Contents March 2004, Vol.99, No.3

Editorial Does God exist? by Mansoor Saqi,UK ...... 2

Notes & Comment Religious Freedom: Even basic religious rights are being denied not just by religious extremists but by governments – by Mahmood Hanif, UK ...... 3

Message from Hadhrat Message from the Head of the worldwide Community to the 23rd World Religious conference in Canada .. 6

In Search of the Existence of God Arguments in support of the existence of God – by Naseem – Amir, Canada...... 8

The Essence of Islam, Vol.1 part II What is religion and what are the signs of its truth? Hadhrat (as) – the Promised and Mahdi...... 14

Service to Humanity – A Religious Duty in Islam The importance of doing good to others – by Bockarie Tommy Kallon, UK ...... 21

Al-Hayy – The Living God The prime attribute of God that makes God worshipable. God lives today as He did before – by Naeem Ahmad ...... 33

Death on the Cross? Ten undeniable proofs that (as) did not die on the cross – by Abiel Atta Jallaudhri...... 46

The Promised Through Moses (as), Jesus(as) or (sa)? – part II Continuing the look at the biblical prophecy about Prophet Muhammad(sa) – by Dr. A.R. Bhutta, Nigeria...... 57

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

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

Views expressed in this publication are not necessarily the beliefs of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community 1 Editorial

The question ‘Does God exist?’ has Religions there is an article entitled been debated by philosophers and ‘In search of the Existence of God’. theologians for centuries. Larg e This is the based on a presentation sections of society have always given at the World Religions believed in God. There are those Conference held in Canada last who do not subscribe to any year. Several arguments based on particular faith but affirm that they the Holy Qur’an, are put forward as do believe in some kind of deity. proof of the existence of God. The Religious belief gives a framework article argues that God has revealed by which to live one’s life. All faiths Himself through the and address the individual and the messengers of God. It demonstrates community at large and this the importance of considering includes how to understand one’s historical evidence and also of responsibilities to one’s fellow personal experience. The author beings. As such, religion is very also states the importance of relevant to the world today. considering the testimonies of those who lived at the time of the Recent developments in science, prophets, ‘All those prophets … especially in molecular biology and were indeed credible people and biomedical engineering have moved their lives were pure and no one the capabilities of mankind into as could ever challenge their integrity.’ yet unknown areas and has highlighted the need for an ethical Belief in the existence of God is not dimension by which to consider a mystical requirement of faith. It how these new technologies can be can be approached using reason and of benefit rather than detriment to logic. In addition, a genuine desire society. It is religion that provides to find God on the part of the seeker these guidelines. also has a significant role to play. Mansoor Saqi – UK But how does one approach the question of the existence of God? In this issue of The Review of

2 The Review of Religions – March 2004 Notes and Comment

Religious Freedom: America declared: ‘Congress shall The freedom of thought, conscience make no law respecting an and religion is today almost establishment of religion, or pro- universally held to be a fun- hibiting the free exercise thereof’. damental human liberty, an In the last century, these principles inalienable right of every man and have been reaffirmed in the U.N.’s woman. This right is based not Universal Declaration of Human upon science, nor upon social Rights, which states in Article 18: theory, but on the inviolable dignity ‘Everyone has the right to freedom of the human spirit. While of thought, conscience and religion; particular beliefs may be right or this right includes freedom to wrong, better or worse, the right to change his religion or belief, and reach, hold, debate, exercise and freedom, either alone or in even change those beliefs is basic community with others and in and non-negotiable. These rights public or private, to manifest his have been proclaimed in diverse religion or belief, in worship, texts, both scriptural and political. teaching, practice and observance.’ The Holy Qur’an, revealed, as Muslims believe, approximately Yet the unhappy fact remains that 1400 years ago, states most even today in various countries and c a t e g o r i c a l l y: ‘T h e re is no com- societies throughout the world pulsion in religion’. (C h . 2 V .257) and people are prevented from freely ‘And say: It is the truth from your and openly practising their religious Lo r d, wheref o r e let him who will beliefs. The denial of this believe and him who will disbelieve.’ fundamental human right takes (Ch.18: V.3 0 ) many forms, some blatant and openly oppressive, some subtle and Many centuries later, and after hidden. Despite the emphatic much strife and persecution caused proclamations of the Holy Qur’an by intolerance over religious belief, regarding the inviolability of the first amendment to the freedom of conscience, some of the constitution of the United States of most oppressive persecution takes

The Review of Religions – March 2004 3 Notes & Comment

place in Muslim countries – the strange situation that public policy denial of the most basic religious may claim to be inspired by freedoms to Ahmadi Muslims Socrates or Kant, Adam Smith or written into law in Pakistan being Karl Marx, Darwin or Einstein but the most obvious and outrageous never by any form of religious example, but sadly not the only one. belief or tenet. There has been Muslim society in general seems to much controversy recently over the have been infected with a virulently attempts to pass a law in France intolerant ideology that holds it banning signs and clothing which own narrow interpretation of Islam conspicuously display a pupil’s to be absolute, and that brooks no religious affiliation. Even beards a rgument or debate. Sadly, this grown out of religious conviction infection seems to have spread to may be banned, although a beard Bangladesh that has recently moved that is merely a fashion statement to ban the production, sale and even would be acceptable! Wi t h o u t possession of literature produced by getting into the details of the debate the Ahmadiyya Muslim community. on this proposed law, one wonders how different in spirit it is from Religious freedoms in today’s Pakistan’s laws which have seen world are threatened not just by the Ahmadi Muslims arrested for the forces of religious extremism, use of basic Islamic terms and which deny the legitimacy of any phrases which are perfectly legal religious belief or practice other when used by other Muslims and than their own, but also by the even non-Muslims. forces of illiberal secularism, which seek to deny the legitimacy of any Religious extremism and illiberal form of religious expression in secularism are perhaps two sides of public life. To them, religion is the same coin – linked by the firm something that can be tolerated if conviction that their world-view is practised in private among the only reasonable one. We need to consenting adults, but that must be move back to, or in some cases stamped upon if it seeks to raise its remain committed to, values that voice in the civic sphere. In many promote pluralism and tolerance of countries in the West, and in all faiths and creeds; a liberal particular Europe, we face the secularism that sees itself as the

4 The Review of Religions – March 2004 Notes and Comment protector of all forms of religious sense as citizens of the belief as well as no belief at all. In state…My guiding principle will addition we need to recognise that be justice and complete religious beliefs have a part to play impartiality…’ in public and civic life and should not be devalued or dismissed out of By Mahmood Hanif – UK hand. The words of Jinnah, founder of the State of Pakistan, in his address to the Constituent Assembly in Karachi, on the eve of Pakistan’s birth, may PLEASE NOTE: perhaps serve as inspiration for us In this journal, for the ease of in this regard: non-Muslim readers, ‘(sa)’ or ‘sa’ after the words, ‘Holy ‘You are free, you are free to go Prophet’, or the name to your temples, you are free to ‘Muhammad’, are used. They go to your mosques or to any stand for ‘Salallahu alaihi other place of worship in this wassalam’ meaning ‘Peace and state of Pakistan… You may Blessings of Allah be upon him’. belong to any religion or caste or Likewise, the letters ‘(as)’ or ‘as’ after the name of all other creed – that has nothing to do prophets is an abbreviation with the business of the meaning ‘Peace be upon him’ state…We are starting in the days derived from ‘Alaih salato when there is no discrimination, w a s s a l a m ’ for the respect a no distinction between one Muslim reader utters. community and another…We are The abbreviation ‘ra’ or (ra) all citizens and equal citizens of stands for ‘Radhiallahtala’ and is one state…all members of the used for Companions of a Nation…and you will find then Prophet, meaning Allah be in course of time Hindus would pleased with him or her (when cease to be Hindus and Muslim followed by the relevant Arabic would cease to be Muslims, not pronoun). Also ru or (ru) for Rahemahullahu Ta’ala means the in the religious sense, because Mercy of Allah the Exalted be that is the personal faith of each upon him. individual, but in the political

The Review of Religions – March 2004 5 Message by Hahdrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad – Head of the worldwide Ahmadiyya community .. ..to delegates attending the ‘Seekers in Search of Truth’ at the 23rd World Religious Conference held in Ontario, Canada on the 18th of September 2003.

Assalamu alaikum warahma- courage is shown in tullah - Peace and blessings of disobedience to His laws? God be upon you all When this professed belief is tested and examined, it has to I am pleased that the Wo r l d be acknowledged that it is a Religious Conference has once mere claim that is not again put God at the centre of its supported by any actions or search. The Founder of the deeds. It is in the nature of Ahmadiyya Movement in Islam, man that he wishes to avoid Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, the harm and gain from the peace be on him, states: benefit in whatever he believes. For example, A large part of the world arsenic is a poison and a declares that it believes in person does not even taste it God, yet at the same time it is because he knows that even a engulfed by the impurities of small amount can kill him. the world and steeped in the Why, then, having acquired a evils of sin. How then is it belief in a God will he not that there is so much derive the conclusion inci- opposition to God and such dental to that belief? If belief

6 The Review of Religions – March 2004 Message from Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad – Head of the Worldwide Ahmadiyya Community

in God equates to the A prerequisite to this under- confidence one has in arsenic, standing is that we must not then a person’s emotions and withdraw any attribute that God desires would turn cold and a had in the past. One such death would come over attribute is that He lives now as them… The first duty of a He did in the past. If God lives human being, therefore, is now, we must also believe that that he should correct the He speaks now as He spoke to belief he has in God, that is to the Prophets of the past. I hope, say, he should prove through therefore, that this Conference his deeds and actions that would enable all who participate they are not against the glory in it to acquire a true belief in a of God or the commandments Truly Perfect God, a God Who is of God… The nature of true Most Gracious and repeatedly belief is such that it kills the Merciful. selfish desires of a human being and it suppresses the Mirza Masroor Ahmad inclinations towards sin. I can Supreme Head of the Worldwide never accept that belief and A H M A D I Y YA MUSLIM sin can exist together. Belief COMMUNITY is a light before which the darkness of sin cannot stand. Can it ever be that there is daylight as well as the darkness of night? In order to safeguard against sin, there should develop a true belief in God. (M a l f o o z a t . Vol.4 pp.312- 314)

I pray that God enables all of you to understand Him.

The Review of Religions – March 2004 7 In Search of the Existence of God

By Naseem Mahdi – Amir and Missionary-in-Charge of Canada

[The following is based on a presentation delivered by Mr Naseem Mahdi, Amir and Missionary Incharge Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Canada at the XXIIIrd World Religions Conference held October 4, 2003, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. Representatives from eight faiths i.e. Islam, Judaism, , Buddhism, Hinduism, Sikhism, Native Religions and Atheism deliberated at the conference with their understanding on the theme ‘In Search of the Existence of God’. Over 700 delegates from diverse religious background attended the event, including national and provincial leaders, local dignitaries, university officials and students. Representatives of different faiths were guided to draw their presentation entirely from their respective Holy Scriptures and faith traditions, and comparisons with other faiths were only allowed to promote better understanding and respect.

