Lutf's Blog

A response to "The Apostates of Pakistan" by Aakar Patel

2012-03-11T18:55:00.001-07:00

Aakar Patel's recently published article "The apostates of Pakistan" was penned a couple years ago, but did not see the light of day until now. He states the reason for this delay as reluctance of seemingly liberal Pakistani English language papers to publish some material. Reading through the piece, I could easy spot a number of problems that an editor may see with the article. It mentions the persecution of the Ahmadis in Pakistan, it also tries to explain Ahmadiyya beliefs, history and the bigotry of Pakistani society. The editors may have imagined a backlash from many of their conservative readers. An influential section of Pakistani society has always managed to keep this topic out of public eye for decades. But, as an Ahmadi, I would have sent the article back to Mr. Patel with red lines all over the text. For factual inaccuracies, incomplete research and almost slanderous accusations.

Let me say that I admire Mr. Patel's attempt to look into the Ahmadiyya history to give a fresh perspective to his readers. I wish more people could go to the source materials and inform and educate their readers. I also hope that they make a better job of it.

Mr. Patel narrates a vision received by Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, the founder of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, which is recorded in in his own writings as follows;

"I presented the document containing divine decrees for attestation and He, Who was manifesting Himself in the form of a Ruler, dipped His pen in red ink and first flicked it in my direction and with the rest of the red ink which remained at the point of the pen He put His signature to the document. Thereupon, the state of vision came to an end and when I opened my eyes to look at the material world around me, I witnessed several red drops falling on my clothes. 2 or 3 of the drops also fell on the cap of one ‘Abdullah of Sanaur (Patiala State) who was at the time sitting close to me. Thus, the red ink which was part of the vision materialized externally and became visible. Many other such manifestations have been witnessed which it would take too long to

relate. "

According to the Mr. Patel

" This message from God qualified Ahmad as a prophet."

The claim of Hadhrat Ahmad as being a prophet did not originate from this experience. In fact such spiritual experiences had started in 1870s when he was still an unknown man, immersed in worship and religious studies. He received many revelations confirming his status as a prophet from 1882. But he did not claim to be the "Promised Messiah" until 1891, when he also revealed that Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him) had passed away and he was appointed as the Promised Messiah by God. The status of Promised Messiah according to Quran and Hadith is that of a subordinate (Ummati) prophet.

Continuing in the very next paragraph Mr. Patel contradicts himself by stating "Despite his visions, Mirza Ahmad personally did not claim prophethood."

Hadhrat Ahmad, the Promised Messiah and Mahdi (pbuh) wrote a book to remove any misconceptions about his claim to be an Ummati Prophet called "Aik Ghalti ka Izala". He writes

"Wherever I have denied being a Prophet or Messenger, it has only been in the sense that I have not brought an independent law nor am I an independent Prophet. I am a Messenger and Prophet only in the sense that I have received spiritual grace from the Messenger (pbuh) whom I follow, and, having received his name for myself, and through him, I have received knowledge of the unseen from God. But I have not come with a new law. I have never denied being called a Nabi (Prophet) in this sense. Indeed it is in this very sense that God has addressed me as Nabi and Rasul; and it is in this sense that I do not deny being a Nabi or Rasul" (A misconception removed, page 10)

The above is just one example of how Aakar Patel has not done justice to his article by including opinions which could have benefited from some proper research. He also states that Hadhrat Ahmad (pbuh) denouced Judaism and Christianity as error. Islam considers both Judaism and Christianity as true faiths corrupted by their followers. Hadhrat Ahmad (as) made his claims at the time when Christian missionary effort in India was at its peak. He held debates with prominent Christian missionaries of his time and showed to the world that Islam was a perfect religion. He also challenged various Hindu revivalists of his time as they also attacked Islam.

But this is only a minot problem with this piece, easily corrected by a letter to editor. My problem lies with what follows in the last part of the article. According to Mr. Patel, Ahmadis should share some blame for being persecuted in Pakistan. He states that Ahmadis supported the two-nation theory and Sir Zafrullah Khan Islamized Pakistan by supporting the Objectives resolution.

Do Ahmadis do deserve to be punished for their support of Muslim league? There are many so-called revisionist liberals who may think that the creation of Pakistan was an accident brought about by a mixture of British and feudal Muslim interests.

Please also note here that the most conservative amongst the Muslims supported Indian National Congress. Same Muslim leaders saw opportunity in Pakistan and started agitations against Ahmadis in 1953. Ahmadis supported Pakistan because the ground realities of British India demanded Muslims to defend their rights. Qaid-e-Azam was right, but unfortunately, Pakistan also inherited the Ahrar, the spiritual forefathers of present day militant outfits. To add to our misery, Maulana Maudoodi also chose Pakistan despite his aversion to its very idea before 1947. The purpose of Ahmadiyya Movement has always been to cleanse Islam of the oppressive and suffocating ideology of such Mullahs. This "war" has been waged since the inception of the community and will carry on until the true Islam is made manifest to the world.

It is obvious that majority of the people who helped create Pakistan including the leadership, were tolerant, democratic and liberal. The very same people accepted Ahmadis in their ranks as their equals and even sought guidance from the Khalifatul Masih on important matters. Kashmir Committee (of 1930s) is one shining example of Ahmadiyya contributions to the Muslim cause in India.

Objectives resolution has also been blamed for Islamization of Pakistan. I can understand that in some circles it causes concerns because of its religious tone. I disagree with the critics. To me, objectives resolution was a document written by idealists who had high hopes for Pakistan. Their Islam was not the totalitarian oppressive Islam that Ahrar and Maudoodi had unleashed in the streets in 1950s. For an Ahmadi scholar and a secular Jurist of Sir Zafrullah's calibre, Islam can only "impose" a secular government which affords full freedom to its subjects. Please also note the emphasis of fundamental rights, freedom and democracy in the text of objectives resolution.

That brings us finally to the matter of "Furqan Force". A battalion of Ahmadi volunteers which supported the Pakistan Army in 1948 Kashmir conflict. Mr. Patel thinks that this was a religiously motivated move and a betrayal of "Gandhian" non-violence that the Ahmadiyya community followed. First of all, our non-violence is Quranic non-violence. Mr. Gandhi was a respected politician and I admire his achievements and philosophy. But Ahmadi Muslims follow the teachings of Quran, as explained to us by Promised Messiah (pbuh). He also taught us that loyalty to our state is a religious duty. So if Pakistan was at war with India, Pakistani Ahmadis were duty bound to protect their country. Besides, Hindu rule of Kashmir was no Gandhian rule. It was probably the most oppressive and cruel rule in the history of subcontinent.

I can also clarify here that Jihad as taught by Promised Messiah (pbuh) includes fulfilment of our duties to protect our faith. And loyalty to our homeland is part of our faith.

Mr. Patel ends his article on a very harsh note. He started the piece with sympathetic statements, included examples of persecutions and his own dismay at the hatred he saw in Pakistan. He then moves to blame the Ahmadis for their own bad karma; for supporting Pakistan movement. Sir Zafrullah, a prominent defender of human rights and freedom of religion on the global stage, becomes the reason for Islamization of the country. And the article then ends with a statement I can only call a fallacy. Aakar Patel writes;

"Such bigotry against other faiths usually invites punishment against your own".

i.e., Ahmadis opposed an oppressive cruel Hindu ruler; they supported equal rights for Indian Muslims etc etc; so they deserved to be punished in their own country for this. What twisted reasoning brought you to this conclusion?

I would request Mr. Patel to review his whole article, but in particular this last statement. He should go and read about the message of universal brotherhood that the founder of Ahmadiyya Muslim community sent out to the whole subcontinent just days before his death. Ahmadis stand by every word our Mahdi and Messiah (pbuh) has said and this is apparent through our actions. In fact, it is our belief that all major religions are based on truth and we give great respect to their founders like Raam, Krishna, Buddha, Zoroaster and Baba Nanak (may peace be upon them all). You will see evidence of this respect throughout Ahmadiyya history.

To Mr. Patel, I can also suggest humbly that having an influence on your readership is a big responsibility. I am sure he will correct the factual errors he has made. I hope his opinions are also altered after these corrections.

As an Ahmadi, I believe that the revival of true Islamic ideals has been ongoing for the past century and Indian subcontinent is its epicentre. It is also my belief that Islam as presented by Promised Messiah (pbuh) will be victorious in this struggle.

Drawing Pictures: Since when has it become offensive?

2012-01-11T08:06:00.000-08:00

Over the last many decades, a large majority of the western Christian world has in practice stopped being Christian, thus reactions to insults and blasphemies have dimmed down to solitary voices here and there. Atheism is the fashion. No one wants to declare openly that they revere a person or deity because of their religious faith.

