SUMMER • 2 011 $4.00
“In the latter days, the sun shall rise from the west” • Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace and blessings of Allah be on him)
I Shall Cause Thy Message to Reach the Corners of the Earth
13 The Muslim 22 The Growth of 38 Muslims for 44 The Rising of Sunrise: Ahmadiyyat in Peace 1921 to the Sun From the Ninety Diverse Years America 2011 West The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community
he Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is a religious organization, international in its scope, with branches in 189 countries in TAfrica, North America, South America, Asia, Australasia, and Europe. The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community was established in 1889 by Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas (1835-1908) in Qadian, a small and remote village in the Punjabi province of India. He claimed to be the expected reformer of the latter days, the Awaited One of the world community of religions (The Mahdi and Messiah). The Movement he started is an embodiment of the benevolent message of Islam – peace, universal brotherhood, and submission to the Will of God – in its pristine purity. Hadhrat Ahmadas proclaimed Islam as the religion of man: “The religion of the people of the right path” (98:6).The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community was created under divine guidance with the objective to rejuvenate Islamic moral and spiritual values. It encourages interfaith dialogue, diligently defends Islam and tries to correct misunderstandings about Islam in the West. It advocates peace, tolerance, love and understanding among followers of different faiths. It firmly believes in and acts upon the Qur’anic teaching: “There is no compulsion in religion” (2:257). It strongly rejects violence and terrorism in any form and for any reason.
After the passing of its founder, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community has been headed by his elected successors. The present Head of the Community, Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, was elected in 2003. His official title is Khalifatul Masih V or Fifth Successor of the Promised Messiah.. Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (1835-1908)
Editor Falahud Din Shams Editor's Notes: The Muslim Sunrise is published by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, USA, 15000 Good Hope Road, Silver Spring, MD 20905, Phone 301.879.0110, Fax 301.879.0115, under the auspices of Dr. Ahsanullah Zafar, Ameer and National Editorial Board President. The views and opinions expressed by individual contributers in this Imam Mubasher Ahmad publication do not necessarily reflect the views of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Dr. Shanaz Butt Community, USA. Hasan Hakeem The Muslim Sunrise welcomes letters to the editor, questions and submissions. Email Sardar Anees Ahmad us at [email protected] or go online to www.MuslimSunrise.com. Staff Editors Library of Congress Call Number BP195.A5 M8 Maham Khan Mailing Address: The Muslim Sunrise, 2 S 510 Route 53, Glen Ellyn, IL Atif Mir 60137, Phone: (630) 790-4100, ext. 206, Fax: (630) 793-4100. Naser Shams Muslims follow the name of God’s prophets with the prayer alaehis salaam or ‘may peace be upon him,’ and for the Holy Prophet Muhammad, sallallahu Staff Writers alaehi wasallam or ‘may peace and blessings of God be upon him.’ Companions of prophets and righteous personalities who have passed away are saluted by Lubna Malik radhi-Allaho anhu/a or ‘may Allah be pleased with him/her.” While such Sardar Anees Ahmad salutations sometimes are not set out in the text for readability, we encourage Dr. Zia H. Shah readers to offer these prayers as if set out in full. Shazia Sohail Dr. Mufti Muhammad Sadiq (1872-1957) was the first Ahmadiyya Muslim missionary to arrive in America. In 1921, he founded the Muslim Sunrise, which stands today as the longest running Muslim publication in America. The magazine seeks to open Religion & Science Dept. discussions on Islam and topics relating to religion in general. It highlights the role Dr. Zia H. Shah of Islam in an ever changing global society. It provides a platform for public opinion on contemporary issues and presenting their solutions from an Islamic perspective. Hasan Hakeem, Design/Layout Muneeb Ahmad, Website www.muslimsunrise.com Shuaib Shams, Circulation
2 Muslim Sunrise in America Muslims who believe in the Messiah, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, QadianiAS
In This Issue Summer 2 0 11 • Volume 91 • Issue 2 Features
7-8 Special Commemorative Messages Departments
13 Ninety Diverse Years 5 In The Words of the Promised Messiahas
19 The Muslim Sunrise, First Issue 6 Editorial 22 Growth of Ahmadiyyat since 1920 10 Friday Sermon-“Intercession” 26 Hadhrat Mufti Muhammad Sadiqra 17 From the Archives 1921 29 Early Years of Islam in America 55 Religion & Science 31 The Editors of The Muslim Sunrise Allah the Protector of Life on Earth
33 The Muslim Sunrise - Historical Editions 46 Book Review Islam and Ahmadiyya Jama’at: 37 How I Accepted Ahmadiyyat History, Belief, Practice
38 Muslims for Peace 1921 to 2011 48 Poetry Corner Ablaze 44 Rising of the Sun from the West
52 Fruits of a Sown Seed - Inspiration from 49 News, Views and Reviews Islam’s Intellectual Invasion 41 Question and Answer 58 The Muslim Sunrise Vision 65 Perspective 61 Sir Muhammad Zafarullah Khanra Following the Faith of Our Forefathers
Summer 2011 3 From the Holy Qur'an Chapter Ibrahim: 25-28
Dost thou not see how Allah sets forth the similitude of a good word? It is like a good tree, whose root is firm and whose branches reach into heaven. It brings forth its fruit at all times by the command of its Lord. And Allah sets forth similitudes for men that they may reflect. And the case of an evil word is like that of an evil tree, which is uprooted from above the earth and has no stability. Allah strengthens the believers with the word that is firmly established, both in the present life and in the Hereafter; and Allah lets the wrongdoers go astray. And Allah does what He wills.
4 Muslim Sunrise in America In the Words of the Promised Messiahas
mankind. This workshop “..God has said, He had divided into “A Warner came into several branches, all the world but the devoted to the world accepted him dissemination of truth, the not. God, however, propagation of Islam. Of will accept him and these branches one branch manifest his truth by is concerned with the mighty signs.” preparation of books, one of the tasks assigned to These words proceed not this humble one. To from the mouth of man. perform this task I have They are God’s words, been gifted with special words of the Mighty Lord knowledge. Knowledge which is not within man’s Himself. The mighty Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (1835-1908) attacks mentioned in this capacity, which can be prophecy are near. acquired only by the help
But these attacks are not by physical Imperative it is that this should not happen of God, which comes not of human weapons, not swords or guns. These are until we have proved our worth by devoted effort but through the Holy Spirit. spiritual weapons, which will come as hard work, by offering our lifeblood, by Instruction by the Holy Spirit has help from God. A battle with the Jews of sacrificing our rest and peace, by dissolved our difficulties. our time will ensure. And who are these accepting all indignities for the dignity of Jews? They are worshippers of external Islam. The new life of Islam demands a A second branch of this workshop forms who have acquired complete great Sacrifice from us. What is this is concerned with the publication of resemblance with the Jews of yore. The Sacrifice? It is our lives: on this Sacrifice leaflets which, also under divine sword of heaven will cut them up; the depends now the life of Islam, the life of command and for satisfaction and Jewish ways will be destroyed. All those Mussalmans, the Manifestation of God in conviction of all concerned, has already who resemble the Anti-Christ, those our time. Sacrifice is of the essence of been undertaken; More than 20,000 who love this world overmuch and who Islam. And this is the Islam that God leaflets on Islamic truths and arguments have only one eye, having lost the eye for wants to restore. To bring about this spiritual truth, all of them will end by the great transformation, it was necessary have been published. The process is sword of solid unanswerable arguments. that God Himself should establish a continuing according to need in the Truth will prevail. A new bright day will workshop, adequate and efficient in all future. dawn again for Islam. Same as it did respects. So, He the Most Wise, Most before. The sun of Islam will rise in full Powerful, let this workshop come into (To see the full text go to Al-Islam.org, bloom, same as it did before. But this will being by sending this humble one to Book: Victory of Islam) not be at once. undertake this work of reforming
Summer 2011 5 Editorial
inety years ago, in July 1921, the Promised Messiah and the holy reformer of the day. first issue of The Muslim Sunrise Quran is the final sacred law. Buddhaas and Krishnaas was published. It was a mere 26 of India, Zoroasteras of Persia, Confuciusas of China, pages of 8 1/2 X 11 paper folded Mosesas of Egypt, Jesusas of Nazareth, all were the holy inN half and stapled in the middle. There were no men and prophets of God. We honor and respect all of graphics to speak of and most of the borders and them. The blessed prophet Jesus’ tomb is in Cashmere even the map of the USA was hand drawn. In (India), where he lies buried in peace. The door of today’s standards, it could possibly be considered revelation and inspiration is never closed. God still a substandard newsletter. This humble publication speaks to his people. His Hazrat Mahmudra is the became the longest running American Muslim present leader of the Ahmadia Community, and a magazine. living example of the godly men. Sadiqra is the authorized missioner of the Movement to initiate the From the very first issue, its secret was the powerful followers into the order from all classes and nations.” message of the Messiah, Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas of Qadian, India. He had prophesied more than 70 years Ninety years later, the editorial staff of The Muslim before 1921 that God was going to spread his message to Sunrise is trying to keep this purpose alive. We have the corners of the earth. He had also expressed his desire to opened the doors to enriching interfaith dialogue and have publications in the English language to introduce Islam continue to invite the Western people to look into the to the West. It was his disciple, Dr. Mufti Muhammad beauties of Islam. The sun is rising in the West and people Sadiqra who came to America and spread his message. He have started to discover Islam. Sunrise is only a small part walked on the streets of Philadelphia, Detroit and Chicago of the process in place by God to bring sunshine to the West. with a green turban and Hindustani attire delivering the The mission started by the first editor of The Muslim message. The Muslim Sunrise was one of his tools in Sunrise has expanded now to over 70 chapters of the delivering the divine message to the West. Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in America and many devoted missionaries spreading the message. In his own words in the first issue he announced: “There is but one God, Muhammadsa, the master We hope and pray that we will continue to do our part to the prophet is His messenger. Ahmadas of Qadian is the best of our abilities.
6 Muslim Sunrise in America Tarbiyyat and Tablighi nature. May Khalifa’s Allah Almighty grant this magazine Message to the the flair to acquire and maintain these expectations with excellent results. Muslim Sunrise May Allah’s blessing be upon The Muslim Sunrise for the distinguished here is no doubt that services it has extended loyally for a the present day media very long time. T technology and communication system was invented through Allah’s Mirza Masroor Ahmad grace to assist Hadhrat Aqdas Masih Khalifat-ul-Masih V Ma’oodas in his quest to bring to an excellence the propagation of Amir’s righteousness. Message to the Hadhrat Aqdas Masih Ma’oodas has stated: Muslim Sunrise “So, He the Most Wise, Most Powerful, let this workshop come Mirza Masroor Ahmad into being by sending this humble one to undertake this work of reforming general body of Mussalmans will be mankind. This workshop He had di- required to promote work in the five vided into several branches, all de- parts of this plan. Take the compila- voted to the dissemination of truth, tion of books etc., for instance. What the propagation of Islam. Of these size of finance will be required for the branches one branch is concerned publications of books alone? If we are with the preparation of books, one of interested in a wide circulation of Dr. Ahsanullah Zafar the tasks assigned to this humble one. books, we should see that they reach he Muslim Sunrise is To perform this task I have been people who most need them and in as entering the final stretch gifted with special knowledge. short time and in as large number as T towards its own centenary Knowledge which is not within man’s possible. Our books are compiled af- celebration. This is quite a reflection on the efforts of the man who landed alone capacity, which can be acquired only ter due research and after a full analy- in Philadelphia and right away landed by the Help of God, which comes not sis of facts. They are designed to in prison. He received this treatment of human effort but through the Holy draw seekers of truth to the path of only because he professed his faith in Spirit. Instruction by the Holy Spirit truth. They must reach people who the final Book, the Qur’an. has dissolved our difficulties.” happen to have been infected by hos- This periodical is committed to addressing issues which are relevant to (Fatah Islam, Roohani Khazain, tile writings, some of them on the the people around us because we are Vol. 3, pp 11-12) brink of spiritual ruin.” (Fatah Islam, tied to their lives and expressions as “It is also true that the plan has Roohani Khazain, Vol. 3, pp. 26-27) fellow citizens in this part of the world. been promised special assistance. It The aim behind publishing all the In reality our message remains the message of the Qur’an, as understood relies completely on God’s special Jamaati organs/periodicals is pre- and explained by the enlightenment grace and help. But, again, it is with cisely the same – that is to constitute given to Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas of God’s command and on hints re- a wide awareness of Tabligh and Qadian, India. It is remarkable that the ceived from Him that all Tarbiyyat. This charge and privilege teachings of the Qur’an, though still Mussalmans are being addressed is being faithfully achieved by the misunderstood by many, are now discussed without persecution for the this invitation to help and this is in Jamaati newspapers and journals followers of the Promised Messiah and keeping with the practice of proph- within their own circles. I am confi- Mahdias. ets of the past. To meet with diffi- dent that The Muslim Sunrise must This issue is a compliment to the culties in the way they have always have endeavored to accomplish this current team taking care of this publication. May Allah guide and help invited people to help in their pro- obligation with full merits. It is ex- all those who are supporting these grams. Following them I say it is ob- pected of the journal to always pub- efforts, the editors and contributors vious what scale of assistance by the lish influential articles of both alike. Ameen.
Summer 2011 7 In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Ever Merciful and sacrifice to generate the means to print Colonization of the Western world. If you leaflets, and even if some money was arranged will work with the same love, zeal, sincer- I Shall Cause Thy for printing such leaflets, another bigger ity and loyalty as they did your honor and struggle was to raise funds to send them some- respect and name will be still greater than Message to where. And when the message did miracu- their’s, as you will have moreover the Re- lously begin to get out into the world, a storm ward at the Last day and Allah’s pleasure, Reach the of opposition arose, the like of which is rarely the grandeur and beauty of which no one Corners of the witnessed by mankind. The whole world had can estimate in this world.” suddenly come together, it seemed, to oppose Today, under the directions of Hadhrat Earth the message that God had revealed He would Mirza Masroor Ahmadaya the message of cause to reach the corners of the Earth! Islam-Ahmadiyyat is being delivered to The Holy Founder of the Ahmadiyya millions of Americans daily. And the pace All praise truly belongs to Allah, the Lord Muslim Community had prophesied that he is quickening. Just in the past one year of all the worlds. had been sent to simply sow the seed and over 60 million Americans have heard this that that seed had now been sown by his hand message. Now the message appears on Naseem Mahdi and that it would now flourish and none would billboards and newspapers and on the elec- National Vice President and be able to retard its progress. He had proph- tronic media daily with ever increasing fre- Missionary Incharge, Ahmadiyya esied that after him God would manifest His quency and greater visibility. National tele- Muslim Community, USA Power in the manner in which it had been mani- vision shows with the highest viewer rat- fested through Hadhrat Abu Bakrra at the ings regularly invite spokespersons of the This, the longest running Muslim publi- death of the Holy Prophetsa by establishing Ahmadiyya Muslim Community to come cation in America, was started in 1921 by khilafat on the pattern of prophethood. He and talk about Islam and its message as Hadhrat Dr. Mufti Muhammad Sadiqra. He was, had prophesied that those given this mantle advanced and interpreted for the modern without a doubt, an extraordinarily learned would continue his mission until Islam would age by the Promised Messiahas to be ex- man constantly in motion. His faith was per- become prevalent throughout the world as plained to their audiences. The Ah- fectly reflected in his actions. He was a de- madiyya Muslim Community has now voted companion of Hadhzrat Mirza Ghulam translated the Holy Qur’an into the larg- Ahmadas of Qadian, who claimed to be the est number of languages in the entire his- Promised Mes- tory of Islam. The 50 million Spanish speak- siah and Mahdi ing Americans are heeding this call and just foretold by the two months earlier the first ever Spanish Holy Prophet issue of The Muslim Sunrise was printed Muhammadsa. and is being distributed all across the Everything foretold in the Holy Qur’an: length and breadth of the United States of Sadiqra did - his America and parts of Central America. actions, his [61:10] He it is Who has sent His Mes- How true then were the words of the travels, his writ- senger with the guidance and the Reli- Promised Messiahas when he had predicted ings, his relent- gion of truth, that He may cause it to pre- just at the dawn of the 20th Century: less toiling in vail over all religions, even if those who the way of God, associate partners with God hate it. his constant And so it came to pass. Upon his “Hear ye people carefully, and Imam Naseem Mahdi search for those death in 1908 khilafat was again estab- remember that these prophecies are looking for God lished and it was under the guidance of from God Almighty, Who made the – testified to his utter faith in the truth of the the Promised Messiah’s second khalifa heavens and the earth. He will message of the Promised Messiahas and his that Hadhrat Mufti Muhammad Sadiqra spread this, His Own Community full conviction that it was what mankind had arrived in the United States in 1920. into all countries of the world, and needed to attain peace. And the message that Hadhrat Mirza with reason and argument, He will In those early days in Qadian, India, I try Bashir-ud-Din Mahmud Ahmadra, make it prevail everywhere. …..I to imagine how this early revelation must have Khalifat-ul-Masih II had sent to the Mus- have come only to sow the seed, and sounded: I shall cause thy message to reach lims in America was published boldly in this has been accomplished by my the corners of the earth. It was first published the very first issue of The Muslim Sun- hand. The seed shall now grow and in Al-Hakam, vol 2, nos. 5-6, March 27 and rise: flourish; it will now bloom and bear April 2, 1897, p. 13. A short 23 years later, “The Pioneers in the Colonization of fruit and there is none to stop it from Mufti Muhammad Sadiqra was halfway across American land are always looked back so doing.” the globe, personally witnessing the fulfillment upon with great honor and respect. Their [Tadhkirat-us-Shahadatain, pp. 64 – 65] of that early revelation. work was temporal but now, my dear In those early days the Ahmadiyya Mus- Brothers and Sisters, Allah, the Almighty Our last word is all praise belongs to lim Community had to put forth great effort has made you the Pioneers in the spiritual Allah, Lord of all the worlds.
8 Muslim Sunrise in America Famous scientist, Dr. Hafiz Saleh Muhammad Alladin passes away in India Jammu Kashmir NewsPoint Written by Newspoint Bureau | Amritsar
r. Hafiz Saleh Muhammad Alladin D (1931-2011) President of Ahmadiyya As an astronomer, Dr. Alladin’s was noted for his famous Muslim Community of India research on the Solar / Lunar Eclipse of 1894 chapter and famous Indian scientist Dr. Hafiz Saleh "He was a very humble, Centre Cambridge UK 2003, Bharat Muhammad Alladin passed Excellence Award, Friendship Forum unassuming and a Godly away on 20th March after a of India, 2006, 500 Great Leaders Di- brief illness at the Age of 80. man," said Anwer Ahmad ploma, American Biographical Insti- The news was announced in a Khan of Chino Hills, tute USA 2008. press release issued by the Ahmadiyya California, a brother-in-law At the time of his death, he was the Muslim Community of India. of the deceased. President of Ahmadiyya Muslim Com- Famous Astronomer was born in munity, India Chapter. Hyderabad (India) in 1931, accord- ing to the press release. Dr. Alladin’s famous research Dr. Alladin visited Los Angeles in Dr. Alladin had completed PhD in was on the Solar / Lunar Eclipse of 1994 where he presented his scholas- 1963 from University of Chicago in 1894 and has remained in different tic speech on the occasion of the 100th the USA and joined as a professor in famous Committees like International anniversary of the great Celestial sign Osmania University of Hyderabad, Astronomical Union, Astronomical of Sun and Moon Eclipse of 1894. India where he was later elected as Society of India, Plasma Science So- "He was a very humble, the director of Centre of Advanced ciety of India, and Indian Association unassuming and a Godly man," said Study in Astronomy. for General Relativity and Gravitation, Anwer Ahmad Khan of Chino Hills, Indian Association of Physics Teach- California, who is brother-in-law of He was among the famous 100 As- ers. the deceased. tronomers of the world and served as Dr. Alladin was awarded with Dr. Alladin died at Escort Hospital the educational advisor to former Meghnad Saha Award 1981 from Amritsar and his body was brought to President APJ Abdul Kalam of India. UGC New Delhi, Man of the Year Qadian, District Gurdaspur, Punjab. He wrote many books, penned 2000 American Biographical Institute The funeral prayers were per- hundreds of articles and published USA, 2000 Outstanding People formed as thousands of people from more than 50 research papers. Medal, International Biographical all over India participated.
