RR 2009 06

MANAGEMENT BOARD CONTENTS June 2009, Vol.104, No.
06
Munir-ud-din Shams (Chairman)
Mansoor Shah (Secretary)
Naseer Ahmad Qamar THE ESSENCE OF ISLAM
Mubarak Ahmad Zafar Evidence from Buddhist Scriptures that
Mirza Fakhar Ahmad Jesus(as) travelled to Kashmir
Abdul Baqi Arshad
By drawing comparisons in the lives, personal attributes
and historical backgrounds of the Buddha(as) and Jesus(as),
CHIEF EDITOR & MANAGER the Promised Messiah(as) seeks to prove that Jesus of
Mansoor Ahmed Shah
Nazareth(as) eventually travelled to Kashmir
Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad(as), the Promised
EDITORIAL BOARD
Adam Walker Messiah and Mahdi)...................................................... 2
Syed Amer Ahmad.
Bockarie Tommy Kallon The Corruption of the Text of the New Testament
Fareed Ahmad
Fauzia Bajwa An analysis of how textual alterations in the Bible
Fazal Ahmad were made largely for doctrinal reasons and the effect
Khullat Munir these modifications have on the overall authenticity of
Mansoor Saqi
Sarah Waseem the New Testament
Tanveer Khokhar (Syed Mashhood Ahmad – UK)..................................... 7
PROOFREADERS The Purity of the Text of the Holy Qur’an

Abdul Ghany Jahangeer Khan
A detailed account of how the Qur’anic text was
DESIGN AND LAYOUT compiled and preserved after the demise of the
Tanveer Khokhar Holy Prophet(saw) ............................................................ 17
DISTRIBUTION
Muhammad Hanif Islam – The Religion of Peace
PUBLISHER Explaining the religious system in Islam and how it
Al Shirkatul Islamiyyah provides the most rational and practical methods to
All correspondence should be forwarded
eradicate the obstacles to world peace .......................... 38
to the editor at:
The Review of Religions

Portents of War
The London Mosque History, geopolitical economics and religious
16 Gressenhall Road eschatology come together in this study of how
London, SW18 5QL
United Kingdom
mankind, ignoring warnings from the past, is
dangerously moving ever closer to the Third World
© Islamic Publications, 2009 War
ISSN No: 0034-6721
(Abdul Ghany Jahangeer Khan – UK).......................... 46
EMAIL:
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Love for All Hatred for None
Views expressed in this publication are
not necessarily the beliefs of the Cover pic: An illustration featuring a city under nuclear attack with
Ahmadiyya Muslim Community mushroom cloud – © Dreamstime.com
THE ESSENCE OF ISLAM - part 30
This series sets out, in the words of the Promised Messiah(as), Hadhrat
Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, a summary of his exposition of four outstanding
topics: ISLAM; ALLAH, THE EXALTED; THE HOLY PROPHET(saw)
and THE HOLY QUR’AN. The original compilation, in Urdu, from which
these extracts have been translated into English, was collated with great
care and diligence by Syed Daud Ahmad Sahib(ru). The English rendering
is by the late Sir Muhammad Zafrulla Khan(ra), and is quoted from The
Essence of Islam, Volume 3. All references throughout, unless otherwise
specifically mentioned, are from the Holy Qur’an.
Evidence from Buddhist visited by Jesus(as). As regards

Scriptures that Jesus(as) titles, Jesus(as) in his teachings
travelled to Kashmir called himself ‘the Light’,
I have discovered various kinds of similarly Gautama was called
evidence from Buddhist scrip- Buddha, which in Sanskrit means
tures, the collective appraisal of ‘Light’. Jesus(as) is also called
which definitely and conclusively ‘Teacher’ in the Gospels, similarly
establishes that Jesus(as) travelled the Buddha(as) is called Sasta,
to areas like the Punjab and which means ‘Teacher’. Jesus(as) is
Kashmir. These are as follows… called ‘Blessed’ in the Gospels,
and in the same way one of the
First the titles bestowed on the names of Buddha(as) is Sagpat,
Buddha(as) bear a strong which means ‘Blessed’. Jesus(as) is
resemblance to the titles given to called ‘Prince’ and so is the
Jesus(as), and some events in the Buddha(as). One of the names of
Buddha’s life closely resemble the Jesus(as) in the Gospels connotes
events in the life of Jesus(as). Here I that he would fulfil the purpose of
mean the Buddhism which his advent, and the Buddha(as) has
prevails in areas around Tibet, like been called Siddharta, which
Leh, Lhasa, Gilgit and Hims, means one who fulfils the purpose
which are proved to have been of his advent. One of the titles of
2 The Review of Religions – June 2009

Essence of Islam – part 30
Jesus(as) is the Refuge of the weary, the Gospels know that Jesus(as) also
and one of the names of Buddha(as) observed a forty-day fast.
is Asran sam, which means the
Shelter for the shelterless. Jesus(as) Anyone who is acquainted with
has been called ‘King’ in the the teachings of both the
Gospels though what he meant Buddha(as) and Jesus(as) will also
was the kingdom of heaven; marvel at the close similarity
likewise the Buddha(as) has also between the moral teachings of the
been called ‘King’. two…
The similarity of events in the Just as Jesus(as) sent his disciples to

lives of the Buddha(as) and Jesus(as) different countries and himself
appears from the following: it is travelled to another country, the
stated in the Gospels that Jesus(as) same is recorded of the Buddha(as).
was tempted by the devil, who It is recorded in Buddhism, by Sir
said to him, “If you will worship Monier Williams, that the
me, you will have all the riches Buddha(as) sent his disciples to
and kingdoms of the world.” The different parts of the world to
Buddha(as) was tempted in the convey his message, and
same way and the devil said to addressed them as follows: “Go
him, “If you obey me and return forth and wander everywhere, out
home renouncing your ascetic of compassion for the world and
ways, I shall confer the glory of for the welfare of gods and men.
kingdom on you.” Just as Jesus(as) Go forth, one by one, in different
did not obey the devil, neither did directions. Proclaim a life of
the Buddha(as)… perfect restraint, chastity and
celibacy.” He added: “I will go
Another resemblance between the also to preach this doctrine.” He
Buddha(as) and Jesus(as) is that, went to Benares and there he
according to the Buddhist performed many miracles. The
chronicles, the Buddha(as) fasted Buddha(as) delivered a very moving
for forty days when he was sermon on a hill just as Jesus(as) did
tempted by the devil. Readers of on the mount. It is also recorded in
The Review of Religions – June 2009 3

the same book that the Buddha(as) future Metteyya prophesied by

often taught in parables and used [the] Buddha(as) is none other than
to discuss spiritual matters in the Messiah himself. One strong
terms of physical phenomena… evidence in support of this is that
the Buddha(as) himself prophesied
The exact adoption by [the] that the faith he had founded
Buddha(as) of this method of would not endure on earth for
preaching through parables, more than five hundred years, and
especially those recorded in the that at the time of the decline of
Gospels, is indeed most the faith and its teachings, the
surprising… Metteyya would appear in this
country to re-establish these moral
Buddhist records also show that teachings in the world. We find
Gautama Buddha(as) had pro- that Jesus(as) appeared 500 years
phesied the coming of a second after the Buddha(as) and, just as the
Buddha whom he named Buddha(as) had foretold the time for
Metteyya. This prophecy is the decline of his faith, Buddhism
contained in Lagavati Sutta1, a suffered deterioration and deca-
Buddhist record to which dence. It was then that Jesus(as),
reference is made on page 142 of having escaped from the cross,
Oldenberg’s book. It reads as travelled to these areas where the
follows: Buddhists recognised him and
treated him with great reverence…
‘He will be the leader of a band
of disciples numbering It must be noted that the name
hundreds of thousands, as I am Metteyya in Buddhist literature
now the leader of bands of undoubtedly refers to the Messiah.
disciples, numbering hun- On page 14 of the book Tibet,
dreds…’ Tartary, Mongolia by H.T.
Prinsep, it is written about the
It should be remembered that the Metteyya Buddha, who in reality is
Pali name ‘Metteyya’ is the same the Messiah, that the first
as ‘Mashiha’ in Hebrew…The Christian missionaries, having

Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad(as)

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

Ahmadiyya Muslim community.
heard and seen at first conditions Metteyya. The author of the

obtaining in Tibet, came to the English work has moreover added
conclusion that in the ancient a note to the effect that the books
books of the Lamas there were to Pitakattayan and Attha-katha
be found traces of the Christian contain a clear prophecy about the
religion. On the same page it is advent of another Buddha who
stated that there is no doubt about would appear a thousand years
it that these earlier writers after Gautama or Shakya Muni.
believed that some disciples of Gautama states that he is the
Jesus(as) were still alive when the twenty-fifth Buddha and that the
Christian faith reached there. On Bagwa Metteyya is still to come;
page 171 it is stated that there is that is why after he has gone, one
not the slightest doubt that at that whose name will be Metteyya and
time everybody was eagerly who will be fair-skinned will
waiting for the great Saviour to come…This is why the followers
appear. Tacitus says that the Jews of Buddhism had all along been
were not the lone holders of this waiting for the Messiah to appear
belief, Buddhism too was res- in their country.
ponsible for laying the foundations
of this expectation, inasmuch as it The Buddha(as), in his prophesy
prophesied the coming of about the future Buddha, called

him Bagwa Metteyya. Bagwa in the blessed footprints of Jesus(as)

Sanskrit means ‘white’. Jesus(as), on the mountains of Nepal, Tibet
being of Syrian origin, was Bagwa and Kashmir? I know that it was
– of white complexion. The people not for the likes of them to
of the land where this prophecy uncover by themselves such a
was made, i.e., Magadh, where great truth which lay hidden
Raja Griha was located, were behind thousands of veils of
dark-skinned and Gautama darkness. It was for God Himself
Buddha (as) himself was dark. to do so, for He watched from on
Therefore, the Buddha(as) related to high that creature-worship was
his followers two distinct signs of running rampant in the earth and
the future Buddha: first that he that worship of the cross and the
would be Bagwa – of white supposed sacrifice of a human
complexion, and secondly, he being had alienated the hearts of
would be Metteyya – a traveller millions from the True God. Then,
who would arrive from a foreign in His indignation, he sent to the
land… world His servant in the spirit of
Jesus of Nazareth(as) in order to
We can never approve of the demolish the creed of the cross.
method adopted by European
scholars who are so eager to prove (To read more see The Essence of
one way or the other that the Islam, Vol. III, pp.169-273)
teachings of Buddhism had
already reached Palestine by the
time of the Messiah. It is most
unfortunate that while the very References
name of Jesus(as) is to be found in 1. This seems to be a misprint in the original
the ancient books of Buddhism, Urdu text. The correct name should be
these researchers adopt the Cakkavatti Suttanta. [Publisher]
devious course of trying to find
traces of Buddhism in Palestine.
Why do they not rather try to find

The Corruption of the Text of
the New Testament
By Syed Mashhood Ahmad – London, UK
T he authenticity of the texts of

the New Testament have been
debated and have often been
time with the major part of its text
intact.
outright rejected by the majority of The contents of the Bible can be

the Muslim population. On the other verified against other historical
hand, the Christian world see it as works covering the same period, the
the complete truth, words inspired most famous being the works of the
by God Himself to chosen men who Jewish historian, Josephus, who
wrote down the events and lived in the first century of this era.
narrations of Jesus(as) within a few
years of his departure and have been Josephus discusses a number of
copied accurately till this day. personalities mentioned in the four
gospels, at times often agreeing
The above account believed by most with the gospels, at other times dis-
Christians today is not wholly agreeing. But the point remains that
accurate, as we shall we see; the text the personalities are verified with
of the New Testament may not this very ancient text which also has
match up to its reputation of being survived the test of time and was
‘Gospel Truth’. written by a historian of a different
faith.
True Status of the Bible
I believe a middle course is to be The local governor Pilate is
taken with regards to the mentioned by Josephus1, along with
authenticity of the Bible. While it Herod Antipas2 and his arrest and
can be proven to have been edited murder of John the Baptist.3 The
and corrupted, it is also one of the appointment of the Jewish High
few books in the world which has Priest Joseph Caiaphas is also
survived for such a long period of stated.

