Basharaat-E-Ahmadiyya - Muslimof the English Translation of the Holy Quran By Maulana Muhammad Ali...

Audio Recordingof the English Translation

of the

Holy Quran

By Maulana Muhammad Ali

Read byRobert Adams

Basharaat-E-AhmadiyyaNewsletter of Ahmadiyya Anjuman Ishaat Islam, (Lahore) USA July - December 2007

P.O. Box 3370, Dublin, Ohio 43016 USA

Phone: (614) 873-1030 Fax: (614) 873-1022 Email: [email protected] Website: www.muslim.org

In This Issue

Editorial 02

ChechnyaConference 03

2007ConferenceOverview 11

WorkinEurope 13

Albania 13London 14Holland 14

OtherNews:QuranDistribution,deaths,anddonations 17

HollandStichtingJamaatActivities 19

ConversionofaDutchYouth 21

NewsfromSouthAfricaJamaat 22

EidKhutbabyEbrahimMuhammed 23

LocalActivities 25

ArticleinColumbusBarLawyersQuarterly 28

TrainingModernImaams 32

Basharaat-E-Ahmadiyya July - December 2007

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Editorial

ThishasbeenanotheryearinwhichwecannotthankAlmightyAllahenoughforalltheencouragingeventsthathavetakenplace.ThemessageoftheHolyQurancontinuestospreadthroughouttheworld.MorecopiesoftheHolyQuranarebeingdistributedinCentralAsia.InEurope,initiallytheDutchHolyQuraninHollandandnowtheGermanHolyQuraninGermany,havebeendistributedtoallmajorlibrariesinthesetwocountries.Soon,inshaAllah,thesamewillbedonewiththeItalianandtheFrenchHolyQuransintheirrespectivecountries.Theseseeds,whicharebeingplantedwill,inshaAllah,bearfruitwhenAllahTaalawills.

TheLahoreAhmadiyyaJamaatwill,inshaAllah,beregisteredinAlbania,KyrgystanandotherCentralAsiancountries.Tocontinueworkinasystematicmanner,longterm,apermanentpresenceinthesecountriesisrequired.InshaAllah,ourregistrationinthesecountrieswillfacilitatetheattainmentofourgoalsinthesecountries.OurvarioustranslationprojectscontinuetoprogressverywellbytheGraceofAlmightyAllah.Wehavebeentrulyblessedwith a group of qualified and dedicatedtranslators.Thereisonlysomuchthatcanbeplanned,onlysomuchthatis

withinone’scontrol.Wetrytocompleteourprojectsasbestashumanlypossible.ButthesuccessofanytaskisalwaysdependentonAllah’swill.WearetrulygratefulforAlmightyAllah’shelpandforHismakingoureffortseasyforus.

Andlast,butnotleast,wethankAlmightyAllahforthemiraculousrecoverythathehasgrantedBrotherNurSardarSahibafterhissevereandprolongedillness.WepraytoAlmightyAllahthatHekeepsbrotherNurSardarunderHisprotectionandblesseshimwithcontinuedgoodhealth,sothathecancontinuetoserveIslamandAhmadiyyatinHolland.Ameen.

Toconclude,NovemberremindsusofourlateAmeer,Dr.SaeedAhmad,ourbelovedJaanji,whopassedawayinthismonth.PersonallytoSaminaespeciallyandtomanyofusofmyagegroupandyounger,whodidnot

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havethatclearamemoryofspiritualgiantssuchasMaulanaMuhammadAli,Dr.SaeedAhmadprovidedthatinspiringlinktothatgrandspiritualeraoftheGreatMujaddid,PromisedMessiahandMahdiandhisMansoor.Hissteadfastnessinthecriticaltimein1973whenthemostsevereattackwasmadeonAhmadiyyatwillalwaysbeasourceofstrengthforus.Hisjourneystostrengthenthejamaats,someofwhomwerereelingaftertheblowoftheeventsin1973,willalwaysberememberedasoneofhisgreatestachievements.Theexampleofthatmaninhiseighties,travelingthousandsofmilesineconomyclasswithoutanyhelptoholdtheJamaatstogether,isaninspirationforallofusinserviceandleadership.Surely,manyofthosewhoaremostactiveinservingtheJamaatarethosewhohavebeeninspiredbypersonalcontactwiththisservantofAllahandhisMessenger.

Dr. Saeed Ahmad


BySaminaMalik

InAugust,IreceivedaninvitationfromtheRussianFederationinMoscowandtheGovernmentofChechnyatoattendaninternationalIslamicconferencetobeheldinChechnyatitled“IslamtheReligionofPeaceandCreation”.Iacceptedtheinvitationwithpleasure.Suchconferencesfocusingonthetrue,peacefulteachingsofIslamshouldalwaysbesupported.IalsoviewedthisasanexcellentopportunitytopresentourJamaat’speacefulandtolerantinterpretationofIslamtotheinternationaldelegates.

WithinoneweekmyvisadocumentsarrivedandIleftonSunday,August19thfortheconference.IarrivedinMoscowthenextday.Iwasreceivedattheairportby government officials who escortedmetoagovernmenthotel,namedHotelPresident.Theaccommodationswere

excellent.Afteranightssleep,Ispentthenextdayarrangingfor100copiesofourRussiantranslationoftheHolyQurantobeshippedfromMoscowtoChechnyafortheconference.Ibrought30copieswithmeinmyluggage,butwantedatleast100availablefordistributiontotheinternationaldelegates.OurgoodfriendsfromtheHilalFoundation,asusual,wereextremelyhelpfulinmakingthishappen.Itwassonicetomeetthesefriendsagain,whocametovisitmewiththeirfamilies.At3:00amonAugust22nd,IleftforChechnyaalongwiththeotherdelegateswhowerealsoresidingattheHotelPresident.

WearrivedinChechnyaatabout11:00a.m.Therewereabout100peopleattheairporttogreetus.Theladiesweredressedinveryfancy,traditionalclothesandpresenteduswithatypeofparathaandgheetoeat.Threedouble-deckerbusesawaitedus:oneforthelocals,onefortheRussiandelegatesandonefortheinternationaldelegates.Severalpoliceandothergovernmentvehiclesescortedthebusesthroughoutthetrip.Therewerealsoahostofreportersandtelevisioncrewthataccompaniedusaswell.The first stop for the delegates wastheAhmadKadyrovCentralMosque,named

after the first president of Chechnya.Themosqueisstillnotcomplete,butevenatthispointitwasabsolutelybeautiful.Weweretolditcanaccommodate10,000people.AcongregationalduawasmadeforthecompletionofthemosqueandforpeaceinChechnyaandforMuslimsthroughouttheworld.

AftervisitingtheCentralMosque,weattendedtheopeningofanewmadrassa.TheribbonwascutbytheMuftiofMoscowandtheMuftiofUzbekistan.Themadrassawasbeautifulandveryspacious.IthadacomputerroomwithtwentynewcomputersinitandalibraryfullofIslamicliterature.Italsohadaverylargemosque,classroomsandcasualreadingareas.Italsohadextremelycleanandnicelyfurnishedboardingroomsforstudentswhocomefromabroadtostudy.Ihaveneverseensuchawonderfulmadrassabefore.InshaAllahitwillbe

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Chechnya Conference: Islam, the Religion of Peace and Creation

Samina and a member of the international delegation departing for

Chechnya at the Moscow airport

Reception at the airport in Chechnya with paratha and desi ghee


aplacewhereinpeoplewilllearnthetruthaboutIslamandwherefrompeaceandgoodrelationswillspread.Afterthevisittothemadrassa,wewenttothecemeterytomakeduaforthepastfirst president, Haji Akhmad Kadyrov.Apparentlyitwashisbirthdaythatday.Wethenwenttothemosqueforprayersandthenforlunchataverynicerestaurantthatprimarilyservedgovernmentofficials. Finally, we went totheconference.

MashaAllah,theconferencewasverywellorganized.Delegatesfromapproximately70countriesattended.Theorganizersandthedelegateswereseatedaroundahugeroundtablewhichcouldaccomodate200people.Localattendeeswereseatedinrowsbehindthemainroundtable.TheseatingarrangementwassimilartopicturesseenofmeetingsattheU.N.Everyseatedpersonhadtwobottlesofwater,headphoneswhichprovidedsimultaneoustranslationsofthespeeches,andwirelessmicrophones.

InadditiontoMuslimrepresentativesfromthroughoutRussia,delegatesattendedfromSaudiArabia,UnitedStates,Australia,Poland,Azerbaijan,Belarus,Kyrgyzstan,Ukraine,Uzbekistan,andotherplaces.TheMuftiofChechnyaopenedtheforum.TheChairpersonthenrelatedthehistoryofChechnyaandstoriesaboutthepastpresidentandhisservicetoIslamandPeaceinChechnya.Thereafter,thePresidentofChechnyaMr.RamzanKadyrovspokeabouttheneedforpeaceinChechnyaandtheneedtostopterrorisminthisregionandaroundtheworld.Itwasaveryinspiringspeech,whichwaswellreceivedbyall.Thelargeroundtablehadthenamesofeachpersonpostedsothateachpersoncouldknowwhoeveryoneelsewas.IwasseatedalongsidethePresidentandMuftiofChechnya,andtherepresentativesfromIraq,JordanandUzbekistan.Iwasaskedtospeakinthesame

sessionasthesepersonsaswell,whichwaswithinthefirst hour of the conference. ThiswasveryfortunateasthePresidentMr.RamzanKadyrovhad to leave after the first hour forsomeothercommitments.Therewereapproximately50speakersinthetotal..Whenitwasmyturntospeak,IwasintroducedasthedelegatefromUnitedStatesofAmerica.Ispokeforabout15minutesonthetopicof“Islam’sliberalviewofotherreligions”.MashaAllah,thespeechwaswellreceived.Thebestthingwasthateveryspeechwasbeingsimultaneouslytranslated.So,everyonecouldunderstandmyspeechandIcouldunderstandeveryoneelse’sregardlessofwhatlanguagewasbeingspoken.

IpresentedourRussiantranslationofMaulanaMuhammadAli’stranslationandcommentaryoftheHolyQurantothePresidentofChechnya,Mr.RamzanKadyrov,andtotheMuftiofChechnya,Mr.SultanMirzayov.Ialsopresentedthemwith

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Welcome at the Chechnya airport

Government House and the Residence of the President of Chechnya,

Mr. Ramadan Kaderov

Samina Malik delivering her speech at the Symposium in Chechnya


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someofourotherRussianandArabicliterature.Theywereverygratefulandexpressedtheirappreciationinverykindwords.Theyactuallymadeanannouncementthattheyhadreceived130copiesoftheRussiantranslationoftheHolyQuranfromMrs.SaminaMalikofUSA,andthatthesewouldbedistributedinchechynabytheMufti.Alhamdolillah!

IhadfurtherdiscussionswiththeMuftiaboutdistributionofourRussiantranslationoftheHolyQuranthroughoutChechnya.Iagreed,onbehalfoftheUSAJamaat,todonate2000copiesverysoon.Hewasabsolutelythrilledandthankedmeverygraciously.HeaskedthatIcomeagainnextyearalongwithmyfamily.

