Contents March 2003, Vol.98, No.3

Editorial – A remarkable prophecy of the Holy Qur’an: Bockarie Tommy Kallon ...... 2

Notes & Comments – The Message of Ahmadiyyat: Mansoor Ahmed Shah...... 4

Nuclear Holocaust – A categoric Qur’anic prophecy about impending danger relating to our age: Hadhrat Mirza Tahir Ahmad...... 7

Reformation (Part III) –Attainment of peace and contentment requires complete faith in Allah: Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) ...... 20

The Promised Messiah’s(as) Love for the Holy Prophet (sa) – Could an impostor nurture such obedience and love for the Holy Prophet(sa)?: Bockaries Tommy Kallon – UK...... 27

Evolution of the Islamic Empire – A brief look at the vicissitudes of Islamic civilisation: Tanveer Khokhar – UK...... 44

Dr. Abdus Salam and the Middle East Synchrotron – A new light source that does not seem to brighten the world of Muslim scientists: Sameen Ahmed Khan, Atlanta, USA ...... 54

Chief Editor and Manager Chairman of the Management Board Mansoor Ahmed Shah Naseer Ahmad Qamar Basit Ahmad Special contributors: All correspondence should Bockarie Tommy Kallon Amatul-Hadi Ahmad be forwarded directly to: Farina Qureshi Daud Mahmood Khan The Editor Fareed Ahmad Proof-reader: Review of Religions Fazal Ahmad Shaukia Mir The London Mosque Fauzia Bajwa. Mansoor Saqi Design and layout: 16 Gressenhall Road Mahmood Hanif Tanveer Khokhar London, SW18 5QL Mansoora Hyder-Muneeb United Kingdom Publisher: Navida Shahid Al Shirkatul Islamiyyah © Islamic Publications, 2002 Sarah Waseem. ISSN No: 0034-6721 Saleem Ahmad Malik Distribution: Tanveer Khokhar Muhammad Hanif

Views expressed in this publication are not necessarily the opinions of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. 1 most of these have found remarkable fulfilment, espe- cially in our age. Prophecies Editorial relating to the invention of new and better means of transport, The beauty of the Holy Qur’an the birth of the Suez and was captured, laconically, by Panama Canals, the Wo r l d the Promised Messiah (as) in one Wars, the discovery of the of his numerous addresses: Americas, the unearthing of new minerals, archaeology, the The Holy Qur’an is a miracle, rights of women, the invention the like of which never was and of the modern pre s s , never will be. The age of its proliferation of industry, eco- blessings and bounties is logical and enviro n m e n t a l everlasting. changes, the decline of Islam (Malfoozat Vol. 3, p. 57) and the advent of the Promised Messiah to rejuvenate it, are all So dynamic is the Holy Qur’an but a few examples of those that it has always been found witnessed by the world, as was to keep ahead of the world and stated in the Holy Qur’an some never to lag behind it. It yields fourteen centuries ago. new truths and fresh guidance at every age, ours being no Among Qur’anic pro p h e c i e s exception. It is no hyperbole to relating to events and inven- maintain that all research into tions of our age is one relating the past and every discovery, to the impending danger of a every invention, every major nuclear holocaust. We read in event of the future cannot but Surah Al-Humazah: affirm the truth of the Holy Qur’an. Nay, he shall surely be cast into the ‘Hutamah’. And what This is because the Holy should make thee know what Qur’an is replete with prophe- the ‘Hutamah’ is? It is Allah’s cies relating to the future and kindled fire which will leap at

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hearts. It will be enclosed severely threatening an already against them in extended fragile international re l a t i o n s , columns. this month’s feature is a timely (Ch. 104: vs. 5-10) reminder of the impending catastrophe if the world does In explaining the word not repent and turn to Allah, ‘hotamah’ which literally means the Lord of mankind, Gracious, the smallest insignificant Merciful, the Source of Peace, particle or “atom” in other the Bestower of Security. words, the Holy Qur’an speaks of a blazing fire locked up in o u t s t retched pillars. No fire known to man can be described as such other than that of a nuclear bomb.

The splendour of this prophecy lies not only in its fulfilment but also in the way it is disguised such that to the In this journal, for the people of earlier generations it information of non-Muslim did not seem extraord i n a r y. readers, ‘(sa)’ or ‘sa’ after the words, ‘Holy Prophet’, or the They, it is fair to assume, must name ‘Muhammad’, are used. have relegated it to events They stand for ‘Salallahu alaihi pertaining to the life to come. wassalam’ meaning ‘Peace and But in this nuclear age, no one Blessings of Allah be upon can re g a rd this prophecy as him’. Likewise, the letters ‘(as)’ vain babble for history has or ‘as’ after the name of all proven otherwise. other prophets is an abbreviation meaning ‘Peace It is a truly glorious prophecy be upon him’ derived from even if it augurs not so well for Alaihi salato wassalam’ for the the world. But with the current respect a Muslim reader utters. tensions in the Middle East

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The Message of Ahmadiyyat published notices and The Ahmadiyya Muslim public speeches that the Community was founded on man who was to come at the 23rd March 1889 by Hadhrat beginning of this century Mirza Ghulam Ahmad ( a s ) o f for reviving the faith is Qadian India (1835-1908) who myself. I have come to re- claimed that he had been establish belief in God, a commissioned by God belief which is not Almighty as the Reformer of completely extinct. I have the Age. He said: come to draw mankind t o w a rds purity, righteous- ‘ P e rceiving the conditions ness and truthfulness and to p revailing in the pre s e n t remove their errors in their times and finding the earth doctrine and practice. This filled with various types of work I will accomplish by impiety like disobedience, the power and stre n g t h sinfulness and straying granted to me by God away from the right path, Almighty Himself.’ God Almighty commis- sioned me for preaching the ‘When some years had t ruth and re f o r m i n g elapsed on this campaign, mankind...’ God Almighty revealed it to me that I am both the ‘The thirteenth century Messiah and Mahdi who Hijrah had ended and the w e re to come in this fourteenth century was Ummah (followers of the about to begin. So in ful- Holy Pro p h e t( s a )). The filment of the command of Mahdi was to appear at the God, I started to announce time of the decadence of among people thro u g h Islam and the prevalence of

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irreligion in the world. He dered by keeping company was to receive guidance with the virtuous and directly from God Almighty seeking the attainment of and to spread afresh the spiritual truths. In this way, heavenly table before the if God so desires, He may people. Tidings about his let the new entrant behold coming had been given to some big sign of His the Holy Pro p h e t( s a ) 1 3 0 0 Majesty and Power and so years ago.’ remove his letharg y, (Tadhkiratush Shahadatain) laziness and indifference in the quest of God. Thus On 23rd March 1889 several equipped with certainty of companions undertook the faith, he may step forward covenant of Bai’at and pledged in his goal of realisation of allegiance at the Pro m i s e d God more fervently and Messiah’s hands. The object of vigorously.’ Bai’at was explained by him in (Asmani Faisala) his notice issued in 1891: The Promised Messiah was ‘Let all of them know who also given the glad tidings that have performed Bai’at on his message would spread to my hands and sincere l y the corners of the world. e n t e red my fold that the Despite the best efforts of the object of Bai’at is to check opponents of Ahmadiyyat, one’s love of this world and whether individuals, groups or to strengthen his love of the states, they have not been able Merciful God and the Holy to stop the message reaching Prophet(sa) instead. Its pur- out to all parts of the world. pose is to induce in the Ahmadis have been prevented entrant a sense of belonging from preaching their message. to God that the journey to They have suff e red re l i g i o u s the next world may not persecution. Yet they remained appear to him unpleasant. steadfast and persevered so This attitude can be engen- much so that today the

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Ahmadiyya Muslim They are happier that the Community is the most message conveyed to them by dynamic community in the the Founder of the Ahmadiyya world. Its growth has been Muslim Community has drawn phenomenal, its message is them nearer to God and that potent and its achievements are they are not blinded by material unassailable. pursuits. They are pleased to sh a r e this message with their On 23rd February 2003, the fellow human beings and hope Bishop of Bradford, UK, that someone somewhere recalled that while travelling would listen to them. t h rough Pakistan, he had Mansoor Shah passed by a place called Rabwah and was told about Ahmadis and the persecution Review of Religions inUrdu that this minority gro u p (Historical note) e n d u red. He observed that everyone has been a minority In response to a number of readers asking us about the history of the at some stage in life and he Review of Religions in Urdu, u rged communities that Maulana Dost Muhammad Shahid subsequently become majori- Sahib has clarified that till 1913, Maulvi Muhammad Ali served as its ties not to forget their editor. Later editors were: Hadhrat insignificant status when they Maulvi Sher Ali Sahib, Hadhrat were a minority. Sahibzada Mirza Bashir Ahmad, Hadhrat Maulvi Muhammad Din Sahib, Hadhrat Qadhi Muhammad Well, it can be said with Zahuruddin Akmal, Nazir Ahmad confidence about the Ahmadis from Africa, Nuruddin Sahib BA, Hadhrat Bhai Abdul Rahman Sahib so far that their growth has not Qadiani, Maulvi Ali Muhammad filled them with arrogance or Sahib Ajmeri, Malik Muhammad pride but humility and utter Abdullah Sahib, Malik Ghulam Farid Sahib, Sufi Abdul Qadeer Sahib gratitude to the Almighty God. Niaz, Ch. Ali Muhammad Sahib BA They are glad that their BT, Rahmatullah Khan Shakir. The expansion has been for the Urdu edition ceased in September 1947. mutual benefit of mankind.

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This is an extract taken from the book Revelation, Rationality, Knowledge and Truth, written by Hadhrat Mirza Tahir Ahmad.

Among the Qur’anic philosophies relating to events and inventions of our age, there are some which are of outstanding importance and great global significance. One such prophecy relates to the impending danger of a nuclear holocaust.

This prophecy was made at a time when man could not entertain the idea of an atomic explosion by any stretch of his imagination. But as we will presently illustrate, there are certain verses of the Holy Qur’an which clearly speak of tiny insignificant particles which are described as storehouses of immense energy, as though the fire of hell was locked within them. Amazing as it may seem, this is exactly what is literally described in the following verses.

Woe to every backbiter, slanderer, Who amasses wealth and counts it over and over. He imagines that his wealth will make him immortal. Nay! he shall surely be cast into the ‘hotamah’.

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And what should make thee know what the ‘hotamah’ is? Allah’s fire as preserved fuel, Which will leap suddenly on to the hearts. It is locked up in outstretched pillars to be used against them.1 (Ch.104; Vs.2-10)

This short Qur’anic Chapter is densely packed with astounding statements which lie far beyond the reach of the people of that age. Strange is it not, to read that the sinful people of a certain description would be cast into the hotamah, which means the tiniest of particles, such as we see floating in a beam of light which passes through a poorly lit room.

Authentic Arabic lexicons describe hotamah as possessing two root meanings; first hatamah, which means ‘to pound’ or ‘pulverize into extremely small particles’, and the second hitmah, which means ‘the smallest insignificant particle’. Thus hitmah is the result obtained by breaking something down to its smallest constituents.

The two meanings just mentioned can rightfully be applied to any extremely minute particle which has reached the limits of its divisible potential. As the concept of the atom had not been born fourteen hundred years ago, the nearest substitute to it could only be hotamah which also sounds intriguingly close to atom. One hardly recovers from the shock of the claim that a time would come when man would be cast in the hotamah when another claim, even more bizarre, comes in its wake.

Explaining the word hotamah, the Holy Qur’an speaks of a blazing fire built within it and confined in extended columns. It goes on to declare that when man will be cast into it, this fire will directly leap upon his heart as though no intervening rib cage existed. This can only mean that this fire would be of a completely different nature which could directly kill the heart before it could scorch the

8 The Review of Religions – March 2003 Nuclear Holocaust body. Certainly no fire known to man of that age could be described as such.

The Canopy of fire like a huge mushroom in a nuclear explosion

These however are not the only elements of surprise about this description; what follows is even more astonishing. This fire is mentioned as having been locked up in outstretched columns waiting to leap upon man till such time as it is destined to be unleashed.

Wonder upon wonder is heaped in such a short space of a few simple statements. First the declaration that the time would come when man would be cast into the smallest particle, then the description of that smallest particle and what it contains. It contains a type of fire which is kept confined in some tiny vessels which could appear like extended columns.

The casting of man into this minute particle does not mean that a single man will be cast into it. Man is mentioned as a generic name and the casting indicates his subjection to that affliction to which he will be doomed. This has only become conceivable in the contemporary age when man has discovered the secret of the

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The wreck of a concrete building in Hiroshima after the explosion

atoms and the immense stores of energy which they contain. This is the age when the fire contained in the smallest particles leaps out, and engulfs large areas extending to thousands of square miles. Everything that lies within its range is engulfed, man and all. Hence, what seemed so unrealistic fourteen hundred years ago, has become a commonplace reality which even young children can understand.

