The Lahore Ahmadiyya Movement Blog

Solution to wealth gap problem between 1% and 99% Americans

Submitted by Rashid Jahangiri.

World is watching protests at Wall Street in New York City. According to protestors they represent bottom 99% Americans and are protesting against top 1% Americans. They are protesting over huge wealth gap between the two groups of Americans.

In 2006 a documentary ‘The One Percent’ was directed and produced by Jamie Johnson, an heir to the multinational pharmaceutical/ chemical company Johnson & Johnson. This documentary is about the growing wealth gap between America’s wealthy elite and the citizenry on the whole.

Documentary has interviews with number of prominent, intellectuals, and wealthy Americans. On one end of spectrum of interviewees is Milton Friedman, Nobel Laureate in Economics, the creator of ‘Trickledown economics theory’ and on other end is Ralph Nader, famous US politician and consumers advocate.

Throughout the film Jamie Johnson searches for the solution to economic disparity, particularly in USA. None of the people interviewed provide the solution. They say they don’t want communism or even socialism but they don’t give any workable solution. At the end of the film, Jamie interviews his own father, himself a member of 1% group, he admits the problems, but also admits he has no solution.

I wish these intellectuals had read 15 pages of Chapter 2 in Maulana Muhammad Ali book ‘The New World Order’, originally written in 1942. (Link to book.) Documentary could have provided solution Americans are searching for. Blogger Ikram very aptly wrote elsewhere: Capitalism has not won; it is only lasting little longer.

Muslim website against Dr Zakir Naik alleges he holds “Qadiani” beliefs

I have come across the following website where some Muslims groups criticise and reject certain beliefs of Dr Zakir Naik:

http://www.cifiaonline.com/drzakirnaik.htm

I refer to the following section in this link:

[quote]

“(7) DR. NAIK’S QADIYANI BELIEFS
In his speeches and writings Dr. Naik claims that advent of Prophet Mohammad (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) has been mentioned in Hindu scriptures. He has made this claim thousands of time in his lectures.

People will be surprised to know that Dr. Naik’s rhetoric on this subject is a direct copy of the work titled “Mohammad (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) in world scriptures” written by Abdul Haq Vidyarthi Qadiyani (1888 – 1977), a missionary of Lahore Ahmadiyya Movement.”

[unquote]

To prove this, they say: “we have provided a summary of comparison between Dr. Naik’s works and that of the writing in Vidyarthi Qadiyani’s book; which is identical – word-by-word.”

Here they provide a link to a document (this document will open in Microsoft Word, so here is a local pdf copy I created).

This document consists of extracts from my article on this subject, to which they have given their own title as follows:

Comparison of work of Zakir Naik Salafi and Abdul Haq Vidyarthi Qadiyani By Zahid Aziz Qadiyani

Apart from misrepresenting us as “Qadiyani”, they have omitted those parts of my article which show that the Maulana rendered a very great service to Islam by his research into Hindu scriptures.

Wisdom of the Holy Quran and Steve Jobs

Submitted by Dil Sooz.

This past week two important things happened in my life. Steve Jobs died and I listened to his famous Stanford speech on you tube. Here is the link http://youtu.be/UF8uR6Z6KLc .

Secondly, I came across these Quranic verses- explained below. Mr. Jobs in his speech emphasized his earnest desire to do extraordinary good in technology, he believed in his “inner truth”. He endured extreme opposition – even getting fired from company he created. Then almost getting bankrupt and finally did not compromise on quality of his product -even if it meant overtaking the norm with extra effort. He also said `death is best invention” for success of man. This means every day we live is on borrowed time. (Islam tells that every prayer we offer should be considered as last—to encourage more good/success in short time span)

(Disclaimer: Holy Quran is NOT a textbook of Business Administration or Sciences. However it inspires man to seek out excellence in all areas of human development)

In Holy Quran Chapter 79 (Al Naziat) “Those Who Yearn”, first five verses give a description of the spiritual characteristics of the faithful who are destined to bring about a transformation in the world: (Interpretation by Maulana Muhammad Ali)

1. By those yearning vehemently! (There was a vehement yearning in the hearts of believers for their Maker. Be it developing technology or commerce, Mullah generally does not emphasize these aspects of Quranic inspiration as they are under-educated and cannot go against dictates of their neo colonial puppet masters template of angry foaming mouth Muslims, which in turn are needed for war industry )

2. And those going forth cheerfully! (It was this ardent desire that made them go forth in the way of Allah cheerfully in spite of the severest opposition)

3. And those running swiftly! (Early Muslims ran swiftly so that they traversed eastern and western lands in an incredibly short time; they were thus ahead of all those who ever carried the message of Truth to their fellow-man-just imagine short span of time in which Islam spread)

4. And those that are foremost going ahead!

5. And those regulating the Affair! (They regulated the affair of the spread of Truth in the world, so that the farthest east (China) and farthest west (Morocco and Spain) were lit with the light of Islam within a hundred years.)

