The Review of Religions September 2017

The Three Functions of
the Angel Gabriel
8
Honey: Nature’s Golden
Nectar
12
Pilgrimage: A Journey to
the Holy Land
28
Pillars of Islam
58
VOL. 112 - ISSUE NINESEPTEMBER 2017 WWW.REVIEWOFRELIGIONS.ORG
HAJJ
TheUltimatePilgrimage

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.

Say He is Allah, the One;
Allah the Independant and
Besought of all. He begets
not nor is he begotten; And
there is none like unto Him.
ISLAM, THE HOLY QUR’AN,
112:2-5
The Messenger of Allahsa
said, ‘On
the day of ressurection Allah will
hold the whole Earth and fold
the heaven with his right hand
and say, ‘I am the King, where
are the Kings of the Earth.’
ISLAM, HADITH, SAHIH
BUKHARI NO. 7382
It needs no argument that the
true and perfect God, to believe
in Whom is the duty of every
creature, is the Lord of the worlds,
His Providence is not confined
to a particular people, age or
country. He is the Sustainer of all
peoples, of all ages, of all places
and of all countries. He is the
fountainhead of all grace. Every
physical and spiritual power is
bestowed by Him, and the whole
universe is sustained by Him
and He is the support of all.
ISLAM, HAZRAT MIRZA
GHULAM AHMADAS
, A
MESSAGE OF PEACE, 9-10
Hear O Israel, the Lord our
God, the Lord is One.
JUDAISM, DEUTRONOMY, 6:4
And Jesus answered him, ‘the
first of all the commandments
is, Hear, O Israel; the Lord
our Lord is One Lord.’
CHRISTIANITY, MARK 12:29
God is One. He is the Supreme
Truth. He the Creator, is
without fear and without hate.
He is immortal. He is neither
born and nor does He die.
SIKHISM, GURU GRANTH
SAHIB JI, 1
The sage clasps the
Primal Unity,Testing by it
everything under heaven.
TAOISM, TAO TE CHING 22
God is One
WORLD FAITHS

8 The Three Functions of the
Angel Gabriel
HAZRAT MIRZA GHULAM AHMADAS
, THE PROMISED
MESSIAH & IMAM MAHDI
12 Honey: Nature’s Golden Nectar
While honey may sweeten your tea,
it also packs a healthy punch for
your body. In the first of a multi-
part series, we explore the history
and health benefits of honey.
DR TAUSEEF KHAN, 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
28 Pilgrimage: A Journey to the
Holy Land
This month, millions of Muslims
will go to Makkah for the annual
pilgrimage. But many religious faiths
feature a robust tradition of pilgrimage.
We explore pilgrimage across
Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism,
Hinduism, Jainism and Sikhism.
FAZAL AHMAD, UK
40 The Sanctity of the Holy
Ka’bah and the Institution of Hajj
Take a journey on this extraordinary
institution through various
extracts from the Five Volume
Commentary, expounding upon
the true significance of the Holy
Ka’bah and the philosophy of Hajj.
HAZRAT MIRZA BASHIR-UD-DIN MAHMUD AHMADRA
,
SECOND KHALIFAH AND WORLDWIDE HEAD OF THE
AHMADIYYA MUSLIM COMMUNITY
50 The Institution of Hajj
As Muslims get ready to go to Hajj,
we explore the essential rituals and
rites of this annual pilgrimage.
SHAHZAD AHMED, ZAFIR MALIK, AND MUBASHAR
ZAFRI, UK
Front cover picture: ESB Professional | shutterstock
CONTENTS
SEPTEMBER 2017 VOL.112 - ISSUE NINE
Dhul Hulaifah
For those coming from Medinah
(approx. 9 km from Medinah,
450 km from Makkah)
Juhfah
For those coming from
Syria, Palestine and Egypt
(approx. 190 km from Makkah)
Zaat-e-I’raq:
For those coming from Iraq and Iraq
Qarn Manaazil
For those coming from Najd and Kuwait
Yalamlam:
Those coming from Yemen
50

58
28
58 The Pillars of Islam
A special feature in which we
highlight the writings of the Promised
Messiah, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam
Ahmadas
, on various topics.This
month, the Promised Messiahas
explains the five fundamental
pillars of Islam in depth, the
third in a three-part series.
, THE PROMISED
MESSIAH & IMAM MAHDI
12

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/

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

G
abriel has three functions relating to revelation. First, when
the womb receives the seed of a person whose nature God
the Glorious,out of His Rahmaniyyat [Grace]—with which
man has nothing to do—desires to make him capable of receiving
revelation, He casts the reflection of the light of Gabriel on him in
that very condition.Then such a person’s nature develops,under Divine
direction,the capacity for receiving revelation and he acquires senses
for the receipt of revelation.
Secondly,when the love of a servant falls under the shadow of Divine
love then,on account of the providential movement of God Almighty,
a movement is produced in the light of Gabriel and that light falls on
the heart of the true lover.That is to say,a reflection of that light falls
on his heart and produces in it a reflection of Gabriel which oper-
ates as light or air or heat and dwells within him as a faculty for the
receipt of revelation.One end of it is sunk in the light of Gabriel and
the other enters into the heart of the recipient of revelation.This, in
other words, is called the Holy Spirit or its reflection.
Thirdly, it is the function of Gabriel that when Divine word mani-
fests itself he comes into motion like a wave and carries the word to
the ears of the heart, or being illumined like light presents it to the
eyes or, in the guise of heat, causes the tongue to utter the words of
the revelation.1
endnotes
1. Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas
, The Essence of Islam, vol. 2 (Tilford, Surrey:
Islam International Publications, 1993), 169-170.
The Three Functions of
the Angel Gabriel

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

What is honey
Honey is a sweet substance made from
nectar of flowers by the honey bees.1
The
foraging honey bees visit thousands of
flowers during the day, collecting their
nectar, which is carried back to the hive
in the honey stomach (as opposed to the
food stomach) of the honey bee. Honey
bees in the hive process this nectar by
adding their own enzymes to it while
also reducing its water content by con-
tinuously exposing it to the air via their
mouth-parts. Once the nectar is suf-
ficiently processed and thickened it is
deposited in the cells of the hive as honey
and capped by a covering of beeswax.2
Honey is stored by the honey bees to
be used as an energy store in times of
need especially during winter when bees
Honey: Nature’s
Golden Nectar
DR TAUSEEF KHAN, CANADA
Honey might make a sweet addition to
your tea, but it’s not just a tasty treat:
honey also brings hefty medical benefits.
Indeed, the Holy Qur’an explicitly says,
“Therein is cure for men” in Chapter 16.
In the first part of a three-part series to
be published in the coming months, we
explore what honey is, its place in his-
tory, and our emerging knowledge of
the benefits of this golden nectar. This
article is based upon a lecture given
at the Review of Religions Research
Canada (RORRC) Symposium held
at Peel Village, Brampton, Canada in
February 2017.This is the first article
in a three-part series.
12 THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS | SEPTEMBER 2017

don’t forage.The good news is that bees
produce more honey than they need so
humans can extract this honey without
harming the honey bee colony.Honey is
extracted by taking out the frames from
the honey bee colony in a centrifugal
extractor or by squeezing the combs full
of honey using a cloth as a sieve — this
latter method is commonly employed
in developing countries. Alternately, cut
combs of honey can be directly eaten.
Honey is one of the last remaining natu-
ral foods sold today. The food codes of
both the World Health Organization and
the Food and Agriculture Organization
of the United Nations have standardized
honey quality, as has the EU council
directive. Both stipulate that nothing
can be added to honey, and that neither
The foraging honey bees visit
thousands of flowers during
the day, collecting their nectar,
which is carried back to the
hive in the honey stomach (as
opposed to the food stomach)
of the honey bee. Honey
bees in the hive process this
nectar by adding their own
enzymes to it while also
reducing its water content by
continuously exposing it to the
air via their mouth-parts.
Simun Ascic | Shutterstock
SEPTEMBER 2017 | THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS 13

pollen nor any constituent particular to
honey may be removed except ‘where
this is unavoidable in removal of for-
eign matter’. Honey cannot be heated
or processed to such an extent that its
composition is changed or its quality is
impaired.3
Many different types of honey are avail-
able, all differing in their colour, flavor,
aroma, physical and chemical properties
– this difference is primarily due to the
flower from which the nectar of honey
is obtained.4
Honey obtained pre-
dominantly from one flower is known
as monofloral (or unifloral) honey. For
example,Manuka honey comes from nec-
tar collected by honey bees from flowers
of the tea tree Leptospermum Scoparium,
found primarily in New Zealand and
Australia.Similarly,there are hundreds of
other monofloral honey types including
acacia,citrus,heather,eucalyptus,thyme,
buckwheat,alfalfa,clover,chestnut,rape,
sidr, blackseed honey, et cetera. In fact,
more than 100 different monofloral hon-
eys have been described in Europe,North
America,Australia and other countries.5
Honey varies in aroma, taste and colour,
and these differences depend largely on
the flowers from which nectar is obtained.
Honey obtained mostly from one flower
is called monofloral or unifloral, and there
are over 100 different monofloral honeys.
AlinaMD | Shutterstock

