Written by: Deeba Chaudhry
Source: Calgary Ahmadiyya Muslim Examiner
http://www.examiner.com/article/khilafat-day-khilafat-divine-institution-of-spiritual-successorship
Monday 28 May 2012
Khilafat Day: “Khilafat” Divine Institution of Spiritual Successorship
Written by: Deeba Chaudhry
Source: Calgary Ahmadiyya Muslim Examiner
http://www.examiner.com/article/khilafat-day-khilafat-divine-institution-of-spiritual-successorship
Social Degradation: Chastity Prevents Marital Infidelity and De-Moralization
Written by: Deeba Chaudhry
Source: Calgary Ahmadiyya Muslim Examiner
Nuclear Club and World War III: Establishment of World Peace Through Dialogue
Written by: Deeba Chaudhry
Mother`s Day - A Tribute: Mother is a Perfect Model of Loyalty and Dedication
Written by: Deeba Chaudhry
Source: Calgary Ahmadiyya Muslim Examiner
“Mother” a woman who conceives, gives birth to, or raises and nurtures a child - a model of loyalty and dedication. Someone who loves unconditionally and places the needs of her children above her own, on a personal level. The moment a child is born, the mother is also born. Have you ever wondered what goes on to make a good mother? Mothers comprise of a bundle of emotions that sometimes defy reason. So this goes out to all the mothers who have kept awake all night with their sick toddlers in their arms, constantly uttering those compassionate words, "It's OK honey, Mommy's here." For those who show up at work with milk stains on their dress and diapers in their handbags. For those mothers who cannot restrain tears from trickling down their cheeks when they hold their babies for the first time in their arms. For the mother who defy all odds just to watch her kid perform and repeat to themselves "That's my child!!" For all the mothers who read "Goodnight, Moon" twice a night for a year, and then read it again. "Just one more time." For the mothers who taught their children to tie the shoelaces even before they started going to school. For the mothers who incontinently turn their heads when they hear the word "Mom", even though they know that their kids are nowhere around. For all those mothers whose heart aches to watch her son or daughter disappear down the street, walking to school alone for the very first time. For all those mothers of fortunate children, who really care, worry about their food, clothes, health, education, future and whole life from the bottom of their hearts. Mother: who teaches a child how to speak, how to eat, and how to live. Mother is a mentor, a teacher and a remarkable woman. So, this is meant for all the modern day wives, young and aged mothers, working mothers and housewives, married mothers and the single mothers, those with money and without and for those without whom life would have been insufferable. I remember my mother's prayers and they have always followed me. They have clung to me all my life.
“Mother`s Day” a day is celebrated around the world and in many countries it is usually observed second week of May each year. The women who carried us inside of them for nine months, who gave birth to us, who raised us, who nurtured us and made us who we are, deserve our respect and love. People all over the world wish their mothers the day and also give them Mother's Day cards, gifts and many other things for the acknowledgement of her motherly love. When we study the history of the Mother's Day we find its origin in the ancient Greece when people enjoy spring celebrations for Rhea, a goddess mother of the Gods. But this particular day for people of this age was first celebrated in England during 1600's as "Mothering Sunday". A special cake named "Mothering Cake" was used to celebrate the Mother`s Day. Mr. Woodrow Wilson, the 28th President of the United States announced the 2nd Sunday of May every year a national holiday for honouring mothers. Mothers are the most beautiful and precious gift of the Creature to His creation. When a baby born, Allah frees his/her mother for a period from any kind of worship of Allah as "Namaz", fasting and other prayers for her child. As many people think that she is not able to offer prayers due to physical condition but here is a point to note that if Allah wanted her to pray even in that time, He would make her able to pray. But Allah wanted mother to keep close to her child in those days. In that period mother lives with her child and gets to know all the needs of her child.
In this time and age, when we study history of religions, the first example of child and mother bonding we can find which is recorded in the history that when Hadhrat Abraham (peace be upon him) left his child and his wife Hagar in that barren land of Arabia, Hagar ran after him and asked Abraham, Are you leaving us here? He did not answer. Then she asked him again saying, Are you leaving us here by the command of God? Abraham (peace be upon him) just pointed towards the sky. She understood this and said, Then God will not waste us, and returned to the baby. What a faithful lady she was! She trusted in God and He provided her with all the necessary things and protected them. The child grew in that atmosphere, under those circumstances and in due course this place became a town.
The second example we can find of a great mother in the history of religions which is also mentioned in the Old Testament, “And when she could no longer hide him, she took for him an ark of bul-rushes and daubed it with slime and with pitch, and put the child therein; and she laid it in the flags by the river’s brink. And his sister stood afar off, to wit what would be done to him. And the daughter of Pharaoh came down to wash herself at the river; and her maidens walked along by the river-side; and when she saw the ark among the flags, she sent her maid to fetch it. And when she had opened it, she saw the child; and behold, the babe wept. And she had compassion on him; and said, this is one of the Hebrews children. Then said his sister to Pharaoh’s daughter, shall I go and call to thee a nurse of the Hebrew women, that she may nurse the child for thee? And Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, go. And the maid went and called the child’s mother. And Pharaoh’s daughter said unto her, take this child away, and nurse it for me, and I will give thee thy wages. And the women took the child, and nursed it. And the child grew, and she brought him unto Pharaoh’s daughter, and became her son. And she called his name Moses; and she said, because I drew him out of the water.” (Exodus 2:3) This statement from the Bible in essence is very close to what we have in the Holy Quran as an accurate account of Moses (peace be upon him). The mother of Moses was a very sincere believer and had a living relationship with God. After the birth of Moses (peace be upon him) she suckled him as God had directed her and when she felt otherwise then without any hesitation she placed the infant Moses in the ark (28:8, 20:40) and floated it in the river and directed her daughter to follow it. The daughter kept the watch over the ark in such a way that no one could perceive it. The ark was picked up by a member of the family of Pharaoh who happened to be bathing in the river. The ark was brought to the palace of Pharaoh, where his wife saw the beautiful Israelite baby. She was attracted towards the infant and pleaded with the husband saying, “... He will be a joy for my eyes and for you also, slay him not, hopefully he may prove to be useful for us or we may adopt him as a son.” (28:10) Then she sent for wet nurses for the baby. The baby did not accept any one of those who came. Meanwhile Moses (peace be upon him) sister managed to reach there and offered a solution to the problem saying, “... Shall I direct you to a people of a household who will bring him up for you and will be his sincere well-wishers?” (28:13)
They agreed and Pharaoh approached the mother of Moses (peace be upon him) for the nursing and upbringing of the child. She readily agreed to their proposal and the baby was given to her for upbringing and training on the expense of Pharaoh. The mother of Moses (peace be upon him) was so delighted over the return of her child according to Allah’s promise that she could hardly control her emotions. Her faith in Allah became even more solid. She was fully convinced that this child would be a prophet of Allah in due course as Allah had informed her earlier. So she spared no efforts in upbringing the child in the best manner. Moses (peace be upon him) had such a holy mother for benevolent care and guidance and a mighty monarch as guardian unto his manhood. He had a healthy and wholesome affect of his mother, overriding the evil ways and manner of his guardian monarch. He developed manly qualities of might and power and valor from palace on the one hand, and learned good manners and self-control over them from the pious mother on the other.
On the edge of Roman Empire there was a small country Palestine. In the Northern part of this country in a small hilly town called Nazareth, lived a girl named Mary. Her father’s name was Imran and mother’s was Hannah. Hannah made a vow before the birth of the child that she would dedicate her child life to the service of the Temple. Mary was not an ordinary girl, rather God has bestowed on her those qualities, which made her very special and extra ordinary child, as Hannah was hoping for. The Temple was headed by Zachariah, the High Priest, who according to the Holy Qura’an was also a Prophet of God. Thus according to God’s design, Mary was brought up under Zachariah’s holy and benign care. It is reported that right from her childhood she spent most of her time in the remembrance of God. Moreover, God had granted her not only material things but also wisdom that even at an early age she could interpret the Scriptures and answer complex questions in such a manner which were really beyond her age. This surprised Zachariah and addressed her, he said, “O’ Mary! Whence have you got all this?” She replied, “From Allah, of course. Surely, He gives His bounties to whomsoever He pleases Him without measure.” (Ch. 3:38)
Mary grew from childhood to womanhood in the church and lived a pious and chaste life. During her devotion she saw visions and was strengthened in her faith by the words of God. Angel told her that God had chosen her over all the ladies of her time. She should therefore remain devotedly engaged in His worship alone. She was in this state of devotion when one day she saw an angel in the form of a man, who conveyed her glad news from God that she would have a son. After receiving news from the angel, Mary felt conceived with the command of God in November or December of that year. On realizing this, she understood that God had changed her lifestyle and she could no longer continue her devotion in the church. Mary went to the east in Bethlehem, about seventy miles south of Nazareth to avoid the public eye. She had no one to help her in her difficulties except God. Having full trust in God and through the guidance from Him alone, she completed her time of pregnancy. At the time of delivery, Mary was strengthened by revelation and directed to the nearby rivulet and the ripe dates on the date palms standing at the slope close by her. She delivered Jesus (peace be upon him) in pain and was exhausted but soon regained strength by the dates and water. She followed the instructions of God and avoided communication with people and remained devoted to Him.
Why it is important to honour our mother? In some countries like Pakistan most of the children always hesitate to say their moms that they love her. There are some people in Pakistan wish their moms on Mother's Day and give them a gift or even say a line "Mom I love you". In every culture, people have different ways to express love for their families. Every cultural is unique and people act according to their traditions and social values. It is very much surprising that we feel hesitation to express our love for the personality who knows us more than any other person on the earth. I believe every day should be a Mother`s Day because, one year is too long to wait. Mother is such a precious jewel, most valuable pearl and most respectful person on this planet. It is the most important right of mother that a child should appreciate that she carried him (in her womb) the way nobody carries anybody. She fed him the fruits of her heart which nobody feeds anybody. She protected him (during pregnancy) with her ears, eyes, hands, legs, hair, limbs, (in short) with her whole being, gladly, cheerfully, and carefully, suffering patiently all the worries, pains, difficulties, and sorrows. Then this loving mother was most happy, feeding her child forgetting her own hunger, clothing him, giving him milk and food not caring her own, keeping him healthy, even if she had to suffer, giving him every comfort with her own hardships, lulling him to sleep while keeping herself awake.
However, we can never repay our mothers for what they have done for us, but we can at least try, and also ask Allah to bless her. Motherhood presents us with a model of loyalty and dedication. Our mothers are indeed a great blessing from Allah the Almighty. We should appreciate and value this blessing as much as we can. Whilst our mothers are alive, we have a golden opportunity to serve them, help them and make this world a paradise for them. How we can make this happen? We make them valuable by listening our mothers, being thankful our mothers, and being good to our mothers. We can make our mother happy by leading a good life. We can make our mother happy by having a good characteristics. One of the most important and effective way to show our love and affection to our mothers is to give them a gift. In this regard we should not forget any event as your mother's birthday, their wedding anniversary, mother's day or any events related to her according to our cultural and religious values. You should know about the likes of your mother, you can give her a photo frame with her picture of any memorable event as her wedding or any other. We can also bring a cake or ice cream for our mother. Another way to show our love to our mothers is to spend time with our moms at home. If it is difficult for due to the different duties, we should try to spare some time to spend with mother. We should express our love and affection for her. We can make her life comfortable by helping her in the household chores. In the modern society, many Families make a special Mother's Day dinner or take mom out to her favourite restaurant for a meal. It is a good day to let your mom relax and let her see what a wonderful family she has.
