Spring •2009 $4.00

“In the latter days, the sun shall rise from the west” • Holy (peace be on him)

10 The Financial 15 Rabi’a al- 19 Black History 38 Salah-ud- Crisis: Searching Adawiyya: The & the Origin of the Din Ayyubi: for a New Order Jewel of Basra Human Race Compassion over Cruelty The Muslim Community

he Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is a religious organization, international in its scope, with branches in 189 countries in TAfrica, North America, South America, Asia, Australasia, and Europe. The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community was established in 1889 by Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas (1835-1908) in , a small and remote village in the Punjabi province of India. He claimed to be the expected reformer of the latter days, the Awaited One of the world community of religions (The and Messiah). The Movement he started is an embodiment of the benevolent message of Islam – peace, universal brotherhood, and submission to of God – in its pristine purity. Hadhrat Ahmadas proclaimed Islam as the religion of man: “The religion of the people of the right path” (98:6).The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community was created under divine guidance with the objective to rejuvenate Islamic moral and spiritual values. It encourages interfaith dialogue, diligently defends Islam and tries to correct misunderstandings about Islam in the West. It advocates peace, tolerance, love and understanding among followers of different faiths. It firmly believes in and acts upon the Qur’anic teaching: “There is no compulsion in religion” (2:257). It strongly rejects violence and terrorism in any form and for any reason.

After the passing of its founder, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community has been headed by his elected successors. The present Head of the Community, Hadhrat , was elected in 2003. His official title is Khalifatul Masih V or Fifth Successor of the Promised Messiah.. (1835-1908)

Editor Editor's Notes: Falahud Din Shams is published by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, USA, 15000 Good Hope Road, Silver Spring, MD 20905, Phone 301.879.0110, Fax 301.879.0115, under the auspices of Dr. Ahsanullah Zafar, Ameer and National Editorial Board President. The views and opinions expressed by individual contributers in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Imam Mubasher Ahmad Community, USA. Dr. Shanaz Butt Hasan Hakeem The Muslim Sunrise welcomes letters to the editor, questions and submissions. Email Amjad Mahmood Khan, Esq. us at [email protected] or go online to www.MuslimSunrise.com. Naveed Malik Library of Congress Call Number BP195.A5 M8

Mailing Address: The Muslim Sunrise, 2 S 510 Route 53, Glen Ellyn, IL Staff Editors 60137, Phone: (630) 790-4100, ext. 206, Fax: (630) 793-4100. Maham Khan Naser Shams Muslims follow the name of God’s with the prayer alaehis salaam or ‘may peace be upon him,’ and for the Holy Prophet Muhammad, sallallahu alaehi wasallam or ‘may peace and blessings of God be upon him.’ Companions Staff Writers of prophets and righteous personalities who have passed away are saluted by Saad Ahmad radhi-Allaho anhu/a or ‘may Allah be pleased with him/her.” While such salutations are not set out in the text for readability, we encourage readers to Arif Humayun offer these prayers as if set out in full. Dr. Zia H. Shah Shazia Sohail Dr. (1872-1957) was the first Ahmadiyya Muslim missionary to arrive in America. In 1921, he founded the Muslim Sunrise, which stands today as the longest running Muslim publication in America. The magazine seeks to open Hasan Hakeem, Design/Layout discussions on Islam and topics relating to religion in general. It highlights the role Fateh Shams, Circulation of Islam in an ever changing global society. It provides a platform for public Shuaib Shams, Circulation opinion on contemporary issues and presenting their solutions from an Islamic perspective.

www.muslimsunrise.com

2 MuslimSunrise In This Issue

Features

10 The Financial Crisis Searching for a new financial order

12 Great Women Leadership in Islam A Muslim woman’s viewpoint

15 Rabi’a al-Adawiyya A female sufi leader in early Islamic history Spring 2 0 0 9 • Volume 89 • Issue 1 19 Black History: The Origin of the Human Race

22 Al-Khwarizmi & Ibn Rushd Two Muslim medieval scholars News, Views and Reviews

27 : The Greatest Traveller 36 Press Publications State terrorism & religious based atrocities 32 Khulafaa Rashideen Characters of the first 4 caliphs 37 Viewpoint Palestinians & Isrealis: Fighting each other or their 38 Salah-ud-Din Ayyubi (Saladin) own principles? Compassion over cruelty during the Crusades 43 Perspectives Departments “For the Love of God”

5 Opening Commentary

6 Editorial

7 Friday Sermon Pakistan’s growing depravity

24 Questions & Answers Investment, Interest & Islam

31 Poetry Corner The Love of God

41 Religion & Science The Golden Age of Islam

SPRING 2009 3 From the Holy Qur'an Al-Zumar 39:50-53

And when trouble touches man, he cries unto Us. But when We bestow on him a favor from Us, he says, ‘This has been given to me on account of my own knowledge.’ Nay, it is only a trial; but most of them know not.

Those who were before them said the same thing, yet all that they had earned availed them not;

So the evil consequences of what they had earned overtook them; and those who do wrong from among these disbelievers — the evil consequences of what they earned shall also overtake them. They cannot escape.

Know they not that Allah enlarges the provision for whomsoever He pleases, and straitens it for whomsoever He pleases? Verily, in that are Signs for a people who believe.

4 MuslimSunrise Opening Commentary

cultivate that love which should make Man is his journey to the other world easy and whereby he should develop the inner Endowed quality of making spiritual progress. Everyone can understand that in with a this heedless life which is ever pull- ing a person downward, with his rela- Latent tionship with wife and children and with the burden of honor and good repute, which are all like heavy stones Faculty of pressing him downwards, he is in need of a high power which, by bestowing Receiving true sight and true vision upon him, should make him eager to behold the Revelation Perfect Beauty of God Almighty. That high power is divine revelation that s God has endowed man provides comfort in distress. It en- with the faculty of reason ables a person to take his stand joy- for the understanding to ously and comfortably under moun- some degree of elementary Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (1835-1908) tains of misfortunes. That Impercep- matters, in the same way tible Being, Who confounds reason AGod has vested in him a hidden faculty of and the wisdom of all philosophers, receiving revelation. When human reason faculties through lack of use and to manifests Himself only through revela- arrives at the limit of its reach, at that stage derive no benefit from them. A person tion. He comforts the hearts of seekers God Almighty, for the purpose of leading His who does not use the faculty of and bestows contentment upon them and true and faithful servants to the perfection of receiving revelation but denies its revives the half-dead ones by saying: I understanding and certainty, guides them existence cannot be a true philosopher, am Present. It is true that the Holy Qur’an through revelation and visions. Thus, the whereas the existence of this faculty has contains all the guidance, but when the stages which reason could not traverse are been established by the testimony of Qur’an leads a person to the fountain of traversed by means of revelation and thousands of the righteous and all men guidance the first indication of it is that visions, and seekers after truth thereby of true understanding have arrived at he begins to experience converse with arrive at full certainty. This is the way of perfect understanding through this the Divine, whereby a revealing under- Allah, to guide to which prophets have means (Surma Chashm Arya (Qadian, standing of high degree and a visible appeared in the world and without 1886), Now published in Ruhani blessing and light is created and that treading along which no one can arrive Khazain, Volume 2 (London, 1984) Arya, cognition begins to be acquired which at true and perfect understanding; but pp. 39-42). cannot be achieved by blind following or an unfortunate dry philosopher is so through intellectual theories, for they are much in a hurry that he desires that Revelation Provides Comfort all limited and full of doubts and defec- whatever has to be disclosed should be in Distress tive and incomplete. We need to extend disclosed at the stage of reason. He our cognition directly, for the greater our does not know that reason cannot carry It is idle to assert that revelation has cognition the greater will be our eager- a burden beyond its strength, nor can it no reality and is a vain thing, the harm of ness. With a defective cognition we can- step forward beyond its capacity. He which is greater than its benefit. Such an not expect perfect eagerness. It is a mat- does not reflect that to carry a person to assertion is made only by a person who ter of surprise how unintelligent those his desired excellence God Almighty has has never tasted this pure wine and does people are who do not consider them- bestowed upon him not only the faculty not desire that he should acquire true selves in need of that perfect means of of reason but also the faculty of faith. Such a one is happy with his habits approaching the truth upon which spiri- receiving revelation. It is the height of and customs and never seeks to find out tual life depends. It should be remem- misfortune to make use of only the to what degree he believes in God Al- bered that spiritual knowledge and spiri- elementary means out of those that God mighty and how far his understanding ex- tual understanding can be acquired only has, out of His Perfect Wisdom, tends and what should he do so that his through revelation and visions, and un- bestowed upon man for the purpose of inner weaknesses are removed and a liv- til we achieve that standard of light, our recognizing God, and to remain ignorant ing change takes place in his morals and humanness cannot acquire any true un- of the rest. It is foolish to waste those actions and designs. He is not eager to derstanding or true perfection....

SPRING 2009 5 A revolutionary change was historian, opened doors of brought in the Arabian Peninsula by international borders that were Editorial the Prophet of IslamSAW. He previously unknown across the globe. abolished drinking, established Numerous other Muslim scholars are respect for women and created not acknowledged by the West but brotherhood among the various their work formed the foundation tribes in his very lifetime. He upon which the West based its promoted education in various ways, research and knowledge. changing the whole focus of Arabian Today, it is incomprehensible for society. People who were looked a Westerner to even think that down upon by the international Muslims could be anything other than community were on their way to lead terrorists, let alone the leaders in the world in all aspects of human life. secular knowledge. In the current After the Holy Prophet issue, we have provided examples of MuhammadSAW passed away, his a few notable Muslims who brought A spiritual four caliphsRA continued to work on change in various fields of knowledge. the path of bringing about change and They were the pioneers who set up transformation: they increased the sphere in which the stage that eventually brought the excellence of Islamic teachings Europe out of the Dark Ages. The The Golden started to shine. governments of Spain and Turkey Age of Islam The Holy Qur’an commanded promoted education, research and efore the Muslims to spread throughout the scientific knowledge without prejudice world and experience the vastness to any faith, race, color or creed. It advent of of God’s creation. Holy Qur’an was a period known as the Golden Islam, the encouraged them to explore nature Age of Islam. desert and study the workings of the sun, Muslims need to remind were not the moon and the stars. themselves of the past scholars and knownBB for their education, Within a few hundred years, a advancements made by them. By scientific research, secular or relatively short span in history, following the teachings of the Holy spiritual knowledge. Most of Muslims became the educators of the Qur’an about exploration and seeking the general public was illiterate world. They were the pioneers of the bounties of God, they can new discoveries in medicine, demonstrate to the world once again and followed their customs and mathematics, physics, history, music, that they are capable of leading the traditions, some of which were geography, astrology and civil and world. Their strength lies in the Islamic inhumane and cruel. Their military administration. There are spiritual fundamentals that combine nobles would bury their numerous Muslims over the centuries with secular knowledge and result in newborn daughters alive. who changed the course of the world leadership in various fields which Drinking alcohol, womanizing in their respective fields of expertise. cannot be achieved by secular and pursuing vulgar activities In the Western countries, Saladin knowledge alone. Once again, they was common behavior. Tribes (Salah-ud-Din Ayyubi) is well known can prove to the people who look for his military administration and down upon them that they have been would get into feudal wars with excellence of character and given the tools, means and principles each other over petty issues that generosity, and was admired by his by which they can change the world would go on for generations. worst of enemies. Ibn Battuta, as a for a better future.‹

6 MuslimSunrise Pakistan: A nation of persecution and barbarity Summary of Friday Sermon Delivered by Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad aba, the Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community March 6, 2009 NOTE: Alislam Team takes full responsibility for any errors or miscommunication in this Synopsis of the Friday Sermon. For our readers, the Khalifah is affectionaly referred to as Huzur. In his Friday Sermon today Huzur gave a discourse on a range of exhortations of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) to the Community. The advice pertain to drawing attention towards the objective of forming the Community, the ensuing responsibilities of the members of the Community, the blessings re- sulting from attaining the said objectives and finally, the ultimate goal of the Community. Huzur said his purpose to present these to- day was to remind us of our responsibilities “Since the new government came into power in so that we may continue to ruminate and pon- der over them to attain Divine nearness and Pakistan persecution [of Ahmadis] is considered a Divine pleasure. meritorious act, the government has given the mullah The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) said this age is of spiritual warfare. The a free reign. There is no law and order in the country battle with Satan is on -he wants to defeat anyway and whatever passes for law and order is not Islam, however God has brought about the Ahmadiyya movement in order to vanquish available for the Ahmadis to seek help from.” Satan. Blessed are those who recognize this. Huzur said we are grateful that we are enabled, of persecution of the new converts. Since order to overcome the external Satan we have to either through the insight of our elders or our- the new government came into power in conquer the internal satan as well. Our triumph selves, to enter into this Community. He said Pakistan persecution [of Ahmadis] is con- will not be through worldly ways and means the people are going to continue to enter into sidered a meritorious act, the government rather it will be through prayers and for this is it this Community to be part of that special group has given the mullah a free reign. There is essential to tread the path of God’s pleasure of people who are to fight the last battle with no law and order in the country anyway which necessitates of the ‘self’. Satan. Huzur said in some countries of the and whatever passes for law and order is The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) world our Community faces persecution, how- not available for the Ahmadis to seek help said egotistic tendencies are shirk (associating ever, in relation to the attainment of our objec- from. It is a blessing of God that each time partners with God) and they shut hearts. One tives the sacrifices that are made are naught. our opponents hatch a large-scale scheme should ever engage in promoting the Unity of Indeed, the Promised Messiah (on whom be against us, their plans are rebounded on God and never disregard the intent with which peace) told us that we will have to endure tri- them by God. This is what we have been one comes into bai’at [of the Promised Messiah]. als and tribulations. The Promised Messiah witnessing for quite a few years now. A He said God started this Community so that He (on whom be peace) said that his followers large-scale scheme against us is in the mak- would demonstrate taqwa (righteousness) and have to fight an incredible battle with ‘self’ as ing these days but God has created such a purity to the world. the world around them is hostile and openly situation that they find they are in trouble Huzur added, today Muslims are killing curses them. However, the reward for their themselves. Huzur reminded us that this is Muslims in the name of God. The situation of steadfastness lies with God. the last battle with Satan, we should the country that was acquired in the name of Huzur said today such is the situation in strengthen our faiths, supplicate for stead- Islam so that religion may be established is such some countries of the world and those who fastness to God, demonstrate patience and that people are killed there for professing their are making sacrifices amidst the persecution fortitude and turn to Him. declaration of faith (Kalima) and today the world will have their reward with God. Opposition is Huzur said it worth remembering that in envisages Pakistan synonymous with persecu- mounting in Pakistan and in India there is a lot

SPRING 2009 7 turns us to God because it is not possible to tread these paths without the grace of God. May Allah make it so that each one of us abides by taqwa. The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) said that it is the will of God to save man from the fire of sin and create a group of the righteous who would give precedence to faith over the world. Huzur prayed that may Allah make each one of us give precedence to faith over the world and truly be- long to the group of the righ- teous and understand the ba- sis of bai’at and never over- look the Divine command- ments for egotistic reasons. Huzur prayed that may we be exemplary so that our genera- tions also tread the right path and supplicate to God. May those who accept Ah- madiyyat through us pray for their benefactors. InshaAllah tion and barbarity. May God have mercy on our may we always strive to attain the standards the Community is destined to grow and flour- country. The Community made great sacrifices set by our Imam. ish, we have been witnessing for more than for the establishment of this country, each The Promised Messiah (on whom be one hundred years that the hand of God’s Pakistani Ahmadi should always be mindful peace) said none can attain salvation with- mercy is upon us and each year hundreds of of this. Today, if anyone can save the coun- out adopting taqwa. All claims to piety are thousands of pious souls enter into the Com- try from the storm of sin and depravation, it is futile without adherence to high standards munity, may Allah grant steadfastness to the the vessel which has been prepared by the of obedience and practising sincere humil- newcomers. Promised Messiah (on whom be peace). We ity. He said if our Community really want to Huzur said he has said it a few times be- are on board this vessel and have to make become a true Community they have to un- fore that as we increase in numbers feelings ourselves worthy of it. We should pray for dergo a death-like state (annihilate the self), of jealousy is also growing among our ad- the nation of Pakistan that may it come to its give precedence to God and always assess versaries. Their mind-set and their wish is senses. These are the two significant respon- oneself and endeavour to reform oneself. for the Community to be destroyed, how- sibilities of Ahmadis, in particular Pakistani Huzur said the endeavour to reform succeeds ever, God’s blessings on us are ever on the Ahmadis or the Ahmadis residing in places when there is an absence of inflexibility and increase. May He continue to cover our where the situation is bad. a realization that having joined the Commu- shortcomings with His grace and make ev- Huzur said at times Ahmadis who are nity one’s objective is to present a pious ery assault of the enemy unsuccessful. All blessed with prosperity forget the objective model to the world and to purify oneself to our accomplishments are by virtue of the of being an Ahmadi and are not mindful of seek the pleasure of God. promise God gave the Promised Messiah (on the teachings of Islam, and are neglectful of The Promised Messiah (on whom be whom be peace) and this is why the Prom- many things, for example observance of peace) said that each stranger who meets ised Messiah (on whom be peace) always Salat. Huzur said it is a sobering thought. Ahmadis observes the way they carry them- gave assurance to the Community. Ascen- May God not make even a single person selves, their ethics and manners. If he does dancy will be given to us, InshaAllah, how- among us a portrayal of the Quranic verse not find them to be fine, he stumbles be- ever, may we not be negligent in the hour of ‘…he is surely not of thy family; he is in- cause of the Ahmadi. Therefore it is essen- ascendancy. May God enable each Ahmadi deed a man of unrighteous conduct…’ tial to exemplify honesty and truth. to fulfil their responsibilities, enable them to (11:47). Huzur said that may Allah never ever Huzur said this is summary of the objec- meet all the expectations of the Promised make it so that anyone among those taking tives of our Community. The Promised Mes- Messiah (on whom be peace), save us from their bai’at fits this description. May we not siah (on whom be peace) said God is prepar- each of the evil about which the Promised presume and create our own measures of at- ing a community of the truthful. We should Messiah (on whom be peace) expressed con- taining the standards the Promised Messiah continually assess ourselves, this creates a cern and may we continue to be the recipi- (on whom be peace) expected from us, rather realization and insight to improve and then ents of his prayers.

