Al Hakam - 3 July 2020

Where stars descend: Chapter 1 (Tawakkul) Part II

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100 Years Ago...

Responding to Allegations

Opinion

Tabligh in London and preaching Islam in America

Absolute faith of Companions in the Promised Messiahas and his prophethood

Dr Jonathan AC Brown: Muslim scholars unanimous about Ahmadis

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THE WEEKLY

www.alhakam.org AL HAKAM | Friday 3 July 2020 | Issue CXX Ahmadiyya Archive & Research Centre (ARC), 22 Deer Park Road, London, SW19 3TL. UK info@alhakam.org | F: +44(0)208 544 7673

Absolute certainty in a strange and uncertain time With many major events on the Ahmadiyya Jamaat’s calendar cancelled or postponed, the future remains uncertain.

Covid-19 has created a strange aura, wherein governments are, at times, having to form laws and impose restrictions as and when trajectories on graphs dictate.

In the UK, while some shops have opened, the limits being enforced are not very encouraging to shoppers. One tends to shop only when a dire need arises. While workplaces that offer a safe environment have opened up, for many, the job situation is uncertain – the question remains when one will return to work or whether one will return at all.

Jalsa Salana UK – which serves as the central Jalsa Salana for the worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim Community – has officially been cancelled this year. While this has brought a sense of sadness to many Ahmadis worldwide, it is a great chance to reflect on the lessons learnt during this magnificent event.

Over the course of the three-day event, Ahmadis have the chance to unite in one place and display their loyalty to God. Not

Hadith-e-Rasul – Sayings of the Holy Prophet Muhammadsa

Virtues of companions of the Holy Prophet Hazrat Abu Saeed Al-Khudrira narrated that the Holy Prophetsa said: “Do not abuse my companions, for if any one of you spent gold equal to Uhud (in Allah’s Cause) it would not be equal to a mud [510g to 750g] or even a half mud spent by one of them.”

(Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab al-Fazail Ashab alNabisa)

Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas, In His Own Words

A person who strives towards God never fails When a person strives and exerts an effort towards God Almighty, He does not allow for it to go in vain.

A landowner may lose his crop, an employee may cause harm to someone who dismisses them and a person who is tested may fail, but a person who strives towards God is never met with failure. The promise of Allah the Almighty is true: َّ َ َ َ​َ َ ‫ين َج‬ َ ‫َوالَّ ِذ‬ ‫اه ُدوا فِينا لَن ْه ِديَن ُه ْم ُس ُبلنا‬

only this, but also to better equip themselves with the purpose of the Holy Prophet’ssa mission and their responsibilities as followers of the Promised Messiahas.

Since the beginning of lockdown in many

countries of the world, official departments of the global Ahmadiyya Jamaat have taken to social media to achieve this very purpose – to educate everyone about the mission of Continued on page 3

“As for those who strive in Our path – We will surely guide them in Our ways.”

A seeker of the avenues that lead to God Almighty ultimately reaches his final destination. If we feel sympathy upon witnessing the effort and conditions of students who spend day and night preparing for worldly examinations, how can Continued on page 3

Friday 3 July 2020 | AL HAKAM

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This Week in History 3 - 9 July In this third year of Al Hakam, we will present a selection of incidents from the blessed life of the Promised Messiah, peace be upon him, this time, with some more details

3 July 1886: On this date, the Promised Messiahas sent a reply to a letter from Hazrat Munshi Rustam Alira, elaborating the philosophy of istighfar. Huzooras instructed this devout companion to never discontinue the habit of seeking forgiveness from Allah because this blessed conduct of seeking forgiveness would initially safeguard a person from the wrath of God and finally, the seeker would get rid of sins.

3 July 1896: The Promised Messiahas shared updates of two of his followers with Hazrat Munshi Rustam Alira in a letter. Hazrat Ahmadas informed him that Hazrat Maulvi Nuruddinra had travelled to Malerkotla as Hazrat Nawab Muhammad Ali Khanra had been calling him there for quite some time. Huzooras also commented on the proposed journey of Hazrat Hamid Alira towards Africa as this personal steward of Huzooras developed an indomitable craving of travelling owing to his personal and financial status. Huzooras did not like his idea of travelling at the time. Later on, Hazrat Hamid Alira could not gather his desired success and eventually, he failed to fully settle himself there and had to return to Qadian in the blessed company of the Messiahas. This letter did not carry any date on it, although the stamp from Qadian put it under this date.

4 July 1898: The Promised Messiahas graciously accepted one of the suggestions of Hazrat Nawab Muhammad Ali Khanra through a letter on this date. This letter tells us that Nawab Sahibra sought permission for leaving for a journey, which was granted by Huzooras with prayers.

6 July 1892: The Promised Messiahas replied to a letter of Hazrat Munshi Rustam Alira on this date. Hazrat Ahmadas opened the letter with praising the selfless contributions of this earnest follower and praying aplenty for him for prosperity in both worlds. Huzooras also updated him about the causes of delay in installing the printing press in Qadian as the daughter of Mian Nur Muhammad Sahib, proprietor of the press, had passed away and afterwards, he had to finalise and sign the agreement on costs and rates in Qadian and then seek permission from the deputy commissioner of District Gurdaspur for shifting of his press machinery to Qadian.

6 July 1894: The Promised Messiahas informed Hazrat Munshi Rustam Alira that 50 rupees were received and he prayed for his reward on this contribution. Huzooras also added that he was extremely occupied due to many undertakings in those days.

6 July 1903: Mirza Imam Din departed this world on this day. He was the brother of Mirza Nizam Din and cousin of the Promised Messiahas.

Both brothers, on account of their irreligious temperaments and their worldly ways, were bitterly opposed to the Promised Messiahas.

In fact, they were enemies of Islam itself.

But once, a son of the Promised Messiahas, due to lack of understanding in childhood, referred to this above mentioned neighbour and relative in an improper way. The Promised Messiahas stopped him instantly and explained that he was, after all, his uncle.

6 July 1905: The Promised Messiahas dispatched a thorough letter for Hazrat Haji Seith Allah Rakha Abdur Rahmanra, which carried the basic teachings and gems about importance of patience, its examples from the history of prophets, trust in Allah, basic attributes of a true believer and acceptance of prayers etc.

7 July 1886: The Promised Messiahas shared his happiness upon developments in the job pursuit of Hazrat Hakim Maulvi Nuruddinra.

This letter adds to our knowledge that Hazrat Hakim Sahib’sra resignation was not accepted as earlier wished by Hazrat Ahmadas. Huzooras also predicted the promotion of Hazrat Hakim Sahibra in some coming stage.

7 July 1892: The Promised Messiahas wrote to Hazrat Munshi Rustam Alira that he had shared with Hazrat Maulvi Muhammad Ehsanra that he had been giving ten rupees monthly in Chanda; Huzooras prayed that Allah would reward him for this contribution. Hazrat Ahmadas also wrote that he would dispatch copies of his book Nishan-e-Asmani.

7 July 1897: In reply to a letter from Hazrat Haji Seith Allah Rakha Abdur Rahmanra, Huzooras said that he was experiencing kidney pains and a heavy cough for some days. Huzooras advised Hazrat Haji Sahibra to plan his proposed journey towards Qadian in particular months as Huzooras cited the routine of temperatures and common conditions of certain months of the year.

7 July 1897: The Promised Messiahas sent a letter to Hazrat Nawab Muhammad Ali Khanra detailing the construction of a portion of his house in Qadian and expenditures in various sections, for example, the cost of bricks and payment to masons, woodmen and laborers.

7 July 1900: The Promised Messiahas issued a

thorough announcement regarding his view of Jihad, addressing the viceroy of India. Huzooras opened it with a personal introduction and his claims of being reformer as Messiah and Mahdi. In this appendix of Risala Jihad, Huzooras spoke about his noble and educated following in India. After putting forward the logical and balanced teachings of Islam regarding other religions, Hazrat Ahmadas also drew the attention of the viceroy of India towards the inappropriate activities and provocative and disturbing publications of Christian priests in the Indian subcontinent. This divinely guided announcement proved to be a call of the time and still stands as a key work on Jihad.

7 July 1902: The Promised Messiahas replied to a letter of Hazrat Haji Seith Allah Rakha Abdur Rahmanra explaining a key philosophy of life. Huzooras guided this devout follower that God Almighty was always there to settle every broken thing, hence unparallel trust in Him was needed to enjoy His blessings.

9 July 1883: The elder brother of the Promised Messiahas, Mirza Ghulam Qadir Sahib passed away on this day at 7pm at the age of 55.

In 1868, Mirza Ghulam Qadir Sahib became seriously ill. The Promised Messiahas had earlier seen a dream in which he saw that his brother would die, so he prayed to God for his recovery.

His prayer was accepted and it was revealed to him that his brother would recover, as he did.

Mirza Ghulam Qadir Sahib left behind no child and his wife, Hurmat Bibi later entered the fold of the Jamaat as foretold to the Promised Messiahas.

9 July 1889: The Promised Messiahas replied to a letter of Hazrat Hakim Maulvi Nuruddinra.

Huzooras expounded on the blessings of love for the Holy Quran and maintained that this accord with the word of God and sayings of the Holy Prophetsa of Islam were source of all blessings.

Hazrat Ahmadas also opened his heart to share his love and longing for Hazrat Maulvi Sahibra, hence this letter provides many glimpses of the unmatched status of Hazrat Maulvi Sahibra among the followers of Hazrat Ahmadas.

9 July 1906: The Promised Messiahas replied to a letter of Hazrat Abdul Majeed Khanra, who had asked Hazrat Ahmadas for prayers. Huzooras assured him that he was already praying for him and would do so in future too.

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Friday 3 July 2020 | AL HAKAM Continued from page 1

this divine Jamaat.

It has been a unique sight to see Ahmadis engage in online Quran classes, dars-ulQuran, academic seminars for the youth and jalsas throughout the world. Al Hakam has had the good fortune of covering such events. However, there have been many more events across the globe than have been given coverage.

Jalsa Salana UK is not happening this year, but many of us have been using the time in lockdown positively in developing a stronger bond with our Lord and gaining a better understanding of what we believe in, something that we can and should continue as life begins to take on a more familiar form.

Tuning in to MTA and reading the latest articles by official Jamaat departments is of course a positive thing, helping us all towards the right direction, but the practical application of what we learn through such platforms rests on our shoulders as individuals.

Hazrat Khalifatul Masihaa has repeatedly said that we must listen to Jalsa speeches and enjoy the atmosphere of unity, however, while it is positive in the moment, it is not sufficient if we return to our homes having forgotten or disregarded everything we learnt. Thus, Huzooraa always draws us towards the continuous practical implementation side of enjoying the Jalsa, which obviously has a lasting effect.

Therefore, Jalsa or no Jalsa, as Ahmadi Muslims, we have pledged to live a consistent life of loyalty to our faith, Khalifatul Masih and the founder of the Ahmadiyya Jamaat, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas. This is a goal that we must aspire for.

Indeed, it saddens us that we will not be able to see our beloved Imamaa during the annual convention of the global Ahmadiyya family. Although through MTA, we are able to see our Imamaa on our screens every Friday, we relish the thought of offering prayers behind our Imamaa and once again sitting in his august company.

This is a time when not only do we pray

for ourselves and the triumph of Islam Ahmadiyyat, but also for the prosperity and the long, healthy life of our beloved Imam.

After all, there are very few leaders in the world who offer so much of their valuable time for their followers, collectively and individually.

This is a time when many of us are reminiscing those beautiful moments we spent in his midst, whether it was collectively with other Ahmadis or in a private audience.

We recall those blissful occasions and pray that we may see them again.

Someone once said, “I used to think that the community members loved their leader, but now I have found that the Khalifa loves his followers even more.”

We recall those moments in Huzoor’saa blessed company and pray for them to quickly become a reality once again, but what can easily be forgotten is how much Huzooraa cherishes those moments when he meets his followers. Of the many aspects that make this evident, the loving welcome Huzooraa gives us all as we enter his office is enough to prove this. So while this has been an uncertain and ambiguous time for us all, we can only imagine how it must be for Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa.

Therefore, even more than before, we must continue to pray for the long and healthy life of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa and make a promise to ourselves to remain loyal to him more than ever before.

When life returns to normality, nay, from this moment on, let us reaffirm our oaths, that we will give precedence to our faith over all worldly objects and that we will be ready to sacrifice our life, wealth, time and honour for the sake of our faith, country and nation; we will remain loyal to the institution of Khilafat and obey Hazrat Khalifatul Masih in everything good he may require of us.

May Allah quickly bring this trying time to an end so that we – the servants of His Messiahas – may rise to the occasion and display utmost loyalty to our Imamaa in a time of total materialism and irreligiousness.

May Allah safeguard our faith and enable us all to be a part of the revival of Islam. Amin.

Continued from page 1

Allah the Exalted, Who is boundless and infinite in His mercy and compassion, waste the effort of a person who strives towards Him? Of course not. Never would He do so. Allah the Exalted does not allow anyone’s effort to go in vain.

God Almighty states: ْ ُ ْ ْ َ ْ ُ ّٰ َ ‫ِا ّن الل َہ لايِض ُيع ا َجرال ْم ِحس ِنیَن‬ “Surely, Allah suffers not the reward of those who do good to be lost.”

Allah the Exalted also states: َ ْ َ َ َ َ َ ْ ْ َ ْ َّ ْ َ ‫ال ذ ّر ٍة خي ًرا ّيرَ ُه‬ ‫من يعمل ِمثق‬ “Then whoso does an atom’s weight of good will see it.”

We observe that every year, thousands of students weep and commit suicide when they see their efforts and labours of many years washed away due to some reason or other. However, the grace of Allah the Exalted does not disregard even the most insignificant of actions. What a pity then that man becomes so engrossed in labouring for the sake of uncertain and insecure objectives to the extent that he deprives himself as it were of every kind of comfort; he bears a thousand pains and hardships merely on the tenuous hope that perhaps he will succeed. A businessman will invest hundreds and thousands of rupees in the hopes of profit, but even he is unaware for certain if this will bring guaranteed returns. However, I do not observe the same toil and effort by those who seek God Almighty (Whose promises are definite and categorical and towards Whom an advance through even the slightest effort is never wasted). Why do these people not understand? Why do they not fear that they will have to die one day? Even after witnessing these other failures, are they not moved to consider

this bargain, in which there is no prospect of loss or failure and in which profit is guaranteed? How great an effort does a farmer invest in the cultivation of his crop, but who can say for certain that the result will prove fruitful?

How Merciful is Allah the Almighty!

He is a treasure from whom one can collect a cowrie [1 damri (i.e. 1/256 rupee) roughly equates to 10 cowries], a rupee or even a gold coin. Here, there is no fear of thieves and robbers, nor a chance of bankruptcy. It is narrated in a hadith that if a person removes a thorn from the path, they shall receive a spiritual reward for this as well. If, when fetching water, a person pours a bucket into his brother’s vessel, God Almighty does not allow it to go unrewarded. Remember that the path on which man can never fail is the path of God. The path of this world is full of obstacles that cause a person to stumble at every step and hurdles threatening failure obstruct the way. Those who abandoned their rule of entire kingdoms were, surely, not out of their minds. People like Ibrahim ibn Adham, Shah Shuja and King Abdul-Aziz, who is also known as a reformer (mujaddid), gave up their worldly rule, sovereignty and majesty. The reason is that there are obstacles at every step, which cause one to stumble. God is a pearl and when a person gains insight into His Being, he begins to view materialistic things with such contempt and scorn that he must force and compel himself to even cast a glance upon such matters. Hence, seek true insight of God Almighty and take your every step in His direction. For it is in this that all success lies.

(Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas, Malfuzat, Vol. 1, pp.

140-142)

Protective materials donated to Kosovo Customs Union Besmir Yvejsi Secretary Ishaat, Jamaat Kosovo

The world has surpassed the number of 10 million infected people with the Covid-19 virus and nearly half a million people have died due to it. All this will be remembered by the generations to come as a wound that took the lives of many.

Those at risk of infection are those who are most exposed; doctors, nurses, police officers and customs officials. The latter are especially worthy of mention because in addition to protecting the borders of the states, they also take care of the safe entry and exit of persons potentially infected.

Humanity First Germany, together with Jamaat Kosovo has come to help these people by responding to their request.

On 24 June 2020, they donated protective equipment to the office of Kosovo Customs in the capital of Kosovo, Prishtina. This

donation was donated after a memorandum of cooperation was signed between the Municipality of Prishtina, Kosovo Customs Union and Humanity First for the purpose of providing medical-hygienic protective materials to prevent infection with Covid-19.

