Love For All Hatred For None: The Future of Islam - Part 2

MANAGEMENT BOARD CONTENTS March 2009, Vol.104, No.
03
Munir-ud-din Shams (Chairman)
Mansoor Shah (Secretary) Editorial
Naseer Ahmad Qamar
Mubarak Ahmad Zafar Defending Islam in the West.
Mirza Fakhar Ahmad (Sarah Waseem, UK) . .............................................................. 2
Abdul Baqi Arshad
The Future of Islam - Part 2

CHIEF EDITOR & MANAGER
Continuation of a lecture from the archives on the
Mansoor Ahmed Shah
truth of prophets and the need of the reformer of
the age.
EDITORIAL BOARD
Adam Walker Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad(as), the Promised Messiah
Syed Amer Ahmad and Mahdi). ........................................................................... 4
Bockarie Tommy Kallon
Fareed Ahmad
Fauzia Bajwa Islam and Women’s Rights
Fazal Ahmad
Khullat Munir The rights of women in Islam and their role in
Mansoor Saqi shaping society.
Sarah Waseem. (Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, Head of the worldwide Ahmadiyya
Tanveer Khokhar
Muslim community) ............................................................................ 12
SPECIAL CONTRIBUTORS
Amatul Hadi Ahmad Book Review: The Jewel of Medina
PROOFREADERS
A critical review of a novel allegedly based on the
Abdul Ghany Jahangeer Khan history of the life of Hadhrat ‘A'ishah(ra).
(Sarah Waseem – UK). ............................................................. 32
DESIGN AND LAYOUT
Tanveer Khokhar
There is No Compulsion in Religion - Part 2
DISTRIBUTION
Muhammad Hanif Qur’anic Teachings on Freedom of Religion.
(Syed Mir Mahmood Ahmed Nasir – Rabwah, Pakistan ). ................. 49
PUBLISHER
Al Shirkatul Islamiyyah
All correspondence should be forwarded to the
editor at: Love for All Hatred for None
The Review of Religions
The London Mosque
16 Gressenhall Road
London, SW18 5QL
United Kingdom
© Islamic Publications, 2009
ISSN No: 0034-6721
EMAIL:
reviewofreligions@gmail.com
Cover pic:
Views expressed in this publication are not The Holy Ka’aba in Makkah, Saudi Arabia
necessarily the beliefs of the Ahmadiyya Muslim © Dreamtime picture library
Community
EDITORIAL by Sarah Waseem, UK
In 1902 the Promised Messiah(as) decided to establish this magazine,

The Review of Religions. Its purpose was to present the complete
teachings of Islam and to reflect its beautiful features. He desired that
copies should be sent to Europe and America because:
‘Pure knowledge and satisfying strong arguments in favour of the

religion of Islam and the ways to bring peace to the human soul
revealed to me and that are still being revealed to me, have not
yet benefited the educated people of this country and the seekers
of truth in Europe’.
(Advertorial Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian 15 January, 1901
published by Zia-ul-Islam Press Qadian, Majmu‘ah Ishtiharaat, Vol 2,
pp.393-395 Al-Shirkatul Islamiyyah, Rabwah).
Especially since the 9/11 attacks in the US, Islam has been a source of
interest and irritation to western writers. Some seek to understand it;
others to deliberately misinterpret its teachings. This issue contains a
number of articles which challenge some misconceptions about Islam
common in the West.
A frequent allegation against Islam is that it is a religion of terror. Mir

Mahmood Nasir presents a scholarly analysis of numerous verses of
the Holy Qur’an which repeatedly demonstrate the very opposite, and
affirm the peaceful nature of Islam.
Another issue that continues to generate controversy within the West

is the position of women in Islam. Sadly the appalling treatment that
is sometimes meted out to women in so-called ‘Islamic‘ societies does
little to disconfirm their opinion. However when we actually examine
Islamic teaching concerning the role of women, it is clear that Islam
2 The Review of Religions – March 2009

Editorial
has laid down clear direction and guidance. In this edition we have
reproduced the stirring speech delivered by Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih
V at the UK Annual Convention in 2008, where he has elucidated
detailed Islamic instructions regarding the treatment of women and
the safeguarding of their rights and status. The speech is a pertinent
reminder of the heroic sacrifices that Muslim ladies have made for the
cause of their faith.
It is regrettable, therefore, that one of those early heroines, Hadhrat

‘A'ishah(ra), has been made the subject of a historical novel, The Jewel of
Medina, which presents a very distorted and fanciful account of her life.
The author says she wants to empower Muslim women. In this edition
of The Review of Religions, we challenge that assertion by examining the
gross inaccuracies in the book.
In these days as assaults are made on the veracity of Islamic teachings,

it is worth reminding ourselves of the following words of the Promised
Messiah(as):
‘When the people of the West shall enter into Islam in troops,
a great revolution will occur in religion. And when this sun will
rise to its zenith in the Western countries, then only those on
whom the door of repentance is closed will remain bereft of
Islam, that is to say, their nature is not at all in accordance with
Islam.’
(Izalah-e-Auhaam, p.517)
We shall be answering oft-repeated allegations against Islam in future

editions of The Review of Religions and welcome contributions by our
readers on this and related subjects.
The Review of Religions – March 2009 3

FROM THE
ARCHIVES I gnorant men sometimes say
that they also see true visions
and receive inspirations and have
their prayers accepted though it
be on rare occasions. According
to these men, there is no
The distinction between themselves
and the prophets of God, who
Future must, therefore, be either
impostors or self-deceived men.
of Islam Such vanity has led many a man

to destruction. A seeker after
truth can easily see that the holy
prophets of God are not ordinary
Part 2 men. They are a class especially
selected by God and endowed
by Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam with numerous spiritual blessings.
Ahmad(as) Notwithstanding their rejection
by their enemies, they ultimately
The following is a lecture vanquish them, and their light
delivered at Sialkot, India shines forth so clearly that all
on 2 November 1904 by intelligent men have to admit a
Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam remarkable distinction between
Ahmad(as) (the promised
them and their opposers. A
Messiah and Mahdi)
beggar, who possesses a few
rupees, cannot claim equality
with a monarch whose treasures
are full. In like manner, the glow-
worm which emits a sparkle of
light in darkness, cannot say that
there is no distinction between it
and the sun. Hence also the man
who occasionally sees a vision
which is true, and thus catches

The Future of Islam – Part 2
only a glimpse of the light, is a bility in the one case and a

fool if he claims equality with the spiritual decay and a going out of
prophets of God who are as the the light of faith in the other. It is
sun. Nor has Almighty God given but excessive vanity which makes
the human soul this glimpse of a man think that he does not
light without purpose. It is meant stand in need of the prophets of
to serve as a guide in the God. He deceives himself who
recognition of the claims of says: ‘Do I not say my prayers?
prophets, and thus all available Do I not keep the fasts? Do I not
means are placed by God within recite the formula of faith?’ He is
the reach of men, so that they not aware of the true faith and of
may have no excuse for rejecting the transcendent delight it brings
the prophets. with it.
Another characteristic of the Ponder over the creation of man:

chosen ones of God is that they it is God who has created him,
possess a magnetic power and an but see how He has made one
attraction, and are sent as man an instrument in bringing
begetters of spiritual generations another into existence. As in the
in the world. As they guide men physical birth of man, Almighty
in paths which they themselves see God has established the law of a
to be right and raise the veils of procreator, so a spiritual father is
ignorance from before their eyes, also necessary for the spiritual
therefore it is through them that birth of man. Take care,
true knowledge, true love of therefore, that you are not
God, sincere piety, righteousness deceived with the mere form and
and bliss can be obtained. He ceremony, the husk of Islam.
who breaks connection with Read attentively the Word of
them is like the branch which is God and think what He requires
cut off from the stem. To of you. He desires you to attain
establish or cut off connection to the stage for which He has
with them produces its imme- Himself taught you to pray. Read
diate effect, a growing of the Fatihah which says: ‘Show us
spirituality according to capa- the right path, the path of those

upon whom Thou hast bestowed Christ, son of Mary, to purify the
Thy blessings.’ (Ch.1:Vs.6-7) earth of the injustice, iniquity
Here Almighty God enjoins you and sins which prevail upon it, I
to pray five times a day that He come likewise in the character of
may grant you the blessings Raja Krishna, the greatest Avatar
which were granted to the proof the Hindu religion, and
phets of God. But how can you spiritually I am the same man. I
attain those blessings except do not say this of my own accord,
through the prophets? Hence it is but the Mighty God, who is the
necessary that to make you attain Lord of earth and heavens, has
the stage of certainty and love, revealed this to me. He has told
the prophets of God should me not on one occasion but
appear from time to time and re- repeatedly, that I am Krishna for
animate the dead faith and make the Hindus and the Promised
you receive the promised Messiah for the Muslims and the
blessings. ‘Will you then oppose Christians. I know that ignorant
God and fight against Him? Will Muslims will at once exclaim
you break His old and established upon hearing this that I have
laws?’ become a plain unbeliever and
heretic on account of my having
There is another point which I adopted the name of an
would like to state before closing. unbeliever, as they think the holy
My advent in this age is not Krishna to be, but this is a
meant for the reformation of the revelation of God which I cannot
Muslims only, but Almighty God but announce, and this is the first
has willed to bring about through day that I announce this claim in
me a regeneration of three great such a large gathering, for those
nations, viz., Hindus, Muslims who come from God do not fear
and Christians. As for the last two being blamed or reviled.
I am the Promised Messiah, so
for the first I have been sent as an Now Raja Krishna as revealed to
Avatar. It is more than twenty me was so great and perfect a
years since I announced that as I man, that his equal is not to be
have appeared in the character of found among the Hindu Rishis

Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad(as)

The founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim
community
In 1891, he claimed on the basis of Divine revelation,
that he was the Promised Messiah and Mahdi whose
advent had been foretold by Muhammad, the Holy
Prophet of Islam (peace and blessings of Allah be
upon him) and by the scriptures of other faiths.
His claim constitutes the basis of the beliefs of the

Ahmadiyya Muslim community.
and Avatars. He was an Avatar or wicked, and upholder of the

prophet of his time and he meek, thy praise has been
received the Holy Spirit from written in the Gita.’
God. He was granted triumph
and victory from God and I love Krishna for I appear as his
cleansed the Arya Varta [ed. Arya image. The two attributes of
Varta means “Land of the Aryas”] of Krishna who is described in this
sins. He was a true prophet of his revelation as the destroyer of evil
time, but many errors were and the upholder of the poor and
introduced into his teachings the meek are exactly the same as
afterwards. His heart overflowed those of the Promised Messiah.
with the love of God and he Thus spiritually, Krishna and
loved virtue and hated evil. Promised Messiah are one and
Almighty God had promised to the same person, there being no
raise a spiritual manifestation of difference except that which
him in the last ages, and He has exists in the terminology of the
now fulfilled this promise two people, the Hindus and the
through me. One of my Muslims.
revelations on this point is:
As Krishna, I now warn the
‘O Krishna destroyer of the Aryas of some of their errors.

