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MANAGEMENT BOARD

Mr Munir-ud-din Shams (Chairman)


CONTENTS
Mr Mansoor Shah (Secretary)
Mr Naseer Ahmad Qamar April 2007, Vol.102, No.04
Mr Mubarak Ahmad Zafar
Mr Mirza Fakhar Ahmad EDITORIAL – Truth Prevails
Mr. Abdul Baqi Arshad by Bockarie Tommy Kallon – UK. ................... 2

CHIEF EDITOR AND MANAGER COMMENT – Seeking a Free World


Mansoor Ahmed Shah
by Fareed Ahmad – UK. ................................. 5
EDITORIAL BOARD
Basit Ahmad ESSENCE OF ISLAM – Part 18 – Spiritual
Bockarie Tommy Kallon. Characteristics of Surah Fatihah
Fareed Ahmad
Fazal Ahmad
Recitation of this prayer ushers one into the
Fauzia Bajwa fold of Allah’s chosen servants.The standards
Mansoor Saqi for a true commentary of the Holy Qur’an and
Mahmood Hanif
Mansoora Hyder-Hanif the ten systems of roots in the Holy Qur’an.
Navida Shahid Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad(as) .................... 7
Sarah Waseem
Saleem Ahmad Malik
Tanveer Khokhar POTENTIAL RISK FACTORS FACED BY
AHMADIS IN RABWAH
SPECIAL CONTRIBUTORS Continuation of the report, ‘Rabwah – A Place
Amatul Hadi Ahmad for Martyrs? of the UK’s Parliamentary Human
Farina Qureshi
Rights Group mission to Pakistan investigating
PROOF READERS the internal flight option for Ahmadis.
Abdul Ghany Jahangeer Khan
Shaukia Mir by Jonathan Ensor, UK ................................... 22
DESIGN AND LAYOUT
Tanveer Khokhar THE ROLE OF TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION
IN ENHANCING DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE:
PUBLISHER
Al Shirakatul Islamiyyah THE CASE OF GHANA.
A paper presented at a workshop on regional
DISTRIBUTION
Muhammad Hanif
issues and challenges of reconciliation in
West Africa.
All correspondence should be forwarded to the editor at:
The Review of Religions by Maulvi A Wahab Adam – Amir, Ghana ...... 37
The London Mosque
16 Gressenhall Road
London, SW18 5QL
United Kingdom
PRESIDENT THOMAS JEFFERSON - WAS HE
A MONOTHEIST?
Email:
reviewofreligions@gmail.com A compelling argument that Thomas Jefferson
© Islamic Publications, 2007
negated belief in the divinity of Jesus(as) and
ISSN No: 0034-6721 affirmed the unity of God. Was he influenced
Views expressed in this publication are not by the Holy Qur’an?
necessarily the beliefs of the Ahmadiyya
Muslim Community
by Zia H Shah MD - Syracuse, USA............... 44
EDITORIAL
Tommy Kallon – London

Truth Prevails status of the Holy Prophet(saw) as


As with all other prophets of God, Khataman Nabiyyeen – the Seal of
the Promised Messiah(as) was to the Prophets.
meet with stern opposition from
the very people he had been Even after the demise of the
commissioned to guide back unto Promised Messiah(as), such utterly
the right path. The Holy Qur’an is false allegations which unfortu-
full of examples where the nately all too often gain the assent
righteous have become victims of of the unthinking multitudes have
physical violence and verbal abuse continued to be made against the
at the hands of their adversaries Ahmadiyya Community dissem-
who shield their iniquity under the inating far and wide the seeds of
guise of zealous religious piety. In prejudice, ignorance and error.
the case of the Promised
Messiah(as), however, his Especially in Pakistan where the
opponents went a step further and Community has its Headquarters,
waged a campaign to discredit him it has repeatedly had to defend
in the eyes of the uninformed. itself against such outrageous and
baseless accusations made through
Not only were there personal the media and nourished from the
character attacks which embodied pulpits of pseudo-clergy across the
a shocking violation of the Islamic nation. The Community has been
sense of decency and morals in accused without the least shred of
social intercourse, his teachings evidence of being agents of the
were deliberately traduced and he Zionist state of Israel; it has been
was falsely accused, amongst accused of changing its Qiblah
other things, of being sponsored from Makkah to Qadian; it has
by the then British Government in been accused of altering the text of
his claim to prophethood and that, the Holy Qur’an; it has been
God forbid, he repudiated the accused of altering the Islamic

2 The Review of Religions –April 2007


EDITORIAL

credo – There is no God but Allah against the falsehood, there should
and Muhammad is the Messenger be no need, in a so-called Islamic
of Allah – by substituting the name state, for the Community to have
the Holy Prophet of Islam(saw) with to defend itself against fabri-
that of Hadhrat Ahmad(as), its Holy cations. Islam regards the telling
Founder. of lies as a major sin. The Holy
Qur’an goes as far as to impute
The authorities in Pakistan have idolatry to falsehood. Says the
accorded the Community no Holy Qur’an:
protection – legal or otherwise –
from these false accusations. On Shun therefore the abom-
the contrary, they have been ination of idols and shun false
complicit in the storm of speech.
vituperation and wave of perse- (Ch.22: V.31)
cution against the Community
caused by such fabricated The Promised Messiah(as) explains
allegations because, according to this juxtaposition of falsehood
the authorities, they hearthen alongside idolatry. Falsehood is an
feelings of ordinary Muslims. idol, he maintains; he who relies
upon it ceases to trust in and hence
The controversy caused by the loses God. No true Muslim
Danish cartoons caricaturing the therefore can resort to such
blessed person of the Holy inveracity as we find obtaining
Prophet(saw) and the protestations amongst the hostile opponents of
they drew from Muslims of all the Ahmadiyya Community.
denominations around the world is
still fresh in our minds. Some of
these protests regrettably were
violent, others, as in the case of the
Ahmadiyya Community, were
peaceful condemnations.

But where Islam and its Holy


Founder(saw) strongly admonish

The Review of Religions – April 2007 3


Notes & Comment
Fareed Ahmad – Devon and Cornwall, UK

Seeking a Free World from physical slavery that is


Slavery has been a horrid chapter sometimes disguised as bonded
in human history and historically labour, to social and economic
a part of human life pretty much slavery whereby poorer nations
the world over. People of all are trapped by political manoeu-
faiths and cultures have both vrings of wealthier nations.
suffered and perpetrated slavery
at one time or another. In Islam, There is also slavery in the
Prophet Muhammad(saw) gave developed world itself in the
clear direction to free slaves, yet form of human trafficking (with
subsequent generations lost sight women being sold into pros-
of this noble message of equality titution) and farm and factory
and liberty and reverted to labourers (commonly migrants
trading in slaves placing their from Eastern Europe who are
greed over their morals. forced to work ghastly hours
simply to pay off extortionate
Without doubt the commendable loans taken out for the ‘privilege’
efforts of the likes of Wilberforce of such work). It seems that those
that resulted in the Abolition of who perpetrate slavery today, as
the Slave Trade Act in 1807 in with those who perpetrated it in
Britain provide some reassurance the past, have little regard for
and faith in humanity. Yet it is compassion and justice provided
disheartening to see, that two they can either escape the law, or
hundred years on, his vision of a mask their crimes in legal
world without slavery is still not terminology and political debate.
a reality.
It is too easy for us to lose sight
Sadly even today slavery exists – of these issues in our daily life

4 The Review of Religions –April 2007


NOTES AND COMMENT

but we need to be more vigilant


and check our actions to see that Verse references to the Holy Qur’an
those with whom we deal share item count ‘Bismillah...’ (In the
Name of Allah...) as the first verse of
our values of freedom for all. We each Chapter. In some non-standard
are keen to buy cheap food or texts, this is not counted and should
cheap clothes but who pays the the reader refer to such texts, the
price for our bargains? verse quoted in The Review of
Religions will be found at one verse
less than the number quoted.
On this anniversary of the
abolition of slavery let us hope In this journal, for the ease of non-
Muslim readers, ‘(saw)’ or ‘saw’
and pray that together we can
after the words, ‘Holy Prophet’, or
win this war on slavery that has the name ‘Muhammad’, are used.
been raging since time They stand for ‘Sallallahu ‘alaihi wa
immemorial. Our commemo- sallam’ meaning ‘Peace and
blessings of Allah be upon him’.
ration of this great Act will only
Likewise, the letters ‘(as)’ or ‘as’
truly be worthwhile if we use it after the name of all other prophets is
to renew our sense of resolve and an abbreviation meaning ‘Peace be
commitment to abolish slavery in upon him’ derived from ‘Alaihis
salatu wassalam’ which are words
all forms now and forever.
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.

The Review of Religions – April 2007 5


ESSENCE OF ISLAM:
Part 18 – Spiritual Characteristics of Surah Fatihah
This series sets out, in the words of the Promised Messiah(as), Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam
Ahmad, a summary of his exposition of four outstanding topics: ISLAM; ALLAH,
THE EXALTED; THE HOLY PROPHET(sa) and THE HOLY QUR’AN. The original
compilation, in Urdu, from which these extracts have been translated into English, was
collated with great care and diligence by Syed Daud Ahmad Sahib, Allah have mercy
on him and reward him graciously for his great labour of love. Amin. The English
rendering is by the late Sir Muhammad Zafrullah Khan, may Allah be pleased with
him, and is quoted from The Essence of Islam, Volume 1. All references throughout,
unless otherwise specifically mentioned, are from the Holy Qur’an.

A spiritual characteristic of the visions and express revelations.


Surah Fatihah is that to recite it He is counted among those who
in one’s prayers with full are close to the Divine and such
attention and to establish its wonders of inspiration and
teaching in one’s heart, believing acceptance of prayers and the
it to be true, brings about the disclosure of hidden matters and
illumination of one’s soul. One’s Divine support proceed from him
mind is expanded thereby and the the like of which is not found
darkness of humanness is among others. For such of our
dispelled and the worshipper opponents who deny this, the
begins to experience the grace of proof has been set out in this
the Fountainhead of grace. He is book.
encircled by the lights of being
accepted by the Divine and Invitation to All Seekers after
progresses towards being Truth
honoured by the converse of God This humble one is ready to
and derives benefit from true satisfy every seeker after truth

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not only from among our


opponents but even among those
who agree with us nominally and
who are Muslims on the outside,
but whose faith is veiled and
whose bodies are without life. In
this dark age they do not believe
in heavenly signs and consider
revelation impossible and
describe it as illusion and
imagination. They have a very
narrow concept of human
progress confined to intellectual The founder of the Ahmadiyya
problems and conjectures. Their Muslim community was Hadhrat
Mirza Ghulam Ahmad(as).
concept of God Almighty is that
The founder of the Ahmadiyya
of someone extremely weak and
Muslim community was Hadhrat
lacking strength. Mirza Ghulam Ahmad(as). In 1891,
he claimed, on the basis of Divine
This humble one submits revelation, that he was the Promised
Messiah and Mahdi whose advent
respectfully to all these people
had been foretold by Muhammad,
that if they deny the effectiveness the Holy Prophet of Islam (peace
of the Holy Qur’an and adhere to and blessings of Allah be upon him)
their old ignorance, they should and by the scriptures of other faiths.
take advantage of the opportunity His claim constitutes the basis of the
beliefs of the Ahmadiyya Muslim
that this humble servant is
community.
prepared to satisfy everyone
from his own experiences. It is
proper, there-fore, that as seekers emerging out of gloom and
after truth they should turn to me darkness should enter true light.
and should observe for
themselves the characteristics of So far this humble one is alive,
the Divine Word which have but life is uncertain. It is proper,
been mentioned above, and therefore, that on hearing this