Life as an Alien: Identity of Muslim Woman
Written by: Deeba Chaudhry
Source: Calgary Ahmadiyya Muslim Examiner
Read article:
First of all, I do not really have idea where I come from, where I belong to and which country is my home. Whenever someone ask me, I stop for a moment and wonder what is it people really want to know about me. Who am I? Is that, they want to know where I was born? Where I grew up? Where I have lived as a grown up human being? Where I live now a days? And sometimes, I also wonder, if they asking about my religion? It troubles me to be so scattered, so fragmented, so much removed from a center of thought. I am all and at the same time I am nothing. I believe its easy to answer these question for someone and even fun. Just like someone said, “home is where the heart is.” Perhaps this is true! Peace and love has always been magnet for humankind. It is half the sky, the raggedy part that needs to be there for us for the safety, for the freedom, and for the acceptance. It is a name as long as history with enough vowels for each of its children to claim.
Read article:
Friday 20 April 2012
Why do Ahmadis not perform Hajj?
Posted on April 19th, 2012
This is a nonsense objection, how can Ahmadi Muslims go for Hajj when it is the Muslims themselves who are preventing them? Every Muslim must perform Hajj once in their lifetime, unless either the way is prevented, ill health or they cannot afford it. Ahmadi Muslims are prevented to go to Mecca for Hajj by the Saudi Government! Furthermore, in Pakistan, you have to sign a form if you want to perform Hajj and Umra and on that form you are required to declare Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, may peace be upon him, as a false prophet! No Ahmadi Muslim can sign such a form. Hajj is a rite in Islam which you do purely for Allah’s sake to attain the Nearness and Blessings of Allah. All worldly things should be left behind, even your clothes, as you are required to put on two white unsewn clothes – Ihram and so leave all worldly things behind, all fashion cloths etc. and instead everyone is the same, all Muslims striving for the same objectives. If that is the case, then why are they bringing politics into it! Who are they to say who can do Hajj or not! No doubt they will say that Hajj is only for Muslims, but if we declare the Kalima – la illaha illallaho Muhammad ur Rasoolullah, then who can tell us we are non-Muslims? Only Allah will judge if we are Muslims or not. It is not for the Saudi Government or the Pakistan Government to decide if we are Muslims or not. That being the case, then they have no right to prevent us. And then after preventing us from going to Hajj, then have the nerve to say we are not Muslims because we don’t go for Hajj! May Allah have mercy on them.
The fact is that many Ahmadi Muslims do go for Hajj, but they are unable to go from Pakistan. Fortunately there are many countries in the world who do not have the narrow mindedness of the Pakistan legislative and so don’t put such conditions when applying. When Ahmadi Muslims go for Hajj or Umra, then they go for Allah’s sake. Even in Sri Lanka, few Ahmadi Muslims have performed Hajj. They don’t have to declare what beliefs they have, they go as submissive servants of Allah. But there are over 73 sects in Islam, they all have different beliefs, so whose is the right belief. Is it Sunni Muslims, so therefore no Shi’ite Muslims must go for Hajj as they don’t follow the same beliefs? And then what kind of Sunni Muslim, is it Wahhabism or Jamat-e-Islami etc. and so all those Sunni Muslims who do not follow this brand of Sunni belief can’t go for Hajj? Where did all these conditions come in to who can or can’t perform Hajj? It once again shows the poor state of Islam these days.
But we are not the only ones who were prevented from doing the Pilgrimage. Our beloved Holy Prophet, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, was also prevented from doing the Pilgrimage by the Quraish, so if we are in the same company as the Holy Prophet, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, then what blessed company that is.
Concerning going to Qadian, no Ahmadi Muslim goes to these places for pilgrimage. No doubt Qadian was the place where Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, may peace be upon him, was born, therefore Ahmadi Muslims like to visit that town, but we don’t go there for pilgrimage instead of Mecca. They are important to us and we try to go there if we can, but the Holy Ka’aba is far more important to us as this was the ‘first house built for the worship of the One God’ and we have been commanded by the One God to go there for His sake. That can not and will not ever be replaced by other towns, no matter how important we may feel them to be.
A. Abdul Aziz.
An objection that is raised is that why Ahmadi Muslims do not go for Hajj? Instead they go to their holy place in Qadian (the birth-place of their Founder Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad in Punjab, India)? Hajj is a pillar of Islam which they disrespect and they show more love for their own places rather than where the Holy Prophet, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, was born, therefore they are not Muslims through their actions!This is a nonsense objection, how can Ahmadi Muslims go for Hajj when it is the Muslims themselves who are preventing them? Every Muslim must perform Hajj once in their lifetime, unless either the way is prevented, ill health or they cannot afford it. Ahmadi Muslims are prevented to go to Mecca for Hajj by the Saudi Government! Furthermore, in Pakistan, you have to sign a form if you want to perform Hajj and Umra and on that form you are required to declare Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, may peace be upon him, as a false prophet! No Ahmadi Muslim can sign such a form. Hajj is a rite in Islam which you do purely for Allah’s sake to attain the Nearness and Blessings of Allah. All worldly things should be left behind, even your clothes, as you are required to put on two white unsewn clothes – Ihram and so leave all worldly things behind, all fashion cloths etc. and instead everyone is the same, all Muslims striving for the same objectives. If that is the case, then why are they bringing politics into it! Who are they to say who can do Hajj or not! No doubt they will say that Hajj is only for Muslims, but if we declare the Kalima – la illaha illallaho Muhammad ur Rasoolullah, then who can tell us we are non-Muslims? Only Allah will judge if we are Muslims or not. It is not for the Saudi Government or the Pakistan Government to decide if we are Muslims or not. That being the case, then they have no right to prevent us. And then after preventing us from going to Hajj, then have the nerve to say we are not Muslims because we don’t go for Hajj! May Allah have mercy on them.
The fact is that many Ahmadi Muslims do go for Hajj, but they are unable to go from Pakistan. Fortunately there are many countries in the world who do not have the narrow mindedness of the Pakistan legislative and so don’t put such conditions when applying. When Ahmadi Muslims go for Hajj or Umra, then they go for Allah’s sake. Even in Sri Lanka, few Ahmadi Muslims have performed Hajj. They don’t have to declare what beliefs they have, they go as submissive servants of Allah. But there are over 73 sects in Islam, they all have different beliefs, so whose is the right belief. Is it Sunni Muslims, so therefore no Shi’ite Muslims must go for Hajj as they don’t follow the same beliefs? And then what kind of Sunni Muslim, is it Wahhabism or Jamat-e-Islami etc. and so all those Sunni Muslims who do not follow this brand of Sunni belief can’t go for Hajj? Where did all these conditions come in to who can or can’t perform Hajj? It once again shows the poor state of Islam these days.
But we are not the only ones who were prevented from doing the Pilgrimage. Our beloved Holy Prophet, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, was also prevented from doing the Pilgrimage by the Quraish, so if we are in the same company as the Holy Prophet, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, then what blessed company that is.
Tuesday 10 April 2012
The Case of Master Abdul Qudoos
...[T]he [Express] Tribune was the first, and to my knowledge, only newspaper to report the story the very next day, March 31st. Also, a mention for Pak Tea House, a brilliant blog that ran a most enlightening piece about the tragedy.
Ahmadiyya Times | News Watch | Int'l desk
Source/Credit: Mariem’s Words | Blog
By Mariem Asif | April 3, 2012
Let’s get one thing straight. The torture that subsequently leads to the death of any citizen at the hands of the state police is a very serious act, one that must be brought to light by the entire media of that state as well as those responsible citizens who have the good fortune of having a voice that penetrates to the highest levels. I think we can all agree with that. Now, let’s go on to observe in utter and complete shock the tragic tale of Master Qudoos.
I’m quite sure that those of you not on Twitter have no clue as to who the above-named person is/was. And I certainly don’t blame you, for the mainstream media (save Express Tribune) has taken a vow of silence in this issue, and not in honour of Master Qudoos either, let me assure you. So let me fill you in. Master Qadoos, a school-teacher of 43, was taken in by the police on the 10th of Feb for questioning over the murder of a stamp-paper seller. In spite of the fact that not a trace of evidence suggested his involvement in the murder, and that no charges were ever filed against him, he was relentlessly tortured by the police during his questioning, so much so that he succumbed to the fatal internal injuries resulting from the torture and died in hospital last week.
In a country where police brutality is hounded by the media, not one word was uttered regarding this incident in any of the mainstream channels. The million dollar question is: why?
Because Master Qadoos was an Ahmadi from Rabwah.
There you have it.
The sad fact is that in the Republic of Pure-istan, all those deemed impure are automatically second-class citizens, if citizens at all. And the media apparently isn’t bothered enough about the plight of those citizens to report it in their otherwise horror-laden depiction of Pakistan, from gang-rapes to acid-suicides to political ranting, which, of course, must all be reported, for that is the very purpose of the media to begin with. However, this biased criterion for reporting news must be done away with. A human life is, all said and done, a human life, before it is a Muslim life.
Let me add that the Tribune was the first, and to my knowledge, only newspaper to report the story the very next day, March 31st. Also, a mention for Pak Tea House, a brilliant blog that ran a most enlightening piece about the tragedy.
Master Qudoos was above all a human being, and his death falls under the realm of Human Rights. Religion has absolutely nothing to do with any of this. Or who are we kidding? The striking lack of media interest in this story points to a glaring truth: in Pakistan, humanity is second to religion. And the ‘powerful, free’ media that we all harp on about is, at the end of the day, as bigoted as a Mullah.
In 1974 a bunch of politicians and Mullahs took it upon themselves to play God and declared an entire sect Kaafir, a sect that had fought wars and shed blood for this homeland of ours. And this is how we repay their blood, by lusting for more?
To those of you who believe that Pakistan was created in the name of Islam, do you even know what that vision entailed? Here is an excerpt from the Quaid’s broadcast talk to the people of the United States of America on Pakistan, recorded February, 1948.
“Islam and its idealism have taught us democracy. It has taught equality of man, justice and fairplay to everybody. .. Pakistan is not going to be a theocratic State to be ruled by priests with a divine mission. We have many non-Muslims –Hindus, Christians, and Parsis –but they are all Pakistanis. They will enjoy the same rights and privileges as any other citizens and will play their rightful part in the affairs of Pakistan.”
That is the Islam that Pakistan was created in the name of, one that teaches “equality of man, justice and fairplay”. Not the xenophobic version being largely practiced today with a selective morality that puts Muslims at the top of the food chain and all others down below as fodder.
I’ve not been a twitterer for long enough to fully appreciate its merits and criticise its faults. However, I will say this much, it’s a complete disappointment. The selective morality evident in the media reigns highest even on this social platform. For two days now, #justiceforqudoos has been trending at the number two spot, and yet the messiahs and leaders who tweet about everything from what movie they’re going to see to who sent them friend requests on Facebook, have nothing to say about this vile breach of Human Rights in their country? Why so, I ask them? Surely, you have the time, you have the means, and you have enough followers to make a massive impact should you so choose.
I was heartened by the way these twitter gods all joined hands together to promote the #justiceforfakhra cause, and am as saddened by their lack of heart for Qudoos. Was his life in any way less worthy? Was his pain not significant enough? Was his end any less tragic?
These are questions every Pakistani must ask him/herself. There may not be justice in the cards for Qudoos, who’s to say. But the absence of coverage renders the Pakistani media, including the much-hyped about Twitter, quite dogmatic, at least in my humble opinion.
