U P E P X A
T A M S B N E V A E X S K Z J
A S G I Z M F M P S K I B X E
R X T M N Z D X O P L L G C K
MOSQUES SACRIFICE MISSIONARY DAFTARAWAL
A E P E H U R X R W V J L O I
W I G X E I O L P P W A D N R
A D H O S P I T A L S M C J H
L H V X Y P G M X O F W S R E
N Z S J A M I A E A V N B K T
HOSPITALS MISSIONARY PROPAGATION
References: www.alislam.org / www.khuddam.org.uk / www.lajnausa.net
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ISLAM AND EVOLUTION VIA NATURAL SELECTION Ayesha Satwat Ahmad Islamabad UK
If we look up ‘evolution’ in the dictionary, we read the followin} dewnition\ º/he process by which different kinds of living organisms are thought to have developed and diversiwed from earlier forms during the history of the earth°» /he theory of ‘evolution via natural selection’ was put forward by Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace simultaneously. However, it is Darwin’s name that remains most well known. Darwin’s paper on evolution was read before Wallace’s at a meeting of the Linnean Society (the world’s oldest biological society for debate and discussion of natural history in all its branches), resulting in Darwin receiving the most recognition for the theory. /he theory of ‘evolution via natural selection,’ in simple terms, suggests that organisms change over time as a result of changes in heritable physical or behavioural traits. Changes Maryam Mary Ma ryam ry am OCT-DEC OCT CT-DE EC 2013 201
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that allow an organism to better adapt to its environment will help it to survive and have more offspring, a process known as ‘survival of the wttest.’ However, Darwin also believed that these small changes in one species could, over time, lead to the formation of a completely new species from the old one - the most popular example being the formation of humans from apes. /hree conditions must be satiswed before natural selection can take place\ £) /here must be offspring. Ó) /he offspring should vary from the parents due to mutation, even if negligibly so.
Î) /he accidental mutation in offspring should eventually lead to differences in the ability to survive and to further reproduce. /hese three conditions are the mechanism, according to the modern evolutionary theory, for the changes observed in organisms over time by crediting accidental mutation. However, the Holy Qur’an states that
the complexity of creation could not have come about by itself. Natural selection fails to explain how life itself was created and how these accidental mutations steered life towards complexity. From the joining together of amino acids to form proteins in the primordial soup i through to insects, plants & animals with their numerous, intricate and delicately crafted internal and external structures and organ systems\ ‘evolution via natural selection’ simply does not provide an adequate explanation. Allah the Almighty states in the Holy Qur’an that natural selection by itself does not bring about evolution & that Divine Will guides evolution. If nature alone had guided evolution, life was more likely to have relapsed than evolved. Also, there would be the constant danger of any number of random mutations that could have led to countless numbers of lifeless consequences.
/he Holy Qur’an states that life resulted from evolution that was not blind or random. Instead, it was controlled by the Divine Hand which accounts for the start, variety and complication of life on Earth. From the Holy Qur’an, we know that Allah creates in stages and humans too evolved under His Divine Hand. Humans were created in { stages\ From insensible substance to being physically humans, after which they developed mental cognition, i.e. the ability to think and communicate, and wnally learning to integrate into society. If, however, we were to believe that human evolution occurred via blind natural selection, then we are presented with a situation that is at a complete paradox to Islamic teachings; that is that human life came about through
countless accidents and therefore is purely coincidental. /he Holy Qur’an, however, states in Surah Al- u’minun\ ºDid you then think that We had created you without purpose, and that you would not be brought back to 1s¶» (Ch.ÓÎ\ 6.££È). /his quotation clearly tells us that human beings were created by Allah Almighty with a purpose in mind and did not come about as a result of mere accident. Another important point that one can learn by picking through the mechanism of natural selection is why does natural selection, more often than not, result in a progression for the species rather than a hindrance. For example, prior to the industrial revolution in Britain, trees and buildings were primarily white and the peppered moths in the area - known as such due to their white colour with black spots - were perfectly camouyaged in that environment. Yet, as the industrial revolution reached its peak and trees and buildings began to darken, a new darker variety of moth was
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observed. Now we could try to attribute this straight away to natural selection, however, the process by which natural selection occurs does not allow for it to direct the genes in a species. For example, it was not and cannot be natural selection itself which produced the darker colour allele in the moths. Once the environment deepened, the white moths became easy prey for predators due to their higher visibility and their darker counterparts instead became more dominant. As we can see from this singular scenario, out of the millions there have been, we can see that natural selection can only ºchoose» from the existing creation of God Almighty. /he process of natural selection can neither create new varieties, nor direct the changes in varieties within a species.
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/his is a crucial problem with natural selection, which highlights the need for a Creator. Natural selection does not create, but works on pre-existing matter. /his raises the question of where did the inorganic material that eventually formed the underpinning groundwork for life and creation come from? Natural selection simply explains the development of life after creation.
thousands of mutations to occur faultlessly of their own accord are extortionately low. In fact, scientist Fred Hoyle compared the likelihood of the complexity of life from random accidents to the assembly of a Boeing 747 by a tornado sweeping through a junkyard.
