Does God Exist? by Mansoor Saqi, UK .........................................................

Contents March 2004, Vol.99, No.
Editorial Does God exist? by Mansoor Saqi,UK .......................................................... 2
Notes & Comment Religious Freedom: Even basic religious rights are being denied
not just by religious extremists but by governments – by Mahmood Hanif, UK ................ 3
Message from Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad Message from the Head of the
worldwide Ahmadiyya Community to the 23rd World Religious conference in Canada .. 6
In Search of the Existence of God Arguments in support of the existence of God –

by Naseem Mahdi – Amir, Canada....................................................................................... 8
The Essence of Islam, Vol.1 part II What is religion and what are the signs of its
truth? Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad(as) – the Promised Messiah and Mahdi................... 14
Service to Humanity – A Religious Duty in Islam The importance of doing good

to others – by Bockarie Tommy Kallon, UK ....................................................................... 21
Al-Hayy – The Living God The prime attribute of God that makes God worshipable.
God lives today as He did before – by Naeem Ahmad ........................................................ 33
Death on the Cross? Ten undeniable proofs that Jesus(as) did not die on the cross
– by Abiel Atta Jallaudhri. ................................................................................................... 46
The Prophet Promised Through Moses (as), Jesus(as) or Muhammad (sa)? – part II
Continuing the look at the biblical prophecy about Prophet Muhammad(sa) – by Dr. A.R.
Bhutta, Nigeria. .................................................................................................................... 57
Basit Ahmad Chief Editor and Manager: Mansoor Ahmed Shah

Bockarie Tommy Kallon
Management Board: Special contributors: Design and layout:
Fareed Ahmad.
Mr Munir-ud-din Shams (Chairman) Amatul-Hadi Ahmad Tanveer Khokhar
Fazal Ahmad Mr Mansoor Shah (Secretary) Farina Qureshi Publisher:
Fauzia Bajwa Mr Naseer Ahmad Qamar Proof-reader: Al Shirkatul Islamiyyah
Mansoor Saqi. Mr Mubarak Ahmad Zafar Shaukia Mir Distribution:
Mahmood Hanif Mr Mirza Fakhar Ahmad
Muhammad Hanif
Mansoora Hyder-Muneeb
Navida Shahid All correspondence should The Review of Religions © Islamic Publications, 2004
Sarah Waseem be forwarded directly to the The London Mosque ISSN No: 0034-6721
editor at: 16 Gressenhall Road
Saleem Ahmad Malik London, SW18 5QL
Tanveer Khokhar United Kingdom
Views expressed in this publication are not necessarily the beliefs of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community 1
Editorial
The question ‘Does God exist?’ has Religions there is an article entitled
been debated by philosophers and ‘In search of the Existence of God’.
theologians for centuries. Large This is the based on a presentation
sections of society have always given at the World Religions
believed in God. There are those Conference held in Canada last
who do not subscribe to any year. Several arguments based on
particular faith but affirm that they the Holy Qur’an, are put forward as
do believe in some kind of deity. proof of the existence of God. The
Religious belief gives a framework article argues that God has revealed
by which to live one’s life. All faiths Himself through the prophets and
address the individual and the messengers of God. It demonstrates
community at large and this the importance of considering
includes how to understand one’s historical evidence and also of
responsibilities to one’s fellow personal experience. The author
beings. As such, religion is very also states the importance of
relevant to the world today. considering the testimonies of those
who lived at the time of the
Recent developments in science, prophets, ‘All those prophets …
especially in molecular biology and were indeed credible people and
biomedical engineering have moved their lives were pure and no one
the capabilities of mankind into as could ever challenge their integrity.’
yet unknown areas and has
highlighted the need for an ethical Belief in the existence of God is not
dimension by which to consider a mystical requirement of faith. It
how these new technologies can be can be approached using reason and
of benefit rather than detriment to logic. In addition, a genuine desire
society. It is religion that provides to find God on the part of the seeker
these guidelines. also has a significant role to play.
Mansoor Saqi – UK
But how does one approach the
question of the existence of God? In
this issue of The Review of
2 The Review of Religions – March 2004

Notes and Comment
Religious Freedom: America declared: ‘Congress shall
The freedom of thought, conscience make no law respecting an
and religion is today almost establishment of religion, or pro-
universally held to be a fun- hibiting the free exercise thereof’.
damental human liberty, an In the last century, these principles
inalienable right of every man and have been reaffirmed in the U.N.’s
woman. This right is based not Universal Declaration of Human
upon science, nor upon social Rights, which states in Article 18:
theory, but on the inviolable dignity ‘Everyone has the right to freedom
of the human spirit. While of thought, conscience and religion;
particular beliefs may be right or this right includes freedom to
wrong, better or worse, the right to change his religion or belief, and
reach, hold, debate, exercise and freedom, either alone or in
even change those beliefs is basic community with others and in
and non-negotiable. These rights public or private, to manifest his
have been proclaimed in diverse religion or belief, in worship,
texts, both scriptural and political. teaching, practice and observance.’
The Holy Qur’an, revealed, as
Muslims believe, approximately Yet the unhappy fact remains that
1400 years ago, states most even today in various countries and
categorically: ‘There is no com- societies throughout the world
pulsion in religion’. (Ch.2V.257) and people are prevented from freely
‘And say: It is the truth from your and openly practising their religious
Lord, wherefore let him who will beliefs. The denial of this
believe and him who will disbelieve.’ fundamental human right takes
(Ch.18: V.30) many forms, some blatant and
openly oppressive, some subtle and
Many centuries later, and after hidden. Despite the emphatic
much strife and persecution caused proclamations of the Holy Qur’an
by intolerance over religious belief, regarding the inviolability of
the first amendment to the freedom of conscience, some of the
constitution of the United States of most oppressive persecution takes
The Review of Religions – March 2004 3

Notes & Comment
place in Muslim countries – the strange situation that public policy

denial of the most basic religious may claim to be inspired by
freedoms to Ahmadi Muslims Socrates or Kant, Adam Smith or
written into law in Pakistan being Karl Marx, Darwin or Einstein but
the most obvious and outrageous never by any form of religious
example, but sadly not the only one. belief or tenet. There has been
Muslim society in general seems to much controversy recently over the
have been infected with a virulently attempts to pass a law in France
intolerant ideology that holds it banning signs and clothing which
own narrow interpretation of Islam conspicuously display a pupil’s
to be absolute, and that brooks no religious affiliation. Even beards
argument or debate. Sadly, this grown out of religious conviction
infection seems to have spread to may be banned, although a beard
Bangladesh that has recently moved that is merely a fashion statement
to ban the production, sale and even would be acceptable! Without
possession of literature produced by getting into the details of the debate
the Ahmadiyya Muslim community. on this proposed law, one wonders
how different in spirit it is from
Religious freedoms in today’s Pakistan’s laws which have seen
world are threatened not just by the Ahmadi Muslims arrested for the
forces of religious extremism, use of basic Islamic terms and
which deny the legitimacy of any phrases which are perfectly legal
religious belief or practice other when used by other Muslims and
than their own, but also by the even non-Muslims.
forces of illiberal secularism, which
seek to deny the legitimacy of any Religious extremism and illiberal
form of religious expression in secularism are perhaps two sides of
public life. To them, religion is the same coin – linked by the firm
something that can be tolerated if conviction that their world-view is
practised in private among the only reasonable one. We need to
consenting adults, but that must be move back to, or in some cases
stamped upon if it seeks to raise its remain committed to, values that
voice in the civic sphere. In many promote pluralism and tolerance of
countries in the West, and in all faiths and creeds; a liberal
particular Europe, we face the secularism that sees itself as the

Notes and Comment
protector of all forms of religious sense as citizens of the

belief as well as no belief at all. In state…My guiding principle will
addition we need to recognise that be justice and complete
religious beliefs have a part to play impartiality…’
in public and civic life and should
not be devalued or dismissed out of By Mahmood Hanif – UK
hand. The words of Muhammad Ali
Jinnah, founder of the State of
Pakistan, in his address to the
Constituent Assembly in Karachi,
on the eve of Pakistan’s birth, may PLEASE NOTE:
perhaps serve as inspiration for us In this journal, for the ease of
in this regard: non-Muslim readers, ‘(sa)’ or
‘sa’ after the words, ‘Holy
‘You are free, you are free to go Prophet’, or the name
to your temples, you are free to ‘Muhammad’, are used. They
go to your mosques or to any stand for ‘Salallahu alaihi
other place of worship in this wassalam’ meaning ‘Peace and
state of Pakistan… You may Blessings of Allah be upon him’.
belong to any religion or caste or Likewise, the letters ‘(as)’ or ‘as’
after the name of all other
creed – that has nothing to do
prophets is an abbreviation
with the business of the meaning ‘Peace be upon him’
state…We are starting in the days derived from ‘Alaih salato
when there is no discrimination, wassalam’ for the respect a
no distinction between one Muslim reader utters.
community and another…We are The abbreviation ‘ra’ or (ra)
all citizens and equal citizens of stands for ‘Radhiallahtala’ and is
one state…all members of the used for Companions of a
Nation…and you will find then Prophet, meaning Allah be
in course of time Hindus would pleased with him or her (when
cease to be Hindus and Muslim followed by the relevant Arabic
would cease to be Muslims, not pronoun). Also ru or (ru) for
Rahemahullahu Ta’ala means the
in the religious sense, because
Mercy of Allah the Exalted be
that is the personal faith of each upon him.
individual, but in the political

Message by Hahdrat
Mirza Masroor Ahmad –
Head of the worldwide
Ahmadiyya community ..
..to delegates attending the ‘Seekers
in Search of Truth’ at the 23rd World
Religious Conference held in Ontario,
Canada on the 18th of September
2003.
Assalamu alaikum warahma- courage is shown in

tullah - Peace and blessings of disobedience to His laws?
God be upon you all When this professed belief is
tested and examined, it has to
I am pleased that the World be acknowledged that it is a
Religious Conference has once mere claim that is not
again put God at the centre of its supported by any actions or
search. The Founder of the deeds. It is in the nature of
Ahmadiyya Movement in Islam, man that he wishes to avoid
Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, the harm and gain from the
peace be on him, states: benefit in whatever he
believes. For example,
A large part of the world arsenic is a poison and a
declares that it believes in person does not even taste it
God, yet at the same time it is because he knows that even a
engulfed by the impurities of small amount can kill him.
the world and steeped in the Why, then, having acquired a
evils of sin. How then is it belief in a God will he not
that there is so much derive the conclusion inci-
opposition to God and such dental to that belief? If belief

Message from Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad – Head of the Worldwide Ahmadiyya Community
in God equates to the A prerequisite to this under-

confidence one has in arsenic, standing is that we must not
then a person’s emotions and withdraw any attribute that God
desires would turn cold and a had in the past. One such
death would come over attribute is that He lives now as
them… The first duty of a He did in the past. If God lives
human being, therefore, is now, we must also believe that
that he should correct the He speaks now as He spoke to
belief he has in God, that is to the Prophets of the past. I hope,
say, he should prove through therefore, that this Conference
his deeds and actions that would enable all who participate
they are not against the glory in it to acquire a true belief in a
of God or the commandments Truly Perfect God, a God Who is
of God… The nature of true Most Gracious and repeatedly
belief is such that it kills the Merciful.
selfish desires of a human
being and it suppresses the Mirza Masroor Ahmad
inclinations towards sin. I can Supreme Head of the Worldwide
never accept that belief and AHMADIYYA MUSLIM
sin can exist together. Belief COMMUNITY
is a light before which the
darkness of sin cannot stand.
Can it ever be that there is
daylight as well as the
darkness of night? In order to
safeguard against sin, there
should develop a true belief
in God.
(Malfoozat. Vol.4 pp.312-
314)
I pray that God enables all of you

to understand Him.

