Human Values – The Foundation for a Peaceful World

Human Values – The
Foundation for a
Peaceful World
12
A Glimpse into the Life
of The Holy Prophet
Muhammadsa
32
Justice –The Prerequisite
to a Peaceful World
34
Mary: A Personal
Reflection
52
vol. 110 - issue twelvedecember 2016 www.reviewofreligions.org
A historic address at Canada’s
National Parliament
what are The
foundations
for a peaceful
world?

O mankind, We have created you
from a male and a female; and
We have made you into tribes and
sub-tribes that you may recognize
one another. Verily, the most
honourable among you, in the
sight of Allah, is he who is the
most righteous among you. Surely,
Allah is All-knowing, All-Aware.
Islam, The Holy Qur’an,
49:14
The Prophetsa
said: O Mankind!
Verily your Lord is One and your
father (Adam) is one. An Arab
is not better than a non-Arab,
and a non-Arab is not better
than an Arab; a white man is
not better than a black man and
a black man is not better than
a white man – except in piety.
Islam, Ahmad bin Hanbal
& Sunan Al Tirmidhi
As regards God Almighty, we
can call Him Rahim [The Most
Merciful] on account of His
Malikiyyat [Sovereignty], but we
cannot call Him just. Any person
who is owned by another cannot
demand justice from his owner,
though he can humbly supplicate for
mercy.That is why the Holy Qur’an
does not designate God Almighty as
just, because justice demands mutual
equality. God Almighty is Just in the
sense that He acts justly as between
creatures regarding their mutual
rights, but He is not just in the
sense that any creature of His might
demand his right from Him as an
associate. All His creatures belong to
God and He has authority to treat
them as He might wish. He might
bestow kingdom upon whom He
wills and He might make a beggar
of him whom He so wills. He might
cause anyone to die young or He
might bestow a long life upon any.
We ourselves when we own anything
are free to bestow it as we might
choose. Indeed God is Merciful;
rather, He is the Most Merciful of
all. By virtue of His mercy, and not
out of any limits in consideration of
justice, He provides for His creation.
Islam, The Promised
Messiahas
, Chashma-e-
Ma‘rifat, Ruhani Khaza’in.
You shall do no injustice in
judgment; you shall not be
partial to the poor nor defer
to the great, but you are to
judge your neighbour fairly.
Christianity, The Bible,
Leviticus 19:15
But when you give a banquet,
invite the poor, the crippled, the
lame, the blind, and you will be
blessed. Although they cannot
repay you, you will be repaid at
the resurrection of the righteous.
Christianity, The Bible,
Luke: 14:13-14
Among these men there are no
superiors or no inferiors, no
middle ones either.They become
great from small beginnings.They
make progress in different ways
by dint of their merits. By birth
they are all highborn because
they are all children of Mother-
Earth. O you men of the Lord
Refulgent! Be available to us in
a loveable manner or grow into
praise-worthy souls in fair ways.
Hinduism, Rig Veda 5-59-6
The Holy Prophet
Muhammadsa
prophesied
that the Promised Messiahas
would be raised near a
white minaret, east of
Damascus. This prophecy
was fulfilled with the advent
of the Promised Messiahas
from Qadian, India, a city
directly east of Damascus.
The Promised Messiahas
& imam mahdi
©makhzan-e-tasaweer
founder of
the review of religions
Equality
world faiths
Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas
, the Promised Messiah
and Mahdi was born to a noble family in Qadian, India.
From an early age he had a keen interest in religion and
developed a love for the Holy Prophet Muhammadsa
. He
was also known for his honesty, friendliness and resolve.
Over time his knowledge and understanding of religion
and its application to society deepened. Being a Muslim
it was his firm belief that all religions were true at their
source but with the passage of time had drifted away
from their original teachings; he upheld the dignity of
religion and demonstrated its relevance to everyone.
His earnest defence of religion was ultimately blessed
when he started to receive direct revelation from Allah
– a blessing that he continued for the rest of his life.
His mission was to revitalise the truth that all religions
held within them and to revive the teachings of Islam. It
was through this that he would bring mankind together
and establish everlasting peace.
In 1889, under Divine Guidance, Hazrat Ahmadas
founded the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community – a
community that has since grown in its stature and
strength and has remained active in conveying the
message of Islam to the ends of the earth.
Hazrat Ahmadas
had established himself as a respected
writer and had written over 80 books. His writings
have been translated into more than 60 languages and
continue to inspire readers to this day. One of his greatest
scholarly works was The Philosophy of the Teachings of
Islam, prepared as a paper and read out at the Conference
of Great Religions in 1896.
He also wrote a fascinating treatise in 1899 entitled Jesus
in India, a book that uncovered remarkable evidence
of Jesus’sas
journey to India. In 1902, the Promised
Messiahas
initiated The Review of Religions which has
covered a vast array of topics on religion, philosophy
and contemporary issues of the day. It is the longest
running English magazine in defence of Islam and the
values it teaches.
From 1889 until the time of his demise in 1908 tens
of thousands of people accepted him. This blessing
has continued and will continue through his Khulafa
(successors).
Currently under the fifth successor, we are seeing that the
tide of acceptance is worldwide and that the message of
Prophet Ahmadas
has really reached the ends of the earth.

8 The Purpose of Religion
Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas,
The Promised
Messiah & Imam Mahdi
12 Human Values –
The Foundation for a
Peaceful World
A historic address at Canada’s
National Parliament, addressing
the obligations of governments
in maintaining world peace.
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmadaba
, Worldwide
Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community
28 Views from the
Parliament Event
Various speakers welcomed His
Holiness to Parliament, including
the recipient of the Sir Zafrullah
Khan award, the Hon. Louise
Arbour and MP Judy Sgro.
32 A Glimpse into the Life of The
Holy Prophet Muhammadsa
34 Justice – The Prerequisite to a
Peaceful World
At Canada’s first Annual Peace
Symposium, His Holiness speaks of
the obligations that Muslims have to
maintain peace in their communities
and their obligations to protect
freedom of conscience for all.
, Worldwide
Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community
48 Views from the National
Peace Symposium
Guests give their impressions
of the event.
50 God Has No Partner
, The Promised
Messiah & Imam Mahdi
52 Mary: A Personal Reflection
Born as a Catholic and a convert to
Ahmadiyyat Islam, Imam Ibrahim
Noonan reflects on the significance
of Mary in the Catholic church
as well as what we can learn about
her from Gospel accounts.
Front cover picture:
© Shuhan | shutterstock
contents
december 2016 Vol.111 issue twelve
52
12
34

CHIEF EDITOR & MANAGER
Syed Amer Safir
ASSOCIATE EDITORS
Nakasha Ahmad,Tariq H. Malik
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MANAGEMENT BOARD
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WORLD
CRISIS
M I R Z A M A S R O O R A H M A D
PEACE
andthePathwaytoThe world is passing through very turbulent times.The
global economic crisis continues to manifest newer and
graver dangers almost every week. The similarities to
the period just before the Second World War continue
to be cited and it seems clear that events are moving
the world at an unprecedented pace towards a horrific
Third World War.
In this book, His Holiness Mirza Masroor Ahmad,
the Head of the worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim
Community warns the world of the fast approaching
dangers and how it can avert disaster and chart a
course to peace.
WORLD
CRISIS
PEACE
andthePathwayto
9 781848 808584
ISBN 184880858-5
9 781848 808577
ISBN 184880857-7
WORLDCRISISandthePathwaytoPEACEMIRZAMASROORAHMAD
Please Note.
Background colour:
C=10
M=10
Y=0
K=100
From His Holiness – Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmadaba
– comes a groundbreaking vision for how to estab-
lish long-lasting peace in a world fraught with rapidly
increasing disorder and unrest. His Holiness reminds
world leaders that the flames of war are already burn-
ing through local and regional conflicts and we stand
at the precipice of another world war. If these sparks
were to truly ignite we could witness the horrific
reality of a nuclear war, whose consequences are
unimaginable. His Holiness is the Worldwide Head
and Caliph of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community
– which has tens of millions of followers in over
200 countries.
World Crisis and the Pathway to Peace is a collection
of the historic addresses and letters by His Holiness to
world leaders and influential figures. In this book, His
Holiness offers consummate analysis on all aspects
of the global crisis; political, economic, social and
spiritual and provides the golden keys to resolving
the critical problems the world faces. In a world where
existing strategies for peace have failed and peo-
ple are desperately looking for a new direction, His
Holiness presents fresh and practical solutions, giving
hope that we can still prevent a global catastrophe.
(continued on back flap)
The world is passing through turbulent times.The global economic crisis
continues to manifest new and grave dangers at every juncture.The
similarities of the current circumstances to the build-up of the Second
WorldWar are stark. Events appear to be moving us rapidly towards a
ThirdWorldWar.The consequences of a nuclear war are beyond
our imagination.
In this book, the historic addresses of Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmadaba
, Fifth
Khalifah of the Promised Messiah and Supreme Head of the worldwide
Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, to prominent dignitaries at Capitol Hill, the
House of Commons, the European Parliament and other notable locations
around the world have been collated.The book also includes the momentous
letters sent by His Holiness to the numerous world leaders. Over and over
again, His Holiness has reminded all that the only means of averting a global
catastrophe is for nations to establish justice as an absolute requirement of
their dealings with others. Even if mutual enmity exists, impartiality must
be observed at all times, because history has taught us that this alone is
the way to eliminate all traces of hatred and to build everlasting peace.
Read online at: www.alislam.org
Purchase the book here:
http://store.alislam.org/

The
Promised Messiahas
& imam mahdi
( g u i d e d o n e )
founder of
T
he purpose of religion is that people should recognise
the True God who created the world,love Him so much
that every other love should grow cold in their hearts,
be kind and compassionate towards His creatures, and strive
to attain the utmost purity.This purpose is being neglected in
this age and most people are practically following some form
of atheism. They do not seem to be aware of the existence of
God, and it is this lack of awareness that causes sin to be com-
mitted with more and more audacity. It is plain that unless we
possess true knowledge about something,we cannot understand
its worth and can neither love, nor fear it. All forms of love
and fear and appreciation are born out of awareness, and the
major cause of the profusion of sin in this age is man’s lack of
awareness about his Creator. The sign which distinguishes a
true religion from others is that it opens up for the believers
many paths to knowledge and awareness about God, which
causes them not only to desist from sin, but, when they have
seen the beauty and glory of the Divine, to fall in love with
Him so completely that to them even a moment of separation
seems worse than the torments of Hell.1
endnotes
1. Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas
, Lecture Lahore, (Tilford, Surrey: Islam
International Publications Ltd., 2008), 4-5.
The Purpose of
Religion

