The Review of Religions May 2017

Global Conflicts & the
Need for Justice
12
Love for All, Hatred for
None: Westminster Vigil
32
Women March for
Westminster Victims
38
Fasting in School:
A Religious Obligation?
62
VOL. 112 - ISSUE FIVEMAY 2017 WWW.REVIEWOFRELIGIONS.ORG
GLOBAL
CONFLICTS
AND THE NEED
FOR JUSTICE

And when My servants ask thee
about Me, say: ‘I am near. I answer
the prayer of the supplicant when
he prays to Me. So they should
hearken to Me and believe in Me,
that they may follow the right way.’
ISLAM, THE HOLY QUR’AN,
2:187
The Messenger of Allahsa
said, ‘The supplication is
the essence of worship.’
ISLAM, HADITH, JAMI`AT-
TIRMIDHI 3371
It is at a time of trial that the
wonderful and rare qualities and
effects of prayer are manifested.
The truth is that our God is
recognized only through prayers.
ISLAM, HAZRAT MIRZA
GHULAM AHMADAS
, THE
ESSENCE OF ISLAM, VOL.2,
P.199.
We know that God does not
listen to sinners, but if anyone is
a worshipper of God and does
His will, God listens to him.
CHRISTIANITY, THE BIBLE,
JOHN 9:31
Cast your burden on the Lord,
and he will sustain you.
JUDAISM, THE TORAH,
PSALMS 55:22
Worship me through meditation
in the sanctuary of the heart.
HINDUISM, SRIMAD
BHAGAVATAM 11.5
Of all the prayers of the heart,
the best prayer is the prayer to
the Master to be given the grace
of properly praising the Lord.
SIKHISM, ADI GRANTH,
MARU ASHTPADI, M.5, P. 1018
If the poorest of mankind come
here once for worship, I will
surely grant their heart’s desire.
SHINTO, ORACLE OF
ITSUKUSHIMA IN AKI
The pure whom you have found
worthy for their righteousness
and their good mind, Fulfil their
desire, O Wise Lord, let them
attain it! I know that words
of prayer which serve a good
end Are successful before you.
ZOROASTRIANISM, AVESTA,
YASNA 28:10
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
Prayer
WORLD FAITHS
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.

12 Global Conflicts &
the Need for Justice
Whilst global leaders threaten
each other with armed conflict, the
leader of the Ahmadiyya Muslim
Community urges government
ministers and faith leaders alike – in
his keynote address at the 14th
National Peace Symposium – to find
peaceful solutions to these global
conflicts, which may easily lead to
worldwide catastrophe and destruction
on a scale that has never been
witnessed in the history of mankind.
HAZRAT MIRZA MASROOR AHMADABA
, WORLDWIDE
HEAD OF THE AHMADIYYA MUSLIM COMMUNITY
32 Love for All, Hatred for None:
Westminster Vigil
On 22nd March 2017 the world
stood still as a terrorist killed 5 people
and injured more than 50 others in a
barbaric attack on Westminster Bridge.
As thousands of Londoners gathered
to show their solidarity in this attack,
a prominent sea of blue T-shirts and
banners stating: “Love for All, Hatred
for None” were prominently visible.
MUSTAFA SIDDIQI & ABDUL QUDDUS ARIF,
HASLEMERE, UK
38 Women March for
Westminster Victims
As London came to grips with the
horrific attack of 22nd March, women
wearing headscarves and hijabs lined
the Westminster Bridge to remember
the victims who lost their lives,
showing that this was an attack on all
Londoners of all different walks of life.
SARAH WASEEM & AYESHA MALIK, LONDON, UK
50 Is Fasting Just About Food?
Found in one form or another,
fasting is a ritual common to
most major religions. Explore this
ancient discipline from the lens of
various religious faiths and asses the
similarities and differences between
the practices adopted today.
62 Fasting in School:
A Religious Obligation?
If going without food for a certain
amount of time affects study
and growth, why then would
Islam prescribe such a discipline,
especially for children?
WAQAR AHMEDI, BIRMINGHAM, UK Front cover picture:
© ParabolStudio | shutterstock
CONTENTS
MAY 2017 VOL.112 - ISSUE FIVE
62
32
72 Seeking Spirituality
Through Fasting
In the human body when a particular
sense is inhibited it automatically
sharpens the others. Similarly when
one suppresses their hunger, their
spiritual faculties are sharpened.
Throughout the history of mankind
prophets, saints and sages have all
used this discipline in order to form
a connection with the Almighty
SERJEEL AHMAD, CANADA
86 Resurrection
What happens when we close our eyes
and we exhale our last breath? History
and religion in particular have made
mention of a life after death, but with
no man returning from beyond the
grave, is there a reality beyond this one?
HAZRAT MIRZA GHULAM AHMADAS
, THE PROMISED
MESSIAH & IMAM MAHDI
12

CHIEF EDITOR & MANAGER
Syed Amer Safir
ASSOCIATE EDITORS
Nakasha Ahmad,Tariq H. Malik
RELIGION & SCIENCE
Editor: Dr. Syed Muhammad Tahir Nasser
Deputy: Dr.Tauseef Khan
ISLAM & CONTEMPORARY ISSUES
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LAW & HUMAN RIGHTS
Editor: Qudsi Rasheed
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ANCIENT RELIGIONS & ARCHAEOLOGY
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WOMEN’S SECTION
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BOOK REVIEWS
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WEB TEAM
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SPECIAL COLLECTIONS
Head: Razwan Baig
EDITORIAL BOARD
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Amtul Razzaq Carmichael, Murtaza Ahmad, Fiona
O’Keefe, Hassan Wahab, Jonathan Butterworth,
Munazza Khan, Waqar Ahmedi, Mahida Javed
SUB-EDITORS
Munawara Ghauri (Head), Maryam Malik,
Nusrat Haq, Mariam Rahman
PROOFREADERS
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HOUSE STYLE GUIDE
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SOCIAL MEDIA
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Muhammad Hanif
ACCOUNTS & MARKETING
Musa Sattar
ART & CREATIVITY
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INDEXING,TAGGING & ARCHIVING
Mirza Krishan Ahmad (Head). Amtus Shakoor Tayyaba Ahmed
(Deputy). Humaira Omer, Humda Sohail, Shahid Malik, Ruhana
Hamood, Mubahil Shakir, Adila Bari, Hassan Raza Ahmad
MANAGEMENT BOARD
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Ataul Mujeeb Rashed, Naseer Qamar, Abid Waheed Ahmad Khan, Aziz Ahmad Bilal
WORLD
CRISIS
M I R Z A M A S R O O R A H M A D
PEACE
and thePathway to
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/

HAZRAT MIRZA GHULAM AHMAD
The Promised Messiah and Mahdi
Founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community
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

NATIONAL
PEACE SYMPOSIUM 2017
The Baitul Futuh Mosque | 25th March 2017

H
a z r a t M i r z a M a s ro o r
Ahmadaba
, Worldwide Head
of the Ahmadiyya Muslim
Community, the Fifth Successor to the
Promised Messiahas
, said:
“Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem (in the
name of Allah, the Gracious, Ever
Merciful). All distinguished guests,
Assalamo Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahe Wa
Barakatohu - peace and blessings of Allah
be upon you all.
First of all I would like to extend
my deepest condolences to all those
affected by Wednesday’s terror attack at
Westminster. Our thoughts and prayers
are with the people of London at this
tragic time.
On behalf of the Ahmadiyya Muslim
Community, I wish to make it
categorically clear that we condemn
all such acts of terrorism and we offer
our heartfelt sympathies to the victims
of this barbaric atrocity. In all parts of
the world, the Ahmadiyya Muslim
Community seeks to promote peace,and
Global Conflicts & the
Need for Justice
In all parts of the world,
the Ahmadiyya Muslim
Community seeks to promote
peace, and according with the
teachings of Islam, raise its
voice against these brutalities.
His Holiness, Hazrat Mirza Masroor
Ahmadaba
, speaks at the National Peace
Symposium about the dangers of nuclear
proliferation and the need for peace.
Makhzan-e-Tasaweer
KEYNOTE ADDRESS BY HAZRAT MIRZA MASROOR AHMADABA
,WORLDWIDE HEAD OF
THE AHMADIYYA MUSLIM COMMUNITY, AT THE 14TH
NATIONAL PEACE SYMPOSIUM UK
On 25th
March 2017, the Worldwide Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim
Community, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmadaba
, delivered the keynote address
at the 14th
National Peace Symposium hosted by the Ahmadiyya Muslim
Community UK.
The Symposium attracted an audience of over 1000 people from 30 countries,
including government ministers, ambassadors of state, and Members of both
Houses of Parliament. Ms Setsuko Thurlow, a survivor of the atomic bomb
blast in Hiroshima and dedicated peace activist, was awarded the Ahmadiyya
Muslim Prize for the Advancement of Peace in recognition of her outstanding
efforts to work for nuclear disarmament.
In his keynote address, published here, His Holiness elaborates on some of the
causes that endanger world peace today—for example,Western nations’continued
sales of weapons abroad, and the failure of the United Nations to be effective at
maintaining peace, while also giving a detailed rebuttal of the accusation that
Islam promotes or condones violence.
12 THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS | MAY 2017 MAY 2017 | THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS 13

