Ihe ISLAMIC REVIEW FEBRUARY /MARCH 1987 PRICE: $2.25

www.alahmadiyya.org Published by the Anjuman lshaat Islam, Lahore, Inc., 36911 Walnut Street, Newark, CA 94560, U.S.A. PROMISED MESSIAH SPEAKS Life After Death by Hadhrat Founder of the Ahmadiyyah Movement in Islam

((And We have made man's actions to cling to his neck, and We shall bring forth to him on the day of Resurrection a book which he will find wide open.... " (17:13)

What is the teaching of the Qur' -an as to the state of man in his life after death, is the next question which offers itself for solution.

Representaton by Images

The state after death is not altogether a new state; it is in fact a complete representation, a full image of our spiritual state in the present life. Here the good or bad conditions of the deeds or beliefs of a man are latent within him and their poison or panacea casts its influence upon him secretly, but in the life to come they shall become manifest and clear as daylight. An idea of it, although a very imperfect one, may be had from the manner in which a person sees in a dream the embodiment of whatever is predominent in his temperament. When he is due for an attack of fever, he may see in a dream flames of burning fire, whereas he may find himself in floods of water when he is about to catch cold. When the body is prepared for a particular disease, a dream may often disclose the embodiment of the conditions giving rise to it. From the manner in which internal conditions are represented in physical forms, in dreams, we canhave an idea of the embodiment of the spiritual conditions of this world in the life to come. After our earthly course is ended, we are translated t,o regions where our deeds and their consequences assume a shape, and what is hidden in us in this world is there unrolled and laid open before us. These embodiments of spiritual facts are substantial realities, as even in dreams, though the sight soon vanishes away, yet so long as it is before our eyes it is taken to be reality. As this representation by images is a new and a perfect manifestation of the power of God, we may as well call it not a representation of certain facts, but a new creation brought about by the powerful hand of the Creator. With reference to this, the Qur' -an says:

nso no soul knows what refreshment of the eyes is hidden for them.... "(32: 17)

Continued On Page 15

2 ...... The Islamic Review- December ;January 1987 The ISLAMIC REVIEW

VOLUME VII, NUMBER 3 FEBRUARY /MARCH 1987 I PRICE: 52.25 Board of Editors: OUR BELIEFS Masud Akhtar (1) That there is no God but Allah and Muhammad is His Messenger. Zafar I. Abdullah Noman Ilahi Malik. M.D. (2) After the Holy Prophet(peace be upon him), Allah has completely barred the appearance of a prophet, Circulation Management: old or new. Abdul Sanar

(3) After the Holy Prophet, Gabriel can never descend and bring Prophetic Revelation (Wahy Nubuwwah) to any person. In This Issue PROMISED MESSIAH SPEAKS (4) If Gabriel were to descend with one word of Life After Death Prophetic Revelation (Wahy Nubuwwah) on any By Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad ...... 2 person, it would contradict the two complementary verses: "This day have I perfected your Religion for OUR BELIEFS ...... 3 you"(5:5 ); "He is the Messenger of Allah and the Last of the prophets." EDITORIAL Saying 'Muhammad Ar-Rasul-Ullah' (5) The Holy Prophet also said: "I am Muhammad and I am Ahmad and I am al-'Aqib (the one who Is Not Shirk(Polytheism) comes last) after whom there can be no prophet." (Al­ By Ch. Masud Akhtar ...... 4 Bukhari : Kitab al-Manaqib) ISLAM MY CHOICE (6) In the light of the above Islamic fundamentals, the Holy Founder of the Ahmadiyya Movement By Andre-Abdullah Hilal ...... 8 never claimed to be a Nabi, but the God-Ordained Mujaddid("The Promised Messiah") of the 14th THE MOST SUCCESSFUL Islamic Century, having been expressly raised to re­ PROPHET establish the predominance of Islam in the world. By The Late Khawaja Kamaluddin ...... 9 (7) He named his followers 'Ahmadi' after the Holy Prophet's Jamali (beatific) name 'Ahmad'. THE QUR'-AN AND THE BIBLE By The Late Dudley Wright Muhammad Sadiq (8) He proclaimed that no verse of the Holy Qur'-an .Phil. D, FZS ...... 11 has been abrogated nor shall ever be abrogated.

(9) All the Companions of the Holy Prophet and the THE DIVINE LAW OF CREATION Imams are venerable. AND THE BIRTH OF JESUS By Maulana Hafiz Sher Muhammad ...... 19 (10) It is spiritually conducive to our Faith to accept the revivalist Islamic missions of all Mujaddids(Renovators).

(11) Any one who declares his faith in the Kalimah (Muslim formula of faith- la ilaha ilallahu Muhammadur Rasulullah) is a Muslim.

A publication of the Ahmadiyya Anjuman Jshaat Islam, Lahore, Inc., 36911 Walnut Street, Newark, California 945(j(), U.S.A. Subscripti<;ms: $12.00 per year ($18.00 outside the U.S.A.): by air $25.00. CopyrightO 1987 · The Islamic Review- February /March 1987 3 . . . 3 EDITORIAL

SAYING MUHAMMAD-AR-RASUL-ULLAH (Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah) is Not Shirk By Ch. Masud Akhtar 'Saalih(for example) Rasoolul-Laah', this . In, the

(1) See Encyclopedia Britannica, eleventh kmd and so unparalleled in seems to lack that "alchemy" edition; art. "Koran." history, only speaks of that which converts a base metal into highest stage of spirituality shining gold. The followers of The whole human race, leave which the Sacred Prophet had Mo'ses also would not care much apart the Arabs, was at its lowest attained. No reform in any fortheirliberator.Theywouldnot moral ebb when the Qur'-an was community can possibly be listen to him on his way to the revealed. Clouds of darkness and worked out unless its members Promised Land. But the holy ignorance overhung the horizon entertain some regard for the companion of the Sacred Prophet of the earth. Libertinism was the r~former and are willing to obey would always say: "Like the order of the day; so much so that him. But no worldly riches or companions of Moses, we will not wickedness of the blackest dye power, nor even any amount of say: (0 Moses) 'Go thou and thy was taken in some countries as an one's working miracle can Lord and fight,' but we will fight act of merit in the eye of God. In inspire others with that' love on your right and left, in your the four corners of the world, all respect, and obedience which front and on your back." And laws of God had been violated and always follows an advanced these were not mere lip Divine limits transgressed. And spirituality. The words of expressions.Invariablytheywere the Arabs were the most wicked Muhammad were not the dictates put to the harderst trials, and The Islamic Review- February /March 1987 9 their words proved always to be raising his head, and thus obviate true to their professions which true. The following unparalleled the danger of any shot striking at they used to sing proudly as their piece of bravery and fidelity of the him. Abu Dujana was afraid, lest war-cry: Prophet's companions, so ably the weak flesh in him should portrayed by Maulvi S~dr-ud-Di~ overcome his faithful love for his "We are that very people that we also read in Bukhan, Zurqam, master- he therefore turned his have pledged themselves to Ibn Hisham, and Sir William back t~ the enemy and inclined Muhammad to fight in defense of Muir. over the Prophet. The other their faith throughout lives." A HUMAN FORTRESS constituents of the living fortification made an impenetr- The spirit infused by the "lt was in the battlefield of able wall against the shots of the Prophet did not only find its Uhud, in one of his defensive enemy. They fell dead one after exhibition in the exchange of wars, when the Holy Prophet the other, but their vacant places arms, but it enabled "the sons of Muhammad, being hard pressed were filled up by other equally the desert" also to face by the forces of the enemy, fell devoted. Ibn Comina, from the courageously the most formidable down in a pit and fainted. ranks of the enemy, came forward of the foes that a man has to "He had received over eighty with the sword, but it was barely grapple with- his o~n c~rrupt wounds: two of the rings of his warded off his head by the naked nature and evil habits. History helmet had run into his cheek, ~is hand of Talha, whose fingers fails to refer to a single instance face weltered in blood, and a blow were disabled for life thereby. where a reformer met such an at his teeth made one of them fly "There were no hospital implicit allegiance to his precepts a way. The enemy was marching assistants or the sisters of charity from the people he wished to on and sending volleys of arrows, to nurse the holy wounded, but reform, especially in the matter of and the life of the Prophet was in love and devotion made up the eradicating their most deeply danger. He being senseless and deficiency. Abu Ubaidah applied rooted evils. "Drink" was one of no breastwork to defend him his own teeth to extract the rings their evils. No Bacchanalian against the enemy, disapoint- of helmet firmly embedded in the orgies elsewhere could surpass ment and despair were staring cheek of Muhammad, and had to the Arab indulgence of alcohol in him in the face, but the self- lose his own two teeth before he those days. Their daily meals devotion and fidelity to their succeeded in his endeavor. Water were three, but they worshiped master, the unprecedented could not befoundatthatmoment Bacchus five times a day. But characteristic of the followers of to wash the body and face of the when the time came for the the Holy Prophet, warded off the Prophet besmeared with blood, Prophet to introdiice into them dire consequence of the situation. but many a human tongue came total abstinence, the streets of Abu Bakr, the first successor after forward to lick it off. Fatimah, the Madina were over-flowing with the Prophet, was the first to see daughter of the Prophet, with the detestable contents of the the danger, and was foremost in Saffiah and other renowned wine, barrels, which were emptied at the one magic word of the offering ready help, which ladies, were busily engaged example was at once followed by staunching the blood and nursing Prophet. Ali, Talha, Zubair, Abu Ubaidah, his wounds. But it was Umm N 0 appeal from the brain power Abu Dujana, and many others. Nasibah,daughterofKa'b, whose of the nation to the Cabinet to TheProphetwasinthepit,anda desperate spirit greatly stop liquor traffic- and that only sure mark for the enemy. The contributed to win the day. She for a short period- was needed. fight being hand to hand, and the wielded her sword and drew hew One word from the master-mind, place being even and plain, the bow with the object of defending and the five times fixed for the only fortification which could the Holy Person that lay in the worship of Bacchus were save the leader at the moment pit. Other ladies like Umm converted into the five times of was a living wall of human Sulaim, Umm Saleet, 'Ayisha, Allah's worship in Islam. Such beings, which, however, was not and others caught her enthusi­ radical revolutions in the morals wanting. They fortified the pit asm, and accordingly made an of people cannot be worked out and exposed themselves to the onslaught on the enemy, while without one's being at the climax coming volleys. The human nursing the wounded. "One of the of spirituality- and so was fortress gave a brave defiance. young children was commanded Muhammad. After all, the whole Talha strained two or three bows, by his mother to arm himself with prime of manhood spent in and received thirty-five wounds a sword and dash upon the enemy retirement in the Cave of Hira in the endeavor to shoot back the to defend the Prophet." could not remain without pressing enemy, and proclaimed The above very highly speaks bringing its fruits. Though they that no blow will reach the sacred of the teacher and the taught- an were the early days of his body of the Prophet but through instance the like of which can be marriage, Muhammad would his own chest, and besought his boasted by chronicles. The often retire to that cave and spend esteemed leader to refr~in from followers of Muhammad proved Continued On Page 5 10 The Islamic Review- February /March 1987 THE QUR'-AN AND THE BIBLE ~By Muhammad Sadiq Dudley Wright, Phil.D., F.Z.S.

