CONTENTS July 2006, Vol.101, No.7

Editorial: ...... 2 Fazal Ahmad, London – UK Essence of Islam – Part 9 ...... 3 Devotion to the Holy Prophet(sa) and some poems in his rememberance.

Hadhrat (as) – Promised Messiah and Mahdi

Punishment for Apostasy ...... 14 How the traditions of Islam have been misinterpreted to suggest that Islam prescribes death penalty for apostasy. Hadhrat (ru) – Khalifatul Masih IV The Acropolis: Its significance in the development of religious philosophy ...... 28 History of the Acropolis and and its significance in the development of

spiritual thought. Fazal Ahmad – London, UK The Teacher of Righteousness of the Dead Sea Scrolls ...... 41 Study of the Teacher of Righteousness of the Dead Sea Scrolls and whether he (as) could be Jesus . Khalid Saifullah Khan – Australia

Taoist Yin-Yang ...... 60 A short look at how the Taoist philosophy of Yin-Yang compares to Islam and

its concept of the existence of God. Asim Rai – London, UK

COVER PIC: Acropolis at Night – from BigStock Photo Library

Basit Ahmad Chief Editor and Manager: Mansoor Ahmed Shah Bockarie Tommy Kallon Management Board: Special contributors: Design and layout: Fareed Ahmad Mr Munir-ud-din Shams (Chairman) Amatul-Hadi Ahmad Tanveer Khokhar d Fazal Ahmad. Farina Qureshi r Mr Mansoor Shah (Secretary) Publisher: a Fauzia Bajwa Mr Naseer Ahmad Qamar Proofreaders: Al Shirkatul Islamiyyah o Mansoor Saqi Mr Mubarak Ahmad Zafar Abdul Ghany Jahangeer

B Khan and Shaukia Mir Distribution: Mahmood Hanif Mr Mirza Fakhar Ahmad l Muhammad Hanif Mr. Abdul Baqi Arshad a Mansoora Hyder-Muneeb i r Navida Shahid All correspondence should The © Islamic Publications, 2006 o

t Sarah Waseem be forwarded to the editor at: The London ISSN No: 0034-6721 i 16 Gressenhall Road d Saleem Ahmad Malik London, SW18 5QL

E Tanveer Khokhar United Kingdom

Views expressed in this publication are not necessarily the beliefs of the Muslim Community 1 EDITORIAL Fazal Ahmad– New Malden, UK

Even though the practice in many way, when Islam reached its so-called Muslim countries may zenith in Spain, Jews, Christians lead to the opposite and Muslims lived in harmony conclusion,freedom of speech and together, researched all faiths and conscience are fundamental tenets beliefs, and inspired by the Greeks of the faith of Islam. reached new heights in spiritual understanding. Recent cases have led to the impression that turning away from Faith and religion are personal. It Islam or any other faith (apostasy) is in man’s relationship with God, is a sin punishable by death. In this that only God can understand the issue we break that myth intentions and motives of a man in categorically. This dilemma is not his actions. So if someone decides limited to Islam. In the context of to accept a faith or to change a the Teacher of Righteousness, we faith, this is a matter purely for the can see how theological conflict individual concerned. Seeking was exercised two thousand years knowledge is always a good thing, ago in the Jewish community. and can only ever provide more evidence for the truth. It is through We also see an example in Athens seeking knowledge that we can of where as soon as freedom of break down our own ignorance thought and freedom of just as the Greeks and the early conscience were established in the Muslims inspired by Islam did. In 5th century BCE, great advances today’s world, we must encourage were made in theology and dialogue and research to remove philosophy. A healthy respect for ignorance, and banish false views and interest in other faiths raised about apostasy and jihad. the understanding of the ancient Greeks in a way that is still appreciated today. In the same

2 The Review of Religions – July 2006 ESSENCE OF ISLAM: Devotion to the Holy Prophet(saw) and Poems in Rememberance of the Holy Prophet(saw) – Part 9

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.

In our estimation, there is no prefer to die rather than endure greater testimony than the the disgrace that they should testimony of the Holy make peace and become friends Prophet(saw). My heart trembles with such people who are when I hear that any person who occupied day and night with is confronted with a decision of abusing the Holy Prophet(saw) and the Holy Prophet(saw) does not mention his name with contempt accept it and turns away from it. in their books, journals, and (Itmam-ul-Hujjah, Ruhani announcements and use vile Khazain, Vol. 8, p.293) language with reference to him. Such persons are not the well- The Muslims are a people who wishers even of their own are ready to lay down their lives people, for they create num- to uphold the honour of their berless difficulties for them. I tell Holy Prophet(saw). They would you truly that it is possible for us

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to make peace with the serpents of the jungle and the wild beasts of the forests, but we cannot make peace with those who do not refrain from speaking ill of God’s Prophets and who consider that abuse and vituperation mean victory. True victory is that which comes from heaven. (Chashma-e-Ma’rifat, Ruhani Khaza’in, Vol.23, pp. 385-386)

The insults that have been The founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community was Hadhrat offered to Islam and the Holy Mirza Ghulam Ahmad(as). (saw) Prophet , the attacks that have The founder of the Ahmadiyya been made against Divine Law Muslim community was Hadhrat and the apostasies and heresies Mirza Ghulam Ahmad(as). In 1891, that have become widespread, he claimed, on the basis of Divine revelation, that he was the Promised cannot be matched in any other Messiah and Mahdi whose advent age. Is it not true that in a short had been foretold by Muhammad, while in India alone a hundred the Holy Prophet of Islam (peace thousand people have become and blessings of Allah be upon him) and by the scriptures of other faiths. Christians, and more than sixty His claim constitutes the basis of the million books have been beliefs of the Ahmadiyya Muslim published in opposition to Islam, community. and people belonging to high families have lost their religion, and those who used to describe abuse of the Holy Prophet(saw) themselves as the descendants of have been published? My heart the Holy Prophet(saw) have put on cries out with tears that if these the garment of Christianity and people had murdered my have become his enemies, and children before my eyes, and had numberless books full of vile cut to pieces my sincere friends,

4 The Review of Religions – July 2006 ESSENCE OF ISLAM – PART 9 and had killed me with great Of this full moon that has humiliation, and had possessed enchanted me. themselves of all my property, I would not have been so pained They shed tears in remembrance and my heart would not have of your beauty; been so hurt as it has been pained And the pangs of separation and hurt by the insults offered to from you make them cry. the Holy Prophet(saw). (A’ina-e-Kamalat-e-Islam, I find hearts throbbing wildly; Ruhani Khaza’in, Vol. 5, pp.51- And tears streaming from the 52) eyes.

Poems in Remembrance of the O ye who in his light and Holy Prophet(saw) radiance is like the sun and the moon; Al-Qasidah – An Ode in Praise And has illumined the day with of the Holy Prophet(saw) his light. (Arabic Poem) O fountainhead of Divine grace O full moon of ours, O the sign and knowledge! All creation of our Gracious Lord! O the flocks towards you like the most guided of all guides, and thirsty. the bravest of all the brave.

O ocean of the grace of the I perceive in your bright face Generous Benefactor! A quality far superior to human Multitudes throng towards you qualities. holding empty cups. O sun of the kingdom of beauty He is genial, gracious, and grace! bounteous, lover of You have illumined the face of righteousness; deserts and dwellings alike. Generous, and one who has A nation had the honour to excelled all the youth. behold you and another heard He surpasses all creation in his

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perfection and beauty; between the two. In his glory, and his pleasant nature. He is the one and only archer whose arrows never miss the No doubt, Muhammad is the target; best of creation; He is the master archer whose He is the elect of the elect and arrows hit the target and kill the chief of chiefs. Satan.

All excellence attained He is like a heavenly garden: I perfection in his person; see his fruits; The bounties of every age Whose bunches have been reached their climax in him. lowered towards my heart.

I call Allah to witness that I found him an ocean of verities Muhammad is His vicegerent; and guidance: Through him alone access is Full of lustre like a pearl. possible to the Divine court. Verily ‘Isa-Jesus-quietly He is the pride of every pious breathed his last, but our and holy person; Prophet is alive; In him does the spiritual army God is my witness, I have had take pride. the honour to meet him.

He is superior to all those who I swear by Allah! I have attained nearness to Allah in witnessed his beautiful earlier times; countenance; For the criterion of excellence is With my own eyes while sitting virtue, not time. in my house.

A light drizzle often precedes Our Holy Prophet is alive-of this rain; I am a witness; And I have been But there is a world of difference blessed with the fruit of

6 The Review of Religions – July 2006 ESSENCE OF ISLAM – PART 9 converse with him. Are all saturated with your love.

I had the honour of witnessing O garden of my delight, never his blessed countenance in my for a moment, early youth; Am I without the remembrance He graced me with his presence of your countenance. when I was wide awake. Overwhelmed with longing, my Surely, I have been brought back body yearns to fly towards you; to life by his life glvmg grace, If only I had the power to fly!!! Praise be to Allah, What a (Aina-e-Kamalat-e-Islam, miracle! What a life he has Ruhani Khaz’ain, Vol.5, pp.590- granted me! 594)

O my Lord, shower Your blessings upon the Holy Qualities of the Holy Prophet, Prophet(saw) (Arabic Poem) Ever and always, here and in O my Heart! remember Ahmad; the hereafter. Source of guidance and annihilator of enemies. O my master! I have come to your door as the one wronged He is pious, kind and and aggrieved; benevolent; For my people have hurt me by An ocean of bounties and calling me a kafir. beneficence.

Do look upon me with mercy He is bright like the full moon; and compassion! Praiseworthy in all his qualities. O my master, I am the humblest of your slaves. His benevolence captures hearts; His beauty quenches the O my beloved! My soul, my thirst. senses, my heart; The oppressors rejected him,

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So unjustly, and with such And extinguish the light of his arrogance! guidance. No one can deny the truth When it becomes manifest. Sooner or later, Allah will manifest his light. Go and find someone perfect like him; You will be humbled O rain that pours day and night, and bewildered. You have been safeguarded from destruction. We have not seen anyone like him You have nourished the trees of Who so wakes up the sleeping low lands ones. And high lands with your bounties. He is the light of God that has resuscitated We have found you to be the All branches of knowledge haven of refuge; Hence after afresh. finding such a great haven, We are no longer afraid of He is the elect, the chosen one; adverse circumstances, Nor are The guide, and the source of we scared of the horrors of any grace. sword.

The rain of guidance is but a We fear not the vicissitudes of part time; Of the heavy rains of his Nor are we frightened by generosity. threats.

