Hazrat Abu Hurairah, Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said:
“The most complete of the believers in faith is the one with the best character among them. And the best of you are those who are best to your women.”
(Jami‘ al-Tirmidhi, Kitab al-Rizaa)
Abdullah Dibba, Missionary, USA
Many people will tell you that in order for black people to bring about a change in their conditions of living, they need to prioritise marriage and education and live in stable households – so that their daughters do not get pregnant in their teens and their sons do not go to jail due to drug trafficking and violence. Some will even present arguments, proving through data, that black people are killed at the hands of fellow black people more than any other race or group in America.
The black experience in the USA is a complicated one. It is almost like original sin in the teachings of Christianity. Being born black means you inherit all the challenges you will live with for the rest of your life.
White supremacy led to free men being transported from Africa as slaves. A simple declaration was made to emancipate slavery, but other cunning plans were laid down to ensure that black people never found a place in society.
With no social status, no family set-up or self-confidence, they would have no other choice but to go right back into the plantations, “willingly”. They had no skills because all they knew was farming. Yet they could not farm after being freed because they were not entitled to any lands.
The system then saw black people moved to concentrated areas in the era of segregation between the races. Their neighborhoods became infested with drugs, with barely any access to education or other resources to take care of themselves and their families. Drug abuse was criminalised in the era of “war on drugs”.
Drug abusers would be described as monsters and wild beasts that needed to be tamed for the safety of society. Politicians, big corporations, the government and powerful people all joined this campaign.
In their neighborhoods, black people were not left to live freely. They were policed, closely monitored and every action was scrutinised. A young black man could have the most incredible talent, but with no opportunities to explore their choices, they would automatically enter the drug game in order to survive.
Up to this day, coming out of jail means less or no job opportunities due to being an ex-convict, so this vicious cycle goes on and on. This was breeding the idea of mass incarceration. They could not just migrate or move to safer areas because those were exclusively for white people.
I moved to the United States of America in February 2017 to serve as a missionary. Originally from The Gambia, West Africa, I completed Jamia in the UK, where I spent eight consecutive years during my studies and training. My first destination in the US was Baltimore, which has a 63% black population. I then moved to Philadelphia where I am currently serving, with a 42% black population.
The problem, as I grew to understand through my three years of studying this issue, is not that black people are lazy and do not want something better for themselves. They have been controlled by a very thoughtful system, which continues to ensure that their options are very limited.
Every step of the way, black people have not sat back and done nothing about their plight. Albeit debatable whether appropriate or proportionate, the protests and violence we see today are one of the many steps taken to fight this fight. Many movements and influential black leaders have come and gone, investing their blood, sweat and tears in freedom fighting, taking diplomatic steps, patriotism, academic work, peaceful marches and sheer force.
Only two days after George Floyd was unjustly murdered by police officers in Minnesota on 25 May 2020, over 200 cities across the United States reacted to the videos that emerged. This gradually became a global outcry for justice. It caused anger and outrage. People felt that they had had enough of the deliberate and targeted killings of innocent black people by officers who swore to protect every citizen.
The peaceful protests didn’t seem to bear any fruit so they deemed it fit – wrongly – to take to the streets to loot, break and burn for the message to somehow resonate. They now want to be heard and seen because they have been ignored for far too long.
“Why do we look so different in the first place?”, a curious mind may ask. “We could have all looked the same and there would be no racism or bigotry.” “We would have all been citizens of the world with no questions asked.” The answer given by Islam is precise, yet very profound.
وَ جَعَلۡنٰکُمۡ شُعُوۡبًا وَّ قَبَآئِلَ لِتَعَارَفُوۡا
“… and we have made you tribes and sub-tribes that you may know one another.” (Surah al-Hujurat, Ch.49: V.14)
The Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said in his farewell sermon:
“An Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab, nor does a non-Arab have any superiority over an Arab; A white person has no superiority over black person, nor does a black have any superiority over white, except by piety and good actions.”
Based on this fundamental teaching, Islam approaches this problem and nips it in the bud. Deeply thoughtful and wise steps were taken almost 1,500 years ago when slavery was not only accepted but was glorified and lauded. Slavery was deeply engrained into Arabian society and casually accepted, not as a vice, but a badge of honour, pride and status.
Within 23 years of his prophethood, Prophet Muhammadsa personally turned the tide of this heinous crime against humanity and ended slavery in the most effective manner. He began calling a black freed slave “master” and married the divorced wife of his freed slave. Any slave that came into his possession, he freed immediately while upholding their rights. He urged all Muslims to do the same. It is severe intellectual dishonesty to say Prophet Muhammadsa traded or promoted slavery – he was the one man who effectively abolished slavery.
Effective steps were taken towards existing slaves to ensure that they were as respected in society as any free men. In order to abolish slavery, Muslims married slaves, who otherwise would be left on their own without support systems. Again, understanding the culture and dynamics of society at that time is crucial to comprehend how great a teaching this was. These freed slaves were blessed with a household and marital rights; their inferiority was practically put to an end through their new freedom.
Then, women had been instructed not to wear the veil in the presence of their existing slaves so that they may not feel like strangers in the household (Surah Al-Nur, Ch.24: V.32).
The freeing of slaves was regarded as the high-mountain road that led to heights of divine nearness (Surah Al-Balad, Ch.90: V.13-14).
Islam also ensured that even after the emancipation of slaves, they were not left without support and helpers. The Holy Prophetsa established a bond of brotherhood between the freed slaves and their former masters. They were to be called each other’s maula – helper or friend. This was to ensure that they would stand by each other in times of need. They were given the right to inherit from each other if one was to die and not leave an heir behind. (Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab-ul-Itq) (Jami‘ al-Tirmidhi, Abwab-ul-Faraiz)
The Companionsra adopted these teachings with so much pride that not only did they free their own slaves but also purchased slaves with non-Muslim masters, only to free them out of goodwill.
These freed slaves were not just left to struggle to find their place in society. We learn about Hazrat Zaidra, a freed slave of the Prophetsa and his son, Hazrat Usamara. The Holy Prophetsa appointed them duties overseeing very important military expeditions, while many of his most eminent and high-placed Companionsra served under them. Those who had issues with this were admonished by the prophet thus:
“By God, just as Zaid was fit for leadership and was one of those whom I most loved and trusted, similarly, his son Usama is fit for leadership and is one of the most beloved and trusted men to me.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab-ul-Fazail)
What we see in the beautiful teachings of Islam as practised by the Holy Prophetsa was that the problem was identified and acknowledged first. Those involved in the act of discrimination and slavery were made to understand that they had no rights whatsoever over the lives of other people. Both the oppressors and oppressed were given practical steps on how to get rid of this cancerous act, without any party feeling that they were being treated unfairly. The balance in the approach given by Islam is what lacked in the approach of Abraham Lincoln in his abolition of slavery.
Islam, in its early days, was a family in which both the noble and slaves faced persecution. As the Holy Prophetsa himself went through persecution along with his Companionsra and all Muslims for 13 years in Mecca, he taught those slaves that help only comes to those who are steadfast and prayerful to the only One True God. They felt no need to revolt because their voices were being heard by the Almighty and He came to their rescue in the most unprecedented ways.