The most hyperbolical expression of wonder fails to do justice to the greatness of this prophecy. No less wonderful is the fact that the people of that age failed to recognize the import of this short Surah Al-Humazah; or it would have leapt upon their beliefs and faith, rather than upon their hearts. How these amazing statements escaped their notice and went unchallenged defies logic. Perhaps they sought refuge in the belief that these verses do not apply to the events of this world, but relate to the mysterious realm of the unknown in the hereafter. Many a commentator simply avoided even an attempt to explain these verses. A few who took up the challenge, unburdened themselves by arbitrarily relegating the contents of these verses to the time of resurrection. Thus, not comprehending their meaning, they tossed them lock, stock and barrel over to the unknown.

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Among the Western orientalists, Sale faced the same dilemma of how to translate the word hotamah literally. He simply mentioned a large number of people to be thrust into the hotamah without translating Al-hotamah at all. This left no danger for the English speaking people to express their incredulance at the impossibility of people being cast into a tiny particle. As they would have no idea what hotamah is, they would be free to imagine a vast ball of burning fire called the hotamah (the smallest particle). This strategy of Sale saved him from the embarrassment of this translation. Yet, at the same time, he failed to do justice to this amazing prophecy.

The fire described in this verse, whether it is a conflagration here upon earth or a raging fire in the herea f t e r , could in no way be pr essed into the tiny space of the minutest of particles. But that is not the only dilemma which must have confronted Sale and other earlier commentators. What about the fire which is packed into tiny extended columns, a scenario altogether impossible to conceive until the dawn of the atomic era? Now the jigsaw puzzle appears to be finally resolved, with every piece settling into its right place.

Unless one is familiar with the scientific description of how an atomic explosion takes place and what changes are brought about within the nuclear mass, one cannot fully comprehend the meaning of the Qur’anic expression of ‘extended columns’. Nuclear experts describe the state of a critical mass which is about to explode, as something elongating and pulsating with the immense pressure built within it. This pressure is caused by the elongation of the nuclei before they burst and in that process an element of high atomic weight is split into two elements of lesser atomic weight. The sum total of the atomic weight of the newly formed elements is less than the atomic weight of the original parent element, normally referred to as a heavy metal. The small portion of the atomic weight which is lost in this process is turned into energy. This is not the only model of a nuclear bomb but we

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have chosen this simple one to describe the process of the extended columns.

Turning to the issue of how this fire could leap directly upon the hearts, the scientific description is given below:

At the instant of explosion, large quantities of gamma rays, neutrons and x-rays are immediately released. The x-rays raise the temperature immediately to meteoric heights creating a great ball of fire rising rapidly, riding the extremely hot atomic blast. This is the canopy of fire like a huge mushroom which is seen from far and wide.

The x-rays also travel sideways in all directions along with the neutrons, causing immense heat which burns everything in its way. The speed at which this heat front moves is many times the speed of sound which also creates shockwaves. But much faster and more penetrating than this are the gamma rays which outpace the heat front by leaping forward at the speed of light. They are so immensely vibrant that by the sheer force of their vibration they strike the hearts dead. So death is not caused by the intense heat generated by x-rays, it is the tremendous energy of the gamma rays which inflicts instantaneous death. This is exactly how the Holy Qur’an describes it.

Again in Surah Al-Dukhan (The Smoke), the Qur’an describes a lethal cloud which comprises a deadly radiant smoke:

Then watch for the day when the sky will bring forth a manifest smoke,

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That will cast a shadow upon people. This will be a painful suffering.2 (Ch.44: Vs.11-12)

The nature of this cloud is further qualified by the following verses:

‘Now move towards what you have been denying, ' Move on towards a three-pronged shadow, ' Neither affording shade, nor protecting from the blaze.’ It throws up flames like huge castles, As though the castles were dusky yellow camels.3

The words ‘move towards’ indicate that mankind will be gradually carried into an era where it will confront this calamity of a tormenting cloud which offers no shade or pro t e c t i o n . Shadows provide relief and shelter. The clouds stand between us and the blazing heat of the sun. In the above verse no sun is mentioned, just a fire, from whose blaze this shadow affords no protection. Rather, the shadow of this cloud becomes a means of transmitting the torment of the fire which emits it. Nothing under its shade is safe. This clearly is the description of a radioactive cloud. The event being described will throw up huge flames of a dusky yellow appearance, flames that are likened to castles and also have the appearance of camels. Perhaps, here it is not only the likeness to the colour of the camel, but also the shape of its hump which is highlighted.

People of the seventh century would not have been able to

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understand the significance of such a deadly cloud or smoke. It would have been beyond their comprehension. However, today we know of atomic explosions and can understand the images of radioactive clouds they produce.

This fateful description is also referred to in another verse of the Qur’an which reads as follows:

Woe on that day unto those who deny.4

‘That day’

can refer to the day of judgement, but it also refers to a time here on earth, when those who refuse to believe in the signs

will be tormented by a smoke that casts a deadly shadow over whatever lies beneath. It will be a shadow which will move on, from land to land, bringing no relief, but only a shade full of agony. That will be the age when having witnessed this Divine punishment of colossal dimensions, man would at last turn to God beseeching His favour to rescue him from this unbearable chastisement. But when the wrath of Allah overtakes people, the time for forgiveness and deliverance is already over. Thus the Holy Qur’an explains:

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How shall a message be effectual for them, since a messenger has already come to them, explaining things clearly? Yet they turn away from him, saying, ‘He is tutored, a man possessed.’5 (Ch.44:Vs.14-15)

Prophetic warnings are only delivered to awaken man to the danger of calamities which are but the consequence of his own folly. The prophecies mentioned above clearly relate to our age. They speak of events which were completely unknown to the people of earlier ages. One wonders if the full implications of all such prophecies were revealed by God to the Holy Prophet(sa) in every detail. But the clarity with which he describes future events leaves a strong impression as if he were beholding them like a prophetic puppet show being staged in the hall of destiny. Yet mankind had to wait for more than a thousand years before these prophecies would begin to be realised. Hence, the real transfer of these events from the realm of the unseen to that of the seen, could only become possible in the nuclear age.

The enormity of the atomic catastrophe is horrendous, yet little attention is paid by man to investigate and identify the underlying roots of this evil. The sight of man seldom penetrates beyond the surfaces he scans. Few among them can introspect themselves to discover the hidden face of their evil intentions. This is a sort of blindness which is specifically related to the crookedness in man. Whenever he himself is responsible for causing suffering and sp r eading evil around him, he will not identify his own hand behind them.

Such is the chain of catastrophes of global impact we are examining. A scientist explains the underlying phenomenon of nuclear explosions only to the extent of material and physical causes. But when such enormously destructive devices are employed to play havoc with the peace of man, it is not the scientists who crea t e d

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them who should be blamed. The root cause lies elsewhere. It is the gr eat world powers which are invariably responsible for such crue l and senseless decisions of global magnitude. Yet despite their gr eatness they are no more than mere pawns in the hands of the utterly selfish collective will of the masses.

The Holy Qur’an, though speaking of scientific events with great precision, does not assume the role of a mere scientific instructor. Rather it is the immoral causes of distorted human behaviour to which it draws our attention. It explains the phenomenon of a trigger indeed, but focuses our attention not on the trigger but upon the finger that pulls it. This is the purpose of Qur’anic warnings. As such, it repeatedly pronounces that for all the ugliness done to man, it is man himself who is to blame. Thus the p reventive measures, according to the Qur’an, relate to the reformation of human character. It states that if people change their conduct and reform themselves in accordance with Divine guidance, this would create the healthy climate necessary for the survival of justice and fair play.

The lighthouse of the Qur’anic prophecies clearly shows what rocks to avoid and what channels to follow. Yet how unlikely it is for those who command the ship of human affairs to heed the warning and steer the ship across the impending hazards to the safe haven of peace. It is herein that the ultimate cause of disaster lies. Without a critical and realistic analysis of human behaviour at every level of its activity, no sound workable solution can be conceived of problems which confront man today. In simplest terms, it lies in the rehabilitation of basic human values such as truth, honesty, integrity, justice, fair play, concern for others, sensibility to the sufferings of people even when they are unrelated, and an overall commitment to goodness. Remove them as factors from human relationships and wait for the catastrophe to overtake you. It is the only logical conclusion.

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Surah Al-Qamar (Chapter 54), explains this with reference to the history of earlier peoples who did not take heed of the warnings delivered to them by the Divine messengers of their time. As a consequence they, one and all, witnessed the tragic end that was promised to them, and their belated repentance was of no avail. The only purpose served by the warning is for the future generations to take heed. The Holy Qur’an thus points its finger at their tragedy so that the generations to follow may learn the art of life from the death of those who preceded them.

And there has already come to them the great news wherein is a warning — Consummate wisdom; but the warnings profit them not. (Ch.54: Vs.5-6)

If a people do not draw their lesson, then it is only they who are to be blamed for the disastrous consequences which await them. The atomic holocaust to which we refer is also discussed in Surah Ta Ha (Chapter 20) in relation to its ultimate consequences. By implication, the verse also makes it clear that it would be the pride and arrogance of the great world powers of the time which will be broken, mankind as such will not be wiped out.

The relevant verse clearly predicts that this will not be a point of termination for mankind as such. It will be only the might of the arrogant political powers that will be shattered and laid low. From their graves will rise the new world order. The mountain-like superpowers will be pulverized and levelled as though into a vast expanse of sand. You will not detect any highs or lows, or aboves and belows in their contour.

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And they ask thee concerning the mountains. Say, ‘My Lord will break them into pieces and scatter them as dust. ‘And He will leave them as a barren, level plain, ‘Wherein thou wilt see no depression, or elevation.’ On that day they will follow the Caller straight, there being no deviation therefrom; and all voices shall be hushed before the Gracious God and thou shalt not hear but a subdued sound of footsteps.7 (Ch.20: Vs.106-109)

It will be God, the Perfect Leveller, Whose hand will bring about this amazing transformation. The mountains are mere figures of speech, indicating powerful states, nations and people. The Qur’an predicts that once their pride is shattered and they are finally humbled and straightened, only then will they be fit to respond to the humblest of callers unto God, who has no crookedness about him. Such destruction as described could only result from a holocaust of the magnitude of hundreds of nuclear explosions, which implies that man will not learn his lesson and the head of his arrogance will have to be bent by the sheer weight of this enormity. Along with this grim message of warning there is also a glorious message of hope that mankind will ultimately survive and be ushered into a new era of light. Man will learn to mend his ways — if not before, at least after tasting some of the fruits of his follies and defiance to God.

In another Surah, the Qur’an speaks of cardinal geographic and climatic changes of such horrendous nature as would render the

18 The Review of Religions – March 2003 Nuclear Holocaust face of many tracts of land, countries and continents entirely desolate. This perhaps is related to the aftermath of the holocaust we have just discussed. Before that, the same lands were counted among the most scenic and beautiful parts of the world, uniquely rich in dazzling beauty. How we wish that of all the Qur’anic prophecies, this one at least will not have to be realised. This wish is certainly not a sign of disrespect to the prophetic Qur’anic warnings. It only springs from our unshakeable faith in the all- embracing graciousness of God – the All-Merciful, the All- Beneficent. All warnings, however categoric they may sound, are conditional to the response of man. The example of the people of Jonah(as), who were spared the destined wrath of God after they turned to Him with profound repentance, kindles the flame of hope for us today. Despite the fact that there is no genuine justification for optimism in view of the consistent decline in human moral values, it is the only hope after all to which one may cling. The rest is a fearsome night of utter despair. But the cure for their deep-seated maladies no longer lies in the hands of godless messiahs. It lies in the hands of God alone – but only if our hands are raised in prayer before Him. Perhaps we are talking a language hard for contemporary man to understand. It runs counter to what his ears are attuned to hear. Allah knows best!

REFERENCES 1 . Translation of Ch.104: Vs.2-10 by the author. 2. Translation of Ch.44:Vs.11-12 by the author. 3. Translation of Ch.77:Vs.30-34 by the author. 4. Translation of Ch.77:V.16 by the author. 5. Translation of Ch.44:Vs.14-15 by the author. 6. Translation of Ch.54: Vs.5-6 by Maulawi Sher Ali. 7. Translation of Ch.20:Vs.106-109 by Maulawi Sher Ali.

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Presented below, in translation, is the third part of the address delivered on 26 December 1903 by Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad(as) of Qadian, the Promised Messiah and Mahdi. The Urdu text of the speech is taken from Malfoozat, Volume 6, pp.245-9. Malfoozat is the title of the ten volumes that contain the collection of discourses, speeches and addresses of Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad(as) of Qadian, the Promised Messiah and Mahdi. (Part I of the translation of this address was published in the October 2002 edition of The Review of Religions and Part II appeared in the December 2002 issue). [Translator’s Note: All references to the verses of the Holy Qur’an are given in Arabic as they occur in the text. The English translation, presented in Italics, is taken from the translation of the Holy Qur’an by Hadhrat Maulvi Sher Ali S a h i b( a s ). Where the Promised M e s s i a h( a s ) has himself stated a certain interpretation of the Arabic verse, this is incorporated in the main body of the text]. Translated by Amatul Hadi Ahmad

(Continuation) The founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community was Hadhrat Attainment of complete Mirza Ghulam Ahmad(as). satisfaction and peace requires In 1891, he claimed, on the basis of complete and total belief in Divine revelation, that he was the God. Hence, the first P romised Messiah and Mahdi whose advent had been foretold obligation of our Community by Muhammad, the Holy Prophet is to attain a true belief in God of Islam (peace be upon him) and Almighty. by the scriptures of other faiths. His claim constitutes the basis of Remember that for re f o r- the beliefs of the Ahmadiyya mation of the self, mere sug- Muslim Community.

