Contents June 2004, Vol.99, No.6

Avoid Those Who Create Disorder: People should identify you as the special servants of Allah Address to the Annual gathering of the Ahmadiyya Community in Ghana asking participants to deal with others with kindness, tolerance, compassion, justice and humility. By saving the next generation from the ills of the society, become a guarantor for the survival of your future generation and nation. By Hadrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih V...... 2

The Essence of Islam – III Devoting one’s life to the cause of God Almighty so that he becomes the object of worship, the true goal and the beloved and so that one’s life is devoted to the service of His creatures are the true essence of Islam. y. By Hadrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad (as) ...... 15

Treatment of Prisoners of War The enslavement of conquered people or their being held as prisoners of war requires that they must be treated with justice and granted the rights available to all free persons. Islam set the standards for others to follow: By Hadrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad(as)...... 28

Peace Symposium A Dharma Talk on Buddhism: Emphasis on Peace argues that peace and happiness depend on our minds by Phrakru Sarnu Lom; A Jewish View on Peace looking squarely at the absence of war to promote peace. By Rabbi Danny Rich...... 47

My Journey into the Ahmadiyya Community A young American recalls her acceptance of Islam. By Dara Fulton, USA ...... 54

Noah’s Ark – Another Viewpoint Those who rode in Noah’s Ark heeded the Warner sent to them; likewise the plague during the time of the Promised Messiah(as) swept away 10 million disbelievers. by Latif Qureshi...... 58 Letters to the Editor ...... 63

Basit Ahmad Chief Editor and Manager: Mansoor Ahmed Shah Bockarie Tommy Kallon Management Board: Special contributors: Design and layout: Fareed Ahmad Mr Munir-ud-din Shams (Chairman) Amatul-Hadi Ahmad Tanveer Khokhar Fazal Ahmad Mr Mansoor Shah (Secretary) Farina Qureshi Publisher: Fauzia Bajwa Mr Naseer Ahmad Qamar Proof-reader: Al Shirkatul Islamiyyah Mr Mubarak Ahmad Zafar Mansoor Saqi Shaukia Mir Distribution: Mr Mirza Fakhar Ahmad Mahmood Hanif Muhammad Hanif Mr. Abdul Baqi Arshad Mansoora Hyder-Muneeb

Navida Shahid All correspondence should The Review of Religions © Islamic Publications, 2004 Sarah Waseem be forwarded directly to the The London Mosque ISSN No: 0034-6721 editor at: 16 Gressenhall Road Saleem Ahmad Malik London, SW18 5QL Tanveer Khokhar. United Kingdom

Views expressed in this publication are not necessarily the beliefs of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community 1 Avoid Those Who Create Disorder: People should identify you as the special servants of Allah

Address by Hadrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih V, to the Annual Gathering of the Ahmadiyya Community in Ghana

Assalamu alalikum warahmatullah wabarakatuhu [Peace and blessings of Allah be upon you]

By the grace of Allah, the Jalsa Salana of Jama’at Ahmadiyya Ghana starts today. These Annual Conventions in various countries of the world are held pursuant to the tradition started by the dition and should become ‘t h e Promised Messiah( a s ) for the s e rvants of the Gracious God’ tarbiyyat [or spiritual training and because Allah has said: reformation] of the members of the Jama’at. And I have not created the Jinn and the men but that they The purpose of the Promised may worship Me. Messiah(as) behind this Jalsa, as I (Al-Dhariyat Ch. 51: V.57) said just now, is to reform the members of the Jama’at so that The second important purpose of they know what is religion. A these Jalsas is that by meeting living relationship with God each other to create an envi- should be created in them. By ronment of brotherhood, and a listening to speeches on subjects loving relationship should begin of reformation, they should begin to grow. People from various to improve their spiritual con- towns, different families, and

2 The Review of Religions – June 2004 Avoid Those Who Create Disorder tribes; persons from various The Promised Messiah(as) says that schools of thought and different the minimum standard should be temperament; persons holding such that it is free of all personal diverse opinions on worldly desires and a true believer should matters; the educated and the elevate his relationship with Allah uneducated Ahmadis, should to such heights that even if one gather together, should recognise knows that there is no paradise each other, should participate in and no hell, even then one should each others, moments of be so lost in the love of Allah that happiness and sorrow, and should one should worship Allah and pray for the growth of the Jama’at should never cause this worship to and the country. This is because slacken. If a person recounts the in whichever country you dwell, it blessings and benevolence which has a right on you that you should Allah has endowed through His use your talents and abilities for attribute of Rahmaniyyat [or His the progress of the community Grace] then at once one wants to and the country with absolute bow down towards Him. When loyalty. So, this is such a spiritual we begin to try and pray like that, gathering in which we find also we would be able to receive the opportunity to reform countless favours of Allah the ourselves and create a bond of Almighty. May Allah enable us to brotherhood with our brethren. do that. We also get a chance to get to know new friends and build The second important purpose of relationships. life is Haququl ‘Ibad or the rights of man to other men. The There are only two supreme obligations towards Allah’s purposes of human life. One is creation can only be discharged H a q u q u l l a h, the obligation we when for Allah’s sake we begin to owe to Allah, and the other is be kind towards God’s creatures. Haququl ‘Ibad, the fulfilment of True kindness towards Allah’s our duty towards Allah’s servants creation can never arise till we and His creation. So, as I said have the ability of tolerance; till earlier, one is the worship of God. our hearts are filled with

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compassion; till our ideologies not spend any time with those manifest justice; and till we deal who are evil, who lead a bad with everyone in humility. When way of life, who create all these qualities begin to disorder, or who are of a bad develop in us, we can say that we character nor should they find have truly recognised the a place in your homes because teachings of Islam and they can be cause of Ahmadiyyat because this is what misguidance for you. Islam requires. It would be a great misfortune if after having found These are those matters and such beautiful teaching of Islam, conditions that I have been we fail to act upon it. Then, as emphasising from the very Ahmadis, we carry an extra beginning and it shall be burden of responsibility because compulsory for every person true to the prophecies of the Holy to act on these admon- Prophet Muhammad(sa) we have ishments and there should be believed in the Promised Messiah no element of impurity, and Mahdi(as) who presented the ridicule or derision in your beautiful teachings of Islam once meetings; and walk on this again before us. earth with piety in your heart and purity of thoughts and Now, I wish to present before you, conduct and remember every in brief, some examples of these mischief is not worth beautiful teachings. The Promised responding. Therefore, it is M e s s i a h( a s ) says in an adver- important that you should tisement: develop a habit of forgiveness and mercy. You should act ‘It befits you that there should with patience and forbearance be no intention to cause any and do not assail anyone loss to any religion, any unlawfully.’ people, or any man in any group but instead you should What a beautiful teaching is this! become sincere advisors to all. Do not even think of causing any It is also necessary that you do loss to any person or any nation.

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you to move you away from the Ahmadiyya Community and sometime, they may even use you against the country because trouble makers cause nothing but disorder and conflict. It is none of your business to keep company with such people.

Further he said that sometimes Loss or damage is not only caused one takes action against such by wars, but it can arise in troublemakers in frustration, but it everyday life by making is not important to reply to every complaints against your col- mischief. According to the leagues in the office. Damage can commandment of Allah, you be caused to those with whom you should turn your face and walk do not agree by spreading away from such troublemakers rumours against them, and there because all these are trivial and are many other minor ways in useless matters. Submit yourself which you can cause a loss to to Allah and pray to Him to save others. The Promised Messiah(as) you from these troublemakers and tells us that we should not even save the Ahmadiyya Community think about this. Truth should and save our country from the always be your guiding light and people who want to cause whenever you give advice to mischief and dissention. Yo u others, always do it honestly so should preach peace. Whichever that people say that if you want society you live in, people should true advice, go to such and such point at you and say that those an Ahmadi because he will never who are steadfast in their faith and give you false counsel. Then, the are the special servants of Allah; Promised Messiah(as) advises that and who remember the duties of we should not mix with people man to Allah, are none other than who indulge in false rumours the Ahmadis, who live in because such people can cause harmony and peace with their

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neighbours; and regardless of have taken up the responsibility to religion and despite differences of spread it in the world. Prepare ideologies, can act with justice; yourself for this task. Excel in the and, that it is only Ahmadis who field of education. Improve your are the source of establishing moral and spiritual conduct. Take world peace. In this day and age, this improvement to the heights when the world is in turmoil, the that Allah expects from us. responsibility is even greater. Resolve to hold high the banner of Everyone is only concerned with justice in the world – justice that his own self and there is no one to is free from any personal look after others. considerations.

Fortunate and lucky are such Allah says in the Holy Qur’an, Ahmadis who live in this part of the world because you have O ye who believe! Be steadfast accepted the Imam of this age in in the cause of Allah, bearing accord with the prophecies of the witness in equity; and let not a Holy Prophet of Islam( s a ). Yo u people’s enmity incite you to carry the additional respon- act otherwise than with sibility to create an environment justice. Be always just, that is of peace in your country and also nearer to righteousness. And continue your efforts to spread fear Allah. Surely Allah is peace in the world. Some Western aware of what you do. powers, who enslaved some parts (Ch.5: V.9) of Asia and Africa in the past, are wrong to claim that they shall See, what a beautiful teaching. again create peace. They will do Allah commands you to establish what they have done before and equity. Do this because this is that is enslave the nations. piety. When you dispense justice like this, you will be nearer to If there is going to be peace in this righteousness. You will be righ- world, it will come through you teous and you will be the ones and through the beautiful who fear Allah. Always beware in teachings of Islam for which you case the voice within you removes

6 The Review of Religions – June 2004 Avoid Those Who Create Disorder the fear of Allah from you and language and our opinions differ, never let it happen that the voice and therefore we cannot get of your self prompts you that as together. Or that he mistreated our someone is your enemy, it is right elders, therefore, he cannot be to do injustice to him. Allah says, forgiven and that if I get hold of never do that because when you him, I will take my revenge. Allah do injustice to your enemies it says that you should never means that you have no fear of harbour malice or grudge but that Allah in your heart, because Allah you should have courage and is telling you clearly that never patience. And as I have said think that little injustice to your before, you should never be enemies will make no difference. unjust to your enemy because you Allah says that my teaching to have the faculty of compassionate you is to act with justice and I am treatment of God’s creation. aware of your every action. When the standard of justice has Therefore, do not even think been set so high then it can be otherwise. This is the beautiful safely said that you are not devoid teaching which com-mands you of love and that you can establish never to do injustice to your peace in the world. If you develop enemy even. Instead, at one place, your social relationships in this Allah says that even if your way and determine in a way that enemy has indulged in excess, spreads peace and justice in the you should never do the same. world, then it can be said that you possess fear of Allah and that you So after this teaching, there can be act on His commandments. If you no question of doing any injustice act on Allah’s commandments, to your countrymen. One cannot then Allah says I am aware of even think of doing injustice to every thing and I have the them. An Ahmadi should never knowledge of whatever you do. think that such and such is from And I also have a divine Law that the North and I am from the if you do not act on the teachings South, or that his tribe is such and of justice and do not act on My mine is different or that our social commandments, then I can mores are different or that our apprehend you and my hold is

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very severe. After justice, it is the I personally know that the Ghanian commandment of Allah that you people are more broad-minded and purify your hearts and throw all courageous than others. I have rancour and misunderstandings lived among you for sometime and from your hearts and always I know your qualities. Some remember that that He would nations have a characteristic that forgive personal mistakes. If we that they are ready to kill each have to look at the wider other over petty matters. But with perspective in the interest of the you, it is very rare that you use any Ahmadiyya Community, or in arms in your quarrels. When I was worldly affairs, the interest of the here, I used to tell my friends that c o u n t r y, we are enjoined to if the freedom with which you cooperate in goodness. Therefore, carry a cutlass in this country, is we have to serve while remaining reflected in other countries, steadfast in truthfulness and in especially in Asian countries goodness. where there are religious fanatics, there would be between five and This will only happen when after seven murders every day on every dispensing justice, you develop street. I am trying to make you beneficence and do acts of understand this because the contact kindness. When you have among different countries has developed beneficence, an become easier and travel has environment of love and peace become more frequent, and it is will develop and all avenues of possible that trouble makers from progress will open before you and other countries can come and you will develop courage and influence your habits. Therefore, broadmindedness. So, every no Ahmadi should be impressed Ahmadi must demonstrate this by such influences. You should courage and broadmindedness always remember that the duty of and he should continue to treat all an Ahmadi is to remember and whether known to him or worship Allah, to fulfil our strangers with kindness. obligation to other fellow human beings, serve humanity and create