There is a tendency among non­ contents and have become The revelations to the prophets Muslims to regard the Qur'-an(or acknowledged authorities by both antecedent to Muhammad are in no _Koran, as it is generally named) with Muslims and Christians in this field. way belittled or undermined by sane undisguised contempt, even by many Of this number none, perhaps, has and reverent Biblical criticism has who have sometimes expressed held a higher position than Sir William proved beyond doubt that, in the appreciation of and admiration of Muir, one-time president of the instance of the Bible, nearly all, if not, other sacred Books of the East; the University of Edinburgh, born in 1819 indeed, all the books have been subject Vedas, the Tripitaka, the Talmud and and the best-known Arabic scholar of to mutilation and additions since the the Bible. They regard the Qur' -an as his time. He was the author of the "Life original manuscripts were penned. unworthy of their close attention and of Mahomet." Mahomet and Islam and study. This fact that it is seldom read of The Coran, published by the Society Unfortunately none of the original manuscripts are available but there is by the non-Muslim and not studied by for Promoting Christian Knowledge. ample substantial evidence to justify the self-constituted and unqualified His brother, John Muir, rendered a like this assertion. Some of the additions critic, does not, however, deter him service to the study of Sanskrit, for have, without doubt, been made for from passing a negative verdict on the which he founded a chair in the the purpose of confirming and value of its contents, with an utter University ofEdinburgh. In his treatise endorsing the "departures from the disregard to the fact that it is held by on The Coran, Sir William Muir, says faith" of various sectaries. The Qur' -an millions of people to be an inspired (p. 6): The Coran is the groundwork of Islam. Its stands today, without alteration, as it volume, not only of religious belief, was originally given to the Arabian but also of public polity, a guide to authority is absolute in all matters of polity, ethics and science, equally as in matters of people and, through them, to the daily living, including conduct in all the religion. Where revelation is silent, tradition world. There have been, of course, intricate details, while it is also a speaks; and upon the tradition of Muhammad's many translations, but in none of these sayings, as well as upon the interpretation and manual of jurisprudence. It is readily is the sense or meaning of any text admitted that, to the Occidental, the analogy of the text of the Coran are built up the various schools of Islam. But the Coran is altered or varied. Qur' -an is singular in its language and supreme and much of the tendency is so plain as The Qur'-an con$ists of one book by not an easy book for him to study and to admit no question, even among contending on.e author and thus cannot be this fact must be accepted as a partial sectaries. compared with the Bible, which explanation of his attitude. Since the To avoid confusion, in all future consists, apart from the apocryphal, introduction of paragraph newspapers extracts, Qur' -an and Muhammad will which is accepted by some and rejected and periodicals, there has been a be spelt as in this paragraph, whatever by others, of sixty-six books by various pernicious tendency to avoid any study may be the spelling in the extract authors, the authorship being, in many which necessitates concentration or instances, disputed by reason of the even close attention for any length of quoted. After the Fatihah, placed at the head loss or destruction of the original time. Mind-wandering as a mental of this chapter, the Qur' -an opens in manuscripts. There is not agreement disease has developed to an alarming the second sura( or chapter) with a between Catholics and Protestants as extent to the detriment of all declaration of faith and confidence in to what constitutes the Biblical Canon, intellectual and spiritual studies. But, its contents: as to what books may be accepted as like other works which demand There is no doubt in this book, it is a canonical. The Catholic version application and mental labor, the study declaration to the pious, who believe in the includes some of the apocryphal of the Qur' -an has been found by all mysteries of the Faith, who observe the books, but not all. Generally speaking, who have given time and attention to it appointed times of prayer and distribute alms Protestants reject all apocryphal books to be more than worth the while. out of what we have bestowed upon them; and as non-canonical, though they may It is possible, even probable, that who believe in that revelation which hath been read and study them. At one time some there may be some who read these sent dwon unto them and that which hath been to of the apocryphal books were read pages who will regard the placing of the sent down the propehts before thee. publicly in churches, though not Qur' -an in juxtaposition with the Bible The Qur'-an is a history of the regarded as of equal authority with as exceeding even the bounds of foundation of the faith, of the those books written in Hebrew and criticism or beneath it in its implication wondrous dealings of Allah and His read in the synagogue. In its sixth of the suggestion that the Qur' -an is faithful subjects, of the chastisements article, the Church of England says of worthy of comparison with the Bible incurred and experienced by those who the apocryphal books that the Church and as entering upon a forbidden area, have openly rebelled, of forgiveness for doth read them for example of life and an act of trespass likely to be visited the truly penitent, of the awards instruction of manners but yet doth it with dire consequences. promised and bestowed upon the not aply them to establish any Yet some Christian students who faithful and righteous, as well as being, doctrine. have taken up the study of the Qur' -an as stated, a manual of Islamic law and The term "apocrypha" is generally in real earnest have learned to value its polity. The Islamic Review- February /March 1987 11 applied to certain books of the Old of the writings might be lost, all the authorized recension of the sacred volume, with Testament, supposed to have been scattered fragments of these writings three Coreish judges to act as a board of control. As Muhammad had spoken in the pure Meccan written between Malachi and Matthew, were gathered together and arranged, dialect, the various readings were brought into but there are other books of the New without regard to sequence, simple line therewith and all copies which differed were Testament which are also termed according to length. The shorter suras, brought together and burned. Thus the apocryphal, that is uncanonical, which are the oldest, have been placed recension of Zeid has been brought down to the present day unaltered. There is no revised concerning which the following extract at the end of the volume, with the version of the Qur'-an. from Croake-J ames's Curiosities of exception of the first, the F atiha, which Zeid made the collection of the scraps of the Christian History may be of interest: is regarded as the most valuable. This Qur' -an within a year of the death of the Prophet Certain books have been written and learning by heart, or by rote, was the and Othman in 651 A.C.( 30 A.H.) and prepared circulated in the early ages of Christianity which common practice in both Orient and the standard copy which is authoritative today. professed to recite events not mentioned in the There is probably no other book in the world four gospels or the New Testament. Though all Occident, but particularly in the which has remained for twelve centuries with so are spurious or of uncertain authorship, there is, Orient, in the days before the pure a text. There is not space for a full nevertheless, great interest in some of the invention of printing. Manuscripts, discussion of this interesting topic which has incidents; and as they were so extensively read by when rescued from the dust-heaps or been dealt with already in the most capable early Christians, some account of these is cellars, were handed to scholars, who manner by Maulana , M.A., acceptable to all readers of sacred subjects. LLB, in The Collection and Arrangement of the Though in all ages treated with contempt by the made copies in the scriptorum, an Holy Qur' -an, a book of 136 pages, which can be authoritative teachers in the Church it is easy to apartment in every abbey and obtained from theShahJehanMosque, Woking. comprehend how they came to attract so much monastery set apart for that purpose Sir William Muir says(op. cit., pp. 39-40): notice, for there is an air of simplicity and verisi­ and, in addition, they were learned by There is every security that the work ofZeid was militude in some of the incidents and, of course, heart by many as a check upon the executed faithfully; and, indeed, the acceptance no human being is in a position to affirm or deny copyists. At the present day, Dr. of the Qur'-an by Ali and his party, the the substance of the things thus recorded. antagonists of the unfortunate Othman, is the Milman says, some of these legends can still be Norman Bentwich informs us in ar surest guarantee of its genuineness. It is possible traced in some of our Christmas carols. One of interesting article in the Contemporary that some of the earlier and more ephemeral these apocryphal gospels is called the Review for August, 1944, any student fragments which proceeded from Muhammad Protoevangelion or Gospel of James, who was one applying for admission to the may have, before his death, become obsolete and of the sons of Joseph the Carpenter(brother of University of Al Azhar in Cairo must thus escaped collection but the pious veneration Jesus and one of his disciples) and it records with which the whole body of Muslims from the incidents of the childhood of Jesus. The know the Qur' -an by heart and be able first regarded the revelation s the word of God, existence of this gospel is traced to the fourth to recite it in the manner known to the devotion with which they have committed it century. Another is the Gospel ofPseudo-Matthew Muslims. to memory and the evidence that transcripts or of the Infancy of Mary and of]esus, supposed to Sir William Muir(op. cit. chap. ii) existed, combined with the fact that Zeid's be written in the fifth century. Another is the collection came into immediate and Gospel of the Nativity of Mary. This was fathered says that it seems probable that the greater part of the revelation was so unquestioned use- all this leaves no doubt in the upon Jeome and supposed to be written in the mind that the Qur' -an, as read now, contains the fifth century and it was much read in the middle arranged during the Prophet's lifetim, very words delivered by the Prophet. ages. Another is the History of /oset,h the and used in that form for private Carpenter, supposed to belong to the fourth reading and for recitation at the daily The various translations into century. Another is the Gospel of Thomas or language other than Arabic may not, of Gospel of the Infancy of]esus, said to be written about prayers. After the battle of Y emana, Gospel of the Infancy of Jesus, said to be written which took place about a year after the course, agree literally- it would be a about the second century. Another is theArabic death of Muhammad, Omar said to the difficult, if not an impossible, task to Gospel of the Infancy, ascribed to the fifth or sixth Caliph, Abu Bakr: make them do so, but in meaning they century. There is also a professed I fear that the slaughter may again wax hot are identical. I have compared the first correspondence between Jesus and King among the reciters of the Qur'-an(many of English translation of 1649 (which is, Agbarus, part of which is said to belong to the w horn had been killed in action) in other fields of sixth and part of the third century(but within in turn, a translation from the French battle and that much may be lost therefrom. translation made in 1632 by command recent years proved to be a forgery). There is also Now, therefore, my advice is that thou shouldest the Gospel of Nirodemus, supposed to be written give speedy order for collecting the same of and guaranteed by the Sultan in the second century. There are also letters and together. Amurat) with the last English reports of Pilate and Herod about Christ translation of 1930 by Marmaduke professing to relate facts and incidents of that Abu Bakr at once recognized the wisdom of time. All these gospels or legends abound in this advice and asked Zeid ibn Thabit, the chief Pickthall and find that though the miracles and prodigies, some of them very amanuensis of Muhammad, to undertake this wording varies in very many instances task which, to him, was as much, if not more, a puerile. the meaning is identical throughout. It pleasure than a duty. He, at once, set to work The revelation of the Qur' -an was together from every quarter, the palm, leaves, is to be regretted that the editorial dictated to Muhammad by one whom hides, stone tablets and bones, on which the board of control of the first translation he held to be an angel, tow horn he have verses of the Qur' -an had been written from time should have thought fit to mar the the name of the arch-angel Gabriel. to time. When this part of his mission had been production by the insertion of a completed, the collection was handed over to the prologue and an epilogue setting forth Being unable to read or to write, care of Hapsha, a widow of the Prophet. From Muhammad, in turn, dictated what had this collection many transcripts were made their own particular and peculiar views been revealed to him to amanuenses, during the life of Omar the Caliph, who had with regard to the Faith oflslam in such who wrote down what he said on palm succeeded in that office. a manner that no opportunity for leaves, tanned hides or dry bones, the Errare est humane and, as well may be surmised, explanation or refutation was afforded the various transcripts were not in complete common practice in those days. Most agreement, though the variations were mainly of those for whom the book was written of the chapters, when completed, were dialect and expression. Othman, therefore, or even to allow the Qur'-an to speak learned by heart, but for fear that any decided to appoint Zeid as editor of an for itself. 12 The Islamic Review- February/March 1987 The Qur' -an is more than the basis, time, a member of this sect of which his delivered by Muhammad ~cl any it is the substance oflslam, the absolute cousin Lord Congelton, became and belittling of the honors or of the belief and teaching of Muhammad, not remained an adherent. Darby became dignity due to Allah by men was met by only at the time the words were famous as a scholar, particularly in the an outburst of just wrath and dictated and written, but at the present depth and extent of his knowledge of indignation. There was never any day and as the Faith will continue to the Hebrew, Greek and Aramaic. When hesitation in his utterances nor any end of time, for , in Islam, as in every the Board of Revisers of the New suggestion of compromise. He was word of God, there is "neither Testament was being formed, Darby bold in his belief and he expressed variableness nor change of turning". was invited to become a memeber, but, himself boldly. His utterances were in No theory has yet been established or being a trinitarian, he refused to sit striking contrast to the milk and water proved which has necessitated any along with a unitarian minister and effusions of many modern unitarian variation in its teaching. Can the like scholar, who had accepted a like divines who seem to search the claim be made for the Bible on behalf invitation. He had, however, compiled orthodox creeds with the object of of Christianity! However vast the and published a translation of the New seeing how much of them they can difference in the teachings of the Testament, a copy of which he sent to retain and how little of the opposite warring sects, find the rationale for every member of the Board. Now the view they can let slip through. That their different creeds in the "Word of only solid foundation for the doctrine attitude is, doubtless, in a great God." "The Bible and Bible only," of the trinity to be found in the New measure due to the training of once the battle-cry of militant Testament was in one verse, I John v, 7: ministers, but, as the Rev. S. Baring­ Protestantism, has become almost a For there are three that bear record in heaven, Gould has admitted in his Origin and dead letter through the onslaughts of the Father, the Word and the Holy Ghost; and Development of Religious Belief(vol. ii, Biblical criticism, which have proved these three are one. As a faithful translator, Darby pp. 142-3): that some of the doctrines of orthodox To one who is simply an inquirer, groping for Christianity, chief among them being regarded it as his duty to point out that an authority which will make him embrace the trinity, substitutionary atonement this verse was interpolation, not to be Christianity instead of Buddhism or Isla~, th_e and the resurrection of the material found in any of the early manuscripts Scriptural evidence is by no means conclusive; tt body, can no longer depend upon the and as an outcome of the resultant fails, no examination, to satisfy the demands of investigation on this point, it was ordinary scientific reasoning. texts once quoted in support, the It is singular how few theologians forgery or interpolation of such texts decided to omit this verse from the appear able to distinguish between having been demonstrated and proved. Revised Version and thus the only Dr. Priestley, renowned as a verse in the New Testament that could deity and divinity and, unl~s ~hat Christian scholar and expositor as well be produced in support of the doctrine distinction is made and borne m mmd, as a scientist- he was the discoverer of of the trinity is now no longer to be argumentation cnnot fail to become oxygen- rendered great service to all found therein. Andrew D. White, the confused. Baring-Gould