Contents April 2002, Vol.97, No.4

Editorial Could God ignore the prayers of His prophet? ...... 3 The Pure Heart The role of the heart in bringing man closer to God. Hadhrat (as) ...... 4 ’ Survival from the Cross What the Bible tells us about this intriguing episode.: By Muzaffar Clarke – UK...... 13 Is the a Medieval Photograph? - A Critical Examination of the Theory: Could the image on the famous cloth be a photograph? A photographer investigates. By Barrie M. Schwortz – USA ...... 22 The Israelite Origin of People of and the Kashmiri People – Linking the scattered tribes of Israelites with their Jewish roots. By Aziz A. Chaudhary – USA ...... 36

Evidence of Jesus (as) in India Historical evidence of Jesus’ migration to India.. By Abubakr Ben Ishmael Salahuddin – USA...... 48 Letter to the Editor? The Catholic Church in America...... 69 Front cover photo: (© Barrie M. Schwortz)

Chief Editor and Manager Chairman of the Management Board Mansoor Ahmed Shah Naseer Ahmad Qamar Basit Ahmad Bockarie Tommy Kallon Special contributors: All correspondence should Daud Mahmood Khan Amatul-Hadi Ahmad be forwarded directly to: Farina Qureshi Fareed Ahmad. The Editor Fazal Ahmad Proof-reader: Shaukia Mir Fauzia Bajwa The London Mosque Mansoor Saqi Design and layout: 16 Gressenhall Road Mahmood Hanif Tanveer Khokhar London, SW18 5QL Mansoora Hyder-Muneeb United Kingdom Navida Shahid Publisher: 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 Muslim Community. 1 beloved of God suffered immense torture simply on account of his Editorial belief in God and for his delivering God’s message to the Israelites. This month’s issue focuses on . Easter – despite its The scene in the Garden of ( a s ) modern trimmings with Easter Gethsemane where Jesus bunnies and chocolate eggs – is throws himself in prayer before supposed to be a time for the Almighty in total submission Christians to reflect upon the and humility is one of raw, heart- biblical account of what they rending emotion. The tears that flow from him as he prayed for believe to be Jesus’(as) last days on earth before he was crucified the ‘cup of death’ to be taken and then brought back to life from him are not a sign of his prior to his ascension to heaven. weakness but a sign of his utter Despite the historical evidence of conviction, and total faith in (as) early Christians holding different God. Jesus remained steadfast beliefs, for modern Christianity during this testing time and even at least the and his closest disciples could not match his endurance and they ( a s ) is the bedrock of their whole faith as seemed to have fallen, tired and the bible declares ‘And if exhausted, not being able to be not risen then is our preaching muster enough strength to keep vain.’(Corinthians 15:14). watch and pray alongside Jesus. The ‘lost sheep of the house of In , whilst Jesus(as) is not considered to be the literal Son Israel’ – the very people whose of God but rather a noble and souls he had come to save – were respected prophet of God, the after his life. Their faith had been obliterated by personal and events surrounding Jesus(as) being put on the Cross remain a political gain and they were not sobering episode of his life. going to let a simple man from Setting aside the timing of Easter Nazareth deprive them of the itself (over which there is some power that their god gave them. debate) what is common to H o w e v e r, Jesus ( a s ), like all Christians and Muslims is that this prophets had preached and was a time during which a insisted all along that God lived

2 Review of Religions – April 2002 Editorial and that He answered the prayers 1899 – curiously enough by a of His servants. We read in the person claiming to be the second Bible that ‘every one that asketh advent of Jesus(as) as prophesied receiveth’ (Luke 11:10), the in various religious scriptures. question, therefore, that hangs That person Hadhrat Mirza perilously over the events Ghulam Ahmad(as) lived in , surrounding crucifixion, is how a tiny unknown hamlet in India was it possible for God to ignore yet his research is remarkable – the cries of His prophet at his and truly astounding if one hour of need? For if the cup of considers the difficulties he faced death did not elude him despite when conducting and compiling all his prayers then surely, his research. The validity of this despite all his noble words and research is testified by the fact deeds, he would have failed in his that his book even divine mission and it would have today remains unchallenged in its been his preaching that would evidence and has served as a have been in vain? springboard for much research in this area throughout the 20th If however he had survived and century and beyond. not died on the cross then this would have been sure sign of God Fareed Ahmad and of Jesus’ ( a s ) truth as His prophet. It is for this purpose that the articles selected for this issue are those that provide an insight into just some of the mountain of evidence that exists supporting the survival of Jesus(as) from the cross. However, this is not a new concept, but one that has its modern roots in the 19th century. The first treatise that presented this whole theory as well as its impact on world religion, rationally and meticulously, was written over 100 years ago in

Review of Religions – April 2002 3 The Pure Heart Presented below is a compilation, in translation, of excerpts taken from Malfoozat relating to the topic of the purity of heart. Malfoozat is the title of the ten volumes that contain the collection of discourses, speeches and addresses of Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian, the Promised Messiah and Mahdi (may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him).

[Tr a n s l a t o r ’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 Sahib(r a ) . Where the Pro m i s e d Me s s i a h (a s ) has himself stated a certain inter- pretation of the Arabic verse, this is incorporated in the main body of the text]. Compiled and translated by Amatul Hadi Ahmad

God has placed within a human being three types of controlling factors: the mind, the heart and the tongue. The mind uses reasoning and intelligence and its job is to be occupied at all The founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community was times in formulating ideas and Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad. forming ever new thoughts, In 1891, he claimed, on the basis explanations and arguments. of Divine revelation, that he was The mind has been assigned the the Promised Messiah and Mahdi duty of assessing the results and whose advent had been foretold conclusions of various formu- by the Holy Prophet of Islam lations. The heart, on the other (peace be upon him) and by the hand, is the ‘king’ of the whole scriptures of other faiths. being. It does not use argument His claim constitutes the basis of and proof because it has a link the beliefs of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. with the King of Kings [i.e. God Almighty] and that is why it is sometimes informed with a clear

4 Review of Religions – April 2002 The Pure Heart and evident revelation and other meaning of the heart is sometimes with a secret or spiritual. The literal meaning of hidden revelation. Another way the term Qalb [Arabic for heart] of stating this is to say that the is that which moves around or mind is a ‘Viz i r ’, a ‘Minister’. returns. As the heart is the Ministers are statesmen and in source of circulation of blood in this capacity the mind is the body, it is referred to as occupied with formulating ideas Qalb. In the spiritual sense its and schemes as well as the meaning is that the progress means and consequences. The that a human being wishes to heart has no business with all achieve is also based around the th a t . ‘heart’. Just as the circulation of blood, crucial for sustaining Within the heart God has placed human life, originates from the the power of instinct just as an heart, so the spiritual progress ant manages to reach exactly is dependent upon the spiritual the place where there is heart. something sweet. The ant does not have any proof of the fact Some ignorant people including that there is something sweet at some philosophers of today who a certain place. It reaches there place the mind at the centre of because God has provided it all the best activity, do not with the instinct that guides it. know that the mind is only the In this sense the heart shares a seat of cognitive powers of similarity with the ant because reasoning and argument. The it too has an instinctive sense power of thought and memory is within it that guides it and that in the mind but there is an does not depend upon proofs, aspect of the heart that makes arguments, conclusions and it the ultimate sovereign. The results. However, it is quite activity of the mind has a another matter that the mind is contrived element about it that able to and does provide such is not present in the case of the proofs for the ‘heart’. ‘heart’. That is why the heart bears a resemblance to Rabb- One meaning of the heart is ul-Arsh, that is, of the apparent and physical. The Heavenly Throne. The ‘heart’ is

Review of Religions – April 2002 5 The Pure Heart

able to recognise [spiritual initiation, they have found this truths] without proofs and to be true according to their arguments, purely through its experiences. It is as if there is a instinctive powers. That is why fine thread connecting Arsh and it is stated in a of the Qalb, linking the Divine Throne Holy Prophet(sa): Istafil qalba, and the spiritual heart. [At this that is, ask your heart for a stage] the Qalb finds pleasure in verdict – it does not state ‘ask the commands it receives (from your mind for a verdict’. its Lord God) – it is not dependent upon external proofs It is to the ‘heart’ that the and evidence. It becomes ‘cord’ of God is linked and no Mulhim, that is, one who is a one should consider this a far recipient of Divine Revelation, fetched idea. It is, indeed, and internally converses with difficult and abstruse but those God and forms verdicts. who purify themselves know However, it is true that as long that the heart does possess such as the heart remains only a noble qualities. If the heart did heart, it becomes a proof of the not possess such qualities, then condition illustrated in the the very existence of the human following verse of the Holy being would have been Qura’n: considered useless. The Sufis and those who carry out spiritual exercises know this well that the heart has been If we had but listened or seen giving out light in the form possessed sense of pillars of light that reach (Ch.67: v.11) towards the skies in a straight line. This experience is certain that is, there is a time when a and well witnessed. I cannot human being does not possess here state specific examples the powers of heart and mind. but those who have to Then there comes a time when undertake such exercises or the mind develops its powers those who have decided to and faculties and then a time journey through the different comes when the Qalb becomes stages of Salook, that is mystic engulfed by light – a light bursts

6 Review of Religions – April 2002 The Pure Heart forth and it is illuminated. complete human being. This is When the time comes for the the time when he becomes a ’heart’ to come to the fore, the living proof of the [following human being attains spiritual verse of the Holy Qura’n where maturity and the heart rules God states]: over the mind. At that stage, the powers of the mind do not have supremacy over the heart. It should be noted that the I have breathed into him of different states of the mind are My Spirit. (Ch.15: v.30) not specific to the believers alone. Hindus and others all use It is a time when even the the mind alike. Those who are angels prostrate before him. At involved in worldly affairs and that time he becomes a new in trade and business all use the human being. His soul is filled powers of the mind and their with pleasure and joy. It should mental faculties develop to the be remembered that this full. Every day new ideas and pleasure does not resemble the inventions are made to further carnal pleasure of an adulterer, their affairs. In Europe and the nor does it resemble the new world you can see how well enjoyment that is gained by people have used their mental listening to beautiful singing. capacities and how frequently No, it does not resemble any and how many new inventions such thing and one should not they make. be deceived by this. The pleasure of the soul is attained However, when the work of the when a person’s being begins to Qalb is carried out, it is then melt and flow like water at the that a person becomes God’s. It thought of and fear of God. It is is at that time that all inner at such a stage that he becomes powers of rule and control the ‘Kalima’ , that is, ‘the become under the power and word’ and the essence of this rule of the ‘heart’ which attains [the following] verse begins to a firm control, power and work within him: strength. It is at such a stage that a human being becomes a

Review of Religions – April 2002 7 The Pure Heart

being at the Command of God [and is under the Command of God]. However, due to their foolishness and ignorance, people do not generally appre- ciate the significance of the Verily His command, when He soul and as a result they intends a thing, is only that imprison their soul and shackle He says to it ‘Be’ and it is. it with all kinds of ‘chains’ (Ch.36: v.83) [that are ‘created’ by their worldly pursuits]. This has the People have been greatly consequence of turning the light mistaken about the use of the and clarity of the soul into a term K a l i m a - t u l l a h, meaning dangerous darkness, taking the ‘Word of God’ in relation to away its ability to ‘see’ and thus Jesus and have tended to turning the soul into something consider it to be due to some that is so opaque that it special quality possessed by becomes undetectable. Jesus whereas this is not so. This term, in fact, applies to However, when a person repents any human being when he and turns to God, thus removing emerges purified from the the cloak of a dark impure life, darkness that surrounds his soul the light within the heart begins and from all the impurities and to shine and he begins to move imperfections that engulf him. towards the real ‘fountainhead’ When such a high state of purity until the highest point of is achieved, a person becomes righteousness is reached. At this Kalima-tullah, that is, the stage all the impurities are ‘Word of God’. removed and what remains is only Kalima-tullah. This is a You should remember that a very fine and subtle point of human being is the ‘Word of deep spiritual insight and one God’ because there is within that may not be easily him a soul that is referred to in understood by everyone. the Holy Qur’an as Amr-e-Rabbi, [Malfoozat, Vol.1, pp.404–408]. that is, that which comes into

8 Review of Religions – April 2002 The Pure Heart

You will know that during God has referred to the heart, Bai’at, the Oath of Initiation Qalb, also as land, or earth, [as [into Ahmadiyyat] I include this for example, in the following promise from the initiate: ‘I verse of the Holy Qur’an, it is shall give precedence to faith stated]: over worldly matters’. This is so that I may see what steps are taken by those who have taken the Oath of Initiation in fulfillment of this promise. It is the case that if a person acquires even a small piece of Know that Allah is now new land, he leaves behind his quickening the earth after home and goes and establishes its death. himself on the newly acquired (Ch.57: v.18) land and it is necessary that he should go and live there in order How much effort has to be to inhabit that piece of land. made and care taken of land (Even the likes of Muhammad [before it can give crops and Hussain [who was an outspoken fruit]. A person buys a bullock opponent] had to go and stay at to till the land. He then the Bar). Hence, when I give you carefully sows seed in it after a new ‘land’ and a land that can which he has to ensure that it is give eternal fruits if it is kept kept well watered. In short, a clean and cultivated with effort great deal of effort goes into and hard work, why do people the cultivation of the land and not come and make their homes unless he makes his own here? If a person takes this personal effort and supervision, ‘land’ with such carelessness nothing comes of it. It is related that after ‘Bai’at’ even a few that a person saw written on a days visit [to Qadian to be with stone that farming is nothing the Promised Messiah(as)] is so but hard work so when he difficult and burdensome to started farming, he left him, then what hope can there everything to his servants. be of a ‘ripened crop’ from this H o w e v e r, when he came to ‘land’. check his gains, he found that

Review of Religions – April 2002 9 The Pure Heart

not only there was no gain, he handed. [Malfoozat, Volume 2, had to pay out to clear his debt. pp.70–71]. At this stage he began to suspect that something was wrong. A Some people consider that wise person advised him that merely by visiting some holy what was written on the stone person and without any effort or was true but it was his own inner purification, they will be foolishness that brought such a able to join the fold of the bad result. He further advised Truthful. This is just wishful the farmer that he should thinking. You should study the himself take charge of the land, Holy Qur’an to see that you only then would he reap any cannot win the pleasure of God benefit from it. The nature of unless you too endure hardship the heart is exactly like this [in and tribulation as did the terms of reaping rewards]. Prophets of God. Some of their ordeals and suffering was so He who looks down disre- extreme that, [in the words of spectfully upon the land [newly the Holy Qur’an]: placed in his care through his initiation into Ahmaiyyat] does not receive any blessing or favour from God. Re m e m b e r that I have been appointed for the reform of humanity and as such whosoever comes to me, becomes the beneficiary of such favours. However, I state this clearly that he who comes and Until the Messenger and the takes the Oath of Initiation in a believers who were with callous manner, repeating only him, cried out: When will the words, and then disappears the help of Allah arrive? so that we do not even know Surely Allah’s help is nigh. who he is and where he has (Ch.2: v.215) gone, for such a one there is nothing – he came empty It has always been the case that handed and he left empty the servants of God were put