As Islam acknowledged the problems and presented solutions, it also taught all Muslims, including the slaves, not to riot against the authorities and cause damage to society. The Holy Prophetsa taught:
“O ye who believe! Obey Allah and His Messenger and those in authority among you. And if you defer in anything among yourselves, refer it to Allah and His Messenger if you are believers in Allah and the Last Day.” (Surah al-Nisa, Ch.4: V.60)
In fact, the Holy Prophetsa went on to say:
“Whoever disapproves of an unjust measure taken by his ruler should be patient, for whoever disobeyed the ruler even a little will die as those who died in the pre-Islamic period of ignorance [i.e. as rebellious sinners].” (Sahih al-Bukhari, Book of Afflictions, Hadith 7053)
“You will see injustice, you will witness your rights suppressed and see others given preference over you.” When his followers were asked how they should respond to such injustice, the Prophetsa replied, “Give your leaders their rights, and then ask God for yours.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, Book of Afflictions, Hadith 7052)
Discussing protests and demonstrations can be very sensitive. During the civil rights movement days, protests were not seen as the solution to the problems being faced. They were a way of gathering and unifying the people and bringing attention to the issue. They sought for justice in the short term and demanded reform in the long term and strategies were put in place to implement the plans.
The sad truth is that nowadays, it is extremely difficult to control the crowds in protests and people join in for creating mischief and disturbance rather than purely fighting for justice.
His Holiness, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V, may Allah be his Helper, has, on numerous occasions, laid down guidelines to enlighten African Americans, as well as other communities facing injustices, to demand legislation, in patriotic ways that ensure equal treatment of black people and justice for all.
Huzooraa admonished leaders in his Friday Sermon of 5 June 2020 delivered at the Mubarak Mosque in Islamabad, Tilford, UK:
“The governments should come to realise that all this chaos will not be solved through force, nor is it the answer to all problems, rather the sustenance of a government is in its just dealing of all its citizens. Only then can law and order be established in the land. If the people become restless, then no government can stand against them.”
His Holinessaa also shared some words of wisdom and caution to the victims :
“If, however, African Americans burn down their own houses, they will only be harming themselves and some African leaders have also urged them not to do so. They should, of course, try to obtain their rights, but in a lawful manner, not by burning down their own properties. Hence, those protesting should be mindful of this.”
In the end, His Holinessaa prayed that Allah may remove the disorder all around the world and that the governments may uphold the rights of their citizens and the people may obtain their rights through lawful measures. Amin.
Dr Noureen Ahmad, GP, Belgium
As a General Practitioner, it was only a matter of time before getting infected with the coronavirus. Despite working with full PPE, it remains a huge challenge to avoid a Covid-19 infection as we’re exposed daily to it through patients. After catching it, I kept a daily journal about my symptoms and parameters.
On a Thursday when I came home, I was extremely tired which was not unusual due to a lot of workload in recent months. Suddenly I felt very dizzy. During the night, my fever started with chills and night sweats and I was deprived of sleep. I started with isolation in my home to prevent spreading this to my family. My dad wrote a letter immediately to Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V, may Allah be his Helper.
The next day my fever increased as I felt more ill. Muscle pains and cramps started all over my body, especially in the back, neck and legs. It was impossible to leave my bed. I also had a runny nose and a sore throat. During the day, I started to develop gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea (no vomiting), abdominal cramps and diarrhea. I lost my appetite and noticed the total loss of my taste and my smell.
On day three, my fever remained however the muscle pains got tolerable, but I still could not leave my bed. The upper respiratory symptoms (throat pain and runny nose) were now accompanied with a non-dry cough. This cough was paired with a lot of mucus which led sometimes to moments of shortness of breath. A chest pain started, it felt like a heavy pressure in my chest, leading to breathing difficulties. In these episodes of shortness of breath and chest pain, an anxious feeling would overcome me. This was something which I never have felt before. My gastrointestinal symptoms vanished; however, my appetite was still lost.
On day four, my fever finally dropped, and I could get out of my bed. My body still felt cold, but I was very happy that my muscle pains disappeared totally. However, my non-dry cough increased in frequency and intensity, especially at night. The chest pain became continuous and these both led to shortness of breath. The positive element of this day was that my appetite was slowly coming back. I could eat fruits and vegetables.
Over the next few days I was feeling much better than the past days. The cough turned into a dry cough however I experienced no more breathing problems. Occasionally I felt out of breath, for example going up the stairs or walking in the garden. I also performed a nose swab test on myself to check for Covid-19. It is an unpleasant test but not painful. It was positive for SARS-Cov-2 or Covid-19 infection.
By the grace of Allah, symptoms reduced as the month went by and my sense of smell and taste returned. I still felt extreme fatigue, but I was recovering. On day 21, I did a blood test to check for antibodies against Covid-19. It is important as a doctor to know if I have antibodies as my job exists of being in daily contact with Covid-19 patients. The blood test showed that my body had developed antibodies against it.
From what I have experienced, a Covid-19 infection is different than a regular flu or a common cold. The unusual and disturbing symptoms were mostly shortness of breath and chest pain which lead to uncertainty. Also, the loss of smell and taste are very common symptoms. However symptoms vary from person to person but, for the most part, have a common trend.
It is also important to quarantine at home immediately, as soon as the first symptoms occur, and preferable in one’s own room (with a separate bathroom) to avoid other family members getting ill. In the period of my illness, sadly everyone at home got sick at the same time.
Before and during my illness, I was continuously taking homeopathic medicines advised by Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa. Before the infection, I was taking AAG (Aconite, Arsenic Alb, Gelsemium 200) two times a week and Chelidonium Majus (1x) three times a week. After experiencing the first symptoms on day 1, I added BIDO (Bacillinum, Influenzium, Diphtherinum, Oscillococcinum 200) and Chelidonium Majus (1x), both twice a day, for two weeks. I kept taking then until my symptoms disappeared, and then returned to the previous prescription.
It is also important to stay cautious as this is a new illness. It is advised to have a thermometer and a saturation (or an oxygen meter) at home to follow the disease properly, it will also lead to appropriate communication with your doctor which are mostly telephone based right now.
Fever usually starts above 38°C (100°F) however some studies suggest that the body can feel feverish from 37°C (98°F) in a Covid-19 infection. An oxygen or a pulse meter measures the blood oxygen in the blood through a sensor placed on the fingertip. Normal oxygen in the blood is between 96-99% and it is a good parameter to evaluate the clinical condition when feeling shortness of breath. Guidelines recommend that when the blood oxygen is 92% or below, one should contact their doctor.
Covid-19 infection gives an array of symptoms. Fever usually comes with chills and night sweats which leads to excessive loss of water. Thus, is it very important to drink a lot of water. Also, if clothes get soaked from sweating, changing them immediately can avoid quick temperature changes. For the fever and muscle pains, your best option is taking only paracetamol (acetaminophen) occasionally. I would take only before sleeping to have a good night rest (8-10 hours of sleep).
The loss of appetite happened due to several reasons but mainly because of the nausea feeling. For this, my father, a homeopathic doctor, would give me Ipecacuanha 30 which gave me quick relief from nausea. Besides patience not much can be done for the loss of the taste and smell.
During this illness, I was more focused on eating fruits as they contain a lot of vitamins and water. I would eat at least three apples, two pears and one kiwi which boosted up my energy. When my appetite was slowly returning, I would eat cooked or steamed vegetables and would avoid oil-rich heavy meals.
