SPECIAL Edition • June, 2010 “In the latter days, the sun shall rise from the west” • Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace and blessings of Allah be on him) Muslim USA Ahmadiyya Community A Special Edition For New Members The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community he Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is a religious organization, international in its scope, with branches in 189 countries in TAfrica, North America, South America, Asia, Australasia, and Europe. The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community was established in 1889 by Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas (1835-1908) in Qadian, a small and remote village in the Punjabi province of India. He claimed to be the expected reformer of the latter days, the Awaited One of the world community of religions (The Mahdi and Messiah). The Movement he started is an embodiment of the benevolent message of Islam – peace, universal brotherhood, and submission to the Will of God – in its pristine purity. Hadhrat Ahmadas proclaimed Islam as the religion of man: “The religion of the people of the right path” (98:6).The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community was created under divine guidance with the objective to rejuvenate Islamic moral and spiritual values. It encourages interfaith dialogue, diligently defends Islam and tries to correct misunderstandings about Islam in the West. It advocates peace, tolerance, love and understanding among followers of different faiths. It firmly believes in and acts upon the Qur’anic teaching: “There is no compulsion in religion” (2:257). It strongly rejects violence and terrorism in any form and for any reason. After the passing of its founder, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community has been headed by his elected successors. The present Head of the Community, Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, was elected in 2003. His official title is Khalifatul Masih V or Fifth Successor of the Promised Messiah.. Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (1835-1908) Editor Editor's Notes: Falahud Din Shams The Muslim Sunrise is published by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, USA, 15000 Good Hope Road, Silver Spring, MD 20905, Phone 301.879.0110, Fax 301.879.0115, under the auspices of Dr. Ahsanullah Zafar, Ameer and National Editorial Board President. The views and opinions expressed by individual contributers in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Imam Mubasher Ahmad Community, USA. Dr. Shanaz Butt Hasan Hakeem The Muslim Sunrise welcomes letters to the editor, questions and submissions. Email Naveed Malik us at [email protected] or go online to www.MuslimSunrise.com. Sardar Anees Ahmad Library of Congress Call Number BP195.A5 M8 Mailing Address: The Muslim Sunrise, 2 S 510 Route 53, Glen Ellyn, IL Staff Editors 60137, Phone: (630) 790-4100, ext. 206, Fax: (630) 793-4100. Maham Khan Atif Mir Muslims follow the name of God’s prophets with the prayer alaehis salaam or Naser Shams ‘may peace be upon him,’ and for the Holy Prophet Muhammad, sallallahu alaehi wasallam or ‘may peace and blessings of God be upon him.’ Companions of prophets and righteous personalities who have passed away are saluted by Staff Writers radhi-Allaho anhu/a or ‘may Allah be pleased with him/her.” While such salutations sometimes are not set out in the text for readability, we encourage Lubna Roohi Malik readers to offer these prayers as if set out in full. Dr. Zia H. Shah Shazia Sohail Dr. Mufti Muhammad Sadiq (1872-1957) was the first Ahmadiyya Muslim missionary to arrive in America. In 1921, he founded the Muslim Sunrise, which stands today as the longest running Muslim publication in America. The magazine seeks to open Hasan Hakeem, Design/Layout discussions on Islam and topics relating to religion in general. It highlights the role Shuaib Shams, Circulation of Islam in an ever changing global society. It provides a platform for public opinion on contemporary issues and presenting their solutions from an Islamic perspective. www.muslimsunrise.com 2 MuslimSunrise • SPECIAL EDITION Muslims who believe in the Messiah, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, QadianiAS Unity is Strength Editorial Review of Religions, July 1993 nity is strength! The fundamental message of Islam is the Unity of God and the establishment of the unity of Umankind bound together by ties of practical brotherhood. Special Issue Dedicated to New Members , June , 2010 This is the clarion call of Islam which abhors strife, hatred, greed, selfishness, pride, intolerance and such like unbrotherly dispositions. The aim of every Muslim should be in accordance with the injunction of the Holy Quran: In This Issue Help one another in righteousness and piety. Welcome to Ahmadiyyat The Holy Prophet of Islam has likened the true spirit of Islamic brotherhood to that of a