The first of these has already from men a salvation lasting

been pointed out. It consists in forever when He had the power
the belief that matter and soul to grant it. Why did He deprive
are self-existent and eternal. This men of the gift which with His
is a serious error, for there is admitted Almightiness He could
nothing self-existing except the bestow upon them? This objec-
Divine Being Who does not tion becomes the more forcible
require anyone else to sustain when it is considered that,
Him. But how can things be according to the belief of the
uncreated which require another Arya Samaj, the souls which are
power to keep them alive and to doomed to undergo a long
support them? If it be supposed punishment by passing through
to be true that matter and soul are almost interminable courses of
self-existent, then their com- transmigration to enjoy a short
bination and dissolution can also rest, are in no way under any
take place of themselves. In that obligation to God, for they are
case the only proof of the not His creatures. In reply to this,
existence of God derived from it is said that temporary salvation
the source of reason would fall to has been resorted to by God for
the ground, for if matter and soul the sake of transmigration. That
could possibly come into is bringing forward one assertion
existence by themselves, it is in support of another.
much more easy for reason to
assert that their combination and The Aryas believe that there are a
dissolution did not need any limited number of souls, to which
assistance. no addition can be made. Had
salvation been a gift not to be
This error concerning the person taken back, the consequence
of the Divine Being has involved would have been that the souls
the Aryas in another error, viz., would have all passed away one
transmigration and a temporary by one to a state of salvation,
salvation. It is difficult to until the whole store would have
understand why God, like a been exhausted, and nothing
parsimonious man, held back being left in the hands of God,

the cycle of transmigration would speak though He has no tongue

have come to an end, reducing like ours? Does He not hear
God to the position of an idle though He has not ears as we
looker-on. This necessitated an have? Does He not see without
arrangement according to which the eyes possessed by man? Why
the souls could be driven back then can He not create things
from the state of salvation. The without any material? If He is
actual injustice of this principle is unlike men in speaking, hearing
it sought to conceal by the excuse and seeing, it is unreasonable to
that every soul while obtaining judge His power of creation
salvation is not spotless, and strictly by the mortal standard.
hence it is expelled for the fault Such a belief divests God of the
with which it remains charged Divine attributes. Another very
even at the time when salvation is serious harm which proceeds
granted to it. from it is that it makes every
particle of matter the equal of
These are the principles of the God in being co-eternal with
Arya Samaj. One may ask what Him. The idol-worshipper sets
is the need for owning such a up only a few idols with God, but
God? Had not the creation of the according to the Arya Samajists
universe by the hand of God the whole world is a partaker
been denied, not a single one of with the Divine Being, for every
these difficulties would have particle is its own creator.
confronted the Samaj. The error
in which it is involved consists in God knows that I do not say this
judging the powers and attributes out of spite or enmity. Nay, I
of the Divine Being after those of believe that the true teachings of
mortals. It is said that something the Vedas must have been free
cannot come out of nothing, but from such errors. I know that
the experience on which this such doctrines were made
principle is based relates to the current by philosophers who
works of man, and it is an error were not guided in their
to judge of the works of God by enquiries by Divine light, and
the same standard. Does not God most of whom ultimately became

atheists, and I fear that if the the manifestation of His

Arya Samaj does nothing in the wonderful powers, and not
way of getting rid of these false recognise Him as the source of all
and erroneous beliefs, it will also blessings. A being thus divested of
turn at last into an atheistic power does not deserve to be
movement. called God, for it is through the
display of His powers that man
Transmigration too is a great blot has recognised Him. If we deny
on Divine grace and mercy. And His power, and make Him
the doctrine of Niyog is in fact an depend upon resources and
insult to pure womanhood and means, the door to His
must excite the indignation of all recognition will be closed.
those who desire the progress of
morality and of many honest I am sorely grieved to remark here
thinkers even from among the that the majority of the Arya
Hindus. It shocks one to hear the Samajists and the Christian
advocates of the Niyog, telling men Missionaries instead of doing
that in the absence of male aught to impart life and
offspring, the wife should pollute spirituality to their own religions
herself with a stranger so that unjustly attack and vilify the pure
haply she may give birth to a son. and perfect principles of Islam.
No chaste woman would, I think, They are so bent upon this course
bear such insult. And with these as if it were the aim and end of
disgusting doctrines in its religious the religion they teach that the
code, doctrines derogatory to the great men to whom humanity lies
dignity of God and man as well, under the deepest obligations, the
the Arya Samaj invites Muslims to prophets and the messengers of
accept its teachings. Every seeker God, should be abused and
after truth should, no doubt, carped at. This is directly opposed
accept truth wherever it is found, to the grand object which at true
but it is far from being the truth religion aim. Religion requires
that we should deny the power of that a man should so purify
creation of the Almighty God himself of every evil that bowing
Who has shown His existence by down at the Divine threshold his

soul should constantly be in a state fessing a belief in the blood of

of submission to his Holy Master, Jesus should be supposed to
and being filled with certainty, cleanse a man of all the evils that
love, knowledge, sincerity and he has done or that he may do
faithfulness undergo such a com- and what a wonderful
plete transformation as should purification of the soul in which
make him enjoy a heavenly life in the only thing not needed is
this very world. But such purity purification! It is not thus that
and perfection can never be true purity of life can be
brought about by a belief which attained.
teaches men that simply pro-
NOTE FOR THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS

Verse references to the Holy Qur’an item count ‘Bismillah...’ (In the
Name of Allah...) as the first verse of each Chapter. In some non-
standard texts, this is not counted. Should the reader refer to such texts,
the verse quoted in The Review of Religions will be found a verse earlier,
i.e. at one verse less than the number quoted in this journal.
For the ease of non-Muslim readers, ‘(saw)’ or ‘saw’ after the words,
‘Holy Prophet’, or the name ‘Muhammad’, are used normally in small
letters. They stand for ‘Sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam’ meaning ‘peace and
blessings of Allah be upon him’. Likewise, the letters ‘(as)’ or ‘as’ after
the name of all other prophets is an abbreviation meaning ‘peace be
upon him’ derived from ‘Alaihis salatu wassalam’ which are words that a
Muslim utters out of respect whenever he or she comes across that
name. The abbreviation ‘ra’ or (ra) stands for ‘Radhiallahu Ta’ala anhu and
is used for Companions of a Prophet, meaning Allah be pleased with him
or her (when followed by the relevant Arabic pronoun). Finally, ‘ru’ or (ru)
for Rahemahullahu Ta’ala means the Mercy of Allah the Exalted be upon
him.
In keeping with current universal practice, local transliterations of

names of places are preferred to their anglicised versions, e.g. Makkah
instead of Mecca, etc.

The Rights
I n earlier times, women were
deprived of their rightful
status. Even amongst Muslims,
who have clear guidelines about
and the rights of women prescribed in
the Holy Qur’an, a wife’s status
Obligations was, as described by the Promised
Messiah(as), like that of a worthless
of Women object. Even today in some of the
poorer countries of the Third
World, be they Christian or
Muslim, regard for the status of
women is deplorable.
In some cultures and families,

women are considered of lowly
stature. Even in the West, which
claims to be the standard-bearer
of women’s right, only until a few
decades ago women had no
status. Despite raising slogans of
liberation for women, even today,
the well-educated people of the
West oppose women attaining key
The following is an address positions. For example, in the
given by Hadhrat Mirza
recent American presidential
Masroor Ahmad, to the female
members (Lajna) of the elections, excuses were presented
worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim against a potential woman
Community on the occasion of candidate, declaring: how could a
the UK Annual Convention held woman be the President of USA?
on 26th July 2008 They later did their best to cover
up this impression but a large
part of the American population
is not ready for a woman

Address to Lajna by Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih V
president. Apparently, America is These accounts of history are

a developed country and is said to frightening. The Holy Prophet(saw)
be broadminded about freedom championed the rights of
and civil rights, but even they women. He established their
could not stand the idea that a rights of inheritance, gave them
woman should be their president equal rights. Today the new
and leader of the country. generation and many newcomers
may not even comprehend how it
Islamic teachings are unambigu- is possible to be deprived of such
ous. If women are precluded basic rights.
from doing certain jobs, this is not
because they are deemed Therefore, I will briefly explain
incapable or because their rights the customs and traditions of the
are being compromised, but Arab culture at the time of the
because God has divided the Holy Prophet(saw).
duties between men and women.
Some roles are better suited to In some tribes, the tradition was
men and others to women; that close family inherited widows,
nevertheless as far as the rights just like property. Even a stepson
are concerned they are equal. could inherit his stepmother.
The history of pre-Islamic Then it was up to the stepson
Arabia shows that women were whether he married the widow or
treated in an appalling manner. just used her. The stepson had the
Similar attitudes were prevalent right to compel this widow to
in the Western civilisation and to marry whomever he wished. The
some extent even now: if men widow had no say in the matter.
can get away with it, they treat God strictly forbade this practice
women badly. That is why explaining that stepmothers are
domestic unhappiness and your father’s wives; hence, they
divorce rates are high. In Arabia, are your mothers and are
women had no rights as wives or unlawful for you. This was
as daughters and were treated certainly a filthy and infuriating
atrociously. practice and a ghastly custom.
God says in the Holy Qur’an:

And those of you who die and happen to die before her.
leave wives behind, these (wives) Similarly in some situations
shall wait concerning themselves daughters and sisters are heirs of
four months and ten days. And their brothers. No other religion
when they have reached the end of established women’s rights like
their period, no sin shall lie on you this before Islam.
in anything that they do with
regard to themselves according to Husbands have no rights on their
what is fair. And Allah is aware of wives’ money, or her earnings;
what you do. this is strictly forbidden.
(Ch.2:Vs.235)
Men are guardians over women
Hence, in this verse women are because Allah has made some of
given freedom to marry after the them excel others, and because they
death of their husbands and on (men) spend of their wealth…
completion of ‘Iddat (the fixed (Ch.4:Vs.35)
period) and the friends and
relatives are also instructed that Men have been given the
they should not hinder this distinction because they are made
marriage. Instead, according to guardians of the household and
the hadith a widow can choose secondly the household expenses
her own Wali (guardian). are to be borne by them. If a man
Therefore, this is the freedom does not fulfil his responsibilities
that was given to women against then he loses his position of
the customs of that time. authority. If men do not take part
in their children’s training and
Thus Islam is the first religion to upbringing, they are committing
give women rights of inheritance. a sin. The Promised Messiah(as)
In the Holy Qur’an daughters are said that because man sub-
given rights of inheritance from stantiates the term ‘guardians
their parents, wives have a right over women’ therefore if he is
on husbands’ inheritance; cursed for not fulfilling his
mothers have rights on their obligation he also gives this curse
children’s inheritance, if they to his family.

Thus, if the guardian does not women a share of that which they
fulfil his responsibilities and the have earned…
next generation is at risk of going (Ch.4:Vs.33)
astray and to ruin, then the
wisdom of a woman demands This verse makes it clear to men
that she should get in touch with that that they should discharge
the community to protect herself their God-given responsibility.
and her children from the curse. Now appreciate this, that women
However, no lame excuses should used to be treated as an
be used. Taqwa is the prime inheritance and had no rights to
condition here as well. A woman make their own decisions.
should consider this when seeking However, Islam totally safe-
her rights. guarded their rights and men
were commanded not to look
To provide for the household is covetously at a woman’s wealth.
also a man’s responsibility
regardless of the fact that the In pre-Islamic days slavery was a
woman is earning or has common practice. Islam ordered
property. It is wrong to demand men that if they wished to marry
that the earning woman or a a female-slave, they must pay her
woman with property should help Haq Mehr (dowry) similar to a free
to provide household expenses. woman. Thus, Islam did not only
Allah the Exalted has said that establish the rights of free women
men have been given a but also of female-slaves in order
distinction. Therefore, now that to develop a pious and pro-
you have been given the right of a gressive society. Such were the
‘Qawwaam’ (guardian/leader) you rights of women established by
should fulfil your responsibilities Islam. This degree of freedom for
to your wife and children; it is women was beyond the
your obligation. This is why Allah comprehension of the Arabs. As I
the Exalted states: mentioned, women were treated
as chattel created solely for men’s
…Men shall have a share of that pleasure and were inherited and
which they have earned, and mutually shared. This complete

and perfect Shariah (religious women a right which is an

law) took women out of the amalgamation of many rights.
depths of darkness and Allah the Exalted states:
established their rights, so much
so that one who was previously O ye who believe! it is not lawful
treated as inheritance, was given for you to inherit women against
rights to inheritance. their will; nor should you detain
them wrongfully that you may take
Allah the Exalted revealed this away part of that which you have
commandment: given them, except that they be
guilty of a flagrant evil; and
For men is a share of that which consort with them in kindness; and
parents and near relations leave; if you dislike them, it may be that
and for women is a share of that you dislike a thing wherein Allah
which parents and near relations has placed much good.
leave, whether it be little or much – (Ch.4:V.20)
a determined share.
(Ch.4:V.8) This is a right given to a woman
in instances where, for example, a
This is the state of equality of husband does not treat his wife
men and women in society. As I well, dislikes her, does not fulfil his
mentioned, in the West, until responsibilities to her, but does
quite recently women did not not divorce her either because he
have these rights. In fact, by wishes to benefit from her wealth
making a will, according to the or pushes the poor woman to a
law here, a person can deny state that she is on her deathbed
his/her rightful heirs their whilst he schemes to benefit from
inheritance. In Islam, the her wealth after her death.
maximum bequeathal to an heir
is one third, and in this way, the There is another situation. In
rights of others are not denied. Islam, women are allowed to
apply for Khula‘ (divorce initiated
In order to establish all aspects of by the wife) if the husband shows
freedom of women Islam gives unreasonable behaviour. Men, at

times, abuse this by deliberately late husband stays within the

traumatising women so much family.
that they have no choice but to
apply for Khula‘. In such circum- As I have said earlier, husbands
stances men would not have to snatch the wives’ property by
pay Haq Mehr. In such cases, the unfair means. In these countries
Qadha [board] takes note of the even legal measures are taken in
grievance and tends to issue this respect and at times if the
Khula‘ in the form of divorce so husband dies, his relatives
that a woman is not deprived of continue with the process.
her right of Haq Mehr.
Sometimes men present false At other times it is demanded
statements about women before that the gifts exchanged at the
the Qadha [board] and try to time of marriage are returned.
damage their reputation, hoping Such demand of return of gifts is
to avoid paying due rights. Some a common complaint in matri-
men even take their wives to monial grievances. The Holy
court to seize half of their Qur’an establishes women’s
property. Allah Almighty has rights and goes on to safeguard
strictly forbidden this. these rights like no other religion.
God Almighty says that all these
Sometimes relatives do not let a situations are forbidden and are
widow re-marry so that her tantamount to depriving women
husband’s wealth should remain of their rights. As I said earlier,
at their disposal. These events women have the right to re-
happen even today and nume- marry, of their own choice, after
rous such complaints are divorce or the death of the
received. The Holy Qur’an husband. As the marriage
warned men 1500 years ago to ceremony of Nikah cannot be
avoid such sins and safeguard the officiated without a Wali (guar-
rights of women. Sometimes dian) for the woman, in instances
relatives force women to marry a where impediments are created, a
certain person amongst their woman can request the Khalifa of
relatives, so that the wealth of her the time to intervene. If the case