The world forgot its light At the time of every crisis, drizzle, We turn to our Lord. When they saw the torrential rain from this leader. In many a contest, Today the mean try to put out Between me and the opposing

8 The Review of Religions – July 2006 ESSENCE OF ISLAM – PART 9 hordes, infonned you in time. I emerged victorious, honoured, And a recipient of divine No one came for a trial, even succour. though I challenged every opponent to Praise be to Allah! Praise be to compete. Him! As we have recognised our guide. Come, O ye people! Herein you will find the light of God; My friend! It is Allah indeed, Lo! I have told you the way of Who has favoured us with this satisfaction. gift. Today those lights are surging in He is the Night of Decree, this humble one; Whose bounties are perennial. I have coloured my heart with (Karamat-us-Sadiqin, Ruhani every hue of those lights. Khaz’ain, Vol.7, pp.70-71.) Ever since I received that light from the light of the Prophet, The Faith of Muhammad(saw) – I have joined myself with the (Urdu Poem): True One. I let my fancy fly in all directions, Countless blessings and peace But I did not find a faith like the be upon Mustafa(sa); faith of Muhammad. Allah is my witness: from Him I received this light. There is no religion which shows the signs of truth; This My soul is forever wedded to the fruit I tasted only in the garden soul of Muhammad(saw); ofMuhammad. I have filled my heart to the brim with this elixir. I tested Islam myself – It is light upon light; Wake up, I have I swear by your countenance, O

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my dear Ahmad(saw); Whether it rises from the border For your sake alone, have I of Rome or from Zanzibar? taken up all this burden. (Barahin-e-Ahmadiyya, part v, Ruhani Khaz’ain, Vol.21, p.144) O my Beloved! I swear by Your Uniqueness; I have forgotten all about myself Grandeur of Ahmad(saw) – in Your love. (Urdu Couplet) (A’ina-e-Kamalat-e-Islam, Beyond all thoughts and Ruhani Khaz’ain, Vol. 5, imagination pp.224-225) Is the status of Ahmad(sa); Whose servant, you can see, Is the Messiah of the age! The Perfect Prophet(saw) – (Urdu (Haqiqatul Wahi, Ruhani Couplets) Khaz’ain, Vol.22, pp.286, The ignorant of Europe say: footnote) ‘This Prophet is not perfect; What was the difficulty in spreading faith among Our Leader(saw) (Urdu Poem) theuncivilised?’ He is our leader, who is the source of all light; But to convert the uncivilised His name is Muhammad(saw); he into civilised people is a alone is my beloved. miracle; Which manifests the meaning of All Prophets are holy, one better the secret of . than the other; But from the Almighty, he is the He brought the light from best ofthe creation. heavens, he himself was light; What is the harm if he was born He is far better than those among an uncivilised people? before him, he is a darling in his What difference does it make to qualities; the light of the shining moon; Every eye is focused on him, he

10 The Review of Religions – July 2006 ESSENCE OF ISLAM – PART 9 is the full moon which dispels In his hands is the light of faith; all darkness. he is the fountain of light.

Those who came earlier, were He revealed the weighty secrets fatigued halfway; He it is of faith; who brought us to the shore; He is the King who grants May I be a sacrifice; he alone is wealth. the guide. I am a sacrifice at that light; I He removed the screen, and belong entirely to him; showed the secret path; He He is all, what worth do I joined the hearts to the Beloved, possess? This is the final such a friend he is! verdict.

That Friend, beyond all physical That Unique Beloved is the limitations, that Unseen source of all learning; Beloved; All else is a mere tale, this is the We saw through him, so he is the truth unblemished. true guide. We found everything through Today he is the King of faith; the him, O Allah You are a witness; Crown of the apostles; He is He is that manifestor of Beauty, pure and holy, this is his eulogy. who showed us the Truth.

All commandments ordained by We were blind of the heart, with the True God were demonstrated hundreds of knots upon the in practice by him; hearts; He revealed all secrets, an The one who opened the locks is excellent gift is this. this very Mujtaba – accepted one. His vision is far-reaching like a ( Ke Arya aur Hum, telescope, his heart is close to Ruhani Khaz’ain, vol.20, p.456). the Friend;

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Leader of the Lovers of God – are his devotees; (Persian Poem) They are like dust at his That sovereign of all the world; doorstep. Whose name is Mustafa – the chosen one; Love for him elevates one to the Who is the elite of the lovers of heaven; the True God; And transforms one like the Who is bright like the midday lambent moon in purity. sun. He demonstrates to the Verily, all light is due to his Pharaohs of every age, light; Hundreds of signs like that of He who is accepted by him is the white hand of Moses. accepted by God. (Barahin-e-Ahmadiyya, Ruhani Khaz’ain, Vol.1, p.627, footnote) He is the one that, for life, is the flowing water; And a limitless ocean of Muhammad(saw) is our Leader spiritual insight. and Guide – (Persian Poem): That Prophet whose name is He it is in support of whose Muhammad; truthfulness and excellence, We are forever holding on to his Hundreds of incontrovertible lap. proofs and arguments have been made manifest to the world. His love that entered our bodies with the milk of our mothers; His countenance radiates the Became our very life, and will light of God; last till death.

His path manifests the works of He is the best of the Prophets God. and best of the creation; Prophethood found perfection in All Prophets and truthful ones him.

12 The Review of Religions – July 2006 ESSENCE OF ISLAM – PART 9

We drink deep the water of his meaning Unique. The line fountain, purports to say that by freeing Whoever has been satiated, has himself completely from his been satiated by it. own self, the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah Whatever revelation or upon him) became a true inspiration is granted to us; manifestation of Allah, the Is because of him, not because Unique. of us.

Through him are we blessed with guidance and perfection; Without him, meeting the Eternal Lord is impossible.

To follow every one of his commandments is ingrained in me; Whatever is proven to be from him is my faith. (Siraj-e-Munir, Ruhani Khaz’ain, Vol.12, p.85)

* Ahmad is composed of four Arabic letters – Alif, Ha, Mim, and Dal. When the Mim is dropped, the three remaining letters – Alif, Ha, and Dal make the word Ahad, which is an attribute of Almighty Allah,

The Review of Religions – July 2006 13 PUNISHMENT FOR APOSTASY– Part 7, section 2 This is the second section of the seventh extract taken from the book Murder in the Name of Allah by Hadhrat Mirza Tahir Ahmad(ru), dealing with the lack of evidence and contrary arguments from the Holy Qur’an on the subject of capital punishment related to someone changing one’s faith.

Continued from June 2006: would not dismount until the person had been executed and h) Reference needs to be made to observed that this was the the appointments of Muadh b. judgement of God and His Jabal and Abu Musa Ashari, each Messenger. This last remark as governor of a part of Yemen. indicates no more than his As they were about to leave, the personal opinion of what he Holy Prophet(saw) instructed them: understood to be of God ‘Make things easy for people and and His prophet. Such opinions do not put them into difficulty. carry no weight in law unless they Talk to them cheerfully and not in are completely substantiated by a manner that might repel them’. references which verify the claim. One day Muadh came to meet (This principle is elaborated Abu Musa Ashari and noticed a subsequently in this chapter.) person sitting there who had been secured with a rope. When Muadh Now let us examine the reliability enquired about this he was told of this tradition (of capital that that person was a Jew who punishment for apostasy). Muaz’s had become a Muslim and then remark contradicts the instruction became an apostate. The narrator of the Holy Prophet(saw) to make adds that for the past two to three things easy for people and not in a months the Muslims had reasoned manner which might repel them. with him in order to persuade him To place reliance on one tradition to become a Muslim but to no without investigating Muaz’s avail. Muadh declared that he understanding of Islam on a key

14 The Review of Religions – July 2006 PUNISHMENT FOR APOSTASY issue where human rights are been deferred to the end of this involved is sheer absurdity. chapter so that justice may be done to it without interfering with Considerable doubt prevails the general flow of the subject regarding this tradition, the chain matter. of narrators and their authenticity. Wherever such disputes arise, the Before a detailed examination of tradition is rejected outright. It this tradition, a few words should be remembered that these concerning the application of traditions were compiled some certain principles accepted by three to four centuries after the Islamic scholars throughout the advent of Islam and that, over a ages would not be out of place. passage of time, memories are These principles help to resolve prone to error. According to one controversies concerning the tradition, the Jew was beheaded apparent contradiction between upon Muaz’s instructions.11 In the the Holy Qur’an and second tradition, Muaz himself (tradition) on the one hand and beheaded the Jew. When such some traditions vis-a-vis other fundamental differences occur in traditions. a key incident, how can anyone accept the authenticity of these 1. The Word of God stands traditions? People may forget supreme. what someone said, but if they 2. This is followed by the actual were eye-witnesses they would at practice of the Holy Prophet of least remember what ultimately Islam(saw). This is known as happened to the ‘apostate’ in . question. 3. This is followed by hadith, the words reported to be those of Next we turn to a tradition which the Holy Prophet(saw). has obtained much attention because it is strongly emphasised a) If the authenticity of the words and relied upon by the school of the Holy Prophet(saw) is advocating capital punishment for established unquestionably, the apostacy. This has deliberately words concerned are words put

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into the mouth of the Holy called tradition, but a genuine Prophet(saw) by God Almighty. attempt is to be made to find an Where there is no apparent explanation of the tradition. contradiction between the word of Therefore in all cases of doubt, the Holy Prophet(saw) and the the tradition is put to the anvil of Qur’an, the tradition may be the Holy Qur’an and judged accepted as authentic. accordingly.

b) There are no two opinions e) If there is no contradiction regarding the accepted fact that between the Holy Qur’an and whenever any so-called tradition hadith, then their mutual merit of atttibuted to the Holy Prophet of credibility would be determined Islam(saw) contradicts any clear according to the reliability of the injunction of the Holy Qur’an, sources and the chain of narrators. such a tradition is rejected as false and is not accepted as the word of f) Such a tradition will also be the Holy Prophet(saw). compared with other authentic and widely accepted traditions to c) If such a tradition does not make sure that the tradition does glaringly violate any injunction of not conflict with other traditions. the Holy Qur’an and there is room for compromise, then ideally an g) Lastly, another reliable method attempt should be made to search of investigating the credibility of for a suitable compromise before a tradition is to study its internal the final rejection of the tradition. evidence critically. If the contents of the tradition clash with the d) In attempting to reconcile a image of the Holy Prophet of tradition attributed to the Holy Islam(saw) which has emerged from Prophet(saw) with the Holy Qur’an, a study of his conduct and bearing it must always be borne in mind throughout his life, then such a that the clear teachings of the tradition would be rejected as a Holy Qur’an are not to be false attribution to the Holy compromised for the sake of a so- Prophet(saw) or as being against the

16 The Review of Religions – July 2006 PUNISHMENT FOR APOSTASY principles of logic and common Tradition sense. It is recorded in Bukhari that:

In the light of the above ‘Ikramah relates that he heard principles, let us examine13 the that some Zindeeqs were tradition in question. presented before Hadhrat Ali whereupon he directed the Chapter Verses burning alive of these people. lbn Abbas stated that had it 57, 100, 109, 218, 257, 2 273 been him, he would not have ordered this because the Holy 3 21, 73, 86-92, 145 Prophet(saw) had said that the 4 83, 138, 139, 146 torment of the fire may only 5 55, 62, 91-93, 99-100 be decreed by God but the 6 67, 105-108, 126 Prophet had also said, 'Slay 7 124-129 whosoever changes his 14 9 11-14 religion.’