IhadheardmanytroublingthingsaboutChechnyainthenewsoverthepastfewyears.However,Iwaspleasantlysurprisedtoseethatinactualityitisabeautifulandrathersafeplace.Thepastpresidenthasworkedveryhardtobringpeaceinthisregion.Mostofthebuildingsareverymodernlooking.Thestreetsareveryclean.Afteraboutmidnight,nightly,manywomengooutandsweepthestreetsintheirareas.Ihaveneverseensuchathingbefore.Thewholecommunitycontributestokeepingtheirregionclean.

ThenextmorningIwasnotfeelingtoowell.Thehecticschedulebegancatchingupwithme.WhentheMuftiandtheorganizersheardofthis,theywereveryconcerned

andaskedthatIaccompanytheladyorganizerstothepresident’sresidenceforbreakfast.AlthoughIwasnotfeelinguptoit,Ifeltitwouldbesomewhatimpolitetoturndowntheirgraciousoffer.Wewereveryimpressedbythefactthatthepresidenttogether with fifty officials cametobidfarewelltothedelegates.ThepresidentspoketoeachdelegatepersonallyandthankedeachoneforcomingtoChechnyaandattendingtheConference.MayAlmightyAllahbringaboutthefruitionoftheresolutionsofPeaceandCreationinIslampassedbytheConference.Imustmentionthatmyairfareandallexpenseswerepaidforbytheorganizersoftheconference.TheyweremorehospitablethanIcouldhaveeverimagined.MayAlmightyAllahBlessthePresidentofChechniyaforhiseffortofbringingPeaceinthecountry.AlsoMayAlmightyAllahBlesseachandeveryonewhohastriedtoarrangetheconventiontoasuccess.MayAlmightyAllahblessthisJamaat.Maywebesteadfastinourwork.MayHeprovideuswithmanymoreopportunitiestofurtherHiscause.AndmayAlmightyAllahbepleasedwithourefforts.Ameen.JazakAllahforallofyourprayers.NothingcanbedonewithoutAllah’shelp.CopiedbelowisthespeechIdeliveredattheConference:

The International Symposium in Chechnya


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SpeechbyMrs.SaminaMalikatthe

chechnyaconference

DearMr.PresidentRamdanKaderov,respecteddelegates,brothersandsistersinIslam,assalamualeikum!ItisagreathonorformetopartakeinthisforumandspeakonthesubjectofIslambeingareligionofpeaceandtolerance.

IamthedelegatefromtheUnitedStatesofAmericaandamtheVice-PresidentoftheU.S.branchoftheinternationalorganization,theLahoreAhmadiyyaIslamicSociety.TheprimarygoalofourorganizationistotranslatetheHolyQuranintoallofthelanguagesoftheworldandhaveitdistributedwidelysothatpeople,Muslimsandnon-Muslimsalike,maystudyAlmightyAllah’swordforthemselves,intheirownlanguage.Recently,wedonated fifty thousand copies oftheRussiantranslationoftheHolyQurantoRussiaforfreedistribution.WearealsoworkinginseveralCentralAsiancountriestodeveloplearningcenterswherethelocalpopulationsmaycometolearnaboutIslamfromitsoriginalsources.Unfortunately,today,manyMuslimsaredeprivedoflearningtheQuranforthemselvesbecausetheydonothaveaccesstoitsteachingsintheirownlanguage.Thesepeopleresorttolearningtheirreligionfrom

others,whoaresometimesmoreinterestedinpoliticsthanIslam.WebelievebyprovidingthepeoplewiththeQuranintheirownlanguage,theywillbeinamuchbetterpositiontolearnthetruthofIslam.Ourmottois:gettheQuranintothehandsofthepeople,andthespiritualforceoftheQuranwillthendotherest.

Thisforumheretodaycouldnothavebeenheldatamoreopportunetime.Asyouallknow,Islamisbeingportrayedthroughouttheworldasaviolent,intolerantanddestructiveforce.ThisimageofIslamisbasedontheactsofterrorismbyasmallminorityofMuslimswhoclaimtheyareactinginaccordancewithIslam.Unfortunately,itistheseviolentactionsthatcapturetheheadlinesinthemediaandfeedtheperceptionamongnon-MuslimsthatthereligionofIslamisanythingbutpeaceful.Forumssuchastheseareextremelynecessaryastheyareveryeffectiveindisseminatingthecorrect,peacefulteachingsofIslam.ItismyearnestprayertoAlmightyAllahthatHecausestheproceedingsofthisforumtobewidelydisseminatedsothatthetruepictureofIslam,asareligionofpeaceandtolerance,prevailsintheworld.Ameen!Asweallknow,thereisaverydeep-rootedmisconceptionprevalentintheworldthattheQuranitselfpreachesintoleranceandthatProphet

MuhammadpreachedhisfaithwiththeswordinonehandandtheQuranintheother.This,itisargued,isthecauseforMuslimscarryingoutactsofterrorintheworldtoday.Thislogiccouldnotbefurtherfromthetruth.AndthisiswhyIwouldliketodiscusstodaythetopicof:“IslamandtheFoundationforInter-religiousPeace.”

Faithinallprophets

AsafundamentalprincipleofIslam,aMuslimmustbelieveinallprophetsoftheworld.Thisfact,inandofitself,isenoughtorebuttheallegationthatIslamisintoleranttowardotherfaiths.TheHolyProphetMuhammadtaughtthatsimplerespectforthefoundersofthegreatreligionsoftheworldwasnotenough–inIslam,onemusthavefaithinthemaswell.Thus,theword“tolerance” cannot sufficiently describetheattitudeIslamprescribestowardsotherreligions–Islampreachesequallove,equalrespectandequalfaithinthemall.

AstheHolyQuranstatesinChapter4,verses150to152:

ThosewhodisbelieveinAllahandHismessengersanddesiretomakeadistinctionbetweenAllahandHismessengersandsay:Webelieveinsomeanddisbelieveinothers;anddesiretotakeacourseinbetween–


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isforhisowngood;andwhoeverisblind,itistohisownharm(6:104).

AndinChapter76,verse3,itstates:

Wehavetrulyshownhimtheway;hemaybethankfulorunthankful(76:3).

Why fighting was allowed.

Now, certainly history testifies tothefactthatMuslimswerepermittedtoengageincertainwars.Butwhatwastheobjectofthosewars?Thisisthequestionthatmustbeasked.

Itwassurelynottocompelnon-MuslimstoacceptIslam,forthiswouldbeagainstalltheversesIhavejustquotedfromtheHolyQuran.No,itwastoestablishreligiousfreedom!Itwastostopallreligiouspersecutionandtoprotectthehousesofworshipofallreligions,whetherchurches,synagoguesormosques.TheHolyQuranexplains:

AndifAllahdidnotrepelsomepeoplebyothers,cloistersandchurchesandsynagoguesandmosquesinwhichAllah’snameismuchremembered,wouldhavebeenpulleddown”(22:40).

EverystudentofIslamichistoryknowsthattheHolyProphetandhiscompanionsweresubjectedtotheseverestpersecutionasIslambegantogaingroundatMakkah.Overone hundred of them fled to Abyssinia,butpersecution

grewstillmorerelentless.Ultimately,theMuslimstookrefugeinMadinah,buttheywerenotleftalone,andtheswordwastakenupagainstthemeventheretoannihilatethissmallgroupofbelievers.TheQuranbearstestimonytothis;itstates:

Permission (to fight) is given tothoseonwhomwarismade,becausetheyareoppressed.AndAllahisabletoassistthem—thosewhoaredrivenfromtheirhomeswithoutajustcauseexceptthattheysay:OurLordisAllah(22:39,40).

Thus,inIslam,warisonlypermissiblein“self-defense”!Andevenunderthesecircumstances,itislimited.TheQuranstates:

And fight in the way of Allah against those who fight againstyou,butbenotaggressive.SurelyAllahlovesnottheaggressors”(2:190).

TheQuran,therefore,allowedfighting only as defensive measuretosaveapersecutedcommunityfrompowerfuloppressors;assoonasthepersecutionceased,thefighting was to be stopped.

TheHolyQurangoessofarastoprescribethatiftheenemyofferedpeace,peacewastobeaccepted,thoughtheenemy’sintentionmightonlybetodeceivetheMuslims.TheQuranstates:

Thesearetrulydisbelievers;andWehavepreparedforthedisbelieversanabasingchastisement.

AndthosewhobelieveinAllahandHismessengersandmakenodistinctionbetweenanyofthem,tothemHewillgranttheirrewards.AndAllahiseverForgiving,Merciful.

NoCompulsioninReligion

Itisalsoclearthatintolerancecannotbeascribedtoabookwhichplainlydeclares:

Thereisnocompulsioninreligion(2:256).

Thus,“freedomofreligion”isanentrenchedprincipleofIslam.TheHolyQuranclearlymandatesthataperson’sbeliefinreligionishisorherownconcernandthateveryoneshouldbegiventhechoiceofadoptingwhicheverpaththeywant;ifheorsheacceptsthetruth,itisforhisorherowngood,andthatifheorsheremainsinerror,itistohisorherowndetriment.TheQuranlaysthisdownintheclearestwords.InCh.18,verse29,itstates:

TheTruthisfromyourLord;solethimwhopleasebelieveandlethimwhopleasedisbelieve(18:29).

InChapter6,verse104,itstates:

ClearproofshaveindeedcometoyoufromyourLord:sowhoeversees,it


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Andiftheyinclinetopeace,inclinethoualsotoit,andtrustinAllah.SurelyHeistheHearer,theKnower.Andiftheyintendtodeceivethee,thensurelyAllahissufficient for thee (8:61, 62).

Inaccordancewiththisprinciple,theHolyProphetmadetreatiesofpeacewithhisenemies.Onesuchtreatybroughtaboutthefamous“TruceofHudaibiyah”,thetermsofwhichwerenotonlydisadvantageous,butalsohumiliatingtotheMuslims.Accordingtothetermsofthistreaty,“ifanunbeliever,beingconvertedtoIslam,wentovertotheMuslims,hewastobereturned,butifaMuslimwentovertotheunbelievers,hewasnottobegivenbacktotheMuslims”.ThisclauseofthetreatydiminishesallallegationsoftheuseofforcebytheHolyProphet.ItalsoshowsthestrongconvictionoftheHolyProphetthatneitherwouldMuslimsgobacktounbelief,norwouldthenewconvertstoIslambedeterredfromembracingIslam.Andtheseexpectationsprovedtrue,forduringthisperiodnotasingleMuslimdesertedIslam,butratheralargenumbercameovertoIslam.

Itisamistaketosupposethattheconditionsrelatedabovewereabrogatedatanytime.The condition to fight “against those who fight against you” remainedinforcetothelast.Thelastexpeditionledbythe

HolyProphetwasthefamous“TabukExpedition”,andeveryhistorianofIslamknowsthat,thoughtheProphethadmarchedaverylongdistancetoTabukleadinganarmyofthirtythousand,yet,whenhefoundthattheenemydidnotfulfill the condition laid down above(i.e.wasnotcurrentlyengagedinaggression),hesimplyreturnedanddidnotallowhistroopstoattacktheenemyterritory.

So from first to last, the Holy Qur’an allowed fighting onlyagainstthosewhofought the Muslims first. It allowed fighting only in defense,withoutwhichtheMuslimswouldhavebeenexterminated,anditclearlyforbadeaggressivewar.TheviewthatIslamencouragesthewagingofwaronunbelieverstocompelthemtoacceptIslamisamythpureandsimple;itisaconceptcompletelyforeigntotheHolyQurananduntraceabletoactsoftheearlyMuslims.

Nopunishmentforapostasy.

