MANAGEMENT BOARD CONTENTS Mr Munir-ud-din Shams (Chairman) Mr Mansoor Shah (Secretary) Mr Naseer Ahmad Qamar March 2007, Vol.102, No.03 Mr Mubarak Ahmad Zafar Mr Mirza Fakhar Ahmad Mr. Abdul Baqi Arshad EDITORIAL – Increasing evidence that mankind is having an accelerating adverse effect on our CHIEF EDITOR AND MANAGER climate – by Fazal Ahmad, London, UK...... 2 Mansoor Ahmed Shah ESSENCE OF ISLAM – Part 17 – Matchlessness of EDITORIAL BOARD the Holy Qur’an illustrated with Surah Fatihah. Basit Ahmad Bockarie Tommy Kallon Continuing comparison between the exquisite beauty of the rose Fareed Ahmad and the first seven priceless verses of the first chapter of the Fazal Ahmad. Holy Qur’an – From the writings of the Promised Messiah and Mahdi, Fauzia Bajwa (as) Mansoor Saqi Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad ...... 5 Mahmood Hanif Mansoora Hyder-Hanif RABWAH: A PLACE FOR MARTYRS Navida Shahid Sarah Waseem Findings of a UK Parliamentary mission on the Human Rights of Saleem Ahmad Malik Ahmadi Muslims in Pakistan and the dangers they face in Rabwah, Tanveer Khokhar Part 1. by Jonathan Ensor, UK...... 19 SPECIAL CONTRIBUTORS Amatul Hadi Ahmad Farina Qureshi SUCCOUR AND HELP FROM ALLAH THE

PROOFREADERS ALMIGHTY IS PROOF OF HIS EXISTENCE – part 2 Abdul Ghany Jahangeer Khan Nearness to God can be attained through prayer and supplication. Shaukia Mir The help provided by God to those who supplicate to Him is proof DESIGN AND LAYOUT of the existence of a Living God. Tanveer Khokhar by Rafiq Hayat, Ameer UK ...... 43 PUBLISHER Al Shirakatul Islamiyyah UZBEKISTAN – CRADLE OF ISLAMIC THOUGHT DISTRIBUTION The background of the place which spawned the greatest Hadith Muhammad Hanif scholars, great Islamic scientists and leaders.

All correspondence should be forwarded to the editor at: by Fazal Ahmad, UK...... 51 The Review of Religions The London Mosque 16 Gressenhall Road London, SW18 5QL United Kingdom Email: [email protected] Photos at the launch of © Islamic Publications, 2007 ISSN No: 0034-6721 the Parliamemntary report on Rabwah held Views expressed in this publication are not necessarily the beliefs of the Ahmadiyya at the House of Lords on Muslim Community 26th January 2007 EDITORIAL COMMENT Fazal Ahmad – London

In recent years, the rapid of increasingly intense storms. economic progress of China and The report also highlights the India have added pressure for growing certainty (greater than resources, and heightened con- 90%) that this upward trend of cerns over the impact of increased disastrous weather has been use of fossil fuels on climate directly contributed to through change. human activity and emissions into the atmosphere. For many years, politicians in leading nations such as the US Concerned governments are now have often argued that drawing conclusions that this will fluctuations in climate are normal, ultimately result in political and that there is no evidence that instability and will impact industrial growth has had an prosperity. Already, global adverse effect. supplies of natural oil and gas are leading to wars. Given the large However, the mood seems to be percentage of mankind that lives changing. In January, US on or near the coastline, rising sea President Bush declared that the levels will drive population and US needs to reduce its energy increase competition for land. consumption. An Inter- governmental Panel on Climate Mankind has a responsibility to Change (IPCC) con-sisting of tread a ‘middle path’ in order to more than 2,000 of the world’s preserve the ecosystem. This is top scientists has concluded that nothing new. When food stocks of world temper-atures are likely to types of fish were running low, rise by 3°C by 2100 (possibly quotas were placed on fishing to even as much as 6.4°C), and that allow stocks to replenish sea-levels are likely to rise by naturally. Exactly the same is true between 28-43cm. It also warned of natural resources such as oil

2 The Review of Religions – March 2007 EDITORIAL COMMENT

Likelihood that Likelihood Likelihood Phenomenon and trend occured of human of trends for direction of trend since 1960 contribution 21st Century

Warmer and fewer cold Virtually Very likely Likely days and nights over most certain land areas

warmer and more frequent Likely Virtually Very likely hot days and nights over (nights) certain most land areas

Warm spells/ heat waves. More likely Very Likely Frequency increases over than not likely most land areas

Heavy precipitation events. More likely Very Likely Frequency increases over than not likely most areas

Areas affected by droughts Likely in many More likely Likely increases regions since 1970s than not

Intense tropical cyclone Likely in many More likely Likely activity increases regions since 1970 than not

Increased incidence of More likely Likely Likely extreme high sea levels than not (excludes tsunamis)

Recent Climate Trends IPCC WGI Fourth Assessment Report , ‘Climate Change 2007: The Physical Science Basis’, February 2007 and gas where increasingly the ‘It is now more urgent than ever focus is shifting to alternative that the international community energy sources. gets down to serious negotiations on a comprehensive new world- The debate is now growing in wide agreement to stop global intensity and voices in Europe are warming.’(Stavros Dimas, EU urging prompt action: Environment Commissioner)

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But if a concensus is ever reached, they may sail through the sea political action is likely to yield by His command, and the results the efforts of the individual rivers too has He subjected to cannot be under-estimated. you. Reducing waste, being more frugal with water and food, and And He has also subjected to not wasting energy will all have an you the sun and the moon, effect if enough of us start taking both performing their work action in our own homes and daily constantly. And He has business. It is waste that is subjected to you the night as polluting the atmosphere, and well as the day. waste that is filling huge holes in the ground, and we need to And He gave you all that you consider whether that is a fitting wanted of Him; and if you try legacy for the generations to to count the favours of Allah, come. you will not be able to number them. Verily, man is very However, amid the gloom, we unjust, very ungrateful. should also bear in mind that the (Ch.56: Vs.69-74) same God that created man, also created the Earth and all of the The heaven and the earth have resources that we use, and the plenty of resources to sustain us, same God can create new avenues but we must first adopt the right for man to sustain his existence, course. just as the Qur’an explains: Let us pray that the damage that Allah is He Who created the has already been done is not a heavens and the earth and climate change too far. caused water to come down from the clouds, and brought by Fazal Ahmad forth therewith fruits for your sustenance; and He has subjected to you the ships that

4 The Review of Religions – March 2007 ESSENCE OF ISLAM: Part 17 – Matchlessness of the Holy Qur’an illustrated with Surah Fatihah This series 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 Urdu, from which these extracts have been translated into English, was collated with great care and diligence by Syed Daud Ahmad Sahib, Allah have mercy on him and reward him graciously for his great labour of love. Amin. The English rendering is by the late Sir Muhammad Zafrullah Khan, may Allah be pleased with him, and is quoted from The Essence of Islam, Volume 1. All references throughout, unless otherwise specifically mentioned, are from the Holy Qur’an.

The descent of the Holy Word of of his. In the same way, the word God into the world and its being of God which has descended for made known to God’s creatures the reform and guidance of is the demand of the attribute of mankind, has descended by Rahmaniyyat. The attribute of virtue of this attribute. There is Rahmaniyyat is manifested with- no animate who can claim that out being preceded by the action the Holy Word of God which of any person and merely by the com-prehends His law has been beneficence and bounty of God. revealed in consequence of any God has created the sun and the action or effort of his or as the moon and water and air, etc. for reward of his virtue. This is the the welfare of His creatures and reason why despite the fact that all this beneficence and bounty is there have been thousands who by virtue of the attribute of claim to be pure and virtuous and Rahmaniyyat. No one can claim who have spent their lives in that these things have been piety and worship, yet the Holy created as a reward of any action and Perfect Word of God which

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brought into the world His commandments and informed men of His designs, was revealed only at such time when it was needed.

It is, however, necessary that the Holy Word of God should be revealed only to those who occupy a high place in holiness and purity of soul, inasmuch as holiness has no relationship with impurity. But it is not necessary The founder of the Ahmadiyya that in every case of holiness and Muslim community was Hadhrat virtue there should be a Mirza Ghulam Ahmad(as). revelation of the Word of God. The founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community was Hadhrat The revelation of the true law Mirza Ghulam Ahmad(as). In 1891, and teaching of God Almighty he claimed, on the basis of Divine depends upon true need. revelation, that he was the Promised Whenever the need arose and it Messiah and Mahdi whose advent had been foretold by Muhammad, appeared that the Divine Word the Holy Prophet of Islam (peace should be revealed for the reform and blessings of Allah be upon him) of the age in that time, God and by the scriptures of other faiths. Almighty, Who is All-Wise, His claim constitutes the basis of the revealed the word. At no other beliefs of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community. time is the perfect Word of God, which comprises Divine law, revealed, though there might be people but that also happens present millions of people who when according to Divine are righteous and pure and Wisdom true need arises for such possess a high degree of holiness converse. The difference and virtue. It is true that God between the two needs is that holds converse with some pure Divine law is revealed at the time

6 The Review of Religions – March 2007 ESSENCE OF ISLAM – MATCHLESSNESS OF THE HOLY QUR’AN ILLUSTRATED WITH SURAH FATIHAH of such need when the people of night becomes dark and no light the world, through misguidance is left you realise that the and error, have turned away from appearance of the new moon is the right path and a new law is near. In the same way, when the needed to bring them back to it, darkness of misguidance over- which should remove their comes the world, sane reason afflictions and lift their darkness appreciates that the appearance totally by the light of its perfect of the spiritual moon is near. In and healing statements, and the same way, when people are should provide with its forceful afflicted with a drought, the wise pronouncements the remedy among them consider the descent which is needed by the corrupt of the rain of mercy very near. condition of the world. In His physical law also God has But the converse that is held with appointed some seasons for rain the Auliya’ is not preceded by during which God’s creatures are this great need. Very often, the truly in need of rain. From the purpose of such converse is to rain that descends during those invest the soul of a saint with seasons, it cannot be concluded steadfastness at a time of that at that time people do more distress, or to convey some piece good and at other times they are of good news to him at a time involved in vice. Those are when he is overcome by sorrow seasons when cultivators are in and grief. But the perfect and need of rain and the descent of Holy Word of God Almighty that rain at that time becomes the descends upon Prophets and cause of the growth of vegetation Messengers is revealed, as we throughout the year. In the same have just stated, when a true need way, the descent of the Word of for it arises and when mankind is God is not on account of the in dire need of its revelation. piety and righteousness of a Thus the true cause of the particular person, that is to say, descent of the Word of God is its the cause of the descent of such proper need. When the whole word is not that a particular

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person was very holy and Light, that observing this dark virtuous, or was hungry and condition and having mercy on thirsty for the truth. As we have the creatures afflicted with written so often, the true cause of darkness, there was an upsurge in the revelation of heavenly Books the attribute of Rahmaniyyat and is their need, that is to say, that heavenly blessings addressed gloom and darkness spread over themselves to the earth. That the world and demand a heavenly dark condition became blessed light which should dispel the for the world and the world darkness. This is indicated in the thereby received a grand mercy Divine Word in the verse: so that the Perfect Man and the Chief of the Prophets, like whom Surely, We sent it down on the there had been no one, nor ever Night of Destiny will be, came for the guidance of (Ch.97:V.2) the world and brought that bright Book for the world whose match This Night, according to its no eye has beheld. It was a great common interpretation, is a manifestation of spiritual Blessed Night, but some of the perfection of God that, at a time verses of the Holy Qur’an of gloom and darkness, He sent indicate that the condition of the down a Grand Light which is darkness of the world is also a named the Furqan and which Night of Decree on account of its distinguishes between truth and hidden qualities. In that con- falsehood and which demon- dition of darkness, sincerity and strated the coming of truth and steadfastness, and piety and the disappearance of falsehood. worship, have great value in the It descended upon the earth when estimation of God. It was the earth had become spiritually because of that condition of dead and land and sea had been darkness which at the time of the greatly corrupted. By its descent advent of the Holy Prophet(saw) it accomplished that to which had arrived at its climax and God Almighty has pointed in the demanded the descent of a Grand verse:

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Know that Allah quickens the It is true, however, that the Word earth after its death … of God descends only upon those (Ch.57:V.18) of the elect with whom God is pleased, but it is not true that That is to say: The earth had died without any true need a heavenly and God revived it afresh. Book is revealed to anyone with whom God is pleased, or that It should be remembered that the without any such need He descent of the Holy Qur’an which necessarily and continuously took place for the purpose of holds converse with such a one. reviving the earth came about The Book of God is revealed through the upsurge of the only when its need arises. The attribute of Rahmaniyyat. This is true cause of Divine revelation is the attribute which sometimes the Rahmaniyyat of God manifests itself in a material way Almighty and not anyone’s and causes the rain of mercy to action. This is a great verity of descend upon dry land and thus which our opponents the Brahmo makes provision for those who are Samajists and others are afflicted with famine. The same unaware. attribute sometimes surges up spiritually and has mercy on the Then it should be understood that condition of those who are hungry for anyone to become the and thirsty and near unto death on recipient of the Grace of Divine account of misguidance and error, revelation, and to arrive at his and lack the nourishment of truth goal through its blessings and and righteousness which is the lights and to obtain the fruits of source of spiritual life. Thus the his effort, comes about by the Gracious One, as He bestows support of the attribute of nourishment upon the body at the Rahmaniyyat. This is why, after time of need, so of His Perfect the attribute of Rahmaniyyat, Mercy He provides spiritual Allah the Exalted cites the nourishment also at the time of attribute of Rahimiyyat, so that it need. should become known that the

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effects of Divine revelation seeker after truth; and another of which manifest themselves in the Whose attributes is that He is souls of people derive from the Rahim, Who does not let go attribute of Rahimiyyat. To the waste anyone’s effort and blesses degree to which a person turns to it with good results and bestows God, and sincerity and faith take the fruit of his diligence upon possession of his heart, and he him. These two attributes are adopts obedience by putting forth such that without their help no appropriate effort, to that degree design, whether secular or his heart is affected by Divine religious, can be carried to its revelation and he derives benefit goal. from its lights and the signs of those who are accepted by God Reflection would show that these are manifested in him. two attributes are in operation all the time to bring about the The second verity which is fulfilment of all designs. The contained in: Rahmaniyyat of God began to manifest itself before man came In the name of Allah, the into being, and it provides such Gracious, the Merciful resources for man as are beyond (Ch.1:V.1) his power and which he cannot acquire through any design or is that this verse has been planning. These resources are not revealed for the commencement bestowed as a consequence of of the Holy Qur’an and the any action but only out of Grace purpose of its recitation is to seek and Benevolence, as, for help from the Being Who instance, the advent of Prophets, comprehends in Himself all the revelation of Books, the perfect attributes, one of which is provision of rain, the perfor- that He is Rahman and out of His mance of their functions by the pure Benevolence He provides sun and the moon and air and the means of cultivating good clouds, and the apppearance in and blessing and guidance for a the world of man himself

10 The Review of Religions – March 2007 ESSENCE OF ISLAM – MATCHLESSNESS OF THE HOLY QUR’AN ILLUSTRATED WITH SURAH FATIHAH equipped with diverse types of For instance, the grant of life and faculties and capacities and his leisure and appropriate oppor- being granted a term of life in tunity, and the possession of health, peace and leisure. All faculties and strength, and the these are matters that manifest prevention of anything that might themselves in consquence of the disturb comfort and peace or attribute of Rahmaniyyat. In the might prevent the heart from same way, the Rahimiyyat of God paying full attention, and to be is manifested when, possessing bestowed the needed capacity; all all faculties, man employs those these are achieved through the God-given faculties to accom- attribute of Rahmaniyyat. The plish something and puts forth purpose of seeking blessings his strength and effort, then it is through Rahimiyyat is that the the way of the Divine that He Perfect Being should bless one’s does not let his effort go waste efforts with good results, and and blesses it with good results. should safeguard one’s hard It is His Rahimiyyat which work against being wasted and quickens his dead effort. should bless it in consequence of the struggle and effort put forth. The purpose of the verse is that Thus when beginning the study when beginning the study of the of the Divine Word, and indeed Holy Qur’an, help and blessing at the beginning of every great should be sought from the effort, it is a high verity to seek Rahmaniyyat and Rahimiyyat of blessings and help from the God Almighty Who compre- Rahmaniyyat and Rahimiyyat of hends all perfect attributes. The God Almighty. In this way, man object of seeking blessings from learns the reality of the Unity of Rahmaniyyat is that God, of His God, and becoming certain of his Bounty and Beneficence, might own ignorance and unawareness, provide all those means needed stupidity and error, and help- before an effort is put forth in lessness and contemptibility, his following Divine revelation. mind is fixed upon the Greatness and Glory of the Source of all

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grace. Considering himself and nothingness, and does not wholly poor and indigent and as find himself competent to nothing, man seeks the blessings perform anything successfully, of Rahmaniyyat and Rahimiyyat and finds no power or strength in from the All-Powerful. These himself when he begins an Divine attributes are in operation enterprise, naturally supplicates of themselves but the All-Wise for heavenly strength. He has made it a law of nature from beholds the Powerful Being of the beginning that man’s prayer God in His Perfection and Glory and seeking help have a great all the time and he perceives that share in success. Divine grace success in any endeavour addresses itself to resolving the depends upon Rahmaniyyat and difficulties of those who Rahimiyyat. Then forthwith, supplicate earnestly for success before putting forth his defective in their undertakings and whose and worthless effort, he seeks supplications arrive at the full Divine help through the degree of sincerity. A person who supplication: considers his own weaknesses and observes his own defaults In the name of Allah, the does not commence any Gracious, the Merciful. enterprise freely and optimi- (Ch.1:V.1) stically because his condition of servitude instructs him that he Through such humility he should seek the help of God becomes worthy to be bestowed Almighty Who is the Absolute power out of God’s power, and Controller. This eagerness of true strength out of His strength, and servitude is found in every heart knowledge out of His know- which retains its natural ledge, and to be successful in his simplicity and is aware of its designs. For proof of this no weakness. A sincere person arguments of logic or philosophy whose soul is not afflicted with are needed, for the soul of every any pride or arrogance and who person possesses the capacity to is well aware of his weakness realise this and the personal

12 The Review of Religions – March 2007 ESSENCE OF ISLAM – MATCHLESSNESS OF THE HOLY QUR’AN ILLUSTRATED WITH SURAH FATIHAH experiences of a true man of which fills the hearts of the proud understanding constantly bear people of the world. By being witness to its truth. There is convinced of his own weakness nothing artificial about a creature and the effectiveness of Divine seeking help from God, nor is it help, he partakes of that the result of idle thinking, nor is understanding which is bestowed it without substantial result. This on the special men of God. verity has been established by the eternal way of God Almighty, Without doubt, to the degree to Who is truly the support of the which a person adopts this way, world and with Whose support and makes it his duty to act upon the ark of this universe it, and perceives his ruin in constantly moves, that He lends leaving it out, to that degree his His support to those who, faith in the Unity of God is deeming themselves low and established, and to that degree he insignificant, seek His support is cleansed of arrogance and self- and begin their enterprise with importance, and to that degree His name. When they turn to the darkness of artificiality is God truly out of their humility removed from his countenance, and servitude, they are helped by and the light of sincerity begins His support. To seek the help of to shine on his face. This is the the name of that Fountainhead of verity which gradually leads a Grace, Who is Rahman and person to the stage of his losing Rahim, before commencing any himself in God, till he realizes substantial enterprise, is a way of that he receives everything from respect and servitude and God and nothing is his own. nothingness and indigence. This Whenever anyone adopts this is the way which is the first step way, the fragrance of the Unity of towards the acknowledgement of God begins to reach him at once, the Unity of God in one’s and his heart and brain are actions. By adopting it, a person perfumed thereby, provided his takes on the humility of children sense of smell is not corrupted. and is purified of the arrogance In adopting this verity a seeker

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after truth has to confess his own the slightest stir of the wind, or nothingness, and has to testify to by being shaken by someone. God the Glorious being the Such is the faith of the dry Absolute Controller and the philosophers who do not rely on Fountainhead of grace. These the Supporter of the universe and two are the goal of the seekers do not realise their dependence after truth and are a necessary during every moment upon Allah condition for the acquisition of Who is the Fountainhead of all the stage of being lost in God. To grace. These people are as far understand this necessary from the Unity of God as condition it is enough to know darkness is from light. They do that even when there is not understand that to submit widespread rain it falls only on oneself to the great power of the the one who takes his stand at the All-Powerful, realising one’s place where rain is falling. Only own nothingness, is the last stage those who seek find and of servitude and is the extreme thosewho ask are bestowed. point of the Unity of God, which makes the spring of total Those, who at the beginning of annihilation gush forth, and in an enterprise, rely upon their which one is lost altogether to skill, intelligence or strength, and one’s ego and its designs, and do not put their trust in God believes truly in the complete Almighty, do not value properly control of God. One should the All-Powerful Who com- disregard the argument of the prehends the whole world in His philosophers that there is no need support. Their faith is like the dry to seek Divine help in beginning branch which has no longer any an enterprise, inasmuch as God relationship with its flourishing has already invested our nature and green parent tree, and which with appropriate powers and it has no part in its freshness and its would be an act of supereroga- flowers and its fruits. It has only tion to supplicate Him again for an apparent connection with the those powers. tree which can be disrupted by

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It is true that God Almighty has and our hearts and our souls, and invested us with some powers for all the faculties of our souls, that the doing of certain acts, but this it is a very fine problem, which is does not mean that we are beyond the reach of human thereby freed from the reason. It is not necessary to go governance of the Supporter of further into the matter, for what the universe and that He has we have said so far is enough to separated Himself from us and refute the objection of our has drawn away His support and opponents. has deprived us of His limitless grace. Whatever He has The only way of obtaining the bestowed on us is limited, and grace of the Supporter of the what we demand from Him is universe is to supplicate with all without limit. Besides, we have one’s faculties and force and not been given any power to strength. This is not a new way accomplish that which is beyond but has been inherent from the our strength. Indeed reflection beginning in man’s nature. A would show that we have not person who desires to tread along been given any power in its the path of servitude adopts this perfection. For instance, our way, and the person who seeks physical powers depend upon our the grace of God follows this health, and our health depends on path, and the person who seeks causes, some of which are Divine mercy obeys these eternal heavenly and some are earthly, laws. These laws are not new like and all of which are beyond our the god of the Christians, but are power. In truth, the Supporter of firm laws which are eternal and the universe, by virtue of His are the practice of Allah which being the Cause of causes, so has been in operation all the time, comprehends our external con- the truth of which is apparent to ditions and our internal every sincere seeker on account conditions and our first and our of the multiplicity of his last, and our above and our experiences. Every blessing below, and our right and our left, proceeds in this way that the