Historical Use of Honey
Honey was an important sweetener and
healing agent used by mankind for thou-
sands of years. The first evidence of its
human use is from an 8,000 years-old
cave painting in Bicorp in the region of
Valencia, Spain. It depicts a man climb-
ing lianas while ascending a cliff face and
gathering honey from wild honey bees.6
The sheer number of such paintings of
raids on bees’ nests indicate that honey
was highly valued and considered an
important food source by early humans.
The first written reference to honey
was found in a Sumerian tablet dating
back 6,200 BCE which mentions the
use of honey as a drug and ointment.7
Honey was also extensively used by the
Egyptians as it features frequently in
hieroglyphics dating back at least 3,000
years.In fact,they were arguably the first
people to domesticate the honey bee
using clay or stone hives.8
The Egyptians
used honey as a sweetener,a healing oint-
ment, and for other domestic uses such
as mummifying,boat- and ship-building,
and as a binding agent in paint and in
metal castings. Egyptians also offered
honeycombs overflowing with honey as
valuable gifts to their gods in a show of
devotion and worship – in fact,in the 12th
century BC,Rameses III offered 15 tons
of honey to the god of the Nile, Hapi.
Egyptians also buried jars of honey with
the dead,believing it to be sustenance for
the afterlife. Archeologists have found
clay pots filled with honey in the tomb of
Pharaoh in city of Thebes and also in the
tomb of Tutankhamen.The pharaohs also
used honey in their wedding celebrations
in which newlyweds drank honey wine
or mead for a month after the wedding
ceremony for good luck and happiness.
This custom passed on to Greco-Roman
culture and then to medieval Europe and
gave rise to the word honeymoon.
The Greeks also viewed honey as an
important food and a healing agent.9
Pythagoras is said to have lived largely
on honey and bread. At times Greeks
Honey was an important
sweetener and healing
agent used by mankind for
thousands of years.The first
evidence of its human use
is from an 8,000 years-old
cave painting in Bicorp in
the region of Valencia, Spain.

also used honey to preserve the bodies
of those who had died at some distance
from their homes. Alexander the Great
is rumored to have been buried in honey.
In ancient Rome, honey was used in a
wide range of dishes and as an ingredient
in many sauces.10
The Romans used it in
their wine and meat, fruit and vegeta-
bles were sometimes preserved through
immersion in honey.One famous Roman
cookery book by Apicius used honey as
an ingredient in nearly half of the 468-
odd recipes. In ancient China, honey
production was low and so the Chinese
were known to import it. Ironically,
China is now the largest producer of
honey in the world.
Honey and Ancient Religions
In almost all religions, honey was
endorsed as pure, nutritious and used as
a healing agent – commonly used for
wound healing, burns, cataracts, ulcers
and general nutrition.11
Honey is also mentioned in the Talmud,
the Old and the New Testament. The
children of Israel were promised that
their destination was to be ‘a land flowing
with milk and honey.’12
In fact,honey was
so important that it has been mentioned
fifty-four times in the Old Testament.
King Solomonas
said: ‘My son, eat thou
honey, because it is good; and the hon-
eycomb, which is sweet to thy taste. So
honey: nature’s golden nectar
This cave painting in Bicorp, near
Valencia, Spain, shows that humans
had already started to seek out
honey as early as 8000-6000 BCE.

shall the knowledge of wisdom be unto
thy soul: when thou hast found it, then
there shall be a reward, and thy expecta-
tion shall not be cut off.’13
This is why
Jews believed that eating honey led to
mental keenness.
In the New Testament,Jesusas
reappeared
before his 11 disciples in the flesh fol-
lowing the crucifixion and after coming
out of the sepulcher, having survived
the cross. The disciples were joyous and
amazed but they thought he was per-
haps a spirit; he showed them his hands
and feet which bore wounds.Jesusas
then
asked them to touch him as he was flesh
and demonstrated his very human body
by demonstrating his need to eat. Jesusas
asked them if they had anything to eat;
‘they gave him a piece of a broiled fish,
and of an honeycomb. And he took it,
and did eat before them.’14
Honey is also mentioned in the ancient
Chinese book of songs, Shi Jing, com-
piled by Confucius in the 6th
century
BC. In the holy book of Hinduism, the
Vedas,honey is mentioned several times
as a substance of reverence.
Honey in Islam
Similarly, in Islam honey found a very
special place as it is mentioned in
In Exodus 33:3, the Children of Israel were
promised that their destination was to be
a ‘land flowing with milk and honey’.
Rostislav Ageev | Shutterstock

the Holy Qur’an and since the Holy
Prophetsa
of Islam himself used to love it.
Chapter 16 of the Holy Qur’an is named
Al-Nahl,or ‘The Bee’.In this chapter,the
Holy Qur’an states:
‘And thy Lord has inspired the bee, say-
ing, “Make thou houses in the hills and
in the trees and in the trellises which they
build.
“Then eat of every kind of fruit,and then
pursue submissively the paths prescribed
by your Lord.”There comes forth from
their bellies a drink of varying hues.
Therein is cure for mankind. Surely, in
that is a Sign for a people who reflect.’15
In this verse,the word shifa or cure means
cure for physical ailments as in other
places in the Holy Qur’an this word has
been used for the Holy Book itself (for
example,in 10:58,17:83,41:45) as a cure
for spiritual ailments. For example, in
Chapter 10 it states:
‘O mankind! there has indeed come to
you an exhortation from your Lord and
a cure for whatever disease there is in the
hearts,and a guidance and a mercy to the
believers.’16
The Holy Prophet Muhammadsa
has also
advised Muslims to use honey as a cure
when he said,‘Make use of the two cures:
honey and the Qur’an.’17
Indeed,the Holy Prophet Muhammadsa
is known to have used it as a cure.
Narrated Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri:
‘A man came to Holy Prophet
Muhammadsa
and said,“My brother has
some abdominal trouble.”The Prophetsa
said to him “Let him drink honey.”The
man came for the second time and the
Prophetsa
said to him, “Let him drink
The Holy Qur’an mentions honey as a cure
and the traditions of the Holy Prophetsa
also
mention the curative properties of honey.
Thus, honey holds a special place in Islam.
Faris Algosaibi | Flickr.com | CC BY 2.0

honey.” He came for the third time and
the Prophetsa
said,“Let him drink honey.”
He returned again and said,“I have done
that.”The Prophetsa
then said,“Allah has
said the truth, but your brother’s abdo-
men has told a lie.Let him drink honey.”
So he made him drink honey and he was
cured.’18
The Decline of Honey
Honey was the major sweetener used
by people till the nineteenth century,
but then its use declined when cheaper
industrial cane sugar became more widely
available from the new European colo-
nies.19
Despite its decline as a sweetener,
honey maintained its use as a healing
agent for some time. Poultices with
honey were used to heal soldiers’wounds
in the first two world wars with good
success rates.20
But honey could not
compete with the fast progress of mod-
ern medicine and the wide introduction
of almost ‘miraculous’ antibiotics in the
1950s,which could treat almost any bac-
terial infection, and which slowly ended
the use of honey as a common household
and hospital remedy.
However, recently honey has been
making a comeback as a cure – almost
half-a-century later – as the unchecked
After the rise of antibiotics in the 1950s,
honey was less frequently used as a remedy
for diseases. However, the overuse of
antibiotics and the subsequent bacterial
resistance have led to renewed interest
in honey’s antibacterial properties.
directorsuwan | Shutterstock
‘And thy Lord has inspired
the bee, saying,“Make
thou houses in the hills
and in the trees and in the
trellises which they build.