8 MuslimSunrise he Ahmadiyya Muslim TT Community mourns the loss of Munir Hamid Sahib who passed away February 21, 2009, in Philadelphia (To Allah we belong, and to Him we shall return). He is survived by his wife, a son, and two daughters. Born on June 1, 1938, Hamid grew up in Pennsylvania. He converted to Islam at the early age of 15 years old. Despite opposition to his new faith, Hamid persevered as he meandered through the many difficulties and hardships that Christian converts encounter with family and friends. During his youth, Hamid was a community activist in the Phila- delphia area, as he began to preach the message of Islam in the African American community. After a stint in the United States Air Force, Hamid returned to his native home where he con- tinued to study and preach Islam. In 1969, he was appointed as the first National Qaid for Majlis Khuddamul Ahmadiyya USA, a branch of the community for youth and young adults. For 25 years, he worked as a supervisor at a facility owned and operated by Temple University, Munir Hamid, Naib Ameer dedicated to helping mentally chal- Ahmadiyya Muslim Community lenged children. Also during this time, he served as local president 1938-2009 for the Philadelphia Ahmadiyya “His ardent love for the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Community from 1977 until 2001. Hamid, who was known for his Allah be on him) was such that each time he mentioned his passionate and emotional name he would be in tears. He had great love for the Promised speeches, was appointed Naib (Vice) Ameer of the Ahmadiyya Messiah (on whom be peace) and devotion to the Khulafa. He Muslim Community, USA in 1997. was one of those people who are specially guided by Allah.” Hamid has visited several coun- tries including Bangladesh, Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad aba Khalifatul Masih V Bahrain, India, Pakistan and the Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community United Kingdom.

SPRING 2009 9 In Search of A New Financial Order By Atif Mian The current global financial crisis is by far the worst the world has seen since the Great Depres- sion. Americans are watching their retirement savings erode by a third to one half at a time when they are also losing their jobs at an alarming rate. The entire bank- Figure I plots household leverage ratio over time for the U.S., i.e. ing system is in shambles with total household debt divided by total wages. many banks practically insolvent in the face of easy credit. We do not know the gages will be worth ten million dollars. Sup- and looking towards the govern- real intention of borrowers, but what we do pose that historically ten percent of low- ment for life support. How did know is that households borrowed in a way income households default on their pay- that had never been seen before. In particular, ments. This is too high a default risk for the world’s most advanced fi- households with declining real incomes (e.g. most large financial institutions (e.g. Chi- nancial system become so dys- subprime borrowers) increased their borrow- nese central bank, large pension funds) to functional? Why is there no end ing the most. People borrowed increasingly bear. Therefore, investment banks came up higher amounts even when their incomes de- with the idea to slice the ten million dollar in sight despite the government’s clined1! combination of mortgages into tranches many efforts? And most impor- Why did America borrow so aggressively such that the top most tranche would be tantly, does the current crisis post-2000? A possible clue comes from the the last to bear any loss. unfettered willingness of fast growing Asian In our example, the ten million dollar pool bring to the surface some funda- economies and other oil-rich countries to loan may be cut into a “senior” and “junior” tranche mental flaws in the traditional fi- their surplus cash to the U.S. in the aftermath of five million dollars each. If 10 percent of the nancial arrangements? I will of the Asian financial crisis. From 2000 till 2007, mortgages default, the entire loss will be borne U.S. received a net inflow of over 6 trillion by the Junior tranche. In other words, the loss touch upon these issues below. dollars in borrowed money2. would have to be greater than 5 million dollars The incoming creditors were only inter- for the senior tranche to bear any loss. The The Origins Of The Crisis: ested in holding “safe” U.S. debt. This senior tranches were often given the best Household Leverage sparked off a large industry among investment “AAA” ratings by rating agencies, allowing banks to somehow create new AAA (“risk large financial institutions that already had all Figure I plots household leverage ratio free”) securities from existing risky American the capital coming in, to buy them. over time for the U.S., i.e. total household debt mortgages. How does one create risk free debt One of the problems with securitization divided by total wages. While household le- from risky mortgages with a non-trivial prob- was that rating agencies gladly gave “AAA” verage was stable from 1995 till 2000 at about ability of default? The elixir was to be found in ratings even when the underlying mortgages 1.8, it increased at an unprecedented rate over a process known as securitization. far from deserved such confidence. Invest- the next six years. Americans were borrowing Securitization is the act of pooling to- ment banks were happy to market these AAA twice as much per dollar of income in 2007 gether hundreds of mortgages into a single securities for the fees they were making, the compared to 2000. entity, and then slicing it into “tranches” to government did not want to intervene because Perhaps households borrowed so much be sold separately. As an example, suppose the credit boom was helping keep the economy in the hope of finding an ever more willing we have a hundred low-income households, afloat, and for a while it all made sense as house buyer for their houses, or perhaps they sim- each taking out a hundred thousand dollar prices, themselves driven by the credit surge, ply succumbed to the temptation to consume mortgage. The combined pool of these mort- kept going up.

10 MuslimSunrise above, a loss of 5 dollars has the potential to owed by households or banks had a “con- The Propagation Of The Crisis: drive down the remaining 95 dollars of assets vertibility clause” in it such that in the event Banking Leverage along with it as well. This is the devastating of a large downturn (or reduction in home multiplier effect of bank leverage. prices), a borrower’s debt obligations would The borrowing frenzy fed on itself for a have automatically lowered to prevent un- while. However, it became appar- necessary bankruptcies and fore- ent by 2007 that many house- closures. holds did not have the income In this alternative financial ar- to continue making their monthly rangement, banks would not have mortgage payments. Conse- to be bailed out and the housing quently, default rates rose to market would not collapse under record levels and banks found the weight of foreclosures. With themselves holding onto mort- better risk-sharing mechanisms, we gage assets worth a lot less than might have had a mild slowdown they had originally assumed. today, but nothing like the free fall Soon there was panic in the mar- the economy is currently under. In ketplace as investors wondered fact there is a good chance that if which of the banks were sitting we had contracts with better risk- on negative net worth. sharing provisions up front, we However, as bad as the mort- could have avoided the excessive gage crisis was, the total losses borrowing of household and banks in the U.S. economy today far in the first place. exceed the total likely losses in The reason is that putting in the mortgage sector. For example, risk-sharing clauses into financial the U.S. stocks alone have lost contracts forces the financial sys- over 7 trillion dollars, an amount greater than The Fundamental Problem: tem to do more work. For example, lenders even the most extreme estimate of likely mort- Inadequate Risk Sharing have to be more careful in evaluating the gage losses. Why are total losses to the sustainability of underlying house prices economy so much more than the original losses The interaction of problems in house- and borrowers’ income potential. The net in the mortgage sector? The answer lies in the hold leverage with bank leverage has cre- result is that there is greater revelation of leverage of financial institutions. ated a serious economic crisis the world information in the financial system (i.e. more Banks all over the world operate on the over. While not much can be done about transparency) as well as a greater incentive principle of leverage. The idea is to put around the past excesses of the household or bank- to look for borrowers with sound funda- 5 dollars of your own money (i.e. equity of ing sector, the primary challenge in front of mentals. bank owners) and then borrow another 95 policy makers today is how to stop the vi- The push for better risk-sharing ar- through debt (e.g. through depositors and cious cycle of leverage destroying eco- rangements in the financial system should other debt holders of banks). The bank in this nomic value. be familiar to those acquainted with the Is- 3 example is 95% levered . The bank would use Our inability to stop the economy from lamic philosophy of financial contracting. some of the 100 dollars it has as loans to busi- bleeding is in large part due to the over in- The Qur’an warns against the destructive nesses and the rest to buy assets such as dulgence of the household and banking power of leverage by referring to its adverse mortgage securities. sector on leverage, i.e. borrowing that guar- consequences as “war from Allah” (2:280). Due to the high leverage however, if the antees the creditor that no matter what hap- It also encourages the adoption of better bank loses 5 dollars on its total investment of pens they will get their principal and inter- risk-sharing contracts by advising creditors 100, it stands to lose all of its equity and go est back. In other words, there is no risk that “if the debtor be in straitened circum- bankrupt. This in essence is what has hap- sharing between the borrower and its credi- stances, then grant him respite till a time of pened to the U.S. financial sector. Their 5 dol- tor. As I explained in the bank leverage ex- ease.” (2:281) Perhaps it’s time we move in lars of equity has been wiped out by mort- ample, an excessive reliance on this type of that direction. gage defaults, and with no equity left in the financing implies that relatively small losses banks, depositors and others are not willing (Footnotes) can make the borrower bankrupt and start a 1 More detailed analysis regarding the origins of to give new credit to banks. There is thus great domino effect that works like a tsunami wip- the current financial crisis can be found in “The hesitancy among banks today to lend to each ing out an economy’s capacity to produce. consequences of mortgage credit expansion: other, something they do quite easily under What we need is a financial system that Evidence from the U.S. mortgage default crisis” normal circumstances. by Atif Mian and Amir Sufi, forthcoming in The promotes the sharing of risk between bor- Quarterly Journal of Economics. Once banks find it difficult to borrow new rowers and creditors. While this is a very 2 Interestingly, the amount of net inflow into the capital, they stop lending to others as well, involved and detailed topic, the value of U.S. (6 trillion) is almost equivalent to the causing businesses at large to suffer. The im- greater risk-sharing can be understood from increase in household leverage over the same pact is even worse if they start calling back period. a simple example. Suppose that instead of 3 Some banks like Bear Stearns and Lehman some of their existing loans. In our example the traditional fixed-interest contracts, debt Brothers were levered at even higher rates.

SPRING 2009 11 Great Women Leadership in Islam By Shazia Sohail

12 MuslimSunrise Leadership, as The words of the Holy Prophetsaw “Para- being wealthy in her own right she volun- dise lies under the feet of a mother” are in tarily gave over all her wealth and slaves defined by a fact an extrapolation from a verse of the Holy to him knowing that he would free them all Qur’an: immediately, thus accepting a life of pov- Muslim Woman “And one of His Signs is this, that He erty. She exhibited firm faith in his truth- has created wives for you from among your- fulness and was by his side through aus- hen talking selves that you may find peace of mind in terity and starvation. The Holy ProphetSAW them, and He has put love and tenderness could always count on her to see the bright aboutbetween you. In that surely are Signs for a side of a situation even through his dark- people who reflect.” (30:22) est hour. He is reported to have said: leadership in This verse is in effect telling her that “Whenever I heard something unpleasant W she is innately gifted with the ability to pro- from the disbelievers I would mention it to reference to Muslim women mote peace. Her challenge lies in figuring KhadijaRA. She would console me in such one must keep in mind that she out the best way to achieve that, and it var- a manner that my heart would be at peace, ies from woman to woman. Her acute aware- and there wasn’t any sorrow that would defines her success in terms ness of her responsibility to create peace not become easy or light with Khadija’s and beauty in her environment so compas- comments.” 1 very different from those of the sionate men and women can emerge from it One only has to look at her day to day ordinary man. In everyday life defines her concept of leadership. She thus life to understand why the Holy ProphetSAW defines her success in terms of the physi- remained utterly devoted to a woman 15 she defers to, and actively seeks cal, moral, emotional, intellectual, and spiri- years his senior for the entire 25 years they tual well-being of those she has raised, in- were together. His loyalty to her knew no to promote, the authority of the fluenced, or nurtured. And since mother- bounds and continued long after she hood is defined by the ability to care for, passed away. He never failed to praise her various male figures in her life, and influence, the wives of the Prophets whenever the occasion demanded, which namely her father, brother, are referred to as The Mothers of the Faith- was almost daily, even when he knew that ful. his subsequent wives did not particularly husband, and her son. How A Muslim woman finds inspiration to be like to have their husband talking about a an exceptional leader in the following words deceased elderly woman. This ‘Mother of many times have we heard of the Holy Qur’an: the Faithful’ provided the greatest service to Islam, the religion of peace, by demon- behind every great man there “Muhammad is not the father strating how to enable the spread of good- is a great woman? But how ness in society through perfect marital and of any of your men, but he is domestic harmony. many times have we stopped to the Messenger of Allah and think what that means and why the Seal of the Prophets; and Hadhrat Ayesha that is the case? Allah has full knowledge of Hadhrat AyeshaRA has the distinction of all things.” (33:41) exhibiting the rightly-guided heart (qalb-e- We heard about the controversy over saleem) under conditions of relative physi- whether a Muslim woman could be an imam Meaning, it is a greater honor to be a cal comfort but potential mental anguish. and lead a prayer service with men stand- Having come into marriage with the Holy ‘Seal,’ having the ability to leave your im- SAW ing behind her, and perhaps came away feel- press upon others, than to be a genetic par- Prophet at a very young and impression- ing sorry for her for she seems to be denied ent. In this regard I will cite the examples of able age she accepted a very deep imprint the right to shine in a position of promi- a couple of great Muslim women who left a of his character upon a clean and pure nence. What most people fail to realize is heart. One has to wonder what it was about deep impress upon the consciousness of SAW that standing in the limelight is perhaps the people around them and brought about her that made the Holy Prophet respond position most abhorrent to a Muslim to a questioner that out of all the people in revolutionary changes in society by rede- RA woman. She loves none as much as she fining modes of conduct. the world Ayesha was the dearest to him, loves her Lord, and finds that the feeling of and out of all the men in the world Ayesha’s 2 nearness to Him is most enhanced when father was the dearest to him. It was in- her being is hidden from the eyes of oth- Hadhrat Khadija deed the purity of her heart and mind that was even attested to by God Almighty in ers; this is where she finds true paradise. Hadhrat KhadijaRA became a leader the Holy Qur’an in the words: That is not always the case for men, which among women by exhibiting unparalleled is why the definition of leadership, as ap- devotion and loyalty to her husband, the plied to men, is completely false when it Holy ProphetSAW, at a time when he was at “Verily, those who accuse chaste, comes to a Muslim woman. his weakest and most persecuted. Despite unwary, believing women are

SPRING 2009 13 cursed in this world and the accepted. She said about Hadhrat SaudaRA, “I have never seen a woman Hereafter. And for them is a It is no wonder devoid of the feeling of rivalry other grievous chastisement.” (24:24) than SaudaRA.” At another place she says, “Other than SaudaRA I have never felt with any other woman that my heart This verse, and the context of its rev- that Hadhrat beats in her chest.” 5 It seems that to elation, sheds light on the spiritual sta- know AyeshaRA was to love her. tus of Hadhrat AyeshaRA. Despite hav- RA It was the love of God which was be- ing spent a night stranded in the wilder- Ayesha is hind the Holy ProphetSAW’s exceptional ness of a forest, through no fault of her love for Hadhrat AyeshaRA. When his own, and being rescued by and entering other wives asked him to demand equal the town with a stranger, she fully ex- known by the treatment of all his wives from his fol- pected God Himself to absolve her of lowers, he ignored their request twice. any wrongdoing, which He promptly did Upon being asked the third time he was by revealing the above verse affirming title of Siddiqa, compelled to say, “By God! I have never her innocence and purity. 3 received a revelation on any of your She stands out for her many great ac- beds, but on Ayesha’s bed God talks to complishments. It was her deep and meaning the me. Therefore, how can you expect to clear understanding of issues, grasp of be treated equal to her.” 6 commandments, and intellectual dili- A few years after the passing of the gence that made her the educator of men truthful Holy ProphetSAW, Hadhrat AyeshaRA led and women alike for decades after the an army of 30,000 men in the Battle of Holy ProphetSAW passed away. She dem- Jamal for a cause which she considered onstrated how to see the best in people woman. The to be just at the time. Although she later despite the existence of natural rivalry. found out that she had been misled, and She became the selfless source of pass- deeply regretted taking this action in the ing onto her spiritual progeny the posi- people around later part of her life, she did set an incon- tive aspects of her rivals to the Holy trovertible example of a woman’s preroga- ProphetSAW’s love. Here are some of the tive to take firm and bold action if she things she had to say about her com- her were fully believes that to be the right thing to do. petitors: “I was not envious of any wife of the Holy ProphetSAW to the extent that I en- cognizant of the vied Hadhrat KhadijaRA, even though I Conclusion had not even seen her, because the Holy Subsequent to the era of the dawn ProphetSAW spoke about her very fre- fact that she of Islam numerous Muslim women quently. Oftentimes he would slaughter held positions of power and influ- a goat and send it piece by piece to the ence from which they spread peace family and friends of KhadijaRA. If I ever never glossed and harmony all around them said that it was as if there was no woman through their piety, philanthropy, in the world other than KhadijaRA he and exceptional training of children. would reply, ‘She was indeed such a per- over the truth Notable among these are Hadhrat son. She was indeed such a person, and , Nawab she is my wife in this world and the next, Mubarka Begum, Hadhrat Sayyeda and my progeny is from her.” 4 as she saw it, Maryam Begum, Hadhrat Husain It is no wonder that Hadhrat Bibi, and the list goes on. One thing AyeshaRA is known by the title of they all had in common was their fer- Siddiqa, meaning the truthful woman. even if it vent love for God Almighty and His The people around her were fully cogni- ProphetSAW. zant of the fact that she never glossed presented her in Bibliography over the truth as she saw it, even if it 1.Mutahher Aili Zindagi, page 21 http://alislam.org/urdu/pdf/ presented her in an unflattering light. Mutahar_Aili_Zindagi-20081028MN.pdf 2.Sahih Bukhari, Volume 5, Book 57, Number 14 http:// RA Hadhrat Sauda , the Holy www.iiu.edu.my/deed/hadith/bukhari/057_sbt.html SAW an unflattering 3.Tafseer-e-Kabeer, Volume 6, Pages 268-271 http://alislam.org/ Prophet ’s second wife, who was also /tafseer/?page=268®ion=T6 elderly, loved Hadhrat AyeshaRA so 4.Woman in Islam, page 33 http://alislam.org/library/ WOMANINISLAM.pdf much that she granted her own turn to 5.Mutahher Aili Zindagi, page 34 http://alislam.org/urdu/pdf/ light. Mutahar_Aili_Zindagi-20081028MN.pdf spend the night with the Holy 6.Sahih Bukhari, Volume 5, Book 57, Number 119 http:// ProphetSAW to her, which she willingly www.iiu.edu.my/deed/hadith/bukhari/057_sbt.html