These protective materials dedicated to Kosovo customs officials include 395 bottles with 96% alcohol (about 40 litres), 350 hand sanitiser bottles (87.5 litres) and 20 bottles of floor disinfectant (100 litres).

During the delivery of the materials, the representative of Humanity First, project coordinator of the Directorate for Social Welfare of the Municipality of Prishtina Mr Premtim N Fazliu, President of the Kosovo Customs Union Mr Ali Vitija and Vice President of the Union Mr Kujtim Krasniqi were present.

The President of the Union, Mr Ali Vitija, among other things, said:

“I would like to thank Humanity First for this valuable donation and I hope that in the future, we will deepen our cooperation in other matters.”

The vice president, Mr Kujtim Krasniqi said: “In cooperation with the Municipality of Prishtina, we have reached a cooperation agreement with Humanity First and as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, we have managed to provide donations in the amount of 100 litres of disinfectant …, 350 disinfectant bottles for hands and 395 disinfectant bottles with 96% alcohol base.

“As a result of the pandemic, Kosovo Customs, like other institutions, has been affected by this virus and as a result of this pandemic, we have lost a colleague, we have three infected at the moment and five in self-isolation. We hope that this situation will not be repeated and that measures will be taken as soon as possible so that the

decisions of the Ministry of Health and the recommendations of the National Institute of Public Health will be respected. I believe that together, we will succeed.

“I once again thank Humanity First which has found the time and found the means to share them with Kosovo Customs in order to prevent this deadly disease for the whole globe. Hopefully, this will make it easier for officers at the front lines at border crossings and customs terminals, when we know that customs officials are at high risk of contracting Covid-19 at any moment. We thank once again Humanity First and the Municipality of Prishtina for this donation.”

This successful project was accompanied by some media coverage. Ten newspapers and pages on social networks have published articles about this donation. Around a million people followed this donation, alhamdolillah.

Friday 3 July 2020 | AL HAKAM

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Where stars descend Chapter 1 (Tawakkul) Part II Asif M Basit

Each and every word of Huzooraa is precious to us, but there [in my office amidst the Baitul Futuh fire] lay a precious treasure trove of guidance on a daily basis.

The thought of those letters stuck in mind as I watched the smoke rise higher and higher.

On a few occasions, when the smoke blew big puffs in the air, I saw shreds of paper floating among the ashes in the sky above, as a result of which my heart began to sink. I prayed to God, “Ya Allah! Don’t let these letters be those written by your beloved one!”

I was tormenting myself as the thought arose many a time to have those letters scanned and preserved but with that the response was always, “Insha–Allah, some

day.” The lesson I learnt that day was that as soon as I received a letter or response from Huzooraa, I would immediately make a copy of it. We tend to think that we have sufficient time, but the time of a nation and the time of an individual are two separate dimensions. Where the matter involves God’s chosen one, the concept of time and space takes a different form.

We should never equate the time of the Jamaat with our own personal time.

Our personal time is of no value when compared to the precious time of the Jamaat. One second wasted in the service of the Jamaat could make us answerable to future generations. With those thoughts, I stood silently, watching the smoke bellow above the Baitul Futuh horizon.

In the evening, the programme Rahe-Huda was to broadcast live on MTA, but the staff at Baitul Futuh told us that

until further notice, no one could enter the complex as it was unclear whether the fire had stopped spreading or whether it had taken a different course. Under the circumstances, I pursued the proper protocol in cancelling the live broadcast and the decision was made to repeat the previous show as there were no recording facilities.

Then, we received news that the fire had reached the MTA library. After hearing this, we all went into shock. I had only just received the news, when my mobile phone rang. I looked at my phone and I saw, “Private secretary”, which usually only means one thing: urgent!

I immediately picked up my phone and Munir Javed Sahib said something which was short, yet comprehensive. “Huzoor is calling you.”

Without a second thought, I rushed to my car and raced towards the Fazl Mosque in Putney, where Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa resided at the time.

Alhamdolillah, I had parked my car, albeit by mere chance, at a place that allowed me to easily access the road to the Fazl Mosque.

On such occasions, it has been the sheer grace of God that the notorious traffic of London has never caused any hindrance.

Within twelve to fifteen minutes, I was standing in the private secretary’s office.

Munir Javed Sahib told me that

Huzooraa had just left the office for his residence, but said that he would notify Huzooraa.

After ten minutes or so, the light bulb outside Huzoor’s office lit up, which meant that Huzooraa was now in his office. The words below are what Huzooraa said to me as I entered the office (the crux of which I have preserved): Huzooraa asked, “What’s the matter?

You seem worried?”

I replied, “The fire spread to such an extent that it has engulfed our [MTA]

Click here for Part I

library.”

“So what? Incidents like this do not halt the work and duties of jamaats.”

With anguish in my voice, I replied, “Huzoor, the library stored programmes of the Khulafa, which has now probably burnt to ashes”.

Huzooraa said, “The Promised Messiahas recorded his voice on a gramophone. You know this, right? We lost that too. What could be more precious to us than that?

But the progress of the Jamaat did not stop; we carried on. Don’t you agree?”

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Friday 3 July 2020 | AL HAKAM

I replied, “Yes Huzoor. That is true”.

What more could I say? I didn’t have the audacity to say that this thought didn’t even cross my mind when we had just stood there in mourning.

Huzooraa then asked, “Do you know how to put out a fire?”

“No Huzoor.”

He asked again, “Would they have let you enter the complex in order to extinguish the fire?”

“No Huzoor.”

“Then you should have immediately come to the Fazl Mosque and set up the studios here. The MTA staff should have assembled here and planned a way forward to avoid any disruption to MTA’s broadcast.”

The feeling of shame and regret felt at such an occasion can neither be described, nor is there any need to. You can probably imagine how I felt. I apologised to Huzooraa, after which he immediately instructed: “Now prepare a news bulletin for MTA. But you have probably not even eaten anything. I can tell from your face that you are hungry and thirsty. First of all, go and have something to eat, then prepare this bulletin and bring it back to me.”

I left the office. My heart was filled with love and emotion for Huzooraa. Even in such circumstances, the hunger and thirst of an unworthy and undeserving servant still mattered for Huzooraa.

In keeping with Huzoor’s instruction, I ate a biscuit from a plate that lay before me in the waiting room and sat down to compose the report.

It was crucial that I factchecked the details from credible sources, for instance, the time the fire started, where it reached and whether it was still spreading or not.

Having acquired the relevant information from credible sources I prepared the report to be read out on MTA. Many renowned media outlets provided coverage to the fire. Ahmadis around the world were worried due to the outbreak of the fire. It was probably due to this concern that Huzooraa had the news bulletin prepared under his direct supervision.

After I prepared the report, I presented it to Huzooraa. Huzooraa carefully read the text. Huzooraa made a phone call himself enquiring about the latest on the fire.

Before handing back the report, Huzooraa made one amendment.

There was a line that said, “According to the London Fire Brigade, the fire is under control and efforts are being made to extinguish the fire”. Huzooraa added the following words before this statement: “With the grace of Allah…”

Huzooraa then remarked, “They would never have done anything themselves”.

I then mentioned to Huzooraa that we were not broadcasting Rah-e-Huda live and instead we had planned to play the previous week’s recording. Huzooraa replied: “The programme will be aired live!

Have the studios here [in the Fazl Mosque] prepared immediately and have your team ready. The work of the Jamaat never stops for petty issues.”

Huzoor’s vision can never be predicted.

What we considered to be a state of emergency, with everyone panicking, was in fact a proof of Huzooraa being a chosen one of God. His sight is set far into the horizon whereas all we see before us are clouds and smoke. The anxiety began again, not because of any emergency, but in wanting to fulfill Huzoor’s command in a very short space of time.

The report was eventually broadcast on MTA. Rah-e-Huda was also broadcast live, later that evening. The programme invites people to call in and sure enough, people called in more than ever before.

Not only did they ask questions, but we received many calls merely expressing their concern over the news of the fire, which, like wildfire, had spread all over the worldwide press and media. Towards the end of the programme, the report was read out once again and viewers were notified of the latest updates.

Towards the end of the programme, I went downstairs with the intention of informing Huzooraa that the broadcast had gone smoothly. But as I approached the last few steps, I realised that Huzooraa was seated in Mahmood Hall among guests who had travelled from abroad to meet Huzooraa. It was almost time for Maghrib prayer. I stood outside the door of Mahmood Hall, where it was anticipated that Huzooraa would go to lead the prayer.

We could hear Huzoor’s voice through the audio system as well as the guests. The Khuddam and Atfal were very fortunate to

have spent so much time with their Imam.

They asked questions, to which Huzooraa gave them answers. Huzooraa carefully listened to their problems and guided them, as well as giving them advice. They were all ecstatic at the fact that they were able to converse with Huzooraa as well as having been in his blessed presence.

There was no sign of sorrow or anguish from the tragedy that struck only a few hours earlier.

It was this that reminded me that the Khalifa’s eyes were set on the grace and blessings of Allah and that is what he beseeched. How, then, can the Jamaat that follows in the footsteps of a person so exalted in the field of tawakkul [trust in God] ever be deemed weak? It is the example that every Ahmadi follows and should follow.

Talking about the oppression and persecution of Ahmadis reminds me of another incident, which shows Huzoor’s high standards of trust in Allah, foresight and unyielding resolve.

This dates back to 2008, when Huzooraa instructed that the Jamaat be kept informed of the persecution of Ahmadis in Pakistan through a monthly MTA broadcast, “Persecution News”.

Preparations were made immediately and once the programme was ready for broadcast, it was sent to Huzooraa for approval.

When the letter, which was sent to Huzooraa along with the recording, came back, it had a note on it. The note was very encouraging for all those who had participated. Huzooraa wrote: “A very good effort! May Allah increase

In the following Friday Sermon, Huzooraa informed every one of the details of the Baitul Futuh fire. In this manner, Huzooraa gave everyone strength and elevated everyone towards the level of tawakkul that God Almighty has bestowed upon him. He instructed everyone to mould themselves in a manner that enabled them to absorb the blessings of Allah and keep their goals high.

A few years ago, “law-enforcers” in Pakistan stormed the Tahrik-e-Jadid offices in Rabwah and without any reason, arrested innocent employees and missionaries of the Jamaat. That very morning, I had a mulaqat with Huzooraa and again had the opportunity to witness the exalted level of tawakkul that Huzooraa possesses. Huzooraa was most certainly concerned and worried for his beloved Ahmadis, but it was not the only thing that had grasped Huzoor’s attention. His expectations and trust were completely with Allah.

A few moments later, a journalist would come and interview Huzooraa. The entire interview had one focal point that Huzooraa spoke on: tawakkul.

Huzooraa said that the oppressors may continue to oppress, but neither would we take the law into our own hands, nor would we respond to aggression with aggression. We put all our cries for help at the divine threshold. Although we do peacefully protest by means of the pen and media, but if we were to not do even this much, then we are indirectly supporting the oppressors. This was the gist of what Huzooraa said that day.

the standard even more. When is the next programme?”

This was very comforting for all of us.

It spiritually uplifted us. Without wasting a single moment, we proceeded with the next show, in which we decided to cover the discrimination against the citizens of Rabwah by the government of Pakistan by depriving them of basic civic amenities.

We collated research and interviewed various senior members of the Jamaat in Rabwah and thereafter recorded the programme. Accompanying me in the programme were Abid Waheed Khan Sahib and Mashood Iqbal Sahib (to cater for the English-speaking and Urduspeaking audience respectively).

The programme was again sent to Huzooraa for approval. I sent the recording on a Monday and waited anxiously. That day I received no response. The following day was spent in anticipation, but I began thinking that it may be a long wait.

However, in the evening, Abid Khan Sahib, who had been on the panel of the programme, rang me and said that he had just had a mulaqat with Huzooraa and Huzooraa had not liked the programme. He also told me that Huzooraa had instructed that I meet Huzooraa straight away.

The next day was a Wednesday and as it was quite late, I could not request a mulaqat as the names had already been approved for the following day. Thus, I requested for a mulaqat the following day and was told that there were no official mulaqats on Thursdays and that there was no possibility before Saturday morning.

Accordingly, I requested for a mulaqat for

Friday 3 July 2020 | AL HAKAM

6 Saturday morning.

The anxiety in which I spent the 72 hours of Wednesday, Thursday and Friday cannot be translated into words.

The thought that Huzooraa had taken out 30 minutes of his valuable time to watch our programme, which ended up being a means of discomfort for Huzooraa, left me in agony. I became furious at my sense of satisfaction and started to lament myself that instead of celebrating the fact that Huzooraa was pleased with our first attempt, I should have spent the time in istighfar (seeking God’s forgiveness) and prayers. It wasn’t as if we had hit a milestone! It was Huzoor’s loving manner that he appreciated our effort. In fact, it was a test of character! I realised that the next attempt should have been made with even more care and through a lot more prayers. Nonetheless, that was the state I was in during those very long hours.

I arrived at the Fazl Mosque on Saturday morning and my heart was racing. No matter how many times you may have met Huzooraa and conversed with him, it always seems like the first time.

How long do we continue to act upon the valuable lessons Huzooraa gives us?

Do we even remember each and every directive Huzooraa has given us? This is something we can only answer on an individual level. It is truly impossible to act upon every lesson we learn from Huzooraa without the grace and help of God. But this, in fact, was my first daftari mulaqat (official meeting) with Huzooraa and that too due to bringing him discomfort. I began to recite all the prayers my mother had taught me as a child.

Anyhow, those minutes felt like decades.

Eventually I was called to Huzoor’s office. As I entered Huzoor’s office, I was expecting an admonishment. My legs felt so weak that I thought to myself that if I collapsed right there and then, it could be more embarrassing than what had already happened.

With my gaze down, I entered the room. But to my surprise, I heard a loving voice, “Hanji? Kiya kehtey ho?” (Yes, what brings you here?)

I could not think of anything other than to remain silent.

“It seems that you have spent these days extremely worried” I replied, “Yes Huzoor. All three days I have spent in utter shame”. Huzooraa added, “Three days? Why not four days? I sent the message four days ago. You know, one can pray a lot more in times of distress.” (I also learnt a lesson here that one should not talk to Huzooraa on rough estimates, rather one should speak precisely.) I responded, “Huzoor, the programme was not of a good standard. I sincerely apologise”.

Huzooraa then asked me, “In the first letter I wrote, ‘May Allah increase the standard even more’. I thought that you would come and ask me how to further improve?”

Now, I was lost for words. I had come with the expectation that I would be admonished. But I saw only the love, affection and kindness of Huzooraa. If only I could just express that had I known that

that was Huzoor’s desire, then I would have literally come running.

Thereafter, Huzooraa most affectionately instructed that we record the programme again and instructed: “Never mention the oppression we are facing in a manner that suggests that it has weakened us. Never even think that the opposition we face can ever affect the progress of the Jamaat. What you say on television is reaching every Ahmadi so for this reason, you should carefully select your words so that the viewers can focus on remembering the blessings of Allah, as opposed to grieving over the injustices and trials.

“Now go back, re-record this programme and remember to mention the services the Jamaat in Pakistan has rendered and continues to render for their homeland. Tell everyone how, by the grace of God, the Jamaat has managed to provide facilities in such a small town that only the largest of cities can provide. Tell them how this community is more organised and far more helpful.”

Huzooraa then mentioned the names of a few people whom I should contact.

I was relieved of all my fears, anxieties and worries. The only concern I had was that each and every word of Huzooraa during that mulaqat should be preserved.

I hastily jotted down everything being said to me. I had never heard such concise and comprehensive words. The words were few, but the meanings were vast. Huzooraa had given such wonderful insight into the matter that no aspect seemed to remain untouched. Huzooraa then took a pause, which was most probably for me to note everything down carefully.

As soon as I finished writing and looked up, Huzooraa said, “Bus? Chalo phir” (Is that all? Then off you go.)

In this manner, the mulaqat came to a close. However, it had been more than a mulaqat. It was a chapter in the lessons of life. It was a completely unique angle of looking at and understanding the persecution the Jamaat faces on a daily basis. We see the wrongs done to us as wrong. However, what we fail to see is how this persecution is pushing us to excel and attain further triumphs.

I spent most of my life in Rabwah. Many a time, I benefitted from the extraordinary facilities of Fazl-e-Umar Hospital there.

I spent so much time studying in the Khilafat Library that I am forever indebted to the library and the staff there. I had the good fortune of being able to teach in a prominent institution like Nusrat Jehan Academy. I witnessed before my eyes the spread of greenery throughout Rabwah. I experienced the spiritual and intellectual atmosphere of Rabwah. But never did I even think that there was a divine sign in each of those elements. It went from being a barren desert to a town buzzing with thousands of residents and visitors, bearing in it the facilities of a big city. That mulaqat had shaken me to the core.