Anotherwidelyprevailingmisconceptionmayalsobenotedhere.ItisgenerallythoughtthattheQuranprovidesadeathsentenceforthosewhodesertthereligionofIslam.AnyonewhotakesthetroubletoreadtheQuranwillseethatthereisnottheleastgroundforsuchasupposition.TheQuranspeaksrepeatedlyofpeoplegoingbacktounbeliefafter

believing,butneveroncedoesitsaythattheyshouldbekilledorpunished.InChapter2,verse217,theQuranstates:

Andwhoeverofyouturnsbackfromhisreligion,thenhedieswhileanunbeliever—theseitiswhoseworksgofornothinginthisworldandtheHereafter”(2:217).

InChapter5,verse54,itstates:

Oyouwhobelieve,shouldanyoneofyouturnbackfromhisreligion,thenAllåhwillbringapeoplewhomHelovesandwholoveHim(5:54).

AndinChapter3,verse90,itstates:

Thosewhodisbelieveaftertheirbelieving,thenincreaseindisbelief,theirrepentanceisnotaccepted,andthesearetheythatgoastray”(3:90).

Sofromwheredidthismisconceptionarise?Itappearsthatsomepeople,whoafterbecomingapostates,joinedenemyforces,foughtagainsttheMuslimsandtookthelifeofaMuslim.Thus,ifsuchapersonwasatsometimekilledbytheMuslims,itwasbecauseofthecrimeofmurder,notsimplybecausehechangedhisreligion.Theprincipleissimilartothepunishmentforthecrimeof“treason”acceptedwidelyintheworldtoday.


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Conclusion

Mydearbrothersandsisters,werecitetheSurahFatihaineachofourdailyprayerswhereinweaskAlmightyAllah:“Ideenasiratulmustaqeem”–“Guideusontherightpath”!AlmightyAllahhasprovidedusthisguidanceintheformoftheHolyQuranandtheexampleoftheHolyProphetMuhammad.NowitisourdutytostudythesetwogiftsfromAlmightyAllahandputthemintopractice.Thisisinfactthetrue“jihad”.ThewarthatisobligatoryuponeachMusliminthisageisnotanytypeofmilitaryactionbutratheraspiritualstruggletobetteroursoulssothatthroughourpersonalexampleotherswillcometoknowthatIslamtrulyisareligionofpeace.MayAlmightyAllahgrantusthestrengthandcouragetoachievethismightygoal.Ameen.

JazakAllahforyourattention,yourhospitalityandyourkindness.

Samina Malik with the Mufti of Chechnya

Samina with the Jordan delegation at the Symposium in Chechnya

Samina Malik with the Mufti of Russia

Opening of the Madrassa by muftis of Russia, Moscow and Iraq

International delegates and local officials at the opening of the Madrassa in Chechnya

Opening of the Madrassa in Chechnya by Mr. Ramdan Kaderov, the President of Chechnya


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Samina Malik and sister Zara having breakfast at the President’s Palace

Dinner at the restaurant for the International delegates

Mr. Ramdan Kaderov, President of Chechnya and the Mufti greeting the International delegates

Mr. Ramdan Kaderov, President of Chechnya wishing Samina Malik a safe trip back to the USA


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Samina Malik with Ishmail (Imam at the Hilal foundation in Moscow, Russia) and family

A Kyrgyz girl in Mr. Ombudsman’s officeSamina Malik and Mr. Ombudsman visiting a poor family during Ramadan, October 2007

Iftar dinner with Muslims in Bishkek, Kyrgizstan

An Overview of the 2007 Conference presented by the Lahore Ahmadiyya Islamic Society

ByFatimaRahman

TheannualconferencepresentedbytheLahoreAhmadiyyaIslamicSocietywasheldonJuly28,2007inColumbusOhio.ThethemeforthisyearwasTheFaithofAbraham:ASymposiumonthePatriarchofOrganized

Religion,FromanIslamicPerspective.Theemphasisoftheconferencethisyearwastopromoteinter-faithunderstandingbypresentingthecommonoriginsofIslam,Christianity,andJudaism.Theconferenceattractedadiversecrowdbelonging

tovariousfaiths,withmanymembersoftheAhmadiyyaSocietyattendingfromvariouscornersoftheUnitedStatesandfromabroad.The conference featured five speakerswhodiscussedvarioustopicsconcerningAbrahamfromaprogressive


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IslamiclensasespousedbytheLahoreAhmadiyyaIslamicSociety.Mr.FazeelS.Khan,Esq.startedoffwithatalkonAbraham:thecommonground,highlightingthecommonalitiesbetweenthethreemajorfaiths.Next,Dr.NomanMalikpresentedatalktitled,Abraham:“afriendofGod”establishingtheprinciplefromtheHolyQuranthatnomatterwhichreligiononeprofessesitisonlybeliefGodandserviceofmankindthatisacceptabletoGod.Dr.MuhammadAhmadthenpresentedonthetopicofAbraham and the sacrifice oftheanimalwithininwhichheshowedhowwithoutsacrificing that which was dear tooneselfbeliefinGodandserviceofmankindcannotbedone.Mr.Sadr-u-DeanSahukhan,EsqfromAustraliagaveatalkonAbrahamandtheconceptofprayerinwhichheprovedfromtheQuranandtheexampleoftheProphetAbrahamandtheHolyProphetMuhammadthatonlyprayercanprovidetheconvictionandresolvewhichisneededforBelief in God and sacrificing in his way. And finally Maulana Kemal Hydal finished off with aspeechonMuhammad:anaffirmation of the Abrahamic faithshowinghowtheHolyProphetMuhammadpractically reaffirmed the principlesoffaithdiscussedbythepreviousspeakers.

AlongwiththemajorsymposiumonSaturday,therewasaFridayprogramthatfeaturedayouthprogramand

aSundayprogramconsistingofvarioustalksfrommembersoftheAhmadiyyaSociety.TheyouthprogramexhibitedtheenthusiasmoftheyoungestmemberswhorecitedchaptersandtranslationsoftheQuranandspokeonavarietyoftopicsconcerningIslamsuchastheunityofGodandtheconceptofafterlife.Inadditiontotheyouthpresentations,thepremieroftheLighthouseMagazineforYouthwasheld,whereAafia Ahmad and Saira Malik-Rahmanspokeafewwordsaboutthemagazine.TheFridayandSundayprogramsalsofeaturedguestsfromabroad.Thisyear,amemberoftheIslamicSocietyofAlbaniaattendedandgaveatalkonIslaminAlbania.Ms.ZahidaHydal,thesecretaryoftheTorontobranchalsogaveatalkasdidMaulanaKamalHydal.OtherspeakersincludedDr.HamidRahman,Ms.FatimaRahmanandMr.MohammadSadiq.

OneofthemajorhighlightsofSundaywasthefundraisingprogram.MrsSaminaMalikgaveaninspiringspeechaboutMaulanaMuhammadAli and the his sacrifice in theserviceofIslamandthetranslationoftheHolyQuran.About103,000dollarswereraisedinaboutanhour.

Anadditiontothisyear’seventwasanengagingthreedaycourseontheProphesiesoftheReturnofJesusconducted

fromJulyxtoJulyx..ItwasthepremiercourseoftheInstituteofImaamatTraining(ITT)intheUnitedStates.ITTisaprojectrunbytheAhmadiyyaIslamicSocietyTrinidadandTobago,andconsistsofaseriesofinteractive,multimediacoursestoeducatemembersoftheorganizationaswellasothersinterestedaboutIslamfromtheprogressiveandrationalperspectivethattheAhmadiyyaSocietypromotes.ThethreedaycoursewasledbyMaulanaKemalHydal.ThecoursesystematicallypresentedadetailedoverviewandanalysisoftheperspectivesonthereturnofJesusasheldbyChristians,mainstreamMuslims,andAhmadiMuslims.Thecoursewasthehighlightformanyattendeesoftheconference,anditbroughtaboutonlypositiveandenthusiasticfeedbackfromthestudents.

AlivedemonstrationofhowthisinteractivecoursewouldbeconductedwasgivenbyNadeemHydal,MaulanaHydal’ssononSundayJulyx.NadeemshowedhowsittinginTrindadhecouldlecturetostudent’sanywhereintheworldinaninteractiveformatthuscreatingatruevirtualclassroom.NadeemwhospecializesincommunicationshasworkedveryhardtosetupthisjointprojectbetweentheUSAandTrinidadJamaat.MayAlmightyAllahBlessandRewardhimforhisperseveranceandhardwork.


InshallahunderMaulanaKamalHydel’sguidancethismediumwillproveveryusefulinspreadingthecorrecttruepeacefulteachingsofIslam.

The2007conferencewasasuccess,bytheGraceofAllah.Itwasanintellectualandspiritualexperience,arenewalofthespiritforwhichitsmembersawaiteagerly

everyyear.Inaddition,itpromotedarationalandinspiringimageofIslamfornon-Muslims,agoalthatisofcoursecentraltothemissionoftheAhmadiyyaSociety.

Work In Europe

BySaminaMalik

OnOctober19th,NomanandI flew to Holland from London. BrotherNurSardarandJerrelSardarcametoreceiveusattheSchipholairportinHolland.WewereoverjoyedtoseeBrotherNurSardarlookingsowellafterhisordealwithhealthissueslastyear.WethankAlmightyAllahforgrantinghimsuchamiraculousrecovery,andwepraythatHecontinuestoblesshimwithgoodhealth.WewereverypleasedtobeBrotherNurSardar’sguestsinHolland.

Thenextday,OnOctober20th,theAmsterdamJamaatheldanEidMilanJalsawhichwasattendedbyapproximatelyonehundredpeople.BrotherNurSardaropenedthejalsawithashortspeechwelcomingeveryoneandthankingallthemembersforattending.AfterBrotherNurSardar’sspeech,Mr.JerrelSardardidthepresentationoftheaudiorecordingoftheDutchReligionofIslamonCD.MashaAllah,theCDpackageisveryattractivelydesignedandisawonderfulcomplimenttoitscontent.Wehopeand

praythatthisCDwillmakethetreasurehouseofIslamicknowledgeintheReligionofIslamaccessibletopeoplewhootherwisemaynotreadthebook.MayAlmightyAllahblessandrewardthemembersoftheStichtingJamaatforbringingoutthismuchneededwork.

FollowingMr.JerrellSardar’spresentation,IspokeaboutmytriptoChechnya,whereIhadbeeninvitedbythegovernmentofChechnyatoattendtheConferencetitledIslamtheReligionofPeaceandCreation.Thelecturewasillustratedbyaslideshowofpicturesfromtheconference,whichwasgreatlyappreciatedbytheaudience.MypresentationwasfollowedbyaspeechbyDr.NomanMalikabout the significance of Id.

ThePresidentoftheAmsterdam Jamaat Mr. Rafi Kallouspokeattheendofthejalsaandthankedeveryoneforattending.Adeliciousdinnerwasservedaswell.

Albania

OnOctober21st,NomanandI flew from Holland to Albania.

WearrivedatTiranaairportatnoonandweremetuponourarrivalbyourbrotherMr.BujarMullahiandhisson.BrotherMullahiattendedourannualUSAConventionthispastJulyanditwasapleasuretoseehimonceagain.InTirana,wemetwithDr.CathrinawhoistranslatingourHolyQuranfromEnglishintoAlbanian.SheisenjoyingherworkverymuchandisveryfavorablyimpressedbyMaulanaMuhammadAli’scommentary.InshaAllah,thetranslationwillbecompleteinaboutoneyear.

