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Mahdaviah Insight (A Publication of Islamic Center of Chicago )

January 2018 (Rabi us-Thani/Rajab, 1439 H) | Vol. 3, Number 7

Editorial: Understanding the Writing on the Wall In the name of , the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful. No community would survive if it does not prepare itself for the present and upcoming challenges that the world brings in. Inside this issue: These challenges would be different from time to time, and from region to region. These challenges could be like a disease. Every group may have a different issue and if we try to resolve them with a common prescription, it does not work. Since the challenges are not universal, therefore, no blanket solution would be good. The challenges that we have today are not the same as our elders had 1400 years ago or 600 years ago, it is the responsibility of our scholars to study the present-day issues and find the solution within the framework of Qur’an, Ahadith (sayings of SAS), and Naqliyat (sayings of AS). At the outset, we need an organization that undertakes the work of research to comprehend the Editorial 1 problems and find solution within the three sources as indicated above. With the change of times, there are bound to be changes in language, lifestyle, and behavior of people. Our scholars should adapt and find solutions that address the issues of languages, lifestyle and behavior. For instance, Qur’an’s script is in , unfortunately this is not our native language. Are You Wait- 2 Erstwhile Mahdavi scholars wrote books in Persian, the language of their times, then Persian is almost gone. ing for Imam To meet this new challenge some of our Murshideen made sincere efforts and translated many of our books into Urdu lan- Mahdi (A.S.) guage. Alhamdulillah, we have a vast collection of books in Urdu today. Time passes on and now Urdu is limited to a few Part-II areas. Even we can not give literature in Urdu language to Mahdavis of other states, such as , etc. Hon- estly, most of our younger generation today do not know Urdu, they can speak but they cannot read and write. We have translations and commentaries (Tafaseer) of Qur’an in Urdu but this does not help our younger generation? We have al- Terminology 3 ready identified some of the severe errors in the current English translations of Qur’an (of Dr. Mohsin Khan and Hilali) in our earlier issues of this Newsletter. Secondly, their translations and commentaries do not present our point of view, particularly Kids’ Section 3 on the matters of advent of Imam Mahdi, the doctrine of Allah’s Vision (Deedar-e-Ilahi) etc. Therefore, why our scholars and Murshideen are closing their eyes from this enormous challenge and why they are unable to find a solution? As a result of this situation, our younger generation is listening and reading the translations and commentaries as written by others and they eventually follow their point of view. It is not that we don’t have scholars of English language, the need of the hour is to Recipe of the 4 create a group of people who have varied expertise to start translation of Qur’an in English and its commentary. Month It is unfortunate that we don’t have the vision of a big picture for the community. We want to do whatever we can within our own small circle. There is no common authority that exist today. The Majlis-e-Ulema has become a dormant organization Urdu Poetry 4 which can also be revived to participate in this endeavor. Here we respectfully present a few suggestions and hopefully our scholars will initiate some action in this regard. Announcements 3&4 1. Create a centralized body of good and competent scholars and Murshideen who have passion to work. Include people from all regions in the body and do not limit it to only or any other region. 2. Create a research cell within this body who can study our literature and come out with a plan to present our literature in a language that is understandable to all. Create a common database of Naqliyaat with a search capability. The research cell

should invite community members for debate and discussion within the framework of Mahdaviah . Create a publication