The Corruption of the Text of the New Testament
As can be seen the leaders or rulers Such a saying caused a great deal of
are mentioned, as this information embarrassment to the Church when
was available and of interest to the the second coming of Jesus(as)
historian. He tells us of another prophesied failed to materialise as
leader who is referred to in the the years went by, thus proving that
gospels and who plays a very the saying was from Jesus(as), as it is
prominent role in early Christianity: impossible that the church would
James the Righteous, the brother of invent such a bogus prophecy.
Jesus(as)5 who headed the Church
after Jesus(as)’s departure6. Jesus’s prediction of the destruction
of the Temple8 is another example.
Possibly the earliest record of the Renowned biblical scholar E.P
canonical gospels is attested in the Sanders explains this passage and
Rylands Library Papyrus P52 believes it to be authentic:
manuscript, which dates to the early
second century. It contains a few ‘…the prediction was not
verses of the Gospel of John. This precisely fulfilled. When the
can be cited as an example of Romans took the city in 70 CE,
portions of the Gospels remaining they left much of the Temple
unchanged within a few years of wall standing; indeed, much of it
being penned by the authors. Chapter is still there, supporting the
18 verses 37-38 of the Gospel of Muslim holy area. Most of the
John have remained the same for stones in the surviving wall
almost 2000 years as attested in this weigh between two and five tons,
manuscript. but some, especially those on the
corners, are much larger. One is
The gospels are without doubt the 12 metres long and weighs
most detailed accounts of the life of almost 400 tons. Jesus said that
Jesus(as). They contain a vast amount not one would be left on another.
of information about his life and his
sayings, many of which are declared When ‘prophecies’ are written
almost unanimously authentic by after the event – that is, when a
scholars (for example, Jesus(as)’s later writer composes a bogus
words and belief that he would return prophecy – the prophecy and the
before the death of his disciples7). event are usually in perfect

agreement. Had the prediction in choice at the time of Jesus(as), that

Mark been written after 70, we being the 1st century CE. It is made
would expect it to say that the from the papyrus plant, known as
Temple would be destroyed by Cyperus Papyrus. It is said to have
fire, not that the stone walls been first manufactured by the
would be completely torn down. Ancient Egyptians during the First
This prophecy, then, is probably Dynasty, around 3100 – 2990 BCE.
pre-70, and it may be Jesus’
own.’9 Manufacturers would often gather
papyrus plants, strip them of their
Numerous other examples can be stems and cut the inner pith in thin
cited which objectively can be seen strips. The strips would then be
to prove that the writers of the placed on a flat surface and using
Gospels were accurate in their the plants natural glue, pressed
citation of Jesus(as), and that the together into sheets. Scribes would
words have remained unchanged. then estimate the length of writing
material required for their work and
But that does not mean that the entire cut just about enough. Of course if
text of the New Testament is to be more was required, another piece
viewed as accurate or unchanged. could be purchased and glued onto
True, it contains a wealth of the original piece.
information, much of it authentic and
accurate. Yet changes and Papyrus was used for a couple of
modifications have been made, as hundred years after Jesus(as) and was
will be proven and discussed in the eventually replaced by the more
following pages. durable and longer lasting
Parchment, or vellum. Vellum was
Writing Material made from the skins of cattle, sheep
Before delving into the authenticity and goats, especially the young. The
of the Gospels, it is worth process was very lengthy and
discussing how the texts came about messy, involving the skinning of the
and how they were preserved. The animal, removing remaining and
first texts of the New Testament clinging flesh, removing all the hair,
were written on papyrus. Papyrus washing the skin and polishing.
was often the writing material of

In the early years of the Church, annoying when the average scroll
scrolls were produced on papyrus by was 35 feet in length! This is why
individuals or churches who wished Callimachus, a poet and scholar of
to have extracts or complete gospels the Library in Alexandria, noted
in their churches. The task was quite ‘µεγά βιβλίον µεγά κακόν’, ‘mega
laborious as it involved scribes biblion, mega kakon’, ‘a big book is
writing each and every letter by a big nuisance’.11
hand, copying from earlier
handwritten scrolls. Some such The Codex became the chosen
manuscripts or scrolls have survived material for Christians in writing
even to this day, possibly the earliest their scriptures. Once Christianity
being the Rylands Library Papyrus had become a state religion after
P52, which contains 5 verses from Emperor Constantine converted in
the Gospel of John. It dates to the the fourth century, the production
early second century CE and is of copies of the Gospels increased
housed in Manchester.10 dramatically, resulting in book
manufacturers or scriptoria. Often
Parchment eventually replaced sitting in large halls or rooms
papyrus, not only due to its superior scribes equipped with ink pots,
quality in both durability and parchment and pens would come
writing, but the fact that scribes were together and write the Gospels and
able to create a book or codex from other books of the Bible by hand.
parchment was very advantageous. Often scribes would be given older
Attaching numerous parchments or copies to copy from, or sometimes
pages together, writers were able to a reader would be in the middle of
write on both sides and then form a the room and would dictate verses
book. This not only allowed more which each scribe would then write
writing on less material (thus down.
making it more cost effective) but
also, finding relevant passages It is quite easy to see how errors
became a great deal easier. As with crept into numerous copies of the
scrolls, to find certain passages, Bible in the early stages. A
especially at the end of books, moment’s distraction would lead
priests would often unroll the entire scribes to miss out lines of the text;
scroll. This was particularly or in the case of a reader, a cough or

a sneeze by another would results in The difference of the above is

gaps in the texts. highlighted in bold. The King James
version, which is based on The
Errors Occurring during Textus Receptus12 the Greek word is
Dictation ‘λουω’ pronounced ‘louo’.
Scribes would often make mistakes
during the dictation of the texts by a While the New Revised Standard
reader. Words pronounced in the Version, which is based on earlier
same way would cause problems Greek manuscripts (Codex
too, e.g. in modern language was the Sinaiticus1, Codex Alexandrinus1)
scribe to write ‘there’ or ‘their’, has the word ‘λυω’ pronounced
‘whether’ or ‘weather’? ‘luo’.
An example of the above can be The difference is very subtle, but

found in the following two versions still present, and it is likely that
of verse 5 of the Book of some scribes heard the former,
Revelations: while others heard the latter.
Modern Textual Critics such as
King James Version: Bruce M. Metzger argue that the
And from Jesus Christ, the latter is more accurate as it is based
faithful witness, the first on earlier and stronger manuscripts.
begotten of the dead, and the
prince of the kings of the earth. Mistakes by Copying
Unto him that loved us, and In Mark chapter 1 verse 40:
washed us from our sins in his
own blood. And a leper came to him
beseeching him, and kneeling,
New Revised Standard Version: and said to him, ‘If you will, you
And from Jesus Christ the can make me clean’.
faithful witness, the first-born of
the dead, and the ruler of kings The above is found in all present
on earth. To him who loves us versions of the Bible. However, two
and has freed us from our sins by early manuscripts:
his blood
Codex Vaticanus15 and Codex

Bezae16 omit the ‘kneeling’. This Another example is where a scribe

was probably due to the Greek word thought to correct the language of
‘and’ being found both before and the original, in Matthew’s Gospel:
after the word ‘Kneeling’, and so
the scribe’s eyes may have jumped And getting into a boat he
from one ‘and’ to the other omitting crossed over and came to his
the word in between. own city. And behold, they
brought to him a paralytic,
Scribal Corrections lying on his bed; and when
Often, the Gospels make blatant Jesus saw their faith he said to
errors, e.g. in Mark chapter 1 verse the paralytic, “Take heart, my
2-3: son; your sins are forgiven.”
And behold, some of the
As it is written in Isaiah the scribes said to themselves,
prophet, “Behold, I send my “This man is blaspheming.”
messenger before thy face, who But Jesus, knowing their
shall prepare thy way; the voice thoughts, said, “Why do you
of one crying in the wilderness: think evil in your hearts?
Prepare the way of the Lord, (Matthew 9:1-4)
make his paths straight…
The above translation is in all
The problem with the above verses present Bibles. However, again in
is that the passages which are the Codex Sinaiticus and Codex
quoted are in fact a combination of Bezae verse 4 reads as: ‘Jesus,
Mal 3:1 and Isaiah 40:3. seeing their thoughts…’ Scribes of
other manuscripts obviously
All present Bibles read as above, thought that it would make far more
but some manuscripts, Codex sense that Jesus(as) ‘knew’ their
Alexandrinus being one, have the thoughts as opposed to ‘seeing’ their
text reading; ‘As it is written in the thoughts.
prophets’. The scribe who was
writing it most likely picked up on Intentional Doctrinal Corrections
the error explained above and The Corruption of the Bible is
sought to rectify it by replacing mainly about later scribes modi-
‘Isaiah’ with ‘the Prophets’. fying the holy text to suit their own

beliefs or beliefs of their Church. Gospel of Mark ends with Chapter

There are numerous examples such 16, Verse 20. But it is accepted by a
as the first verse of the Gospel of majority of scholars that verses 9-20
Mark, which reads: were not originally there, and
officially the Gospel ended at verse
The beginning of the gospel of 8:
Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
And they went out and fled from
The last part of the verse ‘Son of the tomb; for trembling and
God’ is present in the Textus astonishment had come upon
Receptus, but is omitted by both the them; and they said nothing to
Codex Sinaiticus and Vaticanus. any one, for they were afraid.
The strength of these two authorities
is immense and is enough to reject Verses 9-20 are not present in the
the authenticity of the last three Codex Sinaiticus and Codex
words. Vaticanus while they are retained by
the Textus Receptus, Codex
However, to prove it even further, Bezae and Codex Alexandrinus. It
whether the original Gospel of Mark is generally held that the verses
contained the above phrase that were added to the end of the Gospel
Jesus(as) was the son of god, the of Mark to give it a proper ending
question asked is, why would the similar to the other gospels.
scribes omit the phrase? What was Whatever the reason, these verses
their reason? On the contrary they were not written by Mark and were
would want to reinforce the position added much later in the 5th century.
that Jesus(as) was the son of god,
which leads scholars to think that Bart Ehrman, a famous textual
the phrase was not originally there, critic, states:
but was added later. This would
make far more sense than a scribe ‘…the writing style varies from
deleting the phrase later. what we find elsewhere in
Mark; the transition between
The above is just the addition of this passage and the one
three words; however, in all present preceding it is hard to
Bibles you will notice that the understand (e.g., Mary

Magdalene is introduced in The Codex Bezae and Textus

verse 9 as if she had not been Receptus both contain the above
mentioned yet, even though she story. While P6618, P7519, Codex
is discussed in the preceding Sinaiticus, Alexandrinus and
verses; there is another problem Vaticanus all omit the entire
with the Greek that makes the passage. The story is not present in
transition end more awkward); any pre-5th century manuscript. It
and there are a large number of may well have been an oral tradition
words and phrases in the which made its way into the text,
passage that are not found but it is definitely not the words of
elsewhere in Mark. Obviously, the supposed author, John.
scribes thought that the ending
was too abrupt. The women told Again, Bart Erhman states:
no one? Then, did the disciples
never learn of the resurrection? ‘…its writing style is very
And did not Jesus himself ever different from what we find in
appear to them? How could that the rest of John (including the
be the ending! To resolve the stories immediately before and
problem, scribes added an after); and it includes a large
ending.’ 17 number of words and phrases
that are otherwise alien to the
Another example of an entire Gospel…How then did it come
passage added to the Gospels is the to be added? There are
very famous story of the ‘Woman numerous theories about that.
caught in Adultery’ found in the Most scholars think that it was
Gospel of John 7:52-8:11. probably a well-known story
circulating in the oral tradition
Here a woman (some interpret as about Jesus, which at some point
Mary Magdalene) was caught was added in the margin of a
committing adultery by the Jewish manuscript. From there some
crowd. No mention is made of the scribe or other thought that the
man she was caught with. She alone marginal note was meant to be
is brought before Jesus(as) to be part of the text and so inserted it
condemned. However, Jesus(as) immediately after the account
forgives her and lets her go. ends in John 7:52.’18

As can be seen above, mistakes 6. Eusebius, History of the Church, book

were very common in the 2; 23:11
transmission of the Bible. Some of 7. Matthew 16:28
the mistakes were honest and 8. Mark 13:1-2
genuine; others were scribal
9. E.P Sanders, The Historical Figure of
corrections where later scribes Jesus(as), p.257.
sought to correct earlier scribes by
second guessing what the text 10. The Text of the Earliest New Testament
Greek Manuscripts, Philip W. Comfort
should have said. and David P. Barrett. P365
11. fr. 465 Pf.
But most worrying is that many
alterations to the text were made for 12. Textus Receptus
doctrinal reasons. Entire passages In Latin, ‘Received Text’ is currently
the name given to the texts of the Bible
were added, words modified to suit
which are based on the
the purpose of the later church, and translation done by Erasmus in the
all of this occurred whilst still being early sixteenth century. Erasmus
attributed to the original writers of decided to compile the Bible using
the gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke only Greek manuscripts as opposed to
and John. It is these types of Latin which was used throughout the
world at that time. He did so by using
modifications which are cause for
two twelfth century Greek manuscripts.
concern and discredit the Currently, the King James Version is
authenticity of the Bible, thus based on the Textus Receptus, and as a
making it impossible for many result is criticised by the majority of
people to see it as a Holy Book biblical scholars for its late sources and
written and preserved by God- weak traditions.
inspired people. 13. Codex Sinaiticus
Possibly the most famous ancient
biblical manuscript, the Codex
Sinaiticus (also known as ‫ )א‬is the
References
earliest manuscript to contain the entire
1. The Jewish War 2.169
New Testament, with the addition of
2. The Jewish War 2.167 two extra works; Sheppard of Hermes
and the Epistle of Barnabas. It is
3. The Antiquities of the Jews 18:118
written in Majuscule Greek text on
4. The Antiquities of the Jews 18:33-35 parchment, and to the Alexandrian type
text.
5. The Antiquities of the Jews 20:200

It was discovered in the late nineteenth on parchment. It contains most of the

century by a German biblical scholar, Gospel and Acts. It is of the Western
Constantin von Tischendorf. Type text. It is currently housed in the
University of Cambridge.
It is currently housed in the British
Museum, and dates to the early fourth 17. Bart Ehrman, Misquoting Jesus(as), p.67
century.
18. P66 is a near-complete manuscript of
14. Codex Alexandrinus the Gospel of John; it dates to much
A very old manuscript, Codex earlier than the ‫א‬, to the early 2nd
Alexandrinus (also known as A) dated century, making it one of the earliest
to around the fifth century; much like known New Testament manuscripts.
the above is written in Greek and
It is part of the collection known as
contains most of the Septuagint (Greek
Bodmer Papyri, and is of the
Old Testament) and New Testament.
Alexandrian type text.
The name was derived from where the
manuscript was located in Alexandria. It was discovered in 1952 near Egypt
The Gospels in this manuscript is of the and is currently housed at the Bodmer
Byzantine type text, and the rest is of Library in Cologny, Geneva, in
the Alexandrian. Currently the Switzerland.
manuscript is at the British Museum
P.75 is also a very early manuscript
along with ‫א‬.
dating to the early third century, and
15. Codex Vaticanus like the above it is part of the Bodmer
Its importance possibly is only second Papyri collection. It contains half of the
to ‫א‬, The Codex Vaticanus (also known gospels of Luke and John. Just like
as B) dates to the mid-fourth century. It P66, it is also of Alexandrian type text.
too is written on parchment like ‫ א‬and The manuscript is currently housed in
belongs to the same family, the the Vatican Library in Rome.
Alexandrian type text. It contains most
19. Bart Ehrman, Misquoting Jesus(as),
of the New Testament and Old
p.65
Testament.
O People of the Book! there has come
The manuscript is currently housed in
to you Our Messenger who unfolds to
the Vatican Library.
you much of what you had kept hidden
of the Book and passes over much.
16. Codex Bezae There has come to you indeed from
Codex Bezae Cantabrigensis, also Allah a Light and a clear Book.
known as D, is also an important (Holy Qur’an, Ch.5:V.16)
manuscript, dating to some time in the
fifth century. It is different to the ‫ א‬and
B, in that it is written in both Majuscule
Greek text and Latin on opposite sides

The Purity of the Text of the
Holy Qur’an
The Collection of the Qur’an
(Adapted from the Review of arranged it in the best form.