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announcement attention should invited openly and had not


be paid to the establishment of become aware of my claim so
truth and the removal of that he could have followed it up
falsehood so that if my claim and asked me for its proof.
should not be established a
reason may become available for So, brethren and seekers after
denial; but if my claim is truth, please observe that I say it
established then the opponents openly and, trusting in God,
should give up their false notions Whose lights I see day and night,
and should embrace Islam so as I assume the responsibility that if
to escape humiliation and you will seek the truth with
disgrace in this life and sincerity of heart and will keep
chastisement and torment in the company with me for some time
next. steadfastly and in good faith, it
will become obvious to you that
Observe, therefore, brethren and the spiritual qualities that have
dear ones and philosophers and been mentioned are truly to be
pundits and Christian ministers found in the Surah Fatihah and
and Aryas and followers of the Holy Qur’an. How blessed
nature and Brahmo Samajists, then is the person who, emptying
that I proclaim openly that if his heart of bigotry and rancour
anyone doubts the characteristics and being eager to embrace
of the Holy Qur’an that I have Islam, should pay attention to my
mentioned and has any hesitation invitation in sincerity and good
in accepting them, he should turn faith for achieving the purpose in
to me without delay and by view, and how unfortunate is the
keeping company with me for man who should pay no attention
some time steadfastly and to this open invitation and should
sincerely, should witness the become deliberately an object of
accuracy of the above statements the curse and wrath of God
with his own eyes, lest after my Almighty. Death is near and the
passing away someone might termination of life is at the door.
assert unjustly that he was not (Barahin-e-Ahmadiyya, Ruhani

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Khazain, Vol.1, pp.626-635, It is for this reason that the Holy


footnote 11) Prophet(saw) has said that reciting
Surah Fatihah, is like reciting
The Surah Fatihah briefly the whole Qur’an. The Holy
comprehends all the purposes of Qur’an and the Ahadith show
the Holy Qur’an. This is referred that the Surah Fatihah is a mirror
to in the verse: that displays the Qur’an. For
instance, it is one of the purposes
And We have, indeed, given of the Holy Qur’an that it sets out
thee seven oft-repeated all the perfect praise of God
verses, and the Great Qur’an. Almighty and states clearly the
(Ch.15:V.88) complete perfection that He
possesses. This is briefly set
This means that: O Prophet! We forth in the Surah Fatihah in the
have bestowed upon thee the verse:
seven verses of the Surah
Fatihah which briefly compre- All praise belongs to Allah.
hend all the purposes of the Holy (Ch.1:V.2)
Qur’an and, in contrast with
them, there is the Great Qur’an which means that all types of
which sets out religious purposes perfect praise are established for
in detail. Allah Who is comprehensive of
all excellences and is worthy of
For this reason, this Surah is every type of worship.
known as the Mother of the Book
and the Comprehensive Surah. It The second purpose of the Holy
is the Mother of the Book Qur’an is that it manifests God’s
because all purposes of the Holy being the Perfect Fashioner and
Qur’an can be derived from it, the Creator of the universe, and
and it is called the sets forth the beginning of the
Comprehensive Surah, as it universe, and describes as a
briefly comprehends all types of creation of God all that is part of
learning contained in the Qur’an. the universe and proves the

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ESSENCE OF ISLAM – SPIRITUAL CHARACTERISTICS OF SURAH FATIHAH

falsehood of those who are Qur’an is to set forth the


opposed to this. This purpose is sincerity and servitude and
set forth briefly in the phrase: purification of the soul from that
Lord of all the Worlds. which is beside Allah, and the
(Ch.1:V.2) remedy of spiritual ills and the
reform of moral qualities and the
The third purpose of the Holy upholding of the Unity of God in
Qur’an is to establish the worship. This is included briefly
unearned grace of God and to set in the affirmation:
forth His general Mercy. This
purpose is conveyed briefly in: Thee alone do we worship.
(Ch.1:V.5)
The Gracious.
(Ch.1:V.3) The seventh purpose of the Holy
Qur’an is to establish God as the
The fourth purpose of the Holy true source of all action, and of
Qur’an is to establish that grace all strength and benevolence, and
of God which follows upon effort help and steadfastness, and
and diligence. This is set forth in: obedience and freedom from sin,
and the acquisition of all the
The Merciful. means of doing good, and the
(Ch.1:V.3) reform of the here and the
hereafter, and to emphasise the
The fifth purpose of the Holy need of seeking His help in all
Qur’an is to set forth the true matters. This purpose is set forth
condition of the hereafter. This is briefly in the affirmation:
comprehended in the phrase:
Thee alone do we implore for
Master of the Day of help.
Judgement. (Ch.1:V.5)
(Ch.1:V.4)
The eighth purpose of the Holy
The sixth purpose of the Holy Qur’an is to set forth the fine

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points of the straight path and to …those who have not


emphasise the need of seeking it incurred displeasure, and
through prayer and supplication. those who have not gone
This is briefly included in astray.
supplication: (Ch.1:V.7)

Guide us in the right path. These are the ten purposes that
(Ch.1:V.6) are set out in the Holy Qur’an
and that are the roots of all
The ninth purpose of the Holy verities. So they are all briefly
Qur’an is to set forth the way and mentioned in the Surah Fatihah.
manner of those who become the (Barahin-e-Ahmadiyya, Ruhani
recipients of God’s bounty and Khazain, Vol.1, pp.580-585,
grace so that the hearts of the footnote 11)
seeker after truth might be
comforted. This purpose is Perfection in Conduct by
included in: Following the Holy Qur’an
Those who put their trust in
…the path of those on whom reason alone are as defective and
Thou hast bestowed Thy deficient in action, faithfulness
blessings. and sincerity of conduct, as they
(Ch.1:V.7) are deficient in knowledge,
understanding and certainty. Their
The tenth purpose of the Holy group has not set up an example
Qur’an is to set forth the qualities which should prove that they are
and way of those with whom included among millions of holy
God was displeased and of those people who are the faithful
who lost the way and fell into all servants of God and are
sorts of innovations so that the acceptable to Him. The blessings
seekers after truth should be of these were so manifested that
warned of their ways. This through their preaching and
purpose is included in: admonition with prayer and
attention, and the influence of

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their company, hundreds of lives, they set a seal upon the


people began to tread the straight existence of God. By the blessing
path and, becoming the men of of following the Word of God
God, turned wholly to their Lord. they acquired such special lights
They paid no attention to the as have never been found in
world and its contents, and cut off others. Such people were not only
altogether from the delights, to be found in ages past, but this
comforts, joys, renowns, prides, group of the elect is ever present
properties, and kingdoms of this in Islam and refutes its opponents
world. They followed the path of by its illumined being.
righteousness whereby hundreds
of them lost their lives, and Thus we have proved con-
thousands of heads were cut off, clusively that as the Holy Qur’an
and the earth became wet with the conveys one to the high grade of
blood of hundreds of thousands of intellectual perfection, in the
holy ones. Despite all these same way, one attains through it
calamities, they exhibited such to the stage of perfection in
fidelity that like devoted lovers conduct also. The lights and
they laughed while their feet were signs of being accepted by God
shackled, were joyful while have always appeared and
suffering pain, and were grateful continue to appear in those who
in the midst of misfortunes. For have followed this Holy Word
the sake of the love of the One and not in others. For a seeker
they abandoned their homes, after truth this proof which he
chose disgrace in place of honour, can observe with his own eyes is
distress in place of comfort, enough, namely, that heavenly
poverty in place of wealth, and blessings and Divine Signs are
were content with indigence, found only in the perfect
solitude and helplessness in place followers of the Holy Qur’an and
of every kind of relationship, that all other sects, who turn
association and joy. By shedding away from revelation, whether
their blood and having their heads Brahmos, Aryas or Christians,
cut off and laying down their are altogether deprived of this

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light of truth. We make ourselves Followers of other religions


responsible for satisfying every- mention the name of God by way
one who denies this, provided of a tale, but the Holy Qur’an
such a one, being eager to shows the countenance of the
embrace Islam sincerely, should True Beloved and makes the
turn to us in complete good faith light of certainty enter the heart
and steadfastness and sincerity of a person. God, Who is hidden
for seeking the truth. from the whole world, is seen
(Barahin-e-Ahmadiyya, Ruhani only through the Holy Qur’an.
Khazain, Vol. 1, pp. 350-352, (Chashma-e-Ma’rifat, Ruhani
footnote 11) Khaza’in, Vol. 23, pp. 271-272)

Prophecies in the Narrated Uniqueness of the Holy Qur’an


Stories in the Holy Qur’an in All its Qualities
The stories set out in the Holy The Holy Qur’an is not
Qur’an are in reality prophecies matchless merely on account of
which have been stated in the the beauty of its composition, but
form of stories. In the Torah, they is matchless on account of all its
are merely stories but in the Holy excellences which it claims to
Qur’an, every story is a prophecy comprise and that is the truth, for
concerning the Holy Prophet(saw) whatever proceeds from God
and Islam and these prophecies Almighty is not unique only on
have been very clearly fulfilled. account of one quality but on
The Holy Qur’an is an ocean of account of every one of its
verities, insights and prophecies. qualities. Those who do not
It is not possible that a person accept the Holy Qur’an as
should believe fully in God comprehensive of unlimited
Almighty except through the verities and insights, do not value
Holy Qur’an. A characteristic the Qur’an as it should be valued.
special to the Holy Qur’an is that A necessary sign for the
by following it perfectly all recognition of the holy and true
obstructions that exist between Word of God is that it should be
man and God are removed. unique in all its qualities, for we

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‘THE STORIES SET OUT IN THE HOLY QUR’AN ARE


IN REALITY PROPHECIES WHICH HAVE BEEN
STATED IN THE FORM OF STORIES. IN THE TORAH,
THEY ARE MERELY STORIES BUT IN THE HOLY
QUR’AN, EVERY STORY IS A PROPHECY
CONCERNING THE HOLY PROPHET(SAW) AND ISLAM
AND THESE PROPHECIES HAVE BEEN VERY
CLEARLY FULFILLED.’

observe that whatever proceeds comprise unlimited wonders and


from God Almighty is unique qualities. The verse:
and matchless even if it is only a
grain of barley, and human Say, ‘If the ocean became ink
powers cannot match it. Being for the words of my Lord,
matchless means being unlim- surely, the ocean would be
ited, that is to say, a thing can be exhausted before the words of
matchless only when its wonders my Lord were exhausted, even
and qualities are unlimited and though We brought the like
have no end. thereof as further help.’
(Ch.18:V.110)
As we have just stated, this
characteristic is found in supports this, for the whole of
everything created by God creation is Words of God... Thus
Almighty. For instance, if the this verse means that the qualities
wonders of a leaf of a tree are of creation are without limit and
investigated for a thousand years, endless. Now when every created
that period would come to an thing possesses unlimited and
end, but the wonders of the leaf endless qualities and comprises
will not come to an end. That numberless wonders then how
which has come into being could the Holy Qur’an, which is
through unlimited power, must the Holy Word of God Almighty,

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be confined to the few meanings Messenger to you all from


which may be set out in a Allah.’ (Ch.7:V.159)
commentary of forty or fifty or a
thousand volumes, or could have This verse shows that the Holy
been expounded by our lord and Qur’an was revealed for the
master the Holy Prophet(saw) in a perfection of every capacity. The
limited period? To say so would following verse also points to
almost amount to disbelief, if it is this:
deliberately persisted. It is true
that whatever the Holy Prophet(saw) …but he is the Messenger of
has set forth as the meaning of the Allah and the Seal of the
Holy Qur’an is true and correct, Prophets. (Ch.33:V.41)
but it is not true that the Holy
Qur’an contains no more than the The notion that whatever the
insights that have been set forth Holy Prophet(saw) has said with
by the Holy Prophet(saw). Such reference to the Qur’an cannot be
sayings of our opponents indicate exceeded is obviously false. We
that they do not believe in the have established with conclusive
unlimited greatness and qualities and certain arguments that it is
of the Holy Qur’an. Their saying necessary for the Word of God
that the Holy Qur’an was revealed Almighty that its wonders should
for the benefit of the unlearned, be unlimited and matchless.
further proves that they are
wholly bereft of the light of the If it is objected that if the Holy
recognition of the Holy Qur’an, Qur’an comprises hidden
and do not realise that the Holy wonders and qualities, then why
Prophet(saw) was sent not only for were the earlier people deprived
the unlearned, but that people of of their knowledge? The answer
all grades are included among his is that they were not deprived
followers. God, the Glorious, has altogether of Qur’anic wonders,
said: but were bestowed whatever in
God’s design was needed by
Say, ‘O mankind! Truly I am a them of the knowledge of those