and liberal use of antibiotics has led to
increasing bacterial resistance to anti-
biotics and an interest in honey as an
antibiotic and healing agent has rekin-
dled among an increasing number of
medical practitioners.21
Presently the annual world produc-
tion of honey is around 1.6 million tons
which is less than 1% of total sugar
production. The US, Canada, and the
European Union are both large producers
and consumers of honey. However, the
major honey-exporting countries such
as China and Argentina consume little
honey themselves.22
The vast majority of
honey produced in the world comes from
the most ubiquitous species of the honey
bee known as the Western honey bee or
Apis Mellifera; though there are six other
species of honey bee that produce honey,
they are only of regional importance.23
Composition of honey
Honey typically contains 79 percent
sugar, 18 percent water, 0.3 percent pro-
tein, 0.5 percent organic acids and trace
phenolic compounds,vitamins and min-
erals.24
The sugar component of honey is
a complex combination of various sug-
ars. The main sugars in honey are the
monosaccharides fructose (38%) and
glucose (31%) and up to ten percent
are other disaccharides, trisaccharides
and oligosaccharides.25
So far, 25 differ-
ent oligosaccharides have been detected
in honey. Many of these sugars are not
present in nectar and are formed by the
action of bee enzymes.26
Nutrition and Honey
Honey is highly nutritious: one teaspoon
of honey typically contains 7 grams of
honey that will provide around 20 kilo-
calories of energy or 1 percent of daily
required energy. During digestion the
two main sugars, fructose and glucose,
are quickly transported in the blood to
Honey comes in a wide variety of
colours and flavours. In some markets,
different monofloral varieties are
blended together to get a certain
consistency in colour and in flavour.
Nitr | Shutterstock

be utilised for energy, while the oligo-
saccharides are primarily digested by the
gut microbes making honey a prebiotic
– that is, good for the growth of com-
mensal microbes of the gut.27
Honey contains roughly 0.3 to 0.5 per-
cent proteins, mainly enzymes and free
amino acids.28
Three major enzymes
are added to honey by the honey bee,
which are i) diastase,which decomposes
starch or glycogen into simple sugar, ii)
invertase, which converts sucrose into
fructose and glucose and iii) glucose oxi-
dase, which turns glucose into gluconic
acid and hydrogen peroxide.29
Different unifloral honeys contain var-
ying amounts of minerals and trace
elements ranging from 0.2 to 0.4 per-
cent.30
These include potassium,sodium,
calcium, magnesium, chromium, man-
ganese, selenium and many other trace
elements. Among vitamins honey con-
tains vitamin B1,B2,B6,niacin,vitamin
K, and vitamin C. The main free amino
acids found in honey are proline, phe-
nylalanine, tyrosine and lysine. Lower
but also important amounts of arginine,
glutamic acid, histidine and valine are
also present. It should be noted that
the protein, vitamins and minerals in
honey are in very low quantities and as
such their contribution to human daily
requirement is negligible. In addition,
monofloral honey types from different
flowers will contain varying amounts of
sugars, enzymes, minerals, amino acids,
and trace elements,thus,honey obtained
from one flower will not be similar to one
from another.31
This makes honey unique
and that has thousands of varieties with
different physico-chemical properties
and consequently largely similar but also
divergent physiological effects.
The wide variety in the aromas, flavours
and colours of honey also depend upon
their botanical origin.32
Honey with high
fructose content (e.g. acacia) are sweeter
than those with high glucose content
(e.g. canola). The aroma and taste also
depends on acids (honey is acidic with
a pH of 3.9), amino acids and aroma
compounds within honey. More than
600 such aroma compounds, which
are present in very low concentrations
as complex mixtures of organic volatile
compounds,have been discovered in dif-
ferent types of honey.33
Honey colour,
aroma and flavour are important qualities
in the food industry and most supermar-
ket honey in UK and Canada is a blend
of many types of honeys in order to cre-
ate a certain golden colour, consistency

and flavor.The original monofloral honey
types from flowers are of vastly different
colours, aroma, and taste and in coun-
tries where consumers demand such
monofloral honeys (e.g.Spain,Germany,
and Italy), they are commonly available
in supermarkets and command higher
prices.
Polyphenols, which are derived from
the plant nectar, constitute less than
one percent of honey but are possibly
one of the most important groups of
compounds in honey.34
They determine
a vast array of the functional proper-
ties of honey including its antioxidant
and anti-inflammatory activities.35
The
major polyphenols in honey are flavo-
noids, phenolic acids and phenolic acid
derivatives.36
Honey might appear to be just sugar
water but in reality, it is a complex mix-
ture of a vast variety of compounds that
determine its wide-ranging properties.It
is surprising that simple molecules (sug-
ars) and very low quantities of purported
active ingredients (polyphenols,enzymes,
proteins) determine the extensive physio-
logical and medicinal properties of honey.
The composition of honey depends
largely on its botanical origin (lesser by
honey bee type and geography), a fact
that has rarely been considered in nutri-
tional,physiological and health effects of
honey.
In the next two articles in this series
we shall discuss the health benefits of
honey, the current research on this mar-
vel of nature, and the future directions
that can prove promising. We shall also
discuss the commonly asked questions
about giving honey to children,its useful-
ness in diabetic patients, the benefits of
raw honey and testing for honey purity.
About the Author: Dr Tauseef Ahmad Khan is
a post-doctoral fellow in University of Toronto.
His research is on honey and its effect on human
health. He is also chairman of The Review of
Religions Research Canada (RORRC) which is a
part of MKA Canada, inspiring youth Khuddam
(Ahmadi Muslim Youth Association) towards
research, the sciences of the Qur’an and The Review
of Religions magazine. In addition, RORRC also
engages students in scholarly discussions and holds
symposia on important research topics. The members
are encouraged to produce high quality research for
publication for The Review of Religions.

endnotes
1. E.Crane,A Book of Honey (1980).cabdirect.org
2. E. Crane, Honey: A Comprehensive Survey
(William Heinemann, 1975).
3. Stefan Bogdanov and Peter Martin, “Honey
Authenticity : A Review,” Mitteilungen aus dem
Gebiete der Lebensmitteluntersuchung und Hygiene
93, 6 (2002): 232-254.
4. Stefan Bogdanov, et al.,“Honey for Nutrition
and Health: A Review,” J. Am. Coll. Nutr. 27, 6
(2008): 677-689.
5. Crane, Honey: A Comprehensive Survey.
L. Oddo, et al., “Main European Unifloral
Honeys: Descriptive Sheets,” Apidologie 35, 1
(2004): S38-S81.
M.M. Ozcan and C. Olmez, “Some Qualitative
Properties of Different Monofloral Honeys,” Food
Chem. 163, (2014): 212-218.
6. E. Crane, The Archaeology of Beekeeping,
(Duckworth, 1983): 360.
E.Crane,The World History of Beekeeping and Honey
Hunting (Taylor & Francis, 1999), 682.
9. L. Boukraâ, Honey in Traditional and Modern
Medicine, Traditional Herbal Medicines for
Modern Times (CRC Press, 2013), 470.
10. S. Style, Honey from Hive to Honeypot.
(Pavilion, 1992).
Crane, The World History of Beekeeping and Honey
Hunting.
12. The Bible, Exodus 33:3.
13. Old Testament, Proverbs 24:13-14.
14. The Bible, Luke 24:42.
15. The Holy Qur’an, 16:69-70.
16. The Holy Qur’an, 10:58.
17. Ibn Majah, Kitabul-tibb, Babul-asal.
18. Sahih Bukhari, Kitabul-tibb,
Babul-dua-ul-asal.
19. Crane, A Book of Honey.
20. S. Bogdanov, The Honey Book (2016).