First, I will present a central theme, that the idea of God has evolved and then I will give seven during the last 10 to 12 thousand a rguments based on the Holy years. Contrary to this belief, the Qur’an, the holy scripture of the Holy Qur’an says that as God is the Islamic religion in proof of the Creator of this universe and the existence of God. Creator of life on our planet, so it is He Who initially revealed about I quote from the Holy Qur’an: Himself. He did not create humankind and leave them alone Eyes cannot reach Him but He wondering whether there was a reaches the eyes. And He is the creator or not. He created them and I n c o m p rehensible, the All- then guided them to Himself. Aware. (Ch6:V.104) Many scholars suggest that idea of God has evolved over time from Most scholars and philosophers, different gods to one God. Muslims who have written about the history believe that God has revealed of humankind of the basis on Himself through the prophets and anthropology or archeology, believe messengers of God. God has shown

8 The Review of Religions – March 2004 In Search of the Existence of God

His countenance and put His love in above the people.(Ch.6: V.87) the hearts of people. So God did not need to be discovered but revealed On the basis of the fore mentioned Himself. verses, Muslims believe in all the previousprophets. Some 28 are Now, I will present some verses mentioned in the Holy Qur’an. But from the Holy Qur’an to prove the r e a l l y, there were some 124,000 existence of God: prophets sent to humankind in the past, according to a saying of the And that is Our argument which Holy Prophet of Islam, Muhammad We gave to Abraham against his (on whom be peace and blessings of people. We exalt in degrees of Allah). The Holy Qur’an says that rank whomso We please. Thy God sent prophets to every nation L o rd is indeed Wise, All- and land. There were prophets not Knowing. only in the Middle East, but (Ch.6: V.84) everywhere else – amongst the natives of North and South And We gave him Isaac and America, the aboriginals of Jacob; each did We guide Australia, in China and so on. aright, and Noah did We guide aright aforetime, and of his As such Muslims believe in all pro g e n y , David and Solomon those prophets. Muslims believe in and Job and Joseph and Moses all the religions which are based on and Aaron. Thus do We reward the revelation of God. those who do good. (Ch.6: V.85) The argument as a proof of the existence of God in these verses is And We guided Zachariah and that all those people, whether they John and Jesus and Elias; each are living in North America or one of them was of the virtuous. Australia or in the Middle East or in (Ch.6: V.86) Africa, or any other part of the world have a concept of God. All And We also guided Ishmael those prophets, who presented to and Elisha and Jonah and Lot; them the concept of God were and each one did We exalt indeed credible people and their

The Review of Religions – March 2004 9 In Search of the Existence of God

lives were pure and no one could world. ever challenge their integrity. If all those people said that there is one The next verses are: God Who has spoken to them, is it possible that all of them were lying? Blessed is He in Whose hand is Or had a greed for something? And the kingdom, and He has power that their proclamations were a total over all things; fabrication and based on falsehood? (Ch.67: V.2) Certainly not. So when we witness this idea of God among different Who has created death and life nations, and we realise that all those that He might try you -which of prophets who were signifying you is best in deeds; and He is humankind that God has revealed to the Mighty, the Most Forgiving, them, God has spoken to them, and (Ch.67: V.3) they even presented His spoken words, one cannot say that the Who has created seven heavens testimony of all these prophets is a in harmony. No incongru i t y fabricated falsehood. canst thou see in the creation of the Gracious God. Then look In our daily lives we make again: Seest thou any flaw? decisions on the basis of (Ch.67: V.4) testimonies. A judge makes a decision and sometimes it could be Aye, look again, and yet again, capital punishment, or life thy sight will only return unto imprisonment etc. He says that the thee confused and fatigued. testimony before him is credible. So (Ch.67: V.5) if before us is the testimony of so many people in the last 6000 years, In these verses another powerful starting from Adam(as), Abraham(as), ar gument for the existence of God is and Moses(as) and Jesus(as) and so on, presented. We see a universe that is and all of them have spoken that so flawlessly constructed. It is there is one God, Who has spoken impossible that it has just come into to them, it is not fair for us to being by way of chance. View a simply reject the testimonies of so movie on deep sea life, visit a many credible people of so many conservatory of butterflies, look at different nations and lands of the an aquarium of different type of fish

10 The Review of Religions – March 2004 In Search of the Existence of God or look at the environment around Next, I present to you the following you. Look at any specie on earth: all verse: are so beautiful and are spectacular creations. Can they all be a And those who take Allah and consequence of mere chance or His Messenger and the spontaneous creation? Therefore, in believers for friends should rest this verse God asks us, look at my assured that it is the party of creation, and you will not find any Allah that must triumph. fl a w . Moreover, if we just look at our (Ch.5: V.57) own lives and our own bodies, we notice that there is indeed a whole If we study the lives of all these universe within our bodies. For prophets, one thing is common, that instance, how our eyes function how they were persecuted and our liver functions, how our kidneys prosecuted. Just imagine how Jesus and hearts function and so on and so Christ (peace be upon him) was forth. Hence, God says, think about mocked and how he was dragged those creations of God, you need not through the streets. Think about to look far away to those Galaxies Moses (peace be upon him), how he and the Milky Ways, but look within was rejected by the Pharaoh of the yourself and around you, how is it all time. Think about Muhammad possible without a Creator? (peace be upon him) who rejected by his people and heavily In the 1940’s and 1950’s, the word persecuted by the Makkans. ‘God’ was a taboo for scientists, I n v a r i a b l y, all of them emerg e d and most of them were atheists, but successful in the final analysis. The in the last 20-30 years, when the first 300 years after Jesus, on whom scientists’ knowledge has be peace, for the Christians were increased, they are coming very the time of persecution. But later, strongly to this conclusion that we all know, and up till today we there must be someone, whether we know that how God has blessed call him ‘Allah’ or ‘God’ or them and how they have become ‘Primatama’ or whatever, but there the masters of this world. Similar is is some ‘superpower’ who is the story of Jews or the Muslims controlling this universe. etc. How is it possible that this is all just by chance and it was only a

The Review of Religions – March 2004 11 In Search of the Existence of God

coincidence that all the prophets The argument here is the acceptance (without exception) were, in the of prayer. There are so many people final analysis, victorious? And all in this very hall today that can give their enemies were defeated? this testimony that they have prayed Indeed it is a convincing argument to God and that their prayers were in favor of the existence of God accepted. Whether they are A l m i g h t y. God was certainly Christians or Jews or Sikhs or behind them all the way. It was Hindus or Muslims or belong to any really the force of God, Almighty other religion. I can give you my working for the final victories of own testimony and the testimony of His chosen prophets. my community, the Ahmadiyya Muslim community. We are strong The Pharaoh is reported in the Holy believers in the power of prayers. On Qur’an as: a daily basis we pray. We often pray for the most difficult things in our Saying, ‘I am your Lord, the lives and we have seen, how God most high.’ So Allah seized him has resolved those diff i c u l t for the punishment of the problems. If there were no God, H e reafter and the pre s e n t Who was listening to those prayers world.’ and Who was solving those diffi c u l t (Ch.79: VS.25-26) problems?

Further God says in the Holy And then Allah says: Qur’an: Allah strengthens the believers And when My servants ask thee with the word that is firmly about Me, say: I am near I established, both in the present answer the prayer of the life and in the Hereafter; and supplicant when he prays to Me. Allah lets the wrongdoers go So they should hearken to Me astray. And Allah does what He and believe in Me, that they may wills. follow the right way. (Ch.14:V28) (Ch.2:V.187) God communicates not only with the humankind but also with other

12 The Review of Religions – March 2004 In Search of the Existence of God creations. All that He has created, So this is indeed a strong argument He can communicate with them. that God exists and He tells His That communication is on a daily chosen ones and prophets what will basis. God has communicated to happen in the future. earlier prophets and He communicates with humankind My last point is: even today. In that communication, at many times, He gives us the And as for those who strive in knowledge of the unseen. He tells Our path We will surely guide us what happened in the past that them in Our ways. And verily was not known to us. He told Allah is with those who do good. Prophet Muhammad (on whom be (Ch. 29:V.70) peace) that the dead body of the Pharaoh was preserved. This fact God says that if you come to Him was not known to the people of the and if you strive and if you want to time of Prophet Muhammad (on know Him, pray to Him and He will whom be peace). It was only guide you. discovered during the last century that the dead body of the Pharaoh of Even if an atheist, addresses God the time of Moses (peace be upon and says to God: ‘O God if you ever him) was found preserved. God existed, I want to come to you!’ I spoke to him and he made so many am sure He will guide the atheist, to prophecies and the Holy Qur’an is Himself. full of prophecies of Latter Days. We find the prophecy of Jesus Christ in the New Testament, we find many prophecies from the Old and New Testament and the Holy Qur’an about the future. If we see these prophecies being fulfilled today, how were those people able to make those prophecies if God did not communicate to them and did not exist?

The Review of Religions – March 2004 13 The Essence of Islam – Vol.1, part II

This is the second of a series to be printed over the next few months in The Review of Religions. It sets out, in the words of the Promised Messiah(as) Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, a summary of his exposition of four outstanding topics: ISLAM; ALLAH, THE EXALTED; THE HOLY PROPHET(sa), and THE HOLY QUR’AN. The original compilation, in , from which these extracts have been translated into English, was collated with great care and diligence by Syed Daud Ahmad, may Allah have mercy on him and may He reward him graciously for his great labour of love. Amin. The English rendering is by the late Muhammad Zafrulla Khan, Allah be pleased with him and quoted from The Essence of Islam. All references throughout, unless otherwise specifically mentioned, are from the Holy Qur’an.

When I reflect upon the whole the only difference is one of word of God, I find that in its degree. The All-Wise One has teachings it seeks to reform the presented the moral system in such natural conditions of man and to a way whereby man should be able raise him step by step to higher to move from a lower moral level spiritual levels. In the first place to a higher moral level. The third God desires to teach man the stage is that man should be elementary rules of behaviour and devoted to winning the true love culture and thus to change him and pleasure of his Creator and the from the wild condition of whole of his being should be animals, and then to bestow upon devoted to God. It is at this stage him elementary moral conditions that the faith of Muslims has been which can be described as culture named Islam which means to be or civilisation. Then He trains him wholly devoted to God and to keep and raises him from the nothing back [Islami Usul ki elementary moral conditions to a Philosophy, now printed in Ruhani high moral stage. All this is in Khazain (London, 1984), Vol. 10, truth one stage, which is the p. 10]. reform of natural conditions, and

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It is foolish to imagine that religion means a few things that are mentioned in the Gospel. All matters that are essential for the perfection of man are com- prehended within the scope of religion. Religion comprises all those matters which lead man from his wild condition to the condition of true humanity and then lead him from the condition of humanity to a life of wisdom and thereafter lead him from a life of wisdom to a life that is devoted to God [Kitabul Bariyyah, The founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community was Hadhrat Mirza (, Ziaul Islam Press 1898); Ghulam Ahmad(as). Now printed in Ruhani Khazain In 1891, he claimed, on the basis of (London, 1984), Vol. 13, p. 71]. Divine revelation, that he was the Promised Messiah and Mahdi whose advent had been foretold by There is no doubt that the Gospel Muhammad, the Holy Prophet of Islam does not provide for the full (peace be upon him) and by the nurture of the tree of humanity. We scriptures of other faiths. are sent into the world with many His claim constitutes the basis of the faculties and every faculty beliefs of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. demands that it should be used on its proper occasion. The Gospel emphasises only the faculty of d i fferent kinds of tempers meekness and gentleness. demands that we should exercise Meekness and forgiveness are all our faculties with discretion on good qualities when exercised on the proper occasion. It is true that the proper occasion but their use on some occasions forg i v e n e s s on every occasion would be and forbearance would benefit greatly harmful. Our cultural life materially and spiritually a person which comprises the interplay of who has done us harm. On other

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occasions, the exercise of those competition in goodness, it faculties would encourage the becomes a high moral quality. The offender to commit greater mis- same is the case with all moral chief and do more harm. qualities. Their misuse renders them harmful and their use on the Our spiritual life resembles our proper occasion in a moderate physical life to a large degree. It is manner makes them beneficial. our experience that the use of only one type of food and medicines It is, therefore, a mistake to cut off would upset our health. If we were all other branches of the tree of to confine ourselves over a period humanity and to put the entire to the use of cooling articles of diet emphasis on forgiveness and and refrain altogether from the use forbearance. That is why this of warming articles, we would teaching has failed of its purpose become a prey to some disease like and Christian sovereigns had to paralysis, Parkinson's disease or enact codes of law for the ep i l e p s y . On the contrary, if we punishment of offenders. The confine ourselves to warming current Gospel cannot bring about articles of diet, so much so that the perfection of the human self. even the water that we drink must As the stars are dimmed when the be warm, then equally we would be sun rises and then disappear from liable to some other kind of disease. sight altogether, the same is the Co n s e q u e n t l y , in order to maintain case of the Gospel in comparison our physical health we must keep a with the Holy Qur’an [K i t a b u l balance between hot and cold and B a r i y y a h, (Qadian, Ziaul Islam hard and soft and movement and Press 1898); Now printed in rest. We should follow the same Ruhani Khazain (London, 1984), rule in respect of our spiritual Vol. 13, pp. 48-49]. health. God has bestowed no evil faculty upon us. Indeed no faculty A study of the religions of the is evil in itself. It is the misuse of a world reveals that every religion, faculty that is evil. For instance, except Islam, contains some envy is evil but if we use it for a mistake or the other. This is not good purpose, that is to say, as a because they were all false in their