Shortness of breath would occur while lying down on my back. A useful tip is to add extra pillows at night for the head to be elevated. I did not use nose sprays or cough syrups for the cough but used a teaspoon of honey (three times a day) instead and found it very useful. Recently, Dr Noori Sahib from Pakistan advised some breathing exercises online. They exist of taking deep breaths (6-7x) every two hours by inhaling through the nose and holding the breath for a moment and then exhaling through the mouth. I did these breathing exercises daily and they most definitely helped toward my shortness of breath.
There are several studies discussing supplements for Covid-19 infection and prevention. I would take extra vitamin D, as some studies show that patients with severe Covid-19 symptoms also had severe vitamin D deficiencies. I would take this in the form of cod liver oil capsules, also known for other health benefits such as reducing inflammation in the body.
For extreme tiredness, I would get vitamin B12 injections. This was a remedy against severe weakness often used by my grandfather, Dr Manzoor Ahmad. I would not take extra supplements for vitamin C as I was eating a lot of fruits.
The last important point to mention is not to panic if you catch Covid-19. This is because fear and anxiety can be so overwhelming causing strong emotions which can lead to worsening of symptoms. From my personal experience, there were moments of anxiety, but it is important to try to ignore these feelings and focus on prayers instead and write immediately to Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa for prayers.
As Ahmadis, we are lucky to have the dua (prayers) and the dawa (medicine) of our Huzooraa. So, if one does get ill, one must remember that Allah is:
“The Knower of the unseen and the seen, the Mighty, the Wise” (Surah al-Taghabun, Ch.64: V.19).
Allah has full control over everything, and He is the true Healer. We must implore before Him.
Jazib Mehmood, Student Jamia Ahmadiyya Ghana
Distressingly, following lockdown, reports show that domestic violence has shot up.
“At least 15 million more cases of domestic violence are predicted around the world this year as a result of pandemic restrictions, according to new data that paints a bleak picture of life for women over the next decade”, reported The Guardian.
According to the UN, one in every three women face some form of domestic violence in their lifetime. Although some reports suggest that calls by domestic abuse victims have decreased in these months, domestic violence advocates worry that survivors are struggling to seek help because they are stuck with their abusers due to stay-at-home orders.
Antonio Guterres, the UN Secretary General voiced his concern as well. He tweeted “Peace is not just the absence of war. Many women under lockdown for #COVID19 face violence where they should be safest: in their own homes.”
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), disasters – whether hurricanes, earthquakes, or pandemics like the coronavirus – disrupt social and physical environments for large groups of people.
These changes increase vulnerabilities to domestic violence within families. Even children are in danger of abuse.
“Hundreds of thousands of children are currently living in homes where they experience domestic abuse”, the NSPCC has warned. (www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/03/31/schoolboy-walked-localbbc-radio-station-pyjamas-hearing-report/)
Relations between husbands and wives form the nucleus of the family system. If there is no love, mutual respect, appreciation and covering of faults within both partners for each other, then the peace of a family will be destroyed, ultimately leading to abuse and negatively impacting children.
Feelings of love, kindness, and support that ought to exist between husband and wife are crucial.
The Holy Quran has given very clear instructions regarding love and kindness between couples. The Holy Quran states:
“They are a garment for you, and you are a garment for them.” (Surah al-Baqarah, Ch.2: V. 188)
Explaining this verse, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra said:
“Just like a garment covers the body and protects it from heat and cold, they [husbands and wives] should be a protection for each other. Look at the example of Hazat Khadijara; right after marriage, how she presented all her wealth to the Holy Prophetsa so that he may not experience any discomfort due to lack of money and he may continue to take part in serving humanity comfortably. What a glorious example she presented to keep their home life happy!” (Tafsir-e-Kabir, Vol. 2, p. 411)
Keeping this commentary of Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra in mind, we can observe that the domestic life of the Holy Prophetsa was indeed the best of all. It is the Holy Prophet’ssa saying:
“The best among you is one who is best to his wife, and I am best among you in my dealings with my wives.” (Jami‘ al-Tirmidhi, Kitab-ul-Manaqib)
Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V, may Allah be his Helper, commented on the above Quranic verse, saying:
“Similarly, when a man or a woman makes a pledge to the contract of marriage, then they must make their utmost effort to tolerate each other. They should cover up the faults and shortcomings of each other and avoid bickering over petty little matters.” (Garments for Each Other, p. 97)
Hazrat Aishara, who spent a long time in the Prophet’ssa company, gave the following beautiful testimony of his domestic life:
“[His] family life was the kindest, most generous and most informal of all men in his home life. He was always smiling and never frowned. The Holy Prophetsa never raised his hand on any of his wives and never beat a servant.” (Jami‘ al-Tirmidhi)
This testimony leaves absolutely no room for doubt. Hazrat Aishara also relates that the Holy Prophetsa would eat from the same place that she had eaten from. (Sunan Abi Daud, Kitab-ut-Taharah)
The Promised Messiahas also encouraged men to deal justly with their wives and set his own example. He exhorted:
“Except for indecency, all instances of women’s rudeness and harshness should be tolerated. I consider it to be exceptionally shameful that a man should fight against a woman. God has made us men and this is actually a supreme blessing upon us. Our gratitude for this blessing lies in dealing pleasantly and gently with women.” (Malfuzat, Vol. I, p. 307)
The Promised Messiahas presented his example in this regard as well:
“My condition is such that once, I happened to call out to my wife loudly, but I felt that the loud call filled my heart with grief, even though no hurtful or harsh word was uttered from my tongue at that time. After that, I kept reciting istighfar [prayer for seeking forgiveness from Allah] for a long time, offered nafl [voluntary prayers] with great humility and concentration and also offered sadaqat [alms] as this harsh attitude towards my wife was the result of my hidden shortcomings regarding the commands of Allah.” (Malfuzat, Vol. I)
Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa mentioned this example and said:
“So, these are examples of kind treatment of wives, which are demonstrated in the actions of the Promised Messiahas as a result of following the Prophet Muhammadsa. We can create peace in our home by following their examples.” (Garments for Each Other, p. 49)
Ahmad Kamal, Student Jamia Ahmadiyya Ghana
Vaccination is one of the greatest public health achievements in modern era. Vaccines have helped battle against diseases – including polio, smallpox and measles – at astonishing levels. But some groups reject the science, citing a distrust in modern medicine and government. Others say mandatory vaccine requirements violate their religious freedom; some say that a secret society of billionaires is plotting global domination through vaccines.
Recently, there has been a growing interest in the latter and the Internet has aided the spread of such conspiracies. It seems humanity has always clung onto myths and conspiracies that have no reality to them.
A lack of education and knowledge of the world could be blamed for this. However, what’s worrying is that in our age of education, science and knowledge, such conspiracies are still rife and are causing harm to society.
The important step is to validate, examine and critically pick apart such exaggerated claims. Conspiracy theories during Covid-19 have shattered the public trust.
On 4 May 2020, a half-hour video positing that a secret group of elite world leaders unleashed the coronavirus on the global population as part of a plot to either enact population control or force people to get vaccinated was posted on social media.
This video – popularly known as “Plandemic” – quickly took social media by storm. Uploads of “Plandemic” had more than eight million views across social platforms, with one version on YouTube hitting 7.1 million views before it was taken down.
