Extremism in Islam ???

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Extremism in Islam ??? –

 Annual Convention, Canada 2013

Posted by Zia Shah

Read more: http://www.themuslimtimes.org/2013/07/ahmadiyyat-true-islam/extremism-in-islam-annual-convention-canada-2013#ixzz2ZkcSPASW

[od eenj]

Reviving Islamic Eminence in Spain Through A Message of Peace

Posted by Abdul Alim

Review of Religions:  Islam and Spain:

 Spanish land; lost by the sword; Spanish hearts won by the message of peace

In 1946, Mirza Bashir-Ud-Din Mahmud Ahmad^ra, Second worldwide Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, passionately vowed that if enabled by God, he would send missionaries to Spain in order to spread the message of Islam Ahmadiyyat and conquer Spain for Islam once again by winning over the hearts of people; thus peacefully avenging the humiliating defeat, forced conversions and eviction of Muslims from Spain. Since 1936, missionaries from the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community have been working to spread the peaceful message of Islam to the people of Spain. To keep expanding this holy mission, the worldwide Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih V^aba,visited Spain in March-April 2013 to inaugurate a newly built mosque in Valencia, Baitur Rahman. This is the second and final part of the tour report of Khalifatul Masih V^aba.

30^th of March 2013

In the morning, His Holiness led formal prayer (Fajr) in congregation and attended

to his wide and varied duties as the head of the worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.

At 11:30 AM His Holiness presided over a meeting of National

Majlis Amila Ansarullah (national executive council of Ahmadi men over forty), France. The meeting started with silent prayers.

His Holiness encouraged the Ahmadiyya Community France to make a concerted effort towards the preaching of Islam, particularly along the French-Spanish borders. 

His Holiness encouraged elders of the community to be motivated to serve the community in an active manner.

He instructed officeholders to explain to their membership the concept of being an Ansar (which literally means “helper of Allah”), and make them realise their responsibilities.

This meeting was followed by family Mulaqaat, (a private audience with His Holiness), after which Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V^aba led the afternoon prayers in congregation. In the evening, His Holiness graciously attended an Amin ceremony (ceremony of the first reading of the Holy Qur’an), and led the congregational

evening prayers in Baitur Rahman.

More: 

Read more: http://www.themuslimtimes.org/2013/07/ahmadiyyat-true-islam/reviving-islamic-eminence-in-spain-through-a-message-of-peace#ixzz2Zr4B1CjQ


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Muslim Law, Ahmadiyya and Islamic Doctrinein Singapore

Posted by Salma Javid Khan

Source: papers.ssrn.com

Singapore is a secular state with a Muslim minority (about 15 per cent, mostly ethnic Malay).

However, the Administration of Muslim Law Act (AMLA), which governs personal status,

does not define ‘Muslim’. 

This falls to the Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura (MUIS, Singapore

Islamic Religious Council) acting in its judicial function.

In 1997 it decided that the Ahmadiyya were not Muslim, thus judicially confirming the widely

held Sunni opinion that the Ahmadiyya are a deviant sect. In doing so, MUIS drew authority

from (a) British-Indian precedent, (b) contemporary Pakistan precedent and (c) theology on the

finality of revelations to the Prophet Muhammad (the Seal of the Prophets).

Each source was used selectively but there is an especially heavy reliance on Pakistan precedent.

This source is not binding in Singapore, because the Pakistan constitutional and positive laws

expressing Islam have no parallel in Singapore. The MUIS decision is thus highly questionable at best;

in the strict view it is an unjustifiable application of a foreign precedent and, therefore, wrong.

The British-Indian precedent says that the Ahmadiyya are Muslim.

The theology can be made to read as neutral or negative depending on one’s purpose….

continue reading at papers.ssrn.com

To know more about Jama’at-e-Ahmadiyya Singapore,

please check: www.ahmadiyya.org.sg

Read more: http://www.themuslimtimes.org/2013/07/religion/islam/muslim-law-ahmadiyya-and-islamic-doctrine-in-singapore#ixzz2ZqSizXWf

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Ahmadiyya Muslims worship

freely here, but persecuted elsewhere

Posted by Salma Javid Khan

Source: jsonline.com

Qudrat Ullah Ayaz, Secretary Tatelum Ul Quran leads prayer at the Baitul Qadir Mosque.

Inside the Bait-ul Qadir mosque on Fond du Lac Ave., a small group of men gather before the midday prayer. They speak of the weather and their families, the inanities of daily affairs but also the great

mysteries of life and the path to salvation.

“We are what we do. And in the next life, we will be judged by our actions,” said Rashid Ahmad, an imam, who at 90 commands the quiet respect of his fellow worshippers.

“You cannot judge a body that has been in the ground; it is dust. But your actions…,” said Ahmad, waving his hand as if to cast a fine powder into the ether. “Your actions are still here.”

Assembled in this way during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, discussing the teachings

of the Prophet Mohammad and their founder Hadhrat Mirza Gulam Ahmad, could amount

to a death sentence in some parts of the world.

But the Masjid Bait-ul Qadir is on Milwaukee’s north side where members of the local

Ahmadiyya Muslim community — one of the oldest in the country — are free to worship

as they please.