10 Review of Religions – April 2002 The Pure Heart

WHEN THE HUMAN SOUL IS FACED WITH PAINFUL ORDEALS AND TRIBULATIONS, THE EXPERIENCE AND THE CONSEQUENT HUMILITY MAKES IT RADIANT. JUST AS IRON OR GLASS WHILE POSSESSING THE CAPACITY TO SHINE, SHINE ONLY AFTER THEY HAVE UNDERGONE A LENGTHY PROCESS OF BURNISHING AND THEN THEY SHINE SO BRIGHTLY THAT IN THEM IS REFLECTED THE FACE OF THE PERSON LOOKING IN. STRIVING IN THE PATH OF GOD ALSO WORKS AS A PROCESS OF BURNISHING. through many an ordeal and Perfect Guide and he is the hardship before they were Prophet who underwent such accepted by God. extreme hardship and suffering that the like of it has never The Sufis have written about been seen anywhere in the two paths that lead to success world. His quest was such that it in this struggle. One is the path did not let him rest even for a of Salook . This is the path of day. Now, the followers [of this people who, by using their own Prophet] will only be those who intelligence and wisdom, adopt truly and sincerely follow his the path of God and His every word and every deed. The Prophet(sa). [God, addressing the true follower is he who follows Holy Prophet(as) states in the in every way. A person who has Holy Qur’an]: scant regard [for Divine injunctions] and a harsh atti- tude [towards others] is not liked by God. Such a person will, instead, come under the wrath of God. S a y, ‘if you love Allah, follow me: then will Allah The injunction to follow the love you’. Holy Pr o p h e t( s a ), places an (Ch.3: v.32) obligation on the seeker to first study the whole history of the That is, if you wish to become Holy Pr o p h e t( s a ) and then to the loved ones of God then you follow in his footsteps. This is should follow the path of the what is mean by Salook, [that Holy Pr o p h e t( s a ). He is the is, Initiation]. There are in this

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path numerous ordeals and the person looking in. Striving in hardships. It is only after the path of God also works as a showing stead-fastness in the process of burnishing. The face of numerous hardships that burnishing of the ‘heart’ should a person becomes a Salik, that be to such a degree that the is a ‘Devotee’. ‘face’ is reflected in the resulting ‘mirror’ [of the The status of the people on the ‘heart’]. What is meant by path of Jazb is greater than ‘reflection of the face? The those on the path of Salook. meaning of this is to become [The term Jazb i m p l i e s the fulfillment of the saying, absorption of the love of God]. ‘Create within you morals in Those who strive on the path of accordance with the Jazb are not left at the stage of “character” of Allah’. The heart Salook. God deliberately puts of the S a l i k, that is, the them through ordeals and Initiate, is a ‘mirror’ that is tribulations in order to draw burnished so much through them closer to Himself through undergoing experiences of great the eternal power of suffering and tribulation that absorption, that is, Jaazba-e- the reflection of the moral Azli. All the Prophets of God qualities of the Holy Prophet(sa) were M a j z o o b, that is, they are fixed upon it. This occurs at were drawn to God and were a time when, having undergone absorbed in God. numerous spiritual exercises and inner purification, there When the human soul is faced remains no resentment or with painful ordeals and impurity within. It is only then tribulations, the experience and that this status is attained. the consequent humility makes Every Muslim believer needs this it radiant. Just as iron or glass kind of cleansing to some while possessing the capacity to extent. No believer will find shine, shine only after they salvation whilst being without have undergone a lengthy the ‘mirror’ of the heart. process of burnishing and then [Malfoozat, Vol. 1, pp.27-28]. they shine so brightly that in them is reflected the face of

12 Review of Religions – April 2002 Jesus’s Survival from the Cross Jesus’s Survival from the Cross

By Muzaffar Clarke, UK

This article examines some of the evidence from a biblical perspective regarding the events surrounding Jesus being placed on the Cross. It takes into account the timing of the crucifixion as well as the key players involved – both in public and behind the scenes – in the unfolding of what could be considered as one of the greatest miracles of all time – Jesus’s survival from the Cross.

O Jesus, I will cause thee to James Comyn, QC, “are you die a natural death and I will saying that is a widely held exalt thee to Myself. view?” Mr Bourne told Mr Justice (Ch.3: v.56) Ackner he believed an increasing number of people were no longer But if there be no accepting the “miraculous view” resurrection of the dead, “Do you feel that all right- then is Christ not risen; And if thinking people should take that Christ be not risen then is our view?” Mr. Comyn asked. “I think preaching vain, and your faith it would be an advance,” Mr. is also vain. Bourne said, “To quote a writer of (Holy Bible: Corinthians 15: 13 the second century AD, ‘If an –14) offence comes out of the truth it is better that the offence comes On 27th October 1972 the out rather than the truth be Guardian newspaper carried the concealed.’” Mr Bourne said he following report: ‘An anaesthetist realised that his view would be told the High Court in London offensive to a great number of that he believed Christ did not people. Mr. Comyn asked: “Do die on the Cross. Mr James Gerald you realise that it makes Bourne, formerly Senior nonsense of a good deal of Anaesthetist to St Thomas’ Christian teaching?” Mr Bourne Hospital, London said that he replied: “Yes: but not of Christian believed that the Re s u r r e c t i o n ethics. He was not suggesting was Jesus’ recovery from a faint. that the Crucifixion and the Mr Bourne was asked by Mr. Resurrection were hoaxes. “I

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have never believed, since a because I really did want to school-boy, in the miraculous or know. My mother tried her best to supernatural.” Mr. Bourne who make sure that I was brought up had been called as a witness in a as a good Catholic. I suppose I libel action concerning an must have been because a school anaesthetic technique, said his report describes me as ‘A staunch belief about the Resurrection was Roman Catholic’. I think I was “a conviction which seems to me, only seven or eight at the time. and it may be wrong, to be This refusal to give me more common sense.” He said he information lead me to look at believed that Jesus fainted what other Christians believed. If sometime during the three hours my Parish Priest had found out he on the cross. He was then taken would have twisted my ear, told down and entombed. “I think the me off and may have reported me faint simulated death – a faint to the Bishop. The Church told which he conquered.”’ you what to believe and it was up to the Church to make sure you The Resurrection of Jesus(as) is a did not get confused or ‘fall into very sensitive subject for error’ as the Church put it. Christians and we must always remember that we are talking Well I still was not satisfied and about deeply held and treasured one of the things that really beliefs. troubled me was the death of Jesus(as) on the cross. The more I From a very early age, I was studied the Bible the surer I taught that it was sinful to became that Jesus(as) came to question the teachings of the lead people back to God by his Catholic Church about anything. own example of loving kindness As a young boy, I genuinely and to reconcile people to God wanted answers to certain through repentance and spiritual questions so that I could unde- re-birth. I could not make any rstand them properly. The nuns sense at all of a supposedly and priests responsible for my merciful God, who could not Catholic education sternly forgive weak humans without discouraged me. Being young, requiring the torture and murder this just made me more curious. I of His only ‘begotten son’. It suppose I was unlike other kids seemed an injustice that God’s

14 Review of Religions – April 2002 Jesus’s Survival from the Cross sense of justice required for granted. It is part of the retribution for sin through the cultural background of Western death of whom Christians believe man. Britain may not be a nation to be his most loved. of Christians but we follow broadly Christian values and The Church teaches that Jesus these are reflected in our laws Christ (peace be upon him) died and social values. The majority of on the cross to pay for your sins people are not church-going and mine. Revelation 1:v.5 says: Christians but they still revere ‘Unto him that loved us, and Jesus(as) as someone who exem- washed us from our sins in his plifies the best in human own blood.’ It also teaches that: behaviour. Many people aspire to ‘He who knew no sin became sin.’ follow his example in doing good (2 Corinthians 5:21) and: ‘He was deeds and acting in a decent wounded for our transgressions, manner. His supposed death on he was bruised for our iniquities: the cross is seen as the ultimate the chastisement of our peace example of sacrificing one’s life was upon him; and with his for others. Many people, while stripes we are healed.’ (Isaiah not describing themselves as 53:5) especially religious, have followed his example and have Well a sinner I may be, but I am performed outstanding feats of not so sinful as to expect God to personal bravery and sacrifice. punish an innocent man for my The person of Jesus(as) forms part misdeeds. I thank Allah for of the psyche of Western nations. leading me out of darkness into A tragic and moving story, the light and for teaching me that I Resurrection offers hope and am responsible for my actions promise. While I was researching and that He is Most Gracious, this topic I was amazed to Ever Merciful to those who repent discover that so many leading and turn to Him for forgiveness. Christians have raised doubts My personal Saviour is Allah and about the Resurrection. Many Allah alone. Christians seem to have given up the idea that Jesus(as) survived The story of the Resurrection of death on the cross at all. George J e s u s( a s ) as told in the New C a r y, Anglican Archbishop of Testament has long been taken Canterbury was at the centre of a

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media storm over the eat in front of them. Hadhrat resurrection. An interview by a Mirza Ghulam Ahmad(as) provided reporter from The Mail evidence from the Bible that newspaper was published in Jesus(as) survived crucifixion. He August 1999: also provided independent documentary evi-dence of Cary was quoted as saying: ‘While J e s u s ’( a s ) subsequent journey we can be absolutely sure that eastwards from to find Jesus lived and that he was and deliver his message to the certainly crucified on the cross, other Jews. His book Jesus in we cannot with the same India is of monumental impor- certainty say that we know he tance because it removes all was raised by God from the dead’ doubt. This book provided me Opposition Member of Parliament with the key to understand what Ann Widdecombe said that if the really took place 2,000 years ago Archbishop ‘in any way leaves the before a bloodthirsty mob at a Resurrection open to doubt then rubbish dump called Golgotha that is the ultimate betrayal.’ outside the walls of . Archbishop Cary commented later that he had been Palestine was one of the worst misquoted. He had actually said trouble spots in the whole of the that there is enough historical Empire. The Jews were unlike evidence to prove beyond a any other religious group because reasonable doubt that Jesus( a s ) their beliefs could not be lived; however there is not the incorporated into the Ro m a n same amount of evidence that he pantheon. The Romans ruthlessly was resurrected. crushed any opposition and this resulted in thousands of As an Ahmadi Muslim, I do not . The Romans were believe that Jesus(as) actually rose experts in crucifixion. This argu- from the dead after crucifixion, ment appears to be a strong proof rather that he revived after being that Jesus(as) did die on the cross. treated and cared for by The Romans could make Nicodemus. I accept that he was crucifixion last for days. seen in the flesh by his disciples, Crucifixion was commonly used to that he was very keen to show execute insurgents and rebels them his physical injuries and to and was a stark warning to those

16 Review of Religions – April 2002 Jesus’s Survival from the Cross who challenged the power of the yet will I not deny thee.’ Roman Empire. We may ask the (Matthew 26:35) There he was question “If the Romans were so that night standing in the mob. efficient, how could Jesus(as) have Defeated, confused and hurt. escaped?” The answer to the Jesus was dead! He was crucified question lies in an extraordinary as a blasphemer! One of the set of factors that came into play. women saw Peter and said ‘And thou also wast with Jesus of On the night of his arrest, Nazareth.’ (Mark 14:67) The Bible Jesus(as) went with his followers says, ‘he began to curse and to to the garden of Gethsemane swear, saying I know not this man where he threw himself before of whom ye speak’ (Mark 14:71). God and prayed passionately that Mark 14: 50 says that the apostles God should not allow him to die a deserted Jesus ( a s ) . ‘And they shameless and humiliating death forsook him and fled’. But in front of his enemies. Jesus’(as) something happened! Something prayer that the cup of death be happened to that small band of removed could not go frightened and humiliated men. unaccepted. Indeed Jesus(as) was Less than two months later they not afraid of dying if God willed it were back in Jerusalem preaching but he was fearful that he would that Jesus(as) was alive! be seen to have died an accursed death. He knew he would suffer During the ‘trial’ of Jesus (as), if it the most extreme, shameful form can be called a trial, Pilate the of punishment devised. Galatians Roman governor did everything 3:13 reads: ‘Cursed is everyone possible to avoid getting involved that hangeth on a tree.’ If he had in what he saw as an internal died on the cross he would have Jewish matter. died a curse and as a criminal. He would have died in total shame Caiaphas, President of the and disgrace in the eyes of the Sanhedrin, the supreme religious world. tribunal wanted Jesus ( a s ) executed for blasphemy but they Jesus’ apostles had followed him could not kill Jesus(as) themselves for three years. The apostle Peter because blasphemy was not had boasted only days earlier: punishable by Roman law. They ‘Though I should die with thee, had to convince Pilate to agree to

Review of Religions – April 2002 17 Jesus’s Survival from the Cross

the death sentence on the basis was not a very clever idea that as Jesus said he was ‘The because the custom was to Messiah’ this would make him a release a popular prisoner and popular hero and he would incite Je s u s (a s ) was anything but popular the Jewish population against with the people to whom Pil a t e Rome. Pilate could not ignore had made the offer. They had this political charge. He was not their own candidate, Barabbas the sort of man to go along with and they had taken the Jewish demands without good precaution of gathering a big reason, certainly not to be a enough crowd to drown out any rubber stamp on their support for Jesus(a s ) . Beaten in his independent decisions. He is attempt to discharge Jesus( a s ) described by a contemporary as completely Pilate tried a ‘naturally inflexible, a blend of compromise. He had Jesus( a s ) self-will and relentlessness’. The scourged. This was serious enough accounts also show a provocative and was a regular punishment man who found it hard to climb before crucifixion. The victim was down. The Jewish authorities tied to a post and his back flayed would have been only too pleased raw with leather throngs. The to denounce him to Rome for not throngs had lead balls attached. doing his job. So Pilate was He seems to have relied on the obliged to handle the case. popular demand for Jesus’ ( a s ) blood being satisfied by this Pilate was convinced that it was a savage treatment. To add to the trumped-up charge and that psychological effect he had his Je s u s (a s ) was no revolutionary but soldiers dress Jesus(a s ) in a royal a religious fanatic, and not robe and put on his head a dangerous. Like one of his ‘crown’ of thorny twigs. Often the successors faced with a similar scourging itself was fatal. But case, Pilate was inclined to Pilate did not intend it to be pronounce him as a maniac and fatal. It could have been another let him go. He hoped to achieve attempt to thwart Jewish his freedom by invoking the demands by substituting a lesser established practice of releasing a sentence. But he had Jewish prisoner before the miscalculated. Passover festival. So Pi l a t e offered to release Jesus(a s ) . This

