Al Hakam - 13 January 2023

Waqf-e-Jadid: A story of faith and sacrifice from Niger

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Striking the balance between this life and the next: An Islamic perspective

Prophet Noah: ‘And build thou the Ark under Our eyes and Our revelation.’

Our periodicals serve as a means to foster a strong connection with the Jamaat: Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud’s advice for the Community

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THE WEEKLY

www.alhakam.org AL HAKAM | Friday 13 January 2023 | Issue CCLII Ahmadiyya Archive & Research Centre (ARC), 22 Deer Park Road, London, SW19 3TL, UK info@alhakam.org | ISSN 2754-7396

Give precedence to faith over the world Students from Lajna Imaillah India meet Hazrat Khalifatul Masih On Sunday, 8 January 2023, a group of students from Lajna Imaillah India were blessed with the opportunity of meeting Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih V, may Allah be his Helper, in a virtual mulaqat.

After conveying salaam, Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa called upon Ghazala Naeem Sahiba to recite a portion of the Holy Quran, followed by its Urdu translation.

An Urdu poem was then presented by Khaula Tanveer Sahiba.

Aqeela Ghori Sahiba, Secretary Umure-Talibat Lajna Imaillah India, then presented a brief report in which, after conveying her salaam to Huzooraa, she stated that, under the guidance of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa, female Ahmadi students of India have made great and exceptional progress in their education and various fields of study.

She further said that, after attaining education, Ahmadi women are not only becoming a great asset to society, they are also proving useful in their service for the Jamaat. She said that, presently, there are 262 Ahmadi women students in Qadian studying in various fields. Out of the 262 students, 68 are in the blessed scheme of Waqf-e-Nau. She then requested Huzooraa to pray that Ahmadi women may excel in piety and righteousness and be of great service to the Jamaat.

Aneeqa Bajwa Sahiba, who is pursuing a PhD in life sciences, had the

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

‘O Allah! Support him with the Holy Spirit!’

َ ‫ َﻗ‬،‫ید ْبن ال ْ ُم َس َّیﺐ‬ َ َْ �ِ� ُ‫ال َم ّرَ ُع َمر‬ ِ ِ ِ ‫عن ﺳ ِع‬ ْ ُ ْ ُ َ َ َ ُ ْ ُ ُ َّ َ َ ْ َ ْ ‫ال ﻛﻨ ُت أن ِﺸ ُد‬ ‫ فق‬،‫المس ِج ِد وﺣسان یﻨ ِﺸد‬ َ‫ ﺛُ َّم ال ْ َت َﻔ َت إلی‬،‫ َوفیہ َم ْن ُہوَ َﺧی ْ ٌر م ْﻨ َک‬،‫فیہ‬ ِ ِ ِ ِ ِ ِ َ َ ٰ ُ ّ َ ْ َ َ َ َ​ََُْ َ ‫ فق‬،‫أ�ِ� ہریرة‬ ‫ أ َﺳ ِم ْع َت‬،ِ‫ال أنﺸ ُدك ِباللہ‬ َ ٰ ّ ّ َ ُ ّٰ َ ُ َ ّ َ ُ ‫الل ِہ َﺻلی الل ُہ َعل ْی ِہ َو َﺳل َم �ق‬ ‫رﺳول‬ ‫ول‬ ّٰ ّ َ ْ َ َ ‫ َﻗ‬. ‫الل ُہ َّم أَ ّی ْد ُه برُ ْو ِح الْقُ ُدس‬ ،�ِ�‫أ ِجﺐ ع‬ ‫ال‬ ِ ِ ِ َ .‫ن َع ْم‬ Hazrat Sa‘idra bin Al-Musaiyab narrates, “Umar came to the mosque while Hassan was reciting a poem.

(Umar disapproved of that.) On that, Hassan said, ‘I used to recite poetry in this very mosque in the presence of one (i.e. the Holy Prophetsa) who was better than you.’ Then he turned towards Abu Hurairah and said (to him), ‘I ask you by Allah, did you hear Allah’s Messengersa saying (to me), ‘Retort on my behalf. O Allah!

Support him (i.e. Hassan) with the Holy Spirit!’ Abu Hurairah said, ‘Yes.’” (Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab bad’I l-khalq, Hadith 3212)

Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas, In His Own Words opportunity to deliver a presentation and her research on mechanistic studies on the chemopreventive potential of Murraya koenigii leaf extract against chemically induced skin carcinogenesis in mice.

That is, she explained how a certain plant extract may help prevent skin cancer in mice that were exposed to chemicals.

After the presentation, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa asked her if this is still in its experimental stage, to which she replied in the affirmative. Huzooraa advised

her not to be content with lab-based research but also gather data and look into the real-life impact of its application in the field.

Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa asked how many students are seated in the hall, to which Huzooraa was told that there are 170 students. Thereafter, this fortunate group of Lajna students had the opportunity to ask Huzooraa various questions on issues Continued on next page >>

The Holy Prophetsa and his station as the Seal of the Prophets “Allah the Exalted has blessed us with a Prophet who is the Seal of the Believers, the Seal of the Pious, and the Seal of the Prophets.

Similarly, God Almighty revealed Continued on next page >>

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Friday 13 January 2023 | AL HAKAM

<< Continued from previous page

to him a book, which is the Seal of Books – a book that comprehensively encapsulates all others. When it is said that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, is the ‘Seal of the Prophets’ and that prophethood has reached its end in him, this does not imply that prophethood has ended as one brings about the end of someone by strangling them to death. This sort of an ‘end’ is not worthy of honour. In fact, when it is said that prophethood has come to an end in the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, this means that the excellences of prophethood have reached their

climax in his person. In other words, all the various excellences that were granted to the Prophets, from Adam as to Jesus as son of Mary – certain qualities to some and different qualities to others – were all combined in the Holy Prophet sa and in this way the Holy Prophet sa naturally became the Seal of the Prophets. In the same manner, all the teachings, guidance and insights given in various books, came to their final point of completion when they culminated in the Holy Quran, and so the Holy Quran became the ‘Seal of the Books’.”

(Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad as, Malfuzat, Vol. II, p. 58)

Photo courtesy of Suhaib Ahmad

<< Continued from previous page

they faced and the Islamic perspective on various matters.

Shumaila Mehwish Sahiba, a student of year 12, asked if it is permissible for Ahmadi Muslim women to pursue a career in law, the civil service, navy, or the army.

Huzooraa said: “You may pursue law; it is beneficial.

It is better if one pursues a field in human rights.” However, Huzooraa added, girls should not pursue criminal law as this may lead to some issues. One may pursue the civil services; however, there, one will have to take care of their attire, purdah,

and modest dress. It should not be that one is posted in such areas where one is told that it is forbidden to wear a niqab or a burqa.

With regards to the question about armed forces, Huzooraa said, this field is not suitable for girls under the current circumstances.

Adeela Majid Sahiba, a student of dental surgery, said there is a lot of opposition against the hijab in India.

Muslim girls are told to remove their hijab as they enter exam halls.

Hearing this, Huzooraa asked, “Is this

in every province or in a particular area? Is this a decision of the local administrations or is it from the government?” To this, Adeela Majid replied that it is at the discretion of the body conducting the exams.

She further said that recently, a female student was stopped from taking her medical exam because she refused to remove her hijab. She asked whether an Ahmadi girl faced with such a situation should remove her hijab?

Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa said: “If one’s head is covered, and the face was bare, then no one could stop you. If you cover your head and place your veil just below your chin, I do not think anyone would stop you. If even then, someone stops you, you should still take care of your modesty and the clothes; and take legal action against them to determine why you were stopped. Nazarat-e-Talim should also try to resolve this matter by writing to their administration, and then one can also take legal action, the student should too.

“Firstly, what is the extent of the restriction? One restriction could be to remove the veil completely and bare the head; such a restriction is imposed nowhere. In Indian society, there are Hindu and Sikh women who cover their heads. So, to what extent are you prohibited? This must be defined first. If you are told to bare your face only, then there is no problem; one may then take the exam with one’s face bare while the head is covered with a scarf, and also wear a coat.”

Adeela Sahiba said that some education centres have told Muslim girls to even take their scarves off.

Hearing this, Huzooraa said: “Then a report should be filed against them. [...] Is one allowed to wear a dupatta? Even Hindus wear a dupatta.” The questioner answered in the affirmative.

Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa explained: “If one wears a coat, loose and modest clothes, and covers their head with a dupatta, then nobody can object, as Hindus and Sikhs all do the same. And, in this way, one can wear a dupatta and take their exam.”

Huzooraa said, in addition to this, one should also peacefully fight one’s case while staying within the limits of the law and raise the question as to why such discrimination occurred. Otherwise, in the future, they may also start discriminating against others such as Sikhs for wearing turbans etc. Huzooraa said that one should raise their voice against such discrimination by writing to newspapers.

Huzooraa added that one should ask themselves whether they want to give precedence to faith over the world by ُ ‫ ال ْ َح َی‬i.e. َ �‫اء ِم َن ال‬ acting upon the hadith ‫ان‬ ِ ‫یم‬ ِ ‘Modesty is part of faith.’ (Sahih Muslim, Kitab al-Iman, Hadith 36) or compromise the faith for the sake of the world instead.

Huzooraa also said that during the coronavirus pandemic people used to wear masks. Even then, people’s faces were hidden. If masks were allowed, then why the restriction against purdah?

In the end, Huzooraa said that in any case, wearing at least a dupatta is compulsory even under such circumstances, and if one is not allowed to take the exam with it, then they should leave the exam and take

legal action.

Uzma Muneer Sahiba, who serves in the department of homoeopathy at the Noor Hospital and is also a firstyear student of MD homoeopathy, asked Huzooraa to what extent it is permissible for an Ahmadi woman to take pictures while wearing a veil. She said that on many occasions such as professional events, some Ahmadi women are asked by nonAhmadis or non-Muslims why they do not want to be included in group photos even while observing purdah.

She asked Huzooraa what one should do in such a situation.

Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa said: “If one is part of a group photo while they are observing purdah, and their head is also covered; and according to the commandment of the Holy Quran, their body is also fully covered - whether it is covered with a coat or a chador - then, if a [group] photo is taken, it is not a problem.

However, if one’s face is bare, the head is also bare, and the dress is not modest, then it is wrong.”

Uzma Muneer Sahiba further requested Huzooraa if she can ask another question. Upon being given permission, she said that when calamities and wars occur, in which many innocent people are killed, people ask where God is. She added that even in her medical profession, some patients, who are disabled, ask where God is.

Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa answered that Allah’s law of nature is always in action. Allah has not stated anywhere that if people go against His laws of nature, He will still save them. Wars occur, bombs explode, and innocent and young children also die as a result. Wars are the result of human wrongdoing. With every action, there is a reaction. Hence, there are wars and there are losses as a result of them. If someone says that he will start a war but avoid its losses, then that is impossible.

As for the question of why some children are born disabled, it is, Huzooraa said, due to human weaknesses because of which some children are born disabled.

Huzooraa said that she could research this and see. However, God does not place the same burden of the sharia on such children and recompenses them in the Hereafter.

Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa said that Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud’sra books, Ten Proofs for the Existence of God and Hastie-Bari Ta‘ala deal with this issue and encouraged the questioner to read these two books for a detailed answer to her question.

Hania Sehrish Sahiba, a student of computer science, asked how one could relate and connect the latest innovations in computer science, such as artificial intelligence and data analytics, to the teachings of the Holy Quran. She further asked how one could gain Allah’s blessings after learning and using these technologies.

Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa answered: “Allah Almighty said that any invention which did not interfere with the law of Allah was permissible and one was allowed to take benefit from it.” However, the Holy Quran specifically prohibited the alteration of God’s creation by way of cloning for example. Huzooraa added, “The Holy Quran says that whatever is beneficial for mankind, is permissible to

AL HAKAM | Friday 13 January 2023

do. [...]”

Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa then said that when a believer gains any achievement in their research, they attribute their success to the blessings of Allah, whereas an atheist who also works hard, and sees the same achievements, will attribute their success to their intellect and knowledge. Huzooraa explained that both achieve the same result, however, the believer, who achieves success by

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following the teachings of the Holy Quran, will attain both worldly success and that of the Hereafter because they thank Allah and attribute their achievements to Him and His blessings.

Sadia Hameed Sahiba asked Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa that during online teaching, where the teacher is required to teach via webcam, some students record the screen and upload it to YouTube. She asked Huzooraa how an Ahmadi Muslim

teacher should take care of her purdah in such a situation.

Huzooraa said that if one is teaching while observing the hijab, and one’s forehead to the chin is bare, then there is no issue with teaching in such a hijab. If a student records the class, Huzooraa said, and uploads it online for the benefit of other students then there is no problem with it. However, Huzooraa said that one should not take this to mean that

as one’s face is bare, one could forgo the commandment of purdah altogether, this is wrong. Huzooraa added that this does not mean that one could start uploading their photos on social media.

Huzooraa then conveyed his salaam and the meeting came to a successful conclusion.

(Report prepared by Al Hakam)

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Friday 13 January 2023 | AL HAKAM

This Week in History

13 - 19 January

A selection from the first 15 blessed years of Khilafat-e-Khamisa

15 January 15 January 2016: During his Friday Sermon on this day, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa spoke about Chaudhry Abdul Aziz Dogar Sahib, who had passed away on 11 January. He had the opportunity to serve the Jamaat in various capacities, in Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V inaugurating the Noor Mosque in Crawley Pakistan, the Gambia and Germany. In 1974, he had been unjustly imprisoned due to his faith. He had the opportunity to serve as the chairman 13 January 2005: During his tour of the Ahmadiyya Medical Association of Spain, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih and the president of the Ahmadiyya Vaa granted an audience to the missionaries serving in Spain, and Traders’ Association as well. gave them valuable guidance in relation to fulfilling their duties. aa

13 January

14 January 14 January 2005: During his Friday Sermon on this day, delivered from the Basharat Mosque, Spain, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa urged the Jamaat in Spain to build a mosque in Valencia, which is the third most populous city in the country.

16 January

16 January 2004: During his Friday Sermon on this day, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa urged the members of the Jamaat to pray for the Jalsa Salana Bangladesh, which was being held despite severe opposition from the opponents.

16 January 2009: During his Friday Sermon on this day, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa mentioned the oppression

being inflicted on the Palestinian Muslims, and called the attention of the Jamaat to remember them in prayers, and to make donations to UN-approved organisations such as Save The Children to help the oppressed ones. Huzooraa mentioned that Humanity First would also send its help there.

16 January 2015: During his Friday Sermon on this day, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa spoke about Maulvi Abdul Qadir Sahib Dehlavi, a darwesh of Qadian, who passed away on 10 January 2015 at the age of 97. He had graduated from Madrassa-e-Ahmadiyya as Maulvi Fazil, and had the opportunity to serve the Jamaat in various capacities, such as general secretary of the Ahmadiyya neighbourhood in Qadian, Naib Nazir Da‘wat-o-Tabligh, Mu‘awin Nazir-e-A‘la, Nazim Jaidad, Qazi-e-Silsila, Auditor Sadr Anjuman Ahmadiyya, Secretary Bahishti Maqbarah, and Naib Sadr Ansarullah.

16 January 2016: Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa addressed the joint convocation ceremony of Jamia Ahmadiyya UK and Canada in Haslemere, UK. Seventeen graduates from the UK and eight graduates from Canada received their Shahid degrees from Huzooraa.

17 January 17 January 2014: During his Friday Sermon on this day, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa mentioned Arsalan Sarwar Sahib of Rawalpindi, Pakistan, who was martyred on 14 January, aged 17. He was studying FSc (pre-engineering). He was a musi, and was serving as sa’iq in Majlis Khuddam-ul-Ahmadiyya Satellite Town, Rawalpindi.

18 January 18 January 2014: Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa inaugurated the Noor Mosque in Crawley in West Sussex, UK. 18 JANUARY 2015: During his Friday Sermon on this day, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa responded to the publication of another caricature depicting the Holy Prophet Muhammadsa on the cover of Charlie Hebdo.

Addressing the issue, Huzooraa said that such caricatures grieved and pained peace-loving Muslims throughout the world and were to be condemned.

However, he said that any form of violent or illegal response could never be justified and was completely against the teachings of Islam. Huzooraa also said that taking to the streets in protest was not an appropriate response but rather Muslims should respond by increasing in prayer and by offering salutations on the Holy Prophetsa.

19 January 19 January 2018: During his Friday Sermon on this day, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa mentioned Sahibzada Mirza Khurshid Ahmad Sahib, who had recently passed away. He was serving as the Nazir-e-A‘la and Amir-e-Muqami, Sadr Anjuman Ahmadiyya Pakistan. He was the great-grandson of the Promised Messiahas.

Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa addressing the joint convocation ceremony of Jamia Ahmadiyya UK and Canada

AL HAKAM | Friday 13 January 2023

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Answers Cremation, ‘iddah, wali of a widow to Everyday or a divorcee, Fiqh-e-Ahmadiyya, Issues Part 47 nubuwwat and mujaddidiyyat Guidance regarding basic Islamic issues that Hazrat Amirul Momineen, Khalifatul Masih Vaa, has given on various occasions in his written correspondence and during MTA programmes is being published officially below for everyone’s benefit.

Cremation due to lack of burial space A missionary from Japan wrote to Hazrat Amirul Momineen, Khalifatul Masih Vaa that people in Japan preferred to cremate bodies instead of burying them, due to the scarcity of land and people turning away from religion, as well as a past epidemic being linked to burying dead bodies. He asked, how one could admonish them in this regard.

Huzoor-e-Anwaraa, in his letter dated 29 October 2021, provided the following guidance regarding this issue: “The fact of the matter is that Allah has imbued respect for the dead in human nature. Hence, those who bury their dead do so because they do not wish them to be desecrated. Likewise, those who cremate their dead or feed them to animals also do so with the intention of preventing their dead bodies from rotting.

In their view, it is respect for the dead that requires cremation or feeding the bodies to animals. Anyhow, it is not only the followers of religion who respect their dead, but even those who do not follow any particular religion are compelled to do so because of a natural human instinct.

“Islam is a religion that is in perfect harmony with nature. It teaches that the dead should be buried. Hence, in the story of the two sons of Adam mentioned in the Holy Quran, Allah sent a raven to teach Adam’s son how to bury his deceased

brother’s body.

“The interment of the dead, as performed according to Islamic teachings, does not involve any kind of shirk [associating partners with God] or worship of those being buried. It is done only so that the dead body of a human being may be treated with befitting honour and respect and so that the bereaved, as far as circumstances allow, may visit the

grave and pray to Allah the Exalted for the deceased.

“As for the fear of spreading some disease by burying dead bodies, this is a false assumption because Allah the Exalted has placed such properties in soil that the human body gradually disintegrates and becomes part of that soil.

“So, when the next generation comes, with the passage of time, many people from that new generation forget their ancestors and gradually the names and marks of many graves are erased from the ground, and new graves are prepared in their place. There are many cemeteries in the world in which the dead have been buried over the centuries and many old graves have been replaced by new ones.

The same practice has also been employed in Jannat al-Baqi‘, the famous cemetery of Medina. Therefore, the argument of land depletion is not a strong argument against the practice of burying the dead.

“Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra has described the various aspects of the funeral practices prevalent in different religions and societies – including cremating or feeding them to animals – in great detail in his books Tafsir-e-Kabir and Sayr-e-Ruhani. (See Tafsir-e-Kabir, Vol. 8, pp. 179-180 and Sair-e-Ruhani, No. 3, Anwar-ul-Ulum, Vol. 16, pp. 317-322)”

A widow attending her son’s wedding during the ‘iddah period Hazrat Amirul Momineen, Khalifatul Masih Vaa, examined some of the fatwas issued by Dar-ul-Ifta Rabwah regarding the participation of a widow in her son’s wedding during the ‘iddah period, a wali’s permission for the marriage of a widow or a divorced woman, and also the method of citation used in those fatwas.