Source/Credit: Mariem’s Words | Blog
By Mariem Asif | April 3, 2012
Let’s get one thing straight. The torture that subsequently leads to the death of any citizen at the hands of the state police is a very serious act, one that must be brought to light by the entire media of that state as well as those responsible citizens who have the good fortune of having a voice that penetrates to the highest levels. I think we can all agree with that. Now, let’s go on to observe in utter and complete shock the tragic tale of Master Qudoos.
I’m quite sure that those of you not on Twitter have no clue as to who the above-named person is/was. And I certainly don’t blame you, for the mainstream media (save Express Tribune) has taken a vow of silence in this issue, and not in honour of Master Qudoos either, let me assure you. So let me fill you in. Master Qadoos, a school-teacher of 43, was taken in by the police on the 10th of Feb for questioning over the murder of a stamp-paper seller. In spite of the fact that not a trace of evidence suggested his involvement in the murder, and that no charges were ever filed against him, he was relentlessly tortured by the police during his questioning, so much so that he succumbed to the fatal internal injuries resulting from the torture and died in hospital last week.
In a country where police brutality is hounded by the media, not one word was uttered regarding this incident in any of the mainstream channels. The million dollar question is: why?
Because Master Qadoos was an Ahmadi from Rabwah.
There you have it.
The sad fact is that in the Republic of Pure-istan, all those deemed impure are automatically second-class citizens, if citizens at all. And the media apparently isn’t bothered enough about the plight of those citizens to report it in their otherwise horror-laden depiction of Pakistan, from gang-rapes to acid-suicides to political ranting, which, of course, must all be reported, for that is the very purpose of the media to begin with. However, this biased criterion for reporting news must be done away with. A human life is, all said and done, a human life, before it is a Muslim life.
Let me add that the Tribune was the first, and to my knowledge, only newspaper to report the story the very next day, March 31st. Also, a mention for Pak Tea House, a brilliant blog that ran a most enlightening piece about the tragedy.
Master Qudoos was above all a human being, and his death falls under the realm of Human Rights. Religion has absolutely nothing to do with any of this. Or who are we kidding? The striking lack of media interest in this story points to a glaring truth: in Pakistan, humanity is second to religion. And the ‘powerful, free’ media that we all harp on about is, at the end of the day, as bigoted as a Mullah.
In 1974 a bunch of politicians and Mullahs took it upon themselves to play God and declared an entire sect Kaafir, a sect that had fought wars and shed blood for this homeland of ours. And this is how we repay their blood, by lusting for more?
To those of you who believe that Pakistan was created in the name of Islam, do you even know what that vision entailed? Here is an excerpt from the Quaid’s broadcast talk to the people of the United States of America on Pakistan, recorded February, 1948.
“Islam and its idealism have taught us democracy. It has taught equality of man, justice and fairplay to everybody. .. Pakistan is not going to be a theocratic State to be ruled by priests with a divine mission. We have many non-Muslims –Hindus, Christians, and Parsis –but they are all Pakistanis. They will enjoy the same rights and privileges as any other citizens and will play their rightful part in the affairs of Pakistan.”
That is the Islam that Pakistan was created in the name of, one that teaches “equality of man, justice and fairplay”. Not the xenophobic version being largely practiced today with a selective morality that puts Muslims at the top of the food chain and all others down below as fodder.
I’ve not been a twitterer for long enough to fully appreciate its merits and criticise its faults. However, I will say this much, it’s a complete disappointment. The selective morality evident in the media reigns highest even on this social platform. For two days now, #justiceforqudoos has been trending at the number two spot, and yet the messiahs and leaders who tweet about everything from what movie they’re going to see to who sent them friend requests on Facebook, have nothing to say about this vile breach of Human Rights in their country? Why so, I ask them? Surely, you have the time, you have the means, and you have enough followers to make a massive impact should you so choose.
I was heartened by the way these twitter gods all joined hands together to promote the #justiceforfakhra cause, and am as saddened by their lack of heart for Qudoos. Was his life in any way less worthy? Was his pain not significant enough? Was his end any less tragic?
These are questions every Pakistani must ask him/herself. There may not be justice in the cards for Qudoos, who’s to say. But the absence of coverage renders the Pakistani media, including the much-hyped about Twitter, quite dogmatic, at least in my humble opinion.
Monday 9 April 2012
Assalamu Alaikum: Brutal Concept of Apostasy and Blasphemy in Pakistan
Written by: Deeba Chaudhry
Source: Calgary Ahmadiyya Muslim Examiner
Ahmadiyya Times | News Watch | US Desk
Source/Credit: Calgary Ahmadiyya Muslim Examiner
By Deeba Chaudhry | April 8, 2012
As Muslim, when one say “Assalamu Alaikum” means “May peace and blessings of God be upon you.” Can one imagine that Ahmadi Muslims in one country - Pakistan are not even allowed to utter these words - “Assalamu Alaikum?” This is the plight of Ahmadis in Pakistan. This is the difficulty of Ahmadis. Thousands and thousands of Prophets have come into this world to guide humanity. Their message was common: belief in God, belief in the Day of Resurrection, the Hereafter, the Day of Judgement and encouraging people to do good and forbidding evil. But all the Prophets who came into this world - thousands upon thousands upon thousands who came to every nation - they were rejected. They were persecuted. There were ridiculed. They were scorned. Their followers were torn into pieces. Sometimes their flesh was torn from their bones. Never has a Prophet ever been accepted. They have been blasphemed, ridiculed, jeered at, spat at and even flogged!
Look at the pathos, as if God Himself is in grief. “Alas! O’ My creation, have I ever sent a Prophet who was not ridiculed?” (36:31) Starting from Adam (as), all the Prophets were persecuted. Was the Prophet Abraham (as) not thrown into the fire because of his belief in the Unity of God? What about Moses (as)? Pharoah had ordered all male children to be killed. The people had predicted that a Prophet was about to be born, and even before he was born, Pharoah ordered that all male children be killed. God saved him as He saved all other Prophets. David (as), Solomon (as), name any Prophet. Look at Jesus Christ (as), noble Prophet of God who was not only ridiculed, he was flogged, he was tortured, spat at, bleeding all over. A crown of thorns was put on his head - Jesus Christ (as). Which Prophet was accepted? What about Noah (as)? God told him to build an ark. They mocked at him and they laughed at him. The founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Hadrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) also build an ark - a spiritual ark. In fact, he wrote a book called, The Ark Of Noah - Kashti Nu. In a world that is often troubled, we are blessed to live in a country like Canada. There are millions of Ahmadis all over the world who have taken shelter in this ark of Noah (as), the spiritual ark of Noah. This is the plight. What about the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sa)? He was also persecuted and (abused), People were hounding after him to kill him off. People called all these Prophets liars, they called them poets. Sometimes, they called them magicians. They called them frauds. They called them businessmen. They called them Apostates. They give a verdict, an edict that they deserve to be killed. This Blasphemy, it`s a pity, how unfortunate that the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, whose prime objective is to show the pristine purity of Islam, to show the true face of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sa), Ahmadis are bogged down!
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Blasphemy Laws: Pakistan’s Criminal Code comprise its blasphemy laws - 295: forbids damaging a place of worship, 295-A: forbids outraging religious feelings, 295-B: forbids defiling the Quran, 295-C: forbids defaming the Islamic Prophet Muhammad (sa), 298: forbids the deliberate intention of wounding the religious feelings of any person, utters any word, 298-A: prohibit’s the use of any derogatory remark in respect of Muslim holy personages, 298-B and 298-C: prohibit the Ahmadiyya Muslims from behaving as Muslims, calling themselves Muslims, proselytising, or “in any manner whatsoever” outraging the religious feelings of Muslims and violation of any part of these section makes the violator liable to death penalty or life imprisonment. Any person (according to) the penal code of Pakistan, the Constitution, who says any derogatory words against Islam or its Prophets, is bound to be hanged, bound to be killed. Government of Pakistan need to the international community how many heads do they chop? The population of the world is about 7 billion now. Muslims all over the world are 1.5 billion, maybe even slightly less. So does it mean that the heads of the other 5 billion have to be chopped because they do not believe in the Prophet Muhammad (sa). Their civility prevents them from openly stating their view that the Holy Prophet (sa) is a false Prophet but they are not Muslims that is why they don`t believe in him. How ridiculous! How wrong! Those who do not believe in the Prophet or who say something unkind against him due to their freedom of speech, are their heads going to be chopped? People made cartoons of Prophets in UK. People speak against Islam, against the Holy Quran and against the Holy Prophet (sa) as well. As it is everybody knows there are people burning the Quran. There was a burning ceremony in the United States. People burned the Holy Book. God says in the Holy Quran that: “We have revealed this Book. We will preserve it.” (15:10)
Are we doing that? Are we asking (for) international community to help us to save the Holy Quan? No! Allah has said in the Holy Quran, I will preserve it. Are we asking (for) help to save the Holy Prophet (sa)? No! Allah has said, I will save him. Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at is only appealing to peoples’ conscience - to peoples’ inner conscience that this is a blot on humanity. This is wrong. It does not appeal to common sense. The Holy Quran says, “There is no compulsion in religion.” Everybody heard about the Danish cartoons, people made cartoons against the Holy Prophet (sa). It injures our feelings. We love the Prophet Muhammad (sa) far more than our parents. It hurts. It pains. But read the Holy Quran from the beginning to the end, there is no punishment prescribed in the Holy Quran for Blasphemy. God says, I will deal with it, I will respond to (this action).
Countless people (are) bring put to punishment or being killed by misuse of Blasphemy Law in Pakistan. Asiya Bibi, who is a Christian lady with five children (is) accused of blasphemy. She has been languishing in jail because she has been accused, and she has been sentenced to death. We are embarrassed. This is not Islam. But who cares, more than thirty people had already been murdered, who have been accused of blasphemy, but killers had been freed by the courts. Who cares for the courts? You are declared innocent even by the court and the moment you come out, it`s a free for all. So many people have been killed. The governor of the most important province of Pakistan, Punjab, Salman Taseer, who only visited Asiya Bibi in jail, said we should revisit this law because people are misusing it in order to gain peoples`property or in order to do other things. Let us revisit this. His own bodyguard killed him. After killing him, the other bodyguards stood silent. And, this murderer was not only declared a hero but declared a saint. The Minority Minister Shahbaz Bhatti, who was a Roman Catholic, was murdered in Quetta in broad daylight. Which religion allows that? Recently, A Shia man in Pakistan’s Punjab province has been arrested under the contr4oversial blasphemy law for using foul language against three caliphs of Prophet Muhammad (sa) and Jamil Messih a resident of Basti Balochan was convicted of Blasphemy charges u/s 295C on 2nd April, 2012. A eight-grader Christian girl named Faryal, whose miniscule error led to her expulsion from school and uproar amongst local religious leaders. She misspelt a word in an Urdu exam while answering a question on a poem written in praise of Holy Prophet (PBUH). The word in question was “Laanat” instead of “Naat” - an easy error for a child to make. According to school administration and religious leaders who took great exception to the hapless student’s mistake, the error is ‘serious’ enough to fall within the realm of blasphemy.
