RR 2010 02

The Review of Religions: February 2010, Vol.105, No.
2 Calendar of Religious Events and Festivals
4 The Victory of Islam – Part 3

The Promised Messiah(as) responds to various allegations levelled against him
(Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad(as), the Promised Messiah and Mahdi)
14 The Purpose of Creation

What have we been created for and how do we fulfil the purpose of our
existence?
(Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad(as), the Promised Messiah and Mahdi)
25 Establishing Religious Peace

Explaining what Islam actually stands for and dispelling some commonly held
myths about Muslims
(Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad(aba), Khalifatul Masih V, Head of the Worldwide
Ahmadiyya Muslim community)
34 Way of the Seekers

An in-depth exposition of the philosophy of morals, the concept of sin and virtue
and how ethics can be made a part of everyday life
(Hadhrat Mirza Bashir-ud-Din Mahmud Ahmad(ra), Khalifatul Masih II)
54 The Holy Prophet(saw) – The Torchbearer of Humanity

The multi-faceted personality and character of the Holy Founder of Islam sets an
excellent example for all of us
(Dr. Ijaz Ahmad Qamar – Canada)
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Verse references to the Holy Qur’an item count ‘Bismillah...’ (In the Name of Allah...) as the
first verse of each Chapter. In some non-standard texts, this is not counted. Should the reader
refer to such texts, the verse quoted in The Review of Religions will be found a verse earlier, i.e.
at one verse less than the number quoted in this journal.
For the ease of non-Muslim readers, ‘(saw)’ or ‘saw’ after the words, ‘Holy Prophet’, or the
name ‘Muhammad’, are used normally in small letters. They stand for ‘Sallallahu ‘alaihi wa
sallam’ meaning ‘peace and blessings of Allah be upon him’. Likewise, the letters ‘(as)’ or ‘as’
after the name of all other prophets is an abbreviation meaning ‘peace be upon him’ derived
from ‘Alaihis salatu wassalam’ which are words that a Muslim utters out of respect whenever
he or she comes across that name. The abbreviation ‘ra’ or (ra) stands for ‘Radhiallahu Ta’ala
anhu and is used for Companions of a Prophet, meaning Allah be pleased with him or her (when
followed by the relevant Arabic pronoun). Finally, ‘ru’ or (ru) for Rahemahullahu Ta’ala means
the Mercy of Allah the Exalted be upon him.
In keeping with current universal practice, local transliterations of names of places are preferred
to their anglicised versions, e.g. Makkah instead of Mecca, etc.
Calendar of Religious Events & Festivals
(February 2010)
Day Event Significance

Mahayana Buddhist festival marking the death of
Buddha(as). Parinirvana is considered to b the final
8 Parinirvana (Buddhism)
nirvana of a devotee who has attained complete
awakening.
Mahashivratri
12 Hindu festival dedicated to Shiva.
(Hinduism)
The origin of Chinese New Year is centuries old

and gains significance because of several myths
14 Chinese New Year and traditions. Ancient Chinese New Year is a
reflection on how the people behaved and what
they believed in the most.
s.org First day of the Christian fast of Lent marking the

Ash Wednesday time that Jesus(as) spent in the wilderness.
17
(Christian) Originally this was a fast, but in modern times,
Christians abstain from certain foods for 40 days.
Celebration of the birthday of Prophet

Muhammad(saw) which began to be observed over
Eid Milad un Nabi
26 4 centuries after his death. Among Muslims, the
(Islam) Hijrah is more significant that the birthday of the
Prophet(saw).
Hindu spring festival also called the Festival of

Colours where bonfires are also lit to
28 Holi (Hinduism) commemorate the attempt to burn prince Prahalad
to death due to his devotion to Vishnu. The story
attests to the victory of good over evil.
Remembering the bravery of a Jewish women

28 Purim (Judaism) called Esther, who saved the Jewish people in
Persia from extermination.
Errata: January 2010 edition – Religious Calendar –Christmas Day (15th) was included in error.
The Review of Religions – February 2010 3

Continuation of an extract from Victory of Islam, an
English rendering of the Urdu Fath-e-Islam, written
by the Promised Messiah and Mahdi, Hadhrat
Mirza Ghulam Ahmad(as).
VICTORY OF ISLAM Part 3
Here an episode is worth place where I should address

recording. Some time ago I had them. My own strong and sincere
the occasion to go to Aligarh. desire has always been to look for
Because of over-work, from the opportunities of communicating
effects of which I had suffered important truths to people. So, I
even before at Qadian, I was not in accepted this invitation with
a condition to hold long pleasure. I thought I would be able
conversations or to undertake any to explain at a public gathering the
hard mental work. Even at present meaning of Islam, what Islam
I am not in a fit condition to hold really was and how it had come to
long converse or do very hard be understood by people today,
thinking. In such a condition, I and so on. I assured the Maulawi
happened to receive a Maulawi Sahib that, God willing, I would
Sahib of Aligarh, Muhammad be able to speak on the subject of
Ismail by name. With great Islam. But after I had agreed, I was
humility he requested and forbidden to do this by God. I feel
persuaded me to deliver a sermon. certain that because of my state of
He said people had been waiting to health, Almighty Allah did not
see and hear me; that it was proper want me to undertake anything
to hold a gathering in a suitable involving such exertion, anything
4 The Review of Religions – February 2010

Victory of Islam – Part 3
which meant physical trouble for are devoted to me, and Munshi
me. So I was restrained by God Abdul Haq, accountant, a resident
from delivering this sermon. Once of Lahore, employed in Lahore,
before it had happened thus with who has attended on me during
me. I was in a low physical this sickness of mine and serves
condition and then in a vision I me in ways impossible to describe.
saw a prophet from amongst the All such friends know and all will
prophets of the past. Out of bear witness to this condition of
sympathy and concern, this mine.
prophet said to me, “Why so much
mental work? Mind, lest you Regretfully, therefore, I have to
become sick”. In short, I was say although Muslims have been
stopped by God and I informed the commanded to trust people,
Maulawi Sahib accordingly. My Maulawi Sahib of Aligarh chose
excuse was a true excuse. There not to trust me. On the contrary, he
are people who have seen me, how chose to disbelieve me and to
I have suffered after long depose deliberately against me. A
conversations or after hard mental statement has since been compiled
work. Such people may not care by a friend of his, a doctor
for my revelations. But they would Jamaluddin by name. This
be quite certain that I suffer in this statement which has been
way. Dr. Muhammad Hussain broadcast among the public, I
Khan, Physician and Honorary proceeded to reply point by point:
Magistrate of Lahore, continues to
be my doctor. This doctor’s “I asked him (that is, the
constant advice to me is that I present writer when he was at
should avoid hard mental work Aligarh) to address the Friday
while liability to suffer lasts. So congregation the following day
this doctor is similarly first to which he agreed, but the
witness. Among them are my following morning sent a
brother Maulawi Hakim message saying he had been
Nuruddin, Physician to the State forbidden by a revelation. I
of Jammu, whose heart and soul think it was for lack of

Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad(as)

The founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community
In 1891, he claimed on the basis of Divine revelation,
that he was the Promised Messiah and Mahdi whose
advent had been foretold by Muhammad, the Holy
Prophet of Islam (peace and blessings of Allah be
upon him) and by the scriptures of other faiths.
His claim constitutes the basis of the beliefs of the

Ahmadiyya Muslim community.
speaking ability and for fear of visit to Aligarh. The claim is

the test.” mentioned in many places in my
Barahin-i-Ahmadiyyah. If I was so
Maulawi Sahib’s apprehension is devoid of the ability to speak in
nothing but sheer distrust on his public, how could I have
part. And distrusting is a seriously composed books like Surma
forbidden thing in the Shari‘ah, Chashm Arya, which was
eschewed by all good natured delivered orally before several
people. Did I announce my claim thousand people friendly and
to revelation for the first time hostile? How could a man as
during this visit to Aligarh? If so, inferior in public-speaking as I
there could be some basis for this accomplish such a task? How
lack of trust. It could be said that I could I carry on a public campaign
became over-awed by the intellect which entails confrontation with
and scholarship of the Maulawi thousands of people of all manner
Sahib and became so afraid of him of abilities and tastes? Pity, a
that I was obliged to invent an thousand pities! Most present-day
excuse for not keeping my Maulawis are so consumed by
appointment. But my claim to jealousy! From the pulpit they
revelation was announced in the teach the manners of good
country about six years before this believers, brotherliness, mutual

trustfulness and so on, and always beginning to learn. Even such a

quoting from the Holy Book; but description is more than you
themselves, they do not as much deserve.
as touch these injunctions! My
dear Sir, may God open your eyes! Is this not enough to cure you of
Is it so impossible that God out of your delusions? Will you still
His wisdom should stop by continue to distrust? If so, then
revelation a favoured servant of with the help and mercy of God, I
His, from doing something he is am ready to confront you in a
about to do? And not for the sake public speaking contest. I am not
of the servant only, but also so that so well. So, I cannot undertake a
people like you may be tested and long journey. If you agree, you can
so that your evil thoughts and travel at my expense to a central
dispositions may expose place like Lahore in the Punjab. I
themselves. As for awe-inspiring feel I could invite you to such a
scholarship – I have little respect confrontation and such a test. I
for scholars steeped in darkness promise to stand by my invitation.
and selfish desires. Were they I await your reply.
masters of all the known
philosophies and sciences, they “This man (that is, the present
would be no better than dead writer) is utterly incompetent
worms in my view. But what are with no scholarship to his
you? You are not half as learned. credit.”
You are a Mullah of the old
school, pedantic and mean like My dear Sir, I have no claim to
any of them. Remember, my earthly wisdom or scholarship. I
visitors include men learned in have no use for knowledge and
sciences and arts and eager to skills of this world. They illumine
inquire and know more. They not the soul. They cleanse not the
come and benefit from insights I dirt and filth that is in men’s minds
am able to impart. You – in and motives. They promote not
comparison with such of my humility and modesty. Rather,
visitors – are like a child they make rusty minds rustier and

add unbelief to unbelief. Enough to whose discredit does this go?

