The Review of Religions August 2017

Man’s Ability to
Receive Revelation
8
Gravitational Waves
14
The Pillars of Islam
30
Jalsa Salana: What True
Islam is Really All About
40
VOL. 112 - ISSUE EIGHTAUGUST 2017 WWW.REVIEWOFRELIGIONS.ORG
GRAVITATIONALWAVES
Aneweraofastronomybegins

The Holy Prophet
Muhammadsa
prophesied
that the Promised Messiahas
would be raised near a
white minaret, east of
Damascus. This prophecy
was fulfilled with the advent
of the Promised Messiahas
from Qadian, India, a city
directly east of Damascus.
The Promised Messiahas
& imam mahdi
©makhzan-e-tasaweer
founder of
the review of religions
Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas
, the Promised Messiah
and Mahdi was born to a noble family in Qadian, India.
From an early age he had a keen interest in religion and
developed a love for the Holy Prophet Muhammadsa
. He
was also known for his honesty, friendliness and resolve.
Over time his knowledge and understanding of religion
and its application to society deepened. Being a Muslim
it was his firm belief that all religions were true at their
source but with the passage of time had drifted away
from their original teachings; he upheld the dignity of
religion and demonstrated its relevance to everyone.
His earnest defence of religion was ultimately blessed
when he started to receive direct revelation from Allah
– a blessing that he continued for the rest of his life.
His mission was to revitalise the truth that all religions
held within them and to revive the teachings of Islam. It
was through this that he would bring mankind together
and establish everlasting peace.
In 1889, under Divine Guidance, Hazrat Ahmadas
founded the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community – a
community that has since grown in its stature and
strength and has remained active in conveying the
message of Islam to the ends of the earth.
Hazrat Ahmadas
had established himself as a respected
writer and had written over 80 books. His writings
have been translated into more than 60 languages and
continue to inspire readers to this day. One of his greatest
scholarly works was The Philosophy of the Teachings of
Islam, prepared as a paper and read out at the Conference
of Great Religions in 1896.
He also wrote a fascinating treatise in 1899 entitled Jesus
in India, a book that uncovered remarkable evidence
of Jesus’sas
journey to India. In 1902, the Promised
Messiahas
initiated The Review of Religions which has
covered a vast array of topics on religion, philosophy
and contemporary issues of the day. It is the longest
running English magazine in defence of Islam and the
values it teaches.
From 1889 until the time of his demise in 1908 tens
of thousands of people accepted him. This blessing
has continued and will continue through his Khulafa
(successors).
Currently under the fifth successor, we are seeing that the
tide of acceptance is worldwide and that the message of
Prophet Ahmadas
has really reached the ends of the earth.

And turn not thy cheek away
from men in pride nor walk in
the earth haughtily; Surely, Allah
loves not any arrogant boaster.’
ISLAM, THE HOLY QUR’AN,
31:19
The Messenger of Allah, peace
and blessings be upon him, said,
‘None shall enter the Fire (of
Hell) who has in his heart the
weight of a mustard seed of Iman
and none shall enter Paradise
who has in his heart the weight
of a mustard seed of pride’.
ISLAM, SAHIH MUSLIM,
BOOK 1, HADITH 172.
Arrogance is an affliction that
constantly affects man. Keep in
mind that arrogance comes from
Satan and converts an arrogant
one into Satan. Until a person
turns wholly away from the path
of arrogance he is not enabled
to accept the truth and does not
become worthy of receiving Divine
grace, inasmuch as arrogance
bars his way. So shun every type
of arrogance, whether generated
by learning, wealth, status, caste,
family or noble descent.These
are the factors that give birth to
arrogance. Until a person purifies
himself of all such pride he
cannot win Divine approval and
become a chosen one of God.
ISLAM, HAZRAT MIRZA
GHULAM AHMADAS
, THE
ESSENCE OF ISLAM, VOL. 2, 365
Pride goes before destruction, and
a haughty spirit before a fall.
JUDAISM PROVERBS 16.18
Humble yourselves before the
Lord, and He will lift you up.
CHRISTIANITY, JAMES, 4:10
Shun all pride and jealousy, Give
up all idea of ‘me’ and ‘mine’.
HINDUISM, SRIMAD
BHAGAVATAM, 11.4
The mightly proud ultimately
rot in their own arrogance.
SIKHISM, ADI GRANTH,
GAURI SUKHMANI 12, M.5, P.
278
The fool who thinks he is
wise is called a fool indeed.
BUDDHISM, DHAMMAPADA
63
If you desire to obtain help, put
away pride. Even a hair of pride
shuts you off, as if by a great cloud.
SHINTO, ORACLE OF
KASUGA
Pride and Egotism
WORLD FAITHS

8 Man’s Ability to Receive
Revelation
HAZRAT MIRZA GHULAM AHMADAS
, THE PROMISED
MESSIAH & IMAM MAHDI
14 Gravitational Waves:
A New Window Opens
Since time immemorial we have
been fascinated by the heavens. With
the recent detection of gravitational
waves, we can listen to these waves
and gain further insights into
the workings of the universe.
SHAHAB KHOKHAR, CANADA
26 A Glimpse into the Life of the
Holy Prophet Muhammadsa
HAZRAT MIRZA BASHIR-UD-DIN MAHMUD AHMADRA
,
SECOND KHALIFAH AND WORLDWIDE HEAD OF THE
AHMADIYYA MUSLIM COMMUNITY
30 The Pillars of Islam
A special feature in which we highlight
the writings of the Promised Messiah,
,
on various topics.This month, the
Promised Messiahas
explains the five
fundamental pillars of Islam in depth.
, THE PROMISED
MESSIAH & IMAM MAHDI
40 Jalsa Salana: What True Islam
is Really All About
Freelance journalist Sarah Linneyhad
the opportunity to visit the Ahmadiyya
Muslim Community Annual
Convention in Alton, Hampshire.
After spending a whole day with
over 30,000 Muslims, she reflects on
her experiences and what the true
teachings of Islam are really about.
SARAH LINNEY, UK
62 Calendar of Religious Events
Front cover picture:
Vladimir Arndt | shutterstock
CONTENTS
AUGUST 2017 VOL.112 - ISSUE EIGHT

WORLD
CRISIS
M I R Z A M A S R O O R A H M A D
PEACE
andthePathwaytoThe world is passing through very turbulent times.The
global economic crisis continues to manifest newer and
graver dangers almost every week. The similarities to
the period just before the Second World War continue
to be cited and it seems clear that events are moving
the world at an unprecedented pace towards a horrific
Third World War.
In this book, His Holiness Mirza Masroor Ahmad,
the Head of the worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim
Community warns the world of the fast approaching
dangers and how it can avert disaster and chart a
course to peace.
WORLD
CRISIS
PEACE
andthePathwayto
9 781848 808584
ISBN 184880858-5
9 781848 808577
ISBN 184880857-7
WORLDCRISISandthePathwaytoPEACEMIRZAMASROORAHMAD
Please Note.
Background colour:
C=10
M=10
Y=0
K=100
From His Holiness – Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmadaba
– comes a groundbreaking vision for how to estab-
lish long-lasting peace in a world fraught with rapidly
increasing disorder and unrest. His Holiness reminds
world leaders that the flames of war are already burn-
ing through local and regional conflicts and we stand
at the precipice of another world war. If these sparks
were to truly ignite we could witness the horrific
reality of a nuclear war, whose consequences are
unimaginable. His Holiness is the Worldwide Head
and Caliph of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community
– which has tens of millions of followers in over
200 countries.
World Crisis and the Pathway to Peace is a collection
of the historic addresses and letters by His Holiness to
world leaders and influential figures. In this book, His
Holiness offers consummate analysis on all aspects
of the global crisis; political, economic, social and
spiritual and provides the golden keys to resolving
the critical problems the world faces. In a world where
existing strategies for peace have failed and peo-
ple are desperately looking for a new direction, His
Holiness presents fresh and practical solutions, giving
hope that we can still prevent a global catastrophe.
(continued on back flap)
s,
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y,
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n
s
s
o
.,
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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 Messiahas
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/

