“Call to the path of thy Lord with wisdom and goodly exhortation, and argue with people in the best manner.” (Holy Quran, 16:125) The Light AND ISLAMIC REVIEW Exponent of Islam and the Lahore Ahmadiyya Movement for over eighty years April – June 2005 In the spirit of the above-cited verse, this periodical attempts to dispel misunderstandings about the religion of Islam and endeavors to facilitate inter-faith dialogue based on reason and rationality. Vol. 82 CONTENTS No. 2 Dutch Holy Quran Opening Speech . .3 By Dr. Noman Malik Human Rights in Islam . .7 By Dr. Ayesha Saliha Khan A Commentary on Mirza Masroor Ahmad’s khutba dealing with the “ever-lasting” Qadiani khilafat . .13 By Dr. Zahid Aziz Certainty In Faith . .17 By Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad Published on the World-Wide Web at: www.muslim.org ◆ Ahmadiyya Anjuman Isha‘at Islam Lahore Inc., U.S.A. ◆ P.O. Box 3370, Dublin, Ohio 43016, U.S.A. 2 THE LIGHT AND ISLAMIC REVIEW ■ APRIL – JUNE 2005 The Light was founded in 1921 as the organ of the AHMADIYYA ANJUMAN ISHA‘AT ISLAM (Ahmadiyya Association for the Propagation of Islam) of About ourselves Lahore, Pakistan. The Islamic Review was published in England from 1913 for over 50 years, and in the U.S.A. from 1980 to 1991. The present Ahmadiyya Anjuman Isha‘at Islam Lahore periodical represents the beliefs of the worldwide branches of the has branches in many countries including: Ahmadiyya Anjuman Isha‘at Islam, Lahore. U.S.A. Australia ISSN: 1060–4596 U.K. Canada Holland Fiji Editorial Board: Directors of AAIIL, Inc., USA Indonesia Germany Suriname India Circulation: Mrs. Samina Malik. Trinidad South Africa Guyana Contact information: ‘The Light’, P.O. Box 3370, Dublin, Ohio 43016, U.S.A. Achievements: Phone: 614 – 873 1030 • Fax: 614 – 873 1022 The Anjuman has produced extensive literature on Islam, originally in English and E-mails: [email protected] Urdu, including translations of the Website: www.muslim.org Holy Quran with commentaries. These books are being translated into other languages, including French, German, Spanish, Dutch, The main object of the A.A.I.I.L. is to present the true, original message of Russian, Chinese, and Arabic. The Anjuman Islam to the whole world — Islam as it is found in the Holy Quran and the has run several Muslim missions around the life of the Holy Prophet Muhammad, obscured today by grave misconcep- world, including the first ever in Western tions and wrong popular notions. Europe. Islam seeks to attract the hearts and minds of people towards the truth, by means of reasoning and the natural beauty of its principles. History: Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (d. 1908), our Founder, arose to remind the 1889: Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad founds world that Islam is: the Ahmadiyya Movement. 1901: Movement given name Ahmadiyya International: It recognizes prophets being raised among all nations after Holy Prophet Muhammad’s other and requires Muslims to believe in them all. Truth and goodness famous name Ahmad. can be found in all religions. God treats all human beings equally, regardless of race, nationality or religion. 1905: Hazrat Mirza appoints central body (Anjuman) to manage the Movement. Peaceful: Allows use of force only in unavoidable self-defence. 1908: Death of Hazrat Mirza. Succeeded by Teaches Muslims to live peacefully under any rule which accords Maulana Nur-ud-Din as Head. them freedom of religion. 1914: Death of Maulana Nur-ud-Din. Tolerant: Gives full freedom to everyone to hold and practise any Ahmadiyya Anjuman Isha‘at Islam creed or religion. Requires us to tolerate differences of belief and founded at Lahore as continuation of the opinion. original Anjuman. Maulana Muhammad Ali elected as Head. Rational: In all matters, it urges use of human reason and knowledge. Blind following is condemned and independence of thought is 1951: Death of Maulana Muhammad Ali granted. after fifty years of glorious service to the cause of Islam. Maulana Sadr-ud-Din Inspiring: Worship is not a ritual, but provides living contact with a (d. 1981) becomes Head. Living God, Who answers prayers and speaks to His righteous ser- 1981–1996: vants even today as in the past. Dr Saeed Ahmad Khan, an emi- nent medical doctor and religious schol- Non-sectarian: Every person professing Islam by the words La ilaha ar, led the Movement, at a time of ill-Allah, Muhammad-ur rasul-ullah (There is no god but Allah, intense persecution. and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah) is a Muslim. A Muslim 1996–2002: Prof. Dr Asghar Hameed, a cannot be expelled from Islam by anyone. distinguished retired University Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad taught that no prophet, old or new, is to arise Professor of Mathematics, and learned Islamic scholar, served as Head. after the Holy Prophet Muhammad. However, Mujaddids will be raised by God to revive and rekindle the light of Islam. 