Audio Recording of the English Translation of the Holy Quran By Maulana Muhammad Ali Read by Robert Adams Basharaat-E-Ahmadiyya Newsletter of Ahmadiyya Anjuman Ishaat Islam, (Lahore) USA July - December 2007 P.O. Box 3370, Dublin, Ohio 43016 USA Phone: (614) 873-1030 Fax: (614) 873-1022 Email: [email protected]Website: www.muslim.org In This Issue Editorial 02 Chechnya Conference 03 2007 Conference Overview 11 Work in Europe 13 Albania 13 London 14 Holland 14 Other News: Quran Distribution, deaths, and donations 17 Holland Stichting Jamaat Activities 19 Conversion of a Dutch Youth 21 News from South Africa Jamaat 22 Eid Khutba by Ebrahim Muhammed 23 Local Activities 25 Article in Columbus Bar Lawyers Quarterly 28 Training Modern Imaams 32
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Basharaat-E-Ahmadiyya - Muslimof the English Translation of the Holy Quran By Maulana Muhammad Ali Read by Robert Adams Basharaat-E-Ahmadiyya Newsletter of Ahmadiyya Anjuman Ishaat
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Transcript
Audio Recordingof the English Translation
of the
Holy Quran
By Maulana Muhammad Ali
Read byRobert Adams
Basharaat-E-AhmadiyyaNewsletter of Ahmadiyya Anjuman Ishaat Islam, (Lahore) USA July - December 2007
TheLahoreAhmadiyyaJamaatwill,inshaAllah,beregisteredinAlbania,KyrgystanandotherCentralAsiancountries.Tocontinueworkinasystematicmanner,longterm,apermanentpresenceinthesecountriesisrequired.InshaAllah,ourregistrationinthesecountrieswillfacilitatetheattainmentofourgoalsinthesecountries.OurvarioustranslationprojectscontinuetoprogressverywellbytheGraceofAlmightyAllah.Wehavebeentrulyblessedwith a group of qualified and dedicatedtranslators.Thereisonlysomuchthatcanbeplanned,onlysomuchthatis
WithinoneweekmyvisadocumentsarrivedandIleftonSunday,August19thfortheconference.IarrivedinMoscowthenextday.Iwasreceivedattheairportby government officials who escortedmetoagovernmenthotel,namedHotelPresident.Theaccommodationswere
WearrivedinChechnyaatabout11:00a.m.Therewereabout100peopleattheairporttogreetus.Theladiesweredressedinveryfancy,traditionalclothesandpresenteduswithatypeofparathaandgheetoeat.Threedouble-deckerbusesawaitedus:oneforthelocals,onefortheRussiandelegatesandonefortheinternationaldelegates.Severalpoliceandothergovernmentvehiclesescortedthebusesthroughoutthetrip.Therewerealsoahostofreportersandtelevisioncrewthataccompaniedusaswell.The first stop for the delegates wastheAhmadKadyrovCentralMosque,named
after the first president of Chechnya.Themosqueisstillnotcomplete,butevenatthispointitwasabsolutelybeautiful.Weweretolditcanaccommodate10,000people.AcongregationalduawasmadeforthecompletionofthemosqueandforpeaceinChechnyaandforMuslimsthroughouttheworld.
Chechnya Conference: Islam, the Religion of Peace and Creation
Samina and a member of the international delegation departing for
Chechnya at the Moscow airport
Reception at the airport in Chechnya with paratha and desi ghee
Basharaat-E-Ahmadiyya July - December 2007
aplacewhereinpeoplewilllearnthetruthaboutIslamandwherefrompeaceandgoodrelationswillspread.Afterthevisittothemadrassa,wewenttothecemeterytomakeduaforthepastfirst president, Haji Akhmad Kadyrov.Apparentlyitwashisbirthdaythatday.Wethenwenttothemosqueforprayersandthenforlunchataverynicerestaurantthatprimarilyservedgovernmentofficials. Finally, we went totheconference.
sessionasthesepersonsaswell,whichwaswithinthefirst hour of the conference. ThiswasveryfortunateasthePresidentMr.RamzanKadyrovhad to leave after the first hour forsomeothercommitments.Therewereapproximately50speakersinthetotal..Whenitwasmyturntospeak,IwasintroducedasthedelegatefromUnitedStatesofAmerica.Ispokeforabout15minutesonthetopicof“Islam’sliberalviewofotherreligions”.MashaAllah,thespeechwaswellreceived.Thebestthingwasthateveryspeechwasbeingsimultaneouslytranslated.So,everyonecouldunderstandmyspeechandIcouldunderstandeveryoneelse’sregardlessofwhatlanguagewasbeingspoken.