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wonders and whatever was It comprises no verity which is


needed in this age has been not supported by ten or twenty
manifested in this age. testimonies contained in it. When
we interpret a verse of the Holy
That which is the basis of faith, Qur’an we should consider
by knowing and accepting which whether it contains other testi-
a person can become a Muslim, mony in support of the meaning
has been proclaimed clearly in that we have adopted. If other
every age. I wonder wherefrom testimony is not available and the
have these Maulavis, who lack meaning that we have adopted is
intelligence, gathered that God found to be opposed to other
Almighty was under obligation verses, we should realise that that
that whatever of His favours and meaning is false for it is not
bounties was to be manifested in possible that there should be any
future must be proved to have contradiction in the Holy Qur’an.
existed in past ages also. The sign of true meaning is that a
(Karamat-us-Sadiqin, Ruhani whole host of clear testimony
Khaza’in, Vol. 7, pp. 60-62) from the Holy Qur’an should
confirm it.
Standards for a True
Commentary of the Holy The second standard for a correct
Qur’an interpretation of the Qur’an is the
The first standard of a true commentary of the Holy
commentary on the Holy Qur’an Prophet(saw). There can be no doubt
is the testimony of the Qur’an that the person who understood
itself. It should be remembered the meaning of the Holy Qur’an
that the Holy Qur’an is not like best was our dear and grand
other books dependent upon Prophet(saw). Thus if an inter-
something else for proof or pretation by the Holy Prophet(saw)
disclosure of its verities. It is like becomes available, it is the duty
an orderly structure the whole of of every Muslim to accept it
which is disturbed by the instantly without hesitation, and
displacement of one if its bricks. whoever fails to do this would be

16 The Review of Religions –April 2007


ESSENCE OF ISLAM – SPIRITUAL CHARACTERISTICS OF SURAH FATIHAH

guilty of heresy and philoso- witness that this is the true way.
phising.
The light of his heart is a good
The third standard is inter- standard for testing the truth.
pretation by the companions of Unless a person is purified in
the Holy Prophet(saw). There is no practice and passes through the
doubt that the companions of the narrow path through which the
Holy Prophet (saw), were the first Prophets have passed, he should
heirs of the lights of the Holy not become a commentator of
Prophet(saw) and of his knowledge, the Qur’an out of impertinence
and that they were bestowed great and arrogance, for his
grace by God Almighty and their commentary would be based
perception was aided by God for upon his opinion and such
they not only professed but commentary is forbidden by the
practised. Holy Prophet(saw) who has said:

The fourth standard is reflection ‘He who interprets the Qur’an


upon the Holy Qur’an with one’s on the basis of his opinion is in
pure spirit, inasmuch as the Holy error, even if he should put
Qur’an has a relationship with forward a commentary which he
purity of spirit. God the Glorious considers right.’
says:
The fifth standard is the Arabic
Which none shall touch except lexicon, but the Holy Qur’an
those who are purified. supplies so many means itself
(Ch.56:V.80) that it is not very necessary to
have recourse to the lexicon,
This means that: A person with a though it adds to one’s under-
purified heart appreciates the holy standing. Sometimes by having
insights of the Qur’an on account recourse to the lexicon attention
of his relationship with the is drawn to the mysteries of the
Qur’an. He recognises them and Holy Qur’an and a hidden matter
smells them and his heart bears is discovered.

The Review of Religions – April 2007 17


ESSENCE OF ISLAM – SPIRITUAL CHARACTERISTICS OF SURAH FATIHAH

The sixth standard of appre- change in the text or sequence of


ciating the spiritual system is the any verse in the Word of God,
physical system, for there is except when the Holy Prophet(saw)
complete accord between the himself should have done so and
two. it can be proved that he did so. In
the absence of such proof we
The seventh standard is the cannot disturb the sequence of
revelation and visions of the the Holy Qur’an, nor can we add
saints. This standard in a way anything to it. If we do so, we
comprises all other standards as would be guilty of an offence and
the recipient of revelation is a would be accountable for it.
complete reflection of the (Itmam-ul-Hujjah, Ruhani
Prophet whom he follows, and Khaza’in, Vol. 8, p. 291)
with the exception of
Prophethood and new com- Ten Systems of Roots in the
mandments, he is bestowed Holy Qur’an
everything that is bestowed on It should be remembered that the
the Prophet. The certain and true Holy Qur’an is comprehensive of
teaching is disclosed to him and ten systems of roots:
he receives everything by way of
bounty and favour that is 1. The system in which the
bestowed on the Prophet whom existence of God and
he follows. He does not indulge arguments in support of it,
in conjecture, but speaks having and such Divine attributes,
seen and expounds having heard. names, actions, ways and
This way is open for the habits are set out as are
Muslims for it cannot be that special to the Being of Allah,
there should be no true heir. the Glorious; also those
(Barakat-ud-Du’a, Ruhani phrases which relate to His
Khazain, Vol. 6, pp. 17-21) perfect praise regarding His
glory, beauty and greatness.
It should be remembered that we
are not permitted to make any 2. The system which is compre-

18 The Review of Religions –April 2007


ESSENCE OF ISLAM – SPIRITUAL CHARACTERISTICS OF SURAH FATIHAH

hensive of the Unity of God 6. The system that sets out what
and arguments in support of is Islam and what is disbelief,
it. and what is shirk, and
arguments in support of
3. The system in which the Islam, and answers to
qualities and actions, and objections.
conduct and habits, and
spiritual and physical con- 7. The system which refutes all
ditions are manifested by the false doctrines of the
creatures in the presence of opponents of Islam.
God Almighty in accord with
His pleasure or contrary to it. 8. The system that comprises
warnings and good news,
4. The system which contains promises and sanctions,
complete guidance from God world of the hereafter and
concerning admonitions and miracles, illustrations and
the teaching of moral prophecies which foster faith,
qualities and doctrines, and and such stories as serve to
the rights of God and the admonish, warn or convey
rights of His creatures, and good news.
wise knowledge, and limits
and commandments, and 9. The system that comprises the
directions and prohibitions, life history and holy qualities
and verities and insights. of the Holy Prophet(saw) and
his excellent example, and the
5. The system which expounds arguments in support of his
what is true salvation and Prophethood.
what are the true means of
achieving it and what are the 10. The system that sets forth the
signs and conditions of the qualities of the Holy Qur’an
believers and of those close to and its effects and its
God who have achieved characteristics.
salvation.

The Review of Religions – April 2007 19


ESSENCE OF ISLAM – SPIRITUAL CHARACTERISTICS OF SURAH FATIHAH

These are the ten systems which came into the world which was to
are found in the Holy Qur’an in serve the welfare of mankind
their perfection like ten circles. forever. It was revealed with the
In these ten circles, God ten perfect circles, and its system
Almighty has made use of such of roots is in accord with its
pure and distinct roots that sane educative system, and every one
reason immediately testifies that of its ten circles is accompanied
this complete and perfect system by its system of roots according
of roots was appointed in the to its natural quantity and values
Arabic language for the service in which distinct roots are
of the Qur’an. That is why this appointed for the manifestation
system of roots is in full accord of Divine attributes, and for the
with the educative system of the explanation of four types that
Holy Qur’an, which is complete have been mentioned, and for
and perfect. The system of roots every circle of teaching a perfect
of other languages is not in circle of roots is available.
accord with the educative (Minan-ur-Rahman, Ruhani
systems of those books which are Khaza’in, Vol. 9, pp. 150-152,
called Divine, and which are said footnote)
to have been revealed in those
languages; nor are the ten circles
mentioned above found in those
books. It is one of the strong
proofs of the deficiency of those
books that they are deprived of
the necessary circles, and that the
roots of the language have not
been able to keep company with
the teaching of those books. The
reason for this is that those books
are not the real books, and served
only a temporary purpose. There
is only one real Book which

20 The Review of Religions –April 2007


An independant report (reproduced with prior permission) that destroys the
myth that being a majority in their headquarters, Ahmadis may be able to obtain
police protection. A chilling reminder of the ostracisation of Ahmadi Muslims in
Pakistan, their continuing persecution and the absence of any protection by the
authorities in Pakistan.

Rabwah:
A PLACE FOR MARTYRS?
Part two
Report of the UK Parliamentary Human Rights Group mission to Pakistan
into internal flight for Ahmadis. Mission members: Frances Allen, Michael
Ellman, Jonathan Ensor.
By Dr Jonathan Ensor – UK

Potential Risk Factors Faced therefore be read taking account


by Ahmadis in Rabwah of the perspective offered in the
Prior to travelling to Pakistan the previous section, ‘The Position
mission identified potential risk of Ahmadis in Pakistan’.
factors faced by Ahmadis. The
interview questions and sources The potential risk factors
were selected to investigate identified by the mission are: the
these factors with a focus on the blasphemy laws; practising or
treatment of Ahmadis in expressing the Ahmadi faith;
Rabwah. As previously noted, it preaching by Ahmadis; threats
quickly became apparent to the and physical attacks; and attacks
mission that an understanding of on property. Evidence collected
the national context is important by the mission relating to each
when considering the potential factor is set out below. However,
risks to and protection for it should be noted throughout
Ahmadis in Rabwah. The that, according to the British
following material should High Commission, there is

The Review of Religions – April 2007 21


RABWAH – A PLACE FOR MARTYRS?, PART TWO

under-reporting of Ahmadi disaggregated by location.


persecution, making it difficult
to make an accurate assessment The Ahmadi community
of the frequency of attacks explained that once an
against Ahmadis. individual receives bail they are
required to appear at a case
Blasphemy laws hearing approximately every
The mission were provided with month. The location of the case
a report detailing prosecutions of hearing will depend on where
Ahmadis during 2005 compiled the FIR has been lodged. This
by the community in Rabwah allows a complainant to lodge an
through their contact with FIR in, for example, Karachi,
Ahmadis throughout Pakistan with the effect that a resident of
(Appendix D). The report Rabwah would be required to
documents a total of 60 FIRs travel a great distance every
registered against Ahmadis, 25 month. The community pointed
of which were recorded at out that travelling to repeated
‘Chenab Nagar’ (Rabwah) bail hearings is expensive, may
police station (note that FIRs cost the individual his job
may be registered at any police through regular absence, and
station regardless of the place of may place the Ahmadi at risk as
residence of the accused). The he has to travel the same route
same document also provides a on regular occasions. The
summary of cases recorded testimonies of Rabwah residents
against Ahmadis from April Rashid Ahmed, ‘MN’ and Abdul
1984 to Dec 2005. The summary Shakoor to the mission, recorded
catalogues the total number of in Appendix A, provide
cases by the description of the examples. In January 1990,
transgression: for example, a Rashid Ahmed received bail
total of 404 FIRs instituted following the registration of a
against Ahmadis for posing as a case under section 298c. Since
Muslim. These statistics are not then he has had to attend court in

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RABWAH – A PLACE FOR MARTYRS? PART TWO

Chiniot (approximately 30 Applications to have his case


minutes drive from Rabwah) dismissed have been made, all
every 15 days, sometimes without success (see Appendix
having to wait all day for his A for the testimonies of ‘MN’
case to be called. Each time the and Abdul Shakoor).
police fail to produce witnesses
and the case is adjourned, Addressing the lengthy
without any criticism of the prosecution of FIRs in court,
police. He has applied for the DPO Salimi pointed out that
case to be dismissed, but he cases against Ahmadis often
believes the magistrate is too have ‘complicated social
frightened of the mullahs to implications’ quite different to
order this: he has been told the normal criminal activity. The
police will arrange for all the police often do not want to
witnesses to come together on prosecute, but they have to, even
one occasion. In a separate case, where the complaint itself is
‘MN’ has to attend court in ‘very stupid’. If a witness then
Chiniot every 15 or 30 days fails to attend court, they can be
following an FIR under section arrested, but ‘it is a tricky
298c that was registered in 1988. business,’ and not usually the
The court refuses to dismiss his fault of the police. The Senior
case and his bail has been Government Advisor fleshed out
cancelled on two occasions. these problems, noting that the
Similarly, Abdul Shakoor had social pressure around the
four FIRs lodged against him in Ahmadi issue has a real impact
December 1990 by a mullah in on the effectiveness of all levels
Rabwah: Mr Shakoor has to of the police and judiciary (see
attend court in Chiniot every section 4.2, ‘State Protection’,
month but each time the case has below).
been adjourned because the
mullah has failed to appear and The Ahmadi Community
has not been arrested to do so. Representatives informed the

