World in Crisis – How do we Cope?

World in Crisis -
How do we Cope?
10
True Mosques Transmit
Only Love and Peace
28
Qur’anic History and
the Role of Islamic
Calligraphy
46
The Philosophy of
Eid ul Fitr
58
www.reviewofreligions.org
world in crisis
how do we cope?
vol. 111 - issue sevenjuly 2016

Never shall you attain to
righteousness unless you
spend out of that which you
love. And whatever you spend,
Allah surely knows it well”.
ISLAM, THE HOLY QUR’AN,
CH.3: V. 93
Adi bin Hatimra
reported:
Messenger of Allahsa
said, “Protect
yourself from the hell-fire even by
giving a piece of date as charity.”
ISLAM, THE HOLY
PROPHETSA
, HADITH SAHIH
BUKHARI
Do not lay up for yourselves
treasures on earth, where moth
and rust destroy and where
thieves break in and steal, but
lay up for yourselves treasures
in heaven, where neither moth
nor rust destroys and where
thieves do not break in and
steal. For where your treasure
is, there your heart will be also.
CHRISTIANITY, THE BIBLE,
MATTHEW 6:19-21
Acts of sacrifice, charity and
austerity should not be abandoned,
but should be performed, because
sacrifice, charity and austerity
are the purifiers of the wise.
HINDUISM, BHAGVAT GITA
Conquer the angry one by not
getting angry; conquer the
wicked by goodness; conquer
the stingy by generosity, and
the liar by speaking the truth.
BUDDHISM, DHAMMAPADA
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
Spending in the
Way of God
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.

10 World in Crisis –
How do we Cope?
Europe has experienced an
unprecedented and sudden influx
of refugees from Iraq and Syria.
How do we cope with this crisis?
Also, has the objective of the UN
Charter to save mankind failed
and are we moving irreversibly
towards a Third World War?
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmadaba
, Worldwide
Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, 5th
Successor to the Promised Messiah
28 True Mosques Transmit
Only Love and Peace
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community
has built thousands of mosques
around the world. At the inauguration
of another such mosque in the city
of Malmo, Sweden, the Worldwide
Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim
Community explains how these
mosques are helping allay the
fears of the local population.
, Worldwide
Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, 5th
Successor to the Promised Messiah
46 Qur’anic History and the
Role of Islamic Calligraphy
Second and final part looking
into the fascinating art and
history of Islamic Calligraphy.
RAZWAN BAIG, LONDON, UK
58 The Philosophy of Eid-ul-Fitr
Muslims around the world celebrate
Eid-ul-Fitr at the end of Ramadan.
What happens on this day and
why is it important to Muslims?
Talha Ali, Philippines
74 The Economic System of Islam
The dangers of state capitalism
are examined in this twelfth
part of the series.
HAZRAT MIRZA BASHIR-UD-DIN MAHMUD AHMADRA
,
THE SECOND Worldwide Head OF THE AHMADIYYA
MUSLIM COMMUNITY
Front cover pictures:
© offset
contents
july 2016 Vol.111 issue seven
74
10
46
28

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
Editor: Shahzad Ahmad
LAW & HUMAN RIGHTS
Editor: Qudsi Rasheed
Deputy: Ayesha Mahmood Malik
ANCIENT RELIGIONS & ARCHAEOLOGY
Editor: Fazal Ahmad
Deputy: Rizwan Safir
CHRISTIANITY
Editor: Navida Sayed
Deputy: Arif Khan
Women’s Section
Editor: Aliya Latif
Deputy: Meliha Hayat
BOOK REVIEWS
Editor: Sarah Waseem
WEB TEAM
Mubashra Ahmad, Hibba Turrauf
Special Collections
Head: Razwan Baig
EDITORIAL BOARD
Mansoor Saqi, Bockarie Tommy Kallon, Professor
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
Farhana Dar (Head), Hina Rehman, Amina Abbasi, Aisha Patel
HOUSE STYLE GUIDE
Maleeha Ahmad (Head), Sadia Shah
SOCIAL MEDIA
Tazeen Ahmad (Head), Mala Khan (Deputy), Nudrat
Ahmad, Hajra Ahmad, Mishall Rahman, Shumaila Ahmad
PRINT DESIGN AND LAYOUT
Ahsan Khan
INTERNATIONAL SUBSCRIPTION & DISTRIBUTION
Muhammad Hanif
ACCOUNTS & MARKETING
Musa Sattar
ART & CREATIVITY
Zubair Hayat, Mussawir Din
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
Munir-Ud-Din Shams (Chairman), Syed Amer Safir (Secretary), Mubarak Ahmad Zaffar, Abdul Baqi Arshad,
Ataul Mujeeb Rashed, Naseer Qamar, Abid Waheed Ahmad Khan, Aziz Ahmad Bilal
The world is passing through turbulent times.The global economic crisis
continues to manifest new and grave dangers at every juncture.The
similarities of the current circumstances to the build-up of the Second
WorldWar are stark. Events appear to be moving us rapidly towards a
ThirdWorldWar.The consequences of a nuclear war are beyond
our imagination.
In this book, the historic addresses of Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmadaba
, Fifth
Khalifah of the Promised Messiah and Supreme Head of the worldwide
Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, to prominent dignitaries at Capitol Hill, the
House of Commons, the European Parliament and other notable locations
around the world have been collated.The book also includes the momentous
letters sent by His Holiness to the numerous world leaders. Over and over
again, His Holiness has reminded all that the only means of averting a global
catastrophe is for nations to establish justice as an absolute requirement of
their dealings with others. Even if mutual enmity exists, impartiality must
be observed at all times, because history has taught us that this alone is
the way to eliminate all traces of hatred and to build everlasting peace.
Read online at: www.alislam.org
Purchase the book here:
http://store.alislam.org/

Hadith on Fasting
Abu Hurairara
related that the Holy Prophetsa
said,“Whoever
established prayers on the night of Qadr out of sincere faith
and hoping for a reward from Allah,then all his previous sins
will be forgiven; and whoever fasts in the month of Ramadan
out of sincere faith,and hoping for a reward from Allah,then
all his previous sins will be forgiven.1
Narrated by Ibn Abbasra
:The Prophetsa
was the most generous
amongst the people, and he used to be more so in the month
of Ramadan when Gabriel visited him, and Gabriel used to
meet him on every night of Ramadan till the end of the month.
The Prophetsa
used to recite the Holy Qur’an to Gabriel, and
when Gabriel met him, he used to be more generous than a
fast wind (which causes rain and welfare). 2
endnotes
1. Sahih Bukhari, Kitaab-as-Saum, Volume 3, Book 31, Number 126.
2. Sahih Bukhari, Kitaab-as-Saum, Volume 3, Book 31, Number 127.
Sayings of
The Holy Prophet Muhammadsa
july 2016 | The Review of Religions 9

World in Crisis –
How Do We Cope?
Refugees from Syria and beyond are flooding countries
in Europe, trying to escape the devastation and death
in their homelands. How can the world help them while
also maintaining peace in their own countries?

,
Khalifatul Masih V, Worldwide Head
of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community
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 take this
opportunity to thank all of you for
accepting our invitation to today’s event.
In today’s world we are passing through a
challenging time. It is my belief that the
peace of the world is the most pressing
and crucial issue facing all of us today.
During these challenging times,how can
we cope with the situation?
I believe it is imperative that all of man-
kind,irrespective of creed,caste or colour,
strives to uphold the basic human val-
ues of peace, compassion, tolerance and
mutual respect. There is no room in the
world for discrimination based on some-
one’s beliefs,religion or race,and so both
the state and religion itself must be free
World in Crisis -
How Do We Cope? I believe it is imperative that
all of mankind, irrespective
of creed, caste or colour, strives
to uphold the basic human
values of peace, compassion,
tolerance and mutual respect.
There is no room in the world
for discrimination based on
someone’s beliefs, religion
or race, and so both the state
and religion itself must be
free of all forms of prejudice.
KEYNOTE ADDRESS AT a SPECIAL RECEP TION
IN STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN
*Photos used in this article have been added to this
address by The Review of Religions to help illustrate
the subject matter. The Review of Religions takes
full responsibility for any errors in depiction.*
His Holiness Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmadaba
spoke
in detail about the recent refugee crisis
,
Khalifatul Masih, Worldwide Head of the
Ahmadiyya Muslim Community
O
n 17th May 2016,
the Worldwide Head of
the Ahmadiyya Muslim
Community, the Fifth Khalifah
(Caliph), His Holiness, Hazrat
Mirza Masroor Ahmadaba
delivered
the keynote address at a special re-
ception held to mark his first ever
visit to Sweden’s capital, Stockholm.
Over 60 dignitaries and guests, in-
cluding various Members of Parlia-
ment attended the evening recep-
tion. We present here the keynote
address delivered by His Holiness
on this occasion.

Due to the generosity of the Swedish
Government and its public, this coun-
try has accepted more than its fair share
of refugees, certainly in comparison to
the size of your nation.This gesture and
willingness to absorb so many refugees is
very laudable and proves that Sweden is
filled with open-hearted and kind people.
Your benevolence places a burden on the
refugees and immigrants who come here,
and demands of them that they live here
as peaceful citizens and remain grateful
and indebted to the government and the
people of this nation.
Indeed, the Founder of Islam, the Holy
Prophet Muhammadsa
,taught that a per-
son who does not express his gratitude
to his fellow man cannot be considered
grateful to God Almighty.Thus,Muslim
refugees and immigrants have a religious
obligation to keep in view the favours
bequeathed upon them by this country,
wherein they have been permitted to live
here and to derive benefit from the state.
The refugees escaped their previous lives
in search of peace, and so now having
been granted shelter and security here,
it is incumbent upon them to live here
peacefully and to abide by the laws of
the land. All immigrants have a duty to
of all forms of prejudice.Each individual
should be free to believe in whatever they
like because belief is a personal matter
pertaining to one’s own heart and mind.
Hence a person should be free to pro-
fess according to his or her religious
teachings.
As I have said, it is the need of the hour
that we should all focus on achieving
our shared aspirations of establishing
true and sustainable peace in the world.
Regrettably, the hub of the world’s
instability and bloodshed lies in the
Muslim world because the leaders and
governments have disregarded the true
teachings of their religion. Nonetheless,
those living in the West or other parts of
the world should not consider themselves
immune from danger because the world
has now shrunk into an inter-connected
global village.
Hence, the disorder in one part of the
world can no longer be considered a
local issue or limited in its scope.We are
already seeing that the instability in the
Muslim world is increasingly affecting
other parts of the world and indeed has
had a direct impact here in Sweden as
well. As it is now much easier to travel
long distances,in the past year,hundreds
of thousands, if not millions of people,
have fled their war-torn countries of
Syria and Iraq in search of a better future
here in the Western world.
His Holinessaba
speaks on the urgent
issues facing the world today.
Thousands of migrants have fled Syria
to European countries in the hope of a
better future. This mass migration has
created new issues for the Western world
who are trying to accommodate the new
flood of citizens from the Middle East.
© Istvan Csak | Shutterstock
Hence, the disorder in one
part of the world can no
longer be considered a local
issue or limited in its scope.
We are already seeing that
the instability in the Muslim
world is increasingly affecting
other parts of the world and
indeed has had a direct impact
here in Sweden as well.
world in crisis - how do we cope?
14 The Review of Religions | july 2016 july 2016 | The Review of Religions 15