andaskedthatIaccompanytheladyorganizerstothepresident’sresidenceforbreakfast.AlthoughIwasnotfeelinguptoit,Ifeltitwouldbesomewhatimpolitetoturndowntheirgraciousoffer.Wewereveryimpressedbythefactthatthepresidenttogether with fifty officials cametobidfarewelltothedelegates.ThepresidentspoketoeachdelegatepersonallyandthankedeachoneforcomingtoChechnyaandattendingtheConference.MayAlmightyAllahbringaboutthefruitionoftheresolutionsofPeaceandCreationinIslampassedbytheConference.Imustmentionthatmyairfareandallexpenseswerepaidforbytheorganizersoftheconference.TheyweremorehospitablethanIcouldhaveeverimagined.MayAlmightyAllahBlessthePresidentofChechniyaforhiseffortofbringingPeaceinthecountry.AlsoMayAlmightyAllahBlesseachandeveryonewhohastriedtoarrangetheconventiontoasuccess.MayAlmightyAllahblessthisJamaat.Maywebesteadfastinourwork.MayHeprovideuswithmanymoreopportunitiestofurtherHiscause.AndmayAlmightyAllahbepleasedwithourefforts.Ameen.JazakAllahforallofyourprayers.NothingcanbedonewithoutAllah’shelp.CopiedbelowisthespeechIdeliveredattheConference:
Now, certainly history testifies tothefactthatMuslimswerepermittedtoengageincertainwars.Butwhatwastheobjectofthosewars?Thisisthequestionthatmustbeasked.
EverystudentofIslamichistoryknowsthattheHolyProphetandhiscompanionsweresubjectedtotheseverestpersecutionasIslambegantogaingroundatMakkah.Overone hundred of them fled to Abyssinia,butpersecution
Permission (to fight) is given tothoseonwhomwarismade,becausetheyareoppressed.AndAllahisabletoassistthem—thosewhoaredrivenfromtheirhomeswithoutajustcauseexceptthattheysay:OurLordisAllah(22:39,40).
And fight in the way of Allah against those who fight againstyou,butbenotaggressive.SurelyAllahlovesnottheaggressors”(2:190).
TheQuran,therefore,allowedfighting only as defensive measuretosaveapersecutedcommunityfrompowerfuloppressors;assoonasthepersecutionceased,thefighting was to be stopped.
Andiftheyinclinetopeace,inclinethoualsotoit,andtrustinAllah.SurelyHeistheHearer,theKnower.Andiftheyintendtodeceivethee,thensurelyAllahissufficient for thee (8:61, 62).
Itisamistaketosupposethattheconditionsrelatedabovewereabrogatedatanytime.The condition to fight “against those who fight against you” remainedinforcetothelast.Thelastexpeditionledbythe
HolyProphetwasthefamous“TabukExpedition”,andeveryhistorianofIslamknowsthat,thoughtheProphethadmarchedaverylongdistancetoTabukleadinganarmyofthirtythousand,yet,whenhefoundthattheenemydidnotfulfill the condition laid down above(i.e.wasnotcurrentlyengagedinaggression),hesimplyreturnedanddidnotallowhistroopstoattacktheenemyterritory.
So from first to last, the Holy Qur’an allowed fighting onlyagainstthosewhofought the Muslims first. It allowed fighting only in defense,withoutwhichtheMuslimswouldhavebeenexterminated,anditclearlyforbadeaggressivewar.TheviewthatIslamencouragesthewagingofwaronunbelieverstocompelthemtoacceptIslamisamythpureandsimple;itisaconceptcompletelyforeigntotheHolyQurananduntraceabletoactsoftheearlyMuslims.
tovariousfaiths,withmanymembersoftheAhmadiyyaSocietyattendingfromvariouscornersoftheUnitedStatesandfromabroad.The conference featured five speakerswhodiscussedvarioustopicsconcerningAbrahamfromaprogressive
Basharaat-E-Ahmadiyya July - December 2007
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IslamiclensasespousedbytheLahoreAhmadiyyaIslamicSociety.Mr.FazeelS.Khan,Esq.startedoffwithatalkonAbraham:thecommonground,highlightingthecommonalitiesbetweenthethreemajorfaiths.Next,Dr.NomanMalikpresentedatalktitled,Abraham:“afriendofGod”establishingtheprinciplefromtheHolyQuranthatnomatterwhichreligiononeprofessesitisonlybeliefGodandserviceofmankindthatisacceptabletoGod.Dr.MuhammadAhmadthenpresentedonthetopicofAbraham and the sacrifice oftheanimalwithininwhichheshowedhowwithoutsacrificing that which was dear tooneselfbeliefinGodandserviceofmankindcannotbedone.Mr.Sadr-u-DeanSahukhan,EsqfromAustraliagaveatalkonAbrahamandtheconceptofprayerinwhichheprovedfromtheQuranandtheexampleoftheProphetAbrahamandtheHolyProphetMuhammadthatonlyprayercanprovidetheconvictionandresolvewhichisneededforBelief in God and sacrificing in his way. And finally Maulana Kemal Hydal finished off with aspeechonMuhammad:anaffirmation of the Abrahamic faithshowinghowtheHolyProphetMuhammadpractically reaffirmed the principlesoffaithdiscussedbythepreviousspeakers.