20 The Review of Religions – March 2003 Reformation – III gestions and schemes cannot down this Exhortation, and by themselves achieve most surely We will be its anything. He who relies purely Guardian. on his own plan of action is (Ch.15: v.10) unsuccessful and fails because he considers his own effort to God states: ‘We have made the be ‘god’. Consequently, such Q u r’an to descend and We people are deprived of the shall safeguard it’. Hence, you grace and blessing that kills can see how perfectly the their ‘capacity’ to commit sin Qur’an has been preserved and and grants them the strength to safeguarded - not a single word protect themselves against evil or a jot has been altered or even and to fight evil. This is so changed around and no one because it comes from God has been able to distort it in any Almighty Who is not a slave to way. It is evident from this that schemes and plans. God has the work that is in God’s Himself provided an Hands is greatly blessed and illustration of the failure of that which is in the hands of human schemes and plans. people alone cannot be so God had commanded the Jews blessed. What is clear from this not to interpolate or distort the is that unless a plan of action is Torah. They were given firm accompanied by God’s grace, i n s t ructions to protect and nothing can be achieved. s a f e g u a rd the Torah yet the Hence, it is a false notion to unfortunate Jews made imagine that one can achieve changes. Against this, the purification of the self merely Muslims were told: through one’s own effort. This does not, however, mean that one should not make any effort at all or that one should not strive [in the path of God]. On the contrary, effort and striving is necessary and is, indeed, a Verily, We Ourselves have sent d u t y. God’s grace does not

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allow hard work and true effort ing is not with them and they to go to waste. Hence, one do not receive guidance from should not abandon plans of God. He who abandons God action and effort req u i r ed for yet declares that reformation of reformation of the self but such the self can be achieved plans should not be of the kind through one’s own ideas and that are contrived by a person plans is false. himself, rather only such schemes and plans should be One path of self-re f o r m a t i o n adopted that have been that has been described by God described [in the Holy Qur’a n ] [in the Holy Qur’an] is this: by God Himself and that have been adopted and practised by the Holy Prophet Muhammad(s a ) of Islam. Follow in the steps of Be with the truthful ( s a ) the Holy Pro p h e t a n d (Ch.9: v.119) implore God for help through prayer. You are stuck deep in That is to say, keep the the mire of impurity but company of those who are without God’s grace you steadfast upon the path of truth cannot reach the clean spring and manifest this thro u g h that would lead to purification their words, their actions and – you cannot achieve this their deeds. t h rough your own eff o r t s alone. Preceding this verse comes the statement: There are many who abandon God and rely upon their own schemes but, even though they take every care and precaution, they become entangled in the trials [they have to go through] and cannot move forward. This O ye who believe! Fear Allah happens because God’s bless- (Ch.9: v.119)

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That is, believers should fear one should keep the company Allah and adopt the way of of pious and truthful people in righteousness. Implied here is order to achieve reformation of the teaching that first there the self. should be faith and thereafter should follow the additional The company of good people step of abandoning the place of will leave its mark on a person evil and joining the company of who joins them even if he does the truthful. The company one so with animosity and keeps has a great influence that opposition in his heart. Regular gradually affects the inner self. attendance in good company For example, if a person daily will eventually lead him to f requents the abode of abandon his opposition. It is p rostitutes and [when re g rettable that those who reproached, declares his inno- oppose me have deprived cence by the rh e t o r i c a l themselves of the opportunity question] ‘Do I commit adul- of joining our company. Had tery?’ One should answer such they spent some time with me a question by saying that, ‘Yes, and heard my arguments, a you will do so’, and such a time would have come when person, one day, will commit God may have guided them such an abomination because against their mistaken views the company one keeps has an and they would have found the e ffect. Similarly, he who truth. However, as they have frequents the drinking house deprived themselves of my will one day indulge in company and lost the drinking, no matter how much opportunity of hearing my he protests earlier that he arguments, they now persist in abstains from drink. Hence, their falsehoods. At times they this fact should never be accuse me of (God forbid) ignored that the company of being an atheist and at times others is a factor of gre a t they refer to me as a drunkard influence. It is for this reason and an adulterer. They think that God has commanded that nothing of falsely accusing me

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‘...IN THE COMPANY OF THE TRUTHFUL, NOT ONLY DOES ONE LEARN TRUTHFULNESS BUT ONE ALSO BENEFITS FROM THE INFLUENCE OF THE GOOD COMPANY THAT IS G R A D U A L LY I N T E R N A L I S E D, L E A D I N G T O T R U E KNOWLEDGE..... MOREOVER, COMPANY OF THE DIVINELY GUIDED PROVIDES THE OPPORTUNITY OF WITNESSING SIGNS AND MANIFESTATIONS OF GOD THAT STRENGTHEN ONE’S BELIEF [IN GOD].’

of (God forbid) insulting the between them and the Holy Holy Prophet(sa) of God. Why Prophet(sa) a barrier that was do they do so? They do so depriving these people fro m because they stay away from seeing the dazzling beauty of [our] company and depriving the Holy Pro p h e t( s a ). oneself of the company [of the C o n s e q u e n t l y, when his one who has been appointed enemies referred to the Holy by God] is in itself being under P ro p h e t( s a ) as (God forbid) the wrath of God. ‘Kazzab’ (a liar), these people followed and repeated the It is stated that at the time of abuse which, in turn, distanced the Treaty of Hudaibiya, when them from the Holy Prophet(sa), the Holy Prophet(sa) camped at depriving them of the grace Hudaibiya, one of the blessings and blessings brought by the was that it presented many Holy Pro p h e t( s a ). However, people with the opportunity of when the barrier was lifted and observing the Holy Prophet(sa) people were able to see him at close quarters. Having heard and hear him for themselves, for themselves what he had to they no longer re m a i n e d say, hundreds joined the fold of deprived – they entered the Islam. Until they themselves fold of those who are blessed had heard the words of the with good fortune. Holy Prophet(sa), there existed

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The misfortune of many people It is for this reason that God at the present time is caused by Almighty has commanded that the same factor. If they are we should seek the company of asked how much they have the righteous. understood our claims and a rguments, they only re p e a t This teaching contains a point the phrases that they have of deep wisdom that the heard from others – a few false company one keeps necessarily objections and a few false exerts an influence. Hence, in accusations. They believe what the company of the truthful, they hear from our opponents not only does one learn to be true and do not try to t ruthfulness but one also understand. They do not as benefits from the influence of much as make an effort to the good company that is investigate further by coming gradually internalised, leading here and seeing for themselves. to true knowledge with which This leads to the darkening of one can attain a real under- their hearts and they are unable standing of God. More o v e r, to attain the truth. Had they company of the Divinely acted with righteousness, they guided provides the oppor- would have known it was no tunity of witnessing signs and sin to be in my company from manifestations of God that time to time and to listen to s t rengthen one’s belief [in what I have to say. After all God]. they meet with Hindus and Christians and listen to their When a person is in the arguments – they even attend company of a truthful and some of their meetings. What divinely guided person, truth then was the reason that kept works within him. However, them from coming to me and when he leaves the company of on what basis did they abstain? the truthful and adopts the This, in short, is a grave company of misguided and misfortune and a person mischievous people, evil suffers deprivation as a result. begins to work within him.

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This is the reason why the Almighty stated that he too traditions of the Holy will be counted among them. It P ro p h e t( s a ) and the Holy is evident from this that there is Qur’an, both contain the firm g reat benefit in keeping the guidance of abstaining fro m company of the tru t h f u l . bad company. Furthermore, it Unfortunate, indeed, is the is stated that one should leave person who keeps himself a gathering where the Holy away from good company. P ro p h e t( s a ) is being abused. Those who do not leave such One of the signs of N a f s e gatherings will be counted Mutmainnah, the soul at rest, is amongst those perpetrating that it finds peace in the such an offence. By the same company of those who are token, he who stays in the themselves at peace [with company of the truthful is God]. On the other hand, the counted amongst them. One person whose soul is [at the can see how important it is that lower stage] of ammarah will one should practice this divine display signs of N a f s e commandment and seek the A m m a r a h, of the soul that company of the righteous. incites to evil. However, the person who keeps the It is stated in a tradition of the company of those who possess Holy Pro p h e t( s a ) that God Nafse Mutmainnah will soon Almighty sends down angels begin to feel a sense of in the world to observe the contentment within. gatherings of the righteous. Upon their return, God asks what they saw. They reply, ‘We saw a gathering in which To be continued people were remembering You [God Almighty]. There was one person, however, who was present there even though he was not of them.’ At this God

26 The Review of Religions – March 2003 The Promised Messiah’s(as) Love for the Holy Prophet(sa)

By Bockarie Tommy Kallon, London, UK.

As Muslims, we believe in all toiled for His pleasure, again prophets among whatever for us. He caused us to be people they were raised and in wrapped up in the mantle of whatever country they His grace and the garment of appeared. But our love and His compassion. He strove to regard for the Holy Prophet(sa) find for us ways by which we is the utmost for he gave up may also please God; means the slightest comfort for our by which we may also achieve sake. He risked his own life to communion and union with save us from spiritual death. Him. What the Holy He grieved for our happiness; Prophet(sa) did for us to make he pined for our success. He light our journey to God, no abased himself so that we other prophet had done for his should stand high. He people. planned for our lasting good; he prayed for our eternal It is difficult to find a Muslim welfare. He would let his feet who does not claim to love the get swollen through standing Holy Prophet( s a ) and many long in prayer. Sinless though have been true to this claim. he was, he prayed for the From his holy companions, forgiveness of our sins. To down through the ages there save us from the fire of Hell, have been many who have he would pray till his prayer been willing to sacrifice mat became wet with tears. He everything for the sake of wept till his breast heaved their love and devotion to the like a boiling pot. He drew Holy Prophet( s a ). Many have unto us the mercy of God; he composed panegyrics in his

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praise. Yet amongst all these After God, I am inebriated with the there was a perfect love for, love of Muhammad. and devotion to, the Holy If this is infidelity, then by God I 1 Prophet(sa) by the Promised am a great infidel. M e s s i a h( a s ) which sets him head and shoulders above the Nothing better encapsulates the rest. This article looks at the Pr omised Messiah’s love for his Holy Master, the Holy truth of the Promised P ro p h e t( s a ), than these word s Messiah(as) from the angle of fr om one of his couplets. In his this love and obedience to the love for the Holy Prop h e t (s a ) , he (sa) Holy Prophet . Did it seek was unparalleled through the visible expression and show annals of history. In his devotion, itself in sacrifice? Did it he was unrivalled. Every fibre of influence his daily life, his his being, every interest of his life speech, his conduct, his and every thought which everyday movements? If the dominated his heart was Promised Messiah ( a s ) can be immersed in the love of the Holy shown to have possessed a P ro p h e t( s a ). From his many love for the Holy Prophet(sa) writings and discourses, we will unparalleled in the entire, shed some light on this aspect of glorious history of Islam; if the Promised Messiah’s life. In so his every atom of his being, doing, we shall relate some every particle of his body, accounts narrated by those who every faculty of his mind and we r e close to him so that, as we every inclination of his soul, journey back in time to those was consecrated to the service blessed days in Qadian, we may of the Holy Prophet(sa), then take in our stride the veritable human reason compels one to repositories and eye-witness conclude that such a man accounts of his character at very could not be an impostor. close quarters. At the time of the Pro m i s e d M e s s i a h( a s ), there were very many Muslims yet very little

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Islam. True Islamic teachings God and to establish the truth of w e re rarely practised while the Holy Prop h e t (sa) and the trut h innovations and encru s t a t i o n s of Islam. The quality of his love had, through many centuries, for the Holy Prop h e t (sa) sh o u l d , adulterated the religion of Islam. th e re f o r e, unlike that of Muslim Muslim divines of the time paid divines of the time, not be judged lip service and verbal homage to by the loudness of its prof e s s i o n , the teachings of Islam. While but by the acts of his devotion. Islam was attacked from all corners, especially fro m It is interesting to note that the Christians and Arya Samaj very name he gave to the pr opagandists, they were busy Community he founded is in imputing Ku f r (Infidel) to one honour of the Holy Prophet(sa). an o t h e r . Foul attacks were being His opponents misconstru e d made on the life and character of this as an act of self- the Holy Pro p h e t(sa) yet the aggrandisement but in tru t h leading Muslim divines were everything the Pro m i s e d fiddling and debating silly Messiah(as) did was coloured in questions with reg a r d to rituals. his love for, and devotion to, the It was the Promised Messiah(a s ) Holy Prophet(sa). This is how he and Holy Founder of the explained the rationale and Ahmadiyya Movement alone wisdom behind the name of the who was concerned with Community: defending Islam against its enemies. Only he thought of ‘The name which is i m p ressing upon Muslims the a p p ropriate for this importance of good works. Only Movement and which we he steered clear of sectarian p refer for ourselves is co n t ro v e r s y . He made Islam pure Muslims of the Ahmadiyya by reforming all corru p t e d Jama’at. We have chosen this doctrines and investing it with name because the Holy fr esh vigour and glory. He went P ro p h e t(sa) had two names on to initiate a world wide Muhammad and Ahmad. movement to present to the Muhammad was his name of world the true Islamic concept of glory and Ahmad his name

