Contents November 2002, Vol.97, No.11 Centenary Message from Hadhrat Ameerul Momineen . 2 Editorial – Mansoor Shah . 3 Review of Religions: A 100 Year History of the Magazine . 7 A yearning to propogate the truth on an interntional scale. 7 Revelation concerning a great revolution in western countries . 8 A magazine for Europe and America . 9 The decision to publish the Review of Religions . 11 Ciculation of the magazine . 14 A unique sign of the holy spirit and spiritual guidance of the Messiah of the age. 14 Promised Messiah’s(as) moving message to the faithful members of the Community . 15 The First Golden Phase: January 1902-May 1908. 19 The Second Phase; May 1908-March 1914 . 28 Third Phase: March 1914-1947 . 32 The Fourth Phase: December 1951-November 1965. 46 The Fifth Phase: November 1965- June 1982 . 48 The Sixth Phase: June 1982-2002 . 48 Management and Board of Editors. 52 The Revolutionary articles by Hadhrat Mirza Tahir Ahmad. 56 Bright Future. 58 Unity v. Trinity – part II - The Divinity of Jesus (as) considered with reference to the extent of his mission - Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) . 60 Chief Editor and Manager Chairman of the Management Board Mansoor Ahmed Shah Naseer Ahmad Qamar Basit Ahmad. Bockarie Tommy Kallon Special contributors: All correspondence should Daud Mahmood Khan Amatul-Hadi Ahmad be forwarded directly to: Farina Qureshi Fareed Ahmad The Editor Fazal Ahmad Proof-reader: Review of Religions Shaukia Mir Fauzia Bajwa The London Mosque Mansoor Saqi Design and layout: 16 Gressenhall Road Mahmood Hanif Tanveer Khokhar London, SW18 5QL Mansoora Hyder-Muneeb United Kingdom Navida Shahid Publisher: Al Shirkatul Islamiyyah © Islamic Publications, 2002 Sarah Waseem ISSN No: 0034-6721 Saleem Ahmad Malik Distribution: Tanveer Khokhar Muhammad Hanif Views expressed in this publication are not necessarily the opinions of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. 1 Review of Religions Centenary Message from Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih IV Dear Readers, Assalamu alaikum warahmatullah wabarakatuhu On its first centenary, I am pleased to extend to the readers of the Review of Religions my best wishes. Allah bless you all. Amin. The Review of Religions has been a source of spiritual knowledge for people from all walks of life. I pray that Allah enables the readers of this magazine to understand the true message of Islam as conveyed by the Holy Founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community, Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian. Amin. Mirza Tahir Ahmad Head of the Worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim Community 2 Review of Religions – November 2002 However, we are not in the business of pleasing all our Editorial readers all the time. Our policy has always been to deal The first centenary of the with the truth and defend Review of Religions fell in Islam. What is truth to us may January 2002 but we thought not appear to be the truth to that our readers would not another reader. We can there- mind a touch of nostalgia fore only thank our loyal before the year draws to a readers for tolerating differ- close as we recall the history ences and having stuck with us of this magazine (the principal though thick and thin. article in this issue). It is said that everything As any sportsman would know begins to obsolesce the a hundred is a big score: the moment it is put into use. As ball appears bigger, the bat a we enter the next century, we bit wider; likewise, a hundred pause for a moment and runs, wickets, hits, catches or reflect if we changed. There a hundred goals are big were some minor changes: numbers to have under one’s address, price, frequency, belt. A hundred years mile- c o v e r, colour, size, paper stone for a religious magazine quality and font (does not is by any standards no ordinary really leave anything out) but achievement. We have had our you had to be a sharp reader ups and downs. Some articles to spot the subtle differences. have annoyed; some have As for the impact this been considered abrasive; magazine has had, the history and, a few may even have on the accompanying pages appeared pointless, or late or cannot tell a lie. Many recycled. We have no accepted Islam through the hesitation in apologising for Review of Religions. The any inconvenience this caused articles featured in this maga- to our readers. zine shook the faith of many Review of Religions – November 2002 3 Editorial others. The doors to the published in London. It was Ahmadiyya Muslim Community also published for a while in opened in Mauritius and the India and the USA. USA through the Review of R e l i g i o n s; we are therefore What