orphans and feed the poor,otherwise our
prayers will be in vain. This is categori-
cally mentioned in the Holy Qur’an in
chapter 107, verses three, four and five.
It is based upon these teachings that
the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is,
with the Grace of Allah, running vari-
ous humanitarian projects in order to
alleviate the heartache and adversity
borne by deprived people, irrespective
of creed, caste or colour. We have estab-
lished hospitals,schools and colleges that
are providing healthcare and education
to some of the most impoverished and
remote parts of the world. We seek no
praise for these activities,our only desire
is to help such people stand upon their
own two feet,so that they can fulfil their
hopes and aspirations and hence live con-
tentedly with dignity and freedom. In
this way,rather than becoming frustrated
and prone to extremism, they will grow
to be responsible and faithful citizens of
their nations.Where they will personally
develop,they will also help their nation’s
according with the teachings of Islam,
raise its voice against these brutalities.
This annual Peace Symposium is also an
important part of this effort.I would like
to thank all of our guests for joining us
here tonight.
The Founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim
Community said that he had been sent
by God Almighty in this era, in ser-
vitude to the Holy Prophet of Islam,
Muhammadsa
,in order to spread the two
paramount objectives of Islamic teach-
ings.The first is to bring mankind closer
to God Almighty and secondly to draw
the attention of humanity towards ful-
filling the rights of one another. It is my
belief that these two objectives are the
bedrock for the establishment of genuine
and long-lasting peace in the world.
As Muslims, we are fortunate that the
Qur’an has told us that the fundamental
purpose of our creation is the worship of
God Almighty, preferably in congrega-
tion in mosques. Most regrettably, and
in complete violation of these peaceful
objectives, certain Muslim groups or
individuals have turned their mosques
or madrassas into centres of extremism,
preaching hatred and inciting others to
commit terrorist acts, against both non-
Muslims and Muslims who belong to
different sects in Islam. Unsurprisingly,
this has caused widespread fear in the
Western world and created an impres-
sion that mosques are a source of conflict
and disorder.
It has sparked calls,amongst certain par-
ties and groups in the West,for mosques
to be banned,or at the very least,for some
restrictions to be placed upon Muslims.
For example, there are calls to ban the
hijab or for minarets and other Islamic
symbols to be banned.Regrettably,some
Muslims have given others the oppor-
tunity to raise allegations against the
teachings of Islam.A Muslim is not only
duty-bound to offer his prayers, but it is
also incumbent upon him to take care of
A Muslim is not only duty-
bound to offer his prayers, but
it is also incumbent upon
him to take care of orphans
and feed the poor, otherwise
our prayers will be in vain.
Members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim
Community, attending a vigil in London
to condemn the Westminster attacks
that occurred on 22nd March 2017,
hold a sign with the group’s motto:
Love for All, Hatred for None.
The Review of Religions
GLOBAL CONFLICTS AND THE NEED FOR JUSTICE

never cause them any harm or distress.
Despite this, many people associate
Islam with violence and warfare, even
though nothing could be further from
the truth. No matter what terrorists
may claim, under no circumstances are
indiscriminate attacks or killings ever
justified. Islam has enshrined the sanc-
tity of human life.Chapter 5,verse 33 of
the Holy Qur’an states:
“Whosoever killed a person…it shall be
as if he killed all mankind; and whoso
gave life to one, it shall be as if he had
given life to all mankind.”
What a clear and categorical statement
this is. Often people query why there
were wars in early Islam. Similarly, they
ask why terrorism is being perpetrated
in Islam’s name. In order to answer this
question, I always cite two verses of
chapter 22 of the Holy Qur’an, where
permission for a defensive war was first
given to the early Muslims. In chapter
22, verse 40, Allah the Almighty states:
“Permission to fight is given to those
against whom war is made,because they
have been wronged – and Allah indeed
has the power to help them.”
In the subsequent verse, the Qur’an
outlines the reasons for which the Holy
Prophet of Islamsa
was granted permis-
sion to engage in warfare. Chapter 22,
verse 41 states:
“Those who have been driven out of their
homes unjustly only because they said,
‘Our Lord is Allah’ – And if Allah did
not repel some men by means of oth-
ers, there would surely have been pulled
down cloisters and churches and syna-
gogues and mosques,where the name of
Allah is oft commemorated. And Allah
will surely help one who helps Him.
Allah is indeed Powerful, Mighty.”
What do these verses prove? Certainly,
they do not give Muslims the licence to
inflict cruelties or to seek the blood of
others.Instead they establish the duty of
Muslims to protect other religions and
to guarantee the right of all people to
believe in whatever they desire,free from
any form of compulsion or duress.
Hence, Islam is that religion which has
forever enshrined the universal principles
of freedom of religion, freedom of con-
science and freedom of belief.Therefore,
if today there are so-called Muslim
groups or sects that are killing people,
it can only be condemned in the strong-
est possible terms.Their barbaric acts are
progress and inspire others to follow in
their footsteps.
Similarly,fundamental to Islamic teach-
ings,is that Muslims must live peacefully
with all other members of society and
The front page of The Guardian of 27th
March 2017 featured women of all faiths
linking hands on Westminster bridge, both to
condemn the attacks and show solidarity with
the victims. Organized by Women’s March
London, the vigil attracted women from all
religious faiths, including a contingent from
the Ahmadiyya Muslim Women’s Auxiliary.

as a reprehensible distortion of Islamic
teachings. Those who have adopted this
new strain, and are mercilessly killing,
maiming and raping innocent people are,
according to the Qur’an, guilty of mur-
dering all of humanity.
On the other side,it is also apparent that
amongst non-Muslims,there are certain
individuals or groups who are fanning the
flames of division and hostility and have
made it their mission to unjustly defame
and discredit the teachings of Islam.For
example, in a column published just
last week in Foreign Policy, the journal-
ist Bethany Allen has written about a
well-funded and sophisticated US-based
network,whose only purpose is to incite
Islamophobia and to stop all attempts to
promote the peaceful teachings of Islam.
The Foreign Policy article states:
“A well-funded network is trying to strip
the right to speak away from American
Muslims and fanning the politics of
fear…America’s far-right, anti-Muslim
ecosystem has adopted the same twisted
interpretations of Islam that the Islamic
State (ISIS) promotes.”
The author further writes that peaceful
Muslims in the United States are the
victims of:
“…an increasingly empowered industry
of Islamophobia that constricts the space
for balanced and open dialogue, side-
lining the very Muslims who are doing
the most to promote peaceful, orthodox
interpretations of Islam.”
She writes:
“The United States has powerful protec-
tions for speech and religious liberty…
but a targeted network now seeks to deny
Muslims that freedom and to treat Islam
as a dangerous political ideology, rather
a complete violation of everything that
Islam stands for.Let it be clear that such
people have no knowledge of the faith
they claim to follow.
For example, Mr Sven Mary, a lawyer
representing one of the terrorists involved
in the Brussels and Paris terrorist attacks,
recently gave an interview to a French
newspaper,in which he described his cli-
ent as having no real knowledge of Islam.
Indeed, when asked if he had ever read
the Qur’an, his client readily admitted
that he had not and had merely read an
interpretation online.
Furthermore,a research paper published
by the Royal Institute for International
Relations in March 2016 also con-
cluded that the terrorists who identified
themselves as Muslims had little or no
knowledge of its teachings. Regarding
the profile of young Muslims who have
been radicalised and perpetrated attacks
in the West, the report states:
“Their acquaintance with religious
thought is undoubtedly more shallow
and superficial than their predecessors’,as
is their acquaintance with international
politics…Injustice was often a starting
point with their predecessors’ journey
towards extremism and terrorism. This
has now largely been overshadowed by
personal estrangement and motives as the
primary engines of their journey.”
Furthermore, in an essay cited in The
Washington Post, the Belgian counter-
terrorism official, Alain Grignard, said:
“Their revolt from society manifested
itself through petty crime and delin-
quency.Many are essentially part of street
gangs.What the Islamic State brought in
its wake was a new strain of Islam which
legitimised their radical approach.”
Thus, non-Muslim experts accept that
the terrorists have established a “new
strain”of Islam that can only be described
A volunteer from the
Ahmadiyya Muslim
Community fixes a water
pump that had been
broken for eight years
in a remote village in
Niger. The International
Association of Ahmadi
Architects and Engineers
(IAAAE) is just one of many
internal organisations that
helps the impoverished
and the destitute.
Similarly, fundamental to
Islamic teachings, is that
Muslims must live peacefully
with all other members of
society and never cause them
any harm or distress. Despite
this, many people associate
Islam with violence and
warfare, even though nothing
could be further from the truth.

where he put together his armies, and
they began to massacre anybody who
didn’t believe the same way they did.”
I agree with Dr Carson,only to the extent
that I too suggest that people take the
time to read about the true character of
the Holy Prophet of Islamsa
.If they study
impartial texts, they will see for them-
selves that the Holy Prophetsa
was never
involved in the “massacre” of non-Mus-
lims and that such claims are a complete
affront to history. The truth is that, as a
consequence of many years of sustained
and bitter persecution, he and his fol-
lowers were driven out of his hometown
of Makkah and forced to migrate to
Madinah, where they lived peacefully
alongside the local Jewish people and
other tribes. However, the disbelievers
of Makkah did not let the Muslims live
in peace and instead aggressively pursued
them to Madinah and waged war,seeking
to destroy Islam once and for all.
It was at that critical juncture in Islam’s
history that Allah the Almighty permit-
ted the Muslims to engage in a defensive
war.This permission was granted, as the
verses of the Qur’an cited earlier attest,in
order to establish the universal principle
of freedom of belief.
Hence, the allegation that the Holy
Prophetsa
was a belligerent leader or a
warmonger is an injustice and cruelty
of the very highest order and such false
claims can only grieve the hearts of the
millions of peaceful Muslims worldwide.
History bears witness to the fact that with
every fibre of his being, the Prophet of
Islamsa
sought peace and reconciliation.
In this respect, you do not have to take
my word for it; rather, listen to what
Ruth Cranston, a prominent 20th
cen-
tury author, wrote in the 1949 book
World Faith. Contrasting the defensive
wars forced upon the Holy Prophet
Muhammadsa
,with the nuclear weapons
used by the United States during World
than a religion — and to silence and dis-
credit any Muslims who disagree.”
The article gives the example of a peace-
ful Muslim convert in the United States.
As soon as he gave a university lecture
highlighting Islam’s true teachings, a
powerful lobby turned against him and
tried to portray him as an apologist for
murder,slavery and rape.His family were
subjected to death and rape threats.The
university where he worked was inun-
dated with emails demanding that he was
immediately fired.Thus,such cases prove
that there is a concerted effort taking
place to influence public opinion against
Islam and to prevent its true teachings
from reaching a wide audience.
Based on her research, the author con-
cludes by saying:
“In the process, they are denying
Islam the same functional rights that
Christianity enjoys and silencing the
very people best poised to reconcile Islam
with modern American life.Which may
be the very point.”
Regrettably,we often hear politicians and
leaders making needlessly inflammatory
statements that are beholden not to the
truth,but to their own political interests.
For example, in a speech last year, when
running for President, Dr Ben Carson,
who is now a Cabinet member in the
new US administration,described Islam
not as a “religion”but as a “life organisa-
tion system.”
Furthermore,speaking about the Founder
of Islamsa
, Dr Carson said:
“What I would suggest is that everybody
here take a few hours and read up on
Islam. Read about Muhammad. Read
about how he got his start in Mecca.
Read about how he was seen by the peo-
ple in Mecca - not very favorably…How
his uncle was influential and protected
him. When his uncle died, he had to
flee. He went north to Medina…That’s
Islam instructs Muslims to defend all places
of worship – not just mosques, but also
synagogues, temples and churches.
Elena Dijour | Shutterstock
If they study impartial texts,
they will see for themselves
that the Holy Prophetsa
was never involved in the
“massacre” of non-Muslims
and that such claims are a
complete affront to history.