During his historic visit to Parliament, Prime Minister
of Canada, Justin Trudeau, met with His Holiness.
The Review of Religions continues with exclusive coverage
of the historic tour of the worldwide Head of the
Ahmadiyya Muslim community
The Khalifah in Canada

organisation. Rather, I am the Head of
the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community,
which is a purely religious and spiritual
community.
Nonetheless,irrespective of differences of
background,I believe that on the basis of
humanity,we are all joined together,and
should therefore be united. All people
and all organisations must collectively
endeavour to uphold human values, and
strive to make the world in which we
live a better and far more harmonious
place. Consequently, if human values
and human rights are not upheld in
one country or region, it has a knock-
on effect upon other parts of the world
and such wrongdoing can spread further
afield.
Conversely,if there is goodness,humanity
and prosperity in one part of the world,
it will have a positive effect on other
societies and other people. As a result
of modern forms of communication and
After reciting Tashahhud, Ta’awwuz
and Bismillah, Hazrat Mirza
Masroor Ahmadaba
, Khalifatul
Masih V, Worldwide Head of the
Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, said:
“Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem – in
the Name of Allah, the Gracious,
Ever-Merciful.
All distinguished guests, Assalamo
Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahe Wa Barakatohu
- peace and blessings of Allah be upon
you all.
First of all, I would like to take this
opportunity to thank all of you for invit-
ing me, especially our close friend Judy
Sgro. I am neither a political person,
and nor am I the leader of a political
Human Values –
The Foundation for a
Peaceful World
On 17th
October, 2016, His
Holiness, Hazrat Mirza Masroor
Ahmadaba
, Worldwide Head of the
Ahmadiyya Muslim Community,
delivered a historic address at
a special reception at Canada’s
National Parliament in Ottawa,
Canada’s capital city, emphasis-
ing the importance of governments
ensuring the religious freedom
of all their citizens and the need
for peace and stability in world
affairs. The Review of Religions
is pleased to present the complete
address below.
Parliament address by the worldwide Head of the Ahmadiy ya Muslim
Community, His Holiness, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmadaba
Nonetheless, irrespective of
differences of background, I
believe that on the basis
of humanity, we are all
joined together, and should
therefore be united.
12 The Review of Religions | december 2016 december 2016 | The Review of Religions 13

these noble values. However, unfortu-
nately, it cannot be denied that there are
some Muslim groups, whose beliefs and
actions are in total contrast to this. In
complete violation of Islam’s fundamen-
tal teachings, they are perpetrating the
most horrific violence and terrorism in
its name. In light of all this, I shall now
seek to share with you Islam’s true and
peaceful teachings.
This esteemed venue, where you have
courageously invited me, is not a house
of religion and probably there are many
amongst you who are not person-
ally interested in religion. However, in
your capacities as lawmakers, you will
sometimes have to deal with matters
that affect the followers of religion. In
this context, the Holy Qur’an categori-
cally states in chapter 2, verse 257, that
“there should be no compulsion in reli-
gion.” What a clear, comprehensive and
unequivocal statement that enshrines
freedom of thought, freedom of religion
and freedom of conscience. Thus, my
belief and my teaching is that every per-
son,in every village,town,city or country
has the undisputed right to choose his or
her religion and to practice it.
Furthermore, every individual has the
right to peacefully preach and propagate
his or her teaching to others. These
freedoms ought to be guaranteed as
basic human rights, and so legislative
assemblies or governments should not
unduly involve themselves in such mat-
ters, otherwise there is a risk that their
intrusion could be viewed as a source of
provocation and lead to frustration and
resentment. Sadly, in today’s world, we
are seeing how Muslim governments are
themselves interfering in such personal
matters and this is a root cause of the
instability and conflicts in those coun-
tries.The only beneficiaries are extremist
religious clerics and militants who are
taking advantage of the frustrations of
transport, we are all now much closer
together and are no longer confined or
bound by geography. Yet, it is a strange
and tragic paradox that even though we
are more connected than ever before,
we are actually growing more distant by
the day. It is extremely regrettable, and
a source of grief, that instead of uniting
and spreading love amongst mankind,the
world has paid far greater heed towards
spreading hatred, cruelty and injustice.
People are unwilling to take personal
responsibility for their failures and so
each individual blames others and con-
siders the division and conflicts of the
world to be the fault of everyone else
but them. Consequently, we are passing
through a time of great uncertainty and
no one can truly comprehend what the
consequences of our actions will be,both
in the short term and in the long term.
In this age, when the fear of Islam is on
the increase in much of the world,let me
reassure all of you that Islam is not what
you commonly see or hear portrayed
in the media. As far as my knowledge
of Islam is concerned, I only know of
that Islam whose teachings are based
on its name. The literal meaning of the
word ‘Islam’ is peace, love, and harmony
and all of its teachings are based upon
human values – the foundation
for a peaceful world
His Holiness, Hazrat Mirza Masroor
Ahmadaba
, Worldwide Head of the
Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, visited
the Parliament of Canada and urged
countries to act justly to their citizens and
to other countries—urging the prioritisation
of others’ rights over self-interest.
*The photos used in this article were not used in the original
publication, but have been added to our serialisation by The Review
of Religions to help illustrate the subject matter. The Review of
Religions takes full responsibility for any errors in depiction.*
It is a source of regret that in many
instances, Muslims are partially to blame
for the current instability in the world—even
though Islam itself preaches purely peace.
© Prazis | Shutterstock
Furthermore, every
individual has the right
to peacefully preach and
propagate his or her teaching
to others.These freedoms
ought to be guaranteed as
basic human rights, and
so legislative assemblies or
governments should not
unduly involve themselves
in such matters.

to fear a true Muslim and there is no
need for the government to enact laws
that infringe upon relatively small reli-
gious issues or practices, which neither
cause harm or danger to the members of
the public or to the state.To legislate on
such matters can only be described as an
unnecessary interference and an invasion
of those freedoms that the West claims
to champion – that is the right of each
person to live with liberty and personal
autonomy. Undoubtedly, such unjust
interventions cannot have any positive
effect but can only lead to frustration,
restlessness, and discord. It is the task of
the government and parliamentarians,
as guardians of their nations, to legislate
in a way that gives rights to their citi-
zens rather than takes their rights away.
This should be done across the board,
indiscriminately, so that the rights of
all people, whether they be Muslims,
Christians, Jews, Hindus, or the people
of any other belief, including those who
are not religious,are upheld and guaran-
teed at all times.
As I have already said, it is a cause of
deep sorrow that in both the Muslim
world, and also amongst some devel-
oped non-Muslim countries, certain
people by promoting barbaric violence
and senseless conflict.However,it cannot
be said that Western governments, who
claim to be truly democratic,are entirely
innocent or blameless.Rather,here in the
West, we also see that sometimes laws
or rules are enacted that are in conflict
with Western claims of being beacons of
universal religious freedom and tolerance.
Laws are occasionally created that con-
tradict the view that every person in the
Western world is free to believe whatever
he or she desires and to have the liberty
to live peacefully according to his or her
faith. It is not wise for governments or
parliaments to place restrictions on the
basic religious practices or beliefs of peo-
ple. For example, governments should
not concern themselves with what type of
clothing a woman chooses to wear.They
should not issue decrees stating what
a place of worship should look like. If
they overreach in this way, it will be a
means of restlessness and heightening
frustrations amongst their people. Such
grievances will continue to exacerbate if
they are not checked and ultimately will
threaten the peace of society. Of course,
I am not advocating that people with
extremist views should be tolerated or
free to pursue their beliefs.
Wherever and whenever someone uses
his religion to justify cruelty and injustice,
or to usurp the rights of others, or to act
against the state, or in a way that affects
the security of the nation, it is certainly
the responsibility of the government and
authorities to firmly stop such evil prac-
tices.In such circumstances,it is entirely
justified and proper for the government,
parliamentarians and other relevant
authorities to ensure that such people are
rooted out and punished in accordance
with the law of the land.Nonetheless,in
my view what is wrong is for the state to
needlessly interfere with peacefully held
religious beliefs and practices.The Islam
that we know and practice teaches that
the love of your country is an essential
part of your faith as a Muslim.According
to Islam, a person’s country is the one
in which he lives and from which he
derives benefit, and when such a teach-
ing is ingrained in a Muslim’s heart and
mind, it is impossible for him to think
ill or to desire any harm to his country.
Furthermore, Islam teaches that not
only should the law of the land punish
anyone who acts against his country,but
also that such people will surely enter
the Court of God Almighty and be held
accountable by Him for their misdeeds
and disloyalty. Hence there is no need
Climate change is one of
the threats facing the world
today, and not only from an
environmental perspective.
Attempts to reduce carbon
emissions also hamstring
developing economies—thus
providing another source of
world friction and instability.
© Science Photo Library | Shutterstock
It is not wise for governments
or parliaments to place
restrictions on the basic
religious practices or beliefs
of people. For example,
governments should not
concern themselves with
what type of clothing a
woman chooses to wear.They
should not issue decrees
stating what a place of
worship should look like.