“ Therefore, from whatever angle you look,

women’s rights are safeguarded in Islam. So
extensive is this safeguarding of rights that no
Muslim women can be adequately grateful for
these commandments in the Holy Qur’an. No
other religious book or Shariah watches over
”
women’s rights so well.
is genuine then the Khalifa of the term ‘flagrant evil’ in the

time can himself become the aforementioned verse does not
Wali (guardian), or appoint a give men the right to confiscate
Wali or a Wakil. So Allah the women’s property. Instead, this
Exalted says in this verse: term is related to the subject-
matter stated in the verses
… and consort with them in preceding this verse. That is, if a
kindness… woman is involved in indecent
(Ch.4:Vs.20) acts she can be restricted to her
home. It is not sufficient to just
Treat them well, do not look for blame her for open flagrance,
excuses to be malicious and rather witnesses have to be
unkind to them, do not desire produced to support the
their wealth or whatever you have accusation and that is a lengthy
given them. The Holy Prophet(saw) procedure in itself. If the person
said: ‘The best of you is he who is making the accusation is the
the best to his wife.’ Then he said: husband then he is required to
‘and I am the best to my wives.’ take an oath in the name of Allah
Thus, by his own excellent and before he gives his evidence. He
blessed model, the Holy has to state that he be cursed if he
Prophet(saw) further drew men’s is lying. Similarly, the wife has the
attention towards women’s rights. right to refute these allegations
and assert her innocence under
Let it be clear that the use of the an oath. Thus, rights of both

parties are established. It needs to commandments in the Holy

be understood that the use of the Qur’an. No other religious book
phrase ‘flagrant evil’ is not a or Shariah watches over women’s
licence for men to get their hands rights so well. Not only are the
on their wife’s property. The rights established, but men are
word is used here to encourage also advised to overlook women’s
men to live peacefully with their mistakes and weaknesses. Men
wives and honour their rights. are, moreover, encouraged to
treat them gently and with
Allah Almighty says that it is kindness. This kindness should
entirely possible that you may not be limited as a reward for
dislike something [in your wives] something that pleases them;
and Allah has made it beneficial rather, they have to be kind even
for you. You may dislike a woman if they do not like them. This is
but Allah can make her good for how Islam has set the standard of
you. Therefore unless you can women’s rights at the highest
prove open and clear misconduct, level.
do not make her life difficult by
accusing her or attempt to I briefly explained the state of
deprive her of her property. Do affairs during the pre-Islamic era;
not withhold the rights she has to draw men’s attention to this
over you. Therefore, Allah the matter under those circum-
Exalted has admonished men stances, not to mention estab-
who torment women or threaten lishing women’s rights, was the
them with divorce over trivial greatest act of kindness of God
errors by upholding her rights in Almighty and by the Holy
this regard as well. Prophet(saw) for a Muslim woman.
Seeing his practices and the effort
Therefore, from whatever angle to establish rights of women, the
you look, women’s rights are people of Arabia sometimes
safeguarded in Islam. So stumbled. On the other hand,
extensive is this safeguarding of when women realised that there
rights that no Muslim women can was someone to champion their
be adequately grateful for these cause, they became confident.

It is related about Hadhrat not reform themselves but instead

‘Umar(ra) that he said his wife the women will get beaten more
interfered in his matters. He for complaining. Anyway, this was
chided her saying who was she to a common tradition among
interfere in his matters. Arabs Arabs. The Holy Prophet(saw), who
could not tolerate a woman was the greatest champion of
advising them. Hadhrat women rights, said that women
‘Umar’s(ra) wife replied that if the are servants of Allah and not
wives of the Holy Prophet(saw) your servants; therefore do not hit
could give him their advice and them.
the Holy Prophet(saw) allowed this,
then how could he put a stop to These were the early days of
her counsel? Such was the Islam, era of the training phase,
courage that the Holy Prophet(saw) when men were advised to be
inculcated in women, with his kind and soft and show empathy;
blessed model and his teaching. women became daring and
started to become uncompro-
Arabs had a very severe attitude mising at home. At that time,
towards women. They would women also suffered from a lack
easily hit women even over simple of training, hence this led to a
mistakes. This still happens, as I different type of disruption.
said, even in Western countries. Women sought to settle old scores.
Many women write to me about Hadhrat ‘Umar(ra), who had an
such treatment by their husbands. excitable temper, went to the Holy
Out of fear of their husbands Prophet(saw) and submitted to him
some simply write that ‘these are that as he had asked them not to
our circumstances, we are tired of hit women, women were getting
daily beatings which have begun out of control. He said their
to affect the lives of the children defiance was leading to another
and we are only writing to you for type of chaos in the homes. The
prayers’. They say that they do Holy Prophet(saw) replied that ‘if a
not wish their husbands to find woman crosses all boundaries,
out. These women think that if then, according to your tradi-
the husbands find out, they will tions, you can strike her gently.’ At

that time, the detailed [Divine] These were the commandments

commandments about women of the Holy Prophet(saw). Men are
were not revealed; hence, the also listening to me. They must
Holy Prophet(saw) allowed this. As judge themselves, and pay
this was a long-standing tradition attention to their reformation as I
in Arabs, they returned to their have received many complaints
old habits instead of using this about such matters.
permission in extreme cases only.
Then the Muslim women Women should also try to
complained about their men to perform their dutiesand fulfil the
the Holy Prophet(saw) through his rights of men and when they
wives. The Holy Prophet(saw) said have firmly adopted the truthful
to his Companions ‘be warned of ways then they can demand their
those who do not treat their wives rights confidently. Only then can
well; they are certainly not the foundations of a peaceful
regarded good in the sight of home and a peaceful society be
God.’ Following this, women’s laid.
rights were established and other
commandments were revealed in The Holy Prophet(saw) has
the Holy Qur’an. At this, women conferred countless acts of
were able to breathe a sigh of kindness on women. He con-
relief. sidered women’s emotions in such
a meticulous manner when
Once a Companion of the Holy determining their rights, that a
Prophet(saw) asked him about the believing woman can never thank
rights of women. The Holy him enough even if she invokes
Prophet(saw) said ‘feed her as you salutations and blessings on him
feed yourself from what Allah the (Durud) throughout her entire
Exalted gives you, clothe her as life. In consideration of the
you clothe yourself with what emotions of women, the Holy
Allah the Exalted gives you. Do Prophet(saw) said to men that those
not slap her, do not use foul who travel away from home
language with her, do not turn should return home quickly so
her out of the house’. that it does not upset the children.

Hadhrat Abu Hurairah relates Judgement, Allah the Exalted

that the Holy Prophet(saw) said that would make Hell haram
when a person fulfils his needs for (forbidden) for that person.
which he has had to travel, out of
consideration for his family, he This should be looked at in the
should return home soon. The context of Arab tradition; as
family of a married man indeed mentioned in the Holy Qur’an,
are his wife and children. the news of the birth of a baby
girl used to make them grief
Today, we see that in some stricken and some of them were
households women are left all such that they used to bury their
alone. When young women come baby daughters alive.
to these countries after marriage,
they do not have any There is an account of a man
acquaintance here. They are who buried his daughter alive or
confined to their homes all day. threw her in a well. He gave the
Given the climate of these detailed account of this to the
[Western] countries, at times they Holy Prophet(saw). He said that he
also suffer from depression. had a daughter whom he loved
Meanwhile, the men stay outside very much. When the daughter
with their friends after work was old enough to understand
chatting away. The Holy him and could walk, one day he
Prophet(saw) established the rights called her to him. She came to
of women by advising men to her father because she loved him.
give women their due right, give He took her to the family well
relatives their due right and give and threw the innocent girl in it.
children their due right. He He said he could recall that when
strongly disliked the idea of he pushed her in the well, he
[men] wasting time in idle talk, could hear her heart-rending
leaving the wife behind at home. screams. She cried, ‘Father, O my
He said one who has daughters father!’
should provide them with
education, should give them good On hearing this, tears started to
moral training and on the Day of flow from the eyes of the Holy

Prophet(saw). Another person greatest of kindness. As I have

sitting there said to the narrator said earlier, women can never
that he had saddened the Holy show adequate gratitude for this.
Prophet(saw). The narrator went Although this due cannot be
quiet. However, the Holy paid, nevertheless, an effort
Prophet(saw) asked him to relate the should be made towards this.
incident again. It is reported that How can this be done? Today it is
even the Holy Prophet’s(saw) beard the obligation of every woman to
was soaked with the constant be ever filled with a sense of
stream of tears flowing down his gratitude for this tremendous
face. favour of Allah the Exalted and
His Prophet on Muslim women.
The Holy Prophet(saw) said that a
person who has a baby daughter How can this gratitude be
and does not bury her alive, does expressed? A woman can be
not demean her and does not give grateful for the favour of Allah
preference to sons over her shall and His Prophet when she has an
be given entry to Paradise by appreciation of her duties and
Allah the Exalted. obligations, particularly an
Ahmadi woman, because on her
Notice how the Holy Prophet(saw) lies a double responsibility. She
made the ignorant Arabs who has taken the pledge of allegiance
were used to treating women as of the true and ardent devotee of
worthless objects appreciate the the Holy Prophet(saw) who, in this
rights of girls and women. Then, age, re-established the rights of
before his demise, the Holy women in light of the teachings
Prophet(saw) gathered the Muslims of the Holy Qur’an and the
to give them some final counsel in Sunnah (practice) of the Holy
which he strongly advised them Prophet(saw).
to always treat women with
kindness. The Promised Messiah(as) said:
Islam and the Holy Prophet(saw) ‘No other religion has

have conferred upon women the safeguarded the rights of

women as Islam has done. It an ordinary woman and an

lays down the injunction so Ahmadi woman; however, on the
succinctly: Just as men have other hand it is also commanded
rights upon women, so do women to avoid the undue harshness.
have rights upon men. The Promised Messiah(as): says
(Ch.2:Vs.229)
‘The relationship between a
It is said of some people that husband and wife should be
they treat their wives in a like two true and sincere
most demeaning manner friends. After all, it is the wife
and require them to perform who is the primary witness of
the lowliest of services. They a man’s high moral qualities
abuse them and despise and his relationship with
them and enforce the God Almighty. If his
injunction regarding the veil relationship with his wife is
with such harshness as to not good, how can he be at
virtually bury them alive.’ peace with God? The Holy
Prophet(saw) said ‘The best
Certainly there is the com- among you is he who is best
mandment of Purdah for woman towards his wife.’
and it is important for women to (Malfoozat, Vol.5, pp.417- 418)
abide by it. However, some
people do not even allow their ‘How can one claim to be
women out of the house or get pious when he does not
them to wrap their faces so behave well towards his wife?
harshly that it is difficult for them He can be only good and
to walk. Therefore, if the head is pious to others if he behaves
covered, the Hijab is proper, the well towards his wife. It is
attire appropriately covers one’s unacceptable to get furious
beauty; then this is the Purdah or hit one’s wife on the
that every Ahmadi woman slightest pretence.’
should adopt wherein her distinct (Malfoozat, Vol.3, p.147)
identity is represented. There
should be a distinction between See how effectively the Promised

“ The first thing that is obligatory on you, an

Ahmadi woman, is to pay attention to Prayers as a
mark of gratitude... Observance of Prayer is the best
way one can be grateful to Allah the Exalted. It is
these Prayers that will also bring your next
generations close to Allah the Exalted and make them
recognise their God. It is these Prayers that will save
”
you in this world and the hereafter.
Messiah(as) directed men to look on you, an Ahmadi woman, is to

after the rights of women. As I pay attention to Prayers as a mark
mentioned, it is now obligatory of gratitude. Allah the Exalted
on Ahmadi women to carry out states that the purpose of the
their responsibilities fully as a sign creation of mankind is to worship
of gratitude to Allah the Exalted. Him . It is not enjoined that men
In the Holy Qur’an, Allah the should observe Prayers and
Exalted has pointed to believing women should not. In fact,
men and believing women women are directed to observe
towards their duties. Some of Prayers in the same way as men
these commandments are only are.
addressed to women, while others
are addressed to men and women Observance of Prayer is the best
both. Some commandments are way one can be grateful to Allah
only for ‘believers’ (Momineen). the Exalted. It is these Prayers
These encompass both men and that will also bring your next
women. Thus it is essential for an generations close to Allah the
Ahmadi woman to abide by the Exalted and make them recognise
commandments in the Holy their God. It is these Prayers that
Qur’an. Every Ahmadi woman will save you in this world and the
should be mindful of this. hereafter. It is the supplications
you make and your alms-giving
The first thing that is obligatory that protect you from many