18 Review of Religions – April 2002 Jesus’s Survival from the Cross

The Jewish punishment for between three and six hours. blasphemy was death and they Some commentators say that would accept nothing less from Jesus(as) was in the prime of his the Romans. Political pressure youth and in excellent health and was put on Pilate to sign the therefore it is surprising that he death warrant, which he could have died in such a short reluctantly did. He was undoubt- time. However, it would be unjust edly influenced by his wife who to overlook the fact that Jesus(as) had experienced troubling had been physically punished dreams about Jesus(as) and had before the crucifixion. warned him not to harm Jesus(as). He had received the message He was blindfolded, vilified, spat from his wife while he was at, punched, beaten with reeds actually conducting the trial. and whipped. Soldiers had Pilate said he could find no fault rammed a crown of thorns on to with Jesus(as). God uses the most his head. He had been dragged unlikely looking people to aid His before six different hearings in cause. It may be that Pilate’s one night. After his ‘trial’ he was determination to free Jesus( a s ) made to carry the wooden was his most noble action. We crosspiece through the streets to know that the place of execution. There he and Nicodemus, who moved in was stripped and large car- the same social circles as Pilate penters’ nails were hammered and his wife, were secret between his wrist bones to secure followers of Jesus( a s ) and that his arms to the crosspiece. His they may have influenced her. feet were nailed onto a wooden block. There was also a wooden Events moved extremely quickly support between his legs. This because Jesus’(as) enemies want- helped to relieve the pain in his ed him dead before the start of wrists and feet and reduced some the Passover at dusk on Friday. of the pressure on his lungs when The Romans gave him more rough his legs could not support him. treatment before forcing him to The pain returned when the carry his cross to Golgotha. There victim had to push himself up in he was crucified along with two order to breathe properly. This others. The tell us that process was repeated over and Jesus(as) remained on the cross over again. The Romans made

Review of Religions – April 2002 19 Jesus’s Survival from the Cross

crucifixion as long and painful as of Jesus and wound it in linen possible. cloths with the spices, ‘as the manner of the Jews is to bury’. Between three and six hours later This is clearly stated in John it was beginning to get dark. 19:40. Jesus(as) appeared to be dead. The other condemned men were If we pause for a moment it is still alive. The Roman execution obvious that Nicodemus and party had been ordered by Pilate Joseph were bandaging Jesus’(as) to speed up the crucifixions injuries. Myrrh and aloes is a before the start of the Passover. powerful ointment for healing They broke the legs of the two wounds. This is attested to by the others with blows from a Promised Messiah(as) in Jesus in h a m m e r. This caused them to I n d i a. There are hundreds of collapse and die more quickly. references in ancient books to When they came to Jesus(as) they ‘The Ointment of Jesus’. The thought he was already dead. A writer of the of John also Roman soldier jabbed him in the states that wrapping the body in side with a spear and blood and bandages and spices is a Jewish water, probably serum, flowed burial rite. Mr Fishel Todd of the from a wound. He was taken ‘Shema Israel Torah Network down from the cross and put in a International Burial Society’ was rock provided by Joseph of asked if the Biblical account Arimathea. Meanwhile Joseph actually fell in line with Jewish had quickly gone to Pilate and burial traditions. Mr Fishel Todd reported that Jesus(as)was dead. said that Jewish burial customs He asked for the body of Jesus(as) had not changed in 3,500 years so that he could bury him. Pilate and that the body was not to be was surprised that Jesus(as) had touched except to give it a ritual died so quickly. He gave Joseph bath called a Tahara (meaning permission to take the body. purity). The body is then put in the ground in the quickest Nicodemus went with Joseph to simplest fashion available with J e s u s(as) taking with them a only traditional burial shrouds. Mr mixture of myrrh and aloes Todd said that if the biblical weighing about a hundred account was accurate then pounds. Then they took the body Nicodemus carried the spices to

20 Review of Religions – April 2002 Jesus’s Survival from the Cross the scene with the intention crucifixion appearances as the applying them to Jesus’ ( a s ) appearance of this dual being. wounds so he would be healed. Non-Christians are not bound by When the women came to the religious faith to believe that tomb they found that the stone Jesus (peace be upon him) was a had been rolled away and special supernatural being. When J e s u s( a s )had gone. They we considerer the evidence encountered two individuals who i m p a r t i a l l y, then the events asked them ‘Why seek ye the surrounding the crucifixion living among the dead?’ (Luke: become clear and simple. They 24;5) demonstrate one reality: Jesus Christ (peace be upon him) In order to convince the Disciples survived the crucifixion. that he had survived the crucifixion, Jesus(as) asked them The night of his arrest Jesus to realise that spirits or ghosts or (peace be upon) prayed so hard apparitions do not have human that his sweat was like drops of flesh and bones. To make his blood. God answered his prayer: point firmly he asked for something to eat. They gave him ‘In his life on earth Jesus made fish and a honeycomb and he ate his prayers and requests to God, it in front of them while they Who could save him from death. watched. What was the need for Because he was humble and a supernatural divinity or God devoted, God heard him.’ Himself to eat food? Apart from (Hebrews 5:7) his attempts to assure them that they were not seeing an apparition, it is most likely that Jesus(as) was extremely hungry: having gone through pure hell in being beaten and nailed to a cross.

Christians are bound by the doctrine that defines Jesus (peace be upon him) as both man and God. They view his post-

Review of Religions – April 2002 21 Is the Shroud of Turin a Medieval Photograph? A Critical Examination of the Theory

By Barrie M. Schwortz, USA

The Turin Shroud has been a focus of world-wide attention ever since it was discovered to be a negative image. Its first photographer was Secondo Pia and since then it has been photographed millions of times and even been subjected to a comprehensive examination by an international team of experts in 1978, who were eager to discover more about the cloth and whether it could have been the shroud of Jesus as many claimed. Twenty- four years on this debate still rages on and many theories have been put forward to try and explain how the image was formed.

The author of this article was fortunate to have been the official photographer of the 1978 Shroud of Turin Research Project. An established professional photographer in his own right, Barrie Schwortz reviews the theory of Prof. Nicholas Allen that that the Shroud is nothing more than a photograph that was taken around the 14th century using materials that were readily available to people at that time. This is a fascinating proposition, as photography did not emerge until nearly 500 years later in the late 19th century.

Abstract understanding of the Shroud Since the late 1970’s, dozens image or its properties. of researchers, scholars, skeptics and ‘professional In this paper, I will review the debunkers’ have presented “proto-photography” theory their theories on how the proposed by Prof. Nicholas image on the Shroud of Turin Allen of South Africa. This was formed. Some are based theory concludes that the raw on serious science while others materials to produce photo- show a complete lack of graphy not only existed in

22 Review of Religions – April 2002 Is the Shroud of Turin a Medieval Photograph? medieval times, but that a present my arguments against brilliant medieval ‘photo- the validity of his theory based grapher’ actually used them to on my 30 years of professional invent photography 500 years photography experience. before the d o c u m e n t e d creation of the first photo- I. Introduction graphic negative by Joseph In the last 30 years, the Shroud Niepce in 1818. of Turin underwent the most intense and exhaustive study To his credit, Allen has in its history. In 1969, 1973 and actually achieved what he set particularly 1978, literally out to accomplish. He has, thousands of photographs without question, used were made of the cloth and its medieval raw materials to image. With the advent of create a faint but good quality personal computers and more photographic image on linen recently, the explosive growth cloth. As I will show however, of the Internet, the Shroud has his own results provide the become far more available for best evidence against the study than it ever was before. validity of his theory. In the In fact, photographs of the end, any attempt at dupli- Shroud are now readily cating the image on the Shroud available to anyone with a of Turin must match all of its modem and the willingness to physical and chemical spend a few minutes properties, not just a select downloading them. few. It must also withstand the scrutiny of careful, side-by- This has not been without side comparison to the impact in the world of original. Sindonology.

In this paper I will provide just Since the late 1970’s, dozens of such side-by-side comparisons researchers, scholars, skeptics of key areas of the Shroud and ‘professional debunkers’ image vs. Allen’s results and have presented their theories

Review of Religions – April 2002 23 Is the Shroud of Turin a Medieval Photograph?

on how the image on the ‘exposed’ this medieval ‘film’ Shroud was formed or using a room sized camera described other artifacts they obscura and a dead body believe they have discovered hanging in front of its crystal hidden in the image. Some are lens as the subject matter.1 based on serious science and are very credible, while others He goes on to claim that one show a complete lack of under- half of the Shroud image was standing of the image and its exposed at a time, first the properties and reveal the ventral and then the dorsal absence of any real research on half. He further concludes that the part of their proponents. To it would take about four days make matters worse, many of to properly expose each half of these theories have received the cloth, needing at least wide public attention and in eight days to complete the some cases, have actually been entire task. Re c e n t l y, he adopted as part of the modified his theory to include ‘mythology’ of the Shroud. a third exposure for the face, made with a different lens2. To In this paper, I will review the prevent the decay of the body ‘proto-photography’ theory during more than a week of proposed by Prof. Nicholas exposure to the bright sunlight Allen and present my argu- necessary for adequate ments against its validity. exposure of the ‘film,’ Allen suggests that the camera II. The Proto-Photography obscura was located in a cold Theory climate. This theory concludes that the raw materials to produce III. Comments photography not only existed Allen has not been able to in medieval times, but that a provide even one example of medieval photographer creat- this medieval proto-photo- ed a light sensitive emulsion, graphy process anywhere in art coated it onto linen cloth and or photographic history,

24 Review of Religions – April 2002 Is the Shroud of Turin a Medieval Photograph? although he has carefully and onto the cloth. He writes: extensively documented early historical references to lenses ‘My own work is and cameras obscura3. confirming… that the However, he has not demon- details of the head are strated that anyone in much more exacting than medieval times ever combined those of the body and this knowledge with the especially the dorsal image various sophisticated chemical (which is by far the worst and physical requirements of image). I am surmising that photographic science and the head was made with a brought them all together to separate lens. The frontal make the process work. And if figure (sans head) was someone had, why didn’t they made with a lens closer to create more examples of this the one I used originally… unique art form that would and finally this lens was have certainly made them used for the dorsal image famous? Were this truly the which needs no details such case, many other examples of as are found on the face, this type of image would fingers, etc.’4 certainly exist and photo- graphy would be acknowl- He supports this claim by edged as a medieval science stating that he has recently rather than one developed in detected ‘spherical aber- the earliest stages of the rations’ in the facial image on industrial revolution. the Shroud which leads him to this conclusion5. Obviously, this Allen also expressed to me his would make the process of more recent belief that the creating the image even more Shroud is actually a composite complex for a medieval of three different exposures, photographer and even harder now concluding that the facial to accomplish. To d a y, even image was made as a distinctly with the advanced state of different and third exposure modern digital imaging tech-

Review of Religions – April 2002 25 Is the Shroud of Turin a Medieval Photograph?

niques, such a perfect religious mores of the composite image could only be thirteenth and early accurately accomplished by a fourteenth century.’7 highly trained photographic expert. To conclude it was I believe this conclusion is produced by a medieval directly challenged by the photographer truly stretches multitude of expert forensic the imagination. pathologists who have seriously studied the Shroud Both the ventral and dorsal and have unanimously Shroud images do in fact concluded that the accuracy of include many intricate details, the pathology illustrated on although Allen refers to the the cloth is precise and dorsal image as ‘by far the completely realistic. worst…’ I submit that the dorsal view lacks the Also, Allen makes no attempt equivalent detail only because to explain the forensic facial features and fingers are accuracy of the bloodstains on not seen from behind. the Shroud. Since research However, one must not ignore done by the Shroud of Turin the scores of scourge marks Research Project (STURP) and across the shoulders, back, others has shown that there is buttocks and legs on the dorsal no image underneath these image, since they in fact are bloodstains, we have been excellent details that have able to conclude that they been verified by no fewer than were on the cloth before the three expert forensic image was formed. In fact, it pathologists and anatomists.6 appears that they actually acted to inhibit the image During our discussions he also formation mechanism8. Pr o f . stated: Allen’s mechanism leaves the critical issue of the bloodstains ‘…(the Shroud) shows totally unresolved. stigmata that reflects the

26 Review of Religions – April 2002 Is the Shroud of Turin a Medieval Photograph?

Allen’s rationale for his theory properties of the original, not is obviously based on his just a few. personal acceptance of the carbon dating of the Shroud as IV. Comparison medieval and his rejection of Direction of Light the image as a painting. Thus To artists, accurate he apparently concludes that, duplication of the light falling since the Shroud image is on their subjects is the known to exhibit certain primary basis for realism in photographic properties and it their results. The history of art does not appear to be a clearly documents the painting, it must be a attempts made by artists at photograph. achieving this through the centuries. It is this In fact, he stated: relationship of highlights and shadows on a subject that ‘It shows an image that provides the modeling that could only have been allows depth, shape and form produced photo- to exist in a two dimensional g r a p h i c a l l y … ’9 ( e m p h a s i s plane. Artists must first mine). discipline themselves to ‘see’the effects of light on Although he has created a their subject, then perfect the photographic image on linen techniques for incorporating cloth, I disagree that the these effects into their Shroud image could only have artwork. Without doubt, this been produced in this manner. task is much simpler for In fact, his own results provide photographers since it is the the best evidence against the light itself that creates the validity of this theory. Any result that is captured on the attempt at recreating an film. image like that on the Shroud of Turin must match all of the Allen’s photographs contain a physical and chemical strong directionality of light.

Review of Religions – April 2002 27 Is the Shroud of Turin a Medieval Photograph?

FIGURE 1 (© 1995 Nicholas Allen) FIGURE 2 (© 1978 Barrie M. Schwortz)

This is obvious from the deep the nose and chin and below shadows cast on his subject by the hands and is unlike the the strong overhead sunlight image on the Shroud (Figure he used to create his images 2), which demonstrates no (Figure 1). These are clearly such directionality of light at seen in the eye sockets, under all. It is further confirmed by

28 Review of Religions – April 2002 Is the Shroud of Turin a Medieval Photograph? the ‘washing out’ of detail in to his theory and taxes the certain parts of the image, imagination to accept that a most notably the tops of the medieval photographer would feet, which received far more light and cumulative exposure than the rest of the body (Figure 3).

