Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V addressed guests at the 41st Annual Convention of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Germany. He noted that the world's peace is fragile, as conflict and uncertainty are increasing globally despite greater connectivity. Recent terrorist attacks in Europe have damaged society and increased fear of Islam. However, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is gathering with the intention of increasing spirituality and religious knowledge, not to cause fear or harm. His Holiness emphasized that establishing justice and impartiality is the only way to eliminate hatred and achieve lasting peace.
Genesis 1:10 || Meditate the Scripture daily verse by verse
Building Bridges of Peace
1. Building Bridges
of Peace
10
Glimpse into the Life of
Prophet Muhammadsa
26
A Short Sketch of
Muslim History
28
The Economic System
of Islam?
52
VOL. 110 - ISSUE TENOCTOBER 2016 WWW.REVIEWOFRELIGIONS.ORG
BUILDING BRIDGES
of PEACE
3. All praise is due to Allah, to
Whom belongs whatever is in the
heavens and whatever is in the
earth. And His is all praise in the
Hereafter; and He is the Wise, the
All-Aware. He knows whatever
goes into the earth and whatever
comes forth from it, and whatever
descends from the heaven and
whatever ascends into it; and
He is Merciful, Most Forgiving.
And those who disbelieve say,
‘The Hour will never come upon
us.’ Say, ‘Yea, by my Lord Who
knows the unseen, it will surely
come upon you! Not an atom’s
weight in the heavens or in the
earth or anything less than that
or greater escapes Him, but all is
recorded in a perspicuous Book’.
ISLAM, THE HOLY QURAN,
34:2-4
Narrated by Hazrat Abu Hurairara
:
Every servant of Allah will remain
standing before Allah on the
Day of Judgement until he has
answered five questions about
five things: His life—how he
spent it; his knowledge—how
much he acted upon it; his
wealth—how he acquired it and
how he spent it; and his body
(and health)—how he used it.
ISLAM, SAHIH MUSLIM
The state of man after death is not
a new state, only his condition in
this life is made manifest more
clearly in the next life. Whatever
is the true condition of a person
with respect to his beliefs and
actions, righteous or otherwise, in
this life, remains hidden inside
him and its poison or its antidote
affects his being covertly. In
the life after death it will not
be so; everything will manifest
itself openly. One experiences a
specimen of it in a dream…Thus,
whatever the body is heading
for becomes visible in a dream.
So one can understand that the
same is the way of God with
regard to the afterlife. As a dream
transmutes our spiritual condition
into a physical form, the same
will happen in the next life. Our
actions and their consequences
will be manifested physically in
the next life, and whatever we
carry hidden within us from this
life will all be displayed openly on
our countenances in the next life.
ISLAM, THE PROMISED
MESSIAHAS
, THE PHILOSOPHY
OF THE TEACHINGS OF ISLAM
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He
that heareth my word, and
believeth on him that sent me,
hath everlasting life, and shall
not come into condemnation; but
is passed from death unto life.
CHRISTIANITY, THE BIBLE,
JOHN 5:24
Many of those who sleep in the
dust of the ground will awake,
these to everlasting life, but the
others to disgrace and everlasting
contempt.Those who have
insight will shine brightly like
the brightness of the expanse of
heaven, and those who lead the
many to righteousness, like the
stars forever and ever. But as for
you, Daniel, conceal these words
and seal up the book until the end
of time; many will go back and
forth, and knowledge will increase.
JUDAISM, TORAH, DAN 12:2-4
The soul is neither born, nor does
it ever die; nor having once existed,
does it ever cease to be.The soul
is without birth, eternal, immortal,
and ageless. It is not destroyed
when the body is destroyed.
HINDUISM, BHAGAVID GITA
2:20.
Life & Death
WORLD FAITHS
6. WORLD
CRISIS
M I R Z A M A S R O O R A H M A D
PEACE
andthePathwayto
The world is passing through turbulent times.The global economic crisis
continues to manifest new and grave dangers at every juncture.The
similarities of the current circumstances to the build-up of the Second
WorldWar are stark. Events appear to be moving us rapidly towards a
ThirdWorldWar.The consequences of a nuclear war are beyond
our imagination.
In this book, the historic addresses of Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmadaba
, Fifth
Khalifah of the Promised Messiah and Supreme Head of the worldwide
Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, to prominent dignitaries at Capitol Hill, the
House of Commons, the European Parliament and other notable locations
around the world have been collated.The book also includes the momentous
letters sent by His Holiness to the numerous world leaders. Over and over
again, His Holiness has reminded all that the only means of averting a global
catastrophe is for nations to establish justice as an absolute requirement of
their dealings with others. Even if mutual enmity exists, impartiality must
be observed at all times, because history has taught us that this alone is
the way to eliminate all traces of hatred and to build everlasting peace.
Read online at: www.alislam.org
Purchase the book here:
http://store.alislam.org/
7. CHIEF EDITOR & MANAGER
Syed Amer Safir
ASSOCIATE EDITORS
Nakasha Ahmad,Tariq H. Malik
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SUB-EDITORS
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ACCOUNTS & MARKETING
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INDEXING,TAGGING & ARCHIVING
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MANAGEMENT BOARD
Munir-Ud-Din Shams (Chairman), Syed Amer Safir (Secretary), Mubarak Ahmad Zaffar, Abdul Baqi Arshad,
Ataul Mujeeb Rashed, Naseer Qamar, Abid Waheed Ahmad Khan, Aziz Ahmad Bilal
8. The
Promised Messiahas
& imam mahdi
( g u i d e d o n e )
founder of
the review of religions
Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas
9. T
he essence of Islam lay in losing oneself in love of God
and in holding none worthy of worship except Him.
Its purpose is to be lost in God and not in the world.
Towards this end, Islam divides its teachings into two parts—
our obligation to Allah, and our obligation to His creatures.
Our obligation to Allah demands implicit submission and our
obligation to His creatures requires sympathising with them
and helping them. Tormenting others simply because of reli-
gious difference is wrong. Sympathy and kindness are one
thing, and opposition because of religion quite another. The
group of Muslims which has wrong notions about Jihad and
is grossly mistaken about it,has gone to the extent of justifying
the unlawful seizure of property belonging to non-Muslims.
About me and my followers too they have issued an edict to
usurp our goods and even to abduct our women, whereas the
teachings of Islam never sanction such foul deeds. Islam is a
clean and pure religion. Just as a father expects his children to
perform the duties they owe to him and also be mutually help-
ful and not be at loggerheads with each other, similarly Islam
lays emphasis on the Oneness of God and also underscores the
need for concord and unity among mankind.1
endnotes
1. Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas
, Lecture Ludhiana, 46-47.
The
Essence of Islam
11. In a world where people seem to be drifting further
and further apart, how can we come together and
achieve world peace?
12. After reciting Tashahhud,Ta’awwuz and
Bismillah, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaba
said:
“All distinguished guests, Assalamo
Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahe Wa Barakatohu
– peace and blessings of Allah be upon
you all.
With the Grace of Allah,the Ahmadiyya
Muslim Community in Germany is once
again holding its Annual Convention
here in Karlsruhe. These three days are
of great significance and importance to
the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community and
those Ahmadis participating,as they have
gathered here together with the inten-
tion of increasing their spirituality and
religious knowledge.
Yet, as we join here today, it is an unde-
niable fact that the world’s peace is
Building Bridges
of Peace
ADDRESS BY WORLDWIDE HEAD OF THE AHMADIYYA
MUSLIM COMMUNITY TO GUESTS AT THE 41ST
ANNUAL
CONVENTION IN GERMANY
On Saturday 3rd
September
2016, the Worldwide Head of the
Ahmadiyya Muslim Community,
His Holiness Mirza Masroor
Ahmadaba
addressed an audience
of more than 1000 guests on the
second day of the 41st
Annual
Convention (Jalsa Salana) of the
Ahmadiyya Muslim Community
in Germany. The Review of
Religions is pleased to present the
full transcript of this important
speech.
12 THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS | OCTOBER 2016
13. teetering on a knife-edge.With each day
that passes we witness increasing con-
flict and uncertainty across the globe. It
is a strange and tragic paradox that even
though we are more connected than ever
before,we are actually growing ever more
distant by the day. Notably, the stabil-
ity of Europe has markedly deteriorated
during the past year, following the vast
influx of refugees from Syria and Iraq,
and also because of the various terror-
ist attacks that have taken place recently.
Undoubtedly, the evil acts conducted by
so-called Muslim terrorist groups or by
certain extremist individuals is causing
untold damage to society and increas-
ing the fear of Islam in the minds of the
wider public. Given all of this, I am sure
that there will be some people who are
concerned and fearful of the fact that
thousands of Ahmadi Muslims have
gathered together this weekend for
their Annual Convention. Whilst this
Convention has been taking place for
many years,previously most of the mem-
bers of the general public were not aware
As we join here today, it is
an undeniable fact that the
world’s peace is teetering on a
knife-edge.With each day that
passes we witness increasing
conflict and uncertainty
across the globe. It is a strange
and tragic paradox that
even though we are more
connected than ever before,
we are actually growing ever
more distant by the day.
His Holiness addresses the audience at the
41st annual convention of the Ahmadiyya
Muslim Community in Karlsruhe Germany.