Tragically,not a day passes without news
filtering in of further atrocities and ter-
rorist attacks. Undeniably, the world is
becoming an increasingly perilous place
for Muslims and non-Muslims alike.
Hence, we must stand up against all
forms of oppression, hatred and use all
our capabilities to try and foster peace in
the world. If we truly want peace then
the world’s politicians,leaders,media and
parties must act with wisdom and grace.
There have been many reports published
that suggest that a significant number
of Muslim youths have been radicalised
because they felt a sense of grievance
that their beliefs were being attacked and
mocked in Western nations. In no way
does this justify or excuse them and they
remain culpable and responsible for their
actions.Yet, common sense dictates that
we should not pour petrol on an open
flame. Rather, we should seek mutual
understanding,respect the beliefs of oth-
ers and try to find common ground.
In this regard, the Holy Qur’an has laid
down a principle of great wisdom and
War Two, she wrote:
“Muhammad never instigated fighting
and bloodshed. Every battle he fought
was in rebuttal. He fought defensively
in order to survive…And he fought with
the weapons and in the fashion of his
time…Certainly no Christian nation of
140 million people who today dispatches
120,000 helpless civilians with a sin-
gle bomb, can look askance at a leader
who at his worst killed a bare five or six
hundred.”
Thankfully, amongst a climate where it
has become the norm to brandish Islam
as a religion of extremism and violence,
there remain some non-Muslim journal-
ists and commentators who write with
integrity and justice. For this, I com-
mend them for swimming against the
tide of falsehood and injustice that has
become so commonplace. I would also
like to highly commend our honourable
Prime Minster for quoting some verses
from the Holy Qur’an, in some of her
addresses and speeches,condemning the
accusations that were placed on Islamic
teachings.
Here I should also commend an article
by Julia Ioffe,published in Foreign Policy,
in which she examined the history of dif-
ferent religions, including Islam. At the
end she concluded by saying:
“No religion is inherently violent. No
religion is inherently peaceful. Religion,
any religion,is a matter of interpretation,
and it is often in that interpretation that
we see either beauty or ugliness.”
I appreciate this impartial conclusion.
As we try to pass through these uncer-
tain and precarious times,it is my strong
belief that criticising one another serves
no purpose and can only increase division
and animosity. Instead, the need of the
hour is for us to knock down the barri-
ers of fear that divide us. Rather than
erecting walls that keep us apart, we
should build bridges that bring us closer
together.
Clockwise, from top left: Ms. Setsuko
Thurlow, campaigner for nuclear disarmament
and recipient of the 2017 Ahmadiyya
Muslim Prize for the Advancement of
Peace; Rafiq Hayat, National President
of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community
UK; Father David Standley, representing
the Archbishop of Southwark; and Silvio
Daneo, Executive Director of Religions for
Peace, Italy, all spoke before the keynote
address at the National Peace Symposium.
Makhzan-e-Tasaweer
History bears witness to
the fact that with every
fibre of his being, the
Prophet of Islamsa
sought
peace and reconciliation.
GLOBAL CONFLICTS & THE NEED FOR JUSTICE

“I love the United Nations but it is fail-
ing. There is too much bureaucracy and
little result.Too many decisions are made
for political reasons, rather than follow-
ing the values and objectives of the U.N
or by facts on the ground…For the UN
to continue and prosper it needs a com-
plete overhaul and so an outside panel
should examine the system and recom-
mend changes.”
Similarly, during recent years, certain
governments have made unjust and
unwise foreign policy decisions that have
had a very negative effect on the peace
and stability of the world.A well-known
columnist,Paul Krugman,recently wrote
also in The New York Times, about the
2003 Iraq War:
“The Iraq war wasn’t an innocent mis-
take, a venture undertaken on the basis
of intelligence that turned out to be
wrong…The public justifications for the
invasion were nothing but pretexts, and
falsified pretexts at that.”
The reason I have given these examples is
to illustrate that it is wrong to claim that
Muslims are the sole cause of the increas-
ing conflicts witnessed in the world.
Whilst it is undeniable that certain
Muslim countries are at the epicentre of
today’s wars and cruelties, it cannot be
said that the rest of the world is united
and immune from disorder.
For example, there have been numerous
reports or statements indicating height-
ened tensions between the United States
and China and even the possibility of a
war between them. Indeed,it was recently
widely reported that a close advisor to
President Trump had said that there was
“no doubt” that a US-China war would
take place in the next five to ten years.
Similarly, in January, the South China
Morning Post quoted a senior Chinese
value in chapter 3, verse 65 where it
states:
“Come to a word equal between us and
you.”
Here the Qur’an has laid down a golden
principle in the cause of peace, whereby
it states that people should focus on those
things that unite them. In terms of the
major religions, the unifying figure is
God Almighty Himself, but this does
not mean that a religious person can have
nothing in common with a non-religious
person. Thus, the Qur’an has taught us
how to build a peaceful, multicultural
society, where people of all faiths and
beliefs are able to live side by side. The
key ingredients are mutual respect and
tolerance. Accordingly, at another place,
the Qur’an has instructed that Muslims
should not speak against the idols or dei-
ties of others, because in reaction, they
would curse Allah and a cycle of per-
petual grievance would result.
As you will be aware, the theme of
tonight’s event is ‘Global Conflicts and
the Need for Justice’, and I have said
for many years that a lack of justice has
plagued every segment of society and
fuelled disorder. A lack of justice is also
observed in the United Nations, to the
extent that even those closely affiliated
with the United Nations openly attest
to its shortcomings and its failure to
accomplish its primary objective of main-
taining international peace and security.
For example, in an article published by
the New York Times, the former United
Nations Assistant Secretary-General,
Anthony Banbury, wrote:
Ms. Setsuko Thurlow is awarded the
Ahmadiyya Muslim Prize for the Advancement
of Peace by His Holiness. Ms. Thurlow
was 13 when she experienced firsthand
the devastation a nuclear attack can cause,
surviving the attack in Hiroshima, Japan. She
has used her experience to campaign for
nuclear disarmament. During the keynote
address, His Holiness addressed the dangers
of perpetuating a nuclear arms race.
Makhzan-e-Tasaweer
A lack of justice is also
observed in the United
Nations, to the extent
that even those closely
affiliated with the United
Nations openly attest
to its shortcomings and
its failure to accomplish
its primary objective of
maintaining international
peace and security.

warfare and bloodshed.Both at an inter-
national level and at a national level, we
are seeing polarisation and a hardening
of attitudes towards one another.Instead
of pointing fingers and blaming one
another, now is the time for solutions.
In my opinion there is one ready-made
solution that can have an instant impact
and begin the process of healing the
world. I refer to the international arms
trade, which I believe has to be curbed
and restricted.
We all know that in order to fuel their
economies, Western nations are sell-
ing weapons abroad, including to those
nations that are embroiled in warfare
and armed conflicts. For example, just
a few weeks ago, it was widely reported
that the new US administration is sign-
ing off on a new arms deal for the sale
of sophisticated and precision-guided
missile technology to Saudi Arabia.
Furthermore, a United Nations report
published last year found that when it
comes to the sale of arms,normal rules of
law do not apply.It found that an array of
companies,individuals and countries had
long been contravening an international
arms embargo on Libya and supplying
arms to different factions there.
Hence, even where some limited rules
apply, they are not being properly
enforced.Whilst the primary interest of
every nation should be the well-being
military official saying that a US-China
war was now not “just a slogan”but, was
becoming a “practical reality.”
Likewise, tensions between Russia
and the West continue to smoulder
and threaten to escalate at any time.
Indeed, as tensions continued to mount,
Germany’s ex-Foreign Minister, Frank-
Walter Steinmeier, took it upon himself
to speak out against NATO military exer-
cises near the Russian border. Speaking
last June, he said:
“The one thing we shouldn’t do is
inflame the situation with loud sabre-
rattling and warmongering…Anyone
who thinks a symbolic tank parade on
the alliance’s eastern border will bring
security is wrong.We will be well advised
not to provide a pretext to renew an old
confrontation.”
I agree with the statement of the ex-
Foreign Minister that nations should
not provoke one another or seek to assert
their dominance, rather they should
engage in diplomacy and try to resolve
differences amicably and without need-
lessly threatening each other.Sadly,with
the passing of time, it seems that we are
losing our ability to listen and to tol-
erate opposing views and perspectives.
Opening the channels of communication
and facilitating dialogue is essential,oth-
erwise the world’s malaise will only get
deeper.
Anyway,I have cited various reports that
suggest we are moving towards further
The audience at the Peace Symposium
numbered over 1000, including
Members of Parliament, government
ministers, and ambassadors of state.
Makhzan-e-Tasaweer
Similarly, in January, the
South China Morning Post
quoted a senior Chinese
military official saying that
a US-China war was now
not “just a slogan” but, was
becoming a “practical reality.”