14 MuslimSunrise By Naureen Choudhry

f it had to be Rabi‘a al-Adawiyya summarized in a single sentence who Rabi‘a al-Basri was, al-Basri the following statement wouldIII come quite close: Rabi‘a al-Adawiyya, a woman The Jewel of Basra from Basra who rejected worship motivated by the desire for heavenly reward or the fear of punishment and insisted on the love of God as the sole valid form of adoration. But this statement, although accurate and precise, would not do justice to the life of such a prominent Muslim Sufi woman from early Islamic history. Because she was born in an era when history was not recorded as a norm, some fictions revolve around her life story. Nonetheless, the facts presented in this article are taken from the popular historical account thalatha (Rabi‘a the Third), and yet again an- her work hard. Rabi‘a’s master took her to known about her. other daughter whom he named Rabi‘a ar- Baghdad where he immediately set about us- rabi‘a (Rabi‘a the Fourth), who was to become ing her in the way that was most profitable for It is said that Rabi‘a al-Adawiyya, or Rabi‘a the beloved Saint of Allah. himself. She was very beautiful and she also al-Qaysiyya, was born in Basra (modern day Although she belonged to one of the noble had a lovely voice, so her master taught her Iraq) between the years 95 AH and 99 AH families of Basra, she was born in the poorest how to sing and play the ‘oud, made her dance (around 717CE). Her father’s name was Ismail of homes and her father was a humble servant and entertain people, and above all, to make (of Syria), who after getting married, went to of God. The family faced much hardship and money for himself. He sent her to weddings live with his wife on the edge of the desert not when Rabi’a was a little older, her mother and and celebrations where she would dance and far from the town of Basra. After a while, Al- father died and she was left an orphan. A fam- sing, and the people would give her money lah Almighty blessed them with a daughter ine occurred in Basra and the sisters were scat- for whatever they wanted from her. In this way and the father named her Rabi‘a. Then they tered. One day when Rabi’a was walking she came to have many bad habits and ways, had another daughter whom he also named abroad, and evil-minded man saw her and living a very low life amongst all sorts of people Rabi‘a ath-thani (Rabi‘a the Second), and a seized upon her and sold her as a slave for six and not caring about anything that she did. third daughter as well was named Rabi‘a ath- dirhams and the man who bought her made This continued until she was about thirty-

SPRING 2009 15 six years old, when one day as she was sing- towards Union with You has healed my soul. prayed during the last thirty years I have ing at a wedding she found herself singing in You are my Joy and my Life to Eternity. You thought it to be my last prayer.” a different way. Songs were coming from her were the Source of my life; from You came my heart for her Beloved Who was her true Love ecstasy. I have separated myself from all cre- Rabi‘a said: because now Allah, the All-Mighty, had awak- ated beings, for my hope is for Union with ened Rabi‘a. From that moment she left every- You; for that is the Goal of my searching.” thing that she had been doing before, and she Not only did Rabi‘a never marry but she “Everyone prays to You from refused to sing or dance, or play any music also never had a Shaykh to guide and instruct fear of the Fire; for anyone except for her Beloved God. This her. She received everything that she knew made her master very angry because he could directly from Allah without the intermediary And if You do not put them in no longer use her to make money for himself. of any Shaykh. At about this time she left the Fire, He began to chastise her hoping that this Baghdad and returned to Basra where she re- would frighten her into returning to her former mained for many years. Rabi‘a once said that This is their reward. ways. But she refused. She had begun to pray there are three kinds of men: The first believes Or they pray to You for the all through the night, crying to her Beloved that his hands and his sons’ hands are all that God to help her in her desperate state. Rabi’a is necessary to succeed in the only world they Garden, carried out her appointed tasks and in the ser- know: the material world. The second kind Full of fruits and flowers. vice of God she was standing on her feet from prays with his hands so that a reward will be night until dawn. Rabi’a’s master decided to earned in the next life. The third kind has his And that is their prize. sell her. So he put a cord around her neck and hands tied at the wrist, bound with love to But I do not pray to You like took her to the slave market of Baghdad. There serve without thought of return. Her life and a holy man took Rabi‘a to his home, gave her sayings became a source of deep inspiration this, food and simple clothes, and told her that he and yearning for many who came after her. For I am not afraid of the did not want anything from her, except that Her life gave life to the hearts of those be- she could pray and be free in his house. loved people of Allah who followed after her Fire, Rabi‘a thanked him with all her heart and said, in the same Line of the Love of God, as she And I do not ask You for the “If you want anything from me for the Face of had done. Particularly, this was the case later Allah, He will give you your reward, but if you for Abu Bayazid al-Bistami, Abu’l-Husayn an- Garden. want anything from me for yourself only, I have Nuri, Husayn ibn Mansur al-Hallaj, and Abu But all I want is the Essence nothing to give you. I have everything that I Bakr ash-Shibli, who, around their leader and need from my Beloved God and I do not need Master al-Junayd, came to be known as The of Your Love, anything from any human being.” Baghdad School. And to return to be One with The holy man replied that he would like to Once Rabi‘a fasted for a whole week, nei- marry her, and to free her from being a slave, ther eating nor sleeping. All night she prayed You, but that he did not ask anything from her ex- and became very hungry. Then a visitor came And to become Your Face.” cept what she wanted to give. Rabi‘a thanked bringing her a bowl of food. She accepted it him for his kindness and consideration, and and went to fetch a lamp. When she returned, It was told of Rabi‘a that she was seen she said that she did not want to marry any- she found that a cat had overturned the bowl one day carrying a brand of fire in one hand one, but was grateful for the way that he cared of food. She then said to herself: “I will fetch a and a pitcher of water in the other, and that for her in her deep need. For Rabi‘a‘s case was jug of water and break my fast by drinking.” she was running very fast. When they asked that she had heard the Voice of her Beloved But by the time she had fetched the jug, the her what she was doing and where she was Who was Allah and none other than He, and lamp had gone out. She then tried to drink the going, she said, “I am going to light a fire in she had no need for any earthly husband. water in the dark, but the jug slipped from her the Garden and pour water onto Hell so that Like many of the ascetic sufis, Rabi‘a made hand and broke into pieces. She lamented and both these veils may disappear from the seek- no separation in her love between man and sighed so much, “that it was to be feared that ers, and that their purpose may be sure, and woman if they loved her Beloved God. Many the whole house would be consumed with that the slaves of Allah may see Him, without people loved her and needed her and wanted fire!” “O Allah!” she cried, “What is this that any object of hope or motive of fear. What if to take from her something of the special Gift You are doing with this helpless slave?” Then the Hope for the Garden and the Fear of the which she had been given from Allah. She had she heard a voice say, “Be careful lest you Fire did not exist? Not one would worship his many followers who yearned to feed them- desire Me to bestow on you all worldly bless- Lord, nor obey Him. But He is worthy of wor- selves from her Love which she gave to all ings, but take away from your heart the caring ship without any immediate motive or need.” those whom she loved. She never married nor for Me, for care for Me and worldly blessings One of her companions, Sufyan al-Thawri, did she have any children but as she said, can never be together in a single heart. Rabi‘a, asked her, “What is the best thing for the ser- “My peace is in solitude but my Beloved is you desire one thing and I desire another. My vant to do who desires proximity to his Lord?” always with me. Whenever I witness His desire and your desire can never be joined in She said, “That the servant should possess Beauty He is my prayer niche (mihrab); to- one heart.” She said then, “When I heard this nothing in this world for the Next, save Him.” ward Him is my qibla. Oh Healer of souls, the admonition I so cut off my heart from the world Rabi‘a never had any doubts about her heart feeds upon its desire and its striving and curtailed my desires that whenever I have Beloved being present or absent, because she

16 MuslimSunrise was not concerned only to have His good plea- sure and bounties. She lived for a Love which “You must conceal your good deeds as you does not seek for any answer, reward or reci- procity. It was related how one day one of her conceal your evil deeds.” In the same way, she followers said in her presence, “Oh Allah, may You be satisfied with us!” Whereupon Rabi‘a said, “What appears of any (good) works, I said, “Are you not ashamed before Him to ask count as nothing at all.” Him to be satisfied with you, when you are not satisfied with Him?” By this she meant Lord does not will it, I shall be guilty of unbe- In the same way, she said, “What appears of that first we must be truly satisfied with Allah, lief.” So that her faith came from her total sur- any (good) works, I count as nothing at all.” Most High, before we can ask Him to be satis- render to her Beloved God, as she said, “I have The key to Rabi‘a’s reaching and living in fied with us. Then this was followed by the fled from the world and all that is in it. My the loving Presence of her Lord was her con- question to her, “When then is the servant prayer is for Union with You; that is the goal stant praying, remembrance and asking for satisfied with Allah Most High?” She replied, of my desire.” forgiveness for all her shortcomings, and a “When his pleasure in misfortune is equal to knowing that her Union with her Beloved God his pleasure in prosperity.” The sole object of Rabi‘a’s life was in her could not come in the way that she desired, yearning and passionate love for her Beloved, but only in the way that He desired for her. She said: which meant not merely the destruction of her She was also well aware that her remembrance self (nafs) but surrender to Allah every mo- and repentance did not come from herself, but “O God, whatsoever You have ment in the perfect Union in which there is no from Him, her Beloved God. It is said that some- Lord and slave, no Creator and created being, one once said to her, “I have committed many apportioned to me of worldly only He in Himself. In that state she came to sins; if I turn in repentance toward Allah, will things, realize that she existed in Him without any He turn in His Mercy toward me?” She said, possibility of separation from His indivisible “No, but if He will turn toward you, you will Give that to Your enemies, Oneness. turn toward Him.” For Rabi‘a, repentance was And what You have Her attraction to a life of poverty was also a Gift from Allah. As she said, “Seeking for- part of her need not to be distracted from her giveness with the tongue is the sin of lying. If apportioned to me in the inner journey by the necessity for material I seek repentance of myself, I shall have need Hereafter, considerations. There is a story about this of repentance again.” Or as she also said, “Our poverty of hers, as one of her companions asking for forgiveness of Allah itself needs Give that to Your Friends, said, “I went to visit Rabi`a and saw her in her forgiveness.” For You suffice me.” house with nothing but a broken water pitcher She was blessed with a long life during out of which she drank and made her ablu- which she continued, to her last days, to give She also said: tion. There was also an old reed mat and a of everything that Allah inspired her to give brick which she sometimes used as a pillow. to all who loved her, because she was His spe- When I saw this, I felt very sad and I said to cial Light for them all. She is often referred to “O God, if I worship You for her, ‘I have rich friends. If you wish I will get as the first true Saint (waliya) of Islam and fear of Hell, burn me in Hell, something from them for you.’ She said, ‘You was praised, not because she in any way rep- have committed a grievous error. Is not my resented womankind, but because as Attar And if I worship You in hope Provider and theirs one and the same?’ I re- (another famous Sufi) said, “When a woman of Paradise, plied, ‘Yes.’ Then she said, ‘And has the Pro- walks in the Way of Allah like a man she can- vider of the poor forgotten the poor on ac- not be called a woman.” Attar also said that Exclude me from Paradise. count of their poverty? And does He remem- Rabi`a was “That one set apart in the seclu- But if I worship You for Your ber the rich because of their riches?’ I replied, sion of holiness; that woman veiled with the ‘No.’ She said, ‘Then since He knows of my veil of sincerity; that one enflamed by love Own sake, state, how should I remind Him? Such is His and longing, lost in union with God; that one Grudge me not Your Will and I too wish what He wills.’” accepted as a second spotless Mary.” Al- Rabi‘a’s love, which was passionate and though, as she said herself, she was always Everlasting Beauty.” all-consuming was also full of humility, fear busy with her Beloved God all the time and and reverence (taqwa) for her Beloved, and she did not have any moment for anybody or When Rabi‘a was urged to speak, her when she was asked about how she had such anything else but Him, she also knew the mean- words perfectly manifested her love, her be- a degree of intimacy, she said, “By constantly ing of what she said, for her Beloved Allah lief and her faith, for she was so totally im- saying: I take refuge in You from everything revealed Himself to her in every face around mersed in her Lord that she became a shining which has distracted me from You and from her. She said, “The groaning and yearning of Light which attracted many people to her pres- every hindrance which has hindered me from the lover of Allah will not be satisfied until it is ence to drink from the same Spring from which You.” She also said, “You must conceal your satisfied in the Beloved.” And Rabi`a was, for she drank. She said, “If I will a thing and my good deeds as you conceal your evil deeds.” many people, that Beloved.

SPRING 2009 17 Ahadith:

1. Utbah ibn HarithRA relates: I joined the afternoon Prayer led by the Holy ProphetSAW in . The moment he concluded the service he stood up quickly and proceeded to one of his chambers stepping across the shoulders of the worshippers. People were perplexed by such haste. When he came back he perceived that people were wondering what had called him away so urgently. So he said: I recalled that there was left with me a piece of silver (or gold) and this disturbed me. I have now arranged for its distribution (Bukhari). Another version is: There was left with me a piece of silver (or gold) which was meant for charity. I was disturbed that it should remain with me overnight.

2. On the authority of Abu HurayrahRA from the Holy ProphetSAW, who said: Allah has supernumerary angels who rove about seeking out gatherings in which Allah’s name is being invoked: they sit with them and fold their wings round each other, filling that which is between them and between the lowest heaven. When [the people in the gathering] depart, [the angels] ascend and rise up to heaven. He (the Prophet) said: Then Allah asks them - though He is Most Knowing about them: From where have you come? And they say: We have come from some servants of Yours on Earth: they were glorifying You, exalting You, witnessing that there is no god but You, praising You, and asking favors of You. He says: And what do they ask of Me? They say: They ask of You Your Paradise. He says: And have they seen My Paradise? They say: No, O Lord. He says: And how would it be were they to have seen My Paradise! They say: And they ask protection of You. He says: From what do they ask protection of Me? They say: From Your Hell-fire, O Lord. He says: And have they seen My Hell-fire? They say: No. He says: And how would it be were they to have seen My Hell-fire: They say: And they ask for Your forgiveness. He (the Prophet) said: Then He says: I have forgiven them and I have bestowed upon them what they have asked for, and I have granted them sanctuary from that from which they asked protection. He (the Prophet ) said: They say: O Lord, among them is so-and-so, a much sinning servant, who was merely passing by and sat down with them. He (the Prophet) said: And He says: And to him too I have given forgiveness: he who sits with such people shall not suffer.

It was related by Muslim (also by al-Bukhari, at-Tirmidhi, and an-Nasa’i).

18 MuslimSunrise Black History: The Origin of the Human Race By Alhaj Dhul-Waqar Yaqub

t would be safe to say, questions of origin and ancestry are asked by every thoughtful human How did I get here... Where beingII at least once in their lives. For Black Americans in did I come from... Who are particular, finding answers to my ancestors? these questions embarks upon an incredible journey of self history, the humanities and social sciences the popular press as a book titled Nations discovery. from an African point of view began. At the nègres et culture (Negro Nations and Culture). age of 23, he went to Paris in 1946 to become a Dr. Diop challenged the notions of European Black American folk wisdom says, “If you physicist. He remained there for 15 years, centered scholars, who had written Africa’s don’t know where you’ve been, you won’t studying physics under Frederic Joliot-Curie, contributions to world civilization out of his- know where you’re going.” Our captain and Marie Curie’s son-in-law, and ultimately trans- tory. It would make him one of the most con- navigator into “where you’ve been” is Dr. lating parts of Einstein’s Theory of Relativity troversial historians of his time. (December 29, 1923 – Feb- into his native Wolof. Diop’s education also Dr. Diop’s critics contend that his thesis ruary 7, 1986), a historian, anthropologist and included African history, Egyptology, linguis- lacked merit and that it essentially supplants physicist. Considered one of the greatest Af- tics, anthropology, economics and sociology. and counters one form of racism with another, rican historians of the 20th century, Diop’s In 1951, Diop submitted a Ph.D. thesis at rather than attempting to arrive at the truth. scientific ideas have transformed the basic the University of Paris in which he argued that Seekers after truth who engage themselves thrust of African studies in the United States. ancient Egypt had in fact been a Black African in studies should be aware that there are schol- Cheikh Anta Diop was born in the town of culture. The thesis was rejected. Over the next ars performing inferior research and research Diourbel, Senegal, on the West coast of Af- nine years, Diop reworked the thesis, adding that supports prejudicial conclusions rather rica. His birthplace has a long tradition of pro- stronger evidentiary support. In 1960, he suc- than ones of discovery. Other pseudo-schol- ducing Muslim scholars and oral historians. ceeded in the defense of his thesis and was ars approach scholarship with designs to a His early education was in a traditional Islamic awarded his Ph.D. degree. political end. Concerning the latter, identity school where his inspiration and interest in In 1955, the thesis had been published in politics came to the forefront in the Black