Religions, May 1907) (Ch.25:V.33)
The primary work of the collection Here again it is asserted that “We
of the Holy Qur’an was done by the have arranged it in the best form”
Holy Prophet(saw) himself under the was the work of Divine revelation.
guidance of Divine revelation. To
this the Holy Book itself refers in These verses and the facts already
the following words: mentioned go a long way to show
that the primary collection of the
Surely upon Us rests its Holy Qur’an was effected by the
collection and its recital. So Holy Prophet(saw). But we have seen
when We recite it, then follow that such collection was needed
thou its recital. Then upon Us only by those who wished to
rests the expounding thereof. commit the whole of the Qur’an to
(Ch.75:V. 18-20) memory and that it was in reciting
the whole that the arrangement of
On another occasion the objection chapters was needed. Hence though
of the unbelievers as to the gradual the whole Qur’an existed in a
revelation of the Holy Qur’an is complete and arranged form in the
met with thus: memories of the companions, it did
not exist in a single volume in a
And those who disbelieve say, written form. [Although the whole
‘Why was not the Qur’an text of the Qur’an was recited by
revealed to him all at once?’ the Holy Prophet(saw) during his
We have revealed it thus that lifetime – Editor] Every verse and
We may strengthen thy heart every chapter was no doubt
therewith. And We have committed to writing as soon as it

The Purity of the Text of the Holy Qur’an
was revealed, but so long as the Prophet’s(saw) amanuensis at

recipient of the Divine revelation Madinah, and it has been preserved
lived, the whole could not be to us in an authentic tradition
written in a single volume. Any recorded in the Sahih Bukhari.
verse might be revealed at any time Soon after the death of the Holy
which it was necessary to place in Prophet(saw) Abu Bakr(ra) had to send
the middle of a chapter, and hence an expedition against the impostor
the very circumstances of the case Mussailimah. A battle was fought
made the existence of a complete at Yamama in which great carnage
volume impossible. took place among the Muslims, and
many of the reciters of the Holy
Hence a collection of the Qur’an in Qur’an lost their lives.
a volume was needed after the
death of the Holy Prophet(saw) which Since the Holy Qur’an existed as a
should be in accordance with the whole up to this time only in the
collection made by the Holy memories of the reciters, and the
Prophet(saw) as existing in the written fragments had not been
memories of his companions. Such collected in a single volume,
a collection was also needed to ‘Umar(ra) apprehended a great
facilitate reference to and danger if more reciters fell in some
circulation of the Holy Word and to other battle. He went straight to
give it a more permanent form than Abu Bakr(ra) and advised him to
was secured to it in being give immediate orders for the
consigned to memory. Such was collection of the written portions of
the object with which the collection the Qur’an into one volume:
of the Holy Qur’an was taken in
hand by Abu Bakr(ra). “Verily a great number of the
reciters of the Qur’an have
A reference to the tradition which been slain in the battle of
describes the circumstances Yamama,” he said, “and I fear
necessitating the collection of the that slaughter may again wax
Qur’an confirms the statement hot among the reciters of the
made above. The account is given Qur’an in other fields of
by Zaid bin Thabit(ra), the Holy battle, and that much of the

Qur’an may be lost therefrom. revelations of the Holy

In my opinion it is absolutely Prophet(saw). Search therefore
necessary that you should give (the written portions of) the
immediate orders for the Qur’an and collect it (into one
collection of the Qur’an.” volume).’”
But the companions of the Holy The first impulse of Zaid(ra) was the
Prophet(saw) were so faithful to their same as that of Abu Bakr(ra):
master, that the doing of a thing
which the Holy Prophet(saw) had not “How can you do a thing,” said
done seemed to them a departure he, “which the Holy Prophet,
from the path which he had shown may peace and the blessings of
to them: God be upon him, has not
done?”
“How can I do a thing,” replied
Abu Bakr(ra), “which the Holy And so heavy did the task appear to
Prophet, may peace and the him that at that time he thought,
blessings of God be upon him,
has not done?” “It would not have been more
difficult for me if I had been
“But,” urged ‘Umar(ra), “that is asked to remove a mountain.”
the best course under the
circumstances.” But at last he was prevailed upon,
and began the search.
Abu Bakr(ra) was convinced after
some discussion and Zaid(ra) was The tradition quoted above proves
sent for: several points. Firstly, it shows that
the whole of the Qur’an was safe in
“Thou art,” said Abu Bakr(ra) to the memories of the reciters who
him when he came, “a young had learned it in the lifetime of the
man and wise, against whom, Holy Prophet(saw). There was
no one amongst us can cast an nothing to be feared so long as the
imputation of any kind, and reciters were safe, but if they
thou wast wont to write the perished in a battle, then, it was

feared, certain portions of the Holy Qur’an was safe in memories but
Qur’an might be lost, because the that a written collection was needed
manuscripts of different chapters in view of the possible loss of the
and verses had not been up to that reciters in a field of battle. Memory
time collected in one place. was a good repository no doubt, but
such a collection could at any time
Secondly, it appears from the be entirely lost by the loss of those
tradition that the collection of the who retained the Holy Book in
Qur’an undertaken in the time of memory.
Abu Bakr(ra) was meant only to
supply the place of the reciters if Thirdly, the tradition proves that up
by some mishap in a battle they to the time when Abu Bakr(ra) took
were all lost. The misgivings in the in hand the collection of the written
mind of ‘Umar(ra) arose because he Qur’an, no portion of it had been
feared that as many reciters had lost and that there were still many
perished in the battle of Yamama, reciters who had it safe in their
many others might be lost in some memories. ‘Umar(ra) only feared
other battle. Hence he insisted loss of portions of the Qur’an by
upon a collection of the Qur’an the loss of the remaining reciters in
which should have nothing to fear some other battle that might ensue.
from the death of certain persons. It was only a contingency; certain
reciters who were alive at the time
From this it is clear that the original at which ‘Umar(ra) was speaking
collection of the Qur’an with an might be lost in some future battle.
arrangement of its chapters and Nothing had been lost up to the
verses was effected by the Holy time, but something might be lost
Prophet(saw) himself, and ‘Umar(ra) in the future if immediate steps
only desired to supplement the were not taken for a collection in
collection of the Qur’an in writing.
memories with a collection in
writing. The tradition does not To sum up, the tradition shows that
allege that the Qur’an had not been the entire Qur’an was safe in the
collected up to that time: on the memories of the reciters, that
other hand, it asserts that the ‘Umar(ra) only desired to make a

collection of the Qur’an in writing and verses existed in the safest of

in addition to the collection repositories, the memories of the
existing in the memories of the companions of the Holy
reciters and that nothing had been Prophet , the different writings
(saw)
lost from the collection existing in containing different portions of the

memories when the collection in Qur’an had never been collected
writing was undertaken. These are together and arranged. Nor could
three important points which settle this be done so long as the Holy
that the collection of the Qur’anic Prophet(saw) was alive. For whereas
revelations in our hands does not it was easy for the reciters to place
differ in any way from the any verse of any chapter revealed at
collection existing in the lifetime of a subsequent time in its proper
the Holy Prophet(saw), and that place in that chapter as pointed out
nothing was added to or lost from it by the Holy Prophet(saw), a complete
at any time. It must also be borne in volume could not admit of such a
mind that the tradition which settles course. Hence the Holy Prophet(saw)
these points is one of the most did not order the collection of the
authentic and trustworthy traditions different writings.
and no one has ever questioned its
truth. Now ‘Umar(ra) asked Abu Bakr(ra) to
collect these writings and this was
We have now to explain what was what the Holy Prophet(saw) had not
meant by Abu Bakr(ra) when he said done, and therefore in the first
that he could not do a thing which instance Abu Bakr(ra) also refused
had not been done by the Holy to do it. His answer only covered
Prophet(saw). ‘Umar(ra)’s question the ground which ‘Umar(ra)’s
related, not to the collection of the demand did. It shows only the
Qur’an, but to the collection of the scrupulousness of the companions
Qur’an in writing, so that even if to interfere with the Divine
the reciters might perish, the revelation. But ‘Umar(ra)’s case was
Qur’an should still be safe. Now it based on strong and sound
is a fact admitted on all hands that reasoning and hence he argued it
though the complete Qur’an with a with Abu Bakr(ra) until the latter
perfect arrangement of its chapters was convinced of the truth of what

he said. Thus there is nothing in the bore testimony.’

tradition to show that the Holy (Fath-ul-Bari, Vol. IX, page 12)
Qur’an had not been collected up to
the time of the incident. It only This tradition shows, and the same
shows that the different writings may be inferred from, the tradition
had not been collected and under discussion, that the object of
arranged and that the complete the collection undertaken in the
Qur’an was entrusted only to the time of Abu Bakr(ra) was to collect
memories of men. what had been written in the
presence of the Holy Prophet(saw).
Another point to be elucidated in Zaid(ra)’s collection was meant to
the tradition quoted above is the secure the original writings and
statement of Zaid(ra) as to the great this was the great difficulty to
difficulty which he thought he was which Zaid(ra) alluded. A great
likely to experience in the portion of the Holy Qur’an had
performance of the task with which been revealed at Makkah, and even
he was entrusted. Indeed he thought the portion that was revealed at
that it would not have been more Madinah was not wholly in the
difficult for him if he had been possession of Zaid(ra). Zaid(ra) had
asked to remove a mountain. What not to search only writings, but
were his difficulties? A tradition writings which had been written in
related by Ibn Abi Dawud makes it the presence of the Holy
clear: Prophet(saw).
‘Umar, rose and declared that He was chosen for the task because
whoever had received anything he had written the greater portion
directly from the Holy Prophet of the revelation at Madinah and
should bring it (to Zaid(ra)) and was presumed to have all those
that they (i.e., the companions) copies safe in his custody. But the
used to write it upon papers and task before him was a very difficult
tablets and palm-branches in the one. He had to search all the
life-time of the Holy Prophet, original writings and then give
and nothing was accepted from them an arrangement in accordance
anybody until two witnesses with the arrangement of the verses

and chapters as followed in the a search had only to be made for

recitation of the entire Qur’an from writing.
memory in obedience to the
directions given by the Holy The words of ‘Umar(ra) expressing a
Prophet(saw). That these writings fear that much of the Qur’an might
were safe it cannot be doubted. be lost, if the reciters fell in other
Everything relating to Divine fields as in that of Yamama, clearly
revelation was preserved with the imply that he was sure that no
utmost care. The task was no doubt portion of the Holy Qur’an had
an arduous one and required hard been lost up to that time, and
labour and diligent search, and accordingly if the object of the new
hence Zaid(ra), with a true collection for which ‘Umar(ra)
appreciation of the difficulties contended were simply to reduce
before him, said that it was the Qur’an to writing as recited by
equivalent to the removing of a the experts, Abu Bakr(ra) would not
mountain. have told Zaid(ra) to “search the
Qur’an and collect it.” Nor would
There are clear considerations have Zaid(ra) in such a case
showing that the service with considered the task to be as
which Zaid(ra) was entrusted was difficult as the removing of a
the collection and arrangement of mountain. Sufficient accuracy
the original copies of the different could have been obtained by
verses and chapters made in the having a few reciters gathered
presence of the Holy Prophet(saw). together and Zaid(ra) had only to
The object of Abu Bakr(ra) and write out the Holy Qur’an as
‘Umar(ra) was not to have a volume dictated by them and approved by
of the Holy Qur’an prepared by the companions. But ‘Umar(ra)’s
Zaid(ra) by writing down the Holy object was to gather the original
Book as recited by the reciters, but writings which had been written
to prepare a book by collecting the according to the directions of the
original writings. Hence the first Holy Prophet(saw) himself, and thus
direction of Abu Bakr(ra) to Zaid(ra) to make the accuracy of the text
was to “search the Qur’an and doubly certain.
collect it,’’ and it is easy to see that