This video is undoubtedly harmful as it falsely aims to spread that wearing masks will “activate” the virus, among other things. The video is rife with misinformation and conspiracy theories and is reappearing, though attempts to take it down are continuously made. (www.nytimes. com/2020/05/20/technology/plandemicmovie-youtube-facebook-coronavirus.html)
LifeSite News, a Catholic anti-abortion website has gathered more than 550,000 signatures at the time of writing this on a petition protesting against mandatory coronavirus vaccination orders. (https://lifepetitions.com/petition/no-mandatoryvaccine-for-covid-19)
In the 2000s, some Taliban members in Pakistan and Afghanistan issued fatwas (religious edicts) opposing vaccination as an “American plot” to sterilise Muslims. After the spread of this false propaganda, vaccination officials were kidnapped, beaten and even assassinated. Thus, polio remains an endemic in Pakistan because of such misinformation campaigns.
Observing the current situation in America, the racial inequality can be trailed back to when distorted theories concerning Africans were hammered into the minds of the public, just to legitimise slavery.
In the early nineteenth century, imperial Britain barred slavery and halted the Atlantic slave trade and in the decades that followed, slavery was gradually outlawed throughout the Americas. But even though the slaves were “freed”, the racist fallacies that justified slavery persisted and loopholes to legitimise slavery were set deep into the American constitution. To justify their racism, people argued that blacks were less intelligent than whites and their moral sense, less developed.
Doctors alleged that blacks lived in filth and spread diseases – in other words, they were a source of pollution. They were branded as less intelligent, more violent, lazier and less concerned about personal cleanliness than whites. They were thus tainted as the agents of violence and disease etc.
These prejudices were increasingly entrenched as time went by. The vile myths struck a chord in American culture and Western culture generally. They continued to exert their influence long aft er the conditions that created slavery had disappeared, the effects of which we are seeing today in America.
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is no stranger to conspiracies against them. Endless lists of baseless conspiracies are drawn against Ahmadis, from being British agents to dividing the Muslims to creating a “heaven and hell” – conspiracy theories against Ahmadiyyat continue to expand and grow, both in number and novelty.
Added to these are the hollow claims against the personage of Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, the Promised Messiah, peace be upon him. All these lies were spread to deceive the general public and sway them far away from the truth.
Muslim clerics fabricated tales and fed them to their followings, including young children. The sad reality is that these children grew up hating Islam Ahmadiyyat and failed to carry out any sort of substantial research to investigate the authenticity of their beliefs.
This has resulted in Ahmadis being severely prosecuted in Pakistan or at least seen with contempt.
Life-long neighbours turn into bitter enemies overnight aft er listening to the mullahs spew (false and baseless) hatred about Ahmadis.
Hence, many of the troubles humanity faces stem out of consistently trying to camoufl age the truth. Lying is indeed one of the greatest vices facing humanity.
This is why the Quran and the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, strongly condemn falsehood and dishonesty. The Quran even asks why people say that which they have no knowledge of.
This was further echoed by the Promised Messiah, peace be upon him, who continuously taught his community to stay well clear of lying and deceit. He said:
“Whosoever does not give up lying and deceit is not of my community. Whosoever is consumed by material greed and does not lift his eyes to look at the Hereafter is not of my community. Whosoever does not truly give precedence to religion over the world is not of my community.” (Noah’s Ark, p. 31)
The responsibility to take everything with a pinch of salt and to validate all that we hear, share and promote is everyone’s responsibility. The threat of baseless conspiracy theories is very real and can have detrimental consequences.
(The views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the viewpoint of Al Hakam or the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat)
Zaki Ahmad, UK
2020 did not start off very peacefully with the assassination of Qasem Soleimani, when it seemed the USA and Iran moved closer to an all-out war. Then the world was introduced to coronavirus.
Like a pinball game, the virus found its way around our planet’s every country and nation. The “invisible enemy” did not see race, social status or religious ideology and infected anyone and everyone. The centre of the pandemic moved around different continents, first Asia, then Europe, followed by North America, and currently South America where in Brazil the infection has one of the fastest rate of spread. It seemed that nothing else has been happening geo-politically, socially or economically besides the pandemic for the better part of the year.
Then, on 25 May, George Floyd, a 46- year old African American in Minneapolis, Minnesota, a Northern US state, was murdered in cold-blood by a white police officer. Soon, things went south with protests spreading across nearly every US state and then spreading to European countries and elsewhere.
The National Guard were called in dozens of states and Mr Trump threatened military deployment against his own citizens – an order often reserved for foreign lands. At one point, Donald Trump, President of the United States of America, had to be escorted to an underground bunker whilst people gathered outside the White House to make their voices heard.
In his opinion piece for the New York Times, Paul Krugman, a Nobel Prize winning economist summarises the emergent pandemic of racism in the following words:
“… the core story of US politics over the past four decades is that wealthy elites weaponised white racism to gain political power, which they used to pursue policies that enriched the already wealthy at workers’ expense”. (www.nytimes.com/2020/06/01/opinion/trump-george-floyd-police-brutality.html)
We see a similar issue with Pakistan’s politics where the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community has been turned into a political weapon by the government or the opposition to shift public focus from their own shortcomings or controversies and never-ending scandals.
I remember one specific sentence from Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V’saa first Friday Sermon of 2020, where Huzooraa said:
“… as we enter the New Year, we congratulate one another, however clouds of darkness continue to gather ahead”. (Friday Sermon, 3 January 2020)
Since then, these “clouds of darkness” have been manifested by both man-made events as well as natural events (although it can be argued that natural calamities are ultimately due to our own action i.e. climate change).
The world is living through a pandemic, a once-in-a-century event, record level of locust invasions in East Africa and South Asia, civil unrest in America and Lebanon among other countries and not to mention the increased occurrence of extreme weather disasters.
Protests against police brutality are not an unfamiliar occurrence in recent American history, but this time, it seems different with no end in sight. On social media, white academics from prestigious white-dominated institutions openly support black people and their decades long struggle to seek justice which the US constitution entitles them to. Many white Americans are also joining the protests from small towns to metropolises.
Coupling the fact that 41 million Americans are without jobs due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the ever-growing gap between the rich and the poor, George Floyd’s death likely acted as a trigger for social reform.
According to the Human Rights Watch (HRW) 2020 report, there continues to be racial injustice in the US where imprisonment rate for black men is six times more than for white men. What is noteworthy is that the black community has long-experienced economic and political disparity which ultimately results in commitment of crimes.
Thus, this is not simply an issue of black people committing crimes, but as HRW explains, “rather than address problems of poverty – including homelessness, mental health, and gang involvement – with services, support, and economic development, many US jurisdictions simply add more police and effectively ‘criminalise’ poor communities, a vicious circle that fuels high rates of incarceration”.
In my view, a fundamental problem would remain, even if all the points highlighted by HRW were to be addressed by state and federal governments, and even if, as the protestors hope, Trump is voted out in November: the disease of police violence.
In a simplistic view, it is one human being inhumane to another human. It is no different to when a terrorist mercilessly kills civilians in God’s name or a police officer kills an unarmed individual in the name of protecting the law of the land. Murder of an innocent person represents the highest form of wickedness and injustice.
How rightfully has the Holy Quran described the person who has killed an innocent person “as if he had killed all mankind”. (Surah Al-Maidah, Ch.5: V.33)
I hope we, as individuals and as a society, find a clear path forward and that our conscience becomes as clear as the blue sky. Let it be plain and clear that neither I, nor anyone else is doing any favour on black people by writing, speaking or praying for them.
Here, I am reminded of a few lines from the movie Simple Justice (1993) which is based on Thurgood Marshall who successfully serves as the chief attorney for the plaintiffs in the Brown vs Board of Education, the name given to five separate cases that were heard by the US Supreme Court about segregation of black people in public schools.