8 The Review of Religions – June 2004 Avoid Those Who Create Disorder peace in the world. Our personal have a goal in their sight. And enmities or difficulties should not Allah says that those who worship come in our way. Then, you must Allah should have one goal and remember that you should not rest that is to excel in goodness. after whatever good deeds you have performed but that you have What is goodness or right- to continue to excel in your effo r t s . eousness? As I have said before, As Allah the Almighty says: righteousness is that you follow the commandments of Allah, He Everyone has a goal to which has enjoined you to worship. he turns his whole attention. Therefore worship in the true sense Then vie with one another in and that is say your prayers five good work. Wherever you be, times a day. Not only that but try to Allah will bring you say your prayers five times a day a l t o g e t h e r. Surely Allah has in congregation. Fasting is the power to do all that He enjoined on you, therefore, fast. wills. You have been commanded to (Surah Al-Baqarah spend in the way of Allah, Ch.2:V.149) therefore make financial sacrifices. Perform good deeds and stay away Therefore, Allah explains that from undesirable things. Get into everyone has a goal that he tries to the habit of working hard. achieve. Because if you have no goal, you have no purpose in life If you can go from here and work and such people never progress. on twelve-hour shifts in Europe or They are like intoxicated persons America, then why can you not who get drunk and lie in one place work so hard in your own or if they manage to walk they take country? If today, all people a few steps and then fall down. begin to work hard, the pace of You can often observe such scenes. progress of this country would People get drunk on liquor. increase many folds. So, you who Therefore, Allah says that those are Ahmadi Muslims and to who want to progress in the world, whom the true light of the

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Utilise fully the faculties with which Allah has endowed you. So, this would be a good deed because the love of one’s country requires that every Ahmadi should do whatever he or she can for his or her country. The love of one’s country is also an integral part of faith. Therefore, every Ahmadi Hadrat Mirza Masroor with the should work selflessly for his country’s President at the Ghana co u n t r y . He should march forward Jalsa Salana. with this thought in mind. Then teachings of Islam has reached, see that you shall be blessed with work with this philosophy in mind both spiritual and material yourself and draw the attention of progress as well, God willing. And others to this objective that we just as today, the scientists of must excel in every work. We America and Europe, experts in have to free ourselves intel- political economy, agriculture and lectually and socially in every specialists in other fields tell us way. We have to take our worship ever new things after their to new heights. In worldly affairs research, if your spirit of resolve we have to get ahead of Europe remains steadfast, and the fear of and America. The people of Allah remains in your hearts, then Europe and Africa are not super you most surely will present ever human beings that they have new inventions before the world progressed. They have worked and be its guide. hard to attain their objectives. They are always pressed into Hadrat Musleh Maud states: inventing new things. ‘The thing most important to So, it is your duty that for the be found in any progressive betterment of your nation, you people is that whenever any should pray to Allah for His thing good comes before assistance and increase your effo r t . them, they should have an

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interest in their hearts to is bad and to have a burning acquire that object. In other desire for everything that is good. words, a people blessed with When each one of us is inclined the twin qualities of patience towards thinking in this manner, and extreme interest or strong the people would automatically be desire can most surely become drawn towards you. An Ahmadi dominant in the world. These would have a rank in society. If qualities are the keys to having accepted the Imam of the progress. Why does a senior age, there is no change within d o c t o r, engineer or scientist you, then there is no point in become famous? It is because being an Ahmadi by name alone. I the doctor had an interest in know that you have many talents his medical skills or the and Allah has blessed you with engineer had a burning desire many faculties but we have to in his engineering feats and apply them to the fullest extent. that scientist was immersed in How can I think about those who devising ways for the political have been blessed with the eyes to progress of his country…. So behold the light as a result of these qualities are most which they have been able to essential for progress, firstly, recognise the Imam of the age, that whenever one is stopped that they lack their own faculties? from something bad, he stops You most certainly have these and, secondly, he should have abilities in you and I can see them. a strong desire in his heart to We have to nurture and flourish obtain those things that are and make them manifest with practical and beneficial.’ sincere effort. May Allah enable (Tafseer Kabir, Vol.7: pp.103- you to do that. 104) The Promised Messiah(as) states: Therefore every Ahmadi’s think- ing should be in accordance with ‘Progress in good deeds and the principle I have just men- righteousness. These are the tioned to remain completely away paths to God’s grace and completely from everything that blessings. I know fully what

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our Jama’at and we are. signs of nearness to Allah in this Allah’s support and His help Jalsa and may you attain His will accompany us in this pleasure. May you all be the same condition, if we tread on beneficiaries of the supplications the straight path and follow of the Promised Messiah(as) for completely and sincerely the those who participate in the Jalsa. Holy Prophet(sa) and make the May Allah make this Jalsa a Holy Qur’an our way of life success in every way and bless it and can prove this with our and when you return home, you actions and practice and not by return with a new spirit. words alone. If we adopt this method, then remember most Because of the presence of ladies surely that even if the whole here, I want to say a few words as world stands united and wants a matter of guidance for Lajna. to annihilate you, it can never Ladies have an important role to annihilate you because God is play in a society. A woman’s with you.’ fundamental role starts from (Malfoozat Vol.7: p.179) home where she acts as a wife or a mother perhaps at the moment May Allah enable all of us to act or may be in the future. The in accordance with this pure Promised Messiah(as) has drawn teaching. May each one of us be our attention to follow the path of a sincere and true servant of Allah t a q w a or righteousness. If and is able to discharge his understanding this, the ladies obligations to Allah and to Allah’s adopt the fear of God and tread on creation. And he does not stop on the path of righteousness, they those good deeds on which he is would be able to bring about a stationed, but everyday sees him great revolution. A woman is a on a fresh dawn of advancement. guardian of her husband’s home May you partake in all the and, when he is not there, she is blessings in the purpose for which responsible for the house as well you have come to participate in as for the training of her children. this Jalsa. May you see special It is our faith that prayer and

12 The Review of Religions – June 2004 Avoid Those Who Create Disorder submission to Allah is our men to be offended or for the fundamental weapon to achieve a ladies to be afraid. high standard in anything we do. If Ahmadi ladies can understand As far as I have observed here, the this point, they can be sure that women get busy with their daily they have safeguarded the future routine early in the morning. I am generations. To do that, they will sure that they get up before the firstly have to set their own men. The women work very hard example. In order to set a good and diligently and go to the shops example, it is important that you early in the morning to buy food observe the five daily prayers, and and then make the meal to feed then pay attention that the their husbands and children. In children also observe their prayers order to prepare some food, for regularly. Once the children are instance Banku or Kenkey, she seven years of age, you will have prepares it for many days. In to remind them to observe their order to prepare Fufu, she beats it prayers; and with love and over and over again to finally a ffection, you will have to pound it to an edible powder. So persuade your husbands to pray you must use the same hard work with regularity. You will have to and effort that you used to provide wake all of them up for the them with edible food, to provide morning prayers. them with their spiritual diet.

Some men may get offended and This is a great responsibility for ask who are you to wake them up you, because if you do not think for prayers. But you must do this of it in this way, your children will because it is a commandment not grow up as useful citizens for from your Allah and His the nation. Hadrat Khalifatul Messenger that if the husband Masih II( r a ) said that nations gets up first, he should wake up cannot reform without the his wife or if the wife gets up first, reformation of their youth. she should wake up her husband. Remember, that the reformation Therefore, there is no reason for of the young can only take place

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on the basis of the good deeds of Therefore, O Ahmadi women, their mothers. You have to you must realise your high station improve the spiritual standards of in life; and by saving the next the Jama’at, uproot the social ills generations from the ills of the from the Jama’at and the country s o c i e t y, give them high moral and strengthen yourselves and training and thus become a your country economically. guarantor for the survival of your Therefore, bowing down before future generation and also your Allah, and, seeking the assistance nation. Allah the Almighty never of Allah the Almighty, you should allows those who follow the pay a great deal of attention commandments of Allah to go to towards the education of your waste. May Allah enable you to future generation. realise your status and may you be the instruments of saving the next If you can make yourselves generation! Amin. capable of educating your families in such a manner that Finally, I wish to thank also the they become hard-working and guests who have taken their they always submit before Allah, precious time to attend this then no power on earth can cause Annual Convention and have you any harm. You have a very provided testimony of their love high station. Not for nothing has and brotherly affection. May the Messenger of Allah( s a ) s a i d Allah also reward them with His that Paradise lies under the feet of grace. the mother. It is your excellent training that will make the children obedient servants of Allah, possess high moral standards, become extremely hard-working so that the world is transformed into a heaven on earth and such people become heirs to the everlasting paradise.

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This is the third of a series to be printed over the next few months in The Review of Religions. It sets out, in the words of the Promised Messiah(as) Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, a summary of his exposition of four outstanding topics: ISLAM; ALLAH, THE E X A LTED; THE HOLY PROPHET( s a ); and THE HOLY QUR’AN. The original compilation, in Urdu, from which these extracts have been translated into English, was collated with great care and diligence by Syed Daud Ahmad, may Allah have mercy on him and may He reward him graciously for his great labour of love. Amin. The English rendering is by the late Muhammad Zafrulla Khan, Allah be pleased with him and quoted from The Essence of Islam. All references throughout, unless otherwise specifically mentioned, are from the Holy Qur’an. Islam, the True and Living Faith (continued...) The reality of Islam is to present o n e ’s neck to God like the sacrificial lamb; to give up one's own designs and to be devoted to the designs of God and His pleasure; to lose oneself in God and to impose a type of death upon oneself; to be dyed in the personal love of God and to obey Him entirely for the sake of that The founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim love; to obtain eyes that see only Community was Hadrat Mirza through Him, and to obtain ears (as) Ghulam Ahmad . that hear only through Him, and In 1891, he claimed, on the basis of Divine revelation, that he was the to develop a heart that should be Promised Messiah and Mahdi whose wholly devoted to Him, and to advent had been foretold by Muhammad, obtain a tongue which would the Holy Prophet of Islam (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and by speak only at His command. This the scriptures of other faiths. is a stage where all search ends; His claim constitutes the basis of the human faculties complete their beliefs of the Ahmadiyya Muslim functions and man’s ego dies Community. c o m p l e t e l y. Thereupon Divine

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mercy confers a new life upon fear not nor grieve and rejoice in the seeker through His living the Paradise which you were words and His shining light. He promised (Ch.41:V.31). This is honoured with the delightful means that angels descend upon converse of God and a fine light, those who affirm that their God which is not discoverable by is One who possesses all perfect reason and is not recognisable by attributes and Who has no the eyes, approaches close to his associate in His Being or His heart; as is said by God: We are attributes; and after their closer to him than his jugular af firmation, they are steadfast and vein (Ch.50:V.17). In this man- no earthquake and calamity and n e r, God honours mortal man no confrontation of death can with His nearness. Then the time shake their faith. God speaks to comes when blindness is them and reassures them not to be removed and eyes are given afraid of calamities or of enemies insight and man beholds God and not to be sorrowful over past with his new eyes and hears His misfortunes. He reassures them voice and finds himself wrapped that He is with them and that He in the mantle of His light. Thus, has bestowed upon them in this the purpose of religion is fulfilled very world the paradise that was and having beheld God, man promised to them in which they casts aside the dirty garment of should rejoice. This is a promise his lower life and puts on a which has now been fulfilled. garment of light and waits for a There is testimony to the effe c t sight of God and of heaven, not that thousands of humble ones in merely as a promise to be Islam have tasted of the spiritual fulfilled in the hereafter, but in paradise which is promised in this this very life he achieves the verse. The true followers of Islam bounties of sight and converse have been made heirs by and heaven. As God has stated: Almighty God to all the previous Upon those who affirm, ‘Allah is righteous ones, and bounties that our Lord,’ and are then steadfast, were bestowed upon them have angels descend reassuring them, been bestowed upon the Muslims