16 The Review of Religions – March 2004 The Essence of Islam – Vol. 1, Part II origin, but because after the fourteenth century, God recalled advent of Islam, God gave up the His promise and made provision support of other religions and they for the revival of Islam. But other became like neglected gardens faiths were never revived after the which had no gardener to look advent of the Holy Prophet, peace after them, and for the irrigation be on him; and they all died. There and upkeep of which no was no spiritual life in them and arrangement had been made, so errors took root in them, as dirt that gradually they began to decay. accumulates in a garment which is Their fruit-bearing trees became much in use but which is never dry and barren, and thorns and washed. People who had no weeds spread all over. Those concern with spirituality and who religions lost all spirituality which were not free from the stains of is at the root of all religion and earthly existence corrupted these nothing was left but bare words. faiths to a degree that they no God did not suffer this to happen longer resemble the originals. in the case of Islam as He desired Consider the case of Christianity, that this garden should flourish how pure was its origin. The throughout. He made provision in teaching set forth by Jesus was not each century for its irrigation and perfect as compared with the thus rescued it from decay. teachings of the Qur’an, because Although at the beginning of each the time had not yet come for the century when a man of God was revelation of the perfect teaching appointed for its reform the and people were not yet strong ignorant people opposed him and enough to bear it, yet that teaching were averse to the reform of was an excellent one and was anything which had become part appropriate for its own time. It of their habits and customs, yet guided to the same God to Whom God Almighty adhered throughout the Torah guided but after Jesus, to His way. In these latter days the god of the Christians became also, which is the time of the last another god who found no battle between guidance and error, mention in the Torah and was not finding the Muslims heedless and at all known to the children of neglectful in the beginning of the Israel. Belief in this new god upset

The Review of Religions – March 2004 17 The Essence of Islam – Vol. 1, Part II

the whole system of the Torah and of the appearance of Islam. It is all the guidance contained in the also well established that Torah, for deliverance from sin Hinduism had been corrupted and attaining true salvation and a before the advent of Islam and that pure life, was frustrated. Salvation throughout India idol worship had and deliverance from sin now become common. Part of this depended upon the confession that corruption resulted in the doctrine Jesus had accepted crucifixion for that God Who is not dependent the sake of the salvation of upon matter for the exercise of His mankind, and that he was the very attributes is, in the view of the God Himself. Many permanent Aryas, so dependent for the laws of the Torah were abrogated creation of the universe. This led and the Christian faith was so to another false doctrine that all changed about that if Jesus were to particles of matter and all souls are come back to the earth he would eternal and uncreated. Had they not be able to recognise it. It is a considered deeply the attributes of matter of surprise that the people God, they would never have said who were admonished to adhere to so; for if in the exercise of His the Torah set aside its eternal attribute of creation, God is commandments at one stroke. For dependent like a human being on instance, it is nowhere stated in the matter, then how is it that in the Gospel that though the To r a h exercise of the attribute of hearing forbids the eating of the flesh of and seeing He is not so dependent swine yet it is now permitted, nor as is man. Man cannot hear does the Gospel say that though without the agency of air and he circumcision is prescribed in the cannot see without the aid of light. Torah yet that commandment is Then is God also dependent upon now abrogated. But all this was light and air for seeing and done and that which had never hearing? If He is not so dependent, been said by Jesus became part of be sure that He is not dependent religion. However, as it was God’s upon matter for the exercise of His design to establish a universal attribute of creation. It is entirely religion namely Islam, the decay false that He is dependent upon of Christianity was an indication matter for the exercise of any of

18 The Review of Religions – March 2004 The Essence of Islam – Vol. 1, Part II

His attributes. It is a great mistake cause of truth who restored the lost to attribute human weaknesses to verities to the world. No prophet God; for instance, that He cannot shares with him the pride that he create something from nothing. found the whole world in darkness Man's being is limited and God's and by his advent that darkness Being is unlimited. By the power gave place to light [Lecture Sialkot of His Being, He can create entitled ‘Islam’, (Sialkot, Mufid another being. This is of the Aam Press, 1904); Now published essence of Godhead. He is not in Ruhani Khazain ( L o n d o n , dependent upon matter for the 1984), Vol. 20, pp. 1-5]. exercise of any of His attributes, for had that been so, He would not First of all it is necessary to set out be God. Nothing can obstruct what is the reality of Islam, what Him. If He were to desire to create are the means of arriving at that a heaven and earth instantly, He reality and what are the fruits of would be able to do so. Of the following that reality; for this Hindus those who, in addition to knowledge is essential for the knowledge, partook of spirituality purpose of understanding many also and were not committed to mysteries. It would be of great bare logic, never believed that benefit for our opponents that they concerning God which the Aryas should study these matters with set forth today. This is the result of attention, for many of the doubts the lack of spirituality altogether. which assail their minds are the result of their failure to reflect All this corruption, some of which upon the complete and perfect is unmentionable and is opposed reality of Islam, its sources and its to human purity, was an indication fruits. . . . The opponents of of the need of Islam. Every religion also would benefit greatly reasonable person is bound to by this study. They would confess that a short while before understand what religion is and Islam, all other faiths had become what are the signs of its truth. corrupt and had lost all spirituality. The Holy Prophet, peace be on In the idiom of Arabic, Islam him, was a great reformer in the means money paid as earnest to

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conclude a bargain, or to commit Practical belonging means to do some affair to someone, or to seek all the good that is related to every peace, or to surrender a claim or one of one's faculties with such point. eagerness and attention as if one beholds the countenance of the The technical meaning of Islam is True Beloved in the mirror of set out in the verse: The truth is one's obedience [Ayenae Kamalat- that whoever submits himself e - I s l a m, (Qadian, Riyadh Hind completely to of Allah and Press 1893); Now printed in acts righteously shall have his Ruhani Khazain (London, 1984), re w a rd with his Lord. No fear Vol.5, pp 57-58]. shall come upon such, nor shall they grieve ( C h . 2 : V. 113). This means that a Muslim is one who commits himself wholly to the cause of God Almighty; that is to say, one who devotes himself to God Almighty, to following His designs and to winning His pleasure, and then becomes steadfast in doing good for the sake of God Almighty and devotes all his faculties to that cause. In other words, he belongs entirely to God Almighty both doctrinally and in practice.

Doctrinal belonging means that one should esteem one's being as something which has been created for the recognition of God Almighty and His obedience and the seeking of His love and pleasure.

20 The Review of Religions – March 2004 Service to Humanity – A Religious Duty in Islam

By Bockarie Tommy Kallon, London, UK.

Service to humanity is part and manifest evil, and parcel of the Muslim faith. The transgression… ultimate goal of Islam, as with all (Ch.16: V.91) religions founded on Divine revelation, is to bring man into This verse not only demands communion with His Creator. In justice on the part of a Muslim, it order to attain nearness to God also requires him to do good to and to win His favour, it is others regardless of what sort of essential for man to serve His treatment he receives from them, creatures with all faculties and even if maltreated by them. In bounties he has, as a other words, his conduct should manifestation of His grace and not be actuated by considerations providence, bestowed upon man. of reciprocity or recompense. The Holy Qur’an itself is replete The qualities of forg i v e n e s s , with verses that enjoin upon charity, giving of alms and social believers service to humanity and service all fall under this at the same time forbid any c a t e g o r y. The promotion and behaviour that might be patronage of knowledge and the detrimental to society. Most systemisation of its diff e r e n t prominent among those verses is branches are also included here one that is recited as part of every because they have for their object Friday Sermon: the material and spiritual well- being of man. Furthermore, a Verily, Allah requires you to Muslim is expected to do good to abide by justice, and to treat others prompted as if by natural with grace, and give like the impulse, as favours are conferred giving of kin to kin; and upon near blood relations or as a forbids indecency, and mother loves her children. A

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mother’s love for her children is Muslims are reminded that the the result of a natural impulse. real purpose in life is to do good Her sacrifices and the hardships to humanity. They are expected she willingly suffers for her to be torchbearers and contribute children are prompted by no to the betterment of their hope of return or appreciation. respective communities and They spring from the natural other peoples. If they do this, fountain of love which God has they will remain the best of implanted in her nature. mankind for therein lies their greatness; greatness propor- In addition to the three tionate to the magnitude of their commandments, the verse also service to humanity. contains three prohibitions of vices and evils to which man can The moral values inculcated by fall victim. These relate not only these, and similar, verses of the to that which causes harm and Holy Qur’an were illustrated in injury to the self but also that their perfection by the Holy which would constitute an Prophet(sa) so that mankind could infringement of the rights of benefit alike from his precept and others in society and which can from his example. He had been also do them positive harm. raised as a manifestation of God’s mercy to mankind: This subject matter is presented beautifully by another verse of And We have sent thee not the Holy Qur’an which assigns a but as a mercy for all great status to Muslims: peoples. (Ch.21: V.108) You are the best people raised for the good of mankind; you God had called him a mercy for enjoin good and forbid evil mankind and so indeed did he and believe in Allah… prove himself in every respect. (Ch.3: V.111) His mercy and humanity were all-embracing, without limit and

22 The Review of Religions – March 2004 Service to Humanity – A Religious Duty in Islam without discrimination, and from t rouble; he is ard e n t l y which even the lower creations desirous of your welfare; and were not excluded. It was to the believers he is grievously painful for him that compassionate, merciful. his people should be distressed, (Ch.9: V.128) and he was ardently desirous of promoting their welfare. He was The Holy Prophet( s a ) was ever tender and compassionate at all watchful of the poorer sections of times, cheerfully sharing in their society and always sought to sorrows and anxieties, and ameliorate their plight and raise anxious to apply balm to their their status in society. He used to wounded spirits. Even towards say that no festivity would be the disbelievers who subjected blessed unless some poor people him to all manner of persecution were also invited to it. During his and privations, his heart was full time in Madinah, a poor woman of the milk of human kindness used to clean up the mosque. Not that no amount of persecution having seen her for a few days, could make him bitter against the Holy Prophet(sa) made some them or make him wish them ill. enquiries about her upon which He was so kind and sympathetic he was told that she had passed towards the disbelievers that it a w a y. He expressed his caused him much grief to see displeasure that he was not them turn away from the path of informed of this stating that he righteousness and thus invite the would have wished to join her wrath of God unto themselves. funeral prayers and added, This is encapsulated in the ‘perchance you did not consider following verse of the Holy her worthy of consideration as Qur’an: she was poor.’ He then asked to be directed to her grave to which Surely, a Messenger has come he proceeded and prayed for her. unto you from among yourselves; grievous to him is Not only was he himself that you should fall into watchful of the welfare of the

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poor but he constantly exhorted he treated her with much others to be the same. If a needy consideration and as a result of person approached the Holy her intercession, he remitted all Prophet(sa) and made a request, he the penalties imposed on her would ask those around him to people on account of their also support the request so that aggression. they would acquire merit by becoming sharers in promoting a In his anxiety to safeguard the good deed. His object was to interest of the poor and needy, create on the one hand in the the Holy Prophet(sa) went so far as minds of his Companions a to instruct that no charity was feeling of eagerness to help the ever to be bestowed upon any of poor and on the other in the his family. He did this out of fear minds of the needy a realisation that through excessive devotion of the affection and sympathy to him, his companions would felt for them by their relatively make his descendants the sole well-to-do brethren. objects of their charity thus depriving the needy. As Islam As the Holy Prophet(sa) pined for spread through Arabia, the Holy the welfare of mankind so did he P r o p h e t(sa) would frequently pay special deference to those receive large quantities of goods who devoted their time and and money. He would substance to the service of immediately distribute these mankind. An Arab tribe once among the poor and needy. initiated hostilities against the Muslims and in the ensuing The Holy Prophet(s a ) was setting a battle their forces were defeated very high precedent. In Islam, it is and some were taken prisoner. incumbent upon those in Among these was the daughter of authority to show sensitivity to one of them whose generosity the cause of the people to an had become a proverb among the extent that there is no need to Arabs. When she informed the form pressure groups and unions. Holy Prophet(sa) of her parentage, His benign example was followed

24 The Review of Religions – March 2004 Service to Humanity – A Religious Duty in Islam by his Successors. Once, Hadhrat be n e f a c t o r , exclaimed, ‘You are U m a r( r a ), during his tenure of far more fit to be Khalifa than of fice as Khalifa, discovered by Um a r . He knows not how the chance that outside Madinah a people fare.’ ‘Well, mother, woman and her children had been perhaps Umar is not so bad’, said without provisions for two days, the Khalifa, gently, smiling. because she lacked the means th e r e f o r . He returned immediately The philosophy of Za k a t is the to Madinah where he collected bedrock of Islamic social values. fl o u r , butter, meat and dates in a Za k a t is one of the pillars of l a rge bag and summoned a Islam. Put simply, it is a levy on servant for assistance in lifting both capital and income set aside the bag onto his back. The servant for the benefit of community. The protested and offered to carry the Holy Prophet(s a ) himself described bundle himself. Hadhrat Umar(r a ) Za k a t as ‘a levy imposed upon the declined his offering, observing, well-to-do which is returned to ‘No doubt you can carry this the poorer sections of society.’ bundle for me now, but who will carry my burden on the Day of The Holy Qur’an commands that Judgement?’ He meant that on the the proceeds of Za k a t must be Day of Judgement, the slave devoted towards relieving would not be in a position to poverty and distress, winning answer on his behalf how he over the cheerful co-operation of di s c h a r ged his responsibility as those who have not yet embraced head of state. He had to do it Islam, helping those burdened himself. It was also a sort of self- with debt, providing comfort and inflicted penance because he felt convenience for travellers, responsible for the pain and supplying capital where talent is anguish of the woman. And thus available but funds are lacking, Hadhrat Umar( r a ) carried the providing stipends for scholars provisions to the woman, who and research workers, and blessed him for his kindness, and, meeting the expenses involved in not knowing the identity of her collecting and administering the