I swear by God that the effect that mulaqat had on me is to this day fresh in my heart and mind and shall remain so; the reason being that during the mulaqat, I had the opportunity of seeing Huzoor’s

farsightedness. I also swear by God that on that occasion, I realised that by standing behind my Imam, who is a shield (as said by the Prophet Muhammadsa), I possessed no fear of anything or anyone. Albeit with shame, but I do not hesitate in saying that maybe for the first time did my heart cry out an earnest prayer for Huzooraa like never before. My life and soul is laid down for him!

We spend our lives in vain searching for weak protection, when in fact, God Almighty has provided us with an ironclad form of protection in the form of Khilafat.

If we hold fast to this, then we shall face no fear. It provides us security. I can also say with complete honesty that on that day, I found out what the meaning of the word “inspiration” really is. By the grace of God, I also realised that if we want to find real inspiration, then we need not to look for any poet, artist or scientist, rather we have a man who has been commissioned by God with the spirit of truth to spread the truth to the corners of the world.

May God enable us to understand this and continue to live our lives by it. This individual who calls us towards God saves us from all forms of idol-worship and idolatry.

We recorded our programme again in line with Huzoor’s directives, mentioning the miraculous horticulture of Rabwah, the parks, housing, construction work, swimming pools, Nasir Fire Brigade Service, Ambulance Service and Tahir Heart Institute. In this manner, we mentioned all of this as homage to Allah and showed that it had all been done in the midst of opposition and persecution.

It was, however, a very brief glimpse of what the Jamaat had managed to achieve in such circumstances.

Alhamdolillah, Huzooraa was pleased with the show and consequently, the appreciation of the general public grew. It is my experience that whenever any MTA programme receives Huzoor’s attention, God Almighty blesses it in such a way that the people begin to appreciate it. It was this very programme that eventually evolved into Rah-e-Huda, the Urdu programme answering questions of Ahmadis and nonAhmadis in regard to the teachings of the Promised Messiah, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas. This very programme later went on to be broadcast live from the blessed village of Qadian and continues to do so.

At the end, I wish to say that Sir Muhammad Iqbal was a controversial figure. His thought may have been, and in fact was, subject to much confusion at times. But he once said something which was very apt: “If you want to witness the true reflection of Islam, then you will see it in Qadian.”

I conclude my article with an amendment to this remark: If you want to witness the true reflection of Islam, then look no further than the person of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih! The level of tawakkul, which the Holy Prophet Muhammadsa and his humble servant, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas wished to see in us, is practically personified in our Imam, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa. May Allah enable us to comprehend this fact and follow the footsteps of Huzooraa. Amin.

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Friday 3 July 2020 | AL HAKAM

Opinion

Dr Jonathan AC Brown: Muslim scholars unanimous about Ahmadis Ataul Fatir London

In a recent discussion on Twitter about Ahmadis, a well-respected academic and professor of Islamic Civilisation at Georgetown University, Jonathan AC Brown said, “Look I’d love to accept Ahmadis. But please find me one Sunni or Shiah scholar who accepts them as Muslims?”

I respect Prof AC Brown for his academic works, love for Islam and condemning the persecution of Ahmadi Muslims. But his constant reference to the age-old, all-Muslim-scholars-areunanimous-about-Ahmadis argument is not only fallacious in nature – carrying endless problems – but also disrupts Quranic injunctions to “reflect” and “ponder”, using our own reasoning.

Prof Brown said he would “love to accept Ahmadis”, but quickly falls to the decision of so-called Muslim scholars. It is a tragedy that he doesn’t give more importance to Prophet Muhammad’ssa verdict of what defines a Muslim: “Whoever prays as we pray, turns to face the same qiblah as us and eats our slaughtered animals, is a Muslim …” (Sahih al-Bukhari) The irony in Prof Brown’s argument is that Muslim scholars enjoy issuing endless edicts of disbelief against one another too. For example, Ahmad Raza Khan, the founder of the Barelvi Muslim movement that has 200 million followers in South Asia alone, issued extremely hateful edicts of kufr (disbelief) against other Muslims – calling them “disbelievers”, “hell-

bound” and “deserving of the hell-fire”. I will not detail the flurry of more graphic explanations of kufr he issued, which, of course, his adherents must accept.

Rashid Ahmad Gangohi, a prominent and important Deobandi Islamic Scholar threw the same level of edicts against Ahmad Raza Khan and those who followed him.

I am not even scratching the surface here, but you get the point. The sad reality is that this vicious cycle continues today; fatwas of disbelief and being outside the pale of Islam are very common amongst these scholars.

How can such “scholars” ever be credible sources, especially by an honest academic? Surely, if followed, no one will

ever be a Muslim!

It is fascinating to note that Muslim scholars cannot even rest on one definition of a “Muslim”. The Munir Inquiry Report tried to find a solution, but failed miserably.

And so, with no unanimous definition of a “Muslim” and countless edicts of disbelief against other Muslims, how can we rely on so-called scholars?

This is the problem! When it comes to Ahmadi Muslims, academic rigour and facing the arguments head on are swiftly thrown out of the window and scapegoat opinions are ushered in.

This happened at the time of Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, peace be upon him, too – after he intellectually dismantled the arguments opposing him, Muslim scholars

began signing edicts of kufr (disbelief), declaring Hazrat Ahmadas to be outside the fold of Islam. Of course, many rational and honest scholars of Islam accepted Hazrat Ahmadas as the Imam Mahdi and Promised Messiah.

The consensus argument is clearly flawed, but also fallacious, drawing upon the Authority Fallacy. Just because Muslim scholars label Ahmadis as non-Muslims, doesn’t mean they are correct. Their mere “authority” as scholars – even if unanimous – does not prove Ahmadis as non-Muslims and outside the fold of Islam.

It is not comprehensive. This is often called the appeal to authority and, in my opinion, is what plagues the Muslim world today.

Instead of thinking for themselves, searching for the truth, being academically rigorous and understanding the rationale and logic behind verdicts, Muslims blindly follow what their ulema (scholars) tell them. Islam does not teach this.

The authorities are the Holy Quran and Prophet Muhammadsa – they will never be fallacious. So, let’s stick to the Quran and what Prophet Muhammadsa had to say. The agreement of scholars will never eclipse the verdicts of the Quran and Prophet Muhammadsa.

However, I believe and hope that Prof Brown does not base his whole premise on the opinions of other scholars.

I implore Prof Brown to take a step back – away from the prejudice and unanimity of scholars – and decide for himself, after researching Ahmadi Muslim beliefs, if he truly thinks them to be Muslims or not.

Food and hygiene packs for Greek Forum of Refugees Atta-ul-Naseer National President, Jamaat Greece

In Athens, Humanity First Germany is continuing to support the needy and vulnerable through the local Jamaat.

There are several recognised refugee families in Athens whose financial support has been stopped by the government.

These refugees are in need of monthly food rations to support their families. Many of them have already received notices to leave their accommodation as well because they are recognised refugees and they are expected to earn their own living to

support themselves.

We were in communication with the Greek Forum of Refugees who were raising money to support vulnerable families. They have done an excellent job in this regard with support from various international donors.

Bearing in mind our budget from Humanity First Germany, we requested them to send us a list of families and we will try to provide them assistance. The list was provided.

We prepared food and hygiene packs for 25 families. Every pack contained rice, macaroni, cooking oil, chicken

cubes, chopped tomatoes, long life milk, tea bags, four different lentils, sugar, salt, toothbrushes and toothpaste. A team, consisting of nine Khuddam and Atfal volunteered 44-man hours in buying, preparing and delivering the packages to 25 families. The total weight of all 25 packages was 575kg.

On 8 June 2020, we were joined by the President of Greek Forum of Refugees, Mr Younos Muhammadi, who guided and assisted the volunteers to the homes of these families, alhamdolillah.

May Allah bless all donors and volunteers of Humanity First in the best possible manner. Amin.

Friday 3 July 2020 | AL HAKAM

8

100 Years Ago...

Tabligh in London and names of new converts The Review of Religions (English), July 1920

England Our worthy Brother, Ch. Fateh Muhammad Sayal MA, aided by his colleagues, Messrs AR Nayyar and Azeez-ud-Din is engaged in his missionary labours in the United Kingdom. The propagandic [tabligh] work is being carried on by means of lectures in “The Ahmadiyya Movement” (the headquarters of the Ahmadiyya mission in London), in the Hyde Park and in the lecture-halls of various societies which send invitations to our friends for lecture, interviews with visitors, correspondence with enquirers and distribution of literature. It is gratifying to see that some of the converts are also taking an active part in the sacred work of the propagation of truth and they have even succeeded in winning converts for Islam among their fellow country-men. They are also contributing their quote to the mission fund. Lectures which are delivered by our friends at the invitation of other societies are reported in the newspapers. We can find space only for one such report.

The Richmond Times reports under the heading “Islam and the British Empire,” in its issue of May 8th, 1920: “The first of a series of lectures on Islam and the British Empire was given at Etherington’s Hall on Monday evening by Fateh Mohammed Sayal, MA of Quadian, Punjab.

“The lecturer said that in the study of Islam the first point which struck them forcibly was the historicity of this religion and of its Holy Founder, in bold contrast with other religions and their founders.

That the Holy Prophet[sa] of Islam did exist and did preach, nobody could deny.

They knew of the birth of the prophet, of the surroundings in which he was placed

by Providence, of his education as a boy and as a youth, of his marriage, and of the part he took in the social life and the government of his native town, of his mental struggle, of his thirst and hunger for more light, and the final event of the descent of that light from One Who was the source of all light, all which Islam was, he claimed, a strong, living and progressive religion. It was spreading on all sides with long strides. The total number of Moslems in the British Empire was about one hundred million. So the peace and prosperity of the British Empire depended upon the mutual understanding and goodwill between Moslems and the British people. The word ‘Islam’ literally meant ‘obedience,’ or ‘peace.’ In Islam they found the fundamental doctrines of all religions

in their purest forms. It was the happy combination not only of Judaism and Christianity, as was generally supposed by European writers, but also of all Egyptian, Babylonian, Persian, and Indian religions.

A Moslem was to imitate God in His daily life-in doing good to others.

“Another lecture will be given on Monday evening.”

On June 4th, 1920, our esteemed Brother, Mr Sayal delivered a lecture at the invitation of the Eastern and the Western London Lecture Society, his subject being the “Influence of Islam on India.”

Before the commencement of Ramazan, our Brothers issued a circular letter to all the members of the Ahmadiyya Community in the United Kingdom, giving the salient directions about fasting and exhorting them to observe the commandment. A telegram to that effect had also been sent to the Ahmadi missionaries in London by Hazrat Khalifatul Masih II[ra].

With the conversion of an English family who are doing trading work at Birmingham, our missionaries have opened a branch of the movement in that city.

Our Mission in England, is, through God’s grace, proving the means of spreading Islam not only in the United Kingdom but also in other countries of the world. Among the European converts to Islam is a Norwegian lady, Mrs Amina Thompson. She has also lived in India for some time and knows English. She paid a visit to our brothers in London in the last week of March and joined the Ahmadiyya movement. She is a zealous

Ahmadi lady and is greatly desirous to see Islam spread in her native country.

The people of Norway, she says, have very wrong notions about Islam, thanks to the misrepresentations of the Christian missionaries, but she hopes that the distribution of Ahmadiyya literature in the county will, through God’s grace, lead to the introduction of Islam in that land.

She intends to devote a part of her estate in Norway and Africa to the propagation of Islam among her countrymen. May God make her the pioneer of Islam in that land in the remote north and make her the instrument of illuminating that country with the light of truth! Amen!

If Mrs Amina Thompson belongs to the remote north, another convert comes from the remote South-from the Argentine Republic in South America. He has been converted from Roman Catholicism and has been given the Muslim name of Bashir.

May he prove a Bashir (a bearer of glad tidings) for his countrymen!

A Muslim doctor from Bosnia, a PhD,

is greatly interested in the Ahmadiyya movement. He regards the movement to be the life and hope of Islam. In April last, he came to “the Ahmadiyya Movement,” in London, in company with a Muslim merchant from Bosnia. The latter displayed great interest in the Ahmadiyya movement, made many enquiries about it, the doctor acting as the interpreter and took with him some literature in Arabic for the information of his countrymen.

India is also among the countries which are benefiting by our mission in England, for just as visitors to England from other countries listen to the message of our missionaries in London, so do the visitors from India. Many are favourably impressed and some even accept the truth.

Among those Indians who have joined the Ahmadiyya movement by coming in contact with our brothers in England the most distinguished name is that of Mr Sagar Chand, Bar-at-Law. He is now a devoted Ahmadi and is anxious to devote his whole life to the service of Islam.

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Friday 3 July 2020 | AL HAKAM Another prominent Indian gentleman who has been admitted into the Ahmadiyya Movement is a Hindu graduate, a PhD and Barrister-at-Law. He has adopted the Muslim name of Sadiq in honour of our great missionary, Mufti Muhammad Sadiq. Our now brother knows many of the languages of Europe.

It will not be out of place to give here the name of another Mr Krishna, BA, a Hindu gentleman who though not yet formally initiated into the movement is in full sympathy with it and according to it his whole-hearted support. This gentleman is a native of Southern India and was a fellow passenger with our brothers Azeez-udDin and Khan Abdur Rahim Khan (the third son of Khan Muhammad Ali Khan of Maler Kotla, and has gone to England for the study of agriculture and law. God be with him! Amen! Ed. R. R), when the latter went to England in February last. In a letter to Hazrat Khalifatul Masih II[ra], he writes: “Since my arrival in London I have studied Islamic and particularly Ahmadiyya literature and by studying the prophecies of Hazrat Ahmad I have come to know that he was a man of God and I inform your Holiness that I am favourably impressed by his teachings and am assisting the propaganda [tabligh work] to the best of my power.”

There are some other names worthy of note among the converts who hail from countries other than England.

Johannes Hendrikus Petris Von Ostveon a convert from Roman

Catholicism, is a native of the Hague in Holland. Mr S Brown, AOE, the son of a Nigerian Chief and Mr Hubert Marville, a native of the West Indies are respectively the Secretary and the President of the United African Brotherhood.

Mr T Howard is another Nigerian and Mr Wilfrid N Diaz another native of the West Indies (Jamaica) who have been initiated into the movement during the period under report. Mrs Martha Deane is German by birth.

Mr Muhammad Solomon Faith, himself a convert from Judaism has the credit of converting a whole Jewish family at Birmingham. This family consists of the following four members: 1. Isaac Feit 2. Yetta Feit 3. Eli Feit 4.

Michael Feit From the above facts it will appear that our Brothers stationed in London are not only delivering the message to and winning converts from the people of the United Kingdom but that they are sowing the seed in different countries and among various peoples. May God bless their work!

But their work must not be measured by the number of converts actually won; they are rendering an invaluable service to Islam and the Muslim cause by removing misconceptions about the Muslim religion and making a favorable impression on the people as regards the beauties of Islam. A Christian lady who attended a meeting in the “Ahmadiyya Movement” voiced the feelings of many when she remarked after listening to the speeches delivered by our

missionaries and some of the converts: “This is the first time I have seen intelligent persons speaking reasonably in religion. Oh, it is quite different from what we have been told.” The people of Great Britain are not only being disillusioned as to the merits of Islam, but there are many among them who have become Muslims at heart though they have not openly declared their faith. One man when asked whether he was a Muslim, actually said, “Yes, I am, although I have not declared as yet.” Such are indeed the feelings of many.

The scales are now turning and those who wanted to convert the Muslims are now themselves being converted and well might a Canadian lady say with wonder, “We used to send out missionaries to convert these people. Now these people have come to convert us.”

The following is a list of the converts who have joined the Ahmadiyya movement since the last report, (the names within brackets being the Muslim names given to the converts at the time of their initiation): 1. Mr David Faith, brother of Mr Solomon Faith 2. Mrs Maggie Roberts, a Scotch lady (Majidah) 3. Ali Mahmud 4.

Idris Benan 5. Miss Anne Coy (Amatullah) 6. Miss Frida Deane 7. Mr Moses Johnson 8. Miss Beatrice Roberts (Barkat) 9. Mr Thomas Roberts (Rafique) 10. Mr Harry Osmond Willard (Bashir Ahmad) 11.