happened to mankind in proud of our history. The these hundred years? We credit for all this undoubtedly regret that in some areas man goes to the Founder of the has gone from bad to worse Ahmadiyya Muslim community but fortunately not all is doom and his foresight in starting and gloom. We live in a this magazine. We stuck technocratic age. The world resolutely to his objectives: all has shrunk. It is true that that can be said is that this today no man is an island. magazine served the purpose What happens in one part of for which it was created. the world gets communicated There is of course no room for immediately to another part. complacency and bask in past There seems to be more time laurels. Substantial room for to communicate with others. improvement exists in all The concept of a global village areas. This is where the reader has become a reality. Never participates: tell us, please. has there been a better The editorial board will ensure opportunity to unite mankind that the improvements are on one platform. achieved in as quick a time frame as possible.In addition There are barriers to this to a Review of Religions unity. We have learnt little published independently in from our political follies and French from Africa, and a our wars. The political map is similar project about to changing at a dynamic pace. commence in India, this As man wants to become magazine is also printed and richer without working for it, circulated in Ghana and we have to deal with many Nigeria with original English ‘–isms’ which tell us how to versions edited, composed and get wherever from where we 4 Review of Religions – November 2002 Editorial are now. Better commu- discerning. It gave ground to nication has made some aware the fanatics and extremists of the plight of the poor and and led to the most heinous they are readier now than ever crimes of terrorism and suicide before to participate in some bombers. While religion itself philanthropic work. However, cannot be accused for selfish pursuits for many promoting these acts of some others cause them to ignore followers, we have not yet those less fortunate than heard of those who stand on them. This is also reflected on the high moral ground applying a national level. Our relations their religious principles in with our neighbouring war. No Christian turns another countries are not based on cheek in war. An eye for an eye justice and fair play but and a tooth for a tooth has economic interest, rivalry and begun to mean two eyes and ‘grab what you can’ and two teeth for each Jewish eye ‘might is right’ philosophies. and tooth. Some so-called Although we created inter- believers of the religion that national agencies to ensure literally means peace (Islam) that peace would replace have become the instruments wars, we continue to ignore for propagating a crazy belief world opinion and violate in a holy war: they have human rights and the high caused great misunder- principles of justice. The standings about Islam. agents of hate breed in such an atmosphere of suspicion, The Church learnt to be misunderstandings and fears. slightly more diplomatic in its debate with other faiths The world of religion has been although now and then it has the innocent victim. As it is an been unable to hide what it ideal rather than a tangible has preached for centuries body, it was manipulated like from the pulpit. Hit and putty. It was used to exploit apologise later seems to be the sentiments of the less the order of the day. Falling Review of Religions – November 2002 5 Editorial attendance has also led to an be your faithful companion in interest in some faiths that this age of rediscovery. We never permitted conversion invite you to study carefully before. In some cases, this has the true message of Islam led to occults and their conveyed to us through the derivatives. There were some Holy Prophet of Islam(sa) and his ideologies that were bound to most loyal servant, Hadhrat perish. Fortunately, their exit Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of from the world stage has been Qadian, the Founder of this less dramatic. magazine. But not all is lost. A greater Wishing you happier reading awareness towards the phys- for the next hundred years! ical environment is also bound to spill over into mankind Mansoor Shah examining the moral environ- (Chief Editor and Manager) ment and questioning the directions towards which it is heading. We certainly do not wish to allude that there In this edition, for the would be no more wars. convenience of non-Muslim English readers, (sa) or sa after Nevertheless, we firmly the word the Holy Prophet or believe that the learning curve the name Muhammad, are has turned for the better and used.