FIGURE 4 (© 1978 Barrie M. Schwortz)

have had the understanding of all of these principles, let FIGURE 3 (© 1995 Nicholas Allen) alone the knowledge and skills When Allen and I discussed this to incorporate them into his particular property of his work. image, he suggested that he In addition, his suggestion that would the image on the Shroud is ‘frontally illuminated’ makes ‘…have to wait for the right it obvious that he has failed to time of year to do this, grasp certain image properties when the sun is very low in evidenced on the cloth. I am the sky. The result will be a specifically referring to the more frontally illuminated darker areas (on the negative image (like the Shroud of image) surrounding the Turin).’10 crossed hands (Figures 2 and 4 ) . If the Shroud were In effect, this adds an frontally illuminated, this additional layer of complexity distinctive darkening could not

Review of Religions – April 2002 29 Is the Shroud of Turin a Medieval Photograph?

exist, since front lighting would not cast any shadows at all, let alone above and below the hands. It is obvious that the darkening around the hands is not a sh a d o w or the effect caused by directionality of light. Yet other research FIGURE 5 (© 1997 Barrie M. Schwortz) completed over the last three decades provides a very logical This dimensional data was first explanation for their existence. visualized by the STURP team in 1976 with an instrument Dimensional Encoding known as the VP-8 Image The experiments completed by A n a l y z e r, a device used by the STURP team and other NASA for mapping image researchers have provided density to vertical relief clear evidence that there is (Figure 5). It was further certain dimensional infor- supported by the density mation encoded into the /relief mapping techniques S h r o u d ’s image.1 1 , 1 2 This is used by several Italian often referred to as ‘three researchers around the same dimensional’ data. Of course, period of time13,14 and verified that is not technically correct in recent years by the work of since ‘three dimensional’ an Italian professional implies 360 degrees of photographer and Shroud information. What we actually imaging expert using refined see in the Shroud image is an photographic edge enhance- accurate dimensional relief, ment techniques1 5 , 1 6. O f similar to that created by the course, today it can also be bas relief art technique. The done using some of the latest result on the Shroud is a digital imaging software natural relief of a human programs (Figure 6).17 The fact form. that all of these techniques yield the exact same result

30 Review of Religions – April 2002 Is the Shroud of Turin a Medieval Photograph?

FIGURE 6 (© 1999 Mark Bruzon) clearly confirms the existence imately 4 centimeters, but of the dimensional data first beyond that, imaging did not visually revealed by the VP-8. occur. The closer the cloth was to the body, the darker the The STURP team concluded resulting image in that area, that there was a correlation with the darkest parts of the between the density (or image being formed where darkness) of the image on the there was direct contact Shroud and the distance the between the two. The image cloth was from the body at the became proportionately lighter time the image was formed. as the distance increased until The researchers calculated it reached the maximum that the image on the Shroud imaging distance.18 19 was formed at a cloth-to-body distance of up to approx- It is this very fact that explains

Review of Religions – April 2002 31 Is the Shroud of Turin a Medieval Photograph?

the phenomenon of the relief of a human form like that ‘shadows’ surrounding the on the Shroud (Figure 7).20 Th i s hands and helps to exclude is reason enough to disqualify frontal illumination as a viable p h o t ography as a possible possibility for the Shroud expla-nation for the image on image. Since the crossed hands the Shroud and is supported by of the man of the Shroud research from a number of caused the cloth to be raised independent sources. Allen’s away from the body, the conclusions seem to indicate distance between the cloth and body in the areas immediately surrounding the hands was increased, thus decreasing the image density (Figures 2 and 4). This clearly accounts for the less dense areas that surround the crossed hands in the image and FIGURE 7 (© 2000 Kevin Moran) that are identified by Allen as ‘shadows.’ This image prop- that he does not fully erty cannot be achieved using understand these rather light or photography. complex dimensional pro- perties of the Shroud image. Since the densities on a photo- graphic negative are not Sharp edges dependent on the distance There is one additional facet between subject and film, of Allen’s image that is there is no way that this density considerably different from information can be incor- the image on the Shroud. The porated into an image Shroud image has no distinct ph o t o g r a p h i c a l l y . Consequently, or sharp edges, yet Allen’s when subjected to VP-8 image body image has a very distinct analysis, Allen’s results do not and sharp edge, much as one yield a proper dimensional would expect from a properly

32 Review of Religions – April 2002 Is the Shroud of Turin a Medieval Photograph? focused photograph. This as it truly takes a professional property of the Shroud rein- artist to properly evaluate a forces the distance-to-density painting, so too must photo- correlation mentioned earlier. graphy be evaluated by the In essence, the distance professional photographer. In between the peripheral of the the case of the proto- body and the cloth increased photography theory, other gradually until it reached the professional evaluations of maximum imaging distance Al l e n ’ s theory have reached and caused very soft, gradated similar conclusions.21 edges that simply fade into the background. Once again, Admittedly, Allen was able to A l l e n ’s image provides the create a viable photographic necessary evidence to image using medieval raw disqualify photography as the materials, but he did so from S h r o u d ’s image formation the perspective of 21st process. century science. Surely raw materials must exist on our IV. Conclusions planet today that may even- The proto-photography theory tually lead to the development proposed by Prof. Nicholas of interstellar travel, but their Allen was able to create an mere exis-tence is not enough image on linen cloth, but not to actually provide us with the one that duplicated the image technology22. That will have to properties of the Shroud of wait until our technological Turin. When attempting to development advances to a provide a viable image for- much higher level than exists mation mechanism for the today. Shroud, one has to account for all of the image properties, If we accept the argument not just a few of them. Allen that the mere existence of failed to understand certain certain raw materials is reason important facets of the image enough to believe someone on the Shroud of Turin. Much actually used them to invent a

Review of Religions – April 2002 33 Is the Shroud of Turin a Medieval Photograph?

technology that was still 500 Bucklin and Dr. Frederick years in the future, we should Zugibe. start searching archaeological 7. Personal correspondence with sites around the world for the Nicholas Allen, May 6, 1999. remains of medieval cellular 8. Adler, Alan D. - The Nature of phones, microwave ovens and the Body Images on the Shroud nuclear weapons! Just because of Tu r i n. [June 1999]. the raw materials for these h t t p : / / w w w. s h r o u d . c o m / p d f s / highly advanced technologies adler.pdf. existed, does nott mean 9. Personal correspondence with someone actually created Nicholas Allen, May 6, 1999. them, particularly before 1 0 Personal correspondence with human knowledge advanced Nicholas Allen, May 10, 1999 enough technologically to truly make this possible. 11. Jackson, J.P., E.J. Jumper and W.R. Ercoline, T h r e e Dimensional Characteristic of the Shroud Image, IEEE 1982 Notes Proceedings of the International 1. Allen, Nicholas P.L. - Conference on Cybernetics and Verification of the Nature and Society, October 1982, pp. 559- Causes of the Photo-negative 575. Images on the Shroud of Lirey- C h a m b e r y - Turin* [1995]. 12. Jackson, J.P., E.J. Jumper, and h t t p : / / w w w. p e t e c h . a c . z a / s h r o W.R. Ercoline, ‘Correlation of ud/nature.htm Image Intensity on the Turin Shroud with the 3-D Structure 2. Personal correspondence with of a Human Body Shape,’ Nicholas Allen, May 10, 1999. Applied Optics, Vol. 23, No. 14, 1984, pp. 2244-2270. 3. Personal correspondence with Nicholas Allen, May 6, 1999. 13. Tamburelli, G. - The results in the processing of the Holy 4. Personal correspondence with Shroud of Turin - IEEE Nicholas Allen, May 10, 1999. Transactions on Pattern Analysis 5. Personal correspondence with and Machine Intelligence 3, No. Nicholas Allen, May 10, 1999. 6, Nov. 1981, pp. 670-76.

6. Dr. Pierre Barbet, Dr. Ro b e r t 14. Tamburelli, G. - N. Balossino -

34 Review of Religions – April 2002 Is the Shroud of Turin a Medieval Photograph?

Nouveau visage tridimensionnel the Shroud Image,’ IEEE 1982 eidomatique du S.Suaire et Proceedings of the International nouvelles correspondences Conference on Cybernetics and eidomatiques avec l’Evangile et Society, October 1982, pp. 559- la tradition - Ty p e s c r i p t , 575. Symposium Scientifique International de Paris sur le 20. VP-8 analysis of Nicholas Allen’s Linceul de Turin, 7-8 Septembre photograph courtesy of Kevin 1989, pp. 1-4. Moran

15. Guerreschi, Aldo, ‘The Tu r i n 21. Ware, Mike, ‘On Pr o t o - Shroud: From the Photo to the Photography and the Shroud of Three-dimensional,’ May 2000 Turin,’ The History of Imaging Conference in San Photography, Vol. 21, No. 4, pp. Felice Circeo, Italy. 261-268. h t t p : / / w w w. s h r o u d . c o m / p d f s / 22. Concept from a presentation by aldo1.pdf Isabel Piczek 1 6. Guerreschi, Aldo, ‘The Tu r i n Shroud and Ph o t o - Re l i e f Technique,’ May 2000 Imaging Conference in San Felice Circeo, Italy. h t t p : / / w w w. s h r o u d . c o m / p d f s / aldo2.pdf

17. Image produced by Mark Bruzon using Bryce software from an original scan of a Barrie Schwortz photograph.

18. Jackson, J.P., E.J. Jumper, and W.R. Ercoline, ‘Correlation of Image Intensity on the Turin Shroud with the 3-D Structure of a Human Body Shape,’Applied Optics, Vol. 23, No. 14, 1984, pp. 2244-2270.

19. Jackson, J.P., E.J. Jumper and W.R. Ercoline, ‘Three Dimensional Characteristic of

Review of Religions – April 2002 35 The Israelite Origin of People of Afghanistan and Kashmir

By Aziz A. Chaudhary, USA

Jesus(as) himself had said that his mission extended to the lost sheep of the House of Israel, meaning that he had come to preach his message to the tribes of Israelites who had deviated from the teachings of Judaism. Yet of the 12 tribes of Israelites only two were present in Palestine, so where were the rest? This article provides a useful insight into those tribes that had scattered across Persia and India and comments on their prevailing Jewish customs and traditions. If these were the people for whom Jesus was sent then did he reach them?

People of both Afghanistan and Muhammad Albenaketi written in Kashmir in northern India trace 717 AH. The author says in the their origins to the Israelites and introduction that ever since the claim to be descendants of the lost times of Moses, the ancestors of tribes of Israel. Afghans had to face great hardships. They were expelled First we will discuss the people of from place to place and Afghanistan, called Afghans. exterminated. Jerusalem was According to their traditions, the sacked more than once and their Afghans claim to be Beni Israel or ancestors, the Israelites, were the children of Israel. This claim is carried into captivity. In Chapter I, supported by their old historical a detailed history of Jacob is given works some of them being and in Chapter II, the genealogies manuscripts still in their of the Afghans tribes are traced to possession. King Saul.

The Afghans Mestoufi, the author of Maima-ul- The oldest manuscript available to Ansab traces Kais - the tribal head us is Rauza-tul-Albabfi Ta-arikh-i- of Afghans, in a series of thirty-one Akabir-wal Ansab – (The Garden of degrees to King Saul and fourty- the Learned in the History of Great five generations to Abraham. Men and Genealogies) – by Abu Suleman Daud Bin Abul Fatal

36 Review of Religions – April 2002 The Israelite Origin of People of Afghanistan and Kashmir

Bukhtawar Khan, in his valuable Khalid Bin Walid invited them to universal history, Mirat-ul-Alam – Islam. The Afghans chiefs under the (The Mirror of the World), gives a leadership of Qais, who was vivid account of the journeys of descendant of King Saul in the 37th Afghans from Palestine to Ghore, degree, came to visit Pr o p h e t Ghazni, Kabul, and other places in Mu h a m m a d (s a ) who conferred upon Afghanistan. Similarly Hafiz Remat the chiefs the title of Pathan which Bin Shah Alam in his Khulasa-tul- means ‘a ship’s rudder’. This Ansab and Fareed-ud-Din Ahmad in signified that these chiefs would his Rasalah Ansab-i-Afghansiyah guide their nation into the currents gives the history of Afghans and of Islam. deals with genealogies. They both prove that Afghans are Among recent authors Sayed Jalal- descendants of Israel through King ud-Din Afghansi in his History of Saul. Fareed-ud-Din writes in his Afghans and Syed Abdul Jabbar book that after the invasion of Shah, ex-ruler of Swat (in his Mun Palestine by Nebuchadenzzar, and Ameen-i-Bani Israel, MS) discuss the deportation, some of their genealogies of different Afghans ancestors left Nebuchadnezzar’s tribes and ultimately trace them to territory under a chief and went King Saul. They discuss the away to Ghaur hills in Afghanistan. question with exhaustive detail Their descendants multiplied and and come to irresistable conclusion the people began to call them Beni that the Afghans represent the lost Israel, Beni Asaf, and Beni Afghans. ten tribes of Israel.

Khawaja Nimatullah of Herat in his Most of the Western writers and book Ma k h a z a n - i - A f g h a n s i wr i t t e n historians who have written on this in 1018 A.H. in the time of Kin g subject, have come to the same Jahangir (translated by Pr o f conclusion. One of the earliest Bernard Doran, London 1836) among them is Henry Vanisttart1 comes to the conclusion that who commented on Israeli descent Afghans are Beni Israel – the of Afghans and stated that the children of Israel – and traces their claim of the Afghans to be Beni descent from King Saul. As noted Israel was more than justified. elsewhere after the events of Ne b u c h a d n e z z a r , the ancestors of Sir Alexander Prunes in his Travels Afghans had settled in Ghaur into Bokhara (published in 1835) territory of Afghanistan. At the discusses the claim of Afghans to time of Holy Prophet Muhammad(s a ) , be of Israelite descent and then

Review of Religions – April 2002 37 The Israelite Origin of People of Afghanistan and Kashmir

stated that he saw no good reason called himself Beni Israel and had to discredit them. He further forty sons. Sulum, the eldest son of wrote: ‘The Afghans look like Jews Afghans, migrated from his home in and the younger brother marries Syria and settled in Gura Mishkon the widow of the elder. The near Herat. His descendants spread Afghans entertain prejudices over the country now called against the Jewish nation, which Afghanistan. 34th descendant of would at least show that they have Afghans was Qais who lived in the no desire to claim, without just time of Prophet Muhammad(sa). cause, a descent from them’.2 Dr. Joseph Wolf4 writes: ‘I was In 1837, Sir Alexander Prunes was wonderfully struck with the sent as the first British envoy to resemblance which Yusuf Zayes and the court at Kabul. For some time the Khaibaries, two of their he was the guest of Amir Dost (Afghans) tribes to the Jews.’ Muhammad Khan – the King of Afghanistan. He questioned the James Bryce5 in his Cyclopaedia of king about the descent of the G e o g r a p h y, (1800) writes about Afghans from the Israelites. The Afghans that they trace their origin king replied, ‘His people had no to King Saul calling themselves Beni doubt of that though they Israel. Quoting Sr. A. Brunes he repudiated the idea of being Jews, further writes that their tradition whom they treat with hereditary is that they were transplanted by contempt. They found their claim the King of Babylon from Holy Land not merely on tradition but on an to Ghore, lying to the Northwest of ancient record in their possession Kabul and they lived as Jews till named Mujmooa-e-Ansab.’ 682 A.D. when they were converted to Islam by an Arab G.T.Vigne3 in his book, A Personal chief. Narrative of a Visit to Chuzin, Cabul in Afghanistan (1840) writes J.P.Ferrier wrote his History of the that one Mullah Khuda Dad, a Afghans in 1858. It was translated person learned in history of his by Capt. W. M. Jesse. He also countrymen, read out from a book, believed that Afghans represented the genealogy of his people. the Ten Tribes of Israel. In support According to it a person named of his views he recorded6 a Afghans was a descendant of Jacob significant fact that during his in the ninth degree. Afghans was a invasion of India, Nadir Shah was contemporary of Nebuchadnezzar, presented at Peshawar, by chiefs of