In summary: Taking the words in a general sense, they indicate the various stages through which an affair is brought to a successful issue. The first stage is that of an ardent desire or yearning for it; the second is that of going forth cheerfully to accomplish it; the third is that of running swiftly for its accomplishment; the fourth is that of going ahead of others; and the fifth that of regulating it in the best possible way.

If I can make essence of these verses understandable to my own self in a simple way then I would say: During my high schools days I liked to participate in 1500 meters race. It required an earnest desire to get up from the chair and run for long haul. In contrast to many others who would sit on side and cheer. Then there has to be `cheerfulness” about running otherwise it becomes torture.Then keep running fast. Soon one finds majority of runners form a pack along inner most circle-as it is easiest. But the winners breakaway from them and go ahead. And finally they regulate their affair of running (energy,time, style: sprint versus long steps) and finish the race appropriately.

“Land of the Pure” (Pakistan) and its historical parallels

Submitted by Ikram.

Usman rightly pointed out the problem in Pakistan. It is the disease in mindsets that is the source of its ills. There are close parallels of HMGA in Pakistan and Moses in Egypt, besides Noah, Ad and Thamud. Amongst the former it is the Mujaddid of the last century hijrah and in the latter was a Prophet:

7:13. But when Our eye-opening signs [-messages] were shown to them (- Pharaoh and his people) they said, `This is plain witchcraft (to cause disruption among the people).’

Quran further depicts the response of the arrogant people to the Divine arguments:

27:14. And they strongly rejected them (- the signs) out of spite and arrogance, although their minds were convinced of (the truth in) them. Look, then how (evil) was the end of those who acted corruptly.

Pay close attention to the wording and the reason for the strong rejection above – out of spite and arrogance, although their minds were convinced of (the truth in) them. This is exactly what has and is happening in Pakistan. They will reject the same message when attributed to HMGA whereas accept it without questioning when they hear Ghamdi or others.

According to Quran, ignorance, arrogance and injustice cannot pervade in the land beyond a certain number of generations. Forewarned is forearmed. Read the following in light of 27:14.

7:130. And We, surely, seized Pharaoh’s followers with years of drought and scarcity of fruits [-food] and children [-with any future] so that they might take heed.

7:131. But when something good came their way, they said, `This is ours (as we deserved it),’ and if something adverse befell them they would attribute their ill luck to Moses and his companions. Beware! surely, their deeds are (recorded) with Allâh but most of them do not know (this).

7:132. And they said (to Moses), `Whatsoever sign you may bring to us to cast a spell upon us with it, we will not be believers in you at all.’

7:133. Then We sent upon them widespread death and destruction (caused by storms [-Ad], floods [-Noah], epidemics, earthquakes [-Thamud]) and the locusts, the lice, the frogs [-pestilence, Dengue] and the blood (-wars); signs (all) distinct and well defined, but they continued to behave arrogantly for they were a people who had cut off their ties (with God).

7:134. And whenever a punishment fell upon them they said, `O Moses! pray for us to your Lord invoking the promise He has made to you. If you avert the punishment from us we will certainly believe in you, and we will let the Children of Israel go with you.’

7:135. But no sooner did We avert that punishment from them upto a (scheduled) term which they were to reach (in all events) than they at once broke their promise.

7:136. We then inflicted (the last) punishment on them; We drowned them in the sea for they had cried lies to Our Messages and were heedless of them.

7:137. And We made the people who were deemed weak (and were oppressed) inherit the eastern and western parts of the (promised) land which We had blessed. Thus was fulfilled the most gracious word of your Lord in favour of the Children of Israel, for they had patiently persevered; and We annihilated all that Pharaoh and his people had wrought and what they had erected.