for me is this: That the Grace of Your own, or anyone else’s? You
God lent His Hand of Help to me could publish those very questions
and imparted to me knowledge, in some newspaper and receive
which one learns not in the fresh answers to test your notions
conventional schools but only of yourself again.
from a Heavenly teacher. If I am
described as unlettered, what is “It is impossible to think that
there in this to be ashamed of? It is such good books are really his
something to be proud of. Was not work.”
even my Leader and Chief(saw), the
Chief of all God’s creatures, who How could you think so? The
came to reform and raise all unbelievers who saw the Holy
mankind, unlettered? I have no Prophet(saw) with their own eyes
respect for him who prides himself could not think so. Their minds
in scholarship but is dark in outer were hooded, they could not
and inner character. Read the Holy perceive the merits of the Holy
Qur’an and ponder over the Prophet(saw). So they went on
similitude of the donkey laden saying that the powerful speech –
with books. Should not this be the Holy Qur’an – which fell from
enough? his lips and which he addressed to
all God’s creatures, was taught to
“I questioned him (that is, the him in secret by other people! And
present writer) on the subject the teaching went on regularly
of revelation. Beyond giving morning and evening! In a sense,
some meaningless answers, the unbelievers’ taunt was true.
he said nothing.” The Holy Qur’an in power and
wisdom is far above the
Remember well. My answers were intellectual power of the Holy
full of meaning, sufficient to Prophet(saw). Far above the
convince anyone capable of intellectual capacity of any human
understanding and weighing. You being. Only the Most Knowing,
did not understand, it is true. But the Most Powerful God could

have imparted this speech. invoke the curse of Allah on

Similarly the books composed by those who lie.
this humble one are the result of (Holy Qur’an, Ch.3:V.62)
Help, which came from the
Unseen, above my ability and my This verse from the Book of God
capacity. And thank God, is my reply. I remember not at all
Maulawi Sahib’s criticism has this Syed Ahmad who was with
made true a prophecy entered me for two months. It is up to the
earlier in my Barahin-i- Maulawi Sahib to produce him
Ahmadiyyah. The prophecy said before me, so he may be asked to
there would be people who on tell us what apparatus he saw. But
reading this book would declare, it why this? I am alive and Maulawi
is not this man’s work! Sahib himself could come and live
with me for two months and see
“Syed Ahmad Arab, whom I things for himself. We need no
know to be reliable, told me Arab or non-Arab to do this.
that he (Syed Ahmad) lived
with him (i.e., the present “When I have read the so-
writer) for two months: in an called revelations and thought
inner circle of devotees, over them, I am not at all
taking care to be present on impressed: the revelations do
all occasions and observing not seem to be revelations.”
and watching out carefully.
He (the Arab) found No more were the unbelievers of
astrological instruments with the Holy Prophet(saw)’s time
him which he (i.e., the present impressed. Has not God Almighty
writer) made use of.” said about them, And they
declared false our signs totally
Come, let us call our sons and (Holy Qur’an Ch.78:V.29)? The
your sons, and our women Pharaoh believed not. Abu Jahl,
and our women, and our Abu Lahb believed not. But they
people and your people and who were poor and pure of heart
then let us pray fervently and believed. This grace comes not of

one’s own sinews, not until the surprise me. O God, have mercy
Gracious One gifts it Himself. on this Ummah [(people)] of the
Holy Prophet(saw) whose leaders,
“Making claims is contrary to guides and friends are Maulawis
showing signs and to say that of this kind!
those who doubt may come
and see is false, futile.” Let readers consider this complaint
of the Maulawi that has arisen only
My claims are not mine really. from lack of charity and from
They are claims on behalf of Him abundance of jealousy. It is
Who is entitled to make every obvious that I was in Aligarh a
claim. No lover of truth can allege sojourner for a few days. I was
lies to such claims. True, claims of bound to observe concessions
supernatural powers cannot be allowed to travellers by the
made even by prophets. But could Shari‘ah of Islam. Not to observe
not God – through a prophet, these concessions at all is a kind of
apostle or Muhaddath – make unbelief. What I did was what I
such claims? should have done. I cannot deny
that during my stay of a few days,
“I lost my belief in him after I said two prayers at one time, and
the meeting. Every believer in this is the Sunnah. I have said Zuhr
the One God who meets him and ‘Asr prayers together late at
(the present writer) will the time of Zuhr. Strict believers
similarly lose his belief in combine prayers even at home
him. He is late with daily when they are neither on journey
prayers, very late. And he nor prevented by rain. I do not
does not always join others at deny that during these few days I
prayers.” have not been absent always, in
spite of being ill and on a journey.
It matters not to me that Maulawi Maulawi Sahib would know that I
Sahib lost belief in me. But his said my Friday prayers behind him
lying and fabricating and and I do not know now whether
distrusting – to such extremes – do this was correct. It is true, quite

true, that I avoid attending selfish enterprise? When things

mosques when I am journeying. are like this, why should one who
But this – I seek refuge with Allah knows ruin his own faith? The
– is not for laziness or for traditions of the Holy Prophet(saw)
indifference to divine ordinances. dealing with the latter days, speak
Unfortunately mosques in our of the filling of mosques by
time, in our country, are in a very hypocrites. This prophecy relates
bad condition. When one wishes to to Mullahs of our time who have
lead the prayers at such mosques, the Holy Qur’an on their lips but
the official Imams do not tolerate who are thinking all the time of
it. Should one choose to stand their own bread and butter when
behind an appointed Imam, then I they face their congregations.
have doubts whether prayers are Combining Zuhr and ‘Asr prayers
then properly said at all. Why? or Maghrib and ‘Isha’ has always
Because it is known to all and been permitted during journeys.
sundry that leading prayers has When this permission was
become a business with these abrogated I do not know. Nor do I
Imams. Five times a day they enter know who has forbidden the
not a house of prayer but enter saying of prayers during the latter
rather a shop to attend to part of their [appointed] time. It is
customers. amazing – you think backbiting
permissible but combining Zuhr
They and their families live on its and ‘Asr prayers or Maghrib and
income. Parties go to court ‘Isha’ prayers by a traveller
whenever there is dispute over haraam [(forbidden)].
maintaining or not maintaining a
given person as Imam. Maulawi “Fear God, ye believers in
Sahiban file appeals to obtain a One God, for the time to
legal decree for their status as depart is near and Allah
Imams. This is living off Imamat knows everything you try to
in the forbidden way, a most hide.”
disgusting way. Are you not
similarly involved in a crooked Looking for spiritual ailments as a

target, and then – by arrows of daily life for others. The two are
counselling as it were – trying to interconnected. If God is
eliminate those ailments and concerned to provide guidance
reform moral weakness, much as a and reform in time of need, then it
dislocated part is restored to its is imperative that the elect of God
true position, requires the presence who receive their wisdom from
of the patient before the physician. God and who are taught to always
Proper treatment is possible in no stand by God’s wishes should
other way. Thus it is that God has continue to arise. It follows,
sent several thousand prophets and therefore, that the Herculean task
messengers into the world and of reforming a whole people
required men to flock round them cannot be accomplished by
and profit by their life and academic devices. It can be
example. For, as exemplars, they accomplished only by methods
are living embodiments of the which have always been employed
word of God. To follow them is to by God’s holy prophets. The
follow the word of God. example of Islam proves this in a
Companionship of these holy men unique and unparalleled manner.
is one of the essentials of religious The Holy Prophet’s(saw) com-
training. Were it not so, God panions rose to more than 10,000,
would have sent His revelation yet this large number lived and
without sending any messengers moved in close association with
or prophets. Or, He would have the Holy Prophet(saw), ready and
sent prophets and messengers in eager with conviction and
the beginning and then stopped humility to acquire knowledge of
sending them forever afterwards. divine truths and learn the art of
Divine wisdom did not brook this true divine living.
arrangement. On the contrary, holy
men gifted with divine revelation True, even Moses(as) had a
continued to come at all times of following, a Jama’at. But of what
need – to cure godlessness and sort was this Jama’at? It was
restore the love of God and purity rebellious and arrogant and far
of life – and to serve as models of removed from the acceptance of

spiritual discipline and the style of visitors who would come and live
a good life. Readers of the Bible with me, so that those who are
and students of Jewish history are eager to promote their faith, their
aware of this. The companions of love of God, and their certainty of
the Holy Prophet(saw) present, by convictions should come and live
contrast, a tremendous miracle of in daily contact with me, so that
internal transformation, which they also should become gifted
took place through their following with the love of faith with which
the Holy Prophet(saw). They this humble one happens to have
presented an outstanding picture been gifted; and so that they also
of cohesion and equality of spirit. should enjoy the spiritual
This was how Islamic brotherhood experiences which this humble one
came into being. The brotherhood enjoys; that they also should
was an organic whole. The light acquire the devotion and
and influence of the Holy enthusiasm for the faith which this
Prophet(saw) had penetrated deep humble one has acquired; and that
into their minds and souls. One – thus and in consequence of this –
and all had become perfect the light of Islam should spread far
reflections of the character of the and wide in the world, and that the
Holy Prophet(saw). This was the present black image of Muslims, a
result of the example of a true and people only to be hated and
perfect prophet. Those steeped in despised, should evaporate. I had
the grossest idol-worship became tidings of this revolution to come.
worshippers of the One, Invisible God, yes God Himself, spoke to
God. Those who were sunk in the me and said:
pleasures of this world became
“Arise! Thy appointed
devotees of the True Beloved, so
moment has come and now
much, that they hesitated not to
followers of Muhammad(saw)
shed their own blood in His path.
will soon mount on to a
In consonance with this, this
minaret very high, with their
humble one has been appointed to
feet more firmly planted than
institute something similar. I desire
before.”
in fact to widen this circle of

The Purpose of Creation
THE ESSENCE OF ISLAM have been translated into English,
This series sets out, in the words of was collated with great care and
the Promised Messiah(as), Hadhrat diligence by Syed Daud Ahmad
Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, a summary Sahib(ru). The English rendering is by
of his exposition of four outstanding the late Sir Muhammad Zafrulla
topics: ISLAM; ALLAH, THE Khan(ra), and is quoted from The
EXALTED; THE HOLY Essence of Islam, Volume 3. All
PROPHET (saw) and THE HOLY references throughout, unless
QUR’AN. The original compilation, otherwise specifically mentioned, are
in Urdu, from which these extracts from the Holy Qur’an.
so that they should worship

me.
(Ch.51:V.57)
According to this verse the true

purpose of human life is the
worship and understanding of
God Almighty and devotion to
Him. It is obvious that it is not
open to man that he should
himself appoint the purpose of his
life by his own authority
inasmuch as man does not arrive
in the world of his own will, nor
will he depart from this world of
his own will. He is a created being
and He Who created him and
bestowed upon him better and
higher faculties than those
bestowed upon other animates,
has appointed a purpose for his
life. Whether anyone compre-
T hough different people, on

account of their short-
sightedness or lack of courage,
hends that purpose or not, without
doubt the purpose of man’s
creation is the worship and
appoint various types of understanding of God Almighty
objectives for their lives and stop and to lose himself in Him (Islami
short at worldly purposes and Usul ki Philosophy; Now printed
desires, yet the purpose that God in Ruhani Khaza’in (London,
Almighty has specified in His 1984), Vol. 10, p100).
Holy Word is:
We offered the Trust to the
I have created jinn and men heavens and the earth and

the mountains, but they wealth, or achieved high office, or

refused to undertake it and having become a great merchant,
were afraid of it. But man or having acquired governing
undertook it. Indeed he is authority, or become a great
capable of forcing himself to philosopher, he departs in the end
obey, disregardful of conse- from these worldly involvements
quences. with a sense of frustration. His
(Ch.33:V.73) heart rebukes him all the time
about his deep concern with the
This means that the Divine Trust, world and his conscience never
by which are meant the love of approves his wiles and deceits and
God and complete obedience to wrongful actions. This problem
Him, was offered to the angels can be appreciated in another
and the whole of creation and the way. The purpose of the creation
mountains, all apparently full of of a thing is determined by its
strength, but they all refused to highest achievement beyond
undertake it, being afraid of its which its faculties cannot rise. For
grandeur. But man undertook it instance, the highest a bullock is
for he possessed two qualities, capable of is ploughing, or
that he could force himself in the irrigation, or transportation, and
cause of God Almighty and could therefore these are the purposes of
advance so far in love of Him as its life and it cannot rise above
to forget altogether everything them. But when we take stock of
else (Taudheeh Maram, pp27-28). man’s faculties and powers to
discover his highest capacity, we
The real purpose of all the find that he is invested with the
external and internal limbs and faculty of seeking after God so
faculties that have been bestowed much so, that he desires that he
on man is understanding and should become so devoted to
worship and love of God. That is God’s love that he should have
why, despite a thousand nothing of his own and that
occupations, man does not find everything should become God’s.
his true well-being except in God He shares his natural needs like
Almighty. Having acquired great food and drink and rest with other
animates, and in industry some to them at all. Their case is