And the tradition further tells us resorted to test the accuracy of the
that Zaid(ra) actually followed this writings. In fact, without the help
course. For after being convinced of reciters the collection of the
that Abu Bakr(ra) and ‘Umar(ra) were writings in the form of a complete
right, he thus describes what was volume was not possible. It was for
done: this reason that ‘Umar(ra) urged that
the collection should be
“Then I began to search the commenced whilst a large number
Qur’an and to collect it from of reciters was still alive, and it is
palm-branches and tablets of for this reason that Zaid(ra) mentions
stone and the hearts of men, that in collecting the writings he
until I found the concluding had to resort to memory, or “the
verses of the chapter entitled hearts of men” as he puts it. The
Repentance in the possession of words do not indicate that he
Abu Khuzaima Ansari and I did sought for some chapters from
not find them in the possession writings and for others from
of anybody else.” memory, for if he limited his
enquiry to memory in the case of
This shows that Zaid(ra) had two one part of the revelation, he had no
things to do: to search the writings need to search for writings for the
and to collect them in a single rest, and the whole could have been
volume. Now collection required easily written down from the
an arrangement of verses and dictation of the reciters.
chapters, for the writings
themselves were found in the The most important question with
possession of different men, and regard to the collection made under
they could give no clue to the the orders of Abu Bakr(ra) is, did it
arrangement that was to be accord in every respect with the
followed. It was for the sake of Qur’an as stored and collected in
arrangement that Zaid(ra) had to the memories of the companions,
resort to the reciters, and it is to this and as repeated and recited,
that the words “hearts of men” in publicly as well as privately, in the
the tradition quoted above refer. lifetime of the Holy Prophet(saw)?
Moreover memory had also to be There is not the least reason to

believe that it did not. In the first omission of any part of the Holy
place, none of the compilers was Book.
actuated by any motive to make
any change in the text. The earnest Fourthly, as we have already seen,
desire of all those engaged in the there were many among them who
task was to have a complete and could repeat the whole of the
faithful reproduction of what had Qur’an from memory. There were
been revealed to the Holy others who knew large portions,
Prophet(saw), and Zaid(ra) had only and these were kept fresh in
undertaken the task after a full memory by constant recitation in
appreciation of the difficulties. and outside prayers. It was
impossible that any variation from
Secondly, the collection began only the text as prevalent in the time of
six months after the death of the the Holy Prophet(saw) could have
Holy Prophet(saw) while almost all found its way into the collection in
of those who had heard the Qur’an the presence of such men.
from the lips of the Holy
Prophet(saw) were still alive. The Fifthly, there were many transcripts
Qur’an as recited by the Holy of the revelation current among the
Prophet(saw) was still fresh in the companions. And since every verse
memories of the companions, and was written at the time of its
any tampering with the text could revelation and copies of it were
have been easily brought to notice. then made by the companions,
there were ample means for testing
Thirdly, we find the companions so the accuracy of the collection of
cautious even in reporting the Zaid(ra). These writings were in the
words of the Holy Prophet(saw) that possession of different companions
we cannot imagine that they could and so they all had a chance to see
tamper with the Divine revelation for themselves that the collection
only six months after his death. made by Zaid(ra) was a faithful copy
They held the Divine word in such of the original writings. Moreover,
great awe and reverence that it is the writings in the possession of
impossible they should have one man could be compared with
fabricated a word or sanctioned the those in the possession of another,

and thus, as in the case of the copy made from the transcripts
recitation, there was no probability under the orders of Abu Bakr(ra)
of any error creeping into the text. agreed in every way, in text as well
Memory and writing corroborated as in arrangement, with the
the already unimpeachable collection made under the
testimony afforded by each other directions of the Holy Prophet(saw)
and thus placed beyond the shadow himself and preserved in memory
of a doubt the accuracy of the text by the reciters. Unless there had
of the Holy Qur’an. been a complete agreement in the
text as received through the two
Sixthly, there is no mention at all in sources, memory and writing, the
any tradition whatever that companions could never have been
anything was left out of the satisfied with the collection. The
collection made under the orders of copy thus made remained, we are
Abu Bakr(ra) or that anything had told, in the possession of Abu
been added to it which was not Bakr(ra) and after his death in that of
considered to be part of the Divine ‘Umar(ra). After the latter’s death,
revelation. As Sir William Muir the copy was transferred to the
says, custody of Hafsa(ra), the daughter of
‘Umar(ra) and a widow of the Holy
“We hear of no fragments, Prophet(saw). Thus the copy of the
sentences, or words omitted by Holy Qur’an transcribed by the
the compilers, nor of any that orders of Abu Bakr(ra) came down
differed from the received to the reign of ‘Uthman(ra) without
edition. Any such would any alteration in its text or
undoubtedly have been pre- arrangement.
served and noticed in those
traditional repositories which It is highly probable that copies
treasured up the minutest and were made from this collection by
most trivial acts and sayings of those who needed them, and thus it
the Prophet.” was sufficiently circulated. But
some circumstances coming to the
Thus there are strong and notice of ‘Uthman(ra), he deemed it
conclusive arguments showing that necessary to circulate official

copies transcribed by official who belonged to the Quraish, (Zaid

scribes and suppress all those made only being a Madinite), ‘When you
by private persons either from the differ with Zaid in anything
collection of Zaid(ra) or other concerning the Qur’an, then write
writings still prevalent among it in the language of the Quraish,
them. An authentic tradition for it is in their language that it was
reported by Bukhari thus describes revealed.’ They obeyed these
the circumstances: instructions and when they had
made the required number of
“Anas, son of Malik relates that copies from the original copy,
there came to ‘Uthman, Huzaifa ‘Uthman returned the original to
who had been fighting with the Hafsa, and sent to every quarter
people of Syria in the conquest of one of the copies thus made, and
Armenia and with the people of ordered all other copies or leaves
Iraq in Azerbaijan, and who was on which the Qur’an was written to
alarmed at their variations in their be burned.”
modes of reading. He said to
‘Uthman, ‘O Commander of the The tradition states clearly the
Faithful! Stop the people before circumstances which led ‘Uthman(ra)
they differ in the Holy Book as the to destroy all private copies and
Jews and the Christians differ in substitute in their place official
their Scriptures. So ‘Uthman sent copies transcribed from the
word to Hafsa asking her to send collection of Zaid(ra) made in the
him the Qur’an in her possession so time of Abu Bakr(ra). The Caliph
that they might make other copies was told by one of his generals who
of it and then send the original copy had been fighting in Armenia and
back to her. Thereupon Hafsa sent Azerbaijan that there were
the copy to ‘Uthman, and he variations in the modes of reading
ordered Zaid bin Thabit and the Qur’an in such distant parts of
‘Abdullah bin Zubair and Sa‘id the kingdom as Syria and Armenia.
bin-il-‘As and ‘Abdul Rahman bin No such differences are pointed out
Harith bin Hisham, and they made to have existed at Madinah or
copies from the original copy. Makkah or anywhere within
‘Uthman also said to the three men Arabia. It was only in newly

converted countries where Arabic method, and in great wrath dragged

was not spoken that these him to the presence of the Holy
differences were noticed. As to the Prophet(saw) who approved Hisham’s
nature of these differences, it is reading. The reason for this
stated in clear words that they were permission was that people
only differences in Qira’at or the belonging to certain tribes could
modes of reading. Nor were they of not pronounce certain words in the
such a serious nature as those ordinary way. These people were
existing among the Jews and the allowed to read them in the manner
Christians with regard to their in which they could easily
Scriptures, but it was feared that if pronounce them. But I do not wish
nothing was done to put a stop to to enter into details here as the
the slighter differences existing at subject of the various readings I
that time, they might after the lapse intend to discuss under a separate
of a few generations, develop into heading.
more serious differences.
From what I have stated above, it
What the differences exactly were will be seen that the permission to
it is difficult for us to say, but a read any word in a different method
reference to earlier anecdotes casts was based on a necessity. The
some further light upon the nature permission could be availed of only
of these differences. We are told in by those who on account of their
authentic traditions that different being accustomed from their very
modes of reading certain words childhood to pronounce certain
were allowed by the Holy words in a certain manner could not
Prophet(saw) himself, and the pronounce them in the pure dialect
companions unacquainted with the of the Quraish. But when Islam
permission at first severely took to spread beyond Arabia, the need to
task anybody whom they heard read certain words in a different
reading any word of the Holy method disappeared, for the
Qur’an in a different method. Thus foreigners could pronounce a word
‘Umar(ra) on one occasion heard in the dialect of Quraish with the
Hisham(ra) pronouncing certain same facility as in any other
words of the Qur’an in a different dialect. Some of the companions

however still taught the Qur’an which had been permitted only
adhering to certain readings which because people belonging to
were not in accordance with the certain tribes could not utter the
pure language of the Quraish. word otherwise. When ‘Umar(ra)
Some of them may have even was told that Ibn Mas‘ood taught
abused the permission and atta instead of hatta, the caliph
favoured certain readings though wrote to him that the Qur’an was
they had no need for them. revealed in the language of the
Quraish and that he should not read
This evil seems to have spread at it in the dialect of the Huzail. The
Kufa and it was to this that Huzaifa words of ‘Umar(ra) as given in the
(in the tradition quoted above) tradition are:
referred when he was alarmed at
the variation in the readings. “Verily the Qur’an was
According to certain traditions he revealed in the language of the
strongly reproved those who took Quraish and not in the dialect of
to peculiar readings, some saying the Huzail, so teach it thou to
that they followed the reading of the people in the language of
Ibn Mas‘ood, others that of Abu the Quraish and not in that of
Musa and others still of Ubayy ibn the Huzail.”
Ka‘b, whereas they could without
any difficulty recite the Qur’an Another evil that had sprung out of
according to the original reading, these variations in readings was
that is, in the dialect of Quraish. that the new converts, unable to
This conclusion is corroborated by realise the need for which they had
an anecdote relating to a period been permitted, began to attribute
earlier than the time of ‘Uthman(ra). heresy to one another for a
‘Umar(ra) was told that Ibn Mas‘ood difference in the reading of certain
read atta heen instead of hatta words. It was this evil which made
heen. Now in the dialect of the Huzaifa(ra) and ‘Uthman(ra) have
Huzail and the Thiqqeef hatta was great apprehensions as many
pronounced atta. Ibn Mas‘ood did traditions show, and the only
not belong to either of these tribes remedy for it was that the
but he favoured a peculiar reading variations for which there remained

no need now should be entirely pronounced in his time and became

suppressed in reading as well as in the source of much evil and he took
writing and that the pure language a step which was calculated to wipe
of the Quraish in which the Qur’an off once and for all those variations
had been revealed should be used which ‘Umar(ra) also wanted to put
by all. a stop to.
The considerations and the It may be asked what was meant by

anecdotes given above help us to differing with Zaid(ra) in anything
understand the nature of the concerning the Qur’an. In another
differences and the evil at which tradition also related by Bukhari
Huzaifa(ra) was alarmed, and to instead of “when you differ with
remove which was the object of Zaid(ra) in anything concerning the
‘Uthman(ra) in destroying all private Qur’an,” we have the words,
copies of the Qur’an. The “when you differ with Zaid(ra) in an
instructions which ‘Uthman(ra) gave ‘Arabiyyat in the ‘Arabiyyat of the
to the syndicate of the scribes Qur’an,” the word Arabiyyat
further supports this conclusion. To signifying the Arabic language.
the members of the committee who The word clearly implies that by
belonged to the tribes of the difference in the tradition is meant
Quraish he gave the direction in difference in the method of
plain words: pronouncing a word in different
dialects. Zaid(ra) did not belong to
“When you differ with Zaid(ra) the tribe of the Quraish and hence
in anything concerning the where there was a difference in the
Qur’an, then write it in the manner of reading or writing a
language of the Quraish, for it word, the decision of the Quraish
is in their language that it was members was to be accepted. The
revealed.” only example of the difference
alluded to has been preserved to us
This direction we are told was in a tradition. On the authority of
obeyed. ‘Uthman(ra) then went no Ibn Shahab, the same narrator as in
further than ‘Umar(ra). Only the Bukhari’s tradition, Tirmidhi adds
variations of readings became more the following anecdote to the

tradition accepted and narrated by superintended by competent men

Bukhari: under his own orders and
suppressing all private copies
“And they differed on that which contained such variations.
occasion as to tabut and tabuh.
The Quraish members said that Did the copies transcribed under
it was tabut and Zaid(ra) said that the orders of ‘Uthman(ra) differ from
it was (tabuh). The difference the original collection made by
was reported to ‘Uthman(ra) and Zaid(ra) in the time of Abu Bakr(ra)?
he directed them to write it The tradition quoted above tells us
(tabut) adding that the Qur’an that when variations of readings in
“was revealed in the dialect of the distant parts of the kingdom
the Quraish.” were brought to the notice of
‘Uthman(ra), the first idea to which
This anecdote illustrates the nature he gave expression was to obtain
of the differences at which Huzaifa the copy in the possession of Hafsa
was alarmed. It shows that the and to have other copies
differences whose removal was transcribed from it for circulation
aimed at by ‘Uthman(ra) were not among the Muslims. And from this
ordinarily more serious than this. intention he made no departure.
But since the companions of the The copies of the Qur’an
Holy Prophet(saw) believed every transcribed under his orders were
word to proceed from a Divine true and faithful copies of the
source, they could not tolerate even collection of Zaid(ra) which as we
such slight differences. And since have seen was in the custody of
the need for which such variations Hafsa after the death of ‘Umar(ra). It
in the reading of certain words was Zaid(ra) who transcribed the
were permitted ceased to exist with copy in the time of Abu Bakr(ra) and
the flux of large numbers of it was Zaid(ra) who was called upon
foreigners into the holy religion of to make fresh copies from it in the
Islam, ‘Uthman(ra) thought it time of ‘Uthman(ra). To remove any
expedient to put a stop to all difference of dialect or variation in
variations by circulating copies of the mode of reading certain words
the Holy Qur’an transcribed and that might possibly arise,