cell within this body which would be responsible for publication of our literature with authentication. Editorial Team 3. It is imperative that those who have the responsibility to provide religious leadership should seek learn English. With their 1. Zareen Syed religious knowledge accompanied with a command on language they can create a new crop of effective leadership. Editor-in-Chief 4. Our present organizations regardless of their geographic location, those who are diligently working for the Mahdavia Community to join hands. Imamuna Mahdi-e-Ma’ud AS has said: “Dar Ittifaaq Nusrat-e-Deen Ast wo Dar Nifaaq Hazeemat-e- Deen Ast”. Arranging funds for these efforts would not be difficult to tap. Insha’Allah, it could be easily arranged. MICC has an Editorial Team 5. Today, the Muslim is anxiously waiting for the advent of Mahdi. This is the time we have to be proactive and and a Review Board to present our in a simple yet forceful manner before the world regardless of whether they accept it or not. If we don’t do ensure the quality of the publication. it, it would be difficult to safeguard our own house. This is the time for us to read the writing on the wall and if we ignore this writing, it would be an enormous loss of our generation for which we are all accountable. The Newsletter, being a collaborative project, will also be available at Waqt Ki Tahreer ka Idraak Hona Chahiye www.miccusa.org, www.promisedmehdi.com, Aql Par Parda Agar Ho, Chaak Hona Chahiye promisedmehdi yahoo group, and Promised Mehdi facebook page. We are pleased to present the January issue of Mahdaviah Insight. It has the second part of the article on “Are you waiting The authors are responsible for the contents of their article; editorial for Imam Mahdi?” The terminology section is an important source of knowledge for our kids. We have started a regular kids’ board may or may not agree with the opinions expressed by authors. section effective this issue and we encourage kids and others to read and contribute for the Newsletter Recipe of the month and Urdu poetry are also part of this issue. We hope you will find time to read and reflect on this issue through your comments and suggestions. Editorial Team

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Mahdaviah Insight January 2018 page 2

Are You Waiting for Imam Mahdi AS ? (Part—II)

In the name of Allah, the most High. commanded me to ask you whether you would like to live as a servant of Allah (Banda) or as a king. Had he SAS Quote from the In the first part of the article, it has been mentioned that how chosen the kingship he might had the mountains of gold with him. It clearly means that the Prophet SAS never liked Article) some Muslim scholars are anxiously waiting for the advent of Imam Mahdi due to recent events in the Middle East, particu- to be a king. So how can we assume that the Mahdi AS larly in Saudi Arabia. In this connection, they present some would be the king of the world when Mahdi AS is sup- Ahadith with some misinterpretation to substantiate their posed to perfectly follow (without err) Prophet Muham- “the large-scale claim. Last month we presented some evidences to refute the mad SAS. Yet in another , Prophet SAS said that his AS AS massacre of Muslim claim that Mahdi and Isa would appear in the same era. (Mahdi) character would be my character. Thus, this (Please read last month’s Newsletter for Part-I of the article). notion that Mahdi would be the king of the world has no has happened when authentic basis. The same scholars are also putting another Hadith in this Genghis Khan regard and it goes as follows: It has been narrated on the authority of Jabir b. Samura that the Prophet SAS said: “This will continue to (Changez Khan) killed Ibne Maja, Haakim and Abu Nayeem on the authority of exist, and a group of people from the will contin- ThoubanRZ narrates that the Prophet SAS stated that 'at your ue to fight for its protection until the Hour is estab- Muslims in such a way treasure () three persons would quarrel, all of them lished.” (Sahih Muslim, Book 20, Hadith 4717) that the blood was would be sons of the Khalifa. But none of them would suc- ceed in acquiring it. Afterwards black flags would appear and If we carefully notice, the Hadith clearly says that a group running through the they would kill you so that no other race would have been of Muslims will fight for the protection of Truth () killed in that manner. After that the Khaliah of Allah, Mehdi until the last day. In other words, the people who are AS, would appear. When you hear about him go and make streets of Baghdad. against the truth () will also be there until the last covenant (Ba'ith) with him, even if you had to go crawling According to over the snow.' - Mishkaat & Sunan Ibn Majah with slight day. Otherwise, the group of Muslims (as described in variance of wordings. Ibn Katheer also reported this Hadith. Hadith) will not have anyone to fight with. Interestingly historians, about 1.6 this Hadith refutes one of the claims by a vast majority of million people were An analysis of the above Hadith shows that (i) three sons of a Muslims that at the advent of Promised Mahdi, the entire Caliph would fight for a treasure (Khilafat) and none would get world becomes Muslim and Mahdi will rule the world. it; (ii) people with black flags would appear; (iii) Muslims killed at that time. ” Thus, those who are waiting for Imam Mahdi to come would be killed in a way that no other race would have been and rule the world should carefully analyze and under- killed in that manner; (iv) The advent of Mahdi will take place and when you hear about the advent, go and make covenant stand this Hadith. ———— with him, even if you have to crawl on ice, because he is Mahdi, the Caliph of Allah. Those who are anxiously waiting for Imam Mahdi need to Al-Qur’an carefully look at the facts and understand the Ahadith Mahdavis believe that these events have already happened without any misinterpretation. In this information age, Message for Momineen plenty of information is available through internet and ( ) including the advent of Mahdi AS. Today, some scholars are social media and it is somewhat difficult to separate the taking the words “sons of a Caliph” as sons of a Muslim king. “ Give glad tidings truth from the falsehood. The Khilafat is already over; therefore, this is not going to to the believers happen now that three sons of a Caliph would fight for a We urge the younger generation of Mahdavis to under- that there is great treasure. Secondly, the black flags as indicated in the Hadith stand our faith and its basis so that you can present the bounty for them might belong to Abbasid Khilafat; the large-scale massacre of truth with confidence. from . Muslims has happened when Hulegu Khan, a grandson of Genghis Khan (Changez Khan) killed Muslims in such a way Sateeza Kaar Raha Hai Azal say ta Imroze Do not listen to the that the blood was running through the streets of Baghdad. Charagh-e-Mustafawi say Sharaar-e-Bu Lahabi unbelievers and the According to historians, about 1.6 million people were killed at Profile Update for MICC’s hypocrites. Ignore that time. So all the three important events took place before AS Email Directory what they do to the advent of Mahdi in 847H in the city of Jaunpur (). hurt you, and put Similarly, these scholars are now talking about preparing an We have requested our patrons through an email to your trust in God. army for Mahdi who would appear in Khurasaan. They be- update their profiles so that we can communicate with God is sufficient as lieve that Mahdi would be the ruler (king) of the world and all you more effectively. This email was sent a month ago. If protector. " the human beings would become believers (Muslims). you have already updated your profile, please disregard