SPRING 2009 19 American awareness experience. Identity poli- tics is political action to advance the interests While using Africa of members of a group who perceive them- selves to be oppressed by virtue of a shared as the vantage and marginalized identity (such as race, point and the basis ethnicity or religion). While using Africa as the vantage point for his thesis, Dr. and the basis for his thesis, Dr. Diop does not Diop does not neglect the broader dimensions of history. He shows that history cannot be restricted by neglect the broader the limits of an ethnic group, nation or cul- dimensions of ture. Roman history is Greek as well as Ro- man, and both the Greek and the Roman his- history. He shows tories are Egyptian because the entire Medi- that history cannot terranean was civilized Egypt; and Egypt in turn borrowed from other parts of Africa, es- be restricted by the pecially Ethiopia. limits of an ethnic Diop left his mark in the realm of the reas- sessment of the role of black people in world group, nation or history and culture. Combining an unusual culture. breadth of knowledge; including linguistics, history, anthropology, chemistry, and phys- ics; he uncovered fresh evidence about the Cheikh Anta Diop, a modern champion of African identity, was ancient origins and common principles of clas- born in Diourbel, Senegal on December 29, 1923. At the age of sical African civilization. He believed that twenty-three, he journeyed to Paris, France to continue advanced people who feel they possess no past of their studies in physics. Within a very short time, however, he was own tend to be absorbed and assimilated into the governing system, and are made to feel drawn deeper and deeper into studies relating to the African inferior because of this apparent deficiency. origins of humanity and civilization. He left this world in 1986. Dr. Diop contends that there exist two theo- ries of human origin: monogenetic and poly- genetic. The monogenetic view states that Gerasimov, a scholar of rare objectivity, iden- Dr. Diop reinforces his belief in the mono- there is one source for mankind; man was born tified the type from skulls found in genetic theory by noting that the polygen- in one place and became different due to the the Middle period. etic theory seeks to establish a hierarchy of climatic conditions to which he was exposed. The polygenetic opinion claims that man race suggesting that some races are superior Followers of this theory believe that mankind has several locations of origin, which would to others. He asserts that if man has the same was born in Africa - specifically in the area of explain the physiological differences between origins, there can be no intellectual hierar- Kenya, Tanzania and Ethiopia. It is from this the races. Followers of this theory believe that chy because all of the races of the world area of Africa that mankind evolved as a sepa- man was born in Africa, Europe and Asia and would have the same intellectual history. If rate species and left there to people other parts there was no evolutionary or climatic devel- the races had had different origins it can be of the world, which had different climatic con- opment. Diop argues that there are two rea- said that they had different intellectual ca- ditions. Under these different climatic condi- sons why this theory is faulty. He says that pacity because they all had a different intel- tions and over periods of time the Africans nature never strikes twice in its evolution; she lectual history. The polygenetic theory is es- changed and developed a new look. doesn’t create the same being twice. In addi- sential in order to defend the notion that there As an example, during the last Glacial Ep- tion, complete have been found only are inequalities between the races. It is for och about 40,000 year ago, a Homo Sapiens on the African continent, which proves that this reason why the polygenetic theory has currently identified as Grimaldi Man, left Af- life began there. No such fossils have been been defended by people. However, science rica and went to Europe. As a result of the found anywhere else in the world. has set this theory aside. extreme cold climatic conditions and over a Aspects of the polygenetic theory (some- The monogenetic theory supports the period of 20,000 years he underwent an adap- times referred to as multi-regionalism) have notion that because our origin is the same tation to that climate and evolved into what been criticized as not based on objective sci- we also share the same intellectual capacity. we conventionally call a white man. The entific observation. Some critics even argue Dr. Diop is not saying that Blacks are intel- Grimaldi have left their numerous that the polygenetic theory may be motivated lectually superior to Whites. That would be traces all over Europe and Asia, from the Ibe- by ethnocentrism and is meant to instill be- false. Diop insists no race is superior to an- rian Peninsula to Lake Baykal in Siberia, pass- liefs of purity of lineage. This implied racism other. All races have the same intellectual ca- ing through France, Austria, the Crimea, and has had a negative effect, causing scientists pacity. There is no autonomic difference in the Basin of Don, etc. In these last two re- to restrict their hypothesizing to politically the brain of the various races. gions, the late Soviet Professor Mikhail correct conclusions. Currently, the dominant view among sci-

20 MuslimSunrise entists is the Out of Africa Model. According Based on the idea that “the proof of the pud- you from a male and a female; and to the Out of Africa Model (sometimes referred ding is the pudding itself,” it would be safe to We have made you into tribes and to as the Recent African Origin of Modern believe that he was grounded in the Qur’anic sub-tribes that you may know one Humans or RAO), Homo Sapiens evolved in concepts of man’s creation. Some of the verses another.” (49:14) Africa 200,000 years ago. Homo Sapiens be- that support Diop’s ideas of the origin of the gan migrating from Africa between 70,000 – human race and the development of man are As a counter-measure against ethnocen- 50,000 years ago and would eventually replace in Arabic at the beginning of this paper and trism (intolerance of other cultures), racism (in- existing Homo Erectus, , and may be rendered into English as follows: tolerance of other races) and xenophobia (fear Homo Sapiens in Europe and Asia. of other races) we must internalize the histori- The Out of Africa Model has gained sup- [God] Who made perfectly well all cal reality that the blood that unites us is port by recent research using mitochondrial that He created. And He originated thicker than the waters of the Diaspora, cul- DNA (mtDNA). After analyzing genealogy ture and accents that separate and divide us. trees constructed using 133 types of mtDNA, the creation of man from clay. they concluded that all were descended from Then He made his progeny from an a woman from Africa, dubbed Mitochondrial extract of an insignificant fluid. Bibliographical Sources: Eve. (32: 8-9) The Holy Qur’an with English Translation and By analyzing DNA from people in all re- Commentary, Vol. II (Part II) and Vol. III, gions of the world, American geneticist Dr. Published under the auspices of Hadhrat Mirza Spencer Wells has concluded that all humans O you human beings! What is the Bashir-ud-Din Mahmud, Khalifatul Masih II. alive today are descended from a San bush- matter with you that you fail to The Holy Qur’an with Arabic Text – English man who lived in Africa around 60,000 years understand that Allah does not do Translation as Explained by Allamah Nooruddin. ago. anything unless there is wisdom Here, important questions arise: Should Creation of Man by Hadhrat Mirza Bashir-ud-Din and purpose underlying it? You Mahmud, Khalifatul Masih II. Black Americans be satisfied with learning only European history and why should there yourselves are not ready to accept The Cultural Unity of Negro Africa, Cheikh Anta be a focus on Black history? Dr. Diop answered the assumption that you do things Diop, (Paris: Presence Africaine, 1963), English these questions by stating, “It’s fine to learn Tanslation: Cultural Unity of Black Africa: The with no aim or purpose in view. Domains of Patriarchy and Matriarchy in the history of others but you must know your Why do you therefore assume that Classical Antiquity, (Karnak House: 1989). own history first. People who lose their his- Allah, the Most Wise and All- torical memory become a fragile people and Civilization or Barbarism, (1981), Cheikh Anta they regress. It is their historical memory that Knowing, does things without Diop, Introduction to African Civilizations, John G. Jackson and Runoko Rashidi, (Citadel: 2001). permits them to be a strong people.” purpose? Why do you jump to the The final question is: To what extent do thoughtless conclusion that He Conceptions of History in the Works of Cheikh the works of Cheikh Anta Diop allow one to created man with no purpose in Anta Diop and Theophile Obenga, Jackson and respond to the challenges of the future? Rashidi, op. cit; Chris Gray, (Karnak House: view? Why do you fail to grasp the 1989). Theophile Obenga, a disciple and a compan- ion of Diop answers this question by stating, evident truth that your creation has Mitochondrial DNA and Human Evolution in “With Cheikh Anta Diop, history is not de- not been the result of a sudden Nature, Rebecca L. Cann, Mark Stoneking, Allan fined as the study of the past of humankind, meaningless impulse? It was the C. Wilson (1987). but as the construction of the future in the result of wise planning and Genetic and Evidence for the Origin of name of life.” deliberate execution in a Modern Human in Science, Dr. Diop was the Director of Radiocarbon Christopher Stringer and Peter Andrews (1988). Laboratory at the Fundamental Institute of succession of stages from one point Modern Humans Came Out of Africa, Black Africa (IFAN) at the University of Dakar. to another. (71: 14-15) “Definitive” Study Says, James Owen, National He sat on numerous international scientific Geographic News (2007). committees and achieved recognition as one Allah has made the earth a vast of the leading historians, Egyptologists, lin- Dr. Cheikh Anta Diop Part 1-6, expanse for you. That you may http://www.youtube.com guists and anthropologists in the world. He traveled widely, lectured incessantly and was traverse its spacious paths for the Created Unequal: Multiregionalism and the cited and quoted voluminously. He was re- development of civilization and Origins of Anthropological Racism, Adam Wells garded by many as the modern ‘pharaoh’ of Davis, MA Thesis (2004), http://www.pitt.edu/ also to attain spiritual perfection. ~pittanth/grad/research/davisMA.html African studies. Cheikh Anta Diop died qui- (71: 20-21) etly in sleep in Dakar, Senegal on February 7, http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_gx5229/ is_n19146082 1986. In the introductory remarks of Cheikh Anta One world, one people. That seems to be http://www3.nationalgeographic.com/genographic/ atlas.html Diop we noted that his early education was in what Allah is saying in the Holy Qur’an: a “traditional Islamic school.” His life’s works http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ appear to be a reflection of the Holy Qur’an. “O mankind, We have created human_evolution#cite_note_48

SPRING 2009 21 Al-Khwarizmi & Ibn Rushd Muslim Scholars of the Middle Age

Dr. Manzurul A. Sikder Al-Khwarizmi center for the study of humanities and the sciences of that era.2 ver the past 15 centuries Mus Besides being a pioneer mathematician, lim scholars have added greatly Al-Khwarizmi (full name Muhammad ibn Al-Khwarizmi is best known for his contri- Musa al Khwarizmi al Majousi al Katarbali butions in the field of mathematics. Most ex- to collective human knowl- 3 O which is essentially a capsule biography) was perts call him the father of modern algebra. It edge. Many of their contributions are not also a renowned geographer and astronomer. was his simple yet rational approach to solv- fully acknowledged or simply forgotten He was born circa 780 CE in what most histo- ing linear and quadratic equations that made by those who record history. Unfortu- rians believe to be Khwarizm, modern day this particular branch of mathematics useful. nately, this group includes some modern Uzbekistan, and was Persian by descent.1 The word algebra itself is derived from an Ara- Muslim writers as well. In this article I After Muslim conquest of the Persian Em- bic term, al-jabr, which was one of the two pire in the mid seventh century, as Baghdad principal operations proposed by Al- will summarize the works of two schol- became the seat of science and commerce, Khwarizmi to solve quadratic equations in his ars of the middle age, namely Al Al-Khwarizmi moved to the new Abbasid ca. 830 CE book Al-Kitab al-Mukhtasar fi Khwarizmi and Ibn Rushd, focusing on capital, and began studying mathematics and Hisab al-Jabr wal-Muqabala (literally, “The their contributions to mathematics and science. He soon established himself as the Compendious Book on Calculation by medicine, respectively. chief scholar in Khalifah al Mamun’s “House Completion and Balancing,” later became of Wisdom” (Baitul Hikma), an unrivalled known simply as al-Jabr). This presented a 22 MuslimSunrise radical change in solution of mathematical Sina, and paid great tribute to the old master his faith in the omnipotence and oneness of problems, which was until then dominated by by writing a commentary on Ibn Sina’s Urjuza God the Almighty.”9 Among his contempo- complicated geometrical proofs developed by fil Tibb (“Poem on Medicine”).8 Interestingly, rary, he was known as Faqih musharik fil the ancient Greeks, and arithmetic practiced Ibn Rushd’s response - Sharh Urjuzat Ibn ulum, a jurist who participates in the sciences. by the Babylonians.4 Al-Khwarizmi’s algebra Sina - was also written in verses. He maintained that true happiness can in fact incorporated both of these earlier meth- only be achieved through a balanced psy- ods but significantly broadened the horizon. chological health, and people cannot enjoy Futhermore, Al-Khwarizmi was mainly re- psychological health unless they follow ways sponsible for the transmission of decimal- that lead to happiness in the hereafter and based numerical system of India to the rest of unless they believe in God and His oneness.10 the world. His On the Calculation with Hindu It is difficult to tease out theological philoso- Numerals, written in 825 CE, introduced what phy from his medical writings. Noting this, we now call the “Arabic numerals.” The book the German physician Max Meyerhof com- was later translated in Latin as Algoritmi de mented, “In [medieval] Spain, the philosophi- numero Indorum. In Europe, the author be- cal bias predominated among medical men. came known as Algoritmi, giving rise to the The prototypes of this combination are the modern day term algorithm.5 two Muslims, Ibn Zuhr (Avenzoar) and Ibn During his lifetime, Al-Khwarizmi wrote Rushd ().”8 over a dozen books on mathematics and as- tronomy. A distinct achievement was calcu- Some scholars, however, believe that Ibn lating the mean longitude of the sun and the Rushd’s unsuccessful attempts to defend moon based on the Jewish calendar. This he philosophers against theologians paved the presented his book Risala fi Istikhraj Tarikh way for decline in Muslim medicine.8 His in- al-Yahud (“Extraction of the Jewish Era”).4 He fluence began to wane as the political atmo- died around 850 CE. sphere changed. His strict rationalism collided with the new Almohad ruler, and the latter or- Ibn Rushd dered publicly burning of many of his books and banished him to Marrakesh, Morocco. Ibn Rushd was born in 520 AH (1126 CE) in The Kulliyat leans heavily on the teach- The great philosopher-physician died there the province of Cordoba, present day Spain, as ings of Greek physicians, including Galen and on December 10, 1198. Abu al-Walid Muhammad ibn Ahmad ibn Hippocrates. In addition, an “abstract” on Rushd. A true renaissance man, his expertise Galen’s works, appropriately titled Talkhis References: 1 Khadduri M, “Iraq from c. 600 to 1055: the embraced both the humanities and the sciences. (literally, intermediate-depth commentary), ‘Abbasid ” in Encyclopedia Britannica In addition to being the chief justice of Seville was published under separate cover. Some 2 Lyons J. The House of Wisdom: How the Arabs and later Cordoba, and at times the personal of the original Arabic manuscripts of Talkhis, Transformed Western Civilization, 2009 physician and adviser to the Almohad kings, unlike many of Ibn Rushd’s writings, are still 3 Rashed R, “al-Khwarizmi’s concept of algebra” throughout his professional life he was a pro- preserved. However, the scope of Kulliyat in Arab Civilization: Challenges and Responses - lific writer and authored more than 20,000 pages was more expanse than previous books of Studies in Honor of Constantine K. Zurayk. Qustantin Z, et al, Eds, 1998 of text on subjects as varied as philosophy, medicine. The anatomy described was more 4 Knuth DE, “Algorithms in modern mathematics logic, psychology, music, the Shariah, general detailed: seven sets of cranial nerves, for ex- and computer science.” Stanford Univ theology, medicine, astronomy, geography, ample, along with several spinal nerves and dissertation, 1980 physics, and mathematics.6 their innervation were fully illustrated, as was 5 Breggren JL. Episodes in the Mathematics of Although the best known work of Ibn the task of the brain as more than a motor Medieval Islam, 1986 Rushd is his commentaries on the writings of functioning center. Many attribute him to be 6 “Ibn Rusdh: Spanish Muslim Philosopher,” The Window: Philosophy on the Internet. Retrieved on Greek philosopher Aristotle (for which he was the first to describe neurological symptoms February 14, 2009 known by the west for several centuries sim- due to loss of substantia nigra, a phenom- 7 Ahmad J, “Ibn Rushd,” Monthly Renaissance 7 ply as The Commentator), he authored 67 enon now known as Parkinson’s disease.8 His (Pakistan), August 1998 original books, including 20 on medicine alone. understanding of the retina was extraordi- 8 Ead HA, “Averroës as a physician.” Presentation The best known among them is an encyclope- nary: he was the first to propose the exist- at DAAD Fellowship Conference, Heidelberg dia of medicine titled Kitabul Kulliyat fil Tibb ence of and describe the properties of pho- University, 1998 9 (literally, “General Rules of Medicine”), trans- toreceptors in the retina, and to claim that it Savage-Smith E, “Attitudes toward dissection in medieval Islam.” Journal of the History of lated in Latin as Colliget. It took him nearly 9 is the principal organ of sight. Preventative Medicine and Allied Sciences, vol 50, 1995 years (1153 and 1162 CE) to complete the 7- health also gets its fare share in Kulliyat, as 10 Ibn Rushd. Kitab fasl al-maqal (“On the volume treatise.8 This became quite popular Ibn Rushd devotes an entire volume on the harmony of religions and philosophy”), quoted among the western Caliphate who were an- biology of diseases and their prevention. from The Philosophy and Theology of Averroës tagonist to the medical thoughts and philoso- A pervasive theme in all his writing was (translated by Mohammed Jamil al-Rahmadn), 1959 phies of Ibn Sina, a favorite of the Baghdad compatibility of faith and nature when both Caliphate. are understood properly. He once wrote, Ibn Rushd himself was deferential to Ibn “Anyone who studies anatomy will increase SPRING 2009 23 Hadhrat Mirza Tahir AhmadRH From the , February 1994 Investment, Interest, and Islam

The fourth leader of the International Ahmadiyya economy and keep it going. results. If those human values are negative Muslim Community, Hadhrat One way to do this is to reward capital values and if irresponsible people get hold with profits so that you can draw capital of money, that money would be wasted and , makes and utilize it as you please. That means the whole capital would be sunk into noth- himself available to publicly there are two tools created in society - one ingness. In other cases, if the users or usurp- is the smaller pull of capital magnates and ers of that money are clever enough to put address any questions put to the other much larger and diffused pull of it towards some advantage in the economy, him. We present below a the society as a whole. To draw money from then they will gain from it, but the gain of transcript of two questions the profits of a society and direct it to eco- the person who channels this money into nomic channels requires the banking mag- the banks, etc. will be a limited gain and a from a session recorded at nates and these banking magnates work on fixed gain. It will be unrelated to the results. Nasir Baagh, the Ahmadiyya people’s greed for profit on their capital. If someone who gets your money on the Muslim centre in Germany on The fundamental principle that can be un- condition of interest, loses it all, then ei- derstood to apply in this capitalist system, ther he has to pay through his nose for the the 11th of September 1993. is that money gives birth to children, that rest of his life or he would have to declare Transcribed by Amatul Hadi Ahmad is, it creates money directly. In itself it is himself bankrupt. Thus this system also believed to have that quality. invites all kinds of cheats and that is what Question - It is very important in Islam not Islam refuses to accept this notion. The you come across in everyday life in Europe. to hoard money but to keep it working. How Holy ProphetSAW of Islam once asked the In England, particularly these days, many does Islam view placing money on the capi- question of someone who had enquired fraudsters who use this system to their ad- talist stock market system? about interest: “Does your money give birth vantage eat up the money as best they can to children?” In other words, if you keep it and then declare themselves bankrupt. With Answer - The Islamic economic system idle will it reproduce by itself? Of course, them sink the economies of millions of runs on a different principle and you have the answer was No. From this we see that people. to understand that system before you can Islam considers money to be an inert factor Islam does not believe in the principle get an answer to the question which you in an economy. A factor indeed, but an inert of money reproducing by itself. So, Islam have specifically asked. There are two pos- factor which can play both positive and promotes shareholding - a contract where sible ways of drawing capital into the work- negative roles depending on who is utiliz- the lender of money will share in the out- ing machinery of the economy - to circulate ing that money. So human values must be come. If it results in a loss, he would suffer capital so that it can turn the wheels of the wedded to money before it produces any the loss and if it turns a profit, he will share