animals are ahead of him; for like that of one who stretches
instance, the bees produce such forth his hands towards
excellent honey from every type water that it may reach his
of flower that man has so far not mouth, but it reaches it not.
been able to compete with them. The prayer of the disbe-
It is clear, therefore, that the lievers is but a delusion.
highest capacity of man is (Ch.13:V.15)
meeting with God Almighty and
thus the true purpose of his life is Second Means
that the window of his heart The second means of achieving
should open towards God. the true purpose of life is to
become aware of the perfect
How To Achieve The Purpose beauty of God Almighty, for
Of Life beauty is something that naturally
The question is how, and through attracts the hearts and generates
what means, can man achieve this love. The beauty of God
purpose? The principal means for Almighty is His Unity and His
achieving this purpose is the Greatness and His other
correct recognition of and faith in attributes, as the Holy Qur’an
the True God. If this first step is says:
wrongly taken and a person sets
up a bird, or an animal, or any of Proclaim: He is Allah, the
the elements, or a human being as Single; Allah, the Self-
his god, it cannot be expected that Existing and Besought of all.
his subsequent steps would be He begets not, nor is He
taken along the straight path. The begotten; and there is none
True God helps His seekers; but like unto Him.
that which is dead cannot help the (Ch.112:Vs.2-5)
dead. As the Holy Qur’an says:
This means that in His Being and
Unto Him is the true prayer. His attributes and His Glory, God
Those on whom they call is One without associate. All are
beside Him, do not respond dependent upon Him and every

particle derives its life from Him. from nothing and thereafter His
He is the Source of grace for Providence was bestowed upon
everything and receives no grace them and He became the support
from anything. He is neither a son of everything, and all types of His
nor a father for none is equal to mercy were manifested for His
Him. The Holy Qur’an repeatedly servants. His benevolence is
draws attention to God’s without limit and beyond count as
perfection and greatness and is repeatedly set forth in the Holy
points out that such God is the Qur’an, as, for instance:
Besought of all hearts and not one
who is dead or weak or lacks …If you try to number the
mercy or power. bounties of Allah, you will
not be able to count them…
Third Means (Ch14:V.35)
The third means of achieving the
purpose of life is to become aware Fourth Means
of the benevolence of God The fourth means of achieving the
Almighty, for love is generated by true purpose is Prayer, as is said:
beauty and benevolence. The Call on Me, I shall respond to you
benevolent attributes of God (Ch.40:V.61). There is repeated
Almighty are set forth briefly in urge towards Prayer, so that man
Surah Fatihah [(Opening should achieve his purpose not
Chapter)], where it is said: through his own power, but
through God’s power.
All praise belongs to Allah,
Lord of the worlds, Most Fifth Means
Gracious, Ever Merciful, The fifth means of achieving the
Master of the Day of purpose of life is striving in the
Judgement. cause of Allah with one’s property
(Ch.1:Vs.2-4) and one’s faculties and one’s life
and one’s reason, as is it said:
It is obvious that the perfection of
benevolence consists in that God …Strive in the cause of Allah
Almighty created His servants with your properties and
your lives… This is an indication that the

(Ch.9:V.41); pleasure of God Almighty is won
through steadfastness. It is true
and it is said: that steadfastness is more than a
miracle. Steadfastness is that one
…They spend out of should find oneself surrounded on
whatsoever We have all sides by calamities and one
bestowed upon them should find one’s life and honour
(Ch.2:V.4); in danger and nothing comforting
should be available, so much so,
and it is said: that God Almighty should stop
comforting visions and dreams
Those who strive after Us and revelation and should leave
shall We guide along the one in the midst of terrifying
paths that lead to Us… fears, but that at such a time, one
(Ch.29:V.70) should not abandon courage and
should not step back like a coward
Sixth Means and should not let one’s fidelity be
The sixth means for achieving the weakened. One’s sincerity and
purpose of life is steadfastness; loyalty should not be shaken, one
that is to say, that a seeker should should be pleased with the
not become tired and should not humiliation, one should be
be daunted by trials, as it is said: reconciled to death, one should
not await the support of a friend,
On them who affirm: Our one should not seek glad tidings
Lord is Allah; and then from God, because of one’s
remain steadfast, angels delicate situation, and one should
descend, re-assuring them: stand up straight despite
Fear not, nor grieve, and helplessness and weakness and
rejoice in the Garden that the lack of every comfort. One
you were promised. We are should stretch forth one’s neck,
your friends in this life and in saying: Whatever is to happen, let
the hereafter… it happen; one should face
(Ch.41:Vs.31-32) courageously whatever has been

determined and one should not be that we should die in a state of

impatient nor complain till the submission to Thee. At the time
trial is completed. This is the of trials and misfortune, God
steadfastness through which one Almighty causes a light to
wins God. This is that the descend upon the hearts of those
perfume of which is given forth who are dear to Him, being
by the dust of Messengers, strengthened by which they face
Prophets, Siddiqs [(Truthful misfortunes calmly and, out of the
persons)] and martyrs. This is sweetness of their faith, they kiss
indicated in the prayer: the chains that are put round their
feet in His cause. When
Guide us along the straight calamities descend upon a man of
path, the path of those on God and signs of death appear, he
whom Thou hast bestowed does not contend with his Lord
Thy favours… that He might be safeguarded
(Ch.1:Vs.6-7) against them, inasmuch as to
persist at such a time in
meaning, show us the path of supplications for security
steadfastness by treading along amounts to fighting God
which one wins Thy bounties and Almighty and is contrary to
favours and with which Thou art complete submission. A true lover
pleased. This is also indicated in advances forward at a time of
another verse: calamity and holding life as
nothing, and saying goodbye to
…Our Lord pour down upon love of it, submits himself
us steadfastness and cause us completely to the will of his Lord
to die in a state of submission and seeks only His pleasure.
to Thee Concerning such people, God, the
(Ch.7:V.127) Glorious, says:
meaning, Lord: at this time of trial Of the people there are those
send down upon our hearts the who dedicate themselves to
comfort that should make us seeking the pleasure of Allah;
steadfast and do Thou so ordain and Allah is Most
Compassionate towards such God Almighty. To travel towards

devoted servants. God is to tread upon a very
(Ch.2:V.208) delicate path that is attended by
diverse types of calamities and
That is the spirit of steadfastness sufferings. It is possible that a
through which one meets God. person may be overtaken by
forgetfulness in pursuing this
Seventh means unfamiliar path or may give up
The seventh means of achieving hope and should abandon further
the purpose of life is keeping advance. Therefore, the mercy of
company with the righteous and God Almighty seeks to comfort
to follow their example. One of him in his progress in this journey
the needs of the advent of and strengthen his heart and to
Prophets is that man naturally uphold his resolve and to increase
seeks a perfect example, for it his eagerness. Thus it is God’s
fosters eagerness and resolve. He way that from time to time He
who does not follow a good comforts those who are voyaging
example becomes slothful and along this path with His revelation
goes astray. This is indicated in and manifests to them that He is
the verse: with them. Thus strengthened,
they perform this journey with
…Keep company with the great eagerness. He has said:
righteous (Ch.9:V.119)
For them are glad tidings in
and: this world and in the
hereafter…
The path of those on whom (Ch.10:V.65)
Thou hast bestowed Thy
favours… (Ch.1:V.7) There are several other means for
achieving the purpose of life
Eighth Means which the Holy Qur’an has set
The eighth means of achieving the out, but considerations of space
purpose of life are pure visions forbid us setting them out here
and dreams and revelation from (Islami Usul ki Philosophy; Now

printed in Ruhani Khazain Why should You worry? Should

(London, 1984), Vol. 10, pp101- anyone say that, and indeed if the
108). whole world and all mankind
were to supplicate Him that He
A question is raised that God should spare them His
Almighty being Gracious and admonitions and commandments
Benevolent, His direction that and revealed Books, and that they
man should worship Him is for do not desire paradise, but would
the benefit of man and not that it be content with this world and
adds in any way to God’s honour. should be left for ever to it, that
It is true that through the worship they do not desire the great
of God man’s own welfare is bounties of the hereafter, that He
intended, yet the Rabubiyyat should not interfere with their
[(Providence)] of God Almighty actions and should abstain from
demands that avoiding evil and planning rewards and
devoting himself to His worship punishments for them and should
and obedience, he should achieve not concern Himself with their
his good fortune. If he does not benefit or their loss, their
wish to follow that path His wrath supplication would not be granted
is aroused not for His own sake, even if they continued to submit it
but for his sake and He subjects throughout their lives crying and
him to diverse types of warnings weeping. It is not enough that a
and admonitions. If he still does person is free and worships God
not take heed, he is consumed in for his own benefit and that
the fire of rejection and of despair. Permeshwar has no concern with
It is not permissible that anyone it, but the Glory and Greatness of
should say to Him: Why do You God demand that man should
bother about what would harm me carry out the worship of God and
or benefit me? Why do You should follow the ways of
admonish us and send revealed goodness. His Godhead naturally
Books and punish us? If we demands that the signs of
worship You, it would be for our servitude should be manifested
own good and if we do not before Him and His perfection
worship You, we shall suffer loss. demands that man should humble
himself in His presence. That is His Kingdom, and recompense

the reason why in the end His and the requirement of obedience
chastisement overtakes the and servitude and worship are the
disobedient and the vicious and consequences of that very
those who persist in wrong-doing. demand. For the manifestation of
His Blessed Being has eternally His Rabubiyyat and Godhead, He
possessed the power to award has created this variegated world.
reward and impose punishment; Had His Being been free from this
otherwise, he would not occupy desire of manifestation, why
Himself to award good should He have addressed
recompense to the virtuous and ill Himself to creation at all? Who
recompense to the vicious. Were it had coerced Him that He should
not for His attribute of awarding create the universe and by
recompense, He would have kept establishing a relationship
silent and abstained altogether between souls and bodies should
from bestowing recompense. make this world the manifestation
Therefore, though it is true that of His wonderful powers? He
the harm or benefit of man’s must have possessed a power of
actions reverts to him and the determination that moved Him to
greatness and kingdom of God the creation of the universe. There
Almighty are neither increased are indications in His Holy Word,
nor decreased thereby, yet it is the Qur’an, which show that God
true and is a firm verity that His Almighty created the universe so
attribute of Rabubiyyat demands that He should be recognised
that His servants should be firmly through His attribute of creation,
established in their position of His and after creation He showered
worshippers, and that if anyone His mercy and benevolence upon
should raise his head in the the world so that He should be
slightest degree out of arrogance, recognised through His mercy and
his head be immediately smashed. benevolence. In the same way, He
In short, there is a demand in instituted punishment and reward
God’s Being for the manifestation so that His attributes of retribution
of His Greatness, His Godhead, and bounty might be recognised.
His Supremacy, His Glory and After death, He will raise up

mankind again so that He might the faithless ones and the wrong-
be recognised as All-Powerful. doers, you would realise that
His purpose in all His wonderful without doubt it is an established
works is that He should be verity that God Almighty, by the
recognised. Thus, by the creation demand of His Being, loves
of the world and by the system of goodness and hates evil and is at
recompense, what is desired is enmity with it. He desires that
the understanding of God, which people should discard vice and
is the essence of worship. This should adopt goodness, and
proves that God Almighty though goodness or evil, which
Himself demands that His man practises, does not in any
creatures should attain His way interfere with God’s
understanding, the perfect reality kingdom, yet that is His demand.
of which is known through It is thus obvious that if God
worship. As a beauteous one on Almighty has not created the
account of the perfection of his souls, He has no right to demand
beauty desires to display it, so from any soul why it does not
God Almighty, Who possesses to render to Him that perfect
perfection the reality of beauty, worship that is due to its Creator
desires that His excellences (Surma Chashm Arya (Qadian,
should be disclosed to people. 1886); Now published in Ruhani
This proves that God Almighty Khaza’in, Volume 2 (London,
demands worship, which is the 1984), pp.215-220).
basis and means of recognition
from His servants, and His
supremacy attends to the
destruction of one who opposes
His desire and denies His
worship and turns away from it.
If you reflect over the world and
observe carefully that which God
Almighty has hitherto meted out
to rebels and non-believers, and
that which He has always done to
Establishing
Religious
Peace
Address delivered by Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad,