CHIEF EDITOR & MANAGER
Syed Amer Safir
ASSOCIATE EDITORS
Nakasha Ahmad,Tariq H. Malik
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MANAGEMENT BOARD
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Ataul Mujeeb Rashed, Naseer Qamar, Abid Waheed Ahmad Khan, Aziz Ahmad Bilal

The
Promised Messiahas
& imam mahdi
( g u i d e d o n e )
founder of
the review of religions

Man’s Ability To
Receive Revelation
A
s God has invested man with the faculty of reason for
the understanding, to some degree, of elementary mat-
ters, in the same way God has vested in him a hidden
faculty of receiving revelation. When human reason arrives at
the limit of its reach, then at that stage God Almighty, for the
purpose of leading His true and faithful servants to the per-
fection of understanding and certainty, guides them through
revelation and visions.Thus the stages which reason could not
reach are traversed by means of revelation and visions,and seek-
ers after truth thereby arrive at full certainty.This is the way of
Allah, to guide to which Prophets have appeared in the world.
Without treading this path,no one has ever arrived at true and
perfect understanding. But a poor dry philosopher is in such a
hurry that he desires everything to be disclosed at the stage of
reason. He does not know that reason cannot carry a burden
beyond its strength,nor can it step further than its capacity.He
does not reflect that,to carry a person to his desired excellence,
God Almighty has bestowed upon him not only the faculty
God Almighty has bestowed upon him not
only the faculty of reason but also the faculty
of experiencing visions and revelations.

of reason but also the faculty of experiencing visions and
revelations.
It is the height of misfortune to make use of only the
elementary means out of those that God has, out of His
Perfect Wisdom, bestowed upon man for the purpose of
recognizing God, and to remain ignorant of the rest. It
is extremely unwise to let those faculties atrophy through
lack of use and to derive no benefit from them.A person
who does not use the faculty of receiving revelation and
denies its existence cannot be a true philosopher,whereas
the existence of this faculty has been established by the
testimony of thousands of the righteous and all men of
true understanding have arrived at perfect understanding
through this means.1
endnotes
1.Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas
,The Essence of Islam,vol.2 (Tilford,
Surrey: Islam International Publications, 1993), 37-38.
A person who does not use the faculty
of receiving revelation and denies its
existence cannot be a true philosopher...

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

TheHONOURofPROPHETS
another. The
s of religion.
hless, yet the
alvation. So
e Promised
ure is weak,
o, owing to
or humanity,
ra, God has
ts, but none
of Islam in
present age,
ercessor that
ree mankind
hilosophy of
ilty and his
HAZRAT MIRZA GHULAM AHMAD
The Promised Messiah and Mahdi
Founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community
HAZRATMIRZAGHULAMAHMAD
The
HONOUR
of
PROPHETS

E
very human being seeks salvation in some form or another. The
concept of salvation holds pivotal importance in matters of religion.
A faith unable to deliver its followers from sin is worthless, yet the
progress and benefit of society depends on this very salvation. So where
should one turn to attain it?
In this work, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian, the Promised Messiah
and Mahdi, explains that since human nature is weak, salvation can only be
attained through a mediator who, owing to their perfect relationship with
God and deep sympathy for humanity, can serve as a link between God and
man. In every era, God has conferred salvation upon humanity through His
prophets, but none can match the unparalleled status held by the Prophet
of Islam in this respect, who was the paragon of perfection. In the present
age, it is this pure and blessed prophet who is the only intercessor that can
grant humanity a living relationship with God and free mankind from the
shackles of sin.
The author presents an exquisite exposition on the philosophy of divine
intercession, sinlessness, forgiveness, human frailty and his advent as the
Promised Messiah.
NEW
BOOK
The
HONOUR
of
PROPHETS

GRAVITATIONAL
WAVES
guteksk7 | Shutterstock

Exploring gravitational waves, the
universe and its impact on us…

S
ince time immemorial, we have
been fascinated by the heavens.
The sight of the heavenly bodies –
the sun, moon and stars – sparked the
human imagination. At first, we tried
to understand the skies through myths,
imagined and developed from generation
to generation.In the heavenly constella-
tions we saw chariots, animals, pottery,
gods and heroes.Yet alongside our fables
and tales,the more scientifically-minded
amongst us started to notice how the
heavenly bodies moved, and started to
use their positions to calculate the days,
the months and the seasons. From this,
we developed the most basic science of
all: mathematics, as the Qur’an testifies
to:




The Holy Qur’an, 10:6.

He it is Who made the sun radiate a bril-
liant light and the moon reflect a lustre,
and ordained for it stages,that you might
know the number of years and the system
of calculation.Allah has not created this
but in truth. He details the Signs for a
people who have knowledge.1
Alongside the myths, scientists and
philosophers continuously sought to
rationally understand the vault of the
heavens above us.Greek philosophers like
Gravitational Waves:
A New
Window Opens
SHAHAB KHOKHAR, CANADA
16 THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS | AUGUST 2017

Pythagoras and Ptolemy were followed
by the giants of the Islamic sciences,
such as Ibn Al-Haytham, Al-Battani
and Al-Khwarizmi, who critiqued and
further developed the field with observa-
tion and careful measurement. The next
window into the heavens opened up rela-
tively recently with the development of
radio astronomy.We began to look at the
sky using radio waves and microwaves.
We discovered what the stars were com-
posed of, through our knowledge of the
electromagnetic spectrum, which varied
from visible light to beyond the infra-
red and ultraviolet spectrum.It is during
this time that our understanding of the
celestial bodies advanced,just as the Holy
Qur’an prophesied would happen in the
age of the Messiah:





And when the heaven is laid bare.2
We are lucky enough to witness an exam-
ple of this in our lifetimes with the recent
detection of gravitational waves.
We are lucky enough to
witness an example of
this in our lifetimes with
the recent detection of
gravitational waves.
AUGUST 2017 | THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS 17

What are Gravitational Waves?
Gravitational waves are not electromag-
netic radiation. It was Einstein who
first predicted gravitational waves with
his theory of general relativity in 1915.
While Isaac Newton explained gravity
in the 17th
century as a force that acts
between any two objects possessing mass,
Einstein believed that gravity is the result
of the distortion of the space-time fabric
by such objects. While the Newtonian
theory of gravity holds good for most
common observations with remark-
able accuracy, it fails to explain several
phenomena associated with very heavy
objects like neutron stars and black holes.
The distortions in space-time due to such
heavy bodies as described by Einstein
are much like how a trampoline or a
stretched sheet of fabric deforms when a
heavy object is placed upon it.It is inter-
esting to note that though Einstein was
the first scientist to theorise the existence
of the space-time “fabric,”reference to it
can be found in the Holy Qur’an:
1.



Qur’an 21:105
2.




Qur’an 39:68
3.
Remember the day when We shall roll up
the heavens like the rolling up of writ-
ten scrolls by a scribe. As We began the
first creation, so shall We repeat it — a
promise binding upon Us; We shall cer-
tainly perform it.3
1.



Qur’an 21:105
2.




