The Review of Religions January 2018

Untold Stories
12
Sound Bites: Holocaust
Memorial Day
16
Unveiling the Mysteries
of the Past
22
Essence of Islam:The
Need for Prophets
52
VOL. 113 - ISSUE ONEJANUARY 2018 WWW.REVIEWOFRELIGIONS.ORG
UNVEILING
THE MYSTERIES
O F T H E PA S T

The Holy Prophet
Muhammadsa
prophesied
that the Promised Messiahas
would be raised near a
white minaret, east of
Damascus. This prophecy
was fulfilled with the advent
of the Promised Messiahas
from Qadian, India, a city
directly east of Damascus.
The Promised Messiahas
& imam mahdi
©makhzan-e-tasaweer
founder of
the review of religions
Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas
, the Promised Messiah
and Mahdi was born to a noble family in Qadian, India.
From an early age he had a keen interest in religion and
developed a love for the Holy Prophet Muhammadsa
. He
was also known for his honesty, friendliness and resolve.
Over time his knowledge and understanding of religion
and its application to society deepened. Being a Muslim
it was his firm belief that all religions were true at their
source but with the passage of time had drifted away
from their original teachings; he upheld the dignity of
religion and demonstrated its relevance to everyone.
His earnest defence of religion was ultimately blessed
when he started to receive direct revelation from Allah
– a blessing that he continued for the rest of his life.
His mission was to revitalise the truth that all religions
held within them and to revive the teachings of Islam. It
was through this that he would bring mankind together
and establish everlasting peace.
In 1889, under Divine Guidance, Hazrat Ahmadas
founded the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community – a
community that has since grown in its stature and
strength and has remained active in conveying the
message of Islam to the ends of the earth.
Hazrat Ahmadas
had established himself as a respected
writer and had written over 80 books. His writings
have been translated into more than 60 languages and
continue to inspire readers to this day. One of his greatest
scholarly works was The Philosophy of the Teachings of
Islam, prepared as a paper and read out at the Conference
of Great Religions in 1896.
He also wrote a fascinating treatise in 1899 entitled Jesus
in India, a book that uncovered remarkable evidence
of Jesus’sas
journey to India. In 1902, the Promised
Messiahas
initiated The Review of Religions which has
covered a vast array of topics on religion, philosophy
and contemporary issues of the day. It is the longest
running English magazine in defence of Islam and the
values it teaches.
From 1889 until the time of his demise in 1908 tens
of thousands of people accepted him. This blessing
has continued and will continue through his Khulafa
(successors).
Currently under the fifth successor, we are seeing that the
tide of acceptance is worldwide and that the message of
Prophet Ahmadas
has really reached the ends of the earth.
WORLD FAITHS
Suppressing Anger
And vie with one another in asking
for forgiveness from your Lord,
and for a Paradise whose price
is in the heavens and the earth,
prepared for the God-fearing—
Those who spend in prosperity and
adversity, and those who suppress
anger and pardon men; and
Allah loves those who do good.
ISLAM, THE HOLY QUR’AN,
3:134-135
Hazrat Abu Hurairahra
narrates
that the Holy Prophetsa
said: 'A
strong person is not one who
is good in combat, but a strong
person is one who controls
themselves at times of anger.'
ISLAM, SAHIH BUKHARI,
BOOK 1, HADITH 45
Remember wisdom and anger
are the antithesis of one another.
When one becomes enraged
it is not possible for one to see
reason. Whoever is patient and
displays steadfastness, are granted
a light, which illuminates their
senses.This light in turn creates
more light. Since anger and rage
darken the heart and the mind,
darkness begets further darkness!
ISLAM, THE PROMISED
MESSIAHAS
My dear brothers and sisters, take
note of this: Everyone should be
quick to listen, slow to speak and
slow to become angry, because
human anger does not produce the
righteousness that God desires.
CHRISTIANITY, THE BIBLE,
JAMES, 1:19-20
Anger deprives a sage of his
wisdom, a prophet of his vision.
JUDAISM, TALMUD, PESAHIM
66B
Conquer anger by love.
BUDDHISM, DHAMMAPADA
223
Anger dissolves affection...
Therefore a man should
subvert anger by forgiveness.
SIKHISM, GURU GRANTH
SAHIB, ANG 96

12 Untold Stories
16 Sound Bites: Holocaust
Memorial Day
Celebrated in the UK since 2001,
this day is held to remember
those who lost their lives in
one of the worst genocide crimes
committed in human history.
AYESHA MAHMOOD MALIK, UK
22 Unveiling the Mysteries
of the Past
A three-part special feature exploring
a unique exhibition in the midst of a
tented village in Hampshire, UK.
24 Islamic Calligraphy:The Art of
Devotion Pictorial
30 The Shroud of Turin
42 The Holy Qur'an
38 A Glimpse into the Life of the
Holy Prophet Muhammadsa
52 The Need for Prophets
Hundreds of thousands of men
have walked on the earth who
claimed to have been sent
by God for a divine mission.
Whether one accepts this as true
or mere fables of the past,
the fact of the matter is that
millions of people ascribe their
own identity with these holy
personages, often dedicating their
lives for furthering their cause.
HAZRAT MIRZA GHULAM AHMADAS
, THE
PROMISED MESSIAH AND IMAM MAHDI
62 Calendar of Religious Events
Front cover picture:
Lamp - From the Collection of Razwan Baig
Shroud of Turin - WikiMedia Commons
CONTENTS
JANUARY 2018 VOL.113 - ISSUE ONE
30
2430
16
52

MANAGEMENT BOARD
Munir-Ud-Din Shams (Chairman), Syed Amer Safir (Secretary), Mubarak Ahmad Zafar, Abdul Baqi Arshad,
Ataul Mujeeb Rashed, Naseer Ahmad Qamar, Abid Waheed Ahmad Khan, Aziz Ahmad Bilal
WORLD
CRISIS
M I R Z A M A S R O O R A H M A D
PEACE
andthePathwaytoThe world is passing through very turbulent times.The
global economic crisis continues to manifest newer and
graver dangers almost every week. The similarities to
the period just before the Second World War continue
to be cited and it seems clear that events are moving
the world at an unprecedented pace towards a horrific
Third World War.
In this book, His Holiness Mirza Masroor Ahmad,
the Head of the worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim
Community warns the world of the fast approaching
dangers and how it can avert disaster and chart a
course to peace.
WORLD
CRISIS
PEACE
andthePathwayto
9 781848 808584
ISBN 184880858-5
9 781848 808577
ISBN 184880857-7
WORLDCRISISandthePathwaytoPEACEMIRZAMASROORAHMAD
Please Note.
Background colour:
C=10
M=10
Y=0
K=100
From His Holiness – Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmadaba
– comes a groundbreaking vision for how to estab-
lish long-lasting peace in a world fraught with rapidly
increasing disorder and unrest. His Holiness reminds
world leaders that the flames of war are already burn-
ing through local and regional conflicts and we stand
at the precipice of another world war. If these sparks
were to truly ignite we could witness the horrific
reality of a nuclear war, whose consequences are
unimaginable. His Holiness is the Worldwide Head
and Caliph of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community
– which has tens of millions of followers in over
200 countries.
World Crisis and the Pathway to Peace is a collection
of the historic addresses and letters by His Holiness to
world leaders and influential figures. In this book, His
Holiness offers consummate analysis on all aspects
of the global crisis; political, economic, social and
spiritual and provides the golden keys to resolving
the critical problems the world faces. In a world where
existing strategies for peace have failed and peo-
ple are desperately looking for a new direction, His
Holiness presents fresh and practical solutions, giving
hope that we can still prevent a global catastrophe.
(continued on back flap)
s,
d
y,
n
e
-
t
e
r
c
-
e
m
f
-
f
n
s
s
o
.,
e
s
d
a
f
e
y
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r-
ll
s
d
r-
The world is passing through turbulent times.The global economic crisis
continues to manifest new and grave dangers at every juncture.The
similarities of the current circumstances to the build-up of the Second
WorldWar are stark. Events appear to be moving us rapidly towards a
ThirdWorldWar.The consequences of a nuclear war are beyond
our imagination.
In this book, the historic addresses of Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmadaba
, Fifth
Khalifah of the Promised Messiahas
and Supreme Head of the worldwide
Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, to prominent dignitaries at Capitol Hill, the
House of Commons, the European Parliament and other notable locations
around the world have been collated.The book also includes the momentous
letters sent by His Holiness to the numerous world leaders. Over and over
again, His Holiness has reminded all that the only means of averting a global
catastrophe is for nations to establish justice as an absolute requirement of
their dealings with others. Even if mutual enmity exists, impartiality must
be observed at all times, because history has taught us that this alone is
the way to eliminate all traces of hatred and to build everlasting peace.
Read online at: www.alislam.org
Purchase the book here:
http://store.alislam.org/
CHIEF EDITOR & MANAGER
Syed Amer Safir
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Nakasha Ahmad
ASSISTANT MANAGER
Tazeen Ahmad
NORTH & SOUTH AMERICAN COORDINATOR
Tariq Haroon Malik
ISLAM & CONTEMPORARY ISSUES
Editor: Shahzad Ahmed
Deputy: Zafir Malik
RELIGION & SCIENCE
Editor: Dr. Syed Muhammad Tahir Nasser
Deputy: Dr.Tauseef Khan
LAW & HUMAN RIGHTS
Editor: 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
RACE & EQUALITY
Editor: Hassan Wahab
BOOK REVIEWS
Editor: Dr. Sarah Waseem
WEB TEAM
Mubashra Ahmad, Hibba Turrauf
SPECIAL COLLECTIONS
Head: Razwan Baig
EDITORIAL BOARD
Sayed Mubashir Ahmad Ayaz, Mansoor Saqi, Bockarie
Tommy Kallon, Professor Amtul Razzaq Carmichael, Mansoor
Zia, Jonathan Butterworth,Tamim Abodaqa, Murtaza
Ahmad, Qudsi Rasheed, Fiona O’Keeffe, Waqar Ahmedi
ART & DESIGN
Art Editor: Ahsan Khan
Deputy Art Editor & YouTube Coordinator: Zubair Hayat
Design & YouTube Assistants: Musawer Din, Usman Shahzad Butt
INTERNATIONAL SUBSCRIPTION & DISTRIBUTION
Muhammad Hanif
ACCOUNTS & MARKETING
Musa Sattar
SUB-EDITORS
Munawara Ghauri (Head), Maryam Malik, Nusrat Haq,
PROOFREADERS
Farhana Dar (Head), Hina Ahmedi, Amina Abbasi, Aisha Patel Mzien
HOUSE STYLE GUIDE
Maleeha Ahmad (Head), Sadia Shah
EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS
Mariam Rahman, Mahida Javed, Munazza Khan
SOCIAL MEDIA
Mala Khan (Head), Hajra Ahmad (Deputy), Mishall Rehman (Deputy),
Nudrat Ahmad, Shumaila Ahmad, Saniya Ahmad, Adeeba Tahir
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
LEGAL ADVISOR
Khalil Yousuf