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Being Who is the Absolute Rahimiyyat of God do not make Controller and the Cause of themselves manifest on all causes and is the Fountainhead of occasions. Indeed God Almighty all grace, whose name in the hears the supplications which are idiom of the Qur’an is Allah, first made in sincerity, and helps in an displays His attribute of appropriate manner those who Rahmaniyyat and brings into seek His help. Sometimes it existence whatever is needed, happens that a person’s prayer before one’s own effort, out of seeking help is not inspired by His pure grace and beneficence sincerity and humility, nor is his without the intervention of any spiritual condition in order so action on our part. When the that while his lips utter the attribute of Rahmaniyyat has prayer, his heart is heedless, or done this work to perfection, and only makes a show. Sometimes it man having been bestowed the happens that God hears the power exerts himself to the limit, prayer and bestows whatever He then it is for God Almighty to considers appropriate and best in display His attribute of His Perfect Wisdom, but an Rahimiyyat, and to bring about a ignorant person does not good result from the effort and recognise the hidden beneficence diligence of His servant and of God and on account of his safeguarding his industry from ignorance and unawareness going waste, to bestow his object begins to complain, ignoring the upon him. It is on account of this subject matter of the verse: second attribute that it is said that he who seeks finds and he who … but it may be that you asks is given, and he who knocks dislike a thing while it is good it is opened for him .... for you, and it may be that you like a thing while it is bad It is a misunderstanding of a for you. Allah knows all verity to think that sometimes things, and you know not. this seeking of help proves of no (Ch.2:V.217) avail and the Rahmaniyyat and

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It may be that you dislike a thing Narayan Singh, a lawyer of and it is in reality better for you, Amritsar, who, deeming the and it may be that you like a objection of the reverend thing and it is in fact harmful for gentleman as having substance, you. Allah knows the true reality has, out of the rancour of his of things and you know it not. heart, repeated it in his journal Viddya Prakashak. We now So far it is clear that the verse: proceed to set forth the objection together with its answer so that In the name of Allah, the every just person should realise Gracious, the Merciful. to what degree of inner blindness (Ch.1:V.1) bigotry has driven our opponents so that bright light appears comprehends the grand verity darkness to them and excellent which comprises the excellent perfume smells vile in their means of making progress in nostrils. The objection by these faith in the Unity of God and in critics raised against the servitude and sincerity, not profound and deeper meaning of matched in any other book. If the verse: anyone claims that it is so matched elsewhere, let him set In the name of Allah, the forth this verity along with the Gracious, the Merciful. other verities which we shall (Ch.1:V.1) expound below. is that the sequence of Rahman Some short-sighted and ignorant and Rahim in this verse is not opponents of Islam have raised proper and that the proper an objection to the proper sequence should have been composition of Bismillah. One of Rahim and Rahman, inasmuch as them is the Rev. Mr. ‘Imad-ud- Rahman signifies that mercy of Din, who has set forth the the Divine which is general and objection in his book Hidayat-ul- comprehensive and Rahim Muslimin. Another one is Bawa signifies the mercy of the Divine

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which is limited and special, and take precedence over Rahim, the the rules of composition require verse has become a mirror of that that which is limited should reality. A detailed account of this precede that which is general and natural sequence will be set forth unlimited and not vice versa. in the course of the discussion of the other verses of the Surah This is the objection which these Fatihah. two gentlemen have raised with (Barahin-e-Ahmadiyya, Ruhani their eyes shut against a text the Khazain, Vol. I, pp. 414-435, excellence of which has been footnote 11) admitted by all the learned of Arabia despite their opposition to Islam, among whom were included great poets. Great enemies of Islam were wonder- struck by the high grade of this text and many of them who were well-versed in judging the merits of a composition and were men of justice, finding the Qur’anic composition beyond the reach of human power and esteeming it a great miracle, believed in it. Their testimonies are referred to at various places in the Holy Qur’an … This ignorant Christian does not appear to be aware that true eloquence does not demand that the small should always precede the large, and that the true rule is that a text should be the mirror of reality. Here also by making Rahman

18 The Review of Religions – March 2007 An independant report (reproduced with prior permission) that destroys the myth that being a majority in their headquarter, Ahmadis may be able to obtain police protection. A chilling reminder of the ostracisation of Ahmadi Muslims in Pakistan, their continuing persecution and the absence of any protection by the authorities in Pakistan. Rabwah: A PLACE FOR MARTYRS Part one Report of the UK Parliamentary Human Rights Group mission to Pakistan into internal flight for Ahmadis. Foreword by Lord Avebury. Mission members: Frances Allen, Michael Ellman, Jonathan Ensor.

By Dr Jonathan Ensor – UK

Foreword by Eric Avebury, particular. In the early days of Vice-Chair, Parliamentary independence it was possible for Human Rights Group talented Ahmadis like Sir Zafrullah Khan, Pakistan’s first Ever since its formation in 1976, Foreign Minister, or Professor the Parliamentary Human Rights Abdus Salam, the Nobel Prize Group (PHRG) has observed winning physicist, to rise to the with concern the rising tide of top of their professions; today intolerance and fanaticism in they face multiple threats to life Pakistan, and the dire effects and property; are effectively dis- these trends have had on the franchised and prevented from rights and freedoms of the holding public gatherings1; are Ahmadiyya Muslim commu- denied access to higher edu- nities living in that country in cation2, and are barred from

1 Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, State of Human Rights 2005, January 2006, pp 205 et seq, www.hrcp- web,.org/ar_home_05.cfm 2 ‘Muslim students must declare in writing that they believe in the unqualified finality of the prophethood of Muhammad, a measure designed to single out Ahmadis’, US State Department, International Religious Freedom Report 2006, September 2006, www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2006/

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entry to public employment lodged with the approval of a except at the lowest levels. senior police officer. Unfortunately this signal of In 1996, a report commissioned reform was greeted by an outburst by the PHRG outlined the of hostile invective from the situation of the Ahmadis as it small but vociferous anti-Ahmadi was then, describing murders, lobby, and the concession was wrongful arrests and imprison- withdrawn. There has been no let- ments, attacks on Ahmadi up since then on the progressive Mosques, and widespread tightening of the screws, or any religious discrimination3. The mitigation of the flood of hate UN Rapporteur on Religious speech directed against the Intolerance said in a report of his Ahmadis by the fanatical Khatme visit to Pakistan that year that the Nabuwwat (Finality of the laws were ‘likely to foster Prophethood) organisation. It is intolerance in society’, and the easy enough, in a society where specifically anti-Ahmadi law most people are poor and was ‘particularly questionable ignorant, to stir up violent and in some respects frankly prejudice against a religious unwarranted’. minority holding views that are considered heretical by the In 2000, I attended the launch of majority, and to use the law of the President Musharraf's human land to make the ‘heretics’ into rights programme in Islamabad, non-citizens, as we know from and expressed satisfaction on our own history. That path leads hearing of his intention to ultimately towards genocide. mitigate the worst effects of the blasphemy law by providing that In recent years, the PHRG has a First Information Report (FIR) noted that an increasing number on this offence could only be of Ahmadis, trying to escape the

3 Jeremy Hornsby, Persecution of the Ahmadis in Pakistan, Parliamentary Human Rights Group, 1996. Jeremy Hornsby, Persecution of the Ahmadis in Pakistan, Parliamentary Human Rights Group, 1996.

20 The Review of Religions – March 2007 RABWAH – A PLACE FOR MARTYRS, PART ONE persecution in which they are the authorities in Islamabad, to trapped in Pakistan, have sought get as comprehensive a picture asylum in the UK, and although as possible of the conditions many have succeeded, our under which Ahmadis were impression was that an living there. Dr Jonathan Ensor, increasing proportion were being the Senior Research Officer at refused. In a number of cases the the Immigration Advisory reasoning was that, while the Service, Ms Frances Allen and applicant might have had a well- Mr Michael Ellman, immi- founded fear of persecution gration practitioners, generously within the meaning of the gave their time to this project, Refugee Convention if he which involved not just the visit returned to his locality of origin, itself, but a considerable he would be safe enough if he commitment of time to pre- migrated internally to the city of liminary meetings and the Rabwah, founded by the drafting of their report. The Ahmadiyyah community and PHRG thanks them warmly for inhabited by a majority of their work, and hopes it will Ahmadis. The anecdotal evi- make a significant contribution dence we had from Rabwah was to the determination of appeals that life in Rabwah itself was that turn on the feasibility of severely restricted and that internal flight. residents were subject to the same conditions, including The report itself draws no occasional violence and intimi- conclusions, allowing the facts dation, that occur elsewhere in to speak for themselves. Pakistan, and there was no real However, the statistic that out of safety in numbers. a total of 60 blasphemy FIRs recorded in 2005 against It was decided to invite a panel Ahmadis, 25 were in Rabwah of experts to visit Rabwah, hold alone, indicates that the misuse discussions there, and also meet of the law is as severe in Rabwah

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as in the rest of Pakistan. public services in the town, Evidence was seen by the though Ahmadis themselves club mission that the Ministry of the together to repair roads and Interior caused local police to drains. In Rabwah, as elsewhere, issue proceedings against the schools were nationalised by Ahmadis in Rabwah, as else- Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. They were where, for action including denationalised in 1996, but in distribution of literature, propa- Rabwah, although the Ahmadis gation of their faith, and bought the schools back, they collecting funds, and this led to remain in government owner- the closure of a newspaper. The ship, now derelict and dan- community also suffers more gerous. severely in Rabwah because of the presence of a Khatme This report makes clear the Nabuwwat mosque and a precariousness of life for madrassa, which regularly incites Ahmadis in Rabwah, starved of hatred against the Ahmadis, opportunities for education and leading to systematic intimi- employment, menaced by the dation and violence. The mullah Khatme Nabuwwat and their acknowledged that his followers rent-a-crowd mobs bussed in chanted ‘Death to the Ahmadis!’, from miles around, prevented but pretended that the attack was from buying land in the town on beliefs not persons. they developed. They are deprived of the right to manifest Clearly, since Ahmadis are their religion in worship, unable to vote – and are not even observance, practice and registered, since that would mean teaching, as laid down in the UN denying their faith – they play no Covenant on Civil and Political part in the local government of Rights, and they are constantly Rabwah, but neither are they to under threat of prosecution under be found among local police or the infamous blasphemy laws. officials. The evidence shows This place is not a safe haven for that hardly anything is spent on Ahmadis fleeing persecution

22 The Review of Religions – March 2007 RABWAH – A PLACE FOR MARTYRS, PART ONE elsewhere in Pakistan; it is a Following the withdrawal of the ghetto, at the mercy of hostile British from India in 1947, the sectarian forces whipped up by Ahmadi community left Qadian hate-filled mullahs and most of and fled, along with many the Urdu media. The authors of thousands of other Muslims, to this report expose the reality of a what would become West dead-end, to which even more Pakistan. Partly through their victims should not be exiled. excellent relationship with the new Government of Pakistan, a 1. Introduction number of Ahmadi leaders 1.1 Background to the mission arranged to purchase 1043 acres The Ahmadiyya Movement in of barren land near Chiniot, in Islam is a religious community Punjab. There the Ahmadi founded in 1889 by Hadhrat community members founded Mirza Ghulam Ahmad((as) – Ed) and developed Rabwah, which is (1835-1908) in Qadian, India. today the administrative centre He claimed that he was the and headquarters of the Ahmadi ‘Promised Reformer’ and community in Pakistan. Rabwah Messiah whose advent was is also seen as the alternative to awaited by the followers of their spiritual centre in Qadian different religions. Ahmad drew and has a number of sites that are a large following, but other considered holy by the Ahmadi Muslims have strongly rejected community. However, following his claims, insisting that anti-Ahmadi riots in 1953 and Muhammad((saw) – Ed) was the 1974, relations with the last and final Prophet and there government deteriorated consid- could be no other prophet or erably, prompting the govern- Messiah after him. Those most ment to support the estab- opposed to the Ahmadiyya lishment of a non-Ahmadi Movement reject the notion that Muslim community in the town. Ahmadis are Muslims and hold Today Rabwah is also home to a followers of Ahmad((as) – Ed) to non-Ahmadi Mosque, Madrassa be apostates. and a so-called ‘Muslim Colony’