“We are just like other Muslims in that we follow the teachings of the Prophet Mohammad,

the way we worship and the five basic pilars of the faith…

continue reading at jsonline.com

Read more: http://www.themuslimtimes.org/2013/07/religion/islam/ahmadiyya-muslims-worship-freely-here-but-persecuted-elsewhere#ixzz2ZqKzWyIK


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[od eenj]

Video: The Holy Prophet Muhammad –

A Prophet for all Times

Posted by Zia Shah

Epigraph: “Say, ‘O mankind! truly I am a Messenger to you all from Allah.” (Al Quran 7:159 )

Speech by Maulana Mubarak Ahmad Nazir (Missionary Incharge Canada),

on July 6, 2013 – 37th Annual Convention

of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Canada.

Read more: http://www.themuslimtimes.org/2013/07/americas/video-the-holy-prophet-muhammad-a-prophet-for-all-times#ixzz2aGIdakrK

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Ahmadi Muslim Generals – who saved Pakistan

Posted by Abdul Alim

thepersecution.org: Pakistan was invaded on September 6, 1965.

Why it was invaded?

 Because an Ahmadi General was on the point of locking several Indian army divisions in Jammu and Kashmir.

It was an amazing military feat. All these military operations were taking place in the disputed territory
 of Jammu and Kashmir and the “war” was only limited to the disputed territory.

Major General Akhtar Hussain Malik made a brilliant strike across Chamb-Jaurian sector. He out- manoeuvred the Indians. He captured Akhnoor and was approaching Tawai river. The enemy was dislodged and Indians were planning further withdrawal for they could not withstand the onslaught of General Akhtar Hussain Malik.

It was reported that the Indian Prime Minister Lal Bahdur Shastri directed Indian Air Force to get Gen Akhtar Hussain Mailk at any cost. He was making daring use of Helicopter directing his force.

Even an inveterate enemy of Ahmadis – Shorish Kashmiri paid a tribute in an urdu couplet,

“The Land of Delhi is calling, Oh friends, Extend a helping hand to Akhtar Malik, oh friends.”

Had Gen Akhtar Hussain Malik captured Jammu, The Kashmir Problem was automatically solved. The Indians would never been able to sustain their troops in landlocked Kashmir. And they would have to leave Kashmir.

Field Marshal Ayub, who was the President of Pakistan at that time, knew what this victory would mean: It would catapult Gen Akhtar Hussain Malik in public eye.

He wanted one of his cronies to take credit of this vital victory. He asked Gen Musa, the then Commander in Chief of Pakistan Army to take Gen Yahya by helicopter to Chamb-Jurian sector and ask Gen Akhtar Hussain Malik to hand over the command of the Operations.

Gen Malik: “Why changing horses in midstream“?

More: 

Read more: http://www.themuslimtimes.org/2013/08/asia/ahmadi-muslim-generals-who-saved-pakistan#ixzz2asOg9SOy


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Pen is Mightier than the Sword,

as it was Mentioned in the Very

 First Revelation to Muhammad

Posted by Zia Shah

The first few verses revealed to Muhammad: Al Quran 96:1-6

Written and collected by Zia H Shah MD

Muslims believe the Holy Quran to be the book of divine guidance and direction for humanity

and consider the text in its original Arabic to be the literal word of God,^[57] revealed to Muhammad, may peace be on him, through the angel Gabriel over a period of twenty-three years^[7][8] and view the Quran as God’s final revelation to humanity.^[7][58]

Hira (Arabic: حراء‎ Ḥirāʾ ) or the Cave of Hira (غار حراء Ġār Ḥirāʾ ) is a cave about 2 mi (3.2 km) from Mecca, on the mountain named Jabal al-Nour in the Hejaz region of present day Saudi Arabia. The cave itself is about 12 ft (3.7 m) in length and 5 ft 3 in (1.60 m) in width.^[1]

It is notable for being the location where Muslims believe Muhammad received his first revelations from God through the angel Jabril, also known as Gabriel to Christians.^[1]

Taking 600 steps to reach, the cave is at a height of 270 m (890 ft)^[2] and the radius is 263.23 m (863.6 ft) During the Hajj around 5,000 Muslims climb up to the Hira cave daily to see the place where Muhammad received the first revelation of the Quran on the Night of Power.^[2] Muslims do not typically consider seeing the cave an integral part of the pilgrimage. Nonetheless many visit it for reasons of personal pleasure and spirituality, and some think it a place of worship, although the latter view conflicts with orthodox interpretations — while the Cave of Hira is an important place to know in the Al-sīra (prophetic biography) it is not as holy as, say, Masjid Al-Haram. Under most interpretations, the same reward is received for praying here as any other place in Mecca.

Islamic tradition relates that Muhammad received his first revelation in the Cave of Ḥirā during one of his isolated retreats to the mountains.

The first revelation was fairly dramatic and shook Muhammad, may peace be on him to his core and made him run back to home to his wife, scared and nervous, in a cold sweat and trembling.  It is amazing to note that even though it is a well established fact, in the Muslim history that the Prophet Muhammad could not read or write, yet the very first verses talk about pen.

The Arabic of the first revelation is given in the picture above and the verses mean:

In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful. Convey thou in the name of thy Lord Who created man from a clot of blood. Convey! And thy Lord is Most Generous, Who taught man by the pen, taught man what he knew not.  (Al Quran 96:1-6)

The verses of the Holy Quran, pertaining to defensive war were not revealed until 14 years later after the Prophet had migrated to Medina.  The revelation said:

Permission to fight is given to those against whom war is made, because they have been wronged —  and Allah indeed has power to help them — Those who have been driven out from their homes unjustly only because they said, ‘Our Lord is Allah’ — And if Allah did not repel some men by means of others, there would surely have been pulled down cloisters and churches and synagogues and mosques, wherein the name of Allah is oft commemorated. And Allah will surely help one who helps Him. Allah is indeed Powerful, Mighty.  (Al Quran 22:40-41)

Scores of other facts can be stated about the power of the pen in the Muslim tradition.  But, this simple observation of sequence of revelation should set the stage for the fact that “Pen is mightier than sword.”