even falls into unbiassed biblical students by his erudite author of the History of the this mistake in the following extract Warfare between and The.ology, taken from the work just mentioned( p. work, The Corruptions of Christianity. Science who was a member of a Christian He proved that the doctrine of the 139): church, wrote of this text: When we come to examine the gospels tc trinity was unknown in the apostolic The fate of this spurious text throws light into discover what testimony they bear to the age. It was never taught by Jesus and the workings of human nature in its relation to divinity(i.e., deity) of Christ, we find them was only introduced into Christian sacred literature. Although Luther omitted it singularly deficient. The three have not a passage teaching many years after the date from his translation of the New Testament and on this point, not a single word identifying} esus assigned to his life and death. But the kept it out of every copy published during his with God, not calling him God. He is named the "Son of Man'.' and the "Son of God". The first of death blow to that doctrine was given lifetime and, although, at a later period, the most eminent Christian scholars showed that it had no thOlSe expressions in no way implies the by a stalwart trinitarian but an honest right to a place in the Bible, it was, after Luther's divinity(i.e., deity) of Jesus; it is said frequently investigator. John Nelson Darby, the death, replaced in the German translation and to designate the prophets; and in the sermon on founder of the sect known as the has been incorporated in all editions, save one, the mount all those who are peacemakers are 'Plymouth Brethren,' started on his since the beginning of the seventeenth century. called "sons" of God as well as those who de good in return for evil(Matthew v, 9,45,48). The career as a clergyman of the Church of So essential was it found in maintaining the dominant theology that, despite the fact that Sir same evangelist calls God the "Father of men" England. He was a friend of the two Isaac Newton, Richard Parson, the nineteenth and Luke calls men the "sons of the Most High, Newmans John Henry afterwards century revisers and all other eminent authorities the sons of God"(vi. 35, xx, 36). If the Cardinal and Francis William, also a have rejected it; the Anglican Church still retains evangelists give men the title of"sons of God" it great scholar and who became equally it in its Lectionary and the Scotch Church is impossible to conclude from them that they renowned as his brother, but as a continues to use it in the Westminster give that title to Christ in any other light. In Confession, as a main support of the doctrine of Exodus iv, 22Godcallsthepeopleoflsrael, "His Theist. At the time both were rigidly the trinitv. first-born son"(I Chronicles xvii, 13). God, in orthodox Protestants. There was a The principal tenet of Islam, the predicting the birth of King Solomon calls him third brother, not so well known or Unity of Allah, is not only the keynote, His son and in Job i, 6; ii, 1, xxxvii, 7, the angels are called "sons of God". The Bible even gives respected, but who later acquired a it is the foundation oflslam and of the certain notoriety as a Freethinker. It is the name of God to created beings; in Exodus vii, Qur' -an, the root of the zeal_ of all 1, Moses is called god to Pharaoh; in xxii, the not, I believe, generally known that in Muslims for the honor of the Eternal, judges are designated as "gods" and in Psalm the early part o_f his career before he for the preservation and safeguarding lxxxii, 1-6, the name of" gods" is even given to became leader of the Irish party, of the Faith. It was the source and those who "judge unjustly and accept the Charles Stewart Parnell, was also, for a inspiration of every discourse presents of the wicked." The Islamic Review- February /March 1987 13 InJob 1, asBaring-Gouldmighthave admiration on the part of the Christian Whetevet biblioatry has prevailed, bigotry mentioned, Satan is included among and cruelty have accompanied it. It lies at the traveller has been the unfeigned root of the deep-seated, sometimes disguised, the "sons of God." devotion of the Muslim to the Qur'-an but evet antagonism of all varieties of The gradual ascription of deity to and the reading of it, not as a duty but ecclesiasticism to the freedom of thought and to Jesus by the Church is shewn in the as a pleasure. It comes, like prayer, as a the spirit of scientific investigation. development of the doctrine of the natural act to the Muslim. The Rev. But, says Chalmers Mitchell, it was trinity by the General Councils of the D.M. Ross, in The Cradle of not against the Bible but against the application made of it and the Church: Christianity, writing of his visit to implications read into it that Huxley 325. General Council ofNicea stated the Son to Damascus, says: be of the same substance with the Fathet. One of the sights which specially interested me strove: In this nineteenth century, as at the dawn of 361. General Council of Constantinople was the devout merchant, with his Qur' -an on an modern physical science, the cosmogony of the confirmed the Nicean doctrine but added that Arabic book-rest. He sits on a mastabo(high semi-barbarous Hebrew is the incubus of the the Holy Ghost was of the same substance as the bench) in front of his shop, cross-legged like a philosopher and the opprobrium of the Father and the Son, thus developing the doctrine tailor. He has the dreamy air of a man who cares orthodox. Who shall number the patient and of the trinity. not whethet customers come to him or not. He earnest seekets after truth, from the days of 431. General Council of Ephesus affirmed the looks more like a mystic than an alert, Galileo until now, whose lives have been dual nature of the Son and confirmed the title of enterprising shopman. When customers cease to embittered and their good name blasted by the Theolokos(mother of God) to the Virgin Mary. trouble him he takes up his Qur'-an, reads mistaken zeal ofbibliolaters and who shall count 451. General Council of Chalcedon reaffirmed audibly chapter after chapter and as he reads the host of weak et men whose sense of truth has the dual nature of the Son. sways his body to and fro like a boy learning been destroyed in the effort to harmonize 553. Second General Council ofConstantinople memoriter. A shopman as intent upon his impossibilities- whose life has been wasted. affirmed in plainet language of doctrines of the devotional reading amid the bustle of a bazaar as There are many incidents and trinity and the motherhood of the Virgin Mary. a monk in monastety is a curious sight- though 650. Third General Council of Constantinople thete might be worse combinations than this passages in both the Old and New affirmed that in Christ there wete two natural interspersing of business with the precepts of a Testaments which are an incentive to wills and two modes of operation, that the sacred book. holy living by all, whether Jew, human will was free. Muslims accept all so-called Sacred Buddhist, Christian or Muslim or of In the Church of Rome the Councils Books or Bibles, whether Hindu, any other religious creed or even of no decide what is to be believed by Buddist, Confucian, Shinto, or of any creed at all. Such, for instance, as that Catholics if they would make sure of faith, though it does not accord equal incomparable twenty-third Psalm and their salvation. In the Church of value to all. Many Muslims find delight such golden texts as: England the thirty-nine Articles take in the reading of the Bible, both Old In thy presence is fulness of joy and at thy right the place of the Councils; while the and New Testaments and in the study hand pleasures for evetmore. But quotations of such excellency standard for the Presbyterians is the of the contents of all the Scriptures, excepting only such narratives as and charm and spiritual incentive Westminster Confession of Faith. could be multiplied thousand times. Article vi of the Church of England contain incidents or teachings derogatory to Allah or harmful to But, on the other hand- and it is for begins: this reason that Muslims not only do morals. The great advantage possessed Holy Scripture containeth all things necessary not recommend but discountenance to salvation, so that whatever is not read therein, by the Qur' -an over the Bible is that it the indiscriminate 'reading of the Bible­ nor may be proved theteby, is not to be required may be read aloud in any party in any th~re are many passages in the Bible so of any man, that it should be believed as an article company, from cover to cover, dishonoring to Allah and inimical to of faith or be thought requisite or necessary to without bringing a blush to the cheek salvation. m~rals that Muslims are repelled from or the slightest hesitancy in the This is described by Baring- them with disgust and horror. utterance. A serious blunder was Gould( op. cit. p. 365) as: Incid~nts are recorded and described in perpetrated by well-intentioned An article this, which falls, like Goliath, by its all· their ghastly detail in those pages advocates when they decreed that it own sword, for it is impossible to prove the all­ glibly described as "Holy Writ" which was to the regarded as a sacred volume sufficiency of Holy Scripture from itself. make any decent person blush with Nowhere do we find that the Bible makes in the highest degree, verbally inspired shame to read and which, if written in profession that it contains the whole faith; that it by Allah and, therefore, beyond any ordinary secular book, would and it alone is the deposit and the faith of the criticism. One such advocate even whole Church. Had it been so we should have undoubtedly result in a criminal claimed divine inspiration for the found it laid down in precise tetms in the prosecution; incidents of depravity so punctuation marks(which are not scriptures. But nowhere does the Bible profess to vile that a clean-minded man would give us the faith, nor is there a word to show us identical in all languages) regardless of hesitate to read them aloud in the that Christ commissioned his apostles to write the fact that such marks do not appear seclusion of his own private chamber books to contain the faith as authorized in the manuscripts. Another gravely and whick could certainly not be read standards of doctrine. maintained that the vowel points in the The Westminster Confession of Faith in public, save, perhaps, in an assembly Hebrew of the Old Testament were tells us that: of scoffers of the most depraved also inserted under inspiration, passing The whole counsel of God concerning all character. things necessary for His own glory, man's over the fact or, perhaps, ingnorant of salvation, faith and life, is eithet expressly set it, the vowel points were not invented down in Scripture, or by good and necessary when the manuscripts were written. consequence may be deduced from revelations Writing on the Infallibility of the and the spirit of traditions of men. Bible, Professor T.H. Huxley(as One feature of daily life in Islam quoted by Sir Peter Chalmers Mitchell which has aroused both surprise and in his Life of T.H. Huxley, p. 236), said: 14 The Islamic Review- February/March 1987 The following verse, which may former life" as indicting temporal Promised Messiah Speaks ordinarily be misunderstood, is far blessings, enjoyable in this life by all From Page 2 from describing the heavenly blessings men whether good or bad. But if the as being identical with the worldly "fruits" spoken of here be understood Thus the Lord describes the things: heavenly blessings that the righteous to mean the fruits of good works, the shall enjoy in the next life as having spiritual blessings which the good "And give good news to those who been kept secret because, not being like enjoy in this very life, there is no believe and do good deeds, that for anything contained in this world, no contradiction. Whatever the good men them are Gardens in which rivers flow. one knows aught about them. It is enjoy spiritually in this life are really Whenever they are given a portion of evident that the things of this world are blessings, not of this but of the next life the fruit thereof, they will say: This is and are granted to them as a specimen not a secret to us; we not only know of the bliss that is in store for them in pomegranates, grapes, milk, etc., but what was given to us before; and they are given the like of it ... " ( 2: 2 5) the next life in order to increase their frequently taste of them. Consequent­ yearning for it. ly, these things could not be called secrets. The fruits of paradise have, Now the contect clearly shows that It should further be remembered therefore, nothing in common with the fruits which the righteous are said that the righteous man is not of this these except the name. He is indeed to have tasted here do, by no means, world and hence he is hated down here. ignorant of the Holy Qur' -an who signify the fruits of trees or the things He is of heaven and is granted celestial takes paradise for a place where only of this world. The verse in fact tells us blessings just as the worldly ones are the things of this world are provided in that those who believe and do good granted the dainties of this world. The abundance. works prepare a paradise with their blessings which are granted him are It may beadded here, in explanation own hands for themselves, with their really hidden from the eyes, the ears of the verse quotedabove, that Prophet faith for trees and their good deeds for and the hearts of men and they are Muhammad said that heaven and its fruits. It is of the fruits of this garden quite strangers to them. But the person blessings are things which "the eye that they are spiritually made to tase whose life in this world has been hath not seen, nor hath ear heard, nor here and of the fruits of the same will transformed so that he tastes hath it entered into the heart of man to they eat in the next life; only the spiritually the cup which he shall conceive of them." But of the things of spiritual fruits of this life will be actually quaff in the next world, shall this world we cannot say that our eyes transfarmed into palpable and more truly utter the words: "these are the have not seen them, or that our ears delicious fruits in the next life. But, as fruits which were given us formerly." have not heard them, or that our minds they will have already tasted of them However, he shall at the same time be have not conceived of them. When spiritually in this life, they will beable perfectly aware that those blessings GodandHis Prophet tell us of things in to identify the fruits of that life with were quite unknown to the world, and heaven which our senses are not those of this and, witnessing the close as he too was in this world- though not cognizant of in this world, we should be resemblance between the two, will cry of this world- so he also shall bear guilty of cherishing doctrines against out: "these are the fruits which were witness that his physical eye never saw the teachings of the Qur' -an if we indeed given to us in the former life." such blessings, nor his ear ever heard of supposed rivers flowing with the milk Nature of next life them, nor his mind ever conceived of which we ordinarily drink here. Can them in the world. But in his second we, moreover, consistently with the The verse quoted above tells us in life, after his regeneration, he did idea of heaven, suppose herds of cows plain words that those who spiritually witness specimens of these things but and buffaloes reared in paradise and taste of the love of God in this world this was only when, all his lower numerous honeycombs hanging on will be physically sustained by the same connections having been cut asunder, trees with countless bees busily food in the next life. The blessings of higher ones were established with the engaged in collecting honey and host of the next life will recall to their minds next world. angels busy day and night in milking the spiritual blessings of the love of The following verses will show how these cows and getting honey and God which they tasted in this life, and the Holy Qur'-an has repeatedly pouring them continuously into they will remember the time when in asserted that the life after death is not a streams to keep them running? Are seclusion and at the dead of night, new life but only an image and a these ideas in keeping with the alone and in silence, they found their manifestation of the present one: teachings of the verses which tell us sweet enjoyment in the remembrance that this world is a stranger to the of the Lord. "And We have made every man's blessings of the next world? Will these If it be objected that the words of actions to cling to his neck, and We things illumine the soul or increase the this verse contradict the saying of the shall bring forth to him on the day of knowledge of the Lord or afford Prophet which describes the blessings Resurrection a book which he will find spiritual food as the heavenly blessings of heavenly life as unseen by worldly wide open... "(The Arabic word 'tair', are designed to do? It is, no doubt, true eyes, unheard of by human ears and used in this verse, literally means a that these blessings are represented as inconceivable by the mind of man, the "bird" and is here used metaphorically material things, but we are also told answer is that the contradiction exists to signify the actions of men; for every that their sourse of spirituality and only when we take the words "these are action, whether good or bad, takes righteousness. the fruits which were given us in our flight like a bird. The bliss or burden The Islamic Review- February /March 1987 15 which a person feels in the resurrection he shall realize the truth of body. A shock communicated to a performance of an act vanishes but it the certainty by himself entering into particular part of the brain causes a loss leaves its impression upo the heart. hell.)