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of non-Ahmadi Muslim residents the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) on the outskirts of the town. by adding sections 298b and Khatme Nabuwwat (Committee 298c, both Ahmadi specific to Secure the Finality of the provisions further restricting Prophethood), a group with a their freedom of religion and following throughout Pakistan, expression. Section 298c, for are specifically opposed to the example, has been referred to as Ahmadi belief in the nineteenth the ‘anti-Ahmadi laws’ and century Messiah and maintain a prohibits Ahmadis from calling group in Rabwah centred on a themselves Muslim, posing as mosque at the edge of the town. Muslims, calling their faith Islam, preaching or propagating Ahmadis consider themselves to their faith and from insulting the be Muslims and believe that they religious feelings of Muslims. observe Islamic practices. The so called ‘Blasphemy Laws’ However, in 1974 Prime in sections 295, 296, 297 and Minister Bhutto enacted an 298 of the PPC have been amendment to the constitution repeatedly condemned by declaring Ahmadis to be non- international observers for Muslims because they do not severely constricting freedoms accept Muhammad((saw) – Ed) as of expression, religion and the last prophet of Islam. In the opinion and for facilitating the decades following 1974 the detention of persons on vaguely position of Ahmadis in Pakistani defined charges of committing law has become increasing blasphemy or other religious precarious. In the 1980s, offences. Clauses added to the measures brought in by Zia-ul- PPC in 1986 (sections 295b and Haq to Islamicise Pakistan's civil 295c) made defiling the holy and criminal law affected all Qu’ran or the name of the Holy religious minorities but Prophet((saw) – Ed) subject to particularly Ahmadis. Ordinance heavy penalties including the XX proclaimed in 1984 amended death penalty, life imprisonment

24 The Review of Religions – March 2007 RABWAH – A PLACE FOR MARTYRS, PART ONE and fines. In 1991, the Sharif at around 70,000. However, government made the death Ahmadis have boycotted or penalty the mandatory punish- classified themselves as ment for blasphemy against the ‘Muslim’ in the census since name of the Prophet4. 1974, the alternative being to classify themselves as ‘non- In 1999 the Government of Muslim’. The government Punjab officially changed the figures are therefore signif- name of Rabwah (which means icantly inaccurate. The mission ‘higher level’) to Chenab Nagar were given figures for the (reflecting the town's location current number of Ahmadis in near to the Chenab River). This Pakistan of between 2 and 5 move was completed against the million. wishes of the Ahmadi com- munity, who continue to refer to The situation faced by some the town as Rabwah. Rabwah is members of the Ahmadi com- the preferred name throughout munity in Pakistan has prompted this report, although some them to flee the country and seek respondents are recorded refer- asylum in the UK. In the course ring to the new name. Similarly, of deciding on the merits of these Ahmadis are referred to by some claims it has been repeatedly respondents as Qadianis, a term suggested that Ahmadis have an that refers back to the ‘internal flight alternative’ community's original spiritual available to them: in short, that home in India, and is considered by moving to Rabwah, a highly pejorative by Ahmadis. persecuted Ahmadi would be The term ‘Ahmadi’ is therefore able to gain security without used in this report. Official leaving Pakistan. This assess- government figures place the ment is based on the assumption number of Ahmadis in Pakistan that as Ahmadis form the

4 For more background detail, see, amongst other sources: US Department of State, International Religious Freedom Report 2006, September 2006; and International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH): International Fact-Finding Mission Report, “in Male Fide” Freedom of expression, of association and of assembly in Pakistan, 17 January 2005.

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majority community in Rabwah, recorded the responses of a wide the town is able to offer range of sources, it cannot and protection to Ahmadis suffering should not be considered or used persecution elsewhere in as an exhaustive study of Pakistan. The Parliamentary Ahmadis in Pakistan. Moreover, Human Rights Group identified whilst every effort was made to this assumption as key to many consult as widely as possible in asylum claims and sought to test Pakistan, the mission members its veracity. A mission to acknowledge and emphasise that Pakistan, focussing on Rabwah no mission can be expected to and recorded in this report, was provide a complete represen- the result. tation of its subject.

1.2 Report scope and structure The remainder of this report is The mission focussed exclu- organised as follows. This sively on issues relating to an Introduction concludes with a internal flight alternative to statement regarding the method- Rabwah. This report, therefore, ology employed by the mission is only intended to provide and a list of those sources the evidence on this issue. However, mission consulted, or attempted in the course of the mission’s to consult, whilst in Pakistan. The work it quickly became apparent main body of the report that it is impossible to divorce commences with a review of the the issues relating to Rabwah position of Ahmadis in Pakistan, and internal flight from the included, as noted above, as a broader social and political necessary context without which context within which Ahmadis the subsequent sections cannot be survive in Pakistan. As a result understood. This section address- some sections of this report es how discrimination against consider the current situation Ahmadis has reached a point faced by Ahmadis throughout where violence can be advocated Pakistan. Whilst the report is against Ahmadis without accurate in terms of having government or police censure.

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The particular role played by the accurate and accessible repro- anti-Ahmadi organisation, duction of the evidence that it Khatme Nabuwwat, is intro- received rather than to make an duced, as are the blasphemy laws assessment as to the viability of and the use of First Information internal flight. The latter is Reports (FIRs) to effect an arrest. properly the role of asylum Section 3 presents the evidence decision makers. collected by the mission relating to the potential risk factors faced 1.3 Methodology by Ahmadis in Rabwah. These The mission arrived in Pakistan consist of: the blasphemy laws; on 8 October 2006 and remained practising or expressing the in the country for eight days. The Ahmadi faith; preaching by time was split between Ahmadis; threats and physical Faisalabad, where three days were attacks; and attacks on property. spent travelling to meet sources in Finally, section 4 considers the Rabwah and Jhang; Lahore (two protection available for Ahmadis days); and Islamabad (two days). in Rabwah. Three types of The first day was spent travelling protection are identified: com- to Faisalabad from Islamabad. munity protection, meaning the Most meetings had been set up in security offered to Ahmadis as a advance of travelling to the result of living in an Ahmadi- specification of the mission. majority town; state protection, Meetings with sources took the including the effectiveness of the form of semi-structured inter- police and judiciary in protecting views. The mission travelled with Ahmadis in Rabwah; and the a set of questions under the social and economic conditions headings: religious activities of that define everyday life for Ahmadis; FIRs and blasphemy; residents of Rabwah. protection in Rabwah; relocation to Rabwah; and life in Rabwah. No conclusions have been drawn These questions were used as the in this report as it is the intention framework for discussions with of the mission to provide an each of the sources. All responses

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were recorded in written form by mission. Additional materials all members of the mission and were occasionally supplied by the report was prepared from them and are referred to in the these responses in the period mid- text. Copies of all these materials October to mid-December 2006. can be found in Appendix B. Translation was provided where Direct quotes from sources have necessary by Salim Malik, of the been identified in the body of the Ahmadi community in the UK, report by the use of quotation and all sources were offered the marks. option to have their responses recorded anonymously. Senior Government Advisor. The mission interviewed a senior The mission members were: government advisor who is an acknowledged expert in Islamic – Frances Allen (Barrister, 12 religious issues. In order to speak Old Square), freely the source requested that his name and position be – Michael Ellman (Solicitor, withheld. The name and status of Chair of Solicitors the source is known to the authors International Human Rights of this report. Group and Officer of the International Board of the Khatme Nabuwwat (Islamabad International Federation for Chapter). Human Rights – FIDH) and The mission met with Maulana Abdul Rauf, President of Khatme – Dr Jonathan Ensor (Senior Nabuwwat Islamabad Chapter, Research Officer, Immigration Muhammed Tyeb, Office Advisory Service). Manager for Khatme Nabuwwat Islamabad, Mufti Abdul Rashid, 1.4 Sources Bari Abdul Rashid and Ibrahim The following individuals and Rashid, both Members of Khatme groups were interviewed by the Nabuwwat Islamabad.

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Mullah Allah yar Arshad, functioning in 1987. The highest President of Khatme organ of HRCP is the general Nabuwwat in Rabwah (Mullah body comprising all members. Arshad). The general body meets at least Mullah Arshad has lived in once every year. The executive Rabwah for 30 years, and has authority of the organisation vests been a member of Khatme in the Council that is elected Nabuwwat since the founding of every three years. The Council the organisation. When the elects the organisation’s office- mission met with Mullah Arshad bearers – Chairperson, not more the interview was interrupted by than five Vice-Chairpersons, a Mr Rabnawaz, who provided Secretary General and a lengthy interjections. He is a Treasurer. No office holder in lawyer practising in nearby government or a political party (at Chiniot, and is president of the the national or provincial level) local forum of Khatme can be an office-bearer of HRCP. Nabuwwat in Chiniot. The Council meets at least twice every year. Besides monitoring Human Rights Commission of human rights violations and Pakistan. seeking redress through public The mission was met by Ms campaigns, lobbying and Asma Jahangir (Chairperson), Mr intervention in courts, HRCP I A Rehman (Joint Director), organises seminars, workshops Kamila Hyat (Joint Director), Mr and fact-finding missions.’ Mehboob Ahmed Khan (Legal (www.HRCP-web.org) Officer) and Air-Marshall (retd) Zafar Chaudhry (former council Faiz ur Rehman, President, member). The HRCP describe Amnesty International itself as ‘an independent, non Pakistan. governmental organisation Mr Rehman explained that he is registered under the law.’ Its main also a member of the United office is in Lahore. It started Citizens Forum, a relatively new

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organisation of ‘prominent Wilson, Political Counsellor, and persons’ that aims to observe and Matthew Forman, Second assess the factors behind Secretary (Political), at the religious problems in Pakistan, British High Commission in and to seek solutions to those Islamabad. At one point in the problems nationally and meeting, the BHC noted that in internationally. It is through his their view the comments of the work with Amnesty HRCP usually reflect a tendency International, which has a human to ‘see the glass totally empty’. rights violation focus, and his work with the United Citizens Amjad J Salimi, District Police Forum, which has a religious Officer, Jhang (DPO Salimi). focus, that Mr Rehman has DPO Salimi only took over at knowledge and experience of the Jhang three weeks before the situation facing Ahmadis in mission's visit; he had Pakistan. He explained that his previously been stationed in views were based on a Baluchistan. The DPO at Jhang combination of his familiarity is responsible for the police force with the situation in Pakistan, his stationed at Rabwah. reading of back-ground literature and reports, and his first-hand Saeed Tatla, Deputy experience as the leader of two Superintendent of Police, fact finding missions Rabwah (DSP Tatla). investigating attacks on DSP Tatla had been in his role in Ahmadis, most recently at Rabwah four months, since June Jhando Sahi in August 2006 2006. He informed the mission (following attacks that forced the that he had little knowledge of whole Ahmadi community to events in Rabwah before his flee). arrival. DSP Tatla is one of DPO Salimi’s subordinates. British High Commission Islamabad (BHC). Mr. Mohamed Ibrahim, The mission met with Peter Secretary to the Mayor of

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Rabwah (Mr Ibrahim). Advisor to the Community), Mirza Adil Ahmad (Assistant Senior members of the Ahmadi Legal Advisor), Ahmad Khalid Community in Rabwah (Human Rights Desk), Aziz (Ahmadi Community Ahmad Omer (Assistant). Representatives). The mission met with several senior members The mission were also offered an of the Ahmadi Community in appointment to see a member of Rabwah. Present at the meeting the Ahmadi community in were: Mirza Khursheed Ahmed Faisalabad jail, where he (Chief Executive of the reportedly resides having received Ahmadiyya Community in a life sentence under 295c of the Pakistan), Ch Hameedullah penal code. Unfortunately time (Director General of the constraints prevented the mission Ahmadiyya Community in from following up this interview. Pakistan), Mujeeb-ur-Rehman (Advocate Supreme Court), Pakistan Ministry of the Mobashir Latif Ahmad (Advocate Interior rebuffed repeated Supreme Court), Pervaiz Ahmad requests for an interview. Cheema (Advocate High Court). Requests were made in the weeks These five community members before travelling to Pakistan and provided the bulk of the whilst the mission were travelling. responses. However, the follow- ing were also present at the Repeated attempts were made to meeting and provided additional secure an interview with the comments: Mansoor Ahmad Mayor of Rabwah and three Khan (Director, Foreign Missions appointments were made to meet Office), Mirza Ghulam Ahmad with him in his office in the (Director, Human Resources), Rabwah municipal building. Saleemudin (Director, Public However, the Mayor failed to Affairs), Qasim Shah (Former attend on each occasion. Director, Public Affairs), Mubarak Ahmad Tahir (Legal