aSundayprogramconsistingofvarioustalksfrommembersoftheAhmadiyyaSociety.TheyouthprogramexhibitedtheenthusiasmoftheyoungestmemberswhorecitedchaptersandtranslationsoftheQuranandspokeonavarietyoftopicsconcerningIslamsuchastheunityofGodandtheconceptofafterlife.Inadditiontotheyouthpresentations,thepremieroftheLighthouseMagazineforYouthwasheld,whereAafia Ahmad and Saira Malik-Rahmanspokeafewwordsaboutthemagazine.TheFridayandSundayprogramsalsofeaturedguestsfromabroad.Thisyear,amemberoftheIslamicSocietyofAlbaniaattendedandgaveatalkonIslaminAlbania.Ms.ZahidaHydal,thesecretaryoftheTorontobranchalsogaveatalkasdidMaulanaKamalHydal.OtherspeakersincludedDr.HamidRahman,Ms.FatimaRahmanandMr.MohammadSadiq.
OneofthemajorhighlightsofSundaywasthefundraisingprogram.MrsSaminaMalikgaveaninspiringspeechaboutMaulanaMuhammadAli and the his sacrifice in theserviceofIslamandthetranslationoftheHolyQuran.About103,000dollarswereraisedinaboutanhour.
OnOctober19th,NomanandI flew to Holland from London. BrotherNurSardarandJerrelSardarcametoreceiveusattheSchipholairportinHolland.WewereoverjoyedtoseeBrotherNurSardarlookingsowellafterhisordealwithhealthissueslastyear.WethankAlmightyAllahforgrantinghimsuchamiraculousrecovery,andwepraythatHecontinuestoblesshimwithgoodhealth.WewereverypleasedtobeBrotherNurSardar’sguestsinHolland.
FollowingMr.JerrellSardar’spresentation,IspokeaboutmytriptoChechnya,whereIhadbeeninvitedbythegovernmentofChechnyatoattendtheConferencetitledIslamtheReligionofPeaceandCreation.Thelecturewasillustratedbyaslideshowofpicturesfromtheconference,whichwasgreatlyappreciatedbytheaudience.MypresentationwasfollowedbyaspeechbyDr.NomanMalikabout the significance of Id.
ThePresidentoftheAmsterdam Jamaat Mr. Rafi Kallouspokeattheendofthejalsaandthankedeveryoneforattending.Adeliciousdinnerwasservedaswell.
Albania
OnOctober21st,NomanandI flew from Holland to Albania.
InordertosuccessfullydistributeourliteratureinAlbania,weneedtoregisterourorganizationinthecountry.Withoutapermanentpresence,alongtermgoalofestablishingourliteratureinthecountrywouldbeverydifficult. We met with an attorneyforthispurposeandhavebeenworkingthroughtheadministrativeprocesstohavethisdone.InshaAllah,bythetimethismagazineispublishedourLahoreAhmadiyyaJamaatwillberegisteredinAlbania.
AfterafewdaysinLondonwe flew back to Holland and stayedanotherthreedaysinDenHaagwithBrotherNurSardar.OnNovember3rd,theStitchtingJamaatheldaJalsaonourbehalf.ItwassonicetoseesomanyoftheStitchtingJamaatmembersagainandbeinspiredbytheirzealandenthusiasm.NomanandIbothspokeatthejalsa,andbrotherNurSardar,whowasthechairperson,translatedourspeeches.AlsopresentwasRezaGhafoerkhanandDr.AsifAsgharAliwhoalsodeliveredlecturesthatweregreatlyappreciatedbytheaudience.
TwoguestsfromtheDutchClergyalsoattendedandweregreatlyinterestedinthelectures.Theywereconstantlytakingnoteswhilethespeecheswerebeingdelivered.ThesepriestshaveregularinterfaithmeetingswiththeStitchtingJamaat.Mostinterestingly,oneofthemsaidthatifheeverbecameaMuslim,hewouldjointheAhamadiyyaJamaat!MayAlmightyBlesstheStitchtingJamaatfortheirhardworkand their sacrifice in serving IslamandAhamdiyyat.Asusual,wealsoenjoyedspendingtimewiththehardworkinganddevotedMr.Hoeseni.HisdevotiontoproducingpracticalworkfortheJamaatisalwaysinspiring.OnNovember4th,ourvisitofEuropeended.NomanreturnedtotheUSAandIleftforCairo.WebothwouldliketothankMr.andMrs.NurSardarfortheirwarmhospitalityandthegoodcaretheytookofus.Webothenjoyedeverymomentofourtimewiththemandfeltcompletelyathomewhilestayingwiththem.WepraytoAlmightyAllahtoBlessthemandGrantthemgoodhealth.Also,wewouldliketothankMrHoeseni,thePresidentoftheStitchtingJamaat,andMr.JerrelSardar,theSecretary,fortheirhelpinmakingourstayveryproductiveandcomfortable.MayAlmightyAllahblesseachoneofthemfordoingsomuchworkinthecauseofIslamandAhmadiyyatinHolland.