The Review of Religions – April 2007 23


RABWAH – A PLACE FOR MARTYRS? PART TWO

mission that if an individual fails not known if this database is


to appear at a bail hearing interrogated to find missing or
several actions are put in proclaimed offenders. The
motion: first, the police will look services identified by the Ahmadi
for the person. Next, if s/he is Community Representatives as
not found, they are then ‘at requiring production of an ID
large’ and the case is reported to card included:
the court, at which point the
person becomes a ‘proclaimed’ 1) passport/ driving licence
offender. Anyone can arrest a 2) water/ electricity
proclaimed offender within one 3) schooling
month of the proclamation, after 4) employment
which time the person’s property 5) buying/ renting land
is sold. The warrant issued by 6) hospital visits
the court is valid anywhere in
Pakistan. The Representatives Moreover, there are police
noted that a common (but checkpoints on the roads and
illegal) practice is to detain police will often ask for ID cards
family members of the accused. from those travelling by public
DSP Tatla, however, insisted transport at night.
that the police do not interrogate
family members of accused During the mission’s interview
people, unless they are with the Ahmadi Community
personally concerned in the Representatives it became clear
charge. The Representatives also that blasphemy FIRs are
informed the mission that when registered as a result of
relocating in Pakistan access to complaints from three main
many everyday services requires sources: those lodged by
the production of an identity members of Khatme Nabuwwat,
card. All details are held by the those precipitated by police or
national Database and government intervention, and
Registration Authority. It was those used to settle personal

24 The Review of Religions –April 2007


RABWAH – A PLACE FOR MARTYRS? PART TWO

rivalries or enmity. Examples of an attempt was made to do so,


each follow. they were sure the police would
not accept it). Mr Rabnawaz
FIRs instigated by Khatme stated that the cases go on for a
Nabuwwat long time, as do all cases in
Mr Rehman noted that Khatme Pakistan, but he said that it was
Nabuwwat are present in usually about 6 months from
Rabwah and are known for both FIR to conclusion of case.
instigating FIRs, and identifying Sometimes they were adjourned
those with outstanding FIRs and at the Ahmadi defendants’ own
passing them to the police. Mr request, or because only one of
Rehman’s comments are borne several defendants had turned up
out in the cases of ‘MN’ and as they had fled the country and
Abdul Shakoor, related to the were ‘criminals living in
mission and recorded at Europe’.
Appendix A. Both cases revolve
around blasphemy FIRs lodged FIRs instigated through police
by Mullah Khuda Bakhsh, a or government intervention
member of Khatme Nabuwwat. The Ahmadi Community
Mr Rabnawaz agreed that Representatives highlighted the
Khatme Nabuwwat had filed fact that some FIRs are filed
FIR’s against Ahmadis, and said against Ahmadis by the police,
that Ahmadis had filed FIRs whilst others follow the direct
against his members including intervention of the Federal
one pending against him Government. The testimony
personally (the Ahmadi provided by Rashid Ahmed to
Community Representatives the mission (Appendix A)
subsequently denied that they provides an example of this
had successfully filed FIRs practice, in which Mr Ahmed
against Mr Rabnawaz’s was charged with blasphemy
members or against Mr under an FIR registered on 22
Rabnawaz, and they stated that if May 1989 on the order of the

The Review of Religions – April 2007 25


RABWAH – A PLACE FOR MARTYRS? PART TWO

Home Secretary of the North West Frontier Province


Provincial Government, Punjab. (NWFP) – and provincial police
The mission were also shown a officers. The circular asks the
variety of examples of this recipients to take action against
practice by the Ahmadi Ahmadi activities involving the
Community Representatives: an distribution of letters and
FIR dated 15 December 1989, newspapers, propagation of the
filed by the Station House Ahmadi faith, and collecting
Officer in Rabwah, which is funds. The mission were also
against the entire population of shown a second circular, dated 8
Rabwah (accused under 298c of June 2006, addressed to the
practising Islamic social Deputy Inspector General of
etiquettes and worship. See Police Karachi (with copies to
Appendix B3: Police report Station House Officers,
(FIR) against the entire Karachi). This second document
population of Rabwah, 15 states that the contents of the
December 1989); a June 2006 circular has been duly noted and
FIR filed by the District Police instructions have been given to
Officer (DPO) against Latif Butt Station House Officers to take
FIR 21/06 for preaching; and a immediate action, including
recent circular issued by the preventative measures (see
Ministry of Interior. The Appendix B4: Circulars from
circular requests provincial the Ministry of Interior,
authorities to take immediate Government of Pakistan, 8 May
action against the circulation of 2006 and 8 June 2006).
Ahmadi literature. The
document is dated 8 May 2006 The mission asked DSP Tatla
and is from the Ministry of (Rabwah) about the circular.
Interior, Government of DSP Tatla explained that he had
Pakistan addressed to Home received the circular from the
Secretaries of four provinces – Ministry of the Interior and that
Punjab, Sindh, Baluchistan and it is normal to receive such

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RABWAH – A PLACE FOR MARTYRS? PART TWO

circulars from the Government. however, the FIR does not specify
In this instance, an FIR was any extracts from the newspaper
issued in September 2006 as a that are defined as objectionable.
result of the circular, citing the The Community Representatives
Ahmadi newspaper ‘Alfazal’ for told the mission that on 9th
printing ‘objectionable material’ September 2006 the offices of
(see Appendix B9: Press report of Alfazal were raided by the police.
closure of Alfazal, September The editor, publisher and printer
2006). DPO Salimi (in Jhang), were not present at the offices but
however, was not aware of the the police arrested two men not
circular and doubted its connected with the newspaper. In
authenticity: he stated that it was a further raid at his home Mr
not uncommon to see forged Sultan Ahmad Dogar, a printer,
letters. He had not received this was arrested. Two days after his
particular circular, but had only arrest Mr Dogar was presented
been in post since the middle of before the Anti-terrorism Court in
September. Referring to the Faisalabad. The Judge ordered his
Alfazal incident, the Ahmadi return in a week and he was
Community Representatives remanded. On 18 September Mr
noted that the FIR resulting in the Dogar was refused bail and a
closure of the newspaper was hearing date of 25 September was
ordered by the Assistant Inspector set for trial. On 25 September the
General of Police (Operations) case did not proceed and Mr
acting on the government’s Dogar was remanded again until
initiative. There was no civilian 4 October. As of October 2006
complainant involved. The case the case is still pending and Mr
was listed as FIR No. 480/06 Dogar remains on remand. (See
dated 9 September 2006 at Appendix B10 Translation of FIR
Chenab Nagar Police Station, 480/06, provided by the Ahmadi
District Jhang. The FIR states that Community, Rabwah; and B9:
the Alfazal promotes hatred and Press report of closure of Alfazal,
injures the feelings of Muslims; September 2006).

The Review of Religions – April 2007 27


RABWAH – A PLACE FOR MARTYRS? PART TWO

blasphemy prosecution. The


FIRs resulting from personal community explained that their
enmity books and literature are banned,
The Ahmadi Community public meetings are not allowed
Representatives informed the and there is a ‘constant fear of
mission that FIRs are also used prosecution’ under the blas-
to settle personal scores. For phemy laws (see section 2.3
example, in a case known to the ‘Blasphemy Laws and First
community an Ahmadi became a Information Reports’ and
village headman through the Appendix B1: Notifications
local tradition of primogeniture. from the Government of the
However, his first cousin (a non- Punjab banning Ahmadi
Ahmadi) wanted to take over the materials, 19 July 2006; 1
headman role, and so filed a September 2006; and 9
blasphemy charge against him. September 2006).
The Ahmadi subsequently spent
four years in prison. As noted above, the mission
were provided with a report
Practising or expressing faith detailing prosecutions during
The Ahmadi Community 2005 compiled by the
Representatives explained that community in Rabwah through
the blasphemy laws severely their contact with Ahmadis
restrict the ability of Ahmadis to throughout Pakistan (Appendix
practise their faith as a group or D). The report documents a total
as individuals. The laws create a of 60 FIRs registered against
situation where even carrying Ahmadis, 25 of which were
out everyday religious practices recorded at ‘Chenab Nagar’
runs the risk of prosecution. As (Rabwah) police station, and
Ahmadis are ‘non-Muslims’ in provides a summary of cases
the eyes of the law, even using recorded against Ahmadis from
the greeting ‘Assalamu April 1984 to Dec 2005. The
Alaikum’ can result in a summary catalogues the total

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RABWAH – A PLACE FOR MARTYRS? PART TWO

number of cases by the understanding of the finality of


description of the transgression: the Prophet through preaching
for example, a total of 404 FIRs and books, not through force.
instituted for posing as a
Muslim. These statistics are not See also section 3.1 ‘Blasphemy
disaggregated by location. laws’, above.
When asked about the Ahmadi
faith, Khatme Nabuwwat Preaching
(Islamabad Chapter) informed The Ahmadi Community
the mission that anyone who Representatives explained that
claims that there was a Prophet they are a ‘preaching religion’ in
after Muhammad is an infidel the sense that they have a moral
and their claim is false, baseless obligation to spread their beliefs.
and a crime. Khatme However, no pressure is placed
Nabuwwat’s view is that on people to convert. The risk of
freedom of religion has prosecution under the
limitations and does not include blasphemy laws for even
freedom to misinterpret Islam. everyday religious practices
Ahmadis should not assert means that individuals tend to
themselves to be Muslim convey the message of their
because they do not believe in religion to people they know,
the laws of the Prophet – this such as relatives and friends who
view is endorsed by Parliament are usually other Ahmadis or
and the constitution. Khatme sympathetic to their cause.
Nabuwwat see them-selves as However, if they are asked a
‘protectors’ of Islam: Islam has question about their religion, or
the right to the protection of its if their beliefs are challenged,
‘life, religion, property and then they are under a ‘moral
honour’. When asked how they obligation’ to explain their faith.
achieve this, the Chapter As noted above, the community
informed the mission that emphasised that the blasphemy
Khatme Nabuwwat spread laws are framed in such a way as

The Review of Religions – April 2007 29


RABWAH – A PLACE FOR MARTYRS? PART TWO

to create a ‘constant fear of and madrassa in Rabwah. The


prosecution’ for Ahmadis in community repre-sentatives
Pakistan (see section ‘2.3 referred to graffiti on the wall of
Blasphemy Laws and First the mosque in the Muslim
Information Reports’, above, Colony of Rabwah which reads
and Appendix C: Copy of ‘wholesome security of Islam
Ordinance No. XX Of 1984 and and the faith lies in total
1986 Amendment to the section liquidation of Ahmadis’ (see
295c of the Pakistan Penal Appendix B2: Photographs
Code). supplied by the Ahmadi
Community). The community
The community also informed stated that they face threats from
the mission that in June 2006 the Khatme Nabuwwat’s members
District Police Officer (DPO) and supporters within Rabwah,
ordered a case be filed against and from those coming to
Latif Butt for preaching (FIR Rabwah from other areas of
number 21/06). Pakistan for conferences. The
mission was told that the
See also section 3.1 ‘Blasphemy Ahmadi community feel
laws’, above. particularly intimidated and
threatened on these occasions.
Threats and physical attacks The senior community members
The Ahmadi Community advise their community to stay
Representatives stated that in indoors and women are told not
Rabwah they felt intimidated to attend prayers.
and were frequently threatened.
They informed the mission that Mr Rehman confirmed that
the main perpetrators of attacks Khatme Nabuwwat are present
on persons and property in in Rabwah and are known to
Rabwah were members or incite people to attack Ahmadis
supporters of Khatme in speeches broadcast on loud-
Nabuwwat who have a mosque speakers from their mosque.