Qur’an 39:68
And they do not esteem Allah, with
the esteem that is due to Him. And the
whole earth will be but His handful on
Pythagoras, depicted on a 3rd century
coin. Pythagoras was a famous Ionian
philosopher and mathematician, most well
known for formulating the Pythagorean
theorem, which elucidates a fundamental
relationship in Euclidean geometry between
the three sides of a right angle triangle.
gravitational waves:
a new window opens

the Day of Resurrection, and the heav-
ens will be rolled up in His right hand.
Glory to Him and exalted is He above
that which they associate with Him.4
The verses above refer to the universe as
a deformable fabric or parchment that
can be rolled up,similar to how Einstein
conceived of space-time.
A major prediction of Einstein’s general
theory was the existence of gravitational
waves. While he described the force of
gravity as the distortion in the fabric
of space-time, gravitational waves were
described as the ‘ripples’ in the fabric
of space-time caused by massive accel-
erating objects. These ripples are much
like what we see when we throw a stone
in water or if a heavy ball were to be
bounced on a trampoline.
Gravitational waves have an effect simi-
lar to electromagnetic waves. Just as
electromagnetic waves carry the electro-
magnetic force,gravitational waves ‘carry’
energy known as ‘gravitational radiation’.
When electromagnetic radiation strikes
an object it induces electricity or mag-
netism (see page 21), and in a similar
fashion, when gravitational waves strike
an object, they distort the space around
the object, thus changing the actual size
Ibn Al Haytham, the father of
modern optics, pioneered and
first elucidated the scientific
method. His contribution
to astronomy was in his
critique of Ptolemy’s work
and his demonstration
of its inherent flaws.
The verses above refer to the
universe as a deformable
fabric or parchment
that can be rolled up,
similar to how Einstein
conceived of space-time.

of the object.While some of us may wish
to blame our ever-increasing weight on
passing gravitational waves, unfortu-
nately (or fortunately) the effects of
gravitational waves are very small.
Detecting Gravitational Waves
Since the prediction of gravitational
waves by Einstein, the scientific com-
munity has been working on detecting
them. Unlike electromagnetic waves,
gravitational waves cannot be ‘seen’with
the naked eye, telescopes or antennas.
We can only ‘observe’ them indirectly
through their effects. Interestingly, we
can find reference to such invisible forces
holding the heavens together,in the Holy
Qur’an:



Qur’an 21:105
2.




Qur’an 39:68
3.




Qur’an 31:11
4.





Qur’an 67:4-5
5.



Qur’an 55:34
He has created the heavens with-
out any pillars that you can see, and
He has placed in the earth firm moun-
tains that it may not quake with you,and
He has scattered therein all kinds of crea-
tures; and We have sent down water from
the clouds, and caused to grow therein
every noble species.5
The verse above is sometimes understood
to mean that Allah has created the uni-
verse without any pillars. However, a
more accurate translation is that Allah
has created the universe without any vis-
ible pillars.This may be pointing towards
gravity in general and gravitational waves
in particular.
The first observation of gravitational
waves came in 1974 when a binary pul-
sar system,the Hulse-Taylor binary – two
extremely dense and heavy stars orbit-
ing around each other – was discovered.
It was discovered by Russell Alan Hulse
and Joseph Hooton Taylor, Jr., of the
University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
Their discovery of the system and anal-
ysis of it earned them the 1993 Nobel
Prize in Physics.The system was observed
for eight years and it was determined that
the stars were getting closer to each other
at precisely the rate predicted by general
relativity if gravitational wave emissions
were occurring.
The second major observation came in
September 2015, despite the immense
hurdle posed by the detection of gravita-
tional waves,that is,their extremely weak
a new window opens

effect. Passing gravitational waves can
easily pass unnoticed because of the very
minimal effect they have on objects.The
task of detecting the direct effect of grav-
itational waves on an object was deemed
impossible until LIGO was finally built.
LIGO (Laser Interferometer
Gravitational Observatory) – another
imaginative use of acronyms by physi-
cists – is a pair of observatories in the
United States built to detect gravitational
waves.Unlike conventional observatories,
LIGO does not consist of a telescope or
similar devices.The observatory has two
large arms, each measuring four kilo-
metres in length, perpendicular to each
other.
Laser Interferometers consist of a laser
beam that is split into two with a ‘beam
splitter’. The two laser beams also run
perpendicular to one another, in each
of the arms. Any change in the distance
travelled by the laser beams results in the
two beams no longer being ‘in-step’with
each other, thus creating an interference
pattern (hence the term interferometers’).
The whole idea is that if a gravitational
wave passes through the observatory,
the observatory arms will expand and
The electromagnetic spectrum is comprised
of a continuous range of wavelengths, of
which visible light only forms a small part.
Philip Ronan | Released under Creative Commons BY-SA-3.0

contract, resulting in a difference in
the distance travelled by the two laser
beams.6
The differences measured are incredibly
small.Gravitational waves will cause the
observatory arms to change in length by
only about a fraction of the size of a pro-
ton (0.0000000000000000001 metres).
Another way to look at this minute
observation and the remarkable accu-
racy of the LIGO is that it can measure
the distance between the sun and the
nearest star Proxima Centauri, which is
about 4.25 light years away, to a level of
about the width of a human hair.7
LIGO
is undoubtedly the most precise measur-
ing device ever built by humans.
On September 14, 2015 at 5:51 a.m.
Eastern Daylight Time (09:51 UTC),
Laser Interferometer Gravitational-
wave Observatory (LIGO) detectors
picked up evidence of gravitational
waves.8
Physicists have concluded that
the detected gravitational waves were
produced during the final fraction of a
second, during the merger of two black
holes to produce a single, much bigger,
rotary black hole. This collision of two
black holes had been predicted but never
detected. Based on the observed signals,
LIGO scientists estimate that the black
holes for this event were about 29 and 36
times the mass of the sun, and the event
took place 1.3 billion years ago.
Why Are Gravitational Waves
Important?
The discovery of gravitational waves is a
very important step in our understanding
of the universe. It has opened up a new
window which was closed until recently.
We can now listen to these waves and
a new window opens
The idea of space-time as a fabric was
the result of Einstein’s new paradigm for
understanding the nature of the universe. It
asserts that any object possessing mass
deforms the space-time fabric around it. This
deformation of space-time is what creates
gravity. This description of space as a fabric
is confirmed by the Qur’an, which also
describes space as a deformable fabric.
User koya979 | Shutterstock

thereby expand our understanding of
the universe, obtaining insights into the
behaviour of massive objects such as
black holes and neutron stars.
It is interesting that this discovery comes
at a time when the scientific community
is realising how little they know about
the universe. Over the last 100 years, we
have taken giant leaps in our understand-
ing of the universe, how it works, what
is it made up of and how it came into
being. But it seems that with every new
discovery, instead of gaining complete
understanding, we simply realise how
little we know.4.





Qur’an 67:4-5
5.

Who has created seven heavens in har-
mony. No incongruity canst thou see
in the creation of the Gracious God.
Then look again: Seest thou any flaw?
Aye, look again, and yet again, thy sight
will only return unto thee confused and
fatigued.9
After thousands of years of wondering
about the sky, trillions of dollars spent
in research and missions to outer space,
we still only have a minimal under-
standing of the universe; since all of the
observable objects such as stars, plan-
ets, galaxies, etc., account for only 4% of
the universe.10
The rest, in an ingenious
naming scheme, is referred to as ‘dark
matter’ and ‘dark energy’! We know lit-
tle to nothing about this ‘dark universe’,
which makes up the majority of what we
call space.The new window opened up by
the detection of gravitational waves may
LIGO in action: a laser beam is split into
two arms through a ‘beam splitter’. These
arms run perpendicular to one another.
Thus, any change in the space-time
fabric that the LIGO occupies, results in a
delay in the laser beams reception at the
photo-detector, creating an interference
pattern. This is the technique used to
measure the effect of gravitational waves.

provide us further insights into how the
universe works and what it is made up of.
Or perhaps with this new looking glass,
we may simply realise that we know and
understand even less.
In our pursuit of complete understand-
ing, we are constantly reminded of our
limitations.Thus,the search for a decisive
discovery that can finally liberate us from
our earthly confines goes on. The quest
continues. Little do we realise that the
final authority to go beyond rests with
the Creator of the Universe:
4.