InordertosuccessfullydistributeourliteratureinAlbania,weneedtoregisterourorganizationinthecountry.Withoutapermanentpresence,alongtermgoalofestablishingourliteratureinthecountrywouldbeverydifficult. We met with an attorneyforthispurposeandhavebeenworkingthroughtheadministrativeprocesstohavethisdone.InshaAllah,bythetimethismagazineispublishedourLahoreAhmadiyyaJamaatwillberegisteredinAlbania.

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WealsofoundanotherverygoodtranslatorinTiranawhoisajournalistbyprofession.HehasalreadytranslatedMr.NaseerAhmadFarooqi’sbooklet,AhmadiyyatvsQadianiyat.Inshallah,wewillhavethisbookprintedsoon.CurrentlyheistranslatingHazratMirzaSahib’sworks,MessageofPeace,TeachingsofIslamandFourQuestionsAnswered.ThegoalistohaveallofourmajorworkstranslatedintoAlbanian.Pleaseprayforthesuccessofthisproject.

London

WereturnedtoHolland,andafterafourdaystay,wewenttoLondonwherewestayedattheCenterinWemblyforthreedayswithourdearsister

Mrs.BanoAnwar.WewentwithMrs.AnwartoofferourcondolencestoMrs.JermilaKhan,thePresidentoftheUKJamaat,forthesaddemiseofherhusband,BrotherFaizKhan.WeallvisitedthegraveyardtooffertheFatihaprayersathisgravesite.Br.FaizKhanwillalwaysberememberedforhisyearsofsupportfortheUKjamaat.MayAlmightyAllahgranthimaplaceinparadise.Aftervisitingthegraveyard,wereturnedtoMrs.Khan’sresidenceforanicetalkovertea.

ThenextdaywewenttovisitMrs.AzizAhmad.Itwasanhonorandpleasuretomeether.Mashallah,shelookedverywell.MayAlmightyAllahBlessherandGrantheraspeedyrecovery.

Holland

AfterafewdaysinLondonwe flew back to Holland and stayedanotherthreedaysinDenHaagwithBrotherNurSardar.OnNovember3rd,theStitchtingJamaatheldaJalsaonourbehalf.ItwassonicetoseesomanyoftheStitchtingJamaatmembersagainandbeinspiredbytheirzealandenthusiasm.NomanandIbothspokeatthejalsa,andbrotherNurSardar,whowasthechairperson,translatedourspeeches.AlsopresentwasRezaGhafoerkhanandDr.AsifAsgharAliwhoalsodeliveredlecturesthatweregreatlyappreciatedbytheaudience.

TwoguestsfromtheDutchClergyalsoattendedandweregreatlyinterestedinthelectures.Theywereconstantlytakingnoteswhilethespeecheswerebeingdelivered.ThesepriestshaveregularinterfaithmeetingswiththeStitchtingJamaat.Mostinterestingly,oneofthemsaidthatifheeverbecameaMuslim,hewouldjointheAhamadiyyaJamaat!MayAlmightyBlesstheStitchtingJamaatfortheirhardworkand their sacrifice in serving IslamandAhamdiyyat.Asusual,wealsoenjoyedspendingtimewiththehardworkinganddevotedMr.Hoeseni.HisdevotiontoproducingpracticalworkfortheJamaatisalwaysinspiring.OnNovember4th,ourvisitofEuropeended.NomanreturnedtotheUSAandIleftforCairo.WebothwouldliketothankMr.andMrs.NurSardarfortheirwarmhospitalityandthegoodcaretheytookofus.Webothenjoyedeverymomentofourtimewiththemandfeltcompletelyathomewhilestayingwiththem.WepraytoAlmightyAllahtoBlessthemandGrantthemgoodhealth.Also,wewouldliketothankMrHoeseni,thePresidentoftheStitchtingJamaat,andMr.JerrelSardar,theSecretary,fortheirhelpinmakingourstayveryproductiveandcomfortable.MayAlmightyAllahblesseachoneofthemfordoingsomuchworkinthecauseofIslamandAhmadiyyatinHolland.

Dr. Noma Malik with Mr. Bujjar Mullachi and his son in Tirana, Albania

Samina and Fatima Mulluhi in Albania, Egypt

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Mr. Noer Sardar speaking at the Eid Milan Jalsa in Amsterdam

Mr. Jerrel Sardar introducing the audio CD of the Dutch Religion of Islam

Dr. Noman Malik addressing the audience at the Stichting Jalsa

Samina Malik addressing the audience at the Stichting Jalsa

Dr. Asif Asgarali delivering a speech at the Stichting Jalsa

Reza Gafoorkhaw delivering a speech at the Stichting Jalsa

Audience at the Jalsa of the Stichting Jamaat


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BySaminaMalik

OnNovember4th,IarrivedinCairoforasixdaystay.TheUSAJamaathasrentedstoragespaceinCairoforourbooksandhashiredapersontotakecareofthepackinganddispatchingofourbookswhenneeded.ThefollowingbookshavebeensenttomajorityoflibrariesinEgypt:TheReligionofIslam,MuhammadtheProphet,theLivingThoughtsofProphetMuhammad,andManualofHadith.

MashaAllahourArabictranslationprojectisprogressingextremelywell.ThelatestadditionstoourlistofArabicbooksare:

NewWorldOrderIdealProphetAhamdiyyaCase.

ThebooksthathavealreadybeentranslatedintoArabicare:

ReligionofIslamManualofHadithMuhammadtheProphetLivingThoughtof

ProphetMohammadTeachingsofIslamTheIdealProphetNewWorldOrderTheAhmadiyyaCaseTheAhmadiyya

MovementTheEarlyCaliphate

BytheGraceofAlmighty

•••

••••

•••••

•

Allah,ourJamaathasbeenabletoproduceasubstantialcollectionofworkstobeusedforspreadingthetrue,peacefulteachingsofIslamintheArabworld.WearenowplanningonaddingsomemoreoftheimportantbooksabouttheAhmadiyyaJamaattothelistofworkstobetranslatedintoArabic.MayAlmightyAllahrewardallthosewhohave sacrificed their time andwealththisproject.

Inthisvisit,ImadearrangementstohavetheArabicbooksthatwehaveprintedinEgyptshippedfromCairotoourinternationalJamaats.AlsoI,alongwithMr.AhmedAbdelKhalik,wenttodonateasetofourArabicworks–comprisingtheReligionofIslam,MuhammadtheProphet,TheLivingThoughtsoftheProphetMuhammadandtheManual

ofHadith–tothevariousembassiesofMuslim/ArabcountriesinCairo.TheSyrianandJordanembassystaffwereespeciallypleasedtoreceivethesetandinquiredabouthowtoobtainmoresetsforthepurposeofprovidingthemtotheir staff. The Official from the JordanianEmbassyfeltthattheReligionofIslamwouldbe very beneficial for their ReligiousStudiesDepartmentinthemainUniversityofAmmanandaskedifwecouldfacilitatethis.Bothheandthe Official from the Syrian EmbassypromisedtohelpmeinthedistributionofourArabicBooksintheirrespectivecountries.MayAlmightyAllahblessandrewardMaulanaMuhammadAliforhisuntiringeffortsinproducingworkswhichtodayarebeingrecognizedasindispensabletounderstandingIslam.

Distribution of Arabic Books in Egypt and Abroad

Mr. Yousef Abdel Ghani, the First Secretary of the Embassy at the Kingdom of Jordan

in Cairo, Egypt

Left to Right: Samina Malik, First Secretary of the Syrian Embassy in Cairo, Egypt

and a staff member


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TheUSAJamaat’sArabicWebsite

WeareverypleasedtoinformyouthattheUSAJamaathashadtheentireLahoreAhmadiyyaMovementsectiononthemuslim.orgwebsitetranslatedintoArabic.Itiscurrentlybeingproofreadforanycorrections.Atpresent,

wearealsotranslatingtheentireIslamsectionofmuslim.orgintoArabic.InshaAllah,whenthismaterialisplacedonournewlyredesignedandreorganizedwebsite,itwillbeofgreatutilityinspreadingthecorrectinterpretationofIslamamong Arabic people. As first impressionsarealwaysthemostimportant,muchtime

andeffortisbeingputtowardscreatingawebsitethatwillleavealastingimpressiononvisitors.InshaAllah,theredesignedandreorganizedmuslim.orgwillbealeadingsourceofknowledgeaboutIslamontheinternetaswellasasourceofeasilyobtainableandunderstandableinformationaboutAhmadiyyat.

The Audio CD of the entire Maulana Muhammad Ali English Translation of the Holy Quran

TheUSAJamaatisveryhappytoannouncethattheaudioCDoftheoftheEnglishtranslationoftheHolyQuranbyMaulanaMuhammadAliisnowcompleteandavailableforordering.TheretailpriceoftheCDis$14.95.Mrs.SaminaMalikfoundMr.RobertAdams,aprofessionalreaderwhorecordsaudiobooksfortheVancouverPublicLibrarySystem.Thisproducttookalmosttwoyearsinthemaking,asthecheckingfor

accuracyofthecontentsandtechnicalworkrequiredforthetrackingfeaturewasverylaborious.Theentireworkhasbeencheckedfourtimes,bymembersofourJamaat.Inthisregard,Mrs.LubnaAhmadhastakenthelead,performingmostofthechecking.Mrs.SaminaMalikhaspaidfortheentireproject.MayAlmightyAllahblessandrewardherandeveryoneelsecontributingtothisproject.

AlsointheworksistheaudiorecordingofthebookletsIslamtheReligionofHumanityandProphetofIslamandthebooks,TheReligionofIslamandMuhammadtheProphet.Wehavefoundthatthereisagreatdemandforaudiobooks,especiallyfortravelers.Wearetryingtosatisfythisdemand,aswehavedonewithourwrittenpublications.

Other News2500CopiesoftheGerman

TranslationoftheHolyQuranDistributed

TheUSAJamaatisveryhappytoannouncethat,withthehelpoftheStichtingJamaat,wehavedonated2500copiesoftheGermanQurantoamultitudeoflibraries,universities,andgovernmentoffices throughout Germany. TheQuranwasshippedfrom

thewarehouse,whichwasdonatedtousbyMr.JerrelSardar,thatisusedforstorageofourbooksintendedfortheEuropeanmarket.Mr.SabierHoeseniandMr.HasimHoeseni,thePresidentandSecretaryoftheStichtingJamaatrespectively,obtainedalloftherecipientaddressesandmadearrangementswithamailingcompanyfortheactualshipping.MayAlmighty

Allahblessthesemembersfortheireffortsinthisproject.

ItalianTranslationProject

BooksandwebsitecontentstranslatedfromEnglishintoItalian

WethankAlmightyAllahourItaliantranslationprojectisproceedingverywell.Thefollowingsummarizestheworkdonesofar:


Bookstranslatedandprintedtodate

TheHolyQuranLivingThoughtsofProphetMuhammadIslamtheReligionofHumanityProphetofIslamTeachingsofIslamIntroductiontoIslamEarlyCaliphate

Bookstranslatedandundergoingproofreading

ThefollowingbookshavebeentranslatedfromEnglishintoItalian,andinshallah,willbereadyforprintingassoonastheir proof reading is finished:TheReligionofIslamTheManualofHadithJesusinHeavenandEarthTheAhmadiyyaCaseDeathofJesus

ThesectionofIslamonourwebsitewww.muslim.orghasbeentranslatedintoItalian.