In Search of the Existence of God
By Naseem Mahdi – Amir and Missionary-in-Charge of Canada
[The following is based on a presentation delivered by Mr Naseem Mahdi,

Amir and Missionary Incharge Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Canada at
the XXIIIrd World Religions Conference held October 4, 2003, University of
Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. Representatives from eight faiths i.e.
Islam, Judaism, Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, Sikhism, Native Religions
and Atheism deliberated at the conference with their understanding on the
theme ‘In Search of the Existence of God’. Over 700 delegates from diverse
religious background attended the event, including national and provincial
leaders, local dignitaries, university officials and students. Representatives of
different faiths were guided to draw their presentation entirely from their
respective Holy Scriptures and faith traditions, and comparisons with other
faiths were only allowed to promote better understanding and respect.
First, I will present a central theme, that the idea of God has evolved
and then I will give seven during the last 10 to 12 thousand
arguments based on the Holy years. Contrary to this belief, the
Qur’an, the holy scripture of the Holy Qur’an says that as God is the
Islamic religion in proof of the Creator of this universe and the
existence of God. Creator of life on our planet, so it is
He Who initially revealed about
I quote from the Holy Qur’an: Himself. He did not create
humankind and leave them alone
Eyes cannot reach Him but He wondering whether there was a
reaches the eyes. And He is the creator or not. He created them and
Incomprehensible, the All- then guided them to Himself.
Aware.
(Ch6:V.104) Many scholars suggest that idea of
God has evolved over time from
Most scholars and philosophers, different gods to one God. Muslims
who have written about the history believe that God has revealed
of humankind of the basis on Himself through the prophets and
anthropology or archeology, believe messengers of God. God has shown

His countenance and put His love in above the people.(Ch.6: V.87)
the hearts of people. So God did not
need to be discovered but revealed On the basis of the fore mentioned
Himself. verses, Muslims believe in all the
previousprophets. Some 28 are
Now, I will present some verses mentioned in the Holy Qur’an. But
from the Holy Qur’an to prove the really, there were some 124,000
existence of God: prophets sent to humankind in the
past, according to a saying of the
And that is Our argument which Holy Prophet of Islam, Muhammad
We gave to Abraham against his (on whom be peace and blessings of
people. We exalt in degrees of Allah). The Holy Qur’an says that
rank whomso We please. Thy God sent prophets to every nation
Lord is indeed Wise, All- and land. There were prophets not
Knowing. only in the Middle East, but
(Ch.6: V.84) everywhere else – amongst the
natives of North and South
And We gave him Isaac and America, the aboriginals of
Jacob; each did We guide Australia, in China and so on.
aright, and Noah did We guide
aright aforetime, and of his As such Muslims believe in all
progeny, David and Solomon those prophets. Muslims believe in
and Job and Joseph and Moses all the religions which are based on
and Aaron. Thus do We reward the revelation of God.
those who do good.
(Ch.6: V.85) The argument as a proof of the
existence of God in these verses is
And We guided Zachariah and that all those people, whether they
John and Jesus and Elias; each are living in North America or
one of them was of the virtuous. Australia or in the Middle East or in
(Ch.6: V.86) Africa, or any other part of the
world have a concept of God. All
And We also guided Ishmael those prophets, who presented to
and Elisha and Jonah and Lot; them the concept of God were
and each one did We exalt indeed credible people and their

lives were pure and no one could world.

ever challenge their integrity. If all
those people said that there is one The next verses are:
God Who has spoken to them, is it
possible that all of them were lying? Blessed is He in Whose hand is
Or had a greed for something? And the kingdom, and He has power
that their proclamations were a total over all things;
fabrication and based on falsehood? (Ch.67: V.2)
Certainly not. So when we witness
this idea of God among different Who has created death and life
nations, and we realise that all those that He might try you -which of
prophets who were signifying you is best in deeds; and He is
humankind that God has revealed to the Mighty, the Most Forgiving,
them, God has spoken to them, and (Ch.67: V.3)
they even presented His spoken
words, one cannot say that the Who has created seven heavens
testimony of all these prophets is a in harmony. No incongruity
fabricated falsehood. canst thou see in the creation of
the Gracious God. Then look
In our daily lives we make again: Seest thou any flaw?
decisions on the basis of (Ch.67: V.4)
testimonies. A judge makes a
decision and sometimes it could be Aye, look again, and yet again,
capital punishment, or life thy sight will only return unto
imprisonment etc. He says that the thee confused and fatigued.
testimony before him is credible. So (Ch.67: V.5)
if before us is the testimony of so
many people in the last 6000 years, In these verses another powerful
starting from Adam(as), Abraham (as), argument for the existence of God is
and Moses(as) and Jesus(as) and so on, presented. We see a universe that is
and all of them have spoken that so flawlessly constructed. It is
there is one God, Who has spoken impossible that it has just come into
to them, it is not fair for us to being by way of chance. View a
simply reject the testimonies of so movie on deep sea life, visit a
many credible people of so many conservatory of butterflies, look at
different nations and lands of the an aquarium of different type of fish
or look at the environment around Next, I present to you the following

you. Look at any specie on earth: all verse:
are so beautiful and are spectacular
creations. Can they all be a And those who take Allah and
consequence of mere chance or His Messenger and the
spontaneous creation? Therefore, in believers for friends should rest
this verse God asks us, look at my assured that it is the party of
creation, and you will not find any Allah that must triumph.
flaw. Moreover, if we just look at our (Ch.5: V.57)
own lives and our own bodies, we
notice that there is indeed a whole If we study the lives of all these
universe within our bodies. For prophets, one thing is common, that
instance, how our eyes function how they were persecuted and
our liver functions, how our kidneys prosecuted. Just imagine how Jesus
and hearts function and so on and so Christ (peace be upon him) was
forth. Hence, God says, think about mocked and how he was dragged
those creations of God, you need not through the streets. Think about
to look far away to those Galaxies Moses (peace be upon him), how he
and the Milky Ways, but look within was rejected by the Pharaoh of the
yourself and around you, how is it all time. Think about Muhammad
possible without a Creator? (peace be upon him) who rejected
by his people and heavily
In the 1940’s and 1950’s, the word persecuted by the Makkans.
‘God’ was a taboo for scientists, Invariably, all of them emerged
and most of them were atheists, but successful in the final analysis. The
in the last 20-30 years, when the first 300 years after Jesus, on whom
scientists’ knowledge has be peace, for the Christians were
increased, they are coming very the time of persecution. But later,
strongly to this conclusion that we all know, and up till today we
there must be someone, whether we know that how God has blessed
call him ‘Allah’ or ‘God’ or them and how they have become
‘Primatama’ or whatever, but there the masters of this world. Similar is
is some ‘superpower’ who is the story of Jews or the Muslims
controlling this universe. etc. How is it possible that this is all
just by chance and it was only a

coincidence that all the prophets The argument here is the acceptance
(without exception) were, in the of prayer. There are so many people
final analysis, victorious? And all in this very hall today that can give
their enemies were defeated? this testimony that they have prayed
Indeed it is a convincing argument to God and that their prayers were
in favor of the existence of God accepted. Whether they are
Almighty. God was certainly Christians or Jews or Sikhs or
behind them all the way. It was Hindus or Muslims or belong to any
really the force of God, Almighty other religion. I can give you my
working for the final victories of own testimony and the testimony of
His chosen prophets. my community, the Ahmadiyya
Muslim community. We are strong
The Pharaoh is reported in the Holy believers in the power of prayers. On
Qur’an as: a daily basis we pray. We often pray
for the most difficult things in our
Saying, ‘I am your Lord, the lives and we have seen, how God
most high.’ So Allah seized him has resolved those difficult
for the punishment of the problems. If there were no God,
Hereafter and the present Who was listening to those prayers
world.’ and Who was solving those difficult
(Ch.79: VS.25-26) problems?
Further God says in the Holy And then Allah says:

Qur’an:
Allah strengthens the believers
And when My servants ask thee with the word that is firmly
about Me, say: I am near I established, both in the present
answer the prayer of the life and in the Hereafter; and
supplicant when he prays to Me. Allah lets the wrongdoers go
So they should hearken to Me astray. And Allah does what He
and believe in Me, that they may wills.
follow the right way. (Ch.14:V28)
(Ch.2:V.187)
God communicates not only with
the humankind but also with other

creations. All that He has created, So this is indeed a strong argument

He can communicate with them. that God exists and He tells His
That communication is on a daily chosen ones and prophets what will
basis. God has communicated to happen in the future.
earlier prophets and He
communicates with humankind My last point is:
even today. In that communication,
at many times, He gives us the And as for those who strive in
knowledge of the unseen. He tells Our path We will surely guide
us what happened in the past that them in Our ways. And verily
was not known to us. He told Allah is with those who do good.
Prophet Muhammad (on whom be (Ch. 29:V.70)
peace) that the dead body of the
Pharaoh was preserved. This fact God says that if you come to Him
was not known to the people of the and if you strive and if you want to
time of Prophet Muhammad (on know Him, pray to Him and He will
whom be peace). It was only guide you.
discovered during the last century
that the dead body of the Pharaoh of Even if an atheist, addresses God
the time of Moses (peace be upon and says to God: ‘O God if you ever
him) was found preserved. God existed, I want to come to you!’ I
spoke to him and he made so many am sure He will guide the atheist, to
prophecies and the Holy Qur’an is Himself.
full of prophecies of Latter Days.
We find the prophecy of Jesus
Christ in the New Testament, we
find many prophecies from the Old
and New Testament and the Holy
Qur’an about the future. If we see
these prophecies being fulfilled
today, how were those people able
to make those prophecies if God did
not communicate to them and did
not exist?

The Essence of Islam – Vol.1, part II
This is the second of a series to be printed over the next few months in The
Review of Religions. It sets out, in the words of the Promised Messiah(as)
Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, a summary of his exposition of four
outstanding topics: ISLAM; ALLAH, THE EXALTED; THE HOLY
PROPHET(sa), and THE HOLY QUR’AN. The original compilation, in
Urdu, from which these extracts have been translated into English, was
collated with great care and diligence by Syed Daud Ahmad, may Allah
have mercy on him and may He reward him graciously for his great labour
of love. Amin. The English rendering is by the late Muhammad Zafrulla
Khan, Allah be pleased with him and quoted from The Essence of Islam.
All references throughout, unless otherwise specifically mentioned, are
from the Holy Qur’an.
When I reflect upon the whole the only difference is one of

word of God, I find that in its degree. The All-Wise One has
teachings it seeks to reform the presented the moral system in such
natural conditions of man and to a way whereby man should be able
raise him step by step to higher to move from a lower moral level
spiritual levels. In the first place to a higher moral level. The third
God desires to teach man the stage is that man should be
elementary rules of behaviour and devoted to winning the true love
culture and thus to change him and pleasure of his Creator and the
from the wild condition of whole of his being should be
animals, and then to bestow upon devoted to God. It is at this stage
him elementary moral conditions that the faith of Muslims has been
which can be described as culture named Islam which means to be
or civilisation. Then He trains him wholly devoted to God and to keep
and raises him from the nothing back [Islami Usul ki
elementary moral conditions to a Philosophy, now printed in Ruhani
high moral stage. All this is in Khazain (London, 1984), Vol. 10,
truth one stage, which is the p. 10].
reform of natural conditions, and

The Essence of Islam – Vol. 1, Part II
It is foolish to imagine that

religion means a few things that
are mentioned in the Gospel. All
matters that are essential for the
perfection of man are com-
prehended within the scope of
religion. Religion comprises all
those matters which lead man
from his wild condition to the
condition of true humanity and
then lead him from the condition
of humanity to a life of wisdom
and thereafter lead him from a life
of wisdom to a life that is devoted
The founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim
to God [Kitabul Bariyyah, Community was Hadhrat Mirza
(Qadian, Ziaul Islam Press 1898); Ghulam Ahmad(as).
Now printed in Ruhani Khazain In 1891, he claimed, on the basis of
(London, 1984), Vol. 13, p. 71]. Divine revelation, that he was the
Promised Messiah and Mahdi whose
advent had been foretold by
There is no doubt that the Gospel Muhammad, the Holy Prophet of Islam
does not provide for the full (peace be upon him) and by the
nurture of the tree of humanity. We scriptures of other faiths.
are sent into the world with many His claim constitutes the basis of the
faculties and every faculty beliefs of the Ahmadiyya Muslim
Community.
demands that it should be used on
its proper occasion. The Gospel
emphasises only the faculty of different kinds of tempers
meekness and gentleness. demands that we should exercise
Meekness and forgiveness are all our faculties with discretion on
good qualities when exercised on the proper occasion. It is true that
the proper occasion but their use on some occasions forgiveness
on every occasion would be and forbearance would benefit
greatly harmful. Our cultural life materially and spiritually a person
which comprises the interplay of who has done us harm. On other

occasions, the exercise of those competition in goodness, it

faculties would encourage the becomes a high moral quality. The
offender to commit greater mis- same is the case with all moral
chief and do more harm. qualities. Their misuse renders
them harmful and their use on the
Our spiritual life resembles our proper occasion in a moderate
physical life to a large degree. It is manner makes them beneficial.
our experience that the use of only
one type of food and medicines It is, therefore, a mistake to cut off
would upset our health. If we were all other branches of the tree of
to confine ourselves over a period humanity and to put the entire
to the use of cooling articles of diet emphasis on forgiveness and
and refrain altogether from the use forbearance. That is why this
of warming articles, we would teaching has failed of its purpose
become a prey to some disease like and Christian sovereigns had to
paralysis, Parkinson's disease or enact codes of law for the
epilepsy. On the contrary, if we punishment of offenders. The
confine ourselves to warming current Gospel cannot bring about
articles of diet, so much so that the perfection of the human self.
even the water that we drink must As the stars are dimmed when the
be warm, then equally we would be sun rises and then disappear from
liable to some other kind of disease. sight altogether, the same is the
Consequently, in order to maintain case of the Gospel in comparison
our physical health we must keep a with the Holy Qur’an [Kitabul
balance between hot and cold and Bariyyah, (Qadian, Ziaul Islam
hard and soft and movement and Press 1898); Now printed in
rest. We should follow the same Ruhani Khazain (London, 1984),
rule in respect of our spiritual Vol. 13, pp. 48-49].
health. God has bestowed no evil
faculty upon us. Indeed no faculty A study of the religions of the
is evil in itself. It is the misuse of a world reveals that every religion,
faculty that is evil. For instance, except Islam, contains some
envy is evil but if we use it for a mistake or the other. This is not
good purpose, that is to say, as a because they were all false in their