Summer 2011 9 ‘Allah — there is no God but He, the Living, the Self-Subsisting and All-Sustaining. Slumber seizes Him not, nor sleep. To Him belongs whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is in the earth. Who is he that will intercede with Him except by His permission? He knows what is before them and what is behind them; and they encompass nothing of His knowledge except what He pleases. His knowledge extends over the heavens and the earth; and the care of them burdens Him not; and He is the High, the Great.’ (2:256) INTERCESSION
cation, a large majority in India and Paki- Christianity claims that stan assume that Pirs can fulfil their wishes through the atoning death and some exceed in this wrong practice to of Jesusas his followers the extent of prostrating before graves of are ‘reconciled’ to God. Pirs and saints and women maintain that they have been blessed with child through Some saints are also the help of a dead saint. While the teaching thought to be means of of Islam focuses on the Oneness of God intercession. and demands of its adherents to be believ- ers in it, unfortunately many are embroiled udhur recited Ayatul in shirk (associating partners with God). At times the extent of their involvement in Kursi at the beginning shirk makes them closer to idolaters. It was God’s great favor on us that He of his Friday Sermon sent the true and ardent devotee of the Holy H sa and gave a discourse on the Prophet so that he could guide us away from the deteriorated state of the teaching. correct Islamic viewpoint of He was the Hakm (Judge) and the Adl (Ar- biter) of the age and as such in order to rid intercession. The translation of Summary of a Friday Sermon delivered us of the infestation of shirk, he guided us May 6, 2011 by Hadhrat Mirza Masroor precisely in light of the teaching of the at Ayatul Kursi reads: Ahmad , the Head of the Ahmadiyya Quran, which had established the Oneness ‘Allah — there is no God but He, the Muslim Community of God and which tells us about the true Living, the Self-Subsisting and All-Sus- teachings of the Holy Prophetsa as well as taining. Slumber seizes Him not, nor tends over the heavens and the earth; and Islam’s superiority over other world reli- sleep. To Him belongs whatsoever is in the the care of them burdens Him not; and He gions. heavens and whatsoever is in the earth. is the High, the Great.’ (2:256). Christianity claims that through the Who is he that will intercede with Him ex- Hudhur said a while ago he had men- atoning death of Jesusas his followers are cept by His permission? He knows what is tioned the erroneous practices by some ‘reconciled’ to God. Some saints are also before them and what is behind them; and Muslims to visit shrines of Pirs and ascet- thought to be means of intercession. It has they encompass nothing of His knowledge ics as well as some saints and ask in a man- been recently said about the previous except what He pleases. His knowledge ex- ner that one asks God. Due to lack of edu- Pope, John Paul II that owing to a miracle
10 Muslim Sunrise in America healing of a woman he had reached the long life and was successful in the ob- one who reads the first four verses of station of intercession with God, while in jective for which God had sent him. Surah Al Baqarah, Ayatul Kursi and its Paradise. Hudhur said, these are their Hudhur explained that he had spoken two adjoining verses and the last three viewpoints, whereas the reality is that their regarding the Pope [John Paul II] be- verses. Hudhur said of course this entails teaching is contrary to the teaching of cause there is a lot of debate going on that one reads these verses while fully Jesusas and is based on shirk. these days in schools about his understanding them and also tries to put The Promised Messiahas informs us: ‘miracles’ and Hudhur wished to inform them in practice. God has thus placed ‘Remember, it is wholly calumnious to our youngsters about the facts. They blessing in these verses. Ahadith prove ascribe divinity to Jesusas. He certainly did listen to what is said out there and can that in spite of their human frailties, not make any such claim. Whatever he said at times be influenced by it. Always re- people who try and abide by these mat- as regards himself did not go beyond member that the lofty station of the ters, are the recipients of the Holy intercession. As such, who can deny the Holy Prophet Muhammadsa is the real Prophet Muhammadsa intercession. intercession of Prophets? Many times station of intercession. And his miracles The Promised Messiahas explained in Israelites were saved from raging torment have taken place from his lifetime to this light of Ayatul Kursi that God is that Be- because of the intercession of Mosesas And day. People are being born among his ing Who combines all perfect attributes I have experience of this myself. Many followers who can show miracles. We and is free from all defects. He is truly esteemed people of my Community know Ahmadis, firmly believe that God con- Worthy of worship and He alone is Liv- very well that due to my intercession some tinues to manifest His Powers through ing, Self-Subsisting and All-Sustaining. embroiled in problems and illnesses were adherence to the Holy Prophet All else is given life and ultimately dies. relieved of their grief and they had been Muhammadsa. informed of this beforehand. For Jesusas to We are also firm be crucified for his followers and for the on the belief that sins of his followers to be imputed to him is there is no need The Qur’an states: ‘Say, ‘If a meaningless creed that is far-removed from for any saint or you love Allah, follow me: reason. It is beyond the Divine attributes any recommen- of fairness and justice that the punishment dation; God is then will Allah love you and of the sin of someone should be given to found by follow- another. In short, this creed is a collection ing the teach- forgive you your faults. And of errors’. ings of the Holy Allah is Most Forgiving, Explaining the requisites of intercession, Quran and the the Promised Messiahas wrote: ‘Firstly, it is commandments Merciful.’ (3:32) essential that an intercessor has a perfect of the Holy connection with God, so that he can attain Prophet beneficence from God. And [he] also has an Muhammadsa . Whereas Christians are Hudhur said how could one who has lim- intense connection with mankind so that he beatifying the Pope, after his death, for ited life span listen to prayers and grant can take to mankind the beneficence and miracles the validity of which is dis- children? Ayatul Kursi states from the the good that he attains from God. Unless puted. A Polish newspaper has raised very start that God alone is worthy of both these connections are not intense, one objections regarding this, stating it is worship, therefore if one wishes to seek cannot be an intercessor…unless these two possible that the team of doctors which the beneficence of intercession, one models are not to be seen, there can be no ascertains the legitimacy of ‘miracles’ should avoid open and hidden, overt and beneficial outcome’. did not research the matter properly covert shirk. It is God alone Who does The Promised Messiahas also wrote that about the woman about whom it is said not slumber or sleep and is running the Jesusas could not even reform his disciples. that she suffered from Parkinson’s dis- entire cosmos and this does not tire Him. By contrast, through his perfect model, our ease. It is possible that she had some Our Pirs certainly get tired, in fact the Prophetsa saved his followers from physical other illness which naturally is cured Gaddi Nasheens (keeps of tombs of saints and spiritual chastisement and transformed after a while. etc.) pay no attention to Salat and wor- their world. The intercession of Mosesas had Hudhur said he wished to speak on ship; they are only interested in eating, similar outcome. However, after Jesusas the the correct Islamic viewpoint on inter- drinking, amusement and sleeping. condition of his followers deteriorated. cession and what should a Muslim con- Ayatul Kursi also mentions interces- Hudhur said thus the Promised sider intercession. The Qur’an mentions sion. Hudhur said intercession cannot Messiahas illustrated the facts about Chris- this subject in many places and the take place without God’s permission. Who tianity. In his lifetime, Jesus could not re- Promised Messiahas has explained the can make a claim today of intercession form his disciples, his death on the Cross concept to us in light of its verses. The even among the Muslims, who practice was also considered accursed by the Jews, Holy Prophet Muhammadsa called the the faith fully, that anyone has permis- although we Ahmadi Muslims do not accept verse recited at the beginning by sion to intercede? As it is, those [Mus- this concept and say that God saved His Hudhur, Ayatul Kursi as the chief of all lims] who have not accepted the Promised Prophet from all the accusations that the the verses. According to another tradi- Messiahas do not fulfil God’s commandment. Jews wanted to ascribe to him. He lived a tion Satan runs away from the home of No matter how devout an Ahmadi is, they will
Summer 2011 11 never claim to have knowledge of intercession. we wish to have a measure of his The Promised Messiahas also said that The Promised Messiahas related that once intercession, we must follow the blessed prayer can only be beneficial for that Nawab Muhammad Ali Khan sahib’s son fell model of the Prophetsa and implement the person who also reforms himself. If the very ill and he requested the Promised commandments of the Qur’an in our lives, ProphetProphetsa intercedes but the Messiahas for prayer. The prayer was not an- because as Hadhrat ‘Aishahra said the person for whom he intercedes does not swered favourably, so the Promised Messiahas Prophetsa was a personification of the Holy come out of life of negligence, intercession said if the prayer did not work, he would try Qur’an. can not avail that person. intercession. On this God told him who was The Promised Messiahas said the Qur’an Hudhur prayed that may God truly make he to intercede without being granted per- cites the intercession of the Holy Prophet us and our generations to come, part of mission to do so. Promised Messiahas was Muhammadsa in various places, as in the the Ummah of the Holy Prophet left trembling upon this. Seeing his condi- aforementioned verse (3:32). He said that Muhammadsa so that we may seek the tion, after a short while, God told the Prom- this verse tells us that man can become God’s beneficence of intercession. ised Messiahas ‘You are given permission to beloved by following in the footsteps of the Next Hudhur presented a few prayers intercede’. With the grace of God, Nawab Prophetsa with love, respect and obedience of the Promised Messiahas as regards Muhammad Ali Khan sahib’s son was bet- and his sins are forgiven. He said: ‘If one intercession: ter and lived a long age. has consumed the toxin of sin, then the ‘Grant this noble Prophet from us the Hadith also inform us that the Holy antidote of love and obedience and most excellent reward that can be given to sa Prophet Muhammad interceded when God adherence removes the effect of this toxin. anyone among creation. And let death gave him the permission to do so. Once a Just as through medicine one can be free of overtake us while we are in his following person came to the Holy Prophet disease, similarly a person becomes free of and raise us on the Day of Judgement sa Muhammad and said, ‘O Prophet of God, I sin. Just as light dispels darkness and while we are in his Ummah and make us have a need, which is that on the Day of antidote removes the effect of toxin and fire drink from his fountain and make his Judgement you intercede for me’. The burns, similarly, true obedience and love has fountain a source of satiation for us. And sa Prophet asked who had drawn his atten- its effect’. make him in this world and also in the as tion to this, to which the person replied, ‘my The Promised Messiah further Hereafter an intercessor for us; whose sa Lord’. The Prophet answered, ‘why not, unfolded the subject: ‘It should never be intercession is accepted. O’ our Lord, you should help me with a profusion of pros- thought that intercession is of no accept this prayer of ours and give us place tration [to God]’. Explaining, Hudhur said if significance. It is our belief that intercession in this abode of refuge.’ intercession is desired then we need to of- is truth and hence it is evident: ‘… And pray ‘O Allah, send grace and peace on this fer prostrations to God in abundance. Inter- for them; thy prayer is indeed a source of intercessor, whose intercession is cession does not come about by prostrat- tranquillity for them…’ (9:103). This is the accepted and who is the saviour of ing before graves; rather it is sincere and philosophy of intercession; that the passion mankind.’ devout worship of God which can facilitate of selfishness of sin is cooled off. The ‘O my Lord, listen to my prayer for my this blessing. outcome of intercession tells that death nation and my supplication for my Another hadith narrated by Hadhrat Abu descends on life of sin and selfish impulses brothers. I seek from you through the ra saw Huraira relates that the Prophet was and desires cool off. This puts an end to agency of Your Prophet, Khatamun asked: O’ Prophet of God who is the fortu- sins and in their place, virtues begin. Thus, Nabiyeen and successful intercessor of nate one among people for whom you will the issue of intercession has not rendered sinners.’ intercede on the Day of Judgement?’ The deeds useless, rather it inspires good Prophetsa replied, ‘Abu Huraira, I had works.’ Hudhur read another extracts from the thought that no one would ask me this ques- As regards the difference between writings of the Promised Messiahas stating tion before you. For I have seen the eager- intercession and atonement, the Promised that now there is no Book other than the ness you have regarding Hadith. On the Day Messiahas wrote: ‘Atonement frees one Qur’an for mankind and no other Prophet, of Judgement, that person among others will from good works and intercession inspires but the Holy Prophet Muhammadsa, thus be fortunate through my intercession who one towards good works’. He also said: efforts should be made to attain true love has said with the sincerity of heart: there is ‘How does intercession stimulate good of the Prophetsaso that one is granted none worthy of worship except Allah.’ works? The answer to this question is also salvation. He is the intercessor for true Hudhur explained that when it is said with found in the Holy Qur’an and it is proven salvation and it is through his spiritual sincerity: ‘Allah — there is no God but He’, that it does not have the connotation of beneficence that the Promised Messiahas that alone is of significance in terms of in- atonement as the Christians believe, was sent. tercession. because that which produces indolence Hudhur explained that now the only The Qur’an states: ‘Say, ‘If you love and idleness has not been relied on. Rather, living Prophet is the Holy Prophet Allah, follow me: then will Allah love you it is stated: ‘…I am near. I answer the prayer Muhammadsa and it is through seeking and forgive you your faults. And Allah is of the supplicant when he prays to Me…’ beneficence of his beneficence that the Most Forgiving, Merciful.’ (3:32). This verse (2:187)…this verse also tells of a secret of Promised Messiahas came. It is thus is an open declaration for the Jews and the acceptance of prayer, and that is to imperative for us to remain connected to Christians and is also a challenge for us not inculcate perfect belief in the Power of Allah him. May God enable us to make this to be Muslims in mere name but try and the Exalted and to always believe Him to connection stronger and stronger and may follow the Holy Prophet Muhammadsa. If be near’. we continue to seek God’s grace.
12 Muslim Sunrise in America Ninety Diverse Years 90of The Muslim Sunrise By Valerie Bhatti
Since its creation in the early 1920’s, The Muslim Sunrise, which was then titled The Moslem Sunrise, has been a continuous re- source provided by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Commu- nity for the American public regarding not only Islam but other topics as well. Every issue expressed Islamic doctrines through the lens of Ahmadiyyat , yet even those topics are varied in content. The magazine has been a source for interfaith dialogue as other religions and their The magazine has been a source doctrines were examined, for interfaith dialogue as other compared and contrasted with Islam. The Muslim religions and their doctrines Sunrise also addressed a multitude of “hot” topics were examined, compared and such as social issues, sci- ence and matters relevant to contrasted with Islam. the time period in which they were published, such as eing a publication from the Issues included articles on the Holy Qur’an, World War II, Cold War and Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, the Holy Prophet Muhammadsa, the five pillars terrorism. For over 90 years readers already expected articles of Islam and prophets, to name just a minuscule The Muslim Sunrise has B in each issue to be about Islam amount. and Ahmadiyyat. The articles written delved In relation to Islam, articles about the provided a diversity of sub- into a variety of areas within the religion. For worldwide community, the khalifa of the time ject matter to its readers the most part, the topics of these articles were and the members were published, including from the point-of-view of the not repetitive; however, it was necessary to lists of new converts, stories from them and review in some way the subject matter for the letters from the khalifa of the time welcoming true Islam. new generations receiving the magazine. those new members. The earlier issues of The
Summer 2011 13 Muslim Sunrise tended to include articles about missionary work, Islam in America and Fall•2008 converts’ stories. In the second publication, not only was there a photo of the first Ameri- can Ahmadi convert, Mirza Ahmad Anderson, but also a response from a woman in Iowa to the first issue. She writes: “It is so instructive and gives a person an insight into things which no matter how preju- diced they may be, cannot but help to make them believe the facts of Divine power. But my dear Mufti, such is the way of the world, it is hard to convince us or to replace an image once deeply implanted in our bosom.”1 Immediate and rather positive feedback was received on the message sent to the Ameri- can public. Published in the United States, a Western country, The Muslim Sunrise examined the Western faiths, predominately Christianity. Numerous articles were printed regarding Chris- tian doctrines, prophets, and practices. Ex- amples of the some of the titles were Jesus and Modern Christians, Christianity versus Athe- ism, Catholic Dogma in the Making and Jew- ish Christianity and Pauline Christianity. Within these articles, often times, there was a comparison with Islam. In a 1957 issue, The Muslim Sunrise reviewed a book on Muslim- Christian relations called The Call of the Mina- ISLAM ret. The review praises the book for its attempts to bridge the gap between Christians and Mus- lims, yet corrects the many errors found within such as the crucifixion of Jesusas.2 The Muslim Sunrise has also discussed several social issues found within society that There was a dire need for an explanation woman. There were two morals to this story, can be answered by Islamic doctrine. There is regarding polygamy as it was the first ques- do not buy into negative propaganda without a logical, Islamic way to deal with all problems tion asked to Dr. Sadiqra upon his arrival; how- investigation and that the point of motherhood found in life and many of these articles pro- ever, his explanation cannot only be applied to is to train and develop a child to his or her vided an explanation to the readers. In the very polygamy but other concerns about Islamic fullest possibility, whether done by the bio- first issue of The Muslim Sunrise, the first ar- law that would not coincide with the American logical mother or another mother.4 With the ticle was entitled No Polygamy and deals with law; this being a value that the Ahmadiyya concept of motherhood being important in Is- a huge concern many Americans have with community has continued to the present day. lam, the story about Ellen points out the Islam. At the turn of the century through the The Muslim Sunrise also used stories to mother’s desire to have her child reared to the 1920s, Americans were still entrenched in their look at different issues. In a story entitled The best possibility even if cannot be done by her- Victorian Christian values, so the thought of a Step-Mother Complex from a 1941 issue, a girl self. man having multiple wives was appalling. Dr. named Ellen reflected about her experience with In a time where science became a major Mufti Muhammad Sadiqra sahib explains in this step-mothers and later becoming a mother her- field of study not only in America but in the article Islam’s stand on polygamy: self. Ellen wrote that her only knowledge of world, The Muslim Sunrise provided articles “ ‘I have not come here to teach plurality step-mothers was only the frightful ones seen regarding where the field stands in Islam and of wives. If a Moselm [sic] will ever preach or in movies and how her perception of all step- other religions. A 1956 edition contained ex- practice polygamy in America he will be com- mothers had thus been affected. When it came cerpts from an Islamic Culture colloquium de- mitting a sin against his religion.’ This was my time that she had her own step-mother, Ellen livered by Professor Miller Burrows at reply to the immigration officer’s first question learned that all step-mothers are not evil and Princeton University. Burrows noted that “re- put to me when I reached the American shore. should be loved and treated with respect. ligion and science deal with different aspects In the religion of Islam there are some Com- When she became a mother, Ellen remembered of the same reality.” He also went on to dis- mandments and some Permissions. I must al- that she was raised by two women and if her cuss the difficulties some have in accepting ways follow the commandments, but the per- child needed to be raised by another woman in both their traditional beliefs and scientific facts.5 missions can be avoided.” 3 her stead, she would be grateful to that other In a later 1970’s article, Science and Religion,
14 Muslim Sunrise in America Islam’s and Christianity’s views were com- ward just as it has done for centuries in the solution to both of these extremes. 11 pared: “..many religionists of the west have Orient.”8 America and the world continued to change rejected some of the most cogent proofs of Islam and the liquor problem focused on and The Muslim Sunrise has persisted in pro- scientific discovery; - not because they are America’s enjoyment of this intoxicating bev- viding a true Islamic point-of-view. Post 9/11 untenable, but because they are, according to erage, despite its known downfalls. The article and into today, articles regarding terrorism have some Christians’ interpretation, inconsistent looked at the United States government’s failed been printed, with the entire winter 2010 issue, with Biblical text.”6 attempt to rid society of the evil drink through Terrorism has No Religion dedicated to the Many additional articles that focused Prohibition and the various praises Islam has topic. With the rise of Islamophobia within the strictly on Islam and science have made their received for its complete abstinence to alco- United States and the world and with terrorist way to the pages of The Muslim Sunrise. hol. “Islam came to the scene and vetoed all attacks sporadically occurring, the topic is These articles, found throughout the years, intoxicants. Never again has drinking been surely one that needed to be addressed. examine excerpts of the Qur’an and the say- prevalent in a strictly Moslem Society. Such is All of these diverse articles proved to be a ings of the Holy Prophet Muhammadsa. In 1990, the power of Islam. Dr. A. W. Martin says in valuable resource for the Ahmadiyya Muslim Dr. Abdus Salam wrote an extensive article his famous book, ‘The World’s Great Reli- Community and Americans interested in Islam. entitled Islam and Science, which pulled gions.’”9 Many of the articles have been used and cited verses from the Holy Qur’an, Ahadith and his- The Muslim Sunrise remained contempo- in academic sources as an authority on Islam tory to describe the rise and fall of science in rary with its respective time period, publishing in American history. It is extremely difficult to articles that would be sum up all the different article topics that have beneficial for that par- been published within the 90 years of The ticular audience. Dur- Muslim Sunrise. The few titles and topics high- Dr. Abdus Salam ing World War II, sev- lighted within this article can barely do justice wrote an extensive eral articles that per- to all that has been covered in this publica- tained specifically to tion. The beauty of these articles is that many article entitled that wartime were writ- of them can still be used as resources today. ten such as Best Way Through all the variety of topics, the message Islam and Science, to Win War, Islamic of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community has not which pulled verses Principles on the Post changed. The message of the true and peace- War Reconstruction, ful Islam has continually been portrayed and from the Holy Reveal Nazi Steps to explained in an effort to educate the American Kill Christianity, audience. Qur’an, Ah-Hadith Mussolini on Trial and and history to Chronology of WWII. (Endnotes) In the 1942 article, Is- 1Sadiq, Dr. Mufti Muhammad. “Brief Report of the Work in describe the rise and America.” Moslem Sunrise (1921): 36. Web. 31 Mar 2011.
Summer 2011 15 16 Muslim Sunrise in America The first Muslim Sunrise, July, 1921
“Help! Help!!” begins a plea towards the end of this issue of The Moslem Sunrise. The full announcement reads:
“Religious propaganda against Islam and Muslim Nations in this country require a strong defense by publishing and free distribution of Islamic pamphlets and leaflets in millions all over the country. I cannot do all I want to do and I ought to do for want of funds. May Allah inspire some good hearts to help me. –Editor”
Summer 2011 17 on how the Ahmadi Muslim Commu- nity shared in the world’s celebra- tions of New Year’s Day, Mufti Sahib acknowledges the difficulty of par- The Muslim ticipating in non-Muslim ceremo- nies. He found a novel way to “re- spect the feelings of the people [i.e., society] in which we have to work.” The announcement reports the Sunrise, poem reproduced below was printed onto green paper and sent along with literature on Islam to all the kings in the world, as well as presi- dents of every country and notable First Issue men and women of America: By Humera Malik a look both at the issue’s content and I wish you all happiness in the the trials through which its editor, New Year, ra Mufti Muhammad Sadiq , had to pass And may you obtain all the n July of 1921, Mufti through in order to publish it. blessings, my dear, Muhammad Sadiqra sat at 75 The Life of an Which Allah the Gracious has ordained to send Victor Avenue in Highland Ahmadi in 1921 Through Ahmad, the Guide, Park, Michigan, putting the Much of the inaugural issue put the Prophet, the Friend I together by Mufti Sahib was devoted And his Master and Teacher final touches on the inaugural issue to reporting on the progress of the Muhammad, the elect of the first issue of The Moslem nascent Ahmadiyya Muslim Commu- Who was the Prophet, the most nity in America. To read through it is Perfect Sunrise. A short while later it was to step back in time and experience the life of an American Ahmadi Muslim printed, making it available to all Further along in this introduc- almost a century ago – when America, tory issue, Mufti Sahib also reports a few years after World War I, was a Americans for a mere 25 cents. At on Eid-ul-Fitr celebrations. young and triumphant nation about to “Eid ul Fitr is a period of rejoic- that time, who could have known that enter one of its darkest economic pe- ing among Muslims, where all Mus- riods, yet still bustling as a melting lims are bidden to assemble for a magazine started by “Mufti pot of immigrants, then more than ever prayer and listen to the teachings before, all clamoring on its city streets Sahib” with the help of a few new of the Koran,” explains Mufti Sahib. to make a life for themselves in the This short article, entitled Mos- “new world.” To read these pages is friends would still be going strong lems celebrate Feast of Eid ul Fitr to share in celebrations with them, to gives us a glimpse into the activi- ninety years later, and that it would feel their pain and understand their ties of the community on this “sol- struggles and to receive valuable emn festival of Mohammedenism,” have grown to incorporate writers knowledge not only about their faith as Mufti Sahib describes it. Apart but also their country, and about the from the length and breadth of from assembling for prayer and lis- life of their devout Christian neigh- tening to the teachings of the bors. America, and that it would continue Qur’an, the small Ahmadi Muslim to be the longest running Muslim Community in Detroit also orga- Celebrations nized a parade through the city and magazine in the United States of partook in a feast at their local In 1921, the Ahmadi Muslim Com- mosque, which was still under con- America? munity in America not only partook in struction at the time. Islamic celebrations but they also When one looks at the first issue of The Mos- shared in the joyous occasions marked Anti-Islamic Sentiment lem Sunrise one cannot doubt that it forever set by their neighbors, and reported on the bar by which future issues would be judged, both in The Moslem Sunrise. even now, 90 years hence. In this article we take In a short announcement reporting “Help! Help!!” begins a plea to-
18 Muslim Sunrise in America wards the end of this issue of The Mos- lem Sunrise. The full announcement reads: Statistics provided within the “Religious propaganda against Islam ra and Muslim Nations in this country re- magazine show that Sadiq quire a strong defense by publishing received 4,000 correspondences and free distribution of Islamic pam- phlets and leaflets in millions all over and that he and his small team of the country. I cannot do all I want to do and I ought to do for want of funds. dedicated converts sent out 15,000 May Allah inspire some good hearts to letters and cards in the span of less help me. –Editor” It is interesting to note that, 90 years than one year! later, Muslims face much the same struggles in America. “Sir, I am directed by the Secretary of State for th Letters Sent and Received India to inform you that your letter of 7 July to the Queen has been laid before Her Majesty, who has Another central theme of the first is- sue of The Muslim Sunrise is the corre- graciously expressed her thanks for the spondence both sent and received by Mufti Sahibra. The writers and recipi- congratulations of the Ahmadiyya Community in ents of these letters range from new America on the escape of His Royal Highness, the converts to heads of state and royalty. Statistics provided within the magazine Prince of Wales, from injury in a railway accident.” show that Sadiqra received 4,000 corre- spondences and that he and his small team of dedicated converts sent out -- A response the magazine’s staff received from Queen Mary 15,000 letters and cards in the span of of England, which was printed in The Moslem Sunrise. less than one year! Through these correspondences, Sadiqra made himself known to people throughout America. He received many The author explains that Jesusas, as responses expressing recipients’ grati- with all other prophets “gradually awak- tude at having been contacted. Below Virgin Birth ened” to his consciousness irrespective is a response the magazine’s staff re- of the way he was born. Rather than con- ceived from Queen Mary of England, As mentioned earlier, the articles in sider Jesusas the most important prophet which was printed in The Moslem Sun- the 1921 issue of The Moslem Sunrise because God chose him to be born of a rise. covered topics of Islamic, Christian and virgin, the author explains that we do not “Sir, I am directed by the Secretary American interest. One of the lengthier, make any difference between prophets as of State for India to inform you that more in-depth articles presented in the “they are all raised by God.” your letter of 7th July to the Queen has issue is entitled Virgin Birth. been laid before Her Majesty, who has It begins by explaining that a virgin graciously expressed her thanks for the birth is an exceptional phenomenon of the Mufti Sahib’s Struggles congratulations of the Ahmadiyya Com- law of nature. It prevails in men, animals munity in America on the escape of His and the vegetable kingdom. Furthermore, Publishing and issuing a magazine Royal Highness, the Prince of Wales, readers are informed that “there have would be a challenge for anyone, but to from injury in a railway accident. been many born of virgin recorded in the publish it in a foreign language in a coun- sacred histories of different religions.” try where you had lived for less than a I am Sir, After covering the basics of a virgin birth, year without an endowment or funds or Your Obedient Servant the writer goes on to explain that it is not even a staff is a whole other ball game. A (Sd) L. D. Dunlop” the manner of birth which determines the report of “One Year’s Muslim Mission- condition of man. ary Work in America,” which makes up a This letter, and others like it, reflects “A man is not good or bad, holy or large portion of the first issue, outlines Mufti Sahib’s bold yet gracious attitude profane on account of the way he is born. some of the difficulties Mufti Sahibra en- in reaching out to ruler and ruled alike, Man is responsible for his actions and countered in the run up to publishing The with equal vigor and respect. not for the things out of his control.” Moslem Sunrise.