Translationworkinprogress

SeveralbooksareintheprocessoftranslationandtheAhmadiyyasectionofourwebsiteisnowbeingtranslatedintoItalian.Pleaseprayforthecontinuedsuccessofthisproject.

FreeDistributionoftheItalianHolyQuran

Inshallah,ournextprojectistosendtheItaliantranslationofourQurantoallthelibraries,universities,government

offices and other opinion makersinItaly,aswasdonewiththeHolyQuraninGermany.ThecostofsendingonecopyoftheHolyQuranamountstoaboutsixeuros.Thisincludesthecostofpurchasingtheaddressesandboxesformailing,packingtheHolyQuranandpostagecharges.AllmemberswishingtoparticipateinthisspiritualjihadarerequestedtocontacttheUSAjamaatatsanomalik@aol.com.

PresidentoftheFijiJamaatPassesAway

Weallmournthesadpassingaway of Mr. Shafi ud Dean SahibthePresidentoftheFijiJamaat.Innalillahiwainnailaihirajioon.ThedeceasedservedtheFijiJamaatwithgreatdistinction.UnderhisexperiencedleadershiptheFijiJamaatmadegreatprogressindistributingjamaatliteratureonIslamandAhamdiyyat.HissincerityinservingIslamandAhmadiyyatwastheessentialqualityinachievingthissuccess.Hiswife,sisterYasmeen,playedagreatroleinhelpinghiminjamaatactivities.Mr.DeanwillbegreatlymissedbytheworldwideAhmadiyyaJamaat.MayAlmightyAllahhavemercyonhimandadmithimtoparadise,andmayhegivehisfamilysabrtobearthisgreatloss.Ameen.

FijiJamaatGenerouslyDonatesforthe

RussianHolyQuranDistributionProject

WeareverypleasedtoannouncethattheFijiJamaathaspledgedadonationof$15,000USDollarstotheUSAJamaatforuseintheRussianQuranProject.MayAlmightyAllahblessthemembersoftheFijiJamaatfortheirconstantencouragementandsacrifice in the cause of Islam.

PassingawayofDr.AyeshaBaig

BySaminaMalik

Dr.AyeshaBaigpassedawayonNovember30th.InnaLillahiwaInnaIlahiRajeoon

ThejanazatookplaceonDecember1stat1:30p.maftertheZuhurprayers.IthankAlmightyAllahthatIcouldmanagetoarriveafewhoursbeforethejanazaprayers.MostofthefamilymembersfromUSAwerepresentatthejanazaprayers.

IhaveknownAyeshaApaforthelast22years.

AyeshaApamigratedfromPakistantoUSAwithherhusbandMr.RahmanBaigandchildrenin1982.I first met her at General AbdullahSaeed’shouseinHouston,Texaswherewespentaweektogether,andIfoundhertobeaverypleasantperson.

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[19]

Shewastheeldestdaughterofourdearjanji(latehazratameer,Dr.SaeedAhmad).JanjihadsomuchpraiseforAyeshaApa.Heusedtotellmethatsheisnotonlymydaughter,butalsoaverygoodfriend.Janjialsotoldmethatshewasanoutstandingchildinthefamily.Aftereveryjalsa,JanjiusedtogiveNomanandmyselfanaudiotapeofhisspeechinthesalanajalsatotakebackforayeshaApa.

AyeshaApaparticipatedinthe2001jalsaoftheUSAJamaatinColumbus,Ohio.ShedidtheopeningoftheLibraryinthemosquewhichwasnamedafterourdearjanji,The

Dr.SaeedAhmadLibrary.WheneverItravelledabroad,IusedtohighlighttheworkofourjamaattoapaAyeshaandsheusedtobeveryhappy,andwasverygladtoknowoftheworkbeingdoneforHazratMirzaSahibandMaulanaMuhammadAli.IstillhavesomeofherletterssenttomewhichinwhichsheexpressedherappreciationabouttheworkofpublicationbeingdonebytheUSAJamaat.SheusedtoorderthebooksofourJamaatanddistributethemfreetononMuslimsandherfamilymembers.

OurdearsisterAyeshaapa

wasaverycourageouspersonwithastrongsenseofjusticewhoalwayssupportedwhatwasright.MayAlmightyAllahGrantheraplaceinparadise.MayAlmightyAllahgiveusthecourageandwisdomtofollowherexample.Sheissurvivedbytwosons,twodaughters,several grand children, five sistersandsixbrothers.Wewillmissherverymuch.MayAlmightyAllahGrantpatiencetoherfamilytobearthisgreatloss.

Holland Stichting Jamaat activities

ExhibitionofLahoreAhmadi-yyaPublicationsbyapubliclibraryduringRamadan2007

ApubliclibraryintheNetherlands,whichwantedtobringthemonthoffasting,Ramadan,tothespecialattentionofthepublic,byorganizinganexhibitionofIslamicliteratureinitslibrary,requestedourhelp.ThislibraryhadmostofourDutchbooksalready,buttheywantedadditionalbooksfortheexhibition.Thebooksweredisplayedinaspecialdisplaycabinetataprominentplaceinthelibrary.ThesebooksincludedtheDutch,German,Russian,ItalianandFrenchtranslationsof

theHolyQuranbyMaulanaMuhammadAli,,theDutchtranslationsofTheReligionofIslamandMuslimPrayerBookbyMaulanaMuhammadAli,IntroductiontoIslambyDr.ZahidAziz,CommentaryontheHolyQuran(Ch.102to114)byDr.BasharatAhmad,andotherbooksandinformationalliteraturepublishedbyStichtingAhmadiyyaIsha’at-i-Islam.Whentheexhibitionwasover,thenewtranslationsofTheHolyQuraninGermanandItalianaswellastheRussiantranslationweredonatedtothelibrary.Inthenearfuture,StichtingAhmadiyyaIsha’at-i-Islam

willdistributetheGermanandItaliantranslationstouniversitiesandothermainlibrariesinHolland.

FirstcopyoftheDutchRe-ligionofIslamonMP3pre-sentedtoProf.Dr.P.S.vanKoningsveldofLeidenUni-versity

StichtingAhmadiyyaIsha’at-i-IslamhasrecordedtheDutchtranslationoftheReligionofIslambyMaulanaMuhammadAli(ISBN90-5268-015-8)inMP3format.ThelengthoftherecordingofthisSevenhundredandtwentysevenpagebookisthirtyninehours.Itishopedthat,inshallah,thisrecording


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will prove very beneficial to thevisuallyimpaired.TheReligionofIslamhasbeengiven an approval certificate byAl-AzharinEgypt.AnArabictranslationofthebookhasbeenprintedbyUSAJamaat.

AfterEid-ulFitrsalaat,whichwasattendedbymorethan500people,themeetingwasextendedforaspecialreason.Atthismeeting,thefirst copy of the MP3 version oftheDutchrecordingoftheReligionofIslamandtheArabictranslationoftheReligionofIslamwerepresentedtoProf.Dr.P.S.vanKoningsveldofLeidenUniversitybyMr.NoerSardar,vicepresidentofStichtingAhmadiyyaisha’at-i-Islam.Prof.Dr.P.S.vanKoningsveldistheheadofTheDepartmentofIslamicTheologyoftheworldrenownedLeidenUniversity.ThenewlyrevisedDutchtranslationoftheTheReligionofIslampublishedseveralyearsagobyStichtingAhmadiyyaIsha’at-i-IslamhadbeenpresentedpreviouslytoProfessorVanKoningsveld.Inhisspeech,VanKoningsveldsaidthattheoldDutchtranslationofthisbooktranslatedbySoedewoandpublishedbyAhmadiyyaAnjumanIsha’atIslamIndonesiahadbeenusedbyLeidenuniversityforsomedecadesandnowthisnewlyprintedtranslationoftheStichtingjamaatwasalsobeingusedatthisuniversity.

Hesaidthat,forthisreason,hewasverypleasedtoreceivetheMP3versionandtheArabictranslationofthisveryimportantbookfromtheStitchtingjamaat.HesaidthattheuniversitywouldusethisArabictranslationasatextbookforstudentsofArabic.Afterthis,heelaboratedontheimportanceoftheReligionofIslam,praisingitshighacademicstandardanditsrelevanceintheworldtoday.Hesaidthatthisbookwasoneofthebestbooksavailableforacademicstudies.

MrA.S.HoesenistatedduringhisspeechthatthepurposeofthepresentMP3publicationwastomaketheveryimportantcontentsofthebookaccessibletothegeneralpublicandespeciallytothosewithavisualhandicapwhocouldnotreadtheprintedtext.

Mr.Goerdin,directorofStichtingFederationEEKTAandMrN.Sardaralsodeliveredaspeechatthisspecialmeeting.

TheStichtingAhmadiyyaIsha’at-i-Islamisthankfultomr.JerrelSardarandhis wife mrs. Shafida SardarwhomadethisMP3recordingprojectpossible.Specialmeeting

InthebeginningofNovember,aspecialJalsahwasorganized,whereDr.NomanMalikofUSAJamaatwasthe

mainspeaker.HegaveaveryinterestingtalkonTheFaithofAbraham.OtherspeakerswereRezaGhafoerkhan,Dr.AsifAsgaraliandmrsSaminaMalik.ThismeetingwasattendedbymembersoftheFederationAhmadiyyaIsha’atIslamNederlandandbysomeChristiansguestswhohadinterestingquestionsforthespeakers,speciallyforDrNomanMalik.Becausesomespeakerstookmoretimefortheirtopicthanexpected,andbecauseofthequestionandanswersession,thismeetinghadtobeextendedbyanhourtosatisfytheaudience.

DutchQuran

TheSaleandfreedistributionoftheDutchHolyQuranintheNetherlands,BelgiumandSurinameisdoingwell,bytheGraceofAlmightyAllah.TheDutchQuranisavailableinallthemajorbookshopsinthesecountries.Three of the five major bookshops,andalsosomeJamaatssellthenewDutchHolyQuraninSuriname.

Shabbier Hoeseni with Prof. Dr. P.S. Van Roningsveld of Leiden University


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Mr. Noer Sardar donates the Dutch MP3 audio CD of the Religion of Islam to Prof. Dr.

P.S. Van Koningsveld of Leiden University

Eid Khutba by Reza Gafoorkhan

MP3 CD of the Dutch Religion of Islam

Stichting Jamaat participating in a Holland bookfair

Stichting Jamaat children’s activities

Conversion of Dutch Youth to Islam

ADutchyouth,whowasafriendofthegrandsonsofBrotherNurSardar,AzeizSardar,becameamuslimafterIslamwasexplainedtohimbythetwoyouths.TheyouthtookthemuslimnameofHamid.Theaccountofhisconversioninhisownwordsisreproducedbelow.

MayAlmightyAllahblessAziezandhiscousinforeffortsintheserviceofIslam.Ameen!

Salaamaleikum,

Thisisanarticleaboutmy

conversiontotheIslam,myshahadah.Iwilltellyouaboutmymotivations:whyIbecameaMuslimandwhattheIslammeansinmydailylife.

ForalongtimeIhadaskedmyselfwhywewherecreated,andwhatpurposemankindhadinthislife.It was time for me to find mypurposeinlife.Iknewtherewasareason,soIwentsearchingforthereasonwhyIwasbroughttolife.IfoundoutthattheanswerwasAllah.