The
Promised Messiahas
& imam mahdi
( g u i d e d o n e )
founder of
A
t this time, I specifically instruct my Jama‘at
[Community], which accepts me as the Promised
Messiah, that they should always stay away from
these foul habits. God has sent me as the Promised Messiah
and has clothed me with the garment of the Messiah, son
of Mary. I therefore admonish you: Refrain from evil and be
truly compassionate towards mankind. Cleanse your hearts
of malice and spite, for you will become like angels through
this habit. It is a filthy and unholy religion that is devoid of
sympathy for humanity, and polluted is the path riddled with
the thorns of a rancour based on selfish desires. O those who
are with me, do not become like such people. Think about
what it is we seek to attain through religion. Is it to constantly
oppress others? No, religion exists so that we may obtain the
life that lies in God. Such a life has not been, and will never
be, attained unless Divine attributes come to abide in you. Be
compassionate towards all for the sake of God so that you may
be shown mercy in the heavens.
Come, and I will teach you a way that will cause your light
to prevail over all other lights. Abandon all lowly spite and
jealousy,be compassionate for mankind,and lose yourselves in
God.Being with God,achieve the highest levels of purification.
The Washing of the Soul

This is the path on which miracles are bestowed, prayers are
accepted,and angels descend to one’s aid.But it is not a single
day’s work. Advance and continue advancing. Learn from the
example of the washerman, who washes clothes in boiling hot
water until the heat causes all dirt and filth to separate from
them.Then,rising in the morning,he soaks the clothes in water,
and beats the clothes on stone sills. The dirt that had settled
in the clothes is thus slowly removed. This process of heating
clothes and beating them continues until they are as clean as
they were when new.This is the only strategy for cleansing the
human soul. Your entire salvation depends on this cleanliness
alone.1
endnotes
1. Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas
, The British Government and Jihad,
(Tilford, Surrey: Islam International Publications, 2006), 16-17.
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

Germany, Russia and Syria and
over the past decade, China. One
of the largest mosques in Latin
America is also located in Buenos
Aires, which is known as ‘Grande
Mezquita’ (meaning ‘big mosque’).
Many of the 40 million Argentines are
not only unaware of the advent of the
Promised Messiahas
(as foretold by the
Holy Prophet of Islamsa
and fulfilled in
the person of Hazrat Mirza Ghulam
Ahmad of Qadian, India, the founder
of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community,
1835-1908), but have also a very
limited and superficial knowledge of
Islam. Argentina is fertile ground
for Ahmadiyyat to propagate the
message of the Holy Prophetsa
and I
have the blessed opportunity to be a
key part of this historic journey. I am
blessed and very fortunate to be the
only and direct servant of Promised
Messiahas
in this country, where
I am witnessing the Divine help
Pioneering the message
in Buenos Aires
By the Grace of God Almighty,
I recently graduated from Jamia
Ahmadiyya UK [the Ahmadiyya
Muslim Community’s training
seminary for missionaries] in June 2016
and my first permanent appointment as
an Imam is in Argentina. It is definitely
a huge privilege to be the direct
representative of the Fifth Worldwide
Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim
Community, Hazrat Mirza Masroor
Ahmadaba
, in the eighth largest country
of the world. However, it is also a
very huge responsibility and many
challenges come with this privilege.
Argentina is a Spanish-speaking
country, so the first challenge is to
learn the language. Another challenge
is to make new contacts and form
friendships from scratch because
there is only one Argentinian new
Ahmadi and he lives 6 hours away
from the capital, Buenos Aires, in
Santa Fe. I am fortunate that I have
met another Pakistani Ahmadi here
in Buenos Aires, so at least we can
sometimes offer the Friday prayer
in congregation. Argentina is a
predominantly Catholic country; it
also has the largest Jewish community
in the whole of Latin America.
Argentina is famous for its
multicultural society and migrant
communities from different
countries, especially Spain, Italy,
I knew—in a city with a
population of just under 3
million people—it could not
just be a coincidence that I had
met a journalist randomly on
the street, who was interested
in writing about Islam and
our mission in Ahmadiyyat.
Marwan Gill presenting ABC
Mundial journalist, Pablo Pla, with
a 'Muslims for Peace' t-shirt.
and more entrenched in his mind and
heart.Then,shortly before coming to our
mosque in the historic district of Mérida,
he came across us (the Ahmadiyya
Muslim Community) on the internet and
decided to come and attend the meeting.
He told me that he had been reading our
material. He showed immense interest
in the concept of God we presented and
the universal message of Islam,especially
our belief that God Who provides light,
heat and so many more physical resources
for all of mankind, could not have left
the rest of humanity without spiritual
guidance. He could not have chosen a
single people to be the beneficiaries of
His revelation and guidance. Because of
this gentleman’s detailed and profound
interest and because he was so desirous
to have a copy of the Holy Qur’an, we
gave him one as well as a copy of The
Philosophy of the Teachings of Islam in
Spanish. He first came to one of our
meetings on 27th
November 2014, and
thereafter became a regular participant
in many of our activities.After many in-
depth discussions,this man,now a friend,
signed the Bai’at (Oath of Allegiance) on
the 24th
of December. Since that day, he
has been both a devoted and inspiring
member of the Ahmadiyya Community.
Alhamdolillah (All praise belongs to
Allah).
Waseem A. Sayed, Ph
Representative and Spok
the Ahmadiyya Muslim
Mérida, Mexico. Head o
USA
Imam Noman Rana and
Sayed have been statione
the message of Islam, Ah
A Literal Shower of D
A faith-inspiring story,
ciously answers the hum
of His servants,comes f
California.
I used to be an Atheist
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Ever
Merciful
This is a brief account of how the world
was completely transformed for a friend
of mine here in Mérida, Mexico, when
he embraced the message of Islam-
Ahmadiyyat. From November 2014, at
the outset of our Community activities
in Mérida,we have focussed almost eve-
rything on our ‘Coffee, Cake and Islam’
classes. This was a weekly class where
Imam Rana and I invited people to
attend as well as share coffee and cake
while having the opportunity to ask any
questions regarding Islam. One gentle-
man simply walked into one of our early
classes and,after listening to a presenta-
tion,began talking about his experiences
in depth. He began telling me that he
had never really believed in God and
would often get involved in arguments
with his teachers and others on the topic.
He explained that as he began to argue
his case and reflect on it,slowly but surely,
something strange started to happen.
He became convinced of the existence
of God. At first this was a gradual pro-
cess, but the conviction became more
[UNTOLD]
STORIES
He showed immen
in the concept of G
presented and the
message of Islam,
our belief that Go
provides light, hea
many more physic
for all of mankind
have left the rest o
without spiritual
12 THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS | JANUARY 2018 JANUARY 2018 | THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS 13