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Za k a t itself. Generally, Za k a t ca n Human dignity is emphasised in be employed towards all things the strongest terms in this verse. beneficial for the community as a The recipient is reminded that whole, such as public health, there is no need for him to be public works, medical services embarrassed or to suffer from and educational institutions. Says any complexes because, in fact, the Holy Qur’a n : God has granted him the fundamental right to survive The alms are only for the decently and honourably. The poor and the needy, and for message delivered to the one those employed in connection who gives is that what he gives to t h e rewith, and for those the poor, in reality, did not whose hearts are to be belong to him. Something has to reconciled, and for the be wrong with an economy f reeing of slaves, and for where some people are left those in debt, and for the destitute or compelled to beg for cause of Allah, and for the their living. wayfarer - an ordinance from Allah. And Allah is All- Apart from the manner in which Knowing, Wise. you give, what you give is also (Ch.9: V.60) important. If you give something of which you would be ashamed Through the institution of Zakat, of receiving yourself, this does the concept of alms giving not fall under the definition of acquires a new outlook. No alms, according to the Holy longer does it compliment the Qu r’ a n : donor and embarrass the recipient. The recipient is only O ye who believe! Spend of receiving his rightful share: the good things that you have And in their wealth is a share earned, and of what We belonging to the beggar and p roduce for you from the the destitute. earth; and seek not what is (Ch.51: V.20) bad to spend out of it when

26 The Review of Religions – March 2004 Service to Humanity – A Religious Duty in Islam

you will not take it yourselves service of God’s creatures, for except with eyes downcast His sake only; and shall with shame. And know that endeavour to benefit mankind to Allah is Self-Sufficient, the best of his God-given Praiseworthy. abilities and powers.’ (Ch.2: V.268) Elsewhere he writes: In any case, the Holy Qur’an tells us that spending in the cause of ‘Be kind and merciful to Allah wins His favours and those h u m a n i t y, for all are His who do so shall have their reward ( G o d ’s) cre a t u res: do not with Him: o p p ress them with your tongue, or hands, or in any Those who spend their wealth other way. Always work for by night and by day, secretly the good of mankind. Never and openly, have their reward unduly assert yourself with with their Lord; on them shall pride over others, even those come no fear, nor shall they who are placed under you. grieve. Never use abusive language (Ch.2: V.275) for anyone even though he abuse you. Be humble in spirit, The Promised Messiah( a s ) a n d kind and gentle, and forgi v i n g , Holy Founder of the Ahmadiyya sympathetic towards all and Muslim community followed the wishing them well, so that you example of his illustrious master, should be accepted. There are the Holy Prophet( s a ) in his many who pretend to be kind, concern for the welfare of gentle and forgiving but humanity in particular and God’s inside they are wolves; there creatures generally. One of the are many on the outside who conditions he laid down for look pure, but in their hearts initiation into the community they are serpents. You cannot was ‘that he [the initiate] shall be accepted in the presence of keep himself occupied in the the Lord unless you are pure,

The Review of Religions – March 2004 27 Service to Humanity – A Religious Duty in Islam

both on the outside and the former Yugoslavia. The inside. If you are big have Ahmadiyya Muslim community, mercy on those who are small under the instruction and – not contempt; if you are direction of its then Supreme wise and well versed in Head, Hadhrat Mirza Ta h i r learning serve the ignorant Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih IV(ru), with words of wisdom: never was able to deliver over 100 desire to bring disgrace on tonnes of food aid valued at over their ignorance by trying to £1 million to the victims of war. show off your learning. If you In these humble efforts, which are rich, instead of treating may be deemed small by some, them with self-centre d the community sought sincerity disdainful pride, you should of purpose and ensured that the serve the poor.’ aid reached Serb, Croat and (Kashti Nuh – Quoted from Bosnian alike. Muslims are duty , pp.2-3) bound to assist all those in need without any discrimination. This The community he founded is was in consonance with the actively engaged in social gracious spirit of universal welfare and in meeting the compassion and non- educational needs of not just its discriminatory benevolence own members but also in the inculcated by the Promised communities in which they Messiah(as): reside, particularly in Africa where scores of schools and ‘A religion which does not hospitals have been established. inculcate universal com- These humanitarian services also passion is no religion at all. extend to aid relief and medical S i m i l a r l y, a human being supplies to the victims of natural without the faculty of disasters or human conflict. compassion is no human at all. Our God has never In recent history, the world discriminated between one witnessed the horrors of war in people and another. This is

28 The Review of Religions – March 2004 Service to Humanity – A Religious Duty in Islam

illustrated by the fact that all independent charity orga n i s a t i o n , the potentials which were Humanity First, which after the granted to the Aryans were cessation of hostilities continued also granted to the races to assist the displaced refugees in inhabiting Arabia, Persia, the reconstruction of their Syria, China, Japan, Europe country and their lives. Humanity and America. The eart h , First has since been able to render created by God provides a assistance to the victims of war in common floor for all people Sierra Leone and Kosovo, to the alike and His sun and moon victims of earthquakes in Tur k e y , and many stars are a source India and recently Bam in Iran, of radiance to all alike; they and in general, is involved in also have many other various projects, ranging from benefits. Likewise, all peoples feeding the poor to orphan care, benefit from the elements designed to promote the created by Him such as water, preservation of human life and fire, earth and other similar di g n i t y . products such as grain, fruit and healing agents. These The Ahmadiyya Muslim attributes of God teach us the community has also been able to lesson that we too should organise charity events such as behave magnanimously and marathon walks and cycle kindly towards our fellow marathons to raise funds for, and human beings and should not support the noble objectives, of be petty of heart and several other charities. But such i l l i b e r a l.’ (A Message of activities are not limited to one- Peace, pp. 7-8) off events. Whether it is visiting the sick and elderly in hospitals Returning to the humanitarian and old-peoples’ homes, or endeavours in the former providing a welcome meal to the Yugoslavia, those humble effo r t s homeless on the streets, the inspired and prepared the grounds Ahmadiyya Muslim community for the Community’s aff i l i a t e d seeks to help in any way it can.

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In discharging its duties to motives. Once a favour is shown h u m a n i t y, the community to anyone, Islam would require always admonishes its adherents him to forget about it. To exult to do so purely for the sake of over one’s act of goodness and to God. The verses oft quoted in rub in one’s favour are declared this regard are from the Holy suicidal and self-annihilatory to Q u r’ a n : the very act of goodness. This is declared comprehensively in the And they feed, for the love of following verses: Him, the poor, the orphan and the prisoner, saying: ‘We feed They who spend their wealth you for Allah’s pleasure only. in the way of Allah, then We desire no re w a rd nor follow not up what they have thanks from you. spent with taunt or injury, for (Ch.76: Vs.9-10) them is their re w a rd with their Lord, and they shall This is because Islam seeks to have no fear, nor shall they inculcate the attitude whereby it grieve. A kind word and is considered against dignity and f o rgiveness are better than modesty to accept gratitude. The charity followed by injury. Holy Qur’an instructs the donor And Allah is Self-Sufficient, to serve mankind for a higher Forbearing. and nobler cause rather than (Ch.2: Vs.263-264) merely to satisfy a natural urg e or earn a good reputation by Quite apart from its socio- benevolent acts. The Holy economic values, Islamic Q u r’an repeatedly reminds men teachings also ensure that people to do acts of goodness for the in a community behave with sake of God and only to win His d i g n i t y, and that particular pleasure and earn His favours. attention is paid to the maintenance of order in public All services to humanity are to be places. Islam teaches that provided without any ulterior persons using public places must

30 The Review of Religions – March 2004 Service to Humanity – A Religious Duty in Islam take care that no undue worth pondering over if we are to inconvenience is occasioned to understand the underlying others using the same, nor should wisdom. True faith in God any person be exposed to risk or requires that security and injury. In elaborating this point protection which one receives the Holy Prophet(sa) mentioned all from God by virtue of faith, such articles on pathways and should also be extended to one’s roads which could in anyway be fellow human beings. God’s injurious to passers by. Thus he mercy and benevolence extend warns that if you profess to be equally to all His creatures. among the faithful, you must Hence, if someone is remiss in take heed and begin the journey discharging his responsibility of into higher achievements from extending security and protection there. If someone sees a nail, to others, by that much he would banana skin, a thorn or anything be considered as having faltered which could cause injury to an in his faith. unwary person or cause accidents of a larger dimension, and yet It is evident from this that Islam’s does not take the trouble of sphere of instruction comprises removing it from the path, he everything that may be required would be deficient by that much even at the lowest levels. But, in his faith. perhaps, the most comprehensive direction within the domain of The Holy Prophet( s a ) e x p l a i n e d service to humanity is the that faith is divided into seventy promotion of righteousness and tiers. At the highest point faith virtue: can be summed up as a total dedication to the Oneness of God And help one another in and the lowest of them is to clear righteousness and piety; but the path of undesirable things. help not one another in sin That the removal of such articles and transgression… from pathways as may cause (Ch.5: V.3) injury is a constituent of faith is

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When the Holy Prophet( s a ) s a i d Bibliography on one occasion, ‘Go to the help • Holy Qur’an with Translation of your brother whether and Commentary – by oppressor or oppressed’, he was Hadhrat Malik Ghulam asked, ‘We understand what is Farid(ra). meant by going to the help of a brother who is oppressed, but • Life of Muhammad – By how shall we help a brother who Hadhrat Mirza Bashiruddin is an oppressor?’ The Holy Mahmood Ahmad(ra). P r o p h e t(sa) replied, ‘By restrain- ing him from oppressing others.’ • Absolute Justice, Kindness He once defined a Muslim as and Kinship – by Hadhrat ‘one from whose hands and (ru). tongue his fellows apprehend no h a r m . ’ • I s l a m ’s Response to C o n t e m p o r a ry Issues – by It is patently obvious, from the Hadhrat Mirza Ta h i r foregoing, that Islam has placed Ahmad(ru). great emphasis on the day-to- day pattern of one’s conduct in • Islam and Human Rights – by relation to his fellow human Hadhrat Muhammad beings which in the case of the Zafrullah Khan(ra). true believer distinguishes him from the non-believers in decency and refinement. For Muslims, service to humanity is a moral prerogative, a spiritual privilege and, above all, a religious duty.