After wining the case, Marshall receives a phone call from John W Davis, who argued the case for the State, to congratulate him and says, “You must be very grateful”. Marshall replies “I am very happy, but I am not thanking anybody. Nobody gave us anything today. What we got is ours by right. Simple justice”.
(The views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the viewpoint of Al Hakam or the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat)
The world watches America in horror. Injustices and racial discrimination have led to nationwide riots and protests on the soil of a “superpower”, often resulting in violence. Seeds of division and discrimination continue to grow a polarised society.
#JusticeForGeorge protests and riots throughout US cities echo the injustices American society breeds.
The First Amendment, manifestly, is not enough; true justice is yet to be established. The continuous murders of black Americans are causing unending disenfranchisement and racial discrimination – justice in “the land of liberty” is far from complete.
America’s eternal story of blatant discrimination – at times, supported by the very “institutions of freedom” – has been heart-wrenching to say the least. And this plea is now crossing the borders of America and reverberating across the world.
The Bill of Rights, which was meant to guarantee civil rights and liberties to every individual in America, is constantly dishonoured and ignored. The rise of the right-wing and white supremacists is another worry that haunts the country. Adding to this, undertones of support are given to these extreme groups by the current leadership of America, creating more division. Frustrations are piling.
The economic blow of Covid-19 on America, which has resulted in recession according to experts and record-hitting unemployment of 41 million people, leaves America extremely vulnerable to civil unrest.
The Washington Post recently titled a story:
“Gripped by disease, unemployment and outrage at the police, America plunges into crisis.”
American society is at the brink of civil war.
Four years ago, prior to the election of President Donald Trump, Peter Mansbridge was taken slightly aback during a CBC News interview when Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmadaa, the Fifth Khalifa of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community warned of “a big civil war” in America. He said that if Trump was elected and his (divisive) policies implemented, the threat of an American civil war would be imminent:
“… if he tries to implement whatever he is saying, then I fear that there’s going to be a big civil war.”
At this point, Mansbridge, with slight surprise, reconfirmed by asking, “Civil war?”
In response, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmadaa confirmed:
“Yes, of course. They will rise against the government because if the government takes harsh measures just to try to deny all their rights in any way, then there are so many hundreds of people. You see, to create any disturbance or nonsense, a single man can even single-handedly do it … So they have to use sense.”
Earlier in the interview, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa warned of “chaos in the country” if divisive policies saw implementation. Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmadaa concluded by saying:
“I don’t think a president of America, if ever elected [as] president of America, will take any measure which is senseless.”
Peter Mansbridge responded, “You hope?”.
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmadaa, with a hopeful smile, confirmed, “I hope”.
Since that interview, civil unrest has only grown in America. Though many of the policies were “senseless” enough, never to be implemented, the spirit and soul of such estranging policies, however, are spreading throughout America. Now, the idea of a civil war that Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa emphatically warned of does not seem so far-fetched.
Solutions for civil unrest and the plaguing worry for international peace have been clearly described by Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmadaa. Whether in parliaments, meetings with politicians, speeches before think-tanks and academics, letters to world leaders, peace symposia or hundreds of addresses to the public, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmadaa echoes the teachings of the Holy Quran: absolute justice, by both the government and populace.
In 2012, talking about establishing world peace, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa noted:
“The key requirement to fulfilling this primary goal is absolute justice and fairness in all matters. The Holy Quran, in chapter 4, verse 136, has given us a golden principle and lesson, guiding us about this. It states that as a means to fulfil the requirements of justice, even if you have to bear witness and testify against yourself, your parents or your closest relatives and friends, then you must do so. This is true justice where personal interests are set aside for the common good.”
He further said:
“… the representatives and ambassadors of each nation should come forward with sincerity and with a desire to support the principles of fairness and equality. We must eliminate all forms of bias and discrimination, as this is the only means to bring about peace.” (World Crisis and the Pathway to Peace, pp. 48-49)
At another instance, Huzooraa explained that the Promised Messiahas said that the Holy Quran highlights the need of acting fairly and with justice, even against enemies. It is hard to act justly towards those who kill your women and children, but the Holy Quran has demanded upholding the rights of enemies too. Huzooraa said that most people talk with kindness in front of enemies, but they do not uphold their rights. The Holy Quran does not merely mention love but talks of the level of love one should show. (Concluding address, Jalsa Salana UK 2019)
In fact, Islam goes further. It’s not just justice, but kindness we must show to all; to go out of one’s way and give to others from our own share. His Holiness has said that both the government and the public should act with justice, peace and kindness. Revolting on the streets and creating violent uprisings will not bring about lasting peace, rights or liberty, nor will oppression of civilians bring about peace.
A struggle against any inner evils, selfish desires, prejudices and wants must be waged. A revolution in our outlook on life based on the principles of absolute justice, equality and fairness will bring the change we are thirsty for. The origin to achieve this justice and peace, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmadaa has constantly stressed, is returning to God.
In Holland, last year, during an address, he explained:
“In terms of religion, the Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, taught that developing true peace requires for mankind to turn towards God Almighty, Who is the source of peace, the Noble and the Pure, and to try to emulate His attributes. This means that human beings should set aside their personal interests in the pursuit of peace and ensure that their motivations are pure at all times.”
Therefore, not just America, but until the world realises and acts on these principles, the hope for lasting peace and civil liberty will be a stretch of the imagination.
The Promised Messiah and Mahdi, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas had complete certainty and firm faith in the revelations he received from God Almighty.
An unfounded and foul objection is made against the Promised Messiahas that he cannot be considered a prophet of God as many mentally impaired and delusional people also firmly believe their inspirations to be divine revelations.
By raising this question, such people are giving the impression that prophets do not possess complete faith and belief in the revelation of God. This perception is erroneous. Soon after revelations begin to descend upon prophets of God, they see God’s support and help. They observe the acceptance of their prayers. The revelations they receive bear glad tidings and they witness these prophecies being fulfilled with their own eyes.
As a result, they become fully convinced of the revelations to be from the Almighty.
At first, they themselves become certain about the truth of their revelations. After they reach the stage where they are absolutely sure, people are also invited towards God’s message. As a result of their firm belief in God’s revelations, they claim that their opponents will fail in spite of their great numbers and abundance of material resources and that they themselves will succeed, regardless of meagre means and absence of worldly riches.
Witnessing the fulfilment of the claim s prophets make, people believe in them. Owing to this true faith and perfect belief, they endure all kinds of suffering but do not leave their prophets. The claim of Prophet Noahas is mentioned in the Holy Quran:
وَ اُمِرۡتُ اَنۡ اَکُوۡنَ مِنَ الۡمُسۡلِمِیۡنَ
“And I have been commanded to be of those who have submitted.” (Surah Yunus, Ch.10: V.73)
Prophet Mosesas made the same announcement:
وَ اَنَا اَوَّلُ الۡمُؤۡمِنِیۡنَ
“And I am the first to believe.” (Surah al-A‘raf, Ch.7: V.144)
The Holy Prophetsa announced this in a similar way:
وَ اَنَا اَوَّلُ الۡمُسۡلِمِیۡنَ
“And I am the first of those who submit.” (Surah al-An‘am, Ch.6: V.164)
Hence, the statement of the opponents that the Promised Messiah’sas complete belief in the revelation of God cannot be a proof of the truth of his claim cannot be accepted because it contradicts the truth stated in the Holy Quran.