had sent him to help with the
propagation of Islam. I knew—in a
city with a population of just under
3 million people—it could not just
be a coincidence that I had met a
journalist randomly on the street,
who was interested in writing about
Islam and our mission in Ahmadiyyat.
Especially given the fact that since
I had arrived in Buenos Aires I had
tried constantly to contact different
journalists without success.
Yet now a journalist was approaching
me! The journalist has now become a
close friend. Not only do we regularly
meet once a week so that he can learn
more about Islam, but he has also made
me the official ‘Islamic correspondent’
of his magazine. Consequently by the
Grace of Allah, I have now had the
opportunity to regularly write articles
about Islam in his magazine and the
first article has just been published.
...........................................
Do you have an untold
story to tell us?
Email us at info@reviewofreligions.org
manifested to spread the message of
Ahmadiyyat on a daily basis. I am sure
this is because of being the recipient
of Divine blessings and favours. It
is not due to any of my personal
qualities but only because I am the
servant of Khalifatul Masih [Supreme
Head of The Ahmadiyya Muslim
Community].Thus, I shall relate one
such incident from the countless
Divine blessings and the fulfilment
of the Divine promise revealed to
the founder of the Community
stating, ‘I shall cause thy message
to reach the corners of the earth.’
With the permission of Huzur-
e-Anwar [His Holiness], I have
joined a local football club. Usually
after training I walk home alone.
However one day after training one
of my colleagues unexpectedly asked
me if we could walk home together
because he had a few questions
about my role as an Imam.
During the whole journey back
home, I introduced Islam and the
Ahmadiyya Community to him. By
the time we had reached my house, he
still continued to show great interest
and kept asking further questions.
Whilst we were discussing the topic of
religion, suddenly a man from behind
approached us and said, ‘Disculpa
(Excuse me) for interrupting, but I
was also listening to your interesting
conversation. I am a journalist and I
would like to interview you and maybe
work together with you because I have
never met an Islamic theologian.’
The very moment he introduced
himself I knew this was not a
coincidence; rather, God Almighty
Marwan Gill presenting a copy of the Holy
Qur'an to Gustavo Bobrik, Deputy Head
of the Argentinian Embassy in the UK.
untold stories
YOUR FEEDBACK IS
IMPORTANT TO US
Write to us with comments,
feedback and suggestions at
info@Reviewof Religions.org

SOUND
BITES
Vladyslav Starozhylov | Shutterstock
Holocaust
Memorial
Day
27.01.2018 Dear Readers,
With this edition of The Review of Religions,we are delighted to announce the launch
of our new sub-section that will form part of the Law and Human Rights Section,
Sound Bites, featuring short thought pieces on topical issues pertaining to global
human rights.These will include short pieces on important developments in the field
of international human rights and humanitarian law,breaking news and noteworthy
international human rights days or related subjects pertinent to the discourses on
such issues in the national conversation.
This new sub-section will contextualise important human rights developments from
a socio-legal and religious perspective, with the aim of providing accessible and
comprehensible content for the wider demographics that represent our readership.
If you have any thoughts, questions or suggestions regarding this new sub-section,
these will be gratefully received–please send your comments directly to
info@reviewofreligions.org.
We hope to bring you interesting and thought-provoking material from the world
of human rights throughout the year!
Yours faithfully,
Ayesha Mahmood Malik
Section Editor
Law & Human Rights Section

Each year, the international community cel-
ebrates Holocaust Memorial Day in memory
of the six million Jews ruthlessly massacred
under the Nazi regime during World War II.
The UK has celebrated Holocaust Memorial
Day on January 27 each year since 2001.
While the horrors of the Holocaust remain
unparalleled, the day also honours victims
and sufferers of genocides subsequent to
the Holocaust, including those in Rwanda,
Darfur and Srebrenica. While the signifi-
cance of memorialising the victims of these
genocides is without question, it is equally
vital to ask how,if at all,these heinous crimes
against humanity could have been prevented.
An important question that scholars have
asked within the discourses surrounding the
prevention of genocide is that of the role lan-
guage has played as a catalyst to genocide.
The historical evidence appears to support
the case that language may act as a precursor
for the commission of genocide.Prior to the
holocaust, for example, Adolph Hitler rou-
tinely used the phrase 'filthy Jews' to refer to
the Jewish people. Similarly, condemnatory
terms like 'inyenzi' (a slang epithet meaning
cockroaches) used to describe the Tutsis in
Rwanda before the 1994 genocide appears
to be causally linked the genocide itself.The
import of language in shaping the sensibili-
ties around this abhorrent crime is without
question and is also evinced by the fact that
denying the Holocaust has been made ille-
gal in 16 European countries, including
Germany.
Friedrich Nietzsche, recognising the power
of language, once wrote: 'Governments that
seek absolute power over the groups they
control use language as a principal sup-
port…' In democratic societies, those in
power maintain a duty of care towards the
public,which amongst other things,includes
using language fairly and prodigiously,choos-
ing words that unite and bridge communities
rather than incite hatred and division.In the
same vein, the use of vile language by far-
right nationalist movements across Europe
is deeply concerning. Political rhetoric like
that of Martin Strid,member of the Swedish
far-right party forced to resign last month
after referring to Muslims as not being 'fully
human', is the antithesis of the principles
of human dignity and civic virtue where-
upon secular ideals have been constructed.
We must be cautioned against the growing
tide of hateful rhetoric lest semantics spur
genocide of vulnerable groups within society.
Within this context, the Qur'an provides a
fitting reminder, stating in Chapter 4, verse
149,'Allah likes not the uttering of unseemly
speech in public,except on the part of one who
is being wronged.'
sound bites: holocaust memorial day
Millionstock | Shutterstock
Aztec Images | Shutterstock
Concentration camps serve as a somber
reminder of one of the greatest crimes
against humanity, the Holocaust, in
which six million Jews lost their lives.
18 THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS | JANUARY 2018

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

UNVEILING
the
MYSTERIES
of the
PAST

EXHIBIT
From the collection of Razwan Baig
Seljuk Ceramics, 12-13th
Century AD
Among the most important innovations
of the Seljuk Turks (1040-1194) were
ceramic fritwares. Stronger than clay, but
remarkably malleable, fritware, or stone-
paste, produced a variety of shapes. It also
offered a strongly contrasting background
for calligraphic inscriptions, such as the rare
Kufic script which can be seen on this piece.

A superb antique Islamic
Cairoware box engraved
with Arabic inscriptions
from the early 20th
century.
150-year-old brass bowl from Turkey. It is known as a
‘Healing Bowl’. These bowls were used in the Islamic world
for the treatment of all kinds of illness. The water placed in
such bowls was believed to take on curative aspects after
having come into contact with the various talismanic and
Quranic symbols and verses etched onto such bowls.
Discovering how Islamic calligraphy has formed an integral aspect of Islamic culture for the past
1400 years.
In Islam, various forms of expression have been used to inspire believers towards
devotion to God.The exhibition held at the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community’s 51st
annual convention provided a glimpse into the world of Islamic calligraphy, showcasing
a stunning variety of calligraphic forms over the last 1400 years and from a broad
geographic expanse.
The items on display were from the incredible collection of Razwan Baig, one of the
foremost collectors of Islamic art in the UK. Razwan Baig has been generously loaning his
unique and rare artefacts since the start of the The Review of Religions’ exhibition in 2015.
The Review of Religions extends its gratitude to Razwan Baig for his generosity in bringing
his personal collection to display and also his tireless efforts, from the initial planning
phase when he carefully selects the items, to helping curate the whole exhibition.
17th
century silver metal pot from
Afghanistan. It has the 99 attributes
of God Almighty inscribed on the pot.
Seljuk Ceramics, 12-13th
Century AD
Among the most important innovations
of the Seljuk Turks (1040-1194) were
ceramic fritwares. Stronger than clay, but
remarkably malleable, fritware, or stone-
paste, produced a variety of shapes. It also
offered a strongly contrasting background
for calligraphic inscriptions, such as the rare
Kufic script which can be seen on this piece.

Calligraphy on tiles
represents one of the
most vivid forms of
Islamic decorative art.
Geometric patterns and
brightly coloured tiles
were used throughout
the Islamic world. These
tiles on display show the
variation and distinctive
patterns and colours used
by Islamic calligraphers.
Traveller Qur’an
A traveller Qur’an which would have
typically accompanied pilgrims on Hajj
(pilgrimage). Individuals would have used
a magnifying glass to read its content.
Calligraphy is not unique to Islam or the Arabic language, but Islamic calligraphy has
been expanded and developed to unrivalled sophistication and usage. It has developed far
beyond pen and ink, incorporated into architectural elements and objects made of wood,
ceramic, metal, textiles, glass, precious stone and more.
As Islam spread, cultures adapted and furthered this unique art form. A small glimpse of
this was reflected through a variety of artefacts on display.
15th
century pot from
the Safavid Empire
with Arabic inscription
etched in Kufic script.
13th
century Syrian ink pot
from the Mamluk period.
The Rt Hon Earl Howe,
Deputy Leader of the House
of Lords and Minister of
State for Defence, was
given an exclusive tour of
the Holy Qur'an exhibit
by Razwan Baig.