and from challenging the global order.
Thus,the issue of climate change is actu-
ally not only an environmental issue,but
is also contributing to the world’s lack of
peace and increasing resentment between
nations.
Similarly,in terms of the global financial
crisis, many experts admit that govern-
ments have long made unwise policies
and that today’s fiscal uncertainty has
now reached a level where it threatens
the peace of the world. There are also
many other factors that are contributing
to the world’s lack of peace and regret-
tably many are linked to self-serving and
unjust policies that have been imple-
mented by certain countries. Anyway,
the ultimate result of the various risks
and global threats is that the world is
rapidly moving towards an unthinkable
catastrophe. Due to the current insta-
bility,both the world’s governments and
the members of the public are becoming
increasingly anxious and concerned.
There are so many troubling issues that
the world no longer knows which to
prioritise. Should they focus first on
global warming and climate change? Or
should they address the financial crisis?
Or should they prioritise the fight against
terrorism, warfare and extremism? Or
should they focus on the latest devel-
opments in Syria, where Russia and
the United States are openly opposing
one another? Or should they give atten-
tion to, more recently, the direct conflict
between the USA and Yemen?
Personally, it is my view that the most
critical and pressing issue facing us is
the lack of peace in the world. And it is
a cause of huge regret that the Muslim
countries are the centre of such instability
and disorder, even though their religion
has given them unparalleled teachings
of how to establish and maintain peace.
For example, in chapter 23, verse 9, of
the Holy Qur’an it is stated that a true
Muslim is a person who fulfils any cov-
enants or promises with which they have
been entrusted. To be handed the keys
to government is a huge trust and so we
often see heads of state pledge to serve
their nations faithfully and with abso-
lute justice. Sadly, in many cases such
honourable pledges prove to be hollow
words that are not acted upon, whereas
if this Qur’anic teaching was followed,
we would never see division or conflict
between the public and their govern-
ments.Furthermore,in chapter 5,verse 9,
the Holy Qur’an states that even if a per-
son or nation has enmity with another,
they should still treat them in an entirely
policies have been made that under-
mine these core freedoms, which have
in turn caused grievances amongst seg-
ments of the public. Therefore, rather
than seeking superficial plaudits, they
should look at the bigger picture of how
they can bring peace to their nations and
ensure that their country and the wider
world becomes united and increasingly
prosperous.Yet unfortunately,instead of
taking a long-term view, it seems that
most leaders or governments have joined
an unhealthy race for power and a bat-
tle to assert their dominance over others.
Consequently, they are increasingly
willing to interfere in the personal and
religious matters of their citizens due to
this thirst for supremacy and control.
Such policies are unwise and an unnec-
essary means of further destabilising the
world,especially given that we are already
facing so many different problems and
issues that threaten the peace of soci-
ety. For example, it is said that climate
change is a huge threat to our civilisation.
Another burning issue is the economic
uncertainty facing the world. Further,
and more generally, there is the issue of
an increasing lack of peace and security
in much of the world. All of these issues
are the result of unjust policies, inequal-
ity and a lack of balance. If we take the
issue of climate change, we see that a
major cause of global warming has been
the industrial revolution in the West and
the fact that forests and flora were exces-
sively cut down.
Only now that such countries have fully
developed are they happy to call for a
reduction in carbon emissions or other
industrial restrictions. However, such
regulation may slow down and curb the
advancement and growth of emerging
powers such as India and China.And so
these rising nations may well view such
restrictions as hypocritical, unfair and
an attempt by the historically dominant
powers to stop them from progressing
There are so many troubling
issues that the world no longer
knows which to prioritise.
Should they focus first on
global warming and climate
change? Or should they
address the financial crisis?
Or should they prioritise
the fight against terrorism,
warfare and extremism?

by Amnesty International published in
December 2015 states that, “decades of
reckless arms trading” had contributed
to the terrorism conducted by Daesh. It
stated that the majority of weapons being
used by Daesh were originally produced
in the United States and Russia.
Furthermore, Patrick Wilcken, a
Researcher on Arms Control at Amnesty
concluded the report by stating:
“The vast and varied weaponry being
used by ISIS is a textbook case of how
reckless arms trading fuels atrocities on
a massive scale.”
Certainly, it is well known that Muslim
countries do not have sophisticated
arms factories that could produce the
fair and just manner, no matter the cir-
cumstances, because that is what Allah
the Almighty desires.
Yet today, rather than justice, we wit-
ness injustice at every level of society,
both between people and nations. Such
inequality and disregard for fairness is
directly contributing to the world’s lack
of security. In chapter 49, verse 9, of the
Holy Qur’an it states that if two parties
or nations are in a state of conflict then
their neighbours and allies should seek
to bring about reconciliation. If peace
cannot be established through dialogue,
then the other nations should unite
against whosoever is perpetrating injus-
tice and use force to stop them. Once
the aggressors adopt peace, they should
not be humiliated and nor should unfair
sanctions be levied upon them. Rather,
in the interests of fairness and long-term
peace,they should be permitted to move
forward as a free society.
If we assess the current conflicts in the
Muslim world,it is clear that this princi-
ple of uniting against those who seek to
undermine peace has not been observed.
If the neighbour countries had sought
to mediate impartially and put aside
their own interests the situation could
have been contained long ago. However,
it is not only the fault of the Muslim
nations,but other countries living in this
global village of ours, have also contrib-
uted to the disorder.If the major powers
had acted equitably and sincerely at all
times we would not have seen such dis-
cord and we would not have seen the
emergence of Daesh or extremist rebel
groups in countries like Syria and Iraq.
Regrettably,some major powers have not
played their role in establishing peace,
and have instead enacted unjust policies
in order to serve their own interests.
For example, certain Western coun-
tries have always had an interest in the
oil reserves of the Arab world and this
interest has motivated their policies over
a long period of time. Further, they have
sold huge stocks of weapons to Muslim
countries without considering the poten-
tial consequences. What I am saying is
nothing new or concealed,rather it is well
documented.For example,a recent report
Organisations such as the United
Nations have not been successful in
keeping the peace and acting justly.
© Drop of Light | Shutterstock
If we assess the current
conflicts in the Muslim world,
it is clear that this principle
of uniting against those who
seek to undermine peace has
not been observed. If the
neighbour countries had
sought to mediate impartially
and put aside their own
interests the situation could
have been contained long ago.
“The vast and varied
weaponry being used by ISIS
is a textbook case of how
reckless arms trading fuels
atrocities on a massive scale.”

In order to tackle radicalisation and
extremism, we must also assess what are
its causes and symptoms. Regrettably,
most radicalised Muslims who are living
in the West have no knowledge or a basic
understanding of Islam’s teachings.Thus,
their radicalisation is a result of their
personal frustrations and not due to any
ideological convictions or beliefs. Apart
from online radicalisation or hate preach-
ing in mosques or the spread of extremist
literature, I believe that a major cause of
the radicalisation of Muslim youths living
state-of-the-art weapons used in the
Middle East, and so the vast majority
of artillery being used in the Muslim
world is being imported from abroad. If
the major powers ceased to trade arms
and ensured that the other supply lines
of the warring governments, rebels and
terrorists were cut, such conflicts could
be brought to a swift conclusion. For
example, it is well known that Saudi
Arabia is using weapons purchased from
the West in its war in Yemen, in which
thousands of innocent civilians,including
women and children,are being killed and
so much destruction is being wrought.
What will be the ultimate result of such
arms trading?
The people of Yemen, whose lives and
futures are being destroyed,will not only
bear hatred and seek revenge from Saudi
Arabia but will also bear hate towards
Saudi’s arms suppliers and the West in
general. With no hope or future pros-
pects left,and having witnessed the most
horrific brutality,members of their youth
will be prone to radicalisation and in this
way a new vicious cycle of terrorism and
extremism will arise. Are such destruc-
tive and devastating consequences worth
a few billion dollars? Thus, there is no
longer only a risk to the Muslim coun-
tries who are at the epicentre of today’s
conflicts, rather the threat has spread
much further afield, as we have already
witnessed with the recent terrorist attacks
in Paris, Brussels and the United States.
There have also been lower-level terrorist
incidents here in Canada over the past
couple of years of which you will all be
well aware.Furthermore,despite the fact
that Canada lies thousands of miles away
from the Arab world, still we find that
Muslim youths have travelled from this
country to join extremist groups in Syria
and Iraq.Of great concern is the fact that,
according to the Canadian government’s
own statistics, twenty percent of those
who have gone to Syria or Iraq have been
women and this means they will not only
have been radicalised themselves but will
also be indoctrinating and brainwashing
their children.
Regrettably, most radicalised
Muslims who are living in
the West have no knowledge
or a basic understanding of
Islam’s teachings.Thus, their
radicalisation is a result of
their personal frustrations
and not due to any ideological
convictions or beliefs.
The people of Yemen, whose
lives and futures are being
destroyed, will not only bear
hatred and seek revenge
from Saudi Arabia but
will also bear hate towards
Saudi’s arms suppliers
and the West in general.
The Hall of Honour in the Centre Block in
the Canadian Parliament, where, in 2014,
Michael Zehaf-Bibeau killed a soldier on
guard duty and then forced himself inside,
eventually being killed in an exchange of
gunfire. This type of attack has become
increasingly frequent in the last few
years—leading to instability in the West.
User Zipampa | Wikimedia Commons |
Release under CC BY-SA 3.0

Though, most of the refugees will be
genuine and decent people, just one or
two negative incidents, as we have seen
in the past year, are enough to cause
panic,as we are starting to see in Europe
and also to some extent here in North
America as well. Hence, we are seeing
with our own eyes, just how uncertain
the world is becoming and how hatred
and anxiety has consumed and engulfed
much of the world.I repeat that the root
cause remains injustice and inequality.
Ultimately,a lack of fairness is also what
precipitated the global financial crash
and the growing disparity between the
rich and the poor during the past few
years. I say this, given that whilst devel-
oped and richer nations may have chosen
to invest in poorer countries, they have
prioritised their own vested interests
above facilitating the development of
those local countries.
Rather than exploitation and greed, the
developed nations ought to have champi-
oned the rights of the weaker nations and
sought their advancement.They ought to
have sincerely helped the people of those
poor nations stand upon their own two
feet with dignity and honour. Yet, most
regrettably,this has simply not happened.
In chapter 20, verse 132, of the Holy
Qur’an it instructs that no one should
cast covetous eyes upon the wealth or
resources of others. If the entire world
acted upon this one principle, then the
world’s financial systems would be fair
and just.
Capital would be distributed equitably
and nations would reap the rewards of
their God-given wealth. We would see
that the world’s trading would be under-
pinned by a desire to fulfil the human
rights of others, rather than to greedily
acquire power and wealth and to fulfil
personal interests at all costs. Another
example of the world’s injustice is
reflected in the world’s politics.
In some countries,there are dictatorships
or unjust governments, yet the major
in the West has been the economic crisis
and many published reports corroborate
this.There are many young Muslims who
have gained qualifications,but in spite of
their education, have not attained suit-
able employment and so have become
marginalised and frustrated.
Due to economic difficulties they are
vulnerable and easy prey for extremist
clerics and terrorist recruiters. Hence, if
young people are given fair opportuni-
ties to better themselves and to enter the
workforce it will be a means of keeping
one’s country safe and secure.At a global
level, if only the major powers and the
international institutions, such as the
United Nations, had truly acted upon
their founding principles, under all cir-
cumstances,then we would not have seen
the toxic plague of terrorism infect so
many parts of the world. We would not
have seen the world’s peace and security
repeatedly undermined and destroyed.
And we certainly would not have wit-
nessed the huge refugee crisis,which now
confounds and frightens the people of
Europe and other developed countries.
Hundreds of thousands of innocent
people have fled to Europe, and thou-
sands have also come here to Canada, in
order to seek refuge from the terrorists
who have poisoned their own nations.
In some countries, there
are dictatorships or unjust
governments, yet the major
powers turn a blind eye to
their cruelties, because those
governments happen to
support them and facilitate the
procurement of their interests.
Yet, in countries where the
leaders or governments do not
bend to the whim of the major
powers, they are quite happy
to support rebel elements or
to demand regime change.
In In chapter 20, verse 132, of
the Holy Qur’an it instructs that
no one should cast covetous eyes
upon the wealth or resources
of others. If the entire world
acted upon this one principle,
then the world’s financial
systems would be fair and just.
Extremism in Muslim youth comes not from
the teachings of Islam—rather, it comes
from the particular difficulties that young
people are encountering in finding a place in
society. Islam forbids extremism in all forms
and only advocates peace and tolerance.
© Feng Yu | Shutterstock