(102: 1-8) of memory, while an injury to another The Qur'-an has disclosed the part is certain to injure the reasoning important principle that every act It may be recalled here that the Holy faculty and may even destroy makes a mysterious impression upon Qur'-an has described three worlds of consciousness. Similarly, a convulsion the heart. Every action of a man is in three different states of man's life: of the brain muscles or a hemorrhage fact followed by an action of God or morbidity of the brain may, by which imprints its good or bad effect World of earning causing obstruction, lead to not only upon the hearts but also upon The first is the present one, call the insensibility, epilepsy or cerebral the hands, the feet, the ears, the eyes, "world of earning and of the first apoplexy. etc., of the doer. This book which, creation." It is here that man earns a Experience, therefore, establishes hidden from the human eye, is being reward for the good or bad deeds he the fact beyond all reasonable doubt prepared, recording every action in this does. Although there are stages of that with all its connections severed life, shall show itself clearly in the advancement of the good after from the body, the soul can serve no next)( 1 7: 13) Resurrection, yet that advancement is purpose. It is idle to assert that the "On that day thou wilt see the ,granted simply by the grace of the human soul can, at any time, enjoy a faithful men and the faithful women, , Beneficent and does not depend upon bliss without having any connection their light gleaming before them and on human efforts. with the body. It may please us as an their right hands ... "(This verse refers Intermediate state interesting tale, but reason and to the heavenly life, while the verses The second is termed 'barzakh.' experience lend no support to it. We which follow ( 102: 1-8) relate to the The word originally means any can hardly imagine the soul to be in a wicked people.)(57: 12) "intermediate state". It has been thus pefect condition when all its called because this world falls between connections with the body are cut off, "Abundance diverts you, until you the present life and Resurrection. But in the face of our daily experience that come to the graves, Nay, you will soon this word has from time immemorial the slightest derangement of the know, nay, again, you will soon know. been applied to an intermediate state physical system interrupts the Nay, would that you knew with certain and thus the word itself is a standing functions of the soul as well. Do we not knowledje! You will certainly see hell; witness to the intermediate state witness that when a person becomes then you will see it with certainty of between death and after-life decrepit with old age, the soul also is sight; then on that day you shall ("Barzakh" is a word of Arabic origin enfeebled and age often steals away the certainly be questioned about the and is a compound of 'bar' and 'zakh', whole store of its knowledge? With boons"(God has here described three and literally means that "the period of reference to the decrepitude of old age, stages of certainty: 'ilm al-yaqin earning merit or demerit by deeds is the Qur' -an says: ( certainty by inference}, 'ain al-yaqin over." I might add here that I have ( certainty by sight), and haq al-yaqin shown in my book "Minan "(A man lives to such an old age) ( certainty by realization). A homely al'Rahman" that the words of Arabic that, after knowledge, he knows illustration would perhaps make the language are the words of God, and nothing."(22: 5) subject easily comprehensible. If a that it is the only language which can person sees a column of smoke from a claim to be Divine, the fountain from These observations should be distance, he readily concludes the which all sorts of knowledge flow, the sufficient to demonstrate that the soul existence of fire there, as nothing else mother of all languages and the first as is nothing unless it has its connection can give rise to smoke. He thus obtains well as the last medium of Divine with a body. Had it any value apart a certainty by inference with regard to revelation. It is the first because Arabic from the body, the action of an All­ the presence of fire, which is called the was the Word ofGod, which had at last Wise Being in uniting the soul with a "certainty by knowledge' in the verses been revealed to the world, from which short-lived body would have been quoted above. But, if he walks on to the men learned to make their own quite meaningless. Moreover, man is place from which the smoke rises and languages, and the last because the last essentially a progressive animal, and actually sees the flames, he obtains a Divine Book(the Qur'-an) is also in the advancement which he aims at is by knowledge with the eye, which is Arabic). no means a limited one. Now, if the "certainty by sight". To realize the The state of "barzakh" is that in soul is unable to make any truth of certainty, he must thrust his which the soul leaves the mortal body, advancement in the brief life without hand into it and the certainty he thus and the perishable remains are the assistance of the body, how oculd it attains to is "certainty by realization". decomposed The body is thrown into attain to the higher stages of These are also the states of human a pit and the soul also is, as it were, advancement in the next life? knowledge with regard to hell. The thrown down into a pit as is indicated Various arguments, therefore, prove knowledge of certainty can be had in by the word, because it loses the power conclusively that, according to the this world by those who wlll,"but in tht to do good or bad deeds along with its Islamic principles, the perfection of interval between death and loss of control over the body. It is soul depends upon its permanent resurrection man sees hell with the eye connection with a body. There is no of certainty, while at the day of doubt that, after death, this body of 16 The Islamic Review- February /March 1987 clay is separated from the soul but, "Whoso comes guilty to his Lord, remain in the meanwhile, is no better then, in the 'barzakh' every soul for him is hell. He will neither die than a useless lock-up of souls. The receives temporarily a new body to be therein, nor live."(20:74) objection is based upon ignorance, for in a position to taste of the reward or the 'barzakh' is as well a place of reward punishment of its deeds. This new It may be added that the chosen ones for good and evil as the Resurrection body is not a body of clay but a bright of God do not die with their physical itself. The Qur' -an describes it as a or a dark body prepared from the death, for they have their means of place when; punishment and reward actions of this life. It may appear as a sustenance with them. shall be given though not so openly as mystery to some, but this much at least after the Resurrection. It abounds with must be admitted that it is not Resurrection verses stating that a man meets with his unreasonable. The perfect being due immediately after death. Thus realizes the preparation ofsuch a bright The third is the world of Resurrection. speaking of a certain person, it says: body even in this life. Ordinary human In this world, every soul, good or bad, understanding may regard it as a virtuos or wicked, shall be given a visible "It was said( to the man who believed mystery which is beyond human body. The Day ofResurrection is the day of in the Truth): Enter the Garden." comprehension, but those who have a the complete manifestation of the Lord's (36:26) keen and bright spiritual sight will have glory when everyone will become perfectly no difficulty in realizing the truth of a aware of the existence of God. On that With reference to another person, bright or a dark body after death, day, every person will have an open and the Holy Book says the following: prepared from actions in this life. In complete reward of his actions. How this other words, the new body granted in can be brought about is not a matter of "Then he looked down and saw the 'barzakh' becomes the means of the him(his friend) in the midst of reward of good or evil(I may state here can be brought about is not a matter to hell(37:55)(A good man had an that I have personal experience in this wonder at, for the Creator is All-Powerful unbelieving friend in this life and when matter. Many a time, when full awake, I and nothing is impossible with Him. Thus they both died, the good man, anxious have had visions in which I saw those He says: to know the state of his friend, was who were dead. I have seen many an shown that he was in the midst of hell.) evil-doer and a wicked person with a Does not man see that We have created body quite dark and smoky. I have him from the small life-germ? Then lo! he Punishment and reward are thus personal acquaintance with these is an open disputant. And he strikes out a bestowed immediately after death, and matters and I assert it strongly that, as likeness for Us and forgets his own those whose proper place is hell are God said, everyone is granted a body creation. Says he: Who will give life to the brought to hell, while those who either transparent or dark. It is not bones, when they are rotten? Say: He will deserve paradis~ are brought to necessary that unaided reason should give life to them, Who brought them into paradise. But the Day of Resurrection be able to look into these mysteries. existence at first, and He is Knower of all is the day of the manifestation of the The eye sees things, but it is in vain to creation, Who produced fire for you out of highest glory of God which His expect it to serve as an organ of taste. the green tree, so that with it you kindle. Is transcendent wisdom has ordained Similarly, the muscles of the tongue not He Who created the heavens and the should at last be brought about. The may be used for tasting things, but as earth able to create the like of them? Yea! Lord created man that He might be organs of sight, they are useless. In like and He is the Creator(of all), the Knower. accepted as the Creator: He will manner, the deep secrets of the other His command, when He intends anything, destroy all that He may be recognized world, upon which light is thrown only is only to say to it, Be, and it is. So glory be as a Vanquisher of al, and, finally He by visions, cannot be discovered by the to Him in Whose hand is the Kingdom of will give a perfect life to all and help of reason. The Almighty has all things! and to Him you will be assemble them that He may be established certain laws in this world returned."(36: 77-83) recognized as the All-Powerful Being. and particular means for the knowledge of particular things.). It is to be noted that in these verses the Value of spiritual facts It must also be remembered in Almighty tells us that with Him nothing is connection with this point that the impossible, for when He could create man The second point of importance, Word of God has described those who out of an insignificant thing at first, He which the Qur' -an has described with walk in error and wickedness as dead cannot be regarded as destitute of the reference to the life to come, is that the and lifeless, while the good it calls bower to brinR him to life a second time. spiritual facts of his life shall be living. The secret of it is that the means represented in the next as Reward and Punishment of life of those who are ignorant of the embodiment: Lord, being simply eating, drinking or Before proceeding further, it seems indulging in their bestial passions, are "And whoever is blind in necessary to deal with an objection cut off along with their death. Of this(world) he will be blind in the here. It might be argued that when a spiritual food they have no share and, Hereafter, and further away from the long period of time must elapse before therefore, their resurrection will only (right) path."( l 7:72)(In other words, the world ofResurrection is brought in be for their punishment. We are told: the spiritual blindness of this world existence, the 'barzakh', where the shall become apparent and shall be souls of both good and bad men must seen as actual blindness in the next.) The Islamic Review- February /March 1987 17 "(0 ye wicked ones) walk on to the that life is infinite: "Seize him, then fetter him, then cast shadow, having three branches, neither him into the burning Fire, then insert; cool, nor availing against the flame." "And those who believe with him in a chain the length of which is' (77:30-31)(The three branches him( the Prophet), their light will gleam seventy cubits."(69:30-32)(The spoken of here represent bestiality, before them and on their right hands­ thrusting into a chain of the length of savageness and infatuation which, they will say: Our Lord, make perfect seventy cubits reveals the same secret. remaining unmodified, lead to for us our light, and grant us The limit of age may, as a general rule, transgressions and evil deeds. These protection! Lo! Thou art Able to do all be fixed at seventy. The wicked person three will appear on the Day of things."( 66:8) would sometimes even enjoy seventy Judgement as three branches without years excluding the periods of any leaves and, therefore, availing This unceasing desire for perfection childhood and decrepitude. These nothing against heat.) shows clearly that progress in paradise seventy years during which he could will be endless. For, then they will have work with honesty, wisdom and zeal, To declare the same law, the attained one excellence they will not he wastes away only in the Almighty says of those who are in stop there but, seeing a higher stage of entanglements of the world and in paradise: excellence, will consider that to which following his own sensual passions. He they will have attained as imperfect and does not try to free himself from the "On that day thou wilt see , therefore, desire the attainment of chain of desires and, therefore, in the faithful men and the faithful women, the higher excellence. When they will next world, this chain, which he their light gleaming before them and on have attained to this, they will yet see indulged in for seventy years, will be their right hands."(57:12) another higher excellence and thus embodied into a chain seventy cubits they will continue to pray for the long, every cubit representing a year, in "On the day when (some) faces turn attainment of higher and higher which he will be fettered.) white and (some) faces turn excellences. This ceaseless desire for black ... (3: 105) perfection shows that they will be In these verses, the spiritual torture endlessly attaining to excellences: the of this world has been represented as a "A parable of the Garden which the righteous will go on making progress physical punishment in the next. The dutiful(to Allah) are promised: and will never recede a step nor shall chain to be put round the neck, for Therein are rivers of water not altering they ever be deprived of those instance, represents the desires of this for the wdrse, and rivers of milk blessings(The question may arise here world which keep a man with his head whereof the taste changes not, and as to the seeking of 'maghfirat' after bent upon the earth, and it is these rivers of wine delicious to the drinkets, entry into paradise and obtaining desires that shall assume the shape of a and rivers of honey clarified... "( 47: 15) God's pardon. Such a question is, chain. Similarly, the entanglements of however, based upon ignorance of the this world shall be seen as chains on the From this verse, it appears clearly actual meaning of 'maghfirat' and feet. The heart-burning of this world that the boundless paradise is only a 'istighfar.' 'Maghfirat' really means shall likewise be clearly seen as flames representation of boundless oceans of "suppression of a defective state.'' The of burning fire. The wicked one has, in all these things. The water oflife which righteous will be continually praying to fact, in this very world, within himself, the righteous man drinks spiritually in the Lord for the attainment of a hell of the passions and this world shall there appear manifestly perfection and complete immersion in inextinguishable desires of this world as a river; the spiritual milk with which light. They will be ever-ascending and feels the burning of that hell in the he remains in a blissful state in this upwards and will regard every state as frustrations he meets with. When, world shall assume the shape of a river defective in comparison with a higher therefore, he will be cast farther off flowing with wine, and the honey of the one to which they will aspire and will, from his temporal desires and will see sweetness of faith, which he spiritually therefore, pray God to suppress the an everlasting despair before him, his tastes here, will flow in paradise in defective state that they may be able to heart burning and bitter sighs for his palpable rivers. The spiritual state of get to the higher one. Their desire for dear desires will assume the shape of every person will, on that day, become 'maghfirat' will, therefore, be endless burning fire. The Holy Book says: visible to all in his gardens and rivers, because the progress which they will and God also will reveal Himself to the have to make will also be endless. We "And a barrier is placed between righteous in His full glory on that day. can clearly see from this that the true them and that which they In short, the spiritual states will no significance of the word 'istighfar' and desire... "( 34:54) more remain hidden but will manifest also that the desire of it is really the themselves palpably. pride of man, because it is the only It should, therefore, be remembered thing which leads him on to the highest that the punishment which overtakes a Infinite progress excellences which a man can possess.) man is one prepared by his own hands, and his own evil deeds become the The third point of importance that In short, heaven and hell, according source of his torture. This law is the Holy Qur'-an has described in to the Qur'-an, are images and elsewher expressed in the following connection with the life after death is representations of a man's own words: that the progress that can be made in spiritual life in this world. They are not 18 The Islamic Review- February /March 1987 Continued On Page 26 THE DIVINE LAW OF CREATION AND THE BIRTH OF JESUS By Maulana Hafiz Sher Muhammad