Khalifatul Masih V, Head of the Worlwide Ahmadiyya Muslim
community (may Allah strengthen his hand), on 19th
December 2009, at the VIP Reception held at Ratskeller am
Römer, on the 50th anniversary of the Nur Mosque, Frankfurt.
All the honourable guests, come despite the fact that there is
Assalamu ‘Alaikum an ongoing anti-Islamic
Warahmatullah, Peace and campaign being waged in
Blessings of Allah be upon you society; not only against
all. Muslims, but against Islam itself.
And after listening to the
Firstly, I would like to thank all speeches of all the honourable
the guests who have come to speakers I am now more
attend the 50th Anniversary of confident that I am right in
our Nur Mosque here in thinking this, of having this view,
Frankfurt today. The fact that you that you are all open-minded
are here shows that you are open- people sitting in front of me.
minded people because you have Anyway, this campaign by the

Establishing Religious Peace
opponents of Islam presents that you have come here, despite

Islam as an extremist faith; hearing all such allegations,
however, this is far removed proves that you do not wish to
from the actual teachings of the only hear one point of view but,
religion. fulfilling the requirements of
justice and fair-play, you have
When people, who are unfamiliar come to see what the Ahmadiyya
with Islam, hear such claims, or Muslim Jama’at says about the
when they listen to news of teachings of Islam.
terrorists, Muslim suicide
bombers, or fanatics and I have always said that I am not
hardliners, they begin to believe ashamed to admit that certain
that Islam really is an extreme extremist ‘Muslim’ groups have
religion that promotes terror, and created great disorder in the
that Muslims follow hatred and world. However, this lack of
consider every non-Muslim to be peace exists more in the
worthless. Moreover, they countries of the perpetrators
consider that it is only the themselves rather than in Europe
teachings of Islam that pose a or other places in the world. This
threat to the world peace. And it clearly illustrates that this battle
is now, I am happy that those is not against any religion, but is
who are sitting here are not of the work of a small and self-
this view, but there are quite a serving group who create
number of people in the world disorder and carry out attacks in
who still hold this view. the name of religion. If you
Unfortunately, this entirely false analyse the situation, you will
notion has now taken firm root. realise that these people, who
However, I shall now clarify serve their own interests, have
some of these misunderstandings killed more Muslims than people
in light of the true teachings of of other faiths. The non-Muslims
Islam. being killed are those who are
sending armies to assist such
As I mentioned earlier, the fact Muslims countries, perhaps, on

the pretext of establishing peace. If we look at the fundamental

reasons for religious animosity
I do not wish to comment on amongst the followers of
whether military assistance is religion, the principle causes are
right or wrong, or whether the when people reject the founders
assessments of the western of each other’s religion as false,
powers regarding the future plans mock them and consequently
of the terrorists are sound. Nor do ridicule the customs and rituals
I wish to comment upon the that are linked to the founder of
strategic position of Pakistan, respective religion.
Afghanistan and Iraq or whether
the terrorists are trying to Let us see what Islam teaches
dominate such areas, or what the about the prophets or the
final solution should be in founders of religions. Chapter 3,
tackling the war on terror. These Verse 85 of the Holy Qur’an
are all separate issues on which I states:
would prefer not to speak at this
time. Say, ‘We believe in Allah
and in that which has been
However, as the Head of the revealed to us, and that
Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at, I which was revealed to
would like to remove the Abraham and to Ishmael
misunderstandings about Islam and Isaac and Jacob and the
in light of its true teachings and Tribes, and that which was
present to you the real and given to Moses and Jesus
beautiful picture of Islam as we and other Prophets from
see it. their Lord. We make no
distinction between any of
I now present to you a few them, and to Him we submit.
examples of Islamic teachings
based on the Holy Qur’an with This is the beautiful teaching of
regards to establishing world Islam.
peace.

If a Muslim claims to obey Qur’an in Chapter 22, verses 40

Allah, he is duty bound to and 41; the translation is as
believe in all the prophets, to the follows:
extent that at another place,
Allah the Almighty states that He Permission to fight is given
has sent prophets to all the to those against whom war
nations as a means to reform is made, because they have
people, some of whom Allah has been wronged – and Allah
named in the Qur’an. Thus, indeed has power to help
Islam has laid the foundation for them – Those who have been
peace, harmony and driven out from their homes
reconciliation by making all the unjustly only because they
founders of religions worthy of said, ‘Our Lord is Allah’ –
respect. And if Allah did not repel
some men by means of
If we look at the early history of others, there would surely
Islam we see that when, due to have been pulled down
the extreme cruelties against the cloisters and churches and
Muslims in Makkah, they were synagogues and mosques,
forced to migrate from Makkah wherein the name of Allah is
to Madinah, even then the oft commemorated. And
disbelievers of Makkah did not Allah will surely help one
leave them alone and in fact who helps Him. Allah is
continued their persecution. indeed Powerful, Mighty.
They tried to finish the Muslims
by attacking them. It was only Now see, it is not just the rights
then that Allah granted the Holy of Islam that have been
Prophet(saw), peace and blessings considered. Muslims have not
of Allah be upon him, and his been instructed to only preserve
followers permission to fight and their own rights, but have, in fact,
defend themselves. been commanded to eradicate the
evil intentions of those who
This is mentioned in the Holy associate partners with God, on

the basis that, were they to fail to these teachings he acts against
act, the oppressors would the commands of Allah.
become so bold that they would
try to annihilate all religions. In view of these teachings,
decide with your own hearts
Muslims have been instructed to whether anyone can raise any
preserve and protect the sanctity fair objection against Islam.
of all places of worship of all
religions, and they have been Should the actions of a handful
taught that if they have to assist of Muslims, pursuing solely
other religions in compliance their own interests, be used as a
with this command, then they source of torment for the rest of
must do so. If you act with good the Muslim world? Most
intentions then God will help certainly, the heart of any decent
you. person who wishes peace in the
world would definitely desire
God Almighty has said right that he should not cause distress
from the outset that even if you to anyone else.
have to wage a war in order to
stop cruelty of the wrongdoers, As I said previously, and as you
then do so; God will help you. are all aware today, we are
holding this function on the 50th
And history bears witness to anniversary of our mosque, Nur
this. The 313 companions of the Mosque. From this building the
Holy Prophet of Islam(saw), peace same message has been preached
and blessings of Allah be upon for the past fifty years, that
him, who were totally ill- mosques are centres of spreading
equipped for war, confronted love, peace, affection and the
and defeated a well-equipped worship of the One God.
force three times bigger than
them. This is proof that God is Today, the number of mosques
on the side of truth. If any of the Ahmadiyya Community,
Muslim today acts contrary to Ahmadiyya Jama’at in Germany,

has reached to almost 35 or 40. a ban on the minarets of

You will not hear voices or mosques. According to
slogans of hatred or of those who newspaper reports, it was
spread disorder from any single German-speaking Swiss people
one of these mosques. If any who cast the majority of the
voice is raised, it is the call to votes in favour of the ban.
worship the One God and to
fulfil the rights of His Creation. I cannot understand how
And this is not only in Germany. changing the shape or cosmetics
of the mosque will change the
The Ahmadiyya Jama’at has character of those who come to
thousands of mosques all over worship at the mosque. If we
the world. From not a single one suppose that mosques are the
can it be proved that hatred is breeding grounds of teachings of
being spread, or that even minor hatred, then by not building
distress is caused; nor has it ever minarets will these teachings of
happened. hatred suddenly cease? These
hatreds and animosities will not
Nonetheless, I say with great cease in this way, rather such
sorrow that in the West a wave acts will cause distress amongst
has been unleashed in some the peace-loving majority of
countries, and by certain classes, Muslims. Their feelings are
that, without distinction, every being played upon through this
Muslim ought to be considered a action.
terrorist, and that Islam teaches
terrorism. From time to time On the one hand they claim, I
they raise their voices against mean the Western Governments,
Islam. to be secular, and on the other,
they place restrictions upon
The most recent example is the religious freedom. By doing this
referendum held in Switzerland, they have tried to counter
and it has been quoted by two of extremism with extremism.
our honourable speakers: putting When these types of thoughtless

solutions are employed, then the to worship because you can only
reaction will likewise be establish peace in the world by
senseless. developing a relationship with
your Creator, with Allah; and
The Ahmadiyya Muslim come towards success because it
Jama’at, under the supervision is only through worship of Him
of Khilafat, never reacts in a and by maintaining peace in the
wrong manner. We even respond world that success can be
to abuse with prayers. In certain achieved.
Muslim countries, there are
restrictions on the minarets and Thus, this is the purpose of the
arches of our mosques, yet we minaret, and if any other voice is
remain silent. However, non- raised apart from this, from any
Ahmadi Muslims can react in an minaret, it is against the
extreme way and this has teachings of Islam. It is the
happened in the past. responsibility of the Government
to punish such criminals, rather
Thus I implore all of you, the than punishing every peace-
educated class of Germans, to loving person for the crimes of
continue to display the open- one misguided individual.
heartedness that you have shown
in the past. You should certainly World peace cannot be achieved
acquire the good things from in this way. Walls of hatred are
your neighbours but avoid the certainly erected because of this,
bad. The minarets of mosques and to bring down these walls of
are symbols of spreading light, hatred the Holy Qur’an has
and from where the call is raised taught us in Chapter 5, verse 9:
that God is Greatest, and that
there is none worthy of worship O ye who believe! Be
except Him, and that steadfast in the cause of
Muhammad, peace and blessings Allah, bearing witness in
be upon him, is His Messenger equity; and let not a
and Servant; come to the mosque people’s enmity incite you to