remove those governments, as in Iraq
and Libya, and similarly such attempts
have been made in Syria over the past
few years. Time has proved Canada’s
decision not to take part in the Iraq War
as the right one and I also agree with
your government’s decision to halt its air-
strikes in Syria until the circumstances
of that particular conflict and the means
to resolve it become much clearer. At a
broader level, the United Nations must
also play its role in establishing peace
in the world, unencumbered by politics,
injustice or favouritism. I hope and pray
that Allah the Almighty enables the
United Nations and the world’s govern-
ments to act in this way so that true and
long-lasting peace may be established.
The alternative does not bear think-
ing about, because if we continue as we
are then the world is charging madly
towards a huge catastrophe in the shape
of another world war. May Allah grant
wisdom to the world’s leaders and policy
makers so that the world we leave behind
for our children and future generations is
a world of peace and prosperity and not
with a crippled economy and malformed
children – Ameen. At the end I would like
to once again thank you for inviting me
here today.Thank you very much.”
powers turn a blind eye to their cruelties,
because those governments happen to
support them and facilitate the procure-
ment of their interests. Yet, in countries
where the leaders or governments do not
bend to the whim of the major powers,
they are quite happy to support rebel ele-
ments or to demand regime change. In
truth,there is no difference in the way the
respective governments are treating their
own people. The material difference is
only that in some cases the governments
cooperate with the major powers, whilst
in others they do not.
In terms of the latter category, Western
military policies have been devised to
The alternative does not
bear thinking about, because
if we continue as we are
then the world is charging
madly towards a huge
catastrophe in the shape
of another world war.
His Holiness warned that if the world’s
governments do not start acting justly, there
will be catastrophe in the form of another—
and vastly more devastating—world war.
His Holiness led prayers during
his visit to Parliament.

Views from
The Parliament Event
Source: www.pressahmadiyya.org
(Official Press Release)
A
t the Parliament event,
His Holiness, Hazrat
Mirza Masroor Ahmadaba
presented Hon. Louise Arbour,
the former High Commissioner
for Human Rights at the United
Nations and a former Canadian
Supreme Court Judge with the Sir
Zafrullah Khan Award for Public
Service.This award recognised her
outstanding public service during
her long and distinguished career.
Upon receipt of the award,
Hon. Louise Arbour said:
“I am deeply honoured to receive
this very prestigious award that is
named after a great jurist, lawyer,
judge and a great diplomat. I am
particularly honoured to be associated
with Sir Zafrullah Khan, as he was
a Chief Judge and President of the
International Court of Justice…
I have also always been deeply
impressed by the promotion of the
culture of peace that the Ahmadiyya
Muslim Community has stood
for and continues to stand for.”
A number of guest speakers
also took to the stage.
Hon. Kirsty Duncan, Minister of
Science and official representative of
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said:
“It is an honour and privilege to be
here tonight to welcome His Holiness,
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad,
the Fifth Caliph and leader of the
Ahmadiyya Muslim Community to
Parliament Hill. All of Parliament
Hill has come together today to join
His Holiness, to celebrate with the
Ahmadiyya Muslim Community and
to demonstrate our strong support…
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community
makes an enormous difference here
in Canada and always demonstrates
Love for All, Hatred for None.”
Dr. James J. Zogby, Vice-Chair
of the United States Commission on
International Religious Freedom said:
“Your Holiness, Hazrat Mirza
Masroor Ahmad, on behalf of the US
Commission on International Religious
Freedom I am honoured to be with you
tonight. What has always impressed
us about the Ahmadiyya Muslim
Community is how, despite being
all too often victims of persecution,
you remain champions for the rights
of others who are being persecuted.
In a world where intolerance seems
to be increasing the Ahmadiyya
Muslim Community remains a strong
advocate of tolerance and goodwill.”
Earlier in the day, His Holiness held
a range of meetings with Federal
Ministers of Canada’s Government,
Senators and MPs. His Holiness also
held a meeting with Prime Minister
Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau.The Head of
the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community
was also officially recognised by
the Speaker of Parliament during
a session of Question Period, in
which all present members of
the House of Commons, including
the Prime Minister, stood and gave
His Holiness a standing ovation.
Further, Hon. Judy Sgro MP, read
out a Members Statement in the
House of Commons that stated:

Prime Minister of Canada
receives Wordwide Head of the
Ahmadiyya Muslim Community
His Holiness, Hazrat Mirza Masroor
Ahmadaba
was received by the Prime
Minister of Canada, Rt. Hon, Justin
Trudeau at the Prime Minister’s Office
in Ottawa. During the meeting, Prime
Minister Trudeau expressed his pleasure
at welcoming His Holiness to Canada
and thanked His Holiness for his contin-
ued efforts to promote peace worldwide
and stated that his Government greatly
appreciated the efforts of the Ahmadiyya
Muslim Community in Canada and con-
sidered it to be an integral part of the
nation.Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmadaba
thanked the Prime Minister for his words
and said that he wished to personally
congratulate the Prime Minister on his
election last year. His Holiness also said
that he had listened to Question Period in
the House of Commons earlier in the
day and he had noted that a number
of the “burning issues of today” had been
discussed and debated. Later, Prime
Minister Trudeau said: “Your Holiness,
your friendship and leadership is very
important to Canada and we appreciate the
way the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community
condemns all forms of extremism.”
“Mr. Speaker, earlier today the global
spiritual leader of the Ahmadiyya
Muslim Community arrived in
Ottawa for a formal visit to Parliament
Hill. During his time with us, he
will meet with Cabinet Ministers,
Senators, Members of Parliament,
and the Prime Minister in an effort
to further underscore his peaceful
message of love for all and hatred for
none.This work is part of an ongoing
effort undertaken by His Holiness
to showcase the peaceful nature and
beauty of the faith (of Islam) and while
calling on global powers to advance
an agenda of peace, religious freedom,
and the advancement of human rights
in Canada and around the world. I
applaud His Holiness and members
of the global Ahmadiyya faith for
their work, and I extend a hand of
friendship on behalf of my constituents
and the people of Canada.”
The special reception concluded with
a silent prayer led by Hazrat Mirza
Masroor Ahmad. Following dinner
Parliamentarians and guests were able
to meet personally with His Holiness.
His Holiness walks through the halls
of Parliament accompanied by MP
Judy Sgro and other guests.

Justice in the State
Besides uniting Makkan and Madinite
Muslims in a brotherhood, the Holy
Prophetsa
instituted a covenant between all
the inhabitants of Madinah.By this covenant,
Arabs and Jews were united into a common
citizenship with Muslims. The Prophetsa
explained to both Arabs and Jews that before
the Muslims emerged as a group in Madinah,
there were only two groups in their town,but
with Muslims now, there were three groups.
It was but proper that they should enter
into an agreement which should be binding
upon them all, and which should assure to
all of them a measure of peace.Eventually an
agreement was arrived at.The agreement said:
“Between the Prophetsa
of God and the
Faithful on the one hand, and all those on
the other, who voluntarily agree to enter. If
any of the Makkan Muslims is killed, the
Makkan Muslims will themselves be respon-
sible. The responsibility for securing the
release of their prisoners will also be theirs.
The Muslim tribes of Madinah similarly
will be responsible for their own lives and
their prisoners.Whoever rebels or promotes
enmity and disorder will be considered a
common enemy. It will be the duty of all
the others to fight against him, even though
he happens to be a son or a close relation.If a
disbeliever is killed in battle by a believer,his
Muslim relations will seek no revenge. Nor
will they assist disbelievers against believ-
ers.The Jews who join this covenant will be
helped by Muslims.The Jews will not be put
to any hardship. Their enemies will not be
helped against them.No disbeliever will give
quarter to anybody from Makkah. He will
not act as a trustee for any Makkan property.
In a war between Muslims and disbelievers
he will take no part.If a believer is maltreated
without cause,Muslims will have the right to
fight against those who maltreat. If a com-
mon enemy attacks Madinah, the Jews will
side with the Muslims and share the expenses
of the battle. The Jewish tribes in covenant
with the other tribes of Madinah will have
rights similar to those of Muslims.The Jews
will keep to their own faith, and Muslims
to their own.The rights enjoyed by the Jews
will also be enjoyed by their followers. The
citizens of Madinah will not have the right
to declare war without the sanction of the
Prophetsa
. But this will not prejudice the
right of any individual to avenge an indi-
vidual wrong.The Jews will bear the expenses
of their own organisation,and Muslims their
own. But in case of war, they will act with
unity. The city of Madinah will be regarded
as sacred and inviolate by those who sign
the covenant.Strangers who come under the
protection of its citizens will be treated as
citizens.But the people of Madinah will not
be allowed to admit a woman to its citizen-
ship without the permission of her relations.
A Glimpse into the Life of
the Holy Prophet Muhammadsa
All disputes will be referred for decision to
God and the Prophetsa
. Parties to this cov-
enant will not have the right to enter into
any agreement with the Makkans or their
allies. This, because parties to this covenant
agree in resisting their common enemies.
The parties will remain united in peace as in
war.No party will enter into a separate peace.
But no party will be obliged to take part in
war. A party, however, which commits any
excess will be liable to a penalty. Certainly
God is the protector of the righteous and the
Faithful and Muhammadsa
is His Prophetsa
.”
(Hisham)
This is the covenant in brief. It has been pre-
pared from scraps to be found in historical
records. It emphasizes beyond any doubt
that in settling disputes and disagreements
between the parties at Madinah, the guid-
ing principles were to be honesty, truth and
justice. Those committing excesses were to
be held responsible for those excesses. The
covenant makes it clear that the Prophetsa
of
Islam was determined to treat with civility
and kindness the other citizens of Madinah,
and to regard them and deal with them as
brethren.If disputes and conflicts arose later,
the responsibility rested with the Jews.1
endnotes
1. Hazrat Mirza Bashir-ud-din Mahmood
Ahmadra
, Life of Muhammadsa
(Surrey: Islam
International Publications, 1990), 48-49.