OCTOBER 2016 | THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS 13
14. of it. Now, because of the prevailing cir-
cumstances, awareness of this event will
have increased and some people will be
suspicious or fearful of the fact that so
many Muslims have assembled together
in one venue.
Indeed, some of you seated before me
will also have reservations and misgiv-
ings and so your attendance, in spite of
such fears, is extremely noteworthy and
testament to your good nature.You have
exhibited exemplary courage by attend-
ing an Islamic religious function at a
time when the media’s portrayal of Islam
and false propaganda have given rise to
the belief that Muslims are all terror-
ists and extremists. Your presence also
proves that despite the misinformation
and propaganda,you hold a positive and
sympathetic opinion towards Ahmadi
Muslims.
For this gesture and demonstration of
friendship and goodwill, I am extremely
grateful to you all.There may also be peo-
ple attending,who in spite of harbouring
fears about Islam,have come here out of
curiosity. I thank all of them as well and
commend them for their willingness to
learn about Islam and their interest in
this event.Anyway before proceeding any
further, let me take this opportunity to
reassure all of our guests that the Islam
commonly portrayed in the Western
media is not in any way an accurate
reflection of its true teachings.
Islam is not, God forbid, a religion that
promotes extremism or violence, rather
it is a religion that advocates peace, tol-
erance and justice at all levels of society.
Unquestionably, there are some Muslim
groups or individuals who are perpe-
trating the most heinous possible acts
in the name of Islam. Yet, rather than
serving Islam,all they are achieving is to
In complete contrast to the
extremists, the Ahmadiyya
Muslim Community
is an entirely peaceful
religious community that
seeks to spread tolerance,
reconciliation and freedom
of belief throughout the
world. However, do not
think that we have adopted
a new interpretation of
Islam or have modified its
teachings in any way.
BUILDING BRIDGES OF PEACE
14 THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS | OCTOBER 2016
15. defame it by violating its true teachings.
In complete contrast to the extremists,
the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is
an entirely peaceful religious community
that seeks to spread tolerance, reconcili-
ation and freedom of belief throughout
the world. However, do not think that
we have adopted a new interpretation of
Islam or have modified its teachings in
any way.The sole reason we are peaceful,
the sole reason we care and love man-
kind and the sole reason we seek to heal
the divisions that have beset the world
is because, and only because, we follow
the teachings of Islam. It is due only to
the fact that we have understood the
true meaning of the Holy Qur’an that
we Ahmadi Muslims seek to live our lives
in this peaceful fashion. Everything we
say and do is inspired by what we have
learned from the Holy Qur’an and from
the practice of the Founder of Islam,the
Holy Prophet Muhammadsa
.
Upon hearing this, many of you will
question that, if Islam is so peaceful,
then why is it that Muslim extremist
groups are wreaking havoc both in the
Muslim world and increasingly in the
West as well? Why are they mercilessly
killing innocent people? Fresh in your
mind will be the despicable attacks that
have taken place in France and Belgium
during the recent past.And above all you
will have been enormously distressed and
alarmed by the spate of attacks that have
taken place here in Germany during the
past few months. For example, in May,
there was an attack at a German rail-
way station, followed by an even bigger
attack on a train in July. Similarly, there
have been attacks by refugees and failed
asylum seekers in different cities during
recent weeks. Innocent people have lost
their lives or have been badly injured.
Naturally, such attacks have frightened
members of the public and instilled a fear
of Islam within the hearts and minds of
An influx of refugees from places such
as Syria and Iraq has overtaxed Europe.
Germany’s original welcoming attitude
has turned to fear and mistrust.
OCTOBER 2016 | THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS 15
16. the locals. It is a tragedy of the highest
scale that these attacks are being associ-
ated with Islam because such atrocities
are the polar opposite of what Islam
stands for.
Islam is that religion which has outlawed
in the strongest possible terms the kill-
ing or infliction of harm upon innocent
people. Yet the terrorists who claim to
act in Islam’s name are guilty of targeting
innocent and defenceless people.They are
slaughtering blameless individuals who
have never waged any war or sought
harm to anyone.And of course the height
of this brutality was the beheading of an
elderly priest in a French church recently.
Under any circumstances,and in any age,
such brutality is entirely without justi-
fication and beyond comprehension. If
some Western governments have assisted
Muslim governments fighting against
rebels or groups in their own countries,
it does not give the latter the licence to
export their hatred and evil activities to
the Western world.
Such people should look at, and heed,
the example of the Founder of Islamsa
.
History bears witness to the fact that the
wars fought in early Islam were forced
upon the Muslims and were entirely
defensive in nature.Yet,even under such
circumstances, the Holy Prophetsa
laid
down extremely strict rules of engage-
ment for Muslim soldiers to follow and
abide by. For example, he commanded
that no church or place of worship and
no priest or religious leader was ever to
be targeted.Furthermore,he taught that
no woman, child or elderly person was
ever to be attacked. He even went as far
as to say that, during a state of war, the
Muslims should endeavour to protect
the environment and so no trees were
to be felled. When the teachings of the
Prophet of Islamsa
are so clear,how could
it ever be permissible for Muslims to
murder or harm innocent people living
thousands of miles away from conflict
zones?
The truth is that such attacks are not
justified and never will be. As I have
mentioned already,even in a state of war,
there are extremely strict rules of engage-
ment laid down by Islam. For example,
chapter 8, verse 68 of the Holy Qur’an
states that only those directly engaged
in warfare may be taken as prisoners.
And so even during a war a Muslim is
not permitted to imprison anyone with
whom he is not in direct combat, never
mind to kill them. Yet today, Muslims
are engaging in suicide attacks or other
terrorist activities, in which they are
BUILDING BRIDGES OF PEACE
16 THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS | OCTOBER 2016
17. brutally murdering innocent people liv-
ing in towns and cities thousands of miles
away who had no quarrel or knowledge
of them.Such abhorrent and unspeakable
acts serve only to defile the teachings of
Islam. Whosoever is engaging in such a
way, whether as part of a group or as a
lone individual, is not following Islam,
rather they seek only to serve their own
personal interests or to fulfil the selfish
interests and ambitions of their leaders.
Nonetheless, whilst it cannot be denied
that the greatest cause of today’s disorder
and cruelties lie in the Muslim world, it
would be wrong in my opinion to absolve
all other parties of blame entirely.Certain
Western governments and major pow-
ers have also made mistakes and have
instigated unwise and unjust policies, in
Islam is that religion which
has outlawed in the strongest
possible terms the killing
or infliction of harm upon
innocent people. Yet the
terrorists who claim to act
in Islam’s name are guilty
of targeting innocent and
defenceless people.They
are slaughtering blameless
individuals who have
never waged any war or
sought harm to anyone.
OCTOBER 2016 | THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS 17
18. terms of their relationships with Muslim
countries,that have led to a negative and
extreme reaction amongst some segments
of the Muslim world.Such foreign poli-
cies have created instability and sowed
division, paving the way for extremism
and terrorism to flourish. A direct con-
sequence of this state of affairs has been
the sudden influx of huge numbers of
refugees into Europe. This influx has
already inspired fear and panic amongst
the local people.
Whilst the willingness of certain coun-
tries, especially Germany, to provide
refuge to them has been a show of kind-
ness,solidarity and compassion,the truth
is that it is not easy to absorb so many
people and there are inherent risks and
dangers involved. Indeed, as a result of
the refugee crisis, Europe has instantly
become a more dangerous and unstable
place, as it has created an opportunity
for terrorist groups to send their mem-
bers to this continent posing as refugees.
Apart from any attacks they themselves
are involved in,such extremists also seek
to spread their networks of terror by radi-
calising Muslims already living in this
part of the world.
They take advantage of their personal
frustrations and incite them to launch
Whilst the willingness of
certain countries, especially
Germany, to provide refuge
to them has been a show
of kindness, solidarity and
compassion, the truth is that it
is not easy to absorb so many
people and there are inherent
risks and dangers involved.
continent posing as refugees.
BUILDING BRIDGES OF PEACE
Protestors at a demonstration against
the German government’s closing of the
“Oplatz” refugee camp. Tensions between
refugees and citizens are growing throughout
Germany and indeed, throughout Europe.
Montecruz Foto | Released under CC BY-SA 2.0
18 THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS | OCTOBER 2016
19. suicide attacks or other atrocities here.
Tragically,we have already seen examples
of this in recent months. Furthermore,
another negative consequence of the
refugee crisis has been the hardening
in attitude towards immigrants across
Europe. In many countries we are see-
ing far-right nationalist parties gaining
influence and popularity. The same is
true here in Germany where it is obvi-
ous that the compassion and warmth that
the majority of this nation displayed a
year ago towards the refugees has rapidly
declined and been replaced by a combi-
nation of fear and hostility towards the
immigrants.
Various media reports and surveys
substantiate the fact that much of the
population now considers the willingness
of the German government to open its
borders last year to be a serious mistake.
This shift in attitude is worrying, and in
particular,the subsequent rise of nation-
alist parties is a cause of deep concern
and a threat to the nation’s peace and
security.A prime example of this was the
attack at a shopping centre in Munich
in July when a number of young people
were killed. The attacker in that tragic
event was later identified as a far-right
sympathiser.This is an extreme example,
but even at a general level, there is no
doubt that people are increasingly fearful
and concerned about the effects of mass
immigration.Local people feel a sense of
injustice and anger that immigrants are
taking benefits from the German state,
funded by the German taxpayer.