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2. The Position of Ahmadis explained how Islamic groups in Pakistan politicised anti-Ahmadi feeling, This section has been included characterising the Ahmadi view because a number of sources of jihad (as a call for dialogue emphasised that an under- rather than taking up arms) as standing of the social and evidence that the Ahmadis are a political context in which group created by the colonial Ahmadis live in Pakistan is British to allow Islam to be required before the situation in conquered, and painting the Rabwah can be understood. The Ahmadi recognition of a more remainder of this report should recent Prophet than therefore be considered against Muhammad((saw) – Ed) as a tactic the background presented in this of the British to marginalise or section. Evidence presented to divide Muslims and thus sustain the mission regarding the role of the British empire. In this way Khatme Nabuwwat, together the religious and political have with the function of the gradually been conflated, blasphemy laws and First climaxing in the 1974 (political) Information Reports (FIRs) is declaration of Ahmadis as non- also presented in this section. Muslims following a further outbreak of anti-Ahmadi 2.1 Social and political violence. For the Human Rights environment Commission of Pakistan The mission heard several (HRCP) severe discrimination accounts of how popular against the Ahmadis started with sentiment in Pakistan has become the 1974 declaration and the increasingly hostile to Ahmadis. situation has been deteriorating The Senior Government Advisor ever since. explained how the population of Pakistan has become sensitised to The HRCP note that there is a Ahmadis since a spate of anti- class or economic element Ahmadi violence in 1953. He motivating this treatment of

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Ahmadis, pointing out that the made a similar point, noting that Hindu community, who belong in small towns literacy is often to a low economic class, receives poor, providing the Mullahs with relatively little popular attention an uncritical audience. In such and low levels of discrimination. areas, the Mullah has the power The Ahmadis, however, tend to to tell the population how to be an educated and successful behave – characterised as being community whose members ‘for the good of their eternal have historically risen to souls’ – and the people are likely important positions in govern- to comply. The Senior ment and civil society. Today, Government Advisor also Ahmadis are prevented from explained that the funda- accessing senior employment in mentalists are effective at using state defence or civil institutions. the media and have always been Faiz ur Rehman (President of adept at capturing the public Amnesty International Pakistan) sphere. The result is that large described the situation in similar sections of the population have terms: prior to 1974 there had been made fearful of Islamo- been a large number of Ahmadis phobia and of becoming a in senior positions in the minority similar to the Muslim Pakistan administration. This is community in India. The HRCP now no longer the case: there are and British High Commission no Ahmadi policy makers, (BHC) also noted the role played judges, or educationalists. by the media. The HRCP described the vernacular press as The Senior Government Advisor having become virulently anti- explained that in the large areas Ahmadi. State television of Pakistan where literacy is low, contains broadcasts of anti- people's understanding of unfa- Ahmadi rhetoric, including miliar issues (such as Ahmadis) phrases such as ‘Ahmadis is determined by what they hear deserve to die.’ Even in the in the Mosque. Faiz ur Rehman traditionally liberal English

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language press, religious free- been driven out. The reports of dom is becoming harder to violence fluctuate each year but defend as journalists increas- the overall trend of violence ingly fear attack if they defend against Ahmadis is worsening. Ahmadis. The BHC stated that Asma Jahangir, Chairperson of public opinion on Ahmadis, the HRCP and UN Special encouraged by the vernacular Rapporteur on Religious press, is conservative. Whilst Freedom or Belief, summarised Christian rights may be upheld in the situation: ‘even if a fly is the press, Ahmadi rights are not. killed it is the Ahmadis fault and The effect is that most people the Jews are behind it.’ The have accepted the proposition atmosphere of intolerance that Ahmadis are non-Muslim towards Ahmadis – in which the and this is as far as they take the perpetrators of violence against issue. However, others use the them are painted as the injured discrimination as an opportunity parties – is increasing, and is for personal or political gain. being indirectly nurtured by the government who do not defend The HRCP stated that the Ahmadis. Three years ago a situation faced by Ahmadis member of the judiciary or today is very poor, and becoming government would have spoken worse as each year passes. In a out against violence or stepped country where sectarianism is on in to defend Ahmadis against the increase, the Ahmadis were attacks in the press, but this is no described by HRCP as being in longer the case. The HRCP the worst case scenario: the highlighted two prominent official policy on religion leaves examples: first, the Prime the group extremely vulnerable. Minister has publicly declared The threat to Ahmadis varies that he is not an Ahmadi after his from place to place: in some opponents used this accusation villages Ahmadis are able to live against him; and second, during safely, whilst in others they have a debate aired on state television

34 The Review of Religions – March 2007 RABWAH – A PLACE FOR MARTYRS, PART ONE in which a government minister mine the Hudood reforms once participated, it was stated that the President had left Pakistan. It Ahmadis ‘deserve to be killed’. is in this context that religious The minister did not challenge reforms must be seen: the BHC the comment and no prosecution believes that Musharraf and the has been brought. The HRCP Prime Minister have done much expressed the view that through to promote religious tolerance. not challenging such statements However, on the ground little has the state is effectively providing changed. The use of religion to extremists with a licence to gain advantage continues and promote intolerance and abuse. Musharraf’s attempt to prevent abuse of the blasphemy laws has The BHC characterised the had little impact in reality (see current political climate as one in ‘Blasphemy Laws and FIRs’, which President Musharraf's below). The BHC noted that even declared approach of ‘enlight- within this context the Ahmadi ened moderation’ is in the issue is different as public balance, with a battle being opinion has become set against fought between modernisers and the Ahmadis. The sensitivity of extremists. The current attempts Ahmadi identity is such that to reform the Hudood ordinances Ahmadis face social isolation. In are an example of this. The Mr Rehman’s view the Ahmadis reforms have turned into a are the most repressed com- contest between Musharraf’s munity in Pakistan. Whilst the attempts to reverse President Christian community face Zia’s legacy, and the conser- problems, they have profile and vative leadership who believe support in Pakistan. No one is they can rely on the Mullahs to exerting pressure on behalf of the bring the population to the street Ahmadis. to prevent reform. It is notable that Musharraf’s own party The BHC also noted that there is convened a meeting to under- under-reporting of Ahmadi per-

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secution, making it difficult to extremism is limited to certain make an accurate assessment of groups, no one dares to speak the frequency of attacks against freely about religious issues. Even Ahmadis; however, the BHC the most open and secular consider the problems faced by political parties are not prepared Ahmadis to be a serious issue. to challenge the public percep- The Pakistan government has tion of Ahmadis for fear of losing done little to alleviate the credibility and standing in the problems faaced by Ahmadis: it eyes of the public. The result is would be ‘political suicide’ to that there is no party or institution deal with the Ahmadi problem prepared to lead the debate on directly and politicians will not Ahmadis in Pakistan and, use the example of the Ahmadis therefore, a change in public to make the case for religious attitude is not anticipated in the tolerance. The Senior near future. Government Advisor draws a similar conclusion: it is now 2.2 The role of Khatme beyond the power of government Nabuwwat (Committee to Secure to reverse the situation for the Finality of Prophethood) Ahmadis. Over time the religious The mission had been made political parties have gained in aware of the significance of strength, sensitising the popu- Khatme Nabuwwat prior to lation to the status of Ahmadis to travelling to Pakistan through the point where 'the common man reports such as the UK Home can be incited and brought to the Office’s Pakistan Country of street against Ahmadis. The Origin Information Report, in Senior Government Advisor which it is reported that Khatme believes that changes in the law Nabuwwat ‘have called for the will not be sufficient to change the banning of the Ahmadi move- view of the population: there must ment and the killing of be a change in the views held in Ahmadis.’5 In Pakistan, the society first. However, whilst mission were informed by the

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Ahmadi community represen- the Punjab for the Promotion of tatives that the main perpetrators Religious Harmony, was a of attacks on Ahmadis and on special guest at the Khatme property in Rabwah are members Nabuwwat conference held at or supporters of Khatme Sargodha. Nabuwwat. Faiz ur Rehman, President of Amnesty When asked to explain the role International Pakistan, noted that and purpose of their organisation, Khatme Nabuwwat are present in members of the Islamabad Rabwah and are repeatedly in the Chapter of Khatme Nabuwwat news for, for example, inciting informed the mission that it is violence, attacking the library or Khatme Nabuwwat's belief that picking up people from Rabwah no Prophet can come after and passing them to the police. Muhammad((saws) – Ed) as he is Mr Rehman explained that the final Prophet. Anyone who through his work with Amnesty claims otherwise is an infidel and International he knew that their claim is false, baseless and a Khatme Nabuwwat in particular crime. Khatme Nabuwwat’s are known for making telephone mission is therefore to spread threats directly to judges in understanding of the finality of Ahmadi cases. The British High the Prophet through preaching Commission noted that Khatme and books. The source insisted Nabuwwat are linked to many that they have mutual respect for mainstream political parties and all, including Ahmadis, as opposition leaders. The Ahmadi humans. However, Ahmadis Community Representatives should not assert themselves to confirmed this through an be Muslim because they do not example: on 5 September 2006 believe in the laws of the Hafiz Tahir Mahmud Ashrafi, Prophet. Mullah Arshad, of the Advisor to the Chief Minister of Rabwah Chapter of Khatme

5. For more background detail, see, amongst other sources: US Department of State, International Religious Freedom Report 2006, September 2006; and International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH): International Fact-Finding Mission Report, “in Male Fide” Freedom of expression, of association and of assembly in Pakistan, 17 January 2005.

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Nabuwwat, told the mission that stated that the Ahmadi com- the purpose of Khatme munity was essentially a creation Nabuwwat is to act against those of the colonial era British who do not accept the finality of Government. He claimed that the the prophet, to contradict them British had recognised Ahmad as and to invite them to rejoin the a messiah out of political faith. Mullah Arshad confirmed necessity and then had made use that this role means that the of the Ahmadi sect to divide focus of Khatme Nabuwwat is Muslims. According to Mr on Ahmadis in particular. Rabnawaz the legacy of British According to Khatme Nabuwwat sponsorship is Ahmadi power in (Islamabad Chapter) the move- Pakistan today. This can be seen ment against Ahmadis started from the fact that although there when members of the Muslim are only around 125,000 community were attacked by Ahmadis in Pakistan, of whom Ahmadis at Rabwah railway about 25,000 are in Rabwah, station in 1974: the source told ‘Ahmadis hold 20-30% of the the mission that ‘Ahmadis were power in Pakistan’, with Ahmadi terrorists, and they are terrorists bureaucrats in the administration today.’ providing support to other Ahmadis. Mr Rabnawaz, whom the mission met with at the Khatme 2.3 Blasphemy Laws and First Nabuwwat mosque in Rabwah, Information Reports (FIRs) was more expansive in his Zia ul-Haq's 1984 Ordinance XX explanation of Khatme introduced explicit references to Nabuwwat’s views. Repeating Ahmadis in sections 298b and the accusations referred to in the 298c of the Pakistan Penal Code historical account of anti- (PPC) (see Appendix C: Copy of Ahmadi agitation communicated Ordinance No. XX of 1984 and by the Senior Government 1986 Amendment to the section Advisor (above), Mr Rabnawaz 295c of the Pakistan Penal