Huzoor-e-Anwaraa then issued the following guidance regarding these issues in his letter dated 29 October 2021: “Among the fatwas issued by Nizamat Dar-ul-Ifta, you have also issued the following fatwa regarding someone’s wedding ceremony, taking place during his mother’s ‘iddah period after she became a widow: “‘Mourning and attending a son’s wedding ceremony are two conflicting matters. In the case of your wedding ceremony, your mother could not spend her ‘iddah as a widow in a state of mourning. Hence, you should plan your wedding to take place after the completion of your mother’s ‘iddah.’ (Fatwa No. 13/11.09.2021) “In my view, this fatwa of yours is not correct. In ahadith, only widows have Continued on next page >>

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Friday 13 January 2023 | AL HAKAM << Continued from previous page

been ordered to spend four months and ten days in ‘iddah. However, with your fatwa, you are obliging others to join the widow in mourning and to postpone their essential tasks until the completion of her ‘iddah period.

“My daughter’s wedding ceremony also took place when my mother was going through her ‘iddah. After the demise of Hazrat Sahibzada Mirza Mansoor Ahmad, my beloved mother wrote to Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IVrh for guidance and Huzoorrh instructed for the wedding ceremony to go ahead on the appointed date and said that it was forbidden to go out of the house during the ‘iddah period, but it was not forbidden to participate in a simple manner in a wedding ceremony being held at one’s own house. That is why we made arrangements for the ladies in the verandah and courtyard of the house and Ummi, as per Huzoor’srh instructions, also joined this ceremony at home in a simple manner.

“Hence, if people choose to postpone such a wedding ceremony of their own accord, it is their personal decision, but it would not be appropriate for you to issue a fatwa prohibiting them from doing so.”

Wali of a widow or a divorcee “Similarly, you have also issued a fatwa upon someone’s inquiry regarding marrying a widow or a divorced woman without the permission of her wali, with reference to my sermon of Friday, 24 December 2004. If you have inferred from it that widows and divorced women absolutely did not need the permission of the wali for their marriage, then this is not a correct conclusion. That is because a maiden, a widow or a divorcee each needs the permission of the wali for her marriage, and on the occasion of her nikah, her wali is the one who makes the declaration [ijab-o-qubul].

“The sayings of the Holy Prophetsa and the established practice of the RightlyGuided Caliphsra prove that every woman, whether she is a maiden, a widow or a divorcee, needs the consent of her wali for her nikah. This position is also supported by the sayings of the Promised Messiahas and his successors. Hence, Huzooras states, ‘Islam did not approve that a

woman should marry someone without the agency of a wali, who may be her father, brother or some other relative.”

(Chashma-e-Ma‘rifat, Ruhani Khazain, Vol. 23, p. 289) “Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Ira has narrated a personal incident related to this issue in Mirqat al-Yaqin fi Hayati Nuriddin, the summary of which is that once he accepted the fatwa of some scholars (namely Syed Nazeer Husain Dehlawi and Shaykh Muhammad Hussain Batalvi) and intended to marry a widow without the consent of her wali, thinking that the following hadith was doubtful: ‫لَا‬ َّ َ َ �ّ ٍ ِ �َ‫اح ِإلا ِبو‬ �ِ‫‘[ ن‬There is no nikah without a wali.’

(Mishkat al-Masabih, Kitab an-nikah, Bab al-waliyyi fi n-nikahi wa s-ti’zani l-mar’ah, al-Fasl II)]. Then, in a dream, Allah the Exalted showed him the Holy Prophetsa twice in a somewhat displeased state and he understood this dream to mean that he should not pay attention to the fatwas of these jurists. Huzoorra states that, ‘I said to myself at once that even if the whole world were to consider this hadith weak, even then I would consider it authentic.’

(Mirqat al-Yaqin fi Hayati Nuriddin, pp.

158-160) “Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra states, ‘A woman came to Allah’s Messengersa to have her nikah performed [to someone], and he appointed her son, who was probably ten or eleven years old, as her wali. This proves that only men are to be walis. Since this woman had no other male wali, the Holy Prophetsa thought it necessary to ask this boy.’ (Daily Al Fazl, Qadian, No. 143, Vol. 26, 25 June 1938, p. 4) “However, as I mentioned in my aforementioned Friday sermon, a widow or a divorced woman has a greater right than her wali to decide about herself as compared to a maiden. What I meant by that was that if a widow or a divorced woman wants to get married to someone, the wali should not stop her unnecessarily, but should respect her will and marry her according to her wishes.”

Book: Fiqh-e-Ahmadiyya “On page reference have cited quoted in (Ibadat).

three of a fatwa under the number 20/27.09.2021, you Al Fazl of 16 August 1948 as the book Fiqh-e-Ahmadiyya Firstly, this reference is

incorrect. Secondly, if the original source is available, the reference should be given from that original source.

“I had someone look up this reference.

The quote mentioned in your fatwa is from the Friday sermon of Hazrat Muslehe-Maudra, delivered on 6 August 1948, which was published on pages 2 to 4 of the Daily Al Fazl Rabwah of 8 March 1961.

“The book Fiqh-e-Ahmadiyya contains many such errors, which need to be corrected. Direct the attention of Tadwine-Fiqh Kameti [the committee tasked to compile fiqh matters] to complete its revision work as soon as possible.”

Nubuwwat and mujaddidiyyat Someone from an Arab country claimed to be a prophet (nabi) and reformer (mujaddid). An Arab Ahmadi wrote a refutation of his claims. Some Ahmadi scholars from Rabwah, Pakistan, commented on his refutation. The person in charge of the Arabic Desk (UK) wrote to Hazrat Amirul Momineen, Khalifatul Masih Vaa, to seek guidance in this regard.

Huzoor-e-Anwaraa, in his letter dated 6 November 2021, provided the following guidance regarding this issue: “The sending of a prophet or a reformer

by Allah the Exalted to guide and reform the world is such a blessing, that it has no substitute in the world. Whenever Allah the Exalted felt the need to send a prophet or a reformer for the guidance of the world, out of mercy for humanity, He sent a prophet or a reformer to guide the world.

This attribute of Allah the Exalted is everpresent and eternal and no human has the right to declare this sunnah [practice] of Allah the Exalted to be suspended, because there is no textual basis for this in the Quran or the sunnah [of the Holy Prophetsa]. In what way God’s sunnah will be manifested in the future, only God knows best. However, in the Holy Quran, the ahadith of the Holy Prophetsa and the scriptures of the previous prophets, after the Holy Prophetsa, we only find the glad tiding of one jariullah fi hulali l-anbiya’ [‘Champion of Allah in the mantle of the Prophets.’].

“Our lord and master, the Holy Prophet Muhammad, the chosen one, peace be upon him, has also given the glad tidings of the establishment of a caliphate on the precepts of prophethood [Khilafah ‘ala Minhaj an-Nubuwwah] twice in his ummah. He said that this blessing would be lifted after having been established for the first time, but after giving the glad tidings of this blessing’s re-establishment for the second time, he kept silent. It can be deduced from this, that this blessing shall then last until the Day of Resurrection. (Musnad Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Vol. 6, Musnad Nu‘man ibn Bashir, Hadith 18596, Beirut: ‘Alam Al Kotob, 1998, p. 285) “Moreover, the Promised Messiahas, the most ardent devotee of the Holy Prophetsa and the Just Arbiter [Hakam ‘Adl] of the current age, on the one hand, declared himself Khatam as-Khulafa’ as per the the glad tiding he received from God Almighty and denied the coming of another Messiah after him. On the other hand, he has also mentioned the possibility of the appearance of thousands of the likes of the Messiah [mathil-e-masih] after

him. He also argued from various verses of the Holy Quran, the ahadith of the Holy Prophetsa and the history of other religions, that the lifespan of the human race was seven thousand years; the Holy Prophet Muhammadsa was sent in the fifth millennium and we were passing through the seventh millennium of this dispensation. Hence, Huzooras states: “‘We are now at the head of the seventh millennium and there is no room for any other Messiah to come after this, because there are only seven millennia that have all been divided into good and evil.’ (Lecture Lahore, Ruhani Khazain, Vol. 20, p. 186) He further states: “‘Since it is the last millennium, it was inevitable that the Imam of the Latter Days should be born at the turn of this millennium. After him, there is no Imam and no Messiah except the one who comes in his image, for in this millennium the world comes to an end, as all the Prophetsas have testified. This Imam, whom God has designated as the Promised Messiah, is the mujaddid [reformer] of this century as well as of the last millennium.’ (Lecture Sialkot, Ruhani Khazain, Vol. 20, p. 208) “The Promised Messiahas is also the mujaddid [reformer] of the final millennium, one meaning of which is that his successors who were to appear as part of the caliphate established through him on the precepts of prophethood [Khilafah ‘ala Minhaj an-Nubuwwah], as per the glad tidings of the Holy Prophetsa, were also to be mujaddids of their respective eras, owing to the blessings of their following and complete obedience to the Promised Messiahas. Hence, it is impossible for a mujaddid to still; appear, who does not completely follow and obey him. Discussing the possibility of the coming of a mathil-e-masih after him, the Promised Messiahas states: “‘We also want to make it clear that we do not deny that someone else may appear as the like [mathil] of the Messiah after us, because the likes of the prophets always appear in the world. Rather, God Almighty has already revealed to me by way of a categorical and certain prophecy that an individual shall be born from my progeny who shall resemble the Messiah in many ways, he shall descend from heaven and shall make the path of the people of the earth straight and shall grant release to those held in bondage and shall free those who are shackled by the chains of various doubts.’ (Izala-e-Auham, Ruhani Khazain, Vol. 3, pp. 179-180) “He further states in this regard: “‘I have only claimed to be the likeness [mathil] of the Messiah and I also do not claim that being only a mathil had ended with me. Rather, it is possible that ten thousand more mathil of the Messiah may appear like me. Nevertheless, I am the mathil of the Messiah for this age and waiting for another one is futile. And let it also be clear that this is not merely my idea that there can be many mathil-e-masih; rather, the same can be inferred from the ahadith of the Holy Prophetsa.’ (Izala-eAuham, Ruhani Khazain, Vol. 3, p. 197) “In another place, while elucidating this subject, the Promised Messiahsa states: “‘This humble one also does not claim that messiahship has ended with me and that no messiah shall come in the future.

AL HAKAM | Friday 13 January 2023 Nay, I believe and I say repeatedly that, let alone one, more than ten thousand messiahs can come.’ (Izala-e-Auham, Ruhani Khazain, Vol. 3, p. 251) “He further states: “‘Jesusas son of Mary reached the age of 120 years when he died and joined his Creator. There in heaven, he stays in the company of John [the Baptist] because both had similar experiences. There is not the least doubt that he was an extremely righteous man and a prophet of God. However, to call him ‘god’ is tantamount to disbelief. Hundreds of thousands of people like him have passed away and will come in the future and God is never tired of exalting righteous people in the past or in the future.’ (Tazkirat-ush-Shahadatain, Ruhani Khazain, Vol. 20, p. 29) “Thus, this is the last millennium of that dispensation during which God sent the spiritual son and the most ardent devotee of the Holy Prophetsa, in exact accordance with his prophecies as the Promised Messiah and the Khatam al-Khulafa’. It can be deduced from the prophecies of the Holy Prophetsa and the sayings of the Promised Messiahas that, by the grace of Allah the Exalted, since this is the era of the Islamic Ahmadiyya Caliphate, established through the Promised Messiahas in the last millennium, therefore, if ever there is a need for a reformer for the reformation of the world, Allah the Exalted will raise someone from among the followers of the Promised Messiahas for that reformation, who will be the Khalifa of the time and will also be granted the status of his like [mathil] and a reformer [musleh] in addition to being a caliph, as Allah the Exalted conferred this status on Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra in exact accordance with the glad tidings given to the Promised Messiahas. Hence, while elucidating the status of that promised caliphate, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra states: “Moreover, it is not just a question of any caliphate, but a question of a promised caliphate. It is a question of a caliphate established by divine inspiration and revelation. One kind of caliphate is when God Almighty causes people to elect a caliph and then He endorses him, but this one is not only such a caliphate. That is, I am not only a caliph because, on the day after the demise of Hazrat Khalifah Ira, the members of the Ahmadiyya Community gathered together and agreed on my caliphate, rather, I am also a caliph, because, even before the caliphate of Khalifa Ira, the Promised Messiahas had also said, on the authority of divine inspiration [ilham], that I would become a caliph. Thus, I am not just a caliph but a promised caliph. I am not an appointee [ma’mur] but my voice is the voice of God Almighty because God Almighty gave this news through the Promised Messiahas. In other words, the position of my caliphate is between Ma’muriyyat and Khilafat. This is not an opportunity for the Ahmadiyya Community to let go and still be exonerated

by God. Just as it is true that prophets do not appear every day, so it is also true that promised caliphs do not appear every day.’ (“Report Majlis-e-Mushawarat 1936” in Khitabat-e-Shura, Vol. 2, p. 18)” (Compiled by Zaheer Ahmad Khan, Head of Records Department, Private Secretariat, London. Translated by Al Hakam.)

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Friday 13 January 2023 | AL HAKAM

100 Progress of Islam Ahmadiyyat in North

Years Ago...

America, Germany, Nigeria, Mauritius, Ceylon and Egypt The Review of Religions [English], January, February and March 1923

North America Dr Mufti Mohammad Sadiq is doing very useful work in the USA. Our readers are probably aware that we have purchased a decent house in Chicago, a part of which (the house) has been set aside as a mosque.

The Moslem Sunrise, our quarterly magazine edited by our Brother Mufti Sadiq, is regularly published and is indeed proving very useful for propaganda work.

Our brother has made it very interesting and every issue is eagerly waited for and read by the subscribers. Conversions to Islam [take place] daily and every issue of the Moslem Sunrise contains a list of the new converts. These converts come from both the white and the negro [black] populations of the country and some of them are very zealous in their new faith.

Our missionary has also succeeded, by the grace of Allah, in winning some converts from among the Christian clergy. Besides private interviews, regular public lectures are also delivered every week and lessons in Arabic are given twice a week. Brother Muhammad Din BA has been sent to relieve Mufti Sahib and he has already reached America.

enter the fold of Ahmad[as] simply to be able to take part in this pious movement.

Nearly forty non-Ahmadi ladies have so far joined the Ahmadiyya Movement in this connection. So, the first mosque in Germany will be built entirely with the subscriptions of Ahmadi ladies.

Nigeria Our missionary work in Nigeria is in a prosperous state. A large number of men have joined the Ahmadiyya Movement and they are now being educated and trained in the doctrines of our movement, and it seems the new converts are fast imbibing true zeal for the faith. A nonAhmadi father was hard on his Ahmadi

The climate in Nigeria has adversely affected his health. He will however be remembered as the Pioneer Ahmadiyya Missionary in West Africa. The work in Nigeria is now being carried on by Hakim Fazl-ur-Rahman. But the work there is so great and the field so vast that it is very difficult for one man to shoulder the whole task. Consequently, the sending of another missionary to Nigeria is under consideration by our missionary department at Qadian.

Mauritius The Ahmadiyya Community in Mauritius is now a well-established Community and has, thank God, imbibed the true

Egypt

Germany It has been decided to establish a mission in Germany and Brother Mubarak Ali BA of the London Mission has gone to Germany to make preliminary arrangements.

He has bought around two acres of land in a good part of Berlin and Hazrat Khalifatul Masih [IIra], Head of the Ahmadiyya Community, Qadian, has appealed to the female members of the Ahmadiyya Community to raise a sum of 50,000 rupees for the purpose of building a mosque and a house there.

No male member is permitted to make any contribution to the fund so that our sisters may feel the weight of their responsibilities and the world may know that the pious zeal of faith is not confined to the male members of the Community but that Ahmadi ladies are also as good followers of Ahmad as their brothers in faith, and it is a matter of immense gratification for us to know that the appeal of the Khalifatul Masih has not fallen on deaf ears. Ahmadi ladies have shown an enviable zeal of faith and have risen to meet the occasion to the best of their powers, for, although hardly a month has passed since the appeal was made, our sisters have already raised a sum of 40,000 rupees, i.e., four-fifths of the whole sum required. Their zeal is so great that they have tempted non-Ahmadi ladies to also

on the island, but the proposal has not yet been put into practice for want of a suitable man. Personally, we think that if Hafiz Sufi Ghulam Mohammad BA, now working in Mauritius, could be spared for Ceylon, it would, God helping, do immense good to the Ceylon Ahmadiyya Community which is in great need of a local spiritual leader. The Ceylonese students who came to Qadian for religious education have mostly gone back to Ceylon. But it is to be regretted that, on account of the shortness of the period of training and certain other causes, these students could not receive proper training. The Ceylonese boys, however, who are now studying in our High School at Qadian, are making good progress.

son and pressed him to renounce Ahmad.

“Father, listen,” the boy said, “I will leave your house, but I will not leave Ahmad[as].”

There was some trouble on account of the non-Ahmadis who badly harassed the new converts, and the government officials, not knowing the real state of affairs, decided in favour of the latter, but upon more mature consideration, the matter was decided in a way that was equitable to both parties, though it must have been unpalatable to the nonAhmadis. Our missionary has been very busy with interviews. Local chiefs have also been approached and the message of Ahmadiyyat has been conveyed to them. Some of them are very favourably inclined toward the movement. It has been decided to open schools for the education of Ahmadi children and an Ahmadiyya madrasa has already been established in Lagos. The number of boys is very encouraging. Brother Nayyar has come back to England and will stay there for some time before starting for India.

Ahmadiyya spirit. The work of educating and training is being very ably conducted by our Brother Hafiz Sufi Ghulam Muhammad BA and Brother Maulvi Obaidullah. Missionary work is also carried on satisfactorily. One Mauritius student is under training at Qadian and we hope to be soon able to send him for work to his native land and thereby spare at least one of our missionaries from Mauritius for some other field. Another Mauritius student who was formerly at Qadian has proceeded to England for medical training, after which he intends to devote himself to the Ahmadiyya Mission work.

Ceylon Our Ceylon brethren are always up and doing. Their zeal for faith sometimes throws them into trouble, which they joyfully bear. It has long been under consideration by our Missionary Department to establish a regular Mission

Sheikh Mahmud Ahmad is doing very useful work in Egypt. Detailed reports of his work are regularly published in the Al Hakam, Qadian – a weekly vernacular paper edited and published by his able father. It appears that Sheikh Mahmud has succeeded in gaining access to the high and intellectual society of Cairo with whom he seems to be popular. We have not yet heard of any public lecture delivered by him in Egypt, but his private interviews and his taking part in social functions are believed to be creating a healthy influence. We wish him every success.

(Transcribed by Al Hakam from the original, published in The Review of Religions [English], January, February and March 1923)

Tahajjud prayer in Kosovo to mark the new year Besmir Yvejsi, Kosovo Correspondent

Following the tradition of the worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat, Jamaate-Ahmadiyya Kosovo organised congregational tahajjud prayer on 1 January 2023 to mark the new year.

The members offered tahajjud prayer in three cities, Prishtina, Peja and Mitrovica, and prayed for the peace of the world and harmony amongst all mankind.

AL HAKAM | Friday 13 January 2023

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Our periodicals serve as a means to foster a strong connection with the Jamaat: Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud’s advice for the Community

Hazrat Sahibzada Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmadra with his companions during their visit of different religious institutions of India, 1912, Hazrat Sheikh Yaqub Ali Irfanira holding an issue of Al Hakam

Ata-ul-Haye Nasir Al Hakam

On 27 December 1919, Hazrat Muslehe-Maud, Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmadra delivered an address at the Jalsa Salana Qadian.

During his address, Huzoorra spoke about the importance of the Jamaat’s periodicals, and said: “I advise you with great emphasis that during this era, it is an absolute negligence to not pay attention to this means of the propagation of religion.

[One must remember] what Hazrat Sahibas [the Promised Messiah] said about the newspapers, and what titles he gave them.

He used to say that ‘Al Hakam and Badr are my two arms.’ […]

“Therefore, I ask you on behalf of the newspapers that you should subscribe to them and assist their editors. Not only should literate people subscribe to them, but even those who cannot read should buy the newspaper and request someone else to read it out for them. […]

“I once again advise you to pay attention to Al Fazl as well, which is an organ of our Jamaat, and to [The] Review [of Religions]

– about which I can say nothing more than what has been said by Hazrat Sahibas. Then, there are Nur, Faruq, Tash-heez-[ul-Azhan], and Al Hakam. These four have been doing a great job.