iii) "0 people! Surely We have created can be proved from the Holy Qur'-an by ONE LAW OF CREATION you from a male and female."(49:13) and authentic Traditions of the Holy God relates to the beginning when iv) "Let man see what he has been Prophet Muhammad that God caused nothing existed. This law, by which created from. He is created of water Jesus to be born without a father. God brought things into being pouring forth, coming from between When God Himself explains a law of originally, is known in the terminology the back and the ribs."(86:5-7) creation through pairs, then unless He of the Holy Qur'-an as the law oflbda' v) "Surely He has created the pairs, the also says that He domonstrated His ( or origination). It is a manifestation of power by going against that law in a male and the female, from the sperm His Divine power, and only He knows specific case, we cannot take any event when it is cast."(53:45,46) 1how the creation was originated in the as infringing that law. Our community beginning. does not give any importance to this This is the law relating to the creation After that, the second means of particular issue( of the birth of Jesus}; or birth of a human being as set forth creation began, by which God created nonetheless, it is the duty of every by God in the Holy Qur' -an. No everything from a pair. This second law Muslim to make known his sincerely­ human child can be born contrary to of creation is termed the law of I' ada and honestly- drawn conclusions from this law of pairs. (reproduction or repetition) or the law the Holy Qur'-an. Believing Jesus to of Zauj (pairing}. D. NO CHANGE IN DIVINE have had a father or to have been born These laws have been referred to in LAWS: of a virgin does not affect our religious the Holy Qur'-an: beliefs at all, because the issue ofJesus' '' And you will not find any change in birth has no place in the fundamentals A. THE LAWS OF ORIGINA­ the laws ofGod."(33:62; 35:43) of Islamic faith. TION AND REPRODUCTION As with other prophets, the i) "Surely He originates the creation Neither Jesus nor anyone else is outside prophethood of Jesus too must be and reproduces it. "(The Holy Qur' -an, this law ofGod, since the Holy Qur'-an acknowledged by a Muslim. The 85:13) considers Jesus to be a mortal d~ails of how and where he was born, ii) "God originates the creation, then messenger. This is the first proof that where he spent his life, and where he reproduces it, then to Him will you be the birth of Jesus in fact took place died, are not constituents of faith. returned. ''(30: 11) under the law of pairs, as is the case These are historical questions, with other human beings, and he was knowledge of which can be acquired by B. THE LAW OF ZAUJ OR PAIRS not born without a father. Let alone the research. In fact, modern research question of a human being born about Jesus has progressed so much i) "Glory be to Him Who created all without a mother or father, if it is that tnatters previously unknown are the pairs, of what the earth grows, and supposed for the sake of arguement no longer secrets. Muslims and of their own selves, and of that which that God could have a son, even that Christians have written hundreds of they do not know."(36:36) could not happen without the law of books on these topics. ii) "He has created for you pairs from pairs, as the Holy Qur'-an says: 1. BIRTH OF JESUS IN THE amongst yourselves, and pairs from HOLY QUR'-AN amongst cattle. Thus does He cause "How could God have a son when you to spread."( 42: 11) He has no consort."(6:101) The first chapter of the Holy Qur'- iii) "And We have created you as As God has clearly laid down in the an to deal with the birth of Jesus is pairs."(78:8) Holy Qur'-an His law of creation by "The Family of Amran," Chapter 3 of pairs, unless He equally clearly states the Holy Book. At the outset(3:6) this The male-female pairs in man and that He created Jesus, or some other chapter teaches Muslims the principle animals cause the species to propagate. individual, in contradiction to this law that some verses of the Holy Qur' -an in a novel manner, one must accept are "decisive" or "basic," and some C. THE DIVINE LAW OF that the means God brought about for others are "allegorical," "figurative" HUMAN BIRTH his birth were all according to the law or not clear-cut, and that the latter type of pairs. Th~ issue here is not the of verse should be interpreted i) "Then( after the first creation) He unlimited power of God, as to whether according to the definite, unambiguous made his progeny from an extract of He can create a human being without a teachings of the former type of verse. insignificant water."( 32:8) father, for He has the power to create a Otherwise, the chapter warns the ii) "Surely We have created man frolT' human being even without a single Muslims, you too will stumble in sperm mixed(with ovum}."(76:2) parent. The question is only whether it understanding the correct position of The Islamic Review- February /March 1987 19 Jesus and Mary, as did the Christians accusations against the righteous faith. The Qur' ,an tells Muslims that err by not distinguishing between servants of God, as the Jews did against regarding these points they may obtain fundamental teachings and allegorical a lady as holy and pure as Mary. When further information from the followers expressions. God gave Mary, before her marriage, of the previous scriptures: "So ask the At the beginning of the chapter "The the news of the birth to her of a great 'people of the Reminder' if you do not Family of Amran" God has mentioned son, this revelation which gave her know.''( 16:43) the spiritual blessings of the Holy comfort and increased her faith was As the issue of the birth of Jesus is Prophet Muhammad, that only those used by the Jews to level all sorts of not related to the fundamentals of who follow the Holy Prophet shall be false allegations against her. The Holy faith, but to history, i.e., where was he loved by God. In support of this claim, Qur',an refuted every one of these born, what is his genealogy, where did the example of Mary(the mother of charges and not only proved her to be he spend his life, the details of these Jesus) is cited to show how in former piouse, godly and pure, but instituted events can be obtained from the times an Israelite woman attained among the Muslims an honor and title followers of the Gospels. However, the nearness to God by following a named after her, so that whoever prophethood of Jesus is related to the prophet. Then the Holy Qur',an would follow the Holy Prophet basics of faith, and therefore every mentions the spiritual favors Mary Muhammad perfectly and purify his Muslim must believe in it. received due to her following of her character in God's sight he would be prophet. the likeofMary or the likeofthesonof 2. JOSEPH AND MARY BEING In the history ofMary given here, the Mary. Thus did the Holy Qur',an not HUSBAND AND WIFE IN THE Holy Qur',an has given three main only clear Mary of theJ ews' allegations GOSPELS points of guidance to Muslims. Firstly, against her, but bestowed upon her a the Holy Prophet Muhammad is high regard in the religion of Islam. i) " ... andJacobthe fatherofJosephthe commanded: "Say: If you love God Many righteous saints have there been husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was then follow me. God will love you and amongst the Muslims who received born, who is called Christ.''(Matthew, forgive you your sins.''(3:31) It is from God the title 'Mary' and styled 1:16) conveyed in this verse that those who themselves as 'Mary' or the 'son of ii) "When Joseph ... took his wife, but follow the Holy Prophet shall become Mary.' knew her not until she had borne a the lovers and the beloved of God. To Thirdly, the Christians exaggerated son.''( ibid, 1 :24,25) prove this assertion, the Qur',an adds the status of Jesus and Mary, raising that if you study the histories of the them to divinity. So God in the Holy This testimony of the Gospels shows great prophets, such as Noah, Qur',an refutes their divinity with clearly that Mary was the wife of Abraham, and Moses, you find that great wisdom by asking how a man Joseph. amongst their followers there arose could be the son of God who ate, many men and women who were loved drank, answered the call of nature, a) Jesus' family tree: by God, who were spoken to by Him developed in his mother's womb for and guided by Him at every step. The nine months, was born in the ordinary "Jesus, when he began his ministry, example given is that of Mary. The manner, passed through childhood and was about thrity years of age, being the verses point to her purity of character adulthood, etc., and died. Both mother son(as was supposed) of Joseph... the and devotion to God even during her and son shared these characteristics, so son of Adam, the son of God."(Luke, both were human beings, neither being childhood and youth. Due to her piety 3:23,38) and righteousness, angels used to God or an associate with God. The reason the Qur',an describes these descend upon her and guide her by This passage plainly shows Jesus to be events about Mary(i.e., the conception disclosing news of the future. The the son of Joseph. The parenthetical and birth of Jesus) is to refute the Muslims are told that if they too want words "as was supposed" have been doctrine of the divinity ofJ esus, not to angels to descend upon them, and God added to the original, and are not part show that there was any miraculous to speak to them and guide them at of the original text, for in that case they element in what happened. every step, like Mary, they should would not have been in parenthesis. It As prior to the revelation of the become pure and devoted to worship. also appears from this that in Jesus' Holy Qur',an the details of Mary being And if they follow the Holy Prophet time people took him to be the son of the wife of Joseph, the carpenter, and Muhammad perfectly, God will give Joseph; hence these words. having other children from him, were them the spiritual blessings He already to be found in the Gospels, b) Mother's evidence: bestowed upon Mary. This is one there being no disagreement amongst reason for the Qur' ,an to give the the Christians on these, the Qur' ,an "Now his parents went to Jerusalem history of Mary at this point. felt no need to repeat these matters. every year at the feast of the Passover. Secondly, when God grants His Nor does the Qur',an consider it And when he was twelve years old, revelation and Know ledge of the future necessary to mention such points, the they went up according to custom; and to His righteous servants, those people details of which are correctly supplied when the feast was ended, as they were who are worldly,minded and have by the Gospels, and regarding which returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind gone astray from Divine guidance, there is no disagreement amongst the in Jerusalem. His parents did not know consider these revelations of the holy followers of the Christian scripture. it, but supposing him to be in the ones to be based on the recipient's own This is especially so if the matter in company they went a day's journey, desires and make many false question is not even a fundamental of and they sought him among their 20 The Islamic Review, February /March 1987 kinsfolk and acquaintances; and when and Jesus' father, the Holy Qur'-an Islam. The Christian leaders replied they did not find him, they returned to would have refuted these statements, that if Jesus was not the son of God, Jerusalem, seeking him. After three as it refutes other erroneous statements then who was his father? Thus they days they found him in the temple, of the Gospels. The Holy Our'-an's not continued to debate with the Holy sitting among the teachers, listening to rejecting these statements is the second Prophet about Jesus. Eventually, the them and asking them questions; and proof( the first being the law of Holy Prophet asked them: "Do you all who heard him were amazed at his procreation of man through a male and not know that there is no son but he understanding and his answers. And a female) that Jesus was not born bears resemblance to his father?" They when they saw him they were without a father, and that these replied, 'yes.' He said: 'do you not astonished; and his mother said to him: Gospel statements are correct. know our Lord lives forever, will not 'Son, why have you treated us so? die, but Jesus came to an end?' They Behold, your father and I have been 3. THE HOLY PROPHET replied, 'yes.' He said: 'Do you not looking for you anxiously.' "(Luke, MUHAMMAD'S EXPLANA- know that our Lord maintains 2:41-48) TION everything, guards and sustains it?' They replied, 'yes.' He said: 'Do you c) Followers' evidence: After the Holy Qur' -an, the next not know that Jesus was conceived by a authority is the Holy Prophet woman as women conceive, and she "And when Jesus had finished these Muhammad to whom this Book was gave birth to him as women give birth parables, he went away from there, and revealed, and who had the best and fed him as children are fed? And he coming to his own country he taught understanding of its meanings. The used to eat food, drink water, and them in their synagogue, so that they whole world can err in interpreting a answer the call of nature?' They were astonished, and said, 'Where did particular point of the Holy Qur'-an, replied, 'yes.' He said: Then how can this man get this wisdom and these but the Holy Prophet cannot. He is the your claim be true?' They could not mighty works? Is not this the premier commentator of the Holy answer and became silent.'' (Asbab carpenter's son? Is not his mother Qur'-an, and an explanation given by Nuzul al-Qur'-an by Allama Abul called Mary? And are not his brothers him has precedence over every other Hasan Ali Neshapuri, 2nd edition, p. James and Joseph and Simon and person's explanation. So the verdict 53) Judas? And are not all his sisters with that the Holy Prophet gave on the birth Therefore, in reply to the Christians' us?' "(Matthew, 13:53-56) of] esus, during his discussion with the question as to who was Jesus' father, visiting Christian delegation from the Holy Prophet Muhammad silenced d) Jesus' evidence: N ajran, must be considered by a them and rendered them speechless by Muslim to be the most correct in this expressing the view that Jesus had a "The Jesus then murmured at him manner. This discussion is recorded as father. Had the Holy Prophet believed because he said, 'I am the bread which follows: that Jesus was born of a virgin, he could came down from heaven.' They said, "The commentators of the Holy not have given this reply. This is the 'Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, Qur' -an say that the delegation( of third proof that Jesus was not born whose father and mother we know.' Christians) from Najran came to the without a father. This discussion "Gohn 6:41,42) Holy Prophet. It consisted of sixty between the Holy Prophet Muhammad mounted men, of whom fourteen were and the Christian delegation from "Is not this the carpenter, the son of their prominent men. One of them was N ajran is recorded in almost all Mary and brother ofJames andJoseph called al-Aqib, who was their leader standard classical commentaries of the and Judas and Simon, and are not his and whose real name was Abdul Holy Qur'-an such as Tafsir IbnJarir, sisters here with us."(Mark, 6:3) Masih... A third was Abu Haritha ibn Tafsir Kabeer, etc. All the four Gospel writers have Alqamah, who was their religious 4. PROPHETS' ANCESTORS IN described Jesus as the son of Joseph, head. He was in charge of their schools, THE HOLY QUR'-AN the carpenter, and according to their and was the most respected of them. accounts the Jews did not level any He had mastered all their literature, The Holy Qur'-an has not just left accusation of immorality against Mary, thus acquiring a deep knowledge of the matter of explaining the law of but were expressing surprise at Jesus' their faith. The Roman(Byzantine) procreation through a pair of parents, teachings. Had Jesus not beenJoseph's emperors held him in high honor and but where it mentions the proph~ts son, he could not have had brothers had built churches in his name. These collectively it states that they all had and sisters. According to the Gospel people came for an audience with the ancestors(on the father's side). We statements, Mary being Joseph's wife, Holy Prophet.... give below a translation of the Urdu Joseph being Jesus' father, and in "After their prayers, their leaders rendering of verses 6:83-87 of the Holy addition to this, Jesus having several began talks with the Holy Prophet. The Qur' -an by M aulanaA bul Kalam Azad, brothers and sisters from the same Holy Prophet asked them to adopt the famous Indian Muslim scholar of parents, all these facts are so clear and Islam. They replied that they were this century: explicit that no one can deny them. As already follo~ing Islam. He told them "And(look), this was Our argument these statements correspond to the law that they were wrong because they which We gave to Abraham against his of creation through pairs, the Holy believed God to have a son, and that people.... And We gave to Abraham, Qur' -an has not contradicted them. their worship of the cross and eating Isaac and (Isaac's son)Jacob. We Had Joseph not been Mary's husband the flesh of swine was contrary to guided them all to the right way, and The Islamic Review- February /March 1987 21 had guided Noah before Abraham. then her righteousness, purity and marriage with women, and to marry. In And from the descendants of saintliness, and then the command to the light of this, the words ahsanat farja-ha occurring in the above two Abraham, We guided David, her to obey God and keep up prayer. verses mean that Mary guarded her Solomon, Job, Joseph, Moses and These events lead up to her reaching chastity by marriage. Aaron. Thus do We reward the doers adulthood. Then, that guardianship is It is wrong to assert that these words of good( for their good). And to mentioned to deal with the question of mean that Mary guarded her chastity Zacharias, John the Baptist, Jesus and marriage when a girl reached by remaining a virgin. Muhammad llyas-- all of these were of the righteous. adulthood, but as she had been Asad, a renowned present-day Muslim And also to Ishmael, Elisha, Jonah and devoted to the Temple, neither they, scholar, in his recently published Lot- We graced them over the people nor her parents could propose a match. As was customary, it was decided by Message of the Qur' -an, comments on of the world. And of their fathers and casting lots as to who should take these words as follows: descendants and brothers, many did charge of her as his wife. Such a We guide aright. We elevated them " ... it is to be borne in mind that the decision was believed to be the Divine and guided them to the right term ihsan ... has the tropical meaning of verdict. And as Mary was well-known path. "(Tarjuman al-Qur' -an, Vol. 1, 'abstinence from what is unlawful or for her piety and noble character, it was 1st ed., pp. 433,434) reprehensible,' and especially from natural that many should contend to illicit sexual intercourse... thus, for 5. MARY'S MARRIAGE IN THE have her as wife. instance, the terms muhsan and HOLY OUR'-AN After all this proof, there was no While all these matters were being muhsanah are used elsewhere in the Qur'-an to describe, respectively, a need to mention specifically events discussed, it was natural that, hearing man or a woman who is 'fortified(by such as Mary's marriage, but to about them, all sorts of worries should marriage)against unchastity.' Hence provide a conclusive argument to the arise in Mary's mind. So God set her the expression allati ahsanat f arjaha mind at rest through His angels and people of the world, the Holy Qur'-an occurring in the above verse as well as gave her the happy news of a great son. has also mentioned this. It tells us that in 66: 12 with reference to Mary, is but before Mary's birth her mother had She expressed astonishment at this meant to stress her outstanding dedicated the child in the womb to prophecy in the words: chastity and complete abstinence, in Divine service in the Temple. When thought as well as in deed, from Mary was born, her mother prayed to "How can I have a son when no man anything unlawful or morally God: has touched me, nor have I been reprehensible."(Note 87 on verse unchaste."( 19:20) 21:91, p. 500) "I have named her Mary, and I seek protection in Thee for her and her As she was not married at the time, Hence this expression is applicable offspring from the Devil." (The Qur' - or because there were hindrances in her to remaining chaste by marriage, as Asad an, 3:36) way as one dedicated to the Temple, or says. because the sudden news of a son In short, the Holy Qur'-an has before marriage would be astonishing From this prayer it appears that, discussed all aspects of the issue of the for a virgin, Mary expresses surprise as despite the fact that she devoted Mary birth of] esus, without leaving anything to how this would happen. The angel to the Temple, it was not her intention out, and said that he was not born replied: "God says, shall be so;"i.e., that her daughter should remain a It without a father, but had a father, as it would be according to the natural law spinster for life. Rather, she knew that did all prophets, and as do all human of mating that is being referred to. In on growing up Mary would marry and beings. This is the fifth proof that Jesus other words, all the obstacles will be have children. So she prayed not only had a father. removed and she would be married, for Mary but also for her offspring. These are a few points of principle and the child would be born in the When Mary reached the age of about Jesus' birth which we have chaste manner. This same point has training, her mother gave her in the concluded from the Holy Qur' -an. If been mentioned twice elsewhere in the charge of Zacharias at the Temple. you disagree with our conclusions, Holy Qur' -an: Under him she received the best please ponder upon the Holy Qur'-an spiritual upbringing, and upon because it invites everyone to think and i) "And Mary, daughter of Amran, reaching youth prayers were enjoined reflect upon it. However, as the Holy who guarded her chastity by upon her. As the Qur'-an records: Qur'-an is a clear and decisive Book, marriage( ahsanat).' ' ( 66: 12) please do not let alien beliefs influence "0 Mary! obey thy Lord, and you, for the Holy Qur' -an is far and prostrate and bow down with those ii) "And she who guarded her chastity above these. who bow down."(3:43) by marriage(ahsanat)."(21:91) After this, the Holy Qur'-an 6. JESUS' CONTEMPORARY mentions that guardianship about In these verses, Mary's marriage is JEWS which there arose a dispute. The Qur' - mentioned, for the Arabic word an is a very orderly Book, and here all ahsanat is used to mean marry. In the After the Holy Qur' -an, we give a the events are narrated in the Holy Qur' -an the words muhsanat, few passages from the Gospels which chronological sequence. First Mary's muhsineen, and tahassun-an( all from the prove that Jesus was Mary's son by her birth is mentioned, then her being root H-S-N)mean, respectively, hushand. Had that not been so(God entrusted to the charge of Zacharias, married women, men who enter into forbid), the Jews would not have 22 The Islamic Review- February /March 1987 allowed him to undergo rituals and ii) Sir Sayyid Ahmad Khan, famous such things. Mary pointed to her ceremonies in the holy Temple. Muslim thinker and educationist of guardian, Zacharias, that they should However, the Gospels record that nineteenth century India, and Ibadulla talk to him, as he had been responsible Mary andJ esus always performed their Akhtar, B.A., also denied that Jesus for it. They said that her marriage had religious obligations in the Temple: was born of a virgin. set a bad example for others, and that other children dedicated to the Temple i) "And at the end of eight days, when iii) From the Ahl- sect, Maulvi would also marry after growing up, he was circumcised, he was called Hafiz I nay at Ullah of W azirabad disrupting the whole organization." Jesus, the name given by the angel writes: (Oyoon Zamzam fi milad Isa ibn before he was conceived in the "Mary left her husband's house, Maryam, pp. 1 72-1 76) womb."