2002: Prof. Dr Abdul Karim Saeed Pasha elected Head. APRIL – JUNE 2005 ■ THE LIGHT AND ISLAMIC REVIEW 3 propaganda by extremist organizations, who, taking Dutch Holy Quran advantage of the ignorance of the Quran by the Muslims, Opening Speech try to convert them to their own violent philosophies. Another great advantage of these translations is that they By Dr. Noman Malik will enable non-Muslim readers to appreciate the message of peace and tolerance preached by the Quran which [This article was presented at the momentous occasion of should result in mutual respect and understanding between the Opening of the Dutch translation of the Holy Quran, Muslims and persons of other faiths. based on the English translation by Maulana Muhammad Ali on March 10, 2005 in The Hague, Netherlands. It pres- Concept of the Divine Being: Basis of Correcting ents an insightful look into the need for the Quran in con- Misconceptions temporary society in the languages of the Western world.] Perhaps the most common misconception about Islam is Value of Translations of the Holy Quran that it is an intolerant, violent religion which espouses “holy war” to forcibly convert non-Muslims to Islam. Honorable Madame Minister Verdonk and distinguished Before dealing with this specific misconception, I would guests, it gives us great pleasure that you have come here like to give a short over-view of the general attitude which to share in our joy and happiness on this day of the the Holy Quran inculcates in Muslims which should guide Opening of the Dutch Holy Quran. This is truly a historic them in any and all situations they may face. This general moment. Muslim populations of Western Europe are grow- attitude is based on the concept of the Divine Being as given ing at a rapid rate. Many Muslims are now of second or in the Holy Quran. The soul of all men regardless of their even third generation Westerners and identify more with religious persuasion or ethnicity is the spirit of God which the countries of birth rather than with their ethnic origins. he breathes into all men as stated in the following verse: Unfortunately, due to centuries of armed conflict between Muslim and Christian nations, racial bigotry in Europe, the So when I have made him complete and catastrophic events of 9/11 and the rise of terrorist organi- breathed into him of My spirit, fall down mak- zations such as Al-Qaida justifying their violent attacks on ing obeisance to Him (15:29). civilians in the name of Islam, the western public has, gen- The object of Man’s existence is to develop those divine erally, a very negative opinion of Islam. qualities within him by deeds so that he may attain close- Islam is frequently viewed as an intolerant and violent ness to God in this life as well as in the next: religion which is incompatible with democratic principles And the soul and its perfection! accepted by modern, civilized nations. These negative So He reveals to it its way of evil and its way ideas many times translate into discriminatory acts against of good; Muslims. Muslims, who themselves abhor the violent acts He is indeed successful who causes it to grow committed by terrorist organizations in the name of Islam, And he indeed fails who buries it (91:7-10). are frustrated and angered by this prejudice and discrimi- nation directed against them. This is especially true for As man’s soul is the Spirit of God which has been young Muslims who consider themselves as nationals of breathed into him, his conduct and behavior towards his the countries of their birth and are much less inclined to fellow man will be determined by his developing the attrib- accept discrimination than their immigrant parents. The utes of God within himself. Therefore, it is very important resulting tension and conflict disturbs the peace of society. that we understand the attributes of God. The best descrip- tion of the Divine Being and His attributes are found in the Islam is fortunate in that it does not have any ecclesias- first chapter of the Holy Quran, the Fatihah: tical authority or priesthood which defines its spiritual val- ues. The Holy Quran is the paramount source of spiritual Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds, values and moral behavior in Islam. The Hadith (the say- The Beneficent, the Merciful, ings and practices of the Holy Prophet), the opinions of the Master of the day of Requital. Jurists and the general consensus of the Muslim communi- Thee do we serve and Thee do we beseech for ty are the other sources, listed in their order of importance. help. The Holy Quran, however, takes precedence over the other Guide us on the right path, three in all matters.