38 Review of Religions – April 2002 The Israelite Origin of People of Afghanistan and Kashmir

Yusuf-Zayee tribe with a bible migrated to India, Tibet, and written in Hebrew and with several Cashemire through Afghanistan.’ other articles preserved by their families for the performance of H.W.Bellews8 writes in his book The religious ceremonies of their old Races of Afghanistan (1884) that faith. As there were also Jews in Afghans came from Syria and Nadir Shah’s camp, they readily Nebuchadnezzar took them recognised these articles. captives and settled them as colonists in Persia and Media from George Moore, published his whence at some time later they famous work The Lost Tribes in marched to the East and settled in 1861. He gave numerous reasons to Ghaur hills where they were known prove that these lost ten tribes of as Beni Israel. Israel can be traced to Afghans and people of Kashmir in India. Among the recent writers, Dr. Alfred Edersheim9 and Sir Thomas He writes7 ‘and we find that the Holditch10 are of similar view that very natural character of Israel majority of Afghans and people of reappears in all its life and reality Kashmir are descendants of in countries where people call Israelites. themselves Bani Israel and universally claim to be the The Kashmiris descendants of the Lost Tribes. The Now we turn to people of Kashmir nomenclature of their tribes and called Kashmiris. Here again we districts, both in ancient find that their traditions and geography, and at the present day, history, both ancient and modern, confirms this universal natural establishes their descent from the tradition. Lastly, we have the route Lost Ten Tribes of Israel.The of the Israelites from Media to Kashmiris claim to be Bani Israel Afghanistan and India marked by a (children of Israelites) and call series of intermediate stations themselves ‘Kashar’ which is a bearing the names of several of the Hebrew word meaning ‘right’. tribes and clearly indicating the stages of their long and arduous Unfortunately no history of journey.’ Moore goes on to say: ‘Sir Kashmir from ancient Hindu William Jones, Sir John Malcolm sources is available except and the Missionary Chamberlain, K a l h a n a ’s Raiatarangini which after full investigation, were of the deals with kings and dynasties opinion that the Ten Tr i b e s rather than people. The first real

Review of Religions – April 2002 39 The Israelite Origin of People of Afghanistan and Kashmir

historian of Kashmir was Mulla descent. (Part I, p.73). Pundit Ram Nadiri who started writing his Chand Kak who was at one time a Ta r i k h - i - K a s h m i r ( H i s t o r y o f prime minister of Kashmir writes in Kashmir) in the reign of Sultan his Ancient Monuments of Kashmir Sikandar (1378-1426 AD) and published in 1933: completed in the reign of Sultan Zain-ul-Abidin. The next historian Moses is a very common name was Mulla Ahmad who wrote his h e r e a n d s o m e a n c i e n t Wa q a y a - i - K a s h m i r ( E v e n t s o f m o n u m e n t s s t i l l t o b e s e e n Kashmir) during the reign of Sultan disclose them to be of a people Zain-ul-Abidin. Both these who came out of Israel. For historians state categorically that instance, the remains of an the inhabitants of Kashmir are edifice built in a high mountain descendants of Israel. The book of is called to this day the Throne h i s t o r y, H a s h m a t - i - K a s h m i r1 1 of Solomon. written by Abdul Qadir Bin Qazi-ul- (p.75) Quzat Wasil Ali Khan was written in 1820 and states that the Asul-i-Kafi is a book of Shia inhabitants of Kashmir are the t r a d i t i o n s w r i t t e n o v e r a children of Israel and states further thousand years ago. This book that they had come from Holy mentions that in ancient times Land. there was a king in Kashmir w h o s e f o r t y c o u r t i e r s w e r e Nazir Ahmad, author of Jesus in well versed in the knowledge Heaven on Earth, estimates12 that of Torah. the ancestors of present (p.334) inhabitants of Kashmir settled here probably in 3rd century BC in the To examine Western travellers, reign of King Vasukula. His view is writers and historians, we will based upon the book of history by begin with Francis Rernier13. He Mulla Muhammad Khalil of was a courtier of Emperor Murjunpur and the H i s t o r y o f Aurangzeb for many years and had Kashmir by H.H.Wilson. visited Kashmir. He wrote that there were many marks of Judaism Pundit Narain Kaul, a Kashmiri to be found in Kashmir and on Pundit wrote his Gu l d a s t a - i - entering this country after crossing K a s h m i r in 1884. He described the Peer-Punchal Mountains, the Kashmiri Muslims and Pundits as inhabitants in the frontier villages being of Jewish countenance and struck him to resemble Jews

40 Review of Religions – April 2002 The Israelite Origin of People of Afghanistan and Kashmir markedly. Bernier then concluded: the looks of the present inhabitants have something of ‘You will see then, my dear Sir, what is peculiar to Jews, which I am not disposed to deny that distinguishes them from all other J e w s m a y h a v e t a k e n u p people’. r e s i d e n c e i n K a s h m i r – The purity of their law, after a Re v. Claudius Buchanan toured lapse of ages, may have been Southern India extensively and in c o r r u p t e d u n t i l having long his Christian Researches in Asia, he d e g e n e r a t e d i n t o i d o l a t o r y, mentioned his discovery of an they were induced, like many ancient manuscript of the book of other Pagans, t o a d o p t t h e Moses in Hebrew. It was written on creed of Mahomed’. a roll of leather 48 feet in length. He was told that it was brought Catrou, a Jesuit father wrote in his from Kashmir (p.229). G e n e r a l H i s t o r y o f the Moghal Empire (1708) that ‘the Kashmiris H . H . Wilson, author of Tr a v e l i n a r e d e s c e n d a n t s of the Himalyan Provinces (1841) states: Jews’,(p.l95). ‘The physical and the ethnic character, which so sharply marks S-Manouchi was a physician in the off the Kashmiris from all service of Emperor Aurangzeb. He surrounding races, has always had access to official records and struck observant visitors to the like Bernier he accompanied the valley and they have universally Emperor to Kashmir. connected them with the Jews.’

He wrote 1 5: ‘There is an old G.T.Vigne in his Travels in Kashmir, tradition that these Jews who were L a d a k h a n d I s k a r d o o which he led captives by Shalemanesser published in 1842 mentions certain settled in Kashmir and that the Jewish near ‘I’akht-i- people of that country are the Sulaiman in Sirinagar. (p.395) descendants of the Jews. It is certain, though we find no remains We have already quoted the views in Kashmir of the Jewish religion, of George Moore, the author of The the people there being all either Lost Tribes. Guntus (Hindus) or Muhammadans, that there are several vestiges of a Dr. Keith Johnston in his Dictionary race descendant from the of Geography (1867) writes: ‘The Israelites. The air of the face and natives of Kashmir are of a tall,

Review of Religions – April 2002 41 The Israelite Origin of People of Afghanistan and Kashmir

robust frame of body, with manly old. Some, indeed, say…that these features, the woman full formed Kashmiris are the lost tribes of and handsome, with aquiline noses Israel and certainly as I have and features resembling the Jews’ already said, there are real Biblical (p.250). types to be seen everywhere in Kashmir and especially among the In a book named Kashmir and its upland villages. Here the Israelitish S h a w l s (1857) the following Shepherd tending his necks and passage occurs: ‘There is a herds may any day be tradition of long standing, recently seen.(p.107,112) revived, that some portion of the so-called lost tribes of Israel found John Noel wrote an article, ‘The their way to Kashmir on their Heavenly High Snow Peaks of dispersion. If based on any correct Kashmir’ in Asia Magazine, New foundation, the fact of weaving in York, Oct. 1930. In this article he its higher departments having wrote: ‘Immensely strong are those existed for hundreds of years in the picturesque, broad-shouldered valley might be accounted for by Kashmiri peasants and yet docile the expatriated Jews carrying with and meek in temperament. One them the arts they learned from thing about them strikes you with their Babylonish conquerors.’ enormous force. They seem more (p.17) perfectly Jewish than the purest Jews you have ever seen, not Numerous writers have commented because they wear a flowing cloak- on the Jewish appearance of like dress that conforms to your people of Kashmir. This list is very idea of Biblical garments, but long. Sir Francis Young husband was because their faces have the a representative of the British Jewish cast of features. The crown (the Resident) to the Court curious coincidence – or is it a of the Maharaja of Kashmir for coincidence? – is that there is a many years. He writes in his book strong tradition in Kashmir of its K a s h m i r: ‘The visitor…will often connection with the Jews.’ see strikingly handsome women, with clear cut features, long dark Customs and Traditions of Afghans eyes, well-marked eyebrows and a and Kashmiris general Jewish appearance. Here A study of customs and traditions may be seen fine old patriarchal of Afghans and people of Kashmir types, just as we picture to shows resemblance with the ourselves the Israelitish heroes of Israelite or Biblical traditions, in

42 Review of Religions – April 2002 The Israelite Origin of People of Afghanistan and Kashmir spite of the centuries that have archaelogists have discovered in rolled by since the Israelite a n c i e n t cities of Kashmir and ancestors settled in these lands. Afghanistan is of one variety called Nazir Ahmad did such a research ‘Celadon’. Chips and fragments of and came to the conclusion that Celadon are to be found from many customs and traditions of Babylon to Seistan, from Seistan to Afghans and Kashmiris relating to India, in Afghanistan, and in birth, marriage, mourning, burial, Kashmir and not beyond.” food, and general habits and customs bear strong resemblance The Jews were once famous for to counterpart Biblical or old their type of pottery and it is Jewish customs and traditions. He significant that Sirinagar Museum has given a comprehensive report16 in Kashmir abounds with this of his extensive research in this pottery which has been excavated regard in his book. Like Jews, from different places in the Afghans and Kashmiris reckon their Kashmir Valley. week as beginning with Saturday. Kashmiris used to and Afghans even Ancient Kashmir Temples now observe and celebrate ‘Eid- The ancient temples of Kashmir are Fassakh’ which corresponds with the most remarkable monuments the Jewish Passover. Like Jews, of India. They establish undoubted Afghans and Kashmiris name their traces of Israelite influence. Some subtribes after various animals. think that they exhibit Greek Many of the traditions of Afghans influence but Sir V.A.Smith, the and Kashmiris are founded on famous historian of India, in his Biblical records. They speak of Early History of India discusses this their great past, of the glories of thoroughly and proves that there is Solomon, of the deluge and of their no evidence that creek captivity. Their folklore and fables architecture was ever introduced resound with Jewish stories. The in India.’” Both Sir Aurel Stein19 preponderance of Jewish names and Vigne20 rely on famous report among Afghans and Kashmiris of Professor Bruel and agree with cannot be explained simply by him that none of Kashmir ruins their conversion to Islam. were of Buddhist or Brahmanical origin. Many experts have Certain archaelogical discoveries expressed the view that the point out that Afghans and stereotyped style of temples of Kashmiris are descendants of Israel Kashmir points to a different origin of old. The domestic pottery which than Hindu temples. Two Kashmir

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temples need mentioning in par- extinct. Some experts were trying t i c u l a r. The most celebrated to decipher it as if the inscriptions Kashmir temple both in extant and were in a language belonging to splendour is of Martand near Sanskrit group. The researchers of Mattan, about eight miles from Sir George Gregson, however, Islamabad (Kashmir) Dr. James proved that the Kashmiri language Ferguson who for many years was was non-Indian and did not belong in charge of the Archaeological to the Sanskrit group. Prof. E. J. Department of Government of Rapson says that in fact there were India, testified that this temple is a two languages of Semitic origin, Jewish temple. He wrote that it is which were known as the ‘Brahmi’ one of the points of interest in the and ‘Khoroshthi’. After stating that Kashmir temples that they two languages were ‘brought into reproduce, in plan at least, the India through Mesopotamia by Jewish temple, more nearly than merchants he goes on to say that any other known building 21. ‘Khoroshthi’ which is particularly the alphabet of Northwestern The second significant Kashmir India, is a variety of the Aramaic temple is known as Ta k h t - i - script which prevailed generally Sulaiman – (The Throne of throughout Western Asia in the Solomon) in Srinagar, the capital of fifth century BC. As the Persian Kashmir. This temple is built on a language evolved, Syrian influence high hill approached by a long brought about the Sulus script. The flight of steps enclosed by two side New Persian with Arabic ad- walls which originally bore four mixture resulted in ‘Kashar’ the Persian inscriptions and to which language of people of Kashmir. we will refer later. The date Richard Temple22 rightly points out assigned to this temple is prior to that the Kashmiri language 250 BC. This temple is a replica of contains 30% of Persian words, 25% the tomb of Absillam, the third son of Arabic, and 45% of other of David, near Jerusalem. languages including Hebrew. The Kashmiri language is distinct from Kashmiri Language that spoken in any part of India. When the monuments of Kashmir Mufti Mubammad Sadiq asserts that first attracted the attention of its nucleus to some extent is drawn archaeologists not a single syllable from Hebrew language. In his book, of the ancient inscriptions could be Qabr-i-Masih (The ) read. The knowledge of the he has given a very lengthy and ancient alphabet had become comprehensive list of Kashmiri

44 Review of Religions – April 2002 The Israelite Origin of People of Afghanistan and Kashmir words which, in pronounciation and It is a most significant fact that in meaning are identical with Hebrew Kashmir and Afghanistan, words.23 innumerable names of places and tribes can be traced to Biblical Biblical Names Of Tribes and names of Israelites of old. History Places in Kashmir and does not furnish us with evidence of Afghanistan extensive trade with Palestine or of It is well known in history that Israelites coming to these countries emigrants carry with them their as conquering settlers. The habits, customs, and traditions. preponderance of Biblical names of They also have the tradition of old can, therefore, be explained on naming new places in their new the basis of migration. country with names of places in their old country. At times they Nazir Ahmad, author of the book, name new places with the names of Jesus in Heaven on Earth has done their well-known ancestors. Again valuable research and has given sometimes tribes are named after over four hundred names of places places of their origin or their and tribes in Kashmir and ancestors. In this way the Afghanistan and adjacent regions immigrants to a new country try to which have been traced to Biblical preserve the memory of their names of Israelites2 4. George ancesteral home. A good example is Moore, the author of The Lost America where European Tribes has also acknowledged this immigrants named so many fact. This is the most convincing settlements in the New World with proof that Afghans and people of names of towns in Europe. If we Kashmir are descendants of the proceed in tracing back the names Lost Tribes of Israel. of tribes and places of a country to another which is far away, we This was the reason that Jesus(as) would be justified in asserting that undertook the long and arduous the inhabitants of one of them journey to Afghanistan and later to migrated from the other. But such India and Kashmir, where he an inference would be justified if settled, in search of those lost known facts could not be explained tribes whom he referred to as ‘lost with some other hypothesis. In this sheep’ and ‘other sheep’. He did regard, other factors like mutual this migration in his post trade, the settlements of a ruling crucifixion period of his life when nation or the conquering armies he had despaired of the Jews in must be taken into account. Palestine.