But this is not a question of existence of God. The question here is.. Can you force a group of people to change their values that you do not agree with? Aggressive atheists these days are happy to shout at every forum how religion has caused intolerance and bigotry in the society. But here is a test case.. UCL's atheist society publishing cartoons of Jesus and Muhammad (peace be upon them) and expecting this to go unnoticed!

Muslims do not draw human form; they do not build statues for religious purposes. Yes, there are Muslim artists who paint and draw human forms, and there is nothing wrong with it. But this has to be kept strictly outside of religious sphere because of the express command of the founder of Islam (peace be upon him). This is a strong belief/value that all practicing Muslims adhere to. No pictures are to be found in any Mosque around the world. A Billion Muslims hold this belief, which safeguards the monotheistic basis of Islam. Yet a handful of atheists think that drawing a picture of Muhammad (peace be upon him) for whatever reason should be accepted?

Atheists, born and brought up in the West (or influenced by European values) may think that drawing pictures is what humans have always done. What is wrong with that? European art galleries are full of depictions of religious figures on canvas and in stone and in metal. But Islam is not a European faith. Neither was Christianity. Regardless of what Greek and Roman art did to Christianity, Islam has not “traded in” its values for the sake of gaining adherents.

This is despite the fact that Islamic scholars re-discovered Greek philosophy and had decades of conflict with the Romans. Usually such interactions results in softening of certain closely held values, and they did. Early rationalist movement in Islam (Mu’tazillites) had deep roots in Greek logic. Yet, no Muslim ever thought of painting or sculpting a Holy figure or a saint. Enough proof that depiction of religious figures was an absolute taboo for Muslims.

All reasonable Humanists and Atheists will understand why Muslims take offense when someone tries to depict the Prophet of Islam (peace be upon him). It is because drawing of a picture has never been an Islamic tradition. It has become a Christian tradition, which is why even many Christians do not take offense when Jesus has been mocked at by cartoonists and comedians. People at this atheist society at UCL want practicing Muslims “tolerate” their attempts at mocking Muslim values? Where is the sense in that?

Why should we not allow BNP and EDL to mock and vilify Islam and Muslims too? What is the difference? And what is wrong with a bit of holocaust denial and some “good-natured” anti-Semitism? Some "fact based" scientific racism.. anyone? Let us accept all this in the name of tolerance!!

Why British Muslims should wear a Poppy?

2011-11-01T08:11:00.000-07:00

War is the greatest injustice mankind can inflict on itself. Unfortunately, not a day has passed for centuries when somewhere and somehow one nation was not at war with the other. It appears that war is a natural state of being for our species. And as we are still learning to attain peace in our world, we sometimes have to take sides in such wars. Especially when our country, nation or way of life is under threat. It also becomes necessary to use moral judgement when taking sides in war. For example, one must not initiate a conflict or show aggression without a just cause. A just cause according to the principles of Islam is to defend one’s life, property, territory and freedom.

90 years ago, the Royal British Legion started to commemorate the war dead of the WW1. The poppy appeal, which collects funds to support war veterans and serving personnel of the British armed forces is in the noble tradition of being grateful for the “sacrifices of a few”. In essence, it is a very Islamic idea fulfilling our duties to be charitable, thankful and loyal to our country.

Many British Muslims do not feel obliged to participate in the appeal. One reason for this could be the fact that NATO contributes to so much misery in the Islamic world. I do not disagree with this criticism of our opportunistic foreign policy based on greed and make-belief sense of moral duty. But Poppy appeal is not to support our politicians or their allies in Brussels and Washington. This fund is to pay our respect to the courage which saved our country and the countries of our fathers twice. These red plastic flowers are not to show the world who was the victor; but to show that we respect our soldiers who risk their life and limb to serve our country. If these poppies are to be taken as a symbol of something more than this, then these are a symbol of defiance against aggression and totalitarian and fascist ideologies.

British Muslims should wear the poppy with pride to show their non-Muslim countrymen that close to 80,000 Muslim soldiers laid down their lives in both world wars. These soldiers were all volunteers who left their homeland to fight in the battlefields of Europe and Africa and died along with their comrades from the commonwealth.

We should wear the poppy with a renewed sense of duty to remind our fellow countrymen about the idea of sacrifice. That one must look for ways to contribute to the peace we have in today’s Britain.

We should wear the poppy with a feeling of gratitude for all the freedoms we have in this country. Freedom to worship, practice and preach our faith; and live without the fear of persecution and discrimination.

We should wear the poppy with a prayer for peace. Ameen

Pakistani Integrity and Self-respect Omelette:

2011-10-19T01:07:00.000-07:00

I don’t think much about music. I enjoy it for what it is. A collection of pleasant sounding notes with some meaningful, decent lyrics usually does the trick. Music, like any other activity in human life should be meaningful and for the betterment of human condition.

Among this huge, ever growing, heap of rubbish that we call modern Pop/Rock music, sometimes you can spot real gems. A new Pakistani band called Begayrat Brigade, have released a new song, Aalu Anday. There is some guitar, a catchy tune, and three kids dancing like idiots in the video. My first impression after watching such videos is that rich kids in Lahore have nothing better to do. But then I hear the words “Mullah”, “Qadri”, and “Ajmal Kasab”.

There are many placards with various statements shown during the video. Most of them are humorous and liberal observations on Pakistani political scene. But these boys are challenging the very core of Pakistani reigio-fascist right-wing through a stupid song and dance. They are not happy that Qadri has been made a celebrity, Ajmal Kasab a hero. They also remind the listener that Mullah is an opportunist creature. A blasphemy of sorts. And on top of that, they mention the name of Abdus Salam, the Pakistani Ahmadi Nobel Laureate. And how fitting it was that his name was placed opposite the symbols of bigotry and hatred in modern day Pakistan.

Right.. Why would you invite the wrath of a very influential segment of Pakistani society while in pursuit of your showbiz dreams? The video ends with the lead singer holding up a placard displaying the words ”if you want a bullet through my head, like this video”. I admire their courage and hope that this song is only the start of a new wave of popular liberal expression in Pakistan.

Seal of Prophets (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him)

2011-10-07T03:05:00.000-07:00

Finally, one the best books on Seerah (Biography) of Holy Prophet (saw) written in Urdu language has been translated into English. The first urdu volume was published in 1920.

http://www.alislam.org/holyprophet/Seal-of-Prophets-Vol-1.pdf

Written by Hadhrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad M. A. (r.a), son of the Promised Messiah and Imam Mahdi (a.s.), this book reviews the historical accounts of Holy Prophet's (saw) life in the light of Quranic revelations. It also answers the criticisms raised by various orientalists whose opinions unfortunately still prevail among the western minds.

Idiots!

2011-10-06T04:40:00.000-07:00

Here is an example of complete and utter idiotic behaviour. A bunch of EDL yobs, vandalizing a mosque.

Yes, I hear you say.. All these bigotted and racist wastrels need to get a life. They have to accept the truth about modern Britain.

This is a country of many colors and creeds, and Muslims are part of the fabric of British society.

Yes, and I also agree with you that these sad people, motivated not by any higher purpose, but by a sense of loss, can cause a lot of grief to their victims.

But here is the best bit about this story..The mosque they vandalized was not a mosque. The people who use this building aren't even Muslims.

Ask any muslim organization in Britain.. they will categorically confirm that Ahmadiyya community has nothing to do with Islam.

But those who burnt the poppies in London were true believers.

Ahmadiyya Muslim community, on the other hand, collected tens of thousands of pounds for the poppy appeal in the same year.

What a waste of paint and 12 months of your lives.. You Idiots!!

But you may still consider Ahmadiyya Muslims to be a threat to your national identity. In that case, you can still ask for help.

Contact any mainstream Islamic organization and they will be happy to support you. As some of them did in Walsall a couple of years ago.

Diveristy in EDL ranks!!

Who would have thought?

False prophets and a misplaced sense of history

2011-09-08T07:20:00.000-07:00

Another common symptom of the cultist group's lack of wisdom is their misplaced sense of history; rather their weird interpretation of history. This also puts them in the same bracket as our common-place medievalist mullahs.

A seriers of articles on the cultist website have appeared regarding the four false prophets in early Islam. i.e., Mussaylimh, Sajjah, Aswad-al-Ansi and Tullayha.

It is my understanding that the author of these articles had no intention of educating the readers about early Islamic history and the wave of rebellion among Arab tribes soon after the demise of Holy Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم).

The purpose of these articles was to

i) Use the misplaced sense of history to draw parallels between these false claimants and the claims of Promised Messiah (as) and

ii) To show that the main motive of these wars fought by Hadhrat Abu Bakr's (ra) armies were the claims of these people as prophets.