“ Remember an Ahmadi woman should always

have a sense of honour for the cause of religion.
The homes where the honour of religion is upheld
will never be without the blessings of Allah.
Islamic history is full of accounts where women
gave preference to religion and in comparison
”
deemed worldly matters insignificant.
troubles and problems that men obligation to pay attention to

can inflict upon you. Thus, pay a Prayers, and to recite, understand
great deal of attention to this and act upon the teachings of the
matter. Holy Qur’an. In fact, if women
reflect on the Holy Qur’an and
Among the Sahabiyyaat (female act upon its teachings, they can
Companions) of the Holy play a better role in the progress
Prophet(saw), there were many who of the Community because the
outshone men in acts of worship children they will be nurturing in
of God. Similarly Allah the their laps will also be imbued with
Exalted granted the Promised the same hue as them. Thus you
Messiah(as) with righteous women must pay great attention to this.
who excelled in the worship of
God. Sometimes it amazes me when
women say or write in their letters
The basic point is that in order to that they were drawn to such and
form a direct relationship with such good work, wanted to stay in
God you must continue to raise touch with the Community,
the standards of your worship. wished to attend meetings or
This is crucial. Then it is also wished to act upon the teachings
compulsory to act upon the other of the Holy Qur’an but their
commandments of Allah the husbands hindered them. As a
Exalted given in the Holy matter of fact, the majority of
Qur’an. Every Ahmadi woman these women are those who will
should understand that it is her stand up to their husbands in

worldly matters. Why do they not Thus if women have resolute

make a stand for their religious determination they can bring
rights? These are but excuses. about revolutions.
You must try to avoid these.
In this day and age religious
If you constantly remind education is as important for
yourselves of the favours that women as for men. With the
Allah the Exalted has bestowed grace of Allah the Exalted, the
on you, you will never look for best rewards are given to women
excuses. Remember an Ahmadi and girls who endeavour in this
woman should always have a regard. Sometimes I am asked to
sense of honour for the cause of permit men to deliver a lecture to
religion. The homes where the Lajna as Lajna are not capable.
honour of religion is upheld will Women should try to achieve
never be without the blessings of these capabilities so that they do
Allah. Islamic history is full of not have to rely on men. They
accounts where women gave should be sufficiently know-
preference to religion and in ledgeable to teach others. As for
comparison deemed worldly those members of Lajna and the
matters insignificant. Jama’ats who have tried, Allah
has helped them. In a Hadith the
The famous account of the Holy Prophet(saw) said that
acceptance of Islam of Hadhrat sometimes a woman’s advice is
‘Umar(ra) relates that it was a exactly right and better than a
woman who became the source man’s.
of his acceptance. She was
prepared to be killed or injured, At the time of the Treaty/Truce
and indeed got injured but of Hudaibiyyah it was the
protected her husband and one suggestion of Umm Salamah,
who gave teachings of religion. It blessed wife of the Holy
was the wound and the spilt Prophet(saw), that eased his grief
blood of his sister that softened due to the fact that his
the heart of Hadhrat ‘Umar(ra) Companions were not obedient
and led him to accept Islam. to him. Due to their typical Arab

temperament, some of the saying anything he should go

conditions on which the Treaty ahead and slaughter his animal
was signed, were deemed and shave his head. The Holy
insulting by some of the Prophet(saw) did the same. This act
Companions of the Holy of the Prophet stirred the
Prophet(saw). After the signing of Companions as if they hd
the Treaty, the Holy Prophet(saw) awakened from sleep. They
asked his Companions to go began slaughtering their animals
ahead and sacrifice their animals. and shaving their heads.
The Holy Prophet(saw) asked three Therefore, this was a most fitting
times but the heartbroken suggestion by a woman who
Companions were frozen with understood religion and was well
grief. They perceived the aware of the faithfulness and
conditions of the Treaty as a loyalty of the Companions of the
confirmation of their failing. In Holy Prophet(saw). She had had a
fact, the Companions of the Holy deep observation of the fact that
Prophet(saw) had come to the Muslims loved the Holy
demonstrate skills of their Prophet(saw).
bravery and were eager to do so,
but the success the Prophet of It was a woman indeed who was
God(saw) had realised was still not the first person to accept Islam,
obvious to the Companions. that is, Hadhrat Khadijah(ra). She
When the Companions failed to did not only help the Prophet
obey the commandment to with financial sacrifices in her
slaughter their animals, this capacity as his wife, but also as a
deeply saddened the Holy Muslim. Indeed, those were
Prophet(saw) and in this state of women who aspired to be part of
grief he went inside his tent. the blessings of Jihad performed
Hadhrat Umm Salamah(ra) by men. They asked the Holy
understood the situation and Prophet(saw) that as they were left
submitted to him that the behind and looked after the
Companions were not diso- homes while the men went to war,
bedient; rather they were in a would that entitle them to the
state of shock and that without blessings as well? When the Holy

Prophet(saw) called for finan-cial numerous women who under-

sacrifice and asked for the mantle stood this reality and set high
of Hadhrat Bilal(ra) to be spread, standards of sacrifice. There are
indeed, it was women who piled the sacrifices of Hadhrat Ammah
up donations of their jewellery Jan(ra) (the blessed wife of the
and valuables on the mantle. It Promised Messiah(as); she donated
was a woman indeed who was not all her jewellery and savings for
worried about the death of her thehospitality of Jalsa guests
father, her husband or her without a hint of complaint or
brother. She was only concerned concern. This was not because
about the safety of the Holy she wanted to help her husband.
Prophet(saw). Once she saw that Rather because there was a need
the Prophet(saw) was alive and well, to serve the guests of the Messiah
she said: ‘I am not worried about of Muhammad(saw) and she did
the death of anyone else not want the guests to be incon-
anymore.’ venienced in any way at all. This
sense of sacrifice ensued from a
So these were the women who true comprehension of faith,
had understood that the one to steadfastness in belief and
champion their rights and herald feelings of gratitude.
their freedom was this Prophet of
God(saw) who had brought a There are many examples of
beautiful teaching that gave them similar sacrifices to be found in
a distinct status. They felt that as the Community. Hadhrat Umm-
long as he was alive, faith was e- Nasir, who was the wife of
alive and as long as the Living Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih II(ra)
God was with them they had no and mother of Hadhrat
concern about anything. Khalifatul Masih III, donated her
jewellery for the setting up of Al
There are many accounts of Fazl [newspaper]. This was
similar nature about the female before the time of the second
companions of early Islam. Khilafat. At this Hadhrat Musleh
Similarly, during the time of the Mau’ood, Khalifatul Masih II(ra)
Promised Messiah(as) there were said that this act of kindness had

“ Today, make a resolute pledge that Allah the

Exalted has bestowed a great favour on you by
establishing your rights and has granted you the
blessing of Khilafat, thus giving you a source of support
that champions your rights, that in thankfulness of this
favour you will be prepared to sacrifice everything for
”
Islam and Ahmadiyyat.
not only given him means to be faith over this world; they adhere
able to serve religion and had to their faith despite living in the
opened a new episode in his life Western society and know how to
but had also created a tremen- maintain their bond with
dous resource for the entire Ahmadiyyat in preference to any
Community. Why was this so? blood relation. Recently, a young
Well, because she understood the lady came to see me. She was
true significance of sacrifice and deeply distressed and emotional.
knew how to make sacrifice. She She was intensely aggrieved that
knew that our honour and our her father had committed
permanent existence were in apostasy. She was not worried
Islam and Ahmadiyyat. She that she would not gain anything
understood that, even if in from her father; her only grief
gratitude, we sacrificed every- that he had lost his faith. She said
thing of ours, we would not be with great resolve that she was
able to pay our dues. firm on her religion and vowed to
persevere with the grace of Allah.
These are not just stories of old. She prayed that in exchange for
Even today, by the Grace of her father, Allah may grant me an
Allah, there are women, young entire nation. Hence, there are
and old, who understand this girls with such passion in these
fact,and who are pious natured times and living in these
and follow Taqwa. They know [Western] countries. These girls
how to give precedence to their living in the West, in these times,

understand the qualities of Islam Today, make a resolute pledge

and acknowledge the favours that that since Allah the Exalted has
Islam has conferred on them. bestowed a great favour on you
They appreciate that if they stay by establishing your rights and
in the protection of the Lord of has granted you the blessing of
all the worlds, they will have Khilafat, thus giving you a source
rights that neither their fathers of support that champions your
nor any blood relatives can rights, therefore in thankfulness of
provide them. They know that this favour you will be prepared
they have to be devoted to to sacrifice everything for Islam
Khilafat for the sake of Allah so and Ahmadiyyat. Vow that you
that they may always hold on to will continue to make every
the ‘strong handle’ and thus possible endeavour to establish a
remain in the realm of peace and strong bond between your
security that Allah the Exalted children and Ahmadiyyat, true
has promised, with an assurance Islam. You and your children will
of safety, to those who hold fast. continue to excel in the bond of
affection and dedication with
Therefore, every Ahmadi woman Khilafat. You will inspire such
must remember that in order to passion of commitment in your
be truly grateful to Allah the next generation that they will go
Exalted, we need to embrace the on to set examples of sincerity
teachings of the Holy Qur’an. and devotion until the Day of
We need to implement the Judgement so that, due to this
teachings of the Holy Qur’an in oneness, the kingdom of Allah
our homes and encourage our the Exalted and His Prophet will
children to adopt these. This ultimately prevail all over the
cannot happen until you learn to world.
understand and reflect on the
Holy Qur’an so that you know May Allah help us all to do this.
what your rights are and you can
focus on the due obligations
expected of you by the Holy
Qur’an and Islam.

BOOK
REVIEW
The Jewel
of Medina
by Sherry Jones
Beaufort, 358 pp
By Sarah Waseem – UK
G od’s guidance for mankind

was conveyed by the prophets
of God. Muslims revere them all,
Medina, a work of historical fiction
on the life of Hadhrat A’ishah(ra)
before, and following, her marriage
with the most revered being the to the Holy Prophet(saw), is the latest
Holy Prophet Muhammad(saw) who book to have once again wounded
conveyed God’s final Message the Muslim sentiment.
Holy Qur’an – the literal Word of
God delivered to the Holy Prophet Jones, the author of ‘The Jewel of
Muhammad(saw). The Hadith Medina’ is a journalist based in
contains the practice and sayings of Spokane, Washington, has
the Holy Prophet(saw). described her book as:
So when the Word of God or the ‘An entertaining and infor-

teachings of any of His mative novel about Islam for
Messengers are deliberately Western readers, one that
distorted as in The Satanic Verses, the might be used as a teaching
film ‘Fitna’ by the Dutch filmmaker tool in schools. Even though
Geert Wilders, or the Danish [The Jewel of Medina] is a work
cartoon incident, it is a source of of fiction and there is
great pain for Muslims. The Jewel of imagination involved, it’s all
Book Review: The Jewel of Medina
rooted in history.’ merit. Lorraine Adams (2008) has