‘Uthman(ra) gave, no doubt, the the copies made, it would no doubt

orders that the reading of the have come to light in the long reign
Quraish should be adopted in of ‘Uthman (ra) or in that of ‘Ali(ra)
preference to any other reading. when the Muslims had been
divided into factions and that copy
But the only example of such was still in the possession of Hafsa.
variations that has been preserved The men who murdered in cold
to us in tradition is, if the anecodate blood the aged and venerable
be true, that Zaid(ra) read a word as prince could not have failed to
tabuh, and the Quraish read it as bring to light any difference that
tabut, and such importance was might have existed between the
given to this trifling difference that copy of Hafsa and the copies made
the matter was reported to by him. But there is nothing on
‘Uthman(ra) for decision. There is record to show that any such
no mention at all of any other difference really existed, and this
departure having been made from evidence further corroborates the
the writing of Zaid(ra) in the copy of conclusion that the copies made by
Hafsa. Hence we have conclusive ‘Uthman(ra) were true and faithful
testimony in our hands showing copies of the original collection
that the copies of the Qur’an made made by Zaid(ra) in the time of Abu
and circulated under the orders of Bakr(ra).
‘Uthman(ra) were exact and faithful
copies of the original collection of Had the action of ‘Uthman (ra) in
Zaid(ra). Again the message of destroying all private copies of the
‘Uthman (ra) to Hafsa was: “Send us Holy Qur’an been arbitrary or
the copy of Qur’an that we may unjustifiable, the companions of
make copies from it and then we the Holy Prophet(saw) would never
will return it to you.’’ have yielded to it. But it appears
that they not only approved of his
In accordance with this, the copy of action, but also assisted him with
Hafsa was returned after the willingness in the execution of his
requisite number of copies had designs. Huzaifa(ra), one of the
been made. Had there been any learned companions, had come to
difference between the original and him in all haste from distant Syria

to request him that he should take this matter. He replied that he

immediate steps to put a stop to thought it necessary to gather
variations in readings, and this he people on one reading. To this
could not do except by issuing we all heartily agreed.”
official copies of the Holy Qur’an
as collected by Abu Bakr(ra) and This anecdote shows that it was
suppressing all private copies after consultation with the general
which were perhaps not made with body of the companions that
sufficient care and contained any ‘Uthman(ra) took any step.
variation of reading.
There are said to have been twelve
Nor did ‘Uthman take this step
(ra) members in the syndicate which
without consulting the companions. superintended transcription of
According to a report narrated by copies. Among these were Zaid(ra),
Ibn Abi Dawud through a chain of Sa‘id(ra), Ubbay(ra), Anas bin
narrators which has been admitted Malik(ra), ‘Abdullah bin ‘Abbas(ra)
as trustworthy (See Fath-ul-Bari, and others. It appears that
Vol IX, p. 16.) ‘Ali(ra) said: originally there were four members
only as the tradition in Bukhari tells
“Do not say aught of us, but that others were added later
‘Uthman(ra) but what is good, on, perhaps because a larger
for he did not take the step number of copies than that
with regard to the suppression imagined at first was required.
of the private copies of the ‘Abdullah bin Mas‘ood(ra) was the
Qur’an except after con- only companion noted for his
sultation with us. He spoke to learning of the Qur’an who was not
us saying, ‘what do you think included in the committee, but his
about this reading. I have been exclusion was not due to any
informed that some of them prejudice against him, but to his
say to others, my reading is residence at a considerable distance
better than thine. This I think from Madinah. ‘Abdullah lived at
may amount to unbelief.’ We Kufa, and much delay would have
asked him what step he been caused in the progress of the
thought it advisable to take in work if he had been included in the

committee. And as ‘Uthman(ra) were falling into errors and making

began his work after due a wide departure from what the
consultation with the general body Holy Prophet(saw) intended to be the
of the companions, they approved use of variations and they adopted
of his action after its completion. the best way of remedying the evil.
According to a report Mus‘ab bin Ibn Mas‘ood, for the reason stated
Sa‘d said that he met many above, could not take any part in
companions when ‘Uthman(ra) gave the supervision of the transcription
orders for burning all private copies of copies made under the orders of
of the Qur’an and they were all ‘Uthman(ra) and he is the only
pleased with it and none of them person who in some traditions, by
took objection to it. In fact, Hadhrat no means of the highest authority,
‘Uthman’s apprehensions and those is said to have made certain
of the companions were not due, as remarks against Zaid(ra). For
the words of ‘Ali(ra) reported in the instance, he is reported to have
above tradition show, so much to disliked the appointment of Zaid(ra)
the existence of variations in for transcribing the copies and to
readings as to the differences have remarked:
resulting from these variations.
Those who had newly entered into “What! The transcription of
Islam were unaware of the the Qur’an is taken away from
circumstances as a result of which me and it is entrusted to a man
the Holy Prophet(saw) permitted who was in the back of an
certain variations in readings, and unbeliever when I was a
adopting the reading of a particular Muslim.” (referring to his
companion they were severe upon older age and priority in the
others who adopted a different acceptance of Islam).
reading, and thus the slight
variations in the mode of reading Either this tradition is not true or
certain words began to lead to great Ibn Mas‘ood, if he actually uttered
quarrels and controversies. Hadhrat these words, [he] made a grievous
‘Uthman(ra) and the other error. Zaid(ra) was the person who
companions saw that the people had collected and transcribed the

Qur’an in the time of Abu Bakr(ra). of collecting the Holy Qur’an from
Abu Bakr(ra) and ‘Umar(ra) could not writings in manuscripts. It is
think of a better man than Zaid(ra) strange that such remarks should
and they entrusted to him the task have been made when nothing had
of collection. When ‘Uthman(ra) felt to be done except transcription
a similar need, he enquired of the from an earlier original. But if the
companions as to who was best tradition be true, then its
fitted for the task and who excelled concluding words are sufficient to
others in the art of writing, and he show that Ibn Mas‘ood was really
was told that Zaid(ra) was the man. in error for we are told that “the
This was the reason for his most eminent companions disliked
selection of Zaid(ra) to do the work this remark of Ibn Mas‘ood.”
of transcribing and with him was Moreover according to this
joined a syndicate of several other tradition, Ibn Mas‘ood did not find
companions to supervise the work, any fault with ‘Uthman(ra).
and it was in accordance with their
directions that he transcribed the There are certain traditions of very
copies. doubtful authenticity which assert
that Ibn Mas‘ood had really refused
Ibn Mas‘ood was not, therefore, in to give up his copy of the Qur’an or
the right in speaking of Zaid(ra) in to accept that sent by ‘Uthman(ra),
disparaging terms if he spoke those but these traditions have not been
words. But we may entertain grave accepted by any reliable collector
doubts as to his having spoken of traditions. Even supposing them,
them, for on the earlier occasion for the sake of argument, to be
when more important work was authentic, they do not throw any
done than mere transcription, Ibn discredit upon the copies made
Mas‘ood never spoke a word under the orders of ‘Uthman(ra). Ibn
against Zaid(ra). The remarks which Mas‘ood read certain words, we are
he is said to have made would have told, in a manner different from that
been more appropriate if they had in which the Quraish read it, and
been uttered at the time when even ‘Umar(ra) had enjoined him to
Zaid(ra) was entrusted by Abu give up such readings. On that
Bakr(ra) and ‘Umar(ra) with the work ground he may have refused to give

his copy, but not a single other memory, the companions would
companion ever supported his certainly have raised their voices
views. They were free to express against such maltreatment of the
what view they liked, but they all Holy Book. The Qur’an was still
without any exception sided with their most precious treasure and
‘Uthman(ra). they could not suffer a word of it to
be changed. They would have
These considerations would leave sooner given up their lives than
no doubt in the mind of a person permitted a tampering with the
enquiring after truth that the copies Qur’an.
circulated by ‘Uthman(ra) were true
and faithful copies of the collection They were not only sincere and
of Abu Bakr(ra) which again agreed earnest in their professions, but
in every word and point with the they had also ample means to judge
Qur’an as taught by the Holy the correctness of the copies made
Prophet(saw). When ‘Uthman(ra) under the orders of ‘Uthman(ra).
issued his copies, thousands of the Anything left out from the Qur’an
companions were still living, and or anything added to it would have
many of these such as Ubayy(ra), been at once pointed out by
‘Abdullah son of ‘Umar(ra) and hundreds of the companions. But
others were among the men who even Ibn Mas‘ood, with all the ill-
had committed to memory the will which he bore against
whole of the Qur’an in the life-time ‘Uthman(ra) and Zaid(ra), never
of the Holy Prophet(saw), while pointed out a single word that had
hundreds of others might have been altered by ‘Uthman(ra) or left
learnt it by heart after his death as it out from the Qur’an or added to it.
was then in circulation. It was only He only remonstrated that he
thirteen years after the death of the should be allowed to retain his
Holy Prophet(saw) that ‘Uthman(ra) peculiar reading of certain words,
had given orders for making an example of which has been
official copies of the Holy Qur’an, given in the word hatta which he
and if these had in any way differed pronounced atta, following the
from the original copy or from dialect of the Huzail.
what had been preserved in

‘Uthman(ra) then made no alteration pointed out a word which had been
in the Qur’an as it was collected by omitted by ‘Uthman(ra), and ‘Ali(ra)
Abu Bakr(ra) immediately after the is himself stated to have
death of the Holy Prophet(saw). He transcribed copies of the Qur’an
employed the same scribe that was from the official copies circulated
employed before him by Abu by ‘Uthman(ra).
Bakr(ra) and in his lifetime by the
Holy Prophet(saw) himself. He acted As regards the copies in our hands,
after consultation with the it is admitted by the bitterest
companions and secured the enemies of Islam that the copies
services of the most eminent made by ‘Uthman(ra) have been
companions noted for their handed down to later generations
learning of the Qur’an to entirely unaltered. The purity of the
superintend the work of text of the Qur’an is thus
transcription. The copies made by conclusively demonstrated. The
his orders were recognised as true collection of Abu Bakr(ra) was a
copies by the whole Muslim world. faithful reproduction of the
Nor could any alteration in the revelation as reduced to writing in
copies alter the text as preserved in the presence of the Holy
the memories of thousands of men. Prophet(saw) and agreed every whit,
The bitterest foes of ‘Uthman(ra), in text as well as in arrangement,
those who cut off his head while he with the Holy Qur’an as preserved
was reading the Qur’an and who in the memories of the companions;
had the whole power in their hands, the copies circulated by ‘Uthman(ra)
never charged him with having were true and faithful copies of
tampered with the Qur’an, though Abu Bakr(ra)’s collection, and these
ordering the burning of the copies copies have admittedly remained
of the Holy Book was one of their unaltered through the thirteen
charges against him. But this latter hundred years that have elapsed.
charge was advanced because the
act of burning papers on which the
Holy Word was written was
considered sacrilegious. Even
during the reign of ‘Ali(ra) no one

ISLAM –
The Religion of Peace
(Adapted from the Review of Religions, March, 1933, Vol. XXXII, No. 3)
Islam is that religious system Muhammad(saw) assimilated all that

preached to the world by the Holy was imperishable in the teachings of
Prophet Muhammad(saw) from the all the prophets before him, and
desert of Arabia in the beginning of because it was meant for all peoples
the 7th Century of the Christian era. and all time, therefore God gave it a
Islam, though presented in its most distinct name, which is Islam. The
perfect form by the Prophet of Holy Qur’an says:
Arabia(saw), did by no means
originate with him. It was the …This day have I perfected your
religion of all the Prophets of God religion for you and completed
from Adam(as) up to Jesus Christ(as). My favour upon you and have
It was as wide in its conception as chosen for you Islam as
humanity itself. In fact, any divine religion… (Ch.5:V.4)
teaching that was given to any
nation was Islam. But the teachings Again it says :
of the prophets before the Holy
Prophet Muhammad(saw), were Surely, the true religion with
constrained by the limitations of Allah is Islam (complete
time and local circumstances, and submission)… (Ch.3:V.20)
were meant only for the peoples for
whose spiritual growth and The word Islam indicates the very
development they were revealed. essence of the religious system
Hence, those teachings were not known by that name. Its primary
given any independent name. But significance is the “making of
because the Divine teaching that peace,” and the idea of peace is the
was given to the Holy Prophet dominant idea in Islam. Islam

Islam – The Religion of Peace
stands for peace between man and Hinduism sanctioned the wearing of
his Creator, between man and his arms against the heretics. The
fellow beings and between different Romans subjected the Christians to
religions and communities. Peace is every persecution known to man.
the greeting of one Muslim to The storm of savage fanaticism
another and “Peace” shall also be which in the annals of Christendom
the greeting of those in Paradise. is called “The Holy Wars,” swept
“The Author of peace” is one of the over Western Asia to serve the
many names of God mentioned in cause of Christianity. Some so-
the Holy Qur’an and the “Abode of called Muslims have also wrongly
Peace” is the destination and the carried fire and sword in the name
spiritual goal of humanity. It is only of religion; Islam however has
natural that a religion which claims always respected the freedom of
to be the Last Divine Message for conscience:
mankind should offer us some basis
on which inter-religious, inter- Let religion only be for the
national and inter-communal peace sake of God. (Ch.2:V.194)
could be established permanently
and without any fear of being and
disturbed.
There should be no compulsion
The enormities and the most in religion… (Ch.2:V.257)
monstrous crimes that man has
committed against man have been are the express commandments of
perpetrated in the fair name of the Holy Qur’an. The Muslims are
religion. Innocent and honest men strictly enjoined to respect and
have been burned at the stake, protect the places of worship of the
stoned to death, buried alive, and followers of other religions, even at
drowned in the sea, in the name of the cost of their lives. The Holy
religion. Nations have fought Qur’an says:
against nations to impose their own
religious beliefs on their opponents. …And if Allah did not repel
To stamp out Buddhism, the holy some men by means of others,
fathers of the so-called peaceful there would surely have been