the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community
is that sect which was established in
accordance with the prophecy made by
the Founder of Islam, the Holy Prophet
Muhammadsa
over 1400 years ago.
In this respect, the Ahmadiyya Muslim
Community is unique because, though
the Holy Prophetsa
prophesied that
Muslims would split and divide, he did
not mention any other sect directly. In
his prophecy,the Holy Prophetsa
foretold
of a time when the majority of Muslims
would have forgotten the true teachings
of Islam and their acts would not be in
accordance with their religion.Alongside
this,the Holy Prophetsa
also gave the glad
tiding that, at a time of such spiritual
decline, Allah the Almighty would send
a person as the Promised Messiah and
Imam Mahdi (the Guided One). He
who would enlighten the entire world
with the true and peaceful teachings of
Islam.
And we, Ahmadi Muslims, believe the
Founder of our Community to be the
Promised Messiah and Mahdi who was
,
Khalifatul Masih V, Worldwide Head
of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community,
said:
“Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem – in
the Name of Allah, the Gracious,
Ever-Merciful.
All distinguished guests, Assalamo
Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahe Wa Barakatohu
- peace and blessings of Allah be upon
you all.
First of all, I would like to take this
opportunity to thank all of you for kindly
accepting our invitation. Within Islam,
Justice –
The Prerequisite to a
Peaceful World
O
n 22nd
October 2016, the Worldwide Head of the Ahmadiyya
Muslim Community, the Fifth Khalifah (Caliph), His Holiness,
, delivered the keynote address
at the 1st National Peace Symposium hosted by the Ahmadiyya Muslim
Community Canada.The event was held at the Baitul Islam Mosque in Peace
Village, Vaughan, with an audience of over 600 people, including govern-
ment officials such as the Mayor of Vaughan,the Hon.Maurizio Bevilacqua;
Member of Parliament, Deb Schulte; and City Councillor, Marilyn Iafrate.
In this respect, the Ahmadiyya
Muslim Community is unique
because, though the Holy
Prophetsa
prophesied that
Muslims would split and
divide, he did not mention
any other sect directly.
Keynote Address by Worldwide Head of the Ahmadiy ya Muslim
Community at the 1st National Peace Symposium Canada Held on
22nd October 2016.

the means and sustenance for the survival
of all mankind.This is a general lesson for
all Muslims that shows them that they
cannot claim that God Almighty is only
for them, but He is for all of human-
ity and indeed for all forms of Creation.
Furthermore,in chapter 21, verse 108,of
the Holy Qur’an,Allah the Almighty has
deemed the Founder of Islam, the Holy
Prophet Muhammadsa
to be a ‘mercy for
all mankind’. He was sent to this world
by God,not only as a source of love,com-
passion and sympathy for Muslims, but
also for all people,of all faiths and beliefs.
In summary,these introductory verses of
the Qur’an prove that no person and no
nation can claim any form of monopoly
sent according to the prophecies of the
Holy Prophet of Islamsa
. During his life,
the Promised Messiahas
shined an eter-
nal light upon Islam’s true teachings and
informed the world of what Islam truly
represents. Hence, the first point I wish
to make clear is that the Ahmadiyya
Muslim Community should not be con-
sidered a “liberal” or “reformist” sect of
Islam.
Rather, we are following the original
teachings of Islam, as prescribed by the
Holy Qur’an and the Holy Prophet
Muhammadsa
.Those noble teachings can
be summed up in just two lines - to love
your Creator and fulfil His rights and
to love His Creation and to fulfil their
rights.Thus,Muslims are taught to show
love, compassion and kindness to all of
God’s Creation, especially to humanity,
which Allah has deemed as the best of
Creation. It is absolutely true that we,
Ahmadi Muslims, are peace-loving and
seek to build bridges of love and hope
between different religions and differ-
ent communities. However, this is not
because we have deviated from Islam
or modernised it in any shape or form.
Rather, it is because we follow Islam’s
authentic teachings.
As I have just said,Islam’s core teachings
revolve around fulfilling the rights of God
Almighty and fulfilling the rights of His
Creation, and so now I shall explain how
the Holy Qur’an has taught Muslims to
fulfil these two fundamental objectives.
The very first verse of the first chapter of
the Holy Qur’an states:
“In the Name of Allah, the Gracious,
Ever Merciful.”
Thereafter, in the second verse, it says
that Allah the Almighty is the:
“…Lord of all the worlds.”
Then, in the third verse, it is again
repeated that Allah is:
“The Gracious, Ever Merciful.”
Hence, the very first words and verses
of the Qur’an make it crystal clear that
it is not only Muslims who benefit
from Allah, Who is the Gracious and
Merciful. As the Lord of all mankind,
He is not only the Provider and Sustainer
of Muslims, but also of Christians, Jews,
Hindus, Sikhs and the people of all
other faiths and beliefs. He is even the
Sustainer of those who deny His exist-
ence.Therefore, according to the laws of
nature,Allah the Almighty has provided
justice – the prerequisite
to a peaceful world
During his life, the Promised
Messiahas
shined an eternal
light upon Islam’s true
teachings and informed
the world of what Islam
truly represents. Hence, the
first point I wish to make
clear is that the Ahmadiyya
Muslim Community should
not be considered a “liberal”
or “reformist” sect of Islam.

to hold any form of ill-intent towards
them. It is due to these pious teachings
that the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community
proclaims its message of ‘love for all’
across the globe. It is because of these
teachings that Ahmadi Muslims do not
bear enmity or hatred towards anyone.
Indeed,the Founder of Islamsa
laid down
the foundations for peace in just one sen-
tence. His words were as magnificent as
they were simple.He said that we should
love for others what we love for our-
selves. We should desire for others what
we desire for ourselves. The question is,
what do we want from our lives? Do we
desire hardship and grief? Do we desire
injustice? Do we want to be treated in a
cruel and heartless fashion? Do we have
ambitions to be mired in poverty and to
go to bed hungry every night? Do we
want our children to be plagued by ill-
health,to be uneducated and to be placed
in danger?
Of course, no normal person would ever
hope for any of these things. Therefore,
as Muslims,we must seek prosperity not
only for ourselves but also for others.We
must open our hearts to humanity. We
should consider the pain of others as
though it is our own pain and grief. It is
the duty of a Muslim to fulfil the rights
of other people, irrespective of their
beliefs or background, and to wish them
well,to care for them and to help them in
their times of need.Of course,sometimes
circumstances arise which cause people
to argue or quarrel.
over God Almighty, because He is the
Lord of all mankind. Furthermore, He
is “Gracious and Ever Merciful”and He
sent the Holy Prophet Muhammadsa
as
a fountain of peace,compassion and love
for all people,no matter their caste,creed
or colour.
When these are the basic principles of
Islam, how then could it be possible
for true Muslims to engage in oppres-
sion, injustice or cruelty towards God’s
creation? Surely, it is inconceivable for a
sincere Muslim to wish others harm or
At Canada’s first Annual Peace Symposium
hosted by the Ahmadiyya Musliim
Community, His Holiness addressed over
600 guests on the importance of justice
and its relationship to preserving peace.
Furthermore, He is “Gracious
and Ever Merciful” and
He sent the Holy Prophet
Muhammadsa as a fountain
of peace, compassion and
love for all people, no matter
their caste, creed or colour.
When these are the basic
principles of Islam, how
then could it be possible for
true Muslims to engage in
oppression, injustice or cruelty
towards God’s creation?