If we carefully study the life of Prophet Muhammad SAS, we this reminder. If not, please take a few minutes and ( Al Qur’an, 33:47-48) notice that he spent his life doing fasting rather than accumu- update your profile. Please refer our profile update email lating wealth of this world. He prefers Faqeeri over kingship. It for the link. is reported by Tibrani that the Prophet SAS is narrated to have SWT said, an angel (Israfeel) came to told me that Allah has Email: [email protected] | www.miccusa.org

Mahdaviah Insight January 2018 page 3

Kids’ Section: Important Events in Islamic Terminology: KHATAMEIN Abu Naimath Shahab History - A Chronology Hadith

In the Name of Allah, The Most High. 570CE Narrated by Umm

The word khatam is derived from the Arabic word khatama, Fifty days before the birth of Prophet Muhammad SAS, A Salamah, Ummul which broadly means end, finish, last, seal. The word Christian Abyssinian Governor of , Abraha, invad- Mu’minin: SAS KHATAMEIN is the dual form of the word as per the Arabic ed and wanted to destroy the Kaba (The House of Allah). The Prophet said: grammar. Arabic has three forms, namely singular, dual and The Grandfather of Prophet Muhammad SAS, Abdul The Mahdi will be of plural, (Wahid, ithnain, jamaa) unlike just the singular and Mutallib, was the keeper of the House and he did not my family, of the plural in other languages. In our Mahdavia, the word have enough strength to protect it from Abraha’s army descendants of KHATAMEIN is used to mention and describe Khatam ul Ambi- that has a large number of elephants along with the army. ya, Rasoolullahi Sallam and Khatam ul Vilayath, Mehdi al He prayed to God to protect His house and left that area. Ma’ood Alaihis Salaam. This was the time when the Kaba had idols in it. It was a miracle the way Allah SWT saved the Kaba from the Khatam un Nabiyeen: In Al Ahzab, Allah has described Christian army by sending “Ababeel” and it was like a SAS and mentioned our beloved Prophet as the last of the pebble-rain from the sky that destroyed the elephants and , the seal of the prophets. “Muhammad is not the the army. Abraha retreated as his army could not stand father of any man among you, but a messenger of God, and against the miraculous firing of pebbles by Ababeel. Abra- the seal of the prophets. God has knowledge of everything.” (Al ha died after returning to Yemen. Allah SWT protected the Sunan Abi Dawud, Book 37, Hadith 4271 (English version Qur’an 33: 40) It is the universal belief of all the Muslims Kaba because Allah wanted to re-establish the True Deen throughout the world, including the Mahdavis, that our beloved in Arabia and to give the last book (Qur’an) and the last Prophet SAS is the last in the chain of prophets of Allah, and Shari’ah (Shari’ah of Islam) for the guidance through there will be no new Prophet to come after Prophet Muhammad Prophet Muhammad SAS who was born in 570 CE in SAS until the doomsday. Hazrath Isa Alaihis Salaam will return, Makkah. Naql: before the end of the world but as a Caliph of Allah on his second coming and he will follow the Islamic Shari’ah. There- 595CE: fore, he will not be a new prophet. In the year 595CE, when Prophet Muhammad SAS was 25 years of age, he got a proposal of marriage from Haz- Mahdi AS has also Khatam ul Auliaya (Khatam-e-Vilayat-e-Muhammdiya) Eve- rat Khadija bint Khuwaleed (popularly known as Khadijatul said, “This servant ry Prophet has two aspects to his message, his person, and his Kubra) RZ. She was 40 years of age at the