(Luke, 2:21) which was on the western side, in iv) Ghulam Ahmad Pervaiz writes: displeasure and went and stayed at her ii) "And when the time came for their parents' house on the eastern side. She "If you bear in mind this point about purification according to the law of was not inclined to return. Meanwhile, the creation of a human being, the Moses, they brought him up to the truth came out and Zacharias was significance of the verse in question Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, also grieved. Recourse was had to both ('Surely the likeness ofJesus with God as it is written in the law ofMoses, they prayer and medicine, which God is as the likeness of Adam') becomes brought him up to Jerusalem to present blessed, and addressing him revealed clear. In other words, whatever belief him to the Lord, as it is written in the that He would grant her a son. At this, law of the Lord they every male that the Christians may hold about Jesus' Zacharias let this revelation be known opens the womb shall be called holy to birth, they are told that in God's eyes to her husband, and told him to go and the Lord."(Luke, 2:22,23) his birth was like the birth of any tell Mary about it and bring her home. human child, which from its inception But when he got there, she made the iii) "And when the parents brought in reaches its completion through a same complaint which prevented her the childJesus(i.e., to the Temple), to number of stages. Thus did it happen return, and asked for a divorce. 'I seek do for him according to the custom of with Jesus. '0 Prophet! What is refuge( divorce) from you, that we the law."(Luke, 2:27) revealed to thee about Jesus being a cannot have relations.' She also human being, and about his birth, is mentioned her state of health. After iv) "And his father and his mother the truth from thy Lord; so there is no some discussion, he told her that the room for thee to argue or debate.' marvelled at what was said about revelation had said clearly that this him."(Luke, (3:59) 2:33) union would be blessed and God So these verses of the Gospels make would grant a pure boy. She wondered "The Holy Qur'-an has called Jesus it plain that Jesus was born in the same that since he, her husband, had not the like of Adam also because, manner as other children, and they touched her, how she could have a son? according to the Gospels, he used to clearly mention his parents. This is the He explained things to her and told her call himself the son of man. For sixth proof that Jesus was not born that her guardian(Zacharias) had sent instance, 'Then he came to the disciples without a father. him to inform her of the revelation and and said to them, sleep and take rest, v) "And when they had performed bring her home. At last, she returned the time has come and the son of man is everything according to the law of the with him, and at the appropriate time handed over to the sinners. '(Matthew, Lord, they returned into Galilee, to became pregnant. Then she had to Ch. 26) Hence, he who calls himself their own city, Nazareth."(Luke, 2:39) accompany her husband on a long 'the son of man,' his birth is like the It appears from these extracts from journey for some worldly purpose. It birth of Adam( or man). He is the son the Gospels that, in accordance with so happened that her pains started of man, and born like a human." the law of Moses, Jesus was when they were near a palm tree in (Shulah Mastur, pp. 132-133) circumcised on the eighth day after Bethlehem. She lamented the fact that birth, as had been the case with John it had not happened in a better place, so v) The famous Indian Muslim scholar the Baptist. And for forty days Mary that she would have been relieved of it of earlier this century, Sayyid Sulaiman was in the state of pollution due to less painfully. The owner of the tree, N adawi, wrote: which she could not go to the Temple. who happened to be sitting under it After that period, she bathed herself, selling his dates, out of sympathy let "Jesus had a mother and, according and went to the Temple, taking along a her pick any dates that she wanted, to the Gospel account, brothers and pair of doves for sacrifice, to fulfill the whenever she felt the need, and let her sisters as well, and even a human religious obligations. drink from a stream flowing under the father."(Khutbat Madaras, p. 51) 7. MUSLIM VIEWS tree as much as she wanted. He told her vi) In his journal Sidq, Maulana Abdul to rest, and if anyone spoke to her, to Majid Daryabadi oflndia received the There have been Muslim scholars just say that she had undertaken a fast following inquiry: from time to time who did not accept of silence. She then returned back to that Jesus was born without a father: her people, and seeing the baby in her "I have seen two leters of Sir Sayyid arms, they objected that this type of Ahmad Khan, dated August 7, 1870 i) The sect known as Batiniyya deny the domestic life, in breach of her parent's and April 8, 1882, addressed to Maulvi virgin birth: "And they deny thatJesus vow, was against the religious law. Mumtaz Husain. In both these letters was born without a father. "(Tahzib al­ They added that her father did not Sir Sayyid has emphasized that (God Ikhlaq, vol. i, p. 382) break his word, nor did her mother like for bid) Jesus being born without a The Islamic Review- February /March 1987 23 father is not proved from the Holy Hence, according to Asad, "neither the Gujrat was about to write his book Al­ Qur'-an. His birth, says Sir Sayyid, was Qur'-an nor any authentic Tradition" T anqih fi wilada tul Masih, in which he a natural human birth. However, in tells us that Jesus was actually born of a proved Jesus to have a father, he wrote verse 20 of the chapter 'Mary' of the virgin. Consequently, not the slightest letters to various Muslim scholars Holy Qur'-an, Mary says to the angel blame can attach to any Muslim who including Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Gabriel, 'How can I have a son when no believes that Jesus had a father. Ahmad, asking for their opinion on man has touched me, nor have I been this issue. By order ofHazrat Mirza, the unchaste?' (Yours faithfull, Abul Wafa 8. HAZRAT MIRZA GHULAM following reply was sent: Sadiqui, Delhi-6) AHMAD'S VIEWS ON THE MARRIAGE OF MARY AND "In reply to your postcard of "Sidq- Yes, the majarity of religious THE DIVINE LAW OF PRO­ September 19, 1894, it is stated that at scholars have taken this verse, and other CREATION the present time the Promised Messiah verses, in the meanings which are well­ is engaged on such important religious known. But Sir Sayyid and his co-thinkers i) "Man originally was not created matters that he cannot devote his have interpreted these verses to mean, far from sperm, but one being was created attention elsewhere. He says that if the instance, that the obstacles in the way of from another. After that, the second Almighty God were to reveal Mary becoming pregnant were removed.­ law took effect, by which human something to him about this, you whether this conclusion is correct or not, beings are created from sperm." would certainly be informed. One's this interpretation does not make one (Chashma Marifat, p. 215) concentration does not work under subject to a verdict of heresy." (Sidq]adid, one's own direction. When God Lucknow, April 7, 1972 ii) "Every sensible person must admit wishes to reveal something in the that the first era was a period of pure interest of mankind, He directs His vii) Allama Al-Sayyid Abdul Qayyum Divine creation, when the general law servant's attention towards that point. Qayoomi writes: prevailing was that everything was Yours humbly, Abdul Karim, , accomplished without means. It is not September 23, 1894." "It is a matter of great astonishment correct to apply that to the present Regarding Jesus' death too, until God that despite the facts that Mary was ages; for instance, no child is now born informed and corrected him by married and went to live with her without a mother or a father. If, revelation, he continued to believe that hushand, that they lived together, and however, man's creation in the Jesus was alive in heaven, as did other that everything took place, yet the son beginning had depended upon the pre­ Muslims. This is why he says that until to whom Mary gave birth had no existence of parents, how would the he receives some disclosure from God father! God forbid, God forgive us! world have come into being!" (Barahin about the birth of Jesus, he cannot say Thank God that, in this book, by Ahmadiyya, p. 335) anything. He acted on this principle all proving the marriage of Mary, her his life, that unless God informed him living with her husband, and Jesus iii) "Every human being is born of a on an issue by revelation, he held the male and a female. If you follow this having a father, from the Holy Qur'-an, same view on that point as the Sunni chain to its origin, then mankind will the Gospels, books of Tradition, and Muslims. statements of sunni Muslim scholars, prove to have descended from Adam and his wife." Oune 10, 1903) in a most detailed and factual manner, ix) "The person who accuses me of not we have refuted the false belief that honoring Jesus- I respect and honor iv) "this is an error of history amongst Jesus had no father and established the not only Jesus but even his four the Muslims. Authentic history shows reality which daylight clarity." brothers for all the five had the same that Mary married Joseph, and had (Haqiqat al-Masih, p. 237) mother." children from him."(Al-Hakam, October 30, 1902) viii) In this recently-published Message As a footnote to the above, he wrote: of the Qur' -an, Muhammad Asad, the "Jesus had four brothers and two v) "It is a great mistake to consider internationally-known Muslim sisters, i.e., all were the children of Mary as being a spinster throughout scholar, writes: Joseph and Mary.' (Kishti Nuh) her life and never marrying. We cannot deny historical facts." (Ibid) • 'In connection with the x) During Hazrat Mirza's life, some of announcement of a son to Mary, the his followers expressed the view that vi) "Jesus worked with his father Qur'-an states in 3:47 that 'when He Jesus had a father. Hazrat Mirza, while Joseph as a carpenter till the age of 22 wills a thing to be, He but says unto it, differing with them, was always years." (Izalah Auham, footnote, p. Be, and it is': but since neither the tolerant and broad-minded. "Once Qur' -an nor any authentic Tradition 37) Hazrat Mirza asked Shaikh Qamar-ud­ tells us anything about the chain of din ofJhelum to show him the verses of causes and effects ( asbab) which God's vii) "One should not be at all surprised the Qur'-an from which the Shaikh decree 'Be' was to bring into being, all that Jesus, paternal ancestor solomon, believed that Jesus had a father. At speculation as to the 'how' of this even may have shown this miracle of first, the Shaikh sahib, out of respect must remain beyond the scope of a wisdom to the opponents of the time." for Hazrat Mirza, remained silent. But Qur'-an-commentary." (Note 15 on (Ibid, p. 304) upon Hazrat Mirza repeating the verse 19: 11, p. 459) viii) When 'Master' Imam-ud-Din of question, he mentioned the arguments 24 The Islamic Review- February /March 1987 from the Qur',an that he knew. Divine nearness, to accomplish self, 1 O. THE QADIANIS Hearing the arguments, hazrat Mirza reform, and to acquire noble morals, it said: "Your arguments are certainly is necessary to believe that} esus had no i) In a booklet called Izhar Haqiqat strong but until God gives me to father. published just before the death of understand this point I will follow the Maulana Nur,ud,Din by the views of the majorit_y of 5) Besides Jesus, how many prophets, Ansarullah group of Qadianis, Muslims ... Hazrat Mirza said to Hakim messengers and appointed ones of containing signatures of forty Fazal din(who had complained about God, have there been! ls the genealogy prominent men of the Ansarullah, they Shaikh Sahib's belief): 'How can you of any one of them recorded in the answered an objection raised by declare as heretic someone who bases Holy Qur',an? In fact, God says, 'None someone against Maulana Nur,ud,Din his arguments on the Qur',an?" knows the host of thy Lord, save He.' to the effect that he was associated with (Mujaddid Azam, Life ofHazrat Mirza, So it is not necessary to know of the those who believed Jesus to have a vol. ii, p. 1342) existence of everyone, let alone how father. It is written in this reply: "You they were born." (Book Nur-ud-Din, should first answer whether he( the xi) "The Christians cannot stand their pp. 181, 132) Maulana) was associated with the ground against Islam because they have ii) When 'Master' Muhammad Saeed Promised Messiah, or not. Prove from taken as god a man who had a father, sent his book Sa-adat Maryamiyya, Islamic law that those who believe four brothers and two sisters, and was about the birth of Jesus by a father, to Jesus to have a father should be constantly persecuted by the Jews." Maulana Nur,ud,Din he gave the excluded from Islam, or should be (Ruhani Khaza'in, No. 2, vol. x, p. 53) following reply: declared to be transgressors and disbelievers like those who deny the xii) Hazrat Mirza believed, like Shah "God does not waste anyone's caliphs." (Izhar Haqiqat, p. 23) Wali,Ullah of Delhi( d. 1763), that effort. He says, 'Whoever desires the Mary did not conceive from the Holy Hereafter and makes an effort. for it, ii) Mirza Mahmud Ahmad, the Khalifa Spirit, and Jesus' birth without a father and he is a believer, these it is whose of the Qadianis, replied to a Christian was just a wonder of the creative power effort is rewarded.' When it is preacher in 1913 as follows: of God. He wrote: accompanied by your sincerity and the backing of the Qur',an, you become "The reverend says that all Muslims "One of the beliefs we hold is that deservant of Divine gratitude.... ! are agreed upon this issue, except Sir Jesus Christ and John the Baptist were myself have held these beliefs since Sayyid who has rejected it on rational both born miraculously ... And the childhood, but you have not given the grounds, but that no one has rejected it secret in creating Jesus and John arguments which I had in my mind. on the basis of the Holy Qur' ,an. miraculously in this manner was the However, Hazrat Mirza had said that However, I will go on to show that he is manifestation of a great sign... And the we hve not been told by revelation to wrong in saying that no one has first thing God did to bring this about devote energy on this point. rejected it from the Holy Qur',an. I will was the creation of Jesus without a Otherwise, this is no great issue, and if prove that people have shed light on father through the manifestation of there is Divine support we can write this from the Qur' ,an itself and have Divine power only." (Mawahib al­ about it. Therefore, I am silent, and proved that Jesus was not born without Rahman, pp. 70-72) will remain silent till a Divine a father, but was born like the rest of 9. VIEWS OF HAZRAT the world. What I mean to say is that MAULANA NUR-UD-DIN command comes. This is a particular matter. But your labor cannot be there have been differences on this worthless." (Published in Periodical issue, and that some people have i) 1) "The Islam taught to us by that believed Jesus to have had a father:" Divine Scripture, the Holy Qur',an, Paigham Sulh, March 22, 1929) (Tashhiz al-Azhan, April 1913, pp. does not say anywhere that to become a iii) Shaikh Muhammad Jan, secretary 165,170) Muslim you need to believe that Jesus of the Ahmadiyya Anjuman of had no father. W azirabad, made a written inquiry from Maulana Nur,ud,Din in 1911 iii) In 1917, the following reply was 2) The Holy Prophet has not told us which ran: "Sir! If a person amongst given on behalf of Mirza Mahmud that a part of Islam is to believe that your disciples does not believe that Ahmad to a question about the birth of Jesus had no father. Jesus was born without a father, is this Jesus: to the detriment of his faith?" The 3) Our beloved holy Companions, our answer was given as follows: "As far as "the Khalifat,ul,Masih II (Mirza four leaders of jurisprudence, and my understanding goes, this issue is not Mahmud Ahmad) says that it is not on other great Imams, have nowhere a part of faith. There is no explicit the basis of a clear verdict that he instructed us that it is necessary to direction in the Holy Qur' ,an or believes Jesus to have been born believe that Jesus was born without a Hadith to the effect that one must hold without a father, but it is a mere father. this belief. Ifsomeone's research forces deduction, against which other people this conclusion( that Jesus had a father) deduce the opposite view. However, 4) Our respected Sufi saints have not upon him, he cannot help it. This is my historically the Ahmadiyya exhorted us anywhere in their view, Nur,ud,Din." (Al,Mahdi, Community has held the belief that teachings that to attain the ranks of January 1915) Jesus had no father." The Islamic Review, February /March 1987 25 VIEW OF HAZRAT MAULANA into effect the law for mankind that MUHAMMAD ALI after the beginning this race propagates Islam My Choice by the sperm, and He says that He From Page 8 In his Urdu commentary of the makes man from the sperm of the male Qur'-an, Hazrat Maulana writes: mixed with the female. So unless God 31, 1976, I stated my Shadah; I bear explicitly says that He created Jesus witness that there is no God but Allah "Christians believe in the virgin against this law of mating, and in a and I bear witness that Muhammad birth of Jesus, and so do Muslims different manner, we would have to (peace and blessings of Allah be on generally. But there are Christians who accept that the means which God him) is his Messenger. I am not sure as do not believe this, and also Muslims brought about correspond to this law. to whether I stated Shadah on that day who do not. There is, however, one There is no question here of whether at San Quentin State prison because I difference. If, in fact, Jesus was not God has the power to do such a thing believed in Allah or because I wanted born without a father, it does not have or not. He can create someone without to change my life or, simply because I any effect on any religious belief of the a father or a mother. The question is liked those people and their moral Muslims because it is not part of their only whether it can be shown from the manners and discipline. I think faith to believe in the virgin birth. But Holy Qur'-an or authenticHadith that probably because of the later, as I the very foundations of the structure of God made Jesus without a father. continued to gamble and to use and, Christianity are uprooted if it cannot When He Himself explains a law, then even to sell, drugs for about twelve be proved that Jesus was born without unless He Himself says that in a certain months even after declaring my a father. For if he had a father, then case He displayed His power as against Shadah. Mary did not conceive of the Holy that law, we cannot take something to When did I become a true Muslim in Spirit, nor was Jesus divine, nor is the have happened to breach ofHis law. So my heart? When did the change take doctrine of atonement correct. if some person concludes from the place? When did and how did I put words of the Holy that} esus was aside the ignorant deeds and start to "So, Jesus not being born of a virgin born without a father, let him believe develop a sense and spirit of Taqwa? uproots Christianity altogether, but it. I do not draw this conclusion from When did my spirit grow from a "spirit does no harm to Islam. A Muslim the Qur'-anic words. Though I do not prone to evil" to the stage of "a self­ equally believes in the prophethood of consider this issue to be of any great accusing spirit"? These questions are Jesus whether he had a father or not. importance, I think that it is a Muslim's hard to answer. All I can say is that it He only wants to consider what the duty to make known his honestly and was a gradual transition that continues Holy Qur'-an says, or what can be sincerely drawn conclusions from the even now. I have discovered that established from the Holy Prophet's Qur'-an. Believing Jesus to have had spiritual journey is an endless journey, Sayings. If these record birth without a father, or believing him not to have ha which continues even after death and I father, he will accept that, otherwise a father, does not effect our religious feel extremely fortunate that I have at not. Nor would being born without a beliefs or practical actions in any way." least started on this path. I am not yet father show him to be superior to the (Bayan al-Qur'-an, note, p. 427) the type of Muslim I would like to be prophets who had fathers because, for and hope to be. I pray to Allah to grant that matter, Adam and Eve had no me wisdom and strength to fortify my father, and the Bible mentions moral spiritual self in such a way as is someone else who had neither father pleasing to His sight and to grant me nor mother(see Hebrews, 7:3). In this the strength to overcome the case, these three would be considered weaknesses of which I suffer. Amen. superior to Jesus. But, in fact, the very Promised Messiah Speaks What change my accepting Islam has argument is wrong that one born From Page 18 worked· in my lifestyle and in my without a father is superior. outlook towards life can easily be new material worlds which come from "Besides this, a Muslim does not discovered and detected by those who outside. It is true that they will be hold that Mary conceived from the know me since my pre-Muslim days. A visible and palpable, call them Holy Spirit. If he was born without a former rapist, burglar, forger, robber, material if you will, but they are only father, this would merely be one of the drug dealer and murderer is now a embodiments of the spiritual facts of wonders of creation, that Mary crusader against all these evils rampant this life. We call them material not in possessed both types of faculties. In in our American society and a soldier fact, it is not even a miracle because it is the sense that there will be trees in the path of Allah who now cares not necessary for a miracle that someone planted in the paradisical fields just like only about myself, his family, and his should be a witness or observer. But those that are planted here below and community but also about the none except Mary could be a witness to that there will be brimstone and sufferings of all mankind. From a her conceiving without a husband. sulphur in hell, but in the sense that we debased criminal, Islam has turned me What sort of a miracle would this be? shall there find the embodiment of the into a self-respecting human being who So all we have to determine is what the spiritual facts of this life. Heaven and is aware that his creation and his life Holy Qur'-an and the Hadith disclose hell, according to Islamic belief, are the has a purpose which can be put in two about this. images of the actions whic? we simple statements: "Submission to erform down here. "God Himself says that He has put Allah and Service to Mankind." 26 The Islamic Review- February /March 1987 SOME AUTHENTIC WORKS ON ISLAM

By Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad­ The Promised Messiah & Mehdi Najmul Buda (The Star that Guides) • Teachings of Islam • Triumph of Islam By Maulana Muhammad Ali, M.A., LI.B.- The Holy Qur'an. English translation with Arabic text. exhaustive footnotes, and detailed index. • The Religion of Islam. "Extremely useful work. almost indispensable to the stu­ dents of Islam." -Dr. Sir Muhammad Iqbal • A Manual of Hadith. A selection from Hadith. • Muhammad the Prophet. A biography. • The Early Caliphate • The Living Thoughts of the Prophet Muhammad. A wonderful book on the life and teachings of the Holy Prophet. • The New World Order • The Ahmadiyya Movement • Mu­ hammad and Christ • Muslim Prayer Book • History of Prophets • Introduction to Study of Quran

By Maulana Aftabuddin Ahmad­ Sahih Bukhari, parts 1. 2. 3 By Maulana Abdul Haq Vidyarthi­ Muhammad in World Scriptures By Khawaja Nazir Ahmad, Barrister-at-Law­ Jesus in Heaven on Earth By Mumtaz Ahmad Faruqui- Anecdotes from the Life of the Prophet Muhammad • Anecdotes frum the Life of the Promised Messiah • The Crumbling of the Cross • Prayers of the Quran and the Holy Prophet • Truth Triumphs By Mirza Masum Beg­ Christ Is Come By Mrs. Ulfat Aziz Us-Samad­ Great Religions of the World By Ghulam Nabi Muslim- Manual of Quran HOLY QUR'-AN Spanish Translation with Commentary and Arabic Text Ask for these books at your bookstore. or write for complete details and prices to: Zafar Abdullah. 36911 Walnut St .. Newark. Calif. 94560 MUHAMMAD THE GREATEST MAN OF HISTORY