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One clarification is needed. When Similarly when we say that people we claim that people of of Kashmir are descendants of Afghanistan are descendants of the Israelites, we mean the main and Lost Tribes of Israelites, we do not predominant stock of Kashmiris mean that all inhabitants of and not other ethnic groups which Afghanistan today are such. We may be part of the population of only mean the main group known Kashmir today. as Afghans. So-called true Afghans are the Pushtun tribes to whom the term Afghans was first applied. These Afghans are also known as References Pakhtuns and they constitute about 1. Indian Researches, 1788. Vol 60-70% of population. They speak II. p.69. Pushto. Historically they have held main power and prestige in the 2. Sir Alexander Brunes, Travels c o u n t r y. It is this predominant Into Bokhara, Vol II, p 139- group called Afghans that are 141. descendants of the Lost Tribes of Israel. It is conceivable that other 3. G . T. Vigne, A Personal small ethnic elements may have Narrative of a Visit to Ghuzin, been absorbed into the main body Cabul, in Afghanistan (1840) of Afghans over the long period of pp.166-167. many centuries. 4. Dr. Joseph Wolff, Narrative of There are many other distinct A Mission to Bokhara in the ethnic groups which are part of Years 1843-1845, p.12. population of Afghanistan today. There are Tajiks which are of 5. James Bryce and Ke i t h Iranian origin and speak Persian. Johnson, Cyclopaedia of Another group, Hazara, are Geography (1880), p.25. believed to be descendants of Mongols. They speak a dialect of 6. J. P. Ferrier, History of the Persian containing many Tu r k i s h Afghans. p.4. words. There are Turk and Turko Mongol elements like Uzbeks, 7. George Moor, History of the mainly found along the northern Afghans, p.4. part of country. There are other 8. H. W. Bellews, Races of ethnic groups like Baluch in the Afghanistan (1884). south and Kafirs in the Northwest.

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9. Dr. Alfred Edersheim, The Life 21. Dr James Ferguson, Indian and and Times of Jesus, The Eastern Architecture, p.286. Messiah, p.15. 22. Richard Temple, Sayings of Lal 10. Sir Thomas Holditch, T h e Ded, p.65. Gates of India, p.46. 23. Mufti Muhammad Sadiq, Qabr- 11. Abdul Qadir, Hashmat-i- e-Masih, pp.72-110. K a s h m i r, MS No. 42, Ro y a l Asiatic Society, Bengal CF68b. 24. Khwaja Nazir Ahmad, Jesus in Heaven on Earth, pp.302-312. 12. Khwaja Nazir Ahmad, Jesus in Heaven on Earth. p.294.

13. Bernier, Travels in the Moghul Empire, Journey to Kashmir, the Paradise of the Indians, p.430-432.

14. Ibid, p.433.

15. James Hough, The History of Christianity in India, Vol. II, p287-288.

16. Khwaja Nazir Ahmad, Jesus in Heaven on Earth, pp.312-329.

17. Sir Thomas Holditch, T h e Gates of India, p.71.

18. Sir Vincent A. Smith, The Early History of India, p.227.

19. Sir Aurel Stein, Rajatarangini, II, p.290.

20. G.T. Vigne, Travels to Kashmir, Ladakh and Iskardoo I, p.393.

Review of Religions – April 2002 47 Evidence of Jesus(as) in India

By Abubakr Ben Ishmael Salahuddin - USA

The tomb known as 'Rozabal' in the capital of Kashmir is no ordinary tomb. The life history of the person who lies buried there bears a strong resemblance to Prophet Jesus. His trials and tribulations, his style of preaching and his origin from the Holy Land all lend powerful support to the argument that it is indeed Jesus who lies buried in Rozabal. Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad’s(as) book Jesus in India was written over 100 years ago in 1899, and his works have since found resonance throughout the last century with researchers the world over. This article is based on an extract from ‘Saving the Savior - Did Christ Survive the Crucifixion?’ - one of the most recent books on this subject, and it re-examines some of the historical evidence surrounding this theory about the person who lies in Rozabal.

The Followers of Jesus(as) to have come from a much older ‘The followers of Issa, son of source. There must be about a Mariam [Jesus, son of Mary], thousand of these Christians. generally call themselves Their chief is Abba Ya h i y y a Muslims, and inhabit a number of (Father John), who can recite the villages scattered throughout the succession of teachers, through western area of Afghanistan nearly sixty generations, to Issa, whose centre is Herat. I have son of Mariam of Nasara heard of them several times, but [Nazareth], the Kashmiri.’1 considered that they were probably the people who had The quote clearly states that been converted by the European Jesus Christ ( a s ) taught in missionaries from eastern Persia, Afghanistan and attracted a or that they were a relic of the following of people, the time when Herat had been a descendants of whom refer to flourishing bishopric of the themselves as The Followers of Nestorians, before the Arabs Issa. But does this place him in conquered Persia in the seventh Afghanistan after the event of and eighth centuries. But, from the crucifixion? Professor Omar their own accounts, and from Burke continues: what I could observe, they seem

48 Review of Religions – April 2002 Evidence of Jesus (as) in India

‘Jesus, according to the com- deal is made up or imagined or munity, was a carpenter and also put in for less than worthy a shepherd...The “Traditions of reasons. Isa lived for over thirty the Masih” (anointed one) is the years after the materials you holy book of the community. They have were completed, and he do not believe in the New told us what was true. Testament; or, rather, they say that these Traditions are the New ‘Briefly, the doctrine is that Jesus Testament, and that the Gospels was the son of God because he which we have are partly true but had attained that rank through generally written by people who his goodness and sacrifices. Thus did not understand the teachings he was equal to a divine person. of the Master [Jesus]. He came after , who himself had reached the ‘Abba Yahiyya, a towering figure highest degree of development with the face of a saint, was possible at that time. John certainly an erudite man, and he baptized him with water, Jesus knew his own scriptures, plus a with spirit and fire. These were great deal of the Jewish writings, the three stages of very well indeed. He had heard of understanding, which were the teachings of the “heretics” as taught by our Christians.’ he called what we would call the various sects of Christians known ‘There was a great deal of to us, and he wanted no part of confusion at first, because I was them. talking about sacraments and being saved, while it took me ‘“My son,” he said, in his softly some time to realize that Abba accented Persian, ‘these people John's people saw baptism, the are reading and repeating a part Holy Ghost and the Kingdom of of the story. They have God to be three stages in a completely misunderstood the system of human illumination. message. We have the story told This is what they claim is the to us by the Master [Jesus], and function of the Church: the through him we will be saved and preservation of an administration made whole. Some of the events of these three “developments” in that document which you call for the worshipers’. the Bible are true, but a great

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‘There is a ritual meal, like the simply ‘coincidental’ that three , but this is carried different groups of people, living out once a week. Bread and wine in different parts of the are eaten, but as symbolic of the world–the Gnostics Christians, grosser and finer nutritions that the followers of Jesus ( a s ) i n are the experiences of attain- Afghanistan, and the Buddhists of ment of nearness to God. "While Tibet-shared an understanding of it is possible to consider these the teachings of Jesus Christ that people as mere heretics, or else was exactly the same, and yet as followers of someone else who totally at variance with what is impersonated Jesus, yet I was now called ‘Christianity’? singularly impressed by their piety, their feeling of certainty, The Bhavishya Mahapurana their simplicity and lack of the There are eighteen books of the unpleasant forms of fervour Hindus called the Puranas. The which one often finds in minority ninth book, the B h a v i s h y a cults. They were convinced, too, M a h a p u r a n a, records an that the day would come when encounter of King Shalivahana the world would discover the with Jesus Christ near Srinagar truth about Jesus.’2 long after the crucifixion. In contrast to the Gospels, the The reader will note that the exact date of this book is clearly followers of Jesus(as) claim that known. It was compiled by Sutta Jesus(as) taught a message quite in the year 3191 of the Kaukikia similar to the Gnostic one we Era. That corresponds to the year studied earlier, as well as the 115 AD. (Jesus Christ( a s ) i s message contained in the believed to have died at age 120, documents discovered by so this account was compiled five Nicholas Notovitch amongst the years before his death). Buddhists. Baptism, the Holy Alongside the oral tradition of Ghost, and the Kingdom of God The Followers of Jesus ( a s ) i n were three stages of illumination. Afghanistan, this written account This idea is contrary to the is perhaps the most important of current Christian doctrine that any of the documents recording places Jesus as the intermediary the presence of Jesus ( a s ) l o n g between human beings and after the crucifixion, because it perfect knowledge of God. Is it was written while Jesus ( a s ),

50 Review of Religions – April 2002 Evidence of Jesus (as) in India

Sanskrit verses 16-33 [shaded in grey] of the third khanda of the Pratisarga parvan of the Bhavishya Mahapurana according to the theory, would that reveals information about still have been alive. Jesus Christ ( a s ) during his lifetime. So it can be suggested Christian scholars state that the that the Bhavishya Mahapurana only extant Gospels p o s s i b l y stands as a more reliable dating to the first century are document than any of the Matthew, Mark, Luke, John and Gospels, as it was not derived Thomas. But they theorize that from a ‘Q’ document, but is an there may also have existed a Q original text. This is a very document that pre-dated these striking account: Gospels, and served as the source material for at least Matthew and Sanskrit verses 16-33 [shaded in Luke. This Q document is not gray] of the third khanda of the available anywhere today. Pratisarga parvan of the Though scholars a s s u m e i t s Bhavishya Mahapurana existence, we cannot know for certain whether it actually ‘Shalivahana, who was a grandson existed prior to the compilation of Bikrama Jit, took over the of the Gospels. So the Bhavishya government. He vanquished the Mahapurana is an extant book attacking hordes of Chinese,

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Parthians, Scythians and religion that I brought unto the Bactrians. He drew a border non-believers: after the between the Arians and the purification of the essence and Mleacha (non-Hindus), and the impure body and after ordered the latter to withdraw to seeking refuge in the prayers of the other side of India. One day, the Naigama, man will pray to Shalivahana, the chief of the the Eternal. Through justice, Sakyas, went into the Himalayas. truth, meditation and unity of There, in the Land of the Hun spirit, man will find his way to Isa (Ladak, a part of the Ku s h a n in the center of light. God, as empire), the powerful king saw a firm as the sun, will finally unite man sitting on a mountain, who the spirit of all wandering beings seemed to promise auspi- in Himself. Thus, O king, Ihamasi ciousness. His skin was fair and will be destroyed; and the blissful he wore white garments. image if Isa, the giver of happiness, will remain forever in ‘The king asked the holy man who the heart; and I was called Isa- he was. The other replied: “I am Masih.' After the king heard these called a son of God, born of a words, he took the teacher of the virgin, minister of the non- non-believers and sent him to believers, relentless in search of their pitiless land.”’3 the truth”. The king then asked him: “What is your religion?” The Here again we see a teaching other replied, ‘O great king, I similar to the Gnostic, Buddhist come from a foreign country, and Afghani versions that we where there is no longer truth studied earlier, with Jesus(as) here and where evil knows no bounds. stating that personal acts In the land of the non-believers, I involving prayer, self- appeared as the Messiah. But the purification, the practice of truth demon Ihamasi of the barbarians and justice and the practice of (dasyu) manifested herself in a meditation would bring human terrible form; I was delivered beings to God. In none of those unto her in the manner of the four versions has Jesus(as) spoken nonbelievers and ended in about himself as the object of Ihamasi's realm. worship or as a mediator through which one must go in order to “O king, lend your ear to the reach God. And again, this idea is

52 Review of Religions – April 2002 Evidence of Jesus (as) in India contrary to today's Christian Although Kersten states that ‘Isa’ teachings. is derived from the Syrian, , the above verses seem to use the The reader will notice above that name Isa as an attributive name, the ‘holy man’ used the and not as the actual personal indefinite article, ‘a’ in name of Jesus (as). The reader will describing himself as, ‘a son of note that he stated: ‘…man will God.’ You may recall the previous find his way to Isa in the center of section on The Followers of light.’ Then later he refers to Jesus(as) where the head of that h i m s e l f as Isa-Masih-the Isa community, Abba Yahya, also said Messiah. So, could the word Isa that Jesus bore the appellation, actually have meant some kind of son of God, ‘because he had attribute of the Divine? Had this attained that rank through his holy man been sent as the ‘Isa goodness and sacrifices.’ Messiah’ to re-establish this special Divine attribute in those Kersten states that the name to whom he ministered? He ‘Isa,’ or ‘Issa’, derives from the defines Isa as, ‘the giver of Syrian, Ye s h u (Jesus), ‘being happiness,’ and does not seem to altered to conform to Musa refer to himself by the name Isa. (Moses).’ What is striking about In short, he is the Messiah of Isa, the above account is that Jesus(as) or he is the Messiah for Isa. It is mentioned by the name that he seems that his mission was to is known by in the scripture of teach spiritual practices that Islam, the Qur’an. But the above would lead to Isa, the giver of document was compiled hundreds happiness, with the words ‘giver of years before the Qur’an was of happiness’ being an attribute written. Also, the above of God. As he states, ‘Through document was written in justice, truth, meditation and Sanskrit-the language of the unity of spirit, man will find his Hindus, a totally different reli- way to Isa in the center of light.’ gion. Since the name Isa appears It appears that Jesus Christ(as) was in an ancient Hindu document as teaching a spiritual prescription well as in the scripture of Islam, for finding happiness ‘in the apparently it was a name by center of light,’ and the words which Jesus(as) was known in the ‘center of light’ must certainly East. have been metaphorical for the

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Divine-for God. The word ‘light’ in one of his travels, once bought refers not only to physical light. a horse for him; he rode the horse In religious literature of various one day, but as he could not make religions, the word light refers to any provision for the feeding of guidance. So the ‘center of light’ the horse, he returned it. or the center of all guidance Journeying from his country, he would be God. arrived at Nasibain. With him were a few of his disciples whom The Rauzat-us-Safa he sent into the city to preach. In J e s u s( a s ) was mentioned in a the city, however, there were Persian historical work known as current wrong and unfounded the Rauzat-us-Safa, written by rumors about Jesus( a s ) and his Mir Muhammad Bin Khawand in mother. The governor of the city, 1417 AD. The complete title of therefore, arrested the disciples that book is, Rauza-tus-Safa fi and then summoned Jesus ( a s ). Sirat-ul-Ambia wal Muluk wal J e s u s( a s ) miraculously healed Khulafa (Gardens of Purity some persons and exhibited other concerning the biography of the miracles. The king of the Prophets and Kings and territory of Nasibain, therefore, Caliphs). It was published later, with all his armies and his people, in the year 1852 AD, in Bombay. became a follower of his. The In this book, he mentions a legend of the 'coming down of tradition regarding a visit by food' contained in the Holy Jesus(as) and Mary to Nasibain. Qur’an belongs to the days of his travels.’4 ‘Jesus (on whom be peace) was named the ‘Messiah’ because he Ikmal-ud-Din was a great traveler. He wore a The author of Ikmal-ud-Din (the woolen scarf on his head and a original title is, Kamalud Din wa woolen cloak on his body. He had Tmam-un Nimat fi Asbat-ul- a stick in his hand; he used to Ghaibat wa Kashful- Hairet), is wander from country to country Al-Shaikh Al-Said-us-Sadiq Abi and from city to city. At nightfall Jaffar Muhammad Ibn-i-Ali Ibn-i- he would stay where he was. He Hussain Ibn-i-Musa Ibn-i- ate jungle vegetables, drank Baibuyah al-Qummi, who died in jungle water, and went on his Khorasan in 962 AD. He was a travels on foot. His companions, scholar who had travelled to