known for their generosity and open-
hearts but any discrimination against
them could trigger a change in attitude
that would undermine and threaten the
peace of society.
Instead of reaping the positive effects of
integration and immigration,it could lead
to a rise in conflict and hatred. Hence, I
would suggest and advise the govern-
ment and policy makers that they should
ensure that the rights of the local people
are not unduly affected or neglected in
any way. This is a very delicate issue and
must be handled with extreme caution and
care because if there is any resentment on
the part of the local people, it could lead
to an extremely dangerous chain reaction.
The local citizens could become hostile to
the refugees and in turn this could lead
to the marginalisation of the immigrant
population, and that sense of isolation
could leave some refugees vulnerable to
radicalisation by extremists. In this way,
an extremely dangerous vicious cycle
could emerge threatening the peace and
security of this nation. If, God forbid,
such extremists were able to radicalise
even just a few people it would gravely
threaten and undermine this nation’s
peace, security and prosperity. As I said,
a balance has to be found and so you will
have to tread extremely carefully.Whilst
the government should help the refugees
settle, they should also make it clear to
them that they are expected to stand on
their own two feet and contribute to soci-
ety as soon as possible.
On the other hand, the local citizens
should also be reminded that Sweden
has chosen to accept the refugees due to
its moral obligation to serve humanity
and therefore the public should welcome
those arriving with a spirit of service and
compassion.
I reiterate that it is crucial that you pay
great attention to the integration of the
recent influx of immigrants into your
society, otherwise the situation could
integrate and remember that the Holy
Prophet of Islamsa
taught that love of
one’s country of residence is an essen-
tial part of one’s faith as a Muslim.
Immigrants should remain entirely faith-
ful to their adopted nation and should
use all of their abilities to help their
country advance and prosper.
Furthermore, it is also the task of the
authorities and governments to ensure
that they do not become entirely pre-
occupied with re-settling the refugees
and consequently come to ignore the
rights of their existing citizens. Already,
there have been some reports in which
local citizens have complained to the
media that the refugees are being given
preferential treatment.According to one
report, an elderly Swedish lady was not
given proper medical treatment and was
even deprived of adequate food whilst in
hospital, whilst the refugees were cared
for in a much better way.
To what extent these reports are accu-
rate, God knows better, but if there is
any truth in them, it is alarming and
dangerous. If the perceived preferential
treatment of the immigrants continues in
the long term it could have serious impli-
cations. Such injustices will naturally
foster resentment and frustration in the
hearts of the local people and could easily
escalate into hatred against the refugees.
The Swedish people have long been
If the perceived preferential
treatment of the immigrants
continues in the long
term it could have serious
implications. Such injustices
will naturally foster
resentment and frustration in
the hearts of the local people
and could easily escalate into
hatred against the refugees.
Refugees should always be grateful to
the European countries that have opened
their hearts and homes to them.
© Thomas Koch | Shutterstock
Islam teaches love for one’s nation:
migrants should always show loyalty
towards their adopted country.
© User Rolf_52 | Shutterstock

to never bear grudges or to seek revenge
from their enemies,rather they are taught
to always remain just and fair in all mat-
ters and under all circumstances.See how
beautiful this commandment is to estab-
lish the peace of the society. Islam has
not only called on Muslims to be just,
but it has also laid down the standards
of justice that are required.In Chapter 4,
Verse 136, Allah the Almighty has said:
“O ye who believe! Be strict in observ-
ing justice, and be witnesses for Allah,
even though it be against yourselves or
against parents and kindred.”
Hence, Islam teaches that a Muslim
should be ready to testify against him-
self, his parents or his most loved ones,
in order to establish the truth and for jus-
tice to prevail.Certainly,there can be no
higher standard of justice than this and
so this precept is the gateway to estab-
lishing true peace in the world.
Another golden principle for the estab-
lishment of peace is given in chapter 49,
verse 10, of the Holy Qur’an, where it
states that if there is a dispute between
nations or groups, third parties should
unite and seek to bring about a peaceful
resolution to the conflict.
If a peaceful resolution is not possible,
then nations should stand shoulder to
shoulder with one another in an effort
to stop the cruelties and injustices that
are occurring.
If the world understands the true value
of this principle then there is still time
for mankind to escape the clutches of
further war.
In the short time available, I have pre-
sented some examples that prove that
Islam is not what you may have heard or
read about in the media.
spiral out of your control. In terms of
Islam’s teachings,let me reassure you that
Islam is a religion of peace, security and
love for all.
Islam requires Muslims to love their
country, to be loyal to it and to abide by
the laws of the land.This is the message
that Imams and Muslim clerics should
be voicing to all of the Muslim refugees
who are coming to the West.They should
be told that it is their Islamic duty to
be grateful to their adopted nation and
its people.They should be reminded that
they have been given a second lease of
life and the opportunity to raise their
children in a country that is free from
war and disorder and so it is incumbent
upon them to value and cherish their new
home.
Moving forward, I would now like to
present some Islamic teachings that I
believe can play a great role in developing
peace at a local societal level, a national
level and indeed at an international level.
In Chapter 5,Verse 9 of the Holy Qur’an,
Allah the Almighty states:
“O ye who believe! Be steadfast in
the cause of Allah, bearing witness in
equity; and let not a people’s enmity
incite you to act otherwise than with
justice. Be always just that is nearer to
righteousness. And fear Allah. Surely
Allah is aware of what you do.”
The words of this verse are extremely
clear whereby Muslims are instructed
Islam requires Muslims to
love their country, to be loyal
to it and to abide by the laws
of the land.This is the message
that Imams and Muslim
clerics should be voicing to
all of the Muslim refugees
who are coming to the West. It is the duty of the government and policy
makers to ensure the immigrants are
well integrated into the host country.

groups had acted with justice in the past
then the disorder and instability we see
today would not have spread and we cer-
tainly would not have faced the current
refugee crisis.
Another, extremely significant Islamic
principle is given in Chapter 23, verse
9 of the Holy Qur’an which states that
true Muslims are those who are mindful
of fulfilling their pledges and covenants
and who seek to discharge the trusts that
have been handed over to them. In my
opinion, this principle is not only for
Muslims, but is a universal principle for
all nations and people. All governments
and international institutions have huge
trusts placed in them and it is the duty
of their leaders to ensure that they fulfil
them with honesty, integrity and justice.
It is the responsibility of governments
and politicians to serve their people and
to protect the future of their nations and
they should never take this burden lightly.
Similarly,the primary objectives laid out
in the Charter of the United Nations are
“to save succeeding generations from the
scourge of war,”“to live together in peace”
and “to maintain international peace and
security.”
The UN Charter specifically states that
its objectives are underpinned by a desire
The Qur’an is not, God forbid, a book
of terrorism or extremism, rather it
is a teaching of love, compassion and
humanity. If Muslim countries acted
upon the true teachings of their religion
there would be no civil wars or conflicts
and no scope for their troubles to be
exported abroad. Certainly, if we wish
to see the true picture of Islam then we
should study the era of the Holy Prophet
Muhammadsa
and of his four rightly
guided Successors.
Their blessed examples prove that Islam
is a beacon of peace and justice that
enshrines universal religious freedom and
pluralism. For example, during the era
of Hazrat Umarra
, the second Successor
to the Holy Prophetsa
, Islam spread to
Syria and a Muslim government was
formed.However,following an attack by
the Roman Empire, the Muslims were
forced to leave the country.History bears
witness to the fact that upon their depar-
ture, the local Christians of Syria were
brought to tears and fervently prayed for
the Muslims to return,because they had
seen how the Muslim government had
always protected their rights.
And so it is a cause of the deepest regret
and sorrow that today’s Muslim govern-
ments and leaders have forgotten the true
teachings of their faith and care only for
their own seats of power and personal
interests. Their injustices and cruel-
ties have caused frustrations to ferment
amongst their local populations and in
turn such grievances have fuelled extrem-
ist and terrorist organisations.
Anyway, during these challenging times
it is the responsibility of the major pow-
ers and the international institutions to
act with justice at all times. Where con-
flicts arise, international organisations,
such as the United Nations, should act
impartially and equitably and their sole
motivation should be to establish peace
and reconciliation between all parties.
The obvious truth is that if nations and
World War Three is on the horizon as
nations are becoming increasingly corrupt
and violent towards one another.
© User ChameleonsEye | Shutterstock
The purpose of the United Nations
is to prevent the world from making
the same mistakes it made in the
last century. Unfortunately, the UN
has ignored this responsibility.
© Drop of Light | Shutterstock

earnestly in the cause of world peace.
May Allah grant the people of the world
wisdom and enable mankind to set aside
personal interests for the sake of the com-
mon good. If we fail in this task then, as
I have said on many occasions,the world
is moving rapidly towards another World
War whose repercussions could easily
last for generations, given that various
nations now possess nuclear weapons.
The consequences of such a war do not
even bear thinking about.
The question we should all ask ourselves
is whether we desire to leave behind a
better world for our children and future
generations to live in? Or do we wish to
hand over a legacy of warfare,bloodshed
and untold sorrow and grief? May Allah
protect mankind and have mercy on us
and enable all people to act with justice,
common sense and goodwill towards
others, so that we are able to protect our
children and coming generations.
With these words,I would now take your
leave,but before doing so,I would like to
once again thank you for accepting our
invitation.May Allah bless you all.Thank
you very much.”
to save mankind from the mistakes that
led to the two World Wars of the 20th
Century. Having undertaken this huge
responsibility, the United Nations must
seek to fulfil its noble objectives and truly
value the peace of the world as the most
significant issue of our time.
But regrettably this responsibility is
being ignored. I maintain that if all par-
ties understand their responsibilities and
act with justice and fulfil the rights of
one another, then there is still time for
the black clouds of warfare and conflict
that loom all around us to pass by safely
into the distance.
Thus, again I advise the major powers of
the world to strive wholeheartedly and
Having undertaken this huge
responsibility, the United
Nations must seek to fulfil
its noble objectives and truly
value the peace of the world
as the most significant issue
of our time. But regrettably
this responsibility is being
ignored. I maintain that if
all parties understand their
responsibilities and act with
justice and fulfil the rights
of one another, then there is
still time for the black clouds
of warfare and conflict that
loom all around us to pass
by safely into the distance.
Your feedback is
important to us
Write to us with comments,
feedback and suggestions at
info@ReviewofReligions.org
His Holiness leading silent prayer
at the end of the event.