I have seen how throughout the history of Ahmadiyyat, from the early enemies of Promised Messiah (as) to the modern day religious organizations, references have been made to these early Islamic events to justify the murder of Ahmadis. A large number of Muslims also believe that apostates should be killed. I am not sure if the cultist bloggers think the same, but if they don't they will be going against the opinions of their patrons and role models.

Interspersed in these cultist articles are statements like

"Azaad is reported to have said, “Allah has not created any human being more hated to me than al-Aswad Al-’Ansi. I never hated anyone in my life than I hated this man. He does not do any good, and all of his actions are evil.” That flies in the face of “Love for All, Hatred for None” slogan, doesn’t it? Maybe she was influenced by the “Mullahs”…? But I digress."

The above is another good specimen on how one can drag into a discussion, a completely unrelated and illogical remark to feel good about themselves. A woman whose husband was killed by a man, can not harbour any positive feelings about this person. The motto of "love for all, hatred for none" is principle inspired by the love of humanity taught to us in Allah and his messenger (صلى الله عليه و سلم). It is not a personal mantra replacing all other human emotions. Islam does not force people to feel contrary to what their natural instincts lead them to feel. Islam teaches us to harness these instincts and not be overcome by negative emtions like anger, hatred, jealousy etc.

We aspire to follow the Sunnah of Holy Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم), who forgave Hind, Wahshi and countless others who tormeneted him, caused deaths of his family members and persecuted his followers. We do not aspire to follow "Azaad", a random woman in history who had the misfortune of being widowed by Al-Anasi. But I will not stop any cultist to follow her.. whatever works for them!

There are yet other examples of misinterpreting history in these articles. I have notices that the writer has been careful enough not to declare an open fatwa of murder against the false prophets and their followers. But I am concerned when the author finishes the final "the most interesting" entry regarding Mussaylimah Kazzab like this..

"And with that, the last of the false prophets of Arabia was exterminated. Arabia became a launchpad for the rapid expansion of Islam over Persia, Rome and the rest is history… May Allah save us from the corruption of following a false prophet, and keep us upon the Islam of the Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه و سلم, the Sahaba, and those who followed them, and save us from joining fringe movements and false prophets. Ameen."

So it is all boiled down to the fact that Islam was in danger due to false prophets. Another blatant misinterpreation of history! Islam has never been, and will never be damaged by the lies and deceptions of any false prophet, because Allah has taken it upon Himself to terminate the life of such people.

Wars against Mussaylimah were fought because he was a political rebel. Hadhrat Chaudhary Zafrulla Khan (ra) has written a brilliant book on this subject. That neither apostasy nor claiming to be a prophet is a cause for war according to Islam.

It is worth noting here that both Mussaylimah and Aswad al-Anasi made their claims during the life time of Hoy Prophet (saw). Neither of them recieved a fatwa of being worthy of death. War was declared on them only when they caused rebellion and mischief.

So if history is to be interpreted correctly, the modern day equivalents of Mussaylimah and Al-Anasi are the relgious extremists who have killed countless civilians due to their words and actions. It is the Mullah cult!

Mujaddid Alif Thani (a.r.) and Khatme Nabuwwat

2011-09-06T04:58:00.000-07:00

بسم اللہ الرحمٰن الرحیم

On the website, Let me Turn the Tables, a number of articles are being published in an attempt to respond to various references given in support of the claims of Promised Messiah (as). Most of these articles are focused on solitary references and the author makes every effort to ignore the context in which those excerpts of Ahadith and writings from various scholars were provided.

Mujaddid Alif Thani (a.r.) and the verse Khaataman Nabiyyeen:

In Ahmadiyya literature concerning the issue of finality of prophethood, you will find a wealth of strong opinions from various saints and scholars which support the claims of Promised Messiah علیہ السلام to be a subordinate prophet in accordance with the prophecies of Quran and Hadith.

The author from “Turn the tables” quotes a reference presented in Ahmadiyya literature by Hadhrat Ahmad Sirhindi, Mujaddid Alif Thani (r.a.)

“'The rising of prophets after the Khatamar Rasul Hazrat Muhammad, the Chosen One, peace and blessings be upon him, from among his own followers and as a heritage, does not in any way run counter to his status as the Khatamar rasul. Therefore, O reader, do not be among those who doubt.' Maktubat Imam Rabbani, Hazrat Mujaddid Alf Thani “

The same text has been translated by “turn-table” as

“So for the followers to attain the wonders of prophethood (kamalat nubuwwat) by way of following and inheritance after the coming of the Last Prophet –on him and his followers and all the prophets be the peace and salutations- is not in contradiction to his finality. So be not of those who doubt.”

According to the author, the words “the rising of prophets” should be translated as “for the followers to attain the wonders of prophethood”. Thus proving that Mujaddid Alif Thani (ar) was only alluding to minor blessings which come to those who follow the Holy Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم.

So according to him, “kamaalat e nabuwwat” do not include being a subordinate prophet. The author himself quotes the passages from the same letter which mention the second coming of Jesus علیہ السلام and includes this event to be relevant to the subject being discussed. This letter is addressing the qualities of prophethood which include revelation, true dreams and visions as continuous phenomenon in the Muslim ummah since the time of Sahaba and the generations following them. Hadhrat Ahmad Sirhindi also sates “And the last of the times have been made akin to the earliest days.” i.e., the same qualities could be observed at the time of writing his letter.

Hadhrat Ahmad Sirhindi, also known as Imam Rabbani and Mujaddid Alif Thani lived during and after the time of Emperor Akbar. He was a great scholar who lived the life of a true saint. Receiving revelations and visions from Allah (swt), which he recorded in his writings extensively. He rejected the innovations being introduced into Islam by so-called Sufis and Mullahs of his day. His influence was so great that he spoke to King Akbar personally to explain the correct Islamic creed to him. He was also Jailed during Jehangir’s reign but the released and honored by the same king. Throughout his life, Imam Rabbani (a.r.) wrote letters to his friends, family and followers, explaining his world view and personal spiritual experiences. As a true saint, his experience of Divine Revelations seems to be the most striking topic in his Maktoobat. And this issue of prophecy, renovation of faith and appearance of Imam Mahdi recur in these writings.

Now, we know that is a fact that none of the recipients of “kamaalat e nabuwwat” claimed to be a subordinate prophet, (including Ibn Arabir and Mujaddi Alif Thani) but it is very common observation that both of them have discussed the second coming of Jesus علیہ السلام as an exception where a subordinate prophet will exist among Muslims. This is no coincidence that any discussion on finality of Prophethood can not be completed without mentioning the appearance of Eisa Ibn Maryam علیہ السلام. All great scholars have discussed this and all of them agree that Eisa ibn Maryam علیہ السلام will be a prophet, following the Shariah of Holy Prophet (saw). That is another argument that Ahmadiyyat has already won by proving that Jesus (as) passed away. (we can have another debate if you like..)

The Ahmadiyya stance on this matter is that Holy Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم prophecised the coming of an Ummati Nabi in his Ummah. He called him Eisa Ibne-Maryam علیہ السلام and also Imam Mahdi. This person was to attain the highest spiritual rank in the Ummah by being immersed in the love of his master, the Holy Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم;a phenomenon not unknown to great saints like Ibne-Arabi and Imam Rabbani (a.r.). The only difference is that the title of Prophet is given to only one person.

Imam Rabbani, Mujaddid Alif Thani (a.r.) writes.. “Perfect followers of prophets (peace be upon them), due to their complete obedience and because of their immersion in their love, they (the followers) become colored with their (master’s) colors so much so that there is no difference between the follower and the one who is followed. i.e., between the Nabi and Ummati: Apart from being Asl and Tabe’ and beign awwal and aakhir”. (Maktoobat No. 248, Part 4, Vol 1, page 49, Published Mujaddadi press, Amritsar).

Mujaddid Alif Thani (a.r.) has left a wealth of knowledge for the right minded Muslims to accept the Promised Messiah علیہ السلام.One of the recurrent themes in his writings is his understanding of the concept of “Mujaddidyyat” and his own claim to be the Mujaddid of the 2nd millennium. He learnt this wisdom from Ibne Arabi (a.r.) and you can find in his writings a profound influence of Ibne Arabi’s thought.