10 100-109 This tradition, with some 13 41 variation, may also be found in Tirmidhi, Abu Daud, Al-Nisa’i 15 10 and Ibn Majah’s compilations. 16 83, 105-107, 126 Contradiction with the Holy 20 72-74 Qur’an It is not possible for a fair-minded 22 40 person to reconcile the following 24 55 verses of the Holy Qur’an with 25 42-44 this tradition: The following passage is typical: 42 7, 8, 48, 49 17:55, 18:30, 19:47, 26:117, 28:57, Whoso seeks a religion other 29:19, 39:30-42, 40:26-27, 47:26, than Islam, it shall not be 50:46, 51:57, 64:9-13, 66:7, 88:22-23 accepted from him, and in the

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life to come he shall be among shall have no helper. the losers. How shall Allah (Ch.3: Vs.86-92) guide a people who have disbelieved after having It is obvious from these verses believed and who had borne that no punishment is to be witness that the Messenger is inflicted by one man on another true and to him clear proofs for apostasy. The words had come? Allah guides not ‘thereunder shall they abide’ the wrongdoers. Of such the clearly refer to the life hereafter. punishment is that on them By no stretch of the imagination shall be the curse of Allah and can any sane person interpret the of angels and of men, all words ‘curse of Allah’ to be a together; thereunder shall licence to murder anyone whom they abide. Their punishment he considers to be an apostate. No shall not be lightened nor capital punishment is mentioned. shall they be granted respite; If it had, according to the strict except in the case of those who requirements of the law, the repent thereafter and amend. punishment would have been Surely, Allah is Most clearly defined, as in the case of Forgiving, Ever Merciful. all other hudud (punishments Those who disbelieve after specifically prescribed in the Holy having believed, and then Qur’an). On the contrary, the continue to advance in Holy Qur’an mentions the disbelief, their repentance possibility of repentance by such shall not be accepted. Those persons and subsequent are they who have gone utterly forgiveness by God. How can astray. From anyone of those anyone repent and atone for his who have disbelieved, and die sins in this world if he has been while they are disbelievers, killed? there shall not be accepted even an earthful of gold, The advocates of capital though he offer it in ransom. punishment for apostasy need to For those there shall be a consider how, if their tradition is grievous punishment, and they presumed to be accurate, the clear

18 The Review of Religions – July 2006 PUNISHMENT FOR APOSTASY contradiction between it and the teachings contained in the Holy Holy Qur’an is to be resolved. In Qur’an. particular, they should reconsider their stance in view of the verses Conflicts with the practice of the quoted above and re-examine Holy Prophet(saw) those with an impartial mind. Our second source of law is the How could anyone accredit conduct and personal example of greater weight to such a dubious the Holy Prophet(saw). We have tradition than to these manifestly already demonstrated the clear dictates of the Holy Qur’an: hollowness of the claim that anyone has ever been executed for If thy Lord had enforced His the crime of apostasy. Will, surely all those on the earth would have believed After all, what was the stand of the without exception. Will thou Holy Prophet(saw) against the than take it upon thyself to Makkans? It was that he should be force people to become allowed to profess and proclaim believers? Except by Allah’s the message of God in peace. The leave no one can believe and Makkans did not grant him this He will afflict with His wrath freedom and punished those who those who will not use their began to believe in him. As far as understanding. the Makkans were concerned, (Ch.10:Vs.100-1) those who believed in the message of Muhammad(saw) were When God Himself does not force the apostates, having recanted people to believe, who are we to their faith of idol worship. raise the sword to force belief or to set Maududian mouse-traps? The The Holy Prophet(saw) spent his problem with the advocates of entire life fighting in defence of capital punishment for apostasy is the fundamental human rights that that they invariably accept literally everybody should be free to traditions compiled hundreds of choose his religion, no one should years after the Holy Prophet(saw) change another person's religion which obviously contradict the by force, and everybody has a

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right to change his own religion, The obstinate response of the whatever that religion is. opponents to this most logical and humane stance was that they In fact, this has been the true positively rejected the prophets’ meaning of ‘Holy War’, waged by position and stuck to their claim all messengers of God against that the prophets had no right to their opponents throughout the change the faith of their people. If history of religion. The Holy they did not desist from this Qur’an has repeatedly mentioned course, the prophets were to be this with reference to earlier ready to accept the penalty for prophets of God (see 2.5; 6.113; apostasy which was (in the 21.42; 25.32; 36.8, 31; 43.8). To opponents' opinion) no other than name but a few, these are death or exile. Abraham(as) (6.75-9; 19.47; 21.53, 59, 61, 69-70; 37.89-91, 98); The Holy Prophet’s(saw) struggle Elias(as) (37.126-7); Lot(as) with his opponents was consistent (26.166-8; 27.57;15.71); Noah(as) with the practice of all prophets of (7.60; 10.72; 11.26-7; 26.117; the past. How can any sane person 71.2-21); Moses(as) (7.105- deny the lifetime mission of the 6,124¬7; 10.76-9; 17.102-3; Holy Prophet(saw) and challenge his 20.44-5; 50-3; 26.19-34); and firm stance on this fundamental Jesus(as) (3.52-6; 5.118; 19.37; principle? The Holy Qur’an, the 43.65). What was their struggle practice of the Holy Prophet(saw), about? It was simply a response to and the other traditions provide the claim of the opponents of the ample contradiction to the prophets(as) that they had no right tradition in question. One cannot to change the faith of their over-emphasise the utter unrelia- contemporaries. In fact every- bility of this tradition. body has a right to choose his faith and as long as the message Reliability of the sources and of peace and love is spread by narrators peaceful means, no one has the Prima facie, the tradition refuted right to prevent this by force. here has been authenticated by the

20 The Review of Religions – July 2006 PUNISHMENT FOR APOSTASY reputable compilers Bukhari, only one chain of narrators Tirmidhi, Abu Daud, Al-Nisa’i connected to the same single and Ibn Majah; it is included in source) because all the five books five out of the six generally of hadith derive their chain of accepted compilations of hadith. narrators from Ikramah as their But there ends its claim to ultimate source. authenticity. The late Maulana Abdul Hayy of For a tradition to be declared Lucknow specifically refers to authentic, it is not enough for it to Ikramah, pointing out that merely be found in an authentic because Bukhari had included compilation. There are other him in his compilation, others established measures which are followed suit without carrying out applied to every tradition. The independent research.15 most important among these measures is the examination in A tradition may be authentic and depth and detail of the reputation reliable even if it is quoted and character of the narrators through a single chain of forming the links in the chain of narrators. However, it cannot be narrators. regarded as being as reliable as traditions which have more than There are scholars who have one chain of reliable narrators. devoted their whole lifetime to Such traditions are not permitted such studies and, thanks to their to influence edicts regarding the most painstaking and thorough rights, liabilities and penalties; in investigations, we are today in a particular, extra caution is position to examine every link of required in relation to hodud. the chain of narrators in any Hudud is a term strictly applicable compilation. Let us turn our to punishments specifically attention to the tradition under prescribed in the Holy Qur’an. consideration. This hadith falls The exponents of death as the into the category of ahad gharib penalty for apostasy consider their (i.e., a tradition in which there is view to be based on Qur’anic

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injunctions falling within the Abbasid period, (the Abbasids, it category of hudud. In fact, we should be borne in mind, were have disproved this claim earlier. extremely antagonistic because of political apprehensions) to all It is important to bear in mind that those who were in any way allied the tradition under discussion is a to Hadhrat Ali’s progeny, Ikramah tradition quoted by a single chain acquired great renown and respect of narrators and has no as a versatile scholar, obviously jurisprudence even if it is because of his hostility towards considered to be correct by some. Hazrat Ali(ra) and links with the In this context, it is essential to Khawarij.18 learn more about Ikramah and his reputation. Dhahbi states that because Ikramah was a Kharijite, his Ikramah traditions were unreliable and Ikramah16 was a slave of Ibn dubious. An expert on the Abbas, and also his pupil – a very punishment for apostasy, Imam indifferent pupil, for that matter, Ali b. Al-Madani, is of the same and a back-bencher of the first opinion. Yahya b. Bekir used to order. He confirms this himself by say that the Kharijites of Egypt, saying that Ibn Abbas was so Algiers and Morocco were infuriated with his lack of interest strongly allied to Ikramah. in his studies and by his truancy that he would bind his hand and It has generally been observed foot to compel him to remain that the traditions of capital present during his sermons.17 punishment for apostasy emanate mainly from incidents in Basra, He was an opponent of Hadhrat Kufa and Yemen. The people of Ali(ra), the fourth caliph ofIslam, the (Makkah and Madinah) and was inclined towards the were totally unfamiliar with them. Khawarij in particular at the time One cannot shut one’s eyes to the when differences between fact that the tradition from Hadhrat Ali(ra) and Ibn Abbas Ikramah under discussion is began to emerge. Later, during the known as an Iraqi tradition. Let us

22 The Review of Religions – July 2006 PUNISHMENT FOR APOSTASY recall the famous Makkan Imam, judge of the character of Ikramah Taus b. Kaisan, who used to say could there be than Ali b. that Iraqi traditions were Abdullah b. Abbas? No wonder, generally doubtful.19 therefore, that Imam Malik b. That is not all. A great scholar, Anas (95-179 AH), the pioneer Yahya b. Saeed Al-Ansari, has compiler of hadith and an Imam strongly censured Ikramah for his of jurisprudence held in the unreliability in general and has highest repute throughout the gone to the extent of calling him a Muslim world, held that the kadhab,20 that is to say an extreme traditions narrated by Ikramah liar of the first order. were unreliable.22

Abdullah b. Al-Harith quotes a The following scholars of great very interesting incident which he repute have declared that Ikramah witnessed himself when he visited had a strong disposition towards Ali b. Abdullah b. Abbas. He was exaggeration: Imam Yayha b. deeply shocked and dismayed to Saeed Al Ansari, Ali b. Abdullah find Ikramah bound to a post b. Abbas and Ata b. Abi Rabae.23 outside the door of Ali b. Abdullah b. Abbas. He This, then, is the man who we are expresseed his shock at this dealing with and on whose sole cruelty by asking Ali b. Abdullah authority the matter of the lives of b. Abbas if he had no fear of God all those people who change their in him. What he obviously meant faith is left hanging till the end of was that Ikramah, with all his time. renown of piety and so on, did not deserve such a base and cruel Ibn Abbas treatment at the hands of his late Whenever the name of Ibn master's own son. In response to Abbas24 appears at the head of a this, Ali b. Abdullah b. Abbas chain of narrators, the vast justified his act by pointing out majority of Muslim scholars is that Ikramah had the audacity to overawed. They forget the fact attribute false things to his late that because of his name and father, Ibn Abbas.21 What better reputation, concocters of false

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traditions tended to trace their Qur’an: “Verily no soul can fabricated chain of narrators back bear the burden of another.”’25 to him. Therefore, all traditions beginning with the name of Ibn If a man of Hadhrat Umar’s Abbas must be properly judged stature and integrity can and examined. misunderstand the Holy Prophet(saw), however rarely it Moreover, even if Ibn Abbas is might have happened, how much honestly reported by a narrator, more is there danger of ordinary the possiblity of human error on narrators misunderstanding the Ikramah’s part regarding what Ibn reports of Ibn Abbas? Abbas might have said cannot be ruled out. The following would be With such wide possibilities for a good illustration of the case in the miscarriage of the message of point: the Holy Prophet of Islam(saw), how can a sane person rely ‘Ibn Abbas says that Umar entirely on the evidence of this used to say that the Holy hadith and draw conclusions of Prophet(saw) said that crying far-reaching import regarding over the dead brought matters of life and death and chastisement to the dead. Ibn fundamental human rights? Abbas further said that after Umar died, he related this It is likely that Ikramah concocted tradition to Ayesha who said, this tradition, attributing it to Ibn “God forgive Umar!” By God, Abbas, as it was his wont to do, the Holy Prophet(saw) said according to Ali b. Ibn Abbas. nothing of the kind. He only said that if the descendants of Other internal criteria a disbeliever cried over his When we examine the subject dead body, their action tended matter of the tradition under to augment his punishment, consideration, we find the and by way of argument, contents to be erroneous in Ayesha also said: Sufficient several ways. for us is the saying of the a) A person of Hadhrat Ali’s