safe,because when wars start they evolve
rapidly and often unexpectedly.
If we look back to the Second World
War, there were nations who were
determined not to take part, but were
eventually dragged into it, whilst alli-
ances and blocs continued to shift and
change. Today, several countries have
acquired nuclear weapons, and if even
just one such weapon is ever used, the
consequences will be unimaginable and
will live on long after we are gone.Rather
than leaving behind a legacy of prosper-
ity for our coming generations, we will
be guilty of leaving behind only sorrow
and despair.Our gift to the world will be
a generation of disabled children, born
with defects and intellectual disabilities.
Who knows if their parents will even
survive to care for and nurture them?
Hence, we must always remember that
if we seek to pursue our own interests
at all costs, the rights of others will be
usurped and this can only lead to conflict,
wars and misery.We must all reflect and
understand the precipice upon which we
stand.We must recognise the purpose of
our creation.
As I said at the beginning, the Founder
of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Communityas
came to forge a bond between man and
His Creator and to unite mankind and
so from the depths of my heart, I pray
that the world comes to its senses before
it is too late.
My message to the world is to look at
tomorrow, and not just to today.
Let us leave behind a legacy of hope and
opportunity for our children,rather than
burdening them with the horrific conse-
quences of our sins.
With these words,I pray that God grants
sense to the people of the world and that
the heavy clouds that loom above us give
way to a bright and prosperous future.
May Allah have mercy upon mankind,
Ameen. Thank you to all the guests,thank
you very much.”
of mankind and achieving peace, it is
a sad truth that business interests and
the pursuit of wealth invariably take
priority over such concerns. Reflecting
this narrow self-interest, a well-known
CNN host recently said that curbing the
arms trade could result in a loss of jobs
amongst American defence companies.
During a live interview, he said:
“There’s a lot of jobs at stake. Certainly,
if a lot of these defence contractors stop
selling war planes, other sophisticated
equipment to Saudi Arabia,there’s going
to be a significant loss of jobs,of revenue
here in the United States.”
Furthermore, it is sometimes argued,
that the sale of weapons may actually
“encourage”peace,as weapons can act as
a “deterrent.” In my opinion, this view
is completely senseless and only encour-
ages the further production and sale of
extremely dangerous weapons.Indeed,it
is such justifications that have caused the
world to become embroiled in a never-
ending arms race. For the sake of the
good of mankind, governments should
disregard fears that their economies will
suffer if the arms trade is curbed.Instead,
they should think about the type of world
they wish to bequeath to those that fol-
low them.
Many of the weapons being used in
Muslim countries, and even by terrorist
groups such as Daesh, have been pro-
duced in the West or Eastern Europe
and so it is time for proper sanctions
to be put in place which are effectively
implemented. If this one step is taken, I
sincerely believe it can have a very sig-
nificant impact in a short frame of time.
Otherwise the alternative does not bear
thinking about.
I do not need to elaborate, because the
articles I have cited speak for themselves
and point in the direction of another
large-scale war. No country or group
should be under the illusion that they are
Whilst the primary interest
of every nation should be
the well-being of mankind
and achieving peace, it is
a sad truth that business
interests and the pursuit
of wealth invariably take
priority over such concerns.

“I think the key thing for me is that people take
the time to research and read the Qur’an. You
can’t really know about the religion unless you
take the time to read about it.”
Jeff Boothe
Police Commander for Croydon
“I feel absolutely thrilled to be here for the
14th National Peace Symposium. The room
has been radiating with that peace and that
love and that joy. I’ve actually just said to
one of the people here that to go anywhere
and to feel that and to feel truly part of it
and that you’re welcomed and the peace is
most unusual. It’s very unique and I feel very
privileged to be a part of that.”
Christina
Mayor of North Lancashire

– is to inspire terror and fear in the
hearts of those the victims leave
behind. Attending the vigil was,
for me and everyone else present, a
show of defiance: that as citizens of
this beautifully cosmopolitan and
welcoming city, London, we refused
to back down or cower in front of
the actions of such cowards. It was
a message that every attempt to
attack our social peace and harmony
will find us increasing in resistance
against those who try to divide us.
I was also sporting the now-iconic,
blue ‘I’m a Muslim, ask me anything’
T-shirt, along with many others.
In fact, it almost became a sort of
uniform and the impression I had
was that it was particularly useful for
those attending the vigil who might
have been wondering whether there
was a connection between Islam and
the actions committed in its name.
The T-shirts, in a way, made those
of us wearing them appear as go-to
help guides for people wanting to
ask about Islam and the attacks; for
people wanting reassurance, who
wanted their fears allayed and their
misconceptions corrected. In this
way, beyond just attending the vigil,
the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community
tried to be a positive presence there,
actively working to promote openness
and understanding against a climate
of widespread misunderstanding
existing paradoxically in an age of
unprecedented mass-communication.
About the Author: Mustafa Siddiqi is a student
at the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community’s training
seminary for missionaries.
On 22nd
March 2017, an attack on
Westminster left over 50 people injured
and killed five others. Khalid Masood,
the attacker, was also killed in the attack,
and the classification of the attack as
terrorism again raised the question as
to whether Islam was responsible for
or encouraged terrorist attacks. In the
days that followed, Londoners mourned
together in a series of vigils. Here, we
present personal reflections of Londoners
who attended the vigils in solidarity with
the victims and their fellow citizens.
My name is Mustafa Siddiqi and I
had the privilege of attending the
vigil held on 29th
March 2017 in
honour of the victims of the barbaric
Westminster attacks. It really was
uplifting to be surrounded by
hundreds of Ahmadi Muslims, as well
as countless other people from all
corners of society, standing in unison
in honour of the victims of the attack
and in defiance of its perpetrators.
My motivation – broadly speaking –
for attending the vigil was twofold.
Firstly, I wanted to be present as a way
of paying my respects to the victims
and offering my condolences to their
families. Just as if there’s a death among
my friends or family and I’d always try
to be there to offer love and support, it
hurts in the same way if fellow citizens
of our country lose their lives – and
so I felt duty-bound to be there.
But perhaps even more significantly,
my other reason for being there
was my attempt to send out an
extremely loud and clear message.
The goal of terrorism – even more
than the ending of innocent lives
Love for All,
Hatred for None:
Westminster Vigil
© AMA Gallery© AMA Gallery

in the UK, but nothing can prepare
one to see such an atrocity in one’s
own home city and backyard.
Why did you think it was
important to go?
As a British Muslim, my thought
was ‘Not in my Name’. I could not
bear to present an apologist version
of Islam, and I thought my reaction
should be one of taking a negative
situation and using it to promote the
positive teachings of Islam. So to show
solidarity with other Londoners was
paramount and what better way than to
go to the vigil, as this attack had left a
deep impact on me, just like others.
What was the reason behind
the #iammuslim t-shirts?
We wanted to make ourselves visible
in the crowd, and not be apologetic
about being Muslims. We thought
that we need to send a message to
the public that whatever ideology
the perpetrator may follow, it had
nothing to do with the true teachings
of Islam, the Holy Qur’an and the
example of the Holy Prophetsa
.
More often than not, Allah sows
an idea in our heads that proves
to be of such success that one is
left perplexed as to how one came
to such an idea in the first place.
The same can be said regarding the
#iammuslim T shirts. I recall Farhad
(Press Secretary for the Ahmadiyya
Abdul Quddus Arif is a teacher at
the training seminary for future
missionaries for the Ahmadiyya Muslim
Community. In this interview he
reflects on the attack and the vigil.
When the attack happened what
were your initial thoughts?
When witnessing the terrorist attack
unfolding on Westminster Bridge,
my initial hope and desire was for
this perpetrator not to be Muslim,
however, deep inside I knew that
what I was seeing on the TV screen
was going to turn out to be a so-
called Muslim committing heinous
crimes against humanity in the name
of Islam.The authorities had warned
that a terrorist attack was imminent
Abdul Quddus Arif (first from left), joined
the Westminster vigil with others to
show solidarity with the victims.
Courtesy Abdul Quddus Arif
© AMA Gallery

Muslim Community) calling me and
inquiring for AMYA branded t-shirts
or hoodies but it turned out that there
was nothing left in AMYA’s stock.
However, just before leaving for the
vigil we remembered that The Review
of Religions had these t-shirts in their
stock during ijtema (annual gathering
for Muslim youth). So we called the
office and by God’s grace they had
these in stock. So we requested to take
10-12 t-shirts, hoping they would not
seem too out of place during the vigil.
What was the response from
the members of the public?
The public’s response was unbelievable.
From the moment we arrived for the
vigil, all attention from the public
and media was on us.The t-shirts
proved to be a hit! Nearly every person
that approached us had something
positive to say, and most importantly
they echoed our sentiments that
such an act had nothing to do with
the teachings of Islam. If they were
not tapping us on the shoulder,
shaking our hand, they were engaging
in dialogue and conversation.
“It was a wonderful experience to meet His
Holiness and his authenticity, his humbleness,
just his connection with the normal man is re-
ally impressive. I think fundamentally there is
something deeply caring about who he is and I
think that is what’s really important. And again,
when we work in NHS it is about those values
around caring and dignity and His Holiness
represented that.”
Ranjeet Kaile
NHS Director of Communications
YOUR FEEDBACK IS
IMPORTANT TO US
Write to us with comments,
feedback and suggestions at
info@Reviewof Religions.org
LOVE FOR ALL, HATRED FOR NONE:
WESTMINSTER VIGIL
36 THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS | MAY 2017