Qur’an 67:4-5
5.



Qur’an 55:34
O company of Jinn and men! If you have
power to go beyond the confines of the
heavens and the earth, then do go. But
you cannot go save with authority.11
About the Author: Shahab Khokhar has a
master’s degree in physics with a specialization in
theoretical physics, focussing on gravitation and
cosmology. Currently, he works in product and
business development with SolarGrid Energy, Inc.
endnotes
1. The Holy Qur’an, 10:6.
6. Barish, Barry C. and Rainer Weiss,“LIGO
and the Detection of Gravitational Waves,”
Physics Today 52 (10), 1999.
7. https://www.ligo.caltech.edu/page/facts.
8. https://www.ligo.caltech.edu/news/
ligo20160211.
9. The Holy Qur’an, 67:4-5.
10. “Dark Energy, Dark Matter”. NASA
Science: Astrophysics. 5 June 2015.
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A Glimpse into the Life of
the Holy Prophet Muhammadsa
Patience in Adversity
The Holy Prophetsa
used to say: ‘For a Muslim, life is all full of good and
nobody but a true believer finds himself in that position; for, if he meets
with success he is grateful to God and becomes the recipient of greater
favours from Him. On the other hand, if he suffers pain or tribulation
he endures it with patience and thus again makes himself deserving of
God’s favours.’When his end drew near and he gave vent to a groan in
the extremity of his condition, his daughter Fatimara
exclaimed that she
could not bear to see him in that state.Thereupon he said:‘Have patience!
Your father will suffer no pain after this day,’meaning that all his troubles
were confined to this world and from the moment that he was released
from this life and entered the presence of his Maker he would be subject
to no further pain. During the prevalence of an epidemic he would not
approve of people moving out of an afflicted town into another, for this
serves to enlarge the area of the pestilence. He used to say that in times
of epidemic if a person stayed on in his own town and refrained from
carrying infection into unaffected areas and died of the epidemic, he
would be regarded as a martyr (Bukhari, Kitabut Tibb).1
endnotes
1. Hazrat Mirza Bashir-ud-din Mahmud Ahmadra
, Life of Muhammad (Tilford, Sur-
rey, U.K.: Islam International Publications Limited, 2013), 240-241.

Read online: https://www.alislam.org/library/books/Noahs-Ark-Kashti-Nuh.pdf
Purchase print copy: http://store.alislam.org/englishbooks.html
F
rom 1896 to 1914 the plague ravaged British India, and
more particularly, the province of Punjab. During these
perilous times, as towns and cities were devoured, the
British government undertook efforts to save the people from this
pandemic through inoculation. It was in this backdrop that Mirza
Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian penned Noah’s Ark in 1902. In it the
author elaborates the essence of his teachings and states that those
who sincerely follow its tenets would be saved miraculously from
the onslaughts of this epidemic, even without inoculation. This
was a prophecy vouchsafed to him by God. History testifies to the
magnificent fulfilment of this prophecy.
The book Noah’s Ark shines as a beacon of hope not only for the
people of the past, but also now and shall continue to grant salvation
to the world in all ages. It is a book that stands as one of the most
influential works of the Promised Messiah and Mahdi,and continues
to transform lives even today.
NEW
BOOK
NOAH’S
ARK
AN INVITATION TO FAITH

User Samiph222 | Shutterstock
EXTRACTS FROM
THE ESSENCE OF
ISLAMVOLUME II

Supplication during Salat
Salat is the effective criterion of the
piety of a worshipper. He who weeps
throughout his Salat is bestowed security.
As a child weeps loudly in its mother’s
lap and is comforted by the love and
compassion of its mother, in the same
way he who supplicates God with humil-
ity and a melting heart in his Salat places
himself in the lap of the compassion of
Gracious Lord.He who finds no delight
in the Salat has not yet truly tasted
the pleasure of believing. Salat does
not merely mean physical postures and
movements.Some people get through the
Salat quickly like the nibbling of a hen
and then start long supplications, that is
to say perform the Salat quickly as if it
were a formal ceremony, whereas that is
the time for supplicating God Almighty.
Having emerged from it without any gain
The Pillars of Islam
The Promised Messiahas
wrote over
80 books in Arabic, Urdu, and
Persian. Excerpts of his collected
works have been translated into
English and organised by topic. The
Review of Religions is pleased to
present these excerpts as part of a
monthly feature. Here we continue
the second part of the three-part
series on the pillars of Islam.
Extracts from The Essence of Islam,
Vol.II (pp.293-318)
,
THE PROMISED MESSIAH & IMAM MAHDI
PART 2

they start their supplications.Make your
supplications during the Salat; make the
Salat a means of supplication and prayer.
[Malfuzat, vol. II, p. 145]
Recitation of Al-Fatihah in Salat
Prayer is the purpose and spirit of the
Salat. How can that purpose be really
achieved except by praying during Salat.
Such a worshipper is like one who is
granted an opportunity of presenting
himself before the Sovereign and sub-
mitting his petition, but he says nothing
at the time and after he leaves the pres-
ence he presents his petition.That would
not avail him anything.That is the case of
the people who do not pray humbly and
earnestly during the Salat.Make all your
supplication during the Salat and observe
it with all its due requirements. God
Almighty has taught us a prayer at the
very beginning of the Holy Qur’an and
Salat does not merely mean
physical postures and
movements. Some people get
through the Salat quickly like
the nibbling of a hen and then
start long supplications, that
is to say perform the Salat
quickly as if it were a formal
ceremony, whereas that is
the time for supplicating
God Almighty. Having
emerged from it without
any gain they start their
supplications. Make your
supplications during the
Salat; make the Salat a means
of supplication and prayer.

has also instructed us in all the require-
ments of prayer. The recitation of Surah
Fatihah is obligatory in the Salat, which
indicates that true prayer is offered only
in the course of the Salat.
[Malfuzat, vol. III, p. 258]
Salat to be Offered in Arabic
The Salat may not be observed in any
language except the language of the Holy
Qur’an. But after the prescribed prayers
and supplications you may supplicate
God Almighty in your own vernacular
also.You must not neglect the prescribed
prayers.The Christians having departed
What are the five daily prayer
services? They are pictures
of your different conditions
during the course of the
day. You pass through five
conditions at a time of trial
and your nature demands that
you must pass through them.
Salat is one of the pillars of Islam that has
such a deep significance to all Muslims
because it opens the doors to a strong
relationship with God. From supplication
to prayers it is filled with meaning, passion
and sincerity for a believer to excel.
Sony Herdiana | Shutterstock

from this principle have lost everything.
[Malfuzat, vol. III, p. 288]
What is the Salat? It is the supplication
made humbly in the form of glorification
and praise of God,proclaiming His holi-
ness,seeking His forgiveness and calling
down His blessings on the Holy Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allah be on him).
When you are occupied with the Salat
do not confine yourselves only to the
prescribed prayers like heedless peo-
ple whose Salat is all formality and has
no reality behind it. When you observe
the Salat, then besides the prescribed
prayers taught by the Holy Qur’an and
by the Holy Prophet (peace and bless-
ings of Allah be on him), you should set
forth your supplications in your respec-
tive vernaculars so that your hearts may
be moved by your humility and your
earnestness.
[Kashti Nuh, Ruhani Khaza’in, vol. 19,
pp. 68-69]
Supplications may be Offered in One’s
Own Vernacular
Make your supplications during your five
daily prayer services.You are not forbid-
den to supplicate in your own vernaculars.
The Salat is not properly observed except
with concentration, and concentration
cannot be achieved without humility,
and humility is generated by a compre-
hension of that which is said.Therefore,
eagerness and travail of the soul are
generated more easily by supplication in
one’s vernacular. But this does not mean
that you should dispense with the pre-
scribed prayers and offer the Salat in your
own language. That is not what I mean.
What I have in mind is that after the pre-
scribed prayers you should also supplicate
in your own language. There is a special
blessing in the prescribed prayers. Salat
means prayer.Therefore during the Salat
pray for deliverance from the calamities
of the here and the hereafter, and that
your end may be good.Pray also for your
wives and children. Be good and shun
all evil.
[Malfuzat, vol. VI, p. 146]
The Philosophy of the Five Daily
Prayers
What are the five daily prayer services?
They are pictures of your different con-
ditions during the course of the day.You
pass through five conditions at a time of
trial and your nature demands that you
must pass through them. The first of
these is when you are warned that you are
about to be afflicted with a calamity. For
instance,imagine that a warrant has been
issued for your presence in court.This is
the first condition which disturbs your