A Nurse 12. Mr Jacqus Bottomly 13. Mr Alexander S S (Bashir), Argentina, South America. 14. Mr GH Thompson (Hasan) 15. Miss Lena. Blair (Amina) 16. Mrs Jennie

Nagi (Hameedah) 17. Miss Edith Short (Fatima) 18. Mr Herbert Cripps (Aslam) 19. Mrs Eliza Cripps (Saleemah) 20. Mrs Amy Ahmed (Khadeejah) 21. Mrs Mary Jean Sheir (Fatimah) 22. Miss Lily Sellich (Aminah) 23. Miss Kathleen Perrsson (Maryam) 24. Mrs Edith Gertrude Bean Noor (Ayesha) 25. Miss Bessie Gale (Zainab) 26. Miss Ivy W Gale (Saeedah) 27. Miss Cognes Davies (Aimana) 28. Mr Tabarak Ali, a Hindustani young man 29.

Mr Idris Ali, a Bengali young man 30.

Mrs G Bottomly (Hameedah) 31. Mrs Amina Thompson, Norwegian lady 32.

Mrs Isoebel Wooley (Saliha) 33. Miss M Alice Morgan (Khadeejah) 34. Mrs Heetty Thomas (Sairah) 35. A Hindu Graduate and Bar-at-Law (Sadiq) 36. Abram Feit 37.

Rachel (Mubaraka) 38. Rebecca (Saeedah) 39. Annie (Fatimah) 40. Philip (Bashir) 41. Mr Cecil Clydigonant (Rashid) 42. Mr Johannes Hendrikus Petrus von Ostveon (Mahmud) 43. Mr S Brown AOA 44. Mr T Hindard (Sarwar) 45. Mr Wilfrid N Diaz 46. Mrs Martha Deane (Mahmudah) 47. Mr Hubert Marville (Sharif) 48. Mr Herbert William Abbot (Nasir-nd-Din), fellow of the Southsea Theosophical Society 49. Mr Isaac Feit (Muhammad Ishaque) 50. Yetta Feit (Hajirah) 51. Eli Feit (Muhammad Ismael) 52. Michael Feit (Muhammad Yaqoob) 53. Mr Reggi Quaide (Azeez) 54. Dr. A. Luke (Farooq) 55. Mr Thomas William (Zahid) 56. Mr John William (Mubarak) 57. Mr John Lingo (Yahya)

Preaching Islam in America and news from West Africa, Ceylon and India The Review of Religions (English), July 1920

America We thank God that to our reports of the propagation of Islam in the United Kingdom we are now able to add the report of the introduction of Islam in the United States of America. Our able missionary, Mufti Muhammad Sadiq, has now begun his work in New York and has, thank God, already been able to report the conversion of 31 gentlemen and ladies ... besides the initiation into the Ahmadiyya movement of 6 oriental gentlemen who were living in the country at the time of his arrival. On the eve of his departure for America, he was entertained at a tea party, at the Society’s Headquarters at 4 Star Street, London, W2, by his numerous friends and brothers in the movement.

Among those present were noticed Russians, Serbians, Indians, Ceylonese, Afghans and Africans.

HM Leon, MA, LL D, LSP, secretary of the International Society of Philology,

Sciences, and Fine Arts, in presenting the farewell address, gave a personal appreciation of the learned Mufti’s work both as a missionary and as a philologist of world-wide repute.

Dr CH Betts, Phil B, president of the London College of Physiology, testified as a non-Muslim to the various activities of the Rev. Mufti which had endeared him to his many friends both inside and outside the Brotherhood; and which made it hard to have had to part with him. Yet England’s loss, he hoped – nay was sure would be America’s gain. He also paid a tribute to Rev. Mufti’s Philological work, His “Monumental address” on Arabic and Hebrew was published in the Philomath and was recognised by the savants all over the world as an important contribution to the subject. Other speeches followed.

Brother Mufti Muhammad Sadiq left England on the SS Haverford. On board the ship there were 2,000 Chinese, and

Friday 3 July 2020 | AL HAKAM

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SS Haverford, the ship in which Hazrat Mufti Muhammad Sadiqra went to the US

among them there were a number of Muslims also. He delivered to them the message of Ahmad and succeeded in converting five. Besides five Chinese, he also converted another fellow-passenger, a respectable merchant, who adopted the Muslim name of Noor. Calling at La Havre and Halifax in the way, the ship reached Philadelphia on Sunday, February 15th 1920. What followed we prefer to give in Brother Sadiq’s own words. He says in his first Urdu bulletin to the Indian Press: “God be thanked thousands of times that He, through His grace and mercy, enabled my humble self to reach this country for the propagation of His holy religion and for the delivery of the message of truth. The first difficulty I had to face in this way was that the immigration authorities of the United States of America were opposed to the entry of a Muslim missionary in America for the propagation of Islam. When I, an humble servant of the religion of the Holy Prophet[sa] of Arabia reached the coast of America after enduring the hardships of a long voyage, I was confronted by the inspectors of the immigration department who examined me for several hours and then decided that I could not enter the country and that I should go back by the very ship by which I had come. This I refused to do and asked for permission to appeal to the secretariat at Washington.

This permission was granted, pending the decision of the appeal, I was forbidden to go to the city or see the people and I was ordered to live in a state of isolation in a house on the sea coast and consider myself as one who had not yet left the ship.

“At last after enduring a good deal of trouble and after much disputation and litigation which cost me a large sum of money, my appeal was granted and I was given permission to enter the country two months after my arrival. Now [I] have set up the standard of Islam in the city of New York; so God [b]e praised. The sorrow and grief which I had endured in the meanwhile in the love of the Holy Prophet[sa] were all turned to joy and my joy knew no bounds at the thought that the first missionary of Islam was entering the country, declaring the unity of God as expressed in the formula, ‘There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is a Messenger of God’. The great obstacle in the way of Muslim missionaries was removed and as it were, a high wall of the citadel of infidelity was broken and a way was opened for the achievement of a glorious victory for Islam.

“During the days of detention and confinement, though I could not go to the city and see the people, yet I was given an opportunity to preach to my fellowdetenus who had been sent to the same house for one reason or other and God be thanked that a large number of them embraced Islam at my hands. (I will give their names in a later report.) Besides during my detention, on the occasion of the appeal and on later occasions, I wrote hundreds of pages in my defense, dwelling on the beauties and blessings of Islam and sent them to the authorities at Washington where they will ever remain on record in the government offices. Thus the higher authorities of America were the first to hear the message of Islam.”

Though sent to the detention house immediately after his arrival in America,

he did not fail to attract the attention of the Press representatives, who hastened to interview him in the place of his confinement and the following day [there] appeared descriptions and photos of our brother with long accounts of the message which he had gone there to deliver to the people of America. These accounts appeared under attractive headlines, such as “Picturesque Sadiq”, “Hopes to convert

Remains of Pier 53, Philadelphia, where the first Ahmadi missionary to the USA disembarked | Ahmadiyya ARC

US”, “Speaks Seven Tongues”, “Optimistic in Detention”, “East Indian Here with New Religion” [etc.]. We give below extracts from two of the papers. The Public Ledger, Philadelphia, says in its issue of February 17th, 1920: “Mufti, who is a highly educated, elderly man, arrived in Philadelphia from Liverpool on the steamship Haverford last Saturday. Before sailing for America, he was a missionary in England for three years. He said that he made 300 converts, including Solomon Feit, a London iron manufacturer.

“He is a follower of a new prophet, Ahmad. The new movement is called a branch of the Mohammedan faith. The Ahmadia belief is that prophets will come to the world constantly. The latest, they hold, was Ahmad, who preached in India between 1888 and 1908. His son, Mahmud, is now head of the movement.

“Mufti Muhammed Sadiq came to this country with elaborate printed matter and all arrangements made for an active proselyting campaign. “’My intention,’ he said today at the Gloucester immigration station, ‘is to start my work in New York and then extend it to other cities. There are no converts to the Ahmadia movement here and I know no one in this country. I come as a missionary with belief in the work before me.’

“As he talked he attracted much attention among the other persons detained at the station because of the dark green turban on his head and the strange cut of the slate gray garments he wore.

11

Friday 3 July 2020 | AL HAKAM “He prepared this digest of the religion he hopes to introduce into this country: - No religious wars are allowed.

- Toleration of all religions is required.

- A union of all religions is desired on the broad-minded principle of honoring and respecting the leaders of all religions.

- No Mahdi (a warrior prophet) is to come, as believed by Mohammedans generally.

- The door of revelation closes with no prophet.

-We must always obey the rules of the government under which we live.”

The Press, Philadelphia, contains the following remarks in its issue of February 19th, 1920: “While the many religious sects of the United States are spending many thousands of dollars and sending hundreds of philosophers and teachers to the wilds of Tibet, the far reaches of Arabia and Hindustan and to the unexplored regions of Africa and China, Mufti Muhammed Sadiq, after traveling thousands of miles, alone and friendless, hopes to begin his crusade to convert Americans to the doctrines taught by the prophet Ahmad, of whom he is the principal disciple.

“This picturesque missionary from India, wearing his dark green and gold turban and steel gray coat with flowing sleeves, arrived in this country on board the Haverford, which docked at this port last Sunday, and he is now being held by immigration officials at Gloucester, New Jersey, pending the arrival of his credentials and the completion of an inquiry as to whether he shall be allowed to land.

“Sadiq is undaunted by the frigid welcome he has received in this country and is ready and anxious to begin his lectures throughout the United States to gather more converts to the religion taught

by Ahmad, who claimed to be Mohammed while spreading the doctrines of peace among all nations, under one God. “One of the most startling beliefs taught by the Ahmadi religion is that Jesus Christ, did not die on the cross, but was taken from it in a death like stupor by his disciples and that after reviving he came out of Palestine and went to the north of India, where he lived and died a natural death and where his tomb is still located in a village called Srinagar in the north of India.

“Sadiq, whose home is in Quadian, Punjab, is a philosopher and although he has the dreamy eyes of the idealist, his beautifully modulated English, punctuated with many gestures of his hands, indicate that he is also a man of experience and energy. In carefully selected words and in the pure English usually only found among educated foreigners, he explained his mission and beliefs yesterday to a reporter of The Press. “‘I have spent the last three years working as a missioner of the religion of Ahmadi in London, where I delivered many lectures in English and secured many converts to the brotherhood of the Ahmadi movement,’ he said. ‘The Ahmadi religion is a sect of Mohammedanism

called after the founder of the movement, who was named the Prophet Ahmad. He was born in 1837, started his missionary work in 1888 and died in 1908, when he had a following of more than 600,000 converts. “‘Ahmad was a prophet of Islam and believed in the Koran, the holy book of Islam, but made some reforms. He claimed to be the inspired reformer of the age, and like prophets of old he claimed to be the Messiah or the Asiatic Christ of Mohammedanism. He made many prophecies of events to come which he said were revelations from God, and these, together with his miracles in curing the sick, he gave to the world as proof of his being raised by God as a prophet. “‘I have been in his company about eighteen years, and saw many of his prophecies fulfilled. He has foretold the recent war and the overthrow of the Czar of Russia, and these facts he had printed and published ten years before the war. He also foretold the great bubonic plague in India several years before it occurred, and many other world events. He also held a prayer duel with Rev John Alexander Dowie, of Zion City and Chicago, Illinois, who claimed to be the prophet Elijah.

Ahmad said that Dowie was not the true prophet and that he would die very

prevent the making of future wars.

3. That there would be no more religious wars contrary to some Mohammedan’s belief.

4. That the Sultan of Turkey was not the Caliph of Mohammed in the East, and that Mohammed did not require a temporal head in his church, but only a spiritual head, who was Ahmad himself.

5. Ahmad taught that the door of revelation was not closed to mortals, but that God is the God of all nations and speaks to the elect in all tongues.

6. Ahmad taught that all should honor and respect Jesus-Christ but that we must not believe that he died an accursed death on the cross, because the prophets never died accursed. That Jesus Christ was taken from the cross in a death-like state; revived, and came out of Palestine going to the north of India, which was inhabited

by Jews in those days, and that he lived and died a natural death there.

“Sadiq then said that he had left two disciples in London to take charge of the work of conversion in that country and to encourage the faithful.”

Besides preaching orally to the people of the United States, one brother has been contributing articles on Islam to the leading papers and magazines of the country. In his report dated the 10th

Madison Avenue Bridge (above) is located at the north side of Madison Avenue, NY

soon after making this claim, and it so happened early in this century.’

“The reforms made by Ahmad in religion are: 1. That all religions were originally true, and that we must honor and respect the leaders of all religions and thus bring about the union of nations under one God. 2. Some orthodox Mohammedans believe in the advent of a warrior saint called Mehdi, but Ahmad said that such a saint would never appear, but that the one who was foretold by the prophets to come to this world was himself who had been ordained to bring about peace and

May, 1920, he informs us that he has contributed about 20 such articles to various periodicals.

In his second report, dated the 21st May, he says that he is carrying on his oral preaching and has converted two more persons, a gentleman and a lady, to Islam and has contributed an article among other papers, to the New York Times. He also says that owing to the mischief of some bigoted Christians who could not see Islam being preached in America, he has had to change his quarter and is now living in 1897 Madison Avenue, New York City.

In his third report, he gives a list of

31 converts from Christianity and six Mussalmans who have been initiated into the Ahmadiyya movement. Of the 31 converts, two, namely, Dr George Baker and Mr Ahmad Anderson, are old converts, but as they are among the first Mussalmans of the country, he heads the list with their names. The remaining 29 are those who have accepted Islam at his hands, one during the voyage and the remaining during his detention by the immigration authorities and after his settlement in New York. We will give the names in a later report, but it may be noted here that a number of these new converts, belong to other countries and seem to have been converted in the detention house. Two belong to Poland and one comes from each of the following countries: British Guinea, Jamaica, Range River, the Azores, France, Spain, Portugal, Italy and Argentina.

In a letter, dated the 10th June, our brother says that he has received a telegraphic invitation from Detroit, a place 700 miles distant from New York to deliver a lecture there.

West Africa It is proposed to send Mr Mubarak Ali, BA, BT, Head Master, Chittagong Madrassa, as a missionary to West Africa.

He has already obtained his passport; and hopes to reach the country before the next winter sets in.

Mr Abdur Rahim Smith of Nigeria who came to Qadian last year has gone on pilgrimage to Mecca. We wish our brother a prosperous journey and a safe return.

Brother L’Awel Basil Augusts.

President, Anjuman Ahmadiyya, Lagos, Nigeria, has gone to England to study law and Arabic.

The Ahmadiyya Anjuman of Nigeria has elected the following office bearers for the next year: Mr L’Awel Basil Augusto (now in England), President Mr Yakut, Vice-President Mr T Martins, Chief Secretary Messrs Fammotrum and Agbatuem, Additional Secretaries Ceylon Our readers will be sorry to learn that Mr BW Lye, secretary Anjuman Ahmadiyya, Ceylon, with an Ahmadi gentleman named Sheriff and his own brother Abdul Amit Lye were recently involved in a murder case.

From a long time past, the Ahmadis of Ceylon, particularly the Lye family, had come in for a lot of bitter persecution.

On the night of the 10th April, 1920, two drunken Malay youths, Buckman Saffudeen, “went opposite the office of the advanced party” (Ahmadiyya) to quote a newspaper report, “and began to sing abusive songs at the new party.”

The conduct of the two drunken youths seems to have been the cause of an unruly mob assembling to attack the Ahmadis at midnight and during the affray Buckman is said to have received a wound with a knife which subsequently resulted in his

Friday 3 July 2020 | AL HAKAM

12 death. Mr BW Lye, the secretary, as he himself stated before the court, arrived at the scene after the affray was over and when the police were making inquiries.

The dying man also declared that Mr BW Lye was not the person who had stabbed him. He also denied that Sheriff had stabbed him.

The three accused were put into Hultsdorf Prison pending trial by the Supreme Court. Our opponents did their worst to extinguish the light which God has kindled in the Island. But God frustrated their evil designs and protected the movement. All the accused were found “not guilty” of murder by the unanimous verdict of the jury.

Our secretary, we were glad to note, was busy preaching the truth even in the prison, after the manner of prophet

Joseph. Our Ceylon correspondent writes: “Some of us went see BW and the other two at the Hultsdorf jail last Saturday. BW told us that there are several respectable prisoners staying with them and he is preaching Ahmadiyyat to everyone with whom he comes in contact; he is trying to make some converts. BW was also interviewed by the superintendent of prisons (a European) about our holy movement and the superintendent was very well satisfied with all that he spoke.”

While our opponents are doing all that lies in their power to nip the movement in the bud, God is strengthening it by making valuable additions to the number of the community. Our latest convert in Ceylon is a Singhalese gentleman named Mr AH Amarasekera. He is a convert from Buddhism to Islam and has been

studying Arabic and Islamic Theology in Madras. We are told that he belongs to a respectable family of Buddhists. We pray that he may be able to act as the missionary of Islam and deliver the message of truth to the followers of Buddha in Ceylon and other countries. Ameen.