The
Promised Messiahas
& imam mahdi
( g u i d e d o n e )
founder of
the review of religions
Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas
N
ow,O friends! I will describe to you the distinctive sign
which sane reason has appointed for the recognition
of a revealed Book is to be found only in the Holy
Book of God Almighty, which is the Holy Qur’an. In this age
all those qualities which should be found as a distinctive sign
of God’s Book are absent in other books. It is possible that
they might have possessed those qualities in an earlier age,but
they do not possess them now, and though,for the reason that
we have set out, we regard them as revealed, yet even if they
are revealed, in their present condition they are not of any use.
They are like a citadel which is empty and in ruins, and bereft
of all wealth and military strength.1
(Essence of Islam, Vol.1,
pp.467 -468)
endnotes
1. The Essence of Islam, Vol. 1, p. 467-468.
The Holy Book
of the Almighty

Bitcoin: On Behalf of
The Future
14
Educating Our Children
24
The Difference Between
True Islam & Extremist
Groups
30
FGM’ – Not in The
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ERADICATING
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Why The Honeybee
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16
Wonders Experienced
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The Islamic Dilemma
Should We Fear the
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Atheism or Belief -
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The
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Untold Stories
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Preaching Activities of
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EYES CANNOT
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A Murder in British
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of Lekh Ram
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World War One:
Centenary of Fulfliment
of a Grand Prophecy
102
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EVIDENCE FORTHE
TRUTHYoubetheJudge...
S P E C I A L 1 6 4 P A G E E D I T I O N
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10
Legal Right Verses
Moral Duty
38
Is it Permissable for
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to be Executed?
56
The Life of the
Prophet Muhammadsa
68
VOL. 110 - ISSUE THREEMARCH 2015 WWW.REVIEWOFRELIGIONS.ORG
REACTIONto
CHARLIE
HEBDO...?
SERMON
onthe
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10
The Institution of Hajj
20
Mahmud’s Letter From
the Land of the Dearest
One [Muhammadsa
]
24
The Life & Character of
the Seal of Prophetssa
52
VOL. 110 - ISSUE NINESEPTEMBER 2015 WWW.REVIEWOFRELIGIONS.ORG
Fromthe
LETTERSof
MAHMUDRA
A HISTORIC JOURNEY TO THE HOUSE OF GOD
Firm Stance Against
Terror At Peace
Symposium
8
The Golden Principles
for World Peace
16
Three Minutes and
Counting
38
Has Science Rendered
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66
VOL. 110 - ISSUE FOURAPRIL 2015 WWW.REVIEWOFRELIGIONS.ORG
RAY
OF
HOPE?
SERMON
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Halloween –
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10
Shariah: A Semantic
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28
Connecting to Khilafat:
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36
Islam’s Response to the
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56
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A Guidance forToday’s MuslimYouth
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TheRESURRECTION
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Mufti Muhammad
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World Peace & Security
- The Critical Issues of
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38
Responsibilities of an
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50
The Economic System
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56
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WORLDPEACE
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Visits to
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NAVIGATING
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Three Gradations of
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Apartheid of Ahmadis
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VOL. 110 - ISSUE TWELVEDECEMBER 2015 WWW.REVIEWOFRELIGIONS.ORG
The
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Is Religion Truly the Cause of Disorder in
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After reciting Tashahhud, Ta’awwuz
and Bismillah, Hazrat Mirza Masroor
Ahmadaba
, Khalifatul Masih Vaba
,
Worldwide Head of the Ahmadiyya
Muslim Community said:
“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 take this
opportunity to extend my sincere appre-
ciation to all of our guests who have
accepted our invitation to the opening
of our new mosque here in Malmo.The
majority of you are not members of the
Ahmadiyya Community, and so your
attendance at an Islamic event proves
that you are tolerant and open-hearted
people and deserving of our gratitude.
I am sure there will be some people,per-
haps even amongst those present, who
will hold certain reservations or fears
about the opening of this mosque and
may even harbour suspicions about the
word ‘mosque’ itself. In particular, those
True Mosques Transmit
Only Love and Peace I am sure there will be some
people, perhaps even amongst
those present, who will hold
certain reservations or fears
about the opening of this
mosque and may even harbour
suspicions about the word
‘mosque’ itself. In particular,
those people who have had
little or no contact with
Muslims may well believe
that mosques should not be
built in the Western world
or in developed nations.
KEYNOTE ADDRESS BY
, Khalifatul
Masih V, WORLDWIDE HEAD OF THE AHMADIYYA
MUSLIM COMMUNITY AT A SPECIAL FUNCTION
TO MARK THE INAUGURATION OF THE MAHMUD
MOSQUE IN MALMO, SWEDEN
*Photos used in this article have been added to this
address by The Review of Religions to help illustrate
the subject matter. The Review of Religions takes
full responsibility for any errors in depiction.*
O
n 1 4 M a y 2 0 1 6 ,
the Worldwide Head of
the Ahmadiyya Muslim
Community, the Fifth Khalifah
(Caliph), His Holiness, Hazrat
Mirza Masroor Ahmadaba
deliv-
ered the keynote address at a special
reception held to mark the inaugura-
tion of the Mahmud Mosque (Mosque
of the Praiseworthy) in Malmo,
Sweden. Over 80 dignitaries and
guests, including the Malmo’s City
Council Chairman, attended the
lunchtime reception. We present
here the keynote address delivered
by His Holiness on this occasion.

Muhammadsa
ordered for a mosque to
be demolished, because instead of being
built as a house of peace,it had been built
with the intention of inciting conflict and
spreading mischief.The people who built
that mosque were hypocrites who sought
to provoke division in society,both inter-
nally within the Muslim community,and
also between the Muslims and the non-
Muslims of that era. And so the Qura’n
is very clear that mosques built with such
ill-intent should be knocked down.
Moving on, in terms of Ahmadi
Muslims,we believe that the Founder of
our Community,Hazrat Mirza Ghulam
Ahmadas
of Qadian, was sent by Allah
the Almighty in accordance with the
prophecies of the Holy Qur’an and the
Holy Prophet Muhammadsa
.We believe
him to be the Reformer of the Age,who
the Holy Prophetsa
himself deemed to be
the Messiah and the Mahdi (the Guided
One) of the latter days. We believe that
he was sent with two overarching objec-
tives,which were to unite mankind in the
worship of God Almighty, and to draw
the attention of the human race towards
fulfilling the rights of one another.
He was sent as a means of peace for the
entire world and therefore his followers
are the people who seek to build bridges
of love and compassion within society.
The 127-year history of the Ahmadiyya
Muslim Community testifies to the fact
that we practice what we preach and our
people who have had little or no con-
tact with Muslims may well believe
that mosques should not be built in the
Western world or in developed nations.
They may consider mosques to be a
means of destabilising their nations and
increasing division and enmity. Sadly,
such concerns are justified to an extent,
given that certain so-called Muslims are
using their mosques for nefarious pur-
poses, such as spreading extremism and
cultivating radicalisation.
Therefore,firstly let me reassure all of our
guests and the people of this city and
nation, that there is no need to fear this
mosque.Instead of spreading hatred and
malice, true Muslims and true mosques
transmit only love, peace and brother-
hood throughout society. Indeed, when
a person meets a true Muslim, he or
she should feel only peace from them.
Similarly,when a person enters a mosque,
he or she should feel only peace and con-
tentment.If this is not the case,it means
either those who enter the mosque are
not true Muslims and do not understand
the true teachings of Islam, or it means
that the mosque itself was not built with
pious intentions or to fulfil the real objec-
tives of a mosque. Such mosques, from
where evil is spread, do not have any
place in Islam.
In an incident mentioned in the
Holy Qur’an, once the Holy Prophet
Mosques are sacred places built for
the purpose of creating social peace. A
mosque that is built with evil intent
can never promote goodness.
Therefore, firstly let me
reassure all of our guests and
the people of this city and
nation, that there is no need
to fear this mosque. Instead
of spreading hatred and
malice, true Muslims and
true mosques transmit only
love, peace and brotherhood
throughout society. Indeed,
when a person meets a true
Muslim, he or she should
feel only peace from them.
true mosques transmit
only love and peace