Summer 2011 19 The Muslim Sunrise magazine had a humble start, assembled by a small team, which typed out its content in black ink on white paper, stapled its pages together and manually distributed it.
The concept presented here is so Hadhrat Mirza simple that it does not invite any argu- ment. Mufti Sahibra explains that within Bashir-ud-Din Islam certain commandments are given as Mahmud well as certain permissions. To give up the commandments of Islam is unacceptable; Ahmad, however, if the permissions of Islam con- tradict the laws and practices of the coun- Khalifat-ul- try within which you reside, these can be ra avoided. He presents polygamy as one Masih II sent such permission. This article ends on a humorous lighter Dr. Mufti note. Mufti Sahibra finds and reprints an Muhammad article from the Tribune newspaper en- titled “2 wives; will keep both; cops let it Sadiqra to go at that” (April 30th 1921), in which a Christian Italian immigrant man named America in Guiseppa is reported to have taken a sec- ond wife in America when his first from 1920. Italy never arrived. Well she finally ar- rived after World War I and at least in this “It being the very first attempt to ap- enter America. Mufti Sahibra did not waste instance, the authorities allowed this man proach the Americans with the mission of the time he spent in the detention centre. to practice bigamy. Islam I had to pass through all the diffi- In fact, he began quietly preaching to the The Muslim Sunrise magazine had a culties that always confront a beginner of other detainees, calling them to the faith humble start, assembled by a small team, a work,” he begins. of Islam. Through his efforts to spread the which typed out its content in black ink Mufti Sahib’s challenges in a foreign word of Islam, he was able to convert 21 on white paper, stapled its pages together land arose as soon as he set foot on Ameri- fellow detainees to Ahmadiyyat. The and manually distributed it. But it was can soil, in the form of the immigration of- names of all these converts as well as apparent from the very start that it was a ficers he encountered. (Again, 90 years many other converts are given in the in- diamond in the rough, a magazine full of later, how little has changed!) He was or- augural issue of The Moslem Sunrise. gems of knowledge. Mufti Sahibra re- dered to return to India on the very ves- mained its editor for less than ten issues, but in establishing the magazine’s vision, sel on which he had completed his long, “No Polygamy” arduous and miraculous journey to a for- raising funds, training staff, writing, re- eign land. Mufti Sahibra states that the porting and living in its pages, he has reason given for ordering him to return Sadiqra explains that the first question inked his legacy and set the bar by which was merely that he was a missionary of posed to him by the immigration officers all future editors and issues would be the Islamic faith. He remained strong, how- he encountered was regarding whether he judged. The present and indeed every is- ever, refusing to return and asked for per- was here to teach plurality of wives. He sue is a testament to his and all the early mission to appeal this decision to higher states that the response he gave to them American Ahmadi Muslims’ efforts to authorities. As a result of this, he was was, “I have not come here to teach plu- spread the message of Islam in America. placed in a detention house for a period rality of wives. If a Muslim will ever preach of seven weeks. Although this period of or practice Polygamy in America he will Humera Malik holds a degree in Lan- time was full of difficulties and trials, be committing a sin against his religion.” guage, Literacy and Communication Mufti Sahibra relates, “I count them as the This article is most relevant even to- from the University of Manchester and is days of blessings” because he was given day, for, within it, Mufti Sahibra beauti- diplomatic attaché posted to the U.S. the opportunity to offer prayers to God, fully explains the importance of adhering Embassy in Kuwait with her husband, to meditate, and to plan his future scheme to and respecting the laws and values of Naveed. She has been published in UK of work, until he received permission to the country in which a Muslim resides. Daily Mail.
20 Muslim Sunrise in America The Growth of Ahmadiyyat in America Since 1920 By Anwer Mahmood Khan
n July 7, 1492, a man was fortunate that he was able to Hadhrat Mufti Muahammad set sail from the shores land the very next day on the shores Sadiqra, took an ocean voyage of Spain in search of of the Bahamas. This brave man from England and arrived on the Othe far eastern riches was none other than Christopher shores of Philadelphia on Febru- of the world with his three ships, the Columbus, and thus began the ary 15, 1921. His arrival was Nina, Pinta and the Santa Maria. physical discovery of America. hardly cordial; indeed, the authori- After a long arduous journey of The spiritual discovery of ties arrested him for being a Mus- several months and a blatant America, however, had to wait five lim. As this news arrived in Qadian, mutiny of his colleagues, he more centuries for the advent of Khalifat-ul-Masih IIra, the second announced on October 11, 1492 the Promised Messiah, Hadhrat successor to the Promised that if he did not reach land in a Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadianas. Messiahas, upon hearing the news, few days, he would turn back. He One of Ahmad’s companions, grew deeply perturbed and stated:
Summer 2011 21 “America, a country that claims to be the strongest nation, may have challenged many a nation and may have even defeated Hadhrat Mufti Muhammad Sadiqra them. But if it dares challenge the spiritual Kingdom, it will find out that it can never defeat us because the Almighty Allah is on established the first mosque and mission our side. We will propagate Islam in the countries surrounding America and after converting their people, we will send them house in the United States in Chicago, Illinois into America. America will not be able to stop them. And we hope that one day in 1921. In the ensuing thirty years, eight America will resound with the proclamation: ‘There is none worthy of worship except Allah and Muhammad is His Messenger.’” new mosques or mission houses were This prophetic statement set the begin- ning of the spread of Ahmadiyyat, the true Islam, in America. While imprisoned, established. Since 1951, that number has Hadhrat Mufti Muhammad Sadiqra con- verted fifteen inmates to Islam. This intimi- increased over six fold – with a present total dated the authorities, and they released him in haste. These fifteen new converts to Islam ini- of fifty-two mosques or mission houses across tiated the spiritual journey of Islam and Ah- madiyyat in the United States. Hadhrat Mufti Muhammad Sadiqra traveled to New some forty states and over seventy chapters. York, then Detroit, and finally settled in Chicago where he established the first mosque and mission house at 4448 Wabash Avenue. From this center he initiated the monthly magazine The Muslim Sunrise in followed Hadhrat Mufti Muhammad Mosques and Mission Houses 1921. At the same time, Hasan Moosa Sadiqra as the second missionary to Khan, a pioneering Ahmadi in Australia, America. He, too, was a companion of Hadhrat Mufti Muhammad Sadiqra es- initiated a magazine in Australia called The the Promised Messiahas and extensively tablished the first mosque and mission Muslim Sunshine. He would write to toured America in search of new av- house in the United States in Chicago, Illi- Hadhrat Mufti Muhammad Sadiqra and enues of tabligh or preaching. Since nois in 1921. In the ensuing thirty years, share the activities and progress of Ah- 1921, over 35 missionaries have spread eight new mosques or mission houses were madiyyat in America with his fellow Ah- the message of Islam across the nation. established. Since 1951, that number has madis in Australia. Some of them passed away in America, increased over six fold – with a present Hadhrat Mufti Muhammad Sadiqra emu- including Maulvi Muhammad total of fifty-two mosques or mission lated the life of the Promised Messiahas and Munawar, who is buried in Pittsburgh, houses across some forty states and over adopted his ways for preaching in both Pennsylvania. seventy chapters. his writing and speeches. For example, He Since the early Ahmadi Muslim mis- A few key watershed years led to the dispatched 2,800 letters in a few months sionaries first sowed the seeds of Is- rapid expansion of mosques and mission and received 646 during the same time. He lam and Ahmadiyyat in America, the houses. In 1982, the fourth Khalifa, distributed some 300 books and leaflets. Ahmadiyya Muslim Community USA Hadhrat Mirza Tahir Ahmadrh, announced During his short stay in America, approxi- has seen tremendous growth. This a special scheme to build five mosques in mately 1,000 people joined the fold of Ah- growth can be charted in various cat- five metropolitan cities in the United States: madiyya. The names of 400 new converts egories: (1) the building of mosques Detroit, Los Angeles, Chicago, Metropoli- were published in The Muslim Sunrise. and mission houses; (2) the giving of tan D.C. and New York. He set a collection Hadhrat Mufti Muhammad Sadiqra held financial contributions towards global target of $2.5 million for this purpose. This weekly training meetings at the Mission schemes for the spread of the message special scheme invigorated the Ahmadi House. His classes had such a magnetic of Ahmadiyyat; (3) the development Muslim membership in America and helped charm that all the rooms of the Mission and dissemination of religious publi- usher in an unprecedented era of expan- House had standing room-only crowds. cations; (4) the holding of Jalsa sion in the 1980s and 1990s, in which some He received 91 honorary degrees from Salanas (or annual conventions) and forty-two news mosques or mission reputable universities and educational in- other historical conventions; and (5) houses were purchased or constructed. In stitutions in America. the visits of the Khulafa (or spiritual particular, the western United States saw Hadhrat Maulvi Mohammad Dinra successors). Each is discussed in turn. the construction of three new mosques
22 Muslim Sunrise in America Hadhrat Khalifat-ul-Masih IIIrh visited in Hadhrat Khalifat-ul-Masih IVrh laid the Hadhrat Khalifat-ul-Masih Vaba paid his 1976 and again in 1978. In his second trip, foundation stone of many mosques and mis- historic first visit to the United States in he also visited the West Coast, and a mission sion houses during his visits to the United 2008 at the occasion of the 60th Jalsa Salana house was established in California. States in 1987, 1989, 1994 an 1998. In the USA in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Some above photo, he visited with the the late 10,000 people attended this historic event. Chicago Mayor Harold Washington. built from scratch beginning in 1987: Bait- ul-Hameed (Los Angeles), Bait-ul-Rizwan (Port- interaction was manifested at the opening of land) and Yusuf Mosque (Tucson). Bait-ul- Bait-ul-Jaamay in Glen Elyn, Illinois, where mem- Hameed, a 25,000 square foot structure built on bers of the neighboring churches welcomed the Publications a 5-acre parcel of land, was inaugurated in 1989. mosque and its members with affection and In 1994, Bait-ur-Rehman, now the Jama’at head- hospitality. The aforementioned The Muslim Sunrise quarters, was built in Silver Spring, Maryland. has been in circulation since 1921. A Spanish Among purchased properties, Bait-ul-Zafar Financial Contributions version has recently been added for the grow- stands out, as this synagogue has been con- ing Hispanic population in America. Commemo- verted to a mosque in Queens, New York, at a Since the early 1990s, the United States rative souvenir publications were printed on the cost of $6 million. Jama’at has been among the leading contribu- occasion of the 50th Jalsa Salana and the Cen- Some mosques were completely funded by tors to the Tehrik–e-Jadid and Waqf–e-Jadid tenary year in 1989. The publications of The a handful of dedicated Jama’at members, in- schemes initiated by the Second Khalifa. In Ahmadiyya Gazette, and Al Noor (Urdu Ver- cluding Yousuf Mosque in Tucson, Arizona, 2010 alone, the Jama’at collected almost $2.5 sion) have been in print since 1980. Auxiliaries Bait-ul-Baseer in Milipitas, California, and Bait- million in Tehrik-e-Jadid and Waqf-e-Jadid con- of the Jama’at also print magazines, including ul-Samee in Houston, Texas. Another notable tributions. Mujahid, Ayesha Magazine, and Al Hilal. event was the conversion of a church into a At the instructions of Hadhrat Khalifat-ul- Pictorial books showcasing mosques world- mosque in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, where in- Masih IVrh, and later our present Khalifaaba, wide have been published by the Jama’at in terfaith harmony was on display as members of many members of the Jama’at contributed gen- 1994 (at the occasion of the inauguration of the the church assembled with the members of the erously to the construction of Tahir Heart Insti- Bait-u- Rehman Mosque in Silver Spring, Mary- Jama’at to perform the inaugural celebration of tute in Rabwah, Pakistan, donating over $4.2 land) and 2008 (at the centenary celebration of the mosque. It was extensively covered by the million. Over a hundred Ahmadi physicians Khilafat). Wikipedia has featured the 2008 pub- media and created an environment of compas- and surgeons from America have offered their lication online and it has been widely cited by sion and true brotherhood among the neigh- time and services at the hospitals in Rabwah, as some 200 publications. IPod and IPhone appli- bors of the mosque. A similar display of human well as in Africa. cations featuring the book are also in the works.
Summer 2011 23 Historic Events record of Morris County covered this event and of USA Jama’at. published some text of his address. Over 600 In 2008, Hadhrat Khalifat-ul-Masih Vaba The 1920s and 1930s in America saw con- people attended this conference. participated in the Khilafat Centenary celebra- siderable racial tension in America. Ahmadi In 1982, with the permission of the President tions and joined the 6oth Jalsa Salana USA Muslim missionary Sufi Mutee-ur-Rahman of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in that was held in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Over Bangalee saw these tensions as an opportunity America, Hadhrat Mirza Muzaffar Ahmad 35 U.S. newspapers and magazines covered the to propagate the peaceful message of Islam. In Sahibrh, the West Coast Jalsa Salana was initi- historic visit. November of 1931, he arranged for a large con- ated and to date is held annually. The annual In 2010, the 62nd Jalsa Salana was held at ference at a temple in Chicago entitled: “How west coast Jalsa started with seventy-five par- the expo Center in Chantilly, Virginia. Over 100 can we overcome color and racial prejudice?” ticipants in 1982, and in 2010 hosted a record dignitaries and public officials participated in Over 2,000 people attended the lecture. In this 1,319 participants. this Jalsa for the first time. conference the Dean of the University of Chi- In 1983, the 35th Jalsa Salana was held in cago declared that Christianity had essentially Michigan. Four days prior to the occurrence of Visits of failed to address the racial issue in America. the Jalsa, one of the prominent local members Khulafa-e-Ahmadiyyat Many Christian ministers agreed with the Dean. of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community, Dr. In 1932, at the occasion of the World Fel- Muzaffar Ahmad, was martyred. Through the In the past nine decades, three Khulafa lowship of Faiths, Bangalee Sahib read out Khalifa’s instructions the Jalsa was held in an have made eight visits to the United States. Hadhrat Khalifat-ul-Masih’sra message to open field with over 1,000 attendants. Hadhrat Hadhrat Khalifat-ul-Masih IIIrh visited in rh America. Hadhrat Chaudhry Zafarullah Khanra Khalifat-ul-Masih IV sent a moving message 1976 and again in 1978. In his second trip, he also addressed the conference. At the time, in which he said: also visited the West Coast, and a mission The Muslim Sunrise reviewed the issue of seg- “See the intelligent insight: Muzaffar is even house was established in California. He ad- regation in churches and published its findings. alive today! Nay he got a life far greater than he vised the members to buy large parcels of land Of the approximately 13,597 white churches in had! O Muzaffar! Peace be upon you! At your for mosques and mission houses. Hadhrat America, only 1,331 included non-white mem- back are millions of Muzaffars ready and anx- Khalifat-ul-Masih IVrh formally made this into bers. The magazine also condemned and de- ious to move forward and fill in your place. O a scheme in 1982 during his first visit as nounced the racial riots in Detroit in late 1930s. you who quenched the flame of Muzaffar’s life, Khalifat-ul-Masih. Jalsa Salana, also known as “annual con- you have given him a cup of everlasting life to Hadhrat Khalifat-ul-Masih IVrh laid the vention,” is an institution that was founded by drink. To him life is guaranteed, and to you noth- foundation stone of many mosques and mis- the Promised Messiahas in 1891. Since that time, ing but death. sion houses during his visits to the United Jalsa Salanas are annually held in over sev- States in 1987, 1989, 1994 an 1998. enty-five countries of the world. Friday Sermon, Aug.12, 1983 Hadhrat Khalifat-ul-Masih Vaba paid his In the United States, the first Jalsa was or- historic first visit to the United States in 2008 at ganized in 1948 in Dayton, Ohio, under the lead- In 1994, Hadhrat Khalifat-ul-Masih IVrh the occasion of the 60th Jalsa Salana USA in ership of Dr. Khalil Nasir. The Second Jalsa graced the US Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Some 10,000 people was held on September 17 and 18, 1949 in with his presence during the 46th Jalsa Salana attended this historic event. Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. Hadhrat Khalifat-ul- and inaugurated the Bait-ur-Rehman Mosque Masih IIra sent a special message for this con- in Silver Spring, Maryland. More than 7,000 Future Growth vention: delegates from over thirty countries participated “So, I advise you with all the love I bear for in this auspicious Jalsa. Ninety years have passed since the Jama’at rh you, to avail yourselves of this great opportu- In 1998, Hadhrat Khalifat-ul-Masih IV first laid its roots in America. Those roots have th nity of being pioneers of truth in your country again graced us with his presence for the 50 grown robust through the efforts of the early and set a grand example of being true obedi- Jalsa Salana of USA. This was his last visit to Ahmadi Muslim missionaries and early Ahmadi ent to God and His religion for your contem- our country, as he passed away in 2003. Muslim da’een and the historic visits of the poraries and for the coming generations. So In 2000, the Jama’at organized a historic khulafa–e-Ahmadiyyat. But the Jama’at in much so that you become in the eyes of God the event to commemorate the fulfillment of the di- America has only laid the groundwork for a deliverers of your country and your people, vine prophecy of John Alexander Dowie, in Zion, future upsurge in the spread of true Islamic and become like the first disciples of the proph- Illinois. The “Messiah 2000” conference, as it teachings throughout America. May the next ets of old.” was called, was held near the site of the fulfill- century of Ahmadiyyat in America see the ulti- ra Hadhrat Chaudhry Zafarullah Khan , a well ment of the prophecy a century prior. Over 1,500 mate fulfillment of the Second Khalifa’sra grand known member of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Com- attended the conference. An extensive exhibi- vision. Ameen. munity, also addressed this second convention, tion showcased the historic and extensive U.S. and the local Lajna offered $ 525 to the Khalifa media coverage of the famous prayer duel be- as a gesture of their love and a token of sacri- tween the Promised Messiahas and Dr. Dowie. fice. A book was also published detailing the proph- In 1976, the 29th Jalsa Salana was organized ecy and its historical significance. Anwer Mahmood is the National Secre- at the Drew University in Madison, New Jersey. In 2006, Hadhrat Khalifat-ul-Masih Vaba, in tary, Terik-i-Jadid, and is a member of the This convention was graced with the presence a live two-way MTA satellite transmission ad- Chino, California branch of the Ahmadiyya of Hadhrat Khalifat-ul-Masih IIIrh. The Daily dressed the final session of the 58th Jalsa Salana Muslim Community.
24 Muslim Sunrise in America Mufti Muhammad Sadiqra came to win the people’s hearts to Islam Hadhrat Mufti Muhammad Sadiq The Founder and First Editor of The Muslim Sunrise By Dr. Khaula Rehman
hhhe early 1900s was the time when racial riots against black Americans Trocked several cities across the United States. Racial discrimination against Indian and Asian immigrants was also at an all time high. Many Muslims, Sikhs and Hindus whom white Americans called “ragheads” because they wore turbans, were refused entry into the United States and those who were already in the country could not become citizens of America as they were neither Caucasians nor Africans. The widespread hostility against Asians resulted in the passage of the Oriental Exclusion Act, which excluded all laborers from the ‘Asiatic Barred Zone’ (Arabia, Afghanistan, India, Indochina, the East Indies, and other Asian nations). The Johnson Act of 1921 established strict annual quotas for Asian immigrants, and finally the Johnson-Reed Act of 1924 closed the door to most non- European immigrants by Mufti Muhammad Sadiqra setting up a “national origin system” that gave North and West Europeans a huge advantage over other groups.
Summer 2011 25 In July 1921, Mufti Muhammad Sadiqra published the first issue of The Muslim Sunrise. Its primary purpose was refuting the misrepresentations of Islam in the media.
The American press covered Sadiq’s arrival in America with headlines such as “Picturesque Sadiq,” “Hopes to convert US.,” “Speaks seven Tongues,” “Optimistic in Detention,” and “East Indian with New Religion.”
This was the challenging climate into Muhammad Sadiqra, after traveling thou- polygamy. He set up his mission on Madi- which, Mufti Muhammad Sadiqra came to sands of miles, alone and friendless, hopes son Avenue in New York. In October 1920, win the people’s hearts to Islam. He faced to begin his crusade to convert Americans he moved the Ahmadiyya mission to Chi- immense difficulties. When his ship, the S.S to the doctrines taught by the prophet cago because of its central location. Haverford, arrived in Philadelphia on Feb. Ahmad, of whom he is the principle dis- He was a learned man, a graduate of 15th , 1920, The United States immigration ciple.’ University of London, a philologist of in- authorities interrogated him for hours and Indeed he began his crusade! Nothing ternational repute, and an expert in Arabic established that he was a citizen of India could come in his way, not even detention and Hebrew. His work was published in and representative of a religious group that could stop him from preaching the message Philomath. In Dec.1920, Lincoln Jefferson practiced polygamy. The authorities asked of true Islam. His passion and devotion University of Chicago, Illinois, awarded him him to leave the United States on the ship attracted others in detention towards Islam. an honorary degree of Doctor of Literature he had just arrived. Mufti Muhammad They curiously watched an elderly, light because of his attainments as a scholar, Sadiqra refused to return and appealed to brown complexioned man with a dark green success as a leader of men, and his devo- the Secretariat in Washington, D.C. He was and gold turban, praying five times a day tion to promoting the higher and nobler re- confined to the Philadelphia Detention and reciting the Holy Qur’an. They were lations between man and man. House for several weeks. eager to learn about this exotic stranger’s He believed that religious propaganda The American press covered Sadiq’s ar- religion and his plans of an Islamic mission against Islam required a strong defense by rival in America with headlines such as in America. Twenty one people converted the publishing and free distribution of Is- “Picturesque Sadiq,” “Hopes to convert to Islam in the detention house, whose lamic pamphlets and leaflets in millions all US.,” “Speaks seven Tongues,” “Optimis- names are mentioned in the first volume of over the country. tic in Detention,” and “East Indian with The Muslim Sunrise. In a month he contributed twenty ar- New Religion.” Mufti Sahibra wrote about those early ticles on Islam to various American peri- Press, A Philadelphia newspaper, Feb. days: odicals and news papers, including the New 19th, 1920, probably gave the most accurate “Almost every night I meet with the York Times. During his first year, he deliv- account of Mufti Muhammad Sadiq’s or- Promised Messiahas, or his first Khalifa or ered fifty public lectures on a variety of deal and his intentions in America: Hadhrat Fazl-e-Umar. I am with my own fam- subjects in American cities, including Chi- ‘While many religious sects in United ily at night and my days are spent among cago, New York, Detroit, and Grand Havens. States are spending thousands of dollars the strangers.” In July 1921, Mufti Muhammad Sadiqra and sending hundreds of philosophers and After two hard months of confinement, published the first issue of the Muslim Sun- teachers to the wild of Tibet, the far reaches Hadhrat Mufti Muhammad Sadiqra was al- rise. Its primary purpose was refuting the of Arabia and Hindustan and to the unex- lowed to enter the United States in April of misrepresentations of Islam in the media. plored regions of Africa and China, Mufti 1920 on the condition that he will not preach The Muslim Sunrise was one of his biggest
26 Muslim Sunrise in America achievements as it brought the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community’s “Jihad of pen” to the forefront of Islamic identity in America. Despite the perplexity and During the first quarter of journals’ publication, from July through Oct. 1921, the amazement and at times Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, received 646 communications and sent out 2000 pieces of hostility of his audience, he was mail, including the journal. Five hundred letters about Islam were mailed to Masonic lodges in the United States, along with the able to convert more than 700 copies of the Muslim Sunrise. Also, one thousand pieces of Ahmadiyya literature were people to Islam and sent to major libraries. Literature was also mailed to many celebrities in the United States Ahmadiyyat in three years of and abroad. Among them were Thomas Edison, Henry Ford and President Warren his stay in the United States. Harding. The newspaper, Ashland Daily Indepen- dent of Kentucky, published an article on Mufti Mohammad Sadiq’s visit in 1923, titled, Pic- turesque Oriental Missionary here to win mans with equality; it is only their oppo- ligious revolution in America and helped Ashland Converts to Mahomet, Dr Mufti nents that obsess over race and class hundreds to join the true Islam. But he was Sadiq, Native of India, Tells of Faith, Daz- divisions. As is recorded in the Holy a humble man and never attributed his suc- zling Dress Draws Crowds Attention: Qur’an about the Prophet Noahas, “They cesses to his knowledge or personal ef- “Ashland today entertains a Muslim mis- said, ‘Shall we believe thee (Noah), when forts. He went back to India in October 1923. sionary, a man seeking converts for the faith it is the meanest that follow thee?’” (Al There were tears in his eyes when his ship of Muhammadan doing in this country a simi- Qur’an 26:112) was about to depart: not because he did lar task to the men and women America sends Richard Brent Turner writes in his not want to leave. He cried in humility be- to Africa, India and Burma, a learned man who book Islam in African American Experi- fore God Almighty, as he wrote: is the head of the Moslem faith in the United ence: “I have not been able to do full justice States. “During the 1920s positive social and to my assigned duty and I confess my fail- “As he walks about the streets of this city, religious interaction between Muslims of ing in my service.” attention is attracted by the bright green tur- different racial and ethnic groups was He further wrote: ban adorning his head, his heavy gray beard, encouraged by the Indian missionaries “I prayed for three things when I left and his general demeanor. of the Ahmadiyya Movement in Islam. England for America: a sincere Jama’at of “A passerby nudges his companion whis- The Ahmadiyya was unquestionably one Ahmadi Muslims, construction of a mosque pering, ‘Who is that man?’ The answer that of the most significant movements in the and starting a new journal. In spite of all he is a Mohammedan missionary, increases history of Islam in the United States in the difficulties, God Al-mighty has an- instead of satisfies natural curiosity. ‘A Mo- the 20th century, providing as it did the swered my prayers and gave me a sincere hammedan missionary? Why, what is he do- first multi-racial model for American Is- Jama’at during the first year. The Muslim ing here?’ These questions are not unexpected lam. The Ahmadis disseminated Islamic Sunrise in the Second year and a mosque as the friend explains that the man is in literature and converted black and white and a house was constructed in the third Ashland to convert men and women to the Americans. They attacked the distortions year.” Moslem faith. Perplexity grows as the pass- of Islam in the media, established The publication The Muslim Sunrise erby remembers that only a few Sundays ago, mosques and reading rooms, and trans- that he started continues to be the oldest he made a contribution in his church to send lated the Quran into English. They also Muslim periodical in the USA and is in the a missionary to Arabia, the home of the Mo- constituted the link between the immi- 90th year of its publication. The society that hammedans.” grant Muslims (whose number included he started has grown into thousands and Despite the perplexity and amazement and Arabs, Persians, Africans, Tartars, Turks, we believe the Ahmadiyya Muslim Commu- at times hostility of his audience, he was able Albanians, and Yugoslavians) and black nity will continue to invite fellow citizens to convert more than 700 people to Islam and Muslim groups such as the Nation of Is- to genuine spirituality and a true vision of Ahmadiyyat in three years of his stay in the lam and the Moorish Science Temple of Universal Brotherhood, rising above racial, United States. When he initially came to America. Thus, their goal was to alter ethnic and class differences that divide man America he was advised that he should not permanently the historic patterns of ra- and man. associate himself with the African-Americans cial and ethnic separation that existed lest he loses favor among the Caucasians. But among the Muslims in America.” Sadiqra was above and beyond these racial Mufti Muhammad Sadiqra was a pio- differences. He was all too aware of the Qu- neer and a beacon of guiding light for all Dr. Khaula Rehman, is a sleep medicine ranic teachings that the prophets treat all hu- generations to come. He introduced a re- specialist working in upstate New York.