Yet even this is not the limit of the
Qur’an’s teachings because when a per-
son bestows a favour on others, there
remains the possibility that he will seek
something in return, or will remind the
person of the benefit he has conferred
upon them. Therefore, the Qur’an says
that a person should “give like kindred.”
This means that a Muslim should treat
others as though he would treat his close
family members and loved ones.It means
that a person should offer sympathy and
compassion and be willing to serve others
without any expectation,just as a mother
serves and selflessly nourishes her child
without any desire for reward or recom-
pense.This is the altruistic and benevolent
spirit that Islam advocates and teaches,
wherein it calls on Muslims to open their
hearts for the good of mankind.
If acted upon, this golden principle will
knock down the walls of hatred that have
been erected all around us. It will shat-
ter the barriers that divide mankind. It
is the key to peace at a personal level,
within the wider society and at an inter-
national level. Regrettably, throughout
history conflicts have arisen between
nations and this sorrowful trend contin-
ues today. In terms of dealing with such
issues, in chapter 5, verse 9, the Holy
Qur’an has laid down an everlasting
principle of nobility and tolerance.It says
that even where enmity or hatred exists,
it must never lead to injustice or a desire
for revenge. Rather, it states that justice
is the blessed path that leads to right-
eousness and to the nearness of Allah
the Almighty.
In chapter 8, verse 62, the Holy Qur’an
states that it is the duty of a Muslim to
forever endeavour for peace and to never
forsake any opportunity in this cause. In
this verse, the Qur’an states that follow-
ing a war or conflict, if your opponent
seeks reconcilement,then you must grasp
that opportunity with both hands.In the
very next verse, the Qur’an states that
even if you have suspicions that your
adversary is not genuine and that he may
be trying to deceive you, still you should
pursue that opportunity for peace and
put your trust in Allah.
Hence, wherever and whenever, there
is even a glimmer of hope and even the
tiniest possibility of peace, Muslims are
told to pursue that chance with com-
plete determination and without fear.
They must never seek excuses or reasons
to stray from the pathway to peace.These
are the teachings of Islam and this was
the blessed practice of the Holy Prophet
Muhammadsa
. History bears witness to
Human nature is such that it is impos-
sible for people to agree on everything
and so disagreements will occur from
time to time, but the key is to solve
those disputes with justice and fairness,
rather than to prioritise one’s own inter-
ests above others. To bring any conflict
to an end, justice is a pre-requisite. If a
person is not fair and ethical then what-
ever grievance or problem exists will only
escalate. Rather than peace, all that will
be achieved will be increasing hatred and
contempt. Thus, at many places in the
Holy Qur’an, Allah the Almighty has
commanded Muslims about being just
and treating others in the best way.
In chapter 4, verse 136 the Holy Qur’an
demands the very highest possible stand-
ards of justice. It requires that a Muslim
should be willing to forgo all of their per-
sonal interests for the sake of the truth.
Muslims are commanded to put aside
their own desires or personal relation-
ships and to be witnesses for the sake of
Allah the Almighty.This verse instructs
that a person must even be willing to tes-
tify against himself, his parents and his
loved ones in order to establish justice.
Islam teaches that a Muslim’s first loy-
alty must always be to the truth and so a
person must never hide the facts or give
false testimony. A person should not be
governed by his own personal desires, as
this leads to bias and prejudice and takes
a person away from what is fair and what
is right.This enlightened principle is the
means to solve the problems of the world
and to transform all forms of hatred into
peace, tolerance and mutual respect.
Furthermore, in chapter 16, verse 91 of
the Holy Qur’an,Allah directs Muslims
to not only speak the truth and to be just,
but also to favour others.
In this verse, the Qur’an
states that following a war
or conflict, if your opponent
seeks reconcilement, then you
must grasp that opportunity
with both hands. In the
very next verse, the Qur’an
states that even if you have
suspicions that your adversary
is not genuine and that he
may be trying to deceive
you, still you should pursue
that opportunity for peace
and put your trust in Allah.
to a peaceful world
*The photos used in this article were not used in the original
publication, but have been added to our serialisation by The Review
of Religions to help illustrate the subject matter. The Review of
Religions takes full responsibility for any errors in depiction.*

all, the Holy Prophet of Islamsa
showed
absolute benevolence and mercy.
Instead of seeking revenge, the pun-
ishment he carried out was itself an
outstanding example of building bridges
between opposing parties and set an
inspirational precedent for times to come.
Rather than torturing or enslaving the
prisoners of war, the Holy Prophetsa
instructed those prisoners who could
read and write to educate the Muslims
who were illiterate.Thus, education was
literally their means to freedom.It was an
incomparable example of how,even from
amongst a state of bitter war and conflict,
some good could ultimately be retrieved.
Those who had themselves shown no
mercy towards the Muslims,were treated
with compassion and consideration and
utilised as teachers. This example exhib-
ited two beautiful aspects to the character
of the Holy Prophet Muhammadsa
. On
the one hand, he was neither vengeful
nor bitter towards those who had perse-
cuted him and his followers.Secondly,it
proved how highly he valued education
and learning. He desired for people to
better themselves and to progress in all
spheres of their lives and education was
the key to this.
No worldly person would think in
this way and most certainly the Holy
Prophetsa
stands alone in his wisdom
and grace.Today, due to the hateful acts
of certain Muslims,Islam is widely con-
sidered to be an intolerant and extremist
religion.However,nothing could be fur-
ther from the truth.Islam is that religion
which has enshrined within its teachings
the principles of freedom of belief and
freedom of conscience. Islam categori-
cally states that there is no compulsion
in religion and that belief is a matter of
one’s own heart and mind.
It is true that the early Muslims did
engage in some wars, but they were
never fought with the intention of con-
quering land or territory. Nor were they
fought so that non-Muslims could be
forced into accepting Islam.Rather,they
were conducted as a means of establish-
ing freedom of faith as an everlasting
and universal principle. The Qur’an
is very clear about this. The first time
the Muslims were granted permission
to engage in such a defensive war was
given in chapter 22,verses 40 to 41 of the
Holy Qur’an. In these verses, Allah the
Almighty stated that permission to fight
was granted because the Muslims were
being attacked by people who sought not
only the destruction of Islam, but who
the fact that he stands alone as the unri-
valled standard-bearer for peace in the
world.
If any person looks at the period of early
Islam through a lens of justice and with
objectivity they will see for themselves
that the wars fought in the life of the
Holy Prophetsa
and his four Rightly
Guided Successors were defensive in
nature and were never initiated by the
Muslims. Despite the horrific cruelties
and merciless persecution inflicted by the
opponents of Islam, the Holy Prophetsa
was ever ready to accept the hand of
peace and to seek reconciliation.
In chapter 47, verse 5, the Qur’an has
established another important princi-
ple for conflict resolution. It states that
following the successful conclusion of a
war, the victor must manifest grace and
it is better to free prisoners of war. Such
prisoners should be released either as a
favour or in return for a modest sum.Yet
in today’s world, we see how prisoners
of war are kept in the most inhumane
conditions for years on end, with little
or no recourse to justice or freedom. In
complete contrast, after the Battle of
Badr, which was a very significant war
in which the non-Muslims of Makkah
had sought to end Islam once and for
The Holy Book of Muslims clearly states that
God has provided for all people and not just
for those who follow Islam. That is why it is
imperative that Muslims secure the rights
of all—not just those of their fellow Muslim.
© Farhan Amoor | Freeimages.com
Rather than torturing or
enslaving the prisoners of war,
the Holy Prophetsa
instructed
those prisoners who could
read and write to educate the
Muslims who were illiterate.
Thus, education was literally
their means to freedom. It
was an incomparable example
of how, even from amongst
a state of bitter war and
conflict, some good could
ultimately be retrieved.
to a peaceful world

No one should covet what is not right-
fully theirs. Yet, in today’s world it is
jealousy,a desire to dominate others and
to unjustly benefit from their wealth that
underpins the wars and conflicts that
are taking place. Indisputably, such self-
interest and greed has been the downfall
of mankind and has led to world’s peace
being undermined time and time again.
For example, some governments com-
pletely ignore the human rights abuses
taking place in countries, because they
wish to have access to the oil or natural
resources of those nations.
However, members of the public are not
blind, deaf or dumb. They can see that
such policies are not based on justice and
naturally this leads to frustration and
anger.Their hatred is not limited to their
own leaders, but also extends to those
foreign powers who are motivated only
by their greed and not by any concern for
the well-being of others. Hence,nations
must be fair in their dealings and should
not be governed by narrow self-interest,
but rather by what is right, what is just
and what is in the interest of the world
at large.
If Islam’s true teachings are sincerely
followed,they will prevent grievances or
disputes from ever developing.However,
the majority of Muslims today are not
following the noble teachings of their
religion and that is why their coun-
tries are spiralling out of all control. It
is a cause of deep regret, that despite
the fact that Muslims have been directly
bestowed with teachings that are the
guarantors of peace between people and
between nations, it is Muslims them-
selves who are betraying their own values
more than all others.
Where Islam teaches justice,kindness,and
generosity,all we see in the Muslim world
is injustice, hatred and greed. However,
it cannot be said that only the Muslims
are to blame for the uncertainty and dis-
order that we see in the world. In fact,
the world’s major powers have also been
guilty of adopting unjust policies that have
added fuel to the fire and increased insta-
bility.Rather than working for peace,the
major powers are prioritising their own
self-interests and even profiting from these
conflicts.For example,some of the major
powers are selling weapons to Muslim
governments, whilst others are providing
weapons to rebel forces. Furthermore,
weapons produced in the West have ended
up in the hands of terrorist groups.Thus,
these conflicts are being fuelled from the
outside.What I have said is nothing new
but has long been in the public domain.
sought to finish and eliminate the insti-
tution of religion itself.
The Qur’an says that if the Muslims
were not permitted to fight back then
no church, synagogue, temple, mosque
or the place of worship of any religion
would remain safe. Hence, when the
Holy Prophet of Islamsa
and his follow-
ers took part in wars and battles it was for
the sake of defending the right of all peo-
ple to worship as they pleased.We live in
a time when it is often alleged that Islam
seeks to deny others their rights, but the
complete opposite is true. Islam is that
religion, and that teaching, which has
taken up that mantle of defending and
protecting every religion and all people.
Islam is the defender of Christians and
Jews. It is the defender of Hindus and
Sikhs and it is the defender of the people
of all other faiths and beliefs. These are
the unique and unparalleled standards of
Islam, wherein the early Muslims gave
their lives in order to protect the insti-
tution of religion and to guarantee the
principle of freedom of belief. Another
injunction of Islam is given in chapter 20,
verse 132, where it states that no person
or nation should cast envious looks at the
wealth or resources of others.
Islam teaches its followers to protect all
places of worship—not just mosques.
© Elena Dijour | Shutterstock
The Qur’an says that if the
Muslims were not permitted
to fight back then no church,
synagogue, temple, mosque
or the place of worship of
any religion would remain
safe. Hence, when the Holy
Prophet of Islamsa
and
his followers took part in
wars and battles it was
for the sake of defending
the right of all people to
worship as they pleased.
to a peaceful world

Also of the deepest concern is the fact
that opposing blocs and alliances are rap-
idly forming amongst the major powers.
The influence of such countries is far
greater than less developed nations and
so the formation of rival blocs amongst
the major powers is extremely danger-
ous for the future of the world.We must
urgently address such issues,because oth-
erwise we are charging madly towards a
catastrophic and devastating world war.
The consequences of such a war do not
bear thinking about. The misery, horror
and destruction could last for generations
to come.Therefore,we can only hope and
pray that Allah the Almighty grants wis-
dom and sense to humanity.
May every nation, and every person,
come to fulfil the rights of others and
may justice prevail over all forms of
injustice. I pray that all people come
to recognise their Creator and the fact
that God Almighty is the Sustainer and
Provider for all of mankind and that He
is the Gracious, the Merciful and that
He desires for the people of all races and
beliefs to live in this world as one, and
for mankind to be united in peace and
harmony.
Through His Grace, Mercy and
Compassion, may Allah enable such a
spirit to develop in the world.May we all
come to see true peace in our lives.With
these words, I would like to once again
thank you for joining us today.Thank you
very much.”
The English Rendering of the
5 Volume Commentary of the
Holy Qur’an
One of the most comprehensive commentaries of the
Holy Qur’an ever written.
Commentary by
Hadhrat Mirza Bashir-Ud-Din Mahmud Ahmad(ra)
Read it online at: http://www.alislam.org/quran/
Or Purchase the print version at: http://store.alislam.org/
©AMAGALLERYUK
I pray that all people come to
recognise their Creator and
the fact that God Almighty is
the Sustainer and Provider
for all of mankind and
that He is the Gracious, the
Merciful and that He desires
for the people of all races and
beliefs to live in this world as
one, and for mankind to be
united in peace and harmony.
46 The Review of Religions | december 2016