(Sydney Morning Herald, Joyce described Ms Jones as
Morgan, January 6, 2009)
‘... An inexperienced,
Scheduled to be published by untalented author (who) has
Random House in May 2008, the naively stepped into an
book would probably have received intense and deeply sensitive
little attention, if any, had it not intellectual argument.’
been sent for a review to Denise
Spellberg, an associate professor of Other comments however, relate to
Islamic history at the University of the presentation of the material in
Texas in Austin. She condemned it the book. (Geraldine Brooks, 2008)
for turning ‘sacred history’ into
‘soft-core pornography’ (Nomani ‘There are some facts in these
2008). pages, but they’re drowning in
a historical and under-
The contract with the author was researched claptrap. Jones’s
cancelled after the company was ‘A'ishah is portrayed as a
warned that its publication could bloodthirsty, sword-wielding
incite acts of violence. brat without a profound
thought in her head, a would-
The British edition to be published be warrior forced into
by Gibson Square was delayed marriage with Muhammad
following an arson attack on the when her heart is already set
London home of Martin Rynja, on another, younger man.’
owner of Gibson Square
publishing house, in September The writer continues:
2008. The American release date
was then rushed forward and The ‘Okay, okay . . . The Jewel of
Jewel of Medina was eventually Medina is fiction. Jones is
published in the US by Beaufort entitled to imagine whatever
Books. she wants. But if you wish to
claim that your novel is
The book has been also been “extensively researched,” why
criticised by non-Muslim reviewers lurch around in time and
on account of its poor literary space, grabbing at concepts
such as hatun, or leading wife, publication of her book is

which Jones knows full well extraordinary. Of course such hurt
belongs to the Ottoman must never be expressed through
empire of centuries later, or violence, but through peaceful and
purdah, which exists in lawful protest.
Persian, Urdu and Hindi but
not Arabic? Why refer to an But let us for the moment, go along
Islamic veil by the modern with the author’s claim that her
Western term “wrapper”?’ desire to write this book was
sparked by the 2002 spring
“We need to speak up for free invasion of Afghanistan by US
speech,” Jones says. “There troops. After hearing reports of the
are those extremists of varying treatment of women under the
beliefs who would like to Taliban:
impose their way of thinking
on the rest of the world. It is ‘As a feminist I was disturbed
important for us to be by these reports and I wanted
vigilant.” to learn more’.
(Sydney Morning Herald, January (The Jewel of Medina:
6, 2009 ) Questions and Answers
p.355).
As mentioned earlier, the authentic
and accepted sources of this How did the author go about
history are the Holy Qur’an and learning more about Islam?
the hadith. Even then, only those
narrations considered to be reliable ‘I read a few books about
are accepted as valid. Muslims do women in the Middle East by
not just accord this respect to American journalists
figures from Islamic history, but Geraldine Brooks and Jan
extend it to all prophets of God. Goodwin.’
This is as Denise Spellberg puts it,
‘sacred history.’ One wonders why Ms Jones did
not consult Islamic scholars if she
So for Ms Jones to be dismayed at really wanted to know what Islam
the hurt felt by Muslims at the really said about the position of

women. Therefore, the mind actual events while depicting them

boggles at Ms Jones’ aspiration in a way that is not recorded in
that: history.
‘My sweet little historical Now the author claims that her
novel, my epic love story,’ book has been extensively
could be a ‘bridge-building researched. Therefore it is
book about Islam.’ reasonable to expect her to stay
(Joyce Morgan 2009) close to true events. Sadly this has
not been the case and not only has
To build bridges one must have Ms Jones been liberal with her
common ground and firm interpretation of history, but she
foundations. One must select one’s has also distorted key events in
construction materials carefully. Islamic history in her attempt to
Reading a few books on the create a rather fanciful tale
treatment of women in Muslims involving the most respected and
countries by Western loved personage in Islam and his
commentators on Islam does not wives, with special focus on
comprise sturdy construction Hadhrat ‘A'ishah(ra).
material.
How can she hope ‘that it might be
So what is historical fiction? used as a teaching tool in schools’
Historical fiction is a story that and then write the following
takes place during a notable period account about the Holy
in history, and usually during a Prophet’s(saw) call to Prophethood:
significant event in that period.
Historical fiction often presents ‘Muhammad was sitting in
actual events from the point of meditation and praying to his
view of people living in that time family’s gods when a sound like
period. thunder shook the walls’.
(p.227)
In some historical fiction, famous
events appear from points of view One is left aghast at Ms Jones’
not recorded in history, showing description of the Holy Prophet(saw)
historical figures dealing with praying to ‘his family gods’! The

description will strike a blow at the their stories to the world’.

heart of every Muslim, for Islam (p.355)
absolutely abhors idol worship of
all kinds. Islam is a monotheistic ‘At first I just wanted to
faith. Prior to the revelation of honour these women by
Islam, the Holy Prophet(saw) was a telling their stories. Then
monotheist who would go into during my research I
seclusion to worship. discovered things about
Muhammad and Islam that
The Holy Prophet(saw) like Hadhrat excited me and I began to
Ibrahim(as) before him, had a deep hope that in writing this book
belief in the existence of One God I could help increase
alone. Both prophets vehemently intercultural empathy and
rejected the idol worship of those understanding and that I
around them. Both preached the could empower women
existence of the One God alone especially Muslim women by
bringing themselves into showing them that Islam is at
confrontation with all around its source an egalitarian
them. Both refused to compromise religion’.
the unity of God to please their
contemporaries. One wonders why Ms Jones
concluded that she needed to
Ms Jones writes, in response to a ‘empower Muslims women ‘and
Question and Answer session with show that at source Islam was
her included in the book, that she egalitarian.’
wanted to write about Muslim
women to liberate and empower If her desire comes from reading
them. accounts of the treatment of
women under the Taliban, then
‘I discovered that the Prophet one has to ask how her novel will
Muhammad had multiple succeed in empowering Muslim
wives and concubines. Being women when those women already
unable to find out much have access to the Holy Qur’an
information about any of which has enshrined the rights of
them, made me want to tell women for all time. It has

established their spiritual equality erroneous idea that ‘A'ishah(ra) did

with men (Ch.33:V.36; not initially want to marry the
Ch.4:V.125), and it has established Holy Prophet(saw).
their economic independence
(Ch.4:V.33). From the hadith we ‘Married to Muhammad! It
read that: couldn’t be. He was older than my
father’, (The Jewel of Medina, p.26)
Hadhrat Anas(ra) reports that the ‘A'ishah(ra) thinks to herself.
Holy Prophet(saw) said: ‘The pursuit
of knowledge is an incumbent duty Instead Jones’ character is in love
placed upon every Muslim man with Safwan ibn al-Mu’attal, a
and Muslim woman (Ibn Majah). young Makkan that she has been
engaged to since childhood.
Also we read that the Holy Matters come to a head when she
Prophet(saw) said: A man who brings and Safwan make plans to elope
up three daughters or three sisters, after ‘A'ishah has an argument with
teaches them good morals, treats Muhammad. This forms the
them with kindness until they starting point of the book. In
become independent, Allah makes Islamic history it is recorded as the
Paradise incumbent for him ‘Incident of Ifk’.
(Mishkat vol.2).
Now Jones readily admits that the
If after all this knowledge, women historical ‘A'ishah(ra) was not
are still disempowered, then one engaged to Safwan (p.357). She
cannot blame it on Islam but on provides no evidence either for her
their so called ‘Muslim’ societies belief that Hadhrat ‘A'ishah(ra) was
that are in reality anything but not in favour of her marriage to
Islamic. the Holy Prophet(saw). One wonders
therefore why she decided to
So does her lead character ‘Aisha construct a tale designed to honour
bint Abi Bakr’ come across as an Muslim women, where she has a
emancipated woman? heroine, who is a wife of the Holy
Prophet(saw), contemplate adultery,
The Jewel of Medina takes as its core a sin which is abhorred in Islam?
story line, the fanciful and

In a written response for the Islam one is stronger than the person
Online Ms Jones comments: who refrained from sin.
‘…… my book explores what The Jewel of Medina opens with a

really might have happened in distorted account of the incident at
the famous “affair of the Ifk. Ms Jones’ ‘A'ishah(ra) arranges
necklace,” when Aishah with Safwan to deliberately stay
strayed from her caravan, behind while the army moves on.
then rode into Medina with However once with Safwan, she
another man. According to realised the enormity of what she
my research, she was accused has done and changes her mind.
of adultery, but a revelation Safwan too, has a change of heart.
from God declared her free of The couple then goes back to
guilt. My novel too, Madinah and ‘A'ishah(ra) invents a
exonerates Aishah, but only tale about having lost her necklace.
after she has been tempted. In However, as she enters Madinah,
this way she becomes a true word has got around of the
heroine, one who learns from incident and people shout out
her mistakes and matures into ‘Adulteress!’ at her. The Prophet
a more devoted wife and more asks her to return home while he
devout Muslim.’ considers what has happened.
Whilst at her parents’ home the
The notion that resisting Prophet visits and has a revelation
temptation makes one a better which clears A’ishah’s name.
person, is a very Christian concept.
Ms Jones’ ‘A'ishah(ra) is tempted to Now this account is not just a case
engage in an adulterous of historical license but a
relationship whereas the historical breathtaking distortion of history
‘A'ishah(ra) was not. Why is Ms itself ! History has preserved
Jones’ ‘A'ishah(ra) any more of a Hadhrat ‘A'ishah(ra) own account of
heroine as a result of this? The the incident. There was no
reasoning is flawed and has a relationship with Safwan(ra).
resonance with Christian concepts However the Incident of Ifk did
of sin and repentance – that occur as she was returning home
through sinning and repentance, with the Holy Prophet(saw) and the

Muslim army from a journey. The promulgated. He then led the

army had made camp but then camel with Hadhrat ‘A'ishah(ra) on
decided to move on. Hadhrat top of it back to the spot where the
‘A'ishah(ra) realised that her necklace Islamic army had been encamped.
had disappeared and so she went to
search for it. Meanwhile, the On arrival at Madinah, Hadhrat
people appointed to lift her ‘A'ishah(ra) became ill and it was
palanquin set it atop the camel during the period of her illness that
thinking that she was sitting inside rumours and allegations about her
it. They then set off with the rest of were spread. After a while she
the army. As she was very slight at came to know of the accusations.
the time, the lightness of the She then decided to go to her
palanquin did not make the lifters father’s house. It was while she was
suspect anything. here that the matter was resolved
when the Holy Prophet(saw) received
Hadhrat ‘A'ishah(ra) reports that on a revelation proclaiming her
her return, having found the innocence (Seerat Khatamun-
necklace, she became very nabiyyin).
distraught that the army had gone
and the field lay empty. However, The verse revealed (Ch.24:V.12) is
she decided that it would be better very significant because it lays
to stay there, because she felt down the guidance of four
assured that as soon as her absence eyewitnesses being needed when
was noted, the convoy would accusations of adultery are made
return to look for her. So she stayed against people.
and eventually fell asleep. It
happened that a Companion by One wonders therefore why Ms
the name of Safwan Bin Muattal(ra) Jones has her character ‘A'ishah tell
who had been appointed to follow the reader:
on at the rear of the army reached
the place where Hadhrat ‘A'ishah(ra)) ‘Centuries later scandal still
was resting. He immediately haunts my name. Where you
recognised her because he had are, mothers chastise their
seen her before the command- daughters with a single name.
ments of Pardah had been “You Aisha!” they cry, and the

girls turn away in shame.’ of the consummation of her

marriage. However interestingly,
She adds, addressing possibly the whilst not directly taking issue with
extremist mullahs of today: the age of Hadhrat ‘A'ishah(ra) at
marriage, throughout the book the
‘The girls turn away because reader is never allowed to forget
they don’t know the truth; her age with constant references to
That Muhammad wanted to her as ‘the child bride’ by all the
give us freedom but that the main characters. The implication
other men took it away.’ however, whilst not discussed, is
that there is something abnormal.
But then unbelievably she writes:
Muslims readily acknowledge the
‘Allah willing, my name will age difference between the Holy
regain its meaning. No longer, Prophet(saw) and Hadhrat ‘A'ishah(ra).
then, a word synonymous with Records suggest that her nikah
treachery and shame.’ (p.10) took place at age 9 and the
marriage was consummated when
One wonders aghast, which books she was aged 12 years (Seerat
Ms Jones has been reading to ever Khatamun-nabiyyin). However
infer that the name ‘A'ishah is not marriage at a young age was not
respected by Muslims. How many uncommon during these times.
books of Islamic history can she Indeed there is nothing recorded
have used for her research not to about her having any regrets about
know that this is one of the most the marriage and evidence that she
popular of Muslim girls’ names? fully consented to it.
Reviewers of The Jewel of Medina Records indicate that Hadhrat

have noted that Ms Jones does not ‘A'ishah(ra) was renowned for her
follow the usual western path of intelligence, and learning and
criticising the Prophet(saw) for the knowledge. A very large and
age difference between him and essential portion of the traditions
Hadhrat ‘A'ishah(ra). She also makes of the Holy Prophet(saw) comprise of
her older than Muslim commen- the reports of Hadhrat ‘A'ishah(ra).
tators suggest she was, at the time They add up to some 2210

traditions. Her knowledge, wisdom reasons for marriage too.’

and expertise in matters of Islamic
jurisprudence was such that How interesting given her earlier
imminent scholars acknowledged statement that:
her superiority and expertise, and
would strive to profit from it. It is ‘Being unable to find out much
even recorded in the traditions that information about any of them,
after the Holy Prophet(saw) passed made me want to tell their stories
away, there was never any doctrinal to the world.’ One wonders how
complication whose solution could Ms Jones knew therefore, that his
not be found with Hadhrat wives were ‘supposedly beautiful’.
‘A'ishah(ra).1
It is curious also that Ms Jones
Ms Jones needs to reflect, who is devotes only a few lines in passing
the more emancipated; the to Hadhrat Khadijah(ra). Herein
historical Hadhrat ‘A'ishah(ra) who surely lies one of the greatest tales
loved the Holy Prophet(saw), and of female empowerment and of a
who is revered in Islamic history as marriage based on deep love and
a women who taught the faith to affection. She was forty when she
the companions of the prophet, or proposed to the Holy Prophet(saw)
Ms Jones’ ‘A'ishah who is portrayed who was only 25 years old. On
as a tempestuous teenager, jealous marriage, with her consent she
of the other wives and frequently handed over all her slaves to him
upsetting them. whom he promptly liberated. She
gave up a life of wealth and
About the Holy Prophet(saw) she privilege for him and was the first
writes: female convert to Islam when he
received his calling. He never
‘From what I have read he was married in her lifetime and it was
fairly egalitarian in his only after her death that he
attitudes towards women. Of married other wives. His love for
course nearly all his wives and her remained after her death and it
concubines were supposedly is reported that Hadhrat ‘A'ishah(ra)
very beautiful which tells me said:
he might have had personal

