Contents February 2002, Vol.97, No.2 Editorial – Grand prophecy about an exceptional son whose qualities would be truly outstanding . 3 Comments – A time to understand and end hatred . 4 Achievments of the Promised Reformer – Our feature length article enlists the major achievements during the life of theblessed son of the Promised Messiah(as) – Ataul Munim Rasheed. 7 Assessment of Belief – Part III – The time appointed for the advent of the Mahdi has arrived. Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad(as) . 24 QUESTION & ANSWER: Harmony and Peace – Religious differences should not prevent a civil life. Hadhrat Mirza Tahir Ahmad.. 29 Islam’s Response to Terrorism – A keynote address to prevent crashing aeroplanes and sending suicide bombers. Abdul Ghany Jahengeer Khan . 33 A Game of Chess or a Game of Chance – The spontaneous emergence of life is about as likely as the assemblage of a 747 by a tornado and other evidence – Hadhrat Mirza Tahir Ahmad.. 40 The Holy Qur’an on War and Peace – An understanding of Islam’s teachings in warfare including the treatment of prisoners. Hadhrat Mirza Bashir-ud-Din Mahmud Ahmad. 48 Chief Editor and Manager Chairman of the Management Board Mansoor Ahmed Shah Naseer Ahmad Qamar Basit Ahmad Bockarie Tommy Kallon. Special contributors: All correspondence should Daud Mahmood Khan Amatul-Hadi Ahmad be forwarded directly to: Farina Qureshi Fareed Ahmad The Editor Fazal Ahmad Proof-reader: Review of Religions Shaukia Mir Fauzia Bajwa The London Mosque Mansoor Saqi Design and layout: 16 Gressenhall Road Mahmood Hanif Tanveer Khokhar London, SW18 5QL Mansoora Hyder-Muneeb United Kingdom Navida Shahid Publisher: Al Shirkatul Islamiyyah © Islamic Publications, 2002 Sarah Waseem ISSN No: 0034-6721 Saleem Ahmad Malik Distribution: Tanveer Khokhar Muhammad Hanif Views expressed in this publication are not necessarily the opinions of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. 1 the unknown, one being the prophecy of the Promised Son. Editorial On 12th January 1889, the Promised Messiah( a s ) w a s Of all the greatest men on blessed with a son whom he earth, very few are granted named Mirza Bashiruddeen sons perfectly reflecting their Mahmud Ahmad(ra). He was to excellent qualities. Allah, the grow into an intelligent youth, Most High, decreed that the replete with knowledge both Promised Messiah( a s ) r e c e i v e secular and spiritual, honoured this special grace. Intimation with Divine revelation and of this extraordinary blessing imbued with the Holy Spirit. At was vouchsafed unto him the tender age of twenty-five, through a wonderful this promised son assumed the revelation. Allah Almighty told mantle of Khalifatul Masih II the Promised Messiah that he and for over half a century led would be granted an the Ahmadiyya Muslim exceptional son whose C o m m u n i t y. His tenure of qualities and excellence would office was blessed with be truly outstanding. enormous success. Wi t h extremely limited funds, he This was a grand prophecy established the community in vouchsafed unto the Promised 46 countries, a foundation Messiah in 1886. He had been upon which the community has in retreat for 40 days devoting continued to build so that himself entirely in solitude to today it is established in more Divine worship and suppli- than 170 countries. The special cation. Having completed this insight granted to him by Allah period of 40 days, he allowed him to know exactly announced on 20th February when to launch challenging 1886 that during the period of schemes or to restructure the his retreat he had been community’s vital activities in honoured with the disclosure of significant ways. He showed a many matters with regard to keen understanding of complex 2 Review of Religions – February 2002 Editorial political and social issues of thousands of spiritual truths successfully guiding the and hidden secrets, many of community through two fear- which had never been some world wars and a presented before. migration en masse to Pakistan after the 1947 partition of the While it is well nigh impossible Indian subcontinent from to adequately cover his many where he started the whole achievements, this month’s city of Rabwah from absolute feature article attempts to scratch in a most inhospitable summarise some of his major land. ones. Beginning with the grand prophecy announced in But the Promised Reformer(ra) February 1886, the article stands out in his knowledge and gives a glimpse of his unique mastery of a vast range of and glorious services to the subjects that his very person is cause of Islam so that as a Divine miracle in itself. The members of the Ahmadiyya fathomless ocean of his Muslim Community remember knowledge is exposed in his the world over 20th February masterpiece, the Ta f s i r- e - as Musleh Ma’ud (The Promised K a b e e r, an exhaustive com- Reformer) Day, the readers of mentary on the Holy Qur’an. In the Review of Religions are this astounding work, the reminded of that holy Promised Re f o r m e r( r a ) u n c o v - personage whose advent was, ered his mastery on such in the words of the prophecy, widely varying fields as history, ‘as if Allah has descended from p h i l o s o p h y, psychology, geol- heaven.’ o g y, physics, chemistry, Bockarie Tommy Kallon s o c i o l o g y, politics, biology, linguistics, medicine, botany, entomology, embryology, cos- COVER PHOTO: mology, astronomy, Egyptology Hadhrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmad. In the background is Hadhrat and many more. But above all, Muhammad Zafrulla Khan. this ten thousand-page com- mentary contains an exposition Review of Religions – February 2002 3 Notes & Comments A TIME TO UNDERSTAND AND END HATRED by Mansoor Ahmed Shah – UK A common misconception that unfounded charges without resurfaced recently was that age- inhibition. I know that the time old allegation that the sword was is approaching fast when those the instrument for the spread of who are hungry and thirsty for Islam. We quote the Founder of Truth will see through their the Ahmadiyya Muslim community deception. Can a religion be on this subject: described as a religion of compulsion when its Holy Book, ‘Islam never advocated the Qur’an, has categorically compulsion. If the Holy Quran, prohibited the use of force for the books of Hadith and the spread of faith? So says the historical records are carefully Holy Qur’a n : examined, studied and listened to attentively, as far as There is no compulsion in possible, one is bound to reach re l i g i o n . (Chapter 2: 257) one positive conclusion. That conclusion is that the allegation Can we accuse that great that Islam permitted the use of Prophet of using force against sword for the spread of religion others, who for thirteen years, is shameless and utterly day and night, exhorted all his unfounded. This, in fact, is the Companions in Makkah not to view held by only those who return evil for evil but to have not studied the Holy forbear and forgive. When, Q u r’an or the Traditions or ho w e v e r , the mischief of the other reliable sources of Islamic enemy exceeded all limits and history without prejudice. Not when all the various peoples only this, but some have even around him made determined gone to the extent of efforts to exterminate Islam, fabricating lies and levying Go d ’ s attribute that He always 4 Review of Religions – February 2002 Notes & Comments defends His beloved one so and his bosom are lit up with de m a n d e d : the light of faith. Hence no compulsion had any role to play “let those who raised the in Islam.’ sword perish by the sword.” (Roohani Khazain, Vol 15: Masih Hindustan Main pp11-12) Otherwise in no way has the Holy Qur’an permitted compul- Then again: sion in religion. Had compulsion been employed in any way in ‘None of the true Muslims who winning converts and had the ever lived, maintained that Companions of our Holy force should be employed in Pro p h e t (s a ) , been the fruit of the spread of Islam. On the compulsion, it would have been other hand, Islam has always impossible for them to have flourished on the strength of its demonstrated at the time of inherent qualities of excel- trials, such steadfastness and lence. Those who do have the sincerity as only true believers distinction of being called could have displayed. The Muslims, yet believe that Islam loyalty and faithfulness of the should be spread with force, do Companions of our master, the not seem to have any Holy Pro p h e t (s a ) is a fact so well awareness of the inherent known as need no comment beauties of Islam.’ from us. It is no secret that (Roohani Khazain Vol 15: among them were examples of Tiryaqul Qulub, footnote loyalty and steadfastness the p. 1 6 7 ) parallel of which is difficult to find in the annals of other Having dispelled that allegation, nations. This body of the what can the Muslims do to create faithful did not waver in their a better understanding in their loyalty and steadfastness even relationship with other commu- under brandishing swords. On nities? Hadhrat Mirza Nasir the contrary, in the company of Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih III, their Great and Holy Pro p h e t (s a ) , coined the phrase ‘Love for all they displayed such stead- and hatred for none’. This catchy fastness which no man can theme became a motto of the demonstrate unless his heart Ahmadiyya Muslim community.