Views from The National Peace Symposium
2016 in Toronto, Canada by
Leaders of the Community
Hon. Maurizio Bevilacqua,
the Mayor of Vaughan
“His Holiness brought a message of
hope and of mutual understanding as
it relates to all other faiths gathering
together to promote the notion of
Love for All, Hatred for None.
In a world that is often in turmoil
because of misunderstandings and
lack of communication, we need
to establish a common language
and ground before we can break
new ground. I thought that his
message was a very hopeful one.
It was a message that also spoke to
the higher frequencies and what I
mean by that is being compassionate,
caring, understanding and being the
best human beings we possibly can.
Whether you are talking about
Humanity First, whether you are
talking about programmes, not just
here locally but also nationally, the
Ahmadiyya Community is an example
for many other organsiations to
emulate, because they speak to those
values that raise the bar. It’s great that
such a leader would find time to spend
six weeks in Canada. His message
resonated with us, and I’m sure will
resonate with many other people.”
City Councillor, Marilyn Lafrate
“It has been another amazing
evening.The message today was
very clear about Islam and peace.
There is no excuse for what is going
on out there in the world today.
And it was very moving – I don’t even
know what to say. I’m just so happy
to hear such positivity coming from
the Ahmadiyya Community. I’m so
glad I’m here to witness this and feel
the blessings that I received today.
I’m probably the biggest champion
of this Community because I know
how wonderful the people are, how
loving they are and how giving
they are back to the community.”
Deb Schulte, MP said:
“I want to thank His Holiness very
much for taking the time to come
to Parliament Hill (on 17 October).
He gave a wonderful speech with a
message of love for all and hatred
for none, focusing on religious
tolerance around the world.
He also included several suggestions
on policy direction that we might
want to take and we very much
appreciate the time that he took
to share his wisdom with us.”
Your feedback is
important to us
Write to us with comments,
feedback and suggestions at
info@Reviewof Religions.org
“It has been another amazing
evening.The message today
was very clear about Islam
and peace.There is no excuse
for what is going on out
there in the world today.”

The
Promised Messiahas
& imam mahdi
( g u i d e d o n e )
founder of
T
he Holy Qur’an teaches us that, by virtue of all His
excellences, God is One and has no partner. He suf-
fers from no shortcoming. He comprehends all perfect
attributes and manifests all holy powers. He is the Originator
of all creation and Source of all grace.He is the Lord of reward
and punishment, and everything returns to Him. He is near
despite being far, and is distant despite His proximity. He is
above everything,but we cannot say that there is anyone below
Him. He is the most Hidden, but it cannot be said that any-
thing is more manifest than He is. He is Self-Existent and
everything subsists because of Him. He sustains everything
but nothing sustains Him. Nothing has come into being or
sustains itself without Him. He encompasses everything, but
we do not know in what way. He is the Light of everything in
heaven and earth. Every light shines through Him and every
light is a reflection of His Being.He is the Lord of the universe,
there is not a soul that is not sustained by Him, and not a soul
that exists by itself. No soul possesses any power that has not
been granted by Him.1
endnotes
1. Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas
, Lecture Lahore (Tilford, Surrey: Islam
International Publications Ltd., 2008), 8-9.
God Has
No Partner

no exception, portraits of either Maryra
or the Sacred Heart (Jesusra
). Also, you
might find some other saints—or all of
them. If not portraits, you will find stat-
ues of Mary and of the Sacred Heart
in most, if not all, Irish homes, schools
and hospitals, along with the hundreds
upon hundreds of grottos of Maryra
in
every town, village, and city in Catholic
countries.
In my home,we had both,as my Mother
was influenced by Sacred Heart (Jesus)
and my father, the Virgin Mary. And I
too,as I grew up,was very much attached
to Maryra
, which increased as the years
went by, as she was always seen as a role
model of a good mother. Like many
others, I would pray daily for her and
visited the cathedral and spent time pray-
ing to the Novena of the Immaculate
M
aryra
, also known as Hazrat
Mariam by Muslims, is one
of the most popular names
given to Christian girls living in Western
Europe. If you are firmly established in
your Christian faith, then as a girl you
would know that you had been named
after the Virgin Maryra
, or maybe a par-
ent or a grandmother—but in most cases
it would most likely be associated with
your faith background.The Virgin Maryra
is greatly revered by Roman Catholics,
so in Catholic families you would see
that there would normally be a Mary
in a Catholic family, either your mother
or your grandmother or an aunt. As a
former Roman Catholic brought up in
the strong tradition of Catholicism, I
was fully aware from a very young age
of the presence and influence of the
position and reverence given to Mary in
my home and my grandparents’ home
and indeed, my great-grandparents’
home, all being influenced by Blessed
Virgin Mary—the title she is known as.
In my family, there were many people
named Mary. The most influential was
my most beloved grandmother from my
mother’s side, and who was actually my
spiritual mentor from a very young age.
But aside from her,the other person who
was named Mary in my family was my
father.This was a common practice many
years ago: those boys born on the day of
the Assumption of Mary—a celebration
and remembrance of Mary ascending
into heaven with her physical body on
the 15th
of August—were named Mary,
usually as their middle name.
Another sign of the influence of Mary
in the lives of Catholics: you will find in
most Catholic (and Irish) homes, with
Mary: A Personal
Reflection
By Ibrahim Noonan, Galway, Ireland
Maryra
is held in very high regard in
Christianity and the Islamic faith, not only
for her role as the mother of Jesusas
but
also for her devotion to God, virtuous
actions and pure nature. She is a role-
model for millions of women and a
central figure for religious devotees.
© User eFesenko | shutterstock
In my home, we had both, as
my Mother was influenced
by Sacred Heart (Jesus)
and my father, the Virgin
Mary. And I too, as I grew
up, was very much attached
to Maryra
, which increased
as the years went by, as she
was always seen as a role
model of a good mother.

With regards to what the Bible teaches
us,I find myself in agreement with James
White on this point,but we must also be
fair to the Roman Catholic understand-
ing about how they view Maryra
.Roman
Catholic scholars can point to what they
see as something that can be inferred
from scripture,and from other traditional
texts, written by early Church fathers,
who they believe to be viable sources
of historical information with regards
to Maryra
. We must also appreciate that
this is an area of huge theological debate.
What is very interesting is that many
scholars would admit that the authors
of Matthew,Mark,Luke and John edited
the accounts of Maryra
according to their
own aspirations.4
They only mentioned
what they wanted their readers to know,
which of course,allowed the door of curi-
osity to be opened and many questions
to be asked: namely, why was so much
edited about Maryra
?
Conception,who was seen as a role model
and incomparable to all others.1
And the
fact was that she was also seen as a means
to gain redemption; a theology on Maryra
developed over time.Alongside the many
other titles and attributes, which slowly
over time was attached to her, the evo-
lution of Marian theology grew to her
being titled Theotokos, or considered a
co-redemptrix.2
Everything that I have
discussed so far is from my experience as
being raised as a Catholic Christian,and
much of what I said is only a glimpse of
how she was seen and understood. The
theological view is far more complex,and
cannot be discussed in this article.What
I have mentioned above has come from
how Catholics viewed—and indeed,still
view— Maryra
.As my journey of explor-
ing more of my faith continued, I found
the image and understanding of the
Maryra
of my faith was not of the Maryra
that was found in scripture.
Mary According to the Gospels
When one looks at Maryra
, based purely
on what the New Testament presents,we
see a simple and dignified human picture
of Maryra
, and more of women placed at
a particular time, which was first cen-
tury Palestine. This is quite far removed
from the images,ideas and concepts that
developed about Maryra
over many,many
decades. As a Catholic I was of course,
brought up to believe in these ideas and
concepts; those brought up in Catholic
countries like Ireland would certainly
know what I am talking about.There will
be, perhaps many today, who would not
know any better and certainly just accept
that what is being taught is correct, just
as I did before embracing Islam.
The sad part, I suppose, is when some-
body studies Christian theology,or more
appropriately Catholic theology, which
is in its own right Christian theology,
but with slight theological differences
to Protestant theology, with regards to
the position of Maryra
in the Church. Of
course, we have the vast theological gap
with evangelist theology with regards to
Maryra
,in respect to how they see Maryra
from the Biblical accounts. One such
well-known evangelist Biblical scholar
and Christian apologist, Dr. James
White,gives us a taste of how Protestants
view Maryra
. He says:
“Marian devotion and teaching is so far
removed from most Protestants that they
observe the entire issue a mere Roman
Catholic superstition, one of the clear-
est indications of how the ‘Catholics
believe all sorts of things not found in
the Bible.’”3
“Marian devotion and
teaching is so far removed
from most Protestants that
they observe the entire issue
a mere Roman Catholic
superstition, one of the
clearest indications of how the
‘Catholics believe all sorts of
things not found in the Bible.’”
mary: a personal reflection
Stain glass windows of a Church in Ireland
which portrays the story of Jesusas
.
© M.V. Photography | Shutterstock.com