Further,there is a belief that such immi-
grants deriving benefit from the state
are not loyal or sincere to Germany and
actually seek it harm. There is no doubt
that we are passing through extremely
precarious and volatile times and so it
is imperative that the authorities do not
take these matters lightly.Rather,the gov-
ernment must take urgent action to try
to calm this situation before it spirals out
of all control. It should implement poli-
cies through which the rights of German
citizens are protected and not affected in
any way.The authorities should also seek
to help genuine immigrants settle here
and to stand upon their own two feet.On
many occasions I have said,most recently
in Sweden earlier this year, that immi-
grants should not simply take benefits
from the country they migrate to; rather,
they should be encouraged to enter the
labour force and actively contribute to
society as soon as possible. In my view,
this would have an instantly positive
effect and would lessen the perilous
gulf that is opening up between existing
OCTOBER 2016 | THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS 19
20. citizens and immigrants. Furthermore,
you cannot disregard the threat of ter-
rorists or extremists entering this country
and so the authorities must ensure they
do everything possible to protect the
people of this nation and to identify
those who seek to harm it. Wherever
and whenever someone uses his religion
to justify cruelty and injustice,or to usurp
the rights of others or to act against the
state, it is certainly the responsibility of
the government and authorities to firmly
put a stop to such activities.
In terms of establishing peace in the
world, I have highlighted time and time
again – the importance of justice and
equity. Indeed, Islam states that the key
to peace is justice and fairness at all lev-
els of society. Moreover, Islam does not
only call for justice, but also outlines the
standards of justice required.Thus,chap-
ter 5, verse 9, of the Holy Qur’an states
that a person should treat even his worst
enemies and opponents with fairness and
that the enmity of any nation or person
should never incite a person to disregard
the principles of fairness and justice. It
is our belief that the perfect manifesta-
tion of this teaching was the Founder of
Islam, the Holy Prophet Muhammadsa
and so let us look at his example. Once,
some Muslims killed two opponents of
Islam who they considered to be a threat.
However before they were killed, the
opponents had entered the confines of
the Sacred Mosque in Makkah in order
to seek refuge.
Upon being informed of this incident by
the opponents of Islam,the Holy Prophet
Muhammadsa
admonished the Muslims
involved in the strongest terms and
deemed their act to be a great injustice
and cruelty. According to the prevailing
Arab custom, he immediately ordered
for blood money to be paid to the rela-
tives of the deceased.This is the practical
example of the Qur’anic teaching that
a person should treat even his enemies
with justice and fairness. Hence, when
a matter came to the Holy Prophetsa
for
judgement he did not consider who was
his follower and who was his opponent;
rather,the Prophet of Islamsa
looked only
at what was right,what was fair and what
was just.
This is the outstanding standard of justice
that Islam requires from all Muslims and
so let it be clear that attacks on inno-
cent people who have done no wrong
- whether in stations, trains, clubs or
anywhere else - are completely unjus-
tifiable and must be condemned in the
very strongest possible terms. I have just
BUILDING BRIDGES OF PEACE
20 THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS | OCTOBER 2016
21. quoted one example from the history of
early Islam, but there are countless oth-
ers that testify to the magnificence of
Islam’s teachings.Based on these Islamic
teachings, the Ahmadiyya Muslim
Community has always remained firm
in its belief that no one has the right to
take the law of the land into his or her
own hands.Certainly,it is our conviction
that Islam’s respect for life and liberty is
absolute and unmatched in the history
of mankind.Thus, chapter 5, verse 33, of
The Holy Prophet’ssa
standard of justice
was so high that he considered it an act of
cruelty to murder opponents of Islam if they
had seeken refuge within a mosque—and
he ordered immediately that the relatives
of the deceased be given restitution.
Al Jazeera English | Flickr | Released under CC BY-SA 2.0
In terms of establishing
peace in the world, I have
highlighted time and time
again – the importance of
justice and equity. Indeed,
Islam states that the key to
peace is justice and fairness at
all levels of society. Moreover,
Islam does not only call for
justice, but also outlines the
standards of justice required.
OCTOBER 2016 | THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS 21
22. the Holy Qur’an declares that to kill even
one innocent person is akin to killing all
of humanity and to save the life of one
person is akin to saving all of mankind.
Accordingly, if a person analyses Islam’s
teachings with fairness they will soon
realise that the terrorism and extremism
prevalent in the world today has nothing
to do with Islam, regardless of what the
terrorists claim or how the media por-
trays the religion.The truth is that those
who promote violence or extremism are
violating Islam’s noble teachings only to
serve their own personal ambitions and
lust for power. In fact, the literal mean-
ing of “Islam” is peace, reconciliation
and security for all and whosoever acts
against this contravenes the teachings of
the religion. In light of all this, today it
is the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community
that has picked up the mantle of spread-
ing Islam’s true teachings to all parts of
the world. It is the Ahmadiyya Muslim
Community that seeks to establish true
and long-lasting peace in the world. It
is the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community
that is striving for people of all races,
ethnicities, religions and beliefs to come
together and to live side-by-side with
mutual respect and tolerance.
And it is the Ahmadiyya Muslim
Community that endeavours to unite
humanity under the umbrella of love and
mercy. In order to achieve these objec-
tives, we make every possible effort, and
so at a time when the world is embroiled
in increasing conflict and division,we are
building bridges of peace that are bring-
ing people together.Furthermore,we are
serving humanity to the very best of our
abilities.We are striving to help those in
need and to provide them with a better
future for themselves and their chil-
dren. Thus, we have established various
humanitarian projects in deprived parts
of the world.
For example,we have built and are running
hundreds of schools and dozens of hospi-
tals in some of Africa’s most remote areas
that are providing education and health-
care to local people irrespective of their
creed, caste or colour.Through our Water
for Life project we are providing easy
access to clean and safe drinking water to
people living in remote villages and towns.
Similarly, we are providing various other
essential facilities and services in order to
alleviate the pain and difficulties of people
so that they can live in relative comfort and
ease. We do not desire any praise or rec-
ognition,as we are merely following what
our religion has taught us.
BUILDING BRIDGES OF PEACE
22 THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS | OCTOBER 2016
23. This is true Islam and I am sure you will
agree that it is far-removed from what
is commonly portrayed by the media.
Therefore, you do not need to fear Islam
or to consider it to be a threat. However,
there is certainly a need to fear those
terrorists and extremists who are act-
ing against Islam’s teachings. They are a
source of grave danger, not only for the
non-Muslim world, but to Muslims as
well. In fact, if we analyse the statistics
or reports, it is clear that those perpe-
trating violence in the name of Islam
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is
committed to serving humanity to the
best of its abilities. Over the last few
decades, the Community has built schools
and hospitals and initiated the Water
for Life project, which provides clean
and safe drinking water to people.
Through our Water for Life
project we are providing
easy access to clean and safe
drinking water to people
living in remote villages
and towns. Similarly, we
are providing various
other essential facilities and
services in order to alleviate
the pain and difficulties of
people so that they can live
in relative comfort and
ease. We do not desire any
praise or recognition, as we
are merely following what
our religion has taught us.
OCTOBER 2016 | THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS 23
24. are inflicting their greatest cruelties
in Muslim nations against Muslims
themselves. Thus, it is not Islam that is
attacking you or seeking to usurp your
rights,rather it is people and groups who
have their own vested interests and agen-
das and who have no link with Islam or
religion.
As Ahmadi Muslims we have always
strived for peace in the world through
our words, deeds and prayers and we
will continue to do so forevermore, God
Willing.To promote and work for peace
is the urgent need of the time, other-
wise the direction the world is heading
in seems certain to lead to a catastrophic
world war,whose potentially devastating
consequences are unimaginable.Thus,let
us all unite against the forces of evil that
seek to divide mankind and let us unify
in the name of peace and harmony.
Instead of inciting hatred and enmity
against one another, we should work
Instead of inciting hatred
and enmity against one
another, we should work
towards peace and mutual
understanding. All people,
and all organisations, must
collectively endeavour to
uphold human values, and
strive to make the world in
which we live, a better and
far more harmonious place.
24 THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS | OCTOBER 2016
25. towards peace and mutual understanding.
All people, and all organisations, must
collectively endeavour to uphold human
values, and strive to make the world in
which we live, a better and far more
harmonious place. May Allah enable all
people to act with justice and tolerance
and may true peace emerge in the world.
May Allah grant wisdom to the people
of the world so that the world we leave
behind for our children and future gener-
ations is a world of peace and prosperity,
Ameen. At the end I would like to take
this opportunity to thank all of our guests
once again for accepting our invitation.
May Allah bless you all.Thank you.”
Your feedback is
important to us
Write to us with comments,
feedback and suggestions at
info@ReviewofReligions.org
OCTOBER 2016 | THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS 25
26. FORGIVENESS OF ENEMIES
All rites and duties over, the Prophetsa
addressed the Makkans and said:“You have
seen how true the promises of God have
proved.Now tell me what punishment you
should have for the cruelties and enormities
you committed against those whose only
fault was that they invited you to the wor-
ship of the One and Only God.”To this the
Makkans replied, “We expect you to treat
us as Josephas
treated his erring brothers.”