act otherwise than with forgive and that act of

justice. Be always just, that forgiveness brings about
is nearer to righteousness. reformation, then it is better,
And fear Allah. Surely, because the reward for such
Allah is aware of what you forgiveness is given by God
do. Himself. These are the methods
for the reformation of society
This is Islam’s beautiful and these are the ways for
teaching: that if the relationship establishing peace that have
between people and countries been taught to us by Islam.
can sometimes sour, this does
not mean that you can discard And, according to our beliefs, to
the requirements of justice. If give a fresh lease of life to this
you discard the requirements of teaching, Allah sent the Founder
justice then that will be far of the Ahmadiyya Muslim
removed from righteousness; Jama’at as the Promised
and one who is far removed Messiah for this age, who
from righteousness, has no proclaimed the concept of love,
relationship with God. Such a affection and peace to bring an
person’s actions are not for the end to religious extremism and
sake of God, because God says religious wars. He inclined us to
that if you want to come close to take care of the religious
Him, then you must discharge sentiments of others.
the rights of others by fulfilling
the requirements of justice. This is exactly in accordance
Even your enemy should not with the teachings of Islam: that
suffer unnecessarily from you. one should not say anything
against even the idols of non-
At another place, the Holy believers, lest they say
Qur’an states that the something about your God, and
recompense of an injury should it destroys the peace of society.
be proportionate to the injury
itself, but if one chooses to As I said before, speaking ill

against the founders of religions The followers of any religion

and the observance of religious should be able to practice their
customs creates hatred and religious customs freely, other-
destroys peace. The world is wise if the government will
immersed in such problems interfere with religion, in this
today. civilised world, such inter-
ference will negate their claim
Economic and social problems to being secular and discharging
have caused unrest and such the rights of others.
conditions themselves are the
cause of creating disorder. I conclude my speech by saying
Adding religion to this that every person should try to
instability is not a sensible idea, discharge the rights of his
even though it is common Creator and Creation, rather
knowledge that there are some than trying to usurp the rights of
people with vested interests who mankind, so that peace can be
are in search of creating established in the world.
disarray.
Finally, I would like to once
Thus, by reference to today’s again thank all of you who
function I will request that for participated in our function and
the sake of societal peace, we by doing so displayed your
must be considerate of each openheartedness.
other’s religious sentiments. In
this age, due to our trade and Thank you very much.
media contacts and fast means
of transport, we now call the
world a ‘global village’.
Therefore, in every country,
each religion should have
complete freedom, so long as it
does not harm the peace of the
country.

Way of the Seekers
by Hadhrat Mirza Bashir-ud-Din Mahmud Ahmad(ru), Khalifatul
Masih II, Second Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community
(English translation of an excerpt from original Urdu)
A ‘Good Man’ Defined be penalised for it. Similarly

Let me now turn to the doctors too commit occasional
important question: What is the mistakes but if by and large
definition of a good man? The their patients get well, they are
Christian view is that a man has considered good doctors.
to possess all virtues and to be
free from all vices, all defects, This means that a moral person
to be called a good man. Other is one the quantum of whose
religions have more or less virtues is overwhelmingly
followed the same line. But the greater than that of his vices, or
Holy Qur’an says explicitly: alternatively an immoral person
would be one whose vices
Then, as for him whose outweigh his virtues. This is
scales are heavy, he will unlike what other religions say.
have a pleasant life. But as From their point of view, a
for him whose scales are person may live a clean, full and
light, hell will be his resort. virtuous life; but let him commit
(Ch.101:Vs.7-10) one mistake and this would be
enough to condemn him as
For instance, if an examinee immoral. The Islamic approach
answers nine questions is different. In Islam a moral
correctly but his answer to the person is one who honestly and
tenth is not correct he will not sincerely exerts himself to do
Way of the Seekers
what is right, so much so that It is rebellion; and certainly

his virtues cover and score out rebellion is not permitted. If in a
his faults. school examination a student
refuses to answer one question
The truth is that other religious and says he will not answer,
teachings regard the Shari‘ah as because he has so willed, his act
arbitrary. To them it is nothing will be treated as a kind of
more than commands which indiscipline. He is just asking
must be obeyed to please the for punishment. It amounts to
law-giver’s fancy. The slightest insulting the institution. But if
breach brings down a penalty. he is unable to answer one or
There is no forgiveness, no two questions, that is quite
exception, no leniency. The another matter. That would not
Shari‘ah, according to them, is entail any punishment. But
nothing more than a manual of deliberate refusal would be
penalties. The Islamic view of quite a different story.
Shari‘ah is quite different. The
Shari‘ah rituals are not ends in Can Morality Be Taught?
themselves. They are exercises The question arises; can
to help promote the really good morality be learned and taught?
life; the life of the heart. The answer is, why not? But
Therefore, if you fail to perform this is a general answer. When
a prescribed ritual, you do not at the question is faced directly
once attract punishment, unless and a person is asked: Have you
the omission or the error done all you can to improve
violates the purpose of the your moral life? Have you met
exercise itself. This does not with the desired change? The
mean, however, that occasional reply generally is: No, I have
wrong-doing is permitted in tried but it is very difficult. Ask
Islam. No. That is not so. anyone in a group if morals can
Deliberate wrong-doing is a be improved; the answer will
kind of holiday from moral life. be: Yes. But when you ask if the

Way of the Seekers
person concerned has succeeded Qur’an is definitely optimistic

in actually improving his in this respect and it is a thing
morals, he will say: I have done worth noting. No wonder the
my best but I have not Promised Messiah(as), who drew
succeeded. The position is on the Holy Qur’an for
paradoxical. We have, in most everything he taught, held fast
matters, a poor opinion about to this teaching of the Holy
others but a good opinion about Book. What he said to his
ourselves. But in the matter of followers again and again and in
moral change and improvement different ways inspired hope.
by effort and exercise, human Once he said:
behaviour is the other way
around. Somehow, others seem ‘Think not: “We are
to be able to do something to sinners, so will our prayers
improve their morals, but not be heard?” Do not think
we. We have some special like this. Man makes
difficulties or circumstances mistakes, but a time comes
which hinder us. However, the when he is able to
Holy Qur’an is quite explicit on overpower his sinning self.
this point. According to the This power to overcome the
Holy Qur’an, moral life can be sinning self is also built
improved. Says the Holy into the nature of man.
Qur’an: Water puts out fire. This is
part of its nature. However
Continue to admonish, for much you may heat it, when
admonition always helps. water drops onto fire it
(Ch.87:V.10) must put it out. That is
natural. So is man a purifier
A Prophet is never to tire of by nature. Every man has
giving good advice to his this purifying property. Do
people. Good counsel never not feel defeated because
goes unrewarded. The Holy you have been involved in

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sin. Sin is like a stain on the resulting improvement is there

surface of a piece of cloth. for all to see.
It can be washed away.
Your habits, your Is Man in his Natural State
dispositions may be Good or Bad?
dominated ever so much by The question may be asked: If
your passions. Pray to God man is so capable of counter-
weeping, crying – He will acting evil, why is there so
not let your prayers go much evil in the world? Or, why
waste. He is full of is there more evil than good in
compassion.’ the world?
(Al-Badr, 1907)
I answered this question on
The Promised Messiah (as)’s another occasion before. But
message is full of hope. It is the during the last few days, about
message of the Holy Qur’an, half a dozen different people
amplified in his style by the from different places have put
Promised Messiah(as). The this question to me again. It is
optimism which permeates the quite strange that the same
Holy Qur’an is unequalled in question should be raised by so
any other Holy Book. The way many people at once and the
it is amplified by the Promised same time. But let me proceed
Messiah(as) is indeed unequalled to answer the question.
by any similar writer on the
subject. The question is: Can we say that
man is good by nature? We must
It becomes crystal-clear from remember that God has
the Promised Messiah (as)’s endowed man with all sorts of
words quoted above that human capabilities and has also
nature has something built-in, endowed him with the freedom
which, when put to use, washes and the discretion to use them in
away all sin, and the sought-for a good or bad way. The parting

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of the ways is shown to him and people generally think the

then he is left free to act. Says number of evil actions to be
the Holy Qur’an: greater? This wrong impression
is the product of two cir-
We have shown him the cumstances. One is the too
Way, whether he be grateful patent fact that in terms of
or ungrateful. formal, professed belief and
(Ch.75:V.4) unbelief, certainly unbelievers
would be found in a much larger
More Good or Evil number. The other circumstance
The fact is that it is often is that most men suffer from one
forgotten owing mainly to moral defect or another.
errors of observation that the Because of this, the quantum of
world is more good than evil. evil seems larger.
Take a thief; true, he commits
theft, but against each theft, he But it is an illusion. These
does so many things which are circumstances are not adequate
good. Perhaps he meets people proof that there is more evil
in a pleasant manner. He is than good in the world.
generous and charitable. He Certainly, there may be more
serves his parents, and takes unbelievers. But the number of
good care of them. If you count enlightened and convinced
up in this way, you will find the unbelievers is much less than
good in each person prepon- appears on the surface. The so-
derating over evil. called unbelievers are often
such as have not really analysed
So also men taken individually or tested their beliefs. Many so-
do more good things than evil. called Kafirs [(disbelievers)] are
The quantum of good or evil in not Kafirs in the eyes of God.
the world would certainly give They will yet have the chance to
good an edge over evil, possibly decide. Or, if this does not
more than an edge. Why do happen, their actions, which

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they have performed freely and people are in for punishment of

responsibly, will be taken into one kind or another, then what
account in determining their does it prove except that Satan
moral merit. Thus weighed, can has won and God has lost. But I
we say how many will turn out would say: No, still God is the
to be good men and how many winner and Satan the loser. For,
evil? Altogether it seems there does not Islam say that
is more belief in the world than ultimately, that is, after all
disbelief. Proportionately, there- accounts have been settled, all
fore, it would be safe to say that human beings will enter the
there is more good in the world Divine Garden:
than evil.
And I have not created the
The other circumstance too, that Jinn and the men but that
all or most people suffer from they may worship Me.
some moral defect or other, is (Ch.51:V.57)
open to question. In fact, this is
not the way to judge the matter. This eventuality fulfilled, as it
The question is: Are most men must be, who will think that any
good or bad? If most men are human beings who have, by trial
good, the quantum of good in and error, become images of
the world is greater. If most men their Creator, should still remain
possess most of the good moral in Hell and not go to the
qualities, the good predom- Garden, which is the destiny of
inates. Keeping in view the total all good men and women? From
good of men in the world as a other evidence also we know
whole, the evidence on the side that a time will come when hell
of good will be found to be would be emptied of all its
more incontrovertible. inmates, also that they will all
have been admitted to the
Some people at this point Garden. All will have become
interject and say that if most good servants of Allah. When

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this happens, where will Satan or later, every soul will be

be? Do you think he will be admitted. The perfect man’s
sitting by himself alone, unlike only distinction is that he will
the rest of the creatures? He also be among the first to enter.
will join the others in the
Garden after he has been What is Sin?
cleansed of all evil. So he will I now turn to the definition of
after all be defeated in his sin. Sin is an activity which
personal aim to mislead human renders the human soul sick and
beings and will himself stand incapable of viewing the face of
de-satanised. Those who con- God. Difficulties have to be
sider Satan as the winning party encountered in the journey
shall stand corrected when they which the soul undertakes as it
find Satan in the Garden: Satan moves towards the purpose of
who has ceased to be Satan. its creation. Activities which
amount to sinning are either
To turn to the question of the physical, whose dangers are
definition of the perfect man. visible to oneself as well as to
The perfect man is free from sin others; or, they are spiritual. Of
to the extent that in after-death the physical activities many are
he finds himself equal to the such that the dangers and
requirements of the good life. disabilities they entail are
“Requirements of good life” obvious.
means to deserve the pleasure of
God and to be safe from His What are good deeds? Good
displeasure. The good soul has deeds are deeds which bring a
enough good deeds to its credit person enough strength to join
to enable it to enter the Garden the onward march in the
of Divine pleasure at once. The hereafter and which makes the
emphasis is on at once. The soul capable of viewing the
perfect man is ready to enter the countenance of the Lord.
Garden at once, to which sooner Normally, a healthy person