38 The Review of Religions – March 2007 RABWAH – A PLACE FOR MARTYRS, PART ONE

Code). Section 298b signif- (Ahle-bait) of the Holy icantly restricts Ahmadi freedom Prophet Muhammad of religion and expression (peace be upon him), as requiring ‘a term which may ‘Ahle-bait’; or extend to three years’ and a fine for any Ahmadi: (d) refers to, or names, or calls, his place of worship who by words, either spoken as ‘Masjid’ or written, or by visible representation; The same punishment is prescribed for any Ahmadi who (a) refers to, or addresses, ‘refers to the mode or form of any person, other than a call to prayers followed by his Caliph or companion of faith as ‘Azan’ or recites Azan as the Holy Prophet used by the Muslims’. 298c Muhammad (peace be specifically defines Ahmadis as upon him), as ‘Ameerul non-Muslims, imposing three Mumineen’, ‘Khalifa-tul- years imprisonment and a fine on Mumineen’, ‘Khalifa-tul- any Ahmadi who Muslimeen’, ‘Sahaabi' or ‘Razi Allah Anho’ directly or indirectly, poses himself as Muslim, or calls, (b) refers to, or addresses, or refers to, his faith as any person, other than a Islam, or preaches or wife of the Holy Prophet propagates his faith, or Muhammad (peace be invites others to accept his upon him) as ‘Ummul- faith, by words, either spoken Mumineen’ or written, or by visible representations, or in any (c) refers to, or addresses, manner whatsoever outrages any person, other than a the religious feelings of member of the family Muslims

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Clauses added to the PPC in police can consider without the 1986 (sections 295b and 295c) need for a court to investigate, make defiling the Holy Qu’ran including the blasphemy laws) or the name of the Holy Prophet the police have to take subject to heavy penalties immediate action and arrest the including the death penalty, life person concerned. There is no imprisonment and fines. 295c is time limit between the issuing of broadly defined, including an FIR and the detention of the derogatory remarks in respect of suspect(s), but once an arrest has the Holy Prophet by ‘imputation, taken place the police must innuendo, or insinuation’ (see complete their investigation Appendix C). In 1991, the Sharif within 14 days. Following arrest government made the death no legal assistance is allowed at penalty the mandatory punish- the police station and the ment for blasphemy against the accused must be produced before name of the Prophet. Table 1 a magistrate within 24 hours. summarises the blasphemy laws The mission were informed that and the associated penalties. bail is refused in most blasphemy cases and only A First Information Report (FIR) around 10% of such cases are is the process through which the found in favour of the accused. police take notice of alleged The order of events is transgressions of the penal code significant: a case would be and forms the legal basis for thrown out if the FIR is lodged arrest. The Ahmadi Community after an investigation. Representatives explained the procedure for and consequence The Ahmadi community of filing an FIR. An FIR is explained that once an individual lodged at a police station with receives bail, they are then the Station House Officer required to appear at the case (SHO). Where the FIR involves hearing approximately every a cognisable offence (those the month. The location of the bail

40 The Review of Religions – March 2007 RABWAH – A PLACE FOR MARTYRS, PART ONE

PPC Description Penalty

Use of derogatory remarks etc., in respect of holy Three years’ imprison- 298a personages ment, or fine, or both

Misuse of epithets, descriptions and titles etc., Three years’ imprison- 298b reserved for certain holy personages or places, by ment and fine Ahmadis

An Ahmadi, calling himself a Muslim, or preaching Three years' imprisonment 298c or propagating his faith, or outraging the religious and fine feelings of Muslims, or posing himself as a Muslim

Up to two years’ Injuring or defiling places of worship, with intent to 295 imprisonment or fine, or insult the religion of any class both Deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage Up to 10 years’ 295a religious feelings of any class by insulting its imprisonment, or fine, or religion or religious beliefs both

295b Defiling, etc., of Holy Quran Imprisonment for life

Use of derogatory remarks, etc., in respect of the 295c Death and fine Holy Prophet

TABLE 1: SUMMARY OF BLASPHEMY LAWS AND PENALTIES hearing will depend on where the which is against the entire FIR has been lodged. The population of Rabwah. The mission were informed by the community has been charged Ahmadi community repre- under 298c and accused of sentatives that FIRs are being practising Islamic social eti- filed against them by the police quettes and worship. This case is and local Mullahs following the still pending (see Appendix B3: direct intervention of the Federal Police report (FIR) against the Government. By way of entire population of Rabwah, 15 example, the mission were December 1989). shown a FIR dated 15 December 1989, filed by the SHO Rabwah, The HRCP noted that changes to

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the law had been introduced in January 2005 in an attempt to Verse references to the Holy Qur’an reduce the malicious or frivolous item count ‘Bismillah...’ (In the application of the blasphemy Name of Allah...) as the first verse of each Chapter. In some non-standard laws. In the revised procedure, a texts, this is not counted and should 295c blasphemy complaint must the reader refer to such texts, the be investigated by a senior police verse quoted in The Review of Religions will be found at one verse official before the FIR can be less than the number quoted. lodged. However, the HRCP noted that this has had little In this journal, for the ease of non- impact in reality for Ahmadi Muslim readers, ‘(saw)’ or ‘saw’ after the words, ‘Holy Prophet’, or cases, as police practice is for the the name ‘Muhammad’, are used. Station House Officer to contact They stand for ‘Sallallahu ‘alaihi wa his senior officer who routinely sallam’ meaning ‘Peace and gives permission to enter the blessings of Allah be upon him’. Likewise, the letters ‘(as)’ or ‘as’ FIR. after the name of all other prophets is an abbreviation meaning ‘Peace be upon him’ derived from ‘Alaihis (to be continued next month) salatu wassalam’ which are words that a Muslim utters out of respect [Minor amendments, such as whenever he or she comes across that name. The abbreviation ‘ra’ or (ra) suffixes (saw) have been added by the stands for ‘Radhiallahu Ta’ala anhu Editor Review of Religions, but in and is used for Companions of a each case, these have been Prophet, meaning Allah be pleased annotated as eg, ((saw) – Ed) with him or her (when followed by the relevant Arabic pronoun). Finally, ‘ru’ or (ru) for Rahemahullahu Ta’ala means the Mercy of Allah the Exalted be upon him.

In keeping with current universal practice, local transliterations of names of places are preferred to their anglicised versions, e.g. Makkah instead of Mecca, etc.

42 The Review of Religions – March 2007 Succour and Help from Allah the Almighty Is Proof of His Existence – Part 2 By Rafiq Ahmad Hayat – Ameer, UK

Based on a speech delivered by nearness of Allah, Allah Mr Rafiq A Hayat, Ameer UK, at becomes responsible for them. the Jalsa Salana (Annual The help and succour that the Convention) of the Ahmadiyya Promised Messiah(as) received Muslim Community United time and again in his life, stands Kingdom 2006 as a clear proof of the existence of Allah the Almighty. Indeed, At the saddest time of his life the life of Promised Messiah(as) is when the Promised Messiah(as) a vast catalogue of Allah’s knew that his father was going to assistance and help to him at die, a hint of an idea crept into every step. his mind about his own future. He was left wondering as to who Another example of the succour would provide him comfort after and help of Allah the Almighty his father, when suddenly, in all given to the Promised Messiah(as) His Majesty, Allah Almighty is taken from his momentous sent this revelation to him: book, Baraheen-e-Ahmadiyya. In this book, the Promised Is Allah not sufficient for His Messiah(as) declares: servant? ‘Hence, He (meaning Allah It was an admonishment from a the Almighty) has informed Friend and a promise as well. me that people will come to Allah provides for His servants. you and My Assistance will Those who achieve closeness and support you and people will

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come from all directions and ‘nations are being prepared for you will be provided this (Jalsa).’ succour.’ And indeed I would say that we Then addressing the people, he are all witness to the fulfilment further declares: of these words. Today by the Grace of Allah we are holding ‘You can witness the succour Jalsa Salanas throughout the of God, how it is coming and world and at this Jalsa Salana how it is being manifested. that we are enjoying today – we Everyone, who has eyes to have seen thousands and see is running towards us’ thousands of people from almost a hundred countries come to join So, my brothers and my friends! in this very auspicious occasion The above Divine glad tidings and there lies the Mercy and the were given to the Promised Blessings of Allah and His Messiah(as) when he was an assistance to His servants. Also unknown person living in an with the help of MTA (Muslim unknown place like Qadian. He Television Ahmadiyya), the made his announcement on the whole world is benefiting from occasion of the first Jalsa Salana these proceedings and through when only 75 were present. the blessings of MTA millions of Today, the fulfilment of this great people around the world, prophecy is being witnessed by InshaAllah will be involved and the whole world. We, who are will be participating in the sitting here in this Jalsa Salana, International Bai’at Ceremony can testify to the truthfulness of which will be InshaAllah taking the succour and the help of Allah place later. So for those who for the Promised Messiah(as). The wanted proof and all those foundation of this blessed people who disbelieve about the occasion was laid in 1891 in coming of the Promised Qadian. On that occasion, the Messiah(as) – they only have to Promised Messiah(as) declared, look but they need the eyes so

44 The Review of Religions – March 2007 SUCCOUR AND HELP FROM ALLAH THE ALMIGHTY IS PROOF OF HIS EXISTENCE - PART 2 that they can look and all those loyal faith in God is also very people and all those Muslims well documented. There is one who criticise the coming of the incident that I would like to Promised Messiah(as), if with a bit relate. He once received a of open-mindedness they looked message from the Promised at the blessings that this Jamaat Messiah(as) who at that time was has received from Allah with his father-in-law Hadhrat Almighty, they need not have Mir Nasir Nawab Sahib who was any more convincing about the not feeling well and the Promised succour that the Promised Messiah(as) had gone to see him in Messiah(as) received from Allah Delhi. The Promised Messiah(as) the Almighty. sent a telegram to Hadhrat Maulvi Sahib and asked him to The Companions of the Promised come and join him in Delhi. Messiah(as) were infused with the When Hadhrat Maulvi Sahib same piety and righteousness as received the message – the were the Companions of the person who had sent the telegram Holy Prophet Muhammad(saw) and said ‘Come immediately’ – they also witnessed the existence Maulvi Sahib was in his clinic of Allah the Almighty. when he received the telegram – and it is said that he stood up, There are so many examples of while he was in surgery, sent a the Companions of the Promised message to his wife, dismissed Messiah(as) who have had their all the patients and left for personal experiences of the Batala. Now there are many succour and assistance from instances in the life of Hadhrat Allah the Almighty. Maulvi Sahib that show that his blind faith took him through The devotion and obedience of some very difficult situations. Hadhrat Maulvi Nooruddeen Very often he would make these Khalifatul Masih I(ra), to the journeys totally unprepared not Promised Messiah(as) is well having a penny in his pocket or documented. His love and his any food yet Allah continued to

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help him. And in this instance as return, he was rewarded with well Allah came to his exceptional acceptance of prayer assistance. A Hindu citizen saw and was aided and provided Maulvi Sahib at the station and succour by Allah the Almighty requested him to see his wife in against the opponents of the town who was ill. Maulvi Sahib Promised Messiah(as). apologised and said he had to catch a train to Amritsar. So the Hadhrat Maulvi Rajekee Sahib Hindu gentleman immediately narrates that a delegation of four went and fetched his wife to the Ulama was sent on a tour of India station and Maulvi Sahib was by Hadhrat Khalifa-tul-Masih able to give her medication. II(ra). The delegation consisted of Immediately after, the gentleman Maulvi Rajekee Sahib, Maulvi went and bought the ticket for the Muhammad Salim Sahib, train and also gave him money. Mahasha Muhammad Umar When Maulvi Sahib had left he Sahib and Giani Ibadullah Sahib. had absolutely no money to even In one of the important Tabligh buy a ticket for that train. There meetings to a large gathering you see the example of Allah’s listening to the speeches, it succour and the blind faith that started to rain and all chairs and some of the companions had. carpets started to get soaked in water. All Ahmadi speakers felt Another example of a companion great anxiety that this of the Promised Messiah(as) that I opportunity to convey the want to quote is from the life of message of Islam may be missed. Hadhrat Ghulam Rasool Rajekee Maulvi Rajekee started to pray Sahib. When we read his life and says: as I finished my prayer, story in Hayaat-a-Qudsi, we find the rain slowed down and I that every instance, every announced that people should sit moment of life was governed by down because the rain will stop. his obedience of the Promised Alhamduolillah, we were able to Messiah(as) and in the suppli- pass our message without any cation to Allah the Almighty. In interruption.