serenity and contentment.This condition
resembles the time when the sun begins
to decline, as on the receipt of the court
warrant. Corresponding to this condi-
tion, the noon prayer (Zuhr) has been
prescribed,the time of which begins with
the decline of the sun.
You experience the second condition
when you are drawn close to the place
of the calamity. For instance, when hav-
ing been taken into custody under the
warrant you are produced before the
magistrate. At that time you are in ter-
ror and the light of security seems as if
it were about to depart from you. This
condition resembles the time when
the light of the sun diminishes and the
human eye can fix itself upon the sun
and it becomes obvious that the time of
its setting is near. Corresponding to this
spiritual condition the afternoon prayer
(‘Asr) has been prescribed.
The third condition sets in when you lose
all hope of deliverance from the calamity.
For instance, when after the recording
of the prosecution evidence, which is
designed to bring about your ruin, you
are charged with an offence and a charge
sheet is prepared.At this time you almost
lose your senses and you begin to think
of yourself as a prisoner. That condition
resembles the time when the sun sets and
hope of daylight comes to an end. The
sunset prayer (Maghrib) is prescribed
corresponding to this spiritual condition.
The fourth condition is when you are
afflicted by the calamity and its deep
darkness envelops you completely. For
instance,when after the close of the evi-
dence you are convicted and sentenced
and are committed to the custody of the
police.This condition resembles the time
of nightfall, when everything falls into
deep darkness.The evening prayer (‘Isha)
is prescribed corresponding to this spir-
itual condition.
When praying it is essential that a
person speaks to God in his or her
own language, since this produces
concentration and attention in prayers.
Aisylu Ahmadieva | Shutterstock
the pillars of islam

When you have spent a certain time in
the darkness of the affliction, Divine
mercy surges up and delivers you from
the darkness, as the dawn succeeds the
darkness of the night and daylight begins
to appear.The dawn prayer (Fajr) is pre-
scribed corresponding to this spiritual
condition.God Almighty in view of your
five changing conditions has prescribed
five prayer services for you.You can thus
understand that these services have been
prescribed for the benefit of your soul.If
you desire security against these calami-
ties you should not neglect the five daily
services, as they are a reflection of your
inner and spiritual conditions.The Salat
is a remedy for the calamities that may
threaten.You know not what type of cir-
cumstances the new day might confront
you with. So before the beginning of
the day supplicate your Divine Master
earnestly that the day may prove to be
a source of benefit and blessing for you.
[Kashti Nuh, Ruhani Khaza’in, vol. 19,
pp. 69-70]
Salat Protects from Sin
Salat is an instrument for delivery from
sin. It is a quality of the Salat that it
makes a person secure against sin and
vice. So seek a Salat of that type and try
to make your Salat such.Salat is the soul
of bounties.The grace of God Almighty
is received through the Salat. Then
observe it duly so that you might become
heirs to the bounties of God Almighty.
[Malfuzat, vol. V, p. 126]
Significance of Postures in Salat
What is the Salat? It is the submission
of one’s humility and one’s weakness to
God and to seek the fulfilment of one’s
needs from Him. In the course of the
Salat the worshipper sometimes stands
before God with folded arms signify-
ing his consciousness of the glory of
Salat is an instrument for
delivery from sin. It is a
quality of the Salat that it
makes a person secure against
sin and vice. So seek a Salat
of that type and try to make
your Salat such. Salat is the
soul of bounties.The grace
of God Almighty is received
through the Salat.Then
observe it duly so that you
might become heirs to the
bounties of God Almighty.

God and his eagerness to carry out His
Commandments; at other times he falls
into prostration in complete humility
and devotion and seeks the fulfilment of
his needs. Sometimes like a beggar he
praises Him from Whom he begs and
proclaiming His greatness and His glory
seeks to move His mercy and supplicates
Him. A faith that has nothing compa-
rable to the Salat is altogether empty…
Salat means the love and fear of God
and the preoccupation of the heart with
His remembrance.That is faith.He who
seeks escape from Prayer is no better than
an animal. To eat and drink and sleep
away the hours like an animal is not faith.
This is the practice of the disbelievers…
for him who desires to meet God and
is anxious to reach Him the Salat is a
conveyance by climbing into which he
can arrive at his goal speedily. He who
gives up the Salat, how shall he arrive?
Since the Muslims have abandoned the
Salat or have given up observing it with
the serenity and comfort and love of the
heart, being neglectful of its true real-
ity, Islam has begun to decline.The time
when the Salat was observed properly
was a great time for Islam, when it had
become dominant in the whole world.
Since the Muslims have given up the
proper performance of the Salat they
themselves have been abandoned. It is
the Salat performed with heartfelt ear-
nestness that delivers a person from all
difficulties. It is my repeated experience
that I pray for the resolving of some dif-
ficulty and while I am still occupied with
the Salat God resolves the difficulty.
What happens in the Salat? One raises
one’s hands in supplication and the
Other listens to him well. Then a time
comes when He Who listens speaks and
responds to the supplicator.This is the sit-
uation in the Salat.The worshipper falls
into prostration before God Almighty
and submits his difficulties and his needs
to Him.The result of true and real Salat
is that soon the time comes when God
Almighty responds to the supplicant and
comforts him with His words.Can such
Do not perform the Salat as
a mere ceremony, but observe
it with the burning and the
melting of the heart and
supplicate continuously in
the Salat. It is the key to the
resolving of all difficulties.
the pillars of islam

an experience be possible without the
true observance of Salat?
[Malfuzat, vol. V, pp. 253-255]
The Real Salat
Salat is truly so called when a sincere and
holy relationship is established with God
and the worshipper becomes so devoted
to the pleasure of God Almighty and His
obedience and so upholds his faith above
all worldly values that he is ever ready
to lay down his life in the cause of God.
It is only then that it can be said that
his Salat is worthy to be called by that
name. So long as this condition is not
established and the worshipper does not
become a model of sincerity and faith-
fulness his prayers and other actions are
without effect.
[Malfuzat, vol. VI, p. 240]
Salat, Supplication, and Certainty
of Faith
Do not perform the Salat as a mere cer-
emony, but observe it with the burning
and the melting of the heart and suppli-
cate continuously in the Salat. It is the
key to the resolving of all difficulties.
In addition to the prescribed prayers and
glorification supplicate much in your ver-
nacular so that your heart should melt,
and continue this effort till you arrive at
that condition for that is the means of
the achieving of all true objectives. All
physical postures during the Salat should
represent the condition of the heart also.
When the worshipper stands in the Salat
his heart should also be standing erect for
God’s obedience; when he bows down
the heart should also bow down; and
when he goes into prostration the heart
should also prostrate itself,which means
that the heart should not let go of God at
any time. When he reaches that condi-
tion he will begin to get rid of sins.
[Malfuzat, vol. VI, pp. 367-368]
The timings of the prayers hold a deep
significance and symbolise the different
states of man throughout the day.
KHRAMOV | Shutterstock

