Editorial

MANAGEMENT BOARD Mr Munir-ud-din Shams (Chairman) Mr Mansoor Shah (Secretary) Mr Naseer Ahmad Qamar Mr Mubarak Ahmad Zafar Mr Mirza Fakhar Ahmad Mr. Abdul Baqi Arshad CHIEF EDITOR AND MANAGER Mansoor Ahmed Shah EDITORIAL BOARD Basit Ahmad Bockarie Tommy Kallon Fareed Ahmad. Fazal Ahmad Fauzia Bajwa Mansoor Saqi Mahmood Hanif Mansoora Hyder-Hanif Navida Shahid Sarah Waseem Saleem Ahmad Malik Tanveer Khokhar SPECIAL CONTRIBUTORS Amatul Hadi Ahmad Farina Qureshi PROOFREADERS Abdul Ghany Jahangeer Khan Shaukia Mir DESIGN AND LAYOUT Tanveer Khokhar PUBLISHER Al Shirakatul Islamiyyah DISTRIBUTION Muhammad Hanif All correspondence should be forwarded to the editor at: The Review of Religions The London Mosque 16 Gressenhall Road London, SW18 5QL United Kingdom Email: reviewofreligions@gmail.com © Islamic Publications, 2007 ISSN No: 0034-6721 Views expressed in this publication are not necessarily the beliefs of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community October 2007, Vol.102, No.10CONTENTS EDITORIAL Introduction to The Review of Religions special editions on Khilafat. By Mansoor Shah – UK. ………………………………. 2 ESSENCE OF ISLAM – Part 24 What is Revelation? A fascinating insight into Revelation by one who has experienced it first hand. Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad(as) …………………. 3 KHILAFAT IN ISLAM Our curtain raiser review of the concept of Khilafat as presented in Islam. A Khalifa is a Vicegerent and is appointed by God. Can Khilafat be perpetuated by a corporate entity? What is the difference between prophethood and Khilafat, Successors of the Holy Prophet(saw) and the Promised Messiah(as)? Fareed Ahmad – UK ……………………………………. 17 Cover photo: Qadian. Oct 2007.qxd 20/11/07 14:15 Page 1 2 The Review of Religions – October 2007 EDITORIAL Commencing with this issue, The Review of Religions is publishing a series of monthly special editions leading up to our expanded edition in May 2008, the first centenary of the establishment of the institution of Khilafat in the Ahmadiyya Muslim community. The centenary itself, like all other centenaries commemorated by the community, is not a time of pomp or merriment but one of sincere thanksgiving that this bounty promised to the true believers of God has taken root and continues to flourish. Ever since the creation of man, it has been the way of God that He has sent Prophets who have served as spiritual teachers for the guidance of those whom the Prophet addressed. Some people follow this guidance and do good works and others disbelieve and continue in their evil ways. When such cruelties exceed all limits, God’s punishment descends upon them, as is set out in the Holy Qur’an: He who follows the right way follows it only for the good of his own soul; and he who goes astray, goes astray only to his own loss. And no bearer of burden shall bear the burden of another. We never punish until We have sent a Messenger. (Ch.17:V.16) …And as for those who disbelieve, disaster shall not cease to befall them for what they have wrought or to alight near their home, until the promise of Allah comes to pass. Surely, Allah fails not in His promise. (Ch.13:V.32) A sign of the latter days is that man would have forgotten his Creator and would have steeped to bestiality in his cruelty. Past Prophets have foretold that there would be many disasters in this age, no doubt a reflection of punishment man is receiving due to his spiritual malaise. The above verse however makes clear that God’s punishment is preceded by the appearance of His Prophet, so has God kept His promise and sent a Reformer and a Warner that the world so desperately needs? The Promised Reformer and Warner has certainly appeared. His name is Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad(as), Founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community. He advent was also accompanied by the glad tiding that he would be followed by a Khilafat – Oct 2007.qxd 20/11/07 14:15 Page 2