21. S. E. Maddocks, and R.E. Jenkins, “Honey:
A Sweet Solution to the Growing Problem of
Antimicrobial Resistance?” Future Microbiol. 11,
8 (2013): 1419-1429.
22. Bogdanov, The Honey Book.
23. Stefan Bogdanov and Peter Martin,“Honey
Authenticity : A Review.”
24. Stefan Bogdanov,et al.,“Honey for Nutrition
and Health: A Review.”
D. W. Ball, “The Chemical Composition of
Honey,”J. Chem. Educ. 84, 10 (2007): 1643.
P.M. da Silva, et al., “Honey: Chemical
Composition, Stability and Authenticity,” Food
Chem. 196, (2016): 309-323.
25. E. De La Fuente, et al., “Carbohydrate
Composition of Spanish Unifloral Honeys,” Food
Chemistry 129, 4 (2011): 1483-1489.
26. L. W. Doner, “The Sugars of Honey—A
Review,”J. Sci. Food Agric. 28, 5 (1977): 443-456.
27. M. L. Sanz, et al., “In Vitro Investigation
into the Potential Prebiotic Activity of Honey
Oligosaccharides,” J. Agric. Food Chem. 53, 8
(2005): 2914-2921.
28. J.W.White, Jr.,“Honey,”in Advances in Food
Research, ed. C.O. Chichester (Academic Press,
1978), 287-374.
29. P.M. da Silva, et al., “Honey: Chemical
Composition, Stability and Authenticity,” Food
Chem. 196, (2016): 309-323.
30. D. W. Ball, “The Chemical Composition of
Honey,”J. Chem. Educ. 84, 10 (2007): 1643.
31. Stefan Bogdanov,et al.,“Honey for Nutrition
and Health: A Review.”
32. Stefan Bogdanov, K. Ruoff, and L. Persano
Oddo, “Physico-Chemical Methods for the
Characterisation of Unifloral Honeys: A Review,”
Apidologie 35, 1 (2004): S4-S17.
33. C.E. Manyi-Loh, R.N. Ndip, and A.M.
Clarke, Volatile Compounds in Honey: A
Review on Their Involvement in Aroma,
Botanical Origin Determination and Potential
Biomedical Activities, Int. J. Mol. Sci. 12, 12
(2011): 9514-9532.
V. Kaškonienė, and P.R. Venskutonis, “Floral
Markers in Honey of Various Botanical and
Geographic Origins: A Review,”Compr. Rev. Food
Sci. Food Saf. 9, 6 (2010): 620-634.
34. M. Al-Mamary, A. Al-Meeri, and M.
Al-Habori, “Antioxidant Activities And Total
Phenolics Of Different Types Of Honey,” Nutr.

Res. 22, 9 (2002): 1041-1047.
35. N.Gheldof,and N.J.Engeseth,“Antioxidant
Capacity of Honeys from Various Floral Sources
Based on the Determination of Oxygen Radical
Absorbance Capacity and Inhibition of In Vitro
Lipoprotein Oxidation in Human Serum Samples”
J. Agric. Food Chem. 50, 10 (2002): 3050-3055.
D. D. Schramm, et al.,“Honey with High Levels
of Antioxidants Can Provide Protection to
Healthy Human Subjects,” J. Agric. Food Chem.
51, 6 (2003): 1732-1735.
A. Bean, Investigating the Anti-inflammatory
Activity of Honey (2012).
36. J. M. Alvarez-Suarez, F. Giampieri, and
M. Battino, “Honey as a Source of Dietary
Antioxidants: Structures, Bioavailability and
Evidence of Protective Effects Against Human
Chronic Diseases”Curr. Med. Chem. 20,5 (2013):
621-638.
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info@Reviewof Religions.org

A Glimpse into the Life of
the Holy Prophet Muhammadsa
The Fulfilling of Covenants
The Holy Prophetsa
was very careful to safe-guard against possible
misunderstandings. On one occasion his wife Safiyyara
came to see him
in the mosque. When the time came for her to return home it had
become dark and the Prophetsa
decided to escort her to her house. On
the way he passed by two men and, wishing to avoid any speculation
on their part as to his companion, he stopped them and lifting the
veil from the face of his wife said: ‘See, this is Safiyyara
my wife.’They
protested saying: ‘O Messenger of Allahsa
! why did you imagine that
we should fall into any misconception regarding you?’The Prophetsa
replied, ‘Satan (i.e., evil thoughts) often courses through a man’s blood.
I was afraid lest your faith be affected.’ (Bukhari, Abwabul I’tikaf).1
endnotes
1. Hazrat Mirza Bashir-ud-din Mahmud Ahmadra
, Life of Muhammad (Tilford,
Surrey, U.K.: Islam International Publications Limited, 2013), 236-237.

PILGRIMAGE
A
JOURNEY
to the
HOLY LAND
Lanteria | Shutterstock
Fazal Ahmad, London, UK

T
he concept of pilgrimage is an ancient one, appearing
in many religions as a way of reaffirming one’s faith,
as a path to forgiveness and as a means of spiritual
uplift. Pilgrimage sites are nearly always places that hold a
special significance: places where a prophet was born, where
a historical event has taken place or where nature inspires
people to wonder about their place in the universe and their
Creator.
W
hile Muslims will be performing their pilgrimage
to Makkah this month, we explore the concept of
pilgrimage in Christianity, Sikhism, Hinduism,
Jainism, Judaism and Buddhism. While these are not the only
sites that attract large numbers of religious pilgrims, they
provide some insight into the commonality between all rites of
pilgrimage: to better themselves and to become closer to their
Creator in the process.

Bethlehem, Palestine
EFesenko | Shutterstock

Bethlehem, Palestine
The Church of the Nativity in the
town of Bethlehem in Palestine is one
of the most sacred pilgrimage sites for
Christians around the world. Many
early Christian fathers such as Justin
Martyr, Origen and Jerome noted the
belief that Jesusas
was born in a cave
in Bethlehem which lies fifteen miles
south of Jerusalem, itself sacred to the
Jewish faith.1
The Church of the Nativity sits
above a cave. It was in 327 CE that
Emperor Constantine restored the site’s
Christian presence, built the Church
of the Nativity and had it dedicated
by his mother Helena.2
The original
church was destroyed in a revolt in
529 CE, but rebuilt by Justinian I in
its current form and was later added
to by the Crusaders centuries later.
Over a thousand years ago, pilgrims
would travel across continents to get
here, and the whole journey was part
of the pilgrimage in order to cleanse
themselves of sin. Indeed, the thought
of freeing the Holy Land from other
faiths was a key catalyst in the early
Crusades.
Today, many Christians flock to
Bethlehem every year on December
25th to mark Christmas celebrations
and to visit other sites in Palestine and
Israel related to the life and works of
Jesusas
. Pilgrims also visit Jerusalem
to see the Temple Mount, the Via
Dolorosa where he walked on his way
to crucifixion, the Sea of Galilee where
he preached and other sites mentioned
in the New Testament of the Bible.
Over the year, Bethlehem attracts over
1.4 million devotees.
endnotes
1. DeVries, LaMoine (1997), Cities
of the Biblical World, Hendrickson
Publishers, USA, p.249-254
2. DeVries, LaMoine (1997), Cities
of the Biblical World, Hendrickson
Publishers, USA, p.249-254
CHRISTIANITY
SPECIAL FEATURE
“Today, many
Christians flock
to Bethlehem
every year”

Golden Temple, India
DR Travel Photo and Video | Shutterstock

Golden Temple, India
One of the most iconic temples in the
world, the Sikh Golden Temple is the
holiest site and a place of pilgrimage
all year round. It is also known as the
Harmandir Sahib (Temple of God) or
the Darbar Sahib (Court of the Lord).
First, Guru Amar Das ordered the
digging of a nectar tank as a place of
worship in Punjab where worshippers
would obtain spiritual uplift by
bathing in the water.The pool was
dug in 1578 CE and became known
as Amrit Sarovar (the Pool of the
Nectar of Immortality).The city that
grew up around it adopted the same
name. Guru Arjan then had Hazrat
Mirza Mir lay the foundation stone
in December 1588 CE. It was also
Guru Arjan who completed the holy
scripture of the Sikhs, the Adi Granth,
and had it installed in the gurdwara
within the complex in 1604 CE once
the construction was completed.The
gurdwara itself was rebuilt in 1764
CE following attacks by the Afghan
army. The gold covering of the temple
was only applied at the start of the
nineteenth century by Maharaja Ranjit
Singh and completed in 1830.
The water tank is fed by the Ravi River
that runs through Punjab.The complex
has four entrances, a langar (free soup
kitchen) and a museum.The temple
complex attracts over 50,000 visitors
from all faiths every day, and is the
focal point for Sikhs worldwide who
visit on pilgrimage. Pilgrims must cover
their heads and entering barefoot, wash
their feet and hands.Then they move
clockwise around the various temples
until reaching the Golden Temple
itself, whilst all the time chanting of
the holy book can be heard across the
temple site.
SIKHISM
“The temple
complex attracts
over 50,000
visitors”