Next time when one hears the mass catastrophes one after another inflicting only Pakistan and shaking it to its core, while sparing its neighbors e.g. India, China, Iran, Nepal, Bangladesh, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kirghistan – drought and scarcity of fruits [-food] and children [-with any future] – widespread death and destruction (caused by storms [-Ad], floods [-Noah], epidemics, earthquakes [-Thamud]) and the locusts, the lice, the frogs [-pestilence, Dengue] and the blood (-wars); signs (all) distinct and well defined, maybe it is the Divine retribution. The law of retribution in Quran states – We annihilated all that Pharaoh and his people had wrought and what they had erected. Does it mean annihilation of Pakistan as a country or annihilation of its institutions? Lord have mercy on us, unlike:

11:68. …Behold! Thamûd behaved ungratefully to their Lord (denying His favours upon them). So away with (the tribe of) Thamûd!

Note: Afghanistan was not listed above. It is in the grips of its own prophecy.

“Shakir” donated money for distribution of Maulana Muhammad Ali’s books

Please see this link for an interesting discovery.

It has also been confirmed to me on behalf of a grand-daughter of Maulana Muhammad Ali who lived in Karachi that Habib (i.e. M.H. Shakir) had great respect for Maulana Muhammad Ali.

If we count M.H. Shakir as a “translator” of the Holy Quran (which is what millions think anyway!), then the following translators of the Quran into English had high regard for Maulana Muhammad Ali:

Marmaduke Pickthall
Abdullah Yusuf Ali
Muhammad Asad
M.H. Shakir

Email to Professor Irshad Manji

Submitted by Rashid Jahangiri.

Professor Irshad Manji is a journalist, author and controversial personality in the Muslim world. Currently she holds directorship of ‘Moral Courage Project’ at New York University.

I sent her following email.

Dear Professor Irshad Manji:
Assalam Alaikum,

First a disclosure: I am member of Lahore Ahmadiyya Movement (it is different from Qadiani-Ahmadiyya). Lahore Ahmadiyya Movement holds belief that Holy Prophet Muhammad SAWS was The Last Messenger and that Mirza Ghulam Ahmad sahib of Qadian was only a REFORMER (Mujaddid) of 14th Islamic Century, and that ALL reciters of Kalima-Shahada are Muslims, and belief in Mirza Ghulam Ahmad sahib is NOT a requirement for a Muslim.

After reading your book ‘The Trouble with Islam Today’ I developed an opinion about you. And actually I was planning to come to your talk on your book, in spring of 2004 in Jesuits University ‘University of San Francisco’ to have discussion with you. But after listening to your talk on your book ‘Allah Liberty and Love’, recorded on September 13, 2011 and aired on C-Span on September 17, 2011, I have formed a different opinion about you.

In your talk you made a comment that “Non-Muslims are forcing Muslims to reform”. This reminds me of reformer Mirza Ghulam Ahmad sahib, who faced opposition of a much bigger magnitude in 19th century India than you’re facing today in North America and Western Europe. MGA sahib was in great distress to see that his efforts to reform Muslims were not bearing fruit; he had a revelation “A Warner came to the world, but world did not heed him, but Allah will establish his truthfulness by heavy powerful attacks”. And this is what we are seeing today.

Prof. Manji, I think in last four hundred years 9/11 is the best thing that happened for Islam (please pay attention: I am using word Islam and NOT Muslims). Again 9/11 is the best thing that happened for Islam. My reason: In last four hundred years Islam has been the victim and perpetrators are both Muslims and Non-Muslims. Muslim perpetrators interpret Islam wrong and non-Muslim perpetrators slam Islam with wrong interpretation of Muslim perpetrators. In post 9/11 environment both perpetrators are getting weak. Muslim perpetrators are getting militarily weak and non-Muslim perpetrators are getting economically, morally and ethically weak. Now when both these perpetrators get weak, reformers voices and efforts will gain strength. And as peace takes hold, Islam will flourish. As by its nature Islam only flourishes in peace time. In war times, Islam only struggles to survive.

In reference to Holy Prophet Muhammad SAWS cartoons published by Danish newspapers and then in USA newspaper etc. City of Philadelphia held a discussion in February 2006. I attended and spoke in it and wrote a piece in Lahore Ahmadiyya Movement newspaper ‘The Light – London Edition’ June 2006. Please take a look. I am sure you will find something new and interesting:
http://ahmadiyya.org/uk/light-jun06.pdf

A member of Lahore Ahmadiyya Movement is writing an online book that answers bashing of Holy Quran, Holy Prophet Muhammad SAWS, and Islam in general by people at ‘Jihad Watch’. Please take a look and see if you could contribute your thoughts and suggestions:
Project Rebuttal – “Islam: What The West Needs To Know”:
https://ahmadiyya.org/WordPress/project-rebuttal/

Prof. Manji, I would like to meet you and have little discussion on your book ‘The Trouble with Islam Today’.