So who was Maryra
? What does the New
Testament tell us about Maryra
? One of
the first things we learn about Maryra
is
that she was a young Jewish girl, around
the age of 12 to 13 years of age. This is
derived from the very word handmaiden,
since Jewish girls were not allowed to
remain in temple service after puberty.
The reason for this is that they would
have had to be married by the time of
their menstruation, and this would have
applied to Maryra
as well. What we find
is that Maryra
was dedicated to serving
God in the temple, which was common
practice in those days. In Luke 1:36-
38, it clearly mentions that she was the
handmaiden of God and that she was
a very pious young girl.5
So the first
thing we learn about Maryra
is that she
was devoted to God Almighty: her life
was simply for the sake of worshipping
and serving God. When we read Luke,
we find her extremely pious and con-
cerned about her chastity, such as when
she clearly responded to the angel who
brings her glad tidings, “How shall this
be, since I have no husband?”
These words of Maryra
speak volumes of
the purity of Maryra
, and indeed show
the atmosphere and religious traditions
she would have been brought up with
in Palestine during the first century CE.
She was a young girl conscious of her
religious obligations.
Another remarkable thing about Maryra
was her obedience to the command of
Almighty God,and putting her full trust
in Him. Again this can be observed in
Luke where she said: “Behold I am the
handmaiden of the Lord, let it be to me
according to your word.” I say remark-
able, because here is a young Jewish girl,
who was very conscious of her morals
and ethical behaviour.Plus,she was very
lucid when faced with a divine being—
such as an angel—with regards to her
moral position. And yet, as soon as she
became fully aware and mindful of the
spiritual experience she was having, she
put her trust in Almighty God fully and
submitted to His Will. This is one of
the first pious incidents that we learn
about the young girl Maryra
from the
New Testament.
The next thing we learn from the New
Testament is how Maryra
became a very
young mother.This is an area of perhaps
much debate, with regards to her age;
as highlighted earlier, she was around
the age of 12 to 13 when she reached
puberty; therefore,it would seem,that she
was around 13 or 14 years old when she
gave birth to Jesusas
, in what seems to be
In light of such academic manifesta-
tions,it is perhaps fair to say,we will not
ever really know the complete, accurate
historical picture of Maryra
.Therefore,we
are simply left with fragments of infor-
mation which need to be put together
like a jigsaw, and we can only hope to be
able to gain a true reflection of Maryra
,of
whom very little is mentioned in the New
Testament. And yet over the span of over
two thousand years, a huge amount of
theological concepts, literature, prayers,
reflection and icons—with their many
symbols of expressions and medita-
tion—refer to Maryra
.Also,we must keep
in mind the amount of material which
has been written about her, which has
become the cause of so much love and
respect towards her, by all nations of the
world; and the respect given to her by all
faiths, in particular Islam.
The Gospel Accounts
When we look at what is presented by
the New Testament, we begin to see an
image emerging of who Maryra
might
have been, and how she was a woman
belonging to a specific time in history
and very much belonging to a specific
religious community. She was very
much part of a social society, and also
belonged to a particular cultural back-
ground, namely, Jewish: and this image
is far from the Maryra
that is presented
today within Christendom.
When one looks at Maryra
from the
angle purely based upon what the New
Testament presents we see a more simple
and dignified human picture of Maryra
.
© Janece Flippo | Shutterstock.com
Also, we must keep in mind
the amount of material
which has been written about
her, which has become the
cause of so much love and
respect towards her, by all
nations of the world; and
the respect given to her by all
faiths, in particular Islam.

Maryra
and Jesusas
, where Jesus’as
responses to her have been questioned
and even criticized; many have also
endeavoured to explain the seemingly
harsh responses by Jesusas
to his mother
on certain occasions. Of course, while
I have my position on this issue, this is
not the place or the article to indulge in
them. Perhaps in a future article I will
expand on it, but from what we observe,
from the narration of the wedding feast
in the Gospel of John, it is the natural
relationship of a Jewish mother and her
eldest son.During the wedding,the wine
ran out.Maryra
mentioned this to Jesusas
,
and Jesus’as
response was quite harsh,
but it is these words that show us the
role of Maryra
as a mother,who knew her
son’s personality quite well: His mother
told the servants ‘Do whatever he tells
you’ and, of course, the water turned
into wine.11
This is a classic example
very humble and simple circumstances.6
Also mentioned in the New Testament,
we find some very spiritual events which
took place as signs of the birth and
truth of the advent of the much awaited
Messiah Jesusas
. We also find Maryra
dis-
playing the normal characteristics of a
Jewish mother: obeying and implement-
ing Jewish purification ritual laws with
regards to the circumcision of her first
born son Jesusas
,all being done according
to laws of Mosesas
,where every first-born
male must be consecrated to the Lord7
as well as offer a sacrifice of a pair of
doves, or two young pigeons. What we
learn from this is Maryra
was like all other
Jewish women and mothers acting upon
their religious beliefs, and followed the
laws of Almighty God which were given
to Mosesas
.
In another incident, we find that like
all mothers, Maryra
was no different,
when it came to being worried about
her offspring when unexpectedly they
go missing, as was the case when Jesusas
went missing for over three days. Three
days is indeed quite a long time for
any child to go missing. But the narra-
tion in the New Testament informs us
that Maryra
and Joseph finally found
Jesusas
in a synagogue, listening to a
Rabbi’s teaching from the Torah, and
that Jesusas
was asking many questions,
apparently instructing them in some
thought-provoking theological conver-
sation. The image that we get from the
New Testament was of a Jewish mother
who was restless, fearful and frightened
and her clearly rebuking tone in the
New Testament is something which one
would expect from any apprehensive and
concerned mother.8
Mary’sra
words which
were in the passage of Luke,show us the
natural temperament of both Maryra
and
Joseph: “and when they saw him they
were astonished; and his mother said to
him, ‘Son, why have you treated us so?
Behold your father and I have been look-
ing for you anxiously.’”9
Again we see a normal Jewish family
expressing all the natural feelings of par-
enthood.In the same passages further on,
we are informed by the New Testament
that after that incident, Jesusas
remained
obedient to his parents from then
onwards.10
In the New Testament, the
next chapter in the life of Maryra
is at the
wedding in Cana.This wedding shows us
again the natural role of a Jewish mother
towards her son,and also the relationship
between both the mother and son.
There have been some incidents between
Three days is indeed quite a
long time for any child to go
missing. But the narration
in the New Testament
informs us that Maryra
and
Joseph finally found Jesusas
in a synagogue, listening
to a Rabbi’s teaching from
the Torah, and that Jesusas
was asking many questions,
apparently instructing them
in some thought-provoking
theological conversation.
In the Gospels Nazareth is described as the
home of Maryra
and the birthplace of Jesusas
.
© Marzolino | Shutterstock.com

mentioned here; was it the mother of
James and Joseph, was she also Maryra
,
the mother of Jesus? The real question
is why not mention Maryra
, the mother
of Jesusas
? Which has been questioned
by scholars and continues to be ques-
tioned today, due to the surprising fact
that the Gospel account does not men-
tion Maryra
,the mother of Jesusas
; it only
informs us of a Mary who is the mother
of James and Joseph. Why say, “Mary,
the mother of James and Joseph”? Why
is the Gospel account silent about it and
why is she not mentioned? One would
have imagined she must have been there;
why is she not mentioned in the accounts
of the cross? It would seem to be an
area that has a tendency to be debated by
many scholars,however a small minority
holds the view that the Mary mentioned
here was indeed Maryra
the mother of
Jesusas
.15
This, of course, is another area
of much-needed exploration, and per-
haps an explanation in future articles on
Maryra
. But what is significant is that
we are given a description of a scene of
Jewish ladies; ladies who would seem to
be followers of Jesusas
and most likely,
one of them was Maryra
, the mother of
Jesusas
. Also, she had to endure watch-
ing her son suffer as nails were driven
into his wrists and feet. Just like many
mothers who would have had to endure
witnessing their sons suffer for their
religious beliefs and claims, who would
ultimately face persecution at the hands
of mobs, just like the noble Prophet and
Messiah Jesusas
did and sadly Maryra
was
helpless. All she could do was watch the
events of the crucifixion unfold and
pray for her son. One of the last things
we learn about Maryra
was that Jesusas
instructed one disciple to take Maryas
as
his mother, a noble deed, to ensure that
she would be looked after.
It is truly a moving incident,if one takes
the time to ponder over the unfold-
ing last moments of Jesus’as
life, in the
Gospel of Luke, as understood by most
Christians. There is an intense descrip-
tion of women wailing and mourning,
all watching from a distance. In John it
is narrated that as Jesusas
saw his mother,
he said to a disciple whom he loved,
“Here is your mother,” and he said to
his mother, “Dear woman, here is your
son.”It mentions that,from that moment
on, her home was with that beloved dis-
ciple. Although it is an area of scholarly
dispute, many believe that disciple to be
John.
These are the last fragments and narra-
tions from the Gospels regarding Maryra
.
The remaining narrations are in Acts
of an early Jewish family’s relationship.
Even though Jesusas
seemingly rebukes
his mother or is upset with his mother
for asking him do something which he
felt was not the appropriate time for him
to do whatever she expected of him.And
that is, of course, an open and complex
discussion.Was she expecting her son to
show some signs,to hint that he was the
Messiah? But what we should observe
is a bond between a mother and son and
their normal and natural relationship.
The last point I would like to speak of is
how Maryra
as a mother had to endure
witnessing her son being arrested and
mishandled and ultimately crucified,
and dying on the cross, as understood
by Christians. We can try to imagine,
for the moment of the celebration of the
Passover meal,leading to Jesus’as
arrest in
the Garden of Gethsemane, from being
brought before Caiaphas,the high priest
in the Sanhedrin, to being accused of
committing blasphemy. And also the
demands from the scribes, and elders
for the death penalty for Jesusas
shout-
ing “let him be crucified”.12
One can only
imagine the pain and heartbreak of his
beloved mother, who had to suffer and
observe all of this unfolding in front of
her very own eyes; yet this is something
many mothers have had to suffer through
the history of religion.13
But indeed,how
much she must have suffered,with every
footstep she took,seeing her son walking
through the streets of Jerusalem,carrying
a huge and heavy piece of wood on his
back making his way to being crucified
at Golgotha.
We find it mentioned in Matthew that
many women watched from afar Jesusas
being crucified. Of all those who fol-
lowed Jesusas
, it mentions two women
named Mary were present; one being
Mary Magdalene and the other being
Maryra
, the mother of James and
Joseph.14
Strangely,there has been much
debate about who was the Mary being
The last point I would like
to speak of is how Maryra
as a mother had to endure
witnessing her son being
arrested and mishandled
and ultimately crucified,
and dying on the cross, as
understood by Christians.

Human Values – The Foundation for a Peaceful World

Human Values – The Foundation for a Peaceful World

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