‘...Never did I feel jealous of One can infer that she is alluding
the wives of Allah’s Apostle here to the historical character,
(May peace be upon him) but Mariyah Al-Qibtiyyah(ra) who in
in case of Khadija, although I reality came from a high class
did not (have the privilege to) family. Mariyah was presented in
see her.’ marriage to the Holy Prophet(saw)
by Muqauqis the Coptic ruler of
She further added that whenever Egypt,and on her way to Madinah
Allah’s Messenger(saw) slaughtered a had converted to Islam. She bore
sheep, he said: ‘Send it to the the Holy Prophet(saw) a son who was
companions of Khadija.’ I named Ibrahim.
annoyed him one day and said: ‘It
is Khadija only who always prevails However Ms Jones, in her desire to
upon your mind.’ Thereupon empower women, describes her as
Allah’s Messenger(saw) said: ‘Her the Holy Prophet’s mistress from
love had been nurtured in my heart whom he has his son Ibrahim. In
by Allah Himself.’ (Sahih Muslim) The Jewel of Medina, Muhammad
never marries Maryam who in turn
Now this alone is a message for the does not convert to Islam. We are
modern western woman living in a reminded of this when Ms Jones
society where a woman’s worth is describes Maryam’s home: ‘A
still judged largely on her beauty tapestry on the wall depicted a
and youth. haloed Virgin Mary on an ass’
(p.311).
Islam has given special status to the
institution of marriage. Illicit The Holy Prophet(saw) never had
relationships are expressly for- any concubines nor did he keep
bidden thus ensuring that women any female slaves for that purpose.
are respected and given their due Indeed upon his marriage to his
rights. first wife Hadhrat Khadijah(ra) he
released all her slaves. This was
The Holy Prophet(saw) never had before he had received any
any concubines. Yet Ms Jones commandment from God that he
describes her character Maryam as was His Prophet and Messenger.
one of the prophet’s concubines. Why then would he accept in

marriage any woman who had not Companion and had accepted
freely consented to marry him? Islam in the early days. After his
death, the Holy Prophet(saw)
Let us remind ourselves of the proposed to her because she was
objectives that were attached to the endowed with such personal
marriages of the Holy Prophet(saw). qualities as made her suitable to be
According to Islam, the purpose of a wife of a law-bearing prophet.
marriage is for the creation of She was also the widow of a
progeny, the expansion of relations venerable Companion of great
of love and compassion and the stature. Furthermore, she had
care of orphans and widows. In children and it was important that
addition to these general she was well cared for. Apart from
objectives, Holy Prophet’s(saw) being extremely intelligent and
marriages served other purposes as virtuous Hadhrat Umm Salamah(ra)
well. was a lady of great stature,
sincerity and a staunch belief in
Firstly, he wanted to remove Islam. She was first among the
certain primitive customs and ladies who took part in the
erroneous beliefs, and secondly to migration to Madinah. Hadhrat
instruct women in matters of Umm Salamah(ra) knew how to
Islamic Shariah so that other read and write as well. She played
Muslim women should be a highly significant role in the
educated and trained through religious education and training of
them. Muslim women. Many Traditions
and accounts have been reported
The fact that the Holy Prophet’s(saw) by her. Interestingly, she was 38
marriages were not a result of years old when the Holy
personal desires and were for Prophet(saw) married her, which
religious reason is clear. Some of according to the culture of the
the women he married were of an time was considered to be
age where they could not bear any advanced middle age.
children. For instance Hadhrat
Umm Salamah(ra) was previously Hadhrat Juwairiyyah(ra) (Barrah)
married to Abu Salamah bin ‘Abdil was the daughter of Harith Bin
Asad(ra) who was a very devout Zarar,(ra) chief of the tribe of Banu

Mustaliq. She was married to hundred families consisting of

Musafi’ Bin Safwan who had been hundreds of prisoners of war were
killed in during a battle with the freed all at once without any
Bani Mustaliq. According to the ransom payment.
custom, these prisoners were
distributed by the Holy Prophet(saw) This marriage and this favour
among his Companions. This resulted in the people of Banu
distribution resulted in Barrah Bint Mustaliq becoming very impressed
Harith to be given into the care of with the teachings of Islam and
an Ansari Companion by the name became devotees of the Holy
of Thabit Bin Qais. In order to Prophet(saw).
attain her freedom, Barrah made a
request of manumission to Thabit Another account states that
Bin Qais. According to this if she Juwairiyyah’s father requested an
were to pay a certain amount of audience with the Holy Prophet(saw)
money to him as ransom she would and stated that as he was a chief of
be granted her freedom. She then his people, his daughter could not
had an audience with the Holy be kept imprisoned in such fashion.
Prophet(saw) and reminded him that Upon this, the Holy Prophet(saw)
as she was the daughter of a chief replied that Juwairiyyah should be
of Banu Mustaliq, she requested asked to decide whether she
his assistance in payment of the wanted to be free and return or
ransom. The Holy Prophet(saw) whether she wished to stay, and
decided to free her and then sent that her wish would be honoured.
her a proposal of marriage. When the question was put to
Juwairiyyah she expressed her
When she accepted, he personally preference to stay near the Holy
paid her ransom and married her. Prophet(saw) and to become Muslim.
The Companions, observing that At this, the Holy Prophet(saw) freed
the Holy Prophet(saw) had granted her and then married her.
the daughter of the chief of Banu
Mustaliq the honour of matri- Thus the Holy Prophet’s marriages
mony, considered any continued laid down the foundation for the
enslavement of his in-laws to be objectives of marriage. Islam has
disrespectful. Therefore, one permitted marriage to divorcées; it

has laid down guidance about the ‘Zaynab was a lioness,

treatment of female prisoners of gleaming with power. Her
war and urged that widows eyes shone a startling gold, like
especially those with children ripe dates fresh form the tree,
should be remarried. It has also and her loose dark hair curled
removed ageist barriers to wildly about her face vining
marriage that we still see in with her silk green wrapper.’
operation in society today. (p.146)
For the Arabs at the time of the Ms Jones has Zaynab leave her
Holy Prophet’s(saw) advent his husband Zayd causing the
marriages served to end existing Prophet(saw) to fret that she is doing
prohibitions against marriage. This so in order to marry him. However
was illustrated when the Holy that is not possible because Zayd is
Prophet(saw) married Hadhrat his adopted son.
Zainab(ra).
The situation is ‘resolved’ when the
Along with a number of anti- Prophet receives a revelation giving
Muslim writers, Ms Jones devotes a him permission to marry her.
lot of attention to this marriage. Along with other anti-Muslim
She introduces the issue with her writers Sherry Jones introduces a
character ‘A'ishah hearing women note of cynicism as to convenience
gossip in the market place about of the revelation.
her character Zaynab, answering
the door to the Holy Prophet(saw) So what were the facts? Hadhrat
wearing only a nightgown. This is Zainab(ra) was the daughter of the
then followed by lurid description Holy Prophet’s(saw) paternal aunt,
of the Prophet’s reaction and of Amima Bin ‘Abdil Muttalib. At the
how Zaynab wants to divorce the suggestion of the Holy Prophet(saw)
Prophet’s adopted son Zayd, so Zainab Bint Jahash(ra) married his
that she can marry him. freed slave and adopted son, Zaid
Bin Harithah(ra). It is recorded that
Ms Jones takes care to give us the initially, Hadhrat Zainab did not
supposed details of Zaynab’s agree to the match bearing in mind
beauty. the distinguished status of her

family. However, upon realising regard marriage to a divorcée a

that it was the wish of the Holy wrongful act. Also as Zaid(ra) was
Prophet(saw) for the marriage to take the Holy Prophet’s(saw) adopted son
place, she agreed to the match. and was known as his son, by
Even so, due to differences in their marrying Zaid’s ex-wife it was a
social status the marriage did not practical demonstration to the
work out. Muslims that an adopted son is not
the same as a biological real son.
Zaid Bin Harithah(ra) came to see This resulted in the eradication of
the Holy Prophet(saw) of his own a custom of ignorance practised by
accord and asked for permission to the Arabs.
give her a divorce. The Holy
Prophet(saw) was grieved at the Now Ms Jones also invites the
situation and dissuaded Zaid(ra) reader to speculate that at times the
from divorcing her. The words of Holy Prophet’s(saw) revelation was
the Holy Prophet(saw) are recorded ‘manufactured’ to suit the
in the Holy Qur’an situation. To be fair, she is not
alone in this. Other critics of Islam
…keep thy wife to thyself and fear have made similar accusations with
Allah… regard to the marriage of Hadhrat
(Ch.33:Vs.38) Zainab(ra) and they allege that when
he became desirous of marriage to
The Holy Prophet(saw) disliked Hadhrat Zainab(ra) he sought the
divorce in principle. However as shelter of revelation in order to
the couple could not resolve their make it legitimate and to save
differences, Zaid(sra) divorced his himself from possible objections.
wife. When Zainab(ra) completed
the probationary period after her However, there are many incidents
divorce (as dictated by Islamic law), when the Holy Prophet(saw) received
the Holy Prophet(saw) received revelation that was not in accord
revelation about the marriage with his wishes. An example is
again and decided to marry her. when the Holy Prophet(saw) led the
funeral prayer of the leader of the
This Divine commandment meant hypocrites, ‘Abdullah Bin Ubayy
that no longer could Muslims Bin Salul, he then received the

following revelation: husband’s marriages, apart from

wanting to fight battles armed with
Never say prayer over any of them her sword, Ms Jones’ ‘A'ishah seems
when he dies, nor stand by his grave to spend most of her time fretting
to pray; for they disbelieved in Allah at not being the centre of attention
and His Messenger and died while in her husband’s life. She seems to
they were disobedient. lack a real understanding of her
(Ch.9:V.84) husband’s Divine mission. Is this a
heroine who can empower Muslim
In like manner, when the number women or any women for that
of his wives reached a figure which matter?
according to Allah’s knowledge
was the appropriate limit, he was Ms Jones need have looked no
sent the revelation: ‘It is not allowed further than at the true accounts of
to thee to marry women after that…’. the lives of the wives of the Holy
(Ch.33:V.53) Interestingly Ms Jones Prophet Muhammad(saw) who, each
does not include this in her story. in their own right, were heroines.
By becoming Muslims, they
It is a fallacy therefore to assume challenged their cultures’ view of
that the Holy Prophet(saw) used to the position of women in society.
manufacture revelations as and They became empowered through
when it suited him. the Might of God and His
teachings. No longer was the birth
The Jewel of Medina is replete with of a baby girl an event of shame
so many historical inaccuracies and no longer were women the
that it beggars the question as to possessions of their male folk.
how Ms Jones could claim that her Instead Islam instructed Muslims
book was well researched. One is that; ‘the best of you are those who
also left wondering in what ways behave best towards their wives
Ms Jones’ character ‘A'ishah could (and families)’ (Tirmidhi) and that
be considered to be a source of ‘the best dinar (money) is that
inspiration to Muslim women which a person spends on his wife
searching for empowerment from and children’ (Sahih Muslim).
their male oppressors? Although
she frets constantly at her Through their marriages to the

Prophet(saw) these Muslim heroines for the sentiments of others.

educated their men and women, Let us conclude with Ms Jones’
about God’s message and thus own words:
ushered in a new world order.
Although few in number, they ‘Writing is, after all, a dialogue
suffered hardship and persecution between the writer and the
in order to establish the religion of reader. How illuminating it
Islam and to lay down the would be for us all if the
foundations for a better world. reader’s voice could be
Authors do not need to invent or included in this conversation.
embellish any details to tell their Perhaps we might learn a few
stories to the world, because the things – not only about Islam,
lives of these Muslim heroines are but about one another.’ (Islam
an example and an inspiration for on line)
all women of all faiths and ages.
We sincerely hope that Ms Jones
Islam has never prevented debate applies this advice to her own
and has always upheld freedom of writing ambitions.
speech. Like all other freedoms
there has to be respect and dignity
References:
1. Lorrainne Adams; (December 14, 2008), The New York Times.
2. Hadhrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad, Seerat Khatamunnabiyyin.
3. Geraldine Brooks; (November 23, 2008); Washington Post, Page BW06)
4. Islamonline:
http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?c=Article_C&cid=1220
346186581&pagename=Zone-English-ArtCulture%2FACELayout
5. Zafrulla Khan: Muhammad, Seal of the Prophets, (Routledge & Kegan
Paul)
6. Joyce Morgan: (January 6, 2009) Sydney Morning Herald.
7. Asra Q. Nomani (August 2008), You Still Can’t Write About Muhammad;
The Wall Street Journal.