I am not one to relish personal
attention and I felt quite vulnerable
being watched by so many as we
stood by the cold wall of the bridge.
All I could hear was the incessant
clicking away of cameras. What
were they thinking of us? ‘What
are these Muslim women doing?’ It
bothered me, as it always does, to
think some might be even be afraid
of us – all these Muslim women in
hijabs standing on this beautiful
bridge which had been the scene of
such horror earlier in the week.
I am a Londoner. I am proud of this
city of ours, home to such a divergent
range of cultures and faiths. Acts of
terror affect me, as they do the next
person, but more so because when
a so-called Muslim commits such a
barbaric crime, he or she disgraces all
of us and does a grievous injustice to
the name of the founder of this faith
– the Holy Prophet Muhammadsa
.
His kindness, compassion and mercy
to all was unrivalled. Under the
guidance of the teachings of Islam,
he brought peace and civilisation to
the unruly and uncivilised nation
that was pre-Islamic Arabia.
As a Muslim, my religion teaches
me that I have a responsibility to
On 26th
March, Women’s March
London invited women of all faiths and
communities to stand with their fellow
citizens to protest the Westminster attacks
and to stand in solidarity with the
victims. Members of Lajna Ima’illah also
participated in this vigil. Two women
reflect on what this event meant to them.
On 26th March, I participated in a
very unusual event. Along with about
ten other ladies from the Ahmadiyya
Muslim Community, we joined a
larger group of women drawn from
various walks of life to stand for five
minutes on Westminster Bridge to
remember those who died on 22nd
March, 2017.The event, organised
by the Women’s March London,
was very low-key: no banners, no
loudspeakers, no speeches, no leaflets
– just a simple request for women to
join together to remember those who
had been murdered that fateful day.
We stood hand in hand, Muslim
and non-Muslim, for five minutes in
silence. People passed us by – some
stopped to take photos of us, while
others watched us.The experience
was very emotional. Here we were,
reminding people that terror attacks
affect us too and that, in the words
of the Holy Qur’an, ‘Whoso kills a
person, except for killing another or for
creating disorder in the land, it shall be
as if he had killed all mankind’.1
Here
we were – a visible living statement
to people that we, as Muslim women
condemn violence of all sorts.
As I recalled the tragic events of that
day, it seemed surreal to think that one
person could have caused so much pain
to so many, in that act of mounting the
pavement with a car and deliberately
crashing into the crowds. I felt
overwhelmed reflecting on the deaths
of innocent people, those who had
sustained injuries, the violence of brutal
murder in Parliament Square – and the
grief of those who were now bereaved.
Women March for
Westminster Victims
We stood hand in hand,
Muslim and non-Muslim, for
five minutes in silence. People
passed us by – some stopped to
take photos of us, while others
watched us.The experience
was very emotional.
ElaineaEmmottPhotography|elaineaemmottphotography.com
I am a Londoner, Sarah Waseem, UK

As London responded to and digested
the first major terrorist attack on her
streets in almost ten years, a group of
women from the Ahmadiyya Muslim
Women’s Association (AMWA) were
asked to join in a rather unusual event
by the organisers of the Women’s
March London. A vigil was being
planned to honour those who had
lost their lives when Khalid Masood
indiscriminately drove a vehicle
through people on Westminster
Bridge on that fateful afternoon of
22nd
March.This vigil however was
slightly peculiar – no prior advertising
on social media, no banners, and
no loud speakers – just women
coming together to hold hands along
Westminster Bridge for five minutes.
Not having participated in anything
like it before, we hardly knew what
to expect. In our minds, we had
imagined it to be fairly low-key – a
group of women holding hands on
Westminster Bridge on an otherwise
beautiful Sunday afternoon. Eleven
members of AMWA, including
myself, journeyed to one of London’s
most visited tourist destinations in
order to show our solidarity with
the city we all love as she grieved.
As I walked up Westminster Bridge,
I was struck by the resilience of
maintain peace in society – to observe
law and order, and to respect those in
authority. My Islam guides me to care
for the young, the old, the orphans
and the dispossessed, to respect others’
faith and to safeguard freedom of
belief.This is not a faith of terror and
extremism. ‘Moderation in all things’
was the way of the Prophet of Islam.
As I stood on the bridge, and the
minutes moved on, a sense of calm
came over me. Suddenly it did not
matter anymore what people might be
thinking. I was proud to be there – to
show passers-by that I, as a Muslim,
cared about what had happened in
my city, and that I condemned it. I
hoped that with my companions, we
had in some small measure showed
that terrorism could not divide us from
them, that we were at one with them
and that perhaps we could reassure
them that Islam was not the enemy.
About the Author: Dr. Sarah Waseem is a
practising clinical psychologist and a member of the
editorial board for The Review of Religions.
As I stood on the bridge, and
the minutes moved on, a
sense of calm came over me.
Suddenly it did not matter
anymore what people might
be thinking. I was proud to be
there – to show passers-by that
I, as a Muslim, cared about
what had happened in my
city, and that I condemned it.
We Stand Together
Ayesha Malik, UK
WOMEN MARCH FOR WESTMINSTER VICTIMS

the press flock to take our pictures and
interview us that afternoon, different
media outlets followed us up the next
day with requests for interviews. Just
eleven women appeared on the photo
that went viral, not merely across the
UK, but across six continents. We
had acted under the guidance of the
Head of the Worldwide Ahmadiyya
Muslim Community – Hazrat Mirza
Masroor Ahmadaba
– who has been
a tireless campaigner for world
peace and for spreading the peaceful
teachings of Islam.The message of
the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community
has always been one of loyalty to one’s
country and rejection of all forms
of extremism.The overwhelming
response to our vigil demonstrates
that it is a message that needs to be
reinforced louder than ever before.
About the Author: Ayesha Malik is a lawyer and
deputy editor of the law and human rights section
for The Review of Religions.
ENDNOTES
1.The Holy Qur’an, 5:33.
Britain’s capital as people flocked to
the bridge as normal, taking pictures
against the backdrop of the London
Eye and the Houses of Parliament.
I had had, along with my ten other
colleagues from the AMWA, some
anxiety about being present at the very
spot a terrorist incident had taken
place just days ago. It was an unsettling
thought to know that we were all
visibly Muslim, donning headscarves,
and as emotions still ran high we
were wary of how our contribution
would be received that afternoon.
As Big Ben chimed at 4pm, the
line of women holding hands along
Westminster Bridge fell silent.
Heads down and with hearts full
of prayers, those five minutes wore
on forever. Passersby on the Bridge
stopped to take pictures, survey and
muse upon this group of sixty-odd
women representing a cross-section
of London’s diverse demographic,
coming together to lock hands
with each other, commemorating
victims of an act of terrorism.The
paparazzi from various media outlets
soon followed – to our surprise and
bemusement – and the cameras clicked
incessantly and were only interested
in one aspect of the vigil – us.
As the journalists persisted in taking
photographs, the impact of our
otherwise symbolically small gesture
began to unfold upon me. Here we
were, a group of headscarf-donning
women showing solidarity with victims
of terrorism and with the country as a
whole at the very place an individual
had carried out a heinous crime in the
name of the Islamic faith. We stood
there to demonstrate that Muslims
were law-abiding, peaceful citizens
who condemned and rejected terrorism
like all other peace-loving people –
and it had obviously struck a chord.
To our complete surprise, not only did
We stood there to demonstrate
that Muslims were law-
abiding, peaceful citizens
who condemned and rejected
terrorism like all other peace-
loving people – and it had
obviously struck a chord.
YOUR FEEDBACK IS
IMPORTANT TO US
Write to us with comments,
feedback and suggestions at
info@Reviewof Religions.org
WE STAND TOGETHER

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

Consideration Towards the Uncultured
He was particularly considerate towards those who,
from lack of cultural training, did not know how
to behave. On one occasion a dweller of the desert
who had only recently accepted Islam and who was
sitting in the company of the Holy Prophetsa
in the
mosque got up and walking away a few paces sat
down in a corner of the mosque to pass water.Some
of the Companions of the Prophetsa
got up to stop
him from doing so. The Prophetsa
restrained them,
pointing out that any interference with the man was
bound to cause inconvenience to him and might
possibly cause him injury.He told his Companions
to let the man alone and to clean the spot later.1
ENDNOTES
1. Hazrat Mirza Bashir-ud-din Mahmud Ahmadra
, Life
of Muḥammad (Tilford, Surrey, U.K.: Islam International
Publications Limited, 2013), 247-248.
A Glimpse into the Life of
the Holy Prophet Muhammadsa

The
Promised Messiahas
& imam mahdi
( g u i d e d o n e )
founder of
the review of religions
Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas
A
s the relationship between planning and prayer is proved
by the law of nature,it is also proved by the testimony of
the book of nature. It is often observed that as human
temperaments at a time of distress incline towards planning
and remedies,in the same way they incline by natural eagerness
towards prayer and almsgiving and charity but should search
for plans with prayer. In short, prayer and planning are two
natural demands of human nature which ever since the crea-
tion of man, have been the servants of human nature like two
real brothers. Planning is the necessary consequence of prayer
and prayer incites towards planning.The good fortune of man
consists in this, that before entering upon planning he should
seek help through prayer from the Fountainhead of grace so
that being granted light from this ever flowing spring good
plans should be made available to him.1
ENDNOTES
1. Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas
, The Essence of Islam, vol. 2 (Tilford,
Surrey: Islam International Publications, 1993), 207.
Prayer and Planning Are
Two Natural Demands

IS FASTING
JUST
ABOUT
FOOD?
The concept of fasting in religion has existed for
centuries. Prophets and sages of the past have used this
discipline to enhance their spirituality and to commune
with the Almighty.Today, the practice of fasting can be
found in all major religions of the world and forms an
integral part of religious worship.
As millions of Muslims prepare for the holy fasting
month of Ramadan,The Review of Religions will
explore the tradition of fasting found in some of the
major religions of the world.