As far as the argument, that there are some delusional people who think they receive revelations and they also believe in them is concerned, this is not a new objection. The deniers of all prophets, seeing the true faith of prophets in their revelation, their sufferings in the way of God and the pattern of all kinds of sacrifices, still object that the claimants of prophethood are mentally impaired.
The opponents recognise that the prophets being deprived of worldly resources and their opponents enjoying abundance in numbers and influence, declare day and night that they will succeed and their opponents will fail, but they consider the prophets to be delusional. Hence, the Holy Quran describes the people of Prophet Noahas. Allah the Almighty states:
کَذَّبَتۡ قَبۡلَہُمۡ قَوۡمُ نُوۡحٍ فَکَذَّبُوۡا عَبۡدَنَا وَ قَالُوۡا مَجۡنُوۡنٌ وَّ ازۡدُجِرَ
“The people of Noah rejected the truth before them; aye, they rejected Our servant and said, ‘A madman and one who is spurned.’” (Surah al-Qamar, Ch.54: V.10)
Referring to the remarks of Pharaoh to Prophet Mosesas, God Almighty states:
وَ قَالَ سٰحِرٌ اَوۡ مَجۡنُوۡنٌ
“And he said, ‘A sorcerer, or a madman.’” (Surah al-Dhariyat, Ch.51: V.40)
Mentioning the opponents of the Holy Prophetsa, Allah Almighty says:
وَ یَقُوۡلُوۡنَ اِنَّہٗ لَمَجۡنُوۡنٌ
“And they say, ‘He is certainly mad.’” (Surah al-Qalam, Ch.68: V.52)
In fact, talking about all the prophets as a whole, God Almighty states:
کَذٰلِکَ مَاۤ اَتَی الَّذِیۡنَ مِنۡ قَبۡلِہِمۡ مِّنۡ رَّسُوۡلٍ اِلَّا قَالُوۡا سَاحِرٌ اَوۡ مَجۡنُوۡنٌ
“There came no Messenger to those before them, but they said, ‘A sorcerer, or a madman!’” (Surah al-Dhariyat, Ch.51: V.53)
The above verses of the Holy Quran show that it is not new for the adversaries to call the Promised Messiahas insane and mentally ill. This is a common practice of those who oppose prophets. The same allegation was levelled against Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas. For this reason, Allah Almighty says:
بَلۡ قَالُوۡا مِثۡلَ مَا قَالَ الۡاَوَّلُوۡنَ
“But they say like what the former people said.” (Surah al-Muminun, Ch.23: V.82)
مَا یُقَالُ لَکَ اِلَّا مَا قَدۡ قِیۡلَ لِلرُّسُلِ مِنۡ قَبۡلِکَ
“Nothing is said to thee but what was said to the Messengers before thee.” (Surah Ha Mim al-Sajdah, Ch.41: V.44)
Hence, every prophet of God faces allegations that were raised against the earlier prophets as well. The Promised Messiahas said in one of his couplets:
انبیاء کے طور پر حجت ہوئی اُن پر تمام
اُن کے جو حملے ہیں اُن میں سب نبی ہیں حصہ دار
“The proof, like that of the prophets, was completed against them. Their objections against me are such as would apply to all prophets.” (Barahin-e-Ahmadiyya Part IV, p. 176 [English Translation])
The Promised Messiahas stated:
“The way God has treated me is not such as has no parallel in the case of any other prophet. There is no objection that has been raised against me that cannot also be raised against another prophet. Therefore, the condition of those who, at the time of raising an objection against me, fail to reflect that their objection can also be levelled against other prophets is very dangerous indeed and the danger is that such persons may well die as atheists.” (The Philosophy of Divine Revelation, pp. 708-709 [Translation of Haqiqatul Wahi])
He reiterated:
“I have repeatedly announced that even if all my opponents from the east and the west jointly try, they cannot raise any objection against me which was not raised earlier against one or the other of the past Prophets.” (Ibid, p. 721)
On another occasion, the Promised Messiahas said:
“Take the same answers from us as God Almighty has been ultimately giving to those people who have been objecting to prophets. They should present such objections before us that cannot be raised against any earlier prophet.” (Malfuzat, Vol. 5, p. 257)
Allah the Almighty lays down certain points in Surah al-Qalam to dispel this objection of the opponents that (God forbid) the Holy Prophetsa was mad or delusional. God says:
نٓ وَ الۡقَلَمِ وَ مَا یَسۡطُرُوۡنَ
“By the inkstand and by the pen and by that which they write.” (Surah al-Qalam, Ch.68: V.2)
In this verse, pen, ink and the writings written by them are presented as the first argument. So, consider this argument in light of the Promised Messiah’sas truthfulness. Today, the opponents of Ahmadiyyat also take articles from books of the Promised Messiahas and copy them in their books.
For instance, an opponent of the Ahmadiyya Jamaat, Maulvi Ashraf Ali Thanwi was present in the Indian subcontinent. He wrote a book called Ahkam-e-Islam Aqal Ki Nazar Mein [The commandments of Islam in the eyes of reason]. There are several places in this book where even the title of a given subject is the exact phrase of the Promised Messiahas and the rest of the subject is also copied verbatim from his book. Thus, taking articles from the books of the Promised Messiahas, publishing them in their own name, still imposing a fatwa of disbelief on him and propagating day and night that he was a disbeliever, out of the pale of Islam and an enemy of Islam shows that their hearts certainly acknowledge the glory and greatness of the Promised Messiahas.
A conference of religions was held in Lahore in December 1896 and the organisers invited representatives of all religions to speak on the five questions set by the organisers in light of the teachings of their respective religions. Hence, the essay of the Promised Messiahas addressing those five questions was read out in the conference, and which is published under the name of Philosophy of the Teachings of Islam.
We request the readers to study this book and bear witness to God in their hearts whether the author of this book, the Promised Messiahas was (God forbid) insane or had the support of God.
Before that conference, Allah Almighty gave the Promised Messiahas the good news that his essay would prevail over all others. It so happened that the venue, where there were thousands of listeners and people of all religions, was unanimous in agreeing that the time of other speakers should be given to the lecture of the Promised Messiahas. The keenness of the audience testified to the truthfulness of God’s revelation and the superiority of Islam through the Promised Messiahas.
The Promised Messiahas also invited all religions to compete in acceptance of prayers, but no one came forward. The Promised Messiahas stated:
“Now, let it be known that in the Holy Quran, Allah the Almighty has promised four extraordinary signs of divine support for the pious and true believers. These signs form the ideal criteria for identifying the perfect believer. And they are:
“First, that the perfect believer frequently receives glad tidings from Allah, i.e., he is given good news of the fulfilment of his own desires or those of his friends.
“Second, that such hidden matters are revealed to him as relate not only to himself and to those connected with him, but such a chosen believer is also made cognizant of the divine decree that is going to manifest itself in the world, or of the things that are going to befall some eminent people of the world.
“Third, that most prayers of the perfect believer find acceptance, and the news of their acceptance is often given beforehand.
“Fourth, that the perfect believer is granted, more than anyone else, the comprehension of the finer points and deeper meanings of the Holy Quran, as well as its subtleties and wondrous characteristics.
“In all of these four signs, the perfect believer enjoys relative preponderance over others. Although it cannot be taken as a rule that the perfect believer should always receive glad tidings from Allah, or that all his prayers should be accepted without exception, or that he should be informed of every event or calamity, or that the deeper meanings of the Quran should be revealed to him at all times; still – when compared to others – preponderance lies with the true believer in all these four signs. Although it is possible that other people, such as less perfect believers, be given an occasional portion of these bounties, yet only the true believer can be regarded as the true recipient of these blessings.