Summer 2011 27 The early years of Islam in America Mubasher Ahmad, M.A., LL.B. to propagate Islam in America by establishing Bosnia, Poland, Turkey, Kurdistan, Yemen, a publishing company in Broadway, Palestine, Lebanon, and the Punjab, India. The ince the fifteenth century, small Manhattan, starting an Islamic magazine reason of their migration to America was groups of Muslims had started Moslem World, founding a mosque, and mainly economical, not religious, and they re- arriving in North America, but initiating study circles in various cities, such mained engaged in earning their livelihoods from the 16th century onwards the as Manhattan, Chicago, Philadelphia, as workers and small businessmen. The first Slargest numbers — at least 2 to 3 million Pittsburg, Cleveland and Washington, D.C. mosque was built in Biddeford, Main, in 1905. Muslims — were brought as slaves from Also, he had represented Islam at the first At few places the immigrant Muslims tried to Africa. Unfortunately, most of them and their meeting of the World Parliament of Religions organize some societies. The Bosnian Mus- later generations lost their Islamic identity. held in Chicago in 1893. Unfortunately, his lims, for example, were well established in Chi- They were converted to Christianity under efforts did not bring any lasting fruit. No cago, and in 1906 they established a social duress. However, by the mid-nineteenth Muslim was available even to lead his funeral service organization called Dzemijetul- century, Muslims from Europe and Middle Prayer when he passed away in 1916. Another Hajrije (The Benevolent Society). Similarly, Eastern countries started migrating to effort in missionary work in America was made in 1907 the Polish speaking Tartar Muslims America, and their numbers had steadily by a Muslim mystic and musician from India, founded the American Mohammedan Society increased to thousands by the time Hadhrat Inayat Khan (1882-1927). He toured the United in New York. Mufti Muhammad Sadiqra arrived in New York States preaching the message of love, Hadhrat Mufti Muhammad Sadiqra arrived in 1920 as an Ahmadi missionary of Islam. harmony and beauty, but again with no lasting in Philadelphia in 1920, but the Immigration Prior to his arrival, a few white Americans had results. He returned to India in 1926. Officers put him in jail! Here is the story in his accepted Islam through their personal By the 1920s, approximately 20,000 Mus- words: religious enquiries. The most famous was lims were scattered in many towns and cities “The first difficulty I had to encounter was Alexander Russell Webb (1846-1916), a in America, but they were disorganized. Their with the Immigration Officers, who ordered journalist and diplomat, who had main concentrations were in New York, me to return on the same steamer on which I corresponded with Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Dearborn, Detroit, Chicago, and Ross (North had come, merely because I was a Mission- Ahmadas of Qadian, India. Mr. Webb had tried Dakota). They were mostly from Albania, ary of the Moslem Faith, and on my refusal to
28 Muslim Sunrise in America return and asking permission to Appeal to pared to the white Americans. He also recog- Higher Authorities in Washington I was placed nized the discrimination that was perpetuated in the Detention House for about seven weeks. against them. Most of the African-American Those were the days of great trial, but I count could not vote in 1920s. His effort was to uplift them as the days of blessings, because I found their spirit and to motivate them in self-reli- the opportunity of offering prayers to God and ance and self-respect, and his message to them Meditation and planning the Scheme for fu- was clear that Islam would be a wonderful spiri- ture work. Moreover, I began my work of tual force in their lives, uniting them in a bond preaching quietly among others detained like of common sympathy with all the Muslims of myself.”1 the world. The African-Americans could see Indeed, while imprisoned, he preached to that social justice and equality for all were ex- them with great success, and converted 21 de- tremely attractive features of the universal re- tainees to Islam. After he was released from ligion of Islam. He also made his presence the detention house, within his first year in the known among the African-American political United States he delivered about 50 public lec- movements, such as UNIA-ACL (Universal Ne- tures in New York, Chicago, Detroit, Dowagiac, gro Improvement Association and African Michigan City, Sioux City, and Sioux Falls. Communities League) founded by Marcus Among his earliest converts in New York was Garvey (1887-1940) that aimed at the Black Na- Mrs. S. W. Sobolewski, the first indigenous tionalism and Pan-Africanism. Many of American lady to accept Islam. She was given Marcus Garvey’s followers found Islam as a the Islamic name Fatima Mustafa by Hadhrat valid solution to their problems, and became Mufti Muhammad Sadiqra. Later, he settled in Muslims. Highland Park, near Detroit, Michigan, and In 1922, he established a Hadhrat Mufti Muhammad Sadiqra also made a tour through Toledo, Fort Wayne, and mosque and headquarters at trained the new coverts to attain leadership Bremen, delivering lectures and giving inter- South Wabash Street in the positions in the newly emerging unified Ah- views to the press and the public. In July 1921, African American Bronzeville madiyya Muslim Community. For example, one he published the first issue of The Muslim such convert by the name P. Nathanial Johnson Sunrise (at that time, spelled as The Moslem neighborhood in Chicago. It was was made the Imam of an Ahmadi Mosque in Sunrise), and three thousand copies were here that Sadiq soon realized that St. Louis, Missouri. He was given an Islamic printed and distributed free of cost. Names of they were far more responsive name – Ahmad Din, who, in turn converted thou- all new converts to Islam, along with some pic- to the message of Islam sands of Christian African-Americans to Islam. tures, were published in the magazine. Quota- Similarly, Fatima Mustafa, the first lady convert, tions taken from the Holy Quran, Hadith and started learning Arabic, studying Islamic litera- the writings of Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas the welfare and prosperity of humanity. Spe- ture, and lecturing on Islam in New York. Some and articles on Islam were regular features of cial emphasis was given to bring up their chil- of the new converts would help him in his cor- the magazine that became popular among dren as good practicing Muslims. In addition, respondence work. In the first 15 months of his American readers. they were advised to build mosques in every missionary work, each month an average of 1000 United States was a great country to live town to worship One God. letters were dispatched to various church lead- in, and the Muslim Sunrise magazine wished In 1921, a wealthy Muslim real estate agent, ers, heads of civil organizations, dignitaries and millions of Muslims to come over and settle Muhammad Karoub of Highland Park, built a newspapers. In the same time period, at least 30 there, make it their home-land, and “enjoy the mosque in Detroit, Michigan. Its opening cer- articles penned by him appeared in various repu- privileges of the citizenship in this free, fertile emony was to be conducted on the occasion table newspapers and journals. Calling them and rich land.”2. However, special efforts were of Id-ul-Fitr. Not only Hadhrat Mufti “Missionary Epistles”, Hadhrat Mufti made to protect the Muslims residing in the Muhammad Sadiqra led the Eid-ul-Fitr Prayer, Muhammad Sadiqra wrote letters to royalty and United States from losing their Islamic iden- but later in the afternoon, he also led a parade rulers all over the world, including celebrities tity. Their past mistakes were identified, and of Muslims in the vicinity where the newly built and nominated Presidential candidates in USA. relevant advice was given to take practical mosque was located. This shows that Hadhrat After three years of pioneer work, other Ah- steps to bring Islam in their daily lives. They Mufti Muhammad Sadiqra also rejoiced and cel- madi missionaries started arriving from India, were asked to make their five daily Prayers, ebrated the happy occasions along with other and on September 18, 1923, Hadhrat Mufti learn Arabic, preach Islam to others, keep their Muslims. Muhammad Sadiqra returned home as a suc- Islamic names, and not become ‘Sams’, From Highland Park, Michigan, he moved cessful missionary of Islam in the USA. ‘Georges’, ‘James’, ‘Mikes’, etc. Hadhrat Mufti to Chicago, Illinois, and sustained a success- ra Muhammad Sadiq counseled them that mar- ful missionary organization there. In 1922, he Endnotes riage to Christian or Jewish girls was lawful in established a mosque and headquarters at 1.The Muslim Sunrise, Vol. 1, No. 1, page 12. Islam even if they remained in their own faith, South Wabash Street in the Bronzeville neigh- 2.The Muslim Sunrise, Vol. 1, No. 1, page 29. but they should try their best to prove to them borhood in the city of Chicago. Very soon he Mubasher Ahmad is a Missionary of the by kind treatment, love and clean and pure life realized that African Americans were far more Ahmadiyya Muslim Community stationed in that Islam was the true religion from God for responsive to the message of Islam as com- the west coast of the U.S.A.
Summer 2011 29 The Editors of the Muslim Sunrise Since its inception, 16 editors have been at the editorial helm of the Sunrise, including two companions of the Promised Messiah
trine. In addition to fundamental articles of By Naveed A. Malik ra Mufti Muhammad Sadiq the Islamic faith, content focused on Chris- (1921-23) tian doctrine, and took engaging approaches, Editors of The Muslim This ardent companion of the Promised like placing Matthew and Luke in the “wit- Messiahas was the first missionary to arrive ness box,” subjecting each to cross-exami- Sunrise have been making in the United States, in 1920. Within one nation, exposing their many contradictions. year he established The Moslem Sunrise, Din was recalled to Qadian after editing just their unique mark on the along with the Arabic title Shams-ul-Islam, three issues of the Sunrise. meaning “The Sun of Is- publication for 90 years. lam.” Sadiqra raised funds Sufi Mutiur Rahman for the magazine both in Bengalee (1930-47) Sixteen individuals, mostly the U.S. and abroad, pric- missionaries, have led the ing it at $0.25 per issue, or In 1928, Sufi Mutiur Rahman “Bengalee” one dollar for an annual (signifying he was from modern-day magazine since its subscription. At that time, Bangladesh), became the third missionary to Sadiq was based in High- arrive in America. He arrived to the “Windy inauguration in 1921, land Park, Michigan, where City” in August, and took up the work of the the longstanding Arab Muslim community mission, including raising funds to resume including two companions proved hospitable and generous. He re- The Muslim Sunrise, which had not been settled at 4448 S. Wabash Ave. in Chicago of the Promised Messiahas. published since Din’s departure in 1924. before returning to India in 1923, having Bengalee appealed to members in the This article looks at the lives edited the magazine’s first nine issues. U.S., India and around the world to support (Sadiq’s life and the inaugural issue are de- the magazine’s expenses, and despite “a of its 10 longer running tailed in separate articles in this issue.) heavy burden of debts,” he managed to re- ra vive the publication in 1930 – no small feat editors and how they Maulvi Muhammad Din considering it was the (1923-24) height of the Great De- shaped the magazine. pression. For most of his It was not long before another prominent tenure, Bengalee was the Ahmadi Muslim missionary joined Sadiq in only missionary in America, by the name of Muhammad Din. America, but made great Sadiq entrusted both the inroads, helping to estab- The Archives: mission and the magazine lish the Community in A Treasure for Seekers to Din, who carried on its eight cities by just 1933. publication. Din, like Sadiq, He also began an Arabic A few years ago, I had the privilege of digi- was a companion of the publication entitled, Al-Bushra, to preach to tally archiving past issues of The Muslim Promised Messiahas. He Arab Americans. By 1940, Bengalee esti- Sunrise. I owe a special debt of gratitude served in numerous capaci- mated 30,000 Muslim immigrants and upwards to Nur Ahmad Makin of Chicago, who lent ties in Qadian and then in of 10,000 converts to Islam (Ahmadi and oth- me his private collection of the first several Rabwah, Pakistan (the erwise) were living in America. 70 years later, decades of the magazine on microfiche, and Community’s new international headquarters estimates range from two to ten million. to MS Editor Falahud Din Shams, who sup- following Pakistan’s founding in 1947) after Bengalee served as editor for an impres- ported the archiving, website development his brief stint in America. sive 18 years, traveling and lecturing exten- and provided many rare issues as well. The early issues included contributions sively. It is not possible to do justice to his While the collection that is now online con- by zealous converts and reprinted news clip- editorship in this article, but suffice it to say tains the vast majority of past issues, it is pings covering exploits of the first two mis- that the Sunrise was not just a magazine in certainly not comprehensive. Conse- sionaries across the nation. Sadiq and Din his era, but served as a critical tool in preach- quently, I may have missed some editors were often the first “Mohammedans” that ing to, teaching, reporting on and bringing from the 15 years in which there is no issue Americans had ever encountered, and the together an entire generation of converts to on record. For this, I beg their pardon. early issues the first statement of Islamic doc- Islam.
30 Muslim Sunrise in America Khalil Ahmad Nasir (1948-59, 1978-83)
In 1946, Chaudhry Khalil Ahmad Nasir arrived to America and took up advanced studies at Northwestern University. In 1948, he became missionary-in-charge and editor of The Muslim Sunrise. He contin- ued publishing the magazine from down- town Chicago, but in 1950 moved it to Wash- ington, DC along with the national head- quarters. In order to raise funds, Nasir pub- lished ads in the Sunrise, including one for the still-running Christian Science Moni- tor. Nasir took the helm at a time of war and the birth of nations. He engaged in vigorous and well-publicized debates with Jews over Palestine, and was a permanent speaker at the Council of Foreign Relations. Nasir, and so the Sunrise, was an astute political ana- lyst, providing detailed coverage on new na- tions and leaders as part of its content. In the mid-70s, Nasir became Director of International Studies Institute at the C.W. Post Center of Long Island University in New York. His long list of services include helping to found Majlis Sultan-ul Qalam, known as the Muslim Writers Guild, an active group even today, defending Islam in the press, whose members’ articles comprise much of the News, Views and Reviews section of The Muslim Sunrise. Nasir led the magazine for 18 years and contributed to it for almost 20 more years, was Khan’s “Why 400 Million Follow Mian Muhammad making him the longest-serving editor in his- Muhammad,” giving readers (then and now) Ibrahim (1973-77) tory. an idea as to Islam’s unprecedented progress, from 400 million by the 1960s to nearly two Ibrahim was a prominent missionary from Abdul Rahman Khan billion just one generation later. Rabwah, where he served as Headmaster of Bengalee (1964, 1970-71) Khan’s second stint began after Maqbool Ta’leem-ul Islam High School. He oversaw Ahmad Qureshi, missionary-in-charge and the magazine during the dreadful events of A.R. Khan, like Sufi Mutiur Rahman editor in 1969, returned to 1974, when the Pakistani government declared “Bengalee” (no relation), was an Ahmadi mis- Pakistan, elevating Khan Ahmadis as “non-Muslim,” providing issues sionary from the Bengal. Khan served as an to missionary-in-charge. detailing Ahmadis’ beliefs in relation to those English teacher at Ta’leem-ul Islam High By 1970, the annual sub- of mainstream Muslims. School in Rabwah prior to coming to America. scription had risen to He also provided detailed His first stint as editor began while he was $3.00. This time, Khan coverage (including many based in Pittsburg, along with co-editor B.A. published the magazine photos) of the third Munir who was in Athens, Ohio. They are on out of Dayton, Ohio, the Khalifa‘s historic U.S. visit record as having published just one issue to- de facto national head- in the summer of 1976. gether, though Munir has been active in pub- quarters of the Community Ibrahim was recalled to lications work for more than five decades, still and site of the first ever annual convention, Rabwah in late 1977 or printing most American publications from his held in 1948. Khan spent what appears to be early 1978, prompting printing press in Athens. Their issue con- a decade or so of his life in the U.S., and passed Nasir (mentioned earlier) to resume editorship. tained just two lengthy essays, one of which away in Dayton. His son, Mian Muhammad Ismail Wasim, is
Summer 2011 31 the current president of the Washington, DC Board in 2006 and remains a most active con- its own website, where more than 200 past chapter. tributor. issues are available for download, and where readers can subscribe to the magazine (now Sheikh Mubarak Ahmad Syed Sajid Ahmad at a cost of $15). The staff mails the maga- (1989) (1998-2004) zines to libraries, universities and government officials across the nation in an effort to Of African missionary fame, Sheikh After a two-year hiatus, the magazine spread the message of Islam Ahmadiyya. In Mubarak Ahmad arrived to America in 1983 started up again in 1998, this time with Syed 2010, The Muslim Sunrise published six is- as the ameer and missionary-in-charge, posi- Sajid Ahmad at the helm. Prior to migrating to sues, the most ever, including its first in an- tions he held until retiring in 1991. Among America in 1977, Ahmad spent more than three other language, Spanish, and a special issue his many contributions to the Community, he years serving Islam in West Africa, where he for new converts to Islam. Shams served as edited The Muslim Sunrise’s “Special Cente- taught at the Ahmadiyya Secondary Schools president of the Chicago chapter for three de- nary” issue in 1989, marking the 100-year an- in Ghana, and was succeeded in that capac- cades, and continues his service in numer- niversary of the Ah- ity by Mirza Masroor Ahmad, now worldwide ous capacities, including as the National Au- madiyya Muslim Head of the Community. ditor. Community (re- One of the few editors viewed in a separate not a missionary, Syed The Editor article in this issue). Sajid Ahmad continued Sheikh Mubarak publishing the Sunrise as The editor bears ultimate responsibility for began his career in a journal, featuring one or the vision, content, finances, and timely publi- 1934, serving as mis- two scholarly, in-depth cation of the magazine. His goal is to present sionary-in-charge of essays. Notable issues Islamic guidance in a way that the people of the East African missions printed under his aus- time will find accessible, interesting and useful. until 1962. During this pices include: “The Holy At times, this meant the use of humor, and oth- time he oversaw the Community’s establish- Prophet Muhammad,” an ers, solemnity. Some editors targeted scholars, ment in several countries and the translation essay by Imam M.A. publishing one or two in-depth essays on reli- of the Holy Qur’an and other books into Cheema; “The Cairo Debate: Muslim vs. Chris- gious topics, and others sought to reach the Swahili. He then returned to a new country, tian”; and “Jihad against a Just Ruler?”. average Joe, commenting on contemporary is- Pakistan, where he served in senior adminis- Ahmad remains active in publications work sues from an Islamic perspective. trative positions for the Community until be- for the Community, having edited Al-Nahl and The editor manages the writing, editorial ing appointed by the Third Khalifa as Imam books for Majlis Ansarullah since 1993. and layout process from start to finish. This of the London Mosque in 1979, where he re- entails countless hours of coordinating staff, mained until arriving to America. Falahud Din Shams writing and editing. Historically, this time-con- (2006-Present) suming responsibility has gone to full-time mis- Mubasher Ahmad, LLB sionaries of the Community (missionary-in- (1991-1995) In 2006, Falahud Din Shams, CPA by pro- charge, in fact), but in recent times, dedicated fession, son of distinguished missionary volunteers have assumed this role. An open secret to success is the editor’s supporting cast: Upon retiring from his legal career, Maulana Jalal-ud-Din Shams, took charge the board and staff – both writers and editors – Mubasher Ahmad dedicated his life in ser- with a mandate to renew the publication. have been an integral part of the publication vice of the Community in 1988, with his first Shams’ vision was to transform the Sunrise process since Mufti Muhammad Sadiq’s time. assignment being translation of the Khalifa’s from a scholarly journal into a contemporary Now, as then, writers and editors alike strive to sermons from Urdu into English. Sheikh magazine that would attract both the mind maintain the legacy that Sadiq established in a Mubarak then sought and received the and eye of the general American public. He home-turned-mosque on the south side of Chi- Fourth Khalifa’s approval to allow Ahmad committed to so- cago 90 years ago. to serve as a mission- liciting and pub- ary, which he has done lishing only since, currently original material, posted to the North- and in doing so, west Region. Sheikh built a base of Mubarak also ap- writers that con- pointed Ahmad as edi- tinues the tor of The Muslim Sunrise’s legacy Naveed A. Malik served as Editorial Board member Sunrise in short order, of addressing of the Muslim Sunrise from 2006-09 and is editor- current issues which he published out of DC, until moving in-chief of By the Dawn’s Early Light: Short Stories to Philadelphia in 1994, where he published from an Islamic by American Converts to Islam (MKA, 2009), it until 1995. By the 90s, the cost of the perspective. available at www.alislam.org/books. He works as annual subscription had risen to $5.00. In Under his an American diplomat and lives in Kuwait with his 2006, Imam Ahmad rejoined the Editorial leadership, the Muslim Sunrise established wife, Humera.