By significant coincidence, the Makkans
used in their plea for forgiveness the very
words which God had used in Surah Yusuf,
revealed ten years before the conquest of
Makkah.In this the Prophetsa
was told that
he would treat his Makkan persecutors as
Josephas
had treated his brothers. By ask-
ing for the treatment which Josephas
had
meted out to his brothers, the Makkans
admitted that the Prophetsa
of Islam was
the like of Josephas
and as Josephas
was
granted victory over his brothers, the
Prophetsa
had been granted victory over
the Makkans. Hearing the Makkans’ plea,
the Prophetsa
declared at once: “By God,
you will have no punishment today and no
reproof ” (Hisham). While the Prophetsa
was engaged in expressing his gratitude to
God and in carrying out other devotions
at the Ka‘bah,and while he was addressing
the Makkans announcing his decision to
forgive and forget, misgivings arose in the
minds of the Ansar,the Madinite Muslims.
Some of them were upset over the scenes of
homecoming and of reconciliation which
they witnessed on the return of Makkan
Muslims to Makkah. Was the Prophetsa
parting company with them, his friends
in adversity who provided the first home
to Islam? Was the Prophetsa
going to settle
down at Makkah,the town from which he
had to flee for his life? Such fears did not
seem too remote now that Makkah had
been conquered and his own tribe had
joined Islam. The Prophetsa
might want
to settle down in it. God informed the
Prophetsa
of these misgivings of the Ansar.
He raised his head,looked at the Ansar and
said “You seem to think Muhammadsa
is
perturbed by the love of his town, and by
the ties which bind him to his tribe.” “It
is true,” said the Ansar, “we did think of
this.” “Do you know,” said the Prophetsa
,
“who I am? I am a Servant of God and His
Messenger. How can I give you up? You
stood by me,and sacrificed your lives when
the Faith of God had no earthly help.How
can I give you up and settle elsewhere? No,
Ansar,this is impossible.I left Makkah for
the sake of God and I cannot return to it.I
will live and die with you.”The Ansar were
moved by this singular expression of love
and loyalty.They regretted their distrust of
God and His Prophetsa
,wept and asked to
A Glimpse Into the Life of
The Holy Prophet Muhammadsa
26 THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS | OCTOBER 2016
27. be forgiven.They explained that they would
not have any peace if the Prophetsa
left their
town and went elsewhere. The Prophetsa
replied that their fear was understandable
and that, after their explanation, God and
His Prophetsa
were satisfied about their
innocence and acknowledge their sincer-
ity and loyalty. How must the Makkans
have felt at this time? True they did not
shed the tears of devotion but their hearts
must have been full of regret and remorse.
For,had they not cast away with their own
hands the gem which had been found in
their own town? They had all the more
reason to regret this because the Prophetsa
,
having come back to Makkah,had decided
to leave it again for Madinah.1
ENDNOTES
1. Hazrat Mirza Bashir-Ud-Din Mahmud
Ahmadra
, Life of Muhammadsa
(Tilford, Surrey:
Islam International Publications Limited, 2013),
165-167.
OCTOBER 2016 | THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS 27
28. In this paper I shall try to sketch an
outline of Islam’s political history, and
show the glorious faith preached by the
Holy Prophetsa
spread out of the con-
fines of Arabia to the farthest corners
of the world. I shall also try to give an
outline of the history of all the present
day independent Muslim countries. It
shall necessarily be a very short sketch
but I hope it shall give some idea of what
power Islam once was and God willing,
shall once again be through Ahmadiyyat,
the true Islam.
Five Periods
Islamic history may conveniently be
divided into five periods.
1. The first period may be called the
Arab period. This comprises the times
of (a) the first four Caliphs of Islam; (b)
The Umayyads at Damascus; (c) and the
Abbasids at Baghdad.
The first period runs from 632 A.D. to
950 A.D., approximately. During this
period the centralism of Islam was intact
and the Caliph was both the spiritual and
A Short Sketch of
Muslim History
Professor Abdus Salam
FROM THE ARCHIVES
This short article was written by Dr. Abdus Salam at the age of 26, when
he was a professor of mathematics at Government College, Lahore, in
1951. Professor Salam took the position of Chair of Theoretical Physics
at Imperial College, London, in 1957 and was later awarded the Nobel
Prize in Physics in 1979, a first for a Muslim and Pakistani. This article
was originally serialised in The Muslim Sunrise, an American maga-
zine started by Mufti Muhammad Sadiqra
, a companion of the Promised
Messiahas
.; it is being republished in The Review of Religions. As over
60 years have passed since its initial publication, some facts in the article
reflect the time when it was written.
28 THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS | OCTOBER 2016
29. the temporal head of the Islamic world.It
was immediately followed by a hundred
years of divided principalities when the
Caliph’s temporal power was reduced to
naught. It appeared as if Islam’s political
power would entirely disintegrate.
2. But about 1050 A.D. a new people
appeared on the scene — the Saljuqs.
They accepted Islam and under them,for
approximately two hundred years more,
the centralism of Islam was restored.Thus
our second period—that of the Saljuqs—
comes to a close round about 1250 A.D.
The first period may be
called the Arab period.This
comprises the times of (a) the
first four Caliphs of Islam...
This map, published in 1926 in The Historical
Atlas by William Shepherd, depicts the
expansion of the Muslim world from
the time of the Holy Prophetsa
, through
the Umayyad caliphate in 750 A.D.
Courtesy The General Libraries at the
University of Texas at Austin
OCTOBER 2016 | THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS 29
30. 3. The third period begins with the
Mongol onslaught in 1258 when
Baghdad was sacked, the Caliph killed,
and the lands of Islam entirely ruined.
But in 20 years the Mongols themselves
had accepted Islam.Their period,includ-
ing that of Tamerlane, extends till about
1500 A.D.
4.From 1500 we enter the fourth period,
that of the Safavids in Persia, Ottoman
Turks in Turkey,and the Great Mughals
in India—the period of national and
regional dynasties.
5.Finally,the period starting from about
1700 A.D. brings us to the present day.
In this period European powers began
playing their role in the world of Islam.
With this introduction we shall now go
on to a detailed consideration of the peri-
ods I have mentioned.
Period of the Caliphate
At the death of the Holy Prophetsa
of
Islam in 632 A.D.,practically the whole
of Arabia proper had accepted Islam.
Under his first duly elected successor,the
Caliph Abu Bakrra
, the power of Islam
was consolidated still further in Arabia.
But it was during the time of the second
successor, Hazrat Umarra
, that Islam
spread outside Arabia and won its most
glorious victories.The Byzantines and the
Persians both thought Arabia belonged
to them and,construing the rise of Islam
as a rebellion against them, hastened to
march to chastise the Arabs. A hand-
ful of Muslims faced numbers, in some
cases in the ratio of one man to ten, but
the fiery zeal of the faith swept all before
it. Damascus fell to the arms of Islam in
635,Yarmuk in 636 and with it Syria.The
fate of Persia was decided at Qadisiya in
637 and Egypt was conquered in 640.
But the reign of Caliph Umarra
was not
memorable only on account of its mil-
itary glory. It was in his reign that for
the first time in world history the prin-
ciple was recognized that the state was
responsible for the material welfare of all
its citizens. It was recognized that the
state had more obligations than rights.
The saying with which he began his reign
will never be antiquated:
“By Allah, he that is the weakest among
you shall be in my sight the strongest for
I shall vindicate for him his rights, but
him that is the strongest will I treat as the
weakest until he complies with the law.”
After Umarra
succeeded Usmanra
and
Alira
. After Alira
the principle of election
A SHORT SKETCH OF MUSLIM HISTORY
30 THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS | OCTOBER 2016
31. of the caliph died out. Mu’awiyah, who
succeeded him in 661 as the Caliph,
made the Caliphate hereditary and the
Umayyad dynasty began.
The question of succession of the
Prophetsa
raised the greatest political
problem that Islam has had to face. The
Shias contended that after the Prophetsa
,
Hazrat Alira
should have succeeded the
Prophetsa
though he never himself laid
any claims to caliphate on the score of
his blood relationship.Actually,it was the
Persians,to whom divine right was more
or less a sacred article of faith, who were
the greatest champions of Alira
’s family.
All through Muslim history this dif-
ference between Shias and Sunnis has
persisted.
Returning to the Umayyads: during the
period of Mu’awiyah’s successor, Yazid,
the battle of Karbala happened in 680
A.D.Hazrat Alira
’s son Hazrat Hussainra
declined to pay homage to a Caliph who
had not been elected in a shura [advisory
or electoral council].He was martyred on
the plains of Karbala.
Among the Umayyad Caliphs Walid I
was the most glorious.In his reign in 711
A.D., a handful of Muslims under Tariq
A view of the Imam Hussain Mosque in
the city of Karbala in 1932. In 680 A.D.,
Hazrat Hussainra
, grandson of the Holy
Prophetsa
, was martyred in the city.
Courtesy of the Eric and Edith Matson Photograph Collection.
OCTOBER 2016 | THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS 31
32. ibn Ziyad crossed over into Spain. In a
few years they had overrun it with irre-
sistible force and for the next 700 years
Spain was a Muslim country.During this
period Muhammad bin Qasim invaded
India and conquered Sindh and Multan.