What about the life of the Holy Prophet (sa)? What did he do? Was he not blasphemed? He used to go to the mosque and there was a lady who used to throw rubbish upon his head every time, and he would clean his head and wash his hair and go back to the mosque. The Holy Prophet (sa) found out that for 2 or 3 days she had not throw rubbish on his head. He asked about her and was told that the lady is sick. He went to see her. He said, `Madam, you are not well. I just came to ask of your health.`This is the reply of the Holy Prophet (sa). It is this compassion of the Holy Prophet (sa) which has brought us together and we are all enslaved. It is not vindictiveness. It is his compassion, it is his love. This is love for all, hatred for none. `Bring your proof if you are truthfull!`O you the Mullah! O you the turban clad or those wearing long gowns issuing edicts sometimes against Salman Rushdie for The Satanic Verses, (sometimes) against members of our comm unity! Ninety-nine people, members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community were butchered in cold blood while they were offering their prayers. You know of this, you have seen the video and you have seen the blood (that) was not only splashed on the floor but blood and the parts of those martyrs were stuck to the roof of those mosques. This is our plight. But, we do not take the law into our own hands. This Holy Prophet (sa) did not do so and the Promised Messiah (as) also did not do so. There was a man who used to abuse him. He came to Qadian and he abused him. He constantly abused him for the whole night. In the morning, the Promised Messiah (as) said, `This man who has been abusing me, he has lot his voice because of constant shouts and abuses. Make a cup of tea and had it over to him so that his voice improves.`This is compassion.
Blasphemy: The punishment for blasphemy is in the hands of God. He says, Ì will take care of that. Do not worry about that. It`s not in your hands. I have sent these Prophets and I will take care of them.` So those who open their mouths and talk against the Prophets of God, maybe they are Christian or Hindu or Buydhiust. Let people worship their stone. Let them worship fire. Let them worship the cow. Let them worship Jehovah, Lord Krishna, Vahe Guru, Let them worship One God, it is their prerogative. On the Day of Judgement we will all be judged. Why do you become the master of the Day of Judgement? Allow people (to do) what they want to do, God will take care of that. So, it is extremely painful. It`s extremely embarrassing that we should stand over here and defend Islam, not from the West, not from the media, but from our own people who have given (the) wrong interpretations of Islam as a religion of terrorists, a terrible religion. This was Islam - luckily this is not Islam, God forbid - if this was Islam then Ahmadis are not that type of Muslims. Islam is a religion of peace. It’s a religion of love. It’s a religion of affection. It’s religion of brotherhood. It is a religion that we will all try and find our from other religions what is good in their religion. Ahmadiyya Muslim Community hold countless conferences, everybody must have heard. They provide a forum to the Hindus, to the Sikhs, to the Christians, to the Jews. Let them come forward. Let them find out. Truth is not the monopoly of any religion. Find out what is better. Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at will present the Islamic view as well. Everybody believes that their view is the best. Let the people judge. And let me say that we have a short time to live in this world. We are guests on this planet. How long? If not today, tomorrow… We all have to go to our graves. Why show any vindictiveness? Why show any hatred? We are all human beings. Forget about the pigment of my skin or the accent that I have. We are all the children of God. What blasphemy?
One should never abuse the Prophets of God. One should never abuse the elects of God. Do not talk ill of the Prophets of God. (Be they) the Buddhists or the Christians or the Hindus or the Sikhs or the Muslims. That is why the Promised Messiah (as) has said, “O’ you, the heedless, do not harbour any rancour, any enmity against the Prophets of God. Keep away from them. If you do not understand, keep quite because they are a den of lions. They will pounce upon you, the spiritual den of lions.“ The Promised (as) has further said that, “I can compromise with the cannibals, with the snakes and the lions. But I can never compromise with people who abuse the Holy Prophet (sa). He said, “if my limbs are cut off, if my children are massacred before my eyes, if I am deprived of all my desires and all my emotions.“ In fact, he said that, “If my eyes are gouged out, that will be not as painful as it is when I heard people abusing my Master.“
Continue reading on Examiner.com Assalamu Alaikum: Brutal Concept of Apostasy and Blasphemy in Pakistan - Calgary Ahmadiyya Muslim | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/ahmadiyya-muslim-in-calgary/assalamu-alaikum-brutal-concept-of-apostasy-and-blasphemy-pakistan#ixzz1rQsYp2ia
Source/Credit: Calgary Ahmadiyya Muslim Examiner
By Deeba Chaudhry | April 8, 2012
As Muslim, when one say “Assalamu Alaikum” means “May peace and blessings of God be upon you.” Can one imagine that Ahmadi Muslims in one country - Pakistan are not even allowed to utter these words - “Assalamu Alaikum?” This is the plight of Ahmadis in Pakistan. This is the difficulty of Ahmadis. Thousands and thousands of Prophets have come into this world to guide humanity. Their message was common: belief in God, belief in the Day of Resurrection, the Hereafter, the Day of Judgement and encouraging people to do good and forbidding evil. But all the Prophets who came into this world - thousands upon thousands upon thousands who came to every nation - they were rejected. They were persecuted. There were ridiculed. They were scorned. Their followers were torn into pieces. Sometimes their flesh was torn from their bones. Never has a Prophet ever been accepted. They have been blasphemed, ridiculed, jeered at, spat at and even flogged!
Look at the pathos, as if God Himself is in grief. “Alas! O’ My creation, have I ever sent a Prophet who was not ridiculed?” (36:31) Starting from Adam (as), all the Prophets were persecuted. Was the Prophet Abraham (as) not thrown into the fire because of his belief in the Unity of God? What about Moses (as)? Pharoah had ordered all male children to be killed. The people had predicted that a Prophet was about to be born, and even before he was born, Pharoah ordered that all male children be killed. God saved him as He saved all other Prophets. David (as), Solomon (as), name any Prophet. Look at Jesus Christ (as), noble Prophet of God who was not only ridiculed, he was flogged, he was tortured, spat at, bleeding all over. A crown of thorns was put on his head - Jesus Christ (as). Which Prophet was accepted? What about Noah (as)? God told him to build an ark. They mocked at him and they laughed at him. The founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Hadrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) also build an ark - a spiritual ark. In fact, he wrote a book called, The Ark Of Noah - Kashti Nu. In a world that is often troubled, we are blessed to live in a country like Canada. There are millions of Ahmadis all over the world who have taken shelter in this ark of Noah (as), the spiritual ark of Noah. This is the plight. What about the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sa)? He was also persecuted and (abused), People were hounding after him to kill him off. People called all these Prophets liars, they called them poets. Sometimes, they called them magicians. They called them frauds. They called them businessmen. They called them Apostates. They give a verdict, an edict that they deserve to be killed. This Blasphemy, it`s a pity, how unfortunate that the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, whose prime objective is to show the pristine purity of Islam, to show the true face of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sa), Ahmadis are bogged down!
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Blasphemy Laws: Pakistan’s Criminal Code comprise its blasphemy laws - 295: forbids damaging a place of worship, 295-A: forbids outraging religious feelings, 295-B: forbids defiling the Quran, 295-C: forbids defaming the Islamic Prophet Muhammad (sa), 298: forbids the deliberate intention of wounding the religious feelings of any person, utters any word, 298-A: prohibit’s the use of any derogatory remark in respect of Muslim holy personages, 298-B and 298-C: prohibit the Ahmadiyya Muslims from behaving as Muslims, calling themselves Muslims, proselytising, or “in any manner whatsoever” outraging the religious feelings of Muslims and violation of any part of these section makes the violator liable to death penalty or life imprisonment. Any person (according to) the penal code of Pakistan, the Constitution, who says any derogatory words against Islam or its Prophets, is bound to be hanged, bound to be killed. Government of Pakistan need to the international community how many heads do they chop? The population of the world is about 7 billion now. Muslims all over the world are 1.5 billion, maybe even slightly less. So does it mean that the heads of the other 5 billion have to be chopped because they do not believe in the Prophet Muhammad (sa). Their civility prevents them from openly stating their view that the Holy Prophet (sa) is a false Prophet but they are not Muslims that is why they don`t believe in him. How ridiculous! How wrong! Those who do not believe in the Prophet or who say something unkind against him due to their freedom of speech, are their heads going to be chopped? People made cartoons of Prophets in UK. People speak against Islam, against the Holy Quran and against the Holy Prophet (sa) as well. As it is everybody knows there are people burning the Quran. There was a burning ceremony in the United States. People burned the Holy Book. God says in the Holy Quran that: “We have revealed this Book. We will preserve it.” (15:10)
Are we doing that? Are we asking (for) international community to help us to save the Holy Quan? No! Allah has said in the Holy Quran, I will preserve it. Are we asking (for) help to save the Holy Prophet (sa)? No! Allah has said, I will save him. Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at is only appealing to peoples’ conscience - to peoples’ inner conscience that this is a blot on humanity. This is wrong. It does not appeal to common sense. The Holy Quran says, “There is no compulsion in religion.” Everybody heard about the Danish cartoons, people made cartoons against the Holy Prophet (sa). It injures our feelings. We love the Prophet Muhammad (sa) far more than our parents. It hurts. It pains. But read the Holy Quran from the beginning to the end, there is no punishment prescribed in the Holy Quran for Blasphemy. God says, I will deal with it, I will respond to (this action).
Countless people (are) bring put to punishment or being killed by misuse of Blasphemy Law in Pakistan. Asiya Bibi, who is a Christian lady with five children (is) accused of blasphemy. She has been languishing in jail because she has been accused, and she has been sentenced to death. We are embarrassed. This is not Islam. But who cares, more than thirty people had already been murdered, who have been accused of blasphemy, but killers had been freed by the courts. Who cares for the courts? You are declared innocent even by the court and the moment you come out, it`s a free for all. So many people have been killed. The governor of the most important province of Pakistan, Punjab, Salman Taseer, who only visited Asiya Bibi in jail, said we should revisit this law because people are misusing it in order to gain peoples`property or in order to do other things. Let us revisit this. His own bodyguard killed him. After killing him, the other bodyguards stood silent. And, this murderer was not only declared a hero but declared a saint. The Minority Minister Shahbaz Bhatti, who was a Roman Catholic, was murdered in Quetta in broad daylight. Which religion allows that? Recently, A Shia man in Pakistan’s Punjab province has been arrested under the contr4oversial blasphemy law for using foul language against three caliphs of Prophet Muhammad (sa) and Jamil Messih a resident of Basti Balochan was convicted of Blasphemy charges u/s 295C on 2nd April, 2012. A eight-grader Christian girl named Faryal, whose miniscule error led to her expulsion from school and uproar amongst local religious leaders. She misspelt a word in an Urdu exam while answering a question on a poem written in praise of Holy Prophet (PBUH). The word in question was “Laanat” instead of “Naat” - an easy error for a child to make. According to school administration and religious leaders who took great exception to the hapless student’s mistake, the error is ‘serious’ enough to fall within the realm of blasphemy.
What about the life of the Holy Prophet (sa)? What did he do? Was he not blasphemed? He used to go to the mosque and there was a lady who used to throw rubbish upon his head every time, and he would clean his head and wash his hair and go back to the mosque. The Holy Prophet (sa) found out that for 2 or 3 days she had not throw rubbish on his head. He asked about her and was told that the lady is sick. He went to see her. He said, `Madam, you are not well. I just came to ask of your health.`This is the reply of the Holy Prophet (sa). It is this compassion of the Holy Prophet (sa) which has brought us together and we are all enslaved. It is not vindictiveness. It is his compassion, it is his love. This is love for all, hatred for none. `Bring your proof if you are truthfull!`O you the Mullah! O you the turban clad or those wearing long gowns issuing edicts sometimes against Salman Rushdie for The Satanic Verses, (sometimes) against members of our comm unity! Ninety-nine people, members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community were butchered in cold blood while they were offering their prayers. You know of this, you have seen the video and you have seen the blood (that) was not only splashed on the floor but blood and the parts of those martyrs were stuck to the roof of those mosques. This is our plight. But, we do not take the law into our own hands. This Holy Prophet (sa) did not do so and the Promised Messiah (as) also did not do so. There was a man who used to abuse him. He came to Qadian and he abused him. He constantly abused him for the whole night. In the morning, the Promised Messiah (as) said, `This man who has been abusing me, he has lot his voice because of constant shouts and abuses. Make a cup of tea and had it over to him so that his voice improves.`This is compassion.