origin, but because after the fourteenth century, God recalled

advent of Islam, God gave up the His promise and made provision
support of other religions and they for the revival of Islam. But other
became like neglected gardens faiths were never revived after the
which had no gardener to look advent of the Holy Prophet, peace
after them, and for the irrigation be on him; and they all died. There
and upkeep of which no was no spiritual life in them and
arrangement had been made, so errors took root in them, as dirt
that gradually they began to decay. accumulates in a garment which is
Their fruit-bearing trees became much in use but which is never
dry and barren, and thorns and washed. People who had no
weeds spread all over. Those concern with spirituality and who
religions lost all spirituality which were not free from the stains of
is at the root of all religion and earthly existence corrupted these
nothing was left but bare words. faiths to a degree that they no
God did not suffer this to happen longer resemble the originals.
in the case of Islam as He desired Consider the case of Christianity,
that this garden should flourish how pure was its origin. The
throughout. He made provision in teaching set forth by Jesus was not
each century for its irrigation and perfect as compared with the
thus rescued it from decay. teachings of the Qur’an, because
Although at the beginning of each the time had not yet come for the
century when a man of God was revelation of the perfect teaching
appointed for its reform the and people were not yet strong
ignorant people opposed him and enough to bear it, yet that teaching
were averse to the reform of was an excellent one and was
anything which had become part appropriate for its own time. It
of their habits and customs, yet guided to the same God to Whom
God Almighty adhered throughout the Torah guided but after Jesus,
to His way. In these latter days the god of the Christians became
also, which is the time of the last another god who found no
battle between guidance and error, mention in the Torah and was not
finding the Muslims heedless and at all known to the children of
neglectful in the beginning of the Israel. Belief in this new god upset

the whole system of the Torah and of the appearance of Islam. It is

all the guidance contained in the also well established that
Torah, for deliverance from sin Hinduism had been corrupted
and attaining true salvation and a before the advent of Islam and that
pure life, was frustrated. Salvation throughout India idol worship had
and deliverance from sin now become common. Part of this
depended upon the confession that corruption resulted in the doctrine
Jesus had accepted crucifixion for that God Who is not dependent
the sake of the salvation of upon matter for the exercise of His
mankind, and that he was the very attributes is, in the view of the
God Himself. Many permanent Aryas, so dependent for the
laws of the Torah were abrogated creation of the universe. This led
and the Christian faith was so to another false doctrine that all
changed about that if Jesus were to particles of matter and all souls are
come back to the earth he would eternal and uncreated. Had they
not be able to recognise it. It is a considered deeply the attributes of
matter of surprise that the people God, they would never have said
who were admonished to adhere to so; for if in the exercise of His
the Torah set aside its eternal attribute of creation, God is
commandments at one stroke. For dependent like a human being on
instance, it is nowhere stated in the matter, then how is it that in the
Gospel that though the Torah exercise of the attribute of hearing
forbids the eating of the flesh of and seeing He is not so dependent
swine yet it is now permitted, nor as is man. Man cannot hear
does the Gospel say that though without the agency of air and he
circumcision is prescribed in the cannot see without the aid of light.
Torah yet that commandment is Then is God also dependent upon
now abrogated. But all this was light and air for seeing and
done and that which had never hearing? If He is not so dependent,
been said by Jesus became part of be sure that He is not dependent
religion. However, as it was God’s upon matter for the exercise of His
design to establish a universal attribute of creation. It is entirely
religion namely Islam, the decay false that He is dependent upon
of Christianity was an indication matter for the exercise of any of

His attributes. It is a great mistake cause of truth who restored the lost
to attribute human weaknesses to verities to the world. No prophet
God; for instance, that He cannot shares with him the pride that he
create something from nothing. found the whole world in darkness
Man's being is limited and God's and by his advent that darkness
Being is unlimited. By the power gave place to light [Lecture Sialkot
of His Being, He can create entitled ‘Islam’, (Sialkot, Mufid
another being. This is of the Aam Press, 1904); Now published
essence of Godhead. He is not in Ruhani Khazain (London,
dependent upon matter for the 1984), Vol. 20, pp. 1-5].
exercise of any of His attributes,
for had that been so, He would not First of all it is necessary to set out
be God. Nothing can obstruct what is the reality of Islam, what
Him. If He were to desire to create are the means of arriving at that
a heaven and earth instantly, He reality and what are the fruits of
would be able to do so. Of the following that reality; for this
Hindus those who, in addition to knowledge is essential for the
knowledge, partook of spirituality purpose of understanding many
also and were not committed to mysteries. It would be of great
bare logic, never believed that benefit for our opponents that they
concerning God which the Aryas should study these matters with
set forth today. This is the result of attention, for many of the doubts
the lack of spirituality altogether. which assail their minds are the
result of their failure to reflect
All this corruption, some of which upon the complete and perfect
is unmentionable and is opposed reality of Islam, its sources and its
to human purity, was an indication fruits. . . . The opponents of
of the need of Islam. Every religion also would benefit greatly
reasonable person is bound to by this study. They would
confess that a short while before understand what religion is and
Islam, all other faiths had become what are the signs of its truth.
corrupt and had lost all spirituality.
The Holy Prophet, peace be on In the idiom of Arabic, Islam
him, was a great reformer in the means money paid as earnest to

conclude a bargain, or to commit Practical belonging means to do

some affair to someone, or to seek all the good that is related to every
peace, or to surrender a claim or one of one's faculties with such
point. eagerness and attention as if one
beholds the countenance of the
The technical meaning of Islam is True Beloved in the mirror of
set out in the verse: The truth is one's obedience [Ayenae Kamalat-
that whoever submits himself e-Islam, (Qadian, Riyadh Hind
completely to the will of Allah and Press 1893); Now printed in
acts righteously shall have his Ruhani Khazain (London, 1984),
reward with his Lord. No fear Vol.5, pp 57-58].
shall come upon such, nor shall
they grieve (Ch.2:V.113). This
means that a Muslim is one who
commits himself wholly to the
cause of God Almighty; that is to
say, one who devotes himself to
God Almighty, to following His
designs and to winning His
pleasure, and then becomes
steadfast in doing good for the
sake of God Almighty and devotes
all his faculties to that cause. In
other words, he belongs entirely to
God Almighty both doctrinally
and in practice.
Doctrinal belonging means that

one should esteem one's being as
something which has been created
for the recognition of God
Almighty and His obedience and
the seeking of His love and
pleasure.

Service to Humanity – A Religious Duty in Islam
By Bockarie Tommy Kallon, London, UK.
Service to humanity is part and manifest evil, and

parcel of the Muslim faith. The transgression…
ultimate goal of Islam, as with all (Ch.16: V.91)
religions founded on Divine
revelation, is to bring man into This verse not only demands
communion with His Creator. In justice on the part of a Muslim, it
order to attain nearness to God also requires him to do good to
and to win His favour, it is others regardless of what sort of
essential for man to serve His treatment he receives from them,
creatures with all faculties and even if maltreated by them. In
bounties he has, as a other words, his conduct should
manifestation of His grace and not be actuated by considerations
providence, bestowed upon man. of reciprocity or recompense.
The Holy Qur’an itself is replete The qualities of forgiveness,
with verses that enjoin upon charity, giving of alms and social
believers service to humanity and service all fall under this
at the same time forbid any category. The promotion and
behaviour that might be patronage of knowledge and the
detrimental to society. Most systemisation of its different
prominent among those verses is branches are also included here
one that is recited as part of every because they have for their object
Friday Sermon: the material and spiritual well-
being of man. Furthermore, a
Verily, Allah requires you to Muslim is expected to do good to
abide by justice, and to treat others prompted as if by natural
with grace, and give like the impulse, as favours are conferred
giving of kin to kin; and upon near blood relations or as a
forbids indecency, and mother loves her children. A

mother’s love for her children is Muslims are reminded that the
the result of a natural impulse. real purpose in life is to do good
Her sacrifices and the hardships to humanity. They are expected
she willingly suffers for her to be torchbearers and contribute
children are prompted by no to the betterment of their
hope of return or appreciation. respective communities and
They spring from the natural other peoples. If they do this,
fountain of love which God has they will remain the best of
implanted in her nature. mankind for therein lies their
greatness; greatness propor-
In addition to the three tionate to the magnitude of their
commandments, the verse also service to humanity.
contains three prohibitions of
vices and evils to which man can The moral values inculcated by
fall victim. These relate not only these, and similar, verses of the
to that which causes harm and Holy Qur’an were illustrated in
injury to the self but also that their perfection by the Holy
which would constitute an Prophet(sa) so that mankind could
infringement of the rights of benefit alike from his precept and
others in society and which can from his example. He had been
also do them positive harm. raised as a manifestation of
God’s mercy to mankind:
This subject matter is presented
beautifully by another verse of And We have sent thee not
the Holy Qur’an which assigns a but as a mercy for all
great status to Muslims: peoples.
(Ch.21: V.108)
You are the best people raised
for the good of mankind; you God had called him a mercy for
enjoin good and forbid evil mankind and so indeed did he
and believe in Allah… prove himself in every respect.
(Ch.3: V.111) His mercy and humanity were
all-embracing, without limit and

without discrimination, and from trouble; he is ardently

which even the lower creations desirous of your welfare; and
were not excluded. It was to the believers he is
grievously painful for him that compassionate, merciful.
his people should be distressed, (Ch.9: V.128)
and he was ardently desirous of
promoting their welfare. He was The Holy Prophet(sa) was ever
tender and compassionate at all watchful of the poorer sections of
times, cheerfully sharing in their society and always sought to
sorrows and anxieties, and ameliorate their plight and raise
anxious to apply balm to their their status in society. He used to
wounded spirits. Even towards say that no festivity would be
the disbelievers who subjected blessed unless some poor people
him to all manner of persecution were also invited to it. During his
and privations, his heart was full time in Madinah, a poor woman
of the milk of human kindness used to clean up the mosque. Not
that no amount of persecution having seen her for a few days,
could make him bitter against the Holy Prophet(sa) made some
them or make him wish them ill. enquiries about her upon which
He was so kind and sympathetic he was told that she had passed
towards the disbelievers that it away. He expressed his
caused him much grief to see displeasure that he was not
them turn away from the path of informed of this stating that he
righteousness and thus invite the would have wished to join her
wrath of God unto themselves. funeral prayers and added,
This is encapsulated in the ‘perchance you did not consider
following verse of the Holy her worthy of consideration as
Qur’an: she was poor.’ He then asked to
be directed to her grave to which
Surely, a Messenger has come he proceeded and prayed for her.
unto you from among
yourselves; grievous to him is Not only was he himself
that you should fall into watchful of the welfare of the

poor but he constantly exhorted he treated her with much

others to be the same. If a needy consideration and as a result of
person approached the Holy her intercession, he remitted all
Prophet(sa) and made a request, he the penalties imposed on her
would ask those around him to people on account of their
also support the request so that aggression.
they would acquire merit by
becoming sharers in promoting a In his anxiety to safeguard the
good deed. His object was to interest of the poor and needy,
create on the one hand in the the Holy Prophet(sa) went so far as
minds of his Companions a to instruct that no charity was
feeling of eagerness to help the ever to be bestowed upon any of
poor and on the other in the his family. He did this out of fear
minds of the needy a realisation that through excessive devotion
of the affection and sympathy to him, his companions would
felt for them by their relatively make his descendants the sole
well-to-do brethren. objects of their charity thus
depriving the needy. As Islam
As the Holy Prophet(sa) pined for spread through Arabia, the Holy
the welfare of mankind so did he Prophet(sa) would frequently
pay special deference to those receive large quantities of goods
who devoted their time and and money. He would
substance to the service of immediately distribute these
mankind. An Arab tribe once among the poor and needy.
initiated hostilities against the
Muslims and in the ensuing The Holy Prophet(sa) was setting a
battle their forces were defeated very high precedent. In Islam, it is
and some were taken prisoner. incumbent upon those in
Among these was the daughter of authority to show sensitivity to
one of them whose generosity the cause of the people to an
had become a proverb among the extent that there is no need to
Arabs. When she informed the form pressure groups and unions.
Holy Prophet(sa) of her parentage, His benign example was followed

by his Successors. Once, Hadhrat benefactor, exclaimed, ‘You are

Umar(ra), during his tenure of far more fit to be Khalifa than
office as Khalifa, discovered by Umar. He knows not how the
chance that outside Madinah a people fare.’ ‘Well, mother,
woman and her children had been perhaps Umar is not so bad’, said
without provisions for two days, the Khalifa, gently, smiling.
because she lacked the means
therefor. He returned immediately The philosophy of Zakat is the
to Madinah where he collected bedrock of Islamic social values.
flour, butter, meat and dates in a Zakat is one of the pillars of
large bag and summoned a Islam. Put simply, it is a levy on
servant for assistance in lifting both capital and income set aside
the bag onto his back. The servant for the benefit of community. The
protested and offered to carry the Holy Prophet(sa) himself described
bundle himself. Hadhrat Umar(ra) Zakat as ‘a levy imposed upon the
declined his offering, observing, well-to-do which is returned to
‘No doubt you can carry this the poorer sections of society.’
bundle for me now, but who will
carry my burden on the Day of The Holy Qur’an commands that
Judgement?’ He meant that on the the proceeds of Zakat must be
Day of Judgement, the slave devoted towards relieving
would not be in a position to poverty and distress, winning
answer on his behalf how he over the cheerful co-operation of
discharged his responsibility as those who have not yet embraced
head of state. He had to do it Islam, helping those burdened
himself. It was also a sort of self- with debt, providing comfort and
inflicted penance because he felt convenience for travellers,
responsible for the pain and supplying capital where talent is
anguish of the woman. And thus available but funds are lacking,
Hadhrat Umar (ra) carried the providing stipends for scholars
provisions to the woman, who and research workers, and
blessed him for his kindness, and, meeting the expenses involved in
not knowing the identity of her collecting and administering the