“In regards to Al Hakam, I would say that it is still continuing its efforts like a twinkling lamp [chiragh]. Its steadfastness is also very commendable. I am well aware of its financial situation, and I even know that sometimes its management has to face a hand-to-mouth situation, however, they have never given up despite these circumstances.” (Anwar-ul-Ulum, Vol. 4, p.

476) On 27 December 1920, during his address at the Jalsa Salana Qadian, Huzoorra said: “I wish to speak about the Jamaat’s newspapers and magazines. Last year, I urged the members that they should subscribe to them. As a result, though there was some attention towards Al Fazl, [The] Review [of Religions], and Tash-heez[ul-Azhan], there was not much attention towards other [periodicals]. The number of subscribers to Al Hakam, Nur, and Faruq is very small. I advise you all to pay attention to subscribing to them, though I also wish to advise their volunteers to improve and make

[those periodicals] more beneficial.” (Islahe-Nafs, Anwar-ul-Ulum, Vol. 5, p. 415) In regards to Al Hakam, Huzoorra said: “It has been a characteristic of Al Hakam […] that it preserves the history of the Jamaat, and strives to instil a [new] spirit within the Jamaat.” (Ibid) In 1934, when the publication of Al Hakam resumed after a break, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra wrote a letter to Hazrat Sheikh Yaqub Ali Irfanira – dated 7 January 1934 – and said: “Al Hakam is the first ever newspaper of the Jamaat and the service it has rendered, as well as Badr in the last years of the Promised Messiahas, can never again be accomplished by any other newspaper, even in exchange for millions of rupees.

“I declare that whether Al Hakam survives in its present form or not, its name will forever endure. No significant work of the Jamaat can be considered complete without its mention, as it carries the history of the Jamaat.

“It is my heartfelt desire that Al Hakam – the name which suggests the reverence given to the Promised Messiahas by members of the Jamaat since the beginning – remains in its physical form also.” (Al Hakam, 14 January 1934, p. 3) During his Friday Sermon on 11 January 1935, Huzoorra urged the Ahmadi youth – particularly the students of Madrasae-Ahmadiyya and Jamia Ahmadiyya – to make a habit of reading newspapers.

Huzoorra said that the Promised Messiahas would also read newspapers

regularly, and he then mentioned his own routine of reading some newspapers before going to sleep.

Huzoorra continued by saying that reading newspapers was essential for effective tabligh – preaching. (Khutbat-eMahmud, Vol. 16, pp. 36-37) On 27 December 1937, during his address at the Jalsa Salana Qadian, Huzoorra said: “I wish to call the attention of members of the Jamaat towards the fact that it is essential for a community’s prosperity that its organs remain attached to the [main] body. […] Therefore, from the perspective of a community, until its members are connected to the roots, their progress and [spiritual] life are impossible.

“And in this age, [Jamaat’s] newspapers are the best means to foster such a connection. If one continues to receive the Jamaat’s newspapers, no matter where they are, it is as if they are present very close [to the centre]. […] The Promised Messiahas would always say that Al Hakam and Badr were his two arms.” (Anwar-ul-Ulum, Vol. 14, pp. 543-544) Huzoorra continued by advising the Jamaat to pay special attention towards the newspapers and magazines of the community. Since this was the age of publications – in accordance with the Quranic prophecy – it was the duty of members of the Jamaat to strengthen the Jamaat’s publications: “Therefore, I call the attention of Continued on next page >>

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Friday 13 January 2023 | AL HAKAM << Continued from previous page

members of the Jamaat to subscribe to the newspapers – though I have drawn the attention in the past on many occasions, it seems as if the members assume that I am urging them to support the newspaper itself, however, I do not urge them for the newspaper’s benefit, but rather, for the benefit of their and their progeny’s faith […]. Moreover, those who cannot read, should subscribe to the newspaper and give it to their non-Ahmadi neighbours and friends, so that they could read and come closer to the Jamaat. […]

“Whenever an opponent [of the Jamaat] targets some individuals, they do so when they think they could easily persuade them due to their having little acquaintance with the Jamaat’s teachings. However, if the members are strongly connected with the Jamaat and have full knowledge about the beliefs and teachings of the Jamaat, then the opponent can never dare to target them. Thus, subscription to the Jamaat’s newspapers is essential to foster a [strong] connection with the Jamaat.” (Ibid, p. 550) On 27 December 1941, during his address at the Jalsa Salana Qadian, Huzoorra said that it was an important responsibility of the members “to increase the publication of the newspapers and magazines of the Jamaat. They should remember that a tree that is not watered regularly, becomes bare at last, and according to the needs of this age, the newspapers are like the ‘water’, and thus, it is essential for one to read them. I have mentioned this need on many occasions, but

unfortunately, there is not much attention.

“Some even object due to their ignorance that ‘in the newspapers, the same things are repeated time and time again’. However, it is necessary to repeat the beneficial matters. If repetition is so wrong, then why do people repeat the acts of eating food and drinking water?

“Just like a human body’s need for energy requires one to intake food and water, similarly, their mind also requires that they are reminded about certain matters. In the absence of such reminders, the impact could fade away. [...]

“Therefore, reminding about something, in itself, is not an objectionable matter, since there are many things which are being repeated and one desires them to be repeated. [...] Thus, it is wrong to imply that ‘same points are repeated time and time again.’” (Al Fazl, 9 January 1942, p. 1) Huzoorra continued: “The members of the Jamaat must pay attention to subscribing to the Jamaat newspapers, to read them and to benefit from them. [...] I myself read them as much as I can. [...] I have not seen any article being re-published, but even if an article has been re-published, its style and way of narration would be different. This method proves to be fruitful, and even some ordinary points are very beneficial in some instances. [...]

“Therefore, members [of the Jamaat] are required to pay special attention to the publication of newspapers, and others should be encouraged as well. [...] The newspapers are not only beneficial for them, but essential for [the moral training of] their

progeny as well.” (Ibid, pp. 1-2) While advising members of the Jamaat about subscribing and preserving the Jamaat periodicals, Huzoorra said: “A day would come when they may not be in this world, but their progeny would be reading those newspapers, and refreshing their faith. It would be difficult for [their progeny] to obtain [old issues of the Jamaat periodicals]. Look, one finds it very difficult to obtain old issues of Al Fazl and [The] Review [of Religions], and many members have told me personally that they could not find old issues [of the Jamaat periodicals].

“Therefore, members [of the Jamaat] need to pay attention to taking benefit by subscribing to these periodicals, and archiving them for their coming generations.” (Ibid, p. 2) After mentioning the services and objectives of various periodicals of the Jamaat, Huzoorra said: “The members need to subscribe to these newspapers and magazines. One should consider the subscription to them and reading them as essential as breathing is for life, or as important as they deem their food intake to be. [...] I hope that from now onwards, the members will pay attention to subscribing to the newspapers and magazines.” (Ibid) At another instance, while shedding light on the importance of newspapers for a nation’s prosperity, Huzoorra said: “A newspaper is the sign of a nation’s life.

A nation that desires to flourish is required to continue its newspaper, and to make a habit of reading it.” (Al Fazl, 31 December

1954) During his address at the Jalsa Salana Rabwah, Pakistan, on 27 December 1953, Huzoorra said: “One can enhance their knowledge either through a blessed company or by reading literature. [...] One should increase their knowledge through reading, which is very easy nowadays, since presses have been established, newspapers and magazines have been launched. They disseminate an immense amount of knowledge, and one can benefit from reading them.” (Anwar-ulUlum, Vol. 24, pp. 176-177) Huzoorra then mentioned various newspapers and magazines of the Jamaat, and said: “Anyhow, one should read these newspapers, and the newspapers should also strive to make themselves beneficial [for the readers].” (Ibid, p. 179) While advising the members to write academic articles for the Jamaat periodicals, Huzoorra said: “The authors of our newspapers and magazines, and the educated members of the Jamaat are required to pay attention to writing academic articles as much as possible.” (Ibid, p. 182) Huzoorra then advised the members of the Jamaat to write research articles for the community’s periodicals, and to present new arguments to prove the truthfulness of Islamic teachings. For this, Huzoorra said, they needed to broaden their scope of reading.

May Allah enable us to act upon this advice, amin.

AL HAKAM | Friday 13 January 2023

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The volatile situation of the world and Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V as an advocate for global peace Ali Fatty, Student, Jamia Ahmadiyya International, Ghana

In the world today, most internationally recognised and celebrated days are yearly commemorated but with the little effect seen in the purpose of their memorial; their celebrations have become more mundane and fanfare rituals.

For example, a few months ago, on the 21 September, the world celebrated the International Day of Peace to raise awareness of the importance of encouraging and promoting peace-building nationally and internationally, all amidst a global arms conflict that continues to distress and consume much of the globe.

In the past few months, the China, Taiwan and US political tussle and the Russian invasion of Ukraine have been the latest political sagas affecting international peace.

The entire world is in a political limbo and an economic recession that engenders much of the world’s standstill in peacebuilding.

According to a report by the IMF, the Russian invasion of Ukraine is continuing to destabilise the global economy: “Beyond the escalating and senseless destruction of lives and livelihoods, it has led to a severe energy crisis in Europe that is sharply increasing costs of living and hampering economic activity.’’ (The Guardian, 11 October 2022) In hindsight, after the destructive first and the second World War, humanity saw the dark side of war and to prevent the further happenings of world wars, world leaders came together and thought of formulating an international multilateral organisation that would be democratic, legitimate and would have the moral onus to deliver the aims of establishing peace in the world – which became known as the United Nations.

The United Nations was established for this very purpose. However, for many years, the organisation has been the subject of criticism and scrutiny for failing in its responsibility to uprightly address issues that are a bone of contention to all its member states and the world at large.

It is further accused of siding with powerful countries to oppress less powerful countries and has been used as a puppet by some powerful states to fulfil their vested interests at the expense of poorer countries.

The recent 77th United Nations General Assembly meeting held in New York City seems to be a watershed moment in history, as both the US president, Joe Biden and the Japanese prime minister, Fumio Kishida, called for the expansion of the Security Council and support for permanent and non-permanent seats in the Security Council for countries in Africa and Asia, to make the

security council reform agenda efficaciously.

This revelation came as several leaders of African countries beckoned that the 1.4 billion population of the African continent deserves better and fair representation in the United Nations General Assembly and Security Council; where decisions are made, that directly or indirectly affect the interests of their countries and citizens. (www. worldometers.info/world-population/africapopulation) The current political and economic status quo of the world shows that the threat of a Third World War seemingly looks very prominent. Many political pundits have underscored that the Third World War has in fact already started.

For example, according to the former British Army officer, General Sir Nick Carter, the global economic crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic could lead to new threats to the countries’ security, including a Third World War. He elaborated: “There is a risk [of a Third World War] and I think we need to be conscious of those risks. I think we are living at a moment in time where the world is a very uncertain and anxious place.”

He further expounded: “I think the real risk we have, with quite a lot of regional conflicts that are going on at the moment, is that you could see escalation lead to miscalculation and that is a thing I think we have to guard against.” (www.independent. co.uk/news/uk/politics/coronavirus-thirdworld-war-general-nick-car ter-armymilitary-b1669621.html, The Independent, 8 November 2020) For almost two decades, the worldwide head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmadaa has been raising alarms about the urgent need to arrest the decline of peace and the threat of an impending Third World War. In 2004, Huzooraa established the National Peace Symposium in the UK where religious leaders, dignitaries, ambassadors, politicians, diplomats, civil rights organisations, parliamentarians and all stakeholders of different backgrounds are invited and Huzooraa delivers the keynote speech, addressing guests regarding the bleak situation of the world, the lack of peace, the need for justice and the way forward based on the teachings of Islam.

During an address to the British Parliament in June 2013, he stated in succinct words that a lack of mutual respect among countries could cause a catastrophic world war: “The world has become a global village, and so a lack of mutual respect and a failure to join together to promote peace will not only harm the local area, city or country, but in fact will ultimately lead to the destruction

of the entire world. We are all well aware of the horrific devastation caused by the last two world wars, due to the acts of certain countries. The signs are that another world war is on the horizon. If a world war breaks out, the western world will also be deeply affected by its far-reaching and devastating consequences.” (www.reviewofreligions. org/9084/the-critical-state-of-world-peace/) On 14 March 2015, while addressing the 12th National Peace Symposium of Jamaat-eAhmadiyya UK, Huzooraa said: “The world is being consumed by various issues that are leading to frustration and resentment, which in turn are undermining peace. For example, the effects of the financial crisis continue to be felt in much of the world. […] Then there is the conflict in Ukraine and the global arms race. These are all threats to world peace that are not linked to Islam, but rather have developed as a result of an unquenchable thirst for power, influence and resources.” (“Muslim Leader says Justice and Honesty required to prevent Outbreak of third World War”, www.pressahmadiyya.com) On another occasion, in May 2021, during a virtual meeting with journalists from the Gambia, he told them that justice is a prerequisite in peacebuilding. He stated: “If there is no justice, there is no peace. If you have double standards, as we can see in today’s world shown by the big powers, they cannot maintain peace in the world. […] This is why you can see there is a disturbance in the world today. So, if there is no justice, there is no peace.” (Al Hakam, 28 May 2021, Issue 167, pp. 1-2) On 11 September 2021, during a virtual meeting of UK Khuddam with Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa, a question was asked as to what was Huzoor’saa opinion on the current state of the world. In response, Huzooraa said: “I have been telling, all the time, to the people of the world – to politicians, to leaders

– that they ought to change themselves and try to establish true justice, absolute justice, in the world and discharge their duties to their creator and their fellow beings. Otherwise, there is no guarantee [about] what is going to happen, and what we can see is a very dark and bleak end of this world.” (Al Hakam, 17 September 2021, Issue 183, p. 6) Moreover, Huzooraa reiterated that the recognition of God and fulfilling His right is a cornerstone in establishing global peace. In the contemporary world, it’s very clear that mankind is day by day moving away from the belief in God and material worship has become the new religion of the modern world.

Thus, any approach taken by world leaders to solve the mayhem proves cumbersome and a further conduit of chaos and fruitlessness.

The need to believe in God as a source of establishing peace in the world was beautifully encapsulated in this statement of Huzooraa: “I feel that it is quite possible that a war or a conflict could break out after this pandemic of coronavirus ends and its ruinous effects could last for many years before it returns to normality. Thus, we must pray that such circumstances may not arise, which may lead to wars and that world leaders act with sense so that the global situation can stabilise as quickly as possible and return to normal.

To achieve this, it is necessary that mankind turns towards God […]

“We should inform people that there is only one solution to help the situation of the world return to normal and that is for mankind to turn to Allah the Exalted and to fulfil His rights and the rights of His creation.”

(Al Hakam, 29 October 2021, Issue 189, pp.

7-9) Huzooraa, while addressing guests and dignitaries at a reception held in Zion City, USA to mark the official opening of the Masjid Fath-e-Azeem in that city, elucidated the mission of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in the world: “Our only mission and our sole aspiration are to win the hearts of mankind through love and to bring people closer to God Almighty.

So, to become true worshipers of Him and fulfil the rights of one another.

“It is the paramount objective of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community to direct mankind to the path of spiritual salvation and to ensure that all people, irrespective of their caste, creed, or colour, live together with the spirit of goodwill and harmony and in true peace and security.” (Al Hakam, 21 October 2022, Issue 240, p. 4) May Allah the Almighty enable mankind to find the panacea for the current volatile and vitriolic situation of the world. May he enable man to recognise Him, build a relationship with Him and fulfil His rights and the rights of His creations. Amin.

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Friday 13 January 2023 | AL HAKAM

Waqf-e-Jadid: A story of faith and sacrifice from Niger F E AT U R E S T O RY Ataul Fatir Tahir London

A

“

Above: An Ahmadi woman offers a chicken (an expensive item for locals) to the Waqf-e-Jadid Scheme.

Below: Ahmadis in a remote village gather to learn about faith from Ahmadi missionaries.

group of local Ahmadis gather in the remote village of Raddoua in Niger’s Birnin Konni region, awaiting Ahmadi mu‘allims (teachers) who are trudging through hot, dusty and harsh conditions to reach them.

The meeting between both parties is based on faith and love for Allah.

Niger is recognised as the poorest country in the world, but these Ahmadis in far-off villages gather to offer maize, peanuts, corn beans or whatever little crop they have in the way of Allah by donating it to the Waqf-e-Jadid scheme.

Getting to these villages to meet the local Ahmadis is a miracle in itself; a feat the mu‘allims like Hachirou Maman, Muhamado Amsodu and Suleymane Mousa readily take on.

There are no roads that lead to the villages, only paths formed by footsteps, bicycles and motorbikes. The mu‘allims – who all converted to Islam Ahmadiyyat and went on to learn English, Arabic, French and the local Hausa language to preach, have to carry their own water and endlessly push the motorbikes the Jamaat provides them through dry sand and rough terrain.

Ponder over an extraordinary example of

sincerity, loyalty and the desire to attain the pleasure and love of Allah the Almighty of an Ahmadi living in a poor country. People claim that these people are uneducated and poor; however, they possess a greater understanding of faith than those who are educated and are also more open-hearted."

- Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa, Friday Sermon 7 January 2022

“We fix the motorbikes every month.

It’s a routine,” Idrees Ahmad, an Ahmadi missionary in Niger, tells us with a humorous tone.

“When the rainy season arrives, we cannot use the bikes as they slip and after the rain, the ground is very sandy, so we really have to push the bikes at times and they break down often.”

Yet the local preachers and local missionaries continue their relentless efforts to reach the poor Ahmadis in far-off villages.

Suleymane Mousa tells us that the roads are completely unreliable, but the task of honouring the financial sacrifices of Ahmadis must continue. Describing the belief and passion for financial sacrifice in Allah’s cause within these Ahmadi villagers, Suleymane earnestly says, “By the grace of Allah, these people are very courageous.

They are not very well educated or rich.

They are poor, however, Allah the Almighty gave them the faith and courage for spending in the cause of Allah.”

Suleymane describes that the extremely heavy sacks of grains, maize and beans “that people have given in the cause of Allah” sometimes have to be split into two loads and taken back separately and the task of transporting the sack loads brings

AL HAKAM | Friday 13 January 2023

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Muhamado Amsodu - an Ahmadi mu‘allim - on his motorbike, passing through remote villages to reach Ahmadis.

A mu‘allim preparing his motorbike for the journey

more challenges. At other times, vans and trucks have to be hired to take the heavy loads as there’s no other way. “We don’t have a lot of resources, so when you need to buy something like clean and pure water, it is difficult. We even have to find clean water elsewhere. At times our motorbikes break down and we have to send them off to get them repaired and then return to resume the work. Sometimes the villages are far, up to 50 km and sometimes we will go there and come back.”

Suleymane reminds us that despite these arduous journeys to reach Ahmadis, there are daily prayers happening at the mosques. There is no port in Niger and it’s almost all desert here. There is little rain and people’s welfare all depends on their crop – but the crop only lasts for a few months, and after that, people have to find ways just to get by.” Idrees Ahmad says. During the season of “plenty”, local Ahmadis start eating from their crop harvest, selling some of it, and giving a portion in Allah’s way.

Idrees Ahmad describes the situation: “These people love Islam – they worship regularly and offer Salat. But they are very poor and their harvest really only lasts for a few months. After their harvest, they will enjoy their food for a few months, but after

that, they have to find some sort of work just to survive. They do not have constant work; after their food runs out from the harvest, they do little jobs like keeping an animal and selling it or cutting wood and selling it in the town.

“Everyday commodities like electricity are all luxuries. The Ahmadiyya Jamaat has funded facilities like water hand pumps or a solar panel system to have electricity to charge phones and watch MTA International. However, everything is scarce and there’s a lot of poverty in Niger.

“But despite all of this, these Ahmadis still give something in Allah’s way, however little. You can’t capture the real feeling on camera.

After collecting the sacrifices, the local preachers and missionaries bring the filled bags of crops back to the city to then sell, and use that money to help a scheme that enables Islam’s message to spread across difficult-to-reach areas of the world, like in Niger.