Blasphemy: The punishment for blasphemy is in the hands of God. He says, Ì will take care of that. Do not worry about that. It`s not in your hands. I have sent these Prophets and I will take care of them.` So those who open their mouths and talk against the Prophets of God, maybe they are Christian or Hindu or Buydhiust. Let people worship their stone. Let them worship fire. Let them worship the cow. Let them worship Jehovah, Lord Krishna, Vahe Guru, Let them worship One God, it is their prerogative. On the Day of Judgement we will all be judged. Why do you become the master of the Day of Judgement? Allow people (to do) what they want to do, God will take care of that. So, it is extremely painful. It`s extremely embarrassing that we should stand over here and defend Islam, not from the West, not from the media, but from our own people who have given (the) wrong interpretations of Islam as a religion of terrorists, a terrible religion. This was Islam - luckily this is not Islam, God forbid - if this was Islam then Ahmadis are not that type of Muslims. Islam is a religion of peace. It’s a religion of love. It’s a religion of affection. It’s religion of brotherhood. It is a religion that we will all try and find our from other religions what is good in their religion. Ahmadiyya Muslim Community hold countless conferences, everybody must have heard. They provide a forum to the Hindus, to the Sikhs, to the Christians, to the Jews. Let them come forward. Let them find out. Truth is not the monopoly of any religion. Find out what is better. Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at will present the Islamic view as well. Everybody believes that their view is the best. Let the people judge. And let me say that we have a short time to live in this world. We are guests on this planet. How long? If not today, tomorrow… We all have to go to our graves. Why show any vindictiveness? Why show any hatred? We are all human beings. Forget about the pigment of my skin or the accent that I have. We are all the children of God. What blasphemy?
One should never abuse the Prophets of God. One should never abuse the elects of God. Do not talk ill of the Prophets of God. (Be they) the Buddhists or the Christians or the Hindus or the Sikhs or the Muslims. That is why the Promised Messiah (as) has said, “O’ you, the heedless, do not harbour any rancour, any enmity against the Prophets of God. Keep away from them. If you do not understand, keep quite because they are a den of lions. They will pounce upon you, the spiritual den of lions.“ The Promised (as) has further said that, “I can compromise with the cannibals, with the snakes and the lions. But I can never compromise with people who abuse the Holy Prophet (sa). He said, “if my limbs are cut off, if my children are massacred before my eyes, if I am deprived of all my desires and all my emotions.“ In fact, he said that, “If my eyes are gouged out, that will be not as painful as it is when I heard people abusing my Master.“
Continue reading on Examiner.com Assalamu Alaikum: Brutal Concept of Apostasy and Blasphemy in Pakistan - Calgary Ahmadiyya Muslim | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/ahmadiyya-muslim-in-calgary/assalamu-alaikum-brutal-concept-of-apostasy-and-blasphemy-pakistan#ixzz1rQsYp2ia
Islam (Means “Peace”): What Can Islam Offer To The West
Written by: Deeba Chaudhry
Source: Calgary Ahmadiyya Muslim Examiner
Ahmadiyya Times | News Watch | US Desk
Source/Credit: Calgary Ahmadiyya Muslim Examiner
By Deeba Chaudhry | April 5, 2012
Today a key issue of the world is peace or rather a lack of peace. The erosion of peace is on everyone’s mind . Some attribute this economic causes, others to social issues whether on an individual, national or international level, yet others point to political causes, whilst others attribute it to religious differences and as a consequence to the very concept of God. Today the entire world is restless. If the East is restless, the West is even more restless. There is turmoil in Asia and turmoil in the Middle East, Europe is also in turmoil. One can somehow understand the restlessness of the third world or the developing countries, but we fail to understand why the most affluent nations of the world, particularly in the West, are so restless?
Despite of all the comforts and amenities, we are still restless. We are all craving for peace of mind. We grope to find peace of mind maybe in having a beautiful house, or in having a good education, or having an excellent job, or having a good spouse. The trouble is that the fulfilment of one desire given birth to countless other desires. Why are we so restless? Why is there so much depression? Why are the most affluent nations relying on countless medications just to sleep at night? Why is it, that even the richest of the rich are dependent on powerful drugs for a few hours of comfort?
The root cause of this state of restlessness is man’s selfishness and neglect of the purpose of his creation. It is this selfishness and discord with the purpose of life in our bosoms that breeds restlessness in the family. And then this restlessness creeps onto our streets and towns and cities and finally extends its malignant tentacles around the entire world. Where is true peace of mind? Does Islam have an answer to this malice?
The life is transitory and sooner or later, we all have to depart. The filling graveyards bear testimony to this fact that we are ordinary human beings and we have an end awaiting us. If not today, then tomorrow, we will be claimed by the pall-bearers, or by the funeral homes. According to all religions, and in particular Islam, surely, there is a day of accountability - a Day of Judgement. Sixty years, seventy years, eighty years, or hundred years, but our departure is definitely a sure thing - “The Sure Thing In This World”. The pertinent question is: what preparations have I made, for this questioning? If for my article of just ten minutes, I made many hours of preparation, then how serious should I consider the questioning by our Lord on the Day of Judgement?
But is there any purpose of our creation? Is there life after death? Are we accountable for all the time we spent in this world? Is there a conscious being called God - call Him Lord - call Him Allah, Pramatemah - Or Jehovah? Is there an Omnipotent God? Even an ordinary human being does not labour on making a thing without purpose. Then how could God create this world, the countless stars and galaxies without any purpose? What about the countless Prophets, maybe as many as 124,000 Prophets - were they sent to all nations and all countries without any purpose? Cast a glance at the testimony of all these Prophets and Reformers. They all gave testimony in unison that there is a Creator; that there is a purpose of life; there is a way to redemption; and there is a way to an everlasting life.
Real Islam that was revealed in the book called the Holy Qur’an - the true Islam that was presented to humanity by the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sa). The perspective of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community on Islam is based on the direct guidance received from God Almighty by the Holy Founder of the Ahmadiyyat - the Reformer of Islam, which he conveyed to us and by means of which we have been shown the ways of establishing peace in the world. The True Islam, the Islam that Ahmadis believe in and practice, is poles apart from terrorism, or from these terrorist hijackers, or those suicide bombers who roam about torching schools, mining and butchering innocent people. It is about those so-called Muslims, who burn down Churches, Synagogues, or Mosques of their adversaries. It is about those so-called Muslims who kill worshipers as they kneel before their Creator. Such people are a blot on the fair face of Islam - on the fair face of Muhammad (sa). In fact, they are a blemish on humanity.
The true Islam offers the West not only a perfect concept of God but also teachings which are perfect and cover all aspects of life. The Qur’an is a living book and contains teachings for all aspects of life, disclosing it to those who are pure and to those who reflect. It is guidance for the righteous. Furthermore, Islam offers not only a flawless concept of God and teachings, but also a flawless role model who practiced and demonstrated the application of these teachings. Regarding peace of mind, why should we not consider the prescription as taught in the Holy Qur’an? God Says: “Aye! It is in the remembrance of Allah that hearts can find comfort. (13:29) As if God is saying: “O My creations! To attain true peace of mind, you must always keep Me in Remembrance.” In another verse of the Holy Qur’an, God has given the real purpose of the creation of humanity. He says: “And I have not created the Jinn and the men but that they may worship Me. (51:57) God says that the prime purpose of humanity is, that they serve Me, and obey My commandments. It is important to mention what worship really means to an Ahmadi Muslim. For an Ahmadi Muslim, worship means to discharge the rights owned to the Creator, to bow down before the Lord and to discharge all the rights of His creation which include all kinds of personal, social, economic and moral rights. This is the purpose of our creation. Can a created being conjecture to appoint a purpose of its own life? No!
Islam teaches us to believe in a loving God; in a compassionate God; in a forgiving God. He is not a vindictive God at all. On the contrary, he is such a compassionate God that He seeks excuses for forgive our trespasses. The Holy Prophet (sa) once said that if you take just one step towards Him - He reciprocates by taking two steps towards you. If you walk towards Him, He runs towards you. This is the Benevolent God of Islam to which we humbly invite everybody. Islam teaches that once should be tolerant towards other religions. Islam emphasizes interfaith dialogue and cooperation. It is God who will decide on the Day of Judgement who is right and who is wrong. Islam teaches that one should be kind to the creatures of God and be kind to animals. The Holy Prophet (sa) once said that a sinner (prostitute) quenched the thirst of a dog, and she was forgiven by Allah for this kindness.
Islam and the Holy Prophet (sa) taught that love of your country is part of your faith. On July 1st, 2011 a crowed of 10,000 was celebrating Canada Day in front of Baitun Nur Mosque arranged by the volunteers of Calgary Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at. This is only one way of showing Ahmadis love of their homeland. We pray that Allah may grant peace and prosperity to our beloved country - Canada. This is the Islam that Ahmadis believe in and this is the Islam that the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community invites everyone to consider. In this Islam, lies the salvation for the mankind. Ahmadi Muslim can say: “To a godless society, Islam proves the existence of God. To a society void of good manners, Islam provides guidance. To an unruly society, Islam provides teaching to become law-abiding citizens. To a restless society, Islam provides means for obtaining peace of mind.” May Allah grant everybody abundance of good, may Allah solve all everyone’s problems, and grant healthy and long life so that at the time of departure to the heavenly abode, everybody may be pleased with God, and most import of all, Allah be pleased with everybody.
Read original post here: Islam (Means “Peace”): What Can Islam Offer To The West
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Source/Credit: Calgary Ahmadiyya Muslim Examiner
By Deeba Chaudhry | April 5, 2012
Today a key issue of the world is peace or rather a lack of peace. The erosion of peace is on everyone’s mind . Some attribute this economic causes, others to social issues whether on an individual, national or international level, yet others point to political causes, whilst others attribute it to religious differences and as a consequence to the very concept of God. Today the entire world is restless. If the East is restless, the West is even more restless. There is turmoil in Asia and turmoil in the Middle East, Europe is also in turmoil. One can somehow understand the restlessness of the third world or the developing countries, but we fail to understand why the most affluent nations of the world, particularly in the West, are so restless?
Despite of all the comforts and amenities, we are still restless. We are all craving for peace of mind. We grope to find peace of mind maybe in having a beautiful house, or in having a good education, or having an excellent job, or having a good spouse. The trouble is that the fulfilment of one desire given birth to countless other desires. Why are we so restless? Why is there so much depression? Why are the most affluent nations relying on countless medications just to sleep at night? Why is it, that even the richest of the rich are dependent on powerful drugs for a few hours of comfort?
The root cause of this state of restlessness is man’s selfishness and neglect of the purpose of his creation. It is this selfishness and discord with the purpose of life in our bosoms that breeds restlessness in the family. And then this restlessness creeps onto our streets and towns and cities and finally extends its malignant tentacles around the entire world. Where is true peace of mind? Does Islam have an answer to this malice?
The life is transitory and sooner or later, we all have to depart. The filling graveyards bear testimony to this fact that we are ordinary human beings and we have an end awaiting us. If not today, then tomorrow, we will be claimed by the pall-bearers, or by the funeral homes. According to all religions, and in particular Islam, surely, there is a day of accountability - a Day of Judgement. Sixty years, seventy years, eighty years, or hundred years, but our departure is definitely a sure thing - “The Sure Thing In This World”. The pertinent question is: what preparations have I made, for this questioning? If for my article of just ten minutes, I made many hours of preparation, then how serious should I consider the questioning by our Lord on the Day of Judgement?