Now that this mosque, which has been
named the Mahmud Mosque (Mosque of
the Praiseworthy),has been opened,it is
the foremost duty of the local Ahmadi
Muslims to reflect Islam’s true and peace-
ful teachings in all aspects of their lives.
Where on the one hand, they should
enter this mosque each day to worship
God Almighty,they must also enter with
a sincere determination and heartfelt
desire to serve the community in which
they live. Through their conduct they
must radiate peace, mercy and benevo-
lence, both in this neighbourhood and
throughout the wider society.
Quite simply,Islam is a religion of peace
and this is why in Chapter 10, Verse 26,
of the Holy Qur’an,Allah the Almighty
says:
“And Allah calls to the Abode of Peace.”
The Arabic word for ‘peace’ is ‘Salam’
and this single word has many dif-
ferent meanings and connotations. It
means ‘safety’ and ‘security’ and to be
saved from vice and evil. It also means
‘peace’ and ‘obedience’. Indeed ‘Salam’ is
also an Attribute of Allah, meaning that
He is the ‘Source of Peace’ and Muslims
are instructed to adopt His attributes.
Therefore, when Allah the Almighty is
message is of peace, love and tolerance.
Rather than worldly or political ambi-
tions,our objectives are entirely spiritual.
We seek the pleasure of God Almighty
and we seek to alleviate the suffering of
mankind.
In today’s world, so much is said and
written in opposition to Islam, whereby
it has been branded as an extremist and
violent religion.Though we consider this
depiction to be entirely unjustified, the
sad truth is that it is the horrific acts
of certain so-called Muslims that have
given the opponents of Islam the licence
to level such false allegations. However,
as an Ahmadi Muslim, when I observe
the current state of affairs it does not lead
me to despair but is actually a means of
strengthening my faith in the truth of
Islam.
For, over 1400 years ago, the Founder of
Islamsa
himself prophesied that over time
Islam’s true teachings would become cor-
rupted and its original teachings would
be forgotten. He foretold that at such
a time of spiritual darkness, Allah the
Almighty would send the Promised
Messiahas
to revive the true teachings of
Islam. As I have already explained, we
Ahmadi Muslims believe our Founder
to be the Promised Messiah and Imam
Mahdi. Brandishing only a spiritual
torch, he shined an eternal light upon
Islam’s glorious and everlasting teach-
ings. He explained the true purposes of
mosques according to the teachings of
Islam.
And so wherever and whenever the
Ahmadiyya Muslim Community builds
a mosque, it is constructed as a house of
peace for people to gather in the worship
of God Almighty,in accordance with the
Qur’an’s noble teachings.Therefore,let it
be clear that the doors to our mosques are
open to all peaceful people who wish to
worship God Almighty and are open to
all people who desire to spread the values
of peace, goodwill and unity.
The current chaos in the Muslim world
shows that the true teachings of Islam
desperately need to be re-established.
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is
whole-heartedly taking on this task.
Those who commit horrific violence in the
name of Islam actually give license to critics
of Islam to level false allegations. Their cruel
actions have no link with Islam whatsoever.
© Oleg Zabielin | Shutterstock
The Arabic word for ‘peace’
is ‘Salam’ and this single
word has many different
meanings and connotations.
It means ‘safety’ and ‘security’
and to be saved from vice
and evil. It also means ‘peace’
and ‘obedience’. Indeed
‘Salam’ is also an Attribute
of Allah, meaning that He
is the ‘Source of Peace’ and
Muslims are instructed
to adopt His attributes.
only love and peace

right hands possess. Surely, Allah loves
not the arrogant and the boastful.”
When we read this verse and reflect upon
it, we realise just how much emphasis
Islam has placed on the rights of man-
kind, whereby Allah has correlated the
rights owed to Him directly with the
rights owed to humanity. This verse
proves that a Muslim is duty-bound to
serve all mankind, irrespective of colour,
caste or creed, starting from one’s inner
circle – comprising a person’s parents,
family and friends – to much further
afield, including the poor and needy,
orphans and other vulnerable members
of society.
As mentioned already, a Muslim is
obligated to serve his neighbours and
according to the teachings of Islam, the
scope of one’s neighbours is extremely
vast and far-reaching. They do not only
include those who live nearby, but also
include various other classes of people,
including one’s work colleagues and
travel companions. Thus, the sphere of
love in Islam is seemingly limitless and
so how could it be possible that a true
Muslim would ever seek to harm others
or be the cause of disorder in society? It
is,in fact,impossible,because only when
a person fulfils his duties and obligations
to other people can he or she be deemed
a true Muslim.
Of course, it is understandable in the
current climate that some of you,particu-
larly the local neighbours who are most
directly affected, may hold reservations
about this mosque. It is quite natural to
fear the unknown and so the neighbours
may well be concerned that the peace and
security of their hometown may be dis-
turbed now that this mosque has been
opened.However,based on the Islam that
I know and follow, let me reassure you
that this mosque will prove itself to be a
fountain of peace,from which only ever-
lasting springs of love and compassion
the fountainhead of peace and prosper-
ity, it is incumbent on Muslims to also
provide peace, security and refuge to the
rest of society. Further, a basic purpose
of a mosque is to serve as a place for
Muslims to offer their prayers, and in
Arabic the word for prayer is ‘As-Salat’,
which in essence means ‘compassion, love
and mercy’.Consequently,a Muslim who
offers his prayers with sincerity is a per-
son who is kind,caring and merciful and
he or she is a person who strives to stay
away from immorality,illegal activity and
all forms of evil. A true worshipper is
he who never wavers from the path of
righteousness and who serves his soci-
ety to the best of his ability. In short, a
true Muslim is a person who emanates
love and compassion throughout his sur-
roundings and a true mosque is a centre
of peace and security for all mankind.
Another golden principle of Islam is
that Muslims are commanded to fulfil
the rights of their neighbours and to
serve and help them at their times of
need. Indeed, the Founder of Islam, the
once said
that Allah the Almighty had instructed
him so vehemently about the rights of
neighbours that it occurred to him that
perhaps they would be included among
the rightful inheritors of a Muslim.
Furthermore, in Chapter 4, Verse 37 of
the Holy Qur’an, Allah the Almighty
has said:
“And worship Allah and associate naught
with Him, and show kindness to par-
ents, and to kindred, and orphans, and
the needy, and to the neighbour that is
a kinsman and the neighbour that is a
stranger,and the companion by your side,
and the wayfarer, and those whom your
Sharing love and helping others is one of
the main teachings of Islam, emphasised
both in the Qur’an and the Ahadith.
© Rawpixel.com | Shutterstock
Another golden principle
of Islam is that Muslims
are commanded to fulfil the
rights of their neighbours
and to serve and help them
at their times of need. Indeed,
the Founder of Islam, the
once said that Allah the
Almighty had instructed
him so vehemently about
the rights of neighbours
that it occurred to him
that perhaps they would be
included among the rightful
inheritors of a Muslim.
only love and peace

alleviate the pain of those who are suf-
fering and gives hope to those who were
previously hopeless.We seek to provide a
better future to the most vulnerable and
impoverished members of society.
As part of this effort, the Ahmadiyya
Muslim Community has built hospitals
and schools in extremely remote parts
of the world that provide healthcare and
education to some of the most deprived
people in the world, irrespective of their
beliefs or background. As part of our
humanitarian efforts,we are also engaged
in providing clean, running water to
people living in extremely desolate and
desperate condition by installing or reha-
bilitating water pumps.Living here in the
West, where our water taps and showers
are constantly flowing,it is incredibly dif-
ficult to comprehend the true value of
water. It is only when you visit the most
isolated parts of Africa and you see with
your own eyes young children walking
many kilometres each day in order to fill
water basins, which they then balance
on their heads and bring home, that you
realise just what a precious commodity
water really is. And even that water, for
which so much effort is made, is rarely
clean, but is normally contaminated and
often a source of disease.
Thus, Ahmadi Muslims are seeking to
help and comfort such people and to
alleviate their suffering based on the
teachings of our religion. We are pro-
viding these services to all those in need,
irrespective of their religions or their
beliefs or backgrounds. Wherever we
build mosques we seek to positively con-
tribute to the local society and we seek to
help those around us. Thus, let me once
again reassure the people of this city and
indeed the wider Swedish community,that
this mosque will,God Willing,prove to be
a centre of love,compassion and kinship.
I would also like to hereby remind the
Ahmadi Muslims living here of their
increased responsibilities. Where on
the one hand, their love for one another
should forever increase, they must also
will gush forth. You will, God Willing,
see that the Ahmadi Muslims living in
this area will seek to spread peace and
will seek to love, respect and serve their
neighbours more than ever before,as this
is what their religion demands of them.
These are the selfless and noble teachings
that the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community
not only preaches,but more importantly
practices, in all parts of the world. We
have built thousands of mosques globally
and we have always seen that the fears of
the local people soon eradicate when they
get to know us and they come to value,
appreciate and welcome us as an integral
part of the society. As I have said, any
initial fears quickly dissipate and instead,
our neighbours come to cherish our
presence and the message of peace that
reverberates in all directions from our
mosques. The local people come to see
that the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community
is not only engaged in missionary efforts
or building mosques, but also seeks to
Serving the community and one’s neighbours
is at the forefront of the true teachings
in Islam which is the key to creating
peaceful and well-rounded communities.
These are the selfless and noble
teachings that the Ahmadiyya
Muslim Community not
only preaches, but more
importantly practices, in all
parts of the world. We have
built thousands of mosques
globally and we have always
seen that the fears of the local
people soon eradicate when
they get to know us and they
come to value, appreciate
and welcome us as an
integral part of the society.
Thus, let me once again
reassure the people of this
city and indeed the wider
Swedish community, that this
mosque will, God Willing,
prove to be a centre of love,
compassion and kinship.

in the Arab world we are seeing rising
conflict, uncertainty and disorder here
in the West as well. Indeed, some of the
extremist Muslim groups have now also
penetrated Europe and their members
are living in these countries and posing a
grave threat to the peace and well-being
of this continent. What they are doing
has nothing to do with the true teachings
of Islam and so all of us who desire peace
must stand up and unite against these
dark forces that seek to divide mankind.
We must make every effort to engender
peace,so that we do not bequeath upon our
childrenthe‘gift’ofabrokenandtormented
world; rather,we must ensure that we leave
behindalegacyofapeacefulandprosperous
world for our future generations to live in.
The only way that this will be possible
is if mankind comes to recognise His
Creator and seeks to fulfil His rights
and the rights of one another.May Allah
grant us the ability to do so – Ameen.
With these words, I would like to once
again thank you for joining us today.
May Allah bless you all.Thank you very
much.”
each consider it their personal obligation
to be true ambassadors of the beautiful
teachings of Islam.It is the duty of every
Ahmadi Muslim to remove the fears that
people have of Islam through their good
character and noble conduct. Certainly,
I am confident the Ahmadi Muslims
here will pay heed to my words and will
show the local people what Islam truly
represents.
The world is passing through extremely
challenging times, whereby disorder,
conflict and injustice have taken root in
much of the world.The only antidote and
remedy is to set aside personal interests
in favour of the greater good. A spirit
of love and togetherness is required to
bridge the bitter divide that has torn
apart so many societies.The problems of
today are not of a small scale, but in fact
certain countries have been completely
engulfed by warfare and violence. Most
regrettably, the centre of instability and
conflict are certain Muslim countries,
where the governments have failed their
people and in reaction extremist rebels or
terrorist groups have responded in ways
that have further fractured their broken
societies.
In today’s inter-dependent and inter-
connected world, no nation or region
remains isolated and so the effects of
conflicts in the Muslim world have
already spread much further afield. As
a consequence of the wars and violence
We must all unite and stand against
the dark forces who are trying to divide
nations and destroy all forms of peace
through their hateful acts. This is the
only way we can secure the future
generations from a corrupted world.
Indeed, some of the extremist
Muslim groups have now
also penetrated Europe and
their members are living in
these countries and posing a
grave threat to the peace and
well-being of this continent.
What they are doing has
nothing to do with the true
teachings of Islam and so
all of us who desire peace
must stand up and unite
against these dark forces that
seek to divide mankind.