India Our missionaries are working in different parts of India as usual. Hakim Khalil Ahmad was lately transferred from Bombay to Madras. His preaching in Madras evoked great opposition among the fanatic Muhammadans and he and other Ahmadis of Madras were put to all sorts of trouble. The culminating point came when a Madrasi Muhammadan attacked our Missionary with a big lathi [stick]. While our brother was engaged in

writing a letter, the assailant came from behind and dealt him a severe blow on the head and before he could recover himself, he dealt him another blow with all the force he could muster. By this time, there was some noise and the assailant fled.

Our brother was severely wounded, but we thank God that his life was spared…

The names of most of those who enter into the bai‘at by coming to Qadian cannot be recorded … We are glad to say that among those who have recently joined the movement may be mentioned the name of Ausaf Ai Khan, Commanderin-Chief of the Nabha State and Fayaz Bahadur Khan, MSc (Zoology), Honorary Professor, MAO College, Aligarh.

Parents information sessions across Canada Syed Mukarram Nazeer Canada Correspondent

These are strange times we live in. On the one hand, it offers unprecedented opportunities, while on the other, it presents overwhelming challenges. The latter, however, far outweighs the former.

Covid-19 lockdown and the resulting change in social life has further aggravated the situation.

Following the approval by Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa for Canada’s Majlis-eShura proposals of MKA Canada, a series of virtual parent information sessions were organised across the country at a regional level.

The objective was to make parents aware of the challenges faced by Khuddam, share available resources and answer their questions.

Attending this session required prior registration and it was restricted to parents and married Khuddam. Personalised links were emailed. 15 such sessions were held across Canada during the month of June, with a combined total attendance of 1,400. The first event was held on 7 June 2020, with the last event being held on 28 June 2020.

Mohtamim Tarbiyat of Majlis Khuddam-ul-Ahmadiyya Canada, Dr Mirza Tahir Ahmed Sahib hosted all the events.

He reports that a link on khuddam.ca had been created to educate parents on how to monitor and control internet usage by their children. In addition, a web portal has been created for parental support containing email addresses, phone numbers and other useful links.

Huzooraa had approved multiple topics for these sessions. Each region was invited to select three topics that best met their need. 14 speakers were engaged to present these. The topics included: • Timely marriage and marriage within the Jamaat •

Social media

•

Seeking halal earning

•

Mental health

•

Drug abuse

•

Covid-19 and family life

•

Tarbiyat-e-aulad (righteous upbringing of children) An engaging question and answer session followed the presentations.

Answers were given by a panel comprising of speakers, local missionaries and Jamaat elders.

150 people gave feedback on these sessions. A selection from the feedback is given below: “Information about pornography … along with some of the contents included in the curriculum that I was not aware of before.”

“It is important to instill taqwa in children at a young age along with effective and affectionate communication.

If required, intervention should happen at early stages with hikmat [wisdom].

Becoming aware of technology and nuances is important.”

“We got a lot of information about social media and learned about mental health. It is good that those who are suffering can reach out (via Khuddam

help line).”

“As a parent, you really need to look out for what your kids are doing and be updated on different social media problems they can get involved in.” “… it was good to hear the emphasis on lawful earnings and how that impacts our children.”

“Help is available to ask questions pertaining to parenting and youth mental health.”

“We, both husband and wife, need to be more vigilant and strive for more prayers. A lot more prayers and struggles are needed if you want to have your children alive spiritually”. “… important to teach kids at a young age [about] what is [the] impact of ‘Halal earning’; discussion with kids ageappropriate about sexuality and what is our religious teaching and the importance of marriage.”

“Taking care of izzat-e-nafs [self respect] of youth for their tarbiyyat and timely assistance.”

“Connection with Khilafat and Nizam-e-Jamaat. Open discussions with children.”

“Watch MTA regularly with your children.”

“Parent-child relationship needs to be developed more. Develop a friendly environment with kids at home.”

“Know the struggles of young kids.”

“Regular communication with children is a must. Having empathy for their situation helps.”

“Informative and realistic session.

Helpful for parents to combat their responsibilities for [bringing up] kids in a good Islamic culture.”

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Friday 3 July 2020 | AL HAKAM

Jamaat UK celebrates Khilafat Day in a unique fashion Rabeeb Mirza Missionary, UK

The great bounty of Khilafat is truly the lifeline of Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya. Allah the Almighty states within the Holy Quran: ُ َ ُ ّٰ َ ‫َو ِا ۡن ت ُع ّد ۡوا ن ِۡع َمۃ الل ِہ لَا ت ۡح ُصوۡ َہا‬ “And if you [try] to count the favours of Allah, you will not be able to number them.” (Surah al-Nahl, Ch.16: V.19) The best manner in which the favours and bounties of Allah can be increased is through his remembrance and expressing gratitude to Him. Within the Holy Quran, Allah the Almighty states: ُ َّ َ ُ َ َ ‫ل َ ِئ ۡن شک ۡرت ۡم لَازِیۡ َدنک ۡم‬ “If you are grateful, I will, surely, bestow more favours on you.” (Surah Ibrahim, Ch.14: V.8) In accordance with this divine injunction, this year, Allah the Almighty enabled Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya UK to hold Khilafat Day jalsas on days near to 27 May, Khilafat Day. This year, throughout the UK, it was the very first time that jamaats had commemorated this blessed day in a unique way.

Due to the current coronavirus, wherein the government has stipulated guidelines that no public gatherings can be held, jamaats throughout the UK have truly benefited from the God-gifted resources and instead of congregating in one place, they virtually met with the aid of YouTube and Zoom.

By the grace of Allah the Almighty, with the comfort of modern day technology, a lot more members of the Jamaat benefited from the online jalsas than the usual way.

In this manner, they were able to derive full benefit from the blessings of Khilafate-Ahmadiyya and rejuvenate their faith once again.

In accordance to the reports received from missionaries serving in the UK, a concise summary of the jalsas is presented below for the benefit of Al Hakam readers: In London, a Khilafat Day was held on a central basis, which was chaired

by Rafiq Ahmad Hayat Sahib, Amir Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya UK, wherein two missionaries, Imraan Khalid Sahib and Raza Ahmad Sahib delivered speeches.

The event was concluded by Amir Sahib, who shed light on the blessings of Khilafat.

According to a rough estimate, more than 10,000 members benefited from this event.

On 27 May, a Khilafat Day was also celebrated in Cardiff. The proceedings were listened to in 150 Ahmadi homes.

Qurashi Dawood Sahib, Missionary of Scotland Region reports that in Scotland, 65 households of the Glasgow and Edinburgh branches benefitted from their local Khilafat Day. In Baitun Noor Region, there were two

places where Khilafat Day was celebrated; Sharjeel Ahmad Sahib, Missionary Baitun Noor Region delivered speeches in both Burntwood and Battersea jamaats.

Rabeeb Ahmad Mirza Sahib, Missionary Middlesex Region reports that the four jamaats which he serves all held their local Khilafat Day jalsas.

In Hounslow South and Hounslow North, Ayyaz Qurashi Sahib and Abid Khan Sahib, Press Secretary AMJ, delivered speeches on this occasion that drew the attention of 300 members.

In High Wycombe Jamaat, Rabeeb Ahmad Mirza Sahib delivered a speech that was attended by 20 members.

Furthermore, Slough Jamaat organised an event wherein Sir Dr Iftikhar Ahmad Ayyaz Sahib addressed the audience, which was attended by over 90 members.

From Bradford, Mubarak Ahmad Basra Sahib, Regional Missionary reports that there were three events held within his Region.

In Bradford South, Waqas Anwar Sahib and Mubarak Ahmad Basra Sahib delivered speeches that gathered 150 attendees.

In Leeds Jamaat, both Raja Armughan Sahib and Mubarak Ahmad Basra Sahib delivered speeches and the event was attended by 90 members. Apart from this, a further 155 members from Bradford North had the opportunity to listen to Shakeel Amini Sahib and Ahmad Basra Sahib during their event.

Ghulam Ahmad Khadim Sahib, Regional Missionary, who is posted in North Wales writes that all the Ahmadi families throughout Wales individually benefited from the Khilafat Day programmes on MTA. Faiz Ahmad Zahid Sahib, Regional Missionary reports that four jamaats of his region, Thornton Heath, South West, Bexley and Marbury held programmes on the topic of Khilafat. 359 families benefited from these various programmes.

Shakeel Ahmad Sahib, Abid Anwar Sahib, Navid Ahmad Mughal Sahib, Tassawur Ahmad Khalid Sahib and many other Atfal and Khuddam delivered various speeches alongside the Regional Missionary.

On 27 May, a live event was streamed on YouTube by North West Region, that was conducted by Regional Missionary Muhammad Ahmad Khurshid Sahib.

In this event, Missionary-in-Charge UK Ataul Mujeeb Rashed Sahib spoke on “Faith inspiring memories of Khulafa-eAhmadiyyat”, wherein he related many accounts of the Khulafa that were truly a source of uplifting and rejuvenating the faith of many listeners. According to a rough estimate, around 5,000 people viewed this event. The duration of the speech was for one and a half hour.

In Manchester, another online Khilafat Day Jalsa was organised, which was viewed by 832 members of the area.

Rawahuddin Arif Sahib, Missionary East Region, writes that North London organised a Khilafat Day event, which 80 members benefited from whilst Redbridge North held a Jalsa that was attended by 45 people.

The Regional Missionary of West Midlands, Humayon Jahangheer Sahib reports that a Khilafat Day event was organised by Wolverhampton Jamaat, which 20 families derived benefit from.

Tahir Selby Sahib, Regional Missionary, answered some questions of members of the Jamaat on this blessed occasion.

Wolverhampton, Walsall and members of other surrounding jamaats actively participated in this event.

According to the Missionary of Huddersfield, Sabahat Kareem Sahib, both Huddersfield South and Huddersfield North held their own separate Khilafat Day events. In the event held by the Huddersfield South, Nisar Orchard Sahib, National Secretary Tarbiyyat UK, delivered a speech on Zoom.

Aqeel Kang Sahib, Missionary Midlands Region reports that an event

was organised in relation to Khilafat. The English speech was delivered by Aqeel Kang Sahib and the Urdu speech was delivered by Syed Mashood Ahmad Sahib.

According to a report received from Tahir Selby Sahib, Missionary North West Region, a presentation on Khilafat was given, which was greatly enjoyed by members of Hartlepool and Newcastle jamaats.

In Birmingham, an event on Khilafat was held wherein the first speech was delivered by the Regional Amir Sahib.

Thereafter Shuaib Ahmad Sahib delivered a speech on the blessings of Khilafat, whilst Mazhar-ul-Islam Sahib delivered a speech in Urdu. Abdul Ghaffar Sahib, Regional Missionary concluded the event with a silent prayer. The programme was attended by 200 members.

The national tabligh department UK organised a special event on Zoom on the reality of Khilafat for external guests. Apart from the participation of various political leaders of the country, Ibrahim Ikhlaf Sahib, National Secretary Tabligh and Dr Umar Sahib delivered speeches. This was followed by a question and answer session.

A video regarding the introduction of the Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya was also presented.

It is our prayer that may Allah the Almighty accept our humble efforts regarding this small token of gratitude that we have expressed throughout the country through these programmes and bless them immensely. May Allah the Almighty illuminate the world through this blessed institution of Khilafat-e-Ahmadiyya.

Amin.

Friday 3 July 2020 | AL HAKAM

14

Responding to Allegations

Absolute faith of Companions as in the Promised Messiah and his prophethood According to opponents of the Promised Messiah and Mahdi, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas, the absolute faith and certainty of the Companionsra in the founder of the Ahmadiyya Jamaat is not significant because having complete trust in another person is not a proof of his truthfulness as the followers could be a victim of deception or might be mistaken.

Opponents assert that the world is full of different individuals and illusionists and that many people confirm their honesty and go as far as sacrificing their lives for them.

Imagine for a moment that a person who claimed to be the Messiah of the age and the just arbitrator sent by Allah to settle religious disputes in the ummah, according to the prophecies, and announced that he was chosen to clear and remove the misconceptions spread in the followers of Islam; that he was appointed by God to prove the truth of Islam against all religions and refute the false beliefs of all other religions with irrefutable arguments; that he proclaimed that he was designated as a prophet for the service of Islam and that his prayers were accepted by Allah in abundance and He foretold him countless news and glad tidings of the future which were fulfilled on time; that God Almighty fulfilled the prayers of those who sincerely came under his obedience and the doors of revelation are opened for them and that God begins to love those who believe in him.

Then, if those who pledged allegiance to him observed that these things did not exist in that person and that those who sincerely followed him did not get the blessings that were claimed to be met, would they not have broken their pledges even after taking his Bai‘at and left him?

On the contrary, those who swore allegiance to this person, sat in his company and truly followed him all bore hardships from opponents across the world because of doing his Bai‘at.

Moreover, their wives and children were separated from them. They were beaten and their properties were looted. Their businesses were destroyed. They were boycotted in the society. Some of them were even killed. Despite all this, they adhered to the word of this man and offered all kinds of sacrifices day and

night.

Even today, the followers of the Promised Messiahas are setting the same examples of sacrifice and resoluteness.

Their commitment and unfaltering courage show that they witnessed all those things which were claimed by the Promised Messiahas with their own eyes and this is clear proof of his truthfulness.

It should also be borne in mind that the Companions of the Promised Messiahas did not consider him an ordinary person, but they believed in him after receiving guidance from God Almighty and becoming absolutely certain that he was divinely appointed, just as the earlier prophets and their companions believed in them. In view of opponents, if it is a deception that the Companions of the Promised Messiahas believed in him and considered him truthful, then the authenticity of all other prophets becomes doubtful and their followers also fall in

the category of those who were deceived.

Addressing the Holy Prophetsa, Allah Almighty says: َّ َ َ َ َ ٰ َ ّٰ َ ْ ُ ْ َ ْ َ ٰ ْ ُ ۖ ‫ير ٍة أنا َو َم ِن ات َب َعنِ ْي‬ ‫قل ه ِذ ِه س ِبي ِلي أدعوا إِل ٰى الل ِه ۚ على ب ِص‬ ّ َ َ َُْ َ ‫الل ِه َو َما أَنَا م َن ال ْ ُم ْشرك‬ ‫وسبحان‬ ‫ِين‬ ِ ِ “Say, ‘This is my way: I call unto Allah on sure knowledge, I and those who follow me. And Holy is Allah; and I am not of those who associate gods with God.’” (Surah Yusuf, Ch.12: V.109) In this verse the Holy Prophetsa is represented as saying that his wont is to benefit by the signs of God, to believe in Him alone, and to eschew all forms of idolatry because he has received clear proof and sure knowledge from God. This shows that a blind and unthinking faith which is not based on sound arguments carries no weight. A true Muslim, like his Master, the Holy Prophetsa, should possess clear and irrefutable proofs and evidence to support and substantiate all

his beliefs and doctrines. Mere hearsay or traditional belief is nothing. (Five Volume Commentary, Vol. 3, p. 1,476) The follower of a worldly person can be deceived, but those who believe in God’s prophets are never deceived because they believe in him after seeing true dreams, truths and signs from God Almighty. As Hazrat Abu Bakrra, Hazrat Umarra, Hazrat Usmanra, Hazrat Alira and other companions believed in the Holy Prophetsa when the truth was revealed upon them by God. Soon after witnessing the pure teachings of the prophets and the divine signs that appear at their hand, true faith in the existence of God and His promises is established in the hearts of their companions, the outcome of which is explained by Allah Almighty in the following verses: ْ ُ َ َ َ َ َّ ْ ُْ ْ َ َ ً ‫اف بَخ ًسا َولَا َر َهقا‬ ‫فمن يؤ ِمن ِبر ِب ِه فلا يخ‬ “And he who believes in his Lord has

15

Friday 3 July 2020 | AL HAKAM no fear of loss or injustice.” (Surah al-Jinn, Ch.72: V.14) ْ ُ ُ َ َ َ َ ٌ ْ ُ َ ُ َ َ َّ َ ْ َ ْ َ َ َ ْ ‫اف ظل ًما َولَا َهض ًما‬ ‫ات وهو مؤ ِمن فلا يخ‬ ِ ‫ومن يعمل ِمن الصال ِح‬ “And he who does good works, being a believer, will fear neither injustice nor loss.” (Surah Ta Ha, Ch.20: V.113) In light of the above verses, it is clear that the companions of the Promised Messiahas were true believers as they have no fear of any kind and as a result, they offered all sorts of financial and physical sacrifices. This shows that they witnessed the signs of purity and divine support in the personage of the Promised Messiahas, which is proof of his truth.