24 The Review of Religions – July 2006 PUNISHMENT FOR APOSTASY stature is presumed to be unaware who became a Muslim, and of the fact that Islam categorically slaying the pagan who adopted any prohibits a person to be punished new faith. ‘Whosoever’ also by fire. transcends the geographical boundaries of Muslim states, b) The words ‘slay whosoever implying that anywhere in the changes his faith’ are so general world, anyone who changes his that they can be interpreted in faith – be he an aborigine of many ways. They can apply to Australia, a pygmy of Africa or an men, women and children, indian of South America – must be whereas according to Imam Abu slain forthwith the moment he Hanifa and some other schools of renounces his previous faith and jurisprudence, an apostate woman accepts another one. can never be slain. Islam lays a great deal of emphasis c) The Arabic word deen on proselytizing, so that it is (religion) used in this tradition is a binding upon every Muslim to general word meaning any become a preacher in the path of religion, not Islam specifically. Allah. How ironic it is therefore Even the faith of idolaters is that many renowned Muslim referred to as deen. (Sura Al- scholars today negate the very Kafiroon). spirit of Islamic jihad by audaciously sticking to the narrow- In the light of the general nature of minded view that Islam dictates the language used, how can one that whosoever changes his faith, restrict the application of this meaning in this context Islam, tradition to a Muslim who must be put to death forthwith. renounces his faith? In strict legal What about those of other faiths? terms, according to this tradition, Islam declares it to be an anyone who changes his religion, obligation upon Muslims to stand whatever that religion is, would committed to the noble goal of have to be put to death. It would constantly endeavouring to change mean slaying the Jew who became the faith of all non-Muslims a Christian, slaying the Christian around them by peaceful means.

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This task is so important and sorry picture of Islamic justice demanding that every Muslim is this presents! instructed to stick to the endeavour till his last breath. To conclude, apostasy is the clear repudiation of a faith by a person The Holy Qur’an states: who formerly held it. Doctrinal differences, however grave, CalI unto the way of thy Lord cannot be deemed to be apostasy. with wisdom and goodly The punishment for apostasy lies exhortation, and reason with in the hand of God Almighty, them on the basis of that which against Whom the offence has is best. Thy Lord knows best been committed. Apostasy which those who have strayed away is not aggravated by some other from His way; and He knows crime is not punishable in this best those who are rightly world. This is the teaching of guided. God. This was the teaching of the (Ch.16: V.126) Holy Prophet(saw). This is the view confirmed by Hanafi jurists,26 The advocates of the bigoted Fateh al Kadeer,27 Chalpi,28 Hafiz inhumane doctrine of death upon ibn Qayyim, Ibrahim Nakhai, apostasy never visualise its effect Sufyan Thauri and many others. on international and inter- The Maududian claim of religious human relationships. consensus, concerning the Why can they not see that tradition they hold to be true, is a according to their view of Islam, mere fiction. adherents of all religions have a fundamental right to change their faith but not so the Muslims, and References that Islam has the prerogative of 11. Bukhari, Kitab al-Mustadeen converting others but all wal Muanadeen wa adherents of different faiths are Qitaalihim, Bab Hukumul deprived of any right to convert Murtad wal Murtadda. Muslims to their faith? What a 12. Abu Daud.

26 The Review of Religions – July 2006 PUNISHMENT FOR APOSTASY

13. The Holy Qur’an urges: 1983, 373. ‘When you hear of it, why did 21. Abu Jafar Muhammed b. Amr not the believing men and the b. Musa b. Hamad Al-Aqbli believing women think well Al-Mulki, op.cit. of their own people, and say: This is a manifest lie ...’ 22. Mizan Al-Aitadal, Vol.2, 209. (Ch.24: V.13). The Holy 23. Fateh Al-Bari. Prophet(saw) said: ‘It is 24. The son of Abbas, an uncle of evidence enough of the the Holy Prophet(saw). Ibn untruthfulness of a person Abbas was no more than a that he should relate, without child during the Holy examination, whatever he Prophet’s(saw) time. hears.’ (Muslim, vol.1, 25. Bukhari, Kitab al-Janaiz, chapter headed ‘Don’ts about chapter headed ‘Wailing over Tradition’) the Dead’. 14. Bukhari Mishkat (Egypt), 9- 26. Hedayah. 10; Bukhari and Fath Al- Bari, Hadith no. 6922, Egypt, 27. Fateh al-Kadeer, Vol. IV, Vol.12, 267. 389; Vol. II, 580. 15. Abdul Hayy, Al-Riaf a wal 28. Chapri, Commentary on Takmeel. Fateh al-Kadeer, 388; Inayah, 390. 16. Not to be confused with Ikramah b. Abu Jahl. 17. Ibn Saad, Al Tabqa al-Kabir, Vol.2, 386. 18. Mizan al-Aitadal, Vol.2, 208. 19. Abu Daud, Vol.II, 35. 20. Abu Jafar Muhammed b. Amr b. Musa b. Hamad Al-Aqbli Al-Mulki, Kitab al-Soafa Al- Kabir, Lebanon Darul Kutb Al-Almiyya, Al Safr III,

The Review of Religions – July 2006 27 THE ACROPOLIS: Its significance in the development of religious philosophy

By Fazal Ahmad – London, UK

Introduction the island of Thera. It was in the The Acropolis in Athens has for period from 1000 BCE to the millennia been the religious hub time of Christianity that the of the Greek world. Today it is a Greek culture reached its zenith tourist magnet, but the rock and and produced so many world the adjacent parts of the city have famous scientists and philo- played a major role in the sophers. development of religious thought - both ancient and modern. This The Greeks were not a single article examines the debates and race at that time. Many tribes religious thought that have from the Indo-European steppes surrounded the Acropolis over so moved to and brought many centuries. with them their own local deities. Perhaps the need to keep the Origins of the Greek culture peace resulted in the need to There had been settlers on the worship all gods rather than the Acropolis since around 4000 single Creator and led to the BCE. The first Greek Hellenic pantheon of gods and goddesses tribes arrived around 2000 BCE. of Olympus that emerged about Not long after, from around 1550 as a sort of democratic religion. BCE, the Mycenians settled on The Greeks were agreed that the Acropolis. Around the same Zeus, the sky god, was the chief time, the great Minoan culture of deity. Crete lost its regional power after the errupton of the volcano on Many cults such as the Orphics

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The Acropolis sprang up. They were more events around the early formation spiritual and abstained from meat of Greece became intertwined in and other foods. They believed mythology as captured by Homer. that ascetism would lead to salvation just as Hindus believed The Greeks became a sophis- on the other side of the world. ticated and cultured race. The Orphics were initiated by a Olympic Games were another sacrament just as Christians did way of bringing together the hundreds of years later. various Greek tribes. The deities had temples built in their honour By the 9th century BCE, many of and many had mysteries attached the stories related to the to them such as Demeter and individual deities and historical Orpheus.

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The Greeks became aware of Pythagoras began to think about nature very early on. Philophers spirituality in the 6th century in Greece began to awe at the BCE. He travelled widely and skies and the size of the universe. studied different faiths from the They wondered at the continents region including Zoroastrianism. around them and the extent of the He was intrigued by the soul and world. the concept of reincarnation. Another scholar of the time, They developed a religion based Xenophanes taught monotheism. on the need for protection from Athenian youth were also bad fate. The Oracle at Delphi is encouraged to learn and absorb a famous example of a place the Homerian epics such as The where people would go to learn Iliad (war against Troy) and the their fate, or to ask for help before Odyssey. These epics captured a major task such as a long their beliefs and traits of morality, journey or battle. This form of heroism and poetry. religion commanded power and a hierarchy built up around it just Socrates(as) as would happen in nearby Rome. It was in this climate that Many of the rulers had become Socrates(as) began to debate his cruel and tyrannical and used own world view at the Agora, the their ‘knowledge’ to keep the marketplace of Athens standing population under control. just below the Acropolis in the 5th century BCE. He would The Battle of Marathon in 490 debate with people of all ages and BCE was a turning point. The from all walks of life. He did not democrats of Athens overthrew restrict himself to theologians or the invading Persian army and poets, but wanted to reform the also the tyrants of their own wider Athenian population. people to usher in a new era of Having been born and brought up intellectual freedom which in Athens, he had the same spawned many great thinkers. classical education, and was developing skills as a sculptor

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(some of his work had been in 387 BCE. Academy was displayed on the road leading to actually a suburb of Athens the Acropolis). His life changed (thought to derive from the hero when a series of dreams and signs Academos), and the philo- (he referred to his (‘Divine sophical school that Plato voice’) pointed him to his mission founded remained in use until to reform the people of Athens. 526, over 900 years later, when He encouraged Athenians to the Roman emperor Justinian had challenge their long-held beliefs it closed down. Plato expanded and not to use Homer as a prop. on the debate around the nature He encouraged his friends to pray of the soul. He described the for good rather than just for ‘psyche’ as a form of existence material gain. He shunned the before a man was born, and how plurality of Greek gods and it departed after death to account mythology and debated a more for a man’s behaviour and deeds. practical world view in the Agora. One of the famous students of Plato’s Academy was Aristotle His principled stance led him to who later founded the conflict with the state and he was philosophical school of Athens arrested in 399 BCE with the after having studied for over 22 charge of having denounced the years in Plato’s college. The Athenian deities and corrupted Lyceum is thought to be around the youth. He was imprisoned in the area between Syntagma a cell on the Filopappou Hill Square and the National Gardens facing the Acropolis. Having just north-east of the Acropolis refused to denounce his own (there is current archaeological beliefs in monotheism, he was work going on to try to confirm sentenced to death and forced to the location of the Lyceum). drink hemlock poison. Aristotle is thought to have returned to his native Macedonia He was followed by Plato who after Plato’s death to train the founded the Academy in Athens young Alexander the Great, and

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The Agora - Marketplace of Athens

then returned to Athens in 335 the same time. The debate was BCE to establish hiw own school not just on the nature of the soul where he encouraged research, and life after death, but also the debate and dialogue based on his purpose of life. The Epicurians own concept of logic. Aristotle are famous for their concept of wrote on many subjects life that it is for the pursuit of including morality, ethics and the pleasure. obligations of citizens in Athens. He seemed to favour a view that In the next few centuries, there the soul it was a part of the body were many other schools of and died with the physical body. thought that emerged in Athens There were many other and elsewhere in Greece such as philosophers and thinkers at that the Stoics and several Mystic time such as Democritus, sects influenced by Asia Minor Anaxagoras and Epicurus who and the East. Poets and theatre participated in this debate around writers such as Sophocles started