“It is true, of course, that the perfect station of the believer cannot manifest itself to the less-illumined and the shortsighted people unless it is viewed in comparison. Therefore, a contest is the simplest and clearest way of identifying the true and perfect believer. Even though these signs are generally shown by a true believer, their one-sided demonstration entails some problems. For example, some people who are fated not to succeed, and destiny’s hand has irrevocably written against them, sometimes request the perfect believer to pray for them. These ill-fated people may not experience the sign of acceptance of prayer with regard to the perfect believer and may be led into greater doubt. They cannot, due to their personal deprivation, witness the sign of acceptance [of prayer] at the hands of the perfect believer. Even though the perfect believer enjoys a high station in the sight of Allah, and many a complicated problem is set right for his sake and through his supplications, and some destinies that seem irreversible are also altered, yet the fate that is truly irreversible can never be altered even by the prayers of the perfect believer – not even if he is a prophet or a messenger. In short, the perfect believer, though he does not always prevail, is clearly set apart from his opponents in respect of all these four signs. Therefore, when it has been established that a true and perfect believer receives a much larger share of glad tidings, acceptance of prayer, revelation of the unseen and of the deeper meanings of the Quran, there can be no better way of testing the perfect believer and his adversary than holding a contest between the two.
“In other words, if there is any doubt as to who is a perfect believer in the sight of Allah and who is lesser in status, the two ought to be tested with regard to these four signs. In the contest, these four signs should be the standard for determining who measures up to them and who falls short.
“Let people bear witness that I, purely for the sake of Allah and for the manifestation of the truth, agree to such a contest with all my heart and soul. Miyan Nadhir Husain Daihlwi [of Delhi] is the first amongst those who ought to enter the contest against me. For over 50 years, he has been teaching the Quran and hadith, yet the practical demonstration of his learning is such that he issued a fatwa of heresy against me without any enquiry or investigation and misled thousands of savage-like people into uttering profanities against me. He let loose Batalvi against me as a demented beast, foaming at the mouth with curses and declarations of heresy, while he arrogated to himself the status of the perfect believer and Shaikh-ul-Kul, and the Shaikh of Arabs and non-Arabs. He, therefore, is the first one whom I invite to the contest.
“Of course, he may bring with him Batalvi – who now claims to have true dreams, as well as Maulvi Abdul Jabbar Sahib, son of that good man the late Maulvi Abdullah Sahib, and also Maulvi Abdur Rahman of Lakkhukay, who has published a revelation declaring me forever misguided, and has issued a fatwa of heresy against me.
“He may also bring with him Maulvi Muhammad Bashir Sahib of Bhopal, who is one of his followers. And if – as is his custom – Mian Sahib shies away from the contest, then these other personages mentioned above should come forward. And if they too should seek the path of escape, then Maulvi Rashid Ahmad Sahib of Gangauha should muster up the courage for this contest, since he is foremost amongst the party of [Mian Sahib’s] followers. Anyone else – from amongst the famed and celebrated sufis, saints and hereditary divines – who, like these religious scholars, considers me to be a kafir, an impostor, and an inveterate liar, is welcome to join him.
“If all these people turn away from the contest and refuse to accept my invitation by means of lame and unreasonable excuses, then Allah’s argument shall be complete against them in all respects. I am the appointed one, and the glad-tiding of victory has been given to me. I, therefore, call all the persons mentioned above to a contest against me. Is there anyone who dares to stand up against me?” (The Heavenly Decree, pp. 24-28 [Translation of Asmani Faislah])
Then on another occasion, the Promised Messiahas called upon all the clergymen of India and announced:
“Thus O Priests! Behold, I stand resolute for this work. If you desire that the difference between truth and falsehood become manifest through God’s decree and God’s verdict, then come, let us fight in a field with prayers so that the liar may be exposed. Be certain that there is a God and indeed, His Omnipotent Being exists and He always supports the righteous. So whoever of us is truthful, God will surely support him. Remember that the person who is vile in the sight of God will see humiliation after this war and he who is dear to Him will be honoured.” (Majmua Ishtiharat, Vol. 2, p. 254 [old edition])
Regardless of repeated invitations, nobody had the courage to accept his challenge and thereby proved by their actions that the Promised Messiahas was not delusional but had the support and assistance of God Almighty. Lastly, we present the verse of the Holy Quran, which expresses that the hearts of the opponents recognise the truthfulness of the prophets but they continue to deny them with their mouths. Allah Almighty states:
وَ جَحَدُوۡا بِہَا وَ اسۡتَیۡقَنَتۡہَاۤ اَنۡفُسُہُمۡ ظُلۡمًا وَّ عُلُوًّا ؕ فَانۡظُرۡ کَیۡفَ کَانَ عَاقِبَۃُ الۡمُفۡسِدِیۡنَ
“And they rejected them wrongfully and arrogantly, while their souls were convinced of them. See then, how evil was the end of those who acted corruptly!” (Surah al-Naml, Ch.27: V.15)
The newspaper, Hamdam of 25 May has published two columns under the heading “Do Do Batain” about our tabligh work which is taking place in England and America.
Apart from one paragraph, which is not suitable for such a substantial newspaper like Hamdam, we have extracted all of them below:
“Our Ahmadi friends, who are also mistakenly or maliciously called Qadianis by some, are in fact very much ahead of ordinary Muslims in their religious zeal. Their passion for the teachings of their … prophet, his righteous khulafa and noble elders, and in general religious affairs, certainly cannot be matched by the ordinary Muslims.
“This is not surprising or an extraordinary matter. If you turn the pages of a few lessons in Islamic history, you will find that the forefathers of the present Muslims had the same zeal in the past. Even now, their religion is the same and its commandments are the same, but people have become indifferent to religious matters and are trapped in the businesses of the world; they have developed heedlessness to religion.
“It has been a few years since the inception of our Ahmadi friends and in accordance with the proverb, ‘The newborn calf runs to the doe deer [to drink milk]’, they have a lot more religious enthusiasm and fervour than other Muslims. Maybe it is more appropriate to compare present unfaithfulness of the Muslims with the passion of the Ahmadis after the passing of 1,300 years, only if by this time something in the name of religion had survived from the calamities of earth and skies. However, at the current pace of the time, the religious ignorance of the nation’s youngsters and the growing irreligiousness threatens that even such a comparison may not be possible.
“… The efforts of Ahmadis for the promulgation of Islam etc. are certainly a source of satisfaction for the general Muslims. In present times – if we observe – the formal effort to carry out tabligh of Islam in the Western countries has been initiated by the great resoluteness of Ahmadi friends. What is even more commendable is the formal effort by the Ahmadiyya Jamaat to establish a magnificent mosque in London. The people of the Ahmadiyya Jamaat are generously collecting chanda for this cause and we hope that their religious fervour and passion will soon help to shape a glorious mosque in London, for which the world of Islam can be grateful to them …
“The name of Mufti Muhammad Sadiq Sahib is very popular among the missionaries of the Ahmadiyya Jamaat. He is a very active and passionate worker … Mufti Sahib took leave from the British mission and left for America to convey the message of Islam. It is unfortunate that at first, Mufti Sahib had to face difficulties after arriving in America and the democratic government of America, which claims to be the giver of freedom, did not allow him to deliver sermons and lectures on the basis that Islam allows a man to have up to four wives.