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[Le c t u r e Lahore, (Lahore, Rifahi to him. It should be proved that Aam Steam Press, 1904); Now his sincerity has reached a stage published in Ruhani Khazain in which whatever is his does not (London, 1984), Vol. 20, pp.14- belong to him but to God 15]. Almighty, and that all his limbs and faculties have become so A person can be held to be a devoted to the service of God as Muslim when the whole of his if they had become the limbs of being together with all his the Divine. faculties, physical and spiritual, is devoted to God Almighty, and Reflection on these verses shows the trusts that are committed to clearly that devoting one's life to him by God Almighty are the cause of God Almighty, rendered back to the True Giver. which is the essence of Islam, has He should demonstrate his being two aspects. First, that God a Muslim not only doctrinally but Almighty should become the also in practice. In other words, a object of worship and the true person claiming to be a Muslim goal and beloved, and that no one should prove that his hands and should be associated in His feet and heart and mind, his worship, in His love, and in His reason and his understanding, his hope. All the commandments anger and his compassion, his related to His holiness and glory meekness and his knowledge, all and worship, and all the limits set his physical and spiritual by Him, and all heavenly decrees faculties, and his honour and his should be totally and sincerely p r o p e r t y, his comfort and his accepted. All these command- delight and whatever pertains to ments and limits and laws and him from the top of his head to decrees should be accepted in the soles of his feet, together with great humility, and all the truths his motives, his fears, his and understandings, which are passions, have all been sub- the means of appreciating His ordinated to Almighty God as a vast powers and of finding out person's limbs are subordinated the greatness of His kingdom and

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His sovereignty and are a guide characterised by his carrying out for the recognition of His favours all his obligations to Allah and and bounties, should be fully which should comprise nothing ascertained. except obedience to the Creator and sympathy for His creatures. The second aspect of devoting one's life to the cause of God Obedience to the Creator means Almighty is that one's life should that to make manifest His be devoted to the service of His Honour and Glory and Unity one creatures and to sympathy with should be ready to endure every them and to sharing their burdens dishonour and humiliation, and and sorrows. One should suffer one should be eager to undergo a pain to bring them comfort, and thousand deaths in order to one should experience grief to uphold His Unity. One hand bring them consolation. should be ready to cut off the other with pleasure in obedience This shows that the reality of to Him, and the love of the Islam is a very superior thing and grandeur of His commandments that no one can truly deserve the and the thirst for seeking His title of Muslim till he surrenders pleasure should make sin so the whole of his being to God, hateful as if it were a consuming together with all his faculties and fire, or a fatal poison, or an desires and designs, and till he obliterating lightning, from begins to tread along this path which one must run away with withdrawing altogether from his all one's power. For seeking His ego and all its attendant qualities. pleasure one must surrender all A person will be truly called a the desires of one’s ego; and to Muslim only when his heedless establish a relationship with Him life undergoes a total revolution one should be ready to endure all and his evil-directing self, kinds of injuries; and to prove together with all its passions, is such relationship one must cut wiped out altogether and he is sunder from all other invested with a new life which is relationships.

18 The Review of Religions – June 2004 The Essence of Islam – Part III

The service of one’s fellow- commandments and doctrines beings means to strive ‘for their which were accepted on faith and benefit purely for the sake of as hearsay, are now experienced God in all their needs, and in all by him as realities and certainties the relationships of mutual through dreams, visions and dependence which God has revelation. The mysteries of the established out of true and faith and the law are revealed to selfless sympathy for them. him and he is afforded a view of Everyone in need of help should the Divine kingdom so that he be helped out of one's God-given should arrive at the stage of capacity and one must strive for perfect certainty and under- their betterment both in this standing. A blessing charac- world and in the hereafter terises his tongue and his words [Ayenae Kamalat-e-Islam, and all his actions and his (Qadian, Riyadh Hind Press movements. He is bestowed 1893); Now printed in Ruhani extraordinary courage and Khazain (London, 1984), Vol.5, steadfastness and his under- pp. 59- 62]. standing is expanded at a high level. The narrowness of human I would now wish to enlarg e obstructions and meanness and upon the fruits of Islam. When a miserliness, and the tendency true seeker of God establishes towards frequent stumblings, and himself fully on Islam and shortsightedness and proneness everyone of his faculties begins towards passion and lowness of to tread naturally upon the paths behaviour, and every darkness of of God Almighty without any his ego are totally removed from kind of artificiality, the ultimate him and he is filled with the light result of his effort is that the of Divine attributes. Thereupon, higher manifestations of Divine he undergoes an entire change guidance, freed from all obstruc- and puts on the garment of a new tions, are directed towards him. birth. He hears through God Diverse types of blessings Almighty and sees through Him descend upon him and the and moves with Him and stops

The Review of Religions – June 2004 19 The Essence of Islam – Part III

with Him, and his anger becomes and understanding concerning the wrath of God Almighty and some matter. It is a Divine voice his compassion becomes the which manifests itself in the form compassion of God Almighty. of converse in order to create When he arrives at that stage, his understanding and satisfaction. It prayers are heard as a mark of his is not possible to define it any having been chosen, and not f u r t h e r. It is a voice which merely as a trial; and he becomes proceeds from God and is the proof of God on earth and experienced in delicious words personifies security from God. full of blessings, which is not There is joy in heaven on his induced by any thinking or account and the highest gift that reflection or any intrusion of self is bestowed upon him is the word and is surcharged with a divine of God which descends upon his manifestation and divine majesty heart free from any doubt, like [Ayenae Kamalat-e-Islam, the light of the moon shining (Qadian, Riyadh Hind Press through without any mistiness. It 1893); Now printed in Ruhani carries an effective sense of Khazain (London, 1984), Vol.5, delight with it and bestows pp. 226-233]. satisfaction, such as a friend receives from a friend. We can I believe in Islam alone as a true only define it by saying that is is religion. I perceive that by a special manifestation of God believing in Islam fountains of the Glorious which is conveyed light are coursing through me. through a favourite angel. Its Through the love of the Holy purpose is to give intimation of Prophet, peace and blessings of acceptance of prayer, or to Allah be on him, I have arrived at communicate a new or secret that high stage of converse with m a t t e r, or to make aware of the Divine and of acceptance of something that is to happen in the prayer which can only be future, or to warn of God's achieved by a follower of the true pleasure, or lack of it, concerning Prophet and by no other. If the any matter, or to create certainty Hindus and the Christians and

20 The Review of Religions – June 2004 The Essence of Islam – Part III others were to supplicate their and thousands of Divine mercies false gods, even unto death, they be bestowed upon his com- could not achieve that stage. I panions who irrigated this garden hear the words of God which the with their blood. others believe in only as a theory. I have been shown and have been Islam is such a blessed and God- told and I have been made to indicating religion that if a understand that Islam alone is the person follows it truly and acts true faith in the world, and it has upon the teachings and guidance been disclosed to me that I have and admonition that are received all this through the contained in the Holy Word of blessing of following the God Almighty, the Holy Qur’an, Khatamul Anbiya (Seal of all the he would see God in this very Prophets), peace and blessings of life. For the recognition of God Allah be on him, and that the Who is hidden from the sight of equal of it cannot be achieved in the world behind a thousand any other religion. [Ay e n a e screens, there is no other means K a m a l a t - e - I s l a m, (Qadian, except the teachings of the Riyadh Hind Press 1893); Now Qur’an. The Holy Qur’an guides printed in Ruhani Khazain towards God Almighty through (London, 1984), Vol.5, pp. 275- reason and heavenly signs in a 276]. very easy manner. It com- prehends a blessing and a A thousand thanks are due to magnetic power which draws a Almighty God Who has seeker of God every moment bestowed upon us a religion towards God and bestows light which is such a means of and comfort and satisfaction. A attaining to the knowledge of true believer in the Holy Qur’an God and to the fear of God as has does not merely contemplate like had no equal in any age. the philosophers that there ought Thousands of blessings be upon to be a Creator of this wonderful the immaculate Prophet through universe; he acquires a personal whom we have entered this faith insight and being honoured with

The Review of Religions – June 2004 21 The Essence of Islam – Part III

a holy vision he sees with the eye of the God Who is presented by of certainty that that Creator in the Holy Qur’an. The God of fact exists. He who is bestowed Islam is the same true God who the light of this Holy Word does is seen through the mirror of the not merely guess like those who law of nature and is visible in the rely upon reason alone that God book of nature. Islam has not is One, without associate, but presented a new God but has through hundreds of shining presented the same God Who is signs which take him by the hand presented by the light of man's and lead him out of the darkness, heart and by man's conscience observes in fact that God has no and by heavens and earth. associate in His Being or in His attributes. He is able to Another quality of a true religion demonstrate to the world that he is that it should not be a dead believes God to be such a Unity. creed. The blessings and great- The majesty of the Unity of God nesses which were cultivated in it so fills his heart that in in the beginning should persist in comparison with the Divine will, it till the end of the world, for the he regards the whole world as no promotion of the welfare of more than a dead insect and mankind, so that ever fresh signs indeed as nothing at all (Braheen should confirm its past signs and Ahmadiyyah, Part V, pp.16-17). should not permit the light of its truth to become an old tale. I The God of a true religion should have been writing over a long be so much in accord with reason period that the Prophethood and the light of nature that His which was claimed by our lord existence should be a matter of and master Muhammad, the proof for people who possess chosen one, peace and blessings reason but who have no heavenly of Allah be on him, and the book in which they believe. He heavenly proofs in the form of should be such as does not signs which he had set forth, still savour of coercion or artificiality. continue in Islam and are Such perfection is characteristic bestowed upon his followers so

22 The Review of Religions – June 2004 The Essence of Islam – Part III that they should arrive at the state world that the God of Islam is of complete understanding and such a living God. Those with should witness the living God whom no one can now speak are d i r e c t l y. The signs which are dead and are not God. No one attributed to Jesus( a s ) are mere can see their signs today. He stories, and are nowhere to be whose God is dead would be put seen, and therefore this religion to shame in every field and which teaches the worship of the would be humiliated and would dead is itself dead like its god. A not be helped in any way. My verity cannot be confined to old purpose in making this tales. Every people has a store of announcement is that a religion tales setting forth alleged which is true does not change. As miracles and wonders. It is a it was in the beginning, so it characteristic only of Islam that it would be at the end. A true does not present merely the religion would never become a defective and imperfect comfort dry tale. Islam is a true religion of tales and stories, but satisfies and I call everyone, Christians, the seekers with living signs. A Aryas, Jews, Brahmos, to show seeker after truth should not be them the truth of Islam. Is there satisfied with senseless worship anyone of them who seeks the of the dead and should not be put living God? We do not worship off with sorry tales. We have the dead. Our God is living. He come into the market of the helps us through His inspiration world to purchase the best. We and revelation and through should not waste our faith by heavenly signs. If there is a exchanging it with false things. single Christian who is truly a A living faith is that through seeker after truth, let him make a which we can find the living comparison between our living God. The living God is He Who God and his dead god. For such a can inspire us directly, or could at trial a period of forty days would least bring us in contact with one s u ffice. (Ta b l e e g h - e - R i s a l a t, who is directly inspired. I convey Vol.VI, pp. 13-15). this good news to the whole