 

Read more: http://www.themuslimtimes.org/2013/08/ahmadiyyat-true-islam/pen-is-mightier-than-the-sword-it-was-mentioned-in-the-very-first-revelation-to-muhammad#ixzz2aiqxX8Va


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Establishing Religious Peace !!!

Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad - Khalifatul Masih V
Fifth Khalifa of the Promised Messiah, Head of the Worldwide

Ahmadiyya Muslim community

Address delivered by Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad,

Khalifatul Masih V, Head of the Worlwide Ahmadiyya Muslim community

(may Allah strengthen his hand),  on 19th December 2009,

at the VIP Reception held at Ratskeller am Römer,

on the 50th anniversary of the Nur Mosque, Frankfurt.

All the honourable guests,

Assalamu ‘Alaikum Warahmatullah, Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon you all

.

Firstly, I would like to thank all the guests who have come to attend the 50th Anniversary of our Nur Mosque here in Frankfurt today.

The fact that you are here shows that you are open-minded people because you have come despite the fact that there is an ongoing anti-Islamic campaign being waged in society; not only against Muslims, but against Islam itself. And after listening to the speeches of all the honourable speakers I am now more confident that I am right in thinking this, of having this view, that you are all open-minded people sitting in front of me. Anyway, this campaign by the opponents of Islam presents Islam as an extremist faith; however, this is far removed from the actual teachings of the religion.

When people, who are unfamiliar with Islam, hear such claims, or when they listen to news of terrorists, Muslim suicide bombers, or fanatics and hardliners, they begin to believe that Islam really is an extreme religion that promotes terror, and that Muslims follow hatred and consider every non-Muslim to be worthless. Moreover, they consider that it is only the teachings of Islam that pose a threat to the world peace. And it is now, I am happy that those who are sitting here are not of this view, but there are quite a number of people in the world who still hold this view. Unfortunately, this entirely false notion has now taken firm root. However, I shall now clarify some of these misunderstandings in light of the true teachings of Islam.

As I mentioned earlier, the fact that you have come here, despite hearing all such allegations, proves that you do not wish to only hear one point of view but, fulfilling the requirements of justice and fair-play, you have come to see what the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at says about the teachings of Islam.

I have always said that I am not ashamed to admit that certain extremist ‘Muslim’ groups have created great disorder in the world. However, this lack of peace exists more in the countries of the perpetrators themselves rather than in Europe or other places in the world. This clearly illustrates that this battle is not against any religion, but is the work of a small and self-serving group who create disorder and carry out attacks in the name of religion. If you analyse the situation, you will realise that these people, who serve their own interests, have killed more Muslims than people of other faiths. The non-Muslims being killed are those who are sending armies to assist such Muslims countries, perhaps, on the pretext of establishing peace.

I do not wish to comment on whether military assistance is right or wrong, or whether the assessments of the western powers regarding the future plans of the terrorists are sound. Nor do I wish to comment upon the strategic position of Pakistan , Afghanistan and Iraq or whether the terrorists are trying to dominate such areas, or what the final solution should be in tackling the war on terror. These are all separate issues on which I would prefer not to speak at this time.

However, as the Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at, I would like to remove the misunderstandings about Islam in light of its true teachings and present to you the real and beautiful picture of Islam as we see it.

I now present to you a few examples of Islamic teachings based on the Holy Qur’an with regards to establishing world peace.

If we look at the fundamental reasons for religious animosity amongst the followers of religion, the principle causes are when people reject the founders of each other’s religion as false, mock them and consequently ridicule the customs and rituals that are linked to the founder of respective religion.

Let us see what Islam teaches about the prophets or the founders of religions. Chapter 3, Verse 85 of the Holy Qur’an states:

Say, ‘We believe in Allah and in that which has been revealed to us, and that which was revealed to Abraham and to Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob and the Tribes, and that which was given to Moses and Jesus and other Prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and to Him we submit.

This is the beautiful teaching of Islam.

If a Muslim claims to obey Allah, he is duty bound to believe in all the prophets, to the extent that at another place, Allah the Almighty states that He has sent prophets to all the nations as a means to reform people, some of whom Allah has named in the Qur’an. Thus, Islam has laid the foundation for peace, harmony and reconciliation by making all the founders of religions worthy of respect.

If we look at the early history of Islam we see that when, due to the extreme cruelties against the Muslims in Makkah, they were forced to migrate from Makkah to Madinah, even then the disbelievers of Makkah did not leave them alone and in fact continued their persecution. They tried to finish the Muslims by attacking them. It was only then that Allah granted the Holy Prophet(saw), peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, and his followers permission to fight and defend themselves.

This is mentioned in the Holy Qur’an in Chapter 22, verses 40 and 41; the translation is as follows:

Permission to fight is given to those against whom war is made, because they have been wronged – and Allah indeed has power to help them – Those who have been driven out from their homes unjustly only because they said, ‘Our Lord is Allah’ – And if Allah did not repel some men by means of others, there would surely have been pulled down cloisters and churches and synagogues and mosques, wherein the name of Allah is oft commemorated. And Allah will surely help one who helps Him. Allah is indeed Powerful, Mighty.