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means one who is capable of • Virtues and vices which entail

going about life’s activities in a the use of the other physical
normal way. One does not have organs like hands, feet, eyes,
to be extra-capable. One has to etc., etc.
be just capable. Otherwise,
small defects exist in everyone. Where Does Sin Come From?
Doctors cannot point to a single Here an important question
perfectly healthy body. A good arises. It may be asked, with so
man is one who has done many encouragements towards
enough good deeds, both a life of virtue, and so many
physical and spiritual, to be discouragements towards a life
capable of viewing the of vice, and so much room for
countenance of God. improvement, how does vice
manage to enter the life of man?
Kinds of Virtues and Vices
We cannot give an adequate I can only briefly indicate the
account of the different kinds of answers to this important
sin, unless we can also describe question. The main causes of sin
different kinds of virtue. So, let are the following.
us remember, there are three
kinds of virtues and (1) Ignorance. Sometimes a
correspondingly three different person allows himself no time
kinds of vices or sins. They are for reflection while trying to
as follows: satisfy his natural impulses and
allows a passing interest or
• Virtues and vices which pleasure to determine his action.
pertain to the heart. These The excitement of the moment
indeed are the real virtues or removes from his view the more
vices. permanent and the more solidly
happy ends of life.
• Virtues and vices of the
tongue or expression. Why should this happen? Why

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are the more permanent ends of second big source of sin is

life ignored? social contacts and companions.
Man is a born imitator. He tends
Firstly, because of ignorance, to do as others do, without
which may be permanent or weighing and considering the
passing. Permanent ignorance is consequences of what he is
a thing apart. Temporary igno- doing. These social influences
rance is ignorance despite include the influence of parents
knowledge. This sort of igno- and other relations, playmates,
rance can have many causes: teachers, social institutions and
customs.
• Greed – too much greed
blinds a person to many One source of sin and sinning
important matters we have said is ignorance. But
• Pugnacity ignorance can be just ignorance,
• Intense need or it can be wrong knowledge,
• Bad health which makes it different from
• Excessive fear sheer ignorance. Wrong
• Excessive love knowledge is invariably
• Excessive optimism accepted as knowledge, and
• Excessive pessimism spurious generalisations as
• Excessive insistence on authentic principles.
anything
• Excessive desire Another source of sinning is bad
• Excessive lack of desire habits. Knowing very well what
• Hereditary tendencies truth is and that merit attaches to
telling the truth, when the
These are the twelve sources or crucial moment arrives a person
circumstances which produce or tends not to tell the truth. An
promote ignorance. addict makes up his mind not to
drink any more. He knows all
(2) Besides ignorance, the about drinking and not drinking.

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But when the party sits down to One source of sinning is lack of
drink he allows himself to join comparative judgment. Out of
in and cannot resist the two alternative courses of
temptation. At the slightest call action, a person cannot decide
his resolve not to drink is which is the better of the two. It
broken. also becomes a question for
such people how different
Sinning is also caused by habits emotions are to be applied to
of laziness and lack of organised different situations and is made
hours of daily life. A person by two parties, but how far does
tends to take things easy. He is one go with one party and how
carefree. He has no inclination far with the other? A man loves
to work. When the time comes, his wife but also his mother.
he tends to make light of what Both have a similar title to love.
he has to do. Time passes and he This gives rise to difficult
suddenly finds himself drinking. situations which are largely
Once a sincere companion of the self-created. Similarly, many
Holy Prophet(saw) was all but people become convinced of the
ready to go to the battlefield, but truth of the Promised Messiah(as)
he made no preparation for it. but hesitate to join the fold.
He had persuaded himself that They say they owe allegiance to
when the time came he would be another saint whom they do not
able to join the party with ease. want to leave. These difficulties
He continued to leave his prepa- are due to an incapacity to
rations to the end. The result was judge.
he was left behind and could not
join the army. Laziness, Another source of sin is the
therefore, is often the cause of many invisible influences which
sin. Man is lazy and easy-going criss-cross one another in our
and is incapable of commanding lives. They exert a kind of
himself to get up and go. hypnotic influence, unknown to
the person affected. No

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argument is given nor is any have a power of their own. The

appeal made, but the presence Holy Qur’an and the Holy
of influences which ideas Prophet(saw) endorse this. Animal
generate is undeniable. This life also bears out this point. For
needs some explanation. Let a example, two cats confront each
decent person live in close other in an imminent fight.
proximity to nine others not so After an exchange of the usual
decent, who nurse evil thought mutual threats and noises, one
without any overt commu- of them is found to lower its tail
nication. He will soon begin to and leave as if worsted. There is
feel the evil influence. This no visible fight; yet there was
reminds me of a Sikh student some kind of a contact.
who had great affection for the
Promised Messiah(as). On one Animals communicate without
occasion he sent a message to words or signs. Let four or five
him – through Hadhrat Maulawi lions be brought together.
Nuruddin Sahib(ra) – that his Before long, only the strongest
mind was being affected by of them will be left standing as
agnostic thinking. The Promised the master of the scene. Others
Messiah(as) suggested that this will have lowered their tails and
young man should change his slipped away. If meat is thrown
seat in the classroom and sit to them, none will dare eat
away from his classmates who except the strongest; the rest
sat close to him. The change will just stand by and watch as
proved the cure for his if paralysed with some secret
agnosticism. No argument had fear.
passed between them, but
unexpressed thoughts were Hypnosis: Under hypnosis too
being communicated in some we can observe similar
mysterious way. phenomena. I was once
experimenting with hypnotic
Thoughts are like waves and influences. I had some questions

Way of the Seekers
raised by agnostics which I aware of the presence of the

wanted to answer experi- snake and wanted him to run
mentally. Our grandmother who away, before she did.
was an amused spectator and
was standing nearby, dismissed Another traveller writes: In an
the whole idea. She thought African jungle I saw a bird
animals could not be influenced. fluttering for life. I looked
She said: Here is a sparrow. closer and saw a snake looking
Catch it if you can. I took her at intently into the eyes of the bird.
her word. As I gazed into the I killed the snake but later I
eyes of the sparrow, I went close found the bird too had died,
to her. She did not move. But possibly out of the fear of being
when I proceeded to catch her, caught.
my hand intervened between her
eyes and mine. This broke the In England they performed
spell and she flew out of my another kind of experiment.
hand. Two insects of the same species
were placed apart at a distance
One traveller writes: I saw a of five miles from each other. In
squirrel running mad. Round course of time, they both found
and round she went gravitating each other. Something
at the same spot from which she intangible must have exerted its
had started. When I went near pull to join them together.
the spot I saw a snake
protruding out his neck. The An American biologist built an
two were eventually very close ant-house and sealed it carefully
to each other. The snake was from the outside. After a while,
about to make a morsel of her. I whole colonies of ants were
too went closer. The snake was found sticking to the outside of
still intent on eating her up. I hit a wall of the ant-house. On
the snake and scared it away. It closer examination, it was
is obvious; the squirrel was discovered that the ants were

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sticking on the outside of the Sin-Infected Conditions

wall exactly on the spot where To combat sin it is necessary to
another colony of ants had be able to identify sin-infected
collected inside. The conditions. I would, therefore,
experiment was repeated in give an account of such
another house, with the same conditions so that their identi-
result. fication should become easy.
Among them are the following:
From these examples it is
obvious that even at the animal 1. A person looks upon sin with
level waves of some kind shoot horror but now and then
out which are more mental than finds himself inclined
physical. Their impact on towards it.
intercommunication and mutual
relations is undeniable. They do 2. He still hates sin but is
affect our modes of behaviour. unable always to resist the
It is said that whenever the Holy temptation and falls for sin.
Prophet(saw) mixed with groups
of people, he would invoke 3. He does not hate sin but no
God’s forgiveness and more does he relish a life of
protection seventy times, not sin. The result is that he
that he was afraid of physical commits a sinful action
contagion, though it is true occasionally, without really
Prophets love to be clean and liking or disliking sin.
that was one reason why he
sought God’s protection, but the 4. He relishes sin but not
other and the more important without shame. If he sins, he
reason was that he cared for sins in secret. If he refrains
people who were clean in their from sin, he does so because
own right but were likely to be of past habit or because of
affected by unclean thoughts social custom.
and their evil influence.

Way of the Seekers
5. At this stage, he sinks much 4. To do good as a natural

lower. Past habit and social habit.
custom cease to be adequate 5. To enjoy doing good.
restraints. He is now ready to
indulge in and enjoy a sinful 6. To propagate good in the
life. world.
6. At this stage, he is not only 7. To become an embodiment

sinful and evil, but also of good and to treat its
encourages others to be evil dissemination as one’s single
and sinful like him. unalloyed aim in life like the
angels. There are higher
7. At this last and lowest stage, grades of goodness like
he becomes a profile of prophethood; but they are a
Satan, propagation of evil gift of God and cannot be
becomes his daily concern. attained by mere effort.
In comparison with sin-infected I have explained above that

conditions, we have the follow- human actions may be good
ing good conditions listed both morally and spiritually.
below in an ascending order: When human actions pertain to
other human beings, they are
1. To do good for the sake of called moral. When they pertain
reward. to God, they are called spiritual.
This means that from the
2. To choose good as a practical point of view, they are
commandment of God. subject to the same practices
and rules, the same exercises
3. To do good for the sake of and the same general principles.
good and to consider virtue Moral and spiritual ailments,
to be its own reward. therefore, can be classed and
treated together. I do not feel the

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“The Islamic treatment of sin is unique – it is part of its

perfect teaching. Islam does not start treating sin after it
has been committed. It turns more to prevention than cure.
It raises the question: What can be done to prevent sin?
There is no doubt that this is the rational approach, which
contains the key to the treatment of sin. When a piece of
cloth has become dirty, it needs more effort to clean it. It is
best to see that we do not let it become dirty. This indeed is
the main difference between Islamic and other teachings.”
necessity of elaborating this to prevent sin? There is no

treatment any further. Others doubt that this is the rational
have already done this, approach, which contains the
including Sufis. So I would not key to the treatment of sin.
like to add to whatever little I When a piece of cloth has
have said on the subject. The become dirty, it needs more
practical side of sin, however, effort to clean it. It is best to see
remains important. This has to that we do not let it become
be studied in the light of the dirty. This indeed is the main
teachings of Islam. difference between Islamic and
other teachings. Unlike other
The Islamic treatment of sin is religions, Islam does not merely
unique – it is part of its perfect tell us what to do after a person
teaching. Islam does not start has become sin-infected, it also
treating sin after it has been tells us what is to be done when
committed. It turns more to sin has not yet appeared and
prevention than cure. It raises what may be done to prevent it
the question: What can be done appearing.