Dr. Noma Malik with Mr. Bujjar Mullachi and his son in Tirana, Albania
Samina and Fatima Mulluhi in Albania, Egypt
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Basharaat-E-Ahmadiyya July - December 2007
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Mr. Noer Sardar speaking at the Eid Milan Jalsa in Amsterdam
Mr. Jerrel Sardar introducing the audio CD of the Dutch Religion of Islam
Dr. Noman Malik addressing the audience at the Stichting Jalsa
Samina Malik addressing the audience at the Stichting Jalsa
Dr. Asif Asgarali delivering a speech at the Stichting Jalsa
Reza Gafoorkhaw delivering a speech at the Stichting Jalsa
Allah,ourJamaathasbeenabletoproduceasubstantialcollectionofworkstobeusedforspreadingthetrue,peacefulteachingsofIslamintheArabworld.WearenowplanningonaddingsomemoreoftheimportantbooksabouttheAhmadiyyaJamaattothelistofworkstobetranslatedintoArabic.MayAlmightyAllahrewardallthosewhohave sacrificed their time andwealththisproject.
ofHadith–tothevariousembassiesofMuslim/ArabcountriesinCairo.TheSyrianandJordanembassystaffwereespeciallypleasedtoreceivethesetandinquiredabouthowtoobtainmoresetsforthepurposeofprovidingthemtotheir staff. The Official from the JordanianEmbassyfeltthattheReligionofIslamwouldbe very beneficial for their ReligiousStudiesDepartmentinthemainUniversityofAmmanandaskedifwecouldfacilitatethis.Bothheandthe Official from the Syrian EmbassypromisedtohelpmeinthedistributionofourArabicBooksintheirrespectivecountries.MayAlmightyAllahblessandrewardMaulanaMuhammadAliforhisuntiringeffortsinproducingworkswhichtodayarebeingrecognizedasindispensabletounderstandingIslam.
Distribution of Arabic Books in Egypt and Abroad
Mr. Yousef Abdel Ghani, the First Secretary of the Embassy at the Kingdom of Jordan
in Cairo, Egypt
Left to Right: Samina Malik, First Secretary of the Syrian Embassy in Cairo, Egypt
wearealsotranslatingtheentireIslamsectionofmuslim.orgintoArabic.InshaAllah,whenthismaterialisplacedonournewlyredesignedandreorganizedwebsite,itwillbeofgreatutilityinspreadingthecorrectinterpretationofIslamamong Arabic people. As first impressionsarealwaysthemostimportant,muchtime
TheUSAJamaatisveryhappytoannouncethat,withthehelpoftheStichtingJamaat,wehavedonated2500copiesoftheGermanQurantoamultitudeoflibraries,universities,andgovernmentoffices throughout Germany. TheQuranwasshippedfrom
ThefollowingbookshavebeentranslatedfromEnglishintoItalian,andinshallah,willbereadyforprintingassoonastheir proof reading is finished:TheReligionofIslamTheManualofHadithJesusinHeavenandEarthTheAhmadiyyaCaseDeathofJesus
offices and other opinion makersinItaly,aswasdonewiththeHolyQuraninGermany.ThecostofsendingonecopyoftheHolyQuranamountstoaboutsixeuros.Thisincludesthecostofpurchasingtheaddressesandboxesformailing,packingtheHolyQuranandpostagecharges.AllmemberswishingtoparticipateinthisspiritualjihadarerequestedtocontacttheUSAjamaatatsanomalik@aol.com.
PresidentoftheFijiJamaatPassesAway
Weallmournthesadpassingaway of Mr. Shafi ud Dean SahibthePresidentoftheFijiJamaat.Innalillahiwainnailaihirajioon.ThedeceasedservedtheFijiJamaatwithgreatdistinction.UnderhisexperiencedleadershiptheFijiJamaatmadegreatprogressindistributingjamaatliteratureonIslamandAhamdiyyat.HissincerityinservingIslamandAhmadiyyatwastheessentialqualityinachievingthissuccess.Hiswife,sisterYasmeen,playedagreatroleinhelpinghiminjamaatactivities.Mr.DeanwillbegreatlymissedbytheworldwideAhmadiyyaJamaat.MayAlmightyAllahhavemercyonhimandadmithimtoparadise,andmayhegivehisfamilysabrtobearthisgreatloss.Ameen.
FijiJamaatGenerouslyDonatesforthe
RussianHolyQuranDistributionProject
WeareverypleasedtoannouncethattheFijiJamaathaspledgedadonationof$15,000USDollarstotheUSAJamaatforuseintheRussianQuranProject.MayAlmightyAllahblessthemembersoftheFijiJamaatfortheirconstantencouragementandsacrifice in the cause of Islam.