On a rainy weekend in July,thousands of
Muslims gathered in Hampshire, dodg-
ing mud slicks and donning wellies across
a 200-acre farmland temporarily trans-
formed into a tent village, all headed to
a three-day annual convention organised
by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.
But in the midst of this tented village,in
a small round dome straddling the sepa-
rate areas for men and women,a subset of
the Muslims attending the larger event
are captivated by Barrie Schwortz’s pres-
entation on the Shroud of Turin, as he
describes the image like a negative.
So why is Schwortz, who is Jewish, dis-
cussing a Christian relic at a Muslim
conference?
Welcome to the Shroud of Turin
Conference—an annual conference put
on by The Review of Religions to bring
together scholars from around the world
to talk about the Shroud of Turin: an
extensively researched relic in the his-
tory of Christianity.The Shroud is a most
debated strip of cloth which appears to
bear an image of Jesusas
,one of the most
well-known religious figures in history.
Over the centuries, this piece of linen,
bearing the faint imprint of a man, has
been the subject of intense speculation.
The Review of Religions' International
Shroud of Turin Conference attracts
leading experts from around the
world to present their research.
AMA UK Gallery
Unveiling The
Mysteries of the Past
The Review of Religions
So why is Schwortz, who is
Jewish, discussing a Christian
relic at a Muslim conference?
THE TURIN SHROUD
NAKASHA AHMAD, NEW JERSEY, USA
JANUARY 2018 | THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS 31

fire marks, from a fire that broke out in
France in 1532; water stains,surmised to
be from the water used to put out that
fire; blood stains; and the imprint of a
human figure that was wrapped in the
cloth.
For centuries, there was little progress
on the scientific side of Shroud research.
But the advent of photography made the
Shroud famous worldwide, and opened
new avenues of research. In 1898, the
first public exhibition of the Shroud
also led to the first photographs of the
Shroud,with the photographer,Secondo
Pia, mentioning how much the Shroud
image resembled a negative of a photo-
graph. While a negative image reverses
the features of the person, a negative of
the Shroud image results in, as it were,
a positive image, showing us the man as
he stood before us. Indeed, Pia said that
when he saw the picture it was as though
he ‘was looking into the face of the Lord.’
This development was only the begin-
ning: the next century would see progress
on many fronts in Shroud research, cul-
minating in a five-day research mission
in 1978, inspired by the fact that a tool
called the VP–8 image analyser was
able to process a unique 3-dimensional
image on it.Why was this significant? As
photographer Barrie Schwortz explained
during his talk, the VP–8 image ana-
lyser is used to examine the light and
dark areas in an image, and, using this
information, can create a proportionate
three-dimensional image. But photo-
graphs of humans, when processed by
the VP–8 analyser, don’t carry enough
information for the machine to create
a natural relief of the human form. But
images of the Shroud,when put through
the VP–8 analyser, did create a natural
relief of the human form, indicating
that the Shroud was not a photographic
image (as some theories have suggested).
Held concurrently with the larger con-
vention of the Ahmadiyya Muslim
Community, the 2017 Shroud of Turin
conference organised by The Review
of Religions was a more intimate affair,
bringing together scholars,long-standing
members of the Shroud community,and
interested members of the Ahmadiyya
Muslim Community to discuss all aspects
of the Shroud. With a lineup including
historian Mark Guscin, photographer
Barrie Schwortz,filmmaker David Rolfe,
and scholar Bruno Barberis, the Shroud
conference covered various aspects of
the Shroud of Turin, a cloth that is now
revered by millions of people because it
is believed to have been the burial cloth
that Jesus of Nazarethas
was wrapped
in after his crucifixion. By that token,
the Shroud of Turin is believed to be a
sacred and blessed relic not only by mil-
lions of Christians, but also by Muslims
who hold Jesusas
in deep regard as a noble
Prophet of God.
But what evidence is there for the the-
ory that the Shroud is in fact the cloth
that Jesusas
was wrapped in after his
crucifixion? The experts presented vari-
ous theories and findings. As former
President of the Scientific Committee of
the International Centre of Sindonology
of Turin and former Director of The
Shroud of Turin Museum, the attend-
ance of Bruno Barberis was an important
landmark for the short history of the
Shroud of Turin conference.Barberis,as
one of the officials responsible for pre-
serving the Shroud,has direct access to it
and so provided an insight into the his-
tory of the Shroud. In his talk, Barberis
explained that the Gospels mention that
Jesusas
was wrapped in a cloth of some
kind before being arranged in the tomb.
The Shroud, measuring 4.4 metres long
and about 1.1 metres wide, is linen and
has four different kinds of marks on it:
Barrie Schwortz 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.
In his presentation, Bruno Barberis,
former President of the Scientific
Committee of the International Centre
of Sindonology of Turin and former
Director of the Shroud of Turin Museum,
recounted the history of The Shroud.
unveiling the mysteries of the past

Given this intriguing development, a
research team was put together to go
to Turin and examine the Shroud thor-
oughly. In 1978, photographer Barrie
Schwortz had just wrapped up a contract
working as a photography consultant at
Los Alamos labs.Several weeks later,the
same contractor contacted him,asking if
he’d be interested in the Shroud project.
There began a lifelong fascination and
passion for Schwortz.As one of the doc-
umenting photographers, Schwortz was
responsible for photographing the entire
process of the research mission—a five-
day research marathon that is the most
thorough analysis of the Shroud to date.
But how do you begin to analyse a cloth
that could be 2000 years old? Very care-
fully. Over 17 months of planning went
into the trip, and they scheduled their
five-day trip down to the minute. The
detail involved: inside one of the over 80
equipment crates that the team brought
with them was a special table to lay the
Shroud on, so that it could be held in
place with non-invasive magnets; a spe-
cially designed camera rail so that they
could photograph the Shroud in sections,
keeping the distance exactly the same so
that they could perfectly match up the
photographs later to get a complete pic-
ture; and two rolls of gold foil mylar, the
material used on satellites, which came
in handy after they found out that the
steel on the special table had corroded
and that they would need to lay some-
thing else on the table before putting the
Shroud on it.
Yet another example of the planning
involved: the magnets used to hold the
Shroud in place on the table were coated
in Teflon, so that no magnetic particle
would touch the Shroud.The head of the
chemistry team went to the company 3M
(makers of the Post-its and sticky notes
you might use on your billboard at home)
to make a special tape that would not
leave residue on the Shroud.
So what were the conclusions of the trip?
While the researchers weren’t able to
discover what had caused the image,
they were able to rule out what hadn’t:
the image was not a photograph, not a
painting,not a conventionally-produced
image. What exactly has caused the
image, though, is still a mystery.
While many have heard of the Shroud
of Turin, not as many have heard of the
Sudarium of Oviedo. Yet, this smaller
head cloth has a deep link with the
Turin Shroud. The Shroud of Turin
Conference in 2017 marked the first
year the Sudarium of Oviedo was fea-
tured.Historian Mark Guscin,an expert
linguist and world-renowned researcher
on the Sudarium,attended in person and
addressed the conference on the second
day.Guscin related in his session that the
Sudarium, or head-cloth, was housed in
the Cathedral of Oviedo,in Spain,which
has a special room that houses various
relics, many of them not authentic, but
which also held the Sudarium—a seem-
ingly nondescript cloth that ostensibly
has no connection to the Shroud of
Turin.
Indeed, the cloth was considered so
insignificant that there was no serious
research on it until the 1980s. But once
it was analysed, the Sudarium—a low-
quality piece of fabric typically carried
in Roman times to wipe one’s face of
sweat and grime—was found to have
been folded and creased many times,but
more significantly, to have blood stains
and blood mixed with pleural edema
fluid—that is, the fluid that collects in
the lung during asphyxiation, suggest-
ing that the person whose blood was on
the cloth died of asphyxiation. The top
stains on the Sudarium correspond with
The renowned scholars of the Shroud
of Turin were blessed with a private
audience with His Holiness Hazrat Mirza
Masroor Ahmadaba
, Supreme Head of The
Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, during
the annual convention in 2017.
Makhzan-e-Tasaweer

the lips. Indeed, Guscin says that, ‘the
hair was so matted with blood that it
was actually almost solid, and this cloth
was pinned onto that.’ Indeed, when
researchers tried to recreate the stains
with a model head and the same fluid,
they found that the only way that the
initial stains could have been made was
if the head were in an upright position
with the arms stretched out, head lean-
ing to the right, for about 45 minutes to
an hour.While this isn’t incontrovertible
proof that the body linked to this cloth
was crucified, it is certainly compatible
with crucifixion.
So the person whose blood is on the
Sudarium may have been crucified.
But there is more evidence that the
Sudarium is connected to the Shroud.
For one thing, the blood group of the
blood on the Shroud and the blood on
the Sudarium are the same. Moreover,
the life-blood (blood shed while the
victim was alive) and the blood shed
post-mortem are both the same on each
cloth. In addition, some blood stains on
the left side of the cloth, which corre-
spond to the nape of the neck,match up
on both the Shroud and the Sudarium,
leading to the intriguing conclusion that
the two cloths, having journeyed to dif-
ferent places,come from the same origin.
After four highly informative sessions
in which speakers presented on differ-
ent aspects of the Shroud,interacted with
knowledgeable guests from the Shroud
community,and answered questions from
the guests,the conference culminated in
a lively question-and-answer session,
largely with an audience of the women
of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.
The question-and-answer panel con-
sisted of Barrie Schwortz, Pam Moon
(who brought a life-size replica of the
Shroud), David Rolfe, Bruno Barberis
and Hugh Farey (former editor of the
newsletter for the British Society of
the Turin Shroud). A honourable and
learned scholar of Christianity from the
Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, who
had travelled from Rabwah, Pakistan,
Mir Mahmood Nasir Ahmed, also
attended the Q&A.Mir Mahmood Nasir
Ahmed has led the team of researchers
working on experiments to try and re-
create the image of the Shroud upon a
cloth through coating a living body with
a special ointment, known as the ‘mar-
ham-i-Isa’ or ‘Ointment of Jesus’, and
bringing this body in contact with the
cloth.This ointment was highlighted by
,founder
of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community,
in his treatise, Jesus in India in 1899,
and described as the ointment applied
to the wounds of Jesusas
, following the
Crucifixion. Mir Mahmood presented
a copy of his research and samples of
the ointment to all the esteemed speak-
ers and the Q&A kicked off with the
first question from Mir Mahmood, ask-
ing why the Shroud community had not
pursued a similar line of enquiry to his,
given some documented success of re-
creating an image using mixtures of aloe
and myrrh on linen.
One feature that brought the Q&A
Moreover, the life-blood
(blood shed while the victim
was alive) and the blood
shed post-mortem are both
the same on each cloth.