32 Muslim Sunrise in America Muslim Sunrise Historical Editions Visit of Khalifatul-Masih III to tional and local amirs, representatives and By Bushra Bajwa North America missions to the U.N.O, Canadian parlia- mentarians, counselors to ambassadors, ince itsitsince and community members. During the summer of 1976, Hadhrat In order to demonstrate to the reader rh inception, ninety Mirza Nasir Ahmad , the third successor the significance of this historic occasion, of the Promised Messiahas, visited the years ago, The impressions on the Khalifa’s visit by Ah- United States. It was the year that the madis were also included in this edition. Muslim Sunrise “message of hope, peace and spiritual These showed the anticipation of the com- Shas covered various revolution” was brought to the western munity prior to his visit, the divine inspi- hemisphere, as well as “long-awaited spiri- ration bestowed on them during his stay historical occasions of the tual nourishment” (The Muslim Sunrise and the gratefulness they experienced for Ahmadiyya Muslim Editorial, 1976) for the Ahmadi Muslims this blessed opportunity as they reflected Community. This article of the United States and Canada. During back on it. “The incredible experience of his three week stay, he visited Washington being with the Hadhrat Ammir-ul- will, in chronological D.C., Daytona, Ohio, Madison, New Jer- Momineen brought us closer than we have order, look at the four sey and Toronto. His visit consisted of ever been to the Holy Presence of the Cre- memorable incidents in making plans on how to introduce the U.S ator who is All-Knowing and All-Seeing to Islam, holding press conferences, en- and exceedingly Merciful”, (Sharif, Y., the history of the gaging in fervent prayers with members of Amir of Central Pennsylvania, 1976). In Ahmadiyya Muslim the community, and presiding over annual addition, non-Muslim VIPs who met with Community for which conventions. him expressed that it had been a great honor This edition consisted of the many to be a part of this memorable occasion Muslim Sunrise published news stories published in America and and that they had been left with a deeply special editions. Firstly it Canada on the Khalifa’s visit. The articles moving impression of the leader. will look at the special gave an introduction to Ahmadiyyat; be- liefs, teachings and practices, and its Special Centenary Issue: edition on Khalifat-ul- as founder, Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad . Celebrating 100 years of Masih III’s visit to North Some articles introduced their local Ah- madi communities and others also gave a Ahmadiyyat America to bring the brief bio of Hadhrat Mirza Nasir Ahmadrh. message of Ahmadiyyat to Most importantly, the articles covered the On March 23, 1889 Mirza Ghulam this continent. Then it will purpose of his visit to the Western hemi- Ahmadas initiated the “pledge of bai’at” with sphere. His visit came at a time that the all those who accepted him as the Promised look at the two special world was witnessing the shortcomings of Messiah and Mahdi of the age. Thus March issues on the important communist and capi- 23, 1989 marked the milestones in the history talist societies, hence community’s first he stated “as is the centenary. This edi- of the community so far: case with Christianity, tion showed that the one hundred years of the two leading eco- historic junction was Ahmadiyyat and one nomic-political celebrated with vari- movements, capital- ous events throughout hundred years of Khilafat ism and communism, the year in the 122 or the Caliphate. Finally, it have come up short of countries where Ah- will look at the recent providing fulfillment madiyyat had by then, for mankind,” (The been established (Ah- special edition on the Hudson Dispatch, August 6, 1976). Thus, madiyyat has now been established in more tragic May 28th massacre “Hazrat Mirza Nasir Ahmad is visiting the than 190 countries). A day of fasting, and in Lahore, Pakistan, United States to expand the propagation of congregational tahajjud prayers for the com- Islam. He views Islam as the only remedy munity were carried out worldwide and na- displaying the need for to the agonizing and complex ills of the tional conventions were organized in all the freedom of worship. American society,” (The News, 1976). countries, hosting exhibitions for fellow The edition had many photos of his visit countrymen. The message from Hadhrat including photos with the mayors of Day- Mirza Tahir Ahmadrh, the Khalifa at that time ton and Madison, a representative of CBC on this occasion, was to invite all fellow hu- television, missionary-in-charge and na- man beings to study Ahmadiyyat and accept
Summer 2011 33 Special Centenary Issue: Celebrating 100 years of Ahmadiyyat
Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas as the Promised than a materialistic life that leads to ruin. of their missions. This publication in par- Reformer awaited by followers of all re- At the end of this issue there were per- ticular looked at two important Messen- ligions. sonal accounts by some Ahmadis on how gers: Moses and Jesus and how through As stated in the editorial, this issue “of- they came to accept Islam. Motives for ac- their khulafa, the goal for which they were fers its thanks by rededicating itself to con- ceptance included the book “Ahmadiyyat sent was achieved (Ahmad, 2008, p.14). veying the message of Islam in a befitting and True Islam,” prayers for divine guid- The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community has manner to the West in general and to the ance, and being inspired by Ahmadi broth- revived the institution of Khilafat, as fore- people of the United States in particular”, ers and sisters. told in the Quran “Allah has promised to (Ahmad, 1989: editorial). For this purpose, those among you who believe and do good some of the distinct and outstanding fea- Special Issue on Khilafat works that He will, surely, make them suc- tures of Ahmaddiyat were shared. Ah- cessors in the earth, as He made succes- madiyyat was founded through the revela- On May 27, 1908 a Divine system of sors from among those who were before tion of God, it conveys the same message Khilafat was established in the Ahmadiyya them” (24:56). On the countless sects and of Islam as was conveyed by the Prophet Muslim Community after the passing of its divisions in Islam, Khalifatul Masih IV, Muhammadsa, and it has reinstated the sys- founder, the Promised Messiah. In 2008, the Hadhrat Mirza Tahir Ahmadrh stated that tem of khilafat. Also, the excellent quali- community celebrated the first one hundred “it is incumbent that Muslims should ties of the Promised Messiahas, the founder years of Khilafat-e-Ahmadiyyat. The spe- unite on the hand of One Imam. There of Ahmadiyyat are given such as his un- cial issue on Khilafat explained the pur- should be one Imam of the Muslims of matched tolerance and compassion towards pose of successorship. The prophets of God the whole world. But without Khilafat, it others in the face of hardship and opposi- as human beings have a limited lifespan. is just impossible. “(Ahmadiyya Gazette, tion, and his firm faith in God. With its goal Sometimes it was not enough time to ac- Canada. May 2001). of conveying the message of Islam, there complish all the objectives assigned to This publication showed that in these was a strong focus in this edition on the them. Therefore, a system of Khulafa of the one hundred years, the community has beautiful social teachings of Islam. Islam Prophets evolved (Shams, 2008, p.36). The made great progress under the leadership requires the eradication of prejudices and Promised Messiah stated that on the death of five respected Khulafa. Some of the nu- teaches universal brotherhood. Race and of a messenger, “God provides reassurance merous achievements include unmatched color do not matter. In addition, social re- through a khalifa, and that khalifa revives translations of the Holy Quran into several quirements of Islam such as the status of and strengthens afresh the purpose of the other languages during the time of the sec- women, the observance of purdah, prohi- advent of the deceased.” (Al Hakam, April ond Khalifa, the building of 5200 mosques bition of alcohol and gambling lead to the 14, 1908). According to Islam all prophets worldwide during the time of the fourth pure and healthy development of man rather had successors to enable the completion Khalifa, uniformity and organization of the
34 Muslim Sunrise in America community and the building of many schools and hospitals in third world coun- tries. On the fulfillment of a hundred years Black Friday: May 28, 2010 of Khilafat in Ahmadiyyat, Khalifatul Masih V said each Ahmadi should promise that they will always give precedence to Allah’s pleasure and His commands.
Black Friday - May 28, 2010
Most recently, Muslim Sunrise issued a special edition publication titled “Pakistan’s Black Friday” commemorating the tragic May 28 massacre. On May 28, 2010, terrorists attacked two of the Ah- madiyya Muslim mosques in Lahore where congregations were gathered to offer Fri- day prayers and killed over 80 worship- pers and injuring several others. This pub- lication related the history of intolerance, prejudice and hatred against Ahmadis in Pakistan. It explained the problematic Or- dinance XX of Pakistan which allows Ah- madis to be punished for calling them- selves Muslims or practicing the religion of Islam. A separate article labeled Pakistan’s constitution as “medieval” for being the only Muslim country to define who is or is not a Muslim. Personal accounts of eye witnesses and As in the other special editions of Muslim Sunrise family members and media reports of the May 28 attack displayed the unjustifiable mentioned above, this edition too, focused on the “what killings of innocent worshippers. Yet these now?” What does this incident mean for the Ahmadiyya stories and the words of the Khalifa of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in re- Muslim Community and where do we go from here? sponse to this incident demonstrated the peaceful, patient and steadfast nature of The incident of May 28 in Lahore, Pakistan, reiterated the community. Unlike the general reaction of the Muslim world in the face of assault, the need to end religious discrimination and grant “the founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim constitutional freedom to Ahmadis in Pakistan. Community, Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas had instructed his followers to counter the attacks on his community and on Islam not through violence but through The U.S., having already passed two reso- dent including the history related to the writing and verbal expression” (Bashir, lutions to restore freedom of religion in event, in-depth analysis of the occurrence 2010, p. 14). Furthermore whereas Ahma- Pakistan, and producing annual reports itself, implications of the incident, and the dis have been given the status of non- on human rights practices in Pakistan, reactions of the community and others. We Muslims in Pakistan, Ahmadis view other should urge the Pakistani government to look forward to many more years of great Muslims as their brothers. repeal the blasphemy laws and prioritize coverage on special events of the Ah- As in the other special editions of prevention of religiously motivated and madiyya Muslim Community. Muslim Sunrise mentioned above, this edi- violence, punishing the perpetrators. tion too, focused on the “what now?” These four special editions of Muslim What does this incident mean for the Ah- Sunrise have covered four important Bushra Bajwa is the Tarbiyyat Secretary of madiyya Muslim Community and where do events in the history of the Ahmadiyya the women’s auxiliary of the Ahmadiyya Mus- we go from here? The incident of May 28 Muslim Community thus far. During these lim Community’s Seattle, WA chapter. She in Lahore, Pakistan, reiterated the need to significant events the magazine enabled holds a Bachelor’s Degree in International end religious discrimination and grant con- the community and other readers to read Management from the University of Manches- stitutional freedom to Ahmadis in Pakistan. and learn more about the occasion or inci- ter, UK, and a Master’s Degree in Student De- velopment Education from Seattle University. Summer 2011 35 For the The more I read about Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas the more I love of fell in love with the love he had for Islam the Holy Prophet Muhammadsa.
How I accepted Ahmadiyyat made me wonder why everyone was so against I had longed to see the Holy Prophetsa in By Syeda Sana Shah Ahmadiyyat. What was so wrong with calling my dreams and the fact that I seen him in my an Ahmadi a Muslim? It really bothered me dream after accepting Ahmadiyyat just in- was born a Sunni Muslim that I didn’t get a proper response about Ah- creased my faith and confirmed my decision. but little did I know that at madiyyat from my parents but it inspired me By the Grace of Allah, I joined the holy to research. Community of the Promised Messiah and the tender age of 19 I Every day and every chance I had I would Mahdi and signed my bai’at form in 2009 at would become part of the read about Ahmadiyyat online. I would read the age of 19, at Bait-ul-Aman mosque in Con- I both the positive and negative things people necticut, Alhamdulillah! Even though my fastest growing Muslim had to say. The more I read the more I noticed parents do not support me and want nothing community in the world. I didn’t the similar struggles that the Muslims of the to do with me, the Connecticut Jama’at has know much about the different time of the Holy Prophet Muhammadsa and shown me love, respect and welcomed me with sects in Islam. I only knew the Ahmadis had to face. Both were persecuted open arms. Every time I attend the mosque I mercilessly and were shunned from their com- feel a sense of wholeness that I was search- “Sunni way.” munities only because they were following the ing for. I was not afraid or sad to leave my Growing up we would regularly attend the word of Allah. The more I read about Hadhrat family because every member from my Jama’at mosque for jumu’ah, and I, along with my Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas the more I fell in love made me feel like I was not alone. brothers and sister, would attend Qur’an with the love he had for the Holy Prophet I love and respect my parents and do not classes on the weekends. When I was 17 my Muhammadsa. want to disobey them, but I will not turn my college exposed me to a diverse group of reli- How can anyone claim that this noble and back on Ahmadiyyat which I know is the true gious faiths. I was amazed at how open minded pious man does not follow the teachings of Islam. No one can convince me otherwise. Fi- the people were. I was raised to believe that I the Holy Prophetsa, when in fact, he is the per- nally my life was moving forward and in the should only associate with other Muslims, but fect example of how a Muslim should be? Af- right direction. Ever since I accepted Ah- the unity that I experienced that first day, ter studying Ahmadiyyat, the life and writings madiyyat, I feel I am receiving direct bless- sparked an interest in my young curious mind. of Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas of Qadian, ings from Allah both religiously and secularly. As the semester went on, I joined a group and praying for divine guidance, it became Being an Ahmadi convert, I encounter oppo- for all Muslim students, and I was introduced evident to me that Ahmadiyyat is indeed the sition for my beliefs from my very own family to an eclectic variety of Muslims of different true Islam and that Hadhrat Mirza and friends. It is very difficult for me to live in sects. I had already known about the Shi’a Ghulam Ahmadas of Qadian is that same Mes- a home surrounded by people whom I love but that day I was introduced to Ahmadiyyat. siah and Imam Mahdi prophesied by the Holy but do not accept the message. Some family When I got home that night I questioned my Prophet Muhammadsa. members try to set me back, but I feel much parents about Ahmadiyyat. Who are they? By the Grace of Almighty Allah, I have seen remorse for them, for they do not know where What are their beliefs? And why hadn’t I heard many powerful and faith increasing dreams, their salvation lies. To all my sisters, if you of them before? which I believe were shown to me by Allah encounter similar difficulties, try and resist My father was born and raised in Pakistan the Almighty. I have met the Holy Prophetsa their efforts to entice you back to your former and my mother was born in Afghanistan but twice in my dreams, once as a young man who habits. Suffering and trials strengthen spiri- raised in Pakistan. Coming from Pakistan they received my embrace, and another time ap- tual progress. Even if you make mistakes, keep had already had a major misconception about pearing middle aged at the end of a long corri- praying for guidance because Allah is Most Ahmadiyyat. My mother responded and told dor. I have also met the Promised Messiahas Forgiving, Ever Merciful and The Acceptor of me that there are many sects and that this was in another dream who was inside a tent in the Repentance. I would like to end with a verse just one of them. My father, on the other hand, middle of a desert at night and gifted me with from the Holy Qur’an which states: was very strict and quick to respond nega- a gorgeous green head scarf from under his “Verily, you (O Muhammad) guide not tively. He forbade me to ask questions about bed of straw. I also met our elegant Hudhur in whom you like, but Allah guides whom He Ahmadiyyat and told me that Ahmadis are not another one of my dreams where he gifted me wills” [al-Qasas, 28:56]. Muslim. He told me never to mention the name with a white head scarf and received me with a And Allah had guided this Sunni Muslim again and to disassociate myself from anyone daughter-like embrace. These inspiring dreams woman to the true Islam. My name is Syeda who was an Ahmadi. Being 17 and hearing the are direct personal proof that Ahmadiyyat is Sana K. Shah, I am 22, and I am proud to say I hatred and prejudice coming from my father the true Islam. am an Ahmadi Muslim.
36 Muslim Sunrise in America
○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ 1921 to 2011 Muslims for Peace By Shazia Sohail
he Ahmadiyya Muslim In the October 1923 issue of The God according to his own way.” The Community has openly Moslem Sunrise an article entitled The Prophet Muhammad says that “a Mos- and consistently been Religion of Peace was published. Here lem is one from whose hands, tongue, preaching the message of are a few phrases from it: and thoughts others are free.” peace for over a hundred “Islam is preeminently the religion of years.T In 2010, under the Muslims for peace...the primary significance of the We Condemn Terrorism Peace campaign, this message was word Islam is “Peace with God and peace distilled into six distinct components with man” ...According to the Holy for clarity of communication to the Quran “a Moslem is one who has made The following was the advice given American public. A perusal of the his peace with God.” (ii, 106) And as a by the Second Head of the Ahmadiyya past issues of The Muslim Sunrise Moslem is “at perfect peace, he enjoys Muslim Community to the students at will show that this message of peace peace of mind and contentment” (xvi, Qadian, India: has been a consistent theme in for 105).”Peace” is the greeting of a Mos- the past 90 years. While it is not lem to another and “Peace” shall also be Live in Peace, taking no part within the scope of this issue to list the greeting of those in paradise (x, 10). With those who trouble create; all the articles that were written Nay in the paradise which Islam depicts Cause no anxiety nor disturbance around the central message of peace, shall no word be heard but “Peace, For the rulers of the State. I will briefly highlight some examples Peace”, say the holy word: “They shall (The Moslem Sunrise, July 1921, page 7) pertaining to this theme, taken from hear therein no vain words or sinful dis- the The Muslim Sunrise issues of the course, but they shall only hear the In Our Loyalty to Our Principle 1920s. words, peace, peace” (Lvi., 26). published in The Moslem Sunrise of ASSALAAM i.e. The “author of Peace” January 1924, the Editor, in response Islam Is Peace is the God in the Quran (Lix, 23), and the to a false allegation against the com- goal to which Islam leads is Darressalaam munity, makes clear the position of the The inaugural issue of The Mos- i.e. “the abode of Peace” as is said in the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community: lem Sunrise, published in July 1921, capter (v, 25). Peace is therefore the “Our position is clear; we are loyal states at the outset: dominant note and essence of Islam, to ourselves and to our principles. If peace being the root from which it we are loyal to any government it is BUDDHA AND KRISHNA OF springs and the fruit it yields. not for the sake of that government, INDIA, ZOROASTER OF PERSIA, ….for says the Holy Quran: “There is but because (of our) strict adhesion to CONFUCIUS OF CHINA, MOSES OF no compulsion in religion.” Nay we are our principles. Now one of those prin- EGYPT, JESUS OF NAZARETH, ALL enjoined “to strive hard to remove all the ciples is that on no account are we to WERE THE HOLY MEN AND PROPH- disturbing elements and to establish create or countenance any distur- ETS OF GOD. WE HONOR AND RE- freedom of worship and freedom of con- bance, riot, or revolution; for we know SPECT ALL OF THEM. science so that every one may worship full well that whenever and wherever
Summer 2011 37 such elements are let loose, a flood- gate of worse elements and human pas- We are loyal to law and order sions is let upon the world and the greatest sufferers from these are the wherever we find it. We tell each other to poor and the working class people who are alternately exploited and made fod- der for guns to serve the ends of the be loyal to his own government. We teach few ambitious, reckless souls. For this our principle we take our stand upon Ahmadies who are subjects of governments the Holy Quran which we regard as the very word of God. We read in this book other than the British to be loyal to their to the following effect: “Don’t look for disturbance in the earth”; “Do not own systems of governments and defend make mischief in the land after the es- tablishment of peace”; “God forbids re- bellion and evil of all kinds.” them if need be with their lives. We don’t Mufti Muhammad Sadiqra writes in Islam Defended: A Denial That It tell the Germans to be loyal to the British Teaches Its Adherents to Hate and to Kill (originally published in The Sun any more than we tell a Britisher to be and N. Y. Herald, dated April 9th, 1921) as reproduced in the July 1921 issue loyal to any other government but his own. of The Moslem Sunrise: Mr. Hormuz’s criticism on Islam and its sacred book, the Koran, is not at all This indeed is our position and we mean to based on facts. The Koran never teaches “to hate and kill unbelievers,” stick to it, God-willing. as claimed by Mr. Hormuz. Moreover, it says that, “there is no forcing in the matter of religion.” The wars waged by the Master-Prophet Mohammad and January 1924 issue, the Editor states: lying, wickedness, evil glances, his successors were all defensive and We are loyal to law and order worldly-mindedness, vanity, disdain, the Moslems were allowed to fight with wherever we find it. We tell each other self-approbation and all other and kill only those unbelievers who to be loyal to his own government. We iniquities, and you will get the came down upon them with sword…. teach Ahmadies who are subjects of assistance of Heaven which will invest “Even the defensive religious wars are governments other than the British to be you with true morals.” (The Moslem no more allowed in Islam,” proclaims loyal to their own systems of Sunrise, July 1921, page 6) the latest prophet of Islam, Ahmad of governments and defend them if need be India, “as no one now interferes with with their lives. We don’t tell the Germans Following is an excerpt from the religious beliefs of the Moslems.” to be loyal to the British any more than JEHAD by Mirza Kabir-ud-Din we tell a Britisher to be loyal to any other Ahmad, published in The Moslem government but his own. This indeed is Sunrise of April 1922: We Are Loyal To Our Country our position and we mean to stick to it, Islam never allowed the use of the God-willing. sword for spreading the religion. On In the article Be Moslems and De- the other hand it strictly prohibits fend America in The Moslem Sunrise compulsion in matters of faith…. of April 1924 the author asserts that The True Meaning of Jihad When the idolators of Arabia, there is no religious conflict in the mind exasperated at the progress of Islam, of a Muslim fighting to defend his According to the teachings of the came down upon the Moslems in country due to the injunction of the Holy Qur’an and the Holy Prophetsa the Medina to extirpate them, only then Holy Qur’an, “Fight against those who greater Jihad is overcoming one’s own the Moslems took up the sword to fight against you, but exceed not the baser self: defend their women and children and limit.” “Purify your connection with God. themselves from the aggressing Also, in Our Loyalty to Our Prin- Give up vain mockery, derision, enemy... It must also be stated here ciple in The Moslem Sunrise of the vengeance, obscene language, avarice, that permission for self-defence and
38 Muslim Sunrise in America murdering the enemies of Islam was not given to the Moslems until the Arabs had, on account of their excessive oppressions and outrages and innocent bloodshed, rendered themselves culpable and liable to be punished with death. But a clemency was even then shown to such of them as embraced Islam. The unity of religion established a relation of brotherhood and all past wrongs were forgotten. It is here that some opponents of Islam have stumbled and from this they have drawn the conclusion that the new religion was forced upon the unbelievers. In fact the case is just the reverse of what the objectors have thought. Also, in Our Loyalty to Our Prin- ciple in The Moslem Sunrise of the January 1924 issue, the editor states: We believe in the Jihad as much or even more, as anybody else. All we say is “Don’t misinterpret the word.” Jihad Women were granted the right to vote in 1919. It seems more than just a means a strong effort in the way of Al- coincidence that the opening verse of the first issue of The Moslem Sunrise should lah. This effort may require even our be the one that testifies to the equality of men and women in the eyes of God. lives , but it should not be misconstrued into the sense of waging war to forcibly live.” And Polygamy, even if allowed with we return. Thus says the Holy Book - El convert the Non-Moslems. It is ex- all its limitations and conditions, falls un- Quran. pressly forbidden by the word of God. der the category of permissions and not Below are the sentiments of the edi- “There is to be no compulsion in reli- commandments. And that permission is tor in The Only Solution of Color Preju- gion” runs one of the express injunc- taken away under the commandment that I dice published in The Moslem Sunrise tions. We never say or believe that de- must obey the law of the Ruling Govern- of October 1921: fensive wars are illegal. But rebellion ment of the country. What sad news we come across ev- and defensive war should never be con- ery now and then about the conflict be- fused. tween the Blacks and the Whites in this Human Rights for All country. It is a pity that no preaching of Separation of Religion equality or Christian Charity has so far and State Women were granted the right to vote been able to do away with this evil. In in 1919. It seems more than just a coinci- the East we never hear of such things Regarding polygamy, which is ille- dence that the opening verse of the first occurring between the peoples. There gal in America but allowed in Islam, issue of The Moslem Sunrise should be are people fairer than North Europeans Mufti Muhammad Sadiqra writes in the the one that testifies to the equality of men living friendly and amicably with those July 1921 issue of The Moslem Sunrise: and women in the eyes of God. The fol- of the darkest skin in India, Arabia, and “I have not come here to teach plu- lowing note appeared at the end of the ex- other Asiatic and African countries and rality of wives. If a Moslem will ever planatory translation of the Qur’anic verse in fact there is no question of color at all preach or practice polygamy in America 33:36 in the July 1921 issue. ever heard of. In Islam no Church has he will be committing a sin against his God has prepared for all such men as ever had seats reserved for anybody and religion.” This was my reply to the im- well as the women His gracious and free if a Negro enters first and takes the front migration officer’s first question put to forgiveness out of His vast Treasures seat even the Sultan if he happens to me when I reached the American shore. which never decrease, and a grand mighty come after him never thinks of removing In the religion of Islam there are some Reward. him from that seat. “I tread under the Commandments and some Permissions. Note:- Sex makes no distinction in the feet the Racial prejudice” said the Mas- I must always follow the commandments, rules for the uplift of the soul to higher ter Prophet Muhammadsa once and thus but the permissions can be avoided….. realms of purity, calmness and union with obliterated those great tribal differences Islam commands that “I must obey the Allah. Men and women - we are all chil- which so badly used to affect arabia in law of the Government under which I dren of God. To Him we belong and to Him pre-Islamic days.