building every part of which reinforces 4 We welcome you to the other parts and, as an undivided symbol of unity, commanded Promised Messiah’s Community Muslims when lined up for prayer to stand together shoulder to shoulder like a solid wall leaving no space for even a rod to be passed between them. 8-9 Liwa-e-Ahmadiyya Islam is a universal religion revealed by God for the guid- 12 Holy Prophet’ssaw example ance of all mankind and is above personal bias, tribal prejudice and ignorant sectarianism. It teaches that all human beings are Attacks on Islam, the Holy saw equal and nobody is superior to another due to origin, colour, Prophet and the Holy Qur’an genealogy or race. The only difference in the sight of God be- tween individuals is their degree of righteousness. As God says in 13 Through a Convert’s Eyes the Holy Quran: Leave Your Baggage at the door Verily the most honorable person among you in the sight of God is he who is the most righteous among you. (49:14) 16-17 Conditions of Bai’at The Belief and the Life in the Holy This ideal of Islamic unity and brotherhood which is sadly Qur’an lacking in the world today can only be achieved by devoutedly acting upon the injunctions of Islam. Muslims should act upon and call people to what is good, and avoid and forbid what is bad. 18-19 Financial Sacrifice The strong and more fortunate should help the weak and less Perfecting your faith through financial fortunate. The rich should help the poor. No one should usurp the and personal sacrifice property and rights of others. Religious tolerance is essential. 22-23 Perspectives The Ahmadiyya Community in Islam has been dedicated to the revival of Islam for over one hundred years since its inception The Mosque Culture in America in 1889 by its Holy Founder, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad--the Promised Messiah and Mahdi. Its growth has spread all over the world and the Community continues to spread its heavenly influ- ence in rejuvenating the pristine purity of Islam in the hearts of people of all nations and creating among them a bond of divine unity. FOR NEW MEMBERS 2010 3 Welcome to the American Ahmadiyya Muslim Community e welcome you to the and help them develop into teachings. The Ahmadiyya AmericanW Ahmadiyya some of society’s most Muslim Community offers a Muslim Community, and productive citizens. Our clear presentation of Islam’s challenge you to embody professions span the entire wisdom and philosophy as our motto: Love for All, spectrum —doctors, lawyers, derived from the Holy Hatred For None. accountants, engineers, Qur’an and the recorded The Ahmadiyya Muslim teachers, architects, journalists, practice of the Holy Prophet Community was established scientists, government workers, of Islam, Muhammad (peace in America in 1920 and has taxi-drivers, factory workers, and blessings of God be created a revolutionary writers, musicians, and artists. upon him). change in the lives of its Ahmadi Muslims are The Ahmadiyya Muslim members. Within the concerned parents, Community USA has an American Ahmadiyya Muslim conscientious neighbors, and impeccable history of Community there are no community activists. nonviolence and has always problems of drug or alcohol The Ahmadiyya Muslim advocated true Islamic abuse; no problems of crime Community represents the principles leading toward or gang violence; and no renaissance of Islam in peace and love. The thefts or incarcerations. The America, which was and still is philosophy behind “Love pure teachings of Islam in its pure essence, without any For All Hatred For None” transform the lives of cultural or religious innovations signals our “moderate” American Ahmadi Muslims that may disfigure its original stance toward that end. 4 MuslimSunrise • SPECIAL EDITION Islam: Equality with Room for Individuality A factor that dismantles the unity of nations is the absence of equality between them. The Holy Prophet of Islamsaw played a leading role in doing away with and erasing the racial, color and caste-based distinc- tions that existed between various people of the time, and presented before the world an unmatched charter of equality. He gave shape to this charter by the following Qur’anic injunctions: O mankind, We have created you from a male and a female; and We have made you into nations and tribes that you may recognise one another. Verily, the most honorable among you, in the Sight of Allah, is he who is the most righteous among you… (Ch.49:V.14) This Qur’anic principle of equality was exemplified by the Prophetsaw on the occasion of his last sermon. His sermon can be summarized in these words: You are one brotherhood. All people are equal according to Islam. The Arab possesses no superiority over a non-Arab, nor does a non-Arab over an Arab. A white man is no way superior to a black man, nor for that matter, a black man to a white man, but only to the extent which a person exhibits righteousness and effort to attain it.