Jalsa Salana:
What True Islam is
Really All About
SARAH LINNEY, UK
The Annual Convention (Jalsa Salana) of
the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community UK
is a unique event that brings more than
35,000 participants from more than 110
countries to increase religious knowledge and
promote a sense of peace and brotherhood.
While speakers discuss a range of religious
topics and their relevance to contemporary
society, the most distinguishing feature of
this convention is that it is blessed by the
presence of His Holiness Hazrat Mirza
Masroor Ahmadaba
, the Head of the world-
wide Ahmadiyya Muslim Community,
delivering four faith-inspiring addresses
over three days. Journalist Sarah Linney
attended Jalsa Salana for the first time and
reflects on her impressions of this unique
event.
Kaleem had warned me about the traf-
fic. He had warned me about the mud.
But he hadn’t warned me about the
friendliness.
The car crawled into the field at an
impossibly slow pace, not because we
were stuck in traffic, or mud, or even the
interminable security queues (you think
Muslims don’t fear terror attacks too?),
but because about every 20 seconds the
driver, Subby, would run into someone
he just had to say hello to.
‘Assalaam alaikum! How are you?’ he
would exclaim joyously, shaking hands
and grinning, Arabic and English min-
gling as an almost continuous parade of
friends knocked on the window excitedly.

Welcome to Jalsa Salana.
The Jalsa – its name means ‘peace gath-
ering’ – is the UK’s biggest Muslim
convention, attended by almost 38,000
people from 114 countries and watched
by tens of millions more on TV and
online.
It is run entirely by volunteers, who
transform a farm in Hampshire into
a 200-acre festival site, with kitchens,
food tents, exhibitions, accommodation,
a bazaar,an international bookshop,radio
and TV broadcasts and much more.
So what am I, an infrequent church
attendee, doing at a Muslim event?
I’ve been invited by my friends Faiza
and Kaleem, who told me it was ‘their
So what am I, an infrequent
church attendee, doing
at a Muslim event? I’ve
been invited by my friends
Faiza and Kaleem, who
told me it was ‘their version
of Glastonbury’ – and so,
hoping I wouldn’t have
to sit through a set by Ed
Sheeran, I accepted.This is the
first thing you need to know
about Ahmadi Muslims –
they are super-welcoming
and super-friendly...

version of Glastonbury’– and so,hoping
I wouldn’t have to sit through a set by Ed
Sheeran, I accepted.
This is the first thing you need to know
about Ahmadi Muslims – they are super-
welcoming and super-friendly. And, far
from the stereotypical image of chauvin-
istic Muslim men who, we’re often told,
view women as ‘second-class citizens’, I
was treated like royalty.
There are shuttle buses between the site
and Alton station,but Subby and a friend
were sent to pick me up instead, which
neatly got me out of possibly struggling
to convince the bus driver that yes, this
white-faced, blue-eyed blonde really
was going to Jalsa. They brought me an
umbrella, which I promptly managed to
break, and opened the car door for me,
perhaps afraid that I would break that
too. On the back seat was a welcome
sight after a long train journey – cans of
diet Pepsi and mango juice.
On our way in, Subby talked to me
about the charity work that the Ahmadi
Muslims do, and how an important part
of the festival is pledging their allegiance
to the UK as well as to their religion.
Later that afternoon the community’s
spiritual leader, Mirza Masroor Ahmad,
led a ceremony in which the UK flag and
the Ahmadi flag are raised together.
‘Real Islam is helping the poor and serv-
ing the community we live in,’Subby tells
me.
Eventually we make it through the
entrance,I go through security and Subby
leaves me in the care of my guides for the
day,Zain and Furqan.The site is divided
into men’s and women’s sections,so they
will show me round the men’s half.
I am surprised to discover that these two
mature and intelligent young men are
just 24 and 16 respectively, as they seem
older and wiser. Zain also has a brilliant
sense of humour and it isn’t long before
jalsa salana: what true islam
is really all about
There are 5,000 volunteers
helping out at the festival
in total – many of them
high-flying professionals like
doctors, nurses and even pilots
(the man who drives me back
to the station at the end of the
day is an A&E doctor at a
hospital in Kent, where I live).

he is mischievously mocking my terrible
photography skills.
Our first trip is to the huge kitchens,
where dozens of volunteers are hard
at work mixing vast tubs of curry and
dough. Even children, it seems, want to
do their bit – a beautiful little boy called
Hashim is helping with the procession of
chapatis on the conveyor belt in front of
me, made at the rate of 10,000 an hour.
Over the three days of the festival, the
volunteers will make 300,000 slices of
bread and 270,000 meals.
There are 5,000 volunteers helping out at
the festival in total – many of them high-
flying professionals like doctors, nurses
and even pilots (the man who drives me
back to the station at the end of the day
is an A&E doctor at a hospital in Kent,
where I live).‘There is a huge volunteer-
ing spirit – everyone wants to take part,’
Zain explains.
‘If all Muslims followed the teachings of
their religion, no Muslim would ever be
radicalised.’
Our next stop is a tent where I can learn
more about the Ahmadi Muslim faith.
His Holiness Hazrat Mirza Masroor
Ahmadaba
, the Head of the worldwide
Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, inaugurates
the three day event by raising the flag
of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.
The UK flag is also raised alongside it,
demonstrating loyalty and harmony.
AMA Gallery

Unlike other Muslims, Ahmadis believe
Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, a 19th-century
religious leader, was the Messiah whose
advent was foretold by the Prophet
Muhammad.Other Muslims believe the
Messiah is yet to come.
Because of this, Ahmadis have often
been persecuted in Muslim countries
such as Saudi Arabia and Pakistan,
where it is all but illegal to be an Ahmadi.
Prohibitions on practising their religion,
arrests,attacks and killings are common-
place. Some 2,387 Ahmadis have been
arrested for religious practice in Pakistan
since 1982, 256 have been killed, and 48
mosques have been destroyed.
Several of the people I meet over the
course of the day will tell me, quite
calmly, how their parents had to flee to
the UK for their own safety. When I
tell one woman how matter-of-fact she
seems about it, she replies: ‘It’s every-
body’s story.’
The Ahmadis’ motto is Love For All,
Hatred For None,and the community has
repeatedly spoken out against extremism
and terrorism – Mirza Masroor Ahmad
did so again at this year’s Jalsa. In the
tent is a game of giant Jenga symbolis-
ing the concept of world peace.On each
brick is inscribed an important tenet like
tolerance and women’s rights; the idea
is to show that if you remove just one
of the bricks, one of the tenets, global
peace collapses.
I also get to play a game where I work out
which statements about Islam are true
and which are misconceptions:
It’s then time for the flag-raising cere-
mony – or,rather,for standing in the cold
for half an hour waiting for a flag-raising
ceremony which Zain thinks is happen-
ing at 4pm, but which is actually taking
place at 4.30pm.
On our way round the site he,like Subby,
bumps constantly into people he knows.
Though there are 30,000 people here, it
feels like everyone knows everyone else.
There is an enormous community spirit
is really all about
One tweet sent across
the Atlantic Ocean, and
suddenly here we all
are together, celebrating
peace and friendship on
a farm in Hampshire.

and camaraderie, and I don’t feel like an
outsider at all; I feel part of it.
And, quite by chance, the high point of
my day comes when we walk right past
one of my Twitter heroes,Qasim Rashid.
A lawyer and Muslim scholar who has
come all the way over from America for
the conference, he is ultimately the per-
son who brought my attendance about,as
it was a Twitter conversation between us
about Ramadan that led to me meeting
Faiza and becoming friends.
To my astonishment, he remembers
me and we take a picture together with
our mutual friend Kaleem (also known
as Chris – he is a Brit who converted
to Islam). One tweet sent across the
Atlantic Ocean, and suddenly here we
all are together, celebrating peace and
friendship on a farm in Hampshire.
Also among the guests are a number of
prominent politicians – I spot Education
Secretary Justine Greening and meet
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon without
even realising. I think he talked to me
about the weather. Richmond Park MP
and former London mayoral candidate
Zac Goldsmith is also there.
His Holiness Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmadaba
,
the Head of the worldwide Ahmadiyya
Muslim Community, delivers his address
presenting the true pristine teachings of Islam
which is relayed to millions around the world.
AMA Gallery