Summer 2011 39 vider, The Forbearing, The Com- passionate, the Healer, The Bene- factor, The Pardoner, the Equi- table and in fact The Loving (Al- Wadood). Thus, if the Christian God As Jews and is a kind and loving heavenly father, the Islamic concept of God is no less Christians are loving. God is loving and kind and considered everything else that these two at- tributes imply. (His love and kind- People of the ness is translated into wrath and an- Book, their Prepared By: Rabia Mir ger when needed for the purposes of justice, as to be unjust would be un- annihilation is The following are general kind and cruel). allegations raised against Islam teaches that all religions simply not pay homage to the One and Same warranted by Muslims related to the God (albeit in different forms) and question of loyalty to the USA therefore all faiths deserve respect: Quranic or Canada - spiritually, “And if Allah did not repel some men by means of others, there injunction. politically, scripturally, would surely have been pulled Again, some religiously and/or socially. down cloisters and churches and synagogues and mosques, wherein mullahs are a the name of Allah is oft commemo- Allegation 1 rated.” (Qur’an, Ch. 22; Verse 41). disgrace to Particularly, in the case of the Islamic teaching Spiritually—No. Because when “Christian” God—since Islam de- we declare ‘one nation under God,’ clares Jews and Christians as and their words the Christian’s God is loving and kind, People of the Book—a reference to while Allah is NEVER referred to as the “Christian” God in the view of a must not be heavenly father, nor is he ever called Muslim is a reference made to their mistaken for love in the Quran’s 99 excellent common God (as is the case with a names. Muslim and any reference to God in Islamic The idea that the “Islamic God” is the context of any faith). not the same as the “Christian God” commands. because of a lack of reference to love Allegation 2 in Islamic doctrine is invalid. Love is a highly vague word and implies a Politically—No. Because he great number of things within itself. must submit to the mullahs (spiritual Love can be manifested through acts leaders), who teach annihilation of if s/he should so will, and must not of kindness, forgiveness, friendship, Israel and destruction of America, be made subject to a middle man. mercy, and graciousness and even the great Satan. The abusivie mullah is a novel oc- through anger. (A child must be pun- Let’s be clear. Muslims must sub- currence who relies on the ignorance ished for bad deeds, lest s/he continue mit to the Will of God (not to the will of the masses and their weakness in upon the path of bad actions.) of any mullah). The fundamental faith—they act in contradiction to The 99 Names of Allah include all break of Islam from Christianity was their faith and then seeking solace those elements that are in fact mani- not only in reference to the Trinity, seek out the help of one who is sup- festations of love. God is The Most it was also in reference to the priest- posedly nearer to God than they are. Forgiving, The Friend, The Gra- hood. Islam condemns the idea that This is an abject disgrace to the true cious, The Merciful, The Source of a believer (man or woman) needs a Islamic doctrine of faith wherein Peace (no doubt Jesusas, the son of medium to hold rapport with God. forgiveness must be sought out first Mary, would agree that peace and Each individual is endowed with the and foremost by the sinner and love are inextricably tied), The Pro- ability to approach and access God heartfelt repentance and kind
40 Muslim Sunrise in America deeds towards the needy tend to be Allegation 4 other. And whoso among you takes sufficient to that end. them for friends is indeed one of them. As Jews and Christians are con- Religiously—No. Because no Verily, Allah guides not the unjust sidered People of the Book, their other religion is accepted by his Allah people” (5:52). annihilation is simply not warranted except Islam. Considering the Quranic emphasis as by Quranic injunction. Again, some Muslims do believe that Islam is the regarding the noble status of Moses , as ra mullahs are a disgrace to Islamic perfect religion and is therefore the Jesus son of Mary ,and the refer- teaching and their words must not only acceptable religion by God. This ences to the Christians and Jews as be mistaken for Islamic commands. is no different than the similar claims being People of the Book and being Would one ever, even for a mo- of all other religions. However, the granted salvation provided “they be- ment, mistake the Crusades and the Qur’an makes it clear that people, re- lieve in God, the Last Day and do good Inquisition and the general perse- gardless of faith, can be acceptable by deeds,” this verse is taken completely cution of non-Christians and the God through His Mercy in light of their out of context. particular persecution of Jews, by me- intentions, actions and knowledge. The verse is not meant to prevent dieval Christians, in line with Christ’s For example: “Surely, the Believers, kindness and justice towards members teaching of love and “turn the other and the Jews, and the Christians and of the two faiths. It refers specifically cheek?” No. The rogue actions of the Sabians — whichever party from to that period in Prophet Muhammad’s self-professed followers must be un- among these truly believes in Allah ministry when Islam was gaining su- derstood as distinct from those of their and the Last Day and does good deeds premacy in Arabia, and the Jews and teacher. — shall have their reward with their Christians conspired with the pagan Muslims are required to abide by Lord, and no fear shall come upon Meccans to bring ruin upon the early ra the laws in the state in which they live. them, nor shall they grieve” (2:63). Muslims . Plots were hatched by Jew- Divergence from state law is only per- ish and Christian tribes and at that time, It also states: “Surely, those who mitted when Muslim subjects are pro- friendship was discouraged so as to have believed, and the Jews, and the hibited from practicing the central te- prevent the Muslims becoming subject Sabians, and the Christians — whoso nets of their faith. Beyond that, they to any political ploys of deception. believes in Allah and the Last Day and are bound by loyalty to the land in does good deeds, on them shall come But, in general Jews and Christians which they acquire their bread and no fear, nor shall they grieve” (5:70). being People of the Book, being the butter and which offers them protec- followers of revered prophetsas and be- Thus, according to Islam, God sends tion and freedom of faith. There is a ing under the kind gaze of God’s Mercy religions for the guidance of humanity, hadith (i.e., saying of the Prophet as long as they act with justice and do sa but if those faiths are corrupted by man, Muhammad : Loyalty to one’s home- good deeds, are to be favored as they can no longer be acceptable by land is part of faith. friends. God. Nevertheless, the adherents of corrupted religions can be accepted by Allegation 3 The Qur’an states (60:9): God after being judged for their own beliefs, actions and intentions. Scripturally—No. Because his al- “Allah forbids you not, respecting legiance is to the five Pillars of Islam those who have not fought against you Allegation 5 and the Qur’an. on account of your religion, and who The cornerstone of Western De- have not driven you forth from your mocracy is that all citizens are free to Socially—No. Because his alle- homes, that you be kind to them and follow their own faith, as long as they giance to Islam forbids him to make act equitably towards them; surely Al- abide by the secular laws of the state. friends with Christians or Jews lah loves those who are equitable.” Why should citizenry, in any secular de- Christians and Jews are considered mocracy that permits religious free- People of the Book and therefore are dom, be required to follow the Chris- deserving of great respect and regard, tian scripture? There is no such re- according to Islam, as the verses stated quirement for loyalty to a secular West- in answer to the previous question ern state. And how does loyalty to clearly indicate (in addition to many In conclusion, a Muslim can be a state contradict a Muslim’s allegiance others). The verse the accuser is re- good Canadian or American, or West- to her/his faith when her/his faith re- ferring to is: “O ye who believe! take erner in general in every way de- quires allegiance to the state? (As not the Jews and the Christians for scribed: politically, religiously, spiritu- stated in answer to allegation 2) friends. They are friends one to an- ally and socially.
Summer 2011 41 The Holy Prophet Muhammadsa said, and it is common knowledge in Muslim circles, “In the Latter Days, the sun shall rise from the West.” The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community believes that this hadith implies that the religion of Islam will spread in the West during our times.
42 Muslim Sunrise in America an has always been dependent the religion that one inherits. The followers of on the Providence of God.2 Judaism and Sikhism, the other monotheistic Rising of However, the prosperity faiths, do not proselytize, perhaps a subtle Mgenerated by the industrial acknowledgement of lack of universality and revolution in the last two centuries created an perfection. At any rate here the focus is on Chris- the Sun illusion of human self-sufficiency. This tianity and Islam. illusion and the reaction against the The lack of the preservation of the word of contradictory and irrational Christian dogma God in the Bible is becoming increasingly well gave rise to Deism of the Founding Fathers of known in the West, thanks to the university from the 3 4 5 our beloved USA, especially the stalwarts like scholars of the New and the Old Testament. President Thomas Jefferson and Thomas Likewise, the dogma of Christianity, like Trinity, Paine. Deism in the philosophy of religion is atonement and resurrection are increasingly be- West in the the standpoint that reason and observation ing scrutinized in the light of modern science and of the natural world, without the need for rationality of the information age.6 7 8 9 10 To give organized religion, can determine that a you a sample of these profound and relatively Latter Days supreme being created the universe. Further new developments, let me present to you a quote Zia H Shah MD the term often implies that this supreme being from one of our Founding Fathers, Thomas Paine, does not intervene in human affairs. the legendary writer of Common Sense in 1776, at Our universe came into being at the time of the time of independence of USA: The Holy Prophet the Big Bang and is after all not eternal as Aristotle “From the time I was capable of conceiving Muhammadsa said and it is proposed, which created a basis for atheism until an idea, and acting upon it by reflection, I either the discovery of the expansion of the universe doubted the truth of the Christian system, or common knowledge among by Edwin Hubble. It is now becoming increas- thought it to be a strange affair; I scarcely knew the Muslim circles, “In the ingly known in the scientific circles that there are which it was: but I well remember, when about Latter Days, the sun shall countless physical constants in the blue print of seven or eight years of age, hearing a sermon rise from the West.” The our universe that make our universe biophyllic read by a relation of mine, who was a great devo- or suitable for life, once again highlighting the tee of the church, upon the subject of what is Ahmadiyya Muslim Creator of our universe. All these scientific dis- called Redemption by the death of the Son of Community believes that coveries highlight the need of a Deist God who God. After the sermon was ended, I went into the this hadith implies that created our universe. garden, and as I was going down the garden religion of Islam will spread But, does He have anything to do with His steps (for I perfectly recollect the spot) I revolted creation? Is He a Personal God who participates at the recollection of what I had heard, and in the West in our times. Is nano-second by nano-second in the affairs of thought to myself that it was making God Al- this wishful thinking or are one species among the millions on the planet mighty act like a passionate man, that killed his there reasons to believe earth? The recent natural disasters one after an- son, when he could not revenge himself any other that this prophecy from 14 other with an increasing frequency in the last way; and as I was sure a man would be hanged decade have, if nothing else, emphasized that did such a thing, I could not see for what centuries ago may come thevulnerability of human life and the need for a purpose they preached such sermons. This was true soon? In Europe as a consoler; if not for every human then at least for not one of those kind of thoughts that had any- whole, the Muslim share of those who have been immediately affected by thing in it of childish levity; it was to me a serious the population is expected such calamities. In the first three months of 2011 reflection, arising from the idea I had that God alone we have seen disasters in Australia, Brazil was too good to do such an action, and also too to grow by nearly one-third and New Zealand and now in Japan. almighty to be under any necessity of doing it. I over the next 20 years, If Tsunami and earthquakes were not enough, believe in the same manner to this moment; and I rising from 6% of the the concern for a nuclear disaster is looming large moreover believe, that any system of religion that region’s inhabitants in after several explosions in the Fukushima nuclear has anything in it that shocks the mind of a child, plant. The agnostics and atheists can preach cannot be a true system.”11 2010 to 8% in 2030. In their theology from the security of their ivory The theological vulnerability of Christianity absolute numbers, Europe’s towers but as there is a saying there are no athe- is being increasingly exposed in the West and a Muslim population is ists in the foxholes or the observation that the large portion of sensible population is becoming projected to grow from 44.1 atheists start praying when their plane hits tur- unaffiliated with Christianity or agnostic.12 If they bulence, the vulnerable who are suffering in these genuinely review the basic beliefs of Islam and million in 2010 to 58.2 calamities find no choice but to pray for help its scripture they will realize that Islam does not million in 2030. In the from Almighty God. share the vulnerabilities of Christianity outlined Americas the population is To move from Deism to Monotheism and above. projected to increase from Personal God in a rational fashion, one needs to It is not only theology of Christianity that is consciously decide between Islam and Christian- defenseless but we find that there is melting away 1 five million to 11 million. ity, rather than fall back in a mindless fashion to of institution of marriage in the West and break-
Summer 2011 43 down of other family values, with numerous del- ecy about the Latter Days in Islam and Christian- even if those who associate partners with God eterious effects including almost two million chil- ity, but, is a part of several prophecies about the hate it.” (Al Quran 61:10) dren in foster care in USA. Also, with millions of Latter Days. 16 Many have been fulfilled in the people losing their homes the reevaluation of form of new means of transportation, printing Epilogue financial and economic thinking cannot be over presses, and technologies to transform our planet emphasized. into a global village and making of zoos, this gives When it comes to ethical and moral teaches, At a time when we in the West are exporting hope to the Muslims that others in the scriptures there is more that joins Islam and Christianity freedoms to the Middle East our own religious will be fulfilled in due course of time.17 18 Islam than separates them. Once we clean Christianity freedoms are being questioned in USA as well in will play a pivotal role in the development of the of the false doctrines of Trinity, Original Sin, and Europe, with banning of minarets in Switzerland West and the whole of humanity at large. Atonement introduced by St. Paul and St. Au- and considerations to do the same in Italy. At a New ideas to transform the humanity have gustine then what remains is purely a true subset time when the West is introducing democratic always come from minority groups; this idea is of Islam. What wonderful news for bringing 3.5 values at the point of sword in Iraq and Afghani- generally attributed to the famous British histo- billion people together, Muslims and Christians, stan, the very institutional instrument of these rian Arnold Toynbee. The Pope Benedict XVI almost half the world population, as the sun rises wars, the United Nations, remains deeply un- writes in his book Without Roots: The West, Rela- from the West in accordance with the prophe- democratic; with five countries with veto rights tivism, Christianity, Islam: cies of the Holy Prophet Muhammadsa. to crush the common conscience of all the other “We do not know how things will go in Eu- In the words of Sir George Bernard Shaw, 200 countries. rope in the future. The Charter of Fundamental who was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature Notwithstanding these vulnerabilities, the Rights may be a first step, a sign that Europe is in 1925, “I have always held the religion of West has certainly been the creator of the indus- once again consciously seeking its soul. Here Muhammad in high estimation because of its trial and the information age and it will be a great we must agree with Toynbee that the fate of a wonderful vitality! It is the only religion human loss if the West were to implode like the society always depends on its creative minori- which appears to me to possess that assimi- Roman Empire in the fourth and the fifth centu- ties. Christian believers should look upon them- lating capacity to the changing phase of ex- ries. Here we are not only reassured by the hu- selves as just such a creative minority, and help istence which can make itself appeal to every man efforts in the broad spread of science and Europe to reclaim what is best in its heritage and age. I have studied him - the wonderful man technology in our global village, but by the very to thereby place itself at the service of all human- and in my opinion far from being an anti- word of God, the Holy Quran promises that what- kind.”19 Christ, he must be called the Savior of Hu- ever is useful for humanity is given permanence The key question is whether the Catholic manity.”20 At another occasion he said, “I in the world: Christianity, any other group or the Ahmadiyya have prophesied about the faith of He (Allah) sends down water from the sky, Muslim Community is the ‘creative minority,’ for Muhammad, that it would be acceptable to so that valleys flow according to their measure, the future of mankind? To repeat the words of the Europe of to-morrow as it is beginning to and the flood bears on its surface swelling foam. the Pope, “Here we must agree with Toynbee be acceptable to the Europe of today.”21 And from that which they heat in the fire, seek- that the fate of a society always depends on its ing to make ornaments or utensils comes out creative minorities. Christian believers should foam similar to it. Thus does Allah illustrate truth look upon themselves as just such a creative (Endnotes) 1http://pewforum.org/The-Future-of-the-Global-Muslim- and falsehood. Now, as to the foam, it goes away minority, and help Europe to reclaim what is population.aspx 2Al Quran 96:7-8. as rubbish, but as to that which benefits men, it best in its heritage and to thereby place itself 3http://knol.google.com/k/zia-shah/limitations-of-oral-traditions/ 1qhnnhcumbuyp/321?collectionId=1qhnnhcumbuyp.217# stays on the earth. Thus does Allah set forth at the service of all humankind.” To state the 4 http://knol.google.com/k/zia-shah/how-many-gospels-did-we-have- in-the/1qhnnhcumbuyp/305?collectionId=1qhnnhcumbuyp.217# parables. (Al Quran 13:18) obvious, with 1.3 billion Catholic Christians in 5http://knol.google.com/k/zia-shah/the-new-testament-how-was-it- compiled/1qhnnhcumbuyp/87# Whatever is frivolous in the Western civili- the world, the Catholics are not minority. Also, 6http://knol.google.com/k/zia-shah/william-lane-craig-makes-false- claims/1qhnnhcumbuyp/332# zation will fade away over time, but the useful the Catholic Church has been reactive to the 7http://knol.google.com/k/zia-shah/christianity-should-it-evolve-into- islam/1qhnnhcumbuyp/217# and essential will be preserved as the sun of Is- forces history for centuries. The fact that the 8http://knol.google.com/k/zia-shah/the-god-of-jesus-christ- meditations-on/1qhnnhcumbuyp/ lamic teachings will rise from the West. The Holy Church has been a timid follower rather than a 289?collectionId=1qhnnhcumbuyp.217# 9http://knol.google.com/k/zia-shah/maria-pope-benedict-xvi-on-the- Prophet Muhammad (Pbuh) had provided the leader, especially in the last few centuries since mother/1qhnnhcumbuyp/302?collectionId=1qhnnhcumbuyp.217# 10http://knol.google.com/k/zia-shah/is-god-the-father-the-creator-the/ light for the Dark Ages of Europe and the Ah- the Enlightenment and European renaissance, 1qhnnhcumbuyp/301?collectionId=1qhnnhcumbuyp.217# 11Thomas Paine. Thomas Paine Collections. Forgotten Books, 2007. madiyya Muslim Community believes that his does not leave her with creative credentials. Page 335. 12http://religions.pewforum.org/affiliations revelations also offer the necessary solutions for Therefore, the role of rescuing mankind does 13http://knol.google.com/k/zia-shah/muhammad-the-light-for-the- 13 14 dark-ages-of/1qhnnhcumbuyp/309# our contemporary world. All this information not belong to her. We believe that the Ah- 14http://www.alislam.org/library/books/Islams ResponseToContemporaryIssues.pdf is not meant to serve as fuel for the Islamophobes madiyya Muslim Community is that creative 15 Al Quran 5:113-116. 16http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/End_time#Islam to drum up their hate mongering. It is not about minority, given its 125 years of non-violent tra- 17Al Quran 81:1-12. See different commentaries of the Holy Quran. 18http://www.alislam.org/quran/ politics as the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community dition, its constant emphasis on Universal 19Joseph Ratzinger (Pope Benedict XVI) and Marcello Pera. Wit hout Roots: The West, Relativism, Christianity, Islam. Basic Books, clearly believes in the separation of Mosque- Brotherhood, its genuine interpretation of plu- 2007. Page 80. 20 Sir George Bernard Shaw in ‘The Genuine Islam,’ Vol. 1, No. 8, 1936. Church and State., ralistic message of the Holy Quran and the rich 21 Sir George Bernard Shaw in ‘The Genuine Islam,’ Vol. 1, No. 8, 1936. The future of humanity, Islam and the West- tradition of annual Hajj in Islam. This is also a ern world has been prophesized in the Holy Quran Divine promise: Zia H. Shah is a doctor practicing in sleep and and in Hadith.15 The Hadith, from the famous “He (Allah) it is Who has sent His Messen- lung disorders in upstate New York. Shah is also book of Bukhari, “In the Latter Days, the sun ger with the guidance and the Religion of truth, the editor of Alislam eGazette and the Muslim shall rise from the West,” is not the only proph- that He may cause it to prevail over all religions, Times, Ahmadiyya online news sites.
44 Muslim Sunrise in America Book Review
Islam and the Ahmadiyya Jama’at: History, Belief, Practice
By Maham Khan an Ahmadi in Bradford who regularly offered homeopathic n this edition of The Muslim medicines to visitors, free of charge and records of him: “ Sunrise, Simon Ross ‘If I have a problem in assess- ing the right medicine to use,’ IValentine’s book Islam and he said laughingly,’I ring up the Ahmadiyya Jama’at: History, my son who is a fully qualified doctor in Pakistan.’ “ ‘ Belief, Practice, is a befitting read. Becoming an “adopted brother” of the Asian commu- A very honest piece of work nity that was around him, in- cluding Muslims of varied detailed under his “respectful sects, Valentine grasped at the scrutiny,” this book puts forth opportunity of watching a Muslim live his life up-close the daily practices of members and personal. He was living only 600 yards away from an of the Ahmadiyya Jama’at, what Ahmadi mosque which he fre- quented often. Here he got to he considers “contemporary attend the customary Friday or Islamic reformism.” Jumu’ah Prayers and watch hundreds of worshippers united in prostration behind Valentine recalls his interaction with many one Imam. The holy month of Ahmadis as well as other non-Ahmadi Mus- Ramadhaan was no different lims in the United Kingdom, where he first when he observed members came across the Ahmadiyya Jama’at in 2001. pray more often and diligently Drawing parallels between them and main- recite the Qur’an as well. Get- stream Muslims, he has written about all that ting invited to Eid-Milan par- is fundamental in practice as well as in belief, ties and family gatherings was to the Ahmadis. He dwells upon their belief in also a warm added advantage. the survival of Jesusas from the cross and his burial in Sri Nagar, Kashmir, which he visited. Their devotion to God and matters divine and the Khalifa was emphasized. He describes the Becoming an “adopted brother” of excitement that overcomes the Jama’at dur- ing the annual convention or Jalsa Salaana, the Asian community that was where he recognized how tasks were carried around him, including Muslims of out by hundreds of volunteers with “military precision” under the system of waqar-i-amal varied sects, Valentine grasped at (dignity of labor), instituted in the Jama’at. Their passion for practicing homeopathy the opportunity of watching a wasn’t ignored either. This penchant that Ahmadis have for prescribing homeopathic Muslim live his life up-close and treatments, Valentine realized, comes from the fact that the founder of the sect, Hadhrat Mirza personal. He was living only 600 Ghulam Ahmadas and his successive khulafaa had a zeal for herbal medicine. Hence they sin- yards away from an Ahmadi cerely try to master the subject, not necessar- ily qualifying in it legally. Valentine met with mosque which he frequented often.
Summer 2011 45 Valentine devotes a whole chapter to the major difference between the main- The author has also highlighted various stream Muslims and the Ahmadiyya Jama’at: Jihad. He has admitted that Ah- incidents where the Islamic identity of an madis repudiate the teaching of spreading Islam by aggression and that ‘the pen is Ahmadi was questioned. While he found mightier than the sword.’ This chapter is finely complemented by another chapter the Ahmadis to be “meticulous in their describing the persecution Ahmadis are observance of the religious duties,” he facing all over the globe; since they don’t believe in physical disobedience to assert notes that it is ironic for mainstream their demands or even their rights, they have resigned themselves to persevere and Muslims to call them disbelievers. remain patient in suffer- ing. Turn the other cheek, Valentine is told Muslims to call them disbe- by an Ahmadi, is the best lievers. Here he describes a way. However, the au- court case in South Africa thor also makes it clear where a non-Muslim Court that Ahmadis are not decided in favor of the Ahma- pacifists and that many dis, declaring their sect to be do join the armed Muslim. However, all Ahma- forces and consider it an dis are not as fortunate as honor to defend their those in South Africa, as Val- country in a just war. entine discusses the prob- While Valentine has lems that Ahmadis face in certainly done justice in Pakistan and elsewhere, in picturing the Ah- his book. madiyya Jama’at in its Nevertheless, Valentine essence, he has not re- has remained true to his in- frained from mentioning tentions of presenting the the opinions of non- ‘real Islam’ and overcame im- members about them, or mense obstacles to remove citing his own opposing views on the had with the local Ahmadi community, “media stereotypes.” For this solitary Jama’at’s beliefs and writings, concern- Valentine wondered if this relationship reason, as far as presenting the faith of ing the death of Jesusas, the concept of was “mere tokenism” considering the in- the Ahmadis, Valentine’s work is com- Jihad and the treatment of women, to tolerance minorities face in other Muslim mendable. Touching upon the conver- name a few issues in concern. When in countries. The book is filled with quite a sions of notable Ahmadis in the U.K. all honesty and innocence, detailed re- few cryptic descriptions of his percep- such as Bashir Orchard and Bilal ports or organizational magazines are tions as well as visits to various Jama’at Atkinson and truly appreciating their de- shared with him, Valentine has no qualms related places and festivities, including votion to Islam and the Jama’at, his view about stating the lamentations of his meeting with the current khalifa, was not tainted by a shadow of doubt. His Jama’at officials, for example, regarding Hadhrat Mirza Masoor Ahmadaba. general opinion of Ahmadi members was their low tabligh or faith propagating ef- Furthermore, besides his doubts and that they “submit totally to pleasing their forts in the U.K. and then personally com- meanderings, he has not hesitated to God.” Their good demeanor is what at- menting that, “such has been the rhetoric mention the “deviant” behavior members tracts many around them and hence the of most messianic sects throughout his- of the Jama’at take to and how officials, path to conversion begins for many non- tory.” within the Jama’at frown upon such Muslims. He truly has done justice to his During his research on the Ahmadis, trends. He also writes, “blatant contra- claim of “participant observation” by Valentine made a trip out to Rabwah, Pa- dictions often exist between faith and fairly presenting the Ahmadiyya kistan, the headquarters of the Jama’at. practice,” which he admits is not unique Jama’at. He most certainly appreciates all that he to Islam alone. Now the owner of the signature ring witnesses there, including the “quietness The author has also highlighted vari- of Ahmadis, on which is inscribed Is Al- and serenity of the Mubarak mosque.” ous incidents where the Islamic identity lah not Sufficient for His servant?, given But he questions the presence of a small of an Ahmadi was questioned. While he to him by Imam Naseem Bajwa ( Bradford church belonging to the Salvation Army. found the Ahmadis to be “meticulous in Mosque), Simon Ross Valentine rever- Though the Christian congregation was their observance of the religious duties,” ently claims, “I believe I have his friend- all praises for the amicable relations they he notes that it is ironic for mainstream ship for life.” And his book will remain an articulate biography of the Ahmadiyya Jama’at, for time to come. 46 Muslim Sunrise in America Ahadith (Sayings of the Holy Prophet Muhammadsa)
“Seek the guidance of thy soul! Seek the guidance of thy soul! Seek the guidance of thy soul! The virtuous deed is one whereby thy soul feels restful and thy heart contented, and the sinful act is one which rankles in thy soul and which contracts thy heart even though the other people endorse it as lawful.”