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Khatme Nabuwwat are repeat- Rabwah that are escorted by the


edly in the news, for example for police (the mission viewed a
inciting violence or attacking the video showing a march through
library at Rabwah. In a Rabwah; see also Appendix B2:
testimony recorded by the Photographs supplied by the
mission, Ahmadi community Ahmadi Community).
member ‘ZB’ told the mission
that her husband was attacked by The Ahmadi Community
a mob in Sialkot following an Representatives described how
edict by the local head of the marches are accompanied by
Khatme Nabuwwat, Mullah the shouting of ‘filthy, dirty
Manzoor. The edict resulted slogans that are designed to
from his conversion to the provoke’; one common slogan is
Ahmadi faith. Following his ‘death to Ahmadis’. The events
attack, the police refused to enter sometimes result in violence,
an FIR and he fled to Rabwah. In such as in 2004 when Rabwah
2004 he was shot at whilst in resident Ghulam Tahir was
Rabwah following the distri- attacked by a mob. The
bution of his photograph at a community told the mission that
Khatme Nabuwwat conference. this year two major Khatme
The full testimony of this case is Nabuwwat conferences were held
recorded at Appendix A. in Rabwah during September
despite the Government of
The Ahmadi Community Punjab directing all district
Representatives told the mission governments to forbid religious
that although the Ahmadis have meetings and rallies for 30 days
not been granted permission to from 1 September 2006. Special
hold their annual convention in permission was granted to the
Rabwah since 1983, Khatme clerics to hold these conferences.
Nabuwwat hold 3-4 large events On 7 September 2006 (the
each year. These events have anniversary of Ahmadis being
marches through the streets of declared non-Muslim) the 19th

The Review of Religions – April 2007 31


RABWAH – A PLACE FOR MARTYRS? PART TWO

Annual International Khatme Nabuwwat explained that


Nabuwwat Conference was held Khatme Nabuwwat hold
at the Madrassa Usmania in the meetings in different places, one
Muslim Colony of Rabwah, of which is Rabwah. In contrast
whilst on 21-22 September 2006 to Mullah Arshad, the Chapter
Khatme Nabuwwat held their members stated that the main
25th annual two day conference Rabwah gathering brings
at Rabwah. Mullah Arshad 15,000-20,000 people to the
confirmed that Khatme town from all over Pakistan.
Nabuwwat holds three When pushed as to the reason
conferences in Rabwah each for staging such a large meeting
year, on the anniversary of the in Rabwah, it was stated that
birth of the Prophet, and on 7 Khatme Nabuwwat want it to be
and 21-22 September. known to everyone that Rabwah
According to the Mullah, the is a part of Pakistan and that
latter is a national event that there is no exclusive city in
attracts about 50,000 people; the Pakistan for Ahmadis: ‘Rabwah
others are local with 4,000-5,000 is not their place.’
attendees. When asked why When asked about Khatme
Khatme Nabuwwat meets Nabuwwat’s mission to invite
regularly in Rabwah, Mullah Ahmadis to rejoin Islam, one
Arshad explained that Khatme member of Islamabad Chapter
Nabuwwat’s mission is to invite explained that their aim was to
Ahmadis to rejoin Islam and persuade Ahmadis to repent.
therefore they hold large However, in accordance with the
gatherings where there are the Islamic teachings, as an apostate
greatest number of Ahmadis. an Ahmadi will be given three
Khatme Nabuwwat have been days to repent and if s/he fail to
refused permission to hold do so s/he will be sentenced to
meetings, but the last time this death. None of the Chapter
happened was in 1997. The members were willing to
Islamabad Chapter of Khatme elaborate on this comment.1

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killing Ahmadis. The Mullah did


The mission asked the members not believe that the sloganeering
of the Islamabad Chapter of might incite violence against
Khatme Nabuwwat about reports Ahmadis: nothing of the sort
from sources such as the US happens in Rabwah. (DPO
Department of State human Salimi informed the mission that
rights reports and the Ahmadi the expression ‘Death to
Community of violence against Ahmadis’ was ‘just a slogan’,
Ahmadis, marches and shouting and he did not think it amounted
of slogans that demand that to an incitement to violence.)
Ahmadis be killed. The Chapter Reflecting the statements of the
members insisted that the reports Islamabad chapter, Mullah
were false and that the marches Arshad maintained that Ahmadis
were staged by the Ahmadis who have made up stories of their
are ‘great conspirators’. The arrest: they even dress in police
Khatme Nabuwwat conferences uniforms and go and arrest other
never march through the town – Ahmadis to create a story and so
only within the perimeter of their they can escape to Europe and
mosque, however it was not make money. When asked about
explained how this was achieved reports of arson and violence, Mr
with many thousands of Rabnawaz denied there had been
participants. Khatme Nabuwwat cases of arson against Ahmadi
do not attack or kill and the homes and stated that any
Chapter members had not seen or shooting that had occurred had
heard of slogans advocating been between the Ahmadis
violence. By contrast, Mullah themselves. Moreover, Ahmadis
Arshad acknowledged and had fired on Muslims and Mr
supported the slogan ‘death to Rabnawaz himself had been
Ahmadis’ and stated that it refers abducted and tortured. The case
to the fact that the Ahmadi belief is still ongoing as the defendants,
is a dead belief and Ahmadis are Mr Rabnawaz claimed, had
causing a schism in society. The escaped and are now living in
Mullah does not believe in luxury outside Pakistan.

The Review of Religions – April 2007 33


RABWAH – A PLACE FOR MARTYRS? PART TWO

members insisted that ‘Rabwah


Responding to the suggestion is not their place.’
that abusive sloganeering and
violence are associated with the Attacks on property
Khatme Nabuwwat conferences, As noted above, the mission
Mr Rabnawaz stated that the were informed by the Ahmadi
Ahmadi community have full Community Representatives that
religious freedom, yet they will the main perpetrators of attacks
not allow Muslims into Rabwah, on property in Rabwah were
even as hawkers. Similarly the members or supporters of
Islamabad Chapter of Khatme Khatme Nabuwwat. The
Nabuwwat told the mission that Community told the mission that
Rabwah has been totally reserved they face a constant threat of
for Ahmadis and Muslims are not physical violence, including
permitted to enter. However, the against their mosques and
mission met with DSP Tatla and educational establishments. The
Mr Ibrahim, Secretary to the marches following anti-Ahmadi
Mayor of Rabwah, both non- conferences have resulted in
Ahmadi Muslims, in the centre arson and attacks on Ahmadi
of Rabwah. Moreover, Mr mosques, in one case resulting in
Ibrahim stated that all 11 the destruction of a mosque. Mr
members of the Local Council in Rehman noted that Khatme
Rabwah are non-Ahmadis, whilst Nabuwwat are repeatedly in the
the HRCP noted that the police in news, including, for example, for
Rabwah are all non-Ahmadis. attacking the library in Rabwah.
Nevertheless, the Islamabad The Ahmadi Community
Chapter of Khatme Nabuwwat Representatives noted that the
stated that they want it to be violence is different in different
known that Rabwah is a part of places and at different times,
Pakistan and that there can be no highlighting the example of the
exclusive city in Pakistan for destruction in the village of
Ahmadis. Referring to the Jhando Sahi which had been
Ahmadi community, the Chapter reported by the Pakistani press

34 The Review of Religions –April 2007


RABWAH – A PLACE FOR MARTYRS? PART TWO

and documented by Amnesty themselves and then blame


International (see Appendix B8). Muslims. The Ahmadis have a
During mob violence in June security system at the cemetery
2006 the whole Ahmadi and moreover Muslims do not
community had their homes and believe in and condemn the
businesses attacked by local non- desecration of graves. Mr
Ahmadis. Rabnawaz stated that
photographs of desecrated
The Ahmadi Community gravestones were fabricated.
Representatives also told the
mission of the desecration of
Ahmadi graves. The Ahmadi
community in Rawah have a 1. This is a controversial and
cemetery on the edge of the contested reading of the
town, next to which is the teachings of Islam.
mosque belonging to Khatme
Nabuwwat’s Mullah Arshad. The
Ahmadi community explained
how they had built a wall to
protect their cemetery but the
Khatme Nabuwwat members
still entered the site and damaged
grave stones. The mission visited
the cemetery and photographed
the damage to the gravestones,
located immediately adjacent to
the cemetery boundary with the
Khatme Nabuwwat mosque (see
photographs in Appendix F).
Mullah Arshad insisted that there
was no truth in the story that
Khatme Nabuwwat desecrated
Ahmadi graves: Ahmadis do it

The Review of Religions – April 2007 35


The Role of Truth and Reconciliation in
Enhancing Democratic Governance: the
case of Ghana
A paper presented at a workshop on ‘West Africa: Regional Issues
and Challenges of Reconciliation’ held at the Kofi Annan
International Peacekeeping Training Centre in Accra from May 3rd-
5th 2006.
By Maulvi A Wahab Adam – Accra, Ghana

Reconciliation, from the shocked at the enormity of their


religious perspective, is very crime and the realisation that
important for peaceful societal Joseph(as), in his position, could
existence as it allows man to exact his pound of flesh, they
demonstrate the moral quality of confessed:
benevolence. For this reason I
have chosen to preface this ...We have indeed been
presentation with the story of sinners.
Joseph(as) and his brothers as (Ch.12: V.92)
narrated in the Holy Qur’an.
Responding, Joseph(as) told them:
Having been thrown into a well
and left for dead, having been No blame shall lie on you this
found by a trader and sold as day; may Allah forgive you!
merchandise, and having spent And He is the Most Merciful
some time in prison, Joseph(as) of those who show mercy.
was elevated to a very high (Holy Qur’an, Ch.12: V.93)
status in the court of a king. It
was during this period that an This large-hearted and generous
opportunity came for Joseph(as) to pardon granted by Joseph(as) to
remind his brothers of what they his brothers, constitutes his
did to him. Crestfallen and greatest and most outstanding

36 The Review of Religions –April 2007


THE ROLE OF TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION IN ENHANCING DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE

resemblance to the Holy Prophet Cedis has been allocated for the
Muhammad(saw). provision of reparation to
victims of human rights
Like Joseph(as), the Holy violations who petitioned the
Prophet(saw) gained honour and Commission for redressal of
power in flight and banishment. their grievances. It is my hope
When, after years in exile, he that the reparations and further
entered his native town as a counselling for the victims
conqueror and Makkah lay would contribute immensely to
prostrate at his feet, he asked his healing and closure for the
people what treatment they victims and also impact on the
expected from him. ‘The reconciliation process.
treatment that Joseph accorded
to his brothers’, they replied, to Having served as a
which the Holy Prophet(saw) Commissioner on Ghana’s
declared, ‘Then no reproach National Reconciliation
shall lie on you this day.’ Commission, I have come to
appreciate, for its healing value,
An unparalleled example of the urgent necessity for every
reconciliation! nation to make the effort to
confront its past. Let me say that
I accepted to be a member of the the agonising and incredulous
National Reconciliation stories which assaulted my ears
Commission out of my deep and imagination, can only be
religious conviction of the value described as evil and inex-
of reconciliation as a condition plicable. But I have come
for peace in our dear country of through that experience with
Ghana. It is refreshing that this hope and confidence in the
workshop is taking place some future of mankind and my dear
three weeks after the country in particular. This hope
Government announced that an is anchored on the fact that most
amount of 13 billion Ghanaian of the victims, after narrating

The Review of Religions – April 2007 37


THE ROLE OF TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION IN ENHANCING DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE

their testimonies of pain and and fulfilling the goals of our


suffering, at the loss of dear national motto: Freedom and
ones, and of a future destroyed, Justice.’
expressed their willingness to
forsake revenge and commit In all, over 4,000 persons
themselves to forgiveness and petitioned the Commission.
reconciliation. It is this truth that During the hearings, which were
gives me hope for the future. held in the national capital and
regional capitals to give the
The National Reconciliation people easy access and a sense of
Commission opened its doors to participation in the national
victims of human rights viola- reconciliation process, victims
tions on September 2, 2002. spoke, some amid tears, of
Public hearings began on killings, torture, detention,
January 14, 2003 at the Old disappearances of relations,
Parliament House, where almost seizure of property, ill treatment
fifty years earlier, on March 5 and dismissals. For some
1957, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah had petitioners, the Commission was
tabled the motion of the destiny able to exhume and hand over to
for Ghana to become the first them, the remains of relations,
colony, South of the Sahara, to who had been executed and
achieve independence from buried in mass graves.
colonial rule. At the inauguration
of the Commission in 2003, the Working parallel to the public
then Attorney General, Nana hearings were five committees
Akuffo Addo said: that examined possible
institutional culpability in
‘The inauguration of the fostering a climate that allowed
public hearings is one more human rights violations to thrive.
milestone on our tortuous, The five committees were those
but determined path towards on security services, the legal
consolidating our democracy profession (including the