"If greatness of purpose, smallness of means, and astounding results are the three criteria of human genius, who could dare to compare any great man in modem history with Muhammad? " ... Philosopher, orator, apostle, legislator, warrior, conqueror of ideas, restorer of rational dogmas, of a cult without images; the founder of twenty terrestrial empires and of one spiritual ,, empire, that is Muhammad. As regards all standards by which human greatness may be measured, we may well ask: Is there any man greater than he?" -Alphonse de Lamartine in Histoire de la Turquie

QUR'AN, THE GREATEST SPIRITUAL FORCE

"It is the one miracle claimed by Muhammad-his standing miracle, he called it-and a miracle it is." -Bosworth Smith

"Never has a people been led more rapidly to civilization, such as it was, than were the

Arabs through Islam .... And to it was also indirectly due the marvelous development of all I branches of science in the Moslem world." -New Researches by H. Hirschfeld

"Here, therefore, its merits as a literary production should, perhaps, not be measured by some preconceived maxims of subjective and aesthetic taste, but by the effects which it produced in Muhammad's contemporaries and fellow-countrymen. If it spoke so powerfully and convincingly to the hearts of his hearers as to weld hitherto centrifugal and antagonistic elements into one compact and well organized body, animated by ideas far beyond those which had until now ruled the Arabian mind, then its eloquence was perfect, simply because it created a civilized nation out of savage tribes, and shot a fresh woof into the old warp of history." -Dr. Steingass, Hughes' Dictionary of Islam

THE BEAUTIFUL CHARACTERISTICS OF ISLAM

"I have always held the religion of Muhammad in high estimation because of its wonderful vitality. It is the only religion which appears to me to possess that assimilating capacity to the changing phases of existence which can make itself appeal to every age. I have studied him­ the wonderful man-and in my opinion far from being an anti-Christ, he must be called the Saviour of Humanity. I believe that if a man like him were to assume the Dictatorship of the modem world, he would succeed in solving its problems in a way that would bring it the much needed peace and happiness. I have prophesied about the faith of Muhammad that it would be acceptable to the Europe of tomorrow as it is beginning to be acceptable to the Europe of today." -George Bernard Shaw

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