Zakat itself. Generally, Zakat can Human dignity is emphasised in

be employed towards all things the strongest terms in this verse.
beneficial for the community as a The recipient is reminded that
whole, such as public health, there is no need for him to be
public works, medical services embarrassed or to suffer from
and educational institutions. Says any complexes because, in fact,
the Holy Qur’an: God has granted him the
fundamental right to survive
The alms are only for the decently and honourably. The
poor and the needy, and for message delivered to the one
those employed in connection who gives is that what he gives to
therewith, and for those the poor, in reality, did not
whose hearts are to be belong to him. Something has to
reconciled, and for the be wrong with an economy
freeing of slaves, and for where some people are left
those in debt, and for the destitute or compelled to beg for
cause of Allah, and for the their living.
wayfarer - an ordinance from
Allah. And Allah is All- Apart from the manner in which
Knowing, Wise. you give, what you give is also
(Ch.9: V.60) important. If you give something
of which you would be ashamed
Through the institution of Zakat, of receiving yourself, this does
the concept of alms giving not fall under the definition of
acquires a new outlook. No alms, according to the Holy
longer does it compliment the Qur’an:
donor and embarrass the
recipient. The recipient is only O ye who believe! Spend of
receiving his rightful share: the good things that you have
And in their wealth is a share earned, and of what We
belonging to the beggar and produce for you from the
the destitute. earth; and seek not what is
(Ch.51: V.20) bad to spend out of it when

you will not take it yourselves service of God’s creatures, for

except with eyes downcast His sake only; and shall
with shame. And know that endeavour to benefit mankind to
Allah is Self-Sufficient, the best of his God-given
Praiseworthy. abilities and powers.’
(Ch.2: V.268)
Elsewhere he writes:
In any case, the Holy Qur’an tells
us that spending in the cause of ‘Be kind and merciful to
Allah wins His favours and those humanity, for all are His
who do so shall have their reward (God’s) creatures: do not
with Him: oppress them with your
tongue, or hands, or in any
Those who spend their wealth other way. Always work for
by night and by day, secretly the good of mankind. Never
and openly, have their reward unduly assert yourself with
with their Lord; on them shall pride over others, even those
come no fear, nor shall they who are placed under you.
grieve. Never use abusive language
(Ch.2: V.275) for anyone even though he
abuse you. Be humble in spirit,
The Promised Messiah (as) and kind and gentle, and forgiving,
Holy Founder of the Ahmadiyya sympathetic towards all and
Muslim community followed the wishing them well, so that you
example of his illustrious master, should be accepted. There are
the Holy Prophet (sa) in his many who pretend to be kind,
concern for the welfare of gentle and forgiving but
humanity in particular and God’s inside they are wolves; there
creatures generally. One of the are many on the outside who
conditions he laid down for look pure, but in their hearts
initiation into the community they are serpents. You cannot
was ‘that he [the initiate] shall be accepted in the presence of
keep himself occupied in the the Lord unless you are pure,

both on the outside and the former Yugoslavia. The

inside. If you are big have Ahmadiyya Muslim community,
mercy on those who are small under the instruction and
– not contempt; if you are direction of its then Supreme
wise and well versed in Head, Hadhrat Mirza Tahir
learning serve the ignorant Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih IV(ru),
with words of wisdom: never was able to deliver over 100
desire to bring disgrace on tonnes of food aid valued at over
their ignorance by trying to £1 million to the victims of war.
show off your learning. If you In these humble efforts, which
are rich, instead of treating may be deemed small by some,
them with self-centred the community sought sincerity
disdainful pride, you should of purpose and ensured that the
serve the poor.’ aid reached Serb, Croat and
(Kashti Nuh – Quoted from Bosnian alike. Muslims are duty
Our Teachings, pp.2-3) bound to assist all those in need
without any discrimination. This
The community he founded is was in consonance with the
actively engaged in social gracious spirit of universal
welfare and in meeting the compassion and non-
educational needs of not just its discriminatory benevolence
own members but also in the inculcated by the Promised
communities in which they Messiah(as):
reside, particularly in Africa
where scores of schools and ‘A religion which does not
hospitals have been established. inculcate universal com-
These humanitarian services also passion is no religion at all.
extend to aid relief and medical Similarly, a human being
supplies to the victims of natural without the faculty of
disasters or human conflict. compassion is no human at
all. Our God has never
In recent history, the world discriminated between one
witnessed the horrors of war in people and another. This is

illustrated by the fact that all independent charity organisation,

the potentials which were Humanity First, which after the
granted to the Aryans were cessation of hostilities continued
also granted to the races to assist the displaced refugees in
inhabiting Arabia, Persia, the reconstruction of their
Syria, China, Japan, Europe country and their lives. Humanity
and America. The earth, First has since been able to render
created by God provides a assistance to the victims of war in
common floor for all people Sierra Leone and Kosovo, to the
alike and His sun and moon victims of earthquakes in Turkey,
and many stars are a source India and recently Bam in Iran,
of radiance to all alike; they and in general, is involved in
also have many other various projects, ranging from
benefits. Likewise, all peoples feeding the poor to orphan care,
benefit from the elements designed to promote the
created by Him such as water, preservation of human life and
fire, earth and other similar dignity.
products such as grain, fruit
and healing agents. These The Ahmadiyya Muslim
attributes of God teach us the community has also been able to
lesson that we too should organise charity events such as
behave magnanimously and marathon walks and cycle
kindly towards our fellow marathons to raise funds for, and
human beings and should not support the noble objectives, of
be petty of heart and several other charities. But such
illiberal.’ (A Message of activities are not limited to one-
Peace, pp. 7-8) off events. Whether it is visiting
the sick and elderly in hospitals
Returning to the humanitarian and old-peoples’ homes, or
endeavours in the former providing a welcome meal to the
Yugoslavia, those humble efforts homeless on the streets, the
inspired and prepared the grounds Ahmadiyya Muslim community
for the Community’s affiliated seeks to help in any way it can.

In discharging its duties to motives. Once a favour is shown

h u m a n i t y, the community to anyone, Islam would require
always admonishes its adherents him to forget about it. To exult
to do so purely for the sake of over one’s act of goodness and to
God. The verses oft quoted in rub in one’s favour are declared
this regard are from the Holy suicidal and self-annihilatory to
Qur’an: the very act of goodness. This is
declared comprehensively in the
And they feed, for the love of following verses:
Him, the poor, the orphan and
the prisoner, saying: ‘We feed They who spend their wealth
you for Allah’s pleasure only. in the way of Allah, then
We desire no reward nor follow not up what they have
thanks from you. spent with taunt or injury, for
(Ch.76: Vs.9-10) them is their reward with
their Lord, and they shall
This is because Islam seeks to have no fear, nor shall they
inculcate the attitude whereby it grieve. A kind word and
is considered against dignity and forgiveness are better than
modesty to accept gratitude. The charity followed by injury.
Holy Qur’an instructs the donor And Allah is Self-Sufficient,
to serve mankind for a higher Forbearing.
and nobler cause rather than (Ch.2: Vs.263-264)
merely to satisfy a natural urge
or earn a good reputation by Quite apart from its socio-
benevolent acts. The Holy economic values, Islamic
Qur’an repeatedly reminds men teachings also ensure that people
to do acts of goodness for the in a community behave with
sake of God and only to win His dignity, and that particular
pleasure and earn His favours. attention is paid to the
maintenance of order in public
All services to humanity are to be places. Islam teaches that
provided without any ulterior persons using public places must

take care that no undue worth pondering over if we are to

inconvenience is occasioned to understand the underlying
others using the same, nor should wisdom. True faith in God
any person be exposed to risk or requires that security and
injury. In elaborating this point protection which one receives
the Holy Prophet(sa) mentioned all from God by virtue of faith,
such articles on pathways and should also be extended to one’s
roads which could in anyway be fellow human beings. God’s
injurious to passers by. Thus he mercy and benevolence extend
warns that if you profess to be equally to all His creatures.
among the faithful, you must Hence, if someone is remiss in
take heed and begin the journey discharging his responsibility of
into higher achievements from extending security and protection
there. If someone sees a nail, to others, by that much he would
banana skin, a thorn or anything be considered as having faltered
which could cause injury to an in his faith.
unwary person or cause accidents
of a larger dimension, and yet It is evident from this that Islam’s
does not take the trouble of sphere of instruction comprises
removing it from the path, he everything that may be required
would be deficient by that much even at the lowest levels. But,
in his faith. perhaps, the most comprehensive
direction within the domain of
The Holy Prophet(sa) explained service to humanity is the
that faith is divided into seventy promotion of righteousness and
tiers. At the highest point faith virtue:
can be summed up as a total
dedication to the Oneness of God And help one another in
and the lowest of them is to clear righteousness and piety; but
the path of undesirable things. help not one another in sin
That the removal of such articles and transgression…
from pathways as may cause (Ch.5: V.3)
injury is a constituent of faith is

When the Holy Prophet (sa) said Bibliography

on one occasion, ‘Go to the help • Holy Qur’an with Translation
of your brother whether and Commentary – by
oppressor or oppressed’, he was Hadhrat Malik Ghulam
asked, ‘We understand what is Farid(ra).
meant by going to the help of a
brother who is oppressed, but • Life of Muhammad – By
how shall we help a brother who Hadhrat Mirza Bashiruddin
is an oppressor?’ The Holy Mahmood Ahmad(ra).
Prophet(sa) replied, ‘By restrain-
ing him from oppressing others.’ • Absolute Justice, Kindness
He once defined a Muslim as and Kinship – by Hadhrat
‘one from whose hands and Mirza Tahir Ahmad(ru).
tongue his fellows apprehend no
harm.’ • Islam’s Response to
Contemporary Issues – by
It is patently obvious, from the Hadhrat Mirza Tahir
foregoing, that Islam has placed Ahmad(ru).
great emphasis on the day-to-
day pattern of one’s conduct in • Islam and Human Rights – by
relation to his fellow human Hadhrat Muhammad
beings which in the case of the Zafrullah Khan(ra).
true believer distinguishes him
from the non-believers in
decency and refinement. For
Muslims, service to humanity is
a moral prerogative, a spiritual
privilege and, above all, a
religious duty.

Al-Hayy – The Living God
by Naeem Ahmad of New York USA based on a speech delivered on 27 June 2003
at the Ahmadiyya Muslim Annual Convention of USA
Alif Lam Mim. (I am Allah, the Commentators of the Holy Qur’an

All-Knowing) Allah is He and lexicographers have explained
beside Whom there is no God, Al Hayy as One Who never dies,
the Living, the Self-Subsisting and He Who lasts forever,
and All-Sustaining. (Qartabi), One Whose existence is
(Ch.3: Vs.2-3) from ever to ever, (Jalalain). Ibne
Kathir says that Al Hayy is He
In these opening verses of Sura Al- Who would never die- He Who is
Imran Chapter 3, in the Ayatul- the First and the Last – He Who
Kursi (Chapter 2: V.256) and at has the knowledge about
three other places in the Holy everything, Who is Everlasting,
Qur’an, Allah refers to Himself by Ever Remaining, Ever Existing,
this most glorious name of Al and Eternal and Who is Ever-
Hayy: The Living, the Self- Living. Mufridat and Lane
Subsisting. describe Al Hayy as an attribute of
God, signifying that God is the
The Promised Messiah(as) declared: only Being Who is deathless, and
lives by Himself, needing no
‘He is Self-Existing in His support. He is Eternal and Ever-
Being and everything is alive Lasting.
through Him. He is Self-
Existing and everything exists From all these the general sense
through Him. He is All- emerges of a Being Who is
Sustaining and nothing sup- perfectly Alive, Aware,
ports Him. There is nothing Cognisant, and Active.
that has come into being on its
own or can live without Him The Promised Messiah (as) has
on its own. (Lecture Lahore) written that:

‘In order to bestow perfect Quddus the Holy, and Al Ghani

understanding upon His the Self-Sufficient.
humble creatures, God
Almighty has set out His noble Al Hayy is the Being Whose
attributes in two aspects. First Power is limitless, Whose
He has described His knowledge knows no bounds,
attributes metaphorically, as Who is Ever-Vigilant, Ever-
resembling some human Watchful, He does not depend
qualities, as for instance, He is upon other beings and is not
Noble, Merciful, Beneficent limited to time and space. Al
and becomes angry and has Hayy is the prime attribute that
love…. To repel the notion makes God worshipable. If He
that man resembles God in was not alive what could He do
respect of these attributes and for others? If He is not the
God resembles man, as a bestower of life, what right has
contrast, God has mentioned He to require obedience and
in the Holy Qur’an His worship from others? Al Hayy
attributes of transcendence requires worship because He gave
also; that is to say such life and did not leave it without
attributes of which man does providing sustenance. Allah is
not take partake at all in His not like a builder who may raise a
Being or His qualities.’ building but is not concerned
(Chashma Marifat) about its daily maintenance or the
needs of its occupants. Such a
Al Hayy is one of those beautiful builder’s existence and attendance
names of God that pertain to His is not necessary for the good of
Divine Person or His Being. the building; nor will his death
Other beautiful names in this cause any problem to it; whereas
category include Al Wahid the the universe and all that it
One, Al Haqq the True, As Samad, contains, including us human
the Besought of All, Al Qayyum beings are always in need of and
the All Sustaining, Al Awwal the cannot function without Allah’s
First, Al Aakhir the Last, Al constant support, timely assis-

tance and maintained sustenance. ‘This means that true being

Our God has not only provided and true existence and all true
for all our needs, but He remains qualities belong only to God
Ever-Watchful for all corrections and no one is an associate with
that the course of our life may Him in respect of them. He
require. alone is alive in His Being and
everything else exists through
Al Hayy is called the Isme His support. He is not subject
Adham, the Great Name. If it was to death so also He is not
to be stricken out from the subject to even temporary
attributes of Allah then the rest of cessation of His senses like
the attributes would be of no sleep or slumber.’ (Chashma
avail. If He is not Al Hayy then a Marifat)
non-entity cannot be Al Qayyum,
the All-Sustaining, or Ar- The Promised Messiah (as) also
Rahman, the Gracious, or Ar- said:
Raheem, the Merciful, or the
Sustainer of all the Worlds or the ‘He is the Ever-Living and
Master of the Day of Judgment. All-Sustaining, if He were not
Al Hayy is, therefore, the first and so, there would be fear lest He
foremost of the attributes and die before us.’
qualities with which Allah can be (The Philosophy of the
recognised and identified. Teachings of Islam)
Without realisation of this
attribute the creation and The proposition about the so-
sustenance of the Universe cannot called death of God, is not as
be conceived. preposterous as it may sound.
Time Magazine ran a cover story
The Promised Messiah (as) has entitled ‘Is God Dead?’ in their
conveyed to us the significance of April 8, 1966 issue. The magazine
this most noble attribute of the cited public attitudes viz ‘I am too
Almighty in several of his darned busy to worry about God’,
writings: ‘Religion is good for the kids,

though I am not religious myself’, transcendent God of the Bible had

and ‘God is a kind of an older died and He was irrelevant today;
man, who is just and fair, but can however, the dominant current
get angry at times and He does not concept is waiting for God.
do much about most things
anyway.’ The magazine quoted Alas, this waiting has come to
several leading theologians and naught. As recently as June 14
intellectuals of that time. They 2003, there was an article on the
wondered that God’s work had Op-Ed page of the New York
been long done after He initiated Times, bemoaning and lamenting
the Creation. The consensus the fact that there is no mention of
seemed to be that while the God or a hint of religion in the
existence of God is not in new European Union constitution
question, the concept of God now being written. The preamble
needed revision. There was a dire extols Europe’s ‘underlying
need to reinvent or redefine a God humanism, equality of persons,
who was not only all love but also freedom, respect for reason’. The
satisfied their need for an awe use of the word ‘humanist’,
inspiring Being to Whom they according to the columnist, was a
could feel and hear and reach out. signal that Europe had done away
On a secular level the feeling was with the concept of God, living or
that since we have the marvels of otherwise.
modern technology there is no
need for God to work miracles. The fact is that our God requires
We have social and moral much more than blind faith or lip
scientists who have developed a service. Works of righteousness
theory of ethics based on must accompany belief. That is
enlightened self-interest and need why there has to be an Al Hayy,
no living God to hang on to. There the Living, to guide our continued
was a sequel, an article in the May effort towards leading a good life
2, 1969 issue, where most of the here and to make provisions for
experts approached for the earlier the next. Allah says in Sura Al
article, reiterated the view that a Hadeed:

He is with you, wheresoever He also said:

you maybe.
(Ch.57:V.5) ‘We call thousands of
blessings and peace and mercy
This promise of Him being with on the Holy Prophet
us is, to borrow from computer- Muhammad , the chosen
( s a )
speak, in Real Time. He is Al one, who gives us proof of His

Hayy and always alive for our existence through His Word.
needs. He demonstrates to us through
extraordinary signs His
The question then arises, how do shining countenance, which
we know that God is alive, active possesses eternal and perfect
and cognisant? The answer is the power. We found the
same as for the existence of God: Messenger who manifested
God to us and we found the
There is none worthy of God Who created everything
worship other than Allah, through His perfect Power.’
Muhammad(sa) is the (Naseem-e-Dawat)
Messenger of Allah.
It is the excellent exemplar, the
As the Promised Messiah has (as) complete guide, the effective
explained in a letter to Pandit moral teacher, the blessed life and
Agni Hotri that: successful completion of the
mission of that perfect human
There is none worthy of being, the Apostle of Allah, Seal
worship other than Allah of the Prophets, Lord of the
children of Adam, our Master
is the claim and Muhammad Mustapha (sa) that
Muhammad is the Messenger compels us to believe in Al Hayy,
of Allah the Living God.
is the proof. And trust thou in the Living

One, Who dies not, and glorify

Him with His praise. And momentous decision to be made,

sufficient is He as the Knower or looming calamity to be
of the sins of His servants. avoided, or problem to be solved,
(Ch 25: Vs. 59) the Holy Prophet(sa) invariably
stood up for a special prayer and
The Holy Prophet (sa) was thus beseeched the help of Allah. This
commanded, comforted and help was always there in an
guided by Allah. With complete extraordinary way.
assurance of the active support of
the Ever Living God, he was to The following incident from the
devote all his faculties and utilise life of the Holy Prophet(sa) will
his entire energies in pursuing his show the function of Al Hayy
mission of conveying the message who is Alive, Active, Ever
and commandments of Allah, and Living. During a journey, an
to be a mercy for all the worlds. enemy of the Holy Prophet (sa)
He was to lead such a life that it found him taking a nap,
would be an excellent example unguarded, under a tree. He stood
not only for his companions but over the Holy Prophet(sa), drew his
also for all the generations of all sword and before striking him
the peoples in all parts of the fatally unaware, asked in a loud
world till the end of times. The voice: ‘Who can save you from
life of the Holy Prophet (sa) is this predicament?’ The Holy
essentially a continuous story of Prophet(sa) woke up and without a
his trust in the Ever Living God. moment’s hesitation, the Holy
He won the hearts and minds of Prophet(sa) replied: ‘Allah!’ He
his people with Allah’s help. He uttered this one word with such
fought many defensive battles and perfect assurance that even the
was successful against over- heart of his disbelieving enemy
whelming odds. He accomplished was forced to acknowledge the
all of these only by supplicating to loftiness of his faith and trust in
the Ever Living God. There are the Ever Living God. The sword
several authentic traditions that fell from his hand and the Holy
tell us that whenever there was a Prophet(sa) took it in his hands and

asked his assassin the same instances of Divine intervention

question. Alas! The enemy could following his supplications.
only mutter his regrets and threw Following the tradition of the
himself at the mercy of the Holy Holy Prophet(sa) he challenged all
Prophet(sa). Of course, he was his opponents to a Mubahila (a
forgiven and his life was spared. prayer duel) and was always
successful.
The Imam of our age, Hadhrat
Mirza Ghulam Ahmad Qadiani (as), ‘It is by the exercise of His
the Promised Messiah and Power and Will that the True
Reformer of the Age, based the God confirms His Person.
entire proof of his advent upon the This is how the Unknowable
cognisance, active help, manifests Himself’.
assistance and sustenance of the
Ever Living God. He writes: From hundreds of instances of
Allah’s Grace and Mercy is the
‘Be sure, therefore that the story of the illness of Abdul
belief in the unity of God can Rahim Khan(ra), a son of Nawab
be achieved only through a Muhammad Ali Khan (ra). His
Prophet, as our Holy health suddenly took a turn for the
Prophet ( s a ) convinced the worse, and upon the urgent and
atheists and pagans of Arabia impassioned pleas of Nawab
of the existence of God Sahib, the Promised Messiah(as)
Almighty by showing them prayed for him and was also
thousands of heavenly signs. moved to intercede for him. The
Up till today the true and Wahy (revelation) came down
perfect followers of the Holy immediately:
Prophet(sa) present these signs
to the atheists.’ Who dares to intercede with
(Haqiqatul Wahy) Him without his permission?’
In several of his books he has The Promised Messiah(as) became

enumerated more than 300 silent as he was almost overcome

with the awe of God. But the Lord saying, ‘I am overcome,

Most Merciful God then revealed so come Thou to my help.
Innaka antal Majaz Indeed thou (Ch.54:V.11)
art permitted (to intercede). The
Al Hayy accepted the intercession Allah responded by opening the
of his honoured servant and floodgates of the heavens and the
through the manifestation of His earth and caused Hadhrat Nuh(as)
attribute of His being alive and and the believers to be rescued on
Ever Living granted the gift of life the Ark that floated under Our
to the young Abdul Rahim eyes. (Ch.54:V.15)
Khan(ra) who became healthy
again. Allah was with Hadhrat Ibrahim
(Abraham)(as) when his people put
There is also the well-known him in a fire:
episode of Abdul Karim(ra), who
was bitten by a mad dog and sent We said , ‘Turn cold, O Fire,
to the special hospital for the and be a source of peace for
hydrophobic patients and for Abraham’.
whom the telegram ‘Nothing Can (Ch.21:V.70)
Be Done’ was sent by the British
surgeon. With the prayers of the Hayat-e-Noor records a narrative
Promised Messiah (as) the Al Hayy by Hadhrat Musleh Maud, who
revived him. was present when the manuscript
of ‘Noor-ud-Deen’, was being read
Allah has always been Alive to out to the Promised Messiah(sa) for
the needs of all His Messengers. his review. This book was being
He guided them every step of the written by Hadhrat Khalifatul
way in pursuing their missions Masih I in response to a book
and provided them His ever alive Renunciation of Islam by a Muslim
and vigilant care. Hadhrat Nuh(as) who had converted to Hinduism
prayed: and taken the name of Dharampal.
One of his objections was that the
He therefore prayed to his Qur’an is full of stories of miracles

of earlier prophets, whereas And Allah was most assuredly

nothing was contemporary. ‘Why with the Holy Prophet(sa) when
is the fire not being ‘cooled’ for a after endless persecution he was
pious one these days?’ Hadhrat migrating from his home in
Maulwi Sahib had written in Makkah to the nascent
response that the ‘fire’ was a community of Madinah. After a
metaphor for the hatred based on days journey, with the Makkans in
ignorance, for bigoted enmity and hot pursuit the Holy Prophet(sa)
for the agony of persecution, etc. and his companion Hadhrat Abu
The Promised Messiah (as) Bakr Siddiq(ra) took refuge in the
forcefully intervened and said: cave At-Thaur. The professional
‘There is no need to go into long trackers hired by the Makkans
interpretations and metaphorical were hovering at the mouth of the
meanings. God has named me cave. To quote from Sura Tauba:
Abraham(as) also. Let them put me
in a fire and let them then see how If you help him not, then know
God makes that fire a means of that Allah helped him even
coolness and safety for me.’ when the disbelievers drove
him forth while he was one of
The story of Hadhrat Moses(as) and the two when they were both in
his mission is replete with the cave, when he said to his
instances of an Ever-Living God companion. ‘Grieve not, for
protecting and accompanying the Allah is with us.’ Then Allah
prophets on their missions. sent down His peace on him,
and strengthened him with
And when the two hosts came hosts which you did not see,
in sight of each other the and humbled the word of those
companions of Moses said, who disbelieved, and it is the
‘We are surely overtaken. word of Allah alone which is
‘Nay, speak not thus!’ said he, supreme. And Allah is Mighty,
My Lord is with me; He will Wise.
direct me aright. (Ch.9:V.40)
(Ch.26: Vs.62-63)

This comforting advice of: And let him, who worships Allah;
‘Grieve not: verily, God is with know that Inna Allahu Hayyun la
us’ was to have far reaching yamoot. That Allah is ever living
consequences. When by the and shall never die. This had an
decree of Allah the Holy electrifying effect upon all
Prophet(sa) passed away from this present. Hadhrat Umar(ra) started
world, his companions went into a sobbing with grief and relief!
state of shock! His advent was so
momentous; the change in their The Promised Messiah as) wrote:
lives had been so profound that
they could not face the trauma of ‘Our God is One, Who is
his death. No less a personage living today as He was living
than Hadhrat Umar Farooq (ra), before. And He speaks today
thought that the Holy Prophet(sa) as He spoke before and He
had just fainted. He stood outside hears today as heard before.
the Prophet’s(sa) Mosque with a He both hears and speaks. All
drawn sword threatening to His attributes are eternal and
punish those who persisted in everlasting. None of His
believing otherwise. Hadhrat attributes has fallen into
Abu Bakr (ra) hastened to the disuse or will fall into
Mosque, comforted Hadhrat disuse…. He manifests
U m a r (ra) and said: ‘And Himself through His powers
Muhammad is only a Messenger. and His signs and we can find
Verily, all Messengers have Him only through Him. He
passed away before him. If then manifests Himself always to
he die or be slain, will you turn the righteous and shows them
back on your heels? And he who His powers. That is how He is
turns back on his heels shall not recognised and that is how the
harm Allah at all. And Allah will path is recognised which has
certainly reward the grateful’ His approval’.
(Ch.3:V.145). He added, ‘Let him, (Al-Wasiyyat)
who worshipped Muhammad(sa),
know that Muhammad(sa) is dead.