Now see, it is not just the rights of Islam that have been considered. Muslims have not been instructed to only preserve their own rights, but have, in fact, been commanded to eradicate the evil intentions of those who associate partners with God, on the basis that, were they to fail to act, the oppressors would become so bold that they would try to annihilate all religions.

Muslims have been instructed to preserve and protect the sanctity of all places of worship of all religions, and they have been taught that if they have to assist other religions in compliance with this command, then they must do so. If you act with good intentions then God will help you.

God Almighty has said right from the outset that even if you have to wage a war in order to stop cruelty of the wrongdoers, then do so; God will help you.

And history bears witness to this. The 313 companions of the Holy Prophet of Islam^(saw), peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, who were totally ill-equipped for war, confronted and defeated a well-equipped force three times bigger than them. This is proof that God is on the side of truth. If any Muslim today acts contrary to these teachings he acts against the commands of Allah.

In view of these teachings, decide with your own hearts whether anyone can raise any fair objection against Islam.

Should the actions of a handful of Muslims, pursuing solely their own interests, be used as a source of torment for the rest of the Muslim world? Most certainly, the heart of any decent person who wishes peace in the world would definitely desire that he should not cause distress to anyone else.

As I said previously, and as you are all aware today, we are holding this function on the 50th anniversary of our mosque, Nur Mosque. From this building the same message has been preached for the past fifty years, that mosques are centres of spreading love, peace, affection and the worship of the One God.

Today, the number of mosques of the Ahmadiyya Community, Ahmadiyya Jama’at in Germany , has reached to almost 35 or 40. You will not hear voices or slogans of hatred or of those who spread disorder from any single one of these mosques. If any voice is raised, it is the call to worship the One God and to fulfil the rights of His Creation. And this is not only in Germany .

The Ahmadiyya Jama’at has thousands of mosques all over the world. From not a single one can it be proved that hatred is being spread, or that even minor distress is caused; nor has it ever happened.

Nonetheless, I say with great sorrow that in the West a wave has been unleashed in some countries, and by certain classes, that, without distinction, every Muslim ought to be considered a terrorist, and that Islam teaches terrorism. From time to time they raise their voices against Islam.

The most recent example is the referendum held in Switzerland , and it has been quoted by two of our honourable speakers: putting a ban on the minarets of mosques. According to newspaper reports, it was German-speaking Swiss people who cast the majority of the votes in favour of the ban.

I cannot understand how changing the shape or cosmetics of the mosque will change the character of those who come to worship at the mosque. If we suppose that mosques are the breeding grounds of teachings of hatred, then by not building minarets will these teachings of hatred suddenly cease? These hatreds and animosities will not cease in this way, rather such acts will cause distress amongst the peace-loving majority of Muslims. Their feelings are being played upon through this action.

On the one hand they claim, I mean the Western Governments, to be secular, and on the other, they place restrictions upon religious freedom. By doing this they have tried to counter extremism with extremism. When these types of thoughtless solutions are employed, then the reaction will likewise be senseless.

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at, under the supervision of Khilafat, never reacts in a wrong manner. We even respond to abuse with prayers. In certain Muslim countries, there are restrictions on the minarets and arches of our mosques, yet we remain silent. However, non-Ahmadi Muslims can react in an extreme way and this has happened in the past.

Thus I implore all of you, the educated class of Germans, to continue to display the open-heartedness that you have shown in the past. You should certainly acquire the good things from your neighbours but avoid the bad. The minarets of mosques are symbols of spreading light, and from where the call is raised that God is Greatest, and that there is none worthy of worship except Him, and that Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, is His Messenger and Servant; come to the mosque to worship because you can only establish peace in the world by developing a relationship with your Creator, with Allah; and come towards success because it is only through worship of Him and by maintaining peace in the world that success can be achieved.

Thus, this is the purpose of the minaret, and if any other voice is raised apart from this, from any minaret, it is against the teachings of Islam. It is the responsibility of the Government to punish such criminals, rather than punishing every peace-loving person for the crimes of one misguided individual.

World peace cannot be achieved in this way. Walls of hatred are certainly erected because of this, and to bring down these walls of hatred the Holy Qur’an has taught us in Chapter 5, verse 9:

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.

This is Islam’s beautiful teaching: that if the relationship between people and countries can sometimes sour, this does not mean that you can discard the requirements of justice. If you discard the requirements of justice then that will be far removed from righteousness; and one who is far removed from righteousness, has no relationship with God. Such a person’s actions are not for the sake of God, because God says that if you want to come close to Him, then you must discharge the rights of others by fulfilling the requirements of justice. Even your enemy should not suffer unnecessarily from you.

At another place, the Holy Qur’an states that the recompense of an injury should be proportionate to the injury itself, but if one chooses to forgive and that act of forgiveness brings about reformation, then it is better, because the reward for such forgiveness is given by God Himself. These are the methods for the reformation of society and these are the ways for establishing peace that have been taught to us by Islam.

And, according to our beliefs, to give a fresh lease of life to this teaching, Allah sent the Founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at as the Promised Messiah for this age, who proclaimed the concept of love, affection and peace to bring an end to religious extremism and religious wars. He inclined us to take care of the religious sentiments of others.

This is exactly in accordance with the teachings of Islam: that one should not say anything against even the idols of non-believers, lest they say something about your God, and it destroys the peace of society.

As I said before, speaking ill against the founders of religions and the observance of religious customs creates hatred and destroys peace. The world is immersed in such problems today.

Economic and social problems have caused unrest and such conditions themselves are the cause of creating disorder. Adding religion to this instability is not a sensible idea, even though it is common knowledge that there are some people with vested interests who are in search of creating disarray.