38 The Review of Religions –April 2007


THE ROLE OF TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION IN ENHANCING DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE

judiciary), the media, organised our past mistakes or mis-


labour and students movement, fortunes. Doing so would
professional bodies (other than produce nothing but further
legal), and religious bodies and suffering. Instead, we have to
the chieftaincy institution. With make serious efforts to put all
hindsight, I think another the pains behind us, and help
committee to look at ethnicity as to build a new Ghana where
being responsible for some of the the conditions that produced
human rights violations, could such pain and suffering
have been worthwhile. Besides, would not be permitted to
the institutional hearings should recur. Every Ghanaian must
have been conducted in public make a personal pledge that
and opened its doors to ‘NEVER AGAIN!’ shall
testimony from members of the such wrongs be a feature of
public. governance or a feature of
life on this beautiful land of
On October 13, 2004, the our birth.”
Commission submitted its report
to His Excellency, the President If a feature of governance that
of the Republic of Ghana. The shall not accommodate such
report embodies recommen- wrongs is democratic gover-
dations for reparations, the nance, then the question to be
source of funding for repa- asked is has the National
rations, institutional reforms, and Reconciliation Commission en-
specific actions for the nation to hanced democratic governance in
symbolically demonstrate con- Ghana?
trition and acknowledgement
towards vic-tims of human rights Answering this question must
violations. The report had this take into account the work of a
conclusion: truth commission as both a
forward-looking and backward-
“We must not be tied down to looking exercise. As a nation

The Review of Religions – April 2007 39


THE ROLE OF TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION IN ENHANCING DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE

looks back at its dark past and four well-known categories:


acknowledges responsibility, it
must look into the present and a) Full defeat in an armed war
the future and make them e.g. the treatment of
become illumined by the past. Germany after World War II;
Successful truth commissions
are those that leave in their place b) Transition through a
follow-up institutions to dictator’s loss in an election
facilitate the implementation and e.g. Chile;
monitoring of the recommen-
dations of the commission. c) Transition through compro-
mises and negotiation e.g.
The completion of the work of a South Africa; and
truth commission is the end of
the beginning. Much more d) Transition from a long
remains to be done in Ghana’s standing communist regime
pursuit of a human rights culture. e.g. East European countries.
Thus the responsibility has now
shifted away from the Ghana’s truth commission was
Commission to the state and to set up 10 years after the country
civil society. The extent to which had returned to democratic
the National Reconciliation governance following eleven
Commission has impacted years of military rule during
positively on democratic gover- which a lot of human rights
nance can be located in the violations occurred. Three
performance of the two elections had been held, the last
important factors. one leading to a change of
government. During this time,
It is worth noting that Ghana’s indices of democratic gover-
truth commission was dictated nance were present, however
by its own mode of transition. It imperfect: constitutional rule,
was not defined in terms of the independent judiciary, rule of

40 The Review of Religions –April 2007


THE ROLE OF TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION IN ENHANCING DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE

Law, free media, civil society media, defeated the ruling party
and a certain level of in the 2000 elections. In its
government accountability. manifesto, it had promised to set
up a truth commission to
Significantly, the then president, investigate human rights
a military dictator turned violations as part of the process
politician, acknowledged the towards reconciliation. These are
need for reconciliation and set in the antecedents to the establish-
motion a process to de- ment of Ghana’s National
confiscate properties earlier Reconciliation Commission. Any
confiscated. It was an ad hoc assessment of the role it has
arrangement that did not go far. played in enhancing democratic
A truth commission, that would gover-nance will have to look at
have subjected his human rights the level of democratic
record to public scrutiny, was not governance in the pre-NRC
even discussed. period and attempt to establish
whether there has been an
This was unlike that of South improvement over that in the
Africa where the ANC set up a post NRC period.
commission to probe human
rights violations allegedly In the absence of any empirical
committed by its members evidence, any conclusion on
during the liberation war well improved democratic gover-
before the South African Truth nance after the NRC will be
and Reconciliation Commission speculative. However, there are
was set up. areas that attention must be
focused. No doubt civil society
The government that set up the has become more active.
national reconciliation com- Advocacy is being intensified to
mission, then in opposition, had increase public participation in
political space to sell its message policy making, legislative
and with the support of a free process and social dialogue. That

The Review of Religions – April 2007 41


THE ROLE OF TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION IN ENHANCING DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE

the Domestic Violence Bill, vincing them that an


Freedom of Information Bill and incompetent constitutional
the Disability Bill are being laid government, founded on the rule
before Parliament for passage of law, is better than a military
testify to the active advocacy of government and therefore there
civil society. The Coalition is the need for patience until the
Against Water Privatisation has next elections during which they
virtually put a hold on will exercise their franchise to
government action in the sector. retain or change it.
In the area of conflict prevention
and resolution, civil society has If these modest indices constitute
been playing a crucial role. For an enhancement of democratic
the current level of stability in governance in the country, then
Dagbon and the ending of the 80 the National Reconciliation
year-old Alavanvo-Nkonya Commission was not set up in
dispute, credit should go to the vain.
involvement of civil society,
including the religious bodies.

More importantly, Ghanaians


have recognised that perennial
political instability has not
benefited the country and they
have a shared responsibility to
help sustain the current
democratic dispensation. Above
all, the gross human rights
violations that occurred under
the various military regimes and
the First Republic that reduced
the dignity and self-esteem of the
people, have contributed in con-

42 The Review of Religions –April 2007


PRESIDENT THOMAS
JEFFERSON – Was he a monotheist?
By Zia H Shah MD, Syracuse, USA

Say, ‘He is Allah the One! congressional library that had


Allah the Independent and been burned by British troops the
Besought of all. He begets year before, in the War of 1812.
not, nor is He begotten. And The book’s leather binding was
there is none like unto Him.’ added in 1919. Inside, it reads,
(Ch.112: Vs.2-5) ‘The Koran, commonly called
‘The Alcoran of Mohammed.’
First Muslim in US Congress Jefferson marked his ownership
Keith Ellison made history in by writing the letter ‘J’ next to
January 2007 by becoming the the letter ‘T’ that was already at
first Muslim member of the US the bottom of pages.
Congress and embellishing the
occasion by taking a ceremonial Speaking to ABC News in a
oath on the copy of the Holy broadcast, Ellison said it was
Qur’an once owned by the third only natural that he would take
President of the USA, Thomas his oath on the Holy Qur’an, the
Jefferson. Mr. Ellison is an Afro- book of his Islamic faith. ‘It’s the
American who converted to scripture that I read every day
Islam during his college years. In and it’s the book that I draw
a very strategic move, he inspiration from,’ said the
succeeded in taking his oath of incoming lawmaker, who
office using Thomas Jefferson’s converted from Roman
own copy of the Holy Qur’an. Catholicism to Islam while a
The Qur’an was acquired in 1815 student in college. Ellison, who
as part of a 6,400-volume is also the first black US
collection that Jefferson sold for lawmaker from Minnesota, said
$24,000 to replace the that as he goes about the business

The Review of Religions – April 2007 43


PRESIDENT THOMAD JEFFERSON – WAS HE A MONOTHEIST?

of learning to be a lawmaker, he meaning of the American


will take a page from the book of Revolution.
baseball legend Jackie Robinson,
who made history as the first Edwin Gaustad has written a
black player in the sport’s major religious biography of Thomas
league. ‘It’s like Jackie Jefferson titled Sworn on the
Robinson: Did he worry about Altar of God. He writes:
being the first black baseball
player? No. He worried about ‘Jefferson would gather ideas
getting a hit. He worried about as a reaper gathered corn,
getting on base’, said Ellison. He selecting and retaining the
also remarked that he chose this most delectable, ignoring or
copy of the Holy Qur’an because discarding what he regarded
it showed that a visionary like as unsuitable to his taste.
Jefferson believed that wisdom Many of Jefferson’s fellow
could be gleaned from many deists found English and
sources. Scottish thinkers more
congenial, less radical, less
Thomas Jefferson unnerving than those of
Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826) France. But Jefferson reaped
was the principal author of the there too.’1
Declaration of Independence
(1776) of the United States and In other words he sought ideas
the nation’s first secretary of from all sorts of philosophers
state (1789-94), second vice from all different times. Jefferson
president (1797-1801), and third seemed to have a special ability
president (1801-09). Jefferson to decipher right from wrong and
was an early advocate of the total useful from useless. He showed
separation of church and state that in so many different spheres
(Virgina Statute for religious of life. Jefferson liked books as
Freedom), and the most eloquent they gave him new and good
American proponent of indi- ideas. He was a great collector of
vidual freedom as the core books. When Thomas Jefferson

44 The Review of Religions –April 2007


PRESIDENT THOMAD JEFFERSON – WAS HE A MONOTHEIST?

went abroad as an emissary to 18th century Europe or America


France in 1785, the opportunities to give credit to the Muslims, the
for book buying marvellously Holy Prophet Muhammad(saw) or
multiplied. Reading readily in to the Holy Qur’an. We will
French, Jefferson devoted every examine this issue later in the
free afternoon to examining all article. But if this be true, the
the principal bookstores, turning result of this phenomenon is that
the leaf of every book with his we cannot examine the question
own hand and trying to absorb as to what Jefferson borrowed
everything which related to from the Holy Qur’an in any
America, and indeed whatever reasonable fashion, as there is no
was rare and valuable in every written proof of that. On the
science. Gaustad writes: contrary, it is much easier to
examine as to whether his ideas
‘Besides haunting the were closer to the Holy Qur’an
bookstalls in Paris, ‘I had or to the Holy Bible? By
standing orders’, Jefferson answering this question we can
wrote, ‘during the whole time make some judgement to the first
I was in Europe on its issue as to what he may have
principal book-marts, partic- ‘borrowed’ from the Holy
ularly Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Qur’an.
Madrid, and London.’”2
The balance between human
Who was this genius Jefferson? knowledge gained by experi-
What were his religious beliefs? mentation or observation and the
What ideas did he ‘borrow’ from ‘revealed truth’ has been a
the Holy Qur’an? Were his ideas constant dilemma for mankind.
closer to the Holy Qur’an or to This was a burning struggle for
the Holy Bible? Jefferson also. His struggle was
compounded by the fact that the
Influence of Islam main revelation with which he
It was generally not customary in was familiar was the Bible.

The Review of Religions – April 2007 45


PRESIDENT THOMAD JEFFERSON – WAS HE A MONOTHEIST?

Having read the Holy Qur’an in a reveal himself solely to one


period which was extremely small nation in the eastern
hostile to Islam, he could not Mediterranean and to leave
possibly fully embrace it. the rest of the world in utter
Moreover, George Sale’s English ignorance of his existence? It
translation that he owned was not seemed even more irrational
unbiased either. Did revelation as to believe that the Supreme
he knew it in the form of the Being of the cosmos had ‘sent
Bible have any role in human his only begotten son’, who
affairs? ‘And if God spoke to had not offended him, to be
humankind mainly or even sacrificed by men, who had
exclusively through the medium offended him that he might
of nature, what did nature tell us expiate their sins, and satisfy
about that God? About His his own anger.’4
eternal truths? About the nature
and destiny of women and Jefferson, like many of those
men?’3 The adulterated accounts authors whom he had read in his
of the Bible did not satisfy youth, had no trouble accepting
Jefferson. After extensive studies the argument for God’s existence
of different books Jefferson from the magnificent design
concluded: evident in Allah’s creation. His
thoughts were perfectly in
‘Christianity had traditionally keeping with the verses of the
rested not upon reason or Holy Qur’an quoted above and
experience but upon mystery the verses of Surah Al-Hashr:
and miracle. The Bible,
moreover, portrayed a deity He is Allah, the Creator, the
quite different from that Maker, the Fashioner. His are
revealed in nature, a deity that the most beautiful names. All
reason could neither explain that is in the heavens and the
nor defend. How rational earth glorifies Him, and He is
could it possibly be for the the Mighty, the Wise.
God of the whole universe to (Ch.59: V.25)

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PRESIDENT THOMAD JEFFERSON – WAS HE A MONOTHEIST?

‘It was impossible’, Jefferson For example, the Holy Qur’an


wrote to John Adams, ‘for the says:
human mind not to perceive and
feel a conviction of design, Do they not then look at the
consummate skill, and indefinite camel, how it is created? And
power in every atom of its at the heaven, how it is raised
composition.’ This was the case high? And at the mountains,
whether one contemplated the how they are firmly rooted,
heavens above (‘the movement and at the earth, how it is
of the heavenly bodies, so spread out?
exactly held in their course by (Ch.88: Vs. 18-21)
the balance of centrifugal and
centripetal forces’) or the earth And again:
below (‘the structure of our earth
itself, with its distribution of Verily, in the creation of the
lands, waters, and atmosphere, heavens and the earth and in
animal and vegetable bodies… the alternation of night and
insects as mere atoms of life, yet day, and in the ships which
as perfectly organised as man or sail in the sea with that which
mammoth’).5 profits men, and in the water
which Allah sends down from
Qur’an and the study of the sky and quickens there-
Nature with the earth after its death
Every enlightened reader of the and scatters therein all kinds
Holy Qur’an knows that it urges of beasts, and in the change
us to reflect on the Laws of of the winds, and the clouds
Nature. It draws examples from pressed into service between
cosmology, biology and physics, the heaven and the earth –
among other branches of science, are indeed Signs for the
as signs for all men of people who understand.
understanding. (Ch.2: V.165)

The Review of Religions – April 2007 47


PRESIDENT THOMAD JEFFERSON – WAS HE A MONOTHEIST?