/his example demonstrates the survival of a species through natural selection under Divine Guidance. In this instance, only one mutation occurred within a species. It would take thousands and thousands of accidental mutations in order for the transition from apes to humans to occur. Unsurprisingly, if even a single one of these mutations became corrupt, then humans would not take the form we do today. Humans may not even exist. Obviously, the chances of these
Additionally, current scientiwc progress has led to a remarkable discovery\ that if organic material is created from inorganic material then it must enter a dry period in order to stop it from returning to its original form. Still, 1500 years prior to the discovery of this phenomenon, the Holy Qur’an has mention of this, ”… And We made from water every living thing…” (Surah Al-Hijr\ 6.Î1). Furthermore, the Holy Qur’an then proclaims, ºAnd, surely, We created man from dry ringing clay, from black mud wrought
"And, surely, We created man from dry ringing clay, from black mud wrought into shape..." - SURAH AL-HIJR: V.27
into shape,” (Surah Al-Hijr\ 6.Ó7). /he Holy Qur’an mentioned that human creation involved water and clay thus inorganic materials became organic and then entered a dry stage in order to strengthen it irrevocably. It is true that life was, as a result of evolution, something that is declared in the Holy Qur’an. However, unlike the theory of ‘evolution via natural selection’, the Holy Qur’an recognises the complexity of life and the jigsaw of creation which wts together seamlessly and states that life cannot have become what it is due to mere chance over billions of years. /his creation is too intricate, too perfect in its progression to be a result of innumerable accidents; accidents which due to their random occurrences and sheer number were strongly unlikely to always lead to
the healthy advancement of life. Hence, evolution was not guided by natural selection, but instead by Allah Almighty, the Divine Creator who created all matter from which life later evolved in a precise and controlled fashion - something which is unrealistic and to attribute to natural selection. Endnote: /he term ‘primordial soup’ comes from the theory of the origin of life on Earth proposed by Alexander Oparin. /his proposes that life began as an ocean of chemicals, the combination of which produced amino acids and thus proteins which would evolve into species.
i
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An Approach to Heaven Part Four
{
A fictional account of a new convert Ali Rizvi on the true brutality of the attacks on the two Ahmadiyya Mosques in Lahore on 28 May 2010
}
Book written by: GHAZALA ABBASI
CHAPTER 10 The upper part of the house looked really foreign. Probably because there were three bedrooms with identities, a bathroom with an exact number of tooth brushes and just memories of happy times the family had spent together. â&#x20AC;&#x153;You know what?â&#x20AC;? Mehmood asked whilst entering his bedroom with blue walls with Man U posters stuck everywhere. â&#x20AC;&#x153;What?â&#x20AC;? I cowardly replied, thinking he had enough of me. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s get your mind working properly again. You fancy playing a game of Ă&#x20AC;ID"Âľ +H KDG EURXJKW EDFN the mischievous and in this case competitive shine into his eyes. I could just laugh and say yes. â&#x20AC;&#x153; Now thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a good boy, ready to get beaten....?â&#x20AC;? Maryam OCT-DEC 2013 2013 OCT-DEC
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â&#x20AC;&#x153;Get real Mehmood, you face showed up once again! donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know me!â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;You are one funny guy.... Mr Mehmood, can we by ´:HOO OHW¡V VHH LQQLW" +HUH \RXU DOORZDQFH Ă&#x20AC;QLVK EHLQJ have my washed pair of immature and start the tracksuits and shirt. You game?â&#x20AC;? can change in the bathroom. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t try to be stupid while â&#x20AC;&#x153; Well done betei! Yes, we brushing up your skills may.â&#x20AC;? VHFUHWO\ Âľ +H WKUHZ PH the clothes like any buddy â&#x20AC;&#x153; Oh wow!â&#x20AC;? would and started setting up the playing console etc. The game started off pretty well, me as an Arsenal and â&#x20AC;&#x153;Trust me, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m already him as a Man U player. I VNLOOHG Âľ , VDLG FRQĂ&#x20AC;GHQWO\ tackelled the opposite party while going out of the room pretty well till half of the and started laughing. game, but Mehmood found out my secret techniques When I came back, and attacked me badly. Still, 0HKPRRG KDG Ă&#x20AC;QLVKHG it was too late for him to setting up the game and was brush them skills up and I waiting, sitting at the bottom won 3:2! of his bed. ´ 12 $OL PDQ +RZ GR â&#x20AC;&#x153; Thanks for these clothes! you do that?â&#x20AC;? You ready?â&#x20AC;? I asked, while entering. ´ -XVW D ELW RI VHOI FRQĂ&#x20AC;GHQFH I got from Fa...ther.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153; Wearing Mehmoodâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s clothes canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t make you Once again I couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t control Mehmood, even if you really the anger which bursted want to be, so that you can through his face taking over ZLQ WKLV JDPH Âľ +LV LURQLF my brain. I threw the player
console swiftly and hid my face from Mehmood, who I knew thought that I am the biggest zombie in the world.