This is the nub of the difference themselves before the Living,

between the Ahmadi Muslims and Self-Subsisting and All-
other Muslims. We believe that Sustaining God. And he shall
Allah is Al Hayy and is as alive to indeed perish who bears the
the needs of His chosen faith and burden of iniquity.
His sincere servants today as He (Ch.20:V.112)
ever was. He guides them by
responding to their prayers, by I need not go into the details of
inspiring them with true dreams the great leaders and dictators
and heavenly signs and He sends who oppressed and persecuted
down His revelation, on those who believed in God,
whomsoever He pleases at His throughout the ages, and also in
Own chosen time. He may name a the not too distant past; whom the
recipient of this revelation, who is Ever Living God abased and
from amongst the followers of the brought down with His swift
Holy Prophet(sa) and follows his reckoning. He was and Insha
example perfectly, as a prophet. Allah (God willing) will always
The other Muslims, do not deny be with the righteous.
that God hears, but are reluctant
to say that He speaks. The door of Al Hayy: of which the verb form
formal Wahy, according to them is is Hayy-ya i.e. he lived, had life,
shut forever. etc. Another form from the same
root is Yuhyee: he gives life,
Other than responding to the brings to life, or causes to live.
supplications of prophets we There is mention of Ahya-e-Mota
believe, indeed, have witnessed or the bringing the dead back to
the Ever Living’s out-of-the- life. This is a vast subject. In Sura
ordinary help and succour to the Al Baqra Verse 259 to 261 Allah
Khulafa, companions and other has revealed some aspects of it. In
respected personages of the verse 259, the king is disputing
Jama’at. the claim of Hadhrat Abraham(as)
that My Lord is He, Who gives life
And all faces shall humble and causes death. The king said

I also give life and cause death. the dead back to life?’ God
Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih I has said, ‘Dost thou not believe?’
explained that the king claimed to Abraham said, ‘Yes, but I ask
have caused townships to grow this that my heart be at ease.’
and decline by moving of location God answered, ‘Take four birds
of state functions. Hadhrat and make them attached to
Abraham(as) retorted that Allah thee. Then put each of them on
brings the sun from the East, a hill then call them: they will
bring it thou from the West. As the come to thee in haste. And
king was a sun worshipper, he know that Allah is Mighty,
could not claim any control over Wise.’
the sun and consequently realised (Ch.2:V.261)
that he had no control over life or
death, in any form, either. Allah has bestowed this attribute
Thereupon the infidel was of revivification of lost souls upon
dumbfounded. In the next verse His chosen servants throughout
Allah relates the story of a the ages. Hadhrat Jesus(as) was
prophet of Banu Israel, possibly given this power
Ezekiel who witnessed the ruins
of the freshly devastated town, he And I will quicken the dead by
was overcome with pathos and the command of Allah.
wondered when would Allah (Ch.3:V.50)
bring that town back to life. Then
God showed him a vision of a This, of course pertains to the
hundred years hence when the marvelous moral transformation
town has been reborn, and thus that a prophet of God brings about
demonstrated a manifestation of in the lives of his followers.
His attribute of Al Hayy, in Consider the present day
respects of cities and population evangelical movements that claim
centers. The next verse relates to to make their adherents as ‘born
the revival of nations and peoples. again’ Christians.
And when Abraham said, ‘My For the Holy Prophet(sa), Allah has
Lord show me how you bring made the special dispensation in
Sura Al Infal (Chapter 8) Verse 25 these three instances is to describe

transcendental attri-butes of
O ye who believe! Respond to Unity, Self Subsistence, the All
Allah and the Messenger when Sustaining Power, and Dominion
he calls you, that he may give over all. Al Hayy occurs only
you life. twice in the singular. In both
cases Allah is invoking this
Here is food for thought for us who beautiful attribute to encourage a
claim to have heard and responded positive and sure step forward in
the Divine summons in this age. pursuit of our goals for this life
The way to an everlasting spiritual and preparing for the next while
life is clear. We have to follow making us assured of the help and
commands of God and adopt the backing of the Ever Living God.
practice of the Holy Prophet(sa) and
hold fast to the continued lifeline The reference in Sura Al Furqan
that Allah has been Gracious and was quoted before. Verse 66 from
Merciful enough to extend to us in Sura Al Momin (Chapter 40)
the form of Khilafat Ahmadiyya. It clearly and succinctly conveys the
is only then that we can come alive message of this presentation:
and start on the path of His
approval. Allah says in Sura Yasin: ‘He is the Living God. There is
It is but a Reminder and a Qur’an no God but He. So pray unto
that makes things plain, so that it Him, being sincere to Him in
may warn all who live, and that the religion. All praise belongs to
decree against the disbelievers Allah, the Lord of the worlds.’
may come to pass. (Ch.36:V.70- (Ch 40 Vs 66)
71)
It will be noted that Al Hayy, as

an attribute of God, appears five
times in the Holy Qur’an. At
three places it is paired with Al
Qayyum, the reference in each of

Death on the Cross
This article is based upon a pamphlet entitled: ‘Death on the Cross? Ten
arguments from the Bible’ by the Late Maulana Abul Atta Jalandhri,
H.A. and published by the London Mosque.
For the sake of the convenience of the reader, the name Jesus and other prophets has not been
suffixed by (as) (peace be upon him) in all places but we urge Muslims to consider it implicit in
the text.
Jesus’s Birth given birth to babies. Adam is

Strangely enough, the three great believed by the three great religions
nations of the world – Jews, of the world to be born without the
Christians and Muslims are at agency of either ‘father’ or
variance with regard, both, to the ‘mother.’ The Muslims believe that
birth as well as the death of Jesus Jesus(as) was a true prophet of God.
Christ who was born among the His birth, without the agency of
Jews. The Jews declare his birth to man, has nothing to do with his
be illegitimate: they are guilty of sonship or his divinity. He was
uttering a grievous calumny against human, pure and simple. Jesus
Mary, mother of Jesus (as). The invariably calls himself the `Son of
Christians on the other hand believe man’ in the New Testament.
that Jesus Christ (as) was born
without the agency of an earthly Jesus’s Death
father and that he was the son of His death is equally a controversial
God Himself. This shows that both affair with the Jews, the Christians
the Jews and the Christians have and the Muslims. The Jews believe
gone to the opposite extremes as that Jesus (as) died on the cross
regards Jesus’ (as) birth. The because he was a false prophet. In
Muslims on their part, believe that this connection they quote the
Jesus(as), no doubt, was born without Bible. ‘And if a man have
the agency of an earthly father, but committed a sin worthy of death,
he was not the son of God. A and he be put to death, and thou
fatherless birth may be a strange hang him on a tree’ is ‘the accursed
incident but it is not unnatural. of God’. (Deut. 21:22-23),
There have been cases in medical According to them, Jesus was a
history where innocent virgins have false prophet, therefore he died on

Death on the Cross
the cross as the accursed of God. himself to be the King of the Jews.
The governor, Pilate was not
The Christians also believe that convinced of his guilt but being
Jesus(as) was hanged on the Cross influenced by the tumult of the
and died an accursed death. Says multitude he delivered Jesus(as) to be
Paul: crucified. They put him on the
Cross where he remained, at the
‘Christ hath redeemed us from utmost, for three or four hours only
the curse of the law, being made and then was taken down in a
a curse for us: for it is written, swoon and placed in a sepulchre in
cursed is every one that hangeth a garden nearby.
on a tree’.
(Galatians 3: 13). Now in those days it took several
days for criminals to die on the
But the Holy Qur’an declares that Cross. They suffered the pangs of
Christ did not die on the Cross. God hunger and thirst and in most cases
saved him from death by cru- their legs were broken. They died a
cifixion in the same way as He lingering death extending over
saved His dear ones from several days. But it was not so in
tribulations. Did not Jonah the the case of Jesus Christ (as).
Prophet come out alive from the Incidentally, he was put on the
belly of the whale? The fact of the Cross on a Friday afternoon. The
matter is that Jesus Christ(as) only following being the Sabbath day -a
fell into a swoon on the Cross, but day of religious observance by the
when he was taken down from it, he Jews – no criminal could remain on
recovered and then died a natural the Cross on that Holy day, so he
death at the good old age of 120. was taken down from it after about
three or four hours. The loss of
On the strength of their belief that blood from the wounds caused him
Jesus(as) was a false prophet, the to fall into a swoon. He was taken
Jews, particularly the Pharisees of for a dead man. His body was
his time, brought serious political placed in a spacious sepulchre in a
charges against him alleging that he garden by Joseph of Arimathaea,
was disloyal to the Roman his own disciple. Jesus being still
Emperor, and that he claimed alive in the sepulchre, left it on the

Death on the Cross
third day in disguise, met his then the whole of Christianity is

disciples at Galilee and ate with a farce’.
them. His wounds were healed by
the application of an ointment I-Jonah’s Sign
especially prepared by his disciples Now we proceed with our
for the purpose. arguments from the Bible itself to
show that Jesus(as) did not die on the
This is the natural story of Jesus’(as) Cross. We read in the New
Crucifixion but the Christians gave Testament:
a strange version of his death which
is not only unnatural but also ‘And when the people were
against historical evidence as well gathered thick together, he
as logic. They believe that Jesus(as) (Jesus) began to say, this is an
actually died on the Cross but on evil generation: they seek a
the third day he rose up to the sign: and there shall no sign be
heavens. What a paradox! Modern given it but the sign of Jonas the
Christianity rests on the belief that prophet. For as Jonas was a
Jesus(as) died on the Cross. But if it sign unto the Ninevites, so shall
is proved that he did not die on the also the Son of man to this
Cross nor did he rise from the dead, generation.’ (Luke 11:29, 30).
then the whole edifice of
Christianity tumbles to the ground. Again:
Paul, who is the real founder of
modern Christianity, himself says: ‘But he answered and said unto
them; an evil and adulterous
‘And if Christ be not risen, then generation seeketh after a sign:
is our preaching vain and your and there shall be no sign given
faith also vain’. to it, but the sign of the prophet
(I.Corinthians 15: 14). Jonas: for as Jonas was three
days and three nights in the
The late Dr. Zwemer, the well- whale’s belly; so shall the Son
known American missionary says: of man be three days and three
nights in the heart of the earth’.
‘If our belief in the death of (Matthew 12:39, 40).
Christ on the Cross is wrong