Though the financially restricted Ahmadis in Niger (and elsewhere) cannot give money towards Waqf-e-Jadid, with zeal, passion and belief, they give whatever they can out of their crops. Often it is in the shape of peanuts, corn, maize and beans; however, at times, people also offer

a chicken or some eggs – both of which are prized and expensive items in Niger.

Idrees Ahmad tells us that “If someone gives a chicken or some other small animal, it is a huge sacrifice. Even giving an egg is a huge sacrifice – the price of that egg is enough for one meal in Niger.”

These seemingly “insignificant” sacrifices of grain etc. remind us of the sacrifices of the early Muslims. The opponents of Islam derided them and their efforts but Allah honoured their sacrifices and described how those believers gave alms of their own free will, even though they had found nothing to give save the earnings of their toil. (Surah at-Taubah, Ch.9: V.79) They would, at times, toil all night to get a small quantity of dates, sell it in the morning and present the earnings to the Holy Prophetsa. (Al-Isaba fi Tamyiz Al-Sahaba, Vol. 7, p. 233, Dar-ul-Kutub al‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 2005) They were immensely eager to attain the pleasure of Allah the Exalted and they made astonishing endeavours to achieve this. God Almighty accepted their sacrifices and instructed those who came after them to follow their example. The accounts of the poor Ahmadis of Niger take one back to the times of the early Muslims and one is compelled to pray for them as well as those who are trying to follow their example in this era.

In Islam, giving charity is a way to purify one’s heart, which is something that every believer, regardless of wealth or poverty, must do. As a result, the impoverished have been told to participate in financial sacrifice as well, according to their means. Even if all you can afford to give is a single date, you should donate it, the Holy Prophetsa said. (Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab az-zakat, Bab ittaqu n-nara wa law bi shiqqi tamrah) The significance of giving, even when one has very little, is emphasised in this hadith. Thus, rather than relying on the philanthropic contributions of a select few rich individuals, Islam preaches to instil the sense of financial sacrifice in everyone.

Hence, the Promised Messiahas states: “The time has now come for all those who consider themselves members of my community to sacrifice their wealth for the sake of this community as well. A person who can afford even a penny ought to donate that penny.” (Noah’s Ark, p. 134) Last week’s Friday Sermon of Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih Vaa once again gave a glimpse into how long a way these seemingly small but sincere sacrifices of Ahmadis were going. Those “pennies” may not immediately make a huge material difference but the spirit of sacrifice that Khilafat-e-Ahmadiyya is instilling in every Ahmadi across the world, regardless of their financial status, will only grow and will become the means of bringing about a peaceful revolution and the ultimate victory of Islam Ahmadiyyat by the grace of God. Insha-Allah.

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Friday 13 January 2023 | AL HAKAM

ََْ َ ْ َ َ​َ ‫ﻭﻟﻘﺪ ﺑﻌﺜﻨﺎ ﻓِﻰ‬ ً ُ ‫ُ ﱢ ُ ﱠ ﱠ‬ ‫ﺔ ﺭﺳﻮﻻ‬ ٍ ‫ﻛﻞ ﺃﻣ‬

Prophets of

Allah

Prophet Noah: ‘And build thou the Ark under Our eyes and Our revelation’ “And We did raise among every people a Messenger”

Jalees Ahmad Al Hakam

Noahas was a prophet of God from Mesopotamia (Five Volume Commentary, Vol. 2, p. 994). He is well-known for the deluge that befell his people and the ark he was commanded to build.

Allah states in the Holy Quran that He chose “Adam and Noah and the family of Abraham and the family of Imran above all peoples” (3:34). Thus, Noah is among the chosen and beloved ones of Allah.

The history of Noahas tells us the story of the full annihilation of those who oppose God and the truth. He is, in the Holy Quran, the first prophet of punishment.

Alluding to the time of Noahas, the Promised Messiahas, in one of his Persian poems, states: �

‫د�� �د � از � �د‬ ‫� و�ِ �ح ی‬ ��‫� ی‬ ‫دیپ� دل �� �د از � و �د و �ر‬

“In the time of Noah, the world was filled with every mischief; “No heart was free from darkness and dust.” (Aaina-e-Kamalat-e-Islam, Ruhani Khazain, Vol. 5, p. 25) In the Five Volume Commentary, it is stated, with regards to humanity reaching its perfection: “[…] Humanity had to pass through four cycles to reach its perfect moral and spiritual development: (1) In the cycle of Adam the foundations were laid of human civilization. (2) Noahas was the founder of the cycle of the Shari‘ah. (3) In the cycle of Mosesas the details of the Shari‘ah were revealed and (4) with the Holy Prophetsa was completed the fourth and last cycle when the Shari‘ah became complete and perfect and man attained the highest peak of social, moral and spiritual development.” (Five Volume Commentary, Vol. 4, p. 2205)

The age of Noahas It is often said that Prophet Noahas lived to the ripe old age of 950. The Holy Quran mentions that the age of Noah was 950 years; however, this should not be taken to mean that he lived for 950 years. Hazrat Muslehe-Maudra has explained that 950 years does not allude to his age but rather to the era of his teaching.

Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IVrh states: “[…] Prophets lived under some divine law that is called sharia, and the age of their sharia is mentioned in those years, not their personal age.” (Liqa’ Ma’ al-‘Arab, 17 February 2000)

Noahas was a law-bearing prophet In Tafsir-e-Kabir, Hazrat Musleh-e-

Maudra, under the commentary of Surah alAnbiya` chapter 21 verse 78, explained that Noahas was the first Law-bearing Prophet.

Huzoorra writes that the Holy Prophetsa is reported to have said about Noahas:

‫أولن���رعتعلیلسانہال�راﺋﻊ‬

Meaning that Noah was the first Prophet

of the Prophets, Abrahamas. The people of Noahas were no different.

The Holy Quran states that the people of Noahas were steeped in idol worship. His people are recorded as having said: ‘And they say [to one another], “Forsake not your gods.

And forsake neither Wadd nor Suwa‘, nor

‫ﻧﻮح‬

‫ﻋﻠﯿﮫ ﺍﻟﺴﻼﻡ‬

to whom Law was revealed (Tafsir-e-Kabir, Vol. 5, p. 537). Huzoorra states that the Holy Quran alludes to this in the following verse: “Surely, We have sent revelation to thee, as We sent revelation to Noah and the Prophets after him.” (Surah an-Nisa, Ch. 4: V. 164) Huzoorra explained that the first law was revealed to Noahas as, in his time, mankind’s mind had reached a stage where it was able to comprehend the divine message of Allah.

Noahas preaches to his people “The people to whom Noahas preached his Message lived in Iraq, which lies to the northeast of Arabia.” (Five Volume Commentary, Vol. 5, p. 3036) Like all prophets, Noahas was chosen and commissioned by Allah the Almighty to spread the message of Tawhid to his people.

Addressing his people, Noahas said: “‘O my people, worship Allah, you have no other god but Him.’” (Surah al-A’raf, Ch.7: V.60) Noahas told his people that he feared a punishment would overtake them.

It has been observed throughout history that whenever a prophet is sent to his people, it is commonly seen that he finds them misguided. This was the case with the people of Arabia during the time of the Holy Prophetsa and during the time of the Father

Yaghuth and Ya‘uq and Nasr.”’ (71:24) The disbelievers at the time of Noahas had various idols. The Holy Quran mentions five in this verse. Alluding to the idols, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Ira, in his tafsir, explains that each idol represented something for the people and says that some had the figure of a man and others of a horse. (Haqaiq-ulFurqan, Vol. 4, p. 218) In Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab al-Tafsir, we read: “All the idols that were worshipped by the people of Noahas were worshipped by the Arabs later on. As for the idol Wadd, it was worshipped by the tribe of Kalb at Daumat al-Jandal; Suwa‘ was the idol of (the tribe of) Hudhail; Yaghuth was worshipped by (the tribe of) Murad and then by Bani Ghutaif at Al-Jurf near Saba; Ya‘uq was the idol of Hamdan, and Nasr was the idol of Himyar, the branch of Dhi al-Kala`. The names (of the idols) formerly belonged to some pious men of the people of Noahas, and when they died, Satan inspired their people to prepare and place idols at the places where they used to sit, and to call those idols by their names.

The people did so, but the idols were not worshipped till those people (who initiated them) had died and the origin of the idols had become obscure, whereupon people began worshipping them.” (Sahih al-Bukhari,

Hadith 4920) The beginning verses of Surah Nuh explain that Prophet Noahas exhausted all efforts to call his people to the divine message he was sent with; yet his people made equal efforts to deny him completely. The Holy Quran records Noahas as having said: “‘And every time I called them that Thou mightest forgive them, they put their fingers into their ears, and covered [themselves with] their garments, and persisted [in their iniquity], and were disdainfully proud.’”

(71:8)

Noah’sas people reject him It is replete with evidence throughout history that, generally, the chiefs of a nation are the first to stand to oppose the Prophet and his message. Whether it be the Pharaoh of the time of Mosesas, or the chiefs of Mecca who opposed the Holy Prophetsa, history is filled with examples of chiefs being among those who are foremost to oppose the message.

The Promised Messiahas has explained that those who are worldly bent and possess superficial mindset mock people who are sent by God. The chiefs of that time, after hearing Noahas, said that they saw him as being in manifest error. His people said, “‘We see in thee nothing but a man like ourselves, and we see that none have followed thee but those who, to all outward appearance, are the meanest of us. And we do not see in you any superiority over us; nay, we believe you to be liars.’” (Surah Hud, Ch.11: V.28) His enemies argued that neither he nor his followers seemed to have anything worthy for them to follow. They saw him as an ordinary person from among themselves.

Hazrat Noahas, after explaining to his people that he was commissioned as a prophet of Allah, said: “‘O my people, if my station [with God] and my reminding you [of your duty] through the Signs of Allah offend you – and in Allah do I put my trust – muster then [all] your designs, you and your ‘partners’; then let not your course of action be obscure to you; then carry out [your designs] against me and give me no respite. (Surah Yunus, Ch.10: V.72) The faith possessed by prophets of God is simply remarkable. They are fully convinced of the truth and desire to show the manifest error of their people so that they may be saved.

Through the study of the Holy Quran, in particular the disbelievers of the time of Noahas, it seems the well-off among them suffered from a sense of superiority. They refused to mingle with the poor. Their pique was one of the main reasons why they rejected the call of the hour.

AL HAKAM | Friday 13 January 2023

Enemies of Noahas demand punishment The Five Volume Commentary explains: “Noah’s opponents are represented as having brought forward six objections to reject his message: First, that he was only a man like themselves. Secondly, that he sought to impose his leadership on them. Thirdly, that no angel had descended from heaven to testify to his truth. Fourthly, that his teaching was opposed to the time-honoured beliefs of their forebears. Fifthly, that he was stricken with madness, and sixthly, that sooner or later he was sure to come to grief. These objections have always been raised against every Prophet and Divine Reformer in every age.” (Five Volume Commentary, Vol. 4, p.

2206) After persisting in their disbelief, the people of Noahas challenged him and demanded that Noahas bring the divine punishment he had warned them about. This is the extent the people of Noahas went to.

They said to Noahas: “‘O Noah, thou hast indeed disputed with us [long] and hast disputed with us many a time; bring us now what thou threatenest us with, if thou art of those who speak the truth.’

(Surah Hud, Ch. 11: V.33) Realising that his advice would no longer profit his people, Prophet Noahas knew that he must submit to the divine decree. Hazrat Noahas prayed to Allah to not leave him: “‘My Lord, leave not on the land a single dweller of the disbelievers” (Surah Nuh, Ch.71: V.27). This prayer lends an insight into Noah’sas mission and how he felt. He persisted to show his people the error of their ways, yet they went on to reject him. His enemies had transgressed to such an extent they threatened Noahas, “‘If thou desist not, O Noah, thou shalt surely be one of those who are stoned.’” (Surah ash-Shu’ara, Ch. 26: V. 120) Prophets of God are accustomed to resorting to the most effective weapon – prayer. Hazrat Noahas said that his people had treated him to be a lair and so prayed: “‘Judge Thou decisively between me and them; and save me and the believers that are with me.” (Surah ash-Shu’ara, Ch.26: V.119) It was revealed to Prophet Noahas that his people would not accept his message apart from those who had already accepted him as a messenger of Allah. The Quran states: “And it was revealed to Noah, ‘None of thy people will believe except those who have already believed; grieve not therefore at what they have been doing.’” (Surah Hud, Ch.11: V.37) The Promised Messiahas said, “If the people of Noahas had possessed true awareness, which inspires fear of God, they would not have drowned.” (Lecture Lahore, p. 6)

Prophet Noahas builds the ark Though Noah’sas opponents went to extreme measures to reject his message, they were not punished at once. The Holy Quran states that Noahas preached to his people for quite some time. God did not punish them all at once but gave them some respite. However, as their wickedness increased and it was clear that such people were not going to avail themselves of the call of the hour, the divine punishment came.

The Holy Quran states that Noahas was

15

commanded to build an ark: “And build thou the Ark under Our eyes and [as commanded by] Our revelation.”

(Surah Hud, Ch.11: V.38) The people of Noahas, like disbelievers of other nations and prophets, did not just ignore the call of the time but also went beyond to mock the messengers who were sent to them. Instead of profiting from their prophetic guidance, they ridiculed them.

Even when Noahas was building the ark, his enemies mocked him.

The deluge With regards to the people of Noahas, the Promised Messiahas writes, “The people of Noahas, for instance, derived no benefit from any kind of miracle, except the miracle of the deluge, which drowned them.” (Lecture Sialkot, p. 54) The Holy Quran alludes to the fact that Noahas lived in a hilly area surrounded by mountains where springs were found in abundance (Tafsir-e-Kabir, Vol. 3, p. 192), with Noah living at the foot of the mountain.

The Holy Quran describes the coming of the punishment with the following words: “And the fountains [of the earth] gushed forth, We said, ‘Embark therein two of every kind, male and female, and thy family, except those against whom the word has already gone forth, and those who believe.’ And there did not believe [and live] with him except a few.” (Surah Hud, Ch.11: V.41) The punishment that came to the people of Noahas was not just the gushing of the fountains. The Holy Quran states that the real cause of the flood were the clouds. Rain fell with force and so the water of the earth also gushed forth. The Holy Quran states, “Thereupon We opened the gates of heaven, with water pouring down; And We caused the earth to burst forth with springs, so the [two] waters met for a purpose that was decreed.” (54:12-13)

The matter of animals Noahas did not take two of all animals of the earth, as some people believe. In fact, Noahas was only commanded to take all those animals that were needed. Where the Holy Quran uses the word ‫کل‬, it does not denote all animals. In fact, another example of this is found in the Holy Quran. For instance, the Holy Quran states the Queen of Sheba was “given everything” (27:24). However, here, it does not mean she was literally given everything, it only means she was given everything that was needed and required.

Further, the ark built by Noahas, without a doubt, was not big enough to carry all the animals on the earth. Noahas being a messenger to his people alone is enough proof. He was not a universal messenger, so his message was only for the people of his area. It would, then, not be logical to embark two of every single animal.

Alluding to this matter, the Promised Messiahas explained: “The Bible and science possess such enmity between one another as though they were two wives married to the same husband.

It is written in the Bible that the flood covered the entire world, and that the ark was three hundred cubits long and fifty cubits wide, and that Noahas brought into the ark seven pairs of each animal that was pure and two pairs of each animal that was impure; however, both of these notions are false. Firstly, Allah

the Exalted has never punished a nation until He sends down His message to them through the Messengers, and when did Noahas preach to the entire world so that the whole of it deserved to be drowned? Secondly, how could all the creatures of the world, animals, both beast and bird, seven pairs of each, or two pairs of each, fit in such a small ark which was only three hundred cubits long and fifty cubits wide? This proves that the book has been altered and it is now ridden with many errors.” (Malfuzat, Vol. III, p. 237) Before embarking on the ark, Noahas said, “And he said, ‘Embark therein. In the name of Allah be its course and its mooring.

My Lord is assuredly Most Forgiving, Merciful.’” (Surah Hud, Ch.11: V.42) Noah’sas son drowns and the ark settles on mount Judi Noahas then cried out to his son, who did not board the ark. He said, “‘O my son, embark with us and be not with the disbelievers.’” (Surah Hud, Ch.11: V.43) As the place where Noahas lived was a hilly and mountainous area, his son said that he would take shelter on a mountain.

His son said, “‘I shall soon betake myself to a mountain which will shelter me from the water.’” (Surah Hud, Ch.11: V.44) Noahas replied that the punishment was a decree of Allah and there would be no shelter for anyone from His decree. Then, the Holy Quran states, “the wave came in between the two” and Noah’s son drowned. Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra explains that Noahas was saved from witnessing his son drowning as a wave came between the two, as such a scene would have been unbearable for any father to physically witness with their eyes. (Tafsir-eKabir, Vol. 3, p. 192)

The ark rests on al-Judi The Holy Quran states, “And it was said, ‘O earth, swallow thy water, and O sky, cease raining.’ And the water was made to subside and the matter was ended. And the [Ark] came to rest on al-Judi. And it was said, ‘Cursed be the wrongdoing people.’” (Surah Hud, Ch.11: V.45) According to the Bible, Noah’sas ark rested on the mountains of Ararat: “And the ark rested in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, upon the mountains of Ararat.” (Genesis, 8:4) Whereas the Holy Quran, as stated above, says it came to rest on al-Judi.

The Promised Messiahas, explaining this very matter, states: “The word Ararat, which is the name of the place where Noah’sas ark came to rest, is actually a compound from ara-reet, which means, ‘I see the peak of the mountain.’ The word reet means ‘the peak of a mountain.’ In the Holy Quran, Allah the Exalted has used the word judi, which means ‘My munificence and grace,’ that is to say, the ark rested on God’s munificence and grace.” (Malfuzat, Vol. III, pp. 237-238)

Noahas makes supplication As He promised, Allah saved Noahas and those with him in the fully laden Ark. Naturally, with the loss of a son, any father would feel saddened and grieved. Hazrat Noahas cried out to Allah “‘My Lord, verily, my son is of my family, and surely, Thy promise is true, and Thou art the Most Just of judges.’” (Surah Hud, Ch.11: V.46) His son, being a member of his family,

drowned. Noahas, respectfully, conveyed his grief to God and what He promised.

Upon this, Allah replied: “‘O Noah, he is surely not of thy family; he is indeed [a man of] unrighteous conduct.

So ask not of Me that of which thou hast no knowledge. I advise thee lest thou become one of the ignorant.’” (Surah al-Hud, Ch.11: V.47) Allah’s promise was for those who believed in Noah’s message. Truly, those who follow the prophet and his message are among his spiritual family who gain guidance through him and established a true connection with God. And this has been the way of Allah since the beginning.

Noah’sas wife “Allah sets forth for those who disbelieve the example of the wife of Noah and the wife of Lot. They were under two righteous servants of Ours, but they acted unfaithfully towards them.” (66:11) Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Ira, under this verse, states that the Holy Quran sets the example of Noah’sas and Lot’sas wives who did not believe. Huzoorra explains that Noah’sas wife was caught in the punishment of God and perished. She was unable to avail anything despite her relationship with Noahas. (Haqaiq-ul-Furqan, Vol. 4, p. 151)

Prophethood in Noah’sas progeny Prophets of God are sent to the world to guide mankind in their errors. They remind their people of the true living God and attempt to bring them back to the path of Tawhid. The story of Noahas is truly a reminder for mankind. A man, who seemed ordinary to his people, sent as a prophet of God, is remembered throughout the world.

Prophet Noahas was sent to his people who rejected him and arrogantly demanded to see the punishment.

The Holy Quran states: “And We did send Noah and Abraham, and We placed among their seed prophethood and the Book. So some of them followed the guidance, but many of them were rebellious.”

(Surah al-Hadid, Ch. 57: V.27) The verse makes special mention of Noahas and Abrahamas. After Noahas and Abrahamas, we read about prophets who continued to come throughout the ages to direct and remind mankind about the message of Tawhid.

Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra, alluding to after Noah’sas time, writes: “After Noah’s[as] time, the population dispersed into different countries. The influence of Noah’s teaching began to decline, because the means of communication were so poor. A teacher in one country could not communicate his Message to other countries.

It was but appropriate then that God should have sent a Prophet to each country, so that no country should be without His Guidance. This made for division between religion, because the human mind had not yet fully developed. As human intellect and understanding lacked the development to which they were to attain later, every country had a teaching sent to it appropriate to the level of development to which it had attained.” (Introduction to the Study of the Holy Quran, p. 11) Thus, as the Holy Quran testifies, after Noahas, came a galaxy of prophets.

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Friday 13 January 2023 | AL HAKAM

100 ‘Alhamdulillah, I am the first among my Years entire family to accept the Imam Mahdi Ago... and Promised Messiah’ Al Fazl, 1 January 1923 Hazrat Maulvi Abdur Rahim Nayyarra (1883-1948)

Return from the court of Emir Kano On my return, the Emir [of Kano] walked ahead of us and shook hands at the first entrance to bid me farewell. Here, I said a few words and urged the king to look after his subjects and do justice. I said that seeking education was the duty of all Muslims and the king should arrange for the education of his people. A minister interpreted my words and the Emir listened to them with a smile on his face and replied, “Yes, yes.” After the king left us, the minister accompanied me to the car. Just as there was a party of admirers with the Emir, a group of admirers came along with us towards the last two entrances. There was also a lady among them. The minister said something in her ear and she left. Reaching the car, I dismissed the minister, and with a heart full of praise to Allah and expressing gratefulness for the honour I received as a servant of the Promised Messiahas on that day, I got in the car. As before, the royal official riders were in front of us and the private secretary sat with me in the car.

Then, I reached the government school.

Government school visit While visiting the school, the Superintendent of Education of Kano could not come due to illness, but the Deputy Director of Education of the Southern Province was present. I had a discussion with the teachers and I also [asked] something of the students from all seven grades and listened to their replies.

The school is under the supervision of an old-fashioned teacher whose only job is to come and sit in it. Only English, Maliki jurisprudence, Arabic and elementary arithmetic are taught in this school.

The students are not at all familiar with geography. The medium of instruction is the Hausa language, which is written using the English alphabet and courses are also being developed in this language. People are not paying attention to education at all. Only the simple reading of the Holy Quran and the teaching of Arabic in private schools is considered sufficient. There is a great opportunity for the Ahmadiyya Jamaat to take up the work of education in these countries. If a college similar to the Madrasa-e-Ahmadiyya is opened in Kano, God willing, the Hausa people will not only be adorned with the pearls of education, but this country will also become close to the Jamaat. Eventually, the disbelievers will convert to Islam. I advised the students to

and a conversation started between the two friends. Both took bai‘at [of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IIra] at the hand of this humble one. Since the Lieutenant Governor and the Secretary of the North Provinces are on a visit, it was deemed appropriate to leave on the morning train. Consequently, I left Kaduna at 10:30am.

obey the government and become good Muslims.

My stay in Kano and achievements I stayed in Kano from 22 to 29 August [1922]. I carried out individual tabligh [preaching] on a daily basis and delivered public speeches. People, especially the Christian friends, asked a lot of questions.

The local priest came to visit and asked many questions. At one point, he said: “I am still a teenager. As compared to you, I lack experience and knowledge.”

Another learned and respected Christian came to visit and after the conversation, he said: “If a person has to accept a religion, they should accept Islam.”

I met Muslim merchants who came from Tripoli, Europe, Syria, and Morocco, as well as some other Arab people, and preached to them. I received a sheep, wheat, honey and rice as royal gifts from the Emir and the minister also presented two small sheep as a gift.

Six disbelievers converted to Islam and the Ahmadiyya Jamaat was established [in Kano, Nigeria]. At the time I am writing this report, the total number of women and men is about 80 members. The rest of the people are now giving special attention to Islam by the grace of Allah. Two pieces of land have been approved by the government for the proposed Talim-ul-Islam School in Kano.

The construction of the school will begin at the start of the new year, insha-Allah. It is estimated that the Jamaat will spend five hundred pounds on it.

Return from Kano The day of the return from Kano was a very busy day. The Honourable Resident, (who, by the grace of God, is now one of my European friends, with whom I have a friendly acquaintance), wrote to me, before leaving, asking me to visit the School of Industries and Handicrafts and the Survey School. A government car was sent for me for this visit. I would have really regretted it if I had come back from Kano without visiting these schools. The two schools are a source of honour and pride for the government because the first school preserves the local industry and handicrafts by decorating them in European colours and prepares the Hausa youth for a very useful field of life. The latter, i.e., Survey School, was a source of great joy for me.

Mr Murphy Surveyor showed me his work and informed me about the significant achievements of his government, which the British are doing in the country of the Hausa people. Loosely dressed and work-

Mena junction

shy Hausa boys were making such neat, accurate and admirable maps and working on the English and Arabic typewriters and printing presses that you will not find them any lesser than the English youths. Mr Murphy showed me the work of the local Hausa record keepers and cartographers, and he himself praised it.

Those who teach at the school know Arabic. The Surveyor General himself, acting as an interpreter, helped me talk to a teacher on the topic of jihad. Then I was shown a boarding school where students are taught English and Arabic. After visiting these two schools, I headed back home after seeing off the trusted official of the Emir from Kano who had come to bid me farewell. Then I reached the station.

There, an Arab on behalf of Sharif Najafa, who is a prominent merchant of Kano, was present to see me off. Mostly, Yoruba and Hausa friends were present at the station. We boarded the train in a hurry and many people could not even shake hands. However, by the grace of Allah the Almighty, I returned successfully from Kano and the train reached Zaria at 8pm.

Members of the newly established jamaat were present at the station. Isha prayer was offered at the station and friends were happy to hear the accounts of Kano.

I prayed for the perseverance of these people and reached Kaduna at two o’clock at night. There, Brother Mahmud Anwar was on the platform to receive me following the instructions of the telegram sent by the new convert station master of Kano. We said salaam to each other and an expression of happiness appeared on the face of this sincere friend. Yusuf Jackson, the telegraph man, also came. The luggage was unloaded

On the evening of 25 August [1922], I reached Mena. This place is a railway junction and the centre of a very important Christian mission. The headquarters of the Sudan American Mission is here. Many American white preacher men and women live here. My friend Mahmud Anwar had requested another station master named Mr Holder to arrange my stay at his house. Mr Holder came with me on the train. Brother Muhammad Omar, a resident of Sokoto, who is a lineman, was also on this train.

Consequently, Allah the Almighty Himself made great arrangements for my stay.

Mr Holder was very hospitable. He and his friend Mr Beliz studied the books, A Present to the Prince of Wales and [The Philosophy of the] Teachings of Islam. A lot of Christians came and asked questions.

The station magistrate’s department and court are located on a hill. I had to meet him because, without that, it is not possible to talk to native people. Thus, I met him and explained my reason for coming. A telegram was sent to the District Officer, which was answered the next day, and in the meantime, I got sick. Consequently, I could not do much work. At night, I was restless and continuously prayed. Allah granted me comfort and then I did some work in Mena on 31 August [1922].

Dawn Gola Dima The native town of Mena is under the rule of Emir Beda. The official position of the ruler of the town is known as Dawn Gola Dima. It means local ruler or numberdar [village chief] After receiving the official permission, I met the aforementioned chief.

Imam and the elders of the town were sitting on the floor according to the custom of the north. There were chairs for Dawn Sahib and me. In the reception room, there was also a horse owned by Dawn Sahib, which attracted the owner’s attention by spilling foul-smelling water from its body and he thus ordered to tie it outside of the room.

The court of Gola Dima opened and the Ahmadiyya preacher gave a speech. It was requested to ask questions after the speech.

An Ahmadi imam was nominated for the questions and important issues related to Ahmadiyya Jamaat were discussed by

AL HAKAM | Friday 13 January 2023 the imam with solid explanations. This conversation had a good effect on the audience.

Some prominent people [accept Ahmadiyyat] On the same evening, a Haji Sahib who has been to Mecca eight times and performed Hajj, whose name is Haji Muhammad bin Sulaiman, came and requested to [join the Ahmadiyya Community]. Haji Sahib is very close to Emir Beda and God willing, the message of Ahmadiyyat will reach the royal court of the Emir through him. That same night, Prince Abdullah, the uncle of Emir Sokoto, came with his two friends and our conversation continued for a long time.

Prince Abdullah was very impressed. While leaving, I asked them to pray at night. Thus, they prayed at night and came to pledge allegiance the next morning. A teacher also came with them and both of them said that they had received glad tidings that, “This person’s teaching was true.” Consequently, Sulaiman of Kano (teacher) and Prince Abdullah bin Muhammad bin Abu Bakr bin Muhammad Amirul Momineen Dawn Fodio pledged allegiance. I sent the book, Khutba Ilhamiyah [The Revealed Sermon] and gifts of rice to Emir Sokoto. May Allah guide Sulaiman Sokoto.

Prince Abdullah proudly said: “Alhamdulillah, I am the first among my entire family to accept the Imam Mahdi and Promised Messiah.”

Zangaro I left Mena on 1 September [1922]. Friends came with me to accompany me to the station. Prince Abdullah was also present at the station, along with other youths who work there and are close to Ahmadiyyat.

When the train reached Zangaro, people of the Jamaat, estimated to be around 20, were there waiting for my arrival. But as I was unwell, I apologised and promised to send another missionary to them.

At Zangaro, a train from Lagos crossed the northbound train. A young man came with a letter and African oranges and said he was carrying a special letter to Kano.

I was anxious, but when the letter was opened, it was from a chief who is close to Ahmadiyyat. He had requested that I pray as he was in some difficulty. Considering prayer to be the only cure, he sent his special assistant to me. Allah the Almighty

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surely accepts the prayers by means of the Holy Messiahas.

Return to Lagos Due to illness, weakness and financial constraints, all plans had to be cut short and seeing the big cities along the way, such as Ilorin, Rabadan, Oshogbo and Ibukota, made me feel sad, but whatever God does is best. On the evening of 2 September [1922], I arrived in Lagos. The secretaries reported that, by the grace of God, everything was going well. The speeches were being delivered on a regular basis. The inauguration of the school was scheduled on 11 September [1922].

While testifying in a case, the Resident of Colony said: “The only way to reform and enlighten the Muslims is the Ahmadiyya Jamaat.”

Chief Imam Mahmud, who was Amir in my absence, looked after the administration of the Jamaat very well, alhamdulillah.

Graduation ceremony of the Humanity First Ahmadiyya Vocational College, Liberia

Brief news from Lagos Talim-ul-Islam School Lagos was wonderfully inaugurated on 11 September [1922]. Six hundred students have been admitted to the school. People [join the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community] on a daily basis. Seeing the progress of the Jamaat, the wicked people have started a series of opposition and stones were pelted at our preachers last Friday night. They injured people with knives, bicycles were broken and some were stabbed. A case has been filed in court and four top barristers have been appointed. The accused appeared in court. Thus far, they have appeared three times in court. There will be no peace until they are punished. First hearing of the Mosque case was held last Thursday and the second will be tomorrow [on 11 October 1922].

We have received great news from the Benin region. A thousand men, including chiefs, have joined the Jamaat.

But unfortunately, I am sick and weak and cannot go there at present. Friends, pray for me that may Allah showers His mercy because I have a lot of work and my health is weak.

Abdur Rahim Nayyar, 10 October 1922.

(Translated by Al Hakam from the original Urdu, published in the 1 January 1923 issue of Al Fazl)

Farrukh Shabbir Lodhi, Missionary, Liberia

The Humanity First Ahmadiyya Vocational College Liberia was established in 2011 and since its inception, more than 2,000 students have graduated.

Humanity First Ahmadiyya Vocational College Liberia had the opportunity to hold its 14th annual graduation ceremony on 11 December 2022, in which two groups of graduates from the year received academic awards and diplomas.

The ceremony got underway with the recitation from the Holy Quran, followed by an introduction of Humanity First and an overview of the history of this college, presented by Wajih-ur-Rahman Sahib.

The principal of the college, Salman Ahmed Sahib, then provided a report on the events of the academic year 2021–2022.

A total of 522 students registered in six programmes during the year, including general and industrial electricity, tailoring,

computer, auto mechanics, and driving.

The guest speaker, Mr Wolobah F Kollie, Assistant Minister for Statistics and Research Ministry of Labour, was invited to speak after the report. He began by congratulating the graduating students and the college administration. The second thing he told the pupils was to work hard at whatever talent they had mastered and hunt for job prospects.

In addition, the guest speaker emphasised the significance of the private sector’s assistance given the government’s severely constrained resources. He thanked the Jamaat for the charitable work.

Amir and missionary-in-charge, Jamaate-Ahmadiyya Liberia, Naveed Ahmed Adil Sahib presented awards to the students.

The guest speaker thereafter presented the certificates to the students who had passed. All of the attendees sang the Liberian national anthem together at the end of the ceremony.

National Tarbiyat Camp, Sweden Zaheer Ahmed Secretary Tarbiyat, Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Sweden

Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Sweden held a fiveday Tarbiyat Camp at the Nasir Mosque in Göteborg on 23 to 27 December 2022. This camp was organised for members aged 15 to 25 and was attended by 79 members.

Five guest speakers, approved by Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa, delivered speeches and answered questions of the youth on various topics.

During the camp, the participants spent

a night at the mosque. Each day started with congregational tahajjud prayer, and the days were filled with lectures, interactive sessions, question and answer sessions and presentations from the youth itself. Local missionaries, Amir Sahib Jamaat Sweden, and secretary tarbiyat also led several sessions. Lajna Imaillah, Sweden, held their own sessions as well.

The participants enjoyed physical activities like skating and indoor sports as well.

All the participants were given a certificate of participation. Lajna Imaillah gave an additional gift to the female members to celebrate their centenary.

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Friday 13 January 2023 | AL HAKAM

Striking the balance between this life and the next: An Islamic perspective Atif Rashid UK

Belief in the Hereafter is a fundamental religious tenet that is often derided by atheists, who say believers should place more emphasis on this life as there is no proof of another.

In her 2015 book Heretic: Why Islam Needs a Reformation Now, the outspoken anti-Islam critic Ayaan Hirsi Ali claimed that one of the things that needs to change is that “Muslims need to start assigning a higher value to the rewards of this life than those in the hereafter.”

A 2021 report by the Pew Research Center found that 73% of the US adults believe in the concept of Paradise and 39% even believe that atheists can also go to Heaven. Of those surveyed, 92% of Christians believed in Heaven. So, the question of belief in the Hereafter isn’t something limited to Muslims or Islamic teachings.

Religion has always taught that our goal is to attain the blessings of the Hereafter.

What then of this life? Is there any space to enjoy the good things of this world, or does spiritual merit decrease the more we enjoy life? And do we need to prioritise this life more, as Hirsi Ali suggests?

In numerous places, the Holy Quran says the life of this world is not only fleeting and temporary, but its pleasures are little and short-lived.

“Would you be contented with the present life in preference to the Hereafter?

But the enjoyment of the present life is but little, as compared with the Hereafter.”

(Surah at-Taubah, Ch.9: V.38) “Say, ‘The benefit of this world is little and the Hereafter will be better for him who fears God; and you shall not be wronged a whit.’” (Surah an-Nisa, Ch.4: V.78) “Let not the moving about of the disbelievers in the land deceive thee. It is a small and brief advantage, then Hell shall be their abode. What an evil place of rest!”

(Surah aal-e-Imran, Ch.3: V.197-198) It’s not just the Holy Quran that proclaims this. The Bible says: “Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.”

This passage from John 12:25 has echoes of a hadith by the Prophet Muhammadsa wherein he said: “The world is a prison for the believer and a paradise for the disbeliever.” (Sahih Muslim, Kitab az-zuhdi wa r-riqaqa’q) The Torah shares these sentiments: “Man, born of woman, short of days and full of fear.” (Job, Chapter 14) Likewise, the Holy Prophetsa is reported to have said that this life is like a drop in the ocean compared to the next.

All religions teach the purpose of life is to prepare for the hereafter, which will be everlasting. And the actions and deeds we do here on earth, directly affect the quality of life we’ll have in the next world. This compels religious people to take this life more seriously than disbelievers, who have no fear of accountability, or hope for any

reward or recompense for their actions.

The Holy Quran not only tells us that the next life is better, it also reveals an eternal truth; time here is short.

“And on the day when He will gather them together, it will appear to them as though they had not tarried in the world save for an hour of a day.” (Surah Yunus, Ch.10: V.46) “And on the day when the Hour shall arrive the guilty will swear that they tarried not save an hour — thus were they turned away from the right path.” (Surah Rum, Ch.30: V.56) “On the day when they see that with which they are threatened, it will appear to them as though they had not tarried save for an hour of a day.” (Surah al-Ahqaf, Ch.46: V.36) The feeling that time moves faster as we grow older is a concept that scientists have tried to make sense of. In a 2005 study by psychologists at Ludwig Maximilian University in Munich, participants over 40 years old said they felt time moved steadily in their childhood but sped up through their teens and into adulthood. Time really does fly. One explanation is that the brain saves new experiences into its memory, not existing or familiar ones.

If you have ever been on vacation to a new destination and come back feeling like you have been there for months when you only went for one week, you can understand this phenomenon.

As children, we have many new experiences and moments of learning, so time seems to go slower. However, as we age and look back on our lives, our experiences become normal and routine. So, when you’re a 5-year-old, your few interactions and activities make up 100% of your experience, memory and time. One year is 20% of a 5-year-old’s life. But when you’re 50 years old, your childhood experiences as a five-year-old only make up 10% of your time, so it seems like a shorter period of time. One year becomes a mere 2% of your time. In the next life, all our actions and experiences will have happened in the distant past, so it’ll seem as though it was an extremely short period of time.

The concept of time will not even exist the way we understand it now. If the next life is an eternity, then 70-80 years of this life really will seem like barely one hour.

Another clue from the Holy Quran is to look at it from the perspective of God Almighty Himself. It states: “And verily, a day with thy Lord is as a thousand years of your reckoning.” (Surah al-Hajj, Ch.22: V.48) God is outside the bounds of time and space, while we are limited by these constraints. So naturally, in the eternal hereafter, a whole lifetime on earth will seem extremely short.

Another verse tells us that in the next

life, “the one possessing the best way of life among them will say, ‘You have tarried only a day.’” (Surah Ta Ha, Ch.20: V.105) Time does fly when you are having fun, but in hardships, it seems like an eternity. This verse gives a glimpse of what disbelievers will go through when overtaken

by Divine punishment. Their time living in ease, luxury and comfort will seem like but a day. It’ll be over before they know it.

When religion constantly tells us that the life of this world is short and with little benefit, it is merely a statement of fact. Islam teaches us to live in reality and not delude ourselves into thinking that we are here forever so that we become comfortable. The commandments against materialism and overindulgence make more sense.

When life is so short-lived, it is only rational not to chase and pine for luxury, wealth and materialistic desires. Having said that, enjoying the good things in life isn’t outright forbidden in Islam. Why else are we taught the prayer: “Our Lord, grant us good in this world as well as good in the world to come, and protect us from the torment of the Fire.”

(Surah al-Baqarah, Ch.2: V.202) Then the Holy Quran says: “Say, ‘Who has forbidden the adornment of Allah which He has produced for His servants, and the good things of His providing?’ Say, ‘They are for the believers in the present life and exclusively for them on the Day of Resurrection.’ Thus do We explain the Signs for a people who have knowledge.” (Surah al-A‘raf, Ch.7: V.33) Hazrat Ibrahimas prayed for his progeny to have the “fruits” of this life. The word thamarat which is translated as “fruits” also has meanings of wealth, possessions and income: “And remember when Abraham said, ‘My Lord, make this a town of peace and provide with fruits such of its dwellers as believe in Allah and the Last Day,’ He said, ‘And on him too who believes not will I bestow benefits for a little while; then will I drive him to the punishment of the Fire, and an evil destination it is.’” (Surah alBaqarah, Ch.2: V.127) The Promised Messiahas said: “I do not forbid you to employ material means within moderation; only that you do not become slaves to them like other nations and that you do not forget the God who is the very Provider of these means.”