â&#x20AC;&#x153; A revelation to the Promised Messiah (as) when his Father was about to die. From all of my classes in the Mosque, I have larned over and â&#x20AC;&#x153; Wanna have some rest over again that patience is now? Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll get some water.â&#x20AC;? the best virtue. A mother â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sorryâ&#x20AC;? I said ashamed might be weak at times and hidden yet she is very strong too. I am so not good at being â&#x20AC;&#x153;You didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t do anything patient but my mum is a Ali so no need to hurt living example of it and I yourself.â&#x20AC;? am sure every mother on this earth, including yours Feeling some water piling my friend is as well.â&#x20AC;? up in my eyes, I just wanted to leave the room â&#x20AC;&#x153; Your right. Every hit. but hearing Mehmoodâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Every punch. Every comment, I knew he was scolding. Patience is what the best brother one could Ă RZHG IURP KHU UHDFWLRQV ever have and so decided I hate that guy!â&#x20AC;? to show my face and share my pain. â&#x20AC;&#x153; You love him deep down Ali.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153; I feel devastated Man! ´+DKD \RXU IXQQ\ :K\ A father who seems so donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t you hate him, he dangerous on one hand had a disgusting attitude and the most beautiful towardsa uncle.â&#x20AC;? and patient mother on the other, I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know what â&#x20AC;&#x153;Dad doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t mind him to do!â&#x20AC;? so I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t either. I might look like a rebel but even â&#x20AC;&#x153; Remembering her?â&#x20AC;? I have absorbed into every Mehmood had now nano cell of mine to love packed the equipment up everyone and hate no and sat down in a very one... pretty hard I admit!â&#x20AC;? calm manner, leaning against the wall. I just â&#x20AC;&#x153; Butters.â&#x20AC;? I felt very free nooded as an answer to his to remark. question. â&#x20AC;&#x153; Our communityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s slogan â&#x20AC;&#x153;Listen to your heart. Is of peace. Not butter or $//$+ QRW VXIĂ&#x20AC;FLHQW IRU margarine.â&#x20AC;? +LV VHUYDQW"Âľ Those words clinged to â&#x20AC;&#x153; So what you are trying me like mosquitoes in the to say is that you hate hot seasons. They felt so no person on this earth. true yet I feared them. The +DVQ¡W DQ\RQH EHDWHQ \RX were beautiful but had an up before?â&#x20AC;? intense meaning!
Mehmood started laughing, him being his usual calm, collective, jolly kid. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There was a time but I used to have this really calm and peaceful guy as a friend, who just told the guy that had a grudge with me to leave me alone or else he would call the police. As I said, I may look like a rebel but there is an Ahmadi Muslim in me too!â&#x20AC;? The smile he had on his face is what i wanted for my present on my face on every Eid. So proud and yet down to earth. â&#x20AC;&#x153; Impressive. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t try to keep me out of this circle of Ahmadiyyat.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153; I never did. It is just some VHOI FRQĂ&#x20AC;GHQFH , OHDUQW from the true path which leads me to the truthful and real Islam.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not like I want to keep my parents out of this circle either, knowing that what youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re talking about is totally right!â&#x20AC;? ´ +DYH IDLWK $//$+ ZLOO set all things right buddy!â&#x20AC;? ´ ,QVK$//$+ Âľ With this last comment made, Mehmood start to drift and so arranged his sleeping equipment, prayed and then with a IDUHZHOO Ă&#x20AC;OOHG ZLWK JRRG riddens of me attaining Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s protection, fell
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asleep. I however, did some the soft tissues and escape thinking. out of my body! Trying WR Ă&#x20AC;JXUH RXW ZKDW ZDV I pondered over how the happening, I remembered pain and persecution felt that I did wake up for the E\ WKH Ă&#x20AC;UVW IROORZHUV DQG Fajr prayer, after which I believer of of Islam in the went back to sleep. Then... WLPH RI WKH +RO\ 3URSKHW I remembered! It all came (saw) was being felt by back as a rush of water and the Ahmadiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, the true I found myself in a delusion followers of Islam in this of being under the guidance day and age. Answers to DQG KHOS RI $//$+ my social problems, which Almighty through the I thought could never be 3URPLVHG 0HVVLDK +D]UDW answered or interpreted by Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of anyone had been explained Qadian! I literary saw him by a young boy of my age. in my dream in which he Fascinating. Is this worth was as bright as a star, all of the emotions and who revived its brightness pain I made myself and my through the biggest star, mother go through? Why WKH +RO\ 3URSKHW RI ,VODP didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t I just go home and (saw). Seeing his picture VXIIHU OLNH , XVHG WR" +RZ arround the mosque and in could I feel so secure in the the home I was given shelter mosque of another sect? in I was absolutely sure that Question upon questions it was him. Sweat trickled bursted through my mind down my face and I rushed and I found myself in a to get some water. As I was dark but visible state. All doing so, I clashed into I needed was a push and auntry who seemed to be D Ă&#x20AC;UP DQVZHU WKDW ZRXOG heading upstairs. I stopped, answer all of my questions. listened to my breathing I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to hastily and felt embarrassed yet decide and suffer later! At curious and excited to last I prayed to my Lord ensure what I had seen. A for guidance and fell fast UHDO GLUHFWLRQ IURP $//$+ asleep. the Exalted!