Seven hundred and fifty verses of The physicists are working on a


the Qur’an (almost one eighth of string theory that will unite all
the Book) exhort believers to forms of matter and energy into
study nature, to reflect, to make one. If there had been other gods
the best use of reason in the besides Allah in the heavens and
search of the Creator, the the earth, then there would have
Almighty Allah. This contrasts been chaos in the universe.8
with 250 verses in the Holy
Qur’an with regard to different Sir Isaac Newton saw that there
commands.6 is no changing of the laws of
nature and that the universe
One Creator of the Universe follows the rules of mathematics.
Jefferson was not only a genius In other words, he understood the
but also a free and an true meaning of the verse of
independent thinker. It was easy Surah Rum:
for him to see that our universe
speaks of one Creator, call Him So set your face towards
Allah or by whatever Name but religion ever inclined to truth
there cannot be three creators of – and follow the nature of
this world. There are no creations Allah after which He
of the Holy Ghost or of Jesus fashioned all mankind. There
Christ(as) that we can see.7 We is no altering the creation of
Muslims love Jesus(as) dearly and Allah. That indeed is the
applaud him as a prophet. But he religion which is firmly
did not create anything to merit a upright and supports others
status equal to Allah Almighty. to be upright.
There is one theme in the (Ch.30: V.31)
creation of this universe be it
living or non-living. In the living Pertaining to Jefferson, Edwin
beings, there is similar RNA and Gaustad writes:
a common kind of DNA. The
theory of evolution ties all living ‘Newton taught Jefferson that
beings to one ancestry or lineage. God’s world was orderly,

48 The Review of Religions –April 2007


PRESIDENT THOMAD JEFFERSON – WAS HE A MONOTHEIST?

dependable, regular and believed that God continued to


predictable. From his create and sustain the world
Principia (1687), the whole moment by moment. Gravity was
Western world learned that not a property of matter: it was
patient observation and God’s law for the orderly
careful mathematical calcu- operation of matter, one of the
lation could reveal previously means by which he brought order
unknown truths about the out of chaos.10 To a close
nature of the universe. Planets observer of nature, which
did not ‘wander’ but moved Jefferson surely was, the
according to specific laws; conclusion could not be denied:
like all matter in motion, they we see ‘evident proofs of the
proceeded not by chance but necessity of a super-intending
by design. England’s power to maintain the universe in
‘greatest and rarest genius’ its course and order.’11
(in David Hume’s words)
placed science firmly in the Here again his thoughts were
centre of the modern world; perfectly in keeping with the
indeed, Newton helped create throne verse of the Holy Qur’an:
the modern world.’9
Allah – there is no God but
For Jefferson, the laws of Nature He, the Living, the Self-
were God’s laws; they did not Subsisting and All-
have an independent status all Sustaining. Slumber seizes
their own. They came into being Him not, nor sleep. To Him
by God’s decree, and they belongs whatsoever is in the
continued to operate, as Newton heavens and whatsoever is in
demonstrated, through God’s the earth… His knowledge
unceasing providential direction. extends over the heavens and
Unlike many other deists, the earth; and the care of
Jefferson did not hold that God them burdens Him not; and
created the world and then retired He is the High, the Great.
from the scene; rather, he (Ch.2: V.256)

The Review of Religions – April 2007 49


PRESIDENT THOMAD JEFFERSON – WAS HE A MONOTHEIST?

Jefferson’s views were far more Heresy of the Diabolical Sect


in line with the sublime teachings of the Saracens and segued
of the Holy Qur’an than any repeatedly into spluttering
rudimentary mention of this intransigence. Words failed
subject in the Holy Bible. Yet the Peter when he contemplated
Holy Qur’an historically got no the ‘bestial cruelty’ of Islam,
credit for these views. Why? I which, he claimed, had
believe the answer is obvious. established itself by the
The political and the religious sword. Was Muhammad a
atmosphere of the West was not true prophet? ‘I shall be
conducive to giving any credit to worse than a donkey if I
the Holy Qur’an, to the Holy agree,’ he expostulated,
Prophet Muhammad(saw) or to ‘worse than cattle if I
Islam. It does not allow that even assent!’”12
today. Perhaps Karen Armstrong,
an Orientalist who used to be a She concludes her essay by
catholic nun knows best the stating that this prejudice is still
reasons for this. Explaining the all too pervasive:
prejudices of the west towards
Islam she writes: “Neither the Danish
cartoonists, who published
“In the 12th century, Peter the the offensive caricatures of
Venerable, Abbot of Cluny, the Prophet Muhammad last
initiated a dialogue with the February, nor the Christian
Islamic world. ‘I approach fundamentalists… would
you not with arms, but with ordinarily make common
words,’ he wrote to the cause with the Pope; yet on
Muslims whom he imagined the subject of Islam they are
reading his book, ‘not with in full agreement.”13
force, but with reason, not
with hatred, but with love.’ History of Scientific Thought
Yet his treatise was entitled The West learned a lot from the
Summary of the Whole Muslims. What does the West

50 The Review of Religions –April 2007


PRESIDENT THOMAD JEFFERSON – WAS HE A MONOTHEIST?

owe to the East? To give the zero and Arab numerals. Before
reader a glimpse let us go back in him the Roman numerals
history, the place is Baghdad. followed were actually alphabets
Muhammad ibn Musa al- like X, C, L, XII etc. It was not
Khawarizmi was a mathe- possible to make simple
matician and an astronomer additions. It was Al-Khawarizmi
whose major works introduced and other Arab mathematicians
Arabic numerals and the con- who showed that if we line up
cepts of algebra into European 1000, 100,005 and 101 in proper
mathematics. Al-Khawarizmi order it is easy to add these three
lived in Baghdad, where he numbers.
worked at the ‘House of 1000
Wisdom’ under Caliph al- 100,005
Ma’mun. The House of Wisdom 101
acquired and translated scientific _____________
and philosophic treatises, 101106
particularly the ones in Greek. It
also published original research. Contrast the simplicity of this
Al-Khawarizmi’s work on addition to adding relatively
elementary algebra, Al-kitab al- smaller numbers XXIV and
mukhtasar fi hisab al-jabr wa’l- LXXVI to get C. Roman
muqabala, was translated into numbers were used in Europe
Latin in the 12th century, from until the middle ages. Today
which the title and term Algebra simple additions appear as
derives. The English translation common sense to us but in the
for the name of the book is The past, a vast majority of
Compendious Book on population could not do simple
Calculation by Completion and calculations. There used to be
Balancing. specialists like modern day
accountants who were in charge
Al-Khawarizmi made many of the tedious tasks of addition
contributions to mathematics and and subtraction, and earned their
gave mankind the concept of living as such.

The Review of Religions – April 2007 51


PRESIDENT THOMAD JEFFERSON – WAS HE A MONOTHEIST?

The very first step in the civilisation, has gone through


development of science was cycles, I recalled in my Nobel
accurate quantification of diff- lecture, a historical episode,
erent parameters. Mathematics when some 760 years ago, a
and Algebra were absolutely young Scotsman left his native
essential for the young tree of glens to travel south to Toledo
science in Europe to blossom. in Spain. His name was
Carly Firoina, Ex CEO of Michael, his goal to live and
Hewlett-Packard, had this to say work at the Arab universities of
in 2001: Toledo and Cordova. Michael
reached Toledo in 1217 AD.
‘Although we are often Once there, Michael formed the
unaware of our indebtedness ambitious project of
to Islamic civilisation, its introducing Aristotle to Latin
gifts are very much a part of Europe, translation not from
our heritage. The technology the original Greek, which he
industry would not exist knew not, but from the Arabic
without the contributions of translation which was then
Arab mathematicians.’ taught in Spain. From Toledo,
Michael travelled to Sicily, to
Dr Abdus Salam, the first the Court of Emperor Frederick
Muslim Nobel laureate in II. Visiting the medical school
Physics, writes about the at Salerno, chartered by
contribution of Muslims to Frederick in 1231, Michael met
science and the process of the Danish physician Hendrik
transmission of knowledge from Harpestraeng, later to become
the Muslims to Europe in the Court Physician of King Eric
following words: IV Waldermarrson. Hendrik the
Dane had come to Salerno to
‘To emphasise that science is compose his treatise, preserved
the shared heritage of mankind, in seven volumes at the
and that the history of scientific National Library in Stockholm,
discovery, like the history of all on blood-letting and surgery.

52 The Review of Religions –April 2007


PRESIDENT THOMAD JEFFERSON – WAS HE A MONOTHEIST?

Hendrik’s sources were the philosophers, finding it illogical


medical canons of the great and untenable. For the atheist,
clinicians of Islam, Al Razi and said Jefferson, the universe had
Avicenna, which only Michael simply always existed. It has no
the Scot could translate for cause, no beginning in time. For
him. The schools of Toledo and the deist, on the other hand, the
Salerno mark the beginning of great canvas of creation cried out
the creation of Sciences in the for a First Cause, possessing
West. At these schools a candle intelligence and power; power in
was lit from a candle already the production, and intelligence
burning brightly in the lands of in the design and constant
Islam.’14 preservation of the system.16

Mr. Zakaria Virk, a Canadian Jefferson’s belief in a God, Who


Muslim historian, has examined is the creator of the universe, can
this subject in greater depth in be seen from the clues in the US
some of his writings. In his Declaration of Independence in
article published in The Review terms like ‘Creator’ and
of Religions in 2003, he starts his ‘Nature’s God’.
description by quoting from
Robert Briffault’s The Making of Corruptions in Christianity
Humanity: Joseph Priestly was a chemist
who had created a name for
‘It was under the influence of himself in discovering Oxygen
Arabian and Moorish revival and Carbon Dioxide. But he was
of culture and not in the 15th as notorious in Europe as he was
century, that the real famous. He received his
renaissance took place.’15 notoriety from writing a book:
History of the Corruptions of
Jefferson was a believer; he was Christianity originally published
a believer in One God. He in 1782. Priestley was besieged
unhesitatingly rejected the by mobs in Birmingham,
atheism of some of the French England, and having lost both his

The Review of Religions – April 2007 53


UZBEKISTAN – CRADLE OF ISLAMIC THOUGHT

home and his laboratory to their example, that the real ‘mystery’
fury, had retreated in 1791 to of the Trinity was that so many
London. Even there his Christians believed it, for Jesus(as)
radicalism in religion and his did not teach it, the Bible did not
embrace of France magnified his proclaim it and Reason could not
unpopularity and aggravated the honour it. Jesus(as) lived as a
danger he faced. So in 1794, at human being, claimed to be
the urging of Jefferson and nothing more than the ‘son of
others, he migrated to America, man’, whose mission was to
settling in Pennsylvania for the show all humankind how it
last decade of his turbulent life. should live and what God
In 1797 in Philadelphia, Priestly expected of it. The Old
delivered a series of lectures on Testament honoured mono-
Christianity. It was here that theism, as did the New
Jefferson met him and learned Testament.
much from Priestley’s lectures,
but he gained even greater Jefferson embraced Priestly’s
intellectual satisfaction from views whole-heartedly. The
reading his book. In any case, description of President Thomas
this one book influenced Jefferson in Wikipedia.com is
Jefferson’s religious views very revealing:
profoundly. In reading it,
Jefferson made a critical ‘Miracles and references to
discovery for and about himself. the Trinity and the divinity of
He thought that he had utterly Jesus are notably absent from
rejected Christianity; now he the Jefferson Bible. The Bible
found to his relief and perhaps to begins with an account of
his delight as well, that he had Jesus’ birth without refer-
only rejected a hopelessly ences to angels, genealogy, or
corrupted form of Christianity. prophecy.’
Somewhere underneath all the
layers, pure gold could yet be In August of 1804, Jefferson
found. Priestley argued, for wrote to Benjamin Rush: ‘I shall

54 The Review of Religions –April 2007


PRESIDENT THOMAD JEFFERSON – WAS HE A MONOTHEIST?