32 The Review of Religions – July 2006 THE ACROPOLIS: ITS SIGNIFICANCE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF RELIGIOUS PHILOSOPHY to move away from reliance on philosophy and religion of the deities for all actions and fate, Zarathustra(as). and started to show how the characters in his plays suffered Acropolis or Parthenon due to their own actions. Many people confuse the Parthenon and the Acropolis of Interactions with other Athens. The Acropolis is the cultures rocky outcrop towering over The Greeks were not an isolated most of the city (but not the culture. The mainland of Greece highest point in the city – that is is largely coastal, so it is no Mount Lykavettos). It is a surprise that the Greeks plateau on which the locals built developed naval skills very early many temples such as the on and came into contact with Parthenon, especially after it was many other cultures around the declared a religious and holy Mediterranean. They would have sanctuary by the Oracle of had dealings with Crete, the Delphi in 510 BCE. It was after Romans, the Carthaginians, this pronouncement that the Turks, Persians and Egyptians, Acropolis was exclusively used and these neighbours represented for ancient worship. The their world. Alexander the Great common people were banned expanded their horizons around from living there. 300 BCE to cover the Middle East and the Indian sub- The earliest temple was devoted continent. to Aphrodite. By the 6th century BCE, a temple was erected to It is the interactions with the Apollo and another to Athena Persians that are perhaps the (from which the city takes its most interesting, as there were name). Much of these structures regular battles, but they also were destroyed by the Persians came into contact with Cyrus the who had attacked Athens and the Great (possibly Dhu’l Qarnain as Greek mainland. This was mentioned in the Qur’an) and the followed by the golden period of

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Pericles during which the development was able to flourish. Parthenon was erected to the patron Athena and the nearby Over time, as with all polytheistic gateway to the Acropolis, the cultures such as the Egyptians Propylaeum, were built. and Romans, the focus shifted to grandeur and decoration, pomp In ancient times, only the Priest and rituals rather than theology. was able to visit the temples, and The noble theology of Socrates(as) his family and those of a few had been diluted over time, and select helpers lived on the by the turn of the Millennium and Acropolis itself. The rest of the the advent of Christianity, population devoted themselves to although there was a significant the deities of Athens for their Jewish minority in Athens, much protection. The Acropolis was of the population was absorbed in opened to the general population what amounted to idol-worship. of Athens only once every ten years. This preserved the Athens began to lose some of its mystique about their religion and status from the 4th century BCE kept the general population in when the Greeks lost the awe. Their concept of religion Peloponnesian War to the nearby was not an accessible deity open Spartans. Although it peaked to all as we have now in modern again after the death of religion. Their faith was based Alexander the Great, soon the upon fear and the need for Romans arrived and the city was protection rather than gratitude eclipsed by Rome, Egypt and and love. Constantinople (modern Istanbul). However, it was during this period of security for Athens and During the Roman period, they democracy (fuelled by the efforts built their own Agora and a of Solon and Cleisthenes who commis- guaranteed rights for the poorest) sioned by the Syrian astronomer that the period of philosophical Kyrrestes who built a weather

34 The Review of Religions – July 2006 THE ACROPOLIS: ITS SIGNIFICANCE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF RELIGIOUS PHILOSOPHY vane and water clock. The Bible describes how he preached Romans also erected temples to to the ancient Greeks of Athens: their own deities in the city, and built a temple dedicated to the ‘While Paul was waiting for Emperor Augustus. them (Silas and Timothy) in Athens, he was deeply Paul and Christian Byzantium distressed to see that the city When Paul began to preach to the was full of idols. So he non-Jews in Europe, his focus argued in the synagogue with was on the Greek civilisation. A the Jews and the devout brief glance at the cities where persons, and also in the Paul sent letters (the bulk of the marketplace every day with modern Bible New Testament) those who happened to be shows that much of his effort was there.’ spent in Greece. The Bible (Acts 17:16-17) preserves letters that he wrote to the Corinthians, Ephesians, The Agora, the marketplace of Philippians, Colossians and the Athens was more than just a Thessalonians. All these seven traditional market on the foothills letters were to people in Greece. of the Acropolis. It was also the administrative heart of the city, In his travels to preach his the place where there were many version of Christianity, both his temples to ancient Greek deities, second and third journeys took and there were open spaces here place in Athens and nearby were poets would read out their towns such as Corinth, works, and philosophers would and the area of debate various issues, so it would Attica. have been a natural place for Paul to preach just as Socrates(as) In Athens, he is said to have had done a few hundred years stood on a rocky outcrop next to earlier. Paul encountered both the Acropolis (the ) to Stoic and Epicurian thinkers start spreading his message. The while in Athens.

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Paul had been disturbed at the into the worship of Jesus(as) wealth of temples and idols in the himself. It is difficult to say city and began to tell the whether Paul preached a Athenians about his concept of a monotheistic message which was living God: later distorted, or whether Paul himself had distorted the ‘The God who made the message of Christianity to suit world and everything in it, he the idol worshippers of Europe. who is Lord of heaven and It is perhaps more likely that Paul earth does not live in shrines himself had changed the message made by human hands, nor is to some extent as he had been he served by human hands, as summoned to the Council of though he needed anything, in 49 CE for taking the since he himself gives to all message to non-Jews and mortals life and breath and all relaxing the conditions asso- things. From one ancestor he ciated with being a Jew. made all nations to inhabit the whole earth, and he allotted Either way, the debates that he the times of their existence had in the Agora of Athens about and the boudaries of the not worshipping lifeless forms places where they would live, and understanding the nature of a so that they would search for living God are very interesting. God and perhaps grope for him and find him – though Gradually, Orthodox Christianity indeed he is not far from each took hold in Athens, but the one of us.’ Greeks still held their old schools (Acts 17:24-27) of thought in great esteem. When the Odeon of Athens was rebuilt Unfortunately, many of the in the 2nd century, it contained original Jewish teachings of statues of prominent members of Jesus(as) about a living God that the Stoic, Platonist, Aristotelean people could have a relationship and Epicurean schools of with were distorted in his name thought.

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Renaissance of Europe.

Christianity con- tinued to take a stronger hold, and in 841, the Parthenon on the Acropolis was turned into a cathedral.

The Ottomans The Ottoman Turks had a long rivalry with their Greek cousins, a rivalry that is still strong today. The Ottomans began to extend their Islamic empire across The Tower of the Winds Europe, North Africa and the Middle East, In 390, Emperor Theodosius I but faced stiff resistance from the made Christianity the state Greeks. However, it took them religion, and soon the Olympic many decades to get control of Games were banned. A century nearby Constantinople in 1453, later, in 529, the schools of and Athens was not taken until Aristotle and Plato were closed 1456. and classical thought was discarded, not to be revived until Thereafter, Athens and Greece the Muslims started translating became part of the Islamic world the classic works a few hundred of the Ottomans, and new years later sparking the sprang up around the

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Agora of Athens such as the During Ottoman rule, Christians Tzisdarakis Mosque in were given full rights to worship, Square. Mehmet the and Islam was not imposed on Conqueror visited Athens in the the Greeks. The Ecumenical late 15th Century, and the Patriarch of the Greek Orthodox Fethiye Mosque which stands at Church was made accountable to a corner of the was the Ottoman Sultan for the native built to mark that visit. The Greeks, and in return he was nearby Tower of the Winds given wide powers over courts, became a sanctuary for Sufi schools and the Church. So the mystics and the famous whirling Orthodox Church began to take dervishes (Muslim ascetics) who more political control in society used to do a weekly frenzied than had previously been the dance in the Tower. case.

Many Jews migrated to Athens At this time, Athens remained under tolerant Ottoman rule autonomous while neighbouring fleeing persecution following areas had Ottoman governors. the cruel Inquisition in Spain. The Orthodox Patriarchs had more freedom than when the By 1687, the Ottomans had Catholic Venetians had crudely turned the Parthenon controlled the city, and they were from a Mosque (at least it still relatively content. had a religious use at that stage) into their Arsenal. Knowing this, Some Greeks hid their Christian when the Venetians of Italy faith and pretended to be attacked that year, they fired on Muslims in order to pay a lower the Acropolis and managed to rate of tax, but there was no destroy much of the Parthenon. major drive by the Ottomans to The city was captured by the convert them to Islam. Venetian admiral Morosini but As the fell into was later recovered by the decline, there was an increase in Ottomans in 1690. corruption and in-fighting and

38 The Review of Religions – July 2006 THE ACROPOLIS: ITS SIGNIFICANCE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF RELIGIOUS PHILOSOPHY gradually many parts of Greece such as Socrates, Plato and fell beyond Ottoman control. Aristotle taking the concept of This resulted in greater militancy the soul and God to new levels. by the Ottoman rulers. The reaction from the Greeks was increased resistance. References 1. Athens - Between Legend and It was in the 19th century that History, Maria Mavromataki, Greece gained its independence Hatalis Publishing, Athens, and returned to its Orthodox Greece 1995. Christian religion after four centuries under Muslim rule. 2. The Holy Bible (New Revised Standard Version), Thomas Conclusion Nelson Inc., Nashville, USA The has 1989. been the scene of the debate and creation of philosophy for 3. The Greek Achievement - The centuries, and has had an impact Foundation of the Western on much of the religious thinking World, Charles Freeman, of the Mediterranean region. Its Penguin Books, London, UK prominent position overlooking 1999. the city meant that for centuries it held a position as a place of 4. Revelation, Rationality, worship. Knowledge and Truth, Hadhrat Mirza Tahir Ahmad, The many tribes that came Islam International together to form the Greek Publications Ltd, Surrey, UK civilisation brought their own 1998. beliefs with them, but it was after the battle of Marathon that a 5. The Early Greek Concept of unified and free Athens was able the Soul, Jan Bremmer, to take its theology and science Princeton University Press, to new levels, with great thinkers New Jersey, USA 1983.

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6. The Encyclopedia of Myths 8. The Religions of the Roman and Legends, Stuart Gordon, Empire, John Ferguson, Headline Book Publishing, Thames & Hudson, London, London, UK 1993. UK 1982, p.190 - 203.

7. Cities of the Biblical World, Lamoine DeVries, Hendrickson Publishers, Massachusetts, USA 1997, p.351-358.

References to the Holy Qur’an item count ‘Bismillah...’ (In the Name of Allah...) as the first verse of each Chapter. In some non-standard texts, this is not counted and should the reader refer to such texts, the verse quoted in The Review of Religions will be found one verse less than the number quoted.

In this journal, for the ease of non-Muslim readers, ‘(saw)’ or ‘saw’ after the words, ‘Holy Prophet’, or the name ‘Muhammad’, are used. They stand for ‘Sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam’ meaning ‘Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him’. Likewise, the letters ‘(as)’ or ‘as’ after the name of all other prophets is an abbreviation meaning ‘Peace be upon him’ derived from ‘Alaihis salatu wassalam’ which are words that a Muslim utters out of respect whenever he or she comes across that name. The abbreviation ‘ra’ or (ra) stands for ‘Radhiallahu Ta’ala anhu and is used for Companions of a Prophet, meaning Allah be pleased 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 are preferred to their anglicised versions, e.g. Makkah instead of Mecca, etc.