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of beauty. In the name of that everyone hearing this Muhammad was implicit a name should realise that this p rophecy that the Holy Jama’at has come into being P ro p h e t( s a ) would punish for the spread of peace and with the sword such enemies security and that it would as would attack Islam with have nothing to do with war the sword and slaughter and fighting.’2 h u n d reds of Muslims. His name Ahmad indicated that The mere mention of the name of he would spread peace and the Holy Prophet(sa), it is related, security in the world. God so would cause tears to well up in arranged the life of the Holy the eyes of the Pro m i s e d P ro p h e t(sa) that his Meccan Messiah(as). This was attested to, life was a manifestation of his on oath, by none other than one name Ahmad and the of his sons, Hadhrat Mirza Muslims were taught Bashir Ahmad ( r a ), when he patience and endurance. In wrote: his life in Medina, his name Muhammad was manifested, ‘I, the writer of these lines, and God in His wisdom was born in the home of the decided to chastise his Promised Messiah(as) and am enemies. But there was a one of his sons, and this is a p rophecy that the name blessing of Allah for which I Ahmad would be manifested fail to find adequate words of again in the latter days and thank. In fact it is true that that a person would appear even in my imagination, I can through whom the qualities never conceive that I shall of beauty, which charac- ever be able to re n d e r terised Ahmad, would be sufficient thanks to God for manifested, and all fighting this great and priceless boon. would come to an end. For But I know very well that one this reason, it has been of these days I shall have to considered appropriate that yield my soul into the Hands the name of this sect should of God, and knowing this, be Ahmadiyya Jama’at, so and calling upon this

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Heavenly Master as a (Thou O Prophet of God), witness, I state that within Thou wert indeed the pupil of my my knowledge it has never eye happened that any slight Now that thou hast died reference was made to the My eye hath become blind. Holy Prophet(sa), or only his I care not who dies now. name mentioned without a For I feared only thy death.4 film of tear welling up in the eyes of Promised Messiah(as). The narrator of this incident His whole heart and mind, in records that he was taken aback fact every fibre of his being, by the state of the Pro m i s e d was inebriated with the love Messiah(as) and in great anxiety of the Holy Prophet(sa)’3. enquired what the matter was which had caused him such The Promised Messiah’s love for p rofound grief. The Pro m i s e d the Holy Prophet (sa) was so great Messiah(as) replied that he had that any touching expression of been reciting this couplet to love for the Holy Prophet, by himself and thought how great whomsoever, brought a strong would it have been if this fine desire in his heart that it should verse had come from him. have come from him. Hadhrat Maulvi Abdul Karim(ra) related Even a cursory glance at this that once he went to Masjid incident leaves one brea t h l e s s . Mubarak which adjoined the The Promised Messiah( a s ), P romised Messiah’s house in t h roughout his life, had to Qadian. He found the Promised encounter a succession of bitter M e s s i a h(as) in solitude, with a experiences. He saw every kind silent stream of tears flowing of hardship; his life was exposed f rom his eyes, reciting the to every hazard. He bore all kinds couplet of a poem composed, on of troubles and went through a the demise of the Holy storm of difficulties. He was Pro p h e t ( s a ), by the well-known condemned as an infidel and an Islamic poet, Hassan bin apostate from Islam and Thabit(ra): experienced unrelenting oppo- sition at the hands of leading

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Muslim Divines. He also A thoughtful look at this witnessed the death of many near incident reveals the deep and dear friends and rel a t i o n s , emotions of love which rolled in including some of his own the heart of the Pro m i s e d c h i l d ren. But his eyes never Messiah(as). It is true that every betrayed the depth of his Muslim would long to go on a emotions, as they did on this pilgrimage to the holy places in occasion, when he was alone, Mecca and Medina. But imagine se c r etly grieving over a death the boundless love for the Holy which took place more than P ro p h e t(sa) of a man lost in thirteen hundred years before – spiritual ecstasy, a man whose grieving so deeply that while soul, at the very thought of a reciting this loving couplet his pilgrimage, flies to the blessed eyes bore the look of a flooded tomb and from a rush of emotion st r eam and his sensitive heart his eyes begin to swim in tears. was wishing this beautiful poem was his. S i n c e re love manifests itself naturally through sacrifice and a Hadhrat Nawab Mubaraka jealous regard for the beloved. Begum(ra), the eldest daughter of The Promised Messiah( a s ) the Promised Messiah(as), related possessed both of these in great that once a discussion centred abundance for the Holy a round the possibility of the Prophet(sa). While referring to the P romised Messiah(as) going to outrageous and false accusations perform Hajj. At the very levelled by Christians against thought of visiting the sacre d the Holy Prophet(sa), he wrote: shrines of Mecca and Medina his eyes began to run with tears and ‘Christian missionaries have while wiping them he observed: fabricated innumerable false c h a rges against our ‘This is indeed the wish of Prophet(sa) and by means of my heart. But I often wonder this subtle fraud and whether at all I would be able deception they have misled a to bear the sight of the last l a rge number of people. resting place of the Holy Nothing has lacerated my Prophet(sa).’ 5 heart so grievously as the

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mockery and ridicule they received accolades from leading heap on his fair name. Their Muslim divines and on his cutting remarks against the demise, leading Muslim and holiest of men have deeply non-Muslim newspapers and wounded my heart. I call journals paid tribute, in glowing God to witness that even if all and superlative terms, to his my children, childre n ’ s victorious championship of children, friends, colleagues Islam. To cite but one example, and helpers were slaugh- on the publication of his epoch- t e red before my eyes, my making, Braheen Ahmadiyya, limbs were torn apart, the Hadhrat Sufi Ahmad Jan(ra) of pupils of my eyes were Ludhiana, himself a great saintly plucked out, all my designs Sufi, wrote: were frustrated, and I was deprived of every pleasure ‘That great personage, and comfort, the agony is benefactor of mankind, m o re unbearable for me s o u rce of benevolence and when such low and vile beneficence, personal pro o f attacks are made upon the of Islam, honoured above Holy Pro p h e t( s a ). There f o re , commonalty and the nobility, Thou, O Heavenly Master, I Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam implore Thee, cast a look of Ahmad Sahib, may his m e rcy and compassion on blessings endure, Chief of me and deliver me from this Qadian, in the district of great trial and tribulation.’6 G u rd a s p u r, Punjab, has written a book titled Braheen This is a truly pro f o u n d Ahmadiyya’. statement of love for the honour of the Holy Pro p h e t( s a ). Even This book establishes the trut h more profound is the fact that of Islam and the Prop h e t h o o d this was not an empty claim. On of Muhammad(s a ) , and of the the contrary, the entire life of the Holy Qur’an, through three P romised Messiah(as) b e a r s h u n d red strong proofs of testimony to the truth of this various types and refutes the claim. During his lifetime, he Christian, Arya, Hindu,

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Brahmo Samaj and all other ‘One thing I noted very religions opposed to Islam, specially and very clearly in by means of convincing my father. He could not bear reasoning…’7 even the slightest reference to the Holy Pro p h e t( s a ) i n His eldest son, Hadhrat Mirza d e rogatory words. On the Sultan Ahmad(ra), also attested to slightest hint or expression to this jealous sensitivity of the this effect, his face became Promised Messiah(as) where the red, and the look in his eyes name and honour of the Holy would harden with anger; P ro p h e t(sa) w e re in question. and he would immediately What makes this testimony leave the place and the exceptional is the fact that it was company where any such made at a time when this son thing was said. The feeling had not yet entered the fold of which my father had for the the Community. Throughout the Holy Prophet(sa) was indeed lifetime of the Pro m i s e d one of love – a love of which M e s s i a h( a s ), Hadhrat Mirza I have not seen an instance in Sultan Ahmad(ra) did not take the anyone else.’8 Bai’at (Oath of Allegiance) at his hands and remained aloof for Such was the testimony of many years after his demise. It someone who had not yet was during the Khilafat of accepted the Pro m i s e d Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih II Messiah(as) as the Reformer of the (Second Successor to the Latter Days. P romised Messiah( a s )) that he embraced Ahmadiyyat. He was His love for the Holy Prophet(sa) a p p roached once, prior to his extended also to the blessed initiation into the Movement, by companions of the Holy someone intending to apprise Pro p h e t (sa) and to his pro g e n y. himself of some aspects of the On one occasion, he was relating early life of the Pro m i s e d to his children the story of Messiah(as). This is what Hadhrat Muhurram and the incidents Mirza Sultan Ahmad(ra) had to connected with the martyrdom say: of Imam Hussain(ra), a grandson of the Holy Pro p h e t( s a ).

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A c c o rding to his daughter, something you will expe- Hadhrat Nawab Mubaraka rience in the life after death. Begum(ra), his tone was full of The real and true salvation is great sorrow and suffering and only that which shows its all the time he was wiping the light in this very life. Who is tears flowing from his eyes. At the saved? Only he who the end, he said in great anguish maintains a firm faith that and tender emotions: the living God is a real-ity, and that Muhammad(sa) is the This was the heartless and Mediator between Him and bloody injustice which the mankind; that under the obnoxious Yazeed perpetrated skies there is no equal to him upon the grandson of the Holy in rank and elevation, nor Prophet(sa). But God soon after any book to rival the Holy overtook these tyrants with His Qur’an. That for no one else punishment.9 God wish that he should live forever, but for this blessed He was also quick to admonish Pro p h e t ( s a ) He did so wish: his followers to imbibe in that to keep him alive forever themselves the love for the Holy He laid the foundation for Pro p h e t ( s a ). This, he explained, continuing the benefit of his was the key to salvation: Shariah (Islamic Law) and his blessings to the day of ‘For the sons of man there is Resurrection.11 no messenger and no medi- ator except Muhammad( s a ). At another place, the Promised So strive that you cherish the M e s s i a h( a s ) announced to the purest love for this Prophet(sa) whole world that the fruits of of power and glory, giving no loving the Holy Prophet(sa) are one else any kind of heavenly bounties: preference over him, so that you be put down in heaven O all ye who dwell upon the as those who have been earth, and O all human souls saved. And very clearly bear that are in the East or in the in mind that salvation is not West, I announce to you

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emphatically that the tru e excellencies of the Holy Qur’an reality in the earth is Islam and effectively answered all the alone, and the true God is the objections of opponents of every God Who is described in the c reed and thought, and Qur’an, and the Prophet who challenged them with the has everlasting spiritual life superior qualities of Islam. He and who is seated on the demonstrated the truth of the throne of glory and holiness, Holy Pro p h e t(sa) with stro n g is Muhammad(sa), the chosen arguments, heavenly signs and one. The proof of his spiritual luminous prophecies. His life and holy majesty is that devotion to Islam and the Holy by following him and loving Prophet(sa) was total. Service to him we become recipients of Islam was like service to himself the holy spirit and are or his dear ones. Night after favoured with the bounty of night, he would go without the converse with God and usual minimum of sleep and witness heavenly signs’.12 remain at work. If he had any help in his work, he felt very The Promised Messiah(as) found grateful and thanked the person Islam and Muslims in a weak as he would for a personal condition. He was moved by this f a v o u r. In spite of continual state of the religion of the Holy sickness and physical weakness, Prophet(sa) and for this purpose, he wrote more than eighty books waged a great Jihad to uphold and several hundred leaflets and the honour of Islam and the made hundreds of speeches on Holy Prophet(sa). If there was an Islam, on its beauties and the enemy of Islam anywhere the subjects connected with it. Promised Messiah(as) was ready Writing would not satisfy him. to fight. If ever anybody thought He would write, have his of attacking Islam, the Promised writing translated into English, Messiah(as) was ready to meet the print several hundred thousand attack. He pursued all the copies, and circulate them in opponents of Islam till they Europe and America. If ever he withdrew from the field or met h e a rd of someone who was their end. He explained the i n t e rested in Islam, he would