Link to Prof. Irshad Manji websites:
http://wagner.nyu.edu/Manji
https://www.irshadmanji.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irshad_Manji

A live experiment in determining date of the coming Eid-ul-Fitr

In his comment at this link, Rizwan Jamil had suggested that the use of calculations for determining the new moon is prohibited in Islam and that “All the Muslims can (and infact they should) start/end their months together on the basis of the moon sighting reports of the countries of the whole world, not of their own country only.”

I had responded (see here) that this is not possible because, for example, if the new moon is first sighted worldwide in the far west (obviously at sunset) then in many countries including most Muslim countries the time would be almost the following morning.

So, let us try if this method would work at the forthcoming Eid-ul-Fitr. Please read under comments …

Ramadan Daily Quran Study, August 2011

Read: Our inspiration for Quran Study

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(Note: Here is the original Urdu article by Maulana Muhammad Ali, from which the extract about Sura Fatiha is given in the above Study.)

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Extra: An article about Lailat-ul-Qadr

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Thank you for reading, and sending encouraging comments.

Eid-ul-Fitr Message from Dr A.K. Saeed, Head of Lahore Ahmadiyya Movement

Chief Justice of Pakistan Dr Naseem Hassan Shah

Submitted by Rashid Jahangiri.

Justice Naseem Hassan Shah was among Pakistan Supreme Court judges who upheld death penalty of former Pakistan’s Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto in 1979.

In his autobiography in Urdu ‘Kuch Yadain Aur Kuch Tasurat’ (Some Memories and Some Comments) has written some things that I want to share with readers. Hopefully anti-HMGA people will pay some attention:

He was born April 15, 1929.
On page 14 he writes:

My admission to Cathedral School, [Lahore] was helped by my Christian auntie Afroza, who had married my uncle (mamoon). My uncle use to teach at F.C. College [Lahore] and he had converted to Christianity AFTER his marriage to auntie Afroza.

On page 156 he writes:
It is fact that many Anglo-Saxon laws are in sync with Human Rights Principles in Islam.

On page 162 he writes:
A person who recites Kalima-Shahada is a Muslim, regardless whether he follows Islam in his life or not.

On page 271 he writes about ‘Anjuman-Himayat-Islam’:

Anjuman started its activities in 1884, when five honorable leaders gathered in Lahore to form an organization that can fight against Christian Missionaries and Arya Samaajies attacks on Islam. …..
In the beginning organization founders’ efforts did not get much praise. So much that first president of organization wrote: To make our movement more effective we invited different people for discussion. We accept that in the beginning our efforts did not succeed. People did not welcome it. It won’t be wrong to say that people were least interested. We had to listen painful comments of some invitees. Our objectives were made fun of. One critic said situation is irreversible.

How Pakistan was created?

Submitted by Rashid Jahangiri.

Historian Jafar Hasan Zaidi authored new book in Urdu ‘How Pakistan was created?’ (Pakistan Kasay Banna?).

Lahore Ahmadiyya Movement members know very well that idea of Pakistan was conceived in the drawing room of Woking Muslim Mission (started by Khawaja Kamal ud Din sahib) in England. During the discussion Chaudhry Rehmat Ali sahib came up with idea and wrote a pamphlet.
Read article available on LAM official website:

Woking Muslim Mission’s Role in the Creation of Pakistan:
by Khwaja Salahuddin Ahmad (son of Khwaja Kamal-ud-Din)
Ch. Rehmat Ali got his spark of inspiration in the Drawing Room of the Mission House, Woking
The Light, 16th January 1966 / Reprinted in The Light & Islamic Review: Vol.74, No. 4, July-August 1997, pages 5-8

See also articles under: http://www.ahmadiyya.org/pakistan/intro.htm

Unfortunately, Pakistan’s history has been distorted ever since its creation, more so during the administration of military dictator General Zia ul Haq. History is distorted to make point that it was Sir Dr. Muhammad Iqbal who saw “dream of Pakistan”.

Jafar Hasan Zaidi has given interview to BBC online. At time 5 minutes he tells that it is a lie that Dr. Muhammad Iqbal conceived the idea of Pakistan. Rather he was against it. And it was Chaudhry Rehmat Ali who conceived idea of Pakistan.

Link to BBC on line interview of Jafar Hasan Zaidi:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/urdu/multimedia/2011/08/110813_hassan_jaffer_a.shtml