pulled down cloisters and He has been equally Merciful and

churches and synagogues and Beneficent to all nations. If He
mosques, wherein the name of raised Muhammad(saw) from Arabia,
Allah is oft commemorated… He raised Moses(as) from Egypt, and
(Ch.22:V.41) Jesus(as) from Judea; Zoroaster(as)
from Iran, and Buddha(as) and
The inclusion by Islam of the belief Krishna(as) from India. These
in the Divine origin of all religions Prophets were the propagators and
and the acceptance of their founders disseminators of the same
as Messengers of God, in its fundamental truths, though their
fundamental doctrines, is the most teachings differed in their quality
important and practical step that and scope. Hence Islam recognised
Islam has taken to remove feelings the truth that all these teachers of
of bitterness and animosity among humanity were God’s great
the followers of various faiths and Messengers and it was made
to create an atmosphere of peace incumbent upon a Muslim to
and goodwill among them. believe in them as he believes in
Muhammad(saw). Ransack the pages
That the great religions of the world of all religious scriptures and you
are one in origin and many in form will not find this teaching in them.
is a truth now widely recognised, A Christian may look upon
but when Islam made its appearance Muhammad(saw) as an imposter, and
in the world that truth was quite a Jew regard Jesus(as) as a false
unknown. It was from the desert of Prophet, and a Hindu who believes
Arabia and from the mouth of the in the finality of the Vedic
man who could not even read and revelation may consider Moses(as) a
write that the great truth was charlatan, but a Muslim ceases to
promulgated that God was the Lord, remain a Muslim the instant he
not of a particular tribe or particular ceases to revere any one of them as
nations, but of all nations, nay of all he reveres the Holy Prophet
the worlds. The God Whom Islam Muhammad(saw). Consistently with
requires us to worship is the Lord of these teachings, how can a Muslim
all peoples, of all ages and all adversely criticise Christianity,
countries. Judaism, Buddhism and Hinduism

when he regards the Old and the against the capitalists. Islam
New Testament in their original claiming to bring about harmony
form, the Vedas and the Zend and peace among warring interests
Avesta in their pristine purity as the has not failed to solve this baffling
revealed Word of God? Does not question also. On the one hand it
this great principle of Islam strike at recognises private ownership
the very root of all religious because there is no spirit of
rancour? The Holy Qur’an says: competition and incentive to
progress left without the recognition
…there is no people to whom a of this fact, because if those who
Warner has not been sent. work harder than others or can bring
(Ch.35:V.25) a superior intellect or higher
business capacity into the conduct
And of their affairs are to be deprived of
the just rewards of their labour, all
And We did send Messengers this competition and striving after
before thee; of them are some better results would cease and the
whom We have mentioned to world would come to a standstill.
thee, and of them there are On the other, Islam recognises in
some whom We have not principle the right of the poor in the
mentioned to thee… wealth of the rich. The Holy Qur’an
(Ch.40:V.79) says that in the wealth of the rich,
those who can and who cannot ask
According to these verses all great have a right.
Prophets of God are the spiritual
ancestors of a Muslim and their Islam suggests three remedies to
followers his brothers in faith. remove the vast disparities of
wealth and poverty. Firstly, it
Peace between Labour and enjoins the distribution of inheri-
Capital tance. No man has the power to
The other great problem which is bequeath the whole of his property
seriously undermining the peace of to one man, so as to promote its
the world is the discontent accumulation in a few hands. Under
prevailing in the working class the Islamic Law of inheritance and

succession, a man’s property must By this institution of Zakat, Islam

be distributed among his parents, all provides for the discharge of all
his children, his widows, brothers, those rights that the poor have in the
sisters, and nobody can interfere wealth of the rich, and thus brings
with or divert this mode of about reconciliation between the
distribution. haves and the have-nots.
Secondly, Islam prohibits the giving International Peace

and taking of interest. The The third problem which is
possibility of being able to raise destroying the peace of the world is
loans on interest enables people the unsatisfactory condition of the
with established credit, to enhance it international relations. For the
to any extent they please by settlement of international disputes
borrowing. The huge trusts and Islam lays down rules for Muslim
syndicates which at present mono- states which contemplate a body
polise the sources of the national like the present League of Nations
wealth would not be possible [replaced later by the United
without interest, and wealth would Nations – Editor]. The Holy Qur’an
be more evenly distributed among says:
the people.
And if two parties of believers
Thirdly is the institution of Zakat. fight against each other, make
Zakat is a charge of two and a half peace between them; then if
percent levied by the Government after that one of them
on all capital, money, precious transgresses against the other,
metals, and merchandise, etc., fight the party that
which a person has been in transgresses until it returns to
possession of for one year or over. It the command of Allah. Then if
is not a tax on income, but is a tax it returns, make peace between
on capital. The proceeds of this tax them with equity, and act justly.
may be provided to those who Verily, Allah loves the just.
possess the necessary business (Ch.49:V.10)
capacity, but who are unable to
make a start owing to want of funds. This verse lays down the following

principle for the maintenance of the Islamic concept of the State, it is

international peace: as soon as there necessary to quote the verse, which
are indications of disagreement in brief but comprehensive terms,
between two Muslim nations, the describes the nature and duties of
other Muslim nations, instead of the rulers and the ruled. The Holy
taking sides with one or the other of Qur’an says:
them, should at once serve a notice
upon them to submit their Verily, Allah commands you
differences to the ‘peace makers’ for to make over the trusts to
settlement. But if one of them those entitled to them, and
refuses to submit to the League, or that, when you judge between
having submitted refuses to accept men, you judge with justice.
the award of the ‘peace makers’, And surely excellent is that
and prepares to make war, the other with which Allah admonishes
nations should all fight it. It is you! Allah is All-Hearing,
apparent, however, that one nation, All-Seeing.
however strong, cannot withstand (Ch.4:V.59)
the united forces of all other nations
and is bound to make a speedy According to this verse, government
submission. is a trust, and not in the nature of
property, and the rulers are required
Peace between the Rulers and the to rule justly. And another verse of
Ruled the Holy Qur’an states:
The strained relations of the rulers
and the ruled is another factor O ye who believe! obey Allah,
disturbing the world’s peace. Islam and obey His Messenger and
prefers a democratic government those who are in authority
but does not preclude any form of among you…
government. The Holy Qur’an has (Ch.4:V.60)
used the word Amanat (trust) in
describing the Islamic concept of enjoins all men to obey those who
Government. are in authority over them and thus
cuts at the root of all kinds of
For a full appreciation, however, of rebellion and anarchy.

Peace in the Family Peace among Individuals

By recognising the social status of Islam has laid down detailed
woman and securing her rights in injunctions which regulate the
inheritance, in the guardianship of relations of individuals towards one
the children, in the management of another:
the affairs of the family and in
worship (in short, in Church and God commandeth you to do
State), Islam has established peace justice, beneficence and kind-
in the family on a firm basis. If men ness to kith and kin.
have rights over women, women (Ch.16:V.91)
according to the Qur’an, likewise,
have rights over men. According to In this verse of the Holy Qur’an
Islam, women are the keystone of God has set forth three injunctions.
the arch of family life. Unity in the The first step is the step of justice. A
family is essential to a progressive Muslim is enjoined to discharge his
state. Let it not be forgotten that of duty and obligations quite faithfully
all religions, Islam alone has and honestly and in the best way he
accorded woman status which after can. No violation of the rights of
thirteen centuries of progressive others is permitted. When justice
development, working with the becomes to him a matter of course,
legacy of a prior civilisation, under he is required to do more than mere
the most favourable circumstances, justice. He should be beneficent to
the most civilised country in the others. When beneficence begins to
world has not given her. By raising appear to him not a very high stage
women from the condition of a mere of morals, he should be kind to his
chattel in which they were held fellow people as a mother is kind to
before the advent of the Holy her son.
Prophet Muhammad(saw), and giving
women their rightful place in The first stage of morals is of doing
society, Islam settled those knotty good in proportion to the good
family problems 1300 years ago received; the second stage is of
which in the present progressive doing more good than the good
state of woman have wrecked many received; and the third and the
homes. highest stage of morals consists in

doing good to others, not in return acrimony by requiring its followers

of a good received, nor in doing to believe in the missions of all the
more good than the good received, Prophets of God and in the Divine
but in doing good as prompted by origin of their teachings, a religion
natural impulse without the expec- which has laid down teachings that
tation of any reward or even any if fully acted upon would bring
appreciation or acknowledgment. about an era of perpetual peace,
should be looked upon as a religion
Nothing seems more ironical than breathing war and preaching hatred
that the religion of which the very and a religion propagated at the
name signifies peace, which stands point of the sword.
for freedom of conscience, which
has enjoined upon its followers to But such really is the prevailing
respect the religious beliefs of other view about Islam. Let there remain
peoples and to protect their places no doubt about it that Islam
of worship even at the risk of their positively forbids the use of force
own lives, a religion which has for the propagation of its teachings.
struck at the very root of religious
NOTE FOR THE REVIEW OF RELIGIONS

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

Portents History, geopolitical economics and
religious eschatology come together in
this study of how mankind, ignoring
of WAR
warnings from the past, is
dangerously moving ever closer to the
Third World War
By Abdul Ghany Jahangeer Khan
A s a revealed scripture, the Holy

Qur’an is a Divine message to
mankind, calling all men to pay
being of their souls will invariably
exert a negative effect on their lives
and immediate physical surround-
heed to the will of their Creator. The ings; the examples of the peoples of
gist of this message is that by Noah, Lot, and many other Prophets
cultivating their spiritual faculties (may peace be upon them all) are
through prayer and communion cited, and mankind is invited to
with God and by eschewing evil, investigate the reasons underlying
such as falsehood, greed, injustice their utter destruction and also why,
and covetousness, human beings in stark contrast, the believers among
can live a life of true happiness, those peoples survived. Furthermore,
fulfilment and peace on earth; and to understand the phenomenon of
that this, in turn, will be of benefit to why some survive and others are
the entire creation. A doomed, a study of nature is greatly
comprehensive set of teachings is encouraged by God in the Qur’an.
provided for the attainment of these Indeed, even a cursory behavioural
goals. study of the living organisms of our
wondrous biosphere will reveal that
What is immediately apparent to its creatures that stick to the rules tend
readers is that, from the very start, to be rewarded with survival – and
the Holy Qur’an contains warnings that those that choose to do
regarding the results of any failure, otherwise are punished by the laws
by individuals or peoples, to pay of nature. Thus, the ruminant that
heed to this message from God. It is leaves the security of the herd is apt
clearly stated that actions by to be picked off by the predator; the
individuals threatening the well- summer-flowering plant that opens

Portents of War
its buds before the last spring frosts As the first decade of the twenty-
have quite passed is likely to lose all first century draws to a close, and
its blooms; the bird that hatches its having the benefit of hindsight,
chicks before food becomes humankind hardly needs to be
abundant is prone to lose its entire enlightened as to the advantages of
brood to starvation; and the dallying living in peace and respect with
butterfly that allows favourable each other, of leading simple, eco-
winds to pass before commencing its friendly lives, and of favouring and
migration almost certainly dies of acting upon policies of generous
exhaustion en route. sharing of resources amongst
nations; for, alas, the consequences
Allah further warns us that when of not doing so lie before our eyes in
laws of survival are collectively the form of the stark poverty and
flouted by entire nations, such starvation of many due to the greed
actions will wreak havoc on the and overindulgence of a few, in the
world. Evil is added to evil, their depletion of the ozone layer, in
effects are compounded, and as a ecological disasters and global
result large sections of humanity are warming triggered or exacerbated
engulfed in destruction wrought by by a lifestyle of senseless con-
their own hands. sumerism, and in the wars and
turmoil born of hatred and
As the last in the line of Divine covetousness plaguing many parts
Scriptures, the Holy Qur’an fore- of the world and ultimately
warns mankind of events that will affecting all. Never before have the
occur in a future extending to the end consequences of Man’s rejection of
of humankind as a species. Of these, God’s message been witnessed on
there is a set of events that stands out such a global scale.
for its peculiarity, the consequences
of which are stated to be most Although unanimity on the causes
frightening. Our interest at this point for climate change has yet to be
in time in the aforementioned suite reached in the scientific community,
of events is not the least urgent for there is growing consensus that the
the reason that its culmination seems damage inflicted by Man on the
highly likely to be reached in our environment – irrespective of
time. whether climate change is being

Portents of War
caused by Man or not – is in itself mutual hatred and mistrust that have
sufficient to seriously threaten the existed between these two peoples
very existence of humankind down through the centuries.
relatively soon. The heart-rending
pleas made by the twelve-year-old The Holy Prophet of Islam(saw)
Severn Cullis-Suzuki at the 1992 foretold the coming of a Messiah
United Nations Earth Summit1 to who would restore faith to a
stop the devastation of the planet, faithless world. The time for his
though applauded, went unheeded. appearance was to be thirteen
Although now realising their errors centuries after the birth of Islam.
and bracing themselves for harder But how and why, one may ask,
times ahead, the developed nations would faith in God have
of the world are doing next to disappeared from the world? The
nothing to change their voracious answer lies in a phenomenon which,
lifestyles. The reason for this interestingly, has its roots in a
lethargy is perhaps that the dangers prayer made by Jesus(as).
are perceived to be remote, in a
future well beyond the lifespan of In verses 113 to 116 of Chapter 5,
most policy-makers of today. As the the Holy Qur’an records the desire
saying goes, what the eye does not expressed by Jesus’ disciples to
see, the heart does not grieve over. receive a table spread with food
from heaven, hearing which,
However, the Holy Qur’an warns of Jesus(as) at first rebukes them, stating
a more imminent threat poised to that asking for such a thing would
wipe out large sections of humanity, be tantamount to disbelief, but then
bringing about the destruction of addresses the following prayer to
civilisation as we know it. 1400 God:
years ago, the Holy Qur’an and the
Prophet Muhammad(saw) revealed Send down to us a table from
that this would be linked to the heaven spread with food that it
amazing rise of Christian nations may be to us a festival, to the
and to what could be termed their first of us and to the last of us,
curious marriage of convenience and a Sign from Thee. And
with the Jewish people – curious, in provide sustenance for us, for
the context of the almost hereditary Thou art the Best of sustainers