On the subject of Imam Mahdi, Hadhrat Imam Rabbabi (a.r.) repeatedly mentions the fact that he will have the “ulema” of his time as his enemies. He is also acutely aware of the great spiritual status of Imam Mahdi. According to Ibne Arabi, Imam Mahdi will receive the Shariah of the Holy Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم through revelation. (Imam Shu’rani explains this in his Al-Yawaqeetu wal Jawahir, Vol 2, while explaining Ibne Arabi’s thought)

Promised Messiah علیہ السلام writes: (Haqiatul Wahi, page 406)

"And another unwise thing they say to inflame the ignorant people that this man his claimed to be a prophet but this is an utter fabrication. I have not claimed to prophethood which has been known to be forbidden in Quran, the claim only is that in one respect I am an ummati and from one respect due to the prophetic blessing of Holy Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ), I am a prophet. And from prophet it is only meant that I receive frequent honor of revelation and words from Allah. Truth is as Mujaddid sahib of Sirhind has written in his maktoobat that even though some people from this ummat are destined to receive revelations and words from Allah and will remain so until the day of judgement, but the person who will receive the most frequent revelation and will be given news of the unseen in abundance is called a prophet. Let it be clear that the prophecy in Ahadith of Holy Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ) have fortold that in the ummat of Holy Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ) a person will be born who will be called Eisa and Son of Mary. And he will be given the name of Nabi, that is, he will be given Divine revelation in abundance and matters of the Unseen will be reveated to him frequently which cannot be given to a non-prophet as Allah has said that Allah does not grant full knowledge and understanding of His Unseen (matters) with frequency and clarity unless to a person who is His honored prophet(Surah Al-Jin verse 27-28)”

Dear readers, it is clear that the critics of Ahmadiyyat have always tried their best to ignore the blatantly obvious hole in their own beliefs regarding the second coming of the Messiah علیہ السلام.They cannot hide behind vague statements and fairy-tales anymore. I invite them to ponder over the writings of great scholars like Ibne Arabi, Mujaddid Alif Thani and Shah Waliullah (peace be upon them all), and understand the true significance of the coming of Imam Mahdi علیہ السلام.

Wassalam,

In response to "Some Terminology Changes" by Farhan

2011-09-02T10:46:00.000-07:00

بسم اللہ الرحمٰن ارحیم

Farhan, from the cultist group has posted an interesting entry. Half –baked as usual, this article on the use of terminology in Jamaa’t Ahmadiyya is a good specimen of anti-ahmadiyya bigotry. Some of his points are utter fallacies, and some are the “mullah twist” well known to all Ahmadis.

Term 1: Ahmad- According to Farhan, the name Ahmad refers to the Holy Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم), yet Ahmadis use this name only to identify, Hazrat Promised Messiah (علیہ السلام.)…

According to Quran, Ahmad is the “Jamali” name of Holy Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم). Promised Messiah (علیہ السلام), in his commentary of verse 7 of Surah al-Saff writes;

“Holy Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) is also given the name “Ahmad”, so Jesus (علیہ السلام) prophecised about him with this name. (He said) That after me another Prophet will come whose advent I prophecise, and his name will be Ahmad. This was a hint that he will Praise Allah very intensly”. (Al-Hakam, vol 5, No. 2, 17 Jan 1901, Page 4)

Because Promised Messiah علیہ السلام is also referred to as Hadhrat Ahmad, Sayyidna Ahmad علیہ السلام, does not mean that the name Ahmad is now not valid for all previous people known as Ahmad. We know that Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal, Shaikh Ahmad Sirhindi, Syed Ahmad of Bareli, All the Ahmads of Usmani (Ottomon) empire and many million others are still known by their given name, i.e., Ahmad.

It was God’s Will to name his Messiah and Mahdi with the same name as the Holy Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم). So, he caused the name of Promised Messiah علیہ السلام to be Ghulam Ahmad, a humble servant of the greatest Prophet of God. Promised Messiah علیہ السلام named his community as Jamaa’t Ahmadiyya, because in his person, Allah manifested the qualities of the name Ahmad to the world again. But to all Ahmadis, the name Ahmad is the name of Holy Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم). Our Imam Mahdi علیہ السلام was only a servant of Ahmad (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم.).

According to an oft-repeated hadith by mullahs, Mahdi will be called Muhammad ibn Abdullah. So when this fabled Mahdi appears, will our cultist friends stop referring to the Holy Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) as Muhammad?

Term 2: Sahaba- According to Farhan, Sahaba are “Those followers of Muhammad (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) who met him while they were Muslims and died upon that state”
So the assumption is that the term “Sahaba” can only be used for the companions of Holy Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم).

The word “Sahabi” means companion and friend. Shah Waliullah of Delhi, a person respected by both Deoband and Barelvi sects used the words “Ashaabuna” for his own companions.

Similarly, the Sahaba of Promised Messiah (علیہ السلام) are his companions.
Yes, we use the same prayer of reverence for them as we do for the Sahaba of Holy Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم), i.e., Radhi Allahu Anhu”. This is because it is the Sunnah of Holy Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) that he prayed for the companions of his Messiah and Mahdi in the same words. It’s the same Hadith where he called Promised Messiah علیہ السلام as Nabiullah. (Sahih Muslim, Book 41, Number 7015)

Who can take back the honour bestowed upon the companions of Promised Messiah (علیہ السلام) by his Master, Holy Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم)?

Term 3: First Five Khalifahs: Here he is assuming that Ahmadis have substituted the first four caliphs of Islam (r.a.) with their own caliphs.
It’s a manufactured term. If he meant rightly guided Caliphs then its only the first four we count as the Khulafa-e-Rashideen.Why count first 5? Why not all of them until 1919? There were umayyid and Fatimid and Ottoman Caliphs. Did these subsequent worldly caliphs erase the memory of the first four caliphs?

The khulafa of Promised Messiah (علیہ السلام) are called Khalifatul Masih. We believe this to be the continuation of same khilafat which ceased among the Muslim ummah after Hadhrat Ali (r.a). According to Allah’s Promise in Surah Al-Nur, the same khilafat was re-established among Muslims after the advent of Promised Messiah (علیہ السلام.

Term 4: The two Holy Cities: Another manufactured allegation. He is clutching at straws here.

Many Ahmadis perform Hajj and Umrah every year and they go and visit the two Holy cities considered Holy by all Muslims. Qadian and Rabwah also hold a special place in our hearts because Allah chose these towns to send His Messiah and establish His khilafat here. I also honor a small English village called Islamabad, where one of our beloved khulafa is buried. These towns are signs of God, and forever witness to the truth of Promised Messiah علیہ السلام, but we follow Promised Messiah (a.s) and he wrote;

“And Doctor sahib knows that Harmain sharifain (May Allah increase their honour, blessings and status) are the seat of authority for many learned scholars of this age. And in Islam these very Arab cities, especially Makkah and Madinah are considered the home of faith. And learned sons and esteemed scholars of these cities have also started to join this humble one”. (Volume: 6, Page: 75, Book: Suchhai-ka-Izhar)

He also referred to the Sulaha-e-Arab and Divines of Makkah to be better equipped to accept his claims, because unlike the India maulvis, these people were born and raised in the land of knowledge and freedom. (Nur-ul-Haq page 19). He also prophecised that people of Makkah will join Ahmadiyyat in their droves (Nur-ul-Haq page 197). In Minnanur Rahman, Promised Messiah (as) goes to great lengths to prove that Arabic is the mother of all tongues and he also mentions Makkah as the first built town/city of the world.

So, in Ahmadiyyat, the true Islam, Makkah and Madinah are our Holy Cities. Promised Messiah (علیہ السلام) gave great value to these cities when it came to acceptance of his claims. We turn to Makkah to pray and we bury our deceased facing it. We love Madinah Munawwara because it is where our Master, our beloved Holy Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) is buried.

Term 5: Messiah- That Messiah is a term only reserved for Jesus son of Mary علیہ السلام, and Ahmadis have “hijacked” it.

Messiah is a title, which means “the anointed one”. So, all prophets were Messiahs. Jesus (علیہ السلام) is called the “Messiah” because Jews were specifically waiting for a Messiah. It has been mentioned in old testament more than 30 times.
And besides all famous physicians were entitled Messiahs by their admirers. What about them?

Term 6: Holy Graveyard- Ahmadis believe that Bahishti Maqbara in Qadian is Holy (or Holier) than Jannatul Baqi.

Jannatul Baqi is a special place where many companions of Holy Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) are buried. These lucky souls were given the good news of Jannah during their life-times. To be in the company of Khaataman Nabiyyeen (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم), to have heard and seen him and to have experienced God’s Mercy in those blessed day is paradise in this life.

Bahishti Maqbarah requires the person to strive to follow the footsteps of Sahaba. There is no comparison.

I think this blog post was just meant to keep the website active. I thank Farhan and other culties for giving me the opportunity to read some more portions of Quran, Hadith and writings of Promised Messiah (a.s.). Please carry on..

Morden man fears for brother named on Ahmadiyya Muslim murder list in Pakistan

2011-08-05T07:24:00.000-07:00

By Omar Oakes

The brother of a Pakistani man whose name was published on a religious murder list by Muslim fanatics has said he is distraught with worry.