Thus, by reference to today’s function I will request that for the sake of societal peace, we must be considerate of each other’s religious sentiments. In this age, due to our trade and media contacts and fast means of transport, we now call the world a ‘global village’. Therefore, in every country, each religion should have complete freedom, so long as it does not harm the peace of the country.

The followers of any religion should be able to practice their religious customs freely, otherwise if the government will interfere with religion, in this civilised world, such interference will negate their claim to being secular and discharging the rights of others.

I conclude my speech by saying that every person should try to discharge the rights of his Creator and Creation, rather than trying to usurp the rights of mankind, so that peace can be established in the world.

Finally, I would like to once again thank all of you who participated in our function and by doing so displayed your openheartedness.

Thank you very much.

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Ahmadi Soldier killed in line of duty buried

with full military honours in Rabwah

Posted by Abdul Alim

Rabwah.net:

An Ahmadi SOLDIER who died fighting the Taliban in the Tirah Valley was buried in Rabwah

with full military honors.

Qaiser Naveed Bhatti, 24 of Chak 23 District Nankana died in a firefight with the the Taliban in

Tirah Valley. His body was taken to his hometown by Captain Deedar Baig from where it was brought to Rabwah where he was buried with full military honors. Naveed Bhatti had got

married three months ago.

Pakistani Army has been battling Taliban militants in the mountains of the adjoining Khyber tribal

district in recent months.

The fiercest fighting is taking place in the Tirah Valley of Khyber, along the Afghan border, where the military is arrayed against Mangal Bagh, a local warlord affiliated with the Pakistani Taliban.

Several police officers blamed the ambivalent attitude of the newly elected provincial government,

led by Imran Khan, a former cricket star, for declining morale.

Mr. Khan’s Tehreek-e-Insaf party favors talks with the Taliban over fighting, and his officials

frequently frame militant violence as a reaction to American drone strikes in the tribal belt.

“What we need is a pat on the back, not daily derision,” one senior official said.
“If Khan says this is not our war, then what does he think we are doing here sacrificing our lives?”

More; 

Read more: http://www.themuslimtimes.org/2013/07/asia/ahmadi-soldier-killed-in-line-of-duty-buried-with-full-military-honours-in-rabwah#ixzz2aRBSDTF0

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Islam Enjoins to Believe

in All the Prophets

Posted by Zia Shah

By A. Abdul Aziz

Our universe and all that it contains is the creation of Allah, the Wise. He has created every thing with a purpose and to achieve that purpose
He has provided all necessary guidance and means. He has created man in His own image and has made him the chief of His creation. Both good and bad have been made manifestly clear to man. He has also been blessed with wisdom by which he can find out the right path, can sift right from wrong and truth from falsehood. The Holy Quran tells us that man has been endowed with both spiritual and physical eyes by which he can distinguish good from evil and has been given a tongue and two lips that he might ask for guidance, and above all God has placed before him a supreme object of his life that he may devote all his faculties and energies to achieve it.

Man has been granted the choice of both selection and action. Hence he is the master of his own destiny.

To achieve the object of life, God, out of His benevolence raises prophets, who serve as models.
These prophets have been appearing in every people and in all parts of the world. Their mission has always been to guide mankind to its Creator, through their example and model. The guidance revealed through each prophet was designed to cater for the specific needs of the time and location; hence they were essentially temporary in nature. With the advancement and maturity of mankind God sent advanced and matured teachings suitable to their time. God’s guidance for human race commenced through Adam (peace be upon him) and reached the zenith through Mohammed (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him).

According to one saying of the prophet Mohammed the number of prophets who were chosen to convey the message of God to mankind is 124,000. The names of all of them are not mentioned anywhere. However the Holy Quran states in very clear words,

“There are no people (in the world) to whom We have not sent a Warner.” (35:25 )

Belief in all the prophets and their messages is an integral part of the belief of every Muslim.
The Holy Quran states,

“This messenger of Ours believes in that which has been revealed to him from his Lord, and so do the believers; all of them believe in Allah, and in His angels, and in His Books, and in His Messengers, saying, ‘We make no distinction between any of His Messengers.’ ” (2: 286)

 In prophethood all are equal but their ranks are different as is clear from the following verse of the Holy Quran,

These Messengers have We exalted some of them above others; among them there are those
whom Allah spoke; and some of them He exalted in degrees of rank…’ (2:254).

 So wherever and to whichever people prophets have been sent, they are our (Muslims) prophets as well, and we hold them in great reverence. In the following pages a brief history of a few of them is given for the benefit of the reader.

The fourth fundamental article of faith in Islam, as mentioned, is belief in all the prophets. This article is in fact a logical conclusion
 to the third one. The same philosophy as underlies the belief in all books also necessitates belief in all the prophets. The Holy Quran speaks of the many prophets who mostly belong to the Middle Eastern line of prophethood, beginning with Adam upto the time of Muhammad, peace be upon him. But there are exceptions to the rule. There are two things which are specifically mentioned in the Quran
relating to this issue:

a) Although the names and short histories of some prophets were revealed to the Holy Founder of Islam, the list is in no way
 exhaustive. They are just specimen names, and there are a large number of prophets do not find mention in the Quran.

b) In the list of prophets who are specifically mentioned, there are certain names which do not seem to belong to the prophets of Israel. Many commentators therefore are inclined to believe that they are non-Arab prophets who are included in the list just for the sake of representation of the outer world. For instance, Dhul-Kifl is one name in the list of prophets which is unheard of in the Arab or Semitic references. Some scholars seem to have traced this name to Buddha, who was of Kapeel, which was the capital of a small state situated on the border of India and Nepal. Buddha not only belonged to Kapeel, but was many a time referred to as being ‘Of Kapeel’. This is exactly what is meant by the word ‘Dhul-Kifl’. It should be remembered that the consonant ‘p’ is not present in Arabic, and the nearest one to it is ‘fa’. Hence, Kapeel transliterated into Arabic becomes Kifl.