FASTING IN ISLAM
Ramadan is one of the most important months in the life of a Muslim. It falls
in the 9th
month of the Islamic calendar and it commences on the sighting
of the new moon and continues until the sighting of the new moon for the
following month.
Muslims not only abstain from food and drink from dusk until dawn, but
focus especially on their worship through extra prayers and supplication.
In Islam, the practice of fasting is not only a physical exercise but a spiritual
one; the ultimate aim of which is the attainment of God’s pleasure through
regulation of one’s life in accordance with His ordinances. If a Muslim merely
observes the outward requirements of the fast, they will simply succeed in
making themselves hungry and thirsty and nothing more. Explaining the true
essence of fasting in Islam, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas
, the Promised
Messiah and Founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, states:
Fasting is not merely staying hungry and thirsty; rather its reality and its impact
can only be gained through experience. It is human nature that the less one eats, the
more one’s spirit is purified and thus his capacity for [spiritual] visions increases. The
will of God is to decrease one kind of sustenance and to increase the other. A person
who is fasting should always be mindful that he is not just required to stay hungry.
On the contrary, he should remain engaged in the remembrance of God so that he
can cut asunder the ties of worldly desires and amusements and is wholly devoted to
God. Hence, the significance of fasting is this alone that man gives up one kind of
sustenance which only nourishes the body and attains the other kind of sustenance
which is a source of comfort and gratification for the soul.1
1. Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas
, Malfuzat Vol. 5, (Rabwah: Nazarat Isha’at Rabwah Paki-
stan), 102.

FASTING IN HINDUISM
As one of the older religious traditions, fasting forms an integral part of the
Hindu faith. However, fasting in Hinduism, known as Upavasa, can take many
forms; in this way, Hinduism is flexible about the parameters of fasting. Some
people may choose to fast up to twenty-four hours,while others may choose to
fast for shorter periods of time. In addition to flexibility in the time period for
fasting, the stringency of the fast is also flexible: some abstain entirely from all
food and drink,while others only abstain from certain foods or choose to eat less
than they normally would.1
As part of Vedic teaching,fasting should not only relate to abstention from food
and drink; rather, the fast should be for purification and self-control. Further-
more,according to Hindu beliefs,fasting is also taken up as a sign of gratitude to
please different deities.For example: some Hindus will fast on Monday to please
Lord Shiva and on Saturday to please Lord Hanuman.
Similarly,Hindus fast on several religious festivals,such as on the post-monsoon
autumn festival of Navratri, in which Hindus celebrate by fasting in different
ways according to local tradition. Another important fasting ritual is known as
Karva Chauth, in which married women will fast at sunrise for the health and
longevity of their husbands. Traditionally, the fast will last until the sighting of
the moon through a sieve or a cloth, after which water is offered to the moon
to attain its blessings.The husband then gives water to the wife for her to break
the fast.
1. W. J. Johnson, Oxford Dictionary of Hinduism (Oxford: Oxford UP, 2009), 335.

FASTING IN JUDAISM
The practise of fasting is an important teaching of the Jewish faith and is deep-
ly rooted in the Biblical tradition. According to the Old Testament, Mosesas
fasted twice in his life for a duration of forty days and forty nights.1Fasting is
observed as a penance for one’s sins, establishing communion with God and
for seeking His mercy. However, in Judaism, one does not just fast for one’s
own benefit but also to instil compassion and sympathy for those around them
as it states in the Old Testament:
“Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps
of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?”
“Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your
house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own
flesh?”2
In Judaism, fasting is observed voluntarily in addition to communal fasts,
which are obligatory and observed by all Jews.The most significant fast in
the Jewish calendar is known as Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) and is
considered as one of the most holy and sacred days of the Jewish calendar. It
is observed on the 10th day of the lunar month of Tishri with its origins in
Leviticus 23:26-28:
“And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Now on the tenth day of this seventh month
is the Day of Atonement. It shall be for you a time of holy convocation, and you shall
afflict yourselves and present a food offering to the Lord. And you shall not do any
work on that very day, for it is a Day of Atonement, to make atonement for you
before the Lord your God.”3
The purpose of Yom Kippur is to seek forgiveness from sins, to cleanse the
soul and to achieve a reconciliation with God. Yom Kippur is preceded by a
ten-day period which is devoted to self-analysis and reflection of one’s deeds
in the previous year and starts from Rosh Hashanah (New Year’s Day) on the
first day of Tishri. Yom Kippur is a 25-hour fast and begins with a fast from
the sunset of the 9th of Tishri and ends after sunset on the day of Yom Kippur
and the sound of the Shofar (Ram’s horn) marks the end of the holy day. Yom
Kippur is a complete Sabbath and therefore not only do Jews abstain from
food and drink but also from all manner of work and devote this period solely
for repentance and spiritual elevation.
1. The Bible, Deuteronomy 9:9-18.
2.The Bible, Isaiah 58:6-8.
3. The Bible, Leviticus 23:26-28.

FASTING IN BUDDHISM
Buddhism originated in southeast Asia around 2500 years ago and is con-
sidered one of the major religions of the world. Buddhists strive to attain
the stage of Nirvana (the ultimate state of enlightenment) by following the
example and practices of Buddhaas. During his own quest for enlightenment,
Buddhaas
realised that spiritual enhancement did not require the practice of
extreme asceticism and thus pursued the ‘Middle Way’ – moderation. Mod-
eration is a central tenet of the Buddhist faith and therefore fasting is not
prescribed as a religious obligation for everyone; however, fasting is practised
voluntarily in a variety of ways among the different Buddhist traditions.
According to the Mahayana tradition, fasting is practiced in order to purify
oneself from negative karma. Moreover, it helps to seek detachment from
worldly desires and develop true compassion for people experiencing hunger
and sicknesses of the body.
In addition, some Buddhists will avoid meat for certain periods, once or twice
a month or even more often.The purpose of this form of fasting is to instil the
spirit of simplicity in one’s diet and avoid over-indulging in order to satisfy
the body’s desires. Some Buddhists eat only before noon on certain days of the
month as it is said that Buddhaas
ate one meal a day, before noon.
Some Buddhist monks, however, will practise more disciplined forms of fast-
ing, eating only once in the afternoon, in order to help them focus and concen-
trate in their meditation. Indeed, some of them may also undergo a standard
period of fasting that can last up to eighteen days, with only small amounts of
water allowed, for the purpose of meditation.1
1. Heng Sure, Rev. “A Buddhist Perspective on Fasting.” Urban Dharma- Buddhism in America.
Web. 03 July 2014, http://www.urbandharma.org/udharma9/fasting.html.

FASTING IN CHRISTIANITY
References to fasting can be found throughout the Bible. Biblical prophets such
as Mosesas
, Elijahas
and Jesusas
have all adopted this discipline. In the New Tes-
tament there are several references to fasting. For example, in Matthew 6:16-18,
Jesusas
states: “When you fast, do not look sombre as the hypocrites do, for they
disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting.Truly I tell you, they have
received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash
your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to
your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will
reward you.”
A major Christian fasting period consists of the forty days of Lent, which begins
on Ash Wednesday and before Easter Sunday. It is observed to commemorate
the forty days Jesusas
spent in the wilderness as mentioned in Matthew: “Then
Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After
fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.”1
While this custom is prac-
ticed differently across various Christian denominations, during Lent, many sects
strive to abstain from both food and luxuries, and instead focus on prayer and
almsgiving.
A similar practice is observed by some denominations before the Christmas
period known as the “Nativity Fast”.This is a period of fasting to prepare for the
celebration of Christmas, which they believe to be the period in which Jesusas
was born. In addition to abstaining from food and drink, they also increase time
spent in devotion and in acts of charity.
1.The Bible, Matthew 4:1-2.

Many saw this as a great gesture of toler-
ance for religious practices,so that fasting
students would not be disadvantaged
during the examination period. Others
felt it was unfair that non-Muslim
students were being made to sit exami-
nations earlier, leaving them less time to
revise, and that special provisions were
unnecessarily being made for a minority
faith group.
This new challenge, affecting hundreds
of thousands of young people around the
country,led to the Association of School
and College Leaders, a body of over
18,000 head teachers and senior educa-
tors, to produce detailed guidance about
Ramadan for schools. This document,
titled ‘Information Paper: Ramadan
and Exams 2016’, was produced in con-
sultation with various Muslim scholars,
imams and leaders.2
Two years ago, on a hot summer’s day,
a 10-year-old boy in my wife’s primary
school class complained about feeling
weak.When she told him to drink some
water, he refused to drink any – because
it was the month of Ramadan and he was
fasting.The child added that if he broke
his fast, Allah would punish him.
This was not an isolated incident, but a
typical example of what several schools in
the UK have had to deal with whenever
children of a similar age observe fasts,
often due to parental or peer pressure.
Particularly in the last couple of years,
fasting at school has become a subject of
significant national interest and debate
in the UK. In 2015, the Joint Council of
Qualifications (JCQ), which constructs
the timetables for GCSE and A-level
examinations,had taken into account the
days in which Ramadan was going to fall
the following summer before publishing
the examination dates.This was in order
to respect the fact that a large number
of Muslim pupils sitting these crucial
examinations would in all likelihood be
fasting. In a statement, the JCQ said:
“Each year the timetable is reviewed to
ensure it meets the current needs of stu-
dents, schools and colleges. This review
includes a consultation and considers
comments from a wide range of stake-
holders including schools, colleges and
religious groups.”1
Consequently, a number of large-entry
examinations were brought forward by a
few days in the summer term and some
were held in the morning rather than the
afternoon.
Fasting in School:
A Religious
Obligation?
There are many references in
the Qur’an and the hadith
[sayings of the Holy Prophetsa
]
which urge believers to
gain knowledge. For
example,‘Seeking knowledge
is compulsory for every
Muslim, man and woman.’
More and more schools are taking their
Muslim pupils into account as Ramadan
is now aligned with exam dates.
Aimorn1992 | Shutterstock
Waqar Ahmedi, UK