40 The Review of Religions – July 2006 The Teacher of Righteousness of the Dead Sea Scrolls By Khalid Saifullah Khan – Australia

Introduction fatherless at a time just preceding The central figure of the Dead the start of Christianity. His Sea Scrolls, who is talked about mother dedicated him to God. He or quoted therein time and again, believed in the absolute Unity of is a person referred to as the God. He claimed to have been ‘Teacher of Righteousness’. It sent by God as the Messiah for appears that after a serious the Jews and was helped by the attempt on his life, his identity Holy Spirit. He interpreted the was concealed for his security. Torah through God’s guidance The secrecy maintained about and was bitterly opposed by him also suggests that he must Jewish priests, particularly by have been living at the time when their chief referred to as the the scrolls were written, as ‘Wicked Priest’. otherwise such a precaution would not have been necessary. He was severely persecuted and an attempt was made to kill him, Scholars hold diverse opinions but God saved his life. He was about his identity. J.L. Teicher forced to migrate to some distant thinks that he was Jesus(as), while lands where his voice was heard Barbara Theiring thinks he was and his claim accepted. Before John the Baptist(as) and Eisenman leaving his country he prefers James the Just (brother of prophesied that his opponents, Jesus(as)). the opponents of Truth, would be punished by God for their The Righteous Teacher iniquities and that his followers The Righteous Teacher depicted would always prevail over those in the scrolls belonged to the who rejected him. House of Israel. He was born

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Could the Teacher be Jesus(as)? there is no disagreement on the James was a follower of Jesus(as). facts quoted in the passage. He How could it be that he was writes: given such high status as to be written about and to have his The Galilean Master, as he is writings included in the presented to us in the writings collections of the community in of the New Testament, preference to the person he appears in many respects as himself followed as a Prophet of an astonishing reincarnation God? It is surprising that a of the Teacher of scholar like Eisenman should Righteousness. Like the have missed such an important latter, he preached penitence, point in developing his theory poverty, humility and love of that the Teacher was James the one’s chastity. Like him, he Just. prescribed the observance of the Law of Moses, the whole John the Baptist(as) could also not Law, but the Law finished be the Teacher because his and perfected, thanks to His message was different to that of own revelations. Like him, he the Qumran community as was the Elect and the Messiah discussed by Dr Will Varner in of God, the Messiah redeemer his Christian Answers Network. of the world. Like him, he was the object of the hostility My view that the Righteous of the priests, the party of the Teacher was none other than Sadducees. Like him, he was Jesus(as) is based on the striking condemned and put to death. resemblance between the two. Like him, he pronounced The well-known French scholar judgement on Jerusalem, Dupont-Sommer, counts some which was taken and similarities between the two in destroyed by the Romans for his book, The Dead Sea Scrolls, a having put Him to death. Like Preliminary Survey. Though he him, at the end of time, he draws a different conclusion, yet [(The Teacher) Ed.] will be

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the supreme judge. Like him, literature that the Teacher of he founded a Church whose Righteousness was killed. adherents fervently awaited his glorious return. In the Ahmadiyya Point of View Christian Church, just as in Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad(as) the Essene Church, the of Qadian, the holy founder of essential rite is the sacred the Ahmadiyya Movement in meal, which is presided over Islam, wrote in 1899: by the priests. Here and there, at the head of each ‘Let it be noted that though community, there is the Christians believe that Jesus overseer, the ‘bishop’. And (on whom be peace) after his the ideal of both Churches is arrest through the betrayal by essentially that of unity, Judas Iscariot, and crucifixion communion in love even – went to heaven, yet from the going so far as the sharing of Holy Bible it appears that this common property. belief of theirs is altogether (Dead Sea Scrolls, a wrong. Matthew 12:40 says Preliminary Survey, Dupont- that just as Jonah was three Sommer, p.99-100) days and three nights in the belly of the fish, so the Son of It may be noted that according to Man shall be three days and Dupont-Sommer, the Teacher of three nights in the bowels of Righteousness was condemned the earth. Now it is clear that and put to death by his enemies. Jonah did not die in the belly But there are clear passages in of the fish, the utmost that the scrolls which say that though happened was that he was in an attempt was made on the life swoon or a fit of fainting. The of the Teacher, he was saved by holy books of God bear God. Edmund Wilson mentions witness that Jonah, by the in his book Dead Sea Scrolls grace of God, remained alive 1947-1969 that there is no in the belly of the fish, and definite evidence in the Scroll came out alive, and his people

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ultimately accepted him. If etc. viz. the ten tribes of the then Jesus (on whom be Israelites who 721 years before peace) had died in the belly of Jesus, had been taken prisoner the earth, what resemblance from Samaria by Shalmaneser, could there be between a dead King of Assur, and had been man and the one who was taken away by him. Ultimately, alive, and how could a living these tribes came to India and one be compared with one settled in various parts of that dead? The truth rather is, that country. Jesus(as) at all events as Jesus(as) was a true prophet must have made this journey; and as he knew that God, for the divine object Whose beloved he was, would underlying his advent was that save him from an accursed he should meet the lost Jews death, he made a prophecy in who had settled in different the form of a parable, revealed parts of India; the reason being to him by God, in which he that these in fact were the lost hinted that he would not die on sheep of Israel who had given the Cross, nor would he give up even their ancestral faith in up the ghost on the accursed these countries, and most of wood; on the contrary, like the whom had adopted Buddhism, prophet Jonah(as), he would relapsing gradually into only pass through a state of idolatry. Dr. Bernier, on the swoon. In the parable he had authority of a number of also hinted that he would come learned people, states in his out of the bowels of the earth ‘Travels’ that the Kashmiris in and would then join the people reality are Jews who in the and, like Jonah, would be time of the dispersal in the honoured by them. So this days of the King of Assur had prophecy was fulfilled; for migrated to this country.’ Jesus(as), coming out of the (Jesus in India, Hadhrat Mirza bowels of the earth, went to his Ghulam Ahmad, Qadian, India tribes who lived in the eastern 1899, pp. 22-23) countries, Kashmir and Tibet

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The Promised Messiah(as) went on Before proceeding to quote to make the following passages from the Scrolls which observation: support the above-mentioned description of the Teacher of ‘We have no alternative, Righteousness, let us begin with therefore, than to some background to the Scrolls. acknowledge in this connection that God had Who wrote the Scrolls willed – it had been destined Dr Will Varner, Professor of the by Him – that this bright Old Testament at Master’s weapon and this truth- College, Israel says: revealing proof which destroys the belief about the ‘After six seasons of Cross, should be explained to intensive excavation, the the world by the Promised scholars were sure beyond Messiah; for the Holy any reasonable doubt that the Prophet(saw) had prophesied scrolls found their origin in that the faith of the Cross the community which shall not decline nor shall its flourished between 125 BC progress be arrested until the and AD 68. The scrolls had Promised Messiah appears in been stored in haste in the the world. It was the caves as the community fled Promised Messiah at whose the encroaching Roman army, hands was to be brought which was in Judea to put about the ‘Breaking of the down the Jewish Revolt of Cross’. The hint in the AD 66-70… The contents of prophecy was that in the time the Dead Sea Scrolls indicate of the Promised Messiah, that their authors were a God would bring about group of priests and laymen circumstances which would pursuing a communal life of lay bare the truth about the strict dedication to God. Their Crucifixion.’ leader was called the (Jesus in India, pp.60-61) ‘Righteous Teacher’. They

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viewed themselves as the mainstream Jews, the Essenes only true Elect of Israel; they were also divided into two alone were faithful to the parties who despised each other. Law. They opposed the Dr. Thiering also believes that ‘Wicked Priest’, the Jewish Jesus(as) did not die on the Cross, High Priest in Jerusalem who but survived it. represented the establishment and who had persecuted them Similarities between the in some way. ... Most scholars Scrolls and the New Testament have identified the Qumran Highlighting a few notable brotherhood with the similarities between the Dead Essenes, a Jewish sect of Sea Scrolls and the New Jesus' day described by Testament, Prof. Geza Vermes Josephus and Philo.’ says: (Christian Answers Network) ‘…We note The Dead Sea Scrolls were (a) fundamental similarities discovered in caves near the of language, (both in the excavations at Qumran, and there Scrolls and in the New are strong links to the Essenes Testament the faithful are there, so it is natural to assume called ‘Sons of Light’’); that they authored the Scrolls, (b) ideology (both especially when their views communities considered correspond so closely. themselves as the true Israel, governed by twelve leaders, Dr Barbara Thiering of Sydney and expected the imminent University writes in Jesus of the arrival of the Kingdom of Apocalypse that Jesus’ father God); Joseph was an Essene and lived (c) attitude to the Bible (both by their marriage rules and that considered their own history the Essenes were the immediate as a fulfilment of words of the predecessors of Christians. She Prophets).’ claims that just like the (Vermes, p.22)

46 The Review of Religions – July 2006 HADHRAT MUHAMMAD(SAW) AS ‘ABD SHAKUR’

The Teacher of Righteousness Jerusalem Bible will take five founded a new religious years to complete ... community and was persecuted. Prof. Vermes continues: Father Gianluigi Boschi, a Dominican theologian at the ‘The Teacher and his Pontifical University of St. followers were compelled to Thomas Aquinas in Rome withdraw into the desert, and a leading expert on the where they awaited the scrolls, said the recent growth impending manifestation of in scroll scholarship, and the God's triumph over evil and publication of previously darkness in the end of days, inaccessible scrolls, meant which had already begun.’ that some of the changes (Vermes, p.3) would be radical…Father Boschi said that the project Some fundamental differences would link “the whole picture exist between the Bible and the of the origins of Christianity” Dead Sea Scrolls leading to to the findings at Qumran. He potential modifications to the declined to say which of the Bible at the Vatican as reported passages would be modified by Richard Owen of The Times: but he predicted that the changes would be “surprising ‘The Vatican is to abandon and innovative...”’ decades of secrecy and obstruction to allow changes Minor adjustments already in the Bible based on have been made to the revelations in the Dead Sea Jerusalem Bible in the light of Scrolls more than half a the two scroll versions of the century after they were Book of Isaiah.’ discovered. The extent of the (The Times reproduced by changes is expected to be ‘The Australian’, Sept 12, revealed this month but the 2001) revised version of the New

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The Teacher in the Scrolls Hymns give expression to The Teacher of Righteousness thoughts and sentiments described himself as fatherless, common to all members of poor, dedicated (abandoned) to the sect, others particularly God by his mother, God's elect nos. 1,2,7-11, appear to refer (prophet), mortal, (creature of to the experiences of a clay) and metaphorically a son of Teacher abandoned by his God. friends and persecuted by his enemies.’ The Dead Sea Scrolls contain (Vermes, pp.243-244) poems or hymns, which were most likely written by the In the following Hymn (taken Teacher of Righteousness from the Thanksgiving Hymn himself. Prof. Geza Vermes found in Cave 1), the Teacher introduces the poems : calls himself fatherless, poor and devoted to the service of God by ‘Two fundamental themes his mother: running through the whole collection are those of ‘I thank Thee (corrected: salvation and knowledge. The Blessed art Thou) O lord, for sectary [a member of a sect – Thou hast not abandoned the Ed] thanks God continually fatherless or despised the for having been saved from poor.’ the ‘lot’ of the wicked, and (1QH 9, Vermes, p.268) for his gift of insight into the divine mysteries. He, ‘a ‘Until I am old Thou will care creature of clay’ has been for me; for my father knew singled out by his Maker to me not and my mother receive favours of which he abandoned me to Thee; for feels himself unworthy, and Thou art the father to all the alludes again and again to his sons of Thy Truth; and as a frailty and total dependence woman who tenderly loves on God. Whereas some of the her babe, so dost Thou rejoice