Portents of War
To this, God replies: This rise of the Christian peoples,

who are divided into two blocks,
Surely, I will send it down to called, due to their extensive use of
you, but whosoever of you fire (firearms, combustion driven
disbelieves afterwards, I will transport, etc.), Ya’jooj and Ma’jooj
surely punish them with a by the Holy Qur’an, and Gog and
punishment wherewith I will not Magog by the Holy Bible, is
punish any other of the peoples. mentioned extensively by the Holy
Prophet Muhammad(saw).
Thus, the Christians were promised Furthermore, the politico-religious
the best of sustenance for having system called the Dajjaal (the
believed in the Messiah, Son of biblical Antichrist) by which they
Mary. Indeed, when they began to would enslave other nations on
build upon the advancements in the earth and exploit their resources has
sciences made by the Islamic been described in great detail. Some
nations during the middle ages, the of the most amazing of their feats
Christian nations of Europe were would be that they would manage to
offered a unique opportunity to enslave many nations; that they
trade with – and thus derive would be able to discover treasures
sustenance from – all continents of hidden underground which others
the world. Had they held firm to would not be able to see; that they
their belief in Jesus’ teachings of would be able to cut a man in half
love and compassion, their sortie and then make him whole again
into the world might have ushered without killing him; and that they
in a golden era of cooperation and would travel over land and sea and
human advancement on an even above the clouds with a fire-
unimaginable scale. However, they driven mode of transport that would
chose to conquer and ravage the be smooth and shine like the moon
lands they visited and to enslave the and that would carry passengers in
inhabitants thereof. In effect, they its belly, being able to cover large
had breached the contract they had distances in very short periods of
made with God; but He would time.2
continue to fulfil His promise for a
time. These Latter-Day Christians would
be blind in their right eye, meaning

Portents of War
that they would be a spiritually the powerhouse of the traditionally

blind people. They would be driven Christian nations of both the
by the pursuit of the earth’s Western block – America and her
treasures, even pushing into deserts allies – and the Eastern Block –
to find them. They would be the Russia and her satellite states.
cause of drought, famine and the Whether it is in Government, the
drying up of lakes. Gog and Magog media, finance and the economy, or
would be so powerful that no one the sciences, Jewish persons are
would be able to defeat them. There invariably in positions either of
would be no city which the influence or of overwhelming
Antichrist would not trample under control. This has led the Christian
his feet.3 nations to be perhaps unduly
sympathetic to the Zionist cause.
The fulfilment of all these amazing And this sympathy is reciprocal.
prophecies – made by the Holy
Prophet(saw) fourteen centuries ago – Vladimir Jabotinsky, the leader of
has been witnessed by all today. right-wing Zionism before World
War II, was quite blunt about the
The Holy Prophet(saw) further stated alliance between Zionism and
that, despite being the politico- European imperialism:
religious power of Christendom, the
Dajjaal would be followed by “…Zionism has the unshakeable
seventy thousand (seventy thousand resolve to keep the whole
being an idiom meaning “a very Mediterranean in European
large number” in the Arabic hands… In every East-West
language) satin-clad Jews. conflict, we will always be on
the side of the West, for the West
So what is the nature of the has represented a more superior
involvement of Jewish persons in culture than the East over the
the affairs of that world-dominating last thousand years after the
force, the Dajjaal? After suffering destruction of the Baghdad
over a millennium of persecution on caliphate by the Mongols… and
Christian soil, during the last two we today are the most prominent
hundred years some Jewish people loyal bearers of the culture…
have infiltrated every chamber of

Portents of War
We can never support the Arab them, allowing them to return.

movement which is at present Nevertheless, if again they are
opposed to us, and we are guilty of the same cruel behaviour,
heartily pleased at every mishap God will expel them and inflict
to this movement…”4 them with a hellish punishment.6
Thus, accepting to be helped by the Elsewhere in the Holy Qur’an, the

Dajjaal, and ignoring the warnings Zionist Jews of the Latter Days are
of the Prophet Ezekiel(as)5, the Jews called Abu Lahab (the Father of
would once again be gathered out of Flames), and the two political
various peoples on earth and would blocks that they use to further their
return to the Holy Land. This is cause are likened to their hands. The
clearly indicated in the Qur’anic Qur’an warns that following a
verse: period where all their wealth and
earnings will fail them, they would
…We said to the children of be made to burn in a fire of their
Israel, ‘Dwell ye in the land; own making. This is what it says:
and when the time of the
promise of the Latter Days Perished be the two hands of
comes, We shall bring you Abu Lahab, and so perish he.
together once again. His wealth and what he has
(Ch.17:V.105) earned shall avail him not.
Soon shall he enter into a
However, just like the early blazing fire (of his own making
Christians were warned that they – since Abu Lahab means the
would be severely punished if they father or maker of flames)…
disbelieved and were ungrateful for (Ch.111:Vs.2-4)
God’s favours, the Israelites of the
Latter Days are warned against The nature of this fire is mentioned
behaving cruelly; they are told that in chapter 104, verses 2-10:
due to their excessive misbehaviour,
twice before in their history they Woe to every backbiter,
had been expelled from the Holy slanderer, Who amasses wealth
Land by mighty nations; but that and counts it over and over. He
now God would show mercy to imagines that his wealth will

Portents of War
make him immortal. Nay! He during the Latter Days. It is stated

shall surely be cast into the that the sinful will be blue-eyed, and
‘Hutamah’. And what should that God will ultimately crush their
make thee know what the achievements and scatter them as
‘Hutamah’ is? It is Allah’s fire dust. Then, those who remain will
as preserved fuel, which will finally accept the truth of Islam.9
suddenly leap to the hearts. It This does not signify, of course, that
is locked up in outstretched all blue-eyed people are doomed –
pillars to be used against some will undoubtedly survive the
them.7 coming cataclysm; it only means
that since the people behind the
The word “Hutamah” means “what power of the Antichrist and who
is derived from the smallest will be the most affected by the evil
particles of a thing”, namely the born of it will be predominantly
atom. This is said to contain a blue-eyed, they will naturally be the
blazing fire within it that can leap ones who will have to bear the brunt
out and reach the heart of man, as if of the consequences thereof. The
there were no chest protecting it. fact that it is these nations that are
responsible for the most
The appearance of the blast of this exploitative, wasteful and destruc-
fire is mentioned in Ch.77:Vs.30-34: tive economic policies the world has
ever witnessed is being acknowl-
“Now move towards what you edged today. In Brazil, in the
have been denying, move on presence of the British Prime
towards a three-pronged Minister, Gordon Brown, President
shadow, neither affording Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva said
shade, nor protecting from the regarding the financial crisis that
blaze. It throws up flames like has engulfed the world:
castles, as though the castles
were dusky yellow camels.”8 “This is a crisis that was caused
by people, white with blue eyes.
This punishment is further declared And before the crisis they
to target the northern nations of looked as if they knew every-
Caucasian origin, for they will be thing about economics. Once
guilty of the spread of iniquity again the great part of the poor

Portents of War
in the world that were still not created both to create markets for
yet [getting] their share of their firearms and weapons and to
development that was caused by increase their control on unruly
globalisation, they were the first areas of the world. Moreover, the
ones to suffer. Since I am not goods created by Western-style
acquainted with any black economies need markets to sustain
bankers, I can only say that this their production. So, artificial tastes
part of humanity that is the and perverted desires were created
major victim of the world crisis, through cunning marketing and
these people should pay for the advertising strategies not only in
crisis [sic]? I cannot accept that. industrialised countries, but in all
If the G20 becomes a meeting countries both rich and poor, in
just to set another meeting, we’ll every corner of the world, and
be discredited and the crisis can people were encouraged to borrow
deepen.”10 from their future in order to keep on
buying goods that they most often
The financial system favoured by did not really need.
the developed world led by the
superpowers and profoundly This mass consumerism and the
influenced by powerful Zionist reckless and frenzied spending that
lobbies, is based on interest; and to has accompanied it could only have
keep such a system viable, it has been made acceptable to people
been necessary to economically whose moral standards have fallen.
enslave and continuously despoil Therefore, while religion was
the weaker nations on earth of the attacked on every front, lewd
lion’s share of their available behaviour and sexual promiscuity
resources. To continue pumping were greatly glamorised – in a
wealth into this utterly wasteful word, the new cult promoted by the
system, they have not hesitated to world’s policy-makers was
invade and occupy other countries. materialism. However, the baser
Whole nations, races and religions human desires curbed and curtailed
have been demonised when it has by religious teachings, once freed
suited their purpose. New countries from their Pandora’s box, ran amok,
have been violently carved out of and the urge to immediately satisfy
old ones. Wars have been artificially every desire has led to ever-

Portents of War
increasing crime and the creates responsibility, which

development of the cruellest of binds you and which limits your
mafias. This, therefore, is how faith avenues of pleasure-seeking.
disappeared from the world. That is the liberty which the
Though professing faith in God, the West has got today and is still
crushing majority of people lead pursuing – a mad pursuit of
lives of selfish individualism, pleasure wherever it is to be had,
senseless consumerism and stark forgetting that it is not for man
materialism which show, in effect, to get whatever he wants to
that they have turned their backs on whatever extent he wants to
God and on His commandments. have it.
During a question and answer Man is born with limited

session in West Ferry, Australia, on capabilities and limited
30th of September, 1983, the fourth resources. He is born with
Caliph, Hadhrat Mirza Tahir limited imagination and limited
Ahmad(ru) was asked: “How do you reach. So, it is impossible for
see the future of Western society man to get unlimited pleasure as
from your religion’s viewpoint?” he desires it – with the result
that, more often than not, some
Among other things, he replied: roads end up with nothing.
There is left only the sense of a
“This is a very interesting hangover after the mad pursuits
question in which all humanity of worldly desires. There are
should be interested, more other harmful side effects and
seriously than it is. The fact is society is becoming increasingly
that the pursuit of pleasure and a restless.
sense of liberty coupled together
have made Western society what I have studied the American
it is today. Liberty from what? society, for example. What
Liberty from all bondage that happened there was, that after a
binds man to his Creator. This is while they started inventing new
what I see in the Western ways of pleasure. All the
concept of liberty today. Liberty magazines were devoted to
from all that is noble, that these things, all the psycho-

Portents of War
logical studies were concerned rampant to such an extent that

with these things… They told people who wanted a kick
people to seek pleasure in would kill just for the sake of
different directions – to go into the thrill they got…”11
Sadism… to allow whatever sort
of distortion man can think of Thus, these policies have been the
and seek pleasure. They were cause of immense suffering, turmoil
told there is no harm, no taboo - and death around the globe, and all
that was the message of the in the name of pleasure for the rich
modern society – and they did! few. The result can only be a
But to what extent? They always conflagration matching the
found a dead-end to whichever suffering caused. This is indeed
road they pursued, with the what God warns of in verses 279-
result that a sort of madness 280 of chapter 2 of the Qur’an:
started taking hold of the society
– they followed Bohemianism, … Fear Allah and relinquish
they experimented with what remains of interest… But
hippyism and sometimes they if you do it not, then receive the
became skinheads - just to get a warning, from Allah and His
kick out of life - and that kick Messenger, of war…12
began to kick back after a while.
Some people started using drugs Indeed, the Messenger of Allah(saw)
and sought them wherever they prophesied that Gog and Magog
could lay their hands on them. would fight each other, and that this
Yet, it was not possible - the would start in the Levant.13 Israel
whole country could not be would be severely shaken,
allowed to turn into drug according to prophecies in the
addicts, so the Government put Bible, a portion of which reads as
its foot down after a certain follows:
toleration and the war went on
and ultimately these drug ‘And it shall come to pass at the
addicts won the game. Now the same time when Gog shall come
American society is completely against the land of Israel, saith
helpless in the hands of the the Lord God, that my fury shall
Mafia people. Crime became come up in my face. For in my

Portents of War
jealousy and in the fire of my now gripped in a financial crisis

wrath have I spoken. Surely in starting, once again, in America.
that day there shall be a great
shaking in the land of Israel; so Should we, then, be afraid? Are
that the fishes of the seas, and there any signs of a worldwide
the fowls of the heaven, and the catastrophe following the present
beasts of the fields, and all the global financial depression?
creeping things that creep upon
the earth, and all the men that Many seem not to think so.
are upon the face of the earth, However, Man is a creature prone to
shall shake at my presence, and repeating mistakes of the past.
the mountains shall be thrown Listening to politicians and
down, and the steep places shall economists today, one would think
fall, and every wall shall fall to that the world economy does, of
the ground.’14 course, require urgent action but
that relatively soon all will be well
Anyone familiar with the history of once again.
the first half of the twentieth century
will know that it was economic Clearly, they are not focussing on
depression due to a financial system the underlying cause of, and the
based on interest that was the cause painful history behind, the present
of, and responsible for prolonging, crisis. They are seeking to treat the
the first two world wars. The fact last symptoms of a fatal disease,
that the long depression of 1873- leaving the pathological agents
1879 had paved the way for war created by their own nations to
between the United States and Spain pursue their relentless destruction of
and the First World War which the fabric of humankind. They
lasted till 1918, and that the terrible propose to let a situation continue,
American depression starting in where faith and godliness have been
1929 and continuing right through allowed to die and where selfishness
the late thirties had been followed and greed have been promoted.
by a world war of apocalyptic
proportions, is a matter which In our time, God sent a messenger –
should ring alarm bells for a world the Promised Messiah(as) – before