session alive, was that it took place
directly in front of Pam Moon’s won-
derful exhibition boards, covering the
Shroud and aspects of it. The cen-
trepiece of Pam’s exhibition is a full
life-size replica of the Shroud. Pam has
tirelessly brought this exhibition down
from her home in the Midlands each
year, and once more brought along her
team of Shroud experts to help explain
the details of the cloth to the visitors of
the exhibition.
One of the most interesting aspects of
the conference was the surprise felt by
many of the speakers that attendees
of a Muslim convention would be so
interested in a Christian relic. In par-
ticular it was noted by the speakers how
the women of the Ahmadiyya Muslim
Community were very interested and
asked many questions; they expressed
that even on their visits in Turin they
have never faced such a bold audience
willing to openly ask questions and per-
sist until they recieved the answers. Yet
the Shroud of Turin, with its fascinat-
ing history, religious significance, and
unsolved mystery,has united people from
all walks of life during the international
conference.
................................................................
About the Author: Nakasha Ahmad was
previously an Adjunct Lecturer at Eastern
Michigan University and a Graduate Assistant
at Bowling Green State University. She cur-
rently serves as the Associate Editor of The
Review of Religions.
......................................................................
Above; Mir Mahmood Ahmed Nasir is
presenting his research to David Rolfe,
who won a BAFTA for his Turin Shroud
film and is also the Editor of the British
Society of the Turin Shroud newsletter.
Deep in the heart of the Arab
Peninsula, amidst the desert
and the valleys of Pharan,
stands a modest bricked
structure. This monument is
undisputedly the single most
sacred, revered and Holy
Shrine of Islam; the compass
point for which the Muslim
world aligns itself on a daily
basis in prostration to God.
Its name is the Ka’bah, literally
translating from Arabic as ‘the cube’,
but is synonymously referred to as
Baytul Haram or ‘the Sacred House’. It
was established for the benefit of the
whole of mankind, to act as a centre
for the unification of humanity.
Does its inception lie with the
earliest human populations – viz-a-
viz Adamas
and his Community – or
were Abrahamas
and his son Ishmaelas
the individuals responsible for its
initial erection? And what purpose
does the Ka’bah actually serve?
38 THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS | JANUARY 2018

A Glimpse into the Life of
the Holy Prophet Muhammadsa
Treatment of Slaves
He constantly exhorted those who owned
slaves to treat them kindly and well. He
had laid down that if the owner of a slave
beat his slave or abused him, the only
reparation that he could make was to set
the slave free (Muslim, Kitabul Iman).He
devised means for, and encouraged, the
freeing of slaves on every pretext.He said:
‘If a person owning a slave sets him free,
God will in recompense save every part
of his body corresponding to every part of
the slave's body from the torment of Hell.’
Again, he laid down that a slave should
be asked to perform only such tasks
as he could easily accomplish and that
when he was set to do a task, his master
should help him in performing it so that
the slave should experience no feeling of
humiliation or degradation (Muslim).
If a master went on a journey
accompanied by a slave, it was his duty
to share his mount with the slave either
by both riding together or each riding in
turn. Abu Hurairara
, who used to spend
the whole of his time after becoming a
Muslim in the company of the Prophetsa
and who had repeatedly heard the
Prophet'ssa
injunctions regarding the
treatment of slaves, has said: ‘I call God
to witness in Whose hands is my life that
were it not for the opportunities that I get
of joining in holy war and of performing
the Pilgrimage and were it not that I have
opportunities of serving my old mother,
I would have desired to die a slave, for
the Holy Prophetsa
constantly insisted
upon slaves being well and kindly treated.’
(Muslim).
Ma‘rur bin Suwaidra
relates: ‘I saw Abu
Dharr Ghaffarira
(a companion of the
Holy Prophetsa
) wearing clothes exactly
similar to those worn by his slave. I
inquired of him the reason of this and
he said,“During the lifetime of the Holy
Prophetsa
I once taunted a man with his
mother having been a slave. Upon this
the Holy Prophetsa
rebuked me and said,
‘You still seem to entertain pre-Islamic
notions. What are slaves? They are your
brethren and the source of your power.
God in His wisdom confers temporary
authority upon you over them. He who
has such authority over his brother
should feed him with the kind of food he
himself eats,clothe him with the kind of
clothes he himself wears and should not
set him a task beyond his strength and
should himself help him in whatever he
is asked to do.’”On another occasion the
Prophetsa
said: "When your servant cooks
food for you and sets it out before you,
you should ask him to sit down with you
to eat or at least to partake of a portion of
it in your company,for he has established
a right in it by working on it.”’(Muslim).
endnotes
1. Hazrat Mirza Bashir-ud-din Mahmud
Ahmadra
, Life of Muḥammad (Tilford, Surrey,
U.K.: Islam International Publications Limited,
2013), 226-227.

The Review of Religions' exhibitions have
centred on calligraphy and the Qur’an,
showcasing rare and world-class pieces of
Islamic art from around the world,span-
ning over one thousand years of history.
Complementing the exhibition, a semi-
nar series invited scholars and experts on
Islamic art and history to delve into the
latest research in academia.
While many Ahmadi Muslims lined up
to attend the Shroud Conference (see
page 31 for more),others attended a trio
of intriguing talks by renowned collec-
tor Razwan Baig and scholars Okasha
el Daly, a leading expert in Egyptology
and Medieval Arabic and an honorary
lecturer at UCL Institute of Archaeology
and Hany Rashwan, Ph.D. in Cultural,
Literary and Postcolonial Studies. The
I
slam means peace and submission
to the will of God. In Islam, various
forms of expression have been used
to inspire believers towards devotion to
God. Individuals with harmonious and
strong voices are selected to recite the call
to prayer, drawing worshipers towards
the mosque five times a day. Similarly,
architectural elements and geometric
patterns have been used throughout the
Islamic world to beautify mosques and
monuments related to holy sites.
Islamic calligraphy flourished in the same
light.Its importance was amplified in the
early centuries of Islam by one funda-
mental cause,the written transmission of
the Holy Qur'an. During the life of the
Holy Prophet Muhammadsa
,the Qur’an
was transmitted orally. It was not until
after the Holy Prophetsa
that the impor-
tance of calligraphy grew, in order to
match the exponential growth of Islam
in distant lands.
The Review of Religions' exhibition at the
Ahmadiyya Muslim Community’s 51st
annual convention provided a glimpse
into the world of Islamic calligraphy,
showcasing a stunning variety of calli-
graphic forms over the last 1400 years,
from the private collection of Razwan
Baig (see page 24 for more information).
Numerous civilisations, cultures and
individuals have added to and expanded
upon Islamic calligraphy,making it argu-
ably the most diverse and extensive form
of calligraphy in the world. Even today,
Islamic calligraphy continues to inspire
and serve as a form of devotion.
Numerous civilisations,
cultures and individuals
have added to and expanded
upon Islamic calligraphy,
making it arguably the most
diverse and extensive form
of calligraphy in the world.
Dr Hany Rashwan, who has a Ph.D. in
Cultural, Literary and Postcolonial
studies spoke at The Review of
Religions seminar about the relationship
between Arabic and ancient Egyptian
(Afro-Asiatic) in his presentation.
Unveiling The
Mysteries of the Past
THE HOLY QUR'AN
NAKASHA AHMAD, NEW JERSEY, USA
SHAHZAD AHMAD, ZAFIR MALIK, NOORUDDEEN JAHANGHEER