AyeshaApamigratedfromPakistantoUSAwithherhusbandMr.RahmanBaigandchildrenin1982.I first met her at General AbdullahSaeed’shouseinHouston,Texaswherewespentaweektogether,andIfoundhertobeaverypleasantperson.
wasaverycourageouspersonwithastrongsenseofjusticewhoalwayssupportedwhatwasright.MayAlmightyAllahGrantheraplaceinparadise.MayAlmightyAllahgiveusthecourageandwisdomtofollowherexample.Sheissurvivedbytwosons,twodaughters,several grand children, five sistersandsixbrothers.Wewillmissherverymuch.MayAlmightyAllahGrantpatiencetoherfamilytobearthisgreatloss.
will prove very beneficial to thevisuallyimpaired.TheReligionofIslamhasbeengiven an approval certificate byAl-AzharinEgypt.AnArabictranslationofthebookhasbeenprintedbyUSAJamaat.
AfterEid-ulFitrsalaat,whichwasattendedbymorethan500people,themeetingwasextendedforaspecialreason.Atthismeeting,thefirst copy of the MP3 version oftheDutchrecordingoftheReligionofIslamandtheArabictranslationoftheReligionofIslamwerepresentedtoProf.Dr.P.S.vanKoningsveldofLeidenUniversitybyMr.NoerSardar,vicepresidentofStichtingAhmadiyyaisha’at-i-Islam.Prof.Dr.P.S.vanKoningsveldistheheadofTheDepartmentofIslamicTheologyoftheworldrenownedLeidenUniversity.ThenewlyrevisedDutchtranslationoftheTheReligionofIslampublishedseveralyearsagobyStichtingAhmadiyyaIsha’at-i-IslamhadbeenpresentedpreviouslytoProfessorVanKoningsveld.Inhisspeech,VanKoningsveldsaidthattheoldDutchtranslationofthisbooktranslatedbySoedewoandpublishedbyAhmadiyyaAnjumanIsha’atIslamIndonesiahadbeenusedbyLeidenuniversityforsomedecadesandnowthisnewlyprintedtranslationoftheStichtingjamaatwasalsobeingusedatthisuniversity.
TheSaleandfreedistributionoftheDutchHolyQuranintheNetherlands,BelgiumandSurinameisdoingwell,bytheGraceofAlmightyAllah.TheDutchQuranisavailableinallthemajorbookshopsinthesecountries.Three of the five major bookshops,andalsosomeJamaatssellthenewDutchHolyQuraninSuriname.
Shabbier Hoeseni with Prof. Dr. P.S. Van Roningsveld of Leiden University
Basharaat-E-Ahmadiyya July - December 2007
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Mr. Noer Sardar donates the Dutch MP3 audio CD of the Religion of Islam to Prof. Dr.
P.S. Van Koningsveld of Leiden University
Eid Khutba by Reza Gafoorkhan
MP3 CD of the Dutch Religion of Islam
Stichting Jamaat participating in a Holland bookfair
ForalongtimeIhadaskedmyselfwhywewherecreated,andwhatpurposemankindhadinthislife.It was time for me to find mypurposeinlife.Iknewtherewasareason,soIwentsearchingforthereasonwhyIwasbroughttolife.IfoundoutthattheanswerwasAllah.
Thisyearwelaunchedayouthprogram,entitledSeekersandThinkers.Theideaistostimulateaprocessof‘thinking’and‘searchingfortruth’amongsttheyouth.SubjectssuchastheexistenceofGOD,Creation,issuesfacingtheyouthandtheroleofreligioncameunderdiscusiion.Theideaistoinculcateabehaviourofquestioning,pondering and reflection insteadofblindfollowing.Themeetingswereagreatsuccessinthattheyouthshowedgreatinterestandparticipatedfreelyinthediscussions.AnewmemberhasjoinedtheJamaat.HisnameisShafiek Hendricks. He was managingabookshopthatheldourbooks,theInternationalBookServices.Anothercolleagueofhis,ispresentlyalsoshowingmuchinterestintheMovement.Iam confident he will also join
TheverseaboveisaprayertaughtbytheAlmightyHimself.IsitnotamazingthatOurLordAlmightyactuallyteachesushowtopraytoHimbytellinguswhattoaskofHim?WoulditnotbefoolishofusnottoaskofHimourneeds?Weshouldnotethatalthoughweareactuallytaughttoaskfor good in this life first, the versestrikesaneatbalancebetweenthislifeandtheafterlifei.e.our‘earthly’lifeand‘spiritualorheavenlylife’.Itimpliesthatinordertoliveagoodbalancedlifethatwillultimatelyleadtoapeacefulexistencehereandinthehereafter,thereshouldbenoextremitiesoneithersideinrespectofourbodily
orspiritualneedsonearth.