Portents of War
the events leading to the first and lifeblood of developing nations, or

second world wars had begun to blindly following bloodthirsty,
unfold, with the good news that the power-hungry Imams and Mullahs,
evil consequences of the deeds of have sunk into the depths of
mankind could be averted if they immorality and turmoil. Mankind as
returned to godliness, to the way of a whole has abandoned faith in
life taught by God – a way of life God’s commandments, and has
which safeguards both humankind surrendered to abject greed and
and the natural world; but also with desires. The world is now gripped in
the warning that, should they persist both regional conflicts and an
in their defiance of the laws of overwhelming financial and
survival designed by God, they economic crisis…
would be severely punished,
according to the warnings issued by Thus, the stage is set for the
the prophets of the past. fulfilment of the final part of the
prophecies made centuries before.
Despite the centuries of favours This is what the Promised
they have enjoyed, the Christian Messiah(as) had to say about it:
nations have shown extreme
ingratitude towards God, forgetting ‘Bear in mind that God has
the precepts of love, of compassion informed me time and again
and of disregard for material things about the coming of earth-
taught by Jesus(as). quakes. So be sure that just as
there have been earthquakes in
The Jewish people have turned to America and in Europe, in keep
Gog and Magog to violently with the prophecies, so will they
establish the State of Israel in the occur in different parts of Asia,
Holy Land, treating unfairly the and some of them will be as
local populations ever since and terrifying as doomsday. There
playing havoc with world econo- will be death on such a large
mics and politics. Muslims, either scale that rivers will run with
joining the pursuit of those very blood, and even birds and
pleasures that are undermining the animals will not escape it. Such
West while sucking out the destruction will overtake the

Portents of War
earth as has not happened since We never punish until We have

man was born. Most places will sent a Messenger.
be turned upside down as if they (Ch.17:V.16)
had never been inhabited. There
will also be other terrible Those who repent shall find
afflictions, both in heaven and security and those who fear
earth, and every sensible person before the calamity overtakes
will realise that they are no them will be shown mercy. Do
ordinary phenomena, and no you think you will be safe from
trace of them will be found in these earthquakes, or that you
books of astronomy or can save yourselves by your
philosophy. Then people will be own designs? No, you cannot.
seized by anxiety and they will All human designs will come to
wonder what is going to happen. naught that day. Do not imagine
Many will be saved, and many that only America has been
will perish. Those days are near, shaken by the earthquake and
indeed they are at the door, that you are safe, for you may
when the world shall witness a experience even greater cala-
spectacle of doomsday. Not only mities. O Europe! you are not
will there be earthquakes, but secure, O Asia! you are not
other terrible calamities will secure, O you who dwell in the
also appear, some from heaven Islands, no artificial god will
and some from the earth. This come to your aid. I see the cities
will happen because men haven falling and I see the habitations
given up the worship of their in ruin. The One and the Unique
God, and all their thoughts and has long remained silent.
their designs and their resolves Abominations were committed
are diverted towards the world. before His eyes and yet He
Had I not come, these calamites remained silent. But now He
might have been delayed for a shall reveal His countenance in
while, but with my coming the a dreadful manner. He who has
secret designs of God’s wrath, ears to hear, let him hear! The
that had long been hidden, have hour is not far. I tried to bring
been manifested. As God said: everyone under the security of

Portents of War
God, but the decrees of destiny out the name of God from the
had to be fulfilled. Assuredly, I earth and to drive Him out of the
say that this country’s turn is skies will realise the folly of
also drawing near. The days of their ways and at long last
Noah shall appear before your submit to Him as staunch
eyes, and you will see with your believers in His Unity and
own eyes what happened to the Oneness… You may consider
land of Lot. But God is slow to this a fantasy. But those who
wrath; repent so that you are survive the third world war will
shown mercy. He who abandons witness and bear out the truth of
God is a worm, not a man, and what I have said. These are the
he who does not fear Him is words of God Almighty. They
dead, not alive.’15 shall be fulfilled. No one can
avert His decree.
This warning was reiterated in July,
1967, in London, by the third Caliph The end of the Third World War
of the Promised Messiah(as), Hadhrat will be the beginning of the
Mirza Nasir Ahmad(ru): triumph of Islam. People will
accept its truth in large numbers
“The Promised Messiah(as) and will realize that Islam alone
prophesied that a third world is the true religion and that the
war of even bigger dimensions emancipation of man is to be
would follow the second. The won through the message of
two opposing camps will clash Muhammad alone (on whom be
with such suddenness that peace)… But, gentlemen, let us
everyone will be caught not forget that this prophecy,
unaware. Death and destruction like all prophecies, is a warning
will rain from the sky and fierce and its fulfilment can be delayed
flames shall engulf the earth. or even averted provided man
The colossus of modern turns to his Lord, repents and
civilisation will tumble to the mends his ways. He can yet
ground…their might broken and avert Divine wrath if he stops
their systems shattered… A worshipping the false deities of
people who are seeking to wipe wealth, power and prestige,

Portents of War
establishes a genuine relation- it is impossible to maintain the

ship with his Lord, refrains from growth rate in the internal
all transgressions, does his duty market of the country
to God and man, and learns to …governments frantically make
work for true human welfare.”16 efforts to enlarge their foreign
markets. And a race ensues,
Addressing members of parliament which creates bitter jealousies.
and of the administrative bodies of
Canada in 1996, the fourth Caliph, Erstwhile friends… are no
Mirza Tahir Ahmad(ru), gave such a longer trustworthy friends
warning about, and a graphic because politics is immoral…
description of, the present global and the interest of the nation is
financial crisis that one may be supreme… So when you search
forgiven for thinking he was seeing for foreign markets, almost all
it unfold before his very eyes: other economies are also
suffering from the same problem
“So a time comes when the – and at the same time –
whole system is saturated. There because a financial crisis
is nothing more for the banks to develops in the world…
lend unless they receive money
back. In addition, earning And if the foreign markets have
power is also adversely affected been impoverished so much that
in such periods of inflation… they cannot help sustain your
economies, then the crisis will
It is at such times that be doubly serious and the
economies collapse – it is situation may go out of hand
impossible to sustain them. sooner than you fear. As such
Industries shut down, big the Third World War cannot be
shopping centres come to a averted by any political
close, and there is dullness jugglery.”17
everywhere. It can only be
remedied by expanding your As the final countdown approaches,
markets – in the rest of the world the present Caliph of the
– because, through this system, Ahmadiyya Muslim community,

Portents of War
Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, has horrific destruction…”

been issuing repeated warnings of
what is now looming on the Addressing members of the British
horizon. During his address at the Parliament and guests from all
British Houses of Parliament on 23 sections of society at the 6th Annual
October, 2008, he stated: Peace Conference held on 21st of
March 2009 in Morden, London, the
“It is my fear that, in view of the fifth Caliph said that the Great
direction in which things are Depression of 1929 was followed
moving today, the political and almost immediately by the onset of
economic dynamics of the the Second World War in which
countries of the world may lead millions of innocent people lost
to a world war…Therefore, it is their lives; and that following the
the duty of the superpowers to Depression whatever wealth was
sit down and find a solution to available was channelled into very
save humanity from the brink of few hands leading to division and
disaster.” dissent. Furthermore, he said,
conflicts on a smaller scale were
At the inauguration of Bait-ul- erupting in Europe and Asia. All of
‘Afiyat Mosque in Sheffield, on 8 these factors led ultimately to the
November, 2008, the Caliph Second World War.
declared:
The present Caliph then warned that
“The current situation of the today the world was following a
world indicates that despite similar path. Though banks were
understanding the fact that if being bailed out, hundreds of
there is another world war the millions of dollars were being
entire world will be affected by utilised to sustain the bonus culture
its fallout, we are slowly moving of the elite. Conflicts were
towards it. My prayer is that emerging throughout the world, in
may God Almighty enable man particular in the Middle East, South
to discharge the rights owed to Asia and Eastern Europe. His
Him and His Creation so that Holiness went on to say:
the world can be saved from this

Portents of War
“Mankind should have learnt its fulfil the requirements of justice

lesson but regrettably the people and to give due regard to the
of today are failing to learn from rights of each other. They should
the mistakes of the past. Even think, deliberate and find a
those who call themselves solution based on justice. They
Muslims are shedding blood as should selflessly endeavour to
are those working on the pretext establish peace. And most
of establishing peace.... Despite importantly they should fulfil the
our attempts to bury our heads rights owed to their Creator and
in the sand, we are compelled to avoid His displeasure.”
view horrific scenes that shake a
person to the core. So, at this critical juncture in the
history of the world, it is imperative
…The United Nations was that mankind should pay serious
formed for the establishment of attention to the Divine Message
peace. Yet its attempts at while there is still time; their very
bringing about peace in any existence depends on it.
country where there is turmoil
has never achieved the level of We conclude with the words of
success that could have been God:
expected from such a large
institution.... Due to the So We have made it easy, in thy
influence of superpowers and tongue, that thou mayest give
the UN, the sphere of unrest is thereby good tidings to the
expanding. We cannot simply righteous, and warn thereby a
close our eyes to this. The cause people given to contention.
of the Second World War was And how many a generation
the existence of such unrest and have We destroyed before
mini wars. them! Canst thou see a single
one of them, or hear even a
… Governments and providers whisper of them?
of capital and the UN should (Ch.19:vs.98-99)
understand their
responsibilities. These are to

Portents of War
REFERENCES:
1. View at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZsDliXzyAY
2. See Pages 584-610 of Revelation, Rationality, Knowledge and Truth, by Hadhrat Mirza Tahir
Ahmad, Islam International Publications Ltd., or
http://www.alislam.org/library/books/revelation/part_6_section_2.html for a detailed account of
the Dajjaal based on the Qur’an and Hadith
3. Sahih Muslim, Kitab-ul-Fitan.
4. Page 227 of The Israeli Connection: Whom Israel Arms and Why, by Benjamin Beit-Hallahmi of
the University of Haifa, published 1988 by I.B. Tauris & Co. Ltd., London.
5. The Bible, Ezekiel, chapters 38 and 39
6. The Qur’an, Ch.17:Vs.5-9
7. See Page 613 of Revelation, Rationality, Knowledge and Truth, by Hadhrat Mirza Tahir Ahmad,
Islam International Publications Ltd.
8. See Page 618 of Revelation, Rationality, Knowledge and Truth, by Hadhrat Mirza Tahir Ahmad,
9. The Qur’an, Ch.20:Vs.101-112
10. The Independent, Friday 27 March 2009
11. For the full transcript of the fourth Caliph’s answer, please go to
http://www.alislam.org/library/links/ 00000007.html
12. English rendering of the Urdu translation of the Holy Qur’an by Hadhrat Mirza Tahir Ahmad,
13. Sahih Muslim, Kitab-ul-Fitan
14. The Bible, Ezekiel 38: 19-20 (King James Version)
15. Haqiqatul Wahy, Ruhani Khaza’in, vol. 22, pp.268-9 in Essence of Islam, vol. V, pp.148-50
16. A Message of Peace and a Word of Warning, published by the Ahmadiyya Movement in Islam,
Inc. 2141 Leroy Place, N.W.Washington, D.C. 20008 (For the complete text, please go to
http://www.alislam.org/library/books/messageofpeace/messageofpeace.pdf)
17. Universal Moral Values, Politics and World Peace, published by Islam International Publications,
Ltd., 1997, pp 17-18 (For the whole speech, please see
http://www.alislam.org/library/books/universal/index.htm)

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

PROOFREADERS The Purity of the Text of the Holy Qur’an

The Review of Religions

Evidence from Buddhist visited by Jesus(as). As regards

2 The Review of Religions – June 2009

The similarity of events in the Just as Jesus(as) sent his disciples to

The Review of Religions – June 2009 3

the same book that the Buddha(as) future Metteyya prophesied by

4 The Review of Religions – June 2009

Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad(as)

His claim constitutes the basis of the beliefs of the

heard and seen at first conditions Metteyya. The author of the

The Review of Religions – June 2009 5

him Bagwa Metteyya. Bagwa in the blessed footprints of Jesus(as)

6 The Review of Religions – June 2009

T he authenticity of the texts of

outright rejected by the majority of The contents of the Bible can be

The Review of Religions – June 2009 7

8 The Review of Religions – June 2009

agreement. Had the prediction in choice at the time of Jesus(as), that

The Review of Religions – June 2009 9

10 The Review of Religions – June 2009

a sneeze by another would results in The difference of the above is

An example of the above can be The difference is very subtle, but

The Review of Religions – June 2009 11

Bezae16 omit the ‘kneeling’. This Another example is where a scribe

12 The Review of Religions – June 2009

beliefs or beliefs of their Church. Gospel of Mark ends with Chapter

The Review of Religions – June 2009 13

Magdalene is introduced in The Codex Bezae and Textus

14 The Review of Religions – June 2009

As can be seen above, mistakes 6. Eusebius, History of the Church, book

The Review of Religions – June 2009 15

It was discovered in the late nineteenth on parchment. It contains most of the

16 The Review of Religions – June 2009

(Adapted from the Review of arranged it in the best form.

The Review of Religions – June 2009 17

was revealed, but so long as the Prophet’s(saw) amanuensis at

18 The Review of Religions – June 2009

Qur’an may be lost therefrom. revelations of the Holy

The Review of Religions – June 2009 19

20 The Review of Religions – June 2009

collection of the Qur’an in writing and verses existed in the safest of

lost from the collection existing in containing different portions of the

The Review of Religions – June 2009 21

he said. Thus there is nothing in the bore testimony.’

22 The Review of Religions – June 2009

and chapters as followed in the a search had only to be made for

The Review of Religions – June 2009 23

24 The Review of Religions – June 2009

The Review of Religions – June 2009 25

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copies transcribed by official who belonged to the Quraish, (Zaid

The Review of Religions – June 2009 27

converted countries where Arabic method, and in great wrath dragged

28 The Review of Religions – June 2009

The Review of Religions – June 2009 29

no need now should be entirely pronounced in his time and became

The considerations and the It may be asked what was meant by

30 The Review of Religions – June 2009

tradition accepted and narrated by superintended by competent men

The Review of Religions – June 2009 31

‘Uthman(ra) gave, no doubt, the the copies made, it would no doubt