36 The Review of Religions – March 2003 The Promised Messiah’s(as) Love for the Holy Prophet (sa) write and personally invite him Qur’an, his devotion to duty, his to accept the truth. In short, his strong sense of purpose and his whole life was devoted towards eagerness in the service of Islam. the establishing the supremacy Yet, in spite of all these of Islam over other religions in unrivalled services, like a dutiful every aspect of teaching, and obedient student, whatever doctrines and beliefs. From all accomplishment he made, he this, one can measure the quality immediately credited to his of his passion and the depth of obedience to, and the tutelage of, his devotion to God and the his re v e red Master, the Holy Holy Prophet(sa). He had but one P ro p h e t( s a ). His writings are d e s i re and this was to make replete with such statements. manifest to all and sundry the The following are but a few living might of God and the examples: truth of His Holy Prophet(sa). ‘God Almighty has, through Amazingly, in spite of all these the blessings of my obe- peerless services, at every dience to and love for the occasion, the Pro m i s e d Holy Prophet(sa) and through Messiah(as) would make a total my following His Holy negation of himself and would Word, honoured this humble s t ress that whatever was one with His revelation and bestowed upon him and all the with inner knowledge. He services he re n d e red to Islam has enlightened me with the was on account of his devotion d i s c l o s u re of many mys- to the Holy Pro p h e t( s a ). This teries, and has filled my supplies a very graphic picture bosom with many verities of the unquestionable devotion and realities. He has which the Promised Messiah(as) informed me many times had for the Holy Pro p h e t( s a ). that all these gifts, bounties, Today, we can but stand in awe exaltations, favours, kind- as we marvel at his tire l e s s nesses, attention, award s , e n e rg y, his exposition of the supports and re v e l a t i o n s limitless ocean of verities have been bestowed upon comprehended within the Holy me by virtue of the blessings

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of obedience to and love for Yet again, he writes: the Seal of the Prophets(sa)’ 12 ‘On oath, in the name of the He further states: same God, I claim that just as God spoke to Abraham, and ‘By the pure grace of Allah then to Ishmael, and Isaac, and not by any merit of my and Jacob, and Joseph, and own, I have been bestowed a Moses and Jesus the son of perfect portion of the bounty Mary, and finally to our own which was bestowed before Holy Prophet Muhammad, me on the Prophets and in a manner much more clear Messengers and the elect of and bright than ever before, God. It would not have been sending down a pure r possible for me to be Revelation, in the same way bestowed this bounty had I He has blessed me with the followed my lord and master, favour of this communion the pride of the prophets, the with Him. But in my case this best of mankind, Hadhrat is a blessing which I have Muhammad Mustafa( s a ). derived only through the Whatever has been bestowed Holy Prophet(sa), and through upon me has been on account my obedience and devotion of this obedience.’13 to him. If I had not followed him most implicitly in Again he says: everything, this blessing would not have been ‘I cannot acquire any degree extended to me even if my of honour or excellence, nor virtuous endeavour had any station of exaltation or piled up as high as a nearness to God except mountain.’15 through sincere and perfect obedience to the Holy It is disheartening to note that P ro p h e t( s a ). Whatever is his opponents who accuse him bestowed upon me is by way of usurping the honour of the of reflection of, and through, Holy Prophet(sa) do so in the face the Holy Prophet(sa).’14 of such lucid pronouncements. However, there can be not even a

38 The Review of Religions – March 2003 The Promised Messiah’s(as) Love for the Holy Prophet (sa) scintilla of doubt, or hint of Holy Prophet(sa) in the form of equivocation in the Pro m i s e d Durood.”16 M e s s i a h( a s ), about the exceptional depth of love he had A natural consequence of this for the Holy Prophet and as he g reat love of the Pro m i s e d loved him so he desired Allah’s M e s s i a h( a s ), was such that it blessings on him. The Holy always found expression in his Qur’an enjoins: poetry. He composed numerous poems in love of the Holy Allah sends down His blessings Prophet(sa). They gave beautiful on the Prophet and His angels expression to the thoughts and pray for him. O ye who believe, feelings of the innermost you too should invoke His sanctuary of his heart, which in blessings on him and salute him turn pierces the hearts of others. with the salutation of peace. We re p roduce here only one (Ch. 33: v.57) such poem to illuminate the case in point: The Promised Messiah(as) w a s true to this command. He writes There is light miraculous in the soul in Braheen Ahmadiyya: of Muhammad, There is a ruby rare in the mine of “One night I sent Durood (i.e., Muhammad. invoked special blessings) on the Holy Pro p h e t(sa) in such The heart is cleared of all darkness, great abundance that I felt as if If it becomes one of the lovers of my heart and soul had become Muhammad fragrant with its perfume. The same night I saw in a dream I wonder at the wisdom of those that angels of the Lord were fools bringing to my abode large Who turn away from the feast bags full of light in the form of abundant of Muhammad. pure limpid water; and one among those angels said that No man in the two worlds do I know these were the fruits of the Who shares the greatness and glory blessings I had sent to the of Muhammad.

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A hundred times disgusted is God Whether I am killed or burnt in this with him path, Who harbours hostility to Never will I turn away from the Muhammad. court of Muhammad.

God Himself consumes in fire the In matters of faith I fear not even the contemptible worm whole world, Who chooses to be one of the For I am dyed in the faith of enemies of Muhammad. Muhammad.

If you want to shake off the Easy it is to be carried away from intoxication of the baser self, the world, Then come and sit among the In the memory of the charms and devotees of Muhammad. graces of Muhammad.

If you wish that God Himself should Every atom of mine is sacrificed in sing your praises, his path, Then sing sincerely the praises of For I have peeped into the hidden Muhammad. beauty of Muhammad.

Lookest thou for proof for his truth? I know not the name of another Then his lover be, teacher, For Muhammad himself is the proof For I have been to the school of of Muhammad. Muhammad.

A head have I to offer at the altar of I am not interested in another Ahmad, beloved, And a heart ready to be sacrificed For I have been captivated by the for Muhammad. comeliness of Muhammad.

By the tresses of the Messenger of Only a favour I need from the eye of God, Muhammad, It is true, I am infatuated by the All I seek is access to the garden of resplendent face of Muhammad. Muhammad.

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Do not look for my stricken heart in Listen, O thou who denieth the my side, greatness of Muhammad, For I have tied it to the robe of And the luminous light of Muhammad. Muhammad!

I am a sweet bird out of the sacred Though miracles seem a thing of the flock, past, Which has its nest in the grove of Come thou yet and see them with Muhammad. the servants of Muhammad.17

Thou hast illumined my soul with At the head of the piece, a thy love, statement was made which, May I be a sacrifice to thee, soul of perhaps, may be contended. This Muhammad. is that in his love for, and devotion to, the Holy Prophet(sa), Even if I were to offer a hundred the Promised Messiah(as) w a s lives in this path, unparalleled through the annals It would still fail to match the worth of history. This might be of Muhammad. questioned on the pretext that, not only the Companions of the What terror does this young one Holy Pro p h e t( s a ), but many [Muhammad] strike eminent divines through the That no one can meet him in his ages cherished the purest love arena! for the Holy Prophet(sa). Then, why do we single out the love Beware, O foolish and misguided and devotion of the Promised enemy, Messiah(as)? Fear the sharp sword of Muhammad. It is true that the Companions of the Holy Prophet(sa) completely The path of God from which men lost themselves in their love for have strayed far, him and were unquestionably You can still find with the followers devoted to him. They were ever and friends of Muhammad. prepared to sacrifice their lives, wealth and honour for the sake

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of the Holy Prophet(sa). But while P ro p h e t( s a ), that, in fact, he we seek to make no comparison, appeared thirteen centuries later unnecessarily, with anyone else, at a time when Islam had been it must be pointed out that none completely distorted; at a time of them through their devotion when fanaticism and bigotry to the Holy Prophet rose to the had become the hallmark of station of prophethood. Neither Muslim thinking, this gre a t did any other Muslim divine accomplishment of the Promised after them. On the contrary, M e s s i a h(as) is even more t h rough centuries of Islamic laudable. While other Muslim history, we find that it was only divines were content to celebrate in the case of the Holy their love for the Holy Prophet(sa) F o u n d e r( a s ) of the Ahmadiyya only in solitude, it was the Holy Muslim Community, that a F o u n d e r(as) of Ahmadiyya follower of the Holy Prophet(sa) Muslim Community who was to attained to the status of initiate a world wide movement prophethood through obedience for the manifestation of the glory and devotion to him, in of the Holy Prophet(sa). It would, a c c o rdance with the pro m i s e t h e re f o re, be no hyperbole to given in the glorious Qur’an: claim that the Pro m i s e d Messiah(as) was unrivalled in his And whoso obeys Allah and this love for, and devotion to, the Messenger of His shall be Holy Prophet(sa). Nor would it be among those on whom Allah has a fanciful assumption or a tale bestowed His blessings, namely, steeped in wishful thinking. the Prophets, the Truthful, the History furnishes no better Martyrs and the Righteous. re c o rd of loyalty, love and And excellent companions are devotion. In speech and in these. writing, in poetry and in prose, (Ch. 4: v. 70) in eulogy and in defence, he displayed before our wondering Furthermore, when we take due eyes a vast and seemingly cognisance of the fact that the limitless ocean of this great love Promised Messiah(as) did not live for the religion of at the time of the Holy M u h a m m a d( s a ), the person of

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Muhammad(sa) and the God of Quotd from Seerat-e-Tayyiba, pp. Muhammad(sa). 22-23 5. Riwayat Nawab Mubaraka One great reality that emerges Begum, Quoted from S e e r a t - e - from all this and that is not only Tayyiba, p. 31 did the Promised Messiah( a s ) 6. Ayena Kamalat-e-Islam, Quoted from Seerat-e-Tayyiba, p. 36 possess an extraordinary and astonishing personality but that 7. Quoted from Ahmadiyyat: The Renaissance of Islam, pp. 28-29 whatever view might be taken of 8. Seerat-ul-Mahdi, Part I, Quoted his claim, he certainly was no from Seerat-e-Tayyiba, pp. 29-30 impostor. His faith was neither 9. Riwayat Namwab Mubaraka m e rely an academic verbal Begum, Quoted from S e e r a t - e - a ffirmation nor was it an Tayyiba, p. 32 adventitious extra. His devotion 10. Kashti Nuh, Quoted from O u r to the Holy Prophet(sa) and his Teachings, pp. 5-6 love for him gives effulgence to 11. Tiryaqul Quloob, p. 11, Quoted his sincerity and truth. from Essence of Islam, Volume I, p. 136 12. Braheen Ahmadiyya, p.623, Bibliography footnote 1, Quoted fro m • Seerat-e-Tayyiba – By Hadhrat Mirza Ahmadiyyat: The Renaissance of Bashir Ahmad Islam, p. 131 • Invitation to Ahmadiyyat – By 13. Haqeeqatul Wahi, p. 62 Truth About Hadhrat Mirza Bashir- u d - D i n Ahmadiyyat, By B.A. Rafiq Mahmud Ahmad 14. Izlah Auham, p. 138, Quoted from • Ahmadiyyat: The Renaissance of Islam Truth About Ahmadiyyat, By B.A. – By Hadhrat Muhammad Rafiq Zafrullah Khan 15. Ta j a l l i a t - i - I l a h i a h, Quoted fro m Seerat-e-Tayyiba, p. 39 References 16. Quoted from Seerat-e-Tayyiba, pp. 1. Izala Auhaam 40-41 2. Tabligh Risalat, Vol IX pp. 90-91, 17. R e p roduced from Invitation to Quoted from Ahmadiyyat: The Ahmadiyyat, pp. 304-307 Renaissance of Islam, pp. 165-166 3. Seerat-e-Tayyiba, pp. 21-22 4. Diwaan Hassan bin Thabit,

The Review of Religions – March 2003 43 The Evolution of the Islamic Empire

By Tanveer Khokhar – UK

The story of the rise, decline and eventual renaissance of Islam and Islamic civilisation is a vital part of our history. Islam developed among an unlettered people far removed from the crossroads of civilisation and human thought to become the predominant religion of the then known world. But even this profound movement was to enter a gradual state of degeneration which only the advent of the Promised Messiah( a s ) w o u l d reverse. This article provides a brief overview of the vicissitudes of the Islamic empire, with a particular focus on the last century which coincided with the launch of The Review of Religions under the auspices of the Promised Messiah(as).