time of her would be an oppressor teachings. One is Nubu’at the prophethood, and the second marriage with Prophet Muhammad SAS. She died in aspect is Vilayath the sainthood. This aspect of Vilayath e 619CE after almost 24 years of marriage. The Prophet and slanderer (zalim Muhammedia was manifested and personified in the person of SAS did not marry anyone else until her death. They had and muftari of Allah) Imamuna Mehdi AS. two sons (who died in infancy) and four daughters, name- if he studies and ly, bibi Zaynab, bibi Ruqayya, bibi Fatima, and bibi Umm thinks of the meaning Nu'aym ibn Hammad and Abu Nu'aym narrated via Makhul Kulthum (Rizwanullahi Ajmayeen). of in seclusion from 'Ali [radhiyallahu 'anhu] that he said: "I said: "O Messen- and comes out and 610CE: ger of Allah, is the Mahdi from us, the family of Muhammad? Or explains [bayan] the from other than us?" He said, "No, rather he is from us. Allah The Prophet SAS used to go and stay at the cave of Mount Hira in seclusion. At the age of 40 years, the Quran. Whatever this will conclude the religion with him, as He began it with us. Prophet SAS had his first revelation from Allah SWT servant says or does The great scholar Abdul Rahman (d. 898 AD) who in his through angel Jibra’il AS (). It is also said that this or reads, he does it book, which is a commentary on Fusus Ul Hikam, has stated first revelation came during the month of . Allah under the command that “due to the fact that the Prophet of Allah was deputed as SWT revealed the first 5 verse of Surat-ul-Iqra at that or permission by the Messenger to deliver the Islamic law (), he has not time. This is the formal declaration of his Prophethood Allah. Whichever exhibited his Vilayah, which is the unity of all the qualities of and this also the beginning of Islam. The people who accepted this new religion were called Muslims. The first Verse (of the Quran) Allah. Thus the Vilayat e Mohammedia remains intact till the is shown, he reads birth of the Seal of the Vilayah (Khatim e Vilaya)”. (The Prom- few among them were Bibi Khadijatul Kubra RZ from ised One”, page 8 :) among women, Hazrat Ali RZ from among children, and and he explains it as When Imamuna AS proclaimed the e Muakkad, he also Hazrat Siddique RZ among the elder men. instructed by Allah. I proclaimed being the seal of the Vilayath e Muhammedia: “O am taught afresh by 615 CE: Marag is a Hyderabadi spe- people listen to me, since past several years I am being di- Allah every day. This Immediately after itscialty introduction, commonly Islam faced found a great in deal rected by Allah that I had been ordained Mehdi e Ma’ood and is the situation this of hostility from the weddings.Arabs (Quresh) because this is entire- the seal of the Vilayath e Muhammedia (Khatim e Vilayath e ly different from their religion of idol worshipping. Islam servant is in.” Muhammedia). (Please see The Promised One page 82 for presented the faith of Tawheed (worshipping only one details). God). The people who were converting to become Mus- Naqliyat Bandagi Miyan lims were subject to torture and punishment at the hands Abdur-Rasheed RZ Hence, we refer to these two personalities – Prophet Muham- of the Quresh. As a result, about eighty Muslims migrated SAS AS mad and Imam Mahdi , together as KHATAMEIN to Ethiopia (Abyssinia) to take refuge with the Christians. Naql# 9, page 47 ALAIHIM–ASSALAM. The Christians accepted them because they did not like (English version) the pagans (Quresh of Makkah) due to their idol - ping.