Chaudhary Nawaz, from Hillcross Avenue in Morden, said his brother Dr Muhammad Nawaz, a technology college academic in Pakistan, had gone into hiding for fear of being murdered for being an Ahmadi Muslim.

Ahmadi Muslims are not considered Islamic in Pakistan under the Government’s strict blasphemy laws and this list of prominent Ahmadis is being widely distributed in Faisalabad, a textile hub in the Punjab province.

The list is published on a pamphlet given out widely in shopping areas and claims: “To shoot such people is an act of jihad [struggle of faith] and to kill such people is an act of sawab [reward].”

Mr Nawaz, 48, said: “I can’t tell you how worried I am. Sometimes I try not to think about it because I am so frightened about what could happen.

“My brother is a good man, an educator. He doesn’t deserve to be targeted like this.

"I feel helpless because he is thousands of miles away and I can’t help him.”

Mr Nawaz, a senior member of the Morden district of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association, said his brother cannot leave Faisalabad because he has to care for their mother, an 82-year-old Alzheimer’s sufferer.

A similar list of Ahmadis was published two years ago in Faisalabad. Three people on that list were murdered by militants in a crowded market bazaar in April 2010.

Nearly two months later, 94 Ahmadis were murdered in mosques in Lahore.

Last October, the Wimbledon Guardian revealed how religious hatred by hardline Muslims towards Ahmadis was being demonstrated on a much smaller scale in south London, which is home to their UK headquarters, the massive Bait-ul-Futuh mosque in London Road, Morden.

Our investigation revealed Sheikh Suliman Gani, imam at the Tooting Islamic Centre (TIC), had told worshippers to boycott Ahmadi businesses, leading to financial hardship for shop owners and the sacking of a worker who would not renounce his religion.

The Khatme Nabuwwat Academy, an East London-based religious group affiliated to the Pakistan-based Khatme Nabuwwat, was invited to talk at the TIC last year.

The Khatme Nabuwwat's Pakistani-based website describes Ahmadis as “nothing but a gang of traitors, apostates and infidels”.

Do you have a story to tell? Call 020 8722 6333 or email: newsdesk@wimbledonguardian.co.uk.

From Wimbledon Guardian Website http://www.thisislocallondon.co.uk/news/9180679.Man_fears_for_brother_named_on_murder_list/

Hate Campaign against Ahmadiyya Muslims in Britain

2010-12-08T11:20:00.000-08:00

Peace Conference

2010-11-23T14:11:00.000-08:00

Peace conference organised by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association Watford, to be held in Abbots Langley

From Watford Observer
12:03pm Tuesday 23rd November 2010

By Amie Mulderrig »

A peace conference organised by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association Watford, is to be held in Abbots Langley this weekend.

Visitors are invited to the Henderson Hall, in the High Street, on Sunday, November 28.

The keynote speech will centre on “Respect to all holy scriptures – an Islamic perspective”, and will be delivered by Faiz Ahmad Zahid, Hertfordshire Imam of the community.

Muhammad Rafiuddin, president of the association, said: “This will be second such event held in Abbots Langley in recent years.

“We had very good turn out last time. The local community responded really well to our invitation and showed keen interest in learning about Islam’s peaceful message.”

There will be an opportunity to ask questions about Islam and refreshments will also be served.

Anyone interested in attending the event should email watford.ama@gmail.com or call Mr Rafiuddin on: 07725 722 726 for an invitation.

On Iqbal day, 2010

2010-11-09T08:59:00.001-08:00

Growing up in Pakistani educational system in the eighties, I was made aware of Allama Iqbal from the first day when I heard "lab pe aati hay dua" being recited in the school. The poem is prayer by a child that God may make his life a guiding light for others. Iqbal teaches the child that he must stand by the poor and help those in need. To be honset, children at school assembley just followed the tune. We had no idea what it meant. This was a generation which will grow up to live the democracy of post-Zia era and post-democracy Musharraf times. And now post-Musharraf democracy. We learnt that our collective lives were not a glowing beacon for people to follow, neither were we a generation to help our nation's poor and downtrodden. Iqbal's first dream is being broken every single day in Pakistan.We have seen enough carnage of racial, sectarian violence, a war in Kashmir, an insurgency in Baluchistan, a mutiny in tribal areas and the rise and further rise of terrorism. We have suffered natural calamaties of Biblical proprotions. Iqbal's prayer, recited by millions of Pakistani children remains unanswered.
During my middle school years, I was told that Iqbal was the person who saw the vision of Pakistan and Quaid e Azam fulfilled his dream. I imagined Iqbal, the wise sage, waking up from his dream in his candle-lit quarters, looking for a piece of paper to write down the description of this Divinely inspired vision. It turned out that this "dream" was a well thought out speech in a political conference, and later explained in a letter to the Daily Times, London. In these days, I became fond of Iqbal and borrowed his poetry books from the library and tried to memorize many of his poems. His Shaheen Momin was my hero, my ideal. His rhetoric of superiority of a praciticing Muslim and his message of revolution was very appeasing to me. At that time, I was also a keen reader of Naseem Hijazi, Barbara Cartland of urdu literature. Except for he was a man, and wrote novels around the glorious Muslim conquests in Middle-East and Europe. The comparison with Barbara Cartland is due to his fixation with just one era and with one aspect of history.
Iqbal's portrait appears in many offices across Pakistan. In many of his protraits, he appears in a contemplative pose with an eagle soaring in the background. The eagle or falcon represents a true Muslim. A soldier of Islam who is proud of his Islamic heritage and superior understanding of the world around him. To us, Iqbal was one of these super-Muslims. How bravely did he stand up to the British and Hindus to guide the Muslims to find their pride and recover their prestige. And Muslims of India did just that by creating Pakistan. I read about Captain Sarwar, Major Aziz Bhatti etc. and thought of them as personifications of Iqbal’s Shaheen. In the 80s, Gen. Zia’s american Jihad was taught in school books. India was always evil, Israel a mortal enemy and Russian was the official language in Hell. Iqbal’s selective poetry in school books, and many religious sunni teachers, no wonder Pakistanis have such a one-sided view of Iqbal.
Then I found Ghalib and Meer. Iqbal’s poetry did not seem as brilliant when I compared them. I discovered in college, that to consider Ghalib better than Iqbal was to confess that you preferred wine and women over your faith. But Ghalib’s poetry agreed with my thoughts more than Iqbal. Ghalib’s honesty and humour had much more to offer than Iqbal’s dry slogans. But when it came to politics, I was still in agreement with Iqbal. Muslims needed the strength of character, the military advantage to win their place in the world. Ghalib was always busy ruing his bad luck and failures. Meer was crying himself to sleep. But Iqbal was challenging the accursed satan himself. He even went as far as questioning God's Wisdom on why Muslims were in decline.
But then I found Faiz. Ghalib had a match. Iqbal was No. 3 in the list. Faiz teaches us to be stubborn in the face of adversity, but he also keeps one foot in the dreamland. He trusts God's Wisdom and accepts that pain and persecution is all a part of our collective experience. He may have been a communist, but his metaphors are more closely connected to the Holy Scriptures than Iqbal's.
What was my reason to demote Iqbal from my list of literary heroes? (He still is on the list.. but somewhere at number 25 or below). I read a comment once that Ghalib resorted to writing Qaseedahs for the British Monarch. I also found a lament Iqbal wrote at the death of Queen Victoria, where he equated the day of her death to Muharram. I have no problems with people writing praises for the Kings and Queens. Both did what they though was right. But Iqbal’s deep study of Greek and modern European philosophy had an impact on his own thinking. He was a student of history, but was not such a great revolutionary as portrayed in the books. He himself denied in a letter that he never wanted a separate homeland for muslims, but was only throwing options to ensure peace in India. I think muslims in India made Iqbal into a celebrity too soon. As soon as he returned after his overseas education, he was treated like a leader. His poetry was lauded as the best in the whole country. But was his phiolsophy as sound as his linguisitic abilities? I find that today, everyone claims Iqbal to be one of them. Secularists love him because he condemned the mullah. Mullah quotes him as he was a Jihadist. Scholars like Ghulam Ahmad Pervez (of Tolu-e-Islam) claim that Iqbal was a rationalist like Sir Syed. Indians revere him, Pakistanis claim the ownership over Iqbal. What was Iqbal? I think, he was a poet, who could never make up his mind.
A freethinker like he was, Iqbal dismissed orthodoxy for most of his life, until he required guidance (or was pushed to seek it) by the Ahrar. In 1935, just three years before his death, Dr. Iqbal felt the urge to oppose the Ahmadiyya Sect, despite his four decades long active relationship with them. His close relatives were Ahmadis. His eldest son, Aftab Iqbal was sent to Qadian to study in the Ahmadiyya boarding school. These last three years of his life, gave Iqbal the popularity among the ultra-orthodox Ahrar, and later Jamaat e Islami and other deobad and even salafi-wahabi movements.
I would like to believe that Iqbal’s vision was a federation of fucntioning muslim provinces who followed rationalist Islamic ideology like his. But who can tell? Our Jihadis find the ailing, angry and vindictive Iqbal more agreeable.