On the other hand, those who join the Prophets of God and become part of their communities merely for the sake of expediency or some personal benefit are soon separated from them. Such people are surely deceived. As Allah Almighty states: ُ َ َّ َ ُ َ ْ َ َ َ ُ َ َ َّ َ َ ّٰ َ ُ َ ُ َ ُ‫نف َس ُه ْم َو َما يَ ْش ُعر‬ ‫ون‬ ‫يخا ِدعون الله وال ِذين آمنوا وما يخدعون ِإلا أ‬ “They would deceive Allah and those who believe, and they deceive none but themselves; only they perceive it not.”

(Surah al-Baqarah, Ch.2: V.10) As far as illusionists and worldly people are concerned, their sorceries and mysteries are eventually revealed and their supporters never progress or achieve elevation. However, this has not happened with the Promised Messiahas and his Jamaat is progressing and advancing by the day, the details of which have already been mentioned in previous articles of Responding to Allegations.

Hence, by teaching religious knowledge to the Promised Messiahas, by granting him the arguments for the truth of Islam and the answers to the objections of the opponents of Islam; by giving Islam dominance over all the religions of the world in the field of arguments through his hand; by accepting his prayers in abundance; by showing thousands of signs at his hand, Allah has practically testified that he was not an illusionist and a sorcerer, but he was indeed supported by Allah the Almighty and sent by Him. Non-Ahmadi Muslims: Kafir?

Another objection raised by opponents of the Promised Messiahas is that he stated in his book, Tiryaq-ul-Qulub that those who did not believe in him were not kafir but later on, he called them kafir. According to opponents, the act of retracting from his previous statement shows that the founder of the Ahmadiyya Jamaat was dishonest.

Opponents refer to the variation in the statements of the Promised Messiahas as proof that he was a liar, while nowhere in the Holy Quran and hadith is it mentioned that the statements of prophets cannot differ. Only the words of God Almighty, Who is the Knower of the unseen, is free from contradictions. A prophet is not the Knower of the unseen. Therefore, differences in his statement cannot be cited as proof for him being a liar. The prophet sometimes says something from his own reasoning and after research, if he finds out that his assertion is wrong, he abandons the previous statement and

states the right thing, which is actually proof of his integrity. As we find in the following hadith: ُ َ َ َ َ َ َ َ ْ َ ُّ َّ َ َ َ َ​َ​َ ْ ‫ال ا َراک ْم یَا بَ ِن ْی َحارِثة ق ْد خ َر ْج ُت ْم ِم َن ال َح َر ِم‬ ‫اتی الن ِبی ب ِنی حارِثۃ فق‬ ْ َ َ ُ َ ‫ثُ َّم ال ْ َت َف َت َفق‬ ‫ال بَ ْل انت ْم فِ ْی ِہ‬ “The Holy Prophetsa went to the tribe of Bani Haritha and said to them by his own inference, ‘I see that you have gone out of the haram [inviolate zone]’, but after looking around and examining, he withdrew his previous statement and said, ‘No, you are inside the haram.’” (Sahih alBukhari, Kitab Fazail al-Medina) Likewise, a person addressed the Holy Prophetsa by saying: َ ْ َْ ‫یَا خی َرالبَرِ ّی ِة‬ “O you, who is the best of creation,” but the Holy Prophetsa immediately negated him and said: َّ ْ َ َ ُ ْ َ ْ َ َ ُ َ ‫السل‬ ‫ام‬ ‫ذاک ِابرا ِہیم علی ِہ‬ “[Prophet] Abraham is khairul bariyyah.” (Sahih Muslim, Kitab al-Fazail) However, when Allah the Almighty informed the Holy Prophetsa later on that he was superior to all the prophets, he said against his previous statement: َْ َ ‫اَنَا َس ّی ُد ُول ْ ِد‬ ‫آد َم َولَا فخ َر‬ ِ “I am the greatest of the sons of Adam and it is no boast.” (Sunan Ibn-e-Majah, Kitab al-Zuhd) On another occasion, the Holy Prophetsa said: َ ‫آد َم یَوْ َم ال ْ ِق َی‬ َ ‫اَنَا َس ّی ُد ُول ْ ِد‬ ‫ام ِة‬ ِ “I am the leader of the sons of Adam till the Day of Resurrection.” (Sahih Muslim, Kitab al-Fazail) In the same way, the Promised Messiahas stated in Tiryaq-ul-Qulub that no one becomes a disbeliever just because of the denial of his claim. However, when Allah explained this matter to him, he took back his previous statement and said that even as a result of denying his claim, a person becomes a kafir [i.e. his disbeliever].

Thus, the first statement was his own opinion and the second declaration was the outcome of God’s explanation. This is how God treats every prophet. Allah does not teach everything to His prophets on the very first day, rather He gradually reveals and explains different matters to them. According to this divine knowledge, the prophets keep on explaining these issues to the people. Hence, addressing the Holy Prophetsa in the Holy Quran, Allah Almighty says: َ َ َُ َ َّ ‫َعل َمك َما ل َ ْم تك ْن ت ْعل ْم‬ “[Allah] has taught thee what thou knewest not” (Surah al-Nisa, Ch.4: V.114).

God Almighty did not say here that He taught him all the sciences in day one.

It is clear from this that the statements of prophets about a matter may be different before it is taught to them by God Almighty. However, after they have been taught the knowledge of that issue by God Almighty, their statement will be in accordance to that of Allah. It is for this reason that the Almighty Allah advised the Holy Prophetsa to pray: ْ َ ُ ‫َوق ْل ّر ِّب زِ ْدنِي ِعل ًما‬ “Say, ‘O my Lord, increase me in knowledge.’” (Surah Ta Ha, Ch.20: V.115)

Abrogation of Hazrat Ahmad’sas prophethood Opponents of Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya raise another allegation that in order to mislead others, the Second Khalifa, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra said in HaqiqatulNubuwwah that those places where the founder of the Ahmadiyya Jamaat spoke about his prophethood before the year 1901 should be considered abrogated.

This is not something that can be considered objectionable. The same is the case with every prophet. If God Almighty informs them about a matter through revelation, then the statements before the revelation of this issue are annulled and the subsequent declaration is considered to be final and an authority. The situation of the Promised Messiahas was the same as the sunnah of the earlier prophets.

Hence, the Holy Quran is replete with prophecies about the arrival of a prophet and messenger for the service of Islam and revival of faith. It is mentioned in the ahadith that the Holy Prophetsa gave glad tidings of the coming of Isa Nabiyullah [Prophet of God] in his ummah for the service of Islam.

The Promised Messiahas was repeatedly called a prophet and messenger in revelations by God Almighty from the early days of his appointment until his death.

Since, according to the opinion of people at that time, the definition of a prophet and a messenger was supposedly that the one who brings a new shariah [divine law] annuls the previous law, in the beginning, the Promised Messiahas considered it to be true. Therefore, after being appointed by Allah, although he used to narrate those divine titles of “prophet” and “messenger” in his writings and speeches, according to the common definition of prophethood, he used to interpret them in the words of a muhaddith (a recipient of God’s word) or a partial and limited messenger.

Around 1901, when the Promised Messiahas was made to understand the definition of prophet and messenger according to the shariah – i.e. it is not necessary for a prophet to bring a new shariah and annul the rules of the previous shariah or to be from the ummah of the previous prophet – he was guided

by Allah that the scholars had erred in the definition of a prophet, so he left the scholars’ interpretations of his revelations and stated: “Whosoever discloses matters of the unseen on the basis of divine knowledge is necessarily a nabi within the connotation of the verse: ۤ‫لَا یُ ۡظہرُ َع ٰلی َغ ۡیب ٖہ‬ ِ ِ ‘He does not grant anyone ascendancy over His domain of the unseen … [Except to him whom He chooses, namely a Messenger of His’ (Surah al-Jinn, Ch.72, V.27)].” (A Misconception Removed, p. 6) As a result of this divine understanding, the last statements of the Promised Messiahas (i.e. after the year 1901) annulled the writings containing his own opinions.

As during the Meccan period, in the Quranic revelation, the Holy Prophetsa was declared to be the Messenger of the whole world many times, but he did not consider

himself superior to the prophets and messengers. However, after God Almighty explained that matter to him, the Holy Prophetsa began to call himself superior to all other prophets, and presented one of the reasons for his superiority to be the universal prophet. Thus, his subsequent statements abrogated his earlier statement regarding his superiority.

Hazrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih IIra has also stated the same subject in HaqiqatulNubuwwah. Below are his exact words: “When there is a discussion about the issue of prophethood, we have to consider those writings of [the Promised Messiahas] as an authority, which were published from 1901 until his death. The earlier writings that were (a) against the later writings or (b) words that prove the prophethood of the Promised Messiah to be imperfect and the Promised Messiahas abandoned those words from 1901 onwards, they shall have to be annulled (i.e. the writings which are related to the issue of prophethood because Hazrat Sahib has himself given his [final] decision about them in HaqiqatulWahi).” (Haqiqatul-Nubuwwah, AnwarulUlum, Vol. 2, p. 396) Nowhere in the above statement does Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IIra express to abrogate all the sayings of the Promised Messiahas about prophethood, nor does he annul his shadow-like or buruzi [as a reflection] messengership. On the contrary, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra has proved the prophethood of the Promised Messiahas with arguments and has only abrogated the statements about the prophethood of the Promised Messiahas which are against the later writings. This was done by the Promised Messiahas in light of divine guidance. Hazrat Khaliftul Masih IIra only explained this issue according to the book, Haqiqatul Wahi, of the Promised Messiahas, which he wrote in the final years of his life.

The Promised Messiahas states: “I initially believed that I could not possibly be compared with Masih Ibn-eMaryam since he was a prophet and one of the distinguished men of God. Therefore, whenever something in my revelation appeared concerning my superiority, I interpreted it as partial superiority. But later, when revelation from God Almighty descended upon me like rainfall, it did not permit me to persist in this belief. The title of ‘prophet’ was clearly bestowed upon me, albeit with the proviso that I am a prophet in one aspect and an ummati [follower of the Holy Prophetsa] in another.” (The Philosophy of Divine Revelation, pp. 183184 [Translation of Haqiqatul Wahi]) Thus, the above statement of the Promised Messiahas clarifies the fact that annulment of those writings of the Promised Messiahas by Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IIra, which were against his later writings, is not a matter of objection.

Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra based his argument on the writings and statements of the Promised Messiahas, which were presented by the Promised Messiahas following the revelation of Allah Almighty.

Friday 3 July 2020 | AL HAKAM

16

Friday Sermon 5 June 2020 Men of Excellence After reciting the Tashahud, Ta‘awuz, and Surah al-Fatihah, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa said:

Today, I will continue with the accounts of the Badri companions. The companion who I will speak about today is Hazrat Suhaibra bin Sinaan. The name of Hazrat Suhaib’sra father was Sinan bin Malik and his mother’s name was Salama bint Qaeed.

Hazrat Suhaibra was from Mosul.

Hazrat Suhaib’s father, or his uncle, was the governor of Ubullah for the Chosroes. Ubullah is a city on the banks of the Tigris River, which later came to be known as Basra. The Romans attacked that region and took Hazrat Suhaibra as a prisoner when he was a child.

According to Abul Qasim al-Maghrabi, Hazrat Suhaib’sra actual name was Umairah, but the Romans named him “Suhaib”. (AlTabaqaat-ul-Kubra li ibn Saad, Vol. 3, pp.

169-170, Suhaib bin Sinaan, Dar-ul-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 2017) (Al-Isabah Fi Tamyeez al-Sahabah, Vol. 4, pp. 33-34, Suhaib bin Sinaan, Dar-ul-Fikr, Beirut, 2001) (Mu‘jamul Buldan, Vol. 1, p. 99, Darul-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut) Hazrat Suhaibra had a deep reddish complexion; he was neither tall, nor short and had thick hair. (Usdul Ghabah, Vol. 3, p. 41, Suhaib bin Sinaan, Dar-ul-Kutub alIlmiyyah, Beirut, 2016) He grew up among the Romans and had a speech impediment. A man named Kalb bought him from the Romans and took him to Mecca. Abdullah bin Jud‘an then bought him and set him free. Hazrat Suhaibra remained with Abdullah bin Jud‘an in Mecca until Abdullah’s death and it was around this time that the Holy Prophetsa was divinely commissioned by God Almighty.

According to one narration, the children of Hazrat Suhaibra have reported

that when Hazrat Suhaibra reached the age of maturity, he fled the Roman Empire and came to Mecca where he became a confederate of Abdullah bin Jud‘an and remained with him until Abdullah’s death. (Al-Tabaqaat-ul-Kubra li ibn Saad, Vol. 3, p. 170, Suhaib bin Sinaan, Dar-ulKutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 2017) Regarding Hazrat Suhaibra, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra states: “One of the slaves was Suhaibra. He was captured and brought from the Roman Empire. He was a slave of Abdullah bin Jud‘an who later set him free. Suhaibra also believed in the Holy Prophetsa and endured various kinds of hardships as a result of this.” (Tafsir-e-Kabir, Vol. 6, p. 443) Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra has mentioned this whilst refuting the allegation of the disbelievers, which has been mentioned in the Holy Quran,

in that they would allege that the Holy Prophetsa composed the Quran with the help of slaves or other people. One answer to this allegation is that these very slaves faced hardships and persecution due to their conversion to Islam. Thus, did these slaves help the Holy Prophetsa in order to be afflicted by hardships? Moreover, they not only helped him secretly, but they also helped him openly as well and then endured all the hardships and persecution with steadfastness.

Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra has explained that this allegation was completely baseless. It was the faith of those believers in the Holy Prophetsa and God Almighty that kept them steadfast. They learnt Islam from the Holy Prophetsa and believed in the revelation from Allah the Almighty.

Nonetheless, this was the background to the aforementioned extract. (Tafsir-e-

Kabir, Vol. 6, pp. 441-443) Hazrat Ammar bin Yasirra states, “I met Suhaibra at the door of Dar-e-Arqam.

The Holy Prophetsa was also present there. I asked Suhaibra, ‘What is your intention?’ Suhaibra asked me, ‘What is your intention?’ I replied, ‘I want to go to Muhammadsa and listen to his words.’

Hazrat Suhaibra said, ‘This is also my intention.’” Hazrat ‘Ammarra states, “Both of us then went to the Holy Prophetsa and he preached the message of Islam to us.

So, we both accepted Islam. We spent the entire day there until the evening. Then, we left in secret.”

Hazrat Ammarra and Hazrat Suhaibra accepted Islam after more than 30 people had accepted Islam. (Al-Tabaqaat-ulKubra li ibn Saad, Vol. 3, p. 171, Suhaib bin Sinaan, Dar-ul-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 2017) Hazrat Anasra narrates that the Holy Prophetsa stated: “Four people have excelled others in accepting Islam. I [i.e. the Holy Prophetsa] am first to accept amongst the Arabs.

Suhaibra is the first to accept amongst the Roman people. Salmanra is the first to accept from amongst the people of Persia.

Bilal is the first to accept amongst the people of Abyssinia.” (Usdul Ghabah, Vol. 3, p. 39, Suhaib bin Sinaan, Dar-ul-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 2016) Hazrat Abdullahra bin Masud relates: “The first seven individuals who professed to be Muslims were: the Holy Prophetsa to whom the law was revealed, Abu Bakrra, Ammarra and his mother Sumayyahra, Suhaibra, Bilalra and Miqdadra.

The Holy Prophetsa was protected through his paternal uncle, Abu Talib and Allah the

17

Friday 3 July 2020 | AL HAKAM Almighty protected Abu Bakrra through his tribe.”

I have already elaborated on this in my previous sermon that this is view of the person who has compiled this narration.

Otherwise, the Holy Prophetsa and Hazrat Abu Bakrra were also made a target of these cruelties. Even though they remained somewhat protected in the beginning, they were later subjected to these same cruelties.

The narrator further states, “The others were seized by the idolaters, shackled in iron chains and burnt in the heat of the sun. There was none among them, who did not succumb to the demands of their masters with the exception of Bilalra, whose circumstances were such that he had completely resigned himself to the Will of God and held no worth in the eyes of the society around him. They would seize him, hand him to the youths, who would then drag him around the valleys of Mecca. However, Bilalra would repeatedly say ‘Ahad, ahad’ [God is one, God is one].”

(Sunan Ibn Majah, Kitab al-Sunnah, Bab Fadl Salman wa Abi Dharr wa Miqdad, Hadith 150) Nevertheless, as I have mentioned, all of them endured cruelties, but each one of them displayed steadfastness in their faith.

However, from this narration, we find that Hazrat Bilalra was subjected to severe persecution.