words I did manage to say. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Messiah? Son? Who betei?â&#x20AC;? Aunty seemed to be taking word by word seriously. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Messiah.â&#x20AC;? My heart had now started to regulate properly. She was astonished and pleased at the fact. A smile that came with tears was apparent on her lovely face. â&#x20AC;&#x153; In a dream right?â&#x20AC;? She asked most humbly. I nodded, still catching part of my breath. ´ 0D\ $//$+ VZWD EOHVV us and furnish us with right guidance at every step in RXU OLIH 0DVK$//$+ 6XEKDQ$//$+ Âľ
There was a deep pause for a moment. I knew I was standing with someone but rather than trying to say and eloborate further regarding the dream, I was constantly remembering the whole dreams twice, thrice, 5 times in order to keep it DV D Ă&#x20AC;UP IRXQGDWLRQ LQ P\ heart and mind. After about 5 minutes, Aunty smiled in a similar way to Mehmood â&#x20AC;&#x153; Ali! What happened son?â&#x20AC;? DQG H[FODLPHG ´$//$+ CHAPTER 11 Aunty said in a shocked +8 $.%$5 $ EHDXW\ KDV tone. entered my house. A heart Gently, the Sunâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rays hit me of Gold you have Ali! Only and my eyes feeling heavier â&#x20AC;&#x153; I saw him... I saw...â&#x20AC;? a few people see the truth than ever before opened Words werenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t coming out through emotions, feelings slightly. I could hear my of my mouth. and dreams. You should be heart pounding faster than I UHDOO\ JUDWHIXO WR $//$+ had ever experienced and so â&#x20AC;&#x153;Who Ali? Who did you VZWD +H KDWK PDGH WKH stayed where I was, hoping see?â&#x20AC;? right path become very it wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t escape through â&#x20AC;&#x153; The Promised...â&#x20AC;? The easily visible to you. Try
Maryam OCT-DEC 2013 2013 OCT-DEC
48
not to trip. The harrassing and cruel attacks of Lahore recently show quite clearly the effect of people being brain washed and tripping. +RZ FRXOG RQH NLOO RXU brothers, if we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t harm WKHP 7KH +RO\ 4XUDQ bears witness to the fact so beautifully by forbidding such acts without having experienced any offence from another party. I am very proud of you betei, 0D\ $//$+ VKRZ \RXU family and everyone the right path too. Water?â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Yes please. Aunty Jaan, I promise you... I will always try to stay steadfast and yes, it is all due to $//$+ 7$¡$/$ WKH HYHU Merciful and Waliyy. I wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t let the community down.â&#x20AC;? I replied , trying to control my tears, my passion and my heart. A heart which knew that now that I had through Divine guidance, found the strong foundations of truth of this day and age, I had to get better and bring peace to my dearest ones and of course the whole world. CHAPTER 12 The only incomplete feeling left, was the fact that my heart knew I was an Ahmadi Muslim but the Jamaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;at didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t. I felt an urge to be formally attached to the true Islam of the age, the Islam
that had been revived through the Islam that was apparent in the time of the +RO\ 3URSKHW VDZ , GLG not want anyone to have a chance of pulling me away from the truth, which would be a way to heaven for me. It was like, destiny was repeating itself. The ZD\ WKH Ă&#x20AC;UVW FRXUDJHRXV and pure followers and GLVFLSOHV RI WKH +RO\ Prophet Muhammad (saw) were persecuted so had the steadfast and righteous members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;at been tormented and persecuted in the same sort of way. Me joining this jamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;at was just a duty i had WR IXOĂ&#x20AC;OO 1R PDWWHU ZKDW happened! GOD instructs us to follow the truh and take heed when knowledge and signs are shown to XV +HQFH LI , DP DEOH WR Ă&#x20AC;QG UHDVRQ LQ WKLV ZRUOG and attain the blessings of God Almighty, there is no way I would step back and live the lost life I was living! I had found what I needed. I knew I did not need to delve into details DQG VSHFLĂ&#x20AC;F DOOHJDWLRQV that I would want to have answered by the Jamaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;at, true sign from the Divine and an open minded heart has shown me that Mirza Ghulam Ahmad is not a liar! Ahmadis are Muslims! I have seen it with my own eyes! The brotherhood, the peace, the hope... I see
reason and logic in it, I bear eye witness to the fact and having experienced the fenomena in the dream... I DP DQG ZLOO ,QVK$//$+ always be an Ahmadi Muslim, which in my opinion is a Muslim, who in truth deserves to be one and is in real terms, worthy of the title. It was about 10.00am by the time I took notice of the world and the time. Mehmood sat on the dining table, looking hungry as always! Uncle looked like he was in a rush and Aunty brought the piping tea and the soft bread to the table surface, mumbling a couple RI SUDLVHV IRU $//$+ (swt). If I were to compare this with my house... Father would be applying the dark red powder on his forehead to show that he had been praying, Mother would be checking if the EUHDNIDVW ZDV WRWDOO\ Ă&#x20AC;QH and the tea tray would be going â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;rattle... rattle...rattleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; weakly protected by her shaking hands and scared heart. I would just enter the kitchen all ready , say Salaam, pick up a piece of EUHDG DQG H[LW +RZHYHU , did miss being home. Not having seen the pain that my mother shared with me, made me feel really heavy but not alone. I had in a way created a strong relationship with this family which seemed to
Maryam OCT-DEC 2013
49
try everything to reassure me that one day everything ZLOO EH Ă&#x20AC;QH
â&#x20AC;&#x153;I want to become a formal Ahmadi Muslim.â&#x20AC;? As soon as I said that, Mehmoodâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s eyes widened and I could â&#x20AC;&#x153;Ali!â&#x20AC;? Mehmood called, feel a hand upon my trying to pull me away from shoulder which seemed to my thoughts once again! be coming from behind me. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Coming...â&#x20AC;? I got up quickly from the sofa and walked towards the dining table. I was glad I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t fall into the pile of thoughts while I got ready before anyone had even woken up. Well, except for Aunty! â&#x20AC;&#x153;Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s up? Everything alright yeah?â&#x20AC;? Mehmood asked, munching away his cheese sandwich. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Nothing. Was just thinking. You are going to the mosque today arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t you?â&#x20AC;? I asked.
â&#x20AC;&#x153; What I mean to say is that Ali saw a dream regarding WKH WUXWK RI RXU -DPD¡DW +H saw the Promised Messiah (as) in it!â&#x20AC;?