Apart from the evidence of the Quran, there is one reference which is controversial among the commentators.
There is a tradition reported from the Holy Prophet (PBUH) which speaks of an Indian prophet by name. In his words:

Kana fil hinthi nabiyyan aswathal lawni ismuhu Kahinan  - it means:

There was a prophet of God in India who was dark in colour and his name was Kahan.

 Now anyone acquainted with the history of Indian religions would immediately connect this description to Lord Krishna, who is invariably described in the Hindu literature as being dark of complexion. Also, the title Kanhaya is added to his name Krishna.
 Kanhaya contains the same consonants K,N,H as does the name Kahan — in no way an insignificant similarity. But whether any non-Arab prophet was mentioned by name or not is only an academic discussion. There is no denying the fact that the Holy Quran makes it incumbent on every Muslim not only to believe in all the prophets, but it also clearly informs us that in every region of the
world and in every age, God did raise messengers and prophets.

This belief in principle in the truth of the founding prophets and also the minor prophets of other religions is a unique declaration of the Quran, absent in all other divine books. It throws light on the universality of creation as well as on the universality of Islam itself.
If the Quranic claim that the teachings of the Quran are for the entire world is true, then it has to recognise the truth of all prophets.

Otherwise the followers of so many different religions will not find any connecting bridge between themselves and Islam.

The recognition of the truth of all books and the recognition of the truth of all prophets is a revolutionary declaration which has many benefits for man as a whole. Among other things, it powerfully paves the way for inter-religious peace and harmony. How can one be at peace with the followers of other religions if one considers them to be impostors and if one monopolizes the truth only for the religious divines of one’s own faith?

It is a universal observation that the followers of various religions tend to know very little about the doctrinal aspects of their own religions. It is the ordained priesthood or other leaders who seem to be the custodians of religious knowledge, and it is to them that the common people turn when they stand in need of religious guidance. Such people are far more sensitive to the question of the honour of their prophets and divines than they are even on the issue of God and His honour.

Apart from Islam, none of the divine books of religions bear testimony to the truth of the founders of other religions. The absence of any recognition of the truth of prophets other than their own has insulated religions from one another, each one claiming to monopolise truth, each viewing the prophets of other religions as impostors. Although in every day life we do not find this expressed in such strong terms, the hard reality remains, that if the followers of any religion take their beliefs seriously, they have to consider all other religions to be false, even at their sources. It is impossible to conceive a Christian, a true believer in Christianity as he understands it today, who would testify to the truth of Buddha, Krishna and Zoroaster. Particularly, the Christian stance against the Holy Prophet (PBUH) of Islam is exactly the one mentioned above; they have to denounce him as an impostor, otherwise the only alternative for them is to become Muslims. The orientalists discussing this subject have always maintained this position very clearly, many among them having gone to the extent of showing undisguised hostility towards the founder of Islam on the premise that he had to be false. The same applies
 to other religions alike.

Although in everyday life we do not come across such glaring examples of discourtesy and insult, but whether one keeps one’s views to oneself or expresses them openly, the barrier still remains. It is evident from this that the followers of all religions have compartmentalised themselves against all others, and the barrier between truth and falsehood, right or wrong does succeed in preventing the religious harmony so much needed by man today.

Of course, there are very civilized and educated Christians in the world, who out of courtesy would not offend the sensibilities of Muslims by denouncing the Holy Prophet (PBUH) of Islam as an impostor. However the Christians, in accordance with their beliefs, have no option but to reject the truth of the founder of Islam. In the case of a Muslim however, it is a completely different story.
When he speaks of Jesus Christ or Moses or Krishna or Buddha with veneration and love, he does so because he has no other option.
It is a part of the fundamental article of his faith to extend not just a human courtesy, but to genuinely believe in their truth and honour.
In the light of this, this article of faith appears to hold an importance of global scale. It establishes inter- religious peace and harmony and genuinely creates an atmosphere of mutual trust and love. Like the Unity of God it holds the intrinsic quality of being irreplaceable — there is no alternative.

The Founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community (Jama’at) – the Promised Messiah, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian, has summarized the Islamic belief in other prophets as follows:

One of the principles which forms the basis of my belief refers to the established religions of the world. These religions have met with wide acceptance in various regions of the earth. They have acquired a measure of age, and have reached a stage of maturity. God has informed me that none of these religions were false at their source and none of the prophets impostors.

This is a beautiful principle, which promotes peace and harmony, and which lays the foundation for reconciliation, and which helps the moral condition of man. All prophets that have appeared in the world, regardless of whether they dwelt in India or Persia or China, or in some other country, we believe in the truth of them, one and all.

 With the establishment of this fact that there had to be prophets all over the world in all ages who originated from God, the stage seems to be set for a universal prophet. The acceptance of a universal prophet requires a reciprocity. When you expect others to believe in someone you consider to be true, it would certainly help if you bear witness to the truth of such holy people in whom the other party has unshakeable faith.