W
hen the Prophetsa
was over thirty years of age,love
of God and love of His worship began to possess
him more and more. Revolting against the mis-
chiefs,misdeeds and the many vices of the people of Makkah,
he chose a spot two or three miles away for his meditations.
This was on top of a hill, a sort of cave shaped out of stone.
His wife Khadijara
would prepare food enough for several days,
and with this he would repair to the cave Hira.In the cave he
would worship God day and night.When he was forty years of
age, he saw a vision. It was in this very cave. He saw someone
commanding him to recite.The Prophetsa
said in reply he did
not know what or how to recite.The figure insisted and at last
made the Prophetsa
recite the following verses:
Recite thou in the name of thy Lord Who created, created
man from a clot of blood. Recite! And thy Lord is the Most
Beneficent, Who taught man by the pen, taught man what
he knew not.1
These verses, the first ever revealed to the Prophetsa
, became
part of the Qur’an as did other verses which were revealed later.
They have tremendous meaning.They command the Prophetsa
to stand up and be ready to proclaim the name of the One God,
the One Creator— of the Prophetsa
and of all others—Who
has made man and sowed the seed of His own love and that
of fellowmen in his nature.The Prophetsa
was commanded to
proclaim the Message of this God, and was promised help,
and protection by Him in the proclamation of this Message.
The verses foretold a time when the world would be taught all
manner of knowledge through the instrumentality of the pen,
and would be taught things never heard of before.The verses
constitute an epitome of the Qur’an.Whatever the Prophetsa
was to be taught in later revelations is contained in embryo
Life of Muhammadsa
The Prophet Receives His First Revelation

in these verses.The foundation was laid in them of a great and heretofore
unknown advance in the spiritual progress of man.The meaning and expla-
nation of these verses will be found in their place in this commentary.We
refer to them here because their revelation constitutes a great occasion in
the life of the Prophetsa
. When the Prophetsa
received this revelation, he
was full of fear of the responsibility which God had decided to place on
his shoulders. Any other person in his place would have been filled with
pride—he would have felt that he had become great. The Prophetsa
was
different. He could achieve great things but could take no pride in his
achievement.After this great experience he reached home greatly agitated,
his face drawn. On Khadija’sra
enquiry, he narrated the whole experience
to her and summed up his fears, saying, “Weak man that I am, how can
I carry the responsibility which God proposes to put on my shoulders.”
Khadijara
replied at once:
“God is witness, He has not sent you this Word that you should fail and
prove unworthy, that He should then give you up. How can God do such
a thing,while you are kind and considerate to your relations,help the poor
and the forlorn and bear their burdens? You are restoring the virtues which
had disappeared from our country.You treat guests with honour and help
those who are in distress. Can you be subjected by God to any trial?”2
Having said this, Khadijara
took the Prophetsa
to her cousin, Waraqa bin
Naufal,a Christian.When he heard the account Waraqa said: “The angel
who descended on Mosesas
, I am sure, has descended on you.”3
(Life of Muhammad – p. 9-11)
endnotes
1. The Holy Qur’an, 96:2-6.
2. Sahih Bukhari.
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, Life of Muhammadsa
, 9-11.
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The life-sized replica of The Shroud of
Turin returns this year to The Review
of Religions’ exhibition. The Shroud
exhibition aims to use the replica of
the Shroud as a visual aid to tell the
story of the crucifixion of Jesusas
.
Barrie Schwortz will also be
attending the Jalsa Salana and will
be holding seminars and interactive
lectures on the significance of the
historic relic. Barrie Schwortz is
widely considered to be one of the
world’s leading experts on the Shroud
and was the Official Documenting
Photographer for the Shroud of
Turin Research Project, the team that
conducted the first in-depth scientific
examination of the Shroud in 1978.
Also, this year a replica of the Tomb
of Jesusas
will also be present at the
exhibit which will represent the
event of Jesus being taken to rest
after being put on the cross. This is
an opportunity to see the full story of
the crucifixion and speak to experts
about the scientific evidence and
research they have done over the years.
Exhibition
Jalsa Salana UK 2016
A
fter the huge success of his first
exhibition at Jalsa Salana UK
2015, Razwan Baig returns
this year with an even bigger display
of his unique Islamic art collection.
One of the highlights of this year’s
exhibition will be the official launch
of Razwan Baig’s Al-Qalam project.
We are extremely fortunate that Hazrat
Ameer-ul-Momineenaba
has graciously
approved this project where for the
first time in history, a unique and
historic manuscript will be compiled
where each verse of the Holy Quran
will be handwritten by a member of
the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.
To write a verse in this historic
manuscript, visit the Review of
Religions’ exhibition where this
project will be running on all
three days of the Jalsa Salana.
Razwan Baig is one of the largest
private collectors of ancient Islamic
manuscripts in the whole of Europe.
His Islamic art collection includes
items as diverse as textiles and
ceramics to Qur’anic manuscripts,
and has been shown in several major
art museums and international
exhibitions.During the Jalsa, Razwan
Baig will be delivering a special
presentation on the history and
significance of Islamic calligraphy.
Youtube.com/theReviewofReligions @ReviewReligions facebook.com/theReviewofReligions @ReviewReligions
#RORexhibition2016
www.reviewofreligions.org

Elements for Making Calligraphy
The Qur’an is the eternal word of Allah,
and as such, Muslims became very
focused on developing and furthering
the art of calligraphy.
Paper was introduced to the Islamic
world in the first century. Before this
time, most Qur’anic calligraphy was
found on papyrus,parchment (goat skin),
stones, or leaves.
The regard with which the art of cal-
ligraphy was held also led to scientific
developments. The eleventh century
Tunisian scientist, Ibn Badis, wrote in
his book, ‘Umdat al-Kuttab (Staff of the
Scribes),about many topics,including on
how to prepare different types of inks,
how to produce different colours of ink,
how to produce mixtures, and on the art
and science of secret writing and on how
to make paper.1
Qalam:The Reed Pen, Bamboo Roses
Stem, Kamish and Java Pens
A reed pen or “Qalam” in Arabic, is
the traditional tool used for writing
calligraphy.
Qalams can be made from a variety of
materials—while thicker pens often are
made from bamboo,thinner ones can be
fashioned out of rose stems. These can
range from 24-30 cm in length,with the
width determined by what kind of script
the pen will be used for. After this, they
are “seasoned” for up to four years.They
are then cut by placing the pen on a flat
surface called a makta, which is often
made of ivory or wood. An angled cut
is then made to reveal an oval opening
in the reed.2
Qur’anic History and
the Role of Islamic
Calligraphy
Razwan Baig, London, UK
(Calligrapher and one of the largest private collectors of ancient Islamic manuscripts in the U.K.)
A reed pen or “Qalam” in
Arabic, is the traditional
tool used for writing
calligraphy. Qalams can
be made from a variety of
materials—while thicker
pens often are made from
bamboo, thinner ones can be
fashioned out of rose stems.
The Review of Religions is pleased to present the second and final part
in a two-part article on the fascinating art and history behind Islamic
calligraphy. See the June 2016 edition for the first part.

This ink is water-soluble so that any mis-
takes can be easily removed from the
paper with a wet cloth. In olden times,
the soot used was scraped from inside
the antique mosque lamps, thus adding
an element of spiritual blessing to the
Arabic calligraphy.
One interesting hadith states:“The ink of
the scholar is more sacred than the blood
of the martyr.” Perhaps ink is referring
to the longevity of ink versus blood.The
scholar’s ink is a reference to writing,par-
ticularly recording history and significant
events, etc.Thus, writing can become an
invaluable medium for recording things
almost indefinitely.6
Traditional Lamp Black Calligraphy
Ink
This kind of ink was used by Ottoman
and Arab calligraphers for generations
and because of its simplicity and purity
of ingredients,is impervious to light,and
archival and permanent.
Lamp black ink got its name through the
way the pigment is created.When kero-
sene lamps are burned,they leave behind
a black carbon coating on the lamp.This
“black”can also be captured by holding a
ceramic plate over the flame of a kerosene
lamp and collecting the soot. Whatever
the method, this material is mixed with
gum arabic and distilled water.7
The consistency of the ink can be
improved by adding egg white and honey
drops to the gum Arabic.
In any case,the ink is made by mixing the
gum arabic powder and water together
until it forms a thick syrup. After that,
the syrup is mixed with the lamp black,
usually in a mortar and pestle of some
kind.After that,it can take up to an hour
This tongue is then split so that the open-
ing can hold the ink needed. Finally, the
tip of the tongue is cut at an oblique
angle. For very fine scripts, the nib is
cut to an angular chisel-edge and slit
mid-way to facilitate the flow of ink in
right-to-left strokes.3
The smallest end of reed or bamboo
in diameter is cut. Reeds and bamboo
grow in such a way that the base is always
wider, the top narrower. This narrower
part also tends to be harder,which makes
it better suited for calligraphy. For that
reason the narrower end is cut.4
The width of the pen and the angular
cut specifies which script will be written
with the pen. For example, Naskh and
Thuluth have a more acute angle then
Ta’liq, around 30 degrees, while Ta’liq is
nearly flat, with only a slight incline of
about 10 degrees.
Hazrat Alira
said to Ubaid ullah bin abi
Rafay: “Get the ink right in your ink-
pot and make sure that the nib of the
pen is long, that there is adequate dis-
tance between the lines,words should be
close to each other and the shapes of the
alphabets should be vibrant.”5
Hard Stone or Surface for Cutting a
Pen
A hard surface or plain stone should
be used when cutting the nib of a reed
pen. Once the angle and placement of
the cut is known, the pen is held stead-
ily against the makta. The knife is firmly
pressed into the pen until it makes one
single crack.
Ink
Ink is mostly made organically, using
vegetable, stones, tree bark, etc.
Arabic calligraphy is traditionally writ-
ten with a black ink made from dissolved
gum arabic and water that is called “soot”.
qur’anic history and the role of
islamic calligraphy
Illustration of the end of a calligraphy
pen which is pointed and has distinct
characteristics which enables elegant
writing with precision and grace.