â&#x20AC;&#x153;Is it!â&#x20AC;? Mehmood seemed to be really happy. Not â&#x20AC;&#x153;Really Ali?â&#x20AC;? It was Uncleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just happy, but happy for a hand. I felt the curiosity brother. to tell them two all about the dream and my intense â&#x20AC;&#x153;Yes it is! Mehmoodâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s emotions but nothing but IDWKHU IXOĂ&#x20AC;OO KLV ZLVK air came out of my mouth. Go through the procidure ZLWK KLP +H KDV EHHQ â&#x20AC;&#x153; I understand Ali.â&#x20AC;? Aunty restless since 8:30!â&#x20AC;? Aunty Ă&#x20AC;QDOO\ FDPH WRZDUGV WKH said so passionately. Not dining table, laughing just passionately but softly. â&#x20AC;&#x153; What will he passionately for a son. say Mehmood, a wave of immense beauty passed â&#x20AC;&#x153; Well well well... Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t him in the night!â&#x20AC;? I was we have a diamond in glad Aunty took over! our house! You have to tell me everything about â&#x20AC;&#x153;A shooting star?â&#x20AC;? I it as soon as we sit in the wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have believed car. Mehmoodâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mother, I he said that if I knew him shall leave now. Come on as someone other than Mehmood, quick!â&#x20AC;? Uncle Mehmood! said.
â&#x20AC;&#x153; I can if you want me to but Abu is going now if you want to join him.â&#x20AC;? Mehmood replied. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Mehmood betei... Do it Almonds from time to time, ´+H ORRNV UHDOO\ EXV\ it sharpens your brain you though. I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to see.â&#x20AC;? Aunty said, hiding disturb him.â&#x20AC;? I said, feeling half her laugh! a bit awkward. â&#x20AC;&#x153;No probs. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll go with â&#x20AC;&#x153;What do you mean then?â&#x20AC;? you friend! Anything in Mehmood asked in a very particular that you want to childish manner! do there?â&#x20AC;?
´&RPLQJ -XVW Ă&#x20AC;QLVKLQJ off Dad...â&#x20AC;? Mehmood said, munching away even quicker now. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Mehmood!â&#x20AC;? Uncle said in a bit of a harsh tone and Mehmood sat up and rushed towards his shoes. What a boy, I thought to myself.
The remainder of the Chapters will be published in the following issues of Maryam Magazine.
Maryam Maryam OCT-DEC2013 2013 OCT-DEC
50 50
The
S E RI Fall and
Mankind OF
(By Naveed-ul-Fatah Dogar)
In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful
THE TIME OF MESSIAH AND NOT OF ANY OTHER. “IT WAS HAD I NOT COME, ANOTHER WOULD HAVE COME.” (Poetic verse of the Promised Messiahas from Durr-e-Sameen).
This article looks to clarify some concepts surrounding the spiritual states of mankind through the ages, starting from the first Prophet mentioned in the Holy Qur’an to the Messiah of the Latter days. There are also distinct Prophetic periods that correspond to the given eras, as we shall see.
When we come across the name “Adam”, we have a tendency to think of the first man on earth. The name is of Hebrew origin and literally means man (Persian derivative: aadmi). In fact, humans existed long before Prophet Adamas, but he was the first man in this world, evolutionarily advanced enough to be bestowed with the responsibility of revelation and Prophet-hood. The Qur’an tells us that Prophet Adamas was the first Prophet and that many more followed through the ages. The Qur’an mentions the names of 25 Prophets who have appeared in the period between Prophet Adamas and the Holy Prophet Muhammadsaw; the last law-bearing Prophet of our time.
Prophets are a constant source of spirituality and morality. They are Allah’s gift to the world, to guide humanity on the right path. Their teachings are essentially what
51
Maryam OCT-DEC 2013
elevate humans above all other species. People who are
week, we infer that one ‘life cycle’ equates to around seven
lucky enough to recognise and follow the teachings of the
thousand worldly years. Also to note, another name of Surah
Prophets are promised the reward of this world and the next.
Al-Fatiha is Al- Saba’l masani, which means the dual seven.
The unfortunate people who ignore, ridicule and humiliate
The seven verses of this surah are an indication of the age of
the Prophets are ultimately doomed. Allah has demolished
the cycle of existence.
whole nations as punishment. Take for example, the nation
An interesting point of note here is that the teachings of Allah
of Prophet Noahas; he preached and warned them ‘to mend
throughout all of His books across time have been the same.
their wicked ways and save themselves from punishment…
Each book catered for the needs of people it was revealed
but they threatened him, his family and those who followed
to, but they have since become corrupt over time. Except for
him’1. Prophet Noahas continuously warned against the wrath
the Qur’an, which carries the universal truth for the whole of
of Allah, but ‘the wickedness of man was great in the earth,
mankind, the perfect book. It is God’s word and contains His
and that every intent of the thoughts of his (man’s) heart was
promise for it to be preserved until the end of time. Only if
only evil continually’2. Thus the Great flood destroyed the
the world would open its eyes and see these as proofs of a
nation and only Prophet Noahas and his followers were left to
living God!
redeem mankind. The world goes through different eras, which form a cycle that is repeated over. The Promised Messiahas clarifies, ‘But
T
he beginning of each of these seven thousand year cycles is marked by the appearance of an “Adam”, and
this is the age of OUR ancestral Adam. God’s word reveals
each of these thousand years has either been a period of
that there was a world before Adam, we cannot say who the
spiritual darkness or of spiritual light. The Promised Messiahas
people were or what they were like. We know that an era of
states:
the earth finishes in seven thousand years. Because of this reason, the establishment of a seven day-week serves as a witness. We do not know how many eras have passed and
“
THE HOLY QUR’AN SHOWS THAT, FROM ADAM TO THE END, GOD HAS ORDAINED THE
how many Adams of their times have already come.’3 Let us
AGE OF THE WORLD TO BE SEVEN THOUSAND
look at what the revealed books have to say on this particular
YEARS, WITH A THOUSAND YEAR PERIODS
point.