It is further narrated: “Hazrat Suhaibra was among those believers, who were considered to be weak and was tortured in Mecca because of his belief. These believers also had to go through many hardships. According to one narration, Hazrat Ammar bin Yasirra would be tortured to such an extent that he would have no recollection of what was happening. The same was the case with Hazrat Suhaibra, Hazrat Abu Fa‘idra, Hazrat Aamirra bin Fuhaira and other companions. The following verse was revealed in relation to these companions: َُ ُ ُ َ َ َ ۤ َ ‫ثُ َّم ِا َّن َر ّبَ َک ل َِّل ِذیْ َن َہ‬ ‫اجرُ ْوا ِم ْۢن بَ ْع ِد َما ف ِتنوْا ث ّم ٰج َہ ُد ْوا َو َصب َ ُر ْوا ِا ّن َر ّبک‬ َ َ ُ ‫ِم ْۢن بَ ْع ِد َہا لَغفوْ ٌر ّر ِح ْی ٌم‬ ‘Then, surely, thy Lord – to those who fled their homes after they had been persecuted and then struggled hard in the cause of Allah and remained steadfast – aye, surely, after that thy Lord is Most Forgiving, Merciful.’ [Surah al-Nahl, Ch.16: V.111]” (Al-Isabah Fi Tamyeez alSahabah, Vol. 3, p. 34, Suhaib bin Sinaan, Dar-ul-Fikr, Beirut, 2001) According to one narration, the last individuals to migrate to Medina were Hazrat Alira and Hazrat Suhaibra bin Sinaan, who migrated in the middle of Rabi al-Awwal [third month in the Islamic calendar]. The Holy Prophetsa was staying in Quba and had not yet set off for Medina.

(Al-Tabaqaat-ul-Kubra li ibn Saad, Vol. 3, p. 172, Suhaib bin Sinaan, Dar-ul-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 2017) In one narration, it is mentioned that when Hazrat Suhaibra set off to migrate towards Medina, a party of idolaters pursued him. He subsequently dismounted, emptied his quiver and said, “O party of the Quraish! You know that I am among your most skilful archers. By Allah! You will not be able to reach me until I fire all of my arrows at you. I will

then fight you with my sword until I am left empty handed. Therefore, you may do as you please. If it is my wealth you desire, I will tell you where it is and you may then leave my path.” These people replied in the affirmative.

Hence, Hazrat Suhaibra told them [where his wealth was] and when he presented himself before the Holy Prophetsa, the Holy Prophetsa said that this deal had been profitable for Abu Yahya”, i.e. it had been beneficial for him.

The narrator says that upon this, the following verse was revealed: َ َ َ ْ ُ َ ْ َ ْ ْ َّ ْ َ َّ َ َ ّٰ ّٰ ْ ۢ ‫اس من یش ِری نفسہ اب ِتغ‬ ‫ات الل ِہ َوالل ُہ َر ُء ْو ٌف ِبال ِع َبا ِد‬ ِ ‫آء َم ْرض‬ ِ ‫و ِمن الن‬ “And of men there is he who would sell himself to seek the pleasure of Allah; and Allah is Compassionate to [His] servants.”

(Surah al-Baqarah, Ch.2: V.208) (AlTabaqaat-ul-Kubra li ibn Saad, Vol. 3, pp.

171-172, Suhaib bin Sinaan, Dar-ul-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 2017) According to one narration, Hazrat Suhaibra went to the Holy Prophetsa after migrating from Mecca to Medina. At the time, the Holy Prophetsa was in Quba and Hazrat Abu Bakrra and Hazrat Umarra were with him. At the time they all had fresh dates in front of them, which were brought

by Hazrat Kulthumra bin Hidam. On the way, Hazrat Suhaibra contracted an eye infection (he had an ailment of the eye), but was also suffering from starvation and tiredness due to the journey. When Hazrat Suhaibra rushed towards the dates, Hazrat Umarra said, “O Messengersa of Allah, look at Suhaibra; he has an eye infection and is eating the dates”. The Holy Prophetsa replied in a lighthearted manner saying, “You are eating the dates despite your eye infection?”, i.e. he had swollen eyes with tears running down. Hazrat Suhaibra submitted, “I am eating whilst using the side of my eye which is healthy”. Upon hearing this, the Holy Prophetsa smiled. Hazrat Suhaibra turned to Hazrat Abu Bakrra and said, “You promised me that you would take me with you in the migration, but you went without me.” He then turned to the Holy Prophetsa and said, “O Messengersa of Allah, you also promised to take me along with you on the migration, but you also left without me. The Quraish captured me and detained me, so I had to buy my freedom and that of my family by giving up my wealth.” The Holy Prophetsa replied, “This was a very beneficial deal indeed.”

Thereafter, God Almighty revealed the verse: َ َ َ ْ ُ َ ْ َ ْ ْ َّ ْ َ َّ َ َ ّٰ ّٰ ْ ۢ ‫اس من یش ِری نفسہ اب ِتغ‬ ‫ات الل ِہ َوالل ُہ َر ُء ْو ٌف ِبال ِع َبا ِد‬ ِ ‫آء َم ْرض‬ ِ ‫و ِمن الن‬ “And of men there is he who would sell himself to seek the pleasure of Allah; and Allah is Compassionate to [His] servants.”

(Surah al-Baqarah, Ch.2: V.208) Hazrat Suhaibra said, “O Messengersa of Allah, I took with me one mudd [approximately 0.5kg] of flour as provisions for my journey, which I had prepared at Abwah until I reached you.” (Al-Tabaqaatul-Kubra li ibn Saad, Vol. 3, p. 172, Suhaib bin Sinaan, Dar-ul-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 2017) This was all he had to eat in this journey.

In this regard, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra writes: “Suhaibra was a prosperous merchant

and in Mecca he was considered a reputable person, but despite the fact that he was wealthy and was no longer a slave, the Quraish continued to beat him even after his release to the extent that he would pass out. When the Holy Prophetsa left Mecca and migrated to Medina, Suhaibra also wanted to migrate, but the Meccans stopped him from doing so. They said that he was not permitted to take the wealth he had earned in Mecca with him. Suhaibra offered to surrender all his property and earnings and asked whether they would then let him go. The Meccans accepted the arrangement. Suhaibra handed everything over to them and reached Medina emptyhanded and met the Holy Prophetsa. The Holy Prophetsa said to him, ‘Out of all the transactions you have ever made, this was the best.’ In other words, he previously used to earn money by trading goods, but this time he traded money in return for his faith.” (Deebacha Tafsir-ul-Quran, Anwarul Ulum, Vol. 20, pp. 194-195) After Hazrat Suhaibra migrated from Mecca to Medina, the Holy Prophetsa established a bond of brotherhood between him and Hazrat Harithra bin Simmah. Hazrat Suhaibra participated in the battles of Badr, Uhud, Khandaq and all other battles alongside the Holy Prophetsa.

(Usdul Ghabah, Vol. 3, p. 39, Suhaib bin Sinaan, Dar-ul-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 2016) Hazrat Aaizra bin Amr narrates that Hazrat Salmanra, Hazrat Suhaibra and Hazrat Bilalra were sat amongst a group of people when Abu Sufyan bin Harb walked past. They said to him, “Allah the Almighty’s sword has not yet struck the necks of the His enemies”. Upon this, Hazrat Abu Bakrra said, “Is this how you speak about the leaders and chieftains of the Quraish?”

The Holy Prophetsa was informed of this incident, to which the Holy Prophetsa said, “O Abu Bakrra! Perhaps you have angered them. If this is the case, then you have also angered God Almighty.” Therefore, Hazrat Abu Bakrra went back to those people and said, “O my brethren, perhaps you are aggrieved because of me”. To this they replied, “No, O Abu Bakrra, may Allah grant you forgiveness.” (Musnad Ahmad bin Hanbal, Vol. 6, p. 885, Hadith A‘idh bin Amr, Alamul Kutub, Beirut, 1998) Hazrat Suhaibra relates: “Whatever battle the Holy Prophetsa was present in, I too participated. Whatever pledge of allegiance the Holy Prophetsa took, I too was there. Whatever expedition the Holy Prophetsa sent forth, I too was part of it. Whatever battle the Holy Prophetsa departed for, I was alongside him. I was to his right or to his left. Whenever the people perceived a threat from in front, I would go ahead and when they sensed danger from behind, I would go behind them. I never allowed the enemies to get through me and to reach the Holy Prophetsa, up until he departed from this world” i.e. until the Holy Prophetsa passed away. (Al-Isabah Fi Tamyeez al-Sahabah, Vol. 3, p. 35, Suhaib bin Sinaan, Dar-ul-Fikr, Beirut, 2001) In his advanced years, Hazrat Suhaibra would gather people around him and mention interesting incidents of his achievements in battle. (Siyar as-Sahabah, Vol. 2, p. 268, Suhaib bin Sinaan, Darul

Ishaat, Karachi) Hazrat Suhaibra was not a native speaker, i.e. his language [Arabic] was not as eloquent as the Arabs.

Zaid bin Aslam relates from his father, “I went with Hazrat Umarra until he entered the garden of Hazrat Suhaibra in Aliya.

When Hazrat Suhaibra saw Hazrat Umarra he said ‘Yannaas, Yannaas’. Hazrat Umarra thought he was saying ‘al-nas’ [people] so he said what has happened to him that he is calling people.” The narrator then says, “I replied by saying that he was calling his servant whose name was Yuhannas and he called him in this way due to the impediment in his speech.” After that, they discussed certain matters and Hazrat Umarra said, “O Suhaibra, I see only three short-comings in you. If they were not present in you, I would not give any person superiority over you. I see that you associate yourself with the Arabs, whereas your language is foreign, you say that your appellation is Abu Yahya, which is the name of a prophet and you excessively spend out of your wealth.” Hazrat Suhaibra replied, “As for what you said about me wasting money, the truth is that I spend only where it is required and not unnecessarily. Regarding my appellation, it was the Holy Prophetsa who gave me the title of Abu Yahya, therefore I shall never renounce it. As for my affiliation with the Arabs, the Romans had enslaved me when I was young, so that is why I learnt their language, but I belong to the tribe of Namir bin Qasit.”

Hazrat Umarra had great love for Hazrat Suhaibra and thought very highly of him. When Hazrat Umarra sustained an injury, he mentioned in his will that Hazrat Suhaibra would lead his funeral prayer and he would also lead the Muslims in prayer for three days until members of the electoral committee chose the Khalifa.

Hazrat Suhaibra passed away in the month of Shawwal 38 AH, but according to some, he passed away in 39 AH. At the time of his demise, Hazrat Suhaibra was 73 years of age, whilst according to other narrations, he was 70 years old and was buried in Medina. (Usdul Ghabah, Vol. 3, p. 41, Suhaib bin Sinaan, Dar-ul-Kutub alIlmiyyah, Beirut, 2016) The next companion whose accounts will be mentioned is Hazrat Saadra bin Rabi. Hazrat Saadra bin Rabi belonged to the Banu Harith clan of the Khazraj tribe of the Ansar. His father’s name was Rabi bin Amr and mother’s name was Huzaila bint Inabah. Hazrat Saadra had two wives – Umrah bint Hazam and Habiba bint Zaid.

Hazrat Saadra bin Rabi had two daughters; one of the daughters name was Umm-eSaad – which has also been reported as Umm-e-Saeed – however, her real name was Jameelah. (Al-Tabaqaat-ul-Kubra li ibn Saad, Vol. 3, p. 395, Vol. 8, p. 303, Umme-Ammarah, Dar-ul-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 2017) (Umdatul Qari, Vol. 20, p.

216, Dar Ihyaa al-Turath al-Arabi, Beirut, 2003) Hazrat Saadra bin Rabi was able to read and write even during the Jahaliyyah period [era of ignorance prior to the advent of Islam], when not many could do so. Hazrat Saadra was one of the chieftains of the Banu Harith and Hazrat Abdullahra

Friday 3 July 2020 | AL HAKAM

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bin Rawahah was also one of the chieftains of this tribe along with him. Hazrat Saadra was present during the occasions of the first and second Pledge at Aqabah. (Usdul Ghabah, Vol. 2, p. 214, Dar-ul-Kutub alIlmiyyah, Beirut, 2016) After the migration to Medina, the Holy Prophetsa established a bond of brotherhood between Hazrat Saadra and Hazrat Abdur Rahmanra bin Auf. In a narration of Sahih Bukhari, Hazrat Abdur Rahmanra bin Auf relates that when he arrived in Medina, the Holy Prophetsa established a bond of brotherhood between him and Saadra bin Rabi. Upon this, Saadra bin Rabi stated, “I am the wealthiest amongst the Ansar, therefore I shall give you half of my wealth and whichever of my two wives you like, I will separate from her for you. Once her iddat [a fixed period of time before a woman can remarry] has passed, you can marry her.” Hazrat Abdur Rahmanra bin Auf replied to Hazrat Saadra bin Rabi that he did not require anything and all he needed to know from him was whether there was a marketplace where people could trade. Hazrat Saadra informed him that there was a marketplace of the Banu Qaynuqah.

Subsequently, early next morning, Hazrat Abdur Rahmanra went there and purchased cheese and clarified butter.

Similarly, he went to the marketplace every morning. Not long had passed that once, Hazrat Abdur Rahmanra came before the Holy Prophetsa and had a mark of saffron on him. (In those days, they would mark saffron to serve as a sign that one had just got married.) In any case, the Holy Prophetsa asked if he had married and he replied in the affirmative. The Holy Prophetsa enquired who he got married to and he replied that it was with a women belonging to the Ansar. The Holy Prophetsa then asked how much dowry he had given and he stated that he gave gold the size of a nugget or he said a nugget of gold.

Upon this, the Holy Prophetsa stated that he should hold a walima [a ceremony after the consummation of marriage], even if it be by sacrificing a single sheep. (Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitabul Buyu‘, Bab Ma Ja‘a fi

Qaulillah Azza wa Jall Fa idha Qadayta alSalata …, Hadith 2048) In other words, he was told to arrange for a walima according to his means.

Hazrat Saadra bin Rabi participated in the battles of Badr and Uhud and was martyred during the Battle of Uhud. On the day of Uhud, the Holy Prophetsa stated, “Who will bring me news of Saadra bin Rabi?” “I will”, someone submitted. And so, this individual went forth and began searching for him among those who had been slain.

Upon seeing this individual, Hazrat Saadra asked him how he was and he replied, “I have been sent by the Messengersa of Allah so I can inform him about your condition.” Hazrat Saadra stated, “Convey my salaam [i.e. greeting of peace] to the Holy Prophetsa and inform the Holy Prophetsa that I have received 12 spear wounds and those who engaged in battle with me have been condemned to the hellfire”, in other words, whoever came up against him was killed. “And tell my people that if the Holy Prophetsa is martyred while a single one of them is still alive, then remember that they shall have no excuse to offer before God Almighty.”

It is stated that it was Hazrat Ubayyra bin Kaab who went to enquire about the condition of Hazrat Saadra. According to another narration, it states that Hazrat Saadra told Hazrat Ubayyra bin Kaab, “Let my people know that Saad bin Rabi says that they ought to fear Allah the Almighty and the pledge they took at the hands of the Messengersa of Allah on the night of Aqabah. By God, they shall have no excuse before God if the eyes of even one of them still flickers (i.e. if any one of them was still alive) and the enemy was to reach the Holy Prophetsa.”

Hazrat Ubayyra bin Kaab narrates that he was still by the side of Hazrat Saadra when he passed away. His body was covered in wounds and when he returned and presented himself before the Holy Prophetsa and informed him of the conversation he had and the condition he was in, the Holy Prophetsa stated, “May Allah the Almighty have mercy upon him.

In his lifetime and even after his demise, he continued to serve Allah and His Messengersa.”

Hazrat Saadra bin Rabi and Hazrat Kharjahra bin Zaid were buried in one grave. (Al-Tabaqaat-ul-Kubra li ibn Saad, Vol. 3, p. 396, Dar-ul-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 2017) (Al-Isti‘ab, Vol. 4, pp. 432433, Dar-ul-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 2016) Hazrat Sahibzada Mirza Bashir Ahmad Sahibra mentions the account of Hazrat Saad’sra martyrdom in the following manner: “Now the Holy Prophetsa had also descended into the battlefield and the work of tending to the bodies of the martyrs was underway. At the time, the sight that was before the Muslims was one to bring forth tears of blood” i.e. after the battle had finished, despite his own injuries, the Holy Prophetsa went around the battlefield and advised on how to take care of the bodies of the martyrs and organise the burials.

Nonetheless, the scene before the Muslims was one of horror, so much so that it can be said it would bring forth tears of blood. “70 Muslims were laying in the field of battle smothered in dust and blood and they displayed a horrific scene of the barbaric Arab tradition known as muthlah.”