In search of a warming cup of tea after
our wait for the flag-raising,Zain,Furqan
and I head into the Humanity First tent
where I can learn about the Ahmadis’
charity work.
Humanity First’s 30,000 volunteers
work across the globe in areas includ-
ing disaster relief, education, providing
clean water, caring for orphans, health-
care and restoring sight. The charity
provided relief in the aftermath of the
Grenfell Tower fire, a number of recent
earthquakes, including Nepal and Haiti,
and the Bosnian conflict, which is when
the charity was set up.
‘The tenets of Islam are for everyone.The
only criterion is need,’explains the char-
ity’s implementation analyst Quddous
Ahmed, one of only five paid staff at the
charity’s UK headquarters in London.
‘We are on the front line right there with
the Red Cross when there is a disaster.
97p in every pound raised goes to our
projects.
‘People spend their holidays going to do
this work.It’s about serving mankind and
the love we have for mankind.
‘Painting a classroom, for example, has
Sarah Linney with Kaleem Edwards and
Qasim Rashid at the Jalsa Salana UK.
Courtesy Sarah Linney
is really all about
It reminded me what a force
for good religion can be. It’s
certainly true that religion
can be misused as an excuse
for persecution and hatred –
but it’s an overwhelmingly
positive influence in the lives
of these people, inspiring
them to give huge amounts
of their time and money
to help others, and giving
them faith, hope, gratitude
and a love for humanity.

such a massive effect. At one school
where we helped out, some of the kids
who had left came back to study again
just because the learning environment
was so nice again. It was lovely to see
their faces. And it cost just £100 as the
only thing we used the money for were
the supplies.’
Most of the funds come from the
Ahmadis themselves,including the pro-
ceeds from selling merchandise at Jalsa
and a telethon earlier this year which
raised £2 million.
‘Our income is increasing every year,and
so is our impact,’Mr Ahmed added.
He quotes anthropologist and author
Margaret Mead: ‘Never doubt that a
small group of thoughtful, committed
citizens can change the world; indeed,
it’s the only thing that ever has.’
So what did I learn from my experiences
at the Jalsa Salana?
It reminded me what a force for good
religion can be. It’s certainly true that
religion can be misused as an excuse for
persecution and hatred – but it’s an over-
whelmingly positive influence in the lives
of these people, inspiring them to give
huge amounts of their time and money to
help others,and giving them faith,hope,
gratitude and a love for humanity.
It reminded me how wonderful difference
is – because there’s always something to
learn from people who are a little dif-
ferent from you. Everyone I met exuded
such positivity and cheerfulness that I
resolved to be a little less negative and
down on myself.
It reminded me that underneath our dif-
ferences,we’re all the same as long as we
know how to laugh and be kind. These
people,almost all of whom I’d never met
before,accepted me and laughed with me
as if they’d always known me.
Zac Goldsmith among the many
prominent guests attending the Jalsa
Salana and appreciating the efforts of
the Ahmadiyya Community for world
peace and its humanitarian works.

It reminded me of the power of the ran-
dom encounter, something I’ve always
strongly believed in. You never know
where the most casual conversations and
questions will lead.
And, most importantly, it reminded me
of the importance of keeping an open
mind. If I’d been scared of things that
were different,I’d have missed out on an
amazingly fun experience, a great many
opportunities to learn, and new friend-
ships with people who have helped me
to be a better, happier person.
One of many delegations visiting the
Jalsa and partaking in the atmosphere
of love, brotherhood and tolerance.
It reminded me that
underneath our differences,
we’re all the same as long
as we know how to laugh
and be kind.These people,
almost all of whom I’d never
met before, accepted me
and laughed with me as if
they’d always known me.

About the Author: Sarah Linney is a
freelance journalist and the editor of
news, features and opinion website The
Loop (theloopjournalism.wordpress.
com). She has previously worked
for the Kent Messenger Group and
Kent on Sunday, and as a freelance
copywriter.
The Ahmadiyya Community’s motto is
Love For All, Hatred For None, and the
community has repeatedly spoken out
against all forms of extremism and terrorism.
YOUR FEEDBACK IS
IMPORTANT TO US
Write to us with comments,
feedback and suggestions at
info@Reviewof Religions.org

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/

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
The Review of Religions
Read online:
www.alislam.org/books/
Or purchase here:
store.alislam.org/englishbooks.html

What is the
Conclusive Proof of
The Unity of God?
A
rguments are of two types,inductive and deductive.An
inductive argument enables us to recognise that which
is indicated. For instance when we observe smoke we
conclude that there is a fire. In the case of deduction, one
moves from the conclusion to the cause. For instance, we find
a person suffering from high fever and we believe that there
is a cause for it.
We proceed to set forth first the inductive reason for the need
of revelation. There is no doubt that the physical and spir-
itual systems of man are governed by the same law of nature.
We observe in the physical system that whatever needs the
Gracious God has planted in the human body, He has also
provided the means of their satisfaction. A human body feels
hunger and needs food, so God has provided various types of
food for the human body. In the same way, man needed water
to slake his thirst and God Almighty has provided wells and
There is no doubt that the physical
and spiritual systems of man are
governed by the same law of nature.

springs and streams for that purpose.Man needed the light of
the sun or light from some other source to be able to see with
his eyes and God Almighty has provided light from heaven in
the shape of the sun and has provided light from other sources
on earth.Man needed air for breathing and hearing the voices
of others, and God provided air. In the same way, man needed
a consort for the propagation of the species; so God created
woman as man’s consort and man as woman’s consort.In short,
whatever desires God has planted in the human body, He has
also provided means for their satisfaction.
Now it is worth considering that when provision has been made
for the fulfilment of the physical needs of the mortal body,how
much more must have been provided for the fulfilment of the
pure desires of the soul which has been created for the eternal
love and recognition and worship of God. That provision is
Divine revelation and Divine signs, which carry a person of
defective knowledge to complete certainty. As God bestowed
upon the body provision for the satisfaction of its needs, in
the same way, He bestowed upon the soul provision for the
Stop and reflect. You cannot deny that the
provision for your physical needs is available
to you all the time, but you have nothing
with you in the way of provision for your
spiritual needs except stories of the past.

satisfaction of its needs so that the physical and the spiritual
systems should be in accord…This inductive reasoning can be
completed only through deductive reasoning, that is to say, by
a sample of revelation itself.To feel the need for something is
one matter and to find its fulfilment is quite another…You can
see that both food and water are available for your body, not
that they were present in some earlier age but not any more.
But when mention is made of revelation you refer to a past age
upon which centuries upon centuries have lapsed and you are
not able to refer to anything in the present.Then how is there
an accord between the physical and spiritual laws of nature?
Stop and reflect. You cannot deny that the provision for your
physical needs is available to you all the time, but you have
nothing with you in the way of provision for your spiritual
needs except stories of the past. You know that the physical
springs from which you take the water to slake your thirst are
still running; nor have your fields become barren and unpro-
ductive,the produce of which satisfies your hunger twice a day.
But where are the spiritual springs, which used to slake your
spiritual thirst by giving you the fresh water of Divine revela-
tion? Nor have you available the spiritual food by eating which
you could keep your soul alive.Thus you are in a desert where
there is neither food nor water.1
endnotes
1. Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas
, The Essence of Islam, vol. 2 (Tilford,
Surrey: Islam International Publications, 1993), 43-45.