46 The Review of Religions – March 2007 SUCCOUR AND HELP FROM ALLAH THE ALMIGHTY IS PROOF OF HIS EXISTENCE - PART 2

Indeed, I can also narrate my that nowadays, people think or personal experience of this feel that they have not been able nature. When I was Sadar to witness the existence of God Ansarullah UK and we were through His Beneficent mani- holding our Annual Ijtema in festation? Islamabad – we were making preparations when dark clouds The Reformers in Islam at the descended and it started to rain. I head of each century and the immediately telephoned Hadhrat Promised Messiah(as) in the 14th Khalifatul Masih IV(ru) and century came to remind us about explained the situation. At the the existence of God and about same time, all Ansar present the necessity to achieve the joined in a prayer and nearness of Allah the Almighty. supplicated to Allah to use His The converse with Allah and Mercy and stop the rain so that direct address from Allah the the noble purpose of this Ijtema Almighty to each human being could be achieved. It will, requires total and absolute forever remain with me as an surrender to the Majesty of endearing memory of an Allah, before Whom nothing can exceptional experience: it was exist. In an ordinary sense it entirely through the Mercy of means to surrender ourselves to Allah that the rain stopped the Will of Allah, and in the immediately and we were able to highest sense it means the continue our programme. For all awareness of nothingness before those present it was a Him. As the Holy Qur’an states: manifestation of Allah’s mercy on us as we continued to receive All that is on it (earth) will reports from the new arrivals that pass away. And there will heavy rainfall continued a short remain only the Person of thy distance away from Islamabad Lord, Master of Glory and where the Ijtema was being held. Honour. (Ch.55:Vs.27-28) It saddens me to think why is it

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The very name of the religion of surrender to the Will of Allah. Islam comes from this reality, for Only then will we witness the the Arabic word ISLAM means succour of Allah for us and we our surrender to God as well as will realise the existence of Allah the peace that issues forth from the Almighty. The Promised this surrender. However, this Messiah(as) declares: surrender must involve our whole being and a person must ‘Pay attention those of you become a perfect servant (ABD) who have ears; what does God in the sense of following all His require from you? Only this commandments. It means living that you become His alone and while following the Divine Law have no equals with Him, and the ethical teachings of neither on this earth nor in Islam, striving in life according heaven. Our God is the One to religious teachings to the Who is alive today as much as extent of one’s ability and then He ever was, He speaks today being resigned to the Will of God as He did in the past and He and what destiny places before hears as He used to hear. To us. This is what the Holy Prophet think that He only listens but Muhammad(saw) taught us. When does not speak in this age is a the Muslims all over the world vain belief. Indeed, He both forgot that message, the hears and speaks. All His Promised Messiah(as) came to attributes are eternal and revive and remind humanity at everlasting. None of His large. The Promised Messiah(as) attributes were suspended. He has stated that one of the is the same Unique Being purposes of his coming was to Who has no associates. He has show people how to achieve the neither son nor wife and He is nearness of Allah the Almighty. the same Eternal Being Who We, who have accepted him and is peerless and there is none have the privilege of being like Him and there is no one Ahmadi Muslims, have a duty to similar to Him in His cultivate in ourselves the attributes. He is near yet far

48 The Review of Religions – March 2007 SUCCOUR AND HELP FROM ALLAH THE ALMIGHTY IS PROOF OF HIS EXISTENCE - PART 2

and distant yet close and He is heaven and the earth and all the highest of the high…’ that is between the two in (Roohani Khazain,Alwassiyat, play. pp.309) (Ch.21:V.17)

We have a living God Who hears The deepest purpose of this and answers. It is only for us to creation is explained in a famous seek Him in the truest sense by a Hadith-e-Qudsi (a sacred saying total and complete surrender. of the Holy Prophet(saw) in which Only then will we experience the Allah speaks in the first person existence of that Majestic Reality through the mouth of the Holy Who has all the attributes of Prophet(saw)): ‘I was a hidden Beneficence and Mercy. We are treasure. I loved to be known. fortunate to have all the guidance Therefore, I created the creation in the Holy Qur’an and the so that I should be known.’ commentaries that have been left for us by the Promised Messiah The purpose of creation of this and his Khulafa. Hadhrat humanity is God’s love of the Khalifatul Masih V has been knowledge of Himself to be continuously guiding us in these realised by His central agent on matters. It is prayers, suppli- earth – human beings. For a cations and our obedience to our human being to know God and to beloved Khalifa that can help us understand God is fulfilling the to achieve the nearness of Allah. very purpose of his creation. Only at that stage can we expect the succour and help from Allah Once we have developed that the Almighty. love, we will witness the existence of God at every step Let us remember the purpose of and every instance of our lives. our creation. As the Holy Qur’an His succour will be manifested says: for us. Indeed He will become our eyes through which we see, And we created not the our ears through which we hear

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and our hands that will perform should supplicate to Him. We the deeds that are loved by God. should pray to Him. We can talk to Him in any language that we There are numerous examples and like, as I quoted the earlier I am sure that everyone sitting in example of the shepherd, God this very auditorium will be able loves to hear from His people. to relate their own personal God communicates with His examples in this respect. Allah people. People see dreams which even today speaks to his people. are fulfilled. You will have heard Allah today assists all those who in Huzur’s sermon yesterday have prayed sincerely to Him, He how people through their dreams has come to our assistance. were brought close to the Jama’at Indeed the very fact that we are and I am sure that each and every sitting in this hall, the acquisition one of you sitting here would of this site, and being able to hold have their own personal a Jalsa Salana in a very short time experiences. Therefore it is very is again proof of Allah’s important that we continue to assistance and how He comes to supplicate to God Almighty – the the aid of His people. You have no world that we live in is seeing a idea of the number of problems lot of strife at the moment. We and the number of issues that need Allah’s assistance and arose in trying to get to this stage through prayers and through – but at every endeavour God supplication to Him, that is the Almighty assisted us and paved only way that Allah’s assistance the path for us in allowing this will come and the strife and the magnificent event to take place on hurt that humanity is going this new site. through today will achieve a peaceful end. May Allah bless As my time is running out, I you all. would like to say we should always remember that the reason for our creation is to attain closeness to God Almighty. We

50 The Review of Religions – March 2007 UZBEKISTAN – Cradle of Islamic Thought

By Fazal Ahmad, London, UK

Introduction the major Silk Route trade routes When we look at great historical emerged, so too did the great figures and places in Islamic centres of Uzbekistan emerge as history, many of them seem to trading posts for ideas and originate in the land now known religions as well as commodities. as Uzbekistan. Examples include The name Uzbek means true Imam Bukhari, Tirmidhi, al- leaders and nobles which is Biruni, Ibn Sena and Timur, who appropriate as we will see later. came from such exotic places as The name probably derives from Bukhara and Samarkand. We Özbeg who ruled from 1313 - also know that the ancestors of 1340 and is often associated with the Promised Messiah(as) the adoption of Islam by the emigrated from Samarkand to Mongols. India. So Central Asia, and in particular Uzbekistan, is worthy There has been population in of greater research to understand Uzbekistan for over 3000 years, the state of the Islamic nation with the Sogdians, Bactrians and there that spawned such great Khwarizm tribes later becoming leaders and thinkers. absorbed into the Persian empires of Cyrus the Great, the Historical Background greatest of Persian rulers. Three Uzbekistan holds a pivotal centuries later, Alexander the position in the dusty plains Great conquered these tribes in between Russia to the north and 327 BCE and his wife was the India to the south, between the daughter of a Bactrian chief. Arabs and Persians to its west Thereafter, the region was again and the Chinese to its east. So as part of the Persian Empire, and

The Review of Religions – March 2007 51 UZBEKISTAN – CRADLE OF ISLAMIC THOUGHT

remained under their influence Khwarizm. However, it took for centuries. So when the time to establish Islam properly, Persians accepted Islam, as there was a political power Uzbekistan followed quickly. struggle taking place between the This was a great period of Persians, Turks and Chinese, and cultural leadership for the cities it was not until the battle of Talas of Bukhara, Khiva and against the Chinese in 751 that Samarkand. Muslims had a chance to prosper and settle in Central Asia. In recent history, the Russians established their influence in the After that, Islam flourished and 19th century as part of the ‘Great scholarship, already a craft of the Game’ between Russia and Persians, thrived even more in Europe, and after the 1917 this region. Interestingly, Bolshevik Revolution, Uzbek- Uzbekistan was regarded as istan became a state within the Persia at the time because of the Soviet Union. It finally gained its huge influence of Persia over all freedom in 1991. of Central Asia. Ibn Khaldun (1332-1406), one of the greatest Islam in Uzbekistan Islamic historians, tells us of the At a spiritual level, Islam came to breadth of their influence on the region relatively early, but it science and scholarship: took longer for Islam to gain political currency. 'They invented the rules of (grammar) and made it into a Muslims first gained political discipline (in its own right) control within Uzbekistan under for later (generations to use). the leadership of Qutaiba ibn Most of the Hadith scholars Muslim, the governor of who preserved traditions for Khurasan in Persia. Qutaiba the Muslims also were made inroads as early as 706 Persians, or Persian in lan- with the capture of Bukhara and guage and upbringing, after 710, Samarkand and because the discipline was

52 The Review of Religions – March 2007 UZBEKISTAN – CRADLE OF ISLAMIC THOUGHT

Map of Uzbekistan and Central Asia widely cultivated in the Iraq In his description, Ibn Khaldun and the regions beyond. describes the regions beyond and Furthermore, all the scholars these included Uzbekistan and who worked in the science of the neighbouring states. He also the principles of juris- points out the contributions made prudence were Persians. The to science, Hadith literature and same applied to speculative law as we will see later. theologians and to most Qur’an commentators. Only Uzbek Cities the Persians engaged in the Samarkand task of preserving knowledge Samarkand is one of the oldest and writing systematic cities dating from 700 BCE, and scholarly works.’ recently was given its World (Khaldun, p.429-430) Heritage status by UNESCO as the ‘Crossroads of Cultures’.

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With its central position on the empire to settle there. His Silk Route, it has been a trading grandson Ulugh Beg effectively centre for three millennia. It was created a university in the city the capital of the Sogdians until attracting many of the best Alexander the Great captured it scholars of the region there. in 329 BCE. He knew the city as Marakanda. He is quoted as Sadly, in the 16th century, the saying, ‘everything I have heard capital of the region was moved about Marakanda is true, except to Bukhara and the city went into that it is more beautiful than I decline. Having been abandoned ever imagined.’ after an assault by the Persian Nadir Shah, the Russians took Its status as a crossroads of control of Samarkand in 1868 cultures came to the fore several and its position grew further once times as technology was traded the Trans-Caspian Railway from east to west. An example reached through the city. was the handover of paper- making technology from China The city has many sites that call to create the first Islamic paper to mind its great past and mill in Samarkand after 751. position in the Muslim world. Paper then reached Europe via Central is the Registan, a Islamic Spain. magnificent square surrounded by huge madrassahs from 600 The town’s status grew and its years ago (Ulugh Beg madrassah cultural importance reached a dates from 1420). The Bibi peak when it was tragically Khanym Mosque is a restored sacked by the Mongols in 1220, version of what was once one of and most of its population was the largest mosques of the massacred. It again came to the Muslim world. The front gate fore in 1370 when the great ruler alone was 35 metres high. Timur, made it the capital of his growing empire, and encouraged The tomb known as ‘Shahr i craftsmen from all parts of his Zinda’ is a grave complex around