24 MuslimSunrise in the profit. Now, that requires very cau- hibernate during winter periods. So, the Is- tious decisions on the part of the lender lamic system provides the possibility of hi- and a higher standard of honesty and in- bernation, while the western capitalist sys- tegrity in the economy - otherwise the sys- tem has no provision for this. tem cannot work. So this is a resultant benefit for the society - only those stay afloat in the The following question was also asked market who are honest and have earned the on the same occasion and is a continuation reputation of integrity. The rest are just wiped of the previous answer as it relates to the out. This is the Islamic attitude. Western economic system. But still, the second part of the ques- tion is to be answered: “How would Islam Question - Why does Islam forbid the force capital to be pushed into economic use of interest? channels?” Islam uses the approach of exacting a Answer - This is a short question which progressive fine on idle capital. Thus, ac- requires a very long answer and I doubt if cording to Islam, capital is created to run we have sufficient time in this forum as I the wheels of the economy and nobody has Islam does not cannot devote the entire time to one single the right to hoard capital. In this aspect, believe in the question. Although I cannot be exhaustive, capital is the common property of the na- I will attempt to give a satisfactory, but brief tion. It can be individual property only as principle of money answer. long as it is serves some purpose. When it reproducing by itself. The question relates not only to an becomes idle, then it is to be fined. The Is- individual’s requirements - the question of lamic system of Zakat is exactly that fine So, Islam promotes interest and its forbiddance in Islam is a imposed on idle capital. In Islam, if the capi- shareholding - a much wider issue of a much greater impact tal owned by individuals is not employed in kind as well. All those financial systems in some economic projects, it decreases in contract where the that are run on usury and interest are called value for that individual, that is, the cost of lender of money will capitalist systems. They all have an inher- hoarding is paid to the nation by those who ent weaknesses - not only one, but many hoard money. So they are compelled to push share in the outcome. inherent weaknesses which always ulti- it into the economy and there, as already If it results in a loss, mately make the people living in those ar- explained, it requires better people, more eas suffer from the consequences whether honest people, more capable and compe- he would suffer the they themselves directly participate in the tent people to utilize that capital. loss and if it turns a system or not. I can’t speak at length on Now, if you go back into the history of this issue but I can give you a single ex- Islam, you will begin to understand that the profit, he will share ample to illustrate my point. most honest and the most pious people were in the profit. A society that can borrow money on in- the greatest “capitalists,” if you want to call terest is given permission to spend its fu- them that, who put capital to good use for ture in the present time. What happens is the economy. Hadhrat Imam Abu HanifaRH, that if I for example, need some money to one of the most highly revered jurists in area. The comparative advantage or disad- spend on a luxurious car, a good hotel, a Islam, whose system of jurisprudence is vantage of the two systems comes into the house or some other article of luxury and followed by the largest number of Muslims limelight during economic crises such as the rate of my earnings is too low but my today, was also an astute businessman. we have seen recently in England. Those impatience is without limit and I can’t wait People used to throw money at him. Some complaints that run on money borrowed until I have earned enough to fulfill my de- would leave pouches full of money at his against interest, during the idle days of the sire, the system based on usury, or the in- doorstep with the message, “For God’s sake economy, must collapse. There is no chance terest system provides an opportunity to employ it and let us share the profit.” So, if of survival for them because they must pay borrow money from the banks. Apparently, he could employ that money he would share through the nose, although they are not what I am doing is that I am borrowing from equally in the profit. Mostly, people ben- earning anything and not benefiting from my own future, so I become poorer with the efited from his intellect and his experience the money they had borrowed. In Islam, it passage of time and sometimes it becomes and this also happened in many other cases. is the other way around. If the money be- almost impossible for me to service the debts Integrity was supported by the economic comes idle in the hands of the one who had which I have got myself burdened with. system of Islam while on the other hand, borrowed it, and production has to be low- Now this is not just an individual problem. dishonesty and the capacity to cheat come ered, due to a crisis, then the lender will From then on, it becomes a national prob- to the fore and are supported by the sys- also have to share the burden with the bor- lem and continues to become more complex. tem of usury. rower. The lender will not be paid anything. Industry which flourishes on this sys- However, I think the question requires Such companies will be given much greater tem is in fact, catering for the requirements a little more exploration in one particular breathing periods like those animals who of the day or the year and expands itself on

SPRING 2009 25 a requirement that it is not natural but arti- sucked out of Africa so rapidly now that consider Russia out of the competition. ficially boosted. After a while, buying power they are suffering from anaemia - and per- The USSR is a huge country, or a num- becomes reduced more and more until it nicious anaemia for that matter. ber of countries grouped together, whose reaches a point of stalemate. The buying If the race in Europe for acquiring economy is potentially stronger than that power of the country as a whole becomes more foreign markets is realized, say, in of many European countries. Once they very little and the servicing of debt itself five years or so, then you will realize how have had the breathing time to regroup becomes a huge problem for the country to intense the problem will be and how themselves and to change their system overcome. Industry suffers heavily and so threatening it will become. Germany it- to a capitalist one then a course of events does trade. The result is that at such times, self is passing through a phase of re- similar to that of Germany would follow. economic crises appear. building its economy and absorbing the So now, imagine the situation of Europe Now, those countries that have enough large number of Germans from the East. with lessening buying power, increasing venues of foreign trade to support them- Among them is available excellent know- economic problems and increasing com- selves in time of crisis can see themselves how and expertise which has been paid petition. Such crisis always leads to war through a while. But when a larger num- very little in the past. They are now a and this is a fundamental principle that ber of advanced countries reach a crisis part of the West Germany economy and can never be negated. at the same time, then it is impossible to stand on an equal footing and so the That is why in prohibiting usury or in- support such a false economy. The finan- level of production, after an initial shock, terest the Holy Qur’an says that if you cial crisis that recently occurred in En- will rise so rapidly that the rest of Eu- do not desist from usury, then be ready gland was in fact predicted by me in my rope will find itself shuddering at the to go to war with Allah and His Prophet, lecture some years ago at the Queen prospect of the boosted German which means that the divine system Elizabeth II Hall when I clearly stated that economy. Then the race for foreign mar- would be at odds with you and you are their system of interest was going to land kets will really begin in earnest. bound to enter a situation of war. So this them in much deeper trouble than they Also, Russia will not remain the Rus- is the shortest possible answer that I believed. That is exactly what happened sia of today which is still suffering from could give but there is far more to be said. and the problem will expand further. the aftermath of the destruction of the Because of the political changes in communist system. Russia is regrouping The Head of the Ahmadiyya Eastern Europe, the crisis in Western Eu- itself. Its economy will start breathing Muslim Community responds to the rope has been delayed for a while for cer- again. The state of Russia today reminds specific questions being asked. tain reasons that I do not wish to enlarge us of the great work of Milton, Paradise Should our readers require any upon here. But it will come. Foreign mar- Regained, in which the armies of Satan further clarification, they should kets will remain limited. Their buying regroup themselves after the initial shock feel free to contact The Muslim powers are also reducing. Blood is being to re-capture paradise again. So, don’t Sunrise Editor.‹ Ahadith

On the authority of Abu HurayrahRA , who said that the Messenger of AllahSAW said: Allah will say on the Day of Resurrection: O son of Adam, I fell ill and you visited Me not. He will say: O Lord, and how should I visit You when You are the Lord of the worlds? He will say: Did you not know that My servant so-and-so had fallen ill and you visited him not? Did you not know that had you visited him you would have found Me with him? O son of Adam, I asked you for food and you fed Me not. He will say: O Lord, and how should I feed You when You are the Lord of the worlds? He will say: Did you not know that My servant so-and-so asked you for food and you fed him not? Did you not know that had you fed him you would surely have found that (the reward for doing so) with Me? O son of Adam, I asked you to give Me to drink and you gave Me not to drink. He will say: O Lord, how should I give You to drink when You are the Lord of the worlds? He will say: My servant so-and-so asked you to give him to drink and you gave him not to drink. Had you given him to drink you would have surely found that with Me.

It was related by Muslim.

26 MuslimSunrise Ibn Battuta: The Greatest Traveler of All Times

By Atif Munawar Mir

SPRING 2009 27 “For him who adopts a path Mecca or other places. Ibn Battuta covered andria (Egypt), Jerusalem (), Damascus his 75,000 mile travel route on foot, donkey (Syria) and Medina (Saudi Arabia). seeking knowledge, Allah eases and camel. He travelled through scorching In his book, he provides numerous per- deserts, over towering mountains and raging sonal observations of North Africa and the the way to paradise…A learned oceans. He travelled under the constant fear Middle East. For example, this is his account of bandits and blood thirsty pirates. In other of the social security system in Damascus in one is superior to a worshipper words, he risked his life for the sake of seek- the early 14th century C.E: as the moon is superior to all ing knowledge and wisdom. His travels were “The variety and expenditure of the religious not merely an adventure, but also and prima- endowments at Damascus are beyond the planets. The divines are rily a search for knowledge and a desire to computation. There are endowments…for experience and witness God’s vast and infi- supplying wedding outfits to girls whose heirs of the prophets and nite creation. He truly lived up to the saying families are unable to provide them, and of the Holy ProphetSAW: prophets do not leave an others for the freeing of prisoners. There are endowments for travelers, out of the revenues inheritance of dirhams and “Seek knowledge even if you have to go of which they are given food, clothing, and as far as China, for seeking knowledge is a the expenses of conveyance to their dinars but only of knowledge. duty on every Muslim.” countries. Then there are endowments for the improvement and paving of the streets, He who acquires knowledge Ibn Battuta’s Journey because all the lanes in Damascus have acquires a vast portion.” Ibn Battuta’s journey began when the pavements on either side, on which the foot Mongols were converting to Islam. During this passengers walk, while those who ride use time of peace, Ibn Battuta set off globe trot- the roadway in the centre”. 5 nspired by these teachings of the ting. He was a man of meager means but he Holy Prophet MuhammadSAW, Mus was fed, entertained and cared for along the He painted the picture of the Nile, Alexan- lims, throughout history, have trav way by royalty, merchants and Mongol dria and Cairo in the following words: elled to distant places to meet emi kings.2 In his books, he describes meetings “There is no need for a traveler on the Nile nent scholars, explore unknown ter- with kings and encounters with sufis. How- to take any provision with him, because Iritories and discover new cultures. Ibn Battuta, ever, modern geographers find the “descrip- whenever he wishes to descend on the bank by far, is the most celebrated of these travel- tions of varying natural environment, prod- he may do so, for ablutions, prayers, ers in the Islamic world. His travels spanned ucts of far-off islands, articles of export, me- purchasing provisions or any other purpose. over a time period of thirty years and covered tropolises, ports and sea routes…”3 most in- There is a continuous series of bazaars from 75,000 miles. This distance is approximately teresting in his travel accounts. city of Alexandria to Cairo”.6 three times greater than Marco Polo’s journey 1327-1330- To East Africa and from Venice to China in the late thirteenth cen- 1325-1327 – Beginning of Jour- tury. In the West, Ibn Battuta is not known back to Arabia7 ney – From Morocco to Mecca4 well, mainly because he was a Muslim and After completing Hajj for the first time, Ibn Ibn Battuta’s first journey was to the holy travelled only within the borders of the Is- Battuta decided to visit Iraq and Iran. It is at city of Mecca for the Hajj. On his way to Mecca, lamic world. Driven by the desire to seek this point that his globetrotting career really he passed through modern day Algiers (Al- knowledge, he met sufis, legal scholars, mys- began.8 However, he kept coming back to tics and magicians living in 44 modern coun- geria), Tunis (Tunisia), Tripoli (Libya), Alex- tries including Morocco, Egypt, Syria, India, Somalia, Tanzania, China, Turkey, Ukraine, Af- ghanistan, Sri Lanka, and Saudi Arabia. The stories of his travels provide not only knowl- edge of Islamic history but also offer a sense Ibn Battuta covered his 75,000 mile travel of aesthetic pleasure. Who was Ibn Battuta? Apart from his own route on foot, donkey and camel. He personal travel records, we have few details about his life. He was born in Tangier on Feb- ruary 24th, 1304, and died in 1369. He left travelled through scorching deserts, over Tangier on June 14, 1325 A.D., at twenty-two years of age, and finally ended his journey in towering mountains and raging oceans. He Morocco and dictated accounts of his jour- neys to a scholar, named Ibn Juzayy. The ac- travelled under the constant fear of bandits counts of his journey are known as (Travels) of Ibn Battuta.1 In the 14th century and blood thirsty pirates. Islamic world, the tradition of writing ‘Rihla’ was a common pursuit. Rihla were detailed travel journals or memoirs, written by Muslim travelers and scholars about their visits to almost eight years. Ibn Battuta described the King Tughluq, who was also a learned scholar, in his Rihla, as: “The king of India…makes a practice of honouring strangers and showing affection to them...the majority of his courtiers, palace officials, ministers of state, judges, and relatives by marriage are foreigners and he has issued a decree that foreigners are to be called by the title of Aziz (Honorable)”18 1341-1349-Moves from India to China and encounters many adventures19 In 1340, the sultan of Delhi appointed Ibn Battuta to lead a mission to China. He reached China passing through southern India, Ceylon, Maldives Island, Bengal, Burma and Sumatra. 20. Ibn Battuta notes China as the safest and most agreeable country of the world for the traveler21. However, he was not impressed by China’s paganism: Mecca from different directions during his vis- nia and Somalia. From there he sailed back to its and in total performed Hajj seven times. Oman and took an overland caravan route to China was beautiful, but it did not please He stopped in Basra, Iraq, which in earlier Arabia and then back to Mecca again. While me. On the contrary, I was greatly troubled centuries of Islamic history produced great in Mogadishu (Somalia), he received great thinking about the way paganism dominated Muslim philosophers, theologians, scientists, hospitality from the local people. In 14th cen- this country. Whenever I went out of my poets and historians.9 While in Iraq, Ibn tury Eastern Africa, the spread of Islamic cul- lodging, I saw many blameworthy things. Battuta also visited the city of Baghdad, which ture was not synonymous with the peopling That disturbed me so much that I stayed had recently faced the Mongolian invasion of the region by Persians.12 The rulers, schol- indoors most of the time and only went out and, as a result, had lost its intellectual splen- ars, officials and big merchants, as well as the when necessary. During my stay in China, dor. Baghdad was the capital of the Islamic port workers, farmers, craftsmen, and slaves, whenever I saw any Muslims I always felt as empire ruled by the . The were dark-skinned people speaking African though I were meeting my own family and Abbasid Caliphate had come into power in tongues in everyday life.13 For Arabs and Per- close kinsmen.22 751 after defeating the Umayyads. Once a sians, East Africa was a fertile, well-watered 1349-1354-Journey back home; powerful military and intellectual force, the land of economic opportunity and a place of visit to Grenada and the final influence of the Abbasid Caliphate had de- salvation from drought, famine, overpopula- 23 creased in the mid 13th century. The Mongols tion and war at home.14 adventure to Mali overran Baghdad in 1258. They destroyed the Ibn Battuta returned again to Mecca in Grand Library of Baghdad, containing count- 1346 to perform the Hajj one more time. When 1330-1341-To India, through he had completed his duties in Mecca he be- less historical documents and books on sub- Anatolia and Asia. 15 jects ranging from medicine to astronomy. gan his journey home to Fez in Morocco. He According to some claims, Mongols slaugh- Ibn Battuta was now a skilled traveler, arrived in Fez in 1349. However, the thirst for tered hundred of thousands of people.10 The however the travels required money. He heard traveling had made his soul restless. In 1350 impact of the Mongolian invasion was still that the Sultan in Delhi, India, was seeking he was on the move again; this time to Grenada visible in the 1320s, when Ibn Battuta visited learned men to work as qadi (judges) to inter- on the Iberian Peninsula. Still not completely Baghdad. He describes Iraq’s sad state in the pret Islamic law. So in 1330, Ibn Battuta set satisfied that he had traveled all of Dar-al- following words: out for India. He traveled through Asia Minor Islam (i.e. lands of Islam) he joined a caravan (comprising most of the modern republic of to cross the Sahara to visit Mali. In 1355 he “Her outward lineaments have departed and Turkey) Central Asia and Afghanistan. 16 finally returned home for good 24 after spend- nothing remains of her but the name…there While travelling through modern day Turkey, ing 30 years of his life traveling. is no beauty in her that arrests the eye, or he speaks in his book of prestige enjoyed by summons the busy passer-by to forget his 17 Rihla as the Historical Document 11 doctors of law among Turks. In 1333, he business and to gaze.” crossed the towering Hindu Kush, which sepa- Ibn Battuta’s story teaches us about the After visiting Iraq and Iran, he returned to rates inner Asia from the Indus and finally Islamic world in the 14th century. Through his Mecca, from where he sailed down the east- reached India, where he met with the sultan of writings, we learn about the hospitality, cus- ern coast of Africa through the Red and Ara- Delhi, Muhammad Tughluq. He was granted toms, educational methods and the geographi- bian Seas, and further, to modern day Tanza- a position as a qadi, and served the king for cal conditions of the Muslim world.