NO COMPULSION in Religion
A Qur’anic refutation of the traditionalist belief of use of force
By Syed Mir Mahmood Ahmed Nasir
Translated into English by Mrs Hamdah Sanori Farooqi
About the Author

(The author is the principal of
Jamia Ahmadiyya Rabwah,
Pakistan, a Missionary
Training Theosophical
Institute of the Ahmadiyya
Muslim Community. This is
the first part of his chapter-
by-chapter exposition of the
peaceful and tolerant
teachings of Islam)
Surah Al-A‘raf
(Chapter 7)
In today’s so-called Islamic
society, whether Islam is being
truly practised or not, the dictate
issued is to call people to
guidance and to use the
compulsion of the sword if they
PART 2 refuse. Allah the Almighty says:
Surah Al-A‘raf
(Chapter. 7) And if you invite them to guidance,
to they hear not. And thou seest them
Surah Al-Hajj looking towards thee, but they see
(Chapter. 22) not. [i.e. they totally blank
you out as if they see

No Compulsion in Religion – part 2
nothing; even then, do not And if you desist, it will be better

resort to force against them for you; but if you return to
in that state. Allah The hostility, We too will return. And
Almighty continues] Take to your party shall be of no avail at
forgiveness, [The word used all to you, however numerous it be,
suggests that you hold fast to and know that Allah is with the
forbearance and forgiveness] believers. (Ch.8:V.20)
and enjoin kindness, [Instead of
resorting to force the This section of the verse, stating
instruction is] and turn away ‘if you desist, it will be better for
from the ignorant. you, but if you return to hostility,
(Ch.7:Vs.199-200) We too will return’ clearly
demonstrates that hostilities had
Surah Al-Anfal been initiated by the non-
(Chapter 8) believers and that it would be
In the field of Badr, Allah the better for them to desist. Were
Almighty granted a glorious they to attack again as they
victory to the Holy Prophet(saw) attacked before, even their great
and his companions. The verses numbers would be of no help
of the Holy Qur’an revealed at because Divine assistance would
that occasion clearly state that the be on the side of the Muslims.
war had been initiated by the
infidels and that if war was to be The declaration shows clearly
resumed after the great victory of that the hostilities had been
the Muslims and the humiliating initiated by the disbelievers but
defeat of the enemy, it would be some folklore would have us
initiated by the enemy. believe that the Muslims had
started the hostilities!
In verse 20: addressing the non-
believers, Allah the Almighty One strange concept found
says: amongst the traditional beliefs is
that there are grounds for
If you sought a judgement, then Muslims to use force, make a pre-
judgement has indeed come to you. emptive strike, or to start a war.

This argument claims that there declared them to be ‘fitna’, which

are directives which allow all means mischief or trial. Allah the
insurrection to be suppressed and Almighty says:
crushed by force. They say that as
the false views of the opponents And know that your possessions
of Islam or even those of sects and your children are but a trial.
within Islam are damaging, it is (Ch.8:V.29)
entirely lawful and legitimate to
use force to eradicate them. If the directive is to do away with
all ‘trials’ with the sword, then
The question which arises when the Holy Qur’an declares
however is whether the use of possessions and children to be a
force is necessary or lawful for ‘trial,’ are we then required to
eradicating every kind of annihilate them?
mischief. The verses of the Holy
Qur’an clearly enjoin that if any The fact is that the only evil and
group initiates hostilities against trial which can be legitimately
Muslims unjustly, then to counter combated with force is the
such an attack with force is not attempt by others to compel a
only lawful but necessary. This certain belief or disbelief by
kind of action is categorised as force. As the non-believers were
defensive and a basic human attempting to eradicate Islam not
right, whether in Islam or outside through the use of argument or
Islam. miracles but by force and strength
alone, Allah the Almighty says:
If it is declared lawful that every
wrong idea, every false ideology Say to those who disbelieve, if they
must be annihilated by force on desist, [and cease their
the basis that it is a source of hostilities] that which is past
mischief or trial, then it becomes will be forgiven them; and if they
incumbent on every Muslim to return thereto, [to what they
put to death his children and were doing] then verily, the
destroy his wealth and belongings example of the former peoples has
because the Holy Qur’an has already gone before them. And

[then] fight them until there is no these Muslims are often subsisting
persecution and religion is wholly entirely on the assistance they
for Allah. [i.e. the persecution receive from non-believers. Their
and fear of war and attacks traditionally held views
have no bearing on the meanwhile, tell them it is
adopted faith; the faith is unlawful to even make peace with
solely for the sake of God]. non-Muslims!
But if they desist, then surely
Allah is watchful of what they do. Let us turn to the Holy Qur’an
(Ch.8:Vs.39-40) for guidance.
The perfection of the Holy And if they incline towards Peace,

Qur’an should be closely noted – incline thou also towards it, and
there is no room to infer an put thy trust in Allah. Surely, it is
incorrect interpretation. When in He Who is All-Hearing, All
Verse 29, children and posses- Knowing. And if they intend to
sions were declared a source of deceive thee, [it is essential for
mischief or trial it was thus made you to maintain Peace!] then
clear that not everything surely Allah is sufficient for thee.
categorised as such is to be He it is Who has strengthened thee
combated with force. On the with His help and with the
contrary, the only evil which must believers. (Ch.8:Vs.62-63)
be combated with force, is force:
force which is used to impose In these verses there is a forceful
faith upon people and where admonishment to make peace if
religion is no longer solely for the the attacking enemies sue for it.
sake of God. Even if it is apparent that such an
offer on their part is only a
The Muslims of this age are deception, it remains the
trapped in a self-contradiction. obligation of the Muslims to
Practically speaking, they are at accept the offer of peace and to
peace with non-Muslims, even rely on Allah’s protection from
with those who associate partners the deception of the enemy. In
with Allah. As a matter of fact, the real world, despite the

Muslims’ traditional belief that as religious edict is concerned,

cordial relations with non- their directive is that a Jihad
Muslims are unlawful, social and should be conducted against the
political relations are maintained non-believers and it is essential to
for all intents and purposes! make all non-believers recite the
Allah the Almighty says: credo of Islam. Let us turn to the
Qur’an. Allah the Almighty says:
As for those who have believed but
have not left their homes, you are [Excepting those of the
not at all responsible for their idolaters with whom you
protection until they leave their have entered into a treaty
homes. But if they seek your help and] who have not fallen short of
in the matter of religion, then it is fulfilling their obligations to you,
your duty to help them, except nor aided anyone against you. So
against a people between whom fulfil to these the treaty you have
and yourselves there is a treaty. made with them till their term.
(Ch.8:V.73) Surely, Allah loves those who are
righteous.
In this verse it is made clear that a (Ch.9:V.4)
Muslim nation cannot provide
assistance for a Muslim com- The traditionalists would dictate
munity against the nation in that the non-believers who persist
which such a community is in their refusal to believe should
resident (i.e. the community has be put to death, while the Holy
not migrated). Qur’an’s edict permits the
making of pacts with non-
Chapter 9 believers! Moreover, the Qur’an
Surah Al-Taubah directs that such pacts should be
In World politics today, all fulfilled to the letter, and declares
Muslim countries are essentially that to do so is an act of
dependent on secular or religious righteousness!
non-Muslim nations and have
formulated various pacts with If a disbeliever falls into your
them. On the other hand, as far hands, what would be the edict

issued by those who make commence hostilities against you?

pronouncements in the name of (Ch.9:V.13)
‘Jihad?’ What is the pronounce-
ment of the Holy Qur’an? Allah This verse shows quite clearly that
the Almighty says: there is no moral or legal
impediment to fighting those who
And if anyone of the idolaters asks have attacked first and broken
protection of thee, grant him their pledges of peace and who
protection, so that he may hear the have plotted against the
word of Allah; then convey him to Messenger of God. This verse
his place of security. That is makes it clear and obvious that
because they are a people who have grounds for war were established
no knowledge. when hostilities were initiated by
(Ch.9:V.6) the enemy, yet some scholars state
that it was the Muslims who
Is the noble concept of for- attacked first on the basis of the
bearance embodied in this verse non-acceptance of Islam by the
mirrored in any way in the enemy! Verse 36 of Surah Al-
traditional edicts? Taubah also states the reasons for
war. Allah the Almighty says:
The traditional edicts declare it
obligatory to wage war when And fight the idolaters all together
faced with non-acceptance of [united amongst yourselves]) as
Islam by the enemy. Verse 13 of they fight you all together.
Chapter 9 describes an entirely
different occasion for stoking the It is apparent here that before
fires of war. Allah the Almighty fighting the Muslims, the non-
says: believers had united as one force.
This is indicated by the Arabic
Will you not fight people who have word ‘Kama’ (translated by the
broken their oaths [i.e. the pacts word ‘as’ above) meaning ‘the way’
bound by firm promises] who or ‘like’ they have united.
plotted to turn out the Messenger of
Allah, and they were the first to For those who enter the faith and

then turn away from it, the often bring to light what you fear.’ And
and forcefully stated traditional if thou question them, they will
edict is that the punishment is most surely say: ’We were only
death. The Holy Qur’an on the talking idly and jesting.’ Say, ‘Was
other hand, states again and it Allah and His Signs and His
again that these hypocrites first Messenger that you mocked at?
made a declaration of their faith (Ch.9:Vs.64-65)
in Islam, and then they
renounced their faith. Did the After this clear statement
Holy Prophet(saw) put a single one declaring them apostates, were
of these hypocrites to death? they put to death? Instead of
killing them, Allah the Almighty
The Holy Qur’an then mentions says in the next verse:
their mischief, their ridicule, their
excuses and pretexts and finally Offer no excuse. You have certainly
advises that they be treated with disbelieved after your believing
forbearance. Exhortation should [i.e. you became apostates].
be given to them towards truth If We forgive a party from among
and guidance! Nowhere is it said you, a party shall We punish, for
that they should be put to death, they have been guilty.
despite the Holy Prophet(saw) being (Ch.9:V.66)
informed through Divine
revelation that these claimants of The same hypocrites who are
belief were hypocrites who had described as having disbelieved
turned away from faith. Not a after believing are mentioned in
single instance can be found. verse 94-95 of this Surah:
Allah the Almighty says:
They will make excuses to you
The hypocrites fear [mockingly] when you return to them. Say:
lest a Surah [a chapter of the Make no excuses; we will not
Holy Qur’an] should be believe you. Allah has already
revealed against them, informing informed us of the facts about you.
them of what is in their hearts. (Ch.9:V.94)
Say, ‘Mock ye! Surely, Allah will

If the traditional edicts held true, believers. [But in accordance

they should certainly have been to the edicts of the
put to death for the Divinely traditional scholars, these
revealed fact of their abandoning people will be put to death as
faith after accepting it. Instead soon as their apostasy
what was said to them is stated in becomes known, but the
the Holy Qur’an: verse goes on to say:] And you
shall be made to return to the
And Allah will observe your Knower of the unseen and the seen;
conduct, and also His Messenger; then He will tell you what you
then you will be brought back to used to do.
Him Who knows the unseen and (Ch.9:V.105)
the seen, and He will tell you all
that you used to do. They will In Verse 129, Allah the Almighty
swear to you by Allah, when you says:
return to them, that you may leave
them alone. So leave them alone. But if they turn away, say, ‘Allah
[The traditionally held is sufficient for me.’
beliefs would have dictated (Ch.9:V.129)
that they be put to death!
Allah the Almighty says] Alas, the fabricated and twisted
Surely they are foul and their abode beliefs circulated amongst the
is Hell – a fit recompense for that Muslim public preach that Allah
which they used to earn. cannot be taken as sufficient.
(Ch.9:Vs.94-95) Those who hear the message of
faith and turn away should be
Thus regarding these apostates compelled to recite the Kalimah,
whom traditional belief would the credo of Islam, else they
sentence to death, Allah the should be immediately dis-
Almighty says: patched from this world!
And say, ‘Do what you may; surely Chapter 10

Allah will watch your acts, so also Surah Yunus
will His Messenger and the There is no compulsion in Islam.

