FALL • 2 011 $4.00 “In the latter days, the sun shall rise from the west” • Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace and blessings of Allah be on him) Holy Bible & Holy Qur’an 11 The Biblical 18 What is 30 The Law of 47 Death penalty story of Shariah Law Retribution: Qur’an in Qur’an & Bible Adam & Eve and Bible 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 Falahud Din Shams Editor's Notes: 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 Imam Mubasher Ahmad publication do not necessarily reflect the views of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Dr. Shanaz Butt Community, USA. Hasan Hakeem The Muslim Sunrise welcomes letters to the editor, questions and submissions. Email Sardar Anees Ahmad us at [email protected] or go online to www.MuslimSunrise.com. Staff Editors Library of Congress Call Number BP195.A5 M8 Maham Khan Mailing Address: The Muslim Sunrise, 2 S 510 Route 53, Glen Ellyn, IL Atif Mir 60137, Phone: (630) 790-4100, ext. 206, Fax: (630) 793-4100. Naser Shams Muslims follow the name of God’s prophets with the prayer alaehis salaam or ‘may peace be upon him,’ and for the Holy Prophet Muhammad, sallallahu Staff Writers 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 Lubna Malik radhi-Allaho anhu/a or ‘may Allah be pleased with him/her.” While such Sardar Anees Ahmad salutations sometimes are not set out in the text for readability, we encourage Dr. Zia H. Shah readers to offer these prayers as if set out in full. 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 Religion & Science Dept. discussions on Islam and topics relating to religion in general. It highlights the role Dr. Zia H. Shah 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. Hasan Hakeem, Design/Layout Muneeb Ahmad, Website www.muslimsunrise.com Shuaib Shams, Circulation 2 MuslimSunrise Muslims who believe in the Messiah, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, QadianiAS In This Issue Features 11 The Biblical story of Adam & Eve Fall 2 0 11 • Volume 91 • Issue 3 14 Chastising a wife in Islam 16 Violence in the Bible & Jihad in the Qur’an 44 Ahadith Sayings of the Holy Prophet 18 What is Shariah Law Muhammadsaw 21 The Holy Qur’an on trial 45 Questions & Answers 24 The Bible, the Qur’an and Science 50 Poetry Corner It is the Holy Word of the Gracious Lord 27 Marital Relationships in Islam & Misconcep tions 51 Book Review 30 The Law of Retribution: Qur’an and Bible In the spirit of St. Francis and the Sultan By George Dardess & Marvin L. Krier Mich 34 An introduction to the Bible 54 News, Views and Reviews 36 The reality of the Bible’s history 41 From the Archives 1940 38 Infidel by any other name 57 Perspective 40 The Bible & Qur’an on justice Bird Brains 47 Death penalty in Qur’an & Bible Departments 5 In the Words of the Promised Messiah For More Information on 6 Editorial Islam/Ahmadiyyat: 7 Friday Sermon Alislam.org or “Everything will perish except God” 1.800.WHY.ISLAM 43 Religion & Science Quantem theory: A sign of a personal God Fall 2011 3 From the Holy Qur'an Chapter 41: Ha Mim Al-Sajdah [41:3] This is a revelation from the Gracious, the Merciful. [41:4] A Book, the verses of which have been expounded in detail — the Qur’an in clear, eloquent language — for a people who have knowledge, [41:5] A bringer of glad tidings and a warner. But most of them turn away and they hear not. [41:6] And they say: ‘Our hearts are under covers and are protected against that to which thou callest us, and in our ears there is a deafness, and between us and thee there is a screen. So carry on thy work; we too are working.’ 4 MuslimSunrise In the Words of the Promised Messiah call Allah to witness that scribes the principle and does not lay the Holy Quran is a rare down any specific direction. The pur- pearl. Its outside is light and pose of the latter is to provide guid- its inside is light and its ance for the meeting of new circum- above is light and its below stances. For instance, at one place Iis light and there is light in every the Holy Quran lays down the rule word of it. It is a spiritual garden of a tooth for a tooth and an eye for whose clustered fruits are within an eye. This is a detail. In other easy reach and through which place, the principle is set forth: streams flow. Every fruit of good “The penalty of an offense is fortune is found in it and every chastisement in proportion thereto.” torch is lit from it. Its light has (42:41) penetrated to my heart and I could On reflection we find that this not have acquired it by any other principle is laid down for the widen- means. And Allah is my witness ing of the law in case where the spe- that if there had been no Quran I cific law cannot be carried into ef- would have found no delight in life. Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (1835-1908) fect. For instance, if a person who I find that its beauty exceeds that has lost his own teeth breaks the of a hundred thousand Josephs. I tooth of another, he ceases to be incline towards it with great should be punished according to changing amenable to the rule of a tooth for a inclination and drink it into my heart. circumstances which are unlimited and it tooth, for has no teeth himself. In the It has nurtured me as an embryo I is not proper that there should be a fixed same way, if a blind person should nurtured and it has a wonderful effect law laying down penalties. Every penalty destroy the eye of another person, he on my heart. My self is lost in its should be such as in accord with the times cannot be deprived of his own eye, beauty. It has been disclosed to me and is helpful for the warning and restraint foe has none. The Holy Quran lays in a vision that the garden of holiness of offenders. Fixed penalties are not ben- down general principles to meet such is irrigated by the water of the Quran, eficial for the reform of people. In the cases and doing so encourages every- which is a surging ocean of the water same way, civil, criminal and revenue laws one to deduce rules suitable to every of life. He, who drinks from it, comes should not be fixed and rigid, as would case. It is a pity that the Torah does to life; indeed, he brings others to life. create difficulties under changing circum- not follow this method and the Gos- (A’ina-e-Kamalat-e-Islam, Ruhani stances. For instance, they might adversely pel is wholly deprived of this teach- Khaza’in, Vol 5,pp.545:546) affect commercial conditions which have ing. It only lays down a few moral ex- We had raised an objection to the become current and cannot be avoided, hortations, but they are not part of any current Gospels that the Gospels do or a penal law might not be helpful where code or system of law. The statement not provide for the development of offenders have become accustomed to one of the Christians that the Gospel has all man’s faculties and that even the kind of punishment, or may not be ame- left legal matters to the intelligence portions of them relating to moral nable to it.