But is there any purpose of our creation? Is there life after death? Are we accountable for all the time we spent in this world? Is there a conscious being called God - call Him Lord - call Him Allah, Pramatemah - Or Jehovah? Is there an Omnipotent God? Even an ordinary human being does not labour on making a thing without purpose. Then how could God create this world, the countless stars and galaxies without any purpose? What about the countless Prophets, maybe as many as 124,000 Prophets - were they sent to all nations and all countries without any purpose? Cast a glance at the testimony of all these Prophets and Reformers. They all gave testimony in unison that there is a Creator; that there is a purpose of life; there is a way to redemption; and there is a way to an everlasting life.
Real Islam that was revealed in the book called the Holy Qur’an - the true Islam that was presented to humanity by the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sa). The perspective of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community on Islam is based on the direct guidance received from God Almighty by the Holy Founder of the Ahmadiyyat - the Reformer of Islam, which he conveyed to us and by means of which we have been shown the ways of establishing peace in the world. The True Islam, the Islam that Ahmadis believe in and practice, is poles apart from terrorism, or from these terrorist hijackers, or those suicide bombers who roam about torching schools, mining and butchering innocent people. It is about those so-called Muslims, who burn down Churches, Synagogues, or Mosques of their adversaries. It is about those so-called Muslims who kill worshipers as they kneel before their Creator. Such people are a blot on the fair face of Islam - on the fair face of Muhammad (sa). In fact, they are a blemish on humanity.
The true Islam offers the West not only a perfect concept of God but also teachings which are perfect and cover all aspects of life. The Qur’an is a living book and contains teachings for all aspects of life, disclosing it to those who are pure and to those who reflect. It is guidance for the righteous. Furthermore, Islam offers not only a flawless concept of God and teachings, but also a flawless role model who practiced and demonstrated the application of these teachings. Regarding peace of mind, why should we not consider the prescription as taught in the Holy Qur’an? God Says: “Aye! It is in the remembrance of Allah that hearts can find comfort. (13:29) As if God is saying: “O My creations! To attain true peace of mind, you must always keep Me in Remembrance.” In another verse of the Holy Qur’an, God has given the real purpose of the creation of humanity. He says: “And I have not created the Jinn and the men but that they may worship Me. (51:57) God says that the prime purpose of humanity is, that they serve Me, and obey My commandments. It is important to mention what worship really means to an Ahmadi Muslim. For an Ahmadi Muslim, worship means to discharge the rights owned to the Creator, to bow down before the Lord and to discharge all the rights of His creation which include all kinds of personal, social, economic and moral rights. This is the purpose of our creation. Can a created being conjecture to appoint a purpose of its own life? No!
Islam teaches us to believe in a loving God; in a compassionate God; in a forgiving God. He is not a vindictive God at all. On the contrary, he is such a compassionate God that He seeks excuses for forgive our trespasses. The Holy Prophet (sa) once said that if you take just one step towards Him - He reciprocates by taking two steps towards you. If you walk towards Him, He runs towards you. This is the Benevolent God of Islam to which we humbly invite everybody. Islam teaches that once should be tolerant towards other religions. Islam emphasizes interfaith dialogue and cooperation. It is God who will decide on the Day of Judgement who is right and who is wrong. Islam teaches that one should be kind to the creatures of God and be kind to animals. The Holy Prophet (sa) once said that a sinner (prostitute) quenched the thirst of a dog, and she was forgiven by Allah for this kindness.
Islam and the Holy Prophet (sa) taught that love of your country is part of your faith. On July 1st, 2011 a crowed of 10,000 was celebrating Canada Day in front of Baitun Nur Mosque arranged by the volunteers of Calgary Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at. This is only one way of showing Ahmadis love of their homeland. We pray that Allah may grant peace and prosperity to our beloved country - Canada. This is the Islam that Ahmadis believe in and this is the Islam that the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community invites everyone to consider. In this Islam, lies the salvation for the mankind. Ahmadi Muslim can say: “To a godless society, Islam proves the existence of God. To a society void of good manners, Islam provides guidance. To an unruly society, Islam provides teaching to become law-abiding citizens. To a restless society, Islam provides means for obtaining peace of mind.” May Allah grant everybody abundance of good, may Allah solve all everyone’s problems, and grant healthy and long life so that at the time of departure to the heavenly abode, everybody may be pleased with God, and most import of all, Allah be pleased with everybody.
Read original post here: Islam (Means “Peace”): What Can Islam Offer To The West
This content-post is archived for backup and to keep archived records of any news Islam Ahmadiyya. The views expressed by the author and source of this news archive do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of Ahmadiyya Times.
What Ahmadiyyat - Islam Has Done For Me
Written by: Deeba Chaudhry
The pace at which peace is fast disappearing from the world today has caused each sane and sensible person to worry. This includes religious people and those who do not believe in any religion. It includes believers in God, whether one God or many goods, and atheists who deny the very existence of God. Each group has its own arguments. They all have valid concerns that peace is disappearing from this world. Man who considers himself to be educated and civilized, is reverting back to the period of ignorance when personal ego and false pride led people to cut each other’s throat and on a collective basis made tribes and dynasties indulge in such barbaric acts. The ordinary beauties of this world have been made attractive to us, to our children and our families. Big corporations are spending millions upon millions of dollars to lure us to worldly objects like the latest technological gadgets, iPhones, Blackberries, Netbooks etc. For much of mankind, living in a beautiful home, putting on the most expensive clothes, buying the best perfumes, and owning the most expensive car, have become the objectives of this life. There is no doubt, that we live in a very materialistic world, a world, where people question everything. They question the need to work, they question the need to have a family, they question the necessity of religion in society, and they even question existence of God. In this day and age, people from all walks of life are questioning what religion can do or has to offer them? These people even ask the question: What Ahmadiyyat, Islam has done for me, (what it) has done for us? In this materialistic world, belief in God’s existence is based upon mere conjecture. A large number of people have left religion and have become atheists. Those who have not done so, have inherited this belief from their ancestors, but in reality, they do not believe in God. Their hearts are devoid of faith as deserted house is devoid of residents. This is not only true of some particular country or religion; it is rather true of all religions and the entire world. The poison of disbelief has penetrated deep into the followers of all religions: be they Zoroastrians, be they Buddhists, Hindus, Jews, be they Christians, Sikhs, or Muslims. The noxious winds of materialism have reduced every orchard of faith to ashes. Do people in this day and age feel and experience the existence of God as they feel and experience material and tangible things of this world? No! Are they as certain about the existence of God, as they are about the existence of the sun and the moon, the mountains and rivers, their houses, their ancestors, and their friends? No! It is great blessing of Allah the Almighty upon the Ahmadiyya Movement in Islam that through His Mercy He sent The Promised Messiah (as), the Imam Mahdi, The Reformer of the Age, in the person of Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as), who showed us Who the Real Living God is. It is through him, that we have recognised the beautiful attributes of our Allah, our Creator. Let me quote from his beautiful writings on “Our God”: “Our God is (HE) Who is alive today just as (HE) was (known to be) alive before. (Likewise,) He speaks today as He spoke in the past; He hears as He used to hear before. It is a vain notion to think that in this age He only hears but does not speak. (In fact,) He hears and speaks as well. All (of) His attributes are eternal and everlasting. None of His attributes (are) ever suspended, nor will they ever be.. He constitutes (in Himself) all the most perfect attributes and is the manifestation of all qualities that are truly worthy of praise. He is the Fountainhead of all excellences. He is All-Powerful. He is the Sour4ce of all goodness and He is where all things will return. He is the (true) Sovereign of all nations. Her is known for every excellence and is free from every blemish. He is Unique in His right to be worshiped by all who dwell on the earth or belong to heaven. (Al-Wasiyyat, Ruhani Khazain, Vol.20, pg 309-310). Allah has showered His blessings upon all Ahmadis, and has enabled them to recognize His true attributes. Recognition of the true living God - this is what Ahmadiyyat has done for me!
In this day and age, people have forgotten the true essence of prayers - supplication. Prayer is thought to be obsolete. People question, ‘how is it possible that God can show miracles in this day and age?’ Many scientists have played a major role in the diverting man’s attention from prayer, for they being so worldly inclined do not understand the power of prayers. There are also Muslims, who go the graves of saints and make them intermediaries between God and man. It is through belief in the Promised Messiah (as) that we Ahamdi Muslims have realized the true value of prayers. Supplications and remembrance of God, that is, contemplation of His attributes, are the principal means of establishing a living relationship with God. In its highest expression, prayer is an experience of direct contact with God. According to the Islamic concept, prayer is a direct pouring forth of (the) soul, by the supplicant before the Divine Majesty. There is no need for, nor does Islamic tolerate the notion of, any intermediary between God and man. The Qur’an constantly exhorts us towards remembrance of God. The glorification of God and the celebration of His Praise, are not confined to any set phrase of formula. The yearning of the soul, to approach ever nearer to its Maker, and to celebrate His Praise and Holiness, to express its homage to Him, and to proclaim its gratitude for His countless favours and bounties, may find expression in a thousand different ways. In short, Islam requires that whatever task or activity a person may be engaged in, his soul be anchored in God, and that a person constantly seek nearness to Him. Ahmadis have learned the real importance of prayers, power of supplications through the teachings of the Promised Messiah (as). This is what Ahmadiyyat has done for me!
Today Muslims around the globe, have forgotten their real teachings, the teachings of Qur’an. It is Jama’at Ahmadiyya that has been entrusted with the responsibility of upholding the Qur’anic teachings and to show the world that this book is full of wisdom. All guidance for mankind, for all times to come, is found in the Holy Qur’an. Ahmadis all over the globe, recite the Holy Qur’an, follow the commandments contained in it to the letter and spirit. Ahmadis are passing through a time of trails and tribulations. On one hand, God is showing His Might with tsunamis, hurricanes, tornadoes, and floods; on the other hand, mankind is determined to follow the path of self-destruction. In the name of so-called “free speech”, opponents of Islam have found new avenues to hurt and defame the name of our beloved Master, The Holy Prophet, Hadrat Muhammad Mustafa (sa), his pure being is a collection of various noble qualities. Hence, he is Moses (as), as well as Jesus (as), he is Adam (as), as well Abraham (as, and he is Joseph (as) as well as Jacob (as). God indicates in the verse, `So do thou follow their guidance.`(6:91) Meaning, O``Prophet of God, merge in yourself the various teachings that all prophets particularly exhibited.` This proves that all excellences were present in the Holy Prophet (sa). In fact, Muhammad (sa)`s name indicates this, because Muhammad (sa) means, The one who is most highly praised. This love of Holy Prophet (sa) is special to Ahamdi Muslims. Whenever the name of our beloved Master is taken, each and every one of Ahmadi Muslim sends Darud on him by saying, Salallaho Alaihi Wassalam, invoking Allah`s Blessings on him. This love, true respect and loyalty towards the Holy Prophet (sa) is Ahmadiyyat`s gift to all of us!