Varanasi, India
milosk50 | Shutterstock

Varanasi, India
Varanasi is a place of Hindu pilgrimage
around the Ganges River, sacred to
Hindus and Jains.There are thought
to be 23,000 temples and dozens of
mosques in the area.
Varanasi has a long and distinguished
history.The area is thought to have
been inhabited for many thousands of
years, and is referred to in the Hindu
Rig Veda scriptures by its ancient name
of Kashi. Buddhaas
gave his sermon
about the Wheel of Dharma here in 528
BCE. Guru Nanak visited in 1507.
Successive Mughal emperors built and
destroyed temples here. Hindus also
believe it to be the home of Lord Shiva.
The author Mark Twain in describing
Benares (Varanasi) said, ‘Benares is
older than history, older than tradition,
older even than legend, and looks twice
as old as all of them put together.’
Nowadays, millions of Hindu and Jain
pilgrims visit Varanasi every year from
around the world to perform ritual
ablutions in the river at the many ghats
(embankments leading into the river).
The river represents life and purity, and
for the pilgrim, bathing in the water
at sunrise cleanses them of all of their
sins.There are also many Parikramas, or
pilgrimages circling the many temples
and sacred sites around Varanasi.
Hindus believe that a blessed death
here leads to salvation, and for those
that die, after a funeral pyre on the
banks of the Ganges, their remains are
scattered in the river.
HINDUISM & JAINISM
“Millions of
Hindu and Jain
pilgrims visit
Varanasi”

Wailing Wall, Israel
Bill Perry | Shutterstock

Wailing Wall, Israel
For Jewish people around the world,
Israel, and in particular, the city of
Jerusalem, holds the key to many of the
key events in their history as chronicled
in the Torah.The Temple Mount
complex housed the two stone tablets
inscribed with the Law of Mosesas
known as the Ark of the Covenant,
and this used to be kept in the Holy
of Holies, only accessible to the High
Priest.The Temple site was selected by
Davidas
and his son Solomonas
went
on to build the first temple there.
After three centuries, this temple was
destroyed by the Babylonians of Persia
and the Ark went missing. Years later
a second temple was built. Herod the
Great rebuilt the second temple, but
finally this too was destroyed by fire
when the Romans destroyed the city
and evicted the Jews around 70 CE.
What is left of that old temple is the
‘Wailing Wall’ on the western side of
the old complex, and this is now the
most sacred place in the Jewish world.
The name came after the Roman
conquest, when Jews would stand here
crying at the destruction and loss of
their temple.
Millions of Jewish pilgrims visit the
site from around the world. For them,
the Wall lies directly beneath the
entrance to Heaven. Pilgrims and
devout worshippers spend many hours
reciting verses from the Torah, and
also leave written prayers on slips of
paper and inserted into gaps in the wall.
Jews especially pray here around the
time of the three pilgrimage festivals:
Passover, Shavuot (Pentecost) and
Sukhot (Tabernacles). In ancient times,
pilgrims would also make an animal
sacrifice. The pilgrimage reaffirms
commitment to the covenant with God
for the devotee.
As part of their pilgrimage, Jews also
visit other sites in the region such as
Mount Nebo in Jordan (from where
Mosesas
was shown the Promised
Land before passing away there) and
Abraham’s Well in Beersheba.
JUDAISM

Potala Palace, Tibet
Hung Chung Chih | Shutterstock

Potala Palace,Tibet
The Potala Palace complex in Lhasa
(altitude 3,700 metres),Tibet, has
been home to the Dalai Lama for
centuries and attracts pilgrims from
long distances.The construction of
the palace was begun by the 5th Dalai
Lama in 1645 CE, although the original
construction is thought to be from
Songsten Gampo around 637 CE, the
man credited with starting the Tibetan
Empire and introducing Buddhism to
Tibet.
Tibetan Buddhism came to the region
from India around the 8th century
CE, and had a renaissance in the 11th
century after the Indian monk Atisa
visited Lhasa (1042-1054 CE) and
revived the original Indian sources.1
After the Mongol Khan converted to
Tibetan Buddhism in the 16th century,
he bestowed the title Dalai Lama
(Ocean of Wisdom) on the head of
the sect. When a Dalai Lama dies, the
followers believe that he is reincarnated
in a child, and after a search and the
meeting of certain criteria, the next
Dalai Lama is revealed to the faithful.
After years of training in Lhasa, the
Dalai Lama is able to take on duties as
the leader.2
The present Dalai Lama is
the 14th and was born in 1935.
Buddhist pilgrims start their long
journeys to Potala many months in
advance, and perform the same ritual
day after day.This worship involves
taking three steps, raising their hands
to heaven whilst repeating ‘mantras’
(short prayers), dropping to their knees,
propelling their body forward, standing
up, and then repeating the process. It is
an act of selfless devotion.
In Lhasa, the main Potala Palace is
a vast complex of thirteen stories
consisting of 1,000 rooms, 10,000
Buddhist shrines, 20,000 statues, 35
small chapels, meditation halls and
various other facilities for the monks.
The foundations include copper which
protects the complex from earthquakes.
Candles are burnt throughout the palace
and temples to drive away ignorance.
Near the Palace is the Jokhang Temple
which attracts thousands of Buddhist
pilgrims every year.
endnotes
1. Eliade, Mircea & Couliano, Ioan (1991), The
Eliade Guide to World Religions, Harper Collins,
USA
2. Burton, Rosemary & Cavendish, Richard
(1991), Wonders of the World - A Guide to the
BUDDHISM

The SANCTITY of the
HOLY KA’BAH & the
INSTITUTION of
HAJJ

Hazrat Mirza Bashir-Ud- Din Mahmud Ahmadra

(1889-1965) was the second Successor of the Promised
Messiahas
and the Second Worldwide Head of the
Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. His exegesis of the Holy
Qur’an in Urdu (Tafsir-e-Kabir), comprising ten volumes,
is widely acknowledged as a unique masterpiece.
The Five Volume Commentary of the Holy Qur’an is an
English translation of certain parts of his commentary
as well as his extensive notes. The Review of Religions
presents various extracts from the Five Volume Commentary
which expound upon the true significance of the Holy Ka’bah
and the philosophy of Hajj,
Prafatsum | Shutterstock

Surely, the first House founded for
mankind is that at Becca, abounding in
blessings and a guidance for all peoples.
[3:97]
In this verse, the Qur’an draws the
attention of the People of the Book to
the antiquity of the Ka’bah in order
to point out that the real and original
centre of God’s religion is the Ka’bah;
other houses of worship, adopted by
Jews and Christians, being of later
origin. Just as certain foods which Jews
abstained from were not originally
forbidden but came subsequently to be
held unlawful, similarly their Qibla [the
Nazir Amin | Shutterstock

direction in which they worshipped]
was not the original Qibla but was
adopted as such at a subsequent time.1
In it are the manifest signs; it is the place
of Abraham; and whoso enters it, enters
peace. And pilgrimage to the House
is a duty which men – those who can
find a way thither – owe to Allah. And
whoever disbelieves, let him remember
that Allah is surely independent of all
creatures. [3:98]
After alluding to the historical evidence
in favour of the Ka’bah, the Qur’an
proceeds to state that reason also

demands that the Ka’bah should be
adopted as the Qibla.The verse gives
three reasons to show that the Ka’bah
is entitled to be adopted as the Qibla or
the centre of God’s religion.
The first reason, as hinted in the words,
the place of Abraham, is that Abrahamas
came and prayed here. Jews and
Christians, to both of whom Abrahamas
is worthy of great reverence, have to
admit that Abrahamas
visited the place.
Therefore it cannot be denied that it is
a blessed place.
The second reason, referred to in the
words, whoso enters it enters peace, is
that the Ka’bah not only promises
but also affords peace and security to
those who enter it.This promise has
been literally fulfilled.Temporally, God
has ever protected it against wars and
invasions both in ancient and modern
times.The way in which Abraha, ruler
of Yemen, and his hosts were destroyed
when they tried to invade the Ka’bah
and the way in which this territory,
which then formed a part of the
dominion of Turkey, was kept outside
the conflict during the last World War
(1914-18) afford remarkable instances
of how miraculously God protects the
Ka’bah. Unlike the sacred places of
other nations, it has never fallen into
the hands of a people who would not
revere it. Even in the Days of Ignorance
when the different tribes of pagan
Arabia were constantly at war with one
another, the territory of the Ka’bah was
held to be sacred and no fighting was
allowed therein. Spiritually, also, it is
a place of security for those who enter
it in the spiritual sense, i.e., embrace
the religion of Islam.They become
recipients of divine favours and enjoy
security from the punishment of God.
The third reason which entitles the
Ka’bah to be adopted as the Qibla is
hinted at in the words, pilgrimage to
the House is a duty which men…owe
to God.The verse contains an implied
promise on the part of God that the
Ka’bah shall ever continue to be the
centre to which men of different
countries and diverse nations will resort
for pilgrimage.The fulfilment of this
promise is proof of the fact that the
Ka’bah has indeed been designed by
God to be the Qibla of all nations.
Every Muslim who can find a way
to Makkah is bound to perform
pilgrimage to the Ka’bah once in his
lifetime. If he performs it more than
once, it is regarded as a supererogatory
act of devotion.
The words, who can find a way thither,
embody three conditions: (1) one
should have the necessary conveyance
for performing the journey; (2) one
should have the necessary money
to bear the expenses; and (3) there