Islam therefore lays down the foundation for the universality of a single prophet. As such the claim of the Quran — that the Holy Prophet (PBUH) was raised not only for Arabia but for the whole of mankind — is founded on a sound philosophy.
We find mention in every religion of a utopian future or golden age when all mankind would be brought under the one flag. But there does not seem to be any foundation laid for the unification of man in his beliefs and dogmas. It was for the first time in the history of religion that Islam paved the way for a universal religion by the declaration that all the people of the world, at different times, were blessed with the advent of divine messengers.

According to the Holy Quran, the institution of prophethood is universal and timeless. There are two terms used to indicate the same office, each with slightly different connotations. The term An-Nabi has the connotation of prophecy. Those whom God chooses to represent Him are implanted with the knowledge of certain important events regarding the future. They are also told of things past, which were unknown to the people, and his knowledge of them stand as a sign of his being informed by an All-Knowing Being. Prophecy as such establishes the truth of the prophets, so that people may submit to them and accept their message.

The second term used in connection with prophets, is Al-Rasool or Messenger. This refers to such contents of the prophet’s revelation as deal with important messages to be delivered to mankind on God’s behalf. Those messages could be speaking of a new code of law, or they could simply be admonishing people for their past lapses in reference to previous revealed laws.

Both these functions unite in a single person, and as such all prophets can be termed as messengers, and all messengers as prophets.

According to Islam, all prophets are human beings and none bear superhuman characteristics. Wherever some miracles are attributed
to prophets, which are understood to indicate their superhuman character, the categorical and clear statements of the Quran reject such a notion. Raising of the dead is one of such miracles attributed to certain prophets. Although similar descriptions are found in many divine scriptures or religious books, according to the Quran they are not meant to be taken literally, but have a metaphorical connotation.
For instance, it is attributed to Jesus (peace be on him) that he raised the dead into a new life. But the Holy Quran speaks of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in the same terms, with the same words being applied to his miracle of spiritual revival. Similar is the case of creating birds out of clay and causing them to fly in the name of God. These birds are only human beings who are bestowed
with the faculty of spiritual flight, as against the earthly people.

No prophet is granted an exceptionally long term of life which makes him distinctly different and above the brotherhood of prophets to which he belongs. Nor is any prophet mentioned as having risen bodily to remote recesses of the universe. Wherever there is such mention, it is spiritual ascent which is meant, not bodily ascent, which the Quran categorically declares is against the character of prophets.

When the Holy Founder of Islam was required by the People of the Book to physically ascend to heaven and bring back a book, the answer which God taught him was simply this:

Say to them: ‘My Lord is far above (such childish conduct). I am no more than a human

being and a prophet.’ Holy Qur’an – Surah Bani-Israel (Ch. 17: V.94)

 This answer rejects all claims about other prophets who are understood to have ascended physically to heaven.
The argument implied in this answer is that no human being and no prophet can rise bodily to heaven, otherwise the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) could also have repeated the same miracle. The emphasis on the human characteristics of prophets and their human limitations is one of the most beautiful features of fundamental Islamic teachings. Prophets rise above their fellow human beings not because they were gifted with superhuman qualities, but only because they gave a better account of the qualities that they had been gifted with.
They remained human despite having ascended to great spiritual heights, and their conduct as such is inimitable by other human beings.

On the issue of continuity of prophecy, Islam categorically declares the Holy Prophet (PBUH) of

Islam to be the last of the law- bearing prophets and the Quran to be the last Divine book of law,

perfected and protected till the end of time. Obviously a book which is perfect and also protected from interpolation transcends alteration. No change is warranted on both counts. As long as a book is perfect and protected from human interpolation,
no change is justified.

As far as prophecy other than law-bearing prophecy is concerned, the possibility of its continuity is clearly mentioned in the Quran.
Again there are clear prophecies about such divine Founder of Islam and the Holy Book  – the Quran. The following verse
of Surah Al-Nisa leaves no ambiguity about this:

And whoso obeys Allah and this Messenger of His shall be among those on whom Allah has bestowed His blessings, namely, the Prophets, the Truthful, the Martyrs, and the Righteous. Surah Al-Nisa (Ch. 4: V.70)

 In short, Islam is declared in the Quran to be the last perfected religion for the benefit of mankind,

after which no new teaching would be revealed to annul the teachings of Islam, nor would a new independent prophet
be born outside the domain of Islam; any new prophet would be completely subordinate to the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

The prophets always came to deliver a message. 

That message was not confined to the areas of beliefs, but also covered the areasre of practices and implementation of the beliefs.

The teachings are divided into two large categories:

1 How to improve one’s relationship with God.

2. How to conduct oneself in relation to one’s fellow human beings.

These two categories in fact cover all aspects of religious laws.

We cannot enter into a lengthy discussion of how this task is carried out to perfection in Islam,

but perhaps it would be appropriate to illustrate a few important features of this teaching of universal character.

Read more: http://www.themuslimtimes.org/2013/07/ahmadiyyat-true-islam/islam-enjoins-to-believe-in-all-the-prophets#ixzz2aR3e6PU5


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----- Forwarded Message -----
From: od eenj <ode...@yahoo.com>
To:
Sent: Sunday, July 28, 2013 7:09 PM
Subject: Fw: Extremism in Islam ???

1,000 Pak Ahmadiyyas in India for annual meeting

Posted by Amtul Mussawir Mansoor

Source: Times of India

AMRITSAR: A group of more than a 1,000 Pakistani Ahmadiyya Muslims

has arrived here to attend annual conference to be held in Qadian from

December 26 to 28.