SPRING 2009 29 James Preston, a renowned scholar of geographical education admitted more than 25 years ago that Ibn Battuta’s book, written as it was in Arabic, made little impact on Christian world. Even today, when some of our schools teach children about the intense heat of the torrid zone, reference could be made to Ibn Battuta, who six centuries ago, pointed out that the climate along the equator was less extreme than the climate in the so-called temperate zone in North Africa.25 It may be argued, however, that lately the con- tributions of Ibn Battuta to the subject of history and geography are being rec- ognized. For example, Paula Ranciato of Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute, an educational partnership between Yale University and New Haven Public schools, acknowledged the historical value of Ibn Battuta’s travel narrative. Referring to Ibn Battuta’s Rihla, she said: The importance of the narrative in a social studies class is the ability of our students to examine and explore people’s dreams and experiences in a social and cultural Its monuments too abide, for those who to be more authentic and reliable unlike context. 26 may have the fortunate to visit them, but the knowledge acquired through mass media, which reduces the complexity of its men and manners are to most of us Joan Arno and Helen Grady, educa- cultures into sound bites. Granted that tors of younger children, admit that the utterly unknown, or dimly conceived in Ibn Battuta did not have to worry about study of the adventures of Ibn Battuta the romantic image of the Arabian customs and passports but don’t forget provide a mechanism for teaching about Nights. Even for the specialist it is that he travelled when modes of trans- 27 portation were as inconvenient as don- the early 14th century. difficult to reconstruct their lives and see keys, horses, camels and ships and the Ibn Battuta employed personal expe- them as they were. Histories and threats of storms, illnesses, pirates and riences to construct a social history of biographies there are in quantity, but bandits were a constant danger. His cour- 14th century Islamic world. His informa- the historians for all their picturesque age and commitment stand as an inspira- tion to all who thirst to explore the ocean tive narratives contained fascinating por- details, seldom show the ability to select traits of political and cultural elites. He of knowledge.‹ discusses his meeting with sufis. He the essential and to give their figures sought knowledge from legal scholars. that touch of the intimate which makes (Footnotes) 1 Ahmad, Nafis, “The Geographers and their Work”, Muslim Contribution to Geography, SH. Muhammad His Rihla also provides in depth details them live again for the reader. It is in Ashraf, 1965, p. 53 2 http://pclt.cis.yale.edu/ynhti/curriculum/units/2007/2/07.02.07.x.html#b of local cultures and sensibilities. How- 28 this faculty that Ibn Battuta excels. 3 Ahmad, Nafis, p. 55-56 ever, some argue that personal experi- 4 http://pclt.cis.yale.edu/ynhti/curriculum/units/2007/2/07.02.07.x.html#b 5 http://www.famousmuslims.com/Ibn%20Battuta%20-%20The%20Incredible%20Traveller.htm ences are not wholly reliable because of Conclusion 6 Dunn, Ross, “The Mamluks”, The Adventures of Ibn Battuta, University of California Press, 1986, p. 45. 7 http://pclt.cis.yale.edu/ynhti/curriculum/units/2007/2/07.02.07.x.html#b the informants’ tendency to exaggerate 8 Dunn, Ross, p. 79 and idealize what they did. No doubt, The modern mind might question the 9 Dunn, Ross, p. 92 10 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Baghdad_(1258) personal narratives may contain errors value of Ibn Battuta’s 30 years of travel- 11 Dunn, Ross, p. 97 12 Dunn, Ross, p. 124 and biases, and does not necessarily ling. In today’s world, knowledge is gen- 13 Dunn, Ross, p. 124 constitute a complete historical record by erally acquired for monetary reasons, sta- 14 Ross, Dunn, p. 125 15 http://pclt.cis.yale.edu/ynhti/curriculum/units/2007/2/07.02.07.x.html#b itself. Nonetheless, personal narratives tus or prestige, but in the Middle Ages, 16 http://pclt.cis.yale.edu/ynhti/curriculum/units/2007/2/07.02.07.x.html#b 17 Ross, Dun, P. 153. help us gain meaningful insights into the purpose of acquiring knowledge was 18 Ross, Dunn, p. 179 for the sake of knowledge itself. Ibn 19 http://pclt.cis.yale.edu/ynhti/curriculum/units/2007/2/07.02.07.x.html#b understanding how people lived in the 20 http://pclt.cis.yale.edu/ynhti/curriculum/units/2007/2/07.02.07.x.html#b past. Battuta’s travels should be an inspiration 21 Ross, Dunn, p. 259 22 http://www.ucalgary.ca/applied_history/tutor/oldwrld/diplomats/battuta.html Paul Kegan, in his book “Ibn Battuta, for young people to travel and explore 23 http://pclt.cis.yale.edu/ynhti/curriculum/units/2007/2/07.02.07.x.html#b 24 http://pclt.cis.yale.edu/ynhti/curriculum/units/2007/2/07.02.07.x.html#b Travels in Asia and Africa 1325-1354” the different cultures of the world and 25 James, E. Preston, Martin, J. Geofffrey, “Geography in the Middle Ages”, All Possible Worlds: A History of says the following about the use of Ibn expand their horizons. The knowledge of Geographical Ideas, John Wiley and Sons, 2nd Edition,1981, p. 52 26 http://www.yale.edu/ynhti/ Battuta’s narrative of the Islamic world: cultures acquired through travel, tends 27 http://nchs.ucla.edu/NH156-preview.pdf 28 http://www.famousmuslims.com/Ibn%20Battuta%20-%20The%20Incredible%20Traveller.htm Poetry Corner By Maria Andleeb Ahmed In this brilliant sphere of such “Would life not be much simpler Marvels, beauty and wonder In such a style?” How can there exist a dark side But “NO” is the answer, Filled with strife, rage and plunder? Realized the child with a smile.

Its mere presence causes many Regardless of the horrors of this world To give up faith and hope. And the disappointments it may carry, With his upturned wondering eyes, Life is a most precious gift A young child ponders—“How can man cope?” Of which its dangers one must wary.

With so much hate and violence Our choices were deemed to us It causes one’s heart to ache. By God for many reasons Thought the child, “Is life worth more Just as the earth’s revolutions Than the time it takes for it to break?” Vary the seasons.

“Should humans, as animals And this fills the young lad’s mind Living knowing only one belief, As well as his heart-filled breast And not have a choice With thoughts of joy and contentment To endure sorrow and grief?” His searching mind finally at rest.

“Should they not be given the chance Life is for the love of God, To follow the wrong path and go astray, Ever so-Forgiving To kill, hurt, and destroy others for reasons And the love of God Concerning their own greed, desires, and ways?” Makes life worth living.

The Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: “The Hour (Last Day) will not be established until (religious) knowledge will be taken away (by the death of religious learned men), earthquakes will be very frequent, time will pass quickly, afflictions will appear, murders will increase and money will overflow amongst you.”

[Volume 2, Book 17, Number 146: Sahih Bukhari]

SPRING 2009 31

Khulafaa Rashideen ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Models of Leadership By Lubna R. Malik

Allah has promised to those among you who believe and do good works that He will, surely, make them successors in the earth, as He made successors from those who were before them; and that He will, surely, establish

for them their religion This is a traditional study in Arabic calligraphy that comprises the names of Allah, Muhammad, and the four Noble Caliphs who which He has chosen succeeded Muhammad as leaders of the Muslim community, Abu for them; and that He Bakr, Omar, Uthman, and Ali. who believed and engaged in good works BakrRA was renowned as a noble and equi- will surely give them in and truly became “successors in the earth” table man and was highly respected by all are the Khulafaa Rashideen, or the Rightly who knew him. Abu BakrRA was also the exchange security and Guided Caliphs who succeeded the Holy Holy Prophet Muhammad’s closest friend. Prophet MuhammadSAW. Through the In addition to his many accomplishments peace after their fear. historical accounts of these four grand as caliph, such as expanding the Muslim leaders of the Muslim Community during territory and beginning the compilation the (24:56, Al-Nur) the seventh century, one finds truly noble Holy Qur’an in written form, Abu BakrRA is and heroic characteristics. most well-known for his truthfulness, for- his verse from the Holy Qur’an giving nature, and unwavering bravery. is God’s promise to protect the Abu Bakr: The Truthful, Forgiving Muslim Community after the and Brave (632-634) As suggested by his title, Siddiq, mean- Holy Prophet Muhammad’s ing truthful, Abu BakrRA was the first adult death. God outlines how He The first caliph of Islam was man to confirm and embrace the truth of Trewards those who believe and do good works AbdullahRA, commonly known as Abu Bakr the Holy Prophet Muhammad’s claim.1 Abu by making them Successors. Four individuals Siddiq. Born in 572C.E. in Mecca, Abu Bakr’s truthfulness, however, was much

32 MuslimSunrise deeper than his immediate acceptance of way to attain the level of righteousness and this man. However, Abu Bakr’s heart was MuhammadSAW as God’s prophet. Siddiq piety necessary for prophetic status is so generous and forgiving that he soon re- connotes that one is constantly in a state through becoming truly Siddiq, that is im- sumed financially supporting the man and of truthfulness. Thus, Abu BakrRA loved mersing oneself in the love of God and Is- removed any negative feelings from his God and Islam so completely and so purely lam, just as Abu BakrRA had done in the sev- heart.5 that his whole being exuded the truthful- enth century.3 ness of Islam. The Promised Messiah, Mirza Following the Holy Prophet Another reason the Muslim Community Ghulam AhmadAS, has written on the spe- Muhammad’s demise, Abu BakrRA was cho- chose Abu BakrRA as the first leader after cial and unique quality of Siddiqi: sen as the first caliph of the Muslim com- the Holy Prophet Muhammad’s death was munity. One reason the Muslim Community his unwavering bravery. Upon the RA …all the doors leading to chose Abu Bakr was because of his ex- Prophet’s death, the Muslims were sad, have been closed tremely forgiving heart. On one occasion, a shocked, and confused about the future of man slandered Abu Bakr’s daughter, except the door of Sirat-e-Siddiqi, the Community. Seeing the Community in AyeshaRA, who was also the Holy Prophet such deep grief over the Prophet’s death, i.e., losing oneself in the Holy Muhammad’s wife. Interestingly, this man RA 2 Abu Bakr stood and addressed them all: Prophet. relied on Abu Bakr’s charitable donations to feed himself and his family. Upset with 4 Whoever used to worship This quotation from the Promised this man for insulting the Prophet’s wife , Muhammad, then let him know that Messiah’s writing indicates that the only Abu BakrRA ceased financially supporting

SPRING 2009 33 indeed Muhammad has died. And UmarRA began his period as caliph with and left the woman’s home without saying whosoever worships Allah, then these words: a word.9 Allah is alive and does not die. And This incident from Umar’s life illustrates Muhammad is only a Messenger. In running the State, you are my his deep compassionate nature and strong Verily, all Messengers have passed partners. Help me with your sound humility. First, because he was a truly com- passionate leader who desired to improve away before him. If then he dies, will advice. If I follow the right path laid RA you turn back on your heels?6 down by God and His Prophet, the lives of his people, Umar devised the idea of going out at night in disguise to follow me. If I deviate, correct me. help whoever he could. Second, UmarRA Even at this difficult and sad point in Strengthen me with your advice and helped his people, but without taking any RA Muslim history, Abu Bakr was not afraid suggestions. credit for himself. UmarRA went out at night to assert the truth that encompassed his in disguise because he did not want any being. He challenged his Muslim brothers This was the level of humility exhib- recognition, he did not even consider al- and sisters to stand up and continue liv- ited by the second caliph of Islam that, lowing his servant to carry the load of ing Islam because the faith had not died even though he had been chosen to lead food, and upon hearing the woman com- SAW RA with Prophet Muhammad . Abu Bakr the Muslims, he appealed to the Muslim pliment him as an individual, he became was the firm and steadfast heart of the Community to advise him and even cor- so saddened that a Muslim sister thought Muslim Community that reassured them rect him, should he make a mistake. better of a random stranger who helped 7 all. One example from Umar’s period as ca- her than the caliph, that he went away cry- Abu Bakr’s two-years as caliph of the liph that encompasses both his humility ing. Muslim Community that was constantly and compassion is how he cared for the Umar’s ten years as caliph of the Mus- engaged in warfare with enemy states, deal- welfare of the people of Medina. Desiring lim Community speak volumes of his hu- ing with internal strife as apostasy grew, to hear the true needs of society and offer mility and compassion. Instances of and ensuring that the Qur’an’s teachings his assistance wherever he could, UmarRA UmarRA exhibiting these characteristics, and Prophet Muhammad’s practice were used to disguise himself as a common per- such as sharing in celebrations at child- properly followed are saturated with count- son and walk around Medina at night. One birth, marrying his son to the most honest less examples of his unwavering truthful- such night UmarRA observed a woman cook- girl he found while on his night-patrol, giv- ness, commitment to mercy and forgive- ing while her children cried around her. ing his personal money to the poor and ness, and his bravery against all odds. UmarRA soon found out that the woman and elderly, wearing the simplest clothing, liv- her children had been hungry for two ing with no guards, eating dry bread, all Umar: The Humble and days, and that the woman was not cook- fill his life before and during his period as Compassionate (634-644) ing, but merely pretending to cook over a caliph. fire to console her hungry children. Dis- traught at the state of this mother and her Following Abu Bakr’s demise, UmarRA children, UmarRA immediately went to the Uthman: The Ultimate Devotee to was elected caliph. UmarRA had been one newly-established treasury and carried all the Caliphate System (644-656) of the fiercest enemies of Islam and the of the food he could to the woman. On his Holy Prophet MuhammadSAW; however, way to the woman’s home, one of Umar’s As the Muslim Community entered its after hearing his sister recite a verse from servants stopped him and offered to carry second decade under the caliphate system, the Holy Qur’an, he accepted Islam and the food load for UmarRA. UmarRA, how- UthmanRA was elected the third caliph. En- became a great source of strength for the ever, responded: titled Ghani, UthmanRA was a very gener- Muslim Community. Given the title of ous person, especially to the poor. Farooq, or one who distinguishes between No doubt you can carry this weight Uthman’s period as caliph is marked by fur- right and wrong, Umar’s period as caliph ther expansion of the Islamic Empire, re- has been called a golden period of Islamic for me today, but who will carry my burden on the Day of Judgment? pelling the Roman forces, establishing an history for all of its accomplishments, such Islamic naval fleet, and preparing standard as the establishment of the Majlis-e-Shura copies of the Holy Qur’an. UthmanRA is RA (consultative body of advisors to the ca- Umar then delivered the food to the most remembered for his especially strong liph), the division of the Islamic state into woman who was so grateful that she ex- devotion to the caliphate system.10 provinces to facilitate administration, the claimed: During Uthman’s period as caliph, there establishment of a finance department, the was great internal strife in the Muslim building of schools and mosques, and the May God bless you. It would be far Community, especially with various Mus- introduction of the Islamic calendar. Un- better if you were the Caliph of the lim groups asserting that UthmanRA was der Umar’s leadership, the Muslim commu- Muslims, instead of Umar who is not the rightful caliph. Thus, in addition nity also expanded to large parts of Iran, not aware of the condition of his to dealing with the enemies of Islam, Iraq, Syria and Egypt. Most notable of this people. UthmanRA was constantly reinforcing the formerly intolerant and violent man, how- strength of the caliphate system. UthmanRA ever, was his humility and compassion.8 On hearing this, UmarRA began crying addressed the Muslims:

34 MuslimSunrise ally demanded that UthmanRA step down peacefully decide the issue of punishing Remain united. Let there be no as Caliph. Refusing to surrender to the Uthman’s murderers. Muawiyah and his enemies of Islam, UthmanRA was murdered companions, however, did not abide by the dissension in your ranks. You were terms of the agreement and created greater the enemies of one another. God defending the caliphate system and Islam when he was stabbed while reciting the rebellion in the Muslim Community that blessed you with Islam, and you AliRA was desperately trying to keep stable Holy Qur’an.11 The words from his last ser- began to love one another, and and peaceful. From this rebellion, the mon summarize the theme of his period as became brothers. Maintain your Khwarij Muslims separated.13 caliph and the message that he left for the In response to this separation, AliRA unity. Do not break up into sec- world: tions. Allah is happy with your tried again to peacefully reassemble the unity, and exhorts you to refrain Muslim Community. Left with no other Remember that you were the en- option, AliRA engaged in battle against the from disunity. emies of one another, and under Khwarij in which most of the Khwarij died. Islam, God made you like brothers. Although AliRA had worked very hard to Thus, in spite of the division that was See that this unity is maintained at keep peace within the community, the facing the now-partisan Muslim Commu- all costs. Khwarij were determined to destroy any nity, UthmanRA emphasized the dire need progress AliRA had made and plotted to of unity for the future success of Islam. assassinate him. Thus, one day as AliRA In addition to emphasizing unity, Ali: The Peacemaker (656-662) was walking to the mosque for the morn- UthmanRA also remained devoted to the ca- After Uthman’s martyrdom, the Mus- ing prayer, he was fatally wounded and liphate system and protecting pure Islam lim Community was in complete disorder. passed away the next month.14 RA in his actions. During his period as caliph, Six days after Uthman’s death, Ali was Desiring only to create peace in the certain sections of the Muslim and non- chosen as the fourth caliph of the Holy Muslim Community and re-establish the SAW Muslim communities promoted propa- Prophet Muhammad and the Commu- beautiful unity that the Holy Prophet ganda against UthmanRA and accused him nity swore allegiance to him. The son of MuhammadSAW had brought, AliRA faced a of only placing his relatives in places of Abu Talib and cousin to the Holy Prophet difficult and tumultuous six years as ca- SAW RA high office. UthmanRA handled such accu- Muhammad , Ali had played an inte- liph. Although ultimately the Muslim Com- sations very delicately and always justi- gral role in Islamic history from the very munity decided to separate into groups fied his appointments. For example, in beginning by being the first boy to accept and political factions, Ali’s period as ca- Kufa, Iraq, UthmanRA allowed Saad bin Abi Islam and by being a decoy in the Holy liph marks the suppression of many rebel- Waqas, an appointment of UmarRA, to con- Prophet Muhammad’s bed, while the Holy lions and maintenance of some level of sta- SAW tinue governing. However, after it became Prophet Muhammad escaped to bility. RA clear that Saad was unable to control the Medina. As a caliph, Ali quickly was In conclusion, the thirty year caliphate volatile situation in Kufa due to internal placed in a position that required him to system that followed the Holy Prophet Muslim conflict, UthmanRA appointed his maintain unity among an increasingly Muhammad’s death and the charismatic step-brother, Walid. Contrary to the con- splintering Muslim Community. Although and righteous leaders that led the Muslim spirators’ allegations, UthmanRA appointed his period as caliph was only six years, he Community illustrate the true qualities of Walid because he was young, well-liked strived to create peace in the Muslim Com- leadership—truthfulness, forgiveness, by the people of Kufa, and had firm faith munity. bravery, humility, compassion, devotion, in the caliphate system. Even so, five years At the beginning of his six years as RA and peacemaking. Although the Muslim RA caliph, Ali was faced with the question of later, Uthman removed Walid upon re- Community failed to remain unified in the avenging Uthman’s death. An influential quest by the people of Kufa. RA end due to various political and territorial RA group of Muslims pressured Ali to punish Similarly, in Basra, Iraq, Uthman re- RA reasons, the lives of these four rightly- RA Uthman’s murders. Ali , however, moved Abu Musa Asha’ari only after the announced to the Muslim Community that guided caliphs are excellent examples of people of Basra demanded his removal. he only intended to restore peace and true leadership.‹ Aware of the controversy surrounding stability among the Muslims. Unconvinced, Walid’s appointment, UthmanRA asked the a group of Muslims led by TalhaRA, (Endnotes) RA RA 1 Mian, Majeed A. The Ahmadiyya Gazette. Apr/May 2000. 28-9. representatives of Basra to suggest a per- Zubair , and Ayesha fought against 2 Ahmad, Mirza Ghulam. The Will. Islam International Publications: son to serve as their Governor. It was these Ali’s forces in the Battle of Jamal. Ultimately England, 2004. 3 Walker, Adam Hani. “Hadhrat Abu Bakr As-Siddiq-The Great Lover of representatives who requested Uthman’s defeated, these three later felt deep regret Allah.” The Review of Religions. Nov 2007. 3-4. cousin, Abdullah bin Aamar, to serve as at having challenged Ali’s authority.12 4 Note that Abu Bakr did not express resentment towards this man because RA Aisha was his daughter, but only because she was the Holy Prophet their Governor, not UthmanRA. Thus, Upon quelling that conflict, Ali was Muhammad’s highly regarded wife and a devout Muslim woman. 5 Id. 14-5. UthmanRA proved that he was dedicated faced with Amir Muawiyah and his companions who refused to pledge 6 Sahih Bukhari. Vol 5, Ch 57, No 19. to protecting the caliphate system, and not 7 Walker. 18-9. allegiance to AliRA until Uthman’s murderers 8 Mian. The Ahmadiyya Gazette. 28-9. his own familial interests. 9 Chaudhry, Rashid Ahmad. Hadhrat Umar Farooq. Islam International had been punished. Unhappy with Ali’s Publications: England, 2001. 39. Uthman’s devotion to the caliphate sys- desire to peacefully settle the issue, 10 Mian, Majeed A. “Khulafa-e-Rashideen.” Al-Nahl. Spring 1995. 11 Ahmad, Waheed. A Book of Religious Knowledge. 150. tem extended to his very last breath. The Muawiyah demanded that Ali’s forces fight 12 Khan, Muhammad Zafrulla. “Hazrat Ali and Khawaraj.”Punishment of conspirators in the Muslim Community his own in the Battle of Siffin. After the Apostacy in Islam. Islam International Publications: England. 13 Id. had created such unrest that some actu- battle ended, Muawiyah agreed to 14 Mian. “Khulafa-e-Rashideen.”