Pakistani Mullah and the tragedy of 28th of May, 2010

2010-11-07T01:40:00.000-07:00

Courtesty, BBC URDU

The Death of Tolerance; Angela Merkel, Melanie Phillips and Rupert Murdoch

2010-10-19T06:17:00.000-07:00

Melanie Phillips in her recent Spectator article has painted a grim picture for the future of Europe. This was in the light of Chancellor Merkel's recent comments about the failure of multiculturalism in Germany. I have no doubt that the German Chancellor's concerns are legitimate and Europe is indeed failing to assimilate the large number of non-EU immigrants into the mainstream culture.

I also agree with the opinion that various religious views held by these immigrants may be a reason for their failure to be accepted by their ethnic European neighbours. Radical Islam is a concern for everyone, Including a vast majority of those immigrant who have come to Europe to escape the tyrannical "Islamic" governments in their homelands.

Here is my problem. The far-right has always been around. Germany has seen its fair share of this in the past. Many European countries have seen a resurgence of right-wing politics in recent years. This is expected during every economic downturn. When jobs are scarce, when the state benefits system is under pressure, it is always immigrants who become the scapegoat.

Melanie mentioned Ahmadi Muslims in London being persecuted by the local extremists. This was apparently an example of how bad things are. Extremist Muslims are running amok in the heart of the western world! Tower Hamlet is an independent Sharia state and Hijabis are terrorizing innocent Londoners. This is not a good argument against immigration. Against Bigotry and misplaced cultural practices yes, but not against immigration.

I am an Ahmadi Muslim. There are many thousands of us living in London. Yes, we suffer from persecution in various Muslim countries, and yes, even in this country, orthodox Muslims oppose us at every opportunity they get. They have even campaigned against building of our mosque and have helped EDL and BNP to prevent our community projects from going ahead. The problem is bigotry. Its not only brown people from overseas bringing their evil ideologies to our shores. We have our own, home grown bigotry to deal with as well.

Ms. Philips also states that a lady burnt alive in Bradford was somehow a victim of Islamic extremism. That as a gruesome murder. As far as I know, murder have been happening in England before immigrants arrived on their boats.

The West has always taken the higher moral ground when it comes to "lesser" nationalities. They have always been backward and ignorant, they have always shown resistance to reform or they have always been stubborn, stuck in their ways. This is why they come in their droves to enjoy a lifestyle of luxuries by exploiting our benefit system. They multiply and increase by being a burden on our state and we "the white people" must pay for it. During the years of plenty, increasing number of people, from all ethnic backgrounds started living on state benefits as in many cases it paid more than working for a living. Immigrants appear to have benefited more than the rest because they were the most disadvantaged. It was the state's job to make the best use of its human resource by discouraging dependence on benefits.

Western economies have increased because skilled and highly educated immigrants have moved to the financial capitals in search of a better life. While money has been generated through industry and innovation and by war mongering in the third world, the immigrant diasporas have influenced their surroundings. Like all immigrants before them, Normans and Norse, Turks and Romans, their influence can not be categorized as bad or detrimental. What is Western culture any way? Is it a set of practices which are required to remain unchanged forever? With increasing frequency, the cultures and practices of third world change to suit the demands of a changing world. New and more humiliating ways of finding daily sustenance are being invented in African and Asian slums. Thoughts of austerity frighten us. While it is the part of immigrant nature to live on meagre incomes, to fit their families within less than adequate housing , but to work hard and to provide for their dependants at home and in their homelands also is their duty. An immigrant is more cost effective for the West than an indigenous European. They cost less but have to offer their youth, their taxes and and their loyalties to a country for a very cheap price. Rejecting them will only create more suffering.

Then Melanie quotes Rupert Murdoch on a completely unrelated matter. Mr. Murdoch links immigration with the rise of anti-semitism in Europe. So now Muslims have caused this too? Hating Jews has been a very European/Christian trait. Melanie Philips thinks that Jews have an "ancient" right over Palestine. Same Jews who were doing fine until some anti-semites thought that they did not belong in Europe. Jews were immigrants who were stuck in their ways. They did not abandon their religion to conform to the Christian European customs. They stuck to their culture and Europe punished them for being so Jewish after all those centuries they had lived among them.

I guess it is time for another revolution in Europe. Philips, Murdoch and their ilk would love another cleansing of the West to bring it back to the pristine whiteness it was all those years ago.

Don’t fight God. It is not for you to destroy me!

2010-10-04T10:15:00.000-07:00

Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian, The Imam Mahdi and The Promised Messiah (alyhis Salam) writes;

"The world does not know me, but He knows me Who has sent me. Those who wish my destruction are mistaken and extremely unfortunate. I am the tree which has been planted by the Lord God with His own hands.....
“O People! You must understand this for sure that I am accompanied by that Hand which shall remain faithful to me till the end of time. If your men and your women, and your young and your old, and your insignificant ones and your notables: all committed themselves to praying for my destruction—so much so that your noses get withered and wasted away due to your endless prostrations, and your hands become numb, even then God will most certainly not accept your prayers, and He will not
relent until His will is done. Even if I do not have a single human being with me, the angels of God will be on my side. And if you withhold your testimony, the stone will well night testify for me.
Therefore, do not wrong your souls. God leaves nothing unresolved. I consider as accursed a life which is tainted with falsehood and lies, and which, out of the fear of the creatures of God, evades to comply with Divine imperatives. It is certainly impossible for me to show any slackness—even if the Sun moved from one side and the Earth from the other to crush me between them—in carrying out the duty which God Almighty has at the moment entrusted to me, and for which Alone He has sent me. What is man? A mere worm and nothing more than a clot! How then can I, for the sake of this lowly creature, fail toabide by what the Self-Subsistent Being has commanded. Just as God decided between His prophets and those who rejected them, so shall He decide now. There is a time for the prophets to come and a time to depart: do mark it for sure, that I have neither made a seasonless appearance, nor shall my exit be unseasonable.

Don’t fight God. It is not for you to destroy me!"

[Tohfae Golarviyyah, Roohaani Khazaa’in vol. 17, pp. 49-50]

میں یہ کس کے نام لکھّوں

2010-09-13T12:37:00.000-07:00

میں یہ کس کے نام لکھّوں جو الم گزر رہے ہیں
مرے شہر جل رہے ہیں مرے لوگ مر رہے ہیں

کوئی غنچہ ہو کہ گُل ہو کوئی شاخ ہو شجر ہو
وہ ہوائے گُلستاں ہے کہ سبھی بکھر رہے ہیں

کبھی رحمتیں تھیں نازل اسی خطّہء زمیں پر
وہی خطہء زمیں ہے کہ عذاب اتر رہے ہیں

وہی طائروں کے جھرمٹ جو ہَوا میں جھولتے تھے
وہ فضا کو دیکھتے ہیں تو اب آہ بھر رہے ہیں

بڑی آرزو تھی ہم کو نئے خواب دیکھنے کی
سو اب اپنی زندگی میں نئے خواب بھر رہے ہیں

کوئی اور تو نہیں ہے پس ِ خنجر آزمائی
ہمیں قتل ہو رہے ہیں، ہمیں قتل کر رہے ہیں

عبید اللہ علیم

Error of their ways; Where Muslims have gone wrong.

2010-09-06T15:34:00.000-07:00

Promised Messiah, and Imam Mahdi, Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (a.s) writes;

"It is a remarkable coincidence that Christians erred with respect to the rights of God, while Muslims erred with respect to the rights of human beings. That is, the Christian faith raised a humble man to Godhood, thereby compromising the obligations due to the All-Powerful, All-Sustaining Being Who has no equal in heaven or earth. But Muslims violated human rights by unjustly raising the sword and calling it jihad. In short, Christians adopted one path of violating rights, and Muslims adopted the other. Unfortunately for this era, both of these groups consider their own transgressions to be desirable. Each therefore emphasizes its own doctrine, certain that this alone is the straight path and best way to Paradise. Although violation of God’s rights is the greatest of sins, it is not my intention here to discuss this dangerous offense of which the Christian people are guilty but rather to make Muslims aware of the transgressions that they are committing against their fellow human beings.

It should be remembered that today’s Islamic scholars (who are called maulavis) completely misunderstand jihad and misrepresent it to the general public. The public’s violent instincts are inflamed as a result and they are stripped of all noble human virtues. This is in fact what has happened. I know for certain that maulavis who persist in propagating these blood-spattered doctrines are in fact responsible for murders committed by ignorant, egotistical people who know nothing of why Islam was forced to fight battles in its early history."