people should be made aware that Islam
does not require them to put their futures
in jeopardy.”
“Observing Ramadan may bring benefits
to individuals and communities but also
has the potential to cause the individual
temporary hardship through hunger and
lack of liquids during fasting hours which
may impact on physical wellbeing and
cognitive performance.”
“Fasting and staying up late for prayers
may affect memory, focus, concentra-
tion and academic performance. There
is a lot of clear research about the effects
of hydration, dehydration and nutrition
on performance but a paucity of research
specific to students observing Ramadan.
One Dutch study found that students
fasting during Ramadan may be dis-
advantaged in their exam performance
while another study found that students
reported reduced activity, study desire
and concentration ability when observ-
ing Ramadan.Anecdotally,some Muslim
pupils say that fasting enhances their per-
formance, particularly if they have been
used to it for some years. There is huge
enthusiasm for fasting and some young
people, who have made a positive deci-
sion to fast,say they feel energised during
Ramadan. Sleep deprivation should also
be taken into account and may be the
biggest factor affecting performance for
young people who are both fasting and
observing prayers at night.”
While the paper has enabled teachers
to be better informed about the holy
month, head teachers remain responsi-
ble for school policy.And that means that
some primary schools have decided to
ban pupils from fasting a step the ASCL
called “legitimate.”4
However, it advised
a more “sensitive approach”in secondary
schools. In these schools, the experience
of many fasting pupils continues to be
that teachers are very supportive and
accommodating.This includes providing
them a space for prayers and organising
break or lunchtime activities away from
peers tucking into their snacks and sand-
wiches.For examinations,extra emphasis
is given to using cooler rooms or provid-
ing fans.
While the sensitivity and support shown
to fasting pupils is certainly praiseworthy,
with regards to fasting specifically,it also
raises questions, most especially as fast-
ing during Ramadan is not obligatory for
the young.
Unlike the mandatory Islamic prayers,
which children should start saying
The guidance, designed to be “thor-
ough, balanced and practical”, provides
useful background and an overview of
Ramadan and also the importance of
learning in Islam, as well as highlight-
ing the potential impact fasting can have
on a young person’s health and the wider
implications for safeguarding students
in schools.3
Indeed, the document, while not dic-
tating a policy position, provides some
arguments for why students should con-
sider not fasting during exams:
“The pursuit of education is a religious
and moral duty for all Muslim students
of both genders. There are many ref-
erences in the Qur’an and the hadith
[sayings of the Holy Prophetsa
] which
urge believers to gain knowledge. For
example,‘Seeking knowledge is compul-
sory for every Muslim,man and woman.’
A favourite supplication of the Prophet[sa]
was,‘O Lord,increase me in knowledge.’”
“Grades attained at GCSE and A level
are critical to the further education and
career prospects of young people. Due
to the importance of these grades,young
people sitting exams will need to seri-
ously and thoughtfully take their future
and their studies into account… Young
Unlike the mandatory Islamic
prayers, which children
should start saying regularly
by age ten, no age is specified
in the Holy Qur’an or
Ahadith regarding fasting.
Some primary schools ban their students
from fasting during school hours, because
they have dealt with students that felt ill
at school due to fasting. The Promised
Messiahas
has cautioned against having
young children fast, as they are still growing
and need nutrition and nourishment.
Monkey Business Images | Shutterstock
FASTING IN SCHOOL:
A RELIGIOUS OBLIGATION?

to try completing a partial fast during the
day, as a ‘taster’before they become full-
fledged fasters in adulthood. But whilst
encouragement is one thing,enforcement
is quite another. There is nothing right-
eous about compelling children to starve
and make themselves ill – indeed, this is
absolutely against the spirit of Ramadan.
But the question still remains: while stu-
dents shouldn’t be compelled to fast,is it
preferred that they do so?
The viewpoint of the Ahmadiyya Muslim
Community, which obtains guidance on
all Islamic issues from their community’s
founder,Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas
,
the Promised Messiah and Mahdi, and
his Khulafah (successors), is quite clear.
In his Friday sermon on 3rd
June 2016,
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmadaba
, the
fifth successor and worldwide head of the
Ahmadiyya Muslim Community,directly
addressed the question about the age at
which young Muslims should start to
observe fasting:
“Many children as well as adults ask at
what age fasting should be observed.
Hazrat Musleh-e-Mau’ud [Hazrat
Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmadra
,
the second Khalifah and successor of
the Promised Messiahas
, and also his
regularly by age ten, no age is specified
in the Holy Qur’an or Ahadith regard-
ing fasting.Those who are exempt – such
as the sick, the elderly, women who are
pregnant or menstruating and travellers
– are instead required to pay towards
meals for the destitute, known as fidya.
Clearly, neither young children nor sec-
ondary students are in any position to do
this, and this indicates that they are not
required to fast.
Likewise and very pertinently, in the
same Qur’anic passage where the
commandment about fasting is given,
it states, “Allah desires ease for you,
and He desires not hardship for you.”5
Again, that would clearly not apply to a
young child who naturally needs regu-
lar sustenance,and nor would it apply to
a growing adolescent who is also going
through a period of intense study.
Furthermore,the central aims of fasting –
intensified worship,increased charity and
inner change – can only be expected of
those spiritually and intellectually mature
enough to exemplify those virtues.
This is further supported in a Hadith in
which the Holy Prophet Muhammadsa
mentioned three types of people who are
not accountable for their actions:
“The pen has been lifted from three; for
the sleeping person until he awakens,
for the boy until he becomes a young
man and for the mentally insane until
he regains sanity.”6
Inevitably there is much enthusiasm and
excitement whenever Ramadan arrives;
it is a time that unites the whole family,
community and indeed the global ummah
(community of Muslims). So naturally,
children want to be a part of it. Few
people would deny children who want
While Islam very clearly states when
children are old enough and mature enough
to establish the practice of praying five
times a day, it sets no such guidelines for
when children and adolescents should
start fasting, leaving that up to the strength,
health and growth of the person.
Arian Zwegers | Flickr | Released under
Creative Commons BY 2.0
Children often do not want to be left
out of the excitement of Ramadan, and
some try to observe partial fasts with
the encouragement of their parents. One
of the pleasurable aspects of Ramadan
is the iftaari, or breaking of the fast,
where people gather together to eat.
User mama_mia | Shutterstock
It should be remembered that
the Shari’ah [Islamic law]
has prohibited children of a
young age from observing
fasts. However, they should
most certainly be trained to
observe a number of fasts
closer to the age of maturity.
FASTING IN SCHOOL:

of maturity for the observance of fasting
is eighteen, he will not commit any cru-
elty towards me,nor to God the Exalted,
but to himself. Similarly, if a child of a
young age does not observe every fast
and people criticise him [for that], then
they will be hurting themselves (that is,
those criticising [will hurt themselves]).’”
Quoting the Promised Messiah’sas
eld-
est daughter, Hazrat Nawab Mubaraka
Begum Sahibara
, Hazrat Mirza Masroor
Ahmadaba
continued:
“The Promised Messiahas
did not like
children fasting at a young age, prior to
adolescence. One or two were enough.
When Hazrat Amma Jaanra
(wife of the
Promised Messiahas
) made me keep my
first fast, she organised a very big Iftaari
[the meal to break the fast] and invited
all the Lajna (female) members of the
Jama’at. The second or third Ramadan
after that, I kept another fast and told
that I was fast-
ing again. The Promised Messiahas
was in a secluded enclosure and on a
nearby stool there were two paans [tra-
ditional snack made from betel leaf];
perhaps Hazrat Amma Jaanra
[wife of
] had prepared
them and put them there.The Promised
Messiahas
picked up one of the paans
and said, ‘Here, eat this paan. You are
still weak and should not fast yet and
should break your fast.’I ate the paan and
son] says,‘It should be remembered that
the Shari’ah [Islamic law] has prohibited
children of a young age from observing
fasts. However, they should most cer-
tainly be trained to observe a number of
fasts closer to the age of maturity.’ He
says,‘As far as I remember,the Promised
Messiahas
granted me permission to
observe my first fast at the age of twelve
or thirteen.However,some ignorant peo-
ple make children at the age of six or
seven observe fasts and they think that
they will be rewarded for this. This is
not a deed worthy of reward, rather, it
is cruelty as this is the age of nourish-
ment. Indeed, there is an age which is
near the days of maturity and the obser-
vance of fasting is on the verge of being
compulsory. They should most certainly
be trained to observe the fast at that time.
If we look at the permission and the tra-
dition of the Promised Messiahas
, some
training should be given close to the age
of twelve or thirteen. A few fasts should
be observed every year until the age of
eighteen, which according to me is the
age of maturity for fasting.The Promised
Messiahas
permitted me to observe only
one fast in the first year.’ When he
granted him permission to fast at the
age of twelve or thirteen, he permitted
him to observe only one fast.”
‘It is only excitement at that age and it
is due to this excitement that children
desire to observe more fasts. However,
it is the duty of the parents to prohibit
them.Then,there is an age in which chil-
dren should be encouraged to certainly
observe a number of fasts.’In childhood,
it is the duty of the parents to prohibit
[children] and to not allow [them] to
observe too many [fasts]. After that,
when they approach maturity they should
be encouraged and made to observe fasts.
‘Along with this it should be ensured that
they do not observe too many. Neither
should those watching them complain
as to why [the children] are not observ-
ing all of the fasts, as if a child observes
the entire fasts at this age, he will not
be able to do so in the future. Similarly,
some children are physically weaker. I
have seen that some people bring their
children to me in order to meet me and
they say that the child is fifteen years old,
whereas they appear to be seven or eight
years old.’This happens many times.Such
[people] come to me as well. He says,
‘In my opinion, such children reach the
maturity to observe fasting perhaps at the
age of twenty one.In comparison to this,
a strong child,most probably at the age of
fifteen could be similar to [a child] at the
age of eighteen. However, if he holds on
to these very words of mine that the age
Furthermore, the central
aims of fasting – intensified
worship, increased charity
and inner change – can
only be expected of those
spiritually and intellectually
mature enough to
exemplify those virtues.
The Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim
Community explained that parents
should prohibit their very young children
from fasting, since their bodies are still
growing and they need nourishment.
Makhzan-e-Tasaweer
FASTING IN SCHOOL:

told the Promised Messiahas
that Saliha,
the wife of our youngest uncle, was also
fasting and that she was also was very
young at the time, and that therefore he
should make her open her fast too. The
Promised Messiahas
said to call her and
so I called her and when she came, the
Promised Messiahas
gave her the second
paan and said,‘Here,eat this.You do not
have a fast.’I was around ten years old at
the time.”
To conclude,it is evident that for Muslim
pupils at school, and who are under the
age of eighteen, fasting in Ramadan is
not obligatory. However, by seeing oth-
ers’renewed commitment to self-reform
during the holy month of Ramadan,
they may be inspired to develop a real
understanding and appreciation of the
benefits of Ramadan later in life. In the
meantime, they have plenty of food for
thought.
About the Author: Waqar Ahmad Ahmedi is a
Religious Studies teacher in Birmingham, UK. He
is also a subject consultant, author, examiner and
tutor.
ENDNOTES
1. “JCQ Statement - Exam Timetables,”Joint
Council for Qualifications, accessed May 1,
2017. http://www.jcq.org.uk/media-centre/
news-releases/jcq-statement---exam-timetables.
2. http://www.ascl.org.uk/utilities/
document-summary.html?id=E0E2BFF2-
0DF2-4DF2-B89F7F4A4DF11D3B.
3. “ASCL Produces Paper over Ramadan and
Exams,”Association of School and College
Learners, accessed May 1, 2017. http://www.
ascl.org.uk/news-and-views/news_news-detail.
ascl-produces-paper-over-ramadan-and-exams.
html.
4. Victoria Ward,“Primary Schools Ban
Children from Fasting during Ramadan,”
The Telegraph, June 12, 2015. http://www.
telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/11669767/
Primary-schools-ban-children-from-fasting-
during-Ramadan.html).
5. The Holy Qur’an, 2:186.
6. Tirmidhi, Kitab Al-Hudud, accessed May 1,
2017. https://sunnah.com/tirmidhi/17/1.
FASTING IN SCHOOL:
“I was talking to him [His Holiness] earlier and
I just thought it was very impressive to finally
have someone who supports everything he
says in his speech with actual facts from known
sources…I thought it was very compelling.”
Thomas Van Vynckt
70 THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS | MAY 2017

Fasting in Other Religions
When we look at prophets across reli-
gions,we see a strong correlation between
their love of Allah and their dedication
to fasting.
Describing this,Allah states in the Holy
Qur’an:
“O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed
for you, as it was prescribed for those
before you, so that you may become
righteous.”2
Here,the Holy Qur’an spe-
cifically mentions the fact that some form
of fasting exists in other religions.Indeed,
we see many examples of this.
When the young and sheltered prince
Waking up in the morning to red-tinged
skies and an almost spiritually infused air,
a man looks into the distance and sees a
flock of birds flying overhead.Captivated
in the moment, he tries to take in what-
ever he can, engraving that beautiful
moment in his mind, knowing that he
might not be able to capture it again as
the birds fly away. As he stands in this
moment of catharsis, he asks himself if
he will be there again to experience such
a moment,perhaps in bittersweet reflec-
tion. Such is the feeling of a believer in
the month of Ramadan.
The famous Persian Sufi Rumi has
described this feeling of ecstasy in his
alluring Persian poetry:
Celebrate! The month of fasting has
come.
Pleasant journey to the One
Who is the company of the fasting.
I climbed the roof to see the Moon,
Because I really missed the fast
By heart and soul.1
Indeed,this feeling of ecstasy and height-
ened spirituality has been recognised
across religions. In this way, fasting is a
unique phenomenon.
Seeking Spirituality
Through Fasting
Serjeel Ahmad, Canada
“O ye who believe! Fasting
is prescribed for you, as it
was prescribed for those
before you, so that you may
become righteous. Here, the
Holy Qur’an specifically
mentions the fact that some
form of fasting exists in
other religions. Indeed, we
see many examples of this.”
Credit: User LilKar | Shutterstock

Yom Kippur. Additionally, they restrain
themselves from the use of creams, the
wearing of leather shoes and sexual
relations whilst they fast. Christians
practise a forty day fast known as Lent,
in commemoration of the forty days of
tribulations that Jesusas
went through
whilst fasting in the wilderness. During
Lent, many Christians give something
up for forty days.Similarly,in Hinduism,
fasting is known as Upavasa and is a reli-
gious practise done as part of an ascetic
routine.
But while all religions have some sort of
fasting ritual as part of their faith, Islam
was the first to develop and codify it even
further,by strictly dedicating one month
to fasting,and providing specific instruc-
tions on how to complete the fast,who is
exempt from fasting,and what can serve
as a suitable substitute if one is exempt.
Fasting in Islam
After the commandment to fast was pre-
scribed in the second year of Hijrah,God
Almighty commanded the Muslims to
embark upon a form of religious wor-
ship each year known as ‘Ramadan’.God
Almighty says in the Holy Qur’an:
“The month of Ramadan is that in which
the Qur’an was sent down as a guidance
for mankind with clear proofs of guid-
ance and discrimination. Therefore,
whosoever of you is present at home in
this month let him fast therein.But who
is sick or is on a journey, shall fast the
same number of other days.Allah desires
to give you facility and desires not hard-
ship for you.”5
Accordingly,the ninth month of the sec-
ond Hijri became the first ever prescribed
month of fasting. Today, the believers
begin the month with the sighting of
the new moon. They wake up early in
the morning and fast until the time of
– whom we know today as the prophet
Buddhaas
– ventured into the world, his
first response to becoming aware of the
painful realities of life was to fast. It is
even narrated that he would often survive
off a grain of rice per day.
Prophet Mosesas
is recorded to have
fasted during two very important peri-
ods of his life,both for forty days.Firstly,
when he received his tablet of command-
ments on the Mount,and secondly when
he came back to his people and dicovered
them preoccupied with the worship of
an idol. The Old Testament records his
words:
“When I was gone up into the mount to
receive the tables of stone,even the tables
of the covenant which the Lord made
with you,then I abode in the mount forty
days and forty nights, I neither did eat
bread nor drink water; and the LORD
delivered unto me two tables of stone…
And the Lord said unto me, Arise, get
thee down quickly from hence; for thy
people which thou hast brought from
Egypt have corrupted themselves;…
So I turned and came down from the
mount…And I fell down before the Lord
as at the first,forty days and forty nights:
I did neither eat bread nor drink water,
because of all your sins which ye sinned.”3
The prophet Jesusas
, who experienced
great pangs of difficulty during his life,
would often fast. It is recorded in the
Bible:
“Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit
into the wilderness to be tempted of
the devil. And when he had fasted forty
days and forty nights, he was afterward
ahungered.”4
In light of the above examples of the
prophets, the followers of Buddhism,
Judaism and Christianity continue some
form of fasting.For example,adherents of
Judaism mainly fast during the times of
SEEKING SPIRITUALITY THROUGH FASTING
Prophet Mosesas
is recorded to
have fasted during two very
important periods of his life,
both for forty days. Firstly,
when he received his tablet
of commandments on the
Mount, and secondly when he
came back to his people and
dicovered them preoccupied
with the worship of an idol.
Fasting can be found in the history of
most world religions and was practised
by all prophets – indicating that the
connection between fasting and
spiritual progress is a universal one.
Mark Skalny | Shutterstock

is human nature that the less one eats,the
more one’s spirit is purified and thus his
capacity for [spiritual] visions increases.
The will of God is to decrease one kind
of sustenance and to increase the other.
A person who is fasting should always
be mindful that he is not just required to
stay hungry. On the contrary, he should
remain engaged in the remembrance of
God so that he can cut asunder ties of
worldly desires and amusements and is
wholly devoted to God. Hence, the sig-
nificance of fasting is this alone that man
gives up one kind of sustenance which
only nourishes the body and attains
the other kind of sustenance which is a
source of comfort and gratification for
the soul.”7
Thus, the essence of fasting in Islam
does not lie with simply restraining one-
self from food and drink, but is rather
a complete submission to Allah. He
puts his soul in the hands of Allah and
complies like a puppet in the hand of
a puppeteer. His main goal in the end
is to wholly win the love of Allah. The
Holy Prophetsa
said, “When the month
of Ramadan enters, the gates of heaven
are flung open and the gates of hell are
shut, and satans are chained.” We see
that our Holy Mastersa
took full advan-
tage of this and used his every word and
action to win the love of God.The Holy
Prophetsa
would teach his companions
to restrain their emotions,giving them a
model of how a Muslim should live his
life. He said:
“When you are fasting, abuse not any-
body nor quarrel with any; and if any
person quarrels with you,turn away from
him, saying, ‘I cannot quarrel with you,
for I am observing a fast.’”His main con-
cern was to tell his companions to live a
life of a true believer and shun all forms
of hypocrisy within them. He further
warned the Muslims:
“He who does not shun telling a lie by
word and deed, should know that God
needs not his abstention from food and
drink.”
And in fact, the Holy Prophetsa
himself
was an exemplar in how to keep the fast.
He would spend most of his time deep in
prayer.He would often perform Tahajjud
prayer (voluntary night prayer) with great
fervour and spent a large majority of his
nights supplicating with love for his
companions. He said: “Whoso stands in
tahajjud prayer in Ramadan with firm
faith and with the intention of achieving
the pleasure of God, all his previous sins
are forgiven.”
Maghrib Prayer (immediately after sun-
set), when the fast is completed.
This month-long routine is meant to
help purify those who undergo it.Indeed,
Ramadan comes from the Arabic root
word ‘ramdh’, which means scorch-
ing heat. The Holy Prophet sa
taught:
“Ramadan has been given this name,for
it burns away all sins.”6
But Ramadan – although synonymous
with fasting – is not just about abstinence
from eating and drinking. It requires a
discipline of the soul,taking one towards
the love of Allah.The Promised Messiahas
very beautifully explains:
“Fasting is not merely staying hungry and
thirsty; rather its reality and its impact
can only be gained through experience.It
In Ramadan, as soon as the sun sets,
Muslims break the fast for the day and say
the Maghrib prayer while it is still twilight.
User Scirocco340 | Shutterstock
But while all religions have
some sort of fasting ritual
as part of their faith, Islam
was the first to develop and
codify it even further, by
strictly dedicating one month
to fasting, and providing
specific instructions on how
to complete the fast, who is
exempt from fasting, and
what can serve as a suitable
substitute if one is exempt.

The Review of Religions May 2017

The Review of Religions May 2017

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The Review of Religions May 2017