54 The Review of Religions – March 2007 UZBEKISTAN – CRADLE OF ISLAMIC THOUGHT

Registan, Samarkand the tomb of Qasim ibn Abbas(ra), it every Sunday and Thursday a cousin of the Holy Prophet(saw) night. The Tatars also come to who is thought to have brought visit it …’ Islam to the region in 676. Fresh (Ibn Battutah) with the experience of the teachings of the Prophet(saw), Khiva Qasim approached the Khiva is the modern name for Zoroastrians of Bukhara and Khorasam or Khwarezm. Its Samarkand with missionary zeal, early inhabitants before Islam but the hostility of the locals led were Persians, but the main city to him being decapitated of Khiva is recorded from the (Marozzi, p.230). As such, the 10th Century when its inner city Shahr i Zinda has become a place (Itchan Kala) was protected by of pilgrimage for regional walls. By the 17th century, the Muslims. The great traveller Ibn outer walls were built to protect Battutah visited here in the early the outer town (Dichan Kala). 14th century and wrote in 1333: Bukhara ‘The inhabitants of Bukhara is a classical city of Samarkand come out to visit Islamic Uzbekistan. It was

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founded in 500 BCE when Aryan Samani mausoleum from around immigrants settled here within a 900. Bukhara is also home to a walled city. It was a significant significant Jewish population city within the Persian empire, who have lived there since but also had a significant Roman times. Buddhist minority. As the Silk Route opened, Bukhara gained Tashkent prominence as a market city. Tashkent is thought to be on the After the Battle of Talas in 751, site of settlements from two Bukhara became a Muslim city, thousand years ago in Ming- and by 850, it was the capital of Uruk. With the development of the Samanid Empire. It was the Silk Route, Tashkent grew in established as the intellectual importance as a caravan cross- centre of Islam. At that time, not roads. The Arabs under-stood its only were many Hadith importance and took Tashkent in collectors such as Imam Bukhari 751. It suffered the same fate as present here, it also became a Samarkand and Bukhara under centre of the Sufis, particularly the Mongols, but regained its the Naqshbandi Order. It too status by the time Timur began to suffered the same fate as grow his empire. Given the Samarkand under the Mongols, Mongol destruction, it is not but recovered to play a surprising that most of the prominent role under the remaining Islamic sites are from Chagatays and Timur. the 15th and 16th centuries such as the Juma Mosque, the There are several great Islamic Kulkedash Medressa [we have buildings in the city from the used the local spellings 16th century including the throughout – ED] and tombs for Kalyan minaret which is a 45 people such as Yunus Khan metre brick minaret, and the (grandfather of Babur). The Kalyan mosque dating from majority of Tashkent is a modern 1514. There are other older city with all of its trappings. monuments such as the Ismail

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Famous Uzbeks Hajj with his mother (widowed Al-Khwarizmi (790 - 850) now) and brother, and then from Abu Abdullah ibn Musa al- Makkah, he took the opportunity Khwarizmi was born in to visit many other Hadith Khwarizm (modern Khiva in scholars in Egypt, Iraq (Baghdad Uzbekistan) in 780. Once and Basra) and Iran on his Baghdad was established as a journey back. He made other global seat of learning, al- trips and was able to hear of Khwarizmi found his way to the traditions from hundreds of House of Wisdom in Baghdad scholars across the Islamic where he lived and worked for world. When he returned to many years. He made many Uzbekistan, he compiled his al- contributions to science inclu- Jami al-Sahih, a collection of ding the foundations for algebra. authentic Hadith arranged in As a later Director of the subjects. These are now Baghdad academy of science, he considered the most authentic directed a team to produce the collections. One of his students first map of the known world. He from Nishapur (Iran), Muslim produced the first astronomical ibn al-Hajjaj later compiled his tables. He became known as the own collection now called Sahih father of algebra and astronomy. Muslim. He died in 870 in the village of Khartank near Imam Bukhari (810 - 870) Samarkand where his grave is The famous Sunni scholar Imam still visited today. Muhammad ibn Ismail al- Bukhari was born in Bukhara in al-Tirmidhi (824 - 892) 810 CE. His father Ismail had Another famous Hadith collector, also been a theologian and a Abu Isa Muhammad ibn al- Hadith scholar. As a young man, Tirmidhi was born in Termez he had already memorised (Arabic Tirmidh) in Uzbekistan hundreds (some say tens of and was a contemporary of Imam thousands) of Hadith. At the Bukhari, Imam Muslim and Abu tender age of sixteen, he went to Dawud. He was from the Banu

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Sulaym tribe and like Bukhari, Ibn Sena (980 - 1037) he also travelled and consulted Abu ‘Ali Al-Hussain ibn Sina across the Muslim world. His (known as Avicenna in the West) collection of Hadith is known as was born in Afshana near Jami al-Tirmidhi. Bukhara in Uzbekistan into an Ismaili Shia family. He was Al-Biruni (973 - 1048) educated in Bukhara by some of Abu Rehan al-Biruni was born in the best scientists of his time, and Khwarazm (modern Khiva) in had memorised the Qur’an by the Uzbekistan in 973. He travelled age of 7. As his reputation grew, extensively in India long before he came under the patronage of Timur established his empire the vizier of Urgench, and later there. Indeed he was the first researched in Merv, Nishapur, Muslim scholar to study India Gorgan and other places around and Hinduism. He absorbed the Persian empire. He wrote two Indian science and culture and major works among his 450+ then wrote his Kitab al-Hind. He books, al-Shifa being an was a leader in many sciences, encyclopedia of humanities, and ahead of his time, literally. medicine, and sciences, and the He created the blueprint for an second, al-Qanun became the astrolabe with gears which could most comprehensive study of keep up with the motion of the medicine in history. Indeed, for earth. This was the early almost 700 years, this was the forerunner to modern clocks. He standard text on medicine in also famously described the European Universities. He died of Milky Way as a ‘collection of Colic in Hamadan, modern Iran. countless fragments of the nature of nebulous stars.’ His major Timur (1336 - 1405) contributions were to mathe- Timur bin Taraghay Barlas is matics where he advanced often referred to as Tamerlane in arithmetic, ratio theory, algebra the West, and was a great and geometry. military leader of the 14th Century who founded the

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Timurid Empire. He was born in 1336 in Kesh (modern Shahr-e- Sabz) near Samarkand. The son of the leader of the Barlas tribe who had also been the first of his contemporaries to accept Islam, Timur followed in his father’s footsteps by leading not just the Barlas tribe, but extended his empire rapidly to encompass eastern Turkey, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan and western India. His motto is quoted as being ‘As there is only one God in Heaven, so there should be only one king on earth’. However his advances Char Minar Mosque, Bukhara were often brutal and made him enemies. In taking Damascus and and fever. His body was taken Baghdad, two of the great back to Samarkand where it lies Muslim cities of the time, his today at the Gur-e-Amir tomb. troops massacred most of the His legacy was mainly through civilians and deported those with one of his descendents, Babar. skills they needed, back to After defeat to Shaybani in 1512, Samarkand. This created Babar travelled to India and hostility from both the Ottoman established the famous Mughal Turks and the Mamluk's of Empire. The rest of Timur's Egypt. empire fragmented soon after his death in 1405, and while Timur’s Timur tried to advance against son Shah Rukh ruled eastern the Ming dynasty to the east to Persia (Iran), his grandson Ulugh get control of China, but was Beg made Samarkand an finally defeated by the plague intellectual centre.

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Ulugh Beg (1393 - 1449) the Promised Messiah(ra) came Mirza Muhammad Targhai from a Mughal family in the Ulugh Beg was a grandson of Indian town of Qadian. The Timur. He was born in family trace their lineage back to Sultaniyeh in Persia, but as a 1530 when Mirza Hadi Beg, a young man, settled to become the chieftain of Samarkand, moved governor of Samarkand in 1409 out and emigrated to the Punjab at the age of 16. Just a few years region of India accompanied by later in 1417, he established a his family and staff, following in madrassa (university) in the footsteps of Babar from the Registan Square, Samarkand. He same town. Mirza Hadi Beg invited many senior Islamic himself was descended from the scholars to study and teach there uncle of Timur (Adamson) and including astronomers, mathe- was therefore from royal stock. maticians and other academics including al-Kashi. In 1428, his Mirza Hadi Beg had established interest in astronomy led him to a town called Islampur where he build a huge observatory was also appointed the local ‘Gurkhani Zij’ in Samarkand, judge (Qadhi). Over time, the through which one of the greatest town took the name Islampur star catalogues was compiled. He Qadhi, and more recently also had the solar year calculated Qadian. So the ancestors of the to be 365.257 days, which was Promised Messiah(ra) and the only improved upon by the great town he grew up in had very astronomer Copernicus. He strong links to the Uzbek clans found a new great role for that had emigrated to India Samarkand, and in honour of his almost 500 years ago. achievements, a crater on the Moon was named after him in Modern Uzbekistan 1830. The Uzbek khans ruled Central Asia for many centuries from The Promised Messiah(as) Khiva and Bukhara until they Hahdrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, were subsumed into the ill-fated

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Soviet Union in 1924. For history from their Soviet around 70 years, Islam was then slumber. suppressed by the Communists, and the great Mosques lay empty Conclusion and silent. It was after the fall of The great cities of Bukhara, the Soviet Bloc in 1991 that Khiva and Samarkand have had Islam began its revival in lofty positions in history as Uzbekistan. centres of intellect and culture, although the Mongols them- The early seeds of discontent selves are not remembered with under Soviet rule came from as much affection. The strategic Tashkent (the modern capital) significance of the region under the banner of Birlik (the encouraged great rulers such as unity movement) formed in Cyrus and Alexander to take up 1989. They began a push to make roots, and later Russia and Uzbek the official language and Britain vied for influence. Today, to restore their culture. It was Russia, the USA and China have only as recently as August 1991 also seen this as a tactical theatre that the Uzbeks got their as they vie for power. independence. Islam Karimov, moved from First Secretary of The greatest service of the the Communist Party of Uzbeks to Islam was long before Uzbekistan to their President. the Mongols when the great His decades of power do not give scientists, scholars and artisans the impression of popular left us magnificent collections of freedom. Hadith which are still treated as the most authentic sayings of the The modern country has a Holy Prophet(saw) to this day. At population of just over 25 that time, the zest for learning Million, the vast majority of and Uzbekistan’s advantageous whom are Sunni Muslims and trade position on the Silk Route have now embarked on a journey produced not just scholarship of to recover their traditions and the Qur’an and Hadith, but also

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of all of the sciences and of the Great Mughals, Reaktion mathematics. Technology, such Books Ltd, London, 2004. as clocks, paper mills and 4. Marozzi, Justin, Tamerlane, Harper Perennial, London, 2005. printing presses, and concepts 5. Rahman, Mushtaqur & Rahman, such as algebra, the first world Guljan, Geography of the Muslim maps, star charts and even World, IQRA International medical encyclopedias have all Education Foundation, Chicago, taken root in Uzbekistan. For 1997. this, the Persians must be 6. Rahman, H.U., A Chronology of Islamic History 570 - 1000 CE, Ta- credited, and the extent of Ha Publishers Ltd, London, 1999. interaction with other Persian 7. Azimabadi, Badr, Great cities such as Baghdad, Merv, Personalities in Islam, Adam Isfahan and Kandahar illustrates Publishers & Distributors, Delhi, the flow of ideas across its realm. India, 1998. 8. Virk, Zakaria, ‘Muslim Contribution to Mathematics and Astronomy’, Modern Uzbekistan is a shadow The Review of Religions, Vol.93, of the great period, and is still No.3, March 1998, p.7-13. trying to recover its legacy from 9. Khaldun, Ibn, Muqaddimah – An the veil of the Soviet Union, but Introduction to History, Princeton the people could hardly wish for University Press, New Jersey, USA, 2005. better examples to inspire them 10. Fox, Robin Lane, Alexander the from their history. Great, Penguin Books, London, 2004.

References 1. Adamson, Iain, Ahmad the Guided One, Islam International Publications Ltd, Tilford, UK, 1990, p.17-18 2. Macleod, Calum & Mayhew, Bradley, Uzbekistan – The Golden Road to Samarkand, Odyssey Publications, Hong Kong 2004. 3. Schimmel, Annemarie, The Empire

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