British Government and Jihad, Published more than 100 years ago.

WARNING FROM DIVINE WARNER

2010-08-23T16:11:00.000-07:00

"Remember, God has informed me of many earth-quakes. Rest assured, therefore, that as earth-quakes have shaken America and Europe, so will they shake Asia. Some of them will resemble the Day of Doom. So many people shall die that rivulets of blood shall flow. Even the birds and the beasts will not he immune against this death. Havoc shall sweep the surface of the earth which shall be the greatest since the birth of man. Habitations shall be demolished as if no one had ever lived in them. This will he accompanied by many other terrible calamities which the earth and the heavens will send forth, till their extraordinary nature will become evident to every reasonable man. All the literature of science and philosophy shall fail to show their like.

Then mankind shall be sore distressed and wonder what is going to happen. Many shall escape and many shall perish. The days are near, in fact. I can see them close at hand, when the world shall witness a terrible sight: not only earthquakes but also many fearsome calamities shall overtake man, some from the skies and some from the earth. This will happen because mankind have stopped worshipping their true God and have become lost in the affairs of the world with all their heart and their effort and in-tent. If I had not come, these afflictions would perhaps have been delayed a little. But with my coming the secret purposes of an affronted God which were hidden so far, became manifest. Says God: 'We never punish unlessWe send a Messenger.' Those who repent shall find security and those who fear before calamity overtakes them shall be shown mercy. Do you think you will be immune from these calamities? Or can you save yourselves through artifice or design? Indeed not. That day all human schemes shall fail. Think not that earthquakes visited America and other continents but that your own country shall remain secure. Indeed, you may experience a greater hardship. O Europe, you are not safe and O Asia, you too, are not immune. And O dwellers of Islands, no false gods shall come to your rescue. I see cities fall and settlements laid waste. The One and the Only God kept silent for long. Heinous deeds were done before His eyes and He said nothing. But now He shall reveal His face in majesty and awe. Let him who has ears hear that the time is not far. I have done my best to bring all under the protection of God, but it was destined that what was written should come to pass. Truly do I say that the turn of this land, too is approaching fast. The times of Noah shall reappear before your eyes, and your own eyes will be witnesses to the calamity that overtook the cities of Lot. But God is slow in His wrath. Repent that you may be shown mercy! He who does not fear Him is dead, not alive."

(Haqiqatul Wahy, pp.256-57).

Mullah per capita

2010-08-20T14:33:00.000-07:00

According to estimates, Pakistan has over 40,000 religious seminaries spread across all major towns and cities. Traveling through vast expanses of Punjab and Sindh, or through hills of Northern Pakistan, and among the arid, desolate landscape of Baluchistan, scattered among villages are mosques attached to a Madrassah. This brings the income for the local mullah, and economic relief to over populated families of poor farmers who can easily get rid of a couple of extra mouths which they can't feed.

While studying in Faisalabad, a crowded city in the heart of Punjab, I was surprised to see the number of children attending dozens of Madrassahs scattered around the University. We often used to remark on the number of graduates coming out of these seminaries each year and their job prospects. Faisalabad alone must have been producing 5000 qualified Maulvis every year. A figure outnumbering the total number of Doctors graduating in the whole of Pakistan each year.

By this estimate, these Madrassahs are producing at least 100,000 graduates fully conversant with the knowledge of Quran, Hadith and Fiqh in Pakistan. This must make the total number of model Muslims in the country in its Millions. My Maulvi friends.. don't despair as the number will increase even further when the flood ravaged nation will dump the rest of their male progeny at your mercy in the coming months and years.

My question to my Mullah friends is this.. In the presence of such piety just pouring forth from these fountains of religious knowledge and moral excellence, why is Pakistan steeped in all kinds of moral and social ills? Crime of all kind is on the increase for the past many decades. Streets are living exhibits of a society worthy of Divine Wrath of biblical proportions. And yes, I believe that is happening as I write these words.

Are your prayers and supplications going unheard sir? Why, when you rant and rave in your loudspeakers about the futility of worldly life, about the infidelities of other sects, about the interference of foriegn hands and anti-Islam agents in the country; the country still seems to be dying a slow and agonizing death? You wail and shriek in the loudspeaker after each Jumma prayer, cursing the enemies of Islam and imploring God to destroy the enemy; you call your followers to rise up in Jihad.. You make them promise to hate and despise everyone not practicing proper Islam.. Its you and millions of your colleagues.. constantly and eagerly preaching the Islam you were taught in these seminaries.. but to what end?

There must be something seriously wrong with the kind of Islam being taught in these seminaries. My dear Maulvis, you will be quick to blame western ways of life and Jewish-Christian conspiracies for the state of our country. But, has the sheer number of people practicing the correct kind of Islam not been able to make even a tiny bit of difference to the nation?

A country's health care status can be easily assessed by the number of Physicians per capita. A nations spiritual health, by the same standards should be directly related to the number of Maulvis per capita.

Ladies and gentlemen, I can proudly announce that no other nation in history has had so many spiritual/moral surgeons per capita as Pakistan. We must be a nation destined for paradise. And our surgeons are eager to get us there post-haste.

Ahmadis being persecuted even when the country drowns in a Biblical flood!

2010-08-18T01:42:00.000-07:00

The politics of relief: Aliens in their own land

MUZAFFARABAD: The government and local clerics refused to shelter around 500 flood-affected families belonging to the Ahmadiya community in South Punjab’s relief camps. Not only that, the government also did not send relief goods to the flood-hit areas belonging to the Ahmadiya community, The Express Tribune has learnt during a visit to the devastated Punjab districts of Muzaffargarh, Dera Ghazi Khan and Rajanpur.
For its part, the government claims that all relief goods are being distributed among survivors without discrimination. And that all survivors have been sheltered in relief camps without distinction. The flood-devastated families from the Ahmadiya community have strongly criticised the government’s “discriminatory attitude” even at a time when the entire country is reeling from the ravages of the worst flooding in living memory.
Of the 500 Ahmadi families, 350 belong to DG Khan, 60 to Muzaffargarh and 65 to Rajanpur district. According to Ahmadiya community leaders, over 2,500 members of their community have been displaced and are now living with their relatives while some of them have left for Rabwah, the community’s headquarters.
Aziz Ahmad Khan, a local leader of flood victims from the Ahmadiya community in DG Khan, told The Express Tribune that all members of his family have complained of discrimination in DG Khan. He said 200 families from Basti Rindan and Basti Sohrani, 60 from Chah Ismaeel Wala, three from Rakh Mor Jangi, 18 from Ghazi Ghat and 12 from Jhakar Imam Shah of Ahmadpur. Khan alleged that 200 families, who have been displaced from Basti Rindan and Basti Sohrani by flooding, took shelter in a state-run school at Jhok Utra but within days the local administration forced them to leave the school. He said the local administration later told them that people from the surrounding areas did not want the Ahmadis in the relief camp. And that the administration could not allow them to stay at the camp as it could create a law and order situation.
“So we left our cattle and other belongings in the area and took refuge in the homes of our community members on higher grounds,” he said, adding that some of them even migrated to Chanabnagar.
Muhammad Iqbal Sohrani, a member of the Ahmadiya community told The Express Tribune that around 40 Ahmadi families who took shelter in a state-run school at Jhakar Imam Shah near Sumandri, some 40 kilometres from DG Khan, have not received any relief either from philanthropists or from the government. He alleged that relief packages were being distributed through local lawmakers who have been told by the district administration that the Ahmadis are not eligible for any support.
Saleem Chandia, another Ahmadiya community member, said that he along with 40 other community members rented a house but after two days their landlord was forced by local clerics to evict them. Chandia said they were offered help by their own community members after wandering for several days in search of shelter.
Mansoor Ahmad, a resident of Muzaffargarh, told The Express Tribune that over 800 members of the Ahmadiya community were displaced from Bait Nasirabad, Masroornagar, Hussainwala and Shahjamal. At least 100 members of the community, from Hussainwala and Masroorabad, were trapped at Shahjamal. He claimed that they had asked the district police officer (DPO) and the district coordination officer (DCO) to provide them a boat or to rescue the trapped people but they did not take notice.
Ahmad claimed that the trapped Ahmadis were rescued by their fellows on a broken boat. He said local clerics have issued an edict that the Ahmadis should not be provided help.
Naseem Ahmad, from Rajanpur, told The Express Tribune that their 500 community members from the areas of Basti Lashari, Basti Allahdad Dareeshak and from Basti Azizabad were displaced. Their houses were washed away and the government and local clerics ignored them. He said that they were not allowed to stay in state-run schools or in camps, therefore the majority of them were living on the rooftops of their inundated houses.
“The Ahmadiya community itself rescued trapped people and delivered relief to them,” community spokesperson Saleem-ul-Din told The Express Tribune by phone.
He said that the community did not want any relief package from the government for its members. However, the government should protect the property and livestock of the Ahmadis.
Hassan Iqbal, Commissioner DG Khan, told The Express Tribune that he would check the situation. He asked the Ahmadis to directly approach him if they face discrimination anywhere in the district. However, DCO Muzaffargarh Farasat Iqbal said that the Ahmadis have not contacted him.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 18th, 2010.

http://tribune.com.pk/story/40435/the-politics-of-relief-aliens-in-their-own-land/

اردو

2010-08-15T07:41:00.001-07:00

اردو ہے جس کا نام ہمیں جانتے ہیں داغ

Not Forgotten. Abdul Haleem and Abdullah Khan- Martyrs of Kabul:

2010-07-12T15:48:00.000-07:00

Alfazl, 17 Dec, 1926 published this article.