Various qualities of paper were produced
in the Islamic world. Many of the major
cities had paper mills which produced
good paper. Papyrus or parchment (goat
skin) was initially used for copies of the
Holy Qur’an. But ideally, calligraphy
paper should have a smooth glossy sur-
face in order for the pen to glide
Ever since it was created,paper has been
treated using a variety of different ele-
ments, such as onion water, gesso, gum
arabic, and honey. Tea was sometimes
also used to colour it.Paper is made with
live organisms and requires air to pre-
serve it for longer periods.
The Persian Language and the Use of
the Latin Alphabet
Many centuries after Islam had been intro-
duced to the Persians,they began to start
using their pre-Islamic language while
still using the Arabic alphabet. Starting
from the eastern side of Persia,this trend
traveled west towards Iraq.11
Although the
area that comprises modern-day Iraq has
occasionally been ruled by Persia,that area
itself is not actually Persian.
Interestingly, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam
Ahmadas
, the Promised Messiah, in his
book Minan ur-Rahman,has argued that
the Torah supports that there was only
one original language in the world which
began to diversify at Babel in the region
of present-day Karbala, Iraq. This could
be another reason for the prevalence of
the Arabic alphabet there.
Iraq, Egypt and North Africa are still
Arab-speaking countries. Some Persian
territories used the Arabic letters to
pen their own local languages. In con-
trast, Turkey, under the direction of
President Mustafa Kamal Pasha, did
just the opposite. Instead of adopting
the Arabic alphabet, he tried to “west-
ernize” Turkish language by using the
Latin alphabet as opposed to the Arabic
alphabet to write Turkish.And as a result,
the change eroded some of the country’s
ties to Islamic civilization—including
an end of the rich calligraphic tradition
that included the Diwani and Tughra
scripts.12
to moisten all the powder.Once all of the
powder is wet, more pigment is added
until it becomes a thick and sticky paste.
This paste needs to be stirred up to thirty
more hours until it becomes completely
smooth.It is then blended with some dis-
tilled water until the consistency thins
out to that of milk, when it is able to be
used on paper.8
Inkpot
In Chapter 68, verse 2, the Holy Qur’an
states: “By the inkstand and by the pen
and by that which they write.”
A brief commentary in reference to these
verses by Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IVrh
stated that this chapter began with the
letter “Noon”, one meaning of which is
inkpot. He continued that the writer
who writes with a pen always desires
knowledge and that all enlightenment
of human knowledge started with the
kingship of the pen.If writing were elim-
inated from the development of human
knowledge, then man would regress to
the dark ages and remain ignorant.9
Preparing Paper for Calligraphy
After the Battle of Talas, which was
fought in 751 AD between the Chinese
Tang dynasty and Muslims, the
Chinese prisoners revealed the secret of
papermaking to the Muslims. From this
basic art, the Muslims developed it into
a major industry.
Paper was easier to manufacture than
parchment, less likely to crack than
papyrus and could absorb ink, making
it difficult to erase and ideal for keeping
records.
For calligraphy on paper, specialised
materials and techniques are required
to dye and coat with aged starch.This is
then varnished with several coats of ahar
(a liquid composed of egg whites mixed
with alum).The coated papers are highly
burnished, using an agate burnishing
stone and then aged for at least a year.10
islamic calligraphy
Birmingham University has found fragments
of potentially the world’s oldest Quran.
Radiocarbon analysis has dated the
parchment on which the text is written
to the period between 568 and 645 CE.

Further analysis of the coin reveals that
the Bismallah is inscribed along with
the Shahada, (the Muslim Declaration
of Faith) and Surah al-Ikhlas,(a Qur’anic
chapter)
This gold coin of Offa, king of Mercia
in England, imitates a gold dinar of
Al-Mansur, the caliph regarded as
Arabic is the Mother of All
Languages: 1895
A brief treatise on philology (the sci-
ence of the structure and development
of languages) by Hazrat Mirza Ghulam
Ahmadas
,the Founder of the Ahmadiyya
Muslim Community and the Promised
Messiah, written in May 1895, revealed
that Arabic is the first language taught
to man by Allah Himself and the mother
of all languages, or Ummul-al-Sinnah.
He highlighted certain peculiarities of
the Arabic language, which he claimed
could not be found in any other language.
For example, he described the system of
Mufradaat [the basic roots of words] in
the Arabic language had a unique scien-
tific organisation and a system unknown
in any other language. He described the
five peculiarities of Arabic and claimed
that all other languages of man were
derived from Arabic.
One unique characteristic is that even
single letters could contain rich and
extensive meanings.13
For example,‫ف‬ِ (fi)
would indicate “Be faithful”, while ‫ل‬ِ (li)
would mean “Come nearer”, and ‫ع‬ِ (‘I)
“Call to mind.”In addition,the Promised
Messiahas
explained that sometimes even
small words can have longer, richer
meanings than might first be assumed.
For example,ُ‫عرضت‬ ُ‫عرضت‬ ُ‫عرضت‬ ُ‫عرضت‬ ُُ‫عرضت‬
ُ‫عرضت‬ ُ‫عرضت‬ ُ‫عرضت‬ ُ‫عرضت‬
ُ‫طہفلت‬ ُ‫طہفلت‬ ُ‫طہفلت‬ ُ‫طہفلت‬
ُ‫ط‬‫ھ‬ُ‫فلت‬ ُ‫ط‬‫ھ‬ُ‫فلت‬ ُ‫ط‬‫ھ‬ُ‫فلت‬ ُ‫ط‬‫ھ‬ُ‫فلت‬
‫ط‬‫ھ‬ُ‫فلت‬ ‫ط‬‫ھ‬ُ‫فلت‬ ‫ط‬‫ھ‬ُ‫فلت‬ ‫ط‬‫ھ‬ُ‫فلت‬
(araztu) means: “I
have roamed about Makkah, Medina,
and all the habitations around them”,
while
ُ‫عرضت‬ ُ‫عرضت‬ ُ‫عرضت‬ ُ‫عرضت‬ ُُ‫عرضت‬
ُ‫طہفلت‬ ُ‫طہفلت‬ ُ‫طہفلت‬ ُ‫طہفلت‬
ُ‫ط‬‫ھ‬ُ‫فلت‬ ُ‫ط‬‫ھ‬ُ‫فلت‬ ُ‫ط‬‫ھ‬ُ‫فلت‬ ُ‫ط‬‫ھ‬ُ‫فلت‬
‫ط‬‫ھ‬ُ‫فلت‬ ‫ط‬‫ھ‬ُ‫فلت‬ ‫ط‬‫ھ‬ُ‫فلت‬ ‫ط‬‫ھ‬ُ‫فلت‬
(Tahfaltu) means:“I eat and
have determined always to eat millet
bread.”
Quoting from the Torah, Genesis 11:1,
he writes: “And the whole earth was
one lip and speeches identical.” Hazrat
Shaikh Muhammad Ahmad Mazharra
,a
renowned philologist,further researched
the connection between other languages
and Arabic and traced the words of 60
languages as derivatives of Arabic.
Coins of King Offa of Mercia
The United Kingdom has a long asso-
ciation with Islamic art and Qur’anic
calligraphy.Among the most mysterious
discoveries of Anglo-Saxon archaeology
is the golden coinage of King Offa of
Mercia.
islamic calligraphy
This gold coin of Offa, king of Mercia
in England, imitates a gold dinar of
Al-Mansur, the caliph regarded as the
founder of the Abbasid Caliphate (reigned
654 – 775 AD). Further analysis of the coin
reveals the ‘Bismallah’ inscribed along
with “The Shahada,” and Surat Al-Ikhlas.
The first full
translation of
the Qur’an into
English was done
by George Sale
in 1736, a lawyer
and languages
enthusiast from
Kent. (Commonly
Called the Alcoran
of Mohammed)
The Oldest Qur’an Found in Birmingham, UK
‘Verily, We Ourselves have sent down this
Exhortation [the Qur’an], and most surely We
will be its Guardian.’ (The Holy Qur’an; 15:10)
“Birmingham University has found fragments
of potentially the world’s oldest Qur’an, which
was completed at the very latest 20 years
after the death of the Prophet Muhammadsa
.
The ancient fragments of the nearly 1400
year old Qur’an was very likely transcribed
by one of the Prophet’s companions.
The ancient Quran is part of the Mingana
Collection which is a collection of Arabian
manuscripts collected in the 1920s.
This collection was funded by Edward
Cadbury, of the Birmingham based
Cadbury chocolate empire. A Chaldean
Priest Alphonse Mingana was responsible
for collecting these manuscripts.
Oxford University’s carbon dating places
the date of transcription was 568 – 645
C.E. The latest of those dates means it was
finished only 13 years after the Prophet
Muhammad’ssa
death. This raises the
possibility that this could have been written
by one of the Prophet’s companions.”
Source: Muslim World Journal -
‘Oldest Quran found in Birmingham.’