“The reason why the American authorities wanted to stop Mufti Sahib from the tabligh of Islam was that polygamy was illegal in the eyes of the American people and against the equality of men and women. However, nature has not kept equality between men and women and in matters where equality can be achieved, Islam has recognised the rights of women more than any other religion.
“American authorities, by law, force men to marry only one woman, but no law can change human nature. Hence, a few days ago, this telegraphic message was published from New York, the largest city of America, that Mr Watson, a resident of New York, had publicly admitted that he had married 24 women and killed five of them. Another similar incident of a man was mentioned a few years ago. At first, he deceived many women into marrying him and after getting their wealth by force or trickery, left them. This man continued to do so for a quarter of a century and did not come in the clutches of the law.
“Both the said persons could be referred to as having criminal tendency, but all American tourists assert that there are more street women in America than in European countries. On the contrary, there are Islamic countries where men are allowed to marry more than once to fulfill the requirements of nature. Brothels, pleasure houses, and prostitute women are nowhere to be found. However, in countries that fall under the influence of Western powers, this evil takes root in them like other social ills.
“Some Muslims, whose proportion is barely two percent, keep two or more wives for having children, or let us assume for luxury or pleasure, but they do not increase their number to a dozen or kill them.”
(Hamdam, 25 May 1920)
(Translated by Al Hakam)
Hazrat Maulvi Abdur Rahim Nayyarra
The Promised Messiahas is the only light
Dear friends! the world is in darkness. 4 Star Street is a place in Europe from where the rays of light are reaching and will reach the gloomy world through God’s newly created means.
Now, there is only one light under the sky. Only one light of God and it is the Promised Messiahas. Whoever believes in him will be blessed and whoever rejects him will be rejected from heaven. Whoever leaves him will surely be left. He who hates his poor servants will be hated by the God of the Messiahas. Fishermen have become human influencers [i.e. simple men are effectively persuading people towards Islam] and the insignificant were granted fame.
Unfortunate are those who are far from the [spiritual] food of the Promised Messiahas and fortunate are those who not only take pride in eating of his table but also present them to others.
This is the belief and faith with which Ahmadi missionaries work and owing to it, they have the confidence and certainty of conquering the world, insha–Allah!
Series of lectures in Richmond
Richmond is a beautiful place in the suburbs of London with plenty of fresh air and inhabited by high class people. A series of lectures has been started with the intention of conveying the message of truth to the people there. In addition to publishing lecture advertisements in the Richmond Times, posters i.e. large advertisements were pasted on the walls of Richmond, Twickenham and nearby areas in eye-catching, bold blue letters.
If you come to the UK in the world of imagination and happen to see a place of posters in the bazars of Richmond, you will be delighted to read the following announcement:
Ethrington Hall, Richmond
“A series of lectures on Islam and British Empire will be delivered by Fatih Mohammad Sayal MA, Qadian, Punjab (India).
On May 3rd, 10th and 20th at 8pm
Admission free All are cordially invited”
The first lecture of the said series was delivered at its scheduled time with great competence and excellence. The missionaries of Ahmadiyyat conveyed the message of truth to the people in the best possible way and mentioned the name of God’s chosen one, the messenger of the age, Ahmadas of Qadian, in the Ahmadiyya style. Insha–Allah, the rest of the lectures will be held on 10 and 20 May with their full glory.
Sincere letter of respected Hameeda Bottomley
Respected Hameeda Bottomley, may Allah safeguard her, sent her request of Bai‘at in the court of Khilafat. Below is her sincere letter:
“Your Holiness! I am writing this letter of request to you so that Huzoor accepts my request of Bai‘at and bless me with the honour of entering the Ahmadiyya Jamaat.
“I developed interest in the teachings of Ahmadiyyat ever since I took a magazine entitled Call to Truth from Mr Nayyar (on the occasion of the arrival of the Shah of Iran at Victoria Station). After studying it, I sent it to my husband. My husband was delighted to read this magazine. Immediately, he started corresponding with Mr Nayyar and ultimately became a true Ahmadi. I will sincerely do the same as what all faithful and sincere Ahmadis do. I hope that Huzoor will include me as a servant in the Ahmadiyya Jamaat and pray that I may be able to help in this good work which Mr Sayal and Mr Nayyar are doing here.
“I am a sincere servant of Huzoor, Gertrude Litaya Hameeda Bottomley”
Birthday of Saeeda and Fatima Faith
In this country, it is customary to celebrate birthdays and give presents to children on their birthdays. The birthday of respected Saeeda Faith, elder daughter of Brother Muhammad Suleiman Faith, was on 18 April.
A handkerchief sent by Sheikh Fazl Karim Sahib, brought by Babu Azizuddin Sahib from Bombay reached Saeeda right on her birthday.
The innocent Saeeda received the handkerchief and said:
“Allah knew it was my birthday.”
On 22 May was the birthday of Brother Faith’s youngest daughter, Fatima. Yet again we went to the house of Brother Faith to cause a positive impact on the little hearts of the children. We prayed for little Fatima, her parents and siblings.
Tabligh in various ways
A very scholarly article of Maulvi Fateh Muhammad Sayal, carrying the title “Imperial Politics” was published in the magazine Britain and India.
On May Day, i.e. on 1 May, the labours here staged spectacular processions and demonstrations. Taking advantage of the opportunity, a large amount of Ahmadiyya literature was distributed among them.
(Translated by Al Hakam)
Hazrat Maulvi Abdur Rahim Nayyarra
Our new Sister
I had a letter of sister Amina Thomson published in one of the previous issues of Al Fazl under the title “Islam in Norway” and her intentions to correspond, to come to London and to write letters to Norwegian newspapers etc. was mentioned.
According to this resolution, sister Amina came to London and presently, she is the guest of honour at the Ahmadiyya Mission, located at 4 Star Street [London].
At the time of publication of the previous letter, our sister was a Muslim by faith and had in her heart a sense of reverence and respect for Prophet Muhammadsa of Arabia and the Holy Quran, and she was also associated with the Ahmadiyya Mission.
However, by then she did not have the honour of doing Bai‘at of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih II[ra]. The very day she arrived and stayed over here resulted in the blessing of Bai‘at for her and thus, in the current week, a “white bird” flew from the east coast of the German Sea, i.e. the country of Norway and submitted to the Promised Messiah of God, Ahmadas Nabiyullah [Prophet of Allah], may my parents be sacrificed for him.
Consequently, Mrs Thomson had the honour of receiving the enviable title of Amina Ahmadi Lady, Alhamdolillah! Sister Amina Thomson intends to spend some money for the promulgation of Ahmadiyyat in Norway through the income of her property in Norway (which is currently under trial) and also, from the earnings of her property in East Africa.
[She desires that] Ahmadiyya literature should be published in the Norwegian language and the message of Islam should be spread over there because sister Amina says from personal experience that most people in Norway are very unfamiliar with Islam.
In their opinion, Muslims are idolatrous and very ill-mannered, uncivilised people. They consider what some clergymen have told them as the word of God.
Ah! The same is the condition of other European countries and unfortunately, the declining state of Muslims has strengthened these ideas.
(Translated by Al Hakam)
Al Hakam is a weekly English newspaper for members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat around the world. Its aim is to provide Ahmadis with content regarding the beliefs of the true Islam, reintroduced to the world by Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian, peace be on him.
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