SPRING 2009 35 News, Views and Reviews Press Publications

first step, Pakistan must repeal the blas- “As a Muslim who phemy laws under the constitutional understands the sanctity of amendment of 1984, which are the root cause of its most unwanted export prod- human life through the uct. Quranic principle, ‘He who killed one life is as though Originally printed in the 12/02/ 08 edition of USA Today he killed humanity,’ I Four children and one man were arrested on false strongly condemn such Muslims Advocate charge of blasphemy. (Persecution Website) heinous acts.” Peace People must protest Originally printed in the 12/03/ By Dr. Sohail Husain, atrocities in the name of 08 edition of Baltimore Meriden, Connecticut religion Examiner Originally printed in the Mumbai, the largest city in India, was re- 2/12/09 edition of the Kenosha Pakistan Must Start cently paralyzed by terror as militants News, Wisconsin triggered a network of bombs and raided Condemning Terrorism several key public and tourist locations. By Amtul R. Ahmad M.D, While their identities are being sorted Kenosha, Wisconsin By Faheem Younus Qureshi out, members of groups of this type gen- Baltimore, Maryland erally claim to represent Islam and the Four children and one man were body of Muslims. arrested on false charge of blasphemy. Now that the world knows that attacks I am an American Muslim of Indian de- Pakistan Law 295C says that a person on innocent civilians in Mumbai were per- scent, and I strongly disagree. Voices of can be imprisoned for life or given a petrated by Islamic militants of Pakistani dissent such as mine and many other death penalty according to the origin, we the Muslims are left soul- Muslims have long been drowned out by Blasphemy law, which was amended to searching once again. the clamor on prime-time news of these imprison an innocent and law abiding As a Muslim who understands the misguided and ignorant extremists. They sect of Muslims. sanctity of human life through the not only took hostage tourists in their The false accusation is that these Quranic principle, ‘He who killed one life hotels, but they also, in effect, have taken children wrote the name of the Holy is as though he killed humanity,’ I hostage the wider Muslim communities Prophet Mohammad, peace be upon strongly condemn such heinous acts. that they claim to lead by proxy. him, on the toilet walls in a mosque in The Pakistani government, however, Well, enough is enough. Islam does Layyah Pakistan. The fact is these still distances itself from taking any re- not condone your acts of terror, and we children did not even live in the area of sponsibility for repeated tragedies are not with you. In fact, our religion con- that Mosque and neither they had caused by their home-grown militia. demns your cowardly violence on civil- visited that area. One could argue that such repugnant ians, and we implore you to stop. This is another evidence of how acts are deeply condoned by Pakistan’s The prayers of this Muslim and former democracy and justice in Pakistan is constitution. Under the cloak of blas- Indian national go out to the victims of bowing and succumbing to the extremist phemy laws, hundreds of members of Mumbai. The only extremism we can tol- Fundamentalists and Muslim radicals. Ahmadiyya Muslim Community were erate is peace, as stated last week in Asma Jahangiri, the chairwomen of subjected to target killings in Pakistan southern India by Mirza Masroor Ahmad, the Human Rights Commission of and the government did just what they a prominent Muslim and head of the Pakistan and the special Rapporteur of did this time: Offer a soft, political con- Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. The United Nation’s Commission on demnation. Islam does not condone your Human Rights, has also condemned this That Pakistan should cooperate with arrest and has called it “heinous.” the investigation and follow the evidence acts of terror, and we are not It is time that peace loving people wherever it leads is a very achievable with you. In fact, our religion should raise their voices against these expectation set by Secretary of State atrocities in the name of religion Condoleezza Rice. condemns your cowardly because it is unacceptable to involve However, Pakistan does not have a violence on civilians, and we innocent children especially without track record of following through. As a any evidence pointing towards them. implore you to stop. 36 MuslimSunrise News, Views and Reviews Viewpoints

under the Gaza fence. But how does it help in response to the death of four Israelis to How Many Must Die to fire rockets in return? Each rocket has be equitable retaliation? Both Israelis and Before Peace Prevails? the possibility of taking an innocent life, Palestinians are religious people, but when which is strictly forbidden in Islam. it comes to matters concerning one another, Originally published in The Do those who fire them not understand their respective leaders toss their religious Oregonian, January 5, 2009 the Holy Quran when it repeatedly says beliefs to the side and act with raw emo- By Harris Zafar “create not disorder in the earth” or even tion, with disregard for the value of life. Is- when it says that killing even one person is rael and Palestine both consist of men, When Palestinians and Israelis both pray like killing all of mankind? Reverence for women and children who desire peace and to God for help in destroying the other, who life is a part of Islam, but the very nature of security instead of violence and fear. Their does God choose to help? Which of the rockets is to put lives at risk. respective faiths, as well as the principle of two are the “good guys”? Well, based on And what about the Israeli Defense rationality, dictate that each must refrain the actions of both parties, I fail to see why Forces? How can its leaders justify their from using violence to solve their problems. God would help either of them. Both par- response when their actions are breaking True peace can only be achieved by ties claim loyal adherence to God and his the very law they claim to follow? The Mo- working together as children of God.If both teachings, but sadly, both parties violate saic law of “an eye for an eye and a tooth parties instilled humanity, mercy and for- the law of their respective faith. Let’s look for a tooth” teaches the principle of equi- giveness into themselves, perhaps God at the facts. table retaliation. would find more value in their prayers. But As a practicing Muslim, I’m critical of The purpose of this law was to limit the how many must die before the God-given Muslims who don’t act according to the scope of a punishment and to discourage qualities of humanity and peace prevail? teachings of Islam. So let’s begin with cruelty. Yet Israel has unleashed an all-out Hamas. Sure, some may argue the case of attack of warlike proportions, killing more ‹Harris Zafar, a business analyst in the Gaza residents having their food, water and than 400 Palestinians and wounding more information technology industry, is the youth medical equipment supply cut off by Israel. than 2,000 more in merely seven days. Can director of faith outreach within his mosque Others may cite the Nov. 5 Israeli attack we consider the death of 400 Palestinians in Southwest Portland.

“It is our duty to bow before God Almighty who has the ability to change what is in a person’s heart. It is incumbent upon all of you to inform the people of the world that Islam teaches love for God and for His Creation. Inform the world that the followers of the Promised Messiah do not use swords or violence but will change people’s hearts through love and affection.”

His Holiness, Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, the World Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat, delivered the concluding address to the 85th Annual Convention of the Bangladesh Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat. His Holiness spoke of the continued persecution of the Ah- madiyya Muslim Jamaat both in Bangladesh and in other countries. -- Feb. 15th, 2009.

SPRING 2009 37 international and intra-national uprisings, and espite sharing a unique balancing the religious differences of a Shiite ancestry, today the Salah-ud- Caliph and Sunni King. Accordingly, Salah-ud-Din first sur- children of AbrahamAS rounded himself with close relatives. By ap- D Din Yusuf pointing his siblings to rule over fiefs Egyp- seem to be the people most at tian statesman previously held, Salah-ud-Din odds with one another. This is took a firm step towards weakening a corrupt ibn Ayyub government and earning the public’s support. most apparent in the ongoing Ever the soldier-general, Salah-ud-Din made it a point to emulate Spartan Rule.4 Salah-ud- unrest in the Middle East. by Sardar Anees Din also received petitions with his own hand from all over Egypt, every Monday and Thurs- Despite its seeming Ahmad day, even during travel. Salah-ud-Din man- dated that jurists and qazis be present to up- hopelessness, the Middle East hold an unbiased application of the law. Salah- gave birth to one of its greatest ud-Din rarely ignored a grievance, even if lev- ied against Salah-ud-Din himself.5 Even if the sons in 1138 C.E. whose charge levied against Salah-ud-Din was dis- missed, the complainant received a robe of example illustrated the honor and had his travel expenses paid for.6 His gestures were very opportune. For importance of humanity over nearly ten years following his appointment to hierarchy, and valued vizier, Salah-ud-Din had to crush various as- sassination attempts and mutinies in Egypt compassion over cruelty. That and the Middle East.7 Yet with each victory the attachment between the Kurdish states- prodigal son was Salah-ud-Din men and his subjects grew. Of the Syrian con- quest, Stanley Lane-Poole writes, “He treated Yusuf ibn Ayyub [known in the his prisoners generously, set them free, and West as Saladin]. sent many of them away with gifts. The wounded, especially, owed their lives to his care, and many were eager to enter his ser- Muslim Sectarianism vice. As for the rich booty of the enemy’s camp, he gave it all to the army, and kept not a Prior to Salah-ud-Din’s birth, ethnic and “He treated his prisoners thing for himself. In this he displayed alike the tribal loyalties ‘controlled’ the Muslim empire. generously, set them free, instincts of a generous nature and the fore- In Egypt, the Fatimid Caliphate had been re- sight of a statesman. He bound both his own duced to figureheads. Inevitably, a powerless and sent many of them troops and the enemy’s to him with ties of Shiite government ruling over a majority Sunni away with gifts. The gratitude and personal devotion. The prison- population was bound to fall. So too was the ers he had freed, some of whom were men of case with the entire Muslim empire. In 1095 wounded, especially, rank and influence, went back to their homes C.E., Crusaders captured Jerusalem. Thereaf- owed their lives to his … full of his praises, extolling his clemency ter, Muslim rulers allied with the Franks against and great heartedness, and prepared to be his their own Muslim neighbors.1 This was the care, and many were willing subjects”.8 ‘empire’ Salah-ud-Din inherited – riddled with eager to enter his service. During this period, the threat of a Crusader sectarian strife, whose epicenter foreigners invasion matured.9 An imposing Greek-Frank controlled, and one which housed a corrupt As for the rich booty of the alliance preemptively attacked Egypt. Yet spiritual head. enemy’s camp, he gave it again, Salah-ud-Din fought off the attacks.10 At age twenty-five, Salah-ud-Din was in- This victory confirmed Salah-ud-Din’s status strumental in quelling yet another Christian- all to the army, and kept amongst the public, and soon after he was Muslim alliance, this time between Amalric I, not a thing for himself. asked to aid in the shift of spiritual leadership King of Jerusalem, and the Fatimid Caliph’s to the Abbasid Sunni Caliphate, ending a two- vizier.2 Salah-ud-Din further crushed numer- hundred year Shiite Fatimid rule. ous Frankish attacks, including another became Egypt’s vizier, occupying a precari- Thus, Salah-ud-Din was able to rid Arab Amalric-led invasion in violation of a treaty, ous position. One who had never sought po- lands of foreign rulers, eliminate sectarian liberating Egypt in the process.3 litical power was now responsible for offset- strife, and allow for a markedly peaceful tran- Following these expeditions Salah-ud-Din ting the jealousies of his elders, suppressing sition of religious authority.11

38 MuslimSunrise Pluralism Salah-ud-Din was a confirmed Sunni Mus- lim, yet he never compelled anyone to accept Islam or punished them for refusing to con- vert. When an Ismailia assassination attempt failed,12 Salah-ud-Din took no revenge on his Shiite brethren.13 One can visit the various Damascene monasteries14 or perhaps still see Psalms (145:13) inscribed on a mosque’s wall – all a result of Salah-ud-Din’s tolerant rule.15 Once, on receiving the Lord of Sidon, Salah- ud-Din dined with him and engaged in a lengthy discussion on the merits of accepting Islam.16 On another occasion, Reginald of Sidon deceptively pledged his allegiance to Salah-ud-Din and engaged in lengthy religious discussion with Salah-ud-Din for months. Meanwhile, Reginald’s plan to allow King Guy to attack Acre matured – resulting in 4,000 Christian and 1,500 Muslim deaths. Despite his actions, Reginald was only arrested – Salah-ud-Din took no action regarding his false interests in Islam.17 Following Jerusalem’s conquest, Salah- ud-Din ensured a safe passage for all Chris- tian pilgrims, despite the presence of venge- ful Muslim soldiers.18 No churches were harmed,19 monasteries and priests were wel- come20, Christians possessed the right to pil- grimage and were exempt from taxation21, and ultimately Muslims and non-Muslims enjoyed equal access to Jerusalem.22 Salah-ud-Din him- self entertained many pilgrims despite being very sick and elderly.23 Balian’s squire re- marked, “Never did Saladin show himself greater than during this memorable surrender. His guards … kept order in every street … insomuch that no ill-usage of the Christians was ever heard of.”24 On one occasion, Salah-ud-Din welcomed the Bishop of Salisbury to Jerusalem and of- fered him a house free of cost, which was re- spectfully turned down. Salah-ud-Din sent the bishop many gifts, instructed his companions In victory and defeat, Salah-ud-Din demonstrated to treat the bishop with the utmost respect, a masterful conquering of the self. He valued life, and invited him to a social gathering. After a long conversation, Salah-ud-Din bade the and did his utmost to obtain peace as quickly as bishop to request any gift he liked. The bishop requested that two Latin priests and deacons possible. Literally countless incidents exist of (with similar requests for Bethlehem and Salah-ud-Din meeting Crusaders, in times of Nazareth) be permitted to celebrate service with the Syrians at the ‘Lord’s Sepulchre’. peace or war, free or captive, regardless of rank, Salah-ud-Din consented to all his wishes.25 His Jewish brethren, while completely pow- with honor and arranging banquets for them. erless, received no less a loving treatment – Salah-ud-Din granting Jews the right of re- tions.27 Aside from the famous Maimonides al-Mudawwar.29 Truly, Salah-ud-Din, like settlement.26 In fact, he was echoing his pre- who was Salah-ud-Din’s personal physician,28 UmarRA before him,30 fulfilled Isaiah’s proph- decessors’ treatment towards Egyptian Jews, other famous physicians also flourished un- ecy, “My house shall be called a house of who lived an autonomous life for genera- der Salah-ud-Din such as Abu al-Ma’ali and prayer for all peoples” (Isaiah 56:7).