(Noah’s Ark, p. 36) On another occasion, he said: The root of virtue is to not exceed in partaking of the lawful pleasures and desires of the world. For example, God Almighty has not forbidden food and drink, but if a man makes it his hobby to consume the same food and drink night and day, then he has given it priority over Continued on next page >>

AL HAKAM | Friday 13 January 2023

100

Years Ago...

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New converts in America and Mrs Watts’ love for Islam The Moslem Sunrise, January 1923

Hazrat Mufti Muhammad Sadiqra (18721957)

The Moslem faith

Out of the manuscripts left by our late Sister Zeineb, sent by her beloved husband, Mr HF Eldeen: Some loved, believed and followed him, The rest but scoffed and fought.

But strength and might God yielded him, Their scoffings set at naught.

For who can prevail against God’s chosen ones?

The Moslem Faith does not begin for man with Muhammad[sa], but with Adam[as].

Adam[as], Noah[as], Abraham[as], Moses[as], Jesus[as], all were Moslems – each loved and honored by Islam because they were sent

by God to teach people to worship and obey Him, and love and honor their fellowbrethren. Muhammadans [Muslims] do not hate Jesus[as] as [some] Christians do Muhammad[sa]. Ah, no. We love and revere him as one from God. Adam and Jesus[as] have resemblance in their birth to a certain extent.

Adam had no father, no mother – still he was a man – so was Jesus[as]. Does Allah, the Supreme, the Infinite, the Everlasting, need to have a son to help Him? Why should He?

<< Continued from previous page

his faith. The similitude of this is like the horse cart driver when he travels a long distance then after approximately 15 miles he feels the fatigue of the horse and allows it to breathe, stops and feeds it in order to remove its fatigue. Hence, in the same way, the prophets partake of the delights of the world. Prophets not only eat and drink but also partake of the delights of this world.

They marry, have children, eat and drink.

Prophets also partake in all these things.

(Abridged from Malfuzat, Vol. 4, UK, 1985, pp. 374-375 as quoted in www.alislam.org/ friday-sermon/2017-10-27.html) An allegation was levelled against the Promised Messiahas when Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Ira said the Promised Messiahas ate pilau (a traditional Indian rice dish).

Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Ira replied: “I have never read anywhere, neither in the Holy Quran or the ahadith, in which it states that it is forbidden for the prophets to eat this. What harm is there if he eats this dish?” (Abridged from Register Riwayate-Sahabah, (Unpublished), Vol. 5, p. 48, Narrations of Hazrat Nizamuddinra Taylor as quoted in www.alislam.org/fridaysermon/2017-10-27.html) Some companions of the Holy Prophetsa once vowed to fast all day, pray all night and keep away from their wives. When the Holy Prophetsa heard of this, he said “I eat

That one idea has been a stumbling block for seekers after Truth. In Islam, all those points are clearly defined. Is it any wonder that the Moslem people are strong and consistent in their faith?

The real Muhammadan [Muslim] story, the true history of the faith of Islam, has not been heard here (in America) yet. But it is coming, for Truth must win, and there is none worshipable but God. All Islam is glad that this “Land of the brave and home of the free” is becoming interested in her vast storehouse of Faith, and searchers after Light and Truth who turn to Islam will never go away empty.

Many, many years ago, there lived some heathen folk.

They worshipped fire, stone and wood, And knew no law, nor yoke.

The lovely land in which they lived was filled with all things good.

Forgotten was the one true God, Malik, Master of all worlds and ages, And yet he loved and cared for them.

For the truth of many sages still lived within their boundaries.

And then one day from out of the depths, As a lily grows out of the slime,

good food, wear good clothes, have married and had children, I sleep and also worship.

Therefore, you should follow my practice.”

What’s forbidden is to make the pleasures of this life the be-all and end-all of your existence; to make them your ultimate goal and to strive to attain comfort and luxuries.

This is why Allah condemns people who only look to the pleasures of this life: “And of men there are some who say, ‘Our Lord, grant us good things in this world;’ and such a one shall have no share in the Hereafter.” (Surah al-Baqarah, Ch.2: V.201) Hazrat Umarra reports that he once entered the room of the Holy Prophetsa and saw the marks on his back from sleeping on a rough mat. He started to weep. The Prophetsa asked what made him weep.

Hazrat Umarra replied that Caesar and Khosrau lived among fruits and springs, in comforts and luxuries, while the Messenger of Allah and His chosen one lived like this.

The Prophetsa said, “O son of Khattab, are you not pleased that they are for us in the Hereafter and for them in the world?”

(Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith 4153) The prophet knew better than anyone the small value of this life, so he made a conscious decision to live a meagre and simple life. His philosophy in this regard is summed up in a saying of his: “This world and I are just like a rider who stops to rest

There came one chosen by God. To lead them back to Raheem, Rahman, Gracious and Merciful God. Muhammad[sa], the Prophet from within Their midst.

[By Mrs Watts (Sister Zeineb)]

beneath the shade of a tree, then goes and leaves it.” (Ibid, Hadith 4109) Being rich and wealthy is not a crime in Islam, however, it is the misuse of it which is sinful.

“The extravagant are the brothers of Satans”, says the Quran. (Surah Bani Israel, Ch.17: V.28) If God has given you blessings and riches, it’s no harm to enjoy and benefit from it, as long as you fulfil your dues and give a share to charity. By distributing wealth and not hoarding it, money can stay in constant circulation and is not amassed in a few hands so as to cause extreme levels of inequality that we see today in capitalist societies.

But wealth and success can go one of two ways. It can either take you closer to God or away from Him. The risk always is that it’ll take you away from Him because man forgets God except in the hour of need. “Two favours that many of the people squander are health and free time”, said the Holy Prophetsa. (Jami‘ at-Tirmidhi, Hadith 2304) You start thinking you have no need of God. This is illustrated in this verse: “‘Thou didst bestow on them and their fathers the good things of this life until they forgot the admonition and became a ruined people.’” (Surah al-Furqan, Ch.25: V.19) Many of the companions of the Holy Prophetsa were extremely wealthy. Yet they

New converts Through the Grace of Allah, the last few months have been very successful in securing new converts to Islam out of the American Continued on next page >>

used their wealth for good. They donated many of their assets and took part in religious obligations, at times donating all that they had. Hazrat Usmanra was one of the wealthiest men in Mecca. Every available luxury was available to him.

Hazrat Usmanra was the son-in-law of the Holy Prophetsa and his third Caliph. Had being wealthy and wearing fine clothes been forbidden, would Hazrat Usman have been given these honours, loved by the Prophet and remembered by Muslims till eternity?

If the good things in this life lead you to the remembrance of God and being grateful to him, then there’s great benefit in enjoying the permissible things of this life, in moderation. After all, is this not what Hazrat Ibrahimas prayed for? He asked Allah to provide his progeny “fruits” so that they might give thanks to God. Of course, this meant spiritual fruits as well, but physical ones are not cancelled out.

“Our Lord, I have settled some of my children in an uncultivable valley near Thy Sacred House — our Lord — that they may observe Prayer. So make men’s hearts incline towards them and provide them with fruits, that they may be thankful.” (Surah Ibrahim, Ch.14: V.38) If the blessings of life take you closer to God, then you can enjoy the good things of this life, and the pleasure and approval of Allah at the same time. What better deal is there for a believer?

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Friday 13 January 2023 | AL HAKAM << Continued from previous page

Christians. Since the last list was published in the Moslem Sunrise for October last, 303 ladies and gentlemen have accepted the faith of Islam, in the Ahmadiyya Movement. Their new Moslem names are given below, along with their old American [Christian] names and the states in which they live: Note 1: The signatures in some of the out-station forms not being quite legible, there might have been some mistakes in the spelling of such names, which will be corrected in the next issue if signees will inform us of necessary corrections.

Note 2: If any of the names have been omitted, please write to the Editor and they will be printed in the next issue.

Rosina Lynch of North Dakota (Mrs Wurdy Farhat); Mrs Tillie Miller of Pennsylvania (Amina); Dr Ernest Erastus A Sampson of Corozal BH (Mubashir Ahmad); Miss Nellie Steiner of Pennsylvania (Fatima); Mrs Mae Farrer of Texas (Mobarika); Miss Gertrude Sheridan of New Jersey (Nusrat); Miss Mollie Ofbeliz of Minnesota (Mariam Saage); S ET of Pennsylvania (Salaam); Mrs Albania De Temple of Pennsylvania (Saadia); Mrs Anna Ruprecht of Pennsylvania (Kareema); Mr Earl Steiner of Pennsylvania (Abdul Malik); Mrs Edith Virginie Hofmann of Pennsylvania (Sadiqah); Mrs Wilhelmina Ulzhoefer of Ohio (Saleema); Mrs Nellie Peterson of Pennsylvania (Saleema); Mrs HH Schneider of Pennsylvania (Hakeema); Mrs Abos Kelli of Michigan; Mr Owen Jackson of Iowa (Mustapha); Mr Frazier Cook of Missouri (Aly); Mr John T Hughes of Missouri (Azeem); Mr Dak Mulan of Michigan (Abdur Rahman); Mr LH Crews of Michigan (Muhammad Arif); Mr Leon La Salle of Michigan (Abdur Rahim); Mr Joseph Harvey of Michigan (Yoosaf); Mr Joseph Wright of Michigan (Bilawl); Mr Tom Parker of Illinois (Ahmad); Mr William M Patton of Missouri (Omar); Mrs Mary Wright of Michigan (Nazeefa); Miss Mary Wright of Michigan (Mariam); Mr Ollie Moore of Missouri (Shawkir); Mr John Williams of Illinois (Yehya); Mr Samuel David Tapp of Illinois (Ismail); Mr JW Hurst of Illinois (Ossman); Mr Sam J Mayer of Michigan (Yaqoob); Mr Thomas Ferguson of Michigan (Raheem); Mr Ollie M Hunt of Michigan (Ghulam Muhammad); Mr James Hunt of Michigan (Ghulam Ahmad); Mr Joseph Harvey of Michigan (Farooq); Mr J Jones of Michigan (Yoonas); Mr CW Kelly of Illinois (Muhammad); Mr Wade Curtis of Michigan (Aslam); Mr Sullivan Ellis of Michigan (Arjumand); Lover McDaniels Michigan (Ibraheem); Mr Peter Francis Michigan (Amanullah); Mr Ed Gant of Michigan (Ikramullah); Mr John James of Michigan (Anas); Mr John Beckett of Michigan (Arshad); Mr William Brown of Michigan (Sawqib); Mr JH Hardie of Michigan (Amjad); Mr Butler Mosley of Michigan (Asad); Mr Lewis Jones of Michigan (Azhar); Mr Walter Taylor of Michigan (Samaina); Mr Randall of Michigan (Sabit); Mr Willie Earle of Michigan (Timur); Mrs Loddie Hardie of Michigan (Umama); Mr Samuel Lewis of Michigan (Kamal); Mr John W Thomas of Missouri (Habeebulla); Mr MJ Mack of Missouri (Yoosuf); Mr Loyde O’Neal of Missouri (Yaqoob); Mr SS Mason of Missouri (Homaum); Mr WH Jackson of Missouri (Amir); Mr Edward Thomas of Missouri (Ateeq); Mr Edward Seymour of Missouri

(Yawseen); Mr A Hamilton of Missouri (Yehya); Mr Joseph Churchill of Illinois (Abdul Hamid); Mr Simon Buford of Illinois (Abdus Sattar); Mr Charles Buford of Illinois (Abdul Gaffar); Mr Willie Buford of Illinois (Abdul Jabbar); Mr James Hawkins of Illinois (Abdul Majeed); Mr JW Dams of Illinois (Sawbit); Mr Wilson Branch of Illinois (Kareem); Mr Anderson Doolittle of Illinois (Hakeem); Mr. Dewey Lucas of Illinois (Sabir); Mr Harry Cole of Illinois (Sadeek); Mr Sam Wiston of Illinois (Habeeb); Mr Harrison Bradley of Illinois (Asim); Mr George F Crawley of Illinois (Abdus Sameea); Mrs Lilliam Bradley of Illinois (Ismat); Mr I Coleman of Illinois (Abdul Ahad); Mr J Walter Pleasant of Illinois (Abdul Qayyum); Mr Henry H Books of Illinois (Abdullah); Mr Arthur Gayles of Illinois (Khalid); Mr Adam Williams Illinois (Audam); Mr Clarice Earls of Illinois (Abdul Kareem); Mr Adolphus Campbell of Illinois (Abdur Rahman); Mr Ed Ellis of Illinois (Idrees); Mr Richart Oklen of Illinois (Abdul Khaliq); Mr Adolphus Bowen Illinois (Abdullah); Mr William Patterson of Illinois (Wally Ahmad); Miss Alice Patterson of Illinois (Khalesa); Miss Emma Flower of Illinois (Ameena); Mrs Willie Carswell of Illinois (Sawjeda); Mr Laurel Carswell of Illinois (Abdul Waly); Miss Evalina Johnson of Illinois (Hadya); Miss Fannie Johnson of Illinois (Alema); Miss Louella Johnson of Illinois (Aleema); Mr Charles Harrell of Illinois (Fauzy); Mrs Hattie Armstead of Illinois (Shafeeqa); Miss Ethel Churchill of Illinois (Nafeesa); Mr James Nosby of Illinois (Abdul Jaleel); Mr George Officer of Illinois (Abdul Azeez); Mr Ben Terry of Illinois (Saim); Mr John B Winkey of Illinois (Abdur Rasheed); Mr David Flint of Illinois (Daood); Miss Margaret Clark of Illinois (Raheema); Mr James M Johnson of Illinois (Ameen); Mr William Johns of Illinois (Fateh); Miss Victoria Smith of Illinois (Zakiyya); Mr Owen Richardson of Illinois (Osman); Mr William Harrell of Illinois (Khaleelullah); Mrs Annie Brooks of Illinois (Amina); Mr FA Hughs of I Illinois (Fareed); Mrs Cleo Kelly of Illinois (Kareema); Mr William Kelly of Illinois (Muhammad Wali); Mr Clem Walker of Illinois (Habeebulla); Mr L Bell of Illinois (Mariam); Mr Abrom Simmins of Illinois (Ibrahim); Miss Bettie Clark of Illinois (Kareema); Mr George Clark of Illinois (Omar); Miss Luber Loring Illinois (Saleema); Miss Dorothy Thomas of Illinois (Moneera); Miss Ellen H. Dent of Illinois (Aleea); Miss M Flowers of Illinois (Muneera); Mr Alfred Blanton of Illinois (Alee); Mr Willie Reals Illinois (Haleem); Mr James Smith of Illinois (Habeeb); Mr Issador Gillen of Illinois (Saeed); Mr Frederick Churchill of Illinois (Fareed); Mr Tom Weller of Illinois (Abdur Rahman); Mr William Cooper of Illinois (Abdul Jabbar); Miss Georgiana Churchill of Illinois (Batool); Mr Augine Churchill of Illinois (Kareem); Mr Haney Flowers of Illinois (Abdus Samad); Mr William Steele of Illinois (Azeez); Mr Harry Ross of Illinois (Abdul Quddoos); Mrs Nonie Green of Illinois (Amatur Rahman); Mrs Van Johnson of Illinois (Amatul Jabbar); Mr. Will Jails of Illinois (Fateh); Miss Warnetdar Smith of Indiana (Zakiyya); Mrs Mattie H Payne of Illinois (Amat-ul-Malik); Miss Roxie Curtis of Indiana (Amatur Rasheed); Miss Roberta Robson of Indiana (Amatal Baki); Mrs Eddie Robson of Indiana (Amatul Waris); Mr Squire Ben Robson of Indiana (Abdul Hadi); Miss Zellee Robson of Indiana (Noora); Miss

Claret Robson of Indiana (Muneera); Miss Eulee Robson of Indiana (Naeema); Miss Viola Curtis of Indiana (Habeeba); Miss Lillie May Curtis of Indiana (Haleema); Miss Lucille Curtis of Indiana (Kareema); Mr Horace Curtis of Indiana (Sabir); Miss May Lee Curtis of Indiana (Azeeza); Mr Willet Curtis of Indiana (Azeez); Mr James Lee Curtis of Indiana (Habeeba); Mrs Leona Ella Miller of Illinois Amatul (Azeem); Mr. Simon Green of Indiana (Muhammad); Mrs Lawrence Grattan of Indiana (Ahmad); Mr Hamp Reeves of Indiana (Abdul Hamid); Mr Walter Taylor of Indiana Abdul (Kareem); Mr WM Morgan of Indiana Abdul (Azeez); Mr G Dennis Draper of Indiana (Muhammad Din); Mr Melvin Lee Draper of Indiana (Fazl Din); Mr Thomas Reed of Indiana Fazl (Kareem); Mrs Es Hayes of Indiana (Fazeelat); Mrs Hayes of Indiana (Hamadi); Mrs Lillie Tolbert of Indiana (Shafeea); Miss Eula Mae Hayes of Indiana (Zeineb); Mr Joseph of Indiana (Yoosuf); Mr G Perkins Indiana (Majeed); Mrs. Agnes Murphy of Indiana (Majeedah); Miss Georgia Perkins of Indiana (Muhammady); Miss Lizzie Robinson of Indiana (Hameedah); Miss Susic Marker of Indiana (Kareemah); Mr Etjeer Mulleame of Indiana (Akbar); Mr Clarence Richard of Indiana (Momin); Mrs Bettie Mastin Indiana (Kamila); Mr JE Thompson of Indiana (Kalieer); Mrs Carrie Carliles of Indiana (Fatima); Mrs. Ethel Sims of Indiana (Ayesha); Mrs. Anna Battle of Indiana (Nasirah); Mrs. Charlie Reed of Indiana (Alemah); Mr. Dean Sims of Indiana (Kamil); Mr Andrew Robinson Indiana (Muslim); Mrs Lelas Dixon of Indiana (Rafeeah); Mrs Essma Green of Indiana (Naseerah); Miss Elsie Green of Indiana (Alemah); Mr Samuel Acrel of Indiana (Akmal); Mr Melion Hafer of Indiana (Amjad); Mr HH Brooks of Illinois (Abdul Kabeer); Mr James Hammack Illinois (Jameel); Mr Stephen Todd of Illinois (Saleh); Mrs Randell W Dent of Illinois (Rafat); Mrs Claude Hogan of Illinois (Mohammady); Miss Nelson Hedum of Illinois (Sabera); Mrs Cora Fogan of Illinois (Kamela); Mrs Emma Love of Illinois (Ameena); Mr William Love of Illinois (Abdul Waly); Mrs Eula Smiley of Illinois (Kareema); Mrs Ella Harrison of Illinois (Majeeda); Mrs Emma Sago of Illinois (Ameena); Mr Isaac Harris of Illinois (Ishaq); Mrs Ida Harris of Illinois (Ayesha); Mr Willie Ward of Illinois (Mohammad Waly); Mrs Beatrice Chaldic of Illinois (Sikkeena); Mrs Clara Ward of Illinois (Mahbooba); Mrs Nancy Gober of Illinois (Muhamdy); Mr James Highmon of Illinois (Jamal); Mr T Jeffrey of Illinois (Muhammad Aly); Mr Otis W White of Illinois (Kaleemullah); Mrs Cora Baker of Illinois (Alema); Mrs Rose Lee Sheffield of Illinois (Razia); Mr Joe Bonner of Illinois, (Yousuf); Mrs Mary Young of Illinois (Mariam); Mr Isaac Young of Illinois (Ishaq); Mrs Alline M Young of Illinois (Aleea); Mrs Mary M Gaughey of Illinois (Mariam); Mr Harry Smith of Illinois (Abdul Jabbar); Mrs Berry Whitsett of Illinois (Fateha); Mr John Sherman Ferman of Illinois (Yahya); Mr. Elil Barour of Illinois (Ally); Mr Willmore of Illinois (Saeed); Mr Elisha Cain of Illinois (Ilyas); Mr SG Grant of Illinois (Fateh); Mr Will Hawkins of Illinois (Saleh); Mrs Aliel Smith of Illinois (Khalesa); Mr George Saunders of Michigan (Waris); Mr Elliot Oshey of Illinois (Fazl Din); Reverend Albert J Bucker of Michigan (Waris Deen); Mr George Reeves of Missouri (Abbas); Mr Ray Thomas of Missouri (Yameen); Miss