the Qur’an, through western concepts
of rhetoric. As a result, the Qur’an has
been heavily criticised for employing
techniques which, in the Greco-Roman
conventions of rhetoric, would be
considered poor use of expression or lan-
guage. However, Dr Rashwan criticised
this approach for its reliance on western
techniques at critiquing a non-western
text. Arabic, Dr Rashwan pointed out,
derives from a separate linguistic branch
and must be understood in its con-
text. Rashwan’s talk explored the idea
that Western scholars, having elevated
Greco-Roman notions of rhetoric as
more sophisticated than other language
systems,have done Arabic—and its other
cousins in the Semitic and Afro-Asiatic
language family—a grave disservice by
judging it by those Greco-Roman stand-
ards, instead of trying to understand it
through its own grammatical structures.
Take, for example, the concept of bala-
gha, which is derived directly from the
Qur’an where repetition of words is
used to convey greater emphasis and a
deeper meaning. In western languages,
repetition of words is not considered
to be eloquent speech. Instead, English
writers are encouraged not to repeat
themselves and to use synonyms and
vary their word patterns in order to not
have unnecessary repetition. Yet in the
balagha system of repetition is actually
used as a tool to provide emphasis and
clarity and to enhance expression, and is
also considered to have a musical quality,
one that cannot be reproduced in western
talks explored intriguing developments
in Islamic scholarship.
Collector Razwan Baig is well-known
for his Islamic art collection, encom-
passing hundreds of significant ancient
artefacts and copies of the Qur’an from
various eras, showcasing the evolution
and development of Islamic calligraphy.
His talks focused on Islam’s artistic herit-
age: 'I believe that art can build bridges
between our cultural islands…Being an
avid collector of Islamic art, I felt it was
my humble duty to showcase the artis-
tic side of Islam through my humble
knowledge and collections.' He explained
the varying styles or scripts of calligraphy
developed within Islamic calligraphic
culture, each unique and highly sophis-
ticated. Baig also mentioned that in the
modern digital age, Islamic calligraphy
has taken on new dimensions.Typefaces
and fonts have drawn from calligraphic
styles,inspiring individuals such as Steve
Jobs—the founder of Apple—to create
many of the font-types used today.Baig,
indeed,has taken his extensive collection
to many museums, such as the British
Museum, and has partnered with The
Review of Religions as well to make sure
that a wider audience becomes aware of
Islam’s rich artistic heritage. Indeed, his
founding of the Al-Qalam Project (see
our December 2017 issue) was another
way to promote the art of Islamic
calligraphy.
While Baig focused on the use of cal-
ligraphy to beautify the text of a Qur’an,
Hany Rashwan discussed the rhetoric of
that text.Rhetoric,in this context,refers
to effective or persuasive writing,and the
manner in which text or speech is com-
posed. Dr Rashwan’s insights provided
an important context to the current study
of the Qur’an and its understanding in
a western context. Western scholarship
has attempted to understand Arabic,and
Dr Okasha El Daly is a leading
expert in Egyptology and Medieval
Arabic and an honorary lecturer at
UCL Institute of Archaeology.
While Islam may have a rich
artistic and linguistic legacy,
what is its attitude towards
the intellectual and cultural
treasures of other cultures?
Razwan Baig, one of the foremost
collectors of Islamic art in the UK, gave
an in-depth presentation on the impact
of Islamic calligraphy around the world.

Egyptian language, you open the doors
to a vast knowledge. This is because for
Muslims, ancient Egypt was the land of
science and magic.' Indeed, while there
is a misconception that Egyptology and
the study of hieroglyphics is a relatively
recent development in scholarship, the
evidence suggests otherwise. El Daly
cited the example of Champollion,
widely considered to be the father of
Egyptology.Yet Champollion studied the
manuscripts of medieval Muslim scholars
and even learned Arabic in order to learn
from them.
Regrettably, in today’s world, Islam is
known more for destroying the cul-
tural richness of non-Muslim societies,
rather than for preserving and enhancing
culture due to the ill actions of a small
minority of so-called Muslims. Yet, if
one looks deeply into the language of
the Qur’an and the scholarly heritage of
ancient scholars,one will find that in fact,
Islam has a rich history of both enhanc-
ing and appreciating the cultural legacy
of non-Muslim societies.
languages.So western scholars would do
well to really understand the nuances and
structures of non-western languages to
analyse them in the light of their own
systems. Dr Rashwan explained the dif-
ferent types of Arabic balagha and how
it is not possible to fully understand the
language using the rhetoric of other lan-
guages. He further elaborates that even
changes in the vowels have a profound
effect in the meaning. Similarly changes
in the order may alter the meaning com-
pletely too.
He concluded by saying 'Studying liter-
ary devices of the Qur'an or of Arabic in
general has been affected negatively by
imposing the Western methodology to
understand its techniques and we should
not be trapped in automatic application
in the background of the scholar but we
should incorporate different methodol-
ogy to understand the inimitability of the
Qur'an and how it is created in compari-
son to other texts.'
While Islam may have a rich artistic
and linguistic legacy, what is its attitude
towards the intellectual and cultural
treasures of other cultures? Okasha
el Daly explored this in depth in his
discussion of how medieval Muslims
were actually avid scholars of ancient
(pre-Islamic) Egypt. He says: 'Why
did Muslim scholars in medieval times
study ancient Egypt? They thought that
if they unlocked the secrets to the ancient
Razwan Baig with renowned Muslim
photographer Peter Sanders, whose
photos were also on display.
Regrettably, in today’s
world, Islam is known more
for destroying the cultural
richness of non-Muslim
societies, rather than for
preserving and enhancing
culture due to the evil
actions of a small minority
of so-called Muslims.
YOUR FEEDBACK IS
IMPORTANT TO US
Write to us with comments,
feedback and suggestions at
info@Reviewof Religions.org
NOVEMBER 2017 | THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS 4746 THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS | JANUARY 2018

The
Promised Messiahas
& imam mahdi
( g u i d e d o n e )
founder of
O
ye people who consider yourselves members of my
community! You will be counted as such in heaven
when you truly tread upon the ways of righteousness.
So, offer the five daily prayers in such fear and with such com-
plete attention as though you were actually beholding God
Almighty. Sincerely observe your fasts for the sake of God.
Let everyone who is liable to pay the Zakat do so and anyone
upon whom the Hajj has become obligatory and who face
no hindrance ought to perform the pilgrimage. Do good in a
handsome manner and discard vice with disgust. Bear well in
mind that no action of yours, which is empty of righteousness,
can reach God.
Righteousness is the root of all goodness. No action that is
rooted in righteousness will go in vain.It is inevitable that you
should also be tried with various forms of anguish and misfor-
tune,just as the faithful before you were tried.Be on your guard,
lest you should falter. So long as you have a firm relationship
with heaven, the earth can do you no harm. Whenever harm
befalls you, it will be from your own hands and not from the
hands of your enemy. Even if you lose all honour on earth,
God will bestow eternal honour upon you in heaven. So do
not forsake Him.1
endnotes
1. Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas
, Noah's Ark (Tilford, Surrey: Islam
International Publications, 2016), 26-27.
Inculcating Righteousness

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

The Need
For
Prophets
A Prophet is a mirror for the
observance of the Divine. God can
only be seen through this mirror.
BokehStore | Shutterstock
EXTRACTS FROM
THE ESSENCE OF
ISLAMVOLUME III
Prophethood & the existence of God

—Haqiqat-ul-Wahi, Ruhani Khaza’in,
vol. 22, p. 131
Prophets are a Manifestation of Divine
Unity
The misconception that belief in the
Unity of God is enough for the salva-
tion of man, and that it is not necessary
to believe in a Prophet, is utterly absurd.
People who entertain such a belief seek
to separate the soul from the body.Belief
in the Unity of God can only be estab-
lished through a Prophet, and is not
possible without believing in him. If a
Prophet, who is the source of belief in
God’s Unity, is excluded, Divine Unity
cannot be upheld.A Prophet alone is the
cause and source and father and fountain
and perfect manifestation of the belief
in the Unity of God.Through him alone
can one behold the hidden countenance
of God and realise His existence.On the
one hand, the Divine is eminently Self-
Sufficient and cares not whether anyone
is guided or goes astray; on the other,
He desires that He should be known and
The Need for Prophets
God Almighty has bound up belief in
His own existence with belief in His
Messengers. The reason for this is that
man is invested with the capacity of
believing in the Unity of God as stone
is invested with the capacity of flaring up;
and a Messenger is like the flint which
elicits the spark from the stone by strik-
ing it.
It is,therefore,not possible that without
the flint, that is to say without a Divine
Messenger,the spark of the Unity of God
may be ignited in a human heart. It is
only a Divine Messenger who brings
down Tauhid [belief in the Unity of
God] upon the earth and it is achieved
only through him. God is hidden and
displays His countenance only though
a Messenger.
The misconception that belief
in the Unity of God is enough
for the salvation of man,
and that it is not necessary
to believe in a Prophet, is
utterly absurd. People who
entertain such a belief seek to
separate the soul from the body.
The Need
for Prophets
The Promised Messiahas
wrote over 80
books in Arabic, Urdu, and Persian.
Excerpts of his collected works have
been translated into English and
organised by topic. The Review of
Religions is pleased to present these
excerpts as part of a monthly fea-
ture. Here, The Promised Messiahas
elaborates on the subject of the need
for Prophets.
Extracts from the Essence of Islam,
Vol.III, pp. 111-123.
HAZRAT MIRZA GHULAM AHMADAS
,
THE PROMISED MESSIAH & IMAM MAHDI
A divine messenger is needed to ignite the
spark of the Unity of God in a human heart.
Polygraphus | Shutterstock