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Mahdaviah Insight January 2018 page 4

Urdu Poetry

Bismillah hir Rahman nir Raheem

Recipe servings : 4, Cooking Time: 45 minutes Difficulty level : Easy ( No onions required ) Kids Section:

Ingredients: • 2 pounds Boneless Chicken • 3 Tbsp Cashew Nuts • 2 Tbsp Oil • Few sprigs of Karyapak • 2 Tsp Zeera or Rai • Pinch of red food color • Chopped Coriander leaves • 3 to 4 split green chillies

Marination: • 2 Tbsp Adrak Laisan • 3 Tbsp Yoghurt • 6 Tsp Ketchup • 4 Tsp Chilli Garlic Sauce • 1 1/2 Tsp Red Chilli Powder • 1/2 Tsp Haldi Powder • 1 Tsp Soy Sauce • 1 Tsp Garam Masala Powder • Pinch of red food color • Salt to taste ( take it easy on salt as we are adding chilli garlic sauce and soy sauce which is already salty)

Method: ~Roast cashew nuts, grind into fine paste and set aside. ~Wash Chicken under running water and drain off completely. ~Marinate the chicken with the marination ingredients above for 15-20 min. ~Heat a non-stick pan, add oil & fry zeera/rai, green split chillies & karyapak leaves. ~Once they start to splutter add the marinated chicken(Mix well). ~Cook on high flame for 10 mins with closed lid, keep stirring in between. ~Switch to medium flame and cook for 10 more mins. ~ Add kaju paste & cook on high flame for 2 - 3 minutes till the gravy thick- ens(keep stirring). ~Reduce the heat ; add very little water and close the lid, oil starts seperat- ing. Simmer for 5 min. Garnish with Chopped coriander leaves. Apoll fish is a Hyderabadi specialty. Marinated fish fil- Your Spicy Tomato Ketchup Chicken is ready. Serve hot with warm para- lets are dp fried and lightly thas. This goes well with khatti daal or dahi ki kadi. Hope you enjoy the tossed in a masala seasoning. dish! Serve as an etizer or with the main course. Willow Lawn Cemetery Ingredients:

MICC HAS PURCHASED 200 GRAVE SPACES AT WILLOW Fish 250gms LAWN MEMORIAL PARK CEMETERY IN VERNON HILLS, IL. A cup of curry leaves YOU CAN PURCHASE EACH SPACE FOR $950 THAT CAN BE 4-5 green chillies, chopped PAID IN 12 MONTHS. PLEASE CONTACT MICC AT THE FOL- 1 teaspoon chopped garlic LOWING EMAIL ADDRESS ¼ tsp turmericpowder [email protected] 1 tsp chilli powder 1 tsp ginger garlic paste 1 egg

1 tablespoon all-purpose flour 1 tsp corn starch 1 ½ tsp chilli paste

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