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in them, and as a foster father and describes his advice to his bearing a child in his lap, so followers, carest Thou for all Thy creatures.’ ...Surely, Allah is my Lord and (1QH 14, Vermes, p.284) your Lord, so worship Him alone, this is the right path. The Holy Qur’an (Ch.3: Vs.46- (Ch.19: V.37) 64 and Ch.19: Vs.17-37) also says that Jesus(as) was born So in all of these passages, it is without the agency of a father clear that Jesus(as) worshipped the and that from his early childhood One True God and was grateful his Godliness was obvious. to Him for his salvation and mission. The Teacher believed in the absolute Unity of God as he The coming of the ‘Messiah’ shows in one of his poems while The Israelites were expecting a beseeching God: Messiah when Jesus(as) came. Prof. Vermes says: ‘For Thou art an eternal God; all Thy ways are determined ‘The third figure, “the for ever and ever and there is Prophet”, is mentioned none other beside Thee.’ directly, though briefly only (1QH 12, Vermes, p.277) once; we are told that his arrival was expected together ‘Announce and say: Blessed with that of the Messiahs of be God, Creator of the Aaron and Israel (1QS ix,11). heavens by His power, The whole messianic phrase Designer of all their devices is absent, however, from all by His strength, of the earth the extant 4Q manuscripts of by His might.’ the Community Rule. Viewed (Vermes, p.300) in the context of inter- Testamental Jewish ideas, The Qur’an tells about Jesus(as) “the Prophet” was to be either

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an Elijah returned as a cerning the rising of the dead. precursor of the Messiah Fragment 7, line 6, repeats (Mal. iv, 5; 1 Enoch xc, the same idea, referring to 31,37; Matth., xi, 13; xvii, God as 'He who revives the 12), or as a divine guide sent dead of His people.’ to Israel in the final days (1 (Vermes, p.391) Mac., iv, 46; xiv, 41; Jn. i, 21), no doubt identical with Prophesying the advent of ‘The “the Prophet” promised by Messiah’ (the ‘’New Moses’’ or God to Moses (“I will raise the ‘Like of Moses’ who was up for them a Prophet like linked with the ‘Kingdom of you… He shall convey all my God’’), the Teacher said: commands to them”, Deut. xviii,15-18, cf. Acts iii, 22-3; ‘The Heavens will listen to vii, 37).’ His Messiah and none therein (Vermes, pp.86-87) will stray away from commandments of the holy The title given to one of the ones…. Over the poor His scrolls is, ‘A Messianic spirit will hover and will Apocalypse’ i.e. the Messiah’s renew the faithful with His Revelation, because it contains a power. And He will glorify prophecy concerning 'The the pious on the throne of the Messiah' identified with the eternal Kingdom. He who arrival of the ‘Kingdom of God’. liberates the captives, restores Introducing the Scroll ‘A sight to the blind, straightens Messianic Apocalypse’ (4Q521), the bent (Ps. cxlvi, 7-8). And Prof. Vermes says: forever I will cleave to the hopeful and in His mercy… ‘As in the Gospels, healing And the fruit will not be and resurrection are linked to delayed for anyone. And the the idea of the Kingdom of Lord will accomplish God. Line 12 furnishes the glorious things which have most explicit evidence con- never been as He. For He will

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heal the wounded, and revive over you, even as We sent a the dead and bring good news Messenger to Pharoah. to the poor (Isa. lxi, 1)'…He (Ch.73: V.16) will lead the uprooted and knowledge… and smoke (?)’ Therefore, the prophecy of (Vermes, pp.391-392) Moses (Deut..18:18-19) as well as of Jesus(as) (quoted above), This prophecy of Jesus(as) is concerning the advent of a mentioned in the Qur’an as ‘Prophet like Moses’ were follows: fulfilled in the person of Prophet Muhammad(sa). And (call to mind) when Jesus, son of Mary, said, ‘O Helped by the Holy Spirit Children of Israel, surely, I In Hymn 15 (formerly 11), the am Allah’s Messenger unto Teacher thanked God for you, fulfilling that which is strengthening him with the Holy before me (of the prophecies) Spirit. He said: of the Torah, and giving glad tidings of a Messenger who ‘I thank Thee, O Lord, for will come after me, his name Thou hast upheld me by Thy will be Ahmad.’ And when he strength. Thou hast shed Thy came to them with clear Holy Spirit upon me that I proofs, they said, ‘This is a may not stumble.’ manifest sorcery’. (Vermes, p.275). (Ch.61: V.7) Similarly in Hymn 18 (formerly Reference to the fulfilment of 14), the Teacher addressing God Prophet Moses(as) prophecy is says: found in the following verse of the Holy Qur’an; ‘Thou hast upheld me with certain truth, Thou hast Verily, We have sent to you a delighted me with Thy Holy Messenger, who is a witness Spirit and hast opened my

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heart till this day.’ those who practice truth and (Vermes p.284) to test those who love correction. To the interpreters The Qur’an also says about of error I have been an Jesus(as): opponent, {but a man of peace} to all those who see …And to Jesus, son of Mary, true things.’ We gave manifest Signs, and (Vermes, p.257) strengthened him with the Spirit of holiness.' God saved him from an (Ch.2: V.88) attempt on his life In Hymn 13, the Teacher thanks Interpretation of the Law God in the following words: aroused severe opposition The Teacher faced opposition ‘I thank Thee, O Lord, for from his people, because he Thou hast not abandoned me interpreted the Torah through whilst I sojourned among a God's guidance, opposing the people burdened with sin’ … views of the common priesthood. ‘For Thou O God, hast He said: sheltered me from the children of men, and hast ‘These things I know by the hidden Thy Law within me wisdom which comes from against the time when Thou Thee, for Thou hast shouldst reveal Thy salvation unstopped my ears to to me. For Thou hast not marvellous mysteries.’ forsaken me in my soul's (Vermes, p.254) distress, and Thou hast heard my cry in the bitterness of my ‘But to the elect of soul; and when I groaned, righteousness Thou hast Thou didst consider my made me a banner, and a sorrowful complaint. Thou discerning interpreter of hast preserved the soul of the wonderful mysteries to try poor one in the den of lions

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which sharpened their tongue Thou hast placed my soul in like a sword. Thou hast the bundle of the living, and closed up their teeth, O God, hast hedged me about against lest they rend the soul of the all the snares of the Pit. poor and needy…. The Violent men have sought after wicked and fierce have my life because I have clung stormed against me with their to Thy Covenant. For they, an afflictions; they have assembly of deceit, and a pounded my soul all day. But horde of Belial, know not that Thou O my God, hast my stand is maintained by changed the tempest to a Thee, and that in Thy mercy breeze; Thou hast delivered Thou wilt save my soul since the soul of the poor one like my steps proceed from [a bird from the net and like] Thee…They have themselves prey from the mouth of lions.’ fallen in the snares which (Vermes, p.267-268) they laid for my life. But my foot remains upon level In Hymn 6, the Teacher thanks ground; apart from their God saying: assembly I will bless Thy Name.’ ‘They have cast towards the (Vermes, pp.257-258) Pit the life of the man whose mouth Thou hast confirmed, In Hymn 8, the Teacher thanks and into whose heart Thou God for keeping him under His hast put teaching and care and saving his life, by understanding, that he might foiling their plan: open a fountain of knowledge to all men of understanding.’ ‘I thank Thee, O Lord, for (Vermes, p.257) Thou hast fastened Thine eye upon me. Thou hast saved me In his Hymn 7, the Teacher says: from the zeal of lying interpreters, and from the ‘I thank Thee O Lord, for congregation of those who

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seek smooth things. Thou hast but the Teacher was saved from it redeemed the soul of the poor and was rather raised to one whom they planned to everlasting (spiritual) height by destroy by spilling his blood God. The Qur’an attests this by because he served Thee.’ saying: (Vermes, pp.258-259) And their saying, “We did kill God had made a New Covenant the Messiah, Jesus, son of with the Teacher, in the land of Mary, the Messenger of Damascus to which he clung: Allah”, whereas they slew him not, nor did they crucify him, ‘For they have spoken but he was made to appear to wrongly against the precepts them like one crucified; and of righteousness, and have those who differ therein are despised the Covenant and the certainly in a state of doubt Pact - the New Covenant - about it; they have no which they made in the land of definitive knowledge thereof, Damascus’ but only follow a conjecture; (The Damasus Document, and they did not convert this Vermes, p.135) conjecture into a certainty. On the contrary, Allah exalted The Qur’an also mentions a him to Himself. And Allah is Covenant made with Jesus(as) as Mighty, Wise. with other prophets (Ch.33:V.8). (Ch.4: Vs.158-159) The Teacher's enemies planned that he should die an accursed The Teacher was banished from death on the Cross, but God’s plan his land to a far off land, close to was that he (Jesus(as)) should be a spring of waters. In Hymn 12 in saved from that death the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Teacher (Ch.3:V.55). The hell of Abadon seeks God’s help to accomplish (eternal hell), from which the His design, as his enemies have Teacher was saved, is the lot of despised and banished him from those who die an accursed death, his land, causing all his friends

54 The Review of Religions – July 2006 THE TEACHER OF RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE DEAD SEA SCROLLS and brethren to be driven far from ‘I thank Thee, O Lord, for him: Thou hast placed me beside a fountain of streams in an arid ‘I thank Thee O Lord, for land, and close to a spring of Thou hast illumined my face waters in a dry land, and by Thy Covenant… I seek besides a watered garden [in a Thee and sure as the dawn wilderness.]’ Thou appearest as perfect (Vermes, p.278) Light to me. Teachers of lies have smoothed Thy people It appears from this poem that the with words, and false prophets Teacher was forced by his enemy have led them astray; they to migrate to some far off arid and perish without understanding dry wilderness, and took shelter for their works are in folly. For near a place of running waters, I am despised by them and fountains and gardens. Many they have no esteem for me, historic records suggest that that Thou mayest manifest Jesus(as) travelled far and wide, Thy might through me. They presumably to convey his have banished me from my message to the Lost tribes of land like a bird from its nest; Israel. People of Israeli stock had all my friends and brethren are dispersed in various lands and to driven far from me and hold find them he probably travelled me for a broken vessel….But from Jerusalem to Mosul, Tehran, Thou O God, dost despise all Herat, Kabul, Peshawar, Belial's designs; it is Thy Rawalpindi and Maree before purpose that shall be done and finally settling in Kashmir. (Jesus the design of Thy heart that in India, p.65) shall be established for ever.’ (Vermes, p.263) Taken in this larger context, Kashmir is a place of fountains, In another poem (Hymn 18), the running springs and gardens Teacher thanks God for providing surrounded by a mostly arid, dry him shelter in a land of fountains: and rocky part of the world.