The Abbasids
The Umayyads fell in 750 A.D.and were
succeeded by the Abbasids,who,though
Sunnis in faith, came to power with the
help of Khurasani Shias. The Abbasids
transferred their seat of government from
Damascus to Baghdad.The most glorious
reign among the Abbasids was doubtless
that of Haroon al-Rashid, the hero of
the celebrated Arabian Nights, and his
son Mamoon. Islamic learning and the
prosperity of the Muslim countries was at
a pitch that it had never reached before.
About a hundred years after Haroon’s
death, the power of the Abbasid caliphs
began to wane. In Khurasan, the
Samanids took over power; in Fars, the
Buyids; in Mesopotamia the Hamadanis;
in Africa the Fatimids and in Arabia the
Carmathians.All these rulers (except the
Fatimids) acknowledged the sovereignty
of the Caliph in name but the disintegra-
tion was so complete that it appeared as
if Islam was politically doomed.The only
event of note we may mention in this
period occurred when Sultan Mahmud of
Ghazni for the first time laid foundation
of a permanent Muslim rule in India.
The Saljuqs
During this period when the empire of
the Caliphate had vanished, and what
had once been a realm united under a
sole Muslim ruler was reduced to a col-
lection of scattered dynasties,a new race
arose, a new people accepted Islam, and
with their fresh zeal poured new blood
into the dying veins.The Turkish Saljuqs
accepted Islam; they bred a generation
of Muslim warriors to whom more than
During this period when
the empire of the Caliphate
had vanished, and what had
once been a realm united
under a sole Muslim ruler
was reduced to a collection
of scattered dynasties, a new
race arose, a new people
accepted Islam, and with
their fresh zeal poured new
blood into the dying veins.
A SHORT SKETCH OF MUSLIM HISTORY
32 THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS | OCTOBER 2016
33. anything else the Crusaders owed their
repeated failures.
The first Saljuq sultan was Tughral
Tughan Khan,who died in 1063.He was
followed by his brilliant son Alp Arslan.
This period was of unequalled prosperity
and security.It also produced the greatest
Muslim statesman of all times, Nizam
al-Mulk. The Abbasid Caliph still held
sway over Baghdad but he delegated all
temporal power to the Saljuq Sultans.
The Saljuq kingdom extended from the
borders of Afghanistan to the ends of
the Arabian peninsula.Except Egypt and
Spain alI the Muslim world was united
and never after that period has it been
united again in the same manner.
Alp Arslan was succeeded by his son
Malik Shah. His period was the heyday
of learning and original research in the
mathematics and sciences. In 1074 the
observatory was founded where the cele-
brated Omar Khayyam worked.The Jalali
calendar was instituted which, in the
judgment of a modern scholar, is more
accurate than our present Gregorian one.
The Nizamia University in Baghdad was
founded.This university had the honour
of having one of its chairs being occupied
by the celebrated Muslim dialectician
Al-Ghazali.
The Saljuq power began declining
towards the end of the twelfth century.
But even in its decline it had enough
vitality to repulse the Crusaders. The
great Saladin of Scott’s novels flourished
A manuscript page from Al-Ghazali’s book,
Revival of the Sciences of Religion. The
Saljuq period saw great progress in learning,
especially during the time of Malik Shah,
which saw the founding of observatories,
the creation of the Jalali calendar, and the
founding of Jamia Nizamia, or university.
Courtesy of the Tunisian National Library
OCTOBER 2016 | THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS 33
34. about 1170. It is curious that the atti-
tude towards the Crusades was entirely
different in Christian countries and in
the Muslim lands. While in the West
they were given the form of a holy war
and the whole military might of Europe
was behind them, in Muslim countries
they were considered as local affairs,
local depredations which the gover-
nors of the provinces concerned could
effectively deal with. In 1171 after the
decisive battle of Hattin when Saladin
sent several Frank prisoners to the Caliph
Al-Nasir at Baghdad,the booty included
a bronze iron cross inlaid with the wood
of the true cross. It was duly buried near
Baghdad.
In the later part of the Saljuq period an
ulcer grew in Islamic society.The Nizari
Ismailis, also known as the Assassins,
gained strength. They held absolute
sway over a few forts like Alamut, but
the terror they inspired with their secret
activities made them a great power in the
land.
The Mongols
In the beginning of the 13th century the
Saljuq power had declined. Some other
dynasty may have taken their place but
about 1220 occurred one of the great-
est eruptions in the history of the world.
The nomadic tribes of Central Asia, the
Mongols, swarmed over the whole civi-
lized world (both Europe and Asia) and
under Genghis Khan and Hulagu Khan
swept like an avalanche all before them.
About 1260 it appeared that Islam’s
political power had disappeared for good;
Baghdad had been razed to the ground;
the Caliphate obliterated; the lands of
Islam,Persia,Transoxiana [the area cov-
ering parts of modern-day Uzbekistan,
Kyryzstan, Kazakhstan, and Tajikistan]
and Iraq laid completely waste.
But then again the miracle happened.The
religion of the conquered itself conquered
the conquerors. I shall briefly recount
the story of the Mongols here: Why the
Mongols rose like that, nobody has ulti-
mately ascertained: “In its suddenness,
its devastating destruction, its appalling
ferocity, its passionless and purposeless
cruelty, its irresistible though shortlived
violence, the Mongol onslaught resem-
bles some brute cataclysm of the blind
forces of nature rather than a phenom-
enon of human history.”1
About 1220 they fell on the lands of
Islam and Europe.In Europe they sacked
Moscow,Rostov,Kiev,and Krakow.Their
second wave in 1258, under Hulagu,
obliterated Baghdad and the Islamic
A SHORT SKETCH OF MUSLIM HISTORY
34 THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS | OCTOBER 2016
36. man captive but had not with him any
weapon wherewith to kill him and he
said to his prisoner, ‘Lay your head on
the ground and do not move and he did
so and the Tatar went and fetched his
sword and slew him therewith.”
They professed no religion but their
destruction of the centers of Islamic
civilization advanced them so much
in favor of the Pope that His Holiness
was pleased to write to Ogotai Khan
and others letters with his own signa-
ture.The Pope only realized their perfidy
when their hordes began devastating the
Christian lands with equal impartiality.
In the annals of Islam there has been no
event with the like import.The destruc-
tion of Baghdad as metropolis of Islam,
its reduction to the status of a provin-
cial town, and the murder of the Caliph,
struck a fatal blow at the semblance of
unity which had subsisted among the
nations of Islam. The sack of Baghdad
lasted a week while 80,000 people were
put to death.The loss suffered by Muslim
learning which never again regained
its pristine level defies description and
almost surpasses imagination. Not only
were thousands of priceless books anni-
hilated, but also the very tradition of
accurate scholarship and original research
was almost destroyed. But in spite of all
this they could not kill the religion of
Islam. They themselves fell victims to
it. About 1275 the Mongol rulers had
accepted Islam. Thenceforward, those
very Mongols were Islam’s greatest
champions.
Tamerlane
The political history of the next 200 years
consists of the rule of Muslim Mongol
princes in Persia till about 1350 while
Ottoman Turks established themselves
in Asia Minor. Egypt was ruled by the
descendants of Saladin. After 1350
another Central Asian conqueror arose,
Tamerlane. He professed Islam but he
had no other motive except world con-
quest and domination. He swept over
Persia,India,Afghanistan,parts of Russia
and some parts of China like Genghis
Khan before him. His most notable vic-
tory was over Bayezid I, the Sultan of
Turkey in 1402. It checked for a while
the progress of Ottoman Turks to be the
most dominant force in Islam but the
net effect of his conquests was ephem-
eral. His successors ruled over Central
Asia and Persia for almost a hundred
years when they were supplanted by
the Safavids. Thus the Mongol period,
in which has been included Tamerlane,
started roundabout 1250 and came to
A SHORT SKETCH OF MUSLIM HISTORY
36 THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS | OCTOBER 2016
37. end about 1500 A.D., except in India
where the Mughal rule effectively lasted
till about 1750 A.D.
It would not be out of place to stop here
and take some stock of Muslim learning
in this dark period.We come across some
of the greatest religious names.The first
to mention is that of Shah Shams Tabriz.
His disciple Maulana Jalal-ud-Din Rumi
wrote his Masnavi near about 1260.The
author describes his work in the Masnavi
as “The roots of the roots of religion and
discovery of the mysteries of reunion and
sure knowledge.” The Sufi movement
had its heyday in the thirteenth cen-
tury. Sheikh Mohyuddin Ibn Arabi, the
greatest name in medieval Islam,a native
of Andalusia, went to live in Damascus
and died there in 1240.
In the literary sphere Hafiz-e-Shirazi
and Sa’adi Shirazi belong to this period,
while in mathematics and astronomy,
This image depicts the emperor Tamerlane
defeating the Mamluk sultan of Egypt.
While his conquests were far-ranging,
they lasted no longer than a century.
In the annals of Islam there
has been no event with the
like import.The destruction
of Baghdad as metropolis
of Islam, its reduction to the
status of a provincial town,
and the murder of the Caliph,
struck a fatal blow at the
semblance of unity which had
subsisted among the nations
of Islam.The sack of Baghdad
lasted a week while 80,000
people were put to death.
OCTOBER 2016 | THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS 37
38. Naseeruddin al-Tusi was writing and
compiling his table in the 13th
century.
In the historical field some of the greatest
books were written in this period.Ibnul-
Athir, Ibn Arabshah, Ata-ul-Malik
Juvayni being a few of the great histori-
ans. A short time later in Aleppo Shah
Nimatullah (born 1330) was writing his
famous prediction of the coming of the
Promised Messiah and his promised son.