This is the clear declaration of your gracious nature does not

the Divine wisdom recorded in permit you to compel people to
the Holy Qur’an. The tradi- adopt faith by force, how can it be
tionally held views however, in imagined that the exceedingly
total disregard for the instruc- Gracious nature of Allah the
tions of the Holy Qur’an, suggest Almighty would desire to compel
that compulsion is as necessary in people to adopt faith?’ Instead of
matters of faith as it may be in the enjoining conversion by force, the
dispensing of medicine to an Holy Qur’an adds:
ailing patient.
What then do they expect, save the
Addressing the pristine nature of like of the days of punishment
the Holy Prophet(saw), Allah the suffered by those who passed away
Almighty very forcefully rejects before them? Say, ‘Wait then and I
any such concept: am with you among those who
wait.’ (Ch.10:V.103)
And if thy Lord had enforced His
will, surely, all who are in the But our traditionalists and their
earth would have believed, without views do not permit one to wait
exception... for the punishment to arrive from
(Ch.10:V100) Allah. On the contrary, they
advise that the Muslims should
The point to note here is that proceed with the attack and not
Allah the Almighty says ‘If ’ He spend any time in waiting, as
had desired to enforce His Will, Allah the Almighty has
He would have made it so. Then commanded.
is it proper for us to use force?
The verse continues: Verse 109 of this Chapter again
draws out attention to this
...Wilt thou, then, force men to subject, reminding us that we are
become believers? not the superintendents or over-
(Ch.10:V.100) seers of the people. Allah the
Almighty says:
That is to say, ‘O Prophet, when

Say, ‘O ye men, now has the truth Surely, Allah changes not the
come to you from your Lord. So condition [or withdraws a
whosoever follows the guidance, favour] of a people until they
follows it only for the good of his change that which is in their
own soul, and whosoever errs, errs hearts.
only against it. And I am not a (Ch.13:V.12)
keeper over you.’
(Ch.10:V.109) In this verse, it is clearly stated
that the treatment given by Allah
Chapter 11 is related to the state of people’s
Surah Hud hearts. According to those
In verses 122-123, the Holy holding and promoting the so-
Prophet(saw) has been directed: called traditional beliefs, it is not
only appropriate but essential to
And say to those who believe not: use the sword for cultivating faith.
Act as best as you can, we too are
waiting. And wait ye, we too are It is quite obvious that force
waiting [for the verdict of cannot change the state of a heart
God] and in accordance with this verse
(Ch.11:Vs.122-123) of the Holy Qur’an, Allah the
Almighty does not change the
In this verse, the Holy Prophet(saw) condition of a people until they
has not been directed to attack bring about a change in their
those who disbelieve; rather it is hearts, that is to say in their
advised that both parties carry on fundamental beliefs and attitudes.
as they deem best and await Thus, according to the statement
Allah’s verdict. of this verse of the Holy Qur’an,
faith acquired under duress,
Chapter 13 without the corresponding
Surah Al-Ra’d change in the heart, has no value.
Faith is a matter of the depths of
the heart. Allah the Almighty Verse 33 describes the practice of
states: Allah the Almighty regarding
those who mock religion. When

the Messengers of Allah are on Us the reckoning.

mocked at, Allah the Almighty, (Ch.13:V.41)
grants respite to those indulging
in mockery, allowing them time to Chapter 16
mend their ways and when Allah Surah Al-Nahl
the Almighty deems fit His The misguided traditionally held
punishment descends on the views urge people to compel
culprits: others to join the fold of Islam by
force. In the face of attack or
And surely, Messengers have been otherwise, they urge the Muslims
mocked at before thee; but I granted to attack the enemy.
respite to those who disbelieved.
Then I seized them, and how was In verses 126-129 of Chapter 16,
then my punishment! this subject has been made
(Ch.13:V.33) absolutely clear in a most succinct
manner. Allah the Almighty says:
It is Allah the Almighty Himself
Who allows respite to those who Call unto the way of thy Lord
mock and after the respite it is with wisdom and goodly
Allah the Almighty Himself Who exhortation, [would com-
administers retribution. ‘What pelling people with the might
right does Allah the Almighty of sword, be called goodly
have to grant respite?’ the exhortation?] and argue with
traditionalists seem to ask! When them in a way that is best. [i.e.
faced with any opposition or most attractive in its appeal.
ridicule they cry, ‘We will draw Would the use of force be the
our swords and annihilate the best and most attractive
enemy.’ method?] Surely, thy Lord
knows best who has strayed from
In Verse 41 of Chapter 13, the His way; and He knows those
Holy Prophet(saw) is directed: who are rightly guided.
(Ch.16:V.126)
..on thee lies only the delivery of
the message [O Prophet!] and Thus, force is by no means

appropriate to direct a person to And endure thou with patience;

guidance and truth. The and verily, thy patience is possible
establishment of who is rightly only with the help of Allah [and
guided and who is not, is a matter for the sake of Allah]. And
of the heart and as such is known grieve not for them, nor feel
only to Allah the Almighty. He distressed because of their plots.
alone knows who is rightly guided [Allah says this is not an
and who is not! occasion for you to grieve.]
Verily Allah is with those who are
The extremists believe that righteous, and those who do good.
whether the enemy has launched [i.e. are benevolent].
an attack or not, it is essential to (Ch.16:Vs.128-129)
attack the enemy. Verse 127 of
this Chapter allows retaliation Chapters 17, 18, 20)
against injury or attack but directs (Surah Bani Isra’il, Surah
that the retaliation be limited to Al-Kahf and Surah Ta Ha)
the degree or extent of injury The fact that the knowledge of
received. Moreover, the verse people’s state of guidance or
goes on to say that if misguidance belongs to Allah
circumstances permit, and you alone is made manifestly clear in
can show forbearance despite Surah Al-Nahl.
being wronged, it would be better
for you. Allah the Almighty says: In Verse 55 of Surah Bani Isra’il,
Allah the Almighty says:
And if you desire to punish the
oppressors, then punish them to the Your Lord knows you best [for
extent to which you have been that reason He has reserved
wronged; but if you show patience, the right to reward and
[and do not take revenge] punish]. If He pleases, He will
then, surely, that is best for those have Mercy on you; or if He
who are patient. (Ch.16:V.127) pleases, He will punish you [this
decision remains solely in His
In the next two verses, Allah the hand]. And we have not sent
Almighty says: thee to be a keeper over

them. the Holy Prophet(saw) – that the

(Ch.17:V.55) extent of his grief had become
life-threatening.
Allah the Almighty has addressed
the Holy Prophet(saw), saying – O On the other hand, the
Prophet, we have not sent you to traditionally held views place so
be responsible for their conduct! much stress on pre-emptive
This is the declaration of Allah attacks and violent compulsion as
the Almighty, whereas the to entirely dispel any conception
declarations of others would of mercy or benevolence. Again
make us the arbiters of and again, the Holy Qur’an
punishment for our enemies. instructs us to wait for the Divine
decree and not to take the
The Holy Prophet(saw) was not decision into our own hands and
given the responsibility to issue not to compel the opponents by
reward and punishment to peo- violence into making a statement
ple on the basis of their degree of of faith.
faith; rather he was Mercy
personified, even to the dis- Verse 136 of Surah Ta Ha
believers. Their rejection of admonishes:
guidance resulted in his soul
grieving to the point that it Say, ‘Each one is waiting; [for
threatened his life and well-being. his end] wait ye, therefore, and
Thus, Allah the Almighty you will know who are the people
addressed him in Surah Al-Kahf of the right path and who follow
and said: true guidance’ [and who do
not].
So haply thou wilt grieve thyself to (Ch.20:V.136)
death for sorrow after them if they
believe not in this discourse. Forgetting this oft-repeated
(Ch.18:V.7) admonishment, the opinion that
has entered popular belief is that
This is a measure of the greatness having conveyed the message it
of the heart and compassion of becomes obligatory to respond to

any rejection without delay, It is quite apparent from the

resorting to beheadings in place above verse that when faced with
of waiting for any Divine rejection, the Holy Prophet’s(saw)
manifestation. reaction was not to decide the
matter with the might of the
Chapter 21 sword, on the contrary his
(Surah Al-Anbiya) response, in accordance with
What should be the reaction of Divine revelation, was to say only:
believers having conveyed the the decree of Allah is in the hands
message of the unity of God and of Allah alone and He will make
the teachings of Islam, if the it apparent sooner or later, I do
opponents turn away and refuse not know when. Perhaps you will
to listen? Verses 109-113 of be tried, and allowed to benefit
Surah Al-Anbiya, expound this from your worldly possessions for
subject very clearly. Allah the a while.
Almighty says:
In the last verse of this chapter,
Say, ‘Surely it has been revealed to the attitude of the Holy
me that your God is but one God. Prophet(saw) was stated thus:
Will you then submit?’ But if they
turn back, [Here the He also said, ‘My Lord, judge
traditional beliefs would have Thou with truth; Our Lord is the
you believe that you follow Gracious God Whose help is to be
them, sword in hand. Allah sought against that which you
the Almighty says:] say,’ I have assert.’ (Ch.21:V.113)
warned you all alike and I know
not whether that which you are That is to say the Holy Prophet(saw)
promised is near or distant. Verily, sought Allah’s help to counter the
He knows what is open in speech, allegations, criticisms and lies
and He knows that which you directed against him by his
conceal. And I know not but that it enemies. This was the method the
may a trial for you, and only an Holy Prophet(saw) used, to respond
enjoyment for a while.’ to the rejection and slander of the
(Ch.21:Vs.109-112) enemy, but the method taught by

the traditionalists to the general and Allah indeed has power to help
masses is to put to death whoever them [those are mentioned
dares to refuse to believe. against whom the attacks
were made and they were
Chapter 22 wronged]. Those who have been
(Surah Al-Hajj) driven out from their homes
The permission for Muslims to unjustly only because they said,
fight a defensive war and the ‘Our Lord is Allah’ [The
conditions under which such wisdom in granting per-
action is legitimate are explained mission to fight when
fully in Surah Al-Hajj. Permission attacked, is for the reason:]
is given to the Muslims for a And if Allah did not repel some
defensive fight because they were men by means of others, there
attacked, expelled from their own would surely have been pulled
homes and deprived of the down cloisters and churches and
freedom of thought and religion. synagogues and mosques, wherein
Allah the Almighty says in verses the name of Allah is oft
39-41 : commemorated.
(Ch.22:Vs.40-41)
Surely, Allah defends those who
believe. [It is not said that The above injunction of Allah,
Allah will help the aggressive the Almighty, is based on the
attack by the believers!)]. wisdom that no Jewish, Christian,
Surely, Allah loves not anyone who Muslim or other house of
is perfidious [deceitful] or worship will be pulled down.
ungrateful. (Ch.22:V.39)
In direct opposition to this
Permission to fight is given to those injunction, the traditionalists
against whom war is made, promote the stance that non-
because they have been wronged Muslims should be attacked, their
[according to the tradition- places of worship destroyed, and
alists, the Muslims should they should be entered into Islam
launch the offensive whether by force!
they were wronged or not]

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Love For All Hatred For None: The Future of Islam - Part 2

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Love For All Hatred For None: The Future of Islam - Part 2

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MANAGEMENT BOARD CONTENTS March 2009, Vol.104, No.

The Future of Islam - Part 2

In 1902 the Promised Messiah(as) decided to establish this magazine,

‘Pure knowledge and satisfying strong arguments in favour of the

A frequent allegation against Islam is that it is a religion of terror. Mir

Another issue that continues to generate controversy within the West

2 The Review of Religions – March 2009

It is regrettable, therefore, that one of those early heroines, Hadhrat

In these days as assaults are made on the veracity of Islamic teachings,

We shall be answering oft-repeated allegations against Islam in future

The Review of Religions – March 2009 3

of Islam Such vanity has led many a man

4 The Review of Religions – March 2009

only a glimpse of the light, is a bility in the one case and a

Another characteristic of the Ponder over the creation of man:

The Review of Religions – March 2009 5

6 The Review of Religions – March 2009

Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad(as)

His claim constitutes the basis of the beliefs of the

and Avatars. He was an Avatar or wicked, and upholder of the

The Review of Religions – March 2009 7

The first of these has already from men a salvation lasting

8 The Review of Religions – March 2009

the cycle of transmigration would speak though He has no tongue

The Review of Religions – March 2009 9

atheists, and I fear that if the the manifestation of His

10 The Review of Religions – March 2009

soul should constantly be in a state fessing a belief in the blood of

NOTE FOR THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS

In keeping with current universal practice, local transliterations of

The Review of Religions – March 2009 11

In some cultures and families,

12 The Review of Religions – March 2009

president. Apparently, America is These accounts of history are

The Review of Religions – March 2009 13

14 The Review of Religions – March 2009

The Review of Religions – March 2009 15

and perfect Shariah (religious women a right which is an

16 The Review of Religions – March 2009

times, abuse this by deliberately late husband stays within the

The Review of Religions – March 2009 17

“ Therefore, from whatever angle you look,

is genuine then the Khalifa of the term ‘flagrant evil’ in the

18 The Review of Religions – March 2009

parties are established. It needs to commandments in the Holy

The Review of Religions – March 2009 19

It is related about Hadhrat not reform themselves but instead

20 The Review of Religions – March 2009

that time, the detailed [Divine] These were the commandments

The Review of Religions – March 2009 21

Hadhrat Abu Hurairah relates Judgement, Allah the Exalted

22 The Review of Religions – March 2009

Prophet(saw). Another person greatest of kindness. As I have

Islam and the Holy Prophet(saw) ‘No other religion has

The Review of Religions – March 2009 23

women as Islam has done. It an ordinary woman and an

24 The Review of Religions – March 2009

“ The first thing that is obligatory on you, an

Messiah(as) directed men to look on you, an Ahmadi woman, is to

The Review of Religions – March 2009 25

“ Remember an Ahmadi woman should always

troubles and problems that men obligation to pay attention to