Allahistheonewhocreatedmankind.Ifsomebodyleadsagoodlifeanddoesgooddeeds,thenthatpersonwillgotoparadise,butifthatpersonlivesabadlifetherewouldbeaneternityinhellwaitingforhimorher.Lifeisatest.OnjudgementdayAllahwilldecideovermankind,becauseheknows,seesandhearseverything.Allahgavemethislife,gavemeeyestosee,earstolisten.IneededthereligionwhereIfeltclosetoAllah.ThereligionwhereIfeltat


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home,apureandwonderfulreligion.IbegantoreadtheQur’an.AskingquestionsaboutIslamtomyIslamicfriends.IrealisedthattheIslamwastherightreligionforme.I’mreallyhappyIdidmyshahadah,myconversiontoIslam.AftermyshahadahIfeltliketherealmehascomeout.NowadayswhenIwakeupIthankAllahforgivingmeanotherdayon

thisearth.TheleastIcandoishonourhim,thankhimforeverythinghehasdoneforme,andobeyhimbyfollowingtheQur’an.

IbelieveinAllah,andfollowtheQur’anbylivingbyitsrules,Iwillpraytohimeveryday,andhopeIwillfollowhispath,thepathtoAllah.AllahuAkbar.

byMr.EbrahimMohammad

Thisyearwelaunchedayouthprogram,entitledSeekersandThinkers.Theideaistostimulateaprocessof‘thinking’and‘searchingfortruth’amongsttheyouth.SubjectssuchastheexistenceofGOD,Creation,issuesfacingtheyouthandtheroleofreligioncameunderdiscusiion.Theideaistoinculcateabehaviourofquestioning,pondering and reflection insteadofblindfollowing.Themeetingswereagreatsuccessinthattheyouthshowedgreatinterestandparticipatedfreelyinthediscussions.AnewmemberhasjoinedtheJamaat.HisnameisShafiek Hendricks. He was managingabookshopthatheldourbooks,theInternationalBookServices.Anothercolleagueofhis,ispresentlyalsoshowingmuchinterestintheMovement.Iam confident he will also join

Hamid accepts Islam

News from South Africa Jamaat

soon.BoththesegentlemenhavestudiedIslamicstudiesatlocalcollegesandwilladdgreatvalueandlearningtoourgroup.WeareconstantlyapproachedforbooksespeciallytheHolyQuran,TheReligionofIslam,TheIdealProphetandJesusinHeavenonEarth.TheInternationalBookServiceshaveclosedforawhilebuthasreopenedundernewmanagement.ThenewmanagementarethemanagementofanewIslamicuniversitystartedherenamedtheInternationalPeaceUniversity.IhavebeentoldthroughacontactthatthePrincipalisfavourabletoourliterature.Iwillinduecourseapproachhimtoenquireifheneedsanyofourbooksforsalethroughthebookshop.WearegratefultotheUSAJamaatforprovidingusQuranandotherbooks

forfreedistribution.Wehavequarterlyadmin.meetings,JumuaandEidGatheringsatmyresidence.Inshallah,mywifeandIwillbeattendingtheconventionoftheUSAJamaatinthecomingyear.


Eid Khutba by Ebrahim Muhammed (President South Africa Jamaat)

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EbrahimMohamed,SouthAfrica

Rabb-annaa aatinna fie-doenyaaghassannatanWafiel aghierata ghassannatan Waqeenaaathaabannaar.

OurLordgrantusgoodinthisworldandgoodintheHereafterandsaveusfromthechastisementof the fire. (2:201))

DearBrothersandSisterswepraythatAlmightyAllahshouldblessusallthisdayofEid,byansweringalloursupplicationsforgoodnessinthislifeandtheafterlifeandpardonourfaultsandmistakesandsaveusfromthetormentsandhumiliationofhellonthisearthandinthehereafter.Thegoodnessthatweseekisthateverlastingpeacefulandever-recurring(ID)joyousstatewhichovercomesoursouls(i.e.ourverybeings)aswedrawcloserandclosertoourCreatorandSustainer.ThemonthofRamadaanisindeedthebesttimetoattainamorepronouncedawarenessofourCreatoraswecollectivelystrivetogetclosertoHimthroughourprayersandobservanceofourfasts.AfterRamadaanweshouldmakesincereeffortscontinueinthesamespirit,strivetoobtainatrueknowledgeoftheHolyBookandengageineffortstospreadthegoodnewscontainedtherein.Thegoodnessinthisworld

thattheHolyQuranrefersto,nodoubtmeansthatbytreadingaGodlypath,innowaymeansthatweshoulddepriveourselvesofthe‘goodlyprovisions’thatAlmightyAllahhasprovidedforus.Theversegivesaclearandsuccinct,panoramicsketchofourorigion,existenceonearthandprogressiontoahigherfuturisticstateandhintsatpossibledireconsequenceswemightfaceifweneglecttotakeduecareofbodyandsoul.Andnodoubt,thebestprescriptiononhowtotakecareofbodyandsoulisindeedtobefoundintheintheHolyQuranandtheexampleofourbelovedprophetMuhammad(PBUH).

TheverseaboveisaprayertaughtbytheAlmightyHimself.IsitnotamazingthatOurLordAlmightyactuallyteachesushowtopraytoHimbytellinguswhattoaskofHim?WoulditnotbefoolishofusnottoaskofHimourneeds?Weshouldnotethatalthoughweareactuallytaughttoaskfor good in this life first, the versestrikesaneatbalancebetweenthislifeandtheafterlifei.e.our‘earthly’lifeand‘spiritualorheavenlylife’.Itimpliesthatinordertoliveagoodbalancedlifethatwillultimatelyleadtoapeacefulexistencehereandinthehereafter,thereshouldbenoextremitiesoneithersideinrespectofourbodily

orspiritualneedsonearth.

TheHolyQurandoesnotacceptthedervishpracticeofretreatingtothewoodstoliveanunproductiveliferemotefromallsocietyasashowofpiety.Forourmoralandspiritualgrowth,weneedtoliveamongstsocietywhereweequallyfacethechallengesandseveritiesoflife.Weneedtoengageinhonestworkinordertosustainourselves.SaystheHolyQuran,“Formen is the benefit of what theyearn.Andforwomenisthe benefit of what they earn “(4:32).ThereisnoasceticisminIslam.Asceticismreferstothoseextravoluntaryspiritualactsthatpeoplesometimesresorttoattheexpenseoftheirworldlyduties.Nooneisallowedtogotothelengthofneglectinghisworldlydutiesforthesakeofreligiousexercises.Religionismeanttoenableamantoliveabetterlife,andvoluntaryacts(suchasfasting)shouldbeundertakenonlyiftheaimistoenablemantoachievethisobjective.ThisismadeclearinthestoryofAbuDardaandSalman,betweenwhombrotherhoodwasestablishedbytheHolyProphet.OnedaySalmanpaidavisittoAbuDardaandsawhiswifeinastateofneglect.Beingaskedthereason,shesaidthatherhusband,AbuDardahadbecomeanascetic(i.e.devotedhimselfsolely


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toreligiousexercises).WhenAbuDardacamehomeandthemealswereserved,herefusedtoeatbecausehesaidhewasfasting..Salmanhimselfwouldnoteat,outofcourtesyuntilAbuDardaateandthereforehadtowaituntilAbuDardabrokehisfast.Atnightalso,afterashortsleepAbuDardawokeupfortahajjud(voluntarynightprayers).SalmansaidhestillwishedtocontinuesleepinguntilthelatterpartofthenightwhenhewokeupandjoinedAbuDardainthetahajjudprayers.ItwasthenthatSalmandecidedtoapproachAbuDardaandsaidtohim,“VerilythouowestadutytothyLordandthouowestadutytothywifeandchildren.”WhenthiswasmentionedtotheHolyProphet(PBUH),heapprovedofwhatSalmanhadsaidanddone(B30:51)Here,thereforethehusbandwasforbiddentofast,forthesakeofhiswife(ifmeantshewouldbeneglectedthereby).Similarlythewifeshouldnotresorttovoluntaryfastswithoutthepermissionofthehusband(B67:85)asitcreatesdisharmonyinthehome.Alsoifyouhaveagueststayingwithyouthenyouasthehostshouldnotplacetheguestatdiscomfiture by resorting to voluntaryfasts.Sonowweseetakingmatterstotheextreme,evenmattersofaspiritualnatureisforbiddeninIslam.

Soweshouldstrikeabalancebetweentheneedsofthis

worldandthenext.Ontheotherhand,topreventusfromindulgingexcessivelyintheexploitsofthisworldandneglectourspiritualduties,Islam has ordained specific timesforresortingtoprayer.PrayerseekstoinstilltheconvictionthatGodisalivingforceinourdailylives.Butweshouldbecarefulthatwedonotengageinprayerinaritualisticmannerformereshow.TheHolyQuranwarnsus,“Sowoetotheprayingones,whoareunmindfuloftheirprayer,whodogoodtobeseen,andrefrainfromactsofkindness”(107:4-7).TheplaceofprayerintheselfdevelopmentofmanisgivensuchprominenceinIslamthatinthecalltoprayerthewords‘cometoprayer’areimmediatelyfollowedbythewords“cometosuccess“AndtheHolyQuranstressesthepointthat“Successfulindeedarethebelieverswhoarehumbleintheirprayers”(23:1,2)

InhisbooktheMalfuzatHazratMirzaGhulamAhmad,theMujjadidofthisagewritesthefollowingaboutprayer(duah)

“Du‘aisnotjustthemumblingofafewwords,forthisamountstonothingwhatsoever.Thetruemeaningofdu‘aistobeseechAllah,MostHigh,sincerelyforHisassistance.Thispetitionbecomesperfectandefficacious only when man surrendershisalltoAllah,

MostHigh,withtotalanguishofheart,perturbationandheart-burningandmakessupplicationsoferventlythathissoulmeltslikewaterand flows at the threshold of DivineUnity.Forexample,lookathowapersonwhoisembroiledinamisfortuneimportunespeopleforhelpinmovingtermsandseewhatawonderfulchangeandtransformationhisappealundergoes–thetoneofhisvoicebecomesfullofanguishwhichattractsthemercyofpeople.

Similarly,whenapersonmakesdu‘atoAllah,MostHigh,thetoneofhisvoicechanges also and is filled withtendernessandpainthatcausesthefountainofDivinitytogushforthwithmercy.Whendu‘aisbeingmadethemodulationofone’svoiceshouldbesuchthateverylimbofthebodyisaffectedandmeeknessandhumilityissuefromthetongue.Theheart must also be filled with softnessandagonyandthelimbsmustsurrenderwithtotalsubmissiontotheCreator.

Overandaboveallthis,onemusthaveconsummatefaithinAllah’smercyandgenerosityandentertaincompletehopeofacceptanceofone’sentreaty.IfoneshouldfallattheDivinethresholdinsuchastatehewillneverbedisappointedandinthisconditionheshouldbeseechtheAlmightyoverandoverinthefollowingmanner:


“DearMaster,Iamnothingbutaweak,helplesssinner.WithoutThysupportandmercyIcanneveramounttoanything.PleasehavepityonmeandcleansemeofmysinsforwithoutThykindnessandgracethereisnooneelsewhocanpurifyme.”

