English translation of The Holy Quran
Lahori-Ahmadis always extol the greatness of the literary work done by Hazrat Maulana Muhammad Ali.
Our detractors say : “you have to say that because he was your Amir.” And they criticise Hazrat Maulana Muhammad Ali’s English translation even without having read it basing their comments on prejudice.
“Islam, as embodied in this translation of the Qur’an, is nothing short of a noble, highly ethical, and peaceful religion.”
The link below gives the views of some non-Muslims and some non-Ahmadi Muslims regarding Hazrat Maulana’s English translation of the Holy Quran.
Maulana Abdul Majid Daryabaidi, himself a translator of the Holy Quran into English, told Hazrat Maulana Muhammad Ali that this work is so great that if the Maulana claimed to be the mujaddid of the 14th Century of Hijra he would accept his claim. Upon this Hazrat Maulana Muhammad replied : “Thank you, but then you must think how great is the person whom I accepted as the Mujaddid of the 14th Century of Hijra.
You can read the reviews of Maulana Muhammad Ali’s translation of the Holy Quran into english here
The Freedom Fighter
The article below shows how the pioneering Ahmadi missionary Hazrat Khawaja Kamal-ud-Din recognised the ability of a freedom-fighter in Kashmir.
Whereas another leader had consigned this person to washing his clothes, Hazrat Khawaja Kamal-ud-Din appointed him his personal secretary and the two toured the East and the West.
This gave the freedom-fighter the vision to enhance the struggle for freedom against the Dogra maharajas of Kashmir.
Read the full story here
Friday 16th July – Follow us Live
Today we will be broadcasting live via ustream at 1.00pm as usual, to watch our live prayers and speech and be a part of the virtual mosque click on the link below.
If you miss the broadcast, then we will be putting the videos up in the next few days for people to watch at their leisure.
‘Ask The VM’: How do Muslims resolve problems?
Anil sent in an interesting question asking
If there is a problem how do Muslims decide what to do?
First of all Muslims look in the Holy Quran. There may be a specific instruction or prohibition such as fast or perform Haj or do not drink or do not back bite etc. Failing that there may be general principles laid down in the Quran which a Muslim can use to find what to do such as the instruction in the Holy Quran which says that it is only lawful for Muslims to eat those things which are good for them. Smoking is not good for us so although the Holy Quran does not have a specific instruction prohibiting smoking this instruction can be used to show that smoking is prohibited by Islam.
If there is nothing in the Holy Quran then a Muslim turns to the practice of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). This is called the Sunnah, or the example. There are many things which are laid down in the Holy Quran in principle and the Holy Prophet showed by his practice how this is to be put into practice. For example the Holy Quran tells us to pray and the practice of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) shows us how to pray.
If there is nothing in the practice of the Holy Prophet then we look at his sayings called the hadith. For example, the hadith tells us that if we are selling something we must point out the bad points of our product as well as good. In another example, Muslims asked the Holy Prophet how to pray in those places where the day or the night last for six months. The Holy Prophet (pbuh) said that there is nothing magical about the sun which makes us say the early morning prayer 1.5 hours before sunrise and mid-day prayer when the sun is directly overhead etc. This was just a convenient means of fixing the time which was visible to all. So when people see the sun directly overhead they know it is time for the mid-day prayer. He then added that if this is not possible then the community should gather together and decided on some other means of knowing when to gather for prayer.
If a Muslim does not find any guidance in any of the above sources then he uses ijtihad. This is using one’s own knowledge, understanding, commonsense etc to try and find a solution to a problem. Muslim scholars have been doing so down the centuries.
Another way is the ijma of the community. This is the consensus of the whole community. So Muslims gather together and discuss a problem and the different options open to them and then agree upon a solution or course of action.
Modern day government has borrowed these techniques from Muslims. Look at the way laws are made in your own country and you will find these Islamic principles being used to formulate laws.
Galileo of Islam
“one of the foremost muslim scholars of India, actively involved in making Islam known to the west”
The article below is a brief sketch of the history of the Ahmadiyya Movement. Part of this sketch is illuminating as it deals with the influence The Promised Messiah had from New Zealand to the US.
The distinguishing feature of his work was that he concentrated on positive work although unfortunately Sunni Muslims did their best to detract him from it by raising irrelevant and unimportant issues.
He co-operated with The Liverpool Mosque Movement in the UK publishing free advertisements and appeal for help for their magazines. He wrote to newspapers and journals world over claiming salvation of humanity lies in Islam.
Two examples of his efforts are published here: that of trying to promote the cause of Islam in the US and in New Zealand. If only non-Ahmadi Muslims had followed the course the Promised Messiah chartered, Islam would now be a well established religion the world over.
The article can be read here
The Lone Ahmadi
Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad gives a short talk about the position of those Muslims who although they do not recognise his claims do not call him a heretic.
He also advises Ahmadis about what to do if they find that in an area there is only one Ahmadi. Should they join and pray behind a Sunni who calls him a kafir or pray on their own.
Ascension of the Holy Prophet (pbuh)
The Holy Quran and the Hadith speak of the ascension of the Holy Prophet Mohammad (pbuh).
In this khutba we discuss whether the Miraj was physical or spiritual and its significance for the Muslims community.
It signifies the glory of Islam that a man through his own efforts can achieve nearness to God by following the Holy Quran and the Holy Prophet and that they Holy Prophet was the last Prophet.
The Power of One God
Is Islam the only true monotheistic religion?
The message that ‘there is no God but me’, was not only in the Holy Quran but was brought by all of Allah’s messengers.
Mustaq Ali looks at the beliefs of other faiths based on the context of their only being one God.
Friday 9th July Live Prayers and Speech
Today we will be broadcasting live via ustream at 1.00pm as usual, to watch our live prayers and speech and be a part of the virtual mosque click on the link below.
If you miss the broadcast, then we will be putting the videos up in the next few days for people to watch at their leisure.
Muslim women taking the lead
It seems that its being left to the women of Islam to stand up against the extremists who call themselvies Muslims.
In a BBC Radio 4 report Zubeida Malik reports on a group of Muslim women who will be laying a wreath later this week at the National Memorial Arboretum in honor of British troops.
The women say they were motivated by their revulsion at the Islamist extremist demonstration in Luton last year and the threats to disrupt commemorations at the repatriation of dead service personnel at Wooton Bassett.
The report includes comments from RAF Group Captain Zahir al-Huq of the Armed Forces Muslim Association who reiterated that many Muslims serve in the armed forced and would give their lives for their country.
The full report can be heard here.