Early Advances of Islam China, all across North Africa, At the time of the launch of this and across much of Southern p restigious magazine, the E u rope, and all within a Islamic world had come hundred years or so. through several great periods but was starting to stagnate. Soon the Islamic empire was Since the beginning of Islam, well established and stable, the Islamic empire gre w and as a result, all people were e x t remely fast owing to the s e c u re in that enviro n m e n t zeal of its early followers, their i r respective of their creed or unity and obedience to those in c o l o u r. In Damascus, Cairo , authority. C o rdoba and elsewhere , Islamic science flourished such In the first centuries after its that huge advances were made inception, Islam rapidly spread in the fields of navigation, t h rough the Middle East, medicine, astro n o m y, mathe- eastwards towards India and matics and even the arts. Not

44 The Review of Religions – March 2003 The Evolution of the Islamic Empire just Muslim scholars, but Jews, (661-750 CE) based in Syria to Christians and all others the Abbasids (750-1258 CE) thrived in this enlightened based in Mesopotamia. During climate. Beautiful mosques this time, the unity of the bear witness to the greatness of Muslims began to be eroded as Islamic arc h i t e c t u re of the rival Caliphates were estab- period. In Cordoba, the Gre a t lished in Cairo and Cordoba, Mosque was used for worship yet Islam and Muslim culture by Muslims, Christians and united people, and the religion Jews. Such was the level of of Islam grew in strength. The enlightenment of the early Ottoman Empire (1281-1924 Muslims. They strove to CE) centred in Istanbul re - p rotect the temples and united the Muslim world c h u rches of other faiths within under the new Turkish power, their lands, and chose dialogue and once again the Muslims rather than conflict to learn had a single voice. Again, m o re about each other. Muslim culture thrived, with dramatic buildings such as the It was in this period that great Blue Mosque erected acro s s libraries were built and Europe and northern Africa. universities established. Great works of the Greeks, Indians, Once again, at its gre a t e s t Persians, Egyptians and extent, the Ottoman Empire set numerous religious texts were s t a n d a rds for people in the translated and pre s e r v e d . e m p i re based upon Islamic Scholars from various religions principles of absolute justice, and cultures were drawn to kindness and fair play. The this enlightened empire at a Empire grew in extent to cover time when Europe was in the Turkey, Syria, Iraq and Arabia midst of the ‘Dark Ages’. to the east, the Balkans, H u n g a r y, Greece, Romania, G r a d u a l l y, one dynasty took Bulgaria and other states over from another, and power around the Black Sea, and most shifted from the Umayyads of north Africa from Egypt to

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Algeria. However, the history states retained much of their of religious degradation political dominion. Some repeated itself. When the ruling Christian missionaries fol- Sultans began to confuse lowed the European colonial religion with culture, and expansion across the world and power became a stru g g l e w e re spreading false pro - between brothers and clans, paganda about Islam. There gradually Islam was forgotten were plenty of militants and and the Empire lost its unity activists within the Muslim and power. world, but very few Muslims w e re willing to address the Islam at the time of the theological onslaughts made Promised Messiah(as) against Islam. The Pro m i s e d During the course of the last M e s s i a h( a s ) was the most hundred years, people across p rominent figure to take up the Muslim world have come this challenge in the Indian into contact with the sub-continent with gre a t Ahmadiyya Community and success. This inspired a new have had a chance to judge for generation of Muslims and themselves the message of the sparked their interest in P romised Messiah( a s ). Many theology once again. However tens of millions accepted him his influence was limited to his as the reformer of Islam and growing community, whilst the joined his community, but rest of the Muslim world was millions of others have not. swayed by greed and political Often this is due to mis- intrigue. information and ignorance, but the Islamic powers have also This is how the Pro m i s e d used this as a political issue as M e s s i a h( a s ) explained his we will see later on. mission:

At the time of the Promised ‘When God Almighty, M e s s i a h( a s ), Islam was in observing the condition of decline even though Muslim the world and finding the

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earth filled with every type was to be guided directly by of disobedience, sin and God, and who was to invite misguidance, appointed me people to partake of the for the propagation of the heavenly banquet, and truth and the reform of the whose coming had been people, then I, in obedience f o retold by the Holy to this Divine command, sent Prophet(sa) thirteen hundred forth the call through written years in advance, was and oral announcements that myself. Divine reve-lation to I was the person who was to this effect was vouchsafed to arrive at the beginning of the me so clearly and so century for the revival of the continuously that it left no faith. My purpose was to re- room for doubt. It was establish the faith which had replete with grand prophe- disappeared from the earth cies that were fulfilled as and to pull mankind towards clearly as bright day. Its reform and righteousness frequency and number and and truthfulness through the miraculous power compelled magnetic power of His me to affirm that it Hand. It was also my comprehended the words of purpose to correct their the One God, without doctrinal errors and to associate, Whose Word is the reform their conduct. A few Holy Qur’an.’ years thereafter, it was made (Tadhkiratush Shahadatain, quite clear to me thro u g h pp. 1-2) Divine revelation that the Messiah, whose advent He further stated: among the Muslims had been foretold from the ‘The purpose for which God beginning, and the Mahdi has appointed me is that I whose advent had been should remove the malaise Divinely decreed at the time that afflicts the relationship of the decline of Islam and between God and His the spread of error, and who creatures and should restore

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the relationship of love and Renaissance of Islam by sincerity between them. Muhammad Zafrallah Khan) Through the proclamation of truth I should bring about Decline of the last century peace by putting an end to So what has happened to Islam religious wars and should in the last hundred years? manifest the verities which Religion, in general, has have become hidden fro m become absorbed into politics, the eyes of the world. I am Islam being no exception. As a called upon to demonstrate result, the once great Islamic that spirituality which has empire has now fallen into the been overlaid by selfish hands of politicians devoid of darknesses. It is for me to spiritual enlightenment. In demonstrate in practice and addition, with the exception of not only in words, the Divine the Ahmadiyya Muslim attributes which penetrate Community, there is no unity into the hearts of people and across the Muslim world due to a re manifested thro u g h the conspicuous absence of the prayer and concentration. institution of Khilafat amongst Most of all it is my purpose them. As the Ottoman Empire to plant once more in the c rumbled around the hearts of people the pure and Mediterranean, it left behind shining unity of God which weak states such as Bosnia and is free from every suspicion Kosovo which have suffe re d of paganism and which has c ruelty at the hands of completely disappeared. All neighbouring states. this will be accomplished not t h rough my power, but Elsewhere, in the Middle East, through the Power of Him the lack of unity and power of Who is the God of heaven the Muslims has been exploited and earth.’ for political gain in order to (Lecture Lahore, p.47. Quoted s e c u re business advantages f rom Ahmadiyyat: The such as cheaper oil even at the

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MUSLIM COUNTRY % POPULATION

Indonesia 169,990,000 88% Pakistan 125,320,000 97% India 101,050,000 11% Bangladesh 99,280,000 85% Iran 62,430,000 98% Turkey 61,230,000 99% Egypt 53,140,000 91% Nigeria 48,760,000 51% Morrocco 27,480,000 99% Algeria 27,230,000 99% Uzbekistan 25,430,000 69% Sudan 20,300,000 72% Iraq 19,820,000 96% Ethiopia 19,080,000 35% Saudi Arabia 17,990,000 99% China 17,940,000 1.5% Afghanistan 17,520,000 99% Syria 12,880,000 87% Malaysia 11,220,000 60% Yemen 10,990,000 99% Kazakhistan 10,420,000 60% Tanzania 8,820,000 30% Somalia 8,710,000 99% Senegal 7,640,000 91%

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expense of hundreds of In the former Soviet Empire, all thousands of Muslim lives and religious practice including again the Muslim world looks Islam and Christianity were on muted. Palestine lies in s u p p ressed. The state saw ruins and is subject to the these as a theological threat, expansion of Israel; Iran and and sought to impose a Iraq have fought each other; totalitarian regime instead. Libya, Syria, and others are Again, over a period of many accused of terrorism and suffer years, despite their best efforts, from war, often in the name of they could not erode religion religion. Regimes such as the from the hearts of the people, failed Taliban in Afghanistan and eventually the Empire tried to impose their own dissolved. Unfortunately with version of Islam with extreme events such as these, practices. sometimes religion becomes an obvious political weapon, and The very religion for which when society goes from one these people purport to fight political extreme to another, so has been forgotten. Tru e does religious thought. This Islamic principles have been has been one of the catalysts lost, Islamic science has towards militant tendencies in evaporated to the history Eastern Europe over the last 30 books, and the concept of years. worship and spiritual uplift has been corrupted and There are now 73 sects in Islam replaced by a new lexicon of as predicted by the Holy c o r rupted concepts such as Prophet Muhammad(sa): J i h a d and F a t w a which are misunderstood by the so-called ‘Abdullah bin Amar( r a ) fundamentalists. These terms relates that the Holy are now used by the Orientalist P ro p h e t( s a ) said “Sure l y writers and the media to turn things will happen to my public opinion of the world people as happened earlier against the teachings of Islam. to Israelites, they will

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resemble each other like one offences. They are denied the shoe in a pair resembles the right to go to Mecca for Umrah other to the extent that if or Hajj (Pilgrimage), a crime for anyone among the Israelites which they can be jailed in has openly committed Saudi Arabia. The beautiful adultery with his mother religion demonstrated cen- there will be some who will turies ago by the Holy Prophet do this in my Ummah as Muhammad(sa) would appear to well, verily the Israelites lie in ruins. w e re divided into 72 sections but my people will This is the same fate that befell be divided into 73 sections, the Islamic Empire in the past all of them will be in the fire when politics overtook except one.” The philosophy and religion. We companions asked, “Who saw the demise of the a re they O Messenger of Caliphate of Al-Andalus in Allah?” The Holy Prophet Spain, the fall of successive (peace be upon him) said, Caliphates, and finally the fall “They are those who will be of the Ottoman Empire. Now like me and my the Islamic world is divided companions.”’ into separate states which (Tirmidhi, Kitab-ul-Iman) spend their energies fighting each other rather than Of these 73 sects, the Ahmadiyya promoting peace and harmony. Muslim Community is the only At the same time, there is the one that has been denounced as expectation of the arrival of the n o n - M u s l i m in some Islamic Mahdi to once again lead the countries and in particular, by Muslims to glory, although all other 72 sects. Attempts are Muslims are deeply divided made to deny Ahmadis the about how they would right to practise Islam. For recognise their Mahdi, failing Ahmadis in Pakistan acts such to accept that he has already as worship and Islamic come. greeting have become criminal

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The Future annually for pilgrimage to So what does the future hold Mecca and practise their for Islam? Unfortunately, due religion without hindrance. So to media propaganda, much how would the scenario of a talk nowadays wrongly links ‘Holy War’ emerge? A small Islam to terrorism and number of highly visible fundamentalism. In actual fact, activists get more airtime on enlightened people around the the global media with their world have more fre q u e n t extreme views than the great contact with Muslims due to majority of the many hundreds the increasing requirements for of millions of peace-loving interaction and the global Muslims. A single suicide e c o n o m y. Despite the best bomber is able to alter opinion e fforts of global media faster than the broader Muslim p ropaganda against Islam, community. To take the views people are becoming aware of of obviously misguided fanat- the fact that Muslims have no ics and to apply them to the support in the Qur’an or greater Muslim community is Hadith for resorting to war wrong. It is wholly unrepre- except in the circ u m s t a n c e s sentative of the views of most that they are actively prevented Muslim and bears no resem- from practicising their religion blance to the teachings of or in self-defence. In the Islam. modern age, there are no c i rcumstances in which the Ironically the one Muslim sect former is the case. Muslims are which has been persecuted and free to worship across Europe, denied its rights and could the Americas, Africa and Asia. t h e re f o re have a legitimate They have been able to build claim to fight for its rights is the mosques in all of the gre a t Ahmadiyya Muslim cities of the world including Co m m u n i t y , and yet they have Washington, London, Rome, relied upon prayers and the Sydney and in China. Muslims power of God rather than from all of these countries go getting themselves involved in

52 The Review of Religions – March 2003 The Evolution of the Islamic Empire combat, as instructed by the This is the bright future to Promised Messiah(as) and Holy which we must all look Founder of the Ahmadiyya f o r w a rd. In studying each Muslim Community. other’s faiths, we realise that there is far more to unite us Equally, religious dialogue is than there ever has been to on the increase. During the last divide us. All re l i g i o n s hundred years, the science of originating from God have comparative religion cham- similar themes portrayed in pioned by great authors such different ways and at different as Mircea Eliade and Joseph levels of detail, and if studied Campbell has incre a s e d p roperly will show how knowledge of not just the religions evolved toward s established world religions, but Islam, the universal re l i g i o n . also of those traditional This will ultimately bring all national religions of the religious communities together aborigines, native Americans, under the banner of the One Yo rubas and others. In this True God to promote and context, Islam is seen in a much protect a society based upon m o re favourable light acro s s morals and virtues rather than the world. The Ahmadiyya greed and politics. Muslim Community has actively championed the cause of education, learning and debate and the cause of the study of all world re l i g i o n s including through this very publication. In this regard, a ‘Jihad’ of the pen is being waged to defend and to unearth truth in re l i g i o u s matters, and to banish ignorance.

The Review of Religions – March 2003 53 Professor Abdus Salam and the Middle-East Synchroton

By Sameen Ahmed KHAN – Atlanta, USA

There has been a recent move to establish a Synchrotron facility (a new light source more powerful than X-rays) in Jordan in the Middle East and this presents an opportunity for scientists from across the Middle East to unite and share in technological advancement. In this article, the author traces the progress of this project, and then puts it in the context of how the Muslim World went from being at the leading edge of scientific advancement to its current sorry state of being a quiet observer, and what Muslims need to do to once again propel themselves to the forefront of science. This is one of the things the late Professor Abdus Salam, a distinguished Ahmadi Muslim, eminent scientist and Nobel laureate, desired and strove for.