WhenapersonmakesthiskindofpetitionrepeatedlyandcontinuouslyandseeksAllah’sassistancewithpatienceandperseverancethenatsomeunforeseentimealightwilldescendfromAllah,MostHigh,andpeacewillsuffusetheheartofthesupplicantandthusthedarknesswhich

formerlycoveredhisheartwillbedispelled.Allah,MostHigh,willthenendowhimwithapowerthatcreatesrevulsioninhisheartforsinsfromwhichhewillbesaved.Atthispointhewillrealisethathisheartwhichhadbecomeseizedandimprisonedinlowpassionsandcarnaldesiresasifhundredsofthousandsofchainshadfetteredhimandweredrawinghimhelplesslytowardsalifeofsinfulness– at this stage he will find thatthesechainshavebeenmiraculously cut in a flash andhehasbeenliberated.Hisformerloveforsinwillbereplacedbyhatredfor

itandinsteadoffearandhatredforAllah,MostHigh,loveforHimandamagneticattractioninhisheartforhisLordwillbebornastheHolyQur’andelineatesin49:7-8:“…butAllahhasendearedthefaithtoyouandhasmadeitseemlyinyourhearts,andHehasmadehatefultoyoudisbeliefandtransgressionanddisobedience.Sucharethosewhoarerightlyguided—AgracefromAllahandafavour.”BarakAllah

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Local Activities

AmbassadorsofPeace

Dr.Malik,SaminaMalikandFazeelKhanwererecentlyinvitedtoattendaconferencepresentedbythe“UniversalPeaceFederation”.TheUPFisaninternationalorganizationveryactiveininter-religiousworks.SeveralmembersfromthisorganizationattendedtheUSAJamaat2007AnnualConventioninwhichasymposiumwaspresentedon“TheFaithofAbraham”.Havingtheopportunitytogettoknowuspersonally,learnaboutourJamaatandseetheworkthatwedo,theorganizationwantedtorecognizemembersfromourJamaatas“AmbassadorsforPeace”.Ambassadorsfor

Peace,astheyexplain,are:

Individualswhoselivesexemplifytheidealoflivingforthesakeofothers,andwhodedicatethemselvestopromotinguniversalmoralvalues,strongfamilylife,interreligiouscooperation,internationalharmony,renewaloftheUnitedNations,responsiblemassmedia,andtheestablishmentofaglobalcultureofpeace.Transcendingracial,nationalandreligiousbarriers,theAmbassadorsforPeacecontribute to the fulfillment ofthehopeofallages,a unified world of peace, whereinthespiritualandmaterialdimensionsofallrealityareharmonized.

AtaneventindowntownColumbus,Ohio,inwhichapproximately3000peopleparticipated,FazeelKhanwascalled on stage with five other communityleadersandwaspresentedanAmbassadorfor Peace certificate. Dr. MalikandMrs.SaminaMalikwerealsopresentedsimilar certificates later in the program.ButthehighlightofthenightwasthatDr.MalikwasaskedtopresentanIslamicprayertotheaudienceofabout3000.Onstage,alongwithaChristianpriestandJewishrabbi,Dr.MalikrecitedtheSuraFatihaandspoke about its significance. Thenon-Muslimparticipantswereverypleasedtohearsuchenlighteningprinciples


inIslam.Moreinterestinglythough,wasthereactionofthelargegroupofMuslimattendeeswhoappearedmostenthusedbythecommentaryonSuraFatiha,mashaAllah.Thisfriendshipwithgroupsfromotherfaiths,liketheUPF, is of great benefit in presentingpeopletherationalandenlighteningprinciplesofIslamthattheyarenormallynotexposedto.WeplantocontinueworkingwithUPFaswedowithotherinter-faithorganizationsinspreadingpeaceandtoleranceamongpeopleofvariousfaiths.

MuhammadAlexanderRus-sellWebb

AnewbookaboutMuhammadAlexanderRussellWebbwaspublishedrecently,titled:“AMusliminVictorianAmerica”.Whenresearchingandwritingthisbook,theauthor’sstaffhadbeeninconstantcontactwithMrs.SaminaMalik.Astheauthor,UmarF.Abd-Allah–whoistheChairandScholar-in-ResidenceattheNawawiFoundationbasedinChicago–writesinthebook:

IamobligedtoSaminaMalikoftheLahoriAhmadiyyaCommunityofPlainCity,Ohio,forherassistanceinprovidingprimarysourcematerialrelevanttoWebb’scorrespondencewithMirzaGhulamAhmad.

ThebookdevotesanentiresectiononMr.Webb’scontactswithHazratMirza

Sahib,includingtheletterscommunicatedbetweenthetwo.Hewritesonpage60ofhisbook:

TwoyearsbeforehismovetothePhilippines,whereheacceptedIslam,WebbinitiatedaremarkablecorrespondenceaboutIslamwiththeIndianMuslimscholarMirzaGhulamAhmad.MirzaAhmadwouldsoonbecometheobjectofgreatcontroversy,butthatwasnotyetthecasewhenWebbwrotehim.Atthetime,MirzaAhmadwasrecognizedasoneoftheforemostMuslimscholarsofIndiaandwasactivelyinvolvedinmakingIslamknowntotheWest,especiallythroughpersonalcorrespondencewithprominentWesterners.WebbcametoknowofMirzaGhulamAhmad’sinterestincorrespondingwithpersonsinterestedinIslamandwrotealettertohim.TheWebb-MirzaAhmadlettersareanessentialpartofWebb’sbiographyandareofgreatnotebecausetheywereapreludetoWebb’slatercorrespondencewithIndianMuslimsandpresagedmanyofhislaterconcernsaboutIslam,eventhepossibilityofcreatinganIslamicmissioninAmerica.

Onpage61,hefurtherclarifies: “Webb’s first clear steptowardIslam,however,wasexpressedinhiscorrespondencebetween1886and1887withMirzaAhmad”.

TheauthorgoesontodiscussthecontroversysurroundingHazratMirzaSahibintheIndiansubcontinentshortlythereafterandthatthiswasthebasisforhimnotvisitingHazratMirzaSahibwhenhevisitedIndia,despite:

Webbexpress[ing]aninterestinvisitingMirzaAhmadduringtheirstayinHyderabad,remarkingthatMirzaGhulamAhmandhaddonehim“agreatfavor”bybringinghimtoIslam.

ThebooknotonlyrevealstheconnectionsHazratMirzaSahibhadwiththisearlymovementofestablishingIslaminAmerica,italsoextensivelyreferstotheIslamicReviewandotherpublicationsfromtheWokingMission.DetailsareprovidedabouttheearlystagesofpropagationworkinEngland,referringtowell-knownconvertslikeLordHeadly.Infact,apictureofLordHeadleywithKhwajaKamal-u-Dinisincludedonpage77.SpeakingoftheearlyspreadofIslaminEngland,theauthorstatesonpage72:

Lord Headley figured most prominentlyamongtheBritishconvertsofthetime,andnodoubthisconversionandactiveparticipationintheWokingMosqueoutsideofLondonandtheIslamicReview,whichitpublished,wereunderlyingfactorsinmanyofthoseconversions.

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ThebookisanobjectivereviewoftheearlyspreadofIslam in the West. It confirms theconnectionstheLahoreAhmadiyyaJamaathadwiththiswork.WhetheritbecorrespondenceswithMr.WebbinAmerica,thedistributionofacademicliteraturemadeavailableinthePhilippines,thecreationoftheWokingMissionandpublicationoftheIslamicReviewinEngland,ortheestablishmentoftheBerlinMissioninGermany,thebookrevealsthattheLahoreAhmadiyyaJamaatplayedacentralroleinlayingthefoundationsforthespreadofIslamintheWest.Thisbook,whichisalreadyquitepopularamongMuslimsintheU.S.,providesreaderswiththeopportunitytore-evaluatepreconceivednotionsaboutthisJamaat.Certainly,thequestionmustarisewhenreadingthisbook:howcouldanorganizationthatistodayregardedbymanyasoutsidethepaleofIslam,havedonesomuchworkforinstitutingthespreadofIslamintheWest?Allgenuineandsincerereaderswillhavetoresolvethe obvious conflict between recordedhistoryandtalesfromuninformedcontemporaries.

ThebookisavailablefromAmazon.com.Itcanalsobesearchedandpreviewedat:http://www.amazon.com/Muslim-Victorian-America-Alexander-Russell/dp/0195187288.

StatehouseIftarDinner

OnOctober9,2007,FazeelS.KhanwasinvitedtoanIftardinnerattheOhioStatehouse.Sponsoredbythetwentysix-memberbi-partisanHostCommitteecomposedoftheOhioSenateandHouseofRepresentatives,theeventwasattendedbymorethan30StateSenatorsandHouseRepresentatives,OhioStateHomelandSecurity,OhioStateDepartmentofPublicSafety,Deansoflocal-areauniversities,clergyandreligiousleaders,localbusinessmenandstudents.Itservedasawonderfulopportunityforpeoplefromallwalksoflifetosocialize,establishdialogueandcelebratediversity.TheIftardinnerwasorganizedbytheColumbus,OhiobasedSciotoEducationalFoundation.Aslideshowoftheeventisavailableat:http://www.sefohio.org/template/statehouse.html.

AAIIL(USA)2008Convention

AAIIL(USA)willberecognizingthe100yeardeathanniversaryofHazratMirzaSahibbydevotingitsannualconventionin2008totheremembranceofthelife,missionandvisionofthisgreatsaint.TheConventionnextyearwillbeheldonJune27-29,2008.Pleasemarkyourcalendarsandmakeappropriatearrangementsforyourparticipationatyourearliestconvenience.

Thesymposiumthatisheldinconjunctionwiththeconvention–theforuminwhichguestsfromotherfaiths,academics,clergyandpolitical figures attend – will be titled“ReformingtheMuslimWorld:AcriticalassessmentofthereformsprofferedbyHazratMirzaGhulamAhmad(1835-1908),acenturylater”.TheobjectiveistopresentareviewofHazratMirza’steachingsandlessonsonIslaminamannerthatwillrevealitsutilityinbringingaboutreformintheMuslimworld.Thepresentationtopicswillbeasfollows:

ReformingtheMuslimWorld

A critical assessment of the reforms proffered by Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (1835-1908), a century later.

1.TheNeedforReform:Ananalysisofthepolitical,intellectualandspiritualconditionoftheMuslimworldinthe19thand20thcenturies.

2.MirzaGhulamAhmad:IntroducingaMuslimleaderwhosevisionofIslamtranscendedthecontemporary,religiousandpoliticalclimateinwhichhelived.

3.Jihad,HolyWarandTerrorism:Thedenunciationofextremistideologiesandawarningofitsdireconsequencestothereligion

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ofIslamandhumanityatlarge,acenturypriorto9-11.

4.Reason,LogicandRationality:ThecausesofsocietalandpoliticaldeclineintheMuslimworldandtheapplicationofanacademicapproachtothestudyandinterpretationofIslam.

5.Fundamentalism,fromEasttoWest:Theriseinreligiousfundamentalismandtherolethatliteralism,particularlyinthecaseoflatter-dayprophecies,playsinshapingcurrentworldevents.

6.AMessageofPeace:LayingthefoundationsforunityamongstMuslimsandaplatformforpeacefulcohabitationbetweentheMuslimandnon-Muslimworlds.

ShouldyourequireanymoreinformationabouttheConvention,pleasecontactSaminaMalikat(614)[email protected].

ArticleinColumbusBarLawyer’s

Quarterly

ByFazeelS.Khan,Esq.