The Review of Religions – June 2004 23 The Essence of Islam – Part III

The Islam whose qualities we signs for each new world. At the have set out is not something for beginning of each century, proof of which we have to refer especially at the beginning of a only to the past and to have to century which has strayed far point only to the ruins of tombs. away from faith and integrity and Islam is not a dead faith so that it is enveloped in many darknesses, may be said that all its blessings He raises a substitute Prophet in have been left behind and that the mirror of whose nature is there is nothing ahead. The exhibited the form of a Prophet. principal quality of Islam is that Such a one demonstrates to the its blessings always accompany world the excellences of the it and that it does not speak only Prophet whose follower he is and of the past but presents present convicts all opponents through blessings. The world is always in the truth and the display of need of blessings and heavenly reality and the frustration of signs. It is not as if it needed falsehood [Ayenae Kamalat-e- them in the past and does not I s l a m, (Qadian, Riyadh Hind need them now. A weak and Press 1893); Now printed in helpless human being who is Ruhani Khazain (London, 1984), born blind is in need that he Vol.5, pp. 245-247]. should know something of the heavenly kingdom and that he The sign of a true religion is that should see some signs of the through its teaching such existence and power of God in righteous ones should continue to Whom he believes. The signs of arise who should arrive at the a past age cannot suffice for a stage of a Muhaddath to whom subsequent age, for hearing is not God Almighty should speak face the same as seeing and by the to face. The foremost sign of the passage of time past events truth of Islam is that all through it become like stories. Every produces such righteous ones century starts a new world. with whom God Almighty talks Therefore, the God of Islam, who as is said in the Holy Qur’an: is the true God, manifests new Angels descend upon them

24 The Review of Religions – June 2004 The Essence of Islam – Part III reassuring them, fear not, nor exceeded thousands and so many grieve (Ch.41:V.31). This is the extraordinary happenings con- test of a true, living and cerning them are set out in the acceptable religion. We know books of the learned ones that that this light is to be found only even a very bigoted opponent has in Islam and that the Christian to admit that these people faith is without such light manifested extraordinary signs [Hujjatul Islam, (Amritsar, and miracles. I tell you truly that Riyadh Hind Press); Now printed through my research, so far as it in Ruhani Khazain ( L o n d o n , is possible for one to discover 1984), Vol.6, p.3]. about the past, I have come to the conclusion that the number of We can furnish conclusive proof heavenly signs in support of to every seeker after truth that Islam and as a testimony of the from the time of our lord and truth of the Holy Prophet, peace master the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be on him, and blessings of Allah be on him, which have been manifested up to today, in every century there through the aulia of this Ummat, have appeared men of God is not to be equalled in the through whom God Almighty has history of other religions. Islam guided other people by the display is the only religion which has of heavenly signs. Of these were progressed through heavenly Syed Abdul Qadir Jilani, Abul signs and its numberless lights Hasan Kharqani, Abu Ya z i d and blessings have ever Bistami, Junaid Baghdadi, demonstrated the existence of Mohyuddin Ibn Arabi, Dhunnoon God Almighty as if He was Misri, Mueenuddin Chishti visible close at hand. Be sure that Ajmeri, Qutbuddin Bakhtiar on the score of its heavenly signs Kaki, Fareeduddin Pakpattani, Islam has not been put to shame Nizamuddin Dehlavi, Shah in any age. In this age of yours Waliullah Dehlavi, and Shaikh you could if you wished be the Ahmad Sirhindi, may Allah be witnesses of signs in support of pleased with them. Their number Islam. Say truly whether you

The Review of Religions – June 2004 25 The Essence of Islam – Part III

have not witnessed signs in in some imposture, the answer is support of Islam in your own as follows. According to us, age. Is there any other religion in imposture means that a person the world which can produce should himself fashion delib- such testimony? This is a matter erately a few sentences, or which has broken the back of should invent a book claiming Christian missionaries. The signs that it has been revealed to him of the truth of the Holy Prophet, by God Almighty whereas peace and blessings of Allah be nothing of the kind has been on him, whom they reject, are revealed to him. We can affirm visible in this age like pouring on the basis of full research that rain. For seekers the gates of such imposture has never been heavenly signs are as open today able to flourish in any age. The as they were in any previous age, Book of God bears clear and for those who are hungry testimony that those who were after truth the banquet of guilty of imposture against God bounties is as much available Almighty were soon destroyed. today as it was before. A living We have already stated that the faith is as much available today same testimony is borne by the as it was before. A living faith Torah, the Gospel, and the Holy has always the hand of the living Qur’an. The false religions that God at its back and such a faith is we observe in the world today Islam [Kitabul Bariyyah, like that of the Hindus and the (Qadian, Ziaul Islam Press Parsees, do not represent the 1898); Now printed in Ruhani dispensations of false Prophets. K h a z a i n (London, 1984), Vo l . The truth is that their followers 13, pp. 91-92]. through their own mistakes have fallen into accepting their current If anyone should have a question doctrines. You cannot point to that there are hundreds of false any book which claims clearly religions which have flourished that it is a Divine book while in through thousands of years, truth it might be an imposture though they must have originated and a whole people might have

26 The Review of Religions – June 2004 The Essence of Islam – Part III held it in honour throughout. It would God, Who is jealous of is, however, possible that a His glory and His kingdom, not Divine book might have been seize a false claimant [Anjam misinterpreted. A politial gov- A t h a m, (Qadian, Ziaul Islam ernment seizes jealously a person Press); Now printed in Ruhani who falsely claims to be a Khazain (London, 1984), Vol. 11, government official. Then, why p. 63-64, footnote].

In this journal, for the ease of non-Muslim readers, ‘(sa)’ or ‘sa’ after the words, ‘Holy Prophet’, or the name ‘Muhammad’, are used. They stand for ‘Salallahu alaihi wassalam’ meaning ‘Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him’. Likewise, the letters ‘(as)’ or ‘as’ after the name of all other prophets is an abbreviation meaning ‘Peace be upon him’ derived from ‘Alaih salato wassalam’ for the respect a Muslim reader utters.

The abbreviation ‘ra’ or (ra) stands for ‘Radhiallahtala’ and is used for Companions of a Prophet, meaning Allah be pleased with him or her (when followed by the relevant Arabic pronoun). Also ‘ru’ or (ru) for Rahemahullahu Ta’ala means the Mercy of Allah the Exalted be upon him.

The Review of Religions – June 2004 27 Treatment of Prisoners

This is an article by Hadrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad entitled ‘Islam and Slavery’ published in The Review of Religions, May 1995. It has been reproduced owing to the significance of this subject following the disclosure of prisoner abuse in the recent war and indeed the high handed treatment by some in authority in other prisons, penitentiary centres and police cells.

Slavery has been defined as the it was felt that the best and system in which a human being easiest way of securing labour is held to be the legal property of was to enslave the conquered another and is bound to absolute people. Conquering nations then obedience and submission. A began to enslave rather than slay slave is thus a human chattel who their prisoners of war, who were may be retained or sold or forced to do manual work both otherwise dealt with as his for the conquering nation and its master pleases. The system had individuals. Over time, the its origin in war. In the beginning system became so widespread, of human society, whenever that in some countries, the slaves there was a war between two even outnumbered the free tribes or nations, the combatants inhabitants, and slavery became of the vanquished army – and an integral part of civil life1. very often, even the These slaves were looked upon noncombatant male members of as the sole property of their the vanquished nation – were put masters, who could treat them in to the sword, while the children any way they liked, exact from and women were taken into them any work they pleased, slavery and made to do all sorts inflict on them any punishment of work for their masters. they desired, and sell them to others whenever they chose to do Gradually, however, as civil life so. and industries developed and there was a greater demand in the Eventually the system became so world for servants and labourers, extended that even the children

28 The Review of Religions – June 2004 Treatment of Prisoners of the slaves were treated as the than in Arabia. They were treated property of their masters, and with the utmost cruelty and thus a permanent system of heartlessness. slavery was established. When people found this system to be so When the Holy Founder of lucrative, they no longer I s l a m( s a ) began his preaching confined themselves to the roughly in 611 A.D., his enslavement of only the teachings included the injunction prisoners of war, but devised that slaves should be treated with other cruel ways of enslaving leniency and kindness, and his free men. For instance, they earliest revelations declared the made unprovoked raids on emancipation of slaves as an act weaker tribes, and reduced their of great virtue. In one of its men and women to a condition of earliest Surahs, the Qur’an refers bondage. In certain countries to this subject in the following even civil debtors became liable words: to be converted into slaves. ‘Have We not created for At the advent of Islam, nearly man two eyes, and a tongue 1400 years ago, the practice and two lips, and have We prevailed more or less in all not shown him the two countries. Hundreds of thousands ascending paths of nobility? of slaves were leading lives of But he did not follow the extreme misery and pain in path of ‘Aqabah. And what Rome, Greece, Egypt, Persia and should make thee know what other countries. Their lot was the ‘Aqabah is? It is the hardly better than that of dumb setting free of a slave, or the driven cattle. In Arabia, too, feeding in a day of hunger there were thousands of slaves in an orphan who is near of kin those days, and they formed an or a poor man lying in the essential part of the wealth of the dust.’ rich. Perhaps nowhere in the (Ch.90: Vs.9-17) world were they more despised

The Review of Religions – June 2004 29 Treatment of Prisoners

The simplicity and excellence of emancipation of slaves also the teachings of Islam, combined gained in force day by day, and with this special injunction about the Muslims, under the influence slaves, made a deep impression of the teachings of the Qur’an, upon the slaves of Arabia who and stimulated by the example of began to look upon the Holy the Prophet( s a ), vied with one Prophet’s(sa) call as the call of a another in taking an active part in deliverer. It was for this reason this movement. Muslim history that notwithstanding the teems with instances of slaves set atrocities that were inflicted upon free by their Muslim masters. them by their infidel masters on account of their acceptance of But the question is whether the Islam, the new religion spread work of the Holy Prophet(sa) with very rapidly among the slave regard to slaves was confined population. The proportion of only to the improvement of their slaves was indeed extraordinarily position and gradual eman- large among the early converts. cipation, or whether he took effective steps to put an end to It appears from history that even the cruel inhuman ways of in the very beginning of Islam, reducing free men to slavery. It is slaves were not treated with true that even if it be supposed contempt in Muslim society. As that his work did not go beyond time advanced and further Divine the limit stated above, he can not commandments were revealed fail to be regarded as one of the concerning the slaves, their great benefactors of humanity for position became stronger and having rendered conspicuous their condition better, till at last service in the amelioration of the there ceased to be any distinction condition of slaves, and inau- between the slaves and their gurating a movement for their masters except that the former emancipation. But his real work were administratively subor- went very much farther, for, he dinate to the latter. Along with not only ameliorated the this, the movement for the condition of the slaves, but took

30 The Review of Religions – June 2004 Treatment of Prisoners e ffective measures to abolish h o w e v e r, other ways were slavery altogether. His teachings invented, owing to which about slaves thus fall under two slavery, which was originally an heads: inevitable outcome of the early conditions of the world, assumed 1. Teachings for the betterment a heinous aspect, and instead of of the condition of the serving as a means for preventing existing slaves and measures tyranny for which it was for their gradual eman- originally meant, it became a cipation. dreadful instrument of oppression. 2. Steps for the permanent abolition of slavery. Originally the institution of slavery consisted of one nation We propose to deal in these who made an unprovoked attack pages with the teachings of the upon another, and tried to blot Holy Prophet(sa) under each of them out from the face of the these two heads. earth or reduce them to subjection by unjustly depriving The prisoners of war them of their liberty; the latter, in If there is any teaching of Islam case of their triumph over the which may be represented as aggressive party, took their men sanctioning slavery, it is its as captives and detained them as teachings with regard to the prisoners of war. This course was prisoners of war. But, as it will necessary, for, if it had not been presently appear, war prisoners adopted, international wars were not actually treated in Islam would never have come to an as slaves. In this connection, it end, nor would the aggressors should be mentioned at the very ever have desisted from com- outset that, as borne out by mitting excesses upon public history, it was in the prisoners of peace, and tyranny and oppres- war that the institution of slavery sion would have become had its origin. Subsequently, rampant. Religious communities

The Review of Religions – June 2004 31 Treatment of Prisoners

in particular needed this kind of are a sad remnant of the system protection since they were of slavery that was in vogue in always bitterly persecuted by the ancient India. disbelievers amongst them who wanted to exterminate them by In short, in the early days of the sword. This form of slavery was, world slavery was found more or therefore, found more or less in less in all countries and was a all the nations of the earth. necessary consequence of the state of things then prevailing The system was in vogue even and was primarily meant as a among the Israelites who were check to tyranny and oppression. the descendants from the chosen It was, as stated, more urgently Prophets of God and who, as a and more truly needed by nation, had been brought up religious communities, who were under the care and guidance of a subjected to atrocities more than long chain of Divine any other people, and to extirpate Messengers. They practised it in those religions, men rose up in compliance with an injunction of arms against them. their own law (Deut. 20:13-14) and it continued to be practised This form of enslavement (which even among the early Christians was further softened and purified who were in fact an offshoot of by Islam so much so that it was the Israelite people 3. It also practically reduced to mere tem- continued in the Christian porary imprisonment) involved countries of the west right up to no injustice, for those who the eighteenth or even the desired to destroy the religion of nineteenth century. others by sword, who were blood-thirsty tyrants, who sowed Similarly, slavery was practised the seed of anarchy, murder and by the ancient Aryan people as plunder in the country by well4. In fact the Sudras and the resorting to methods subversive other untouchables who are still of public peace, forfeited all to be found in India in millions rights to freedom, just as a thief