BOTH FOR LIGHT AND FOR DARKNESS.
IN
OTHER WORDS, THERE IS A PERIOD FOR
‘For a thousand years in your sight are like yesterday when it is past’ (Psalm 90:4).
RIGHTEOUSNESS TO PREVAIL AND A PERIOD IN WHICH EVIL AND MISGUIDANCE REIGN
one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one
ACCORDING TO SCRIPTURES, BOTH THESE
day’ (II Peter 3:8).
DIVIDED INTO PERIODS OF ONE THOUSAND
‘But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord
SUPREME.
YEARS EACH.4
‘Verily, a day with thy Lord is as a thousand years of your reckoning’ ( The Holy Qur’an Ch.22: V.48).
THE
DIVINE
EPOCHS
ARE
”
Allah’s Prophets have appeared throughout the ages, and generally, the people who belonged to the millennia of
All Abrahamic religions: Judaism, Christianity and Islam,
‘spiritual light’ were the people who were blessed enough to
agree that our worldly thousand years equate to a day with
recognise these Prophets and follow their teachings.
our Lord. Through this analogy, in line with the seven-day
Maryam OCT-DEC 2013
52
he first of these people were
T
the hands of the Lord. The period
of Prophets’. In this period, God sent
the followers of Prophet Adamas,
between the first cycle of spiritual
the greatest number of Prophets to
who appeared around 4000 BCE.
rise and fall of mankind is known
earth. This era included all the Mosaic
Christianity and some forms of
as the “antediluvian” period (i.e. the
Prophets (Prophet Mosesas, Prophet
Judaism blame Prophet Adamas for
period before biblical flood). This is
Aaronas,Prophet Jethroas) and more
the fall of man by committing the
the time from the first true teachings
so, all the Kingdom Prophets. Mosaic
original sin (eating the forbidden
of Prophet Adamas to the time of
Prophets appeared around the time
fruit). This introduces the erroneous
rejection of these teachings by
of Mosesas and Kingdom Prophets
concept of ‘inherited sin’. Islam
Prophet Noahas’s nation.
belonged to the various Israeli
completely rejects this idea and the
Kingdoms between 1040BC and 415
I
n around 2000 BC we come to
BC. These include Prophet Davidas,
the noblest family in history, the
Prophet Solomonas, Prophet Elijahas
the burden of another.’ (Holy Qur’an
House of Prophet Abrahamas. Prophet
and Prophet Jonahas . Prophet Mosesas
Ch.53: V.39)
Abrahamas has the distinction of being
established Judaism and the end
‘Then his Lord chose for him (Adamas)
the Patriarch of not only the Israelites
of the Mosaic Old Testament era is
His grace, and turned to him with
and Christians, but also the Quraish of
marked by the appearance of Prophet
mercy and guided him…whoso will
Mecca, among whom the Prophet of
Malachaias; the last of the Kingdom
follow My guidance, will not go astray,
Islamsaw was raised. Both of Prophet
Prophets.
nor will he come to grief.’ (The Holy
Abrahamas’s sons, Isaacas and Ishmaelas,
Qur’an Ch.20: V.123-124)
were Prophets. Prophet Ishmaelas
Allah bestows mercy upon Prophet
eventually settled in Mecca and with
Adamas and hence mankind, the
the help of his father, built the Kaa’ba.
as the ‘silent years’, and by now the
immense grace of Allah on the people
From Prophet Abrahamas’s other son
moral state of man had fast declined.
of Prophet Adamas ensured this
Prophet Isaacas, his grandson Jacobas
After more than a millennium of
Adam’s millennium was of spiritual
and his great-grandson Josephas were
constant guidance by Allah Almighty,
guidance.
also Prophets5.
the Israelites went astray: such is the
idea of atonement for others’ sins. ‘That no bearer of burden shall bear
T
hen came the age of Prophet
T
hen appears a four-century gap in Israelite Prophet-hood known
folly of man. The beginning of the
Noahas, an age void of spirituality
Other monotheistic religions were
next era is marked by the appearance
amongst the people. Idol worship
also established in this millennium.
of Prophet Jesus Christ, who was to be
became prevalent through the land,
Prophet Zoroasteras of Iran found
the terminal Prophet for the House of
and as stated above, Prophet Noah’sas
Zoroastrianism at around 1500BC.
Israel. The Israelites rejected Prophet
people rejected him as a Prophet
This was surely an era of spiritual
Jesusas, because according to them he
and suffered great misfortune at
lightness and was known as ‘the Age
died an accursed death on the cross.
IN WHICH I
“
THE
BEST CENTURY IS THE ONE
LIVE, THEN THE NEXT CENTURY, THEN THE CENTURY AFTER THAT.
THEN THERE WILL SPREAD FALSEHOOD AT THE HANDS OF PEOPLE WHO WILL TAKE PRIDE IN THEIR WEALTH AND RICHES AND WILL GROW FAT ON THE EARNINGS OF OTHERS.