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It is to be regretted that despite When doctors of religion start

the fact the Holy Qur’an has worrying about the bad morals
invited our attention to this of an adult, the adult is already
subject and many Muslim saints in the firm grip of Satan. I am
have done the same, Muslims as not so pessimistic as to think
a people have not given as much that when a man becomes adult,
attention to this aspect as they he has already acquired every
should have. They have ignored possible evil that he can. What I
the important fact that the mean is that the inclination and
foundations of sin are laid long the power to do evil have taken
before a person becomes an root. I have already said that the
adult. Sin is not a sudden basic dispositions of matter out
phenomenon. When a person of which morals are born, are
suddenly takes to a life of sin, it limited. If these dispositions
is usually forgotten that it is not somehow go wrong in
a sudden change from good to childhood, outwardly the child
evil. It is not now that the adult would seem to be sinless and
has become bad. The seeds of harmless, but in reality he
badness were sown long ago. would have acquired all the
Only, the seed that was sown power and all the means to
when he was a child has commit sinful actions.
sprouted forth and becomes a
tree. If the potentiality of sin Now ponder a little. Where does
was not there, where did sin sin come from? Does it come
come from when the erstwhile from parents? No, certainly not.
child attained puberty? Seeds of But we know that sometimes
sin are indeed sown long before certain dispositions run in the
puberty. Muslim scholars have family from generation to
also pointed this out. The fact of generation. The same habits, the
the matter is that the seed of sin same dispositions, the same
is sown soon after birth and skills keep emerging. You
sometimes even before birth. cannot make a people coura-

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geous overnight whose courage A person who begins to steal as

has been dead over many an adult could have been saved
generations. When such people from this nefarious practice if
go to the battlefield they are he had been checked and taught
certain to let you down. In any self-control when he was a
case, they will fail to show the child. He need not have become
degree and quality of courage a thief as an adult. Similarly, a
which a seasoned force of person goes to the battlefield as
fighting experience extending a soldier, but on facing the
over many generations is able to enemy, he recoils and runs
do. True, there are remedies for away. How cowardly, exclaim
defects and deviations, but the people around him. But the
hereditary traits acquired fault is not his. As a child he had
through generations of habit and been told tales of cowardice. It
training are hard to correct. is these tales which have made
him afraid at the sight of the
Similarly, sin is also rooted in enemy.
greed, aggression, fear, love and
excess of desire. Now ponder a The same is the case with
little. These desires and aggression and pugnacity.
inclinations are planted in Parental control is lax and these
childhood. The child is a great emotions are allowed an
learner. He begins to learn as unbridled play. The result is that
soon as he is born. His first when the child grows up, he
acquisitions seem harmless becomes the quarrelling type
enough. Sometimes he shows who would fight on the slightest
streaks which could become pretext.
sins later on. But the parents
ignore them saying he is but a Sin is invariably rooted in lack
child. They forget that it is in of will-power. Lack of will-
childhood that the seed is sown power is not a natural defect. It
and impressions become deep. has its causes. How is it that a

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person continues throughout life part in shaping the character of

making and breaking reso- the child even at the pre-natal
lutions? He keeps doing this stage. The door to evil thoughts
because of lack of will-power. must be closed particularly
Remember, it is in childhood while we are preparing to
and in childhood alone that this receive the child. What can we
emotional sickness takes hold. do except, as far as possible, to
Nobody notices it at the time, keep our thoughts always pure
but a habit is being built then and clean? If you desire to do
which it will not be easy to your unborn children any good,
break later on; otherwise, there then your own thoughts must
is no reason why an under- also be pure. Islam has a recipe
standing adult should wish to for situations like this. This
give up something and not be recipe is that when husband and
able to do it. It means he has wife consort together, they
been trained badly as a child. should supplicate:
Otherwise it should be quite
enough to tell him that such and “Shield us, O Allah, against
such a thing is good and ought Satan, and keep Satan away
to be chosen and pursued and from whatever Thou
such and such a thing is bad and mightest bestow upon us.”
is not worthy of pursuit. On just
being told, one should be able to This supplication is not a magic
choose the right course. incantation, nor is it a charm. It
is not necessary either that its
How can the young child be Arabic version must be
protected from this early employed. The substance of the
sickness? The first thing is to prayer is that we say to God: O
keep pure the thoughts and Allah, sin is a filthy thing, save
emotions which sway the us from it; and also safeguard
parents, for parental thoughts our children against it. This
and emotions also play their prayer and this thought will act

Way of the Seekers
as a wall between the unborn almost think that the Holy

child and the influences of Prophet(saw) would have gone
Satan. The Holy Prophet(saw) has even further back. He would
assured that the child born after have laid down that the training
this prayer will be free from of the child should begin while
Satanic influences. the child is still in his mother’s
womb. But not many people
Many people say that they have would have been prepared to
used this prayer but the result undertake the care of the unborn
has not been as expected. Let child during this delicate period.
me tell them that addressing the Therefore, the Holy Prophet(saw)
prayer like a magic formula or a laid down that the training
charm is not enough. I am quite should begin at birth. The first
sure that many who complain thing is to recite the Adhan (Call
use the prayer only as a charm. to prayer) in the child’s ear at its
Secondly, this prayer does not birth. Nobody should think that
cover all the subsequent this is just a piece of magic
delinquencies of which man is incantation. Both the words and
capable. Many learn evil habits the meaning of Adhan find their
after birth. Only the inheritable way to the mind of the child.
delinquencies are covered by Moreover, it is a reminder to the
this prayer. parents that they are responsible
for the life of the newly born.
After acquiring the disposition The training of that life is now
to sin at the parental stage, a their responsibility. It begins
child begins to develop sinful from its birth. Besides the
dispositions in his early Adhan, the Holy Prophet(saw) has
childhood. Islam has expounded laid down, that children should
this great truth and has laid be taught good manners from
down that the training of the their childhood. He is reported
child should begin not only at to have given the following
birth, but long before birth. I advice to Hadhrat Imam

Way of the Seekers
Hassan(ra), his own grandchild, Prophet(saw) noticed this, he put

when he was having his meal. his finger in the child’s mouth
The Holy Prophet(saw) said to and pulled out the date. What he
him: meant was that a Prophet(saw)’s
grandchild was not to eat what
“Eat with your right hand belonged to others, that he was
and from that which is in supposed to make his own
front of you.” living when he grew up and not
be a burden on others.
Hadhrat Imam Hassan(ra) was
only about two and a half years In short, childhood training is
at the time. In our country, if a very important. What he
child begins to manipulate the becomes as a child, he will
whole dish and starts taking big become as an adult. No wonder
mouthfuls, not minding the the Holy Prophet(saw) has said:
clean clothes of whosoever sits
on either side, the parents only “Every child is born true to
enjoy the scene and say nothing nature. It is his parents who
to the child. At the most they make of him a Jew or a
administer a mild rebuke or two. Christian or a Magian.”
Their aim is not really to teach
the child or to prevent him or
her from wrongdoing. The
casual rebuke is not seriously Readers are invited to read
meant. There is another episode the full transcript of this
from the life of the Holy enlightening discourse,
Prophet(saw). A basket of dates available at:
had arrived to be distributed
among the poor. Imam Hassan www.alislam.org/books/seekers
was very young at the time. He
picked up a date and put it in his
mouth. As soon as the Holy

The Holy Prophet Muhammad(saw):
THE TORCHBEARER OF HUMANITY
Dr. Ijaz Ahmad Qamar, Canada
The Holy Prophet ality, whose every moment of

Muhammad (saw) was a great life, every aspect of his
personality. A detailed record of character and teachings has been
his life, from his birth to his preserved, can be compared in
passing away, has reached us in totality to that of the Holy
a most comprehensive manner. Prophet(saw). In fact, his life is an
The record of his sayings and open book in which his holy and
actions has been so well attractive personality is
maintained that no other person- brilliantly shining.
The Holy Prophet Muhammad(saw): TheTorchbearer of Humanity
He was born in 570AD in the were the order of the day. It was
town of Makkah. At the time, because the Holy Prophet(saw)’s
every region of the world was personality was naturally
steeped in moral degradation. imbued with auspiciousness,
Christianity’s original teachings obedience to his Creator and the
were on the wane. In India, idol inner-light of Prophethood that
worshipping and hundreds of he was never affected by the
“isms” were flourishing. Racial aforementioned ills of society.
and caste-based discrimination He was an embodiment of
and the dogma of “untouch- purity, chastity and piety.
ability” were rampant. In the
Qur’an this is depicted in the It was under these
following words: circumstances that Allah the
Almighty commissioned the
Corruption has appeared Holy Prophet(saw), at the age of
on land and sea because of 40, to lead mankind in the year
what men’s hands have of 610AD. When the Holy
wrought… Prophet(saw) raised a voice
(Ch.30:V.42) against polytheism and idol-
worship and invited the world
Even the so-called civilised towards the true and real unity
nations were at the lowest rung of God, the people of his tribe,
of the religious, moral and and in fact the whole Arab
spiritual ladder. In fact, in the nation, vehemently opposed
5th and 6th centuries, the him. They persecuted him and
civilised world was standing at his followers, but the Holy
the precipice of moral Prophet(saw) never wavered and
annihilation. People in general stood firm on his belief in the
were ill-mannered, unlettered Oneness of God. Despite having
and ignorant. The vices of to face intense sufferings and
alcoholism, gambling, oppres- oppression, he steadfastly con-
sion, tyranny, violence, cruelty veyed the message of God. His
and various other wrongdoings followers offered all kinds of

sacrifices to nurture the plant of Only eight years after the

the new faith. They were ready migration from Makkah, the
to part company with their near Makkans offered their welcome
and dear ones and suffered the to the Holy Prophet(saw). At that
loss of their assets and juncture, he could have taken
possessions for their faith. They revenge from the Makkans for
were banished from their homes their previous inhumanity as he
but that failed to move them had entered as a victorious man,
away even a fraction from their but he chose to forgive all those
resolve. persecutors. This very act of
forgiveness, pardon and general
The time then came, after amnesty has no match in the
thirteen years of persecution, annals of mankind.
when the Holy Prophet(saw) and
his followers had to migrate I will enumerate those aspects of
from Makkah to Madinah. Even the Holy Prophet (saw)’s life,
there the opponents did not character and teachings that
leave them alone. They wanted make him the ‘torchbearer of
to wipe out Islam with force. For humanity’ and the unifier of
this reason Allah permitted the world nations.
Holy Prophet(saw) to fight in self-
defence in order to establish Tauheed – The unique
peace and freedom of Oneness of God
conscience. With the help of his To create a unity in thoughts and
followers, the Holy Prophet(saw) actions, it was essential that a
confronted the perpetrators of full and real unity of God be
suffering. Despite being ill- accepted and internalised. If all
equipped and with an army of of us have the same Creator,
small numbers, Allah made him Master, Provider and Nourisher
successful, and this was possible and the Guide, as is the case,
only because Allah’s help, then despite our differences in
support and succour was with specific beliefs, we can come to
the Prophet(saw). a common platform. For this

very reason, the Holy Nourisher of Muslims only, or

Prophet (saw) has laid stress on the of Hindus, Christians or
unity of God and proclaimed, Buddhists only, but the
“There is none worthy of Nourisher of all of us,
worship except Allah”. “Say irrespective of our affiliations
Allah is One And He has no and our nomenclatures. Even the
partner.” So, the Holy one who denies His existence
Prophet(saw) invited all nations of also benefits from the attributes
the world in this Qur’anic of Allah. This concept of unity
language: of God and His being the
Sustainer of all of us is the
Say, ‘O People of the Book! foundation stone on which the
Come to a word equal edifice of universal unity and
between us and you – that brotherhood can and should be
we worship none but Allah, constructed.
and that we associate no
partner with Him, and that Universal Prophethood
some of us take not others It must be remembered that
for Lords beside Allah’… before the advent of the Holy
(Ch3:V65) Prophet(saw), all prophets,
apostles and reformers were sent
The acceptance of this invitation to specific nations and were
in real earnest would result in confined to certain areas. None
the elimination of our of them were given a universal
differences and our mutual mission, and in fact, none of
hatred and contempt; resentment them made a universal claim. It
and bitterness would dissipate. is the distinction of the Holy
The Islamic concept of God as Prophet of Islam(saw) that this
Rabbul ‘Alameen (Lord of all message was not confined to the
the worlds) that the Holy Quraish, or to the Makkans or to
Prophet(saw) presented and the Arabs alone, but was meant
promoted before the world, is for all mankind and all nations.
that our God is not the He claimed in the Qur’an:

Say, ‘O mankind! truly I am The Holy Qur’an declares

a Messenger to you all… forthrightly:
(Ch7:V.159)
There should be no
Thus he invited all nations of the compulsion in religion.
world to the one centre and thus Surely, right has become
became a harbinger for the unity distinct from wrong…
in their thoughts and actions. (Ch.2:V.257)
Freedom of Conscience Also it says,

Freedom of conscience is the
fundamental birthright of every And say, ‘It is the truth from
human being. In this contem- your Lord; wherefore let
porary age, after years of him who will, believe, and
experimentation, the United let him who will,
Nations adopted the Universal disbelieve’...
Declaration of Human Rights in (Ch.18:V.30)
1948. In its section 18, this
birthright has been accepted as These teachings are testimony to
the cornerstone of human the freedom of conscience
discourse. But, its foundation preached by the Prophet of
was actually laid over 1400 Islam.
years ago, when the Prophet of
Islam(saw) presented the teaching Equality for all
of the individual and collective A factor that dismantles the
right of every person to differ on unity of nations is the absence of
matters of thought, opinion, equality between them. The
attitudes and beliefs. This Holy Prophet of Islam(saw) played
difference, however, cannot be a leading role in doing away
imposed on others with force, as with and erasing the racial,
this would amount to preventing colour and caste-based
freedom of conscience and distinctions that existed between
shedding the blood of humanity. various people of the time, and

presented before the world an and effort to attain it. According

unmatched charter of equality. to Islam, there is no distinction
He gave shape to this charter by in the reward one earns on the
the following Qur’anic basis of colour or progeny.
injunctions:
Establishment of justice
O mankind, We have The establishment of peace
created you from a male requires the implementation of
and a female; and We have fairness and absolute justice;
made you into tribes and otherwise the resultant severe
sub-tribes that you may repercussions can destroy
recognise one another. nations with dreadful conse-
Verily, the most honourable quences. The Holy Prophet(saw)
among you, in the sight of has therefore stressed that all,
Allah, is he who is the most irrespective of their status,
righteous among you... should be treated with absolute
(Ch.49:V.14) justice. The Qur’anic teaching is
very clear on this subject:
This Qur’anic principle of
equality was exemplified by the Verily, Allah enjoins justice,
Prophet(saw) on the occasion of and the doing of good to
his last sermon. His sermon can others; and giving like
be summarised in these words: kindred… (Ch.16:V.91)
You are one brotherhood. All
people are equal according to The required standard of justice
Islam. The Arab possesses no is:
superiority over a non-Arab, nor
does a non-Arab over an Arab. O ye who believe! be
A white man is no way superior steadfast in the cause of
to black man, nor for that matter, Allah, bearing witness in
a black man to a white man, but equity; and let not a
only to the extent which a people’s enmity incite you
person exhibits righteousness to act otherwise than with

justice. Be always just, that …there is no people to

is nearer to righteousness... whom a Warner has not
(Ch.5:V.9) been sent. (Ch.35:V.25)
The Holy Prophet(saw) is reported Because all God-sent apostles

to have said that previous were imbued with the light of
nations had been destroyed as the same One God, it is
they punished the weak segment incumbent on us to respect them
of the society and let go those in equal measure. So one who
who were in high social status. truly believes in the Holy
Prophet (saw) will consider the
Respect for the Founders of all respect of other founders of
faiths faiths as a part of his faith.
To achieve unity among nations
of the world, the Holy During the lifetime of the
Prophet(saw) has given us a Prophet(saw) a Jew and an Arab
golden rule of respecting and were quarrelling over the
venerating the Founders and superiority of their respective
holy men of various faiths. If we Prophets. The Jew’s sentiments
do not follow this golden rule, it were hurt by the way the Muslim
has the potential of creating made his claim. When the Jew
mutual enmity and ill-will, complained to the Holy
which destroys the peace of the Prophet(saw), he admonished the
society and results in bloodshed. Muslim’s behaviour, “Do not
exalt me above Moses” he said.
The Holy Prophet(saw) promoted This was the high standard of
this Qur’anic teaching to put an tolerance and courtesy the Holy
end to these in-fights as: Prophet(saw) required from his
followers.
…there is a Guide for every
people. (Ch.13:V.8) Tolerance
The Holy Prophet(saw) not only
and left us with a teaching of

respecting other founders of “While we were in the

faiths and apostles, but also course of a journey along
taught us not to cast aspersions with the Holy Prophet(saw)
and malign their beliefs and we saw two young doves in
principles: a nest and we caught them.
They were still very small.
…And revile not those When their mother returned
whom they call upon beside to the nest, not finding her
Allah, lest they, out of spite, little ones in it, she began to
revile Allah in their fly wildly round and round.
ignorance... When the Holy Prophet(saw)
(Ch.6:V.109) arrived at the spot he
observed the dove and said,
There is a well-known incident “If any one of you has
of great religious tolerance caught its young ones he
shown by the Holy Prophet(saw) must release them at once to
in his life. He permitted a comfort it.””
Christian delegation from (Abu Daw’ud)
Najran to perform their religious
service in his mosque in On one occasion, the Holy
Madinah. World history has yet Prophet(saw) observed somebody
to produce this kind of respect branding a donkey on its face.
and tolerance for the faith of When asked why he was doing
others. this, the person told the
Prophet(saw) that this was the
Against cruelty to animals practice followed by the
The Prophet (saw) admonished Romans for identifying animals.
against the cruel treatment of The Prophet(saw) said that animals
animals and instructed that they should not be branded on their
be treated with kindness, for face, it being a sensitive part of
they are also God’s creation. the human body. If branding was
‘Abdullah bin Mas‘ud relates: necessary, then it should be
performed on the animal’s

haunch, a less sensitive part of who treats his wife in an

the animal’s body. excellent manner is very close to
his God. In the cultural arena,
Last, but by no means least, is the Holy Prophet(saw) allotted the
how the universal teacher, the same rights to women as those
Holy Prophet(saw) of Islam, of men, keeping in view their
revolutionised the way the respective God-given
world looked upon women. characteristics. Islam was the
first religion that provided
Women’s Rights women with the right of
Before the advent of the Prophet inheritance. In the matter of
Muhammad Al-Mustafa(saw), the inheritance she receives a
status of women was deplorable. specified share from the assets
Through his teachings, this of her relatives. She is the full
status was uplifted to an owner of her wealth and
extremely venerable place in the savings, and is free to do with
society. This is attributed to the her property or money as she
Holy Prophet(saw), as we read in pleases. And, of course, in the
the Qur’an: spiritual sense men and women
are declared of equal status as
…And they (the women) set forth in the Qur’an:
have rights similar to those
(of men) over them in …‘I will allow not the work
equity. of any worker from among
(Ch.2:V.229) you, whether male or
female, to be lost. You are
…and consort with them in from one another…
kindness… (Ch.3:V.196)
(Ch.4:V.20)
The Holy Prophet (saw) was so
In the Traditions of Bukhari, sensitive of women’s feelings
there is a specific saying of the that once, when he was leading
Prophet(saw) to the effect that one prayers, he heard a child crying

and finished the prayers quickly. Prophet(saw) are such that if they
Afterwards he explained that, are adopted by the civilised
upon hearing the cry of the world in real earnest, this world
child, he thought that the child’s can become a peaceful place and
mother must also have been complex problems can be solved
troubled; hence he concluded easily. A great writer of the
the service so that she could English world, George Bernard
attend to the child. He would Shaw, said:
always advise those who had to
leave on journey to try and “He must be called the
return home as soon as possible Saviour of humanity. I
so that their wives and children believe, if a man like him
would not feel the pains of were to assume the dictator-
separation for too long. He ship of modern world, he
placed great stress on kindness would succeed in solving its
to women, and would often say problems in a way that
that if a father took it upon would bring it the much
himself to educate his daughters needed peace and happi-
and care for their upbringing, ness.”
God would save him from the
hell-fire. He said: What an immense tribute to the
Holy Prophet Muhammad(saw)!
“Woman has been created For a Muslim, the Holy
from a rib and the most Prophet(saw) is the ideal model to
crooked part of the rib is the be imitated and the wisdom of
uppermost. If you try to the Holy Qur’an is reflected in
straighten it you will break his deeds and statements that we
it and if you leave it alone it must strive to follow.
will remain crooked. So
treat women kindly.”
The personality, character,

actions and sayings of the Holy

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The Review of Religions: February 2010, Vol.105, No.

2 Calendar of Religious Events and Festivals

4 The Victory of Islam – Part 3

14 The Purpose of Creation

25 Establishing Religious Peace

34 Way of the Seekers

54 The Holy Prophet(saw) – The Torchbearer of Humanity

Cover pic: ©dreamstime.com

• Free on-line content, including the current edition

NOTE FOR THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS

Day Event Significance

The origin of Chinese New Year is centuries old

s.org First day of the Christian fast of Lent marking the

Celebration of the birthday of Prophet

Hindu spring festival also called the Festival of

Remembering the bravery of a Jewish women

The Review of Religions – February 2010 3

VICTORY OF ISLAM Part 3

Here an episode is worth place where I should address

4 The Review of Religions – February 2010

The Review of Religions – February 2010 5

Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad(as)

His claim constitutes the basis of the beliefs of the

speaking ability and for fear of visit to Aligarh. The claim is

6 The Review of Religions – February 2010

trustfulness and so on, and always beginning to learn. Even such a

The Review of Religions – February 2010 7

add unbelief to unbelief. Enough to whose discredit does this go?

8 The Review of Religions – February 2010

have imparted this speech. invoke the curse of Allah on

The Review of Religions – February 2010 9

10 The Review of Religions – February 2010

true, that I avoid attending selfish enterprise? When things

The Review of Religions – February 2010 11

12 The Review of Religions – February 2010

The Review of Religions – February 2010 13

so that they should worship

According to this verse the true

T hough different people, on

The Review of Religions – February 2010 15

the mountains, but they wealth, or achieved high office, or

animates, and in industry some to them at all. Their case is

The Review of Religions – February 2010 17

your lives… This is an indication that the

The Review of Religions – February 2010 19

determined and one should not be that we should die in a state of

Compassionate towards such God Almighty. To travel towards

The Review of Religions – February 2010 21

printed in Ruhani Khazain Why should You worry? Should

himself in His presence. That is His Kingdom, and recompense

The Review of Religions – February 2010 23

Address delivered by Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad,

The Review of Religions – February 2010 25

opponents of Islam presents that you have come here, despite

26 The Review of Religions – February 2010

the pretext of establishing peace. If we look at the fundamental

The Review of Religions – February 2010 27

If a Muslim claims to obey Qur’an in Chapter 22, verses 40

28 The Review of Religions – February 2010

The Review of Religions – February 2010 29

has reached to almost 35 or 40. a ban on the minarets of

30 The Review of Religions – February 2010