As Ahmadi Muslims, we have been chosen by Allah, the Exalted to be the true followers of the Promised Messiah (as). This the Mahdi and the Messiah, for whom the world had been awaiting. This is the same Mahdi for whom our beloved Master Hadhrat Muhammad Mustafa (saw) used the words, inna li-Mahdiyyana, Òur Mahdì.` This is the Mahdi for whom, our beloved Master instructed his Ummah, When you find the Mahdi, perform Baiat (make a pledge of allegiance) at his hands. You must go to him, even if you have to reach him across icebound mountains crawling on your feet. His is the Mahdi and the Caliph of Allah.`(Sunan Ibn Majah)
The Mission of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw)
Written by: Deeba Chaudhry
Source: Calgary Ahmadiyya Muslim Examiner
Have you any notion what was that strange event that occurred in the wasteland of Arabia when hundreds of thousands of the dead were revived within a few days, and those who had been misguided through generations exhibited a Divine complexion, and those who were blind began to see, and those who had been dumb began to utter words of Divine wisdom, and the world underwent a revolution which no eye had seen before and no ear had heard. Do you know how all this came about? It was the supplications during dark nights of one who had lost himself in God, which caused a revolution in the world and showed such wonders as could never have been expected from that unlettered and helpless one [the Holy Prophet(saw)]. Invoke Thy blessings and peace O Allah on him and his people, according to the amount of pain and anguish he felt for his ummah, and pour down upon him the light of Thy mercy forever.” (Blessings of Prayer, pp.10-11)
The Near East has been home to the richest religious traditions of humankind. The greatest number of known prophets appeared in this region who, over a period of two thousand years, were central figures for four of the world’s major religions. Following Zoroastrianism were Judaism and Christianity, all finally completed and perfected by the religion of Islam. Throughout humanity’s long and laborious history, in practically every community in the world, prophets continuously were raised for humankind’s guidance, reformation and spiritual development. These men appeared during some of the darkest moments in history and made significant contributions towards achieving the civilized and enlightened societies in which we find ourselves today. The Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) was one such prophet, but his advent was a culmination of the long line of illustrious prophets before him. All earlier prophets were sent exclusively to and for small communities or nations that were isolated on the basis of language, ethnicity or geography. For example, Krishna, Ram Chandar and Buddha appeared in the Subcontinent of India, Confucius and Lao Tze appeared in China, Zoroaster appeared in what was then northern Iran, Abraham appeared in Babylon, Moses appeared in Egypt, and Jesus appeared in Israel. According to each of these prophets, the purpose of their advent was for the spiritual development and reformation of the particular populations to which they were sent. By their own admission, none of them were sent to humankind as a whole and their messages were not comprehensive and for all times.
By contrast, while the Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) came in the footsteps of all earlier prophets, his mission was larger in scope and his message was more focused and defined. The Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw)’s mission and the essence of his message that, for the first time in history, was universal in scope as it addressed the entire world and for all times. The Holy Prophet’s (saw) mission began some six centuries after the advent of the Prophet Jesus (as). Inclined towards, solitude, contemplation and mediation from an early age, in 610 AD, the Holy Prophet (saw) received his first revelation from Allah. One night, the Angel Gabriel appeared to him in a vision and he spoke these words: “Read, in the name of thy Lord Who created. Created man from a clot of blood. Read, for they Lord is Most Beneficent. Who taught man by the pen, taught man what he knew not.” (Holy Qur’an 96:2-6) With these verses began the process of prophetic revelation which had remained silent for the past six hundred years. Although this first revelation marked the beginning of the Holy Prophet (saw)’s mission, it did not completely articulate all of his specific duties or directions. These instructions were to come in subsequent revelations. The second revelation received by the Holy Prophet (saw) further clarified his mission as: “O thou wrapped in a mantel, arise and deliver thy warning. And thy Lord do thou magnify, and thy garments do thou purify, and all unseemliness do thou shun, and give not to gain more, and for thy Lord’s cause, be patient.” (Holy Qur’an 74:2-8)
While the impact to the person of the Holy Prophet (saw) of receiving revelation was enormous, even more unsettling and disconcerting was it to the people around him. At the time of the Holy Prophet (saw), the Arabs possessed no civilization and adhered to primitive pagan beliefs and practices. As they were largely nomadic in culture, the Arabs possessed poor social institutions and systems of government, and very few moral values. Much of their leisure time was devoted to the pursuit of wine, promiscuity and gambling with little or no morality and restraint. The status of the poor was akin to that of the animals, and the status of salves was even worse. Women were held in low esteem and justice was the exclusive domain of the ruling elite. It was within such a society that the Holy Prophet (saw) began to preach his message. While all prophets faced severe opposition to their message and missions, the Holy Prophet (saw) was certainly no exception. Daily he and his followers endured persecution, ill-treated and humiliation, and they lived under the constant threat of assassination. Despite this, he displayed remarkable perseverance and patience, as well as an unshakeable faith in the success of his mission and the eventual winning of the hearts of his countrymen. No other prophet or reformer found his people to be in such a state of degradation, disorder and immorality as the Holy Prophet (saw) found the Arabs. Likewise, no other prophet had ever succeeded in raising his people to such heights or moral and spiritual enlightenment as the Holy Prophet (saw) did, let along within such a short time span of twenty-two years. At the root of this incredible success was the message of the Holy Prophet (saw), a message that was so simple that it was understood by the unlettered Bedouins, and comprehensive thus requiring no change or addition to it during later periods. The summary of the entirety of the message and mission of the Holy Prophet (saw) is: “The belief in the absolute Oneness and Unity of Allah the Almighty; and the promotion of acts of goodness and righteousness for the sake of service to humanity.
A theistic belief and a belief and a moral codes of the conduct are fundamental to all religions. These two principles are not only the foundation of the religion of Islam but also of the teachings of all earlier prophets and sages. Indeed, the Holy Qura’an states: “Surely, the Believers and the Jews and the Christians and the Sabians - whichever party from among these truly who believes in Allah and the Last Day and does good deeds - shall have their reward with their Lord, and no fear shall come upon them, nor shall they grieve.” (Holy Qur’an 2:63) Similarly, the Holy Qur’an also states: “And who is better in faith than he who submits himself to Allah, and he is a doer of good, and follows the religion of Abraham, the upright?” (Holy Qur’an 4:126) The Holy Qur’an set forth the philosophy of Islam and the essence of the prophet’s (saw) mission. These verses refer not only the great simplicity and universality of the Holy Prophet’s (saw) message, but they also display the sublime power that transformed an unlettered and brutal people into saints, scholars and scientists.
The Holy Prophet (saw) taught the Unity and Oneness of Allah. Allah is One with no associates or intercessors. He is the sole Creator of the universe. He existed prior tot the existence of the universe, and shall exist long after it goes into oblivion. The second principal of the religion of Islam that was the Holy Prophet’s (saw) mission to establish was the committing of acts of righteousness. According to the Holy Qur’an and the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (saw), committing acts of goodness are necessary and crucial to the Islamic faith. Even in the Holy Prophet’s (saw) earliest pronouncements, equal emphasis was laid on service to humanity as on the worship of Allah. All acts of righteousness are essentially inspired by one human emotion, namely, compassion for fellow human beings. This kindness and mercy towards fellow beings is based on a sense of justice and equality - an attitude that all human beings are like brothers. Also, the Holy Prophet (saw) enjoined upon his followers kindness to parents, mindfulness of the needs of the wayfarers, widows and slaves, the protection of the rights of women and orphans, and respecting the property, honour and lives of all the people.
In the early years of the Holy Prophet’s (saw) mission, he and his followers were the victims of the sufferings, torture, humiliation, taunt and injury. They demonstrated superhuman patience, perseverance and steadfastness, and they remained ever-devoted to their cause. Eventually, this patience and persistence caused a stir in more and more people’s hearts as a peaceful revolution overtook the Arab world. Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, the founder of Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at writes about this peaceful revolution in his own words: “
Spending Wealth in the Way of Allah
Written by: Deeba Chaudhry
Source: Calgary Ahmadiyya Muslim Examiner
Rich and poor people exist in every society. Our of the rich, there are some who seek to provide for those who are in need and in the way of Allah. However, there are also those from amongst the rich who, out of greed and self-indulgence, abstain from spending their wealth in the way of Allah and for the poor, and are ambivalent regarding the needs and sufferings of others. Their wealth was granted to them by Allah, but they hoard it and do not wish to spend an ounce on others. This attitude results in widening the gap between the rich and poor and feeds the latter’s discontent. When such neglect is shown towards one’s poorer relatives, then jealousy results. Those who have been blessed by Allah with affluence should be ever mindful of the needs of others, and feelings of anger or resentment should never prevent one from extending one’s help to the poor. A Muslim should not give sole precedence to his or her needs but should always take into account the rights and needs of others such as parents, siblings, and the poor. For instance, when Hadhrat Aisha (ra) was wrongly accused of impropriety, many of those whom were suspicious of her were from amongst those who were receiving the financial assistance of her father, Hadhrat Abu Bakr (ra). When Allah declared Hdhrat Aisha (ra) innocent, Hadhrat Abu Bakr (ra) declared that he would no longer provide financial assistance to those who wrongly accused his daughter. In response to this attitude, Allah revealed that: “And let not those who possess wealth and plenty among you swear not to give aught to the kindred and to the needy and to those who have left their homes in the cause of Allah. Let them forgive and forbear. Do you not desire that Allah should forgive you? And Allah is Most Forgiving, Merciful.” (24:23) Even though Hadhrat Abu Bakr (ra) suffered greatly during the Affair of the Ifk, nevertheless, Allah commanded that he not withdraw his generosity and advised him to be forgiving in the way that he expect Allah to be towards him. Allah is Most Forgiving, and for one to be able to avail oneself of Allah’s forgiveness, one must also be forgiving. Charity and financial assistance promote peace and harmony in society. At the time of the Hijra (migration to Medina), the Ansars (Muslims of Medina) showed great affections for the Muhajirs (Muslim migrants from Mecca). The example of tremendous generosity and love served as the foundation for the new Islamic society which revolutionized the Arab world and beyond. Similarly. The followers of the Promised Messiah (as) exhibit the same bonds of generosity and love so that a new society of peace and harmony can be established at their hands. Those Muslims who reside in the West and who are affluent should be ever mindful of the needs of their relatives. Also, they should be generous and regularly send gifts to the poor locally and abroad. Such generosity should be so sincere and discreet that the “left hand should not know of the charity given by the right hand” and that the honour and dignity of the recipient should be safeguard and preserved. The recipients will appreciate such charity and will pray that Allah continue to bless the affluent. When the rich provide for the poor and the poor pray for the continued prosperity of the rich, peace and harmony in society is inevitable.
Inflation in Pakistan has reached such staggering levels that the average white-collar labourer is experiencing great difficulties in merely maintaining a basic standard of living. Being mindful of this, Muslims should extend their help and generosity. For example, a Muslim woman who regularly received financial support from a relative living abroad. When suddenly this financial support ceased, the woman and her children had to struggle and even came to the brink of starvation. One day, the woman saw a rupee note lying on the ground and felt the urge to pick it up. However, for some reason, she resisted and left the rupee note on the ground and returned home. She was taught to be patient and steadfast when faced with adversity and so, while returning home, she repeatedly invoke the remembrance of Allah. Upon returning home, an envelope filled with cash was awaiting her arrival from the very relative who had ceased giving financial support. Had this woman not received financial assistance from her relative, her children might have developed feelings of ill-will and resentment towards their more affluent relatives, society-at-large, and perhaps even Allah. Thankfully, Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at possess few who ogle the wealth of others. Indeed, often it is those who are the poorest and possessing of the least resources in the Jama’at that make the great financial sacrifices relative to their means.