54 Review of Religions – April 2002 Evidence of Jesus (as) in India many countries in order to tioned by the Gospels: research material for his book. He mentions the travels of Jesus ‘When a sower goes to sow and Christ () to Kashmir: sows, some seeds fall by the wayside, and the birds pick up ‘Then Yuz Asaf, after roaming the seed. Some fall upon stray about in many cities, reached land, and when they reach the that country which is called stony foundation they wither Kashmir. He travelled in it far and away. Some fall among thorns and wide and stayed there and spent grow not: but the seed that falls his (remaining) life there, until on the good land, grows and death overtook him, and he left brings forth fruit. By the sower is the earthly body and was meant the wise, by the seed is elevated towards the Light. But meant his words of wisdom. The before his death, he sent for a seeds picked up by birds mean of his, Ba’bad, by name, those people who understand who used to serve him and was not. The seeds on the stony well versed in all matters. He ground are like the words of expressed his last will to him and wisdom that go in one ear and out said: 'My time for departing from of the other. The seeds that fell this world has come. Carry on among the thorns are like unto your duties properly and turn not those who hear and understand back from truth, and say your but act not accordingly. Other prayers regularly.’ He then seeds which fall on good grounds directed Ba'bad to prepare a are like those who hear the words tomb over him (at the very place of wisdom and obey.’6 he died). He then stretched his legs towards the West and head The Bible records Jesus’(as) sower towards the East and died. May parable in the following manner: God bless him.’5 ‘And he spake many things unto Yuz Asaf taught in parables in the them in parables, saying, Behold, same manner as the Bible records a sower went forth to sow; And that Jesus(as) taught. Here is a when he sowed, some seeds fell sample of a parable of Yuz Asaf's by the way side, and the fowls which parallels the famous came and devoured them up: sower-of-seeds parable men- Some fell upon stony places,

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where they had not much earth: would have been a violation of his and forthwith they sprung up, religious beliefs. because they had no deepness of earth: And when the sun was up, Also, it is far from likely that they were scorched; and because Shaikh Sadiq would have inserted they had no root, they withered this story, deceitfully citing it as a a w a y. And some fell among Kashmiri tradition. It is very thorns; and the thorns sprung up, unlikely because of the fact that and choked them: But others fell the scripture of Shaikh Sadiq was into good ground, and brought the Qur’an, not the Bible. The forth fruit, some an hundredfold, parable of the sower of the seeds some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold. does not exist in the Qur’an, so Who hath ears to hear, let him why would Shaikh Sadiq have hear.’7 taken a Biblical parable that has no connection whatsoever to his In my view, the sower parable own religious tradition and from Ikmal-ud-Din is very inserted it into his account of important. First, from the earlier Kashmiri tradition? Again, he quote we see that Shaikh Sadiq certainly was not trying to recorded the travels of Yuz Asaf destroy Christian belief by and his eventual arrival in suggesting that Jesus(as) was in K a s h m i r. Second, he also Kashmir long after the recorded one of the important Crucifixion, because to do so, as I parables of Yuz Asaf. Since stated above, would have meant orthodox Muslims have always the destruction of his own believed that Jesus Christ ( a s ) religious beliefs as well, since ascended to heaven, then Shaikh both orthodox Muslims and Sadiq would have no reason to orthodox Christians believe in the even suspect that Yuz Asaf and Christ (as). Jesus Christ( a s ) were the same person, simply because of the The Book of Balauhar and fact that he was a Muslim who Budasaf (Yuz Asaf) believed in Jesus’(as) ascension. It is believed that the name Even if such a notion had come to Budasaf [Bud-Asaf] and Yuz Asaf his mind, he would have refer to the same person. An immediately dismissed it, entire Buddhist Book of Budasaf because to entertain such an idea exists which mentions Budasaf

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(Yuz Asaf) in Kashmir. (For an The reader will note a original-language Urdu trans- discrepancy between the above lation of portions of the Book of Buddhist account of the death of Balauhar and Budasaf, see: Jesus Christ and that written in www.tombofjesus.com/qisabig.htm) Ikmal-ud-Din. Whatever might be the explanation for why these It says of Budasaf: accounts differ with regard to which direction Jesus faced his ‘And he reached Kashmir, which head just prior to the moment of was the farthest region at which his death, this is not to be he ministered, and there his life confused, obviously, with the ended. He left the world and direction in which he was finally bequeathed his inheritance to a buried in the Roza Bal. The real certain disciple called Ababid sarcophagus containing the who had served him. Everything remains of Yuz Asaf in the Roza that he did was perfect. And he Bal lies underground and could at admonished him and said to him, one time be seen through a small “I have found a worthy shrine and aperture. It is interesting that decorated it and brought in lamps that sarcophagus faces the for the dying. I have collected the direction that is in accordance flock with the true face, which with Jewish custom–east to west. had been dispersed and to whom Even considering that the I was sent. And now I shall draw account in Ikmal-ud-Din was breath through my ascent from referring to the direction he lay the world, by the separation of at the time of his death, that my soul from my body. Obey the account is in accordance with the commandments that were given direction of the sarcophagus of to you, and do not deviate from Yuz Asaf in the Roza Bal, and the path of truth but keep firmly must be considered a correct to it in gratitude. And may Ababid one. Some orthodox Muslims be the leader.” He then claim that Yuz Asaf is an Islamic commanded Ababid to level off saint. This idea cannot be correct the place for him; he stretched because the tradition of Yuz Asaf his legs out and lay down. Then, in Kashmir goes back long before turning his head northwards and the Islamic period. his face eastwards, he passed away.’8

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The Tarikh-i-Kashmir Because the people of the valley In his book, Tarikh-i-Kashmir, had faith in this Prophet, Raja the historian, Mullah Nadri, made Gopadatta referred the objection mention of Yuz Asaf, Jesus of Hindus to him [for decision]. It Christ(as) in Kashmir: was because of this Pr o p h e t ’s orders that Sulaiman, whom ‘After him his son Raja Akh Hindus called Sandeman, (whose name was Ach), came to completed [the repairs of] the the throne. He ruled for sixty dome. [The year was] Fifty and years. It is said that he founded fo u r . Further, on one of the stones the village (of) Achabaal in of the stairs he [Sulaiman] Kothar district. After him his son, inscribed: “In these times Yuz Asaf Gopananda, took (the reigns of) proclaimed his ,” and Government and ruled the on the other stone of the stairs he country under the name of also inscribed that he [Yuz Asaf] Gopadatta. [During his reign] was Yusu, Prophet of the Children many temples were [built] and on of Israel. top of Mount Solomon the dome [of the temple] became cracked. "I have seen in a book of Hindus He deputed one of his ministers that this prophet was really named Sulaiman, who had come Hadhrat Isa [Jesus], the Spirit of from Persia to repair it. Hindus God, on whom be peace [and objected that he [the Minister] salutations] and had also assumed was an infidel [and belonged to] the name of Yuz Asaf. The real another religion. knowledge is with God. He spent his life in this [valley]. After his ‘During this time Hadhrat Yuz Asaf departure [his death] he was laid having come from Bait-ul to rest in Mohalla Anzmarah. It is Muqaddas [the Holy Land] to this also said that lights of holy valley proclaimed his prophethood used to emanate prophethood. He devoted himself, from the tomb of this Prophet. day and night, in [prayers to] God, Raja Gopadatta having ruled for and having attained the heights of sixty years and two months, piety and virtue, he declared [then] died…’9 himself to be a Messenger [of God] for the people of Kashmir. He This is another very interesting invited people [to his religion]. recording. It shows that Mullah

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Nadri clearly gave an account of Also, you will notice that Mullah Yuz Asaf in Kashmir. He stated Nadri refers to Isa as the ‘Spirit of that Yuz Asaf came from the Holy God.’ This description of Isa as Land, and that he proclaimed to the ‘Spirit of God’ seems to be a prophet of the Children of support my own view, expressed Israel, or the Jews. Yet, up to in the section on the Bhavishya that point, he had not equated Mahapurana, that the name Isa this prophet with Jesus Christ. may not be a personal name but Then, as an objective historian, is instead attributive in nature. he recorded a Hindu tradition telling that Isa and Yuz Asaf were the same individual. And he recorded this Hindu tradition even though it was at variance with his own Islamic tradition.

It seems as though Mullah Nadri must have been influenced by this Hindu tradition in some manner. Rather than state that, ‘Of course my religion, Islam, The 'Tarikh-i-Kahsmir' says that Jesus ascended to (Courtesy, Dr Hassnain) heaven,’ or just outright deny The Tarikh-i-Kashmir (author this Hindu tradition, or even unknown) worse, simply leave it out, he The author of this Ta r i k h - i - states, ‘The real knowledge is Kashmir is unknown. Note that with God.’ I think it is very the document states that ‘six significant that Mullah Nadri days after his crucifixion, Jesus would not forcefully deny the visited several places.’ tradition or even qualify it by airing his own religious views. ‘In early writings, it is mentioned O b v i o u s l y, the Hindu tradition that seventy years after the Mullah Nadri mentioned is the demise of Alexander the Great, same one that records the Jesus Christ was born. When he meeting of King Shalivahana with reached the age of thirty years, Jesus Christ - the B h a v i s h y a God raised him to the status of an Mahapurana. apostle. At the age of thirty-

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three years, he proceeded from Jesus) containing information Palestine towards the Holy Valley about Jesus(as). [Kashmir]. It is mentioned in historical works that Jesus Christ reached Syria in company of his disciples and followers. It is written in authentic works that six days after his crucifixion, Jesus visited several places and met Zacharis and Mary and Disciples and then left for [an] unknown destination.’10

The reference to the ‘Holy The 'Grugtha Thams-chand' Tibetan translation of ancient Valley’ is speaking of Kashmir, Chinesedocument, The Glass which has been called the Valley Mirror (Courtesy, Dr Hassnain) of Eternal Peace, and other such names. This Tibetan document, written by Le-zan Chhes-kyi Nima, was The History of Religion and translated from an ancient Doctrines–The Glass Mirror Chinese document called, T h e In his book, A Search for the History of Religion and , Dr. Fida Doctrines-The Glass Mirror: Th e Hassnain, former Director of relevant portions are reproduced Kashmir State Archives and of below: Archeological Research and Museums, mentions a Ti b e t a n ‘Yesu, the teacher and founder of manuscript he discovered called the religion, who was born Grugtha Thams-chand kyi miraculously, proclaimed himself Khuna dan Dod-Thsul Ston-pe the Saviour of the world. He Legs Shad Shel-gyi Melong. commanded his disciples to ( Recall Nicholas Notovitch’s observe the ten vows [Te n discovery that Buddhists in Tibet Commandments], among which had within their possession includes prohibition of ancient documents which manslaughter and attainment of recorded the comings and goings eternal joy through good deeds. of ‘San Issa,’ or ‘Yesu,’ i.e., He preached that evil actions

60 Review of Religions – April 2002 Evidence of Jesus (as) in India plunge one into hell, where there much revered for spending his is eternal torment and misery. A life in piety and prayers. He was sin committed in a state of burried in the famous shrine consciousness cannot be known as the Rozabal Tomb. His condoned or pardoned. This is grave is located towards the one of the virtuous results south of the holy grave of a emerging out of the teachings of prophet. As such, the shrine is the Buddha. His doctrines did not known as the Site of the Prophet. spread extensively, but survived Khawaja Azam Didmari writes in Asia, for a long period. The that in the past a Prince, who above information is derived from absorbed himself in prayers and the Chinese treatises on religions piety attained the station of a and doctrines.’11 Messenger [of God] and was sent to this land for guidance of the I find it interesting that the above people. His name was Yu z u - document states that, except in Asaph. After his death, he was Asia, the teachings of Ye s u burried here in Mohala Anzmar (Jesus) did not spread. When one near . considers the differences in the teachings of Yuz Asaf/Yesu when ‘Mulla Ahmad in his Asar-ul-Ikhyar he was in Asia, and those of has quoted that Sultan Zain-ul- Christianity as it evolved in the Abidin deputed Syed Abdullah West, one begins to understand Bahaiqi as an Ambassador to the above quote. For, the primary Egypt and the Pharoah of Egypt focus of Western Christianity is deputed Yuzu- Asaph who was a the death of Jesus Christ(as) for progeny of Moses as his the sins of the world, but in the a m b a s s a d o r. The Shias believe East that idea does not exist. that Yuzu- Asaph descended from Hazrat Imam Jafar-i-Sadiq. The Tarikh-i-Kabir Kashmir However in an Arabic manuscript, The Tarikh-i-Kabir Kashmir was it is related the Prince came from published at Suraj Prakash Press Sholapit to Kashmir as a traveler in Amritsar, Punjab in 1902. On and is buried in Anzmar, Khanyar, page 34 of Volume I of that work, Srinagar. But more older infor- Haji Mohiyuddin says the: mation is available that [a] sweet smell used to come from one of ‘Syed Nasir-uddin Khanyari is the holes of [the] sarcophagus. A

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lady, who desecrated the tomb preached among the people. It is became mad. Others believe that said that Raja Gopananda ruled it is [the] tomb of a great over the country during that Prophet who is no other than period. The aroma of musk used to Hazrat Isa--the Spirit of God.’12 emanate from a hole in the western wall.’13 You will note from the above that the document presents various The appellation, ‘Pa i g h a m b a r’ opinions regarding the identity of means, ‘Messenger of God.’ So he the prince who occupied the Roza is mentioned in this document as, Bal, the last one being that he ‘Messenger of God, Yuzu Asaph.’ was Hadhrat Isa–Jesus Christ (as).