be revived, strives to the utmost degree
and is always ready to suffer many deaths,
as is indicated in the verse:
God is Self-Sufficient,and doesn’t stand
in need of creatures, but in view of the
grief, sorrow, torment, humility, extreme
devotion, truthfulness and integrity of
such a person, God manifests Himself
through His signs to the eager hearts of
men.
As a result of the earnest supplica-
tions of such a person, which create a
tumultuous uproar in heaven, Divine
signs descend upon the earth like rain
and extraordinary happenings are wit-
nessed, which reveal the countenance of
God and the world bears witness that
God exists. Had the Holy Prophetsa
not
turned to God with so much supplica-
tion, entreaty and earnestness, and had
he not offered the sacrifice of his self and
accepted a hundred deaths at every step,
Divine countenance would never have
been revealed to the world,because God
Almighty,due to His Self-Sufficiency,is
completely independent. He says:
That is: ‘Allah is independent of all the
worlds;’ and ‘It is Our eternal law that
those who strive after Us and seek Us
with the utmost effort, We show them
Our way.’ The first and foremost in
offering sacrifices in the cause of Allah,
are the Prophets. Everyone strives for
himself but Prophets strive for oth-
ers. People sleep, but the Prophets stay
awake on their behalf. People laugh and
the Prophets weep for them. They will-
ingly bear hardship for the deliverance
of mankind. They do this so that God
may so manifest Himself that people
should be convinced that He exists, and
His existence and Unity may be clearly
perceived by them and through such per-
ception mankind might attain salvation.
Thus the Prophets suffer death out of
their sympathy for their enemies. And
when their agony reaches its climax and
heaven is filled with their tormented
supplications, God Almighty exhibits
the brightness of His countenance and
manifests His existence and His Unity to
mankind through powerful signs. Thus
there is no doubt that the knowledge
of God and of His Unity is gained by
man only through a Prophet and can-
not be achieved otherwise. The highest
that His creatures should derive benefit
from His eternal mercy. He, therefore,
manifests Himself to him whose heart
is charged to the highest degree with
the natural desire of attaining nearness
to the Holy One, and is also filled with
utmost sympathy for mankind. God
displays to him the light of His being
and eternal attributes. In this manner,
the person who possesses such superior
nature—who, in other words, is called
a Prophet—is drawn towards God. On
account of the extreme eagerness with
which his heart is charged with sympathy
for mankind, he desires by his spiritual
inclination, supplication and humility,
that others too should recognise the God
Who has been revealed to him so that
they too may attain salvation. He sin-
cerely offers the sacrifice of his own self
and, out of the desire that mankind may
Prophets offer sacrifices and offer earnest
supplications so that divine signs fall
on the earth like rain.
Wolkenengel565 | Shutterstock
As a result of the earnest
supplications of such a person,
which create a tumultuous
uproar in heaven, Divine
signs descend upon the earth
like rain and extraordinary
happenings are witnessed,
which reveal the countenance
of God and the world bears
witness that God exists.
Arabic Verse 1 [26:4]

Arabic Verse 2: [3:98]











Arabic Verse 8: [4:151-152]




*

















of paganism and vice abound. The eye
possesses the faculty of sight,yet it needs
the light of the sun to be able to see. In
the same way, human reason, which
resembles the eye, needs the light of the
sun of Prophethood.And when that sun
disappears,reason becomes confused and
dark; just as you cannot see with the eye
alone, you cannot see without the light
of Prophethood.
As the recognition of God always
depends upon the recognition of a
Prophet,it is not possible to recognise the
Unity of God without him.A Prophet is
a mirror for the observance of the Divine.
God can only be seen through this mir-
ror. When God Almighty designs to
reveal Himself to the world, He raises a
Prophet,who is a manifestation of Divine
powers, and sends down His revelation
to him and manifests His Divine powers
through him. It is then that the world
comes to know that God exists.
vol. 22, pp. 114-116
Blessings of Obedience to the Holy
Prophetsa
Know well that Prophets do not appear
for mere ostentation or show.If people do
example in this regard was set by our
Holy Prophetsa
, who lifted a whole peo-
ple out of the filth in which they were
steeped,and conveyed them to a garden.
He provided excellent spiritual food and
drink for those who were on the point
of death because of spiritual starvation.
He raised them from their animal condi-
tion to the condition of man, and then
civilised them, and made them perfect,
and exhibited so many signs that they
were enabled to see God, and brought
about such a change in them that they
began to shake hands with angels. No
other Prophet was able to bring about
such a complete change in his people,for
their followers did not achieve perfection.
vol. 22, pp. 116-118
Prophets Demonstrate God’s Existence
It should be remembered that it is the
Prophets (peace be on them) who dem-
onstrate the existence of God and teach
people His Unity.If those holy ones had
not appeared,it would have been impos-
sible to discover the straight path with
certainty. Though a person of sincere
nature, possessing sane reason can, by
reflecting on the universe and observing
its perfect and well-established order,
conclude that there ought to be a Creator
of this well-ordered universe, however,
there is a world of difference between
‘ought to be’and ‘is’.
The Prophets alone (peace be on them)
established through thousands of signs
and miracles that the Transcendent
Being Who comprises all power does
in fact exist. Indeed, the degree of com-
prehension that the need of a Creator
may be perceived by the observation of
the universe is also a reflection of the
rays of Prophethood.Had there been no
Prophets, no one would have achieved
this degree of reason.
This may be understood through the con-
templation that, though there is water
below the surface of the earth,the main-
tenance of that water depends upon the
water that descends from the sky.When
there is a long drought,the underground
water dries up and when rain descends
the underground water also begins to
well up.In the same way,with the advent
of a Prophet, reason—which is sub-sur-
face water—is sharpened and improved;
and when over a long period no Prophet
is raised the sub-surface water of reason
begins to decline and becomes muddied
and the worship of idols and all manner
The prophets of God spend their entire
lives supplicating, sacrificing and praying
for mankind.
Kamelia Ilieva | Shutterstock
The Prophets alone (peace be
on them) established through
thousands of signs and
miracles that theTranscendent
Being Who comprises all
power does in fact exist.
the essence of islam

mere verbal profession of Tauhid [Divine
Unity] cannot ensure salvation and that
none can attain salvation by departing
from obedience to the Holy Prophetsa
,yet
to dispel any possible doubt, we would
like to know the true meanings of the
verses cited by Abdul Hakim Khan1
, for
instance:













*














*









ANSWER: These verses of the Holy
Qur’an do not mean that salvation can be
achieved without believing in the Holy
Prophetsa
. They lay down that salvation
cannot be achieved without believing in
God—Who has no associate—and in the
Last Day; and that belief in God can-
not be perfect without belief in Prophets,
inasmuch as Prophets illustrate the
attributes of God and the true compre-
hension of God Almighty,without which
belief remains imperfect.
For instance, the Divine attributes that
He speaks, hears, knows the unseen, has
power to show mercy and to inflict pun-
ishment, cannot be understood except
through a Messenger of God. If these
attributes are not demonstrated through
testimony, the existence of God is not
positively established and belief in God
has no meaning. A person who believes
in God must believe in His attributes
also, and for such belief he must believe
in the Prophets.
For instance, God’s attribute of speech
can only be appreciated by proof of His
word and it is only Prophets who furnish
proof of His word.
The Holy Qur’an comprises two types
of verses. One type is Muhkamat [fun-
damental and explicit], for instance the
verse:
not derive any spiritual benefit from them
and they do not prove to be a source of
grace,it would have to be confessed that
their advent is only for show, and that it
is without any meaning; but that is not so.
Prophets are a source of many blessings
and abundant grace.With his coming, a
fountain of virtue springs forth. Just as
mankind derives benefit from the light
of the sun and its benefit does not stop
at any point, in this way, the sun of the
grace and blessing of the Holy Prophetsa
continues to shine and to bestow benefits
upon the fortunate ones.That is why God
Almighty has said:
















*
This means: ‘Tell them, If you want to
become the loved ones of Allah,then fol-
low me, Allah will then love you.’True
obedience to the Holy Prophetsa
makes
a person beloved of God, and becomes a
means for the forgiveness of sins.
—Malfuzat, vol. 3, p. 55
Belief in God cannot be Perfect without
Belief in Prophets
QUESTION: Although we believe that
Just as eyes cannot see without the light
of the sun, human reason needs the light
of prophethood to see the existence of God.
CS Stock | Shutterstock
With his coming, a fountain
of virtue springs forth. Just
as mankind derives benefit
from the light of the sun and
its benefit does not stop at any
point, in this way, the sun of
the grace and blessing of the
Holy Prophetsa
continues to
shine and to bestow benefits
upon the fortunate ones.
***
***

hearing is also not proved. Thus these
people become like atheists by repudiat-
ing Divine attributes.
Divine attributes are eternal and ever-
lasting. They are demonstrated only by
Prophets. The denial of the attributes
of God invariably leads to the denial of
God’s existence. This shows that belief
in God necessarily implies belief in the
Prophets (peace be on them), without
which belief in God is imperfect and
incomplete.The fundamental verses not
only abound in number,but are also sup-
ported by the continuous testimony of
the Prophets. Anyone who studies the
Holy Qur’an and the books of other
Prophets will find that they insist upon
belief in the Messengers of God as much
as belief in God Himself.
If the allegorical verses are interpreted in
a sense which is contrary to the mean-
ing of the fundamental verses,great harm
would ensue therefrom and many other
verses would have to be rejected. No
contradiction is possible in the Word of
God; therefore the implicit must be rec-
onciled with the explicit…In the Holy
Qur’an, the word ‘Allah’ has throughout
been used as connoting the Being Who
sends Prophets and Messengers and
Books, Who is the Creator of heaven
and earth and possesses such and such
attributes and is One without associ-
ate. It is true that those who have had
no access to God’s word and are utterly
unaware of it, will be judged according
to their degree of knowledge, reason
and intelligence, but it is not possible
that they should achieve the grades and
ranks which will be bestowed upon those
who follow the Holy Prophetsa
.The blind
obviously cannot arrive at the high sta-
tions of those who are guided by the light
of Prophethood. This is Divine grace,
which He bestows on whom He wills.