TheHolyQurandoesnotacceptthedervishpracticeofretreatingtothewoodstoliveanunproductiveliferemotefromallsocietyasashowofpiety.Forourmoralandspiritualgrowth,weneedtoliveamongstsocietywhereweequallyfacethechallengesandseveritiesoflife.Weneedtoengageinhonestworkinordertosustainourselves.SaystheHolyQuran,“Formen is the benefit of what theyearn.Andforwomenisthe benefit of what they earn “(4:32).ThereisnoasceticisminIslam.Asceticismreferstothoseextravoluntaryspiritualactsthatpeoplesometimesresorttoattheexpenseoftheirworldlyduties.Nooneisallowedtogotothelengthofneglectinghisworldlydutiesforthesakeofreligiousexercises.Religionismeanttoenableamantoliveabetterlife,andvoluntaryacts(suchasfasting)shouldbeundertakenonlyiftheaimistoenablemantoachievethisobjective.ThisismadeclearinthestoryofAbuDardaandSalman,betweenwhombrotherhoodwasestablishedbytheHolyProphet.OnedaySalmanpaidavisittoAbuDardaandsawhiswifeinastateofneglect.Beingaskedthereason,shesaidthatherhusband,AbuDardahadbecomeanascetic(i.e.devotedhimselfsolely
Basharaat-E-Ahmadiyya July - December 2007
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toreligiousexercises).WhenAbuDardacamehomeandthemealswereserved,herefusedtoeatbecausehesaidhewasfasting..Salmanhimselfwouldnoteat,outofcourtesyuntilAbuDardaateandthereforehadtowaituntilAbuDardabrokehisfast.Atnightalso,afterashortsleepAbuDardawokeupfortahajjud(voluntarynightprayers).SalmansaidhestillwishedtocontinuesleepinguntilthelatterpartofthenightwhenhewokeupandjoinedAbuDardainthetahajjudprayers.ItwasthenthatSalmandecidedtoapproachAbuDardaandsaidtohim,“VerilythouowestadutytothyLordandthouowestadutytothywifeandchildren.”WhenthiswasmentionedtotheHolyProphet(PBUH),heapprovedofwhatSalmanhadsaidanddone(B30:51)Here,thereforethehusbandwasforbiddentofast,forthesakeofhiswife(ifmeantshewouldbeneglectedthereby).Similarlythewifeshouldnotresorttovoluntaryfastswithoutthepermissionofthehusband(B67:85)asitcreatesdisharmonyinthehome.Alsoifyouhaveagueststayingwithyouthenyouasthehostshouldnotplacetheguestatdiscomfiture by resorting to voluntaryfasts.Sonowweseetakingmatterstotheextreme,evenmattersofaspiritualnatureisforbiddeninIslam.
Soweshouldstrikeabalancebetweentheneedsofthis
worldandthenext.Ontheotherhand,topreventusfromindulgingexcessivelyintheexploitsofthisworldandneglectourspiritualduties,Islam has ordained specific timesforresortingtoprayer.PrayerseekstoinstilltheconvictionthatGodisalivingforceinourdailylives.Butweshouldbecarefulthatwedonotengageinprayerinaritualisticmannerformereshow.TheHolyQuranwarnsus,“Sowoetotheprayingones,whoareunmindfuloftheirprayer,whodogoodtobeseen,andrefrainfromactsofkindness”(107:4-7).TheplaceofprayerintheselfdevelopmentofmanisgivensuchprominenceinIslamthatinthecalltoprayerthewords‘cometoprayer’areimmediatelyfollowedbythewords“cometosuccess“AndtheHolyQuranstressesthepointthat“Successfulindeedarethebelieverswhoarehumbleintheirprayers”(23:1,2)
“Du‘aisnotjustthemumblingofafewwords,forthisamountstonothingwhatsoever.Thetruemeaningofdu‘aistobeseechAllah,MostHigh,sincerelyforHisassistance.Thispetitionbecomesperfectandefficacious only when man surrendershisalltoAllah,
MostHigh,withtotalanguishofheart,perturbationandheart-burningandmakessupplicationsoferventlythathissoulmeltslikewaterand flows at the threshold of DivineUnity.Forexample,lookathowapersonwhoisembroiledinamisfortuneimportunespeopleforhelpinmovingtermsandseewhatawonderfulchangeandtransformationhisappealundergoes–thetoneofhisvoicebecomesfullofanguishwhichattractsthemercyofpeople.
Similarly,whenapersonmakesdu‘atoAllah,MostHigh,thetoneofhisvoicechanges also and is filled withtendernessandpainthatcausesthefountainofDivinitytogushforthwithmercy.Whendu‘aisbeingmadethemodulationofone’svoiceshouldbesuchthateverylimbofthebodyisaffectedandmeeknessandhumilityissuefromthetongue.Theheart must also be filled with softnessandagonyandthelimbsmustsurrenderwithtotalsubmissiontotheCreator.
formerlycoveredhisheartwillbedispelled.Allah,MostHigh,willthenendowhimwithapowerthatcreatesrevulsioninhisheartforsinsfromwhichhewillbesaved.Atthispointhewillrealisethathisheartwhichhadbecomeseizedandimprisonedinlowpassionsandcarnaldesiresasifhundredsofthousandsofchainshadfetteredhimandweredrawinghimhelplesslytowardsalifeofsinfulness– at this stage he will find thatthesechainshavebeenmiraculously cut in a flash andhehasbeenliberated.Hisformerloveforsinwillbereplacedbyhatredfor
Individualswhoselivesexemplifytheidealoflivingforthesakeofothers,andwhodedicatethemselvestopromotinguniversalmoralvalues,strongfamilylife,interreligiouscooperation,internationalharmony,renewaloftheUnitedNations,responsiblemassmedia,andtheestablishmentofaglobalcultureofpeace.Transcendingracial,nationalandreligiousbarriers,theAmbassadorsforPeacecontribute to the fulfillment ofthehopeofallages,a unified world of peace, whereinthespiritualandmaterialdimensionsofallrealityareharmonized.