The Period of National Dynasties
Now we start with the fourth period of
our history, starting about 1500 A.D.
In 1500 the Safavids—a Shia dynasty—
seized power in Persia. Persia had been
Shiite throughout its previous history but
it was the first time that a Shia dynasty
came to power. This had a profound
effect on the course of future history.
The Islamic world was divided into two
antagonistic camps as it were—the Shiite
Persia,parts of Afghanistan and Iraq and
the Ottoman Turk Empire comprising
Turkey,parts of Iraq,Arabia,Syria,Egypt
and Algiers. Spain by now had passed
out of Muslim hands. In India ruled the
descendants of Tamerlane—the Great
Mughals.
From 1500 to 1700 we witness the great
kingdoms; that of Great Mughals Akbar,
Jahangir, Shah Jahan, and Aurangzeb
in India; of the Safavids, Shah Ismail,
Tahmasp, and Shah Abbas in Persia;
of the Ottoman Turks, Mohammed I,
Selim I, and Sulaiman the Magnificent
in Turkey.India was the greatest power in
the world in the Mughal days.For Persia
this was the golden period of her pros-
perity and well-being. The Turks ruled
the biggest empire they had ever had.
Among the Turkish Sultans Selim I
conquered Egypt, Syria and Hejaz
[parts of modern-day Saudi Arabia] and
assumed the title of Caliph.Sulaiman the
Magnificent,who ruled from 1510-1566,
conquered Belgrade and parts of Poland.
Vienna was besieged by Turkish armies
while Turkey possessed the strongest
fleet in the world. The Turkish empire
extended from the frontiers of Germany
to the Persian border. Although dur-
ing this period the centralism of Islam
had disappeared, politically the Muslim
world was at its zenith. Eastern Europe
lay prostrate under Turkish feet and as a
contemporary European historian wrote
“Except for his war with Persia, there is
nothing that can keep the Turk from
annihilating us in Europe.”
A SHORT SKETCH OF MUSLIM HISTORY
38 THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS | OCTOBER 2016
40. that of Tamerlane or Napoleon.
To finish with Persian history, Nadir
Shah’s family was soon deposed and the
Qajars took its place. They tilled over
Persia effectively till the revolution of
1906, when the Persians won for them-
selves the Constitution.The Qajars were
followed by Raza Shah Pahlavi in 1925.
During the last war Reza Shah abdicated
in favor of his son who is the present
Shah.
Concerning Turkish history, after 1700
a big element enters it with the coming
of Russia.War with Russia started about
1700.Turkish arms were at first victori-
ous. In 1710 Peter the Great’s army was
menaced with total destruction. But
about 1770 Turkish fortunes began to
wane.Crimea got her independence from
Turkey in 1788. France, the traditional
ally of Turkey, broke her traditional role
when Napoleon invaded Egypt in 1798.
After that Egypt under Muhammad Ali
went out of the Turkish orbit and became
quasi-independent for some time.About
the same time Algiers was captured by
the French.
The Greeks won their independence
from the Turks about 1820 with the help
of European powers. The Turkish cali-
phate went on losing ground till power
was seized from the Caliph’s hands by
the Young Turk Party in 1910. Turkey
entered the wrong side in World War
I and lost all her European and Asiatic
possessions. The Arab countries as they
exist today evolved after the first World
War.Turkey itself had a political rejuve-
nation under Kemal Ataturk and is now
materially one of the most advanced
Muslim countries.
Before I conclude I shall range over all
the independent Muslim countries one
by one and summarise their histories—
each from their national point of view,
starting from the extreme East.
Independent Muslim Countries
Indonesia: Islam began making itself
felt in Java and Sumatra through the
active missionary work of Arab trad-
ers from a very early date. But only in
the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries
did its political power become impor-
tant. The Arabic script displaced the
Kavi (ancient Javanese) script. Among
the various principalities ruled over by
Muslim princes may be mentioned the
Sultanate of Aceh in Sumatra, not only
for its glory in the sixteenth century but
also for the resistance which it offered to
A SHORT SKETCH OF MUSLIM HISTORY
40 THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS | OCTOBER 2016
42. dynasties. They were succeeded by the
Mughals in 1526. The Mughal power
passed after 200 years when the English
took over. Pakistan—the expression of
Indian Islam for freedom—was brought
into existence in August, 1947.
Afghanistan: Afghanistan was a part of
the Umayyad and Abbasid empires. It
first had its separate existence about 1000
A. D. when the Ghaznavi dynasty ruled
over it.After that Afghanistan shared the
fate of Persia, all through its chequered
history. It was no more than a province,
sometimes of the Muslim Indian Empire,
sometimes that of the Persian.
In 1725,however,the Afghans again rose
and gained an independent status.In the
19th century they clashed with Britain.
Since then however, Afghanistan has
existed as an independent power.
Persia: Persia was a part of the Umayyad
and Abbasid empires. It was under the
Saljuqs in the eleventh and twelfth cen-
turies. For the next one hundred years
Mongol princes ruled over it. From
about 1350 till 1500 Tamerlane and his
descendants held sway, while from 1500
to 1700 the Safavids ruled over it. After
that the Qajar dynasty was founded.The
constitution, the expression of Persian
democracy,was instituted in 1907,under
which the present Shah rules over the
country.
Central Asia: Comprising Transoxiana
and Russian Turkistan, this area formed
part of Persia till the eighteenth century.
Russia gradually conquered Bukhara,
Tashqand, and Samarqand in the next
hundred years. Now one hesitates to
call them Muslim countries under the
Soviets because they have little contact
with rest of Islamic world.
The Arab Countries: Iraq,Syria (includ-
ing Palestine which throughout Muslim
history formed part of Syria) and Saudi
Arabia shared the fate of Persia till 1500
A.D. After that they formed part of the
A SHORT SKETCH OF MUSLIM HISTORY
I have stated earlier that
at the lowest ebb of Islamic
political power, Islam’s
religious vitality has
displayed itself again and
again. Islam’s political might
reached its nadir towards the
end of 19th century and about
that time rose Ahmadiyyat.
42 THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS | OCTOBER 2016
43. Ottoman Turkish empire.They won their
independence during World War I with
British help. But the British, after the
war, defected from their promises and
parcelled out Syria to the French,keeping
Iraq and Transjordan under themselves,
It is only after this war3
that Syria,
Iraq and Transjordan have gained their
independence.
Turkey: Turkey was first conquered
for Islam by the Abbasids. Ottoman
Turks migrated to it about 1288.
Constantinople was taken in 1453 by
Mohammad I. Turkey rose to great
power but its decline started in the 19th
century. In the first World War, alliance
with Germany cost Turkey all its posses-
sions in Europe, Asia and Africa.
Egypt: Egypt was ruled by the Umayyads
till 750, then by the Fatimids till 1170,
then by the Mamluks till around 1500,
A.D. when Selim I conquered it and
incorporated it in the Turkish empire.
It won independence in 19th
century
but lost it again to the British.The sub-
sequent rise of Egypt in Middle East
affairs,and its struggle with Great Britain
is all recent history. Now Egypt stands
out as the paramount Middle Eastern
power.
This concludes our survey of the map of
the Muslim World.
There is one glorious event in the history
of Islam which I have reserved for treat-
ment at the end.
I have stated earlier that at the lowest
ebb of Islamic political power, Islam’s
religious vitality has displayed itself again
and again.Islam’s political might reached
its nadir towards the end of 19th
century
and about that time rose Ahmadiyyat.
Hazrat Ahmadas
, the Promised Messiah
and the Mahdi was raised at Qadian
in 1889 and through him Islam will be
regenerated spiritually and politically.
ENDNOTES
1. E.G. Brown, A Literary History of Persia
(1906), 427.Translated and quoted from
D’Ohsson’s Histoire des Mongols, vol. I, p.387.
2. Brown, 434.
3. World War II [Editor]
OCTOBER 2016 | THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS 43
44. The
Promised Messiahas
& imam mahdi
( g u i d e d o n e )
founder of
the review of religions
Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas
45. I
swear by Allah, the Glorious, that I am from Him; He
knows that I am not a liar nor an impostor. If, in spite of
this solemn oath, and despite witnessing the signs God
has shown in my favour, you still call me a liar and an impos-
tor, then I implore you to cite just one instance of an impostor
who continues to be blessed with divine support and succour in
spite of his constant lying in the name of God. Such a person
should be killed by God, but just the reverse is happening in
my case. I again swear by God that I speak the truth and that
I have been sent by Him.Though I am in turn called a liar and
an impostor,God comes to my help in every case in which my
opponents implicate me.What is more, He helps me by infus-
ing my love in the hearts of hundreds of thousands of people.
I stake my credibility on this. Show me an impostor and a liar
and someone who dared attribute to God what was not from
Him, and was still the recipient of His help and support and
continued to enjoy life as long as mine and whose aspirations
were similarly fulfilled.1
ENDNOTES
1. Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas
, Lecture Ludhiana, 37-38.
Impostors are not Blessed
with Divine Support
46. Bitcoin: On Behalf of
The Future
14
Educating Our Children
24
The Difference Between
True Islam & Extremist
Groups
30
FGM’ – Not in The
Name of Religion
50
VOL. 110 - ISSUE 1JANUARY 2015 WWW.REVIEWOFRELIGIONS.ORG
ERADICATING
EXTREMISM
Why The Honeybee
is Dying and What It
Means for Life on Earth
16
Wonders Experienced
Through Fasting
26
The Islamic Dilemma
Should We Fear the
Religion of Peace?