Elizabeth Thomas of Missouri (Kareema); Miss Ann Thomas of Missouri (Afeefa); Mr Henry Franklin of Missouri (Auf); Mr Melvin Parker of Missouri (Amil); Mr Camo Brown of Illinois (Abdul Khabeer); Mr Edgar Terrell of Missouri (Abdul Qadeer); Mr Alexander Hicks of Missouri (Yoonas); Mr George Anderson of Illinois (Rukan Din); Mr Edward Gant of Illinois (Fateh Din); Mr Morris Serinens of Michigan (Ajeeb); Mr Charles D Morgan of Michigan (Abdul Qadir); Mr Richard Scott of Michigan (Qamr Din); Mr Ralph Heath of Michigan (Najeeb); Mr Robert Gross of Michigan (Shamas Din); Mrs Silas White of Illinois (Amatal Kareem); Mrs Minnie Tucker of Illinois (Teeba); Mrs Emma Johnson of Illinois (Amatur Raheem); Mr LT Hardaway of Illinois (Hilawl); Mrs James Murphy of Indiana (Noory); Mr Samuel Cranley of Indiana (Ismaeel); Mr Van Johnson of Indiana (Abdul Majeed); Mr William A Turner of Indiana (Abdul Waly); Miss Amy Reed of Indiana (Ameena); Mr Charles Robinson of Indiana (Abdul Kareem); Miss Olive Kelly of Illinois (Amatur Rahman); Mr WT Thornton of Indiana (Zakee); Mr JW Simms of Michigan (Shakir); Mr Sam Thomas of Michigan (Hamid); Mr James Grant of Michigan (Hameed); Mr William Green of Michigan (Mahmud); Mr William Murray of Michigan (Ahsan); Reverend GA Hurley of Michigan (Hisam-ud-Deen); Mr Frank Calloway of Michigan (Akram); Miss Jerry Diggs of Michigan (Sadia); Mr Benjamin Ferguson of Michigan (Saeed); Mr Edward Hagerbook of Michigan (Asad); Mr Daril Johnson of Michigan (Khair); Mr James Marshall of Michigan (Muzaffar); Mr Andrew Mack of Michigan (Muhkam); Mr Frank House of Michigan (Hakim); Mr Charles Comer of Michigan (Hakeem); Mr Lamis J Jackson of Michigan (Ameerul); Mr George H Bennett of Michigan (Reisullah); Mr Richard Grericher of Michigan (Amanullah); Mr Peter Francis of Michigan (Hokam); Mr George Robertson of Michigan (Amrallah); Mr Abe Lincoln of Michigan (Azezullah); Mr Plez Fayson of Michigan (Ameenallah); Mr Jim Roines of Illinois (Abdullah); Mr Melvin McGaughey of Illinois (Fazl Azeem); Mr David McGaughey of Illinois (Fazl Raheem); Mr Montrose McGaughey of Illinois (Fazl Kareem); Mrs Thelma M McGaughey of Illinois (Amatus Sameea); Reverend Alex Blair of Illinois (Abdur Rahim); Mrs Clara Berry of Illinois (Kamila); Mr C Webb of Illinois (Muhammad); Mr Andrew Williamson of Illinois (Abdulla); Mr Mazor Robison of Missouri (Affan); Mr Eddie Henry of Michigan (Ismaeel); Mr Charles R Savan of Michigan (Khalid); Mr Jefferson Herks of Michigan (Shafeeq); Mrs Della Carter of Michigan (Amina); Mr Clarence Faigett of Michigan (Rafeeq); Mrs Ophelia Sutton of Michigan (Afeefa); Mr Leonard Walcotte of Michigan (Abdullah); Mr George Greenwood of Corozal BH (Ahmad); Mr Hemming Price of Corozal BH (Muhammad); Mir BB Meggs of Corozal BH (Sadick Ahmad); Mr Robert Walker of Michigan, (Sadick Muhammad); Mr Henry James of Iowa (Ahmad); Leon Brown (Ameien); Layfette Brown (Saeed); Chester Brown (Ajeeb) [and] Idalf Brown (Azeez).

(Transcribed by Al Hakam from the original, published in The Moslem Sunrise, January 1923)

AL HAKAM | Friday 13 January 2023

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Friday Sermon Mubarak Mosque, Islamabad, UK, 16 December 2022

Du‘a: Prerequisites and Etiquette After reciting the tashahud, ta‘awuz and Surah al-Fatihah, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa stated: Many people ask questions in relation to prayer; especially nowadays, people readily pose questions in relation to God and prayers. Moreover, proponents of atheism are launching scathing attacks on the existence of God Almighty and religion through a strategic initiative. They are trying to distance man from God and religion through various means. Satan disguises himself as being sympathetic towards mankind and through this, tries to distance man from religion and God Almighty. In such circumstances, even our own people are at times and in certain places affected by these satanic thoughts. Or the comments of worldly people and the opponents of religion begin to create restlessness within them about religion, God Almighty and worship. Doubts start forming in the hearts of people who are less informed. If those who are of weak faith or less educated face trials or meet with failure, they immediately start thinking that either the religion they are following is wrong and is not based on any truth, or that God Almighty cannot be merciful [towards us] as He did not accept their prayers and remove them from these trials and tribulations. Or [they think] that God Almighty has – God forbid – been unjust to them and despite offering supplications, their difficulties are not being removed as a result of which they are passing through such difficult circumstances.

In short, many such questions arise in the minds of various individuals, especially those who are only concerned with worldly matters. Some people write to me as well or pose questions by mentioning their own circumstances. In light of this, it appears that they do not have the level of certainty regarding Allah the Almighty’s existence that they ought to possess. Furthermore, given the state of the society around them, if they are faced with even the smallest of difficulties, they start to develop negative thoughts and begin harbouring doubts.

Whereas in reality they should reflect on their own conditions and think to what degree they are trying to fulfil the rights of Allah the Almighty; to what degree are they trying to adorn their worship, to what extent have they elevated the level of their supplications and what is the state of their faith in Allah the Almighty.

Nonetheless, today I will speak on the topic of prayer in light of the teachings of

ّٰ َۡ ۡ ۡ ‫ال َح ۡم ُد لِل ِہ َر ِّب ال ٰعل ِمی َن‬

That is, ‘All praise belongs to Allah, Lord of all the worlds’ (first and foremost, we must praise Allah the Almighty). [Then we say] Al-Rahman, in other words, the One Who gives without being asked. Thereafter, we say Al-Rahim; meaning the One who bestows a bountiful reward for one’s earnest effort.’

One should focus intently on what true effort constitutes; Allah the Almighty rewards true and earnest efforts and He Himself has outlined its standards.

Primarily, earnest efforts require one to struggle for the cause of Allah the Almighty.

The Promised Messiahas then states: “This is followed by the words:

ّ ‫الدیۡ ِن‬ ِ ‫ٰم ِل ِک یَوۡ ِم‬

the Promised Messiahas. This topic has been discussed at great length in the writings and guidance imparted by the Promised Messiahas. In any case, I will mention various aspects which shed some light on the essence of prayer, its etiquettes, our responsibilities, its necessity and [the reasons for] belief in Allah the Almighty. As a matter of fact, [the Promised Messiah’s elaboration] removes all forms of doubt [about prayer].

Drawing our attention towards the fact that we should be mindful of praying and supplicating to Allah the Almighty even during favourable circumstances so that our prayers find acceptance at times of difficulties as well, the Promised Messiahas says: “The mercy of Allah descends on that individual who fears Him whilst in a state of ease, in the same manner, he fears Him when faced with difficulty. The one who does not forget God Almighty at times of peace will not be forgotten by God at times of difficulties. However, the one who spends the time of peace heedless of Him and starts praying at times of difficulties, their prayers will not find acceptance.

When divine punishment descends, the door for repentance is closed. Thus, how fortunate is the one who remains occupied in supplications prior to the descent of divine punishment, gives charity, honours the decree of God, is benevolent towards

the creation of Allah and performs deeds in an excellent manner! These are the signs of good fortune.”

The Promised Messiahas said: “A tree is recognised by its fruits. As such, it is easy to identify someone who is fortunate as well as the one who is ill-fated.” (Malfuzat [1984], Vol. 4, pp. 229-230) Thus, a true believer must never be negligent toward fulfilling the rights of Allah and His creation in times of ease and comfort. If one continues to fulfil these rights, then God Almighty will Himself save that individual from times of hardship and will accept their prayers. It is a fundamental principle that we must never become indolent in our worship and prayers. We should not allow our worldly engagements to prevent us from fulfilling the rights of Allah the Almighty.

Then, whilst elaborating on what a person’s condition ought to be at the time of seeking from God Almighty, the etiquettes of prayer and that we have been taught these etiquettes by Allah the Almighty Himself, the Promised Messiahas states: “To invoke God Almighty requires one to revere Him. When a sensible person asks something from a king, he is always mindful to be courteous. It is for this reason that God Almighty has taught us how to beseech Him in Surah al-Fatihah [the opening chapter of the Holy Quran]. We are taught to pray:

which means the decision whether to reward or punish rests with Allah alone; it is at His discretion whether to punish or show mercy. He is the Master of punishment and reward not only in the hereafter, but also in this world.” Do not consider Him to only manifest this attribute in the hereafter.

Whatever occurs in this world is also decided by Allah the Almighty.

The Promised Messiahas further states: “When one offers praise to this degree, they begin to realise just how great God is, the Lord, Rahman [the Gracious], and Rahim [the Merciful]. Up until this point [in the chapter], one addresses God indirectly, but it is now that one calls to Him as though He is present (at first, one does not address God directly). Thereafter, one perceives Allah the Almighty to be manifest and calls out to Him as though he can see Him. He calls out to God, saying:

َ َّ َ ُ ُ ۡ َ َ َّ ُ ‫اك ن َ ۡس َتع‬ ‫ين‬ ‫ِإياك نعبد و ِإي‬ ِ

That is, O Allah, it is You alone that we worship, or it is you alone Whom we desire to worship, thus, we beseech You for help.

Then, we pray:

ۡ ّ ‫ا ۡہدنَا‬ ‫الص َر َاط ال ُم ۡس َت ِق ۡی َم‬ ِ ِ ِ

In other words, [we pray to find] a path that is completely straight and free from every sort of corruption. There is one path like that of the [spiritually] blind, who toil and struggle only to tire themselves out, but achieve nothing as a result. However, there is also another path upon which our efforts actually produce results.

Furthermore, we pray:

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Friday 13 January 2023 | AL HAKAM

ۡ َ َّ َ ‫ِص َر َاط ال ِذیۡ َن ان َع ۡم َت َعل ۡی ِہ ۡم‬

That is, guide us to the path of those upon whom You have bestowed Your blessings. This is the very path that is straight and upon which our efforts yield rewards.

Thereafter, we pray:

َ ُۡ ۡ َۡ ‫غیرِ ال َمغضوۡ ِب َعل ۡی ِہ ۡم‬

That is, do not take us down the path of those who have displeased You, and

ۡ ّ َّ ‫َولَا الضٓال ِی َن‬

nor of those who have fallen to misguidance and those who have strayed far away.”

The Promised Messiahas further states: َ ۡ َ ّ ‫‘[ ا ۡہدنَا‬Guide “The prayer: ‫الص َراط ال ُم ۡست ِق ۡی َم‬ ِ ِ ِ us to the right path’] refers to all matters, be they secular or pertaining to faith. For instance, a doctor would not be able to treat his patient if he did not find the right path for treatment. Similarly, every lawyer, professional or expert has their own right path through which they can easily achieve their objective. For this reason, one should seek out the right path in worldly matters as well, and one can only be successful in this if they have a relationship with Allah the Almighty.”

In the gathering where the Promised Messiahas was explaining this, a person raised an objection and asked why prophets needed to pray; such prayers should only be for ordinary men. What need do prophets have for such prayers? Why did the Holy Prophetsa offer these prayers? He was already on the right path. In response, the Promised Messiahas said: “They [the prophets] would offer these prayers to ascend to higher ۡ ranks and َ stations. In fact, the prayer ‫ٱ ۡه ِدنَا ٱلصِّر َٰط ٱمۡل ۡس َتقِيم‬ َ ُ will be offered by believers even in the hereafter. Just as Allah the Almighty has no limits, there are no bounds for the progress and ascension to higher levels in the hereafter.” (Malfuzat [1984], Vol. 4, pp. 399400) Thus, these are the principles that should be kept in view when offering prayer. As a result, one will truly be able to recognise the love of God Almighty and understand the way to invoke Him for their needs.

Then, with respect to prayer and its etiquettes, the Promised Messiahas further elaborated: “Prayer is an extraordinary thing.

Regrettably, however, today, neither those who ask others to pray for them, nor those who offer prayers are acquainted with the ways of attaining the acceptance of prayers. In fact, they are far removed from the true philosophy of prayer. There are some who have rejected prayer altogether.

However, there are also those who, despite not rejecting prayer, find themselves in an even more deplorable state; despite offering prayers, their prayers were not accepted because they were oblivious to the etiquettes of prayer, and so their prayers were not deemed as true prayers. (They were unable to offer prayer in the true sense and thus were not accepted). That is why their state is even worse than that of those who reject prayer altogether. The behaviour of such people has led others to atheism.

“First and foremost, true prayer requires that the supplicant never tires, never falls to despair nor thinks ill of Allah the Almighty.

One should never give up on Allah the Almighty and assume the worst. It is often observed that when the fervent prayers of

a supplicant are about to be accepted, the supplicant becomes weary and stops. This can only result in failure and despondency, the detrimental consequences of which cause one to renounce the efficacy of prayer.

Such a person eventually renounces their belief in God. Atheism overcomes them and they question; if God truly existed and had the power to answer prayers, why did He not accept their prayers during this lengthy period? However, if such a person who stumbles in this way and harbours such thoughts reflects on their own indecisiveness and lack of steadfastness, they would realise that their failure was a result of their own haste and impatience.”

Today they are resolute, but tomorrow they waver; such people possess no resolve or steadfastness. If one acts in haste, then that is the result of their own mistakes. If one is steadfast, shuns their impatience and bolsters their faith, they would never have to experience this. The reason their prayer was not accepted is that they were hasty.

The Promised Messiahas continues: “These are the people who are overcome with ill thinking and despair because they did not recognize God to possess all power and might. Thus, one should never grow weary.” (Malfuzat [1984], Vol. 4, pp. 415217) The Promised Messiahas then gave everyday examples of the one who is steadfast in prayer by stating: “The example of prayer is like the sowing of a seed by a farmer. In the apparent circumstances he buries a good seed in the soil; but at that time who could imagine that the grain of seed will grow up in the form of a good tree and bear fruit? Outsiders and even the cultivator himself cannot [physically] see that the grain is assuming the form of a plant inside the earth. But the reality is that within a few days, the grain undergoes a change and begins to assume the shape of a plant till its shoot emerges from the earth. (The quality of a seed is that at first, its roots begin to grow, which then become firm in the earth, and then its shoots sprout forth) and becomes visible to everyone. From the moment the grain was placed in the earth, it began its preparation to become a plant, but an eye that can only perceive what is visible cannot comprehend its existence until its shoot emerges from the earth and it becomes apparent. At such a stage, an innocent child cannot understand that the plant will only bear fruit at its due time. (Since the plant has emerged, but has yet to bear fruit, an innocent child will think such a small plant cannot bear fruit due to its size.) He desires to see it bearing fruit immediately, but an intelligent cultivator will know the appointed time for it to bear fruit. He looks after it steadfastly and nurtures it till the time comes when it bears fruit and also becomes ripe.

“So too is the case with prayer; it is nurtured in the same way and bears fruit.

Those who are hasty tire quickly and give up, and those who are steadfast persevere and arrive at their objective.” Those who are farsighted, patient in waiting for the outcome, who are steadfast in their work and continue to pray “arrive at their objective.”

(Malfuzat [1984], Vol. 4, p. 417) Whilst describing the level of patience of those who persevere in prayer, the Promised Messiahas continues: “It is true that there are many stages

in prayer, ignorance of which deprives the supplicants of receiving the fruits of their prayers. They are in a hurry and cannot demonstrate patience, whereas in the works of the Almighty, there is a steady progression.

It never happens that a man marries today and a child is born to him the next morning.

Though God is All-Powerful and can do whatever He wills, compliance with the law and the system that He has appointed is necessary. In the first stages of childbearing, nothing is known [about the child], as is the case when growing vegetation. (Just like the case with plants and vegetation, one is unaware of the reality in the beginning. The same is true of the development of a child in humans or animals. The example given here is in the case of humans). For four months, there is no certainty. Then some movement begins to be felt and after the full term has elapsed, the child is born after great toil.”

Even now, doctors only carry out a scan after 12 weeks. So despite all the modern technology, the true condition of the foetus only becomes clear to the doctors after the scan, which they conduct after 12 weeks.

The time when the Promised Messiahas was mentioning this, was an era that was not as advanced technologically. However, the Promised Messiahas is expounding upon a law of nature.

He states: “The birth of the child also gives a new lease of life to the mother. (When a child is born, it is not the case that it is a simple procedure, the woman is given a new lease on life, as it were.) It is difficult for a man to truly comprehend the pain and struggle that a woman has to endure during her pregnancy, but it is true that the birth of a child is the beginning of a new life for the mother. She has to first accept death upon herself after which she can enjoy the reward. In the same way, it is necessary for a supplicant to discard haste, endure all troubles (he should not show haste but endure the difficulties and continue to pray) and never imagine that one’s prayer is not accepted. At last, the time arrives for the result of the prayer to be manifested, for example, the time for the child to be born draws close. A prayer should be carried on to the limit until it produces a result. (One must ensure their prayer reaches such a stage first.) You will have observed that a piece of cloth is placed under a burning glass and the rays of the sun concentrate upon it and their heat arrives at the degree that sets the cloth on fire. In the same way, it is necessary that a prayer should be carried on to a stage where it should develop the power of burning up failures and frustrations and to fulfil the desired purpose.” (Malfuzat [1984], Vol. 4, p. 418) Thus, every supplicant will be able to analyse for themselves and decide whether they have reached such a stage or not.

Then, presenting a line from a Persian proverb, the Promised Messiahas says:

‫دیپ ی‬ ‫�دااتس دنا را ہک اتس انجتب‬

Meaning: ‘From the echo of my supplications it is apparent that Your royal court is certainly lofty and grand.’

He then states, “One has to be occupied with prayer for a long time and then God Almighty manifests the results. It is my experience, which is borne out by the experience of the righteous ones of the past, that if there is silence for a long time, there is the hope of success, (there is hope

that one has been afforded more chance to pray and so there is a hope that Allah will grant it acceptance,) but if there is a quick reply (or has been rejected), the purpose is not likely to be achieved. We see in the world that when a beggar goes to someone and begs with humility and earnestness and even after he is rebuked, he does not move from his place (the person whose house he visits scolds him, but the beggar remains resolute) and continues his pleas, then, in the end, the person from whom he has asked is moved and bestows something on the beggar despite being a miser (he ends up giving him something to the beggar). Then, should not a supplicant have at least as much steadfastness as an ordinary beggar?

“When God Almighty, Who is Benevolent and possesses Majesty, sees that His humble servant has been prostrate at His threshold for a long time, He does not allow him to perish. If a pregnant woman were to become impatient after four or five months and take some abortive medicine, would the child be born, (it would be aborted) or would she herself end up feeling despair and loss? In the same way, he who acts in haste before the appointed time only suffers loss and not only incurs loss, but puts his faith in danger. In this condition, some people become atheists. There was a carpenter in our village whose wife fell ill and then died. He said that had there been a God, his countless prayers would have been accepted and his wife would not have died.

In this way, he became an atheist.