(Masnad Ahmad, narrated by Hadhrat Wabnisa bin Ma’dadra )
“By God Who holds my life in His Hand, none of you can be a truly faithful Muslim, unless he liked for his brother what he liked for himself.”
(Sahih al-Bukhari, narrated by Hadhrat Anasra)
“Shall I apprise you of the three great sins? Hearken! The biggest sin is setting up equals to Allah and then disobedience to parents and neglect of duty to them.” Then leaving the cushion he was leaning against, and sitting up in a roused manner, he said with great force, “Hearken! And lying.”
And he repeated it so many times that we wished he had left it off at that and not strained himself so much. (Sahih al-Bukhari, narrated by Hadhrat Abu Bakr Siddiqra )
Summer 2011 47 Poetry Corner Ablaze For the May 28, 2010 Martyrs of Ahmadiyyat
by Rabia Munawar Mir
A Single Source of Burning Light Surrounded by the thundering sound Of a thousand angels in flight
Join this orbit oh martyred one Breathing in the Awe that emanates From that Light that is the True Sun
Therein a passage shall open to thee A glorious pathway of burning stars Unto that Intangible Entity
And when thy journey is complete A single question shall be asked Whereupon thy reply shall be:
I did not kill for my faith Although for my faith I died And thus:
Break free from the orbit that binds Break free from the chorus of flight Unto that Single Source of Burning Light
48 Muslim Sunrise in America News, Views & Reviews Roy Green: How is it being received? Roy Green: The issue then becomes Interview of Vice How is the initiative being received, when loyalty to the homeland. you talk to individual Americans? I under- Naseem Mahdi: Yes, because this stand that is being face to face contact, as President and is the issue which some Muslims have well on the streets on New York. What is misunderstood. Some Muslims say that it Missionary In- the reaction? is required only from us to be loyal to a Charge, Naseem Naseem Mahdi: The reaction has Muslim government. The Ahmadiyya been so heartwarming. We did not expect Muslim Community, we believe in the Mahdi by Roy Green that a big majority of the people will take it Messiah, Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of positively. We thought there will be argu- Qadian and he has taught us that wher- December 19, 2010 ments on the streets or at the doorsteps. ever you live, you should be loyal to that Wherever we have gone, all across the government and we are promoting this loy- Roy Green: Speak to us please country, people have said that this was long alty that the Canadian Muslims should be about the “Muslims for Peace” overdue. It is a good initiative. You are loyal to the Canadian government and the initiative that you put in place. doing a great job. Some people have taken United States Muslims should be loyal to more flyers so that they will distribute it the United States government. Naseem Mahdi: Roy, for the last one themselves among their friends, families Roy Green: Let me ask you this, how year, we have been trying everything and any- and neighbors. We are also bringing much resistance. Are you meeting any re- thing possible for us to convey this mes- people together for interfaith dialog. We sistance on that, you said that a minute sage to the American public that Islam is are inviting Christians, Jews, Hindus and ago that there are some Muslims who be- not the religion of other natives, Sikhs and all sorts of repre- lieve that the loyalty has to be only to the terrorism. Islam does sentative from all different religions and we Muslim government? You are saying that not promote killing are requesting them to come and speak we want you to be loyal to the secular gov- of innocent civilians about the beauties of their religion because ernment of United States and Canada. How in the name of reli- there are more commonalities in religion is that message being received within the gion. In reality Islam than differences. So, we are highlighting Muslim Community and you know the is a religion of peace. those commonalities and bringing people great concern is about the homegrown ter- So, we have started together on the same platform and this is rorism, perhaps extremists being able to this campaign when amazing that how people are accepting this effect and in fact if you will young Mus- Faisal Shehzad, a Pa- message and they say that let us work to- lims into becoming these homegrown ter- kistani wanted to gether and let us highlight the commonali- rorists. Naseem Mahdi detonate a bomb in ties of each religion. Times Square and Naseem Mahdi: Unfortunately, the Roy Green: Naseem, what about the we said that from Times Square we will start Muslim leadership is not on board with greater Muslim community in the United our campaign and this is going all across us. They do not promote loyalty in their States. You are one movement, the Ah- the country. About 1 million flyers have Mosques and in their sermons but the in- madiyya Muslim Community. Have vari- been distributed all dividuals, the great number of people, ous Muslim organizations signed on with across the country, those who, the vast majority of Muslims, you or are you doing it as a separate en- going door to door, you know, those who are moderates and tity? knocking on the they love peace and harmony and they are door and telling Naseem Mahdi: As organizations accepting this message and they say that people that this is they are not on board but individually, the this makes sense. How can we live in a what we believe and individual Muslims are coming to us and country where we enjoy the freedom of you should not be- say that they want to work with us, espe- religion, freedom of expression, freedom lieve that Islam is a cially the next generations, the young- of choice, where we can have the best religion of terrorism sters. They like this message and not just possible education for our kids, we enjoy and that Islam is a re- Roy Green message of peace but we are promoting a beautiful life here but we are not loyal to ligion of peace. message of loyalty to the homeland and a this government and our loyalties are Now, we have another big initiative that big initiative is starting from January 11 somewhere else. So, we are telling them this big electronic screen which is 520 sq from Washington, where we will have our that this is a life of hypocrisy and you ft. screen and will show this message, Mus- message on buses and metro and on one cannot do this. You are going to lose your lims for Peace, Love, Loyalty to the home- day when we will first have our press con- next generation if you will continue to do land and Muslims for Justice, etc. So, as I ference and I will address from the national that. This message is being accepted by said that we are trying to do everything press club, we will distribute by hand individual masses in much greater number and anything to make this known to every- about 100,000 flyers by 200+ volunteers but unfortunately the Muslim leadership body that Islam is a religion of peace. on that day. is not on board on this initiative. Summer 2011 49 News, Views & Reviews
Duluth News Tribune Bin Laden was a terrorist. On 5/14/11, Opinion Editorial, May 1, this terrorist was cap- tured and killed. But will the world be more In Wake Of Bin peaceful without Bin Laden? Laden: False Bin Laden’s death is cer- tainly an important milestone in Impressions an effort to defeat al-Qaeda. By Imran Hayee But the world peace can only be achieved with the elimina- After announcing Osama bin tion of bin Laden’s philosophy Laden had been killed, President of hatred and killing. Obama reminded us, “America is not The task ahead is not easy; at war against Islam. Bin Laden was the destination is far and the not a Muslim leader; he was a mass road is treacherous. But if there murderer of Muslims.” is a will, there is a way. John As a Muslim-American, I whole- Brennan, the president’s ad- heartedly appreciated Obama’s viser on homeland security and words. He made a clear and absolute counterterrorism, correctly distinction between terrorism and Is- pointed out, “This is a strate- lam. In fact, no religion teaches ter- gic blow to al-Qaeda. It is a nec- rorism, and terrorists don’t follow essary but not necessarily suf- any religion. Terrorists always have ficient blow to lead to its de- been deviants of one religion or an- mise, but we are determined to other, exploiting religion for their destroy it.” perverted worldview or simply for While our brave men and economic and political motives. women in uniform are continu- Osama bin Laden killed thousands ously engaged in military op- of innocent people throughout the erations, a huge responsibility world, including 3,000 Americans on falls on the shoulders of the rest of us. Sept. 11. Victims of bin Laden and al- Does Islam really Whether we belong to one culture or Qaeda do not belong to a certain coun- promote violence? another, whether we are believers of a try or a certain faith. According to a particular faith or of no faith, we all report by West Point’s Combating Ter- Bin Laden certainly attempted to need to engage in a peaceful dialogue rorism Center, the vast majority of al- demonstrate that, suggesting Islam is and stand united against the elements Qaeda’s victims between 2004 and 2008 the driving force behind his inhumane of hatred in our civilized society. Kill- were Muslims, and from 2006 to 2008, and barbaric mission. The truth is com- ing innocent people in the name of reli- 98 percent of those victims were from pletely opposite. The Quran says that gion is indeed reprehensible. Stereotyp- Muslim countries. killing one innocent human being is akin ing all people of faith as intolerant is Bin Laden sanctioned these cold- to killing the whole of mankind. Bin equally wrong. blooded murders in the name of reli- Laden indiscriminately killed scores of As a Muslim-American, belonging to gion, portraying himself as a Muslim innocent people throughout the world. the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, I leader. Obama, in contrast, reasoned The Quran forbids creating disorder on share an additional responsibility to re- that bin Laden could not be a Muslim Earth. Bin Laden created unparalleled store the peaceful image of Islam which leader precisely because he was a mass chaos in much of the world. Prophet bin Laden’s perverted ideology ma- murderer. Naturally, bin Laden’s actions Muhammad stated that patriotism is part ligned. Unless all Muslims follow the tarnished Islam’s image. A 2009 Pew of one’s faith. Bin Laden not only com- suit and demonstrate — through word survey revealed that most Americans mitted treason against his own country and deed — that Islam promotes peace, believe Muslims to be discriminated but also inspired many more individu- not violence, bin Laden’s legacy will against more than people of any other als to betray their countries. continue to be a threat. faith. But at the same time, they still Bin Laden neither followed Quran We could all use the Quran’s advice, believe Islam is very different than nor Prophet Muhammad in advancing “For you, your religion and for me my their own beliefs and promotes more his atrocious agenda of hatred and kill- religion,” to peacefully coexist in our violence than other faiths. ing. Bin Laden did not represent Islam. diverse and multicultural society.
50 Muslim Sunrise in America Western nations competed with one an- other for colonial conquests and quickly found themselves in the forefront of an intellectual battlefield with their newfound Muslim subjects. Christian missionaries added fuel to that fire with flagrant criticisms of Islam and religious debates were as enriching as they were enraging. A philosophical survival of the fittest ensued as Christians and Muslims interchangeably played the roles of predator and prey.
An Intellectual Invasion
It was in this turbulent time that one man raised his pen against the onslaught of allegations aimed at the Holy Prophet Muhammadsa and Islam. Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas of Qadian, India not only dis- armed the slanderers, but began a colo- nial invasion of his own, fighting igno- rance with intellect. Ahmadas inspired an army of Muslim missionaries to sow the seeds of the message of Islam to the spiritually famished across the globe. Dr. Mufti Muhammad Sadiqra was the first missionary to arrive upon the shores of the United States and he founded The Muslim Sunrise magazine as one of the weapons of this intellectual invasion. In the first issue, dated July 1921, Sadiqra included a message from the Sec- ond Khalifa, Hadhrat Mirza Bashir-ud- Din Mahmud Ahmadra, to the American Muslims: “Greetings! The Pioneers in the Colo- nization of American land are always looked back upon with great honor and Fruits of a Sown Seed respect. Their work was temporal but now, my dear Brothers and Sisters, Allah Rashid Ahmad American: the Almighty has made you the Pioneers in the spiritual Colonization of the West- Finding Inspiration From Islam’s ern world. If you will work with the same love, zeal, sincerity and loyalty as they did your honor and respect and name will Intellectual Invasion be still greater than theirs, as you will have moreover the Reward at the Last day By Naser-ud-Din Shams and Allah’s pleasure, the grandeur and th beauty of which no one can estimate here he 19 century introduced itself as a time of in this world.” tremendous change. Science stretched the borders of imagination and innovative technology brought The Muslim Sunrise planted intellectual seeds in fertile minds, which bore the world within reach. Global interaction embraced fruit in the form of devotion. Rashid Ahmad T quickly fell victim to its powerful arguments. a pace never before seen. He accepted Islam and was inspired to
Summer 2011 51 become the first American born student to Encounter with Islam freightliner ticket. However, the Khalifa attend the Jami’ah, the missionary school informed him that would take too long and in Rabwah, Pakistan. This is his story. After a series of frustrating experiences arranged for a Pan American flight going in search of God, Rashid followed the only from New York to London to Rome to Family Background thing he truly valued – money. Engulfed in Brussels to Damascus to Karachi. With an environment of hustlers, drugs, and crime, $50 in his pocket, Rashid was off to a land Rashid Ahmad, originally named Rudolph Rashid came across an unusual sight on the where he couldn’t speak the language Thomas, was born March 26, 1923 to Albert streets of Chicago. A man was crying out and didn’t know anyone. He completely Thomas and his wife, Octavia (maiden name that Jesus did not die on the cross. Rashid trusted Khalifat-ul-Masih and dropped Jackson). They lived in East St. Louis, Illi- was intrigued enough to ask where he could everything in obedience to his word. nois, where Albert was a chemical engineer in get more information. The man told Rashid to go to The Muslim Sunrise on 220 South Journey to Pakistan State Street or the mosque located at 4448 South Rashid’s journey to Pakistan in 1949 Wabash. was anything but smooth. Instead of the In 1946, Rashid de- flight landing in Damascus, Syria, it cided to visit the mosque landed in Basra, Iraq. Rashid, not think- located on Wabash Av- ing anything of it, left the airport only to enue in Chicago where he be confronted by officers who interro- met an Ahmadi mission- gated him on suspicion of being a spy ary named Ghulam Yasin. for the recently created state of Israel. Unlike the fancy attire of Moreover, the fact that Rashid did not organized criminals, have an Iraqi visa worsened the situa- Yasin’s clothes were tion. simple and aroused Needless to say, Rashid missed his Rashid’s suspicion that connecting flight to Karachi and the this was some kind of set grand reception which was awaiting him. up to channel drug The Karachi Ahmadi Jama’at was at the money. His suspicion airport en masse, eagerly expecting to grew as he mistook the welcome its American visitor. One can aroma of cooking curry as only imagine their anticlimactic surprise the preparation of narcot- of a no-show! ics. He also ran into some Meanwhile, back in Iraq, the wild Punjabis who inhaled imagination of the investigating officers their cigarettes in an un- was spurred on by the personal gifts usual fist formation with Rashid was transporting. These were the cigarette sticking out gifts from his newfound Ahmadi broth- the other end of the fist – ers to their relatives in Pakistan. The of- a method Rashid sur- ficers initially contested Rashid’s iden- mised was unique for tity as an American claiming that Ameri- smoking opium. Rashid cans don’t carry two overcoats (he was was determined to get to wearing one and the other was a gift). the bottom of this money- The officers alleged that the second making scam, so he kept Rashid was featured in the July 1960 Sepia magazine, a now overcoat was for when Rashid would set coming back at all the defunct African American national magazine, describing his up shop in the desert and needed some- times for prayers. conversion to Islam and his activities as a Muslim. thing to sleep on. They alleged that the Rashid eventually was transistor radio could be rigged as a wire- convinced of the truth of less unit to communicate to his contacts the manufacture of moth balls. Octavia was Ahmadiyyat and accepted it in the course of in Israel. In attempts to explain why a stay-at-home mother. Their other son, the year. He frequented The Muslim Sunrise Rashid only had $50 cash, the officers Alvin, was born two years prior to Rashid. office on a daily basis to respond to letters claimed his Parker pen was to sell in the Rashid recalls his search for God early in and mail out issues to interested Ameri- event he needed petty cash. life. Although his family was Christian, he cans. After a few days in detention, Rashid insists this was a culture they followed with- He had written to the Second Khalifa, was released. The Pan American Airlines out thought. Rashid found himself constantly Hadhrat Mirza Bashir-ud-Din Mahmud office manager, upon questioning Rashid, searching and asking questions about God, Ahmadra who told him to come and visit recalled a similar situation with a previ- but seldom did he find satisfaction. Pakistan. Rashid worked the next year ous Ahmadi traveler, Dr. Khalil Ahmad earning $550, enough to purchase a Nasir. The office manager then con-
52 Muslim Sunrise in America vinced the Iraqi colonel that Rashid was his immediate departure to Rabwah. The Khalifa took Rashid to all big affairs not a security threat. Thereafter, Rashid, Upon arrival at the Rabwah train sta- and dinners in his own car, the Khalifa unable to contact anyone in Pakistan, em- tion, Rashid was greeted by Khalifat-ul- sitting in between Rashid and the Khalifa’s barked upon a KLM flight to Karachi. Masih ath-Thaanee ra and the Ahmadi wife. After every event he would ask Community. When I asked Rashid how it Rashid two questions, “What did you eat, Upon reaching the Karachi Airport, felt to be in the presence of the Second and who did you talk to?” From this Rashid received limousine service to take Khalifa, he said, “How can I describe it? Rashid learned the importance of continu- him to the address he had written ously meeting people to con- down: “Latif Ahmad Tahir’s vey the Message of Ah- house, opposite the boy’s madiyyat. school.” However, the limousine drivers were confused, thinking Rashid described the mag- “opposite the boy’s school” was netic impact of the Second the street name, and couldn’t lo- Khalifa. In the Jalsa Salaana cate it. During the course of the (Annual Gathering) the Sec- ride, the two men asked Rashid ond Khalifa could speak for why he would come to Pakistan hours while audience mem- of all places. Rashid responded bers would hold still, fearing that he intended to go to school. they could miss some of the This perplexed the men. Why pearls of wisdom that flowed would a man leave the United from his mouth. His intellect States where the best schools are, was unusually keen and ob- to go to Pakistan – a newborn servant. At times of praise, country with a hardly developed his words gave life, but in infrastructure – to get an educa- times of anger, his words tion?! The men concluded Rashid would hit someone as if they was insane. They determined to were being flogged. Rashid quickly rid themselves of this repeatedly witnessed men in problem by throwing him to the both circumstances. Mirzais (a condescending manner of referring to Ahmadi Muslims). When Rashid saw the picture of Personal Gift the Promised Messiahas he breathed a sigh of relief and told The Second Khalifa nar- the men that this is exactly where rated an incident in which the he wanted to go and they could Second Khalifa to the Holy leave. It was two o’clock in the Prophetsa, Hadhrat Umar ibn morning. Khattabra, gave a ruler suffer- ing from migraines, his old Experiences with Khilafat cap as a remedy. Although the ruler was accustomed to wear- Rashid was greeted with tra- ing lavish garments, the cap ditional Muslim hospitality. Men was old and worn. However, polished his shoes, made him the ruler continued to wear breakfast, and arranged a meeting the cap because it remedied in which he addressed the Karachi his migraines, which would re- Community (Jama’at). turn when the cap was taken Rashid then took a train to photo by Hasan Hakeem off. Lahore, where he was received by hun- It’s like trying to explain the sweetness of dreds in the Lahore Ahmadi Community. sugar to someone who has never tasted it. After telling Rashid this story, the Sec- They arranged for him to speak and meet The man had an aura about him which ond Khalifa gave him his old kulla, the the press. However, he insisted on going made you want to be in his company. It cap around which the turban cloth is directly to Rabwah. In response to their didn’t matter what he was saying or doing wrapped. A piece of a shirt of the Promised surprise that Rashid desired to leave so – all of your cares and concerns left and Messiahas was sewn into it by the hands of suddenly, Hadhrat Mirza Bashir Ahmadra you simply felt the contentment of a child the Khalifa’s wife, Umme-Nasir, the mother said, “If the man is so determined to see in the arms of its mother.” of the Third Khalifa, Hadhrat Mirza Nasir his master, we should not hold him back. Rashid would accompany the Second Ahmadrh. Rashid attributes many of the per- So let him go.”1 They then arranged for Khalifa for the next five years of his life. sonal miracles in his life to this cap.
Summer 2011 53 Marriage sentatives defending the Ahmadi position. “Here is something for your Rashid witnessed Chief Justice Munir as 3 he pointed out the inability of Muslim schol- journey. I am old and weak. While in Pakistan, Rashid’s teacher, ars to agree on something as fundamental Maybe it is our last meeting. If Master Muhammad Ibraheem Khaleel, of- as the definition of Muslim. He, therefore, fered him his youngest daughter in marriage, so I entrust you to God. Remem- would not rule Ahmadis as non-Muslims Sairah Qudsia, who was 18 years old. because the non-Ahmadi Muslims couldn’t ber if I was ever angry with you Muhammad Khaleel was departing to Sierra agree on what a Muslim was. This case was it was for your sake and if I was Leone for missionary work and wished to heard in the English language. see all of his three daughters married before pleased with you it was for God’s he left. When Rashid informed the Second sake. Be steadfast and forever Khalifa that he planned on marrying this Assassination Attempt stick to the center in all condi- woman, he was questioned how he could know her character when the observance of tions. May God help you to die purdah (veil) was so strong in Rabwah. The On March 10, 1954 when the adhaan had as a Muslim. Be compassionate just been called, Rashid arose to go to the Second Khalifa then arranged for his wife to your wife and children. God to look into the marriage proposal, and they mosque. There was a place in Masjid were satisfied with Sairah’s background. Mubaarik he regularly occupied behind the be with you. Khalifa and all understood that Rashid However, Rashid had a dream which would pray there. However, Rashid’s wife Yours fraternally, troubled him about this proposal. He had went into labor and requested Rashid to find Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmad seen three bottles of milk and the one with the midwife. On his way to find the midwife, the oldest date was being presented to him, Rabwah 12-12-54” Rashid had discovered that the Second while the other two were more fresh. Rashid Khalifa had been stabbed in the neck while interpreted that he was getting the least de- Return to the U.S. in prayer. Rashid rushed to the mosque. sirable of the three daughters as fresh milk There he saw a group of Ahmadis pouncing is better than old milk. He brought this to Rashid returned as a missionary to the upon the would-be assailant and the Khalifa the attention of the Second Khalifa. United States with his wife and three children. holding the back of his neck with blood drip- Since that time he has continued conveying The Second Khalifa interpreted Rashid’s ping down his hand and arm saying, “Don’t the Message in both, word and deed. dream much differently. He stated that if kill the fool.”2 milk represents Islam, then the oldest Islam, Now, at the age of 88, Rashid lives with his In accordance with the instructions of that of the Holy Prophetsa, is the best. There- second wife, Aziza, and both are active mem- the Second Khalifa, the would-be assailant fore, Rashid was getting the best of the bers of the Milwaukee, Wisconsin Jama’at. was not harmed, but was handed over to three. The Second Khalifa proceeded to He continues to narrate his experiences with the authorities. As it turned out, the would- arrange Rashid’s marriage with Sairah Khilafat with surprising recollection of detail be assailant sat in the very space which Qudsia, and paid for all accommodations, – far more than this article could bear – and is Rashid always occupied in the mosque. including the bride’s dress and ring. Sairah in the process of documenting his memoirs. However, as Rashid’s wife was in labor that gave birth to three children: Mureed Ahmad As I continued to listen to Rashid’s de- day, he was unable to attend the prayer. (1952), Nasirah Ahmad (1953), and Mahmud tailed accounts of the Second Khalifa, I be- Ahmad (1954). As it turned out, Sairah When I asked Rashid about the midwife, gan to understand the depth of love for his Qudsia outlived both of her sisters, and was he gave me this pensive look and said, “You mentor. Forty-six years after the death of ra most active in the Jama’at serving as a know, I don’t know how the midwife got Khalifat-ul Masih ath-Thaanee , Rashid talks teacher in Nusrat Girls Academy and in the there because I had become so concerned of him as if he is still alive…but, then again, Lajna (women’s auxiliary). about the Khalifa that I forgot to get her; I’ve come to expect that from the fruits of such but when I returned home my wife had al- a firmly sown seed – The Muslim Sunrise. ready delivered my son.” Rashid’s son was And in the end, all praise belongs to Allah. 1953 Disturbances born on the day the Second Khalifa was (Endnotes) stabbed, and was named Mahmud Ahmad. 1 Spoken in English In 1953 there were disturbances through- 2 Spoken in Urdu. out the Punjab against Ahmadi Muslims. Last Letter before Return 3 Author’s note: Money was presented as a gift to There were hearings by the Pakistani gov- Rashid for his journey. ernment to investigate the situation. Rashid Naser Shams is the General Secretary of the Zion, was privileged to receive a court floor pass Before returning to the U.S., the Second IL Chapter of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Accountancy from by the court secretary and sat along with Khalifa gave an English hand-written letter the University of Illinois and is currently pursuing the Second Khalifa and the Jama’at repre- addressing Rashid as follows: his MBA.