32 The Review of Religions – June 2004 Treatment of Prisoners or a thug or a dacoit forfeits his s u ffering women causing in right to remain outside a prison. certain cases a miscarriage. They The Holy Prophet(sa) and his killed the chaste wives of the companions had to encounter Muslims by piercing them with such outrage more than any other spears in the most horrible and people. shameless manner (Zurqani, Vol. I, p.266). The idolaters of Arabia subjected the Muslims to the most If, under circumstances like tyrannical persecution. They these, the tyrants who committed drew out their swords against the such savageries had been Muslims with the avowed deprived of their liberty and intention of exterminating their reduced to a state of bondage, religion by force. They sought that would have been by no and conspired to dye their unholy means unjust. But such was the hands with the sacred blood of kindness of the Holy Prophet(sa) the Muslims’ master. They that even the perpetrators of detained innocent and free these heinous crimes were Muslims with them as prisoners. pardoned by him, and those of They captured defenceless and them who were taken captives in innocent Muslims by the vilest the war had only a temporary t r e a c h e r y, made them their restraint put on their liberty. Even slaves, and murdered some of during that temporary detention, them in the most savage manner. the Holy Prophet(sa) gave such They conspired to enslave their directions for their comfort and women and made war upon them convenience that under their with that object in view. They influence, his Companions took mutilated the bodies of Muslim off their own shirts, and gave martyrs, and having cut off their them to the prisoners to wear noses and ears, strung them (Bukhari) – the very prisoners together and garlanded them- who had been thirsty for their selves therewith. They made blood. They ate dry dates while brutal attacks on their sick and giving cooked food to the

The Review of Religions – June 2004 33 Treatment of Prisoners

prisoners (Tabari & Ibn Hisham). commendable with a view to They walked on foot giving their the end, and is calculated to camels to the prisoners to ride on lead to evil results morally, (Qur’an, Ch.8:V.68). Do we find God orders you to refrain a parallel to this in the history of from it); and if you are any nation or any country? afraid of the numbers and power of the enemy, then The gist of Islamic teachings remember that Allah is with regard to the prisoners of Powerful over all and He is war is contained in three verses also Wise.’ (Ch.8:V.68) of the Qur’an, two of which deal particularly with the prisoners of This verse teaches that the war, while the third enunciates a Muslims should not, out of general principle also applicable consideration for their own to war prisoners. weakness or the power of the enemy or out of a desire to The first verse runs as follows: strengthen their financial posi- tion by means of ransom money, ‘It does not behove a be careless or unduly hasty in the p rophet that prisoners of matter of taking captives so that war should be captured for they may take prisoners of the him, until there has actually enemy wherever they may find been fought between him them weak, or that they may take and the enemy a pitched captives at the battlefield before battle. You have in view the the armies actually engage in advantages that are near at battle. The Muslims are per- hand (i.e., you hasten to take mitted to take prisoners only captives so that with the help when they have met the enemy in of the ransom money you a pitched battle. This teaching of may become prepared to Islam, which rests on a far meet the enemy), but Allah sounder foundation than any desires for you the Hereafter other International Code of War, (and as this course is not reduces the extent and number of

34 The Review of Religions – June 2004 Treatment of Prisoners the prisoners of war to the may be followed under different narrowest possible range, which circumstances in dealing with clearly indicates that Islam is war prisoners. These courses are: loath to taking prisoners of war except in the most unavoidable Firstly, to release the prisoners circumstances. The second verse without taking any ransom of the Qur’an says: money.

When you meet the Se c o n d l y , to release them for a disbelievers in battle, fight reasonable ransom. The practice steadfastly and slay the of the Holy Prophet(s a ) shows that a g g ressors: and when the there can be three forms of battle has been well fought ransom: (a) Payment of ransom in take captives from among cash either immediately or under the enemy. After that you the system of Mukatabat al r e a d y should either set them at described, the alternatives being l i b e rty without taking any at the option of the prisoner, (b) ransom (if circumstances are Exchange with Muslim prisoners, favourable and you hope (c) Exacting of some suitable matters will mend thereby) service from the prisoners; for or you should release them instance, if the prisoners know for a reasonable ransom, or some art or profession, it might (if it be unavoidable) you be stipulated with them that if may retain them as prisoners they taught that art or profession until the war is over and you to a certain number of Muslims, are relieved of its burdens. they might be set at liberty in (Ch.47:V.5) return for that service.

This verse forms, as it were, the Thirdly, to prolong the period of foundation-stone of the Islamic imprisonment till the termination teachings with regard to the of the war. By the termination of prisoners of war. It describes the war is meant its complete three different courses which termination when not only

The Review of Religions – June 2004 35 Treatment of Prisoners

military operations practically punish the oppressors o r cease, but also the burdens which take some strong measure the war might have laid on the against him by way of nation and for which the enemy is r e t r i b u t i o n, then take care held responsible are removed. that the action you take This last alternative has been against him does not exceed proposed as a provision for cases the evil that has been done when on the one hand it is not to you, and that you resort advisable to release the prisoners not to any measure which without ransom, and on the other the enemy has not been the they or their friends and relatives first to resort to. If, however, do not come forward, for some it be possible for you to reason or other, to pay ransom. In exercise patience, then have such cases, the prisoners may be patience, for patience is detained till the termination of better.’ wa r , so that their release may not (Ch.16:V.127) add to the troubles of the Muslims. It is this form of Under this principle, the imprisonment that has some- alternative course with regard to times been termed ‘slavery’ and prisoners i.e., that which pertains which has been permitted by to the prolongation of impris- Islam, but even a cursory study of onment, may take diff e r e n t the true situation will show, that, forms. For instance, if the enemy truly speaking it is not slavery at exacts some service from all. It is merely a form of Muslim prisoners, the Muslims imprisonment which is further can also exact suitable service restricted and qualified by a from the prisoners taken from the fundamental law enunciated in enemy but this service shall be the verse given below. The third subject to the general conditions verse of the Qur’an runs as governing the exacting of service fo l l o w s : from slaves. Thus the prisoners of war shall not be called upon to ‘If you think it necessary to perform a work which is more

36 The Review of Religions – June 2004 Treatment of Prisoners than they can bear, nor shall they of war slaves if you please; but are be required to do a work which they slaves in fact? Do not their captors are not themselves modern govern-ments take willing to do. Similarly, if prisoners of war? Do not modern instead of keeping Muslim governments exact work from prisoners in state prisons, the them? Do not modern govern- belligerent nation distributes ments lengthen the period of their them among its individuals, the imprisonment, in case the war is Muslims shall also have a right to prolonged? If all this is done by place their prisoners in the every nation and if the custody of individuals, and so on. international law of all ages has But whatever form is adopted, it sanctioned that practice, why is essential that it should not be at blame Islam and its Holy variance with any basic injunc- Fo u n d e r (s a ) for it? Nay, far from tion of Islam. For instance, the being blamed, Islam deserves the term of imprisonment must in all unique credit for conferring a cases terminate with the lasting boon on humanity by termination of war. Similarly, no emphasising the element of prisoner shall be put to death leniency and kindness in the code merely because he is a member of war and has thus paved the way of the enemy force nor shall any for international peace and amity. prisoner be called upon to perform a work which exceeds The distribution of war his capacity and power, nor shall prisoners among the soldiers his convenience and comfort be We now come to the question neglected, and so on. relating to the placing of war prisoners in the custody of Such are the teachings which individuals. It is true that in the Islam gives with regard to the beginning the prisoners were prisoners of war. Now, let the distributed among the Muslim reader judge for himself whether soldiers, and in fact, it is this there is any trace of slavery in circumstance alone which has these teachings. Call the prisoners been taken to give this practice

The Review of Religions – June 2004 37 Treatment of Prisoners

the colour of slavery. But when the way in which the Muslim we carefully consider the prisoners were enslaved by the circumstances under which the infidels. Moreover, Islam laid it above course was adopted, we down as a condition that all the find that there is absolutely war prisoners must necessarily nothing objectionable about it be set at liberty as soon as the nor can the word ‘slavery’ be war was over. applied to it in the sense in which it is generally understood. Another reason why the prisoners of war were placed in We must first of all bear in mind the custody of individuals was that the practice in question did that in those days there were no not form an essential part of the state prisons, and the prisoners Islamic teachings. As a matter of were necessarily distributed fact it finds no mention in the among, and placed in the charge special instructions which have of, the individual members of the been given in the Qur’an with victorious nation. This practice regard to the prisoners of war naturally remained in vogue (Ch.8:V.67; Ch.47:V.4). It was among the Muslims as well. only a retributive measure which was taken recourse to as an From the above it is clear that in answer to the extremely reality this practice was not aggressive conduct of the enemy slavery but merely an arrange- who made slaves of Muslim ment for the protection and prisoners and distributed them maintenance of the prisoners of among the individuals. It was war – a system which was therefore, only to bring the gradually changed, and was enemy to his senses, that the finally replaced by that of State Muslims also resorted to the pr i s o n s . method of placing the prisoners of war in the custody of It must also be remembered that individuals; but Islam never so far as an Islamic government permitted their enslavement in was concerned, this system by no

38 The Review of Religions – June 2004 Treatment of Prisoners

THA N K S TO TH E EM P H AT I C IN J U N C T I O N S OF TH E HOL Y PRO P H E T (SA ) AN D TH E WATC H F U L SU P E RV I S I O N OF TH E MUS L I M STATE , TH E PR I S O N E R S OF WAR LI V E D , NO T AS S E RVA N T S O R L A B O U R E R S, B U T A S M E M B E R S O F T H E FAM I L I E S TO WH I C H TH E Y WE R E ATTA C H E D AN D WE R E PR A C T I C A L L Y TR E AT E D LI K E GU E S T S . FOR IN S TA N C E , IT IS ON RE C O R D TH A T TH E PR I S O N E R S TAK E N AT BAD R , WH O WE R E AM O N G S T TH E WO R S T EN E M I E S OF ISL A M , WE R E TR E AT E D WI T H SU C H KI N D N E S S TH A T TH E Y CO U L D NO T BU T PAY TH E MUS L I M S WAR M TR I B U T E S OF PR A I S E , AN D SO M E OF TH E M WE R E SO DE E P L Y TOU C H E D BY TH E KI N D TR E AT M E N T TH A T TH E Y WI L L I N G L Y JO I N E D TH E FO L D OF ISL A M . means caused any unavoidable treated with such kindness that hardship on the prisoners. On the they could not but pay the contrary it was in many ways Muslims warm tributes of praise, even more convenient and and some of them were so deeply comfortable than the system of touched by the kind treatment that the present-day State prisons. they willingly joined the fold of Thanks to the emphatic injunc- Is l a m 6. In short, even this so- tions of the Holy Prophet(s a ) an d called ‘slavery’ which Islam the watchful supervision of the permitted offered such a spectacle Muslim State, the prisoners of of kindness and benevolent war lived, not as servants or treatment, that even the blessings labourers, but as members of the of the so-called liberty and families to which they were freedom of the present day fade attached and were practically into insignificance when com- treated like guests. For instance, it pared with it. is on record that the prisoners taken at Badr, who were amongst Yet, as the system practised was the worst enemies of Islam, were merely a retributive step, it must

