The Light & Islamic Review
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
"Call to the path ofthy Lord with wisdom and goodly exhortation, and argue with people in the best possible manner." (The Holy Quran 16:125) The Light published since 1924. Exponent of Islam and the Lahore Ahmadiyya Movement. A journal devoted to showing that Islam is: PEACEFUL - TOLERANT - RATIONAL - INSPIRING Vol. 68 SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 1991 No. 3 CONTENTS ■ Our Teachings by Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad . 3 ■ Special tribute to Maulana Hafiz SherMohammad by Dr. Zahid Aziz . 4 ■ Introduction to Islam Basic questions answered in simple form 11 ■ Beliefs theof Lahore Ahmadiyya Movement Hazrat Mirza's claims accord with Islam 13 ■ News and Notes . 15 1) Jesus did not die on the cross - View of eminent British physician. 2) About Ourselves - Changes in TheLight . • Published from: 15 Stanley A venue, Wembley, Middlesex, HAO 4JQ. ENGLAND. 1315 Kings Gate Road, Columbus, Ohio 43221, U.S.A. www.alahmadiyya.org 2 THE LIGHT ■ SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 1991 The Light was founded as the organ of the Ahmadiyya Anjuman Isha'at Islam, Lahore, Pakistan (the Ahmadiyya Our Representatives. Association fQrthe propagation of Islam, established at Lahore Canada. in 1914). It is now the international periodical of the world Mr. Yaseen Sahu Khan wide branches of the Ahmadiyya Anjuman Isha'at Islam, 3181 East 15th Avenue, Lahore. Vancouver, BC. V5M 2Ll Beliefs and aims. Germany. Mr. Saeed Ahmad Choudhary, The main· object of the A.A.1.1.L. is to present the true, Die Moschee, original message of Islam to the whole world - Islam as it is Brienner Strasse 7/8 , found in the Holy Qur� and the life of the Holy Prophet D-1000 Berlin-31 Muhammad, which is obscured today by grave misconceptions Nederland. and wrong popular notions. Mr. A. S. Abdul Santoe, We believe that Islam seeks to attract the hearts and minds Zevengetijdeklaver-5 of people towards the truth, by means of reasoning, good 3069 DK Rotterdam moral example, and the natural beauty of its principles. Islam South Africa. does not aspire for political power, nor does it permit force to Mr. Osman Sydow, compel people to accept or practise the faith. P.O. Box 112, Goodwood 7460 Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, our Founder, arose to Cape Province proclaim to the world certain generally forgotten aspects of Islam. He stressed that Islam is: India. Mr. Abdul Razak, International: It recognizes prophets being raised among Fatmabai Court, 4th Floor, all nations and requires Muslims to believe in them. Truth Jacob Circle, and goodness can be found in all religions. God treats all 17 Maulana Azad Road, human beings equally justly, irrespective of race, nation Bombay 400011 ality or religion. Australia. Peaceful: Allows use of force only in unavoidable self Dr. A. H. Sahu Khan, defence. Teaches Muslims to live peacefully under any rule 9 YasmerAvenue, Haberfield, N.S.W. 2045 which accords them freedom of religion. Fiji. Tolerant: Gives full freedom to everyone to hold and Mr. Amin Sahu Khan, practise any creed or religion. Requires us to tolerate 12 Bau Street, differences of belief and opinion. Suva Rational: In all matters, it urges use of human reason and Trinidad. knowledge. Blind following is condemned and indepen Mrs. Zarina Muhammad, dence of thought is granted. 106-A Old SouthernMain Road, McBean, Couva Inspiring: Worship is not a ritual, but provides living contact with a Living God, Who answers prayers and Guyana. speaks to His righteous servants even today as in the past. Moulvi M. Rasheed, 111 Regent Road, Non-sectarian: Every person professing Islam by the words P. 0. Box 10692 La ilaha ill-Allah, Muhammad-ur rasul Allah (There is no Bourda, Georgetown god but Allah, andMuhammad is the Messenger of Allah) Suriname. is a Muslim. No inquisitions allowed into anyone's beliefs, Mr. M. Rashid Pierldian, nor can a self-professing Muslim be expelled from Islam Zwartenhovenburg Straat 154, by anyone. Paramaribo Indonesia. Imam Musa Projosiswoyo, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (d. 1908) was a servant of Islam, P.O. Box 2535, withthe mission of bringing about thespiritual and intellectual JKT., Jakarta 10001 triumph of Islam, and uniting mankind under the banner of the Holy Prophet Muhammad, the last and final Prophet. Hazrat Mirza was one of the God-sent Mujaddids (renovators) of the Muslims. He believed that, afterthe Holy Prophet Muhammad, no prophet can arise, whether a new one or one from the past. THE LIGHT ■ SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 1991 3 Our Teachings From the work Ki_mtI-i Niih (Noah'sArk) by Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad When adversities encompass you all about, your Relationship with God faith in Him should be the greater. To follow me it is necessary in the first place to believe in One God, the Creator and the Supp Treatment of fellow beings orter of all existence, powerful over all, eternal, Let all your power be exerted to establish His everlasting and unchanging in His attributes, unity upon earth. Be kind and merciful to the neither being a son nor having a son, and free creatures of God. Let not your tongue speak evil from suffering injuries, cross or death. Being far against them or your handsdo injury to them. Do off,He is yet very near, andbeing nearHe is still not oppress them, but try your best to do good to very far. He is One but His manifestations are them. Speak not the word of pride and vanity to many. For those who renew themselves, He is a anyonethough he be your subordinateor servant. new God, and His dealings with them are new. Abuse not anyone though he might abuse you. They witness a transformation in God to the Walk upon earth in humility and meekness and extent to which theytransform themselves. But it sympathise with yourfellow beings thatyou may is not God Who changes, for He is unchanging be accepted of God. There are many who show and perfect in His attributes from all eternity. It meekness outwardly but inwardly they are is a new manifestation of Divine which is dis ravening wolves. Thereare many who aresmooth closed to a man when he is transformed by a in appearance but they have the nature of a renewal of his mind. As a man rises higher, a serpent. You cannot be accepted of your God higher manifestation of Divine power is revealed until your tongue conforms to your heart. Ifyou to him. When he shows an extraordinary trans are in a high place, glory not in your greatness formation, Almighty God reveals to him extra and do not look down upon the lowly but have ordinary manifestationsof His power. This is the mercy on them. If you are learned, glory not in root from which signs and miracles spring. your learning and do not despise the ignorant Such is my Lord, in Him you must believe with vanity but give them a word of kind advice. and Him you must set before you. Let God be If you are rich, glory not in your wealth and uppermost in your mind; let Him be dearer to behave not proudly towards the poor, but serve you than your own selves, your comforts and all and assist them. Shun the paths that lead to your connections. Be constant and firm in His destruction. Fear God and be righteous. Worship pathso thatno storm might shake you. The world not the creatures, but severing all your earthly trusts in its resources and prefers not God to its ties become wholly devoted to God. Let not your own dear objects, but you should trust in God delight be in this world. Serve God only, and alone and prefer Him to all else, so that you may devote your life to His service. Hate every be numbered in heaven with His people. impurity and evil for God's sake, for your Lord Almighty God has been exhibiting His signs of is holy. Let every morning bear witness that you mercy from ancient times, but you cannot avail have passed thenight with righteousness, andlet yourselves of His tender mercies until you are every evening bear witnessthat you havepassed one with Him and fulfil all the laws of righteous the day fearing God. ness. His will must be your will and His desires True inner reform your desires. Be faithful to Him in adversity and lie at His door whether He hearkens to your Fear not thecurses of thisworld, forthey arelike voice or not, so that His will be done in allcases. the smoke which disappearsinstantly andcannot If you trustin Himthus, the Living God Who has tum the light of your day into the darkness of long hidden His face from the world will mani night; but fear the curse of God which comes fest Himself in you. Is there anyone among you down from heaven, and brings ruin, both in this who acts upon these ordinances, who can seek to life and the next, upon the heads of those upon do the will of God and submit to the decree of whom it descends. You cannot save yourselves Heaven without uttering a word of complaint? with hypocrisy, for your Lord sees the inmost secrets of the heart. Can you deceive Him? 4 THE LIGHT ■ SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 1991 Thereforestand uprightly beforeHim, purgeyour lives. He demands of you a death, after which He hearts of every impurity and cleanse them of shall breathe a new life into you. Be at peace every dross. If the· slightest darkness remains in with each other andforgive the trespasses of your you, it shall overcomeyour light and all shall be brethren, for wicked is the person who does not darkness.