Death on the Cross
Jesus Christ (as) is said here to give a belly of the fish and the heart of the
sign to the people of his own time earth and coming out alive. Both
as Jonas, the prophet, had given to Jonah and Jesus(as) cried by reason
the Ninevites? Now what was the of their respective afflictions and
sign given by Jonas to the prayed to their Lord for
Ninevites? The Bible says: deliverance. The prayers of both
were heard. If Jesus(as) did not enter
‘Now the Lord had prepared a the heart of the earth (sepulchre)
great fish to swallow up Jonah. alive, and come out alive, where is
And Jonah was in the belly of the resemblance of the two signs?
the fish three days and three Jesus promised to show only one
nights. Then Jonah prayed unto sign to the generation of his time,
the Lord his God out of the fish’s but even if that sign be not proved
belly. And said, 1 cried by to be true, is there anything also to
reason of mine affliction unto prove the truth of his claim to be a
the Lord, and he heard me; out prophet? Jesus’(as) reference to the
of the belly of hell cried I, and sign of Jonah simply means that he
thou heardest, my voice’. would not die on the Cross.
(Jonah 1: 17 and 2: 1, 2). Therefore, there is every reason to
believe that the swoon theory is not
According to this verse in the Bible, based on a wrong hypothesis.
Jonah was swallowed up by a big
fish where he remained three days II - Pilate’s wife sees a dream
and three nights and then came out ‘When he was set down on the
alive from the belly of the fish. It Judgement seat, his wife sent
was a sign given to the Ninevites. unto him, saying, Have you
Jonah prayed to God for nothing to do with that just man
deliverance while in the belly of the (Jesus): for I have suffered
fish. The Lord heard his prayer and many things this day in a dream
Jonah came out alive. Jesus(as) says because of him’.
that no sign shall be given to the (Matthew 27: 19)
evil and adulterous generation of
his time except that of Jonas. Now The lady’s dream was really true
what is the resemblance between and quite opportune. It purports to
the two signs of Jonas and Jesus(as). mean that Christ be saved from the
It is nothing but going alive into the accursed death on the Cross. God
Death on the Cross
saves his dear ones by means of unto you the King of the Jews?
dreams of others as was the case Then cried they all again,
with Joseph who was released from saying, Not this man, but
jail having interpreted the two Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a
dreams of Pharaoh. God wanted to robber’.
protect Jesus against his enemies, (John 18: 38, 40).
hence the dream of the Roman
governor’s wife which influenced And from thenceforth Pilate
his judgement. sought to release him: but the
Jews cried out, saying, If thou
III - The Roman Governor’s let this man go, thou art not
sympathetic attitude Caesar’s friend: whosoever
The Jews presented the case of maketh himself a king speaketh
Jesus Christ (as) to Pilate, the Roman against Caesar’.
Governor of Palestine. He held a (John 19: 12).
judicial inquiry into the case and
declared that he was not guilty of From the references given above, it
the charges brought against him. He is evident that the Governor regards
said unto them: Jesus(as) innocent of all the charges
brought against him by the Jews, he
‘Ye have brought this man unto tries his utmost to release him but
me as one that perverteth the when the Jews threatened to report
people: and behold, I, having him to the Caesar in Rome he
examined him before you, have yielded to them and handed Jesus (as)
found no fault in this man over to them. But secretly he took
touching those things where of measures to see that Jesus should be
ye accuse him.’ saved. He had his wife’s dream
(Luke 23: 14). before him and he knew full well
that the chief priests had delivered
He went out again unto the Jews him in envy.
and said unto them, 1 find in
him no fault at all. But ye have IV-Pilate’s scheme to save Christ
a custom, that I should release Pilate, the Governor, was
unto you one at the passover: thoroughly convinced of the
will ye, therefore, that I release innocence of Jesus Christ. He

Death on the Cross
therefore, had a pre-planned imperial government at Rome.

scheme to save Jesus’(as) life. As a Joseph of Arimathaea boldly asked
responsible official of the Roman the Governor to hand over the
Empire he could not openly come to `body’ of Jesus which request he
the forefront, but he was the master- readily granted. If the plan was not
mind before the whole scheme and pre-conceived, how could the
the chief actor in the drama. Other Governor hand over the `body’ of
characters of the show were Joseph Jesus to a stranger from outside.
of Arimathaea, an honourable There is reason to believe that Jesus
councillor and disciple of Jesus Christ(as) himself must have been
Christ(as). He had already had a informed of the plan so that his
sepulchre hewn out in a rock garden prophecy might come true that as
nearby. We read in St. John: Jonah was three days and three
nights in the whale’s belly so shall
‘And there came also the Son of man be three days and
Nicodemus, which at the first three nights in the heart of the earth.
came to Jesus by night and
brought a mixture of myrrh and V-Duration of Crucifixion
aloes about a hundred pounds The duration of crucifixion or the
weight’. period of time for which Jesus
(John 19: 39). remained on the Cross was not long
enough to warrant his death on the
It was very clever of Pilate to Cross. Criminals generally took
choose Friday afternoon as the time several days to die a lingering death
for Jesus’(as) crucifixion so that he an the cross on account of the loss
could not remain on the Cross after of blood from the wounds on hands
sunset, the following day being and feet, the physical pain and the
Sabbath, so holy to the Jews. All pangs of hunger and thirst. The
necessary measures were adopted minimum time of death on the cross
to bring Jesus(as) to consciousness. ranged between 24 and 28 hours but
Otherwise what did Nicodemus in some cases it took several days to
mean by bringing the mixture of die on the cross. In such cases it
myrrh and aloes. Jesus (as) was became necessary to break the legs
shown to have died in official of the criminals so that death may
records to pacify the Jews and the be hastened and consummated.

Death on the Cross
Let us now probe into the matter of SABACHTHANI, My God, My

Jesus’(as) crucifixion. The New God why hast thou forsaken
Testament tells us that Jesus (as) me?”’
remained on the cross for a few (Mark 15:33, 34).
hours only. The actual duration of
time Jesus remained on the Cross This shows that Jesus(as) retained his
was not more than three or four consciousness up to the ninth hour
hours. Jesus Christ(as) who was in of the day and then he fell into a
the prime of his youth (33 years) swoon, that the New Testament
and enjoyed excellent health, could writers call ‘giving up the ghost’.
not be expected to have died within None of the writers were present on
so short a time in particular when the spot to stand as eye-witness.
his legs were not broken as was The ‘swoon’ was taken to be
done in the case of the two robbers ‘death’ and `death on the Cross’
crucified with him the same day. means an accursed death. Do we
not read in the Bible, ‘for he that is
It may not be out of place here to hanged is accursed of God’? (Deut.
note that, according to the Roman 21:23).
calendar the day began with the
setting of the sun and ended with VI-Coming out of blood and
its setting the next day. The same water
custom is in vogue even to this day ‘Then came the soldiers and
in Arab countries. According to broke the legs of the first and of
John (19: 14) it was about the sixth the other which was crucified
hour of the day (Friday) that Pilate with him. But when they came to
spoke last to the Jews vis-a-vis Jesus, and saw that he was dead
Jesus crucifixion and handed him already, they break not his legs.
over to them. But one of the soldiers with a
spear pierced his side, and
‘And when the sixth hour was forthwith came there out blood
come, there was darkness over and water’.
the whole land until the ninth (John 19:32-34)
hour. And at the ninth hour, Jesus
cried with a loud voice, saying, The soldiers did not break the legs
Eloi, Eloi, LAMA of Jesus(as) for they took him for a

Death on the Cross
dead man while actually he was in a fled from the scene of the
state of swoon, or just to silence the crucifixion.
angry Jews he was declared to be a
‘dead’ man. But one of the soldiers ‘But he began to curse and to
incidentally ‘pierced his side and swear saying, I know not this
forthwith there came out blood and man (Jesus) of whom you
water’, which is a surer sign of life speak’.
for blood and water do not gush out (Mark 14:71)
of a dead man’s body. There is
much food for thought for those ‘And they forsook him (Jesus)
who care to ponder over it. and fled’.
(Mark 14: 50)
VII-No eye-witness of crucifixion
Three writers of the Gospels state To be brief, there was no one
that there was darkness over all the present on the scene who could
land from the sixth to the ninth hour definitely and certainly say that he
and that there was an earthquake saw Jesus(as) ‘giving up the ghost’.
and the rocks were rent and the veil This is all mere conjecture and
of the temple was rent in twain. It is imagination.
a matter of common experience at
the time of a severe dust-storm VIII-Jesus’ mission to the lost
accompanied by an earthquake, sheep of Israel
people generally hasten to go home 1. ‘For the Son of man is come
and they do not enjoy the luxury of to seek and to save that which
a bloody sight-seeing. Now imagine was lost’.
for a moment, who could stand an (Luke 19: 10).
eye-witness to tell the story that
Jesus actually died on the cross. 2. ‘And other sheep I have,
The Jews, if at all, there were any which are not of this fold: them
on the spot, must have run away at also I must bring, and they shall
the sight of the rising storm and the hear my voice; and there shall
shaking of the earth must have be one fold and one shepherd’.
frightened them to turn on their (John 10:16).
heels and hasten to their homes. As
to the disciples, they had already 3. ‘And he said unto them, I

Death on the Cross
must preach the Kingdom of by the modern ‘finds’ of

God to other cities also; For archaeology. Jesus(as) found his lost
therefore I am sent. sheep in Persia, Afghanistan and
(Luke 4:43). Kashmir, preached to them and
comparatively he was much more
4. ‘But he answered and said, I successful here than in Palestine.
am not sent but unto the lost
sheep of the house of Israel’. He died a natural death and was, we
(Matthew 15:24). believe, buried in Srinagar,
Kashmir.
From the quotations given above, it
is clear that Jesus’(as) mission was to IX-Jesus’ victory over his
preach to all the twelve tribes of enemies
Israel that were scattered in the Addressing his disciples Jesus (as)
eastern countries extending from says:
Palestine to India at the time of
Jesus’(as) appearance. Of the twelve ‘Before, the hour cometh yea, is
tribes of Israel there were at that now come, that ye shall be
time, only two tribes in Palestine scattered, every man to his own,
while the other ten were found and shall leave me alone: and
scattered in the lands stretching yet I am not alone, because the
from Palestine to the confines of Father is with me. These things
India. Jesus(as) cannot be said to I have spoken unto you, that in
have been successful in his mission me ye might have peace. In the
if he did not address and preach to world you shall have tribulation
the ten lost sheep of Israel. Jesus’ (as) but be of good cheer; I have
supposed death on the Cross at the overcome the world’.
early age of 33 gives a shattering (John 16:32, 33)
blow to the mission for which he
was sent. The truth of the matter is Now what does Jesus’(as) victory
that Jesus Christ(as) after his escape consist of? Was it in his death on
from the Cross, did migrate to the the Cross or in his escape from the
East in search of the lost sheep for Cross? If he died on the cross then
which there is ample historical the Jews were successful because
evidence and is recently supported the very aim of theirs was to prove

Death on the Cross
that he was false in calling himself tribulations and trials. Says the New
the Messiah. They had in their Testament:
support, the Biblical statement that
‘he that is hanged is an accursed of ‘The effectual fervent prayer of
God’. (Duet. 21: 23). But if we a religious man availeth much.
believe that he was taken down Elias was a man subject to like
from the cross alive, (in a state of passions as we are, and he
swoon of course) and he entered the prayed earnestly that it might
heart of the earth alive and came out rain: and it rained not on the
of it alive, then he can rightly be earth by the space of three years
said to have overcome his enemies and six months. And he prayed
and frustrated all their evil designs. again and the, heavens gave
Jesus(as) says: rain, and the earth brought
forth her fruit’.
‘For as Jonas was a sign unto (James 5: 16-18).
the Ninevites, so shall also the
Son of man be to this Again we read:
generation’.
(Luke 11:30) And Jesus lifted up his eyes and
said father I thank Thee that
In other words Jesus(as) said to the Thou hast heard me. And I knew
Jews that God Almighty would that Thou hearest me always:
save him from the clutches of death but because of the people which
in the same way as He had saved stand by I said it that they may
Jonah from the belly of the whale. believe that Thou hast sent me’.
The similarity between the two (John 11: 41, 42).
incidents can be real and genuine
only when Jesus(as) enters the heart And he said, Abba, Father, all
of the earth (grave) alive and comes things are possible unto Thee;
out alive. take away this cup from me:
nevertheless not what I will but
X-His Prayer was heard what Thou wilt’.
From the study of the Bible we (Mark 14:36)
learn that God listens to the prayers
of his apostles and saves them from From the quotations given above it

Death on the Cross
is clear that Jesus (as) was terribly enough to preach his mission to the
afraid of being put to the Cross, so lost sheep of the Israelites in the
he fervently prayed that the bitter East.
cup be taken away from him.
Jesus(as) passionately and fervently These arguments prove that the idea
prayed to God that he might be of the crucifixion of Christ cannot
saved the accursed death on the be justified even from the Biblical
Cross, how could he then, say that point of view. Therefore, it is
he had overcome the world; in case evident that the present Christian
he died on the Cross, the mission faith based on that erroneous idea,
of his whole life would come to can not hold ground.
naught and wrongdoers could
challenge his claim to
prophethood. The thought of death
on the Cross was simply grating
upon his soul. Being a righteous
prophet he was not afraid of mere
death; he was certainly afraid of
dying on the Cross as such a death
could be interpreted to mean an ERRATA
accursed death which was the very
In The Review of Religions of
negation of his prophetic mission.
April 2003 (p.15) and August
2003 (p.4). Hadhrat Mirza
‘In the days of his flesh, when he
had offered up prayers and
Nasir Ahmad, Khalifatul
supplications with strong crying Masih III was described as the
and tears unto him that was ‘cousin’ brother of Hadhrat
able to save him from death and Mirza Tahir Ahmad,
was heard in that he feared’. Khalidatul Masih IV instead
(Hebrews 5:7). of ‘maternal step’ brother. We
trust that the above has
Hence we must presume that his abundantly cleared any
earnest prayer was, no doubt heard confusion in the minds of
and he miraculously escaped death some readers.
by crucifixion and lived long

The Prophet Promised Through Moses(as);
Jesus(as) or Muhammad(sa)? – part II
An examination of the prophecy of prophet Moses(as) regarding the advent
of a great future prophet. The first part of this article was featured in last
month’s edition of The Review of Religions.
by Dr. A.R. Bhutta, published in The Truth, Nigeria, August 1986
Contents of the Prophecy him were sent to obey and re-