AtaneventindowntownColumbus,Ohio,inwhichapproximately3000peopleparticipated,FazeelKhanwascalled on stage with five other communityleadersandwaspresentedanAmbassadorfor Peace certificate. Dr. MalikandMrs.SaminaMalikwerealsopresentedsimilar certificates later in the program.ButthehighlightofthenightwasthatDr.MalikwasaskedtopresentanIslamicprayertotheaudienceofabout3000.Onstage,alongwithaChristianpriestandJewishrabbi,Dr.MalikrecitedtheSuraFatihaandspoke about its significance. Thenon-Muslimparticipantswereverypleasedtohearsuchenlighteningprinciples
Basharaat-E-Ahmadiyya July - December 2007
inIslam.Moreinterestinglythough,wasthereactionofthelargegroupofMuslimattendeeswhoappearedmostenthusedbythecommentaryonSuraFatiha,mashaAllah.Thisfriendshipwithgroupsfromotherfaiths,liketheUPF, is of great benefit in presentingpeopletherationalandenlighteningprinciplesofIslamthattheyarenormallynotexposedto.WeplantocontinueworkingwithUPFaswedowithotherinter-faithorganizationsinspreadingpeaceandtoleranceamongpeopleofvariousfaiths.
Lord Headley figured most prominentlyamongtheBritishconvertsofthetime,andnodoubthisconversionandactiveparticipationintheWokingMosqueoutsideofLondonandtheIslamicReview,whichitpublished,wereunderlyingfactorsinmanyofthoseconversions.
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Basharaat-E-Ahmadiyya July - December 2007
ThebookisanobjectivereviewoftheearlyspreadofIslam in the West. It confirms theconnectionstheLahoreAhmadiyyaJamaathadwiththiswork.WhetheritbecorrespondenceswithMr.WebbinAmerica,thedistributionofacademicliteraturemadeavailableinthePhilippines,thecreationoftheWokingMissionandpublicationoftheIslamicReviewinEngland,ortheestablishmentoftheBerlinMissioninGermany,thebookrevealsthattheLahoreAhmadiyyaJamaatplayedacentralroleinlayingthefoundationsforthespreadofIslamintheWest.Thisbook,whichisalreadyquitepopularamongMuslimsintheU.S.,providesreaderswiththeopportunitytore-evaluatepreconceivednotionsaboutthisJamaat.Certainly,thequestionmustarisewhenreadingthisbook:howcouldanorganizationthatistodayregardedbymanyasoutsidethepaleofIslam,havedonesomuchworkforinstitutingthespreadofIslamintheWest?Allgenuineandsincerereaderswillhavetoresolvethe obvious conflict between recordedhistoryandtalesfromuninformedcontemporaries.
Thesymposiumthatisheldinconjunctionwiththeconvention–theforuminwhichguestsfromotherfaiths,academics,clergyandpolitical figures attend – will be titled“ReformingtheMuslimWorld:AcriticalassessmentofthereformsprofferedbyHazratMirzaGhulamAhmad(1835-1908),acenturylater”.TheobjectiveistopresentareviewofHazratMirza’steachingsandlessonsonIslaminamannerthatwillrevealitsutilityinbringingaboutreformintheMuslimworld.Thepresentationtopicswillbeasfollows:
ReformingtheMuslimWorld
A critical assessment of the reforms proffered by Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (1835-1908), a century later.
believetobeafundamentallyimperativeapproachtofacilitatingtheacceptanceandspreadofdemocracyintheMuslimworld.MyobjectivewastoexposethereadersoftheperiodicaltosomeoftheestablishedprinciplesfromIslamicscriptureandearlyhistorythatcorrelatewith,andthereforearesupportiveof,theinstitutionofademocraticformofgovernment.Forthesakeofmakingthearticleappealingtothereadersoftheperiodical,itwaspresentedintheformofanargumentabout the benefits of the use of“semantics”infacilitatingthespreadofdemocracyintheMuslimworld.Thearticleisreproducedbelow.TheissueoftheColumbusBarLawyer’sQuarterlyinwhichthearticlewaspublishedisalsoavailableonlineat:http://www.cbalaw.org/members/publications/barbriefs/CBLQFall2007.pdf.
WHAT’SINANAME?