32 The Review of Religions – March 2004 Al-Hayy – The Living God by Naeem Ahmad of New York USA based on a speech delivered on 27 June 2003 at the Ahmadiyya Muslim Annual Convention of USA

Alif Lam Mim. (I am Allah, the Commentators of the Holy Qur’a n All-Knowing) Allah is He and lexicographers have explained beside Whom there is no God, Al Hayy as One Who never dies, the Living, the Self-Subsisting and He Who lasts forever, and All-Sustaining. (Qa rt a b i ) , One Whose existence is (Ch.3: Vs.2-3) from ever to ever, (Ja l a l a i n ) . Ibne Kathir says that Al Hayy is He In these opening verses of Sura Al- Who would never die- He Who is Imran Chapter 3, in the Aya t u l - the First and the Last – He Who Ku r s i (Chapter 2: V.256) and at has the knowledge about three other places in the Holy everything, Who is Everlasting, Qu r ’an, Allah refers to Himself by Ever Remaining, Ever Existing, this most glorious name of Al and Eternal and Who is Ever- Hayy: The Living, the Self- Living. Mufridat and Lane Su b s i s t i n g . describe Al Hayy as an attribute of God, signifying that God is the The Promised Messiah(as) de c l a r e d : only Being Who is deathless, and lives by Himself, needing no ‘He is Self-Existing in His support. He is Eternal and Ever- Being and everything is alive Lasting. through Him. He is Self- Existing and everything exists From all these the general sense through Him. He is All- e m e rges of a Being Who is Sustaining and nothing sup- perfectly Alive, Aw a r e , ports Him. There is nothing Cognisant, and Active. that has come into being on its own or can live without Him The Promised Messiah( a s ) h a s on its own. (L e c t u r e ) written that:

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‘In order to bestow perfect Quddus the Holy, and Al Ghani understanding upon His the Self-Sufficient. humble creatures, God Almighty has set out His noble Al Hayy is the Being Whose attributes in two aspects. First Power is limitless, Whose He has described His knowledge knows no bounds, attributes metaphorically, as Who is Ever- Vigilant, Ever- resembling some human Watchful, He does not depend qualities, as for instance, He is upon other beings and is not Noble, Merciful, Beneficent limited to time and space. Al and becomes angry and has Hayy is the prime attribute that love…. To repel the notion makes God worshipable. If He that man resembles God in was not alive what could He do respect of these attributes and for others? If He is not the God resembles man, as a bestower of life, what right has contrast, God has mentioned He to require obedience and in the Holy Qur’an His worship from others? Al Hayy attributes of transcendence requires worship because He gave also; that is to say such life and did not leave it without attributes of which man does providing sustenance. Allah is not take partake at all in His not like a builder who may raise a Being or His qualities.’ building but is not concerned (Chashma Marifat) about its daily maintenance or the needs of its occupants. Such a Al Hayy is one of those beautiful builder’s existence and attendance names of God that pertain to His is not necessary for the good of Divine Person or His Being. the building; nor will his death Other beautiful names in this cause any problem to it; whereas category include Al Wahid t h e the universe and all that it One, Al Haqq the True, As Samad, contains, including us human the Besought of All, Al Qayyum beings are always in need of and the All Sustaining, Al Awwal the cannot function without Allah’s F i r s t, Al Aakhir the Last, Al constant support, timely assis-

34 The Review of Religions – March 2004 Al-Hayy – The Living God tance and maintained sustenance. ‘This means that true being Our God has not only provided and true existence and all true for all our needs, but He remains qualities belong only to God Ever-Watchful for all corrections and no one is an associate with that the course of our life may Him in respect of them. He require. alone is alive in His Being and everything else exists through Al Hayy is called the I s m e His support. He is not subject Adham, the Great Name. If it was to death so also He is not to be stricken out from the subject to even temporary attributes of Allah then the rest of cessation of His senses like the attributes would be of no sleep or slumber.’ (Chashma avail. If He is not Al Hayy then a Marifat) non-entity cannot be Al Qayyum, the All-Sustaining, or Ar- The Promised Messiah( a s ) a l s o Rahman, the Gracious, or Ar- said: Raheem, the Merciful, or the Sustainer of all the Worlds or the ‘He is the Ever-Living and Master of the Day of Judgment. All-Sustaining, if He were not Al Hayy is, therefore, the first and so, there would be fear lest He foremost of the attributes and die before us.’ qualities with which Allah can be (The Philosophy of the recognised and identified. Teachings of Islam) Without realisation of this attribute the creation and The proposition about the so- sustenance of the Universe cannot called death of God, is not as be conceived. preposterous as it may sound. Time Magazine ran a cover story The Promised Messiah( a s ) h a s entitled ‘Is God Dead?’ in their conveyed to us the significance of April 8, 1966 issue. The magazine this most noble attribute of the cited public attitudes viz ‘I am too Almighty in several of his darned busy to worry about God’, writings: ‘Religion is good for the kids,

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though I am not religious myself’, transcendent God of the Bible had and ‘God is a kind of an older died and He was irrelevant today; man, who is just and fair, but can h o w e v e r, the dominant current get angry at times and He does not concept is waiting for God. do much about most things a n y w a y.’ The magazine quoted Alas, this waiting has come to several leading theologians and naught. As recently as June 14 intellectuals of that time. They 2003, there was an article on the wondered that God’s work had Op-Ed page of the New Yo r k been long done after He initiated Times, bemoaning and lamenting the Creation. The consensus the fact that there is no mention of seemed to be that while the God or a hint of religion in the existence of God is not in new European Union constitution question, the concept of God now being written. The preamble needed revision. There was a dire extols Europe’s ‘underlying need to reinvent or redefine a God humanism, equality of persons, who was not only all love but also freedom, respect for reason’. The satisfied their need for an awe use of the word ‘humanist’, inspiring Being to Whom they according to the columnist, was a could feel and hear and reach out. signal that Europe had done away On a secular level the feeling was with the concept of God, living or that since we have the marvels of otherwise. modern technology there is no need for God to work miracles. The fact is that our God requires We have social and moral much more than blind faith or lip scientists who have developed a service. Works of righteousness theory of ethics based on must accompany belief. That is enlightened self-interest and need why there has to be an Al Hayy, no living God to hang on to. There the Living, to guide our continued was a sequel, an article in the May effort towards leading a good life 2, 1969 issue, where most of the here and to make provisions for experts approached for the earlier the next. Allah says in Sura Al article, reiterated the view that a Hadeed:

36 The Review of Religions – March 2004 Al-Hayy – The Living God

He is with you, wheresoever He also said: you maybe. (Ch.57:V.5) ‘ We call thousands of blessings and peace and mercy This promise of Him being with on the Holy Prophet us is, to borrow from computer- M u h a m m a d( s a ), the chosen speak, in Real Time. He is Al one, who gives us proof of His Hayy and always alive for our existence through His Word. needs. He demonstrates to us through extraordinary signs His The question then arises, how do shining countenance, which we know that God is alive, active possesses eternal and perfect and cognisant? The answer is the p o w e r. We found the same as for the existence of God: Messenger who manifested God to us and we found the T h e re is none worthy of God Who created everything worship other than Allah, through His perfect Power.’ M u h a m m a d( s a ) is the (Naseem-e-Dawat) Messenger of Allah. It is the excellent exemplar, the As the Promised Messiah(as) has complete guide, the eff e c t i v e explained in a letter to Pandit moral teacher, the blessed life and Agni Hotri that: successful completion of the mission of that perfect human T h e re is none worthy of being, the Apostle of Allah, Seal worship other than Allah of the Prophets, Lord of the children of Adam, our Master is the claim and Muhammad Mustapha( s a ) t h a t Muhammad is the Messenger compels us to believe in Al Hayy, of Allah the Living God. is the proof. And trust thou in the Living One, Who dies not, and glorify

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Him with His praise. And momentous decision to be made, sufficient is He as the Knower or looming calamity to be of the sins of His servants. avoided, or problem to be solved, (Ch 25: Vs. 59) the Holy Prophet( s a ) i n v a r i a b l y stood up for a special prayer and The Holy Prophet( s a ) was thus beseeched the help of Allah. This commanded, comforted and help was always there in an guided by Allah. With complete extraordinary way. assurance of the active support of the Ever Living God, he was to The following incident from the devote all his faculties and utilise life of the Holy Prophet(sa) will his entire energies in pursuing his show the function of Al Hayy mission of conveying the message who is Alive, Active, Ever and commandments of Allah, and Living. During a journey, an to be a mercy for all the worlds. enemy of the Holy Prophet( s a ) He was to lead such a life that it found him taking a nap, would be an excellent example unguarded, under a tree. He stood not only for his companions but over the Holy Prophet(sa), drew his also for all the generations of all sword and before striking him the peoples in all parts of the fatally unaware, asked in a loud world till the end of times. The voice: ‘Who can save you from life of the Holy Prophet( s a ) i s this predicament?’ The Holy essentially a continuous story of Prophet(sa) woke up and without a his trust in the Ever Living God. m o m e n t ’s hesitation, the Holy He won the hearts and minds of P r o p h e t( s a ) replied: ‘Allah!’ He his people with Allah’s help. He uttered this one word with such fought many defensive battles and perfect assurance that even the was successful against over- heart of his disbelieving enemy whelming odds. He accomplished was forced to acknowledge the all of these only by supplicating to loftiness of his faith and trust in the Ever Living God. There are the Ever Living God. The sword several authentic traditions that fell from his hand and the Holy tell us that whenever there was a Prophet(sa) took it in his hands and

38 The Review of Religions – March 2004 Al-Hayy – The Living God asked his assassin the same instances of Divine intervention question. Alas! The enemy could following his supplications. only mutter his regrets and threw Following the tradition of the himself at the mercy of the Holy Holy Prophet(sa) he challenged all P r o p h e t( s a ). Of course, he was his opponents to a Mubahila (a forgiven and his life was spared. prayer duel) and was always successful. The Imam of our age, Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad Qadiani(as), ‘It is by the exercise of His the Promised Messiah and Power and Will that the True Reformer of the Age, based the God confirms His Person. entire proof of his advent upon the This is how the Unknowable cognisance, active help, manifests Himself’. assistance and sustenance of the Ever Living God. He writes: From hundreds of instances of Allah’s Grace and Mercy is the ‘Be sure, therefore that the story of the illness of Abdul belief in the unity of God can Rahim Khan(ra), a son of Nawab be achieved only through a Muhammad Ali Khan ( r a ). His Prophet, as our Holy health suddenly took a turn for the P r o p h e t( s a ) convinced the worse, and upon the urgent and atheists and pagans of Arabia impassioned pleas of Nawab of the existence of God Sahib, the Promised Messiah( a s ) Almighty by showing them prayed for him and was also thousands of heavenly signs. moved to intercede for him. The Up till today the true and Wahy (revelation) came down perfect followers of the Holy immediately: Prophet(sa) present these signs to the atheists.’ Who dares to intercede with (Haqiqatul Wahy) Him without his permission?’

In several of his books he has The Promised Messiah(as) became enumerated more than 300 silent as he was almost overcome

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with the awe of God. But the Lord saying, ‘I am overcome, Most Merciful God then revealed so come Thou to my help. Innaka antal Majaz Indeed thou (Ch.54:V.11) art permitted (to intercede). The Al Hayy accepted the intercession Allah responded by opening the of his honoured servant and floodgates of the heavens and the through the manifestation of His earth and caused Hadhrat Nuh(as) attribute of His being alive and and the believers to be rescued on Ever Living granted the gift of life the Ark that floated under Our to the young Abdul Rahim eyes. (Ch.54:V.15) K h a n(ra) who became healthy again. Allah was with Hadhrat Ibrahim (Abraham)(as) when his people put There is also the well-known him in a fire: episode of Abdul Karim(ra), who was bitten by a mad dog and sent We said , ‘Turn cold, O Fire, to the special hospital for the and be a source of peace for hydrophobic patients and for Abraham’. whom the telegram ‘Nothing Can (Ch.21:V.70) Be Done’ was sent by the British surgeon. With the prayers of the Hayat-e-Noor records a narrative Promised Messiah(as) the Al Hayy by Hadhrat Musleh Maud, who revived him. was present when the manuscript of ‘Noor-ud-Deen’, was being read Allah has always been Alive to out to the Promised Messiah(s a ) fo r the needs of all His Messengers. his review. This book was being He guided them every step of the written by Hadhrat Khalifatul way in pursuing their missions Masih I in response to a book and provided them His ever alive Renunciation of Islam by a Muslim and vigilant care. Hadhrat Nuh(as) who had converted to Hinduism prayed: and taken the name of Dharampal. One of his objections was that the He therefore prayed to his Qu r ’an is full of stories of miracles

40 The Review of Religions – March 2004 Al-Hayy – The Living God of earlier prophets, whereas And Allah was most assuredly nothing was contemporary. ‘Why with the Holy Prophet(sa) when is the fire not being ‘cooled’ for a after endless persecution he was pious one these days?’ Hadhrat migrating from his home in Maulwi Sahib had written in Makkah to the nascent response that the ‘fire’ was a community of Madinah. After a metaphor for the hatred based on days journey, with the Makkans in ignorance, for bigoted enmity and hot pursuit the Holy Prophet(sa) for the agony of persecution, etc. and his companion Hadhrat Abu The Promised Messiah( a s ) Bakr Siddiq(ra) took refuge in the forcefully intervened and said: cave At-Thaur. The professional ‘There is no need to go into long trackers hired by the Makkans interpretations and metaphorical were hovering at the mouth of the meanings. God has named me cave. To quote from Sura Tauba: Ab r a h a m (a s ) also. Let them put me in a fire and let them then see how If you help him not, then know God makes that fire a means of that Allah helped him even coolness and safety for me.’ when the disbelievers dro v e him forth while he was one of The story of Hadhrat Moses(as) and the two when they were both in his mission is replete with the cave, when he said to his instances of an Ever-Living God companion. ‘Grieve not, for protecting and accompanying the Allah is with us.’ Then Allah prophets on their missions. sent down His peace on him, and strengthened him with And when the two hosts came hosts which you did not see, in sight of each other the and humbled the word of those companions of Moses said, who disbelieved, and it is the ‘ We are surely overt a k e n . word of Allah alone which is ‘Nay, speak not thus!’ said he, supreme. And Allah is Mighty, My Lord is with me; He will Wise. direct me aright. (Ch.9:V.40) (Ch.26: Vs.62-63)

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This comforting advice of: And let him, who worships Allah; ‘Grieve not: verily, God is with know that Inna Allahu Hayyun la u s’ was to have far reaching yamoot. That Allah is ever living consequences. When by the and shall never die. This had an decree of Allah the Holy electrifying effect upon all Prophet(sa) passed away from this present. Hadhrat Umar(ra) started world, his companions went into a sobbing with grief and relief! state of shock! His advent was so momentous; the change in their The Promised Messiahas) wrote: lives had been so profound that they could not face the trauma of ‘Our God is One, Who is his death. No less a personage living today as He was living than Hadhrat Umar Farooq( r a ), before. And He speaks today thought that the Holy Prophet(sa) as He spoke before and He had just fainted. He stood outside hears today as heard before. the Prophet’s(sa) Mosque with a He both hears and speaks. All drawn sword threatening to His attributes are eternal and punish those who persisted in everlasting. None of His believing otherwise. Hadhrat attributes has fallen into Abu Bakr ( r a ) hastened to the disuse or will fall into Mosque, comforted Hadhrat disuse…. He manifests U m a r( r a ) and said: ‘ A n d Himself through His powers Muhammad is only a Messenger. and His signs and we can find Ve r i l y, all Messengers have Him only through Him. He passed away before him. If then manifests Himself always to he die or be slain, will you turn the righteous and shows them back on your heels? And he who His powers. That is how He is turns back on his heels shall not recognised and that is how the harm Allah at all. And Allah will path is recognised which has c e rtainly re w a rd the grateful’ His approval’. (Ch.3:V.145). He added, ‘Let him, (Al-Wasiyyat) who worshipped Muhammad( s a ), know that Muhammad(sa) is dead.