SPRING 2009 39 Remember, religious tolerance was unprec- and children their freedom and safely sent them bade the ladies whose husbands were alive to edented during this period of history. For ex- to Christian lands.41 During the Battle of Spring tell him where they were captives, and as soon ample, following Acre’s conquest in 1187, Head in 1190, when the outcome was very as he could go to the prisons he would set Salah-ud-Din oversaw the first prayers in three uncertain, Salah-ud-Din received captured them free. (And all were released wherever they generations offered in a mosque that had been ranking officers with stately courtesy, clothed were found.) After that he (gave) the dames converted into a church. These were “the first them in robes of honor, allowed them to write and damsels whose lords were dead … so Moslem prayers … offered on the coast of to their camp for any needs, and sent them to much that they gave praise to God and pub- Palestine since (the) first Crusaders.”31 Fol- Damascus. Truly, “It was better to be the guest lished abroad the kindness and honour which lowing Jerusalem’s conquest, the golden cross of Saladin than to shiver and starve in a Chris- Saladin had done to them.”54 Of Salah-ud- was removed from the Dome of the Rock as tian tent.”42 Din’s magnanimous conquest, Poole com- well as all traces of the Templars’ additions to Salah-ud-Din’s compassionate gestures ments, “Fortunate were the merciless, for they the Haraam of Umar’s Mosque.32 Even Salah- were simply unmatched: “Treaties with the sol- obtained mercy at the hands of the Moslem ud-Din’s predecessor, Nur-ud-Din, whom Wil- diers of the Cross … were worse than useless Sultan. If the taking of Jerusalem were the only liam of Tyre considered just, was a great op- … (as) no faith need be kept with the ‘infidel’; fact known about Saladin, it were enough to pressor of Christians.33 Lastly, while Muslims and scarcely had they concluded the pact … prove him the most chivalrous and great- and Christians coexisted amicably in Jerusa- when they began to ravage the beautiful valley hearted conqueror of his own, and perhaps of lem following the First Crusade, fanaticism of the Litany.”43 For example, after pardoning any, age.”55 soon followed.34 It was Salah-ud-Din who dem- King Guy on the condition that Guy never bear Salah-ud-Din’s attachment to justice onstrated, to Muslims and non-Muslims alike, arms against Salah-ud-Din, Guy had the clergy did not waiver, even with the most vehe- what tolerance truly was. nullify his oath and once again attacked Salah- ment anti-Arab factions. Reynald de ud-Din.44 Again, Salah-ud-Din granted amnesty Chatillon, Lord of Kerak, repeatedly at- Amnesty to the King of Jerusalem provided he never tacked pilgrims and trade caravans during bear arms against Salah-ud-Din. In turn, the king periods of truce, simply because they were In victory and defeat, Salah-ud-Din dem- conspired with the marquis of Montferrat in “Saracens”. Reynald also attempted to in- onstrated a masterful conquering of the self. mounting another attack.45 vade Arabia to destroy the and the He valued life, and did his utmost to obtain King Richard the Lion Hearted of England, tomb of “the accursed camel-driver”.56 De- peace as quickly as possible. Literally count- upon promising not to harm Muslim captives spite Reynald’s actions, Salah-ud-Din never less incidents exist of Salah-ud-Din meeting at Acre in 1189, massacred every soldier, violated the laws of war. For example, dur- Crusaders, in times of peace or war, free or woman, child, and elder.46 This was the same ing a wedding in Kerak in 1184, Salah-ud- captive, regardless of rank, with honor and Richard who, upon falling ill, asked that Salah- Din unsuccessfully attempted to capture arranging banquets for them.35 He was fond ud-Din send him fresh fruit with snow.47 Dur- Reynald. Still, no civilians were targeted.57 of clothing his guests in the finest of robes in ing the Battle of Jaffa, in which the Muslims On the victory at Hattin in 1187, both King an expression of brotherhood. As with the suffered defeat, Salah-ud-Din sent Richard Guy and Reynald were brought before Muslims, when dealing with the Crusaders two steeds as replacements for falling off his Salah-ud-Din. Guy complained of thirst, and Salah-ud-Din, “never refused to grant terms horse.48 On yet another occasion, Richard Salah-ud-Din ordered a cup of sherbet for when an enemy wished to surrender.”36 He underscored Salah-ud-Din’s graciousness in him.58 Salah-ud-Din then ordered a dinner “never broke a treaty in his life”37 and in every the hopes of receiving a church. In turn, Salah- reception for both men, and afterwards case granted honorable terms.38 ud-Din granted Richard the Church of the summoned them once again and killed Once, a Frank prisoner was brought trem- Resurrection.49 Poole notes, “After Saladin’s Reynald. Salah-ud-Din calmed Guy, declar- bling before Saladin, and cried out, “Before I almost quixotic acts of clemency and gener- ing “It is not the wont of kings to kill kings; saw his face I was sore afraid, but now that I osity, the King of England’s cruelty will ap- but that man had transgressed all have seen him I know he will do me no harm.” pear amazing … (but) in this struggle the vir- bounds.”59 Such was the magnanimous na- Indeed, Salah-ud-Din freed the knight.39 After tues of civilization, magnanimity, toleration, ture of Salah-ud-Din, observing justice Balian fled from defeat at Hattin in 1187, he real chivalry, and gentle culture, were all on even towards the most undeserving of begged Salah-ud-Din to grant him safe-con- the side of the Saracens.”50 foes. duct to Jerusalem and bring his wife and chil- When the first Crusaders conquered Salah-ud-Din passed away and was bur- dren back to Tyre. The petition was immedi- Jerusalem in 1099, defenseless Muslims and ied in a ceremony fitting not a king, but a ately granted, on the condition that Balian Jews were tortured, burnt, shot, or expelled.51 pauper, on Wednesday, March 4th, 1193.60 should never bear arms against Salah-ud-Din. In return, Salah-ud-Din, like his namesake His legacy compelled even the French and However, when Balian arrived at Jerusalem the Yusuf (Joseph), pardoned his erring brothers52 English, whose forces he opposed through- clergy overturned his oath. Despite violating and safely escorted them to Christian land. out his life, to remember him in various ro- his oath, when Balian again begged Salah-ud- All who were able paid a ransom, while Salah- mances. Even Dante’s acidic tongue could Din to grant his wife and children safe-con- ud-Din and his companions liberated the tens utter nothing but praise for Salah-ud-Din. duct to Tripoli, Salah-ud-Din sent an escort of of thousands who remained.53 Balian’s squire It was his example, demonstrating the plau- fifty horses to carry out his wishes.40 writes, “I shall tell you of the great courtesy sibility of coexistence amongst all the chil- At Kerak in 1189, soldiers sold their women which Saladin showed to the wives and daugh- dren of Abraham, which earned him this and children and resorted to eating their ters of knights … When Saladin saw them praise and which can serve as guidepost horses. Salah-ud-Din bought these women weeping, he … wept himself for pity. And he for Muslims, Christians, and Jews today.‹

40 MuslimSunrise is able. In addition to being the means for many to fulfill one of the , pilgrimage caravans from such distant places as Spain, West Africa, Central Asia, India, and elsewhere functioned as informal traveling universities that continually added new scholars as they made their way to Mecca and back each year.4 It has been argued that the effort to travel in order to seek knowledge (talab al-ilm) was so pervasive in medieval Islamic culture, that its very existence provides historians with a strong argument to study this dynamic period of history using a comparative approach, in which cultures and traditions of several countries and peoples are examined in relation to one another5: in this case, all of the territories of the diverse Islamic empire, which stretched (at its furthest) from al-Andalus (Spain) to al-Hind (India)6. In the discussion that follows regarding the history of the scientific enterprise within this vast tract of land, this important relation between travel and education will be emphasized. This is because many of the leading scholars of this time period spent most of their lives traveling through the Islamic empire, moving from territory to territory, and acquiring information wherever they traveled. Coupled with the travels of Muslims during the pilgrimage The Golden Age of Islam to Mecca were the many other contributing factors of increased travel across the Islamic history when science and learning flourished Islamic lands, especially increased trade and commerce along various caravan and By Arshad M. Khan, Ph.D shipping routes over land and sea.7 Together, these efforts in movement through the variety of landscapes and his article focuses on the period that of seeking knowledge, has been cultures, comprising what is now known of medieval Islamic history when emphasized on numerous occasions in as the full extent of Islamic civilization, science and learning flourished in other, more authentic ahadith by the took advantage of an almost unprecedented T sa what some scholars have dubbed as “The holy prophet of Islam . Thus, the great richness of diverse opinions, sensibilities Golden Age of Islam”. Since one of the medieval Persian scholar al-Tirmidhi and resources. main beliefs emphasized in Islam is to records in his Sunan Al-Tirmidhi that value the seeking of knowledge, and this hadhrat Anasra relates that the holy value played an important role in the prophet Muhammadsa said: “He who The International Character of formation of the scientific enterprise in issues forth in search of knowledge is Science in Early Islamic History Islamic civilization, it is perhaps busy in the cause of Allah till he returns appropriate to begin our discussion by from his quest”3. Notice how in this Scholars have posited that it was this first examining this topic further. hadith, too, travel is emphasized in richness of diversity (and its widespread In this regard, one of the more relation to the seeking of knowledge. support and tolerance) that was an satisfying explanations of the statement, Lindsay describes how this emphasis on important cause of the rapid increases in “Seek knowledge even if from China” has movement, intertwined with knowledge learning and advancement that recently been furnished by the historian seeking, was often associated with the characterized these six centuries of Islamic James E. Lindsay, who notes that it pilgrimage to Mecca, and became a rule.8 Others have further argued that at emphasizes the relationship between dominant cultural aspect of medieval least part of the enduring character of the travel and education in early Islamic Islam: scientific enterprise during this time may culture.1 Although its authenticity as This desire to travel in order to study 2 have had something to do with Islam’s being a true hadith has been questioned , with the masters was often coupled with focus on the unity of Nature, which allowed Lindsay’s point remains valid, since the the obligation to undertake the its denizens to absorb similar messages of first portion of the statement, namely pilgrimage to Mecca at least once if one unity from diverse traditions, including

SPRING 2009 41 those of the Greeks, Chaldeans, Persians, Though not a translator himself, he was would remain influential as the medical text Indians and Chinese.9 Still others, including the first man to use Aristotle’s work to taught in European medical schools for six the Nobel laureate Abdus Salam, felt that, create an Islamic, Arabic-language centuries, and probably was the most widely on a practical level, widespread patronage philosophical discourse. He was also the used medieval medical reference.23 Nasr of the scientific enterprise by wealthy first to confront the problems of reconciling comments: officials in various dynastic courts faith and reason…As well as philosophy, he [Ibn Sina] possessed much clinical insight, throughout the lands under Islamic rule wrote on mathematics, astronomy, music and is given credit for the first description of also had much to do with science’s and medicine; the main hospital in modern several drugs and diseases, such as continued rise during this era.10 Perhaps Baghdad is named after him….From the meningitis, which he was the first to describe all of these factors played a role. A. I. Sabra twelfth century many of his works were correctly. But it is essentially for his notes for example that although the non- translated into Latin, usually in Spain, and penetration and for his understanding of the Muslim Hunayn and Thabit families of circulated widely in European universities: philosophical principles of medicine, on the Baghdad during the Abbasid caliphate some of his writings, in fact, only survive in one hand, and his mastery of the translated many Greek works into Arabic, Latin versions.14 psychological treatment of physical ailments, “their activity as translators was positively Importantly, al-Kindi was a strong or of “psychosomatic medicine” as it is called and generously supported (not just advocate of a pluralist society and an open today, on the other hand, that he is tolerated) by the Muslim ruling critic of religious bigotry.15 Still, others have celebrated.24‹ establishment – the caliphal court itself commented on how he believed that while and individuals closely associated with “the educated elite could be guided by Concluding Remarks it.”11 reason, the less-advantaged masses only In the space permitted, it is impossible Whatever the reasons were, this period by faith.”16 In contrast to, or in spite of this to provide even a cursory overview sum- was marked by advances in many fields of view, al-Kindi was a staunch opponent of marizing six centuries of scientific progress science and technology that were achieved the mystical aspects of alchemy (and thus under Islamic rule. It is hoped that the bio- both by non-Muslim and Muslim scientists, predates the like-minded English scientist graphical sketches of al-Kindi and Ibn Sina philosophers, and thinkers throughout the Robert Boyle, who wrote the Sceptical presented in this article, as well as the bio- Islamic empire. It must be emphasized here Chymist, by nearly nine centuries). Lindberg graphical descriptions of other luminaries that many of these individuals were Muslim, describes al-Kindi as “a leader in the presented in the remainder of this issue, Christian, Jewish, etc. in terms of culture endeavor to communicate Greek learning to will provide the reader with some insights rather than religion per se. Many were hardly Islam” who, nevertheless, challenged about achievements during this epic pe- ascetic or deeply religious, whereas others Euclid’s theories of optics and vision with riod of world history. were devout followers of their faiths. Thus, his own ideas about the subject. 17 the notion that this “Golden Age” of progress Works Cited in Islamic civilization was only the result of a Ahmad, Nafis. Muslim Contributions to Geography. 1972. : Sh. Ibn Sina Muhammad Ashraf. devout adherence to faith is a misleading Edis, Taner. An Illusion of Harmony: Science and Religion in Islam. one. Rather, if any benefit was derived from 2007. Amherst, NY: Prometheus Books. the “Islamic” nature of the civilization in Abu Ali al-Husain bin Abdallah bin al- Gellens, Sam I. The search for knowledge in medieval Muslim societies: Hasan bin Ali bin Sina was born in Afshana, a comparative approach, In: (Eickelman, Dale E., Piscatori, James, which these advances were made, it was that eds.), Muslim Travellers: Pilgrimage, Migration, and the Religious the transformative flowering of the medieval which is located near Bukhara in present day Imagination. Uzbekistan. A child prodigy, he had Karabell, Zachary. Peace Be Upon You: Fourteen Centuries of Muslim, mind occurred because of the tolerance, Christian, and Jewish Conflict and Cooperation. 2007. New York: Vintage Books. intercommunication, and open culture of memorized the Qur’an by the age of 10, and Kennedy, Hugh. When Baghdad Ruled the Muslim World: The Rise and freely expressed opinion that was encouraged he was exposed to medicine as a career and Fall of Islam’s Greatest Dynasty. 2004. Cambridge, MA: Da Capo Press. discipline a few years later. By the age of Khan, Muhammad Zafrulla (transl.). Gardens of the Righteous (English under Islamic rule during this time. I now translation of Riyadh as-Salihin). 1975. London and Tilford: Curzon describe two individuals who were famous sixteen, he was “to all intents and purposes Press, Ltd. and Islam International Publications, Ltd. instructing the students himself.”18 Following Lindberg, David C. Theories of Vision from Al-Kindi to Kepler. 1976. for such expression, and who transformed Chicago: The University of Chicago Press. the fields of philosophy and medicine: Al- the death of his father, Ibn Sina traveled The Beginnings of Western Science: The European Scientific Tradition in extensively, arriving finally in various cities Philosophical, Religious, and Institutional Context, Prehistory to A.D. Kindi and Ibn Sina. 1450. 2nd edition. 2007. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press. in Persia, where he provided his medical Lindsay, James E. Daily Life in the Medieval Islamic World. 2005. 19 services to wealthy patrons. Writing in his Westport, CT: Greenwood Press. al-Kindi famous five volume history of science in Morgan, Michael H. Lost History: The Enduring Legacy of Muslim Scientists, Thinkers, and Artists. 2007. Washington, D.C.: National 1927, Sarton calls Ibn Sina “the most famous Geographic. The first of the Muslim philosopher- scientist of Islam and one of the most famous Nasr, Seyyed Hossain. Science and Civilization in Islam. 1968. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. scientists, Abu Yusuf Ya’qub ibn Ishaq al- of all races, places and times; one may say Nogales, Salvador Gómez. Ibn Sina, In: (M.J.L. Young, J.D. Latham, and Kindi, was from the Kindah tribe in Arabia that his thought represents the climax of R.B. Serjent, eds.), Religion, Learning and Science in the Abbasid Period, and spent his early life in Kufa, where his mediaeval philosophy.”20 His greatest work pp. 389-404. 1990. Cambridge, U.K.: Cambridge University Press. Sabra, Abdelhamid I. Optics, Astronomy and Logic. 1994. Aldershot, ancestors had settled and where his father was set forth in his al-Qanun fi’l tibb (known U.K.: Variorum. was governor.12 The historian Hugh in Europe as the Canon), a monumental text Salam, Abdus. Nobel address. 1979. Available online at: http:// Kennedy notes that he later had moved to which organized medical knowledge into five nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/physics/laureates/1979/salam-lecture.pdf. The future of science in Islamic countries. Address, Islamic Summit, Baghdad, where he was appreciated and parts: generalities; herbal and other medical 1987. Online link: http://www.alislam.org/library/salam-2.html. admired by patrons among the Abbasid remedies; diseases, head to toe; diseases not Sarton, George. Introduction to the History of Science, Volume I: From Homer to Omar Khayyam. 1927. Malabar, FL: Robert E. Krieger court, and Zimmerman states that he was specific to a single organ; and compound Publishing Co. believed to serve at some point in the drugs.21 An “immense encyclopaedia of Turner, Howard R. Science in Medieval Islam: An Illustrated capacity of tutor to the caliph’s son, medicine (of about a million words), a Introduction. 1995. Austin, TX: University of Texas Press. Zimmerman, Fritz W. Al-Kindi, In: (M.J.L. Young, J.D. Latham, and 13 Ahmad. Kennedy writes of al-Kindi’s codification of the whole of ancient and R.B. Serjent, eds.), Religion, Learning and Science in the Abbasid Period, accomplishments: Muslim knowledge”22, Ibn Sina’s al-Qanun pp. 364-369. 1990. Cambridge, U.K.: Cambridge University Press.

42 MuslimSunrise For the Love of God We never know what insignificant act of kindness opens the floodgates of God’s Mercy on the day we find ourselves in need.

I have seen poor people standing on the side of streets whether I am taking a stroll on Kalakaua Avenue in Honolulu, walking through Bourbon Street in New Or- leans or rushing to the train our conscience clear. fathers all over the world do this intuitively? I have discovered that when I don’t un- Why don’t they simply divide up the candies station on Madison Avenue in derstand something about God, I look at it in equally among the children, have some for Chicago. Some of them could the concept of love and it becomes manifestly themselves and everybody would be happy? clear. When my Christian friends ask me why They do it to spread the feelings of love. be homeless as well; I I don’t eat pork, I don’t get in the debate over In this simple episode, feelings of love are couldn’t tell. what is and isn’t wrong with pork. I tell them generated among the siblings, father and son that I don’t eat it because God has asked me and the bonds of family are strengthened. Helping the poor is part of to refrain from it. For the love of Him, I have When God gives us wealth and then tells the reason congregations are given up just one meat. I have plenty of other us to share it with our brothers and sisters meats to select from: lamb, beef, chicken and and spend for him, it is to spread love among asked to give God’s share of fish. If my children cannot stand lamb kidneys humanity. Is it any different than what fathers the money in mosques, or brains, we don’t cook them at home. Not do everyday in all cultures? because we can’t but because our feelings for We need to share with others to create churches, synagogues and our children. So why is it so strange that I love and affection in the world. I know I should temples. There are comedi- gave up one item of food for the affection and do more to help the poor brothers and sisters. love of God? I could, from time to time, spend a twenty dol- ans who make jokes that if It all has to do with the joys and feelings lar bill and buy 20 double cheeseburgers from God is the Most Powerful, of love for someone. McDonald’s dollar menu and offer them to A father walks into his home after work twenty poor people outside a soup kitchen. I Mighty and the King of kings, with a box of chocolates in his hand. He gives am sure eating soup everyday gets monoto- why does He need money. I it to his four year old son and tells him that he nous. Double cheeseburgers could bring out brought the chocolates he loves so much for some smiles. It takes initiative, time and effort find jokes about God dis- him. The smile on the son’s face is only part of but it is worth the love it would generate. tasteful. Taking advantage of the reason he does it. Small amounts can make big differences. Before the toddler has even opened the Imagine the love a five dollar box of choco- the freedom of speech in our box, his father tells him to share it with his lates creates in a household. A hundred dol- nation, some make a living older brother and sister. Then he watches him. lars could bring surprising results. If he goes ahead and gives a few pieces to his My sincere wish is that my words prompt making indecent remarks in siblings, the father’s eyes light up with pride you to feed some poor brother or sister for the public. No matter which and happiness. He says thank you to him. As love of God, regardless of the street or city soon as the toddler has put the first piece of you find yourself in. We never know what in- amendment you use, dis- chocolate in his mouth, the father asks, significant act of kindness opens the flood- tasteful expressions are just “Aren’t you going to give me some also?” gates of God’s Mercy on the day we find our- It is his proud moment again when he gets selves in need. On that note, I think I’ll go to that. the candy from his son. In case the toddler Honolulu next month and feed some home- I know, by definition, God does not need refuses, the father shows his displeasure and less people on the beach. any money. So why are we asked to give Him threatens no more chocolates. Most sons give money or why does He ask us to give to oth- up. Just the thought of being deprived in the Just for the love of God. ers? Why couldn’t He give some to the poor future scares them. and keep us out of the loop. That would keep What is wrong with this picture? Why do Falahud Din Shams

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