Recently,IwasaskedbytheEditorsoftheColumbusBarLawyer’sQuarterlytowriteanarticleonIslamfortheirperiodical.IsubmittedashortpiecediscussingwhatI

believetobeafundamentallyimperativeapproachtofacilitatingtheacceptanceandspreadofdemocracyintheMuslimworld.MyobjectivewastoexposethereadersoftheperiodicaltosomeoftheestablishedprinciplesfromIslamicscriptureandearlyhistorythatcorrelatewith,andthereforearesupportiveof,theinstitutionofademocraticformofgovernment.Forthesakeofmakingthearticleappealingtothereadersoftheperiodical,itwaspresentedintheformofanargumentabout the benefits of the use of“semantics”infacilitatingthespreadofdemocracyintheMuslimworld.Thearticleisreproducedbelow.TheissueoftheColumbusBarLawyer’sQuarterlyinwhichthearticlewaspublishedisalsoavailableonlineat:http://www.cbalaw.org/members/publications/barbriefs/CBLQFall2007.pdf.

WHAT’SINANAME?

The role of semantics in facilitating the spread of “democracy” in the Muslim world

Thewordsemanticsiscommonly defined as “the meaningthatcanbederivedfromwordsorsomeotherformofexpression.”Aslawyers,wearequitefamiliarwiththevalueofsemantics.Whetheritisawordinastatute,atermfoundinadecision,oranidiomusedbyawitness,

weutilizesemanticstoargueinterpretationsthatfurtherourclients’interests.Weprovidemeaningstowordsthatgobeyondtheircommonimportsothatthesubstanceofwhatisbeingpresentedmaybecaptured.Theprocessofemployingeffectiveinterpretationstowordsinorder to further a specific agenda,however,mayprovebeneficial beyond the realm of“lawyering”;itmayalsohelppromotedemocracyintheMuslimworld.

Theworddemocracyhasnosingle definition. It means differentthingstodifferentpeople.Forsome,itequatestoasystemofgovernancewhereinawrittenconstitutionissupreme.TheBritishthoughwouldnecessarilydisagree,fortheyhavenowrittenconstitution.Forothers,itmeansagoverningstructurewhereinpersonsareelectedstrictlybypopularvote.This,however,doesnotholdtrueinrepresentativedemocraciesliketheU.S.Stillothersviewdemocracyasapoliticalschemewherebyallpeopleareguaranteedequality.Tryreconcilingthiswiththecastesystemprevalentintheso-calledlargestdemocracyintheworld,India,ortheyearsofslaveryexperiencedinAmerica’searlyhistory.Clearly,whenpromotingsomethingascomplexandmultifacetedasdemocracytotheMuslimworld–wheretheconceptisgenerallyheld

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suspectasaninherentlywesternideathatattemptstodenythesovereigntyofGodoverHiscreationthroughtheestablishmentofman-maderules–amoredescriptiveinterpretationofthetermisrequired.

Ageneralconsensusmaybereached in defining democracy, atitscore,asasystemofgovernancewherein:1)majorityopinionisaccepted,and2)minority/individualrightsareprotected.Bydeconstructingthetermtothisbasictwopartformula,thesystembeingpromotedismoreeasilyunderstood.It demystifies the western conceptbyprovidingtangiblemechanismsthatmaybecorrelatedwithestablishedprinciplesfoundinIslamictradition.

Forinstance,theessenceof majority rule finds explicit supportintheQuran,theholyscriptureofIslam.TheQuran,initsforty-secondchaptertitledAl-Shura(“TheCounsel”),specifically praises those: “whoseaffairsare(decided)bycounselamongthemselves”(42:38).Inthisverse,wefind the foundation for the establishmentofagovernmentbycouncilorparliamentarygovernment.ThisprinciplewasputintopracticebynootherthanMuhammadhimself,theholyprophetofIslam.Recordedhistorybearswitnesstohimnotonlyengaginginconsultative

processeswithregardtoadministrativemattersandstateaffairs,butalsoacceptingthemajorityviewdespitehispersonalopinionattimesbeingtothecontrary.

ThebasisofamajorityrulesystemisfurtherespousedinIslamictraditionbytheQuraninstructing:“SurelyGodcommandsyoutomakeover(positionsof)trust(ingovernmentoraffairsofthestate)tothoseworthyofthem”(4:58).Thisverseplainlycallsfortheinstitutionalizationofanelectoralprocesswherebythepeopledeterminewhotheywantastheirrepresentatives.ThisprinciplewasalsopracticallydemonstratedintheearlyhistoryofIslambytheMuslimselectingthefirst four Khalifas (i.e. heads ofstateafterMuhammad)eitherbyagreementofallparties,bynominationafterconsultationwithleadingrepresentativesofthecommunity,orbyappointmentbyanelectivecouncil.

Similarly,thefundamentalelementsoftheminority/individualrightsnotionareunequivocallyupheldinIslamictradition.TheQuranchampionstheequalityofallmankind:“Allmenareasinglenation”(2:213).Italsofeatureswhatsomebelievetobethemagnacartaofreligioustolerancebydeclaring:“Thereisnocompulsioninmattersofreligion”(2:256).Eventheeconomicindependenceofthe

sexesisadvanced:“Formenis the benefit of that they earn. And for women the benefit of whattheyearn”(4:32).Again,undisputedhistorybearstestimonytothedistinguishedcivillibertiesenjoyedbynon-MuslimsunderearlyMuslimrule,theprotectedstatusofJewsinSpainbeinganillustriousexample.Andjustasitisunderstoodinwesterndemocraciesthattheformationoffairandimpartialtribunalsthataddresstheclaimsofaggrievedpartiesisessentialtoensuretheprotectionofminority/individualrights,theQuranlikewiseprovides:“Judgebetweenallmenjustlyandfollownotanybias,lestitleadtheeastrayfromthepathoftruth”(38:26).Muhammadhimselfappliedthisprincipletothefullestextentpossible.HeprovidedpersonsofotherfaithslivingwithinMuslimcommunitiestheoption,incertaincircumstances,ofbeingjudgedaccordingtotheirownlaws,iftheysochose,sothatfairadjudicationmaybeachieved.

Clearly,thefoundationalcomponentsunderlyingthebroadtermdemocracysharemanycommonalitieswithentrenchedIslamicprinciplesgoverningstatehood.Unfortunately,thetermdemocracyinandofitselfdoesnotinstinctivelystrikesuchparallelsinthemindsofcommonMuslimslivinginpurported“IslamicStates”.

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Rather,itismoreoftenthannotperceivedasaforeignconcept,atoddswiththebasictenetsoftheirfaith.InordertospreaddemocracyintheMuslimworld,thismisunderstandingmustbecorrected.Theestablishmentofdemocraticformsofgovernmentinthisregionismuchmorelikelytoberealizedifthebasicconceptsofmajorityruleandminority/individualrightsarepresentedintermsofthepeople’sownauthoritativetraditions.

Theprocessofexplainingsomethingbydeconstructingittoitsbasicelements,though,iscertainlynotlimitedtotheexperienceoflawyers.Rather,itisanaturalphenomenoninwhich,whetherconsciousornot,everyoneengages.Weinstinctivelyrecognizethatwhensomethingisnotunderstoodandanexplanationisrequired,bypresentingrudimentarypartsofthelarger,morecomplicatedconcept,the“thing”beingexplainedmaybemoreeasilycomprehended.Intuitively,weknowthisisthebasisofknowledgeandlearning:bycompartmentalizingandreconcilingthebasicelementsofsomething,onemayacquireafullrealizationandappreciationofit.Thisprocessoflearningisalsouniquely“human”.Itisonly“man”thathastheabilitytostudythebasicelementsofathinginorder

tocompletelyappreciateitstruenature,ratherthan,asothercreation,simplyacceptathingoraphenomenonforitsmereoutward/physical/obviouscharacteristics.Thisistheprimaryqualitythatdistinguishesmanfromothercreation–man,issimplysmarterthisway.AndthisuniversalprincipleisbeautifullyillustratedintheHolyQuran.

InChapter2verses31-33oftheHolyQuran,itisstated:

31AndHetaughtAdamallthenames,thenpresentedthemtotheangels;Hesaid:TellMethenamesofthoseifyouareright.

32Theysaid:GlorybetoThee!wehavenoknowledgebutthatwhichThouhasttaughtus.SurelyThouarttheKnowing,theWise.

33Hesaid:OAdam,informthemoftheirnames.Sowhenheinformedthemoftheirnames,Hesaid:DidInotsaytoyouthatIknowwhatisunseenintheheavensandtheearth?AndIknowwhatyoumanifestandwhatyouhide.

Thesectioninwhichtheseversesappear,dealswiththenatureofman.Using“Adam”asanillustrationandrepresentationof“man”ingeneral,wearetoldthatGod“taughtAdamallthenames”.AsMaulanaMuhammadAliexplainsinhiscommentaryontheseverses,althoughtheArabicwordasmaliterally

signifies names, what is meantisthatGodtaughtman“theattributesofthingsandtheirdescriptionsandtheircharacteristics,fortheattributesofathingareindicativeofitsnature.”Thus,Godexplainsthatthedistinctivecharacteristicthatmakesmansuperiortoallothercreationishisabilitytostudytheattributesandcharacteristicsofthings.Mandoesnotrelyoninstinctalone,butratherhastheuniqueabilitytoconductacomprehensivestudyofthepropertiesofthingsanditisthroughthisinherentskill,thathewillruletheearthandallofitscreation.Therefore,thearticlecopiedaboveactuallyservestwopurposes.First,theobvious,isthatitpresentsasimpleoverviewofthecompatibilitybetweenbasiccomponentsofdemocracywithestablishedIslamicprinciples.Second,thenotsoobvious,itpresentsaprocessbywhichtheunderstandingofthiscompatibilitymaybefacilitated,aprocessthatisinherentlyIslamic!

Itshouldbementioned,though,thattheQuranroutinelyexplainsspiritualconceptsbyusingphysicalillustrations.Theparallelspiritual significance to this physicalanalogymaybethatjustasmancanattaingreatnessintheworldduetohisabilitytoacquireafullandcompleteunderstandingofthings,sotoocanman

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reachastageofspiritualeminencebyacquiringacompleteunderstandingofGod.Theninety-ninenamesofAllahpresentedintheQuranareinfacttheindependentcharacteristicsofGod,which,whenstudiedandunderstoodthoroughly,canleadtothetruerealizationofthe“complete”Divine.Theinherent,uniqueskillofstudyingtheattributes

andcharacteristicsofathing,whatisreferredtointheQuranasthe“names”ofathing,therefore,isthebasicqualitywhichcanleadtoman’smaterialaswellasspiritualgreatness.

MayAlmightyAllahhelpusrecognizeourinherentabilitiessothatwemayputthemtouseinestablishingsystems

ofgovernancethatleadtopeacefulcohabitationonearth.Maythisrecognitionofourinnatefacilitiesalsobeusedtodevelopoursoulsso that we may be fit to live alifeinpeacewithGodinthehereafter.Ameen.

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Redesigned and Reorganized Muslim.org Coming Soon!


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Basharaat-E-Ahmadiyya - Muslimof the English Translation of the Holy Quran By Maulana Muhammad Ali...

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Transcript of Basharaat-E-Ahmadiyya - Muslimof the English Translation of the Holy Quran By Maulana Muhammad Ali...