Hadhrat Maulvi Abdul Haleem Sahib and Hadhrat Maulvi Abdullah Khan Sahib; Eye witness account of Stoning of the Prisoners of Kabul (1925)- As told to Fazl Kareem

“The person who narrated to me the event related to Hazrat Maulana Abdul Haleem Sahib and Maulvi Abdullah Khan Sahib, had me promise him not to divulge his name. He has narrated the events after swearing to God Almighty, and as far as it is possible, I will reproduce his words accurately. I and a relative of mine were listening to this story. We had our emotions under control. But the narration was of such nature that Ahmadi or not, even the most cold hearted person would have shivered after listening to it. There was a lady, a relative of the narrator sitting close by. He eyes welled up and she started crying Mercy, Mercy and asking forgiveness from God. She said “Only God knows why these Kabulis are so cruel and stone hearted- Will they not be punished for this? Did they not feel a little bit of mercy that they slaughtered men like sheep and goat?” She started cursing the Kabulis and for many hours she stayed in the same state crying for forgiveness.”

From near my shop, ten or fifteen policemen were escorting two prisoners to some place. One of them was a youth, of about 30 years of age. And the other was a middle aged man of more than 50 years of age. Both had chains around their feet. Both had turbans on their heads and were wearing trousers and coats with shoes on their feet. Behind them was a great procession of people which kept swelling as they walked through the market. People were chatting and laughing like they were going to watch an entertaining show.

A town crier was announcing that these two Qadianis will be stoned to death according to the decision of the Qazi, after Asr prayers. Both criminals were silent, with ashen faces. The older man (Abdul Haleem) had a prayer bead and he was reciting something. We knew that the stoning will take place at Asiya Bai, so I arrived there with some of my friends. Then we were told that it will be done at Sherpur instead. So we went to Sherpur. We saw a huge crowd there and many people were still arriving. After a while, the Qazi arrived on a carriage. As soon as he arrived, he ordered the chains to be broken and the condemned were told that they can now pray salat or nafls as they wished. Both of them prayed two or four raka’ats each (I don’t remember exactly). People were standing on high spots around the ground where the condemned were standing. After prayers, both had their turbans and coats removed, leaving only their shirts and trousers on them. Then they were pushed towards the lower ground. I did not hear it myself, but people said that both of them were saying that it will be decided on the day of judgement about who is right.

Finally the Qazi picked up a stone and threw it at them. As soon as he did that, people who were already standing with stones gathered in the fronts of their shirts started raining stones at them. They were about 15-20 yards from them.

Here I asked the narrator if the condemned cried or shrieked at all. He said that I was very near them, but did not hear anything from them. Then he said that the old man (Abdul Haleem) was being hit by the stones, he placed both his hands on his face and kneeled to the ground; until he was buried half under the stones. Then a stone hit his head and as with immense pain he sat up with his hands still on his face, as one sits in prayer. His face and head were dripping with blood and in the same state he passed away.

The other criminal who was younger (Maulvi Abdullah Khan) kept standing. Every time when a stone hit him, he fell, but then stood up again; fell again and stood up again; he kept struggling to get up every time, but could not keep standing. And this is how he died too. Both had so many stones thrown at them that they were buried under the stones and we could not see anything but stones after some time.

When asked if he also thew stones, the narrator said that yes, I threw 20-25 stones. I asked, how big were the stones thrown by the people? He said that they were about 2-3 kilos each. It was a hill and whatever one could find was thrown. When asked what was he thinking when he threw the stones, he did not answer directly and said that at that time his thoughts were very different.

In this context, I (Fazl Kareem) should also narrate another incidence that Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih (Mirza Basheerudeen Mahmood) also mentioned in one of his speeches. A man belonging to Rawalpindi wrote to a friend from Kabul that those two Qadianis whose stoning you were waiting so eagerly and were postponing your departure to India for the very same reason were finally stoned to death recently. I have also thrown a few stones on your behalf so that you may also partake of the blessings of the event. Congratulations to you. When this man read the news he shared it with much happiness and glee with his friends and also mentioned this to Ahmadis as a gesture of mockery. We were not aware of this news in Qadian yet. As if this was a great victory to these people. Alas these people do not understand that this was no great victory, but a humiliating defeat. Victory went to those who attained eternal life and whose name will be remembered for days to come and generations will be praying for them. And the same land of Kabul will bear fruit from this blessed blood.

(The above has been translated from Urdu to keep the memory of the two Martyrs alive, 85 years after the event took place in Kabul, Afghanistan)

A Letter to Abbas Ather. Daily Express Pakistan.

2010-06-07T09:53:00.000-07:00

Dear Abbas Ather sahib,

AssalamoAlykum,

I saw you on Point Blank where Ahmadiyya spokesman was invited for the first time in the history of Pakistan media to speak for our community. I thank you for taking part in such an historic programme and congratulate you on your bravery and honesty. May Allah protect you and all those who are supporting the Ahmadi right to citizenship of Pakistan.

While reading your urdu column Ahmadiyon ka masla, I was disappointed to see that you considered Ahmadiyya spokesman's effort to answer Shami sahib as Tabligh (proselytizing). Mujeebur Rehman Shami is a known anti-ahmadi who published a whole issue of urdu digest against the Jamaat, and his quesitons (rather comments) were loaded with prejudice. When confronted with such questions, neither I, nor any ahmadi can leave them without answers because the ordinary listener takes the impression that we indeed ridicule Islam or consider them "kafirs".

I have no problems with your assertions that there can be no punjabi nabi. My problem starts when it is implied that Ahmadis do not love or respect the Holy Prophet (saw) like other muslims. This misconception has been exploited by the mullah to stir hatred against us in Pakistan and I urge you not to fall prey to such fallacies. Attaulla shah Bukhari used to repeat the same trick in every speech, so did all his colleagues in Ahrar, which resulted in murders and agitation across the country. May I also remind you that barelvis say that wahabis and deobandis are disrespectful of Holy Prophet (saw) and vice versa. Infact, I believe that it is only Ahmadis who know and believe in the true status of Holy Prophet (saw), and follow his example in the truest manner.

Ahmadis believe that Tabligh is the Jihad of our times and thus, this email is also a form of Jihad. I also don't mind if you think that Ahmadis take every opportunity to do tabligh. I may disagree with some anecdotal evidence you provided in your articles as I am personally not aware of "a house in paradise" for those who become Ahmadis. Yes, I do know that their lives in Pakistan become hell if they accept Ahmadiyyat.

I also know that many Pakistanis and Bangladeshis who claim assylum in the West are not Ahmadis but claim to have been converted and now face death. Infact, it is believed that a majority of assylum applications in these countries are from those who pretend to have converted. You will understand that any ideological movement can not accept "fake" members who have been lured into becoming members. This simply doesn't work and you may have seen from the reaction by the Jamaat in Pakistan, that Ahmadis are Ahmadis by conviction and not due to promise of a better life in Europe or North America.

You have mentioned the "prophecies" about the death of Bhutto and Zia. If these prophecies are tabligh, then I am afraid this tabligh continues. Our Khalifatul Masih has prayed that all the enemies of Ahmadiyyat will be punished by the truth of Kalima we recite. InshaAllah. Lets be witnesses of this in the coming days.

May Allah protect ordinary Pakistanis from the punsihment that these extremists are bringing on to themselves. Maybe it is people like you who can spread tolerance which may save Pakistan one day.

wassalam,

Lutf ul Islam.

Burqa Ban; What next?

2010-05-22T12:18:00.000-07:00

Mime artists, Circus clowns, Emos, Goths, Carnival of Venice, Hooded Tops, Facial hair etc....Ban them all!