The role of semantics in facilitating the spread of “democracy” in the Muslim world
Thewordsemanticsiscommonly defined as “the meaningthatcanbederivedfromwordsorsomeotherformofexpression.”Aslawyers,wearequitefamiliarwiththevalueofsemantics.Whetheritisawordinastatute,atermfoundinadecision,oranidiomusedbyawitness,
weutilizesemanticstoargueinterpretationsthatfurtherourclients’interests.Weprovidemeaningstowordsthatgobeyondtheircommonimportsothatthesubstanceofwhatisbeingpresentedmaybecaptured.Theprocessofemployingeffectiveinterpretationstowordsinorder to further a specific agenda,however,mayprovebeneficial beyond the realm of“lawyering”;itmayalsohelppromotedemocracyintheMuslimworld.
Theworddemocracyhasnosingle definition. It means differentthingstodifferentpeople.Forsome,itequatestoasystemofgovernancewhereinawrittenconstitutionissupreme.TheBritishthoughwouldnecessarilydisagree,fortheyhavenowrittenconstitution.Forothers,itmeansagoverningstructurewhereinpersonsareelectedstrictlybypopularvote.This,however,doesnotholdtrueinrepresentativedemocraciesliketheU.S.Stillothersviewdemocracyasapoliticalschemewherebyallpeopleareguaranteedequality.Tryreconcilingthiswiththecastesystemprevalentintheso-calledlargestdemocracyintheworld,India,ortheyearsofslaveryexperiencedinAmerica’searlyhistory.Clearly,whenpromotingsomethingascomplexandmultifacetedasdemocracytotheMuslimworld–wheretheconceptisgenerallyheld
Ageneralconsensusmaybereached in defining democracy, atitscore,asasystemofgovernancewherein:1)majorityopinionisaccepted,and2)minority/individualrightsareprotected.Bydeconstructingthetermtothisbasictwopartformula,thesystembeingpromotedismoreeasilyunderstood.It demystifies the western conceptbyprovidingtangiblemechanismsthatmaybecorrelatedwithestablishedprinciplesfoundinIslamictradition.
Forinstance,theessenceof majority rule finds explicit supportintheQuran,theholyscriptureofIslam.TheQuran,initsforty-secondchaptertitledAl-Shura(“TheCounsel”),specifically praises those: “whoseaffairsare(decided)bycounselamongthemselves”(42:38).Inthisverse,wefind the foundation for the establishmentofagovernmentbycouncilorparliamentarygovernment.ThisprinciplewasputintopracticebynootherthanMuhammadhimself,theholyprophetofIslam.Recordedhistorybearswitnesstohimnotonlyengaginginconsultative
sexesisadvanced:“Formenis the benefit of that they earn. And for women the benefit of whattheyearn”(4:32).Again,undisputedhistorybearstestimonytothedistinguishedcivillibertiesenjoyedbynon-MuslimsunderearlyMuslimrule,theprotectedstatusofJewsinSpainbeinganillustriousexample.Andjustasitisunderstoodinwesterndemocraciesthattheformationoffairandimpartialtribunalsthataddresstheclaimsofaggrievedpartiesisessentialtoensuretheprotectionofminority/individualrights,theQuranlikewiseprovides:“Judgebetweenallmenjustlyandfollownotanybias,lestitleadtheeastrayfromthepathoftruth”(38:26).Muhammadhimselfappliedthisprincipletothefullestextentpossible.HeprovidedpersonsofotherfaithslivingwithinMuslimcommunitiestheoption,incertaincircumstances,ofbeingjudgedaccordingtotheirownlaws,iftheysochose,sothatfairadjudicationmaybeachieved.
signifies names, what is meantisthatGodtaughtman“theattributesofthingsandtheirdescriptionsandtheircharacteristics,fortheattributesofathingareindicativeofitsnature.”Thus,Godexplainsthatthedistinctivecharacteristicthatmakesmansuperiortoallothercreationishisabilitytostudytheattributesandcharacteristicsofthings.Mandoesnotrelyoninstinctalone,butratherhastheuniqueabilitytoconductacomprehensivestudyofthepropertiesofthingsanditisthroughthisinherentskill,thathewillruletheearthandallofitscreation.Therefore,thearticlecopiedaboveactuallyservestwopurposes.First,theobvious,isthatitpresentsasimpleoverviewofthecompatibilitybetweenbasiccomponentsofdemocracywithestablishedIslamicprinciples.Second,thenotsoobvious,itpresentsaprocessbywhichtheunderstandingofthiscompatibilitymaybefacilitated,aprocessthatisinherentlyIslamic!
Itshouldbementioned,though,thattheQuranroutinelyexplainsspiritualconceptsbyusingphysicalillustrations.Theparallelspiritual significance to this physicalanalogymaybethatjustasmancanattaingreatnessintheworldduetohisabilitytoacquireafullandcompleteunderstandingofthings,sotoocanman
ofgovernancethatleadtopeacefulcohabitationonearth.Maythisrecognitionofourinnatefacilitiesalsobeusedtodevelopoursoulsso that we may be fit to live alifeinpeacewithGodinthehereafter.Ameen.
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