”
Maryam OCT-DEC 2013
53
FIGURE 2: Spiritual states of the world, rough visualisation
To this day, they are left waiting for the return of Prophet Elijahas (one of the Kingdom Prophets), as is prophesised in the Old Testament. Prophet Jesusas was an Israelite. He taught about the unity of God and the importance of adherence to the Mosaic law (Holy Qurâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;an Ch.3: V.51), but through the coming centuries, his teachings were tampered with by men and a new religion formed; Christianity. In this modification of the true teachings of Prophet Jesusas, Christianty gave a mortal man the status of God. They introduced the concept of Trinity, and made God only accessible through another entity, namely Prophet Jesusas. Unfortunately, they too are left waiting for the return of Prophet Jesusas.
In summary so far, the Promised Messiahas explains â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;The first of these periods was dominated by guidance during which there was no sign of idol-worship. This was followed by another period, also lasting a thousand years, in which all kinds of idol-worship took root and Shirk became rampant and spread in every land. In the third millennium, the foundation of tauheed was laid afresh and it spread in the world as far as God willed. Then, during the fourth millennium, darkness reappeared; the Israelites went astray and Christianity died right at its birth, as if its birth and
Maryam OCT-DEC 2013
54
death had taken place at the same time. Then came the fifth millennium, which was the age of guidance. The advent of
As foretold in this tradition of the Holy Prophetsaw, Islam began
our Holy Prophetsaw took place in this millennium. Through
to decline after the first three centuries of uninterrupted
him God re-established tauheed in the world. The mere fact
conquests and growing prosperity, till it suffered a very
that he appeared in the millennium which had been destined
serious check in about 271 Hijri when its graded decline
for guidance since eternity, is enough to prove that he was
and decay continued till it reached its nadir in the next one
from God.’4
thousand years10. The Qur’anic verse states: “...then shall it go
he fifth Millennium is also known as the dawn of Islam,
T
up to Him in a day the duration of which is a thousand years...”
the golden age. Prophet Muhammadsaw came about six
(Holy Qur’an Ch.32: V.6). Reference is made to a very serious
hundred years after Prophet Jesusas and bought the ultimate
crisis that was destined to come over Islam. The Promised
Law for all to follow. This was the most spiritually elevated era
Messiahas states that ‘nor are these people from me, and nor
of our times and the message of Islam reached far and wide.
am I from them, meaning I have no relation to them what so
Virtue was restored and Satan was put back in his shackles3.
ever’11. He is completely dissociating himself from this group.
The Qur’an states that ‘He (Prophet Muhammadsaw) is the
Some so-called Muslim Mughal emperors openly consumed
messenger of Allah and the seal of Prophets (Holy Qur’an
alcohol, strictly forbidden by the Qur’an. The ‘champions of
Ch.33: V.41). The ‘seal’ signifies the finality of the law. It also
Islam’ couldn’t have been further from the truth. These people
signifies his most exalted status as a man and Prophet: the
truly were the misguided horde.
best and most perfect.6 Our beloved Holy Prophetsaw foresaw the fate of the people of the next millennium. This was a period of darkness and evil. It started three hundred years after Hijrah and ends at the turn of the 14th Century. The Holy Prophetsaw had destined those belonging to the sixth millennium as ‘Faij-e-A’Waj’, or the misguided horde.
The Holy Prophetsaw is reported to have said ‘The best century is the one in which I live, then the next century, then the century after that. Then there will spread falsehood at the hands of people who will take pride in their wealth and riches and will grow fat on the earnings of others.’7 “There will come a time upon the people when nothing will remain of Islam except its name only and nothing will remain of the Qur’an except its inscription. Their mosques will be splendidly furnished but destitute of guidance. Their divines will be the worst people under the heaven and strife will issue from and avert to them.”8 An important prophecy states that “Faith will ascend to the Pleiades and a man of Persian descent will bring it back to earth.”9. There are also sayings regarding the coming of a latter day Messiah who will strive against the unbelievers and will re-establish the glory of Islam.
Maryam OCT-DEC 2013
55
he final (seventh) thousandth era is referred to as the
T
the end of the sixth millennium and make his appearance at
Messianic age, the ‘latter days’ when the Promised
the turn of the seventh, for he would be the last to come, as
Messiahas and the Reformer is to appear. This is the age of
Adam was the first. Adam was born on the sixth day, during
revival of Islam, the age of peace and ultimate spiritual
the last hours of Friday. Since a day in the estimation of God
guidance. At the turn of the 14th century Hijri, the process
is equivalent to a thousand years of the world, it was on
of decay had been arrested and the renaissance of Islam had
account of the above resemblance that God decreed for the
taken place.
Promised Messiah to be born at the end of sixth millennium, which can be likened to the end of a day. As there is a
“The Lord will make an end of everything in six thousand
resemblance between the first and the last, God created the
years, for a day with him means a thousand years ... So then,
Promised Messiah in the likeness of Adam. Adam was born
children, in six days, that is in six thousand years, everything
a twin on a Friday, and I—the Promised Messiah—was also
will be completed. And he rested on the seventh day. This
born a twin on a Friday. My birth was preceded by the birth
means, when his Son comes he will destroy the time of the
of a twin sister. Such a birth points to the consummation of
wicked one, and will judge the godless…then he will truly
Wilayat (Sainthood).”4
rest on the seventh day.”12 Looking again at Surah al-Asr, the word Asr itself means time The advent of the Promised Messiah:
or history or succession of ages. If all the numerical values
The Promised Messiah explains “The seventh millennium
of the Arabic letters are added up, the total comes to the
in which we live is that of light and guidance. Since it is the
number of years that have passed of our 7000-year cycle
last millennium, it was inevitable that the Imam of the latter
before the advent of our Holy Prophetsaw.
days should be born at the turn of this millennium. After him there is no Imam and no Messiah except the one who
‘All the Prophets have clearly communicated the same tidings.
comes in his image, for in this millennium the world comes to
As I have already pointed out, the numerical values of the
as
an end as all the Prophets have testified. This Imam, whom
letters of Surah Al-‘Asr indicate clearly that the advent of the
God has designated as the Promised Messiah, is the Mujaddid
Holy Prophetsaw took place in the fifth millennium after Adam.