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The Qur’an corroborates the Is there any wonder, therefore, if description of the final home of the Teacher referred to the place Jesus(as): of his refuge as an area of fountains, running waters and And We made the son of Mary gardens amidst vast tracts of arid, and his mother a Sign, and We dry and rocky lands, where he rescued them and helped might have travelled and stayed reach an elevated land, a en-route? When the Teacher was restful place with springs of living at this place, all his friends gushing waters. (Ch.23: V.51) and brethren were far from him – as expressed by him in his poem. Hadhrat Ahmad, peace be upon him says: The Teacher prophesied that the wicked will continue to be ‘I, however, do not approve of punished till eternity. The Teacher the way European investi- prophesied in his poem (Hymn 5), gators wish to prove that the that the wicked people who principles of Buddhism planned to kill him would remain reached in the days under the wrath of God, till of Jesus(as). It is, indeed, Doom’s Day (Day of Judgement). unfortunate that when the He said: name and mention of Jesus(as) are contained in the ancient ‘But the wicked Thou didst books of Buddhism, these create for the time of Thy investigators should adopt the wrath, Thou didst vow from awkward course of trying to the womb to the Day of find traces of Buddha's faith in Massacre, for they walk in the Palestine. Why should they way which is not good. They not search for the blessed have despised Thy Covenant footprints of Jesus on the and their souls have loathed rocky soil of Nepal, Tibet and Thy truth; they have taken no Kashmir?’ delight in all Thy (Jesus in India, p.78) commandments and have

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chosen that which Thou ‘And God observed their hatest. For according to the deeds, that they sought Him mysteries of Thy wisdom with a whole heart, and he Thou hast ordained them for raised for them a Teacher of great chastisements before the Righteousness to guide them eyes of all Thy creatures, that in the way of His heart.’’ for all eternity they may serve (Vermes, p.127) as a Sign and a wonder, and that all men may know Thy The Teacher made the following glory and Thy tremendous prophecy in "The Exhortation": power.’ (Vermes, p.250-251) ‘But all those who hold fast to these precepts, going and The Qur’an also mentions that coming in accordance with Jesus(as) cursed the Jews and they the Law, who heed the voice incurred the wrath of God: of the Teacher and confess before God, saying, Truly we Those amongst the children have sinned, we and our of Israel who disbelieved, fathers, by walking counter to were cursed by the tongue of the precepts of the Covenant. David and of Jesus, son of Thy judgements upon us are Mary. That was because they justice and truth; who do not disobeyed and used to lift their hand against His transgress. holy precepts of His righteous (Ch.5: V.79) statutes or His true testimonies; who have The Teacher made certain learned from the former exhortations to his followers, judgements by which the which included a prophecy that members of the Community they would always prevail over were judged; who have the worldly people (sons of the listened to the voice of the earth) who rejected him. Among Teacher of Righteousness and other admonitions he said: have not despised the pre-

The Review of Religions – July 2006 57 THE TEACHER OF RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE DEAD SEA SCROLLS

cepts of righteousness when spiritual significance and they heard them; they shall message of the Scrolls to the rejoice and their hearts shall world of religion? The Jews, be strong, and they shall Christians and mainstream prevail over all the sons of the Muslims might feel it difficult to earth. God will forgive them recognise Jesus(as) in the guise of and they shall see His the Teacher, because none of salvation because they took them believe that he survived the refuge in His holy Name’. Crucifixion and travelled to the (Vermes, p.135-136) lost Israelite tribes. It may interest them to know that in The Qur’an also mentions this 1891, the holy founder of the prophecy of Jesus(as): Ahmadiyya Muslim Community received the following Arabic When Allah said, 'O Jesus, I revelation: will cause thee to die a natural death and will exalt ‘Jesus, son of Mary, thee to Myself, and will clear Messenger of Allah, has died thee of the charges of those and you have come, as who disbelieve, and will place promised, in his spirit. those who follow thee above (Arabic): Allah’s promise is those who disbelieve, until the always fulfilled’. Day of Resurrection; then to (Izala Auham, p.561) Me shall be your return, and I will judge between you And subsequently in 1899, he concerning that wherein you wrote a book: Jesus in India, in differ. which he proved from the Holy (Ch.3: V.56) Qur’an, the Bible, ancient Buddhist and Hindu records and Message of the Dead Sea old medical and historical books Scrolls that Jesus(as) was taken down Who was the Teacher of from the Cross, in a state of Righteousness and what is the coma, his wounds were treated

58 The Review of Religions – July 2006 THE TEACHER OF RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE DEAD SEA SCROLLS and when sufficiently healed, he Edmund Wilson, Fontana secretly travelled to the East in Books, 1971. search of the Lost Tribes of Israel. He conveyed God’s 4. Jesus in India, Hadhrat Mirza message to them and died at an Ghulam Ahmad, Islam old age in Kashmir – land of International Publications, springs, water and gardens – Tilford, UK, 1989 (first after completing his mission as a published 1899). Messenger of God. 5. Jesus of the Apocalypse: The It is surprising how the story of Life of Jesus after the the Teacher of the Scrolls, Crucifixion, Barbara Thiering, discovered 40 years after the Corgi Books, Australia, 1997. death of the Promised Messiah(as), coincides so closely with what 6. James the brother of Jesus, was told about Jesus(as) by him Robert Eisenman, Penguin under Divine inspiration and Books, Victoria, Australia, guidance. 1998.

References 1. The Complete Dead Sea Scrolls in English, Geza Vermes, Penguin Books, London, 1998.

2. Dead Sea Scrolls, a Preliminary Survey, A. Dupont-Sommer, Basil Blackwell Publishers, 1952, p.99-100.

3. Dead Sea Scrolls 1947-1969,

The Review of Religions – July 2006 59 Taoist Yin-Yang A short study of how the Taoist philosophy of Yin-Yang compares to Islam and explains the existence of God

By Asim Rai – UK

Taoism does not uphold any belief Islamic description and expla- in God. The main aspect of Taoism nation of God. is derived from the first three letters of this philosophical belief Having briefly introduced Taoism, namely, ‘Tao’. Tao means 'path' or I set the scene in answering how ‘way’ and its core ideas were Taoism ultimately compliments manifested by a Chinese teacher Islam in explaining the existence called Lao-Tzu in 604 BCE. of God. In Taoism, the path (Tao) According to Lao-Tzu, the Tao is is sustained in the universe by an the origin and nature of the older doctrine which has been universe. It is the way of life for all incorporated into Taoism called, species on our planet, including ‘The Old Dualism’ or in short the human beings living in tribal ‘Yin-Yang’. This belief in societies. dualism, yin and yang, describes a state in which the universe is This explanation of the Tao gives seemingly divided into two rise to the possibility that the Tao opposing but equal forces. The in actual fact describes God as the dualistic world of yin and yang creator of the universe and that however, is not seen as good God's 'way' namely Islam, is the versus bad. It is divided along exact way of life which Lao-Tzu other lines. Yang, represented by envisaged for all civilisation in the white in the yin-yang symbol, this world. In his celebrated book, stands for the creative principle Revelation Rationality Knowledge while yin, represented by black, is and Truth, Hadhrat Mirza Tahir dissolution and return (to Ahmad(ru) best describes the creation). Yang came to represent similarities in meaning between hot, dry, male, light, hardness, the Tao and the Qur’anic and movement and initiative. Yin

60 The Review of Religions – July 2006 TAOIST YIN-YANG symbolises coolness, moistness, is evil, female, darkness, softness, still- Being and not being, ness and receptivity. The yin and Having and not having, yang forces are believed to be Create each other. cyclical, moving and evolving into each other, represented by the Difficult and easy, white dot on the black yin side of Long and short, the symbol, and by a black dot on High and low, the white yang side. In this view, Define each other, the universe depends on the Just as before and after follow interaction between these two each other. forces which arise from the Tao. (Verse 2: Relativity)

The book of Taoism, The Tao Te From the two verses we Ching, describes the implications understand that much of what of the yin and the yang. I have exists, only exists through the chosen two verses: realisation of its opposite. We cannot define things as being easy The Tao is like stringing a if we never experience something bow, more difficult. If we cannot Pulling down the high, become ill, the term ‘good’ health Lifting up the low- would cease to exist as there would be no general purpose to Shortening the long, pursue health, as we cannot Lengthening the short, become ill. It seems that To take from the excessive everything in this world has come And give insufficiency in ‘pairs’ to define and create each support. other and to create balance. Such a (Verse 77: the Opposite notion is clearly upheld in the Processes) Holy Qur’an:

We know beauty because there Holy is He Who created all is ugly, things in pairs, of what the We know good because there earth grows and of themselves,

The Review of Religions – July 2006 61 TAOIST YIN-YANG

and of what they know not. the Malhiusian theory is that the (Ch.36: V.37) Earth could not possibly sustain an infinite amount of creation. Thus He is the Prime Creator of the death is the vital balancing factor heavens and the earth. He as being opposite to life. However, made pairs from among you death itself implies the physical and also pairs from among the nature of man (body), which can cattle for your benefit. He never be infinite. When we die, multiplies you therein. our body perishes. Yet Islam (Ch.42: V.12) teaches us that our souls continue to exist for a very long time. How And of everything have We can this belief be reconciled with created pairs, that you may the idea of yin-yang? The answer reflect. is quite simple. Humans are (Ch.51: V.50) mortals – The Holy Qur’an explained that God made The Qur’an prompts man to reflect everything in pairs. Through on how God made everything in reflection we can realise that the pairs (Ch.51:V.50), and it is this only ‘opposite’ to balance exact prompt which allows one to mortality is immortality itself. view the doctrine of yin and yang Therefore, there exists a realm of as one which ultimately explains immortality alongside mortality to the existence of God. balance the universe. God cannot die and will never cease to exist, Having established that the and He Himself balances universe is in its totality bound by mortality, by His attribute, which the doctrine of the yin and yang as is found in this world. further established by the Qur’an, we now know that for one thing to One may argue that even if God is exist, it must be put into balance Immortal, that it does not by another thing which exists as its necessarily mean God is All opposite (i.e. good and bad). If Knowing and All-Powerful. there was no death, life on Earth Therefore, how can we be sure. would be severely unbalanced as The answer to this lies in the

62 The Review of Religions – July 2006 TAOIST YIN-YANG reflection of our surroundings. that has intrigued many minds Life can never on its own create about Taoism, is its fondness for itself from nothing. Atheists find it the much older idea of the yin and hard to explain how the first the yang. Having noticed that the organisms ever came into doctrine of ‘pairs’ as read in the existence. Physical matter cannot Qur’an was similar to the yin- originally create life. Life is not yang, the truth of God’s existence physical in its entirety. Thus is no mystery. By understanding creation of all sorts needs a that opposites need each other to Creator, and we know this Creator define and sustain each other, to be God. By looking at this universal mortality needs world, it would require perfect universal immortality in the form knowledge to have created all that of God, Who has the knowledge to we could through our senses. sustain the entire 'tao' or universe. Moreover, God is All-Powerful. Therefore Taoism and its doctrine He is Immortal, and the All- of yin and yang, compliments Knowledge. Qur’anic teachings in proving God’s existence. The study of Taoism is quite paradoxical. Taoism overtly expresses that God is not the factor that created all, nor is He the maintainer of the universe. What is He then? Taoists are very conclusive about this idea and yet dwell in the teaching of Lao-Tzu who says in one of his verses in the Tao Te Ching, that ‘the spirit of life never dies, it is the infinite gateway to mysteries within mysteries.’ One must surely always be cautious when trying to make conclusive statements involving mysteries. One aspect

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