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This is the nub of the difference themselves before the Living, between the Ahmadi Muslims and Self-Subsisting and All- other Muslims. We believe that Sustaining God. And he shall Allah is Al Hayy and is as alive to indeed perish who bears the the needs of His chosen faith and burden of iniquity. His sincere servants today as He (Ch.20:V.112) ever was. He guides them by responding to their prayers, by I need not go into the details of inspiring them with true dreams the great leaders and dictators and heavenly signs and He sends who oppressed and persecuted down His revelation, on those who believed in God, whomsoever He pleases at His throughout the ages, and also in Own chosen time. He may name a the not too distant past; whom the recipient of this revelation, who is Ever Living God abased and from amongst the followers of the brought down with His swift Holy Prophet(sa) and follows his reckoning. He was and Insha example perfectly, as a prophet. Allah (God willing) will always The other Muslims, do not deny be with the righteous. that God hears, but are reluctant to say that He speaks. The door of Al Hayy: of which the verb form formal Wahy, according to them is is Hayy-ya i.e. he lived, had life, shut forever. etc. Another form from the same root is Yuhyee: he gives life, Other than responding to the brings to life, or causes to live. supplications of prophets we There is mention of Ahya-e-Mota believe, indeed, have witnessed or the bringing the dead back to the Ever Living’s out-of-the- life. This is a vast subject. In Sura ordinary help and succour to the Al Baqra Verse 259 to 261 Allah Khulafa, companions and other has revealed some aspects of it. In respected personages of the verse 259, the king is disputing Jama’at. the claim of Hadhrat Abraham(as) that My Lord is He, Who gives life And all faces shall humble and causes death. The king said

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I also give life and cause death. the dead back to life?’ God Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih I has said, ‘Dost thou not believe?’ explained that the king claimed to Abraham said, ‘Yes, but I ask have caused townships to grow this that my heart be at ease.’ and decline by moving of location God answered, ‘Take four birds of state functions. Hadhrat and make them attached to A b r a h a m( a s ) retorted that A l l a h thee. Then put each of them on brings the sun from the East, a hill then call them: they will bring it thou from the West. As the come to thee in haste. And king was a sun worshipper, he know that Allah is Mighty, could not claim any control over Wis e . ’ the sun and consequently realised (Ch.2:V.261) that he had no control over life or death, in any form, either. Allah has bestowed this attribute T h e reupon the infidel was of revivification of lost souls upon dumbfounded. In the next verse His chosen servants throughout Allah relates the story of a the ages. Hadhrat Jesus( a s ) w a s prophet of Banu Israel, possibly given this power Ezekiel who witnessed the ruins of the freshly devastated town, he And I will quicken the dead by was overcome with pathos and the command of Allah. wondered when would Allah (Ch.3:V.50) bring that town back to life. Then God showed him a vision of a This, of course pertains to the hundred years hence when the marvelous moral transformation town has been reborn, and thus that a prophet of God brings about demonstrated a manifestation of in the lives of his followers. His attribute of Al Hayy, in Consider the present day respects of cities and population evangelical movements that claim centers. The next verse relates to to make their adherents as ‘born the revival of nations and peoples. again’ Christians.

And when Abraham said, ‘My For the Holy Prophet(sa), Allah has Lo r d show me how you bring made the special dispensation in

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Sura Al Infal (Chapter 8) Verse 25 these three instances is to describe transcendental attri-butes of O ye who believe! Respond to Unity, Self Subsistence, the All Allah and the Messenger when Sustaining Power, and Dominion he calls you, that he may give over all. Al Hayy occurs only you life. twice in the singular. In both cases Allah is invoking this Here is food for thought for us who beautiful attribute to encourage a claim to have heard and responded positive and sure step forward in the Divine summons in this age. pursuit of our goals for this life The way to an everlasting spiritual and preparing for the next while life is clear. We have to follow making us assured of the help and commands of God and adopt the backing of the Ever Living God. practice of the Holy Prophet(s a ) an d hold fast to the continued lifeline The reference in Sura Al Furqan that Allah has been Gracious and was quoted before. Verse 66 from Merciful enough to extend to us in Sura Al Momin (Chapter 40) the form of Khilafat Ahmadiyya. It clearly and succinctly conveys the is only then that we can come alive message of this presentation: and start on the path of His approval. Allah says in Sura Yas i n : ‘He is the Living God. There is It is but a Reminder and a Qur’a n no God but He. So pray unto that makes things plain, so that it Him, being sincere to Him in may warn all who live, and that the religion. All praise belongs to d e c ree against the disbelievers Allah, the Lord of the worlds.’ may come to pass. (C h . 3 6 : V. 7 0 - (Ch 40 Vs 66) 71 )

It will be noted that Al Hayy, as an attribute of God, appears five times in the Holy Qur’an. At three places it is paired with Al Qayyum, the reference in each of

The Review of Religions – March 2004 45 Death on the Cross

This article is based upon a pamphlet entitled: ‘Death on the Cross? Ten arguments from the Bible’ by the Late Maulana Abul Atta Jalandhri, H.A. and published by the London Mosque. For the sake of the convenience of the reader, the name Jesus and other prophets has not been suffixed by (as) (peace be upon him) in all places but we urge Muslims to consider it implicit in the text. Jesus’s Birth given birth to babies. Adam is Strangely enough, the three great believed by the three great religions nations of the world – Jews, of the world to be born without the Christians and Muslims are at agency of either ‘father’ or variance with regard, both, to the ‘mother.’ The Muslims believe that birth as well as the death of Jesus Jesus(as) was a true prophet of God. Christ who was born among the His birth, without the agency of Jews. The Jews declare his birth to man, has nothing to do with his be illegitimate: they are guilty of sonship or his divinity. He was uttering a grievous calumny against human, pure and simple. Jesus M a r y, mother of Jesus( a s ). The invariably calls himself the `Son of Christians on the other hand believe man’ in the New Testament. that Jesus Christ( a s ) was born without the agency of an earthly Jesus’s Death father and that he was the son of His death is equally a controversial God Himself. This shows that both affair with the Jews, the Christians the Jews and the Christians have and the Muslims. The Jews believe gone to the opposite extremes as that Jesus( a s ) died on the cross regards Jesus’ (as) birth. The because he was a false prophet. In Muslims on their part, believe that this connection they quote the Jesus(as), no doubt, was born without Bible. ‘And if a man have the agency of an earthly father, but committed a sin worthy of death, he was not the son of God. A and he be put to death, and thou fatherless birth may be a strange hang him on a tree’ is ‘the accursed incident but it is not unnatural. of God’. (Deut. 21:22-23), There have been cases in medical According to them, Jesus was a history where innocent virgins have false prophet, therefore he died on

46 The Review of Religions – March 2004 Death on the Cross the cross as the accursed of God. himself to be the King of the Jews. The governor, Pilate was not The Christians also believe that convinced of his guilt but being Je s u s (a s ) was hanged on the Cross influenced by the tumult of the and died an accursed death. Says multitude he delivered Jesus(as) to be Pa u l : crucified. They put him on the Cross where he remained, at the ‘Christ hath redeemed us from utmost, for three or four hours only the curse of the law, being made and then was taken down in a a curse for us: for it is written, swoon and placed in a sepulchre in cursed is every one that hangeth a garden nearby. on a tree’. (Galatians 3: 13). Now in those days it took several days for criminals to die on the But the Holy Qur’an declares that Cross. They suffered the pangs of Christ did not die on the Cross. God hunger and thirst and in most cases saved him from death by cru- their legs were broken. They died a cifixion in the same way as He lingering death extending over saved His dear ones from several days. But it was not so in tribulations. Did not Jonah the the case of Jesus Christ( a s ). Prophet come out alive from the I n c i d e n t a l l y, he was put on the belly of the whale? The fact of the Cross on a Friday afternoon. The matter is that Jesus Christ(as) only following being the Sabbath day -a fell into a swoon on the Cross, but day of religious observance by the when he was taken down from it, he Jews – no criminal could remain on recovered and then died a natural the Cross on that Holy day, so he death at the good old age of 120. was taken down from it after about three or four hours. The loss of On the strength of their belief that blood from the wounds caused him Jesus(as) was a false prophet, the to fall into a swoon. He was taken Jews, particularly the Pharisees of for a dead man. His body was his time, brought serious political placed in a spacious sepulchre in a charges against him alleging that he garden by Joseph of Arimathaea, was disloyal to the Roman his own disciple. Jesus being still E m p e r o r, and that he claimed alive in the sepulchre, left it on the

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third day in disguise, met his then the whole of Christianity is disciples at Galilee and ate with a farce’. them. His wounds were healed by the application of an ointment I-Jonah’s Sign especially prepared by his disciples Now we proceed with our for the purpose. arguments from the Bible itself to show that Jesus(as) did not die on the This is the natural story of Jesus’(as) Cross. We read in the New Crucifixion but the Christians gave Testament: a strange version of his death which is not only unnatural but also ‘And when the people were against historical evidence as well g a t h e red thick together, he as logic. They believe that Jesus(as) (Jesus) began to say, this is an actually died on the Cross but on evil generation: they seek a the third day he rose up to the sign: and there shall no sign be heavens. What a paradox! Modern given it but the sign of Jonas the Christianity rests on the belief that prophet. For as Jonas was a Jesus(as) died on the Cross. But if it sign unto the Ninevites, so shall is proved that he did not die on the also the Son of man to this Cross nor did he rise from the dead, generation.’ (Luke 11:29, 30). then the whole edifice of Christianity tumbles to the ground. Again: Paul, who is the real founder of modern Christianity, himself says: ‘But he answered and said unto them; an evil and adulterous ‘And if Christ be not risen, then generation seeketh after a sign: is our preaching vain and your and there shall be no sign given faith also vain’. to it, but the sign of the prophet (I.Corinthians 15: 14). Jonas: for as Jonas was three days and three nights in the The late Dr. Zwemer, the well- whale’s belly; so shall the Son known American missionary says: of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth’. ‘If our belief in the death of (Matthew 12:39, 40). Christ on the Cross is wrong