Introduction first time in the electro n One would have gone through synchrotron, built at the General the experience of an X-ray in a Electric Company in hospital some time or other. X- S c h e n e c t a d y, New York and rays are very well known and so hence the name synchro t ro n widely used that they require r a d i a t i o n1 - 2. Synchro t ron radi- little introduction. Apart from a ation (SR) has numero u s very useful medical diagnostic advantages over traditional X- tool, X-rays are widely used in ray sources and lasers. industry and a variety of S y n c h ro t ron radiation labora- applications such as m a t e r i a l s tories are large sources of X-rays science re s e a rc h, which is the used to study materials at the backbone of the electro n i c molecular and atomic level. SR is revolution. There is another p roduced by accelerating s o u rce of light, namely electrons in through a large ring s y n c h ro t ron radiation, which is (several hundred metres in much more powerful than c i rc u m f e rence) almost at the traditional X-rays. It was speed of light. This causes the experimentally observed for the e l e c t rons to emit X-rays with

54 The Review of Religions – March 2003 Professor Abdus Salam and the Middle-East Synchroton additional special pro p e r t i e s . varies; for example wood and This interesting physical flesh are easily penetrated, but phenomenon of the emission of denser substances such a metals light (with very special and bone are harder to p roperties) by the whirling penetrate. Beams of X-rays e l e c t rons, now known by the emerge from the ring in tubes very familiar name synchrotron called beamlines, set at intervals radiation had its theore t i c a l around the ring. Instruments at beginnings even before the the ends of the beamlines hold discovery of X-rays in the samples to be studied and nineteenth century. The accurate produce 3-D images of a variety and very detailed prediction of of substances. SR was a direct consequence of the unification of electricity and The applications of the SR span a magnetism into electro - wide range of domains in magnetism by Faraday and fundamental science (chemistry, Maxwell. The tradition to search physics, biology, molecular for unity in basic laws of nature medicine, etc.) applied research has led to remarkable re s u l t s . (materials science, medical Following this tradition led imaging, pharmaceutical Professor Abdus Salam to the re s e a rch advanced radiology, discovery of the unification of etc.) and industrial technology the electromagnetic and the ( m i c ro-fabrication, micro - weak nuclear forces into the analysis, photo-chemistry, etc.). electroweak force. SR facilities are technologically challenging, requiring a team of The X-rays from a synchrotron dozens of experts even for their are a billion times brighter than a day-to-day running. These typical clinical X-ray source. SR facilities are prohibitively costly, is the most powerful light pro- about several hundred million duced by humans. Applications US dollars. In contrast the X-ray of X-rays are based on their machines in clinics can be run by ability to pass through matter; a single person and cost just a the more energetic the deeper few thousand US$. Hence, there they penetrate. This ability are few SR facilities in operation

The Review of Religions – March 2003 55 Professor Abdus Salam and the Middle-East Synchroton

despite their numero u s in Indore. The region of the applications. World wide there Middle East has been just a re about 50 SR facilities in blessed. Synchrotrons are very operation, a dozen under flexible devices5 - 6. By re u s i n g construction and another dozen most of the major components being planned3. It re q u i re s their performance can be several years and government upgraded at an incremental cost p a t ronage to build such that is small compared with the facilities. cost of construction of a new synchrotron. In recent years this In all there are 23 countries: flexibility is being innovatively Armenia, Australia, Brazil, exploited to relocate the very Canada, China, Denmark, g e n e rously donated synchro - England, France, Germany, trons to those locations, which India, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Korea, a re under- re p resented in the Russia, Singapore, Spain, World Synchrotron Map7. Sweden, Switzerland, Ta i w a n , Thailand, Ukraine and USA. The Middle East Synchrotron From this list it is very glaring Jordan is the first country from that the continent of Africa is yet the Middle East to join the elite to have its first SR facility, South g roup of 23 countries with a America has one and Australia s y n c h ro t ron light sourc e8 - 1 0 is planning. In Asia there are 29 thanks to the generous gift of s y n c h ro t rons located in nine Berliner Elektro n e n - S p i e c h e r r i n g c o u n t r i e s4. USA has 12. für Synchrotronstrahlung (BESSY- S y n c h ro t rons breathe tech- I)11, fully functioning since 1982 nology! Japan has seventeen, the in Berlin, Germany, to the region highest figure for a single of the Middle East. It is worth c o u n t r y. This is definitely about sixty million US dollars. interwoven with the grand The project is known by the industrial success of Japan. India acronym SESAME: Synchrotron- has the experience and expertise light for Experimental Science and of indigenously building two Applications in the Middle East12. s y n c h ro t rons. Both are at the Centre of Advanced Technology,

56 The Review of Religions – March 2003 Professor Abdus Salam and the Middle-East Synchroton

The SESAME Project reached a a politically important example major milestone in 2000 with the of scientific co-operation in the selection of a site in Jordan13-14. region. Such a centre has been SESAME is the upgraded long overdue and it shall be the reincarnation of BESSY-I. A first of its kind in the region. The c o n t rolled and documented C e n t re is to be operated and dismantling, of BESSY-I was supported by its 13 I n t e r i m completed by a team of experts Council Members: Bahrain, from Armenia and Russia, with C y p rus, Egypt, Greece, Iran, funds from the SESAME Israel, Jordan, Morocco, Oman, member countries and Pakistan, Palestine, Turkey and UNESCO. the United Arab Emirates. Several countries are partic- On Monday the 6th January ipating as Observer Countries, 2003, King Abdullah laid the which include, Armenia, France, cornerstone for the upcoming Germany, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, International Centre. The Russia, Sudan, Sweden, ceremony was attended by, the Switzerland, UK and USA1 6. UNESCO Director General Several other countries have Koichiro Matsuura. The upcom- expressed an interest to join this ing joint SR facility, the first new fount of science and regional centre for co-operation medium of international co- in basic research in the Middle operation. East, is also serving as a seed for an International Centre built The founders of the SESAME around the facility 15. SESAME is Project envisage a facility similar located at a site in Allaan, about in aim to the Euro p e a n 30km from the Capital Amman. Laboratory for Particle Physics (CERN) in Geneva, which SESAME is open to scientists b rought together numero u s from any country in the region scientists from countries that or elsewhere. Because of this had fought each other during openness, organisers see its the two World Wars. SESAME is potential as not only a world- expected to mirror CERN in class research centre, but also as stimulating regional re s e a rc h

The Review of Religions – March 2003 57 Professor Abdus Salam and the Middle-East Synchroton

collaboration17-19. Very much like operation between Europe, the CERN, SESAME is under the USA and the Middle East. The very valuable political umbrella idea of relocating BESSY-I was of UNESCO and is expected to further taken through the MESC p romote science and foster in a series of meetings held international co-operation. A under the auspices of the b road spectrum of re s e a rc h UNESCO, CERN, Abdus Salam p rogrammes is planned International Centre for including, structural molecular T h e o retical Physics (Abdus b i o l o g y, molecular enviro n - Salam ICTP) to name a few22. mental science, surface and Herwig Schopper, former interface science, micro-electro- Director-General of CERN and a mechanical devices, X-ray member of MESC is the imaging, archaeological micro - P resident of the SESAME analysis, materials character- P roject’s Interim Council. isation, and medical Jordan’s King Abdullah II has applications. pledged US $1m a year for five years and the member countries It has taken several years for the a re expected to contribute idea of donation to be set on US$50,000 per year during the course to evolve from a vision to c o n s t ruction phase. With the a system. A considerably continued progress and support significant point to this success from the SESAME members and was the Sinai Physics Meeting, several other sources it is held at the Egyptian resort of expected that the re s e a rc h Dahab, on the Gulf of Aqaba, in programmes will start in 2006. November 199520. This historic Meeting was conceived by the Abdus Salam and the Middle Italian physicist Sergio Fubini21 East Synchrotron of the University of Turin, which B e f o re addressing the re c e n t led directly to the formation of attempts to build institutions in the Middle East Science the Middle East, we need to Collaboration (MESC) in 1997. recall the glorious period of MESC constitutes a network of science and technology in the scientists promoting research co- Arab World a few centuries

58 The Review of Religions – March 2003 Professor Abdus Salam and the Middle-East Synchroton back. So far as the sciences are E u ropeans were busy making concerned, the Muslim Ummah universities and numero u s (community) has a very proud institutions, the Mughal past. For about 350 years from E m p e rors were busy making 750-1100 CE, the Ummah had an palaces and tombs! The trends absolute ascendancy in all the and tendencies of the Muslim fields of knowledge then known, rulers of the present period are f rom Astronomy to Zoology. not very different. During this period known as the Golden Age of Science in the It is recognised that 80% of the Islamic Wo r l d, Muslims made world’s population lives in the n u m e rous and multi- Third World; a loose depressing disciplinary contributions to description of a large, diverse humanity and the Islamic group of countries, which seem civilisation23. From 1100 CE and to be interminably involved in a for another 250 years, Muslims futile struggle against the shared this ascendancy with the c rushing burdens of poverty, emerging West. From the 15th hunger, disease, strife and war. century they progressively lost Muslim countries constitute a out. This period of continuous large fraction of the countries in decline paradoxically coincides this category of the Third World. with the great Empires of Islam: There is no question that today, Osmani in Turkey; Sufvi in Iran; out of all civilisations on this and Mughal in India. By about planet, science is weakest in the 1500 this decline was complete. lands of Islam. The danger of A detailed and historical account this great weakness cannot be is available in the encyclopedic o v e remphasised since hon- works of Sarton24 and Gibb25. It ourable survival of a society is difficult to say for certain depends directly on its strength about all the causes responsible in Science and Technology. In for the decline of science in keeping with the successful Islam. However, it is very certain experience of the developed that the priorities (of the rulers) countries, we must remember, have been very different for too there are no short cuts. A nation long. For example, while the must impart hard scientific

The Review of Religions – March 2003 59 Professor Abdus Salam and the Middle-East Synchroton

training to more than half of its About half the Muslim countries manpower. Each country must a re meeting the expenditure allocate at least 1-2% of the norms on education. But for Gross National Product (GNP) R&D, they are far below the on Research and Development international norms. These (R&D). figures are for civilian allotment. The expenditure on the defence- The oil rich Arab countries are oriented research is in addition allotting even less than their to this. Most of the Muslim poor African counterparts! countries are spending much Region-wise figures in Table-A less than the international norms a re a testimony to this stark of about 5% of their GNP on re a l i t y. Besides, they should health. The reduced investment spend over 5% on education. on R&D makes a significant

TABLE-A: Statistical Data for Regions 1996/1997

Population Scientists/ Expenditure Region (millions) Engineers in R&D on R&D (% (per million of GNP) inhabitants)

Africa (All) 627 211 0.3 Africa (Sub-Saharan) 464 113 0.3 Arab States (All) 234 356 0.2 Arab States in Africa 163 489 0.2 Arab States in Asia 71 52 0.2 Asia 3,332 537 1.3 Europe 714 2,476 1.7 North America 295 3,599 2.6 Oceania 29 3,071 1.6 South America 487 715 0.5 World 5,483 946 1.6

Source: State of Technology in the World 1996-97. UNESCO Institute of Statistics (2001)

60 The Review of Religions – March 2003 Professor Abdus Salam and the Middle-East Synchroton d i ff e rence. For instance, the and now almost and conve- entire Muslim world produces niently forgotten) to build only 500 PhDs in all sciences institutions (including synchro- every year; in contrast, the UK tron radiation facilities) in the alone produces 3,000. In 1999 the Middle East26-27. The originator USA produced 1,600 PhDs in of these attempts is none other physics alone. Muslim countries than Professor Abdus Salam, a should create centres of co-winner of the 1979 Nobel excellence in science and tech- Prize in Physics, the founder and nology; create scholarships to long-time director of the ICTP allow bright students to study (in November 1997 on the and develop skills needed to occasion of the first anniversary raise their countries out of of Professor Salam’s death, it illiteracy and poverty. Will the was renamed the Abdus Salam present day rulers care to build I C T P, to commemorate its Palaces of Science, the Centres of founder) and a humanitarian Advanced Studies? Will they ever who devoted much of his life to strive to create the uplifting the status of science Commonwealth of Science for and technology in the third Islamic Countries? Unless and world28-31. The ICTP is located in until steps are taken to address Trieste, Italy, and was founded the above questions in a realistic by Professor Abdus Salam in m a n n e r, there can be no 1964, under the auspices of the renaissance of science in the IAEA with very genero u s Islamic countries, let alone the support from the Italian ambitions of the creation of a Government. This genero u s Political Commonwealth of Islamic support is responsible for the C o u n t r i e s. Without these, the 90% of the ICTP annual budget Muslim countries (and their of over US$20m. A few years citizens) may never be able to later UNESCO also joined in lead a normal existence, full of extending support to the new dignity, in the comity of nations. Centre.