One can conclude that beautiful
writing enhances a unique spiritual
dimension and helps the expression
of profound concepts in any art form.
About the Author: Razwan Baig is a scholar,
collector, philanthropist and Islamic art critic and
researcher. His Islamic art collection includes items
as diverse as textiles and ceramics to Qur’anic
manuscripts,and has been shown in several major
art museums and international exhibitions. His
interest in Islamic calligraphy began at age 12
and has run workshops and presented on the art of
calligraphy since 1994. He completed his BA (Hons)
History of Art & Archaeology of Islamic world,
School of Oriental and African Studies, University
of London. He also has obtained extensive training
in Arabic calligraphy in different styles from
Birkbeck College, University of Sunderland as
well as from some of the foremost calligraphers
from Turkey, Baghdad and Pakistan. He will be
exhibiting a portion of his collection this summer
at The Review of Religions exhibition at the 50th
annual convention of the Ahmadiyya Muslim
Community on August 12-14, 2016. As one of
the largest private collectors of Islamic manuscripts
in the U.K., he is also currently showing portions
of his collection at the Art of Islam festival at
Buckinghamshire County Museum through the end
of September 2016.
endnotes
1. http://alfutuhat.com/islamiccivilization/
Chemistry/Alternative.html. Accessed June
2016.
2. http://education.asianart.org/explore-
resources/background-information/
islamic-calligraphy-materials-and-tools.
Accessed June 2016.
3. Ibid.
4. https://josh-berer.squarespace.com/s/
Cutting-the-Pen-yy2b.pdf. Accessed June 2016
5. . Allama Ala wud Din Ali Bin Husam un
Deen, (p486 and ref no.29564)
6. . https://answers.yahoo.com/question/
index?qid=20090811080408AAqHjgJ
and http://www.islamicity.org/6580/
the-pleasures-of-seeking-knowledge/
7. https://joshberer.wordpress.com/2010/04/28/
lamp-black-calligraphy-ink/. Accessed June
2016.
8. Ibid.
9. . Hazrat Mirza Tahir Ahmadrh
, A Brief
Commentary of the Holy Qur’an, Surah Al Qalam
10. http://www.nuriaart.com/mat.asp?id=2.
Accessed July 2016.
the founder of the Abbasid Caliphate
(reigned 654 – 775 AD).
Sir Winston Churchill’s book, A History
of the English-Speaking Peoples mentions
this coin and considers it to be amongst
the first coins of Britain.
The coinage, struck in Kent, was issued
in perfect Arabic Kufic script. It bore
Qur’anic verses referring to the funda-
mentals of the Islamic faith along with
the name of King Offa of Mercia.
Conclusion
Islamic calligraphy is a sacred art that
has largely been defined and shaped by
religion.
The Arabic language and writing was
uniquely suited to preserve Arab ethnic
heritage beyond its borders and in fact
promulgated it far beyond Arabia itself.14
Calligraphy’s role was as a way to pre-
serve sacred language recording profound
truths.The need to record and hand down
to succeeding generations every syllable
of the Qur’an with exactitude made it
impossible to rely on anything so fallible
as human memory alone. Martin Lings
writes, “These people were in love with
the beauty of their language and with
the beauty of the human voice. There
was absolutely no common measure
between these two summits on the one
hand and the ungainliness of the only
available script on the other.”15
In a way,
he continues, it was as if they thought:
“Since we have no choice but to write
down the Revelation, then let that writ-
ten record be as powerful an experience
for the eye as the memorised record is
for the ear when the verses are spoken or
chanted.”16
Thus,calligraphic art became
the most noble of the arts,because it gave
visible form to the revealed word of the
Holy Qur’an.
Martin Lings said once that “The cal-
ligraphy is the geometry of the spirit.”17
His Holiness, Hazrat Mirza
Masroor Ahmadaba
, worldwide
Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim
Community (centre), at The
Review of Religions Exhibtion
at the Annual Convention
of the Ahmadiyya Muslim
Community UK 2015. Razwan
Baig (left) had his unique
private collection on display
and here shows old copies of
the Quran and other ancient
artefacts to His Holiness.

11. http://alavimehr.com/articles/history-of-
calligraphy/. Accessed July 2016.
12. Ibid.
13. . Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas
, Manan
ur Rahman, pp.10-11: http://www.alislam.org/
library/books
14. Vincent J. Cornell, Voices of Islam
(Westport, CT: Praeger Publishers, 2007), 20.
15. Martin Lings,“The Art of Qur’an
Calligraphy,”in Voices of Islam, ed. Vincent
J. Cornell (Westport, CT: Praeger Publishers,
2007), 33.
16. Ibid.
17. http://www.spiritilluminated.org/SacredArt.
htm
islamic calligraphy
Your feedback is
important to us
Write to us with comments,
feedback and suggestions at
info@ReviewofReligions.org
In recent times vested interests have
launched a ‘crusade’ against Islam.
Islam is labelled as a religion of terror,
backwardness and suppression.
Based on Quranic teachings, the author of
this book goes about disproving these notions
and professes that Islam provides practical
solutions to current issues; and argues that:
(1) Swords can win territories but not hearts,
forces can bend heads but not minds; (2) The role
of women is not of concubines in harems nor a
society imprisoned in the four wall of their houses;
(3) Richer nations provide aid with strings attached
and yet the flow of wealth continues to be in the
direction of the rich while the poorer sink deeper
in the red; (4) Religion does not need to be the
predominant legislative authority in the political
affairs of the state; (5) Irrespective of the thawing
of the cold war, the issue of war and peace does not
only hang by the thread of superpower relationship.
(6) Without God there can be no peace.
It also contains comprehensive discussion
on interest; financial aid; international
relations; and the role of Israel, America and
the United Kingdom in a new world order.
The message of this book is timeless and chalks
a blue print for the future prospects for peace.
Read online: http://www.alislam.org/books/
Purchase print copy: http://store.alislam.org/englishbooks.html
56 The Review of Religions | july 2016

Eid-ul-Fitr is a festival celebrated by
millions of Muslims around the world at
the end of the holy month of Ramadan.
Fasting is obligatory upon all healthy
Muslims who are not travelling or sub-
ject to certain other conditions.The word
Eid-ul-Fitr is comprised of two separate
words: Eid and Fitr.The word Eid means
something which returns over and over.
Hence, Eid refers to the kind of happi-
ness which comes again and again. This
word is only used in one instance in the
Holy Qur’an,in reference to the disciples
of the Prophet Jesusas
.The Holy Qur’an
mentions in Surah Al-Ma’idah, Chapter
5, verse 115:
“Said Jesus, son of Mary, ‘O Allah, our
Lord, send down to us a table from
heaven spread with food that it may be
to us a festival [Eid],to the first of us and
to the last of us, and a Sign from Thee;
and provide sustenance for us, for Thou
art the Best of sustainers.’”
The word Fitr means to break or open
the fast. Hence, Eid-ul-Fitr is the
oft-returning festival of the breaking of
the fast.
Practices of the Holy Prophet
Muhammadsa
on Eid-ul-Fitr
The first Eid-ul-Fitr was celebrated by
the Holy Prophetsa
in the second year
of Hijra (the migration from Makkah
to Madinah). It was in this year that
fasting during the month of Ramadan
was divinely ordained to Muslims.
Incidentally, the Battle of Badr was also
fought during the month of Ramadan
in that same year. It is mentioned in the
books of Ahadith that the Holy Prophetsa
was still weak from the fatigue of the bat-
tle, and that he had to be supported on
the shoulders of Hazrat Bilalra
whilst
delivering the Sermon.1
The Philosophy of
Eid-ul-Fitr
Talha Ali, Philippines
Eid-ul-Fitr is celebrated by Muslims
across the globe and it is a time of joy,
reflection, sacrifice and contemplation.
© Allies Interactive | Shutterstock
The word Eid-ul-Fitr is
comprised of two separate
words: Eid and Fitr.The
word Eid means something
which returns over and
over. Hence, Eid refers to
the kind of happiness which
comes again and again.

Allah Almighty on the day of Eid in
an extra special manner. In one of the
sermons, the Holy Prophetsa
empha-
sised that one should stay away from
any innovations in Islam. He also men-
tioned in one of his Eid Sermons that
“Al-Sa’at, i.e., the Day of Resurrection, and
I are together like these two fingers of mine.”
Hazrat Jabirra
narrates that when the
Prophetsa
of Allah mentioned the Day
of Resurrection,his face became red and
his voice became loud and awe-inspiring
and it was as if the Holy Prophetsa
was
warning them of a huge army about to
attack.6
In the very first Eid Sermon, the Holy
Prophet Muhammadsa
guided people to
always tread the path of righteousness
and to obey the Prophet of Allahsa
in all
matters. Afterwards, the Holy Prophetsa
went to the ladies’area and advised them
to give Sadaqah (charity) in order to pre-
vent becoming the fuel of hellfire. Upon
hearing this, one of the ladies stood up
and asked: “O Prophetsa
of Allah, why
have you singled out women?” The Holy
Prophetsa
replied, “It is because you com-
plain too much, and you are ungrateful to
your husbands.” Upon the admonishments
of the Holy Prophetsa
,the women imme-
diately took off their jewellery and gave
it for charity there and then.7
Traditionally,the Holy Prophetsa
used to
offer the Eid prayers in a spacious, open
place rather than the mosque. After
offering the two Raka’ats (units of Salat)
of the Eid prayer first,he would then turn
around and deliver the Eid Sermon while
the congregation remained seated.2
The
Holy Prophetsa
would also walk to where
the Eid prayers were being held rather
than using some other mode of trans-
port and would use a different route on
his return.3
It was also the practice of the Holy
Prophet Muhammadsa
that he would
eat something sweet (usually dates, and
always an odd number) before going for
the Eid prayers. This was the opposite
of his practice for Eid-ul-Adha, where
he fasted before prayer and only opened
the fast with the meat of the sacrificial
animal.4
The Holy Prophet Muhammadsa
directed
that all women, whether young, old or
not offering prayers, should still attend
the Eid prayers.After delivering the Eid
Sermon, the Holy Prophetsa
would visit
the ladies’ area and would offer them
advice and guidance.5
The sermons of the Holy Prophetsa
,
which have been recorded in the
books of Ahadith, tell us that Prophet
Muhammadsa
used to praise and glorify
The first ever Eid was the year after the
migration from Makkah to Madinah.
© Pambudi Yoga Perdana | Shutterstock
The sermons of the Holy
Prophetsa
, which have been
recorded in the books of
Ahadith, tell us that Prophet
Muhammadsa
used to praise
and glorify Allah Almighty
on the day of Eid in an
extra special manner. In
one of the sermons, the Holy
Prophetsa
emphasised that
one should stay away from
any innovations in Islam.
The Holy Prophetsa
generally led the Eid
prayers in an open space, and then would
deliver the sermon to the congregation.
© Samet Guler | Shutterstock