Not only had they been martyred, but their limbs had been cut and their bodies had been disfigured [by the disbelievers].

Hazrat Sahibzada Mirza Bashir Ahmad Sahibra further writes: “Among the casualties, there were only six Muhajireen and the rest were all from the Ansar. The number of men slain from among the Quraish was 23. When the Holy Prophetsa came to the body of his paternal uncle and foster brother, Hamzara bin Abdil Muttalib, he was stunned because Hind, the barbaric wife of Abu Sufyan, had severely spoiled his dead body. For some time, the Holy Prophetsa stood there silently and signs of grief and anger were evident upon his countenance. For a moment’s time, the Holy Prophetsa even thought to himself that until these bloodthirsty beasts of Mecca were not given a taste of their own medicine, perhaps they would never come to their senses, but then the Holy Prophetsa refrained from this idea and exhibited patience. As a matter of fact, after this, the Holy Prophetsa prohibited the custom of muthlah”, to disfigure corpses “in Islam forever and said that the enemy may do as it pleases, but the Muslims should in any case refrain from such a barbaric practice and follow a course of virtue and benevolence.

“Safiyyah bint Abdil Muttalibra, the paternal aunt of the Holy Prophetsa, loved her brother Hamzara very dearly. Upon hearing news of the defeat of the Muslims, she had also come out of Medina. The Holy Prophetsa instructed her son, Zubair bin al-Awwamra not to show his mother the body of his maternal uncle; but how could a sister’s love allow her to sit at rest?” Her son told her not to see the body of Hazrat Hamzara as it had been severely disfigured. “‘Let me see the body of Hamzahra,’ she insisted. ‘I promise to demonstrate patience and shall not utter a word of complaint or lament.’ Hence, she went and upon seeing the body of her brother said:

َ ْ َ َّ َ ّٰ َّ ‫اج ُعوْن‬ ِ ‫ ِانا لِل ِہ و ِانا ِالی ِہ ر‬ [To Allah do we belong and to Him shall we return].

After this, she did not say a word.”

Hazrat Sahibzada Mirza Bashir Ahmad Sahibra further writes: “The Quraish had more or less meted out the same barbaric treatment to the bodies of other Companions as well.

Hence, the body of Abdullah bin Jahashra, the paternal cousin of the Holy Prophetsa had also been severely disfigured. As the Holy Prophetsa would move from one body to the other, signs of pain and anguish would become more and more evident upon his countenance. It was perhaps at this occasion when the Holy Prophetsa said, ‘Someone go and enquire about the state of Saadra bin Rabi, chief of the Ansar. Is he alive or has he been martyred? During battle I saw that he was perilously surrounded by the lances of the enemy.’ Upon the instruction of the Holy Prophetsa, Ubayy bin Kaabra, a Companion from among the Ansar began to search for Saadra here and there on the battlefield, but to no avail. Finally, he began to exclaim in a loud voice and called out the name of Saadra again and again, but no sign of him could be found. Losing hope, he was about to return when he suddenly thought that he should call out with the name of the Holy Prophetsa and perhaps in this manner, a clue may be found.” Initially, he only called him out by name, but then thought that perhaps he could call out saying that the Holy Prophetsa had sent him.

“As such, he began to call out, ‘Where is Saadra bin Rabi? The Messengersa of Allah has sent me to him.’ At the sound of this, an electric current surged through the halfdead body of Saadra; suddenly becoming alert, but in a very soft voice, he responded, ‘Who is it? I am here.’ When Ubayy bin Kaabra peered into the distance, amongst a pile of dead bodies, he caught sight of Saadra, who at the time was in his final breaths, giving up his life. Ubayy bin Kaabra said, ‘The Holy Prophetsa has sent me so that I may inform him of your condition.’

Saadra responded, ‘Submit my greetings of peace to the Messengersa of Allah, and tell him, “May Allah grant you the spiritual reward, which is given to all the Prophets of God due to the sacrifice and sincerity of their followers to a greater extent than all the other Prophets and grant you the delight of your eyes.” Convey my greetings of peace to my Muslim brethren as well and tell my people that if the slightest injury is inflicted upon the Holy Prophetsa while even a breath of life remains within them, then remember that they shall have no excuse before God.’ After these words, Saadra gave his life.” (Sirat KhatamunNabiyyin, Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmadra, pp. 500-501) Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra has also mentioned this account in his own words and states: “There is an incident that took place on the occasion of the Battle of Uhud. After the battle, the Holy Prophetsa sent Hazrat Ubayyra bin Kaab to go and enquire about the state of those who had been wounded.

Whilst searching for the wounded, Hazrat Ubayyra bin Kaab reached Hazrat Saadra

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Friday 3 July 2020 | AL HAKAM bin Rabi, who had been severely injured and was almost breathing his last. Hazrat Ubayra bin Kaab asked him if he had any message he would like him to convey to his relatives and dear ones. Hazrat Saadra smiled and said, ‘I was waiting for a Muslim to come, who I could deliver my message to. Place your hand in mine and promise me that you will certainly convey my message.’ The message he then gave was as follows, ‘Convey my salaam to my Muslim brothers and tell my people and my relatives that the Messengersa of Allah is the greatest trust bestowed upon us by God Almighty and we ought to protect this trust with our very lives. I must now depart from this world and hand over this trust to you. Let it not be that you show weakness in this regard.’”

After narrating this account, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra stated: “Ponder, at such a time when one feels as if they are about to die, one entertains all kinds of thoughts in their heart. He thinks about the circumstances his wife would have to face or who will tend to the needs of his children etc. However, this companion did not convey any such message of this kind and simply said that he is departing this world whilst he was striving to protect the Holy Prophetsa and they ought to do the same and follow after him. To protect the Holy Prophetsa was the greatest task.”

Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra continues: “It was this very strength of faith that enabled them [i.e. the Muslims] to bring about a revolution in the world and topple the rule of the Romans and Persians. The Roman emperor was astonished as to who these people were. Likewise, Chosroes wrote to one of his generals and told him that if he could not even defeat the Arabs, then he should return and instead, sit at home wearing his bangles. He also stated to his general that the Arabs were such people that would eat ordure and yet he could not even stop them. In other words, he considered them to be extremely lowly people who would have nothing to eat and would instead eat ordure. In reply, the general stated that they did not appear as mere mortals, but rather were like a force that would come galloping over the swords and spears such was their passion and vigour and therefore, how could they defeat them?” (Tafsir-e-Kabir, Vol. 7, p.

338) On one occasion, Umm-e-Saad, the daughter of Hazrat Saadra bin Rabi came to see Hazrat Abu Bakrra, who laid down one of his own cloths for her [to sit].

Hazrat Umarra asked Hazrat Abu Bakrra who she was. Hazrat Abu Bakrra replied, “She is the daughter of the one who was better than you and I.” Hazrat Umarra enquired, “O Khalifatur Rasul [Caliph of the Messengersa]! Who was that person?”

Hazrat Abu Bakrra replied, “He is the one who passed away in the lifetime of the Holy Prophetsa and received his place in paradise, whereas you and I are still here today.” (Al-Isabah Fi Tamyeez al-Sahabah, Vol. 2, p. 315, Saad bin al-Rabi‘, Dar-ulFikr, Beirut, 2001) Hazrat Jabirra bin Abdullah relates that the wife of Hazrat Saadra bin Rabi, along with her two daughters, came to see the

Holy Prophetsa and said, “O Messengersa of Allah! These two are the daughters of Saadra bin Rabi, who fought alongside you in the Battle of Uhud and was martyred.

Their paternal uncle has taken all their inheritance”; their uncle had taken all the wealth that was left by Hazrat Saadra bin Rabi, leaving them with nothing.

“Furthermore, their Nikah [Islamic marriage] cannot take place until they have some money.” The Holy Prophetsa replied, “Allah the Almighty will reveal His verdict regarding this matter.”

Subsequently the verses regarding inheritance [of a deceased person] were revealed. The Holy Prophetsa then called their uncle and instructed him to give one third of the wealth of Saadra to his daughters and to give one eighth to their mother and the remainder will be his share. (Sunan alTirmidhi, Kitabul Fara’id, Bab Maa Ja’a fi Mirath al-Banaat, Hadith 2092) Whilst making reference to this incident, Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad Sahibra has shed light on this in Sirat Khatamun-Nabiyyin: “Saadra was an affluent man and possessed a distinct status within his tribe.

He did not have any male offspring, only two daughters and a wife. Until now, no new injunctions regarding the division of inheritance had been revealed to the Holy Prophetsa. As such, inheritance was divided among the Companions according to ancient custom, whereby if the deceased did not have any male offspring, his paternal relatives would take possession of the inheritance and the widow and daughters would be left empty-handed. Therefore, upon the martyrdom of Saadra bin Rabi, his brother took possession of all the inheritance and his widow and daughters were left completely without support.

Troubled by this distress, the widow of Saadra presented herself before the Holy Prophetsa along with her two daughters and expressed her grief whilst relating the entire account. This painful account hurt the pure disposition of the Holy Prophetsa, but since no injunctions had been revealed to the Holy Prophetsa from God in this respect, the Holy Prophetsa said, ‘Wait for some time and a verdict shall be given according to the injunctions which are revealed by God.’ “As such, the Holy Prophetsa supplicated to God and it was not long before a few of the verses regarding inheritance were revealed to the Holy Prophetsa, which have also been vouchsafed in Surah al-Nisa of the Holy Quran.

“At this, the Holy Prophetsa called the brother of Saadra and instructed him to give two-thirds of the inheritance to the daughters of Saadra, one-eighth to his sister-in-law and to keep whatever remained thereafter. From then on, new laws on the division of inheritance were instituted, whereby a wife is entitled to one-eighth of her husband’s inheritance if he has children and one-fourth if he does not have any children and a daughter is entitled to a portion equivalent to half of her brother’s from the inheritance of her father and if she has no brothers, then two-thirds or half (depending on the circumstances); and a mother is entitled

Amir Jamaat Niger’s meeting with minister of communication in Niamey Muhammad Jamal Niger Correspondent

On 22 June 2020, Amir Jamaat-eAhmadiyya Niger, Asad Majeeb Sahib had a meeting with Niger’s Minister of Communication, Hon Habi Mahamadou Salissou in his office in Niamey.

During the meeting, Amir Sahib conveyed the message of the Promised with a comprehensive Messiahas introduction to Ahmadiyyat and Khilafate-Ahmadiyya.

The minister also commended Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya for its continued commitment to welfare work and its dedication to humanitarian assistance, especially in the domain of providing water to remote areas where people have to walk miles just for one bucket of water.

During the meeting, Amir Sahib informed the honourable minister: “In association with International Association of Ahmadi Architects & Engineers (IAAAE) rehabilitation work of water pumps is already in progress in different areas of Niger.”

Regarding the Jamaat’s activities, the honourable minister said: “I keep watching and reading on television and in newspapers that Jamaate-Ahmadiyya is engaged in welfare work as well as preaching.”

to a sixth portion of the inheritance of her son if he has children and a third if her son does not have any children. Similarly, the portions of other heirs were also fixed and, in this way, the natural right of a woman, which had been snatched from her, was returned.”

Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad Sahibra has written a note saying: “At this occasion, it would not be irrelevant to note that from among the salient features of the teachings of the Holy Prophetsa, one distinction is that he fully safeguarded all the rightful and legitimate rights of women. As a matter of fact, the truth is that before and after the Holy Prophetsa, there has been no individual in the history of the world who safeguarded the rights of women as he did. In matters of inheritance, marriage, spousal relations, divorce, in the right of owning personal estate, in the right of using one’s personal estate, in the rights of education, in the rights of child custody and upbringing, in the right of participating in national and domestic affairs, in the matter of individual freedom, in religious rights and obligations; in every religious and worldly field where a woman can possibly tread, the Holy Prophetsa has accepted all her

The meeting concluded with a discussion regarding the use of telecommunication means for preaching.

In this regard, the honourable minister ensured everyone: “My team and I will offer full support to the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community for obtaining radio frequency in Niger exclusively for religious purposes.”

legitimate rights and has proclaimed that the protection of her rights is a sacred trust and duty vouchsafed to his community. It is for this very reason that the women of Arabia considered the advent of the Holy Prophetsa to be a message of salvation.”

He further writes, “I am compelled to digress from my subject matter (as women’s rights was not the subject under discussion), otherwise, I would have elaborated that the teaching of the Holy Prophetsa with respect to women truly stands upon such a lofty pedestal that no religion and no civilisation has been able to reach it. Most definitely, this beautiful statement of the Holy Prophetsa is based on such a deep truth that: ّ ُ َ ّ ُ ُ َ ْ ُ ْ َّ َ َ ّ ُ ُ َُ َ َّ ‫الص ٰلو ِۃ‬ ‫اء َوال ِط ْی ُب َو ُج ِعل ْت ق ّرۃ َع ْی ِن ْی فِی‬ ‫ح ِبب ِالی ِمن دنیاکم ال ِنس‬ ‘Among the things of this world, the things for which my disposition has been leavened with love are women and fragrance, but the delight of my eye is in Salat, i.e., the worship of Allah.’” (Sirat Khatamun-Nabiyyin, Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmadra, pp. 507-509) Today, there are people who raise their voices in defence of women’s rights and focus their attention on merely superficial matters, which have nothing to do with

Friday 3 July 2020 | AL HAKAM

20 actual freedom at all. Moreover, some raise allegations against the Islamic teachings in which there are certain restrictions, but these are only in place to uphold the honour of women, for the sake of peace at home and for the moral training of the next generation. In actuality, the teachings of Islam are such that it grants women freedom and safeguards their rights.

May Allah the Almighty enable the world to understand this reality and be safeguarded from all evil and immorality, and may our women also understand the true reality of these teachings, as at times they can be influenced by society and perceive their proposed model of freedom to be correct. May they understand the true essence of the Islamic teachings and also the rank and honour bestowed to women by Islam because no other religion has granted such honour, nor has any socalled women’s rights organisations or movements.

May Allah the Almighty enable men to also safeguard the rights of women in accordance with the teachings of Islam, so that a peaceful society can be established.

After this I would like to briefly speak about the present situation and also urge

everyone to pray. Everyone should pray to Allah the Almighty to remove the Coronavirus pandemic from the world, but also for people to be granted wisdom and foresight so they can realise that the only chance of future prosperity is for them is to submit to the One God and to fulfil the rights of others. It is through sacrifices that one can truly eradicate the evils and disorder.

May Allah the Almighty grant wisdom to the governments so they can run the affairs of their country based on justice.

These days there is unrest and disorder in the USA; may every Ahmadi be saved from its ill effects and may the people present their demands and attain their rights through the correct means.

If African Americans are causing damage and disorder in their homeland, then they will only be causing harm to themselves. Many African leaders have also said the same, that they should not cause damage and destruction to their own country. Indeed, they can protest, but so long as they do so within the parameters of the law. Causing damage to their own properties will be of no benefit, instead it is detrimental to their own cause. Therefore,

those carrying out the protests should ponder over this. The government should also understand the situation that simply using force to respond to this is not the answer, nor is using force the solution to solving problems. In fact, governments can only function when all citizens are given their due rights. It is only through this that peace and prosperity can prevail and not without this. Irrespective of how powerful a government may be, if there is unrest amongst the people, the government cannot remain established. Nevertheless, may Allah remove all the unrest and disorder throughout the world; may governments fulfil the rights of its citizens and may the citizens obtain their rights by pursuing their demands whilst remaining within the parameters of the law.

Similarly, the government of Pakistan should also reflect upon this and not increase persecution and injustices against Ahmadis simply due to fear of the Mullahs [clerics], rather they ought to run their government by upholding justice and learn the lessons from the past. By using the issue of Ahmadiyyat and perpetrating cruelties against Ahmadis, neither have previous governments remained established, nor

can they do so in the future. Therefore, they ought to abandon the thought that through this issue, they can extend their time in government. Indeed, owing to this persecution, Ahmadiyyat has spread and progressed throughout the world and God-Willing, it will continue to do so in the future. This is the will of God Almighty and no one has the power to stop it.

Nonetheless, it is our prayer that may Allah remove all injustices, unrest and disorder and due to the current pandemic that is widespread, may people pay heed to it and bring about a transformation within themselves.

May we, as Ahmadis, be granted the opportunity to fulfil the rights of our worship and also the rights owed to mankind even more than before, so that we may become the recipients of the love of Allah and be able to witness success and progress.

(Original Urdu published in Al Fazl International on 26 June 2020, pp. 5-9.

Translated by The Review of Religions.)

Editor: Qaasid Muin Ahmad | Design & Layout: Jalees Ahmad | Sub-Editorial Ataul Fatir Tahir | News: Ata-ul-Haye Nasir | Š Al Hakam 2020