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Jesus Christ(as) is said here to give a belly of the fish and the heart of the sign to the people of his own time earth and coming out alive. Both as Jonas, the prophet, had given to Jonah and Jesus(as) cried by reason the Ninevites? Now what was the of their respective afflictions and sign given by Jonas to the prayed to their Lord for Ninevites? The Bible says: deliverance. The prayers of both were heard. If Jesus(as) did not enter ‘Now the Lord had prepared a the heart of the earth (sepulchre) great fish to swallow up Jonah. alive, and come out alive, where is And Jonah was in the belly of the resemblance of the two signs? the fish three days and three Jesus promised to show only one nights. Then Jonah prayed unto sign to the generation of his time, the Lord his God out of the fish’s but even if that sign be not proved b e l l y. And said, 1 cried by to be true, is there anything also to reason of mine affliction unto prove the truth of his claim to be a the Lord, and he heard me; out prophet? Jesus’(as) reference to the of the belly of hell cried I, and sign of Jonah simply means that he thou heardest, my voice’. would not die on the Cross. (Jonah 1: 17 and 2: 1, 2). Therefore, there is every reason to believe that the swoon theory is not According to this verse in the Bible, based on a wrong hypothesis. Jonah was swallowed up by a big fish where he remained three days II - Pilate’s wife sees a dream and three nights and then came out ‘When he was set down on the alive from the belly of the fish. It Judgement seat, his wife sent was a sign given to the Ninevites. unto him, saying, Have you Jonah prayed to God for nothing to do with that just man deliverance while in the belly of the (Jesus): for I have suffere d fish. The Lord heard his prayer and many things this day in a dream Jonah came out alive. Jesus(as) says because of him’. that no sign shall be given to the (Matthew 27: 19) evil and adulterous generation of his time except that of Jonas. Now The lady’s dream was really true what is the resemblance between and quite opportune. It purports to the two signs of Jonas and Jesus(as). mean that Christ be saved from the It is nothing but going alive into the accursed death on the Cross. God

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saves his dear ones by means of unto you the King of the Jews? dreams of others as was the case Then cried they all again, with Joseph who was released from saying, Not this man, but jail having interpreted the two Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a dreams of Pharaoh. God wanted to robber’. protect Jesus against his enemies, (John 18: 38, 40). hence the dream of the Roman governor’s wife which influenced And from thenceforth Pilate his judgement. sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou III - The Roman Governor’s let this man go, thou art not sympathetic attitude C a e s a r’s friend: whosoever The Jews presented the case of maketh himself a king speaketh Jesus Christ(as) to Pilate, the Roman against Caesar’. Governor of Palestine. He held a (John 19: 12). judicial inquiry into the case and declared that he was not guilty of From the references given above, it the charges brought against him. He is evident that the Governor regards said unto them: Jesus(as) innocent of all the charges brought against him by the Jews, he ‘Ye have brought this man unto tries his utmost to release him but me as one that perverteth the when the Jews threatened to report people: and behold, I, having him to the Caesar in Rome he examined him before you, have yielded to them and handed Jesus(as) found no fault in this man over to them. But secretly he took touching those things where of measures to see that Jesus should be ye accuse him.’ saved. He had his wife’s dream (Luke 23: 14). before him and he knew full well that the chief priests had delivered He went out again unto the Jews him in envy. and said unto them, 1 find in him no fault at all. But ye have IV-Pilate’s scheme to save Christ a custom, that I should release Pilate, the Governor, was unto you one at the passover: thoroughly convinced of the will ye, therefore, that I release innocence of Jesus Christ. He

50 The Review of Religions – March 2004 Death on the Cross therefore, had a pre-planned imperial government at Rome. scheme to save Jesus’(as) life. As a Joseph of Arimathaea boldly asked responsible official of the Roman the Governor to hand over the Empire he could not openly come to `body’ of Jesus which request he the forefront, but he was the master- readily granted. If the plan was not mind before the whole scheme and pre-conceived, how could the the chief actor in the drama. Other Governor hand over the `body’ of characters of the show were Joseph Jesus to a stranger from outside. of Arimathaea, an honourable There is reason to believe that Jesus councillor and disciple of Jesus Christ(as) himself must have been C h r i s t( a s ). He had already had a informed of the plan so that his sepulchre hewn out in a rock garden prophecy might come true that as nearby. We read in St. John: Jonah was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly so shall ‘And there came also the Son of man be three days and Nicodemus, which at the first three nights in the heart of the earth. came to Jesus by night and brought a mixture of myrrh and V-Duration of Crucifixion aloes about a hundred pounds The duration of crucifixion or the weight’. period of time for which Jesus (John 19: 39). remained on the Cross was not long enough to warrant his death on the It was very clever of Pilate to Cross. Criminals generally took choose Friday afternoon as the time several days to die a lingering death for Jesus’(as) crucifixion so that he an the cross on account of the loss could not remain on the Cross after of blood from the wounds on hands sunset, the following day being and feet, the physical pain and the Sabbath, so holy to the Jews. All pangs of hunger and thirst. The necessary measures were adopted minimum time of death on the cross to bring Jesus(as) to consciousness. ranged between 24 and 28 hours but Otherwise what did Nicodemus in some cases it took several days to mean by bringing the mixture of die on the cross. In such cases it myrrh and aloes. Jesus( a s ) w a s became necessary to break the legs shown to have died in off i c i a l of the criminals so that death may records to pacify the Jews and the be hastened and consummated.

The Review of Religions – March 2004 51 Death on the Cross

Let us now probe into the matter of SABACHTHANI, My God, My J e s u s ’( a s ) crucifixion. The New God why hast thou forsaken Testament tells us that Jesus ( a s ) me ?” ’ remained on the cross for a few (Mark 15:33, 34). hours only. The actual duration of time Jesus remained on the Cross This shows that Jesus(as) retained his was not more than three or four consciousness up to the ninth hour hours. Jesus Christ(as) who was in of the day and then he fell into a the prime of his youth (33 years) swoon, that the New Te s t a m e n t and enjoyed excellent health, could writers call ‘giving up the ghost’. not be expected to have died within None of the writers were present on so short a time in particular when the spot to stand as eye-witness. his legs were not broken as was The ‘swoon’ was taken to be done in the case of the two robbers ‘death’ and `death on the Cross’ crucified with him the same day. means an accursed death. Do we not read in the Bible, ‘for he that is It may not be out of place here to hanged is accursed of God’? (Deut. note that, according to the Roman 21:23). calendar the day began with the setting of the sun and ended with VI-Coming out of blood and its setting the next day. The same water custom is in vogue even to this day ‘Then came the soldiers and in Arab countries. According to broke the legs of the first and of John (19: 14) it was about the sixth the other which was crucified hour of the day (Friday) that Pilate with him. But when they came to spoke last to the Jews vis-a-vis Jesus, and saw that he was dead Jesus crucifixion and handed him already, they break not his legs. over to them. But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and ‘And when the sixth hour was forthwith came there out blood come, there was darkness over and water’. the whole land until the ninth (John 19:32-34) ho u r . And at the ninth hour, Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, The soldiers did not break the legs Eloi, Eloi, LAMA of Jesus(as) for they took him for a

52 The Review of Religions – March 2004 Death on the Cross dead man while actually he was in a fled from the scene of the state of swoon, or just to silence the crucifixion. angry Jews he was declared to be a ‘dead’ man. But one of the soldiers ‘But he began to curse and to incidentally ‘pierced his side and swear saying, I know not this forthwith there came out blood and man (Jesus) of whom you water’, which is a surer sign of life speak’. for blood and water do not gush out (Mark 14:71) of a dead man’s body. There is much food for thought for those ‘And they forsook him (Jesus) who care to ponder over it. and fled’. (Mark 14: 50) VII-No eye-witness of crucifixion Three writers of the Gospels state To be brief, there was no one that there was darkness over all the present on the scene who could land from the sixth to the ninth hour definitely and certainly say that he and that there was an earthquake saw Jesus(as) ‘giving up the ghost’. and the rocks were rent and the veil This is all mere conjecture and of the temple was rent in twain. It is imagination. a matter of common experience at the time of a severe dust-storm VIII-Jesus’ mission to the lost accompanied by an earthquake, sheep of Israel people generally hasten to go home 1. ‘For the Son of man is come and they do not enjoy the luxury of to seek and to save that which a bloody sight-seeing. Now imagine was lost’. for a moment, who could stand an (Luke 19: 10). eye-witness to tell the story that Jesus actually died on the cross. 2. ‘And other sheep I have, The Jews, if at all, there were any which are not of this fold: them on the spot, must have run away at also I must bring, and they shall the sight of the rising storm and the hear my voice; and there shall shaking of the earth must have be one fold and one shepherd’. frightened them to turn on their (John 10:16). heels and hasten to their homes. As to the disciples, they had already 3. ‘And he said unto them, I

The Review of Religions – March 2004 53 Death on the Cross

must preach the Kingdom of by the modern ‘finds’ of God to other cities also; For archaeology. Jesus(as) found his lost therefore I am sent. sheep in Persia, Afghanistan and (Luke 4:43). K a s h m i r, preached to them and comparatively he was much more 4. ‘But he answered and said, I successful here than in Palestine. am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel’. He died a natural death and was, we (Matthew 15:24). believe, buried in Srinagar, Kashmir. From the quotations given above, it is clear that Jesus’(as) mission was to IX-Jesus’ victory over his preach to all the twelve tribes of enemies Israel that were scattered in the Addressing his disciples Jesus( a s ) eastern countries extending from says: Palestine to India at the time of Jesus’(as) appearance. Of the twelve ‘Before, the hour cometh yea, is tribes of Israel there were at that now come, that ye shall be time, only two tribes in Palestine scattered, every man to his own, while the other ten were found and shall leave me alone: and scattered in the lands stretching yet I am not alone, because the from Palestine to the confines of Father is with me. These things India. Jesus(as) cannot be said to I have spoken unto you, that in have been successful in his mission me ye might have peace. In the if he did not address and preach to world you shall have tribulation the ten lost sheep of Israel. Jesus’(as) but be of good cheer; I have supposed death on the Cross at the overcome the world’. early age of 33 gives a shattering (John 16:32, 33) blow to the mission for which he was sent. The truth of the matter is Now what does Jesus’(as) victory that Jesus Christ(as) after his escape consist of? Was it in his death on from the Cross, did migrate to the the Cross or in his escape from the East in search of the lost sheep for Cross? If he died on the cross then which there is ample historical the Jews were successful because evidence and is recently supported the very aim of theirs was to prove

54 The Review of Religions – March 2004 Death on the Cross that he was false in calling himself tribulations and trials. Says the New the Messiah. They had in their Testament: support, the Biblical statement that ‘he that is hanged is an accursed of ‘The effectual fervent prayer of God’. (Duet. 21: 23). But if we a religious man availeth much. believe that he was taken down Elias was a man subject to like from the cross alive, (in a state of passions as we are, and he swoon of course) and he entered the prayed earnestly that it might heart of the earth alive and came out rain: and it rained not on the of it alive, then he can rightly be earth by the space of three years said to have overcome his enemies and six months. And he prayed and frustrated all their evil designs. again and the, heavens gave Jesus(as) says: rain, and the earth bro u g h t forth her fruit’. ‘For as Jonas was a sign unto (James 5: 16-18). the Ninevites, so shall also the Son of man be to this Again we read: generation’. (Luke 11:30) And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said father I thank Thee that In other words Jesus(as) said to the Thou hast heard me. And I knew Jews that God Almighty would that Thou hearest me always: save him from the clutches of death but because of the people which in the same way as He had saved stand by I said it that they may Jonah from the belly of the whale. believe that Thou hast sent me’. The similarity between the two (John 11: 41, 42). incidents can be real and genuine only when Jesus(as) enters the heart And he said, Abba, Father, all of the earth (grave) alive and comes things are possible unto Thee; out alive. take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will but X-His Prayer was heard what Thou wilt’. From the study of the Bible we (Mark 14:36) learn that God listens to the prayers of his apostles and saves them from From the quotations given above it

The Review of Religions – March 2004 55 Death on the Cross

is clear that Jesus( a s ) was terribly enough to preach his mission to the afraid of being put to the Cross, so lost sheep of the Israelites in the he fervently prayed that the bitter East. cup be taken away from him. J e s u s( a s ) passionately and fervently These arguments prove that the idea prayed to God that he might be of the crucifixion of Christ cannot saved the accursed death on the be justified even from the Biblical Cross, how could he then, say that point of view. Therefore, it is he had overcome the world; in case evident that the present Christian he died on the Cross, the mission faith based on that erroneous idea, of his whole life would come to can not hold ground. naught and wrongdoers could challenge his claim to . The thought of death on the Cross was simply grating upon his soul. Being a righteous prophet he was not afraid of mere death; he was certainly afraid of dying on the Cross as such a death could be interpreted to mean an ERRATA accursed death which was the very In The Review of Religions of negation of his prophetic mission. April 2003 (p.15) and August 2003 (p.4). Hadhrat Mirza ‘In the days of his flesh, when he Nasir Ahmad, Khalifatul had offered up prayers and Masih III was described as the supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was ‘cousin’ brother of Hadhrat able to save him from death and Mirza Tahir Ahmad, was heard in that he feared’. Khalidatul Masih IV instead (Hebrews 5:7). of ‘maternal step’ brother. We trust that the above has Hence we must presume that his abundantly cleared any earnest prayer was, no doubt heard confusion in the minds of and he miraculously escaped death some readers. by crucifixion and lived long