*

That is: ‘There are those who do not
want to believe in both Allah and
His Messengers and seek to make a
distinction between Allah and His
Messengers and say: We believe in God,
but not in His Messengers; and seek to
separate Allah from His Messengers.
There are others who believe in Allah but
not the Prophets,or they believe in some
Prophets but not in others and desire to
adopt a position between the two; these
indeed are the confirmed disbelievers.We
have prepared a humiliating punishment
for such disbelievers.’…
The second type of verses are
Mutashabihat [allegorical] which have
very subtle meanings. Their true mean-
ing is revealed only to those who are
firmly grounded in knowledge. Those
whose hearts are afflicted with hypocrisy
do not care to follow what is Muhkamat
[fundamental] and seek to follow only
that which is allegorical. The Word of
God is full of Muhkamat [fundamental]
verses, whose meaning is clear, and the
neglect of which occasions great harm.
For instance, one who believes in God
but does not believe in His Messengers
has to repudiate Divine attributes. This
is illustrated by the new sect of Brahmus
who proclaim that they believe in God
but do not believe in the Prophets.They
repudiate the Word of God, while it is
obvious that if God hears He also speaks.
If His speaking is not established, His
With the coming of a prophet, a fountain
of blessings and virtue springs forth.
Smit | Shutterstock
Divine attributes are eternal
and ever-lasting.They
are demonstrated only by
Prophets.The denial of the
attributes of God invariably
leads to the denial of God’s
existence.This shows that
belief in God necessarily
implies belief in the Prophets
(peace be on them), without
which belief in God is
imperfect and incomplete.

advanced towards apostasy.In truth there
is no contradiction in the word of Allah.
It is only a case of deficient understand-
ing and murky disposition. We should
interpret the Word of God Almighty, as
He Himself has interpreted it and should
not,like the Jews,place another construc-
tion upon it.
It has always been the way of the Divine
Word and of His Messengers, that they
seek to guide a hardened disbeliever by
instructing him that if he believes in
God, and loves Him, and accepts Him
as One without associate, he will surely
attain salvation. The purpose of this is
that if such a person would believe truly
in God, he would be enabled by God to
accept Islam. The Holy Qur’an, which
these people ignore, clearly affirms
that true faith in God leads to faith in
the Holy Prophetsa
, and such a person
becomes ready to accept Islam.
My own method also is that when an
Arya, a Brahmu, a Christian, a Jew, or
a Sikh, or any other non-Muslim per-
sists in wrong reasoning, I tell him that
such discussion will not help him in any
way but that if he sincerely believes in
God, He will Himself open the way of
salvation to him. But by this I do not at
all mean that salvation can be achieved
without following the Holy Prophetsa
;
what I mean is that if a person believes
sincerely in God,God will open his heart
to belief in the Holy Prophetsa
.
It should be remembered that, in the
first place, the true Unity of God can-
not be appreciated without following the
Holy Prophetsa
.As I have just mentioned,
Divine attributes, which cannot be iso-
lated from the Being of God, cannot be
observed except through the mirror of
the revelation vouchsafed to a Prophet.
They are illustrated in practice only by
a Prophet. But even if someone should
acquire an imperfect appreciation of
them, it would not be altogether free
from traces of polytheism till such a one
is led by God into Islam by accepting His
Now, observe the outrage that is com-
mitted by Mian [Mr] Abdul Hakim who
disregards hundreds of verses of the Holy
Qur’an which proclaim emphatically that
the profession of belief in the Unity of
God alone is not enough for the achieve-
ment of salvation and that faith in the
Holy Prophetsa
is also essential; and,like
the Jews, he twists the meanings of two
or three concise verses and insists upon
his own interpretation. Every sensible
person can realise that if those verses
mean what Abdul Hakim opines, then
it is goodbye to Islam and the command-
ments like prayer and fasting,etc.,which
have been taught by the Holy Prophetsa
are rendered vain and meaningless.
If it were true that everyone can attain
salvation through his fancied version of
the Unity of God, then the rejection of
Prophets and the repudiation of faith
would be no sin and would do no harm.
However,there is not a single verse in the
Holy Qur’an which relieves a Muslim
from obedience to the Holy Prophetsa
.
Even if these two or three verses which
Mian Abdul Hakim relies upon had
appeared to him contradictory to hun-
dreds of verses of the contrary import,
he should have subordinated them to the
large number of other verses,and should
not have disregarded the latter and thus
The Holy Qur’an comprises of two types of
verses; Muhkamat (explicit) and Mutashabihat
(allegorical).
Kamomeen | Shutterstock
If it were true that everyone
can attain salvation through
his fancied version of the
Unity of God, then the
rejection of Prophets and the
repudiation of faith would be
no sin and would do no harm.
It has always been the way of
the Divine Word and of His
Messengers, that they seek to
guide a hardened disbeliever
by instructing him that if he
believes in God, and loves
Him, and accepts Him as
One without associate, he
will surely attain salvation.

man to be grateful to God, who sends
Messengers to teach him the Unity of
God.
vol. 22, pp. 172-179
Why Do Prophets Have Needs Like
Other People?
I wish to explain why Prophets feel the
need of things like the help of other
people. God Almighty has power to
safeguard them against all needs. These
needs arise so that they might manifest
examples of dedication to God,like that
of Abu Bakrra
, and faith in the existence
of God Almighty may be generated,
and such dedicated people may serve as
a sign of God and the world may wit-
ness examples of that hidden delight and
love for the sake of which a loved and
desired thing like wealth can be easily
and cheerfully sacrificed. After the sac-
rifice of wealth and riches, these people
are granted the power and courage to
complete their dedication to God by
sacrificing their very lives for Him.
Thus the true purpose of the Prophets,
peace be on them, feeling the need of
things is that they may inculcate the
discarding of desire and love for mortal
things and be invested with a delicious
faith in the existence of God Almighty
and develop the spirit of self sacrifice in
the cause of the promotion of the welfare
of their fellow beings. This holy group
subsists under the care of the Master of
the treasuries of the heaven and earth
and can encounter no real need. Their
needs are encountered for the perfection
of their teaching and promotion of man-
kind’s faith and high qualities.
—Malfuzat, vol. 2, pp. 96-97
endnotes
1. Abdul Hakim Khan was a Muslim, who
turned apostate. [Publisher]
Photos added in this article were not in the
original publication but have been added
at the discretion ofThe Review of Religions
for visual effect.The Review of Religions
takes full responsibility for any errors in
depiction.
total obedience.
Whatever a believer receives from God
Almighty through God’s Messenger is
a heavenly gift, which is not tainted by
his own pride and self-esteem,but what-
ever a person achieves through his own
effort is always affected by some taint of
polytheism.That is why Messengers have
been sent to teach the true Unity of God,
and mankind has not been left depend-
ent upon reason alone so that the Unity
of God should remain pure and should
not be tainted with human conceit.This
is why erring philosophers have never
been able to grasp the pure Unity of God,
inasmuch as they are afflicted with pride,
arrogance and conceit, and pure Unity
demands the negation of the self. Such
negation cannot be effected unless a per-
son sincerely believes that it is a Divine
gift in which his effort has no part.
For instance, one farmer keeps awake
throughout the night and irrigates his
field with great hardship, while another
one sleeps all night and a cloud arises
and rain fills his field with water.Would
these two be equal in their gratitude to
God? Indeed not.He whose field is irri-
gated without his labour would be more
grateful than the other. That is why the
Word of God has repeatedly admonished
God may bestow wealth upon his
servants in order for them to serve as
examples to others when they sacrifice
such wealth easily and cheerfully for God.
Fer Gregory | Shutterstock
After the sacrifice of
wealth and riches, these
people are granted the
power and courage to
complete their dedication
to God by sacrificing their
very lives for Him.

The Review of Religions January 2018

The Review of Religions January 2018

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