Now that we have examined the establish his Law.
context of that prophecy of
Moses(as), we can study its contents So, when it was said that another
and try to find out, once again, who prophet ‘like Moses’ would be
out of Jesus(as) and Muhammad(sa) raised by God, it could only mean
really answers the description of that a prophet with a new Law would
that prophet mentioned in the be raised as Moses(as) had been.
prophecy.
As far as Jesus(as) is concerned he
(i) First of all, we are told in the did not come with any new Law as
prophecy that the prophet to be he had been sent only to preach and
raised will be a prophet ‘like propagate the same old Law of
Moses’. Moses(as) which all the other
prophets of Israel had been
It is clear that for any prophet to be preaching before him, (Matt. 5:17).
called ‘like Moses’ he must of Jesus(as), therefore, had nothing
necessity possess something particular in him as a prophet that
particular as a prophet in common could make him a prophet ‘like
with Moses (as). We know that Moses’.
Moses(as) was not an ordinary
prophet. He was a prophet with a On the other hand, Muhammad, the
difference; and the only thing Holy Prophet of Islam(sa), was a
special about Moses(as) was that he prophet who had been sent with a
was sent with a new Law while all new Law, replacing the old Law of
the other prophets who followed Moses(as). He, therefore, is the only

The Prophet Promised Through Moses(as) ; Jesus(as) or Muhammad(sa)
prophet who can be called a prophet of the prophecy that ‘that prophet’
‘like Moses’ and who has actually could in no case be raised from the
been called so in the Holy Qur’an Israelites and that he could only
(Ch.73: v.16). come out of Gentiles. Here in this
verse, our conclusion about the
Another very outstanding feature Gentiles has been confirmed and
common between Moses (as) and narrowed down to one particular
Muhammad(sa), that further makes nation. We are told that out of
them resemble each other as Gentile nations, that prophet will be
prophets, is that God manifested raised from that particular nation
His mighty signs and powerful which can be called the ‘brethren of
glory through both of them when Israel’.
God made them victorious over
their very strong enemies, defeating Israel is not an ordinary nation.
and destroying the enemy They are regarded as the chosen
completely in the process. No such people of God; for any nation to be
power and might of God was regarded as their ‘brethren’ that
manifested through Jesus (as). On the nation must of necessity share and
contrary, it was the enemies of inherit something particular in
Jesus(as) , according to the New common with Israel. ‘Brethren’ is a
Testament, who over-powered him very specific and significant word
and put him on the Cross. and God would not have used it for
any people if He did not really
How can Jesus (as), therefore, be mean it.
called a prophet ‘like Moses’ when
every thing about him was unlike We know that the people of Israel
Moses(as)? are the descendants of Isaac(as) and
that they had been promised great
(ii) The second feature of that blessings of God through their
prophet, mentioned in the prophecy, forefather Abraham (as) . It is a
is that he shall be raised from the historical fact that the only people
‘brethren of Israel’. (Deut. 18: 18) who can be regarded as the physical
as well as the spiritual counterparts
Now it has already been discussed of Israelites, are the descendants of
and concluded from the background Ishmael or Ismail (as), the elder

The Prophet Promised Through Moses (as); Jesus(as) or Muhammad(sa)
brother of Isaac (as). There is no fulfil the condition mentioned in the

nation on the face of this earth, prophecy; it must also be proved
other than the descendants of that he came from the ‘brethren of
Ismail(as), that can claim to be the Israel.’ So, for Jesus(as) to be ‘that
‘brethren’ of Israel and that at the prophet’, his father must be found
same time can boast of having and found from the ‘brethren of
flourished under the divine promise Israel’. Otherwise he will hold his
made to Abraham(as). Even the Bible mother’s nationality.
confirms that Ismail(as) and Isaac(as)
were not only brothers in flesh but It may be said that Jesus(as) was a
also brothers in promise. (Genesis ‘son of God’ and he, therefore, can
16:16; 17:20) be considered to have come from,
the ‘brethren of Israel’. This
Since Muhammad (sa), the Holy argument looks ridiculous on the
Prophet of Islam, was a descendant very face of it, unless we are also
of Ismael(as), he was actually and ready to consider that God had not a
literally raised from these ‘brethren son, but many sons and daughters
of Israel’, and the prophecy of who multiplied somewhere in the
Moses(as) was fulfilled in his person heavens and developed into a
and not in the person of Jesus(as) community called the ‘brethren of
who was raised from the Israelites Israel’.
and for the Israelites.
(iii) The third characteristic of that
It may be argued that Jesus had (as) prophet, mentioned in the prophecy
no earthly father; he, therefore, is that God will ‘put His words in
should not be regarded as a prophet his mouth and he shall speak all that
from Israel. God shall command him’.
This argument has no weight at all This is a very special feature of that
because Jesus (as) at least had a prophet. It not only proves that ‘that
mother who belonged to Israel. So, prophet’ will be a Lawgiver but also
if he had no father, then he would explains that the Law given through
wholly and solely belong to his that prophet will be in the form of
mother’s family. Moreover, not pure and precise words of God, and
having a father from Israel, does not that he shall speak out these words

of God only under the control and There is no such example reported in
command of God, without any the Gospels where Jesus(as) conveyed
contribution on his part. any exact words of God in the name
of God. On the contrary he clearly
This is exactly how the Holy declared that someone else will
Qur’an was revealed to the Holy come after him who will hear from
Prophet(sa) of Islam. The ‘words of God and convey us all the truth
God’ were actually put in his mouth (John 16:13). So we see that Jesus(as)
when, under the divine control, could not be the ‘prophet’ mentioned
verses of the Holy Qur’an issued in the prophecy of Moses(as).
forth from his holy mouth without
his personal effort or desire. (iv) Finally, God is reported to have
(Ch.53: Vs.4,5) said in that prophecy ‘whoever will
not pay heed to my word, which that
As far as Jesus is concerned, he was prophet will speak in my name, I
neither given any Law nor is there will myself require it of him’; and
any record of verbal revelation that then God went on to say: ‘but the
was ‘put in his mouth’. He, prophet who presumes to speak a
therefore, cannot answer this word in my name, which I have not
description of that prophet. commanded him to speak, that same
prophet shall die’.
Another interesting and important (Deut. 18:20)
point mentioned in this connection,
is that ‘that prophet will speak the Now here in these verses, God has
word of God in the name of God’. not only sounded a very serious note
It is indeed very inspiring to note of warning for both, the prophet and
that every chapter of the Holy the people, but also has provided a
Qur’an, except one, starts with the criterion for judging the truth of that
verse, ‘In the name of Allah, the prophet. We are told that God will
Gracious and Merciful’; and all punish the enemies of that prophet.
Muslims are required to recite this On the other hand, any false
verse before reciting any portion of claimant pretending to be that
the Holy Qur’an. prophet, shall also be punished, and
punished with death.

Let us now compare Muhammad(sa) But, unfortunately for the

and Jesus(as) and see how they faired Christians, (and in accordance with
in this test set by God. Christian belief) they are of the
view that his enemies succeeded in
Muhammad(sa) has been declared to their very first attempt on his life
be a prophet who came according to and most of his followers ran away
the prophecies of the Holy Bible for their lives and went
and in particular, he has been called underground. Evidently, the ene-
a prophet like Moses (as). mies of Jesus (as) not only succeeded
in defeating him and his budding
After his claim to the prophethood, community, but also they seem to
he was rejected, opposed and have escaped any punishment from
persecuted by his people. Repeated his God.
attempts were planned and made on
his life and he had to participate If that warning and criterion,
personally in many bloody wars. On mentioned by God in that prophecy
many such occasions, he received of Moses(as) has anything to go by,
serious injuries and at times even then nobody with a fair sense of
had close brushes with death; judgement, can say that Jesus(as),
nevertheless, he not only survived all and not Muhammad(sa), could be the
these dangerous situations but also prophet mentioned in that prophecy.
succeeded in completing his divine The achievements of Jesus(as) and
mission against all odds. On the Muhammad(sa) are diagonally
other hand, his enemies, despite their opposed to each other in that
strength and superiority in men and particular field. If Jesus (as) were
materials, were defeated disgrace- really that prophet promised by
fully and destroyed eventually, Moses(as), his enemies could not
making Muhammad (sa) the most have defeated him, they could not
successful prophet that ever came (as Christians believe) have
into this world. prosecuted and executed him; nor
could they have escaped their own
However, Jesus(as) too, claimed to defeat and destruction. Conversely,
be a prophet; he too, was rejected if Muhammad(sa) had falsely claimed
and persecuted by his people; and to be that prophet, he could not have
his enemies too, planned to kill him. succeeded in his mission, the way

The Prophet Promised Through Moses(as); Jesus(as) or Muhammad(sa)
he did; and his enemies could not by his enemies. As such, he could
have been punished and destroyed, still be a true prophet, no doubt; but
the way they were. Consequently, he could be the Christ, Elijah or any
there is no escape from the obvious other prophet, new or old, but he
conclusion that the prophecy of could never be that particular
Moses(as) was fulfilled, not in the prophet who was destined to be
person of Jesus(as), the Christ, but saved and successful and whose
with the advent of Muhammad, the enemies were doomed to be
Holy Prophet of Islam (sa). defeated and destroyed.
An Important Clarification Secondly, it has been said in the

It seems necessary to clarify in the prophecy that anybody pretending
above-mentioned context that we to be that particular prophet and
do not mean to say that every preaching a false word of God shall
prophet that fails to defeat his be punished with death. That
enemies and is killed by them, must automatically means that any
necessarily be a false prophet. prophet who preaches the words in
the name of God all his life and is
Firstly, if a person claiming to be a still not caught and killed by God,
prophet of God, is captured and that prophet must necessarily be
killed by his enemies, no doubt he true in his claim to be that particular
could still be a true prophet of God prophet.
but what he can never be is that
particular prophet mentioned in that This makes the case of
prophecy of Moses, because the Muhammad(sa) very simple and
penalty of death has been fixed as a straightforward. He claimed to be
sign for the false claimant to that that particular prophet and preached
particular post. This makes it the words in the name of God all his
necessary that a true claimant to life; and in spite of all this, he
that particular prophethood should received no such punishment fixed
never suffer that penalty and his life for a false prophet but proved
should be saved and protected. himself to be most successful of all
the prophets. Muhammad (sa),
Now, Jesus(as), as believed by the therefore, must be accepted as
Christians, was captured and killed absolutely true in what he claimed

to be, otherwise we would have to no part of the inheritance, an

believe that something must be argument sometimes also
wrong with that prophecy. If he incorrectly advanced against Ismail
were false, he could not have made (as) as being the rejected one of
himself above the Law of God and Abraham. But it is very obvious
escaped His punishment. from the words of this prophecy that
the prophet who was to come had to
So, let it be known to all lovers of come from some brethren other
the truth that the greatest promise to than from the tribes of Israel.
Abraham(as) was that the nations of Secondly, with reference to Jesus,
the earth shall be blessed through John refers to the Comforter as the
his descendants; the greatest Holy Ghost and the Spirit of the
promise given to Moses(as) was that Truth, and the Law introduced by
a great prophet like him shall be Muhammad(sa) was nothing but the
raised from the descendants of Truth and he himself was known as
Abraham(as), other than the Israel; the Siddiq i.e. the Truthful one.
the greatest prayer and desire of all (Ed)]
the Biblical prophets was to see the
fulfilment of that promise made to
Abraham(as) and Moses (as); the
greatest mission of Jesus(as) and his
disciples was to preach and
proclaim the forthcoming
fulfilment of that promise. The
greatest thing that ever happened on
this earth was the fulfilment of that
promise with the advent of
Muhammad(sa), the Holy Prophet of
Islam.
[Editor’s Note:
It is sometimes argued that the
prophecy in Ch.18 of Deuteronomy
refers to the tribe of Levi who had

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Contents March 2004, Vol.99, No.

Editorial Does God exist? by Mansoor Saqi,UK .......................................................... 2

In Search of the Existence of God Arguments in support of the existence of God –

Service to Humanity – A Religious Duty in Islam The importance of doing good

Basit Ahmad Chief Editor and Manager: Mansoor Ahmed Shah

2 The Review of Religions – March 2004

The Review of Religions – March 2004 3

place in Muslim countries – the strange situation that public policy

4 The Review of Religions – March 2004

protector of all forms of religious sense as citizens of the

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Assalamu alaikum warahma- courage is shown in

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in God equates to the A prerequisite to this under-

I pray that God enables all of you

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[The following is based on a presentation delivered by Mr Naseem Mahdi,

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lives were pure and no one could world.

or look at the environment around Next, I present to you the following

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Further God says in the Holy And then Allah says:

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creations. All that He has created, So this is indeed a strong argument

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When I reflect upon the whole the only difference is one of

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It is foolish to imagine that

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occasions, the exercise of those competition in goodness, it

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origin, but because after the fourteenth century, God recalled

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the whole system of the Torah and of the appearance of Islam. It is

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conclude a bargain, or to commit Practical belonging means to do

Doctrinal belonging means that

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Service to humanity is part and manifest evil, and

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without discrimination, and from trouble; he is ardently

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poor but he constantly exhorted he treated her with much

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by his Successors. Once, Hadhrat benefactor, exclaimed, ‘You are

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Zakat itself. Generally, Zakat can Human dignity is emphasised in

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you will not take it yourselves service of God’s creatures, for

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both on the outside and the former Yugoslavia. The

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illustrated by the fact that all independent charity organisation,

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In discharging its duties to motives. Once a favour is shown

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