56 The Review of Religions – March 2004 The Prophet Promised Through Moses(as); Jesus(as) or Muhammad(sa)? – part II

An examination of the prophecy of prophet Moses(as) regarding the advent of a great future prophet. The first part of this article was featured in last month’s edition of The Review of Religions. by Dr. A.R. Bhutta, published in The Truth, Nigeria, August 1986

Contents of the Prophecy him were sent to obey and re- Now that we have examined the establish his Law. context of that prophecy of Moses(as), we can study its contents So, when it was said that another and try to find out, once again, who prophet ‘like Moses’ would be out of Jesus(as) and Muhammad(sa) raised by God, it could only mean really answers the description of that a prophet with a new Law would that prophet mentioned in the be raised as Moses(a s ) had been. prophecy. As far as Jesus(as) is concerned he (i) First of all, we are told in the did not come with any new Law as prophecy that the prophet to be he had been sent only to preach and raised will be a prophet ‘like propagate the same old Law of Moses’. M o s e s( a s ) which all the other prophets of Israel had been It is clear that for any prophet to be preaching before him, (Matt. 5:17). called ‘like Moses’ he must of J e s u s( a s ), therefore, had nothing necessity possess something particular in him as a prophet that particular as a prophet in common could make him a prophet ‘like with Moses ( a s ). We know that Moses’. M o s e s( a s ) was not an ordinary prophet. He was a prophet with a On the other hand, Muhammad, the d i fference; and the only thing Holy Prophet of Islam(sa), was a special about Moses(as) was that he prophet who had been sent with a was sent with a new Law while all new Law, replacing the old Law of the other prophets who followed Moses(as). He, therefore, is the only

The Review of Religions – March 2004 57 The Prophet Promised Through Moses(as); Jesus(as) or Muhammad(sa)

prophet who can be called a prophet of the prophecy that ‘that prophet’ ‘like Moses’ and who has actually could in no case be raised from the been called so in the Holy Qur’an Israelites and that he could only (Ch.73: v.16). come out of Gentiles. Here in this verse, our conclusion about the Another very outstanding feature Gentiles has been confirmed and common between Moses( a s ) a n d narrowed down to one particular Muhammad(sa), that further makes nation. We are told that out of them resemble each other as Gentile nations, that prophet will be prophets, is that God manifested raised from that particular nation His mighty signs and powerful which can be called the ‘brethren of glory through both of them when Is r a e l ’ . God made them victorious over their very strong enemies, defeating Israel is not an ordinary nation. and destroying the enemy They are regarded as the chosen completely in the process. No such people of God; for any nation to be power and might of God was regarded as their ‘brethren’ that manifested through Jesus(as). On the nation must of necessity share and c o n t r a r y, it was the enemies of inherit something particular in J e s u s( a s ), according to the New common with Israel. ‘Brethren’ is a Testament, who over-powered him very specific and significant word and put him on the Cross. and God would not have used it for any people if He did not really How can Jesus ( a s ), therefore, be mean it. called a prophet ‘like Moses’ when every thing about him was unlike We know that the people of Israel Moses(as)? are the descendants of Isaac(as) and that they had been promised great (ii) The second feature of that blessings of God through their prophet, mentioned in the prophecy, forefather Abraham( a s ). It is a is that he shall be raised from the historical fact that the only people ‘brethren of Israel’. (Deut. 18: 18) who can be regarded as the physical as well as the spiritual counterparts Now it has already been discussed of Israelites, are the descendants of and concluded from the background Ishmael or Ismail( a s ), the elder

58 The Review of Religions – March 2004 The Prophet Promised Through Moses(as); Jesus(as) or Muhammad(sa) brother of Isaac( a s ). There is no fulfil the condition mentioned in the nation on the face of this earth, prophecy; it must also be proved other than the descendants of that he came from the ‘brethren of Ismail(as), that can claim to be the Israel.’ So, for Jesus(as) to be ‘that ‘brethren’ of Israel and that at the prophet’, his father must be found same time can boast of having and found from the ‘brethren of flourished under the divine promise Israel’. Otherwise he will hold his made to Abraham(as). Even the Bible mother’s nationality. confirms that Ismail(as) and Isaac(as) were not only brothers in flesh but It may be said that Jesus(as) was a also brothers in promise. (Genesis ‘son of God’ and he, therefore, can 16:16; 17:20) be considered to have come from, the ‘brethren of Israel’. This Since Muhammad( s a ), the Holy argument looks ridiculous on the Prophet of Islam, was a descendant very face of it, unless we are also of Ismael(as), he was actually and ready to consider that God had not a literally raised from these ‘brethren son, but many sons and daughters of Israel’, and the prophecy of who multiplied somewhere in the Moses(as) was fulfilled in his person heavens and developed into a and not in the person of Jesus(as) community called the ‘brethren of who was raised from the Israelites Israel’. and for the Israelites. (iii) The third characteristic of that It may be argued that Jesus(as) had prophet, mentioned in the prophecy no earthly father; he, therefore, is that God will ‘put His words in should not be regarded as a prophet his mouth and he shall speak all that from Israel. God shall command him’.

This argument has no weight at all This is a very special feature of that because Jesus(as) at least had a prophet. It not only proves that ‘that mother who belonged to Israel. So, prophet’ will be a Lawgiver but also if he had no father, then he would explains that the Law given through wholly and solely belong to his that prophet will be in the form of m o t h e r’s family. Moreover, not pure and precise words of God, and having a father from Israel, does not that he shall speak out these words

The Review of Religions – March 2004 59 The Prophet Promised Through Moses(as); Jesus(as) or Muhammad(sa)

of God only under the control and There is no such example reported in command of God, without any the Gospels where Jesus(a s ) co n v e y e d contribution on his part. any exact words of God in the name of God. On the contrary he clearly This is exactly how the Holy declared that someone else will Qur’an was revealed to the Holy come after him who will hear from Prophet(sa) of Islam. The ‘words of God and convey us all the truth God’ were actually put in his mouth (John 16:13). So we see that Jesus(a s ) when, under the divine control, could not be the ‘prophet’ mentioned verses of the Holy Qur’an issued in the prophecy of Moses(a s ) . forth from his holy mouth without his personal effort or desire. (iv) Finally, God is reported to have (Ch.53: Vs.4,5) said in that prophecy ‘whoever will not pay heed to my word, which that As far as Jesus is concerned, he was prophet will speak in my name, I neither given any Law nor is there will myself require it of him’; and any record of verbal revelation that then God went on to say: ‘but the was ‘put in his mouth’. He, prophet who presumes to speak a therefore, cannot answer this word in my name, which I have not description of that prophet. commanded him to speak, that same prophet shall die’. Another interesting and important (Deut. 18:20) point mentioned in this connection, is that ‘that prophet will speak the Now here in these verses, God has word of God in the name of God’. not only sounded a very serious note It is indeed very inspiring to note of warning for both, the prophet and that every chapter of the Holy the people, but also has provided a Q u r’an, except one, starts with the criterion for judging the truth of that verse, ‘In the name of Allah, the prophet. We are told that God will Gracious and Merciful’; and all punish the enemies of that prophet. Muslims are required to recite this On the other hand, any false verse before reciting any portion of claimant pretending to be that the Holy Qur’ a n . prophet, shall also be punished, and punished with death.

60 The Review of Religions – March 2004 The Prophet Promised Through Moses (as); Jesus(as) or Muhammad(sa)

Let us now compare Muhammad(s a ) But, unfortunately for the and Jesus(a s ) and see how they faired Christians, (and in accordance with in this test set by God. Christian belief) they are of the view that his enemies succeeded in Muhammad(sa) has been declared to their very first attempt on his life be a prophet who came according to and most of his followers ran away the prophecies of the Holy Bible for their lives and went and in particular, he has been called u n d e rground. Evidently, the ene- a prophet like Moses(as). mies of Jesus(as) not only succeeded in defeating him and his budding After his claim to the prophethood, community, but also they seem to he was rejected, opposed and have escaped any punishment from persecuted by his people. Repeated his God. attempts were planned and made on his life and he had to participate If that warning and criterion, personally in many bloody wars. On mentioned by God in that prophecy many such occasions, he received of Moses(as) has anything to go by, serious injuries and at times even then nobody with a fair sense of had close brushes with death; judgement, can say that Jesus(as), nevertheless, he not only survived all and not Muhammad(sa), could be the these dangerous situations but also prophet mentioned in that prophecy. succeeded in completing his divine The achievements of Jesus(as) and mission against all odds. On the M u h a m m a d( s a ) are diagonally other hand, his enemies, despite their opposed to each other in that strength and superiority in men and particular field. If Jesus( a s ) w e r e materials, were defeated disgrace- really that prophet promised by fully and destroyed eventually, M o s e s( a s ), his enemies could not making Muhammad ( s a ) the most have defeated him, they could not successful prophet that ever came (as Christians believe) have into this world. prosecuted and executed him; nor could they have escaped their own However, Jesus(as) too, claimed to defeat and destruction. Conversely, be a prophet; he too, was rejected if Muhammad(s a ) had falsely claimed and persecuted by his people; and to bethat prophet, he could not have his enemies too, planned to kill him. succeeded in his mission, the way

The Review of Religions – March 2004 61 The Prophet Promised Through Moses(as); Jesus(as) or Muhammad(sa)

he did; and his enemies could not by his enemies. As such, he could have been punished and destroyed, still be a true prophet, no doubt; but the way they were. Consequently, he could be the Christ, Elijah or any there is no escape from the obvious other prophet, new or old, but he conclusion that the prophecy of could never be that particular Moses(as) was fulfilled, not in the prophet who was destined to be person of Jesus(as), the Christ, but saved and successful and whose with the advent of Muhammad, the enemies were doomed to be Holy Prophet of Islam (sa). defeated and destroyed.

An Important Clarification Secondly, it has been said in the It seems necessary to clarify in the prophecy that anybody pretending above-mentioned context that we to be that particular prophet and do not mean to say that every preaching a false word of God shall prophet that fails to defeat his be punished with death. That enemies and is killed by them, must automatically means that any necessarily be a false prophet. prophet who preaches the words in the name of God all his life and is Firstly, if a person claiming to be a still not caught and killed by God, prophet of God, is captured and that prophet must necessarily be killed by his enemies, no doubt he true in his claim to be that particular could still be a true prophet of God prophet. but what he can never be is that particular prophet mentioned in that This makes the case of prophecy of Moses, because the M u h a m m a d(sa) very simple and penalty of death has been fixed as a straightforward. He claimed to be sign for the false claimant to that that particular prophet and preached particular post. This makes it the words in the name of God all his necessary that a true claimant to life; and in spite of all this, he that particular prophethood should received no such punishment fixed never suffer that penalty and his life for a false prophet but proved should be saved and protected. himself to be most successful of all the prophets. Muhammad( s a ), Now, Jesus(as), as believed by the therefore, must be accepted as Christians, was captured and killed absolutely true in what he claimed

62 The Review of Religions – March 2004 The Prophet Promised Through Moses(as); Jesus(as) or Muhammad(sa) to be, otherwise we would have to no part of the inheritance, an believe that something must be a rgument sometimes also wrong with that prophecy. If he incorrectly advanced against Ismail were false, he could not have made (as) as being the rejected one of himself above the Law of God and Abraham. But it is very obvious escaped His punishment. from the words of this prophecy that the prophet who was to come had to So, let it be known to all lovers of come from some bre t h ren other the truth that the greatest promise to than from the tribes of Israel. Abraham(as) was that the nations of Secondly, with reference to Jesus, the earth shall be blessed through John refers to the Comforter as the his descendants; the greatest Holy Ghost and the Spirit of the promise given to Moses(as) was that Truth, and the Law introduced by a great prophet like him shall be Muhammad(sa) was nothing but the raised from the descendants of Truth and he himself was known as Abraham(as), other than the Israel; the Siddiq i.e. the Truthful one. the greatest prayer and desire of all (Ed)] the Biblical prophets was to see the fulfilment of that promise made to A b r a h a m( a s ) and Moses( a s ); the greatest mission of Jesus(as) and his disciples was to preach and proclaim the forthcoming fulfilment of that promise. The greatest thing that ever happened on this earth was the fulfilment of that promise with the advent of Muhammad(sa), the Holy Prophet of Islam.

[Editor’s Note: It is sometimes argued that the prophecy in Ch.18 of Deuteronomy refers to the tribe of Levi who had

The Review of Religions – March 2004 63 Subscription The Review of Religions

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