Moral Principles Of Parenting: Raising Good Children In The New Millennium
Written by: Deeba Chaudhry
Source: Calgary Ahmadiyya Muslim Examiner
Welcome to the world of parenthood. Our children deserve to learn the most important behaviours from us and acquire important habits (life skills) with our help. As parents, we give our children the best in us by helping them build an exemplary character that they can rely on in their own lives. Our kids are innocent and they need our kind help. These children need the tools to be successful in all aspects of their practical lives. As parents, we are the first teachers of our children since birth, and we are rewarded to become parents. Therefore, as responsible parents it
First and foremost, our parenting efforts must start with supplications to Allah Almighty. The Holy Qur’an teaches us to pray for pure offspring in the words of Hadhrat Zachariah (as): “My Lord, grant me pure offspring from Thyself. (Al-Imran, 3:39). Therefore, the notion of raising children should be on our minds even before our children are born. We should be praying for not only our children but also for our spouses and ourselves. Parents should pray: “Our Lord, grant us of our spouses and children the delight of our eyes, and make us a model for the righteous”. (Al-Furqan, 25:75) Parents should be focused on teaching and training their children to love Allah Almighty, pray to Allah, and trust in Allah the Almighty. The Holy Quran mentioned that Hadhrat Ibrahim (as) used to pray: “My Lord, make me observe Prayer, and my children too (Ibrahim, 14:41) Similarly, the Holy Quran teaches: “Enjoin Prayer on Thy family, and be constant therein. (Ta Ha, 20:133) Now, there is a narrow window of formative years to accomplish this in. It will happen naturally if the children see their parents and elders doing so. Parents should mind the big picture and continually reflect upon the long term implications of short term actions. A seemingly benign choice by parents many terminally affect their children. So, how people choose to live today will largely determine how their children will live tomorrow. Parents should know that their deeds speak louder than their words. Parents need to be role models for their children in everything good and realize that raising children are not a set of tasks or chores; rather it is a way of life. And, only a healthy and meaningful way of life is worth living. Firstly, parents should remember that most habits are easier to adopt and cultivate in the earlier years; however, bad habits developed earlier are very difficult to get rid of later. As it is said that well begun is half done, it is important to nurture good behaviour in children from the beginning. Secondly, parents should note that in their formative years, children learn by copying of following directions. However, as they grow older, parents need to train them to make right choices on their own. As it is said, given a man a fish and you feed him for a day, but teach him how to fish and you feed him for life. Thirdly, parents need to be consistent and constant in their parenting efforts. The importance of both parents being on the same page and working toward the same goal with a mutually supportive and harmonious approach can not be overemphasized. In the beginning, children will playfully pick up the habit of praying by just copying their parents. The holy Prophet (saw) said that at age 7, the parents should formally inspire their children to join in prayers. At age 10, as they get exposed to other interests and may get distracted, the parents should admonish them to be regular in daily prayers. However, after age 12, the parents may only remind them about it. If the parents heed this advice, they will not have to anguish later on. Initially, ensuring punctual observation of the daily prayers is important. Later on, by the Grace of Allah, the quality of their prayers will improve and their love for and trust in Allah will naturally follow. Finally, according to the Holy Quran, “Their prayers will safeguard them against indecency and evil. (Al-Ankabut, 29:46)
It is very important that parents watch their company their children keep. The Holy Quran teaches us: “Be with the truthful. (Al-Tauba, 9:119) Therefore, if parents are truthful and keep company with the truthful, their children will naturally follow. It is said that a man is known by the company he keeps. In the past it meant the physical company. Today, however, it is also the virtual company we keep. With the advent of the ubiquitous electronic gadgets, the temptation is to mindlessly spend more time in the virtual company then some time in the purposeful physical company. Alongside the many benefits of modern inventions, is the loss of humanity adopting mutual ills. Badness attracts and leads children to adopt it with intensity, while forgetting traditions and beliefs. Some children considering such matters trivial, also get inclined in this way, resulting in very bad consequences. These children should invest their precious time in the remembrance of Allah, the mosque, purposeful readings, meaningful discussions, watching MTA, and getting to know the truthful and should not waste their free time on TV, DVDS, Ipods, MySpace, YourFace, Youtube, and Chat rooms. Unfortunately, children have the propensity to take the easy way out. Most of these children have relatively easy access to this irresistible virtual world. But, it is insane and a slippery slope. On the other hand, the company of the truthful and pursuit of some larger than life goal seem difficult and boring. It is struggle and requires high resolve and serious forethought. While modern technology is wonderful and unavoidable, it is the end to which we employ it that is of the essence. It can provide easy and affordable access to the company of the truthful. So far starters, the key word is “balance”. Till one can instinctively embrace the company of the truthful, the least we should do is be highly selective and strike a balance between the mundane and the sublime. Parents should be their children’s first and foremost company. If they develop a bond of mutual understanding, respect, compassion, trust and confidence with their children, they won’t need to look elsewhere for company.
People need to do parenting with wisdom. According to the Holy Quran: “Call unto the way of they Lord with wisdom and goodly exhortation, and argue with them in a way that is best. (Al-Nahl, 16:126) Wisdom demands moderation. The Holy Prophet (saw) said: “Moderation is best in all affairs”. When parenting people need to find a balance between negligence and indulgence, between trust and suspicion. Similarly, we need to know the difference between advising and nagging, and monitoring and snooping. This is especially critical when the children are in their adolescence. Wisdom also demands that parent ‘know’ their children by getting personally involved in their lives with mutually respectful, frank and honest communication. Parents must know their friends, interests, aspirations, challenges, preferences, priorities, and tendencies. Parents should coach, assist and support them in solving their problems. However, the focus of our parenting should be “islaah”, that is, behavioural reformation. Parents evaluate and rethink their parenting approach if their actions or comments appear to be resulting in contemptuous or rebellious reaction in their children. Parents should be firm but polite with them. On the other hand, parents should know their own limitations and seek appropriate professional help, if necessary, for the physical and mental health of their children in a timely manner. A stitch in time can save nine; any procrastination in this regard can have serious consequences. Wisdom also requires proper anger management. At times, parenting can be very stressful, frustrating, or at times enraging. Some situations can easily spin out-of-control. At such times, parents need to swallow their pride, exercise self-control, and refrain from meaningless threats and verbal or physical abuse. Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, The Promised Messiah (as), the founder of Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at said: “An individual with self-respect and self-control, who is also forbearing and dignified, has the right to correct a child to a certain extend or guide the child. But a wrathful and hot-headed person who is easily provoked is not fit to be a guardian of children. (Malfuzat, vol. 2, p.4) Regarding the corporal punishment, the Promised Messiah (as) said: “Beating of children is an act which can be termed as a sort of polytheism (shirk). It actually means that the ill-tempered person makes himself a partner of God in giving guidance and sustaining the creatures. I wish that, instead of punishing children, parents would resort to prayer, and would make it a habit to supplicate earnestly for their children as the supplications of the parents for their children are particularly accepted by God. (Malfuzat, vol2, p.4)
Islam teaches parents to treat their children fairly and respectfully. The Holy Prophet (saw) said: “Respect your children and cultivate good manners in them. (Ibne Majah)) Each child has a unique nature and a distinct set of strengths and challenges. As such, each child deserves a unique parents approach. What works for one child may not work for another. However, no child should have any complex about his or her sibling being the favourite child. In addition, general behaviour and attitude, Islam teaches parents to: Vie with one another in good works. (Al-Baqarah, 2:149) Therefore, parents need to inculcate in their children a competitive attitude and a mindset of doing their best in everything good, particularly in learning religious and secular knowledge. The Holy Prophet (saw) said: Acquisition of knowledge is obligatory upon every Muslim man and woman. (Baihiqi) Parents should nurture a knowledge centric culture not money centric. Their children should not get distracted from their long term educational and professional goals due to their short term money making opportunities.
A child should be kept clean and fed at fixed hours from the very day it is born. This is very helpful for its health. But a greater benefit is that its limbs come to acquire a sense of punctuality. A child should be assigned responsible jobs suited to its age. This will help create a sense of responsibility in the child. It is said that a father had two sons. He gave one of them an apple and asked him to divide it with his brother. The father asked if he knew how to divide the apple. The child replied that he did not. The father said: He who divides should take the smaller half and give his brother the bigger half. At this boy said that in that case the apple had better be divided by his brother. This shows that this boy had already acquired the habit the selfishness, but knew that if the responsibility fell upon him, he would have to accord priority to his brother. A child should be not obstinate. If it persists in being stubborn, its attention should be diverted to something else. Parents should address a child politely and courteously, for a child is a great mimic. If you address it rudely, it will return the compliment in kind. Parents should not lie to a child nor be peevish or arrogant with it. It will certainly imitate parents. Parents should teach children to admit their mistakes, as a matter of habit. Moreover, parents should not try to hind their own mistakes before a child. Parents should become sympathetic when it commit’s a mistake. Let it feel that mistake is a kind of loss it has suffered.
A child should be given a little money. This will teach it three virtues: Charitableness, frugality, helping relatives. For instance, if it has three coins, let it purchase some eatable with one coin and share it with other children; with the second coin, let it buy a toy and the third it should be asked to give in charity. Children should also be given common ownership of some property. For instance, they should be given a toy and they should be told that it belongs to all of them, that all should play with it and that no one should try to damage it. This would teach them to safeguard common property. A child should be given constant guidance in matters of etiquette. Due heed should be paid to physical exercise and stamina of a child. This would help towards its moral education and progress in the world. In light of the foregoing exposition of virtue and morality, only a child who possess characteristics of learning good behaviours, genuine love for God and pure nature is considered to be morally educated.
After the moral education of child, the question arises: How can it be safeguarded against sin? The answer is that human nature is diverse; their, parents cannot afford to generalise. The same recipe cannot be helpful in all cases. Even a physical ailment does not admit of the same treatment for every patient. Take the case of common cold. To some, a cup of tea can provide instant relief. In the case of another, sweetened curd or whey is helpful. There are still others who require a prolonged medical treatment. There are those whom medicine can help while there are others who simply baffle medical experts, why? The answer is simple, different people suffer not from one but from different diseases. Human beings differ. Children must have true knowledge of right and wrong. The heart might urge towards right action, but if they do not know what the right action is, they cannot perform it. Similarly, the heart might warn one against evil, but if one is ignorant of that and why an act is evil, one cannot guard himself against it. Thus it is essential that a child should know what ought or ought not to do. Children must know the context in which right action has to be done and bad action avoided.
Parents must remember that their children are but a sacred trust with them from Almighty Allah and raising children is very serious, difficult and humbling undertaking. Allah says in the Holy Quran: “Prove not false to your trusts knowingly; and know that your possessions and your children are but a trial. (Al-Anfal, 8:28-29) Parenting requires infinite patience and prayers. The Holy Quran teaches: “Seek help with patience and prayer. (Al-Barqarah, 2:154) At times, when parents seem to run out of ideas and answers they should pray: “Our Lord, perfect our light for us and forgive us. (Al-Tahrim, 66:9) Parents are acutely aware of the overwhelming nature of this tremendous responsibility. However, parents should recognize that no matter how hard and sincerely they may strive, at the end of the day it is merely the Grace and Mercy of Allah Almighty that will save all children and keep them on the right path. Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, The Promised Messiah (as) and the founder of the Ahmadiyya Movement in Islam said: “I pray for my children and require them to follow a broad set of rules of behaviour and no more. Beyond this I put my full trust in Allah Almighty with the confidence that the seed of good fortune inherent in each of them will flourish at its proper time. (Malfuzat, vol. 2, p.5) Similarly, he also said: “ There are certain prayers that are a daily routine for me. I pray for myself that God may let me do the kind of things that would manifest His honour and grandeur and He may make me fully resigned to His will. Than I pray for my wife that He may grant me children through her who may prove to be the coolness of my eyes and who may live their lives in perfect accordance with the will of God. Then I pray for my children that God may make all of them servants of His religion. (Malfuzat, vol.2, p.4)
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