and so she watched the entertainment
standing behind the Holy Prophetsa
,with
her head resting on the shoulders of the
Prophetsa
. The Holy Prophetsa
stood in
this manner and asked for the circus to
continue until Hazrat ‘A’ishah’sra
curios-
ity was satisfied and she herself became
tired.10
also used to
celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr in the same way
as mentioned in the Ahadith. Once
the Promised Messiahas
had sweet rice
cooked especially for all of his com-
panions gathered for the day of Eid.
Similarly, during the time of Hazrat
Khalifatul Masih IIra
, children used to
sing poems and sports were played to
reflect the happy mood of Eid.11
Eid as a Continuation of the Message
of Ramadan
Eid-ul-Fitr is celebrated at the end of
the blessed month of Ramadan and in
essence,it is the celebration of the favour
of Allah Almighty that He allowed his
followers another opportunity to spend
the month of Ramadan occupied in His
worship. The philosophy of Eid-ul-Fitr
is not to celebrate the end of fasting,
but rather to continue on one’s spiritual
journey. There are two main messages
enshrined in the month of Ramadan,
namely, worship of Allah, and the reali-
sation of the pains and sorrows of other
human beings.Eid-ul-Fitr is the contin-
uation of both these messages.It is a day
of celebration where in addition to the
five obligatory (daily) prayers,the believ-
ers also gather for a sixth congregational
prayer to remember Allah Almighty and
be thankful for His blessings.
Similarly, the month of Ramadan is a
reminder that there are many in this
world who have to suffer the pangs of
thirst and hunger on a regular basis.This
realisation is supposed to make a believer
empathise and sympathise with the less
fortunate, and should make a believer
spend more of his money on charity in
The people of Madinah used to gather
and have celebrations and festivities for
two days of the year.The Holy Prophetsa
told them that Allah had in fact given
them two even better days of festivals,
i.e., Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Adha.8
The
allowed and
encouraged Eid-ul-Fitr to be a day of the
remembrance of Allah Almighty,as well
as a day of general happiness and festivi-
ties. Hazrat ‘A’ishahra
narrates that once
on the day of Eid, the Holy Prophetsa
came into the house and two girls were
singing songs and playing a simple
instrument. The Holy Prophetsa
came
and lay down on the bed and did not say
anything. Hazrat Abu Bakrra
then came
into the house and became angry, and
asked the girls to stop singing.The Holy
Prophetsa
stopped Hazrat Abu Bakrra
and
asked the girls to continue singing.9
On another occasion,arrangements were
made on the day of Eid for some visit-
ing Africans to present a circus-like show
with spears and swords in the courtyard
of the mosque of the Prophetsa
.The Holy
Prophetsa
inquired of Hazrat ‘A’ishahra
if
she would also like to see the festivities
also celebrated
Eid with specially prepared sweet rice,
the recitation of poems and sports.
© szefei | Shutterstock
Ramadan is a time to reflect and understand
how the poor and hungry feel so we can be
more sympathetic and care for their needs.
© Tressie Davis | Shutterstock
There are two main messages
enshrined in the month of
Ramadan, namely, worship
of Allah, and the realisation
of the pains and sorrows of
other human beings. Eid-
ul-Fitr is the continuation
of both these messages. It is
a day of celebration where
in addition to the five
obligatory (daily) prayers,
the believers also gather
for a sixth congregational
prayer to remember Allah
Almighty and be thankful
for His blessings.
the philosophy of
eid-ul-fitr

learned from these sacrifices.That is why
Allah has prescribed an extra prayer on
the day of Eid, to teach the believer that
although his period of great sacrifice
may have ended and fasting is no longer
required,nevertheless he should not for-
get the spiritual lessons learnt.
The specific verse in the Holy Qur’an
which mentions the word Eid, quoted
at the beginning of this article, is also a
reminder of this fact.The early Christians
went through a period of great sacrifice
and persecution but as a result they were
promised and given great worldly boun-
ties. Allah clearly mentions in that verse
that during this time of happiness and
festivities, or Eid, one should not forget
these sacrifices; otherwise it will result
in the most grievous punishment from
Allah the Almighty. Hence, Eid-ul-Fitr
is a reminder that Allah has blessed us
with great happiness as a result of the
sacrifices made during the month of
Ramadan but if we forget the lessons of
these sacrifices then our Eid will not be
an Eid of true happiness, as a grievous
punishment from Allah awaits us.
Eid as the Day of Freedom from
Bondage
The month of Ramadan is a special bless-
ing from Allah which enables us to break
free from the slavery of various bad hab-
its,if it is observed properly.A person can
break free from various addictions during
this blessed month such as laziness and
lethargy, excess eating, cursing, backbit-
ing and lying,etc.If a person understands
the true message of Ramadan,the world
can also break free from economic slavery
and the bondage of poverty and hunger.
Hence, a person who goes through the
month of Ramadan faithfully,while ana-
lysing one’s self, as the Holy Prophetsa
did, will surely be freed from various
chains and shackles. In this sense, the
day of Eid is indeed a day of great cel-
ebration and happiness as it is the day of
true freedom and independence for man.
True freedom from sinful existence
requires true repentance. The Promised
Messiahas
says regarding this:
“All the people should remember that Allah
the Almighty has fixed such days in Islam
which are considered days of happiness and
He has put great blessings in those days.
Among them is the day of Friday which is
a very blessed day. Then there are the two
Eids in Islam which are considered days of
great happiness and Allah has put amazing
blessings in them. But one should remember
that although these days are days of hap-
piness and blessing in their own right but
order to benefit those who are lacking.
Eid is a continuation of this message as
well,and a reminder that the philosophy
of the month of Ramadan needs to be
adopted throughout the rest of the year
as well. That is why the Holy Prophetsa
prescribed a special charity upon every
Muslim known as Fitrana (obligatory
alms for the poor and needy to be given
on or before Eid-ul-Fitr) to be collected
before the Eid Prayers and to be distrib-
uted to the needy so that they may also
enjoy celebrating the festival of Eid.
Eid as a Reminder of Sacrifice
As mentioned earlier, the word Eid is
used in the Holy Qur’an on only one
occasion, in reference to the disciples
of Jesusas
. So, there is no direct mention
of an Islamic “Eid” in the Holy Qur’an.
However, a closer study of the Holy
Qur’an reveals that Allah mentions not
a day but eras of happiness in reference
to the Muslims after mentioning the
importance of sacrifice.The Holy Qur’an
states in Chapter 9, verse 111:
“Surely, Allah has purchased of the believers
their persons and their property in return for
the Garden they shall have.”
Similarly, the last verses of Chapter 61
of the Holy Qur’an clearly explain that
those who sacrifice in the way of Allah
shall have a great reward from Him and
shall see great happiness.
Sacrifices are of two types: individual
sacrifice and communal sacrifice. Eid-
ul-Fitr is a celebration and reminder of
personal sacrifice, whereas Eid-ul-Adha
signifies communal sacrifice. Every
Muslim makes great sacrifices during
the month of Ramadan by abstaining
from that which is permissible, such as
food and drink,and offering extra prayers
throughout the night. Even those who
are legitimately unable to fast make
sacrifices by offering extra prayers dur-
ing this blessed month. Eid-ul-Fitr is a
reminder that after every sacrifice there is
a time of happiness and celebration, but
a believer should not forget the lessons
Sacrifices are of two types:
individual sacrifice and
communal sacrifice. Eid-
ul-Fitr is a celebration and
reminder of personal sacrifice,
whereas Eid-ul-Adha
signifies communal sacrifice.
the philosophy of
eid-ul-fitr

meeting one’s beloved permanently and
being one with Him forever.Many of us
find the joy of meeting with our beloved
Lord during the month of Ramadan but
this relationship does not last beyond
the month. Eid is a reminder that the
true happiness of meeting one’s beloved
is making Him one’s forever and never
letting go.
Eid as the Era of the Promised
Messiahas
The advent of the Promised Messiahas
can also be likened to Eid as it is a
source of happiness for Muslims.It is an
era which was prophesied by the Holy
Qur’an, in which Islam was to become
victorious over all other religions.It is an
era in which according to the prophe-
cies of the Holy Prophet Muhammadsa
,
Islam was to regain its lost glory through
prayers and developing a true relation-
ship with Allah the Almighty.This point
is also illustrated in one of the revelations
of the Promised Messiahas
in which he
says: “Felicitation on the coming of the Eid
[Festival]. It is Eid [Festival], celebrate it
or not.”14
Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IIra
elucidates
concerning this revelation that,“It points
to the appearance of the Promised Messiahas
.
The appearance of the Prophets is an Eid
[festival]. That is, by their appearance, the
days of the manifestation of God’s grace
descend upon the earth and the seed of pro-
gress is sown. The seed grows slowly into
such a big tree that the whole world ben-
efits from its fruits and shade. But many
people fail to recognise that Eid and turn
themselves aside…It does not mean that it
does not make any difference whether you
celebrate or not. But it is like the expression:
‘He is truthful; whether you agree or not.’
Meaning that the blessing has been made
available; it is up to the people to benefit
from it or not.”15
Hence, the time of the Promised
Messiahas
is an era of Eid, and every
Eid-ul-Fitr is a reminder that we must
fulfil our duties to fully benefit from this
celebration of Eid as well.
May Allah the Almighty enable us to
understand the true philosophy and
spirit of Eid-ul-Fitr and may our Eid
be an Eid of true happiness; one where
we meet those whom we love and then
continue the spiritual progress we have
made throughout Ramadan.
there is another day which is a day of much
more happiness and greater blessings. But
unfortunately it is seen that people do not
look forward to that day nor do they search
for that day. In reality if people were aware
of the blessings and goodness of that day then
they would have considered the day a great
reward. Which day is that which is better
and more blessed then the day of Jumma
and the Eidain [two Eids]? I tell you that
it is the day of a man’s repentance which is
greater than all days and all Eids. Because
that day his bad record of sins which was
bringing him closer to the hellfire and bring-
ing him under the wrath of God is wiped
clean and all his sins are forgiven. Which
day can be greater and happier for a person
then the day which saves him from eternal
hellfire and the wrath of God? The sinner
who repents was previously far away from
God’s grace and close to his wrath but now
he is brought close to God’s grace and mercy
and removed from the punishment of fire.”12
Eid as the Day to Meet our Beloved
The day of Eid has a special connection
with the meeting of loved ones. It is a
day when we not only go to the houses
of our relatives, but we embrace even
those who we may not know person-
ally, after the Eid Sermon. The poetry
of many languages, especially Urdu, is
full of beautiful allegories about the day
of Eid and the meeting of the beloved.
The true spiritual philosophy of Eid is
also the philosophy of the meeting of
the beloved as illustrated by the beauti-
ful Hadith of the Holy Prophetsa
.
Prophet Muhammadsa
stated that Allah
says, “All the deeds of Adam’sas
sons are for
them, except fasting which is for Me, and
I am the reward for it.”13
Hence, the real
Eid is for those who were able to develop
a relationship with their beloved Allah
during the month of Ramadan. Eid is
also a reminder that some meetings,some
relationships,are temporary,and though
we find happiness from these tempo-
rary acquaintances, the real happiness is
Prophet Muhammadsa
stated
that Allah says,“All the deeds
of Adam’sas sons are for them,
except fasting which is for
Me, and I am the reward
for it.”13
Hence, the real Eid
is for those who were able to
develop a relationship with
their beloved Allah during
the month of Ramadan.
the philosophy of
eid-ul-fitr

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