The conference gives Pakistani Ahmadiyya Muslims an opportunity to meet their relatives in India and some also fix marriages of their wards.

“We always wait for the conference so we can visit India and perform our religious rituals without any fear,” said a Pakistani Ahmadiyya Muslim.

He said the incidents of attack on Ahmadiyyas in Pakistan by fundamentalists were on the rise and they weren’t getting any help from government.

Former military ruler of Pakistan General Zia-ul-Haq had issued an ordinance in 1984 forbidding Ahmadiyyas to call themselves Muslims. They were also barred from worshiping in non-Ahmadiyya mosques or even using traditional Islamic greeting in public.

Read More:

Read more: http://www.themuslimtimes.org/2011/12/countries/india/1000-pak-ahmadiyyas-in-india-for-annual-meeting#ixzz2aLZA0UHp

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“Love for all, Hatred for none” –

Message from a 124-year-old Islamic sect’s

Baitur Rahman mosque in Delta

Posted by Salma Javid Khan

Source: theprovince.com

From left, imam Balal Khokhar, Ahmadiyya Muslim president Rizwan Peerzada and regional president Muhammad Chaudhry outside the $8-million Baitur Rahman mosque in Delta, which opened in June. Ric Ernst/PNG
Photograph by: Ric Ernst , PROVINCE

Terrorist acts committed by Islamic extremists around the world have made life difficult at times for

Muslims living in B.C.

Leaders at the new Baitur Rahman mosque in Delta, aware of TV-fed perceptions, are at pains to emphasize their ­friendly intentions.

“We promote love for all and hatred for none,” says Rizwan Peerzada, president of a 124-year-old

Islamic sect known as Ahmadiyya Muslim.

Ahmadi is a relatively new branch of Islam — Shia and Sunni are others — which has millions

of followers in 200 countries around the world.

Regional president Muhammad Chaudhry says fanatics can “hijack” religions for their own purposes.

“It happens in other religions, too, not just Muslims. They exploit and use the name of religion for their

own ends,” he says.

As a result of bombings such as 9/11, the mosque’s religious leader, Balal Khokhar, has been cursed while delivering flyers door-to-door in Metro Vancouver.

“Sometimes people think Islam is a very violent religion, but they are mistaken,” he says.

“People get their impressions from television, where Muslims as a group have been portrayed as terrorists. However, a very small number cause disorder and havoc,” he says.

Khokhar wants to assure Canadians that love of country is part of the Ahmadi faith. He says:

Wherever we live, we have to be loyal to the country we are in. All of us in this country have different backgrounds, but we are Canadians. We want to understand each other and work together.

The $8-million mosque, which opened its doors in June, is one of the largest in the country.

At 33,000 square feet, its main sanctuary holds almost 1,000 people. There are also classrooms and a gymnasium, which the leaders are eager to share with the community.

The mosque’s leaders are fond of philosophical debate and have criss-crossed the province sponsoring ­discussions with many different faiths.

One topic that comes up is why suffering exists in the world if there is a God.

Chaudhry says Muslims believe sufferings are a blessing because all progress is based on suffering.

“For instance, a woman goes through the pain of pregnancy…

continue reading at  theprovince.com

Read more: http://www.themuslimtimes.org/2013/08/religion/islam/love-for-all-hatred-for-none-message-from-a-124-year-old-islamic-sects-baitur-rahman-mosque-in-delta#ixzz2asuvRmid


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Ahmadi Muslim Invites Pope Benedict XVI To Islam.

fazalahmadi just uploaded a video:

Ahmadi Muslim Invites Pope Benedict XVI To Islam.

Members of Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama'at Invites Pope Benedict XVI to Islam.

 More

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Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Japan Sends a Powerful Message of Peace & Love to Japanese people

Posted by Salma Javid Khan

Ahmadiyya Book Stall at the 20th Tokyo International Book Fair 2013 which was held at Tokyo Big Sight and visited by more than 80,000 people.

Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama`t Japan which is the oldest Islamic organization in Japan was established in 1935 and members of the community are very friendly and peace loving. Now they are trying to make Japanese society aware about Islam as the message of peace and hope.

Members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Japan want people to know that terrorism and violence have no place in their religion Islam.

First Japanese Ahmadi Muslim Mr.Uwais Kobayashi`s presence gave courage to young Ahmadi volunteers to promote the campaign.

Mr.Anees Ahmad Nadeem President & Missionary In-charge Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Japan said in his interview to NHK radio that:

We’re trying to dispel that thought that many people  Islam is a religion of violence. We categorically reject any violence, especially in the name of Islam or religion,”

Mr.Ismatullah National Secretary tabligh explained that

We have to follow the true teachings of Islam to attaining inner peace and peace for our society”

Two young scholars from Jamia Ahmadiyya Canada Mr.Ayaz & Hizqeel said:

We are trying to convey the true message of Islam. We don’t believe in any terrorism or anything like that. We, in the Ahmadiyya Muslim community, believe in peace and blessings”.

“Japanese scholars, university students and people from the media were  very impressed,” said Mr.Anees Ahmad Nadeem and added that:

“They enjoy seeing the peaceful side of Islam that is rarely portrayed in the news.”

More pics from the event:

Ather Ahmad Dar

Secretary Isha`t
日本アハマディア.ムスリム協会

Read more: http://www.themuslimtimes.org/2013/07/religion/islam/ahmadiyya-muslim-community-japan-sends-a-powerful-message-of-peace-love-to-japanese-people#ixzz2ay0NoU1X


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