some of these days ask you to One of the most striking


read the little volume on Jesus.’ examples of this occurs in
Rush, who had responded chapter 13, where Jefferson
positively to an earlier work by included the verses (21-26)
Jefferson named ‘the Syllabus’ relating to the Last Supper. Then
sent the year before, now gave a verse 31 begins, ‘Therefore,
disconcerting reply. Rush was when he was gone out, Jesus
not ready to give up his ideas said…’
about the divinity of Jesus(as). So
he wrote back, unless Jefferson’s What Jesus(as) said at that point
little volume advanced the was, ‘Now is the Son of man
divinity of Jesus(as) ‘and renders glorified, and God is glorified in
his death as well as his life him.’ But Jefferson dropped that
necessary for the restoration of and the two following verses to
mankind, I shall not concur with jump abruptly to the moral
its author.’ Jefferson, who had message: ‘A new commandment
abandoned all notions of I give unto you, That ye love one
atonement and divinity, another; as I have loved you, that
therefore, declined to send his ye also love one another’ (v. 34).
modest editing effort to his good
friend.17 When quoting from John,
Jefferson kept his blade busy.
Divinity of Jesus(as) Finally, in passages treating the
In the Gospel according to John, last days of Jesus(as), Jefferson
where Jesus(as) makes the most stayed with the mortal man who
unambiguous claims to divinity died on the cross and was buried.
(‘the Father is in me, and I in After the soldiers pierced
him’; ‘I am the way, the truth, Jesus(as)’ side with a sword,
and the life: no man cometh unto ‘Joseph of Arimathea… besought
the Father but by me’; ‘I am in Pilate that he might take away the
the Father, and the Father in me’; body of Jesus and Pilate gave him
etc.), Jefferson repeatedly turned leave.’ (John 19:38). After
away from all such claims. preparing the body for burial,

The Review of Religions – April 2007 55


PRESIDENT THOMAD JEFFERSON – WAS HE A MONOTHEIST?

disciples transported it to a new Original sin, if such a thing even


tomb in the crucifixion garden. existed, was ignorance, said
At that point, taking fragments Volney. It was definitely not, for
from John and from Matthew, the Jeffersonian, an Edenic
Jefferson’s scriptures concluded: action that forever after
‘There laid they Jesus and rolled paralysed humankind, corrupted
a great stone to the door of the one’s nature, or destroyed one’s
sepulcher, and departed.’ No moral sense. Man was not a
resurrection, no appearances of a worm, not a moral midget, but
risen Lord, no ascension into one designed by God and
heaven. A great teacher, the empowered by him to conquer
greatest of all moral teachers, had the infirmities, moral or physical,
died and was buried.18 of this world.20 These were again
the views completely in
John Adams was an early agreement with the teachings of
advocate of American indepen- the Holy Qur’an. The Holy
dence from Great Britain and Qur’an gives a repeated message
became the second President of personal responsibility and
(1797-1801) of the United stresses one’s good deeds for
States.19 The origin of evil, John one’s salvation. The concept of
Adams noted, was perhaps atonement is totally foreign to
known only to omniscience, but the teachings of the Holy Qur’an
we can be sure that it did not all and also to teachings of the Torah
begin in a garden. We poor for that matter.
mortals have nothing to do with
it, but to fabricate all the good we After his presidency years,
can out of all inevitable evils.” expressed general agree-ment
One way to eradicate a large class with his friend Joseph Priestley’s
of evils, Adams added, was to Unitarianism, that is, the
employ our reason to dispose of rejection of the doctrine of
our own unnecessary Trinity. In a letter to a Ohio
apprehensions and imaginary pioneer he wrote:
fears.

56 The Review of Religions –April 2007


PRESIDENT THOMAD JEFFERSON – WAS HE A MONOTHEIST?

‘I rejoice that in this blessed religion and most scholars agree


country of free inquiry and with the claim that Jefferson was
belief, which has surrendered a deist, a common position held
its conscience to neither kings by intellectuals in the late 18th
or priests, the genuine century.22 He believed in One
doctrine of only one God is God and was a Unitarian.
reviving, and I trust that there
is not a young man now Historically, Unitarianism
living in the United States believed in the oneness of God
who will not die a and not the Christian doctrine of
Unitarian.’21 the Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy
Spirit in one God) proclaimed at
His dream, however, of large the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD.
scale conversion to the belief in Historic Unitarians believed in
One God was not to come true in the moral authority, but not the
the time of his contemporaries. It deity, of Jesus(as). Throughout the
had to wait until the advent of world, many Unitarian
Islam in the West. But it certainly congregations and associations
seems that he was laying down belong to the International
the groundwork for the grand Council of Unitarians and
prophecy of the Holy Qur’an: Universalists. In the United
States and Canada many
He it is Who has sent His Unitarians are Unitarian
Messenger with the guidance Universalist or UU, reflecting an
and the Religion of truth, that institutional consolidation
He may cause it to prevail between Unitarianism and
over all religions, even if Universalism. Today, most
those who associate partners Unitarian Universalists do not
with God dislike it. consider themselves Christians,
(Ch.61: V.10) even if they share some beliefs
quite similar to those of
His belief in One God mainstream Christians.23 There is
Jefferson wrote at length on a small percentage of Unitarian

The Review of Religions – April 2007 57


PRESIDENT THOMAD JEFFERSON – WAS HE A MONOTHEIST?

Universalists who have a autobiography talking about the


Christian-centric belief system. year 1769 Thomas Jefferson
writes:
If the Holy Qur’an has a
fundamental claim to any idea ‘Our minds were circum-
then it is to the idea of scribed within narrow limits
monotheism. It is said that one by an habitual belief that it
third of the Holy Qur’an is was our duty to be sub-
dedicated to this fundamental ordinate to the mother country
Islamic doctrine. The Torah also in all matters of government,
has a claim to monotheism but it to direct all our labours in
is only the Holy Qur’an that offers subservience to her interests,
monotheism which is not limited and even to observe a bigoted
to a select few but is available for intolerance for all religions but
each and every human being and hers.’24
is preserved in its pristine purity
and unparalleled beauty. However, he was certainly a
strong proponent of One God and
It is hard to know whether denied Trinity in very
Thomas Jefferson borrowed the unambiguous terms. This was as
idea from the Holy Qur’an if he was professing his belief in
directly or indirectly. But the fact the first half of the Creed of Islam,
remains that the Holy Qur’an has ‘There is no God but Allah.’
been the best and the most
articulate advocate of mono- Jefferson formulated a Bible for
theism. So, it will not be partiality his own use. He took two copies
to give it credit whenever a good of the New Testament in the King
case is made for monotheism in James Version and cut out those
more recent history. Even if verses from the Gospels of
Thomas Jefferson learnt Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John
monotheism completely from the that in his view best conveyed the
Holy Qur’an, it was not possible ‘pure and unsophisticated
for him to give credit to it. In his doctrines’ of Jesus(as). Having

58 The Review of Religions –April 2007


PRESIDENT THOMAD JEFFERSON – WAS HE A MONOTHEIST?

undertaken the task of separating Jefferson worked without know-


the authentic and original Jesus(as) ledge of manuscript transmission
from the later Platonised and or oral traditions or any of the
mythical Jesus, Jefferson told biblical apparatus that later
John Adams: centuries would introduce.
Rather, taking reason and nature
‘We must reduce our volume as his trusted guides, he
to the simple evangelists, determined by sense and sound
select, even from them, the what had fallen from the lips of
very words only of Jesus, Jesus(as) himself. The result was
paring off the amphibol- pure gold, gold separated from
ogisms into which they have the dross, as he told William
been led, by forgetting often, Short much later. In examining
or not understanding, what the Gospels carefully, Jefferson
had fallen from him, by giving found ‘many passages of fine
their own miscon-ceptions as imagination, correct morality,
his dicta, and expressing and of the loveliest
unintelligibly for others what benevolence.’ Jefferson noted
they had not understood that all that beauty sat trapped in
themselves. There will be ‘so much ignorance, so much
found remaining the most absurdity, so much untruth,
sublime and benevolent code charlatanism, and imposture.’
of morals which has ever been Something had to be done to
offered to man. I have extract the gold. He also pointed
performed this operation for out ‘and I found the work
my own use, by cutting verse obvious and easy.’26
by verse out of the printed
book, and arranging the matter Conclusion
which is evidently his, and Jefferson was not just an
which is as easily individual; he held several
distinguishable as diamonds in institutions in himself. It is
a dunghill.’25 important to study him from
different angles, especially his

The Review of Religions – April 2007 59


PRESIDENT THOMAD JEFFERSON – WAS HE A MONOTHEIST?

ideas on the separation of church Altar of God: A religious


and state as exemplified by his biography of Thomas Jefferson.
writing of the Virginia Statute for William B Eerdmans Publishing
Company, 1996, pp. 22-23.
Religious Freedom (1779, 1786),
a statute that forms the backbone 5 Edwin Gaustad. Sworn on the
Altar of God: A religious
of many religious freedom biography of Thomas Jefferson.
legislation. The world is badly in William B Eerdmans Publishing
need of his ideas on religious Company, 1996, p.36.
freedom and keeping the politics 6 Dr. Mohammad Iqbal. ‘Life: Its
away from religious intolerance Meaning and Origin.’ The Review
and bigotry. It is hoped that other of Religions, February 1994.
Muslim writers with a 7 The Holy Qur’an, Ch.46:V.5.
background in politics, law and 8 The Holy Qur’an, Ch.21:V.23.
history will endeavour in this 9 Edwin Gaustad. Sworn on the
rich field. Altar of God: A religious
biography of Thomas Jefferson.
William B Eerdmans Publishing
References Company, 1996, p.21.
1 Edwin Gaustad. Sworn on the 10 Edwin Gaustad. Sworn on the
Altar of God: A religious Altar of God: A religious
biography of Thomas Jefferson. biography of Thomas Jefferson.
William B Eerdmans Publishing William B Eerdmans Publishing
Company, 1996, p.25. Company, 1996, p.36.
2 Edwin Gaustad. Sworn on the 11 Edwin Gaustad. Sworn on the
Altar of God: A religious Altar of God: A religious
biography of Thomas Jefferson. biography of Thomas Jefferson.
William B Eerdmans Publishing William B Eerdmans Publishing
Company, 1996, pp.19-20. Company, 1996, p.36.
3 Edwin Gaustad. Sworn on the 12 www.guardian.co.uk/comment/st
Altar of God: A religious ory/0,1874653,00.html
biography of Thomas Jefferson. 13 w w w. g u a r d i a n . c o . u k / c o m m
William B Eerdmans Publishing ent/story/0,,1874653,00.html
Company, 1996, pp.22-23. 14 Dr. Abdus Salam, a Nobel
4 Edwin Gaustad. Sworn on the Laureate. Ideals and Realities.

60 The Review of Religions –April 2007


PRESIDENT THOMAD JEFFERSON – WAS HE A MONOTHEIST?

World Scientific Publishing Writings. The Library of America,


Company. eighteenth printing. ISBN 0-
15 www.alislam.org/ror/July_2003 940450-16-x. Page 5.
i.pdf 25 www.cooperativeindividualism.o
16 Edwin Gaustad. Sworn on the rg/jefferson_m_03.html
Altar of God: A religious 26 Edwin Gaustad. Sworn on the
biography of Thomas Jefferson. Altar of God: A religious
William B Eerdmans Publishing biography of Thomas Jefferson.
Company, 1996, p.37. William B Eerdmans Publishing
17 Edwin Gaustad. Sworn on the Company, 1996, p.119.
Altar of God: A religious
biography of Thomas Jefferson.
William B Eerdmans Publishing
Company, 1996, p.120.
18 Edwin Gaustad. Sworn on the
Altar of God: A religious
biography of Thomas Jefferson.
William B Eerdmans Publishing
Company, 1996, pp.130-131.
19 www.eb.com under John Adams.
20 Edwin Gaustad. Sworn on the
Altar of God: A religious
biography of Thomas Jefferson.
William B Eerdmans Publishing
Company, 1996, p 37.
21 Letter to Dr. Benjamin
Waterhouse June 26, 1822
22 Avery Cardinal Dulles, ‘The
Deist Minimum’ First Things: A
Monthly Journal of Religion and
Public Life Issue: 149. (Jan 2005)
p. 25, www.firstthings.com/ftis
sues/ft0501/articles/dulles.htm
23 www.uua.org/news/011205.html
24 Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson

The Review of Religions – April 2007 61


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