The Wajees-ut-Tawarikh According to the Tarikh-i-Hassan, the Wa j e e s - u t - Ta w a r i k h w a s compiled in 1857 by Abdul Nabi Khanyari (Tarikh-i-Hassan, Vol. 1, p.377). Abdul Nabi Khanyari was The 'Wajees-ut-Tawarikh' known by various names: Abdul (Courtesy, Dr Hassnain) Nabi, Naba Shah and Ghulam Nabi. It is to be noted that Raja Gopananda is mentioned in this Official Decree of the Gra n d excerpt, as you will see below, Mufti and he ruled over Kashmir during The following decree was issued 49 to 109 AD. by the High Court in Kashmir, presided over by the Grand Mufti, ‘The grave of Mir Sayyid a high ranking religious leader, Naseeruddin is in Khanyar. The and other judges. The decree place is also known as Rozabal. It clearly affirms that Yuzu-Asaph is said that at that place exists the was sent as a prophet to the grave of Paighambar Yuzu Asaf. He people of Kashmir, according to was a prince who had come to this the traditions of the Kashmiri place. Due to his utmost piety and people. prayers, he was raised to the status of the Messenger (by God) This decree was issued in the for the people of Kashmir. He year 1774 AD, although Dr. Fida

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Hassnain's book, The Fifth Gopadatta, who got built many Gospel,14 has the date as 1766 temples and got repaired, AD: especially, the Throne of Solomon on the hill of Solomon, Yuz-Asaph THE SEAL OF THE JUSTICE OF came to the valley. Prince by ISLAM MULLA FAZIL 1194 A.H. descent, he was pious and saintly and had given up earthly pursuits. In this High Court of Justice, in He spent all his time in prayers the Department of Learning and and meditation. The people of Piety of the Kingdom. Kashmir, having become idolaters after the great flood of Noah, the P r e s e n t Rehman Khan, son of God Almighty sent Yuz-Asaph as a Amir Khan, submits that: the Prophet to the people of Kashmir. kings, the nobles, the ministers He proclaimed oneness of God till and the multitude come from all he passed away. Yuz-Asaph was directions of the kingdom to pay buried at Khanyar on the banks of their homage and offerings in the lake, and the shrine is known cash and kind at the lofty and the as Rozabal. In the year 871 AH holy shrine of Yuz- Asaph, the Syed Nasir-ud-Din, a descendant Prophet, may God bless him. of Imam Musa-Raza, was also buried besides the grave of Yuz- Claims That: he is the only and Asaph. absolute claimant, entitled to receive the offerings and utilise Orders: Since the shrine is visited these, and none else has any right by the devotees, both high and whatsoever on these offerings. common, and since the applicant Rahman Khan is the hereditary Prays that: A writ of injunction custodian of the shrine, it is be granted to all those who ordered that he be entitled to interfere and others be receive the offerings, made at restrained from interfering with the shrine as before, and no one his rights. else shall have any right to such offerings. Given under our hand, Verdict: Now, this court, after 11th Jamadi-ud-Sani, 1184 AH. obtaining evidence, concludes as under: It has been established that during the reign of Raja

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Signpost outside of the Roza Bal senger of God for the Kashmiri people. In that ancient book his name is mentioned as Yuz Asaf.’

The Acta Thomae In Chapter 7 we saw that the Apostle Thomas had been assigned to go to India to preach the message of Jesus Christ(as). The Acta Thomae, though, also records an account showing that Jesus Christ was in Taxila at a marriage ceremony, along with Thomas, in the year 49 CE, a good Signpost outside of the Tomb number of years after the crucifixion. This account verifies The following is the English St. Irenaeus's observations (see translation of the information Chapter 2), recorded in his displayed on the signpost that Against Heresies, that Jesus was stands outside the Tomb of Jesus seen alive in Asia long after the Christ. The information contains event of the cross. The A c t a the views of Khawaja Azam T h o m a e is a Christian work, Deddmari, who compiled his though it was declared heretical Tarikh-i-Azam in about 1729 AD. in the year 495 CE by a decree of Gelasius. ‘Nearby is situated the stone of the grave which, according to the In the following account, the people, is the prophet's who bridegroom saw whom he thought arrived from a far off place was Thomas talking to his new during ancient times. Anointed bride, but it was not Thomas. for Kashmir: This spot is famous Both Thomas and Jesus( a s ) as the resting place of a attended this wedding, and one messenger: I have read in an of them was often mistaken for ancient book that a prince from a the other: foreign land arrived here and engaged himself in piety and ‘Thomas after the ceremonies prayers [and] became a mes- left the palace. The bridegroom

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(Abdagases) lifted the curtain Jesus Christ after the crucifixion which separated him from his certainly ran counter to the bride. He saw Thomas, as he already-formulated Christian. supposed, conversing with her. Then he asked in surprise: “How But it is fair to point out that the Canst though be found here? Did I words of advice later given by not see thee go out before all?” Jesus(as) to the young newlywed And the Lord answered: “I am not couple regarding marriage and Thomas, but his brother.”’15 conjugal relations are so absurd and outrageous that it would Here is another translation of this seem to call into question the account: above account (assuming that what is recorded is what he ‘And the king desired the actually said). groomsmen to depart out of the bride-chamber; and when all Also, all throughout the Acta were gone out and the doors Thomae, Thomas refers to Jesus were shut, the bridegroom lifted as the ‘Lord, God.’ Certainly if up the curtain of the J e s u s( a s ) was travelling with bridechamber to fetch the bride Thomas as a human being, he unto him. And he saw the Lord would not refer to him as God. J e s u s bearing the likeness of But I include this account from Judas Thomas and speaking with the Acta Thomae because despite the bride; even of him that but the standard which now had blessed them and gone flows throughout the Acta out from them, the apostle; and Thomae, and the absurd advice he saith unto him: “Wentest thou supposedly given by Jesus(as) to not out in the sight of all? How the newlyweds, it is extremely then art thou found here?” But difficult to ignore the fact that the Lord said to him: ‘I am not the Acta Thomae records an Judas which is also called Thomas appearance of Jesus(as) in India. but I am his brother.’’16 Was the appearance mystical? It It is not difficult to understand does not at all read as if this was why the Acta Thomae w o u l d the case. Is the Acta Thomae a have been declared heretical: total and complete fraud? I Any mention of the appearance of cannot answer that question. But

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for one reason or another, the near the Dal Lake in Srinagar, Acta Thomae made a point to K a s h m i r. It was renamed mention that a living and walking Sankarachariya by the Hindu and talking Jesus was in India Maharaja in 1848. There are four with Thomas at a wedding inscriptions on this monument, ceremony. two of which are still legible. The inscriptions are recorded in The Ain-ul-Hayat Khwaja Hassan Malik’s book, The author of the Ain-ul-Hayat Tarikh-i-Kashmir.18 was Ibn-i-Muhammad Hada Muhammad Ismail. In Volume 2, They read: Chapter 2, pages 177 to 178, he states the following regarding Yuz 1. The mason of this pillar is Asaf: Bahishti Zargar, Year fifty and four. ‘He went to many cities and preached to those cities. At last 2. Khawaja Rukun son of Murjan he reached the city of Kashmir. erected this pillar. He invited its inhabitants to righteousness and resided there 3. At this time Yuz Asaf till death approached him, and proclaimed his prophethood. his holy spirit departed from his Year fifty and four. earthly body and went to rest with God. But before his death he 4. He is Jesus, Prophet of the called his companion Ba’bad and Children of Israel. made a will…and directed him to construct a tomb for him. He laid Concerning the year 54, Hassnain himself with his head towards the notes the following: East and stretched his legs towards the West, and went to ‘Note that since Islam did not the place of Eternity.’17 exist during the reign of Gopadatta (79–109 AD), The Takhat Sulaiman (Throne of connecting the year 54 with the Solomon) monument in Srinagar Muslim Hijra Era is absurd. During The Takhat Sulaiman (Throne of that period, the Laukika Era was Solomon) is a large temple exclusively used in Kashmir. As situated on the top of a hillock this era started in 3076 BC, the

66 Review of Religions – April 2002 Evidence of Jesus (as) in India

54th year mentioned in the 5. Al-Shaikh Al-Said-us-Sadiq inscription would come to either Abi Jaffar Muhammad Ibn-i- 22 BC or 78 AD (since Laukika Ali Ibn-i-Hussain Ibn-i-Musa Year 1 is 3076 BC, 3054 would be Ibn-i-Baibuyah al-Qummi, 22 BC, and 3154 would be 78 AD) Ikmal-ud-Din (Kamal-ud Din As it was not possible for Jesus wa Tmam-un Nimat fi Asbat- C h r i s t( a s ) to have travelled to ul-Ghaibat wa Kashf-ul- Kashmir in 22 BC, I take the year Hairet), (Iran: Syed-us-Sanad 78 AD to be the correct date of Press, 1782), p.357 his arrival.’19 6. Ibid, p. 327

References 7. Bible, Matthew 13: 3-9 1. O.M. Burke, Among the D e r v i s h e s (New York: E.P. 8. Book of Balauhar and Dutton and Co., 1973) p.12 B u d a s a f, p. 285-286 (as taken from Jesus Lived in 2. Ibid, pp. 107-109 India, by , pp. 205-206) 3. Nag Sharan Singh, Bhavisya M a h a p u r a n a m ( J a w a h a r 9. Mullah Nadri, Ta r i k h - i - Nagar, Deli: Nag Publishers, Kashmir, p.69 (as taken from 1984, originally compiled in Jesus in Heaven on Earth, by 115 A.D.), verses 16-23 of Nazir Ahmad p.401) the third khanda of the Ptratisarga parvan 10. Document provided by Dr. Fida Hassnain by the Sadar 4. Mir Muhammad Khawand Anjuman Ahmadiyya, Shah Ibn-i-Muhammad, Qadian, Punjab, India, then Rauza-tus-Safa fi Sirat-ul- forwarded to this author Ambia wal Muluk wal Kh u l a f a , trans. ‘Gardens of 11. Le-zan Chhes-kyi Nima, Purity concerning the Grugtha Thams-chand kyi biography of the Prophets and Khuna dan Dod-Thsul Ston- Kings and Caliphs’. (Bombay, pe Legs Shad Shel-gyi Melong 1852, originally written in (as taken from , A Search for 1417), Vol 1: 130-135. The Historical Jesus, by Dr

Review of Religions – April 2002 67 Evidence of Jesus (as) in India

Fida Hassnain, p.213) Christ Survive the 12. Haji Mohiyuddin, Ta r i k h - i - Crucifixion? is published by Kabir Kashmir ( A m r i t s a r, Jammu Press and is available Punjab: Suraj Prakash Press, from www.tombofjesus.com 1902), Vol. I, p. 34

13. Abdul Nabi Khanyari, Wajees-ut-Tawarikh, (1857), p. 27

14. Dr. Fida Hassnain, The Fifth G o s p e l (Srinagar: Dastgir Publications Trust, 1988), p. xxi

15. Ante-Nicene Christian L i b r a r y, Edinburgh, T&T Clark, 25 Vols. 1869, Vol. 20:46

16. Acts of Thomas ( A c t a T h o m a e ) : h t t p : / / w e s l e y. n n c . ed u / n o n c a n o n / a c t s / a c t t h o m .htm

17. Ibn-iI-Muhammad Hadi Muhammad Ismail, A i n - u l - Hayat, Vol. 2, Chapter 2, pp. 177-178

18. Khawaja Hassan Malik, Tarikh-I-Kashmir, f. 56.

19. Hassnain, A Search for the Historical Jesus, pp. 202-203

The book Saving the Savior - Did

68 Review of Religions – April 2002 Letter to the Editor

Power and how they will answer for preaching in the name of God Responsibility whilst committing the very acts In the US, ever since former US they publicly denounce. President Richard Nixon’s ‘ Watergate,’ lay people have Without doubt this has sent been questioning the leaders of shockwaves throughout the government and various religious world. Some have institutions of trust. This has pointed fingers at the practice of spread to medicine, where celibacy whilst others have doctors had been looked at as denounced this as a downright almost ‘godlike’ to financial abuse of the privileged positions institutions, and now the Roman such priests hold in society. The Catholic Church. scale and significance of this whole sorry chapter has been However, whilst it has become all highlighted by the fact that the too common to come across Pope has himself intervened to reports of political leaders provide guidance on this matter misusing their positions and when he called a meeting with power and commiting immoral senior American bishops. As can acts, when religious clerics do so be expected, the laity too is now it undermines the spiritual questioning the accountability of foundations of society and may the Church in these matters. ultimately repel people away from religion. As their life is Throughout America, sex abuse supposed to be devoted to scandals in the Church have bringing people closer to God, become much more personal. their self-example must remain From small to large con- spotless not only for the sake of gregations, announcements have the people who follow them but been made about alle-gations of also for their own sake as well, sexual abuse from more than 30 for they will be held accountable years ago. It has reached by God. One shudders to think of nightmarish proportions, as

Review of Religions – April 2002 69 Letter to the Editor

priests, who had moved around sins and how they impact others the country to various parishes, and pray for forgiveness. faced allegations. With around 46,000 priests in the These bombshells have created US, and nearly 62 million all kinds of conflicting emotions parishioners, or lay people, some within American Catholicism. Catholic observers of the current Primarily, it evoked compassion controversy say it is a good thing for the wonderful, good, and that the Pope met with the effective priests that congre- American cardinals to address the gations had known and accountability aspect of this appreciated for years. But there scandal. were others, who were priests preying on young children, Many Catholics believe that a abusers they called ‘true policy of pulling an accused priest paedophiles’. It must be noted from his work and notifying civil that the bulk of the cases authorities is impending and is involved priests preying on imperative. The Catholic Church adolescents. teaches compassion and for- giveness of sin. Thus, in One response has been that conjunction with this, offending throughout America, Catholic priests, most American Catholics congregations organized an believe, should be offered evening of prayer for accused therapeutic intervention and an priests and at prayer meetings opportunity for repentance and there was much sharing of rehabilitation. But most believe compassion and forgiveness if the they should not be placed back allegations were to be found into a ministry where they would true. There also was prayer for have any contact with young the alleged victims of priest people. abuse. It has been a difficult period for Catholics. Many have A favoured proposal of most admitted carrying a heavy burden American Catholics was the of sadness for all involved in creation of a panel of esteemed allegations of sexual abuse. The lay people to monitor the Catholics point out that this is C h u r c h ’s performance in the also a time of sorrow for our own handling of the sex abuse cases.

70 Review of Religions – April 2002 Letter to the Editor

An outside panel to review starting point could be to internal affairs, many believe, is remove those found guilty, h e a l t h y. Although the proposal otherwise regaining the trust was discussed in Rome, it was not of the people would be an included in the American impossible task, and the Cardinals’ final communiqué. implications of this would only There was no mention of the review boards or of the lay distance people from true people. When questioned about religion and all the much the omission in a late-night news needed guidance that it has to conference at the Vatican, the offer. Cardinals admitted that somehow, they had inadvertently It is evident that Catholics left the lay people out. bound by faith will recover from these scandals but con- The end result of this current gregations will prevail upon turmoil in the Roman Catholic bishops of the United States to Church may be the demand by lay make every effort to people in the pews for more accountability in church finances, implement the challenge that Catholic schools and certainly a lies ahead, so that the present new era of accountability from crisis leads to a holier priest- the bishops regarding the hood, a holier epis-copate and sexual abuse scandals. a holier Church.

Whilst this is a very serious Hasan Hakeem, time for Catholics the world Zion, USA over it would be foolish to believe that abuse of power has not occurred in other religions as well. The Catholic Church will no doubt take this opportunity to take a firm line against such irreligious prac- tices in an effort to uphold the principle of absolute justice. A

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