The Review of Religions – June 2004 39 Treatment of Prisoners

be regarded only as a special prisoners, for, the Holy measure meant to meet the Q u r’an says that the conditions then existing. In the punishment inflicted on the present times, therefore, when enemy should be propor- those conditions have ceased to tionate to the wrong the exist, and the old system has enemy has been the first to been replaced by that of State inflict on the Muslims. Hence, prisons, the permission for the now when the conditions have retributive measure no longer changed and the people holds good. The law of Islam hostile to the Muslims no does not permit that the prisoners longer go to the extent of of war should, even under the making slaves of Muslim men altered conditions of the present and women in times of war, age, be distributed among but treat them as state Muslim individuals, thus prisoners, it would be bringing into existence a state of unlawful for the Muslims to things analogous to slavery. In make slaves of the prisoners connection with this, the Holy of war taken from a Founder of the Ahmadiyya belligerent army. Movement, who claimed to be a (C h a s h m a - i M a ’ r efat, pp.244- messenger of God raised for the 45 ) regeneration of mankind and who was the greatest authority on To sum up, there are two Islam in these days, says: fundamental teachings of Islam concerning the prisoners of war: It is a matter for gratification Firstly, that so far as possible, that in the present times non- there should be no haste in taking Muslim nations have captives, and prisoners should be abandoned the aggressive taken only as a last resort when a practice of making slaves of battle has been actually fought. Muslim captives, therefore, Secondly, that after the prisoners now the Muslims are also not have been taken, they should be allowed to enslave their dealt with in one of three ways,

40 The Review of Religions – June 2004 Treatment of Prisoners as the circumstances demand. them as State prisoners, it would They should either be set at be unlawful for the Muslims as liberty as an act of favour well to distribute their prisoners without taking any ransom – and among individuals. that is the most commendable course – or they should be Can prisoners of war be put to released in return for a death? reasonable ransom, or, if We have already pointed out that n e c e s s a r y, the period of their Islam does not allow putting the imprisonment may be extended prisoners of war to death, but as to the end of war. This is the only some Muslim ulema h a v e teaching that has been expressly dissented from this view and as laid down in Islam with regard to some of the Christian writers the prisoners of war. Islam, have made this point an object of however, gives a general rule to attack against Islam, it appears the effect that if political desirable to discuss it here at considerations demand the some length. taking of a strong retaliatory measure against the enemy, it First of all, we must remember should be subject to the that verse 5 of Chapter 47 of the condition, firstly, that no such Qur’an clearly shows that it is action should be taken against not lawful for a Muslim to put the enemy which the enemy was the prisoners of war to death, and not the first to take against the obviously no one has the right to Muslims, and secondly, that the devise a new law in opposition to action taken should not be in the injunctions of the Qur’an. contravention of any explicit But in order to satisfy the reader, teaching of Islam. It was under we wish to make it plain that the this rule that the prisoners of war meaning which we have ascribed were distributed among the to the verse in question is not an Muslim individuals, but now as innovation. It is the interpretation non-Muslim nations do not make which the companions of the slaves of their captives but treat Holy Prophet(sa) put on it and they

The Review of Religions – June 2004 41 Treatment of Prisoners

acted accordingly. This view is fact that Islam does not allow the borne out by the following slaying of the prisoners of war, incident: and certainly those who ascribe this teaching to Islam are Hassan says, ‘A captive was grievously mistaken. brought before Hajjaj, who said to Abdullah, son of Caliph Umar(r a ) If it be asked why some of the who happened to be there, ‘Get up Muslim theologians have and cut off the head of this declared the slaying of the p r i s o n e r.’ Abdullah answered, prisoners of war to be lawful ‘W e have not been commanded to when Islam does not allow it, the do so; for God says that when answer is that this has been due prisoners are taken in war they are to a misunderstanding. There are to be released either as an act of certain instances in history when favour or for ransom. There is no the Holy Prophet( s a ) o r d e r e d injunction to put them to death.’ certain prisoners of war to be put (Kitab Al-Khiraj, by Qadi Abu to death. But those who have Yusaf, p.121) inferred the justifiability of slaying prisoners of war from Similarly, Ata bin Abi Ribah is these instances have ignored the reported to have said: ‘The fact that the prisoners who were prisoners of war cannot be put to slain, were slain not because death; the commandment con- they were prisoners of war but cerning them is that they should because they had been guilty of be released either as an act of certain crimes punishable with grace or in return for reasonable death. It is evident that if a ranson.’ (Fath Al-Baree, Vol. VI, prisoner is guilty of an offence p.106). which calls for capital punishment, the fact of his being The plain verse of the Qur’an a prisoner cannot exempt him referred to above coupled with from that punishment. If a free the clear explanations quoted man can be punished with death above leaves no doubt as to the for the offence punishable with

42 The Review of Religions – June 2004 Treatment of Prisoners death, why cannot a prisoner be of the present day have not been so punished? able to give to the world a better law than this. It is a law which, As may be seen from an inquiry while calculated to put a check into each individual case, every upon the undue prolongation of prisoner who was put to death by war and the aggression of one the order of the Holy Prophet(sa) nation against another, has been was put to death not because he tempered with mercy and was a member of a hostile army, kindness in a most remarkable or a fighting nation, but because wa y . The truth is that in the law of he had committed an offence the Islam relating to war prisoners, punishment of which was death. the element of clemency and However some of our the- benevolence has been made to ologians, merely seeing that the outweigh even that of self- persons slain were prisoners of protection and defence. Certainly, w a r, concluded that it was no nation on earth has prescribed justifiable to slay a prisoner of such a beneficient treatment war. But as pointed out above towards its enemies. this conclusion is utterly erroneous and unwarranted Female prisoners of war according to the plain teachings A female prisoner of war has the of Islam and the practice of the same avenues open to her to effe c t Holy Prophet(sa). her release, namely, be freed for ransom, be freed in an exchange Such, in short, is the outline of the of prisoners of war, be freed at the Islamic teaching with regard to termination of hostilities, or make the prisoners of war. Now, every use of the Mukatabat pr o v i s i o n sensible man can see how already discussed in detail, or just extremely fair this teaching is be freed as an act of grace by the which God vouchsafed to the ca p t o r s . world through the Holy Prophet of Islam( s a ). Even the most If, however, a female prisoner of advanced and enlightened nations war does not avail of any of the

The Review of Religions – June 2004 43 Treatment of Prisoners

above modes of release to make independent life in this world. it possible for her to return home, The programme adopted by it is obvious that she feels unsafe Islam with regard to these people in going back to her nation and was that they should first be chooses to stay with the uplifted morally and socially, and Muslims. In that case, she will as their condition improved, they not be allowed to stay in this should be set at liberty; and Islam society without getting married. so arranged that when these This is to safeguard her morals as slaves were liberated, their well as the morals of the society. liberty was true and real and not merely nominal and spectacular. In the Muslim society, everyone This programme was carried into is expected to get married. There effect under State supervision so is no room for bachelors or that there could be no laxity or spinsters so that the chastity and negligence in this respect. moral well being of the society is safeguarded. S e c o n d l y, those fundamental teachings which Islam gave with Conclusion regard to slavery as such. To sum up, the teachings of Islam According to these teachings the about slavery fall under two main enslavement of any free man or heads: woman was strictly forbidden. It is true that in certain cases the F i r s t l y, the teachings which prisoners of war were deprived relate to that class of people who of their liberty, but that was only had already been fettered in the a retaliatory and a temporary shackles of slavery, and whose step, and when we go into details manners and habits had conse- of this system, we find that it was quently become degraded in the not slavery in the true sense of extreme. They were leading the term but was really servile lives and had wholly lost imprisonment, and even this that spirit of freedom which practice is not allowed by Islam enabled a man to lead an in the present times, for now the

44 The Review of Religions – June 2004 Treatment of Prisoners system of state prisons has been When the Holy Prophet(sa) spoke introduced and the opponents of the above words, there were Islam no longer make slaves of before him his devoted wives Muslim captives, nor distribute who had been the companions them among their individuals but during his life and who had keep them as State prisoners. It remained utterly faithful to him would, therefore, be unlawful for in times of privation and the Muslims as well to commit hardship. There also were his their prisoners to individual beloved daughter and her custody and thus give their action children and others that were a semblance of slavery. near and dear to him. There, too, were the faithful I must conclude my article with the extremely beautiful and most Muhajirin, the refugees from beloved words of the Holy Makkah, in whose devoted Prophet(sa), the last words spoken companionship he had passed the by him in this world of matter. troubled days of his life. The A l i( r a ) son of Abu Talib and loyal A n s a r, the helpers of A n a s( r a ) son of Malik, both Madinah, who watered the plant eminent companions of the Holy of Islam with their blood, were Prophet(sa) and Ummi Salma(ra), also near him. And that was a wife of the Holy Prophet( s a ), time after which the Holy report as follows: Prophet(sa) was to have no other earthly opportunity of making ‘The last words that the Holy any communication to his Prophet(sa) was heard to say, when followers, and he knew full well he was in the agony of death, and that the words of advice uttered the soul was fluttering to leave by him on that occasion would his mortal frame, were, ‘Stick carry the greatest weight with his fast to the prescribed Prayers and relations, friends and followers. to my injunctions with regard to slaves’. (Ibn Majah) What was that to which his thought turned? It was to the

The Review of Religions – June 2004 45 Treatment of Prisoners

downtrodden slave that his REFERENCES thought was directed to in the last 1. Chambers Encyclopaedia, under moments of his life and that Slavery. thought made him forget all other 2. Encyclopedia Britannica, under Slavery earthly connections. Ah! What a 3. Paul, VI, S; P e t e r, II., 18. In friend, what a benefactor of connection with these references it slaves that God gave to the should be noted that modern editions world, but alas, the world knew of the New Testament use the word ‘servant’ instead of ‘slave’, but the him not! context clearly shows that it is the slaves that are really meant in the passages in question. Hadhrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad 4. Rig Veda 1. 126/1 to 3; Mahabharat, Sabha Prab Adhiai 149; Manu 8/415 is the author of many articles and lharat Varash ka Ithas vol. II, p. in defence of Islam. His 51. ‘Seerat Khatamal Anbiyya’ 5. Zurqani vol. I, pages 266-70, and Tarikh Kamil. Chapter on the ranks as the best biography on persecution of Muslims. (sa) the Prophet of Islam . 6. Muir, Prisoners taken at Badr.

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46 The Review of Religions – June 2004 Religion is Peace Symposium

On April 25th the Ahmadiyya community hosted a Peace Symposium at Baitul Futuh Mosque in London, where speakers from a number of different faiths spoke to a large audience about the subject of peace within their own religion. We produce below, speeches from religious representatives from the Buddhist and Jewish faiths with the kind permission of the two speakers.