(Reformer) of this century as well as of the last millennium.
According to this reckoning, ours is the seventh millennium. I
Even the Christians and the Jews do agree that, counting from
cannot deny that which has been revealed to me by God, nor
the time of Adam, the present millennium is the seventh. God
do I see any reason for rejecting the unanimous verdict of all
has disclosed to me the time of Adam, as calculated upon the
the Prophets of God.’4
numerical values of the letters of Surah Al-‘Asr. This too proves that we are now in the seventh millennium. All Prophetsas are
‘In accordance with this time-honoured law, God has already
in agreement that the Promised Messiah would be born at
foretold through His Prophets that, at the end of the sixth
“
...AT THE END OF THE SIXTH MILLENNIUM AFTER ADAM—WHEN A GREAT DARKNESS WOULD ENVELOPE THE EARTH, AND THE DELUGE OF SIN WOULD INUNDATE THE LAND, AND HEARTS WOULD BECOME DEVOID OF LOVE FOR GOD - HE WILL BREATHE INTO A MAN THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH AND LOVE AND AWARENESS...
”
Maryam OCT-DEC 2013
56
millennium after Adam—when a great darkness would
a part of this final millennium of spiritual guidance. This
envelope the earth, and the deluge of sin would inundate
era is for the supremacy of God and His Messiah, spread of
the land, and hearts would become devoid of love for
virtue and faith and righteousness, establishment of the
God—He will breathe into a man the spirit of truth and
Unity of God and Divine worship! By our actions, we are
love and awareness, just like in the case of Adam, without
to demonstrate why we deserve to be in the millennium
resorting to any physical means. And this man will also be
that was always destined to be enlightened one.
called the Messiah because God shall Himself anoint his soul with His love. Then, after a great fight—which, you must remember, will be a spiritual one—God’s Messiah shall emerge victorious, and satanic forces shall be
_______________________________________________
annihilated. Thereafter, for a thousand years, which have
REFERENCES:
been described as the ‘seventh day’, God’s majesty, glory, holiness and oneness shall prevail upon the earth. And this shall be followed by the end of the world.’13
1) Article: Noah’s Flood by Munir Ahmed Khan. Chapter 1. Available at: www.alislam.org. 2) Genesis, New King James Version, Chapter 6, Verse 5. 3) Roohani Khizaayein, Vol 20. Lecture Lahore, page 184.
The appearance of the Promised Messiahas at the given time is a great testimony to his truthfulness. There is much suppressed talk and hushed murmurs in recent times between all the great Abrahamic scholars. The time has come and gone, and they have failed to recognise the Mahdi of our time. It is a desperate situation for them, some say it is too late and the church should act as the replacement for the Messiah, and some now wonder the significance of the Messiah in the first place, trying to convince themselves that it wasn’t very important after all for the Messiah to appear.
4) Roohani Khizaayein, Vol. 20. Lecture Sialkot, Pages 7-10. 5) A book of religious knowledge, The house of Abraham. Available at: www.alislam.org. 6) The Holy Quran 5 vol. English commentary. 33:41. Footnote 3106. 7) Tirmidhi & Bukhari, Kitab Al-Shahadat. 8) Mishkatul Masabih, Kitabul Ilm. 9) Sahih Bukhari, Kitab-al Tafseer. 10) The Holy Quran 5 vol. English commentary. 32:6. Footnote 3062. 11) Roohani Khizaayein, Vol. 17. Tohfa-e-Golardviya. Page 227.
All that mankind has to do is search and the revived teachings of true Islam are within man’s grasp. We are blessed to have recognised the Imam of our time, and be
12) Codex sinaticus, New Testament. Epistle of Barnabas, 15:4-5. 13) Lecture Lahore (English translation) pages 40-41.
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Maryam OCT-DEC 2013
WORLD CRISIS AND THE PATHWAY TO
PEACE AUTHOR HAZRAT MIRZA MASROOR AHMADABA LANGUAGE ENGLISH EDITION THIRD EDITION YEAR OF PRINT 2013 NUMBER OF PAGES 190 PUBLISHED BY ISLAM INTERNATIONAL PUBLICATIONS, UK
World Crisis and the Pathway to Peace is a compilation of speeches and letters of Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmadaba that have been delivered and sent to world leaders and the Heads of State over the past several years. Letters to key leaders such as Her Majesty the Queen of England and President Obama of USA are published in this book. Guidance delivered by Huzur at his historic addresses at the Houses of Parliament in the UK, the Military Headquarters in Germany and at Capitol Hill in Washington, USA are also presented in this book. In this book, we read that Huzuraba warns the world of the consequences of a catastrophic nuclear war, which circumstances are demonstrating is very near - not to create alarm but to prepare them to think about how the world has arrived in this state of being and what is the course to peace and security for the world. He proclaims that the only way to insure peace is for the world to adopt the ways of humility and justice, and to humbly submit to God. Maryam Marya OCT-DEC OCT DEC 2013 0
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