30
Atheism or Belief -
Which is evidence
Based?
42
VOL. 110 - ISSUE SEVENJULY 2015 WWW.REVIEWOFRELIGIONS.ORG
The
ISLAMIC
DILEMMA
ShouldWeFearthe
ReligionofPeace?
God - His Transcedence
and Manifestation
12
Untold Stories
26
From the Archives:
My Visit to Qadian
38
Preaching Activities of
Jesusas
in the East
46
VOL. 110 - ISSUE TWOFEBRUARY 2015 WWW.REVIEWOFRELIGIONS.ORG
EYES CANNOT
REACH HIM...
The Sign of the Heavens
20
The Plague
58
A Murder in British
Lahore: Closing the Case
of Lekh Ram
80
World War One:
Centenary of Fulfliment
of a Grand Prophecy
102
VOL. 110 - ISSUE EIGHTAUGUST 2015 WWW.REVIEWOFRELIGIONS.ORG
EVIDENCE FORTHE
TRUTHYoubetheJudge...
S P E C I A L 1 6 4 P A G E E D I T I O N
A Message of Peace
10
Legal Right Verses
Moral Duty
38
Is it Permissable for
Prisoners of War
to be Executed?
56
The Life of the
Prophet Muhammadsa
68
VOL. 110 - ISSUE THREEMARCH 2015 WWW.REVIEWOFRELIGIONS.ORG
REACTIONto
CHARLIE
HEBDO...?
The Economic System
of Islam
10
The Institution of Hajj
20
Mahmud’s Letter From
the Land of the Dearest
One [Muhammadsa
]
24
The Life & Character of
the Seal of Prophetssa
52
VOL. 110 - ISSUE NINESEPTEMBER 2015 WWW.REVIEWOFRELIGIONS.ORG
Fromthe
LETTERSof
MAHMUDRA
A HISTORIC JOURNEY TO THE HOUSE OF GOD
To order back issues email info@reviewofreligions.org
THE FRONT COVERS OF OUR 12 EDITIONS IN 2015
47. Firm Stance Against
Terror At Peace
Symposium
8
The Golden Principles
for World Peace
16
Three Minutes and
Counting
38
Has Science Rendered
Religion Obsolete?
66
VOL. 110 - ISSUE FOURAPRIL 2015 WWW.REVIEWOFRELIGIONS.ORG
RAY
OF
HOPE?
Halloween –
Fear or Fun?
10
Shariah: A Semantic
Oxymoron?
28
Connecting to Khilafat:
A Guidance for Today’s
Muslim Youth
36
Islam’s Response to the
Destruction of Cultural
Heritage
56
VOL. 110 - ISSUE TENOCTOBER 2015 WWW.REVIEWOFRELIGIONS.ORG
A Guidance forToday’s MuslimYouth
Connecting to Khilafat:
Is the Shroud ofTurin a
Medieval Photograph?
22
The Sudarium of Oviedo
and the Shroud ofTurin
40
A Brief Review of Recent
CNN Documentary on
the Shroud
56
The Oviedo Cloth by
Mark Guscin:
Book Review
66
VOL. 110 - ISSUE FIVEMAY 2015 WWW.REVIEWOFRELIGIONS.ORG
TheRESURRECTION
ShroudingTheTruth?
Mufti Muhammad
Sadiqra
– An Early Ray of
Western Sunrise
18
World Peace & Security
- The Critical Issues of
Our Time
38
Responsibilities of an
Ahmadi Muslim
50
The Economic System
of Islam
56
VOL. 110 - ISSUE ELEVENNOVEMBER 2015 WWW.REVIEWOFRELIGIONS.ORG
WORLDPEACE
&SECURITY:
THE CRITICAL
ISSUES OF
OURTIME
The Race to Conquer the
Secret of Life
14
The Spiritual Benefits of
Fasting
24
Navigating Life in the
21st Century
32
Visits to
Sacred Places
54
VOL. 110 - ISSUE SIXJUNE 2015 WWW.REVIEWOFRELIGIONS.ORG
NAVIGATING
LIFEinthe
21ST
CENTURY
Spirituality,
Morality
&Material
Progress
Three Gradations of
Doing Good
14
Is Religion Truly the
Cause of Disorder in the
World Today?
20
Apartheid of Ahmadis
in Pakistan
52
Women’s Responsibilities:
Fulfilling the
Conditions of Bai’at
78
VOL. 110 - ISSUE TWELVEDECEMBER 2015 WWW.REVIEWOFRELIGIONS.ORG
The
BLAME
GAMEIs religion truly
the cause of
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today?
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48. THE
PHILOSOPHY
OF THE
TEACHINGS
OF
ISLAM
MIRZA GHULAM AHMAD
THE PROMISED MESSIAH & MAHDIAS
The Review of Religions
serialised the famous treatise
The Philosophy of the Teachings
of Islam, by the founder of
the Ahmadiyya Muslim
Community. Initially written
for the Conference of Great
Religions on December 26-
29,1896, each speaker at the
conference was asked to present
to the audience the beauties
of their own religion based
upon its scripture, proving that
it was the true religion, based
on the following topics:
• The Physical, Moral,
and Spiritual States of Man;
• What is the State of
Man after Death?
• The Object of Man’s Life and
the Means of its Attainment;
• The Operation of the Practical
Ordinances of the Law in
This Life and the Next;
• Sources of Divine Knowledge
SERIALISED IN
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Suffer Pain to Bring
Comfort to Humanity
10
The Significance
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14
Religious Trends
in Germany
24
Khalifah of the Promised
Messiah in Germany
40
VOL. 109 - ISSUE SEVENJULY 2014 WWW.REVIEWOFRELIGIONS.ORG
ISLAM
A THREAT OR A
SOURCE OF PEACE?
CASE STUDY:
GERMANY
Khalifah of Promised
Messiah Sends Letter to
Russian President
30
Syria - A Religious
Heritage
34
Medical Consequences
of Nuclear War
46
The World in Need of
a Reformer
74
VOL. 108 - ISSUE ELEVENNOVEMBER 2013 WWW.REVIEWOFRELIGIONS.ORG
SYRIA
IN CRISIS
Chimes of Messiah
8
The Beginning of
Creation in Scriptures of
Different Religions
34
Khalifah of the Promised
Messiahas
at the Houses
of Parliament
46
Guests Reflect on the
Houses of Parliament
Event
62
VOL. 108 - ISSUE NINESEPTEMBER 2013 WWW.REVIEWOFRELIGIONS.ORG
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51. Makhzan-e-Tasaweer is the official image library of the Ahmadiyya
Muslim Community, which is managed and maintained by the
centre itself. Reinstated in April 2006 by Hazrat Mirza Masroor
Ahmad Khalifatul Masih V, it is currently based in London.
The primary purpose of Makhzan-e-Tasaweer is to collate, archive and
preserve photographs related to the Community. For this purpose, an ongoing
project is being pursued in which photographs related to various categories
are being collected and collated.This includes photographs of the Promised
Messiah, the Khulafa, Companions, other prominent personalities of historic
importance and all events of historic nature.This project therefore preserves
a pictorial history of the Worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.
His Holiness, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih Vaba
, officially
inaugurated the Makhzan-e-Tasaweer website on 7th
February 2016.The website allows
members to view as well as purchase from the wide range of historic and latest images
of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community and is available in six different languages.
Also, any photograph(s) which may be required to be included in publications (i.e.
books, periodicals etc.), calendars and souvenirs by any chapter, auxiliary organisation
or other departments of the Community can be ordered through the website.
Makhzan-e-Tasaweer
Tahir House
22 Deer Park Road
London
SW19 3TL
email: info@makhzan.org
website: www.makhzan.org
Anyone who is in possession of any
photograph(s) of historical significance
that may benefit this cause, is encouraged
to send these photographs along with the
relevant details (senders name, the date
and place the picture was taken, etc.) to:
52. The Economic
System of Islam
by Hazrat Mirza Bashir-Ud-Din Mahmud Ahmadra
Mirza Bashir-ud-Din Mahmud AhmadU
ra
54. Being given the sceptre of a country,in a
revelatory vision,signifies that the recipi-
ent will be granted power and influence
over that country.Thus Prophet Ezekiel’s
prophecy informs us that God is not
in favour of the establishment of the
Communist rule,and if the new rulers do
not seek God’s forgiveness,but continue
to interfere in the internal affairs of other
nations, they will face God’s wrath and
severe punishment. But the Promised
Messiahas
has given us the glad tiding
that the direction and control of Russia’s
affairs would one day pass into the hands
of Ahmadis who would be assigned the
responsibility of reforming the system.
These prophecies from God Almighty
were made at a time when there were
few indications of their being fulfilled,
and this is so even today. I place these
prophecies before the thousands of peo-
ple gathered here today to listen to my
address.
The words of the Prophet Ezekiel were
given to the world six hundred years
before Christ; in other words,more than
two thousand and five hundred years ago.
At that time, very little was known of
Russia, and it was unimaginable that it
would assume such power and influence
over other countries.The more we think,
the more we are struck by the grandeur
of the prophecy.