A DHARMA TALK ON ultimately peaceful happiness is BUDDHISM’S EMPHASIS ON only through the training of the PEACE mind. According to this, Buddhism by Phrakru Sarnu Lom and other religions of the world have an important part to play. Despite the fact that we can find happiness with the aid of science Ever since the 5th Century BC the and hi tech that provides us with Buddha who discovered Buddhism physical comfort and eff i c i e n c y, has been the Light of Asia. His there has still not been the teaching gives light and radiance possibility of everyone achieving a over the region from Kabul Valley true sense of peace in human would. in the west to Japan and Thailand in On the other hand, if we don’t use hi the Far East, from Java in the south tech carefully, it regulates not only to Siberia in the North. Today His our modes of action alone but it also teaching attracts many people rules over our modes of thought and around the world. For this reason in feeling. As a result we can be grown the year 2000 the United Nations up mechanical not only in hand but realised that the Buddha is the true also in head and in heart and we spiritual Teacher of peace. may neglect inner peace altogether. Therefore, the UNO reserves one The plain truth is that our peace and day of each year to pay heartfelt happiness depends on our mind, tribute to the Buddha whom which is within us not on materials, millions of people around the world which are outside us. Therefore, look upon as their guide. from time immemorial, the only possible way for mankind, for all of Throughout his ministry from his us to have both temporary and First Sermon and other discourses

The Review of Religions – June 2004 47 Peace Symposium

the Buddha urged both monks and LOKA MISAM SANT1 family people to tread and follow the PEKKHO PROOHAYA Middle Way . The cardinal feature of All must cultivate the element of his teaching is the emphasis on peace. respect for the religions of others and tolerance of all people, How can we develop the peace of regardless of race, culture and mind? The essential answer is to nationalities. His teaching is above follow the religious principles. The all a religion of peace. B u d d h a ’s teaching shows both democracy and science, which In the Third Century BCE, the means the two gods for modern Buddhist emperor, Asoka, carved in people. But one needs to study and the rock, ‘One should not honour practise it correctly in accordance only one’s own religion... but one with the Middle Way and with should honour religions of others. In individual status and maturity. On so doing one helps one’s religion to the whole the Teaching of the grow and also renders service to the Buddha bases on Truth and correct religions of others’. Reason. He strongly stated, NATTI DOSA SAMO AGGI..... These The Buddha did not set out to ‘Greed, Hatred, Delusion’ are real convert people to any belief system Fires. These fires cause misunder- or dogma. His mission was to show standing and estrangement between people the way to liberation and two groups of people, the result of peace from violence and suffering. which always brings about all kinds To this end he always taught the of grief, sorrow and suffering to system of truly ethical conduct of mankind. daily living, which he advised and recommended to all people. The present circumstances reveal not only a sickening and serious Before his sermons, whether a short imbalance of compassion and love, one or a long one, he says: but they also testify, give evidence, as witness to this truth. Please look N ATTI SANT1 PA R A M around and see what happens not SUKHAM, according to what we like or do not The highest bliss and happiness like but look at the fact without is the peace of mind. distortion. We find and see trouble

48 The Review of Religions – June 2004 Peace Symposium and violence almost everywhere.

Therefore we should not allow ourselves to be burnt by the fires of hate, greed and delusion. If we let them occupy our minds and hearts we will find no peace. Buddhism does not recommend the use of force, which is About the Author – Phrakru Sarnu Lom conducive to killing. Whatever is evil, The Venerable Lom is one of the chief Thai Buddhism does not Monks teaching Budhism at the support it at all. Buddhapadipa Temple in Wi m b l e d o n , London. He is also the Secretary to the The Buddha pointed Temple and a member of the interfaith out quite clearly that groups for Wimbledon, Merton, Kingston the most important and Wandsworth. element of peace, whether in ourselves, in our families and in our society at In short the Buddha advises us: large, is true love, real compassion, tolerance and charity. May I suggest Not to commit any evil that all of us who live here in the But to cultivate love and multiple-culture should cultivate compassion true love, compassion and tolerance And to purify the minds or plant them in our minds and This is the steppingstone to peace. hearts. Only through this sole way can we and the world achieve peace, May all the accumulated merit, which is the long wished for and which all of us have made today be dreamed of. And only through this conducive to the progress of peace. practice can man justifiably be called civilised.

The Review of Religions – June 2004 49 Peace Symposium

A JEWISH VIEW ON PEACE ‘In days to come the mountain of by Rabbi Danny Rich God’s house shall be established as the highest mountain, I am honoured to be able to towering above the hills, and all contribute a Jewish view to the the nations shall stream to it. symposium: ‘Religion is Peace’. I Many peoples shall go and say shall cover wa r and peace, for a ‘Come, let us go up to the major aspect of the Jewish mountain of the Eternal One to understanding of peace is the the house of the God of Jacob, absence of war. so that we may learn God’s ways, and walk in God’s paths’. The Hebrew word most often For out of Zion shall go forth rendered as ‘peace’ in English is the law, and the word of the ‘s h a l o m’ which enters Hebrew Eternal God from Jeru s a l e m . vocabulary in the first book of the And God shall judge between Hebrew Bible, Genesis. the nations and decide for many peoples; and they shall beat Its verbal origin means ‘to be whole, their swords into ploughshares, to be complete, to be sound’, and is and their spears into pruning- used in the Hebrew tradition in the hooks; nation shall not lift up senses of Divine kindness and s w o rd against nation, neither me r c y , of alliance between friends shall they learn war any more.’ and allies, of an individual who is ph y s i c a l l y , mentally and morally ‘at War, that is the absence of peace, is one’, and of the absence of war and in Jewish tradition at best a ma r a u d i n g . necessary evil, and thus Jewish tradition neither glorifies war nor The Hebrew prophets are extols the warmongers. Jewish abundantly clear that the whole heroes are rarely warriors. King purpose of Jewish and human life is David was refused the privilege of the eradication of war and the building the Temple because he had fulfilment of a ‘Messianic’ peace. engaged in warfare (I Chronicles Thus the words of the 8th Century 22:8) and the Babylonian Talmud BCE Isaiah (2:2-4) are engraved in (Megillah 10b) depicts, at the very the Great Hall of the United Nations moment of Hebrew liberation from building in New York: Egyptian slavery, God rebuking the

50 The Review of Religions – June 2004 Peace Symposium angels for bursting into song while begin the war and moral means in the Reed Sea covered the Egyptian fighting the war. Self defence or pursuers: ‘My cre a t u res are defence of an innocent bystander is drowning in the sea and you would such a justification, but Judaism sing before me.’ requires that in an offensive or pre- emptive war the executive (the King In spite of the Jewish horror of war, in ancient Israel) must gain the Judaism does not adopt a pacifist approval of the Sanhedrin. attitude. Whilst everything possible should be done to prevent war, Judaism mandates that a declaration defence (perhaps including a pre- of war is preceded by a clear offer of emptive strike) is not only permitted peaceful resolution, giving the but may be obligatory. The Talmud enemy the right to surrender and declares starkly (Sanhedrin 72a) ‘If non-combatants the opportunity to a person intends to kill you, be the flee. Whilst military targets are fair first to kill your enemy.’ Killing the game, Jewish teaching protects the one who is about to kill you is not a environment (from the admonition matter to be undertaken without in Deut 20: 19 – 20: not to destroy regard for the innocent and neither fruit bearing trees), a principle that is excessive violence sanctioned. Moses Maimonides (circa 1135 – The Talmud (Sanhedrin 74a) goes 1204) expanded thus: on to say: ‘Not only one who cuts down ‘It has been taught by Rabbi fruit-bearing trees but also one Jonathan ben Saul: If one was who smashes household goods, pursuing his fellow to slay him tears clothes, demolishes a and the pursued could have building, stops up a spring, or saved himself by maiming a limb wastes food in a destructive way of the pursuer but instead killed violates the command: ‘Yo u his pursuer, the pursued is must not destroy.’” subject to execution on that (Mishneh Torah, ‘Laws count’. concerning Kings and Wars’ 8- 10) From these texts emerged the ‘just war’ theory. For Judaism a ‘just Thus Jewish teaching permits war if war’ requires moral justification to the war is against an enemy who

The Review of Religions – June 2004 51 Message from Heaven

threatens you or other innocent The hope for peace is a part of every persons. The war must be declared Jewish statutory time of prayer, and by a balance of the executive and the Talmud (Berachot 64a) reminds the legislature, following a clear scholars that their role is to increase o ffer of peace and time for the peace in the world. Passivity was innocent to flee. The war must then not good enough. Following Psalm be conducted conscious of the 34:15 ‘Seek peace and pursue it’, following responsibilities: to protect the Midrash (Numbers Rabbah, the environment and minimise Hukkat 19:27) declared: ‘The Torah damage to persons, property and does not command you to run after natural resources, to resist or pursue other commandments, but glorification and remain aware of only to fulfil them on the the tragedy and necessary evil of a p p ropriate occasion. But p e a c e war, and to pursue and promote you must seek in your own place avenues for peace wherever and pursue it even to another place practicable. as well’.

The object of the war is, ironically, Peace does not just happen. As my the advent of real universal peace as teacher, Rabbi John Rayner wrote:’ predicted by the 8th Century Hebrew Prophet M i c a h (4:4) when ‘It is not enough to pray for ‘everyone shall sit under their vine peace; it is not enough to talk of and under their fig-tree and none peace. We have to work for it: to shall make them afraid.’ challenge those who foster conflict and refute their It is to that peace to which I shall propaganda; to ascertain and now return. Peace and justice were make known the truth, both the highest of rabbinic values. when it confirms and when it Rabban Simeon bar Gamaliel runs counter to conventional declared (Avot 1:18) ‘By thre e views; to denounce injustice things the world is preserved: by when it is committed against us truth, by judgement and by peace’. but also when it is committed These aspects are three parts of the against others; to defend human same for when justice is done, the rights, not only our own but also truth is vindicated and peace theirs; to insist that peace prevails. requires sacrifice – of pride, or

52 The Review of Religions – June 2004 Peace Symposium

That, is Peace the Jewish way.

Let me conclude with two midrashim which takes us back to the early chapters of Genesis and the legend of the creation. The Rabbis asked: ‘Why was only one man and About the Author – Rabbi Danny Rich one woman made at creation? So that in Rabbi Danny Rich JP BA hons began his Rabbinic future no person could studies at Leo Bæck College in London. He served as an assistant to Rabbi Julia Neurberger at the say to another: ‘My South London Liberal Synagogue. He became a ancestry is better than fulltime Rabbi at Kingston in 1988. Danny was yo u r s . ’ ordained in 1989, submitting a thesis on ‘The Teachings of Torah to non-Jews’. He serves as a Elsewhere we read that Director of the Youth Department of the Union of humanity was created Liberal and Progressive Synagogues and for 15 btselem elohim: in the years as Director of the Kadimah Summer Camp. image of God. This Danny serves as a Jewish chaplain to HM Prisons, should teach us that like Kingston Hospital and also the Surrey Oaklands us every other human NHS Trust. He is the founding chairman of the being has a spark of Ditton Branch of the Council of Christian and Jews and the first Chair of the recently formed Kingston btselem elohim. How Inter-Faith Forum. could the other be an enemy if one could wealth, or territory; to practice look in their eyes and see the same and promote the way of spark of btselem elohim. moderation, compromise and reconciliation; and to build bridges of respect and understanding, trust and friend- ship, across the chasms that divide humanity’.

The Review of Religions – June 2004 53 My Journey into the Ahmadiyya Community

By Dara Fulton, USA

In February 2002, I went to long shirts. I did not understand school on a winter day and the significance of the scarf, the attended my English poetry class clothing, or the religion. At that at 10am. I had recently met a time I did not ask, but was always young lady, Bushra Bajwa, in my curious to know. As I asked my class. We began talking about the new friend about the Muslim class, the assignments that our faith, she shared some things professor gave to us, and at an about the purpose of the scarf, her instance I became interested in culture, and attending their holy getting to know her better. We temple, the mosque. She also told both attended Q u e e n s b o r o u g h me about a Tabligh meeting, Community college. It did not which is a meeting where non- take long to begin talking more to Muslims are invited to attend, to a point where one day we met up discuss and ask any questions or after our classes, and walked to express concerns about Islam, and the bus stop. As our conversation the Ahmadiyya community. increased, I realised we had a lot Ahmadiyyat is one of the many in common. I asked about her sects in Islam that promotes Pakistani culture and the scarf she peace, and love for all humanity. was wearing on her head. When she told me she was Muslim, I There was a Tabligh meeting the was intrigued and wanted to know following Sunday; she invited more about it. me to attend and I did. I went to the Queensborough Jama’at I have had Muslim friends before: where I met a lot of sisters, many they were sisters in my fourth were American as well as grade class. They too wore a scarf Pakistani sisters. I was happy to on their head, long skirts, and see the diversity there, because I

54 The Review of Religions – June 2004 My Journey into the Ahmadiyya Community am an African American woman, food served. It is held every year and was not sure if I was going to in Maryland where the main be the only American there. I met Ahmadi Mosque is located. up with my friend and she There I got a chance to meet my introduced me to a few others. As friends and got to know them a the meeting began, each sister little better. expressed her love for Islam, and her personal experiences in how From there, I received pamphlets she converted to Islam. Some of and books on Islam from the them were born in the religion, sisters. My interest grew, and my but more were converted to relationships with the sisters got Islam. I also met a woman who, closer. I started to feel I wanted like me, was a non-Muslim and to become an Ahmadi Muslim, had an interest in Islam. but was not sure if I was ready. I was aware of the rules of Islam I was impressed and moved by and the principles that are the love each sister expressed enforced. Furthermore, I was over Islam, and the way they also aware that it was a year after welcomed me into the meeting. I the September 11th attack of participated in the discussion 2001; and Muslims were faced where I mentioned my friend, with many challenges in their and my curiosity in learning communities. People prejudiced more about Islam. After the against Islam and ignorant of its meeting was over, I hugged real meaning of peace and love everyone and thanked them all were attacking many. Islam does for allowing me to attend their not tolerate terrorism or violence. meeting. I felt so moved by them U n f o r t u n a t e l y, the media has that I knew I had to keep in touch continuously showed the attacks with all of the sisters. By June I on America and across the world. was invited to attend Jalsa It has given Muslims a bad Salana: a gathering of sisters and image. My fear became dom- non-Muslims where there are inant; I was afraid of not being prayer services, discussions, and accepted, maybe even attacked. I

The Review of Religions – June 2004 55 My Journey into the AhmadiyyaCommunity

I FEEL PROUD TO BE AN AHMADI MUSLIM BECAUSE OF WHAT AHMADIYYA STANDS FOR: LOVE FOR ALL, HATRED FOR NONE. I AM HAPPY TO BE PART OF A COMMUNITY AND A RELIGION THAT PREACHES LOVE, PEACE, AND RESPECT FOR HUMANITY.

had concerns my family would When I woke up, I felt so uplifted not accept my new-found as if everything was going to be religion. all right.