54 Muslim Sunrise in America Religion & Science Allah Protector of life on earth By Zia H Shah MD and prepared for them the Sardar Anees Ahmad A Protective Roof punishment of the blazing Fire” (67:6) he Qur’an The Qur’an (55:8-10) argues that balance “And we sought to reach is universally observable in nature, therefore (86:5) states mankind must always behave in accordance heaven, but we found it filled with this principle. In Arabic, the word with strong guards and that angels, Meezan is employed to indicate that one en- under God’s tity is balancing another; in (55:8-10), the heav- shooting stars” (72:9) ens are given the title of meezan. However, in command, relation to the earth, the Qur’an employs an- We find that Earth’s atmospheric regions other word from the same root, Mauzun, which ensure that every natural law do, in fact, operate in accordance with the T means something which is made perfectly principle of meezan (balancing), thereby pro- balanced. “And the earth have We spread out, tecting life on earth. operates as designed. Again, the and set therein firm mountains and caused Qur’an (13:12) states that angels everything to grow therein in proper propor- tion” (15:20). So the Qur’an distinguishes Magnetosphere surround humans, serving as between the heavens which carry out balanc- ing and the Earth’s ground which is affected A significant surface magnetic field sur- guardians. Together, the verses thereby.1 rounds Earth and protects it from radiation. The magnetosphere is formed when the indicate that angels uphold The Qur’an indicates that both, the plan- Earth’s field interacts with radiation, particu- various laws to protect people’s ets in the solar system and the area nearest larly solar wind, and deflects it around the Earth, play a role in the operation of this “pro- Earth. One may question the wisdom of hav- lives. Life, therefore, is the tective roof” which is in complete balance: ing a Sun which emits such deadly rays. In reality, the Sun’s near-ultraviolet radiation exception and death is the norm. helps produce the earth’s beneficial ozone “And We adorned the lowest layer, which we address below. Moreover, soft Alluding to the precarious balance be- heaven with lamps (for light) X-rays produce layers of the ionosphere that allow for short-wave radio communication. tween life and death, the Qur’an (21:33; 41:13) and for protection” (41:13) declares that the heavens and the upper lev- Additionally, secondary cosmic rays do reach els of Earth protect the Earth from life threat- the earth and are instrumental in photosyn- thesis – a process fundamental to vegeta- ening entities. Referencing the idea of bal- “We have adorned the lowest ance, the Qur’an declares, “And We have tive life. made the heaven a roof, well protected; yet heaven with lamps, and We Ozonosphere they turn away from its Signs” (21:33). Here, have made them for driving Saqfam-mahfooza (i.e., roof, well protected) is of prime importance. away satans, and We have The ozonosphere is located in the upper
Summer 2011 55 atmosphere and has significant concentra- tions of ozone (O3). In the ozonosphere, shortwave ultraviolet radiation converts normal oxygen (O2) into ozone. Creation of ozone, in turn, prevents harmful radiation from reaching the earth. Moreover, without the ozonosphere, the earth’s temperature would be unsuitable for life. While blocking out harmful radiation, the ozonosphere per- mits broader radiation wavelengths. These wavelengths are actually beneficial for life, such as being largely responsible for vita- min D metabolism.
Mesosphere & Troposphere
The mesosphere serves as a protective measure against heavenly bodies. Perhaps a billion meteoroids daily enter the atmo- sphere. The troposphere is Earth’s lowest atmospheric region and serves as a “protec- tive cushion,”2 warding off constant bom- bardment of heavenly bodies. Recall in (67:6), the Qur’an noted that the lowest heaven is a means of “driving away satans … (subject to) the blazing Fire.” The word employed here is shaiyateen which connotes anything that is harmful, and also that which burns. Thus, shaiyateen accurately depicts the warding off of comets and meteors which enter the earth’s atmosphere but, due to fric- tion, are burned to nothingness. Also, if the troposphere’s density were to be tampered with, sunlight and other beneficial rays the ozonosphere allowed through would never reach the earth. massive than all the other planets in our So- revealed that had a comet of that size struck lar System combined. Saturn has an elabo- Earth, the results would have been cata- Jupiter and Saturn – Guardians rate network of moons and rings. These strophic. qualities of these two planets play an instru- Conclusion As with the earth itself, the Qur’an also mental role in protecting the Earth, thereby Consider that not only has the Qur’an ad- points to the protective role planets play in personifying the Quranic declaration that the equately identified various protective mechanisms relation to Earth: “And we sought to reach heavens are a protective roof.3 which allow for life on Earth, but that this heaven, but we found it filled with strong Scientists believe that during the Late message’s recipient was an unlettered man from guards and shooting stars” (72:9). Heavy Bombardment period, approximately an unlettered society in 7th century Arabia. Skep- Before understanding the protective role 4 billion years ago, many impact craters tics reject the claim that Prophet Muhammadsa, Jupiter and Saturn play, we must understand formed on the Moon, Earth, Mercury, Venus, was the recipient of divine revelation and instead the threat asteroids and comets pose. Aster- and Mars. Scientists posit that Jupiter and claim that Prophet Muhammadsa himself penned oids are mostly composed of rocky and me- Saturn’s eventual migration farther from the the Qur’an. If so, how did an unlettered and un- tallic minerals and range in size from micro- Sun counterbalanced the Sun’s gravity. In privileged man know of these facts which remained scopic to hundreds of kilometers wide. Com- turn, scores of asteroids and meteors were unknown to mankind centuries after his ets are a frozen mixture of rock, ice and gas diverted away from the Earth. passing? that range from 100m to 40km across. At any A recent example further illustrates the given time, thousands of these bodies are point. Due to its mass, Jupiter attracts thou- (Footnotes) flying in every direction in our solar system sands more meteor hits as compared to Earth, 1 Ahmad, Mirza Tahir Absolute Justice, Kindness and – and a great deal gravitate towards the Sun, thereby making Earth biophilic. As an ex- Kinship p. 45 2 because of its gravitational pull. ample, in 1994 a comet dubbed Shoemaker- Grolier Encyclopaedia, Vol. 6 Along the path to Earth, however, stand Levy 9, struck Jupiter – creating explosions (Endnotes) Jupiter and Saturn. Jupiter is 2.5 times more observable from Earth. Simulated studies 3 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjL5d4jerTw
56 Muslim Sunrise in America Sir Zafarullah Khan “Religion is a vital factor in the field of human relations and there is good ground for hope that, rightly approached, it might progressively become more effective in promoting unity and accord rather than continue to be a source of friction and conflict.”
By Maria Andleeb Ahmed
hese insightful words by Sir Chaudhry Muhammad Zafarullah Khanra Tresonate in today’s world, even though they were written decades ago. We would be amiss to commemorate the 90th anniversary of The Muslim Sunrise without acknowledging and admiring the life and words of Sir Zafarullah. Sir Zafarullah did his bai’at (allegiance pledge) at the hand of Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas, the founder of the Ahmadiyya Move- women in Islam to several topics on the and the Viceroy wanted to appoint him as a ment on September 16, 1907, at the mere age founder of Islam, the Holy Prophet member of the Viceroy’s Executive Council, of 14. Knighted in 1935, he was appointed by Muhammadsa. As a devout Ahmadi Muslim, he informed them that he belonged to the Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Qaid-e-Azam, as his arduous work for Ahmadiyyat and its Ahmadiyya Muslim Community and that other Pakistan’s first foreign minister. In fact, at the khulafaa was equal to his role of fighting for Muslims had fundamental ideological differ- request of Qaid-e-Azam, he represented the a Muslim state. His speeches have stood the ences with him. They chose him despite know- Muslim League in 1947 and represented Paki- test of time and his writings are just as rel- ing these differences. This illustrates the high stan in the United Nations’ General Assembly evant today. regard others had for his character as a Mus- as the head of the Pakistan delegation and lim.2 advocated the stand of the Muslim world on Khan was a devout member of the Ah- the Palestinian issue. He wrote several books madiyya Muslim Community. He never con- Seventy years ago, Sir Zafarullah probably with topics ranging from the death of Jesusas cealed nor feared his association with the didn’t know that he would be writing about to Islam’s solutions to world problems, from Community. When India’s Secretary of State events that are so pertinent today. All of his
Summer 2011 57 Sir Chaudhry Muhammad Zafarullah Khanra at the White House for a meeting with the late President John F. Kennedy. He was and remained a devout member of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. He never wavered in his attachment to the Community, and never concealed his affiliation with the Ahmadiyya cause. messages revolved around one central and their skill that they have no time to pay overjoyed over it. An Arab spokesman sang theme—without God, there will always be any heed to the Almighty. It is as if they have his praises after this speech saying, “It was the chaos. Therefore, he must have known that dethroned the All-Powerful and the All-Mer- most brilliant and exhaustive survey of the Arab his words contained everlasting truths. His ciful God and put their fellow men in His case regarding Palestine that I ever heard.”4 article “How can Mankind be Saved from De- place.”3 From 1948 to 1954, he waged a relentless war in struction” literally reflects today’s interna- Although war has always taken place in the Security Council for the Arab cause. He tional events. this world, the prevalence of nations fighting fought vigorously for the independence of He wrote, “Just think, for a moment, of the today is unquestionable. It’s awe-inspiring to Libya, Somalia, Tunis, Eritrea, Morocco, and causes that have led to the state in which see how Sir Zafarullah’s message is just as ap- Indonesia. He won universal accolades and mankind finds itself today. Nations which re- plicable today, for he spoke about the true Is- respect for his words and his vigor. The fol- gard themselves as standard-bearers of cul- lam and its true message. lowing was written in The Statesman, Delhi, ture and civilization are fighting each other Sir Zafarullah’s efforts in institutionalizing dated October 8, 1947: like waves of the sea in a storm. A trumpet has Pakistan as a Muslim state cannot be chal- “For the first time the voice of Pakistan was been blown and millions of men have come lenged; however, his efforts for many Arab na- heard in the counsels of the United Nations on out to destroy each other and to let loose a tions is just as imminent. He became a great a burning topic of world-wide significance hell, the very idea of which is terrifying. Why fighter of the Arab cause. This love for the when leader of this country’s delegation, has all this happened? Because men have Arabs was generated in him by his love for the Chaudhry Zafarullah Khan, addressed the turned their thoughts away from their Creator Holy Prophet of Islam. In October 1947, he United Nations…Chaudhry Zafarullah did not and have become so engrossed in worldly at- spoke on the issue of the partition of Palestine. merely indulge in rhetoric…he proceeded to tractions and so proud of their achievements It was a stunning speech and the Arabs were prove this by unassailable arguments…We
58 Muslim Sunrise in America have little doubt that the Arabs will rejoice said about him: “If he walked in the sun- to find the voice of Pakistan so powerfully shine of fortune and fame all his life, he raised in the United Nations in defence of walked demurely, modestly, humbly. The their cause. The addition of the indepen- sweet smell of triumph did not ruffle his calm. dent sovereign state of Pakistan to the co- The foam and froth and the bubble of worldly mity of free Muslim peoples of the World is success neither seduced his self respect, nor already beginning to have its effect on in- corrupted his simplicity, nor poisoned his hu- ternational affairs.” manity.” Sir Zafarullah never tired in his fight for Sir Zafarullah used his own words to Islam and peace. He continually spoke and move other Muslims to fight for the cause of wrote to his fellow Ahmadi Muslims, includ- Islam. His eloquent thoughts and views shall ing numerous articles for The Muslim Sun- always remain in the hearts of all Muslims rise. He stressed the importance of educa- and hopefully will inspire generations to tion for all Muslims, not just for the sake of come. Islam as a religion, but for pure spirituality, “A Moslem must never lose courage or science and a fulfilling life: “Much as knowl- give way to despair. He should ever stand edge enhances virtue, virtue in turn is the firm like a rock in the midst of trials and mis- very prerequisite of wisdom.”5 fortunes; the winds of calamity should not By following the words of the Holy be able to shake him and the waves of disas- Qur’an, he stated that following the beauty ter should beat against him in vain. He should and true meaning of Islam can bring forth battle with failures and defeat until he wins not just knowledge, but actual intellect: “It his way to success or dies in the effort.”10 is characteristic of the Quran that it not If all Muslims and Ahmadis could try to merely teaches and guides, but also in- emulate even a small percentage of Sir Khan structs the understanding and satisfies and Sahib’s life devotion, then we could truly be- stimulates the intellect.”6 lieve that peace and, ultimately Islam, can He continually expressed the need for man and man.”8 This is what drove him in his bring us all closer to our Creator and even- Muslims and Non-Muslims alike to under- desire to educate, fight and produce peace on tual Paradise. stand the true meaning of Islam and the Holy earth. (Endnotes) Qur’an. Only then would peace come about Sir Zafarullah can never be forgotten for his 1 Khan, Zafarullah, The Muslim Sunrise, “Islam and in the world. In his time on earth, he vigor- dedicated service to Pakistan, Islam, Ah- Peace,” Vol. LII, Issue 2, 4th Qtr. 1985, page 3. ously fought for this understanding and it madiyyat, Arab unity, or simply humanity. He 2 Embrec, Aislie T. and Wilcox, Wayne, The Reminisces of Sir Muhammad Zafarulla Khan, reflects even more strongly in today’s world. fought for what he believed to be right, which Maple, Ontario, 2004, page xiv. He wrote, “The truth of the matter, however, were the basic principles taught by Hazrat 3 Khan, Zafarullah, The Muslim Sunrise, “How Can is that neither the enemies nor these so- Muhammadsa and the religion of Islam through Mankind Be Saved From Destruction,” Vol. XII, called advocates of Islam have really un- the Holy Qur’an. His speeches have contested Issue 4, 4th Qtr. 1940, page 8. derstood, or made any serious attempt at centuries of beliefs and facilitated many (this is 4 The Statesman, Dehli, October 11, 1947. 5 Khan, Zafarullah, The Muslim Sunrise , “Islamic understanding the spiritual meaning which awkward), his writings stand the test of time Values in Education,” Vol. LII, Issue 2, 4th Qtr. is hidden in every ordinance or practice and educate all, and his life is an inspirational 1985, pgs. 6-7. enjoined by Islam.”7 message of what one person can do. With all of 6 Khan, Zafarullah, The Muslim Sunrise , Sir Zafarullah truly understood and be- his many accomplishments and successes, he “Fundamentals of an Islamic State,” 4th Qtr. 1949, page 14. lieved in the Holy Prophet of Islam and the always remained truly humble and modest, 7 Shout Khan, Zafarullah, The Muslim Sunrise , “The religion of Islam. That is why his words still which is emphasized in Islam. After receiving Spiritual Aspect of Islam,” Vol. X, Issue 2, May have pure meaning in today’s world and can accolades from an admirer of his life’s work, he 1938, page 12. be used by all advocates of Islam. He responded by saying, “If I could believe myself 8Khan, Zafarullah, The Muslim Sunrise, Fundamentals of an Islamic State,” 4th Qtr. 1949, correlated religion and politics, which have truly deserving of one hundredth portion of the page 15. always been debated amongst nations. encomia that the generosityIt of yourOut heart has 9 As’ad, M.J., alislam.org, Chaudhry Muhammad “The conception that religion and politics persuaded you to heap upon me, I would deem Zafarullah Khan’s Services to Pakistan and the occupy distinct spheres which should not myself most fortunate. Yet I must humbly ac- Muslim World,” page 1. 10 Khan, Zafarullah, The Muslim Sunrise, “How Can be permitted to overlap is born of failure to knowledge with deep gratitude the countless Mankind Be Saved From destruction,” Vol. XII, grasp the full significance of religion. Its bounties that Allah, the Lord of immense grace, Issue 4, 4th Qtr. 1940, page 8. (Religion’s) function is to establish and main- had bestowed upon me throughout a long life tain the most harmonious relationship be- unworthy as I know myself to be…Allah has of Maria Andleeb Ahmed holds a Master’s tween man and his Maker on the one hand His abundant grace and mercy, covered up the Degree in English Lit. from Northwestern and between man and man in all aspects of multitude of my defaults and shortcomings.”9 University and is a member of the Chicago their relationship on the other. Politics is Most people who had the blessing of know- West chapter of the Ahmadiyya Muslim only one aspect of the relationship between ing him saw his true character. An admirer once Community.
Summer 2011 59 The National Management Committee, Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, USA
Dr. Ahsanullah Zafar Amir Hasan Hakeem Secretary Publications Naseem Mahdi Missionary Incharge /Naib Amir Dr. Farooq A. Padder Secretary Rishta Nata Azhar Haneef Missionary/Naib Amir Amjad M Khan Secretary Public Relations Daud Ahmad Hanif Missionary/Naib Amir Shahid S. Malik Secretary Social Services Dr. Nasim Rahmatullah Naib Amir/ Secretary Audio Video Amjad M. Chaudhry Secretary Ziafat Dr. hamid-ur –Rahman Naib Amir/Trustee Mirza N. Ehsan Ahmad Financial Secretary Munum Naeem Naib Amir Dhul Waqar Yaqub Add’l Financial Secretary Wasim Ahmad Malik Naib amir Dr. Khaled Ahamd Ata Secretary Wassaya Zaheer A. Bajwa Missionary/Naib Amir Dr. Zaheeruddin Ahmad Secretary Talim-ul-Qur’an Inamul Haq Kauser Missionary Anwer mahmood Khan Secretary Tehrik-e-Jadid Zafar Ahmad Sarwar Missionary Waseem A. Syed Secretary Waqf-e-Jadid Syed Shamshad A. Nasir Missionary Abu Bakr Add’l Secretary Waqf-e-Jadid Mubashar Ahmad Missionary Mir Daud Ahmad Secfretary Property Irshad A. Malhi Missionary Hafiz Samiullah Chaudhary Secretary Waqf-e-Nau M. Zafrullah Hanjra Missionary Chaudhry Mujeebullah Secretary Agriculture Yahya A. Luqman Missionary Khurram Fuad Ahmad Secretary Sana’t-o-Tajarat Muhammad Saeed Missionary Khurram Bashir Muhasib (Accountant) Mukhtar A. Malhi Missionary Bashir Malik Amin (Treasurer) Masoud A. Malik General Secretary Falahud Din Shams Auditor (Internal) Ali Murtaza Secretary Tabligh Dr. Wajeeh Bajwa Sadr Ansarullah Nasir Malik Secretary Tarbiyyat Rizwan Alladin Sadr Khuddam-ul-Ahmadiyya Dr. Faheem Y. Qureshi Secretary Taleem
60 Muslim Sunrise in America Perspective
Following the Faith
of Our Forefathers
○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ike most people in faiths in the world are inferior. They able to God, and how it was so hard for the world, I inherited expose us to books, magazines and other him to conceive how the rest of mankind my faith from my literature reinforcing their beliefs. So a could be saved. I thought to myself that parents. We are taught great majority of us cling on to our faith in a Christian family’s home, someone from childhood that more to honor our parents than out of was likely making the same assertion Lthe faith of our parents is the best. Our conviction of its truthfulness. about Christianity, and that Jesus was the parents are our teachers, guides and the The other night I was at a dinner party only savior. Our forefathers do an excel- best at inculcating the idea in our minds with my friends, and a person was say- lent job of passing on their faith to us. that their faith is exceptional and all other ing how Islam is the only faith accept- Then there are some people of the
Summer 2011 61 opinion that all faiths are good. They mail, with the instruction to fill out an all came from the same God and all I have no doubt that enclosed questionnaire upon complet- have decent and solid principles of ing its reading. I would not be able to morality. It is best to respect each faith each religion has answer all of the questions unless I first and not to criticize them or discuss the good principles to read the entire Gospel. After I sent in differences among faiths. Life is sim- my questionnaire, they sent me the pler if we all just keep the faith passed offer, but we ought Gospel of Mark, Luke, John and so down to us from our forefathers. to look for the best. on. I never told my father about it. I I never know what is in the minds would ask him questions on issues that of such people. Maybe they don’t We should not be the popped into my mind while I was read- want to have a discussion because they frog of the well, who ing the Gospels. I discovered on my feel insecure about their faith. Maybe own that my faith was indeed better and they are afraid to discuss something thinks that the that I had not accepted it just because new that may challenge them to accept horizons of the earth my father and his father passed it down some new principle of faith, thus going to me. against the tradition of their forefathers. end at the walls of I have no doubt that each religion Maybe they really do want to just dis- the well. He has no has good principles to offer, but we cuss the weather. ought to look for the best. We should clue that there are When we observe human nature, not be the frog of the well, who thinks though, it is clear that people are in- oceans out there. that the horizons of the earth end at the vested with an inherent drive to make walls of the well. He has no clue that progress. Mankind is bent on making there are oceans out there. and promoting discoveries. We want ance – to the detriment of progress – The search for a better faith would to invent new toys, better machines, in a different few places. It says that no doubt widen our horizons. At the better communication systems and every time God sends a new message, least it would continue the debates, the show them off to the world. Sure, part the response of the people is always, arguments and discussions among us of it is to generate wealth, but it is pri- “Nay, we will follow that wherein we about whose faith is more acceptable marily to prove that we, as humans, are found our fathers” (2:171). God re- to God. Indeed the Holy Qur’an has capable of making new discoveries. sponds with the question, “What! Even encouraged such debate by posing a Our approach to faith should be the if their fathers had no sense at all and challenge to all human beings, saying, same. The faith we inherited is good, no guidance?” “Bring us your proofs.” and its framework sufficient to manage My father was a writer, speaker and Bring us your arguments if you think our lives, but we must look for some- missionary of Islamic faith. I had ac- you have the truth. We could pass on thing better. In that process and quest cess to books, magazines and news- a better faith to our children than the for a better faith, we may discover that papers that professed that Islam was one received from our forefathers. We the one we already have is the best better in many ways than Christianity. have passed on a better world from the there is. On the other hand, if we find I asked myself the Holy Qur’an’s ques- standpoint of scientific discovery. We that there is another faith that has bet- tion I mentioned above at age of 17. I could do the same in the spiritual arena ter values and principles, and that it signed up for a “correspondence as well. Or we could keep on follow- could better our lives, then we must course” to learn about Christianity. ing the faith of our forefathers, “even if adopt it. Someone could manage their (This was before computers and the they were ignorant.” affairs using a telex machine, but life internet were invented. We didn’t even If nothing else, we wouldn’t have to would be easier and more productive have a VCR at the time. For the i-Pod discuss the weather at dinner parties. using email. generation, who don’t know what a The Holy Qur’an has pointed out VCR is, I’ve made my point.) I re- the tendency to rely blindly on inherit- ceived the Gospel of Matthew in the Falahud Din Shams
62 Muslim Sunrise in America The Holy Qur’an Exhibition Coming to a State Capitol Near You. Alislam.org For information regarding Islam or the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, USA If you have any questions, dial: 1.800.Why.Islam Summer 2011 63 Love For All. Hatred For None. Four quarterly issues of the Muslim Sunrise for just $15 subscribe now muslimsunrise.com For information on Islam: www.alislam.org
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