should be peace and security on the
way (Dawud). If a person is sick,
he is supposed to have no ‘way’ and
pilgrimage does not become obligatory
on him.
The words, and whoever disbelieves
(let him remember) that Allah is surely
independent of all creatures, signify that
whoever refuses to accept the Ka’bah
as the Qibla, in spite of the arguments
given in its favour, should remember
that these commandments have been
given for the good of man himself;
so if he does not act upon them, he
only harms himself and does no harm
to God, Who is ‘independent of all
creatures.’
The object of pilgrimage is to accustom
men to leave their home and country
and suffer separation from relatives
and friends for the sake of God.
The pilgrimage to Makkah is also
a symbol of the respect shown to
places where the will of God was
specially manifested and a reminder
of the incidents connected with that
manifestation. It reminds believers
of the long and hazardous journey of
Abrahamas
and Ishmaelas
to the desert
valley of Makkah and of Ishmael’sas
being left in that dessert by Abrahamas
;
it tells them in speechless eloquence
how those who make sacrifices in the
way of God are protected and honoured
by Him; and it fosters their faith in the
power and might of God. Again, the
pilgrim, on finding himself near the
place which has, from the beginning
of the world, been dedicated to the
worship of God, is sure to experience
a peculiar spiritual association with
those who have, through centuries,
been bound together by the love and
remembrance of God.2
And proclaim unto mankind the
pilgrimage.They will come to thee on
foot, and on every lean camel, coming by
every distant track. [22:28]
The pilgrimage as an institution began
with Abrahamas
as the words ‘and
proclaim unto mankind the pilgrimage’
show. It was not an idolatrous
institution incorporated into Islam
by the Holy Prophetsa
to conciliate
the idol-worshipping Arabs as some
Christian writers have been led to
think. From the time of Abrahamas
,
pilgrimage has continued without a
break to this day and will continue
till the end of time.The Ka’bah was
once the centre of pilgrimage for the
Arabs alone, but now it is the centre
of pilgrimage for the whole Muslim
world and is destined to become the
spiritual centre for all mankind. It is
when Islam will prevail in the world
that the Ka’bah will become a symbol
of the Unity of God and of mankind.
The time is not far off when there
will be only One God, one Religion,

one Prophet and one Book with the
Ka’bah as the one spiritual centre for
the whole of mankind.That the Ka’bah
was destined one day to come into the
possession of the Holy Prophetsa
who
was to set free captives ‘not for price
nor reward’ and at whose hands it was
to become the spiritual centre for the
whole of mankind was foretold several
hundred years before the advent of the
Holy Prophetsa
by the Prophet Isaiahas
.
Isaiah’sas
prophecy is as follows:
I have raised him up in righteousness;
and I will direct his ways: He shall
build my city, and he shall let go my
captives, not for price nor rewards, saith
the Lord of hosts…the labour of Egypt,
and merchandise of Ethiopia and of
the Sabeans, men of stature, shall come
over unto thee, and they shall be thine:
They shall come after thee; in chains
they shall come over, and they shall
fall down unto thee, they shall make
supplication unto thee, saying, surely
God is in thee; and there is none else,
there is no God (Isaiah 45:13-14).
The prophecy is too clear to need any
explanation. It evidently applies to the
Holy Prophetsa
.
The verse also constitutes a mighty
prophecy.The proclamation that Ka’bah
would one day become a great centre to
which people from distant lands would
come to perform Hajj was made at
Makkah at a time when the very fate of
Islam was hanging in the balance. Life
was not safe for the Holy Prophetsa
and
his followers.They were being driven
away from their hearths and homes and
did not know where to go. It was at
that time that it was proclaimed to the
world, as if with a beat of drum, that
to the Ka’bah would come people from
broNrw | Shutterstock

all parts of the earth.The gathering in
Makkah every year of many hundreds
of thousands of Muslims from very
distant lands bears an irrefutable
testimony to the remarkable fulfilment
of this prophecy.3
That they may witness its benefits for
them and may mention the name of
Allah, during the appointed days, over
the quadrupeds of the class of cattle that
He has provided for them.Then eat ye
thereof and feed the distressed, the needy.
[22:29]
Apart from the spiritual good that
the pilgrimage does to a Muslim, it
possesses great social and political
significance. It has great potentialities
for wielding different Muslims
countries into one strong international
brotherhood of Islam. Muslims from all
parts of the world who meet at Makkah
once a year can exchange views on
all sorts of matters of international
importance, renew old and establish
new contacts.They have opportunities
to acquaint themselves with the
problems that confront their brethren
in faith in other countries, to copy one
another’s good points and profit by one
another’s experience and also to co-
operate with one another in many other
ways. Makkah being God’s appointed
centre of Islam, the pilgrimage can
serve as a sort of a United Nations
Organization for the whole Muslim
world.
All other religions have failed to
produce such a forum for the exchange
of international ideas and programmes.
But it is regretted that Muslims have
not yet awakened to the realization of
Makkah being an international capital
for the whole Muslim world.These
are some of the material benefits and
advantages to which reference has
been made in the words, ‘that they may
witness its benefits;’ and the words ‘and
may mention the name of Allah,’ refer
to the great spiritual benefits which
Muslims can and should derive from
the pilgrimage to Makkah.4
endnotes
1. Hazrat Mirza Bashir-ud-Din Mahmoodra
,
The Holy Qur’an with English Translation
and Commentary, Vol.2, (Tilford: Islam
International Publications, 1988), 429.
,
International Publications, 1988), 429 - 430.
,
International Publications, 1988), 1744 -
1745.
,
International Publications, 1988), 1745.

The Institution
of Hajj
‘And proclaim unto mankind the Pilgrimage. They will come to thee on foot,
and on every lean camel, coming by every distant track’
(Chapter 22 Verse 28)
T
he Hajj is one of the five
basic pillars of Islam. It
is compulsory for every
Muslim man and woman to
perform the Hajj at least once
in their lifetime, provided that
they are healthy, have the means
to make the journey and are able
to travel safely. The pilgrimage
of Hajj as an institution began
with the patriarchal Prophet
Abrahamas
. It was prophesied that
the Ka’bah would one day become
a great centre to which people
would flock from distant lands.
Each year, millions of Muslims
travel to Makkah in order to
fulfil this worship. The Review of
Religions presents an overview of
the essential rituals and rites of
the Hajj.
ESB Professional | Shutterstock
by Shahzad Ahmad, Zafir Malik, Mubasher Zafri, UK

Miqat for Hajj
Dhul Hulaifah
For those coming from Madinah
(approx. 9 km from Madinah,
450 km from Makkah)
Juhfah
For those coming from
Syria, Palestine and Egypt
Zaat-e-I’raq:
For those coming from Iraq and Iran
Qarn Manaazil
For those coming from Najd and Kuwait
Yalamlam:
Those coming from Yemen
Muslims from across the globe converge at Makkah to perform the Hajj.
The Holy Prophetsa
has specified the Miqats, or designated places, from
where the pilgrims will enter into the state of Ihraam (a sacred state in
which one must enter to perform the Hajj), depending on which area of
the world they are coming from.
At these Miqats pilgrims perform the ablution and wear two unstitched
white sheets. Women are not obliged to wear special clothes and wear
their normal clothes instead. After this the pilgrims make their way to
Makkah.