It is essential to recall the earlier P rofessor Abdus Salam had attempts (though unsuccessful d reamed of creating 20

The Review of Religions – March 2003 61 Professor Abdus Salam and the Middle-East Synchroton

international centres like the Greece has joined CERN, paying a I C T P, spread throughout the subscription according to the w o r l d3 2 - 3 3. ICTP attracts thou- standard GNP formula. I cannot sands of visitors every year, rejoice that Tu r k e y, or the Gulf mostly from the developing countries, or Iran, or Pakistan seem countries for whom, it was to show no ambition to join this created. As part of that vision, he fount of science and get their men actively promoted the idea of catapulted into the forefront of the advancing the cause of science latest technological expertise. and technology in the Middle Working with CERN Accelerators East, not only by having brings at the least this reward to a re s e a rchers from the re g i o n nation, as Greece has had the work with their colleagues in the perception to realise’32 developed world, but also by having the region develop its He then went on to make the own facilities including following points: synchrotron laboratories! In May 1983, at the Symposium on the ‘I have mentioned an international Future Outlook of the Arabian laboratory in materials sciences for Gulf University held in Bahrain, Bahrain, with specialisation in P rofessor Abdus Salam m i c ro e l e c t ronics and modern delivered a Paper entitled, The electronic communications, includ- Gulf University and Science in the ing space satellite communication, Arab-Islamic Commonwealth, in to help also with the banking which he reminded his listeners communications needed at Bahrain. that: Such a laboratory was in fact p roposed for the University of ‘We forget that an accelerator like Jeddah. The idea was to emphasise the one at CERN develops science transfer in addition to sophisticated modern technology at technology transfer and to create its furthest limit. I am not international laboratories in the advocating that we should build a fields of materials sciences, CERN for Islamic countries. including surface physics and a However, I cannot but feel envious laboratory with a synchro t ro n that a relatively poor country like radiation light source. The facilities

62 The Review of Religions – March 2003 Professor Abdus Salam and the Middle-East Synchroton c reated would have been of the developing countries and 106 highest possible international order; Associate Fellows from 14 the laboratories would have been developed countries). In 1991 opened to teams of international UNESCO assumed re s p o n - researchers, who would congregate sibility for administering TWAS and work at Jeddah, just as they funds and staff. Since its c o n g regate now at the gre a t inception, TWAS has been laboratories in Hamburg, Geneva or supporting re s e a rch work of Paris’.32 scientific merit in 100 countries, t h rough a variety of pro - Had the above project been grammes35. TWAS has served as followed even partly, the Arab one of the most articulate and World would have had a Super forceful voices for the promotion Gulf University (with lab- of excellence in scientific oratories in biotechnology, research and the advancement of materials science and synch- science-based development in rotron radiation facilities and a the developing world. TWA S lot more) and today we would spearheaded the creation of the be celebrating two decades of its T h i rd World Network of existence with achievements. Scientific Org a n i s a t i o n s (TWNSO) in 1988, by ministers One of the other monumental of science and technology and c reations of Professor Abdus higher education and heads of Salam was the Third Wo r l d science academies and res e a rc h Academy of Science (TWAS)34. It councils in the developing is an autonomous international countries. This has enabled the organisation, founded in Trieste, link of scientific re s e a rch to in 1983 and was off i c i a l l y public policy by bringing sci- launched by Javier Pérez de entists and public off i c i a l s C u e l l a r, the then Secre t a r y together in efforts designed to General of the United Nations in fo r ge sustainable science-based 1985. TWAS’s curre n t development strategies. membership, which includes 16 TWNSO’s membership now Nobel Laureates, totals 586 totals 155 leading policy making scientists (480 Fellows from 62 institutions, including 34

The Review of Religions – March 2003 63 Professor Abdus Salam and the Middle-East Synchroton

ministries of science and Super Gulf University, thereby technology and 45 re s e a rc h making it accessible to councils and academies. TWAS researchers internationally, and also played a key role in the particularly to the researchers in establishment of the Third Muslim countries. World Organisation for Women in Science (TWOWS), which was It is very disheartening that officially launched in Cairo in many countries from the Middle 1993. Today TWOWS has more East are yet to participate in the than 2200 members and is novel project of SESAME. These recognised as the leading voice countries are missing an for women scientists in the excellent opportunity in the developing countries. arena of International Scientific Collaboration. The same is the Concluding Remarks sad state of affairs for countries SESAME envisages a road map for in the rest of Asia and the science, technology and co- continent of Africa. Many of operation in the Middle East, but these countries have had very at the same time, SESAME does old ties with the countries of the not totally fulfil the dreams of Middle East since very ancient Professor Abdus Salam because times. In recent decades, these many countries from the Middle ties have been further East are yet to participate. The s t rengthened by their larg e driving force is coming fro m presence in the region, leading to outside of Middle East and not active economic collaboration. f rom within. The numero u s Nature in one of its editorials novel projects suggested by aptly advised, ‘... any potential Professor Abdus Salam were all funder is not to hold back, for this consistently rejected by the would be a worthwhile investment. Muslim countries, including his Initiatives such as this do not come native country Pakistan. This is around often. When they do, they definitely due to the indifference should be supported unhesi- which the Muslim world has tatingly’36. Scientific co-operation towards science, education and a c ross the geo-graphical and development. Such pro j e c t s cultural borders helps stimulate should be revived for the new not only the advancement of

64 The Review of Religions – March 2003 Professor Abdus Salam and the Middle-East Synchroton ideas in the professional field, 7. World Synchro t ron Map We b s i t e : h t t p : / / w w w - but also the building of lasting ssrl.slac.stanford.edu/sr_sources.html bridges and the establishment of contacts on the personal and 8. Heather McCabe, Middle East’s synchrotron heads for Jordan, Nature, m o re importantly the 404, 798 (20 April 2000). international level. The costs 9. Sameen Ahmed Khan, Jordan to host involved for participation are Middle East synchrotron, ICFA Beam not much, for any country. Dynamics Newsletter, 22, 6-7 (August 2000). (ICFA: International Committee for Future Accelerators). References 10. Sameen Ahmed Khan, A German Synchrotron for the Middle East, IRPS 1. JD. Jackson, Classical Electro d y n a m i c s, Bulletin, 16 (2), 5-8 (August 2002). (IRPS: Third Edition, (Wiley, New York, 1999). International Radiation Physics Society). 2. Handbook of Accelerator Physics and Engineering, Editors, A. W. Chao and M. 11. BESSY Website: http://www.bessy.de/ Ti g n e r, (World Scientific, Singapore , 1999). 12. SESAME We b s i t e : http://www.sesame.org.jo/ 3. Sameen Ahmed Khan, The World of Synchrotrons, Resonance, 6, No. 11, pp. 13. Leif Gerward, SESAME site selected in 77-86 (November 2001), (Monthly Jordan, IRPS Bulletin, 14 (4), (December Publication of the Indian Academy of 2000). (IRPS: International Radiation Sciences (IAS)). E - P r i n t a r X i v : Physics Society). p h y s i c s / 0 1 1 2 0 8 6 . h t t p : / / w w w. a r x i v. o rg / a b s / p h y s i c s / 0 1 14. Sameen Ahmed Khan, A Synchrotron 12086/ Radiation Facility in the Middle East, ICO Newsletter, 51, pp. 3 (April 2002); 4. Sameen Ahmed Khan, Synchro t ro n Supplement to Optics & Photonics News, Radiation (in Asia), ATIP Report No. 13 No. 2, pp.3 (April 2002). (ICO: ATIP02.034, 28 pages (21 August 2002). International Commission for Optics). (The Asian Technology Information Programme, Tokyo, Japan, 2002). 15. Ehsan Masood, Middle East s y n c h ro t ron facility could bring 5 Sameen Ahmed Khan, The Story of the regional co-operation, Nature, 399, 507- Relocated Synchrotrons, Indian Science 508 (10 June 1999). Cruiser, 15, No. 2, 26-30 (April 2001). 16. Heather McCabe, Jordan chosen to 6. Sameen A. Khan and Susan M. Reiss, open SESAME, Nature, 406, 221 (20 July Donated Synchro t ron will further 2000). Middle East Co-operation; Sharing Synchrotrons, Optics & Photonics News, 17. Herwig Schopper, SESAME: a mini 13, No. 11, pp. 14-15 (November 2002). CERN for the Middle East, C E R N Courier, 40 (2), 17-18 (March 2000).

The Review of Religions – March 2003 65 Professor Abdus Salam and the Middle-East Synchroton

18. E d i t o r, SESAME Opens the Door to 183 (December 1996). (Publication of Middle East Co-operation, C E R N the IPA, the Indian Physics Courier, 42 (9), (November 2002). Association).

19. Matin Durrani, Jordan lab breaks new 30. Jogesh C. Pati, Obituary of Abdus ground, Physics World, 16 (1), 5 (January Salam, Physics To d a y, 50 (8), 74-75 2003). (August 1997).

20. Roman Jackiw, Arabs, Israelis and 31. T. W. B. Kibble, Muhammad Abdus Westerners attend first Sinai physics Salam, Biographical Memoirs of Fellows of meeting, Physics To d a y, 49 (2), 11 - 1 3 the Royal Society, 44, 385-401 (1998). (February 1996). 32. Abdus Salam, in Renaissance of Sciences 21. Roman Jackiw and Sameen Ahmed in Islamic Countries, Editors: H. R. Dalafi Khan, Fubini and Salam inspired plans and M. H, A. Hassan, (World Scientific, for Mideast Synchrotron, Physics Today, Singapore, 1994). 53 (1), 78 (January 2000). 33. Abdus Salam, in Ideals and Realities, 22. Regina Rochow, Supporting the third edition, Editors: C. H. Lai and SESAME Project, Elettra News, Vol. 40 Azim Kidwai, (World Scientific, (08 June 2001). Singapore, 1989).

23. Zakaria Virk, Islamic Contribution to 34. TWAS Website: http://www.twas.org/ European Awakening. 35. M. Akhtar, Some personal reflections on 24. George Sarton, Introduction to the history the origin of TWAS and the evolution of of science, in four volumes, (Williams & its mission, Current Science, 81 (8), pp. Wilkins, Baltimore, 1962). 927-929 (25 October 2001).

25. H. A. R. Gibb, The Encyclopaedia of Islam, 36. E d i t o r, A cause worth funding: A (Brill Academic Publishers, Leiden, The German synchrotron would be good for Netherlands, 1986). the Middle East, Nature, 309, 505 (10 June 1999). 26. Sameen Ahmed Khan, Salam’s bright idea, Physics Wo r l d, 12 (11), 15 (November 1999).

27. Sameen Ahmed Khan, Opening SESAME, CERN Courier, 40 (5), 38 (April 2000).

28. Sameen A. Khan, The International C e n t re for Theoretical Physics—A Personal Impression, Al-Nahl Special Issue on Dr. Abdus Salam Vol. 8, pp. 122- 124 (Fall 1997).

29. C. P. Singh, Abdus Salam - Life and Work, Physics News, 27, No. 4, pp. 181-

66 The Review of Religions – March 2003 A Message of Peace and a Word of Warning

‘The Promised Messiah( a s ) Nasir Ahmad, July 1967) prophesied that a third world war of even bigger dimensions The Promised Messiah( a s ) a l s o would follow the second. The wrote: two opposing camps will clash with such suddenness that "Remember, God has informed everyone will be caught me of many earthquakes. Rest unawares. Death and a s s u red, there f o re, that as destruction will rain from the earthquakes have shaken sky and fierce flames shall America and Europe so will engulf the earth. The colossus they shake Asia. Some of them of modern civilisation will will resemble the Day of Doom. tumble to the ground… their So many people shall die that might broken and their rivulets of blood shall flow. systems shattered.… A people Even the birds and beasts will who are seeking to wipe out not be immune against this the name of God from the death. A havoc shall sweep the earth and to drive Him out of surface of the earth which shall the skies will realise the folly be the greatest since the birth of of their ways and at long last man. Habitations shall be submit to Him as staunch demolished as if no one had believers in His Unity and ever lived in them. This will be Oneness…. You may consider accompanied by many other this a fantasy. But those who calamities the earth and the survive the third world war heavens will send forth, till will witness and bear out the their extraordinary nature will truth of what I have said. become evident to every These are the words of God reasonable man. All the A l m i g h t y. They shall be l i t e r a t u re of science and fulfilled. No one can avert His philosophy shall fail to show decree.’ their like. Then mankind will be (A Message of Peace and a Word of s o re distressed and wonder Warning by Hadrat Hafiz Mirza what is going to happen. Many

The Review of Religions – March 2003 67 Message from Heaven

shall escape and many perish. O dweller of islands, no false The days are near, in fact, I can gods shall come to your rescue. see them close at hand, when I see cities fall and settlements the earth shall witness a terrible laid waste. The One and Only sight. Not only earthquakes but God kept silent for long. also many fearsome calamities Heinous deeds were done shall overtake man, some from before His eyes and He said the skies and some from the nothing. But now He shall earth. This will happen because reveal His face in majesty and mankind has stopped wor- awe. Let him who has ears hear shipping its true God and has that the time is not far. I have become lost in the affairs of the done my best to bring all under world with all its heart, effort the protection of God but it was and intent. Had I not come, destined that what was written these afflictions would have should come to pass. Truly, do I been delayed a little. But with say that the turn of this land too my coming the secret purpose is approaching fast. The times of an affronted God which were of Noah shall reappear before hidden so far, became manifest. our eyes and your eyes will be Says God: “We never punish witnesses to the calamity that unless We send a Messenger.” overtook the cities of Lot. But Those who repent shall find God is slow in His wrath. security and those who fear Repent that you may be shown before calamity overtakes them mercy! He who does not fear shall be shown mercy. Do you Him is dead not alive.’ think you will be immune from (Haqiqatul Wahy pp.256-57) these calamities? Or can you save yourselves through artifice or design? Indeed not. That day all human schemes shall fail. Think not that earthquakes visited America and other continents but that your own country shall remain secure . Indeed, you may experience a g reater hardship. O Euro p e , you are not safe and O Asia, you too, are not immune. And

68 The Review of Religions – March 2003