Then there is the prophecy of the
Promised Messiahas
regarding the extinc-
tion of the Czar’s reign,whose fulfilment
has been witnessed by the whole world.
The Promised Messiah’s second prophecy
foresees the collapse of Soviet rule and
the handover of its guiding control into
the hands of the Promised Messiahas
.
The Holy Prophet Muhammadsa
was
shown in a vision that the keys of the
treasuries of the Roman and Persian
Empires had been put into his hands,
but they actually came into the hands of
his followers, during the days of Hadrat
Umarra
. In a similar way, the sceptre
of Russia would one day pass, accord-
ing to this prophecy, into the hands
of the Promised Messiah’sas
followers.
Prophecies made by God’s Prophets are
not necessarily fulfilled in their own time,
but later as the history of religions shows,
at the hands of their followers.
It is not a fanciful dream but our con-
viction that God has put us in charge
of removing Russia’s evils and reforming
the Soviet system and that one day the
Russian people will embrace Ahmadiyyat
and establish the system we have
THE ECONOMIC SYSTEM OF ISLAM
54 THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS | OCTOBER 2016
56. turned in anger at me for having tried
to rescue its prey. But as it ran to attack
me I saw the frame of a charpai (Indian
bedstead) lying close to where I stood.As
soon as the serpent came close,I jumped
on to this frame and managed to stand
astride on its two opposite bars. As the
reptile came closer, I heard some people
asking me how I could hope to fight it
when the Holy Prophetsa
had said that
there was no one who could subdue it.
I realised then that this monster was
none other than the Gog and Magog
to whom this hadith referred and that
the monster was in fact the dajjal. At
that point, I raised both hands towards
heaven in prayer for God’s help and
protection. Responding to the Ahmadis
by my side who had pointed out to me
the futility of trying to fight the mon-
ster, I said that I did not seek to fight
it through my own powers, but through
the power of prayer; and that victory by
this means was not precluded by what
the Holy Prophetsa
had said.As I prayed,
I noticed a change was coming over the
serpent, just like little mountain insects
that start to melt when salt is poured
over them. I noticed that it had started
to lose its fire and speed, until it became
completely dormant. It then assumed a
jelly-like form,which melted into watery
liquid that began to flow away. I turned
to my companions and said, “Did you
observe the power of prayer? Of course,
I did not have the strength to overcome
the danger I faced,but my God certainly
had the power to remove it.”
Concluding Observations
It must be kept in mind that we, the
Ahmadis, bear enmity to no one; we
desire the good and well-being of all.
Even for our worst enemies we do not
bear the slightest feeling of ill will. All
we wish to see is that good character
prevails in the world, man’s spiritual life
progresses,and the Kingdom of God and
His Apostle gets established. We desire
that whatever social, economic, cultural
or political system is adopted in the
world, it should leave to God and His
Apostle the sphere of human life that
rightfully and properly belongs to them;
that people who wish to live by God’s
laws should not be made to deny them.
We bear no enmity against Russia, or
Communism. I personally harbour deep
sympathy for this great country, and
sincerely wish that the Russian people,
who have been victims of extreme cru-
elty for centuries, should march forward
and witness prosperous times. But I or
any other freedom-loving person cannot
THE ECONOMIC SYSTEM OF ISLAM
56 THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS | OCTOBER 2016
58. minds and have our eyes open. And it is
essential that whatever views we adopt
we should adopt after the most careful
scrutiny; whatever course we follow, we
should follow it with our eyes open.This
is the only way that one can find truth
and bring an end to unrest and disorder.
May Allah have mercy on me and enable
me to follow the path of His guidance
and pleasure. May He give to you as
well the wisdom and strength to follow
the path full of blessings for you and for
your generations to come both in your
spiritual and religious life as well as your
secular life. I conclude with: All praise
belongs to Allah, Lord of all the worlds.
ENDNOTES
1.Barahin-e-Ahmadiyyah,part 5,Ruhani Khaza’in,
vol. 21, p. 152
2. In Tadhkirah second English edition a refer-
ence to this vision/dream appears on p. 591 with
some variation of words, under the date January
30, 1903. (Publishers)
THE ECONOMIC SYSTEM OF ISLAM
The official website of the Ahmadiyya
Muslim Community worldwide.
You can find a huge collection
of free online material, including
translation and commentary of the
Holy Qur’an and you can access
literature of the Community including
the books written by its founder,
Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas
.
www.alislam.org
58 THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS | OCTOBER 2016
60. In recent times vested interests have
launched a ‘crusade’ against Islam.
Islam is labelled as a religion of terror,
backwardness and suppression.
Based on Quranic teachings, the author of
this book goes about disproving these notions
and professes that Islam provides practical
solutions to current issues; and argues that:
(1) Swords can win territories but not hearts,
forces can bend heads but not minds; (2) The role
of women is not of concubines in harems nor a
society imprisoned in the four wall of their houses;
(3) Richer nations provide aid with strings attached
and yet the flow of wealth continues to be in the
direction of the rich while the poorer sink deeper
in the red; (4) Religion does not need to be the
predominant legislative authority in the political
affairs of the state; (5) Irrespective of the thawing
of the cold war, the issue of war and peace does not
only hang by the thread of superpower relationship.
(6) Without God there can be no peace.
It also contains comprehensive discussion
on interest; financial aid; international
relations; and the role of Israel, America and
the United Kingdom in a new world order.
The message of this book is timeless and chalks
a blue print for the future prospects for peace.
Read online: http://www.alislam.org/books/
Purchase print copy: http://store.alislam.org/englishbooks.html
61. A
solitary voice, raised in
Makkah, was, under Divine
Command, calling people
to the worship of One God and
proclaiming that through responding
to this call would humankind achieve
true dignity, honour, prosperity and
happiness both here and Hereafter.
That voice was the voice of the Holy
Prophet Muhammadsa
, the Seal
of the Prophets. In this popular
biography, Hazrat Mirza Bashir-Ud-
Din Mahmud Ahmadra
outlines the
life of the most influential man in
history in an easy-to-digest manner.
Read online here:
http://www.alislam.org/library/books/Life-of-Muhammad.pdf
Purchase book
here: http://store.alislam.org/englishbooks.html
62. 1st October – 9th October
Faith: Hinduism
Event: Navaratri
Navaratri is a nine-day festival
of music and dance when
Hindus worship the female
expression of the divine.
12th
October
Faith: Islam
Event: Ashura
At Ashura Muslims around
the world remember the
martyrdom of Hussain bin
Alira
, (the grandson of the
Holy Prophet of Islam) at
Karbala, Iraq in 680 CE.
Ashura falls on the 10th
day of the Muslim month
of Muharram. Although
the remembrance is more
visible in the Shia tradition,
Ashura is a solemn period
and is marked by keeping
voluntary fasts and prayers.
12th
October 2016
Faith: Judaism
Event: Yom Kippur
Yom Kippur translates as
the Day of Atonement
and is the holiest day in
the Jewish calendar.
20th
October 2016
Faith: Sikhism
Event: Guru Granth Sahib
Declared Guru for All Times
Guru Gobind Singh was the
tenth and last living Guru of
the Sikh faith. On his death
in 1708, he said Sikhs were to
treat the Guru Granth Sahib
(the Sikh holy scripture) as
their Guru for all times.The
Guru Granth Sahib contains
the words and writings of
the founders of the Sikh
faith (the Ten Gurus) as
well as the words of various
Hindu and Muslim saints.
30th
October 2016
Faith: Hinduism |
Sikhism | Jainism
Event: Diwali
Diwali, the festival of lights,
is the most popular of all the
festivals from South Asia. It
is an occasion for celebrations
by Hindus as well as Jains
and Sikhs. For Sikhs, Diwali
is particularly important as
it celebrates the 1619 release
from prison of the sixth
guru, Guru Hargobind.
CALENDAR of
RELIGIOUS
EVENTS &
FESTIVALS
OCTOBER 2016
63. NOTE ABOUT REFERENCES
Verse references to the Holy Qur’an
count ‘Bismillah…’ (In the Name
of Allah…) as the first verse of each
Chapter. In some non-standard texts,
this is not counted. Should the reader
refer to such texts, the verse quoted in
The Review of Religions will be found a
verse earlier, i.e. at one verse less than
the number quoted in this journal.
For the ease of non-Muslim readers, ‘sa
’
or ‘(saw)
’ after the words, ‘Holy Prophet’,
or the name ‘Muhammad’, are used
normally in small letters. They stand
for ‘Sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam’ meaning
‘peace and blessings of Allah be upon
him’. Likewise, the letters ‘as
’ or ‘(as)
’
after the name of all other prophets
is an abbreviation meaning ‘peace
be upon him’ derived from ‘Alaihis
salatu wassalam’ which are words
that a Muslim utters out of respect
whenever he or she comes across
that name. The abbreviation ‘ra
’ or ‘(ra)
’
stands for ‘Raziallahu Ta’ala anhu and
is used for Companions of a Prophet,
meaning Allah be pleased with him
or her (when followed by the relevant
Arabic pronoun). Finally, ‘rh
’ or ‘(rh)
’ for
Rahemahullahu Ta’ala means the Mercy
of Allah the Exalted be upon him.
In keeping with current universal
practice, local transliterations
of names of places are preferred
to their anglicised versions, e.g.
Makkah instead of Mecca, etc.
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