1 Makkah
The pilgrims arrive at Makkah prior to
8th Dhul Hijjah. They perform seven
circuits arround the Ka’bah known as
the Tawaaf. After this they perform two
sets of voluntary prayers. Thereafter,
they complete seven circuits in between
the two hills of Safa and Marwa.
2 Mina (approximately 7 kilo-
metres from Makkah)
On 8th Dhul Hijjah the pilgrims travel to
Mina, where they spend the day and offer
the Zuhr, Asr, Maghrib and Isha’a prayers.
On 9th Dhul Hijjah the pilgrims offer Fajr (the
dawn prayer) in Mina and then leave for ‘Arafat.
The Stages of Hajj
AhmadFaizalYahya|Shutterstoc
k

Arafat
On the 9th of Dhul Hijjah the pilgrims arrive
in the afternoon and combine the Zuhr and
Asr prayers. They then spend the rest of the
afternoon in personal remembrance of God.
This ritual is known as Wuqoof-e-Arafat (the
stay in Arafat) and is a compulsory part of
Hajj. After sunset they leave for Muzdalifah.
3
Muzdalifah
On the 9th of Dhul Hijjah, the pilgrims
arrive in Muzdalifah after sunset and
combine the Maghrib and Isha’a
[evening] prayers. They spend the
night in the open plain of Muzdalifah.
They offer the Fajr prayer in Muzdalifah
on the 10th of Dhul Hijjah and head
towards Mash’ar Al-Haram before
sunrise where they occupy themselves
in the remembrance of God.
4
Mash’ar Al-Haram – Mina – Makkah
10th Dhul-Hijjah is known as Eid-ul-Adha. Pilgrims
travel from Mash’ar Al-Haram back to Mina
where they throw seven stones at Jamarat Al-
’Aqbah (a stone pillar to represent the temptation
of Satan). Then they offer the sacrifice of an
animal, shave their heads and put on their
normal clothes. They then return to Makkah
to perform seven circuits of the Ka’abah.
On 11th Dhul-Hijjah, the ritual of pelting is performed,
but now all three Jamarat (stone pillars) are targeted.
On 12th Dhul-Hijjah, after pelting the three Jamarat
again, the pilgrims leave for Makkah; there they
perform Tawaf-e-Ifadah. However, if the pilgrims
wish to stay at Mina for a sixth day, 13th Dhul
Hijjah, they must pelt all three posts that day also,
then proceed to Makkah for Tawaf–e-Wada.
5
MSSA|Shutterstock
mirzavisoko|Shutterstock
AhmadFaizalYahya
|Shutters
tock

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

Salat Means Relationship between
Man’s Servitude and God’s Providence
The Holy Qur’an mentions two gar-
dens; one of these is the garden that
is bestowed in this life and that is the
delight of the Salat.
The Salat is not a burdensome tax but
is a permanent relationship between
man’s condition of servitude and God’s
Providence. God Almighty has pre-
scribed the Salat for the establishment
of that relationship and has charged it
with delight which serves to maintain the
relationship. For instance, if a married
couple do not find delight in their rela-
tionship, the relationship is likely to be
disrupted. In the same way if there is no
delight in Salat the relationship between
the servant and the Master is disrupted.
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 third 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 3

Supplicate behind closed doors that that
relationship may be continued and may
become a source of delight. The rela-
tionship between man’s servitude and
God’s Providence is very deep and is
full of light, the reality of which cannot
be expressed in words.Until that delight
is experienced man continues in a state
which resembles animals. Even if that
delight is felt only two or three times the
worshipper experiences a taste of it, but
he who has not even that much experi-
ence continues blind:
eview of
Religions
1

2

3
َ‫ال‬َ‫ق‬ ْ‫ن‬َ‫م‬
4

5

6
8

*
9


10

[Malfuzat, vol. VI, p. 371]
Istighfar [asking for forgiveness for one’s
sins from God] means that the light has
For instance, if a married
couple do not find delight
in their relationship, the
relationship is likely to
be disrupted. In the same
way if there is no delight
in Salat the relationship
between the servant and
the Master is disrupted.
Supplicate behind closed
doors that that relationship
may be continued and may
become a source of delight.

been obtained from God Almighty may
be safeguarded and may be fostered.The
Salat is prescribed for this purpose so
that five times daily this light may be
repeatedly sought from God. He who
possesses insight knows that the Salat is
a spiritual exaltation and that the only
way of deliverance from spiritual ills is
repeated supplication in Salat which is
charged with earnestness and melting of
the heart.
[Malfuzat, vol. VII, pp. 124-125]
If a worshipper finds that he has lost
the eagerness and delight that he used
to experience in the Salat he should
not become weary, nor be discouraged.
He should seek to recover with great
eagerness that which has been lost; the
appropriate means for which are repent-
ance, Istighfar and earnestness. Salat
should not be neglected because of lack
of delight in it, but should be on that
account multiplied and intensified, as
an alcoholic does not give up drinking
because he cannot get drunk but goes on
drinking till he begins to feel the effect
and delight that he desires in liquor.Thus
The believer should try to find delight in Salat,
and if they cannot, they should supplicate
God to be able to experience that delight.
Distinctive Images | Shutterstock

a worshipper who finds the Salat insipid
should multiply the Salat and should
not become weary of it. In the end his
insipidity will be turned into delight. A
person who starts digging a well in his
search for water has to continue digging
till he reaches water. Those who give up
digging before water is reached deprive
themselves altogether, but those who
persist and do not become weary reach
water in the end.To find delight in Salat
what is needed is Istighfar, regular Salat,
persistent supplication, eagerness, and
steadfastness.
[Malfuzat, vol. V, p. 432]
The weapons for our achieving suprem-
acy are Istighfar, repentance, knowledge
of the faith,the upholding of the Majesty
of God Almighty and observance of Salat
five times a day. Salat is the key to the
acceptance of prayer.Supplicate through-
out Salat and do not be neglectful.Shun
every vice whether it relates to the obli-
gations due to God or to the obligations
due to your fellow beings.
[Malfuzat, vol. V, p. 303]
In order to estimate the degree of a per-
son’s fear of God it is enough to observe
his regularity in Salat. I am convinced
that a person who observes Salat dili-
gently and is not held back from it by fear
or sickness or worldly trials undoubtedly
believes truly in God Almighty.But this
degree of faith is bestowed mainly upon
the poor. Few of the wealthy partake of
this bounty.
[Izala-e-Auham, Ruhani Khaza’in, vol.
3, p. 540]
Both fasting and Salat are forms of
worship. The fast affects powerfully
the body and Salat affects powerfully
the soul. Salat generates a condition of
burning and melting of the heart,and is,
therefore,a higher form of worship than
Salat should not be neglected
because of lack of delight in it,
but should be on that account
multiplied and intensified,
as an alcoholic does not give
up drinking because he
cannot get drunk but goes
on drinking till he begins
to feel the effect and delight
that he desires in liquor.

fasting.The latter fosters the capacity for
visions.
[Malfuzat, vol. VII, p. 379]
Salat Purifies the Spirit and Fast
Illuminates the Heart
of
ons
1

2

3
‫ق‬ ْ‫ن‬َ‫م‬
4

5

6


7
8

*
9


10

This verse indicates the greatness of
the month of Ramadan. The Sufis have
recorded that this is a good month for
the illumination of the heart. One who
observes the fast has frequent experience
of visions in this month.The Salat puri-
fies the spirit and the fast illumines the
heart.The purification of the spirit means
that one may be delivered from the pas-
sions of the self that incites to evil; and
the illumination of the heart means that
the gates of vision may be opened so that
one may be able to behold God.
[Malfuzat, vol. IV, pp. 256-257]
On one occasion I began to reflect on
the purpose of the prescribed expiation
of missing a fast and I conceived that the
expiation is prescribed so that one may be
bestowed the capacity and the strength
to observe the fast.God Almighty alone
can bestow such strength and everything
should be sought from God Almighty.
He is the All-Powerful; if He so wills He
can bestow the strength for observing the
fast on one who is afflicted with tuber-
culosis. The purpose of the prescribed
expiation is that one may be bestowed the
strength for the observation of the fast,
and this can be achieved only through
the grace of God Almighty. One should
supplicate:
Lord! this is Thy blessed month and
I am being deprived of its blessings. I
know not whether I shall be alive next
Both fasting and Salat are forms of
worship; while fasting affects the
body, Salat affects the soul.
Designelements | Shutterstock
the pillars of islam

year, or would find the opportunity of
observing the fasts that I am missing.
Do Thou bestow upon me, by Thy grace,
the strength that should enable me to
observe the fast.
I am sure that one with such a heart
would be bestowed the needed strength
by God Almighty. If God Almighty so
wished He would not have prescribed
limitations for the Muslims as He had
prescribed for earlier peoples; but the
purpose of the limitations is the pro-
motion of the welfare of the people
concerned. According to me the prin-
ciple is that when a person supplicates
God Almighty with perfect sincerity
that he should not be deprived of the
blessings of the month of Ramadan,he is
not so deprived,and if such a one should
become ill during the month of Ramadan
his illness becomes a source of mercy
for him, inasmuch as the value of every
action is determined by the motive that
inspires it. It behoves a believer that he
should prove himself brave in the cause
of God Almighty.
He who is heartily determined that he
would observe the fast but is held back
from doing so on account of illness while
his heart yearns after the observation of
the fast would not be deprived of the
bounty resulting from the observation
of the fast and angels would observe the
fast in his place. This is a subtle matter.
If a person finds the observation of the
fast difficult on account of the slothful-
ness of his spirit and imagines that he is
not in good health, and that if he misses
a meal he would suffer from various types
of disorders, such a one, who imagines
that a Divine blessing would sit heavy
on him, would not deserve any spiritual
merit. On the other hand, a person who
feels happy at the approach of the month
of Ramadan and is eager to observe the
fast,but is held back by illness from doing
Lord! this is Thy blessed month
and I am being deprived of its
blessings. I know not whether
I shall be alive next year, or
would find the opportunity
of observing the fasts that I
am missing. Do Thou bestow
upon me, by Thy grace, the
strength that should enable
me to observe the fast.