Of Mice and Men
10
The Keys to Peace in a
Time of Global Disorder
20
Opening of the Baitul
Ahad Mosque in Japan
40
The Economic System
of Islam
52
VOL. 111 - ISSUE ONEJANUARY 2016 WWW.REVIEWOFRELIGIONS.ORG
Is Religion Truly the Cause of Disorder
in the World Today? Spreading Peace &
Security
RETURN OF
THEABSOLUTE
EVIL…?
World in Crisis -
How do we Cope?
10
True Mosques Transmit
Only Love and Peace
28
Qur’anic History and
the Role of Islamic
Calligraphy
46
The Philosophy of
Eid ul Fitr
58
WWW.REVIEWOFRELIGIONS.ORG
WORLD IN CRISIS
HOW DO WE COPE?
VOL. 111 - ISSUE SEVENJULY 2016
Are Religious Parents
Brainwashing Their
Children?
14
Pray for Children
Instead of
Punishing Them
24
Apartheid of Ahmadis
in Pakistan
32
The Economic System
of Islam
50
VOL. 111 - ISSUE TWOFEBRUARY 2016 WWW.REVIEWOFRELIGIONS.ORG
Is Religion Truly the Cause of Disorder
in the World Today? Spreading Peace &
Security
Are
RELIGIOUS PARENTS
BRAINWASHING
Their CHILDREN?
Ask The Review
of Religions
10
Wonders of
the Universe
16
Five Reasons Why
Some Christians Are
Shroud Sceptics
32
The Economic System
of Islam
52
WWW.REVIEWOFRELIGIONS.ORG
WONDERSof the
UNIVERSE
VOL. 111 - ISSUE EIGHTAUGUST 2016
End Times, Armageddon
& the Return
of the Messiah
10
What are the Signs of the
Second Coming
of the Messiah?
28
Real Peace
on Earth
40
Recognising the
Celestial Signs of
Almighty God
48
VOL. 111 - ISSUE THREEMARCH 2016 WWW.REVIEWOFRELIGIONS.ORG
NO MORE
WAITING?
NO MORE
WAITING?
Hajj—Pilgrimage to the
House of God
10
The Review of Religions’
Exhibition: An Interfaith
Event
32
My First Visit to Jalsa
Salana
36
The Economic System
of Islam
76
VOL. 111 - ISSUE NINESEPTEMBER 2016 WWW.REVIEWOFRELIGIONS.ORG
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Good Mosques,
Good Neighbours
14
Jonahas
and the
Big Fish?
28
Why Alcohol is
Prohibited in Islam
42
The Economic System
of Islam
62
VOL. 111 - ISSUE FOURAPRIL 2016 WWW.REVIEWOFRELIGIONS.ORG
RELIGIOUS DIVERSITY,
LEARNING FROM LEICESTER
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
Terrorism Was Never
Justified by the Prophet
Mohammadsa
10
Peace Requires
Compassion
32
Gene Editing:
Harnessing the Power
of Nature
36
The Economic System
of Islam
62
VOL. 111 - ISSUE FIVEMAY 2016 WWW.REVIEWOFRELIGIONS.ORG
TERRORISM
WAS NEVER
JUSTIFIED
bythe
PROPHET
MOHAMMAD
Islam: Restoring
Women’s Rights
8
Deliverance of
Afflictions
28
Justice in an
Unjust World
32
The Qur’an on War
and Peace
50
VOL. 110 - ISSUE ELEVENNOVEMBER 2016 WWW.REVIEWOFRELIGIONS.ORG
ISLAM:
Restoring Women’s Rights
Should Islam Really
be Feared...?
10
Qur’anic History &
the Role of Islamic
Calligraphy
26
On Fasting
46
The Economic System
of Islam
50
VOL. 111 - ISSUE SIXJUNE 2016 WWW.REVIEWOFRELIGIONS.ORG
SHOULD
ISLAM
REALLY
BE
FEARED...?
Human Values – The
Foundation for a
Peaceful World
12
A Glimpse into the Life
of The Holy Prophet
Muhammadsa
32
Justice –The Prerequisite
to a Peaceful World
34
Mary: A Personal
Reflection
52
VOL. 110 - ISSUE TWELVEDECEMBER 2016 WWW.REVIEWOFRELIGIONS.ORG
A historic address at Canada’s
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The English Rendering of the
5 Volume Commentary of the
Holy Qur’an
One of the most comprehensive commentaries of the
Holy Qur’an ever written.
Commentary by
Hadhrat Mirza Bashir-Ud-Din Mahmud Ahmad(ra)
Read it online at: http://www.alislam.org/quran/
Or Purchase the print version at: http://store.alislam.org/
©AMAGALLERYUK

Deep in the heart of the Arab
Peninsula, amidst the desert
and the valleys of Pharan,
stands a modest bricked
structure. This monument is
undisputedly the single most
sacred, revered and Holy
Shrine of Islam; the compass
point for which the Muslim
world aligns itself on a daily
basis in prostration to God.
Its name is the Ka’bah, literally
translating from Arabic as ‘the cube’,
but is synonymously referred to as
Baytul Haram or ‘the Sacred House’. It
was established for the benefit of the
whole of mankind, to act as a centre
for the unification of humanity.
Does its inception lie with the
earliest human populations – viz-a-
viz Adamas
and his Community – or
were Abrahamas
and his son Ishmaelas
the individuals responsible for its
initial erection? And what purpose
does the Ka’bah actually serve?

CALENDAR of
RELIGIOUS
EVENTS &
FESTIVALS
AUGUST 2017
Monday 14th August or
Tuesday 15th August 2017
Faith: Hinduism
Event: Krishna Janmashtami
The Krishna Janmashtami
is the celebration of the
birth of Krishna, one of
the incarnations of Lord
Vishnu. Festivities begin at
midnight, as that is believed
to be the time of the birth of
Krishna. Most Hindus visit
the temple and sing bhajans
[traditional Hindu songs]
to commemorate the day.
Since Krishna enjoyed milk
and curds, Hindus prepare
meals from these ingredients.
Another tradition is to form
a human pyramid in order to
reach a pot hung high above
containing buttermilk.
Tuesday 15th August 2017
Faith: Christianity
Event: Feast of Assumption
According to the Catholic
doctrine the feast of
Assumption marks the death
and bodily ascension of
Mary, mother of Jesusas
. In
November 1950, Pope Pius
XII declared this event to be
‘infallible’stating that when
Mary lived her earthly life,
her soul ascended to heaven.
Each country celebrates this
festival in a particular way,
with some lighting candles or
fireworks to others throwing
coins out of their windows
as a sign of prosperity.
Friday 18th – Friday 25th
August 2017
Faith: Jainism
Event: Paryushan
Celebrated in the Hindu
month of Bhadra, Paryushan
is one of the most important
festivals for the Jain faith.
Literally meaning ‘coming
together’, Paryushan is said
to have been commemorated
by Lord Mahavira, founder
of Jainism. One key aspect
of this festival is seeking
forgiveness as well pardoning
others. During this day some
Jains fast as well as offer
prayers and meditation.

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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© ISLAMIC PUBLICATIONS, 2017
ISSN NO. 0034-6721
The Review of Religions, in print since
1902, is one of the longest-running
comparative religious magazines.
The objective of the magazine is to present
the teachings of Islam, reflecting its rational,
harmonious and inspiring nature. It also brings
together articles and viewpoints on different
religions and seeks to make discussions on
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VOL.112-ISSUEEIGHTAUGUST2017WWW.REVIEWOFRELIGIONS.ORGGRAVITATIONALWAVES
TERRORISM WAS NEVER J
MOHAMMAD
THE 50TH MOSQUE AND T
GERMANY
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The Review of Religions August 2017

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