One year later my fears were From June 2002 to November suddenly gone. I had a dream that 2003, things in my life were not I was at a banquet with all the well and I began to feel sisters including Bushra. depressed. Money became Everyone was talking, laughing, scarce, I had to stop school due to and having a good time. They financial difficulty, and I lost my looked so happy. I was sitting job. But after I had that dream, I with my legs crossed on a mat felt all that was going to change. when suddenly I got up and went I first told my friend of my to my friend. I gently pulled her dream, and then contacted the by the arm and said, ‘I have other sisters. Then I had a something to tell you!’ She meeting with my mother and looked at me and asked, ‘What?’ b r o t h e r. During the middle of I said ‘I’m ready to become an having dinner, I came out and Ahmadi Muslim.’ Her face lit up said ‘I’m going to become an in excitement, grabbed me and Ahmadi Muslim.’ My mother said ‘Oh my God! Come, we was surprised; she thought the have to go tell everyone now!’ I decision was sudden. I told her of do not know what happened my dream, and she knew then next, everything drifted away. that was God’s way of saying it

56 The Review of Religions – June 2004 My Journey into the AhmadiyyaCommunity was time for me to convert. I everyone who welcomed me into expressed the interest to my dad the Ahmadiyya community, into and he too was happy over my their personal lives, and may decision. Allah bless all of you. Amin.

I attended Juma prayers at the Queensborough Jama’at on Friday, November 21, 2003 and informed some of the sisters and the Missionary’s wife of my decision of converting to Islam. I felt converting during the month of Ramadan was special, because it is the holiest time of the year for Muslims. As I signed my name, I felt so proud of myself because I felt I was doing what Allah wanted me to do. I feel proud to be an Ahmadi Muslim because of what Ahmadiyya stands for: Love for All, Hatred for None. I am happy to be part of a community and a religion that preaches love, peace, and respect for humanity. I met some really nice sisters and hope to meet more in the future. My goal is to learn about Islam to the fullest extent, and participate in as many events, charities, or community services that are o ffered in the Ahmadiyya C o m m u n i t y. Thank you to

The Review of Religions – June 2004 57 Noah’s Ark – Another Viewpoint

By Latif Qureshi In a recent television programme the existence of a prophet of God a well known presenter discussed who was called Noah(a s ) . They all the Bible story of Noah’s Ark. believe that he built an Ark. They the presenter travelled to the all believe in an enormous flood Mount Ararat in Eastern Turkey that played havoc but that Noah(a s ) where the ancient Ark was and his companions escaped in supposed to have landed after the their Ark. floods subsided. The discussion that followed the programme The prophet Noah(a s ) is mentioned included some archaeologists in at least eight chapters of the and scientists. They discussed Muslim scripture – the Qur’a n 1. the story of the deluge and the One chapter is even named building of a giant boat that ‘Noah’. The story in the Qur’an is saved Noah(as), his family and the a simple one. It tells us that God pairs of animals of all kinds from chose a man called Noah to drowning and ultimate destruc- convey His message to the tion. They doubted the people. The message was occurrence of such a flood that basically to stop worshipping could engulf the entire earth. idols and return to the One Tru e Some even doubted the existence God and follow the revealed of a person named Noah and guidance. Some of his people whether he could build a boat of who were considered to be rather the size of Titanic just with lowly accepted his message planks of wood. whereas all the others rejected it. Those who rejected the message By a strange coincidence, despite were warned about the dire their differences, that three major consequences of rejection. A religions of the world - Judaism, destructive flood was predicted Christianity and Islam believe in that would destroy the non-

58 The Review of Religions – June 2004 Noah’s Ark – Another Viewpoint believers. Those who believed in Till, when Our command the message of Noah( a s ) w e r e came and the fountains of the promised safety. They were earth gushed forth, We said, commanded to build an Ark. ‘Embark therein two of every They were mocked by their kind, male and female, and fellow men while they were busy thy family, except those building the Ark. Eventually the against whom the word has appointed time did come and the already gone forth, and those prediction of the prophet Noah(a s ) who believe.’ And there did was proved to be correct. He, his not believe and live with him family and believers along with except a few. And he said, their needed animal escaped the ‘Embark therein. In the name destruction that befell all others. of Allah be its course and its mooring. My Lord is The Holy Qur’an states: a s s u redly Most Forg i v i n g , Merciful.’ And it moved along And We sent Noah to his with them on waves like people, and he said, ‘Truly I mountains. And Noah cried am a plain Warner to you that unto his son, while he was you worship none but Allah. keeping apart, ‘O my son, Indeed I fear for you the embark with us and be not punishment of a grievous day.’ with the disbelievers.’ He The chiefs of his people, who replied, ‘I shall soon betake disbelieved, replied, ‘We see in myself to a mountain which thee nothing but a man like will shelter me from the ourselves, and we see that water.’ He said, ‘There is no none have followed thee but shelter for anyone this day, those who, to all outward f rom the decree of Allah, appearance, are the meanest excepting those to whom He of us. And we do not see in you shows mercy.’ And the wave any superiority over us; nay, came in between the two; so we believe you to be liars. he was among the drowned. (C h . 11 : V s . 2 6 - 2 8 ) And it was said, ‘O earth,

The Review of Religions – June 2004 59 Noah’s Ark – Another Viewpoint

swallow thy water, and O sky, thing about it that makes it seem cease raining.’ And the water genuine. This story is repeated was made to subside and the time and again. Every time when matter was ended. And the a people or nation becomes Ark came to rest on al-Judi. corrupted a man is appointed by And it was said, ‘Cursed be God to guide them into the right the wrongdoing people.’ path. (Ch.11: Vs.41-45) But initially, very few people Unlike the Holy Bible, the Holy accept the message delivered by Qur’an does not specify that the him. Majority of those who do male and female of all species accept him are usually young, were accommodated in the Ark poor and lowly. His sincerity and nor does it make any exaggerated sanity is always questioned. He claim about the size of the Ark. and his followers are always The Holy Qur’an, nevertheless, tortured and ridiculed. His efforts points to the lesson that mankind are looked upon with suspicion. must learn from this deluge that The powerful men of the land those who do not believe in the oppose him with all their might. message of a Warner, have to Yet these appointed messengers face the consequence of their are always successful. Their disbelief and the punishment message slowly gains wide about which they had been acceptance and those opposed to warned soon overtakes them. them are eventually overcome Nothing is left of them. So and destroyed. although others may doubt that such prophets ever existed, After Noah ( a s ) similar events history loses all trace of such occurred at the time of people to whom they were sent. A b r a h a m( a s ). Moses ( a s ), Jesus C h r i s t( a s ) and the Prophet Although this may seem a story Muhammad(sa) of Islam. and every one has a right to question its truth, there is one This story has a special lesson for

60 The Review of Religions – June 2004 Noah’s Ark – Another Viewpoint our age because a similar person warned the human race about appeared less than a hundred dire calamities that awaited them years ago in the spirit of all the if they rejected him. prophets of God2. He was a devout follower of the Holy He also built an Ark. This time it Prophet of Islam ( s a ) and also was in the shape of a book and he claimed to be a prophet of God. named it ‘Noah’s Ark’3. This He said that he was the Promised book contains the teachings of M e s s i a h( a s ) and the reformer the Qur’an by following which awaited by all the major religions all the human race can achieve of the world. He invited the salvation. At the time of the whole mankind to the ways of writing of this book, the Indian the God. True to the old tradition subcontinent was about to only a few people – young, poor descent in the grip of a severe and lowly accepted his message pestilence in the form of a plague initially. He was however, given epidemic. This epidemic played the glad tiding that his message havoc in India and claimed more would reach and be accepted in than 10 million lives. However, the far corners of the earth. there was no trace of the plague when the prophecy of a severe He appeared as a witness of the pestilence was recorded in the bounty of God on the human race Promised Messiah’s( a s ) B r a h e e n because the Mighty God revealed Ahmadiyya. He proclaimed that Himself to mankind through any person within his four walls repeated revelations to him. and following the teachings in his book would not die from He became a bearer of glad plague. It appeared that tidings for the human race following these teachings was a because those who accepted his more effective protection against message were promised ultimate the plague epidemic compared to su c c e s s . the inoculation offered by the British Indian government of the He was also a warner because he time. People in large number

The Review of Religions – June 2004 61 Noah’s Ark – Another Viewpoint

joined his community during the Bibliography: time of the epidemic and escaped • ‘The Holy Qur’ a n ’ : death. He also predicted many Chapters:3 verse 36, 7 verses other important events including 60-65, 10:72-74, 11 : 2 6 - 5 0 , the world wars and the fall of the 23:24-30, 26:106-123, 54:10- Russian empire. 16 and 71:2-29.

His name was Hadrat Mirza • Ahmad, The Guided One: by Ghulam Ahmad(as) and like all Iain Adamson. other prophets of God, he was a human being. He, finally at an • Kishtie Nuh (Urdu) by age of 73 years, passed away in Ahmad, Mirza Ghulam. 1908 leaving behind a thriving community that carries on his mission of saving the mankind to this day.

His message has already reached the far corners of earth and circulates round the globe twenty-four hours a day through a worldwide television network.

He is the Noah of our age. We do not need to look for his Ark at the heights of Mount Ararat. We also do not need the help of any archaeologists or scientist to discover him. We only need a guiding vision and a clear conscience to recognise him.

62 The Review of Religions – June 2004 Letters to the Editor

Sir only means ‘whenever’ and never For the past eight months, I have ‘ w h e re v e r’. The old and faithful been receiving your The Review of Hindu translators have translated the Religions and as a result have words yada yada as whenever as can become quite interested in the be seen from a 40 year old translation teachings of Islam and its inherent where: qualities. ‘Arjuna, whenever there is I would be grateful if you could send decline of righteousness, and me information about the Ahmadiyya unrighteousness is in the Muslim community in the Republic of ascendant, then I body Myself Ireland as I would like to find out forth’ more about Islam in its true form. (The Bhagavad Gita IV:7) Also I would like information on how I may obtain a copy of the Holy Impressed by the Qur’anic teachings Qur’an for study. that God has raised Pro p h e t s amongst all nations, modern Hindu translators of their Scriptures have Christopher Pender added the word ‘where v e r’ along Republic of Ireland with ‘whenever’ to read incorrectly: whenever and wherever there is decline of righteousness, and Sir unrighteousness is in the ascendant, I want to congratulate Abdul Kudus then I body Myself forth. Alimi for ‘Journey to Tru t h : Hinduism’ (The Review of Religions, Mr Alimi should be aware of these January 2004). But I request him to facts; however, if my comments are be aware of the modern translators of incorrect, one of your readers could the Hindu Scriptures. Please refer to perhaps correct me. ‘whenever and wherever there is a decline in religious practice’ (page S M Shahab Ahmad, 54) quoted from Bhagavad Gita, IV:7. Canada. The actual Sanskrit word in the Bhagavad Gita is ‘yada yada’ which

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