so,would not be deprived of the blessings
of Ramadan.
Many people merely seek excuses and
imagine that as they can deceive their
fellow beings they can also deceive God.
Such people make their own interpreta-
tions and deem them correct, but they
are not correct in the estimation of God
Almighty. The field of such interpreta-
tions is vast and a person given to them
might become accustomed to the perfor-
mance of the Salat throughout his life in
a sitting posture and may abstain alto-
gether from observing the fast.But God
is well aware of the motive and design
of a person whose conduct is inspired by
sincerity and devotion. God Almighty
knows that his heart is eager and He
bestows plentifully upon him, for the
eagerness of the heart is valuable in the
estimation of God.
Those who seek excuses rely on their
interpretations, but such interpreta-
tions have no value in the estimation of
God Almighty.On one occasion when I
continued observation of the fast for six
months I met a company of the Prophets
in a vision who admonished me against
imposing so much hardship on myself
and directed me to desist. Thus when a
person imposes hardship upon himself
for the sake of God, He takes pity on
him like the parents of a child and directs
him to desist.
[Malfuzat, vol. IV, pp. 258-260]
The Purpose of Fasting is Purification
I have already spoken of the Salat. Next
in order is worship in the shape of
the fast. It is a pity that some who call
themselves Muslims at this time desire
to modify these forms of worship. They
are blind and are not aware of the per-
fect wisdom of God Almighty. These
forms of worship are essential for the
purification of the spirit. These people
seek to intervene absurdly in a sphere
of which they have no knowledge and
devise false schemes for the improvement
As there is a House of Allah
here below on the earth, so
there is one in heaven. Until
a person performs the circuit
of the House above, his
circuit of the House below
is not truly performed.
the pillars of islam

of a territory that they have not visited.
Their lives are devoted to worldly affairs;
of spiritual matters they have no notion.
To be moderate in eating and drinking
and to bear hunger and thirst are neces-
sary for the purification of the spirit and
promote the capacity for visions. Man
does not live by bread alone. To discard
all thought of eternal life is to invite
Divine wrath.
It should be remembered that the fast
does not mean merely that a person
should abstain from food and drink
over a certain period. During the fast
one should be occupied greatly with
the remembrance of God. The Holy
Prophetsa
occupied himself greatly with
worship during the month of Ramadan.
During that month one should discard
one’s preoccupation with eating and
drinking; and cutting asunder from these
needs should address oneself wholly
towards God. Unfortunate is the person
who is bestowed material bread and pays
no attention to spiritual bread. Material
bread strengthens the body,and spiritual
bread sustains the soul and sharpens the
spiritual faculties.Seek the grace of God,
as all doors are opened by His grace.
The Institution of Hajj
Another form of worship is Hajj – the
pilgrimage; which does not mean that
a person should carry out the formality
of the Pilgrimage by providing for his
journey across the ocean with money
lawfully or unlawfully acquired,and hav-
ing repeated the prayers and formulas
according to the directions of the ser-
vitors of the Ka‘bah, should come back
and boast that he has performed the pil-
grimage.The purpose that God Almighty
has appointed for the pilgrimage is not
achieved in this manner.The truth is that
the last stage of the seeker’s journey is
that, withdrawing himself altogether
from the demands and desires of self, he
should be completely engulfed by the
Moderation in eating and drinking is the
path to purification of the soul and spirit.
Image Source Trading Ltd | Shutterstock

love of God and complete devotion to
Him. A true lover sacrifices his soul and
heart; and the circuit of the House of
Allah is a visible sign of such a sacrifice.
As there is a House of Allah here below
on the earth, so there is one in heaven.
Until a person performs the circuit of the
House above, his circuit of the House
below is not truly performed. One who
performs the circuit of the House below
puts aside all garments, retaining only
one of them to cover his body, but he
who performs the circuit of the House
above discards all garments altogether
and becomes naked for the sake of God.
The circuit is a sign of the lovers of God.
They go round the Ka’bah as if they have
no will of their own left and they are
devoted wholly to Him.
The Paying of Zakat
Another form of worship is Zakat.Some
people pay the Zakat but take no care
Orhan Durgut | Shutterstock.com

whether that which they pay as Zakat
was lawfully or was unlawfully acquired.
If a dog is slaughtered and at the time of
its slaughter the name of Allah is pro-
nounced upon it, or a pig is slaughtered
in the same way, would the eating of the
flesh of the dog or the pig become law-
ful? That which is unlawful will remain
unlawful in all circumstances. The root
of the word Zakat means purification.
When a person who acquires something
lawfully and out of it spends in the cause
of the faith, the rest of it is purified.
Many people are involved in these errors
and they do not recognize the reality.All
this must be discarded.
All the ordinances of Islam are means
of salvation, but through their errors
people go astray. One should not take
pride in one’s good actions, nor be
pleased with them until such sincere
faith is achieved that no one is associ-
ated in one’s worship of God Almighty
and one is enabled to worship right-
eousness all the time.
[Speeches to Jalsa Salana, 1906, pp.
20-21]
endnotes
1. ‘Whoso is blind in this world will be blind
in the hereafter.’— Bani Isra’il, 17:73
2. ‘The month of Ramadan is that in which the
Qur’an was sent down.’—Al-Baqarah, 2:186

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/

[Asking] why angels are not visible is a useless speculation.
The angels, like God Almighty, are imperceptible beings.
Then how can they be visible to our physical eyes? Is God
Almighty, whose existence is admitted by even these philoso-
phers, visible to physical eyes? Besides, it is not true that an-
gels cannot be beheld in any way.Those who possess insight
behold angels with their spiritual eyes in their visions which
they experience very often in a state of wakefulness.They
talk to the angels and learn many things from them. I call
God to witness that I am telling the truth when I say that I
have, on many occasions, seen angels in my visions and have
learnt things from them and have been told of past or future
events which turn out to be facts.Then how can I say that
angels are not visible? They are doubtless visible, but with
other eyes. As these people laugh at these things, those who
possess insight weep at their condition. If they were to keep
company with me they could be satisfied through visions,
but the trouble is that they suffer from arrogance which does
not permit them to come over in humility as seekers after
truth.1
endnotes
1. Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas
, The Essence of Islam, vol. 2 (Tilford,
Surrey: Islam International Publications, 1993), 178.
Angels
Can Be Seen

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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
SEPTEMBER 2017
Saturday 2nd
September 2017
Faith: Islam
Event: Eid-ul-Adha
Eid-ul-Adha is a highly important Islamic
festival which marks the sacrifice of the
prophets Abrahamas
and Ishmaelas
. In the
Islamic tradition it is said that God ordered
Abrahamas
to sacrifice his son Ishmaelas
. Just
as Abrahamas
was about to kill Ishmaelas
God ordered him to stop and sacrifice a ram
instead. Eid-ul-Adha also marks the end
of Hajj - the Holy Pilgrimage to Makkah
- and traditionally Muslims sacrifice a large
animal - cows, goats or sheep - after attending
the mid-morning prayer service in order to
commemorate the sacrifice of Abrahamas
.
Saturday 30th
September 2017
Faith: Judaism
Event: Yom Kippur
Known as the ‘Day of Atonement’, Yom
Kippur is one of the holiest days in the Jewish
calendar.The central themes of this festival
are atonement and repentance. On this day
there are several special prayer services and
a 25-hour fast. During this day one of the
rituals observed is known as Kaparot, in
which Jews transfer their sins (symbolically)
to a chicken, which is then slaughtered.

NOTE ABOUT REFERENCES
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The Review of Religions will be found a
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’ after the words, ‘Holy Prophet’,
or the name ‘Muhammad’, are used
normally in small letters. They stand
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‘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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ISSN NO. 0034-6721
The Review of Religions, in print since
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