“If a virtuous person demonstrates loyalty and sincerity, their faith increases and they achieve their purpose. The riches of this world have no value in the estimation of God Almighty. He can do everything in a single moment. Have you not seen that He bestowed sovereignty on a people who were entirely unknown? (What was the condition of the Arab Bedouins [before Islam]? Allah made them into kings) and made great kingdoms subservient to them and made kings out of slaves. If a person is righteous and becomes wholly God’s, he would lead an excellent life, but the condition is that he should be sincere and possess resolve. His heart should never be shaken and there should be no showing off and not an iota of idolatry within it.

What was there in Abraham that made him the father of his people and the father of those who are devoted to God, and what caused God Almighty to bestow upon him countless magnificent blessings? It was his righteousness and his sincerity. Abraham had prayed for a Prophet to appear in Arabia from among his progeny. Was it accepted at once? For a long time after Abraham, no one paid any attention to that prayer, yet it was fulfilled through the advent of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) and observe how it was fulfilled with all its grandeur and majesty.” (Malfuzat [1984], Vol. 4, pp. 419-420) Hence, as has been mentioned already, one should not only supplicate in times of difficulty, rather, one should continue to supplicate even in times when Allah Almighty grants one ease and comfort. In relation to the acceptance of prayer, and the need for a link between the body and soul, and how that bond should be, the Promised Messiahas states: “There is no benefit in the physical prayer and fasting which is bereft of sincerity

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and loyalty (even if one supplicates, it is of no use if the soul does not melt). Jogis and sanyasis [Hindu hermits] also carry out great exercises in their own ways and it is often witnessed that some go to the extent that they wither their arm.” They raise their hands and keep them raised for several days until they become withered. “They endure great rigorous tasks and put themselves through great trials and difficulties, yet these difficulties grant them no [spiritual] light nor do they attain any peace and tranquillity. In fact, their internal state is only being ruined.

They carry out physical exercises that have little connection to their inner state, nor do they impact their spirituality.” They can put on an apparent spectacle, and undergo hardships, starve themselves for long periods, and endure many difficulties, yet they cannot display any proof to indicate the level of their spirituality. “This is why Allah Almighty has stated in the Holy Quran:

ُۡ ۡ َّ ُ َ َ ُ ُ ّٰ َ َ َّ ۡ َ ‫ال الل َہ ل ُحوۡ ُم َہا َولَا ِد َمٓاؤ َہا َولٰ ِﻜ ۡن ّیﻨال ُہ التق ٰوی ِمﻨﻜ ۡم‬ ‫لن یﻨ‬

‘Their flesh reaches not Allah, nor does their blood, but it is your righteousness that reaches Him.’ (The Holy Quran, 22:38) In reality, Allah Almighty does not desire the outer shell, rather, He desires the essence. Now the question arises: If the flesh and blood do not reach Allah but only one’s righteousness does, then what need is there for offering a sacrifice? Similarly, if prayer and fasts are only for the soul, then what need is there for the physical observation of these?” That is, if one offers their prayers, supplicates, weeps and beseeches God Almighty in their heart whilst sitting down – as was the way people of previous religions used to pray – then what is the need for the different stages of Salat; standing, bowing and prostrating?

The Promised Messiahas states: “The answer to this is that it is a confirmed matter that those people who do not put their physical faculties to use, their soul refuses to comply with them. They cannot develop humility and devotion to God Almighty, which is the actual objective.

And those who simply use their physical faculties and do not involve their soul, also fall into a dangerous error. The Jogis are from this category; they exert themselves physically but form no link with their soul.

Allah the Almighty has made a connection between the body and the soul, and the body affects the soul. For example, owing to some sort of distress, if a person wishes to cry, they will eventually end up crying; on the contrary, if they pretend to laugh, they will eventually begin to laugh. Similarly, the different stages the body undergoes in Salat; for example, standing or bowing, they too have an effect on the soul; the more humility and humbleness is adopted by the body, the more humility develops within the soul. However, God Almighty does not accept that one simply prostrates before Him. (If one simply prostrates, but does not adopt humility and humbleness, and the soul does not have a connection with one’s action, then Allah does not accept such prostrations.) However, the prostration has a profound link with the soul. It is for this reason that the prostration forms the last part of the prayer. When a person reaches the ultimate stage of humility, one naturally wishes to fall into prostration. It is in man’s nature that when he wishes to express his utmost state of humbleness, he bows and

falls into prostration.”

The Promised Messiahas states: “We see this trait even within animals.

When a dog wishes to express its love for its master, it comes and rests its head on the feet of the master and expresses its love in a similar manner to the way one expresses their love through prostration [in salat]. It is evident, therefore, that the body has a special connection with the soul. In the same way, the soul also affects the body. When the soul is distressed, its effects are apparent on the body; tears and dejection become visible in that person; (one begins to feel sorrow and grief. If a person’s soul feels grief or they feel anguish in their heart, then the body also feels lethargic and their mood is affected in a similar manner. Others can also witness and feel that the person is going through hardship. Such a person does not wish to sit in any gathering and if they present in one, everyone begins to question them as to what the matter is.) If the body and soul do not have a connection, then why does this happen? Indeed, the circulation of blood around the body is the task of the heart; there is no doubt that the heart irrigates the body and functions like an engine.

Everything occurs through its contraction and relaxation, (circulation occurs when the heart pumps [blood around the body]).

Thus, the spiritual and physical systems both run in parallel; (the heart contracts, then relaxes, then contracts and relaxes and it runs the entire system of the body as it pumps blood in this way. The Promised Messiahas explains that the physical and spiritual systems also run in parallel.)

“When the soul develops humility, the body also adopts it. Therefore, when the soul truly develops humility and humbleness, the body inevitably exhibits these traits.

Likewise, if the body adopts certain traits, it impacts the soul. Therefore, when one stands before their Lord for prayers, it is vital to exhibit humbleness and faithfulness.

Although at the time it may be one form of hypocrisy (i.e. it is hypocritical that the heart does not incline towards humility but you forcefully express it), however, it is vital for you to do this because, over time, its effect will become permanent and one will develop it. At this point, both the body and the soul will begin to work together.” The Promised Messiahas further states: “The soul

then actually begins to develop humility and devotion.” (Malfuzat [1984], Vol. 4, pp. 420422) And when one develops this condition, one begins to experience delight in prayer.

Then one does not turn to God Almighty for one’s own demands, rather, one turns to God Almighty out of love for Him and turns to prayer due to the relationship established with Him. Expanding further on this, the Promised Messiahas states: “Some people assert that they do not derive pleasure in prayer, but they do not know that in order to derive pleasure is not in one’s own control and that there are various aspects to pleasure itself. At times one is in extreme amounts of pain, however, they consider even that extreme pain to be enjoyable.”

When the Promised Messiahas was mentioning this, the Transvaal War of Independence was taking place. He references this and gives the example of those fighting in that war, saying: “Despite the fact that lives are being lost, women are being widowed and children are being orphaned, a sense of national pride and safeguarding the nation give them that pleasure, which drives them to the brink of death. (They are sacrificing for their nation.)

They willingly go to their deaths owing to their patriotism and sense of duty. At the same time, their people value their efforts and their sacrificing themselves as their goal is mutual. (That is, both have the same goal; one group is sacrificing themselves and the other is encouraging them and valuing that sacrifice.) Why is it that their efforts are valued? It is due to their pain and agony that they are suffering and that is why they are valued. (The efforts and sacrifices of those fighting for freedom are valued because of the pain and suffering they endure for the sake of the cause) Hence, true delight is experienced after one undergoes pain. For this reason, the Holy Quran has mentioned the principle: َ

ۡ َ ‫ِا ّن َمﻊ ال ُع ۡ� ِر یُ ۡ� ًرا‬

“Prior to experiencing pleasure, if there is no pain that precedes it, then that pleasure is not true pleasure. Similarly, those people who say they do not experience any delight in their worship, they first ought to ponder over how much pain and suffering they

have endured for the sake of worship?

(If they do not experience pleasure, they ought to ponder whether they have gone to any hardships for the sake of worship.)

The amount a person suffers for the sake of worship, is the same amount that is turned into a delight for them. By pain and agony, I do not mean those pains that one endures unnecessarily or those unbearable burdens one claims to undergo.” (Malfuzat [1984], Vol. 4, pp. 422-423) He was referring to the fact that one should strive to offer the prayers with all the prerequisites; i.e. one ought to abandon their sleep, put aside their work, pray on time with the fear of Allah in mind.

There are some people who do not wish to put themselves in any sort of trouble [for the sake of prayer]. Instead, they think that they can ask others to pray for them and in this way, their problems will be resolved.

When they are questioned, it becomes evident that they do not even regularly offer the five daily prayers. Once, a son requested prayers from the Promised Messiahas for his father. The prayer was not for any material gain, rather it was for [steadfastness in] his faith. The Promised Messiahas said: “Pray for him with full earnestness, (as in he should also pray for him) Just as the prayer of a father is accepted in favour of his son, in the same way, the prayers of the son are also accepted in favour of the father.” The Promised Messiahas advised that individual, “When you pray earnestly for him, it is then that my prayers will take effect.” (Malfuzat [1984], Vol. 4, pp. 187-188) That is, when he prays fervently and earnestly, it is then that the prayers of the Promised Messiahas will take effect, otherwise, they will not. Thus, those who request others for prayers should not solely rely on others, rather, they ought to pray earnestly themselves as well.

With regards to the ways in which one can derive pleasure from their worship, the Promised Messiahas says: “Remember, if a person is engrossed in things that they love to carry out, but are loathsome in the eyes of Allah, when one decides to abandon them for the sake of Allah the Almighty and places themselves in pain as a result of it, then the body that experiences this pain causes an effect on the soul.”

What sort of pain did they endure?

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Friday 13 January 2023 | AL HAKAM

Previously, it was mentioned that one ought to place oneself in pain [for the sake of worship]. What are those pains and difficulties that one must endure; it is the pain of abandoning those things or habits that Allah the Almighty has declared to be loathsome. Even if one experiences pain in abandoning those habits, one ought to. Thus, when one endures this pain, it impacts the soul, and the soul begins to make changes within itself, to the extent that with the utmost obedience, it falls at the divine threshold. Therefore, when one leaves certain habits for the sake of Allah and experiences such anguish, the soul is affected by this and the soul will submit before Allah the Almighty in the prostration and bowing [positions] of prayer. This is the way in which one can derive pleasure from worship.

The Promised Messiahas states: “You would have seen many people who think that experiencing delight in worship means to sing some hymns, or to play the trumpet and this is what they deem to be the meaning of worship. (They close their eyes and go into a trance-like state and think that this is worship, or they listen to hymns and think that their worship is complete.) Do not be fooled by this. These things may well be a source of satisfaction for one’s baser self, but the soul experiences no delight from them.

Through these practices, the soul cannot develop the precious qualities of humility and humbleness and they lose the real essence of worship.”

The Promised Messiahas further states: “A person can derive similar pleasures from the gathering of dancers, but would that be considered akin to the delight experienced in worship? This is a delicate matter and other nations cannot grasp this concept because they have failed to comprehend the actual reason and purpose of worship.” (Malfuzat [1984], Vol. 4, pp. 423-424) In relation to Prophet Abraham’sas loyalty and his willingness to endure hardship for the sake of Allah the Almighty, and in turn, the treatment afforded to him by Allah the Almighty, the Promised Messiahas states, “The path to attaining God Almighty’s nearness is to demonstrate sincerity. The close bond attained by Prophet Abrahamas was through treading this very path. Thus, God states: ٰۤ

ّ َّ ‫َو ِا ۡب ٰر ِہ ۡی َمال ِذ ۡی َوفی‬

“That is, ‘Abrahamas is he who was loyal.’

(The Holy Quran, 53:38) To demonstrate sincerity and loyalty to God Almighty is to accept one’s own death. Until and unless a person is prepared to forsake the world and all of its pleasures and glory and accept every difficulty, disgrace and hardship for the sake of God, they cannot develop this quality. Idolatry is not limited to worshipping an object such as a tree or stone, rather, everything that impedes one from the love of Allah the Almighty and takes precedence is considered an idol. A person creates many idols within themselves and without even knowing it, becomes guilty of idol worship.

Until a person wholly commits themselves to God Almighty and is prepared to endure every adversity for His sake, they cannot foster loyalty and sincerity within themselves.

The title afforded to Abrahamas was not granted without any effort.

“Not at all. The words:

ّٰۤ َّ ‫َو ِا ۡب ٰر ِہ ۡی َمال ِذ ۡی َوفی‬

were said about him when he was prepared to sacrifice his son. Allah the Almighty requires us to make a practical effort, and it is only our actions that can please Him. However, these practical deeds can only be attained by undertaking hardship. When one is ready to endure hardship in the way of God, then God Almighty does not allow one to suffer.

When Abrahamas fully prepared himself and intended to sacrifice his son in fulfilment of the commandment of Allah the Almighty, Allah the Almighty saved his son. He was cast into fire, but the fire could not burn him.

If one prepares themselves to endure pain for the sake of Allah the Almighty, then He safeguards them from any suffering.”

The Promised Messiahas states: “We can physically feel our bodies, but not our souls, but there is no doubt that the soul has a connection with the body. The physical body has an impact on the soul.

Thus, one should never entertain the idea that the body does not have any impact on the soul. All the actions carried out by an individual are a result of this combination (i.e. through the combination of the body and the soul). In their independent states, neither the body nor the soul can carry out any virtuous or ill deed. Thus, the concept of reward and punishment is in relation to both of these states. Some people fail to realise this intricate matter and allege that the paradise of Muslims is a physical one. However, what they fail to realise is that when action was borne through the involvement of the body as well, then why should it be separated from its reward? In short, Islam does not adopt a path that is extreme on either end, rather it adopts one of moderation. Both [extreme] views are dangerous and one ought to refrain from them. Making the body endure hardship alone is of no avail and nor can one achieve anything by simply seeking comfort.”

(Malfuzat [1984], Vol. 4, pp. 429-430) If one undertakes physical hardship alone, it cannot be of any benefit and nor can one achieve anything by seeking comfort alone. Rather, the body and the soul have to be in harmony.

During the period whilst one is engaged in prayer, one experiences trials. Whilst giving the example of Prophet Moses’as people and how they underwent a period of trial which then further increased, the Promised Messiahas states: “There is a particular time period for everything and the fortunate ones remain in wait for it. Those who do not wait and seek an immediate answer are impatient and fail to achieve their goal. In my view, it is also possible, and indeed it so happens that during the period whilst one is engaged in prayer, as a form of trial, they are made to face even more trials. For example, when Prophet Mosesas came to free the Israelites who were enslaved to Pharaoh; initially, they were tasked with making bricks for half the day and they were free to do their own work for the remaining part of the day. (Half the day was for them and the other half was spent working for the Pharaoh.) However, when Prophet Mosesas tried to secure their freedom, the perpetrators of evil increased the workload of the Israelites even more. As a means of punishment, they were instructed to prepare bricks for half the day and transport grass for the rest of the day.

In other words, their entire work would only

be for Pharaoh and they were given no time for their own work. When Prophet Mosesas received this instruction and conveyed it to the Israelites, they were extremely upset and wished for Prophet Mosesas to be afflicted with the same torment they were made to undergo and even went to the extent of cursing him. However, Prophet Mosesas told them to remain patient. This entire account has been mentioned in the Torah and states that the more he would exhort them to demonstrate patience, the angrier they would get. Eventually, they were advised to migrate from Egypt and they also brought with them the clothes and the utensils that they had gotten from the Egyptians. (They brought all the items with them that they had received from Egyptians.) When Prophet Mosesas led the Israelites away, Pharaoh, along with his army, went in pursuit of them. When the Israelites realised that the army of Pharaoh was close to them, they became extremely anxious. It is mentioned in the Holy Quran that at that time they cried:

َ ‫إِنَّا َمَلُ ۡد َر ُكون‬

“[O Moses] ‘We are surely overtaken.’

(The Holy Quran, 26:62) “However, Prophet Mosesas could see the end result through the gaze of prophethood, and so he replied:

‫كَاَّلَّٓ ۖ إِنَّ َمعِ َي َربِّي َس َي ۡه ِدي ِن‬

“‘Nay, speak not thus!’ said he, ‘My Lord is with me. He will direct me aright.’ (The Holy Quran, 26:63) “It is mentioned in the Torah that the Israelites stated, ‘Were there not any graves in the land of Egypt for us?’ The reason why they were so apprehensive was that the army of Pharaoh was right behind them and ahead of them was the River Nile.”

Thus, they said that since they were going to die anyway, they might as well have died and been buried in Egypt. They were in a very difficult situation because ahead of them was the river and behind them was the army, which was ready to kill them. Hence, they were extremely worried.

The Promised Messiahas states: “They could see that there was no chance of their survival; neither by going ahead nor by retreating. However, Allah the Almighty is All-Powerful and they were able to find a way through the Nile and all of the Israelites were able to cross the sea, whereas the Pharaoh and his men drowned. This was an extraordinary miracle and in such a time, Allah the Almighty created the means for it. This is the case with a righteous person in that they are granted a way out of every hardship and difficulty:

ۡ َّ ‫یَ ۡج َع ۡلل ٗہ َمخ َر ًجا‬

“[He will make for him a way out. (The Holy Quran, 65:3)] “Thus, it so happens that one experiences trial after trial during the period between one’s supplications and the acceptance of his prayer. At times, one is made to endure such trials that break one’s back, as it were, but the fortunate ones who continue to persevere can smell the fragrance of their Lord’s favours even in that difficult time and through his insight and wisdom, they can witness the succour that is granted at the end. One of the points of wisdom behind these trials is that one becomes even more passionate in their prayers because, just as one’s anxiousness and apprehension grow, the more fervent one’s

soul becomes and this is one of the means for the acceptance of prayer.”

The fact that one becomes fervent in their prayers and supplicates with deep concentration is proof in itself of the fact that Allah the Almighty desires to accept one’s prayers.

Thus, one should never become anxious or think ill of Allah out of impatience or desperation. One should never think that their prayers will not be answered or are never answered.

The Promised Messiahas states, “Such a thought causes one to reject the attribute of Allah, which is that He listens to one’s supplications.” (Malfuzat [1984], Vol. 4, pp.

433-435) If one begins to entertain such thoughts about Allah the Almighty, then they begin to edge towards atheism. As I mentioned earlier that nowadays, the focus of the opponents of God and religion is to instil these doubts into people’s minds, such as that God Almighty has granted them nothing; religion has no benefit; it makes one indolent and makes one adopt imaginary concepts. Thus, at such a time, it is the duty of every Ahmadi to establish a firm bond with Allah the Almighty. This relationship and one’s worship should not be temporary and only when one is in need. In fact, even in times of comfort and ease, one should form a bond with Allah the Almighty and one should safeguard their prayers. One should have absolute conviction in their prayers. This indeed is the responsibility of an Ahmadi and it is through this that one can do true justice to their oath of allegiance [bai’at].

The Promised Messiahas says: “It is imperative for our Jama’at to increase in faith; have true faith in God Almighty and develop cognisance of the Divine. One should not become lazy and indolent in performing virtuous deeds, otherwise, if one becomes lazy, then even performing ablution seems like a burdensome task, let alone offering the Tahajjud prayer.”

To wake up for the Tahajjud prayer requires great effort, however, in such a case, one finds it difficult to even perform the ablution for the regular prayers.

The Promised Messiahas states: “If one does not garner the strength to carry out virtuous deeds and does not instil passion within oneself to excel in good, then there is no benefit in establishing a bond with me.” (Malfuzat [1984], Vol. 4, p. 439) Thus, we must show great concern in order to strive toward strengthening our relationship with Allah the Almighty. Once we establish this true bond, we shall also witness the signs of the acceptance of prayers. May Allah the Almighty grant us the ability to do so.

Pray in particular for the Ahmadis in Pakistan these days. Efforts are being made to make life increasingly difficult for them.

Similarly, pray for the Ahmadis in Algeria.

The opponents have once again increased their animosity and are trying to create difficulties. May Allah the Almighty protect all the Ahmadis, wherever they may be, who are facing hardship and difficulties and protect them from every kind of worry. May Allah the Almighty completely foil the plots and schemes of the enemy.

(Official Urdu transcript from Al Fazl International, 6 January 2023, pp. 5-10.

Translated by The Review of Religions.)

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